I could not put this book down. I read late into the night, early this morning, even on my lunch break. Now that I've finished, I am definitely hoping for a sequel!

It was ok. Shutter started off really slow, but it did eventually pick up. It wasn't scary or creepy, somewhat interesting enough to finish I guess. From the synopsis I was extremely excited so that contributes to my disappointment when it didn't turn out so great. I'm glad I didn't buy this one.

I enjoyed this book even more the second time around. I loved the main character and the struggles she went through dealing with her past. I would read it again.

3.5 stars

Tremendously impressed with the plot. It's freakishly scary, bloody as hell, and very much original.

However, the writing is a bit dry. It's simply not captivating. The characters and their relationships seem platonic to me... and even though they appear to be very much admirable, I just can't get myself to like anyone of them.

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

“Hand for a hand, and tooth for a tooth –
Chain down the souls of Abraham’s youth.
Eye for an eye, and life for a life –
Down stabs vengeance, swift as a knife.”

Shutter brings to life a world where the last descendants of the Van Helsing lineage continue the family tradition of battling the supernatural. Micheline Helsing is a tetrachromat, someone that possesses the ability to see the ghostlight of the undead. Being able to see them allows her to use modified analog SLR camera to capture the ghostly energy with each flash. Most ghosts could be captured by this method with a couple of photographs, however, their latest assignment refuses to go down so easy. When it infects Micheline and each member of her team with a Soulchain, finding out how to destroy it is more imperative than ever after they learn they have a mere 7 days before the Soulchains take their lives.

Alameda has created a most impressive world in her debut novel. The concept is an amalgamation of Ghostbusters and the video game Fatal Frame with the historical fiction addition of the Helsing and Stoker families who allied in the late 1800s to defeat Dracula. It would have been easy for this combination to go wrong but Alameda makes it all seem quite ideal. The concept behind Micheline’s weapon was impeccably detailed backed by an immense amount of obvious research. It was all fully fleshed out and inevitably sounded completely logical, however it reached a point where I found myself getting lost in the details. Normally I would say that too much detail vs. not enough would be preferable but that wasn’t the case here. An explanation that was spread throughout the story would have been more desirable than the near info-dump in the books beginning. There was a point where so much time was spent on the detailing that I lost focus on the story itself and actually put the book on hold only to come back to it later.

Being a huge fan of horror novels I had some high expectations going in (but mostly because, holy crap that cover.) Alas, I was for the most part left disappointed. Although the proper elements were all in place and excellent use of description was used effectively, it didn’t ever truly frighten me. Nonetheless, this was still an action packed page-turner even if the mystery itself was easily foreseeable. Two things I did not foresee: 1. the inclusion of a Romeo & Juliet style romance (“My father’s rules kept us imprisoned in adjacent cells; we were able to reach through the bars, but we couldn’t ever by truly, madly, inseparably together.”) and 2. it’s fairly clear that this is the start of a new series. I’m not absolutely certain, but there were enough loose ends left that could definitely lead to the continuation of this tale. I can’t say I’m against this idea though. I think with all the world-building details out of the way this could be a solid supernatural series that I would definitely be willing to pick up again.

Mild on horror, mild on romance but definitely an entertaining thrill ride of a story.

I received this book free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

It was an interesting book, but I didn't like it enough to reread it, I think. The cover was really good, though, and it was a cool premise, but not a favorite.

I really tried to like this book because horror is my jam, but this just fell short for me

I found that this review right here (CLICK FOR REVIEW) perfectly sums up all the feelings I have toward this book if you want to take a look at that before starting this.

I won this book in a good reads giveaway. This book took a while to get to me. When it did arrive though it was in the cutest little box with some presents and a letter saying sorry for the delayed arrival.

On to the book.
It took me a little while to get on board with this book. The first couple of chapters were a bit rough, I couldn't seem to bond with the main character and she just seemed young and silly to me. However, as the book went on I became more fond of her and her crew. The world that this was set in was something unique to me and I really enjoyed the concept behind the world. I think that young adult readers would really enjoy the characters. The book was about fighting evil and ghost but, it was also about family bonds and tragedy.

Micheline Helsing is one in the long line of her family history of hunting down and excorcising ghosts and killing the undead. If you want something creepy but not quite "horror" pick this book up. I found it similar to the show Supernatural in the scare element.
I enjoyed this read. There were creepy descriptions that let my mind run wild with the ghosts and monsters depicted. The world itself was interesting, turning san francisco into a ghost infested city. Plus how the capturing works was awesome, and well explained.
The side characters were a little cliche and tropey, it was hard to like Micheline at first and then I realized how much of a hardened, and broken person she was and how that fit the way her character acts.
Some of the dialogue wasn't the best written, and there was an escape scene that I thought was a little too convenient with how things played out.
Overall it was a fun, spooky but not necessarily scary read.
It's left open for a sequel and I definitely hope the author is working on one...

Shutter is fast-paced action and horror with a fresh spin on monster-hunting. Courtney Alameda hits the ground running and never lets up.

Alameda does a nice job, for the most part, explaining the rules of this elaborate urban fantasy without getting to info-dumpy. That said, when racing through the book as a reader, it's not always easy to absorb all of it.

Micheline Helsing is descended from the famous Van Helsing in Bram Stoker's Dracula. Micheline takes after her father, who heads up the monster hunting organization that bears their family name. Both are a hot mess, because of the death of Micheline's mother and two younger brothers. Micheline and her dad both have hot tempers and act impulsively to a fault. Their relationship goes well beyond troubled. Her dad even assaults her at one point (definitely consider this a trigger warning for anyone who isn't comfortable reading about child abuse).

The book maintains its tension throughout, because Micheline and her team are infected by a powerful ghost that will kill them within days, unless they find the ghost and stop it. The only thing that hurts the pace is the growing romance between Micheline and her Australian hunting partner Ryder. Their relationship is forbidden, because the Helsings still arrange their marriages, and Ryder isn't a valued relationship for maintaining the legacy of the Helsing Corps. After almost every interaction between Micheline and Ryder, she worries over what will happen after they survive their spectral infection if her dad realizes they're in love. Having Micheline so worried over this, and she spends a LOT of time obsessing about it, creates the impression that the threat against her and her team isn't that immediate and life-threatening.

The last act is where the story gets a little rough for me. There are a couple times where a simple phone call with a cell phone would have helped.

Spoiler

When Micheline realizes the ghost is staging an attack on the Helsing Corps' island base, instead of calling the base herself, she has someone else call in an anonymous tip, which clearly won't get people on the island moving as quickly. I also was a bit baffled at how Micheline and her team have such a difficult time making the Dracula connection. Luca teases Micheline for not figuring it out sooner, and instead of it making Luca seem clever and dangerous, it just detracts from Micheline, because the reader can't help but ask "Why didn't she figure it out sooner?"

Overall, I enjoyed Shutter a lot. Despite my nit picks, I think Courtney Alameda gets a lot right in this book. I'd definitely be on board for a second book with Micheline Helsing, if one comes about. I'll certainly be picking up more of Alameda's books in the future.