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The Hushed
Perfect for fans of The Last Thing He Told Me and A Flicker in the Dark, The Hushed is a haunting paranormal thriller—infused with a dangerous, forbidden romance—that introduces a brand new type of undead …
Eerie Ashwood may look like a regular college student—she has a job at a local diner and attends classes at the community college—but she’s not. She’s a Hushed, a living secret made of flesh and blood, spawned by the death of a human who had something to hide. While the Hushed blend in among humans, they are haunted by an overwhelming urge to spill their secret to those whom it would hurt the most. But once a Hushed tells their secret, they drop dead.
Unlike most Hushed, Eerie and her brother Fabian can’t remember their secrets. All they know is they’re connected to the infamous Ironbark Prison fire, but everything else is a blur of smoke and fear. Everything changes when Eerie meets Logan Winspeare, the hell-raising son of one of the victims of the fire, who is searching for answers about the night his mother died. Eerie knows she should stay far away from both Logan and the mysteries surrounding that night, but she can’t escape her curiosity—or her growing attraction to Logan.
But the harder Eerie falls for Logan, the closer she comes to her secret—and her death. And as she uncovers more about her past, Eerie discovers her secret is tied into something even bigger—a tangled history that leads back thousands of years to the very first of her kind, and a covert organization of ancient Hushed who pledged vengeance on the human world.
Eerie Ashwood may look like a regular college student—she has a job at a local diner and attends classes at the community college—but she’s not. She’s a Hushed, a living secret made of flesh and blood, spawned by the death of a human who had something to hide. While the Hushed blend in among humans, they are haunted by an overwhelming urge to spill their secret to those whom it would hurt the most. But once a Hushed tells their secret, they drop dead.
Unlike most Hushed, Eerie and her brother Fabian can’t remember their secrets. All they know is they’re connected to the infamous Ironbark Prison fire, but everything else is a blur of smoke and fear. Everything changes when Eerie meets Logan Winspeare, the hell-raising son of one of the victims of the fire, who is searching for answers about the night his mother died. Eerie knows she should stay far away from both Logan and the mysteries surrounding that night, but she can’t escape her curiosity—or her growing attraction to Logan.
But the harder Eerie falls for Logan, the closer she comes to her secret—and her death. And as she uncovers more about her past, Eerie discovers her secret is tied into something even bigger—a tangled history that leads back thousands of years to the very first of her kind, and a covert organization of ancient Hushed who pledged vengeance on the human world.
368 pages, Paperback
Published October 1, 2024
30 people are currently reading
5210 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
September 23, 2024
What a unique premise and world! K. R. Blair’s latest noel,
The Hushed,
is a moving and atmospheric paranormal thriller combined with a forbidden romance. Eerie Ashwood attends the local community college and works part-time at a diner in Rearden Falls, North Carolina. However, she’s not a typical college student. She’s a Hushed, a living secret created by the death of a human who had something to hide. While they look human, they are compelled to tell their secret to the one that it would hurt the most. However, if the do, the Hushed will die immediately afterwards.
However, Eerie and her brother Fabian aren’t like most Hushed. They can’t remember their secrets. They just know they’re connected to a local prison fire. Everything starts changing when Eerie meets Logan Winspeare, the son of one of the inmate fire victims. But as Eerie starts remembering things, the history of the Hushed starts to play a role in the plot.
The main characters have depth and experience growth over the course of the tale making them more dynamic and relatable. Readers get to see Eerie’s near-photographic memory in action as well as feel how frightened she is. Logan is strong and believes his mother was innocent and wrongly convicted of murder. There’s a vulnerability about him that makes him feel realistic and elicits empathy. However, I wanted more character depth for the secondary characters.
The plot is multi-layered and complex with some original world-building concepts. The premise is intriguing. Additionally, the first sentence grabs your attention and the story line keeps you engaged. The narrative gives insight into how people who are different are often bullied, segregated, and treated badly, even if there are laws protecting them. Being afraid of someone different leads to different actions from the tertiary characters.
The story is somewhat strange, twisty and atmospheric, as well as filled with suspense, danger, and action. It’s heartbreaking at times, and riveting throughout. However, the pacing felt off at times and the ending was a little too abrupt. Threads of fear, power, panic, hatred, trust, love, friendship, complex relationships, and found family run throughout the novel.
Overall, this was an intense, engaging, and emotional paranormal thriller with a science fiction vibe that was filled with surprises and twists. If you enjoy original thrillers, then I recommend that you check out this one. I am looking forward to finding out this author writes next. Will there be a sequel?
Blackstone Publishing and K. R, Blair provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for October 01, 2024. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
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My 3.61 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.
However, Eerie and her brother Fabian aren’t like most Hushed. They can’t remember their secrets. They just know they’re connected to a local prison fire. Everything starts changing when Eerie meets Logan Winspeare, the son of one of the inmate fire victims. But as Eerie starts remembering things, the history of the Hushed starts to play a role in the plot.
The main characters have depth and experience growth over the course of the tale making them more dynamic and relatable. Readers get to see Eerie’s near-photographic memory in action as well as feel how frightened she is. Logan is strong and believes his mother was innocent and wrongly convicted of murder. There’s a vulnerability about him that makes him feel realistic and elicits empathy. However, I wanted more character depth for the secondary characters.
The plot is multi-layered and complex with some original world-building concepts. The premise is intriguing. Additionally, the first sentence grabs your attention and the story line keeps you engaged. The narrative gives insight into how people who are different are often bullied, segregated, and treated badly, even if there are laws protecting them. Being afraid of someone different leads to different actions from the tertiary characters.
The story is somewhat strange, twisty and atmospheric, as well as filled with suspense, danger, and action. It’s heartbreaking at times, and riveting throughout. However, the pacing felt off at times and the ending was a little too abrupt. Threads of fear, power, panic, hatred, trust, love, friendship, complex relationships, and found family run throughout the novel.
Overall, this was an intense, engaging, and emotional paranormal thriller with a science fiction vibe that was filled with surprises and twists. If you enjoy original thrillers, then I recommend that you check out this one. I am looking forward to finding out this author writes next. Will there be a sequel?
Blackstone Publishing and K. R, Blair provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for October 01, 2024. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
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My 3.61 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.
April 8, 2025
This novel offers a unique and compelling premise as it explores themes of identity, memory, and honesty. Set in a world where secrets are more than words—they’re alive—we follow entities known as the “Hushed,” mysterious beings who wake up in the instant someone dies, fully grown, with no past of their own. They don’t age and are bound by a strange fate: they can only die by revealing an important secret to the person it would impact most - their “wounded.”
A play on the concept of “your secrets die with you,” in this world humanity lives in fear of what secrets will be revealed when they, or a loved one, pass on.
Our protagonist, Eerie and her brother, Fabian, are unlike other Hushed - they can’t remember their secret and don’t feel the inescapable pull to reveal it. Why are they different? What kind of secrets do they hold? You’ll have to read it to find out!
While the prose occasionally feels a touch clunky or repetitive, the story’s originality and momentum kept me engaged throughout. This is one of the most unique premises I’ve come across in a while, and I love that the author explored some of the wider implications and possible government responses.
As the story progresses, it begins to lean into romantic fantasy tropes, complete with a possible love triangle with ann ancient being and a chosen-one main character. The romantic writing was a bit too melodramatic for my taste, but is very in line with popular YA and young adult Romantasy and will likely appeal to that same demographic! The concept of “drifting”—a communal consciousness shared during sleep—and the exploration of whether the hushed are people in their own right or simply secrets made flesh, as well as the burden of carrying others’ trauma, added thematic and emotional depth to this story.
If you’re looking for a quick and enjoyable read that doesn’t just rehash the same concepts we’ve seen a thousand times before, with good pacing and interesting lore to uncover, I’d recommend checking this book out!
Trigger/Content Warnings: child sexual abuse (mentioned, not on page), murder, medical experimentation, suicide, death, infidelity, classism
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Thank you to Netgalley and Blackstone Publishing for the ALC.
A play on the concept of “your secrets die with you,” in this world humanity lives in fear of what secrets will be revealed when they, or a loved one, pass on.
Our protagonist, Eerie and her brother, Fabian, are unlike other Hushed - they can’t remember their secret and don’t feel the inescapable pull to reveal it. Why are they different? What kind of secrets do they hold? You’ll have to read it to find out!
While the prose occasionally feels a touch clunky or repetitive, the story’s originality and momentum kept me engaged throughout. This is one of the most unique premises I’ve come across in a while, and I love that the author explored some of the wider implications and possible government responses.
As the story progresses, it begins to lean into romantic fantasy tropes, complete with a possible love triangle with ann ancient being and a chosen-one main character. The romantic writing was a bit too melodramatic for my taste, but is very in line with popular YA and young adult Romantasy and will likely appeal to that same demographic! The concept of “drifting”—a communal consciousness shared during sleep—and the exploration of whether the hushed are people in their own right or simply secrets made flesh, as well as the burden of carrying others’ trauma, added thematic and emotional depth to this story.
If you’re looking for a quick and enjoyable read that doesn’t just rehash the same concepts we’ve seen a thousand times before, with good pacing and interesting lore to uncover, I’d recommend checking this book out!
Trigger/Content Warnings: child sexual abuse (mentioned, not on page), murder, medical experimentation, suicide, death, infidelity, classism
You can find me on...
Youtube | Instagram | TikTok
You can join our book club over on Patreon...
PBB Book Club
Thank you to Netgalley and Blackstone Publishing for the ALC.
November 23, 2024
3.5⭐️ I’m still dipping my toe into the realm of fantasy, and this seemed like a good book to try for being a fantasy newbie. Overall, I thought this was a very interesting and unique story, with engaging and multidimensional characters. The concept of a human-like being that is created from the secrets of a person before they die? I was endlessly curious to see where this story would go and am even more curious about what I’m assuming will be a sequel.
One thing that completely threw me off, is the comparison to 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘏𝘦 𝘛𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘔𝘦, which just so happens to be one of my favorite books. While this book does have a mystery component to it, it leans way more into the fantasy category with work building to match. Had I expected more of a fantasy novel versus a thriller with fantastical elements, I would have enjoyed it more.
Read if you like:
▪️paranormal elements
▪️strong FMC
▪️forbidden love
▪️unique plot lines
Thank you Blackstone Publishing for the gifted copies.
One thing that completely threw me off, is the comparison to 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘏𝘦 𝘛𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘔𝘦, which just so happens to be one of my favorite books. While this book does have a mystery component to it, it leans way more into the fantasy category with work building to match. Had I expected more of a fantasy novel versus a thriller with fantastical elements, I would have enjoyed it more.
Read if you like:
▪️paranormal elements
▪️strong FMC
▪️forbidden love
▪️unique plot lines
Thank you Blackstone Publishing for the gifted copies.
December 3, 2025
Format : Audiobook 🎧
Narrator : Elizabeth Evans
Brand new type of undead!!
Imagine someone dies with a secret so heavy it doesn’t rest in the grave — instead, it births a living being: the 'Hushed'🤫, shaped by guilt, unfinished business, and a ticking countdown to confession. The idea alone was enough to get me hooked, but that beautiful, eerie, deliciously mysterious cover had exactly the kind of “pick me” energy that makes me fall for paranormal fiction. And for once, the inside actually lives up to the outside.
Blair doesn’t dump information on you; she feeds it to you, little by little. Each chapter offers a new glimpse into what the Hushed really are — their limitations, their compulsions, their dangers — and I loved that gradual uncovering. It kept the supernatural element feeling mysterious and alive, rather than over-explained.
And yes, of course, there’s a forbidden romance at the heart of it — human + undead, stitched together with just the right amount of tension. It’s the kind of slow burn where you can sense both attraction and impending doom sitting in the room like two uninvited guests.
The book sits in that sweet spot of supernatural + romance + thriller, sprinkled with conspiracy theories and historical breadcrumbs. It moves quickly, almost too quickly at times, but that pacing kept me engaged throughout.
If I had one complaint, it’s that some parts hint at a much bigger world — like Blair is opening the door to a series — but then the book just… stops. Not abruptly, but with that “there’s more to this, right?” energy. A couple of character arcs feel like they were meant to stretch further, explore deeper, but pulled back before the finish line. Not a deal-breaker, but definitely noticeable.
Thanks to Netgalley and Blackstone Publishing for the complimentary audio copy, all opinions expressed are my own.
Verdict : If you're in the mood for something unique that blends mystery, and the supernatural without drowning in clichés — this is a great pick. And honestly, it should be a series.
Narrator : Elizabeth Evans
Brand new type of undead!!
Imagine someone dies with a secret so heavy it doesn’t rest in the grave — instead, it births a living being: the 'Hushed'🤫, shaped by guilt, unfinished business, and a ticking countdown to confession. The idea alone was enough to get me hooked, but that beautiful, eerie, deliciously mysterious cover had exactly the kind of “pick me” energy that makes me fall for paranormal fiction. And for once, the inside actually lives up to the outside.
Blair doesn’t dump information on you; she feeds it to you, little by little. Each chapter offers a new glimpse into what the Hushed really are — their limitations, their compulsions, their dangers — and I loved that gradual uncovering. It kept the supernatural element feeling mysterious and alive, rather than over-explained.
And yes, of course, there’s a forbidden romance at the heart of it — human + undead, stitched together with just the right amount of tension. It’s the kind of slow burn where you can sense both attraction and impending doom sitting in the room like two uninvited guests.
The book sits in that sweet spot of supernatural + romance + thriller, sprinkled with conspiracy theories and historical breadcrumbs. It moves quickly, almost too quickly at times, but that pacing kept me engaged throughout.
If I had one complaint, it’s that some parts hint at a much bigger world — like Blair is opening the door to a series — but then the book just… stops. Not abruptly, but with that “there’s more to this, right?” energy. A couple of character arcs feel like they were meant to stretch further, explore deeper, but pulled back before the finish line. Not a deal-breaker, but definitely noticeable.
Thanks to Netgalley and Blackstone Publishing for the complimentary audio copy, all opinions expressed are my own.
Verdict : If you're in the mood for something unique that blends mystery, and the supernatural without drowning in clichés — this is a great pick. And honestly, it should be a series.
November 17, 2024
“The Hushed” is unique in the sense that the plot and storyline is different to anything I’ve read before; and the genre is a blend of paranormal, romance and thriller which is perfect for satisfying the cravings of any readers who like each of these genres.
The plot follows a world where regular humans are the only people walking around. There are other people who are made of flesh and blood and look like regular people, live regular lives, go to school and have normal jobs, but they are a different being entirely. They are known as the “Hushed” because they were born by the death of a human who had a big secret to hide. They live their lives with the urge to spill said secret, however if they give in to the temptation - once the secret is spoken aloud they drop dead.
Our main character Eerie is a hushed, she is trying to get by and live her life as normally as possible until she meets Logan.
Without giving much away, the two embark in the search of answers, there is romance between them and the obstacle that the more Eerie helps Logan, the closer she comes to finding out her secret and risking her death.
This was definitely a fun and interesting read, if you want to try something new and outside the norm I would recommend giving this a go!
Thank you to black stone publishing and K.R Blair for the ALC!
Publish date: October 1st 2024
The plot follows a world where regular humans are the only people walking around. There are other people who are made of flesh and blood and look like regular people, live regular lives, go to school and have normal jobs, but they are a different being entirely. They are known as the “Hushed” because they were born by the death of a human who had a big secret to hide. They live their lives with the urge to spill said secret, however if they give in to the temptation - once the secret is spoken aloud they drop dead.
Our main character Eerie is a hushed, she is trying to get by and live her life as normally as possible until she meets Logan.
Without giving much away, the two embark in the search of answers, there is romance between them and the obstacle that the more Eerie helps Logan, the closer she comes to finding out her secret and risking her death.
This was definitely a fun and interesting read, if you want to try something new and outside the norm I would recommend giving this a go!
Thank you to black stone publishing and K.R Blair for the ALC!
Publish date: October 1st 2024
September 26, 2024
I enjoyed the unique concept of a person dying and their secrets materializing in the form of human-like beings called The Hushed. The Hushed feel the pull to disclose their secret to the living person it affects. The problem is if they confess said secret they will immediately die. The plotting kept me glued to the page with a great cast of characters led by Eerie Ashwood. I'm guessing from the unresolved issues by the end that there will be a second book and I'm eager to find out what will happen next.
September 17, 2024
This book is just in time for spooky season. Perfect for anyone who ever loved Twilight.
September 17, 2024
An utterly unique and compelling concept with realistic worldbuilding that blew me away!
In the world of The Hushed, no one gets to take a secret to their grave. You may die, but your secret won’t. It will take on flesh and wake up as a living breathing person with the overwhelming urge to divulge that secret to whoever would be most affected by it. And when they tell, they die.
They’re not ghosts or vampires or zombies. But they can do a lot more damage.
Society calls them The Hushed and they are as feared as they are hated because no one actually wants to know the secrets their loved ones were hiding. Eerie is a Hushed, and she has the rare privilege of not remembering the secret she’s supposed to tell. Fine by her, she’s spared the suicidal urge to spill her guts and drop dead on the spot. But then she meets Logan, the son of an inmate killed in the infamous fire at Ironbark Prison, and suddenly she starts to remember.
This book is a found family, genre-bending adventure as Eerie tries to stay away from Logan and her developing crush on him, keep her brother from digging into their past, and keep herself and her friends alive in a world that hates their very existence.
If you love complex plot threads and mysteries that leave you with more questions than answers until the very end, this book is for you. It’s Lockwood & Co. meets Shameless by way of True Blood (and no I will not apologize for that mess of a comp title, read it and you’ll understand)!
In the world of The Hushed, no one gets to take a secret to their grave. You may die, but your secret won’t. It will take on flesh and wake up as a living breathing person with the overwhelming urge to divulge that secret to whoever would be most affected by it. And when they tell, they die.
They’re not ghosts or vampires or zombies. But they can do a lot more damage.
Society calls them The Hushed and they are as feared as they are hated because no one actually wants to know the secrets their loved ones were hiding. Eerie is a Hushed, and she has the rare privilege of not remembering the secret she’s supposed to tell. Fine by her, she’s spared the suicidal urge to spill her guts and drop dead on the spot. But then she meets Logan, the son of an inmate killed in the infamous fire at Ironbark Prison, and suddenly she starts to remember.
This book is a found family, genre-bending adventure as Eerie tries to stay away from Logan and her developing crush on him, keep her brother from digging into their past, and keep herself and her friends alive in a world that hates their very existence.
If you love complex plot threads and mysteries that leave you with more questions than answers until the very end, this book is for you. It’s Lockwood & Co. meets Shameless by way of True Blood (and no I will not apologize for that mess of a comp title, read it and you’ll understand)!
November 29, 2024
Completely young adult as I suspected
November 18, 2024
The Hushed Know Your Secret. The Hushed Will Tell Your Secret With Their Last Breath...
The Hushed is a beautifully crafted YA fantasy that blends elements of mystery, romance, and supernatural intrigue into a fast-paced and immersive read. The premise alone is captivating: Eerie is a "Hushed," a living secret bound to a dark past that she cannot remember, yet she feels the weight of her forgotten truth slowly creeping up on her. With her brother Fabian, she’s connected to a devastating fire at Ironbark Prison—one of the many threads that weave this gripping tale together.
The plot hooks you early, especially with the introduction of Logan Winspeare, the son of one of the fire's victims. Their slow-burn, complicated romance adds layers of tension to the story, as Eerie finds herself torn between her growing feelings for Logan and the dangerous secret lurking just out of reach. The constant threat of her inevitable death adds a unique sense of urgency, making it impossible to put the book down.
One of the strongest aspects of this story is its atmosphere. The author does an excellent job of blending a sense of normalcy with the eerie and otherworldly, creating a world where the supernatural feels just beneath the surface.
The pacing is generally strong, although at times, it slows down a bit in the middle as the story delves deeper into Eerie’s internal struggles. This can feel a little drawn out, but it’s worth it for the revelations that come later on. The history of the Hushed is fascinating, and I found myself fully invested in the world-building and the complex relationships that evolve as Eerie uncovers more about herself.
Logan, as the love interest, is well-developed, and I found myself loving the chemistry between the two as they begin to draw one another. The chemistry is debilitating. Logan's chemistry with Eerie is undeniable, and their dynamic adds real emotional depth to the story. The romance, while central to the plot, never fully overshadows the larger mystery, which I appreciated.
There are a few moments that could have used more explanation, particularly surrounding the ancient organization and their motives, but overall, the story delivers a satisfying mix of twists, danger, and romance. The stakes feel high, and the tension builds to a satisfying conclusion, leaving enough threads open for a potential sequel.
The world-building and central mystery are intriguing, and the emotional stakes keep you invested throughout. A must-read for fans of complex characters and dark, twisty plots. Verdict: Highly recommended for fans of paranormal romance and mysterious, high-stakes adventures. 🌟🌟🌟🌟/5 Stars!
The Hushed is a beautifully crafted YA fantasy that blends elements of mystery, romance, and supernatural intrigue into a fast-paced and immersive read. The premise alone is captivating: Eerie is a "Hushed," a living secret bound to a dark past that she cannot remember, yet she feels the weight of her forgotten truth slowly creeping up on her. With her brother Fabian, she’s connected to a devastating fire at Ironbark Prison—one of the many threads that weave this gripping tale together.
The plot hooks you early, especially with the introduction of Logan Winspeare, the son of one of the fire's victims. Their slow-burn, complicated romance adds layers of tension to the story, as Eerie finds herself torn between her growing feelings for Logan and the dangerous secret lurking just out of reach. The constant threat of her inevitable death adds a unique sense of urgency, making it impossible to put the book down.
One of the strongest aspects of this story is its atmosphere. The author does an excellent job of blending a sense of normalcy with the eerie and otherworldly, creating a world where the supernatural feels just beneath the surface.
The pacing is generally strong, although at times, it slows down a bit in the middle as the story delves deeper into Eerie’s internal struggles. This can feel a little drawn out, but it’s worth it for the revelations that come later on. The history of the Hushed is fascinating, and I found myself fully invested in the world-building and the complex relationships that evolve as Eerie uncovers more about herself.
Logan, as the love interest, is well-developed, and I found myself loving the chemistry between the two as they begin to draw one another. The chemistry is debilitating. Logan's chemistry with Eerie is undeniable, and their dynamic adds real emotional depth to the story. The romance, while central to the plot, never fully overshadows the larger mystery, which I appreciated.
There are a few moments that could have used more explanation, particularly surrounding the ancient organization and their motives, but overall, the story delivers a satisfying mix of twists, danger, and romance. The stakes feel high, and the tension builds to a satisfying conclusion, leaving enough threads open for a potential sequel.
The world-building and central mystery are intriguing, and the emotional stakes keep you invested throughout. A must-read for fans of complex characters and dark, twisty plots. Verdict: Highly recommended for fans of paranormal romance and mysterious, high-stakes adventures. 🌟🌟🌟🌟/5 Stars!
October 15, 2024
The Hushed is such a fun and different premise: it's basically some kind of cabbage patch teens/adults who pop up whenever someone dies with a big ol' secret. And the Hushed's role is to... well, I don't know if they're supposed to tell or keep the secret, but if they let it slip, they vanish back into Xavier's Cabbage Patch or whatever. Problem is, they feel a pull to tell their secret, so... they often don't have long and prosperous "lives". I really enjoyed the main crux of the story, with Eerie's found Hushed family, the whole dynamic of being a Hushed, and of course, what secrets may lurk! And adding to the fun, Eerie does not feel the pull of her secret, because guess what? Our girl has no idea what it is! I loved that- added another fun layer to the Hushed lore and Eerie's story.
I had a few minor qualms, and they're as follows: One, the storytelling was sometimes nonlinear, which is usually not a problem for me. But sometimes, Eerie would tell things like we were supposed to know (we didn't), and then reveal the thing, like five pages later. Which admittedly was a little confusing. Then there are some "past dreamworld" parts and those I didn't super love either. Neither of these are dealbreakers, as I really dug the rest of the story, but worth mentioning.
So the characters were a win, and the plot was very engaging, especially all the contemporary current era stuff. The atmosphere was also incredibly on point, and the treatment of the Hushed folks provided a lot of very relevant real world commentary. Seems like this is meant to be a series, and I for one will definitely be picking up the next installment!
Bottom Line: High stakes not just for the Hushed, this book was atmospheric and full of secrets and a definite win for me!
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
November 17, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley, Blackstone Publishing and K.R.Blair for the opportunity to listen to the audiobook of The Hushed.
The Hushed by K.R. Blair is a unique blend of thriller, romance, and fantasy that stands out with its imaginative concept and intriguing characters. The story follows Eerie Ashwood, a “Hushed”—a being born from a secret so powerful it took a life to keep it hidden. Unlike most Hushed, Eerie and her brother, Fabian, cannot remember their secrets, though they’re tied to the haunting mystery of the Ironbark Prison fire. When Eerie meets Logan Winspeare, a fiery and determined young man seeking answers about the fire that claimed his mother, their worlds collide in a compelling mix of danger, secrets, and forbidden attraction.
Blair weaves a tale that’s atmospheric and gripping, full of twists and a rich backstory that spans centuries. The concept of the Hushed as living secrets is fresh and thought-provoking, adding depth to this already multi-layered story. The romantic tension between Eerie and Logan is a highlight, creating an emotional pull while keeping the stakes high as Eerie inches closer to uncovering her devastating secret.
While the book is marketed as adult fiction, its tone, pacing, and character development feel more akin to the young adult genre, which may appeal to fans of both categories. Some elements of the world-building could have been more fleshed out, but the suspenseful narrative and strong character dynamics make up for it.
Elizabeth Evans’ narration is stellar, breathing life into the characters and drawing listeners into Eerie’s eerie world. Her voice captures the emotion and intensity of the story, making it a truly immersive audiobook experience.
Overall, The Hushed is a creative and engaging read that stands out for its original concept, balancing romance, mystery, and fantasy with skill. Fans of genre-blending fiction will find much to enjoy in this haunting tale.
The Hushed by K.R. Blair is a unique blend of thriller, romance, and fantasy that stands out with its imaginative concept and intriguing characters. The story follows Eerie Ashwood, a “Hushed”—a being born from a secret so powerful it took a life to keep it hidden. Unlike most Hushed, Eerie and her brother, Fabian, cannot remember their secrets, though they’re tied to the haunting mystery of the Ironbark Prison fire. When Eerie meets Logan Winspeare, a fiery and determined young man seeking answers about the fire that claimed his mother, their worlds collide in a compelling mix of danger, secrets, and forbidden attraction.
Blair weaves a tale that’s atmospheric and gripping, full of twists and a rich backstory that spans centuries. The concept of the Hushed as living secrets is fresh and thought-provoking, adding depth to this already multi-layered story. The romantic tension between Eerie and Logan is a highlight, creating an emotional pull while keeping the stakes high as Eerie inches closer to uncovering her devastating secret.
While the book is marketed as adult fiction, its tone, pacing, and character development feel more akin to the young adult genre, which may appeal to fans of both categories. Some elements of the world-building could have been more fleshed out, but the suspenseful narrative and strong character dynamics make up for it.
Elizabeth Evans’ narration is stellar, breathing life into the characters and drawing listeners into Eerie’s eerie world. Her voice captures the emotion and intensity of the story, making it a truly immersive audiobook experience.
Overall, The Hushed is a creative and engaging read that stands out for its original concept, balancing romance, mystery, and fantasy with skill. Fans of genre-blending fiction will find much to enjoy in this haunting tale.
November 30, 2024
This book!! What a unique premise! I loved the concept of the hushed, which blends genres between fantasy, romantasy, and paranormal! Imagine a world where if a person dies with a secret, a hushed rises in its place, and its sole purpose is to tell the secret to then die as well. I mean, wow! It was executed brilliantly.
There’s forbidden love, found family, adventure, and life altering secrets. All of which led to some fantastic twists that I didn’t see coming! In a world that hates the very existence of those that are considered the hushed, this book feels very timely and relatable. I loved the complexity of the plot and the characters, especially Eerie, as she comes to terms with what’s expected of her versus what she wants out of her life. I think there’s a little bit of Eerie in all of us.
“𝐼 𝑎𝑚 𝑡𝑜 𝑏𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑒 𝑑𝑒𝑎𝑡ℎ 𝑠𝑜 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑚𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑏𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑒 𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑒.”
The narration was fantastic-voiced by the master of fantasy voice work Elizabeth Evans (she narrates ToG and Crescent City)! She really brought these characters and story to life in the way that only she can achieve with this type of story. I highly recommend the audio book route although I know I’ll want a physical copy for my shelves as well! I can’t wait for the next in what I hope will be a series, as it leaves off on quite a cliffhanger. This is a must read. You’ll find yourself not able to turn the page fast enough but once you’ve finished, you’ll be left thinking about it long after!
•𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭 •
+ ends on a cliffhanger
+ unique premise
+ paranormal fantasy done well
+ when someone dies with secrets, a hushed is “born”
+ forbidden love
+ found family
+ shocking twists embedded in a complex mystery
+ enemies to lovers
+ fantastic audiobook narration
+ world building and atmospheric, sinister setting
+ race against the clock adventure
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: October 1, 2024
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Fantasy • Mystery • Romance• Paranormal
𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭: Audiobook 🎧
𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫: Elizabeth Evans
@elizabethevansnyc
𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐭𝐲𝐥𝐞: Solo
𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: ★★★★★ 𝟓
𝐕𝐞𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐭: I loved it!
✨Thank you so much @netgalley @blackstonepub for my #gifted ALC! 🎧
There’s forbidden love, found family, adventure, and life altering secrets. All of which led to some fantastic twists that I didn’t see coming! In a world that hates the very existence of those that are considered the hushed, this book feels very timely and relatable. I loved the complexity of the plot and the characters, especially Eerie, as she comes to terms with what’s expected of her versus what she wants out of her life. I think there’s a little bit of Eerie in all of us.
“𝐼 𝑎𝑚 𝑡𝑜 𝑏𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑒 𝑑𝑒𝑎𝑡ℎ 𝑠𝑜 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑚𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑏𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑒 𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑒.”
The narration was fantastic-voiced by the master of fantasy voice work Elizabeth Evans (she narrates ToG and Crescent City)! She really brought these characters and story to life in the way that only she can achieve with this type of story. I highly recommend the audio book route although I know I’ll want a physical copy for my shelves as well! I can’t wait for the next in what I hope will be a series, as it leaves off on quite a cliffhanger. This is a must read. You’ll find yourself not able to turn the page fast enough but once you’ve finished, you’ll be left thinking about it long after!
•𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭 •
+ ends on a cliffhanger
+ unique premise
+ paranormal fantasy done well
+ when someone dies with secrets, a hushed is “born”
+ forbidden love
+ found family
+ shocking twists embedded in a complex mystery
+ enemies to lovers
+ fantastic audiobook narration
+ world building and atmospheric, sinister setting
+ race against the clock adventure
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: October 1, 2024
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Fantasy • Mystery • Romance• Paranormal
𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭: Audiobook 🎧
𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫: Elizabeth Evans
@elizabethevansnyc
𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐭𝐲𝐥𝐞: Solo
𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: ★★★★★ 𝟓
𝐕𝐞𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐭: I loved it!
✨Thank you so much @netgalley @blackstonepub for my #gifted ALC! 🎧
November 16, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
✨Paranormal
🌙New meaning to the “undead”
✨Suspense and Twists
🌙Found Family
✨Forbidden Romance
I highly enjoyed this book very much! The Hushed gives off a paranormal and thriller at the same time. I have never read a book like this one. I was instantly hooked.
After someone with a dark secret passes away a Hushed is born/emerges. A Hushed is a being who looks human but is not quite human. The main purpose for their existence is to pass on the dark secret that their human had. They must pass the secret on to the one that it would wound the most. This person is their Wounded. As soon as Hushed tells their wounded the secret they immediately pass away.
The female main character in this book is a Hushed and it’s unique because she actually wants to live and be a normal person, she also does not know who her human was or who her wounded is. Throughout the majority of the book, we are trying to guess who they are.
This book contains found family and forbidden romance. The female main character starts to fall for a human.
I did listen to this book on audio.
I really loved the audio. When the end credits for the audiobook started playing, and the narrator was revealed. I screamed out loud. I knew there was a reason I loved this narrator voice.
I absolutely love Elizabeth Evans! Elizabeth Evans narrated the TOG and CC, she is phenomenal voice actor.
I will absolutely devour any book that Elizabeth narrates. I really didn’t pay attention to who the narrator was when I was listening to this book, but finding out that it was her was a cherry on the top of an already good book.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
✨Paranormal
🌙New meaning to the “undead”
✨Suspense and Twists
🌙Found Family
✨Forbidden Romance
I highly enjoyed this book very much! The Hushed gives off a paranormal and thriller at the same time. I have never read a book like this one. I was instantly hooked.
After someone with a dark secret passes away a Hushed is born/emerges. A Hushed is a being who looks human but is not quite human. The main purpose for their existence is to pass on the dark secret that their human had. They must pass the secret on to the one that it would wound the most. This person is their Wounded. As soon as Hushed tells their wounded the secret they immediately pass away.
The female main character in this book is a Hushed and it’s unique because she actually wants to live and be a normal person, she also does not know who her human was or who her wounded is. Throughout the majority of the book, we are trying to guess who they are.
This book contains found family and forbidden romance. The female main character starts to fall for a human.
I did listen to this book on audio.
I really loved the audio. When the end credits for the audiobook started playing, and the narrator was revealed. I screamed out loud. I knew there was a reason I loved this narrator voice.
I absolutely love Elizabeth Evans! Elizabeth Evans narrated the TOG and CC, she is phenomenal voice actor.
I will absolutely devour any book that Elizabeth narrates. I really didn’t pay attention to who the narrator was when I was listening to this book, but finding out that it was her was a cherry on the top of an already good book.
November 25, 2024
Thank you to Blackstone publishing for giving me access to the arc audiobook in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Let's start this off by saying, it is an interesting premise. The whole premise is based around that our secrets do not die with us, they come back to life and seek out those it would affect to tell them in turn upon saying said secret it kills the hushed as they call it that was once holding that secret. All things considered it had opportunity to be a great book it was just in my opinion executed poorly, maybe it was done entirely on purpose but the story was a mess.
The timeline felt like it could never be kept straight, things were just randomly being thrown in with no bearing on what the timeline was or were that event was falling in the timeline. The whole “romance” just did not feel like a romance really, it kind of felt like you took two characters and went “andddd kiss”. It felt rushed and forced and I just did not care for Eerie and Logan’s relationship. I’ll be honest their relationship gave me that vibe of that zombie movie from the 2010’s where the zombie fell in love with a human and I think he became human?
The book was incredibly slow paced, it took forever for anything even remotely interesting to happen, I’m talking like 60-70% of the book before stuff actually started to happen. We are told things that just seem to contradict things we were previously told and then not even given more information on it until like 80% of the way through the book. For example there are these things called slip pills that the hushed takes to appear human on the tests and we are told they are massively difficult to get ahold of but in the same breath are led to believe that Eerie is taking them to appear human, except wait. We aren’t told that the effects actually last several years until like 80% of the way through the book. In all honesty with the way this book is basically shoved together it felt like it wasn’t actually properly planned out. Stuff felt like it was just shoved into places because the author forgot to mention it earlier and even with the characters I felt no real connection to any of them, they were just there and there was no real reason for me to feel any type of way when something bad happens or when one of them died.
All around I was just disappointed in this book as I thought it was going to be something new and exciting based on the description and I was just quite frankly let down at every turn.
Let's start this off by saying, it is an interesting premise. The whole premise is based around that our secrets do not die with us, they come back to life and seek out those it would affect to tell them in turn upon saying said secret it kills the hushed as they call it that was once holding that secret. All things considered it had opportunity to be a great book it was just in my opinion executed poorly, maybe it was done entirely on purpose but the story was a mess.
The timeline felt like it could never be kept straight, things were just randomly being thrown in with no bearing on what the timeline was or were that event was falling in the timeline. The whole “romance” just did not feel like a romance really, it kind of felt like you took two characters and went “andddd kiss”. It felt rushed and forced and I just did not care for Eerie and Logan’s relationship. I’ll be honest their relationship gave me that vibe of that zombie movie from the 2010’s where the zombie fell in love with a human and I think he became human?
The book was incredibly slow paced, it took forever for anything even remotely interesting to happen, I’m talking like 60-70% of the book before stuff actually started to happen. We are told things that just seem to contradict things we were previously told and then not even given more information on it until like 80% of the way through the book. For example there are these things called slip pills that the hushed takes to appear human on the tests and we are told they are massively difficult to get ahold of but in the same breath are led to believe that Eerie is taking them to appear human, except wait. We aren’t told that the effects actually last several years until like 80% of the way through the book. In all honesty with the way this book is basically shoved together it felt like it wasn’t actually properly planned out. Stuff felt like it was just shoved into places because the author forgot to mention it earlier and even with the characters I felt no real connection to any of them, they were just there and there was no real reason for me to feel any type of way when something bad happens or when one of them died.
All around I was just disappointed in this book as I thought it was going to be something new and exciting based on the description and I was just quite frankly let down at every turn.
November 19, 2024
Elizabeth Evans is an amazing narrator. She lends her voice to Eerie and enhances the experience as a listener.
This is a secret I will be spilling. The Hushed will be the next smash hit book that will hit the shelves and booktok. K.R. Blair provides a new species to the paranormal thriller world and did not leave any plot holes.
If Crescent City is your favorite Sarah J Maas series, run to read or listen to The Hushed.
Friendships. Romances. Mystery. A huge twist at the end. An opening for this to become a series. I can’t wait for the world to get ahold of this book and author.
Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing Audiobooks for the ARC opportunity in exchange for my honest opinion.
This is a secret I will be spilling. The Hushed will be the next smash hit book that will hit the shelves and booktok. K.R. Blair provides a new species to the paranormal thriller world and did not leave any plot holes.
If Crescent City is your favorite Sarah J Maas series, run to read or listen to The Hushed.
Friendships. Romances. Mystery. A huge twist at the end. An opening for this to become a series. I can’t wait for the world to get ahold of this book and author.
Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing Audiobooks for the ARC opportunity in exchange for my honest opinion.
October 17, 2024
This was such a unique, intriguing read with a slow burn romance and a twist that I never saw coming. It takes a bit to get into it because Eerie is a very closed of narrator, even in her own head, and the premise is so unique that it takes time to learn the rules of this world, but once it gets going you won't be able to put it down. History, dark magic, political intrigue and rebellion, a love story, and learning to forgive ourselves and others.
I cannot wait for the next book - while parts of this felt like full resolutions to smaller plots, the door was blown off the hinges for what could come next.
I cannot wait for the next book - while parts of this felt like full resolutions to smaller plots, the door was blown off the hinges for what could come next.
October 16, 2024
3.5 stars
Authors are so creative because how do they come up with such interesting concepts??!!
It was a pretty easy read and I was simply intrigued from beginning to end.
There might be a possible sequel? I’ll read that too. If there isn’t, that’s okay.
Authors are so creative because how do they come up with such interesting concepts??!!
It was a pretty easy read and I was simply intrigued from beginning to end.
There might be a possible sequel? I’ll read that too. If there isn’t, that’s okay.
November 12, 2024
THIS BOOK WAS AMAZING!!! The Dead's secrets becoming a human form is such a cool idea! This book has so many layers in the main characters backstory and every plot twist to her character development is so intriguing. Loved this book!!
December 6, 2024
Super cool and unique concept.
Was just not Ina super YA mindset the timeline was a little messy. And I felt some distance to the characters. But overall well crafted.
Was just not Ina super YA mindset the timeline was a little messy. And I felt some distance to the characters. But overall well crafted.
December 2, 2024
This was an incredibly unique story without being convoluted
I really love this book conceptually. There were some low spots but they needed to be there to build the plot. So don't expect a fast paced book. This has layers to it that will develop so stay with it. The ending of this book sets up the next part of the series in a way that should leave you excited if you're into sci-fi/fantasy.
Does this have the potential to go off the rails in the next book? Yup but I'm holding on to some faith that it'll be a solid installation.
I was fortunate enough to receive an audio ARC of this title but I am leaving my review voluntarily and honestly.
I really love this book conceptually. There were some low spots but they needed to be there to build the plot. So don't expect a fast paced book. This has layers to it that will develop so stay with it. The ending of this book sets up the next part of the series in a way that should leave you excited if you're into sci-fi/fantasy.
Does this have the potential to go off the rails in the next book? Yup but I'm holding on to some faith that it'll be a solid installation.
I was fortunate enough to receive an audio ARC of this title but I am leaving my review voluntarily and honestly.
November 18, 2024
This was one of the most original books that I have read in a long time! The multifaceted characters and plot twists made it a page turner I won’t forget.
December 31, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for allowing me a free copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review!
I keep going back and forth on what rating I want to give this. It's a 3.5 in my opinion, but I can't decide if I want to round down or up. Ultimately I think I will round it down.
This was just too YA for me, which was not in the tags or I likely would have skipped over. The world wasn't as fleshed out as it needs to be either. Thats not to say it wasn't enjoyable or a good concept, because I absolutely loved the concept of The Hushed/secret keepers. But the YA genre has a way of writing and story telling that just isn't for me, and a lot of plot opportunities were missed or shorted. I'll probably get into some spoiler territory because I have some logical pieces to sort out, so let's jump into it.
Straight from the start, I disliked the seemingly unnecessary choices on the part of the author to make the character(s) high school/juvenile. It felt very much like a conscious choice that did not serve the purpose of the story at all. But also, I was going into it not expecting that kind of setup with the characters since it wasn't tagged YA. I saw in the original book release The Breath of Bones, the MFC was 17. At least she upped her age in this version (I think anyway, since she's in college) but is likely a player in how YA it reads as well.
The MFC is set up to be so level headed, cautious, and resourceful but naturally that dissolves the minute she gets some male attention or ends up in sticky/stressful situations. She ends up falling for every single setup, not once thinking anything might be a trap. It didn't feel like there was chemistry in the main relationship, or much build up to it besides just being in proximity to each other/interacting a few times before everything just fell together. And above all, our MFC is the type of person to shit on you for liking pumpkin spice lattes, which felt a little dated. Jest or nah, there were a million other things she could have said instead, and I feel bad that Logan had to defend himself for "liking a seasonal latte" 😂
The concept of the Hushed is so unique and interesting that despite some confusion in setup/pacing, I am craving to learn more. I love that no one in this world/universe can get away with keeping life altering secrets. The God of this universe is a petty one & I am here for it 😂 But for real, there's a nice sense of justice that comes with the Hushed existing, even if they aren't readily accepted into society. It's definitely the messiest way someone could have designed a secret-keeper, but if it was less gruesome I don't think it would be as persuasive lol. The implications of the way society COULD have set up a system for the Hushed is also mind-bending. Imagine if they'd been more savage about it. Society hates the Hushed? Wanna get rid of them? You make them register themselves anyway, why not also imprison them and force them to expel their secrets to their source? Takes care of 2 problems - the secret, and the Hushed!
There were a handful of logical "why would you do/think that" moments for me that I think work in the end because it is a "YA book". You can't think too hard about some of the things or you'll run yourself in circles around the plot. There's been a couple times where it almost feels like it's missing pieces? Somehow during key moments I would manage to get lost - like we're too busy rushing to the climax to worry about how we're getting there. I don't really know what caused it, but it's not typically a problem I have with audiobooks. I think another thing that would have helped is getting more in-world history with The Hushed. Our MFC could have visited a library to research her kind, or hopped on a "dark web" forum since she's obviously familiar with that. I feel like there HAS to be more info out there, we just didn't explore it in the beginning when it was needed for the reader/MFC to understand. Also, more world history. We have enough real life history to draw inspiration from to set up the world more believably than what we got. The Hushed are world-wide, right? Theres got to be some hella political takes/landscapes across countries that we could learn about to deepen everything and enhance the readers understanding of how The Hushed function in societies in a WHOLE WORLD perspective, not just this shitty little town.
The one thing that really threw me off though was the "how did we get here/who are we" stuff. I am ALL FOR our characters having their personal beliefs and visions of why they exist, who they are, what their purpose is, etc. It just felt like the way it was done didn't make sense or link back up in a way that, in retrospect, made things connect. It seemed like it was just a method of introducing concepts to readers to use for later plot points, not deepening the characters themselves. For example,
Lets talk about the main relationship for a second -
I really did like this setup/universe though. I hope we get more background/history/insight into the greater universe itself in book 2, as well as some more fleshed out characters/relationships that this one felt lacking in. This feels like such a solid premise that we could easily have a million spin-offs/plot twists, it just needs the right direction. I'm looking forward to reading book 2 & finding out where all this is going!
I keep going back and forth on what rating I want to give this. It's a 3.5 in my opinion, but I can't decide if I want to round down or up. Ultimately I think I will round it down.
This was just too YA for me, which was not in the tags or I likely would have skipped over. The world wasn't as fleshed out as it needs to be either. Thats not to say it wasn't enjoyable or a good concept, because I absolutely loved the concept of The Hushed/secret keepers. But the YA genre has a way of writing and story telling that just isn't for me, and a lot of plot opportunities were missed or shorted. I'll probably get into some spoiler territory because I have some logical pieces to sort out, so let's jump into it.
Straight from the start, I disliked the seemingly unnecessary choices on the part of the author to make the character(s) high school/juvenile. It felt very much like a conscious choice that did not serve the purpose of the story at all. But also, I was going into it not expecting that kind of setup with the characters since it wasn't tagged YA. I saw in the original book release The Breath of Bones, the MFC was 17. At least she upped her age in this version (I think anyway, since she's in college) but is likely a player in how YA it reads as well.
The MFC is set up to be so level headed, cautious, and resourceful but naturally that dissolves the minute she gets some male attention or ends up in sticky/stressful situations. She ends up falling for every single setup, not once thinking anything might be a trap. It didn't feel like there was chemistry in the main relationship, or much build up to it besides just being in proximity to each other/interacting a few times before everything just fell together. And above all, our MFC is the type of person to shit on you for liking pumpkin spice lattes, which felt a little dated. Jest or nah, there were a million other things she could have said instead, and I feel bad that Logan had to defend himself for "liking a seasonal latte" 😂
The concept of the Hushed is so unique and interesting that despite some confusion in setup/pacing, I am craving to learn more. I love that no one in this world/universe can get away with keeping life altering secrets. The God of this universe is a petty one & I am here for it 😂 But for real, there's a nice sense of justice that comes with the Hushed existing, even if they aren't readily accepted into society. It's definitely the messiest way someone could have designed a secret-keeper, but if it was less gruesome I don't think it would be as persuasive lol. The implications of the way society COULD have set up a system for the Hushed is also mind-bending. Imagine if they'd been more savage about it. Society hates the Hushed? Wanna get rid of them? You make them register themselves anyway, why not also imprison them and force them to expel their secrets to their source? Takes care of 2 problems - the secret, and the Hushed!
There were a handful of logical "why would you do/think that" moments for me that I think work in the end because it is a "YA book". You can't think too hard about some of the things or you'll run yourself in circles around the plot. There's been a couple times where it almost feels like it's missing pieces? Somehow during key moments I would manage to get lost - like we're too busy rushing to the climax to worry about how we're getting there. I don't really know what caused it, but it's not typically a problem I have with audiobooks. I think another thing that would have helped is getting more in-world history with The Hushed. Our MFC could have visited a library to research her kind, or hopped on a "dark web" forum since she's obviously familiar with that. I feel like there HAS to be more info out there, we just didn't explore it in the beginning when it was needed for the reader/MFC to understand. Also, more world history. We have enough real life history to draw inspiration from to set up the world more believably than what we got. The Hushed are world-wide, right? Theres got to be some hella political takes/landscapes across countries that we could learn about to deepen everything and enhance the readers understanding of how The Hushed function in societies in a WHOLE WORLD perspective, not just this shitty little town.
The one thing that really threw me off though was the "how did we get here/who are we" stuff. I am ALL FOR our characters having their personal beliefs and visions of why they exist, who they are, what their purpose is, etc. It just felt like the way it was done didn't make sense or link back up in a way that, in retrospect, made things connect. It seemed like it was just a method of introducing concepts to readers to use for later plot points, not deepening the characters themselves. For example,
Lets talk about the main relationship for a second -
I really did like this setup/universe though. I hope we get more background/history/insight into the greater universe itself in book 2, as well as some more fleshed out characters/relationships that this one felt lacking in. This feels like such a solid premise that we could easily have a million spin-offs/plot twists, it just needs the right direction. I'm looking forward to reading book 2 & finding out where all this is going!
December 8, 2024
The Hushed is a paranormal thriller by K. R. Blair. This book had a really interesting concept and was unlike a book I've read. The story follows Eerie, who is a "Hushed”. Hushed are human in form, but they are a walking secret. They are spawned when a person with a secret dies. Their whole purpose is to release that secret to the impacted person and then they die. Such an interesting plot!
I read this on audiobook, which was narrated by Elizabeth Evans. I don't think I've read any book narrated by her, but she was fantastic! I typically don't like when a female does male voices, but I thought how she did all of the voices was perfect.
The story starts out slow, but it is so fascinating that I was absolutely addicted and I really hope there is a second book. Overall, this was a great read. I would recommend this book, especially on audio.
Thank you so much to Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for this audiobook. All opinions are my own.
I read this on audiobook, which was narrated by Elizabeth Evans. I don't think I've read any book narrated by her, but she was fantastic! I typically don't like when a female does male voices, but I thought how she did all of the voices was perfect.
The story starts out slow, but it is so fascinating that I was absolutely addicted and I really hope there is a second book. Overall, this was a great read. I would recommend this book, especially on audio.
Thank you so much to Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for this audiobook. All opinions are my own.
May 21, 2024
The Hushed are a group of people who harbor a secret(s) of the human’s body they possess. They are pulled to share that secret, and if they share that secret with someone that isn’t Hushed, they immediately die. Not a lot if known about the Hushed and like many things - when they’re unknown, people fear them. The Government creates a federal group (The Internment) to track the Hushed. Being a tracked Hushed means you get free education, a job, and a place to live (with other Hushed), but it also means you are fundamentally advertising that you are Hushed.
eerie finds herself escaped from a burned down prison, as a Hushed. She has been battered and bruised by her escape and Fabian (who she now refers to as her brother), saves her. The two cross country on small change and luck, meeting others like them in their travels.
When they’ve settled down in a home with other Hushed, eerie and Rory are headed to work at the diner one morning and get pulled over by a police officer who is anti-Hushed. It’s a freezing cold morning and the officer has the girls out of the car and against the fence. A human passerby, Logan, intervenes, and everyone ends up in lockup at the local police facility. eerie is upset with Logan for intervening, but doesn’t know what might of transpired if he had not. No charges are filed and everyone is let go.
eerie and Logan cross paths a few more times in town and the two start to develop a friendly relationship. However, eerie quickly puts together that she was in prison with Logan’s mother, and he is investigating her death.
Will Logan’s investigation of Madeline’s death reveal some of eerie’s secrets or will eerie learn more about her past during Logan’s investigation?
eerie finds herself escaped from a burned down prison, as a Hushed. She has been battered and bruised by her escape and Fabian (who she now refers to as her brother), saves her. The two cross country on small change and luck, meeting others like them in their travels.
When they’ve settled down in a home with other Hushed, eerie and Rory are headed to work at the diner one morning and get pulled over by a police officer who is anti-Hushed. It’s a freezing cold morning and the officer has the girls out of the car and against the fence. A human passerby, Logan, intervenes, and everyone ends up in lockup at the local police facility. eerie is upset with Logan for intervening, but doesn’t know what might of transpired if he had not. No charges are filed and everyone is let go.
eerie and Logan cross paths a few more times in town and the two start to develop a friendly relationship. However, eerie quickly puts together that she was in prison with Logan’s mother, and he is investigating her death.
Will Logan’s investigation of Madeline’s death reveal some of eerie’s secrets or will eerie learn more about her past during Logan’s investigation?
December 2, 2024
When you find a new take or story line you know this book is going to impress you. This story idea is something Ive never read and I loved it! Not only was it a new idea but the author did a great job creating this world and connecting me to the characters, I was completely invested in this book and wanted to know what would happen next.
Hush is created when someone dies with a secret, now this Hush carries the secret with them. Most Hush don't live long because the pull to tell their secret to the person it's about is so strong they tell then die. Eerie is a Hush but she is different because she doesn't know her secret and doesn't have the pull all other Hush have to tell her secret. Living in a governmental designated area with her family Eerie has one goal and thats to get out before her brother tells his secret. Most Hush don't last too long but she will do everything she can to help her brother.
Eerie may not remember her secret but she knows where she first woke so she stays away, until she meets Logan and finds out who his mother was. The fear she has of being too close to Logan is just as strong as the desire to be close to him. With Eerie's plans soon changing she is taken by the Hush who will do anything to keep their group safe even if it means sacrifice some of their own. They want information from Eerie she's sure she doesn't have.
I love the history of the Hush in this book, we see how they come to be and how many in the world hate them because what they represent as well as the fear they bring just for knowing secrets. I also love the twist in this book. The story is just superb and so impressive, we don't end this book on a cliffhanger per se but this story is not finished at all. I will for sure be reading the next book in this series
not only is this story amazing we get a great love story between Eerie and Logan and then so many other characters and twists in this book makes for a must read that I didn't want to put down. I am so impressed with this book and the author K.R. Blair. I can't lie the cover drew my attention and everything else made me not only stay but become hooked, I can't wait for book 2!
*Thank you Netgallery and Blackstone publishing for this book
Hush is created when someone dies with a secret, now this Hush carries the secret with them. Most Hush don't live long because the pull to tell their secret to the person it's about is so strong they tell then die. Eerie is a Hush but she is different because she doesn't know her secret and doesn't have the pull all other Hush have to tell her secret. Living in a governmental designated area with her family Eerie has one goal and thats to get out before her brother tells his secret. Most Hush don't last too long but she will do everything she can to help her brother.
Eerie may not remember her secret but she knows where she first woke so she stays away, until she meets Logan and finds out who his mother was. The fear she has of being too close to Logan is just as strong as the desire to be close to him. With Eerie's plans soon changing she is taken by the Hush who will do anything to keep their group safe even if it means sacrifice some of their own. They want information from Eerie she's sure she doesn't have.
I love the history of the Hush in this book, we see how they come to be and how many in the world hate them because what they represent as well as the fear they bring just for knowing secrets. I also love the twist in this book. The story is just superb and so impressive, we don't end this book on a cliffhanger per se but this story is not finished at all. I will for sure be reading the next book in this series
not only is this story amazing we get a great love story between Eerie and Logan and then so many other characters and twists in this book makes for a must read that I didn't want to put down. I am so impressed with this book and the author K.R. Blair. I can't lie the cover drew my attention and everything else made me not only stay but become hooked, I can't wait for book 2!
*Thank you Netgallery and Blackstone publishing for this book
November 19, 2024
I liked the concept of this world where your skeletons in the closet and secrets you take to your grave actually come back alive as the Hushed, beings who live and follow the pull to the "wounded", those who the secret is meant to be revealed to. Of course when that does happen, the Hushed dies. That sucked for them and it was easy to feel that they get the short end of the stick, especially with the hate group known as the Gravediggers, who go around trying to put the Hushed back in the ground. Yes, I know it is a human proclivity for the short sighted to fear and hate those that are different but man, I really hated those gravediggers!
Eerie, her brother and their small family of Hushed had a hard time, both with those, and the secrets they carried. I did really like when Eerie drifted and we got to see the history (a bit of it) of how the Hushed came to be and the secrets behind the Haunt of Jackals (also a fringe group, but made of Hushed and dedicated to revealing damaging secrets so that corrupt people couldn't keep power). Her search for a life, instead of just existing until she remembered her secret was so relatable and it was cute when she met up with Logan (not the original meeting when the stupid cop pulled Eerie and her friend over, but after that).
There had better be another book soon after that ending though. Many things are revealed that turned my head upside down. Kinda cool, but weird, and I can't wait to see what Eerie does after all that, and whether the Hushed can get a place in the world without hate and people trying to kill them or gain their own power over the secrets that human carry that can destroy the world as we know it.
But it was a good book and I had a lot of fun listening to the audiobook version. The narrator did a great job in bringing the characters and emotions and world to life.
Eerie, her brother and their small family of Hushed had a hard time, both with those, and the secrets they carried. I did really like when Eerie drifted and we got to see the history (a bit of it) of how the Hushed came to be and the secrets behind the Haunt of Jackals (also a fringe group, but made of Hushed and dedicated to revealing damaging secrets so that corrupt people couldn't keep power). Her search for a life, instead of just existing until she remembered her secret was so relatable and it was cute when she met up with Logan (not the original meeting when the stupid cop pulled Eerie and her friend over, but after that).
There had better be another book soon after that ending though. Many things are revealed that turned my head upside down. Kinda cool, but weird, and I can't wait to see what Eerie does after all that, and whether the Hushed can get a place in the world without hate and people trying to kill them or gain their own power over the secrets that human carry that can destroy the world as we know it.
But it was a good book and I had a lot of fun listening to the audiobook version. The narrator did a great job in bringing the characters and emotions and world to life.
December 6, 2024
Thank you to K.R. Blair, Blackstone Publishing Audiobooks, and NetGalley for an ALC of The Hushed!
This was one of my favorite reads of 2024! The concept is super interesting and unique. Secrets of people who've died come to life as new beings. Once they tell the secret, they die. They feel a pull to tell their secret, but until they do they live like typical human beings... though also shunned from society.
I enjoyed every minute of this book. It had elements of romance and fantasy/sci-fi with found family, hidden truth, and a bit of forced proximity/forbidden love tropes. It had most of my favorite elements in books tied into one!
Things I Loved...
The characters were relatable with interesting back stories. If anyone was grumpy they had good reason to be and after knowing their secrets, I could even empathize with some of the villains.
The plot was unique. I don't think I've ever read a novel where secrets are people. This alone made the book a page turner because I needed to know what secret Eerie was keeping!
The pacing was perfect. I thought K.R. Blair set the perfect pace for building her world and slowly revealing the intricacies. Even when sh*t hit the fan, I felt like everything had been slowly building to this climax so it wasn't sudden, jarring, or out of the blue.
The narrator, Elizabeth Evans, did an amazing job as well. I felt like her voice perfectly embodied the characters and she capture the emotion and tone of the book very well.
I am so ready to read book 2 in this series and to see what happens next with Eerie and her crew! 5/5 stars
This was one of my favorite reads of 2024! The concept is super interesting and unique. Secrets of people who've died come to life as new beings. Once they tell the secret, they die. They feel a pull to tell their secret, but until they do they live like typical human beings... though also shunned from society.
I enjoyed every minute of this book. It had elements of romance and fantasy/sci-fi with found family, hidden truth, and a bit of forced proximity/forbidden love tropes. It had most of my favorite elements in books tied into one!
Things I Loved...
The characters were relatable with interesting back stories. If anyone was grumpy they had good reason to be and after knowing their secrets, I could even empathize with some of the villains.
The plot was unique. I don't think I've ever read a novel where secrets are people. This alone made the book a page turner because I needed to know what secret Eerie was keeping!
The pacing was perfect. I thought K.R. Blair set the perfect pace for building her world and slowly revealing the intricacies. Even when sh*t hit the fan, I felt like everything had been slowly building to this climax so it wasn't sudden, jarring, or out of the blue.
The narrator, Elizabeth Evans, did an amazing job as well. I felt like her voice perfectly embodied the characters and she capture the emotion and tone of the book very well.
I am so ready to read book 2 in this series and to see what happens next with Eerie and her crew! 5/5 stars
November 20, 2024
I literally devoured this in 24 hours. I listened to the audiobook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, and this one did not disappoint.
First of all, the audiobook has the same narrator (Elizabeth Evans) as Throne of Glass and Crescent City, so it was an immediate yes for me.
Second of all, the plot was so unique and refreshing for a paranormal thriller.
“She wanted to tell. To utter the words that would erase her from the world. We're secrets wound into human skin, after all. Telling secrets is what we were created to do. Once the thought starts, it grows. A sickness of syllables that plants an itch somewhere deep in the chest.”
Imagine a world where, when you die, your deepest, darkest secrets become living, breathing beings. Not only do they look human, but their only goal in life is to tell your secret to the one who needs to hear it the most. Once they find them, they are compelled to tell the secret, and then they die. That is the whole premise of this novel. Throw in a deadly forbidden romance with lots of plot twists, and you have a great read!
There is something I’m hoping will happen in the next one, and fans of Shatter Me will understand when I say I want an Aaron Warner situation. Love Logan, but there is someone else that’s piqued my interest…That is all.
4.5 stars!!
First of all, the audiobook has the same narrator (Elizabeth Evans) as Throne of Glass and Crescent City, so it was an immediate yes for me.
Second of all, the plot was so unique and refreshing for a paranormal thriller.
“She wanted to tell. To utter the words that would erase her from the world. We're secrets wound into human skin, after all. Telling secrets is what we were created to do. Once the thought starts, it grows. A sickness of syllables that plants an itch somewhere deep in the chest.”
Imagine a world where, when you die, your deepest, darkest secrets become living, breathing beings. Not only do they look human, but their only goal in life is to tell your secret to the one who needs to hear it the most. Once they find them, they are compelled to tell the secret, and then they die. That is the whole premise of this novel. Throw in a deadly forbidden romance with lots of plot twists, and you have a great read!
There is something I’m hoping will happen in the next one, and fans of Shatter Me will understand when I say I want an Aaron Warner situation. Love Logan, but there is someone else that’s piqued my interest…That is all.
4.5 stars!!
December 9, 2024
I received an audio ARC in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing!
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Writing: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Narrator(s): ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Tropes, etc: Forbidden Love, Paranormal
POV: Single, 1st Person
3rd Act Breakup?: No
Cliffhanger?: Yes
Brief Summary: When someone dies with a harmful secret, a human-like being is spawned to embody it…The Hushed. They look and act just like everyone else, but they feel a pull to expose their human’s secret to the person it will hurt most, and once they do, they die. Eerie Ashwood doesn’t remember her secret, but she knows it has something to do with the Ironbark Prison fire.
The Praise: This was so good! The concept is so unique and the characters are so interesting. The mystery of Eerie’s secret and the dreams she couldn’t explain kept me riveted.
The Critique: The cliffhanger?!
Final Thoughts: I really loved this. I NEED the next book.
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