3.5 stars

The setting of this story is really a character in itself, and is reminiscent of The Shining - in fact, several characters mention it.  The MC even has two sets of twin siblings - twins!  There's even a huge freezer and pantry just like in The Overlook.  Secluded old hotel that previously hosted murder mystery parties, creepy secret passages, several feet of snow, no cell reception - you get the picture.  A perfect setting.  

I was ready for a chilling, twisty, good time - but it didn't occur until around the 70-75% mark.  The first part of the novel casts shadows and hints, so there's plenty of opportunity to form theories and entertain suspicions.  Once the action starts, it doesn't let up, so the ending was rather brisk, but when all was said and done, it just didn't sit right with me.  Yes, it was a surprise, but my reaction was more of disbelieving 'Really?' than shock.  

This is a fun read that contains some gore (just a warning to those who are squeamish), and the snippets of marketing materials from the murder mystery inn at the beginning of each chapter are quite humorous, but just be ready to settle in with this book for a little while before it takes off.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital ARC.

I received an ARC of Cyn Balog's book , Alone, via NetGalley. This advanced e-copy was granted in exchange for an honest review.***4.5 STARS ...for that ending alone.

What a ride! I swear this story kept me guessing until the bitter end ...and even now I find myself pleasantly surprised by all the clues I missed along the way.

Seda is a girl on the verge of a breakthrough or a breakdown--either was a possibility in this story. When Seda's horror-genre obsessed mother inherits a Murder-Mystery Inn, Seda is less than thrilled to take up occupancy at the creepy locale. However, she reluctantly goes along and hopes their stay won't last long.

As time ticks forward, it becomes clear to Seda that her family's stay at the house will be a lot longer than planned--perhaps permanent.

Seda slowly begins to detach from the world around her. She takes comfort only in the presence of her younger siblings and the possibility that someday she'll be able to return to the life she once knew. She's hanging on by a thread, but it's a strong enough one to keep her emotionally afloat...and then a group of uninvited teens arrive: placed on her doorstep courtesy of a car wreck and a snowstorm.

Their presence reawakens Seda's longing--breaking down her last wall of defense--and that's when things start to get very interesting.

The twists and turns the story took weren't of the "OMG" nature, but they certainly made you unsure for whom you should be rooting: The mother whose placating ways seem to only make life more unbearable for Seda? Seda, whose life is being spent in isolation? The unsuspecting teens who only wish to go home?

As you get deeper into the story, not one character reveals themselves to be above reproach; yet you find yourself wanting a heroine/hero to appear and make sense of it all--make it better.

About midway through, I'll admit, I thought I had it figured out: I'd gathered up all the clues, and followed the twisty arrows, and continued reading only to prove myself right; but, by the time the final page was turned, even I was questioning what was and wasn't the truth.

Alone, in my opinion, is a book about isolation, loneliness, and the ways both can play on the mind. If you've ever read the book--or seen its interesting adaptation--The Shining, you have an understanding of how such things can play upon the mind, making one question their own reality. Seda is not immune to such things, if anything, she's more susceptible to them because of her own internal struggles.

Seda proves to be a complex character, but she was also just a girl looking for something more than a house of horrors to fill in the details of her life. She wanted to have fun, and experience something befitting the biography of a "normal" teenage girl.

She begins to get a small taste of that with the arrival of the teens arrives; but their presence also exacerbates the demons within and makes her more aware of the struggle she's fought hard to keep at bay.

Highly recommend.

If there is one thing that Cyn Balog is famous for it is writing stories that are completely bizarre in the most perfect way. I can always count on getting something completely unheard of and something that more often than not, will throw me for a loop and make me think about it long after.

When I saw that her latest was a horror book, I knew, just knew I needed to read it and without a doubt would love it. And I absolutely did love it. It gave me chills, it made me think and it left me with an unsettling feeling I absolutely adored. It was everything I expected from this author writing in this genre and it was so much darn fun. I highly recommend it if you want a fast paced, easily read in one sitting horror story that will leave you reeling and wanting more and even slightly unsettled.

This was different and really interesting. The first 50% was a little meh but the end and the twist I didn't see coming. Like I had a feeling that was what was going on but the last paragraph I might have read over a few time because wow. This is a great read for anytime but perfect for this time of year. I highly recommend.

All I have to say about this book is that it strange and kind of plays with your mind, makes you wander if what going on is really happening, and the surprise ending ,wow,

I really enjoyed the house in the woods, creepy setting for this book. I felt the characters' sense of dread throughout and thought the idea was excellent. The ending wasn't very believable and I felt like the author was going for surprise over quality. Overall, it was a super fast and fun read, especially around fall/Halloween.

I LOVED this book. I could not put it down. I was shouting at the book during several scenes. I had to stop reading many different times to just absorbs the absurd things that I just read. So many twists and turns and things I did not anticipate and I am the kind of reader that can spot a twist a mile away. AND the ending Oh, my! The ENDING!!!

I am NOT a horror fan, but this book is amazing. There isn't too much gore and there is a LOT of suspense. I can see this becoming a movie that I would LOVE to go to and I NEVER watch scary movies.

So the plot... you don't need to know much. There is teenage girl, in an old house her mother inherited, that is cut off from the outside world. A blizzard comes and some other teens are stranded there with them and they find a way to entertain themselves until the can get back out.

I am recommending this book to all of the friends! It is just such a great read. Read it now and you will not regret it!!! This is definitely in my top ten for the year!

WHAT A RUSH. This book was insane! Alone by Cyn Balog follows Seda, her 4 siblings, and her mother. The family lives in a secluded mansion at the top of a hill, which Seda's mother had inherited and originally set out to refurbish and sell. The kicker here is that the mansion was previously a murder mystery inn, with props, hidden passageways, and secrets lurking around every corner, and now Seda's mother is thinking of keeping it and living there...permanently.

One snowy night, a few stranded teenagers show up seeking shelter, and Seda tries her best to turn them away, knowing things about herself and the house that mean danger for the group. But she fails, and soon the group, along with Seda and her siblings, are immersed in a murder mystery scavenger hunt that soon turns deadly.

I absolutely adored this book. It was a great blend of The Shining and Halloween, with a little Friday the 13th mixed in. It was fast-paced and thrilling, with a creepy, gripping plot that wouldn't let me put it down. And what a plot twist! I never would have seen that ending coming in a million years, and I love that it wasn't predictable. Seda was an incredibly fascinating, albeit twisted, character, and her awkward interactions with others were spot on. The murder mystery premise was great, as were the vivid descriptions of this creepy old house. And without spoilers (you'll know what I mean when you read it) OMG THE FREEZER!

My biggest complaint was that too much time was spent leading up to the murder mystery scavenger hunt, and not enough time on the hunt itself. Also, as much as I loved the ending something about it seemed a little too unrealistic for me. It was incredibly graphic as well (which I don't mind at all), but if you're squeamish this might not be the book for you. But overall, this was a great thriller with a phenomenal cast of characters and a plot that's to die for...literally.

Alone by Cyn Balog hits shelves on November 7, 2017!

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

I received this book from Netgalley. I have to say, this book WAS INSANE. There were so many things to love about this book. This was probably the most creative thing I have ever read. I always wonder how these authors come up with these ideas!!!! I can't believe that this whole thing was a joke. I LOVE THE ENDING. It's horrible but also kind of hilarious. I'd be pretty ticked too if that happened to me. What kind of mother does that to her own child???? Also... is the father dead for real? If he is, WHO KILLED HIM? SEDA???? This book was all kinds of amazing. I wish all the books I read could give me the thrill I got from this book. PLEASE READ THIS BOOK. YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT

I was at the halfway point when I crawled into bed, thought I'd read a chapter before I fell asleep. I was beyond tired. I ended up finishing the book before I could go to sleep that's how good it was. It was so well-written that everything flowed together and I couldn't set it down because what happens next??? How does it end? The suspense! I absolutely loved the creepy old mansion with its many added on wings and secret passageways. And it was used as a murder mystery hotel! That obviously made the book what it was - which was amazing!

I really enjoyed this book! I kept wanting to learn what happens to Seda, her family, & the guests who show up @ the Bug House. And Sawyer?? Is he Seda's imaginary friend? Is he real?

This book kept me guessing till the end. I would recommend this to my family and friends.

This book kept me guessing the whole way through! The setting, characters, plot, everything was spot on for me. Perfectly creepy thriller for older teens and adults. This one will be on my mind for days.

Balog is an absolute master of suspense! I knew I absolutely needed to read "Alone" after her amazing "Unnatural Deeds," and it absolutely did not disappoint. Here, we follow Seda who lives with her mother and four young siblings in a decrepit mansion which was used for murder mysteries. Her mother dragged the kids there from Boston after their aunt and uncle passed away and left it to them. She is determined to sell it to someone who can see the potential to carry on with the house the way it was before, and thus, Seda has been stuck in this town for way longer than she anticipated. Not to mention that the house doesn't get cell phone reception and is practically a health hazard.

All of Seda's siblings are fraternal twins, and she has a twin of her own, Sawyer, who she consumed in the womb and interacts with in her head (believed to be an imaginary friend she never grew out of). Things begin to change when some teenagers break down on the road and show up at the house needing a place to stay until a snowstorm blows over. I had about a million guesses for what was going to happen, and Balog once again blew me away with the ending. Balog is truly a master of twist endings that you cannot see coming.

The pace of the book is absolutely perfect, and the interspersed tidbits from ads for the house are fascinating. The book slowly ramps up its pace until the stunning conclusion, and the flow is simply masterful. I absolutely recommend this book to any fans of suspense/thrillers, regardless of the YA category. I won't say too much as I think it's an experience all-around, and I don't want to give anything away, but I absolutely could not stop reading this book and loved every shocking second of it!

Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher through netgalley. All opinions are my own.

I received this ARC copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. So thank you netgalley and publishers ♡
The cover is captivating, it looks creepy and something that will get me in the mood for fall since our weather is finally starting to cool off some! :)  I didn’t expect it to be as good as it was. I loved this book! It’s about a girl named Seda, who moves with her family to the middle of nowhere to a run down mansion that belonged to her Aunt and Uncle, who recently passed away. They plan to stay long enough to fix it up and find a buyer, but end up staying longer then they thought they would. Seda’s Aunt and Uncle ran a Murder Mystery Hotel, it reminded me a lot of Stephen Kings work, the shining. It’s a big house, and it’s only occupants are Seda, her siblings and her mom, who writes horror novels for a living. Then a group of kids show up, looking for shelter because their car broke down during the snow storm. People disappear and then dead bodies start to turn up. Seda is eventually left alone to try and figure out what's going on. She’s snowed in and can't leave. It was very well written, when this book comes out I will definitely buy physical copy!

Dark and suspenseful, this story kept me turning pages! Couldn't wait to get to the end and was blindsided again when I got there. Great story! I would definitely recommend it!

Please note: I received a copy of ALONE via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the publisher and author.

Five stars and here’s why:

First: Cyn Balog is a masterful storyteller. This book freaked me out at the same time captivated my interest.

Second: ALONE is one of these stories that you simply can’t put down. Even if it’s scary and creepy and fascinating all at the same time. LOVED IT!

ALONE is a mash-up of CLUE and THE SHINING. The protagonist Seda (love that name) is not a reliable narrator and her actions and thoughts keep you guessing until the very end. Without giving too much of the plot away, Seda is trapped in a dilapidated house that was once used for murder mysteries by her relatives. Her mom is a horror movie expert/professor and can’t seem to sell the house so Seda and her four siblings are stuck there over a long winter when her dad up and disappears on them out of frustration in the marriage (THE SHINING). Seda hears a voice in her head, Sawyer, who was a twin she absorbed in the womb, but he was explained away as her imaginary friend when she was little. Oh, boy! Sawyer goads Seda into doing bad things over the course of her life. What happens next is a roller coaster of a thriller. When a group of high schoolers gets stranded due to bad weather, Seda gives them shelter on the property. What ensues is a murder mystery party that goes horribly awry.

Cyn Balog has a gift for mystery and horror and suspense and combines all three into this YA thriller. If you like this sort of thing, ALONE is for you. I loved it. Highly recommend!

Sick and twisted in every delightful way ! This book kept me up for hours reading page after page ! I loved every twist and turn, every moment of suspense throughout this entire book !! Wish it didn't have to end but I loved the twisted ending !

I really, really wanted to love this book - it has all the elements that I normally love in a book.

Unfortunately, the story was so slow and frankly, boring that I just could not get into it. The narration of "detailing the Bug House" felt like it was going on for a month and none of it felt scary or creepy to me. Even when we start meeting the ax boy, the story still felt flat and boring. This is a pass for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishing copy for the ARC copy of this novel. I am giving an honest review in exchange for it.
Alone is a creepy and odd novel, but you can't stop reading it. Cyn Balog has a main character that is strange, sympathetic, and dangerous. I am not going to give spoilers in my review. I want others to enjoy to creepy and weird that this book has to offer. It is a rollercoaster of mystery, horror, and outright strangeness. I loved it. I think that young adults will find it fascinating and will love the ending!

WOW! is the first word that comes to mind after reading Alone, What do you get when you add a run down inn, a snow storm and a scavenger hunt from hell? The answer is an amazing book that will keep you guessing to the very end. This book is great for readers who love a murder mystery with a twist.