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I'll Make A Spectacle Of You
This heart-pounding Southern gothic horror debut from Beatrice Winifred Iker, takes readers to Bricksbury University, the oldest and most storied HBCU in the nation. But as one student is about to find out, a long history comes with a legacy of secrets.
Zora Robinson is an ambitious grad student at her dream program, the Appalachian Studies at Bricksbury University. When her thesis advisor hands her a strange diary and suggests she research the local folklore about a beast roaming the woods surrounding campus, Zora finds a community uneager to talk to an outsider.
As she delves into the history of the beast, she uncovers a rumored secret society called the Keepers that has tenuous ties to the beast…and Bricksbury itself. Zora soon finds herself plagued by visions of the past, and her grip on reality starts to slip as she struggles to uncover what is real and what is folklore. But when a student goes missing, Zora starts to wonder if the Keepers ever really disbanded.
There’s something in the woods and it has its eyes on Zora.
Zora Robinson is an ambitious grad student at her dream program, the Appalachian Studies at Bricksbury University. When her thesis advisor hands her a strange diary and suggests she research the local folklore about a beast roaming the woods surrounding campus, Zora finds a community uneager to talk to an outsider.
As she delves into the history of the beast, she uncovers a rumored secret society called the Keepers that has tenuous ties to the beast…and Bricksbury itself. Zora soon finds herself plagued by visions of the past, and her grip on reality starts to slip as she struggles to uncover what is real and what is folklore. But when a student goes missing, Zora starts to wonder if the Keepers ever really disbanded.
There’s something in the woods and it has its eyes on Zora.
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First published November 18, 2025
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September 2, 2025
Dark academia meets hoodoo. Which, I mean, sounds fantastic, right? Dark academia?? Hoodoo?? Could there possibly be a better combination??
Well, as it turns out, yes. I mean, don't get me wrong, this was fine (with “fine” being said in the same tone of voice I use when my husband suggests I put down an exciting book so we can have dinner). But this is yet another novel that took me almost two weeks to finish because I just wasn't invested enough to pick it up on a regular basis. Ugh, I have been in such a reading slump lately, you guys.
The premise really is fantastic, though. A secret society and a beast stalking the woods on a historically black university campus in Appalachia? Yes, please!
Unfortunately, the first 70% (or so) of this book just bored me. The hoodoo parts are interesting enough and of course Henry Louis is a very good boy, but otherwise … meh. Other than Zora having a few creepy feelings, nothing particularly scary happens and the plot feels pretty shallow, as do the relationships between the various characters.
The pace does pick up toward the end, though. There's some action, a big reveal or two, some character growth, and lots of hoodoo. It *almost* brings the book into “good” territory, and then the ending happens. WTF? So abrupt. So unfulfilling. So “I'm tired of writing this book and just want to end it, like, RIGHT NOW.” I thought there was at least a chapter or two left, but it turns out that it was an excerpt from another novel. I don't even mind what happens at the end, but it just needs … more. There's no closure, no real resolution to anything.
But, anyway, as for the most important part: does the dog live?
My overall rating: 2.7 stars, rounded up. I'm definitely open to reading more by Iker — she certainly knows how to come up with an intriguing premise — but unfortunately this particular novel fell a bit flat for me.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Run For It for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is November 18, 2025.
Well, as it turns out, yes. I mean, don't get me wrong, this was fine (with “fine” being said in the same tone of voice I use when my husband suggests I put down an exciting book so we can have dinner). But this is yet another novel that took me almost two weeks to finish because I just wasn't invested enough to pick it up on a regular basis. Ugh, I have been in such a reading slump lately, you guys.
The premise really is fantastic, though. A secret society and a beast stalking the woods on a historically black university campus in Appalachia? Yes, please!
Unfortunately, the first 70% (or so) of this book just bored me. The hoodoo parts are interesting enough and of course Henry Louis is a very good boy, but otherwise … meh. Other than Zora having a few creepy feelings, nothing particularly scary happens and the plot feels pretty shallow, as do the relationships between the various characters.
The pace does pick up toward the end, though. There's some action, a big reveal or two, some character growth, and lots of hoodoo. It *almost* brings the book into “good” territory, and then the ending happens. WTF? So abrupt. So unfulfilling. So “I'm tired of writing this book and just want to end it, like, RIGHT NOW.” I thought there was at least a chapter or two left, but it turns out that it was an excerpt from another novel. I don't even mind what happens at the end, but it just needs … more. There's no closure, no real resolution to anything.
But, anyway, as for the most important part: does the dog live?
My overall rating: 2.7 stars, rounded up. I'm definitely open to reading more by Iker — she certainly knows how to come up with an intriguing premise — but unfortunately this particular novel fell a bit flat for me.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Run For It for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is November 18, 2025.
November 18, 2025
Usual caveats apply: I am weirdly picky about and sensitive to prose. If you don't have an issue with any of the quotes below, then you will probably enjoy this book if the premise appeals to you.
There's LOTS to like: I was so delighted to learn that Zora is a Conjure (Hoodoo) practitioner from a family of practitioners, regularly using magic that has visible effects (for example, she has a kind of don't-look-here spell on her dog, who she is not supposed to have on campus with her, and it WORKS); instantly more interesting than her being someone who discovers magic/the supernatural over the course of the book instead. Zora is a seriously cool character, very passionate about Appalachian and Black history (particularly where the two intersect), inexplicably the black sheep of her family (her parents consider her a disappointment, despite plenty of academic success), mysteriously at odds with her elder sister (the golden child). She has what I'll call a millennial mindset (which I mean as a catch-all term for someone aware of queer theory, frank and sensible about mental health, an intersectional feminist, etc - 'millennial' as it's used in the media when they say we're killing the diamond industry or whatever), which is especially great to read in an academic setting (academia not being big on most of those things, as a whole). The 'beast' she's set to investigate has a very interesting history tied into the area's Black history and the founding of the college. Zora's story is interspersed with 'flashbacks' following characters from a few hundred years ago, and diary entries from other characters in other time periods. It's a fantastic set-up.
The problem is the prose. Quotes below.
'Consumed with success' sounds deeply incorrect to me. I think I understand what's being said - you have to be consumed with the need/drive to succeed - but it sounds wrong.
Wait, what are you talking about? We went from primary sources to relationships. Your relationships led to you finding sources? Or - given that the character's a historian - the sources were people? This needs to be clearer.
'Stiller'? It IS a real word, but it sounds wrong.
Again, this sounds very incorrect. It sounds like you're saying 'it was his mission to do the thing, but he wasn't in the mood', which from context is not what's going on.
'particular to her PSYCHE'? That sounds incredibly awkwardly phrased.
I went over and over this, but it doesn't make sense. The 'accomplice' is another student, who, unrelated to Zora, is harbouring an illegal pet. Zora is also harbouring an illegal pet. But that doesn't make the other student Zora's accomplice, because they're not working together and assisting each other. They're just both committing the same 'crime'.
I don't understand whether Amias wants to feel curious, or IS curious and has a desperate need to satisfy that curiosity.
...exhilarating to WHAT? 'Fellowship' is not a verb? Is a word missing?
What does 'life fed into me' mean?
Wait, is Zora beaming, as in smiling? Or is the BUILDING beaming? (From context it would be a very odd moment for Zora to be smiling.)
I don't understand what 'dubious' means in this context, or what is to the administration's credit. It's to their credit that they didn't put insulation in BECAUSE the weather varies from mild to serious? That can't be right.
'wrenched INSIDE something'? Wrenched means 'pull'. You definitely CAN pull a thing into another thing. But from context, it sounds more like you mean 'pushed into' than 'wrenched inside'? And what is the 'it' in the second sentence? The newness? Or the 'they', the bricks?
If telling-not-showing is something that bothers you, there is a LOT of it in this book, and it is very, very heavy-handed. On at least one occasion we're told what happened in a scene Zora was PRESENT FOR, but we time-skipped over it so it could be summarised to us instead of showing it on page. All of Zora's backstory, all her relationships with her family, her career (which is long) up to this point, all of it (and more) is info-dumped on us.
Made it to 22%, not going to read any more, alas.
There's LOTS to like: I was so delighted to learn that Zora is a Conjure (Hoodoo) practitioner from a family of practitioners, regularly using magic that has visible effects (for example, she has a kind of don't-look-here spell on her dog, who she is not supposed to have on campus with her, and it WORKS); instantly more interesting than her being someone who discovers magic/the supernatural over the course of the book instead. Zora is a seriously cool character, very passionate about Appalachian and Black history (particularly where the two intersect), inexplicably the black sheep of her family (her parents consider her a disappointment, despite plenty of academic success), mysteriously at odds with her elder sister (the golden child). She has what I'll call a millennial mindset (which I mean as a catch-all term for someone aware of queer theory, frank and sensible about mental health, an intersectional feminist, etc - 'millennial' as it's used in the media when they say we're killing the diamond industry or whatever), which is especially great to read in an academic setting (academia not being big on most of those things, as a whole). The 'beast' she's set to investigate has a very interesting history tied into the area's Black history and the founding of the college. Zora's story is interspersed with 'flashbacks' following characters from a few hundred years ago, and diary entries from other characters in other time periods. It's a fantastic set-up.
The problem is the prose. Quotes below.
With an acceptance rate of less than 4 percent, you had to be consumed with success just to get through the doors.
'Consumed with success' sounds deeply incorrect to me. I think I understand what's being said - you have to be consumed with the need/drive to succeed - but it sounds wrong.
It was well researched, with plenty of primary sources she'd unearthed herself. Those were her truest points of pride--the relationships in Knox County she'd cultivated and maintained.
Wait, what are you talking about? We went from primary sources to relationships. Your relationships led to you finding sources? Or - given that the character's a historian - the sources were people? This needs to be clearer.
That was when Amias learned to lie well--it was all in the eyes, he learned, after dozens of hours staring at himself in the mirror. His eyes needed to be stiller.
'Stiller'? It IS a real word, but it sounds wrong.
Amias wasn't in the mood for anything contrary to his mission.
Again, this sounds very incorrect. It sounds like you're saying 'it was his mission to do the thing, but he wasn't in the mood', which from context is not what's going on.
Or maybe they'd call her a heretical Christian and demand she be burned at the stake...though that might be a fear particular to her psyche.
'particular to her PSYCHE'? That sounds incredibly awkwardly phrased.
Zora was happy for a reason to smile at an accomplice in illegal pet harbouring.
I went over and over this, but it doesn't make sense. The 'accomplice' is another student, who, unrelated to Zora, is harbouring an illegal pet. Zora is also harbouring an illegal pet. But that doesn't make the other student Zora's accomplice, because they're not working together and assisting each other. They're just both committing the same 'crime'.
Nothing was fulfilling; nothing fed Amias's desperate need for curiosity like the [spoiler]
I don't understand whether Amias wants to feel curious, or IS curious and has a desperate need to satisfy that curiosity.
It was exhilarating to fellowship with other conjurers.
...exhilarating to WHAT? 'Fellowship' is not a verb? Is a word missing?
He was me before life fed into and withered me.
What does 'life fed into me' mean?
Zora passed a humanities building, beaming under the intense sunlight.
Wait, is Zora beaming, as in smiling? Or is the BUILDING beaming? (From context it would be a very odd moment for Zora to be smiling.)
In her more official research into the school and region, she learned that no administration had ever bothered adding insulation to any building. To their credit, winters in the area were short and dubious, ranging from picturesque flurries to all-out blizzards.
I don't understand what 'dubious' means in this context, or what is to the administration's credit. It's to their credit that they didn't put insulation in BECAUSE the weather varies from mild to serious? That can't be right.
The replacement bricks were too red and too bright. They looked wrong, like globs of shiny newness wrenched inside something too ancient for it ever to understand.
'wrenched INSIDE something'? Wrenched means 'pull'. You definitely CAN pull a thing into another thing. But from context, it sounds more like you mean 'pushed into' than 'wrenched inside'? And what is the 'it' in the second sentence? The newness? Or the 'they', the bricks?
If telling-not-showing is something that bothers you, there is a LOT of it in this book, and it is very, very heavy-handed. On at least one occasion we're told what happened in a scene Zora was PRESENT FOR, but we time-skipped over it so it could be summarised to us instead of showing it on page. All of Zora's backstory, all her relationships with her family, her career (which is long) up to this point, all of it (and more) is info-dumped on us.
Made it to 22%, not going to read any more, alas.
July 28, 2025
This is quite a delightful read!
I will warn you that it doesn't read as Southern Gothic (no matter what the description says). Yes, it takes place in the South. And, yes, there's a spooky old building. But it actually reads like Queer Dark Academic, with witchy/folk magic vibes...and that's okay!
Zora is wonderful. I adored her. I also loved reading about the school and its history.
I did find that a couple of the reveals failed for me. There's a really big one in the last quarter of the book - a reveal that was pretty obvious in the first quarter of the book. Yet, despite that, I was happy to keep reading and to enjoy that moment when our main character finds out.
The book is very atmospheric and is definitely a fast read.
I enjoyed this!
* ARC via Publisher
I will warn you that it doesn't read as Southern Gothic (no matter what the description says). Yes, it takes place in the South. And, yes, there's a spooky old building. But it actually reads like Queer Dark Academic, with witchy/folk magic vibes...and that's okay!
Zora is wonderful. I adored her. I also loved reading about the school and its history.
I did find that a couple of the reveals failed for me. There's a really big one in the last quarter of the book - a reveal that was pretty obvious in the first quarter of the book. Yet, despite that, I was happy to keep reading and to enjoy that moment when our main character finds out.
The book is very atmospheric and is definitely a fast read.
I enjoyed this!
* ARC via Publisher
October 22, 2025
Review in the October 2025 issue of Library Journal
Issue will also contain an interview with the author here: https://www.libraryjournal.com/story/...
Three Words That Describe This Book: multiple time frames, strong world building, Hoodoo
Also-- folk horror, dark academia, strong protagonist, debut, HBCUs, Black Appalachia, librarians play a big role.
Draft Review:
Zora, an experienced practitioner of Hoodoo, is studying Black Appalachia at a prestigious HBCU. She is encouraged by her thesis advisor to look into the unsettling folklore of the college itself, in particular its founder Amias Crawford, a former librarian’s strange diary, and a mysterious group known as The Keepers who are responsible for holding the beast, said to roam the woods surrounding the college, at bay. Told in multiple time frames– Zora in 2027 and Crawford beginning in 1823 with the college’s founding– readers follow the historical breadcrumbs through the woods*. A slow burn but one that moves at just the right pace for the story, this tale begins with unease, building steadily to an all out terror that sneaks up on readers, bursts the novel open, and races it all to a conclusion that is as shocking as it is inevitable.
Verdict: Steeped in authentic history and culture, with an original dark academia frame, and very real supernatural danger, Iker’s debut will be a big hit with library patrons especially those who enjoyed The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia and The Good House by Tananrive Due
Creepy from start but builds steadily to a terror that sneaks up on you. This is a slow burn of a story but one that moves at just the right pace. The terror creeps up on the reader at the perfect pace and when you get to the end-- it bursts open, racing to the conclusion that is both a surprise and also seems inevitable.
The world building is spectacular-- Bricksbury Mountain College is on of the best HBCUs in the country. The book has multiple time frames so while Zora is our main protagonist in the "present" (2027), there are 2 other narrators (one through diaries) in a time frame that begins in 1823 with Amias Crawford, founder of the college, and moves forward in time.
As the 2 time frames slowly converge, readers will be glued to the page.
The details about Hoodoo-- the actual practice of this historically important witchcraft to African Americans is taken seriously. Zora is a powerful practitioner of it, but that is just part of who she is. Iker doesn't make her witchcraft powers a thing to be feared. That allows Iker to explore the details of the herbs and how they work with clarity and seriousness-- as a real thing. I appreciated the way they framed this part of the book. It helped to make the setting, already steeped in real history, seem more real. It added an unsettlingly layer to the whole story for sure, but not in a way that exploited the practice.
The author also hosts a podcast that uplifts Black Speculative Fiction.
This is an impressive debut. I am excited to see their next novel. Unlike a lot of debuts, this one DID stick the landing. It is VERY similar to SMG's The Bewitching which I have a STAR too. May be unfair to compare this one to that, but that is literally my job as a reviewer. The things that keep this one from 5 stars are minor and mostly just some small things in the middle sections. But you can give this out with great confidence to your dark academia, folk horror, and historically detailed horror fans.
(Also, the font for the diary portions is almost unreadable in my print ARC. I hope that gets fixed in the final copy, but it definitely made reading those sections difficult and I got a headache.)
Readalikes: The Bewitching by SMG (so similar) meets The Good House by Tananarive Due
Critically acclaimed– The Birds of Opulence by Crystal Wilkinson (The setting is so real that readers might want more without the speculative and this one is that)
Library at Hellebore by Khaw
A former Summer Scares MG title-- Hoodoo by Ronald Smith is a great option here too.
Issue will also contain an interview with the author here: https://www.libraryjournal.com/story/...
Three Words That Describe This Book: multiple time frames, strong world building, Hoodoo
Also-- folk horror, dark academia, strong protagonist, debut, HBCUs, Black Appalachia, librarians play a big role.
Draft Review:
Zora, an experienced practitioner of Hoodoo, is studying Black Appalachia at a prestigious HBCU. She is encouraged by her thesis advisor to look into the unsettling folklore of the college itself, in particular its founder Amias Crawford, a former librarian’s strange diary, and a mysterious group known as The Keepers who are responsible for holding the beast, said to roam the woods surrounding the college, at bay. Told in multiple time frames– Zora in 2027 and Crawford beginning in 1823 with the college’s founding– readers follow the historical breadcrumbs through the woods*. A slow burn but one that moves at just the right pace for the story, this tale begins with unease, building steadily to an all out terror that sneaks up on readers, bursts the novel open, and races it all to a conclusion that is as shocking as it is inevitable.
Verdict: Steeped in authentic history and culture, with an original dark academia frame, and very real supernatural danger, Iker’s debut will be a big hit with library patrons especially those who enjoyed The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia and The Good House by Tananrive Due
Creepy from start but builds steadily to a terror that sneaks up on you. This is a slow burn of a story but one that moves at just the right pace. The terror creeps up on the reader at the perfect pace and when you get to the end-- it bursts open, racing to the conclusion that is both a surprise and also seems inevitable.
The world building is spectacular-- Bricksbury Mountain College is on of the best HBCUs in the country. The book has multiple time frames so while Zora is our main protagonist in the "present" (2027), there are 2 other narrators (one through diaries) in a time frame that begins in 1823 with Amias Crawford, founder of the college, and moves forward in time.
As the 2 time frames slowly converge, readers will be glued to the page.
The details about Hoodoo-- the actual practice of this historically important witchcraft to African Americans is taken seriously. Zora is a powerful practitioner of it, but that is just part of who she is. Iker doesn't make her witchcraft powers a thing to be feared. That allows Iker to explore the details of the herbs and how they work with clarity and seriousness-- as a real thing. I appreciated the way they framed this part of the book. It helped to make the setting, already steeped in real history, seem more real. It added an unsettlingly layer to the whole story for sure, but not in a way that exploited the practice.
The author also hosts a podcast that uplifts Black Speculative Fiction.
This is an impressive debut. I am excited to see their next novel. Unlike a lot of debuts, this one DID stick the landing. It is VERY similar to SMG's The Bewitching which I have a STAR too. May be unfair to compare this one to that, but that is literally my job as a reviewer. The things that keep this one from 5 stars are minor and mostly just some small things in the middle sections. But you can give this out with great confidence to your dark academia, folk horror, and historically detailed horror fans.
(Also, the font for the diary portions is almost unreadable in my print ARC. I hope that gets fixed in the final copy, but it definitely made reading those sections difficult and I got a headache.)
Readalikes: The Bewitching by SMG (so similar) meets The Good House by Tananarive Due
Critically acclaimed– The Birds of Opulence by Crystal Wilkinson (The setting is so real that readers might want more without the speculative and this one is that)
Library at Hellebore by Khaw
A former Summer Scares MG title-- Hoodoo by Ronald Smith is a great option here too.
August 11, 2025
A well done creature feature novel. i enjoyed the drama and the plot was very interesting. I need to do a reread because I think this book has nuances that you can miss. A stellar read for spooky season.
Read
November 18, 2025I’ve been trying and trying to keep going with this book, but I am just not connecting with any of the characters. Also, if the plot summary had mentioned “hoodoo” at all, I would not have requested it. Folk horror? Sure, I can (usually) dig it. Hoodoo horror? No, thank you. It gives me the heebie-jeebies, and I want nothing to do with it. Any chapters regarding the early days of the university had my skin crawling.
I made it until a very gruesome scene in a place of worship, and that was where I noped out. I happily put this aside, with a profound sigh of relief.
I’m not sure what others will think of the pacing, but in my opinion, it was pretty slow-going. However, I might give this author another chance, provided she doesn’t revisit the same topic, since the initial premise of *this* book sounded great.
Unfortunately, it’s a DNF @28%.
Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit/Run For It for the eARC. All opinions are mine alone.
I made it until a very gruesome scene in a place of worship, and that was where I noped out. I happily put this aside, with a profound sigh of relief.
I’m not sure what others will think of the pacing, but in my opinion, it was pretty slow-going. However, I might give this author another chance, provided she doesn’t revisit the same topic, since the initial premise of *this* book sounded great.
Unfortunately, it’s a DNF @28%.
Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit/Run For It for the eARC. All opinions are mine alone.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 30, 2025
A simmering, viscerally haunting debut steeped in the raw beauty of Black Appalachian folklore. I'll Make a Spectacle of You is hair-raising and spellbinding, a novel woven with magic that explores the true cost of sacrifice and leads readers deep into the shadowed woods of faith and reckoning.
November 1, 2025
I'll Make A Spectacle of You touches on several topics that feel very close and familiar. Besides being a descendant of enslaved Black folk that have been in Georgia for several centuries, this was a twist on our culture and homage to the many that came before us.
Many of the concepts mentioned were very "if you know, you know" - which I appreciated and will not further elaborate on. Hoodoo isn't for everyone either, and that distinction should be made.
I appreciated the constant feeling of being haunted, the myth turned monster and the ugliness of truth. I enjoyed Iker's writing and cannot tell you all how much I appreciated Zora being named after or because of Zora Neale Hurston. Poetic justice or Kismet, either way Iker met the moment and mark.
**
I was blessed to get my hands on an ALC of this masterpiece as well and got to experience everything with a different lens.. The narration in ways emphasises parts that I previously missed and gave the story (in my mind) a different hue. It was an immersive experience and the narrator Ozzie Jacobs is amazing at her job! I enjoyed the pacing, the cadence, the rhythm and would encourage you all to give it a listen!
Thank you to Hachette Audio and Run For It, for giving me a second time to get lost in Iker's story (woods)! Masterpiece!
Thank you to Iker for this love letter to the culture and to Orbit Books and Netgalley for making it happen!
Many of the concepts mentioned were very "if you know, you know" - which I appreciated and will not further elaborate on. Hoodoo isn't for everyone either, and that distinction should be made.
I appreciated the constant feeling of being haunted, the myth turned monster and the ugliness of truth. I enjoyed Iker's writing and cannot tell you all how much I appreciated Zora being named after or because of Zora Neale Hurston. Poetic justice or Kismet, either way Iker met the moment and mark.
**
I was blessed to get my hands on an ALC of this masterpiece as well and got to experience everything with a different lens.. The narration in ways emphasises parts that I previously missed and gave the story (in my mind) a different hue. It was an immersive experience and the narrator Ozzie Jacobs is amazing at her job! I enjoyed the pacing, the cadence, the rhythm and would encourage you all to give it a listen!
Thank you to Hachette Audio and Run For It, for giving me a second time to get lost in Iker's story (woods)! Masterpiece!
Thank you to Iker for this love letter to the culture and to Orbit Books and Netgalley for making it happen!
November 4, 2025
3.75 stars.
This was such an atmospheric and mysterious dark academia read. I'm surprised that this isn't slated for a Halloween release because that would've been perfect.
I'm always down for a dark academia novel filled with BIPOC and queer characters, especially ones that feature grad students. Dark academia is so Eurocentric which gets old pretty quickly. Adding in the Hoodoo made this a unique read.
The rural HBCU setting was perfection. This isn't a setting that's featured all too often (if at all) in dark academia and it was a brand-new concept for me. I'm happy to say that the author incorporated it really well with the story. It felt like the HBCU was its own character with all its dark secrets and mysteries galore.
I'm not familiar with Hoodoo so I enjoyed learning about that aspect. The syncretism with Christian doctrine was one of the stronger points. I just wish that the Hoodoo itself was featured a lot more in the story. At times it felt more like a subplot or a supporting character when I really wanted it to be one of the main characters.
While this novel leaned heavily into melodrama at times, I actually didn't mind it. This wasn't an action-packed story and was a lot more slow-moving than I usually prefer, but overall, it really worked well with the Gothic atmosphere and the sense of dread and foreboding that permeated throughout the novel.
Thank you to Run For It and NetGalley for this arc.
This was such an atmospheric and mysterious dark academia read. I'm surprised that this isn't slated for a Halloween release because that would've been perfect.
I'm always down for a dark academia novel filled with BIPOC and queer characters, especially ones that feature grad students. Dark academia is so Eurocentric which gets old pretty quickly. Adding in the Hoodoo made this a unique read.
The rural HBCU setting was perfection. This isn't a setting that's featured all too often (if at all) in dark academia and it was a brand-new concept for me. I'm happy to say that the author incorporated it really well with the story. It felt like the HBCU was its own character with all its dark secrets and mysteries galore.
I'm not familiar with Hoodoo so I enjoyed learning about that aspect. The syncretism with Christian doctrine was one of the stronger points. I just wish that the Hoodoo itself was featured a lot more in the story. At times it felt more like a subplot or a supporting character when I really wanted it to be one of the main characters.
While this novel leaned heavily into melodrama at times, I actually didn't mind it. This wasn't an action-packed story and was a lot more slow-moving than I usually prefer, but overall, it really worked well with the Gothic atmosphere and the sense of dread and foreboding that permeated throughout the novel.
Thank you to Run For It and NetGalley for this arc.
August 10, 2025
Out November 18th, 2025
It’s part story, part performance, and full of personality. The writing is poetic and expressive, and while it might take a minute to get used to the style, once you settle in, it’s a ride. The book dives into themes like identity, visibility, and what it means to take up space in a world that often wants you to shrink.
The main character is unforgettable—confident, messy, and totally unapologetic. She’s figuring herself out while refusing to be boxed in, and that makes her journey feel real and relatable. There are moments that hit hard emotionally, and others that feel like a celebration of being different. It’s not a straightforward plot, so if you’re into traditional storytelling, this might feel a little offbeat—but that’s kind of the point.
Overall, it’s a unique and empowering read. It challenges you to think about how you see others and yourself, and it’s perfect for anyone who’s ever felt like they didn’t quite fit in. It’s weird, wonderful, and worth the time.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Run For It for this ARC!!
It’s part story, part performance, and full of personality. The writing is poetic and expressive, and while it might take a minute to get used to the style, once you settle in, it’s a ride. The book dives into themes like identity, visibility, and what it means to take up space in a world that often wants you to shrink.
The main character is unforgettable—confident, messy, and totally unapologetic. She’s figuring herself out while refusing to be boxed in, and that makes her journey feel real and relatable. There are moments that hit hard emotionally, and others that feel like a celebration of being different. It’s not a straightforward plot, so if you’re into traditional storytelling, this might feel a little offbeat—but that’s kind of the point.
Overall, it’s a unique and empowering read. It challenges you to think about how you see others and yourself, and it’s perfect for anyone who’s ever felt like they didn’t quite fit in. It’s weird, wonderful, and worth the time.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Run For It for this ARC!!
August 9, 2025
This Southern gothic horror debut started out with a lot of promise before easing into a slow burn. A few chapters in, I could already see where the plot was headed, but the author’s skillful world-building kept me invested. Bricksbury University felt so vivid and atmospheric that it became a character in its own right, steeped in history and secrets.
Zora was an interesting protagonist, though at times she came across more like someone in her early twenties when interacting with her sister. Some of her naïveté didn’t quite match the abilities she possessed, and I wish her powers had been explored in greater depth. While I enjoyed the eerie undertones, I was hoping for a stronger horror punch to match the haunting premise.
Even with its predictability, the book delivered a richly detailed setting, an intriguing mystery, and a chilling sense of something lurking in the shadows. It’s a solid, atmospheric read that’s perfect for those who enjoy slow-burn suspense.
Thanks Netgalley and Orbit Books | Run For It for the ARC and opportunity to provide an honest review.
Zora was an interesting protagonist, though at times she came across more like someone in her early twenties when interacting with her sister. Some of her naïveté didn’t quite match the abilities she possessed, and I wish her powers had been explored in greater depth. While I enjoyed the eerie undertones, I was hoping for a stronger horror punch to match the haunting premise.
Even with its predictability, the book delivered a richly detailed setting, an intriguing mystery, and a chilling sense of something lurking in the shadows. It’s a solid, atmospheric read that’s perfect for those who enjoy slow-burn suspense.
Thanks Netgalley and Orbit Books | Run For It for the ARC and opportunity to provide an honest review.
November 4, 2025
Tigers eye crystals doing the most.
1.5⭐️
Arc from NetGalley
1.5⭐️
Arc from NetGalley
August 3, 2025
This book is a strong 4.5 stars.
Spooky dark academia, with a deep swirl of Hoodoo.
I loved it!
To me, it was a book about balance. A steady belief in God the Almighty, and also the power of your ancestors and the magic they taught one generation after another. After reading, I felt more informed about Southern Black American culture as well as the rituals carried out for protection and guidance. It was a lovely way to be introduced to that wealth of knowledge.
Between the family ties, blood bindings, and the push to save the many at the cost of the few, this book had me feeling all sorts of emotions.
There were quite a few surprises, ones I am still wrapping my mind around. And that ending? It completely snatched my breath away. I mean wow! I thought it would go another way.
All of this to say, I am stunned in the best way possible by this gripping story. It will rattle your soul, and make you ask questions, even as you wonder what could have been, if not for the cost.
This is what I call a BOOK. Capital everything.
I highly recommend it. This one will stay with me for a long, long time. And honestly, I am ecstatic I read it.
Thank you, NetGalley and Orbit Books, for the pleasure of reading and reviewing this arc.
WHEW!!!! What a BOOK!
Spooky dark academia, with a deep swirl of Hoodoo.
I loved it!
To me, it was a book about balance. A steady belief in God the Almighty, and also the power of your ancestors and the magic they taught one generation after another. After reading, I felt more informed about Southern Black American culture as well as the rituals carried out for protection and guidance. It was a lovely way to be introduced to that wealth of knowledge.
Between the family ties, blood bindings, and the push to save the many at the cost of the few, this book had me feeling all sorts of emotions.
There were quite a few surprises, ones I am still wrapping my mind around. And that ending? It completely snatched my breath away. I mean wow! I thought it would go another way.
All of this to say, I am stunned in the best way possible by this gripping story. It will rattle your soul, and make you ask questions, even as you wonder what could have been, if not for the cost.
This is what I call a BOOK. Capital everything.
I highly recommend it. This one will stay with me for a long, long time. And honestly, I am ecstatic I read it.
Thank you, NetGalley and Orbit Books, for the pleasure of reading and reviewing this arc.
WHEW!!!! What a BOOK!
September 7, 2025
I really hate DNF’ing books, but I just couldn’t continue with I’ll Make a Spectacle of You. The concept itself is intriguing, but a few issues got in the way for me. First, the writing felt like it needed another round of editing; whole sections could have been condensed without losing anything important. On top of that, I struggled to connect with the characters, which made it harder to stay invested in the plot.
Ultimately, what pushed me to set it aside was the heavy use of scripture and religious text. Normally I enjoy when horror and religious ideology overlap, but here it felt overwhelming and pulled me out of the story instead of enhancing it.
Not the right book for me, though I can see how others might connect with it more.
Thank you NetGalley and Orbit Books for this arc
Ultimately, what pushed me to set it aside was the heavy use of scripture and religious text. Normally I enjoy when horror and religious ideology overlap, but here it felt overwhelming and pulled me out of the story instead of enhancing it.
Not the right book for me, though I can see how others might connect with it more.
Thank you NetGalley and Orbit Books for this arc
November 9, 2025
Thank you @librofm and @hachetteaudio for the #gifted audiobook 🫶🏾 and @netgalley and @orbitbooks_us for the e-ARC 🙌🏾
Beatrice Winifred Iker's, I'll Make a Spectacle of You, is a detailed and chilling Southern Gothic horror that skillfully combines ancestral trauma, Black Appalachian folklore, Hoodoo, racism and the secrets buried deep within a long-established institution.
The story centers on Zora Robinson, an ambitious grad student at the nation’s oldest and most storied HBCU, Bricksbury University. Zora is studying Appalachian Studies, but her research is quickly interrupted when her advisor suggests she investigate the local legend of a beast roaming the woods.
What follows is a gripping, mood-driven mystery. As Zora investigates strange diaries and finds tales of a rumored secret society called the Keepers, her grip on reality begins to loosen. Iker skillfully shows the connection between academic obsession, traditional conjure and rootwork practices, and the heavy history of a campus built on secrets. The author’s strength lies in creating a truly lived in, detailed setting. Bricksbury feels like a character in itself, both a safe haven and a place where the past refuses to stay buried.
The novel is a great book for readers who enjoy slow-burn horror and dark academia with a fresh, necessary spin. While some secondary characters are less developed, Zora’s journey, marked by complicated family relationships and a powerful exploration of her own growing spiritual power, is utterly engaging. Iker establishes themself as a strong new voice in horror, reminding us that sometimes the greatest dangers lie not in the woods, but in the institutional history we inherit.
Audiobook Review
For those who prefer listening, the audio edition is an excellent way to experience the novel's intense atmosphere. Narrator Ozzie Jacobs delivers a rich and powerful performance over the twelve and a half hour runtime. Jacobs handles the blend of chilling folklore, high stakes academic mystery, and Zora's deeply personal internal conflict, lending an engaging voice to the Southern Gothic setting. The narration enhances the sense of immediacy and haunting tension that fills Bricksbury University and its surrounding woods.
Beatrice Winifred Iker's, I'll Make a Spectacle of You, is a detailed and chilling Southern Gothic horror that skillfully combines ancestral trauma, Black Appalachian folklore, Hoodoo, racism and the secrets buried deep within a long-established institution.
The story centers on Zora Robinson, an ambitious grad student at the nation’s oldest and most storied HBCU, Bricksbury University. Zora is studying Appalachian Studies, but her research is quickly interrupted when her advisor suggests she investigate the local legend of a beast roaming the woods.
What follows is a gripping, mood-driven mystery. As Zora investigates strange diaries and finds tales of a rumored secret society called the Keepers, her grip on reality begins to loosen. Iker skillfully shows the connection between academic obsession, traditional conjure and rootwork practices, and the heavy history of a campus built on secrets. The author’s strength lies in creating a truly lived in, detailed setting. Bricksbury feels like a character in itself, both a safe haven and a place where the past refuses to stay buried.
The novel is a great book for readers who enjoy slow-burn horror and dark academia with a fresh, necessary spin. While some secondary characters are less developed, Zora’s journey, marked by complicated family relationships and a powerful exploration of her own growing spiritual power, is utterly engaging. Iker establishes themself as a strong new voice in horror, reminding us that sometimes the greatest dangers lie not in the woods, but in the institutional history we inherit.
Audiobook Review
For those who prefer listening, the audio edition is an excellent way to experience the novel's intense atmosphere. Narrator Ozzie Jacobs delivers a rich and powerful performance over the twelve and a half hour runtime. Jacobs handles the blend of chilling folklore, high stakes academic mystery, and Zora's deeply personal internal conflict, lending an engaging voice to the Southern Gothic setting. The narration enhances the sense of immediacy and haunting tension that fills Bricksbury University and its surrounding woods.
October 11, 2025
3.5 ⭐️ (Rounded up)
I’ll Make a Spectacle of You is a debut Southern Gothic horror with elements of folk magic, ancestral trauma, dark academia, & supernatural terror. The story follows Zora Robinson, who comes to Bricksbury University to study Appalachian spiritual history for her thesis. Her adviser gives her an old diary & encourages her to investigate the legends of a beast lurking in the woods around campus. As Zora digs deeper, she discovers rumors of a secret society. When a student goes missing, she wonders what other secrets Bricksbury has buried & what trouble she’s gotten into.
Zora is a determined, curious protagonist but also frustrating, as she often overlooks her vulnerabilities & flaws, getting herself into trouble. What makes her admirable is her clear vision of what she wants—academic success & reconciliation with her past. As the story unfolds, she becomes stronger in conjuring abilities & this helps her in confronting threats. Her sister, Jasmine, is cautious & wary of Zora’s choices—and this creates tension. Their relationship eventually shifts from hostility & avoidance to a reluctant alliance, helping to propel the story forward! There are a lot of intriguing side characters, most of whom are underdeveloped & shrouded in mystery—the hidden society, the ancestors, the founder’s diary narrators—and they all fuel Zora to confront what’s been kept secret!
The story has a slow-burn start with the opening chapters establishing the University’s history, the diary lore, & Zora’s relationships. The mid-section drags more, with drawn-out descriptions of the school’s past, Zora’s backstory, & the details of rituals/visions. The final 30% has better pacing & high tension, followed by an ending with surprise reveals & threads coming together—but there are still unanswered questions that will linger in readers’ minds, which may be frustrating!
Fans of dark academia, Gothic folklore, spiritual rituals, and character-driven horror will enjoy this book!
I’ll Make a Spectacle of You is a debut Southern Gothic horror with elements of folk magic, ancestral trauma, dark academia, & supernatural terror. The story follows Zora Robinson, who comes to Bricksbury University to study Appalachian spiritual history for her thesis. Her adviser gives her an old diary & encourages her to investigate the legends of a beast lurking in the woods around campus. As Zora digs deeper, she discovers rumors of a secret society. When a student goes missing, she wonders what other secrets Bricksbury has buried & what trouble she’s gotten into.
Zora is a determined, curious protagonist but also frustrating, as she often overlooks her vulnerabilities & flaws, getting herself into trouble. What makes her admirable is her clear vision of what she wants—academic success & reconciliation with her past. As the story unfolds, she becomes stronger in conjuring abilities & this helps her in confronting threats. Her sister, Jasmine, is cautious & wary of Zora’s choices—and this creates tension. Their relationship eventually shifts from hostility & avoidance to a reluctant alliance, helping to propel the story forward! There are a lot of intriguing side characters, most of whom are underdeveloped & shrouded in mystery—the hidden society, the ancestors, the founder’s diary narrators—and they all fuel Zora to confront what’s been kept secret!
The story has a slow-burn start with the opening chapters establishing the University’s history, the diary lore, & Zora’s relationships. The mid-section drags more, with drawn-out descriptions of the school’s past, Zora’s backstory, & the details of rituals/visions. The final 30% has better pacing & high tension, followed by an ending with surprise reveals & threads coming together—but there are still unanswered questions that will linger in readers’ minds, which may be frustrating!
Fans of dark academia, Gothic folklore, spiritual rituals, and character-driven horror will enjoy this book!
October 25, 2025
First off: There are scenes of violence against animals in this title. Not many and not particularly graphic, but those scenes kept me at arm's length from the narrative, if that makes any sense.
So, aside from the above note, I'll Make a Spectacle of You is a complex read set at an HBCU. The characters are scholars, practitioners of hoodoo (the word used in the book), and also young people enjoying being surrounded by age mates.
But the narrative has a troubling core. Founded shortly after the Civil War the school has needed protection from racists and from those disrespecting the school's blending of the pagan and the Christian. And this trouble comes at a cost—not a one-time cost, but a cost that needs repeated payment.
This mix of the empowering and the threatening makes I'll make a Spectacle of You a tension-filled (in a good way) read.
I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley; the opinions are my own.
So, aside from the above note, I'll Make a Spectacle of You is a complex read set at an HBCU. The characters are scholars, practitioners of hoodoo (the word used in the book), and also young people enjoying being surrounded by age mates.
But the narrative has a troubling core. Founded shortly after the Civil War the school has needed protection from racists and from those disrespecting the school's blending of the pagan and the Christian. And this trouble comes at a cost—not a one-time cost, but a cost that needs repeated payment.
This mix of the empowering and the threatening makes I'll make a Spectacle of You a tension-filled (in a good way) read.
I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley; the opinions are my own.
November 10, 2025
Wow! I had such a great time reading this! The plot and characters were so detailed and intriguing, the whole normalization of Conjuring and root work was so fascinating to see, and the relationships between all these characters were incredible. I’m usually not a big fan of these types of endings, but considering all of my major questions were answered, I was still satisfied. The vibes were immaculate and the narrator did such a wonderful job bringing this book to life!
November 12, 2025
This is an intriguing story with very well-developed characters and a diversity I truly appreciated. The plot is carefully woven—maybe a bit too tightly at times—so much that it slows the pacing.
I had a hard time staying focused at the beginning, and even when my attention drifted, I didn’t feel like I’d missed much. It’s only toward the end, when the truth starts to unravel, that the story really picks up speed. By then, I was genuinely curious to see how it would all come together.
The ending wasn’t quite what I wanted, but it was still touching and fitting for the tone of the book. Overall, it wasn’t a story I loved or hated—just a solid read that didn’t completely pull me in. I don’t regret reading it, but I probably wouldn’t go out of my way to recommend it either.
I had a hard time staying focused at the beginning, and even when my attention drifted, I didn’t feel like I’d missed much. It’s only toward the end, when the truth starts to unravel, that the story really picks up speed. By then, I was genuinely curious to see how it would all come together.
The ending wasn’t quite what I wanted, but it was still touching and fitting for the tone of the book. Overall, it wasn’t a story I loved or hated—just a solid read that didn’t completely pull me in. I don’t regret reading it, but I probably wouldn’t go out of my way to recommend it either.
November 7, 2025
Zora is a grad student at Bricksbury’s Appalachian Studies Department and hoodoo practitioner. Her thesis professor gives her an old diary and encourages her to look into tales of a beast haunting the forest. With whispers of a secret society and after students start going missing, Zora realizes her research may be more dangerous than she thought.
I had mixed feelings about I’ll make a Spectacle of you. I liked the concept and the creepy dark academia vibes but it was just so slow. I found myself getting bored. I did like the main character, she was very interesting and felt very well fleshed out. I feel like the narrator was pretty good and captured the vibes of the story.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the ALC.
I had mixed feelings about I’ll make a Spectacle of you. I liked the concept and the creepy dark academia vibes but it was just so slow. I found myself getting bored. I did like the main character, she was very interesting and felt very well fleshed out. I feel like the narrator was pretty good and captured the vibes of the story.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the ALC.
November 27, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced listening copy!
This was... something.
I'll start with the narration, which made me want to just quit this audiobook several times throughout. I really did NOT like the voice of the narrator - it was nasal, sounded artificially high, and like the narrator REALLY tried to meet the horror stereotype. It was absolutely unbearable on 1x speed, too slow and exaggerating the unpleasant features, and even on 2.5/3x it was unpleasant to listen to. Furthermore, the narrator changed volume too frequently for me, sometimes being quite silent, othertimes literally yelling, which made this particularly difficult to listen to with headphones, as the narrator was then YELLING INTO YOUR EARS. If anyone is planning on reading this, PLEASE get a reading copy, not the audiobook. I feel bad saying it, because I appreciate how much effort went into producing the audiobook, but the narration cost this book a whole star in my rating.
The novel started out super slow, which didn't help my desire to put it down. For the longest time, I had no idea what was even going on, and it honestly felt like not much was going on in the first place. There had been the previous event in the woods which is never really gone into much, just serving as a tragic backstory, apparently somehow related to the whole Keepers but that's never really made clear? Idk.
The ending was also very underwhelming, felt like the author just wanted to get it over with, which was a shame because if the start had had faster pacing, then the end could've had slower pacing and a better thought-out conclusion. Alas.
I did like the general idea of the horror though, of the Keepers and their job, of how hoodoo was tied in with Black Christianity, and the setting in Appalachia (a region which, as I've gathered, goes neglected in much of contemporary U.S. American culture; even moreso true for its various minorities). I also liked that Zora was queer and neurodivergent, and that these were simply featured in the book as traits she possesses, not really relevant for the plot (except for Khadija, who could just as well have been a guy though).
The novel was alright, but could have done with more editing for e.g. the pace and unsolved plot points.
2.5, rounded up because 1 star is lost due to the narration itself. (3.5 for the plot/novel)
This was... something.
I'll start with the narration, which made me want to just quit this audiobook several times throughout. I really did NOT like the voice of the narrator - it was nasal, sounded artificially high, and like the narrator REALLY tried to meet the horror stereotype. It was absolutely unbearable on 1x speed, too slow and exaggerating the unpleasant features, and even on 2.5/3x it was unpleasant to listen to. Furthermore, the narrator changed volume too frequently for me, sometimes being quite silent, othertimes literally yelling, which made this particularly difficult to listen to with headphones, as the narrator was then YELLING INTO YOUR EARS. If anyone is planning on reading this, PLEASE get a reading copy, not the audiobook. I feel bad saying it, because I appreciate how much effort went into producing the audiobook, but the narration cost this book a whole star in my rating.
The novel started out super slow, which didn't help my desire to put it down. For the longest time, I had no idea what was even going on, and it honestly felt like not much was going on in the first place. There had been the previous event in the woods which is never really gone into much, just serving as a tragic backstory, apparently somehow related to the whole Keepers but that's never really made clear? Idk.
The ending was also very underwhelming, felt like the author just wanted to get it over with, which was a shame because if the start had had faster pacing, then the end could've had slower pacing and a better thought-out conclusion. Alas.
I did like the general idea of the horror though, of the Keepers and their job, of how hoodoo was tied in with Black Christianity, and the setting in Appalachia (a region which, as I've gathered, goes neglected in much of contemporary U.S. American culture; even moreso true for its various minorities). I also liked that Zora was queer and neurodivergent, and that these were simply featured in the book as traits she possesses, not really relevant for the plot (except for Khadija, who could just as well have been a guy though).
The novel was alright, but could have done with more editing for e.g. the pace and unsolved plot points.
2.5, rounded up because 1 star is lost due to the narration itself. (3.5 for the plot/novel)
Read
November 19, 2025I don’t read a ton of horror. In fact, I’m hard pressed to think of the last time I read a book that sits firmly in that category. I’ll Make a Spectacle of You confidently embraces common horror tropes while putting a fresh spin on things.
Zora, a practitioner of hoodoo, has started at Bricksbury, the oldest HBCU in the U.S. When Zora finds hints to folklore about a Beast, and information regarding disappearing students, she finds herself plunged into a horror that goes back generations. It also seems to want to keep going, and Zora could be the next victim.
Zora was a fascinating character. She is chock full of anxieties, but her curiosity and her reliance on her knowledge of hoodoo keep her going. I will be honest: I know pretty much nothing about hoodoo or voodoo (in fact, I mistakenly thought they were the same thing for quite a while), so seeing that aspect of the book explored was interesting. I’m still not sure I fully understand, but that’s on me.
The cast of characters she interacts with is pretty small. This makes it easy to keep track of everyone, but it also has the unfortunate side effect of telegraphing any possible twists. Seeing things coming lessened the impact of the story for me, making it less creepy than I think the author intended.
The story is told in multiple ways, including research, diary entries, visions, and current day experiences. It seems like a lot, but it is never confusing. That being said, I much preferred the research and diary entries to the visions, but that’s just because I like things unseen in horror. I feel that too much transparency lessens the creep factor.
The book ends abruptly, and I’m still unsure how I feel about it. I think any other conclusion would have dragged things out unnecessarily, but the ending still seems...off. Ultimately, I’ll Make a Spectacle of You wasn’t the book for me. I thought the premise was great, but the execution didn’t quite work. However, in the wise words of Reading Rainbow, you don’t have to take my word for it!
Thank you to Orbit Books and Oliver Wehner for providing me with a review copy of this book.
Zora, a practitioner of hoodoo, has started at Bricksbury, the oldest HBCU in the U.S. When Zora finds hints to folklore about a Beast, and information regarding disappearing students, she finds herself plunged into a horror that goes back generations. It also seems to want to keep going, and Zora could be the next victim.
Zora was a fascinating character. She is chock full of anxieties, but her curiosity and her reliance on her knowledge of hoodoo keep her going. I will be honest: I know pretty much nothing about hoodoo or voodoo (in fact, I mistakenly thought they were the same thing for quite a while), so seeing that aspect of the book explored was interesting. I’m still not sure I fully understand, but that’s on me.
The cast of characters she interacts with is pretty small. This makes it easy to keep track of everyone, but it also has the unfortunate side effect of telegraphing any possible twists. Seeing things coming lessened the impact of the story for me, making it less creepy than I think the author intended.
The story is told in multiple ways, including research, diary entries, visions, and current day experiences. It seems like a lot, but it is never confusing. That being said, I much preferred the research and diary entries to the visions, but that’s just because I like things unseen in horror. I feel that too much transparency lessens the creep factor.
The book ends abruptly, and I’m still unsure how I feel about it. I think any other conclusion would have dragged things out unnecessarily, but the ending still seems...off. Ultimately, I’ll Make a Spectacle of You wasn’t the book for me. I thought the premise was great, but the execution didn’t quite work. However, in the wise words of Reading Rainbow, you don’t have to take my word for it!
Thank you to Orbit Books and Oliver Wehner for providing me with a review copy of this book.
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November 30, 2025Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy
I'll Make a Spectacle of You by Beatrice Winifred Iker is a mixed third and first person-POV multi-POV supernatural horror set in Appalachia. Bricksbury University is the oldest HBCU in the US and Zora is starting her time there as a student of Appalachian Studies. But there are secrets hiding at the University and at the edge of the woods, people disappear and never come back. And maybe, whatever is in the woods has its eyes on Zora.
I am still not sure what is and isn’t Gothic and what the line is between it and horror, so I’m not entirely sure if this is Southern Gothic. I got more of a dark academia meets supernatural horror vibe and that only grew stronger as the book went on. The Gothic aspects might be linked to the strong Christian aspects and how scripture is used in the text as well as the history of the university that plays a part in the story.
I really liked how diary entries were used in the text and how the past came into play. It felt like it came together and helped add to the horror elements. What really got me excited was the use of end notes for some chapters and how they were mostly bits and pieces from the Bible. I love Midnight Mass and I love anything that combines faith with complex ideas and twists them into interesting ideas and Beatrice Winifred Iker delivered.
I can’t remember if Zora was explicitly given a label, but she read as neurodivergent to me, possibly Autistic, especially in the earlier chapters when her POV talked about her interests. Zora is also Sapphic and there’s a lot of discussions around race, making this an intersectional text that doesn’t shy away from exploring these aspects of Zora in her relationships, including with Khadijah.
I would recommend this to fans of Midnight Mass and readers of supernatural horror who liked Babel
I'll Make a Spectacle of You by Beatrice Winifred Iker is a mixed third and first person-POV multi-POV supernatural horror set in Appalachia. Bricksbury University is the oldest HBCU in the US and Zora is starting her time there as a student of Appalachian Studies. But there are secrets hiding at the University and at the edge of the woods, people disappear and never come back. And maybe, whatever is in the woods has its eyes on Zora.
I am still not sure what is and isn’t Gothic and what the line is between it and horror, so I’m not entirely sure if this is Southern Gothic. I got more of a dark academia meets supernatural horror vibe and that only grew stronger as the book went on. The Gothic aspects might be linked to the strong Christian aspects and how scripture is used in the text as well as the history of the university that plays a part in the story.
I really liked how diary entries were used in the text and how the past came into play. It felt like it came together and helped add to the horror elements. What really got me excited was the use of end notes for some chapters and how they were mostly bits and pieces from the Bible. I love Midnight Mass and I love anything that combines faith with complex ideas and twists them into interesting ideas and Beatrice Winifred Iker delivered.
I can’t remember if Zora was explicitly given a label, but she read as neurodivergent to me, possibly Autistic, especially in the earlier chapters when her POV talked about her interests. Zora is also Sapphic and there’s a lot of discussions around race, making this an intersectional text that doesn’t shy away from exploring these aspects of Zora in her relationships, including with Khadijah.
I would recommend this to fans of Midnight Mass and readers of supernatural horror who liked Babel
August 25, 2025
*Thank you to the publisher via Netgalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review*
I'm a little torn on this one because there are flashes of an interesting and intriguing book/plot with some really poetic and lovely writing, but it never really hits its stride. I think Zora, as a protagonist, had a lot of potential, but her relationships with other characters (including her sister, which was the relationship I was most interested in) weren't fully realized, in my opinion. This made certain plot revelations and moments that should have been emotional or tense fall pretty flat.
I think the biggest issue with this book, for me, was there was too much going on and not enough focus. This had an effect on the pacing, the characters, everything. It's a trap I've seen similar debut authors (particularly since it seems like this is the author's first full-length novel?) fall into: overwriting. There's a lot in this book that could have been cut down for expediency's sake and also things that could have been expanded on more. The author also employed a literary technique that I think served to harm more than help the novel as a whole. This is categorized as a horror and thriller, but while there were a few genuinely creepy moments, there were moments that could have been filled with tension and drama that fell flat because the author had given away all the information earlier in the book.
Again, I appreciate what this tried to do, I just think it tried to do far too much at once.
I'm a little torn on this one because there are flashes of an interesting and intriguing book/plot with some really poetic and lovely writing, but it never really hits its stride. I think Zora, as a protagonist, had a lot of potential, but her relationships with other characters (including her sister, which was the relationship I was most interested in) weren't fully realized, in my opinion. This made certain plot revelations and moments that should have been emotional or tense fall pretty flat.
I think the biggest issue with this book, for me, was there was too much going on and not enough focus. This had an effect on the pacing, the characters, everything. It's a trap I've seen similar debut authors (particularly since it seems like this is the author's first full-length novel?) fall into: overwriting. There's a lot in this book that could have been cut down for expediency's sake and also things that could have been expanded on more. The author also employed a literary technique that I think served to harm more than help the novel as a whole. This is categorized as a horror and thriller, but while there were a few genuinely creepy moments, there were moments that could have been filled with tension and drama that fell flat because the author had given away all the information earlier in the book.
Again, I appreciate what this tried to do, I just think it tried to do far too much at once.
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November 23, 2025Audiobook/Book Review 📖🎧
thank you so much partner Orbit Books and Hachette Audio for the gifted arc and audiobook!
I'll Make a Spectacle of You
by Beatrice Winifred Iker
Narrated by Ozzie Jacobs
out now!
Zora Robinson is an ambitious grad student in her dream program, Appalachian Studies, at Bricksbury University. When her thesis advisor hands her a strange diary and suggests she research the local folklore about a beast roaming the woods surrounding campus, Zora finds a community uneager to talk to an outsider.
As she delves into the history of the beast, she uncovers a rumored secret society called the Keepers that has tenuous ties to the beast…and Bricksbury itself. Zora soon finds herself plagued by visions of the past, and her grip on reality starts to slip as she struggles to uncover what is real and what is folklore. But when a student goes missing, Zora starts to wonder if the Keepers ever really disbanded.
There’s something in the woods and it has its eyes on Zora.
🎧 My thoughts :
I wanted to love this one but unfortunately it fell flat for me. The premise grabbed me good but the actual story once I started listening to it… did not. The narrator was fine, I don’t really have an opinion about them one way or another because I think it was the book that was the problem for me. The good news is that I see others that have enjoyed this one so it totally could have been a me problem! Another book on my 2025 DNF list 😭
Happy reading 📖 🎧
thank you so much partner Orbit Books and Hachette Audio for the gifted arc and audiobook!
I'll Make a Spectacle of You
by Beatrice Winifred Iker
Narrated by Ozzie Jacobs
out now!
Zora Robinson is an ambitious grad student in her dream program, Appalachian Studies, at Bricksbury University. When her thesis advisor hands her a strange diary and suggests she research the local folklore about a beast roaming the woods surrounding campus, Zora finds a community uneager to talk to an outsider.
As she delves into the history of the beast, she uncovers a rumored secret society called the Keepers that has tenuous ties to the beast…and Bricksbury itself. Zora soon finds herself plagued by visions of the past, and her grip on reality starts to slip as she struggles to uncover what is real and what is folklore. But when a student goes missing, Zora starts to wonder if the Keepers ever really disbanded.
There’s something in the woods and it has its eyes on Zora.
🎧 My thoughts :
I wanted to love this one but unfortunately it fell flat for me. The premise grabbed me good but the actual story once I started listening to it… did not. The narrator was fine, I don’t really have an opinion about them one way or another because I think it was the book that was the problem for me. The good news is that I see others that have enjoyed this one so it totally could have been a me problem! Another book on my 2025 DNF list 😭
Happy reading 📖 🎧
November 10, 2025
This is dark academy horror where our character Zora Robison, who is studying Appalachian Studies at Bricksburry University. I was very intrigued by the premise and had a few friend who said they also enjoyed it . I initially saw when it was put up on netgalley and was intrigued by the applicaican study’s and mention on the history of the beast. I then came across it again at Comic-Con San Diego I knew that I needed to to read it. I also happen to get an advanced listener copy, and I really enjoyed Ozzie Jacob’s narration! Ozzie Jacob’s variety of tones and voices kept me interested the entire time in what was happening and really brought it to life more so than it would be if I just sat down with my kindle and read it. I see that they have done some other books that I am interested in and I will be checking those out.
I will say for a horror debut I think Beatrice Winifred Iker did a really good job. I had never heard of hoodoo before this and I had to look it up and I found that to be very interesting. It added more aspects of magic to the story and I really liked that. This is also LGTBQIA+!
My one caveat was the pacing. There were times that I think that it slowed down some and that was when I was glad I had the audiobook to keep me going.
Thank you to Orbit/Run For It and Hachette Audio for the complimentary copies. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I will say for a horror debut I think Beatrice Winifred Iker did a really good job. I had never heard of hoodoo before this and I had to look it up and I found that to be very interesting. It added more aspects of magic to the story and I really liked that. This is also LGTBQIA+!
My one caveat was the pacing. There were times that I think that it slowed down some and that was when I was glad I had the audiobook to keep me going.
Thank you to Orbit/Run For It and Hachette Audio for the complimentary copies. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
November 21, 2025
Thank you so much to Novel Suspects for the gifted copy of I’ll Make a Spectacle of You by Beatrice Winifred Iker & Libro.fm for the ALC!
There are some definite pros when it comes to I’ll Make a Spectacle of You but unfortunately the slow pacing in the first half of the book stopped this from being a real winner for me.
To start, the audiobook narrator of I’ll Make a Spectacle of You, Ozzie Jacobs, is an absolute SLAY. It’s with the audiobook that I had an easy time making it through this book fairly quickly. It was so easy to keep picking it up and continuing the story.
I did enjoy the characters & the drama existing between some of them and it’s these relationships that I was mostly invested in throughout the book. Plus, there was also LGBTQIA+ rep, we love to see it.
There are some in-between segments that share journal entries from the past, along with some scenes from the past leading up to present. I loved reading these & feel like that was primarily what was pushing the story forward in the first half.
The ideas when it comes to the supernatural & this folklore is very intriguing. However, outside of those in-between segments, it doesn’t get too exciting until the last half.
I gave this ⭐️⭐️⭐️ because it was a fine read with some quality aspects, but the slow pacing didn’t really work for me.
There are some definite pros when it comes to I’ll Make a Spectacle of You but unfortunately the slow pacing in the first half of the book stopped this from being a real winner for me.
To start, the audiobook narrator of I’ll Make a Spectacle of You, Ozzie Jacobs, is an absolute SLAY. It’s with the audiobook that I had an easy time making it through this book fairly quickly. It was so easy to keep picking it up and continuing the story.
I did enjoy the characters & the drama existing between some of them and it’s these relationships that I was mostly invested in throughout the book. Plus, there was also LGBTQIA+ rep, we love to see it.
There are some in-between segments that share journal entries from the past, along with some scenes from the past leading up to present. I loved reading these & feel like that was primarily what was pushing the story forward in the first half.
The ideas when it comes to the supernatural & this folklore is very intriguing. However, outside of those in-between segments, it doesn’t get too exciting until the last half.
I gave this ⭐️⭐️⭐️ because it was a fine read with some quality aspects, but the slow pacing didn’t really work for me.
November 20, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley, Orbit Books, and Hachette Audio for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
3.5 🌟
I absolutely love a good Southern gothic horror book, and the premise of this sounded great!
📖 Secret societies, Appalachian folklore, academia, and a mystery?? Love that!!! I enjoyed reading about Hoodoo and thought it brought in really interesting and unique elements to the story. This book also has fantastic queer representation, which is always great to see!!
While the plot was intriguing, the execution fell a bit flat. I felt like the pacing of the story was slower than I would’ve liked. The excerpts from the past were my favourite parts of the book, but the plot unfolding in the present wasn’t matching the excitement and horror of the past for me. The story picked up towards the end, which was when I really started getting into it.
Nevertheless, this was still a great debut by Beatrice Winifred Iker. It’s clear they have a lot of great ideas and I’m excited for what’s to come with this author!
🎧 I absolutely loved the narration! Ozzie Jacobs did a fantastic job breathing life into this story. Her narration was perfect and kept me interested!
3.5 🌟
I absolutely love a good Southern gothic horror book, and the premise of this sounded great!
📖 Secret societies, Appalachian folklore, academia, and a mystery?? Love that!!! I enjoyed reading about Hoodoo and thought it brought in really interesting and unique elements to the story. This book also has fantastic queer representation, which is always great to see!!
While the plot was intriguing, the execution fell a bit flat. I felt like the pacing of the story was slower than I would’ve liked. The excerpts from the past were my favourite parts of the book, but the plot unfolding in the present wasn’t matching the excitement and horror of the past for me. The story picked up towards the end, which was when I really started getting into it.
Nevertheless, this was still a great debut by Beatrice Winifred Iker. It’s clear they have a lot of great ideas and I’m excited for what’s to come with this author!
🎧 I absolutely loved the narration! Ozzie Jacobs did a fantastic job breathing life into this story. Her narration was perfect and kept me interested!
August 6, 2025
To me this was like The Reformatory meets Sinners (with magic practitioners instead of vampires) meets the dark academia genre as a whole. Plus it’s gay! I loved Zora and her dog, Henry Louis. I loved her friend Lamont and I loved the lore about this fictional HBCU. So much intricate details and worldbuilding! We follow Zora as she goes to Bricksbury, armed with her thesis and the protection of her ancestors. She’s estranged from her parents and her sister, who happens to be a professor at Bricksbury and warned her not to go there. Why she was warned becomes clear very quickly as Zora heads down a path of secret societies and dark histories. What makes Bricksbury one of the safest schools in the US? What keeps it safe? This was full of twists and turns that had me gasping. I wouldn’t really call it horror despite there being some creepy moments. I agree with another reviewer who called it dark academia. It’s the perfect book for heading into fall. If you love creepy cults and powerful female main characters, I think you’ll love this book.
Thank you so much to Orbit for the arc!
Thank you so much to Orbit for the arc!
November 19, 2025
Was intrigued by the premise, but the book did not deliver as I expected. The title also does not fit the story - no one was made a spectacle of, in fact one of the main themes is secrets and secret societies.
Reading about conjure and hoodoo was interesting, and the last hour of the book was interesting because things were actually happening.
However, I wasn't invested in the book and probably would have DNF'd if not for the narrator. The first 3/4 of the book reads as filler, with the main character not really experiencing anything horror-related aside from a few creepy feelings.
Reading about conjure and hoodoo was interesting, and the last hour of the book was interesting because things were actually happening.
However, I wasn't invested in the book and probably would have DNF'd if not for the narrator. The first 3/4 of the book reads as filler, with the main character not really experiencing anything horror-related aside from a few creepy feelings.
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