Review-The Dead Girls of Hysteria Hall by Katie Alender

 

First Published August 25th 2015 

Published by Point
Genre(s): Horror, Young Adult, Paranormal

Synopsis: "Delia's new house isn't just a house. Long ago, it was the Piven Institute for the Care and Correction of Troubled Females -- an insane asylum nicknamed "Hysteria Hall." However, many of the inmates were not insane, just defiant and strong willed. Kind of like Delia herself.

But the house still wants to keep "troubled" girls locked away. So, in the most horrifying way, Delia becomes trapped. And that's when she learns that the house is also haunted.

Ghost girls wander the hallways in their old-fashioned nightgowns. A handsome ghost boy named Theo roams the grounds. Delia learns that all the spirits are unsettled and full of dark secrets. The house, too, harbors shocking truths within its walls -- truths that only Delia can uncover, and that may set her free.

And she'll need to act quickly -- before the house's power overtakes everything she loves.

Katie Alender brings heart-pounding suspense, gorgeous writing, and a feminist twist to this tale of memories and madness."

Review: This book quickly drew my in. The thoughts and glimpses of what is to come snatched me up before I was even aware fully what this story was about (I started reading it before reading the synopsis). In some ways It maybe moved too fast at first. Even though I was expecting it before I was even a quarter into the book the big drama unfolded rapidly before me.

There is an interesting variety of characters, although honestly I had the hardest time pegging down Delia herself. She just didn't have a character presence one way or another and the whole story was from her perspective. It is not that she was bad, just bland. I felt more for her family that I did her!
Her sister had so much more personality. So did other, more minor characters.

Still, it was an entertaining read. Quick and easy with a few creepy parts. Not quite actually horror but possibly unsettling. I haven't quite made up my mind about the ending. Not good but not bad either. It was just there (like the MC). A bit more excitement or haunted things happening would have been nice. Or if it had been a bit darker.... It just felt that something held this back from being a truly GOOD read. I enjoyed it, but didn't love it yet I saw potential.

 This was my first book by Katie Alender and I would be willing to read more by her in the future.