Friday, October 29, 2021

Spooky Quick Reviews

Horrorstor by Grady Hendrix (2014)

Three employees of an Orsk store (basically an Ikea ripoff) volunteer to stay in the enormous warehouse overnight after the store is plagued by vandalism to see if they can figure out what's going on - is it an irate customer?  A disgruntled employee?  Or something more sinister?  This book was just wild and would make a perfect comedic/satirical horror movie!  Amy is our main character; she's so disillusioned by her job but decides to stay overnight because she needs the money.  What she and her colleagues encounter during their hours in the store is scary and horrific - I don't want to give too much away, because it's better to experience the store and its history yourself as it unfolds.  The descriptions do get very graphic and gory at times, so if you're not into that, this might not be the book for you.  And pay attention to the super-creepy illustrations!  This book is a short yet engrossing read, and you should definitely stick around for the epilogue!  4 stars

The Lost Village by Camilla Sten (2019)
 
In 1959, an entire village of people in Sweden disappeared, leaving behind only a woman stoned to death in the town square and an abandoned baby.  In the present-day, documentary filmmaker Alice and her team visit the deserted town, determined to find out what happened.  I loved the premise of this book - what happened to the townspeople?  How could they all literally disappear overnight?  The story is told in alternating timelines, which was really effective; I enjoyed seeing the story unfold in the past as the team in the present day searches for clues, while strange things begin happening to them (hearing strange voices, destroyed equipment, etc.).  At times the atmosphere was so creepy and eerie and I questioned my decision to read this book late at night!  Ultimately, there were parts about the reveal that just seemed odd and unbelievable to me, so I have to knock down my rating a bit, but overall, this was an atmospheric read perfect for fall!  4 stars
 
 
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24 comments:

  1. I don't think I could read The Lost Village at night, but it sounds really good and atmospheric. Thanks for putting it on my radar!

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  2. I'm gonna have to remember The Lost Village for next year's spooky season. I think I'd really enjoy it.

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  3. Oh, I think The Lost Village sounds good! I'll have to check for it at the library. :-)

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  4. I've been wondering about these, especially that second one!

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  5. I don't read scary books, but you and AJ *almost* have me wanting to try Horrorstor

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  6. I struggled with The Lost Village, but I'm glad you enjoyed it! I really need to get around to reading Horrorstor one day.

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  7. The Lost Village sounds fascinating. But Horrorstor is definitely not for me. :-)

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  8. I don't usually do horror but I have to admit that I've enjoyed everything I've read from Grady Hendrix so far so Horrorstor is really tempting!

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  9. Oooh! I need to snag both of these!!

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    1. I think you would enjoy them, especially Horrorstor!

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  10. I don't really read horror stories (too much of a scaredy cat), though Horrorstor is kind of intriguing and now I do want to know what's happening there.

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  11. These both sound like fantastic reads! I am very intrigued by the premise of Horrorstor. It sounds like a perfect read for the season!

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I'm so glad you stopped by, and I would love to hear your thoughts! Comments are always greatly appreciated!