Mine, By Delilah S. Dawson ~ 4.0 Stars

Tags

Juvenile Fiction, Mystery, Supernatural Fiction, Suspense

Thanks to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: September 7th, 2021

256 Pages

Synopsis: A twisty, terrifying ghost story about twelve-year-old Lily, her creepy new home in Florida, and the territorial ghost of the young girl who lived there before her.

Lily’s new house is a real nightmare. . . .

Lily Horne is a drama queen. It’s helped her rise to stardom in the school play, but it’s also landed her in trouble. Her parents warn her that Florida has to be different. It’s a fresh start. No theatrics. But this time, the drama is coming for her.

The Hornes’ new house is awful. The pool is full of slime, the dock is rotten, and the swamp creeps closer every day. But worst of all, the house isn’t empty . . . it’s packed full of trash, memories, and, Lily begins to fear, the ghost of the girl who lived there before her.

And whatever is waiting in the shadows wants to come out to play. (Goodreads)

Mine is a spooky middle grade reader that sent shivers up my spine, so I have no doubt it will do the same with its targeted audience.

The lovely Lily is a drama queen after my own heart. Unlike her parents, I absolutely loved her theatrics and found her thoroughly engaging and likable. For most of the book I couldn’t understand her parents’ attitude toward her, particularly her father’s. It’s hinted that she’s done something terrible that results in him losing his job, but what happened isn’t revealed until the end of the book, and even then I still was left with a few questions. Thankfully their relationship is on the mend by the end of the book.

I loved the central ghost story and the creepy setting which was wonderfully detailed. The way in which Lily winds up bringing the haunting to a satisfying conclusion made me love her even more as she displayed courage and compassion.

Overall, Mine is an entertaining page-turner with just enough scares that will appeal to a wide audience of upper elementary and middle grade readers who are looking for a quick read that will make them think twice before turning out the lights!

 

A Terrible Fall of Angels (Zaniel Havelock #1), By Laurell K. Hamilton ~ 4.5 Stars

Tags

Adult Fiction, LGBTQ, Mystery, Religion, Romance, Supernatural Fiction, Suspense, Urban Fantasy

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest honest review.

Release Date: August 17th, 2021

560 Pages

Synopsis: Angels walk among us, but so do other unearthly beings in this brand new series by #1 New York Times Bestselling author Laurell K. Hamilton.

Meet Detective Zaniel Havelock, a man with the special ability to communicate directly with angels. A former trained Angel speaker, he devoted his life to serving both the celestial beings and his fellow humans with his gift, but a terrible betrayal compelled him to leave that life behind. Now he’s a cop who is still working on the side of angels. But where there are angels, there are also demons. There’s no question that there’s evil at work when he’s called in to examine the murder scene of a college student—but is it just the evil that one human being can do to another, or is it something more? When demonic possession is a possibility, even angelic protection can only go so far. The race is on to stop a killer before he finds his next victim, as Zaniel is forced to confront his own very personal demons, and the past he never truly left behind.

The first in a new series from the author of the Anita Blake and Merry Gentry series. (Goodreads)

Way back in 1993 a friend recommended the first Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter book, Guilty Pleasures, and I was immediately hooked. That is until several books later when the series grew more and more into soft porn featuring way too many orgies, which turned me off completely. I haven’t been tempted to pick up a Laurell K. Hamilton book for years, but then I began hearing some rumors about this new series she was working on about angels, and even better, early reviews were overwhelmingly positive. So, I took a deep breath, contacted the publisher and requested an eARC, and I’m thrilled to say after reading A Terrible Fall of Angels that LKH is BACK!

My main critique concerns the massive amount of information and world building relayed here, especially in the first half of the book. Added into this heady mix is the introduction to a large cast of characters. Needless to say it slows things down a little as you acclimate yourself to a world with deities, angels, demons, and other magical and supernatural creatures. But it’s worth reading through everything, because in my opinion, this storyline and its disparate cast of characters are better than even the early Anita Blake books. Zaniel is a fabulous hero, who as a creation of Hamilton is of course a kick-ass gorgeous tough guy, but he’s got a sweet vulnerable side as well. While he’s dealing with angels and demons, etc… he’s also trying to save his marriage and reunite with his estranged wife Reggie and three-year-old son. Although some of Zaniel’s background is revealed, including a little of his childhood in the cultish College of Angels and what caused him to leave it, I’m looking forward to learning even more in subsequent novels. The same is true of all the characters. There are so many of them and while we get a brief introduction to each and their backgrounds (Zaniel’s lieutenant is a voodoo priest, another character is a wiccan priestess and so on), I’m craving more.

The main focus of this first book though is setting up this fantastical world and balancing that with an intriguing, exciting, and at times, somewhat gruesome mystery involving a demon serial killer. Despite some of the less action-filled parts of the book, I was completely enthralled and found myself increasingly reluctant to pull myself away when real life intruded. Despite it being well over 500 pages, I easily finished this in two days and was a tad disappointed when I came to the end. I am excitedly looking forward to the second book.

For readers who, like me, gave up on Hamilton due to the overwhelming sexcapades that eclipsed everything else in her books, I urge you to give her another chance and pick up A Terrible Fall of Angels. For anyone new to her storytelling, this is a wonderful and imaginative introduction to a world filled with wondrous beings, where it’s not always discernible exactly which side is the right one. I will be shocked if this doesn’t make it to the top of the bestseller lists.

 

What Lives In the Woods, By Lindsay Currie ~ 5.0 Stars

Tags

Middle School Fiction, Mystery, Supernatural Fiction, Suspense

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Young Readers for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: September 14th, 2021

320 Pages

Synopsis: Welcome to the decrepit Woodmoor Manor…where something in the woods is always watching. From the author of Scritch Scratch comes a chilling middle grade story about a creepy mansion and sinister creatures in the woods

All Ginny Anderson wants from her summer is to relax. But when Ginny’s father—a respected restoration expert in Chicago—surprises the family with a month-long trip to Michigan, everything changes. They aren’t staying in a hotel like most families would. No, they’re staying in a mansion. A twenty-six room, century-old building surrounded by dense forest. Woodmoor Manor.

Locals claim the surrounding woods are inhabited by mutated creatures that escaped a mad scientist over a hundred years ago. And some say campers routinely disappear never to be seen again.

When the creaky floors and shadowy corners of the mansion seem to take on a life of their own, Ginny uncovers the wildest mystery of all: there’s more than one legend roaming Saugatuck, Michigan, and they definitely aren’t after campers.

They’re after her. (Goodreads)

What Lives in the Woods may be a middle grade book, but it’s surprisingly scary, even without blood and gore. Twelve-year-old Ginny is a wonderful protagonist that readers will relate to. An Agatha Christie enthusiast, who’s determined to become a world renowned author herself, she’s smart, feisty, and while independent, isn’t afraid to ask for help. Thankfully she has her fourteen-year-old brother Leo, and Will, a fellow book enthusiast and summer resident of Saugatuck. The three of them make quite the investigative team who not only solve the mystery of what’s haunting Woodmoor Manor, but also come up with a creative and compassionate solution. I loved the relationship between Ginny and Leo. They may needle each other incessantly, but they’re also there for one another. The friendship with a slight blush of romance that grows between Ginny and Will is sweet and believable, and I enjoyed the trust they had in each other. The setting is very detailed and atmospheric with some delightfully spooky touches like the faceless mannequin in Ginny’s room, the creepy ballroom, and the mysterious ticking of and unseen clock that only Ginny can hear. The plot itself puts a creative spin on the haunted house trope, especially with the twist regarding who is behind the haunting and what their motives are. The conclusion wraps the current mystery up while leaving the door open for a sequel. Which brings me to my one and only criticism, not with the book, but with the title and premise. While there’s a legend of creepy creatures that live in the woods surrounding Woodmoor, that’s discussed, they’re not the focus of this story. I have a feeling they’ll be the focus of the the sequel, but they’re not here. Therefore I find the title, cover, and book description misleading. You may think I’m being fussy, but as a reader who takes these three things into consideration first, before deciding on a book, they matter. Obviously I’m not downgrading my rating because the story itself is perfection. It’s definitely one that if I weren’t retired, I’d be scooping up for my library’s collection. 

The Monarchs (The Ravens #2), By Kass Morgan and Danielle Paige ~ 4.0 Stars

Tags

Mystery, Romance, Supernatural Fiction, Suspense, YA Fiction

Thanks to NetGalley and HMH Books for Young Readers for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: January 11th, 2022

448 Pages

Synopsis: In this thrilling conclusion to New York Times best-selling authors Kass Morgan and Danielle Paige’s The Ravens, the sorority witches are tested when a rival threatens to usurp their place on campus and the forces of hell come knocking on their door.

The sorority girls at Kappa Rho Nu—the Ravens—are determined to restore balance to the world. After destroying an ancient talisman and barely saving their sorority in the process, they’ll go to any lengths to keep their secret as Westerly’s most powerful coven of witches.

Scarlett Winter, a legacy Raven, has finally gotten what she’s always wanted: the Kappa Rho Nu presidency. After the disaster that killed the sorority’s last president, Scarlett is determined that no sister will fall under the sway of wicked magic ever again. But the powers of the presidency have their own pitfalls—and Scarlett has big shoes to fill.

Vivi Devereaux, a freshman, finally knows what it feels like to belong. For the first time ever, she’s got it all: her Kappa Rho Nu sisters and a sweet (and hot) boyfriend. When Scarlett assigns Vivi the coveted role of social chair, Vivi is determined to live up to her Big’s expectations—even if that means dabbling in a new form of magic.

Unbeknownst to the Ravens, new rivals and ancient evils lurk on Westerly’s campus. With Kappa Rho Nu’s future on their shoulders and their pasts still haunting them, will Scarlett and Vivi be able to save their sisterhood once again? (Goodreads)

The Monarchs has a couple of minor hiccups, but is an ultimately entertaining and satisfying conclusion to The Ravens duology.

Picking up where The Ravens left off, both Scarlett and Vivi are still dealing with the aftershocks of the shocking betrayal by one of their friends which resulted in two deaths. Adding to the trauma of this are the self-doubts that continue to plague them. Scarlett is desperately trying to live up to her family’s legacy, and Vivi is trying to prove that she is a powerful witch in her own right. Unfortunately, it’s both girls’ insecurities that almost bring down their entire sisterhood.

In The Ravens, it was Scarlett who I initially had trouble connecting with due to her cold and stand-offish personality. In the end that turned out to be a mask she wore in public in order to hide her vulnerability. In this sequel I liked her much more as she struggles to prove herself worthy as the president and protector of Kappa Rho Nu. Her romance with Jackson definitely hits a rough patch due to actions she took at the end of the first book, as well as from circumstances beyond her control, but in the end, while they don’t exactly walk off into the sunset together, there’s a rapprochement between the two of them which leads one to hope that they will stay together.

Vivi, for me, was the biggest disappointment. I loved her in the opening book, but here she just annoyed me terribly as she repeatedly made immature and frankly, idiotic decisions. I tried to have sympathy for her as she was dealing with multiple issues, but by the time I had reached the halfway point, I was ready to wash my hands of her. The romance between her and Mason, while initially strong, winds up fizzling into the background here as Vivi pushes him aside in her quest to prove herself. Thankfully she does redeem herself in the end, but overall she’s the weakest link in the story.

The plot itself does an excellent job at further developing this magical world, and introduces a new although somewhat predictable villain. Once again, there are no easy way outs, and sacrifices have to be made in order to defeat this new evil. The story unfolds at a brisk pace from the very beginning to the conclusion that happily leaves no loose ends.

There’s no doubt in my mind that The Monarchs will please readers who enjoyed The Ravens. It’s definitely not a standalone though, so if you’re interested in reading this, I advise you pick up its predecessor first. Otherwise, after reading and enjoying both books in this duology, I’m hoping this isn’t the last collaboration between Kass Morgan and Danielle Paige as I feel they make a formidable writing team.

 

The Book of Accidents, By Chuck Wendig ~ 5.0 Stars

Tags

Adult Fiction, Child Abuse, Childhood Trauma, Horror, Science Fiction, Serial Killers, Social Issues, Supernatural Fiction

Thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey Books for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: July 20th, 2021

544 Pages

Synopsis: A family returns to their hometown—and to the dark past that haunts them still—in this masterpiece of literary horror by the New York Times bestselling author of Wanderers

Long ago, Nathan lived in a house in the country with his abusive father—and has never told his family what happened there.

Long ago, Maddie was a little girl making dolls in her bedroom when she saw something she shouldn’t have—and is trying to remember that lost trauma by making haunting sculptures.

Long ago, something sinister, something hungry, walked in the tunnels and the mountains and the coal mines of their hometown in rural Pennsylvania.

Now, Nate and Maddie Graves are married, and they have moved back to their hometown with their son, Oliver.

And now what happened long ago is happening again . . . and it is happening to Oliver. He meets a strange boy who becomes his best friend, a boy with secrets of his own and a taste for dark magic.

This dark magic puts them at the heart of a battle of good versus evil and a fight for the soul of the family—and perhaps for all of the world. But the Graves family has a secret weapon in this battle: their love for one another. (Goodreads)

I’m thrilled to say my 2021 winning streak of scoring outstanding horror books continues with Chuck Wendig’s The Book of Accidents. There are a lot of reviewers comparing this to classic Stephen King, and they’re not wrong. The Book of Accidents shares many elements from vintage King books; strong, complex characters each hiding secrets and battling inner demons, a creative and genre-defying storyline, heart-pounding action, and thought-provoking social commentary.  But make no mistake, it stands entirely on its own merits.

The majority of the story revolves around Nate, Maddie, and their teenage son Oliver, whose empathetic nature is far more advanced than his loving parents realize. Maddie is a strong, bad-ass sculptor, whose colorful language is startling yet funny at the same time. She has a fierce love and devotion for her son and husband and will do anything to protect them. And Nate, well, he’s a survivor of an abusive father, and he’s still dealing with the after effects from his traumatic childhood. They all form a tight family unit which is what they need to fight the unknown evil that’s facing them. 

The story itself is gripping with shocking twists that I didn’t see coming. It’s over 500 pages, yet it’s so tightly written that my full attention was completely engaged from the moment I started reading. Horror, science fiction, and the supernatural are all skillfully blended with social issues like child abuse and toxic masculinity. 

In the end, The Book of Accidents is a magnificent tour de force about the power of love and the triumph of good over evil. In a year that’s giving horror fans several magnificent reads, I guarantee this will be on the top of many readers’ favorites lists. If you enjoy these genres I highly recommend you either preorder this now, or put in a request to your library!

The Dead and the Dark, By Courtney Gould ~ 4.5 Stars

Tags

Coping With Loss and Grief, Homophobia, LGBTQ, Mystery, Small Towns, Supernatural Fiction, Suspense, YA Fiction

Thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: August 3rd, 2021

352 Pages

Synopsis: Courtney Gould’s thrilling debut, The Dead and the Dark, is about the things that lurk in dark corners, the parts of you that can’t remain hidden, and about finding home in places—and people—you didn’t expect.

Something is wrong in Snakebite, Oregon. Teenagers are disappearing, some turning up dead, the weather isn’t normal, and all fingers point to TV’s most popular ghost hunters who have just returned to town. Logan Ortiz-Woodley, daughter of TV’s  ParaSpectors, has never been to Snakebite before, but the moment she and her dads arrive, she starts to get the feeling that there’s more secrets buried here than they originally let on.

Ashley Barton’s boyfriend was the first teen to go missing, and she’s felt his presence ever since. But now that the Ortiz-Woodleys are in town, his ghost is following her and the only person Ashley can trust is the mysterious Logan. When Ashley and Logan team up to figure out who—or what—is haunting Snakebite, their investigation reveals truths about the town, their families, and themselves, that neither of them are ready for. As the danger intensifies, they realize that their growing feelings for each other could be a light in the darkness. (Goodreads)

The Dead and the Dark is a thoroughly creepy tale that more than lives up to its title. The first few pages immediately captured my attention and wouldn’t let go until I reached the end. This is both a character and plot driven novel, and both are equally well done. In addition to the supernatural and mystery elements is a thoughtful exploration of: homophobia, grief, and loneliness.

While much of the book is indeed very dark, there are some light-hearted moments centered around Logan and her witty snark. She’s the type of character that readers are automatically drawn to like moths to a flame. She hides her vulnerability and insecurity behind a veil of sarcasm that’s completely relatable. She’s intensely loyal to those she cares about, yet is also determined to do the right thing for her. Ashley initially comes off a little flatter, but soon you discover she has quite a bit of hidden depth. The pairing of her with Logan is perfect as they bring out the best in one another.

Equally interesting is the relationship between Logan’s two dads, Alejo and Brandon, and how they went from being strangers despite  growing up in a tiny town, to falling in love and becoming ghost hunters. It’s also compelling how despite them leaving Snakebite, they’re still tied to it for both supernatural and real world reasons.

The mystery element was a tad predictable, but honestly, with all the other positives this book offers, including a fantastic conclusion, that’s a very minor complaint. Overall, The Dead and the Dark is an exciting debut from Courtney Gould that has me looking forward to seeing what her next book will be.

Spells Trouble (Sisters of Salem #1), By P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast ~ 2.0 Stars

Tags

LGBTQ, Supernatural Fiction, Suspense, YA Fiction

Thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: May 25th, 2021

320 Pages

Synopsis: Double double, twins spell trouble…

Hunter and Mercy Goode are twin witches, direct descendants of the founder of their town of Goodeville. As their ancestors have done before them, it is now time for the twins learn what it means to be Gatekeepers—the protectors of the gates to different underworlds, ancient portals between their world and realms where mythology rules an nightmares come to life.

When their mother becomes the first victim in a string of murders, the devastated sisters vow to avenge her death. But it will take more than magic to rein in the powerful mythological monsters who’ve infected their peaceful town.

Now Hunter and Mercy must come together and accept their destiny or risk being separated for good. (Goodreads)

I’ve enjoyed previous books by this mother-daughter duo, including their New York Times bestselling House of Night series, and having lived in Danvers, MA, aka Salem Village most of my life, I’m always interested in books that include the Salem Witchcraft Trials as a backdrop. In the case of Spells Trouble, I liked the plot and thought it was very creatively done, however, the dialogue was surprisingly flat and worse, while a good portion of the book reads like a middle grade novel, there’s language and sexual scenes that are definitely geared more for older teens. This leaves me at a loss as to who I’d recommend this to even if I were so inclined. While I’m still a fan of P.C. and Kristin Cast, in my opinion Spells Trouble isn’t one of their better books, and I don’t believe I’ll be continuing with the series.

The Library of the Dead ( Edinburgh Nights, #1) By T.L. Huchu ~ 4.0 Stars

Tags

Diversity, Edinburgh, Humor, Mystery, Post-Apocalyptic Fiction, Supernatural Fiction, Suspense, Urban Fantasy, YA Fiction

Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Books for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: June 1st, 2021

336 Pages

Synopsis: “Sixth Sense” meets “Stranger Things” in T.L. Huchu’s “The Library of the Dead,” a sharp, contemporary fantasy, following a precocious and cynical teen as she explores the shadowy, magical underside of modern Edinburgh.

When a child goes missing in Edinburgh’s darkest streets, young Ropa investigates. She’ll need to call on Zimbabwean magic as well as her Scottish pragmatism to hunt down clues. But as shadows lengthen, will the hunter become the hunter?

When ghosts talk, she will listen…

Ropa dropped out of school to become a ghostalker. Now she speaks to Edinburgh’s dead, carrying messages to the living. A girl’s gotta earn a living, and it seems harmless enough. Until, that is, the dead whisper someone’s bewitching children—leaving them husks, empty of joy and life. It’s on Ropa’s patch, so she feels honor-bound to investigate. But what she learns will change her world.

She’ll dice with death (not part of her life plan…), discovering an occult library and a taste for hidden magic. She’ll also experience dark times. For Edinburgh hides a wealth of secrets, and Ropa’s gonna hunt them all down. (Goodreads)

The Library of the Dead didn’t succeed in hooking me until I was almost 100 pages in, but once I passed that point, I couldn’t stop reading.

There’s a lot going on in this post-apocalyptic Edinburgh, that I think is slightly in the future. The exact time period is never really made clear, but given the technology and references to the not too distant past, I’m guessing it’s not that many years ahead of 2021. There’s been an unknown “Catastrophe” which has definitely made a huge impact, but it’s never explained what happened. And characters keep referring to the “King” which likewise remained a mystery throughout the story. I’m assuming more information will be given in subsequent books.

This first book’s focus is on fifteen-year-old Ropa, with her green dreadlocks, black lipstick, and um, extremely colorful language. Ropa is also half Zimbabwean and half Scottish, which is an intriguing mix. She’s smart, sarcastic, has a pet fox and can outswear a sailor, sometimes to hilarious effect. Outwardly, she’s a tough cookie and is stubborn as well as courageous. She determinedly takes care of her Nan, who is blind and has diabetes, and makes sure her younger sister goes to school. Once she’s introduced into the world of the Library, by her friend Jomo, she opens her heart more and lets in new friends. The secondary characters are interesting and include Priya, a young herbologist and healer who is confined to a wheelchair due to a spinal injury.

The world building is intriguing, but as I said, incomplete. Thankfully, knowing that this is the beginning of a series, ultimately made this more tantalizing than annoying for the most part. I loved the blend of magic, science, and supernatural, which added to my eagerness for more. Except for the first 1/3 of the book, the rest is extremely fast-paced and the ending wrapped up the mystery neatly.

The Library of the Dead is a promising beginning to Huchu’s Edinburgh Nights series. It’s a unique urban fantasy that stands out from other books of the genre, with a colorful heroine I guarantee readers will love. While Ropa is only fifteen, because of some of the darker imagery and at times sexually risqué language, I’d recommend this for older teens and adults. Otherwise, it’s a highly entertaining read, and I can’t wait for the next book!

The Drowning Kind, By Jennifer McMahon ~ 4.0 Stars

Tags

Adult Fiction, Bipolar Disorder, Contemporary Fiction, Historical Fiction, Mystery, Substance Abuse, Supernatural Fiction, Suspense

Thanks to NetGalley and Gallery/Scout Press for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: April 6th, 2021

336 Pages

Synopsis: Be careful what you wish for.

When social worker Jax receive nine missed calls from her sister, Lexie, she assumes it’s just one of her sister’s episodes. Manic and increasingly out of touch with reality, Lexie has pushed  Jax away for over a year. But the next day, Lexie is dead: drowned in the pool at their grandmother’s estate. When Jax arrives at the house to go through her sister’s things, she learns Lexie was researching the history of their family and the property. As she dives deeper into the research herself, she discovers the land holds a far darker past than she ever could have imagined.

In 1929, thirty-seven-year-old newlywed Ethel Monroe hopes desperately for a baby. In an effort to distract her, her husband whisks her away on a trip to Vermont, where a natural spring is showcased by the newest and most modern hotel in the Northeast. Once there, Ethel learns the water is rumored to grant wishes, never suspecting the spring takes in equal measure to what it gives. (Goodreads)

I started The Drowning Kind about 2:00 p.m and after a brief break for supper found myself at the end, a scant four hours later. This is the type of book that grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go. 

The storyline alternates between Ethel in 1929, and Jax in 2019. The common denominator are the sinister Springs which are rumored to grant wishes, but in return, to take something of equal value. As the story progresses, the two timelines are drawn inexorably closer. Through the main characters, the reader learns the complex history of the sinister Springs and the tragedies surrounding their reflective black waters. It’s incredibly suspenseful and I literally could not tear myself away. There were just two things that spoiled my enjoyment. One was the portrayal of bipolar disorder. I’ve known a couple of people who have suffered from this, and I’ve never seen the mean and vindictive behavior that Lexie displayed as a child as part of it. I also think that depicting Lexie and the sisters’ father (who also is bipolar) as flaky artists with substance abuse issues treats the topic rather stereotypically.

This is the second book in a row where the author did something a little different with the ending, that has left me with mixed feelings. I have to admit though, I’m still thinking about it a day later. Overall, The Drowning Kind is another twisty, spooky, atmospheric page-turner by Jennifer McMahon, that I guarantee will keep you up at night!

 

Small Favors, By Erin A. Craig ~ 4.5 Stars

Tags

Historical Fiction, Mystery, Romance, Supernatural Fiction, Suspense, YA Fiction

Thanks to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: July 27th, 2021

480 Pages

Synopsis: Ellerie Downing lives in the quiet town of Amity Falls in the Blackspire Mountain range—five narrow peaks stretching into the sky like a grasping hand, bordered by a nearly impenetrable forest from which the early townsfolk fought off the devils in the woods. To this day, visitors are few and rare. But when a supply party goes missing, some worry that the monsters that once stalked the region have returned.

As fall turns to winter, more strange activities plague the town. They point to a tribe of devilish and mystical creatures who promise to fulfill the residents’ deepest desires, no matter how grand and impossible, for just a small favor. But their true intentions are much more sinister and Ellerie finds herself in a race against time before all of Amity Falls, her family, and the boy she loves go up in flames. (Goodreads)

For anyone who’s read Stephen King’s Needful Things, you’ll definitely recognize some similarities in regards to residents of a small town making bargains with a supernatural creature, but Small Favors takes this central premise in a creative new direction.

One of the strengths of this novel is the character development. I absolutely loved Ellerie and her family, although Samuel, Ellerie’s disagreeable twin, had me perplexed throughout most of the book. Ellerie is a fantastic protagonist. She’s eighteen, and is struggling to find her role within her family and the town. She’s not perfect, she makes mistakes, but she determinedly forges ahead. She displays a  tremendous amount of love and loyalty to those she cares about, even the bees she and her family raise. Her relationship with “Whitaker” begins as a case of insta-love, but their romance fades into the background through a good portion of the book because of everything else going on. The other residents of Amity Falls are equally well written and and help bring the story to life. 

The plot is an interesting mix of historical fiction with mythological/supernatural overtones, and Ellerie’s climactic confrontation with the queen of the Dark Watchers, is an enjoyable battle of wits that takes on aspects of Rumplestiltskin. I confess to having mixed feelings regarding the open ending. I like how Amity Falls’ ultimate fate again harkens back to Needful Things, but there are some minor questions I feel aren’t fully answered, mainly regarding Samuel’s actions and how the Downing family are going to be able to move forward. But these are definitely not enough to spoil my enjoyment of the story. What I love the most is the thoughtful exploration of how the Dark Ones are responsible for setting the horrible and tragic events which occur in motion, but in the end, it’s the townsfolk themselves who are responsible for most of what ensues.

Overall, Small Favors is a wonderful follow-up to Craig’s debut The House of Salt and Sorrows, and will undoubtedly please her fans as well as win her new ones. I’m eagerly looking forward to seeing what this imaginative storyteller comes out with next.