Resthaven

by Erik Therme

• ISBN10: 0692655204
• ISBN13: 9780692655207
• Publish Date: 12 April 2016
• Publish Status: Unknown
• Imprint: Thecker Books
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 220
• Language: English

Reviews

[Terri M. LeBlanc]

Author Erik Therme has been In the Spotlight twice here at Second Run Reviews and this is the first novel I’ve read by him. Resthaven is a young adult thriller novel and is told in an unique fashion.

Like binge watching your favorite series on Netflix, Resthaven is a single narrative told over the course of one thrilling night in an abandoned rest home. There are no chapters and few breaks in the story. The way the novel is constructed lends itself to a reading it in a single sitting rather than in short doses over several days. This was by far my favorite thing about Resthaven. Resthaven fell short for me on two points though.

1. The characters. I did identify with Kaylee, but her connection to the other girls in the story left me feeling flat. The tension between her and the other girls, which is the main reason for them being at the rest home, was not strong enough. I didn’t feel the animosity between the girls and so their driving need to initial escape the situation wasn’t as compelling or strong. The girls had to be in physical danger before their need to escape made me feel anxious.

2. The rest home. I will admit that when it comes to “seeing” myself in a location and “walking” around it in my imagination, my skills are seriously lacking. As a result, I got more turned around and lost in Resthaven than the characters. And since the location plays an important part in the telling of this story, when the characters were not standing still, I was lost.

Resthaven is a new adventure in binge reading. Geared towards young adults, anyone looking for a unique approach to the thriller genre may appreciate Therme’s Resthaven.


This review was originally posted on Second Run Reviews

[chymerra]

Before I start my review, I want to thank Erik Therme for allowing me to review Resthaven.

**All opinions stated in this review are mine and mine alone. I received Resthaven from Erik Therme for free for my honest and unbiased review**

Now, onto my review:

Ever read a book that is so creepy, so unsettling that it stays with you afterwards? A book that invades your dreams and gives you nightmares?

Well this is that book.

It starts pretty innocent. A sleepover at a new friend’s house. But then it turns pretty sinister when the new friend’s property back’s up against a nursing home that was abandoned and that new friend decides to throw a scavenger hunt in the nursing home.

When the doors to the nursing home mysteriously are padlocked, locking Kaylee, Sid, Anna and Wren inside with an elderly man who is insane, your pulse level goes up. And then when Kaylee finds a 5 year abused deaf boy in a closet, your pulse level goes through the roof!!!

I could not put this book down and read it in one sitting. Like I said above, it gets under your skin and you wonder what will happen to the girls and the boy at the end.

Speaking of the end, I really enjoyed it. Put it this way, Kaylee did the right thing. If you want to know more, read the book!!!

How many stars will I give Resthaven? 4

Why? It is a very well written, scary YA/Thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end.

Will I reread it? Yes

Will I recommend to family and friends? Yes

Age Range: Teen on up

Why? No sex, minimal violence.