Published: August 20, 2013 by Harper Collins
Length: 320 pages
Source: Harper Collins (ARC)
“For sixteen-year-old Dan Crawford, New Hampshire College Prep is more than a summer program—it’s a lifeline. An outcast at his high school, Dan is excited to finally make some friends in his last summer before college. But when he arrives at the program, Dan learns that his dorm for the summer used to be a sanatorium, more commonly known as an asylum. And not just any asylum—a last resort for the criminally insane.
As Dan and his new friends, Abby and Jordan, explore the hidden recesses of their creepy summer home, they soon discover it’s no coincidence that the three of them ended up here. Because the asylum holds the key to a terrifying past. And there are some secrets that refuse to stay buried.”
This book is fantastic; I was hooked on from start to finish! I had the chills and goose bumps while reading Asylum by Madeleine Roux. The author did a great job in scaring me, as a reader. There are some pictures in here, and they are very creepy! This book is told from Dan’s perspective. Dan is a sixteen year old who is staying at a college prep in New Hampshire, but he finds out that the dorm that he is staying in used to be an asylum.
The writing style is really good. The story flowed smoothly and was not choppy. The only thing I kind of did not like are the characters (Dan, Abby and Jordan). They have weird mood swings, and I don’t know why their mood would switch all of a sudden. One day they’re all happy like they won one year pass to Disneyland, and then the next day they’re grumpy like someone just threw their MacBook air out the window. I just didn’t understand why they were acting that way. Are they possessed? Are they homesick? It didn’t really specify. I do like the decisions that they made. If I were on their shoes, I would have done the same thing (except for some of Dan’s decisions). Dan is one of those characters in a scary movie where you’ll just be like “DON’T OPEN THE DOOR! DON’T! ….*Dan opens it* I TOLD YOU NOT TO OPEN THE DOOR!” type of guy.
There wasn’t that much romance in the book which made me very happy. The story is focused on how Dan solves the mystery because something paranormal is happening in their dorm. Also, there weren’t any scenes of Dan attending his classes; the scenes were almost always at the cafeteria, the school hallway, or at his dorm. That sort of bothered me because it would have been more believable if Dan actually attended his classes (LOL). Overall this is a book I wouldn’t pass on. It literally left me at the edge of my seat, and sometimes I just had to stop reading because it was getting scary! It would be a perfect read for October if you’re planning on reading it