Larkin Reed

This was Amber House, after all, where the past was never really over and done with.

I had absolutely zero expectations of [b:Amber House|13436345|Amber House|Kelly Moore|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1339096285s/13436345.jpg|18940446] when I decided to pick it up, I'd read no reviews about it and there's been very little hype surrounding the book. So I went into it with a completely blank slate, knowing nothing but the little I was told in the GR description, which is something that I don't show more do too often. But, this time, the chance I took on a random book I knew next to nothing about really paid off in the end. This is a super-creepy, paranormal mystery (not historical fiction, as some might think, but it does contain some delving into family history) with a likeable heroine, centuries-old secrets and a look at several generations of one seriously dysfunctional family.

The story is about a girl named Sarah whose grandmother has just passed away and left her mother with the centuries-old Maryland estate that has been the home of their family for generations. Sarah doesn't know what it was that drove such a wedge between her mother and grandmother but she knows there are dark secrets hidden in the very walls of Amber House. Secrets that may be dangerous. When Sarah begins to see visions of her ancestors throughout the house, she finds herself pulled into a search for the treasure rumoured to be somewhere in the vast mansion, but soon it becomes apparent that more than just buried diamonds is waiting to be unearthed.

Let me tell you now: this is a creepy book. It uses a lot of traditional horror elements but puts an unusual spin on them. The big, scary mansion is not exactly anything new, but the characters make this a worthy addition to the already sky-high pile of spooky house books. Plus, the historical parts that are woven into the modern day story add a touch of something different; in this case, Sarah's ancestors include a slave-owner, a sea captain and a woman driven mad by grief. Sarah herself is likeable, especially because of her relationship with her autistic brother and the way she puts his comfort and safety before her own. I also really look forward to hearing more about her relationship with her mother in the sequel, it's rocky at best but I think they are not as different as either one believes.



I got distracted, back to the scary. Well, quite a few parts of this reminded me of [b:The Woman in Black|37034|The Woman in Black|Susan Hill|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327869942s/37034.jpg|2127172], but I'll let you work out why for yourself, just proceed with caution if you get scared easily. As much as people like to sneer at those who use old, overdone ideas in their work, there's a reason why certain things appear in most horror movies - because they're effin' scary! I can easily name the top three things I find the scariest of all in movies and books: 1) creepy children, 2) mirrors and 3) clowns/jokers. Sadly, there are no clowns in [b:Amber House|13436345|Amber House|Kelly Moore|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1339096285s/13436345.jpg|18940446], but that's where the disappointment ends. Both creepy children and mirrors feature strongly in this story. Really, I don't know why kids manage to be so creepy:





And mirrors. Bloody mirrors. Every time I see a mirror in a horror film, I watch it like a hawk for anything weird appearing in it. Because we all know the horror-genre rule of mirrors, don't we? What's in the mirror, never stays in the mirror.



Are you scared yet? Hehehe. Of course, if this book was perfect I would have given it five stars. And it might have been perfect if it wasn't for the - gawd, can I even say it - love triangle. AHHHHHHH!!!! Not another one!!!! But really, it's not so bad when weighed against all the good, also, the thing that makes this one somewhat more bearable is that both guys seem worthy and equal candidates for Sarah's heart, it isn't like [b:Twilight|41865|Twilight (Twilight, #1)|Stephenie Meyer|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1307515757s/41865.jpg|3212258] where it's so painfully obvious from day one that Bella will end up with Edward and Jacob will have to find love elsewhere (though even I thought Meyer wasn't low enough to pair him with a baby). So, you actually don't know who Sarah's going to end up with.

I would highly recommend this, even with the love triangle. [b:Amber House|13436345|Amber House|Kelly Moore|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1339096285s/13436345.jpg|18940446] is quite different from most young adult books and did I mention it's really creepy? But just in case you were really let down by the lack of clowns too: show less

Amber House is a unique and captivating debut from the mother/daughter trio, Kelly Moore, Tucker Reed, and Larkin Reed. According to their website, Moore was inspired by her own family history and began to write. Once her daughters joined in the venture, Amber House became an actual novel. Considering the story of the house and the women in it, I think it is perfect that this book was written by two generations of women. This is a beautiful story, and I cannot wait for the sequel (I was so show more happy when I learned this is part of a trilogy).

Every character in Amber House is complex and fully developed. I enjoyed learning about all of them, even if I didn't particularly like everyone *coughRichardcough*. I simply adored Sammy, and I love how the authors created an intelligent autistic character who is easy to relate to. With the history of the family's insanity and how people judge Sammy, these writers are opening up a dialogue about autism, and that is very important. I applaud them for taking a stand for autistic people.

Sarah is also a fantastic character. She's not perfect. She's bratty and silly at times, just like any teenage girl, but overall, she is mature, strong, and likable. I enjoyed reading things from her point of view, and even though I wanted to smack her once or twice, she isn't an annoying character.

Her mother, on the other hand, is a piece of work. However, the more I got to know about Anne, the more I understood why she acts the way she does. It doesn't excuse her behaviors, but it does explain them. I would have liked to have seen more of Sarah's dad.

The two love interests are very different, but neither is broody or obnoxious. I didn't like Richard because he just seemed a bit slimy to me. Being a politician's son, he can't be the most honest kid around. Jackson is a dreamboat, though. I really love his character. He's extremely strong and caring, but not whiny and fluffy. I hate fluffy guys. You guys know what I mean by fluffy, right? Edward Cullen like? Crying at the drop of a hat? Yea, I don't like that.

The plot itself is insane! I don't know how the authors kept track of what was going on. This book is fast paced and complicated. However, I was able to follow the events just fine. There is just a lot going on. The writers do an excellent job of explaining the time travely type stuff, though, and I actually understood it. Normally with time travel books, I just ignore the explanations and go with it because physics is not my forte. This story line doesn't have much action, but it has tons of suspense. I couldn't put this book down!I had to figure out the mysteries of Amber House and its inhabitants (both past and present). I was hooked from the beginning, and the ending simply left me wanting more. I cannot wait for the sequel. Yes, I know I already said that, but it needed to be said again.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a different type of paranormal story. Amber House focuses on a lot of different ideas, but they all come together nicely. I enjoyed the contemporary problems being brought into a paranormal book. The synopsis doesn't do this book justice. You have to give it a try! show less

I am completely and utterly blown away by the Amber House. It is the most deliciously scary, Gothic YA novels I have ever read! Now I find out that this is only the beginning of a trilogy, could this day not get any better!

Sarah Parson and her family are mourning the death of her maternal grandmother. Yet from almost the very first moment she steps inside the family home known as Amber House she begins to see things, echoes of her family’s murky past. Yet Sarah is a very normal girl show more dealing with her parents separating, her brother Sammy who is mildly autistic, and two new boys in her life. Soon Sarah comes to realize that she has to try and change the past in order to save the future…

Now I do not like scary ghost stories but I have to say that Amber House has such a well put together plot that while I was a bit freaked out I was also mesmerized. There were so many surprising twists and the characters have such a real depth to them that I had trouble putting it down. The ending was amazing and yet so perfect. This was written in such an elegant yet real way that it is sure to be a classic one day. I look forward to seeing more from this very talented trio of authors. show less

Sarah is almost 16 years old when her grandmother, who she really didn't know very well, dies. She, her mother and her younger brother, Sammy (who is mildly autistic) all head out to Maryland from Seattle for the funeral and to sell the estate, Amber House. However, while there, both Sammy and Sarah form a strange attachment to the house. Sarah partners up with Jackson, the grandson of Rose, who was a good friend of Sarah's grandmother, to search Amber House for the rumoured treasure hidden show more somewhere. But weird things are happening, as Sarah seems to have some kind of odd connection with some of her women ancestors who lived in the house...

I really liked this, overall, but wasn't crazy about the ending, which left me slightly confused. However, it wasn't enough for me to lower my rating. I really liked Sarah and Sammy's relationship. It is meant to be a trilogy, and I will continue on. show less