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Dreamhouse Kings #1-2
House of Dark Shadows & Watcher in the Woods Two Complete Novel in One Volume
House of Dark Shadows and Watcher in the Woods. Two Complete Novels in One Volume by Robert Liparulo.
360 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 13, 2008
16 people are currently reading
235 people want to read
About the author
Robert Liparulo
32 books800 followersRobert Liparulo's novels, Comes a Horseman, Germ, Deadfall Deadlock, The 13th Tribe, and The Judgment Stone,have received rave reviews. His short story "Kill Zone" is included in the anthology Thriller, edited by James Patterson. He is also the author of the best-selling young adult series DREAMHOUSE KINGS: House of Dark Shadows, Watcher in the Woods, Gatekeepers, Timescape, Whirlwind, and Frenzy. Robert lives in Colorado with his family.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
March 5, 2010
I'll try to split this between the two stories, but they flow together so seamlessly that I didn't realize I'd started the second book until I noticed I was reading another chapter 5.
In the first book, [House of Dark Shadows:], we are introduced to the King family, mom, dad, little sister Toria, middle son David, and oldest son Xander (Alexander). They are on the way to Pinedale, where dad has just gotten a new job as principle in a school there. None of the kids are overly thrilled about the move...but kids are rarely happy about leaving everything they know behind. They move into an old run down house on the outskirts of town...and this is where things get interesting.
The house seems to play games with sight and sounds. You'll hear someone talking upstairs only to find out they're in the room right next to you. Not only that...there is a hallway lined with doors. Doors that take you to another place and time.
I loved all the kids....wasn't too fond of the parents. The story moves quickly and keeps you interested. You follow Xander and David primarily, and it's wonderful to see the world through the eyes of children again. Everything seems fresh and new, even if I know it really isn't. The story hooks you very early on and drags you along happily through all the adventures.
Warning: There may be very minor spoilers since this is about the second in the series
In the second book, [Watcher in the Wood:], the family is dealing with the disappearance of their mother, the strange appearance of a man intent on getting them out of the house by any means necessary, and a meadow that seems to take all their cares away for awhile. Secrets are revealed and feelings are hurt. I wonder if these will cause permanent damage to relationships later on, so far it's an open door to go either way.
Xander, David, Toria, and their father are all eager to jump in and help find their mother, who has disappeared through one of the portals. However, they all have their own idea of how it should be done sparking arguements, more lies, more secrets, and a few near death experiences. The pace of the story continues in a way that I could hardly tell that one book and ended and the next had started.
Two new characters are also introduced. The creepy man that is bound and determined to get the Kings out of the house, and a mysterious old man that is desperate to find a way to get there. I have the third in my cabinet waiting for me, and I just may need to move it forward in my reading list a little. They leave you with quite a cliff hanger!
4/5 for both.
In the first book, [House of Dark Shadows:], we are introduced to the King family, mom, dad, little sister Toria, middle son David, and oldest son Xander (Alexander). They are on the way to Pinedale, where dad has just gotten a new job as principle in a school there. None of the kids are overly thrilled about the move...but kids are rarely happy about leaving everything they know behind. They move into an old run down house on the outskirts of town...and this is where things get interesting.
The house seems to play games with sight and sounds. You'll hear someone talking upstairs only to find out they're in the room right next to you. Not only that...there is a hallway lined with doors. Doors that take you to another place and time.
I loved all the kids....wasn't too fond of the parents. The story moves quickly and keeps you interested. You follow Xander and David primarily, and it's wonderful to see the world through the eyes of children again. Everything seems fresh and new, even if I know it really isn't. The story hooks you very early on and drags you along happily through all the adventures.
Warning: There may be very minor spoilers since this is about the second in the series
In the second book, [Watcher in the Wood:], the family is dealing with the disappearance of their mother, the strange appearance of a man intent on getting them out of the house by any means necessary, and a meadow that seems to take all their cares away for awhile. Secrets are revealed and feelings are hurt. I wonder if these will cause permanent damage to relationships later on, so far it's an open door to go either way.
Xander, David, Toria, and their father are all eager to jump in and help find their mother, who has disappeared through one of the portals. However, they all have their own idea of how it should be done sparking arguements, more lies, more secrets, and a few near death experiences. The pace of the story continues in a way that I could hardly tell that one book and ended and the next had started.
Two new characters are also introduced. The creepy man that is bound and determined to get the Kings out of the house, and a mysterious old man that is desperate to find a way to get there. I have the third in my cabinet waiting for me, and I just may need to move it forward in my reading list a little. They leave you with quite a cliff hanger!
4/5 for both.
October 27, 2014
I honestly really enjoyed this book. I especially loved how supenseful all the fights are. It really catches you on edge. At almost every part of the book I got goosebumps. It's almost as if you are in the King family. It's extremely hard too put down the book, and when you do you regret it every minute you that you aren't reading it. I recommend this book to anyone who loves suspense and mystery.
July 20, 2016
I love books full of suspense. These were good easy reads.
May 16, 2021
4.2 Stars?
That cliff hanger tho... 😣
So, I really loved the first book, and the second one was good, but I liked it less. The stories were eerie, wild, and cool. The concepts for these books are really neat and I enjoyed leaning more about them as the stories played on. The atmosphere was a little dark and twisted with a splash of normalcy thrown in that made it even creepier in some parts.
I grew very attached to the King family and felt very at home among them. Each one had their own unique traits, and Liparulo did a fantastic job with the personalities of the siblings (several things Xander did to his brother my older brother did to me. I about died laughing at some of the scenes with how relatable they were). Xander's mood swings in the second book, though, needed to chill. They were all cute together and, like I said, I felt very at home and almost felt like a member myself (if I was there older sister I swear I would have killed them for some of the dumb things they did... Lol).
Also, kind of random, but I loved how each of the boys were named after kings, and the daughter was named after a queen. I thought that was such a cool and interesting idea!
Anyway, the two books themselves had interesting plots and were nice and twisty with little swirls of mystery and intrigue thrown in. I'm excited to pick up the rest of the series and see what adventures and craziness the King family finds themselves in.
If you're interested then give them a try. I don't think you'll be disappointed.
Until next time,
Happy reading, my friends!
That cliff hanger tho... 😣
So, I really loved the first book, and the second one was good, but I liked it less. The stories were eerie, wild, and cool. The concepts for these books are really neat and I enjoyed leaning more about them as the stories played on. The atmosphere was a little dark and twisted with a splash of normalcy thrown in that made it even creepier in some parts.
I grew very attached to the King family and felt very at home among them. Each one had their own unique traits, and Liparulo did a fantastic job with the personalities of the siblings (several things Xander did to his brother my older brother did to me. I about died laughing at some of the scenes with how relatable they were). Xander's mood swings in the second book, though, needed to chill. They were all cute together and, like I said, I felt very at home and almost felt like a member myself (if I was there older sister I swear I would have killed them for some of the dumb things they did... Lol).
Also, kind of random, but I loved how each of the boys were named after kings, and the daughter was named after a queen. I thought that was such a cool and interesting idea!
Anyway, the two books themselves had interesting plots and were nice and twisty with little swirls of mystery and intrigue thrown in. I'm excited to pick up the rest of the series and see what adventures and craziness the King family finds themselves in.
If you're interested then give them a try. I don't think you'll be disappointed.
Until next time,
Happy reading, my friends!
September 14, 2018
I think this was the funnest read of 2018 for me. I felt like I was part of the King family, living in their creepy house. This short book is dripping with suspense, adventure and 'aha!' moments. This was a great little collection too that puts the two stories together. A perfect read for Halloween!
October 16, 2017
it was pretty boring at first some parts were okay but the boys acted scared. i would not recommend this book to a friend at all. People said some good stuff about this book and so i was like it sounds good so i will read it. i did not like this book at all.
November 8, 2017
This book was an easy read. The fight/action scenes are very well written. After the first book, I was hesitant to even start the 2nd. I’d say this series is a mix between Chronicles of Narnia and Jamanji.
October 15, 2021
This is such a phenomenal book series! I read it in high school and I have not been able to forget it since, I recommended it to multiple people and not been able to remember the name so I’m so glad that I found it again!!
June 9, 2019
Young adult series, Christian fiction, very good story.
January 2, 2022
Very easy reads but super suspenseful! Loved them!
December 31, 2023
My favorite books when I was a teen!
November 20, 2011
I got this book from the library because in the blurb it sounded interesting. It turned out to be not so interesting once I started reading.
I love the concept, that there's a weird old house out there that can do things that aren't normal, like have portals to different places and times, but it didn't work as well in execution as I thought it would. I'm not even really sure why - but I think it was the characters. I had a hard time connecting with them, so I had a hard time caring what happened to them. I wasn't even able to finish it - and I tried really hard to like it.
I love the concept, that there's a weird old house out there that can do things that aren't normal, like have portals to different places and times, but it didn't work as well in execution as I thought it would. I'm not even really sure why - but I think it was the characters. I had a hard time connecting with them, so I had a hard time caring what happened to them. I wasn't even able to finish it - and I tried really hard to like it.
October 19, 2011
If you like a creepy tale that is so real you think it might actually be able to happen, this one's for you. When a family moves across country to live in a house filled with strange sounds and mysterious portals to other places in the local school, two boys can't help but be drawn into exploring the possibilities. But then, the impossible begins to happen and they are in a race for their lives. Good, creepy fare for anytime, but especially the Halloween season.
March 12, 2013
I really enjoyed both of these books. Actually, I had a hard time putting the Watcher In The Woods down. It was a surprise when I hit the last page and had to start the next book in the series; "Gatekeepers". Great family story, strong sibling support, and a downright good little thriller.
March 7, 2011
Good book for kids...especially boys...looking forward to reading the next in the series...Watcher in the Woods
July 9, 2011
I love this entire series. It is a fun adventure through doors that take you to unknown time and place and you must find your way home. Great read for Jr High on up.
April 25, 2012
this whole series is amazing and i MEAN amazing!!!!!
January 9, 2013
This book was awsome.
Read
October 4, 2014I love these books!! It is so engaging and interesting to read! I at first was skeptical, but now I wish there were more books to it even though there is 6 books!
August 3, 2013
Starts off confusing, but when you get into it, the better the book gets.
April 12, 2014
Derivative and poorly written.
February 4, 2015
These books were very odd to begin with because of the fact that it starts of boring but they are great books and well wrote
December 15, 2010
WOAH totally creepy and suspenseful, just my kind of book! :D
February 5, 2016
loved it
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews