Guest Review: Hollow Pike by James Dawson

Hollow Pike by James Dawson

publisher: Orion's Children's Books

release date: February 2nd, 2012

paperback, 416 pages

intended audience: Young adult

rating:




source: purchased
reviewer: Amy

description:
Something wicked this way comes... She thought she'd be safe in the country, but you can't escape your own nightmares, and Lis London dreams repeatedly that someone is trying to kill her. Lis thinks she's being paranoid - after all who would want to murder her? She doesn't believe in the local legends of witchcraft. She doesn't believe that anything bad will really happen to her. You never do, do you? Not until you're alone in the woods, after dark - and a twig snaps... Hollow Pike - where witchcraft never sleeps.

Review:

Marvelously Brilliant and British!

Hollow Pike is the perfect blending of some of my favorites.. a good classic witch-in-the-woods scary story and my new love of British authors. This story follows a wonderful classic horror story of teenagers playing the proverbial game of "what if..." and the consequences that follow when you play with the game of fate.

I will tell you I was pleasantly surprised with the many twists and turns that this book took with keeping and building the storys' suspense, not giving away any answers till the very end.

I loved all the small town references of witchcraft and all the paranoia that surrounds such legends. I will say however the most surprising revelation of all is this book was written by a man. Please don't shy away and think that it is written for guys or tend to avoid books written in a guy's perspective. It's not! James Dawson gets it dead right. I don't know how many times I found myself glancing to the back cover just to confirm "yes this really is written by a man." So kudos to you, James, somehow you have figured us women out enough to write a book with a female main character that is identifiable and spot on.

Without delving too much into the details of this book (I don't want to give any of it away) I will say if you love witch stories or a good murder mystery or wonderfully undiluted British writing this book is for you!!

Oh and a little side note: Great job on the back jacket photo. It is the prefect pic with an air of mystery---as a photographer myself, I just love it when authors and photographers get it right!! If I was allowed to rate the photo (which I secretly always do) I give you a bonus 5 cupcakes--- ones made of dark chocolate with a mysterious dark ganache filling! :)

Visit James Dawson's site: www.jamesdawsonbooks.com

Purchase Hollow Pike at: AmazonUK • BookDepository

Waiting on Wednesday - The Purpley Edition

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. It lets us all gush about what soon-to-be released books we are jumping-up-and-down excited for. For my WoWs, I'll be choosing a Sooner (books released in the next month or so) and a Later (books further out). Here's what I'm eagerly anticipating:

Sooner:

Hollow Pike
by James Dawson

hitting shelves February 2, 2012 from Orion Children's

description:
Something wicked this way comes... She thought she'd be safe in the country, but you can't escape your own nightmares, and Lis London dreams repeatedly that someone is trying to kill her. Lis thinks she's being paranoid - after all who would want to murder her? She doesn't believe in the local legends of witchcraft. She doesn't believe that anything bad will really happen to her. You never do, do you? Not until you're alone in the woods, after dark - and a twig snaps... Hollow Pike - where witchcraft never sleeps.

My thoughts: This definitely sounds good and creepy. And what a brilliant cover!

Later:
Lucid
by Ron Bass & Adrienne Stolz

hitting shelves July 19, 2012 from Razorbill

description:
What if you could dream your way into a different life? What if you could choose to live that life forever?

Sloane and Maggie have never met. Sloane is a straight-A student with a big and loving family. Maggie lives a glamorously independent life as an up-and-coming actress in New York. The two girls couldn't be more different - except for one thing. They share a secret that they can't tell a soul. At night, they dream that they're each other.

The deeper they're pulled into the promise of their own lives, the more their worlds begin to blur dangerously together. Before long, Sloane and Maggie can no longer tell which life is real and which is just a dream. They realize that eventually they will have to choose one life to wake up to, or risk spiraling into insanity. But that means giving up one world, one love, and one self, forever.

My thoughts: This sounds really good. I've always been fascinated by stories about dreams and lucid dreaming!

Purple seems to be a popular color for covers this coming year! There are sure to be more of these purpley editions in the future! :)