Review: The Evil Within (Possessions, #2) by Nancy Holder

Publisher: Razorbill

Released: June 10, 2010

In this sequel to New York Times bestselling author Nancy Holder’s Possessions, Lindsay finds out that she, too, is possessed, and must return to creepy Marlwood Academy in order to rid herself of the spirit. Lindsay’s afraid of what the spirit is telling her to do—kill Mandy! But the secrets of Marlwood go much deeper than Lindsay thought. Sometimes the girls who seem like enemies are actually on your side. And the voices you trust the most—the voices that come from within—are the ones that want you dead.

Continuing the story of Possession, Lindsay is at home for Christmas break, haunted by what happened at school. Hottie, Tory, is still in the picture, bringing her back to school when break is over, BUT also still not free of Mandy (though he's still talking of breaking it off)...and oh, she is possessed! As weird things are happening around school, Lindsay starts figuring things out with the help of friends. Celia, the spirit inside her, wants Lindsay to do the unthinkable, revenge for what happened 200 years ago. Will it free her from the possession?

Lindsay is the odd man out, the poor girl in a school for rich kids and you can't help cheer for the the underdog. Mandy, the spoiled rich girl who is the queen bee is again written perfectly. You hope someone knocks her off her pedestal but the fact that you want harm done to someone when that is not normal to feel, I must say is a sign of great writing. A four-time winner of the Bram Stoker Award from the Horror Writers Association, Nancy's ability to invoke the creepiness factor shines through: were the statues moving, who IS the stalker out in the forest, what really happened so many years ago? Nancy's descriptions leave the reader feeling like you are Lindsay, looking over your should as twigs crack, your own adrenaline starts pumping!

The ending was perfectly played out. I flip flopped guessing who was good & bad but in the end it was pulled together...with a cliffhanger of course (not all questions were answered as this is planned as a four book series). I am curious about some of the relationships & eagerly await the next scare fest with book three.