Ghostland is a fun (ok scary too) romp through one of the worst ideas ever for a theme park. At least the dinosaurs were mostly isolated on an island. In Ghostland, the ghosts are the attraction and it is located in a population center. At the end of the book is a "Know Your Ghosts" A Ghost Hunters Guide to Ghostland. I suggest bookmarking it so you can refer to it as you listen to the book.
The book has an amazing start. Two teen friends, Ben and Lillian, are playing a video game each from their own home. A haunted house, a real house, is being moved through the town in route to the new Ghostland theme park. As the shadow from the house falls on Lillian, then on Ben, both feel a sense of wrongness. They know the park is opening soon. Both Ben and Lilly are fans of horror; movies, games, books; doesn't matter how old or how new; they love it all. I think you know where this is going. While the destination is similar to other books involving really unintelligent theme parks full of bad ideas, the journey is action-packed, exciting, and horrifying. The author has done a masterful job of creating his universe, specifically the theme park. The front of the book contains a map of the park. It is hard to see depending on the device or format you are reading. Larger and more detailed maps can be found at www.ghostlandpark.com along with great content that adds to the reader's enjoyment of the book. Joe Hempel is a wonderful narrator. He is perfect for this type of book. I have listened to four horror books by another author that he narrated. His narration is the deciding point in choosing to read or listen to the book. I received a copy of Ghostland from Tantor Audio in exchange for an honest review.
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A Light Amongst Shadows was a lovely read. It takes place in England during the late 1800s. There is no date that I remember but the time period feels right. I could be wrong. It follows James as he arrives at Whisperwood the boarding school he will attend. He is 17 years old and beginning his third year (junior). It is his first year attending a public school (private boarding school). Most boys start their freshmen year if not earlier. James settles into the school and a circle of friends. Several things stand apart concerning James and his friends. James is gay, which in that time period is a crime, and he hears and sees things that he shouldn't. Like ghosts. There is so much to this story. Rich historical fiction, delicious mystery, coming of age, and supernatural. Kale Williams does an excellent job narrating the story. He handles the voices well, adult or teen, alive or dead. His narration adds another layer to this wonderful story. I received a copy of A Light Among the Shadows from Tantor Audio in exchange for an honest review. Loose Ends is a series Rebekah Weatherspoon created to give her side characters their own novels. I have not read everything Weatherspoon has written so I have read the Loose Ends books as a stand-alone which they certainly are. The first book, Rafe, was one of my favorites from 2019. The audiobook added yummy goodness on top of the story by having the most wonderful narrators. Xeni is the second book in the series. It follows Xeni, a loving, generous woman who has tried very hard to live life on her own terms while dealing with her family's expectations. When her favorite aunt, the one none of the family except Xeni speaks with dies, Xeni travels to bury her and say goodbye. Her plan to grieve and go home is thrown into chaos by her aunt's will. Xeni is to receive a large portion of her aunt's estate but only if she marries the man who receives the other portion. A man who her aunt picked out for her. A man Xeni met for the first time at the funeral. I enjoyed Xeni's story. It kept my interest and had toe-curling moments. Antony Ferguson did a great job narrating. He handled the male and female voices well. He is definitely a narrator I will look for in the future. I received a copy of Xeni from Tantor Audio in exchange for an honest review. |
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