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jen286's review against another edition
4.0
I downloaded this book when it was free without really reading what the book was about. The first line of the description said something about it being a true horror novel and since I love horror that was all it took. I was on a very long flight and decided to start this book and I was hooked. I didn't find it scary or anything, but it was really interesting and I really enjoyed it. I had been planning on just reading for a little bit and then watching a movie or something, but instead read until I finished the book right before we landed. Great read.
joelkarpowitz's review against another edition
3.0
For me the difference between books that are classified as horror and books that actually terrify is an emphasis on plot versus atmosphere. Forsaken, like other good but not great horror novels, seems to try and pack the book full of "events" and actions that are sometimes gory and sometimes weird and sometimes feel like they're trying too hard, but all of that too often comes at the expense of actually building a chilling, surreal, and frightening atmosphere. Too many plot points come off as silly, while those that could really inspire some terror seem underdeveloped. That's not to say I didn't enjoy the book, but it didn't reach the levels I hoped it would, and by the novel's end Van Wey has a tendency to try and pinpoint what everything means and out how things happened, and of course the first rule of horror is that the more you explain the less horrifying it becomes.
I guess I just want an atmosphere that creeps me out-- a la The Little Stranger or The Haunting of Hill House--more than I want overly-explained action.
But that's just me. I still think the book deserves a wider audience than it has right now.
I guess I just want an atmosphere that creeps me out-- a la The Little Stranger or The Haunting of Hill House--more than I want overly-explained action.
But that's just me. I still think the book deserves a wider audience than it has right now.
doctorbradford's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
maeclair's review against another edition
3.0
A good creepy read with plenty of shivers along the way. I guessed where the author was heading about halfway through the book, but did not foresee the journey he took to get there. An interesting story that kept me turning pages and piecing the puzzle together. But for lack of consistent POV, and one completely out of tense passage near the end, I would give this 4-stars. An entertaining 3.5 star read.
nowl315's review against another edition
4.0
A well written horror novel! The writer did a great job building up dread as the story progressed and the final act is haunting. I may need to sleep with the lights on for a while.
kerasalwaysreading's review against another edition
4.0
I am a big fan of horror. It is not the blood and gore that gets me... it is the unnatural stuff that really freaks me out. This book had plenty of that. There were moments while reading this that my heebie-jeebies turned to full-blown cringing, paired with just plain having to put it down for a minute.
The story unfolded well, but at the end, I knew what was going to happen and how it was going to play out. That being said, I still really enjoyed it. It wasn't only a horror, but a psychological thriller as well. You have a man that is dealing with a haunting AND having an affair at the same time, so basically everything that can go wrong, will go wrong. Some parts had that train wreck effect where you just knew that shit was about to go down and there was nothing to stop it from happening.
The story unfolded well, but at the end, I knew what was going to happen and how it was going to play out. That being said, I still really enjoyed it. It wasn't only a horror, but a psychological thriller as well. You have a man that is dealing with a haunting AND having an affair at the same time, so basically everything that can go wrong, will go wrong. Some parts had that train wreck effect where you just knew that shit was about to go down and there was nothing to stop it from happening.
jayishino's review against another edition
4.0
"There are no happy endings here" is what this book promises. Forsaken is a novel about Daniel who has the perfect life. A life which is flipped upside down when he receives a mysterious and very creepy painting. We as the reader are dragged into this horror with Daniel as he attempts to uncover the truth of this eerie work of art. I'd call this a Dorian Gray for the modern world. The only reason I docked a star is because I have unanswered questions!
laurav's review against another edition
4.0
Creepy painting. Tragic back-story. Psychotic girlfriend. Basically Forsaken has everything. I was really intrigued by the story, since I’m a big fan of horror, and Forsaken was definitely horror. Also, creepy painting with creepy children, I mean, come on.
Van Wey does a good job of setting up the suspense and keeping you guessing. I really liked the mystery of it, and it was really, really creepy. The scares were good (not jump-in-your-face which I like) and it was really good at unsettling you and giving you a sense of unease. The story built up in tension and scariness from the beginning all the way to the end. What I liked too was the psychological aspect of it too, because you aren’t totally sure if maybe the whole thing is in Daniel Rineheart’s (the main character) head. I love stories like that because it keeps you on your toes. The ending wasn’t super unpredictable–I guessed the gist of it–but it was still a really well done ending.
My major complaint was that I really didn’t like Daniel. He just wasn’t a guy that I liked and I found it difficult to root for him (I actually did the opposite, hoping that the ghosts would get him). I’m not sure if this was an intentional thing on the author’s part–you know, making a character that you aren’t supposed to like. I feel like it wasn’t. But, despite my not liking Daniel, I still wanted to know what would happen, which I guess shows how good the story itself is.
Good if you want a creepy/scary read.
Van Wey does a good job of setting up the suspense and keeping you guessing. I really liked the mystery of it, and it was really, really creepy. The scares were good (not jump-in-your-face which I like) and it was really good at unsettling you and giving you a sense of unease. The story built up in tension and scariness from the beginning all the way to the end. What I liked too was the psychological aspect of it too, because you aren’t totally sure if maybe the whole thing is in Daniel Rineheart’s (the main character) head. I love stories like that because it keeps you on your toes. The ending wasn’t super unpredictable–I guessed the gist of it–but it was still a really well done ending.
My major complaint was that I really didn’t like Daniel. He just wasn’t a guy that I liked and I found it difficult to root for him (I actually did the opposite, hoping that the ghosts would get him). I’m not sure if this was an intentional thing on the author’s part–you know, making a character that you aren’t supposed to like. I feel like it wasn’t. But, despite my not liking Daniel, I still wanted to know what would happen, which I guess shows how good the story itself is.
Good if you want a creepy/scary read.