Ten by Gretchen McNeil

Title: Ten
Author: Gretchen McNeil
Publisher: Brazer + Bray
Release Date: September 18th, 2012 
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I was really excited to see that they had TEN on my Overdrive library. I’d heard nothing but great things about this read, but I wasn’t sure it was for me. First and foremost, I hate horror. I don’t like watching scary movies. I hate going to bed with unease playing in my mind. I tend to stay away from haunted houses and books based on “this happened in real life” hauntings. But for some reason, I wanted to read my very first YA horror novel. Don’t ask me why. I was thinking, man, I’ll probably regret this decision. But I DIDN’T, friends. I definitely didn’t.

McNeil’s TEN is about ten teens who get an invitation from Jessica, a popular girl in their grade, to spend the weekend partying at her parents empty cabin. On an island. In the middle of no where, basically. But when murders start happening in the house and on the island, the original ten aren’t sure who they can trust. Can you see how his premise is set up for the ultimate scare/thrill?

This novel is told in third person, which for me personally is sometimes hard to get into. Nope. Not this one. I was intrigued from the very beginning. Even though it follows ten teens, we get the most one-on-one time with Meg, who I’d say is our MC. Meg is very likeable. However, I don’t think you were supposed to particularly like the rest of the teens in the house, but they all have unique and intriguing qualities. Meg has a BFF who is more of a nuisance than anything, but I found myself liking her, then all of a sudden, not trusting her. Meg also has a love interest who I liked, but then found myself not trusting. Can you see a pattern here? I totally thought I had theories on who was making these killings, but all my theories were WRONG, and I absolutely love when I book can keep me guessing all the way to the end. I could not put this book down. I had to see what was going to happen.

I read it when I was hanging out with friends who gave me shit for reading and not, you know, hanging out. That rarely ever happens. I liked the atmosphere, the dreary, cold and mysterious island setting. I even liked the gruesome murders (err, bad choice of words) because they were composed in a way that wasn’t too predictable and yet had a pinch of gore.

Overall, I think this was the perfect book to ease my way into horror without being too cheesy or unbelievable. McNeil has another “horror-ish” book coming out and you better believe I will be all over that. This is one I highly recommend for horror fans who love twist endings!