Porcelain

by Jesse Sprague

Her past is bathed in blood. But without trustworthy memories to guide her, her future may be equally drenched in red.
Ten years ago, Gabrielle woke up from a blackout covered in blood next to her brutally murdered parents. Certain that her porcelain doll was the killer, she nevertheless clung to it, because it was only protecting her. Wasn’t it?

After years of therapy, living in institutions, and lots of medication, Gabrielle has made enough progress to enroll at the University of Washington. She just wants to be normal. A doll is just a doll, after all.

But when she’s sexually pressured at a date’s house, she blacks out again and wakes up next to her date’s bloody corpse—with her doll. Worse, her brother’s new boyfriend is the homicide detective on the case. Despite her brother’s faith in her, she’s left seeing two possibilities—either she’s a killer, or her doll is.

With her past catching up to her, Gabrielle is determined to find answers. If she doesn’t discover the truth, the only people she loves—and the only ones who love her—could be the next victims. So she’ll do whatever she has to, even if that means going to jail for murder, to save them.

Genres: Horror

344 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 10, 2024

About the author

Hi. My name is Jesse and I’m a compulsive writer

I can’t help it. I write prolifically. I write because I must! And luckily for you, my dear reader, the stories never stop.

What do I write?

I write fantasy because the world we live in can feel like a trap.

I write sci-fi because I like to toy with worlds, universes, and cultures. I like to play god. I write horror as a kind of decadence. I mean, who doesn’t like writing that bleeds?

Regardless of what type of speculative fiction I write, you can expect that it will be dark. Whether my inspiration comes from a shiver crawling up my spine while darting across a dark parking lot, a fascination with Gothic heroines and their delightful kidnappability, or a desire to build a world to suit a spiffy MMO character, that dark undercurrent of fear makes me feel alive.

So, if you enjoy science fiction and fantasy with an eye to horror, join my readers group.

I’d love to have you along for special sneak-peeks, cover reveals, free stories, and more! Just to show how special you are to me, I’ll start you off with an exclusive short story!

Reviews

[Horror Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love a good creepy story about a murderous cursed doll. And this one works when that's the focus. Unfortunately, there's too much other stuff packed in to really make it effective as a horror novel.

A girl wakes up one day to find a man she met killed and bloodied in his room. She's clutching a porcelain doll and doesn't remember anything.

We'll find out that in the past, there have been other murders which are linked to her including her mother, stepfather, and a foster father. But she has no memories about these events and each time, that doll has been present with her. So is she a murderer or is the doll to blame?

That's all fine and good. I'm into it. But these characters are redundant and soon become so repetitious in their thoughts that It became a struggle to read at times.

Relationship problems which don't further the plot, a lot of angst and repetitive dialogue put the brakes on any tension built up.

I found some of the "good" guys to be so annoying I was hoping they would become victims.

There's a good scary story within and the author writes well but you have to dig through all the dietrus to get to it.

[Haly Hoards Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me put this out there before I start the review proper. I am a reformed psychologist, meaning that I no longer practice. With that said, I did enjoy this novel, but given my former profession I struggled with the idea of DID (Dissociative Identity Disorder), which was previously known as Multiple Personality Disorder, vs possession.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Gabrielle is a college student who has periods of blackouts, paranoia and hearing voices. She hears one voice in particular, that of an old porcelain doll that has been in her family for generations. It is interesting that the doll is never given a name?

Gabrielle struggles with the idea that the doll is both her protector and her undoing, driving Gabrielle to kill. But, Gabrielle also thinks maybe it is the doll doing the killing.

Every time Gabrielle has been in a situation of danger, be it physical abuse, child sexual abuse or possible rape she enters into a blackout. When Gabrielle comes to she finds herself covered in blood and the abuser dead. Gabrielle is also clutching the porcelain doll. Who committed the murder?

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a creepy story that I enjoyed. The characters are interesting and unique. The ending was unexpected which was nice. I would recommend this! Special Thank You to Jesse Sprague, Cursed Dragon Ship Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Tracy Nakatani · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gets it. So many relatable things in this book, as a woman, as a girl, viewing the dangers of this world and how we should operate within it. How we’re expected to operate within it… Gabrielle is such a vulnerable and relatable character. I love how this story captures what she’s going through. How we never really know what’s real and what isn’t. This book sucked me right in and kept me turning pages.

I can’t wait for the next books from Jesse Sprague. Her horror is exquisite!

[A.M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley for this book.

The story follows Gabrielle a college student who’s trying to figure out her past and her fragmented associated memories, especially her vivid memory of her clutching a porcelain doll while covered in blood. What happened that faithful night? Why is happening again? Who’s the killer?

I woke up at three in the morning and decided to start this novel. I don’t think this was a wise move on my part as I’m sitting here and dreading moving and seeing the only porcelain doll I own. This was a quick fast-paced 300 pages novel filled with psychological horror and suspense. I definitely suggest you check out the trigger warnings beforehand as there are sensitive subjects. This twists and turns kept me on edge and I cannot wait for book two.

[Honey Dy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story was a blend of psychological horror and suspense as Gabrielle tries to piece together her fragmented memories and figure out whether she’s responsible for the deaths happening around her, or if something far more sinister is pulling the strings. Throughout my reading experience, i felt Gabrielle’s inner turmoil and her fears so intense come to a head, especially when her brother and his boyfriend are drawn into the danger.

The eerie presence of the doll added a creepy, supernatural element to the story, making you question what’s real and what’s not right.

This was a fast-paced read, and every chapter opened up something new and exciting, keeping me on the edge of my seat.

Jesse did a fantastic job of building tension, and every chapter made me more desperate to know what happened next.

However….it lost a few points towards the end. Dont get me wrong, Porcelain was a chilling and psychological thriller that will keep you guessing until the very end, but then it just kinda fell flat and left a lot of unanswered questions. But I guess I'll find out in book 2 when Shadows of hysteria continues.

If you're a fan of psychological thrillers with a touch of horror and a dash of the supernatural, Porcelain is a gripping read that will leave you unsettled long after you’ve turned the last page

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Ligia Wit · Rating 5 out of 5]

This isn’t a genre I typically read, but wow! That creepy porcelain doll had my nerves on edge from the start!

One of the things I enjoyed most about this chilling story is how vulnerable Gabrielle, the main character, is. Right away, you notice her discomfort during a date that doesn’t go as she expects. Still, she tries to go along with it, convincing herself it’s "normal" for a guy to bring her to his place right away. Gabrielle’s struggle to believe she’s normal and not crazy is palpable, even as a broken porcelain doll starts speaking to her in an unnervingly creepy manner.

The dynamic between Gabrielle and her brother, Michael, is like a precarious yet beautiful dance. The novel alternates between two points of view: Gabrielle's and Detective Cole’s. Cole, who is dating Michael, complicates the story even further. Despite Gabrielle’s mental instability, I found her perspective the most compelling—especially toward the end. Her interactions with Peter, the boy she loves who is also broken, are heartbreaking. Watching these two damaged characters try to love each other is both tragic and moving.

Jesse Sprague is a masterful writer who keeps you hooked the more you read, and I love that.

Don’t go into this expecting just a horror novel or a psychological thriller—this book is so much more. I highly recommend picking it up.

[Cynthia Rodrigues · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gabrielle Cross is under therapy and medication to help her cope with the aftermath of a tragedy in the past. She has also previously been institutionalized. Ten years ago, when she was only nine, her parents were found brutally murdered, and she was found covered in their blood. She believed then that it was her porcelain doll, a family antique, that had killed them in order to protect her.
Now Gabrielle is trying to live a normal life, go to college, date. How long will it be before her past catches up with her?
When her date, Joe, takes her home on the very first date and pressures her for sex, she blacks out. When she wakes up, he is dead with stab wounds and noticeable strangulation marks, causing Gabrielle’s past to be brought to the fore again. She is filled with doubts and fears and the only two people who trust her are her half-brother, Michael, and her friend, Peter.
Meanwhile, Michael has begun a relationship with Cole Montez, a bisexual, divorced cop who is going through a bitter legal battle with ex-wife Joan for the custody of their 4-year-old daughter, Isa, while the banks threaten to foreclose on his house.
Then Cole is assigned the case. Will he be able to ensure justice for everyone?

As a child, Gabrielle believed that her doll had committed the murders. Now she is anxious to find answers. Is she really a murderer or could the doll be possessed by an evil spirit?

The book shines a spotlight on mental illness and schizophrenia. Peter is schizophrenic but has sought help and is doing well. Issues of mental health are written about in this book from a place of sensitivity and understanding.

The story is written in the 3rd person past tense PoV of Gabrielle and Cole. For the greater part of the novel, the story shifted between the two PoVs in regularly alternating chapters. At the 38th chapter, we get six consecutive chapters in Gabrielle’s PoV, causing the pace to flag a little bit.

The 3rd person PoV of Gabrielle, with which the story began, drew me into the story. Unfortunately, the second chapter, where we get to know Gabrielle’s half-brother, Michael, through the eyes of his boyfriend, Cole, was completely unnecessary. This chapter appeared to have been put in just to bring us up to speed on the past. Michael tells his new boyfriend (and us) the story of their lives. This chapter nearly put me off reading the rest of the book.

Also Cole’s utter infatuation with Michael was something I found annoying. I almost gave up reading because of this thread in the story. Cole kept thinking that Michael was gorgeous which took away from the main story. Thankfully, the pace improved after the second chapter, and Cole kept his infatuation under wraps.

I found the two men, Michael and Cole, very boring and annoying. Lucinda ‘Cinder’, Gabrielle’s roommate and friend, was a minor character I liked straightaway for her loyalty and sense of friendship.

The author has a good style. The characterization, description, conflict and action are handled well. The description of Peter and Gabrielle standing atop the unfinished building had me feeling queasy. But the horror and supernatural elements were weak.

The book needed to be proofed better. Modicum is a noun, not an adverb as is used here.

After a few chapters, Gabrielle didn’t stay in ‘character’. She stopped mentioning her meds or repeating her affirmations.

Cole’s bisexuality was token, having no bearing on the main plot. Why didn’t the author just make him gay? The romance between Cole and Michael took up too much space.

Also, the doll could have been a lot more menacing. Once the investigation started, we didn’t see any evidence of the horror of the doll for ourselves. It was all in Gabrielle’s flashbacks. The doll on the cover of the book was quite creepy but we don’t get to see her inherently evil nature.

The doll’s relationship with Gabrielle is downplayed. Instead we get to see more of Cole and Michael, Cole and Joan, Gabrielle and Cinder, and Cole and Isa. Even Yolanda, Cole’s nanny, the most minor of the characters, gets more space here.

The dialogue and Gabrielle’s internal monologue get repetitive, with Gabrielle repeatedly wishing herself dead, and wondering if the doll is a part of her or external to her.

Despite the accusation of murder that hangs over her, Gabrielle isn’t put under surveillance. Additionally, Gabrielle’s extended conversation with Peter wasn’t as revelatory as she seemed to think it would be.

Isa is supposed to be 4, but I couldn’t sense her innocence. She appeared too grown-up.

The resolution was weak. By the 82 percent mark, I had stopped caring about any of the characters. There were a number of questions that remained unanswered. Why was Joe killed a day after the horrible date? How did his death come about?

(I received a free copy of this book for the purpose of writing this review. Thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley.)

[Jeneane Sandoval · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and Cursed Dragon Publishing for this arc!

In Porcelain: Shadows of Hysteria, we follow three main characters. A brother and sister, Gabrielle and Michael, and Michael's new love interest, Cole. There are two minor characters we meet who are important to Gabrielle, Peter (a longtime friend) and Cinder, who is her college roommate. As the story progresses, we learn that there is something deeply troubling following Michael, and especially Gabrielle, around since they were kids. At nine, Gabrielle woke up from a blackout to find both her mother and father brutally murdered, her covered in blood, and her favorite porcelain doll lying not too far away. Another instance of death happens multiple times in Gabrielle's life, and she can't help but wonder, is she crazy enough to do these murders while blacked out? Or is it possible it's been the porcelain doll this whole time?

This book started off strong, in my opinion in the opening scene for Gabrielle. It was an uncomfortable and honest testament to what it feels like to want to fit in and that glaringly toxic culture of boys just being boys. The blackouts and flashbacks really help mold the idea that she is a broken and flawed character working on herself to become something stronger, if only she could get passed the mental hurdles, she gives herself and relinquish her own obsession with the porcelain doll. She held a lot of retrospection towards herself when it came to whether the doll really was to blame for the murders or if it was herself that was capable of doing so. It showed a lot of character development and growth and how she used Peter and his mental illness as a reflection of what she could accomplish for herself. Gabrielle's friends Peter and Cinder both equally try to help her, whether that is logically or by feeding into her ideas that the doll maybe possessed. The conflict that happens between the three of them as they try and figure out next steps in what can potentially help Gabrielle feels grounded and frantic, as it would in any horror film or scenario.

The progression of the idea of a possession of the doll and the backstory of how the doll became attached to nine-year-old Gabrielle was incredibly well mastered. In the beginning, it danced effectively on the idea that maybe Gabrielle, from the trauma she endured, used the doll as a psychological buffer for her crimes. As the story progressed, however, we saw that the doll really seemed to be the true culprit behind all the murders just to stay with the little girl who took it out of the locked basement. The twists and turns inside the last few chapters was a true mind-mending moment that truly portrayed how trauma can hold a lasting impression on someone and how our minds warp and reshape reality to make it more bearable.

[DustyBookSniffers - Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Porcelain by Jesse Sprague is a gripping, spine-chilling horror/thriller that hooked me from start to finish. This book delivers just the right amount of spooky vibes, centred around a truly creepy vintage porcelain doll. Who doesn’t love a story with a hauntingly eerie doll at its core? I absolutely loved it!

The story follows Gabrielle, whose traumatic past is steeped in blood. Ten years ago, she woke up covered in blood beside her murdered parents, convinced her porcelain doll was the killer—but also clinging to the belief it was only protecting her. Now, after years of therapy and medications, Gabrielle is ready to rebuild her life and start fresh at the University of Washington. But when a horrifying blackout leaves her next to another bloody corpse—again with her doll at the scene—she’s left questioning whether she’s a killer or if the doll is truly alive.

I particularly enjoyed the addition of Cole’s perspective, the homicide detective investigating the case, and Gabrielle’s brother’s new boyfriend. Initially, I wasn’t sure why his personal life needed to be explored, but as the story progressed, his point of view added a meaningful and emotional layer to the narrative. It was refreshing to hear from his perspective instead of just Gabrielle’s, which gave the story even more depth.

As the plot unfolded, I found myself completely engrossed. The twists and turns kept me guessing until the end, and I was thoroughly satisfied with the conclusion. The themes in this book are what truly make it stand out—it explores the fragility of mental health, the impact of trauma, and the lengths people will go to to protect those they love. These elements made for a thought-provoking and compelling read.
That said, I want to note that this book deals with heavy themes, including child sexual abuse, so please check the content warnings before diving in if this might be a trigger for you.

If you’re looking for a creepy, unputdownable Horror/thriller to read over the holidays, Porcelain is an excellent choice. The eerie doll, the suspenseful plot, and the emotional depth combine to create a hauntingly unforgettable story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Cursed Dragon Ship Publishing for providing me with an e-book ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Rachael Hamilton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gabrielle is a college student trying to figure out how to have a normal-ish life, after having so many tragic events follow her from childhood. As the book opens, she is on a date with a guy named Joe and from an outside perspective, it isn't going incredibly well, but she is trying to convince herself this is all "normal" and it happens to everyone. However, after an uncomfortable night, she returns to her own apartment and tries to put the incident behind her.

On the other hand, her brother Michael is on the verge of a budding new relationship and everything is still fragile and tenuous, We soon find out, the love interest is a detective with the police and Gabrielle is found at the scene of a crime, covered in blood and close to catatonic. It becomes a trip down the psychological rabbit hole as we try to uncover whether Gabrielle or a mysterious doll from her childhood is the one committing the heinous crimes.

This book is not without it's flaws and although I do not fully understand some of the mental disorders this book tries to highlight, I feel as though the people around Gabrielle, are not "good" for her in a lot of different ways. When it comes to "the doll" nearly no one supports her in trying to get rid of it. It's an aspect of the book I did not understand. I also did not understand why no one seemed to focus on the fact this girl is significantly mentally ill and they just try to brush it off. But overall I was fairly intrigued and flew through the book. I did think it was going to be far more spooky and supernatural than it was

[Lindsay · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book had a lot going for it, but was weighed down by too many other things happening that didn't add anything to the story. I was creeped out by the doll and whether or not it really had anything to do with the murders. I also liked the way mental illness was represented and talked about in a respectful way. I liked the alternating POVs to tell the story from both sides, but found some of the inner dialogue to be repetitive at times.

I liked Cinder's character, and wished that she was part of the story more. The drama in Cole and Michael's relationship kind of distracted from the story, and I especially found Cole and Joan's relationship/storyline to be unnecessary. Cole's bisexuality didn't really need to be mentioned either, only because it didn't add anything either way to the story. I also found the constant judgement of Yolanda's past to become tiresome because of how it had nothing to do with the plot.

The ending, to me, was kind of "meh". I was expecting some kind of twist or surprise, but it fell kind of flat. I wish there had been more doll content and less focus on all of the "other" stuff.

[Suzy Olear · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are a fan of psychology horror and are looking for a great read, look no further. Porcelain kept me up at night reading and wondering about the dolls in my house. The storyline is the perfect blend of love, loss, horror and suspense that keeps you guessing at every turn and the characters become very important to you as you go along. Gabrielle, Peter, Cole and Michael all have such important roles in this book that intertwine into a suspenseful read you won't be able to put down. I highly enjoyed every page of this book and look forward eagerly to what comes next. A great psychological horror book that will give you nightmares, especially if you have a cherished doll in your house, like i do. It's made me wonder....
But that aside, this psychological horror novel is one you won't want to miss. Porcelain kept me up at night reading chapter after chapter. A masterful blend of everything I love in a book. Jesse has outdone herself on this one. Read this book. It's calling your name.

[Sheri Corriero · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love things that are odd and scary. I couldn’t resist reading this book about a doll who is a possible murderer. As a kid, Gabrielle woke up beside her murdered parents and her doll. She keeps the doll, thinking it provided protection. As an adult after moving on with her life, she finds herself waking up to another murdered person and her doll. Is the doll possessed or something? Is Gabrielle a murder? The book is a psychological horror and it caught my interest right away. I am looking forward to reading more from this author. I received an ARC copy from the author and this is my honest review.

[Josette Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This ode to a haunted doll was spectacular. I loved the suspense of wondering what was going on. If Gabrielle was suffering from some undiagnosed mental health condition or was the doll carrying out horrific crimes. Glimpsing into Gabrielle and Michael’s childhood was enough to believe a haunted doll was trying to protect Gabrielle from ‘bad’ people. There were people in her life who seemed to care for Gabrielle but were they only compounding her issues. I cannot imagine having blackouts that took away chunks of time. I would begin to think I was insane. I was glad Gabrielle was stopped before hurting someone she loved. The ending is one people may not like but it is a real ending.

[Erin Newton · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is trying to tackle a lot of issues. There's potential demonic possession of a doll, or a cursed doll; mental illness; child abuse; several murders; bigotry in the work place; some romance between with two different couples; and a custody battle. Sprague does a descent job of trying to nurture each issue but it's just too much. I wanted to read this for the doll stuff and it was just overshadowed. There's too much focus on one character's bisexuality which was just boring and not a big deal. There is good representation for schizophrenia and mental health overall. Thank you to NetGalley for a digital copy.

[Ayana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved how this book explored psychological trauma and creats the detailed visual of all scenes combining both emotional and physical experience on a good level. Two unexpected pows added depth to the narration and amazingly showed the story from completely different sides.

The plot was quite predicatable at times and I didn't feel the creepy vibes I expected, but in general it was a good read.

- - -
Thanks to NetGalley and Cursed Dragon Ship Publishing for providing me with this free eARC in exchange for my honest review!

[Tiffannie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was more psychological horror than horror but no doubt what nightmares of made of!
Gabrielle our main character is sent away years ago for killing her parents, however she woke up from a blackout covered in blood and blamed her doll for the murders. This book will have you asking was it her or the doll up until the end and if Gabrielle will ever figure out what happened and is happening again…

[DianaKay Abraham · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gave me chills!

I loved this! It was equal parts horror, mystery, crime novel. We follow the FMC as she works through a traumatic past and how to handle herself in the present. Set in the hills outside of Seattle, Washington her big brother is doing what big brothers do best in trying to protect her. The big question is who is he trying to protect her from. This was masterfully written and I devoured it in a day.

[Claudia Rambles · Rating 4 out of 5]

As if a Porcelain doll is not scary enough, a python had to be added to the plot.

It all starts with Gabby finishing the night at a guy's place. A night that she'd rather forget.
Instead she forgot how she got back to his house the following day. She only remembers waking up in a bloodbath and Joe is not alive anymore.

Apparently is not the first time that Gabby sees herself in this kind of predicament.
Her brother Michael has been there for her all her life but this time there's other challenges.
One of them being Michael's new relationship with the detective that is responsible for investigating the case.

Both siblings also share an obsession for a porcelain doll.
Gabby blames the doll for everything that happened in her life.
Michael believes that the doll is a coping mechanism.

But how much power does the doll really have?

I'd say Porcelain is more of a thriller book with hints of horror.
Not only this book explores subjects like mental health and complicated relationships, it will also give you chills.

[Risshan Adele · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really found this so gripping and emotional. The ending almost had me tearing up! I felt so attached to Gabrielle by the end of this. We dabble in mental health issues, trauma, family issues, cursed objects, and possessions. The story has a lot of moving parts, but pulls you in. Feels like a psychological horror. I really enjoyed reading it!

[Páginas Pretas · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 ⭐️

É um bom livro para quem não lê muito terror de uma forma geral.
É sempre interessante ler sobre uma boneca amaldiçoada. Gostei da forma descritiva da autora, acho que tem um bom estilo, no entanto não achei a trama da história nada por ai além.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

[ems_booknook · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wouldn’t say I very much enjoyed this, a good horror novel needs to pack a punch and not have so much fluff cluttered around it. Unfortunately this one for me had too much “fluff” and I found it very hard to get into the crux of the horror because of it.

I didn’t really resonate with much about this one I’m sorry to say which is a shame because I was very excited for it!!

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book explores the impact trauma can have on an individual and those that are around them. The bonds Gabrielle has with her brother and friends are strained by her attachment to this doll from her childhood. And somehow, people around her keep winding up dead. What is the strange power this doll has over Gabrielle? And who is next? I really enjoyed this take on the haunted doll trope.

[Micki-D · Rating 3 out of 5]

Porcelain will haunt my dreams tonight…Creepy creepy creepy I hate dolls, those old porcelain ones are the worst. A creepy story about a murderous cursed doll. The plot was predictable at times and I took away from the creepiness but it was over all a good creepy read cause well the doll creeps me out.

[Nikki Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love a creepy doll story and there were definitely multiple moments throughout that did creep me out, but I was definitely wanting more horror, where this was more of a psychological thriller.

Gabrielle wakes up one morning to find a man whom she has just met dead and covered in blood in his room, she is clutching her porcelain doll and can’t remember a thing that happened.

We go back into her and her brothers past and learn of the trauma they went through and gain insight into other deaths that have occurred, surrounding Gabrielle - is it her killing these men, is it the doll or is there something else going on?

There’s too much relationship drama and a semi “love” story also going on in this book and these storyline’s just didn’t really add much to the story and instead took away from the horror and thrills.

Thank-you NetGalley, Cursed Dragon Ship Publishing and Jesse for a Digital Advanced Readers Copy, in exchange for an honest review.

[Kevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Cursed Dragon Ship Publishing for providing the free ARC.

I enjoyed the story, but I think this will shine with certain individuals more so. This is more of a psychological thriller than a horror novel.

What I wanted more was how the sinister doll controlled Gabrielle. From her early childhood to her adult life, learning more about the connection and how it grew stronger.

[Emily Haynes]

Gabrielle was sent away years ago for killing her parents,. Gabrielle said it was her doll that did it. Now she is facing the same fate. Who is the killer? Full of what if moments. Can Gabrielle figure out what is happening?

[Jason M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super creepy

Perfect read to satisfy Horror fans.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was pretty good. I wasn’t entirely sure what was going on til close to the end but it was suspenseful and kept me entertained.