Ok, here it is, folks: my promised review of Robert Liparulo's new book "House of Dark Shadows", the first in the Dreamhouse Kings series. Have fun!
Liparulo ---> 
Here’s a recipe for you: take two cups Frank Peretti, a scoop of C.S. Lewis, a healthy dose of Ted Dekker, and just a pinch each of Adventures in Odyssey and the Brady Bunch. Blend well and coat with new character names, locals and a title – what do you get?
A surprisingly good book by Robert Liparulo, that’s what.
Despite its admittedly familiar feeling, Liparulo’s new book, “House of Dark Shadows”, makes for a pretty good read. It’s just original enough to keep the pages turning; though at the end, you’ll want to go back and say “Hey, that really reminded me of…”
The story starts as fifteen-year-old Xander King and his family (Dad, Mom, and a younger bro and sis) travel to Pinedale, a town somewhere in the back of the boonies. Xander is miserable with the move – as an amateur filmmaker and a huge movie buff, his old home in LA seemed perfect, and now he’s doomed to life in the hick lane. Or so he thinks.
From the moment the Kings step into their new house, weird things start to happen: voices from one room sound like they come from another; walking down one hall brings you out at the wrong end of the house; and – creepiest of all – huge, bare footprints and a shadowy figure are sighted all over the house.
Then it gets even better – or worse, if you’re the one trying to sleep in this so-called “dream-house”.
One day, while exploring with his brother David, Xander finds a hidden door that leads to a long hall lined with even more doors. Inside each door is a room, and in each room lie strange objects: equipment for an Arctic expedition in one; scuba masks and flippers in another, or Romanesque fighting apparel in a third. At the back of each strange room is yet another door, and behind that? Well, you’ll just have to see for yourself.
Not only is “House of Dark Shadows” a just-a-wee-bit-creepy suspense story – there’s a mystery too. Whatever happened to the last family who lived in the old Victorian house? Are the gruesome rumors floating around Pinedale true – or is there something else afoot?
Overall, I enjoyed this book. It was a little slow in places, and skipped too lightly over a few scenes I felt should have been more in-depth, but on the whole it was very well written.
I mentioned at the beginning that certain elements of the story were vary familiar, but don’t get the impression that it’s cliché. On the contrary – Liparulo does an excellent job of taking characters one can identify with and easily recognize, and placing them in an entirely original predicament with a shocking twist to boot. This recognizability does come at the expense of the characters’ depth – I felt that by the time I had finished the book, I hardly knew Xander any better than I did when it first began. This isn’t to say that he’s a shallow character, but what you learn in the first five chapters is about what you get.
The one other issue I had with “House of Dark Shadows” had nothing to do with plot or characters: I simply wondered how a Christian author, writing under a Christian label could have so little Christian influence in his book? “House of Dark Shadows” is a perfectly decent book – no foul language or innuendo or anything like that – but there’s nothing meaty behind it.
There is a grand total of one mention of God in “House of Dark Shadows”, and I quote:
“The next morning, during breakfast at the same café where dad had bought their chicken dinner, Mom wondered about the local churches.
Dad frowned and looked at his watch. “I haven’t had a chance…”
Mom shook her head. “Mr. king, next week for sure. No excuses.”
Dad smiled. “Absolutely.”
Ok, I stand corrected. This isn’t even a mention of God – what’s with that? There are dozens of opportunities in “House of Dark Shadows” to speak about God – like how even in Pinedale He has a purpose for them; or how He’ll protect them in this wacky house.; etc, etc, etc.
I’m not saying that it needs to be preachy, but this book could have easily been published under any secular tag.
That being said, I probably would have still read “House of Dark Shadows” if it had been published by a secular company, and found it worth my while.
As an end note, I’d give it four-out-of-five stars. A good read – not an absolute gem – but a fun escape. And I’ll be looking for book two –
Oh, that’s one last warning: If you don’t kike cliff-hangers, wait until you have the next book in the Dreamhouse Kings series – “House of Dark Shadows” ends on a doozy.
A surprisingly good book by Robert Liparulo, that’s what.
Despite its admittedly familiar feeling, Liparulo’s new book, “House of Dark Shadows”, makes for a pretty good read. It’s just original enough to keep the pages turning; though at the end, you’ll want to go back and say “Hey, that really reminded me of…”
The story starts as fifteen-year-old Xander King and his family (Dad, Mom, and a younger bro and sis) travel to Pinedale, a town somewhere in the back of the boonies. Xander is miserable with the move – as an amateur filmmaker and a huge movie buff, his old home in LA seemed perfect, and now he’s doomed to life in the hick lane. Or so he thinks.
From the moment the Kings step into their new house, weird things start to happen: voices from one room sound like they come from another; walking down one hall brings you out at the wrong end of the house; and – creepiest of all – huge, bare footprints and a shadowy figure are sighted all over the house.
Then it gets even better – or worse, if you’re the one trying to sleep in this so-called “dream-house”.
One day, while exploring with his brother David, Xander finds a hidden door that leads to a long hall lined with even more doors. Inside each door is a room, and in each room lie strange objects: equipment for an Arctic expedition in one; scuba masks and flippers in another, or Romanesque fighting apparel in a third. At the back of each strange room is yet another door, and behind that? Well, you’ll just have to see for yourself.
Not only is “House of Dark Shadows” a just-a-wee-bit-creepy suspense story – there’s a mystery too. Whatever happened to the last family who lived in the old Victorian house? Are the gruesome rumors floating around Pinedale true – or is there something else afoot?
Overall, I enjoyed this book. It was a little slow in places, and skipped too lightly over a few scenes I felt should have been more in-depth, but on the whole it was very well written.
I mentioned at the beginning that certain elements of the story were vary familiar, but don’t get the impression that it’s cliché. On the contrary – Liparulo does an excellent job of taking characters one can identify with and easily recognize, and placing them in an entirely original predicament with a shocking twist to boot. This recognizability does come at the expense of the characters’ depth – I felt that by the time I had finished the book, I hardly knew Xander any better than I did when it first began. This isn’t to say that he’s a shallow character, but what you learn in the first five chapters is about what you get.
The one other issue I had with “House of Dark Shadows” had nothing to do with plot or characters: I simply wondered how a Christian author, writing under a Christian label could have so little Christian influence in his book? “House of Dark Shadows” is a perfectly decent book – no foul language or innuendo or anything like that – but there’s nothing meaty behind it.
There is a grand total of one mention of God in “House of Dark Shadows”, and I quote:
“The next morning, during breakfast at the same café where dad had bought their chicken dinner, Mom wondered about the local churches.
Dad frowned and looked at his watch. “I haven’t had a chance…”
Mom shook her head. “Mr. king, next week for sure. No excuses.”
Dad smiled. “Absolutely.”
Ok, I stand corrected. This isn’t even a mention of God – what’s with that? There are dozens of opportunities in “House of Dark Shadows” to speak about God – like how even in Pinedale He has a purpose for them; or how He’ll protect them in this wacky house.; etc, etc, etc.
I’m not saying that it needs to be preachy, but this book could have easily been published under any secular tag.
That being said, I probably would have still read “House of Dark Shadows” if it had been published by a secular company, and found it worth my while.
As an end note, I’d give it four-out-of-five stars. A good read – not an absolute gem – but a fun escape. And I’ll be looking for book two –
Oh, that’s one last warning: If you don’t kike cliff-hangers, wait until you have the next book in the Dreamhouse Kings series – “House of Dark Shadows” ends on a doozy.
~Trav
Oh, and here's a link to the Thomas Nelson product page for "House of Dark Shadows", if you're interested: link
1 comments:
Hello!
I enjoyed your review for this book. I agree - I wish it mentioned God in it more. I thought it was a good book overall, but wondered why they never prayed, or talked much about the Lord.
In Christ,
V4C
Post a Comment