When the Wolf Comes Home by Nat Cassidy Book Review

 

Goodreads

 

5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Nat Cassidy is quickly becoming a must-read author for me. When the Wolf Comes Home is a fast-paced, emotional, and terrifying blend of psychological and supernatural horror. This isn’t just a werewolf story. At its core, it's about trauma, survival, and the ways fear can shape and destroy us.

The story follows Jess, a struggling actress whose life takes a wild turn when she finds a five-year-old runaway hiding behind her building. As they hit the road together, she realizes his fears aren’t just in his head, they’re becoming real.

Cassidy does such a great job weaving action, emotion, and horror together. Jess is a deeply flawed and raw but relatable character, and her bond with the boy broke my heart in the best way. Cookie, Jess’s eccentric mother, adds even more chaos and heart to the story. The family dynamics are just as intense as the horror.

The writing is vivid and grounded, full of gut-punch moments, dark humour, and metaphors. The creature horror is wild and unpredictable, but it’s the emotional weight behind it that sticks with you.

This was one of the most unique and emotionally resonant horror novels I’ve read in a while. Emotional, terrifying, and totally unforgettable. The audiobook is fantastic too. Highly recommend if you love emotional horror, road trip thrillers, and dark, gritty storytelling.

The Sirens by Emilia Hart Book Review

   

Goodreads

3.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Sirens by Emilia Hart is a beautifully written historical fantasy with strong themes of sisterhood, resilience, and transformation. The story moves between two timelines: in 1800, Irish sisters Mary and Eliza are sentenced to transportation to Australia aboard a harrowing convict ship, and in 2019, Lucy returns to a coastal town searching for answers after her sister Jess disappears.

The dual timeline format is a strength, with the historical narrative standing out as the most compelling. The atmosphere is immersive, especially around the sea, the coastal setting, and the eerie small-town mysteries. Hart’s writing style remains lyrical and evocative, with clear echoes of her debut Weyward.

Where the book faltered for me was in the pacing and emotional engagement. Lucy’s chapters, written in third person, felt distant and repetitive, slowing the pacing and making it harder to connect. Although the themes of transformation and inherited trauma were interesting, many of the major revelations came too late to be satisfying. I also found the student-teacher subplot in Jess’s arc unnecessary and distracting.

While the concept was strong and the writing lovely, I didn’t feel as gripped or emotionally invested as I hoped. Readers who loved Weyward may still enjoy the lyrical style and themes, but The Sirens never fully hooked me.

The Cut by C.J. Dotson Book Review

  

Goodreads

2.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐

The Cut started off strong with a great premise and an eerie atmosphere. I was immediately drawn to the story of Sadie, a pregnant mother fleeing her abusive husband, trying to protect her toddler while starting over as a housekeeper at the L’Arpin Hotel on Lake Erie. The locked-room vibe and supernatural hints had me hooked early on.

But the story started to lose me as it went on. The plot became repetitive and dragged in places, and some of the twists took strange turns that didn’t quite land. I was hoping the domestic violence backstory would tie more directly into the horror elements, but instead it felt like two disconnected storylines. While Sadie’s character arc was one of the book’s strengths, I think the themes could have meshed together more effectively.

I really enjoyed the creepy hotel setting and the early supernatural buildup. But once the story shifted into full-on creature horror, it lost some of that grounded tension. The ending felt rushed and didn’t quite work for me.

Overall, The Cut had a lot of potential, and I was disappointed it didn’t end stronger. The setup pulled me in, but the execution fell flat. Still, if you’re into atmospheric horror with a locked-room feel and a creature twist, it might be worth a read.

Listen to Your Sister by Neena Viel Book Review

Goodreads

2.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐

Listen to Your Sister blends psychological horror with family drama, exploring trauma, survival, and the blurred line between nightmares and reality.

The story follows Calla, a 25-year-old struggling as the guardian of her younger brother, Jamie. When Jamie’s involvement in a protest spirals out of control, they go on the run and seek refuge in a secluded cabin. As Calla’s recurring nightmares of her brothers’ deaths grow more vivid, she starts to question whether they are just dreams after all.

I was really drawn to the premise, but I struggled with the execution. The novel is ambitious, tackling trauma and survival in creative ways, but it often felt chaotic and difficult to follow. The blending of reality and nightmare made it hard to stay engaged, and I found myself more confused than scared.

That being said, I really liked the sibling dynamics, and the audiobook narration was very well done.

Overall, while Listen to Your Sister wasn’t quite my cup of tea, I appreciate its originality and exploration of trauma through horror, especially as a debut novel. If you enjoy surreal, atmospheric horror with a unique twist, it might be worth checking out.

Hybristophilia: A Novel by Luigi Pascal Rondanini Book Review

Goodreads

3/5 ⭐⭐⭐

Hybristophilia is a psychological legal thriller that delves into trauma, redemption, and the dark allure of hybristophilia (attraction to criminals).

The story follows Jason White, a young man accused of killing his abusive father, as he navigates a media frenzy, courtroom drama, and obsessive admirers captivated by his story. Told through multiple third-person perspectives, the book explores complex themes like family trauma, psychological manipulation, and the justice system.

While the premise is intriguing and the exploration of hybristophilia adds a unique flair, the book could have benefited from more editing to address grammatical errors and uneven pacing. That said, the layered story and thought-provoking themes kept me engaged.

If you're curious about a unique psychological phenomenon set against a courtroom backdrop, this book is worth a try!

The Groundskeeper's Daughter by Holly Knightley Book Review

 

Goodreads

3/5 ⭐⭐⭐

The Groundskeeper’s Daughter is a short and spooky Christmas novella that combines murder mystery, romance, and the supernatural.

✨ Holiday Vibes
✨ Murder Mystery
✨ First-Person POV
✨ Twists & Turns 
✨ Quick Read

Molly returns home to Smith and Stone Cemetery for the holidays and accidentally disturbs the ghost of Old James. When James' living relative, Jay, arrives, the two must work together to solve a centuries old murder and stop the ghost from killing again.

The story offers some fun twists and a unique mix of eerie suspense and holiday vibes. However, the novella felt a bit rushed, and Molly and Jay’s romance sparks quickly, perhaps too quickly (She fell in love in just one day!). I wish the characters and plot had been explored in more depth, as the premise had a lot of potential. That being said, the fast pacing kept me hooked, and I finished it in just two sittings.

If you’re looking for a quick, spooky holiday read with a touch of romance, this is worth adding to your Christmas list.

Many thanks to BookSirens for the ARC of The Groundskeeper's Daughter in exchange for an honest review.

What the Woods Took by Courtney Gould Book Review

Goodreads

5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Stranded in the Idaho woods, a group of troubled teens must face both external horrors and their own inner demons in this haunting survival story. What the Woods Took hooked me from the start and didn’t let go. This is survival horror at its best, with high stakes, deep emotions, and a touch of romance.

✨ Young Adult

✨ Survival Horror

✨ Third-Person POV

✨ Enemies to Lovers

✨ LGBTQ+

✨ Locked Room (Wilderness)

The story begins with Devin being abducted from her foster home in the middle of the night and transported to a wilderness therapy program. Alongside four others, they must survive a 50-day trek through the forest. But when their counselors go missing, the group is left stranded, fighting for survival.

Devin’s fierce determination made her a standout protagonist, while the other teens, especially Ollie, whose quiet strength perfectly balanced Devin’s fire, added depth to the story. The enemies to lovers dynamic with Sheridan was natural and compelling, layered with tension and growth. 

The atmosphere was perfect. Claustrophobic, eerie, and immersive. The creatures, known as mimics, were terrifying and I strongly believe them to be representing the campers’ unresolved traumas and inner demons. I do wish the mimics had been explored a bit more.

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Lindsey Dorcus, who masterfully captured the characters’ emotions and the creeping dread of the woods.

What the Woods Took is a powerful story of survival, growth, and facing your demons. If you’re a fan of locked room mysteries, survival horror, and stories with complex characters, this is a must read!

Many thanks to NetGalley for the ALC of What the Woods Took in exchange for an honest review.

Trouble Island by Sharon Short Book Review

 

Goodreads

 

3/5 ⭐⭐⭐

Trouble Island is an atmospheric historical mystery set in the winter of 1932 on a remote island in the middle of Lake Erie. Prohibition-era gangsters, long buried secrets, and a chilling locked room mystery collide in this suspenseful story inspired by the author’s family history.

✨ Prohibition-Era
✨ First-Person POV
✨ Twists & Turns
✨ Locked Room (Island)
✨ Slow Burn

The story begins with Aurelia, who works as a maid to Rosita, the wife of a gangster. Trouble starts when a group of guests arrive on the island, and Rosita suddenly disappears. An ice storm traps everyone together, secrets unravel, and the murder mystery begins.

The premise immediately drew me in, especially with the Lake Erie setting, but I struggled to stay focused about a third of the way through. The book started strong with a moody, isolated atmosphere, but the middle dragged, and by the time the action picked up again near the end, I found myself less invested.

While I appreciated Aurelia, I found most of the other characters unlikable, which made it harder to connect with them. The historical elements also didn’t feel as developed as I’d hoped. At times, the modern sounding language made it easy to forget the story was set in the 1930s.

I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Jennifer Jill Araya, who did a great job bringing the story to life. She was able to create distinct voices for each character which made the listening experience more engaging.

Overall, Trouble Island offers a unique setting and an intriguing locked room mystery, but the slow pacing and lack of connection to the era and characters left me wanting more. While it wasn’t a perfect fit for me, it’s a well written book that fans of historical mysteries and slow burn suspense might enjoy.

Many thanks to NetGalley for the ALC of Trouble Island in exchange for an honest review.

Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney Book Review

Goodreads

 

4.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

"I hope you die in your sleep."

 

The Queen of Twists does it again!

Beautiful Ugly is a gripping psychological thriller about marriage and revenge that kept me hooked and guessing from start to finish. It might just be Alice Feeney’s best book yet.

✨ Unpredictable
✨ Unreliable Narrator
✨ Duel First-Person POV
✨ Twists & Turns
✨ Locked Room (Island)
✨ Hidden Message 😉
✨ Tension & Suspense

The story follows Grady Green, an author whose best and worst day collide when he hits the bestseller list on the same day his wife, Abby, goes missing. A year later, consumed by grief and unanswered questions, Grady accepts an offer to retreat to a remote Scottish island in hopes of rebuilding his life and career. But things take a sinister turn when he encounters a woman who looks exactly like Abby. Is it really her?

This book is thought-provoking and chilling. Grady’s struggle with insomnia blurs the line between reality and hallucinations, adding to the mystery and tension. While I didn’t find Grady very likable, I connected deeply with Abby’s character. The island setting is beautifully and creepily described, giving the story depth and atmosphere.

The pacing is steady, with most of the action packed into the final quarter. While the ending felt slightly rushed, it tied everything together nicely and left few unanswered questions.

"The only way out is to write."

I experienced this as an audiobook, and WOW! Richard Armitage and Tuppence Middleton’s narration was phenomenal. The addition of audio effects, like ocean waves and walkie-talkie static, made the experience even more engaging. This is a must-listen!

This is one of the best books I’ve read in a while. If you love psychological thrillers with shocking twists, Beautiful Ugly is the perfect book to kick off the new year when it releases in January.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC of Beautiful Ugly in exchange for an honest review.