Review by BookishCreature -- Raven's Peak by Lincoln Cole

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BookishCreature
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Review by BookishCreature -- Raven's Peak by Lincoln Cole

Post by BookishCreature »

[Following is a volunteer review of "Raven's Peak" by Lincoln Cole.]
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4 out of 4 stars
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So, a demon hunter and a would-be crime blogger walk into a ghost town…

Abigail Dressler is no stranger to the demons that occasionally manage to infiltrate our world – or the dirty work required to send them back to where they belong. Haatim Arison, meanwhile, has only ever heard about demons in his theology courses. But as he chases a story for his blog, he suddenly finds himself a target for supernatural powers beyond his wildest imagination, and Abigail has no choice but to get involved. Together, they must keep each other safe and track down the otherworldly terror that lurks in Raven’s Peak. Will they be able to save the townsfolk from a hellish fate, or will their pasts and fears come back to haunt them?

Raven’s Peak is an enthralling horror novel with lovable characters and constant thrills. I rate it 4 out of 4 stars.

I couldn’t put this book down. The prologue alone was enough to grab my attention, and it just got better from there. The atmosphere is dark and creepy – which I loved – but there wasn’t any of the gratuitous gore that you usually find in the horror genre. Don’t get me wrong, there were definitely some bloody, shocking scenes, but they weren’t overdone and they weren’t the focus of the book.

Instead, the plot twists and turns with nonstop action and mystery. No lulls, no boring sections that I wanted to skip over – just a breakneck ride that kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. The writing itself was vivid and fast-paced. The author did an amazing job of building the dingy, gloomy setting of Raven’s Peak and upping the tension as Abigail and Haatim got closer to the lurking evil.

As for Abigail and Haatim themselves… I couldn’t help but fall in love with them. Abigail is a strong, sarcastic heroine with a dark past, and Haatim is a well-intentioned nerd who’s in way over his head but trying to do the right thing anyway. They were both relatable and full of life, and I’m really glad that Raven’s Peak is the first book in a series, because I’m not ready to let go of these two yet. I can’t wait to see what the next installment has in store for them.

All told, Raven’s Peak is a deliciously creepy action adventure with some exorcisms thrown in for good measure – rather reminiscent of the TV series Supernatural. If you’re very squeamish, this might not be the book for you, but I highly recommend it to lovers of paranormal horror. And now to dig into book two!

******
Raven's Peak
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Post by sarbee »

I've been waiting to read your thoughts on this book after your comment on my review! I like your comparison to the show Supernatural. There were actually a few instances in the book where I felt like dialogue would be better suited for a TV series. I recall a moment from the prologue where the Reverend makes a comment about intending to kill whomever he finds inside the church, only for the demon to reply that that would be a shame. I can so see that as part of a TV series or made-for-TV movie.
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Post by BookishCreature »

I know, right? :) I thought it was really cinematic. I'm always down for good old-fashioned monster hunting noir.
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Post by uyky »

After reading this I am wondering how the character development is? Is the book concentrated just on plot or does it give time for the characters to grow? Your review made me want to read it so now I'm fishing for details :)
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Post by BookishCreature »

uyky wrote: 20 Jan 2018, 18:17 After reading this I am wondering how the character development is? Is the book concentrated just on plot or does it give time for the characters to grow? Your review made me want to read it so now I'm fishing for details :)
I'll don't want spoil anything, but I think Haatim had some great development - I was actually going to mention it in the review but I was worried I'd give too much away. Abigail didn't develop as much, but her personal quest unfolded throughout the book and she seems to be set up for some really cool stuff in the rest of the series. :)
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Post by Roggyrus »

Thanks for your interesting review. As I read your comments, I get attracted to the book and may be induced to read it. I am drawn to paranormal themes and this is good a story than any. I will remember to allow reading time for this one.
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Post by uyky »

BookishCreature wrote: 20 Jan 2018, 18:42
uyky wrote: 20 Jan 2018, 18:17 After reading this I am wondering how the character development is? Is the book concentrated just on plot or does it give time for the characters to grow? Your review made me want to read it so now I'm fishing for details :)
I'll don't want spoil anything, but I think Haatim had some great development - I was actually going to mention it in the review but I was worried I'd give too much away. Abigail didn't develop as much, but her personal quest unfolded throughout the book and she seems to be set up for some really cool stuff in the rest of the series. :)
For me that is not a spoiler. Thank you for your reply. I will definitely give this book a go :)
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Post by Darakhshan Nazir »

I started reading this novel but lost interest. Your review makes me think I should have given it more time.
Great review though!!
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Post by BookishCreature »

Darakhshan Nazir wrote: 23 Jan 2018, 02:07 I started reading this novel but lost interest. Your review makes me think I should have given it more time.
Great review though!!
Aw, that's a shame! To each their own though. :) Thanks for commenting!
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Post by Alice Heritage »

I love a dark and creepy atmosphere too! Thanks for a well-written review.
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Post by BookishCreature »

ButterscotchCherrie wrote: 23 Jan 2018, 07:03 I love a dark and creepy atmosphere too! Thanks for a well-written review.
Thank you for commenting! :)
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Post by CommMayo »

Great review! Very well written and it is so obvious how much you enjoyed the book. Nice job!
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CommMayo wrote: 24 Jan 2018, 14:23 Great review! Very well written and it is so obvious how much you enjoyed the book. Nice job!
Thank you! (I love your avatar, by the way. Chickens are the best.)
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BookishCreature wrote: 24 Jan 2018, 14:28
CommMayo wrote: 24 Jan 2018, 14:23 Great review! Very well written and it is so obvious how much you enjoyed the book. Nice job!
Thank you! (I love your avatar, by the way. Chickens are the best.)
Thanks! I once had a friend drop off a rooster at our house and my husband didn't notice for over two months! Little bugger only crowed when he wasn't around :no-spoil:
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Post by Essentially_Literate »

I recently finished the book and I loved it as well! Your review is really awesome and way better than mine! Great job! :D
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