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Death House
Fifteen year-old Adley is on a terrifying journey! She has yet to learn that something sinister haunts her grandmother’s old mansion, or that it hides in a dark portal beneath her bed. The demonic being born of a generational curse does more than negatively affect Adley’s mood—it kills the first born child in each succeeding family by their 16th birthday—and Adley’s birthday is just around the corner! She meets seventeen year-old Victor Trumillo, a descendant of the original victim, and only he can destroy the hideous creature. Victor and Adley want to end the curse and save future lives, but will they succumb to fear just as they may have discovered real love?
- GenresHorror
314 pages, Paperback
First published November 17, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 26, 2015
creepylicious
“Curses are like chickens, they always come home to roost.” - Charles H. Spurgeon
Adley Lange's idea of a summer vacation with her parents was spending it anywhere but her late grandmother's mansion somewhere in the high desert of New Mexico. moreover, the sprawling Capilla Manor, with its deteriorating facade and weed-choked yard, gave her the creeps. inside the house, something waits for Adley - eager to welcome and enfold her in its bony embrace.
the book started out slow for me and my enthusiasm waned a bit due to Adley's mood swings. it was getting to a point that i found her tactless behavior and disparaging language too unbearable to make me quit reading when i realized that the author's writing was quite effective in making me feel that way. in other words, i have been had. i fell into the author's trap. with that "eureka moment", my interest in Adley and her haunting rose again from chapter 8 onwards especially after her encounter with her neighbor Victor Trumillo. that meeting, i think, when things began to unravel, was the catalyst that spurred me on.
strong characterization, appropriate word choice, graphic details evoking vivid, hellish imagery are some of the novel's strong points. in particular, i enjoyed the action-packed, hair-raising confrontation near the end of the book. it was like watching a tension-filled championship game where one wrong move could spell disaster for one team and victory for the other.
however, there was that specific twist in the remaining pages which i did not favor at first but what it resulted to seemed justified somehow. i just wished it did not have to be that way but horror fans like myself know that when the horror stops, the creepylicious fun ends too.
overall, Carole Avila's novel about a generational curse, an evil entity and two teenagers fighting for their lives has all the ingredients to scare you off while still letting you have a good time in the process.
* review copy provided via Reading Alley in exchange for an honest review
“Curses are like chickens, they always come home to roost.” - Charles H. Spurgeon
Adley Lange's idea of a summer vacation with her parents was spending it anywhere but her late grandmother's mansion somewhere in the high desert of New Mexico. moreover, the sprawling Capilla Manor, with its deteriorating facade and weed-choked yard, gave her the creeps. inside the house, something waits for Adley - eager to welcome and enfold her in its bony embrace.
the book started out slow for me and my enthusiasm waned a bit due to Adley's mood swings. it was getting to a point that i found her tactless behavior and disparaging language too unbearable to make me quit reading when i realized that the author's writing was quite effective in making me feel that way. in other words, i have been had. i fell into the author's trap. with that "eureka moment", my interest in Adley and her haunting rose again from chapter 8 onwards especially after her encounter with her neighbor Victor Trumillo. that meeting, i think, when things began to unravel, was the catalyst that spurred me on.
strong characterization, appropriate word choice, graphic details evoking vivid, hellish imagery are some of the novel's strong points. in particular, i enjoyed the action-packed, hair-raising confrontation near the end of the book. it was like watching a tension-filled championship game where one wrong move could spell disaster for one team and victory for the other.
however, there was that specific twist in the remaining pages which i did not favor at first but what it resulted to seemed justified somehow. i just wished it did not have to be that way but horror fans like myself know that when the horror stops, the creepylicious fun ends too.
overall, Carole Avila's novel about a generational curse, an evil entity and two teenagers fighting for their lives has all the ingredients to scare you off while still letting you have a good time in the process.
* review copy provided via Reading Alley in exchange for an honest review
January 22, 2020
I could not put this book down. I haven't had that feeling for a long time. I was a bit nervous to read a horror as I generally don't go for the genre, but I was pleasantly surprised. I couldn't wait to get a spare moment to read it. It kept me in suspense, pretty much from the beginning. I loved the characters, especially Adley. I loved watching her mature and develop as a young person. As a parent of teenagers, I couldn't wait to see what would happen. The plot was well developed and scary, but not excessively so for young people to read. You are rooting for Adley all the way, even though she has flaws. There were lots of twists and turns and discoveries to keep me on the edge of my seat. I wonder if there will be a sequel? I'm keen to read another book by this author.
December 14, 2017
This was a great YA horror story. I immediately liked the characters and Avila totally captured typical teenage behavior and the way that your parents don't always "get" you. Having the romantic relationship be one where they (almost) instantly felt a connection made sense given the circumstances of the curse. It is well written, allowing you to feel the horror growing from the "maybe I imagined it" to the "Oh, No!"
It was suspenseful throughout. The "monster" was unlike any I'd read about. I loved the way the bones morphed into different shapes. It was a satisfying story from beginning to end. There was no simple solution and the good guys didn't just quickly win this one. I highly recommend it to young adults and adults alike. It is "clean" with just a bit of kissing, the thrill of which is described in a romantic way.
I will be reading more Carole Avila when I can. (I received this in a goodreads giveaway.)
It was suspenseful throughout. The "monster" was unlike any I'd read about. I loved the way the bones morphed into different shapes. It was a satisfying story from beginning to end. There was no simple solution and the good guys didn't just quickly win this one. I highly recommend it to young adults and adults alike. It is "clean" with just a bit of kissing, the thrill of which is described in a romantic way.
I will be reading more Carole Avila when I can. (I received this in a goodreads giveaway.)
April 14, 2016
See this review @ my blog Wonderless Reviews
Thank you to Carole Avila for providing me with a free e-arc copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Death House tells the story of Adley and her parents moving into her grandmother's Spanish Manor, also known as Capilla Manor, in the middle of nowhere in New Mexico. Her grandmother recently passed away and Adley's parents decided to spend the Summer there to fix the place up.
Adley soon discovers that there is an unfriendly entity in the house who is persistent in trying to make sure she doesn't live to see her sixteenth birthday. With her parents dismissing her, Adley turns to a boy she meets, Victor, for support. She learns that Victor and his family's ancestors were the original recipients of the curse which backfired onto her family. With Victor and his family's help Adley sets out to destroy the creature and curse that has plagued her family for centuries.
Death House is a really unique spin on the "haunted house" genre. I went into this expecting ghosts, but instead I got a really interesting tale combing Spanish and Gypsy elements. It was refreshing seeing the entity that haunted the house be a monster of sorts instead of just an evil ghost (which you know, I'm also down with - it was just cool to see something different). I loved learning about the history of the curse and how it was originated.
For the first part of this book Adley drove me crazy. She was so incredibly annoying. I started to wonder how much I was going to enjoy this book because she would throw childlike temper tantrums over the simplest of things. However, as the story continues Adley fully acknowledges how difficult she's being and she admits that she wants to stop but doesn't seem to have any control over her moods. Then once you get to the end of the book you understand why Adley has been so irritable and I definitely appreciate how well Carole wrote that into the story. Especially when you stop and think that Adley is only 15 and what she'd been going through.
I also liked that Adley's parents got a voice in this. It's rare that we ever see parents in YA. I wasn't a huge fan of them for most of the book though. They constantly dismissed Adley and acted as though she was being a huge inconvenience. I know telling your parents that a skeleton is trying to kill you isn't the most sanest stories, but it was visibly described in the book how shaken and terrified Adley was by what was happening and her parents just seemed annoyed instead of actually stopping and considering that maybe there was more going on. At the end of the book they do acknowledge their wrongdoings, so that's something.
It was why I didn't mind so much that Adley and Victor's relationship was pretty instalove-y. Taking into consideration that Victor was the only person who Adley had to lean on for support and who believed her it's understandable that she would grow close to him quickly. I actually found myself thinking they were really cute at various points through out the book. I also like that even though they did form a relationship quickly it wasn't "love at first sight". It's rare that I find romances cute - it's why I avoid romantic contemporaries - but I couldn't help but smile at some of their scenes together. Adley became a much happier person when she was around Victor and she definitely deserved that.
I also found Victor's family so incredibly interesting and I wish we had the chance to learn more about them. I also would have liked to known a bit more about the creature and how the portal in Adley's room worked, but that could just be me and my excessive need for history and details.
When Adley and Victor faced the creature to end the curse it was very intense and kept me on the edge of my seat. I don't think I'd ever be able to look a demonic skeleton in the eye that I knew could kill me. So major props to Adley's bravery. She grew up a lot in this book and I actually felt rather proud of her. Almost like she was my little sister. I had times where all I wanted to do was keep her safe and give her the biggest hug - especially when her parents weren't there for her.
The preface for this book was so chillingly creepy, it definitely hooked me in. I read it in be d at night and it talked about things grabbing your feet if they weren't under the blankets and I actually subconsciously drew my knees up to my chest.
Death House was a fast paced read that will make you want to keep turning pages to see what becomes of Adley's fate. I definitely recommend this if you're a horror fan and want a different take on the whole haunted house trope.
Thanks again to Carole for letting me read this! I really enjoyed it. You can find out more about Carole and her other books here .
Thank you to Carole Avila for providing me with a free e-arc copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Death House tells the story of Adley and her parents moving into her grandmother's Spanish Manor, also known as Capilla Manor, in the middle of nowhere in New Mexico. Her grandmother recently passed away and Adley's parents decided to spend the Summer there to fix the place up.
Adley soon discovers that there is an unfriendly entity in the house who is persistent in trying to make sure she doesn't live to see her sixteenth birthday. With her parents dismissing her, Adley turns to a boy she meets, Victor, for support. She learns that Victor and his family's ancestors were the original recipients of the curse which backfired onto her family. With Victor and his family's help Adley sets out to destroy the creature and curse that has plagued her family for centuries.
Death House is a really unique spin on the "haunted house" genre. I went into this expecting ghosts, but instead I got a really interesting tale combing Spanish and Gypsy elements. It was refreshing seeing the entity that haunted the house be a monster of sorts instead of just an evil ghost (which you know, I'm also down with - it was just cool to see something different). I loved learning about the history of the curse and how it was originated.
For the first part of this book Adley drove me crazy. She was so incredibly annoying. I started to wonder how much I was going to enjoy this book because she would throw childlike temper tantrums over the simplest of things. However, as the story continues Adley fully acknowledges how difficult she's being and she admits that she wants to stop but doesn't seem to have any control over her moods. Then once you get to the end of the book you understand why Adley has been so irritable and I definitely appreciate how well Carole wrote that into the story. Especially when you stop and think that Adley is only 15 and what she'd been going through.
I also liked that Adley's parents got a voice in this. It's rare that we ever see parents in YA. I wasn't a huge fan of them for most of the book though. They constantly dismissed Adley and acted as though she was being a huge inconvenience. I know telling your parents that a skeleton is trying to kill you isn't the most sanest stories, but it was visibly described in the book how shaken and terrified Adley was by what was happening and her parents just seemed annoyed instead of actually stopping and considering that maybe there was more going on. At the end of the book they do acknowledge their wrongdoings, so that's something.
It was why I didn't mind so much that Adley and Victor's relationship was pretty instalove-y. Taking into consideration that Victor was the only person who Adley had to lean on for support and who believed her it's understandable that she would grow close to him quickly. I actually found myself thinking they were really cute at various points through out the book. I also like that even though they did form a relationship quickly it wasn't "love at first sight". It's rare that I find romances cute - it's why I avoid romantic contemporaries - but I couldn't help but smile at some of their scenes together. Adley became a much happier person when she was around Victor and she definitely deserved that.
I also found Victor's family so incredibly interesting and I wish we had the chance to learn more about them. I also would have liked to known a bit more about the creature and how the portal in Adley's room worked, but that could just be me and my excessive need for history and details.
When Adley and Victor faced the creature to end the curse it was very intense and kept me on the edge of my seat. I don't think I'd ever be able to look a demonic skeleton in the eye that I knew could kill me. So major props to Adley's bravery. She grew up a lot in this book and I actually felt rather proud of her. Almost like she was my little sister. I had times where all I wanted to do was keep her safe and give her the biggest hug - especially when her parents weren't there for her.
The preface for this book was so chillingly creepy, it definitely hooked me in. I read it in be d at night and it talked about things grabbing your feet if they weren't under the blankets and I actually subconsciously drew my knees up to my chest.
Death House was a fast paced read that will make you want to keep turning pages to see what becomes of Adley's fate. I definitely recommend this if you're a horror fan and want a different take on the whole haunted house trope.
Thanks again to Carole for letting me read this! I really enjoyed it. You can find out more about Carole and her other books here .
January 18, 2016
A little horror + a little teenage love = a likeable, scary story
Recommendation: It’s a good read. If you don’t like this book, it’s because you have a monster living under your bed and the story is just too personal. I don’t think there’s anything life-changing in this book, but I liked it okay.
Synopsis:
Adley is in a bad mood. She’s been in a bad mood for about a year. Her bad attitude has driven away her friends and has worn on her parents. And she knows it, but she can’t stop it. She doesn’t even know what’s wrong.
So she’s super happy to hear that she’s being taken the middle of nowhere for vacation. (She’s not. She’s not happy at all.)
When she gets to her grandmother’s mansion, she fights with her parents about which room will be hers. Not long after she sort of wins, she wishes she hadn’t. Her nightmare has begun.
Evaluation:
Are you tired of vampires? Zombies? So am I. Ms. Avila’s monster wasn’t a standard, run-of-the-Hollywood-mill monster and that was refreshing. I was a little confused about where the curse met the neighbor’s evil monster but that didn’t affect the bottom line.
Adley’s character development doesn’t seem to be in her control. She’s had a bad attitude for unknown reasons (we find out later what those reasons are) and she begins to pull out of her funk for unknown reasons (and we find out later what those reasons are). In truth, it’s pretty obvious to the reader what’s affecting Adley in both of those circumstances, but it doesn’t change that fact that Adley isn’t exactly choosing to be better for the sake of being better. So her character hasn’t really changed over the course of the book. Instead, the world around her changes such that she’s allowed to be herself again.
Though I was never afraid to go to sleep at night after reading this book, it is a totally decent read and I liked it.
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher through Reading Alley in exchange for an honest review.
Recommendation: It’s a good read. If you don’t like this book, it’s because you have a monster living under your bed and the story is just too personal. I don’t think there’s anything life-changing in this book, but I liked it okay.
Synopsis:
Adley is in a bad mood. She’s been in a bad mood for about a year. Her bad attitude has driven away her friends and has worn on her parents. And she knows it, but she can’t stop it. She doesn’t even know what’s wrong.
So she’s super happy to hear that she’s being taken the middle of nowhere for vacation. (She’s not. She’s not happy at all.)
When she gets to her grandmother’s mansion, she fights with her parents about which room will be hers. Not long after she sort of wins, she wishes she hadn’t. Her nightmare has begun.
Evaluation:
Are you tired of vampires? Zombies? So am I. Ms. Avila’s monster wasn’t a standard, run-of-the-Hollywood-mill monster and that was refreshing. I was a little confused about where the curse met the neighbor’s evil monster but that didn’t affect the bottom line.
Adley’s character development doesn’t seem to be in her control. She’s had a bad attitude for unknown reasons (we find out later what those reasons are) and she begins to pull out of her funk for unknown reasons (and we find out later what those reasons are). In truth, it’s pretty obvious to the reader what’s affecting Adley in both of those circumstances, but it doesn’t change that fact that Adley isn’t exactly choosing to be better for the sake of being better. So her character hasn’t really changed over the course of the book. Instead, the world around her changes such that she’s allowed to be herself again.
Though I was never afraid to go to sleep at night after reading this book, it is a totally decent read and I liked it.
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher through Reading Alley in exchange for an honest review.
June 30, 2015
Interesting and creepy tale
In order to explain my review, I have to break the story up in halves. The first half of the book I couldn't relate to Adley (Deedee) at all. I saw no redeeming qualities. She came across as bratty, spoiled and rude. There were times when her decision making had me scratching my head and I questioned reading further. I can't say more without spoilers.
The second half of the story was much more entertaining. Some of the character flaws in Adley were resolved. I understood the reasons behind her behavior. The pacing picked up considerably and so did my interest. Secondary characters were introduced and added to the depth of the story. I especially liked the relationship between Victor and Adley. The author did a wonderful job with the back story of the curse and I found it fascinating. The final confrontation with the demon was great. I loved the way the story ended. It wasn't a cliffhanger but a hint that the story might continue.
Review copy provided via Reading Alley in exchange for an honest review.
In order to explain my review, I have to break the story up in halves. The first half of the book I couldn't relate to Adley (Deedee) at all. I saw no redeeming qualities. She came across as bratty, spoiled and rude. There were times when her decision making had me scratching my head and I questioned reading further. I can't say more without spoilers.
The second half of the story was much more entertaining. Some of the character flaws in Adley were resolved. I understood the reasons behind her behavior. The pacing picked up considerably and so did my interest. Secondary characters were introduced and added to the depth of the story. I especially liked the relationship between Victor and Adley. The author did a wonderful job with the back story of the curse and I found it fascinating. The final confrontation with the demon was great. I loved the way the story ended. It wasn't a cliffhanger but a hint that the story might continue.
Review copy provided via Reading Alley in exchange for an honest review.
Want to read
November 29, 2017just got it not read yet :)
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