Winter on the Plain of Ghosts: A Novel of Mohenjo-daro

Average customer rating:

a wonderful journey!--winter on the plain of ghosts

A thriller from ancient history

WINTER ON THE PLAIN OF GHOSTS -- A REVIEW

Winter on the Plain of Ghosts: A Novel of Mohenjo-daro
Eileen Kernaghan
Manufacturer: Neville Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Historical | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Ancient Cities of the Indus Valley Civilization

A Peaceful Realm : The Rise And Fall of the Indus Civilization

The Indus Civilization: A Contemporary Perspective

ASIN: 0973401206

Book Description

A tale of sorcery, religious conflict, political intrigue and ecological disaster in the lost cities of the Indus Valley, circa 2000 BC.

Customer Reviews:

a wonderful journey!--winter on the plain of ghosts.......2004-08-16

i loved this book! it combines excellent, evocative yet unintrusive writing with a faithfully depicted historical setting. it tells of real people that i come to care about facing circumstances that range from frightening to fulfilling.

the story takes place in a world where many peoples mix--hill-tribes and desert-folk, rich and poor inhabitants of an ancient and crumbling city, making their lives within and outside of the law.

many faiths are represented, older than any that exist in india today. the world unfolds with convincing realism even while spirits and demons, goddesses and gods, divination, alchemy and spells are a natural part of it all. it's hard for me to explain this. the magic, the deities don't pop out at you like overblown caricatures, no matter how intense the scene. they work beautifully into a story of a real person in his fascinating world. i can't say it enough times--i LOVED this book!

A thriller from ancient history.......2004-08-06

Winter on the Plain of Ghosts is a gripping fantasy from a three time Aurora Award winner which reaches so far back in history the era is scarcely recorded, yet it carries overtones of life as we know it today. Eileen Kernaghan outlines the problems of religious bigotry and the entrenched resistance to change by the powers in charge as disaster threatens, when change is their only way to survive.
The reader escapes with Rujik of Ur, a boy being sacrificed to the gods of his tribe in an age-old ritual; stays with him through his successes and disasters, his failed yet triumphant love, and in doing so learns something about himself and the surprisingly similar problems of modern living.
`Winter` is a satisfying book, beautifully written by an author with a poet's heart, one which will stay with the reader long after he has closed its back cover.

WINTER ON THE PLAIN OF GHOSTS -- A REVIEW.......2004-07-16

Eileen Kernaghan's reputation for meticulous research and an engaging story is well sustained by her most recent book, WINTER ON THE PLAIN OF GHOSTS. Set in the prehistoric Indus Valley, the novel is a retrospective tale of a young boy who escapes the perils of village ritual sacrifice to become first a thief, then a wealthy and respected merchant in the ancient city of Mohenjo-daro (The Tiger City). His subsequent involvement with the priesthood which controls Mohenjo-daro and his eventual rebellion against their repressive hold on its inhabitants make for compelling reading.

Book Description

Kerry has seen the error of her trusting ways. Turning to someone for help turned out to be a complete mistake. So now she is back on her own -- mulling over the same issues, stuck with the same baggage: Find the witch named Season. Avenge Daniel's death. Decipher the ancient witch stories.

The difference is that this time Kerry is armed. For starters, she's picked up more than a few tricks of the witchy trade herself. To boot, she's got the knowledge that everything is definitely not as it once seemed. So even if her quest gets blown off track, Kerry is prepped.

The trick to navigating her topsy-turvy path is figuring out who she can trust. As Glinda once astutely asked, "Are you a good witch, or a bad witch?" This winter, that's the million-dollar question.

Customer Reviews:

On The Road Again.......2006-02-15

After the second book Kerry has decided to strike out on her own. She is still dedicated to destroying Season and one of her friends has spotted her at a ski resort. Kerry races to the confrontation while the rest of her friends also try to join in the hunt.

But Kerry's life is anything but simple. Her lessons with Mother Blessing and a confrontation with Season serve to bring up more questions that can only be answered by Season. Kerry decides she needs the answers before she can finish her quest to destroy Season and avenge Daniel.

Some wonderful twists in this one. More development of Kerry's friends as well. Another cliff hanger at the end (glad I already have the last book). I really can't figure out just how this is going to end but things are moving fast. Check it out.

Circle of Three #11: The House of Winter (Circle of Three)

Average customer rating:

Too horror-like
getting dull
Close but no cigar
Close but no cigar
An Avid Reader

Circle of Three #11: The House of Winter (Circle of Three)
Isobel Bird
Manufacturer: HarperTeen
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Teens | Subjects | Books

Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Teens | Subjects | Books

Being a Teen | Social Issues | Teens | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0064473686
Release Date: 2001-11-06

Book Description

Winter's cold and winter's darkness,
wraps us in these frozen hours.
as the ceaseless wheel turns we call
the sun to warm us with its power.

Cooper, Annie, and Kate celebrate the winter solstice in true Wiccan spirit. The threesome joins practitioners of the Craft in a remote, haunted house in the wintry mountains. An unexpected blizzard strikes, and the girls cannot resist the lure of the dark house's shrouded mystery.

Download Description

Special PerfectBound E-Book Feature! The Death Mask Ritual - Isobel Bird describes a ritual for making a death mask and exploring your own feelings about death. Cooper, Annie, and Kate celebrate the winter solstice in true Wiccan spirit. The threesome joins practitioners of the Craft in a remote, haunted house in the wintry mountains. An unexpected blizzard strikes, and the girls cannot resist the lure of the dark house's shrouded mystery.

Customer Reviews:

Too horror-like.......2002-05-09

This book was somewhat disappointing to me.

Its story of good and evil ghosts, playing with dark magick, possession, and other elements was more suited to a teen horror thriller, not a series that up until now has done a realistic, respectful treatment of what real Wicca is.

The story itself is entertaining, but not what I've come to expect from this series.

getting dull.......2002-04-04

I have liked others in the series, but this one just didn't click for me. The 'twist' at the end was extreamly easy to guess. Her passive writing style is also beginning to grate, it's far too preachy and contained. The book didn't do anything good with the characters at all. Isobel's writing is losing it's spark, and I think she's relying to much on the fact that the girls are studying Wicca, instead of the real storyline. If you plan to buy this book just to see what type of Yule lore there is, and ideas for rituals, save your money. And if you still want to read it, get it out from the library.
In summary, the passion has left the series. I can only hope it will come back soon.

Close but no cigar.......2002-01-09

Hello again from sunny California I give this book 4 stars. Please do don't think I'm being to harsh first hear me out. Like other of her book's it was full of magic and suspense. But yet it felt like it missed something. The house of Winter is about when the four girls set of for a weekend at the "Haunted Hotel" with the rest of their class. They meet the hotel owner's twin daughter's who have seen a ghost {Mary}who is traped in a diffrent dimension she must complete her buisness in order to be released and finally be in peace. But one of the sisters does not want her to be released and will do anything not to see it happen. Which sister is trust worthy and which one is just seeking for their own personal advange.

Close but no cigar.......2002-01-09

An Avid Reader.......2002-01-02

This is the latest in the "Circle of three" series and my favorite. It has our favorite three "almost witches" trapped in an extremely old hotel. Although the Cooper, Annie, and Kate find themselves far from the comfort of their small town, the hotel gives them plenty of action in the midst of a blizzard. If you enjoyed Bird's craftily written characters and their "witchy" adventures then you are sure to be wrapped up in this roller coaster of adventure.

Arthur and the Goalie Ghost (Arthur Good Sports Chapter Books, 5)

Average customer rating:

Arthur and the Goalie ghost
Too Funny!!!

Arthur and the Goalie Ghost (Arthur Good Sports Chapter Books, 5)
Marc Brown
Manufacturer: Little, Brown Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0316121460

Book Description

Marc Brown's new chapter book series features Arthur and his friends for sports fans ready to read on their own.Each book features a longer, sports-related Arthur Adventure, which has been vetted by a reading specialist and has loads of kid appeal. Arthur is in top form as he tries to help Buster goaltend like his hockey hero and plays basketball with a new pen pal.Arthur fans will want to read and collectall of these new chapter books!

Customer Reviews:

Arthur and the Goalie ghost.......2003-01-15

I read Arthur and the Goalie Ghost.
Thought it was an ok book because it did not give enough detail and it was not a good story. I would recommend this book for ages 6-9 because it is a fairly easy book to read. And it is in easy language to read and under stand. I recommend this book because it is about sports and it was easy to read.

Too Funny!!!.......2002-04-25

This book is hilarious. We have read it about 10 times already. The whole series is good for sports minded kids and all of the stories are great, but this one takes the cake! The one thing that we wondered, however, is why Marc Brown gets top billing when it is Stephen Krensky who has written all of the books in this Good Sports series?

Average customer rating:

Off Season: Horror At Its Best!
Just bloody enough
Unrelenting. Uncompromising.
.44 Magnum?
Very good read

Off Season: The Unexpurgated Edition
Jack Ketchum
Manufacturer: Overlook Connection Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

ASIN: 1892950200

Book Description

They had Hunted every animal but there was no flesh like man's . . . Welcome to Jack Ketchum's ferocious and unforgettable first novel, Off Season. Originally published in 1981, Off Season was a defining moment of contemporary horror fiction, an instant classic whose impact on the writing and reading of horror continues today... ...when I read Off Season, I knew that its writer was different; that he was working from that raw and risky perspective known as personal vision, and that he had written a novel that was his own, and not what a publisher wanted or expected. Stocked in the shadows of bestsellers and a blur of Stephen King wannabes, Off Season was issued as a paperback original by Ballantine -- a publisher who has never shown much enthusiasm for the fiction of fear. The cover was a minimalist triumph, its title embossed in black on black, stained with a red thread of blood. The author's name -- a pseudonym -- was reported in white block capital letters, and the top of the cover announced:"THE ULTIMATE HORROR NOVEL." The hyperbole was deserved. Off Season was the genuine article, its horror insistent, visceral, and disturbing.-- From the Introduction to Off Season: Unexpurgated by Douglas E. Winter

Customer Reviews:

Off Season: Horror At Its Best!.......2007-02-20

This has to be one of the best books I've ever read! I've read many novels by Stephen King and Dean Koontz, but their subject matter is much more subtle than Mr. Ketchum's. I didn't quite know what to expect when I picked this up as I had never read any of his books. However, I can assure you it is fantastic! Not for sensitive readers, it is brutal, intense and downright disturbing! Any fans of Bentley Little or Edward Lee will be sure to enjoy this. I will definitely be reading more of Mr. Ketchum.

Just bloody enough.......2006-07-31

This is an terrific summer read. I read it in two sittings and loved every minute. While the characters are somewhat under developed, the pacing is excellent, and I throughly enjoyed the ending. If you have read everything by Stephen King already and are looking for something else to read on the plane or the beach, this is a great choice.

Unrelenting. Uncompromising........2006-05-10

I first heard about this book when read Stephen King's nonfiction horror overview Danse Macabre, which listed Off Season as one of the most important books in the horror genre. I immediately ordered a copy, and was stunned by the book. The book was brutal, absolutley uncompromising, and managed to keep the reader consistently off balance by not succumbing to the traditional notion of the surviving hero. You have no idea who will live and who will die. As a fan of horror, I am disturbed by the recent trend in movies of simply remaking everything. What the film industry tends to overlook is the veritable wealth of written material ideally suited for movie adaptations. That is not to say that Off Season would make a great movie. I do believe that it would, but the material is such that only a director who would take an equally uncompromising approach would be able to make a success of it. Rob Zombie comes to mind, with his films House of 1000 Corpses and The Devil's Rejects. But my point is that Off Season is an amazing book that is overlooked because it has not generated the sales that Stephen King does. That is not a slam on Mr. King. I am a huge fan - I've read all the books. What Off Season instills is a sense of dread that is terrifying. It is not PG-13. And while it is graphic, the writing is not intended to be graphic for the sake of grossing you out. It simply dares you to flinch, and what is happening is so horrifying and unbelievable, that you can't look away. And in the midst of it you discover that you actually care about the characters, and feel just as trapped as them. I could not recommend a book more highly.

.44 Magnum?.......2005-12-26

Though I did buy the first edition, I refrained from reading it until I read this one. Being a new reader to Ketchum, I read a lot of the reviews on his books before purchasing them. A major complaint people seem to have is the price"y" cost of his writing. I can now say with complete conficence that the cost of his books will be your cheapest investment in the world of Jack Ketchum if you consider all the therapy you'll need afterwards.

This book was relatively short (200 or so pages) and easy to read. I read this one in just one afternoon, though short (How much of this? can he expect us to take?), it has all the impact of a three round prize fight with a world class contender. Other than that, I do have one minor issue I should bring up and that was his choice of handgun in the story. Dirty Harry Quotes, "The .44 magnum handgun is the most powerfull handgun in the world..." and though that isn't true anymore, a .44 will still knock you on your a_ _ if you don't know how to shoot it. I thought that gun might have been a bit of a mismatch for the people, especially the girl, to use it. I might have put in a line or two addressing that issue but Ketchum probably figured that it would slow the pace too much. However it is a minor detail and doesn't take anything away from a terrifying read.

Like his book THE GIRL NEXT DOOR, Ketchum's premise isn't so far fetched. Who really knows if there are strange people like these Maine canibals living somewhere amongst us? And the way Ketchum writes it, he will have you terrified right out of your skin.

By the way, if anybody is interested, I have the name of an excellent therapist in the Columbus Circle area of Manhattan that is familiar with effects of Ketchum readers.

Very good read.......2005-09-14

I really enjoyed this book. I have just started to read again and I didnt want to put this one down. True it is very graphic but I think it just adds to the rawness of the plot.

Mechwarrior 1: Ghost Of Winter (Mechwarrior Series, 1)

Average customer rating:

EXELENT....unless you're an english major
A Shallow and Poorly Written Copy of Another Battletch Novel
Best Book In A While
Excellent story
Ghost of winter Review

Mechwarrior 1: Ghost Of Winter (Mechwarrior Series, 1)
Mel Odom
Manufacturer: Roc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Adventure | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

High Tech | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0451457609

Book Description

On the frozen planet of Kore, a young, untested MechWarrior yearns for excitement. He gets more than he bargained for when a surprise attack makes him the only one who can save his world from conquest!

* MechWarrior is set in the BattleTech universe, but stands alone as a separate series

Customer Reviews:

EXELENT....unless you're an english major.......2002-10-20

Everything in the entire book was so awsome. I enjoyed it so much that I just couldn't put it down. The only part that kept it from being a perfect 5 star book was that there were english errors...many of them. It seems to be a very ameture writing styles. It's what took me out of the "zone" I get into when reading a good book and say to myself..."hmm...that's not right."

A Shallow and Poorly Written Copy of Another Battletch Novel.......2002-06-26

One of the very first Battletch novels written, "Decision at Thunder Rift", which started the saga of the Grey Death Legion, is also one of the best stories created in the Battletech Universe. A young man is forced into command of a mercenary unit, trains non-Mechwarrior's to join his new unit, and takes on an invading force. Sound familiar?

It should, because this is also the basic plot of "Ghost of Winter", the first in the Mechwarrior series from FASA, and a part of the Battletech Universe.

This book is an absolute mess. The characters are shallow, the pacing is absurdly quick, motivations are ridiculous, etc. The Battletch series has produced a number of excellent books; it's a shame that FASA decided to start the Mechwarrior series with such a piece of worthless tripe. The scary part is the ending of this book, which leaves room for a sequel. Perish the thought. Please?

Best Book In A While.......2000-09-20

Oh this book is so good. It is totally and utterly thrilling I haven't been able to put I down.

My compliments to the author!

Thanks

Excellent story.......2000-07-09

Ghost of Winter is an excellent book. Although the pacing is a little off in the beginning of the book, and a few plot threads never pan out, I would recommend it to anyone who is just getting started with Battletech and Mechwarrior. I hope to see more of Sturm and the Winter Ghosts in the future

Ghost of winter Review.......2000-06-24

At first I thought this was going to be another good guys on planet and evil bad guys come rushing in. Kenson suprised me. After I read through about 40 to 50 pages I couldn't put the book down. It was suspensful while entertaining, with of course a brilliant story line. The ending was also awesome (though I won't spoil it for anyone who hasen't read it yet), though it pretty stereo typical. Anyway, awesome book to start off a new series, if you haven't got. GET IT.

Average customer rating:

simple and flat
Don't Miss Ms. Fallon's Shades Books!!
Best thriller eroti-romance EVER!!!!!!

Shades Of Winter
Linda Fallon
Manufacturer: Zebra
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

General | Romance | Subjects | Books

General | Historical | Romance | Subjects | Books

General | Romance | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0821774328

Customer Reviews:

simple and flat.......2003-07-18

The story is just okay. The real fault of the book is in its characters. All characters are flat and are never developed fully and as such it is difficult to relate to them and learn why they do what they do- a major disappointment since the story leands itself to explore the mind of a free willed woman. The author takes a very superficial and simplistic approach to the entire novel. All in all the book never came close to reaching its potential; however, I feel the author had no intention of ever doing so. Linda Fallon could take some pointers from Anne Rice and really make this a fun book to read and explore.

Don't Miss Ms. Fallon's Shades Books!!.......2003-07-17

I bought these books because they were written by my favorite author, Linda Winstead Jones aka Linda Devlin aka Linda Fallon. I didn't know what to expect because her books are usually not about shades / ghosts / paranormal. I'm more a stream-line romance reader or historical romance reader. The two I've read thus far (can't wait for August when the third one comes to my house... it's been pre-ordered for a month now) have been fun, sexy, exciting, nailbiting, awesome books! I don't like scary books. Somehow Ms. Fallon managed to keep me posted on the edge of my seat throughout yet not in dreaded fear. How does she do it? She obviously researches well, and she obviously has a gift like no other! How can an author write shades books that are as delightful as her contemporary, her historical, and yes, her Fairie Tale romances. When I first started reading the titles, I decided I could live without reading those particular fairie tale books by my favorite author. Then I got desparate because I was out of her books to read! The first one had me hooked! (Read those, too!) Buy the Shades (Shades of Midnight, Shades of Winter) books - keep them - and pre-order the final Shades of Scarlet. I can promise you won't be disappointed!

Best thriller eroti-romance EVER!!!!!!.......2003-04-17

The men in this book are delish! The women are strong and sassy, and the spirits are terrifying. I've read practically every book out there that has a ghost in it, and Linda Fallon captured the supernatural like a pro (she must have done research). The balance between sex, romance, spirits and brilliantly developed characters left me wanting more. I can't recommend this book enough.

Average customer rating:

Curse if a Winter Moon
a hard life
Worthwhile and interesting historical novel
My thoughs on A Curse Of A Winter
This is a Young Adult Must Read

Curse of a Winter Moon
Mary Casanova
Manufacturer: Hyperion
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Historical Fiction | History & Historical Fiction | Teens | Subjects | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Moose Tracks

ASIN: 0786816023

Customer Reviews:

Curse if a Winter Moon.......2006-11-30

Curse of a Winter Moon
By: Mary Casanova

When I picked this book I was looking for a story with a lot of thrills and a mystery horror; now I know that I chose the right book. The book Curse of a Winter Moon is based in Sixteenth century France. The story is based around a child named Marius and he is in charge of taking care of his little brother Jean Pierre. In the story Marius must protect his little brother Jean because Jean was born on Christmas Eve; In the sixteenth century, people believed that if a child was born on Christmas Eve, he is marked with the curse of the Loup-Garou (werewolf). Of course we all know that there is no such a thing as a werewolf but in sixteenth century France there was a superstition and people all thought it was true. In a way Marius has a big burden because his mother's dying request was to protect his brother; Marius in the first part of the story believes his little brother might be a loup-garou. Because of Jean Pierre's curiosity about everything, he usually disappears somewhere. Then Marius starts to get worried that he might have turned into a loup-garou and ran off into the forest; but usually he finds him shortly. One of the scariest parts of the story is when Jean wonders off and Marius starts hearing wolves in the distance and he thinks the devil is calling to his brother. Marius is very worried usually in the story because if the suspicion of Jean Pierre being a loup-garou rises they will try to burn him alive. In sixteenth century France this is a world were heretics are punished by death by the stake. This book I would definitely put in a must read category. I would probably rate this book a 5/5 stars. This book is definitely a great thriller; if you want a story you can't stop reading you have got to read Curse of a Winter Moon by Mary Casanova. If you loved this book some good books you could read are Harry Potter (series) by J.K. Rowling, Wolf in the Door Way by Christine Warren; Scary Stories by Alvin Schwartz and the big bad wolf by Peter Fernandez.
Let me warn you though this story is not for the fain hearted. This book does have some big surprises like someone dies (maybe). This book however is creepy, very creepy so do not read it before sleeping (Warning: You will see wolves staring at you if you read this book at night). Well I hoped you like my review and don't forget to read Curse of a Winter Moon.

a hard life.......2005-04-12

Marius is pulled back and forth between his father being a heratic and his brother supposedly a werewolf he tries to help them both but loses one to the law.

Worthwhile and interesting historical novel.......2004-05-25

I have to admit that this was a book I bought under the excuse of "maybe my nephew will grow into this" when really what I meant was, "Ooh, a kids book with potential werewolf stuff! Mine!"

In actuality, this is a historically plausible book set during the birth of Protestantism (and Calvinism and Lutherism) in a part of France where such thought left one branded a heretic and burned alive. It is a darkly superstitious tale, and one where the main character's brother was born on Christmas Eve, and therefore considered, by local superstition, to be a loup-garou (werewolf).

The story focuses more on the elder son, our hero of the tale, as he tries to cope with his own fears about his brother, his duty to protect his brother (his mother's dying request), and the awareness that anyone different is in danger in this paranoid city. The deft touches of historical realism were well received by me (he wakes, at one point, picks a tick off from behind his ear, and throws it into the fire, in a very casual, 'this happens every day' sort of way).

Definitely a solid bit of work for any child interested in the way things were, and has a nice message tucked in there about blindly following a hateful dogma without question, and just how terrible a thing it can be to do so.

'Nathan

My thoughs on A Curse Of A Winter.......2004-04-01

The Curse of a Winter Moon by Mary Casanova is about a boy Jean -Pierre, that is born on christmas eve. He is belived to be a Werewolf and his older brotherhas totake care of him.

The message of the book seems to be when life gets tough just keep your head high and try to get through life.
This book had alot of adventure twists and turns, as well as some scary parts. I didn't like the story's end very much. I though the story was sad.

This is a Young Adult Must Read.......2002-07-25

In "The Curse of a Winter Moon", Marius deals with universal timeless issues of maturity by dealing with the unexpected death of his mother and consequently bearing the responsibility of his little brother, Jean-Pierre. That task wasn't going to be easy considering the townspeople had labeled Jean-Pierre as a loup garou (werewolf), cursed by his birth on Christmas Eve.

The plight of Marius and Jean-Pierre away from the ravage and hypocritical Catholic rule and superstitious villagers keep young adult readers at the edge of the page while dealing with age-old issues of good verses evil.

"Curse of a Winter Moon" is a historical novel set in 16th century France, a time when the Catholic church was ruling with an iron fist - condemning commoners who could read (and consequently think for themselves) as heretics, punishable by death. Marius displays to young readers a maturity that is able to discern right from wrong, strength to endure the villager's contempt for his family, and a hope-based survival mindset for a better future.

Book Description

The Screech Owls have come to Ottawa to play in the Little Stanley Cup peewee tournament. This relaxed summer event honours Lord Stanley himself – the man who donated the Stanley Cup to hockey – and gives young players a chance to see the wonders of Canada’s capital city, travel into the wilds of Algonquin Park, and even go river rafting.

Mr. Dillinger is also taking them to visit some of the region’s famous ghosts: the ghost of a dead prime minister; the ghost of a man hanged for murder; the ghost of the famous painter Tom Thomson. At first the Owls think this is Mr. Dillinger’s best idea ever, until Travis and his friends begin to suspect that one of these ghosts could be for real.

Who is this phantom? Why has he come to haunt the Screech Owls? And what is his connection to the mysterious young stranger who offers to coach the team?

The Ghost of the Stanley Cup is the eleventh book in the Screech Owls Series.

Check out the Screech Owls’ website at www.screechowls.com

Customer Reviews:

The Ghost of Lord Stanley.......2000-06-04

I am a nine year old boy who really likes hockey. I have read all the Screech Owls books. I thought the mystery surronding who was "the ghost" was fun and kept me interested in the story. The overtime game for the championship trophy was exciting. I think kids who like hockey will enjoy reading this book. It also gives you something to do instead of watching television. This makes my parents happy!

Average customer rating:

EXCELLENT FIRST!
Fantastic!
Simplistic story and frustrating-to-read writing style
Insert Your Own "Cold" Cliche Here
Quite Enjoyable

Cruel Winter
Anthony Izzo
Manufacturer: Pinnacle
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0786017325

Customer Reviews:

EXCELLENT FIRST!.......2006-09-28

THIS IS AN EXCELLENT PIECE FOR A FIRST ATTEMPT! THERE WERE ONLY A FEW THINGS I FOUND TO BE PROBLEMATIC.
ONE, THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A BETTER EXPLANATION FOR WHAT MRS. WINTER WAS(A PROLOGUE) SINCE THE IDEA WAS INTRODUCED AND IT WAS IMPORTANT TO THE STORY.
TWO, THE ANALOGIES WERE PRETTY BAD, SOMETIMES THEY DIDN'T MAKE SENSE: "RONNIE HIT THE GROUND LIKE A BAG OF HAMMERS..." THIS WAS DURING A FIGHT BETWEEN THE MAIN CHARACTERS. HAMMERS ARE INDICATIVE OF PURPOSE AND CREATION; PERHAPS A BAG OF ROCKS? A LOG? OR EVEN THE SACK OF CONCRETE IZZO MENTIONED LATER IN THIS SCENE? THERE WAS ALSO AN INSTANCE WHERE IZZO REFERRED TO ULCERS AS PIRANAH SWIMMING, VOLCANO AND FIRE.. ALL IN THE SAME SCENE. CONSISTANCE IN IMAGE IS IMPORTANT TO KEEPING THE READERS ATTENTION. TO GO FROM WATER TO EXPLOSIVE FIRE, THEN TO JUST PLAIN FIRE MADE ME THINK, "HUH?"
LASTLY, WORD USE WAS A PROBLEM AT TIMES: "HE HAD BEEN SO ENAMORED WITH THE ROOM..." I DON'T THINK A KID IS "ENAMORED," IZZO SHOULD HAVE KEPT IT SIMPLE, AS HIS MAIN CHARACTERS ARE KIDS.
ALL IN ALL, THIS IS A GOOD FIRST WORK.

Fantastic!.......2006-08-10

I loved this book. It reminded me of staying up late on Saturday Night and watching Chiller Theater with Fritz the Night Owl. This is just a good old-fashioned scary story. There is nothing believable or plausible about it. It is exactly what the author probably intended it to be, good, scary, spine tingling fun.The gore factor is kept at a minimum, which is great. It is scary in the way 6th sense was scary. You let your imagination run wild, and run it did.

There's a new kid in town and has moved into the largest estate in the area. He's overweight, pushy, and writes checks his body can't cash, but he's also fun to be around. His name is Ronnie. Ronnie's mom is a widow, a very rich widow, who loves her son and will stop at nothing to protect him. After a run-in with the school bullies, Ronnie's butt is saved by some kids who soon befriend Ronnie and are asked by his mother to keep an eye out for him and let no harm befall him. Join Ronnie, Jack, Emma, Paul, and Chris as they deal with typical junior high issues, such as bullies, parents, school dances, and not so typical issues like out-running a creature with no eyes who's hell-bent on tearing them apart, literally. That's really all one can say without giving too much of the story away.

It's a roller-coaster ride of fun, chills and suspense. I do have to warn you: if you don't enjoy a book that snatches you up and takes off with you into a wonderland of imagination, then don't waste your time. If you like the old Creature from the Black Lagoon type of story, then run, don't walk to the nearest bookstore or library and grab a copy of this book. I can't wait for his next novel.

Simplistic story and frustrating-to-read writing style.......2005-12-13

I read to the end of this book as fast as I could.. just to get it over with. I thought the story was very simplistic and not suspenseful at all. Izzo's writing style was very frustrating to me. It's filled with sentences like these:
~ "They started up the stairs single file, Paul in front. The side door groaned and feet stamped on the throw rug in the hallway". (Is there a side door on the stairs? Do doors groan?)
~ "She was sitting on a padded bench running along the window". (The padded bench is running?)
~ "Outside, the back of the estate ran on in a seemingly endless blanket of snow..." (I'm relieved the estate is outside, but it runs?)
As a previous reviewer noted, we jump to the future a few times, so there goes some of the suspense around "will everyone survive the horror?" The author's insistence on providing far too many, and often-inappropriate, analogies also drove me crazy: A car doing "donuts" in the snow spun "like a globe"... he hoped his words would "penetrate like sunlight through barren, rocky soil". And how, when we're outside the house with the character, do we know mom 'padded down the stairs and opened the door'? Why did he turn the doorknob, then ring the bell? On his own house? These things distracted me from the storyline so much that I could barely keep reading. I guess simple stubbornness kept me reading to the end.

Insert Your Own "Cold" Cliche Here.......2005-10-19

"Cruel Winter" is a pretty good read. It has plenty of action, gore, and a little suspense to boot. It's also pretty nostalgic, what with it taking place in the 80's. From "Tiger Beat" to Motley Crue, author Anthony Izzo plops you perfectly into the early years of the age of excess.

Izzo does a wonderful job of forming his characters. It was quite easy to visualize Ronnie and Cassie Winter, Jack Harding, Paul, Chris and Emma. All of these were main characters in this story. Other solid characters include Detective Kempf and John, Ronnie's limo driver and all-around good guy.

Izzo also does a great job of putting you into the action by giving brilliant descriptions of the setting without going too in-depth. I could actually feel the cold as it got worse throughout the book. I could hear the crunching of feet on snow, feel the warmth of hot cocoa, and smell the dingy halls of the old middle school.

The story begins with Jack, Paul, and Chris meeting up with one Ronnie Winter, a new kid who's pleasantly plump and a little bit odd. In other words, he's the perfect target for bullies. Not long after meeting Ronnie, the gang, as well as the rest of the town, begin to experience some wickedly cold weather. Not to mention a serial killer seems to be on the loose, using the blinding snow as cover for his crimes. All of this seems to somehow be tied to the old Steadman place and its dark history. When Jack and his friends meet Ronnie's lovely mother, Cassie, the story takes on an entirely new spin. While all of this is going on, the kids also have to deal with bullies, deadbeat parents, basketball practice, first dances and girls.

This is a wonderful little horror novel. It's very fast-paced, and it's hard to put down once you get rolling. If this novel is any indication, Izzo has a wonderful future ahead of him.

Quite Enjoyable.......2005-10-18

I really liked the story. I can't really describe what it is about it, but I just felt like turning the pages. Anthony weaves a very good plot and has a great icky bug. I especially liked the just desserts one character got (don't want to reveal too much). Yeah, poetic justice!

I did find two things startling though. In two places, he jumps to the future, taking the reader out of the story. One involves hugging his dad. The other is learning that girls get nervous on a first date too. I am surprised his editor let him get away with that! I personally did not mind those two little jumps, but being a writer, I would be crucified by my writer's group for doing something like that!

A very good horror story that I highly recommend.

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books