THE CREEK by Rayne King

 

The Creek by Rayne King
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Today, I was in the mood for another novella, so I grabbed this one. And I'm glad I did, because I loved it!

Wiley is a 17-year-old loner who intends to spend the summer doing his own thing, staying out of his father's way, and hanging out with his dog, Rhea. However, when he meets the new girl, Ruby, down by the creek, his whole world changes...

I was instantly swept away by this dark story because the writing style and Wiley's voice hooked me in as soon as I started reading. I love how this is a tale of summer romance between two teens who are instantly, and passionately, drawn to each other, but the air of dread hangs over their happy connection the whole time.

The cult angle was also very well done. In spite of their carefree attitude, I could sense the shitty outcome these manipulative assholes were planning, which made everything so much worse. 😫

This is a terrific novella that simultaneously captures the excitement of first-love summer vibes, while also dealing with real horror. It's sad, heartbreaking, but so intriguing. I really enjoyed the ending, too.

Oh, and there's a bonus short story called, Husk. This creepy tale is about two friends who go searching for buried treasure, even though they should know better than to chase childish dreams. Also, this is a great example of why you should never ignore your instincts.

View all my reviews