Ghostland

Ghostland Trilogy, Book 1

By: Duncan Ralston

Narrated by: Joe Hempel

Length: 10 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's Summary

People are dying to get in. The ghosts will kill to get out.

Discover and explore hundreds of haunted buildings and cursed objects! Witness spectral beings of all kinds with our patented Augmented Reality glasses! Experience all the terror and thrills the afterlife has to offer, safely protected by our Recurrence Field technology! Visit Ghostland today - it's the hauntedest place on earth!

After a near-death experience caused by the park's star haunted attraction, Ben has come to Ghostland seeking to reconnect with his former best friend Lilian, whose post-traumatic stress won't let her live life to the fullest. She's come at the insistence of her therapist, Dr. Allison Wexler, who tags along out of professional curiosity, eager to study the new tech's psychological effect on the user.

But when a computer virus sets the ghosts free and the park goes into lockdown, the trio find themselves trapped in an endless nightmare.

With time running short and the dead quickly outnumbering the living, the survivors must tap into their knowledge of horror and video games to escape...or become Ghostland's newest exhibits.

©2019 Duncan Ralston (P)2020 Tantor

loved it!

Right from the beginning it was non stop action and a veritable smorgasbord of ghosts. Reminded me a bit of 13 Ghosts but with more variety. I really liked the main characters and at the end found myself getting emotional. The narrator was perfect. Literally the only thing I wasn't too keen on was the author's tendency to describe the breasts of all the female characters. I'm definitely looking forward to his next book but I would hope for an equal amount of description of bulges and breasts.

action packed crazy land;)

I really enjoyed this book, 2 companions racing agaisnt a mad man in a haunted amusement attraction. cannot wait for book 2.

Reads like a YA novel.

Couldn't get into this, overall this feels like a YA novel, even the narration feels childish.

Completely Forgettable

The author attempted to fuse 13 Ghosts, Jurassic Park, and House on Haunted Hill, and it just didn't work. The storyline didn't work and it came off as disconnected and amateur at best. I found myself having to constantly backup chapters bc the story didn't hold my attention. There were some interesting parts but mostly it just droned on with unnecessary details for hours.

Awesome book

It’s a bit gory but that’s horror these days for you... The author left a way for him to ( I’m assuming) write a second follow up book to this one. I honestly can’t wait!! This book is like a crazy ,scary roller coaster... it makes you think how the hell are they going to do that?? If you like ghosts and you like some gore then this book is for you!!!

Woke and Weak

ok...yes there is some violence in the last 3rd of the book but it's still very juvenile.

the writing is on maybe a 5th grade level.

It's kind of a cool idea... like Jurassic Park only with ghosts instead dinosaurs, but the execution is laughable.

the "scientific explanation" of how actual ghosts can be on display in a theme park is convoluted and distractingly stupid .

it's full of cliche metaphors and corny references, but the coup de grace of stupid is the very on the nose woke message. see... ghosts are a group that is being discriminated against by evil capitalists... I kind you not... the whole book is a freaking ham handed metaphor for racism.

I am mad at myself for buying this piece of crap. if thought that I could convince audible to take it back, I would definitely ask for a refund!

sadistic and graphic

description of child death and sexual mutilation is way to graphic for my taste. I normally finish books even bad ones but this is to much

amazing story

the story was amazing. But the narrator was so boring. it was hard to follow.

Lost in translation

Though the storyline was unique, the author’s telling left much to be desired. It was difficult trying to follow along and picture the scenes as they were being described. It was as if the author has trouble translating the visions he saw in his head into written words.

I found myself having to pause, go back, and replay a scene multiple times because the scene being described lack context and details.

This book left me feeling unsatisfied, like eating a sugar free dessert.

Such a great concept

The first time Lilian Roth saw the haunted house it was floating down Main Street, and if she’d known the trouble it would cause them, she never would have pointed it out to her best friend.”
Ben and Lilian are going to the grand opening of Ghostland with Lilian’s therapist, Dr. Allison Wexler. Allison thinks the new theme park will help Lilian deal with her fear of death.
Ghostland is a state of the art amusement park with technology that allows guests to see actual ghosts and the violent acts they have committed. With the augmented reality glasses provided, ghosts can even interact with the guests. Things quickly go wrong and ghosts are attacking the visitors. Ben, Lilian, and Allison find themselves running for their lives trying to escape the park.
This is a fast paced, exciting, fun story. I wanted to go to Ghostland. I wanted it to be real. I want to be friends with Ben and Lilian. I didn’t want to read any more because I knew the book would end and I would be left wanting more. Luckily, the sequel is coming out later this year.
I would have given 5 stars but it was a little long. I may have not wanted it to end but I needed to find out what happened.

Truly fantastic read.

Best book I’ve read in a long time. Terrifyingly detailed, truly an emotional rollercoaster. There were times even I was afraid and, like Lillian and Ben, I’m a hardened horror fan. But I can’t lie, I’d have absolutely loved to go to a place like that, although the glasses wouldn’t do much good for me, as I wouldn’t be able to see anything. Headset definitely yes. There were a lot of times Lillian frustrated me, especially when we find out why she acted the way she did. I felt sorry for Ben throughout. Absolutely brilliant. I love Duncan’s imagination. That would be so awesome if it was real. This satisfies all my cravings for a theme park of horror and then some. If horror’s your thing, you have to experience this. That technology would be amazing to experience. The tram ride was one of my favourite parts. Didn’t see that coming. I’d love to experience A.R. or V.R. of any kind, but especially horror! Another brilliant narration by Mr. Hempel too. I also loved Duncan's Stephen King references to Christine and the shining. Incidentally, I agree with Ben. The mini series of the shining is much truer to the book than the film is!