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Nightmare Hall #4
The Wish
High on a hillside overlooking Salem University, sits Nightingale Hall. Nightmare Hall, the students call it. Because that's where the terror began...
Alex is the first to notice the strange little booth in the campus pizza place. Wishes granted, fortunes told says the sign. Inside sits The Wizard, an eerie wooden figure with sinister blue eyes.
Alex's friends all make wishes. And, one by one, their wishes come true - but in terrifying, twisted ways. Could The Wizard be behind the horror? Or is it someone else - someone with a deadly wish all of their own?
Alex is the first to notice the strange little booth in the campus pizza place. Wishes granted, fortunes told says the sign. Inside sits The Wizard, an eerie wooden figure with sinister blue eyes.
Alex's friends all make wishes. And, one by one, their wishes come true - but in terrifying, twisted ways. Could The Wizard be behind the horror? Or is it someone else - someone with a deadly wish all of their own?
195 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1993
14 people are currently reading
366 people want to read
About the author
Diane Hoh
83 books285 followersDiane Hoh is the author of fifty-seven novels for young adults. She grew up in Warren, Pennsylvania but currently resides in Austin, Texas. Reading and writing are her favorite things, alongside gardening and grandchildren.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
August 3, 2020
🏈
I love Diane Hoh's books so I was excited to find this in a second hand shop recently, and even more excited when the lady let me have it for free (I think because it's quite a battered copy).
I've read Point Horror/Thriller books for years - they, along with Goosebumps, were my earliest exposure to horror stories - but somehow I missed this series, 'Nightmare Hall'. It's a fun series, quite spooky though still appropriate for younger readers, with covers that I love. The window on the cover is a cutout, so when you open the book you see the full picture, revealing the threat - they are so well done!
'The Wish' has a supernatural element, apparently not typical for the series. The creepy wooden wizard works incredibly well as a ominous threat that may or may not be real.
Though these are all part of a series they don't seem to follow on from each other. As far as I can tell, the one constant thing is the off-campus dorm building Nightingale Hall, nicknamed "Nightmare Hall" - - a strange building rumoured to be haunted.
I look forward to finding and reading the rest of these books!
I love Diane Hoh's books so I was excited to find this in a second hand shop recently, and even more excited when the lady let me have it for free (I think because it's quite a battered copy).
I've read Point Horror/Thriller books for years - they, along with Goosebumps, were my earliest exposure to horror stories - but somehow I missed this series, 'Nightmare Hall'. It's a fun series, quite spooky though still appropriate for younger readers, with covers that I love. The window on the cover is a cutout, so when you open the book you see the full picture, revealing the threat - they are so well done!
'The Wish' has a supernatural element, apparently not typical for the series. The creepy wooden wizard works incredibly well as a ominous threat that may or may not be real.
Though these are all part of a series they don't seem to follow on from each other. As far as I can tell, the one constant thing is the off-campus dorm building Nightingale Hall, nicknamed "Nightmare Hall" - - a strange building rumoured to be haunted.
I look forward to finding and reading the rest of these books!
September 10, 2023
4.25 Stars
A very solid entry in the Nightmare Hall series, found this one very easy to read in one evening. The pace was quick and I really enjoyed the supernatural element which is a rarity in this series. My only criticism would be that the ending felt very rushed. Only a handfull of pages from the big reveal to the end and there could have been more done, but I would still reccommend this one.
Alex and her friends discover a vintage fortune telling machine in their student bar. They all make wishes and get their fortunes, but things start to go wrong when their wishes are granted in the most dangerous ways possibles. With 3 of her friends already in hospital, can alex find out how to stop the machine before it's too late?
A very solid entry in the Nightmare Hall series, found this one very easy to read in one evening. The pace was quick and I really enjoyed the supernatural element which is a rarity in this series. My only criticism would be that the ending felt very rushed. Only a handfull of pages from the big reveal to the end and there could have been more done, but I would still reccommend this one.
Alex and her friends discover a vintage fortune telling machine in their student bar. They all make wishes and get their fortunes, but things start to go wrong when their wishes are granted in the most dangerous ways possibles. With 3 of her friends already in hospital, can alex find out how to stop the machine before it's too late?
January 22, 2024
Pretty tame for a horror. Has a bit of a Final Destination feel to it. Wish it had gone harder with the takedowns but I did enjoy that ending.
September 7, 2025
I am feeling very conflicted about The Wish. I typically quite like when Point Horror leans into the supernatural, and often I get frustrated by the Point Horror books that hint at supernatural happenings only to shy away at a crucial point and fall back on tired tropes like pranks and whatnot. (Yes, I'm still not over
The Boyfriend
.) So, with that in mind, why have I come away from The Wish, a Point Horror book that flirts and somewhat commits to supernatural elements, feeling a little shortchanged?
I had last week off work, and for fun I decided to watch a series of lectures on YouTube by Brandon Sanderson all about fantasy and science fiction creative writing. As a side note, I found these to be super interesting and would highly recommend! In one of Sanderson's early lectures, he talks about authors making promises to the reader, and either seeing those promises through or being smart about when to break those promises. The Wish is the fourth Nightmare Hall entry by Diane Hoh, following The Silent Scream , The Roommate , and Deadly Attraction , and is the first time where the supernatural is seriously utilised. It's therefore a jarring inclusion after three books where everything is grounded in plausibility. I didn't hate that this element was included, but I wish that supernatural ambiguity had been woven through the previous three books, or Hoh had been clearer with her intent of including this element from the outset of The Wish. Throughout the whole book I was waiting for the supernatural curtain to fall and for the realisation that it was just antagonistic characters pulling the strings behind the scenes, and was also quite intrigued to read how certain plot points would be explained. But no, that's not quite what was delivered, and the delivery wasn't as committed as it maybe should have been for this to work. I feel like everything that Hoh had built with the setting of Nightmare Hall (although, let's be honest, the setting here is Salem University - Nightmare Hall has only had any significant plot presence in the first book so far) got slightly undone here.
Now, as much as I feel like The Wish is clumsy in how it handled the supernatural elements, now that this has been established as an option in these books I am very curious about where Diane Hoh will go next. I'm really hoping this isn't abandoned, because then it really will feel like The Wish relied on the supernatural as a lazy writing device to avoid putting too much thought into the plot.
Okay, I've harped on long enough about how Hoh has included the supernatural here, so as for the rest of the book - it's fine. Once again we get brief references to characters who appeared in previous books, which always makes me smile and plays into the world building of Nightmare Hall (when it isn't being jeopardised by lazy writing), and I liked Alex, the protagonist. There were a few scenes that were utter nonsense and defied any internal logic the book may have been striving for, but I liked the cast of characters and there's a couple of fairly brutal scenes here that were a welcome surprise. The Monkey's Paw trope of be careful what you wish for is perhaps a bit obvious, but I did enjoy the concept of The Wizard, even if it did make me think of Big (1988).
The Wish is definitely a mixed bag overall. It's not my least favourite Nightmare Hall book so far, but it is close. I do think that Hoh, a Point Horror author who historically has been far from being my favourite, has really found her stride with the Nightmare Hall series. It plays to her strengths well and I'm still looking forward to seeing what will come next.
2.5/5
Point Horror Ranked
1) The Girlfriend - 4/5
2) The Dead Game - 4/5
3) Trick or Treat - 3.5/5
4) Nightmare Hall - The Silent Scream - 3.5/5
5) Fatal Secrets - 3.5/5
6) Teacher's Pet - 3.5/5
7) The Baby-Sitter II - 3.5/5
8) The Cheerleader - 3.5/5
9) The Hitchhiker - 3.5/5
10) April Fools - 3.5/5
11) My Secret Admirer - 3.5/5
12) The Lifeguard - 3.5/5
13) Freeze Tag - 3/5
14) Thirteen Tales of Horror - 3/5
15) The Accident - 3/5
16) The Vampire's Promise - 3/5
17) Funhouse - 3/5
18) Nightmare Hall - Deadly Attraction - 3/5
19) The Window - 3/5
20) The Invitation - 2.5/5
21) Nightmare Hall - The Wish 2.5/5
22) The Perfume - 2.5/5
23) The Train - 2.5/5
24) The Waitress - 2.5/5
25) The Snowman - 2.5/5
26) Nightmare Hall - The Roommate - 2.5/5
27) Beach House - 2.5/5
28) The Mall - 2.5/5
29) The Boyfriend - 2/5
30) The Fever - 2/5
31) The Cemetery - 2/5
32) Mother's Helper - 2/5
33) The Baby-Sitter III - 2/5
34) The Phantom - 2/5
35) The Dead Girlfriend - 2/5
36) The Baby-Sitter - 1.5/5
37) Hit and Run - 1.5/5
38) The Return of the Vampire - 1/5
39) Beach Party - 1/5
I had last week off work, and for fun I decided to watch a series of lectures on YouTube by Brandon Sanderson all about fantasy and science fiction creative writing. As a side note, I found these to be super interesting and would highly recommend! In one of Sanderson's early lectures, he talks about authors making promises to the reader, and either seeing those promises through or being smart about when to break those promises. The Wish is the fourth Nightmare Hall entry by Diane Hoh, following The Silent Scream , The Roommate , and Deadly Attraction , and is the first time where the supernatural is seriously utilised. It's therefore a jarring inclusion after three books where everything is grounded in plausibility. I didn't hate that this element was included, but I wish that supernatural ambiguity had been woven through the previous three books, or Hoh had been clearer with her intent of including this element from the outset of The Wish. Throughout the whole book I was waiting for the supernatural curtain to fall and for the realisation that it was just antagonistic characters pulling the strings behind the scenes, and was also quite intrigued to read how certain plot points would be explained. But no, that's not quite what was delivered, and the delivery wasn't as committed as it maybe should have been for this to work. I feel like everything that Hoh had built with the setting of Nightmare Hall (although, let's be honest, the setting here is Salem University - Nightmare Hall has only had any significant plot presence in the first book so far) got slightly undone here.
Now, as much as I feel like The Wish is clumsy in how it handled the supernatural elements, now that this has been established as an option in these books I am very curious about where Diane Hoh will go next. I'm really hoping this isn't abandoned, because then it really will feel like The Wish relied on the supernatural as a lazy writing device to avoid putting too much thought into the plot.
Okay, I've harped on long enough about how Hoh has included the supernatural here, so as for the rest of the book - it's fine. Once again we get brief references to characters who appeared in previous books, which always makes me smile and plays into the world building of Nightmare Hall (when it isn't being jeopardised by lazy writing), and I liked Alex, the protagonist. There were a few scenes that were utter nonsense and defied any internal logic the book may have been striving for, but I liked the cast of characters and there's a couple of fairly brutal scenes here that were a welcome surprise. The Monkey's Paw trope of be careful what you wish for is perhaps a bit obvious, but I did enjoy the concept of The Wizard, even if it did make me think of Big (1988).
The Wish is definitely a mixed bag overall. It's not my least favourite Nightmare Hall book so far, but it is close. I do think that Hoh, a Point Horror author who historically has been far from being my favourite, has really found her stride with the Nightmare Hall series. It plays to her strengths well and I'm still looking forward to seeing what will come next.
2.5/5
Point Horror Ranked
1) The Girlfriend - 4/5
2) The Dead Game - 4/5
3) Trick or Treat - 3.5/5
4) Nightmare Hall - The Silent Scream - 3.5/5
5) Fatal Secrets - 3.5/5
6) Teacher's Pet - 3.5/5
7) The Baby-Sitter II - 3.5/5
8) The Cheerleader - 3.5/5
9) The Hitchhiker - 3.5/5
10) April Fools - 3.5/5
11) My Secret Admirer - 3.5/5
12) The Lifeguard - 3.5/5
13) Freeze Tag - 3/5
14) Thirteen Tales of Horror - 3/5
15) The Accident - 3/5
16) The Vampire's Promise - 3/5
17) Funhouse - 3/5
18) Nightmare Hall - Deadly Attraction - 3/5
19) The Window - 3/5
20) The Invitation - 2.5/5
21) Nightmare Hall - The Wish 2.5/5
22) The Perfume - 2.5/5
23) The Train - 2.5/5
24) The Waitress - 2.5/5
25) The Snowman - 2.5/5
26) Nightmare Hall - The Roommate - 2.5/5
27) Beach House - 2.5/5
28) The Mall - 2.5/5
29) The Boyfriend - 2/5
30) The Fever - 2/5
31) The Cemetery - 2/5
32) Mother's Helper - 2/5
33) The Baby-Sitter III - 2/5
34) The Phantom - 2/5
35) The Dead Girlfriend - 2/5
36) The Baby-Sitter - 1.5/5
37) Hit and Run - 1.5/5
38) The Return of the Vampire - 1/5
39) Beach Party - 1/5
October 13, 2024
I read this with my book club that I run on Instagram where we revisit Point Horror and other books from our childhood - @talespointhorrorbookclub
Tagline - Where College Is A Scream
Memorable For - Having too many bonkers moments to just list one memorable for moment 😂 However let’s say a creepy fortune telling animatronic wizard 😜
Blurb -
“Wishes granted fortunes told”
Wishes granted, fortunes told says the sign in the booth at the campus pizza place. Inside sits the Wizard, an eerie wooden figure with sinister blue eyes.
Alex is the first to notice the strange little booth.
Alex’s friends all make their wishes. And one by one, their wishes come true - but in terrifying twisted ways.
Could The Wizard be behind the horror? Or is it someone else - someone with a deadly wish all of their own?
Some Thoughts -
Following a stormy night, lightening strikes the booth at the back of Vinnies pizza shop containing an old animatronic wizard who will tell your fortune if you give him a quarter. All of Alex’s friends make wishes and what starts with a terrifying car crash proceeds with strange and usual things happening to Alex and her friends that seem to match up with their wishes in a sinister way!
Other highlights include very strong wind, an hilarious bus journey, unlikeable characters who all seem to not like each other, lots of football games, descriptive accidents and a creepy wizard!
I wasn’t sure what to make of this one at first as it felt different to the normal Diane Hoh books but I grew to love it for being different! 🖤
Tagline - Where College Is A Scream
Memorable For - Having too many bonkers moments to just list one memorable for moment 😂 However let’s say a creepy fortune telling animatronic wizard 😜
Blurb -
“Wishes granted fortunes told”
Wishes granted, fortunes told says the sign in the booth at the campus pizza place. Inside sits the Wizard, an eerie wooden figure with sinister blue eyes.
Alex is the first to notice the strange little booth.
Alex’s friends all make their wishes. And one by one, their wishes come true - but in terrifying twisted ways.
Could The Wizard be behind the horror? Or is it someone else - someone with a deadly wish all of their own?
Some Thoughts -
Following a stormy night, lightening strikes the booth at the back of Vinnies pizza shop containing an old animatronic wizard who will tell your fortune if you give him a quarter. All of Alex’s friends make wishes and what starts with a terrifying car crash proceeds with strange and usual things happening to Alex and her friends that seem to match up with their wishes in a sinister way!
Other highlights include very strong wind, an hilarious bus journey, unlikeable characters who all seem to not like each other, lots of football games, descriptive accidents and a creepy wizard!
I wasn’t sure what to make of this one at first as it felt different to the normal Diane Hoh books but I grew to love it for being different! 🖤
September 17, 2024
Really liked this one alot! This is the second NH book I've read and it's just as good as The Silent Scream . It started out with a crazy intense car accident and just kept getting crazier. Lol that evil wizard in the wishing booth was the best character in the book, absolutely diabolical and funny! The ending was fantastic! Love the idea of a horror story where your wishes come true in a twisted , horrible way . 😱
September 11, 2024
At their favourite pizza place on campus Alex and her friends find an old mechanical fairground fortune teller, a wizard who for a quarter will hand you a card with your fortune printed on it. Alex hates it on sight but her friends make wishes and take their fortune. But as their wishes start to come true in the worst way Alex has to stop the wizard or whoever is making their wishes a nightmare.
A mystery thriller with a supernatural element this was such a fun read. Only Alex can see what is happening and realises she has to stop it as her friends one by one end up in hospital horribly injured.
Who is targeting Alex and her friends? How can she stop them? Who is calling her with menacing threats and why are the wizard’s blue eyes baiting her? A fast read this was a mad crazy story with a great albeit rushed ending.
A mystery thriller with a supernatural element this was such a fun read. Only Alex can see what is happening and realises she has to stop it as her friends one by one end up in hospital horribly injured.
Who is targeting Alex and her friends? How can she stop them? Who is calling her with menacing threats and why are the wizard’s blue eyes baiting her? A fast read this was a mad crazy story with a great albeit rushed ending.
December 15, 2016
The Wish is one of the infrequent Nightmare Hall books with a supernatural element. While I often wasn't too fond of the supernatural Point Horror offerings, Diane Hoh usually handled them pretty well (e.g. The Accident). This involves Alex suspecting that a Wizard Wishing Machine (or something) is behind the accidents hurting her friends - The Wizard grants wishes in strange and terrifying ways! It's a bit silly, but it's fun. There are some terrific moments, though, my favourite being when The Wizard spits out a message saying "The wheels on the bus go round and round" shortly after Alex survives a scary bus ride. Sinister and creepy!
July 18, 2012
Good entry into the series by Diane Hoh about a group of college students using a wishing booth containing an evil looking wizard to make wishes to improve their lives. Unfortunately for them, the wishes begin to come true in ways they weren't quite expecting. very well written with interesting characters and good plot, the only thing that lets this book down is its weak enough ending. Otherwise it's a solid read and well worth your time.
November 1, 2012
For whatever reason this was my favorite Nightmare Hall book as a kid, so I was very excited to get a chance to re-read it. I still think the premise is great (be careful what you wish for!) but the ending was much weaker than I remember and actually made no sense at all.
I'm giving this 4 stars, though, because it was my favorite and the one I remember the most about. Plus, the main character's name is Alex.
I'm giving this 4 stars, though, because it was my favorite and the one I remember the most about. Plus, the main character's name is Alex.
March 8, 2025
Finding this on a shelf at Half Price Books, I decided to give The Wish a chance. I was always reluctant to read it because I was wondering how a machine like the one in Big is going to make a book scary.
Hoh is no stranger to supernatural elements in her writing because of The Accident but all of her other books, especially in the Nightmare Hall series, just deal with normal crazies and psychos.
Alex and her friends are at Vinnie's, the pizza hangout for Salem University students, and a fortune telling machine called The Wizard sits in the back. A childhood trauma makes Alex uneasy around it, but the others get a kick out of wanting their fortunes told. Put in a quarter and out comes something you would find in a fortune cookie.
Alex's roommate Julie wishes her face could be different while her boyfriend Gabe wishes that he had a car. A storm hits town, and lightning sends the place into darkness, but a bolt comes out of the blue and strikes the Wizard's booth. No one is hurt and the large group of teens head off in two separate vehicles. Alex is with Julie, her twin sister Jenny, Gabe and a guy named Marty whom Alex has a little bit of a crush on.
A tree falls in the middle of the road due to the storm and Julie's car crashes into it as a tree branch crushes through the windshield. The front of the car is totaled and does most of the physical damage to Gabe's legs and Julie's face...eerily granting their wishes.
Alex goes to her job working at the campus radio station, which is housed on the eighteenth floor with an observation deck and gets locked in before a wind opens up the doors and she is almost blown away! A few nights later at a party, Alex witnesses two dark figures fighting and one of them appears to throw the other off the sixth floor of the same tower!
Alex finds that it is her friend Kyle, a freshman football player, who made a wish, and his card just announced Peace and Quiet. Now, he is in a coma and Alex is getting prank calls from someone claiming to be The Wizard himself. Her friend Kiki wishes to lose five pounds and then starts wasting away while Marty, wishing for luck on his upcoming debate, loses his voice.
Is it just unlucky coincidences, is The Wizard an actual article of granting wishes in the most horrible of ways or is it a real live person behind it all?
The answer is one that you must read to believe and all I'm left wishing is that The Wish...just could have been better. Some obvious ideas going around in this Nightmare Hall book, but they just did not stick the landing with the final act.
Redeemed just a little too late so I can't give it more than three stars.
Hoh is no stranger to supernatural elements in her writing because of The Accident but all of her other books, especially in the Nightmare Hall series, just deal with normal crazies and psychos.
Alex and her friends are at Vinnie's, the pizza hangout for Salem University students, and a fortune telling machine called The Wizard sits in the back. A childhood trauma makes Alex uneasy around it, but the others get a kick out of wanting their fortunes told. Put in a quarter and out comes something you would find in a fortune cookie.
Alex's roommate Julie wishes her face could be different while her boyfriend Gabe wishes that he had a car. A storm hits town, and lightning sends the place into darkness, but a bolt comes out of the blue and strikes the Wizard's booth. No one is hurt and the large group of teens head off in two separate vehicles. Alex is with Julie, her twin sister Jenny, Gabe and a guy named Marty whom Alex has a little bit of a crush on.
A tree falls in the middle of the road due to the storm and Julie's car crashes into it as a tree branch crushes through the windshield. The front of the car is totaled and does most of the physical damage to Gabe's legs and Julie's face...eerily granting their wishes.
Alex goes to her job working at the campus radio station, which is housed on the eighteenth floor with an observation deck and gets locked in before a wind opens up the doors and she is almost blown away! A few nights later at a party, Alex witnesses two dark figures fighting and one of them appears to throw the other off the sixth floor of the same tower!
Alex finds that it is her friend Kyle, a freshman football player, who made a wish, and his card just announced Peace and Quiet. Now, he is in a coma and Alex is getting prank calls from someone claiming to be The Wizard himself. Her friend Kiki wishes to lose five pounds and then starts wasting away while Marty, wishing for luck on his upcoming debate, loses his voice.
Is it just unlucky coincidences, is The Wizard an actual article of granting wishes in the most horrible of ways or is it a real live person behind it all?
The answer is one that you must read to believe and all I'm left wishing is that The Wish...just could have been better. Some obvious ideas going around in this Nightmare Hall book, but they just did not stick the landing with the final act.
Redeemed just a little too late so I can't give it more than three stars.
September 15, 2024
Nothing new for me with this one, it was ok but there are better ones. (I rate these against other point horror books and read them as part of a book club and for nostalgia 💕)
October 14, 2014
Rating: 3.5
I was a little wary of reading Point Horror books again after so many years - it's at least 16 years if not more since I've picked one up.
I can see how I devoured these so quickly as a teen - they're a great read. This one, written by Diane Hoh, is standard Point Horror fare.
The pizza place on Campus at Salem University has just acquired a creepy fortune-telling wizard booth thing. I'm pretty sure it's the same kind of thing that featured in the Tom Hanks movie Big - you put in a quarter, pull a lever, and it spits out a card with a fortune on it. Alex is really unnerved by the wizard, she finds it creepy and doesn't have a go at getting her fortune told - unlike all her friends.
One by one, her friends ask the Wizard for a look into their future or put in a request for something they want. And one by one, their wishes are granted - but not in ways they expected. As Alex remains skeptical that the wizard is responsible, she becomes increasingly aware that someone is trying to get rid of her - is the wizard really powerful, or is someone closer to her messing with her mind?
I thought this book would be really dated, considering it's from 1995, but save for a mention of a suede vest/blouse combo, it's not dated at all and it's really enjoyable. I love how these books build tension slowly and keep you guessing right until the end.
I was a little wary of reading Point Horror books again after so many years - it's at least 16 years if not more since I've picked one up.
I can see how I devoured these so quickly as a teen - they're a great read. This one, written by Diane Hoh, is standard Point Horror fare.
The pizza place on Campus at Salem University has just acquired a creepy fortune-telling wizard booth thing. I'm pretty sure it's the same kind of thing that featured in the Tom Hanks movie Big - you put in a quarter, pull a lever, and it spits out a card with a fortune on it. Alex is really unnerved by the wizard, she finds it creepy and doesn't have a go at getting her fortune told - unlike all her friends.
One by one, her friends ask the Wizard for a look into their future or put in a request for something they want. And one by one, their wishes are granted - but not in ways they expected. As Alex remains skeptical that the wizard is responsible, she becomes increasingly aware that someone is trying to get rid of her - is the wizard really powerful, or is someone closer to her messing with her mind?
I thought this book would be really dated, considering it's from 1995, but save for a mention of a suede vest/blouse combo, it's not dated at all and it's really enjoyable. I love how these books build tension slowly and keep you guessing right until the end.
July 10, 2024
I had read this book in middle school and remembered the basic premise. After Googling a bit, I found it was The Wish and decided to take a trip down memory lane.
There are over two dozen named characters in this 193-page book, which makes for a confusing cast because the reader doesn’t really know anything about them other than their names. Since there wasn’t any character background or development, I found it hard to care about the characters.
In short, a simple book for middle school readers who want something spooky that isn’t too deep, but this would not be engaging for adults.
There are over two dozen named characters in this 193-page book, which makes for a confusing cast because the reader doesn’t really know anything about them other than their names. Since there wasn’t any character background or development, I found it hard to care about the characters.
In short, a simple book for middle school readers who want something spooky that isn’t too deep, but this would not be engaging for adults.
November 17, 2021
This was spooky. From the very beginning, things were already dire. I kind of wish that these kids didn't have to go through all that. The twins for example... It's not a happy thing when after the other ruins her face, the other one suddenly thrives, goes on parties, dates! I mean whaatt 🙄 I would have loved a closure for those two.
The idea of a fortune telling machine coming to life is as creepy as a clown to me, so this was truly interesting. A nice mystery too!
Good one!
The idea of a fortune telling machine coming to life is as creepy as a clown to me, so this was truly interesting. A nice mystery too!
Good one!
January 10, 2022
Full review at: https://www.jackreacts.com.au/nightma...
Snippet: It was an interesting idea and I liked how it kept me guessing whether The Wizard was sentient or not, but there was just so much repetition and a lot of nothing going on, so it was hard to get into. Definitely the biggest letdown from Hoh I've read so far.
Check out my full review linked up top for an in-depth recap :)
Snippet: It was an interesting idea and I liked how it kept me guessing whether The Wizard was sentient or not, but there was just so much repetition and a lot of nothing going on, so it was hard to get into. Definitely the biggest letdown from Hoh I've read so far.
Check out my full review linked up top for an in-depth recap :)
January 16, 2021
I gotta say that this was a pretty well written book. We have multiple red herrings and for the most part fleshed out character's. You are definitely kept guessing about whether its s supernatural big baddie or a human threat. The ending did seem like a cop out though as its just a page after the fact and zero updates on our baddie. Though they still set up for a sequel. All in all a good read.
December 17, 2015
I love Diane Hoh's book and I know I won't have been disappointed in this one, although it doesn't stick in my mind as being as good as The Train, it was definitely a fun read.
September 21, 2017
Awesome story
My favorite of all the Nightmare Hall books. An excellent read. The characters come to life and the storyline is fascinating.
My favorite of all the Nightmare Hall books. An excellent read. The characters come to life and the storyline is fascinating.
January 17, 2019
Creepy little tale much more than a whodunit.
November 22, 2022
I have loved Every Nightmare Hall book that I have read. None have disappointed yet.
October 10, 2013
Find more of my reviews/re-caps at :
http://babysittinginsweetvalley.blogs...
I've read 5 of the Nightmare Hall books (Silent Scream in 2011, The Roomate in 2011,Guilty in 2012,Scream Team 2009 and Pretty Please last week)and nearly all of Diane's stand-a-lone Point Horror books. In my opinion she's one of the series' best writers and I wasn't disapointed by this novel.
The Wish begins in a setting that appears in all the Nightmare Hall books but rather to an over-kill point in this one (8 TIMES) - Vinnie's Pizzera which is basically a less superior version of The Dari Burger (SV) but specialising in pizza's instead.
Our main character Alex - whom is a plain jane (typical point horror) - stumbles across The Wizard ,a creepy beyond belief fortune telling booth , that she happens to be afraid of due to a fortune telling incident when she was 9 - so random.
As she's quaking in fear at this 'harmless' antique her posse approachs including the Sweet Valley Twins ! Not really but Julie and Jenny (why is there always a Jenny/Jennifer in Point Horror books?) are dead-ringers for the Californian beauties - long blonde hair, one twin is studious and often wears blouses and the other lives to party and is addicted to dating.
Other honourable characters I'll mention are Kiki,whose name even sounds bitchy. Kiki is known for her bitchness and constantly failing diets. And Marty whom Alex is besotted with.
Back to the story - 2 of the characters decide to make wishes and get their fortunes told. Julie wishes for an exotic face - you definetely wouldn't catch Jessica Wakefield wishing for that - and her fortune card reads "BEWARE THE LOOKING GLASS,LEST YOU SEE YOUR TRUE REFLECTION". Gabe , Julie's boyfriend and your typical jock, wishes for wheels and his card says "SLOW AND STEADY WINS THE RACE".
2 more of the characters are about to make wishes when suddenly a power cut strikes because of a raging storm happening outside. When the lights finally turn back on the students decide to return to their dorms. But not all of them make it...
Julie crashes the car into a tree lying across the road and her face is completely destroyed. Gabe's confined to a wheelchair. Alex realises their fortunes have come true !
The next day the reminants of the gang are at Vinnie's again and Kiki wishes to be 5 pounds thinner . Her fortune card reads "SELF-DISIPLINE IS THE GREATEST OF ALL VIRTUES".
They then venture to the hospital visit Gabe, Julie and Jenny (who stayed overnight because she didn't want to leave her sister). But before Alex can reach the room she hears a blood-curdling scream from Julie's room - Poor Jenny's learnt she's missed a trip to Vinnie's! Only joking this book may be far-fetched but not that much.
Inside she discovers twins fighting over a snake patterened mirror that was gifted to Julie anonymously - possibly by a snake in the grass ?
After this fiasco Jenny decides not to protect her twin from this creepy Santa but chooses to return to the dorm instead.Meanwhile Alex goes to her job at the radio station and Kyle closes the door to the radio booth with Alex inside. During her radio work she receives an anonymous request to play the song "Who's sorry now?" for Julie.
She ends her shift rather abrubtedly after this - just because Julie may have a pyscho after her doesn't mean you should be slacking on the job Alex - but the door to the booth is locked. To the reader Kyle is looking pretty shifty but Alex dismisses his involvement and tries to phone for help.
Predictably the line is dead and darkness suddenly descends upon the radio station. This next part now is a bit weird : an unexplainable wind tries to drag Alex off the balcony that's connected to the radio booth. Seriously Diane ?
Fortunately the head of the radio stations saves her and so the next day she's recovered enough to go to - drum roll please - Vinnie's ! During their pizza Alex has several bitchy thoughts (that are repeated several times throughout the book) about Kiki eating the most out of anyone on the table. I thought Kiki was supposed to be the bitchy one !
Alex forgets her resentment towards The Wizard by having her own fortune told with Marty. Marty wishes to not have to do an upcoming speech. Alex doesn't wish for anything which is a bit strange considering the title of the book. They both get the same card that reads "SILENCE IS GOLDEN".
Now this was when I started getting my suspicions about Bennet - a member of the group who badly damaged his legs in a previous accident that is never explained (so much for back stories) so wears crutches and is always groaning about his inability to play football due to the crutches-who is the only one who hasn't visited the Wizard.
The next day it's time for another group outing not to Vinnie's this time - SHOCKER ! - but to a football game. During the intermission Alex receives phone that tells her to "Take me seriously or you'll regret it "The voice is disguised of course - it always is in point horror books - but Kiki later admits that it was her who called intending for it to be a joke about Alex's refusal to take The Wizard seriously - her bitchy side has finally been unleashed!
While the others go to Vinnie's, Alex goes to a party back at the dorms.And sees Kyle being thrown over the balcony... I should point out this is a plot hole because Kyle is written to be at Vinnie's and so is the thrower who I'll reveal shortly.
Alex decides to investigate to see if any clues to the identity of the thrower are on the balcony - wow Alex look at you giving Nancy Drew a run for her money - after Kyle's been carted to the hospital in a coma. She finds a shiny gold football medallion (hence the cover) in a plant pot and discovers that it's the same design that was given to every member of the football squad. Including : Gabe, Kyle, Bennet (who's now looking SUPER FISHY) and Marty.
The next day whilst she's visiting her friends at the hospital she illegally searches through Kyle's belongings to see if the one that she found is his. It's not as Kyle's as it's amongst his possessions but before she begins to question the other suspects Kiki collapses in the ward (how convenient ?) and is hospital due to her dangerous weight.Karma's a bitch and so is Kiki.
This certainly doesn't stop the gang visiting Vinnie's - I swear that place would be bankrupt without them - and Alex gets each suspect alone to ask them about the football charm. They all claim to have lost it. Seriously Diane,everyone's so carless?
Alex gets the shuttle bus home from Vinnie's as she's lost her friends and finds that it's completely empty with the exception of the driver. As soon as she's inside he begins careening the bus at high speed like a maniac. When they reach the woodland near Nightmare Hall ,the same place as the car accident, he jumps out. Magically the police appear moments later to save Alex.
To cheer Alex up the following day the friends go to Vinnie's - seriously Diane ? what sort of diets do these kids have - and thus begins Alex's strange shouting rant with the Wizard about why all this is happening to her .Suddenly a fortune card comes out of the machine ,and I swear at the time I read this a shiver went down my spine , that reads "THE WHEELS ON THE BUS GO ROUND AND ROUND".
Frightened , Alex pleads for Marty to take her home but changes her mind and wants to go to the hospital instead to check if Kyle's jewel football is still there for a reason that remains unexplained. Of course ,as anyone could have guessed, the football has miraculously vanished !
We then come to the worst 'scary' scene ever :it has come to the time when Marty has to deliver his speech but his voice has gone , taken by a voice stealer it seems.
If you're like me you may have worked out now that a bad thing has happened to everyone but Bennet. Way to make it obvious Diane!
To make me even more convinced that Bennet is behind all these 'accidents' his ex-girlfriend tells Alex that she had Bennet's football charm and only just gave it back to him.
Alex then goes to Vinnie's thankfully for the final time and confronts the Wizard again - like any 'sane' person would. He starts sending her fortune cards that say things like "You dare threaten me ?".
Gabe appears and points his crutch at her and she realises that she's forgotten a majorly important detail of the night Kyle was thrown from the balcony....
The weird length of the throwers arm.Exactly the length of the crutch Gabe has and Bennet but Alex has completely overlooked Bennet so is convinced Gabe is the perputraitor. Alex is knocked unconscious by an unknown and when she awakes she finds herself in the storage closet of Vinnie's.
As it is unlocked she quickly escapes and the Wizard is directly in front over her screaming -yes he can talk and if you're like me and petrified of creepy dolls (thank you Poltergeist) you'll be having nightmares tonight - that she and her friends are responsible for everything that has happened.
Alex spots a crutch poking out from behind the Wizards booth - thank god the Wizard wasn't the one talking - and she assumes obviously that it's Gabe. Out pops ... Bennet! I KNEW IT.
Bennet explains that the Wizard telepathetically told him to cause all the accidents and his legs would be fixed allowing him to play football again. The Wizard did the humanly impossible things like making Marty lose his voice. Seriously Diane?
Bennet is carted off to a mental hospital before he can do his final deed to the wizard - killing Alex - and the book ends with the Wizard being sold to a burger joint owner - The Dari Burgers' possibly ? - who's unaware of the terror it will cause.
My rating of the wish - 3.5 stars
Find more of my reviews/re-caps at :
http://babysittinginsweetvalley.blogs...
http://babysittinginsweetvalley.blogs...
I've read 5 of the Nightmare Hall books (Silent Scream in 2011, The Roomate in 2011,Guilty in 2012,Scream Team 2009 and Pretty Please last week)and nearly all of Diane's stand-a-lone Point Horror books. In my opinion she's one of the series' best writers and I wasn't disapointed by this novel.
The Wish begins in a setting that appears in all the Nightmare Hall books but rather to an over-kill point in this one (8 TIMES) - Vinnie's Pizzera which is basically a less superior version of The Dari Burger (SV) but specialising in pizza's instead.
Our main character Alex - whom is a plain jane (typical point horror) - stumbles across The Wizard ,a creepy beyond belief fortune telling booth , that she happens to be afraid of due to a fortune telling incident when she was 9 - so random.
As she's quaking in fear at this 'harmless' antique her posse approachs including the Sweet Valley Twins ! Not really but Julie and Jenny (why is there always a Jenny/Jennifer in Point Horror books?) are dead-ringers for the Californian beauties - long blonde hair, one twin is studious and often wears blouses and the other lives to party and is addicted to dating.
Other honourable characters I'll mention are Kiki,whose name even sounds bitchy. Kiki is known for her bitchness and constantly failing diets. And Marty whom Alex is besotted with.
Back to the story - 2 of the characters decide to make wishes and get their fortunes told. Julie wishes for an exotic face - you definetely wouldn't catch Jessica Wakefield wishing for that - and her fortune card reads "BEWARE THE LOOKING GLASS,LEST YOU SEE YOUR TRUE REFLECTION". Gabe , Julie's boyfriend and your typical jock, wishes for wheels and his card says "SLOW AND STEADY WINS THE RACE".
2 more of the characters are about to make wishes when suddenly a power cut strikes because of a raging storm happening outside. When the lights finally turn back on the students decide to return to their dorms. But not all of them make it...
Julie crashes the car into a tree lying across the road and her face is completely destroyed. Gabe's confined to a wheelchair. Alex realises their fortunes have come true !
The next day the reminants of the gang are at Vinnie's again and Kiki wishes to be 5 pounds thinner . Her fortune card reads "SELF-DISIPLINE IS THE GREATEST OF ALL VIRTUES".
They then venture to the hospital visit Gabe, Julie and Jenny (who stayed overnight because she didn't want to leave her sister). But before Alex can reach the room she hears a blood-curdling scream from Julie's room - Poor Jenny's learnt she's missed a trip to Vinnie's! Only joking this book may be far-fetched but not that much.
Inside she discovers twins fighting over a snake patterened mirror that was gifted to Julie anonymously - possibly by a snake in the grass ?
After this fiasco Jenny decides not to protect her twin from this creepy Santa but chooses to return to the dorm instead.Meanwhile Alex goes to her job at the radio station and Kyle closes the door to the radio booth with Alex inside. During her radio work she receives an anonymous request to play the song "Who's sorry now?" for Julie.
She ends her shift rather abrubtedly after this - just because Julie may have a pyscho after her doesn't mean you should be slacking on the job Alex - but the door to the booth is locked. To the reader Kyle is looking pretty shifty but Alex dismisses his involvement and tries to phone for help.
Predictably the line is dead and darkness suddenly descends upon the radio station. This next part now is a bit weird : an unexplainable wind tries to drag Alex off the balcony that's connected to the radio booth. Seriously Diane ?
Fortunately the head of the radio stations saves her and so the next day she's recovered enough to go to - drum roll please - Vinnie's ! During their pizza Alex has several bitchy thoughts (that are repeated several times throughout the book) about Kiki eating the most out of anyone on the table. I thought Kiki was supposed to be the bitchy one !
Alex forgets her resentment towards The Wizard by having her own fortune told with Marty. Marty wishes to not have to do an upcoming speech. Alex doesn't wish for anything which is a bit strange considering the title of the book. They both get the same card that reads "SILENCE IS GOLDEN".
Now this was when I started getting my suspicions about Bennet - a member of the group who badly damaged his legs in a previous accident that is never explained (so much for back stories) so wears crutches and is always groaning about his inability to play football due to the crutches-who is the only one who hasn't visited the Wizard.
The next day it's time for another group outing not to Vinnie's this time - SHOCKER ! - but to a football game. During the intermission Alex receives phone that tells her to "Take me seriously or you'll regret it "The voice is disguised of course - it always is in point horror books - but Kiki later admits that it was her who called intending for it to be a joke about Alex's refusal to take The Wizard seriously - her bitchy side has finally been unleashed!
While the others go to Vinnie's, Alex goes to a party back at the dorms.And sees Kyle being thrown over the balcony... I should point out this is a plot hole because Kyle is written to be at Vinnie's and so is the thrower who I'll reveal shortly.
Alex decides to investigate to see if any clues to the identity of the thrower are on the balcony - wow Alex look at you giving Nancy Drew a run for her money - after Kyle's been carted to the hospital in a coma. She finds a shiny gold football medallion (hence the cover) in a plant pot and discovers that it's the same design that was given to every member of the football squad. Including : Gabe, Kyle, Bennet (who's now looking SUPER FISHY) and Marty.
The next day whilst she's visiting her friends at the hospital she illegally searches through Kyle's belongings to see if the one that she found is his. It's not as Kyle's as it's amongst his possessions but before she begins to question the other suspects Kiki collapses in the ward (how convenient ?) and is hospital due to her dangerous weight.Karma's a bitch and so is Kiki.
This certainly doesn't stop the gang visiting Vinnie's - I swear that place would be bankrupt without them - and Alex gets each suspect alone to ask them about the football charm. They all claim to have lost it. Seriously Diane,everyone's so carless?
Alex gets the shuttle bus home from Vinnie's as she's lost her friends and finds that it's completely empty with the exception of the driver. As soon as she's inside he begins careening the bus at high speed like a maniac. When they reach the woodland near Nightmare Hall ,the same place as the car accident, he jumps out. Magically the police appear moments later to save Alex.
To cheer Alex up the following day the friends go to Vinnie's - seriously Diane ? what sort of diets do these kids have - and thus begins Alex's strange shouting rant with the Wizard about why all this is happening to her .Suddenly a fortune card comes out of the machine ,and I swear at the time I read this a shiver went down my spine , that reads "THE WHEELS ON THE BUS GO ROUND AND ROUND".
Frightened , Alex pleads for Marty to take her home but changes her mind and wants to go to the hospital instead to check if Kyle's jewel football is still there for a reason that remains unexplained. Of course ,as anyone could have guessed, the football has miraculously vanished !
We then come to the worst 'scary' scene ever :it has come to the time when Marty has to deliver his speech but his voice has gone , taken by a voice stealer it seems.
If you're like me you may have worked out now that a bad thing has happened to everyone but Bennet. Way to make it obvious Diane!
To make me even more convinced that Bennet is behind all these 'accidents' his ex-girlfriend tells Alex that she had Bennet's football charm and only just gave it back to him.
Alex then goes to Vinnie's thankfully for the final time and confronts the Wizard again - like any 'sane' person would. He starts sending her fortune cards that say things like "You dare threaten me ?".
Gabe appears and points his crutch at her and she realises that she's forgotten a majorly important detail of the night Kyle was thrown from the balcony....
The weird length of the throwers arm.Exactly the length of the crutch Gabe has and Bennet but Alex has completely overlooked Bennet so is convinced Gabe is the perputraitor. Alex is knocked unconscious by an unknown and when she awakes she finds herself in the storage closet of Vinnie's.
As it is unlocked she quickly escapes and the Wizard is directly in front over her screaming -yes he can talk and if you're like me and petrified of creepy dolls (thank you Poltergeist) you'll be having nightmares tonight - that she and her friends are responsible for everything that has happened.
Alex spots a crutch poking out from behind the Wizards booth - thank god the Wizard wasn't the one talking - and she assumes obviously that it's Gabe. Out pops ... Bennet! I KNEW IT.
Bennet explains that the Wizard telepathetically told him to cause all the accidents and his legs would be fixed allowing him to play football again. The Wizard did the humanly impossible things like making Marty lose his voice. Seriously Diane?
Bennet is carted off to a mental hospital before he can do his final deed to the wizard - killing Alex - and the book ends with the Wizard being sold to a burger joint owner - The Dari Burgers' possibly ? - who's unaware of the terror it will cause.
My rating of the wish - 3.5 stars
Find more of my reviews/re-caps at :
http://babysittinginsweetvalley.blogs...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 13, 2024
Ever wanted to make a wish on Zoltar, Tom Hank's style? Well, so did the Diana Hoh.
The old fortune telling machine finds itself at the back of Vinnie's, the very same pizza restaurant that all the cool kids at Nightmare Hall hang out at. Alex and her friends need to careful what they wish for as their wishes come true in some unfortunate ways. Hoh is an exceptional writer and the description of the car accident at the beginning showcases her skill. Shame about the guy who smushes his face against the window immediately after sucking all the seriousness out of the situation.
If you like your Point Horrors utterly bonkers and making no sense then 'The Wish' is for you. At the point when Alex is nearly whisked off a balcony by a particularly vicious wind I wondered to myself what exactly is happening here?! This one is worth reading for all the multiple non-descript mcs, unexplained supernatural elements and nostalgic shenanigans you could want.
The old fortune telling machine finds itself at the back of Vinnie's, the very same pizza restaurant that all the cool kids at Nightmare Hall hang out at. Alex and her friends need to careful what they wish for as their wishes come true in some unfortunate ways. Hoh is an exceptional writer and the description of the car accident at the beginning showcases her skill. Shame about the guy who smushes his face against the window immediately after sucking all the seriousness out of the situation.
If you like your Point Horrors utterly bonkers and making no sense then 'The Wish' is for you. At the point when Alex is nearly whisked off a balcony by a particularly vicious wind I wondered to myself what exactly is happening here?! This one is worth reading for all the multiple non-descript mcs, unexplained supernatural elements and nostalgic shenanigans you could want.
November 9, 2021
The wish by Diane Hoh brings us a group of friends attending Salem University discovering a wizard fortune teller machine at their local Pizza place, Vinnies.
Right at the start thus wizard is outlined as creepy. Except our narrator, Alex is the only one who thinks so. She watches as her friends get their fortunes told and then watches when they get more than they bargained for.
I really liked Alex. She actuallt was down to earth, seemed to have a reasonable head on her shoulders. She cared about her friends. All the other characters played their role as they do in these 90s books.
Adding a supernatural element I was skeptical of. Most of the nightmare hall series don't deal with that so what would this one be like? It was a wee bit slow at times but by the end I found myself having enjoyed the story.
Right at the start thus wizard is outlined as creepy. Except our narrator, Alex is the only one who thinks so. She watches as her friends get their fortunes told and then watches when they get more than they bargained for.
I really liked Alex. She actuallt was down to earth, seemed to have a reasonable head on her shoulders. She cared about her friends. All the other characters played their role as they do in these 90s books.
Adding a supernatural element I was skeptical of. Most of the nightmare hall series don't deal with that so what would this one be like? It was a wee bit slow at times but by the end I found myself having enjoyed the story.
April 20, 2024
Once again NOT set at Nightmare Hall.
August 12, 2019
Not entirely satisfied
The Nightmare Hall story heavily focuses on the processing of the protagonists grief, coming to terms with reality and then entering a supernatural side of the world. A bit different from the previous books, I enjoyed that it focused on the protagonist and her trying to come to terms with a freak accident and other normal day happenings, however I do feel like adding a supernatural element, written in that specific spoiled the ending for me. The first book in the series had a gorgeous handling on slowly introducing supernatural element into it, but this one was a bit on the nose, incredibly quick introduction and didn't even tell you what happened with the bad "guy" (not the supernatural guy) in the end.
The Nightmare Hall story heavily focuses on the processing of the protagonists grief, coming to terms with reality and then entering a supernatural side of the world. A bit different from the previous books, I enjoyed that it focused on the protagonist and her trying to come to terms with a freak accident and other normal day happenings, however I do feel like adding a supernatural element, written in that specific spoiled the ending for me. The first book in the series had a gorgeous handling on slowly introducing supernatural element into it, but this one was a bit on the nose, incredibly quick introduction and didn't even tell you what happened with the bad "guy" (not the supernatural guy) in the end.
September 26, 2024
Book 4 in the Nightmare Hall series by Diane Hoh is a fast, fun read, and I suspect the author used inspiration from the film 'Big' for this one. Alex and her friends visit the local pizza place and discover a fortune telling wizard machine (a la Big). When the friends begin to make wishes, they come true with horrifying results. Alex knows something terrible is happening all around her and must work out what before she, too, meets a terrible fate.
November 1, 2020
I thought this book was very good and suspenseful; I kept wanting to read more to see “who done it”. The ending also offers the closure that I like. Also, I like the dual culprit; and also that the author doesn’t shy away from using the supernatural as one of the villains, as some of the recent books I read from other authors did.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 2, 2020
Not one of the best entries in the Point Horror line! I find it lacked the campy fun that's signature in these books, and the story is all over the place. Supernatural? Or bad teens? The main character is kind of annoying and the other characters are generic. The ending is abrupt and not satisfying. Still a quick way to spend my time but not memorable enough.
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