Sep 18, 2012

Review: Ten by Gretchen McNeil


Title: Ten
Author: Gretchen McNeil
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Publication Date: 9.18.2012
Pages: 304
Genre: Horror, Contemporary, Mystery
Series: No
Source: ARC from a friend
 
Rating: A+
 
Summary (from Goodreads):
And their doom comes swiftly.
It was supposed to be the weekend of their lives—an exclusive house party on Henry Island. Best friends Meg and Minnie each have their reasons for being there (which involve T.J., the school’s most eligible bachelor) and look forward to three glorious days of boys, booze and fun-filled luxury.

But what they expect is definitely not what they get, and what starts out as fun turns dark and twisted after the discovery of a DVD with a sinister message:
Vengeance is mine.


Suddenly people are dying, and with a storm raging, the teens are cut off from the outside world. No electricity, no phones, no internet, and a ferry that isn’t scheduled to return for two days. As the deaths become more violent and the teens turn on each other, can Meg find the killer before more people die? Or is the killer closer to her than she could ever imagine?
 
Review:
Rarely have I wanted a book to be a movie as bad as I do Ten by Gretchen McNeil. Reading this book was like watching a fantastic horror flick. It has all the elements that I love—suspense, action, mystery, and a healthy dose of romantic angst.
 
Meg is, simply put, kick-ass. This is probably one of the most realistic teenage female characters I’ve read in a really long time. Not only is Meg strong, but she’s also not a total hero. When she’s supposed to be afraid, she is and admits it. One of my biggest pet peeves is taking a strong heroine and making her seemingly invincible. Meg is very human in her flaws, and I loved how easily I was able to connect with her.
 
McNeil does the novel a great service by truly setting up scenes. I felt like I was on the island with the characters. She does such a fantastic job laying out each scene; it was like watching a movie in my head. From the start when we arrived on the island in the midst of a storm, to walking around the island, I felt like I was an extra in the scenes because I was so clearly able to envision what was happening. McNeil walks that fine line between just enough information and too much info to enjoy a novel. While she would aptly illustrate a setting, it wasn’t overdone. It flowed effortlessly.
 
The plot kept me guessing to the end and the twist at the end was delicious. I highly recommend checking this book out, and if you can read it on a dark and stormy night at home alone, then definitely do it. It will totally get you in the mood.
 
 

4 comments:

  1. I'm glad i read this review. I have heard a lot about this book, but this is the first review that tells of the visuals without it being a movie. I'll have to pick this book up.

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  2. I just got this book a few weeks ago but haven't had time read it yet with the hundred or so other books on my reading list! I'm glad it's a little spooky and has some romance. I'll be reading this sooner than later.

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  3. Looks like a good horror story with a measure of suspense to it.

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  4. I have had this book on my TBR for quite a while but then totally forgot about it!
    I really need to pick this up. Thanks for the great review!

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