Official Review: Aberrancy by Su Halfwerk

Heidi M Simone · Post by **Heidi M Simone** » 04 Apr 2016, 11:38

[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Aberrancy" by Su Halfwerk.]

4 out of 4 stars

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“Will your sins find you out?” is the question that introduces the C/T/M/H book, Aberrancy by Su Halfwerk. The dark and chilling story following the inquiry leaves the reader with a cool, unsettling feeling throughout this short novel.

Robert Williamson seems like a very fortunate man. He has a steady job as a lawyer, a wife he absolutely adores, and a daughter who fits perfectly within their family. That is until one day when the accident occurs. This freak accident turns Robert's once stable and rewarding life to a damaged and troubled one. He is left with a void in his life that he cannot be filled. He has only one to blame for all of his anguish and despair – a witch.

This relentless man will stop at nothing until he is given his due explanation as to why everything he loves has been taken away from him. Then, he will slowly and gladly get his revenge. He will once and for all stop the evil from continuing.

Halfwerk hits all of the major categories a good book needs: good character development, an intense story line, well-written descriptions of each scene, mystery, a range of emotions, and keeps the reader questioning until the end.

This book was a mixture of a little bit of everything within its genre and themes. It encompasses horror, mystery, crime, and definite thrills. Some themes included are love/family, friendship, good vs. evil, and right vs. wrong. However, the overarching theme is recognizing sins and their possible repercussions.

While reading, I experienced feelings of shock, confusion, excitement, sadness, disgust, and overall unnerving. This is the exact formula that one needs for a paranormal horror read, and Halfwerk perfectly delivers all this and more in Aberrancy. Readers be advised there are scenes that left my heart racing, or I swear it stopped for a second, and scenes that evil wove in and out of, which may not be for the fainthearted, so choose wisely.

Aberrancy deserves a 4 out of 4 stars rating due to all of the elements mentioned earlier. It is a book that keeps the reader wanting more, and I literally couldn't put it down. If you enjoy books that leaves you a bit unsettled and don't mind talk about evil, then this book is for you. However, if you become easily disturbed by somewhat scary plots and graphic scenes, then you might want to stay away.

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Aberrancy
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Post by **bookowlie** » 04 Apr 2016, 15:14

Great review! I am glad you enjoyed the book. The plot looks interesting, but I get the creepy-crawlies from paranormal stories. The only ones where I don't jump out of my skin are when the paranormal element is light or humorous (think Ghostbusters).

Heidi M Simone · Post by **Heidi M Simone** » 04 Apr 2016, 15:18

Thank you!

Well, I wasn't going to admit it, but I will. So because I read most of this book in one sitting, too engrossed to leave my bed, I felt very weird afterwards. I literally had to get up and pick up this other book I've been reading that's based on the bible and kind of get away for a little bit. I felt much better after that!

bluemel4 · Post by **bluemel4** » 04 Apr 2016, 15:33

Fantastic review! This is definitely my kind of book.

Heidi M Simone · Post by **Heidi M Simone** » 04 Apr 2016, 15:34

Thank you, bluemel4!
Awesome! I hope you get to read it and enjoy it as much as I did!

CrescentMoon · Post by **CrescentMoon** » 04 Apr 2016, 22:28

Wow this book sounds like an emotional roller coaster. I like that a lot, I love reading books that bring out strong emotions and this seems to be one that brings out a lot of them

Thanks for the great review!

Heidi M Simone · Post by **Heidi M Simone** » 05 Apr 2016, 00:43

Thank you, CrescentMoon! I definitely had a range of emotions while reading! If you do get the chance to read this book, hope you enjoy it!

gali · Post by **gali** » 05 Apr 2016, 06:04

Sounds good. Thank you for the great review!

Heidi M Simone · Post by **Heidi M Simone** » 05 Apr 2016, 06:13

Thank you, gali!

H0LD0Nthere · Post by **H0LD0Nthere** » 05 Apr 2016, 21:39

Thanks for this very balanced review. Not sure if I will check out the book or not. I'm drawn to paranormal stories but have a love/hate relationship with them because I'm so impressionable. Tried to read Salem's Lot & couldn't because it's too SAD.

Thanks again.

Heidi M Simone · Post by **Heidi M Simone** » 06 Apr 2016, 00:47

Thank you for your kind words! It's definitely interesting that I chose this book. Normally, something like this would be too spooky for me, but it sounded interested and I'm glad I did!

Thank you for your thoughts! I haven't actually read Salem's Lot, but I might look into it.

SuHalfwerk · Post by **SuHalfwerk** » 06 Apr 2016, 02:31

hsimone, thank you for the wonderful, honest, and balanced review. I especially appreciate how you didn't reveal any twists in the story and gave it justice in your evaluation.
Aberrancy is dark, it was always meant to be this way, but despite the paranormal aspect to its horror, there's also a psychological terror involved, and I think that's what got to you while reading it.

Again, thank you

Heidi M Simone · Post by **Heidi M Simone** » 06 Apr 2016, 03:31

Dear SuHalfwerk,

You are most welcome! Thank you for writing such a compelling story. It was a challenge to not reveal some of the twists because if I do say so myself those were my favorites. However, while writing this review, I reflected how I wasn't aware of the twists going into the story since the book summary provided did not give much away. It added so much element of surprise that made your story even better! I love the not knowing. Just give a little to lure someone in, and wham! Throw them onto a roller coaster ride!

The psychological terror is a good point to bring up, and you're right that's probably what made me want me unable to put it down. I really couldn't believe how sucked in I was while reading. You have a gift Ms. Halfwerk that I hope many more recognize that.

Thank you for commenting. Good luck with Aberrancy and your other works!