folk horror

Review: The Seventh Sister by Dawn Kurtagich

~ megs14malloy ~ Leave a comment

The Seventh SisterThe Seventh Sister by Dawn Kurtagich
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The Seventh Sister is a Folk Horror novel from Dawn Kurtagich that’s written like a dark fable. This story follows seven sisters, hence the title, who after the tragic death of their parents, are sent to live with their Grandmother on the remote island of Beltane.

As the girls start to put the pieces of their lives back together, the island twists their experiences in a way that’s difficult to suss out fact from fiction.

We get snippets of their time as children navigating the dark depths of the island, but we also get their perspectives many years later, after all of them but one has tried to break themselves free of the island’s pull.

Ummm, this was a mixed bag for me. I don’t really know what was going on. I mean I do, but in the most general sense, and I don’t feel comfortable trying to summarize it.

For me, this was a case of the writing overshadowing the plot. I’ll be honest, I’m giving it 3-stars, but my experience was more of a 2-star kind of thing. Kurtagich’s writing is soooo good, but this story just did nothing for me.

As far as the content, I couldn’t have cared less. The sisters all blended together for me, and the whole Daudir thing, yeah, just not for me. I did enjoy the island setting though, so that was a good atmosphere. And that’s it. That’s all I have to say. I’m pretty ambivalent about it actually.

Thank you to the publisher, Brilliance Audio, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I do love Kurtagich, so this isn’t going to stop me from picking her other works. I feel like this is more just a miss for my personal tastes.

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Review: The Hill in the Dark Grove by Liam Higginson

~ megs14malloy

The Hill in the Dark GroveThe Hill in the Dark Grove by Liam Higginson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Hill in the Dark Grove is a debut Folk Horror novel that has stuck with me long after I turned the last page. This story is deep, dark and honestly, sort of devastating.

We follow an older couple, Carwyn and Rhian, who’ve lived a quiet life as sheep farmers in the remote Welsh moutains. The land they live on, and work, is a family legacy, having been in Rhian’s family for generations.

Over the years, Carwyn and Rhian have found their social circle shrinking, as they’ve lost many friends and neighbors to old age and the pull of the city, and greater world. For the most part, they keep to themselves, grumbling about rising prices and the influx of English tourists.

Before you go thinking they’re just old people complaining about a changing world, they’re really not. For them, from their perspective, the changing world is threatening their way of life, and their land that they’ve poured blood, sweat and tears into over the decades.

Their world has become very small, but how long will they be able to maintain even that? And once they can no longer, what will become of them then?

When Carwyn finds a peculiar stone head in a little used corner of the farm, he believes he’s uncovered something remarkable. He soon realizes the artifact is just a small part of something much larger from deep history.

Even though Rhian urges him to leave it be, Carwyn becomes obsessed with uncovering the object, all while his daily farm chores go neglected. When sheep start falling ill, and an accident makes it even more challenging for the couple to survive, Carwyn insists uncovering the object and learning its original purpose could be the key to solving everything.

Something he didn’t consider though, is perhaps it’s buried and stayed that way for a reason. Perhaps the ancestors of the past have intended for it to be so. What’s gonna happen when he actually digs it up? What exactly is he unearthing?

I haven’t stopped thinking about this novel since I finished it a couple of weeks ago. There’s something very The Tommyknockers about it, whilst also being completely its own thing. I really liked it, even though I’m confident I didn’t pick up on everything the author intended.

I’m in awe. It’s not really a complicated story, but there are layers, and there were moments that I was a little unclear on where we were in time, and who exactly I was following.

One thing that never changed though was the pace and rhythm of the story. The writing is lush and beautiful. Higginson is an artist with words and The Hill in the Dark Grove does feel like a work of art.

I loved the unsettling atmosphere of the story. The uncertainty in Carwyn and Rhian’s life channels through the pages directly to the Reader. I felt for them. They were isolated and facing some real daunting challenges, and at such a time in their lives. It was difficult to read at times.

Aging, and what happens to us as we age, the way a person’s world can shrink, these are real world horrors that I think can be scary for a lot of us to think about. Though there was more going on in this story than that, I did appreciate Higginson’s exploration of those topics.

The incorporation of Welsh folklore and the mystery surrounding this object, and it’s pull on Carwyn, were also so compelling. Overall, it’s a great story.

I feel like I need to get a hard copy for my collection, so I can read it again and annotate. I would recommend it for fans of Gothic Fiction, or Folk Horror, but really I feel like it’s a story that could enjoyed by Readers of any genre.

Thank you to the publisher, Hogarth, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I’m looking forward to more from Liam Higginson.

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Review: Crone by Keith Rosson

~ megs14malloy

CroneCrone by Keith Rosson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

🖤💚🖤💚🖤💚🖤💚🖤💚🖤💚🖤

Keith Rosson captured my heart and my full attention last year with Coffin Moon. There was something so devilishly-good about that book. The setting, the grittiness of the plot, the characters; it was a whole mood. It all worked for me and has remained in my mind ever since.

To say that I was excited to get an early-copy of this novel, Crone, would be putting it so mildly it wouldn’t even register. I was stoked for this and as you can tell from my rating, I wasn’t disappointed for a moment.

This novel matches Coffin Moon in tone, so if you also enjoyed that one, I would highly recommend reading this as well. The big difference would be while Coffin Moon is a bit of a vampiric romp, Crone is for the witches in the crowd.

This continues the classic dark Crime Fiction feel that Coffin Moon brought, and is actually even set in the same area of the United States, just in a later time period.

This story follows Eli Lamp, an ex-detective, turned addict, turned ex-addict, whose daughter disappeared 10-years ago. Eli’s battled his emotions since Hannah’s been gone, but the guilt and grief frequently overwhelm him.

Due to a certain incident Eli got himself involved in while investigating Hannah’s disappearance, he’s also now indebted to a local drug gang, the Crooked Wheel. They utilize his skills as an enforcer. It’s a dark road he’s traveled.

We also follow a young woman named Avery. Avery was actually Hannah’s best friend, and the two were together on the night that Hannah disappeared. Like Eli, Hannah has also really struggled since that night. The guilt and shame she’s felt since Hannah disappeared has definitely defined the trajectory of her life so far.

Avery fled their small town as soon as she graduated high school, unable to stand the whispers and looks any longer. Recently though, she’s been having extremely vivid dreams of Hannah calling her back.

After the boss of the Crooked Wheel’s son is found brutally murdered, he asks Eli to investigate it, so they can bring the killer to justice. If Eli’s successful, he won’t owe them any longer. He’ll be a free man.

His investigation brings him into the orbit of Avery, recently returned to town, a girl he never thought he’d see again. Soon the two are entwined in a search for answers that all link back to the night their dear Hannah disappeared.

Contrary to everything they might believe in, signs point to a mysterious something lurking the woods. A something with a bent back, black eyes and claws. No one wants to say witch, but it’s a thought…

This is such a beautifully-devastating story. My heart aches with the weight of it. It’s gritty and violent, showcasing the worst acts that humans can do unto each other.

There’s also a rawness to it all, with humanity just bleeding off the page. Rosson does such an incredible job of examining dark emotions, such as guilt, grief and self-doubt, even hate. This is vengeance-fueled story, much like Coffin Moon, and I was completely invested.

I loved the direction Rosson ultimately went with this. I will say the way he laid it all out, it’s not a path I would typically enjoy, but I think in this case, just because of the overall emotion of the story, it actually worked. He pulled it off.

If you’ve never read Rosson before, you’ve got time. Pick up Coffin Moon before this one releases in September. If you like that vibe, you should absolutely pick this one up as well.

Also, I definitely recommend this for fans of Witchy stories, particularly if you’re itching for something opposite of all the Cozy Witchy vibes we seem to be getting lately.

This is full stop a Horror novel. It’s violent, gory and full of complicated topics and emotions. It’s absolutely stellar and I cannot wait for a hard copy to take residence on my shelves.

Thank you to the publisher, Random House, for providing me with a copy to read and review. This will definitely be making my Best Books of 2026 list!!!

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Review: Bone of My Bone by Johanna van Veen

~ megs14malloy

Bone of My BoneBone of My Bone by Johanna van Veen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

**4.5-stars**

❤️🖤❤️🖤❤️🖤❤️🖤❤️🖤❤️

Bone of My Bone is a historically-set Religious Horror novel set during the time of the Thirty Years’ War. It’s Sapphic, contains a lot of gore, and also some really interesting elements stemming from Germanic Folklore.

We follow Ursula, a nun, and a peasant girl named Elsebeth. Both women are fleeing from marauding soldiers. Ursula has fled her convent, and Elsebeth, after the loss of her entire family, is trying to make her way to her Aunt’s home.

They meet on the road after Elsebeth jumps in to protect Ursula from an attacking soldier. Once they’re safe, the women have a chat, and decide it would be safer for them both if they travel together. Safety in numbers, and all that.

Keeping to the woods in the hopes they won’t be spotted by any more soldiers, they happen upon a dying man. He’s clutching a glass box, within which lies the gilded skull of a Saint. Ursula immediately recognizes it for what it is, and also knows that it’s said that if you reunite the Saint’s skull with it’s body, you’ll be granted a wish.

In these horrific times, both women have a lot to wish for. They discuss it a bit, and decide they have nothing to lose. It’s worth a shot. Thus, they scoop up the reliquary and begin their quest.

There’s a map to where the Saint’s body is said to be, but there’s certainly a lot of ground to cover. Unfortunately, the dangers on the road are plentiful, and it’s not just the soldiers they need to fear. There’s also a Necromancer, drawn to the power of the skull, who is hot on their heels.

Will they be able to survive the dangers of the road, dodge the Necromancer and be able to reunite the Saint’s skull with her body? There’s only one way to find out.

Johanna van Veen has done it again!

This is such an excellent blend of Historical, Religious and Folk Horror. The setting is rich with detail, gritty and brutal. There’s dirt, grime, gore, blood, and everything in between.

Ursula and Elsebeth were both well-developed and I found their quest to be gripping. Gore is mentioned-above, and I loved how gory it was, but I also appreciated the softer character moments than van Veen included.

I was a bit intimidated by this going in, but instantly found it so accessible. I had concerns it would be challenging, I think because I found the synopsis a little confusing. Nevertheless, I had nothing to be concerned about.

Having the quest gave the story great focus, and also allowed Ursula and Elsebeth to bond more quickly due to their reliance upon one another for safety.

I’ve heard some people mention it’s too heavily-focused on religion, and understand people having those opinions, but I feel like it makes sense due to the historical context of the story, and Ursula’s role within the church as a nun.

The Thirty Years’ War is such a horrible period of history, and it’s not one I’ve read a lot about in a fictional way. I liked that van Veen chose that time period. It’s certainly made me more curious about that war and to imagine what life was like during that time is truly horrifying.

This is only the 2nd-novel I’ve read from van Veen, but she’s quickly jumped the ranks of my go-to authors list. I still need to read My Darling Dreadful Thing. I have a feeling I’m going to love that one just as much.

Thank you to the publisher, Poisoned Pen Press, for providing me a copy to read and review. I can’t wait to get a hard copy of this for my shelves!!

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Review: The Whistler by Nick Medina

~ megs14malloy

The WhistlerThe Whistler by Nick Medina
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

**4.5-stars rounded up**

The Whistler follows our MC, Henry, a young man who is grappling with his new reality of being confined to a wheelchair after being paralyzed in a horrific accident.

Before his accident, Henry was happy. He was a talented musician, had a beautiful girlfriend, Jade, who he had a great, active relationship with, and his ghost hunting channel was actually gaining some traction.

Post-accident, Henry has to move in with his grandparents, relying on them for even the simplest tasks. His relationship with Jade, as well as with his best friend, is estranged. He feels useless, hopeless and emasculated.

His grandparents, Jade, everyone is trying to talk him up, telling him he can still live and have a good life, but they just don’t understand how he feels. Henry feels so alone.

Oh, and he’s also being haunted…

As the being haunting him gets continuously closer and more bold, Henry realizes he needs to confront his past, and the events that caused his injury, if he is to have any hope of banishing it for good. He can’t do it alone, so Henry is forced to open up to those around him that he’s been shutting out.

The Whistler took me completely by surprise. Not because of how incredible it is, but because of its connection to Indian Burial Ground, which I wasn’t expecting at all.

I’m such a Nick Medina fan. I love the quality and richness of his storytelling. The tone of his stories, they take me through every different emotion and leave me simultaneously gutted and inspired. This story is an absolute roller coaster ride of feelings.

The Prologue, which doesn’t follow Henry, but is related to the events that caused his injury, was terrifying. I read it home alone in the dark, and I was genuinely creeped out.

From that moment on, I was gripped by the story, that’s mainly told through Henry’s past and present perspective. I loved the depths that Medina went with this character.

Seeing the difference in Henry between his past, happier, times and his present, post-injury, was very jarring. It made him feel so incredibly real, as everything happening to him, and the journey he was on emotionally, it was raw and messy. I felt that representation was done with great care.

The haunting elements were so well-imagined. Medina created some stellar horror imagery on page. I loved how the never whistle at night lore was woven through as well.

In fact, the first time I read Medina’s work was in the Indigenous Dark Fiction anthology, Never Whistle at Night: An Indigenous Dark Fiction Anthology, which was where I learned of that belief. I was excited when I saw that Medina had written a full novel incorporating that lore.

As mentioned above, this story is related to Indian Burial Ground. It’s not a sequel, or anything, and of course can be read as a standalone, however, I do feel it will have the greatest impact for those people who have already read IBG.

Overall, I was so impressed by this. It’s such a gripping, mysterious, haunting, and well-rounded story.

I would definitely recommend this Horror readers, or readers of Indigenous Fiction in general. Also, anyone who read and enjoyed Indian Burial Ground, you have to check this out.

Thank you so much to the publisher, Berkley, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I can’t wait for whatever Medina writes next!

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Review: Darker Than Night by Owl Goingback

~ megs14malloy

Darker Than NightDarker Than Night by Owl Goingback
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Darker Than Night, originally published, I believe, in 1999, follows a Horror author, Michael Anthony, and his young family, after they move from NYC to rural-Missouri when he inherits his deceased Grandmother’s house.

I picked this up because I’ve been really interested in Owl Goingback’s work and this one sounded perfect as my favorite holiday, Halloween, approaches.

When Michael, his wife, and their two children finally arrive at the house after their long journey, they find it in a bit of disrepair. They’ve got a lot of cleaning to do.

The house is also populated with many of his Grandmother’s things, including numerous Kachina dolls and masks, figures common in several Native American communities.

It’s not the figures themselves really that are disturbing, but the sheer number of them, and the way they always seem to be watching you. The Kachinas aren’t the only unsettling thing about the house though. There are other details that seem to set the whole family on edge.

They all start to see shadow figures, darker than night, and mysterious stains, looking much like human faces, begin appearing on their flooring. It’s clear something is going on in this house and it’s put them all in danger.

Further, the locals are chattering about the famous author, and his family, that have moved into his Grandmother’s house, who they all considered crazy. The locals might have answers about what is going on at their property, but it’s hard for the Anthonys to decipher fact from fiction.

The more Michael and his wife dig in and look for answers, the more unsettled they become. Mysterious entities, locally known as Boogers, frequently are mentioned. It sounds silly. The Boogeymen; stuff of childhood nightmares, but when you’re actually living it, it’s much too real.

They’ve got to get the children and run, before it’s too late.

Darker Than Night is a classic-style Horror story, not perfect, but very entertaining. I loved the set-up of the inherited house and all the bits-and-bobs that came along with it.

I also enjoyed the small town Missouri setting, as well as the incorporation of some Indigenous cultural elements, such as the Kachina dolls. I feel like Goingback did a great job following through with all the concepts he brought to the page here. The beings were well-imagined.

Overall, it’s a well-rounded story that’s easy to fall into and read all the way through. It’s a simple story in it’s construction, and I appreciated that. Goingback isn’t trying to wow us all with extraordinary prose or jaw-dropping twists and turns. It’s just a well told story, start-to-finish.

Sometimes I get annoyed when authors try to do too much, to impress us all with their huge brains. I am just here for the story and that’s exactly what Goingback delivers. I need to check out more of his work.

I would absolutely recommend this to anyone who is just looking for a classic-feeling Supernatural Horror story. This one is super-engaging and can be read very quickly. Perfect for Spooky Season!

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Review: A Girl Walks into the Forest by Madeleine Roux

~ megs14malloy

A Girl Walks into the ForestA Girl Walks into the Forest by Madeleine Roux
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A Girl Walks into the Forest follows Valla, a teenage girl selected for her beauty to marry a member of the aristocracy of a neighboring kingdom.

Valla sees her betrothal to mysterious Count Leonid as a blessing. It’s not just a way for her to escape the confines of her small desolate village, but it’ll also win favor for the village. Life should be easier for everyone after this.

Unfortunately, in order to get to her new husband, and new kingdom, Valla must traverse the infamous Gottyar Wood, where many dangerous creatures lurk.

Valla is escorted by her brother and sister-in-law, and it seems their journey is cursed from the start. After a vicious attack leaves Valla in a feverish stupor and her face maimed, they’re lucky to make it through alive.

The Count isn’t pleased when presented with Valla’s new, altered appearance. Where is the beautiful bride he was expecting? Ugh, how frustrating for him…

Valla feels the same. Where is her beautiful prize? The luxurious lifestyle and extravagant castle, not to mention the sweet Prince, she was expecting? Because she’s not finding any of those things here.

But Valla’s shock and surprise at the state of the castle, her soon-to-be husband and his family is just scratching the surface of the unpleasantness she is in store for.

This is such an engrossing, beautifully-told YA Dark Fantasy. The blending of Horror elements with the Fairy Tale-feel captured my attention from the start.

I loved the incorporation of the Baba Yaga lore, and the atmosphere was very well done. I was also impressed by the level of body horror included, and how far Roux took some of the darker elements.

I will say the 1st-half was stronger for me than the later half, but overall, I was happy with the conclusion, and the story as a whole. We like it dark!

I’ve never read from this author before, but I’m definitely interested in checking out more of their work. If you have a favorite, drop it below.

The writing was so readable. I liked that Roux didn’t get too flowery with it. I hate when a plot gets lost with overly-purple prose. The way this was told was easy to follow, yet still complex and exciting as far as the themes and action.

I liked the feminist elements as well, and feel like this would be such a great story for younger Readers looking to expand further into the Horror genre. I think this is a great transition novel from YA to Adult, though it can clearly be enjoyed and appreciated by Readers of all ages.

Additionally, if you are a Reader like me, who craves lush, creepy atmosphere, you have to check this out. Starting with the forest, and then into the castle, Roux riddled this story with an atmosphere to get under your skin.

I also appreciated how Roux paced the story. Once the main action in the castle kicks off, things escalate fairly quickly, until everything starts to unravel at once. I was so attached to Valla; I was at the edge of my seat wishing for her safety.

At the end of the day, I think this is a must for Readers of Dark Fantastical Fiction. Particularly, if you still enjoy novels in the YA-space. Bonus for the Feminist Feels.

Thank you to the publisher, Quill Tree Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I’m definitely excited to pick up more from this author!

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Review: The Night Birds by Christopher Golden

~ megs14malloy

The Night BirdsThe Night Birds by Christopher Golden
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Dark, creepy and hella atmospheric, The Night Birds is a wildly-entertaining ride of nail-biting intensity. Christopher Golden does this type of Folk Horror so well, IMO.

Maybe you’re like me, and though you appreciate the majesty and beauty of birds, they also creep you the heck out? If so, you should read this. Picturing myself in the shoes of some of these characters gave me absolute chills.

This story is set in Galvaston, Texas, and mainly revolves around a group of characters researching the Christabel, a 19th century freighter that lies half-sunken in waters shadowed by eerie mangroves and other wildlife.

With a vicious storm bearing down, most of the small crew abandon the Christabel, choosing to stay on dry land while they wait it out. Charlie Book, their leader, however, chooses to stay on board as usual. The ship has weathered many storms. It’s not going anywhere.

When he arrives on the docks after dinner, preparing to head back out to the Christabel, he’s shocked by the sudden appearance of his ex-girlfriend, Ruby. She’s begging him for help and protection, and she’s not alone.

With her is a mysterious woman, Mae, as well as an infant. They’re bedraggled and clearly on the run, but from what?

Even though he has big reservations about the situation, Book can’t refuse Ruby. If she’s in danger, he wants to help. Thus, he shuttles them all out to the Christabel.

Meanwhile, with the coming storm, something else seems to be coming, lurking in the dark and stormy night. Using shadows as cover and hiding a ravenous evil.

As forces close in on the Christabel, Book’s team senses that something is amiss and they try desperately to get back to the ship to help their friend. Little do they know, the storm is the least of their problems now.

I became invested in this story so quickly. I love Christopher Golden in general, and feel really comfortable with his writing style. It has such a classic Horror feel for me, and I love how he takes care to set a scene and pulls the Reader into his character’s lives.

He creates characters you want to succeed; to be okay, to live. I was rooting for Book and Ruby, as well as the side characters, Luisa, Gerald and Alan, the entire way through.

This would honestly make a great movie; good versus evil battling it out amongst the mangroves. I was on the edge of my seat and horrified as it unfolded. It was non-stop punches the entire second-half.

Some of it did get a little difficult to track as the action and intensity built up, but that could just be because of the speed at which I was reading it. I was so desperate to find out how this was going to conclude, I was flying through.

This is a witchy story, which is alluded to in the synopsis, as well as mentioned in the genre tags, but I just want to be clear, this is dark stuff; ancient stuff. The imagery involved, it’s heavy and excellent to read if you love Horror.

Overall, I had a great time with this. It’s so fun and addictive. I couldn’t put it down. I loved the atmosphere and characters, as well as the horror imagery throughout.

Thank you to the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I cannot wait to see what Golden releases next!!!

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Review: The Book of Witching by C.J. Cooke

~ megs14malloy

The Book of WitchingThe Book of Witching by C.J. Cooke
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

After Clem gets a call that her daughter Erin is in hospital, she rushes to get to her side. What happened, and how?

The last Clem knew, Erin had just gone hiking with her boyfriend, Arlo, and best friend, Senna, in the remote area of the Orkney Islands, but there was nothing particularly dangerous about the trip; nothing out of the ordinary.

But somehow, Erin’s boyfriend is now dead, and Senna is nowhere to be found. Erin, in a medically-induced coma, has been severely burned and nothing but questions surround the circumstances that got her to that point.

Clem, at her wit’s end, reaches out to her ex, Erin’s father, Quinn, relaying to him what has happened. Even though his relationship with Erin is estranged, it’s the right thing to do. He rushes to the hospital as well.

As she awakens, Erin seems completely out of sorts. She doesn’t recognize her parents and insists that her name is Nyx. This is when the creepiness sets in…

In addition to this modern narrative, we also get the perspective of Alyson, who was tried as a witch in the 1590s in Kirkwall, Orkney. We learn of her life and the events leading up to her trial.

This historical perspective is based upon true events, which the author goes into further detail on in the Author’s Note.

Be sure to read that at the end. I feel like it brought wonderful context to this story and it impressed me the lengths Cooke went to with her research. An important moment in history to recognize and remember.

It has taken me way too long to pick up The Book of Witching, which released in October 2024. I am such a fan of Cooke’s writing, and I loved the blend of Historical Horror with more modern-Thriller elements in this one.

While I did feel some bits in the modern perspective got a little convoluted towards the end, that really didn’t have much of an impact on my feelings on the story as a whole.

I felt like Clem was such a believable character. She was so devoted to Erin, and finding out what had happened to her, as well as to helping her heal in any way she could.

She wasn’t giving up on her daughter, no matter how challenging things got. I also enjoyed Clem and Quinn working together, putting aside past issues in order to help Erin. I felt their relationship was really well done.

I feel like the pace at which Cooke revealed what was going on with Erin, what she chose to reveal and when, gave this a healthy dose of creepy atmosphere, and I’m always down for that. Some of the scenes in the hospital, with Erin acting out of character, gave me chills.

Overall, I feel like this was a very well executed story. I think the author definitely succeeded in doing what she set out to do. I found it gripping, compelling and well balanced.

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys Historical Horror, Atmospheric Thrillers, or Gothic feels. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

Thank you to the publisher, Berkley, for providing me with a copy to read and review. C.J. Cooke is an auto-read author for me, and this is a perfect example of why.

I’m sorry I waited so long to pick it up!

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Review: Something in the Walls by Daisy Pearce

~ megs14malloy

Something in the Walls: A NovelSomething in the Walls: A Novel by Daisy Pearce
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

**4.5-stars**

Mina has been educated to be a child psychologist, but she lacks real world experience. Unfortunately, this makes it challenging for her to secure a position in the field.

It’s one of those odd circumstances, where people only want to hire individuals with experience, but how are you to get experience if no one will hire you?

Thus, Mina is stuck, just spinning her wheels. That is until Mina is suddenly presented with an unusual opportunity while attending her local bereavement group, where she goes to help process her grief from her brother’s death.

She meets another member, Sam Hunter, who happens to be a journalist and he asks for her assistance with a story he’s currently working on.

In the remote village of Banathel, 13-year old, Alice Webber, lives with her family. After unsettling behavioral changes, Alice reveals that a witch is haunting her, causing various disturbing occurrences.

Sam and Mina travel to Banathel to stay with the Webber family, to see if they can get to the bottom of what is going on with Alice. Sam is hoping for the scoop of a lifetime, while Mina is hoping to help Alice, whilst also gaining the experience she so desperately needs.

I loved the way this story was set-up. I had listened to 47% of the audiobook before I even came up for air. I was absolutely engrossed.

The narrator was a perfect match to our MC, Mina, and I felt like she succeeded in bringing the story to life. From the start, this loosely reminded me of The Wonder, but much creepier and more atmospheric.

I just felt like Something in the Walls was so good. It’s chilling and gripping. I raced through it, needing answers. The various scenes and things going on in Banathel, it got under my skin; genuinely creepy AF at times.

While it wrapped up too quickly for my tastes, after the reveal, I still think it was so hella good. It was intriguing and horrifying in a very human way. I also loved Mina and Sam working together, digging into the history of Banathel.

Overall, this story had me absolutely hooked throughout. It had all the things I need to love a story and I appreciated the author’s ability to write some truly chilling horror imagery.

Thank you to the publisher, Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio, for providing me with copies to read and review. I am so stoked to read more from the author in the future!

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