The Vampire Diaries: Stefan's Diaries #5: The Asylum

By L. J. Smith and Kevin Williamson & Julie Plec

The fifth book in the New York Times bestselling series by L.J. Smith.

The Asylum is the fifth book in L.J. Smith’s bestselling Stefan’s Diaries series, which reveals the backstory of brothers Stefan and Damon from The Vampire Diaries series. This digital edition features cover artwork from the hit CW TV series The Vampire Diaries, starring Nina Dobrev, Paul Wesley, and Ian Somerhalder.

Trust has never come easily to Stefan and Damon, but now that Samuel—a vampire from Katherine’s past bent on revenge—is determined to ruin their lives, the Salvatores must join forces to defeat their foe. Samuel has already ruined Stefan’s chances at a normal life, and now he’s framing Damon for the Jack the Ripper murders, too. With the help of Cora, a human girl, Stefan and Damon track Samuel from the glittering ballrooms of London to the city’s asylum, which Samuel uses for his own nefarious purposes. However, while finding Samuel is easy, Damon and Stefan quickly learn that stopping him may be nearly impossible.

Full of dark shadows and surprising twists, the fifth book in the New York Times bestselling Stefan’s Diaries series raises the stakes for the Salvatore brothers as they face new loves, old treacheries, and unimaginable threats. Fans of L. J. Smith’s New York Times bestselling Vampire Diaries series as well as the hit television show won’t be able to put the latest Salvatore adventure down.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperTeen
• Release date: Jan 17, 2012
• ISBN: 9780062113979

L. J. Smith

L. J. Smith has written over two dozen books for young adults, including The Vampire Diaries, now a hit TV show. She has also written the bestselling Night World series and The Forbidden Game, as well as the #1 New York Times bestselling Dark Visions. She loves to walk the trails and beaches in Point Reyes, California, daydreaming about her latest book.

Book preview

PREFACE

Before someone dies, their blood races, pounding through their veins, filled with everything that makes them human—adrenaline, fear, the desire to live. It’s a sound like no other, a sound I used to listen for eagerly, in anticipation of the kill. But the pounding that echoed in my ears now wasn’t caused by a human heart. It lacked that frantic sensation that made blood so irresistible. It was mine … and my brother’s.

We had both been at the very edge of death, again, and were now fleeing back to London.

The London I’d seen was a city of deceit and destruction, where innocent lives were lost, and blood ran through the streets like water. And now, Damon and I were headed there to stop it. I only hoped the price wouldn’t be too high.

Mere hours earlier, I had been attacked and left for dead by Samuel, a truly cunning and vindictive vampire. Damon had saved me. It had seemed like a miracle when my brother burst into the cottage and dragged me to safety just before the entire structure burst into flames.

But I stopped believing in miracles a long time ago. What it had been was luck. And now I needed luck on my side more than ever. Relying on instinct wasn’t enough. My instincts had failed me countless times, always leading to someone’s death. And if they failed me again, I knew that the ensuing death would be my own. All I could do was throw myself into the battle against evil and hope that my luck hadn’t run out.

1

The train whistle pierced the silence of the carriage, startling me out of my reverie. I sat up, suddenly alert. We were in a first-class cabin, surrounded by every comfort imaginable. A plate of untouched sandwiches sat on the table between two plush red velvet benches, and a pile of newspapers was stacked beside them. Outside the window, the scenery rolled by, lush and full of life, the fields occasionally dotted with herds of cattle. It was hard to reconcile the calm and beauty of my surroundings with the horror and confusion in my mind.

Cora sat across from me, a small, leather-bound Bible lying open in her lap. She stared out the window, unblinking, as if the world outside could offer her the answers I couldn’t. Cora, an innocent human girl wrapped up in the vampire world through no fault of her own, had just witnessed her sister turn into one of the bloodthirsty demons she feared.

Just one week ago, my life was as pleasant—I would hesitate to say as good—as I could have hoped. After all, being at the mercy of my cravings tempered simple pleasures like golden-hued sunsets and Sunday night dinners. But my life was peaceful. And, after years of running from my enemies and my own guilt, peace was perfection.

A week ago, I’d been employed at Abbott Manor where, as the groundskeeper, my biggest concern was whether the pasture fence needed repairing.

A week ago, I’d been sitting in a comfortable red-velvet chair in the Abbotts’ sitting room, a glass of brandy on the table next to me and a book of Shakespeare in my lap. Even though I’d have to feed on the blood of a squirrel or sparrow to be satiated, I was enjoying the scent of a roast being prepared by the family’s housekeeper, Mrs. Duckworth.

A week ago, I’d watched as Oliver Abbott ran indoors, trailed by his older brother, Luke. They were both filthy from playing in the forest. But instead of scolding them, their mother, Gertrude, had leaned down and picked up one of the orange maple leaves they’d traipsed in with them.

Beautiful! Isn’t fall enchanting? Gertrude had exclaimed in delight, examining the leaf as if it were a precious jewel.

My heart twisted. Now, because of Samuel, Oliver’s little body was buried under the leaves, drained of blood. Gertrude and the rest of the Abbott family—their father, George, Luke, and the youngest, Emma—had been spared, but I could only imagine the terror in which they now lived. Samuel had compelled them to believe I had been the one to kidnap and kill Oliver. It was his attempt to even a score I wasn’t aware existed—I still wasn’t sure how it came to be.

I squeezed my eyes shut. Damon had just left the carriage, most likely feeding on a fellow passenger. Ordinarily, I didn’t like my brother’s insistence on feeding on humans. But now, I was thankful for the quiet. We’d fled the farm several hours before and I was only just beginning to relax. My shoulders dropped and my heart had stopped hammering against my rib cage. For now, we were safe. But I knew London would be a different story.

I glanced at the Bible, still open on Cora’s lap. It had been well read by someone; the cover was frayed and the pages were dotted with smudges. But there was nothing in the Bible that could help her—or any of us in this car of the damned.

In the distance, I heard footsteps coming down the aisle. My heart quickened. I sat up, ready to defend myself against whoever came around the corner: Samuel, Henry, some other vampire minion I had yet to encounter. I could feel Cora tense beside me, her eyes growing wide with fear. A hand reached around to pull the curtain of the carriage open. I recognized the ornate lapis lazuli ring that matched my own, and breathed a sigh of relief. It was Damon returning, his eyes wild and bloodshot.

Look at this! he sputtered, waving a newspaper in front of my face.

I took the paper from his hand and read the headline: JACK THE RIPPER IDENTIFIED BY EYEWITNESS. Below the block letters was an illustration of Damon. I quickly scanned the first few lines: Society man discovered to be unholy killer. Man about town Damon DeSangue has been positively identified in relation to the Miller’s Court murder last week.

The train lurched toward London, the city that would now believe Damon was Jack the Ripper. We were like mice on our way into a snake pit.

May I see? Cora asked, holding out her hand expectantly.

Damon ignored her. They could have run a better picture of me, at the very least. That illustration doesn’t do me justice at all, he said sulkily as he settled onto the bench next to me and crumpled the paper into a ball. But I could see his hands shaking—the faintest of tremors, so subtle, they would be invisible to the human eye. This wasn’t the confident Damon I knew.

Cora rifled through the papers lying next to our untouched breakfast trays.

We’re only a few miles outside London, I said, looking at Damon. What will we do when we get there? For all we knew, we’d be apprehended as soon as the train arrived at Paddington Station.

Well, Damon said, throwing the wadded-up newspaper to the ground and stomping on it for good measure. I’ve heard the British Museum is exquisite. I haven’t had a chance to see it yet.

This is serious, Damon. They’re looking for you. And once they find you… I shuddered, thinking of what would happen if the Metropolitan Police found Damon.

I know it’s serious. But what am I supposed to do? Hide for eternity because I’m being framed for a crime I didn’t commit? Samuel needs to pay. Besides, I’m not afraid of the police. I may have a few tricks up my sleeve.

You’re in this one, too, Cora said quietly, holding up the front page of the London Gazette. This article had no illustration, only a headline: JACK THE RIPPER DISCOVERED, STILL ON THE LOOSE.

Damon grabbed the paper and quickly scanned it. He turned to me. The press has labeled me a nobleman. I look like a pauper now, so I doubt anyone will recognize me, he said as if to convince himself. Lacing his fingers together, he smoothed back his hair, then rested his head in his palms as if he was a sunbather at the beach.

It was true: He didn’t look at all like a member of London’s elite. His shirt was torn and dirty. His eyes were tired and bloodshot, and he had the shadow of a beard covering his chin. But he still looked like Damon. His hair was dark and thick, falling in a wavy line over his strong eyebrows, and his mouth was set in his usual half-sneer.

Catching me looking at him, Damon arched an eyebrow. I know you’re thinking something. Why don’t you just say it? he asked.

We shouldn’t be going to London, I said flatly. After all, Damon was a wanted man in the city—a weak, friendless wanted man at that. We had no idea how many other vampires were allied with Samuel. His brother, Henry, was one for certain, but we could only guess how far Samuel’s reach extended. He certainly must have had friends in high places to frame Damon in the media.

Not go to London? Damon spat. And do what? Live in the forest and wait until we’re found? No. I need revenge. Aren’t you concerned about your little friend, Violet? he added, knowing that was exactly why I was after Samuel in the first place.

I looked at Cora, desperately rummaging through the papers as though one of them contained a map to safety. Her blue eyes were wide with fright, and I was struck by how well she’d held herself together after last night’s events. She’d been brave in the hours before sunrise, when we’d been hiding in the woods and waiting for the search party to pass, despite the fact that her sister had just been turned into a demon. Now, I could only imagine the thoughts swimming in her head.

I want to rescue Violet. I do, I said, hoping that Cora could sense my sincerity. But we need a sound plan. We don’t know what we’re up against.

Even as I said it, I knew Damon would never agree. When he wanted something—romance, Champagne, blood—he wanted it now. And the same applied to revenge.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Cora set her jaw. We have to go to London. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I didn’t try to save my sister, Cora said, her voice rising on the word save. She folded the paper with a crisp smack and pointed to another illustration. I flinched, expecting to see Damon. But instead, it was a drawing of Samuel, his chin held high and his hand raised in a poised, political wave.

Let me see that, Damon said, snatching the paper from Cora’s grasp.

‘Samuel Mortimer, the hopeful London councilor, vows to keep the city streets safe. I’ll kill the Ripper with my bare hands if I have to, Mortimer promises, to cheers of approval,’ Damon read from the text. I’d like to see him try.

I winced. Samuel Mortimer, derived from the French word for dead. Of course. And neither I nor Damon had realized it, even though Damon was so proud of calling himself Count DeSangue. Count of Blood. It had probably been Samuel’s first clue to Damon’s true nature.

I shook my head. What other hints had we missed? Hadn’t I fallen into Samuel’s trap, too? I’d believed Damon was the Ripper.

Promise you won’t do anything until Violet’s safe, Cora said. And then, yes, kill him. Just don’t let Violet be a pawn.

I didn’t want to make Cora a promise I couldn’t keep. I wasn’t even confident that Damon and I could defeat Samuel, but I knew Damon wouldn’t pass up any opportunity to try. I wanted to tell her to run away from all of this, as far as she could. Go to Paris, change her name, and try to forget the past. But she wouldn’t. Violet was her sister. Cora was bound to her, just as I was bound to my brother.

I gave Cora a slight nod, and for her, it seemed to be enough. I rubbed my eyes, trying to wake myself up. I felt as though I was drunk, or trapped in a dream. Everything that had happened in the past twenty-four hours had taken on a hazy quality, as though I had dreamt the events, not lived them. But this was real.

The fields outside were becoming fewer and farther between, and the air had taken on a grayish, murky quality. Whether I liked it or not, we were nearing the city. In the distance, a flock of swallows flew in the opposite direction of the train, toward the open country and the sea beyond it.

Don’t worry. We’ll find Violet, I said hollowly. I hoped I could teach Violet the ways of drinking animal blood, of quenching cravings, of living with a constant hunger, the way Lexi had taught me. I hoped it wouldn’t be too late.

A grandfatherly conductor with wiry gray hair pulled back the curtain and walked into the cabin. He tipped his hat and smiled kindly at Cora. I wondered what we looked like to him: three siblings on an outing? Two young lovers and a chaperone? I took comfort in knowing that in his wildest dreams, he’d have no way of guessing our true natures.

London, next stop! he announced, his look growing suspicious as he noticed Damon’s bloodstained shirt. This wasn’t the conductor we had compelled to obtain our first-class carriage car, and I could tell from the way he pursed his lips that he was seconds away from asking to see our tickets.

Damon turned toward him and arched an eyebrow. Thank you, he said in a low voice. A small smile appeared on his face as his mind melded with the conductor’s. In seconds, the conductor was completely under Damon’s spell.

I watched, impressed by how easily Damon could compel, even when he was wounded and half starved. When I compelled, I was often left with a headache and a sour taste in my mouth. Damon seemed to suffer no such side effects.

You’ll leave us alone from now on. We’ve shown you our tickets. You never saw us, Damon said, his words smooth and even.

Cora watched Damon, clearly curious as to why the conductor was hanging on his every word. She opened her mouth and I started to shake my head, worried she’d break the compulsion. But she only whispered to Damon: Have him give you his hat.

Damon glanced at her, bemused. And I need your hat, Damon said in the same smooth tone he’d been using the whole time.

Of course, sir, the conductor said, handing it over.

And the jacket, Cora urged, raising an eyebrow.

The jacket, too, Damon said. I watched, impressed. It was as if Cora were compelling Damon.

Very well, the conductor said, shrugging off his dusty gray uniform coat and neatly placing it on the seat next to Damon. He shuffled out of the coach in his shirtsleeves, the curtain falling closed behind him.

That was good thinking, I said. I hadn’t met a human so comfortable with vampires since … well, since Callie. I shook my head, trying to dispel the image of the girl I’d once loved. Callie was the past, and the only thing I could do now was focus on the present.

It was necessary. His face is plastered all over the paper. At least we didn’t have to ask for worse. Cora shuddered, and I knew she was thinking back to her own compulsion, when Samuel

Reviews for The Vampire Diaries

[edensteffey · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Really like these books. I can just escape when reading them.

[nframke · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

writing wasn't that great, but still ended up being a creepy story

[bdartnall_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The forboding settings & truly strange photographs helps make this otherwise ho-hum horror/mystery story truly creepy: 16 yr old Dan Crawford shows up for a summer institute at New Hampsire College, and discovers all the summer students will be housed in Brookline, one of the older buildings on their campus, once a mental institute. Requisite side kicks/love interest: artistic and sweet Abby, & her new friend, math enthusiast (gay, of course) Jordan. Besides after hours sneaking around to explore the old offices and basement levels of Brookline, Dan has discovered a photograph of the former director of the mental institute; it haunts him - he's determined to find out more; then he begins receiving cryptic messages from someone. Then throw in his strange roommate Felix, and a murder, then an almost murder: a summer institute college helper found dead in a eerily similar pattern of the once notorious "The Sculpter", a killer once housed at Brookline--- great pick for fans of ghost stories, with a driving question-what is madness? can a murderer or insane person really be cured?

[emren_3 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Originally seen on Emily Reads EverythingBook TalkDaniel has been accepted to a prestigious summer college prep program held at a university in New Hampshire. Unfortunately the normal college dorm is closed for renovations. This summer the students are being housed in an older building on campus, that just happens to be an old mental hospital. Daniel and his two new friends must race to figure out what secrets the building holds before someone else gets hurt. This is the first book in a trilogy.ReviewThis book reminded me, and everyone else, of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs. Asylum makes use of creepy black and white photographs and hand written notes that just add to the unsettling feeling the author is cultivating. However, unlike Miss Peregrine, this book is not paranormal. Everything that happens is caused by natural means.Asylum is rated YA but I would place it a little younger than that. The characters are still in high school. That doesn't automatically make it appeal to a younger audience but Daniel and his friends were immature. There was a little romance that was sweet, innocent and at odds with the horror theme that the author was going for. Nothing says horror like young love and first kisses. I just didn't connect to this book the way I wanted to. I didn't like the characters. I wasn't scared. When the friends were doing something unwise, at no time did I ever think they were in actual danger.Asylum was a quick read. I finished it in one evening. It seemed like a complete story with all the loose ends were tied up and no cliffhanger, which is odd for a series. I'm not sure where the author is going to go in the next book.Read this book if you like the idea of horror but scare easily.

[zabetreading · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This and other reviews can be found on Reading Between Classes

Cover Impressions: This cover is awesome. The first one that I saw had similar shading but just featured a set of keys. It wasn't nearly as creepy. I believe this is the final cover and it is a great change. The shadows draw your eye into the frame and the blurring coupled with the lace adds the perfect spooky factor. Although, I do wish they had given the book a more stand-out name. Asylum is just far too common - a Goodreads search provides 837 results.....

The Gist: Dan Crawford has finally escaped the opression of his foster home and high school. At New Hampshire College Prep, a summer program for teens, he is excited to spend his days with students that share his thirst for knowledge and geeky tendencies. He soon discovers that the dorm in which they are to spend the summer is actually Brookside, a former asylum that featured drastic experiments meant to cure the criminally insane. Feeling a strange connection to the building's history and suffering from nightmares that don't always come at night, Dan and his new friends begin to explore the bowels of the building and find that there are some secrets that should stay buried.

Review:
That cover is sure to pull in any horror fan. However, the book itself is not strong enough to hold them there for long.

The characters in Asylum are far too one dimensional. It seems important to the plot that we understand the drastic changes in their personality that are brought on by living in the asylum, but we are given little to no time to actually get to know them before those changes begin. We are expected to believe that the three are the best of friends after having known each other for only a week. Couldn't the author have at least had them "meet" online, prior to attending the summer school program? What's more, there is an underlying plot featuring Jordan's obsession with an "unsolvable equation" that seems to completely drop out of the storyline without any resolution. Is this meant to be a series? Am I missing something?

The setting for this novel is phenomenal. A student dorm built in what used to be an asylum and featuring a (sort of) locked basement with the trappings to spell out the horror that once occurred there. That has all kinds of potential! The author does do a good job of creating a tense and spine-tingling atmosphere whenever the kids are in the basement. This is aided by the addition of pictures which puts this book in that new sub-genre of multi-media fiction a la Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, though I do wish that the EARC had actually contained more of the pictures that will be featured in the final edition - since that is what interested me in the title in the first place.

The plot of Asylum starts off strong by weakens as we get further into the mystery. There is some meandering into the past via dreams and visions which give us a glimpse into the mind of the madman who once ran the asylum, but we never learn any real details about what went on there other than a vague notion of horrific surgeries. One the murders start, we get to watch the cops bumble around and the kids go into Scooby Doo mode. The constant arguing and teenage drama that comes with the three main characters gets tedious rather quickly and, eventually, when the killer is finally revealed the dialogue becomes downright laughable. Rather than being scared, I found myself rolling my eyes and wishing the plot had gone in any direction other than the most obvious.

Asylum may represent one step towards the road to a new genre as more and more authors attempt to bank on the commercial success of Ransom Riggs. However, until an author is able to seamlessly weave together pictures with a strong plot and compelling characters, I will be staying away.

Teaching/Parental Notes:

Age: 13 and up
Gender: Both
Sex: Kissing
Violence: Murder of Teens
Inappropriate Language: Asshole, Shit, Bitch, Pissed
Substance Use/Abuse: Underage Drinking

[jothebookgirl · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I read the poor reviews of this book, but as I read it the more I liked it. My thinking was that reluctant readers would like it, especially since there were both strong female and male characters with definite personalities. I was excited for it all to be explained, but felt cheated when it didn't. I would have been good with ending the blow with the creepy note, if the other loose ends had been explained. I realize she left it open god a sequel, but I don't think I'll be going there.

[josp-7 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I had heard that this book would give you the creeps. I haven't read a scary story in a while and this one did bring that scary factor a few times. I mainly read at night so it did creep me out a few times. However, I am not too sure if I was distracted with other things or what not, but it took me a while to get into the story. I think the main character, Dan, just wasn't keeping me occupied enough. He just kept too much to himself, so at times it just felt pointless for him to have friends there for him. Eventually, it did pick up. Sadly it was the end, but it was good. And it did leave me wanting to pick up the next book to see where else it might go.

[gabij.g1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Dan is just a normal kid wanting to go to a normal college. But the college he ends up at just happens to be an old insane asylum. Murders begin to happen and nobody can figure out who is doing them. But in a random twist of events they find the true murderer, while also figuring out the mystery of a little girl.I loved this book and would totally recommend it. But i would pretty much only recommend it if your into horror type stuff. The writing overall was good. The book also includes pictures from real asylums that just adds to the intensity of the book.

[avanders_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed reading this book. The pictures weren't always overly realistic (as compared with, e.g., Miss Peregrine's Home...), the story had all kinds of holes, and the characters were weak and flat, but the story was quickly paced and creepily presented, and overall, I was very pleased to have read it. In fact, I immediately put the sequel on my wish list.So, the story: Dan Crawford is a 16-year-old gifted student on his way to spend several weeks in the New Hampshire College Prep program (located in an old insane asylum). where he expects to finally be surrounded by other overly-smart kids, like himself. In fact, when he arrives, he is confronted with an overly-overly smart roommate, who is odd and off-putting. Dan finds an old photo in his desk with what appears to be a doctor whose eyes had been scribbled out, and Dan's odd roommate tells him there are plenty more in the "off-limits" portion of the college, where the asylum has not been renovated or even made safe for students.Dan is curious about the photo and, after meeting hew new friends Abby and Jordan, he sets forward on a plan to discover what he can about the asylum, its doctor, and hopefully anything else that will explain the odd visions and experiences Dan begins to have.Of course Abby is this perfect little quirky beautiful teen who is (of course) drawn to Dan (who kind of loves her), and Jordan is your somewhat standard genius gay kid who's just looking for a break from the oppression that is his parents. Abby, Dan, and Jordan have a fun relationship that is immediately tested and challenged, and they struggle with loyalties and suspicion when a murderer appears to be on the loose in the asylum. So yeah, you can probably see from that brief description that there are already some holes that are bound to appear in the plot. But for me, I read through them all very quickly and got myself all nice and creeped out. I think if you read this one too carefully or too slowly (or on too bright of a day ;)), you might find it hard to ignore the flaws, but if you allow yourself the indulgence on a stormy night, you might enjoy the book anyway.As I said, notwithstanding some of the issues, I *really* enjoyed reading this and I am definitely looking forward to the sequel. There were definitely some questions left unanswered, which I expect to be addressed in the sequel.And for it all, I'm intrigued by Roux and will keep an eye on other books she publishes.

[amyghilton · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Creeptastic!

[lenamaybooks · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Pretty quick read. It kept me reading until the end but also slightly predictable.

[mjspear_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Dan Crawford is looking forward to a summer at a prestigious Prep School. When he meets Jordan and Abby --esp. Abby!-- it seems it will be a summer of learning, love, and adventure. He soon learns however that their dorm is a former psychiatric hospital. Pictures of patients, doctors, inhumane treatment are coupled with weird messages and sightings. Secrets abound and trouble ensues. Flat pacing and a predictable bad guy ruins a great concept --at least for this reader.

[smilezforbooks · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

All I know is that I am officially scared of hospitals. The characters were really interesting and I will pick up the next book Sanctum soon.

[coach_of_alva · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A teenager travels to a secluded college in New Hampshire to attend a five-week college preparation program. A shy orphan with a mild memory disorder, he is pleased to find himself making friends with two other students, a pretty artist and a gay mathematician. Their friendship is poisoned when the three are subtly led into exploring the closed wing of their dormitory. Their current abode used to be an asylum for the criminally insane. The patients weren't the worst people there, however, for its last warden was a madman who tortured and killed patients while trying to cure them. He was imprisoned, the asylum closed, the patients sent away -- save for one, a serial killer who was never accounted for.The three discover secrets in and under the dormitory / asylum. The gay retreats into himself. The girl becomes obsessed with the photograph of a very young lobotomized girl who may be her aunt. The hero realizes that he may be related to the mad warden. He begins to suffer very frequent memory lapses while being tormented by written notes left in his personal spaces and strange messages sent FROM his phone. Worst of all, a series of attacks in the dorm leads him to suspect that someone is channeling the missing serial killer. He fears that person might be him. He is wrong, It is his relative who is trying to possess him. The killer has possessed someone else, and he is out for revenge on his old tormentor.This book is a mix of genres. It is very effective as a psychological thriller and as a Gothic horror tale. The latter especially is helped by the illustrations, which are custom photographs based in part on former mental patients, their healers, and the terrible equipment use to 'treat' them. Where it falls down a little is as a mystery, which the reader can see halfway through the story and spends the rest of the yarn wondering while the kid can't figure it out.

[starrk_3 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A copy was given to me, free, in exchange for my honest opinion. Creepy as hell! When I finished reading this I still wasn't sure what was going on. And it's not over - not yet. I guess you could say that I was expecting a ghost story; something that was scary and just right for Halloween. I am not sure if I would classify this as a ghost story or a story of possession. Does this tiny detail matter though? No, at least I don't think so. There were some awkward moments. The first one being Felix. But, he was an awkward character to begin with so. . . I guess I should have expected that. The other awkward thing was how quickly the friendship between Jordan, Abby and Daniel came together and then came apart. Yes, the program is only 5 weeks, but still! I guess it was how quickly it came apart that really bothered me. Other than that, I really enjoyed this one. Books that leave with more questions than answers always bother me. While this book was intriguing enough for me to want to get my hands on book 2 as quickly as possible, if I don't get the answers that I need I am not sure if I will continue past book 2. 4 stars ****

[librarian42 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Rubbish. Had the makings of a good chiller but it didn't get there.

[renee.brandon · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

The story was okay, but it was a bit predictable. The concept of being in an old asylum turned into a dorm and one of the students begins to have some weird connection to the asylum, pictures, information - it just feels like the same old same old. A very simple read, nothing complicated or hard. Definitely not ranked with YA in terms of wording, but I think it falls in that category because of it being in an asylum and the images that come with that idea. Maybe one day I will borrow it again and finish it, but for now, I'm not in the mood for this basic concept of a story.

[wordmaven_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Best YA book I've read this year. Of course I'm comparing it to Blue Bloods, so it isn't saying much. I enjoyed this little read, nevertheless. Dan, Abby, and Jordan meet at a summer pre-college prep program for super nerdy bookish types. At first things seem great: Dan doesn't feel like a dork for once, he gets a crush on cute Abby and he enjoys his studies in history. The problem is that the students are being housed in an old insane asylum that was shut years ago. Dorm space problems or some such excuse created this situation. Hence the book's title, ASYLUM.Soon the creepy fun begins. Dan has lapses of memory. Murder. Strange notes. And the records and photos from the old asylum when it was being used to "cure" the criminally insane. Muwahahahaha!You can polish this baby off on a chilly, rainy Saturday or a few days at the beach. I highly recommend it. Believable characters, good atmosphere, good dialogue, and creepy fun even if you can see some of the conflicts coming a mile away. Well-paced. I give it 3+ stars and 2 thumbs up.

[krbrand · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Asylum by Madeleine RouxCONCEPTI am totally in love with the idea of asylums. The stories behind them are just so fascinating to me. Because of that this book's concept is automatically something I enjoy.CHARACTERSThe characters in this story were relatively stagnant throughout the entire book. While you had the obvious changes such as when (view spoiler), their personalities do not grow in any way. To be frank, I didn't feel any sort of connection with any character and I didn't see any change or development.PLOTThe plot of this story was so predictable the only things that surprised me were (view spoiler). Every single time something new was introduced it was painfully obvious was was going to happen with it.ROMANCEIf you are looking for a teen romance, do not read this book. The relationship in here is appallingly weak; I need to pull out a microscope to see it. It honestly seems like something thrown into the story just to appeal to those who find it necessary for a couple to be in every book they read. The friends dynamic was more than enough for the story, and the romance felt clunky at best.PHOTOSThroughout Asylum, there are photos that are used to give visuals on certain parts of the story. There were some that I really appreciated and even found creepy; others were very obviously fake and did nothing to immerse me more in the story. I feel like the pictures would have been much better if they weren't all green and were more sepia or black and white.ENDINGThe ending held the major plot twist that surprised me, and I quite enjoyed it. The action involved in it really drew me in and kept me into the story until it finished.CONCLUSIONThis book was a quick read for me, and while it was interesting it didn't do much in the way of really drawing me in. The only reason I held so much interest was due to the subject of Asylums. I would recommend this book for anyone who wants a somewhat quick read that might give them some chills. I also recommend it for anyone who is interested in Asylum related books. It's a decent read for any fan of YA for Halloween!(To see the spoilers, find my review on GoodReads.)

[violetthedwarf · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It was alright. The writing was over-simple and the story was predictable, but not in a bad way. Good brainless reading. The pictures weren't as creepy as they could have been.

I'd love to see more photo stories like this that are pitched more towards an adult audience.

[tarklovishki · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

No.

Twelve hours later...

Okay, what the hell was that? When I bought this book, I expected to be drawn in and scared. What I didn't expect was for it to be a really cheap knock-off of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children.

The plot was generic and boring. The characters were like cardboard cut-outs. I didn't like one bit of this - except for maybe the pictures. That's it. The pictures.

Honestly, I really wish I'd listened to the people who gave this book a negative review/rating. I would have saved myself some money.

[pennylane78 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I borrowed this book from the library on a whim. I was looking for an audiobook to listen to while I worked. The story has a lot of promise, but I wasn't blown away by it. I can see where a young teen might be intrigued by or enjoy the story much more than I did. I liked it enough to read the second book in the series though! It's a quick read, so if you're interested, you won't waste your time.

[cassie.peters1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book was addicting. I just could not put it down once I started reading it.

[tiffy_reads · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This story is definitely creepy and spooky. With the well written novel accompanied by the ghoulish photos it provides an excellent scary novel. Even though this novel was seriously creepy I didn't want to put it down. I am looking forward to getting my hands on the sequel.

[pennma05-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed this book! I got lots of creepy vibes while reading it. There were a few predictable moments but the big twist I did not see coming.

[krystlelow · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The book was nice, I'll give you that. Sure, it has its 'OMG!' moments, but this book makes for almost a light read. I was surprised at myself that I took this quick to finish this book.

The adventures of the protagonists didn't go as deep as I thought it would, and Brookline's history was not completely revealed either (intentionally or not, I'm not sure). There were a lot of loose ends still surrounding the mystery of the sanitarium that Madeleine has also not covered in this book.

Also, the climax of the story wasn't really... well, climax-y. It ended a bit too easily and quick if you ask me. However at the end of the book, Madeleine proves that there will be more to come.

Let's hope that all loose ties will finally come together in her sequel, Sanctum.

[beammey · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I liked this book, but I didn't love it. I found it entertaining and the pictures were pretty good. It wasn't too long, but I did feel some parts were too long winded if that makes sense? It's an easy read though and some parts are for sure really creepy and I got goosebumps. I will be continuing this story to see what happens. 4.5 out of 5 stars. I would recommend this book.

[pennsylady · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

creepy...terrifying past...secrets...eerie photographs...frightening journal pages....just as we think we understand a trauma, a wall's erected...we understand nothingvolatile reality...haunting foreshadowingsYA debut novel ----a haunted asylum and the teenagers who are drawn to it.★ ★ ★ ★

[elizabeth1929-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Guess what?! This was the book I read for book club! My very first book club book! YAY!

Anyways...this book was creepy. Not scary...but freakishly creepy. I chose this book because I was promised chills and thrills and all sorts of horrifying things...but I also chose this book, expecting not to be affected. I've only ever read one horror story before, and it was not horrifying. At all. This one on the other hand...creeeeeeeeeeeeeeeepy.

Well, there are several factors that contributed to the feeling, I suppose.
1) I'm very easily scared (yes, I jumped when someone sneezed abnormally loud once)
2) I was reading this at night (pretty much the only time I ever get to read in peace)
3) I was reading this in a silent room (it was really, really quiet, okay?)
4) I was the only one in the room (imagine all the weird looks I would have gotten if I had screamed...)

So there I was reading this book when suddenly...*bzz bzz*
I very nearly screamed and hurled the book across the room.

What I DID do, however, was jump and scold myself for being afraid of a book. I mean...what's the worst that could happen, right? It's just paper...

Now, the blurb on the back did warn me of haunting images from actual asylums, but I didn't think much of them. Until this long period of reading when I was beyond freaked and I turned the page , only to be greeted by this girl with this hair with these clothes...gaaaah! From then on, I would always scout ahead a few chapters to warn myself if there was something alarming coming...

There was this point in the book, where I was so deeply entrenched in the book that I was actually afraid to turn the page or even treat the book with anything but utmost respect and care...I thought...I thought...a hand or SOMETHING would reach out of the book. I actually did. I kid you not.

Thankfully, I did the sane thing and took a break (at some point in the book when I couldn't take any more creepy) before I finished the rest of the book. And by break, I mean, I walked around the house and shouted some gibberish, then decided to go back into the book. Of course...at another point...I told myself to go to bed and finish the rest of the book in the morning where it would be bright, and loud, and not a perfect environment to read a horror novel...

The ending...although the main problems that were introduced in this book were addressed, and all those little nuances finally made sense...there were still a few things that I still don't get...still some things that have left me without a reasonable explanation...hmm...

This book really had the creepiness down pat. It wasn't the sudden surprise thing I was always afraid of in the movies...this book had this great build up of suspense, and I was taken from mild amusement in the beginning, to reading behind a pillow...

As for the next book, well...I'm pretty sure I will read it...I mean, it's unlike me to NOT finish a series I've started...but I think I've had enough creepiness to last the year...or what's left of it anyway...I think there's...a week left...a week and a day...?

Aaanyways....I'm definitely taking a break from the creepy. I'm going to read something much less horrific and goose bumps-causing. Something that requires little to no brain power to comprehend...a fluffy, girly, read, if you will...

[seasonsoflove_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Take one very creepy setting (a former psychiatric hospital with a dark and twisted past, now used as a dorm for a summer school program), three new friends with secrets and unknown ties to their new summer home, and some actual old photographs found in old asylums (reminiscent of Miss Peregrine's Home...), and you've got a really good, gripping young adult novel in what is luckily a new trilogy. I can't wait to read the second book.