Kayla Frederick's Blog

Title: The Sorrowstones

Author: Felix Blackwell

Link: https://www.amazon.com/Sorrowstones-Felix-Blackwell-ebook/dp/B0FZ7FXW3G/

“They’ve traveled the dark of forever. Now, they’re yours.”

A collection of wicked idols has appeared in Westmaple, falling into the hands of eleven-year-old Cole Graves. They come bearing wondrous gifts, and Cole quickly falls under their spell.

Soon, horror descends upon the quiet town. One by one, the statues unleash ancient curses that throw the boy’s world into chaos. Shadows encroach upon his mind as the people he loves meet hideous ends.

At first a weird mystery, the arrival of the Sorrowstones sets off a nightmarish saga of death and madness—and Cole’s dark quest to get rid of them.

5/5 Stars

Felix Blackwell is one of those authors you can always count on for a gripping, unforgettable read. The Sorrowstones, is proof of that.

It all starts innocently enough. Eleven-year-old Cole, out trick-or-treating, finds a strange stone tucked in his bag. From that moment on, things spiral into a nightmare. As the years pass, more mysterious figures show up, each carrying a dark, dangerous secret. The stones are tied to something far more unsettling.

I went into this book ready for dread and creepiness, but I found so much more. Felix Blackwell masterfully weaves in themes of choice, consequence, and how our decisions ripple out to impact the lives of others. The horror isn’t just in the stones. It’s in the very real, very human experiences that shape these characters’ lives. While there is prominent supernatural horrors, the story also showcases issues such as bullying and mental illness.

I know it’s common to say a book is hard to put down, but this one I seriously could NOT stop reading. I devoured it in two sittings (would’ve been one if I wouldn’t have had to stop for the dentist). The layers of grief, dread, and suspense were so well done, I had to keep reading to find out what the stones would do next.

And if you love late 90’s/early 2000’s nostalgia, this book has got plenty of that as well. If you’re looking for a story that blends supernatural suspense with real emotional depth, The Sorrowstones is one you won’t want to miss.

Title: The Shadow Over Lone Wolf Lake

Author: D.W. Hitz

Release Date: December 1st, 2025

Link: https://us.amazon.com/Shadow-Over-Lone-Wolf-Lake-ebook/dp/B0FWXSWZDL/

Sometimes dead doesn’t mean dead, and sometimes family is bound by more than blood.

After the death of his cantankerous grandmother, twelve-year-old Drew Kline and his family move into her house. It boasts a vast, fantastic forest, a broad and beautiful lake, and it also happens to be Drew’s father’s childhood home and the place where his young uncle disappeared twenty-five years ago.

The night of his arrival, in the crawlspace of his bedroom, Drew discovers a miniature human skull. It’s a curiosity between him and his brother Dean, sparking a debate about whether the thing is real or some well-sculpted decoration. When he invites his friends to spend their last weekend of summer break exploring the property’s woods and his uncle’s clandestine fort, which contains a burial ground of pixie-size bodies, they inadvertently find themselves trapped in a land of the dead.

What follows forces Drew’s father to relive the horrific mystery of his uncle’s disappearance and reveals a long-held family secret that has cursed generations. If Drew and his friends want to return home, they’ll have to survive in that strange land as they fight their way back, and his father will have to confront an evil that will only be satisfied with blood.

5/5 Stars

Moving into a new house is stressful enough, but what if the house sits on land with a portal to a nightmare realm where death lurks around every corner? Now that is a move nobody could ever prepare for.

After a tragic loss, Drew and his brother Dean return to their family’s home, a place shrouded in dark history. Years ago, their uncle vanished from the very same house, and now, Drew and Dean are about to uncover the chilling truth of where he went and why he never came back.

Told through two timelines, one set in the 1990s and the other in the present day, this story weaves together a rich narrative and a layered atmosphere that pulls you deeper into the mystery, revealing terrifying truths and a darkness that has been waiting for decades.

From eerie creatures and otherworldly monsters to the spine-chilling horror of the upside-down realm, every page of this story ratchets up the tension. I loved the eerie monsters and the creatures in the other world. They all sounded so horrifying in many different ways.

The ending wrapped up the story perfectly.

Faustian bargains, cosmic monsters, family secrets, and an upside-down world, this story easily has everything someone could want in a dark fantasy or a horror book.

Title: Sleepy Hollow Incident Book #3

Author: P.D. Alleva

Releases: November 18th, 2025

Link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0F2N44RRV

Where desire collides with darkness, every secret bleeds, and love is the most dangerous weapon of all.

Winter in Sleepy Hollow grows colder—and deadlier. As Detective Stephen Carver investigates a string of mutilated corpses marked by satanic symbols, his search draws him closer to a hidden truth that could unravel the very soul of the Hollow. The deeper he digs, the more he feels the malignant pull of something ancient, something that feeds on fear and sacrifice.

Meanwhile, Lori Francon awakens to a new nightmare. Poisoned by betrayal and hunted by the shadows of her own family, she discovers that the house she once called home is a cathedral of corruption, its foundations bound to demons and blood rites. What waits for her inside is more than madness—it is a revelation that could damn her bloodline forever.

And Marc Saduj, hollowed by fever and haunted by the demon scar carved into his flesh, finds himself drawn back to the village streets. But with every step, the Man in Black’s grip tightens, dragging Marc closer to a possession that could unleash hell on earth.

As the walls close in, old bargains resurface, new devils arrive to claim their due, and the line between the living and the damned dissolves. With the Francon legacy steeped in sacrilege and Sleepy Hollow itself trembling on the edge of chaos, Lori must face a question more terrifying than death itself:

When love is twisted into a curse, can it still be the key to salvation—or will it open the gates to eternal ruin?

Gothic, brutal, and mesmerizing, The Sleepy Hollow Incident: Book Three plunges deeper into a world of forbidden love, demonic possession, and cosmic horror. For fans of The Witching Hour and The Haunting of Hill House, this installment will leave you breathless, broken, and begging for more.

5/5 Stars

The darkness is slowly consuming more and more of Sleepy Hollow. Who will survive and who will be lost? I’m on the edge of my seat, and I can’t wait to see how it all plays out!

Of all the characters, I’m rooting for Lori the most. She’s really been through it, and I can’t help but hope she has a happy ending after all she’s been through. I was also super invested in Carver’s POV. The more he learns about the town’s history, the more sinister everything becomes.

Another banger in the Sleepy Hollow Incident series. Tension is so tight, it feels like the story is a page away from everything exploding. With this being book three out of four, you know things are about to get wild.

Title: The Dead Husband Cookbook

Author: Danielle Valentine

Link: https://www.amazon.com/Dead-Husband-Cookbook-Danielle-Valentine-ebook/dp/B0DVD6LJZ5/

A deliciously wicked new thriller from New York Times bestselling author Danielle Valentine.

One husband, well done.

When infamous chef, restaurateur, and television personality Maria Capello’s husband died, the media circus was intense…and quick to cast the blame. Whispers claimed Maria murdered her husband to build her culinary empire on his bones, and that there was an all-too-grisly reason his body was never recovered. Yet for the past few decades, the Capello family maintained their stoney silence—until now.

Thea Woods has no idea why she was chosen to work with Maria on her sure-to-be-infamous memoir, but she doesn’t question her luck. Spirited away to the Capello’s rustic upstate farm, she’s soon embroiled in the mystery—and cut off from the rest of the world. It should be the job of a lifetime, but something’s not quite right with the close-knit clan, and Damien Capello isn’t the only one to go mysteriously missing over the years. As the true story of Maria’s past unfolds and the stench of rot hidden behind the kind coastal grandmother veneer rises, Thea finds herself trapped…and desperately afraid.

Because there are reasons why Damien’s body was never found…and why, in over thirty years, Maria Capello has never revealed the secret ingredient in her most famous recipe.

5/5 Stars

When Thea gets the opportunity to become editor for celebrity chef Maria Capello’s memoir, it’s the answer to her prayers. Her life is on the cusp of falling apart, and if she can nail this job, she’ll be in the clear. Except there’s a reason Maria sought out Thea of all editors to work with, and things are far more sinister than she could guess.

This book absolutely gave me whiplash by how many times my thoughts went back and forth. Not only was this a phenomenal whodunit, but there were also moments that made it feel like a did they do it because it became a mystery of who’s dead and who’s not.

What moved me the most were the feminine undertones. The desire to have the perfect family and the heartbreak that comes when it falls apart despite your best is such a visceral, haunting feeling. As a mother myself, I understood that wish and that pain a little too well.

The cleverest part about this book were the recipes scattered throughout, which get progressively more heartbreaking the deeper into the book you read.

I haven’t heard anyone talking about this one, and it’s such a shame because this was a beautiful mix of horror, suspense, mystery, familial secrets, and feminine rage. Bet you won’t be able to guess what Maria’s secret ingredient is!

Title: Darker Days

Author: Thomas Olde Heuvelt

Narrator: Teri Schnaubelt

Link: https://www.amazon.com/Audible-Darker-Days-A-Novel/dp/B0F255W8HY/

“Darker Days reinforces that Olde Heuvelt is one of the most vital and exciting voices in modern horror” —Mike Flanagan, director of The Haunting of Hill House, The Fall of the House of Usher, and Dr. Sleep

“Darker Days is a remarkable and disturbing morality tale about the true cost of lucky lives. It’s a tremendous achievement by Thomas Olde Heuvelt as well as a frightening gift for readers.” —Owen King, author of The Curator

From the author of the internationally acclaimed bestseller HEX comes a modern twist on the Faustian tale about a gilded street in a Pacific Northwest town where the charmed residents have made a frightening deal…resulting in devastating consequences.

Sometimes you think you can see things behind the fence. Bad things. So it’s better not to look….

In Lock Haven, a quiet little town in Washington State, Bird Street is a special place. The residents of this pretty cul-de-sac on the edge of the woods are all successful, healthy, and happy. Their children are prodigies; well-mannered and…unnaturally smart.

But come November, the “Darker Days” descend, bringing accidents, bad luck, conflict, and illness. Luana and Ralph Lewis-da Silva prepare for this, and so do their children Kaila and Django. It is in November when a stranger appears to collect on a longstanding debt. A price must be paid for the good fortune they enjoy the rest of the year. A sacrifice must be made.

So it has been for over a century. To assuage their guilt, the residents of Bird Street choose carefully who will be sent into the woods. Usually, it is an elderly or terminally ill individual who wishes to die with dignity and is content to be helped on their way.

But this year, things don’t go to plan, and events take a terrifying turn….

Darker Days is a propulsive, haunting novel that begs the questions: “How far will we go for our own happiness and what sacrifices are we willing to make?”

5/5 Stars

If you could have everything you ever wanted at the cost of a month of darkness, and a (human) sacrifice, would you do it? How would you choose the sacrifice?

These are a few of the questions this book will leave you with.

One neighborhood, one deadly secret. Everyone on Bird Street knows the drill. When November comes around, so do the Darker Days, a time of calamity until the price is paid.

Every character has their own reason for keeping the tradition going—sickness, family, desire—but all their wishes end in the same way.

The Accountant was an interesting villain, though I’m not sure if that’s the right term for him. He’s not quite the devil. He’s something else. Something darker. Something made of the worst of humanity.

This was a truly harrowing read. There were moments when I found myself in complete disbelief at the lengths the characters would go to just to survive another November. The tension is palpable, and the stakes couldn’t be higher.

I kind of seen the ending coming, but I loved the foreshadowing leading up to it and thought it was the perfect way to wrap things up.

Thought-provoking and haunting, this is now firmly in my top five reads of 2025. A book that will stay with you long after the last page is turned.

Title: The Devil’s Doorway

Author: Steven Pajak

Link: https://www.amazon.com/Devils-Doorway-Steven-Pajak-ebook/dp/B0DRJLC49Q

When a grieving widower turns to the occult in a desperate attempt to contact his dead wife, he unwittingly opens a doorway to unimaginable evil. A malevolent entity slithers through, latching onto Walter’s pain and growing stronger with every mournful brush stroke as he pours his anguish into increasingly disturbing paintings.

His daughter Kate, Aided by her old friend James and a mysterious medium named Tiqua, uncovers chilling secrets as she battles a malevolent entity feeding on her father’s pain. His disturbing paintings might hold the key to banishing the darkness–if Kate can unlock their hidden message in time.

Packed with supernatural suspense and heart-pounding emotion, “The Devil’s Doorway” is a spine-tingling story from the author of “The Haunting of Elena Vera” that will keep you gasping until the final page. Once you step across this threshold, there’s no turning back.

4/5 Stars

If horror books and movies have taught me anything, it’s that nothing good happens when you mess with Ouija boards.

When a grieving widower becomes desperate to contact his spouse on the other side, he learns this lesson the hard way. Now, it’s up to his daughter, Kate, to piece together the truth and uncover the chilling secrets behind what’s happened to him.

Emotional and suspenseful, this book delves deep into the complex feelings of grief, guilt, and everything that lingers after losing a loved one. If you’re a fan of grief horror, this one’s definitely worth a read.

Title: Kill Beth

Author: Jon Cohn

Link: https://www.amazon.com/Kill-Beth-Jon-Cohn-ebook/dp/B0FCSN3MSW

The scariest thing isn’t what you’ve forgotten—it’s what remembers you.

Theater director Mike O’Brien is called back to the town of his childhood and his nightmares for a project he can’t say no to, but as rehearsals begin, his reality starts to warp. Shadows move when no one’s watching. Cast and crew suffer gruesome accidents. Strange screams emanate from the apartment next to his. And everywhere Mike turns, one haunting message follows him, like a cursed echo.

Kill Beth is a chilling psychological horror novel with supernatural suspense, unreliable memory, and a spiraling descent into madness. It’s a dark, atmospheric thriller that explores trauma, obsession, and guilt—with twists that keep readers turning pages late into the night.

5/5 Stars

The last thing Mike O’Brien wants to do is return to his childhood town. Not after everything  that happened the last time he was there. When he gets a call from his friend, Nate, about directing a project, he can’t say no to the offer. But once Mike is back in town, he’s quick to discover that his past isn’t finished with him yet.

I didn’t think I’d find another favorite read of the year since we’re getting close to 2026, but this is now in my top 5 reads of 2025. The drama, the suspense. It was all so perfectly executed.

Not to mention, I really love books that let us see the inside of a character’s mind as they start to unravel while at the same time leaving room for plenty of surprises. The twists in the last few chapters had me staring at a wall for a while because they were that brilliant.

Seriously, if you’re a fan of psychological horror/suspense, don’t sleep on this one.

Title: Libby Lives

Author: Ali Toothman

Link: https://www.amazon.com/Libby-Lives-Ali-Toothman-ebook/dp/B0DQVJ5LBL

Summary

Everyone in town knows Libby Turner as the sweet waitress at The Rustic Spoon, but they don’t know about the bodies buried in her past. After surviving a childhood of brutal abuse, Libby finally has a shot at a normal life – including an unexpected romance with a protective local cop who makes her feel truly safe for the first time.

Then the notes start appearing. Someone is watching her. Someone knows her darkest secrets. And they’re determined to make her pay for what she’s done.

Raw, unflinching, and emotionally charged, “Libby” explores the blurred lines between victim and perpetrator, justice and revenge.

My Review

4/5 Stars

Libby Lives is a gripping novella that plunges readers into the dark and complicated life of Libby Mae Turner, a woman haunted by the abuse of her past. When she finally begins to experience safety and real love, sinister notes start to arrive, threatening to expose her darkest secrets and make her lose it all.

This was one of those books that makes you say “good for her.” Ali Toothman did a wonderful job at exploring complex themes of abuse, recovery, and what it means to really take charge of your life.

The story was not only suspenseful, but it was also woven with real emotion. I felt like I could connect to Libby because of the way that she continues to fight for a fresh start and a life where she’s free from her demons, both internal and otherwise.

I can’t wait to see what happens to her in book two!

Title: Invasive Entities

Author: Paul Avery Tindol

Link: https://www.amazon.com/Invasive-Entities-Collected-Horror-Stories-ebook/dp/B0DP3H5CVK

They’re all around you.

In your new rental house with a tragic backstory… under the surface of Caddo Lake… looking in through your windows… with things that should’ve stayed buried… in something even as harmless as a sourdough starter… and in many other places you’d least expect.

These invasive entities come in all forms, and in these collected horror stories from Paul Avery Tindol, you’ll find them lurking behind every page.

5/5 Stars

Once again, Paul Avery Tindol delivers a five-star read, though at this point, I’m hardly surprised. After devouring Hunting Snipe and This House Will Never Be Warm, I can confidently say he has a true talent for weaving unsettling, eerie tales.

Invasive Entities is a captivating collection of short stories, each more intriguing than the last. My personal favorites were Peeping Thomas and King Tut’s Majik Sourdough Starter. Though they were worlds apart in tone and setting, they both fit seamlessly into the anthology’s dark and eerie theme.

This collection is sure to become an instant favorite for anyone who loves stories that linger in the mind, creeping under your skin and staying there long after the last page is turned.

Title: Hurt people, Hurt People

Authors: Ben Young, Edmund Stone, Gage Greenwood, Leigh Kenny

Release Date: September 12th, 2025

Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FLHD7MRY

Hurt is a cycle.

It is said that those who have experienced pain are more likely to inflict pain on others. Within these pages are four examples of the perpetual nature of trauma, and of horrific acts which breed human monsters.

A disgraced med student continues practicing surgery outside of the operating room.
A disfigured woman attempts to overcome her pain with horrifying results.
A working mom learns that running from her past only makes it more dangerous.
A ballet dancer tries to escape the trauma that shadows her.

As one tale bleeds into the next, and suffering begets suffering, they’ll each learn the true meaning behind the old adage…
Hurt people HURT people.

5/5 Stars

It’s true what they say: hurt people, hurt people. This collection of four stories explores the idea of how trauma can lead a person to accidentally (or not so accidentally) hurt others.

The Surgeon: A med student desperate to help his mother performs facial reconstruction on some unfortunate women.

The Patient: A woman dealing with her recently butchered face, takes to the streets to confront her demons.

Awabama (My favorite in the collection): In an emotional rollercoaster of a story, a Mom tries to handle the trauma of her assault but winds up in an unfortunate situation at her daughter’s sleepover.

Tiny Dancer: A girl who survived the events at a sleepover slaughter tries to bury her demons in dance, but when another girl steals her routine, and her chance at a future, the demons take control.

The collection was impactful because it showed not only the tragic choices the MCs made but also the things that made them human. The things they desperately wanted to do with their lives and the things that they lost because of their trauma. The characters tried their best to cope with it all but sometimes, it’s just not possible.

Real food for thought.