Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. 

 

This is the kind of book that settles into you, nestles itself into your bones. It’s the kind of book you can’t forget easily, and when you think about it a chill runs down your spine. I am new to horror, but I have to say, this book is what I have always thought horror to be. 

 

You have Jude, a 6-year-old autistic kid who doesn’t know how to properly regulate his emotions; Eloise, a young mother who struggles with being a good parent and pretends to be someone else; and Brendan, a supposed goofy guy who is hiding secrets. And then you have the house that Jude claims to hurt and scare him. Nothing could possibly go wrong. 

 

I was gripping my phone with a pounding heart reading this. It starts off slow, showing a perfect family but the fear creeps up slowly like frost. It’s thrilling, as you read the house becoming bolder, more desperate. You start jumping at sounds and creeping around corners. You can’t stop turning the page because you have to know how this is going to end. It starts eating away at your sanity. Who is the bad person? Eloise? Bren? Is everyone insane? You don’t know entirely who to believe reading this book. 

 

As slow as the plot builds up, it crashes fast. All of a sudden everything happens and the ending leaves you reeling, wondering what on earth happened. And then you’re left staring at the wall. 

 

I am quickly growing in love with CG Drew’s writing. It was the perfect amount of dialogue and description, and it drags you into the horrors of this house and the families. I’m highly anticipating Hazelthorn!