HOUSE OF DARK SHADOWS BOOK REVIEW PART 1

This is a book review of the first book in a series of six from the Dreamhouse Kings section. At the moment I'm on the second book Watcher in the Woods but this is what I thought about the first book House of Dark Shadows from Robert Liparulo.

Meet Xander King, oldest son of the King Family. When his parents, little brother David and little sister Toria all move from Pasadena, CA to the small town of Pinedale Xander's life was turned upside down. What is a 16 year old boy who loves to make short films going to do in a small town like Pinedale? It doesn't take Xander long to discover that life in Pinedale was going to be much more exciting than he ever imagined! When his father moves them all into an old Victorian deep in the woods things start to turn strange REALLY fast. This house is no ordinary house. Sounds come from rooms that are thought empty. His family appears in different parts of the house then where they entered. Not only that but there is a portal in the house's linen closet that leads to locker 19 in their new school! That isn't the half of it though. Xander and his brother David discover a secret third floor which looks like it's right out of the creepy hotel from The Shiniing. A whole floor filled with a hallway of doors. Doors that lead to another  time and another place! Xander travels through one of these doors and finds himself in a Gladiator arena! Will he live through this adventure? Will he ever get back? What secrets does this house hold? What secrets are even within his own family? Will the family be able to stay together? (continued)