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The Houses of Penance #1
The House of Twelve
Twelve strangers wake up in a strange house with no memory of how they got there, and barely any recollection of who they are. They quickly learn that there is no way out, scarcely enough food and water to go around, and eerie music plays constantly in the background of every room. There is nothing to explain their mysterious incarceration except for a few scattered clues, a strange clock with twenty-four numbers and one single hour hand, and a leather-bound sheet of rules that makes their situation all the more fatal.
The House Rules:
Rule one: No escape. You can’t leave, plain and simple. Try to escape and you won’t like what you find on the other side.
Rule two: Make what you have last. Whatever food and water you currently find in the house is all that you will be provided with during your stay. No more will be given to you under any circumstance.
Rule three: When the music stops, someone must die. The music you can all hear in the background will cease between the hour of twenty-three and twenty-four; when this happens someone must die. Failure to comply with this rule will result in everyone’s death.
Rule four: Only one, and only when the music stops! One death, and only one death, must occur in the allotted time between the hour of twenty-three and twenty-four. Again, failure to comply with this rule will result in everyone’s death.
We hope you have a pleasant stay, and don’t forget: Redemption is the key to escape.
The House Rules:
Rule one: No escape. You can’t leave, plain and simple. Try to escape and you won’t like what you find on the other side.
Rule two: Make what you have last. Whatever food and water you currently find in the house is all that you will be provided with during your stay. No more will be given to you under any circumstance.
Rule three: When the music stops, someone must die. The music you can all hear in the background will cease between the hour of twenty-three and twenty-four; when this happens someone must die. Failure to comply with this rule will result in everyone’s death.
Rule four: Only one, and only when the music stops! One death, and only one death, must occur in the allotted time between the hour of twenty-three and twenty-four. Again, failure to comply with this rule will result in everyone’s death.
We hope you have a pleasant stay, and don’t forget: Redemption is the key to escape.
146 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 27, 2016
109 people are currently reading
856 people want to read
About the author
Sean Davies
17 books53 followersSean Davies lives in the Essex countryside with his wife, three sons, and their two crazy cats.
He works in IT by day, and writes whenever he gets the chance – usually at night once the kids are in bed.
If he has any spare time between working and writing, he enjoys playing computer games, painting miniatures and drawing.
He works in IT by day, and writes whenever he gets the chance – usually at night once the kids are in bed.
If he has any spare time between working and writing, he enjoys playing computer games, painting miniatures and drawing.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 305 reviews
May 16, 2019
An interesting read, where 12 strangers wake up in a bricked up house with no memory of who they are beyond their names and no way of escaping. The "House Rules" state that one of them, and only one, must die each night between the hours of 11 and midnight. As the days go by alliances form and those remaining feel more and more terror as they wonder who, or what is out to get them. I quickly read this book in one sitting, suspecting this person, then that one, but gee was I wrong. Well worth the read.
December 15, 2018
I love the premise....
a group of strangers wake-up in a secret location, with no idea how they got there or why and they have to dance to the tune of their unknown kidnapper or suffer the consequences...
But unfortunately the writing is sub-par. I didn't think the paranormal aspect was fully developed either and because of that I felt like it detracted from the story, more then helped it.
Still a fun story though and has a lot of potential. A really good editor could take this three star story and turn it into a five star favorite!
a group of strangers wake-up in a secret location, with no idea how they got there or why and they have to dance to the tune of their unknown kidnapper or suffer the consequences...
But unfortunately the writing is sub-par. I didn't think the paranormal aspect was fully developed either and because of that I felt like it detracted from the story, more then helped it.
Still a fun story though and has a lot of potential. A really good editor could take this three star story and turn it into a five star favorite!
November 19, 2018
*I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author via Voracious Readers Only*
I went into this book with the expectations of writing a review which seems to have caused me to read it from an editorial perspective instead of a general reader one. Unfortunately, that made me more critical than usual.
Synopsis: Twelve people, of varying personalities, awaken in a house with no obvious exits. They are presented with a list of rules to be followed for the duration of their stay:
Welcome to the House of Twelve...Remember Redemption is the key to escape.
Rule one: No escape.
Rule two: Make what you have last (supplies).
Rule three: When the music stops, someone must die. Suicides are acceptable. Failure to comply...will result in everyone's death.
Rule four: Only one, and only when the music stops. Deaths from accidents, injury, dehydration, etc. count towards this rule.
Review:
*The plot is compelling. You go in with very little information because the characters have nearly no memories. Why did the keepers of the house choose these people, specifically? How does one become redeemed, and from what should they be seeking redemption? As the story progresses, more questions arise. Some are answered, and some are not.
*Why did no one question
*Readers learn mostly about Sarah, as she is as close to a main character as the story allows. A big issue I had is that it wasn't always told from Sarah's point of view. Periodically, readers are given a sentence or two in thought form from different characters. It was confusing and unnecessary.
*The setting is detailed beautifully. I could picture the house and its contents easily.
*The characters, however, began blank and ended that way, for me. This is a short story, so there wasn't a lot of time to get to know the people in the house. Also, there are 12 people all introduced at once, and there are several deaths. I felt no connection to any of the characters, so I didn't care what happened to them. That took a lot away for me.
*By the time I made it to the end, everything was predictable. Normally I would consider that a bad thing, but not here. It ended exactly how I wanted it to end. I enjoyed what happened and need nothing else for it. Some questions will never be answered, but I don't think any are worth being stressed.
I went into this book with the expectations of writing a review which seems to have caused me to read it from an editorial perspective instead of a general reader one. Unfortunately, that made me more critical than usual.
Synopsis: Twelve people, of varying personalities, awaken in a house with no obvious exits. They are presented with a list of rules to be followed for the duration of their stay:
Welcome to the House of Twelve...Remember Redemption is the key to escape.
Rule one: No escape.
Rule two: Make what you have last (supplies).
Rule three: When the music stops, someone must die. Suicides are acceptable. Failure to comply...will result in everyone's death.
Rule four: Only one, and only when the music stops. Deaths from accidents, injury, dehydration, etc. count towards this rule.
Review:
*The plot is compelling. You go in with very little information because the characters have nearly no memories. Why did the keepers of the house choose these people, specifically? How does one become redeemed, and from what should they be seeking redemption? As the story progresses, more questions arise. Some are answered, and some are not.
*Why did no one question
*Readers learn mostly about Sarah, as she is as close to a main character as the story allows. A big issue I had is that it wasn't always told from Sarah's point of view. Periodically, readers are given a sentence or two in thought form from different characters. It was confusing and unnecessary.
*The setting is detailed beautifully. I could picture the house and its contents easily.
*The characters, however, began blank and ended that way, for me. This is a short story, so there wasn't a lot of time to get to know the people in the house. Also, there are 12 people all introduced at once, and there are several deaths. I felt no connection to any of the characters, so I didn't care what happened to them. That took a lot away for me.
*By the time I made it to the end, everything was predictable. Normally I would consider that a bad thing, but not here. It ended exactly how I wanted it to end. I enjoyed what happened and need nothing else for it. Some questions will never be answered, but I don't think any are worth being stressed.
January 27, 2021
The idea behind this book is stellar. People wake up in a house, rules saying they can't leave and must kill one person a day around midnight when the music stops.
I kinda got the same feel for this book as some b class movie I've seen before, and people being kidnapped and forced to play musical chairs at some dudes bday party. If I recall correctly,once the music stopped, whoever wasn't seated was killed. I wish I could remember the name of the movie.
Anyways, this book is a lot to take in..you're introduced to 12 people within the first few pages. 12 characters over 160 pages, so I wasn't shocked when we never got to really know any of them.
The book was fine, but the ending left me with too many questions. I get it that it's the first in a series, so maybe the next book answers those questions.
Anyways, I had an email about this book from voracious readers and I may or may not have requested a free copy. But then realized I already had it in my Kindle from a year ago or so (ish).. That's how backed up I am on my reading
I kinda got the same feel for this book as some b class movie I've seen before, and people being kidnapped and forced to play musical chairs at some dudes bday party. If I recall correctly,once the music stopped, whoever wasn't seated was killed. I wish I could remember the name of the movie.
Anyways, this book is a lot to take in..you're introduced to 12 people within the first few pages. 12 characters over 160 pages, so I wasn't shocked when we never got to really know any of them.
The book was fine, but the ending left me with too many questions. I get it that it's the first in a series, so maybe the next book answers those questions.
Anyways, I had an email about this book from voracious readers and I may or may not have requested a free copy. But then realized I already had it in my Kindle from a year ago or so (ish).. That's how backed up I am on my reading
September 4, 2020
This was such an awesome premise but the execution just didn't do it for me. Was really looking forward to this as well but it was disappointing.
April 14, 2020
I was drawn in immediately by the storyline!!
You start by meeting the 12 occupants of the house and from the you endure the time the spent in captivity with them.
Emotional, heart racing and a fantastic read that I would easily recommend!
You start by meeting the 12 occupants of the house and from the you endure the time the spent in captivity with them.
Emotional, heart racing and a fantastic read that I would easily recommend!
January 20, 2019
The House of Twelve by Sean Davies will deceive the reader many times. The idea seems familiar. Twelve people wake up in a house but can’t remember how they got there. They don’t know each other and can’t figure out a connection that will tie them together. It is almost as if they had been drugged, kidnapped, and imprisoned in one house. That they were imprisoned is obvious from many indicators. Doors are steel, reinforced, and locked. Where there should be windows, the glass has been replaced by thick constructions of brick. And on a coffee table in the living room, there is a document with House Rules. The first one says they will never be allowed to escape, the second rations the food and water, and the third relates to their imminent deaths. There is constant background music; think elevator music. Each evening at 2300 the music will stop, and one person must die. The victim can die by suicide or be killed by others. If no selection or volunteer happens before 2400, gas will kill all of them.
But there is a chance for escape, and it is contained in one sentence. “Redemption is the key to escape.” (Kindle Locations 147-148). This sentence will appear in many chapters of the book. Chapters are labeled Day 1, Day 2, and so on up to Day Twelve. There are twelve people trapped in the house. By Chapter Two, if not before, it should be apparent to the reader that all inhabitants have a fatal flaw. They have done something in their past lives and the only escape from the house will be to admit their wrongdoings and receive redemption. To aid them in this, some entity, perhaps the house and perhaps their own locked memories, fuel their dreams each night. The victims can revisit elements of transgressions that sentenced them to the house. But only if there is some admission of guilt will an entire crime or bad action be revealed. And even after that, the resident must accept that past actions were wrongful.
While the twelve are going through their dreams there is the pesky requirement that one person must die each day. Some residents will deal with this by drinking the helpfully provided alcohol. Some will seek solitude in one of the various rooms available in the house. Some will hook up for sex. And some will actively seek a means of escape. All will puzzle over how they can get redemption.
Obviously, the story is character driven. In the beginning, the reader will have to face twelve characters, each with at least a limited backstory and this can be annoying. But just like there is an ever-increasing supply of food and drink in the house as the population dwindles, the reader’s headache over remembering character will subside as the number of residents becomes fewer.
There are several clues as to how the novel will end about midway through the novel. But none is as important as the one given in the House Rules and presented in Day One. Mystery fans should appreciate the fun in interpreting the phrase correctly before the resident prisoners if even the prisoners are able to do so. This is a four plus Amazon star rating. I was alerted to the novel by Voracious Readers Only and could have gotten a free copy for review from the author. I thought it was good enough to buy from Amazon at USD 0.99. I will read more from this author.
But there is a chance for escape, and it is contained in one sentence. “Redemption is the key to escape.” (Kindle Locations 147-148). This sentence will appear in many chapters of the book. Chapters are labeled Day 1, Day 2, and so on up to Day Twelve. There are twelve people trapped in the house. By Chapter Two, if not before, it should be apparent to the reader that all inhabitants have a fatal flaw. They have done something in their past lives and the only escape from the house will be to admit their wrongdoings and receive redemption. To aid them in this, some entity, perhaps the house and perhaps their own locked memories, fuel their dreams each night. The victims can revisit elements of transgressions that sentenced them to the house. But only if there is some admission of guilt will an entire crime or bad action be revealed. And even after that, the resident must accept that past actions were wrongful.
While the twelve are going through their dreams there is the pesky requirement that one person must die each day. Some residents will deal with this by drinking the helpfully provided alcohol. Some will seek solitude in one of the various rooms available in the house. Some will hook up for sex. And some will actively seek a means of escape. All will puzzle over how they can get redemption.
Obviously, the story is character driven. In the beginning, the reader will have to face twelve characters, each with at least a limited backstory and this can be annoying. But just like there is an ever-increasing supply of food and drink in the house as the population dwindles, the reader’s headache over remembering character will subside as the number of residents becomes fewer.
There are several clues as to how the novel will end about midway through the novel. But none is as important as the one given in the House Rules and presented in Day One. Mystery fans should appreciate the fun in interpreting the phrase correctly before the resident prisoners if even the prisoners are able to do so. This is a four plus Amazon star rating. I was alerted to the novel by Voracious Readers Only and could have gotten a free copy for review from the author. I thought it was good enough to buy from Amazon at USD 0.99. I will read more from this author.
June 18, 2019
I just wanted to say a quick thank you to Sean Davies for allowing me to get a complimentary copy of this book on Voracious readers. With this being said, these are my 100% honest and true thoughts on the book. This was an enjoyable read and I found myself easily breezing through it whenever I had the chance. This book seemed to be full of cliches that somehow the author seemed to make original in his own way. I had predicted the twist and I was glad I was right! All of my questions seemed to be answered. This book was quite an enjoyable read and I highly recommend it!
September 3, 2020
This was a lot of fun to read. Great job by the writer, I enjoyed it!! It was certainly entertaining and a little crazy that’s for sure because some disturbing things went on in the story, but it made it unputdownable. I think the book had a sort of Agatha Christie feel to it, but a storyline completely of it’s own, it was so unique and really clever. The ending, excellent!! I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author via voracious readers only and really enjoyed this fun read. I look forward to reading book #2 😊
February 7, 2019
This book had me on my toes the whole way through. It was creepy and interesting and once I got hooked it was hard to stop.
December 27, 2022
This is the first book in the series and wow what a book it is! When twelve strangers wake up in a house together with no way out they must figure out a way to beat the house , there are four rules they must obey, they cannot leave , they must make what little food and drink they have last , if the music stops one person must die and the last rule is if more than one person dies between 23rd and 24th hour then everyone will die.
This book had me completely and totally hooked on it , it drew me in and kept me the whole way through the book. You know its a good book when your mind keeps wandering back to it when you're alway from it! Brilliant setting, characters and a gripping storyline!
This book had me completely and totally hooked on it , it drew me in and kept me the whole way through the book. You know its a good book when your mind keeps wandering back to it when you're alway from it! Brilliant setting, characters and a gripping storyline!
May 2, 2018
This was a fast and very interesting book. It has a lot packed into it and it holds your attention very well. There is always something going on. I didn't see the ending coming like it did. Twelve people trapped in a house, no way out, and a set of strict rules.
August 30, 2018
Enjoyed this book. I read it in one evening. Kept me interested and was a page turner with a twist at the end. Did remind me somewhat of the "Saw" movies, but a lot less gore.
January 27, 2020
I received a copy of "The House of Twelve" from Veracious Readers in exchange for an honest review, and I can honestly say that, I loved this book.
The story starts when twelve strangers wake up prisoned in a brick house with no way out. All of the windows and doors are boarded up with bricks, and they have limited food and drink rations to last only twelve days. The objective of the house, is to follow the house rules which state that the only way out of the house is by death (at the hands of another house member and suicide are both acceptable options) or death with redemption. To achieve redemption the houseguests must accept the mistakes of their past.
As the twelve houseguests delve deeper into what is happening with them, they all discover they each have dark secrets and trouble pasts. As a result they all start to turn on each other in an attempt to save themselves. Some alliances are formed and some relationships are built; but when death is on the line, anything is possible.
"The House of Twelve" was a thrilling fast paced read that kept me intrigued from start to finish and it even offered some surprising twists, so be prepared to expect the unexpected. This book is a must read for those who enjoy horror and Thrillers. "The House of Twelve" is written by Sean Davies, and he has also written "Dreamleaf Blues", "Gloom Rising" and "Reality Falling". He lives in the Essex countryside with his wife and three children. He works in IT and enjoys writing, drawing, painting miniatures, and playing video games.
The story starts when twelve strangers wake up prisoned in a brick house with no way out. All of the windows and doors are boarded up with bricks, and they have limited food and drink rations to last only twelve days. The objective of the house, is to follow the house rules which state that the only way out of the house is by death (at the hands of another house member and suicide are both acceptable options) or death with redemption. To achieve redemption the houseguests must accept the mistakes of their past.
As the twelve houseguests delve deeper into what is happening with them, they all discover they each have dark secrets and trouble pasts. As a result they all start to turn on each other in an attempt to save themselves. Some alliances are formed and some relationships are built; but when death is on the line, anything is possible.
"The House of Twelve" was a thrilling fast paced read that kept me intrigued from start to finish and it even offered some surprising twists, so be prepared to expect the unexpected. This book is a must read for those who enjoy horror and Thrillers. "The House of Twelve" is written by Sean Davies, and he has also written "Dreamleaf Blues", "Gloom Rising" and "Reality Falling". He lives in the Essex countryside with his wife and three children. He works in IT and enjoys writing, drawing, painting miniatures, and playing video games.
February 1, 2020
*I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author via Voracious Readers Only*
This was a very entertaining story. I couldn't put it down and stayed up late to read the entire thing.
It has paranormal elements, which I like, but I didn't find it scary. Just mysterious with some suspense. And it got pretty disturbing at times (which I like too).
Twelve people wake up in a house with very few memories of their lives. All of the exits are bricked up, and the only clue on getting out is a set of mysterious and disturbing house rules. Things aren't as they seem, and each day the house creates more and more madness for its occupants. I feel like if I say anything else about the story I'll give too much away!
This book is perfect for a fun, shorter read and I recommend it.
This was a very entertaining story. I couldn't put it down and stayed up late to read the entire thing.
It has paranormal elements, which I like, but I didn't find it scary. Just mysterious with some suspense. And it got pretty disturbing at times (which I like too).
Twelve people wake up in a house with very few memories of their lives. All of the exits are bricked up, and the only clue on getting out is a set of mysterious and disturbing house rules. Things aren't as they seem, and each day the house creates more and more madness for its occupants. I feel like if I say anything else about the story I'll give too much away!
This book is perfect for a fun, shorter read and I recommend it.
January 31, 2021
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author via Voracious Readers Only in exchange for an honest review.
What a fantastic story, and different. I like different. The twist at the end was great too!
The description of the house was on point, I could envision it in my mind. I was worried about there being so many characters and not remembering who they were but the description of the characters along with their different personalities really helped with this.
I would recommend this book and look forward to reading the next installments.
What a fantastic story, and different. I like different. The twist at the end was great too!
The description of the house was on point, I could envision it in my mind. I was worried about there being so many characters and not remembering who they were but the description of the characters along with their different personalities really helped with this.
I would recommend this book and look forward to reading the next installments.
April 16, 2020
“The House of Twelve” is a quick read, fun read. I started it thinking it was going to be a horror story but felt it was more suspense than gore. The way the story is written makes you feel like one of the characters because no one knows what’s happening and you get to go on that ride with them. I also found the story appealing since I read it during the Covid-19 quarantine. You’ll understand when you read it. I will definitely look into other books by this author.
May 1, 2019
An entertaining short read, the locked room scenario is given a fresh look in this book. The action moves fast though and I wish the characters are given more time to show who they are. The writing is simple but the story has plenty of surprises, especially towards the end. For a horror story, there is enough to creep me out and left me wanting more.
I received a complimentary copy of this book by the author via Voracious Readers Only in exchange for an honest review.
book blog | twitter | instagram
I received a complimentary copy of this book by the author via Voracious Readers Only in exchange for an honest review.
book blog | twitter | instagram
February 4, 2020
Love love love this book! It was short but such a good read. The twist ending was a great way to finish. I don't usually read murder mystery type books, but I'm glad I decided to read this one. I will definitely be recommending it to others!
I received this book from Voracious Readers Only.
I received this book from Voracious Readers Only.
March 27, 2020
I will be the first to admit I'm not usually one to go for the thriller genre. However, after reading the synopsis I decided to give House of Twelve a shot. I am so glad I did. This book had so many twists and turns it kept you guessing. The writing is so well done and compelling I couldn't put this book down!
If you're looking for a quick and engaging read I would absolutely suggest House of Twelve.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the author via Voracious Readers Only.
If you're looking for a quick and engaging read I would absolutely suggest House of Twelve.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the author via Voracious Readers Only.
September 8, 2018
*I received a free ARC of this book via Voracious Readers Only and with thanks to the author. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*
The blurb for this book hooked me in from the start, and having finished the book I think this is an absolutely brilliant concept for a story.
The execution was a little shaky to begin with, with the author introducing a large cast of characters quite quickly and with what felt like quite stilted dialogue and actions. Therefore it took me a little while to get a feel for them as individuals and at that point the action was already underway.
But what action it was! Once things got going with the plot, the author really hit his stride and the characterisations and interactions became smoother and more natural. There was still something… off… and I was delighted when it became clear that this was deliberate and formed part of the book’s creepy, claustrophobic atmosphere.
The slow, staggered pacing caused by the enforced 24 hour rule added to the stifling claustrophobia as well; keeping the reader on edge in the same way a good horror film does, whilst throwing in the odd jump-shock!
Hints and clues were dripfed into the narrative in just the right amounts and level of detail to allow you to guess along, without giving the lot away, and I was reminded of books and films like And Then There Were None, Shutter Island, Foreverland and Identity by how the characters were forced to doubt the evidence of their senses and eventually their sanity.
Finally, the ending was just as it had to be: not too much detail to ruin the mysterious atmosphere, but enough to provide satisfactory closure and bring us full circle.
This story has already been established as ‘lore’ in my mind! I kept returning to it days after putting it down to ponder both the logistics and the morality and I will definitely be checking out the Book Wielder series by the same author.
Strange images of her family flashed through her mind amongst violent red flashes, and were interrupted only by eerie still pictures of household interiors. Bricked up windows, sealed doors and overwhelming visions of endless darkness flowed into her turbulent dream. Along with them came pleasant yet creepy music, like the type that played in elevators and telephone on-hold tracks, and it droned through her skull relentlessly. As irritating as it was, for some strange reason she feared more than anything that it would end.
– Sean Davies, The House of Twelve
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
The blurb for this book hooked me in from the start, and having finished the book I think this is an absolutely brilliant concept for a story.
The execution was a little shaky to begin with, with the author introducing a large cast of characters quite quickly and with what felt like quite stilted dialogue and actions. Therefore it took me a little while to get a feel for them as individuals and at that point the action was already underway.
But what action it was! Once things got going with the plot, the author really hit his stride and the characterisations and interactions became smoother and more natural. There was still something… off… and I was delighted when it became clear that this was deliberate and formed part of the book’s creepy, claustrophobic atmosphere.
The slow, staggered pacing caused by the enforced 24 hour rule added to the stifling claustrophobia as well; keeping the reader on edge in the same way a good horror film does, whilst throwing in the odd jump-shock!
Hints and clues were dripfed into the narrative in just the right amounts and level of detail to allow you to guess along, without giving the lot away, and I was reminded of books and films like And Then There Were None, Shutter Island, Foreverland and Identity by how the characters were forced to doubt the evidence of their senses and eventually their sanity.
Finally, the ending was just as it had to be: not too much detail to ruin the mysterious atmosphere, but enough to provide satisfactory closure and bring us full circle.
This story has already been established as ‘lore’ in my mind! I kept returning to it days after putting it down to ponder both the logistics and the morality and I will definitely be checking out the Book Wielder series by the same author.
Strange images of her family flashed through her mind amongst violent red flashes, and were interrupted only by eerie still pictures of household interiors. Bricked up windows, sealed doors and overwhelming visions of endless darkness flowed into her turbulent dream. Along with them came pleasant yet creepy music, like the type that played in elevators and telephone on-hold tracks, and it droned through her skull relentlessly. As irritating as it was, for some strange reason she feared more than anything that it would end.
– Sean Davies, The House of Twelve
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
August 16, 2018
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Voracious Readers Only.
I love book premises like this. When I read the synopsis I was excited. I wanted shivers down my spine, goosebumps on my arms, a thumping heart. I wanted to wonder why I'd put myself through such a horrifying, creepy, fucked-up book. That's why I picked it, that's what I signed up for.
I got several pages into the first chapter (or Day One) and realised I wouldn't be getting what I craved. The writing was bad. The author was telling me the story, not showing, and the more I read, the worse things got. The narration was all over the place, the characters lacked depth and even worse none of them seemed to have a single brain cell. Despite being trapped inside a single house for days on end, they didn't fully explore it. Despite following the house rules, they ignored the only clue to their escape even though it was on the same sheet of paper, instead spending their time and energy bashing at a brick wall for days on end. It just didn't make sense.
And, as if that wasn't enough to make them unrelatable, none of them seemed to care that they were trapped in this house. None of them seemed to feel anything at all, honestly, and that was purely due to a lack of showing. Telling the reader that someone is angry is not the same as conveying the emotion.
This book has a lot of issues. If I pointed them all out, it would seem unnecessarily cruel. I'll simply say that this read as though the author accidentally published a rough first draft instead of the finished book.
Good premise, poor execution. Disappointing.
I love book premises like this. When I read the synopsis I was excited. I wanted shivers down my spine, goosebumps on my arms, a thumping heart. I wanted to wonder why I'd put myself through such a horrifying, creepy, fucked-up book. That's why I picked it, that's what I signed up for.
I got several pages into the first chapter (or Day One) and realised I wouldn't be getting what I craved. The writing was bad. The author was telling me the story, not showing, and the more I read, the worse things got. The narration was all over the place, the characters lacked depth and even worse none of them seemed to have a single brain cell. Despite being trapped inside a single house for days on end, they didn't fully explore it. Despite following the house rules, they ignored the only clue to their escape even though it was on the same sheet of paper, instead spending their time and energy bashing at a brick wall for days on end. It just didn't make sense.
And, as if that wasn't enough to make them unrelatable, none of them seemed to care that they were trapped in this house. None of them seemed to feel anything at all, honestly, and that was purely due to a lack of showing. Telling the reader that someone is angry is not the same as conveying the emotion.
This book has a lot of issues. If I pointed them all out, it would seem unnecessarily cruel. I'll simply say that this read as though the author accidentally published a rough first draft instead of the finished book.
Good premise, poor execution. Disappointing.
June 14, 2019
I really enjoyed this novella. Twelve strangers wake up with no memory in a completely fortified house. One of them must dies each night or they will all die. Very Saw like plot, but it was still done in an original manner.
The story read almost how a movie would be watched, which can cause some confusion when you get random snippets of thoughts and feelings from other characters besides the main character, Sarah. I liked this structure though because it kept me ingrained in the story. There was not much character development, but that can be expected in a book where everyone’s background is a mystery, even to them.
The ending was satisfying, though writing about it would be a spoiler and I hate writing spoilers in reviews.
All in all a good story and I am looking forward to reading more from this author.
**I received this novella for free from Voracious Readers, but it in now was influenced my review.**
The story read almost how a movie would be watched, which can cause some confusion when you get random snippets of thoughts and feelings from other characters besides the main character, Sarah. I liked this structure though because it kept me ingrained in the story. There was not much character development, but that can be expected in a book where everyone’s background is a mystery, even to them.
The ending was satisfying, though writing about it would be a spoiler and I hate writing spoilers in reviews.
All in all a good story and I am looking forward to reading more from this author.
**I received this novella for free from Voracious Readers, but it in now was influenced my review.**
September 19, 2018
The cover draws you in and made me want to read this book before reading the description.
The characters were well thought out with a good mix of likeable and hated ones .
I don’t want to give too much away but the story reminded me of the tv show lost only set in a house .......
I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it.
Thank you to Voracious Readers Only for giving me the opportunity to read this book via the author in exchange for my honest review ..
June 25, 2019
Interesting but at the same time, a bit cliche, especially with the horror genre movies that resemble this book a bit too much. But still, it gives a good read
November 13, 2018
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author via Voracious Readers Only.
This book drew me in from the beginning. You want to know why these people are gathered together in this nightmare. You find out in short spurts that it is no accident that they are the ones "selected." I would recommend this to anyone looking for a good psychological story that can be read in one sitting.
This book drew me in from the beginning. You want to know why these people are gathered together in this nightmare. You find out in short spurts that it is no accident that they are the ones "selected." I would recommend this to anyone looking for a good psychological story that can be read in one sitting.
February 2, 2020
Scary
12 strangers wake up in a house with no way out. ..are they in heaven or hell.......only the strange clock will tell who lasts the test of time.
12 strangers wake up in a house with no way out. ..are they in heaven or hell.......only the strange clock will tell who lasts the test of time.
August 6, 2019
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author via Voracious Readers Only. The plot drew me in immediately, as I am a fan of supernatural mysteries. 12 strangers wake up in a house with no memory of their lives and have to figure out how to escape. At first, they believe it to be the work of a psychopath, some evil genius who had locked them inside. They have to kill one person every night between 11 and 12. But as the days progress, and they discover more and more that they just can't explain, their suspicions turn towards a supernatural explanation. They obviously grow very paranoid and break off into alliances, in fear of being the person chosen to be killed that night. The main character is unlikable, but that's kind of the point as we find out later. It's great getting to know the other characters, they all have really distinct personalities and offset each other well. Overall I enjoyed the characters and the plot, the mystery was intriguing but that being said, I did pretty easily guess what the big end reveal would be pretty early on. Now to the spoilers....
Our main character, her love interest/closest friend in the house, the brute, and the crazy guy have made it to the final four. Now, the brute is killed off soon after but in a cool fight scene that I enjoyed, but he's not relevant to the ending. The crazy but not really crazy guy figures out the secret to escaping, killing yourself. And also basically admitting all your sins because dun dun dun.... They're all in Hell! Now our main character is the last one left, still convinced she'll chip her way through the wall or miraculously find an open window to crawl out of, and is too stubborn to kill herself or admit any wrongdoing. As she discovers at the end, little by little, she's actually a terrible person. Who is so terrible because she's been done wrong by everyone in her life, but whatever she's dead and in Hell because she's the worst and, even after figuring it all out, still won't admit she did anything wrong. So poof! She awakes in another house with 11 more strangers and no memory once again, probably for the umpteenth time, as it's insinuated she will probably never admit any of her sins and be destined to repeat the same bloody cycle over and over again. Sounds like Hell to me. Now, as I said before, I did suspect she was in some kind of Hell reliving the same scenario over and over again about halfway through the book, which isn't super long. But this didnt deter my reading. If a little mundane at times, the characters made up for it. We get to learn about them and their sins, and the house plays delightful little evil tricks that I found very entertaining. This was a story I was content to read knowing there was no happy ending. I only wish it was longer and more in depth. Other than that, I loved it! Give it a read, you won't be disappointed.
Our main character, her love interest/closest friend in the house, the brute, and the crazy guy have made it to the final four. Now, the brute is killed off soon after but in a cool fight scene that I enjoyed, but he's not relevant to the ending. The crazy but not really crazy guy figures out the secret to escaping, killing yourself. And also basically admitting all your sins because dun dun dun.... They're all in Hell! Now our main character is the last one left, still convinced she'll chip her way through the wall or miraculously find an open window to crawl out of, and is too stubborn to kill herself or admit any wrongdoing. As she discovers at the end, little by little, she's actually a terrible person. Who is so terrible because she's been done wrong by everyone in her life, but whatever she's dead and in Hell because she's the worst and, even after figuring it all out, still won't admit she did anything wrong. So poof! She awakes in another house with 11 more strangers and no memory once again, probably for the umpteenth time, as it's insinuated she will probably never admit any of her sins and be destined to repeat the same bloody cycle over and over again. Sounds like Hell to me. Now, as I said before, I did suspect she was in some kind of Hell reliving the same scenario over and over again about halfway through the book, which isn't super long. But this didnt deter my reading. If a little mundane at times, the characters made up for it. We get to learn about them and their sins, and the house plays delightful little evil tricks that I found very entertaining. This was a story I was content to read knowing there was no happy ending. I only wish it was longer and more in depth. Other than that, I loved it! Give it a read, you won't be disappointed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 22, 2021
I'll start out by saying that this novella was a lot of fun. It was a quick, enjoyable read that was pure escapism from the dreariness of the real world. Obviously, considering the subject matter is twelve people stuck inside a house from which there is no means of physical escape, the word 'escapism' might be the wrong choice ... but I'm sticking with it.
Fun though it may be, without it's issues it was not. My main issue with this book was that the characters were pretty much names on a page and little else. They were incredibly two-dimensional and other than their basic 'character class' that each was assigned (one is a brute, another is a womaniser, alcoholic etc ...) there was little of note done to expand upon them. I know that each awoke with amnesia, but even amnesiacs would adapt to a scenario rather than simply accept stuff as readily as these people did and go on about their day as though there wasn't a great deal going on.
I said there was little done to expand upon them and, to a degree that is the flat-out truth. Most of them are barely touched upon because, obviously, when you have so many characters and so few pages, the extra descriptions of their lives is going to go amiss. Plus, with people dying frequently, why bother, eh? When characters were expanded upon, it only really felt like their 'character class' was being fleshed out to show you why they were how they were rather than anything to branch away from the 'I'm this stereotype so I shall act in the way all people of this stereotype will act' mentality.
There were other minor things, but nothing too big that made the book any less fun to read. Don't let the above negativity throw you off, it was very fun.
The concept of this book kind of feels like it would be a good movie or something of the sort. I'm not sure if the author was influenced by horror movies in writing this, but I can feel bits of several films bled into the background. Whether that's a happy accident or not I can't say.
Overall, despite giving this a three, I would recommend it to anyone who just wants some fun escapism and isn't too bothered about depth of character.
Fun though it may be, without it's issues it was not. My main issue with this book was that the characters were pretty much names on a page and little else. They were incredibly two-dimensional and other than their basic 'character class' that each was assigned (one is a brute, another is a womaniser, alcoholic etc ...) there was little of note done to expand upon them. I know that each awoke with amnesia, but even amnesiacs would adapt to a scenario rather than simply accept stuff as readily as these people did and go on about their day as though there wasn't a great deal going on.
I said there was little done to expand upon them and, to a degree that is the flat-out truth. Most of them are barely touched upon because, obviously, when you have so many characters and so few pages, the extra descriptions of their lives is going to go amiss. Plus, with people dying frequently, why bother, eh? When characters were expanded upon, it only really felt like their 'character class' was being fleshed out to show you why they were how they were rather than anything to branch away from the 'I'm this stereotype so I shall act in the way all people of this stereotype will act' mentality.
There were other minor things, but nothing too big that made the book any less fun to read. Don't let the above negativity throw you off, it was very fun.
The concept of this book kind of feels like it would be a good movie or something of the sort. I'm not sure if the author was influenced by horror movies in writing this, but I can feel bits of several films bled into the background. Whether that's a happy accident or not I can't say.
Overall, despite giving this a three, I would recommend it to anyone who just wants some fun escapism and isn't too bothered about depth of character.
September 15, 2019
The House of Twelve is a paranormal/psychological horror story and does not hold back on the mental games or the physical gore.
Twelve strangers wake up in a house together with no idea how they got there, where they are or who the other people are. All they have is a set of house rules, which is not very long. Seems simple, right? You have no more supplies than are in the house—ok then. Your numbers have to be reduced by one (no more and no less) by a certain time each day or everyone dies—surely they can’t be serious? And redemption is the only key to escape! This has to be a joke...
The author feeds you titbits about each character and as you grow to like one something crops up and you change your mind. It’s an interesting dilemma to put out there—exactly how far is a person willing to go to save their life? As the bodies start piling up and the personalities come out you realise that there is a thread that binds them all together, but just when you think you have it figured out, you find you are wrong. Some of the more supernatural elements like the clock and the walls seemed strange, but I guess in the big scheme they make sense. The answer to escape is right there but it’s funny how so many will not accept it.
I started wondering if the plot was echoing Identity or Saw and then decided it was more like the ending to the Dark Tower series. The writing is engaging if a little rushed and it’s a quick read. The problem with it being a quick read and that bodies do pile up, is that you don’t really get to know any of the characters well and some of the questions surrounding the house and characters never get answered.
It’s a great idea for a story but could use a bit of work on the execution by allowing the reader to engage more with the characters and not rush through their stories. Thanks to Voracious Readers Only and the author for a copy of the book.
Twelve strangers wake up in a house together with no idea how they got there, where they are or who the other people are. All they have is a set of house rules, which is not very long. Seems simple, right? You have no more supplies than are in the house—ok then. Your numbers have to be reduced by one (no more and no less) by a certain time each day or everyone dies—surely they can’t be serious? And redemption is the only key to escape! This has to be a joke...
The author feeds you titbits about each character and as you grow to like one something crops up and you change your mind. It’s an interesting dilemma to put out there—exactly how far is a person willing to go to save their life? As the bodies start piling up and the personalities come out you realise that there is a thread that binds them all together, but just when you think you have it figured out, you find you are wrong. Some of the more supernatural elements like the clock and the walls seemed strange, but I guess in the big scheme they make sense. The answer to escape is right there but it’s funny how so many will not accept it.
I started wondering if the plot was echoing Identity or Saw and then decided it was more like the ending to the Dark Tower series. The writing is engaging if a little rushed and it’s a quick read. The problem with it being a quick read and that bodies do pile up, is that you don’t really get to know any of the characters well and some of the questions surrounding the house and characters never get answered.
It’s a great idea for a story but could use a bit of work on the execution by allowing the reader to engage more with the characters and not rush through their stories. Thanks to Voracious Readers Only and the author for a copy of the book.
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