by Natalie Kikic

A Horror, 2026 by Park Row, 320 Pages 

What I Didn’t Like:

• The dual timelines take a bit of getting used to. There’s a lot of names between the two of them and it took me a bit to get my bearings.
• The big reveal of the diary could have lingered a bit longer. As it is it felt a bit rushed.
• The ending felt odd for a horror story. Almost as if a romance author intended to give a happily-ever-after ending to a horror book. It didn’t match with my expectations.

What I Did Like:

• The small town vibe is alive and well here. The entire town seems to think this curse is real and that adds to the tension of the story well. 
• The dreams were suitably terrifying. Even as you spiraled closer to the reveal there was an undercurrent of tension every time the main character went to sleep. Loved that! 
• The Croatian words were a great addition. I appreciated this little glimpse at the way of life for this island town. 

Who Should Read This One:

• Readers who are new to horror or who don’t want all out gore and horror may love this one. It sort of eases you into the scary stuff and then has a good resolution. 

My Rating: 3 Stars