Book Review: The Haunting Season by Michelle Muto (Spooky Little Haunted House Story)

Ghosts, psychic abilities, a Ouija board and a haunted house? Yes, please.

I heard about this book on Michelle’s blog. The blurb and eerie cover caught my attention, and right away, I downloaded it to my Kindle. This is a New Adult book, a genre I’m beginning to see more of. I’d also classify this budding genre as Mature YA. Teens are still the main characters in The Haunting Season, but there’s probably a little more cursing and sex than typically present in YA stories. The Haunting Season also packs bigger scares and horror than your average YA tale.

Anyway, on to the plot. Jess sees ghosts. The chance to earn a hefty sum of money for taking part in paranormal research at an old house is just too good an opportunity to pass up. That money will go a long way towards college in the fall. While there, she meets the scared and withdrawn Allison, who suffered from demonic possession and is now a tad on the emotionally unbalanced side. Her love interest is Gage, whose gift allows him to bring back things from the dead. Then we have Bryan who can make things disappear. Under the scrutiny of the untrustworthy and odd Dr. Brandt, they participate in Ouija board sessions, explore their spooky surroundings and become aware that something sinister is going on at Siler House.

The lust between Jess and Gage surprised me, them having sex early on even more so. I’m just not used to reading sex scenes in books with teenagers. There’s no instant love here, just old fashioned hormones and attraction. The characters were fully realised, apart from Bryan, who I never got a good mental image of. Allison is the most intriguing of them all, and I’d love to read a book detailing her past trouble with possession leading up to her family basically dropping her off at Siler House like an unwanted child.

Jess’s vision of what the demon does to the bodies of the twin girls, Emma and Gracie, appalled me. Speaking of Emma and Gracie, there is just something seriously creepy about little girl ghosts. Jess has a good head on her shoulders; I liked her a lot. She’s down to earth and someone I’d have wanted as friend when I was her age. The book is told from both Jess’ and Gage’s perspectives, giving us an insight into the minds of both a teenage girl and teenage boy.

Scary at times, gruesome at others, but always spooky, I’d recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good haunted house tale. ****

Check it out on Amazon HERE

Have I convinced you to put this on your TBR list? 🙂

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