What do you think?
Rate this book
Whitby After Dark
Lenore Lee wants nothing more than to make new friends in her new town of Whitby, Yorkshire, and to forget about the disturbing dreams that hold her captive at night. But what she discovers in Whitby, might be even more disturbing than the dreams. Dreams which may hold the key to her survival in the hidden world of the Supernatural...
'Whitby After Dark' - Golden Book Reader's Choice Semifinalist Award in Horror 2017 (Golden Box Books Publishing).
'Whitby After Dark' - Golden Book Reader's Choice Semifinalist Award in Horror 2017 (Golden Box Books Publishing).
68 pages, Paperback
First published April 15, 2013
3 people are currently reading
614 people want to read
About the author
Stella Coulson
6 books49 followersAuthor of Whitby After Dark. I love writing both stories and poetry. Currently working a fantasy/paranormal novel. I've been told on more than one occasion that I am weird (thank you very much) which I don't mind being, now that I'm grown up. I've given up long ago what people think of me.
I am a big reader - I adore books, painting, writing, poetry and cinema. I adore Steampunk & Dieselpunk. I prefer Tesla to Edison.
Awards...
'Whitby After Dark' - Golden Book Reader's Choice Semifinalist Award in Horror 2017 (Golden Box Books Publishing).
Fantastical thoughts...
If eternal life ever was possible and came into fruition, I'd spend it learning all I could and watching the world evolve, technology expand and possibly seeing mankind colonize on other worlds. I would see as much of the world as I could and learn new languages, skills and abilities. Would only accept such a gift though if I could share it with someone - For I'd rather live a short life having loved than a eternity without it.
My Philosophy...
I believe happiness depend on those we help and who we bring into our lives, than material superficial gain (for that is fleeting). I adore animals, particularly cats and dogs.
To learn from others to move forward and (try lol) not wallow in self indulgent pity. I aspire to be a better person and the friends I have help me be who I am each and every day.
I adore many types of music from industrial, metal, rock, blues, orchestral to musicals. Some of my favorite musicals being Phantom of the Opera and Dr Horrible's Sing-Along Blog.
I am a big reader - I adore books, painting, writing, poetry and cinema. I adore Steampunk & Dieselpunk. I prefer Tesla to Edison.
Awards...
'Whitby After Dark' - Golden Book Reader's Choice Semifinalist Award in Horror 2017 (Golden Box Books Publishing).
Fantastical thoughts...
If eternal life ever was possible and came into fruition, I'd spend it learning all I could and watching the world evolve, technology expand and possibly seeing mankind colonize on other worlds. I would see as much of the world as I could and learn new languages, skills and abilities. Would only accept such a gift though if I could share it with someone - For I'd rather live a short life having loved than a eternity without it.
My Philosophy...
I believe happiness depend on those we help and who we bring into our lives, than material superficial gain (for that is fleeting). I adore animals, particularly cats and dogs.
To learn from others to move forward and (try lol) not wallow in self indulgent pity. I aspire to be a better person and the friends I have help me be who I am each and every day.
I adore many types of music from industrial, metal, rock, blues, orchestral to musicals. Some of my favorite musicals being Phantom of the Opera and Dr Horrible's Sing-Along Blog.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
December 3, 2014
Lenore and her family move to Whitby (Famous from Dracula). There she immediately befriends brothers in her school. But she has dreams of murders and finds them coming true. This leads her into a world of demons, vampires, witches and other legendary beings.
This book had a lot of elements I liked. The characters were interesting and believable. But the story needed fleshed out more.
And now for the part I found most difficult - the book needed serious editing. Allot instead of A lot, There instead of Their etc... It was distracting from my enjoyment of the story. But those things are fixable and hopefully if there is a 2nd part, I will enjoy it more
This book had a lot of elements I liked. The characters were interesting and believable. But the story needed fleshed out more.
And now for the part I found most difficult - the book needed serious editing. Allot instead of A lot, There instead of Their etc... It was distracting from my enjoyment of the story. But those things are fixable and hopefully if there is a 2nd part, I will enjoy it more
December 28, 2013
Read this Whitby After Dark - A Vampire Novella & Dark Poetryback when it was first on wattpad. Glad it's in print now on lulu.com. I am really looking forward to part 2 of Whitby After Dark series. I really wish the first one wasn't so short because I really like this book. The premise of Vampires, shifters etc is not new, but the use of them here is. Each creature has it's own unique mythology and they are thrown into a very believable world. At first I was expected yet another teen/ya urban fantasy vamp novel, but it's like-able heroine Lenore guides us through a enticing world of suspense and fantasy. A great effort by the author Stella Coulson
June 6, 2017
Whitby After Dark is a tale of abuse and a girl who sees ghosts, or are they something else?
There is a dark mystery in Whitby and at her new school Lenore begins to rub shoulders with supernatural beings. She takes this in her stride, perhaps because she has bigger problems than vampires. Yet as the vampires work with her she finds that her bigger problems are very closely connected to a killer they’ve been pursuing. It’s a simple plot with thin characters, but it is also supernatural and full of creatures with amazing talents. I’d liken it to a prose superhero book for young adults.
There are some annoying errors, especially in the early chapters, but nothing a good edit wouldn’t fix and they are possible to ignore. What is delightful is the engaging use of slang that really bring the narrator to life, and references to geek culture abound.
As is often the way in life, in Whitby After Dark, one abusive relationship leads to another and in a scene reminiscent of Twilight we have a vampire and a wolf fighting for the soul of our heroine. As with Twilight, Lenore seems to bond with her abuser and it feels like love. I have to admit to some serious discomfort with regards to this relationship.
There’s a collection of Gothic poetry by the author at the end of the book. All in all it feels like a story written by a young author with promise. If you love simple supernatural stories then it’s worth checking out. It feels like an origin story for Lenora, who might become a future Willow Rosenberg.
There is a dark mystery in Whitby and at her new school Lenore begins to rub shoulders with supernatural beings. She takes this in her stride, perhaps because she has bigger problems than vampires. Yet as the vampires work with her she finds that her bigger problems are very closely connected to a killer they’ve been pursuing. It’s a simple plot with thin characters, but it is also supernatural and full of creatures with amazing talents. I’d liken it to a prose superhero book for young adults.
There are some annoying errors, especially in the early chapters, but nothing a good edit wouldn’t fix and they are possible to ignore. What is delightful is the engaging use of slang that really bring the narrator to life, and references to geek culture abound.
As is often the way in life, in Whitby After Dark, one abusive relationship leads to another and in a scene reminiscent of Twilight we have a vampire and a wolf fighting for the soul of our heroine. As with Twilight, Lenore seems to bond with her abuser and it feels like love. I have to admit to some serious discomfort with regards to this relationship.
There’s a collection of Gothic poetry by the author at the end of the book. All in all it feels like a story written by a young author with promise. If you love simple supernatural stories then it’s worth checking out. It feels like an origin story for Lenora, who might become a future Willow Rosenberg.
August 10, 2017
Whitby After Dark is a quick, enjoyable read combining a misfit-finds-her-place storyline with the-supernatural-is-all-around us.
The author notes this was written as a cathartic experience, as writing about abuse hit too close to home to do so in the “real” world. I hope this book has given back some of her sense of control.
Our heroine Lenore (possibly a nod to Poe’s ‘lost Lenore’ of “The Raven” fame) is a teenaged Goth abused by her stepfather. Her mother ignores her plight, possibly unwilling to accept the situation her daughter is in or accept the idea of her own life without a mate.
Lenore is plagued with disturbing dreams and visions that turn out to be portents of the deaths of other local girls. This leads her to a group of supernaturals— vampire and werewolf— who inform her they could use her help to locate the killer.
While there are editing issues, they are easily overlooked in favor of continuing the story. There are parts I would have liked to see fleshed out a bit more, such as more about Whitby itself, a seaside town in Northern England rich in dark history. (It’s said Stoker wrote Dracula after being inspired by Whitby’s architecture.) Even so, this story works as a prelude to what I hope will be a series that exorcises any lingering demons.
The author notes this was written as a cathartic experience, as writing about abuse hit too close to home to do so in the “real” world. I hope this book has given back some of her sense of control.
Our heroine Lenore (possibly a nod to Poe’s ‘lost Lenore’ of “The Raven” fame) is a teenaged Goth abused by her stepfather. Her mother ignores her plight, possibly unwilling to accept the situation her daughter is in or accept the idea of her own life without a mate.
Lenore is plagued with disturbing dreams and visions that turn out to be portents of the deaths of other local girls. This leads her to a group of supernaturals— vampire and werewolf— who inform her they could use her help to locate the killer.
While there are editing issues, they are easily overlooked in favor of continuing the story. There are parts I would have liked to see fleshed out a bit more, such as more about Whitby itself, a seaside town in Northern England rich in dark history. (It’s said Stoker wrote Dracula after being inspired by Whitby’s architecture.) Even so, this story works as a prelude to what I hope will be a series that exorcises any lingering demons.
August 15, 2017
I heard from the grapevine that Stella Coulson's book, Whitby After Dark, was going into audio. Since I listen to audio and I already had the book, I decided to check out the audio through audible and listen to the book.
Whtiby After Dark is a dark young adult fiction that deals with sexual abuse. There is an author's note in the beginning of the book where Coulson compares her demons in the series to the real life horrors people have today. In short, our abusers are her world's demons. The creatures who fight these evil beings are from different walks of life. For instance: fey or vampires.
The book was a quick read and was easy to get into. The world doesn't feel completely crafted, but that's because our heroine, Lenore, is just entering this world. We are seeing the darker side of the world through Lenore's eyes. Since it is a series, we aren't going to see everything the world has to offer. So far, I like what I've seen. I like what Coulson did with demons. I like the tidbits we do learn about the vampires. And, I would like to continue with the series.
It was a short book, but still enjoyable. Yes, I did figure out who the main baddie was fast, but I enjoyed the book nonetheless.
What I did find even more interesting is that the narrator was a great choice. I could hear her voice when I switched back to text. Lenore is a character I could relate to and the narrator works with the character. It was a good choice in narrator.
All in all, the book is quick and fun. The narration was good and the narrator sounded what I would envision Lenore. I would read the second book in the series.
Whtiby After Dark is a dark young adult fiction that deals with sexual abuse. There is an author's note in the beginning of the book where Coulson compares her demons in the series to the real life horrors people have today. In short, our abusers are her world's demons. The creatures who fight these evil beings are from different walks of life. For instance: fey or vampires.
The book was a quick read and was easy to get into. The world doesn't feel completely crafted, but that's because our heroine, Lenore, is just entering this world. We are seeing the darker side of the world through Lenore's eyes. Since it is a series, we aren't going to see everything the world has to offer. So far, I like what I've seen. I like what Coulson did with demons. I like the tidbits we do learn about the vampires. And, I would like to continue with the series.
It was a short book, but still enjoyable. Yes, I did figure out who the main baddie was fast, but I enjoyed the book nonetheless.
What I did find even more interesting is that the narrator was a great choice. I could hear her voice when I switched back to text. Lenore is a character I could relate to and the narrator works with the character. It was a good choice in narrator.
All in all, the book is quick and fun. The narration was good and the narrator sounded what I would envision Lenore. I would read the second book in the series.
December 14, 2015
From chapter one I was hooked! I even stayed up extra late to finish it! It was a quick read, mainly because I couldn't stop turning the page!
Whitby After Dark is about a teenage girl who already feels like an outsider entering into a new school. From page one I instantly felt a connection with Lenore and I knew something was wrong with her family life.
I wanted the book to delve more into her relationship with her mother but I understood that the reason it couldn't was because there was no real relationship there for years due to Adam. How the author tackled that situation was what truly set Whitby After Dark apart from other YA novels. and I applaud the author, Stella Coulson for handling it well.
I wasn't a huge fan of Lenore's relationship with Drew, because I think it happened to quickly for my taste and he hadn't atoned enough for what he did and honestly I was rooting for her and Seth. I instantly connected to their chemistry so I hope that's explored in the later books. I'm not against a love triangle in this case!
I really loved Whitby after Dark. There was so much potential for more world building in future books, prequels especially. I loved the idea of elemental vampires especially. I'd love to know more about Kain's life prior to meeting the rest of them. and I want all the indvidual back stories of all the other vampires because their gifts are fantastic!! There's no way you could be bored while reading this book.
I can't wait to read more from Stella Coulson because this was a delightful, fast paced treat.
Whitby After Dark is about a teenage girl who already feels like an outsider entering into a new school. From page one I instantly felt a connection with Lenore and I knew something was wrong with her family life.
I wanted the book to delve more into her relationship with her mother but I understood that the reason it couldn't was because there was no real relationship there for years due to Adam. How the author tackled that situation was what truly set Whitby After Dark apart from other YA novels. and I applaud the author, Stella Coulson for handling it well.
I wasn't a huge fan of Lenore's relationship with Drew, because I think it happened to quickly for my taste and he hadn't atoned enough for what he did and honestly I was rooting for her and Seth. I instantly connected to their chemistry so I hope that's explored in the later books. I'm not against a love triangle in this case!
I really loved Whitby after Dark. There was so much potential for more world building in future books, prequels especially. I loved the idea of elemental vampires especially. I'd love to know more about Kain's life prior to meeting the rest of them. and I want all the indvidual back stories of all the other vampires because their gifts are fantastic!! There's no way you could be bored while reading this book.
I can't wait to read more from Stella Coulson because this was a delightful, fast paced treat.
December 30, 2013
It's good to read a book with a protagonist I actually like. I liked Twilight but I never liked the main character of Bella. It's good to see a brave but flawed character lead a novel. The main character in Stella Coulson's Whitby After Dark - A Vampire Novella & Dark Poetry is Lenore Lee, a gothic sarcastic smart redhead who is hiding a traumatic homelife at the hands of a abusive step parent and has visions of the future. Lenore uses her visions to track down a demonic serial killer. I loved many of the characters in this book, particularly Seth the shifter wolf, who is adorable and would absolutely love to see him paired with Lenore instead of the rather tedious Drew Morgan. I fell in love with this little book and hope the author makes more of the series.
December 30, 2013
It's good to read a book with a protagonist I actually like. I liked Twilight but I never liked the main character of Bella. It's good to see a brave but flawed character lead a novel. The main character in Stella Coulson's Whitby After Dark - A Vampire Novella & Dark Poetry is Lenore Lee, a gothic sarcastic smart redhead who is hiding a traumatic homelife at the hands of a abusive step parent and has visions of the future. Lenore uses her visions to track down a demonic serial killer. I loved many of the characters in this book, particularly Seth the shifter wolf, who is adorable and would absolutely love to see him paired with Lenore instead of the rather tedious Drew Morgan. I fell in love with this little book and hope the author makes more of the series.
January 8, 2014
I enjoyed reading this book. It was different than any other vampire book that I've ever read. The vampires and the other supernatural creatures were very likeable. They acted like ordinary teenagers with favorite books and TV shows. They just had unique powers and abilities to kill other creatures. It was interesting to learn about the different vampires and creatures and how they learned to live together.
The book also contained psychological elements. The main character, Lenore, had dreams and powers that were related to a traumatic experience she was enduring. She also wasn't sure if she wanted these powers or not.
The characters in this book had depth and feelings that made you care for them. I can't wait to read the rest of her books in the series.
The book also contained psychological elements. The main character, Lenore, had dreams and powers that were related to a traumatic experience she was enduring. She also wasn't sure if she wanted these powers or not.
The characters in this book had depth and feelings that made you care for them. I can't wait to read the rest of her books in the series.
December 31, 2013
Read this back when it was first on wattpad. Glad it's in print now on www.lulu.com. I am really looking forward to part 2 of Whitby After Dark series. I really wish the first one wasn't so short because I really like this book. The premise of Vampires, shifters etc is not new, but the use of them here is. Each creature has it's own unique mythology and they are thrown into a very believable world. At first I was expected yet another teen/ya urban fantasy vamp novel, but it's like-able heroine Lenore guides us through a enticing world of suspense and fantasy. A great effort by the author Stella Coulson.
July 25, 2017
Whitby After Dark is a novel about a young girl trying to fit into a new town, a new place where nothing ordinary is as it seems when it comes to the inhabitants. Along her short story the main character Lenore stumbles into Whitby’s secret, a life other than that of any normal high school’s student; filled with vampires, ghosts, beasts and creatures. There is no time to process anything surrounding her as there is a crime to be solved, and she is the link to solving it.
The very first handful of pages, I was mesmerized by the unfolding of what I thought would be a heart wrenching tale of sexual abuse. However, just like Lenore we were swept away (for the most part) from that story line into a world of creatures. The entire book was under 100 pages, and it left something to be desired character wise, plot wise, setting wise…you’re left feeling rushed or confused, and parts left me wanting to explore Lenore and her unusual talent more than I was given the opportunity.
The entire supernatural theme in addition to the sparse development of characters gave you more of a sense that the entire story about Whitby was a dream, so close, but yet the cat has your tongue. That was a new experience for me to go through when reading a book, and it made the lack of development make more sense. The disconnect between Lenore herself and her reality, this entire dream state feeling, is what really makes this book something beautiful from page one to the very last word.
The very first handful of pages, I was mesmerized by the unfolding of what I thought would be a heart wrenching tale of sexual abuse. However, just like Lenore we were swept away (for the most part) from that story line into a world of creatures. The entire book was under 100 pages, and it left something to be desired character wise, plot wise, setting wise…you’re left feeling rushed or confused, and parts left me wanting to explore Lenore and her unusual talent more than I was given the opportunity.
The entire supernatural theme in addition to the sparse development of characters gave you more of a sense that the entire story about Whitby was a dream, so close, but yet the cat has your tongue. That was a new experience for me to go through when reading a book, and it made the lack of development make more sense. The disconnect between Lenore herself and her reality, this entire dream state feeling, is what really makes this book something beautiful from page one to the very last word.
July 2, 2017
To be honest this is a book I would not normally read, but I'm trying to discover new stories and deliberately going out of my comfort zone to do so.
Whitby After Dark is a fast paced vampire story; it can be dark at times and funny at others. It's a story that wears its influences on its sleeve yet remains original. It has to be said there is a real True Blood feel to the story - but it does not feel derivative. I also felt there was more than a passing nod to the Lost Boys.
The text can get dark on occasions, but offsets this with humour. I think this works to reflect the ideas of a natural and supernatural world kind of butting up against each other.
The characters are well drawn, although there are quite a few and on occasion I lost track of who was who. This was not to the detriment of the story as it was easy enough to get back on track.
Now the book is short and that's both a strength and a weakness. I really liked it as a shot of espresso fiction; a quick action filled, thoughtful read.
I would have liked it to have been longer, maybe a little more sense of place with deeper descriptions. There also seemed to be a a couple of plot points that could have been expanded more. These are small points because as a novella it does what it's supposed to do, it lets you escape to a more exciting world for a couple of hours.
I guess to sum up. Whitby is an accessible Vampire novel; with interesting characters and underlying humour.
Whitby After Dark is a fast paced vampire story; it can be dark at times and funny at others. It's a story that wears its influences on its sleeve yet remains original. It has to be said there is a real True Blood feel to the story - but it does not feel derivative. I also felt there was more than a passing nod to the Lost Boys.
The text can get dark on occasions, but offsets this with humour. I think this works to reflect the ideas of a natural and supernatural world kind of butting up against each other.
The characters are well drawn, although there are quite a few and on occasion I lost track of who was who. This was not to the detriment of the story as it was easy enough to get back on track.
Now the book is short and that's both a strength and a weakness. I really liked it as a shot of espresso fiction; a quick action filled, thoughtful read.
I would have liked it to have been longer, maybe a little more sense of place with deeper descriptions. There also seemed to be a a couple of plot points that could have been expanded more. These are small points because as a novella it does what it's supposed to do, it lets you escape to a more exciting world for a couple of hours.
I guess to sum up. Whitby is an accessible Vampire novel; with interesting characters and underlying humour.
June 5, 2015
A new school should not mean a whole new sub-world, even if your previous school sucked rocks.
Yet this is what Lenore discovers. A misfit who has dreams and visions that inconveniently come true, she has few friends in her old school. Now, having transferred to Craven Hall (courtesy of her step-dad), she hopes she can make a good first impression. She tells herself, “I (will) not punch boys who made wanker comments; I (will) not make smart remarks at or debate with the teacher’s inept teaching methods, at least not for the first week there.”
The first people she meets there are very much in tune with her own likes—specifically the Morgans: Drew, who shows her around on her first day (“we don’t bite here”), Kaine, Elizabeth, and Tristan.
However, the abuse by her step-dad, Adam, keeps up, as do her dreams of murders along the waterway. She thinks she has stumbled across the murderer one night, but she is so very wrong.
Suddenly she is plunged into a world that she didn’t even believe existed. Not only that, she finds that she is a very important part of that world. There are those who would kill for the powers she never knew she had.
It’s up to the skills of this of this extraordinary family to keep her safe, and to solve the murders that are going on in Whitby, after dark.
Ms. Coulson delivers up a terrific story here. In very short order, she develops her characters into very likable (and one very unlikable) characters. I appreciated the name of the protagonist, Lenore, and the nod to Poe's "The Raven" at the beginning of one chapter. Written as a "cathartic exercise", in the author's words, this short story has a good lesson to deliver. I could see where the demon was righteously taken care of, and how it would bring relief to a torn soul. The ending came faster than I was expecting, but I hope it is because Ms. Coulson plans to continue on in this, er, vein...
Great story--well worth the time to read it.
Yet this is what Lenore discovers. A misfit who has dreams and visions that inconveniently come true, she has few friends in her old school. Now, having transferred to Craven Hall (courtesy of her step-dad), she hopes she can make a good first impression. She tells herself, “I (will) not punch boys who made wanker comments; I (will) not make smart remarks at or debate with the teacher’s inept teaching methods, at least not for the first week there.”
The first people she meets there are very much in tune with her own likes—specifically the Morgans: Drew, who shows her around on her first day (“we don’t bite here”), Kaine, Elizabeth, and Tristan.
However, the abuse by her step-dad, Adam, keeps up, as do her dreams of murders along the waterway. She thinks she has stumbled across the murderer one night, but she is so very wrong.
Suddenly she is plunged into a world that she didn’t even believe existed. Not only that, she finds that she is a very important part of that world. There are those who would kill for the powers she never knew she had.
It’s up to the skills of this of this extraordinary family to keep her safe, and to solve the murders that are going on in Whitby, after dark.
Ms. Coulson delivers up a terrific story here. In very short order, she develops her characters into very likable (and one very unlikable) characters. I appreciated the name of the protagonist, Lenore, and the nod to Poe's "The Raven" at the beginning of one chapter. Written as a "cathartic exercise", in the author's words, this short story has a good lesson to deliver. I could see where the demon was righteously taken care of, and how it would bring relief to a torn soul. The ending came faster than I was expecting, but I hope it is because Ms. Coulson plans to continue on in this, er, vein...
Great story--well worth the time to read it.
June 21, 2023
REVIEW:
Whitby after dark tells the story of an extraordinary girl who befriends a family of vampires. First things first, this novel bad a few typos but nothing distracting and didn't bother me at all while reading the story. I love how the author started the novel off with a very interesting scene that immediately grasped my attention and made me want to keep reading more and more. At first the novel starts off nice and slow as we are introduced to the main characters but then suddenly it picks up pace so fast that sometimes I could hardly keep up. Some scenes jumped from one thing to the next that I couldn't fully understand what was going on. Same goes with Lenore's love interest in the book, one minute and the next there bound together. Some scenes were very confusing and wish Coulson had taken more time to right more of the details and why such and such was happening. Aside from that it was a good novel, the concept of it was amazing and the story itself was good.
IF YOU LIKED "WHITBY AFTER DARK", YOU MIGHT ENJOY:
1.
City of Bones BY: Cassandra Clare
2.
Twilight BY: Stephenie Meyer
Whitby after dark tells the story of an extraordinary girl who befriends a family of vampires. First things first, this novel bad a few typos but nothing distracting and didn't bother me at all while reading the story. I love how the author started the novel off with a very interesting scene that immediately grasped my attention and made me want to keep reading more and more. At first the novel starts off nice and slow as we are introduced to the main characters but then suddenly it picks up pace so fast that sometimes I could hardly keep up. Some scenes jumped from one thing to the next that I couldn't fully understand what was going on. Same goes with Lenore's love interest in the book, one minute and the next there bound together. Some scenes were very confusing and wish Coulson had taken more time to right more of the details and why such and such was happening. Aside from that it was a good novel, the concept of it was amazing and the story itself was good.
IF YOU LIKED "WHITBY AFTER DARK", YOU MIGHT ENJOY:
1.
City of Bones BY: Cassandra Clare2.
Twilight BY: Stephenie Meyer
June 14, 2015
*Contains adult/sensitive themes
**Review by Susan
Lenore Lee wants nothing more than to make new friends in her new town of Whitby, Yorkshire, and to forget about the disturbing dreams that hold her captive at night. But what she discovers in Whitby, might be even more disturbing than the dreams. Dreams which may hold the key to her survival in the hidden world of the Supernatural...
''Dreams of Death may be the only thing that can save her life''
Lenore is settling into her new school, new life and new friendships as she moves to Whitby with her mum and Stepfather, Adam. But the story line had me gripped from the first page. Her stepfather, Adam really would be everything he lived up to be. A true monster.
------------------------------
He played the role of family man so perfectly. He acted like he possessed compassion; he used to do odd jobs for elderly neighbors, fixing leaking taps and putting up shelves. He even used to be nice to me. He was the nearest thing I’d ever had to a father. Mum loved him so much. If she knew, it'd break her heart.
------------------------------
As Lenore gets closer to her new group of friends she learns more about herself and her new friends.
But would there be a happily ever after after all she had been subjected to?
I can't say I disliked this book, because I didn't. I love paranormal reads. But I don't think I had enough time to get a feel for the other characters. The story however was good. I just couldn't help but feel I wanted a bit more to fill in some of the faster paced parts.
3.5 star rating for this story and see where Stella Coulson takes this story next.
**Review by Susan
Lenore Lee wants nothing more than to make new friends in her new town of Whitby, Yorkshire, and to forget about the disturbing dreams that hold her captive at night. But what she discovers in Whitby, might be even more disturbing than the dreams. Dreams which may hold the key to her survival in the hidden world of the Supernatural...
''Dreams of Death may be the only thing that can save her life''
Lenore is settling into her new school, new life and new friendships as she moves to Whitby with her mum and Stepfather, Adam. But the story line had me gripped from the first page. Her stepfather, Adam really would be everything he lived up to be. A true monster.
------------------------------
He played the role of family man so perfectly. He acted like he possessed compassion; he used to do odd jobs for elderly neighbors, fixing leaking taps and putting up shelves. He even used to be nice to me. He was the nearest thing I’d ever had to a father. Mum loved him so much. If she knew, it'd break her heart.
------------------------------
As Lenore gets closer to her new group of friends she learns more about herself and her new friends.
But would there be a happily ever after after all she had been subjected to?
I can't say I disliked this book, because I didn't. I love paranormal reads. But I don't think I had enough time to get a feel for the other characters. The story however was good. I just couldn't help but feel I wanted a bit more to fill in some of the faster paced parts.
3.5 star rating for this story and see where Stella Coulson takes this story next.
May 7, 2015
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
A novel starring a teenager who is an outcast might not seem so original at the outset. But even from the first page you know this book is going to be different. Lenore is plagued with nightmares that seem very real, and turn out to be just that.
She gets dragged unwillingly into the world of the supernatural that exists in Whitby [the town made famous in Dracula by Bram Stoker] and faces horrors unimaginable.
While the story is original and very entertaining, I found that the star of the book was Lenore and the rest of the characters.
Lenore is very similar to how I was during my high school years, with some added problems. But she's a good lead; she's strong and determined with a good heart. A great heroine for readers out there today.
The story's darkest parts, in my opinion, come from Lenore's stepfather, whom you learn to despise right off the bat. The themes get much darker than the normal paranormal story would, and that's something I feel I need to warn readers about, as a lot of reviews don't. Sexual abuse is prevalent and could be difficult to read about for some. But Ms. Coulson wrote it as eloquently as possible so as not to be vulgar or hurtful. She also didn't play down the abuse, or use it to make you pity Lenore. It is dealt with expertly and professionally.
I think that, while this was a bit short, it read very well and will definitely make you want to read the next book immediately.
A novel starring a teenager who is an outcast might not seem so original at the outset. But even from the first page you know this book is going to be different. Lenore is plagued with nightmares that seem very real, and turn out to be just that.
She gets dragged unwillingly into the world of the supernatural that exists in Whitby [the town made famous in Dracula by Bram Stoker] and faces horrors unimaginable.
While the story is original and very entertaining, I found that the star of the book was Lenore and the rest of the characters.
Lenore is very similar to how I was during my high school years, with some added problems. But she's a good lead; she's strong and determined with a good heart. A great heroine for readers out there today.
The story's darkest parts, in my opinion, come from Lenore's stepfather, whom you learn to despise right off the bat. The themes get much darker than the normal paranormal story would, and that's something I feel I need to warn readers about, as a lot of reviews don't. Sexual abuse is prevalent and could be difficult to read about for some. But Ms. Coulson wrote it as eloquently as possible so as not to be vulgar or hurtful. She also didn't play down the abuse, or use it to make you pity Lenore. It is dealt with expertly and professionally.
I think that, while this was a bit short, it read very well and will definitely make you want to read the next book immediately.
October 7, 2016
I enjoyed this short Vampire novel about the lovely Goth, Lenore Lee, a teenage misfit with an abusive stepfather, and problems with life at a new school in the town of Whitby, where strange and disturbing things happen after dark. Written in first person, this story is from Lenore's perspective as she deals with nightmares, demons, and a clan of hero-vampires. She becomes bonded to one vampire, and they tell her she is a Witch. So the story is about relationships, empowerment, and finding acceptance in a world in which you don't feel you quite fit in. This is a different and new take on Vampires, Demons and Shape Shifters, and I like how the story moved along and played itself out. (I wanted more about the villain of the tale, but I don't want to give away any spoilers.) I guess this is an "origin" story, for it's about how Lenore first meets up with the vampires, how she finds acceptance, friendship and even love. And then she begins her training. Stella Coulson gives us with some wonderful poems after the novel ends -- a bonus treat. She has a gift for storytelling, empathy for her characters, and a real love for the Vampire Genre. No doubt we'll be hearing more about Lenore.
January 15, 2014
While a lot of books suffer from being too long, this book is quite the opposite. The plot develops with a speed that leaves not enough time to get familiar with the characters. The only person I could relate to was Lenore, but Drew, Kain and the others were thrown in without giving the reader time to get a feeling for them or even develop sympathies. The story was too rushed, which is a shame as the author presented several fascinating and original ideas regarding vampires and their unique abilities. I also wondered how Lenore could trust and even fall for Drew in record time - it just did not ring true with her personality and background. Another drawback for me was the poor editing of the book, leaving me stumbling over the sentences on a regular basis.
In summary, while the plot has some good potential and brings fresh ideas to the vampire genre, the writing must improve immensely to attract a larger readership.
(I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review)
In summary, while the plot has some good potential and brings fresh ideas to the vampire genre, the writing must improve immensely to attract a larger readership.
(I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review)
August 30, 2014
Here I was swept into a Gothic world of strangely believable fantasy.A young woman with a troubled home-life, dark secret and a powerful gift of seeing into the future. Unfortunately the heroine of W.A.D only dreams of death, but her dark gift appears to be the key for capturing a serial killer. With the aid of a group of vampires, she is on the mission of a life time. One that may cost her her own. One of this book's strengths was the architecture of the world's mythology. In this world, not everyone can be turned by a simple bite, but have to posses a gene from the result of either a parent or a great grand parent being a vampire. It is cleverly thought out and look forward to further installments in this intriguing franchise that ads a new spin to the often cliche tale of vampires. Don't get me wrong, I am a huge fan of the genre, but I'm always thrilled to read a refreshing take on this well known fantastical creature of folk-law.
January 25, 2014
Read this month while on Holiday. If you are looking for pure escapism, this has it in droves. Some characters I liked more than others. I loved the different powers of each character and the after dark universe's vampire lore. I chuckled at the character of Kain's view of one of the other vampires acting way too "self hating" (we see mopey vamps too often and it's nice to see vampires finding that behavior ridiculous). I like that it's stated that not everyone in this world can become a vamp. Like this or loath it, it is certainly original. I was tempted to go 4 stars due to lack of editing. This can be sorted and was entertained enough for it to warrant a higher score.
May 1, 2015
A good book...knew the stepfather was up to no good but didn't realize quite how evil he was.
Lenore is a teenager who moves to a new town with her mom and stepdad...not one to have lot of friends she meets a family that isn't what they seem and who help her in her time of need.
was a good book...a great read especially if you like supernatural and want a quick read....can't wait for the next one.
Lenore is a teenager who moves to a new town with her mom and stepdad...not one to have lot of friends she meets a family that isn't what they seem and who help her in her time of need.
was a good book...a great read especially if you like supernatural and want a quick read....can't wait for the next one.
April 25, 2015
l love Whitby. I love reading books written around places I know. I can 'see' where everything is happening.
This is a short book but a good read nonetheless. As the first in a series it set the scene very well.
Stella Coulson finishes off with poetry. I am not a great fan of poetry but one small poem, Little Life, spoke to me on a very personal level.
Definitely a good Book 1. I look forward to book 2.
This is a short book but a good read nonetheless. As the first in a series it set the scene very well.
Stella Coulson finishes off with poetry. I am not a great fan of poetry but one small poem, Little Life, spoke to me on a very personal level.
Definitely a good Book 1. I look forward to book 2.
December 20, 2017
Lenore Lee is a troubled, young girl. She endures abuse. As her family has yet again moved to a new place, she opens this tale ready to meet her new school mates. This progress rapidly from there. The story proves a very short read that even finds enough room to end with some poetry.
I was stymied by noticeable errors right from the start. There were even inconsistencies and over-usage of italics. It made things confusing in some parts but not enough to severely hamper. What I found more of a challenge was how swiftly things moved and even how oddly characters seemed to act.
The story is an interesting one, charming, positive, and not entirely unlike a fairy tale. The subject matter at its core is very serious. The presentation, though, is not. I felt that the brevity of the novel (55 pages) swept everything through too quickly and neatly. Things felt to resolve so fast that I wondered that everyone hadn’t already gone through this before, such was their seeming preparedness, adaption, and even sudden ability. The reader is subject to revelations at a rapid fire pace, and I, for one, was left wanting to know more.
I was stymied by noticeable errors right from the start. There were even inconsistencies and over-usage of italics. It made things confusing in some parts but not enough to severely hamper. What I found more of a challenge was how swiftly things moved and even how oddly characters seemed to act.
The story is an interesting one, charming, positive, and not entirely unlike a fairy tale. The subject matter at its core is very serious. The presentation, though, is not. I felt that the brevity of the novel (55 pages) swept everything through too quickly and neatly. Things felt to resolve so fast that I wondered that everyone hadn’t already gone through this before, such was their seeming preparedness, adaption, and even sudden ability. The reader is subject to revelations at a rapid fire pace, and I, for one, was left wanting to know more.
May 26, 2023
Complete tosh in my opinion
Read
January 2, 2016!
This book was poor.the main story only lasted for 1quarter of the book and the rest focussed on her life afterwads.The Whitby witches trilogy was sooooooooooo much better!!
This book was poor.the main story only lasted for 1quarter of the book and the rest focussed on her life afterwads.The Whitby witches trilogy was sooooooooooo much better!!
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews