For Step Fletcher, his pregnant wife DeAnne, and their three children, the move to tiny Steuben, North Carolina, offers new hope and a new beginning. But from the first, eight-year-old Stevie’s life there is an unending parade of misery and disaster.Cruelly ostracized at his school, Stevie retreats further and further into himself — and into a strange computer game and a group of imaginary … imaginary friends.
But there is something eerie about his loyal, invisible new playmates: each shares the name of a child who has recently vanished from the sleepy Southern town. And terror grows for Step and DeAnne as the truth slowly unfolds. For their son has found something savagely evil … and it’s coming for Stevie next.
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Kept me guessing right up to the end, with characters that wrenched my heart. I love Card’s interplay of earthiness with spiritual overtones. His books should be set to music!
This book is well written and I quickly became involved with the main characters. It has unexpected twists and a haunting ending.
Wow. Hit this parent where she lives.
This book was not at all what I expected it to be from reading the cover, but that’s okay because it was better. And I really, really didn’t want to read the last 25 pages or so (you’ll understand if you read it), but at the same time, the ending was just what it needed to be.
If it’s Orson Scott Card ,just go ahead and slap 5 stars on it.
I read this years ago, but can still remember how everything happened. I still remember the characters (not their names) bit what they did. Very interesting book.
I enjoy all of the books written by Orson Card.
I like Card’s writing style, but I wish I had never started this book. Horrible ending…sorry I read it.
I’m not a “ghost story” type reader but this one is great.
A failed attempt to write like Stephen King.
OSC writes fantastic science fiction but i think he burned out writing the long sequence of Ender books, perhaps. Forgetable, undigestible, not worth the effort.
I learned a lot about the Mormon religion. The book was quite sad as well.
Just another great Dean Koontz book!
The worst Orson Scott Card book that I have ever read!
It’s was ok.
This is such a departure for him. I cry every time I read this one. Love it, though
I don’t want to give this book away. Really good story with great twists.
If you want a lesson on being Mormon here you go. However, it takes a story where really terrible things happen and it’s all going to be okay because – God.
You will not believe the ending
I thoroughly enjoyed this book – it was very hard to put down.
I thought I was reading another sci-fi book, but I loved it anyway. It offered a humerus look into the life of a Morman family and their. No spoilers, but just wait until you get to the end