Novels for young adults (YA) covers a multitude of genres featuring complex themes and romantic subplots, but YA horror taps into the raw intensity of adolescence – the first rush of rebellion, the tremor of secret fears and the allure of the unknown. It offers a safe space to explore darker emotions, to feel your heart pound with an adrenaline rush as you turn each page and to discover that courage can emerge from the shadows. For readers on Young Page Turners, a chilling tale can be the perfect companion on a stormy night or a daring escape when the lights go out. Zoé-Lee O’Farrell’s debut novel Ouija stands out in this vibrant genre by weaving teenage friendship, first sparks of romance and the occult into a taut, unrelenting chase between life and something far more sinister.
Ouija revolves around six high school friends who dare each other to summon spirits at the site of a horrific massacre. One year earlier, a beloved teacher cracked under pressure and murdered numerous students. The school closed down after the massacre and has been left to rot and ruin. Now boarded up it is still haunted by the memories, making the deserted building the perfect backdrop for a dare – and the group of friends accept, taking with them an Ouija board that they printed from the internet.
As the plan unfolds, the teenagers expect nothing to happen, or just a few spooky messages. Instead, they unleash an insatiable demon who thrives on fear and devours the souls of the living, and just won’t take NO for an answer. What begins with whispered questions and trembling hands quickly spirals into a desperate race against time. Locked doors, flickering lights and distorted hallways trap the group in a maze of terror where every wrong move could be their last.
Overall, I loved this YA horror novella by Zoé-Lee O’Farrell, it delivers the chills, scares and horror with perfect ease and without crossing over into the utterly ridiculous. With a relentless pace it is a book that is hard to tear yourself away from.
The story is straightforward and executed extremely well – six friends visit the site of a horrific massacre and carry out a séance using a Ouija Board with the aim of trying to communicate with any spirits there, using information they have gleamed from internet searches. Needless to say, despite the lack of through research on Ouija boards (they have read the basics on how to use it) they manage to bring an evil spirit into their world.
Starting with a shocking scare (that doesn’t give too much away), it gets the reader hooked from the beginning, building a suspense-filled story of terror and death paired with a race against time to capture the demon … or die!
The characters are great, they come across as real teenagers with friendship bonds put to the test under the pressure, revealing hidden resentments and unspoken secrets. Each character wrestles with personal regrets and guilt.
The story and the horror within it is delivered well, while being suitable for teenage readers. It doesn’t contain lots of gore or horrific details, while still being chilling enough to get the hairs on your neck standing to attention, goosebumps running up and down your arms and a chill tickling your spine.
Ouija is an enjoyable dark and tension-packed horror story that builds the fear and scares with ease without resorting to unbelievable over the top horror. The writing is sharp and unwavering, engaging with feeling. Its short, punchy chapters bring across the characters’ escalating panic, ensuring that suspense never hits a dull spot. The teenage voices and their interactions have a true feeling to them, making every scream feel grounded in real emotion.
A perfect horror story for its intended YA audience (as well as adult readers) that like a scare, although without all the gratuitous gore.
Rating: 5/5
RRP: £5.99 (Paperback) / £0.99 (Kindle)
Available to buy from Amazon here.
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