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Toxic Bloodlines : Thicker than water
BOOK 1 - Second Edtion
Seventh Heaven was your run-of-the-mill, quiet, sleepy town, until three meteorites fell.
That’s when things took a dark and twisted turn.
Secrets buried with an insidious purpose in the depths of the town, begin to crawl their way to the surface, creeping and slithering its way into the light.
Bloody deaths, disappearances, and violent happenings.
Kimberly Shoshana, and her group of friends end up in the throes of chaos and evil after a prank goes terribly wrong.
As if growing up isn’t complicated enough, Kim and her friends will have to unearth the evil that plagues Seventh Heaven while traversing the ups and downs of adolescence.
But to fight the root of all evil, one of them must seek within.
Enter Seventh Heaven at your own risk - but be warned, you may never leave.
With a chilling plot and unforgettable characters, this thrilling, brutal, action-packed horror story will draw you in from the start.
RATED 16+
Seventh Heaven was your run-of-the-mill, quiet, sleepy town, until three meteorites fell.
That’s when things took a dark and twisted turn.
Secrets buried with an insidious purpose in the depths of the town, begin to crawl their way to the surface, creeping and slithering its way into the light.
Bloody deaths, disappearances, and violent happenings.
Kimberly Shoshana, and her group of friends end up in the throes of chaos and evil after a prank goes terribly wrong.
As if growing up isn’t complicated enough, Kim and her friends will have to unearth the evil that plagues Seventh Heaven while traversing the ups and downs of adolescence.
But to fight the root of all evil, one of them must seek within.
Enter Seventh Heaven at your own risk - but be warned, you may never leave.
With a chilling plot and unforgettable characters, this thrilling, brutal, action-packed horror story will draw you in from the start.
RATED 16+
389 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 26, 2023
9 people are currently reading
213 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
May 25, 2023
☠︎︎sɴɪғғ ᴛʜɪs ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴇʀɪᴄᴀ.ᴛʜᴇ.ʙᴏᴏᴋ.sɴɪғғᴇʀ ☠︎︎
I was honored to receive an E-ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review:
Something has awakened in Seventh Heaven. 3 small meteorites hit the vacant neighboring town, which had already suffered a tragic past. This occurrence sets off a chain reaction of unexplainable experiences for Kim and her group of friends and frienemies.
Sniff Test: Seeing as how I read the EBook I was unable to smell the pages. But I'm almost certain it smells like marigolds and Embers ♡
Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
This title ReReleases Friday May 26th
Toxic Bloodlines - Thicker Than Water by E.E. Ossai is an action-packed YA Horror Fantasy. This book had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. I don't want to give any spoilers, so I will highlight a few of my favorite feelings the book gave me.
◇ Buzz Words◇
• Haunting Past
• Malevolent
• Cover Ups
• Magic
• Family
■ Positives:
● Immediately from the first chapter I was invested. E. has a way of creating a picture with words thats unlike any I've read before. I enjoyed the emboldened words highlighting intense emotion or spots in the book. It read almost like an incredible comic or graphic novel which I loved.
● Chapter 10! Oh my goodness. The details, the meticulous painting of the scene that E. created. It had my heart racing. In a good way. If any person in television or film happens to see this review. Please read this book. I could see every sequence play out in my head and it would be perfect for a series or even an animated movie.
■ Caveats:
I honestly didn't have any significant issues with the book. I noticed a few spelling errors,but nothing too major. And like I said earlier, I actually enjoyed the breaks and bold fonts at points. The chapters are fairly long and I suffer from cognitive impairment, so i had to take a few breaks. But thats a ME issue lol. I didn't mind the long chapters due to the fact that E. put so much detail into each one. So it painted the picture so much more vibrantly.
All in all I absolutely loved this book. I can't wait to read more from the author. ♡
☠︎︎Erica.The.Book.Sniffer☠︎︎
I was honored to receive an E-ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review:
Something has awakened in Seventh Heaven. 3 small meteorites hit the vacant neighboring town, which had already suffered a tragic past. This occurrence sets off a chain reaction of unexplainable experiences for Kim and her group of friends and frienemies.
Sniff Test: Seeing as how I read the EBook I was unable to smell the pages. But I'm almost certain it smells like marigolds and Embers ♡
Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
This title ReReleases Friday May 26th
Toxic Bloodlines - Thicker Than Water by E.E. Ossai is an action-packed YA Horror Fantasy. This book had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. I don't want to give any spoilers, so I will highlight a few of my favorite feelings the book gave me.
◇ Buzz Words◇
• Haunting Past
• Malevolent
• Cover Ups
• Magic
• Family
■ Positives:
● Immediately from the first chapter I was invested. E. has a way of creating a picture with words thats unlike any I've read before. I enjoyed the emboldened words highlighting intense emotion or spots in the book. It read almost like an incredible comic or graphic novel which I loved.
● Chapter 10! Oh my goodness. The details, the meticulous painting of the scene that E. created. It had my heart racing. In a good way. If any person in television or film happens to see this review. Please read this book. I could see every sequence play out in my head and it would be perfect for a series or even an animated movie.
■ Caveats:
I honestly didn't have any significant issues with the book. I noticed a few spelling errors,but nothing too major. And like I said earlier, I actually enjoyed the breaks and bold fonts at points. The chapters are fairly long and I suffer from cognitive impairment, so i had to take a few breaks. But thats a ME issue lol. I didn't mind the long chapters due to the fact that E. put so much detail into each one. So it painted the picture so much more vibrantly.
All in all I absolutely loved this book. I can't wait to read more from the author. ♡
☠︎︎Erica.The.Book.Sniffer☠︎︎
May 28, 2023
Toxic Bloodlines: Thicker Than Water is an absolutely thrilling read that had me hooked from the very first page to the very last. The pacing of the story is phenomenal and never once did I feel like it was stagnating even slightly. The author has done an outstanding job of keeping the plot moving forward at a breakneck pace that had me on the edge of my seat throughout the entire book.
What I loved most about this book was how easy it was to comprehend and how enticing the story was. The author has a real talent for crafting a story that draws the reader in and holds their attention until the very end. I simply did not want the book to end! The characters were all incredibly well-crafted and I found each and every one of them to be relatable and believable.
Of all the characters in the book, my favorites were definitely Sara and Eleanore. Both women are strong, complex, and flawed in their own unique ways, and I found myself rooting for them throughout the entire story. The chemistry between the two was electric and their friendship was a highlight of the book for me.
I loved this book so much that I would absolutely recommend it to anyone - including those of you in a reading slump! This is perfect to break you out of it! Can’t wait for a prequel to this story! I want to know more about these characters and their backstories. All in all, Toxic Bloodlines: Thicker Than Water is an absolute must-read for anyone who loves a good thrill and suspense! I cannot recommend it highly enough!
What I loved most about this book was how easy it was to comprehend and how enticing the story was. The author has a real talent for crafting a story that draws the reader in and holds their attention until the very end. I simply did not want the book to end! The characters were all incredibly well-crafted and I found each and every one of them to be relatable and believable.
Of all the characters in the book, my favorites were definitely Sara and Eleanore. Both women are strong, complex, and flawed in their own unique ways, and I found myself rooting for them throughout the entire story. The chemistry between the two was electric and their friendship was a highlight of the book for me.
I loved this book so much that I would absolutely recommend it to anyone - including those of you in a reading slump! This is perfect to break you out of it! Can’t wait for a prequel to this story! I want to know more about these characters and their backstories. All in all, Toxic Bloodlines: Thicker Than Water is an absolute must-read for anyone who loves a good thrill and suspense! I cannot recommend it highly enough!
May 30, 2023
I found this book through TikTok. The cover art was gorgeous, and I just had to have it. I was not expecting what I found inside these pages. E.E.Ossai is a very gifted writer, and I’m sure with time, he will be even better. I was hooked from the start to the end, and I binged this whole book so fast. I loved the characters and their relationships, they all felt so real. All the leading characters are BIPOC and it was so refreshing to see a story like because everything was different because the characters were BIPOC, the serious topics in the book were handled with so much care and understanding, nothing was for shock value except the gore. The way he depicted grief actually made me cry. The POV switching in the middle confused me, but I got used to it. It wasn’t too distracting, in fact it added more to the story. The bold text and the capitalised words annoyed me at first, but as the story went on I started to understand that E was trying to go for a comic book look, I might be wrong lol. Lastly, this story is fast paced so if you’re not into that then you will not enjoy this. This series is a gem, and I’m hoping E.E.Ossai gets his flowers soon because this has the potential to be huge. I can see this easily becoming a movie someday. I’m definitely gonna recommend this to my friends. I can’t wait to see where this story goes. I highly recommend you read this.
June 1, 2023
I find myself returning to this amazing story over and over again. The pace, the plot, story, characters and more make this not only an interesting read, but one that goes down in history as unforgettable. A brilliant read.
February 5, 2025
This book was AMAZING!! I’m not exaggerating when I say it completely took over my life while I was reading it! I had such a busy week planned and every time I had to stop, I was honestly a bit sad because I just needed to know what would happen next. (added later: After reading this book a second time, I can tell you it is still really epic.)
The plot? Absolutely EPIC. It’s got that awesome ✨vibe✨ and feeling of shows like ‘Stranger Things’ and ‘The Vampire Diaries’, but even better! From the first page, I was completely hooked, and every twist had me gripping the book even tighter. It’s the kind of book that grabs you and doesn’t let go. At no point did it slow down or lose its energy; it just kept getting better and better! I was constantly thinking about it, wondering about where things might go next.
The writing style was on point too! Every scene was described so vividly without dragging things out, keeping just the right amount of detail. I could picture every setting, every action, so clearly in my head, making it feel like I was right there. It really hit that perfect balance of descriptive and fast-paced, with zero dull moments. (The second time reading this book, I annotated all over my copy (with red of course).)
I am SO excited for everything that is going to happen in other books that take place in this universe. I'm definitely starting the next book soon! I can't wait to dive back into this world again.
If you love books that pull you in so deeply that reality feels like a distant memory, this one is an absolute must-read! Even my second time reading the book I was still hooked with every word, even though I already read it. This book deserves so much more love and I'm going to scream about it to my friends so they will read it.
If you like to read about more books I liked, check out my Goodreads profile. I also sometimes post reviews on Instagram and talk about bookish stuff on Threads.
The plot? Absolutely EPIC. It’s got that awesome ✨vibe✨ and feeling of shows like ‘Stranger Things’ and ‘The Vampire Diaries’, but even better! From the first page, I was completely hooked, and every twist had me gripping the book even tighter. It’s the kind of book that grabs you and doesn’t let go. At no point did it slow down or lose its energy; it just kept getting better and better! I was constantly thinking about it, wondering about where things might go next.
The writing style was on point too! Every scene was described so vividly without dragging things out, keeping just the right amount of detail. I could picture every setting, every action, so clearly in my head, making it feel like I was right there. It really hit that perfect balance of descriptive and fast-paced, with zero dull moments. (The second time reading this book, I annotated all over my copy (with red of course).)
I am SO excited for everything that is going to happen in other books that take place in this universe. I'm definitely starting the next book soon! I can't wait to dive back into this world again.
If you love books that pull you in so deeply that reality feels like a distant memory, this one is an absolute must-read! Even my second time reading the book I was still hooked with every word, even though I already read it. This book deserves so much more love and I'm going to scream about it to my friends so they will read it.
If you like to read about more books I liked, check out my Goodreads profile. I also sometimes post reviews on Instagram and talk about bookish stuff on Threads.
October 8, 2022
E.E. Ossai, I want to thank you for a fantastic read that kept me on my toes the whole time. For a debut novel, this was packed with action, heartache, magic, mayhem, and a strange taste of reality. The reality of how people are treated, the pain of family secrets, being the chosen one but treated like you can never be trusted, all of this. The way I couldn't put this book down while I was reading and devoured it whole was amazing. I truly enjoyed it. Now, this book is told in first person and there are some issues I had with the formatting of this book. The switches in POV don't happen till 60% through the book and it was a smidgen of whiplash, I would love to see E.E have some sort of page break (icon or a squiggle or something) to indicate a POV shift, or maybe build those POV shifts from the very beginning so the reader is accustom to it. However, that being said, the story is what really sold me. The magic system is never explained which is something I LOVE because sometimes magic is just magic and it's scary, confusing, and explosive. I enjoy how raw the emotions in the book were and THE WHOLE FAMILY IS MESSY! Everyone! Everything! Everyone's personal lives are messy and woven in with each other and I live for that. It's fantastic! Absolutely can't wait to read the sequel.
May 21, 2023
I’d like to start this review by thanking E.E Ossai for an arc of this book. I’ve been following the author on tiktok for a while, and have been meaning to read the book and was excited for the chance to get it!
Firstly, I’d like the say the plot of the book is really good. Upon starting the reading, it felt like a movie was playing out in my head — I genuinely could see this book becoming a good film to create, or a comic book, or any other type of visual art. It was a good writing technique to help open up the story and spoon feed me information about what was going on without overwhelming me!
Secondly, I’d like to point out that the only reason I didn’t give this book a higher rating was due to the technical writing. It’s possibly a personal preference, but the bolded words, in all caps, gave me a very novice level of technical writing from the author. If I were to give advice, I’d add more tags and details to *show* the characters’ emotions, rather than the font style doing it for you. There were also points I could tell there were issues with the editing, such as a word having “jj” as a typo in the beginning of it, and words capitalized that shouldn’t be — but the last rounds of edits should be able to catch such things and help that out.
Overall, 3 stars! If you like Stranger Things, I think you’d enjoy this book a whole lot:)
Firstly, I’d like the say the plot of the book is really good. Upon starting the reading, it felt like a movie was playing out in my head — I genuinely could see this book becoming a good film to create, or a comic book, or any other type of visual art. It was a good writing technique to help open up the story and spoon feed me information about what was going on without overwhelming me!
Secondly, I’d like to point out that the only reason I didn’t give this book a higher rating was due to the technical writing. It’s possibly a personal preference, but the bolded words, in all caps, gave me a very novice level of technical writing from the author. If I were to give advice, I’d add more tags and details to *show* the characters’ emotions, rather than the font style doing it for you. There were also points I could tell there were issues with the editing, such as a word having “jj” as a typo in the beginning of it, and words capitalized that shouldn’t be — but the last rounds of edits should be able to catch such things and help that out.
Overall, 3 stars! If you like Stranger Things, I think you’d enjoy this book a whole lot:)
May 30, 2023
I found this book through TikTok. The cover art was gorgeous, and I just had to have it. I was not expecting what I found inside these pages. E.E.Ossai is a very gifted writer, and I’m sure with time, he will be even better. I was hooked from the start to the end, and I binged this whole book so fast. I loved the characters and their relationships, they all felt so real. All the leading characters are BIPOC and it was so refreshing to see a story like because everything was different because the characters were BIPOC, the serious topics in the book were handled with so much care and understanding, nothing was for shock value except the gore. The way he depicted grief actually made me cry. The POV switching in the middle confused me, but I got used to it. It wasn’t too distracting, in fact it added more to the story. The bold text and the capitalised words annoyed me at first, but as the story went on I started to understand that E was trying to go for a comic book look, I might be wrong lol. Lastly, this story is fast paced so if you’re not into that then you will not enjoy this. This series is a gem, and I’m hoping E.E.Ossai gets his flowers soon because this has the potential to be huge. I can see this easily becoming a movie someday. I’m definitely gonna recommend this to my friends. I can’t wait to see where this story goes.
May 31, 2023
Let me start with I am so happy to see a second book coming because as Toxic wrapped up I just wanted more. And I was willing to riot if it just ended here.
I loved the banter in this book amongst the kids and the relatable writing to a new generation of readers.
E.E. did an amazing job keeping me guessing. Just when I thought I was putting something together I was completely wrong. I especially loved the characters in this book even when they were unlikable they were so relatable.
Now to find the patience to wait for Paradise 😅
I loved the banter in this book amongst the kids and the relatable writing to a new generation of readers.
E.E. did an amazing job keeping me guessing. Just when I thought I was putting something together I was completely wrong. I especially loved the characters in this book even when they were unlikable they were so relatable.
Now to find the patience to wait for Paradise 😅
May 26, 2023
Thrilling book, a must read! I love that this is a series, and so excited for the next one! It’s dark and apocalyptic. This book was a nail biter, I love the main characters development and all of the challenges their friends and they have to go through throughout the story. It’s truly an addictive page turner from start to finish!
June 1, 2023
I find myself returning to this amazing story over and over again. The pace, the plot, story, characters and more make this not only an interesting read, but one that goes down in history as unforgettable. A brilliant read.
I find E.E.Ossai to be someone with great potential to skyrocket, no doubt we'll be the few who said we read his work first. Watch this space.
I find E.E.Ossai to be someone with great potential to skyrocket, no doubt we'll be the few who said we read his work first. Watch this space.
December 31, 2022
Loved it! if this is his debut and it’s this good I can’t wait to read all the he puts out. Very talented author and an story that was easy to fall into!
October 22, 2023
Toxic Bloodlines: Thicker than water is an excellent introduction to a beautifully crafted and interesting world. The pacing of the book and sprinkle of lore throughout the book keeps you wanting more. I binged half of the book in about a day and did what I typically do when I enjoy something so much...I stopped reading it because I didn't want it to be over (and somehow in my mind if I delayed finishing the book then I could enjoy it longer, which is ridiculous I know).
Starting out you clearly have a main character you focus on, but as the book goes on you are introduced to an amazing cast of characters that all have their own motivations, perspectives, strengths and weaknesses. I thoroughly enjoyed how relatable the author was able to write these characters without seeming "fan-servicey". It's refreshing to have a story in which characters are not perfect and they don't sail through adversity.
I can't recommend this book more and I am eager to dive into the rest of this series as it comes out!
*Bonus Points* Thank you for including a map of Seventh Heaven...I'm a sucker for a map in any fantasy novel!
Starting out you clearly have a main character you focus on, but as the book goes on you are introduced to an amazing cast of characters that all have their own motivations, perspectives, strengths and weaknesses. I thoroughly enjoyed how relatable the author was able to write these characters without seeming "fan-servicey". It's refreshing to have a story in which characters are not perfect and they don't sail through adversity.
I can't recommend this book more and I am eager to dive into the rest of this series as it comes out!
*Bonus Points* Thank you for including a map of Seventh Heaven...I'm a sucker for a map in any fantasy novel!
March 21, 2023
E has a way with words. This story captivated me from the first page and I couldn’t stop until I found out what was going to happen to Kim and the rest of seventh heaven. An original tale of coming of age full of horrific twisted events that keep you guessing for what will happen next. Can’t wait for the rest of these.”
May 15, 2023
This is was such a great idea for a story. I will say that it did take a little bit for me to get invested but once I was, I needed to know what the heck was going on. I’m really rooting for Kim and I hope that she can grow even more into her powers and defeat her dad. I am invested in each friendship now and cannot wait to see if they’ll all come together peacefully and help Kim.
I think there are some formatting and editing errors that need to be resolved. Some places got confusing for me with they way they were on page. Overall though, the book is good and I can’t wait to see what happens next.
I think there are some formatting and editing errors that need to be resolved. Some places got confusing for me with they way they were on page. Overall though, the book is good and I can’t wait to see what happens next.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 4, 2025
There was a lot of good in this book. The characters were decently complex. The suspense had great build. I was constantly surprised by twists. That being said this really needed some work with an editor to really flesh it out in places.
May 25, 2023
FULL REVIEW TO COME FOR RELEASE DATE!!
Amazing author, amazing story, amazing art.
Amazing author, amazing story, amazing art.
June 5, 2023
Okay, catching up and now that I'm not struggling for service or having multiple platforms crash on me, I can highlight this amazing book and amazing author.
Starting, I stumbled upon E.E. Ossai on TikTok. If you aren't on his socials, PLEASE do so! Something that's becoming more prevalent, at least in my sphere of indie authors, are authors who are multi-talented and *use* those talents. E. is the artist behind the cover art and all other art related to this story--hello, fucking amazing! From start to finish, this entire novel is the creative genius baby of E.E. and I am here for it.
For the novel contents, no spoilers just vibes, okay? I was a highlighting mo'fo' for this ARC are you kidding me? Hell the first 5% goes from "it's all good" to "holy fucking fuck-fuck." It is fast-paced, action-packed, and filled with diverse representation and instances of highlighting horrendous bigotry--give me, please. Understandably, fast-paced stories aren't everyone's cup of tea, and I'd like to add that in these fast-paced stories there might be a lack of thorough explanation to systems of magic or reasoning, and to be honest, I haven't always been the biggest fan of over-explained storytelling because it's too much for me. Ossai's "This is my world, these are my characters, and this is how it's going to go," style is perfect for my need to just turn my brain off and read some good ass shit. It's fantasy/horror, and do bet your ass that there's plenty of gore to go around. I mean like I said, the first 3% even--if that's not your jam, just understand that going in.
The formatting, structure, and overall writing style/choices are different than what most readers will anticipate, and when he made the wattled-esque comment once, I chuckled. I get it, but to me it gives this book its style. It separates Ossai's work from other's. Outside of anything editorial, I wouldn't even suggest changing the formatting or stylistic choices (underlining, bold, etc.) I like different books, I like different styles. I think what I appreciate most is the potential. Holy hell the potential. As a debut, the originality, ingenuity, and unique stylistic aspects are the formula for greatness. Ossai is a storyteller through and through, and I am so happy to have been able to ARC read this edition.
Ossai's debut Toxic Bloodlines is unapologetic in all of its charm and I will be INHALING the rest of the series upon releases.
Starting, I stumbled upon E.E. Ossai on TikTok. If you aren't on his socials, PLEASE do so! Something that's becoming more prevalent, at least in my sphere of indie authors, are authors who are multi-talented and *use* those talents. E. is the artist behind the cover art and all other art related to this story--hello, fucking amazing! From start to finish, this entire novel is the creative genius baby of E.E. and I am here for it.
For the novel contents, no spoilers just vibes, okay? I was a highlighting mo'fo' for this ARC are you kidding me? Hell the first 5% goes from "it's all good" to "holy fucking fuck-fuck." It is fast-paced, action-packed, and filled with diverse representation and instances of highlighting horrendous bigotry--give me, please. Understandably, fast-paced stories aren't everyone's cup of tea, and I'd like to add that in these fast-paced stories there might be a lack of thorough explanation to systems of magic or reasoning, and to be honest, I haven't always been the biggest fan of over-explained storytelling because it's too much for me. Ossai's "This is my world, these are my characters, and this is how it's going to go," style is perfect for my need to just turn my brain off and read some good ass shit. It's fantasy/horror, and do bet your ass that there's plenty of gore to go around. I mean like I said, the first 3% even--if that's not your jam, just understand that going in.
The formatting, structure, and overall writing style/choices are different than what most readers will anticipate, and when he made the wattled-esque comment once, I chuckled. I get it, but to me it gives this book its style. It separates Ossai's work from other's. Outside of anything editorial, I wouldn't even suggest changing the formatting or stylistic choices (underlining, bold, etc.) I like different books, I like different styles. I think what I appreciate most is the potential. Holy hell the potential. As a debut, the originality, ingenuity, and unique stylistic aspects are the formula for greatness. Ossai is a storyteller through and through, and I am so happy to have been able to ARC read this edition.
Ossai's debut Toxic Bloodlines is unapologetic in all of its charm and I will be INHALING the rest of the series upon releases.
June 5, 2023
shhh.. ignore the other mishaps lol
Okay, catching up and now that I'm not struggling for service or having multiple platforms crash on me, I can highlight this amazing book and amazing author.
Starting, I stumbled upon E.E. Ossai on TikTok. If you aren't on his socials, PLEASE do so! Something that's becoming more prevalent, at least in my sphere of indie authors, are authors who are multi-talented and *use* those talents. E. is the artist behind the cover art and all other art related to this story--hello, fucking amazing! From start to finish, this entire novel is the creative genius baby of E.E. and I am here for it.
For the novel contents, no spoilers just vibes, okay? I was a highlighting mo'fo' for this ARC are you kidding me? Hell the first 5% goes from "it's all good" to "holy fucking fuck-fuck." It is fast-paced, action-packed, and filled with diverse representation and instances of highlighting horrendous bigotry--give me, please. Understandably, fast-paced stories aren't everyone's cup of tea, and I'd like to add that in these fast-paced stories there might be a lack of thorough explanation to systems of magic or reasoning, and to be honest, I haven't always been the biggest fan of over-explained storytelling because it's too much for me. Ossai's "This is my world, these are my characters, and this is how it's going to go," style is perfect for my need to just turn my brain off and read some good ass shit. It's fantasy/horror, and do bet your ass that there's plenty of gore to go around. I mean like I said, the first 3% even--if that's not your jam, just understand that going in.
The formatting, structure, and overall writing style/choices are different than what most readers will anticipate, and when he made the wattled-esque comment once, I chuckled. I get it, but to me it gives this book its style. It separates Ossai's work from other's. Outside of anything editorial, I wouldn't even suggest changing the formatting or stylistic choices (underlining, bold, etc.) I like different books, I like different styles. I think what I appreciate most is the potential. Holy hell the potential. As a debut, the originality, ingenuity, and unique stylistic aspects are the formula for greatness. Ossai is a storyteller through and through, and I am so happy to have been able to ARC read this edition.
Ossai's debut Toxic Bloodlines is unapologetic in all of its charm and I will be INHALING the rest of the series upon releases.
Okay, catching up and now that I'm not struggling for service or having multiple platforms crash on me, I can highlight this amazing book and amazing author.
Starting, I stumbled upon E.E. Ossai on TikTok. If you aren't on his socials, PLEASE do so! Something that's becoming more prevalent, at least in my sphere of indie authors, are authors who are multi-talented and *use* those talents. E. is the artist behind the cover art and all other art related to this story--hello, fucking amazing! From start to finish, this entire novel is the creative genius baby of E.E. and I am here for it.
For the novel contents, no spoilers just vibes, okay? I was a highlighting mo'fo' for this ARC are you kidding me? Hell the first 5% goes from "it's all good" to "holy fucking fuck-fuck." It is fast-paced, action-packed, and filled with diverse representation and instances of highlighting horrendous bigotry--give me, please. Understandably, fast-paced stories aren't everyone's cup of tea, and I'd like to add that in these fast-paced stories there might be a lack of thorough explanation to systems of magic or reasoning, and to be honest, I haven't always been the biggest fan of over-explained storytelling because it's too much for me. Ossai's "This is my world, these are my characters, and this is how it's going to go," style is perfect for my need to just turn my brain off and read some good ass shit. It's fantasy/horror, and do bet your ass that there's plenty of gore to go around. I mean like I said, the first 3% even--if that's not your jam, just understand that going in.
The formatting, structure, and overall writing style/choices are different than what most readers will anticipate, and when he made the wattled-esque comment once, I chuckled. I get it, but to me it gives this book its style. It separates Ossai's work from other's. Outside of anything editorial, I wouldn't even suggest changing the formatting or stylistic choices (underlining, bold, etc.) I like different books, I like different styles. I think what I appreciate most is the potential. Holy hell the potential. As a debut, the originality, ingenuity, and unique stylistic aspects are the formula for greatness. Ossai is a storyteller through and through, and I am so happy to have been able to ARC read this edition.
Ossai's debut Toxic Bloodlines is unapologetic in all of its charm and I will be INHALING the rest of the series upon releases.
May 28, 2023
Toxic Bloodlines by E.E. Ossai.
First of all, I want to say a huge thank you to the author who sent me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I’m truly grateful.
After reading other reviews I was excited to dive deep into this book. And as much as I wanted to love it, it wasn’t for me. If you want a fast-paced horror fantasy I definitely recommend giving it a shot. Especially since it’s on Kindle. There is constant action and complex lore that will leave you wondering where it all goes.
Though for me I will not be picking up the second book. I found the plot jumping from action to action quite jarring. Ossai would introduce an obstacle only to have the issue solved in the next chapter, which takes place weeks after the previous one. It felt like there were no stakes because it would be immediately fixed, or the characters wouldn’t take it seriously. Rather than have characters deal with consequences, they opt for an ill-timed joke that more often than not felt out of place.
For the most part, we follow Kimberly’s POV as she and her friends deal with disaster striking their town. You spend the majority of the story in her head until the halfway point, where it then switches between all of the characters constantly. This took some getting used to as I had to keep reminding myself which character’s head we were in. They all had the same voice and switched so often that it was hard to keep track. I didn’t find any of the characters particularly likeable, they were all one-dimensional and acted immature, even the adults. I would’ve liked them to be more thought out, and see how they achieved their goals. How Kim mastered her powers after some struggle. How Sara and Ian discovered all this information? Rather than have it briefly explained to move on to more action.
One thing I will say was handled well was the portrayal of bigotry in small towns. Most, if not all our main characters were BIPOC and the author was not afraid to show the racism and prejudice that they faced.
If you like an action-packed book filled with violence and snarky back-and-forth then this very well could be the book for you.
Thank you again to E.E.Ossai for sending me a free ARC
First of all, I want to say a huge thank you to the author who sent me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I’m truly grateful.
After reading other reviews I was excited to dive deep into this book. And as much as I wanted to love it, it wasn’t for me. If you want a fast-paced horror fantasy I definitely recommend giving it a shot. Especially since it’s on Kindle. There is constant action and complex lore that will leave you wondering where it all goes.
Though for me I will not be picking up the second book. I found the plot jumping from action to action quite jarring. Ossai would introduce an obstacle only to have the issue solved in the next chapter, which takes place weeks after the previous one. It felt like there were no stakes because it would be immediately fixed, or the characters wouldn’t take it seriously. Rather than have characters deal with consequences, they opt for an ill-timed joke that more often than not felt out of place.
For the most part, we follow Kimberly’s POV as she and her friends deal with disaster striking their town. You spend the majority of the story in her head until the halfway point, where it then switches between all of the characters constantly. This took some getting used to as I had to keep reminding myself which character’s head we were in. They all had the same voice and switched so often that it was hard to keep track. I didn’t find any of the characters particularly likeable, they were all one-dimensional and acted immature, even the adults. I would’ve liked them to be more thought out, and see how they achieved their goals. How Kim mastered her powers after some struggle. How Sara and Ian discovered all this information? Rather than have it briefly explained to move on to more action.
One thing I will say was handled well was the portrayal of bigotry in small towns. Most, if not all our main characters were BIPOC and the author was not afraid to show the racism and prejudice that they faced.
If you like an action-packed book filled with violence and snarky back-and-forth then this very well could be the book for you.
Thank you again to E.E.Ossai for sending me a free ARC
May 26, 2023
I want to be able to give this half a star more, but GR doesn't allow so I'll keep it at 4. Although this is the same rating I gave the first edition there has been so much improvement in the story, even the simple of addition of a map to help visualise where we are in Seventh Heaven.
I loved the first edition and was worried that this would end up being a rehash of the same story with some grammatical and spelling errors rectified - but that wasn't even close to the case. The story and relationships between the characters were built on beautifully and gave it so much more depth, some parts even completely rewritten to flesh out the circumstances and character nuances, causing me to fall in love with, fear, understand the characters on a much deeper level as well as the situation at hand.
As much as I can gush on the story forever - and I can believe me - I love this story and characters - so very much, I can't let go of the elephant in the book. The first 5 pages really were a chore to get through. I'm not a writer by any means and commend Ossai for publishing this, however, that first few pages did seem quite amateur, a lot was explained that could've been left to the imagination. But I promise after those 5 pages it's magic.
As well as this the structure as a whole definitely seems more targeted to younger audiences, which I understand is because this is 16+, but as this story gets quite dark, and quite quickly at that, it creates a clash in tone with the meaning of the words being read and how they are presented to us on the page. As with the first i had to try and ignore this to carry on, however it got distracting at times when having bold text and capitals to 'emphasise' the point. The words are heavy enough, no to mention well written, the same message would've come across without the font changes.
This is however, a nit-pick. This does not change the fact this is a great book. I'm very much looking forward to reading paradise in the next few weeks and buying the hard copy of this if it ever comes out in print!
I loved the first edition and was worried that this would end up being a rehash of the same story with some grammatical and spelling errors rectified - but that wasn't even close to the case. The story and relationships between the characters were built on beautifully and gave it so much more depth, some parts even completely rewritten to flesh out the circumstances and character nuances, causing me to fall in love with, fear, understand the characters on a much deeper level as well as the situation at hand.
As much as I can gush on the story forever - and I can believe me - I love this story and characters - so very much, I can't let go of the elephant in the book. The first 5 pages really were a chore to get through. I'm not a writer by any means and commend Ossai for publishing this, however, that first few pages did seem quite amateur, a lot was explained that could've been left to the imagination. But I promise after those 5 pages it's magic.
As well as this the structure as a whole definitely seems more targeted to younger audiences, which I understand is because this is 16+, but as this story gets quite dark, and quite quickly at that, it creates a clash in tone with the meaning of the words being read and how they are presented to us on the page. As with the first i had to try and ignore this to carry on, however it got distracting at times when having bold text and capitals to 'emphasise' the point. The words are heavy enough, no to mention well written, the same message would've come across without the font changes.
This is however, a nit-pick. This does not change the fact this is a great book. I'm very much looking forward to reading paradise in the next few weeks and buying the hard copy of this if it ever comes out in print!
May 21, 2023
I’d like to start this review by thanking E.E Ossai for an arc of this book. I’ve been following the author on tiktok for a while, and have been meaning to read the book and was excited for the chance to get it!
Firstly, I’d like the say the plot of the book is really good. Upon starting the reading, it felt like a movie was playing out in my head — I genuinely could see this book becoming a good film to create, or a comic book, or any other type of visual art. It was a good writing technique to help open up the story and spoon feed me information about what was going on without overwhelming me!
Secondly, I’d like to point out that the only reason I didn’t give this book a higher rating was due to the technical writing. It’s possibly a personal preference, but the bolded words, in all caps, gave me a very novice level of technical writing from the author. If I were to give advice, I’d add more tags and details to *show* the characters’ emotions, rather than the font style doing it for you. There were also points I could tell there were issues with the editing, such as a word having “jj” as a typo in the beginning of it, and words capitalized that shouldn’t be — but the last rounds of edits should be able to catch such things and help that out.
Overall, 3 stars! If you like Stranger Things, I think you’d enjoy this book a whole lot:)
Firstly, I’d like the say the plot of the book is really good. Upon starting the reading, it felt like a movie was playing out in my head — I genuinely could see this book becoming a good film to create, or a comic book, or any other type of visual art. It was a good writing technique to help open up the story and spoon feed me information about what was going on without overwhelming me!
Secondly, I’d like to point out that the only reason I didn’t give this book a higher rating was due to the technical writing. It’s possibly a personal preference, but the bolded words, in all caps, gave me a very novice level of technical writing from the author. If I were to give advice, I’d add more tags and details to *show* the characters’ emotions, rather than the font style doing it for you. There were also points I could tell there were issues with the editing, such as a word having “jj” as a typo in the beginning of it, and words capitalized that shouldn’t be — but the last rounds of edits should be able to catch such things and help that out.
Overall, 3 stars! If you like Stranger Things, I think you’d enjoy this book a whole lot:)
September 24, 2025
I loved fluffing everything about this book! I loved the overall vibe of it. It reminded me of the scary stories I used to read as a kid, so the added nostalgia was a bonus.
The writing kept me on my toes the entire time, not knowing which way the story would turn because every time I thought I had it figured out, I hadn't, and the author took it in an entirely different direction.
I love how all the characters are written, one moment I would like a character until I'd be yelling "no fluff you" in the next moment. The characters are diverse and have a lot of depth to them, which makes them very interesting.
I love the entire vibe the author was able to portray through his words. It was the right amount of creepy, gore, death and violence while at the same time sad, funny and sometimes even close to wholesome.
The author was able to put so much into the book, without anything feeling out of place or becoming too much.
The writing kept me on my toes the entire time, not knowing which way the story would turn because every time I thought I had it figured out, I hadn't, and the author took it in an entirely different direction.
I love how all the characters are written, one moment I would like a character until I'd be yelling "no fluff you" in the next moment. The characters are diverse and have a lot of depth to them, which makes them very interesting.
I love the entire vibe the author was able to portray through his words. It was the right amount of creepy, gore, death and violence while at the same time sad, funny and sometimes even close to wholesome.
The author was able to put so much into the book, without anything feeling out of place or becoming too much.
May 31, 2023
If you're looking for a fast paced read with memorable characters, I recommend this book. The author does a good job with the pacing right from the get go and the suspense amps up the longer you read. I love the unique voices and perspectives of the characters. They have a lot of depth and each one stands out from the others. I wish there had been a little more foreshadowing so the reader could guess at the mysteries as the characters are searching for answers, but the end of the book has such a satisfying climax. I'll also say that I loved all the female characters. They were all so nuanced and beautifully written. You can tell the author put a lot of time into all the characters, but especially these amazing young women. I definitely recommend this book and I'm curious about what will come next.
February 24, 2023
Go get this. Right now. This was so exciting, right in the first few pages. Coming of age where friendships and loyalty are tested. Such a thrilling ride. Hard to believe this is his debut novel.
July 10, 2023
This book is so well written and captivating. The characters are well rounded and the story keeps you hooked!!
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