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.

"Alone" is a whirlwind of emotions and a truly thrilling read. It stands out from other thrillers because the main character, Seda has imaginary friend as a teenager. This imaginary friend tells her to do bad things. Can Seda resist the voice inside her head?

Seda's mother inherits an old mansion in the middle of nowhere. The family is dragged there in order to clean it up to sell. Upon arrival, Seda's mother decides that she would like to stay rather than take the family back to Boston.
A group of teens arrives at the home, stranded in the storm. Seda's mother accepts them into the home but strange things begin occuring.

This book left me staying up late at night, scaring me have to death. I highly recommend this book. The book is slightly gory at parts.

I received an ARC from NetGalley to read and review. The below is my honest, unbiased opinion. Thank you, Cyn Balog, the publisher, and NetGalley, for allowing me to review.

When her mom inherits an old, crumbling mansion, Seda’s almost excited to spend the summer there. The grounds are beautiful and it’s fun to explore the sprawling house with its creepy rooms and secret passages. Except now her mom wants to renovate, rather than sell the estate—which means they're not going back to the city…or Seda's friends and school. As the days grow shorter, Seda is filled with dread. They’re about to be cut off from the outside world, and she’s not sure she can handle the solitude or the darkness it brings out in her. Then a group of teens get stranded near the mansion during a blizzard. Seda has no choice but to offer them shelter, even though she knows danger lurks in the dilapidated mansion—and in herself. And as the snow continues to fall, what Seda fears most is about to become her reality…

What a fantastically creepy thriller! Who hasn't wished they'd inherit an isolated, old mansion? (Oh, just me?) I already found this plot extremely relatable and went into it with high hopes. Thankfully, Balog didn't disappoint. The writing is captivating, the characters well-developed, and the ending epically satisfying. There are so many twists and turns; just when you think you know what's going to happen, the author throws a bizarre curve-ball that you never saw coming. ALONE is deliciously horrifying in every perfect way. A must read!

I am a grade A scaredy cat. I can barely watch a horror film at home, even with the volume turned down, lights on, and my dog buried in my lap. Needless to say, I had no idea what I was getting myself into with this book. Needless to say, I am so glad I did read it.
This was a creepy and haunting read that I couldn't put down. A twist on The Shining, it certainly holds up to that name when almost every chapter has me left with my jaw dropped. The pacing is solid throughout, and it flows along until about the last quarter, when the real spooks start. And that ending? Mind. Blown. I had to text my friend (who like me isn't good with scary) and tell her the whole plot, just to talk to someone about it.
I've never read Balog's work before, but if they're all this peculiar and entertaining, then I will definitely be checking it out. 5/5

Alone is about a girl named Seda. What was supposed to be a vacation turns into moving in to an old murder/mystery house that her great aunt/uncle left her mom. Her summer turns into fall and then the snow starts. Seda feels all alone. Isolated from her friends and the outside world, she’s left with her thoughts and her little brothers and sisters to keep her occupied.

This book was nothing like I thought it would be. Nothing. I didn’t expect to feel an overwhelming sense of dread at every page I turned. I didn’t expect to feel creeped out. I didn’t expect the beginning, the middle or the end. I’m left flabbergasted.

I really thought I was going to read just another suspense book but what I read was so much more. Seda is a reliable narrator at times and when she’s not that ups the feeling that something’s not right. Giving you the chills and making you snuggle deeper into your blankets and reading with the light on. I loved being in her mind. This book wouldn’t have been this good if we had any other POV.

Alone is a book that you should throw all expectations out the window. Read with the lights on and preferably with people in your house. It’s creepy, weird, suspenseful and sometimes if you’re at the right scene it will make you jumpy. Cyn Balog does an excellent job at creating an atmosphere that will leave, even the strongest, weak at the knees. Terrified that they might be the next victim of...

Okay so this is going to be a very short review because I don't want to give away anything and I can't think of how to review it without saying something I shouldn't...lol.

So 60% of this book was a little slow and at times kind of boring and I kept thinking when will the horror part of this YA horror happen and then the last 40% happened in a rapid fire pace and I couldn't quit reading until I was finished.

Seda and her family are living in a very isolated place and winter is about to happen. The mansion used to be a murder mystery location and so it has a lot of very strange things in it. One night a group of teens show up and Seda doesn't want them to stay, she is afraid of them staying, but they do. It's Seda's 16th birthday and her mom wants to put on a scavenger hunt and things get a little strange once that starts and that is all I am saying. :)

I think the author was trying to draw us in with a bit of atmosphere at the beginning but to me it feel a little flat and just started to fill a bit repetitive and just didn't really feel as eerie as maybe it was suppose too. There is a certain element that I wish would have played a bit more in things because I think it would have made the ending a bit better.

I think if the last part wouldn't have been so cool I would not have given this book as good of a rating but I really enjoyed the last part and the WTH ending. :)

This book is exactly what I was looking for in a creepy (but not gory or terrifying) Halloween read! I would have liked some better pacing, the beginning seemed really long in comparison to the fun of the last third of the book, but overall, perfect for the season!

I received a free ARC of this novel from NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

Seda and her family are staying in an isolated and run down mansion that her mother inherited after her aunt and uncle died. The house, which was used to host murder mystery parties, is still filled with macabre props and tales of residents who met their untimely demise. Seda's mother had said it would only be temporary until the house sold but now as snow begins to fall it looks like they might confined to the house through winter. With the fear of being cut off from the outside world, Seda can't stop feeling that something terrible will happen if they stay.
A group of teens gets stranded and are force to take refuge in the house. Seda tries to warn them to leave... because she knows what will happen if they don't...

This one will have you on the edge of your seat as the tension builds right up to the end. I loved this book and it is perfect for anyone who loves the creepy vibe of a good horror novel without it being too intense for younger readers.

This wasn't to my personal taste (as I'm not a fan of unreliable narrators); however, it's tightly written and intriguing, and for those who like that kind of thrill and uncertainty, this will definitely fit. The MC's narration keeps the reader off-keel for the entire book, and the underlying tension and unease is definitely creepy. So although I didn't love it, I would recommend it for those who like this type of tale.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Fire for providing me with a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for review! All opinions are my own.

This is one of those books where the cover and the synopsis worked together to draw me in and make me want to read it. Unfortunately, this was a huge disappointment for me and...well, that's about it.

Plot:
I generally explain the plot a bit in my own words, but the synopsis above does a pretty good job at doing that for me. Honestly, I'm just frustrated by this book. It had such an interesting premise that really appealed to me, especially since I've been on a horror book kick lately. Creepy isolated murder mystery mansion, teenagers get into a wreck during a snowstorm and take shelter there, suspicious main character that hears a voice in her head and has been isolated from human interaction for months? Yes, yes, a thousand times yes. I am all for creepy isolated houses and people being stranded in said houses, kind of like The Shining. The story started slow and nothing creepy really happened until about halfway through, but I was fine with it because it still had an overall eerie feeling to it. It was a slow build up to the horror and I was on board with it, again, because it still felt creepy while it was actually getting to the creepy, if that makes sense. When the creepy actually started happening, I was all for it! When it threw in a plot twist, I was taken aback and writing in my notes frantically! When the last chapter happened, I almost threw my Kindle across the room. I actually verbally said, "Are you kidding me? I hate when books do this." Because I genuinely do hate what happened at the end. It made me, the reader, feel stupid and cheated, and it truly ruined my reading experience. I will admit, the very end, the final paragraph, was clever. And there was something that the main character kind of came to the realization of right before the end, which was also kind of cool and twisty. But other than that? Unfortunately, a huge thumbs down from this reader. I don't appreciate being made to feel stupid, and the ending of this book did just that. Which is sad because the pacing was great, the plot itself was intriguing, and the characters were relatively decent. Obviously I'm not going to spoil the ending, but it was definitely the low point for me and ruined my reading experience entirely.

Of course, I don't mean to bash the book in any way, that's not my intention. I actually was really enjoying the slow build mystery that was present throughout the book, the ending just seriously let me down, unfortunately.

Characters:
Seda was actually a really well-written character. She was basically isolated in a creepy old murder mystery house with her mother and four siblings (two sets of twins) and had no contact with the outside world due to there being no cell phone reception and no land line. It seemed like she had somehow forgotten how to interact with other people in the four months that she had been at the house which was slightly odd but did add something to her character. So did the fact that she heard a voice in her head. While she wasn't necessarily unreliable, she was sketchy at times and did kind of feel like you couldn't exactly trust what she was saying or doing. Seda was normal-ish, I suppose, but did have an air about her that made the reader feel like there was something she wasn't saying at times. Definitely enjoyed her character the most, especially towards the end!

The other characters were also well-written but I just wasn't a huge fan of them like I was of Seda. The twins were super cute, and her mother was kind of out there and I did enjoy them, for sure. The group of teenagers was just eh. They were all your stereotypical teenage characters, not much to really say about them. Again, they were all well-written, but I just didn't enjoy them as much as I enjoyed reading from Seda's point of view.

Writing:
The writing in Alone was actually my favorite part of the whole book! I loved the way that Cyn Balog slowly built up to the creepy stuff that started happening later on. It was so easy to read and I loved the unsure atmosphere that was constantly present while I was reading. You were never really sure what was going to happen next or if anything that was happening was real or not, or even if it was dangerous. I genuinely enjoyed the writing in this book and would definitely pick up another one by this author simply because of how much I liked reading her writing. It brought such an eerie feeling but you never really understood why and despite the fact that I disliked the way the twist was presented, I actually thought that the final paragraph (or so, I don't exactly know) was pretty clever. I'd be interested to see how other books by this author end and if the letdown twist ending is frequent or if I just grabbed the wrong one. But regardless, the writing was A+ and really kept me guessing and entertained throughout my reading experience.

While I didn't enjoy this book as much as I had hoped I would, I do think that others will enjoy it much more than I did. It has a great spooky atmosphere with easy and enjoyable writing and a main character that will make you question exactly what is going on while you're reading. If you're looking for an entertaining and creepy read, then I'd definitely recommend Alone!

3.5 stars. Young Seda feels so alone since her family has left Boston and is now living in a run-down macabre mansion with no-one nearby to help them. A snowstorm is coming, so now they're really trapped! Some teens arrive in need of help, but what lies ahead? Perfect creepiness for young adults. A nice little homage to "The Shining" for our younger readers.

**Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley in exchange of an honest review**

What a psychological horrror book! I was so creeped out. Read this half covered under my blankets! Could not read this fast enough! My heart was beating so fast. I definitely enjoyed this book!

A crumbling mansion on a secluded mountain during a blizzard sets the scene of Cyn Balog's novel Alone. This mansion was left to Seda's mother after her aunt and uncle die. Seda, 16, is desperate to get back home to Boston but her mom, a writer, can't seem to part ways with the mansion and decides they'll stay awhile. I should mention that when her aunt and uncle owned it they were using it as Murder Mystery Hotel and the devilish props and novelty items still decorate the house giving anyone that steps through the door a creepy, ominous vibe. Now being that this is YA we also have to have our group of teenagers that have a car accident and this decrepit old mansion is their only hope of warmth and safety on this dark and stormy night. This sounded like the perfect October / Halloween read and I couldn't wait to dive in. Balog writes well and she certainly held my attention. My only complaint is that this book took FOREVER to get going. There was so much build up yet nothing even remotely creepy happens until about the 70% mark. I thought it was a decent ending to a YA horror novel. I'm sure 15 year old me would of given it all the stars. Adult me says 3 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I thought the premise of this book was really unique and interesting. I didn’t find it so much scary as creepy. I was creeped out the whole time while reading this book. I didn’t expect the ending at all which was a huge reason why I did end up liking the book. I also liked the fact the the story didn’t drag, it was just the right pace. As always short chapters with cliff hanging endings in thrillers or horror book always make me happy, so I was glad that was a characteristic of the book.
I didn’t find myself connecting with any of the characters, which usually frustrates me, but in this case I think it was because I didn’t want to. I didn’t genuinely like any of them, I was questioning their every move and motive the whole time, especially Seda. I wasn’t a fan of Seda as a narrator at the beginning, but about a quarter of the way through I completely understood why she made the best one.
Overall if you are looking for a solid, creepy book this should definitely be a contender. It kept me at the edge of my seat most of the time, and I really enjoyed the ending. I love when a book can shock you, and this one did just that.

3.5 stars

The setting of this story is really a character in itself, and is reminiscent of The Shining - in fact, several characters mention it.  The MC even has two sets of twin siblings - twins!  There's even a huge freezer and pantry just like in The Overlook.  Secluded old hotel that previously hosted murder mystery parties, creepy secret passages, several feet of snow, no cell reception - you get the picture.  A perfect setting.  

I was ready for a chilling, twisty, good time - but it didn't occur until around the 70-75% mark.  The first part of the novel casts shadows and hints, so there's plenty of opportunity to form theories and entertain suspicions.  Once the action starts, it doesn't let up, so the ending was rather brisk, but when all was said and done, it just didn't sit right with me.  Yes, it was a surprise, but my reaction was more of disbelieving 'Really?' than shock.  

This is a fun read that contains some gore (just a warning to those who are squeamish), and the snippets of marketing materials from the murder mystery inn at the beginning of each chapter are quite humorous, but just be ready to settle in with this book for a little while before it takes off.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital ARC.

I received an ARC of Cyn Balog's book , Alone, via NetGalley. This advanced e-copy was granted in exchange for an honest review.***4.5 STARS ...for that ending alone.

What a ride! I swear this story kept me guessing until the bitter end ...and even now I find myself pleasantly surprised by all the clues I missed along the way.

Seda is a girl on the verge of a breakthrough or a breakdown--either was a possibility in this story. When Seda's horror-genre obsessed mother inherits a Murder-Mystery Inn, Seda is less than thrilled to take up occupancy at the creepy locale. However, she reluctantly goes along and hopes their stay won't last long.

As time ticks forward, it becomes clear to Seda that her family's stay at the house will be a lot longer than planned--perhaps permanent.

Seda slowly begins to detach from the world around her. She takes comfort only in the presence of her younger siblings and the possibility that someday she'll be able to return to the life she once knew. She's hanging on by a thread, but it's a strong enough one to keep her emotionally afloat...and then a group of uninvited teens arrive: placed on her doorstep courtesy of a car wreck and a snowstorm.

Their presence reawakens Seda's longing--breaking down her last wall of defense--and that's when things start to get very interesting.

The twists and turns the story took weren't of the "OMG" nature, but they certainly made you unsure for whom you should be rooting: The mother whose placating ways seem to only make life more unbearable for Seda? Seda, whose life is being spent in isolation? The unsuspecting teens who only wish to go home?

As you get deeper into the story, not one character reveals themselves to be above reproach; yet you find yourself wanting a heroine/hero to appear and make sense of it all--make it better.

About midway through, I'll admit, I thought I had it figured out: I'd gathered up all the clues, and followed the twisty arrows, and continued reading only to prove myself right; but, by the time the final page was turned, even I was questioning what was and wasn't the truth.

Alone, in my opinion, is a book about isolation, loneliness, and the ways both can play on the mind. If you've ever read the book--or seen its interesting adaptation--The Shining, you have an understanding of how such things can play upon the mind, making one question their own reality. Seda is not immune to such things, if anything, she's more susceptible to them because of her own internal struggles.

Seda proves to be a complex character, but she was also just a girl looking for something more than a house of horrors to fill in the details of her life. She wanted to have fun, and experience something befitting the biography of a "normal" teenage girl.

She begins to get a small taste of that with the arrival of the teens arrives; but their presence also exacerbates the demons within and makes her more aware of the struggle she's fought hard to keep at bay.

Highly recommend.

If there is one thing that Cyn Balog is famous for it is writing stories that are completely bizarre in the most perfect way. I can always count on getting something completely unheard of and something that more often than not, will throw me for a loop and make me think about it long after.

When I saw that her latest was a horror book, I knew, just knew I needed to read it and without a doubt would love it. And I absolutely did love it. It gave me chills, it made me think and it left me with an unsettling feeling I absolutely adored. It was everything I expected from this author writing in this genre and it was so much darn fun. I highly recommend it if you want a fast paced, easily read in one sitting horror story that will leave you reeling and wanting more and even slightly unsettled.

This was different and really interesting. The first 50% was a little meh but the end and the twist I didn't see coming. Like I had a feeling that was what was going on but the last paragraph I might have read over a few time because wow. This is a great read for anytime but perfect for this time of year. I highly recommend.