Amalina and the Secrets of the Wailing Castle by C.L. Holmes

Definitely a page-turner.

Young Amalina Dalca has just committed quite the transgression. Wanting to get her very first glimpse of the starry heavens, Amalina directly disobeys her father and, gasp, opens a window. Years of cautious obedience crumble into a glistening starry expanse as she takes a breath of nighttime air. But Amalina spies more than stars when she looks out over her village. A local girl is savagely murdered by an inhumanely fast man with a taste for blood. Amalina would be the next victim, yet something compels the man to refrain. When Amalina realizes that this hideous threat has been lurking about for longer than she’s been alive, troubling questions rush in on her. Who else knows about this? Why has it been kept secret? Is that why all the wild girls end up dead? And most troubling, what does he want from her? Before she can formulate a strategy, Amalina finds herself forced to serve this murderous stranger. She is both repulsed and beguiled by the dangerous man and resolves to murder the murderer. However, the enigmatic man of darkness harbors more than a few secrets, as does his lonely castle.

Amalina and the Secrets of the Wailing Castle by C.L. Holmes is a sharp horror novel that is a brilliant throwback to all the beloved classics from the past, however the story manages to remain clever and original. The narrating voice reads like the most captivating campfire storyteller you’ve ever heard, compelling readers to look at just one more chapter, then another, then another. In fact, the prose is so velvety smooth and evocative that it is reminiscent of poetry. The bizarre environment surrounding the Wailing Castle makes me think that if M. Night Shyamalan wanted to write a book, he’d wish he had thought of the world Amalina lives in! All the chills, tingles and frights you could want in a refined horror novel, but with none of the heavy affectation, this dark vampire tale is definitely a page-turner. Perfect for anyone who wants to find out what sneaks around in the night, Amalina and the Secrets of the Wailing Castle is a terrific late night read with plenty of freaky twists!

Amazon

Amazon