Insanity Hardcover – January 1, 2014

I enjoyed this book in the same way enjoyed watching House on Haunted Hill. Everything was good, except it left me feeling unfulfilled. I'm a historian and I want background information on things like asylums and hospitals. Where did Lincoln Psychiatric Hospital come from? Who built it? Why is it alive? Why is it filled with thin spots? Where did Imogene come from? Is it a family responsibility? Why is it a family responsibility? What about Forest's family? Or Darius? Or Trina? What makes them connected to the hospital? Unfortunately, that lack of background kept me from loving this book. The story was good, it was interesting, the characters were likeable. I liked how it was broken down into different stories for each character but all the stories were connected in easy, obvious ways. Some of the patients were given some good individual historical background and those were my favorite parts of the book. The little subplots for each character were unique and engaging. But I just needed more. If Susan wrote a prequel about the hospital itself, I’d snatch it up in a heartbeat! I recommend this book to horror fans and to teens who enjoy slightly scarier stories.

Good

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie TalesQuick & Dirty: I was often confused or bored with Insanity, but there were certain things that pushed the review up one star.Opening Sentence: There was something wrong with the dog.The Review:This book starts out with Forest in Lincoln, an old asylum from Never, Kentucky. Ghosts and haints and crazy people live in its walls. Readers follow four characters through four main stories, each with a different villain and plotline, each from a different point of view. My feelings are very mixed about this book. The writing style is not bad at all, but sometimes the novel gets confusing with its descriptions of ghosts, shades, ghasts, spirits. I never could keep the different ones straight. I never connected to the characters, either, so it was a struggle to push through the three hundred pages. When I finished I was relieved. Insanity was just not for me.However, I’ll give Insanity this: when I was reading at night, and the creepiest villain of the bunch appeared, I could not stop shivering. The descriptions of a man’s body with a child’s face, giggling while chasing with a shard of sharp metal, was ruthless in its delivery. I was completely freaked out. This raised my opinion of the book because the reason I didn’t like the villains is we didn’t have enough time to let them develop and grow strong before the attack, and we basically hear about them and then the main battle happens. Bam! At least with “Maman” (villain above) I could get invested in the descriptions and a little more into the book.First things first, the characters. Part one we follow Forest. She’s a nice character, but not interesting, not with that intriguing factor. The love story between her and Levi moved slowly, and besides that sometimes I couldn’t tell she was even into him. Number two is Darius, and his story confused me often. By the end we get clarity on what just went down, but I was still a little wary. He had a different outlook on life and I enjoyed the refreshing change from the blander Forest. Next, Trina. I have to say that Trina’s section was my favorite of the bunch! We start out with Trina putting her father to sleep with a spell, because apparently she’s a witch, and learning that her father hunts and kills Madocs. Soon her father is heading out to kill Darius, who is also her boyfriend, because she let it slip that he might have some magic. What a start to part three! The pull to read grew more intense, though still I wasn’t really loving Insanity. And the final part, four. This time it’s Levi we follow, the Levi that has a budding relationship with Forest. He helps send spirits into the afterlife and is sometimes referred to as a haint. It was funny, because with Forest you see that she likes Levi, but it seems more friendship orientated than a romance. But with Levi you can really tell how much he loves her, and that scares him. Again, of all the characters my favorite would have to be Trina.The setting is creepy, Lincoln. During part four especially you get a glimpse of the life pulsing under wood and nail. Since there is a “thin spot” it’s easier to travel from living to the world of the dead, heaven or hell or whatever one person decides. So, basically, the purpose of the gang is to help spirits into the afterlife and stop any bad things that manage to escape back into the world. I guess the idea has a certain charm, but the parts are all separate stories and you never have long enough to grasp the gravity of the last situation before the next happens.I was stuck between giving this book two stars or three. I didn’t like it, bluntly, but there were parts that I enjoyed more than others. In the end, I decided that since one star is only DNF, and two stars is not enjoyable, but three stars is okay, I’d give it three. I wanted to consider everything and in the end not everything was bad. The writing style is not horrible at all, and certain characters are interesting enough to evoke a little feeling. Again, though. We still have the sometimes fast paced, sometimes confusing aspect. I think you should read the book if it sounds interesting, but if not, leave it alone. We all have different tastes and others may look at my five-star review while giving a one-star one, so others may like this more than me.Notable Scene:And behind the dogs-What was that?My hands curled into fists as he came toward me. I opened my mouth to yell, but no sound came out.FTC Advisory: Bloomsbury USA Childrens provided me with a copy of Insanity. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. In addition, I don’t receive affiliate fees for anything purchased via links from my site.

I received Insanity by Susan Vaught from NetGalley. It was published February 18, 2014. The book encompasses stories at an asylum, Lincoln Psychiatric Hospital, located in Never, Kentucky. In the first chapter we're introduced to Forest, an 18-year-old girl who has been in the Forster system. She starts working at Lincoln to make money to go to college. Six months after she started working there, strange events unfold. Forest's life becomes entwined with Levi's, a young man who's relationship will change her forever. Characters are continually introduced, and eventually we see how their lives all affect one another.In the beginning, I was enjoying the book. Then I got to chapter eight and I was like....woah...wait a minute....what? I flipped back to chapter seven and chapter six, fearing that there was something that I missed. I was starting to think that the book was maybe a few short stories bound together. Chapter seven ended at a place that felt like an ending for the time being. Chapter eight began with a story and characters that were new and strange with no mention of the characters in previous chapters, with whom I had become familiar. I was wary, but I kept reading, and I am glad that I did. All of the stories eventually all tie together with the tie between the characters being the hospital and its history.Susan Vaught does a terrific job of bringing the gruesome to life. The spectors, spooks, and demons are so vivid. I found myself reading into the night to see what happened to the characters, only to stop reading for fear of what might invade my dreams from reading right before bed. The main characters are likable, and even thought they are introduced quickly, they are easily relatable. As a reader I instantly found something about each of them that made me make a connection.I give this book 4 out of 5 stars, and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys cocktails of psychological thrillers mixed with the supernatural and a tinge of romance.

The first chapter was strange, but okay. Then things get weirder and weirder. Sadly, I gave up on the book, though I might try to finish reading it someday.

I loved it! It grabbed my attention from the very beginning and left me wanting more. I loved the diverse main characters and how their stories all intertwined. My only issue with 'Insanity' would be the switching point of views in each section. However, I recognize that that is a personal preference...and after finishing the book I can concede how much the different POVs added to overall depth of the book. Fantastic writing and I highly recommend picking up a copy!