Review: Asylum by Madeleine Roux

Title: Asylum 
Author: Madeleine Roux
Publisher: Harper Children's

Publication date: August 20, 2013

Genre(s): Young Adult (Horror)

Source: HarperCollins Canada

Format: ARC

Pages: 320

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For sixteen-year-old Dan Crawford, New Hampshire College Prep is more than a summer program—it's a lifeline. An outcast at his high school, Dan is excited to finally make some friends in his last summer before college. But when he arrives at the program, Dan learns that his dorm for the summer used to be a sanatorium, more commonly known as an asylum. And not just any asylum—a last resort for the criminally insane.

As Dan and his new friends, Abby and Jordan, explore the hidden recesses of their creepy summer home, they soon discover it's no coincidence that the three of them ended up here. Because the asylum holds the key to a terrifying past. And there are some secrets that refuse to stay buried.

Featuring found photos of unsettling history and real abandoned asylums and filled with chilling mystery and page-turning suspense, Madeleine Roux's teen debut, Asylum, is a horror story that treads the line between genius and insanity.

After hearing about this at the Frenzy Presents event, I really wanted to read it!! A horror book that includes pictures from a real life asylum, talk about spooky!! Sixteen year old Dan is the main protagonist in this book. Dan leaves his house to go to New Hampshire College prep that is a summer program. Dan has never had any friends at school, so he was determined to make some at his summer program! He meets Abby and Jordan, and those three go on quite an adventure at school. They find hidden rooms at their school, and the decide to go in and explore. When they find weird and scary pictures of doctors and patients, Dan and Abby are determined to find out more.

To be honest, I didn't find this as creepy as I expected it to be. The story line wasn't that interesting, and nothing exciting ever came up at first. Later on, some shocking stuff did happen, and the book started picking it's pace up. The pictures in the book were pretty cool as well. I have to admit, there was a lot of confusing stuff here. I'm still not clear about what really happened in the end. I thought there would be a sequel, but it does not say so on goodreads. The characters were okay, nothing special. Also, there was a bit romance, but it didn't stand out for me either.

Overall, I just guess this book was bleh. Nothing great, nothing horrible either. I kind of think this turned out into a big mess in the end. I don't know if it's paranormal or fantasy or whatnot. Nothing was explained properly, and if there isn't a sequel, then how are we supposed to understand? If anyone is looking for a somewhat horror book, then I would recommend this one. I also thought it would be fit for a younger audience as well.