Category Supernatural / horror

The Vengeance (The Vampires of Dumas Book 1) by Emma Newman #NetGalley #vampires #pirates @Solarisbooks #bookreview

yvonnembee 2 Comments

I am delighted to share my review of The Vengeance by Emma Newman. This is the first book in The Vampires of Dumas series, and I adored it.

My huge thanks to Solaris Books for accepting my request to read this title via Netgalley.

Morgane grew up at sea, daughter of the fierce pirate captain of the Vengeance, raised to follow in her footsteps as scourge of the Four Chains Trading Company. But when Anna-Marie is mortally wounded in battle, she confesses to Morgane that she is not her mother.

The captain of the enemy ship reveals he was paid to kill Anna-Marie and bring Morgane home to France and her real family. Desperate to learn the truth about her lineage, Morgane spares him, leaving the Vengeance and everything she knows behind.

Her quest reveals a world of decadence and darkness, in which monsters vie for control of royal courts and destinies of nations. She discovers the bloody secrets of the Four Chains Trading Company, and the truth about her real mother’s death, nearly twenty years before…

MY REVIEW

Now and again, it is nice to dip into the world of vampires, and I have to admit, when I saw this book’s cover, it caught my eye. I mean a skull and crossbones with swords, cutlasses, ships and various other bits, it is distinctive.

So obviously, this is not a straight-forward swashbuckling action adventure story; it does have vampires. The main character is Morgane, who sails with, who she thought was her mother on The Vengeance. Anne Marie is the captain, and it is on her deathbed that she drops this revelation. This sets Morgane on a path that will change her life. She is not aware of vampires, like I was when it is mentioned in the title, so it also goes that she is not aware of any others’ plans, plots, schemes, and shenanigans to either help or hinder her on the search for her real mother.

This is a fabulous book and just what I needed, it is a dark book that is the first in the series.. There is a good amount that is not mentioned until a lot later in the boo,k and while this may put some readers off I liked it. It meant I got to know Morgane’s thoughts, expectations and how she had been brought up on as a pirate on a ship in the Caribbean. After the death of her aunt, Morgane travels across the world to France, where she is unaware of how society expects women to dress, act, or speak. She is supposedly from a moneyed family, but not having access to the education that young ladies would have had, she was brought up with drinking, cursing, climbing the rigging and wearing practical clothing.

Her arrival in France is not straightforward. It is fraught with danger, and no sooner does her foot touch land than she is in trouble. She gains a friend, however, when she is rescued, but who her rescuer is and his role are something she is not fully aware of.

A good amount of this book deals with Morgane, giving the details of her life. I really enjoyed this as it meant the culture shock was more prominent and gave a sort of credibility to the way she behaves. Luckily, she gains an ally, and between them, they can travel, learn more about Morgane’s family, but also hear some strange mutterings about things lurking in the dark. This adds to the suspense of the story and the danger that seems to follow Morgane, although the full reasoning behind this is not revealed until much later.

This is the first book in the series, and it ended well; it gave closure to one part of the story while leaving it open for the next in the series. This is an action-packed adventure story, a thriller and a fast-paced plot. It has a lot going on and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It is one I look forward to continuing with and one I would definitely recommend.

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

Small Fires by Ronnie Turner @OrendaBooks #fiction #gothic #mystery #bookreview

yvonnembee

I am delighted to share my review today for Small Fires by Ronnie Turner. This is the third book by this author and it is amazing 😍

My huge thanks to Orenda Books for getting in touch to see if I wanted to read and review this. My review is unbiased and completely my own thoughts and opinions.

Midsommar meets Midnight Mass in a folk horror, modern gothic masterpiece.

Evil runs through this cursed island

And these wicked sisters are about to make it burn…

When sisters Lily and Della Pedley are persecuted for the shocking murder of their parents, they flee from their home in Cornwall to a remote and unnamed island in Scotland – an island known for its strange happenings, but far away from the whispers and prying eyes of strangers.

Lily is terrified of what her sister will might do next, and she soon realises that they have arrived at a place where nothing is as it seems. A bitterness runs through the land like poison, and the stories told by the islanders seem to be far more than folklore.

Della settles in too easily, the island folk drawn to her strangeness, but Lily is plagued by odd and unsettling dreams, and as an annual festival draws nigh, she discovers that she has far more to fear than she could ever have imagined. Or does she…?

Chilling, atmospheric and utterly hypnotic, Small Fires is a contemporary gothic novel that examines possession, generational trauma, female rage, and the perilous bonds of family – an unsettling reminder that the stories we tell can be deadly…

MY REVIEW


I really don’t know where to start with this book, apart from saying it is absolutely amazing! While it is a mystery and does have a sense of a thriller, it is also a fabulous work of fiction, the author has woven in many other elements. This gives it a strong gothic vibe, which, by the way, I adore.

Two sisters travel from where they lived in Cornwall up to a remote island in Scotland. They are warned about going to the island as there is a general perception that people who live there are mysterious and isolated and it is somewhere people go to disappear or be forgotten about. It doesn’t even have a name.

The story is told and my goodness the author has brought folklore, myth, fairy tales and a good amount of creepiness to this story. This is one of those stories that just captures your attention, as the author weaves her words, they weave their way into your head.

The sisters are like chalk and cheese, they had a traumatic experience which is why they have chosen to travel away. Away from the rumours and the whispers, but even out on an island, their story follows them.

There is a mix of past and present and also that of the sisters. The rumours of the island and what its history is, well that is something else entirely. But as much as it is different, it is also very fitting for the characters that have a part to play. There are different thoughts, opinions, experiences and expectations. As much as this sounds it could be quite confusing, the author has kept the flow and the story running beautifully. But, she did take 5 years and several rewritings to get to this wonderful book.

The way the author chooses her words, phrases and the overall feel of the story is lyrical, she creates some wonderful images from her writing. The sisters are portrayed so well, I suppose I should mention that they are called Della and Lily, and they have their own traits and behaviours.

This is a gothic mystery that at times broaches into fantasy, horror and supernatural, but it is a thriller with crime mixed amidst the pages. It has such a wonderful; flow between the chapters and the characters and the island comes alive as you read the book.

I adored this one so much, it is enchanting and bewitching, about good and bad, a fabulous mix of genres and an absolute delight to read. I would definitely recommend this book, it is amazing.

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

Devil’s Door: Haunted #2 by Lee Mountford #KU #horror #occult #ghoststories #bookreview

yvonnembee 2 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today for Devil’s Door by Lee Mountford. This is the 2nd book in the Haunted series and it takes the reader back to the fateful night in 1982.

Halloween night, 1982. Many people were brutally killed or simply vanished at the Blackwater Hotel—formerly Perron Manor. The events of that night have always remained a mystery.
Until now…
Ray and Rita Pearson, along with their daughter, Chloe, move into the hotel to help with its renovation and grand opening. All under the watchful eye of the mysterious owner, Marcus Blackwater.
But as they move closer to the opening date, things begin to happen in the hotel that are unexplainable. And Rita herself begins to change.
Unbeknownst to the family, there are other plans in place, and Marcus Blackwater has his own agenda—one started by his grandfather many years ago.
The story culminates in a horrific turn of events that changes everything you think you know about the house… and its inhabitants.

MY REVIEW

This is the second book in the Haunted series. The first book was a great introduction, gave some information about the house/ manor/ hotel, and was set in the present. This second book goes back in time to the 1980s, when it was turned from Perron Manor to the Blackwater Hotel.

The manor has had a lot of history and there are rumours that it is haunted. Rita Pearson has been invited by her brother Vincent to work at the manor. He is a close friend of the current owner, Marcus Blackwater. Looking for a new position anyway, this could be the solution that she, her husband Ray and daughter Chloe are looking for.

Marcus is wanting to drop the name of Perron Manor and in doing so turn it into a hotel but also to try and get away from the stigma, rumour and reputation that has gradually surrounded the place, which is understandable. Bringing in a family to run and oversee the changes is a good idea.

As the changes are taking place, there seems to be an ok feel about the place, but as the hotel opens there is a lot more stress, interrupted sleep patterns and odd smells and cold spots. Initially, it is explained away as it is an old building, but there is a feeling of something else going on. I know I would want to stop in this place and this is a feeling that Ray is beginning to get, also it makes him think about how safe is his daughter. He and Rita are becoming less of a couple and spend most of the time ignoring each other, she has something to prove so tensions are running rife.

As tensions between the family grow, so do the atmospherics and eeriness of the house. The house is in some ways a character in its own right, but then there are the “other” characters, you know the unreal, supernatural creepy as hell ones. They have a “presence” obviously, and there is some indication that something else is going on. Vincent is not much help, and he pootles away in the background, almost unseen, while Marcus is the star of the show.

Everything that goes on in the book is toward the culmination of what happens on Halloween of 1982. This is creepy and has a fabulous spooky and climactic feel. It also then gives more details that were missing from the first book. I know this may sound odd, but this flipping back and forth across two books has worked so well and I am definitely looking forward to reading the next book.

This is one for fans of supernatural, horror-style thrillers, mystery, occult and ghost stories. A fabulous story and one I would definitely recommend.

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

The Winter Spirits: Ghostly Tales for Frosty Nights #shortstories #ghost #fiction #fantasy #bookreview

yvonnembee 4 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today for The Winter Spirits. This is a collection of short ghosty tales that have been written by different authors and are ideal for snuggling up by the fire to read.

From the creators of The Haunting Season comes a dazzling collection of never-before-seen ghostly tales.

The tradition of a haunted tale at Christmas has flourished across the centuries. These twelve stories, authored by some of today’s most loved and lauded writers of historical and gothic fiction, are all centered on Christmas or Advent, boldly and playfully re-imagining a beloved tradition for a modern audience. Taking you from a haunted Tuscan villa to a remote Scottish island with a dark secret, these stories are your ultimate companion for frosty nights.

Featuring new and original stories from Bridget Collins, Imogen Hermes Gowar, Kiran Millwood Hargrave, Andrew Michael Hurley, Jess Kidd, Natasha Pulley, Elizabeth Macneal, Laura Purcell, Susan Stokes Chapman, Laura Shepherd-Robinson, Stuart Turton, and Catriona Ward.

MY REVIEW

This collection of 12 short stories has a definite spooky and supernatural feel. They are ghostly and are great for reading by the fire, at least that is when I read them over the New Year period!

The stories range in topics, but they all have an eerie undertone. They are written by different authors, some of which I have heard of, some I have read books from, but the majority I have not come across. This makes the collection ideal for discovering authors you may not have come across before.

The short stories are as follows –
Host by Kiran Millwood Hargrave
Inferno by Laura Shepherd-Robinson
The Old Play by Andrew Michael Hurley
A Double Thread by Imogen Hermes Gowar
The Salt Miracles by Natasha Pulley
Banished by Elizabeth Macneal
The Gargoyle by Bridget Collins
The Master of the House by Stuart Turton
Ada Lark by Jess Kid
Jenkin by Catriona Ward
Widow’s Walk by Susan Stokes-Chapman
Carol of the Bells and Chains by Laura Purcell

They all have a gothic and mystery edge to them and are mostly set in the UK, for me, this adds to the overall atmospherics of the stories, their settings and the general feel. They are mostly historical fiction and again this adds to the gothic vibe.

With any collection of short stories, there are always going to be some that hit the spot more than others, and this one was no exception. For me, there was a mix of 3, 4 and 5-star stories but all were good and very readable.

A good collection for the winter months and they will send some chills and eeriness to the reader. Happy to recommend this collection.

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

Perron Manor – Haunted 1 by Lee Mountford #KU #horror #mystery #thriller #bookreview

yvonnembee 2 Comments

I am delighted to share my review of Perron Manor by Lee Mountford today. This is the first book in the Haunted series and it was brilliantly addictive and suspense-filled. This book showed up on my Kindle, you get the adverts you get when you turn your device on, well this was one of the suggestions and it was ideal for me. It has also given a new author to follow 🙂 I am also aware of the tagline at the top of the cover that does mention this being BOOK 1 🙄😂

At the time of writing this review, this book was available on Kindle Unlimited.

Perron Manor—a place evil calls home

Sisters Sarah and Chloe inherit a house they could never have previously dreamed of owning. It seems too good to be true.

Shortly after they move in, however, the siblings start to notice strange things: horrible smells, sudden drops in temperature, as well as unexplainable sounds and feelings of being watched.

All of that is compounded when they find a study upstairs, filled with occult items and a strange book written in Latin.

Their experiences grow more frequent and more terrifying, building towards a heart-stopping climax where the sisters come face to face with the evil behind Perron Manor. Will they survive and save their very souls?

Haunted: Perron Manor is Book 1 in the Haunted series, which continues with Haunted: Devil’s Door

MY REVIEW

When I first spotted this, it was the cover that caught my eye. It looks sinister and dark and the story behind that façade follows the same feel.

When two sisters are bequeathed a house from an Uncle, it is a chance for them to move in together and live in a Manor. I mean who doesn’t dream of living in a large house? Well after reading this book, I don’t dream of it!

Sarah has left the army and is looking for somewhere to settle so when Chloe suggests that she join her in the house it is a great chance. Not only that there is a chance for her to get more cuddles from her niece Emma, Chloe’s husband also joins them. He works away at times so having Sarah there means that Chloe and Emma are not alone.

There is a lot to sort out, the house needs updating, the furnace needs replacing, there are lots of items to go through and then there is the reputation that comes with the house. Chloe has been at the house before when she was 6 years old and there was an incident. She is not aware of the details but does know that it wasn’t spoken about by her parents as it was so disturbing and involved the deaths of several people.

The girls soon discover things that don’t feel right, cold spots, things in the periphery of their vision, noises, and smells.

For me, this is a fabulous start to a series, there is plenty to keep me occupied with the descriptions the author gives of the house, the people and the rumours. He injects a good amount of intrigue at the beginning and he gradually builds up on this, adding suspicion, tension and more drama. Some details of the past are revealed and there are interesting items that the sisters discover.

When I started this book, I did not realise it was the start of a series, so when I got to the end I thought that was it. There was a good ending, and it seemed fitting to me. Then I noticed the next book being mentioned so I had to rethink! Yes, it comes to an ending, but there is that cliff hanger aspect to it that does naturally lead you into the next book, so yes I will then be reading that one as well.

This is ideal for those looking to get into a horror, suspense, occult-style thriller and it is one that I thoroughly enjoyed. It definitely gave me the creeps and I would definitely recommend it.

Many thanks for reading my post, a like and a share would be amazing 🙂 xx

Empire of The Damned Jay Kristoff #NetGalley #horror #fantasy #supernatural #vampires #bookreview

yvonnembee

I am delighted to share my review today for Empire of The Damned by Jay Kristoff. This is the second book in the series and it is another fabulous book. I would recommend reading the first book in this series. My full review of that book, Empire of The Vampire, can be read HERE

My thanks to Harper Voyager for my e-copy of this book via NetGalley.

Gabriel de León has saved the Holy Grail from death, but his chance to end the endless night is lost.

After turning his back on his Silversaint brothers once and for all, Gabriel and the Grail set out to learn the truth of how Daysdeath might finally be undone.

But the last Silversaint faces peril, within and without. Pursued by children of the Forever King, drawn into wars and webs centuries in the weaving, and ravaged by his own rising bloodlust, Gabriel may not survive to see the truth of the Grail revealed.

A truth that may be too awful for any to imagine.

MY REVIEW

This is the second book in the Empire of The Vampire series and I would recommend reading these in order as the first book gives a lot of background information.

In this second book, the story continues, well, Gabe’s recounting of his story continues. He is protecting The Grail and trying to find who can help unlock the secrets of how The Grail can end the darkness that hangs over the world the author has created. Gabe is a silversaint and is sworn to protect and kill vampires and their spawn. He is on the edge; if you have read the previous book, you will know how this makes him dangerous. He is still in control but there are other forces that are testing his resolve.

This is another brilliant installment in the series and once again the author has created a tense and atmospheric thrill to the book. While he continues the journey there are more things that are brought into the equation. There is The Grail and what people think is the right thing to do, will The Grail end the darkness and the vampires? It is still unclear, and there are only a couple of people alive who can potentially solve the mystery.

This is a fast-paced story and it never lets up, the chase is continuous and there is little respite for the characters. The danger lurks everywhere and the battles they have are ferocious. I adore how this is all brought together and the author has a brilliant way of creating some very vivid imagery.

This is a series that is a mix of horror and fantasy, mystery, suspense, action, danger and supernatural thriller. I adored this second book as much as the first and I cannot wait for the next one. I would definitely recommend it.

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

Empire of the Vampire by Jay Kristoff #fantasy #horror #thriller #vampires #bookreview

yvonnembee 1 Comment

I am delighted to share my review today of Empire of the Vampire by Jay Kristoff. This is the first book in the series and one that I bought last year but just got to. I do have the second book to read from NetGalley so I wanted to read these in order.

From holy cup comes holy light;
The faithful hands sets world aright.
And in the Seven Martyrs’ sight,
Mere man shall end this endless night.

It has been twenty-seven long years since the last sunrise. For nearly three decades, vampires have waged war against humanity; building their eternal empire even as they tear down our own. Now, only a few tiny sparks of light endure in a sea of darkness.

Gabriel de León is a silversaint: a member of a holy brotherhood dedicated to defending realm and church from the creatures of the night. But even the Silver Order couldn’t stem the tide once daylight failed us, and now, only Gabriel remains.

Imprisoned by the very monsters he vowed to destroy, the last silversaint is forced to tell his story. A story of legendary battles and forbidden love, of faith lost and friendships won, of the Wars of the Blood and the Forever King and the quest for humanity’s last remaining hope:

The Holy Grail.

MY REVIEW

This is the first time I have read a book by this author and I can definitely say it will not be the last. This is the first book in the Empire of the Vampire series, the second book is due at the end of this month(Feb 2024).

The story is about Gabriel de León, Gabe is a half-breed and is taken from his home to train as a Silversaint. His mother was human and his father was a vampire. He is not the only half-breed in this book but he is slightly different to the others. Most have a special gift, yet, Gabe doesn’t seem to have one. He is looked down upon, and he must make an extra effort every stage of his training. He is deemed to be worthless and from peasant stock.

The story of Gabe, his time before going to the Silver Order Brotherhood, and his battles against monsters and other enemies. It is not told in the usual way, instead he is relating history to another. The scribe he is dictating to is a vampire, they are enemies but Gabe has no choice but to divulge his story.

This was a fabulous read and I am so glad I eventually came to reading this one. The story is of family, friendship and serving a higher order. This is a story of how Gabe found and then lost his faith but also of how he has become the feared man he is known as.

The author gives a huge amount of detail to Gabe and those he gradually befriends. A mix of mystery and murder with horror and paranormal aspects to it. It is not a straightforward fantasy novel but one that mixes a lot of things into it. This in some ways gives it a historical fiction feel but it is obviously fantasy as there are the vampires! Mentions of knights, grail, secret orders, and inquisition, give it knights templar-style, but a darker and definitely a lot more dangerous.

The vampires do have some things that are an accepted version of how they can be killed but the author takes it a lot further. The world in which he sets this story is one where the darkness is taking over, the sun is not as bright as it used to be and the tie of dark days and darker nights give vampires an extra edge. This does not mean that the silver order is without power, they have their own powers, and they can fight and kill.

Gabe is a character who comes across as a loner, secretive and also an angry character. There is not much about him that you like as such, but that does not mean he is completely unlikeable. The further I read about him the more I was able to get to understand him. His story is one of fights, flights, battles, and secrets and every step of his journey is full of action, adventure, revenge, determination and there is a lot more as well.

After reading this first book I cannot wait to get to the next one. I will also be looking at other books by this author and I am so happy to add another fantasy author to my list. A brilliant start to a series and if you are a fan of high fantasy then this is one you should have a look at. I adored this and I would definitely recommend it.

About the Author…

Jay Kristoff is a #1 international, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of fantasy and science fiction. He is the winner of eight Aurealis Awards, an ABIA, has over two million books in print and is published in over thirty five countries, most of which he has never visited. He is as surprised about all of this as you are. He is 6’7 and has approximately 12,000 days to live.

He does not believe in happy endings.

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

Taken by Shalini Boland @ShaliniBoland @SecondSkyBooks #NetGalley #youngadult #paranormal #romance c#bookreview

yvonnembee

I am delighted to share my review today for Taken by Shalini Boland. This is the 2nd book in The Vampires of Marchwood trilogy. You can read my review of the first, Hidden, HERE.

This has been republished by Second Sky, this is the sci-fi and fantasy part of Bookouture and Hatchett. My huge thanks to the publishers for granting my request this read this title via NetGalley.

Falling in love has never been so deadly…

From USA Today bestselling author Shalini Boland comes the addictive Vampires of Marchwood series. Perfect for fans of K.F. Breene, Sarah J. Maas and Tracy Wolff.

My name is Madison Greene and I was an ordinary teenager until I fell in love… with a vampire. Alexandre is tall, with a sexy French accent and mesmerizing eyes. He makes me feel protected, and he’s completely captured my heart.

At Marchwood House, our sprawling mansion nestled in the English countryside, we’re in our own perfect bubble together. But, in the blink of an eye, everything changes when an old enemy of Alexandre’s sets a trap and rips me away from my boyfriend’s arms.

The ancient demon takes me to his underground city, deep beneath the windswept desert. In the twisting tunnels and enormous vaulted caverns, there’s a bloodthirsty vampire around every corner. I’ve never been so terrified…

It seems like there’s no way out from this underground maze. My life is hanging by a thread, and every second I’m here is a step closer to death. I can’t just sit here and hope that Alexandre will rescue me.

Can I outsmart a city of vampires to escape from this hellish place? And will I ever see Alexandre again?

(Previously published as: Thicker Than Blood)

MY REVIEW

This is the second book in the Vampires of Marchwood trilogy and it follows so well from the first book. Where the first book was very good and I thoroughly enjoyed it, this second one really does give you something to get your teeth into, so to speak!

Maddie did not expect to share her house with a long-lost and unknown section of her family. As far as she was aware it was just her and her brother Ben, but it turns out she does have more and they are vampires. The first book laid the foundations and this second book takes on a brilliant turn of pace and ups the ante for all involved. When Maddie is kidnapped, her vampire boyfriend Alex knows where he has to go. What follows is a cat-and-mouse game across Europe and back to Turkey, where Alewx and his friends were first turned.

I adore the way the author uses a duel timeline for these books, not only do they give a good idea of the trials of the present-day setting, but they also take the reader back in history. This is where they first became aware of the vampires. The story focuses on a young woman as well as those who live in a Marchwood House. It is such an interesting story and one that I really enjoyed, how a young woman manages to survive. It is also a chance to see how far Alex will go to save Maddie, and yes what she will do to try to save herself.

There are some things that are reminiscent of Twilight, but only small bits. The general feeling of this series is something older and dangerous at play and there are some wonderfully tense and edge-of-your-seat scenes.

This is a horror as there are vampires, so there are sections of blood and guts. But this is also a story about a family coming together and learning to adapt to new surroundings, even though they can only see these surroundings at night!

This story has a good pace to it and it brings the characters together and shows how they get on. It is not all easy though and there is some tension at times but there are things that the author has thought about that make these books very addictive. It has left me eager but also sad to read the third and final book.

This is a really good book, it has tension, a good atmospheric eerie and creepiness that I really liked. A sense of family and friendship and building trust. Ideal for those who like stories aimed more at Young Adult readers but also works incredibly well for older young adult readers! I would definitely recommend this book.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Shalini – I write psychological thrillers and dark adventures, and I live in Dorset, England with my husband, two children and our dog. I only write reviews for books I enjoy!

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

A Psychic Subterfuge by J.P Alters @RandomTTours #horror #paranormal #psychologicalthriller #bookreview

yvonnembee 1 Comment

I am delighted to share my review today for A Psychic Subterfuge by J.P Alters. This is a fabulous book and I absolutely adored it.

My huge thanks to Anne at Random Things Tours for my copy of the book and my spot on the tour.

Everything has a plan…

Mary Obosa Jameson, a diagnosed schizophrenic, attempts to take her own life and is admitted to a state-of-the-art psychiatric hospital.


Mary hears voices and has friends that nobody else can see… but what she does not know, is that she is actually a powerful medium and that everything, has a plan.


Whilst admitted to the hospital, Mary makes friends who uncover a fiendish conspiracy. Mary’s life, and the lives of her friends are in great danger and only she can save them, but does she believe?


They are her friends. However, when you are diagnosed with schizophrenia, how do you know what is real, and what is not?


A Psychic Subterfuge is the first book in a series of paranormal thrillers featuring protagonist Mary Jameson, by debut author: JP Alters.

MY REVIEW

I was really intrigued when I read the synopsis for this book and it was one I decided I really fancied. I am so glad I gave this a chance because it was brilliant right the way through. From an addictive and emotional start going through some amazing scenes, events, mysteries, terrors and suspicions to an amazing ending. It has left me wanting to read more in this series as soon as possible.

Mary has non-treatable schizophrenia, she has just been admitted to a world-class treatment centre after trying to end her life. This is top of the art, full of luxurious surroundings and a small group of residents that are helped by staff and nurses. All under the watchful eye of Dr Adelia Sinclair, she has been working on alternative treatments and therapies that allow her patients to go on to live lives out in the community.

Mary is nervous when she arrives, it is so different to the usual mental health units she3 has been in, it is quiet, and clean and she has her own room with nice clothes. There is one thing that she is missing though, and that is the voices of those who have followed her around, some for years. Many think Mary is crazy, but she isn’t. She has a gift and hasn’t yet realised it.

This is such an amazing book to read, it was emotional but not necessarily in the way you would think. The story focuses on Mary, her life, how she came to be in this unit and the people she meets there. In some ways, the author plays on some of the stereotypes of how people with serious mental illnesses are perceived. This works very well with how previous treatments were used. The approach that Adelia takes with her patients in this book shows of progressive modern thinking. This is where again the stereotype comes in, conspiracy theorists. Again it is something that fits with stereotypes and perceptions along with muttering, mumbling, rocking and unacceptable behaviours.

This is a mix of several genres, for me, the mystery was the main one along with a good thriller vibe. I would say this has a strong paranormal element, but within the context of the story, it is one that works incredibly well. I know some people will look at the genres and turn away from this style, but for me, it is the mystery of what is happening and why that makes this book so very good. But then I do lie the odd paranormal read from time to time.

This book delves into some tough issues that people have gone through, they can be tough at times but they are part of the story and one or two are particularly heartbreaking. By the end of the book, I was caught up in emotions that I didn’t expect from this genre. An amazing feeling, with many positives and a definite interest in wanting to read more in this series. It is one I would definitely recommend and I look forward to reading what the author comes up with next.

I also have to mention how brilliant the title is for this book!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

A debut, indie author, J.P. loves writing, and in December 2022, self-published the first in her series of paranormal thrillers: A Psychic Subterfuge.
J.P. Alters writes under a pen name. A people person, J.P. has enjoyed many jobs throughout the years, working in either social care or mental health. Currently, she has two jobs, sharing her time between being a mum to three children, her role as a mentor, and working for a homeless charity.
J.P. hopes to write books that are accessible and appealing to many. Most of all, she plans to continue to enjoy the writing ride, and hopes her readers will too!
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Hide by Kiersten White #NetGalley #mystery #thriller #20booksofsummer #bookreview

yvonnembee 4 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today for Hide by Kiersten White. This is a mystery thriller that has a supernatural twist to it. My thanks to the publisher Del Rey Books for approving my request to read this title via NetGalley.

This is book 6 of 20 in my #20booksofsummer reading challenge.

The challenge: spend a week hiding in an abandoned amusement park and don’t get caught.

The prize: enough money to change everything.

Even though everyone is desperate to win–to seize their dream futures or escape their haunting pasts–Mack feels sure that she can beat her competitors. All she has to do is hide, and she’s an expert at that.

It’s the reason she’s alive, and her family isn’t.

But as the people around her begin disappearing one by one, Mack realizes this competition is more sinister than even she imagined, and that together might be the only way to survive.
Fourteen competitors. Seven days. Everywhere to hide, but nowhere to run.

Come out, come out, wherever you are.

A high-stakes hide-and-seek competition turns deadly in this dark supernatural thriller from New York Times bestselling author Kiersten White

MY REVIEW

It was definitely the cover that stood out for me when I requested this title to read via NetGalley. Very distinctive and also quite ominous looking!

 The basics of the story are a game of hide and seek, but this version is not the happy one, this one is sinister and it also brings back memories for one of the contestants.

The story is one that flits back and forth through the decades, it is done various times throughout and it is ideal for filling in the history and the timeline of the old abandoned amusement park. Straight away I would be heading in the opposite direction, I mean those places look really creepy and ominous when you see images on the Internet! Thank goodness the author ran with the idea as it turned out to be a cracking read.

The characters are from various backgrounds, some you will get to know better than others, and some you wish you didn’t know at all. But there is a small group that does seem to be ok despite how they are looked upon by others.

The reason for the game of hide and seek is told, but not until later on in the story and definitely not in full, you will have to wait a bit longer for the full details to emerge. There are two sides to this story and what the sides are and what that means for everyone is something that the author has done well. Think of it as like “the have’s” and “the have nots” and then you realise that there are more serious tones that have roots back in the history of the story.

This is partly a horror-style story, and yes there were some eerie and creepy scenes, and this kept up the tension and added to the overall mystery of the tale. It is one of those stories that you can imagine being told by a campfire to scare others at night. Definitely atmospheric and nicely paced as well, with a slower beginning that gradually sped up until a full run for the finale.

I really enjoyed this book and it is the first time reading anything by this author so I am pleased to see there are many other titles for me to read. This is one for those who like a supernatural horror-style story, with some blood, some guts and some eerily creepy moments, It is also a mystery, crime thriller story so I do think it would appeal to many different readers. I really enjoyed this and I would happily recommend it. 

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx