What I liked: The book is well written. Christopher Golden has a way with words and I know that I'll be reading more Hmmm.....How do I rate this book?
What I liked: The book is well written. Christopher Golden has a way with words and I know that I'll be reading more books by this author in the future. I liked the focus on the characters of the book. In many ways, this book reminded me of the early Stephen King books, however more attention was needed on the Big Bad.
What I disliked: It takes a long time to find out what is really out there. I wish that there was more development on Big Bad; they weren't that scary until nearly the end of the book.
This is a review of the audio book narrated by Kate Mulgrew, who does a pretty decent job as the narrator.
The audio book is very long - about 18 hourThis is a review of the audio book narrated by Kate Mulgrew, who does a pretty decent job as the narrator.
The audio book is very long - about 18 hours. There's a lot of skipping around from past to present which can get a little confusing in an audio book.
As I listened to the book, I was instantly reminded of Stephen King's writing style. I then found out that Joe Hill is Stephen King's son. I guess writing talent can be inherited. While the writing style is reminiscent of Stephen King, Joe Hill has his own style. There's a lot of character development and the characters are multi-faceted.
The book is more a psychological thriller than horror per se, although I must admit that I was creeped out throughout. Not the best choice of books to read when one can't sleep, however it was very entertaining.
I really wanted to 5 star this book. I had great expectations for the Experiment in Terror finale. I'd grown to love Perry and Dex over the past year I really wanted to 5 star this book. I had great expectations for the Experiment in Terror finale. I'd grown to love Perry and Dex over the past year or so. I just felt like this book did not meet my expectations. If you've been following the series, you would know about all the stuff that Dex and Perry have gone through - ghosts, demons, and the like. This book just took me to places that I didn't want to see.
Without spoiling, I'll just say that I wasn't that happy about some things that went on. I am looking forward to reading a bit more about Perry's little sister - Ada.
I did love the epilogue - and funnily enough, I visited Snoqualmie Falls and the Salish Lodge this summer. A fantastic location for a well deserved finale.
I will recommend this series. While Darkhouse is by no means perfect, it kind of has that Blair Witch Project feel to it. The books do improve and they are a fun read, especially for Halloween. ...more
10/7/15 - Free audio book download from Audible. Take advantage of this - it has an all star cast including my favorite chameleon Tatiana Maslany.
5 st10/7/15 - Free audio book download from Audible. Take advantage of this - it has an all star cast including my favorite chameleon Tatiana Maslany.
5 stars for the acting and production value. This audio book had an all-star cast (Tatiana Maslany, Haley Joel Osmet, Kate Mulgrew, Joe Hill, Gabriel Rodriguez, Stephen King, and more) complete with music (pretty catchy), sound effects, and an announcer/narrator reminiscent of those old radio plays from the forties.
3.5 stars for the story which was a little hard to follow and at times, a little manic. You see, the villain in this book is very, very deranged and when he was on, he was criminally insane. If you can follow the story or are familiar with the graphic novel, I think that you will enjoy this more.
About 4.0-4.5 stars. I'd go ahead and give the series a 5 star, just for originality, creativity, fantastic imagery, and for Raffe. He's definitely 5 About 4.0-4.5 stars. I'd go ahead and give the series a 5 star, just for originality, creativity, fantastic imagery, and for Raffe. He's definitely 5 stars of wonderful. Oh, who am I kidding? Penryn deserves 5 stars, just for her badassery. Thank you Ms. Ee for writing such a strong female lead role.
Enough gushing about the series....Did End of Days deliver? Did it answer all those niggling questions that we were left with at the end of World After? Yes.
We finally learn what those rotten eggs were good for. Well played, Penryn's mom. You rock. (See I started with the little innocuous things so I don't spoil the story). I loved the banter between Raffe and Penryn. It was funny, entertaining, and you could really see how they rely upon each other. Despite all the crazy that Paige endured, she became one of my favorite characters. Leave it to Dee and Dum to produce a talent show in the midst of an apocalypse. And wow....what an epic end to a wonderful series.
Fantastic writing - eloquent and descrptive - epic battle scenes, and a wonderful sense of humor makes this series a must read. Can't wait to read more by this author in the future.
About 3.5 stars. In a way, this book kind of reminded me of Julie Kagawa's Blood of Eden series but instead of vampires, we have zombies and people whAbout 3.5 stars. In a way, this book kind of reminded me of Julie Kagawa's Blood of Eden series but instead of vampires, we have zombies and people who have tested positive for the zombie virus. Positive is a new spin on the zombie apocalypse story. In Positive, the zombie apocalypse occurred about 20 years earlier. People live in the relative safety of walled cities. Our hero hails from Manhattan, where the subways are flooded and provide some fishing for our hero Finn and his buddy Ike. The zombie virus is also a different take on the old zombie story. Now it can take anywhere from exposure to 20 years for the zombie virus to manifest and turn a person into a snarling flesh-eating killer. When Finn's mother goes zombie, the whole family is tested and Finn is sent to a medical camp in Ohio. He doesn't get there right away because his ride is killed by a very scary lady.
Finn begins his voyage across the US looking for that medical center where all will be good. On his way he learns about the world outside Manhattan. This is a journey story and each step along the way builds Finn's character. From what he sees of the world, he knows what kind of man he doesn't want to become.
I liked Finn's character. For someone with so little life experience, he was a quick learner and even quicker to react to situations. I loved how he treated his "family" and wanted to keep the girls safe, especially Kylie. Kylie was a strong character as well considering what she had gone through with Adare.
Positive kept me reading way into the night. The last part of the book was intense and I couldn't put the book down. I look forward to reading more books by this author in the future.
Thank you to Edelweiss and Harper Voyager for a review copy of this book. ...more
Update 12/7/15 - The Deep was one of my Top 10 Picks of 2015. See what other books made my list on Badass Book Reviews.
Initial Thoughts: This has Update 12/7/15 - The Deep was one of my Top 10 Picks of 2015. See what other books made my list on Badass Book Reviews.
Initial Thoughts: This has got to be one of the scariest books I've read in a long time. It takes all of your fears, sticks them in the periphery of your vision, and taunts you. And worst of all, it takes place 8 miles below sea level in an undersea lab where nothing is what it seems. The Deep is a thrilling psychological horror which would appeal to fans of Stephen King.
The Review: The Deep takes terror to a whole new level. The author takes our biggest fears and places them just in the periphery of our sight. It's the shadows, the darkness, and the unknown that are the scariest. That, combined with an isolated (and rescue-free) setting 8 miles below sea level add to the claustrophobic feeling that further triggers terror. The fear is all encompassing: all around you AND inside your head. There is no refuge.
The Deep plays on the characters' real-life experiences and finds those things that terrified them in childhood. It then takes those fears and amplifies them. Fear of bugs - check. Fear of overbearing parents - check. Fear of clowns - check. Fear of the monster under the bed - check. It's not the monster that scares us - it's the very thought of that monster that gives us the willies.
As I read The Deep, I found myself Googling various aspects of this book. Is it possible to dive 8 miles below sea level? Yes. Were the laboratory dogs really named after Russian space dogs? Yes. Is there such a thing as a Tickle Trunk? (Canadians of a certain age know that one). The research for the book was impeccable.
As for the writing, see how you feel after you read this quote:
"This place repulses.
There is nothing to nourish the soul.
Nothing but man made angle and inert materials. Nothing is cut from nature, holding the supple appeal of objects that God has touched. God's finger doesn't reach down this far."
The Deep is a MUST READ for horror lovers. Nick Cutter has become a favorite author and an auto-buy choice for me. I'm so excited that a new book is planned for May 2015 - The Acolyte. I can't wait!
Recommended for fans of Stephen King books.
Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for a review copy of this book.
Update - 1/13/15 - CBC Radio show Q interviews Nick Cutter. Not sure if this is available outside of Canada, if not check NPR for Q. Here's the link to CBC interview.
Wow. You know the TV series Dexter? He had a son in one of the later seasons, right? Jazz could be Dexter's son, but instead he is the son of Billy DeWow. You know the TV series Dexter? He had a son in one of the later seasons, right? Jazz could be Dexter's son, but instead he is the son of Billy Dent, the most prolific serial killer. Jazz continues to struggle to stay real, always fearing that he will fall into the abyss and become like his father. He is lucky to have people around him who believe in him - G. William, Connie, and Howie. In this installment of the series, Jazz helps out the NYPD find a serial killer. This is where we see the pure, demented genius of Billy Dent as he orchestrates a killing spree that follows all the rules of a game. Freaky, scary stuff.
I know that this book is being marketed as a young adult book, however some of the content is dark and disturbing and may not be for all readers. If you can sit through an episode of Dexter or Criminal Minds without becoming squeamish, then this book should not cause you any distress.
Oh, this one ends with a huge cliffhanger. Lucky the next book is due out in September.
Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for a review copy of this book.
This book kept me reading late into the night, which probably wasn't the best planning because, well, Billy Dent is one freaky scary evil serial killeThis book kept me reading late into the night, which probably wasn't the best planning because, well, Billy Dent is one freaky scary evil serial killer. Every sound and creak in the house made me jumpy, but I just had to finish reading this book. I won't go into all the details, it is really best to read this book with a clear mind. So here's a spoiler free impression of this book:
Jasper (Jazz) Dent is the son of the most prolific serial killer Billy Dent. Jazz has a special understanding of what goes on in the mind of serial killers, after all, he was raised and groomed by Billy to become a killer. But Jazz does not want to become a killer and he struggles with his humanity - trying to keep a handle on the voice in his head. Luckily, Jazz has some great people around him - his girlfriend Connie - who believes in him, no matter what, and his goofy and hemophiliac best bud Howie. Sheriff G. William Tanner has also become a father figure to Jazz. Jazz does have a special talent - he thinks like a serial killer. He understands how they think. And his special talent is needed in New York City where a serial killer has been up to no good.
Think Dexter's son meets Criminal Minds and you have an idea of what to expect in this book. It's not for the squeamish and perhaps younger young adult readers may be disturbed by the content. If you can stand the blood and gore, this is one addictive series.
Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for a review copy of this book.
Initial Thoughts: Do not read this book late at night when you are all by yourself. You will find yourself reaching for a box of salt, and lots of blaInitial Thoughts: Do not read this book late at night when you are all by yourself. You will find yourself reaching for a box of salt, and lots of blankets and sheets to cover all the mirrors. This book would make a perfect summer horror flick - you know, the kind with the silly teens summoning a ghost for fun - then all hell breaks loose. This is a wild, fun, and very entertaining horror book - and this is coming from someone who doesn't usually read horror. Read at your own risk, :)
The Review: Thankfully, I never got to play Bloody Mary when I was a kid. I don't think that I could have stayed in a dark room, holding hands with my young friends chanting "Bloody Mary." I'd be too freaked out. You see, I generally avoid horror stories. I'm too much of a chicken.
So why did I choose to read Mary: The Summoning? Well, it is marketed as a children's/young adult book, so how scary could it be? The answer: FREAKY SCARY. The author sets the atmosphere well - there's lots of creaky old buildings and the town of Solomon's Folly sounds oh so perfect for a ghost story. And yes, the town is very old, very dark, with a creepy old church full of bats. And Mary - stay away from her - she's quite the vindicative ghost.
Here's a sample of what's in this book:
"In the past, when I watched horror movies because I thought being scared was fun, I always got angry at the characters whose hands shook so badly they dropped the car keys when the monster was chasing them. If someone wanted to survive, she would keep it together long enough to get away. Now, standing in the locker room like a frightened lamb, I understood. Fear shut my body down..."
Mary: The Summoning has excellent entertainment value. It's freaky scary and I actually wanted more.
Thank you to NetGalley and Disney Book Group for a review copy of this book....more
This was an OK read for me but I can see the appeal for young adult readers who may want to read something other than R.L. Stine. Welcome to the Dark This was an OK read for me but I can see the appeal for young adult readers who may want to read something other than R.L. Stine. Welcome to the Dark House reminded me a little of those Scream or Freddie Kruger movies with the bulk of the book taking place in an old abandoned amusement park - creepy!
Seven teens have won a contest where they get to meet their favorite horror movie producer of the Nightmare Elf series. They've each submitted their scariest nightmare and - you guessed it - the only way out of the amusement park is to face that nightmare.
The book was amusing, however it suffered from some really horrible ebook formatting which caused me to get frustrated with the text at times. (Publishers - some ereaders hate graphics and special fonts and they just show a lot of blank space).
I also found that there were too many points of view in the book (6?) and since my ebook formatting was off, it was really difficult to tell which character was talking. Actually, it seemed to me that the bulk of the character development was given to Ivy and the other characters were a little flat.
Welcome to the Dark House was an amusing little foray into the horror genre.
Thankyou to NetGalley and Hyperion Books for a review copy of this book....more
Initial Thoughts: OK, it seems that I was one of the few people who did not know about the Donner party, so this stuff was new to me. When I wasn't scInitial Thoughts: OK, it seems that I was one of the few people who did not know about the Donner party, so this stuff was new to me. When I wasn't scared out of my mind(creepy stinky monsters), I found myself enjoying the story and wanting to read it all in one sitting.
The Review: Apparently history class in Canada is lacking. I had never heard about the Donner Party so I went into this book with an open mind. It's probably a good thing. Donners of the Dead is one spooky book.
Donners of the Dead is loosely based upon the events of the Donner Party who in the mid-19th century ventured through the Sierra Nevada mountains and were never seen again. Rumors about cannibalism persisted. This is a very different book for Ms. Halle, a historical romance western horror story. It starts off a little like the Experiment in Terror series with a creepy dream sequence that sets up the story for the reader.
This is a short novel and a fairly quick read. I did like the main character Eve Smith, half-breed Native Indian. Eve lives with her Uncle's family along with her mute mother. It's hard to believe the amount of racism Eve endures, even from her own family. Eve is an accomplished tracker and when some strangers arrive waving large amounts of cash, Eve's uncle allows her to accompany the strangers into the mountains.
Eve, along with chaperone Donna and Avery the farmhand join the men for a long and arduous trek into the mountains. It's a difficult trip, made worse by the change in weather and elevation. The men are incredibly racist, threatening Eve. One of the men takes an interest in Eve. At first, he is repulsed by her Indian heritage, however he grows very attached and protective of her as the story progresses. He begins to call her "Pine Nut" which I suppose was a bit of an endearment, though it was a little annoying after a while.
Jake and Eve hit it off and their attraction is intense. I guess being chased around the wilderness by scary hungry sharp toothed blue eyed zombie creatures will do that. Nothing like sex on the run. Speaking of monsters, there really were two kinds in this book. First, the members of the search party were some very shady characters. Then, the monsters on the mountain - think land shark zombies. Truly scary.
Fans of Karina Halle should enjoy this short novel.
Favorite Quote:
"I'm not a savage"
He smiled handsomely and with a shake of his head said, "No, you aren't. And you're not a lady either. I reckon you just might be perfect."
Thanks to Xpresso Tours for a review copy of this book.
Initial Thoughts: Between 4.0 and 5.0 stars, still deciding but I'm headed towards the 5 star rating. If you liked the Experiment in Terror series, thInitial Thoughts: Between 4.0 and 5.0 stars, still deciding but I'm headed towards the 5 star rating. If you liked the Experiment in Terror series, then you'll most likely like Ms. Halle's Devils series about a rock star named Sage Knightly and his love Dawn Emerson. This series kind of reminds me a little of the movie Almost Famous, however the paranormal elements are so creepy and horrific and done in such an innocuous way.
The Review: After having thought about this book and discussing it with my co-blogger Regina over at Badass Book Reviews, I think I'll stick to a 4 star rating for now.
It's 1975. Sex, drugs, rock and roll, and general debauchery follow Sage Knightly who is now on a solo tour in Europe. The Devil's Reprise picks up right where The Devil's Metal left off and it hits the ground running.
This is a fast paced book about life in the fast lane. All the blood, sweat, and tears that go into organizing and pulling off a rock and roll tour and the deals and sacrifices that must be made - all in a backdrop of the chaos that is the band on tour. In true Karina Halle fashion, nothing is as it seems - there is an element of the supernatural to this book, and whoa, is it ever creepy.
Sage Knightly is now on his own. He's managed to break off a deal he made earlier in his life but he is still in a self-destruct mode. He misses Dawn terribly, but can't reconcile the fact that he could love someone.
Meanwhile, Dawn is stateside and missing Sage. Things are looking up for Dawn. Her article on the band Hybrid was a resounding success and her career prospects are looking good. Her father has stopped drinking and her brother has been miraculously cured of his Tourette's. Dawn is invited back to chronicle Sage's first solo tour.
Strange things begin to happen and Dawn notices a few scary things. In Europe, even stranger and creepier things begin to happen. Now, I'm a real wimp when it comes to horror books. I do not intentionally pick them up, however, Ms. Halle has a way of writing horror that kept me turning the pages and reading on and on.
Oh, and let me just add - there are some very hot sexy scenes in this book.
I enjoyed this series immensely and I am sad that it's over. Luckily, there are more books by this author that I have yet to read. I'm looking forward to catching up on those. If you have not yet experienced the awesomeness of Karina Halle yet, the first book in her Experiment in Terror series Dark House is available for free on Kobo, Amazon, and Smashwords. Bet you can't just read one book!
Thank you to NetGalley and Diversion Books for a review copy of this book....more
Initial thoughts: This was so much fun to read! Child ghost busters fight scary ghosts with all sorts of iron, salt, and explosives. Full review to coInitial thoughts: This was so much fun to read! Child ghost busters fight scary ghosts with all sorts of iron, salt, and explosives. Full review to come...
The Review: With Halloween coming up at the end of the month, it only feels appropriate to review a scary book – a ghost story. The Screaming Staircase is aimed at children from ages 8 and up however, the kid in all of us should enjoy the book.
The Screaming Staircase is the first book in Jonathan Stroud’s new series Lockwood & Co. I discovered this author a year ago while on a family road trip when we listened to The Amulet of Samarkand. The kids stopped arguing over silly things and we were all captivated by Mr. Stroud’s excellent storytelling skills. So when I saw that a new series was available for review, I jumped at the chance.
The Screaming Staircase was a lot of fun to read. Imagine Ghostbusters and Scooby Doo with a touch of Harry Potter thrown in (for the kids and English accents). The story is set in London during a great plague of ghosts or “Visitors.” These “Visitors” are extremely dangerous, causing death if they manage to touch the living. They must be eradicated by teams of Psychic Detection Agencies. Ideally, the source of the haunting must also be removed. Unfortunately, only children are able to see the ghosts, so we have some pint-sized and teenaged ghost hunters. Lockwood & Co. is one of those agencies run by Anthony Lockwood.
Anthony hires Lucy Carlyle to work for his agency. They, along with Lockwood’s other associate George fight ghosts using plenty of iron, salt, silver, and their rapier swords. There is a lot of ghost swash-buckling as well as plenty of the requisite tea breaks. After one of their ghostly escapades causes their client’s house to burn down, they are fined an exorbitant amount. They accept an assignment at the very spooky Combe Carey estate, the home of The Screaming Staircase.
This book was scary good. It was full of action, hairy moments, really scary spooky ghosts, and some really funny moments. I love the author’s writing style and wit. He has a way of making a scary scene less scary by inserting some humor into the moment. The interaction between the characters was well done. I loved the banter between Lucy and George – it was almost adversarial at times as if Lucy was a threat to Anthony and George’s relationship. Anthony was an intriguing character. There seems to be a lot more to him than was revealed. I liked that he had an air of mystery about him. Lucy was very brave and resourceful.
This was a fast paced book and it would make an awesome movie. My only criticism is that it took nearly two thirds of the book to finally get to The Screaming Staircase and that is a very small niggling point because the book was awesome and the journey to that part was definitely worth it.
I’d recommend The Screaming Staircase to anyone who loves ghost stories. While the book is being marketed to middle school aged children, don’t let that put you off. This book should appeal to middle school, young adults, and even their parents, making this the perfect book to read with your kids.
Highly recommended.
Series Reading Order:
1. The Screaming Staircase 2. The Whispering Skull (To be released August 2014)
Thank you to NetGalley and Disney Book Group for a review copy of this book.
As you can see by the comment above, I was very excited to hear that The Shining had a sequel. Just how could MrThe Shining has a sequel? Bring it on!
As you can see by the comment above, I was very excited to hear that The Shining had a sequel. Just how could Mr. King top the book (and movie) that caused me so many nightmares during my teenage years? Just that image of Jack Nicholson with his crazy face and that axe - shudder. And little Danny Torrance muttering REDRUM...still scares me.
Well Danny's all grown up now and has experienced all sorts of trauma. He's a recovering alcoholic living in New Hampshire and he still has a bit of that Shining. There's also a special little girl living in the area and she can do all sorts of wonderful things. Abra communicates with Danny psychically.
Now the bad guys were an odd lot - kind of like psychic vampires who needed to harvest the essence of those who had The Shining - they called it Steam. The leader of the bad guys Rose, was one scary b*tch. Rose is very interested in Abra.
I listened to the audio book version narrated by Will Patton. The narrator did an amazing job, bringing the characters to life and changing his voice for each character. It is a very long audio book but I found that the time passed very quickly.
Stephen King fans will enjoy Doctor Sleep immensely. If you have not read The Shining, you do not need to do so before you read this book - it works well as a stand alone title. You will want to go back to read The Shining later on (and maybe even add The Shining to your Netflix queue).
This is a review of the audio book version of Angelfall. I listened to this because there's hope on the horizon for the highly anticipated sequel to tThis is a review of the audio book version of Angelfall. I listened to this because there's hope on the horizon for the highly anticipated sequel to this book - it even has a name and may come out later this year. *crosses fingers*
The audio book was well done and the narrator did all the voices. She was very convincing as Penryn, less convincing as Raffe. In any case, Angelfall is one gem of a book. It is beautifully written, very descriptive, and has a kickass heroine who doesn't seem to be afraid of anything, even some really scary angels and their little experiments.
If you have not yet read this book, I highly recommend both the audio and book version. ...more
The Waking Dark Whoa! What a way to start a book! A bloody multiple murder in a convenience store in a small Kansas town (what is it about these smallThe Waking Dark Whoa! What a way to start a book! A bloody multiple murder in a convenience store in a small Kansas town (what is it about these small Midwestern towns?) starts a chain of events that only get amplified by a huge F5 tornado that rips through the town. What follows can only be described as murder, mayhem, and a general bloodlust. The town is quarantined and there’s no way out…
If you love Stephen King’s earlier horror books, then The Waking Dark may be for you. Don’t read it at night; it is way too scary for that. The Waking Dark is the kind of book that is almost impossible to put down. Set aside some daylight hours to read this book. This is one intense read.
One of the reasons I loved this book was the attention given to character development. I think this is what sets this book apart from other young adult books in this genre. The characters are well-fleshed and each brings their own background into the story.
I loved the teenagers in this book. They all had such interesting backgrounds and they each represented a different aspect of teenage life. There’s Jeremiah West, or West as he is called. West is a manly football player with a secret love. He is definitely conflicted about his love for Nick and takes precaution to hide this relationship. Cass is West’s casual platonic girlfriend. Cass is set to become the class valedictorian until a horrible babysitting incident. Daniel is the Preacher’s son and he must watch his father battle addictions and other personal demons. Daniel is by far one of the more interesting characters as he is a father figure to his younger brother Milo. Jule Prevette is the niece of the local meth runner gang. No one messes with her family. Jule lives in constant fear of her junkie mother’s parasitic boyfriends. Then there’s Ellen King, an angelic girl who talks to God until her downfall. Now her background is very interesting. Lastly, there is Grace Tuck who holds an understandable grudge against Cass.
The Waking Dark is a dark and creepy book about a town that’s gone horribly wrong. Be prepared for a bloody thrill ride.
I’m glad to have discovered this author and I am looking forward to reading more of Ms. Wasserman’s books in the future.
Rating: 5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for a review copy of this book.
This is a review of the audio book edition of Joyland.
I had stopped reading Stephen King books sometime in the early 90's. I think that the first fewThis is a review of the audio book edition of Joyland.
I had stopped reading Stephen King books sometime in the early 90's. I think that the first few books of the Dark Tower series were my last Stephen King read. I'm not sure why I have been avoiding his books - I loved his earlier stuff - The Shining, The Stand, It (clowns still creep me out), and I am enjoying Under the Dome on TV. I must say that this has been one of my favorite Stephen King books so far. It wasn't freaky scary, only just a little bit. There wasn't really any creepy monsters (although that can be debated). Instead, this book focused on the characters and workers at a local amusement park.
I've always found amusement parks (with the exception of the big corporate ones) to be seedy places. Mr. King captures the feel of the parks, the essence of the atmosphere, so much that you can smell the popcorn and the greasy food. The characters are an eccentric lot and everyone has a story.
I fell in love with the narrator Devon, a 21 year old who desperately needs a summer job. Devon is such a realistic character - he's young, idealistic, a hard worker, and he's in love with a girl who broke his heart. Devon takes his job seriously, even the dreaded "putting on the fur" (dressing as the amusement park mascot).
The audio book version was very well done and the narrator Micheal Kelly really brings the characters to life. He has a calming voice and it was a pleasure listening to this audio book.
If you're like me and haven't read any Stephen King books in a while, Joyland is a great book to get back into his writing.