As an adult, I loved all of the horror movie, book, and even references to creepy deaths of real people. Even young adult readers will appreciate them and possibly check some of the older ones out (The Shining in particular, definite homage to that book and movie). I think this book would make a fantastic movie itself, it is vividly told and I could picture every character and event clearly as if it were on screen. The author does a superb job at keeping the tension going throughout the story, as well as ratcheting it up bit by bit until the reader has no choice but to keep reading to find out what ultimately happens.

Despite some shortfalls, this novel is ultimately spooky and creepy, perfect for a fall or winter read underneath a cozy blanket (while locked in the house of course!)

Seda is happy to spend her summer in an old mansion that her mother has inherited. Her aunt and uncle had converted it into a haunted residence and Seda and her siblings enjoy the scary rooms and all of the secret passage ways. Unfortunately, her mother doesn’t want to sell it and she is now stuck in the boonies with no contact with her friends back home. Then a group of teenagers arrive at her door following a car accident and Seda and her family have no choice but to let them in. As the blizzard rages outside, the creepiness level inside begins to climb. Are Seda’s worst fears coming true?

Alone is a mystery novel that will keep readers engaged throughout. Most readers will think they know where the storyline is going, yet Balog has created an ending with several twists and a few extra turns. The characters are exciting and readers will slowly discover more about them as the story progresses. Since this book is relatively short, readers may find themselves stuck in their favorite reading nook turning page after page until the very end. A great read that should be added to everyone’s TBR list.

First of all, thank you to SOURCEBOOKS Fire and Netgalley for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

Summary: Seda and her family are isolated in a dilapidated and macabre murder-mystery mansion atop Solitude Mountain with no end in sight. She is DYING to get back to her friends and a "normal" life back in Boston and away from all the darkness and surprises in the mansion but Seda's mom doesn't seem keen on actually selling Bug House. Then, one snowy night, Seda encounters a man wielding an ax as she comes out of the walk-in freezer and she learns that him and his friends are stranded due to the snow and they need a place to stay. Against all Seda's wishes and fears, the four teens come to stay with them and things begin to unravel.

I don't know if this is because I don't read a lot of horror books or what but this book kept me on the edge of my seat DYING to read more. I even sat at the movie theater reading on my Kindle as I waited for my actual movie to start because I just COULDN'T put this one down.

From the very get-go you are constantly left wondering what it is that Seda fears and who in the world is Sawyer?! I was surprised that many of the other reviews I read didn't mention Sawyer because I was curious about him since the very beginning. I kept asking myself: Does Seda have DID? Or Schizophrenia?

HA! I can't confirm or deny my suspicions but wait until you get to this ending! I heard that Cyn Balog generally writes stories with plot twists and other surprises but I wasn't prepared for this. And, of course, I can't say anymore as that would spoil this book for any future reader. It is safe to say, though, that I feel a little stunned and I can't seem to wrap my head around what happened.

I personally didn't care for Heath because he didn't feel very trustworthy and it bothered me that Seda fell right into his arms! I kept trying to tell myself: she's sixteen, young, naive, lonely, just WANTS someone to like her but man! Did Balog ever play with my emotions. One minute I'm hating the guy and the next minute I'm feeling okay about him.

If you are someone who likes suspenseful...creepy...what-the-eff-moments then do yourself a good deed and pick this one up! It doesn't disappoint. I can definitely say that I'm going to be checking out more Cyn Balog books in the future.

Alone is creepy yet undeniably fun. Seda is probably one of the most insane characters I have ever read about, but I adored her. However, there was no one I adored more then her two little twin sets of brothers and sisters.

What really made this story go over the top for me was the setting. An old hotel that was once used as a murder mystery experience. With all the escape rooms and unique spooky experiences that have been popping up in the last few years I was so excited to find out that an older murder hotel experience was where this book took place.

I felt like I was watching a horrifically strange movie while reading Alone. With a eccentric mom whose a writer, twins who sleep with intestines (not real ones but still), and Seda who absorbed her own twin in the womb (whom talks in her head) Alone has all the ingredients to shock yet lead you along in its otherworldly mystery.

If you love getting the daylight scared out of you and a really good mystery I recommend this book 100%. It’s unsettling, but incredibly unique and I ate it up!

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the opportunity to read and review Alone by Cyn Balog.
A desolate mansion, a girl who hears voices and an eccentric mother open this story with a feeling of Stephen King’s Shining. The more I read about this family, the stranger they seem. Seda had a twin that died before the two of them were born. His name was Sawyer. Seda has four younger siblings who are sets of twins. Winter hits and a group of teenagers ends up stranded at the mansion after a car accident. They’re invited to enjoy a scavenger hunt with the family and everything goes from strange to crazy with twist after twist. Alone is a suspense-filled thriller and a perfect read for young adult horror fans. 5 stars!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book for voluntary consideration.

This was a compelling and disturbing (in all the right ways) read, with lots of plot twists that I just didn’t see coming.

***This book as reviewed for Sourcebooks via Netgalley

Alone by Cyn Balog is one dark, creepy psychological thriller. Bismarck-Chisolm House, a grand old mansion on Solitude Mountain, was once a murder mystery mansion, but has fallen into severe disrepair. Seda and her family inherited the home upon the deaths of her aunt and uncle. They intended to spend summer vacation to get it ready for sale, but Seda’s mom decided that she would only be willing to sell to buyers who would keep the mansion as a murder mystery hotel.

Summer passes to fall with still no buyers, and storms snow them in, blocking the roads. An accident deposits a carload of teens at the mansion. To make the most things, Seda’s mom, a horror and mystery aficionado, decides to set up a murder mystery to pass the time. But there's an extra guest only Seda is aware of- Sawyer, and Sawyer plays for keeps.

I loved Seda’s family. Her siblings are adorable. All four of them. Two sets of fraternal twins. So glad they weren't identical! Talk about messed up. Dr Helm seemed a bit spacey though. Like, it seems the adult should notice psychopathic/sociopathic behaviour. Even high-functioning ones show aberrations. #justsayin

But, overall, the characters were well-drawn, with rich personality. Even the ‘mystery’ guest. You don't see much interactions with Sawyer during most of the book, but those you do give a good idea of his personality. It's great that the best 'actor’ of all wasn't even supposed to be one.

This was one creepy read, paying homage not just to Stephen King’s The Shining, which I've seen mentioned places before, but also to Hitchcock’s Psycho. The story seems to be going one way, then darts a different way, and back another way. Every time I thought I figured things out, something would happen that was quite unexpected. Looking back, though, clues to the final truth are scattered throughout. I loved the attention to detail with the mansion, and the backstories for the different rooms. I really don't think I'd like to live in a home with all those spooky props. The symbolism with the snow globes was appropriate. They are as trapped on Solitude by the blizzard as the scenes in the snow globes. And all it takes is one person to upend the perfect little scene and send flurries of panic spinning around.

📚📚📚📚📚 highly recommended for fans of horror and psychological thrillers

Arriving at the murder mystery mansion is easy...the difficult part is seeing if you're able to leave.

Seda has been living at the "Bug House" on Solitary Mountain in Pennsylvania with her mother and siblings for the last few months. She misses her life in Boston and her friends but her mother keeps delaying moving back to the city.

No landline, no cell service and 20 miles from the nearest store - no fun for a teenager.

The house that her mother inherited used to hold murder mystery weekends that were quite popular but to Seda the place is just creepy.

But then a blizzard hits and a car full of stranded teens ends up at the Bug House and things start to get really creepy.

This book really hit the right buttons for me to get spooked. Great atmosphere and I loved the characters. Every piece fell into the right place at just the right time.

I received this book from Sourcebooks Fire through Edelweiss and Net Galley in the hopes of receiving my unbiased review.

When Seda's mom inherits a creepy old mansion full of secret rooms and passages, Seda isn't thrilled to be leaving her home in Boston, but her mother swears it's just temporary. As more and more time passes, Seda's mom decides she wants to renovate in order to find the perfect buyer for the house, which means they'll be living there longer than expected. 

As winter sets in and a blizzard hits, a group of teens ends up stranded during the storm, and ends up staying with Seda and her family. When her mom decides to set up a murder mystery for them to complete to stave off the boredom, Seda's nightmares may just become reality...

I was really intrigued by the premise of Alone, especially because I always want to read creepy books around Halloween! I absolutely loved the atmosphere that Alone created. It was dark and creepy, and I felt a definite eerie vibe as I was reading it, which a lot of books fail to do for me, so I was thrilled with that aspect of the book! 

I really enjoyed the beginning of the book and the set up, and I absolutely loved the last 40%, but I did feel like there was a period of the book from 30-50% or so of the way in that it felt like not much was happening, and I was waiting for the main plot to start. Despite that, the book is short and engaging, so it's super easy to binge read! 

I won't spoil anything, but I absolutely loved the ending of the book, though I do have a few unanswered questions! I like that though - not everything needs a black and white ending. Overall, I loved the book and rated it 4 stars! I've had Unnatural Deeds by the same author on my to read list for a while, so I'll definitely have to get to that one soon! 

Thank you to Netgalley, Sourcebooks Fire, and Cyn Balog for an advanced copy of the book. It was my pleasure to provide an honest review. Alone is out today, so be sure to check this one out!

If I had to describe this novel in one word, it would be creepy. Absolutely nerve wracking and spine tingling. Cyn Balog's Alone was riddled with enough anxiety that kept me from reading it at night. I could not put this down.

Seda, being the main character in this novel, is living in this creepy old murder mystery house as her mom prepares to sell it to someone who will uphold its tradition. Meanwhile she is stranded in the middle of no where, no contact with her friends back in Boston, and slowly feeling like she is losing it. Enters five teenagers needing assistance in the middle of a blizzard.

From the first page in this book to the last I found myself reading with one eye as if this was a scary movie and someone was going to jump out at me. I never knew what to expect and there was always a weird twist or turn, or even a comment, that had me re-guessing what I thought was going to happen. Not only did it keep me guessing, but it kept you in full suspense the entire time. Balog wrote some dynamic and multi-layered characters, like an onion, that were a lot more than what first met the readers eye. The ending will leave you absolutely dumb-struck.

This novel is an absolute must read for any murder mystery/thriller lovers. I'll be checking out Balog's other novels soon!

Such an interesting concept. Totally something I'd recommend to my students. It's creepy and moody.

I loved how powerful the first sentences of the book were. How could I not continuing reading when the first sentence was "sometimes I dream that I am drowning". The first few pages were filled with powerful, attention grabbing internal monologue that I loved. I think that it will easily draw readers into the story and make them want to read more.
My issues with the book began fairly early on within the book. I didn't understand what the author was trying to convey or where she was going with things. I assumed that Seda was going to end up doing something bad or that the author was trying to make readers think that when in reality someone else is the villain. Things got more confusing when the group of teens show up in the book because Seda began acting odd and the teens were acting odd as well. I wasn't sure what I was supposed to think. I also found Seda's mother odd. I'm not sure if this was the author's intention or not but all of the characters seemed a bit awkward to me.
It seemed to turn into a typical horror movie with the typical characters that break down on the side of the road and come upon a creepy house thinking that everything is fine when all of the sudden they start getting picked off one by one. All that I will say concerning this plot point is that all is not what it seems. I did appreciate the fact that the author attempted to do something different but she also attempted to keep a thriller-esque vibe with a twist ending. The issue that i have with that is there was no enough background or hints in order to take the book in that particular direction. It didn't make a lot of sense. Frankly, the explanation behind another one of the twists in the story didn't really sit well with me either. There were subtle hints that something wasn't quite right but other than that there is nothing to go off of.

2 stars

Plot: I still can't put my finger on what kind of story Alone was. It definitely delivered in the creepy, but it never had a point. From the start, we were introduced to Seda and her family. What was unique about Seda was that she absorbed her twin brother in the womb and she had been hearing his voice in her head from an early age. Then we had Seda's family, her mother refused to return to Boston in hopes of selling her aunt and uncle's murder-mystery house and her father recently abandoned them. Stir in a group of stranded teens and we've got ourselves a weird series of events.

I liked some parts of Alone but thought that Balog was trying to cram too much in, especially for a supposed horror novel. The ending was definitely twisty, but I can't say that it was satisfying.

Characters: Like most books in the horror category, there wasn't much time spent on developing the characters. Seda's mother was unusually absent and I can barely remember the names of Seda's four siblings. The group of stranded teens all played into horror movie archetypes and were unforgettable by the end of the novel. And that brings me to the dreaded love interest: Heath. Unsurprisingly, Seda fell in love with the leader of the teen group almost instantly, complete with furious blushing and "I've never done this before" moments. The two were way too obvious in their flirtations and seemed out of place given the tone of the novel.

Worldbuilding: Alone took place mostly at the murder house which was missing a lot of information. It took me until the 80%-mark that I understood what a "murder house" actually meant and I truly think the reader would have benefited from a description of the house's layout. Each chapter opened with some information about how to "play" at the murder house but it felt out of place and really didn't add much to the novel.

Short N Sweet: Alone was weird and creepy, but in the end, it all felt unnecessary.

So I am happy, and a little creeped out, to find a YA Horror novel that actually started to creep me out. Granted, I read the majority of this book in the dark, but there were moments that I felt that tingly, don’t-look-behind-you feeling, and I really enjoyed being connected to the story like that!

Not to say that this book will make you want to forever have the lights on, but sometimes it can be a little hard to get a book YA Horror that doesn’t have the typical, predictive side to trying to creep the readers out. So if you are looking for a scary novel to pick up this fall, I highly recommend Alone.

But this novel is not just captivating through the spine-tingling moments. What I loved about reading this book was the mental health aspect with Seda and Simon. The main character does battle an inner struggle that just intensifies the story because this is something that people definitely struggle with in your real world. I think that this is what brought myself to find the book captivating with the horrors not only inside the mountaintop, murder mystery house, but also the horrors that the mind can exert on the beholder.

I gave this book 5 out of 5 stars. Let me tell ya, I could not put this one down. Just overall, the author did an awesome job picking a setting and situation that flowed together from cover to cover while also trying to scare you in the process. The characters slayed their parts and made the book fly by through a non-predictable storyline.

Perfect setting for horror. This book was dark and twisted. Good for teen readers. If read alone leave a light on!

I liked this one. Man, it was creepy. I mean weird girl, dead brother, strange house, creepy siblings, and then that entire twist! I can't really say much without ruining it for you. So, I'll say read it but just don't read it ALONE! Hahaha

Alone is a great story to get you in the mood for the Halloween season. The mansion and blizzard made for a creepy claustrophobic atmosphere. The characters were equally as creepy, especially the AtoZ twins. The story kept me guessing, especially since I wasn't sure if Seda was a reliable narrator. It reminded me a bit of the 80s movie, April Fool's Day with a twist. Have to say that I loved the twist at the end. I definitely recommend this one. It's good creepy fun.

So this is going to be one of those reviews which is hard to write because almost anything I say could give the entire thing away. Seda and her family, which consists of her mother and two sets of twins, move to a remote run-down home in the mountains which was previously used as a murder mystery B&B. That is important because all the creepy plots only add to the atmosphere of the dilapidated residence. Seda's father had no desire to stay on and left the family to return to Boston. Seda is lonely and feels totally out of place. Seda is also haunted by her twin, which she reported absorbed in her mother's womb.

One night a car full of teens breaks down and Seda finds them holed up on the property. They are eventually invited in to stay by Seda's mother and since Seda's birthday is right around the corner, a murder mystery party ensues - but is everyone who dies acting?

This was a quick read and I think it's really suited to a shorter novel. It was also a great read for the Halloween season. However, it is one of the books which the entire time you are reading it you have a constant "WTF?" look on your face. I even asked my husband at one point if I looked as confused as I felt. I never really felt a huge attachment to Seda but I did feel for her being stuck in the middle of nowhere with her mother and a bunch of young kids.

To say there is a twist at the end is probably the understatement of the year. The problem I had is a good friend of mine had read the book right before me and while she was careful not to spoil anything, the ending I had dreamed up was much different than the one which actually occurred. That being said, this book ALMOST got 4/5 and probably would have if I had enjoyed the outcome a tad better. However, it was a solid enjoyable spooky read for the Halloween season.

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley and the published in exchange for an honest review.

So I always knew I didn't really like silly, cheap twist endings, but this book has made me realise that it's more than that: I actually bloody hate them.

This book started out great but then started to falling apart... sad because I was sucked in. Too many holes in the plot, oblivious characters and an ending that really was somewhat surprising but not worth the rest of the book.