Pages: 310
Publication date: August 20, 2013

Publisher: Harper Teen

How I got the copy: Library

Rating:  3 Stars
  

    
  

From Goodreads:

Asylum is a thrilling and creepy photo-novel perfect for fans of the New York Times bestseller Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children.

For sixteen-year-old Dan Crawford, New Hampshire College Prep is more than a summer program—it's a lifeline. An outcast at his high school, Dan is excited to finally make some friends in his last summer before college. But when he arrives at the program, Dan learns that his dorm for the summer used to be a sanatorium, more commonly known as an asylum. And not just any asylum—a last resort for the criminally insane.

As Dan and his new friends, Abby and Jordan, explore the hidden recesses of their creepy summer home, they soon discover it's no coincidence that the three of them ended up here. Because the asylum holds the key to a terrifying past. And there are some secrets that refuse to stay buried.

Featuring found photos of unsettling history and real abandoned asylums and filled with chilling mystery and page-turning suspense, Madeleine Roux's teen debut, Asylum, is a horror story that treads the line between genius and insanity.

    The first time I ever laid eyes on this cover I got chills.  It's so creepy and definitely what my nightmares are made of.  But sadly, it wasn't scary at all.  Upon reading the last sentence of the book I was left thinking "this is not what I signed up for".  Where were the creepy ghosts that I was promised on the cover?

Pages: 296
Publication date: October 22, 2013

Publisher: Spencer Hill Press

How I got the copy: from Spencer Hill Press for review (Thank you!)

Rating:  3 Stars
  

     
  

From Goodreads:

A virus that had once been contained has returned, and soon no place will be left untouched by its destruction. But when Cheyenne wakes up in Elysian Fields--a subdivision cut off from the world and its monster-creating virus--she is thrilled to have a chance at survival.

At first, Elysian Fields,with its beautiful houses and manicured lawns, is perfect. Teo Richardson, the older man who stole Cheyenne's heart, built it so they could be together. But when Teo tells Cheyenne there are tests that she and seven other couples must pass to be worthy of salvation, Cheyenne begins to question the perfection of his world.

The people they were before are gone. Cheyenne is now "Persephone," and each couple has been re-named to reflect the most tragic romances ever told. Everyone is fighting to pass the test, to remain in Elysian Fields. Teo dresses them up, tells them when to move and how to act, and in order to pass the test, they must play along.

If they play it right, then they'll be safe.

But if they play it wrong, they'll die.

    I won't lie.  My first thought about rating this was one star.  But after really thinking about what I didn't like in this story I could only come up with one thing that would push me to rate it one star.  And that is the main character Cheyenne.  Oh how I wanted to shake her into reality.

Cheyenne had Bella Syndrome.  She's blindly in love and doesn't care about anyone else except her lover.  When she's kidnapped she's not concerned that he used chloroform on her.  When he pushes her she thinks she deserves it.  She doesn't even care about her mom dying from the virus or being eaten alive.  And sadly, I could go on.  I thought once she realized Teo was a bad person she'd stop liking him.  But no.  He still gave her the tingly swoons.  And I could have respected her if she still cared about him after he shows his true colors.  I mean they did sort of date(ish) for a year so of course she would want him to get better right?  Wrong.  She doesn't care about him at all, but yet she still wants to make babies with him.  Oh and now she wants to make babies with another character too. On top of that, the world has ended and all she can think about is who she wants to kiss more.  I tend to like character development more than plot development so when I don't like a character it makes me not like the book.  So while I recognize Cheyenne had to have these flaws for there to be conflict in the plot I just couldn't get past her personality.   

If Cheyenne hadn't been the main character I think I would have rated this four or five stars.  The plot was phenomenal.  The idea of each couple being a tragic literary couple was brilliance.  I loved watching their stories unfold like the original stories.  Zombies were reinvented in this story and the world was really creepy.  The only complaint I have is that the ending felt really rushed and like it was too convenient how it all wrapped up.  [Highlight for spoiler] plus why wouldn't their parents try to save them?  That didn't seem realistic.

Marcus was another part of the book that made me want to rate this higher.  He had a lot of layers and was sweet.  It was awesome to see the nice guy getting some attention for once (even if it's only after the hot one turns evil).  And he seemed realistic.  He had some skeletons in his closet.  

What I really loved was Teo.  He was so sick and twisted and unlike any other villain I've ever read.  I didn't love him like I love Warner from Shatter Me.  But it's more I was just shocked by his pure evilness.  Literally no character was safe from Teo's wrath and the anticipation and suspense of who he would attack next kept me on the edge of my seat.  

Here's an excerpt from The Dollhouse Asylum which comes out October 22 and is a great creepy Halloween read.  

There has never been a more evil villain than Teo.

Excerpt: Chapter One

Gruff fingers yank a blindfold off my face, light splashes into my eyes, and I blink. Gray walls swim about my head, and the ceiling soars much too high above me. I don’t know this place. I was walking to my bathroom when someone grabbed me from behind and forced a sour-smelling cloth over my face and—someone grapples with my hair, and I flinch. Who—who is touching me?

I try turning in the flimsy chair, but someone’s grabbing my shoulders, forcing me not to move. Spasms of fear shoot up and down my arms and legs. I try swinging my fists to make them loosen their grip, but my captor’s fingers only tighten.

Raising my arm to jab my captor in the gut, I pause. Someone’s laughing. How do I know that sound? It’s beautiful and low, a laugh I could recognize anywhere. Glancing around the sun-filled room, I find the source almost immediately. It’s Teo, my Teo, standing across from me on the hardwood floor, beaming at me. His ebony eyes shine forth like two onyx stones, and even his olive-toned skin makes me breathe a bit shallower. Choking back a strangled laugh—no one’s here to hurt me—I reach out for the love of my life, too tongue-tied to say anything.

His lips spread into a thin smile, reminding me of his mouth melting into my own. Fire raged beneath my skin with that kiss and it felt like I was lifted up into the air and floating. It’s been six days since our kiss and we still haven’t been able to talk about it. I tried repeatedly to go into his classroom, but it was like our school had purposely decided to schedule a more than average number of parent-teacher meetings.

Locking his eyes on mine, Teo asks, “Manicure?”

I glance down at my fingernails, trying to see why he would think I needed a manicure, when my shoulders are released and pale, icy fingers grip my hand. Chills run through me.

A flat, tenor voice says, “Yes.” And I’m startled to see my fingernails are actually painted. Clear and shiny.

The fingers drop my hand, and my captor walks around to face me. White uniform, white skin, white hair. He’s albino. Who is he?

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Pages: 310
Publication date: August 23, 2011

Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers

How I got the copy: ARCycling for review 

Rating:  4 Stars
  

     
  

From Goodreads:

As a child, Gretchen's twin sister was taken by a witch in the woods. Ever since, Gretchen and her brother, Ansel, have felt the long branches of the witch's forest threatening to make them disappear, too.

Years later, when their stepmother casts Gretchen and Ansel out, they find themselves in sleepy Live Oak, South Carolina. They're invited to stay with Sophia Kelly, a beautiful candy maker who molds sugary magic: coveted treats that create confidence, bravery, and passion.

Life seems idyllic and Gretchen and Ansel gradually forget their haunted past -- until Gretchen meets handsome local outcast Samuel. He tells her the witch isn't gone -- it's lurking in the forest, preying on girls every year after Live Oak's infamous chocolate festival, and looking to make Gretchen its next victim. Gretchen is determined to stop running and start fighting back. Yet the further she investigates the mystery of what the witch is and how it chooses its victims, the more she wonders who the real monster is.

Gretchen is certain of only one thing: a monster is coming, and it will never go away hungry.

    I've never read Hansel and Gretel, but I knew the base of the story.  Two kids are lost in the forest leaving a trail of breadcrumbs and find the candy house with the witch inside that wants to eat them.  I wasn't sure how Jackson was going to be able to make this into a YA friendly retelling.  somehow she took this really disturbing story and made it fun and entertaining.  And yet she captured that dark and creepy tone that made it feel true to the original tale.

     Gretchen's character really grew during the story.  I'm such a fan of character development so I was very happy to see this progress over time.  What I did find odd was her strange trust in Sophia, the chocolatier.  As someone who was so scared of the witch, why would she trust a complete stranger especially when things started getting weird?

    But with that said, I found myself trusting Sophia too.  I wanted to like her even when things started making her seem shady.  I wish I had read Sisters Red first because I feel like I wasn't understanding everything that was going on.  Also, for anyone who has read this.  Is the chocolate supposed to have magical powers?  I was really confused by the confidence inducing chocolate oranges.  This was definitely a page turner and probably my favorite retelling so far.