Author: Helen Grant
Publisher: Spine Breakers (Penguin)
Published: 2nd June 2011
ISBN: 9780 141337708
Helen Grant's website
Rating: 3.5/5
The cover on this is dark and boding, just like the book....you have been warned <evil cackle> lol.
Steffi and her friends visit a derelict house, the stuff made of Hansel and Gretal
This truly is bone chilling reading in places, especially as Steffi realises the true nature of what has been happening. In some parts I saw what was coming...in others the carpet was swept out from under my feet and the world was topsy turvy for a while. When Steffi's friends believe she is the only one who can make their deepest, darkest thoughts reality, it is shocking how they treat her. She's left feeling isolated, even as the twists and turns of the story continue and she's left to face some really sordid truths by herself. This had my heart hammering ten to the dozen in places as I could feel the threatening terror that Steffi was going through.
On the flip side - Steffi is very ego centric. Not once does she question anything....not even when those she wishes dead actually do die. She is very self centred and doesn't look outside her small world and really see it for what it is - something which I found intensely annoying. It isn't until things get out of control that secrets buried in the past resurface and Steffi realises she doesn't know everything about her family and friends.
In summary, this is an intensely gripping read in places, although I found Steffi too self centred for my liking. The ending is good...I'm not going to spoil it, but it's very creepy.
Source - Many thanks to Spine Breakers. A proof was received for review.
