dead man's eye by shaun jeffrey

Title: Dead Man's Eye
Author: Shaun Jeffrey

Pages: 81
Series: Stand alone
Published: December 30th, 2010
Rating: 4/5
Source: From author
Buy at: Amazon | IndieBound | SmashWords

Summary (Goodreads):

Blighted by an eye disease, Joanna Raines undergoes a corneal transplant operation to stop her going blind. The procedure is successful, but in the weeks that follow she begins to see dark coronas surrounding certain people. By turns fearful that something has gone wrong and worried that she's going crazy, Joanna searches for an answer to the phenomena.

What she finds will change her life forever. The transplant has opened a door in her mind, and the strange coronas are not legacies of the operation but proof that a legion of demons plans to invade the earth!

Now the only thing that stands between the demonic horde and their plot to take over the world is Joanna, a young woman with the power to see them for what they really are.

Seeing is believing.

The demons are real.

Joanna just has to convince everyone else before it's too late.

My Say:

I hardly believe myself that I finally finished reading this book! At first I thought I will have another problem to finish a horror book like this. Yet, I was glad I read it even with a little tense once in a while. The plot succeed to deliver the excitement of the story to me. I can't say the book sparks the interest in me from the start because I don't really like Joanna at first, or maybe it's just me. I felt sorry how she become further removed from her dear ones.But as the story goes on, the mystery of her new eye really intrigued me. It's like I'm wondering what will happen to her next, what she would see and what she should do and all. It scares hell out of me to read how the people were killed, a man lost an arm, etc. Most of the scenes took place at the hospital which really a perfect place, as like puzzle with so many doors and it's gripping to know what's behind once you open them. Hospitals for me also have grieves, death, hope and 1001 mysteries that we can't never understand, even how can evil spirits took over the hospital? Genius.

Unfortunately, the ending is quite desolate for me. It's part twisted but will never end and you will find it the same once you finish reading it. I totally understand the feeling of you would want a closure of story, but this one will quite fail you. The story is satisfying and have all the elements you want to read in a horror book. But the ending will define how satisfy are you with the book. I love the book, but the ending really made me depressed, with a claim that I don't regret reading it!

That being said, the book is actually really well-elaborated and well-crafted. Even though I found the similarity to a movie called "The Eye", this one has it's own difference and speciality progress. I read it in day time for 4 days because even though I like mysteries, it's the horror that stop me to read it at night. I fully recommend this book to horror/paranormal thrillers fans. You'll never regret reading it!

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy from Author Shaun Jeffrey for an exchange of fair review. Receiving a copy in no way will ever reflected my review and these are my honest review.

the thin executioner by darren shan

Title: The Thin Executioner
Author: Darren Shan
Pages: 496
Rating: 4/5

Summary (Goodreads):

In a brutal nation of warriors, Jebel’s family holds the highest honor: his father is executioner. But Jebel is considered too thin to compete to replace him. Humiliated and furious, Jebel vows to regain his honor in a quest to petition the fire god for invincibility. The journey is long, filled with unknown monsters. And by the end of it Jebel isn’t quite sure what he wants anymore. In Darren Shan’s imaginative first standalone novel, he explores themes of religious tolerance and cultural understanding, and champions the idea that peace is often the bravest choice of all.

My Thoughts:

This is a book that really drawing me in! Darren Shann never fail to attract my attention of reading his books. I like his Cirque Du Freak books and this one is also is a very good premise. It starts with an awful beginning as the head rolling and also the sound of how the head cut from the neck of the prisoners. I thought, "I'm not good with with this dreadful reading stuff". Turn out, it is not so bad at all.

Thin executioner is actually introducing us a very thin young man who is on a quest with his slave to a far away on highest mountain to harbor a fierce God to give him a superhuman strength so that he could prove to everyone back ta home that he's also worthy man to be honored like his two brothers. However, the quest with his slave open his eyes about the outside world since he's been thought that his tribe is very respectable tribe compared to others. His character is so arrogant, proud, selfish, and he likes to snort. While he's slave/companion is very humble, obedient, sometime very optimistic for a slave. He's also very patient with Jebel's grunts and sulking. Every characters are well described and yes, they are quite interesting. Shann imaginations in his writing is very impressive.

The book has a fast pace, likely a page turner, imaginative, interesting, alluring your interest and imagination. It may sound quite disturbing whenever Jebel remembers how the executions stuff, heads rolling and everything but I ensure you that the book has so much to give. The story itself is very adventurous, engaging and very consistent excitements. Although they have quite a lot of adventures in a very short period like in 2 or 3 chapters, every adventures ends with a good closure, very well put and no cliff hanger.

It maybe sounds a bit weird, but I really enjoyed reading the book, very much. And I should tell you this, I was quite frustrated with the ending but it was satisfying once you know why, and I think it is for the best. A very good twist.