Review- MARY: The Summoning (Bloody Mary #1) by Hillary Monahan

Title: MARY: The Summoning

Series: Bloody Mary #1

Author: Hillary Monahan

Genre: YA, horror

Publication date: Sept. 2 2014

Published by: Disney Hyperion

Source: E-ARC from publishers via Netgalley

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Synopsis:

There is a right way and a wrong way to summon her.

Jess had done the research. Success requires precision: a dark room, a mirror, a candle, salt, and four teenage girls. Each of them--Jess, Shauna, Kitty, and Anna--must link hands, follow the rules . . . and never let go.

A thrilling fear spins around the room the first time Jess calls her name: "Bloody Mary. Bloody Mary. BLOODY MARY." A ripple of terror follows when a shadowy silhouette emerges through the fog, a specter trapped behind the mirror.

Once is not enough, though--at least not for Jess. Mary is called again. And again. But when their summoning circle is broken, Bloody Mary slips through the glass with a taste for revenge on her lips. As the girls struggle to escape Mary's wrath, loyalties are questioned, friendships are torn apart, and lives are forever altered.

A haunting trail of clues leads Shauna on a desperate search to uncover the legacy of Mary Worth. What she finds will change everything, but will it be enough to stop Mary--and Jess--before it's too late?

My rating: ★★★★★
Oh man, this book, you guys... I don't have words to tell you how awesome this books was! It was creepy and haunting and oh-so good!

One thing I loved about this book was that it started with action right off the bat. We have Shauna and her best friends Jess, Anna, and Kitty down in Anna's basement bathroom summoning Bloody Mary. This was all Jess's idea, claiming it would be fun and exciting. The other three girls went along reluctantly. But fun soon turns sheer terror when they summon Mary a second time and she breaks free of the mirror's constraints, targeting Shauna. Terrified and paranoid out of their minds, the girls set out to unravel the mystery of Mary Worth... before anyone of them dies.

Can I just start off by saying what a bitch Jess is! I really don't know how Shauna was able to be friends with her for so long! If it wasn't for her persistent obsession with Mary, all this wouldn't have happened! I didn't know why she was so obsessed... until we found out. And all I gotta say is, "Wow... You crazy! And also, I'm a little bit surprised. Did not see that one coming."

This whole book was crazy... crazy good! ;) I love horror, but there aren't many books that can scare the Hades out of me! The Summoning, however, did a very thorough job freaking me out! I mean, nothing nightmare-inducing, I suppose, but definitely did a great job scaring me (and making me paranoid of mirrors)! I loved it! Mary was evil and creepy and practically straight out of a horror movie! The descriptions were so amazing I really felt like I was there!

The cast of characters was great as well, and I really felt like I connected with Shauna and the other girls... I really cared what happened to them (except for maybe Jess... jerk -_-)! Unfortunately, tragedies happened... tragedies everywhere! And surprises... twists you will not see coming.

Another thing I loved? The usage of salt as protection against Bloody Mary! They were salting that bitch Supernatural style! It made me very happy :)

That being said, I absolutely LOVED this book! I loved the fast pacing, the story, the characters, the creepiness... it was just the perfect horror book! If you love horror as much as myself, and especially are fond of ghost stories and urban legends, this is the book for you! I seriously cannot wait for more from this author and hopefully find out more about Mary Worth!

Have you read this book? If so, what did you think about it? If not, what do you think? Does it sound like something you might want to read? Leave me a link to your review or comment below! :)