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The Haunting Season
Be careful what you let in…
Siler House has stood silent beneath Savannah’s moss-draped oaks for decades. Notoriously haunted, it has remained empty until college-bound Jess Perry and three of her peers gather to take part in a month-long study on the paranormal. Jess, who talks to ghosts, quickly bonds with her fellow test subjects. One is a girl possessed. Another just wants to forget. The third is a guy who really knows how to turn up the August heat, not to mention Jess’s heart rate…when he’s not resurrecting the dead.
The study soon turns into something far more sinister when they discover that Siler House and the dark forces within are determined to keep them forever. In order to escape, Jess and the others will have to open themselves up to the true horror of Siler House and channel the very evil that has welcomed them all.
Siler House has stood silent beneath Savannah’s moss-draped oaks for decades. Notoriously haunted, it has remained empty until college-bound Jess Perry and three of her peers gather to take part in a month-long study on the paranormal. Jess, who talks to ghosts, quickly bonds with her fellow test subjects. One is a girl possessed. Another just wants to forget. The third is a guy who really knows how to turn up the August heat, not to mention Jess’s heart rate…when he’s not resurrecting the dead.
The study soon turns into something far more sinister when they discover that Siler House and the dark forces within are determined to keep them forever. In order to escape, Jess and the others will have to open themselves up to the true horror of Siler House and channel the very evil that has welcomed them all.
296 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 21, 2012
About the author
Michelle Muto
7 books1,253 followersWriter of urban fantasy, the paranormal, and all things eerie and curious. Lover of scary books and funny movies, sports cars, chocolate, and changes of season. Owned by two incredible dogs and an iMac. Author, wife, sister, freelance tech writer, and IT geek.
Author of the bestselling novel The Haunting Season, The Book of Lost Souls, Don't Fear the Reaper, Nature's Fifth Season Of Shadow & Stone, and Diary of the Damned.
. Read the 1st chapter of Don't Fear the Reaper here.
Join her mailing list and read NATURE'S FIFTH SEASON for FREE!
http://smarturl.it/MMuto-News
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Author of the bestselling novel The Haunting Season, The Book of Lost Souls, Don't Fear the Reaper, Nature's Fifth Season Of Shadow & Stone, and Diary of the Damned.
. Read the 1st chapter of Don't Fear the Reaper here.
Join her mailing list and read NATURE'S FIFTH SEASON for FREE!
http://smarturl.it/MMuto-News
FB Author Page
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 213 reviews
October 4, 2017
The Haunting Season
Written by: Michelle Muto
Narrated by: Tavia Gilbert
This was one scary story. It was an audible book and the narrator was awesome at keeping the panic level high! My nerves were shot by the end of it. She did the many voices great.
The plot and characters were so realistic in the story. This was creepier than the movie, The Haunted, the black and white version or the new version. This was not a hack-and-slash like some horror stories. This was mostly all paranormal and just creepy. The kind I like! This really should be a movie. The bad thing about a scary book, you have to turn the page, or in this case, keep listen to know what is going to happen. No pillow to hide behind to avoid the screen, there is NO SCREEN! The screen is in your head. I have too good of an imagination anyway and this author is very good about making you feel like you are there. Great world building, or in this case, house building. Twists, turns, and screams...no, the screams were mine, sorry! Good book!
Written by: Michelle Muto
Narrated by: Tavia Gilbert
This was one scary story. It was an audible book and the narrator was awesome at keeping the panic level high! My nerves were shot by the end of it. She did the many voices great.
The plot and characters were so realistic in the story. This was creepier than the movie, The Haunted, the black and white version or the new version. This was not a hack-and-slash like some horror stories. This was mostly all paranormal and just creepy. The kind I like! This really should be a movie. The bad thing about a scary book, you have to turn the page, or in this case, keep listen to know what is going to happen. No pillow to hide behind to avoid the screen, there is NO SCREEN! The screen is in your head. I have too good of an imagination anyway and this author is very good about making you feel like you are there. Great world building, or in this case, house building. Twists, turns, and screams...no, the screams were mine, sorry! Good book!
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November 11, 2012I don't believe in reviewing my own book. I loved writing it, though!
October 21, 2017
This was so creepy, and was perfect for getting in the Halloween spirit! I read this one in one sitting!
October 30, 2013
"It was like spring break, only for paranormal freaks."
Jess Perry sees ghosts. Well, at least she used to and she wants to again. Unlike most people who might have a breakdown if they saw a ghost, she nearly had a breakdown when she stopped seeing them. Desperate to connect to her dad and grams that passed away and to prove to her overprotective mother that she isn’t crazy, she signs up for a paid experiment at the infamous Siler House. Jess soon meets Allison, Bryan, and Gage, all about her age (entering college) who have had experiences with paranormal activity in the past.
It doesn’t take long for the house to live up to its reputation. There is a lot of history and evil still residing in the Siler House. Twin girls were murdered there over one hundred years ago and with the abilities these four teens possess, it’s a recipe for some freaky, creepy moments. Not only are there spooky, ghostly moments, but there is also this mysterious quality the book with the regular “human” characters. You never know who you can trust and who might be compromised.
This was my first time reading a stand alone “horror” book and I was pleasantly surprised that I could handle it. I’ve been known to mute or change channels when a commercial for a scary movie comes on, so needless to say, I was nervous! I loved this quote, it really sums up how childish I am when it comes to scary stuff. This described my mindset to a T!
The most frightening parts for me were just the moments leading up to something, that suspense and anticipation. Except one part that still makes me cringe just thinking about it! Once things start being revealed and I got used to the vibe of the story, I started to just enjoy the characters and sink into it.
What I really liked about this was that there was a nice balance. The Haunting Season is complete with the haunted house, ghosts, demons, ouija board craziness, and creepy characters. Then to top it all off there’s a little romance in there too, which I really appreciated. The romance junkie in me loved the flirty, little sexy moments between the characters. It has a great voice, the dialogue was fun and witty, and the writing had an effortless flow to it. I loved the dynamic between everyone and I was really rooting for all of them by the end. Overall, I enjoyed this book once I got over my initial anxiety. I'm definitely going to check out Michelle Muto's other work because I really loved her writing style.
See this review & others at No BS Book Reviews.
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http://nobsbookreviews.com/2013/10/th...
Jess Perry sees ghosts. Well, at least she used to and she wants to again. Unlike most people who might have a breakdown if they saw a ghost, she nearly had a breakdown when she stopped seeing them. Desperate to connect to her dad and grams that passed away and to prove to her overprotective mother that she isn’t crazy, she signs up for a paid experiment at the infamous Siler House. Jess soon meets Allison, Bryan, and Gage, all about her age (entering college) who have had experiences with paranormal activity in the past.
“Let me get this straight,” Gage said. “We all know we’ve been brought here as part of a study on the paranormal. Jess communicates with the dead. Allison has demons on speed dial. My buddy Bryan here sends stuff to the Twilight Zone without return postage. And I’ve got a knack for making my own zombie zoo theme park. Fun times. To add to all this fun, we’re actually sitting here talking about how we feel about a house?”
It doesn’t take long for the house to live up to its reputation. There is a lot of history and evil still residing in the Siler House. Twin girls were murdered there over one hundred years ago and with the abilities these four teens possess, it’s a recipe for some freaky, creepy moments. Not only are there spooky, ghostly moments, but there is also this mysterious quality the book with the regular “human” characters. You never know who you can trust and who might be compromised.
“It’s rumored that Siler House has a way of getting to people,” Dr. Brandt explained. “Supposedly, those who stay here for too long…change.”
This was my first time reading a stand alone “horror” book and I was pleasantly surprised that I could handle it. I’ve been known to mute or change channels when a commercial for a scary movie comes on, so needless to say, I was nervous! I loved this quote, it really sums up how childish I am when it comes to scary stuff. This described my mindset to a T!
"You think [it's] going to follow all those baby-game monster rules you had when you were a kid? That if we don’t stick a leg or arm out of the covers the monster under the bed has some code of ethics where they won’t eat us alive? I’ve got news for you, guys..." <- Yup, uh huh, pretty much what helps me sleep at night! LOL
The most frightening parts for me were just the moments leading up to something, that suspense and anticipation. Except one part that still makes me cringe just thinking about it! Once things start being revealed and I got used to the vibe of the story, I started to just enjoy the characters and sink into it.
What I really liked about this was that there was a nice balance. The Haunting Season is complete with the haunted house, ghosts, demons, ouija board craziness, and creepy characters. Then to top it all off there’s a little romance in there too, which I really appreciated. The romance junkie in me loved the flirty, little sexy moments between the characters. It has a great voice, the dialogue was fun and witty, and the writing had an effortless flow to it. I loved the dynamic between everyone and I was really rooting for all of them by the end. Overall, I enjoyed this book once I got over my initial anxiety. I'm definitely going to check out Michelle Muto's other work because I really loved her writing style.
See this review & others at No BS Book Reviews.
Also 'like' us on Facebook. ♥
http://nobsbookreviews.com/2013/10/th...
June 20, 2017
3.5 this was a pretty good story, categorized under "if your in a scientific study at a haunted house." however, if this was YA, I would not let my 11 yr.old niece read it. there's a pretty racy scene. the characters were ok, Allison got on my nerves big time. someone just punch her out, ok? but those are my only complaints. it's worth a read.
January 15, 2013
2.5 stars. This was a pleasant but underwhelming foray into the haunted house genre for me, a genre which any followers know is one that is near and dear to my heart. I think the issue here is not so much altogether the author's fault. I didn't realize going into this novel that this was marketed towards young adult or new adult, and therefore I skewed out of the reader demographic.
The novel has a very similar set up to Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House, which was a very deliberate homage that the author refers to in her acknowledgements - I don't fault her, it's a tried and true set up for many ghost stories and haunted houses as it works well, but unfortunately for me I just did not connect with the protagonists in the tale - 4 teenagers with special 'ghost' powers that
Yeah, a bit of eyerolling for me there, found it implausible - or as implausible as a novel about ghosts can be, I suppose. Some of the dialogue also got a little eye-rolly for me as well, such as:
"Siler House might be haunted, even though he'd yet to see a ghost, but now seemed like a good opportunity to spend alone time with the girl who'd been haunting his dreams since they'd been here."
I don't mind YA at all, and in fact read quite a bit of YA, but I like my haunted house books spooky and this one skewed too much towards that CW show The Secret Circle rather than truly freaky to me, especially with a blossoming romance between 2 of the characters being one of the focal points of the novel and feeling slightly forced - it just took me out of the action.
All in all, would recommend for someone looking for haunted house lite - not necessarily for someone who is looking for a truly spooky read.
The novel has a very similar set up to Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House, which was a very deliberate homage that the author refers to in her acknowledgements - I don't fault her, it's a tried and true set up for many ghost stories and haunted houses as it works well, but unfortunately for me I just did not connect with the protagonists in the tale - 4 teenagers with special 'ghost' powers that
Yeah, a bit of eyerolling for me there, found it implausible - or as implausible as a novel about ghosts can be, I suppose. Some of the dialogue also got a little eye-rolly for me as well, such as:
"Siler House might be haunted, even though he'd yet to see a ghost, but now seemed like a good opportunity to spend alone time with the girl who'd been haunting his dreams since they'd been here."
I don't mind YA at all, and in fact read quite a bit of YA, but I like my haunted house books spooky and this one skewed too much towards that CW show The Secret Circle rather than truly freaky to me, especially with a blossoming romance between 2 of the characters being one of the focal points of the novel and feeling slightly forced - it just took me out of the action.
All in all, would recommend for someone looking for haunted house lite - not necessarily for someone who is looking for a truly spooky read.
August 9, 2014
This was a great read except for one thing...I didn't know it would be young adult. After reading it though it didn't take much away from the story and it kept me in suspense most of the time.
I would like to read a sequel to this one - maybe Riley comes back or Allison returns...I would love to see the 4 of them back together again!
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
I would like to read a sequel to this one - maybe Riley comes back or Allison returns...I would love to see the 4 of them back together again!
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
March 31, 2020
5/5 ⭐️
Holy shit this had me at the edge of my seat the entire time! I’m so glad I decided to stick to reading this durring the day. It was hella creepy and sooo good!
Holy shit this had me at the edge of my seat the entire time! I’m so glad I decided to stick to reading this durring the day. It was hella creepy and sooo good!
June 23, 2013
OH. EM. GEE. I seriously hid under the covers after reading this book. I am not normally one to read scary books, I'm a sexy mommy book kind of gal, but I am so glad I met Ms. Michelle through a friend. I did received this book as a gift but was told I didn't have to review it if I didn't want to... Well I have a big mouth, so let me blab about it, non spoiler style.
I honestly didn't know what to expected when I started reading this novel. It starts out that Jess wanted to be part of a research study taking place at a Savannah Mansion, the Siler House, to see if there is paranormal activity. Jess use to see dead people including her grandmother. After the death of her father, she has not see any more dead people. She is hoping the stay at the mansion will bring her sightings back.
Her mom doesn't really believe that she can see these people and has made Jess promise that if nothing happens during the study, she is to drop the subject.
When they arrive at the Siler House, Jess basically sprints out of the vehicle. She is ready to be there. There we meet Dr. Brandt. Jess is rooming with Allison, who I think is creepy weird. Also, there is Gage and Bryan. These characters, Jess, Allison, Gage and Bryan, have awesome abilities... but they are kind of scary!!! So is the house really haunted?? HMMMMMMMM??? Yes there is some yummy love in this story... :) You have to have a little romance when people are going cray cray!
This is where I am going to stop because this is getting into the OMG you need to read it for yourself to understand why I about peed my pants walking to the kitchen from my bedroom... I should have turned on my lights, damn dogs. Yes, I am a chicken shit.
If you love scary books, GRAB THIS ONE! It's a must read and if I give it 5 stars, it's good, because I was SCARED! The story is awesome, the characters are solid and there isn't any fluff. Just arm pits sweating while reading goodness!
I honestly didn't know what to expected when I started reading this novel. It starts out that Jess wanted to be part of a research study taking place at a Savannah Mansion, the Siler House, to see if there is paranormal activity. Jess use to see dead people including her grandmother. After the death of her father, she has not see any more dead people. She is hoping the stay at the mansion will bring her sightings back.
Her mom doesn't really believe that she can see these people and has made Jess promise that if nothing happens during the study, she is to drop the subject.
When they arrive at the Siler House, Jess basically sprints out of the vehicle. She is ready to be there. There we meet Dr. Brandt. Jess is rooming with Allison, who I think is creepy weird. Also, there is Gage and Bryan. These characters, Jess, Allison, Gage and Bryan, have awesome abilities... but they are kind of scary!!! So is the house really haunted?? HMMMMMMMM??? Yes there is some yummy love in this story... :) You have to have a little romance when people are going cray cray!
This is where I am going to stop because this is getting into the OMG you need to read it for yourself to understand why I about peed my pants walking to the kitchen from my bedroom... I should have turned on my lights, damn dogs. Yes, I am a chicken shit.
If you love scary books, GRAB THIS ONE! It's a must read and if I give it 5 stars, it's good, because I was SCARED! The story is awesome, the characters are solid and there isn't any fluff. Just arm pits sweating while reading goodness!
June 26, 2013
My quest to find the scariest book in the world continued with The Haunting Season by Michelle Muto. The premise is very classic and promising: a group of college students descends on a haunted house to participate in an experiment on the supernatural facilitated by a professor. The house is reportedly cursed, and people who spend a lot of time there find it addicting.
This book falls into that awkward New Adult setting, it isn't quite appropriate for teens but it feels a little off to me reading it from the adult perspective. I like Young Adult Books. I like New Adult books. I just didn't LOVE this book... and I do feel bad that I didn't love it, because I wanted to!!
This book falls into that awkward New Adult setting, it isn't quite appropriate for teens but it feels a little off to me reading it from the adult perspective. I like Young Adult Books. I like New Adult books. I just didn't LOVE this book... and I do feel bad that I didn't love it, because I wanted to!!
February 14, 2015
Reviewed on Lili Lost in a Book
"We all know we've been brought here as part of a study on the paranormal. Jess communicates wit the dead. Allison has demons on speed dial. My buddy Bryan here sends stuff to the Twilight Zone without return postage. And I've got a knack for making my own zombie zoo theme park. Fun times." -Gage
Jess is super excited to be participating in this study at Siler House. The house is beautiful and she might finally be getting answers to her weird power. Except her excitement soon turns to terror when she starts to realize that something horrible might be going on in the house... something sinister. Jess and her new friends try to figure out what in the world is really going on in the house, only to discover that there may be something more to the study than they could imagine. They need to get out of the house, and fast, before whatever evil thing that is lurking there gets to them.
Let me tell you something, I love horror and I was SO looking forward to reading this book because it just sounded so amazing! I mean you got four college age kids with supernatural abilities (pretty cool ones, at that) going to an extremely haunted house for a study on the paranormal? Okay, how awesome is that? Unfortunately, this book did not live up to my expectations *sigh*
First of all, the the plot was kind of blah and really slow moving. And the horror itself? Yeah, not scary AT ALL! At least, it wasn't scary enough for me, which is what I was looking for in this book. And, okay, I'll admit, the whole "demon in my mirror" thing was a bit creepy, because, personally, mirrors freak me out!! Especially in a horror movie/book *shudders* But the thing is, the imagery in this book did nothing to scare me! Yeah, the characters were scared, but why? Now if it was anything like this picture, I'd totally get why...
It was nothing like this picture -_-
Next, I could not connect with the two main characters, especially not Jess. I just found her really annoying for some reason. I didn't care what happened to them, which is sad, really. And the romance between her and Gage? Ugh! I came in looking for a good scare and instead I get two horny teenagers that, were they in a horror movie, would've died in the first half of the book! Um, excuse me Mr. Evil Demon Thing? Do you mind killing these two? Because I'm pretty sure this is where they die. 'Kay, thanks bye! I mean, those are the rules , so... is it bad the it made me kind of sad that they didn't die? Lol. Hey, horny teenagers, I'm pretty sure you're/your friends are in danger, but it's okay! You keep going at it! It's not like you need to get out of the house STAT or anything! Yeah! *highfive* Not! The romance just felt forced, which is why I think didn't enjoy it at all.
Oh and don't get me started on the Eurynome thing! But I'm gonna talk about it anyway! First of all, I know this book probably didn't mean to have any sort of Greek mythology involved, not directly, but when you use a name like Eurynome (it's Greek!), you know I'm going to pick at it! So get ready for a little course in Greek mythology (but some people might think it's spoilery, so...)
Overall, believe it or not, I didn't absolutely hate it. I thought all the different abilities was really interesting, and I actually liked the other two characters, Bryan and Allison, better! This book was really not for me, but I did enjoy the "haunted house" feel to it (even though it wasn't terrifying whatsoever).
"We all know we've been brought here as part of a study on the paranormal. Jess communicates wit the dead. Allison has demons on speed dial. My buddy Bryan here sends stuff to the Twilight Zone without return postage. And I've got a knack for making my own zombie zoo theme park. Fun times." -Gage
Jess is super excited to be participating in this study at Siler House. The house is beautiful and she might finally be getting answers to her weird power. Except her excitement soon turns to terror when she starts to realize that something horrible might be going on in the house... something sinister. Jess and her new friends try to figure out what in the world is really going on in the house, only to discover that there may be something more to the study than they could imagine. They need to get out of the house, and fast, before whatever evil thing that is lurking there gets to them.
Let me tell you something, I love horror and I was SO looking forward to reading this book because it just sounded so amazing! I mean you got four college age kids with supernatural abilities (pretty cool ones, at that) going to an extremely haunted house for a study on the paranormal? Okay, how awesome is that? Unfortunately, this book did not live up to my expectations *sigh*
First of all, the the plot was kind of blah and really slow moving. And the horror itself? Yeah, not scary AT ALL! At least, it wasn't scary enough for me, which is what I was looking for in this book. And, okay, I'll admit, the whole "demon in my mirror" thing was a bit creepy, because, personally, mirrors freak me out!! Especially in a horror movie/book *shudders* But the thing is, the imagery in this book did nothing to scare me! Yeah, the characters were scared, but why? Now if it was anything like this picture, I'd totally get why...
It was nothing like this picture -_-
Next, I could not connect with the two main characters, especially not Jess. I just found her really annoying for some reason. I didn't care what happened to them, which is sad, really. And the romance between her and Gage? Ugh! I came in looking for a good scare and instead I get two horny teenagers that, were they in a horror movie, would've died in the first half of the book! Um, excuse me Mr. Evil Demon Thing? Do you mind killing these two? Because I'm pretty sure this is where they die. 'Kay, thanks bye! I mean, those are the rules , so... is it bad the it made me kind of sad that they didn't die? Lol. Hey, horny teenagers, I'm pretty sure you're/your friends are in danger, but it's okay! You keep going at it! It's not like you need to get out of the house STAT or anything! Yeah! *highfive* Not! The romance just felt forced, which is why I think didn't enjoy it at all.
Oh and don't get me started on the Eurynome thing! But I'm gonna talk about it anyway! First of all, I know this book probably didn't mean to have any sort of Greek mythology involved, not directly, but when you use a name like Eurynome (it's Greek!), you know I'm going to pick at it! So get ready for a little course in Greek mythology (but some people might think it's spoilery, so...)
Overall, believe it or not, I didn't absolutely hate it. I thought all the different abilities was really interesting, and I actually liked the other two characters, Bryan and Allison, better! This book was really not for me, but I did enjoy the "haunted house" feel to it (even though it wasn't terrifying whatsoever).
November 10, 2020
So, you think there is no such thing as ghosts? Well, you have never venture into Siler House! Ready? Let's Go!
You can also check out my video review here on my Youtube Channel AreYouIntoHorror? :
https://youtu.be/8GZDmdy9llM
Well, i came across this title after finishing an audiobook on Scribd, and thought; this sounded great.....wow! This was beyond good, it was a tense, gruesome and super ghost / haunting story! Alot of people are reading the reviews on here and they say it sounds like a Hill House rip off, it is so beyond what Hill House was. Michelle Muto is an author i am definitely going to read more of!!
So, Siler House is haunted, there is no doubt about that......over 100 years ago, two little young twin girls were horribly murdered and violated. Jess Perry is a college bound girl who sees ghosts....well, she USED to see ghosts, that is how she communicated with her father and her Gram.....now she cant see them! Jess is offered along with 3 other young adults who have 'abilities' with the paranormal to stay at Siler for an entire month and a docu study was going to be done on them while they are there, until Allisyn freaks out!!!! Jess can speak to the dead, Allison is haunted and possessed, she WAS possessed by demons, Bryan can bring missing things back from space, and Gage can reanimate dead things, does that include humans? This book starts out with a bang and does not let up till the last gripping page and it is one hell of a ghost ride!
This book is not for anyone who has lost a child, there are gruesome scenes of necrophilia and cannabalism of a dug up body of a child that was pretty shocking, I was not expecting this in this book. There is also a sequel to the book, 'The Diary of The Damned' and you know I have already got this ready to listen to. I highly recommend this book.....She is a great, new and young author to look for.
Do NOT go into Siler House unless you are ready......
You can also check out my video review here on my Youtube Channel AreYouIntoHorror? :
https://youtu.be/8GZDmdy9llM
Well, i came across this title after finishing an audiobook on Scribd, and thought; this sounded great.....wow! This was beyond good, it was a tense, gruesome and super ghost / haunting story! Alot of people are reading the reviews on here and they say it sounds like a Hill House rip off, it is so beyond what Hill House was. Michelle Muto is an author i am definitely going to read more of!!
So, Siler House is haunted, there is no doubt about that......over 100 years ago, two little young twin girls were horribly murdered and violated. Jess Perry is a college bound girl who sees ghosts....well, she USED to see ghosts, that is how she communicated with her father and her Gram.....now she cant see them! Jess is offered along with 3 other young adults who have 'abilities' with the paranormal to stay at Siler for an entire month and a docu study was going to be done on them while they are there, until Allisyn freaks out!!!! Jess can speak to the dead, Allison is haunted and possessed, she WAS possessed by demons, Bryan can bring missing things back from space, and Gage can reanimate dead things, does that include humans? This book starts out with a bang and does not let up till the last gripping page and it is one hell of a ghost ride!
This book is not for anyone who has lost a child, there are gruesome scenes of necrophilia and cannabalism of a dug up body of a child that was pretty shocking, I was not expecting this in this book. There is also a sequel to the book, 'The Diary of The Damned' and you know I have already got this ready to listen to. I highly recommend this book.....She is a great, new and young author to look for.
Do NOT go into Siler House unless you are ready......
November 17, 2014
Not horrible, but a bit to light for me. When I read ghost stories, I like creepy ass creepy and that wasn't this book. Overall, it really wasn't a horrible read though. It just had a bit of a more difficult time keeping my interest because of the lack of creepy factor. I would compare the scariness of this book to The Woman in Blackby Susan Hill, which scares some people but I found downright laughable.
February 21, 2015
This novel had a good premise (the tried-but-true plot of "sensitives" descending upon an evil house for a paranormal study), but bogged down too often with some awkward passages and odd pacing to be truly enjoyable. But, I read it for free with kindle unlimited, so I'm not complaining.
March 22, 2013
The Haunting Season is an excellent fusion of the Young Adult and Horror genres. The scenario we know as a group of ghost-hunters enter a haunted house for a prolonged stay. The genius loci of Siler House is as much a character as those within its walls as it gradually progresses from taunting and teasing its occupants with sights and sounds to full-blown assaults that are physical, spiritual and mental. It is like a sweet-looking but spiteful child playing with insects before it tears off their limbs one by one. I think that Michelle Muto's greatest success in this novel is her mirroring of the house's behaviour with that of the main antagonist. It serves to create a real sense of a place having a personality, though in this case one that is wholly malignant.
If I were to name other haunted house stories that this reminded me of then I would pick The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson and The Harrowing by Alexandra Sokoloff. This novel deserves to stand alongside them in terms of its evocation of southern gothic atmosphere and dread that lingers like a bad summer heat.
If I had a criticism, it would be that I would have liked to have found out about the inner workings of Mrs Hirsch and Dr Brandt some more and understood them to a greater degree. The focus is on the young adults in the story and these four characters are well-crafted and balanced as their roots are the stereotypes we know i.e. the jock, the outsider, the cool nerd, but Michelle Muto manages to put her own distinct twist on each one. With Mrs Hirsch and Dr Brandt, I feel like I would have liked just such a twist made to their characters as well. That aside, I recommend this novel to lovers of YA and Paranormal fans who like a bit of southern gothic flavour.
If I were to name other haunted house stories that this reminded me of then I would pick The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson and The Harrowing by Alexandra Sokoloff. This novel deserves to stand alongside them in terms of its evocation of southern gothic atmosphere and dread that lingers like a bad summer heat.
If I had a criticism, it would be that I would have liked to have found out about the inner workings of Mrs Hirsch and Dr Brandt some more and understood them to a greater degree. The focus is on the young adults in the story and these four characters are well-crafted and balanced as their roots are the stereotypes we know i.e. the jock, the outsider, the cool nerd, but Michelle Muto manages to put her own distinct twist on each one. With Mrs Hirsch and Dr Brandt, I feel like I would have liked just such a twist made to their characters as well. That aside, I recommend this novel to lovers of YA and Paranormal fans who like a bit of southern gothic flavour.
January 9, 2013
OH MY!!!
This screams big screen! If you want to feel paranoid, slightly off, a little nervous and somewhat sick to your stomach with irrational fear - read this!
There was not one part in this whole read that I was bored. I was on the edge of my seat. I was jumping at noises. I had a little problem with turning lights on and leaving them on...all making of a fantastical thriller.
What really got me though was the last 15% of the book. Usually you know what's going to happen, the fear has numbed you and your no longer shocked, well my heart was racing and didn't stop till I shut off my kindle and was able to process what an amazing roller coaster I was just on.
Read it!!
This screams big screen! If you want to feel paranoid, slightly off, a little nervous and somewhat sick to your stomach with irrational fear - read this!
There was not one part in this whole read that I was bored. I was on the edge of my seat. I was jumping at noises. I had a little problem with turning lights on and leaving them on...all making of a fantastical thriller.
What really got me though was the last 15% of the book. Usually you know what's going to happen, the fear has numbed you and your no longer shocked, well my heart was racing and didn't stop till I shut off my kindle and was able to process what an amazing roller coaster I was just on.
Read it!!
May 16, 2015
This wasn't a bad read, but I was hoping for something creepy, and unfortunately, there wasn't many scenes that delivered that. There was a few times where I started to feel bored because of that, but overall, it was an okay read.
December 5, 2019
2 / 5
DNF @ 24%.
Couldn't keep reading tbh. It was basically a cliché-filled YA take on The Haunting of Hill House. #notafan
DNF @ 24%.
Couldn't keep reading tbh. It was basically a cliché-filled YA take on The Haunting of Hill House. #notafan
December 24, 2012
This book scared the crap out of me. I loved it. It was a wild ride full of nail-biting, 'holy crap' moments. I WILL so be re-reading this one!!!!!
April 8, 2013
The first haunted house novel I read was The Amityville Horror, and I even still have the original hardback. That was 1977 and it's left me craving ghost stories ever since. The Haunting Season by Michelle Muto, while a fictional tale is no less as chilling and entertaining. Four twenty-somethings are brought to Siler Hous, a grand plantation house in the deep south of Georgia. Each one of them possess a particular talent that could lend itself to understanding if there really is life beyond the grave. And if that's true then Siler house is the one place on earth they should be able to find it for certain. Long rumored to be filled with ghosts, this antebellum mansion is filled with a disturbing past. Jess our main character is eager to be a part of the experiments and instantly falls in love with Siler house. For her, it's a mission that is two fold. 1. to perhaps make contact with her deceased father and grandmother and to prove to herself she's not crazy about the ghosts she's seen in her past. The other three main characters have their own demons and reasons to be present for the month long experiment. Once the plot was set I quickly was immersed into the world of Siler house. Muto paints a vivid detailed portrait of a grand home that's fallen on hard times. You can almost smell the dust and hear the boards creak. Her attention to detail is brilliantly executed.
In the beginning I didn't care for the character Gage, a typical jock-type who's as cocky as he is arrogant. He's out of place with the others. So I thought at first. But Muto does something credible, she managed to win me over with a character who was unlikeable at first. I had suspicions about the other characters and was pleasantly surprised I was wrong about my early thoughts. I found the book to be a perfect bedside read. Some books I want to read straight through, then there are books like Haunting Season that I want to savor.
I already was a fan of Muto with "Don't Fear The Reaper" in fact I claimed it as my favorite book of 2011. Haunting Season was equally as entertaining. Muto is a writer I know will continue to read no matter what she writes!
Well done 5 Ghosts! (stars)
In the beginning I didn't care for the character Gage, a typical jock-type who's as cocky as he is arrogant. He's out of place with the others. So I thought at first. But Muto does something credible, she managed to win me over with a character who was unlikeable at first. I had suspicions about the other characters and was pleasantly surprised I was wrong about my early thoughts. I found the book to be a perfect bedside read. Some books I want to read straight through, then there are books like Haunting Season that I want to savor.
I already was a fan of Muto with "Don't Fear The Reaper" in fact I claimed it as my favorite book of 2011. Haunting Season was equally as entertaining. Muto is a writer I know will continue to read no matter what she writes!
Well done 5 Ghosts! (stars)
January 15, 2013
Are they cursed or gifted?
Jess, Allison, Gage and Bryan possess unique abilities which are incredible, terrifying and beyond anything natural or normal. Jess’s mother thinks she’s crazy. Allison’s entire family fears her. Gage’s parents resent that his gift wasn’t enough… And Bryan, well, he needs to be especially careful about what he wishes away.
Unfortunately, for this crew, their family and friends aren’t the only ones who have taken notice to their exceptional paranormal aptitude. The four young men and women have been invited to participate in a study at the Siler House for an entire month during their summer break. What they come up against when they get there threatens to destroy them.
This book has everything for the serious ghost-hunter enthusiast.
Ghosts….check!
Demons….check!
Spooky graveyard….check!
A team of paranormal guinea pigs….check, check, check, check!!!!
You get the picture, right?
I visited the Sorrell-Weed House in Savannah, GA about a year ago as part of ghost tour. The house was old and cold and eerie and made my skin crawl even before the tour guide began filling us in on its spook-tacular history and frequent ghost sightings. The Haunting reminded me of this experience. I recalled how uncomfortable the environment made me feel and wondered how Jess, Allison, Gage and Bryan could have survived within the confines of Siler House for an entire month.
Michelle Muto has done exceptional job in creating a suspenseful, action-packed plot and fantastic characterization. The characters in this story are some of the bravest, most selfless and persistent you will ever meet. Jess is my personal favorite. She's curious yet cautious. She has her own ghostly issues to iron out and doesn’t allow anyone stand in her way. She isn’t afraid to speak her mind even when her opinion may not be what others want to hear. She’s a risk-taker. Being a type-A personality myself, I identified with that part of her.
This paranormal tale of haunting ghosts and demons will leave you on the edge of your seat and peeking over your shoulder. It’s a thrilling and bone-chilling experience!
~ Amy Maurer Jones - http://amyjonesyaff.blogspot.com/
Jess, Allison, Gage and Bryan possess unique abilities which are incredible, terrifying and beyond anything natural or normal. Jess’s mother thinks she’s crazy. Allison’s entire family fears her. Gage’s parents resent that his gift wasn’t enough… And Bryan, well, he needs to be especially careful about what he wishes away.
Unfortunately, for this crew, their family and friends aren’t the only ones who have taken notice to their exceptional paranormal aptitude. The four young men and women have been invited to participate in a study at the Siler House for an entire month during their summer break. What they come up against when they get there threatens to destroy them.
This book has everything for the serious ghost-hunter enthusiast.
Ghosts….check!
Demons….check!
Spooky graveyard….check!
A team of paranormal guinea pigs….check, check, check, check!!!!
You get the picture, right?
I visited the Sorrell-Weed House in Savannah, GA about a year ago as part of ghost tour. The house was old and cold and eerie and made my skin crawl even before the tour guide began filling us in on its spook-tacular history and frequent ghost sightings. The Haunting reminded me of this experience. I recalled how uncomfortable the environment made me feel and wondered how Jess, Allison, Gage and Bryan could have survived within the confines of Siler House for an entire month.
Michelle Muto has done exceptional job in creating a suspenseful, action-packed plot and fantastic characterization. The characters in this story are some of the bravest, most selfless and persistent you will ever meet. Jess is my personal favorite. She's curious yet cautious. She has her own ghostly issues to iron out and doesn’t allow anyone stand in her way. She isn’t afraid to speak her mind even when her opinion may not be what others want to hear. She’s a risk-taker. Being a type-A personality myself, I identified with that part of her.
This paranormal tale of haunting ghosts and demons will leave you on the edge of your seat and peeking over your shoulder. It’s a thrilling and bone-chilling experience!
~ Amy Maurer Jones - http://amyjonesyaff.blogspot.com/
February 15, 2016
Well, that was super disappointing! I have wanted to read this book for ages, and even special ordered it. From the premise and the reviews, I was expecting a scary tale with some shocking twists- instead, I think I've read scarier Goosebumps books!
You know what I hate? When a book just keeps asking questions? Just like these sentences? I was seriously over the constant questions the characters thought. They just repeat over and over. I'll give a few examples of the writing;
'Had he been at Siler House? The shadowed figure? Had he been watching over her the whole time? Was he still here, somewhere close by?'
'Could bad spirits be roaming the halls at Siler house? Sure. But until someone could prove it, Jess decided to keep a positive attitude. Why was Allison even here if she didn't want to be a part of this? Why couldn't Allison's family understand that rational or irrational, her fear was real?'
I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWERS TO ALL YOUR QUESTIONS, STOP ASKING ME. It was driving me nuts, following the thought processes of four teenagers that seemed to pose everything as a question, and then answer it with rambling and guesses. It didn't add to the slow build up or the atmosphere so much as destroy it. It made four characters blend into one. If I didn't know better I just read a book about a character with a split personality, except all the personalities are exactly the same except for their names (does that explain the sex scene? hmmm...maybe?)
Plus, almost nothing was explained at the end. I needed more than 'Oh he's a demon'. Really? That was explained early on. I wanted to know more about the motives, and about how all this paranormal stuff was happening. I know I was meant to suspend my disbelief, but I wanted more answers and less questions from this book in more than one way.
Alright, so maybe I am making a mountain out of a molehill, but I have read some really scary YA, and I know what this genre can offer. It's so disappointing to get all excited for a book and it comes nowhere NEAR your expectations. Just like the back covers says 'Be careful what you let in' Yep, well that definitely applied with this book -_- Two stars.
You know what I hate? When a book just keeps asking questions? Just like these sentences? I was seriously over the constant questions the characters thought. They just repeat over and over. I'll give a few examples of the writing;
'Had he been at Siler House? The shadowed figure? Had he been watching over her the whole time? Was he still here, somewhere close by?'
'Could bad spirits be roaming the halls at Siler house? Sure. But until someone could prove it, Jess decided to keep a positive attitude. Why was Allison even here if she didn't want to be a part of this? Why couldn't Allison's family understand that rational or irrational, her fear was real?'
I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWERS TO ALL YOUR QUESTIONS, STOP ASKING ME. It was driving me nuts, following the thought processes of four teenagers that seemed to pose everything as a question, and then answer it with rambling and guesses. It didn't add to the slow build up or the atmosphere so much as destroy it. It made four characters blend into one. If I didn't know better I just read a book about a character with a split personality, except all the personalities are exactly the same except for their names (does that explain the sex scene? hmmm...maybe?)
Plus, almost nothing was explained at the end. I needed more than 'Oh he's a demon'. Really? That was explained early on. I wanted to know more about the motives, and about how all this paranormal stuff was happening. I know I was meant to suspend my disbelief, but I wanted more answers and less questions from this book in more than one way.
Alright, so maybe I am making a mountain out of a molehill, but I have read some really scary YA, and I know what this genre can offer. It's so disappointing to get all excited for a book and it comes nowhere NEAR your expectations. Just like the back covers says 'Be careful what you let in' Yep, well that definitely applied with this book -_- Two stars.
August 12, 2016
Wow. This is one of the best – and scariest – haunted house stories I’ve read. I don’t read a lot of horror but I love all things paranormal, and I was in the mood for a good ghost story. And wow, did this deliver.
The premise is simple enough: four teenagers sign up to spend a month in a haunted house as part of an investigation into the paranormal. All have different paranormal abilities: Jess used to see ghosts, Bryan has psychic abilities, Gage can apparently resurrect the dead, and Allison is terrified by the evil spirits she’s tied to - and thinks that there’s something particularly evil about Siler House. And she may be right – not only that the house has a sinister mind of its own, but also that there’s something wrong with the entire experiment. However, now the house has them under its spell, it won’t let them leave…
Michelle Muto does a superb job of creating a sinister atmosphere that gradually escalates. The plot is well-paced with unpredictable twists and some genuinely bone-chilling moments – a certain graveyard scene comes to mind! The characters are also well-developed, and the developing romance between Jess and Gage is a nice contrast to the scares.
I’ve previously reviewed one of Michelle Muto’s other novels, Don’t Fear the Reaper, and it’s difficult to say which I preferred since they’re vastly different in style despite both belonging to the paranormal genre. DFTR is bleaker in tone, dealing with heavy themes such as grief, whilst THS puts a more sinister spin on the idea of ghosts and spirits. I’m definitely giving this five stars – and I think it’ll be haunting me for a good while!
The premise is simple enough: four teenagers sign up to spend a month in a haunted house as part of an investigation into the paranormal. All have different paranormal abilities: Jess used to see ghosts, Bryan has psychic abilities, Gage can apparently resurrect the dead, and Allison is terrified by the evil spirits she’s tied to - and thinks that there’s something particularly evil about Siler House. And she may be right – not only that the house has a sinister mind of its own, but also that there’s something wrong with the entire experiment. However, now the house has them under its spell, it won’t let them leave…
Michelle Muto does a superb job of creating a sinister atmosphere that gradually escalates. The plot is well-paced with unpredictable twists and some genuinely bone-chilling moments – a certain graveyard scene comes to mind! The characters are also well-developed, and the developing romance between Jess and Gage is a nice contrast to the scares.
I’ve previously reviewed one of Michelle Muto’s other novels, Don’t Fear the Reaper, and it’s difficult to say which I preferred since they’re vastly different in style despite both belonging to the paranormal genre. DFTR is bleaker in tone, dealing with heavy themes such as grief, whilst THS puts a more sinister spin on the idea of ghosts and spirits. I’m definitely giving this five stars – and I think it’ll be haunting me for a good while!
October 25, 2013
4.5 stars
Note to myself: Don't you ever again read a book about haunted houses after midnight. The idea of a haunted house and the noises that came from the house above mine kept me awake. The book wasn't that spooky, I am the one who is paranoid.
I was thinking about the book when I wasn't reading it. Every now and then something new was coming up and made the book more interesting. I was about 60-68% done when the big guns were pulled. After that it was impossible to put the book down. It was the crescendo of the book and I will just say wow. That was the kind of plot that you want to see in a book like T.H.S.
The end is the kind of ending you will see in a movie with a similar theme. And I hate that mostly, because it's incomplete and you never know what exactly happened and/or if the evil spirit (or whatever it is) is gone forever or will come haunting people again.
If you are a romance reader you will like it because Gage and Jess have a romantic connection. If you are a paranormal fan you will like it because the book is set in a haunted house. No further explanation is needed.
Note to myself: Don't you ever again read a book about haunted houses after midnight. The idea of a haunted house and the noises that came from the house above mine kept me awake. The book wasn't that spooky, I am the one who is paranoid.
I was thinking about the book when I wasn't reading it. Every now and then something new was coming up and made the book more interesting. I was about 60-68% done when the big guns were pulled. After that it was impossible to put the book down. It was the crescendo of the book and I will just say wow. That was the kind of plot that you want to see in a book like T.H.S.
The end is the kind of ending you will see in a movie with a similar theme. And I hate that mostly, because it's incomplete and you never know what exactly happened and/or if the evil spirit (or whatever it is) is gone forever or will come haunting people again.
If you are a romance reader you will like it because Gage and Jess have a romantic connection. If you are a paranormal fan you will like it because the book is set in a haunted house. No further explanation is needed.
October 15, 2013
The Siler House has a deep dark past. The mansion is being used for a supernatural study. The participants have been hand pick for this study.Jess, she can see and talk to ghosts. Allison, who was possessed by evil demons. Even her own family is afraid of her. Bryan,who has the ability to make things disappear. Gage, who has the power to bring things back from the dead. His parents are hoping that he can bring back his dead brother Ben. The study is conducted by Dr. Brandt. When Dr. Brandt begins to act strange, the group is visited by an evil spirit who is trap in the mirrors of the house. The group has to figure out how to use there powers together to defeat this evil demon. If you like a fast paced scary horror story, then you need to read this book.
September 24, 2014
The Haunting Season is about Jess, Gage, Allison and Bryan. All four characters meet at Siler House to take part in a paranormal experiment. Siler House is located in Savannah, GA, a town known for it's vast history of paranormal activity. The house sat vacant for many years, free of human life, until now. It's as if the house has come to life with the arrival of group. Each character has their own ability. One sees ghosts, another can sense evil, one can bring back the dead and the other well lets just say he wants to forget his. This story reminded me a little The House on Haunted Hill which I loved. The connection excited me. This story definitely left me wanting more.
December 3, 2015
I feel like I've read this book before but I never forget a book I've read and I know I've never read this book. >.>; I think it has to do with the subject matter.
I am divided here. This book's scares were done fairly well, compared to other horror I've read this year. However, it's also the most cliche book of horror that I've read this year as well. It has basically every horror book cliche that's ever been written.
To the point where one of the characters is named Gage and he brings things back to life. Really?
I am divided here. This book's scares were done fairly well, compared to other horror I've read this year. However, it's also the most cliche book of horror that I've read this year as well. It has basically every horror book cliche that's ever been written.
To the point where one of the characters is named Gage and he brings things back to life. Really?
January 25, 2015
I liked the idea of the book, but after reading only a few pages I realized this was a YA novel. I powered on through, and the idea of four gifted 18 yr olds dealing with paranormal situations, kept me going. The descriptions of Jess's and Gage's feelings for each other was cringeworthy, but I'm 41. I imagine if I was a 17 yr old girl, it would be relatable. I guess, I was expecting something scarier and horrific. What I got was a ghost story a la Twilight. If that's your cup of tea, dive in. I'd rather drink a beer with Stephen King.
September 10, 2014
You know how you see a trailer for a spooky movie and you think hu... that looks like it could be good. Then you sort of forget about it and later you come across it on Netflix (or whatever) and you go oh! That looked like it might be good! I forgot about that movie. So then you watch it and realize all the good bits were in the trailer and even though the movie had a solid premise, it just didn't quite get there? That was how this book felt to me.
October 1, 2014
The Haunting season was a very nice change to the usual Paranormal Romance books. Even though there is a little bit of love story involved, there is a lot more about ghosts, Negromatic, demons, possession and other creepy things more that you can think of that wrapped me in and made me wanted to read all day long. Also I can't give five stars, since I had the feeling the author could have gotten a lot more out of the story since there is a lot of potential around Gage, Bryan, Jess and Allison.
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