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The Dark Re-Imaginings #1
Splinter
This Is The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow Reborn…
In a small town hidden behind the hills of New York, things are far from ordinary. As Sleepy Hollow’s youngest Medical Examiner, the pressure intensifies for Dr. Drusilla Van Tassel when the headless bodies of her sister Katrina’s friends start surfacing. Meanwhile, Drusilla’s ex-lover Ichabod Crane returns to town, dredging up feelings better left buried.
Things take a turn for the worst when Drusilla comes face-to-face with the Headless Horseman, who is back to settle old scores – and she and her sister are the perfect targets. Drusilla can repel the horseman with an unknown power, but her sister isn’t so lucky, and she goes missing.
However, when Drusilla discovers Ichabod is a monster hunter, she has no other choice but to turn to him for help. Even if that means working with a man she feels an inexplicable attraction to. Will they find Katrina and banish the headless horseman once and for all?
In a small town hidden behind the hills of New York, things are far from ordinary. As Sleepy Hollow’s youngest Medical Examiner, the pressure intensifies for Dr. Drusilla Van Tassel when the headless bodies of her sister Katrina’s friends start surfacing. Meanwhile, Drusilla’s ex-lover Ichabod Crane returns to town, dredging up feelings better left buried.
Things take a turn for the worst when Drusilla comes face-to-face with the Headless Horseman, who is back to settle old scores – and she and her sister are the perfect targets. Drusilla can repel the horseman with an unknown power, but her sister isn’t so lucky, and she goes missing.
However, when Drusilla discovers Ichabod is a monster hunter, she has no other choice but to turn to him for help. Even if that means working with a man she feels an inexplicable attraction to. Will they find Katrina and banish the headless horseman once and for all?
224 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 16, 2023
91 people are currently reading
682 people want to read
About the author
Jasper Hyde
2 books34 followersGeorgina Kiersten (Jasper Hyde) is an author known for their wide range of LGBTQ+ romance novels that center around the stories of Black queer and trans individuals. As a Black-disabled trans person who was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas. In addition to having dyslexia, being autistic, and having ADHD. They have a unique perspective on writing romance. It also drives their passion to create a diverse and inclusive romance genre for everyone.
When they're not writing (which is rare), they can often be found reading a good book, watching bl dramas, drinking their body weight in tea, and co-parenting their five children, two dogs, and their growing horde of stray cats.
When they're not writing (which is rare), they can often be found reading a good book, watching bl dramas, drinking their body weight in tea, and co-parenting their five children, two dogs, and their growing horde of stray cats.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
October 30, 2023
I enjoyed the story and as I have no interest in reading the actual Sleepy Hallow story, I’m totally okay with this being my canon (along with Hollow by C.M. Nascosta). I think this could’ve easily been a full novel as a LOT went down especially after 50 percent. There were so many compelling threads of the story and I’d love to see them explored deeper.
That being said, I really didn’t care about the romance as it went along because it felt disjointed and kind of vague and rushed. I think the story would’ve been stronger with either less history between the two or more space to really work it out in detail.
**Spoilers Below**
I also think he didn’t grovel enough for how shitty he was in the past. Normally when a past indiscretion involves prom, I always roll my eyes and assume everything is being blown out of proportion. But that man fucked the hell UP. And I’m still not sure how he didn’t see that. The romance wasn’t developed enough for me to fully forgive him. And then something at the end happened and I was like you know what??? BET but alas “this love is good this love is bad this love is alive back from the dead” and all that jazz happened lol. I can’t be too angry, but I’ll admit I did respect the author for being that gutsy for those few pages lolz.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5 🌶️.75*/5
*I think there was ~one explicit scene but it came after a point I didn’t think he groveled enough so I was just pissed off and wasn’t in the mood.
Thanks to the author for an eARC. All opinions are honest and my own.
That being said, I really didn’t care about the romance as it went along because it felt disjointed and kind of vague and rushed. I think the story would’ve been stronger with either less history between the two or more space to really work it out in detail.
**Spoilers Below**
I also think he didn’t grovel enough for how shitty he was in the past. Normally when a past indiscretion involves prom, I always roll my eyes and assume everything is being blown out of proportion. But that man fucked the hell UP. And I’m still not sure how he didn’t see that. The romance wasn’t developed enough for me to fully forgive him. And then something at the end happened and I was like you know what??? BET but alas “this love is good this love is bad this love is alive back from the dead” and all that jazz happened lol. I can’t be too angry, but I’ll admit I did respect the author for being that gutsy for those few pages lolz.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5 🌶️.75*/5
*I think there was ~one explicit scene but it came after a point I didn’t think he groveled enough so I was just pissed off and wasn’t in the mood.
Thanks to the author for an eARC. All opinions are honest and my own.
December 19, 2023
HAPPY RELEASE DAY!
Thanks to the author for a free copy to review. Splinter will be out November 16th, and if you're anything like me, the concept of a diverse, queer Sleepy Hollow retelling will pull you right in.
This is a very breezy read, with clean, clear prose and really good descriptive passages. I could see foggy New England mornings as if I was there, examining the Horseman's crime scenes with Drusilla. The story also doesn't lean too much into the pumpkin-headed, Halloween vibes of some retellings, so this still feels like a timely, autumnal read in November.
I'm very into the character construction, too. This Ichabod Crane is delightful; tall, broad, half-Filipino and with an English accent, he dresses like an aged professor and has ADHD and monster hunting skills. [cough] He also bangs like a front door. Drusilla is a competent, queer Black woman working as a medical examiner in Sleepy Hollow - but she's a true to life character, not all-knowing nor immune to emotions taking the wheel.
While a novella length, the story has a great casefic vibe with a fulfilling mystery, and I enjoyed the investigative partnership, the romance, and the magical lore.
Thanks to the author for a free copy to review. Splinter will be out November 16th, and if you're anything like me, the concept of a diverse, queer Sleepy Hollow retelling will pull you right in.
This is a very breezy read, with clean, clear prose and really good descriptive passages. I could see foggy New England mornings as if I was there, examining the Horseman's crime scenes with Drusilla. The story also doesn't lean too much into the pumpkin-headed, Halloween vibes of some retellings, so this still feels like a timely, autumnal read in November.
I'm very into the character construction, too. This Ichabod Crane is delightful; tall, broad, half-Filipino and with an English accent, he dresses like an aged professor and has ADHD and monster hunting skills. [cough] He also bangs like a front door. Drusilla is a competent, queer Black woman working as a medical examiner in Sleepy Hollow - but she's a true to life character, not all-knowing nor immune to emotions taking the wheel.
While a novella length, the story has a great casefic vibe with a fulfilling mystery, and I enjoyed the investigative partnership, the romance, and the magical lore.
October 3, 2024
Drusilla was all fierce awesome doctor woman, trying to deal with grief from the loss of her father and her strained relationship with her sister. Throwing the Headless Horseman and her ex, Ichabod Crane, into the mix was the cherry on top. Although there was romance in this book, it wasn’t the focal point. It was very plot driven with mystery. I’m still a little on the fence about Ichabod. Part of me is still pissed at him on Drusilla’s behalf, but what he did was when he was a teenager being bullied by schoolmates and had a crappy relationship with his father. Teens don’t usually make great choices, especially under stress. I would have liked a bit more grovel from him, but with the amount of time that had passed and the way both MCs had grown into themselves, it was probably appropriate. I’m Ngl, I also got some chills while reading the book, so it’s perfect for spooky season.
Spice: 2/5
Triggers: Police, Infidelity (brief mention), Bullying (brief mention), Decapitation, Misogynoir (implied), Colorism (implied), Racism (implied), Gore, Blood, Explicit Violence, Slavery, mentions of loved one dying from cancer, grief, death of parent
Spice: 2/5
Triggers: Police, Infidelity (brief mention), Bullying (brief mention), Decapitation, Misogynoir (implied), Colorism (implied), Racism (implied), Gore, Blood, Explicit Violence, Slavery, mentions of loved one dying from cancer, grief, death of parent
Read
November 27, 2023I wanted to like this so badly - a book for fans of the show Sleepy Hollow, which was so great until it fell apart and was cancelled? Sign me up IMMEDIATELY! Unfortunately, I only got as far as the prologue. The writing is not very professional, and it's too distracting to even go on to see what the story is actually about. The main protagonist of the prologue uses they/them pronouns, and there are places where the writing confusingly goes back and forth between using the pronoun as a singular and a plural (their body/their bodies) for the same character, which seems like a mistake (unless they are inhabited by more than one personality/soul or something - that part isn't in the prologue, at least). Given all the other run-on sentences, the fact that this character's "eyes widened" two sentences in a row, and the fact that they "shuttered" instead of "shuddered" over something, I'm guessing it was just another grammatical error. I can't lose myself in or enjoy the story with the amount of bad and confusing writing I'm seeing in just the first few pages, so I'm putting it down.
October 29, 2023
I was asked to read and review this by the author Jasper Hyde
Did you love the beginning of the show Sleepy Hallow but we’re ultimately disappointed with the direction it went? This is your book!
I was so excited about the premise of this book and I was not disappointed. Drusilla is a medical examiner for her hometown and we start with her being called to the crime scene of one of her high school classmates. Is the headless horseman really the killer?
The mysteries of her nightmares and her family history kept me on the edge of my seat. Once I started I reading it, it was impossible to put down.
Don’t wait go read this as soon as you can!
Did you love the beginning of the show Sleepy Hallow but we’re ultimately disappointed with the direction it went? This is your book!
I was so excited about the premise of this book and I was not disappointed. Drusilla is a medical examiner for her hometown and we start with her being called to the crime scene of one of her high school classmates. Is the headless horseman really the killer?
The mysteries of her nightmares and her family history kept me on the edge of my seat. Once I started I reading it, it was impossible to put down.
Don’t wait go read this as soon as you can!
November 20, 2023
Read my full review on Before We Go Blog: https://beforewegoblog.com/review-spl...
Back in ancient times (2013), the American television network Fox released a new adaptation of Washington Irving’s nineteenth-century classic, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” Set in contemporary New York State, the show updated the story for a modern audience and featured a diverse cast headed by Black American actor Nicole Beharie in the role of Lieutenant Abigail “Abbie” Mills and White Englishman Tom Mison as the displaced time traveller Ichabod Crane.
As someone who watched the show’s initial seasons when they first aired, it’s hard to overstate the impact that Beharie’s casting (and her exceptional portrayal of Abbie) had on SFF fandom at the time. It seemed in 2013 that networks were at last awaking to the well of talent they’d been deliberately ignoring by passing over POC and other marginalized people for notable roles. Women in general were increasingly fronting popular SFF shows (True Blood, Game of Thrones and Orphan Black spring immediately to mind), and it seemed the public was starting to react to pushes on the part of marginalized people to pay attention to issues of whitewashing and queerbaiting in popular media.
While it’s been years since I’ve seen the show, I recall Beharie and Mison’s onscreen chemistry being electric—it was their will-they-won’t-they relationship that tided the audience along, all wrapped in a nicely spooky package that felt both very at home, yet still unique, amidst network television’s other supernatural and mystery offerings.
In 2016, however, that all came to a close when Beharie’s Abbie was killed off in a stunning upset for fans (Mison’s Ichabod would continue to head Sleepy Hollow until the show’s cancellation in 2017). Though by 2016 I was no longer watching the show, I remember my shock at the news—Abbie had been the beating heart of Sleepy Hollow from its inception, and how was Abbie’s Ichabod to carry on without her? Part of the reason why I hadn’t kept up with Sleepy Hollow had been the show’s mistreatment of the character who was so obviously its star, as Abbie was shoved to the side in season 2’s storylines. The reasons for this are now clear. Later, Beharie would reveal in an interview that her exit from the show was anything but positive, citing mistreatment on set due both to racism and a chronic illness that she developed over the course of her tenure at Fox. In contrast, Mison, who fell ill at the same time, was treated with patience and allowed to pause filming while he recovered.
I mention all this not at random, nor even because Jasper Hyde’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” retelling, Splinter, features a Black female lead, but because Hyde’s work is an explicit reaction to the Sleepy Hollow Fox series, providing its own “Abbie” an ending more worthy of her depth of character and the passion Beharie awoke in the audience.
Nostalgic fans not only of Sleepy Hollow, but of early 2010s supernatural and mystery TV will find much to love in Splinter. Hyde’s Sleepy Hollow (the town rather than the title) is just as atmospheric as you’d want from an adaptation of the Irving classic. The weight of the town’s history is as thick as the mood-setting fog that rolls off the page, and Hyde’s familiarity with the history of the story’s adaptations lends Splinter a richness that rewards longtime Headless Horseman fans while providing the world Hyde created that ever-elusive “lived-in” quality that so many writers aim for but don’t achieve. As a longtime fan of Tim Burton’s 1999 Sleepy Hollow, I was pleased to see references to that work, and there are Easter eggs aplenty for the eagle-eyed reader. Rather than being a pastiche of these earlier works, however, Splinter very much carves its own path.
To claim Splinter is simply a fix-it fic of Sleepy Hollow would be a great disservice to Hyde’s creativity and the themes and motifs they bring fresh to the narrative. While Hyde gives a nod to Abbie by making their protagonist, Drusilla van Tassel, a police employee, Drusilla is a medical examiner rather than a lieutenant, and Ichabod is no time-travelling nineteenth-century gentleman, but Drusilla’s mixed-race high school sweetheart who broke her heart. There’s also a queer slant to the work, with minor queer side characters appearing throughout.
Part romance, part paranormal mystery, Splinter is probably best classified as an urban fantasy and should appeal most to fans of Seanan McGuire’s October Daye books and the work of Kelley Armstrong. The novel follows Drusilla’s investigation into a series of ominous decapitations in her small hometown—murders that turn out to be anything but random when Drusilla realizes the culprit is picking off old friends of her sister, Katrina. As the hunt for the murderer turns personal, it becomes clear there is a supernatural element to the crimes, and that in order to solve the mystery Drusilla will have to make peace with the man who broke her heart all those years ago, all while uncovering long-buried family secrets and attempting to protect her wealthy and slightly snobbish sister from the Horseman’s wrath.
Splinter is a fast-paced read and is by and large well-edited and well-written with only some minor tense issues in its opening chapters. I was easily pulled along and Drusilla was a compelling and likeable hero to follow. If the novel falters anywhere, it’s through its pacing and length. A short book, Splinter throws quite a lot of supernatural worldbuilding at the reader in its final third and the mystery could have used a little more room to breathe for the narrative’s final revelations (as well as the development of its central romance) to have a bigger impact on the reader. In general, the story felt like it was in a bit of a rush, when just a few pauses to let the mystery truly sink its teeth in would have enriched the story and allowed the reader to feel as though they were uncovering Sleepy Hollow’s historical and contemporary puzzles alongside Drusilla and her friends.
While romance by no means dominates Splinter (the novel is certainly not a Paranormal Romance, despite nods to popular genre tropes), Drusilla and Ichabod’s relationship is likely one that will split audiences. Without divulging spoilers, when the reason for their high school breakup is revealed, Ichabod’s earlier treatment of Drusilla is shown to have been particularly cruel. While this didn’t stop me enjoying the book, it did mean the couple lacked some of the charm that genre Romance fans coming to the work might be seeking or expecting. That said, one of Splinter’s highlights was a spectacularly horny sex scene that could kick the teeth out of any network TV show’s PG-13 material. It was a welcome element to the story that helped develop Drusilla as a mature and sexually confident person.
Overall, I would recommend Splinter to Urban Fantasy readers looking for something fresh and fast-paced and who don’t mind growing alongside a clearly talented writer as they develop their craft. With a clear set-up for at least one sequel at the novel’s end, there’s plenty of room for Hyde to develop the lore a little more deeply and patiently in later volumes and I for one won’t at all mind joining Drusilla on any future adventures.
Back in ancient times (2013), the American television network Fox released a new adaptation of Washington Irving’s nineteenth-century classic, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” Set in contemporary New York State, the show updated the story for a modern audience and featured a diverse cast headed by Black American actor Nicole Beharie in the role of Lieutenant Abigail “Abbie” Mills and White Englishman Tom Mison as the displaced time traveller Ichabod Crane.
As someone who watched the show’s initial seasons when they first aired, it’s hard to overstate the impact that Beharie’s casting (and her exceptional portrayal of Abbie) had on SFF fandom at the time. It seemed in 2013 that networks were at last awaking to the well of talent they’d been deliberately ignoring by passing over POC and other marginalized people for notable roles. Women in general were increasingly fronting popular SFF shows (True Blood, Game of Thrones and Orphan Black spring immediately to mind), and it seemed the public was starting to react to pushes on the part of marginalized people to pay attention to issues of whitewashing and queerbaiting in popular media.
While it’s been years since I’ve seen the show, I recall Beharie and Mison’s onscreen chemistry being electric—it was their will-they-won’t-they relationship that tided the audience along, all wrapped in a nicely spooky package that felt both very at home, yet still unique, amidst network television’s other supernatural and mystery offerings.
In 2016, however, that all came to a close when Beharie’s Abbie was killed off in a stunning upset for fans (Mison’s Ichabod would continue to head Sleepy Hollow until the show’s cancellation in 2017). Though by 2016 I was no longer watching the show, I remember my shock at the news—Abbie had been the beating heart of Sleepy Hollow from its inception, and how was Abbie’s Ichabod to carry on without her? Part of the reason why I hadn’t kept up with Sleepy Hollow had been the show’s mistreatment of the character who was so obviously its star, as Abbie was shoved to the side in season 2’s storylines. The reasons for this are now clear. Later, Beharie would reveal in an interview that her exit from the show was anything but positive, citing mistreatment on set due both to racism and a chronic illness that she developed over the course of her tenure at Fox. In contrast, Mison, who fell ill at the same time, was treated with patience and allowed to pause filming while he recovered.
I mention all this not at random, nor even because Jasper Hyde’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” retelling, Splinter, features a Black female lead, but because Hyde’s work is an explicit reaction to the Sleepy Hollow Fox series, providing its own “Abbie” an ending more worthy of her depth of character and the passion Beharie awoke in the audience.
Nostalgic fans not only of Sleepy Hollow, but of early 2010s supernatural and mystery TV will find much to love in Splinter. Hyde’s Sleepy Hollow (the town rather than the title) is just as atmospheric as you’d want from an adaptation of the Irving classic. The weight of the town’s history is as thick as the mood-setting fog that rolls off the page, and Hyde’s familiarity with the history of the story’s adaptations lends Splinter a richness that rewards longtime Headless Horseman fans while providing the world Hyde created that ever-elusive “lived-in” quality that so many writers aim for but don’t achieve. As a longtime fan of Tim Burton’s 1999 Sleepy Hollow, I was pleased to see references to that work, and there are Easter eggs aplenty for the eagle-eyed reader. Rather than being a pastiche of these earlier works, however, Splinter very much carves its own path.
To claim Splinter is simply a fix-it fic of Sleepy Hollow would be a great disservice to Hyde’s creativity and the themes and motifs they bring fresh to the narrative. While Hyde gives a nod to Abbie by making their protagonist, Drusilla van Tassel, a police employee, Drusilla is a medical examiner rather than a lieutenant, and Ichabod is no time-travelling nineteenth-century gentleman, but Drusilla’s mixed-race high school sweetheart who broke her heart. There’s also a queer slant to the work, with minor queer side characters appearing throughout.
Part romance, part paranormal mystery, Splinter is probably best classified as an urban fantasy and should appeal most to fans of Seanan McGuire’s October Daye books and the work of Kelley Armstrong. The novel follows Drusilla’s investigation into a series of ominous decapitations in her small hometown—murders that turn out to be anything but random when Drusilla realizes the culprit is picking off old friends of her sister, Katrina. As the hunt for the murderer turns personal, it becomes clear there is a supernatural element to the crimes, and that in order to solve the mystery Drusilla will have to make peace with the man who broke her heart all those years ago, all while uncovering long-buried family secrets and attempting to protect her wealthy and slightly snobbish sister from the Horseman’s wrath.
Splinter is a fast-paced read and is by and large well-edited and well-written with only some minor tense issues in its opening chapters. I was easily pulled along and Drusilla was a compelling and likeable hero to follow. If the novel falters anywhere, it’s through its pacing and length. A short book, Splinter throws quite a lot of supernatural worldbuilding at the reader in its final third and the mystery could have used a little more room to breathe for the narrative’s final revelations (as well as the development of its central romance) to have a bigger impact on the reader. In general, the story felt like it was in a bit of a rush, when just a few pauses to let the mystery truly sink its teeth in would have enriched the story and allowed the reader to feel as though they were uncovering Sleepy Hollow’s historical and contemporary puzzles alongside Drusilla and her friends.
While romance by no means dominates Splinter (the novel is certainly not a Paranormal Romance, despite nods to popular genre tropes), Drusilla and Ichabod’s relationship is likely one that will split audiences. Without divulging spoilers, when the reason for their high school breakup is revealed, Ichabod’s earlier treatment of Drusilla is shown to have been particularly cruel. While this didn’t stop me enjoying the book, it did mean the couple lacked some of the charm that genre Romance fans coming to the work might be seeking or expecting. That said, one of Splinter’s highlights was a spectacularly horny sex scene that could kick the teeth out of any network TV show’s PG-13 material. It was a welcome element to the story that helped develop Drusilla as a mature and sexually confident person.
Overall, I would recommend Splinter to Urban Fantasy readers looking for something fresh and fast-paced and who don’t mind growing alongside a clearly talented writer as they develop their craft. With a clear set-up for at least one sequel at the novel’s end, there’s plenty of room for Hyde to develop the lore a little more deeply and patiently in later volumes and I for one won’t at all mind joining Drusilla on any future adventures.
February 7, 2025
This was pleasantly surprising!! I enjoy Sleepy Hollow classics so this was a no brainer. I enjoyed the characters, it was the right amount of spooky, not overly detailed gore but you still could set the scene. I enjoyed the characters and the fact that this was all packed into a short read was icing on the cake
November 15, 2023
This modern and diverse retelling of Sleepy Hollow will keep you flipping the pages. Urban fantasy with a dash of horror, and romance, this short read is just perfect for those dark and cold autumn nights. If you are into novellas which flow at break-neck speed, twists and turns in the plot, great characters, and some steamy scenes, then this entertaining and suspenseful book might just be for you. Oh, and the ending... what an ending!
I received an ARC from the author.
I received an ARC from the author.
November 14, 2023
An excellent and entertaining re-imagining of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow that is the perfect blend of erotic and terrifying.
I loved the diversity of the characters. Instead of a pale maiden seeking protection, Drusilla Van Tussell is a medical examiner that sleeps in a bonnet to tame her curls. She is forced to investigate the death of her high school tormentors after a headless horseman kills them. Then her sister Katrina, still grieving the loss of her husband, Bron, is kidnapped. In a pursuit to find her sister, she teams up with high school crush Ichabod Crane, who she still has feelings which makes their collaboration even more fraught.
Hot sex, a mental health break, and an unique use of a family heirloom later, the matter is resolved.
I didn’t see the twist coming which marks the height of the story but I appreciate the journey.
I loved the diversity of the characters. Instead of a pale maiden seeking protection, Drusilla Van Tussell is a medical examiner that sleeps in a bonnet to tame her curls. She is forced to investigate the death of her high school tormentors after a headless horseman kills them. Then her sister Katrina, still grieving the loss of her husband, Bron, is kidnapped. In a pursuit to find her sister, she teams up with high school crush Ichabod Crane, who she still has feelings which makes their collaboration even more fraught.
Hot sex, a mental health break, and an unique use of a family heirloom later, the matter is resolved.
I didn’t see the twist coming which marks the height of the story but I appreciate the journey.
January 31, 2025
This book took me by surprise. It has everything you could possibly want in a fantasy retelling. I am so so pick about fantasy books and about retellings, and I inhaled this book and my brain feels good now. It pulled me out of a reading slump.
At under 250 pages, this one is a great read for the Kindle. I believe it is available on Kobo plus! I personaly purchased this book as a license via a Kindle book on Amazon.
My full review:
THIS book is everything.
At under 250 pages, this one is a great read for the Kindle. I believe it is available on Kobo plus! I personaly purchased this book as a license via a Kindle book on Amazon.
My full review:
THIS book is everything.
November 21, 2023
I've never seen the Sleepy Hollow show, and I suspect that this story includes as many references to the show as it does to the original story. I will say that SPLINTER read like a show: it was very cinematic, and I found it easy to visualize all the characters and their actions/interactions. I really liked Dru as a narrator; I believe she is influenced by the character from the show (Abbie?), but speaking as someone who probably missed a lot of easter eggs, she felt fully developed in her own right.
I loved the representation in all its forms, and I appreciated how often the rep was causal... demisexuality, ADHD, nonbinary identities, and more are sprinkled in with minimal comment or plot significance. On top of that, there are more overt and directly-referenced commentaries on race and bisexuality. I would love to see more of this in stories overall, and the casual rep was a nice surprise.
The one thing I struggled with: there were a lot of typos in the MS. As a writer and editor, they were present to the point of being an issue for me while I read. I particularly had trouble with the prologue, to the point where I had trouble understanding what was going on. I read a lot of indie books, and I can usually just skip over typos, but if you're someone whose brain itches when there are a significant number of technical errors in a book, just be aware.
I was really looking forward to this novella, and from the end, I'm guessing that it's going to be part of a series. Assuming I'm right, I look forward to seeing where Dru and Ichabod go from here.
I loved the representation in all its forms, and I appreciated how often the rep was causal... demisexuality, ADHD, nonbinary identities, and more are sprinkled in with minimal comment or plot significance. On top of that, there are more overt and directly-referenced commentaries on race and bisexuality. I would love to see more of this in stories overall, and the casual rep was a nice surprise.
The one thing I struggled with: there were a lot of typos in the MS. As a writer and editor, they were present to the point of being an issue for me while I read. I particularly had trouble with the prologue, to the point where I had trouble understanding what was going on. I read a lot of indie books, and I can usually just skip over typos, but if you're someone whose brain itches when there are a significant number of technical errors in a book, just be aware.
I was really looking forward to this novella, and from the end, I'm guessing that it's going to be part of a series. Assuming I'm right, I look forward to seeing where Dru and Ichabod go from here.
January 9, 2025
True rating: 3.5 Stars rounded up
I really loved the concept of this story and the ties to the Headless Horseman tales. The retelling aspect is what intrigued me to read this story.
My 3.5 star rating is mainly because there were a good amount of grammatical and spelling errors throughout the entire book. I also felt like it moved a bit slow and then all of a sudden picked up real quickly at the end of the story. I felt that the end of the story was a bit rushed and thrown together.
Despite the errors and the pace of the story, I really did enjoy the main plot and the diversity of the characters. The world building was good and the story had really good potential. It had elements of true crime that I surprisingly really enjoyed! I hadn’t read anything similar to true crime before and this really inspired me to expand my reading repertoire to include more true crime romance!
I will conclude this review with a quote that really stood out to me:
I really loved the concept of this story and the ties to the Headless Horseman tales. The retelling aspect is what intrigued me to read this story.
My 3.5 star rating is mainly because there were a good amount of grammatical and spelling errors throughout the entire book. I also felt like it moved a bit slow and then all of a sudden picked up real quickly at the end of the story. I felt that the end of the story was a bit rushed and thrown together.
Despite the errors and the pace of the story, I really did enjoy the main plot and the diversity of the characters. The world building was good and the story had really good potential. It had elements of true crime that I surprisingly really enjoyed! I hadn’t read anything similar to true crime before and this really inspired me to expand my reading repertoire to include more true crime romance!
I will conclude this review with a quote that really stood out to me:
“Instead of hiding from our darkness, we should confront it and overcome it.”
March 15, 2024
I wanted to love this and I’m so sad that I didn’t. To be fair the bones of the story was really good, I liked where we were going and was intrigued enough to continue. But by and large the execution was lacking. If there’s about grammatical errors that I notice we have a problem. And there were a ton here. I didn’t notice spelling issues but I can’t spell for shit so that’s not to say none exist. But ultimately it just felt rushed. There was alot of history to u pack to make the love and betrayals meaningful and we didn’t get that here. This read more like someone else’s synopsis of the story bs the story itself which made me really sad.
July 24, 2024
2.5 stars. This book would benefit from more thorough editing on multiple levels. The characters and their histories were underdeveloped, which prevents the reader from being emotionally invested in the story or the relationships. The prologue was very difficult to understand and there were many distracting errors in the book. I suspect that part of my lack of investment in the book may be due to the fact that I did not watch the TV show for which this book is clearly fanfic. I was surprised that the author thanked two editors in the acknowledgements.
September 18, 2024
I think this author had a good idea but it just did not do it for me. I really appreciate the diversity, you can tell how important that was for the author. I just had no desire to read what I was hoping would be a short fast book. But instead it took me all of August to finish a book that is less than 200 hundred pages.
November 25, 2023
(I received an arc in exchange of an honest review, and I thank the writer for it)
Second chance (kinda)
Friends to strangers to lovers
Witchy stuff
Crimes, murders, family with massive secrets
He makes some really questionable, and uncalled for, statements to her about what happened in the past. And some questionable actions.
Here and there mention of ADHD, demisexuality, bisexuality, not really developed.
Real slow burn.
I liked the world building but felt a bit lukewarm about the relationship
Second chance (kinda)
Friends to strangers to lovers
Witchy stuff
Crimes, murders, family with massive secrets
He makes some really questionable, and uncalled for, statements to her about what happened in the past. And some questionable actions.
Here and there mention of ADHD, demisexuality, bisexuality, not really developed.
Real slow burn.
I liked the world building but felt a bit lukewarm about the relationship
November 16, 2023
I enjoyed this book but to me it wasn’t really a romance it was more of a paranormal mystery with a sprinkling of romance on top. And unfortunately the romance that we did get between the two main characters felt super underdeveloped to me. In spite of that I really loved the mystery aspect and learning about the history of the town I think those parts were done well. I would love to see more books set in this world in the future.
Thank you to the author for this arc copy.
Thank you to the author for this arc copy.
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December 28, 2023https://www.tumblr.com/aspeccharacter...
Ichabod Crane from Splinter is demisexual!
Ichabod Crane from Splinter is demisexual!
November 15, 2023
I recently had the distinct pleasure of receiving an ARC copy of Splinter, a spooky, sexy Sleepy Hollow retelling by indie author, Jasper Hyde in exchange for an honest review. Let's talk about it.
So picture this, ya'll: I had just finished writing a little over 2500 words on my WIP, and knew I would be going to the library for a bit because my husband had an interview this afternoon. So I figured, What a perfect time to read a couple of chapters of Splinter! That "couple of chapters" was a lie, my friends. Instead, I was thrust into the world of Sleepy Hollow, a small town in Upstate New York and I did not want to leave until I had read 👏🏼 every 👏🏼 last 👏🏼 page.
Our heroine is Doctor Drusilla Van Tassel, she's the Medical Examiner who finds herself investigating the gruesome deaths of her twin sister's friends.
You guessed it, ya'll - these cats have been losing their heads.
Meanwhile, Drusilla's former best friend/lover, the one and only and also hot as hell Ichabod Crane - monster hunter - just came back to town, and it turns out that he is on a mission too. Capture the Headless Horseman before any more people die. Seems simple enough, right?
Nope. Guess again!
Drusilla is not happy that Ichabod is back in town, but all of that changes when she comes face-to-face with the Headless Horseman, which leads her to discover that she has mysterious magic powers that she didn't know she had. Forced to turn to Ichabod for help after her sister goes missing, the two work together to uncover Drusilla's family secrets and find a way to banish the Headless Horseman for good.
Sounds awesome right?!
It was! I legit could not put this down. I started reading around 1:30 pm and finished at around 11 pm. The characters are so well thought out, relatable and their history so rich. The settings are vivid and really give you a feel for this quaint little town and literally makes you wanna visit to grab some coffee at The Grindhouse Cafe and settle in the vast wooded area with an awesome book, though maybe not do that while the Headless Horseman is there.
The magic was so fun to read about, and just the mystery of it all was compelling and made me want to keep reading. (I mean, duh, I literally kept reading until there was nothing left to read)
Lastly, we must, but we must talk about the romance/sexy tension surrounding Drusilla and Ichabod. When I tell you I could not stop picturing Dante Brasco as Ichabod, ya'll...I could not. Just saying.
The pacing of the romance between Drusilla and Ichabod was realistic, it was interesting, there was tension, there was history! Every time they interacted, I was swooning, like what is my life right now?!
Bro, I was shipping them so hard that by the time we got to the love scene, I was literally like this:
BJXSHWHHXJXHBSHSHZHBXHGSHSHHS
I don't wanna give any spoilers because you just have got to read this book. If you like retellings with a diverse cast of characters, magic, sexy times, romance and general bad-assery both in the morgue and out in the woods, this book is absolutely a great choice for a cozy, exciting read.
So picture this, ya'll: I had just finished writing a little over 2500 words on my WIP, and knew I would be going to the library for a bit because my husband had an interview this afternoon. So I figured, What a perfect time to read a couple of chapters of Splinter! That "couple of chapters" was a lie, my friends. Instead, I was thrust into the world of Sleepy Hollow, a small town in Upstate New York and I did not want to leave until I had read 👏🏼 every 👏🏼 last 👏🏼 page.
Our heroine is Doctor Drusilla Van Tassel, she's the Medical Examiner who finds herself investigating the gruesome deaths of her twin sister's friends.
You guessed it, ya'll - these cats have been losing their heads.
Meanwhile, Drusilla's former best friend/lover, the one and only and also hot as hell Ichabod Crane - monster hunter - just came back to town, and it turns out that he is on a mission too. Capture the Headless Horseman before any more people die. Seems simple enough, right?
Nope. Guess again!
Drusilla is not happy that Ichabod is back in town, but all of that changes when she comes face-to-face with the Headless Horseman, which leads her to discover that she has mysterious magic powers that she didn't know she had. Forced to turn to Ichabod for help after her sister goes missing, the two work together to uncover Drusilla's family secrets and find a way to banish the Headless Horseman for good.
Sounds awesome right?!
It was! I legit could not put this down. I started reading around 1:30 pm and finished at around 11 pm. The characters are so well thought out, relatable and their history so rich. The settings are vivid and really give you a feel for this quaint little town and literally makes you wanna visit to grab some coffee at The Grindhouse Cafe and settle in the vast wooded area with an awesome book, though maybe not do that while the Headless Horseman is there.
The magic was so fun to read about, and just the mystery of it all was compelling and made me want to keep reading. (I mean, duh, I literally kept reading until there was nothing left to read)
Lastly, we must, but we must talk about the romance/sexy tension surrounding Drusilla and Ichabod. When I tell you I could not stop picturing Dante Brasco as Ichabod, ya'll...I could not. Just saying.
The pacing of the romance between Drusilla and Ichabod was realistic, it was interesting, there was tension, there was history! Every time they interacted, I was swooning, like what is my life right now?!
Bro, I was shipping them so hard that by the time we got to the love scene, I was literally like this:
BJXSHWHHXJXHBSHSHZHBXHGSHSHHS
I don't wanna give any spoilers because you just have got to read this book. If you like retellings with a diverse cast of characters, magic, sexy times, romance and general bad-assery both in the morgue and out in the woods, this book is absolutely a great choice for a cozy, exciting read.
November 15, 2023
I received an ARC from the author and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
Splinter is an imaginative retelling of the “Sleepy Hollow” story, drawing both on the original classic and more directly on the television show. While I’m only tangentially familiar with the former and not at all with the latter, I was still easily able to become immersed in this story. I love the care taken with the representation of the diverse cast, adding an especially unique take that draws on the colonial origins of the story, while firmly situating the main action in the modern day.
There’s quite a few moving parts to this story, and I love how each was given its due. There’s the mystery around the Horseman and the race to figure it out before they strike again, providing a tense atmosphere to the story throughout. But there’s also a compelling slow burn romance between Drusilla and Ichabod, and I loved seeing them battle their feelings while also being thrown together due to the investigation. I do think she took him back a little too easily, given what went down in their past, but they’re nice together nonetheless.
Katrina, Drusilla’s twin, is another key character, and I found their complex relationship to be another interesting aspect. Given there are also some twists that tie to their family’s history, it was fascinating how these plot twists tied to their evolving relationship.
I love how the author, under all their pen names, continues to champion their fellow authors, giving them a spotlight at the end of their books, and this one was no different. As Ichabod is portrayed as half-Filipino, for example, the back matter of this book includes a list of recommendations for ownvoices books from Filipino authors.
I really enjoyed this book, and I’d recommend it to readers looking for fun, inclusive takes on classics.
Splinter is an imaginative retelling of the “Sleepy Hollow” story, drawing both on the original classic and more directly on the television show. While I’m only tangentially familiar with the former and not at all with the latter, I was still easily able to become immersed in this story. I love the care taken with the representation of the diverse cast, adding an especially unique take that draws on the colonial origins of the story, while firmly situating the main action in the modern day.
There’s quite a few moving parts to this story, and I love how each was given its due. There’s the mystery around the Horseman and the race to figure it out before they strike again, providing a tense atmosphere to the story throughout. But there’s also a compelling slow burn romance between Drusilla and Ichabod, and I loved seeing them battle their feelings while also being thrown together due to the investigation. I do think she took him back a little too easily, given what went down in their past, but they’re nice together nonetheless.
Katrina, Drusilla’s twin, is another key character, and I found their complex relationship to be another interesting aspect. Given there are also some twists that tie to their family’s history, it was fascinating how these plot twists tied to their evolving relationship.
I love how the author, under all their pen names, continues to champion their fellow authors, giving them a spotlight at the end of their books, and this one was no different. As Ichabod is portrayed as half-Filipino, for example, the back matter of this book includes a list of recommendations for ownvoices books from Filipino authors.
I really enjoyed this book, and I’d recommend it to readers looking for fun, inclusive takes on classics.
November 12, 2023
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this book and thoroughly enjoyed it. It’s advertised as a diverse Sleepy Hollow retelling and that’s exactly what we get. We’ve got a Black main character and the love interest, Ichabod, is half Filipino.
I really liked this book. It’s fast paced but still plotted well enough that I didn’t fell like things were passing me by. I devoured it. A Black female lead who ends up a witch and doesn’t use her power solely to the aid of a white character? Please, I was giddy.
One thing I really enjoyed was the character’s personalities and the way they interacted with each other. These are people who used to be in a relationship that didn’t end well and it shows. And it’s actually funny. Just the cutting remarks, the way they react and respond to each other. They were throwing volleys at each other and it was so funny to see it. And I liked how they author showed that when first loves go sour, it can linger with us well into adulthood.
I also really loved that I could tell a lot of detail had been researched. The town felt real and like I could actually see it if I tried. The battle between them and the horseman was great, I don’t think there was anything about this book that I disliked.
My only qualm with this book is I wanted more. I wanted it to be longer. I wanted more lore on the families and the town. But I’m a lore lover and will never apologize for that.
I recommend this fun, easy read.
I read a quote, don’t remember who from, that said “easy reading is damn hard writing”. this book is super easy to read and super enjoyable. So give it a shot. It’s 4 stars from me.
I really liked this book. It’s fast paced but still plotted well enough that I didn’t fell like things were passing me by. I devoured it. A Black female lead who ends up a witch and doesn’t use her power solely to the aid of a white character? Please, I was giddy.
One thing I really enjoyed was the character’s personalities and the way they interacted with each other. These are people who used to be in a relationship that didn’t end well and it shows. And it’s actually funny. Just the cutting remarks, the way they react and respond to each other. They were throwing volleys at each other and it was so funny to see it. And I liked how they author showed that when first loves go sour, it can linger with us well into adulthood.
I also really loved that I could tell a lot of detail had been researched. The town felt real and like I could actually see it if I tried. The battle between them and the horseman was great, I don’t think there was anything about this book that I disliked.
My only qualm with this book is I wanted more. I wanted it to be longer. I wanted more lore on the families and the town. But I’m a lore lover and will never apologize for that.
I recommend this fun, easy read.
I read a quote, don’t remember who from, that said “easy reading is damn hard writing”. this book is super easy to read and super enjoyable. So give it a shot. It’s 4 stars from me.
October 25, 2023
I offered to read this in the ARC format so bear with me here. First, I love a book with content warning and I appreciate Jasper letting us know what we're in for. It didn't ruin any part of the story.
Drusilla Van Tassel is the local medical examiner for Sleepy Hollow and it surrounding towns. Her twin sister, Katrina is a society woman and the sisters are very low contact. There have always been rumors of the Headless Horseman in town and suddenly it looks like the demon has returned with the gruesome death of Denis Carter. Along with the Headless Horseman come Ichabod Crane, a man who left Sleepy Hollow 16 years ago. Together they race against time to solve the mystery of why the Headless Horseman has returned to Sleepy Hollow and is cutting a path through all of the town's elite citizens. Their time is limited because Drusilla's own sister in on the Horseman's list.
I love a good queer romance and the slow burn on this one was engaging without taking away from the mystery of the Horseman and why he has returned to Sleepy Hollow. It tickles me that this is a love letter to the Sleepy Hollow series as well. The author put so much love and attention into these characters and it shows.
There are a few grammar issues towards the ending of the book which is expected because this book hasn't been finalized yet. And while there is the most delicious climax and third act, there were some scenes that seemed rushed and a little pat. It didn't take away from the enjoyment of the story.
Definitely an engaging read!
Drusilla Van Tassel is the local medical examiner for Sleepy Hollow and it surrounding towns. Her twin sister, Katrina is a society woman and the sisters are very low contact. There have always been rumors of the Headless Horseman in town and suddenly it looks like the demon has returned with the gruesome death of Denis Carter. Along with the Headless Horseman come Ichabod Crane, a man who left Sleepy Hollow 16 years ago. Together they race against time to solve the mystery of why the Headless Horseman has returned to Sleepy Hollow and is cutting a path through all of the town's elite citizens. Their time is limited because Drusilla's own sister in on the Horseman's list.
I love a good queer romance and the slow burn on this one was engaging without taking away from the mystery of the Horseman and why he has returned to Sleepy Hollow. It tickles me that this is a love letter to the Sleepy Hollow series as well. The author put so much love and attention into these characters and it shows.
There are a few grammar issues towards the ending of the book which is expected because this book hasn't been finalized yet. And while there is the most delicious climax and third act, there were some scenes that seemed rushed and a little pat. It didn't take away from the enjoyment of the story.
Definitely an engaging read!
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November 13, 2023Althought this book is tagged as both fantasy and horror, I think it may particularly appeal to urban fantasy fans. If I had to label it as a single genre, I'd pick Urban Fantasy, because SLINTER is set in a "real world" setting that includes a secret fantasy underground, it's told from the perspetive of a badass heroine with untapped potential, and the romance arc is extremely important.
At the heart of the story is a second chance romance between a Black medical examiner and her one-time best-friend-with-benefits, Filipino college professor Ichabod Crane. The first part of the novel reads almost like a police procedural, as Drusilla Van Tassel is called into investigate the murder of one of her sister's long-time friends. When Drusilla encounters the Headless Horseman, she discovers that her friends and family members have been keeping secrets from her--including the secret of her own abilities.
I am usually good at picking up on "twists" in the plot, so I was impressed that I did not at all forsee the turn the story took at the end.
If you rarely read horror and are worried about how scary or gory the book is, don't worry. There isn't a lot of terror or disgusting imagery in this book, although there are serious injuries and on-page deaths. If you're comfortable reading fantasy with action-adventure fight sequences, you'll probably be fine with the level of violence. And fortunately, the author provides trigger warnings.
For readers who care about steam, note that there is one open door sex scene. I'd rate it a 2 or 3 on a 5-pepper scale.
At the heart of the story is a second chance romance between a Black medical examiner and her one-time best-friend-with-benefits, Filipino college professor Ichabod Crane. The first part of the novel reads almost like a police procedural, as Drusilla Van Tassel is called into investigate the murder of one of her sister's long-time friends. When Drusilla encounters the Headless Horseman, she discovers that her friends and family members have been keeping secrets from her--including the secret of her own abilities.
I am usually good at picking up on "twists" in the plot, so I was impressed that I did not at all forsee the turn the story took at the end.
If you rarely read horror and are worried about how scary or gory the book is, don't worry. There isn't a lot of terror or disgusting imagery in this book, although there are serious injuries and on-page deaths. If you're comfortable reading fantasy with action-adventure fight sequences, you'll probably be fine with the level of violence. And fortunately, the author provides trigger warnings.
For readers who care about steam, note that there is one open door sex scene. I'd rate it a 2 or 3 on a 5-pepper scale.
November 17, 2023
This diverse and queer retelling of Sleepy Hollow felt like a love letter to all the Black women Ichabbie fans who were totally let down (to put it mildly) by the utter hijacking of Nicole Beharie's character and story arc. Granted I was more of a casual watcher, so it sadly didn't shock me when the showrunners threw Abbie under the bus. That's Hollyweird.
Poor Drusilla. Her real life as a medical examiner was bad enough with the constant microaggressions, an emotionally distant sister who's the only family she has left. When headless bodies of her sister's friends start showing up, along with Ichabod Crane, the man who broke her heart, to say things are going to get weird in Sleepy Hollow is the understatement of the decade.
Since this was a novella a lot of stuff happens really fast, which only made me wish this was a longer book. It took me a while to warm up to Ichabod and frankly my jury is still out on him. I get that high school was tough being part Filipino but the way he treated Drusilla was still shitty and I don't think he apologized enough. I loved his mother though, and the food descriptions made me hungry.
One of the many things I love about this author is their acknowledgement in writing another ethnic group, that they had sensitivity readers from said group, but asks the reader to email them if something didn't read true so that they can correct it. They also signal boost authors from marginalized communities. In this case, it was Filipina romance authors.
That's how you do allyship folks.
Thanks to the author for providing me with an eARC.
Poor Drusilla. Her real life as a medical examiner was bad enough with the constant microaggressions, an emotionally distant sister who's the only family she has left. When headless bodies of her sister's friends start showing up, along with Ichabod Crane, the man who broke her heart, to say things are going to get weird in Sleepy Hollow is the understatement of the decade.
Since this was a novella a lot of stuff happens really fast, which only made me wish this was a longer book. It took me a while to warm up to Ichabod and frankly my jury is still out on him. I get that high school was tough being part Filipino but the way he treated Drusilla was still shitty and I don't think he apologized enough. I loved his mother though, and the food descriptions made me hungry.
One of the many things I love about this author is their acknowledgement in writing another ethnic group, that they had sensitivity readers from said group, but asks the reader to email them if something didn't read true so that they can correct it. They also signal boost authors from marginalized communities. In this case, it was Filipina romance authors.
That's how you do allyship folks.
Thanks to the author for providing me with an eARC.
November 20, 2023
Full disclosure: I got an ARC of this book, and these are my honest thoughts. I also don’t usually read a lot of retellings, but this one seemed too interesting to pass up.
And I’m glad I gave it a try!
🐎 It was a short read that flowed well. The descriptions and pacing set the mood from the very beginning, and flipping through the pages it was easy to like the diverse cast as well as wonder what would occur next.
🪄The locations come alive just as well as the characters inhabiting them, and that’s thanks to Hyde’s research and attention to detail.
🐎One of my favorite thing was the interactions between the protagonists, Drusilla and Ichabod. They felt genuine and made me smile more than once. Their backgrounds and past history (no spoiler here but read to find out!) were well thought-out by Hyde and served to add an engrossing dimension to the story.
🪄That being said, a lot happened in the book, and I would’ve appreciated some threads to benefit from a bit more development.
🐎But overall the author did such a good job balancing everything and offering a breakneck pace to the story that it made for a compelling read.
🪄Oh, and the final twist is *chef’s kiss*.
If you’re looking for a quick urban fantasy read packed with queer romance, some spice, magic, slight horror, and suspense, this might be it!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️ 1/2
And I’m glad I gave it a try!
🐎 It was a short read that flowed well. The descriptions and pacing set the mood from the very beginning, and flipping through the pages it was easy to like the diverse cast as well as wonder what would occur next.
🪄The locations come alive just as well as the characters inhabiting them, and that’s thanks to Hyde’s research and attention to detail.
🐎One of my favorite thing was the interactions between the protagonists, Drusilla and Ichabod. They felt genuine and made me smile more than once. Their backgrounds and past history (no spoiler here but read to find out!) were well thought-out by Hyde and served to add an engrossing dimension to the story.
🪄That being said, a lot happened in the book, and I would’ve appreciated some threads to benefit from a bit more development.
🐎But overall the author did such a good job balancing everything and offering a breakneck pace to the story that it made for a compelling read.
🪄Oh, and the final twist is *chef’s kiss*.
If you’re looking for a quick urban fantasy read packed with queer romance, some spice, magic, slight horror, and suspense, this might be it!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️ 1/2
June 17, 2025
I LOVED this book! It's like fanfic for the tv show Sleepy Hollow, but better (justice for Abbie!).
Although poor Katrina Von Tassel. Why is she always the bad guy?
In this telling, Katrina has an older sister named Drusilla, who is bisexual (if not pan), and the coroner in Sleepy Hollow. They're black too! Katrina married Brom, but he died a few years ago. Katrina has been struggling since. Their father died a few months ago and the sisters are distant.
The Von Tassels are witches and Drusilla is having dreams of their coven defeating the Headless Horseman.
Ichabod and Drusilla had a thing in high school, but he broke her heart and left town. Ichabod is Filipino/British. He comes back when people in Katrina's friend group start dying and having their heads removed. Turns out Ichabod is a Paladin and wants to help.
I read some reviews where they didn't feel Ichabod groveled enough for the hurt he caused Drusilla, but I felt he did. Turns out they had slept together and then he asked Katrina out for prom the next day. He didn't think Drusilla would find out. She did because Katrina told her. And they both stopped talking and blamed the other. It was years ago, though, and he apologizes sincerely. I thought it was enough.
The twist is who summoned the Headless Horseman. It was great.
So I loved this book a lot! Great writing, great representation, great story!
Although poor Katrina Von Tassel. Why is she always the bad guy?
In this telling, Katrina has an older sister named Drusilla, who is bisexual (if not pan), and the coroner in Sleepy Hollow. They're black too! Katrina married Brom, but he died a few years ago. Katrina has been struggling since. Their father died a few months ago and the sisters are distant.
The Von Tassels are witches and Drusilla is having dreams of their coven defeating the Headless Horseman.
Ichabod and Drusilla had a thing in high school, but he broke her heart and left town. Ichabod is Filipino/British. He comes back when people in Katrina's friend group start dying and having their heads removed. Turns out Ichabod is a Paladin and wants to help.
I read some reviews where they didn't feel Ichabod groveled enough for the hurt he caused Drusilla, but I felt he did. Turns out they had slept together and then he asked Katrina out for prom the next day. He didn't think Drusilla would find out. She did because Katrina told her. And they both stopped talking and blamed the other. It was years ago, though, and he apologizes sincerely. I thought it was enough.
The twist is who summoned the Headless Horseman. It was great.
So I loved this book a lot! Great writing, great representation, great story!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 17, 2024
This is the Sleepy Hollow retelling that I didn't even know that I needed.
This was a fast paced horror novella that immediately grabs your attention when the Headless Huntsman decides to slaughter the townspeople of Sleepy Hollow. Drusilla (a medical examiner) becomes personally invested when she suspects that the HH has kidnapped her sister, but she has to work alongside Ichabod Crane...the guy who broke her heart when she was younger.
I already loved this Jasper Hyde (Georgina Kiersten)'s book because of their queer representation and chemistry between characters, so I wasn't surprised at all that Hyde absolutely delivered with Drusilla and Ichabod Crane. The tension between them is palpable as they navigate their history while trying to understand each other as adults.
While this technically is a slow-burn, it doesn't necessarily feel that way since this is a novella. But once we got to the spicy scenes...WORTH IT. Hyde put it all on the page, and I loved it.
Overall, if you're looking for a quick and immersive spine tingling horror that also has it's fair share of steam then definitely pick this one up!
This was a fast paced horror novella that immediately grabs your attention when the Headless Huntsman decides to slaughter the townspeople of Sleepy Hollow. Drusilla (a medical examiner) becomes personally invested when she suspects that the HH has kidnapped her sister, but she has to work alongside Ichabod Crane...the guy who broke her heart when she was younger.
I already loved this Jasper Hyde (Georgina Kiersten)'s book because of their queer representation and chemistry between characters, so I wasn't surprised at all that Hyde absolutely delivered with Drusilla and Ichabod Crane. The tension between them is palpable as they navigate their history while trying to understand each other as adults.
While this technically is a slow-burn, it doesn't necessarily feel that way since this is a novella. But once we got to the spicy scenes...WORTH IT. Hyde put it all on the page, and I loved it.
Overall, if you're looking for a quick and immersive spine tingling horror that also has it's fair share of steam then definitely pick this one up!
November 20, 2023
I have shied away from reading any F/M stories but because Jasper Hyde (Georgina Kiersten) wrote this one, I wanted to give it a shot. I am so glad I did. This was a wonderful reading! I have loved the books that Georgina Kiersten wrote. I loved the writing style! I simply devoured this in a day because it was so good and I had to read to find out what happened! This is a modern re-telling story of the Headless Horseman in Sleepy Hollow. I’d definitely give it a 5 stars reading and it’s something I’d read every Halloween!
The story focuses on Drusilla, Sleepy Hollow’s youngest Medical Examiner who noticed that her high school bullies would have their heads chopped off. To make matters worse, Ichabod Crane was back in town after breaking her heart. She started investigating after her twin sister was kidnapped “supposedly” by the headless horseman. She begrudgingly sought Ichabod’s assistance after finding out he’s a monster hunter. I’ll just stop and have you pick up the book to read and find out what happened! A great reading!!!
The story focuses on Drusilla, Sleepy Hollow’s youngest Medical Examiner who noticed that her high school bullies would have their heads chopped off. To make matters worse, Ichabod Crane was back in town after breaking her heart. She started investigating after her twin sister was kidnapped “supposedly” by the headless horseman. She begrudgingly sought Ichabod’s assistance after finding out he’s a monster hunter. I’ll just stop and have you pick up the book to read and find out what happened! A great reading!!!
November 15, 2023
Huge thanks to Jasper Hyde for providing an ARC of “Splinter”!
I love retellings of classic literature, especially when they’re gothic, and ESPECIALLY if they’re about queer POC with disabilities, so Splinter’s premise checked many boxes for me. The book really lived up to its premise and had a very satisfying and surprising ending. The world-building was topnotch and I really liked the main character.
The only reason I did not rate this book higher is because I wanted more of it. It feels about a hundred pages too short. The plot moves at breakneck speed and gives you very little to process each turn of events before the next one occurs. It would have helped if the mystery had been more complex or harder for the characters to solve. The book also left little space for romance between the main characters. I would have loved to get to know Drusilla, Ichabod, and this version of Sleepy Hollow a little better.
Overall, it was a 3.5/5 for me. Highly recommend!
I love retellings of classic literature, especially when they’re gothic, and ESPECIALLY if they’re about queer POC with disabilities, so Splinter’s premise checked many boxes for me. The book really lived up to its premise and had a very satisfying and surprising ending. The world-building was topnotch and I really liked the main character.
The only reason I did not rate this book higher is because I wanted more of it. It feels about a hundred pages too short. The plot moves at breakneck speed and gives you very little to process each turn of events before the next one occurs. It would have helped if the mystery had been more complex or harder for the characters to solve. The book also left little space for romance between the main characters. I would have loved to get to know Drusilla, Ichabod, and this version of Sleepy Hollow a little better.
Overall, it was a 3.5/5 for me. Highly recommend!
February 6, 2025
I was already in love with their Vicious Thirst series. If you have not read it, run now to their website https://georginakiersten.com/a-viciou... and read it!
A Sleepy Hollow retelling with a diverse cast of characters. I love a good retelling and let me say this one blew me away! Fast paced, gripping, edge of your seat ride! It is only 20 chapters but let me say those 20 chapters are enough!
You follow along as the female main character Dr. Drusilla Van Tassel as a series of murders and odd occurrences bring a legend from Revolutionary times Sleepy Hollow to life! With a murder on the loose and no leads to stop him, a boss breathing down her neck for answers and a sister who is acting stranger and stranger by the day what else could possibly go wrong?
Enter Ichabod Crane.
A Sleepy Hollow retelling with a diverse cast of characters. I love a good retelling and let me say this one blew me away! Fast paced, gripping, edge of your seat ride! It is only 20 chapters but let me say those 20 chapters are enough!
You follow along as the female main character Dr. Drusilla Van Tassel as a series of murders and odd occurrences bring a legend from Revolutionary times Sleepy Hollow to life! With a murder on the loose and no leads to stop him, a boss breathing down her neck for answers and a sister who is acting stranger and stranger by the day what else could possibly go wrong?
Enter Ichabod Crane.
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