Bitter Ground

This was such a good ending to a really good series. Bitter Ground, the final book in the Northern Michigan Asylum series brings back some of the characters in previous books while introducing a new set. In this one we meet The Six. Six kids that lived at the asylum in 1989. A few of them displayed psychic phenomenon and were "studied." The doctors that took turns experimenting on the kids begin to die and the six run for it then scattered. <br /> In present day we follow Riza and Casey, 2 of The Six. Someone has been killing the others off. Are they in danger? What is this about a curse on the ground where the asylum stands? Gotta read it to find out! <br /> Although this is the last book in the series, I think it would be ok to read it as a stand alone. I liked the characters in this one. Riza is so flawed but she is doing her best, sometimes. She felt very real as a survivor of a traumatic past and trying to make her life better. I liked seeing or hearing about characters from the other book. I like how everything was tied together. This was a good series and I liked everyone of the books I read in it. <br />Thank you to J.R. Erickson for the ARC and the trip to Northern Michigan Asylum. It's been fun.

*I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.*<br /><br />Six children experience abuse in an asylum, in the hands of "doctors" in charge of taking care of the patients just for showing naughty behaviours. Years later, somebody starts searching for and killing them. <br /><br />CW for physical, sexual and mental abuse of minors and adults. <br /><br />The story is a sample of thousands that have taken and are still taking place throughout the world. Its structure was perfect for me; it allows the reader to get to know the characters properly and I felt it was a bit more character than plot driven, which is not negative whatsoever. <br /><br />At some point you suspect everyone and trust nobody. Although I had my suspicions, I could not be sure on who and why they were being haunted. A horror story with some romance and a story of recovery.<br /><br />I found it quite logical and intriguing. <br /><br />The writing style made the story even more engaging. Not repetitive, easy to follow but not too simple, relatable characters and a fairly good narrator made this audiobook more enjoyable. <br /><br />If the CW don't trigger you, I'd highly recommend this one.

This is a 4.5 star read. <br /><br />A fabulous, solid ending to the series!

WOW, what a read! The plot was intense, powerful and thrilling and held me captive all the way through! The characters fairly leaped off the page, and the tension was palpable. If you are looking for a book that you just CAN’T put down, then this is DEFINITELY the book for you!

This was the perfect ending for the Northern Michigan Asylum series. It follows Casey and Riza, two of six children imprisoned there who escaped and helped bring down the Brotherhood. Riza has finally put the past behind her for the most part and wants to keep it there. When Casey reaches out to her, her life goes into a tailspin. Will they succeed in finally putting to rest the horror that was the asylum or will they die trying? The book delves into events of 100 years ago to explain why the ground is bitter. Before the evil is put to rest there are several plot twists I didn't see coming, but loose ends from the series are satisfactorily explained.I will miss this series and look forward to the author's next offering.

This review is for the series as a whole. I read all eight books in about a week so it's kind of one big book in my mind.<br /><br />I think there's a bit of genius in this series. The interweaving stories and timelines are incredibly well put together. I also enjoy the author's style. She pulls away from gratuitous crap, which I appreciate more than I can say. Too many books I read depict r*pe scenes or gore in trauma-inducing detail when it is absolutely not necessary. Erickson doesn't do that and it's really nice to read a book whose violent bits don't make me want to throw the book across the room. I appreciate the inclusion of LGBT characters who aren't just there "to be gay."<br /><br />There are some problems, most of which can be attributed to an editor that isn't paying attention. Missing words ('Go to store' instead of 'Go to the store'), misnamed characters (Jake is suddenly referred to as Jack for a page or two, a headstone has the surname of a whole different character on it), a diary entry that slips from first person into third person for a few paragraphs. Sometimes I would read a sentence over and over again before giving up because it just didn't make sense. A good editor should have caught all that. Also too many reused character names. In one book there's a guy named Byron who owns a cabin, and in the next book a guy is hanging out at a cabin his uncle Byron used to own. So I'm thinking it's the same cabin, same family. But it wasn't, and that's confusing in a series where a lot of characters appear in multiple books. (By the way, I realize I sound like an elitist snob. Sorry.)<br /><br />Most of the above mentioned mistakes would usually make me give up on a series because they drive me bonkers, but these stories are just so good that I couldn't put them down. Honestly, I really want to read them all again so I can map out the timelines and characters. If anyone wants to go in on a wiki with me let me know!

What an ending! Such a perfect finale to this great series... I really loved it!<br /><br />The story is, as always, really well written, with a perfect pace. It's thrilling, emotional and very, very gripping. The main characters, Riza and Casey, are not only interesting, they feel real. Their motivations and emotions are easy to understand so you can't help it: you feel their fear, their pain, their confusion and hopelessness, but also their rage, their defiance and their need to stop the Brotherhood, forever.<br /><br />The structure worked really well for me because it allows us to get to know the characters and sympathize with them, so pretty soon we are really invested in their fate.<br /><br />And although I hate that this is the last book, is such a satisfactory ending that I can't get mad. And I'll live in the hope that the author won't make us wait too much for a new story in a new series :P<br /><br />Oh, and Caroline McLaughlin's narration is simply wonderful ♥<br /><br /><br />

Good end to a great series!<br /><br />I loved the Northern Michigan Asylum series, each book a stand alone plot but all of them connected by the evil of the Asylum through the 100 years of its existence. I read them in order, and I am glad I did, as the later books have cameos of previous characters and events.<br /><br />This last book in the series brought it all together nicely, and tied up many loose ends. The story of the book itself, deals with the Six, a bunch of adolescents who were the last inhabitants of the asylum before it closed down, and who are now, many years later, being stalked and killed off one by one. Enter Casey and Riza who try to solve the puzzle before they become the next victims.<br /><br />The past will dictate the present in this roller-coaster last instalment. I'm definitely going to miss that asylum! I will move on to JR Erickson's other works (these were the first by her I read) and hopefully have just as much good reading as I had here.

WOW! Unfortunately I didn’t read all this series but what I’ve read was amazing! And this being the last book brought it all together with some twists. Sad I mean some parts were very sad and yes there was evil. To do the things the brotherhood did was just awful. Casey was determined to end it all and Riza wanted nothing to do with it. Would he be able to convince her to help him ? Will they be able to do anything ? Will the truth about what they did as well as the brotherhood come out ? <br /><br />I received this as an ARC and this is my honest and voluntary review.

Welcome to the Bitter Ground, the last creepy tale in the Northern Michigan Asylum Series. Everything will come full circle as the past reaches out to the future, freeing the tortured and imprisoning the malevolent. Horrors will finally be put to rest as we find out why the grounds are so bitter in this incredible story. As much as I hated to see the series end, it was very well done. I was unable to pull myself away from this wonderfully written book. I received a copy of this book for an honest review.