Rita Hsu Syers

I was extremely curious about the premise of this book - and the story was a compelling on, with some characters I liked very much... but I found many of the gory, violent and evil details used far from judiciously. While I don't mind reading about grotesque and distasteful details that move a story along, it almost felt like a Hoollywood blockbuster at times - too much, to quickly. I think it would have been more effective to imply more and leave some things up to the imagination(especially when dealing with the deaths of the young girl's schoolmates - and their twisted family lives). I felt like the theology was inconsistent and ambiguous- sort of a quasi-Catholic spirituality - and would have appreciated a more complex, genuine treatment of the supernatural (meaning how the characters each reacted to all these incredible occurances, rather than simply accepting them, as it felt like they did). I enjoyed the dog characters very much - I think they were the most complex characters, which, come to think of it, makes sense of the way many of the human characters were written. The inter-species relationships and interactions were enjoyable to read - I think I would have liked to see much more of these characters rather than spending so much time with the comparatively flat humans. One big exception: the leader of the girl coven. I felt like I could relate to, despise and feel compassion for her all at the same time.

Overall, not something I'd recommend to many. I hope the author continues to explore the animal world. I was entertained immensely by that portion. I also hope that in the sequel to this one (there was a short excerpt/ad for it in the back) there will be less grabbing you by the neck to force you to look at the grotesque actions and consequences of evil, and would rather inspire us to shudder with horror at what we can only imagine happening.… (mehr)

Chloe Wendleton loses her parents in a tragic plane crash when she was 5. She now lives with her Grandfather, the housekeeper and her beloved pets. Chloe finds it a little hard to adjust to her new surroundings. On most accounts,she is a normal 10 year old girl, except that she sees and hears things that no adult can. She is sure that her house is haunted. The ghosts of 2 children keep appearing to her but since no adult can see them, she is afraid to tell anyone. One day while going through some old newspapers, she finds an article about Sarah Jane and her brother Thomas Van Hise who vanished from their home 50 years ago. Chloe is heartbroken, she is now more determined than ever to find out what happened to the children. She devises a plan to enlist the help of her pets and her friends from school, Maya and Will. Together they embark on an courageous adventure that i'm sure they will never forget....if they live through it!!

I really enjoyed this book. Packed with mystery and action and written so that it can be enjoyed by all ages. I love the way the author incorporates the pets' point of view into the story, that's something you dont see often. The characters were strong and believeable and the story was very entertaining and well written.
I finished the book in one sitting and i honestly dont believe there was even one dull moment. I recommend this book to all and I can't wait for the next one.… (mehr)

It's clear the author loves dogs, and it's a very sweet sentiment, to love your pets so much that you feel inspired to write a fantasy novel with a dog as a hero.

However, this is a book that should have gone through several more re-writes before being allowed to see the light of day. There were inconsistencies galore, and it got very preachy at times. Character motivation was nigh impossible to understand, despite the overabundance of description.

I felt obliged to finish the book because I got it as part of the Early Reviewers program, but I really wish I hadn't bothered to read it. It really felt like a waste of my time.… (mehr)

This book was a conflicting read. One one hand, as an animal lover, I greatly enjoyed the fact that the hero/protagonist of the book is an animal, in this case, a dog. I found myself absorbed in the story & found the story to be entertaining. On the other hand, the lack of consistency in the story line and the typos found throughout the book detracted from the experience. The book does need more work when it comes to editing and rewriting some of the passages to make the story flow more coherently and smoothly. I'd say this is a read-at-your-own risk. If you're very picky about punctuation & correct writing, steer clear. If you're just looking to read a story that is entertaining, animal loving, and deals with the occult, then this might be the book for you.… (mehr)