House of Secrets

By: Chris Columbus

Narrated by: Daniel Vincent Gordh

From legendary Hollywood director Chris Columbus (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets) and best-selling author Ned Vizzini (It's Kind of a Funny Story) comes this first book in an epic new fantasy series.

Brendan, Eleanor, and Cordelia Walker once had everything: Two loving parents, a beautiful house in San Francisco, and all the portable electronic devices they could want. But everything changed when Dr. Walker lost his job in the wake of a mysterious incident. Now in dire straits, the family must relocate to an old Victorian house that used to be the home of occult novelist Denver Kristoff - a house that feels simultaneously creepy and too good to be true.

By the time the Walkers realize that one of their neighbors has sinister plans for them, they're banished to a primeval forest way off the grid. Their parents? Gone. Their friends? A world away. And they aren't alone. Bloodthirsty medieval warriors patrol the woods around them, supernatural pirates roam the neighboring seas, and a power-hungry queen rules the land. To survive, the siblings will have to be braver than they ever thought possible - and fight against their darkest impulses. The key may lie in their own connection to the secret Kristoff legacy. But as they unravel that legacy, they'll discover it's not just their family that's in danger...it's the entire world.

©2013 Novel Approach LLC (P)2013 HarperCollins Publishers

Very much worth the ride.

Honestly, didn't really have high hopes for this one going in. But, it was certainly worth it. I don't know if I'd say it's my current favorite but I really think most people would enjoy it. Chris did a great job with the characters. If you are an imaginative person at heart....you should get a kick out of this. I'm very interested to see where Chris takes this next.

Pretty good

Action packed. Kind of a Jumanji Harry Potter Narnia kind of book. Probably best read by children. Enjoyed, would recommend.

Great Story, really enjoyed!

It is a great story that really pulls people in. I have been listening to in the car and had my cousin catch just part of the story and they wanted to hear more

Very enjoyable listening experience.

Draws you into the story and keeps you on the edge, like a rollercoaster ride that you couldn't wait to do again. Love the entire series. I've listened to them several times. My grandkids also enjoys them too.

good

i was hooked from the beginning. can't wait to listen to the next book.

Adventurous

Fun adventure story. I would have liked a 3rd person limited narrator better, but it was worth the read, and I’ll read the series.

Sold as a "Cousin to Goonies"...FAR FROM IT!

This is the epitome of "struggled to get through it." Takes forever to get any real sense of what's going on. So man half baked elements introduced and never developed. Poorly developed characters, annoying. Very disappointed.

Far Too Convoluted

Would you try another book from Chris Columbus and/or Daniel Vincent Gordh?

Not based on this book.

What could Chris Columbus have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Shortened it by about 20 chapters and had some idea of a plot and suitable ending.

What aspect of Daniel Vincent Gordh’s performance would you have changed?

The performance was as good as could be expected for the quality of the writing.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Boredom.