[(Dark Woods )] [Author: Steve Voake] [Jun-2011]

by Steve Voake

Eden turned the teddy bear over in her hands and Cal saw the way her fingers stroked the worn patch of fur, touching the frayed threads where the glass eye used to be. 'Where did you get this?' she whispered. Jefferson smiled. 'From in here,' he told her, tapping a finger against his temple. 'From inside your head.' After meeting on holiday in Montana, Cal and Eden decide to explore the mountains beyond their campground. But deep in the woods, someone is watching them.Jefferson Boyd, a lone outcast, believes he has discovered a way of turning dreams into reality. But he needs someone to experiment upon.When Cal wakes up in an isolated cabin, he discovers they are not alone. And as the terrifying truth emerges, he realises that their only chance of survival is to finally confront the nightmares that are stalking them through the shadows of the forest . . .

Genres: Horror, Young Adult

Paperback

First published June 1, 2011

About the author

Steve Voake is the author of all the Daisy Dawson books, as well as two novels for older readers. He lives in Somerset, England.

Reviews

[Adele Broadbent · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cal is camping with his new foster parents. They want to get closer to him, but he won’t let anyone in. When a girl from the camp invites him on a bush walk, he takes the chance for some space. But someone is watching. They meet a stranger and find themselves waking in a strange house. He has drugged them and used them for an experiment he is working on. An experiment that can brings dreams to reality. At first the stranger is their enemy until they meet their nightmares in real life. They work together to defeat the horrors, while Cal works through his fear of being rejected again by a foster family.

Fast moving. Chocka full of scary, and would make a great teen movie.

[Paige · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5. It was fine, just too young for me. More aimed at tweens and I didn't realise before starting it.

[Zayneea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dark Woods wasn't what I was expecting it to be at all. A boy called Cal is on holiday to Montana with his foster parents where he meets a girl called Eden in the early morning and they decide to go exploring beyond their campsite before the others wake up. There is a scientist called Jefferson who believes he has away of turning things from dreams into reality, and he abducts the children as he needs wants help to get his dead pet dog back.

Sometimes I really enjoyed it an it gave me goosebumps, but other times it was really too unrealistic to the point where it would feel a bit ridiculous. Overall it was an ok story, there was some bits that were too predictable, but there was still enough to keep you curious about what was going to happen next. It may be that children enjoy it more than adults which is who the book is aimed for, but I think due to the 'scary' elements of the story it is recommended for older children because younger ones may start having nightmares.

[Chantal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slightly science-fiction, even more slightly family and friendship, definitely horror. A mad scientist puts the lives of two teens in dramatic, horrifying danger, as there is nothing more terrifying than our childhood nightmares.

Because of the horror themes, I would definitely recommend for ages 13+

[Ellen Allen · Rating 1 out of 5]

I thought this started off really well and I was hooked immediately. I just didn't like where the story went... I thought it was too implausible and a little bizarre. Might just be personal taste though.

[Alex · Rating 2 out of 5]

This started out really promisingly and was a pacy teen novel... but it rapidly descended into cliché and a ridiculous plot.