My review
With Halloween approaching, I thought this would be the best book to review. I loved the blurb which appeared fantastical and mildly horrific. So I immediately had to read this book. The cover too pulled me in.
The book started with a bang with Trevor wanting the best costume for trick or treating. So accompanied by his sister Laura, they went off to a shop in a run-down mall where they find The Mask Shop of Doctor Blaack. But they find more than they bargain. Trevor did find his mask or should I say – The mask found him…
The author Steve Rasnic Tem has spun this tale over two days where both the children find the after-effects of wearing the wrong mask… Or should I say wearing the mouse mask.
I loved the beginning of the story when Laura and Trevor enter this dusty shop where there are hundreds…no, make it thousands of masks, all dusty and swishing, some hanging along with its complete costumes, with no sign of the proprietor or his assistant, where Trevor keeps disappearing and Laura being unable to find him, where the aisles seem changing, narrowing and widening. This was one of the most fabulous scenes ever written… I was thoroughly scared. Absolute heart pumping fun.
Steve then went on to develop contrasting characters with Laura and Trevor being two normal kids who had to grow up and grow closer to each other. And there was the scary Doctor Blaack himself along with his assistant Mr. Beakman, something off and sinister about both of them.
I loved the way the next two days are described, the consequences of wearing the wrong mask. The book did give me slight reminder of the movie – Mask. Then things started niggling me, and my mind went off-track. The story went into a lot of introspection especially when an interesting event occurred, so I would lose the thread of the story. Thoughts of Laura could have been amalgamated better so that it didn’t stop the story, but instead gone with the flow. There was also not much backstory on Doctor Blaack and his shop… That would have made it more scary.
At 100 odd pages the book was a fast read. It kept me hooked and though I knew the ending, it still was a pleasant read. The beginning was one heck of a ride!!
I received an ARC from Publisher and the author, and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
My rating : 4 stars
About the Author
Written by Bram Stoker-, International Horror Guild-, World Fantasy-, British Fantasy Award-winner, Steve Rasnic Tem
Author Contact Details
Website : http://stevetem.com/
Book blurb
Fall is Laura’s favorite time of year, but this autumn, things are different. She’s a teenager now, and the season brings new changes and challenges. Laura’s decided she’s too old for trick-or-treating and wants a more grown-up Halloween experience with her friends. Unfortunately for Laura, her parents tell her she has to take her little brother, Trevor, out trick-or-treating first. When they go shopping for Halloween costumes, they stumble upon a very strange shop and its even stranger proprietor. When Trevor tries on the wrong mask, the consequences are exciting…and dangerous.
Book Links
HEX– http://www.hexpublishers.com/store_the-mask-shop-of-doctor-blaack.html
Amazon– https://www.amazon.com/Mask-Shop-Doctor-Blaack/dp/0999773615
B&N – https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-mask-shop-of-doctor-blaack-steve-rasnic-tem/1128703141
21 Responses
The cover looks like that of a creepy shop in diagon alley. 😀
It’s a different horror read for children mainly
absolute heart pumping… sounds creepy. I have nightmares where i’m in a place that keeps changing and i can never find the exit.
Great review, Shalini. It did remind me of mask, the movie, too.
Thank you Jina, this was a children’s book at the core of it 🙈🙈 and I got scared 🤷🏻🤷🏻
Oh yes I can see why the cover pulled you in. Sounds like the kind of ‘horror’ I could read. LOL
Yes, hehehe children’s book horror… Maybe your son would like🤔🤔
Probably… he wants to watch IT. Jeez.
Hahaha I haven’t read that book yet!! Stephen King’s IT
And i never will 😊😄
Hey Shalini.. do you review on Goodreads?
Yes I do, Glenn
My daughter reads and watches gameplay for Five Nights at Freddy’s. A horror game for kids I guess. It’s frickin terrifying is what it is. This book might be up to her alley, but she hates being told what to read these days.
This was not scary book but kind of creepy weird. Hope your daughter likes, maybe a subtle persuasion??
Looks like the perfect October read! Sorry it fizzled out a little!🧡
It was still a fun read, maybe kids would enjoy it
This looks fun. Great review!
It was horrifying children’s book 🙈🙈
Sounds like a fun children’s book. Nice review Shalini.
It was slightly eerie too but good fun
Interesting 🤔😃