The Girl Who Was Buried in Her Ball Gown:
Trailer:
Blurb:
After one of the best evenings of her life at the junior high school ball, a young girl experiences her first kiss. During the amazing, yet awkward moment, something goes horribly wrong and her life is turned completely upside down. Soon she realises that her new existence has been severed from the usual humdrum of a typical teenage girl, and that she has been hurled into the world of the supernatural. Who can she trust, where can she turn? And what is it that she finds so uncomfortable about another girl, that has befriended her in this spooky realm? Why is this impostor leading her to places she does not want to go and pretending to be someone that she is not? As the young girl drifts along unknown paths she begins to unravel the mysteries, learns of new threats that are unpredictable and finds herself in situations that cannot be controlled. She discovers that these erratic menaces, are more than able to cross both lines, creating havoc wherever they appear. Will she find all of the answers and be able to pick up the pieces, or will she be lost in this shady oblivion forever?
Reviews:
***** Wow, what an incredible story! Ian King hit the mark with this one. This story grabs you and won’t let go until the end! I won’t spoil the plot...
by telling you what happens—however, I will say that if you don’t read this story you are missing out. King did a wonderful job creating the scenes, and story-line. I highly recommend this book and hope we see more from this author! (Sylvester)
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***** Such a courageous way to write a story; where most books are just ending, this one starts. The author then goes on to create an entire world beyond...
our knowing. The main character, Emma, is thrust into this world and slowly learns how to deal with it. In so doing she resolves questions, and helps protect those she loves whilst understanding herself and her own place and heart.
On one level, the story was a teenager's view of how things are - direct, and black and white. However, on another level the author, Ian King, makes us consider not only our own way of looking at life and interacting with others, but also how others may be different than us and view life differently. Nevertheless, we can always choose to abide together harmoniously with just a little bit of effort.
I would recommend reading this book for both teenagers and adults. It's a fast read, and well fleshed out. (Kaz)
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***** Excellent book, a real page turner, hit a few emotional buttons, follows the path of a new "life" as a ghost caught between death and the future. introduces humour and carry over behaviour. (Kevin)
***** I could not put this book down. The author obviously has a fantastic grasp of how to influence perceptions of others through his clever story telling abilities. He challenges perceptions of...
life after death through the eyes of a teenage girl. Some thought provoking concepts are meddled with, yet they are introduced in a such a way where the transitions are seamless and you can really relax and read with pleasure. I am not one to spoil narratives, I highly recommend this read if you want to sit back and enjoy the ride. (Linda)
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**** Now this book is a bit different. Once you get over 'The Book Thief' narrator being dead or death, you can get your head around 'Ball Gown'. It's a hard book to review without giving away...
its secrets, but here goes. Teenager Emma was having a pretty good evening snogging with her boyfriend, until pissed-as-a-fart Patrick cleans her up in his car. So now Emma's in limbo with a bunch of bad-arse demons whose sole (maybe that should be soul) purpose is to put evil thoughts into those living predisposed to doing bad stuff.
I'm not going into the whole ghost world between living and dead (or un-dead), because that'll spoil it for you. I thought it was going to be a bunch of teenage angst, but the tale turned out to be a damned good (although dark) read and I'll let you decide on the ending, which wasn't what I expected. (Richard)
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**** "The Girl Who Was Buried in her Ball Gown", faces a number of challenges as she struggles and comes to terms with her sadness and frustration at being a ghost. At the same...
time, she engages in a battle of wits with an evil temptress – a real devil’s advocate – in the in-between world. While “The Girl Who Was Buried in her Ball Gown” is very much a good-girl-bad-girl story with a Christian thread running through it, author Ian King has skillfully kept the Christian bias unobtrusively low-key. There are many aspects of the story which are inevitably sad, but King has cleverly balanced these with amusing incidents and a message of hope after grief. (Caroline)
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**** I read this in just under a day, two sittings, and thoroughly enjoyed it. While it holds elements of the Ghost (the movie), the book stands on its own due to its location and inclusion of the New Zealand...
culture. Emma, a thirteen-year-old, dies on the night of the school ball mere minutes after her first (and last) kiss. Her death was accidental and as you can imagine, it carried a ripple effect across the lives of her family, the boy she was with at the time (also injured), and the driver of the car that killed her, and others. Now a ghost, Emma learns to adjust to her new existence, encounters new enemies and has to protect herself and everyone else related to her. She even adds to this by helping a few others.
It's a simple story with hardly any confusing complications, but there is enough conflict between Emma, her family, and the other spirits to keep the story moving. (Chris)
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Origins Halloween:
Trailer:
A Dramatic AudioBook is included with this title. Warning, contents may disturb some listeners.
Blurb:
Morgan, an early settler, is finding it hard to fit into their new community along with his wife and teenage daughter Suzie. And during his fortnightly visit into town several miles away, he learns that it will only get harder as the winds of winter blow in upon them.
Travel with Morgan and his daughter into the sick society he did not suspect dwelled so close to them within these cold, lonely mountains.
They soon discover that the 'All-hallows-eve' celebrations play an all-encompassing part in this new society, a part that may be too powerful for him and his family to overcome.
Delve into the sinister past of the celebrations, if you dare.
Follow this small mountain-dwelling family into the nightmare they never knew was upon them - until it was too late. Will they survive, or will they pass away into history like so many others before them?
Reviews:
***** This is a highly original enjoyable read, relentless in its pace, macabre in its plot, that has a narrative voice uniquely its own. King has created an...
Aldrich place with a chilling tenor of the word - in every sense of that term - located in some alien realm that is both familiar and horrifically bizarre. Enjoy! (John)
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***** Origins by Ian King is a great book for many reasons.
Other than being a great story - it makes you think! And I promise, you will never look at Halloween the same way again, which is the whole point, as the author is teaching as well as entertaining you.
I love the sound effect dynamics...
of this audiobook! Well done and truly classy - you won't be disappointed!! The narration is perfect, and the sound effects draw you and keep you on the edge of your seat.
All in all - this is a great book. I really enjoyed it - and know you will too. (Lyn)
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**** Like 'The Girl Who Was Buried in Her Ball Gown' this is a dark story with spooky and really nasty dudes being as despicable as possible. It's a quick read those horror-genre fans. As for me, I take...
the missus to the local on Halloween night. I rather have a some pub-grub and a pint than wait for a bunch of kids to come knocking which can be just as harrowing as Ian King's yarn of terror. (Richard)
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**** I enjoyed the tale. It reminded me in part of The Wicker Man; and like most Hollywood horror tales, it employs a good dose of artistic licence around Halloween. (Chris)
**** A good page turner. Very vivid descriptions (Kevin)
Special announcement! There's a NEW AUDIOBOOK coming soon!
I'll keep you posted, but here's a DEMO for you...
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