Book Review: Fearscape by Simon Holt

“The Vours: Evil, demonic beings that inhabit human bodies on Sorry Night during the darkest hours of the winter solstice.” “ It’s been a year since Reggie first discovered the Vours, and the winter solstice is approaching once again. It will be another night of unspeakable horror for those unlucky enough to be taken by the Vours because this time, Reggie won’t be able to stop them. The Vours have imprisoned her in a psychiatric hospital, where she is subjected to a daily routine of unfathomably sadistic experiments. Her life is a living hell… but she won’t give up. They attacked her brother. They killed her friend. And Reggie will never stop fighting.”
“Fearscape, Book 3 in the The Devouring ends the this chilling trilogy with a thought provoking and deeply frightening story that will leave you with lasting terror.”

MY RATING: 9/10

I enjoyed this book because it was more exciting! It was a fun read and made you wonder about the end. This book was far better than the others :) The story line was awesome! I think I got to know the characters better. I felt like I knew each one intamately. It was also descriptive enough to make you visual a ton better than the others in this series. I honestly enjoyed this book. It kept me interested which is more than I can say about some other horror books I have read. Usually I get so bored that I give up.. but not this time :) I loved the feelings potrayed also.
THANK YOU SIMON HOLT FOR THE BEST HORROR SERIES I HAVE EVER READ!
Love,
Sidny♥♪♫

Spoiler: Fearscape by Simon Holt

I really enjoyed this book. That suprised me because the other books in this series weren't my favourite. But as a set the series was amazing. I guess every book has a flaw, but this series is definately one of my favourites. It was visually great. The way I could see everything Holt said in my head was amazing. I honestly thought that Reggie's mom was a Vour.
Characters:
Reggie: She grew alot as a character throughout the books. I felt like she went from a little girl to a warrior against the Vours. She truely deserved true love like she got but I wish that she also would have given Aaron a shot.
Aaron: He so loves Reggie. I wish that she would have at least tried to date him. It could have worked. I like how he turned from the sidekick to his very own superhero :D
Quinn: I LOVE HIM ♥ He's so amazing and he would do anything to be part of the group. I wish Aaron and him could be friends.
Unger: What an evil bum face! (trying not to swear)
Machen: I'm happy he saw the light :-D
Macie: What a crazy lady. I wish she didn't have to die but that's the way the story line played out.

Favourite Moments and Lines:

♥Pg. 17
"Reggie always had a thing for Quinn, and aparently finding out he wa a homicidal monster hadn't completely obliterated the attraction. That part Aaron really couldn't understand."

♥Pg. 91
" 'What happened there, Regina?' Dr. Unger asked finally. he poised his pencil over a pd of paper, ready to record all pertinent data. But Reggie wasn't going to give him the satisfaction.
'Oh, I think I just fainted. My corset was probably to tight. You know us females- get us too excited and the vapors take us. Whew!' Reggie fanned her fave melodramatically."
♥Pg. 130
" 'Thank you for everything,' she said, climbing into Aaron's car.
'I did try to kill you once,' Machen said. 'I owed you one.' "

♥Pg. 137
" 'You guys have stuff to talk about,' he said. 'I'll just amuse myself in the kitchen or something.'
'Oh, of course,' said Mom, and she pointed to another doorway leading off from the living room. 'In there. Help yourself to whatever you like. Reggie, are you hungry? Do you want anything? Water? Soda?'
A reset button that will give me a new life where my mother isn't a monster from a hell dimension? Is that really too much to ask?"

♥Pg. 144
" 'Are you on drugs, Regina?'
Reggie couldn't help exhaling a laugh.
'You know, sometimes I wish I were.' "

♥Pg. 180
" 'What's the rest of the plan?'
'Figure out what the Vours are plotting, stop it, save the world.' said Reggie.
'So, no biggie, then.' "

♥Pg. 228
" 'He loves you, you know.'
'Of course. I love him, too.'
'I mean, he's in love with you.' "

♥Pg. 311
" 'I don't want to be that scrawny nerd who does other kids' homework anymore. I can't be that guy.'
'I liked that scrawney nerd.'
'Not enough,' Aaron said,"

Hope you enjoyed,
Love,
Sidny♥♪♫

Book Review: Soulstice by Simon Holt

The Vours: Evil, demonic beings that inhabit human bodies on Sorry Night, the darkest hours of the winter soulstice."
"Six Months...
Since Reggie first discovered the existence of Vours in a tattered journal.
Since her little brother, Henry, began to mutilate animals and turn against her.
Since she learned to overcome her fear and destroyed a Vour to save Henry.
Now as the summer solstice approaches, the Vours still haunt Reggie, but only in her dreams- until one night, when an unexpected visitor turns her nightmares into reality."
MY RATING: 9/10
I still get amazed by the ideas behind a Vour. A monster that you can't see, a monster that can live all around you, and mostly a monster that knows everyones deepest fear.
However Simon Holt came up with this idea, I must say I'm jealous of his imagination.
I loved the characters and found this book alot better than the first one. The action was the perfect amount and you got to know the main character more.
I would suggest this book to anyone who is interested in horror or mystery.
There is a little bit of strong language and in my library it was found in the Young Adult section... just so you know!
THANKS SIMON HOLT FOR A GIRL WHO CAN CONQUER HER FEARS
Sincerely, Sidny♥♪♫

Spoiler: Soulstice by Simon Holt

After the first book, I didn't think I would like the second one at all but I give every series three chances! (that goes for people too).
This book was very well written and the ideas were better protrayed. We also learnt alot more about the characters.
Reggie: I felt like in the first book we were hearing about a stranger but in this book we got to know her and her fears/ feelings. She is truely a good person who just wants to help everyone. I'm sad that Quinn was such a jerk to her and I truly believed that he was not a bad vour but that's an oxymoron. I'm not so happy that she told her dad what was going on! No shit he thought she was crazzzzyyyyy.
Aaron: Is it plain to anyone else that he loves Reggie? Or is it all in my head? I mean they would be so cute together... fighting evil. Best superhero couple ever? I think maybe!
Eben: WTF! He died? I hate when my favourite people die but I guess he couldn't be a ninja like vour hunter 4ever :(
Quinn: I thought he was an exception and that he was a good Vour and proving that Vours could change! Well that kinda blew up in my face. But now he has changed and he's all lovely and human again :D
Dr. Unger: What a freak? Did he ever think that if he helped the Vours he would get Vourized? Seriously!
My Favourite Parts:
♥Pg. 59
"Reggie set the box upon the table and stared at it for a few minutes, half-expecting it to explode. Finally, she undid the ribbon and opened it.
She screamed and pushed the box away. It teetered on the edge of the table and fell, scattering the dainty pink and white flowers that were inside it across the floor. The flowers were covered in a sticky red liquid.
Bleeding Hearts."

♥Pg. 94
" "Freshman year,' he said.'We made it. And with only one body possession and one accidental death to our names.' "

♥Pg. 121
" 'You know, Halloway, I think you like having me around.'
Reggie's eyes flashed.
'Sorry. Demons aren't my type.' "

♥Pg. 133
" 'This isn't one of your novels!' Eben shouted at him. 'The villian can't be vanquished and the hero won't win!' He grabbed Aaron by the collar. 'There are fates far worse than mortal death. Do you understand? I will not let her risk a suffering beyond human understanding for the slim hope of saving strangers! Would you? Would you let her soul die for this?' "

♥Pg. 174
" 'Wait you're a Tracer?'
'Is anyone in this town who they say they are?' Aaron stood up and rubbed his wrist. 'Is it something in the water or what?'

♥Pg. 199
" 'Jesus, Cole do you need a kleenex or a hug or what? Quit your whining and get in the car,' "

♥Pg. 203
" He told Even what happened and by the time Aaron finished, the old man had already pulled the oxygen tube out of his nose and the IV out of his arm. He tried to stand but his balance was off, and Aaron had to catch him.
'Whoa, whoa Eben. You can't go anywhere like this.'
'Like hell I can't. Where did they go?'
'The forest preserve behind Thornwood Hospital. Something's back there, but I"m not sure what-'
'That's good enough. Get my clothes, would you? Showing up in one of these backless numbers won't inspire much fear in our enemies.' "

♥Pg. 207
" 'I wish for once the mad scientists would do their experiments at the beach. I could get a tan and fight evil,' "

♥Pg. 210
" The window shattered, but louder than that was the BEEP BEEP BEEP of the car's alarm.
In an instant Eben reached his uninjured hand through and unlocked the driver's door, then slid into the seat and pulled out the car alarm wires beneath the steering column. The beeping stopped. The whole thing had taken about seven seconds.
Eben leaned back in the seat and looked in the rearview mirror. No one was coming. He reached down and fumbled around with more wires, and the car engine roared to life.
Aaron was slack-jawed.
'You're going to teach me how to do that someday, right?'
'Aaron, get in the car.' "
Thanks for reading, and the next on my list to read is Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson
Sincerely, Sidny♥♪♫

Book Review: The Devouring by Simon Holt

"The Vours: Evil, dmeonic beings that inhabit human bodies on Sorry Night, the darkest hours of the winter solstice.
When dark creeps in and eats the light.
Bury your fears on Sorry Night.
For in the winter's blackest hours
Comes the feasting of the Vours.
No one can see it, the life they stole,
Your body's here but not your soul..."

MY RATING: 7/10

While I did enjoy this book and the ideas behind it, I had problem wrapping my head around the organization of all the thoughts. I enjoyed the fact that the Vours could not be seen and even though I got to being all paranoid about every character in the book being a Vour, but the way that the main characters target the "monsters", isn't a conventional one. I do enjoy the idea for certain of unseen monsters because that makes the story more real for the reader. Simon Holt seemed to have a ton of ideas but some of them just didn't seem to connect with each other. Although the plot was a little fuzy for me, the lines and moments are forever etched in my mind.
I know that's a lot of critisim but that's kinda what I do. I either love, like or hate a book. This one I like it, but I don't love it. I do plan, though, to read the sequel Soulstice.
THANK YOU SIMON HOLT, FOR MAKING THE SCARIEST MONSTERS!

Thanks for reading!
Sincerely, Sidny♥♪♫

Spoiler: The Devouring by Simon Holt

And as you'll see in the review above (that's for those of you who haven't read it yet... I wouldn't wanna spoil this!) this isn't one of my favourite books in the history of time... but I did enjoy it. The beginning was kinda weird. I mean you find a journal in a horror bookstore, that looks to be hand written and you can't find anything about it or anyone else who has it? Seriously I'm pretty sure that that means that you are reading a legit journal.
I feel terrible that Regina's Mom just up and left but I'm thinking she's a Vour.
Regina: She seems almost to have alot of problems, with her life, her mom, her dad and horror is her way of covering it up. And not saying that a girl and guy can't be friends but I think that her and Aaron would be CUTE! Quinn was a total creep and I honestly think Regina deserves to be happy.
Henry: He's just a scared kid dealing with the fact that their mother left them and he thinks its them. It would be hard for a kid his age. I feel terrible he got "possessed" by a Vour.
Aaron: So I'm sure that this kid has some emotional problems... but even if he doestn's he's funny as all get out! And that's a saying around here that means as hell! I think Regina and he are going to be a couple :D
Eben: I thought he was Vour. I'll be honest. He seemed way to good to be true. I like him though now that i think it through.
Macie: Without her they would have never figured out what the frick was going on! Thank gosh. It's to bad that she went insane...
Quinn: Well who saw that coming?!

Favourite Line/Moments:

♥Pg. 4
"When dark creeps in and eats the light,
Bury your fears on Sorry Night.
For in the winter's blackest hour
Comes the feasting of the Vours.
No one can see it, the life they stole,
Your body's here but not your soul..."

♥Pg.23
" 'It will probably have spider babies in your sock drawer,' said Aaron"

♥Pg. 37
"For Reggie, the shower had always been a sanctuary. All her senses felt different here. The close, shining walls surronding her. The steam blurring everything beyond the tile and glass. the pounding water insulating her from all the other sound."

♥Pg. 47
" 'Murder, Mayhem, and Madness: A History of Serial Killers!'
Reggie rolled her eyes. 'Not more serial killers.'
'This is great stuff, Reg,' said Aaron, flipping through the book. 'Take Richard Chase, the 'Vampire of Sacramento.' He put the blood and brains of his victims in a blender and then drank them; he thought his blood was turning to powder and heneeded fresh goods to replenish it.'
Reggie grimaced. 'Thanks for sharing.' "

♥Pg.49
" 'Eben,' Regina said, 'we were just playing around.'
'No,' said Eben. 'Cowboys and Indians is playing around.'
'Don't tell Native Americans that,' Reggie said."

♥Pg. 53
"The truth was, she didn't want to be the 'Mommy.' She didn't want to make dinner and do the laundry and the vacuuming. She didn't want to have to look after Henry, and take his temperature, and worry about him, and scold him. She wanted Mom, wherever she was, to stop being a selfish jerk and come home."

♥Pg.67
"The last time Reggie found the fugitive hamster, it had squirmed into the bathroom cabinet and gnawed through a box of her tampons."

♥Pg. 69
" 'God Henry! I'm inthe bathroom!'
She shut the water off and blotted General Squeak with a washcoth. She wrapped the little corpse with it and stood in the middle of the tiled floor, unsure what to do next. Henry's footsteps came closer.
'What are you doing in there?'
'Parasailing, Henry!' She shouted angrily, kicking the door completely shut. 'What do you think I'm doing in here?' "

♥PG. 118
" 'King Mithridates.' Mom put the book saide. 'Mithridates became a king when he was just a boy. His greatest fear was that someone would poison him to steal his throne. So he gathered up every poison tha tgrew in the kingdom, and as the years went by, each day he ate a tiny bit of one- wolfsbane, deadly night-shade, hemlock, snake root- a different poison every day to strengthen himself against their effects. Three times in his reign traitors poisoned him, but they couldn't kill the king. In a way, he conquered his fear by making it part of him. Like what we do with the books.' "

♥PG.127
"I know a secret and secrets breed paranoia."

♥PG. 140
" 'You will regret doing that,' it said in her mind.
Reggie grinned weakly.
'I already do,' she said. 'You taste like ass.' "

♥Pg. 153
" 'How did you do that?' the boy spat. His fingers tightened around her throat. 'I'll rip your head off for that!'
A snow shovel slammed across Henry's back and knocked him to the ground.
'You touch her again and I'll rip your head off.' Aaron pulled Reggie to her feet. 'Get our of here, you evil little bastard.' "
♥Pg. 176
" 'After tonight, I'm only reading cheesy romance novels.'
'Lusty blacksmiths and naughty princesses. Now that's scary.' "

Thanks for reading,
Sincerely,
Sidny