Sunday, 17 August 2014

(ARC) Book Review (375): Sanctum (Asylum #2) - Madeleine Roux


Sanctum: An Asylum Novel (Asylum #2)

Publication: 26th August 2014
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pages: 352
Genre: Paranormal
Age Appropriate: Young Adult
In this haunting, fast-paced sequel to the New York Times bestselling photo-illustrated novel Asylum, three teens must unlock some long-buried secrets from the past before the past comes back to get them first. Featuring found photographs, many from real vintage carnivals, Sanctum is a mind-bending reading experience that blurs the lines between past and present, genius and insanity, perfect for fans of the smash hit Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children.

Dan, Abby, and Jordan remain traumatized by the summer they shared in the Brookline asylum. Much as they'd love to move on, someone is determined to keep the terror alive, sending the teens photos of an old-timey carnival, with no note and no name. Forsaking their plan never to go back, the teens return to New Hampshire College under the guise of a weekend for prospective students, and there they realize that the carnival from the photos is not only real, it's here on campus, apparently for the first time in many years.

Sneaking away from sample classes and college parties, Dan and his friends lead a tour of their own—one through the abandoned houses and hidden places of the surrounding town. Camford is hiding a terrible past, and the influence of the asylum runs deeper than Dan ever imagined.
My Thoughts.
Sanctum is a spine-tingling, chilling and creepy second book in the Asylum series.

Dan is still haunted by his time at Brookline, seeming to become almost obsessed with the history of the Warden and the asylum, he convinces Abby and Jordan to join him for a weekend after a visit with Felix leaves him with clues, which may hold information into what the Warden really got up to at his time in charge.

The secret society The Scarlets who first made an appearance in the #1.5 novella are very active in this story, the society created by the Warden back in the day, his legacy has carried on and his lobotomies and experiments are still being carried out to this day by a predecessor  whom he left everything to including his knowledge and evil way of thinking.

By solving the mystery behind every strange and weird occurrence, can Dan and his friends finally put an end to the Warden's madness and put a lid on and stop the evil and madness he has spread years after his death.

I enjoyed Sanctum more than I did Asylum, I found the story to have a bit more action and the story was more intense as all the loose ends were wrapped up and we were given the ending which we'd hoped for, I can only assume that this is a duology and I was happy with the finale.

I'll be keeping a lookout for future releases from Madeleine as I really enjoy her writing style and storytelling.

This series is a good choice to read at Halloween for those who like books that give you shivers down the spine.

I give this 4/5 stars.

About

MADELEINE ROUX received her BA in Creative Writing and Acting from Beloit College in 2008.  In the spring of 2009, Madeleine completed an Honors Term at Beloit College, proposing, writing and presenting a full-length historical fiction novel.  Shortly after, she began the experimental fiction blog Allison Hewitt Is Trapped.  Allison Hewitt Is Trapped quickly spread throughout the blogosphere, bringing a unique serial fiction experience to readers.
Born in Minnesota, she now lives and works in Wisconsin where she enjoys the local beer and preparing for the eventual and inevitable zombie apocalypse.
To see my St Martins/Macmillan author page, click here!


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