“A fast-paced urban fantasy/horror novel…Alameda’s worldbuilding is strong—this alternate version of San Francisco is dangerous and unpredictable…Readers will be left eager to see what Alameda has in store next.” Publishers Weekly
Description
Micheline Helsing is a tetrachromat—a girl who sees the auras of the undead in a prismatic spectrum. As one of the last descendants of the Van Helsing lineage, she has trained since childhood to destroy monsters both corporeal and spiritual. The corporeal undead go down by the bullet, the spiritual undead by the lens. With an analog SLR camera as her best weapon, Micheline exorcises ghosts by capturing their spiritual energy on film. She’s aided by her crew: Oliver, a technowhiz and the boy who developed her camera’s technology; Jude, who can predict death; and Ryder, the boy Micheline has known and loved forever.
When a routine ghost hunt goes awry, Micheline and the boys are infected with a curse known as a soulchain. As the ghostly chains spread through their bodies, Micheline learns that, if she doesn’t exorcise her entity in seven days or less, she and her friends will die. Now pursued as a renegade agent by her monster-hunting father, Leonard Helsing, she must track and destroy an entity more powerful than anything she’s faced before—or die trying.
Lock, stock, and lens, she’s in for one hell of a week.
Praise
“A fast-paced urban fantasy/horror novel…Alameda’s worldbuilding is strong—this alternate version of San Francisco is dangerous and unpredictable…Readers will be left eager to see what Alameda has in store next.” Publishers Weekly
“A paranormal ghost-hunting story that is a standout in the genre…Micheline is a strong character…The setting is vividly portrayed through detailed descriptions of the shadowy ghost world superimposed on the San Francisco cityscape…[and] there is plenty of action. Frightening from the first page, this novel is sure to please horror fans, particularly those familiar with ghost and vampire legends.” School Library Journal
“With deep roots in Bram Stoker’s Dracula, this very modern horror tale features a gutsy heroine and endless buckets of gore…Alameda excels at creating hideous creatures that are the stuff of nightmares. The rapid pacing, advanced technology, and limitless weapons just add appeal for readers seeking a supernatural thriller.” Booklist
“Alameda keeps the fear dripping from the walls as she plunges headlong into this full-scale thriller. She invents threatening and gruesome monsters, packs her heroes into seemingly inescapable plights, and adds mystery with the introduction of Luca and the identity of the terrifying ghost. There’s even a bit of forbidden romance. A page-turner for thriller fans.” Kirkus Reviews
“A dark, compelling story and more than enough gore to please the most demanding horror reader. Micheline is a strong female character with complex family relationships and mountains of regret to complement her unique and troubled family lineage. The supernaturally based action never lets up…Recommended for older teen readers.” VOYA
Details
| Language | English |
|---|---|
| Release Day | Jul 4, 2016 |
| Release Date | July 5, 2016 |
| Release Date Machine | 1467676800 |
| Imprint | Forever Young Audiobooks |
| Provider | Forever Young Audiobooks |
| Categories | Teen & Young Adult, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Mystery, Thriller & Suspense, Children/YA, YA, Fiction - All, Fiction - Child |
Author Bio
Courtney Alameda, a veteran bookseller and librarian, now spends her days writing thriller and horror novels for young people. Her debut novel, Shutter, was nominated for a Bram Stoker Award and hailed as a “standout in the genre” by School Library Journal. She holds a BA in English literature with an emphasis in creative writing. A Northern California native, she now resides in Utah with her husband, a legion of books, and a tiny five pound cat with a giant personality.
Narrator Bio
Pamela Lorence is a seasoned professional in the audio production business and a classically trained singer and performer. Her voice has been featured in video games, museum audio guides, commercials, children’s toys, and dozens of audiobooks. This year she combined her love of reading with her love of audio production and launched Forever Young Audiobooks, a boutique audiobook publishing company focused on producing quality young adult titles. In her free time she’s a volunteer narrator at the Learning Ally, a national nonprofit with a defined approach to help support students with learning disabilities. She also volunteers at the Bridge School, an innovative organization educating children with severe speech and physical impairments.
Overview
Micheline Helsing is a tetrachromat—a girl who sees the auras of the undead in a prismatic spectrum. As one of the last descendants of the Van Helsing lineage, she has trained since childhood to destroy monsters both corporeal and spiritual. The corporeal undead go down by the bullet, the spiritual undead by the lens. With an analog SLR camera as her best weapon, Micheline exorcises ghosts by capturing their spiritual energy on film. She’s aided by her crew: Oliver, a technowhiz and the boy who developed her camera’s technology; Jude, who can predict death; and Ryder, the boy Micheline has known and loved forever.
When a routine ghost hunt goes awry, Micheline and the boys are infected with a curse known as a soulchain. As the ghostly chains spread through their bodies, Micheline learns that, if she doesn’t exorcise her entity in seven days or less, she and her friends will die. Now pursued as a renegade agent by her monster-hunting father, Leonard Helsing, she must track and destroy an entity more powerful than anything she’s faced before—or die trying.
Lock, stock, and lens, she’s in for one hell of a week.
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