Dark.  Chilling.  All consuming.  

Jessa thought her night couldn’t get any worse.  So, coming home to find a runaway child being chased by a monster of a father was much more than she bargained for.  Still, she couldn’t say no to helping the boy.  But that meant they both had to go on the run.

Cassidy’s writing was engrossing.  The blend of gruesome horror with spine tingling psychological suspense immediately grabbed hold of me.  With every new scene, tension mounted, and the anticipation of what would come next made for an adrenaline-fueled race to the end.  Maybe most frightening was the horrifying sense that, in the end, “no one would be spared,” though maybe not in the way I had first imagined. 

This is a dark and consuming read full of brutality and raw terror. But it’s also an emotionally charged narrative about the ways fear can shape and control us.  This juxtaposition between the two fights—one for sheer survival and the other an introspective one against inner demons—enriched the plot and the messaging.  Because sometimes, it’s hard to decide if what’s in your head is scarier than what’s right in front of you.  

The ending!  Pure brilliance.  So creative and smart.  And listening to Cassidy’s reflections in the afterward heightened the entire experience.  Chef’s kiss.   

This was my first read by Cassidy, but I already have Nestlings and Mary queued up!   

🎧Narrator Helen Laser delivered a nuanced performance that embodied the full range of emotion within this storyline.  From intensity to dread, and from to grief and anguish... Laser amplified the horror elements while maintaining a thoughtful inner dialogue for Jessa.  

Many thanks to my friends at @tornightfire and @macmillan.audio for the free #gifted copies of this book.