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Last Published: 11/29/2008 1:32:57 AM
Review of House of Dark Shadows by Robert Liparulo
Posted by: Michelle Sutton on June 11, 2008 at 10:14AM EST

ABOUT THE BOOK

(Dreamhouse Kings Book 1)

Dream house...or bad dream?
When the Kings move from L.A. to a secluded small town, fifteen-year-old Xander is beyond disappointed. He and his friends loved to create amateur films . . . but the tiny town of Pinedale is the last place a movie buff and future filmmaker wants to land.

But he, David, and Toria are captivated by the many rooms in the old Victorian fixer-upper they moved into--as well as the heavy woods surrounding the house.

They soon discover there's something odd about the house. Sounds come from the wrong directions. Prints of giant, bare feet appear in the dust. And when David tries to hide in the linen closet, he winds up in locker 119 at his new school.

Then the really weird stuff kicks in: they find a hidden hallway with portals leading off to far-off places--in long-ago times. Xander is starting to wonder if this kind of travel is a teen's dream come true . . . or his worst nightmare.

 


My review:

I haven't seen the Young Adult years in...years, but I can tell you that this series is SCARY even for adults. I finished House of Dark Shadows a little while ago and can testify that it's freakier than Flowers in the Attic by V. C. Andrews and just about as scary as The Amityville Horror. Did I mention this book was scary, LOL? But I finished it. I just didn't read it at night. Seriously. And I'm thankful that my house has neither an attic or a basement or I wouldn't be able to sleep! I know it's just fiction, but while I was reading the story I was in it, so it seemed real to me. Too real.

So far I haven't found a spiritual element (like they didn't even pray when scared) but it's still an incredibly entertaining tale of horror. I dare say it ranks right up there with any number of scary secular novels. There is even some blood in the book. Did I mention it was scary? Bottom line...this is top notch fiction but it is tolerable even for big honking chickens like me. In fact, I want to read the next book right away...but it's dark outside, so that'll have to wait until tomorrow!
(1) Comments
Posted by: Robert Liparulo on June 11, 2008 1:57PM EST
Hi, Michelle.

Thank you for the kind review. I'm glad you were both entertained and scared (in a fun way, of course) . . . that was my goal. All of my stories contain very subtle spirituality. Not that my faith is subtle, mind you, but I do take a step back with it in my stories. I figure God working through me can do a much better job than I can do when I TRY to put Him there. I believe that I was called to gently touch people who have not committed themselves to Him yet, and I don't want to scare them off. I'm a front-man, preparing readers for the more vocal people who will come after me.

All that said . . . Dreamhouse has a very powerful Godly message. We don't quite see it in the first few books, but it does eventually take shape. It has to do with God being outside time and the purpose He has given each of us in His Kingdom. Very subtly, the King's faith creeps in (in Watcher, Xander asks why God would allow these things to happen and the family prays at the dinner table). By the end, you'll see the message (those who have eyes to see), but no one will feel hit over the head with it.

Again, Michelle, thank you for the nice review. I hope you like the rest of the series.

Robert
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