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The Unfinished #1
The Unfinished: A Stunning Debut YA Horror Where Mohawk Monsters Haunt Black Water and Missing Teens
In this debut YA horror novel by Cheryl Isaacs (Mohawk), small-town athlete Avery is haunted by the black water and Unfinished beings of Kanyen’kehá:ka stories and must turn to the culture she hasn’t felt connected to in order to save her town.
The black water has been waiting. Watching. Hungry for the souls it needs to survive.
When small-town athlete Avery’s morning run leads her to a strange pond in the middle of the forest, she awakens a horror the townspeople of Crook’s Falls have long forgotten.
Avery can smell the water, see it flooding everywhere; she thinks she’s losing her mind. And as the black water haunts Avery—taking a new form each time—people in town begin to go missing.
Though Avery had heard whispers of monsters from her Kanyen’kehá:ka (Mohawk) relatives, she’s never really connected to her Indigenous culture or understood the stories. But the Elders she has distanced herself from now may have the answers she needs.
When Key, her best friend and longtime crush, is the next to disappear, Avery is faced with a choice: listen to the Kanyen’kehá:ka and save the town but lose her friend forever…or listen to her heart and risk everything to get Key back.
In her stunning debut, Cheryl Isaacs pulls the reader down into an unsettling tale of monsters, mystery, and secrets that refuse to stay submerged.
The black water has been waiting. Watching. Hungry for the souls it needs to survive.
When small-town athlete Avery’s morning run leads her to a strange pond in the middle of the forest, she awakens a horror the townspeople of Crook’s Falls have long forgotten.
Avery can smell the water, see it flooding everywhere; she thinks she’s losing her mind. And as the black water haunts Avery—taking a new form each time—people in town begin to go missing.
Though Avery had heard whispers of monsters from her Kanyen’kehá:ka (Mohawk) relatives, she’s never really connected to her Indigenous culture or understood the stories. But the Elders she has distanced herself from now may have the answers she needs.
When Key, her best friend and longtime crush, is the next to disappear, Avery is faced with a choice: listen to the Kanyen’kehá:ka and save the town but lose her friend forever…or listen to her heart and risk everything to get Key back.
In her stunning debut, Cheryl Isaacs pulls the reader down into an unsettling tale of monsters, mystery, and secrets that refuse to stay submerged.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published October 15, 2024
62 people are currently reading
14613 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 155 reviews
January 12, 2025
Well this was fantastic.
Such an interesting concept and a wonderful presentation for it.
I don't want to say too much because I think going in blind is part of why it was so good.
I will say the characters are awesome, the mystery is intriguing and the setting is perfect.
Much love to Cheryl Isaacs and Frenzy Presents for my copy.
Such an interesting concept and a wonderful presentation for it.
I don't want to say too much because I think going in blind is part of why it was so good.
I will say the characters are awesome, the mystery is intriguing and the setting is perfect.
Much love to Cheryl Isaacs and Frenzy Presents for my copy.
October 24, 2024
The Unfinished is a book with a great premise, where the MC, Avery, finds herself unknowingly awakening an evil that only her people really know about. The concept was an interesting one, however, the execution was not it for me. It felt underdeveloped. I appreciate the author's note at the end because it really helped give an explanation of what she hoped to achieve with this one. Had it not been for that, I think I would have left feeling confused.
The story felt a little flat, but also as if it dragged on and, unfortunately, was anticlimactic. The characters, however, were not a hit for me. I absolutely despised Avery. She was entitled, irritable, instantly annoyed by anyone who wasn't Key, jealous, and obsessed with Key. She had no clue what was going on with her "friends", no clue of her friend's fears, all she cared about was Key. This character really acted as if the world revolved around her and was shocked when she realized it didn't. The mention of Key in every other sentence made the book more and more difficult to get through. It occurred at the most unnecessary times as well. "Oh, there's sand at the beach. Well Key likes rice with egg." I did not enjoy the constant mentions of Key at all. The other characters were alright but very one-dimensional. I wish this book gave a little more.
Thank you NetGalley, Harper Collins, and Cheryl Isaacs for this ARC.
The story felt a little flat, but also as if it dragged on and, unfortunately, was anticlimactic. The characters, however, were not a hit for me. I absolutely despised Avery. She was entitled, irritable, instantly annoyed by anyone who wasn't Key, jealous, and obsessed with Key. She had no clue what was going on with her "friends", no clue of her friend's fears, all she cared about was Key. This character really acted as if the world revolved around her and was shocked when she realized it didn't. The mention of Key in every other sentence made the book more and more difficult to get through. It occurred at the most unnecessary times as well. "Oh, there's sand at the beach. Well Key likes rice with egg." I did not enjoy the constant mentions of Key at all. The other characters were alright but very one-dimensional. I wish this book gave a little more.
Thank you NetGalley, Harper Collins, and Cheryl Isaacs for this ARC.
September 20, 2024
A debut YA thriller by a new Canadian Indigenous author and while I really wanted to love this one I honestly found it a little slow and boring. I hate to say it. Sadly this one wasn't for me. Recommended for fans of authors like K.A. Cobell.
September 12, 2024
Avery awakens an evil whose existence was passed down in stories by her ancestors. The journey of trying to stop what had been unleashed alongside Avery’s journey to reconnect with her culture was absolutely perfect.
Avery’s feelings of not being connected enough to her culture to be worthy of communicating their stories, feeling awkward at trying to communicate with others in her culture whilst also having this fierce protectiveness of it resonated with me so much and I know that it will with others too. Her journey to accepting that it’s okay to learn about your culture later in your life, that no matter how much you do or do not know, it will always be yours was so touching.
The extreme loyalty and protectiveness of Avery, Stella and Key of each other was the best. Whilst they may show their love for each other in very different ways, they each know they can always count on each other and that they’ll always be there for each other.
Not usually a horror reader of any kind so I was definitely easily creeped out throughout this but still enjoyed it!!
Avery’s feelings of not being connected enough to her culture to be worthy of communicating their stories, feeling awkward at trying to communicate with others in her culture whilst also having this fierce protectiveness of it resonated with me so much and I know that it will with others too. Her journey to accepting that it’s okay to learn about your culture later in your life, that no matter how much you do or do not know, it will always be yours was so touching.
The extreme loyalty and protectiveness of Avery, Stella and Key of each other was the best. Whilst they may show their love for each other in very different ways, they each know they can always count on each other and that they’ll always be there for each other.
Not usually a horror reader of any kind so I was definitely easily creeped out throughout this but still enjoyed it!!
September 15, 2024
This was fast paced and immersive. However, if readers are looking for a scary read.. this might fall a little flat. I would have liked the ending to be explained a bit better too. Like who’s the ragged man? I think maybe that’s why it wasn’t really scary because we didn’t really know who or what we were facing or why they were really after Avery.
December 21, 2024
Grabbed my attention at the start but then it became repetitive and started to drag.
June 1, 2024
Cheryl Isaac’s Unfinished is an eerie and unsettling horror debut, that will leave you with goosebumps. It moves forward at a breakneck pace, throwing you immediately into a creepy horror story set in a small town, with a dark and mysterious legend around it. It’s a pretty fast read, and quite an immersive one - just creepy enough that I did not like to read it before bed lol. Our protagonist Avery is headstrong and uncertain - and in a teenager, that is quite a combination. This is partially a coming-of-age story, with the regular growing pains of teenage hood, and crushes, and challenging family dynamics, but woven in is a mysterious legend, and an evil presence, that’s hungry, and won’t stop until it’s eaten it’s fill. This book read a LOT like a horror movie - in that it was quite evocative and atmospheric (I could picture so many of the scenes so well), but also in the way that we didn’t get a lot of time to develop relationships, and just had to rely on limited interactions and Avery’s narrations to paint our picture for us. I enjoyed the weaving together of Indigenous cultures and storytelling, into a fresh and creepy horror story. This was a really promising debut, and a genuinely scary story, and I’m so excited for more from Isaacs.
I received an advanced reading copy from the publisher, in exchange for my honest feedback.
I received an advanced reading copy from the publisher, in exchange for my honest feedback.
February 25, 2025
The suspense in this book kept me reading (it also has a very mysterious atmosphere, which I love) and I do like how the main character, Avery, develops throughout the story. She is also a relatable character, as in the end, she realizes what she should've done and what she can now do to change that. The ending is good, a happy ending, but I wish it could've been longer, as it leaves me wondering what happened to Avery and her friends, and the rest of town after the conflict. Other than that, I'd rate this a 4.5/5 stars.
March 9, 2025
This cover caught my eye! I had high hopes for The Unfinished, but sadly, it felt unfinished. It seemed like a first, maybe second draft, but definitely not a final copy. The story lacked the substance I was looking for; I wanted a more well-rounded experience. The execution of the first person point of view really ran it through the swampy mud (I am not a fan of first POV - AT ALL). I couldn't connect with or find sympathy for any of the characters (probably due to the POV). A quick read, unremarkable, and not memorable. 1.5 stars.
December 30, 2024
Avery has to save her friend Key, before the blackwater takes him forever.
I enjoy Native and Indigenous stories, this one is no exception. Avery is resistant to learning her culture, and her experiences with one of the stories coming true, enlightens how she feels about her family, past, and traditions.
I enjoy Native and Indigenous stories, this one is no exception. Avery is resistant to learning her culture, and her experiences with one of the stories coming true, enlightens how she feels about her family, past, and traditions.
October 30, 2024
I had the pleasure of being invited to a panel where Cheryl was speaking about her debut novel “The Unfinished” and what it represents to her and after hearing some of the themes and how it resonate with me, I thought I would give it a try even though YA horror is not my preferred genre especially for a chicken like me! I am also excited that this is an indigenous read which will expand on my diverse reads. The author also mentioned that this won’t be so bad for a noob like me and I took her word for it…
While the beginning started off a little slow, it started giving me the creeps after our FL, Avery discovers the black pond during her run off the trails and unknowingly “wakes” something up within the pond. The whole story is related to the lore of the small town she lives in with a legend of people disappearing and others brushing off their disappearances never mind the fact that you unknowingly feel weird things or have the feeling of being followed *shudders*.
I feel for Avery as I can relate to her during my growing pains. Avery is a prickly type of character that trusts only her small group of friends, Key, her crush and Stella who are both her best friends. She is also a character that shares only when she is ready and can be secretive at times and also a character that grew up outside her indigenous culture making her always feeling like an outsider to her roots and comes from a broken family, mum who cares a lot and absentee dad. I also love how she is a runner and has a strong determination to never give up leading to her being able to save Key and put an end to this terrifying presence once in for all.
I love the author’s ability to pay homage to her Indigenous culture such as the ‘Sky Woman creation story’ while waving a riveting tale of a horrifying presence that has no limits to “eating” making a string of people in her town disappear and no one really searching for them due to the evil presence masking it. I was so creeped out half the time reading it but could not put the book down as I WANTED to know what happened next….
For a debut, this was such a riveting read that pays homage to the indigenous culture
Thank you Frenzybooks for the gifted arc and the invitation to the author panel.
While the beginning started off a little slow, it started giving me the creeps after our FL, Avery discovers the black pond during her run off the trails and unknowingly “wakes” something up within the pond. The whole story is related to the lore of the small town she lives in with a legend of people disappearing and others brushing off their disappearances never mind the fact that you unknowingly feel weird things or have the feeling of being followed *shudders*.
I feel for Avery as I can relate to her during my growing pains. Avery is a prickly type of character that trusts only her small group of friends, Key, her crush and Stella who are both her best friends. She is also a character that shares only when she is ready and can be secretive at times and also a character that grew up outside her indigenous culture making her always feeling like an outsider to her roots and comes from a broken family, mum who cares a lot and absentee dad. I also love how she is a runner and has a strong determination to never give up leading to her being able to save Key and put an end to this terrifying presence once in for all.
I love the author’s ability to pay homage to her Indigenous culture such as the ‘Sky Woman creation story’ while waving a riveting tale of a horrifying presence that has no limits to “eating” making a string of people in her town disappear and no one really searching for them due to the evil presence masking it. I was so creeped out half the time reading it but could not put the book down as I WANTED to know what happened next….
For a debut, this was such a riveting read that pays homage to the indigenous culture
Thank you Frenzybooks for the gifted arc and the invitation to the author panel.
December 3, 2024
I loved the concept and the characters, but the execution of the story fell a bit flat for me. The order in which stuff happened felt weird, and (this may just be my aroace-ness) but I hated the crush plot line between Avery and Key. I don’t think anything would be terribly affected by the two just being friends, especially since it is never actually revealed to Key that Avery likes him.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 16, 2024
This should have been a novella. After seventy pages, the storyline gets lost and is replaced with Avery’s repetitious internal dialogue about Key. Seriously. Every single paragraph is about him. Key this, Key that. Is Avery actually going to try and solve this mystery instead of moping about her missing crush? Spoiler alert. No, she isn’t. By the end of the book, Avery is still obsessed with Key and rude to literally everyone else, no questions about the backstory have been answered, and the fight against the villain concluded too easily to even be considered a fight. The stakes didn’t feel high at all. This was boring and not scary enough to be a horror.
January 25, 2025
3.5/5
Finding your voice and your place.
CW // dysfunctional family, broken family, dementia/Alzheimers, water
Avery is training for a running scholarship when she ignores her parent's warnings and goes off the trail. She's pulled to this pond, a pond she's never seen before. When she gets frightened by something lurking in its depths, it's too late. Avery has awoken something old and terrifying, and it's kidnapping people in town. She's suffering from nightmares about the water and she's hallucinating, and of course things get worse for her. Key, her best friend and crush, goes missing. It's going to take patience, reconnecting with her culture, and a whole lot of support from her best friend Stella and other townsfolk to fight back and try to save Key.
----
This one has so many indigenous subtleties, I loved it. There's a lot of missing people in this one, possibly shining light on the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, although all genders, ages, and ethnicities are included here. The turtle! I love turtles! The ending was wonderful, I do wish there was a bit more on the page for Avery to speak.
It felt a little slow in the middle, but I did really enjoy it. I feel so bad for Stella. It was really beautiful to watch Avery come out of her shell and stop being afraid. I loved Lily and Frank and Foster, all the characters were great. I'm not a runner, but anyone who is will enjoy and understand Avery instantly.
This had so many scenes that I could picture so clearly. The incidents at the bus, the sink, the coffee shop, the bookstore. So creepy, so eerie, so classic horror. I really enjoyed it. I have questions about the Raggedy Man and how he came to be and his connection to Avery. But overall, the book was satisfying.
Thankful to my local library for this copy! I love seeing Canadian authors, Indigenous authors, and female authors being supported! Check your local library for a copy or request that they buy it!
Finding your voice and your place.
CW // dysfunctional family, broken family, dementia/Alzheimers, water
Avery is training for a running scholarship when she ignores her parent's warnings and goes off the trail. She's pulled to this pond, a pond she's never seen before. When she gets frightened by something lurking in its depths, it's too late. Avery has awoken something old and terrifying, and it's kidnapping people in town. She's suffering from nightmares about the water and she's hallucinating, and of course things get worse for her. Key, her best friend and crush, goes missing. It's going to take patience, reconnecting with her culture, and a whole lot of support from her best friend Stella and other townsfolk to fight back and try to save Key.
----
This one has so many indigenous subtleties, I loved it. There's a lot of missing people in this one, possibly shining light on the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, although all genders, ages, and ethnicities are included here. The turtle! I love turtles! The ending was wonderful, I do wish there was a bit more on the page for Avery to speak.
It felt a little slow in the middle, but I did really enjoy it. I feel so bad for Stella. It was really beautiful to watch Avery come out of her shell and stop being afraid. I loved Lily and Frank and Foster, all the characters were great. I'm not a runner, but anyone who is will enjoy and understand Avery instantly.
This had so many scenes that I could picture so clearly. The incidents at the bus, the sink, the coffee shop, the bookstore. So creepy, so eerie, so classic horror. I really enjoyed it. I have questions about the Raggedy Man and how he came to be and his connection to Avery. But overall, the book was satisfying.
Thankful to my local library for this copy! I love seeing Canadian authors, Indigenous authors, and female authors being supported! Check your local library for a copy or request that they buy it!
September 25, 2025
I think this story had a lot of promise. The idea of a menacing black water stealing people and Unfinished figures wandering the town was ominous and unique.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t really connect with the story. The characters came across as a little flat, especially in terms of Avery and her feelings for Key. I also felt that it ended up being anti-climactic. There was a lot of great imagery used, but ultimately no pull to really keep me invested.
I do plan on giving the second book a try because there were a lot of great starting points in this book, but I had some issues with this one.
Thank you to HarperCollins Canada for my gifted copy!
Unfortunately, I couldn’t really connect with the story. The characters came across as a little flat, especially in terms of Avery and her feelings for Key. I also felt that it ended up being anti-climactic. There was a lot of great imagery used, but ultimately no pull to really keep me invested.
I do plan on giving the second book a try because there were a lot of great starting points in this book, but I had some issues with this one.
Thank you to HarperCollins Canada for my gifted copy!
September 26, 2025
2 // audiobook // i liked the concept but was not into it at all - if i could have DNF i would’ve but i have to always finish a book 😂
March 13, 2025
This book dives right into the chaos. It thoroughly freaked me out and gave me the heebie jeebies! Avery is a young Mohawk girl who has stumbled her way into an urban legend turned to life.
You know those stories that your aunties and grandmas and uncles used to tell you to warn you away from doing something dangerous? Well in this book, the FMC doesn't listen to that little voice in the back of her head, and does exactly what she's been told time and time again not to do. And guess what happens? Everything she was warned about!
I loved this book because it had me imagining all the different ways that my life could have gone awry had I not listened to my mom and dad. The heroie in this book has to either give in to the darkness that's threatening to consume her, or do what no one else has ever been able to successfully do and fight back. This was a great YA book, and I highly recommend.
You know those stories that your aunties and grandmas and uncles used to tell you to warn you away from doing something dangerous? Well in this book, the FMC doesn't listen to that little voice in the back of her head, and does exactly what she's been told time and time again not to do. And guess what happens? Everything she was warned about!
I loved this book because it had me imagining all the different ways that my life could have gone awry had I not listened to my mom and dad. The heroie in this book has to either give in to the darkness that's threatening to consume her, or do what no one else has ever been able to successfully do and fight back. This was a great YA book, and I highly recommend.
November 18, 2024
This was a really tense and atmospheric read! I really liked the indigenous (Kanyeb’kehá:ka/Mohawk) representation—it’s always great to have more diverse genre fiction out there. I thought the black water was a great premise (the bus scene was especially memorable). I just wished the plot devices around the Unfinished and their bones had been a little better fleshed out; I think the book might have been stronger if the black water had no corporeal minions! Still, I’m glad I checked this out, considering I don’t read horror often.
May 5, 2025
3⭐️
“Yeah, but a legend is not a myth. There’s a kernel of truth somewhere, and who knows where it comes from?”
The way this started off sssooo good and then quickly turned frustrating…😬😬😬.
No one is more heartbroken than I am that this book didn’t turn out to be a 5 star read. No seriously. Chapters 1-18 set this book up perfectly. These chapters contain the right amount of scary; paranormal events; teen angst; friends-to-lovers trope; healthy friendships; and a badass FMC (Avery) who faced her problems as much as she could. I was so prepared to gush all about how this book just made my whole weekend.
But then…I hit Chapter 19 and everything went downhill until the final chapter (Chapter 25). From Chapters 19-25 it felt like Avery and her best friend, Stella, took on new personas. Both became suddenly annoying and oooh how Avery got on my nerves as she kept shouting Key’s (MMC) name throughout her search for him in the woods in order to rescue him. It also felt like the writing took on a different structure. In between being told what was going on, italicized words were written within the paragraphs and I started to lose focus on which’s parts of the story needed my attention more. Case in point:
Should I been interested in Avery rescuing Key or what both The Forest and The Black Water looked like at this point in the story???
Should I be focused on Avery talking about everything she couldn’t wait to tell Key once she found him or that the once blue sky turned to storm clouds???
Should I be worried about Avery not making it out alive with Key or that the ground was suddenly slick with rain and hard to run on???
And one can also tell that this book was written to have a sequel. The final chapter was pretty much written with Key’s future uncertain; no knowledge of where Stella is currently located; what happened to Avery’s father; or if Key and Avery are even speaking to each other. Everything just felt so…Meh!!!
A 3 start read isn’t bad but, I am very disappointed. I really wanted a 5 star read. And now, I don’t know if I even want to read Book #2 in September. 🤷🏽♀️🤷🏽♀️🤷🏽♀️.
~~~~~~~
***Pre-Read:*** Because I am not ready to have my heart broken just yet by Sunrise on the Reaping. And this is 2 weeks overdue at the library. 🤭🤭🤭.
“Yeah, but a legend is not a myth. There’s a kernel of truth somewhere, and who knows where it comes from?”
The way this started off sssooo good and then quickly turned frustrating…😬😬😬.
No one is more heartbroken than I am that this book didn’t turn out to be a 5 star read. No seriously. Chapters 1-18 set this book up perfectly. These chapters contain the right amount of scary; paranormal events; teen angst; friends-to-lovers trope; healthy friendships; and a badass FMC (Avery) who faced her problems as much as she could. I was so prepared to gush all about how this book just made my whole weekend.
But then…I hit Chapter 19 and everything went downhill until the final chapter (Chapter 25). From Chapters 19-25 it felt like Avery and her best friend, Stella, took on new personas. Both became suddenly annoying and oooh how Avery got on my nerves as she kept shouting Key’s (MMC) name throughout her search for him in the woods in order to rescue him. It also felt like the writing took on a different structure. In between being told what was going on, italicized words were written within the paragraphs and I started to lose focus on which’s parts of the story needed my attention more. Case in point:
Should I been interested in Avery rescuing Key or what both The Forest and The Black Water looked like at this point in the story???
Should I be focused on Avery talking about everything she couldn’t wait to tell Key once she found him or that the once blue sky turned to storm clouds???
Should I be worried about Avery not making it out alive with Key or that the ground was suddenly slick with rain and hard to run on???
And one can also tell that this book was written to have a sequel. The final chapter was pretty much written with Key’s future uncertain; no knowledge of where Stella is currently located; what happened to Avery’s father; or if Key and Avery are even speaking to each other. Everything just felt so…Meh!!!
A 3 start read isn’t bad but, I am very disappointed. I really wanted a 5 star read. And now, I don’t know if I even want to read Book #2 in September. 🤷🏽♀️🤷🏽♀️🤷🏽♀️.
~~~~~~~
***Pre-Read:*** Because I am not ready to have my heart broken just yet by Sunrise on the Reaping. And this is 2 weeks overdue at the library. 🤭🤭🤭.
September 16, 2024
This book completely blew me away as a debut novel, especially for a YA folk horror tale. The story follows Avery, a Mohawk high school runner with dreams of a scholarship, but her quest for a challenge leads her off the beaten path—and into a chilling town secret. From the moment she steps off the trail, the story becomes unsettling, creeping under your skin until it grabs hold and doesn't let go.
Isaacs brilliantly intertwines Mohawk folklore with Avery’s journey, in a way that felt authentic and not forced. The imagery was haunting, and what’s even scarier is the underlying truth within the story—the harrowing reality of missing First Nations women and children. That comparison gave the book an even deeper meaning, making it feel like more than just a horror story.
For a YA novel, it starts off at a steady pace, but once the halfway point hits, it's a relentless horror ride of tension and high stakes. I couldn’t put it down. This was really easy to read, and I sped read right through this. A reader that stops and savors every word might feel the pacing slow down, though.
The terror felt real, with each scene unfolding like a nightmare I couldn't wake up from. And the characters? I found myself really rooting for them. At times, I even felt like they were my own friends, which just made the stakes feel higher.
One thing that really resonated with me was the depiction of Avery’s anxiety. As someone who also struggles with anxiety, I found Isaacs nailed it—the overwhelming feelings, the constant second-guessing, and the paralysis it can cause. Yet, this wasn’t just a story about fear, but about overcoming it. Avery’s battle with her inner demons is just as important as the external threat she faces. All in all, The Unfinished is a powerful, creepy tale that blends folklore and real-world issues in a way that lingers long after the last page.
Isaacs brilliantly intertwines Mohawk folklore with Avery’s journey, in a way that felt authentic and not forced. The imagery was haunting, and what’s even scarier is the underlying truth within the story—the harrowing reality of missing First Nations women and children. That comparison gave the book an even deeper meaning, making it feel like more than just a horror story.
For a YA novel, it starts off at a steady pace, but once the halfway point hits, it's a relentless horror ride of tension and high stakes. I couldn’t put it down. This was really easy to read, and I sped read right through this. A reader that stops and savors every word might feel the pacing slow down, though.
The terror felt real, with each scene unfolding like a nightmare I couldn't wake up from. And the characters? I found myself really rooting for them. At times, I even felt like they were my own friends, which just made the stakes feel higher.
One thing that really resonated with me was the depiction of Avery’s anxiety. As someone who also struggles with anxiety, I found Isaacs nailed it—the overwhelming feelings, the constant second-guessing, and the paralysis it can cause. Yet, this wasn’t just a story about fear, but about overcoming it. Avery’s battle with her inner demons is just as important as the external threat she faces. All in all, The Unfinished is a powerful, creepy tale that blends folklore and real-world issues in a way that lingers long after the last page.
September 2, 2025
Characters: 4.00⭐️
Setting:3.75⭐️
Plot: 3.50⭐️
Themes: 3.50⭐️
Personal enjoyment: 3.50⭐️
Emotional Impact: 3.00⭐️
Overall rating: 3.75⭐️
Rounding up for GoodReads
I personally love horror novels centered around Native American folklore. It is one of my favorite sub-genres within Horror books as a whole. Avery is a high school teenager who goes on a morning run every day, but she suddenly finds herself off trail in front of a strange pond in the middle of the woods. She awakes an ancient evil which has been sleeping for a long time. Soon Avery sees water everywhere and she feels as if someone if following her. People start going missing, and she must look to the people of her culture and tribe to help her defeat the monster that latches on and feeds.
The Unfinished was an atmospheric tale weaving in traditional Native American folklore into modern day worlds. I really liked reading about Kanyen’kehá:ka. I liked the idea that Avery was the only one who felt the presence. If felt very much like Pennywise from Stephen King's It, how the monster is awaken to take the souls of the townspeople.
The one thing I did not like about this book was the pacing. There were some lulls within the story which made it feel like it dragged which is not so great when it’s a shorter book to begin with. I really liked the characters of Avery, Key and Stella.
Would I recommend this book? Maybe.
Setting:3.75⭐️
Plot: 3.50⭐️
Themes: 3.50⭐️
Personal enjoyment: 3.50⭐️
Emotional Impact: 3.00⭐️
Overall rating: 3.75⭐️
Rounding up for GoodReads
I personally love horror novels centered around Native American folklore. It is one of my favorite sub-genres within Horror books as a whole. Avery is a high school teenager who goes on a morning run every day, but she suddenly finds herself off trail in front of a strange pond in the middle of the woods. She awakes an ancient evil which has been sleeping for a long time. Soon Avery sees water everywhere and she feels as if someone if following her. People start going missing, and she must look to the people of her culture and tribe to help her defeat the monster that latches on and feeds.
The Unfinished was an atmospheric tale weaving in traditional Native American folklore into modern day worlds. I really liked reading about Kanyen’kehá:ka. I liked the idea that Avery was the only one who felt the presence. If felt very much like Pennywise from Stephen King's It, how the monster is awaken to take the souls of the townspeople.
The one thing I did not like about this book was the pacing. There were some lulls within the story which made it feel like it dragged which is not so great when it’s a shorter book to begin with. I really liked the characters of Avery, Key and Stella.
Would I recommend this book? Maybe.
December 3, 2024
I felt the first part of this book in my soul. It just took me a while to read this one because I have had too many children and I do too many chores. Finally sitting down with this book was a balm to my soul. Also terrifying.
I liked Avery because I like grumpy angsty teens. I also related to her mom because if half my stories are true (they are) then I am indeed one of the only survivors in my graduating class. Teens have got to learn to listen to their moms.
I love the little creepy details. They were truly scary.
I liked Avery because I like grumpy angsty teens. I also related to her mom because if half my stories are true (they are) then I am indeed one of the only survivors in my graduating class. Teens have got to learn to listen to their moms.
I love the little creepy details. They were truly scary.
March 19, 2025
3.5*
I loved the cultural viewpoint, diaspora child, having no relationship with her own culture and then realizing she needs it as it is a part of herself; mental health such as anxiety, ie, and then realizing than even those you thought had everything figured out also have their own mental health struggles; the pace of the book is amazing, I loved seeing the growth of our MC as she is ready to see things more clearly and to evolve and I really want to know more about the characters, and seems I lucked out as there is an upcoming second book!!!
I loved the cultural viewpoint, diaspora child, having no relationship with her own culture and then realizing she needs it as it is a part of herself; mental health such as anxiety, ie, and then realizing than even those you thought had everything figured out also have their own mental health struggles; the pace of the book is amazing, I loved seeing the growth of our MC as she is ready to see things more clearly and to evolve and I really want to know more about the characters, and seems I lucked out as there is an upcoming second book!!!
May 8, 2025
A captivating story about finding oneself, rediscovering one’s culture, all the while trying to uncover a supernatural mystery. I really enjoyed this book from start to finish, constantly wondering “what will come next?” Unfortunately, the ending left me unsatisfied, the author having left many loose ends and questions unanswered. Overall, a good YA read. Although classified as horror, I didn’t find it very scary, making it suitable for younger teens.
June 1, 2025
A really interesting horror story that ties folklore to the modern world and looks at the ways in which history is erased by sheer apathy if nothing else. I liked the main character, I loved Stella and Foster and the way things revealed themselves. Whether the situation was solved or not, I could see this carrying on into a folklore within this world and loved the ties to Turtle Island and Sky Woman.
February 27, 2025
While on a run, Avery awakens a mysterious force that is stealing the residents of her small town. When her close friend and crush becomes one of the victims, she must reconnect with her indigenous heritage to save her town.
This was a nice spooky read. The atmosphere was well done and Avery's growth as a character was satisfying. I look forward to reading other books by this author.
This was a nice spooky read. The atmosphere was well done and Avery's growth as a character was satisfying. I look forward to reading other books by this author.
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November 12, 2024dnf at 9%. it took me 6 days to read 29 pages. this just wasn't working for me from the first line and nothing following it gave me any hope of me locking in with this book. no rating cause i bailed way too early to judge it.
January 17, 2025
3.5 stars. This was fast-paced and atmospheric. Horror-lite, but there were definitely parts that made me squirm and shiver. Avery and co. are about to be seniors, but this could easily be read and enjoyed by readers as young as 7th-8th grade.
April 1, 2025
Maybe 3.75 rounded up? I love small towns with dark secrets and this one delivers, but I could have done with a bit more MC character growth, I suppose? Still a solid spooky read and I did very much enjoy the Native voice! I look forward to more from this author.
October 23, 2025
Loved it! Spooky 🙂
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