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4.15.2010

Morpheus Road: The Light by D.J. MacHale

The Light (Morpheus Road)The Light (Morpheus Road) by D.J. MacHale
Review copy provided by Big Honcho Media

PJVs QUICKIE POV: Rollercoaster! This book was a macabre rollercoaster through a week of one boys life. Entertaining and spine chilling, The Light, flung me from one impending and near death experience to the next, never letting me up for breath. Not often does a book leave me chilled, but this one almost had me sleeping with the light on.

REVIEW: Marshall Seaver is in a bad place when we are introduced to him in The Light. Dealing with the repercussions of his mother's death, Marsh has become rather reclusive, content to get lost in books, movies and games revolving around fantasy and science fiction.  Marsh has one friend, Cooper Foley and that relationship is a bit tenuous. Cooper is everything that Marsh is not. Cooper is popular, a risk taker, a boy who doesn't care about what people think. Coop and Marsh are the exact opposites, yet have been friends forever. Lately Cooper has been getting into trouble, taking risks that aren't minor league anymore.  The latest spot of trouble involved some counterfeit tickets and a few policemen.

Because of the trouble, Coop is sent up to his parents lake house for the summer and Marsh is left at home with no friends and even his father is on a business trip.

This is when the haunting begins.  At first Marsh thinks it is all in his head, he's hearing things... he must be having hearing problems from the loud music.  Then he starts to see things.  Is he going crazy, is he seeing hallucinations?  When these hallucinations have him fleeing his home, desperate to save his life from something that can only be made up in his head, Marsh is desperate for any kind of help.  He finds that help in Coop's, older, ice-queen sister, or at least she helps him get in touch with her parents, only to find out that Cooper is missing.  Desperate to find his friend, Marsh heads up their to find answers and hopefully to escape the ghoul that is chasing him.

Along the way, discoveries are made, and the game goes from a simple haunting to a desperate fight for his life, the life of his friends and maybe the world as he knows it.

The Light is a high impact read that will keep the adrenaline pumping and wanting more.  This book never stopped it's forward motion.

Things I liked about The Light:
Intense action sequences
Well laid plot lines
Creepy bad guys
Supporting characters
Main characters growth

Things that I didn't like:
The main character was a bit of a pain in the beginning all whiney and whimpery, but he transitioned, so I guess that was the point
I'm not a big fan of foreshadowing and the prlogue was a foreshadow reminsicent of Twilight it was intriguing but I wasn't really that big a fan of it
There was a lot of stereotyping, which is rampant in YA fic/movies, sometimes I wish authors would step out of it.  Stop with the bully/jock, the snarky/pop/hot chick, the dorky/star wars geek/rocket builder geek...

Bad points were few and far between though...definitly worth the time to read. I've been on a roll lately, both YA and adult. Go me.

RECOMMENDATIONS: For teens and adults. It is a bit scary but nothing inappropriate. Horror fans and thrill seekers should enjoy.

Stop by the Morpheus Road: The Light Blog tour that I am hosting April 16th and you could win a $50 Gift Card.

Question? What scares you?
My answer...Aliens! I have a bizarre fear of being abducted by aliens. Odd right?










55 comments:

Melissa (Books and Things) said...

This sounds like a good scary read. Haven't heard of this one, but it sounds like it's worth looking for!

bookaholic said...

This sounds like a nice book but I try to steer clear from horror...so I don't think I can enjoy this book :(

Park Avenue Princess said...

I really LOVED this one! What scares me? SPIDERS! ANY KIND...ANY SIZE! YUCK!

xoxx Amy (Park-Avenue Princess)

Aleksandra said...

Great review :) Can't wait to read it :)

buddyt said...

The Aliens I could handle. It might even be interesting !

But for some reason I have this irrational fear of being smothered to death. Don't know why as I am not claustrophobic.

Thanks for the giveaway.

Carol T (International entry)

buddytho {at} gmail DOT com

Unknown said...

I just read this one too...it's VERY different, not sure I loved it as much as you did, but it was erie that's for sure, wonderful review...

ParaJunkee said...

@Melissa - It is a good read, and if you like a bit of horror something to pick up.

@bookaholic - oh everyone needs a little bit of fright in their life. LOL

@PAPrincess - ooh spiders, especially the big hairy ones! *shivers*

@Buddy - ack interesting?? LOL I just watched 4th kind and even though it was a total fake it scared me silly. Most scariest book/movie ever COMMUNION OMG that finger to his forehead had me sleeping with the light on for a MONTH!

@Jenn - I'm such a horror fan, it was started me on the paranormal road that I am on. Though tiring to read a lot of it, I still love scaring myself silly.

Blodeuedd said...

A bit scary, oh a friend of mine would love this one :D And I too think it sounds cool

Glory said...

Omg...Lol, what scares ya? Mmm...the dark. aye, i know, im stupid. LOL

Unknown said...

Nice review! Sounds like a great read that is a bit scary, but I think I can enjoy it :)

Heather (DarklyReading) said...

This book sounds really good - I like a bit of horror with my YA reads!

Tina said...

Ha! You aren't the only one with a bizarre fear for aliens. Me too! Green men with big eyes and big heads, kind of creep me out.

Trailer was really good. Sold me.

Unknown said...

Hmm sounds good . I love books that scare me. What scares me? Spiders. I know a lot of people say that but I have nightmares about it to where when I wake up I have to turn the light on to make sure there are none around me.


Stephanie G
ParanormalHaven.blogspot.com

cfisher1504 said...

I have added it to my wish list. Sounds like an awesome read.

Rosie said...

This does sound like a cool book. I'm looking forward to reading it. Thanks for the review!

The Scarf Princess said...

Great review! I love the exhuberance by which you decribed the book, it's got me equally excited to read it.

And my fear is of dying. I'm so not ready yet and feel like I have so much more to accomplish.

joderjo402 AT gmail DOT com

Shanna said...

This book looks amazing!!!!!!
Great review, excited to read it!

Nikki @ Bookizzle said...

I've been rather intrigued by this ever since I saw you rate it on goodreads. I love a book that keeps me on my toes throughout. Sounds like something to add to my TBR pile - thanks for your review!

As for my fear...snakes come to mind. Especially humongous ones that have the capacity to squeeze the life out of me. DO NOT WANT!

Amanda from Novel Addiction said...

Thanks for posting this review - this book sounds spine-chillingly interesting. And the cover is visually stunning. Might have to pick this up!

Unknown said...

Sounds like a interesting book and I like that its in a boys point of view

Unknown said...

Dentists terrify me. And the upcoming 2012 apocalypse *shivers*!

Jenni @ Falling Off The Shelf said...

Sounds good! I love that cover, it's creepy.

And to answer your question, death scares me. I'm afraid of what comes after, because truly we don't know what that is, and I'm not so sure I'd like to find out.

Great review!

jellybelly82158 said...

Great review!!! Sounds like a great read.

misskallie2000 said...

I enjoyed your review and have also read a few others. This does sound like a great mystery, suspense which I enjoy reading so I am adding to my wish list. Thanks for your honest review as I have come to depend on them for my book purchases when choosing a new author.

misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com

Casey (The Bookish Type) said...

It sounds like this one will definitely have me sleeping with the lights on! Your review really drew me in and now I'm dying to know what becomes of Marsh and Coop! I agree about YA books giving in to stereotypes - it only helps reinforce them. Sigh. I suppose it's like stock characters in theatre though - they serve their purpose. This sounds like a thrilling read - thanks for the great review!

I have an award for you! Check it out: http://thebookishtype.blogspot.com/p/awards.html

Pamk said...

nice review. and what scares me is the human monsters I can't see coming.

Llehn said...

I love the premise so I suppose I could put up with a whiny MC!!

Rachel said...

I LOVE a good scary story! Will add this to my TBR list!

Lola said...

Awesome review Rach! I definitely want to get my hands on a copy of this one! Your review is the first I've heard of this book! :)

Also, I have an award for you!
http://lillybook.blogspot.com/2010/04/blog-award.html

Melissa @ Mel's Books and Info said...

This sounds like a great book. It is nice to have a male protagonist in a paranormal story since so many are coming out with female protagonists. I will definitely have to put this on my to read list.

MannaB said...

I love horror books so this sounds awesome!
Great Review!

Barbara E. said...

Sounds like a great scary story. I don't read too much horror, but if the story is a good one, I'll enjoy it.

Nelsby said...

Wow! This book sounds like a real page-turner that I wouldn't be able to put down.

While I am not afraid of snakes, I truly fear creepy crawly things. Not all bugs -- but I am irrationally afraid of spiders and cockroaches...specifically Texas cockroaches. Everything really IS bigger in Texas!

Aimee
sierranelsby (at) gmail (dot) com

Aik said...

Thanks for posting this review! This book sounds great! I'm currently into horror stories, so I'd like to read this book too!

Arizu Ynewi said...

Sounds really interesting, can't wait to read it!

Bookish in a Box said...

This sounds like the plot summary of a scary summer movie. Count me in!

jellybelly82158 said...

This book sounds great!!!!
What scares me? Small tight places or being held down against my will.

EVA SB said...

I like something that is scary but not too much. This book sounds right for me.

Snakes scare me witless.

Unknown said...

Thank you, I enjoyed reading your review, especially the What I liked and didn't like part, it was very informative! This book sounds interesting, will have to check it out.

Thanks!

Unknown said...

Everything scares me, but I loved to be scared. Use to watch Horror movies all the time as a kid. I'd love to win this book. It's going to be huge! Very popular!

FyreInk said...

Sounds spooky!! Thanks for your review!!

jellybelly82158 said...

This book sounds great!!!!! Can't wait to read it.

Book Sake said...

Can't wait to read this one...we like a lil scariness in our books!

JenM said...

Thanks for a good summary of this book. I was concerned that it might be too much like a horror book, but it sounds like it's not and I like that the lead character is a guy instead of a girl. Scary stuff - anything creepy, crawly gets me.

Patti (@TheLoveJunkee) said...

I've been looking for books with a male main character for my son to read. This sounds like exactly what I'm looking for!

Mari said...

This sounds like a book I would enjoy. I have been on a YA book binge, particularly Roald Dahl. I am not stared of Aliens, but I am afraid of zombies. It hasn't stopped me from reading zombie books, though!

jellybelly82158 said...

This sounds like a great book!!! It will definitely go in my must read stack

dobby said...

This looks great and thanks for a great review. I love reading horror.

lovelyritaann said...

This sounds like a great book. Horror's are something that is hard for me to put down.... but I'm scared to pick them up in the first place.

Unknown said...

Sounds like an awesome read ! On my wish list now !

mandala said...

I am very curious to read this book. I like reading but have not ventured much into this genre. Thanks for the review!

Andria said...

This looks pretty good! But I agree with what you said...

"Stop with the bully/jock, the snarky/pop/hot chick, the dorky/star wars geek/rocket builder geek..."

I'm getting tired of that, too!

Great review!

ginnn7 said...

Great review, can't wait to read.

Kit said...

Sounds interesting, great review!!

Sarah E said...

This sounds like an entertaining book. Good review!

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