Marked by the Ouija by Scott Wells is more of a novella than a novel. It’s pretty short. And it’s based on a true story. Needless to say, I was very excited by this.
I love Ouija board stories, and when they’re based on real accounts, they become absolutely TERRIFYING in my eyes. I mean, can’t sleep for days. Unable to close my eyes at night, but also scared to open them.
So, when I picked up Marked by the Ouija, I seriously thought I was going to get scared out of my mind.
But what exactly happened? And what’s Marked by The Ouija about? Let’s review this bad boy below.
Marked by The Ouija Plot
Marked by the Ouija follows a group of friends who play the game for entertainment, only to contact a spirit named “Peter.”
Peter seems harmless enough until he starts being demanding. He then starts making wild accusations about a kidnapping in the city.
As the story evolves, Peter begins to send them on a wild goose chase, prompting them to question whether this is real or if Peter is having fun with them.
The characters
I enjoyed the characters. They were grounded in reality. I was able to relate to some of them, which made the storyline more real to me.
Wells did a fantastic job of developing each character in a short period.
The story begins immediately. Unlike other novels, the beginning is straight to the point and grips you right away.
Although I thought it was too short, it’s an easy read. You could probably finish it in an evening if you want.
One thing I absolutely loved was the images he provided. There were only a few throughout the book, but I love that kind of stuff. Something a little extra always helps take your imagination to new heights.
What I didn’t like about it
The story started out well, but for me, it was way too short. It felt more like a camp story than a horror novella to me. Or maybe that’s the point?
I was also confused by the lack of page numbers. It’s a minor detail, but it struck me as odd. I wonder if Wells did it on purpose? I could see how someone would want you to feel as blind as the characters.
The story was well executed, but I wanted more.
I also foresaw all the plot points. I knew what was going to happen. I connected the dots about the sheriff and even knew Peter would keep his word about some of the characters.
Although it was well-written and thoughtfully crafted, it lacked a sufficient storyline.
One of the things that bothered me the most was that the storyline essentially repeats itself three times before it concludes. It would have been nice to throw in something different at one point.
I feel a little bad saying all this because I want smaller authors to succeed. But you should also take what I say with a grain of salt. After all, you may love it way more than I did.
I believe I just enjoy bizarro, splatter, and extreme horror a lot more. Perhaps I am the problem, and Marked by the Ouija is not for someone like me, who enjoys the most extreme horrors.
A Few Final Words
I’m gonna really need you guys to leave a review and rate Marked by the Ouija as well, because I’m giving it two stars.
If you’ve read it, please share your rating in the comments below.
