Autumn Antics

by Zoe Tasia

It's Halloween on the Shrouded Isle. A time when the barrier between our world and the fae and spirit worlds thins.

Becca Shaw and her family hoped for a fun-filled fall holiday.

Unfortunately, they must contend with fae, a doppelganger, and ghosts.
Can they cope?

Find out.

145 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 30, 2023

About the author

As a child, Zoe Tasia idolized Barbara Eden, star of I Dream of Jeannie, however, she would have ditched the astronaut and married Captain Kirk. She can’t blink and make magic nor did she wed a Starfleet officer. Instead, life had something better in store for her. She explores her imagination as a writer, is married to an understanding Greek, has two grown sons, and a crazy cat that thinks it’s a dog. Zoe grew up in Oklahoma and lived over seven years in Scotland. Now she resides in the great state of Texas, where everything’s bigger and better, or so she’s told by the natives. When she’s not giving her make-believe friends full rein, she enjoys the opera, ballet, well-chilled champagne and reading, lots and lots of reading. Her first book is Kilts and Catnip (The Shrouded Isle Book 1.)

She co-writes books with Minette Lauren under the pen name Zari Reede.
Daisy Dukes ‘n Cowboy Boots, a funny romance
Blinked, a zany fantasy
Sins of the Sister, a psychological thriller

Reviews

[Kate Frantz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to give this a try as it sounded intriguing, and I love Scotland and Gaelic lore. When Greg was a part of the story, I felt satisfied by learning some interesting facts about Scottish tradition (in particular the “neeps”!). It was also interesting getting to watch his Keeper duties unfold as a few mischievous fae come to play during the Extravaganza. There are ghosts in mirrors, graveyards, and Green Maidens with broken hearts. A little of everything, and a lot of tradition packed throughout the pages. Because I was thrown into the story, I was not connected emotionally with any of the characters—I recommend reading the Shrouded Isle Books before jumping into this cozy, Autumnal read.

[R · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel like I say this about a lot of books, but there was nothing wrong with this book. It was written well, and the characters seemed likeable. I just couldn't get into it. I couldn't really connect with the story or the characters. I ended up DNFing it after a while.

Still, as I always say, if it interests you, you should try it. It might just be your new favorite book!

[Jay Hunt · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

It was lovely to return to the Shrouded Isle. Autumn Antics has that cosy, slightly chaotic mix of family life, folklore and Halloween mischief that makes this series so enjoyable. Having followed Becca and her daughters settling into island life, it was nice to see them embracing the festivities. Greg is still a favourite, particularly his old-fashioned reactions to modern customs, and his relationship with Becca brings a warmth to the story.

Jessie and Tate both get their moments to shine. The family pumpkin-carving scene was a lovely opening, especially seeing Greg getting involved despite being rather bewildered by it all. I also enjoyed the chaos of the Terror Trails hayride, with its spooky surprises and Greg accidentally frightening everyone himself. Later, the girls' discovery of the mirror ghost and their efforts to trap the dangerous McNeil spirit added a darker twist that I wasn't expecting.

[Vanessa Lanang · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

Autumn Antics is definitely filled with some Halloween pranking that is idea ideal for a younger reader. I thought there were some very informative aspects and specific dates about the season, that I wished was laid out in more description. I liked Jessie and I felt bad for Grace and Amberlee seemed like a fun character that I wouldn't have minded learning more about. Even with the list of characters and their descriptions at the beginning of the book, I did find there were a lot of POVs that were a bit challenging to follow. But overall I found the book appropriate for a fall read.

[Raffy · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Autumn Antics" is a fun, quick read that takes its time to show off a charming, magical little Scottish community through the eyes of Rebecca and her two daughters, who are new to the Shrouded Isle. I loved the cozy vibe of getting ready for the Halloween festival; it reminded me of an enchanted Stars Hollow, with a tight-knit community, plus a sprinkle of witchcraft and typical teen drama. Even though I hadn't read the earlier books in the series, I had no trouble keeping up with all the characters (and there are a lot of them! Luckily, the author added a character guide). I wish they had built up the suspense more, especially towards the end; the finale felt a bit rushed. Although there was a spooky mystery, that wasn't the main point. The story feels like a low-stakes pause between the bigger adventures of the series, letting you catch up with the characters in their everyday lives. Even without prior knowledge of the series' world, it's cozy fun and definitely left me curious to see what Rebecca and the gang will get into next.

[M.B. Lehane · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s Halloween on the Shrouded Isle, a small magical Scottish Island. Greg and Becca, the keepers of Isle, are tasked with protecting their mysterious home from the dubious fae, who are at best mischievous, and at worst, highly dangerous.

Greg and Becca’s relationship has blossomed, and Becca’s two daughters, Jessie and Tate, have embraced life on the Isle. Both are greatly looking forward to the fun, that Halloween has to offer, with its food, festivities, and pretend ghosts and monsters.

However, on this night on the Isle, the barrier between their world and the fai and spirit world all but evaporates. It is difficult to tell what is real, and what is not. Séances aren’t such a good idea, a ghost of the non-white-sheet variety comes from the grave to wreak havoc, along with the fae. Solutions are desperately required.

Told from each member of the family’s point of view, this was an enjoyable tale, which immersed us into the delights of Halloween but with a suspenseful twist, due to the world in which it was celebrated. Perhaps that suspense was wrapped up a little too quickly. However, the novella was nevertheless an entertaining read, with the four points of view working well to add another layer of interest, giving us greater insight into these engaging characters.

[Sal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up Autumn Antics looking for an atmospheric, cozy seasonal read to kick off October, and it delivered exactly the crisp, magical ambiance I was hoping to find. I was immediately drawn into the Scottish island setting, where the approaching Halloween holiday and the thinning veil between worlds bring out an entertaining mix of mischievous fae, ghosts, and doppelgänger chaos.

What I enjoyed most was the book’s warm heart. I appreciated how Becca's focus remains centered on protecting her family and creating meaningful holiday traditions, even while supernatural antics threaten to derail their everyday lives. Her dynamic with Greg adds just the right touch of steady camaraderie and low-key charm to keep the pacing lively and engaging.

My only real critique—and the reason I’m giving this four stars instead of five—comes down to scope. Because it is a holiday novella, the conflicts wrapped up a bit too neatly for my taste, and I found myself wishing certain folkloric elements and secondary characters had more room to breathe. That said, I found it to be a thoroughly enjoyable, brisk seasonal interlude, and I would certainly recommend it to anyone looking to settle in with a cup of tea for a lighthearted autumn mystery.

[Kristin Jensen · Rating 2 out of 5]

11% in and nothing happens. Scotland is not depicted, the characters bore me, I'm wondering where the fantastical and magical races are because it feels so mid-western everyday america, and I'm waiting to be shaken... But instead I fell asleep.
Who knows, the ones who manage to stick with the plot longer may find a gem, but I'll cut my losses here.

[Jennifer Bond-Schmittinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun Halloween Story

Well written with a good plot. Very enjoyable read. Loved the setting and vivid characters. Can’t wait to read more from this author

[Reid Moore · Rating 3 out of 5]

A whimsical slice-of-life

"Autumn Antics" is a whimsical, cozy, slice-of-life read for those looking to invoke cocoa, pumpkins, corn mazes, and Jason/Freddy Halloween nostalgia. However, as someone somewhat familiar with Scottish culture and traditions, I thought that while the world-building was exceptionally good at portraying a midwestern Americana version of Halloween, there was not a single moment where I felt anywhere near any authentic version of Scotland.

The one Scottish character (Greg) did introduce the ideas of turnip jack-o-lanterns and guising. If this level of detail permeated through the rest of the narrative, it might have been believable (although I do wonder what century he’s from). However, beyond this, the entire narrative felt inauthentic. My overall reading enjoyment was severely hindered by my inability to turn a blind eye or suspend my disbelief by all the anatopisms and cultural incongruity.

Add to this, the problem with developmental editing. It is initially revealed that Greg is a "Keeper" meant to keep fairies and other eldritch beasties and bogles from crossing the veil into our world. However, I feel like this idea wasn't made emphatically enough from the onset. Therefore the conflict and point of the book tended to get lost and wasn't made overly evident until halfway through. The narrative gets bogged down in overly verbose descriptions of party and holiday preparations that invoke American Halloween traditions and not Scottish traditions or Samhain.

The book appears to be mostly spell-checked and consistent in its punctuation, and I'm sure many American readers will enjoy this cozy culturally-stereotyped Disney depiction of Scotland. However, for me, the lack of authenticity and engaging plot fell flat.

[Nykita Brookshire · Rating 4 out of 5]

What fun!!

This book was a quick and fun read. It had me excited for what happened next and continuing to turn the page.

[Finlay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Autumn Antics carries the reader through an assortment of atmospheric Halloween scenes on the Shrouded Isle. Tradition, pranks and adventures gradually merge with the “otherworld”, unleashing all kinds of magical creatures on the stage. The setting is beautifully crafted with a pronounced Scottish/Celtic touch, and the story line, though somewhat slow in the beginning gains pace as the events unfold. The narrative mode, which uses the first-person perspective of the protagonists, adds to the flavor of the book. Especially when it comes to the characters on the quirkier side of the spectrum, such as the kilt-wearing Greg, who shines with his Scottish accent and idioms (not to mention his unfortunate tumble into the ditch). The dialogues are entertaining and, with a few exception, come across as genuine and natural. The further the reader advances in the story, the more they get a feeling for the subtleties in the relationships between the different characters. The only weakness is that there are a still a few errors left in the text that could have been easily removed through thorough proofreading. Other than that, it is a very nice read and highly recommendable!

[Charlotte Brough · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I haven’t read the main books in the Shrouded Isle series, I did enjoy the associated Christmas novella. Once again, Zoe Tasia’s worldbuilding is excellent, painting a vivid picture of a town getting ready for and celebrating Hallowe’en. The characters are well-rounded with their own personalities and quirks, and I particularly like Greg - with his thick Scottish accent and bemusement at the celebrations, he’s easy to picture. I believe the primary focus of this series is the fae world of which Greg and Becca Shaw are Keepers, but while several different types of fae are mentioned in this story, it’s only really in passing, and I would probably have preferred to spend a bit more time with just the one type, so as to get to know it better. Ghosts play a part here too, and again, I would have liked a little more time exploring the lore etc around them.

While I did struggle to work out what the main plot was beyond the family having a fun day out, I enjoyed the story nonetheless. A great read for a cosy autumn afternoon!

[Elizabeth James · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is intended for ages 10-18, but as an adult, I enjoyed reading it. It is not very fast-paced, but more like a slow, slice-of-life saunter through a fun, magical town celebrating Halloween with some light and cozy mystery woven in. It’s told from multiple points of view—4 different ones, from different people in one family. I normally don’t like multiple POV but surprisingly it didn’t bother me and I was easily able to track with each one. I did not read any other books in this series, so I was a little disoriented to what it means to be a “Keeper” and some of the magical creatures mentioned, but that may be my fault for not starting with the first book. I liked that it was a very clean read, especially considering its for tweens and teens tho I think it’s a fun fall read all ages will enjoy!