OnlineBookClub.org

[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Something (Wisteria 1)" by Shelby Lamb.]

Shelby Lamb’s debut novel, Something, is the first book in the Wisteria series. Filled with spine-chilling moments and mature content, it is not intended for sensitive readers or weak stomachs. However, if you get a thrill from disturbing, unsettling phenomena and the thought of someone watching you from the shadows, then this book will probably be right up your alley.

Something follows several teenagers, starting with suicidal Aubrey, who is heart-broken and desperate after being dumped by her boyfriend. Nathan can’t get away from his crazy ex and has too much on his plate already, dealing with his own depressed mother and needy sister, not to mention keeping his new girlfriend a secret from Aubrey. Bella is an aspiring porn star with a perfect body and the party-girl attitude to match, if only that annoying Aubrey would quit showing up and ruining all the fun. Kendra is a soon-to-be teen mom to twin girls who finds comfort in chatting online with her new friend Aubrey, as they can relate to each other as outcasts among their peers.

Aubrey finds a book in a used book store, titled Something, which is filled with chilling poetry that draws her into its pages. It’s subtle at first, but mysterious things begin happening around Aubrey. Through Aubrey, the other characters also come into contact with the book and experience similar creepy moments. Moving shadows. Hallucinations. Horned creatures. Something very evil is lurking within the pages of Aubrey’s new book.

What shocked me the most about this book was the abundant use of sexual content. It seemed to go even beyond erotic with some pretty detailed and disgusting imagery that is almost gag-worthy. I suppose that this imagery is part of the book’s appeal, but readers should be warned that there is almost an excess of disturbing content within these pages. Personally, I didn’t mind it so much, as it added to the creepiness of the book, which is what I enjoy most, but it’s certainly not suitable for younger readers or those who are sensitive to such material.

Overall, the book is well-planned and well-written. There are a few awkward sentences here and there throughout the book and a couple of cases of missing punctuation, but the writing quality is actually quite excellent and makes for a pleasant read, filled with poetic descriptions and unexpected thrills. At first, I thought that the multiple characters seemed a bit random and difficult to follow, but they all eventually come together in a nice, concise way that only adds to the quality of the story as a whole. The trouble with multiple perspectives is usually redundancy that bogs down the story; that doesn’t happen at all with this book. Each perspective is unique and refreshing, and there is no overlapping content. Without the different viewpoints, the story would have been a bit lacking, so I’m glad to see that the author made the bold choice to go with this style of story-telling.

Although there are a few instances in which additional editing would be beneficial, I can only deduct a few tenths of a point for such minor errors (that are hardly noticeable for the most part). Rounded up, my final rating is 4 out of 4 stars for this excellent, suspenseful horror novel, and I am already looking forward to the next book in the series. Recommended to fans of creepy and disturbing content, you will probably want to sleep with the light on for a few days after reading this book.

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Something (Wisteria 1)
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The cover definitely drew me in first - wonderfully creepy with the right mix of chilling. After reading your review, however, 'Something' just doesn't seem like the kind of horror I'd enjoy very much. Still, awesome review! I can feel the suspense and fear crawling around the corner....

...ohmygodwhyamialoneathomerightnow?

I definitely plan to read this one! Thank you for sharing your review.

Great review! This book sounds really good!

Glad you enjoyed the book. It sounds good. Thank you for the review!

I agree that I really love the cover for this book. The characters certainly seem a bit over-the-top, but not in a bad way. I'll definitely keep this book in mind when the mood strikes for an unsettling, creepy read. Thanks for the great review!

Seems a bit too creepy for my taste. Congratulations to the author on getting such a decent rating in her debut novel. Thanks for sharing the review with us as well.

Thanks for the review. I've put it on my want to read list.

It's definitely not for everyone, that's for sure! Thank you so much for your comments! I didn't even see them until just now. Life. And such.

Thanks for the heads up that it may not be for everyone.

This book is awesome. It keeps you on the end of your seat. There are twists and turns here and there. It's deceitful but rewarding. You just can't wait to read what happens next. It has very strong language. However it would be well worth your time to read. Creepy but interesting.

I love gothic books, though I am not too thrilled about the excess of sexual content. It sure sounds intriguing, though, and I will check it out. Thank you for the review!

Another great review! Reading your review is giving me the creeps already! I'm definitely curious what happens to these teenagers when they come into with the book. I'm not sure how I feel about the disturbing/weird erotic scenes. I'll have to sample to see, but other than that, this might be a fun, creepy read! Congratulations to the author for receiving such a positive review!

You did a fantastic job on the review! Sleep with the light on for a few days after reading this book....try a few months for me! Shoot, I may get nightmares just from the review!! Clearly, I don't do well with books like this. I'm a wimp. But, just in case, I did grab a copy of it. You never know.....

Congrats to the author on being chosen for #BOTD and all the great reviews!

Great review. Any book that carries the warning "for mature audiences only" is definitely worth me reading. Suspense and horror is just my cup of tea. Thanls for making it free grabbed my copy. Congrats on being BOTD.