RIP V Challenge Wrap-Up

Can I just say how much I loved this challenge! I really did! It got me in the Halloween mood all month long. I read books outside my normal genres (and by that, I mean horror).  The challenge was for 4 titles and I definitely surpassed that amount - Yay me! Here is my final list:

Dracula in Love by Karen Essex

Room by Emma Donoghue

Shadow Hills  by Anastasia Hopcus

The Marbury Lens by Andrew Smith

Till Death Do Us Bark: 43 Old Cemetery Road by Kate Klise & M. Sarah Klise (illlustrator)

Three Quarters Dead by Richard Peck

Hunger by Jackie Morse Kessler

Rot & Ruin by Jonathan Maberry

The Twin's Daughter by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

Rise Again by Ben Tripp

I also read, but never got around to reviewing:

Ghost in the Machine by Patrick Carman

Dark Peril by Christine Feehan

Reckless by Cornelia Funke

Torment by Lauren Kate

Demon from the Dark by Kresley Cole

Undead and Unfinished by MaryJanice Davidson

This was spOOktacular reading. I can't wait for this challenge again next year!

Rise Again by Ben Tripp

Title: Rise Again: A Zombie Thriller

Author: Ben Tripp

Pages: 384

Genre: Horror

Source:  Gallery Books

 
Danny Adelman is a veteran of the Iraq war suffering from post-traumatic stress syndrome.  She is working as the Sheriff in the quiet town of Forest Peak (which is about an hour outside of LA).  She knows she's not going to have a good day when she wakes with a hangover, realizes her young sister Kelly has run away in none other than her car and dreads dealing with the crowds at the town's Independence Day gathering.  What more could go wrong right?  She definitely wasn't expecting for people to grip their heads, screaming at the top of their lungs, run off and eventually drop dead, and rise as flesh-eating corpses.

This book scared me to death.  I don't know what my infatuation with zombies is... I'm not a fan of scary movies nor do I read a lot of horror, but tell me it's a zombie book and I just MUST read it.  Thus was the case with Rise Again, and although it did scare me to death, I could not put it down.

Mr. Tripp created one bad-ass heroine in Danny.  She is not perfect - far from it - but her strength, perseverance, the need to protect the civilians that have remarkably put their trust in her to help save them as well as her unstoppable need to find her missing sister were something that I was in awe of.   She grew on me and I found myself cringing and more than once not wanting to turn the page in fear that something would happen to her or some of the other characters.  As with all zombie books, I'm always afraid to love a character for fear of them getting killed off.  I truly think this is what up's the fear factor in these books for me.  Some of the supporting characters were awesome as well, and some were just the type that you love to hate.  I love how humanity always turns against itself at one point or another in these type of books.  Sometimes the zombies are the least of the worries.

In the end, I loved this book!  It was not overly gory nor overly violent, although there is both, yet it was done in a tasteful manner.  I mean it is a zombie book - blood, guts and brains are expected.  But what I found refreshing were its rich characters, great action and tight, well-paced story.  Horror and, especially, zombie lovers will find a gem in this one.

My Rating:

The Twin's Daughter by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

Title: The Twin's Daughter

Author: Lauren Baratz-Logsted

Pages: 400

Genre: YA / Historical Fiction

Source: Good Golly Miss Holly ARC Tours

Lucy Sexton is stunned when a disheveled woman appears at the door one day... a woman who bears an uncanny resemblance to Lucy's own beautiful mother. It turns out the two women are identical twins, separated at birth, and raised in dramatically different circumstances. Lucy's mother quickly resolves to give her less fortunate sister the kind of life she has never known. And the transformation in Aunt Helen is indeed remarkable. But when Helen begins to imitate her sister in every way, even Lucy isn't sure at times which twin is which. Can Helen really be trusted, or does her sweet face mask a chilling agenda? 

Filled with shocking twists and turns, The Twin's Daughter is an engrossing gothic novel of betrayal, jealousy, and treacherous secrets that will keep you guessing to the very end. [via GoodReads]

I have to start this review by saying... I didn't see that one coming!  

Ms. Baratz-Logsted masterfully creates a tale full of twists and turns that I have to admit kept me wondering... I kept trying to figure it out and every time I thought I had it, I was thrown for a loop.  Kudos to Ms. Baratz-Logsted - because yes, I did not see that one coming!  

Lucy - who is about 13 when the novel starts - has a very distinct voice.  Her inquisitive nature and attention to detail are really what kept this novel going for me.  She lives with her wealthy parents and lives a comfortable yet dull life.  When a woman with a striking resemblance to her mother knocks on her door she finds that her life is turned upside down.  Lucy has quite the vivid imagination and shortly after meeting the recently acquired Aunt Helen, she begins to doubt her and her intentions. After a gruesome murder of one of the sister's, Lucy finds herself wondering which twin lived.

Aside from the mystery aspect of the novel, there was also a very sweet romance between Lucy and her neighbor Kit.  I loved the way their relationship and feelings for each other matured throughout the story.  I found myself looking forward to their moments together.  

One other thing that I thought was very well done was the setting.  I think Ms. Baratz-Logsted does a wonderful job in capturing the time the story is set in (I would say circa World War I  - although the time frame is never really established), London.

All in all, I truly enjoyed this gothic tale of murder, mystery, love and so many twists and turns you'll feel like your head is spinning.  A fantastic read for teens and adults alike. 

My Rating:

Rot & Ruin by Jonathan Maberry

Title: Rot & Ruin

Authors: Jonathan Maberry

Pages: 464
Genre: YA/ Horror

Source: Purchase

It has been 14 years since “first night” - a night where humans turned zombie. Benny Imura was only 18 months old when his older brother Tom whisked him off leaving their infected parents behind. Now at 15, living in a town of survivors called Mountainside, Benny is at the ripe age for a job. See at 15 the townfolk must work in order to continue receiving their rations. Benny and his BFF Chong are in need of jobs - but Benny can’t seem to find anything that works for him - he has tried being a locksmith, a fence tester and technician, a carpet coat salesman, a pit thrower, a crank generator repairman, a spotter, a bottler, and an erosion artist.  He has either hated, been bored, fired or turned down from all of them.  Left with no other recourse, he reluctantly turns to his brother Tom and the family business.

Tom is a notorious zombie killer - he's well respected and loved by the community.  But Benny doesn't understand why people look at Tom as a hero.  He's quiet, doesn't like violence and he definitely does not talk about what he does out in the Rot & Ruin.  He's nothing like the other zombie killers in the neighborhood - Charlie Pink-Eye and the Motor City Hammer. Working as Tom's apprentice, Benny ventures out into the Rot & Ruin (a/k/a what's left of our zombie infested country).  Through Tom's insightful teachings, Benny learns many a lesson - including what Tom does for a living, what's outside the fences and how sometimes zombies might be the least of their problems.

I have to admit that when I first saw this book - I had no idea it even existed.  I grabbed it with two things in mind - "Oh cool, another zombie book!" and "Wow, I love this cover!"  With that said, I think Rot & Ruin is the best zombie novel I've ever read... and I'll tell you why.

Firstly, I loved that this book takes place years after the zombie infestation.  Benny was a small boy when everything went down - so I thought it unique to get his thoughts and opinions on the life they  now live since first night.  I loved that their town has survived, that they've found ways of dealing with the zombies.  The zombies are only attracted to sound so if you're quiet and fast enough you can get around them without them even noticing you were there.  Humans take all sorts of precautions just in case someone dies in their sleep (of course, becoming zombified shortly thereafter), etc. 

Another thing that I found very refreshing is that, on more than one occasion, I found myself feeling sorry for the zombies.  Yes, they're bad, and if they get near you they'll bite you and then, well... you're a goner - but on the other hand, these were also people.  They were someone's mother, father, sister, brother, husband, etc.  They didn't choose to become a zombie - they just are.  I loved how Tom dealt with them and how he was a "closure specialist" and not a zombie killer.  

But what I must say was my favorite about this novel was that there was so much plot... so much story... so much heart in this book.  The zombies were almost like a side note.  Obviously they played a big part in the novel, but Benny & Tom's past, future, their relationship, Benny growing up, getting over his anger issues, and becoming someone who was brave and tough.  Their town, their friends, the danger - this was all so much more interesting to me.  I was captivated from the first chapter.  I just wanted to know more and more about them.  And as with any zombie novel, you can't help but invest feelings into these characters - always knowing that they are in danger 100% of the time.. just one bite is all it takes.  There were times where I was scared to turn the page - I was cringing when there was a zombie in the near vicinity.  It was great!!  

I truly went through a range of emotions reading this.  There were times where I laughed, times were I wanted to scream in outrage and even times were I found myself tearing over it.  This is one zombie book that I guarantee will be a hit with many - it is one that I could not put down and one that I can recommend - because there is something in it for everyone.  For those of you who have never read a zombie book - I recommend this be the one you pick up.  It is awesome!

My Rating:

See this great little video with author Jonathan Maberry.

Hunger by Jackie Morse Kessler

Title: Hunger
Author: Jackie Morse Kessler
Pages:180
Genre: YA/ Teen
Source: NetGalley

“Thou art the Black Rider. Go thee out unto the world.”

Lisabeth Lewis has a black steed, a set of scales, and a new job: she’s been appointed Famine. How will an anorexic seventeen-year-old girl from the suburbs fare as one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse?

Traveling the world on her steed gives Lisa freedom from her troubles at home: her constant battle with hunger, and her struggle to hide it from the people who care about her. But being Famine forces her to go places where hunger is a painful part of everyday life, and to face the horrifying effects of her phenomenal power. Can Lisa find a way to harness that power — and the courage to battle her own inner demons?  (via GoodReads)

I was taken by surprise when I initially began to read Hunger.  I originally believed it to be an action-packed story about the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse - and it somewhat is, sans the action, but what it really is, is a story about a girl with an eating disorder. 

Ms. Morse Kessler weaves a tale riddled with not only hunger, but depression, friendship, family and how having a disorder can take a toll on all that.  Although the book is short, it almost has a short story feel to it, I think it still held a powerful punch.  This is Lizabeth's story - how she learns to stop hating herself and acknowledge and accept who and what (in this case one of the Horsemen) she is.  Aside from the eating disorder, we also have the paranormal aspect of the story.  I liked how this aspect played into the story but didn't take it over.  It was almost like a side note to Lizabeth's bigger problems.

Through her adventures as Famine, Lisabeth sees starvation, poverty and even gluttony all over the world - which gives her some perspective towards her own fears concerning food.  I think Ms. Morse Kessler does a great job dealing with a tough subject  - she deals with anorexia in an unflinching and realistic manner. 

All in all, I really enjoyed Hunger.  I thought it had a very interesting and original plot, with characters that you really like and the appropriate amount of humor and paranormal activity to make it a riveting and intense read.  

My Rating:

Three Quarters Dead by Richard Peck

Title: Three Quarters Dead

Author:  Richard Peck

Pages: 208

Genre: YA/ Teen

Source: Book It Forward ARC Tours

Kerry is chosen by the coolest clique in school and so she thinks life has finally begun. But then it seems all over when her three friends are killed in a shocking car accident. Or are they? Only weeks after the accident, Kerry receives a text from one of the girls: We're all 3 here at my aunt's in the city. Take the 3:50 train. B there. [via Goodreads]

I really tried to get into this book but for some reason it fell flat for me.  Maybe it was that I didn't really like the narrator, Kerry.  Or that the themes in the story were not unique and, in the end, predictable.  But to me, this book was just okay.  Let me explain:

The first half of the book really dragged for me.  In this first half you meet Kerry and how she wants to be popular and will do anything to get noticed by the three most popular girls (Tanya, Natalie and Makenzie) in her school.  Of course, the mean girls - the one's we all love to hate.  They're rude, they're snobby, obnoxious and yet, they somehow notice Kerry.  Just when she thinks she's finally going to hit the big time... these three girls die in a car accident.

Kerry finds herself in a slump - feeling three quarters dead (if you must).  That is until she gets a call from one of her dead friends.  Now, this second half of the book picked up for me.  Call me a masochist, but I like a good scare and, although the book was not scary per say, it did have a few moments that were goosebump worthy.  What can I tell you? I dug the ghostly mean girls.  It was mildly gory, had some violence and even touched on some adult themes, but it was still a rather tame read.  I enjoyed this latter half of the book and I found the ending to be surprisingly good.  I find that I still think about it from time to time - so that definitely brought it up a notch in my book.

All in all, this was a fast-paced read that you'll find yourself smiling over one minute and then freaked out a few pages later.  Although it really was not my cup of tea, I can definitely see its appeal and know there are many readers who will enjoy it.  I'd say if you like contemporary/paranormal YA lit, with a hint of horror thrown in, then you might want to pick this one up.

My Rating:

Till Death Do Us Bark: 43 Old Cemetery Road by Kate Klise & M. Sarah Klise (illustrator)

Title: Till Death Do Us Bark: 43 Old Cemetery Road

Author:  Kate Klise & M. Sarah Klise (illustrator)

Pages: 144

Genre: Children's

Source: Netgalley

 

The Klise sisters are back with the follow-up to 43 Old Cemetery Road: Dying to Meet You and 43 Old Cemetery Road: Over My Dead Body.  Here we once again catch up with Ignatius B. Grumply, Seymour Hope and that wonderful ghost, Olive C. Spense - who have recently acquired a new pet, a dog named Secret.

When beloved town member Noah Breth dies, his children Kanine Breth and Kitty Breth head straight back to town in order to collect their father's fortune.  But Noah had other plans... he realized his children were greedy, snobby and utterly rude to everyone, including each other.  So in the hopes that he'd bring them together, he concocts a plan to hide his wealth - leaving a bunch of limericks and riddles behind as clues.  

As the town gets involved in the mystery of Noah Breth's fortune, Seymour, Ignatius and Olive are having their own issues.  For one, they can't seem to agree on what to do with Seymour's new dog, Secret.  Iggy likes dogs, but for some reason he can't stop sneezing, not to mention he can't concentrate on this writing with Secret barking all night.  Olive is a cat lover so she thinks the dog should go... and the cat, well Shadow is just missing.  

In this third volume from 43 Old Cemetery Road, author Kate Klise and illustrator M. Sarah Klise deliver a runaway mystery. Heads or tails, it’s guaranteed to please cat and dog lovers alike—and anyone who’s ever tried to keep a secret.

Once again, this series is cleverly written in epistolary fashion. Mostly told through letters, e-mails, drawings, newspaper clippings, limericks and a Last Will.  I have become quite the fan of the sisters' Klise witty writing and fun illustrations.  I absolutely fell in love with the first book in the series and I have not been disappointed with any of the subsequent titles.  These are fun, quick reads that are geared more for the middle-grade crowd but can definitely be enjoyed by adults as well *snickers*.  My favorite part still remains the clever names of the characters who reside in the town of Ghastly, IL: Shirley U. Jest, Rita O'Bitt, Claire Voyant, Fay Tality, and of course M. Balm, the librarian! (which of course, all make the expected cameos). 

As usual, the combination between the writing and illustrations are a treat.  Full of great humor and a very sweet moral that you can devour in one sitting. 

My Rating:

The Marbury Lens by Andrew Smith

Title: The Marbury Lens

Author: Andrew Smith

Pages: 368

Genre: YA/ Teen Horror

Source: Book It Forward ARC Tours

Sixteen-year-old Jack gets drunk and is in the wrong place at the wrong time. He is kidnapped. He escapes, narrowly. The only person he tells is his best friend, Conner. When they arrive in London as planned for summer break, a stranger hands Jack a pair of glasses. Through the lenses, he sees another world called Marbury.

There is war in Marbury. It is a desolate and murderous place where Jack is responsible for the survival of two younger boys. Conner is there, too. But he’s trying to kill them.

Meanwhile, Jack is falling in love with an English girl, and afraid he’s losing his mind.

Conner tells Jack it’s going to be okay.

But it’s not. [via Goodreads]

Oh my, this book scared the bejesus out of me!  I thought this would be more of a fantasy, sci-fi type of read and instead I was taken into this maniacal, twisted world that gave me nightmares.  I am serious!  I still think about this book and I read it over a week ago. 

Jack lives in two worlds - he lives in our world and he also lives in Marbury.  Just thinking about Marbury brings me chills.  Jack who is kidnapped by a sadistic, murdering rapist - and then the visions of Marbury begin.  Marbury with its desert-like facade, demons, flesh-eating beetles and dismembered bodies.  Marbury which is almost like an addiction for Jack.  When he is in the real world (or is it real?) dreams of Marbury and finding his way back there. 

There was so much going through my mind when I read this.  Where the heck did this Marbury stem from?  Was it something like The Matrix, was Jack dead, was he hallucinating or high?  This book made me paranoid and it was just a hot mess.  But I still found myself riveted to its pages.  The premise and its cover were what originally captured my attention but once I actually started reading it - Mr. Smith's writing, Jack and his terrible ordeal, Marbury itself - were just so disturbing that I could not put it down.  (I'm a masochist, I know).

I have never read anything like this book before.  It was truly disturbing - and I say that in a good way! It was unpredictable, action-packed and just plain Awesome!

I do have to forewarn though, this is a very dark book and although it is geared for young adults - I'd recommend it for an older crowd (as within its pages you will find profanity (and lots of it), an attempted rape, dismembered corpses and even cannibalism).  I'm just saying. 

My Rating:

Shadow Hills by Anastasia Hopcus

Title: Shadow Hills

Author: Anastasia Hopcus

Pages:400

Genre: YA/ Teen

Source:  Purchased 

His love captivated her... his secrets might kill her.

Since her sister’s mysterious death, Persephone “Phe” Archer has been plagued by a series of disturbing dreams. Determined to find out what happened to her sister, Phe enrolls at Devenish Prep in Shadow Hills, Massachusetts—the subject of her sister’s final diary entry.

After stepping on campus, Phe immediately realizes that there’s something different about this place—an unexplained epidemic that decimated the town in the 1700s, an ancient and creepy cemetery, and gorgeous boy Zach—and somehow she’s connected to it all.

But the more questions she asks and the deeper she digs, the more entangled Phe becomes in the haunting past of Shadow Hills. Finding what links her to this town…might cost her her life. [via GoodReads]

I absolutely loved the premise of this book! And I have to say that the fact that there are no vampires, werewolves or other popular creatures of the night in it, was a rare treat.  

Ms. Hopcus gives us a mystery set in a boarding school (my favorite!), where normal looking teens are far from normal.  With all sorts of normal teen shenanigans going on (partying in a remote field, smoking, drinking, making out with your boyfriend in your dorm room), I felt that her characters (although magically enhanced) were realistically portrayed.  The romance between Phe and Zach was sweet - I think I might have fallen in love with Zach myself (ahem).  The backdrops - like the spooky cemetery out in the woods, a mental health hospital, and even the empty halls of the school - give it an ambiance which ranged anywhere from gothic, creepy, to downright goosebump inducing.

The story is riddled with symbolism both subtle and dark. Every time I thought I had finally unlocked the mystery, I was taken on a new unexpected turn.  The story started a bit slow for me but that was okay because it slowly built up to this fantastically riveting story - and the best part of it all is that it looks like it is the first in the series.  Kudos to Ms. Hopcus for a phenomenal debut!  I truly can't wait to see what happens next!

My Rating:

Room by Emma Donoghue

Title: Room 

Author: Emma Donoghue

Pages:336

Genre: Fiction

Source: Hachette Book Group

When I first read the synopsis for this book I was worried that I might not enjoy reading a book told through the eyes of a five year old boy.  I felt that it was either going to come across  as too childish and possibly just annoy me, or he would come off as too mature for his age and therefore make it not credible enough for me.  I'm glad to report that I worried in vain.

Ms. Donoghue gives you the chilling tale of "Ma" - who has been held captive in a shack for seven years by her captor, Old Nick.  Jack, our narrator, and the young boy who just recently turned 5 years old,  has lived his whole life inside "Room".  Let me explain, everything in Jack's world (in this case Room), is a proper noun, thus he uses words like Room, Bed, Table, Floor, Chair, Wardrobe, TV, etc., to describe the items scattered throughout his world.  He's never seen the light of day and what he does know about the outside he learns through the TV and his Ma's stories.  

When Ma concocts a bold plan to break free from Old Nick, brave, little Jack, will have to rely on his bravery and hope that luck can help them escape.

I won't go too much into the storyline, because I feel that if you plan on reading  Room you should have limited knowledge of it (like I did) before you begin - this way you get more shock value as you read it.  What I will say is that Ms. Donoghue not only gives you an imaginative story but captures the love of a mother for her child so strongly that it will bring tears to your eyes.  Imagine living in a tiny room with nothing other than a bed, a bathroom, some household items and limited kitchen utensils.  Every Sunday Old Nick comes around (while Jack hides in his wardrobe) to visit Ma.  He knows to cover his eyes and ears until the bed stops creaking and Old Nick leaves. 

Considering the dark nature of this story - hearing it through Jack's eyes gives it a lighter feel.  Jack's voice was credible - his view of the world is unique and unforgettable.  His Ma was so resilient and fiercely protective of her child.  Her ability to teach Jack, keep him healthy, exercised, well-fed and dressed was so amazing to me.  You can't help but look up to her.  Her desperation to break free of that room and get back into the real world is painfully  felt - even though you only catch glimpses of it through Jack's eyes.  

All in all, this novel was superb.  It is thought-provoking, intense, emotional and powerful.  I can't recommend it enough.

My Rating:

Dracula in Love by Karen Essex

Title: Dracula in Love
Author: Karen Essex
Pages: 384
Genre: Paranormal/ Historical Fiction
Source: Doubleday

From the shadowy banks of the River Thames to the wild and windswept coast of Yorkshire, the quintessential Victorian virgin Mina Murray vividly recounts in the pages of her private diary the intimate details of what transpired between her and Count Dracula—the joys and terrors of a pas­sionate affair and her rebellion against a force of evil that has pursued her through time.

Mina’s version of this timeless gothic vampire tale is a visceral journey into the dimly lit bedrooms, mist-filled cemeteries, and locked asylum chambers where she led a secret life, far from the chaste and polite lifestyle the defenders of her purity, and even her fiancé, Jonathan Harker, expected of her.

Bram Stoker’s classic novel was only one side of the story. Now, for the first time, Dracula’s eternal muse reveals all. What she has to say is more sensual, more devious, and more enthralling than ever imagined. The result is a scintillating gothic novel that reinvents the tragic heroine Mina as a modern woman tor­tured by desire. [via GoodReads]

First things first, I must confess that I have never read Bram Stoker's Dracula, nor have I seen the movie. You must also know that I only know very little of who Mina Murray is.  I know she and Dracula have always been linked together but as to the nature of their relationship - that was a mystery to me... "was" being the key word since this book did clarify that.

Told through Mina's perspective, we learn of the dark stranger who has been a key figure in many of her dreams since childhood.  We also get glimpses into Mina's upbringing and lifestyle now as a woman.  Throughout the story you meet various characters - that while I'm not familiar with, I have come to learn that they are well-known within the classic vampire lore - Jonathan Harker, journalist Kate Reed, Lucy Westenra and even Dr. Seward and the infamous Dr. Von Helsinger who run a creepy asylum together.  Count Vladimir Drakulya (a/k/a Dracula) is not as present as I would have liked.  He does create great ambiance for the story though.  He is a figure that although not physically present for much of the story, he is crucial to it and much of what shapes Mina's thoughts.  If you've read Elizabeth Kostova's The Historian, you'll be able to relate.  

Some things you may or may not know about this book - Ms. Essex does a great job of describing the relationship between Mina and Dracula, you really get a grasp for the appeal she holds over him.  Not to mention you can tell she did her homework with her details to the time frame the story is set in. Notwithstanding its Victorian setting, and although she does abide by the restraints woman had to adhere to at the time, Mina is a strong-willed woman, she's passionate and brave.  I really liked that she was not fragile and delicate as some related stories may lead you to believe... a wilting flower, if you may.  She stood her ground when it came to her beliefs.  The more (ahem) sexual scenes were graphic and well ... on the passionate side (if you catch my drift).  The scenes in the asylum were downright horrifying and even nightmare inducing.  It's not that great of an idea to read this late into the night or while home alone.  If you're like me you'll be scared out of your wits by anything that goes bump in the night.

I did have a few complaints though - I thought the first half of the book would never end.  It dragged for me for a few hundred pages - luckily I did stick it out and it eventually picked up.  I thought there were a lot of filler pages and even whole areas that could have just been edited out (that whole near-rape scene at the beginning - what was that about?)   The parts that really kept me interested revolved around the asylum scenes - and I was mostly terrified reading these. 

All in all, this will definitely appeal to historical fiction fans as well as to those who love classic Dracula lore... It is fast- paced (once you are half-way through), with many a twist and turn.  Sadly, for me it just didn't work - and I'm truly saddened to say that because I really wanted to like it. 

My Rating:

RIP V Challange

I have (once again) been looking forward to this challenge all year long. This is one of my favorite challenges because it gets me in that Halloween mood (and some of you should know this is one of my favorite holidays). Carl V. at Stainless Steel Droppings is hosting the R.I.P. (the fifth) Challenge again this year! I love spooky, scary and horror-filled stories around this time of year.  So this challenge is always one I like to partake of.  This year I will once again challenge myself to :

Read four books, any length, that you feel fits my very broad definition of scary. It could be Stephen King or Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Ian Fleming or Edgar Allan Poe…or anyone in between.

Here is my list of potential reads:

- City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare  (dark fantasy)

- Maybe This Time by Jennifer Crusie (ghost story)

- The Fall by Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan (horror)

- Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte (gothic)

- Shadow Hills by Anastasia Hopcus (mystery)

- Torment by Lauren Kate (gothic)

- Tales of Terror from the Black Ship - Chris Priestley (horror / shorts)

I'm sure there will be changes and additions, but for now these are the one's I'm considering.

R.I.P. V officially runs from September 1st through October 31st.  You want to join - here's the sign-up post.