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Home > Books > Fiction > Horror Books > T Horror Books > The Magic Cottage - James Herbert

User Reviews

for The Magic Cottage - James Herbert

Rating Summary based on 13 reviews

  • 5 Stars
    		9
  • 4 Stars
    		1
  • 3 Stars
    		2
  • 2 Stars
    		1
  • 1 Star
    		0

Detailed rating

  • Characters
  • How does it compare to other works by the same author?
  • How does it compare to similar books?
  • Readability
  • Story
  		• 4.4
  		• 3.9
  		• 3.9
  		• 4.4
  		• 4.4
Previous page Next page Page 1 of 2 | 1 to 10 out of 13 Review(s)
  • 27 of 27 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of pagan

    pagan

    5 Stars Let your imagination take you there 30/04/2001
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages spooky and full of suspense, not his usual gore

    Disadvantages Disadvantages ends too soon, i read it forever.

    “A cottage was found in the heart of the forest. It was charming maybe, a little run-down, but so peaceful - a magical haven for creativity and love. But the cottage had an alternative side - the bad magic. What happened there was horrendous beyond belief.” - Is the Amazon.co.uk synopsis of the story. James Herbert is by far my favourite author and this is by far my favourite book!! I have recently purchased a new copy as my old one fell apart – I had read it too often, and do tend to read in the bath so my books all have the potential of a soaking. The story is not as gory ... more
  • 31 of 31 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of muppetbabe

    Level 5 muppetbabe

    Member since 19/01/2006

    Reviews written: 125

    2 Stars The Magic Cottage - James Herbert 02/02/2012
    User doesn't recommend the product

    Advantages Advantages Not to frightening so good if you like mild horror.

    Disadvantages Disadvantages Not frightening and quite hard to understand why things happen.

    James Herbert is a horror writer and while he is very well known and popular I don’t think I have enjoyed many of his books. He started out by writing quite physically frightening books – what can be any scarier than oversize man eating rats and chemical weapons? When I picked up “The Magic Cottage” I began to think that I was going to be reading a fairy story as it is about a cottage in the heart of a forest. It seems that the lovely cottage is not a place full of love and nice things but that it has a dark side. It is full of weird people and even more weird creatures. Then there are the ... more
  • 13 of 13 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of chrissiepops

    chrissiepops

    5 Stars NATRUALLY MAGIC 28/06/2001
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages good storyline easy to read without getting lost, lots of detail

    Disadvantages Disadvantages If you are thinking of a bedtime read, think again..youll be there all night

    Do you remember the first time you brought your own house? Can you remember what drew you to the house? Was it the number? The Garden? Or was just a gut feeling about the place? Did you fall in love with the atmosphere of the house? Or was it all pre destined? And what as all this got to do with the Magic Cottage by James Herbert? Midge and Mike lived in London and were wanting to move either to the outskirts of London or into the countryside. Midge was a well known child's illustrator and Mike was a well paid backing musician. They had been looking for a while for houses till one day one ... more
  • 16 of 16 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of Mickm9

    Mickm9

    4 Stars The Magic Cottage 20/12/2000
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages Interesting .... ish

    Disadvantages Disadvantages Not very scary or fast paced

    This one sets off at a slow pace and then stays that way. There is one or two intriguing bits to it which is probably the reason why, despite its lack of a real scare factor it does keep you engrossed till the end. This though isn’t because the story is that exciting or dramatic its simply because once you’ve started you just want to know what is actually going on and how does it end. The story itself centres around a cottage in the countryside and 2 main characters, who, after looking for a retreat from the big city life chance upon what they believe to be their dream home. At first glance ... more
  • 16 of 16 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of purplifried

    Level 4 purplifried

    Member since 29/12/2006

    Reviews written: 54

    3 Stars Magic Cottage - Not So Magical For Me 02/01/2007
    User doesn't recommend the product

    Advantages Advantages It's By James Herbert

    Disadvantages Disadvantages Quite Frustrating

    I am an absolute follower of James Herbert and all his work, I think I own nearly ever book he has written, so of course I have to read them all. I have to say though I am not a fan of this particular book. It starts well, telling you all about the 2 main characters, Mike and Midge (her real name is Margaret). They both live in the 'big city' but want a slower paced life in the countryside to help with their work. Mike is a musician and Midge is an artist. After a lot of searching they finally agree on a beautiful, yet rundown cottage in the middle of nowhere. On first viewings of the cottage ... more
  • 22 of 22 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of TOLDYOU

    TOLDYOU

    5 Stars Real Magic 16/09/2002
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages Pure fantasy, real magic

    Disadvantages Disadvantages far too short

    The Magic Cottage is my personal favourite book by James Herbert. It is an extremely atmospheric story featuring a cottage deep in the heart of a forest. James Herbert is said to be the master of the genre, and only Stephen King overtakes him in the publication of new novels. James Herbert has written many other novels; some have been made into films. Other novels written by James Herbert include: The Rats, Lair, Domain, The Fog, The Survivor and The Dark. The story opens with the main characters of the book, Mike and Midge, going to view the Magic Cottage (called Gramarye in the story). At ... more
  • 6 of 6 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of fairymist

    fairymist

    5 Stars The Magic cottage 04/08/2006
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages A brilliant example of Herbert at his best

    Disadvantages Disadvantages Some may not the lack of gore

    Midge and Mike are looking for a perfect house. When they find Gramarye, a little cottage in the English countryside, it is as if a spell had been cast upon them. Granmarye is everything they ever dreamed, and they thrive in its atmosphere. everything is perfect, never more romantic. It seems as if the house has an energy of its own. It is truly a dream come true. Midge and Mike find out about Granmarye's former owner, and thing start to get interesting. They soon discover that a strange cult lives not far from them. The cult's leader seems to want to visit very badly. Are they just being ... more
  • 32 of 35 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of giantpanda21

    Level 5 giantpanda21

    Member since 30/08/2005

    Reviews written: 156

    5 Stars The Magic Cottage 06/10/2006
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages It is a great book

    Disadvantages Disadvantages None

    I bought this book a few years ago i had heard of the author James Herbert as my mum has a few books of his and i saw this book The Magic Cottage. It looked like a book i would read and i thought i would buy it and give it a read. The Magic Cottage is about Midge who draws illustrations, and Mike who is a musician they both live in an apartment in the city and are wanting to move to the country. Midge finds a lovely cottage in the paper that is in the country and when they go and see Midge falls in love with it. There is a lot of work needed doing to the cottage and when the builders come in ... more
  • 27 of 28 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    3 Stars Quick review of The Magic Cottage - James Herbert by Level 2 amylovelace 19/10/2007
    If you like this then you will love Once - which is based on a similar fantasy theme. This book was not very memorable as I have had to look at it again to remember it. I remember it being good at the time - but can't quite remember it now!
  • 1 of 3 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of heather12uk

    heather12uk

    5 Stars different but i loved it 31/03/2001
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages a nice change

    Disadvantages Disadvantages not enough horror for some

    this is not in his usual style. most of his books are just scary from start to end. so i can see why some poeple think that this is one of his weaker books, but i just loved it made a great change. it is a slow start but once your in your hooked so stay with it. it has everything in it, it has got his usual amout of horror in it so dont be put off by the friendly pet and ideal home it will heat. if you have read this and enjoyed it then read fluke this is similar to this book in the style and as i said before it makes a nice change from ther fog, the dark rats ect, as these became a bit of the ... more
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