A sleepy, Northeast town becomes frenzied as people scramble to get their hands on an eerie book. Events surrounding My Skull Possession suggest the novel is scaring readers to death. Literally.Brighton Corley’s ordinary teenage life becomes far more thrilling when she forges a friendship with Kate Dorn, the charming new girl in school. Brighton is intrigued by Kate’s mysterious past and even … more curious as to why her new friend’s family own the only bookstore selling copies of My Skull Possession. The duo team up with the eccentric owner of a curiosity shop, learning it is not uncommon for objects to harness supernatural energy. Together they embark on a journey to discover the truth behind the mysterious book responsible for paralyzing their town with fear and fascination. A history of witchcraft, haunted dolls, and stories of possession are just some of the dark secrets they uncover in their search for answers. As book sales soar and death tolls rise, Brighton wonders if My Skull Possession is the result of a twisted marketing scheme or if it has a connection to something more sinister.
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My Skull Possession by Lisa M. Miller tells the cryptic story of a young teenager by the name of Brighton Corley. Life was ordinary until a mysterious book makes an appearance and then some of the people who read the book end up dead. What is the truth behind the happenings? Brighton is going to learn more than she could have ever thought about this mysterious book and her best friend. The truth is never as cut and dry as it appears.
My Skull Possession is the first book that I have read by Lisa M. Miller. When I began reading this book I didn’t really know what to expect to find along my literary journey. The author hints at supernatural thrills and horror between these pages. For me, the storyline ebbs and flows in its pull of my overall interest. Brighton starts off the book not exactly being the most engaged of main characters. She’s just an average girl going through life with her best friend going to school. Her best friend’s dad owns the bookstore where the mysterious books are being tied to. Rumors rise and fall as mysterious deaths happen. Kate’s past piques my interest as I’m curious as to what exactly has gone on with her. As the mystery element comes together it helps to pull me into the book and make me eager to piece together what exactly is going on. I have to admit that the author does a good job of keeping the truth of what is going on under wraps until near the end of the story.
I say that, but there are things about this book that I didn’t like. I really wish that Brighton was more interesting as the main character. As she is I feel that she is plain and a bit dull at times. While she does become a bit more interesting as the storyline goes along, I feel that her friend Kate draws my attention more in the beginning. But maybe that was the intent of the author. The second is a certain scene with Brighton and her mom in the kitchen. One minute they are putting groceries away and then literally the next sentence they are eating dinner and clearing the dishes away. I reread the paragraph more than once thinking I had skipped over sentences somewhere missing the transition scene…but there isn’t one which makes the story feel weird there.
The last error I found is where the author mixes up the two names of the girls’ mothers. Brighton’s mother’s name is Laura, but on page 190 the author mixes up the names. She says that Brighton is standing outside her house waiting on Kate’s mom, whose name is Joelle, but the author says “she (Brighton) waited outside on the porch for “Laura” to pick her up.” Then again on page 204, she says “Laura Dorn” when it should be Joelle Dorn. The author does correct this mistake after this page, but these two manage to slip through and the first had me rereading the sections in case I had misread the scene.
All in all, I am rating this book 4 out of 5 stars. The storyline is okay. There is some supernatural in this story, but not as much I had initially hoped. The mystery element of what is really going on overall is probably the best aspect of this story. The author shrouds the truth in shadows and the guise of the supernatural until the right moment for a surprising reveal. The stories lackluster main character and noticeable errors pull it down a star, but for those who enjoy this type of novel, this is a decent book to pick up.
This is about a teenage girl, Brighton. She’s friends with a new girl in town, Kate. They discover a book that Kate’s dad is selling in his bookstore, My Skull Possession, is being found to have been read by people who have recently died. These people were seeming healthy, and had no other health issues. So Brighton and Kate are determined to find out of this book is actually cursed, or if something else is going on.
I really enjoyed this book. It had the creepiness that I enjoy reading. And had characters that are both likable and strong. While I noticed that there were instances where the story would jump ahead, for example, Brighton and her mom were sitting down to eat in one sentence and the next her mom was clearing the table, this didn’t take away from the story and I did enjoy it. I’d definitely look into reading more from this author.
“My Skull Possession” by Lisa M. Miller is the perfect blend of cozy mystery and paranormal thrills! Geared to middle-grade readers, it is creepy, but never too scary.
Main character Brighton is a typical teenager, dealing with school, friends, and parental requirements. On top of this, she finds herself in the middle of a mystery involving a scary book and a series of deaths. Watching Brighton and her friend Kate investigate is delightful, as they come across as realistic teenagers in their thought processes and actions. I especially loved the way the girls worked around the fact that neither was old enough to drive. Both characters were realistic and likeable, and I especially enjoyed learning more about Kate’s backstory.
The plot itself was excellent, as it kept me guessing until very near the end. As I followed Brighton’s investigation, I had two working theories, one natural and one supernatural. Neither turned out to be correct, and the actual solution was both logical and made sense given the clues the girls uncovered along the way.
All in all, I recommend this story to mystery fans, especially those looking for a lower level of horror and danger. I look forward to seeing what sort of mystery the girls tackle next!