Review of Inside Dweller
Posted: 08 Oct 2023, 21:10
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Inside Dweller" by Kirsten Schuder.]
“We have nothing to fear but fear itself.” This quote by Franklin D. Roosevelt rings true, but what if your deepest, darkest fears are used against you? As a child, Miranda was faced with the tragedy of losing both of her parents in a car crash, and she was raised by her older sister. Since then, she has buried her pain and become a successful businesswoman in her town, but the past rears its ugly head again when she ends up in a car crash herself. Things start spiraling out of control after that as she is haunted by a tall, shadowy figure that feeds off of her anguish. She will need a team of trained psychologists to help her confront her inner demons in more ways than one. Inside Dweller: Genesis by Kirsten G. Schuder is a chilling tale that will cause you to contemplate the nature of the human mind and the ethereal mysteries of the universe.
The cover art depicts a winged woman with fiery red hair. Clad in a dazzling royal blue dress, she wields an ornate sword in one hand. Just behind her, a shadowy being lurks within a silver mirror. Looking at this picture (which seems to portray a fairy), I would have guessed that this was a young adult book. However, there are violent and disturbing scenes as well as sexual content in this novel. There is also profanity in the text. So, I would only recommend it to adults. The main themes include the supernatural, science fiction, fantasy, horror, psychology, Christian theology, New Age spirituality, and friendship. There is also a lot of scientific jargon relating to astrophysics.
In addition to Miranda, there are the doctors and scientists who she befriends. Dr. Gallagher is Miranda’s main psychologist. As a former corrections officer, his background made him tougher and amplified his ability to read people. Dr. Kelly and Dr. O’Connor are also psychologists who are open-minded to the spiritual and metaphysical aspects of the human mind. Dr. Tetenbaum is a scientist who designed the most powerful MRI machine in the world. His eccentric nature is part of what makes him so endearing. Miranda also has the support of her boyfriend, Steven, and her sister, Alison. All of these characters have experienced tragic events which have shaped their personalities and guided them to pursue their respective careers.
This book was filled with unexpected twists, and I like the fact that the story held my attention from start to finish. I also like the author’s poetic descriptions of the changing of the seasons. Ms. Schuder’s sense of humor shone through when she created two minor characters, police officers named Officer Wright and Officer Rong. There was also a funny moment near the beginning of the book when Alison dealt with her boyfriend’s disapproving mother. Additionally, Miranda’s close relationship with her sister was heartwarming.
However, I did not appreciate the unnecessarily raunchy details contained within the text. I also noticed a similarity in the behaviors of the characters. For example, the pairs, Dr. Gallagher and Dr. Fine, Tim and Mike Cavanaugh, Miranda and Alison, all seem to have the same sort of push-and-pull relationship. They care about each other deeply, but they often get on each other’s nerves. They even behave similarly by throwing up the middle finger and calling each other a pain in the backside. I felt that this similarity diminished the characters’ individuality.
Nevertheless, this was a very fascinating and entertaining novel. Therefore, I have decided to give Inside Dweller: Genesis by Kirsten G. Schuder a rating of five out of five stars. The author deserves full points for creativity. I recommend this book to open-minded adults who are interested in science, science fiction, and fantasy. Some may be offended by the blend of seemingly contradictory concepts, such as Christianity and New Age beliefs. So, the ideal readers are those who are not put off by controversial points of view. I am interested to see what happens in the next installment in this series.
******
Inside Dweller
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
“We have nothing to fear but fear itself.” This quote by Franklin D. Roosevelt rings true, but what if your deepest, darkest fears are used against you? As a child, Miranda was faced with the tragedy of losing both of her parents in a car crash, and she was raised by her older sister. Since then, she has buried her pain and become a successful businesswoman in her town, but the past rears its ugly head again when she ends up in a car crash herself. Things start spiraling out of control after that as she is haunted by a tall, shadowy figure that feeds off of her anguish. She will need a team of trained psychologists to help her confront her inner demons in more ways than one. Inside Dweller: Genesis by Kirsten G. Schuder is a chilling tale that will cause you to contemplate the nature of the human mind and the ethereal mysteries of the universe.
The cover art depicts a winged woman with fiery red hair. Clad in a dazzling royal blue dress, she wields an ornate sword in one hand. Just behind her, a shadowy being lurks within a silver mirror. Looking at this picture (which seems to portray a fairy), I would have guessed that this was a young adult book. However, there are violent and disturbing scenes as well as sexual content in this novel. There is also profanity in the text. So, I would only recommend it to adults. The main themes include the supernatural, science fiction, fantasy, horror, psychology, Christian theology, New Age spirituality, and friendship. There is also a lot of scientific jargon relating to astrophysics.
In addition to Miranda, there are the doctors and scientists who she befriends. Dr. Gallagher is Miranda’s main psychologist. As a former corrections officer, his background made him tougher and amplified his ability to read people. Dr. Kelly and Dr. O’Connor are also psychologists who are open-minded to the spiritual and metaphysical aspects of the human mind. Dr. Tetenbaum is a scientist who designed the most powerful MRI machine in the world. His eccentric nature is part of what makes him so endearing. Miranda also has the support of her boyfriend, Steven, and her sister, Alison. All of these characters have experienced tragic events which have shaped their personalities and guided them to pursue their respective careers.
This book was filled with unexpected twists, and I like the fact that the story held my attention from start to finish. I also like the author’s poetic descriptions of the changing of the seasons. Ms. Schuder’s sense of humor shone through when she created two minor characters, police officers named Officer Wright and Officer Rong. There was also a funny moment near the beginning of the book when Alison dealt with her boyfriend’s disapproving mother. Additionally, Miranda’s close relationship with her sister was heartwarming.
However, I did not appreciate the unnecessarily raunchy details contained within the text. I also noticed a similarity in the behaviors of the characters. For example, the pairs, Dr. Gallagher and Dr. Fine, Tim and Mike Cavanaugh, Miranda and Alison, all seem to have the same sort of push-and-pull relationship. They care about each other deeply, but they often get on each other’s nerves. They even behave similarly by throwing up the middle finger and calling each other a pain in the backside. I felt that this similarity diminished the characters’ individuality.
Nevertheless, this was a very fascinating and entertaining novel. Therefore, I have decided to give Inside Dweller: Genesis by Kirsten G. Schuder a rating of five out of five stars. The author deserves full points for creativity. I recommend this book to open-minded adults who are interested in science, science fiction, and fantasy. Some may be offended by the blend of seemingly contradictory concepts, such as Christianity and New Age beliefs. So, the ideal readers are those who are not put off by controversial points of view. I am interested to see what happens in the next installment in this series.
******
Inside Dweller
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon