C. J. Daley
Bought this on audio as another in my quest to read all my fellow authors in The Book of Spores Anthology. Veronica Rotar did a good job with the narration, I enjoyed the main characters and the various accents used for the side characters.
A world that has mostly ended. A town stands alone. Surrounded by a malignant mist that is only held back by the teamwork of who’s left. Justine, a farming apprentice, and her sister, Anna, an engineering apprentice, must stick together through thick and thin. After the death of the ill farmer, the responsibility falls on Justine to reorganize and notify the townsfolk that rationing will be needed in order to make it through the winter. Discomfort often leads to anger. Starvation often leads to desperation. Mix the two together, and you’ve got the makings of a rebellion.
Now I don’t know much about the folklore, or if this was just accents chosen by the narrator, but this seemed to be at least, in part, some kind of Slavic inspired. I was unsure of why the kids wouldn’t have similar accents to those that raised them, but it may have been a stylistic choice to differentiate between the generations? Either way I really enjoyed the slight differences between the main sisters the most.
This reminded me of Ryan’s The Feeding with its walled off bastions of civilization, of Sansbury Smith’s Hell Divers with its unknown creatures in the mist feel, of Glukhovsky’s Metro 2033 with its showcasing of vestiges of civilization holding on through farming, community, and history. But unlike the three of those, this feels much more so in the world of fantasy. Even with its dystopian, post apocalyptic themes, it felt somewhat otherworldly to me. Probably because of the talk of mages, the mist, and the supposed creatures within it, but I suppose this could be an urban fantasy leaning scifi story as well. I think those possibilities are one of its strengths, not just in wider appeal, but its ability to deliver on an intriguing level of mystery.
My favorite part of this was the siblings. The sisters and their stepbrother, although all different and from differing educations/backgrounds, they stick together like a true family unit when things get bad. Even through all the doubt, they remain tight knit. Even when the worry pushing them to arguing, they are still 100% there for each other. I think it was really well thought out too that each has something different to offer. One an engineer, who created the device that pushes back the mist, another a town guard, fighter, and protector, the last a leader and wholly devoted to keeping the others alive. I don’t know if I’ve ever read a story like this where the cast is actually all siblings, but I certainly enjoyed it. I mean … even with some comps offered above, I’ve never read a story like this in any sense actually.
Not only is this unique, but it’s also a short enough story that you can enjoy it without bogging down your TBR too much. I’m a fan of chonky books as much as the next person, but sometimes a well written, well paced shorter story to fit in between just feels right. This will hit for fans of genre blends, dystopian or post apocalypse stories that still feature hope, and fantasy and scifi readers alike.
Bought this on audio as another in my quest to read all my fellow authors in The Book of Spores Anthology. Veronica Rotar did a good job with the narration, I enjoyed the main characters and the various accents used for the side characters.
A world that has mostly ended. A town stands alone. Surrounded by a malignant mist that is only held back by the teamwork of who’s left. Justine, a farming apprentice, and her sister, Anna, an engineering apprentice, must stick together through thick and thin. After the death of the ill farmer, the responsibility falls on Justine to reorganize and notify the townsfolk that rationing will be needed in order to make it through the winter. Discomfort often leads to anger. Starvation often leads to desperation. Mix the two together, and you’ve got the makings of a rebellion.
Now I don’t know much about the folklore, or if this was just accents chosen by the narrator, but this seemed to be at least, in part, some kind of Slavic inspired. I was unsure of why the kids wouldn’t have similar accents to those that raised them, but it may have been a stylistic choice to differentiate between the generations? Either way I really enjoyed the slight differences between the main sisters the most.
This reminded me of Ryan’s The Feeding with its walled off bastions of civilization, of Sansbury Smith’s Hell Divers with its unknown creatures in the mist feel, of Glukhovsky’s Metro 2033 with its showcasing of vestiges of civilization holding on through farming, community, and history. But unlike the three of those, this feels much more so in the world of fantasy. Even with its dystopian, post apocalyptic themes, it felt somewhat otherworldly to me. Probably because of the talk of mages, the mist, and the supposed creatures within it, but I suppose this could be an urban fantasy leaning scifi story as well. I think those possibilities are one of its strengths, not just in wider appeal, but its ability to deliver on an intriguing level of mystery.
My favorite part of this was the siblings. The sisters and their stepbrother, although all different and from differing educations/backgrounds, they stick together like a true family unit when things get bad. Even through all the doubt, they remain tight knit. Even when the worry pushing them to arguing, they are still 100% there for each other. I think it was really well thought out too that each has something different to offer. One an engineer, who created the device that pushes back the mist, another a town guard, fighter, and protector, the last a leader and wholly devoted to keeping the others alive. I don’t know if I’ve ever read a story like this where the cast is actually all siblings, but I certainly enjoyed it. I mean … even with some comps offered above, I’ve never read a story like this in any sense actually.
Not only is this unique, but it’s also a short enough story that you can enjoy it without bogging down your TBR too much. I’m a fan of chonky books as much as the next person, but sometimes a well written, well paced shorter story to fit in between just feels right. This will hit for fans of genre blends, dystopian or post apocalypse stories that still feature hope, and fantasy and scifi readers alike.
Huge thanks to the publisher for inviting me to give this audio arc a listen! I really enjoyed Bury Your Gays, so I jumped at the chance to give this one a listen. A simpler cover than my previous read by the author, but I love the colors. Mara Wilson(!) does the narration for this. She does a great job of bringing the main character, Poppy, to life.
Poppy is a social media influencer on the rise. The only thing about being on the rise, though, is that it’s not currently paying the bills. The problem with that is that an influencer has to be up on trends, fashion, lifestyle, all things that are evolving constantly. Things that are expensive. Let’s not forget that Poppy also has a daughter to take care of. Her solution? Stealing and selling corpses to the highest bidder. As you can imagine, that’s a night job that brings her into pretty close proximity with some shady folks … something awfully different from the glamorous life she portrays on her phone. But on the day her musical idols dies in a freak accident, she receives a call that changes absolutely everything, someone wants to hire her, for an unbelievable sum, and what they want is her recently deceased idol, Eddie’s, corpse.
One thing I’m picking up here, that I am also carrying over from my time with Bury Your Gays, is that the author will never hand us something that’s not actually a blend of somethings. While BYG was horror slasher and scifi, this one feels more horror slashery and supernatural. Yet it’s also more—body horror that plays in undead and even zombie tropes before stomping its way into otherworldly entity. It smacks readers with the eerie and uncanny, as Eddie Michaels is both genuinely dead and also not. It makes me wonder what exactly the flesh of a body counts for if the person, the being, is truly within.
This one felt particularly heavy. While there are things surrounding content creating, social media, and clout chasing in general, the undertone of what’s left unsaid hit me the most. In the age of indie writers, authors, blogs, and all-things reviewers, it can be daunting to progress in a world where social media is designed by an algorithm that mostly seems to award those that funnel funds into it. While this novel features an adult doing the chasing, there are warning signs for the younger ages that feel like these things are what really matters in this world. We teach children, and allow ourselves to be fooled too, that things like interactions, like counts, shares, and saves are the sum of our self worth, and that’s a mighty dangerous foe. And that’s before accounting for the literal murderous reanimated corpse!
I really enjoyed the dynamic that blossoms between Poppy and her daughter. From their first on-page appearance, where Poppy is more busy with content than parenting, to that burgeoning, growing, burning maternal need to get back to her baby. If love is real then Poppy spent too long being blind to it, taking for granted all the things that truly matter most. But the author hit a home run for me in their ability to tie this into the theme in the paragraph above. Poppy realizes slowly throughout the novel how blinded she’s been, how nothing whatsoever could ever be more important than her daughter. Spending real quality time with her. It works beautifully as a driving force in the novel, and is a powerful message for readers. There’s even the darkly humorous note that Poppy’s neglectful, downright nonexistent, father is to blame for her own parental awakening.
The action, which does happen quite often in this one, is really gruesome and gory. Eddie’s ability to remove people’s impulse control, to force them to do whatever he says, reminded me of the One Wish Willow in Obsession. However, instead of a one-time deal with the ability to erase all autonomy and self, Eddie can do so at will, over and over again. And he uses this ability with gleeful abandon. The amount of blood soaked people and locations left over from this one is astounding. And shockingly unique, too. By the end of this novel, Poppy has to be one of, if not THE most, injured character I’ve ever seen in any story. While a few people thought my Detective Williams faced too many injuries in Welcome to Cemetery, this one truly elevates that to infinity. While this does play into the supernatural, which affords more extended disbelief, I still wondered how in the hell she was alive, let alone standing too. Good for her! I’d guess it’s more of that maternal adrenaline-fueled need to get to her daughter again.
If you are not used to Tingle’s work, but are willing to give stories that are kind of out there a go, this one is perfect for you. The horror is on par with Leede’s new Headlights and does share a sort of otherworldly vibe if you need a comp. Vividly unique, wildly gory, and heinously deadly.
Huge thanks to the publisher for inviting me to give this audio arc a listen! I really enjoyed Bury Your Gays, so I jumped at the chance to give this one a listen. A simpler cover than my previous read by the author, but I love the colors. Mara Wilson(!) does the narration for this. She does a great job of bringing the main character, Poppy, to life.
Poppy is a social media influencer on the rise. The only thing about being on the rise, though, is that it’s not currently paying the bills. The problem with that is that an influencer has to be up on trends, fashion, lifestyle, all things that are evolving constantly. Things that are expensive. Let’s not forget that Poppy also has a daughter to take care of. Her solution? Stealing and selling corpses to the highest bidder. As you can imagine, that’s a night job that brings her into pretty close proximity with some shady folks … something awfully different from the glamorous life she portrays on her phone. But on the day her musical idols dies in a freak accident, she receives a call that changes absolutely everything, someone wants to hire her, for an unbelievable sum, and what they want is her recently deceased idol, Eddie’s, corpse.
One thing I’m picking up here, that I am also carrying over from my time with Bury Your Gays, is that the author will never hand us something that’s not actually a blend of somethings. While BYG was horror slasher and scifi, this one feels more horror slashery and supernatural. Yet it’s also more—body horror that plays in undead and even zombie tropes before stomping its way into otherworldly entity. It smacks readers with the eerie and uncanny, as Eddie Michaels is both genuinely dead and also not. It makes me wonder what exactly the flesh of a body counts for if the person, the being, is truly within.
This one felt particularly heavy. While there are things surrounding content creating, social media, and clout chasing in general, the undertone of what’s left unsaid hit me the most. In the age of indie writers, authors, blogs, and all-things reviewers, it can be daunting to progress in a world where social media is designed by an algorithm that mostly seems to award those that funnel funds into it. While this novel features an adult doing the chasing, there are warning signs for the younger ages that feel like these things are what really matters in this world. We teach children, and allow ourselves to be fooled too, that things like interactions, like counts, shares, and saves are the sum of our self worth, and that’s a mighty dangerous foe. And that’s before accounting for the literal murderous reanimated corpse!
I really enjoyed the dynamic that blossoms between Poppy and her daughter. From their first on-page appearance, where Poppy is more busy with content than parenting, to that burgeoning, growing, burning maternal need to get back to her baby. If love is real then Poppy spent too long being blind to it, taking for granted all the things that truly matter most. But the author hit a home run for me in their ability to tie this into the theme in the paragraph above. Poppy realizes slowly throughout the novel how blinded she’s been, how nothing whatsoever could ever be more important than her daughter. Spending real quality time with her. It works beautifully as a driving force in the novel, and is a powerful message for readers. There’s even the darkly humorous note that Poppy’s neglectful, downright nonexistent, father is to blame for her own parental awakening.
The action, which does happen quite often in this one, is really gruesome and gory. Eddie’s ability to remove people’s impulse control, to force them to do whatever he says, reminded me of the One Wish Willow in Obsession. However, instead of a one-time deal with the ability to erase all autonomy and self, Eddie can do so at will, over and over again. And he uses this ability with gleeful abandon. The amount of blood soaked people and locations left over from this one is astounding. And shockingly unique, too. By the end of this novel, Poppy has to be one of, if not THE most, injured character I’ve ever seen in any story. While a few people thought my Detective Williams faced too many injuries in Welcome to Cemetery, this one truly elevates that to infinity. While this does play into the supernatural, which affords more extended disbelief, I still wondered how in the hell she was alive, let alone standing too. Good for her! I’d guess it’s more of that maternal adrenaline-fueled need to get to her daughter again.
If you are not used to Tingle’s work, but are willing to give stories that are kind of out there a go, this one is perfect for you. The horror is on par with Leede’s new Headlights and does share a sort of otherworldly vibe if you need a comp. Vividly unique, wildly gory, and heinously deadly.
As you know; I grabbed the 1-3 box set on audio, so I decided to roll right on through them all. The narration is fantastic, I really feel like it embodies the character and the first person POV so well, so if you’re into audiobooks, my suggestion is to go this route for sure.
Book 3 brings back Ivy, her devilishly handsome Mage Lord, and a slew of side characters that readers both know and love at this point, and some that we may not too. This one sees Ivy recalled to the faerie in the woods, drawn back by the favor she promised to fulfill in book one. The author layers this over a murder mystery, where multiple shifters are being found dead. Both in, and outside of, their own territory. And how is it that every time tensions are on the rise, just when everything was tenuously held together, that it’s Ivy found right there in the mix of things? She’s charged with hunting down a fae talisman. The failure of which will surely kill her. Yet again, she’s also faced with juggling the possibility of war breaking out and the collapsing of the realms.
I will say in this one Ivy began to really grate on me. She’s brusque, sarcastic, plucky, and sometimes downright aggressive. It often lends nothing to the situation she’s in, too. That’s the name of the game with her, as I learned from two previous books, but wow she makes every professional situation way harder than it should be! And I get that it would be hard as hell to be calm and centered while almost everyone is at least against you (or actively trying to harm you), but I did question her hireability a bit in this one … although clearly it works its magic on the Mage Lord.
Fans will be pleased—read: screaming and raving from the stands and rafters—that Ivy and the Mage Lord do finally step fully into the realm of romance … just as I predicted at the end of my review for book 2. They are navigating the whole boss/subordinate thing, the constant battles and danger around them, and then of course the fact that Ivy refuses to listen, always throwing herself into impossibly mad situations with no regards for her own life, but hey, all that seems to be what mage-man is into. There is a hint there of Ivy being attracted to the mysterious, brooding, seemingly dangerous guy, but I think it’s going WAY far in the opposite direction here.
While unconventional, after three novels I think it’s safe to say that this is actually a sleeper “chosen one” story. Ivy is human. She never showed any signs of being a witch or mage or shifter, and she certainly isn’t faerie. I mean, sure, go grab the family tree or whatever (and this may get further addressed in a later book), but so far the stance has been that she is just human or “normal”. Yet through all of her trials and tribulations, she’s continually proven to be worthy, to not be found wanting, to surmount and surpass the odds and expectations. She may not be the classic farm boy, but this isn’t a straightforward fantasy either. I think that this works, especially in the ever changing landscape the author has set out to create.
I don’t know if this was originally set up to be a trilogy, but this one follows a sort of similar arc as one. Book 2 had a lull in stakes, but this one pulls it all back into what feels like a story-arc showdown. Bigger and badder enemies, including a possibly longtime buried dragon god (?!), and more injuries than you can count. And this has been what—a few days or weeks? I know with magic there are healing spells, but woof, they still feel it all! These folks must be capital-T Tired. And who knows as there are series that feature multiple sets, cycles, or even actual trilogies, maybe that is the set up here, as there are 4 more books to tackle currently and also a prequel short. If you’re looking for solid action and characters surrounded by an urban fantasy setting that’s magically charged, this is a series that can last you. You’ve got my stamp of approval to check it out.
As you know; I grabbed the 1-3 box set on audio, so I decided to roll right on through them all. The narration is fantastic, I really feel like it embodies the character and the first person POV so well, so if you’re into audiobooks, my suggestion is to go this route for sure.
Book 3 brings back Ivy, her devilishly handsome Mage Lord, and a slew of side characters that readers both know and love at this point, and some that we may not too. This one sees Ivy recalled to the faerie in the woods, drawn back by the favor she promised to fulfill in book one. The author layers this over a murder mystery, where multiple shifters are being found dead. Both in, and outside of, their own territory. And how is it that every time tensions are on the rise, just when everything was tenuously held together, that it’s Ivy found right there in the mix of things? She’s charged with hunting down a fae talisman. The failure of which will surely kill her. Yet again, she’s also faced with juggling the possibility of war breaking out and the collapsing of the realms.
I will say in this one Ivy began to really grate on me. She’s brusque, sarcastic, plucky, and sometimes downright aggressive. It often lends nothing to the situation she’s in, too. That’s the name of the game with her, as I learned from two previous books, but wow she makes every professional situation way harder than it should be! And I get that it would be hard as hell to be calm and centered while almost everyone is at least against you (or actively trying to harm you), but I did question her hireability a bit in this one … although clearly it works its magic on the Mage Lord.
Fans will be pleased—read: screaming and raving from the stands and rafters—that Ivy and the Mage Lord do finally step fully into the realm of romance … just as I predicted at the end of my review for book 2. They are navigating the whole boss/subordinate thing, the constant battles and danger around them, and then of course the fact that Ivy refuses to listen, always throwing herself into impossibly mad situations with no regards for her own life, but hey, all that seems to be what mage-man is into. There is a hint there of Ivy being attracted to the mysterious, brooding, seemingly dangerous guy, but I think it’s going WAY far in the opposite direction here.
While unconventional, after three novels I think it’s safe to say that this is actually a sleeper “chosen one” story. Ivy is human. She never showed any signs of being a witch or mage or shifter, and she certainly isn’t faerie. I mean, sure, go grab the family tree or whatever (and this may get further addressed in a later book), but so far the stance has been that she is just human or “normal”. Yet through all of her trials and tribulations, she’s continually proven to be worthy, to not be found wanting, to surmount and surpass the odds and expectations. She may not be the classic farm boy, but this isn’t a straightforward fantasy either. I think that this works, especially in the ever changing landscape the author has set out to create.
I don’t know if this was originally set up to be a trilogy, but this one follows a sort of similar arc as one. Book 2 had a lull in stakes, but this one pulls it all back into what feels like a story-arc showdown. Bigger and badder enemies, including a possibly longtime buried dragon god (?!), and more injuries than you can count. And this has been what—a few days or weeks? I know with magic there are healing spells, but woof, they still feel it all! These folks must be capital-T Tired. And who knows as there are series that feature multiple sets, cycles, or even actual trilogies, maybe that is the set up here, as there are 4 more books to tackle currently and also a prequel short. If you’re looking for solid action and characters surrounded by an urban fantasy setting that’s magically charged, this is a series that can last you. You’ve got my stamp of approval to check it out.
A huge shoutout to Tor Nightfire for the physical ARC! While i did start this one a tad later than I originally intended, it did end up working out as I coincidentally just rewatched The Shining, Doctor Sleep, and Longlegs…look at that luck. The cover is another home run too, close to rivaling my love for American Rapture’s … I happened to love the insides too.
And just a friendly warning on this one, as it really hides a lot in its back blurb, there may be things I spoil here, even unintentionally.
Daniel has had enough. From a failed investigation, a failed marriage, the death of loved ones, it’s safe to say he’s a level or two past burnt out, defeated. But just as he’s about to take off, running once and for all, he’s pulled right back in. His old boss from the FBI, Jack, has appeared in the eleventh hour to tell him it’s happening again. There’s been another murder. Amnesiac kidnappers, skinned victims, a single hair tied around every tongue, and a few clues that lead back to people that just never connect enough to convict. This time, Danny is faced with tackling his trauma and the crimes, and time is dangerously close to running out.
So, like I touch upon above, this one has notes of The Shining, Longlegs, Silence of the Lambs, and even Weapons. Some of which are interwoven with the narrative itself, as DANNY’s mother says he shines, he’s just connected to things differently than others. And while The Shining is more on the nose, this does feel like a supernatural amalgamation of all of these things. Yet, the author does take it all and carve out something all her own. I was first drawn in by these things being mentioned, or things that seemed like nods, but then I was gripped by what’s woven on the page and good god it does not let up.
While this book is deeply imbedded with the supernatural, at its core, it’s still a family drama. And even if you’d argue that, it’s certainly about family trauma. Daniel’s past is blood splattered and speckled, he ran away before he could discuss his divorce, and he lost his adoptive parents too. And this is the kind of person that’s still processing the childhood stuff … memories abound, the past and present often sharing the page with little to differentiate what is and isn’t real. The author toys with readers that way.
And because of the way it all ends up tying together, I particularly liked how in the dark Daniel was. How often he’d question everything on the page. In that way he reminded me of my main detective, Williams, from Welcome to Cemetery. I feel like mysteries on the page sometimes have a way of falling into place … as us writers are literally plotting them out. But this one pauses for those beats to remind us that Daniel is more often than not bewildered but what’s happening.
The ending had notes that reminded me of Doctor Sleep mixed with wendigo-y vibes. I can see the finale working really well for others or rubbing them the wrong way. Personally, I would have liked to see more in the end of how the crime was wrapped up, especially legally, but I do understand that when it comes to the supernatural, “facts” rarely line up. I don’t think it’s so much as to be polarizing in people’s enjoyment, just that there is a hint of design here where not everything is perfect.
This is great for fans of King and The X-Files, fans of supernatural horrors, and readers looking for distinct author voices. Three novels in and Leede is letting fans know she’s writing exactly what she wants to.
A huge shoutout to Tor Nightfire for the physical ARC! While i did start this one a tad later than I originally intended, it did end up working out as I coincidentally just rewatched The Shining, Doctor Sleep, and Longlegs…look at that luck. The cover is another home run too, close to rivaling my love for American Rapture’s … I happened to love the insides too.
And just a friendly warning on this one, as it really hides a lot in its back blurb, there may be things I spoil here, even unintentionally.
Daniel has had enough. From a failed investigation, a failed marriage, the death of loved ones, it’s safe to say he’s a level or two past burnt out, defeated. But just as he’s about to take off, running once and for all, he’s pulled right back in. His old boss from the FBI, Jack, has appeared in the eleventh hour to tell him it’s happening again. There’s been another murder. Amnesiac kidnappers, skinned victims, a single hair tied around every tongue, and a few clues that lead back to people that just never connect enough to convict. This time, Danny is faced with tackling his trauma and the crimes, and time is dangerously close to running out.
So, like I touch upon above, this one has notes of The Shining, Longlegs, Silence of the Lambs, and even Weapons. Some of which are interwoven with the narrative itself, as DANNY’s mother says he shines, he’s just connected to things differently than others. And while The Shining is more on the nose, this does feel like a supernatural amalgamation of all of these things. Yet, the author does take it all and carve out something all her own. I was first drawn in by these things being mentioned, or things that seemed like nods, but then I was gripped by what’s woven on the page and good god it does not let up.
While this book is deeply imbedded with the supernatural, at its core, it’s still a family drama. And even if you’d argue that, it’s certainly about family trauma. Daniel’s past is blood splattered and speckled, he ran away before he could discuss his divorce, and he lost his adoptive parents too. And this is the kind of person that’s still processing the childhood stuff … memories abound, the past and present often sharing the page with little to differentiate what is and isn’t real. The author toys with readers that way.
And because of the way it all ends up tying together, I particularly liked how in the dark Daniel was. How often he’d question everything on the page. In that way he reminded me of my main detective, Williams, from Welcome to Cemetery. I feel like mysteries on the page sometimes have a way of falling into place … as us writers are literally plotting them out. But this one pauses for those beats to remind us that Daniel is more often than not bewildered but what’s happening.
The ending had notes that reminded me of Doctor Sleep mixed with wendigo-y vibes. I can see the finale working really well for others or rubbing them the wrong way. Personally, I would have liked to see more in the end of how the crime was wrapped up, especially legally, but I do understand that when it comes to the supernatural, “facts” rarely line up. I don’t think it’s so much as to be polarizing in people’s enjoyment, just that there is a hint of design here where not everything is perfect.
This is great for fans of King and The X-Files, fans of supernatural horrors, and readers looking for distinct author voices. Three novels in and Leede is letting fans know she’s writing exactly what she wants to.
As I grabbed the 1-3 box set on audio and loved the first, I decided to roll right on through to the next one. The narration is fantastic, I really feel like it embodies the character and the first person POV so well!
Ivy officially agrees to employment with the mages, still butting heads with the overly handsome Mage Lord. And while not so much time has gone by, the anger between fae is heating up again. The half-faeries seem to do their level best to piss off just about everyone, and worse, now there’s some kind of potion that sets them all into an unbreakable rage. To find the source, Ivy will have to go undercover, risking life and limb to once again stop an all-out war.
Right off the bat the mystery and magic starts up all over again. This serum that turns the fae-kind into rabid monsters of themselves was an interesting twist to the story. It allowed the author to play into the half-faeries biggest fear, a mortal life. And as the serum promises immortality, it’s understandable how up in arms they were to get their hands on it. To them it’s a matter of life and death—as they literally view living a normal lifespan to be a curse—and unfortunately some of them might just actually die in the process. I will say that as they are almost all shown to be stuck-up, incredibly full of themselves people, it’s a little hard to care. Ivy shows them zero sympathy too, but she can’t just stand by and do nothing!
To get to the bottom of things, Ivy must infiltrate and investigate from within. She hears that the winner of a faerie-only competition is being given the serum as a prize, so what does any intelligent woman with an overprotective boss do? She enters herself as a fighter. The only problem is her appearance. I enjoyed that the author gave readers some different kinds of magic throughout this one, and that included magically altering Ivy’s appearance. Making her seem like a different person kind of reminded me of M. J. Kuhn’s Among Thieves and her character that is a disguise expert, though here it’s Ivy’s witch roommate and best friend. The actual fights themselves kind of brought to mind Spider-man’s cage fight in the first Raimi movie, but it is virtually a magical fight club. And just remember, nothing is as simple as it seems.
Overall this one does feel kind of side-mission like, and although it seems faerie war is always on the line here, the fight club felt like lower stakes. Which, truly, is not necessarily a bad thing, especially as this one is a second novel and not the finale, but it’s just something to keep in mind. Ivy continues to be snarky, combative, and overall a little unpleasant, but the romantic tension with the Mage Lord will have you smacking your head. If enemies (or reluctant professionals?) to lovers is your thing, I’m telling you it’s incoming! Into book three.
As I grabbed the 1-3 box set on audio and loved the first, I decided to roll right on through to the next one. The narration is fantastic, I really feel like it embodies the character and the first person POV so well!
Ivy officially agrees to employment with the mages, still butting heads with the overly handsome Mage Lord. And while not so much time has gone by, the anger between fae is heating up again. The half-faeries seem to do their level best to piss off just about everyone, and worse, now there’s some kind of potion that sets them all into an unbreakable rage. To find the source, Ivy will have to go undercover, risking life and limb to once again stop an all-out war.
Right off the bat the mystery and magic starts up all over again. This serum that turns the fae-kind into rabid monsters of themselves was an interesting twist to the story. It allowed the author to play into the half-faeries biggest fear, a mortal life. And as the serum promises immortality, it’s understandable how up in arms they were to get their hands on it. To them it’s a matter of life and death—as they literally view living a normal lifespan to be a curse—and unfortunately some of them might just actually die in the process. I will say that as they are almost all shown to be stuck-up, incredibly full of themselves people, it’s a little hard to care. Ivy shows them zero sympathy too, but she can’t just stand by and do nothing!
To get to the bottom of things, Ivy must infiltrate and investigate from within. She hears that the winner of a faerie-only competition is being given the serum as a prize, so what does any intelligent woman with an overprotective boss do? She enters herself as a fighter. The only problem is her appearance. I enjoyed that the author gave readers some different kinds of magic throughout this one, and that included magically altering Ivy’s appearance. Making her seem like a different person kind of reminded me of M. J. Kuhn’s Among Thieves and her character that is a disguise expert, though here it’s Ivy’s witch roommate and best friend. The actual fights themselves kind of brought to mind Spider-man’s cage fight in the first Raimi movie, but it is virtually a magical fight club. And just remember, nothing is as simple as it seems.
Overall this one does feel kind of side-mission like, and although it seems faerie war is always on the line here, the fight club felt like lower stakes. Which, truly, is not necessarily a bad thing, especially as this one is a second novel and not the finale, but it’s just something to keep in mind. Ivy continues to be snarky, combative, and overall a little unpleasant, but the romantic tension with the Mage Lord will have you smacking your head. If enemies (or reluctant professionals?) to lovers is your thing, I’m telling you it’s incoming! Into book three.
I had the opportunity to read this for the Indie Ink Awards, and I just so happened to already own it on Kindle. It was on my list for a while, so I’m glad the awards allowed me to bump it up the TBR chain.
Seth has lived a troubled life. His parents, hell even his entire town, treat him with disdain, like he’s a stain on the community. But what has Seth actually done to deserve this? Then, he finds someone to confide in, someone to love and build a future with. It’s short lived, as she is kidnapped right before his eyes while he is murdered. What follows is a demonic and twisted tale of deceit, malevolence, struggle, and survival. Demon Seth must overcome his nature, one that was painstakingly crafted for an evil purpose. Luckily, there are those that would stand with him to defeat those that carry the blade of judgment.
This was truly a unique novel. The author takes bits and pieces from our histories’ religions and blends them with fantastical fiction to offer readers a wholly new experience. The prose is lofty and lyrical, giving the reader the chance to fall into step with Priore’s sentence work. The action is big (and often) but never falls into feeling like a superhero story, nor is it repetitive.
For me, the flipping back and forth between Seth’s first-person POV and the various other characters spanning through space and millennia, was a little eclectic and took some getting used to. I think, at least at first, it felt like two separate kinds of story competing with each other, with Seth falling somewhat to the back burner at the beginning. With that said, I think the main chunk with Seth being first person was the right choice, as you can center yourself on it over time. The side and supporting characters also offering some of the story’s juiciest bits too…including my favorite which was Virdeus.
To me, Virdeus represents some of the book’s best character work. An ancient man set on a path of magic and longevity. Every time he appears on the page he could deservedly be angry, could be vengeful, but he’s not. He has mastered his loss and emotions over time, and builds something important to the human race. This group—or task force, or dare I saw cult (depending on who’s asking), or secret order—thrives in the background, keeping many of the earth’s evils at bay as they hunt for demons and imps. Personally for me, this is where the novel felt truly alive. I was buzzing with the possibilities of other stories or spinoffs in their world, of limitless enemies felled. And again, this never felt superhero-y or corny. That’s an achievement.
With some overlying threads of Christianity and ancient mythology, this really does read like its own thing. Heaven and Hell exist, but the author has rewritten the code, changed their existence, rearranged even the smallest details you think you know. It could be called urban fantasy, for those needing a label, or it could be labeled a horror if not for its action base, however dark fantasy doesn’t seem to sit too well with me either. Look, it is certainly fantastical, magical, dark as hell, but to me it still felt like something worldly. No, I can’t make that make more sense, but at the moment fantasy just feels strange to attach to it. For those that like to try new things, that like genre blends that are a tad “out there,” this one could be something special.
I had the opportunity to read this for the Indie Ink Awards, and I just so happened to already own it on Kindle. It was on my list for a while, so I’m glad the awards allowed me to bump it up the TBR chain.
Seth has lived a troubled life. His parents, hell even his entire town, treat him with disdain, like he’s a stain on the community. But what has Seth actually done to deserve this? Then, he finds someone to confide in, someone to love and build a future with. It’s short lived, as she is kidnapped right before his eyes while he is murdered. What follows is a demonic and twisted tale of deceit, malevolence, struggle, and survival. Demon Seth must overcome his nature, one that was painstakingly crafted for an evil purpose. Luckily, there are those that would stand with him to defeat those that carry the blade of judgment.
This was truly a unique novel. The author takes bits and pieces from our histories’ religions and blends them with fantastical fiction to offer readers a wholly new experience. The prose is lofty and lyrical, giving the reader the chance to fall into step with Priore’s sentence work. The action is big (and often) but never falls into feeling like a superhero story, nor is it repetitive.
For me, the flipping back and forth between Seth’s first-person POV and the various other characters spanning through space and millennia, was a little eclectic and took some getting used to. I think, at least at first, it felt like two separate kinds of story competing with each other, with Seth falling somewhat to the back burner at the beginning. With that said, I think the main chunk with Seth being first person was the right choice, as you can center yourself on it over time. The side and supporting characters also offering some of the story’s juiciest bits too…including my favorite which was Virdeus.
To me, Virdeus represents some of the book’s best character work. An ancient man set on a path of magic and longevity. Every time he appears on the page he could deservedly be angry, could be vengeful, but he’s not. He has mastered his loss and emotions over time, and builds something important to the human race. This group—or task force, or dare I saw cult (depending on who’s asking), or secret order—thrives in the background, keeping many of the earth’s evils at bay as they hunt for demons and imps. Personally for me, this is where the novel felt truly alive. I was buzzing with the possibilities of other stories or spinoffs in their world, of limitless enemies felled. And again, this never felt superhero-y or corny. That’s an achievement.
With some overlying threads of Christianity and ancient mythology, this really does read like its own thing. Heaven and Hell exist, but the author has rewritten the code, changed their existence, rearranged even the smallest details you think you know. It could be called urban fantasy, for those needing a label, or it could be labeled a horror if not for its action base, however dark fantasy doesn’t seem to sit too well with me either. Look, it is certainly fantastical, magical, dark as hell, but to me it still felt like something worldly. No, I can’t make that make more sense, but at the moment fantasy just feels strange to attach to it. For those that like to try new things, that like genre blends that are a tad “out there,” this one could be something special.
Another read on my ever-present quest to read all my fellow authors in The Book of Spores Anthology. Grabbed books 1-3 box set of The Changeling Chronicles on Audible to help me get another checked off the list. Taking on a whole trilogy without prior knowledge of the story can be tricky, but this is certainly paying off. Luci Christian Bell’s narration is fantastic, bringing Ivy to life in such a compulsively listenable way.
Ivy Lane’s world is built on tenuous peace at best. Since the faerie invasion, there’s been little anyone can do to keep the fighting at bay. And while Ivy may have more reason than others to hate the folks the invasion left behind, she now uses her skills to investigate and stop rouge fae, ensuring their fates are continually intwined. Her magic, which she loosely tells people is from being a witch (although notably coven-less), is anything but, and despite her best efforts, she’s pulled into the deep end of a world of trouble. Human children kidnapped, a shockingly handsome Mage Lord, and a power struggle she wants nothing to do with but simply can’t let lie.
With notes of Carnival Row, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, and The Nevers, this one also reminded me of Mawce Hanlin’s Under the Dragon Moon, in the sense that when urban fantasy is done well, I quite enjoy it. I am not well versed in changelings or faerie stories, I admit, but this one does a great job at setting up the world while still leaving mystery. I felt myself consistently wondering about the goings-on in the world at large, while also not feeling as if I was missing something. There’s a particular talent on display when an author can make you wish for more without coming off as purposefully vague or even misleading. Adams smashes toeing that line. Intrigue over mislead
If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a million times, I LOVE books that mesh or transcend genres. This proves that statement remains true. Fantasy laid over our natural world, a mystery that follows a typical investigation pattern regardless of magic or creatures, the hints of a romance even though the secrets kept are awfully piled high. I think this one is really great. As I type this it also brings to mind Benjamin Aeveryn’s Blackcap (another great genre blend). If genres and tropes have been done, and done again, mixing them up is a fantastic way to freshen things up.
The magic system is an interesting one. There are a multitude of magical creatures, so there are no hard rules here. As Ivy is unsure of her own powers as well, it allows for her to progress with them as the story goes on (and I’d imagine into the following books too). The fact that the world sets up witches, mages, necromancers, spirits, faeries (in the more traditional sense), and even hellhounds, I feel the possibilities are endless! Especially with Ivy doing odd-job investigations, there’s no telling where the series can go.
Ivy is a somewhat brusque, witty character. She certainly shines on with that millennial sarcasm. While that’s not really anything new for this kind of lead, it is crafted spectacularly. The author’s choice for a first person POV really sells it too, as her inner monologue is funny as well as relevant. Ivy is the exact sort of reluctant hero you can see yourself falling in with for a series of magical books.
Perfect for fans of urban fantasy, fantasy, faeries, and mystery. A Jack of all trades, this one.
Another read on my ever-present quest to read all my fellow authors in The Book of Spores Anthology. Grabbed books 1-3 box set of The Changeling Chronicles on Audible to help me get another checked off the list. Taking on a whole trilogy without prior knowledge of the story can be tricky, but this is certainly paying off. Luci Christian Bell’s narration is fantastic, bringing Ivy to life in such a compulsively listenable way.
Ivy Lane’s world is built on tenuous peace at best. Since the faerie invasion, there’s been little anyone can do to keep the fighting at bay. And while Ivy may have more reason than others to hate the folks the invasion left behind, she now uses her skills to investigate and stop rouge fae, ensuring their fates are continually intwined. Her magic, which she loosely tells people is from being a witch (although notably coven-less), is anything but, and despite her best efforts, she’s pulled into the deep end of a world of trouble. Human children kidnapped, a shockingly handsome Mage Lord, and a power struggle she wants nothing to do with but simply can’t let lie.
With notes of Carnival Row, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, and The Nevers, this one also reminded me of Mawce Hanlin’s Under the Dragon Moon, in the sense that when urban fantasy is done well, I quite enjoy it. I am not well versed in changelings or faerie stories, I admit, but this one does a great job at setting up the world while still leaving mystery. I felt myself consistently wondering about the goings-on in the world at large, while also not feeling as if I was missing something. There’s a particular talent on display when an author can make you wish for more without coming off as purposefully vague or even misleading. Adams smashes toeing that line. Intrigue over mislead
If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a million times, I LOVE books that mesh or transcend genres. This proves that statement remains true. Fantasy laid over our natural world, a mystery that follows a typical investigation pattern regardless of magic or creatures, the hints of a romance even though the secrets kept are awfully piled high. I think this one is really great. As I type this it also brings to mind Benjamin Aeveryn’s Blackcap (another great genre blend). If genres and tropes have been done, and done again, mixing them up is a fantastic way to freshen things up.
The magic system is an interesting one. There are a multitude of magical creatures, so there are no hard rules here. As Ivy is unsure of her own powers as well, it allows for her to progress with them as the story goes on (and I’d imagine into the following books too). The fact that the world sets up witches, mages, necromancers, spirits, faeries (in the more traditional sense), and even hellhounds, I feel the possibilities are endless! Especially with Ivy doing odd-job investigations, there’s no telling where the series can go.
Ivy is a somewhat brusque, witty character. She certainly shines on with that millennial sarcasm. While that’s not really anything new for this kind of lead, it is crafted spectacularly. The author’s choice for a first person POV really sells it too, as her inner monologue is funny as well as relevant. Ivy is the exact sort of reluctant hero you can see yourself falling in with for a series of magical books.
Perfect for fans of urban fantasy, fantasy, faeries, and mystery. A Jack of all trades, this one.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the audio review copy! I was intrigued by the cover and wanted to give the author another read. I thought the narration by Andy Stevenson was really solid. It was creepy in a sort of banal kind of way.
This one surprised me! It was compulsively listenable and totally gripping even with there being zero feel-good emotions here on any level. It’s dark, obsessive, and super creepy.
Bob is the local courier. After the loss of his shop, he’s just sort of bumbling along. Daily life brings little joy, and there’s little to differentiate between separate days. That is until the day he brings a particular package with him on delivery. Until the day he finally sees you. A woman in need, an aggressive partner, and no end in sight. What is Bob supposed to do, let it go? But what would she do without him, her savior?
The first person POV worked wonderfully, tactfully placing readers into the mind of a truly troubled individual. From the driver’s seat to sickening fantasies, Bob is a character that will disgust you as much as he will intrigue you. The author does a great job of showcasing how curiosity can turn to fascination, from infatuation to unbreakable obsession. How dangerous that kind of feeling can be, and how obsession can turn into something darker still. From internal rationalization, social media stalking and catfishing, inner-circle infiltration, and even murder, the author gives an unrelenting tale that even has an uber satisfying twist. I for one, did not see it coming.
The inner-monologuing style of the story, where he is projecting this sort of storyteller take on explaining how he’s a savior, gave the reader the feeling of being right there with Bob, and while readers may not turn obsessive with him, it made for an interesting read. You won’t root for him, and shouldn’t, but you have to know what will happen next. A great psychological thriller.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the audio review copy! I was intrigued by the cover and wanted to give the author another read. I thought the narration by Andy Stevenson was really solid. It was creepy in a sort of banal kind of way.
This one surprised me! It was compulsively listenable and totally gripping even with there being zero feel-good emotions here on any level. It’s dark, obsessive, and super creepy.
Bob is the local courier. After the loss of his shop, he’s just sort of bumbling along. Daily life brings little joy, and there’s little to differentiate between separate days. That is until the day he brings a particular package with him on delivery. Until the day he finally sees you. A woman in need, an aggressive partner, and no end in sight. What is Bob supposed to do, let it go? But what would she do without him, her savior?
The first person POV worked wonderfully, tactfully placing readers into the mind of a truly troubled individual. From the driver’s seat to sickening fantasies, Bob is a character that will disgust you as much as he will intrigue you. The author does a great job of showcasing how curiosity can turn to fascination, from infatuation to unbreakable obsession. How dangerous that kind of feeling can be, and how obsession can turn into something darker still. From internal rationalization, social media stalking and catfishing, inner-circle infiltration, and even murder, the author gives an unrelenting tale that even has an uber satisfying twist. I for one, did not see it coming.
The inner-monologuing style of the story, where he is projecting this sort of storyteller take on explaining how he’s a savior, gave the reader the feeling of being right there with Bob, and while readers may not turn obsessive with him, it made for an interesting read. You won’t root for him, and shouldn’t, but you have to know what will happen next. A great psychological thriller.
I happened to see this was on sale on Audible, and I just couldn’t pass it up. As a big fan of Dark Bloom I was excited for more. The narration by Lauren Campbell is solid, and I think the character of Tess was brought to life very well.
Tess’ only plan is to take a relaxing weekend away from absolutely everything. No work emails and calls, no fuss, no real-world anything at all. But what she finds is anything but a reprieve. Lost on the first hike, which was supposed to be a simple trail, and with next to no actual outdoor experience, Tess feels almost lucky when she bumps into Aiden. And while he seems lost too, at least she’s no longer out in the woods alone. With his help, she manages to find her rented cabin, but there’s no end in sight to the horrors.
This one is certainly not for everyone. Unreliable narration and horrors popping off the page, just for them to disappear a chapter later or melt into something worse, this has all the ingredients for a folkloric, depressive nosedive into despair. Notes of this reminded me of the latest iteration of IT and Welcome to Derry, how Pennywise will alter what his victims see, feel and hear. The entity in these woods is after some similar mind-melting horrors too.
There is an air that nothing can be believed, that nothing is real, or that nothing happening actually is happening, that usually doesn’t really work for me in stories or movies, but this time it does. It double, triple, even quadruples down on the level of exhaustion and burn out Tess is struggling with. It is a blend of depression and being at your wits end that feels like you have to question what exactly she’s fighting so hard for. Perseverance or just general persistence of life. It reminded me of what I was trying to achieve with my own short, ‘When All I Feel is Pain’ from Tales From Cemetery. And while it’s not up to me to say if I was successful, I certainly think Molly is. Bleak yet strong. Depressive yet persevering. This is not just some hollow novella, but the good guys can’t always be in control, can’t always win.
I happened to see this was on sale on Audible, and I just couldn’t pass it up. As a big fan of Dark Bloom I was excited for more. The narration by Lauren Campbell is solid, and I think the character of Tess was brought to life very well.
Tess’ only plan is to take a relaxing weekend away from absolutely everything. No work emails and calls, no fuss, no real-world anything at all. But what she finds is anything but a reprieve. Lost on the first hike, which was supposed to be a simple trail, and with next to no actual outdoor experience, Tess feels almost lucky when she bumps into Aiden. And while he seems lost too, at least she’s no longer out in the woods alone. With his help, she manages to find her rented cabin, but there’s no end in sight to the horrors.
This one is certainly not for everyone. Unreliable narration and horrors popping off the page, just for them to disappear a chapter later or melt into something worse, this has all the ingredients for a folkloric, depressive nosedive into despair. Notes of this reminded me of the latest iteration of IT and Welcome to Derry, how Pennywise will alter what his victims see, feel and hear. The entity in these woods is after some similar mind-melting horrors too.
There is an air that nothing can be believed, that nothing is real, or that nothing happening actually is happening, that usually doesn’t really work for me in stories or movies, but this time it does. It double, triple, even quadruples down on the level of exhaustion and burn out Tess is struggling with. It is a blend of depression and being at your wits end that feels like you have to question what exactly she’s fighting so hard for. Perseverance or just general persistence of life. It reminded me of what I was trying to achieve with my own short, ‘When All I Feel is Pain’ from Tales From Cemetery. And while it’s not up to me to say if I was successful, I certainly think Molly is. Bleak yet strong. Depressive yet persevering. This is not just some hollow novella, but the good guys can’t always be in control, can’t always win.
Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan for the audio ARC! I really like the cover for this one and the blurb relating anything culty to R. L. Stine is an instant yes for me. This didn’t disappoint. The audio by Jesse Vilinksy was fantastic. It really felt like she embodied Lindsay.
Lindsay isn’t your average troubled kid. With parents as emotionally cold as an iceberg, she has managed to get kicked out of just about everything ever, including expulsion from multiple schools. She cuts classes, smokes to get attention, and never stays anywhere long enough to even begin to make friends. Her parents are rich, seeming to believe that money is enough to hush things up and get her to graduation, when all she really desires is to be seen. Instead, they decide they’ve had enough of her antics and ship her off to stay the summer with her uncle and aunt. If the family estrangement isn’t weird enough, it’s also a kind of teenage reform house…and more importantly, where the hell is her uncle?
This novel does well to toe the line between reading almost new adult, while definitely having the air of a young adult story with its chosen POV. Some of the themes and language are dark, and the crimes and horror are pretty violent at times too. It also has a pretty positive commentary on sexuality and being perceived as different that I quite liked. There has been a somewhat recent push for young adult books to be more tame and “clean” but this one does the opposite. I think both are valid and deserve to exist, the same way no two kids are alike. If you are a jewish bisexual girl drummer that just wants love and attention from her parents, then you deserve to see it exist on the page too.
This is also a pretty well handled showing of how Christianity, bible verses more specifically, can be weaponized in a controlling manner. How the idea of God’s eternal glory can be tainted into something far from bountiful…and that’s not even really the cult stuff! Phin and Cass, these sort of ethereal, The Shining-esque twins, were really creepy to me. From their too-helpful nature to their old-timey accents that made me think of Leo in The Great Gatsby, I wanted no part of them. Of course they would live on an island that can only be reached during low tide, or via boat. Nothing strange going on there at all…
The cast of characters that are introduced as this sort of halfway house for troubled kids kids(?) were really enjoyable. With one of them being sent there for being gay and another for being trans, I felt it really gave the setting an eerie feeling—like even before anything happens it all felt like a sham. And of course the fact that they all turn out to be perfectly capable, caring, and helpful teens really tied together the entire arc for Lindsay. Found family that pulls on the heartstrings. If you’ve ever read Stine and desired a little more creepiness and a tad more character depth, this one might work perfectly for you!
Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan for the audio ARC! I really like the cover for this one and the blurb relating anything culty to R. L. Stine is an instant yes for me. This didn’t disappoint. The audio by Jesse Vilinksy was fantastic. It really felt like she embodied Lindsay.
Lindsay isn’t your average troubled kid. With parents as emotionally cold as an iceberg, she has managed to get kicked out of just about everything ever, including expulsion from multiple schools. She cuts classes, smokes to get attention, and never stays anywhere long enough to even begin to make friends. Her parents are rich, seeming to believe that money is enough to hush things up and get her to graduation, when all she really desires is to be seen. Instead, they decide they’ve had enough of her antics and ship her off to stay the summer with her uncle and aunt. If the family estrangement isn’t weird enough, it’s also a kind of teenage reform house…and more importantly, where the hell is her uncle?
This novel does well to toe the line between reading almost new adult, while definitely having the air of a young adult story with its chosen POV. Some of the themes and language are dark, and the crimes and horror are pretty violent at times too. It also has a pretty positive commentary on sexuality and being perceived as different that I quite liked. There has been a somewhat recent push for young adult books to be more tame and “clean” but this one does the opposite. I think both are valid and deserve to exist, the same way no two kids are alike. If you are a jewish bisexual girl drummer that just wants love and attention from her parents, then you deserve to see it exist on the page too.
This is also a pretty well handled showing of how Christianity, bible verses more specifically, can be weaponized in a controlling manner. How the idea of God’s eternal glory can be tainted into something far from bountiful…and that’s not even really the cult stuff! Phin and Cass, these sort of ethereal, The Shining-esque twins, were really creepy to me. From their too-helpful nature to their old-timey accents that made me think of Leo in The Great Gatsby, I wanted no part of them. Of course they would live on an island that can only be reached during low tide, or via boat. Nothing strange going on there at all…
The cast of characters that are introduced as this sort of halfway house for troubled kids kids(?) were really enjoyable. With one of them being sent there for being gay and another for being trans, I felt it really gave the setting an eerie feeling—like even before anything happens it all felt like a sham. And of course the fact that they all turn out to be perfectly capable, caring, and helpful teens really tied together the entire arc for Lindsay. Found family that pulls on the heartstrings. If you’ve ever read Stine and desired a little more creepiness and a tad more character depth, this one might work perfectly for you!