The Cut by CJ Dotson

Thank you Netgalley, the publishers, and CJ Dotson for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. Some readers may find the content upsetting. Contains spoilers.

Sadie Miles takes her toddler and runs from her abusive fiance, finding herself in a sleepy lake side town in Ohio, looking for a fresh start. In order for her to start her new life, she needs a job. This is where she finds herself a house keeping job at the L'Arpin hotel. From the first night she starts noticing strange things happening at the hotel. Guests mysteriously disappearing, co workers disappearing, and strange tentacle creatures that come from the water. No one believes anything Sadie claims she has seen. Writing it off as paranoia due to her pregnancy. But the truth is, they are all hiding something sinister. This includes Gertie, the kind old lady who took care of her daughter for her while she worked. Sadie finds herself in the fight of her life against the hotel, the tentacle creatures, and her abusive ex Sam(but don't worry, he gets what's coming to him).

I have to say I love this book. I got an uneasy feeling from the beginning, in the best way possible. And what I thought would be a haunted house story, changed into a monster story, leaving me pleasantly surprised. CJ Dotson did a wonderful job referencing domestic violence without being graphic. Proving you can tackle sensitive subject matter respectfully. I would have liked more character development with Sadie, but I suppose can't fault her for not growing, given her situation. Maybe more of an explanation about the lake and the creatures. With that being said, I really did enjoy this book and would read again. 

4/5 

What Happened At Hawthorne House by Hadassah Shiradski

 Review contains spoilers....

Thank you net galley and Hadassah Shiradski for a copy in exchange for !y honest review.

This novella is about a children's game that turns sinister and the consequences of the game. Contains subject matter that may be upsetting to some readers.

This book takes place at an orphanage in 1929. A group of girls come up with a game called The Clover Court, where much like real life royalty, the Queen holds the power. It starts out innocent enough. Girls vying for the position of queen, where they hold power in the game and amongst the girls in their day to day. At first I was bored. Girls being mean. Yawn. We get it. But then it turns sinister. And yes, that's where it got my attention. These girls turn violent on top of their cruelness. And it ends with their death. That held my attention.

And then we get the second half. While I love that we get what leads to the haunted house,it falls flat on the haunted house part. The house is being rebuilt and a medium is overseeing the development. His goal is the rebuild the Hawthorne House while he attempts to finish the game and set the girls free. This never happens. It just ends after a group of what I assume mediums enter, years after the house is rebuilt. Just nothing. It ends. No solution, good or bad. Very unsatisfying to a book that started out strong.

The first half had me on the edge of my seat. The second half was a struggle for me to finish. So much more could have been done to bring this novella full circle. To end it. Honestly would not read again and would only recommend you read the first half. The ending of the first half is enough to get you what you need from this novella.

3/5 rating