Wonderland
A Novel
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3.8 • 4 Ratings
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- $1.99
Publisher Description
Shirley Jackson meets The Shining in this richly atmospheric and thrillingly tense novel from the acclaimed author of the "deliciously creepy" Baby Teeth (New York Post).
One mother's love may be all that stands between her family, an enigmatic presence—and madness.
After years of city life, Orla and Shaw Bennett are ready for the quiet of New York's Adirondack mountains—or at least, they think they are. Settling into the perfect farmhouse with their two children, they are both charmed and unsettled by the expanse of their land, the privacy of their individual bedrooms, and the isolation of life a mile from any neighbor.
But none of the Bennetts could expect what lies waiting in the woods, where secrets run dark and deep. When something begins to call to the family—from under the earth, beneath the trees, and within their minds—Orla realizes she might be the only one who can save them . . . if she can find out what this force wants before it's too late.
With an ending inescapable and deeply satisfying, Wonderland brilliantly blends horror and suspense to probe the boundaries of family, loyalty, love, and the natural world.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In this tepid psychological thriller with a paranormal slant from Stage (Baby Teeth), 41-year-old Orla Bennett, a recently retired ballet dancer, and her family husband Shaw and two young children move from a New York City apartment to an old house on six acres deep in the Adirondacks. Shortly after their arrival, Orla and the children have deep misgivings about the secluded place, which seems to be home to a supernatural presence. But Shaw, an aspiring artist who grew up in the North Country, was drawn to the property especially the towering, centuries-old pine tree behind the house and advises Orla and the kids to disregard the increasingly strange occurrences (like 10 feet of snow falling overnight), all of which seem to be aimed at keeping the family on the property. Though Stage's darkly lyrical writing style shines in places particularly in creating memorable imagery that can't save a derivative story with a conspicuous lack of overall emotional intensity. This is disturbing for all the wrong reasons.
Customer Reviews
Wonderland
Interesting premise. Gets a little too unrealistic as the story progresses, but nevertheless, entertaining.