Friday, December 16, 2011

QUICK REVIEW: "Creative Spirit" - by Scott Nicholson


“CREATIVE SPIRIT”
by Scott Nicholson

REVIEWED BY: Books4Tomorrow

OVERVIEW:
A modern Gothic thriller

After parapsychologist Anna Galloway is diagnosed with metastatic cancer, she has a recurring dream in which she sees her own ghost. The setting of her dream is the historic Korban Manor, which is now an artist's retreat in the remote Appalachian Mountains. Drawn both by the ghost stories surrounding the manor and her own sense of destiny, Anna signs up for the retreat.

Sculptor Mason Jackson has come to Korban Manor to make a final, all-or-nothing attempt at success before giving up his dreams. When he becomes obsessed with carving Ephram Korban's form out of wood, he questions his motivation but is swept up in a creative frenzy unlike any he has ever known.

Sylva Hartley is an old mountain witchwoman who is connected to Ephram Korban both before and after his death. Her knowledge of Appalachian folk spells and potions has bound her to the manor in a deeper and darker way. Sylva harbors a family secret that refuses to stay slumbering in its grave.

The manor itself has secrets, with fires that blaze constantly in the hearths, portraits of Korban in every room, and deceptive mirrors on the walls. The house's brooding atmosphere affects the creative visions of the visiting artists. A mysterious woman in white calls to Anna from the forest, while Mason is driven by the whispers of an unseen critic. With an October blue moon looming, both the living and the dead learn the true power of their dreams.

It's a power that Korban craves for himself, because he walks a shadowy land where passions burn cold and even the ghosts are haunted.

REVIEW:
This is probably the shortest review I’ve written on any book so far, but “Creative Spirit” is easy to sum up in a few sentences, so here goes.


“Unputdownable” doesn’t roll off the tongue so well for me, but that’s just what it is. Wonderfully creepy are also great words to capture the essence of this book. For quite some time now I’ve been searching around for a book that would scare the living daylights out of me, as I am a big horror / paranormal fan, and don’t scare easily. How lucky for me to have won a copy of “Creative Spirit” by Scott Nicholson for review!

Remember how haunted house stories used to be written? This book is just like that – although it’s not just any haunted house, but something far more sinister. Voodoo, witchcraft, shockingly slow deaths, possession, and loads more hair-raising goodies are to be found right here. It contains all the elements a good old fashioned, spine chilling supernatural story should have.

I suppose I should mention what really adds to this book is good, solid characters with strong personalities, each with their own in depth background story; as well as medium to fast pacing of the storyline that builds up the suspense really well until you can take no more. The author hardly gives you enough time to catch your breath before launching into the next bloodcurdling twist! 

I won’t recommend you read this before turning off the lights though – you’ll keep looking over your shoulder and hearing strange noises in the dark...
But don’t say I didn’t warn you!

WARNING: Not for the fainthearted.

BOOKS4TOMORROW star rating4/5

READ more REVIEWS:

“Creative Spirit” by Scott Nicholson has 5 reviews on GoodReads. Read the reviews here – http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11153196-creative-spirit

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1 comment:

BookCrazy said...

My cup of tea.The review already has me craving for more!!

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