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Mary Hades #1
Mary Hades
Not many seventeen year old girls have a best friend who’s a ghost, but then Mary Hades isn’t your average teenager.
Scarred physically and mentally from a fire, her parents decide a holiday to an idyllic village in North Yorkshire will help her recover. Nestled in the middle of five moors, Mary expects to have a boring week stuck in a caravan with her parents. Little does she know, evil lurks in the campsite…
Seth Lockwood—a local fairground worker with a dark secret—might be the key to uncovering the murky history that has blighted Nettleby. But Mary is drawn to him in a way that has her questioning her judgement.
Helped by her dead best friend and a quirky gay Goth couple, Mary must stop the unusual deaths occurring in Nettleby. But can she prevent her heart from being broken?
The first in a series of dark YA novels, Mary Hades follows on from the bestselling Kindle Single 'My Daylight Monsters'. A spine-tingling tale with romance, readers will be shocked and entertained in equal measure.
Scarred physically and mentally from a fire, her parents decide a holiday to an idyllic village in North Yorkshire will help her recover. Nestled in the middle of five moors, Mary expects to have a boring week stuck in a caravan with her parents. Little does she know, evil lurks in the campsite…
Seth Lockwood—a local fairground worker with a dark secret—might be the key to uncovering the murky history that has blighted Nettleby. But Mary is drawn to him in a way that has her questioning her judgement.
Helped by her dead best friend and a quirky gay Goth couple, Mary must stop the unusual deaths occurring in Nettleby. But can she prevent her heart from being broken?
The first in a series of dark YA novels, Mary Hades follows on from the bestselling Kindle Single 'My Daylight Monsters'. A spine-tingling tale with romance, readers will be shocked and entertained in equal measure.
284 pages, Paperback
First published April 30, 2014
98 people are currently reading
2210 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Dalton
71 books335 followersSarah grew up in the middle of nowhere in the countryside of Derbyshire and as a result has an over-active imagination. She has been an avid reader for most of her life, taking inspiration from the stories she read as a child, and the novels she devoured as an adult.
Sarah mainly writes speculative fiction for a Young Adult audience and has had pieces of short fiction published in the Medulla Literary Review, PANK magazine, Apex Magazine and the British Fantasy Society publication Dark Horizons. Her short story ‘Vampires Wear Chanel’ is featured in the Wyvern Publication Fangtales.
She is the author of the popular YA dystopia series 'Blemished' and the gothic novella 'My Daylight Monsters'. She is currently working on a YA Fantasy series titled 'White Hart'.
Follow Sarah on twitter @sarahdalton
Sarah mainly writes speculative fiction for a Young Adult audience and has had pieces of short fiction published in the Medulla Literary Review, PANK magazine, Apex Magazine and the British Fantasy Society publication Dark Horizons. Her short story ‘Vampires Wear Chanel’ is featured in the Wyvern Publication Fangtales.
She is the author of the popular YA dystopia series 'Blemished' and the gothic novella 'My Daylight Monsters'. She is currently working on a YA Fantasy series titled 'White Hart'.
Follow Sarah on twitter @sarahdalton
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 126 reviews
March 11, 2015
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to author Sarah Dalton and NetGalley.)
“Standing like a scarecrow in the middle of a crop field, is one of them. Its skull shines through its face, and haunting sunken eyes stare at me, dark as night. A chill passes over my body.
This is a warning.”
This was a really good ghost story, and I really enjoyed it.
I liked Mary in this story, I felt sorry for her with what she had gone through at the mental health care facility, but it was nice that she now had Lacey as a friend, even if she was dead.
“Well, that was marginally better than our last hospital stay,” Lacey says. “Mainly because last time, I died.”
The storyline in this was pretty good, and I liked the mystery element. I didn’t think this book was all that scary again, but I did prefer it to ‘My Daylight Monsters’. I will say though that I absolutely hate Ferris Wheels, and if I had to jump off of one of them because a ghost was trying to kill me, I would not be happy.
“We have to jump,” I shout.
“What?” Seth replies.
“Jump! Now!”
There was some romance and it was kind-of sweet. Mary’s mother was an absolute nutcase though, and seemed to think that finding a boyfriend was just what Mary needed, to the point where she encouraged her to go out with anyone!
“Oh, I can tell just from looking at your face. He’s downright gorgeous, isn’t he? Please tell me you used protection.”
The ending to this was pretty good, and I liked the action. I wasn’t 100% convinced by the way the romance ended though.
7.5 out of 10
“Standing like a scarecrow in the middle of a crop field, is one of them. Its skull shines through its face, and haunting sunken eyes stare at me, dark as night. A chill passes over my body.
This is a warning.”
This was a really good ghost story, and I really enjoyed it.
I liked Mary in this story, I felt sorry for her with what she had gone through at the mental health care facility, but it was nice that she now had Lacey as a friend, even if she was dead.
“Well, that was marginally better than our last hospital stay,” Lacey says. “Mainly because last time, I died.”
The storyline in this was pretty good, and I liked the mystery element. I didn’t think this book was all that scary again, but I did prefer it to ‘My Daylight Monsters’. I will say though that I absolutely hate Ferris Wheels, and if I had to jump off of one of them because a ghost was trying to kill me, I would not be happy.
“We have to jump,” I shout.
“What?” Seth replies.
“Jump! Now!”
There was some romance and it was kind-of sweet. Mary’s mother was an absolute nutcase though, and seemed to think that finding a boyfriend was just what Mary needed, to the point where she encouraged her to go out with anyone!
“Oh, I can tell just from looking at your face. He’s downright gorgeous, isn’t he? Please tell me you used protection.”
The ending to this was pretty good, and I liked the action. I wasn’t 100% convinced by the way the romance ended though.
7.5 out of 10
July 20, 2014
Well, first of all that cover is simply gorgeous and I was in need to read a ghost book so I requested Mary Hades. I was liking the first parts of the book...
I did not get the creepiness that I expected.
The Plot:
Mary Hades had been put into a sort of mental institution since her parents find her weird. She is weird, in a way. She can see ghosts. She met a friend in the hospital, Lacey. Then an accident happened that killed Lacey. It scarred Mary, literally. She blamed herself for it. But the thing is, Lacey never left her. She was still around her. As a ghost.
Mary's parents decided to go to a vacation. She goes because she wanted to escape The Things, as she calls these ghosts that is very scary-looking, who seems to be everywhere she looks.. But these creatures doesn't seem to want to leave her alone. Mary's so sure that Death is always coming for her.
The Characters:
Mary. I was kind of annoyed at her sometimes. I think that she liked Lacey around when she was enjoying her company but when she didn't, she wants Lacey to "move on" like she's a huge inconvenience. That is so not cool.
Lacey. Well, she was certainly entertaining as a ghost best friend. She jokes frequently but when things are serious, she's very good to lean into. She does not tolerate Mary's impulsiveness.
The secondary characters was okay. They did help make the story a little bit interesting.
The romance, although had been a huge part of the story, was not somehow the main focus of the book. It was about a ghost who wants to find her peace and had been very vengeful that it killed some people. Together with some weird friends, Mary tries to stopped it from killing the guy she liked who seems to be involved in the mystery around its death.
The Ending:
To be honest, I was kind of disappointed by how it all ends. I was expecting a huge battle but I did not get it. It was like expecting a hurricane but only getting a drizzle. It was very anticlimactic. It felt too rushed for my liking.
Overall, a nice horror book but it completely lacked the creepiness that I was expecting. I will probably read the next books in the series just to see how it all goes. But.. I'll re-read this book first (or read this review) because this story is just so forgettable. I wasn't very much invested in this one.
Final Rating: 2.5/5 stars
*Received a copy of this book from the author and XpressoBookTours in exchanged of an honest review.*
I did not get the creepiness that I expected.
The Plot:
Mary Hades had been put into a sort of mental institution since her parents find her weird. She is weird, in a way. She can see ghosts. She met a friend in the hospital, Lacey. Then an accident happened that killed Lacey. It scarred Mary, literally. She blamed herself for it. But the thing is, Lacey never left her. She was still around her. As a ghost.
Mary's parents decided to go to a vacation. She goes because she wanted to escape The Things, as she calls these ghosts that is very scary-looking, who seems to be everywhere she looks.. But these creatures doesn't seem to want to leave her alone. Mary's so sure that Death is always coming for her.
The Characters:
Mary. I was kind of annoyed at her sometimes. I think that she liked Lacey around when she was enjoying her company but when she didn't, she wants Lacey to "move on" like she's a huge inconvenience. That is so not cool.
Lacey. Well, she was certainly entertaining as a ghost best friend. She jokes frequently but when things are serious, she's very good to lean into. She does not tolerate Mary's impulsiveness.
The secondary characters was okay. They did help make the story a little bit interesting.
The romance, although had been a huge part of the story, was not somehow the main focus of the book. It was about a ghost who wants to find her peace and had been very vengeful that it killed some people. Together with some weird friends, Mary tries to stopped it from killing the guy she liked who seems to be involved in the mystery around its death.
The Ending:
To be honest, I was kind of disappointed by how it all ends. I was expecting a huge battle but I did not get it. It was like expecting a hurricane but only getting a drizzle. It was very anticlimactic. It felt too rushed for my liking.
Overall, a nice horror book but it completely lacked the creepiness that I was expecting. I will probably read the next books in the series just to see how it all goes. But.. I'll re-read this book first (or read this review) because this story is just so forgettable. I wasn't very much invested in this one.
Final Rating: 2.5/5 stars
*Received a copy of this book from the author and XpressoBookTours in exchanged of an honest review.*
September 1, 2014
Mary’s been dragged to Nettleby, a small town in the north of England, for a family holiday, but when strange accidents occur that kill people around her, she discovers she’s at the centre of child ghost’s vengeance, and she has to figure out a way to keep all of her new friends – and old ones – alive so they can put the serial killing ghost to rest.
Mary Hades is a wonderful book, truly spectacular. It’s the kind of book that would be at home with a major publisher in their YA Gothic section. As a self-published book, it simply outshines a lot of other similarly produced work I’ve read. It’s polished, refined, each character has its own motivations and the main character grows and changes with relevance to the clear, outlined plot. There’s mysteries left unturned until the climax and it’s also a good adventure ride, hanging out with Mary as she finds a summer romance, faces some demons both metaphorical and real, and tries to solve the mystery of the ghost child haunting the small town.
Mary was an excellent character. She was strong willed and smart, fighting against a horrible mental illness stigma. Her best friend is a ghost, called Lacey, and the two of them bickered and fought like any teen best friends do. I loved their relationship because of the power balance between them and I found it quite realistic. As an added bonus, Lacey is a lesbian, but it’s never made a big deal of. Mary wasn’t exactly a leader type who took charge, but she was capable of being on her own without falling apart, which I liked.
The other characters were great to read about as well. Seth had motivation out the wazoo and enough issues to make even the worst of the bad-boy-with-an-attitude-lovers swoon. Neil and Lamarr were an interracial gay Goth couple and they were sweet to Mary. We didn’t see as much of them because the focus was on Seth. Mary’s parents were suitable horrific: her mother was completely obsessed with getting Mary a summer boyfriend (and maybe even getting laid?) and her dad, obviously, hated Seth and anything that threatened to change Mary from a little girl into a woman.
Although this book revealed horrible character actions and hinted at even more sinister stuff, I still think it’s a great book for teenagers to enjoy. I really liked it even though I haven’t read the prequel novella, My Daylight Monsters. I think it’s a phenomenal effort and it should be a book other YA readers should tackle.
Thanks to Xpresso Book Tours and the author for providing a free review copy for an honest review.
Mary Hades is a wonderful book, truly spectacular. It’s the kind of book that would be at home with a major publisher in their YA Gothic section. As a self-published book, it simply outshines a lot of other similarly produced work I’ve read. It’s polished, refined, each character has its own motivations and the main character grows and changes with relevance to the clear, outlined plot. There’s mysteries left unturned until the climax and it’s also a good adventure ride, hanging out with Mary as she finds a summer romance, faces some demons both metaphorical and real, and tries to solve the mystery of the ghost child haunting the small town.
Mary was an excellent character. She was strong willed and smart, fighting against a horrible mental illness stigma. Her best friend is a ghost, called Lacey, and the two of them bickered and fought like any teen best friends do. I loved their relationship because of the power balance between them and I found it quite realistic. As an added bonus, Lacey is a lesbian, but it’s never made a big deal of. Mary wasn’t exactly a leader type who took charge, but she was capable of being on her own without falling apart, which I liked.
The other characters were great to read about as well. Seth had motivation out the wazoo and enough issues to make even the worst of the bad-boy-with-an-attitude-lovers swoon. Neil and Lamarr were an interracial gay Goth couple and they were sweet to Mary. We didn’t see as much of them because the focus was on Seth. Mary’s parents were suitable horrific: her mother was completely obsessed with getting Mary a summer boyfriend (and maybe even getting laid?) and her dad, obviously, hated Seth and anything that threatened to change Mary from a little girl into a woman.
Although this book revealed horrible character actions and hinted at even more sinister stuff, I still think it’s a great book for teenagers to enjoy. I really liked it even though I haven’t read the prequel novella, My Daylight Monsters. I think it’s a phenomenal effort and it should be a book other YA readers should tackle.
Thanks to Xpresso Book Tours and the author for providing a free review copy for an honest review.
March 11, 2015
(I received a copy from Netgalley, In exchange for an honest review.)
Mary was an okay character, but she annoyed me a few times, so I didn't love her.
Lacey was a lot better than she was in the novella. She still had her annoying moments, but she wasn't as bad.
I did enjoy a lot of this, but there were a few parts where I felt bored. Out of this and the novella, I enjoyed the novella slightly more.
The ending was a bit disappointing, but it wasn't bad either.
Overall, An okay read.
Mary was an okay character, but she annoyed me a few times, so I didn't love her.
Lacey was a lot better than she was in the novella. She still had her annoying moments, but she wasn't as bad.
I did enjoy a lot of this, but there were a few parts where I felt bored. Out of this and the novella, I enjoyed the novella slightly more.
The ending was a bit disappointing, but it wasn't bad either.
Overall, An okay read.
January 21, 2016
This and other reviews can be found on The Psychotic Nerd
MY THOUGHTS
I read My Daylight Monsters awhile ago and loved it! It was great as a novella, but I still have a few unanswered questions. So, I was ecstatic when I found out that it will be expanded into a series! And it did not disappoint! (Just so you know, it is not necessary to read My Daylight Monsters before reading this book, but if you get a chance to read it, go for it! It is a really great novella!)
Mary Hades sees creatures whenever something bad is about to happen and death seems to follow her. Seeing these caused Mary to be put in a mental ward, then it turns out that one of the doctors was killing patients (and killed her friend there, who now 'haunts' Mary in ghost form). After this event, Mary's parents decide that a holiday in a small village will be perfect for recovery. Until a little boy jumps off a building and dies. It turns out that there's a ghost in the village, one that likes to kill men and grows more powerful with each kill. Mary needs to find a way to stop this ghost, especially when her new friend, maybe boyfriend, may be the next target.
I love ghost stories. Sure, they scare the hell out of me, but I find them so very interesting! This book is very similar to other ghost mysterious, but I still loved it! The ghost was very creepy and the tone of the book was dark. I actually loved the creepiness, I think it's a must for any ghost story.
The characters are really great in this book. Mary is a great main character. She has a very abnormal life, with seeing creatures, a dead best friend, and death following her everywhere. Oddly enough, I was able to connect with her. She is very strong-willed and , while she wishes she could be normal, she won't stand back and let a ghost destroy lives. All the other characters are really great as well. She makes new friends in this book and they help her with stopping the ghost. They even believe her when she talks about ghosts!
The romance was a nice addition, but more of a just there kind of thing if that makes any sense. It was just a little romance, but while it was nice, it wasn't long lasting. I did like the love interest though. And while the romance was small, I did like it. It didn't distract the plot and it wasn't annoying
IN CONCLUSION
This is a very good beginning to a new ghost mystery series. I get the feeling that each book will focus on a different ghost and I am actually very excited to see that! If you enjoy reading ghost stories, then this is your book!
MY THOUGHTS
I read My Daylight Monsters awhile ago and loved it! It was great as a novella, but I still have a few unanswered questions. So, I was ecstatic when I found out that it will be expanded into a series! And it did not disappoint! (Just so you know, it is not necessary to read My Daylight Monsters before reading this book, but if you get a chance to read it, go for it! It is a really great novella!)
Mary Hades sees creatures whenever something bad is about to happen and death seems to follow her. Seeing these caused Mary to be put in a mental ward, then it turns out that one of the doctors was killing patients (and killed her friend there, who now 'haunts' Mary in ghost form). After this event, Mary's parents decide that a holiday in a small village will be perfect for recovery. Until a little boy jumps off a building and dies. It turns out that there's a ghost in the village, one that likes to kill men and grows more powerful with each kill. Mary needs to find a way to stop this ghost, especially when her new friend, maybe boyfriend, may be the next target.
I love ghost stories. Sure, they scare the hell out of me, but I find them so very interesting! This book is very similar to other ghost mysterious, but I still loved it! The ghost was very creepy and the tone of the book was dark. I actually loved the creepiness, I think it's a must for any ghost story.
The characters are really great in this book. Mary is a great main character. She has a very abnormal life, with seeing creatures, a dead best friend, and death following her everywhere. Oddly enough, I was able to connect with her. She is very strong-willed and , while she wishes she could be normal, she won't stand back and let a ghost destroy lives. All the other characters are really great as well. She makes new friends in this book and they help her with stopping the ghost. They even believe her when she talks about ghosts!
The romance was a nice addition, but more of a just there kind of thing if that makes any sense. It was just a little romance, but while it was nice, it wasn't long lasting. I did like the love interest though. And while the romance was small, I did like it. It didn't distract the plot and it wasn't annoying
IN CONCLUSION
This is a very good beginning to a new ghost mystery series. I get the feeling that each book will focus on a different ghost and I am actually very excited to see that! If you enjoy reading ghost stories, then this is your book!
October 20, 2017
Mary Hades by Sarah Dalton is a creepy and fantastic tale of a girl who is able to see and communicate with the spirits, her vacation adventure that turns into a young girl’s ghostly revenge and I loved every minute I spent with her and her friends, leaving me wanting more.
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April 4, 2015
(I got a copy through NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.)
Mary Hades mostly delivers on vivid descriptions when it comes to the murderous ghost, the time spent running away at night on the moors, and other scenes that are of the traditional and expected kind in such a story. I liked reading those parts, and the writing style in general, while not being exceptional, was pleasant. The novel introduced interesting ideas, too, especially the ones revolving around lacey and what she may or may not become as a ghost: she's been dead for a short time, yet the question remains whether the gruesome circumstances of said death could cause her to turn bad, just as the enemy turned bad. This is definitely something deserving to be explored.
However, the rest of the story seemed to plod along, despite being short enough. The romance, for one, felt forced and not really useful, leaving me thinking "Yes, and?..." in the end, and nothing more. Was there really need for a romance here? I don't think so. They could've been friends, and it would just have been the same. Call me a picky reader, and unfair to the author, but I've read way too many YA books by now to still be awed by romance the doesn't have an actual role to play.
I also couldn't help but question the presence of other characters. Mary, Lacey, Seth, Igor: OK. The other ones, though, felt superfluous, didn't really help, didn't bring much to the plot either. I guess their main interest was to be "the gay couple next door", but then, might as well give them something relevant to do, not just hand around as wannabe ghost hunters. It smelt suspiciously of "let's add gay people to show that we like them", almost in a trendish way. (Maybe I'm totally mistaken as to the intent: it's just the way I perceived it.)
I remain torn when it comes to the part about Dr Gethen. I know the novel stemmed from a novella, and it's clear the author wanted her readers to be able to enjoy Mary Hades without necessarily having had to read the previous story. This is commendable, and the few reminders peppered here and there helped me piece those events together, enough that I was able to easily get what happened to Mary and Lacey and drove them where they are now. On the other hand, it wasn't enough—or, rather, it was a shortcut to something Mary had to come to terms with, only I got the coming-to-terms part without the emotional and literary investment in it. I guess one had better read the novella before, all in all, if only to feel more invested.
Finally, while the murderous ghost was frightening enough in the beginning, I thought her demise went too quickly, too easily. She should've been more of a challenge, deserved more screen time, perhaps a death or two that the characters would have felt more deeply? (The little boy, and the guy working at the fair, are killed too early, without the reader having had a chance to get interested in them, so they're more MacGuffins than characters... if this makes sense).
Conclusion: easy to read, with potential, but not living up to it, and not very memorable. This made it barely "OK" for me.
Mary Hades mostly delivers on vivid descriptions when it comes to the murderous ghost, the time spent running away at night on the moors, and other scenes that are of the traditional and expected kind in such a story. I liked reading those parts, and the writing style in general, while not being exceptional, was pleasant. The novel introduced interesting ideas, too, especially the ones revolving around lacey and what she may or may not become as a ghost: she's been dead for a short time, yet the question remains whether the gruesome circumstances of said death could cause her to turn bad, just as the enemy turned bad. This is definitely something deserving to be explored.
However, the rest of the story seemed to plod along, despite being short enough. The romance, for one, felt forced and not really useful, leaving me thinking "Yes, and?..." in the end, and nothing more. Was there really need for a romance here? I don't think so. They could've been friends, and it would just have been the same. Call me a picky reader, and unfair to the author, but I've read way too many YA books by now to still be awed by romance the doesn't have an actual role to play.
I also couldn't help but question the presence of other characters. Mary, Lacey, Seth, Igor: OK. The other ones, though, felt superfluous, didn't really help, didn't bring much to the plot either. I guess their main interest was to be "the gay couple next door", but then, might as well give them something relevant to do, not just hand around as wannabe ghost hunters. It smelt suspiciously of "let's add gay people to show that we like them", almost in a trendish way. (Maybe I'm totally mistaken as to the intent: it's just the way I perceived it.)
I remain torn when it comes to the part about Dr Gethen. I know the novel stemmed from a novella, and it's clear the author wanted her readers to be able to enjoy Mary Hades without necessarily having had to read the previous story. This is commendable, and the few reminders peppered here and there helped me piece those events together, enough that I was able to easily get what happened to Mary and Lacey and drove them where they are now. On the other hand, it wasn't enough—or, rather, it was a shortcut to something Mary had to come to terms with, only I got the coming-to-terms part without the emotional and literary investment in it. I guess one had better read the novella before, all in all, if only to feel more invested.
Finally, while the murderous ghost was frightening enough in the beginning, I thought her demise went too quickly, too easily. She should've been more of a challenge, deserved more screen time, perhaps a death or two that the characters would have felt more deeply? (The little boy, and the guy working at the fair, are killed too early, without the reader having had a chance to get interested in them, so they're more MacGuffins than characters... if this makes sense).
Conclusion: easy to read, with potential, but not living up to it, and not very memorable. This made it barely "OK" for me.
March 13, 2015
This is a sometimes very dark, funny, and mostly enjoyable murder mystery ghost story with a little romance.
I don't often read young adult books, but the book description caught my attention, so I thought I'd give it a go, and I'm so pleased I did.
Mary is a likeable, fairly mature teenage girl with a variety of issues. The main one being that her best friend is a ghost.
Lacey, the ghostly friend is a funny character that made me laugh on a few occasions. There are a variety of other different characters within this novel, but Mary and Lacey were definitely my favourites. This may be because they were the most developed characters. However, I did really feel for Seth and the things he had had to deal with since his teens.
This is a fast paced, easy to follow story that is very hard to put down.
Some reviews state that the romance wasn’t convincing. If you want to read a romance novel, this isn’t the book for you. However, if you want to read a ghostly novel about murder and death, which happens to have friendship and a little bit of romance in it, then I would recommend this novel.
This is not a particularly deep novel, but it does cover some serious issues.
I would happily read more by Sarah Dalton, and would like to thank her for the opportunity to read this via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I don't often read young adult books, but the book description caught my attention, so I thought I'd give it a go, and I'm so pleased I did.
Mary is a likeable, fairly mature teenage girl with a variety of issues. The main one being that her best friend is a ghost.
Lacey, the ghostly friend is a funny character that made me laugh on a few occasions. There are a variety of other different characters within this novel, but Mary and Lacey were definitely my favourites. This may be because they were the most developed characters. However, I did really feel for Seth and the things he had had to deal with since his teens.
This is a fast paced, easy to follow story that is very hard to put down.
Some reviews state that the romance wasn’t convincing. If you want to read a romance novel, this isn’t the book for you. However, if you want to read a ghostly novel about murder and death, which happens to have friendship and a little bit of romance in it, then I would recommend this novel.
This is not a particularly deep novel, but it does cover some serious issues.
I would happily read more by Sarah Dalton, and would like to thank her for the opportunity to read this via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 22, 2015
You can read this review and more on my blog:
I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Someone who has read fewer romances and watched almost no ghost movies, probably would have enjoyed Mary Hades more than I did.
When the book begins, it is after Mary was terrorized by her doctor and badly scarred in a fire at the mental facility she was sent to. It was like this was a sequel to another book, and I needed to read that first book in order to be invested in what was happening.
There were some spooky scenes that I enjoyed, Mary was likable enough, and I liked the last few chapters, but for the most part, the story was too rushed and disjointed for my taste. It was a short book that tried to tell a very long story.
I think Mary has been able to see ghost for a long time, and her parents sent her to a mental hospital because they thought she was crazy. While at the mental hospital, Mary meets her best friend, Lacey, and Lacey gets killed by some psycho doctor. But of course that doesn’t end their friendship because Mary can see Ghost.
The real story begins when Mary goes on vacation with her parents and meets a cute boy named Seth.
I could tell you some more stuff about the plot, but it would spoil the mystery, and the mystery is just about the only thing I liked so I don’t want to ruin it. Basically, Seth and Mary have a lot in common, and they team up to stop a homicidal ghost.
The mystery had me guessing, and I didn’t know who the murderer was until the last couple of chapters, and Mary and Seth had a cute holiday romance.
I really think this book is better suited for someone who is a lot younger than me and isn’t so familiar with ghost stories. I wanted more scary and intense moments.
If you want to read something light that has a few spooky moments, this would be the book for you.
Because of language and mature themes, I would recommend this book for ages 15 and up. There was no sexual content.
Someone who has read fewer romances and watched almost no ghost movies, probably would have enjoyed Mary Hades more than I did.
When the book begins, it is after Mary was terrorized by her doctor and badly scarred in a fire at the mental facility she was sent to. It was like this was a sequel to another book, and I needed to read that first book in order to be invested in what was happening.
There were some spooky scenes that I enjoyed, Mary was likable enough, and I liked the last few chapters, but for the most part, the story was too rushed and disjointed for my taste. It was a short book that tried to tell a very long story.
I think Mary has been able to see ghost for a long time, and her parents sent her to a mental hospital because they thought she was crazy. While at the mental hospital, Mary meets her best friend, Lacey, and Lacey gets killed by some psycho doctor. But of course that doesn’t end their friendship because Mary can see Ghost.
The real story begins when Mary goes on vacation with her parents and meets a cute boy named Seth.
I could tell you some more stuff about the plot, but it would spoil the mystery, and the mystery is just about the only thing I liked so I don’t want to ruin it. Basically, Seth and Mary have a lot in common, and they team up to stop a homicidal ghost.
The mystery had me guessing, and I didn’t know who the murderer was until the last couple of chapters, and Mary and Seth had a cute holiday romance.
I really think this book is better suited for someone who is a lot younger than me and isn’t so familiar with ghost stories. I wanted more scary and intense moments.
If you want to read something light that has a few spooky moments, this would be the book for you.
Because of language and mature themes, I would recommend this book for ages 15 and up. There was no sexual content.
April 29, 2015
This review is also on my blog: www.bookblogbird.weebly.com
I received a copy of Mary Hades in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to the author, Sarah Dalton, and Netgalley.
It's not often I go for a ghost story, but something about the blurb of Mary Hades drew me in and I'm really glad it did! It's the story of a girl, Mary Hades, who sees ghosts. Her parents think it's a psychological problem and Mary pretends to take the medication her doctors give her, but she knows the ghosts she sees are real. All this is fine until Mary and her parents go on holiday to a caravan site haunted by a ghost who's recently stated to get a bit violent....
Mary Hades is written like a proper old-fashioned ghost story, in a kind of 'bad ghost versus protagonist whose job it is to defeat it' way. I thought it was a great story with likeable characters and a plot that kept me reading all the way through. There's a bit of romance, but it doesn't overwhelm the action. It's also kind of Scooby-Doo (in a good way): Mary has her gang of buddies and they set about trying to solve the mystery of why this ghost has been killing people. Spoiler alert: the ghost in Mary Hades didn't turn out to be the caretaker from the haunted amusement arcade.
I received a copy of Mary Hades in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to the author, Sarah Dalton, and Netgalley.
It's not often I go for a ghost story, but something about the blurb of Mary Hades drew me in and I'm really glad it did! It's the story of a girl, Mary Hades, who sees ghosts. Her parents think it's a psychological problem and Mary pretends to take the medication her doctors give her, but she knows the ghosts she sees are real. All this is fine until Mary and her parents go on holiday to a caravan site haunted by a ghost who's recently stated to get a bit violent....
Mary Hades is written like a proper old-fashioned ghost story, in a kind of 'bad ghost versus protagonist whose job it is to defeat it' way. I thought it was a great story with likeable characters and a plot that kept me reading all the way through. There's a bit of romance, but it doesn't overwhelm the action. It's also kind of Scooby-Doo (in a good way): Mary has her gang of buddies and they set about trying to solve the mystery of why this ghost has been killing people. Spoiler alert: the ghost in Mary Hades didn't turn out to be the caretaker from the haunted amusement arcade.
February 6, 2015
**I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in return for an honest review.**
This is an amazing start to what I am sure will be an amazing series. This book left me breathless, and right on the edge of my seat (how cliche I know). Sarah Dalton is amazing at setting the atmosphere of a story, a way with words and characters. For any one who liked Girl of Nightmares by Kendare Blake you will love this book. It is decidedly creepier to me and there are some incredibly twisted dark parts that I was not expecting. Just an amazing book.
This is an amazing start to what I am sure will be an amazing series. This book left me breathless, and right on the edge of my seat (how cliche I know). Sarah Dalton is amazing at setting the atmosphere of a story, a way with words and characters. For any one who liked Girl of Nightmares by Kendare Blake you will love this book. It is decidedly creepier to me and there are some incredibly twisted dark parts that I was not expecting. Just an amazing book.
October 3, 2015
(I got this book from the YA Spring Fling from the author herself)
I have many problems from this book, maybe it's because I read the #0.5 of this book first and it's SO different from this one or there are many things in this book that I just can't digest.
1. Why does every guy in this book/series is perfect? and every one just likes her instantly? WTH?!?!?!
2. I don't know if my copy is missing some parts but there are a lot of scenes where I feel like it's jumping and the story is not complete.
3. I feel bored in a lot of scenes.
Overall, I like Mary's character because she's a stubborn kickass character which apparently is my weakness (somehow) but I'm not really into this series but I will probably still read the next one cause I have a copy.
I have many problems from this book, maybe it's because I read the #0.5 of this book first and it's SO different from this one or there are many things in this book that I just can't digest.
1. Why does every guy in this book/series is perfect? and every one just likes her instantly? WTH?!?!?!
2. I don't know if my copy is missing some parts but there are a lot of scenes where I feel like it's jumping and the story is not complete.
3. I feel bored in a lot of scenes.
Overall, I like Mary's character because she's a stubborn kickass character which apparently is my weakness (somehow) but I'm not really into this series but I will probably still read the next one cause I have a copy.
to-review
February 20, 2015**I received a review copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley**
I read the prequal Novella to this book last week and loved it, I hope this book is as good.
I read the prequal Novella to this book last week and loved it, I hope this book is as good.
May 17, 2020
https://bioquimicadaleitura.blogspot....
Opinião:
Tencionava ler este volume logo após My daylight monsters, o que não se proporcionou, mas agora com imenso tempo livre entre mãos devido à quarentena imposta, peguei nele.
Como sabem, o volume anterior foi do meu agrado. Jamais tinha gostado tanto de um livro que não integra a numeração de livros originais pensados para uma saga, sendo o referido, o volume 0,5. Ou assim o julguei, depois vim a descobrir que afinal Mary Hades é que partiu da ideia iniciada em My daylight monsters.
A acção decorre alguns meses após os acontecimentos do hospital Magdelene, os pais da Mary tentam-lhe proporcionar algum sentido de normalidade e vão de férias para um parque de caravanas no norte da Inglaterra.
Com eles, vai também a melhor amiga, agora fantasma, Lacey, que morreu no final do volume precedente. Mary é a única que pode vê-la, apesar de apreciar a sua companhia, sente-se culpada pela sua morte.
O que ia ser uma semana de tranquilidade no campo, rapidamente se torna agitada com o aparecimento de uma das "coisas". Isso é um mau presságio, que logo vemos, precede uma morte.
Quanto mais a Mary descobre sobre a localidade, mais nota que algo sinistro está no epicentro de mortes que têm vindo a ocorrer. É então que olha para a história da vila, e parece ter achado a origem macabra dos acidentes.
Achei curioso a Lacey falar das possibilidades pós-morte, especialmente, quando refere que com elevada concentração, podia revelar-se a humanos sem sensibilidade para o paranormal, e igualmente, com treino, consegue ter, própria e gradualmente, algum contacto com objectos.
Ao revelar-se ao Neil, a Lacey acaba por desabafar os seus medos e frustrações, algo que não tinha partilhado com a Mary antes. Isto mostra-nos uma realidade; por vezes somos tão próximos das pessoas, que não conseguimos nos abrir totalmente, podendo ser mais fácil se expressar com alguém que disponha de outra perspectiva, e que não temos receio que vá ficar facilmente magoado/preocupado.
Relativamente ao Seth, quanta consideração, e às vezes a roçar o cavalheirismo! Foi bom ele ter surgido, o que quer que fosse, sabíamos que iria ser por apenas uma semana, mas mesmo assim...Quantas vezes as pessoas falam sobre "não importa o tempo que dura, mas o que se vive com a pessoa"? (ou algo do género) Parece-me que esse foi outro aspecto que a autora quis transmitir. Por vezes as pessoas entram na nossa vida e têm tanto impacto, que alteram a nossa visão e percepção das coisas.
Fiquei bastante surpresa quando descobri o segredo obscuro que carregava. Foi um bocado chocante mas de facto era a chave para o que vinha acontecendo em Nettelby.
Pouco tempo se passou, porém os laços que os personagens criaram, aquilo que viveram e o que viram, foi bem impactante nas suas vidas, cada um à sua maneira. Com isso, surgiram decisões e consequências, todavia houve também descoberta. A Mary encontrou um propósito para utilizar o seu dom e decide persegui-lo, com a Lacey do seu lado.
Numa nota final, o conceito do Athame, o que permite e como funciona, está muito interessante, com certeza voltaremos a vê-lo em acção brevemente.
★★★★
Opinião:
Tencionava ler este volume logo após My daylight monsters, o que não se proporcionou, mas agora com imenso tempo livre entre mãos devido à quarentena imposta, peguei nele.
Como sabem, o volume anterior foi do meu agrado. Jamais tinha gostado tanto de um livro que não integra a numeração de livros originais pensados para uma saga, sendo o referido, o volume 0,5. Ou assim o julguei, depois vim a descobrir que afinal Mary Hades é que partiu da ideia iniciada em My daylight monsters.
A acção decorre alguns meses após os acontecimentos do hospital Magdelene, os pais da Mary tentam-lhe proporcionar algum sentido de normalidade e vão de férias para um parque de caravanas no norte da Inglaterra.
Com eles, vai também a melhor amiga, agora fantasma, Lacey, que morreu no final do volume precedente. Mary é a única que pode vê-la, apesar de apreciar a sua companhia, sente-se culpada pela sua morte.
O que ia ser uma semana de tranquilidade no campo, rapidamente se torna agitada com o aparecimento de uma das "coisas". Isso é um mau presságio, que logo vemos, precede uma morte.
Quanto mais a Mary descobre sobre a localidade, mais nota que algo sinistro está no epicentro de mortes que têm vindo a ocorrer. É então que olha para a história da vila, e parece ter achado a origem macabra dos acidentes.
Achei curioso a Lacey falar das possibilidades pós-morte, especialmente, quando refere que com elevada concentração, podia revelar-se a humanos sem sensibilidade para o paranormal, e igualmente, com treino, consegue ter, própria e gradualmente, algum contacto com objectos.
Ao revelar-se ao Neil, a Lacey acaba por desabafar os seus medos e frustrações, algo que não tinha partilhado com a Mary antes. Isto mostra-nos uma realidade; por vezes somos tão próximos das pessoas, que não conseguimos nos abrir totalmente, podendo ser mais fácil se expressar com alguém que disponha de outra perspectiva, e que não temos receio que vá ficar facilmente magoado/preocupado.
Relativamente ao Seth, quanta consideração, e às vezes a roçar o cavalheirismo! Foi bom ele ter surgido, o que quer que fosse, sabíamos que iria ser por apenas uma semana, mas mesmo assim...Quantas vezes as pessoas falam sobre "não importa o tempo que dura, mas o que se vive com a pessoa"? (ou algo do género) Parece-me que esse foi outro aspecto que a autora quis transmitir. Por vezes as pessoas entram na nossa vida e têm tanto impacto, que alteram a nossa visão e percepção das coisas.
Fiquei bastante surpresa quando descobri o segredo obscuro que carregava. Foi um bocado chocante mas de facto era a chave para o que vinha acontecendo em Nettelby.
Pouco tempo se passou, porém os laços que os personagens criaram, aquilo que viveram e o que viram, foi bem impactante nas suas vidas, cada um à sua maneira. Com isso, surgiram decisões e consequências, todavia houve também descoberta. A Mary encontrou um propósito para utilizar o seu dom e decide persegui-lo, com a Lacey do seu lado.
Numa nota final, o conceito do Athame, o que permite e como funciona, está muito interessante, com certeza voltaremos a vê-lo em acção brevemente.
★★★★
January 12, 2016
Mary's NetGalley Catch-Up: 5 of 80
These are the people who lie awake at night, frightened by the stars above them, intimidated by how the world keeps turning and it doesn't matter if they live or die. These are the people who attempt to stop those thoughts by painting, or writing, or reading...anything to plug up that hole in the brain that gushes out a constant stream of consciousness.
Mary Hades is a regular girl who sees "Things." These "Things" are people with skulls, shades and shadows that no one else can see. Every time she sees a "Thing", someone dies. She sees them at the start of her trip to Nettleby and a young boy jumps from a roof.
Mary's best friend, a ghost, urges her to ask this cute boy out on the ferris wheel at the nearby fair. She does and when their on the ferris wheel, Mary sees another "Thing." And someone's about to die.
This was a very entertaining read. The plot was pretty simplistic but it stuck true to it in a way that you don't see very often in YA. Something's killing people. Let's find out what.
Mary, as a character, isn't anything great, I'm going to be honest. She had a few stand out moments, but for the most part she sounded pretty generic. Luckily, the book had a great character to make up for it; Lacey. Lacey is Mary's ghostly best friend and she delivers the best dialogue.
"Check out the rack on her. I can't believe I'm never going to squeeze a boob ever again."
I can't help it this time, the ridiculousness makes me laugh. "That's what you miss?"
"Amongst other things," she says. "Boobs are important, Mary. Never forget that." She flashes me her ever-present wicked grin.
Thank God Lacey is in this book. If she wasn't, this would be a two-star book. I'm not kidding. Lacey has her priorities straight, clearly, and I adore it. She's dead but like hell is she going to let that small detail stop her in any way, shape or form.
Mary is...nothing special, I guess. She strayed into generic-ville too often and too long for me to gain any real sympathy towards her. I liked her a lot better in the first part of the book, before the romance came along.
The romance? Meh. Meeeeeeeehhhhhhhhh. No chemistry, no...anything. It was like it was added because the author thought YA needs romance to be YA. It doesn't, and Mary and her beau, Seth, could have been friends and the story literally would not have changed. The characters would not have changed. It was useless and eye-roll worthy on a few occasions.
Seth, as a character, is not bad. He's got a few lines that made me laugh aloud, and he definitely doesn't stray into alpha male territory which is AMAZING. Seriously. This book gets a whole star from me for that. But I feel like Seth is only a half-way realized character. He's got strong dialogue in parts, but then is generic in others. It's like the author turned him just enough to be different, but not enough to be completely unrecognizable from a generic male love interest.
The atmosphere is great. Think Anna Dressed In Blood without the annoying love story and dickish main character. It definitely feels scary, even if you don't ever feel these characters were in danger. I would have liked to see more tension, but the atmosphere felt spooky enough. The climax was pretty short, though. I would have liked that finally scene to have lasted longer, or maybe even have a bigger setup. Something to make the final battle feel a bit more epic.
This book does have a really bizarre flaw though. Not one I think I've ever come across and it's weird because I like the writing but I hate the execution of it. That really flowy passage I quoted at the top? Isn't that greatly written?! I love it and there are more passages like that one in this book. But they're at the end or the beginning of a chapter. It's like those passages are summarizing what will happen or what had happened. And...they're unnecessary. I don't need them. Am I glad that I got to read them? Yes, I think they're done really well. But the fact that it acts as a chapter summary rubs me the wrong way.
Overall though? I liked it. It definitely felt like a less dickish version of Anna Dressed In Blood though it never quite got to that book's level of atmosphere. However, I honestly believe whether or not you like this book depends on whether you like one of the three main characters; Mary, Lacey, or Seth. Luckily, I love a ghost who has her after-life priorities straight. Boobs before death, man.
These are the people who lie awake at night, frightened by the stars above them, intimidated by how the world keeps turning and it doesn't matter if they live or die. These are the people who attempt to stop those thoughts by painting, or writing, or reading...anything to plug up that hole in the brain that gushes out a constant stream of consciousness.
Mary Hades is a regular girl who sees "Things." These "Things" are people with skulls, shades and shadows that no one else can see. Every time she sees a "Thing", someone dies. She sees them at the start of her trip to Nettleby and a young boy jumps from a roof.
Mary's best friend, a ghost, urges her to ask this cute boy out on the ferris wheel at the nearby fair. She does and when their on the ferris wheel, Mary sees another "Thing." And someone's about to die.
This was a very entertaining read. The plot was pretty simplistic but it stuck true to it in a way that you don't see very often in YA. Something's killing people. Let's find out what.
Mary, as a character, isn't anything great, I'm going to be honest. She had a few stand out moments, but for the most part she sounded pretty generic. Luckily, the book had a great character to make up for it; Lacey. Lacey is Mary's ghostly best friend and she delivers the best dialogue.
"Check out the rack on her. I can't believe I'm never going to squeeze a boob ever again."
I can't help it this time, the ridiculousness makes me laugh. "That's what you miss?"
"Amongst other things," she says. "Boobs are important, Mary. Never forget that." She flashes me her ever-present wicked grin.
Thank God Lacey is in this book. If she wasn't, this would be a two-star book. I'm not kidding. Lacey has her priorities straight, clearly, and I adore it. She's dead but like hell is she going to let that small detail stop her in any way, shape or form.
Mary is...nothing special, I guess. She strayed into generic-ville too often and too long for me to gain any real sympathy towards her. I liked her a lot better in the first part of the book, before the romance came along.
The romance? Meh. Meeeeeeeehhhhhhhhh. No chemistry, no...anything. It was like it was added because the author thought YA needs romance to be YA. It doesn't, and Mary and her beau, Seth, could have been friends and the story literally would not have changed. The characters would not have changed. It was useless and eye-roll worthy on a few occasions.
Seth, as a character, is not bad. He's got a few lines that made me laugh aloud, and he definitely doesn't stray into alpha male territory which is AMAZING. Seriously. This book gets a whole star from me for that. But I feel like Seth is only a half-way realized character. He's got strong dialogue in parts, but then is generic in others. It's like the author turned him just enough to be different, but not enough to be completely unrecognizable from a generic male love interest.
The atmosphere is great. Think Anna Dressed In Blood without the annoying love story and dickish main character. It definitely feels scary, even if you don't ever feel these characters were in danger. I would have liked to see more tension, but the atmosphere felt spooky enough. The climax was pretty short, though. I would have liked that finally scene to have lasted longer, or maybe even have a bigger setup. Something to make the final battle feel a bit more epic.
This book does have a really bizarre flaw though. Not one I think I've ever come across and it's weird because I like the writing but I hate the execution of it. That really flowy passage I quoted at the top? Isn't that greatly written?! I love it and there are more passages like that one in this book. But they're at the end or the beginning of a chapter. It's like those passages are summarizing what will happen or what had happened. And...they're unnecessary. I don't need them. Am I glad that I got to read them? Yes, I think they're done really well. But the fact that it acts as a chapter summary rubs me the wrong way.
Overall though? I liked it. It definitely felt like a less dickish version of Anna Dressed In Blood though it never quite got to that book's level of atmosphere. However, I honestly believe whether or not you like this book depends on whether you like one of the three main characters; Mary, Lacey, or Seth. Luckily, I love a ghost who has her after-life priorities straight. Boobs before death, man.
August 22, 2014
review to come. wonderful ghost story. really enjoyed.
************
Full Disclosure: Review copy requested at Xpresso Book Tours; granted in exchange for a completely honest review.
I opened this book a couple of hours ago and read it in one sitting. Despite being a ghost story, I found the book utterly refreshing and different from other books I have been reading lately. With a touch of romance, a lot of sadness, a bit of horror, and a touch of hope, this book kept me glued to my kindle, utterly wrapped in the story.
Mary Hades narrowly escaped death at the psychiatric hospital when a doctor went on a killing rampage. She was saved by the ghosts she could see, but she couldn't save her roommate, Lacey. Lacey sticks around in ghost form and continues to be Mary's best friend.
Mary's parents take her on holiday to a little town called Nettleby. Mary is nearly eighteen and not enthused about the trip. She is even more discouraged when, upon entering the town, she sees an apparition she calls a Thing, which usually appears to warn her about something bad...
The vacation starts off with the death of a little boy and rolls from there. Mary quickly makes friends with a couple people at the campsite and a local guy named Seth Lockwood, who she met when she went to the fair.
Seth has a secret, Mary has her secret, and the two of them will need to trust one another if they hope to survive.
The story was well wrought and gave you little glimpses just so, enticing you to read on. I liked how the story resolved and was left open ended for more. You could happily finish this novel and let it be; there is no cliffhanger, just an opportunity for more. And from what I can see on Goodreads...there is more! YAY!
YA horror/paranormal as it involves murder and ghosts, this would be appropriate for mature middle schoolers and up. I've added the rest in this series to my wishlist as I really enjoyed it!
************
Full Disclosure: Review copy requested at Xpresso Book Tours; granted in exchange for a completely honest review.
I opened this book a couple of hours ago and read it in one sitting. Despite being a ghost story, I found the book utterly refreshing and different from other books I have been reading lately. With a touch of romance, a lot of sadness, a bit of horror, and a touch of hope, this book kept me glued to my kindle, utterly wrapped in the story.
Mary Hades narrowly escaped death at the psychiatric hospital when a doctor went on a killing rampage. She was saved by the ghosts she could see, but she couldn't save her roommate, Lacey. Lacey sticks around in ghost form and continues to be Mary's best friend.
Mary's parents take her on holiday to a little town called Nettleby. Mary is nearly eighteen and not enthused about the trip. She is even more discouraged when, upon entering the town, she sees an apparition she calls a Thing, which usually appears to warn her about something bad...
The vacation starts off with the death of a little boy and rolls from there. Mary quickly makes friends with a couple people at the campsite and a local guy named Seth Lockwood, who she met when she went to the fair.
Seth has a secret, Mary has her secret, and the two of them will need to trust one another if they hope to survive.
The story was well wrought and gave you little glimpses just so, enticing you to read on. I liked how the story resolved and was left open ended for more. You could happily finish this novel and let it be; there is no cliffhanger, just an opportunity for more. And from what I can see on Goodreads...there is more! YAY!
YA horror/paranormal as it involves murder and ghosts, this would be appropriate for mature middle schoolers and up. I've added the rest in this series to my wishlist as I really enjoyed it!
May 27, 2014
Mary Hades is a fantastic continuation of where Sarah Dalton left off with My Daylight Monsters.
In this novel, we follow the exploits of our protagonist - former psychiatric patient Mary - and her best friend Lacey on holiday; the twist being that Lacey is in fact dead.
The book takes an excellent stance on what it's like for a teenager to be not quite normal; although it might not be that most teenagers are seeing ghosts, it really makes the reader examine what they would do in that situation, and if they would treat Mary and her 'gift' with the same understanding and compassion that the people she meets on her newest adventure do.
Overall a great read, another great adventure and a promising lead into whatever is to follow. Can't wait to read more.
In this novel, we follow the exploits of our protagonist - former psychiatric patient Mary - and her best friend Lacey on holiday; the twist being that Lacey is in fact dead.
The book takes an excellent stance on what it's like for a teenager to be not quite normal; although it might not be that most teenagers are seeing ghosts, it really makes the reader examine what they would do in that situation, and if they would treat Mary and her 'gift' with the same understanding and compassion that the people she meets on her newest adventure do.
Overall a great read, another great adventure and a promising lead into whatever is to follow. Can't wait to read more.
November 10, 2014
My initial thought was that this would be a Greek mythology inspired novel but it wasn't. I actually liked the story but it just lacked a bit of finesse for me.
Mary Hades, the girl with scars who sees ghosts and was diagnosed with schizophrenia. Her best friend is a ghost named Lacey and her parents are unconventional.
The race to subdue a murderous ghost named Amy from killing Seth (Mary's bf) was the primary plot of this book. This is the first book in a series so it wasn't very exciting yet. Characters were still being introduced and developed.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and I would recommend it to anyone willing to give it a try.
Mary Hades, the girl with scars who sees ghosts and was diagnosed with schizophrenia. Her best friend is a ghost named Lacey and her parents are unconventional.
The race to subdue a murderous ghost named Amy from killing Seth (Mary's bf) was the primary plot of this book. This is the first book in a series so it wasn't very exciting yet. Characters were still being introduced and developed.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and I would recommend it to anyone willing to give it a try.
July 15, 2017
An enjoyable spooky story set in the atmospheric moors, where Mary encounters murder, ghosts and romance.
I do like this author's writing style, which is fast-paced and compelling. The characters are believable and realistic, despite the subject matter.
I don't give spoilers so can only say that if you love paranormal ghost stories, this book is definitely for you.
Recommended.
I do like this author's writing style, which is fast-paced and compelling. The characters are believable and realistic, despite the subject matter.
I don't give spoilers so can only say that if you love paranormal ghost stories, this book is definitely for you.
Recommended.
January 18, 2015
As some other reviewers noted, you may want to read My Daylight Monsters before reading Mary Hades. It's not strictly necessary, but this book does refer back to that one a lot and you should probably think of this one as the second in the series. Don't worry though - My Daylight Monsters is a Kindle single and can be bought for $1.99 (or for $8 or $9 physically), so it's not a huge investment.
For a self-published YA paranormal, Mary Hades is pretty solid. I honestly feel a little bad giving it only 3 stars - if we could have half stars, I'd bump it up to 3.5 stars.
Mary Hades is about a girl named Mary Hades (naturally) who can see ghosts. She also has some other psychic abilities which manifest in the form of "monsters" coming to her and warning her of imminent death and danger. After Mary's disastrous stay in a psychiatric institution (see: My Daylight Monsters), the Hades family is headed to the Northern English moors for a camping holiday. Mary's best friend, a ghost named Lacey, tags along as well. When they reach their destination, Mary quickly finds out that the ghost of a murdered little girl named Amy is haunting the moors and causing the deaths of males in the area. Since this is a YA book after all, Mary meets the obligatory love-interest (named Seth) and she also becomes friends with a gay Goth couple who come to the moors for some ghost hunting. Mary & the gang need to figure out a way to stop Little Amy from killing any others.
Like I said, I thought this was a solid book. I didn't think it was anything too extraordinary, but I did enjoy it. The book is atmospheric and at times creepy and I really enjoyed the setting of the moors. Some of the locations in this series have been a little cliche for a gothic work (mental hospital & moors) but oh well. I've loved reading stories set on the moor since I first read Wuthering Heights and The Secret Garden as a child. A horror fan might find this one a little tame, but someone interested in paranormal YA might think it's the perfect amount of scary.
I actually didn't mind the romance in Mary Hades. I thought the romance in My Daylight Monsters was much too underdeveloped and somewhat unnecessary, so it was a good thing this book pretty much dropped Mo from the storyline entirely. Seth had an interesting backstory and was actually connected to the main plot. I also liked the resolution of the romance by the ending ()
Lastly, one of my favorite aspects of Mary Hades and this whole series, actually, is its setting. To this American reader, Mary Hades seems very English. Both Mary Hades and My Daylight Monsters are filled with British slang and it just definitely had a different feel from American YAs. I realized that almost all of the YAs I've read that have been set in the UK have been historical fiction and not contemporary (haha). So the English setting is definitely a plus!
So if you like paranormal YAs, especially those with ghosts, I'd recommend reading Mary Hades. Definitely one of the better self-published YA novels I've come across.
For a self-published YA paranormal, Mary Hades is pretty solid. I honestly feel a little bad giving it only 3 stars - if we could have half stars, I'd bump it up to 3.5 stars.
Mary Hades is about a girl named Mary Hades (naturally) who can see ghosts. She also has some other psychic abilities which manifest in the form of "monsters" coming to her and warning her of imminent death and danger. After Mary's disastrous stay in a psychiatric institution (see: My Daylight Monsters), the Hades family is headed to the Northern English moors for a camping holiday. Mary's best friend, a ghost named Lacey, tags along as well. When they reach their destination, Mary quickly finds out that the ghost of a murdered little girl named Amy is haunting the moors and causing the deaths of males in the area. Since this is a YA book after all, Mary meets the obligatory love-interest (named Seth) and she also becomes friends with a gay Goth couple who come to the moors for some ghost hunting. Mary & the gang need to figure out a way to stop Little Amy from killing any others.
Like I said, I thought this was a solid book. I didn't think it was anything too extraordinary, but I did enjoy it. The book is atmospheric and at times creepy and I really enjoyed the setting of the moors. Some of the locations in this series have been a little cliche for a gothic work (mental hospital & moors) but oh well. I've loved reading stories set on the moor since I first read Wuthering Heights and The Secret Garden as a child. A horror fan might find this one a little tame, but someone interested in paranormal YA might think it's the perfect amount of scary.
I actually didn't mind the romance in Mary Hades. I thought the romance in My Daylight Monsters was much too underdeveloped and somewhat unnecessary, so it was a good thing this book pretty much dropped Mo from the storyline entirely. Seth had an interesting backstory and was actually connected to the main plot. I also liked the resolution of the romance by the ending ()
Lastly, one of my favorite aspects of Mary Hades and this whole series, actually, is its setting. To this American reader, Mary Hades seems very English. Both Mary Hades and My Daylight Monsters are filled with British slang and it just definitely had a different feel from American YAs. I realized that almost all of the YAs I've read that have been set in the UK have been historical fiction and not contemporary (haha). So the English setting is definitely a plus!
So if you like paranormal YAs, especially those with ghosts, I'd recommend reading Mary Hades. Definitely one of the better self-published YA novels I've come across.
July 13, 2015
firstly, this is definitely something i would recommend to anyone who enjoys paranormal romance. it has a good amount of spooky stuff before our love interest is introduced, and it actually has a subject that's often ghosted over in ya romance books: female-female friendship.
that's where i will start this review, in fact, by saying that i absolutely loved lacey. she had a good head on her shoulders, a lot of common sense. she was the perfect mixture of bitter over being dead and happy to be there for/with her friend. the fact that she was a lesbian didn't detract from her friendship with mary in the slightest and that was something i thought was awesome, too.
our mc mary was actually very cute! she had realistic worries, realistic priorities. i was a little wary of her love interest (whose name i actually can't remember because he was, honestly, quite unremarkable as far as book boyfriends go) because of how suddenly he was introduced, and how... convenient it seemed that mary met and was attracted to/took a chance on him of all people. i do, however, like that fate seemed to play a big part in this. i like that their romance was a whirlwind, a summer fling the way that quite a few teenage romances are: fast, hot, and heavy, but temporary. i like that they didn't use the word love, that neither of them made it out to be something it wasn't. i like that it didn't overshadow the story itself.
now, on to the story itself (and the reason why this lovely book is 4 stars instead of 5!)
our antagonist (if you could call her that) was a poor little girl named amy. her backstory was a tragic one, and her presence was a disturbing one. there was a lot of build up here, a lot of development and anticipation, and i was holding my breath for the final showdown between amy and mary & co! but then it happened and it just.. well, happened. there was no honest emotional payoff for me personally, no real.. development so much as an "okay this happened, we totally won in 5 pages when this was built up for 300!!" that was followed up by condensed little rundown of what happened more than an actual ending.
it took on a bit of a third person, happily ever after sort of feel, even from mary's pov. what happened wasn't bad by any means - the ending was what i would have chosen for everyone, but the delivery just fell flat on its face and left me wishing there was more! that could be seen as a good thing, because i would definitely pick up a copy of a sequel or a novella/short story companion, but that's not a very good way to feel on a story that seems to be completed.
overall, this was a very, very good book, albeit not flawless! the cover art is gorgeous and the author's writing style is quirky, endearing, and can pack a strong emotional punch with very simplistic wording, which is a rare talent to behold. :)
that's where i will start this review, in fact, by saying that i absolutely loved lacey. she had a good head on her shoulders, a lot of common sense. she was the perfect mixture of bitter over being dead and happy to be there for/with her friend. the fact that she was a lesbian didn't detract from her friendship with mary in the slightest and that was something i thought was awesome, too.
our mc mary was actually very cute! she had realistic worries, realistic priorities. i was a little wary of her love interest (whose name i actually can't remember because he was, honestly, quite unremarkable as far as book boyfriends go) because of how suddenly he was introduced, and how... convenient it seemed that mary met and was attracted to/took a chance on him of all people. i do, however, like that fate seemed to play a big part in this. i like that their romance was a whirlwind, a summer fling the way that quite a few teenage romances are: fast, hot, and heavy, but temporary. i like that they didn't use the word love, that neither of them made it out to be something it wasn't. i like that it didn't overshadow the story itself.
now, on to the story itself (and the reason why this lovely book is 4 stars instead of 5!)
our antagonist (if you could call her that) was a poor little girl named amy. her backstory was a tragic one, and her presence was a disturbing one. there was a lot of build up here, a lot of development and anticipation, and i was holding my breath for the final showdown between amy and mary & co! but then it happened and it just.. well, happened. there was no honest emotional payoff for me personally, no real.. development so much as an "okay this happened, we totally won in 5 pages when this was built up for 300!!" that was followed up by condensed little rundown of what happened more than an actual ending.
it took on a bit of a third person, happily ever after sort of feel, even from mary's pov. what happened wasn't bad by any means - the ending was what i would have chosen for everyone, but the delivery just fell flat on its face and left me wishing there was more! that could be seen as a good thing, because i would definitely pick up a copy of a sequel or a novella/short story companion, but that's not a very good way to feel on a story that seems to be completed.
overall, this was a very, very good book, albeit not flawless! the cover art is gorgeous and the author's writing style is quirky, endearing, and can pack a strong emotional punch with very simplistic wording, which is a rare talent to behold. :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 22, 2014
The minute I laid eyes on this cover, I knew I had to read it. Yes, I admit I’m a cover whore. I’m guilty of judging books by their cover. One very small problem in this case… I jumped to conclusions about this book, and ended up being thrown for a loop. When I first started reading, I was expecting a mature read, dark and creepy. And while this book does have its creep factor, it also has a playful lilt to it that I wasn’t prepared for.
Something else I wasn’t prepared for… Sarah Dalton is British. Obviously, the book takes place in England, but I wasn’t ready for the steady stream of unfamiliar terminology. What on earth does “gormless” mean, anyway? (You don’t have to look it up for me. Thanks anyway, but I already did.) There are also the quirky spelling differences, like “tyres” and “programme”. The real trouble is that I don’t know whether or not to put a maturity warning on this or not, for words like “tosspot”, “tossers” or “bint”. It did knock me out of the story once or twice, but as long as I read the story with a British accent, I got along alright. ;)
There were a few moments in this story that were definitely creepy. You can’t possibly beat the setting! First off, they’re in the middle of nowhere. Nothing for miles in any direction. No one to hear you scream… Second, there’s a carnival. YAY Creepy Carnies! Throw in a couple scenes of wandering around in the deserted moors at night, and you have a recipe for nightmares! The characters are a completely mixed bag, and yet they all worked really well together. I liked the chemistry between Mary and Seth, and the way the dynamic shifts when you throw Lacey into the middle. The “quirky gay Goth couple” didn’t exactly stand front and center but I have a sneaking suspicion that they’ll have a major role going into further books. And those Things Mary sees? I definitely need to know more about those!!!
I absolutely love where this is going as a series, and I was very excited to see that there are several other stories to dig into (all with exquisite covers, I might add)! I will recommend reading the prequel, My Daylight Monsters, before Mary Hades. I haven’t read it yet, but there are tons of spoilers in this book, and I would have preferred reading it right from the beginning with a fresh slate.
A copy of this book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Something else I wasn’t prepared for… Sarah Dalton is British. Obviously, the book takes place in England, but I wasn’t ready for the steady stream of unfamiliar terminology. What on earth does “gormless” mean, anyway? (You don’t have to look it up for me. Thanks anyway, but I already did.) There are also the quirky spelling differences, like “tyres” and “programme”. The real trouble is that I don’t know whether or not to put a maturity warning on this or not, for words like “tosspot”, “tossers” or “bint”. It did knock me out of the story once or twice, but as long as I read the story with a British accent, I got along alright. ;)
There were a few moments in this story that were definitely creepy. You can’t possibly beat the setting! First off, they’re in the middle of nowhere. Nothing for miles in any direction. No one to hear you scream… Second, there’s a carnival. YAY Creepy Carnies! Throw in a couple scenes of wandering around in the deserted moors at night, and you have a recipe for nightmares! The characters are a completely mixed bag, and yet they all worked really well together. I liked the chemistry between Mary and Seth, and the way the dynamic shifts when you throw Lacey into the middle. The “quirky gay Goth couple” didn’t exactly stand front and center but I have a sneaking suspicion that they’ll have a major role going into further books. And those Things Mary sees? I definitely need to know more about those!!!
I absolutely love where this is going as a series, and I was very excited to see that there are several other stories to dig into (all with exquisite covers, I might add)! I will recommend reading the prequel, My Daylight Monsters, before Mary Hades. I haven’t read it yet, but there are tons of spoilers in this book, and I would have preferred reading it right from the beginning with a fresh slate.
A copy of this book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
November 12, 2017
So as far as Halloween reads go, this was a pretty good one! It perfectly summed up what I love about Halloween: it's a time to scare yourself silly, but not take it too seriously. I've added a ton of Sarah Dalton's books to my TBR, but haven't read a single one of them until now. To start with, I'm pretty impressed with Dalton's writing style. There were the odd moments that it felt a little juvenile (some of the conversational banter was a tad corny, and I didn't like the huge amount of focus on people's facial expressions as they talked...do people's faces really flash?), but it was a whole lot of fun! At times, it was also a little poetic and very quotable which I liked a lot. The premise of the story was a very promising one: one ghost-seeing girl and her ethereal best friend set out to solve a murder mystery while on holiday in Nettleby. I don't normally like mysteries a whole bunch, but I actually feel like I was in the mood for a story like this, so I read it at a pretty good time. The characters I had some very mixed feelings about. On the one hand they had a whole ton of personality and were very diverse, which is always something I love reading (especially in YA). However, there were times I found myself a little on the irritated side by them. Mary, the heroine of the story, is young and in a pretty unique situation but I feel like she was way too trusting and willing to share her secrets with just about anybody. Her ghostly friend Lacey really got on my nerves too, mostly because I didn't have time to build attachment to her or her tragic plight before she died. I think Dalton was trying to write a hilarious prankster who is trying to mask the pain she feels over her situation, but she came across more as possessive and unable to let go, with VERY frequent mood swings. I think she has potential, if she were more developed. I loved the romance sub-plot throughout the book, even despite a touch of insta-love. Seth was very brooding, mysterious and attractive which is the kind of love interest I like to read about! It's a shame that the ending, after such a massive build-up, sort of fizzled out. I think if this book hadn't have been so short, it could have been even better. I do want to read more of the series though, and see where Dalton takes things from here!
For the full review, see here: http://chasedbymyimagination.blogspot...
For the full review, see here: http://chasedbymyimagination.blogspot...
September 2, 2014
Mary Hades can see dead people. The seventeen-year-old is not only privy to ghosts, she’s also visited by “Things” – creatures with skulls visible through their flesh, who warn her of impending death and doom. These abilities led to her being hospitalized in a psychiatric unit, where tragic events resulted in the death of her best friend Lacey (you can read about all this unfolding in the prequel My Daylight Monters).
Mary Hades, book one of the Mary Hades series, takes place after My Daylight Monsters with Mary dealing with the after effects – especially the fact that her best friend is now a ghost. Mary’s parents take her to a remote camping site in the middle of the moors for a summer vacation, thinking that a change of scenery and people might be good for her. And it is – until people start dying (which is pretty much right away). Poor Mary, it seems death follows her everywhere.
This book had romance, a mystery, and good friends – everything I look for in a good summer read. I loved the characters, Lacey especially as she tries to deal with the fact that she’s dead and what to do with her new station in “life”. The romance between Mary and Seth felt realistic, which I appreciated as too many books nowadays have “I’ve seen you once and I just know we’re gonna be soulmates forever” syndrome, a trap this Mary Hades neatly avoids. There are a few deaths in this, including those of minors, but the descriptions aren’t too graphic. There’s some blood in this, but no gore, the focus mainly being on the mystery aspects.
If there was one downside to this book, it was that there were some assumptions made and a few leaps in logic that I just didn’t follow. These took me out of the unfolding story and had me scratching my head and in some cases flipping back the pages to see if I missed something. However, these occurrences were few and far between and didn’t hinder my overall enjoyment of the book.
I see a lot of potential in this series and with at least two planned sequels, a prequel, and two short stories, I don’t think that potential will go untapped. This is definitely a series I plan to follow and I can’t wait to see more of Mary and Lacey and their ghost hunting adventures.
*I received a copy of this book to review. You can find this review and others like it at BookAndCoffeeAddict.com, along with recommendations for a fantastic cup of coffee.
Mary Hades, book one of the Mary Hades series, takes place after My Daylight Monsters with Mary dealing with the after effects – especially the fact that her best friend is now a ghost. Mary’s parents take her to a remote camping site in the middle of the moors for a summer vacation, thinking that a change of scenery and people might be good for her. And it is – until people start dying (which is pretty much right away). Poor Mary, it seems death follows her everywhere.
This book had romance, a mystery, and good friends – everything I look for in a good summer read. I loved the characters, Lacey especially as she tries to deal with the fact that she’s dead and what to do with her new station in “life”. The romance between Mary and Seth felt realistic, which I appreciated as too many books nowadays have “I’ve seen you once and I just know we’re gonna be soulmates forever” syndrome, a trap this Mary Hades neatly avoids. There are a few deaths in this, including those of minors, but the descriptions aren’t too graphic. There’s some blood in this, but no gore, the focus mainly being on the mystery aspects.
If there was one downside to this book, it was that there were some assumptions made and a few leaps in logic that I just didn’t follow. These took me out of the unfolding story and had me scratching my head and in some cases flipping back the pages to see if I missed something. However, these occurrences were few and far between and didn’t hinder my overall enjoyment of the book.
I see a lot of potential in this series and with at least two planned sequels, a prequel, and two short stories, I don’t think that potential will go untapped. This is definitely a series I plan to follow and I can’t wait to see more of Mary and Lacey and their ghost hunting adventures.
*I received a copy of this book to review. You can find this review and others like it at BookAndCoffeeAddict.com, along with recommendations for a fantastic cup of coffee.
July 29, 2014
After the events that happened in the psychiatric hospital, Marys' parents think that what she needs is a break. They decide on a little village near the moors where they rent a caravan. To Mary, the idea of being stuck in the middle of nowhere with her parents is hell, but she knows she doesn't have a choice. Little does she know that this holiday isn't going to be a boring as she thinks.
When Mary gets to Nettleby, a little boy throws himself off the hotel roof. Mary sees his ghost and all he says is "I don't want to leave" before being sucked away. Why would a little boy who doesn't want to leave, throw himself off the roof? With the death toll rising and something trying to kill Mary, she has to find answers before its too late.
Ok, before I start I will recommend that readers read My Daylight Monsters before reading this. Its not technically necessary but it does make you understand a lot more about what happens in this.
This was an awesomely creepy read!! Again Sarah Dalton sets the tone and pace perfectly!! Anyone who has been to any moor knows how beautiful and desolate they can be, especially at night!! Its not somewhere Id be at night anyway;)
Mary has so much to deal with, seeing Things, having a dead friend and trying to come to terms with what happened her in the hospital, yet she gets on with her life as much as she can. She is such a strong character. When she hears that a ghost is causing the deaths, she knows that since she is the only one who can see them, she is the only one who can help. I loved her strength and perseverance no matter how "troubled" people think she is.
Seth works in the carnival and when Mary asks him to join her on the ferris wheel he says yes. He has no idea why he said yes, only that he feels drawn to her. Seth was another awesome character. From the start you know he has secrets and I enjoyed seeing them unravel. I enjoyed also seeing Seth and Mary's relationship grow.
So overall we have another winner from Sarah Dalton. She delivers a deliciously dark and creepy read. From the very chilling ghost to her devastating story, from the characters to the setting, Mary Hades is a must read. Its a fast paced, well written creepy ghost story and one that Ill revisit some day. I highly enjoyed this and cant wait for more.
When Mary gets to Nettleby, a little boy throws himself off the hotel roof. Mary sees his ghost and all he says is "I don't want to leave" before being sucked away. Why would a little boy who doesn't want to leave, throw himself off the roof? With the death toll rising and something trying to kill Mary, she has to find answers before its too late.
Ok, before I start I will recommend that readers read My Daylight Monsters before reading this. Its not technically necessary but it does make you understand a lot more about what happens in this.
This was an awesomely creepy read!! Again Sarah Dalton sets the tone and pace perfectly!! Anyone who has been to any moor knows how beautiful and desolate they can be, especially at night!! Its not somewhere Id be at night anyway;)
Mary has so much to deal with, seeing Things, having a dead friend and trying to come to terms with what happened her in the hospital, yet she gets on with her life as much as she can. She is such a strong character. When she hears that a ghost is causing the deaths, she knows that since she is the only one who can see them, she is the only one who can help. I loved her strength and perseverance no matter how "troubled" people think she is.
Seth works in the carnival and when Mary asks him to join her on the ferris wheel he says yes. He has no idea why he said yes, only that he feels drawn to her. Seth was another awesome character. From the start you know he has secrets and I enjoyed seeing them unravel. I enjoyed also seeing Seth and Mary's relationship grow.
So overall we have another winner from Sarah Dalton. She delivers a deliciously dark and creepy read. From the very chilling ghost to her devastating story, from the characters to the setting, Mary Hades is a must read. Its a fast paced, well written creepy ghost story and one that Ill revisit some day. I highly enjoyed this and cant wait for more.
June 15, 2014
I first came across the author, Sarah Dalton, when reviewing the first book in her series White Hart. I now have the privilege of reviewing another 2 of her books from the series Mary Hades. And yet again, Sarah's books do not disappoint. There is just something about all of Sarah's books, the covers just drawn me in immediately. Perfectly chosen for the story inside each.
After reading the first book (My Daylight Monsters), I instantly fell in love with Mary. Sarah's ability to enable us to do so is amazing. Rarely expected from a novella. The psychiatric ward is the perfect setting for the horror that unfolds. A close to reality chilling tale. Written at an excellent pace, allowing us to get to know Mary, feel the problems that she has to deal with on her own, but also her compassion to still feel the need to help others. I just loved the friendship Mary and Lacey developed and Lacey's ability to make even me laugh when she was telling Mary how she never shuts up. Each page left me wanting more, once I had finished the first book, I was ready for the next.
In the second book (Mary Hades)the adventure continues. Mary's parents take her away on holiday to try and help her get back to normal after the psychiatric ward accident. But where Mary goes, death follows closely. Mary struggles to maintain the facade of a normal life. Even with her best friend Lacey by her side, things just aren't the same. A holiday romance, some newfound friends and strange deaths, makes for an addicting read. The pace of the story and the details are so well done. Sarah has ensured that once we start reading that first line, we become a part of Mary's world.
I highly recommend you getting both of these books. This is the beginning of an awesome series, I cannot wait to read more about Mary Hades.
Kimmy
Opinionated Cupcakes
After reading the first book (My Daylight Monsters), I instantly fell in love with Mary. Sarah's ability to enable us to do so is amazing. Rarely expected from a novella. The psychiatric ward is the perfect setting for the horror that unfolds. A close to reality chilling tale. Written at an excellent pace, allowing us to get to know Mary, feel the problems that she has to deal with on her own, but also her compassion to still feel the need to help others. I just loved the friendship Mary and Lacey developed and Lacey's ability to make even me laugh when she was telling Mary how she never shuts up. Each page left me wanting more, once I had finished the first book, I was ready for the next.
In the second book (Mary Hades)the adventure continues. Mary's parents take her away on holiday to try and help her get back to normal after the psychiatric ward accident. But where Mary goes, death follows closely. Mary struggles to maintain the facade of a normal life. Even with her best friend Lacey by her side, things just aren't the same. A holiday romance, some newfound friends and strange deaths, makes for an addicting read. The pace of the story and the details are so well done. Sarah has ensured that once we start reading that first line, we become a part of Mary's world.
I highly recommend you getting both of these books. This is the beginning of an awesome series, I cannot wait to read more about Mary Hades.
Kimmy
Opinionated Cupcakes
August 6, 2014
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review
3.5 Stars
I didn't read the Kindle single My Daylight Monsters before reading Mary Hades. It's not necessary to read it first, but I think it would give the reader more insight into Mary and her ghost buddy, Lacey. I'm definitely adding it to my TBR since I'm quite curious about the events that occurred prior to this book.
Overall I enjoyed Mary Hades. Mary and Lacey are both interesting characters. The pacing is quite good, making this one a page-turner. There are some fun secondary characters as well, who I wish had larger roles in the book. Ms. Dalton does a great job setting the scene for her paranormal story. The descriptions of the Things that plague Mary and the ghosts are quite vivid.
Things haven't been easy for Mary. She spent time in a mental ward due to her ability to see ghosts. Medications were forced on her, which she refuses to take since she knows she's not crazy. She's also dealing with the traumatic aftermath of the death of her best-friend and being burned in a fire at the mental hospital. It would be almost impossible not to feel for her.
I didn't quite buy into the romance between Seth and Mary. They seemed so into each other, and yet not. Mary is quick to believe in Seth after only knowing him a couple days. She trusts her heart, and seems to have an extrasensory ability to see whether people are good or not. While I didn't fall in love with Seth's character, I feel lots of sympathy for him.
This book didn't scare me, won't make me lose sleep or be afraid of a dark room. However, it might disturb some. It's full of murder and death, along with graphic descriptions of insane ghosts. It definitely falls on the darker side of the paranormal.
3.5 Stars
I didn't read the Kindle single My Daylight Monsters before reading Mary Hades. It's not necessary to read it first, but I think it would give the reader more insight into Mary and her ghost buddy, Lacey. I'm definitely adding it to my TBR since I'm quite curious about the events that occurred prior to this book.
Overall I enjoyed Mary Hades. Mary and Lacey are both interesting characters. The pacing is quite good, making this one a page-turner. There are some fun secondary characters as well, who I wish had larger roles in the book. Ms. Dalton does a great job setting the scene for her paranormal story. The descriptions of the Things that plague Mary and the ghosts are quite vivid.
Things haven't been easy for Mary. She spent time in a mental ward due to her ability to see ghosts. Medications were forced on her, which she refuses to take since she knows she's not crazy. She's also dealing with the traumatic aftermath of the death of her best-friend and being burned in a fire at the mental hospital. It would be almost impossible not to feel for her.
I didn't quite buy into the romance between Seth and Mary. They seemed so into each other, and yet not. Mary is quick to believe in Seth after only knowing him a couple days. She trusts her heart, and seems to have an extrasensory ability to see whether people are good or not. While I didn't fall in love with Seth's character, I feel lots of sympathy for him.
This book didn't scare me, won't make me lose sleep or be afraid of a dark room. However, it might disturb some. It's full of murder and death, along with graphic descriptions of insane ghosts. It definitely falls on the darker side of the paranormal.
February 4, 2015
I'm not a fan of ghost stories, and I don't like horror, but I really liked Sarah Dalton's "Mary Hades". I got sucked in because I liked the cover. This is a story about a young woman who sees "things"--I'm not certain if they are literal "in the flesh" things, or if they are visual representations of her ability to sense soon to happen deaths, doesn't matter ... great either way. Also, her best friend is a ghost.
This is one of those rare books that hits all the emotional notes right, was never dull, and had amazing prose that didn't bog down the story. I liked Mary's romantic interest, I liked her friendship with Lacey, and the Goth couple. I really appreciated how well Mary's relationship with her parents was handled--it was awkward, strained, but still loving.
The description of the Moors was fantastic. I want to go see them!
Anyway, a good read for people who like their "horror" more magical than "horrific".
This is one of those rare books that hits all the emotional notes right, was never dull, and had amazing prose that didn't bog down the story. I liked Mary's romantic interest, I liked her friendship with Lacey, and the Goth couple. I really appreciated how well Mary's relationship with her parents was handled--it was awkward, strained, but still loving.
The description of the Moors was fantastic. I want to go see them!
Anyway, a good read for people who like their "horror" more magical than "horrific".
November 6, 2016
Una Mary mucho más abierta a intentar tratar con los fantasmas, pero que todavía les teme. Está Jacey como fantasma que la ayuda pero que está teniendo momentos malos que prometen ser una antagonista más adelante. También Neil y su novio que no pincho tanto como el primero, quienes son góticos y ayudaron pero no profundizaron tanto en ellos, lo que fue una lástima. Está Seth, el amor de verano de Mary quienes tenían más pinta de ser de por vida por el amor que se tenían en tan poco tiempo. Me gustaron como pareja más que Mary y Mo, quienes duraron una historia corta (dos meses más o menos, creo).
Me dio mucha lástima que Seth no esté más presente en los libros siguientes. Con la historia de Amy, se me hizo un poco irreal en momento, como todo demasiado conveniente.
Pero en fin, al final tanto lío con un fantasma peligroso y terminó muy rápido. El final en si fue muy rápido y siento que todo fue demasiado superficial :/
Me dio mucha lástima que Seth no esté más presente en los libros siguientes. Con la historia de Amy, se me hizo un poco irreal en momento, como todo demasiado conveniente.
Pero en fin, al final tanto lío con un fantasma peligroso y terminó muy rápido. El final en si fue muy rápido y siento que todo fue demasiado superficial :/
June 30, 2016
I'm on the fence about this book. I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it.
I really wish you had more of a back story to Mary. The book opens up in a really strange place, and you keep getting snippets of what happened, but not a clear story.
I really liked Mary's bff, Lacey, as well as the supporting characters Neil and Seth.
I don't feel as though the book was thought through. It kinda felt like the end was thrown in because it sounded like a good idea.
I really wish you had more of a back story to Mary. The book opens up in a really strange place, and you keep getting snippets of what happened, but not a clear story.
I really liked Mary's bff, Lacey, as well as the supporting characters Neil and Seth.
I don't feel as though the book was thought through. It kinda felt like the end was thrown in because it sounded like a good idea.
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