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The Organization #1
Pandora
10% of this product’s profits help fund ocean explorationEvil is rising. Shortly after retrieving a survivor from the ill-fated research vessel La Magia, cruise ship Emerald Rose mysteriously disappears. But evil isn’t content to stay lost forever. The ship reemerges a week later transmitting a single word—Pandora—prompting business tycoon Patrick Carver to send out a team to investigate.He seeks out Aubrey Pittenger for reasons beyond her. She’s not a soldier or a rescuer, just a doctor who spent the last year suffering from the loss of her little girl. Yet when Carver makes her an offer she can’t refuse, she finds herself hurtling toward the crumbling ship and the dark things that flit through its once elegant hallways.Mercenary Julian Eduardo receives a similar offer. Having lived most of his life on one battlefield or another, he now fights to ensure his little brother Ricardo won’t have to follow in his blood soaked footsteps.But all is not as it seems aboard the Emerald Rose, and evil comes in many forms. Carver’s cutthroat team will have to band together if they hope to survive the night and find the essence of hope, the hope they’ve all been searching for, the distant promise at the bottom of Pandora’s Box.
386 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2016
18 people are currently reading
818 people want to read
About the author
Joshua Grant
22 books277 followersBestselling author and comic creator Joshua Grant is a caring, hardworking chap who has had more than his fair share of adventure. He has survived a flash flood, encountered numerous bears, and sailed the ocean blue. Josh loves to read, write, play video games, and occasionally read up on the crazy science that’s happening in the world, but most of all he loves just getting people together to love, laugh, and grow alongside each other. Currently, Josh makes a living teaching and working with kids in various environments, with the occasional novel always in the works. To learn about his work, go to diabolicshrimp.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
June 4, 2019
My rating 4.7
The book "Pandora (The Organization # 1)" by Joshua Grant is a very good horror book in which warns of the greed of individuals who would like to experience immortality regardless of the price they have to pay. When Pandora's Box is opened it's certain that only pure evil will come out of that box. The cruise ship Emerald Rose was sent to find survivors of the research vessel La Magia but find only one survivor. After that, the ship Emerald Rose disappears for a week. When the boat reappeared on the radar, attempts to contact the ship were unsuccessful and Patrick Carver's owner sent a group of specialists to find out what happened. Patrick Carver, for just the well-known reasons in that group of military specialists, includes Dr. Aubrey Pittenger. Although she does not know why she is sent to that ship with military specials, she still accepts his financial proposal because it needs money to research the disease that killed her daughter. But what they find on the cruise ship Emerald Rose is purely evil and it is obvious that this evil does not want to stay on board but wants to expand to the whole world. Soon they discover that nothing is accidental because behind all these events is hiding conspiratorial group The Organization. The author draws us into the story full of deception, lies and unscrupulous individuals who would stop at nothing to achieve their insane goals. If you want to enjoy a suspenseful and tense horror then this is the book for you.
The book "Pandora (The Organization # 1)" by Joshua Grant is a very good horror book in which warns of the greed of individuals who would like to experience immortality regardless of the price they have to pay. When Pandora's Box is opened it's certain that only pure evil will come out of that box. The cruise ship Emerald Rose was sent to find survivors of the research vessel La Magia but find only one survivor. After that, the ship Emerald Rose disappears for a week. When the boat reappeared on the radar, attempts to contact the ship were unsuccessful and Patrick Carver's owner sent a group of specialists to find out what happened. Patrick Carver, for just the well-known reasons in that group of military specialists, includes Dr. Aubrey Pittenger. Although she does not know why she is sent to that ship with military specials, she still accepts his financial proposal because it needs money to research the disease that killed her daughter. But what they find on the cruise ship Emerald Rose is purely evil and it is obvious that this evil does not want to stay on board but wants to expand to the whole world. Soon they discover that nothing is accidental because behind all these events is hiding conspiratorial group The Organization. The author draws us into the story full of deception, lies and unscrupulous individuals who would stop at nothing to achieve their insane goals. If you want to enjoy a suspenseful and tense horror then this is the book for you.
December 11, 2018
4.5 stars...
In all of the horror books I've read, I've never really encountered a mutating creature quite like this one. It was different that's for sure. I decided to go with 4 stars instead of 5 just because I still don't particularly understand that horrible creature's plan and how it's going to be mankind's savior.
I got the impression from the ending there would be a follow up story featuring Julian and the Dr. but the synopsis of book two sounds like its about an entirely different affair that the Organization has its claws in.
Julian and the Dr. were the only characters I really cared about so I do hope they'll be back. Going to have to read and find out...
*Read for 2018 AMMP Bairn Bingo - Koala
*Read for 2018 AMMP Trim A Tree
*Read for 2018 AMMP Gifts for the Wild
In all of the horror books I've read, I've never really encountered a mutating creature quite like this one. It was different that's for sure. I decided to go with 4 stars instead of 5 just because I still don't particularly understand that horrible creature's plan and how it's going to be mankind's savior.
I got the impression from the ending there would be a follow up story featuring Julian and the Dr. but the synopsis of book two sounds like its about an entirely different affair that the Organization has its claws in.
Julian and the Dr. were the only characters I really cared about so I do hope they'll be back. Going to have to read and find out...
*Read for 2018 AMMP Bairn Bingo - Koala
*Read for 2018 AMMP Trim A Tree
*Read for 2018 AMMP Gifts for the Wild
June 7, 2017
I usually hate getting the train to work every morning and back every evening. The monotony can really snuff the life out of you. But I decided to read this book while on the train. It's the first time in the history of public transportation that I actually never wanted to reach my destination. I just wanted to keep reading on. I got hooked. There are plenty of page-turning twists that nearly made me miss my train stops. And NOT reading this book while walking to work was a conscious effort. The plot was cleverly weaved and there wasn't a chapter that didn't either didn't put a smile on my face or have me looking forward to the next opportunity to flick through these suspenseful pages.
The characters were colourful and interesting, and I connected with the protagonists in no time - the monsters were cleverly and creatively described. Joshua can really paint a grizzly picture if he wants to. I also enjoyed Joshua's sarcasm in the narrative or during a character's thoughts, and the analogies were often hilarious.
Talking about thoughts: the characters probably thought a bit TOO much for my liking, but that didn't make the read any less enjoyable. There were just times when I just wanted to scream into a pillow "Julian for %$&$)£ sake just stop overthinking and *£&$)$" run through the wall if you have to!!!" Basically, Joshua wanted me to bite my nails to the bone, and he almost succeeded. Have never experience anxiety attacks from reading a book. So, big clap to the author.
As you can gather, the pacing was equal to squeezing the trigger of a machine gun, and the structure of the scenes was aesthetically balanced with creative descriptions, clever narrative, overwhelming action and engaging dialogue. Although I've never read a story with so many dashes (-) breaking paragraph momentum, it actually worked in this suspenseful masterpiece.
I hope there's a sequel to this out soon. Pandora was a brilliant read and Joshua is a very talented storyteller. I'll be Watching him closely..... pun intended.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good horror book full of suspense. The touch of sci-fi and mystery will also draw you in like a moth to a flame. 5 STARS for Pandora.
The characters were colourful and interesting, and I connected with the protagonists in no time - the monsters were cleverly and creatively described. Joshua can really paint a grizzly picture if he wants to. I also enjoyed Joshua's sarcasm in the narrative or during a character's thoughts, and the analogies were often hilarious.
Talking about thoughts: the characters probably thought a bit TOO much for my liking, but that didn't make the read any less enjoyable. There were just times when I just wanted to scream into a pillow "Julian for %$&$)£ sake just stop overthinking and *£&$)$" run through the wall if you have to!!!" Basically, Joshua wanted me to bite my nails to the bone, and he almost succeeded. Have never experience anxiety attacks from reading a book. So, big clap to the author.
As you can gather, the pacing was equal to squeezing the trigger of a machine gun, and the structure of the scenes was aesthetically balanced with creative descriptions, clever narrative, overwhelming action and engaging dialogue. Although I've never read a story with so many dashes (-) breaking paragraph momentum, it actually worked in this suspenseful masterpiece.
I hope there's a sequel to this out soon. Pandora was a brilliant read and Joshua is a very talented storyteller. I'll be Watching him closely..... pun intended.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good horror book full of suspense. The touch of sci-fi and mystery will also draw you in like a moth to a flame. 5 STARS for Pandora.
April 13, 2017
If I were to describe Joshua Grant’s Joshua Grant novel PANDORA in one line it would be: the movie ALIENS enacted on a cruise ship.
A cruise ship suddenly goes missing and then reappears one week later. All attempts to contact the ship fail and the ship’s owner dispatches his own security team ostensibly to see what’s happening before governments and the military takeover the investigation.
The investigating security team knows not only that something is seriously wrong with the ship, but also that the investigation is being handled in a completely unorthodox manner. However, the ship’s owner, Carver, knows exactly how to manipulate each member of the team to keep them on mission despite their serious misgivings. He also seems to have enough influence to keep normal modes of disaster investigation at bay.
This book is nonstop action delivered in frightening detail, with surprises at every turn. As readers we explore the devastated ship with the team as they suffer terrible casualties. Having traveled on several cruises, the layout was reminiscent of my own trips (except for the massive destruction of course) and that bizarre warping of a familiar and pleasant scene only added to the impact.
Grant is an excellent storyteller and the plot is well thought out. The fine descriptions put me into the midst of the action and kept me reading.
For my part, I found the coarse language jarring and distracting, but I realize for many readers this would make the tense, life-threatening scenes more realistic.
In summary, if you like Science fiction that comes across as Horror, then I think you will like this book.
A cruise ship suddenly goes missing and then reappears one week later. All attempts to contact the ship fail and the ship’s owner dispatches his own security team ostensibly to see what’s happening before governments and the military takeover the investigation.
The investigating security team knows not only that something is seriously wrong with the ship, but also that the investigation is being handled in a completely unorthodox manner. However, the ship’s owner, Carver, knows exactly how to manipulate each member of the team to keep them on mission despite their serious misgivings. He also seems to have enough influence to keep normal modes of disaster investigation at bay.
This book is nonstop action delivered in frightening detail, with surprises at every turn. As readers we explore the devastated ship with the team as they suffer terrible casualties. Having traveled on several cruises, the layout was reminiscent of my own trips (except for the massive destruction of course) and that bizarre warping of a familiar and pleasant scene only added to the impact.
Grant is an excellent storyteller and the plot is well thought out. The fine descriptions put me into the midst of the action and kept me reading.
For my part, I found the coarse language jarring and distracting, but I realize for many readers this would make the tense, life-threatening scenes more realistic.
In summary, if you like Science fiction that comes across as Horror, then I think you will like this book.
November 18, 2018
I shouldn't have read this, I'm about to go on a cruise holiday and I know I will be thinking about this book when I'm on the boat. On this cruise ship the passengers wind up dead because there are monsters on board. OMG, I know this is horror, I expected to be scared but it made me shiver with anticipation and gasp from the vivid descriptions.
The plot plays out like a film (it would make an excellent one) with plenty of action, twists and turns. The writing is descriptive and the characters realistic so you are drawn in to each one, experiencing their emotions and being completely scared in the process.
Joshua also has a sense of humour and this comes across in the book giving the reader some breathing space from the gore and horror.
An excellent, well written book that horror readers will love, I know I did.
The plot plays out like a film (it would make an excellent one) with plenty of action, twists and turns. The writing is descriptive and the characters realistic so you are drawn in to each one, experiencing their emotions and being completely scared in the process.
Joshua also has a sense of humour and this comes across in the book giving the reader some breathing space from the gore and horror.
An excellent, well written book that horror readers will love, I know I did.
June 18, 2017
It was like one of those explosion-filled action flicks that's short on plot and long in action sequences. Pandora had a really neat premise and an even neater potential plot. I do think some of that promise went unfulfilled though as the same sort of action sequence was reenacted over and over with the same few characters. I felt that the characters all fit your stereotypical molds, and the dialogue got almost cheesy at times. Both the plot and the dialogue got particularly cliche, almost amusingly so. Overall, it was the sort of book perfect to read on a flight (or....dare I say....a cruise) when you want something light and amusing.
December 11, 2017
Pandora is an engaging horror novel written by a talented author, Joshua Grant. His detail to character descriptions and surroundings makes it all vividly real. A cruise ship named the Emerald Rose has disappeared with all the vacationers aboard it. When it mysteriously reappears, there's nothing left but an evil creature named Watcher. A team is assembled to retrieve the ship and find out what happened. But of all the members that board it to find out, how many will survive?
It should be made into a movie.
It should be made into a movie.
March 3, 2020
Filled with suspense, Joshua Grant knows how to build a powerful story that will keep the reader on the edge of his or her seat. Grant dives right into a story of a deadly cruise masterfully building both terror and tension as the plot unfolds. Mysterious Watchers are pitted against a hand-picked team who must unravel the mystery. The book moves fast, is vividly written and perfect for action-junkies.
November 8, 2016
This book is creepy. The monster concepts were cool. I really like the last hundred pages particularly (reminds me of the early 90s horror films I used to love watching). The main characters seem one dimensional at times but ultimately it's a good read if you have the time
April 6, 2017
‘And that’s not even the strangest part. There’s a survivor.’
Author Joshua Grant makes his literary debut with PANDORA – the first installment in a series, this being subtitled ‘File No. 1’, In addition to writing he is a teacher and works with children in churches and other environments. On his website he offers in an interview the following – ‘It’s funny to see people’s reactions when I tell them I write horror, especially when I’m working in the elementary school and church environments. They get this wide eyed look and go “oh really.” It’s pretty funny. Horror is such a broad category so we can probably classify it better. I generally tell people I write ‘survival horror’ or ‘dark adventure.’ Of course, when I explain those categories to people, they typically give me the same “oh really” anyway. I tend to have a pretty cinematic writing style. I like a lot of tight description and emotion. I like the reader to really see the world and experience it through one character’s thoughts and emotions. I also enjoy writing a lot of frantic action scenes. Joshua shares that he is a loving caring guy with a mild case of misadventure. He has survived a flash flood, encountered several bears, and has sailed the ocean blue.
In commenting on his debut book, Joshua states in an interview, ‘In Pandora, my main character Julian is fighting for a better life for his younger brother Ricardo. Julian and Ricardo are two kids from around the world I’ve supported in their struggle against poverty. So a third of my characters generally have hidden meanings like that, mostly just to write a bit of my own soul into the books. Pandora is an actiony horror/thriller that takes place on a derelict cruise ship. After responding to a distress signal, the cruise ship Emerald Rose disappears. It returns a week later transmitting a single word—Pandora—thus prompting an investigation by a Special Forces team. They quickly discover that not everything aboard the Emerald Rose is as it appears to be and find themselves in a fight for their survival against horrible creatures and an impending worldwide apocalypse.’
It is difficult to believe PANDORA is Joshua’s initial book, so polished and erudite is his prose and his graceful way with painting scenes so credibly. He allows us to share his love for his characters and each character becomes three dimensional almost as soon as we meet them. Yes this is a horror story, but it is also brushed with enough comic relief that it allows the tale to stand tall and breathe.
But to the story, well summarized by Joshua – ‘Evil is rising. Shortly after retrieving a survivor from the ill-fated research vessel La Magia, cruise ship Emerald Rose mysteriously disappears. But evil isn’t content to stay lost forever. The ship reemerges a week later transmitting a single word—Pandora—prompting business tycoon Patrick Carver to send out a team to investigate. He seeks out Aubrey Pittenger for reasons beyond her. She’s not a soldier or a rescuer, just a doctor who spent the last year suffering from the loss of her little girl. Yet when Carver makes her an offer she can’t refuse, she finds herself hurtling toward the crumbling ship and the dark things that flit through its once elegant hallways. Mercenary Julian Eduardo receives a similar offer. Having lived most of his life on one battlefield or another, he now fights to ensure his little brother Ricardo won’t have to follow in his blood soaked footsteps. But all is not as it seems aboard the Emerald Rose, and evil comes in many forms. Carver’s cutthroat team will have to band together if they hope to survive the night and find the essence of hope, the hope they’ve all been searching for, the distant promise at the bottom of Pandora’s Box.’
Irresistible? Yes, even for those who prefer the mystery end of horror. This quite simple is a superb book and the introduction of a very promising young novelist. Highly Recommended.
Author Joshua Grant makes his literary debut with PANDORA – the first installment in a series, this being subtitled ‘File No. 1’, In addition to writing he is a teacher and works with children in churches and other environments. On his website he offers in an interview the following – ‘It’s funny to see people’s reactions when I tell them I write horror, especially when I’m working in the elementary school and church environments. They get this wide eyed look and go “oh really.” It’s pretty funny. Horror is such a broad category so we can probably classify it better. I generally tell people I write ‘survival horror’ or ‘dark adventure.’ Of course, when I explain those categories to people, they typically give me the same “oh really” anyway. I tend to have a pretty cinematic writing style. I like a lot of tight description and emotion. I like the reader to really see the world and experience it through one character’s thoughts and emotions. I also enjoy writing a lot of frantic action scenes. Joshua shares that he is a loving caring guy with a mild case of misadventure. He has survived a flash flood, encountered several bears, and has sailed the ocean blue.
In commenting on his debut book, Joshua states in an interview, ‘In Pandora, my main character Julian is fighting for a better life for his younger brother Ricardo. Julian and Ricardo are two kids from around the world I’ve supported in their struggle against poverty. So a third of my characters generally have hidden meanings like that, mostly just to write a bit of my own soul into the books. Pandora is an actiony horror/thriller that takes place on a derelict cruise ship. After responding to a distress signal, the cruise ship Emerald Rose disappears. It returns a week later transmitting a single word—Pandora—thus prompting an investigation by a Special Forces team. They quickly discover that not everything aboard the Emerald Rose is as it appears to be and find themselves in a fight for their survival against horrible creatures and an impending worldwide apocalypse.’
It is difficult to believe PANDORA is Joshua’s initial book, so polished and erudite is his prose and his graceful way with painting scenes so credibly. He allows us to share his love for his characters and each character becomes three dimensional almost as soon as we meet them. Yes this is a horror story, but it is also brushed with enough comic relief that it allows the tale to stand tall and breathe.
But to the story, well summarized by Joshua – ‘Evil is rising. Shortly after retrieving a survivor from the ill-fated research vessel La Magia, cruise ship Emerald Rose mysteriously disappears. But evil isn’t content to stay lost forever. The ship reemerges a week later transmitting a single word—Pandora—prompting business tycoon Patrick Carver to send out a team to investigate. He seeks out Aubrey Pittenger for reasons beyond her. She’s not a soldier or a rescuer, just a doctor who spent the last year suffering from the loss of her little girl. Yet when Carver makes her an offer she can’t refuse, she finds herself hurtling toward the crumbling ship and the dark things that flit through its once elegant hallways. Mercenary Julian Eduardo receives a similar offer. Having lived most of his life on one battlefield or another, he now fights to ensure his little brother Ricardo won’t have to follow in his blood soaked footsteps. But all is not as it seems aboard the Emerald Rose, and evil comes in many forms. Carver’s cutthroat team will have to band together if they hope to survive the night and find the essence of hope, the hope they’ve all been searching for, the distant promise at the bottom of Pandora’s Box.’
Irresistible? Yes, even for those who prefer the mystery end of horror. This quite simple is a superb book and the introduction of a very promising young novelist. Highly Recommended.
May 10, 2018
You’ll never look at taking a cruise ship the same way again after reading this intensely action-packed and bone-chilling page turner! Pirates are far from the only threat on the high seas, some come from the waves, some from above, and some from beneath.
This book is Ghost Ship meets Aliens!
Joshua Grant delivers a great mixture of intriguing characters and juicy plot twists. I’m both an action/adventure and horror junkie who thoroughly enjoyed this read. I would highly recommend it to anyone with those tastes.
This book is Ghost Ship meets Aliens!
Joshua Grant delivers a great mixture of intriguing characters and juicy plot twists. I’m both an action/adventure and horror junkie who thoroughly enjoyed this read. I would highly recommend it to anyone with those tastes.
October 17, 2016
I really enjoyed Pandora because it was more than just a slasher or the run of the mill ghost story. It had a cool story that built toward some pretty neat twists. I felt like the action was done particularly well. It took a little bit to get into it at first, and there are a few repetitive parts, but the book rewards you if you're willing to stick with it.
March 31, 2017
And this is probably the first time a horror book has made it into my favorites, as I could not put this book down. And I kind of want a sequel as Pandora was left rather open-ended and well from what I can tell this may be one of many books, well that's my hope anyway.
A summery for Pandora:
Shortly after retrieving a survivor from the ill-fated research vessel La Magia, cruise ship Emerald Rose mysteriously disappears. But evil isn’t content to stay lost forever. The ship reemerges a week later transmitting a single word—Pandora—prompting business tycoon Patrick Carver to send out a team to investigate.
He seeks out Aubrey Pittenger for reasons beyond her. She’s not a soldier or a rescuer, just a doctor who spent the last year suffering from the loss of her little girl. Yet when Carver makes her an offer she can’t refuse, she finds herself hurtling toward the crumbling ship and the dark things that flit through its once elegant hallways.
Mercenary Julian Eduardo receives a similar offer. Having lived most of his life on one battlefield or another, he now fights to ensure his little brother Ricardo won’t have to follow in his blood soaked footsteps.
But all is not as it seems aboard the Emerald Rose, and evil comes in many forms. Carver’s cutthroat team will have to band together if they hope to survive the night and find the essence of hope, the hope they’ve all been searching for, the distant promise at the bottom of Pandora’s Box.
A summery for Pandora:
Shortly after retrieving a survivor from the ill-fated research vessel La Magia, cruise ship Emerald Rose mysteriously disappears. But evil isn’t content to stay lost forever. The ship reemerges a week later transmitting a single word—Pandora—prompting business tycoon Patrick Carver to send out a team to investigate.
He seeks out Aubrey Pittenger for reasons beyond her. She’s not a soldier or a rescuer, just a doctor who spent the last year suffering from the loss of her little girl. Yet when Carver makes her an offer she can’t refuse, she finds herself hurtling toward the crumbling ship and the dark things that flit through its once elegant hallways.
Mercenary Julian Eduardo receives a similar offer. Having lived most of his life on one battlefield or another, he now fights to ensure his little brother Ricardo won’t have to follow in his blood soaked footsteps.
But all is not as it seems aboard the Emerald Rose, and evil comes in many forms. Carver’s cutthroat team will have to band together if they hope to survive the night and find the essence of hope, the hope they’ve all been searching for, the distant promise at the bottom of Pandora’s Box.
March 22, 2019
Joshua Grant is a very talented author. I didn’t realise this was a horror monster story when I bought it, but I couldn’t put it down. It’s a real page turner, with fast-paced action; a book you’ll read without realising you are holding your breath. Highly recommended for horror fans and anyone who appreciates good writing and suspense.
September 28, 2018
Enjoyed reading this - I liked the characters that Josh developed. They weren't too cheesy and were believable. Horror can be difficult to write without it being over the top or even ridiculous. Josh got it just about right. I especially enjoyed the ending.
January 8, 2019
Review for Pandora by Joshua Grant
When I first read the blurb for Pandora, I knew that it was going to be the ideal read for me. I’m a huge fan of all things that go bump in the night and Josh Grant doesn’t disappoint! This tale had elements of the movies, The Thing, Event Horizon AND the video game Dead Space.
Set aboard a decimated cruise ship, the reader is automatically plunged into a heart-pounding thrill ride within the first few pages and simply reading the prologue, I was immediately drawn in and knew I would be up late reading this one!
I enjoyed the plot, the characters, the action, the conspiracy and even the sharp twist at the end that I wasn’t expecting.
There are many character POVs, which I personally enjoy as a reader, but for the most part Josh puts you in Dr. Aubrey Pittenger and Julian Eduardo’s perspectives as they literally battle an ungodly evil, Watcher, in the run for their lives. I thought it was unique and interesting to be inside Watcher’s mind too, and it gave the story a distinctive element. Josh did a great job building the scenes, I literally felt like I was there, as he was very descriptive in his details aboard the damaged, Emerald Rose. I loved the suspense and the action that had me on edge through the whole book. I enjoyed the references to shows and movies, the humor and the history behind the existence of Watcher. I found it fascinated that Josh weaved such an elaborate tale. I was also pleased by the romance that developed, but not surprised, and I thought it added a great element to the story and character development. Gabe was well portrayed too and Mac. It was funny and creepy and I loved it!
I give this book 5 stars as it hit on every aspect of a great horror story in my opinion. It had suspense, drama, horror and loads of action. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
When I first read the blurb for Pandora, I knew that it was going to be the ideal read for me. I’m a huge fan of all things that go bump in the night and Josh Grant doesn’t disappoint! This tale had elements of the movies, The Thing, Event Horizon AND the video game Dead Space.
Set aboard a decimated cruise ship, the reader is automatically plunged into a heart-pounding thrill ride within the first few pages and simply reading the prologue, I was immediately drawn in and knew I would be up late reading this one!
I enjoyed the plot, the characters, the action, the conspiracy and even the sharp twist at the end that I wasn’t expecting.
There are many character POVs, which I personally enjoy as a reader, but for the most part Josh puts you in Dr. Aubrey Pittenger and Julian Eduardo’s perspectives as they literally battle an ungodly evil, Watcher, in the run for their lives. I thought it was unique and interesting to be inside Watcher’s mind too, and it gave the story a distinctive element. Josh did a great job building the scenes, I literally felt like I was there, as he was very descriptive in his details aboard the damaged, Emerald Rose. I loved the suspense and the action that had me on edge through the whole book. I enjoyed the references to shows and movies, the humor and the history behind the existence of Watcher. I found it fascinated that Josh weaved such an elaborate tale. I was also pleased by the romance that developed, but not surprised, and I thought it added a great element to the story and character development. Gabe was well portrayed too and Mac. It was funny and creepy and I loved it!
I give this book 5 stars as it hit on every aspect of a great horror story in my opinion. It had suspense, drama, horror and loads of action. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
November 7, 2019
Pandora is a solid horror novel. The set up is simple. When cruise ship Emerald Rose is sent to find survivors of the research vessel La Magia, they find only one survivor and he’s in a terrible state. Then, the Emerald Rose disappears for a week. Doctor Aubrey Pittenger and mercenary Julian Eduardo are sent with a team to investigate. To my mind, Pandora is Alien meets the Mary Celeste and is none the worse for that. Told from multiple points of view and packed with horror and suspense, Joshua Grant has penned a gripping page-turner that will satisfy the appetite of all good-horror readers.
June 9, 2020
I really enjoyed this book. I haven't read any of Grant's work before, but this was a well-thought premise and the development of the suspense over the book's length was really interesting to read through. It took me about a week, but when I finished I was pleased to find a sequel waiting. You won't regret this purchase!
December 19, 2018
I am not big on parasitic organisms but I was completely enthralled and couldn't stop reading. I found myself disgusted and intrigued by the Watcher's handy work. This book is Slither, Prometheus, Alien, and Life all rolled into one with a few twists and turns to make you sleep with one eye open.
August 1, 2017
A horror. A cruise ship has gone missing, effectively having disappeared for a week, then it reappears, but no messages come from it. A team is sent out to find out what has happened, but there is an immediate problem in that their helicopter crashes, which means they have no obvious way off the ship. The passengers are missing, the ship's radios do not work, then bodies are found. Something is killing whatever it meets and is not letting information out. Can't go any further without spoiling, except to say that our team spends a lot of time going hither and thither trying to evade monsters, they expend a lot of bullets, and see some fairly horrible monsters. The descriptions are reasonably gory/horrible, but that is what you expect in a horror. The writing and presentation are clear, some of the characters are plausible (some don't last long enough) and the scenario is well described. I had two issues that stop the fifth star. The prologue has foreshadowing of the horror. Sorry, but someone on a cruise ship will not "sense" problems. Unless he sees or hears something, he is on a cruise. The second is that some of the action is contrived to justify more horror. Two examples. You know about the horrors, you see something sitting there that does not make sense. What do you do? I would assume the worst. Second, you have just laid low a terrible monster, but you know they regenerate, so what do you do? Me, I would run (which is what the characters were trying to do anyway) but no, why not stand around doing nothing and have a conversation so as to let the monster have another go at you. Sorry, but that for me is too contrived. But for horror readers this may seem a bit irrelevant. If you like horror stories, this is well worth reading.
November 2, 2017
Pandora earns high marks for imagination as it weaves a world-threatening story into a clever novel. It has plenty of plot twists that accelerate as it draw to its catastrophic, human-life-in-the balance climax. The characters are well drawn with the history and personnel attributes of heroes Julian and Aubrey being satisfactorily described.
The main part of the story concerns a hand-picked rescue team that helicopters in to board a deadly cruise ship. The author uses the energy of the human spirit, to fight for survival, with teammates in turn encouraging one another to get back into the race in the face of serial setbacks. The plot premise is unique involving evil power players ashore, the ill-fated rescue team trying to make sense of the cruise ship’s slide into monster madness, and historical threads going back thousands of years.
I had some trouble navigating the ship’s many decks, corridors, and stairways that are the props of most of the story. Was this a terminal flaw? No, although understanding where I was in the ship was perplexing at times, I didn’t feel thrown out of story, which was horror creature after horror creature breathing down the good guy’s necks. The bad guys were really bad and came in different shapes and sizes to up the terror quotient. That I could understand.
I felt that pacing could have been better in places. Sometimes minutes of action seemed to take too long in the text, especially with critters in pursuit that could move pretty damn fast when they had to.
All in all I remained engrossed in the story and enjoyed the read. Recommended for those who like plenty of action with their horror.
The main part of the story concerns a hand-picked rescue team that helicopters in to board a deadly cruise ship. The author uses the energy of the human spirit, to fight for survival, with teammates in turn encouraging one another to get back into the race in the face of serial setbacks. The plot premise is unique involving evil power players ashore, the ill-fated rescue team trying to make sense of the cruise ship’s slide into monster madness, and historical threads going back thousands of years.
I had some trouble navigating the ship’s many decks, corridors, and stairways that are the props of most of the story. Was this a terminal flaw? No, although understanding where I was in the ship was perplexing at times, I didn’t feel thrown out of story, which was horror creature after horror creature breathing down the good guy’s necks. The bad guys were really bad and came in different shapes and sizes to up the terror quotient. That I could understand.
I felt that pacing could have been better in places. Sometimes minutes of action seemed to take too long in the text, especially with critters in pursuit that could move pretty damn fast when they had to.
All in all I remained engrossed in the story and enjoyed the read. Recommended for those who like plenty of action with their horror.
July 10, 2020
The centuries old and much visited tale of the ghost ship with something evil lurking on board waiting for unwary visitors is given a refreshing overhaul in this story. A rescue party of specialists are gathered to land on a deserted cruise ship by its owners, no sign of passengers or crew. They are met, as might be expected by something terrifying on their arrival. Whereas one might expect a slow lead into the action, with the relevant back stories of the group members being individually explained first this story dives straight in after only a few pages. Not that such a fast pace diminishes the coherence of the work. Initially I did wonder whether such a pace could maintain my interest through an entire book where virtually everything takes place within the confines of the ship. I needn’t have worried, a thoroughly gripping read.
January 18, 2022
Wow! This book gets going very quickly and never lets up on the fast-paced action. A team of trained mercenaries is sent on a mission to the cruise ship from hell and must battle a remarkable army of...??? The characters are interesting and well defined, the dialog witty, but the action is what carried this book through. Joshua Grant does a terrific job hurtling us through an unrelenting series of battle scenes as well as suspenseful spine-chilling sequences when the good guys can't quite tell who's on what's side and what's on the other. A rollercoaster ride from beginning to end. Think about the best parts of the Alien movies, albeit with a bit more blood and gore, and you'll get an idea of what you'll experience reading Pandora. I will definitely be reading Jericho, the second book in the series. Highly recommend if you like excitement and action!
July 21, 2020
When ‘Alien’ meets ‘The Thing’!
If you like Horror and Sci-Fi, you’ll definitely enjoy this story. The main characters endure hardships while trying to escape the terror inflicted by the ‘villain’. There are moments when you won’t know who the enemy is. But I can assure you, when the evil is made clear, it’ll scare the wits out of you!
Notably, the author donates 10% of this book’s profits to help fund ocean exploration. Maybe his passion for the ocean was an inspiration for the setting of this horror story? You’ll see. The only thing I can assure you of is that Pandora’s Box was definitely opened.
If you like Horror and Sci-Fi, you’ll definitely enjoy this story. The main characters endure hardships while trying to escape the terror inflicted by the ‘villain’. There are moments when you won’t know who the enemy is. But I can assure you, when the evil is made clear, it’ll scare the wits out of you!
Notably, the author donates 10% of this book’s profits to help fund ocean exploration. Maybe his passion for the ocean was an inspiration for the setting of this horror story? You’ll see. The only thing I can assure you of is that Pandora’s Box was definitely opened.
July 10, 2017
I enjoyed this book. It took me on quite a ride. The plot is well-developed, and the narration is well-paced. The characters are dynamic, and there are several twists that obviously took careful planning. Many of the references are gold. My biggest complaint is purely editorial. There were missing commas and hyphens that made it a little difficult to interpret certain sentences. Otherwise, well done. Based on the ending, I assume this will be a series. I'll definitely keep an eye out for book #2.
November 26, 2018
Imagination is a crucial element in any work of fiction, and here it reaches new heights, especially in terms of human ambition and the lengths some will travel to fulfil it.
This novel is a mix of horror, fantasy, science fiction, adventure and thriller. But, in merging the genres and developing a truly credible cast of characters, Joshua Grant has moved beyond all these genres into a truly engaging and thrilling story.
There are, inevitably it seems these days, a few editing glitches, but these are few, and fail to interrupt the narrative.
We have here a story wound around people we can empathise with and care about. They’re immersed in a situation that allows the author to ramp up the tension and expand his imaginative descriptive powers to turn the book into a real page turner. Monsters aplenty feature in the tale, and the very visceral nature of these horrors is the stuff of nightmare.
Unlike so many thrillers, this one deals with compelling themes and we are faced here with betrayal, greed, self-interest on an epic scale, delusion, and, as an essential element, the power of love to overcome.
At times the reader needs a break from action and tension, and the author is sympathetic to that need, but only for long enough to allow the empathetic reader to catch their metaphorical breath. Then we are plunged back into the action, threat, turmoil and emotional paradox that faces our protagonists.
That this is an opening to a series is evident only in the final pages of the book. But, unlike so many series, this book is complete and will stand alone if that’s what the reader wants. The promise of more to come is just that, and the decision whether to engage with further volumes is entirely left to the reader: there’s no need to read on simply to discover the end of this of this particular tale. And I applaud the author for that stance. It shows he cares more about telling the tale than driving readers to buy more books.
This is a book that gripped me from start to finish. I wish I could have read it in one sitting, but life, as usual, got in the way!
This novel is a mix of horror, fantasy, science fiction, adventure and thriller. But, in merging the genres and developing a truly credible cast of characters, Joshua Grant has moved beyond all these genres into a truly engaging and thrilling story.
There are, inevitably it seems these days, a few editing glitches, but these are few, and fail to interrupt the narrative.
We have here a story wound around people we can empathise with and care about. They’re immersed in a situation that allows the author to ramp up the tension and expand his imaginative descriptive powers to turn the book into a real page turner. Monsters aplenty feature in the tale, and the very visceral nature of these horrors is the stuff of nightmare.
Unlike so many thrillers, this one deals with compelling themes and we are faced here with betrayal, greed, self-interest on an epic scale, delusion, and, as an essential element, the power of love to overcome.
At times the reader needs a break from action and tension, and the author is sympathetic to that need, but only for long enough to allow the empathetic reader to catch their metaphorical breath. Then we are plunged back into the action, threat, turmoil and emotional paradox that faces our protagonists.
That this is an opening to a series is evident only in the final pages of the book. But, unlike so many series, this book is complete and will stand alone if that’s what the reader wants. The promise of more to come is just that, and the decision whether to engage with further volumes is entirely left to the reader: there’s no need to read on simply to discover the end of this of this particular tale. And I applaud the author for that stance. It shows he cares more about telling the tale than driving readers to buy more books.
This is a book that gripped me from start to finish. I wish I could have read it in one sitting, but life, as usual, got in the way!
November 10, 2019
A research vessel goes missing and a cruise ship, the Emerald Rose, diverts to offer aid and it also vanishes. The cruise ship’s owner, tycoon Patrick Carver engages his security team, led by Julian Eduardo. Patrick asks Dr. Aubrey Pittenger to join the team. She’s hesitant at first, but he convinces her to accept after offering unlimited funds for her research to find a cure for the disease that took her daughter.
A romance quickly forms between Aubrey and Julian, but they have bigger issues to address. Pandora’s Box is opened and the evil entity, The Watcher, wreaks havoc on everyone around it. Not for the faint of heart, there’s plenty of horror and fast-paced, suspenseful action. There’s also romance, a creative twist on Atlantis, greed and disillusions, conspiracy, and a quest for immortality. The plot thickens throughout the story, with unexpected twists and turns, up to and including the shocking ending.
Pandora is a well-written story that drew me and had me flipping pages on the edge of my seat. It’s a highly recommended read for those who enjoy horror, action, and suspense.
A romance quickly forms between Aubrey and Julian, but they have bigger issues to address. Pandora’s Box is opened and the evil entity, The Watcher, wreaks havoc on everyone around it. Not for the faint of heart, there’s plenty of horror and fast-paced, suspenseful action. There’s also romance, a creative twist on Atlantis, greed and disillusions, conspiracy, and a quest for immortality. The plot thickens throughout the story, with unexpected twists and turns, up to and including the shocking ending.
Pandora is a well-written story that drew me and had me flipping pages on the edge of my seat. It’s a highly recommended read for those who enjoy horror, action, and suspense.
August 11, 2020
Joshua GrantPandora
The embarrassment of finding an obliterated vessel with only one survivor is described effectively by Joshua. The distress in Malcom’s mind is expressed beautifully by Joshua.
There is loads of horror, suspense and fast-paced action. The Emerald Rose is a cruise ship meant for spending vacation. A research vessel named "La Magia" goes missing and the Emerald Rose cruise ship offers help to search for this missing research vessel, but eventually the Emerald Rose also vanishes, but it mysteriously reappears.
The people who are vacationing on the Emerald Rose cruise ship are horrified to find an evil entity called Watcher. I was thrilled to bits while reading this book. The story is full of adventure, thrill and readers who enjoy horror would love it.
The embarrassment of finding an obliterated vessel with only one survivor is described effectively by Joshua. The distress in Malcom’s mind is expressed beautifully by Joshua.
There is loads of horror, suspense and fast-paced action. The Emerald Rose is a cruise ship meant for spending vacation. A research vessel named "La Magia" goes missing and the Emerald Rose cruise ship offers help to search for this missing research vessel, but eventually the Emerald Rose also vanishes, but it mysteriously reappears.
The people who are vacationing on the Emerald Rose cruise ship are horrified to find an evil entity called Watcher. I was thrilled to bits while reading this book. The story is full of adventure, thrill and readers who enjoy horror would love it.
April 12, 2021
Leviathan meets John Carpenter's The Thing in this explosive sci-fi horror thriller. A band of corporate mercenaries are sent on a mission involving a (seemingly) abandoned cruise ship and a monstrous, indestructible antagonist. Looming over the plot is a sinister cult-like society, harkening back to a lost civilization. Joshua Grant does a great job in crafting believable characters and getting all the background across without slowing the breathless pace of Pandora for a moment. The ending wraps up the story and skillfully plants the hook for a sequel. I thoroughly enjoyed this one, and will be on the lookout for more from the same author.
October 23, 2019
There are so many awesome points to touch down on that I’m not sure where to start. In this thrilling horror read by Joshua Grant we are introduced to a ship known as the Emerald Rose which mysteriously disappears. When it reappears, a team is sent in to decode exactly what evil is lurking there. However, they may have bitten off more than they can chew. The Emerald Rose is just the tip of the iceberg with the evil known as The Organization.
There are plenty of POV jumps in this story which means there’s never a dull moment. The characters are all greatly written with quirks, flaws, and through backgrounds. Out of all of them, I found Aubrey’s story to be the most touching. She was the character I gravitated the most toward.
The book has everything I could’ve asked for: adventure, humor, chills, mystery, and of course, an unpredictable ending.
Solid five stars!
There are plenty of POV jumps in this story which means there’s never a dull moment. The characters are all greatly written with quirks, flaws, and through backgrounds. Out of all of them, I found Aubrey’s story to be the most touching. She was the character I gravitated the most toward.
The book has everything I could’ve asked for: adventure, humor, chills, mystery, and of course, an unpredictable ending.
Solid five stars!
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