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Birch Harbor #1
Asylum
Across the country, hidden in plain sight, are the forgotten remains of a once-great psychiatric the asylum. These crumbling castles all share a common appearance and history. They inspire curiosity, fear, and even a few urban legends.Chloe Adams came to Birch Harbor, a small college town in the U.P., to escape the stigma of mental illness. Her new roommate Sam Klingeman, came to drink her weight in vodka and find a hot guy with a trust fund. Between Chloe's developing relationship with campus hockey hero and floor RA, Seth Maird, trying to be the voice of moderation for Sam, and her new position as teacher's assistant for the eccentric Dr. Willard, she's stayed busy enough to keep the past firmly behind her.But the voices return...and this time, she's not the only one that can hear them.The beautiful old dormitory she lives in is hiding a secret. A secret that will uncover a dark plot 200 years in the making. Will Chloe be able to hold onto the new life she's worked so hard to build, will she relapse into a world of her own making, or will she, perhaps, fulfill the legacy she was born into?
382 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 20, 2011
51 people are currently reading
1457 people want to read
About the author
Kristen Selleck
11 books34 followersKristen Selleck is avidly evil. Until recently, she worked as a mad scientist. After several diabolical attempts at world domination proved unsuccessful (most notably, building an army of robots from used pipettes, empty reagent boxes, and other things left lying around the lab), she decided to pick up the pen. She used the pen to poke an annoying lady at the gas station in the eyeball. Then she decided to write. She has been known to speak with a strong Russian accent. This is inexplicable due to the fact that she was born in Detroit. It has also been documented that she likes vodka, roller coasters, things which are purple, and blowing things up with dry ice. She abhors kittens, wood paneling popularized in the 1970's, and her arch-nemesis Jimmy (the Evil Overlord of Specimen Processing). She was last known to reside in Grand Rapids, and may be in the company of two tiny minions, and her devoted henchman, Shad. If seen, please contact the FBI immediately (she owes someone in Accounting a sandwich).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
January 3, 2012
Although the base story of the asylum/dormitory was pretty interesting, there just wasn't enough of it to justify really liking this book. The romance between Chloe and Seth felt forced and improbable, and there is a lot of book filler pertaining to it. I had a hard time believing that such a described "perfect" guy would be interested in Chloe for no other reason than "just because". It had a Bella and Edward feel to it in that a decidedly remarkable guy falls in love with what we are led to believe is a "troubled" and unremarkable girl, having no real idea if they have anything in common or what her real personality is like. The only thing he really knows about her is "she is shy", and he is supposed to find that endearing to the point of obsession?
Chloe came off to me as one of those kinds of "mentally ill" people who actually aren't. For one thing she is described as being schizophrenic to the point that she has to be put into asylums, but she is able to control it enough that she can "escape" from one, go to college using her real name, and no one really cares too much (besides her mother)? Also, when her mother accuses her of escaping for attention because she did so the day before her 18th birthday and Chloe counters with the accusation that her mother would just come with some order to keep her in another year, my issue is this: if she is so sick that there are such orders, be it from a psychiatrist or court, would she not be required to be on medication? But later it is only mentioned in passing that both her and her mother agreed "no medications". Modern day mental health facilities are not boarding houses, they are more like rehabilitation facilities in that they are meant to treat people, and the biggest treatment method for schizophrenics is a combination of medication and therapy. I assumed it was common knowledge that if a schizophrenic person refuses their medication, that their mental state is either going to not improve, or decline considerably. But Chloe seems to possess some amazing gift to control her delusions through simple anger and anxiety management techniques. Which is another point, she sounds less like a "schitzo" to me, and more like someone suffering from social anxiety (which she overcomes conveniently quite a few times, whether its to attend classes and social functions unphased while only the day before she was almost paralyzed with fear about moving into her dorm room, or spilling her beans about being a "schitzo" to her new best friend only a couple of days after meeting her.) I would call her a Mary Sue, but I couldn't find enough likable qualities to justify the claim. Almost all of the characters were so one dimensional I had a hard time mustering up ANY sort of feeling for them outside of disbelief. Surprisingly Chloe's mother was the best written character, considering she has the least amount of page time. I actually found myself hating her for her behavior and the things she said. Bravo.
As much as it seems I am just shitting on this book, I am really not trying to. The main story was legitimately interesting. The bit where they go into the woods to speak to a former patient is great. THAT character is great, but we see even less of him than we do Chloe's mother. This could have been a great book if not for the forced romance between Seth and Chloe. It just didn't feel natural at ALL. Unfortunately without it, this book also would have been only a fourth as long.
Chloe came off to me as one of those kinds of "mentally ill" people who actually aren't. For one thing she is described as being schizophrenic to the point that she has to be put into asylums, but she is able to control it enough that she can "escape" from one, go to college using her real name, and no one really cares too much (besides her mother)? Also, when her mother accuses her of escaping for attention because she did so the day before her 18th birthday and Chloe counters with the accusation that her mother would just come with some order to keep her in another year, my issue is this: if she is so sick that there are such orders, be it from a psychiatrist or court, would she not be required to be on medication? But later it is only mentioned in passing that both her and her mother agreed "no medications". Modern day mental health facilities are not boarding houses, they are more like rehabilitation facilities in that they are meant to treat people, and the biggest treatment method for schizophrenics is a combination of medication and therapy. I assumed it was common knowledge that if a schizophrenic person refuses their medication, that their mental state is either going to not improve, or decline considerably. But Chloe seems to possess some amazing gift to control her delusions through simple anger and anxiety management techniques. Which is another point, she sounds less like a "schitzo" to me, and more like someone suffering from social anxiety (which she overcomes conveniently quite a few times, whether its to attend classes and social functions unphased while only the day before she was almost paralyzed with fear about moving into her dorm room, or spilling her beans about being a "schitzo" to her new best friend only a couple of days after meeting her.) I would call her a Mary Sue, but I couldn't find enough likable qualities to justify the claim. Almost all of the characters were so one dimensional I had a hard time mustering up ANY sort of feeling for them outside of disbelief. Surprisingly Chloe's mother was the best written character, considering she has the least amount of page time. I actually found myself hating her for her behavior and the things she said. Bravo.
As much as it seems I am just shitting on this book, I am really not trying to. The main story was legitimately interesting. The bit where they go into the woods to speak to a former patient is great. THAT character is great, but we see even less of him than we do Chloe's mother. This could have been a great book if not for the forced romance between Seth and Chloe. It just didn't feel natural at ALL. Unfortunately without it, this book also would have been only a fourth as long.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 19, 2012
I picked this book up at some point because it was only .99 and yesterday I had to rush out and forgot my kindle! I started looking through books I had on my kindle app on my Iphone and started to read this book.
I was hooked from the first page I really loved it! Most of the way through the book I wanted to just gush how much I loved this book and give it 5 stars and tell anyone who likes paranormal books to read this, and while I still think that last part I had to settle for 4 stars.
I try really hard to not put spoilers in a review but this one I have to so here is your warning don't read past this if you don't want to read spoilers!
Ok, I loved the book up until the last half of it. I just really could not get into the whole Abraham's men thing, I mean I loved that the dorm being haunted was leading up to something but I was a bit let down when it was a whole "bad men" thing.
The part when Chloe tells George to posses her and then she is all inside her body and fighting to get out thing was sooooo drawn out for me! I was tempted to skip to where she woke back up!
Ok, the very last part of the book, the poor girl FINALLY gets a night alone with her boyfriend and wow I mean what a relationship that has been and she can't sleep instead she has to go read a book her dad got her!? Ok, yeah I get it she can't let the bad men thing go etc... but let her sleep one night in peace read it tomorrow! Please, enjoy your boyfriend for once without second guessing everything!
I did like Seth, Sam was a bit annoying and this is just a pet peeve of mine but I HATE when there is a female character in a book with a guys name (yes I know short for Samantha) it just annoys me. I did not base any stars on this just pointing it out!
So on ending if you enjoy paranormal books this is a really good read!
I was hooked from the first page I really loved it! Most of the way through the book I wanted to just gush how much I loved this book and give it 5 stars and tell anyone who likes paranormal books to read this, and while I still think that last part I had to settle for 4 stars.
I try really hard to not put spoilers in a review but this one I have to so here is your warning don't read past this if you don't want to read spoilers!
Ok, I loved the book up until the last half of it. I just really could not get into the whole Abraham's men thing, I mean I loved that the dorm being haunted was leading up to something but I was a bit let down when it was a whole "bad men" thing.
The part when Chloe tells George to posses her and then she is all inside her body and fighting to get out thing was sooooo drawn out for me! I was tempted to skip to where she woke back up!
Ok, the very last part of the book, the poor girl FINALLY gets a night alone with her boyfriend and wow I mean what a relationship that has been and she can't sleep instead she has to go read a book her dad got her!? Ok, yeah I get it she can't let the bad men thing go etc... but let her sleep one night in peace read it tomorrow! Please, enjoy your boyfriend for once without second guessing everything!
I did like Seth, Sam was a bit annoying and this is just a pet peeve of mine but I HATE when there is a female character in a book with a guys name (yes I know short for Samantha) it just annoys me. I did not base any stars on this just pointing it out!
So on ending if you enjoy paranormal books this is a really good read!
October 19, 2013
I got this book free, so I can't complain too much. Although, as a "teaser" to get you to buy the other 2 books in the series, it should have been edited much better than it was.
The story was tight and well written. The characters were fleshed out very well; I felt like I really got to know all of the main characters. It was difficult to put the down at times, either because I didn't want to stop reading, or couldn't find a good spot to take a break.
Which brings me to the editing problems. The biggest problem I found was the extraordinarily long chapters, with very few breaks for the reader to pause reading. I found myself having to stop in the middle of a page, then having to re-read a couple of paragraphs when I picked it back up. There were also quite a few spelling and grammar mistakes. Sometimes entire words were missing.Sometimes there were extra words, as if the author started a thought then decided to take a different path, but forgot to delete her original thought. There were some punctuation errors, but those were fairly easy to overlook.
I would have given it 4 stars if not for the editing mistakes. It's a really good read, and a bit of a page-turner. I'm looking forward to reading the 2nd book in the series, even though I'll have to pay for it. ;-)
The story was tight and well written. The characters were fleshed out very well; I felt like I really got to know all of the main characters. It was difficult to put the down at times, either because I didn't want to stop reading, or couldn't find a good spot to take a break.
Which brings me to the editing problems. The biggest problem I found was the extraordinarily long chapters, with very few breaks for the reader to pause reading. I found myself having to stop in the middle of a page, then having to re-read a couple of paragraphs when I picked it back up. There were also quite a few spelling and grammar mistakes. Sometimes entire words were missing.Sometimes there were extra words, as if the author started a thought then decided to take a different path, but forgot to delete her original thought. There were some punctuation errors, but those were fairly easy to overlook.
I would have given it 4 stars if not for the editing mistakes. It's a really good read, and a bit of a page-turner. I'm looking forward to reading the 2nd book in the series, even though I'll have to pay for it. ;-)
December 31, 2011
Instantly liked the 3 main characters. Not sure I loved the ending (little extreme) but looking forward to the next book.
May 16, 2012
This was a really creepy read. I wish that I had saved this one for Halloween becuase its such a great ghost story.
Sam and Chloe end up as roommates in college. Both are trying to leave behind bad experiences in highshool and at home but are dealing with their problems very differently. Chloe had issues with mental illness while in high school and is trying to move forward and leave it behind. However, she discovers that the college dorm was built to be a mental hospital before the school was founded. School begins pretty normally with college freshmen doing as most do alot of drinking and partying and foolish dares. Sam and Chloe were dared to take a Ouija board to the bell tower and thats where the ghost was first contacted. Things tend to take a turn for the weird at this point. Alot of strange things start happening like writing appearing on the walls and lights turning on and off. Chloe's new boyfriend, Seth, doesn't believe in the paranormal and tries to explain it all away til he's forced to see what is really going on.
As with anything, there were things that I liked and didn't like about this book. It was definitely a fun easy read. It was a eerie ghost story with a dash of romance thrown in. The characters themselves were not all that strong, however. I kept expecting them to run away screaming and not look back. Chloe was the weakest of the three and there were times you just wanted her to open her eyes and not be so down on herself. Sam was also quite a mess. She drank way too much and thought the worst in everybody, especially men. So this story didn't start out with a strong female character, altho I guess that's not a requirement for a good book. But toward the end Chloe did get a bit stronger and started to see what life is really about.
You really learn alot about the treatment of mental illness today as well as throughout history. The author did a really good job of weaving a ghost story around this as well. This really added to the creepiness of the story as we hear about the tortures that took place in the old asylums.
Overall, I did really enjoy the book. The editing did need some work, I found alot of spelling error and one spot a name was completely different from what it should have been. But these errors didn't really take away from the story. The ending was a bit on the hollywood side. It seemed a bit out of place from the rest of the story and more like what you might see in a movie. However, even with a Hollywood ending I am still curious to see how this will continue in the next book. I will definitely continue this series, at least for now.
Sam and Chloe end up as roommates in college. Both are trying to leave behind bad experiences in highshool and at home but are dealing with their problems very differently. Chloe had issues with mental illness while in high school and is trying to move forward and leave it behind. However, she discovers that the college dorm was built to be a mental hospital before the school was founded. School begins pretty normally with college freshmen doing as most do alot of drinking and partying and foolish dares. Sam and Chloe were dared to take a Ouija board to the bell tower and thats where the ghost was first contacted. Things tend to take a turn for the weird at this point. Alot of strange things start happening like writing appearing on the walls and lights turning on and off. Chloe's new boyfriend, Seth, doesn't believe in the paranormal and tries to explain it all away til he's forced to see what is really going on.
As with anything, there were things that I liked and didn't like about this book. It was definitely a fun easy read. It was a eerie ghost story with a dash of romance thrown in. The characters themselves were not all that strong, however. I kept expecting them to run away screaming and not look back. Chloe was the weakest of the three and there were times you just wanted her to open her eyes and not be so down on herself. Sam was also quite a mess. She drank way too much and thought the worst in everybody, especially men. So this story didn't start out with a strong female character, altho I guess that's not a requirement for a good book. But toward the end Chloe did get a bit stronger and started to see what life is really about.
You really learn alot about the treatment of mental illness today as well as throughout history. The author did a really good job of weaving a ghost story around this as well. This really added to the creepiness of the story as we hear about the tortures that took place in the old asylums.
Overall, I did really enjoy the book. The editing did need some work, I found alot of spelling error and one spot a name was completely different from what it should have been. But these errors didn't really take away from the story. The ending was a bit on the hollywood side. It seemed a bit out of place from the rest of the story and more like what you might see in a movie. However, even with a Hollywood ending I am still curious to see how this will continue in the next book. I will definitely continue this series, at least for now.
September 23, 2012
Wow. Been meaning to read this since I downloaded it last Christmas. First, the dialogue in this was a breath of fresh air for someone who reads a lot of YA. Instead of being stilted, insipid, and stiff, it comes across very naturally--very realistic language. That being said, some of it might not be appropriate for younger teens.
The story itself is really quite unique, seems to be a mishmash of genres, eclipsing horror, romance, mystery, and is even very humorous at times, especially in the mouthy character of Sam. There was a moment created while the main characters were driving to Traverse City-- the scooby doo reference. That one made me almost feel like I was there with them, laughing along.
I'm not a huge fan of female protags without a backbone, and I had a hard time connecting with Chloe at first. It took a few chapters for me to warm up to her. After that, I began to see her as a character who wanted very much to be strong but had been twisted by emotional and verbal abuse until they became the kind of person who cringes every time they open their mouths. Like any abused animal, she slowly became more trusting and more driven by self-will after the patient and constant support shown to her by both Seth and Sam.
And Seth! Love that character! Only, he seems a lot older than, what is he supposed to be 21 or 22? He acts more like a serious and considerate middle-aged man. Though maybe I just never ran into that type of guy when I was at college, lol.
This plot twisted along containing interesting bits of history, and some really sweet romantic scenes, as well as ghostly encounters, and angsty hormone-driven drama. The ending was a little hard to get, if you've never heard of existentialism. That sort of how-do-we-define-reality question, isn't one you expect to get hit with reading a paranormal YA romance, and I get that it's off-putting. But to me, that makes it a better read-- thoughts that stick with you after the book is put down. The one thing I wasn't sold on was the insertion of a religious figure as a means to wrap up Chloe's inner crisis. In such a well-plotted and original piece, with such great multi-layered characters, the character of Father Andrew seemed like a stock personage added on simply to finish the book tidily. But then again- how does one neatly wrap up an existential crisis?
Bottom line is, if this was Kristen Selleck's first novel, I can't wait to see what she does with the next one.
The story itself is really quite unique, seems to be a mishmash of genres, eclipsing horror, romance, mystery, and is even very humorous at times, especially in the mouthy character of Sam. There was a moment created while the main characters were driving to Traverse City-- the scooby doo reference. That one made me almost feel like I was there with them, laughing along.
I'm not a huge fan of female protags without a backbone, and I had a hard time connecting with Chloe at first. It took a few chapters for me to warm up to her. After that, I began to see her as a character who wanted very much to be strong but had been twisted by emotional and verbal abuse until they became the kind of person who cringes every time they open their mouths. Like any abused animal, she slowly became more trusting and more driven by self-will after the patient and constant support shown to her by both Seth and Sam.
And Seth! Love that character! Only, he seems a lot older than, what is he supposed to be 21 or 22? He acts more like a serious and considerate middle-aged man. Though maybe I just never ran into that type of guy when I was at college, lol.
This plot twisted along containing interesting bits of history, and some really sweet romantic scenes, as well as ghostly encounters, and angsty hormone-driven drama. The ending was a little hard to get, if you've never heard of existentialism. That sort of how-do-we-define-reality question, isn't one you expect to get hit with reading a paranormal YA romance, and I get that it's off-putting. But to me, that makes it a better read-- thoughts that stick with you after the book is put down. The one thing I wasn't sold on was the insertion of a religious figure as a means to wrap up Chloe's inner crisis. In such a well-plotted and original piece, with such great multi-layered characters, the character of Father Andrew seemed like a stock personage added on simply to finish the book tidily. But then again- how does one neatly wrap up an existential crisis?
Bottom line is, if this was Kristen Selleck's first novel, I can't wait to see what she does with the next one.
December 12, 2012
I started out so excited for this book. While it was a fun read it fell a little short. I didn't get engrossed like I had hoped. Or creeped out. The premise was good. The characters were decent, but while I understand the age of the characters, they came off very immature and hard to connect with. The main character Chloe, has had a rough time growing up. Hearing voices in her head causes her mother to put her in an asylum and give up hope on her. She escapes a day shy of her 18th birthday and enrolls in college. While there she meets her older and attractive floor RA Seth and her new roomate Sam. Chloe has gone through all this required growing up and taken so much responsibility for her life and actions but she comes off still very naive and immature. Again, I realize the age, so I don't hold it against the book too much, just a point of frustration for me. Her roomate Sam was even more immature but I felt less aggitated by that fact. It was much more fitting for her character. Seth was sweet and the most resonable one in the group. His character was also probably the easiest one to build a relationship with. My only problem with him is he came off a little meek. Not that he should be some raging alpha 20 something, but he may benefit from a dose more of confidence. He just shyly missed the mark of the self aware, all star hottie he was played up to be.
The story had it's interesting twists and turns but felt like a lot of details with no progression at times. There were a few circles ran chasing our tails.
But not all is lost! I feel like a lot of my hang ups with the book were the typical first book in a series. There has to be world building and background and it can choke the story. This series was not a waste of time by any means and had it's good points too. The creativity behind the asylum origins, the voices, and the ghosts was interesting and leaves a lot of room for exploration and story. The characters, with their faults and all, were not a lost cause and will be intriguing to watch grow as people. The romance between Seth and Chloe has just started. It is a series that seems to be heading in the right direction, and will grow with each book.
The story had it's interesting twists and turns but felt like a lot of details with no progression at times. There were a few circles ran chasing our tails.
But not all is lost! I feel like a lot of my hang ups with the book were the typical first book in a series. There has to be world building and background and it can choke the story. This series was not a waste of time by any means and had it's good points too. The creativity behind the asylum origins, the voices, and the ghosts was interesting and leaves a lot of room for exploration and story. The characters, with their faults and all, were not a lost cause and will be intriguing to watch grow as people. The romance between Seth and Chloe has just started. It is a series that seems to be heading in the right direction, and will grow with each book.
June 11, 2016
Hard to say... the main character was a total Mary Sue with absolutely no self-esteem. She enjoys telling her boyfriend (who is actually very sweet and blessedly, very patient) all the reasons he shouldn't date her, the number one reason being that she's "a mess." She's also painfully naive and innocent, to the point where I kinda wanted to see something bad happen to her for the sheer delight of watching her squirm.
There were many times I wanted to DNF this book, but I just kept reading. Why did I finish? And why three stars? One star was a gimme because the book is set in the UP of Michigan, where yours truly happens to call home (or at least, used to). Granted, some of the "UP stuff" was a little overdone... We really don't eat that many pasties, we're not all obsessed with the outdoors and snowmobiling (though some very much are!!), and there are usually franchise restaurants even in the smallest of towns, but especially one with a college. I will say this though, there is in fact a restaurant (maybe even two) named "Eat." But I live in the South now and there are some "Eat"s here, too! Not a UP thing, just a small town, rural-thing.
I couldn't stand the MC but I adored her roommate, Sam. She was so snarky and funny! I would have loved to have her as my college roommate. What I did not love? The name Sam being so close to the name Seth. Additionally, the socially-prescribed "maleness" of the name Sam did not help me keep the roommate and the boyfriend straight in my mind.
And one final star for the way the book improved as the story developed. I went into this book thinking it was going to be a horror story. It's not exactly that scary but it is a passable mystery. Once I reoriented myself to that genre I found the plot more enjoyable.
Will I be reading Book 2? Eh... Can't tell quite yet. But if I learned nothing else from this book it's to go easy on the 'ole DNF trigger!
There were many times I wanted to DNF this book, but I just kept reading. Why did I finish? And why three stars? One star was a gimme because the book is set in the UP of Michigan, where yours truly happens to call home (or at least, used to). Granted, some of the "UP stuff" was a little overdone... We really don't eat that many pasties, we're not all obsessed with the outdoors and snowmobiling (though some very much are!!), and there are usually franchise restaurants even in the smallest of towns, but especially one with a college. I will say this though, there is in fact a restaurant (maybe even two) named "Eat." But I live in the South now and there are some "Eat"s here, too! Not a UP thing, just a small town, rural-thing.
I couldn't stand the MC but I adored her roommate, Sam. She was so snarky and funny! I would have loved to have her as my college roommate. What I did not love? The name Sam being so close to the name Seth. Additionally, the socially-prescribed "maleness" of the name Sam did not help me keep the roommate and the boyfriend straight in my mind.
And one final star for the way the book improved as the story developed. I went into this book thinking it was going to be a horror story. It's not exactly that scary but it is a passable mystery. Once I reoriented myself to that genre I found the plot more enjoyable.
Will I be reading Book 2? Eh... Can't tell quite yet. But if I learned nothing else from this book it's to go easy on the 'ole DNF trigger!
January 15, 2012
This book was so good! I could not put it down. I have no idea how it was possible to read it in two days when I´ve been working the whole day and taken care of my son the rest of the time, but I did, that is how good it was. AMAZING.
I loved the character Chloe, she is just so lovable and she is trying so hard to be normal and forget about her past at the nut house, but the voices and her room mate won´t have any of that and I just feel so sorry for her. I also really like Seth, he is so down to earth and exactly what Chloe needs.
This book got me hooked from the very first sentence: " 'The Devil´s best trick is to convince you that he does not exist! Do you hear me brothers and sisters? Do you hear-' Chloe snapped the radio off." I mean, how can you not want to read more after that introduction. This is a great ghost story and it will keep you reading till the very end and wish there was more.
It is exiting, thrilling and really funny at times. I laughed more that once while reading this. It is most definitively worth your time so Please I ask you to give this one a chance, you won´t be disappointed I promise!
I loved the character Chloe, she is just so lovable and she is trying so hard to be normal and forget about her past at the nut house, but the voices and her room mate won´t have any of that and I just feel so sorry for her. I also really like Seth, he is so down to earth and exactly what Chloe needs.
This book got me hooked from the very first sentence: " 'The Devil´s best trick is to convince you that he does not exist! Do you hear me brothers and sisters? Do you hear-' Chloe snapped the radio off." I mean, how can you not want to read more after that introduction. This is a great ghost story and it will keep you reading till the very end and wish there was more.
It is exiting, thrilling and really funny at times. I laughed more that once while reading this. It is most definitively worth your time so Please I ask you to give this one a chance, you won´t be disappointed I promise!
October 9, 2013
Started out very strong. I liked the characters of Chloe, Seth and Sam. The "haunted dorm" thing has been done, but the author's handling of it seemed well thought out and unique.
Unfortunately, about half way, maybe 2/3 of the way through, I just lost interest. I can't really explain why. I think nothing was really happening, and one can really only read so much of "does he like me? why does he want to hang out with me?"
I pushed on to the end and was a bit disappointed. The part with the possession seemed to take too long. I kept wanting to tell George that if he wanted to say something, just spit it out and stop complaining on how no one was understanding him.
The priest bit thing just seemed to come out of left field. No one acted at all religious before that. Maybe if it had been a little more explicit about going to Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve, the ending would not seem to have been such a curve ball.
Not sure I'm interested enough in the characters to read another book with them, but this one was written and plotted well enough that I might .
Unfortunately, about half way, maybe 2/3 of the way through, I just lost interest. I can't really explain why. I think nothing was really happening, and one can really only read so much of "does he like me? why does he want to hang out with me?"
I pushed on to the end and was a bit disappointed. The part with the possession seemed to take too long. I kept wanting to tell George that if he wanted to say something, just spit it out and stop complaining on how no one was understanding him.
The priest bit thing just seemed to come out of left field. No one acted at all religious before that. Maybe if it had been a little more explicit about going to Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve, the ending would not seem to have been such a curve ball.
Not sure I'm interested enough in the characters to read another book with them, but this one was written and plotted well enough that I might .
December 18, 2012
Asylum (The Birch Harbor Series #1)
5 stars
I want to give this book about 28 stars! No story has strummed my heartstrings like this one since I read Kealan Patrick Burke’s “The Number 121 to Pennsylvania.” Author Kristin Selleck digs so deeply in this novel: ghosts, hauntings, asylum history, romance, contemporary mental health issues, control freaks (don’t worry, you’ll definitely find some), first-year-college in a new locale, and more. I totally loved this book, am racing to get the next in the series, and plan to reread and reread.
5 stars
I want to give this book about 28 stars! No story has strummed my heartstrings like this one since I read Kealan Patrick Burke’s “The Number 121 to Pennsylvania.” Author Kristin Selleck digs so deeply in this novel: ghosts, hauntings, asylum history, romance, contemporary mental health issues, control freaks (don’t worry, you’ll definitely find some), first-year-college in a new locale, and more. I totally loved this book, am racing to get the next in the series, and plan to reread and reread.
December 22, 2011
This book was awesome, I loved it from the start. I'm still unsure about the ending though. It may be a little too much for me to get my head around. I'm really curious about how the next book will play out. It definitely piqued my curiousity, I found myself researching old asylums while reading this.
January 5, 2012
I loved this book and can't wait for the next in the series. It had just enough creep factor to keep me interested and I couldn't help but root for Chloe and Seth.....good job on your first book Kristen Selleck.
April 12, 2012
I really liked this book. Ending was a little odd, but overall it was good.
April 25, 2012
There were some formatting issues in the Kindle edition, but the story was good enough that I overlooked them. I'm looking forward to the next in the series.
July 3, 2020
Excellent read!!
March 30, 2024
One of the best series I’ve read! It’s a great, complex story full of mystery, super interesting. Very talented writing! I loved it!
January 17, 2026
It started out ok but went from bad to worse. The ending was horrible. This is part of a series. I will not be reading the rest.
November 14, 2018
I was eager to read this because of the former-asylum setting, which I find really compelling. I know that in practise asylums weren't maze-like warrens of rooms, etc., but that's still the vague mental image I have in my head, and I like the idea of a setting in which characters risk being lost in more ways than one.
The book felt like quite a slog to get through, though, and I'm still not entirely sure why. Partly because a lot of the action/drama is centred around the relationship, I think, and it's a relationship that never really convinced me. Partly because the asylum setting is used only in a bare-bones way—more of a backdrop than anything. (That is, there's plot to do with the former asylum, but the space itself is used in a fairly limited way.)
This had been on my to-read list for such a long time that I'm glad I finally read it, but I won't be continuing with the series. Just not what I was looking for.
The book felt like quite a slog to get through, though, and I'm still not entirely sure why. Partly because a lot of the action/drama is centred around the relationship, I think, and it's a relationship that never really convinced me. Partly because the asylum setting is used only in a bare-bones way—more of a backdrop than anything. (That is, there's plot to do with the former asylum, but the space itself is used in a fairly limited way.)
This had been on my to-read list for such a long time that I'm glad I finally read it, but I won't be continuing with the series. Just not what I was looking for.
January 23, 2025
2⭐️
For a young adult book, (I’m assuming) all the characters act about as mature as a fifth grader. “OMG DID YOU KISS HIM? CHLOE AND SETH SITTING IN A TREE~” “Shut up!” <- cringe coming from college aged adults.
Pretty sure this was a .99 cent deal on my kindle 10 years ago when I got it, makes sense I suppose. I wouldn’t pay more than that to read this.
Though all of the above stated, the premise of the story was good. Execution went absolutely wrong.
DNFing this series.
For a young adult book, (I’m assuming) all the characters act about as mature as a fifth grader. “OMG DID YOU KISS HIM? CHLOE AND SETH SITTING IN A TREE~” “Shut up!” <- cringe coming from college aged adults.
Pretty sure this was a .99 cent deal on my kindle 10 years ago when I got it, makes sense I suppose. I wouldn’t pay more than that to read this.
Though all of the above stated, the premise of the story was good. Execution went absolutely wrong.
DNFing this series.
August 13, 2016
I bought this book for my Kindle when I was playing around at Amazon one day. I was intrigued by the synopsis of the book because I wondered exactly what would happen if a woman, formerly of a mental hospital, were to begin classes in a building slated to be a mental hospital. If you tossed a bit of romance, freshman year of college and liberal amounts of paranormal activity, you'd have this book in a nutshell. But that wasn't all the book had to offer, as I found out the further I read.
Part of me identified with Chloe. No, it wasn't the certifiable part either. I was a shy, bookish type of girl in school that found it difficult to make friends. On that level, I related to her very well. Of course, other characters filled the stereotypical cast found at many colleges nowadays including the go-to party girl, the uber jocks, and even the one weird professor that nearly everyone misunderstands. They each brought their individual elements to the book and their interactions kept the story moving forward.
It did take a few chapters for the book to find its footing. I was happy that the pacing of the book slipped into a steady rhythm. I would have devoured this book in a day or two if I had no other obligations to attend to. I still found it to be a fairly quick read that ended with a good resolution. There were some doors left open for the next offering in the series but I felt that there were enough answers to keep me satisfied for the time being.
There were only a few issues that kept me from completely enjoying the book. Within the first few chapters of the book, I came across several grammar mistakes such as using commas in place of periods or not capitalizing the first word of a sentence. While I understand that some of these issues can be explained by their being used within dialogue, it was confusing for me to read four or five sentences connected by commas. It made that part of the conversation seemed rushed, almost like Six, the best friend from Blossom, was trying to speak for the character instead.
Overall, I liked the story and the place where it lead the characters. The idea was a great one for many other stories to come. In my honest opinion, if this book were to have a thorough editing, it would be a much bigger hit. In the end, it was a great way to pass the time. I would recommend this to anyone who loves a good ghost story mixed with a bit of adventure and possibly reliving that dreaded freshman year of college!
Part of me identified with Chloe. No, it wasn't the certifiable part either. I was a shy, bookish type of girl in school that found it difficult to make friends. On that level, I related to her very well. Of course, other characters filled the stereotypical cast found at many colleges nowadays including the go-to party girl, the uber jocks, and even the one weird professor that nearly everyone misunderstands. They each brought their individual elements to the book and their interactions kept the story moving forward.
It did take a few chapters for the book to find its footing. I was happy that the pacing of the book slipped into a steady rhythm. I would have devoured this book in a day or two if I had no other obligations to attend to. I still found it to be a fairly quick read that ended with a good resolution. There were some doors left open for the next offering in the series but I felt that there were enough answers to keep me satisfied for the time being.
There were only a few issues that kept me from completely enjoying the book. Within the first few chapters of the book, I came across several grammar mistakes such as using commas in place of periods or not capitalizing the first word of a sentence. While I understand that some of these issues can be explained by their being used within dialogue, it was confusing for me to read four or five sentences connected by commas. It made that part of the conversation seemed rushed, almost like Six, the best friend from Blossom, was trying to speak for the character instead.
Overall, I liked the story and the place where it lead the characters. The idea was a great one for many other stories to come. In my honest opinion, if this book were to have a thorough editing, it would be a much bigger hit. In the end, it was a great way to pass the time. I would recommend this to anyone who loves a good ghost story mixed with a bit of adventure and possibly reliving that dreaded freshman year of college!
February 28, 2012
Holy smokes. This was one good book. There are secrets and ghosts and scary things that go bump in the night and more secrets. *shiver* It was exactly what I wanted when I picked it up. I mean, you all know about my desperate love for abandoned places, right? It doesn't matter what they are... cities, asylums, catacombs, houses... I love the darn things. While technically the building in question here isn't abandoned, the idea of these moldering, broken, forgotten buildings that housed such terrible atrocities in their time is chilling.
Kristen Selleck took this idea and built it into something wickedly readable. Chloe's past isn't all sunshine and roses. She's trying to rebuild herself and live normally. She can push the voices she hears down but they're always there. Yet... she manages. She manages very well. Yes, she's quiet and has appalling self-esteem (and after meeting her mother you'll understand why) but she's finding a balance. In different ways, Seth and Sam are both good for her. Sam forces her to come out of her shell and be social. Seth just likes her. He likes her for being her. It's sweet, really.
Now, Chloe's stunted social growth is all fine and dandy but there's also a matter of some pesky going on in their dorm building. And by "pesky goings on" I mean things that can possess you and ... are dead. I really enjoyed the buildup of tension and how we never knew when the next scary thing was going to happen. The entire mystery of who the ghost was and why they were doing what they were doing was well done. We got answers (a lot of answers) but we were also left with a lot of questions. Frankly, I got to the end of the book and I was staring wide-eyed at it because I wanted MORE!
Wonderfully atmospheric and sometimes downright creepy, I was drawn to Chloe's aloneness from the beginning. As we began to find out why she keeps herself apart from those around her, the story just sunk its claws in deeper. I really am looking forward to see where Kristen Selleck takes us next.
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
Kristen Selleck took this idea and built it into something wickedly readable. Chloe's past isn't all sunshine and roses. She's trying to rebuild herself and live normally. She can push the voices she hears down but they're always there. Yet... she manages. She manages very well. Yes, she's quiet and has appalling self-esteem (and after meeting her mother you'll understand why) but she's finding a balance. In different ways, Seth and Sam are both good for her. Sam forces her to come out of her shell and be social. Seth just likes her. He likes her for being her. It's sweet, really.
Now, Chloe's stunted social growth is all fine and dandy but there's also a matter of some pesky going on in their dorm building. And by "pesky goings on" I mean things that can possess you and ... are dead. I really enjoyed the buildup of tension and how we never knew when the next scary thing was going to happen. The entire mystery of who the ghost was and why they were doing what they were doing was well done. We got answers (a lot of answers) but we were also left with a lot of questions. Frankly, I got to the end of the book and I was staring wide-eyed at it because I wanted MORE!
Wonderfully atmospheric and sometimes downright creepy, I was drawn to Chloe's aloneness from the beginning. As we began to find out why she keeps herself apart from those around her, the story just sunk its claws in deeper. I really am looking forward to see where Kristen Selleck takes us next.
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
April 16, 2012
I’ve always believed there’s a level of clarity found only within the realm of insanity. ‘Course, that could be because, like Chloe, I count myself as one of the “crazies.” ☺
I LOVED THIS BOOK!***
For whatever reason I have come across very few fictional reads that involve the exploration of mental illness. This book does just that and in such a positive light; it’s the perfect coupling with a spooky ghost story. Chole’s struggle to know what is real only adds to the intensity of the fear, keeping me constantly off kilter.
I enjoy the atypical triangle of this story, roommate vs. boyfriend, and find the college scenario refreshing after reading so many high school sagas. Each character exhibits substance and complexity—I can’t wait to discover even more as the series continues. {Though I still classify Asylum as YA, due to some language and underage alcohol consumption, I would personally recommend it to the older end of the YA spectrum.}
The setting? Gorgeous! The Upper Peninsula now has a firm place on my future road trip destinations.
I must disclose that I received a free copy of this book through goodreads First Reads program. {What a pleasant surprise to come home to last week! Thank you!} I hope you will believe, however, that the free book in no way tainted my opinion. It stands firmly on its own among my latest favorites. Way to go, Kristen Selleck!! I’m so happy to have discovered you in the beginning of your writing career.
***Though I stand by my high rating, Asylum is not a perfect book for me. I actually found myself skimming and skipping a critical part of the story {the parts with Father Andrew}. I was able to get the gist without diving into the specifics, though so it’s as if the need to skim was in no way a turn-off for me. I felt like the introduction of the science vs. religion aspect caught me a little off guard in the peak of the resolution so I didn’t want to dive too deeply into it. I definitely hope Abraham’s Men returns to that age-old debate.
I LOVED THIS BOOK!***
For whatever reason I have come across very few fictional reads that involve the exploration of mental illness. This book does just that and in such a positive light; it’s the perfect coupling with a spooky ghost story. Chole’s struggle to know what is real only adds to the intensity of the fear, keeping me constantly off kilter.
I enjoy the atypical triangle of this story, roommate vs. boyfriend, and find the college scenario refreshing after reading so many high school sagas. Each character exhibits substance and complexity—I can’t wait to discover even more as the series continues. {Though I still classify Asylum as YA, due to some language and underage alcohol consumption, I would personally recommend it to the older end of the YA spectrum.}
The setting? Gorgeous! The Upper Peninsula now has a firm place on my future road trip destinations.
I must disclose that I received a free copy of this book through goodreads First Reads program. {What a pleasant surprise to come home to last week! Thank you!} I hope you will believe, however, that the free book in no way tainted my opinion. It stands firmly on its own among my latest favorites. Way to go, Kristen Selleck!! I’m so happy to have discovered you in the beginning of your writing career.
***Though I stand by my high rating, Asylum is not a perfect book for me. I actually found myself skimming and skipping a critical part of the story {the parts with Father Andrew}. I was able to get the gist without diving into the specifics, though so it’s as if the need to skim was in no way a turn-off for me. I felt like the introduction of the science vs. religion aspect caught me a little off guard in the peak of the resolution so I didn’t want to dive too deeply into it. I definitely hope Abraham’s Men returns to that age-old debate.
January 17, 2012
I gave this book four stars because the storyline was very interesting and engaging. However, I must say that this book is in desperate need of proofreading and correction. Above and beyond the numerous puntuation mistakes, there are several instances where there are small problems with continuity. For example, in the scene where Chloe and Seth break up (in which she is standing and he is seated across the room from her), she begins by "Looking down at his hurt expression...", but after much dialog, we have Seth in the position of "...tightening his grip on her shoulders...". When did he stand and move over to her? It isn't written in the book, so how can the reader know?
My biggest complaint though, is with the massive overuse of the "uhhh..." I could almost excuse its overuse by Chloe, who we know is shy, a bit backwards, and has trouble using her words; but I cannot excuse the same "uhhh..." being used by Sam, Seth, Prof Willard, and Seth's mom. It is very off putting, and to be honest, if I had not been so interested in the story, I would not have kept reading after the 5th or 6th "Uhhh...", it is just that irritating.
Lastly, I have to say, the addition of the religion storyline near the end of the book, felt a little strange and forced. From Chloe's conversation with Prof Willard, to the whole scenario with the priest, it was just very abrupt and lacking in subtlety. I am not certain exactly what the author was trying to convey, but if the idea was to add a feel of science vs religion, it really could've used a bit more finesse.
I realize that it might seem bizarre to have this many complaints about a book that I've rated pretty highly, but realistically, all of the problems I have with it could be corrected through simple proofing/editing. The storyline itself is sound, and very, very good, and I am definitely looking forward to the next installment.
My biggest complaint though, is with the massive overuse of the "uhhh..." I could almost excuse its overuse by Chloe, who we know is shy, a bit backwards, and has trouble using her words; but I cannot excuse the same "uhhh..." being used by Sam, Seth, Prof Willard, and Seth's mom. It is very off putting, and to be honest, if I had not been so interested in the story, I would not have kept reading after the 5th or 6th "Uhhh...", it is just that irritating.
Lastly, I have to say, the addition of the religion storyline near the end of the book, felt a little strange and forced. From Chloe's conversation with Prof Willard, to the whole scenario with the priest, it was just very abrupt and lacking in subtlety. I am not certain exactly what the author was trying to convey, but if the idea was to add a feel of science vs religion, it really could've used a bit more finesse.
I realize that it might seem bizarre to have this many complaints about a book that I've rated pretty highly, but realistically, all of the problems I have with it could be corrected through simple proofing/editing. The storyline itself is sound, and very, very good, and I am definitely looking forward to the next installment.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 6, 2012
What an amazing book this is!!
I was really eager to read it and now that I have, I am happy.
It is very different from the books that have come out recently and many people have not even heard of this novel, but it is GREAT book, one of those hidden gems.
Both Chloe and Sam have come to beach harbor to escape the stigma that haunts them. Both the girls become best friends and Chloe, though, hesitant at first enters into a relationship with the dorm's resident adviser, Seth.
Life goes on normally for both the girls until one night, when something terrible happens and their lives are altered, forcing them to become deeply involved with the mysteries that surround their college campus and especially their dormitory.
The books is fast-paced with one event flowing into the next, but just when you think that the events are piling on, the book gives you a breathing room, to collect your thoughts before proceeding forward.
The character development done within the book is actually good, with no over the top drama, and each character has a distinct identity and thought process.
The ending of the book was out of this world, it's confusing, to know if something that is happening in your head, could be just as real, and not some imagination.
I am really looking forward to the next books in the Birch Harbor series. Hoping that Kristen Selleck writes them fast enough.
I was really eager to read it and now that I have, I am happy.
It is very different from the books that have come out recently and many people have not even heard of this novel, but it is GREAT book, one of those hidden gems.
Both Chloe and Sam have come to beach harbor to escape the stigma that haunts them. Both the girls become best friends and Chloe, though, hesitant at first enters into a relationship with the dorm's resident adviser, Seth.
Life goes on normally for both the girls until one night, when something terrible happens and their lives are altered, forcing them to become deeply involved with the mysteries that surround their college campus and especially their dormitory.
The books is fast-paced with one event flowing into the next, but just when you think that the events are piling on, the book gives you a breathing room, to collect your thoughts before proceeding forward.
The character development done within the book is actually good, with no over the top drama, and each character has a distinct identity and thought process.
The ending of the book was out of this world, it's confusing, to know if something that is happening in your head, could be just as real, and not some imagination.
I am really looking forward to the next books in the Birch Harbor series. Hoping that Kristen Selleck writes them fast enough.
February 24, 2012
This book is so good! The characters are all believable and I liked how each of them had flaws or secrets that unfolded over the course of the book to make things more interesting. I thought the author did a great job with the plot overall, but it wasn’t as creepy as I had anticipated – maybe that’s just me, though. Thankfully, the internal conflicts of the characters carried me through ‘til the next nail-biting moment. I think my favorite character was probably Sam. The romance between Chloe and Seth was a little dramatic at times, but it didn’t take away from the story in the least; I just don’t care for romance all that much.
A couple things particularly bothered me about this book, though. The author used “uh” way too frequently. I realize that it’s actual dialogue and people say it all the time in normal conversation, but it’s much more difficult to read than hear - something about knowing a person intentionally wrote "uh" annoys me more than the word itself. There were also quite a few spelling and punctuation errors near the end that got under my skin, but I’m sure a lot of people will just read over them without noticing. Fortunately, those things can easily be fixed with good editing and the story itself was excellent. I definitely recommend reading this one.
Reviewed by Brittany for Book Sake.
A couple things particularly bothered me about this book, though. The author used “uh” way too frequently. I realize that it’s actual dialogue and people say it all the time in normal conversation, but it’s much more difficult to read than hear - something about knowing a person intentionally wrote "uh" annoys me more than the word itself. There were also quite a few spelling and punctuation errors near the end that got under my skin, but I’m sure a lot of people will just read over them without noticing. Fortunately, those things can easily be fixed with good editing and the story itself was excellent. I definitely recommend reading this one.
Reviewed by Brittany for Book Sake.
February 7, 2014
I was really excited for the premise of this book -- a dorm in an old asylum. It started out well, sucking me in rather quickly. But the longer it went the more I wondered why I kept reading.
The good is punctuated by fairly well fleshed out characters. Chloe was insecure and whiny at times, but in a believable way. Seth was a mix of 2-dimensional and dynamic, mostly focused on the jock angle. Sam was a thoroughly flawed character but real and a good friend for Chloe in the end. The mystery surrounding the asylum was interesting and well thought out.
However, the ending was unsatisfying. Perhaps the next books in the series would help change that, but I don't know if I'm interested enough. Above all else, the worst part of this book was the complete lack of editing. Truly horrendous. Bad punctuation, missing words, extra words, missing paragraphs -- you name it, you'll encounter it. A distracting shame.
In the end, I think this would go over better as a YA book since the characters are teenagers. Perhaps it's meant to be, but apart from a few people shelving it that way on Goodreads, I haven't found any indication of that.
The good is punctuated by fairly well fleshed out characters. Chloe was insecure and whiny at times, but in a believable way. Seth was a mix of 2-dimensional and dynamic, mostly focused on the jock angle. Sam was a thoroughly flawed character but real and a good friend for Chloe in the end. The mystery surrounding the asylum was interesting and well thought out.
However, the ending was unsatisfying. Perhaps the next books in the series would help change that, but I don't know if I'm interested enough. Above all else, the worst part of this book was the complete lack of editing. Truly horrendous. Bad punctuation, missing words, extra words, missing paragraphs -- you name it, you'll encounter it. A distracting shame.
In the end, I think this would go over better as a YA book since the characters are teenagers. Perhaps it's meant to be, but apart from a few people shelving it that way on Goodreads, I haven't found any indication of that.
July 9, 2013
Depois de terminado o livro anterior decidi escolher outra leitura ao calhas das que tenho no kindle e achei que este título era interessante. Sem ler a sinopse lá comecei a aventura de páginas desconhecidas e foi uma boa escolha.
A autora traz-nos uma jovem que decide ir para a Universidade mais longe que encontra para poder fugir a uma adolescência marcada por infelicidade e um internamento num lar para pessoas com problemas psiquiátricos. É lá que conhece Sam, a sua colega de quarto e a estrela da equipa de hóquei por quem se apaixona.
É claro que nenhuma história destas estaria completa sem possessões, escritos misteriosos na parede e um professor com um objecto de estudo algo estranho.
É uma história interessante que me manteve presa até ao final. As personagens são credíveis e o ritmo está bem conseguido.
Existem mais dois livros e assim que conseguir vou ler o segundo que quero descobrir o que vai acontecer a seguir a Chloe...
in: http://livrosportodolado.blogs.sapo.p...
A autora traz-nos uma jovem que decide ir para a Universidade mais longe que encontra para poder fugir a uma adolescência marcada por infelicidade e um internamento num lar para pessoas com problemas psiquiátricos. É lá que conhece Sam, a sua colega de quarto e a estrela da equipa de hóquei por quem se apaixona.
É claro que nenhuma história destas estaria completa sem possessões, escritos misteriosos na parede e um professor com um objecto de estudo algo estranho.
É uma história interessante que me manteve presa até ao final. As personagens são credíveis e o ritmo está bem conseguido.
Existem mais dois livros e assim que conseguir vou ler o segundo que quero descobrir o que vai acontecer a seguir a Chloe...
in: http://livrosportodolado.blogs.sapo.p...
April 2, 2012
This is probably more a 2.5 but I went up rather than down. The only real positive is the author did a good job with a mystery plot. I found myself curious as to how everything would tie up in the end. The other good part was that this book was on .99 on Kindle.
Now the negatives about the book is a little bit longer. Why are the cheap Kindle books so poorly edited? This was better than some but I still struggled with errors. I really struggled with her character development. I felt myself not understanding why any of the relationships were even taking place. Finally the writing was just inferior to a lot of stuff out there.
So overall not a bad read for under a $1.00 but not something I would recommend to others to pick up.
Now the negatives about the book is a little bit longer. Why are the cheap Kindle books so poorly edited? This was better than some but I still struggled with errors. I really struggled with her character development. I felt myself not understanding why any of the relationships were even taking place. Finally the writing was just inferior to a lot of stuff out there.
So overall not a bad read for under a $1.00 but not something I would recommend to others to pick up.
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