CHLORINE by Jade Song

Chlorine by Jade Song
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I've wanted to read this book for a while and decided to get stuck into it last night.

Ren Yu loves swimming. Her whole life revolves around the pool, her teammates, and her strict coach. Another thing Ren loves is mermaids. This is how her simple life as a girl leads to so much more...

I was hooked from beginning to end. Ren's voice is engaging and the way she shares her story is unflinching. She doesn't hold back from revealing all the good and bad things, the mild ones in between, as well as the harsher side of being a competitive swimmer.

Yeah, I really enjoyed this book and wasn't surprised where it led because Ren's obsession with mermaids, freedom, and chlorine were too much for one teenage girl to keep inside. Especially when you consider the injury she's so keen to ignore, and the pressures all the adults force upon her.

While I liked everything about Ren's narrative, I found her time with Ess during her first summer job as a lifeguard (at the community pool) to be especially charming. Not just because it was therapeutic for her, but it's also another chapter that leads to the shocking conclusion.

So glad I finally read it! 🧜‍♀️


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THE BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS AND SNAKES by Suzanne Collins

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I have to admit that I've gone out of my way to avoid this book since it was released a while ago. I mean, who wants to read a whole book about young Snow? Yeah, you know what I mean. Still, when I found a cheap copy in a local thrift store, I picked it up and haven't looked at it since.

Not until I read, and absolutely loved, SUNRISE ON THE REAPING and had to find out what happened to Lucy Gray.

It's time for the tenth annual Hunger Games in the Capitol and Coriolanus Snow is preparing to become a mentor to a tribute. He has personal goals. Plans that will strengthen his family and make their name great again. But when he gets stuck with the District 12 tribute, he realises there's a lot more at stake than he originally thought...

Well, that was disappointing, drab and way too freaking long. Yeah, I found some sections of this book unbearably boring and had to skip ahead several times because I thought I might fall asleep.

I went into this story with an open mind, but also couldn't shake the intense hatred I have for Snow. Still, I tried to push all of my personal feelings aside to concentrate on the teenage version of a disgusting and vile villain. And you know what? Even though he shows traces of humanity throughout the story—especially at the beginning—he's still an arrogant, privileged, asshole who's determined to prove how much smarter and better he is than everyone else. 🙄

What he does to his supposed good friend, Sejanus, is such a betrayal. And how he treats Lucy Gray is pretty gross, too. He convinces himself that he cares about her, but she's just a science experiment. A possession he becomes obsessed with until he decides to throw her away.

Yeah, even the Lucy Gray story was meh. And she's the reason why I wanted to read this! Oh, and by the way, having others watch and narrate what happens during the Hunger Games is definitely not as suspenseful and heartbreaking as when the characters are in the actual arena.

I'm glad I gave this a go because it did answer a few things about the origins of this violent 'game', and at least sorta explains Snow's hatred for District 12. He's just an elitist dickhead with a superiority complex.

Now I can donate it or put it in the bin. Haven't decided yet.


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SUNRISE ON THE REAPING by Suzanne Collins

Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I LOVE The Hunger Games trilogy, and when I found out this was Haymitch's story, I had to read it. As soon as it arrived.

Haymitch Abernathy's sixteenth birthday also marks the reaping. And this year, it's the fiftieth annual Hunger Games, so there'll be two girls and two boys picked as tributes. When things go wrong in District 12, Haymitch ends up on a train and on his way to the Capitol...

Wow. OMG. Even though I loved every minute of this book, my heart is broken. 😫

You'd think that knowing how things turn out for Haymitch would make this story redundant. You'd think that knowing his future would make it easier to bear the pain. Well, that wasn't the case. Everything I already knew didn't ruin anything. Actually, it made the experience more interesting, and a lot sadder. I mean, who doesn't want to meet Katniss's parents when they were teens? Or catch a glimpse of so many other familiar characters, situations, and places that take place years before. Or find out how a hardworking, passionate man with so much love in his heart becomes a drunk loner.

I couldn't stop reading this amazing story because I was hooked from the beginning and wanted to know how everything would end. I mean, I knew it was bad because poor Haymitch was never in a good place, but reading his tale shed a lot of light on who he was before the awful Hunger Games ruined him. Before the Capitol edited his role, and the importance of everything he did. And why Snow targets him.

This book is brilliant and I loved every minute of it.


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PUNK 57 by Penelope Douglas

Punk 57 by Penelope Douglas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was checking out the books on my Paperwhite yesterday and this one caught my eye. So, I started reading... and couldn't put it down.

Misha and Ryen have been penpals since they were kids. Maybe even best friends. Now they're both about to finish high school and when Misha decides he wants to break their self-imposed rule of not meeting in person, tragedy strikes and turns everything upside down...

Well, this book sure is awesome!

I honestly didn't expect to like this story as much as I did because I'd heard a little about the toxicity, and I don't usually like toxic assholes. But there was a lot more to Misha than being a total douche. The guy's dealing with a personal tragedy, and is still mourning a loss that made him so angry at the world that he took it out on those closest to him: friends, Ryen, his dad.

This is a peculiar tale because it's friends to lovers, but also enemies to lovers. It's also a contemporary YA crossed with NA about two young people who are trying their best to survive while prepping for the future. It's hard to condense all the inner workings of the relationship between Misha and Ryen because there's a lot going on. And I mean a LOT.

I really enjoyed the characterisation of the two main characters. Sure, there are a few tropey/cardboardish characters—Lyla and Trey, I'm looking at you—but because they were mostly bully background noise, it didn't really matter. Misha is one of those characters who acts the opposite to how he feels, and that can be frustrating at times. But then again, Ryen is the kind of person who acts like she belongs with the popular bullies, which is at odds with who she really is.

I think both of these characters have a great character arc that is fun, interesting, and even heartbreaking.

And another thing, this book is raunchy. Yikes! The chemistry between these two is:🔥! I also didn't expect the final Misha twist at the end. 😫

Anyway, I loved this!


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CASTLE OF THE CURSED by Romina Garber

Castle of the Cursed by Romina Garber
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have to admit that the first thing I noticed about this book was the awesome cover. It certainly captures the creepy gothic vibes I enjoy so much.

After Estela loses her parents under mysterious circumstances, she feels like her life is over. She's totally alone and desperately wants answers. But when she finds out she has an aunt living in Spain, she suddenly finds herself inside a castle called la Sombra. A place full of secrets and shadows...

Wow. What a wonderful and strange story this turned out to be. It's about a teenager who is struggling with the grief of losing her parents and has trouble moving on. And if that's not enough, she has to move halfway across the world to discover her heritage, while uncovering a bunch of shocking secrets about her past. And learning Spanish from scratch. As well as realising that there are many things hiding in the darkness.

I really like how Estela changes as the new experiences she's forced to face shift as quickly as her surroundings. How she discovers that she didn't know anything about her parents, and that the world is full of unfathomable mystery. Her voice is strong and interesting, and I love the writing style because it really dragged me in.

There's an air of darkness that shadows the story from start to finish and the depth of weird that throws the story into unexpected territories was enough to keep me glued to the pages.

Oh, and did I mention that there's also a love story buried within all of the danger and uncertainty? Plus a twist that I quite enjoyed.

Great book!

 

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CHOPPING SPREE by Angela Sylvaine

Chopping Spree by Angela Sylvaine
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

"An explosive, fast-paced slasher that stabs the cult of consumerism in the heart, and twists the blade until it bleeds."

I want to thank Angela for giving me the chance to read this awesome novella.

Penny lives in Eden Hills, a place where kids go missing all the time and the 80s-inspired mall rules supreme. But the night she stays for a late-night party with her workmates, all hell breaks loose when a killer storms into the mall...

Wow, this turned out to be one very unpredictable and intriguing story! I loved that there were so many different things happening beneath the surface of a killing spree at the local mall. There's a very cool culty angle and plenty of witty commentary about capitalism and consumerism. Not to mention an awesome, strong heroine that I was rooting for all the way.

Oh, and the ending doesn't disappoint.

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THE FIRST HORROR by R.L. Stine

The First Horror by R.L. Stine
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I've got a bunch of Fear Street books on my Paperwhite, and love to squeeze in a few between longer stories.

Cally & Kody are fraternal twins. Their family has just moved into a shoddy house on Fear Street. An ugly, dark house that creaks a lot and will take forever to repair. It's also got a dark history and might be haunted...

I really enjoy these books SO MUCH! They ooze 90s teen horror vibes. Seriously, everything about these stories screams: it's the 1990s!! And I love that!

Plus, this book is super creepy. It's one of those haunted house stories where awful shitty things happen from the moment the family gets there, but the parents keep making excuses to stay. Even though the father has to go to the ER. And the new puppy goes missing. Plus rats seem to live in the basement... Yeah, a lot is happening but there's an excuse for everything.

Until there isn't. And the only thing left to face is the awful truth. 😮

Like I said, this is a really creepy, and even gory at times, horror tale that kept me glued to the page until the end. Can't wait to read the other two in this particular trilogy.


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THE WICKED UNSEEN by Gigi Griffis

The Wicked Unseen by Gigi Griffis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I picked this up last night to get a feel for it... and kept reading. 😅

Audre recently moved from the city to a rural town with her parents and little sister. So she's finding it hard to fit in with the churchy crowd. It's not just that she's different, but also that most of the town is obsessed with the concept of Satanic cults hiding in the woods. And when the preacher's daughter goes missing, the police is quick to suspect Audre's family...

I really enjoyed this! It's a YA horror story that is ambiguous in many ways, while also highlighting the real-life horror that is religious zealots. Dealing with the self-righteous, who honestly believe they're doing 'god's work', is terrifying. And fucking gross, tbh.

Anyway, I really liked Audre's voice. She was stubborn, determined, and believed in herself. Something that's hard to do for any teenager, let alone one who doesn't fit the forced narrative about how a girl is supposed to dress, behave, and have a crush on. Plus I loved her parents. They were cool and so supportive, about so many things.

The family dynamic really worked for me. As well as the setting and the fact the story was set in 1996. Very cool.

Also, the mystery at the core of the story turned out to have a good twist. I suspected some, but not all of it.

This is a great book!


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THE PROM QUEEN by R.L. Stine

The Prom Queen by R.L. Stine
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Well, I just read another Fear Street book. I picked this one because I found out it's going to be the next Netflix movie! Oh, and because of that seriously cool and macabre cover.

It's time for prom, and that means a new Prom Queen will be picked. The five candidates—Lizzy, Dawn, Simone, Rachel and Elana—also happen to be friends. So there's a lot of excitement in the air, not to mention the drama club's spring production to look forward to as well. And there's that killer stalking girls, so when one of the candidates goes missing, everything changes...

This book is SO much fun. Loved it!

I really like how the air of dread and suspicion hangs over the story from beginning to end. Also enjoyed the many red herrings thrown our way. And that final confrontation scene is killer!

The story is told in the first-person POV of Lizzy, which I thought was a great idea. Lizzy is an interesting and easy character to follow. The poor girl goes through quite a lot. That the friendship between these five girls ranges from very close to petty to competitive to downright hateful, is also captured very well.

So far, in this series, I've read stories featuring cheerleaders and prom queens, and I think Stine has a knack for portraying teenage girls. I'm impressed. I mean, I read Goosebumps all the time so I know he can write girls very well, but these are teenagers. I can't wait to meet some of the other characters.

Anyway, I love the mysterious horror vibes in this one, and that all the boys (except Kevin) are somewhat creepy. 😬

Awesome book!

 

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THE FIRST EVIL by R.L. Stine

The First Evil by R.L. Stine
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love Goosebumps and really enjoyed the Fear Street Trilogy on Netflix, so when I noticed a bunch of the Fear Street titles on special, I picked some up for my Paperwhite.

Corky and Bobbi Corcoran are sisters who recently moved into a house on Fear Street. They also happen to be awesome cheerleaders. But when they join the Shadyside High squad, awful things start to happen...

I really enjoyed this! I'm glad I started here because it was a LOT of fun. Sure, there's also some freaky stuff, but it was all very entertaining and I had a great time. I also liked the drama and suspicion that creeps into the story.

Although, I have to admit that I was surprised by the terrible fate of one of the characters (😫) but hey, this is a horror story. It's got some creepy stuff and I enjoyed the mention of Sarah Fear because I remember her from the movies.

One thing that I always love about Stine's writing is how well he does the bare bones storytelling. He doesn't spend countless of pages on character descriptions, or even their feelings and backgrounds. Instead, he gives you just enough to get the perfect picture in your mind, which ends up being quite a bit.

I'm looking forward to reading more of these!

 

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YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO DIE TONIGHT by Kalynn Bayron

 

You're Not Supposed to Die Tonight by Kalynn Bayron
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Yesterday, I was looking for a book to read, but because I have SO MANY on my TBR pile and want to read all of them at the same time, I got my husband to pick one for me.

And he picked this one! ☺️

During the summer, Charity is the 'final girl' in a horror camp simulation game in the middle of nowhere. Here, she works with a group of fellow teenagers who welcome groups of people who want to have the experience of 'surviving' a slasher. In the same location where one was actually filmed in the early 80s. But this year, the staff are leaving without notice, there are strange sounds coming from the lake, and it's obvious something weird is going on...

Wow. What a great slasher! I love that it fits so well within the subgenre expectations, yet still provides a unique twist. And that ending! 😳

The story is narrated by Charity, who is a final girl to the core. She takes her job seriously, her responsibilities are the most important thing, and she's a caring, concerned friend who wants to keep everyone safe. Unfortunately, this is a slasher and we all know how hard it is to stay out of danger. Let alone, survive the night.

Still, I really liked her voice and determination. No matter what, she wanted to keep pushing through all the obstacles in her way. And trust me when I say, there were many.

I REALLY enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more stories written by this author. I like her writing style. The narrative and bleak situations were as well-written as the gore. And I was on the edge of my seat all the way through.

Awesome fun! 🔪


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REAL LIFE SUCKS LOSERS DRY by Cassandra Daucus

 

Real Life Sucks Losers Dry by Cassandra Daucus
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I picked up a copy of this novella the other day and was looking forward to reading it. I mean, look at that awesome cover. And how can I resist a book named after a quote from Heathers? I love that movie!

When Blade—Archibald to everyone but himself—meets the new girl in school, he's totally smitten. Chrissy is different and she actually likes him. Listens to him. And even though she keeps him at a safe distance, she does make him feel good. Until everything changes...

OMG. This story is SO engrossing. I almost read it in one sitting, but it got too late and I had to put it aside to get some sleep.

Anyway, I really enjoyed this vulgar little tale from the POV of a guy who's only real concern is getting off. 😅 So, when he meets a girl who seems to match his energy, he's ecstatic. Except, all is not as it seems. And before Blade realises what he's doing and what is happening, it's too late.

This is a great, bloody story with a nightmarish vibe. Definitely worth checking out.

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EXPECTATIONS by B.T. Hayes

 

Expectations by B.T. Hayes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was lucky enough to read an ARC of this novel and I have to say, I was hooked as soon as I started reading.

This story doesn't waste any time getting started and throws the reader into a very violent and confronting scene. Who is this man and why is he doing this? How did we get here? But there are enough hints to start putting the clues together when we're introduced to the main characters.

I enjoyed the way the three POVs flow with each other and allow the story to grow. Jamie and Dale are such great narrators, two smart kids who finally get together and face a lot more trouble than they suspect. I also couldn't shake the unnerving dread. The closer I got to the end, the more I didn't want to get there.

Expectations is an engrossing and very disturbing read that I couldn't put down. On one hand, it's about the normal everyday complications. On the other, it's about the depravity of the human mind when exposed to stimuli secretly craved but not realised. It's also quite sad, really. And definitely delivers a devastating knockout.

Definitely worth your time.


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SABRINA THE TEENAGE WITCH: Something Wicked (Sabrina, Volume 2) by Kelly Thompson, Veronica Fish, Andy Fish & Jack Morelli

 

Sabrina: Something Wicked by Kelly Thompson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Glad I got stuck into this one right away because it continues from the first volume and throws Sabrina into a bunch of problems.

She's interested in two guys but can't seem to make either one of them happy. She's trying to help Radka and Ren but it leads her to someone she didn't expect. She's trying to stay away from her aunt's while befriending another witch. She's tired all the time so her grades are slipping and she keeps forgetting about her friend Jessa.

And this is all while trying to get comfortable with her magical powers and their long-term cost.

I love how this installment was all about trying to find the right balance. Something that is sometimes really hard to find, especially when you add magic and trying to hide her witchy side.

The artwork is once again beautiful.

Wonder if more issues are coming because I'd love to read them.

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SABRINA THE TEENAGE WITCH (Sabrina, Volume 1) by Kelly Thompson, Veronica Fish, Andy Fish & Jack Morelli

 

Sabrina the Teenage Witch by Kelly Thompson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love all things Sabrina, so when I found out about this comic book series I was eager to check it out.

Sabrina Spellman is a teenage witch trying to balance her mortal side and witchy powers. Which is harder since she moved to Greendale with her aunts and has to adapt to a new high school. Unfortunately, strange things always find her...

OMG. The artwork in this book is AMAZING. Very pretty and colourful. It's also adorable and cute, plus SO MUCH FUN! I really like the vibes here. Not only is it cute, but there's still an edge of darkness at every turn.

This version of Salem is snarky. I love him! Hilda and Zelda are as mysterious as ever. There's also Harvey, but he has a rival in Ren. I like how Sabrina likes two boys and wants to get to know them on her own terms. Jessa's a nice addition, too.

I'm REALLY enjoying this story and can't wait to read more.


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IMMORTALITY: A Love Story by Dana Schwartz

 

Hazel Sinnett is alone and half-convinced the events of the year before - the immortality, Beecham's vial - were a figment of her imagination. She doesn't even know if Jack is alive or dead. All she can really do now is treat patients and maintain Hawthornden Castle as it starts to decay around her.

When saving a life leads to her arrest, Hazel seems doomed to rot in prison until a message intervenes: Hazel has been specifically requested to be the personal physician of Princess Charlotte, the sickly granddaughter of King George III. Soon Hazel is dragged into the glamour and romance of a court where everyone has something to hide, especially the enigmatic, brilliant members of a social club known as the Companions to the Death.

As Hazel's work entangles her more and more with the British court, she realizes that her own future as a surgeon isn't the only thing at stake for her. Malicious forces are at work in the monarchy, and Hazel may be the only one capable of setting things right. 

I loved the first book in this duology, and was looking forward to finding out how everything was going to end.

After Hazel lost Jack, she retreated to her family's Hawthornden Castle and has been helping people with medical emergencies. But when she's arrested for murder and thrown in jail, Hazel is convinced her life is over. Until she's shipped off to London to become the sickly Princess Charlotte's personal physician, and stumbles on a whole lot more...

Well, as expected, I started reading this book and couldn't put it down. Actually, I got halfway in a few sittings because I was hooked!

Hazel's story continues a year after what happened with Dr. Beecham and Jack. She can't get over the boy she fell in love with and the note he sent her, but he hasn't reached out again and she gets lost in what drives her passion—her work.

I loved the ups and downs, how secrets unfold and a whole new world opens up in a different location. The mysteries that lie beneath London are intriguing and miraculous. As well as what's going on in the castle, which reveals a sweet tale that I hadn't expected but especially enjoyed.

The new cast of characters added in this installment enrich the atmosphere and create new wonders and problems for Hazel. Both personal and professional obstacles she has to overcome with the knowledge she's picked up along the way. 

Immortality: A Love Story is a thrilling conclusion to this fantastic story, and I enjoyed every minute I spent in this alternate version of history. There are surprises, shocks, as well as twists and turns, but mainly this truly is a love story at its core.

A dark love story that has the power to overcome... immortality.

Thank you Hachette Australia for sending me a copy of this awesome book.

Immortality: A Love Story, February 2023, ISBN 9780349433400, Piatkus

SQUAD by Maggie Tokuda-Hall & Lisa Sterle

 

Squad by Maggie Tokuda-Hall
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I've had my eye on this colourful graphic novel for a while, and decided to read it tonight.

When Becca starts attending a posh high school, she's positive she won't make any friends. But then she helps a popular girl and gets invited into their group. Except, these aren't regular girls, and Becca makes a decision that changes everything...

You know, there are some really cool things about this story. I love the bright and pretty art. The feminist angle mixed in with werewolf lore is very interesting. There's a sweet sapphic connection. Teenage girls pushing back against the patriarchy is always great. But all of these excellent factors are undermined by a bunch of pesky passive aggressive, vaguely racist, and questionable issues.

This is really unfortunate, because I really wanted to love this.

Also, I know these are supposed to be mean girls, but this group was SO hard to like. Asides from Becca and Marley, the other characters are not pleasant. All the boys sucked. Not a single one of these characters were worth liking. I especially didn't like Arianna. Or, Becca's mother who got on my nerves. Most of her dialogue is awful and even unrealistic.

Yeah, there are some good things about this, but the pesky annoyances and everyday cliches definitely got in the way. 🫤

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HOUSE OF HOLLOW by Krystal Sutherland

 

House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I've wanted to read this book for a while, but for one reason or another, it kept slipping away from me. So, I decided to get stuck into it first thing Monday morning. And fell into it instantly.

Iris and her two older sisters disappeared when they were kids and returned a month later. After that, the family fell apart, the girls developed an insatiable hunger, their hair and eyes changed colour, and they became inseparable. Until the other two left Iris behind to chase their dreams of stardom. But now, Grey has gone missing and they're all about to find out the terrible truth...

Wow. This is such a fantastic book!

Like I said above, I was captivated by this story as soon as I started reading. It's a contemporary fairy tale of the darkest kind. Everything about these sisters is mysterious, absolutely enthralling. I couldn't put the book down for long because I wanted to know what was waiting around the corner.

The imagery is beautiful, in a very macabre way. Every detail is described so vividly, I could smell all the sharp scents Iris experienced. Not to mention that the mystery about where these three sisters went, what power they hold, and why they came back, was enough to keep me turning the pages.

It's packed with characters that are interesting, have individual personalities, and share a lot of awesome interactions together. And Iris is such an intriguing narrator.

I absolutely LOVED everything about this fairy tale, and when the truth is revealed... yikes. This also features some freaky body horror.

I'm not surprised that I enjoyed this so very much, because I adored the previous two books this author released. She writes lyrical, addictive tales with darkness creeping in around the edges.

 

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WALL OF DOLLS

... was released one year ago.

Can you believe it? Yikes.

Yep.

My story, set during Halloween, about a small town that loves the season and is hiding a secret family legacy, has been out in the wild for a year.

So, Happy Anniversary to my first published YA horror novel!

Yay. 🎃🎉

Although my little tale, about a group of four friends who get caught up in a creepy situation after waking an old evil in the woods, hasn't gotten much attention since it's release last October, I'm still incredibly proud of Quin's story.

I wrote this novel during NaNoWriMo several years ago, and revised it quite a few times before it was ready to start its Submission Adventure. When Otranto House contracted my strange book about girls and dolls, I was very excited. Not only is it a spooky tale, but it was my first attempt at telling a story via first-person narrative, journal entries, and letters.

This is a small post to celebrate that WALL OF DOLLS is still available. And I reckon that's a fantastic achievement. 😊

So, if you're interested in checking it out, here's the info:

For generations, the women of the Lucas family have lived in the small town of Whenall, Massachusetts, at Raven House. They make dolls that they call wardens to protect the townsfolk, a long tradition that some might think holds no power, but a tradition that Whenall enjoys all the same.

Quin is proud of her heritage, her cousin Beth, however, isn't interested in her position as the future family matriarch. The girls spend their time with their two closest friends, Henri and Al, with Beth always taking the lead, flirting with the boys and leading them into mischief.

One Halloween night, Al finds a Ouija board in the attic of Raven House, and Beth eagerly encourages them all to play with it, but Quin knows that these boards are not a game. Something was unleashed that Halloween night, and a year later, the girls will face the consequences. Can Quin stop them from being devoured by the evil force that spoke to them that night? The force that haunts the woods surrounding Whenall? With Henri by her side, she is sure as hell going to try...

Also, you can grab a copy from:

Amazon | Otranto House website | The Book Depository

Thanks for reading and sharing my excitement!

😁

DEMON IN THE WOOD: A Shadow and Bone Graphic Novel by Leigh Bardugo & Dani Pendergast

 

The Darkling's origin story comes alive in this exquisitely illustrated prequel to Shadow and Bone.

Before he led Ravka's Second Army, before he created the Fold, and long before he became the Darkling, he was just a lonely boy burdened by an extraordinary power. Eryk and his mother, Lena, have spent their lives on the run. But they will never find a safe haven. They are not only Grisha - they are the deadliest and rarest of their kind. Feared by those who wish to destroy them and hunted by those who would exploit their gifts, they must hide their true abilities wherever they go. But sometimes deadly secrets have a way of revealing themselves . . . 

I really enjoyed the Grisha Trilogy, so of course I was interested in reading the Darkling's origin story.

Being Grisha means that Eryk and his mother Lena are constantly on the run. They need to hide from those who fear and want to kill them. But Eryk's power is different even amongst the Grisha, so they have to be extra careful...

This story might be short, but packs quite a punch. It's so strange to see the Darkling as such a timid young man who listens to everything his mother tells him, even though he dreams of living in one place where his kind can be safe. It was also bizarre to watch others trying to take advantage of him.

I mean, I know what he's capable of and everything he does afterwards. So yeah, it was nice to see he wasn't always an arrogant tyrant.

This is a graphic novel, and I need to mention how beautiful it is. Every illustration adds so much to the words, enhancing Eryk's tale while giving a visual peek into this dark and dangerous world. Not to mention, his power.

Demon in the Wood is another brilliant addition to the Grishaverse. It not only provides insight into a young man who simply wants a home, but is also chilling when you remember what comes next.

It's a keeper!

Thank you Hachette Australia for sending me a copy.

Demon in the Wood: A Shadow and Bone Graphic Novel, September 2022, ISBN 9781510111141, Orion Children's Books