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Crafting for Sinners
A queer woman must fight her way out of a big-box craft store run by a diabolical religious cult in this gripping survival horror novel by Jenny Kiefer, author of This Wretched Valley
The ratcheting tension and gut-churning terror will appeal to fans of The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay and The Ritual by Adam Nevill
Ruth is trapped. She’s stuck in her small, religious hometown of Kill Devil, Kentucky, stuck in the closet, and stuck living paycheck to paycheck. After her manager finds out that she lives with her girlfriend, Ruth is fired from her job as a cashier at New Creations—a craft store owned by the church that dominates life in the town.
In an act of revenge, Ruth attempts to shoplift some yarn but is caught red-handed by a New Creations cashier. Instead of calling the police, the employees lock her in the store—and attack her. When Ruth is forced to stab out one of their eyes with a knitting needle, she realizes she's facing far bigger trouble than a simple shoplifting charge. As Ruth fights for her life, she plunges deeper into the tangled web of the New Creationists, who are hiding a terrible secret that threatens not only her, but the entire town.
This relentless horror novel will have you on the edge of your seat as it hurtles towards a breathtaking conclusion. Will Ruth escape? Or will the shocking secret at the heart of the cult die with her?
The ratcheting tension and gut-churning terror will appeal to fans of The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay and The Ritual by Adam Nevill
Ruth is trapped. She’s stuck in her small, religious hometown of Kill Devil, Kentucky, stuck in the closet, and stuck living paycheck to paycheck. After her manager finds out that she lives with her girlfriend, Ruth is fired from her job as a cashier at New Creations—a craft store owned by the church that dominates life in the town.
In an act of revenge, Ruth attempts to shoplift some yarn but is caught red-handed by a New Creations cashier. Instead of calling the police, the employees lock her in the store—and attack her. When Ruth is forced to stab out one of their eyes with a knitting needle, she realizes she's facing far bigger trouble than a simple shoplifting charge. As Ruth fights for her life, she plunges deeper into the tangled web of the New Creationists, who are hiding a terrible secret that threatens not only her, but the entire town.
This relentless horror novel will have you on the edge of your seat as it hurtles towards a breathtaking conclusion. Will Ruth escape? Or will the shocking secret at the heart of the cult die with her?
304 pages, Paperback
First published October 7, 2025
254 people are currently reading
21657 people want to read
About the author
Jenny Kiefer
4 books430 followersJenny Kiefer is a horror writer living in Louisville, Kentucky. She is the owner of the horror bookstore Butcher Cabin Books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 487 reviews
August 14, 2025
Gory, fast paced, and fun!
Crafting For Sinners is about a woman on a tight deadline for a blanket she’s been commissioned to make, however, she runs out of material and is strapped for cash. The solution? Go to the mega-church-run craft store she was unfairly fired from after they found out she’s in a relationship with another woman, and get the supplies she needs with her five finger discount.
But, when she gets there, she finds that not only has she been caught stealing, but she’s now locked in the store, and the fanatic cult-like store employees/church members attack her, and she must fight for her life using whatever craft supplies she can get her hands on.
I’ve been in a reading slump for about a month, and this was not only the first book to grab my attention, but hold it the entire time and I read it in two sittings. This kinda reminded me of a David Sodergren book in how it was not only extremely violent and gory, but also how it wasn’t afraid to have a little fun.
I do wish the ending was a *bit* crazier, but I still had a really great time and this was exactly the kind of fun over the top survival horror I needed atm so 4.5ish ⭐️ rounded up.
Thank you quirkbooks for the gifted copy!!
Crafting For Sinners is about a woman on a tight deadline for a blanket she’s been commissioned to make, however, she runs out of material and is strapped for cash. The solution? Go to the mega-church-run craft store she was unfairly fired from after they found out she’s in a relationship with another woman, and get the supplies she needs with her five finger discount.
But, when she gets there, she finds that not only has she been caught stealing, but she’s now locked in the store, and the fanatic cult-like store employees/church members attack her, and she must fight for her life using whatever craft supplies she can get her hands on.
I’ve been in a reading slump for about a month, and this was not only the first book to grab my attention, but hold it the entire time and I read it in two sittings. This kinda reminded me of a David Sodergren book in how it was not only extremely violent and gory, but also how it wasn’t afraid to have a little fun.
I do wish the ending was a *bit* crazier, but I still had a really great time and this was exactly the kind of fun over the top survival horror I needed atm so 4.5ish ⭐️ rounded up.
Thank you quirkbooks for the gifted copy!!
October 8, 2025
I too think Hobby Lobby is a cult. :)
September 20, 2025
Crafting for Sinners by Jenny Kiefer
3.85 rounded up to 4 🔮🔮🔮🔮 orbs
Est. Pub. Date: Oct 7, 2025
Quirk Books
💡Orbs Prologue: Hidden below in the darkness, I wait. Rats lurk in the shadows, yet I remain steadfast. A soft glow from the demonic wall sconces casts light upon my hardened surface. Cold, dark, and fortuitous, I lie asleep, dormant. Worshippers surround me, their hoods casting gloom upon the attendees' faces. The anticipation darts through the atmosphere of the room. I am at the center, awaiting the tribute. My invisible arms stretch forth to grasp our sacrifice.
Ruth and Abigail live together in the town of Kill Devil; by the sheer name alone, the evil that lurks amongst its inhabitants is telling. A religious sect has taken root, and all within Kill Devil’s vicinity feel the brainwashing commence. These righteous individuals have issues with those who sin, and Ruth and Abigail, lesbians, must certainly fit that bill. This is a story of survival, of demanding equality in a place hellbent on imposing its views on others.
Ruth needs yarn to fulfill an order. Having previously worked and been fired by New Creations, a store run by the New Creationists, Ruth knows how to come by such crafting material by the five-finger discount method. Ruth casually strolls inconspicuously through the sliding doors of New Creations. The store seems dead; there are no workers or customers within. Or so she thinks?
I went down, down, down into a freezing ring of torment. Descending as if I had traveled to an Egyptian pyramid to see an ancient tomb. Author Jenny Kiefer has successfully written a tale that subtly reminded me of Horrorstör by Grady Hendrix, minus the ghosts. Ruth is locked inside the store; chaos ensues, supplied by the “friendly” neighborhood religious fanatics. Ruth's fight to ward off her pursuers, stave off diabetic hypoglycemia, and find a means to escape all collide to provide a terrifying experience.
Oh, the religious angst. For some readers, that alone may set you off. Now, may I supply some well-timed rats, knives, broken mirrors, and super glue…? There is more to the story and an underlying depth that seeps out from underneath like water infiltrating the cracks in Venice. Connections that were well concealed. Relationships that seemed authentic, and yet? Kiefer tested my ability to determine who and what was false. Those individuals acting piously, yet slithering through the chasms awaiting to strike.
🔚Orbs Epilogue: She lies on my cold surface. My earthen surface supplies an uncomfortable support. We demand truth and purity, and what is a little pain to those unworthy committing a life of sin? I watch as blood is poured into a chalice and hungrily consumed. The gleam from a knife is held aloft over the young woman’s body. My stone heart stills. This is it. In slow motion, the razor-sharp blade swings down, attempting to sentence our tribute. Sweat flying off the forearm, slashing, diving down towards me. The silence… A darkness overtakes everyone in the room. A sense of mystery enters the fray, for who knows how this will end, dear readers?
Recommended reading!
Many thanks to Quirk Books for the ARC through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
3.85 rounded up to 4 🔮🔮🔮🔮 orbs
Est. Pub. Date: Oct 7, 2025
Quirk Books
💡Orbs Prologue: Hidden below in the darkness, I wait. Rats lurk in the shadows, yet I remain steadfast. A soft glow from the demonic wall sconces casts light upon my hardened surface. Cold, dark, and fortuitous, I lie asleep, dormant. Worshippers surround me, their hoods casting gloom upon the attendees' faces. The anticipation darts through the atmosphere of the room. I am at the center, awaiting the tribute. My invisible arms stretch forth to grasp our sacrifice.
Ruth and Abigail live together in the town of Kill Devil; by the sheer name alone, the evil that lurks amongst its inhabitants is telling. A religious sect has taken root, and all within Kill Devil’s vicinity feel the brainwashing commence. These righteous individuals have issues with those who sin, and Ruth and Abigail, lesbians, must certainly fit that bill. This is a story of survival, of demanding equality in a place hellbent on imposing its views on others.
Ruth needs yarn to fulfill an order. Having previously worked and been fired by New Creations, a store run by the New Creationists, Ruth knows how to come by such crafting material by the five-finger discount method. Ruth casually strolls inconspicuously through the sliding doors of New Creations. The store seems dead; there are no workers or customers within. Or so she thinks?
I went down, down, down into a freezing ring of torment. Descending as if I had traveled to an Egyptian pyramid to see an ancient tomb. Author Jenny Kiefer has successfully written a tale that subtly reminded me of Horrorstör by Grady Hendrix, minus the ghosts. Ruth is locked inside the store; chaos ensues, supplied by the “friendly” neighborhood religious fanatics. Ruth's fight to ward off her pursuers, stave off diabetic hypoglycemia, and find a means to escape all collide to provide a terrifying experience.
Oh, the religious angst. For some readers, that alone may set you off. Now, may I supply some well-timed rats, knives, broken mirrors, and super glue…? There is more to the story and an underlying depth that seeps out from underneath like water infiltrating the cracks in Venice. Connections that were well concealed. Relationships that seemed authentic, and yet? Kiefer tested my ability to determine who and what was false. Those individuals acting piously, yet slithering through the chasms awaiting to strike.
🔚Orbs Epilogue: She lies on my cold surface. My earthen surface supplies an uncomfortable support. We demand truth and purity, and what is a little pain to those unworthy committing a life of sin? I watch as blood is poured into a chalice and hungrily consumed. The gleam from a knife is held aloft over the young woman’s body. My stone heart stills. This is it. In slow motion, the razor-sharp blade swings down, attempting to sentence our tribute. Sweat flying off the forearm, slashing, diving down towards me. The silence… A darkness overtakes everyone in the room. A sense of mystery enters the fray, for who knows how this will end, dear readers?
Recommended reading!
Many thanks to Quirk Books for the ARC through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
April 3, 2025
ARC for review. To be published October 7, 2025.
4 stars - and an extra .5 stars for the great title and cover.
Ruth is dating Abigail and they live in the little, bigoted town of Kill Devil, Kentucky, home to not much but an evangelical megachurch for a congregation of a group called the New Creationists. These spawn of the angels run their own craft/hobby store which sounds just like everyone’s least favorite (rhymes with Snobby Bobby and before you unknowingly patronize this bastion of hate again I beg you to do a little research on how much they hate women, the LGBT+ community and pretty much everyone who isn’t a cis white male. And I don’t shop there so I can’t confirm this but I have heard that, like the craft/hobby store portrayed in this book, they refuse to have products with bar codes because they feel they might be the sign of the Antichrist spoken of in the Bible. Anyone know if this is true? Because that’s just funny right there.) Lauren Myracle, I hope you are seeing this! (I mean that in only the best way, BTW.)
Here the store is called New Creations and Ruth used to work there until they found out she and Abigail were engaged in lady love and she was fired for conduct unbecoming. Now she steals from there to get back at them.
So, she heads there one day to pick up (abscond with) some emergency yarn and she gets caught. But the staff doesn’t want to call the local cops on Ruth. It’s much, much worse and now she’s trapped in the store and the New Creationists are after her.
OK, given the subject matter I expected this to be less horrifying that it was, but this was absolutely brutal for me, and I spent parts of the book literally, physically contorting my body trying to get away from it (but part of that may depend on how you feel about a certain something that I won’t exactly give away, but call me Winston Smith.). Ruth is a kick ass heroine and I’m not likely to forget this any time soon. Highly recommended for horror fans…Jenny Kiefer, thank you for this (kind of. I also may never get over it.)
4 stars - and an extra .5 stars for the great title and cover.
Ruth is dating Abigail and they live in the little, bigoted town of Kill Devil, Kentucky, home to not much but an evangelical megachurch for a congregation of a group called the New Creationists. These spawn of the angels run their own craft/hobby store which sounds just like everyone’s least favorite (rhymes with Snobby Bobby and before you unknowingly patronize this bastion of hate again I beg you to do a little research on how much they hate women, the LGBT+ community and pretty much everyone who isn’t a cis white male. And I don’t shop there so I can’t confirm this but I have heard that, like the craft/hobby store portrayed in this book, they refuse to have products with bar codes because they feel they might be the sign of the Antichrist spoken of in the Bible. Anyone know if this is true? Because that’s just funny right there.) Lauren Myracle, I hope you are seeing this! (I mean that in only the best way, BTW.)
Here the store is called New Creations and Ruth used to work there until they found out she and Abigail were engaged in lady love and she was fired for conduct unbecoming. Now she steals from there to get back at them.
So, she heads there one day to pick up (abscond with) some emergency yarn and she gets caught. But the staff doesn’t want to call the local cops on Ruth. It’s much, much worse and now she’s trapped in the store and the New Creationists are after her.
OK, given the subject matter I expected this to be less horrifying that it was, but this was absolutely brutal for me, and I spent parts of the book literally, physically contorting my body trying to get away from it (but part of that may depend on how you feel about a certain something that I won’t exactly give away, but call me Winston Smith.). Ruth is a kick ass heroine and I’m not likely to forget this any time soon. Highly recommended for horror fans…Jenny Kiefer, thank you for this (kind of. I also may never get over it.)
November 1, 2025
I liked the idea but the execution didn't live up to it in my opinion.
My main issue is that it felt too long, which made me loose the tension and some of my interest.
My main issue is that it felt too long, which made me loose the tension and some of my interest.
July 21, 2025
I really really wanted to like this one. I absolutely love the cover, and the premise of a woman being trapped in a craft store while fighting off religious cult members sounded like so much fun. Unfortunately, this book was just not for me. First off, I didn't like the main character Ruth. Almost everything we find out about her and her relationships with people are told through snippets and flashbacks, so we don't really see her engaging in any of those relationships. It made it hard for me to feel invested or really care about her and the other characters that we're supposed to be rooting for. And once she's in the store and begins realizing that people are coming after her, she very quickly switches from "survival mode" to "killer mode." Instead of focusing on self-defense and finding the quickest way out, she focuses on how many people she can kill and how violently she can do it. It was a pretty jarring switch, and she even admits to feeling gleeful about it.
Because of all these fights/attacks against Ruth, she is one big bloody pulp by the end of the book. She's bleeding from every orifice, has many broken bones, her blood sugar is in constant flux, and she probably has a nasty concussion. But she's also running around this whole compound many times including running up and down stone stairs on a broken/sprained ankle. She should be barely standing, not running around like nothing's wrong. I'm also convinced that she would've bled out from all of her wounds way before we reach the climax of the story.
We are also told that Ruth is queer and that she has diabetes. Those are the two main characteristics that she's given, and it is repeated over and over again. Like, give me something else to work with! Those are not the things that should be defining a person. I need some more personality to shine through. She also is entirely too trusting of people (given her situation), and she makes so many dumb decisions throughout.
The majority of this book is set inside the craft store and cult "underground," and I would estimate that almost 90% of this book is just Ruth running and hiding from the cult members. It got very boring and repetitive, and I just wanted something else, anything else, to happen. Most of what we learn about the cult is through exposition- almost every time Ruth is in a hiding spot, she just so happens to overhear someone talking about their plans for her and why exactly they are trying to catch her. It's so convenient, and honestly it feels like lazy writing. When someone isn't outright telling her their plans, she's hearing it over the walkie talkie or from a pair who are chatting right outside of her hiding spot.
I also don't really understand the cult's ideology. Are they a fundamentalist group? They're ultra conservative, with "traditional" christian values, sporting scripture, "modest clothing," and gender roles. But they also build a mega-church, which is much more "new wave" as well as having relics and artifacts on display, which feels more catholic. Then they're also into crafting their own chants/mantras (not from the Bible) and have "magic" relics/objects that imbue the wearer/holder with specials powers. So, what's their deal? It's such a hodge podge that it really makes no sense to me. And then the ending?? Does that not completely undermine what the rest of the book was trying to get across?? I'm honestly so confused.
I've seen a few reviewers say that this book is *almost there, and that it needs a few more revisions, and I have to agree. I love the concept, but it's not there yet for me. It needs to be tightened up and edited a bit more. I want to understand the cult's ideology and feel more connected to the characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and Quirk books for sending me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Because of all these fights/attacks against Ruth, she is one big bloody pulp by the end of the book. She's bleeding from every orifice, has many broken bones, her blood sugar is in constant flux, and she probably has a nasty concussion. But she's also running around this whole compound many times including running up and down stone stairs on a broken/sprained ankle. She should be barely standing, not running around like nothing's wrong. I'm also convinced that she would've bled out from all of her wounds way before we reach the climax of the story.
We are also told that Ruth is queer and that she has diabetes. Those are the two main characteristics that she's given, and it is repeated over and over again. Like, give me something else to work with! Those are not the things that should be defining a person. I need some more personality to shine through. She also is entirely too trusting of people (given her situation), and she makes so many dumb decisions throughout.
The majority of this book is set inside the craft store and cult "underground," and I would estimate that almost 90% of this book is just Ruth running and hiding from the cult members. It got very boring and repetitive, and I just wanted something else, anything else, to happen. Most of what we learn about the cult is through exposition- almost every time Ruth is in a hiding spot, she just so happens to overhear someone talking about their plans for her and why exactly they are trying to catch her. It's so convenient, and honestly it feels like lazy writing. When someone isn't outright telling her their plans, she's hearing it over the walkie talkie or from a pair who are chatting right outside of her hiding spot.
I also don't really understand the cult's ideology. Are they a fundamentalist group? They're ultra conservative, with "traditional" christian values, sporting scripture, "modest clothing," and gender roles. But they also build a mega-church, which is much more "new wave" as well as having relics and artifacts on display, which feels more catholic. Then they're also into crafting their own chants/mantras (not from the Bible) and have "magic" relics/objects that imbue the wearer/holder with specials powers. So, what's their deal? It's such a hodge podge that it really makes no sense to me. And then the ending?? Does that not completely undermine what the rest of the book was trying to get across?? I'm honestly so confused.
I've seen a few reviewers say that this book is *almost there, and that it needs a few more revisions, and I have to agree. I love the concept, but it's not there yet for me. It needs to be tightened up and edited a bit more. I want to understand the cult's ideology and feel more connected to the characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and Quirk books for sending me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
October 4, 2025
Who'd have thought being locked in a craft store, playing hide and fight with lunatic cult members bent on ritual sacrifice could be so . . . boring?
A good ending did not make up for the tiresome middle, and the character of Ruth never really fleshed out into a real person for me.
The scariest part of this novel is that it foretells of what might happen when Christian Nationalism is taken to its logical conclusion.
Thanks to Quirk Books and NetGalley for sharing.
A good ending did not make up for the tiresome middle, and the character of Ruth never really fleshed out into a real person for me.
The scariest part of this novel is that it foretells of what might happen when Christian Nationalism is taken to its logical conclusion.
Thanks to Quirk Books and NetGalley for sharing.
November 17, 2025
2.5 Stars
I picked this one up hoping for a cozy crafty horror story. Once I started, I realized that this one was more wonky than cozy. Some people love this but unfortunately I did not. It was just too silly and over the top for my personal tastes.
My biggest disappointment was that the actual crafting was such a small part of this story. I wanted to recommend this one to knitters but honestly I don't think it leaned far enough into that hobby.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
I picked this one up hoping for a cozy crafty horror story. Once I started, I realized that this one was more wonky than cozy. Some people love this but unfortunately I did not. It was just too silly and over the top for my personal tastes.
My biggest disappointment was that the actual crafting was such a small part of this story. I wanted to recommend this one to knitters but honestly I don't think it leaned far enough into that hobby.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
July 18, 2025
4.25 stars
YouTube Reading Vlog (featuring 2 BookTokers - Madison & Kelsey): https://youtu.be/4ISB3Wym1FY?si=4ne1Y...
YouTube Reading Vlog (featuring 2 BookTokers - Madison & Kelsey): https://youtu.be/4ISB3Wym1FY?si=4ne1Y...
September 30, 2025
Reading for review in the October 2025 issue of Library Journal
Three Words The Describe This Book: religious cults, small town horror, liminal space
crafting frame
Draft Review:
Ruth lives with her girlfriend in Kill Devil, KY, a town run by the New Creations Church. Recently, fired from her job at the church owned craft store because of their sin, Ruth, desperate to finish a commissioned blanket to help build their moving fund, jumps in the car for a quick trip (so quick she doesn't pack her insulin) to the craft store to shoplift some yarn and head home. Quickly confronted by employees who don't want to arrest her, rather they need to capture her– alive– for a ritual, Ruth must use her knowledge of the store and its contents to fight for her life against church members and her own body as her blood sugar fluctuates. But this battle is bigger than Ruth as the terror here runs deep into the land itself. Mixing religious cult and liminal space tropes, Kiefer presents a visceral, darkly comedic, but deadly serious horror novel that will knit readers into a frenzy of fear and anger.
Verdict: Well marketed as Horrorstor by Hendrix meets Camp Damascus by Tingle, this story will also appeal to fans of Wake Up and Open Your Eyes by Chapman and Coup de Grâce by Ajram.
Ruth and her girl friend Allison live in Kill Devil, KY. The New Creations church has taken over the town and they hate gay people. Allison wants to leave, her mom is dead. Ruth has never lived anywhere else, her parents are still there but they disowned her when they got scooped up in the religious fervor of the church. Reluctantly though, Ruth agrees it is probably time to move. She just needs to finish this blanket commission.
But that requires a trip to the craft store owned by the church-- where she worked for years but was recently let go because of her "sin." Since be fired, she has been stealing from the store for her supplies.
Allison is worried she will finally be caught. Ruth-- a diabetic-- says goodbye to Allison for just the hour it will take to go there, get the yarn, and come back. She doesn't bring insulin.
When she arrives, the parking lot is eerily empty. She is trying to get the yarn, but is stopped and they don't want to arrest her, these employees need her alive for a ritual and they will sacrifice everything, even their lives to capture her-- and so begins a fight for her life in the store with only the things she can find there to arm herself and eat in order to stay alive.
But this is bigger than Ruth as the narrative hints at-- podcast transcripts, letters, historical documents, message board exchanges-- ephemera that adds depth to history and the horror here. The horror here runs deep, and it is in the land itself, going back generations.
The detail that Ruth is a diabetic adds another level of believable terror to her fight to live.
Great descriptions of the store and details from her time working there that help her to survive, Also visceral and darkly comedic kills. The way she moves around and battles them is over the top and yet believable.
As Ruth is fighting for her life, she is able to find moments to rest and provide flashbacks to her life, the church as it grew in prominence in the town. Her escape has moves in fits and starts-- she does well, gets caught, escapes again etc... but it allows her (and us) to see the full picture of what is happening. This I snot just a few bad seeds-- this is a cult that NEEDS a sacrifice, and they have been grooming her for the slaughter.
Those who like liminal space horror will enjoy this as well. She is completely trapped in a place that is slightly outside reality, one for which she cannot just walk out and even when she does, she is still trapped. Even when outside the building.
The back of the book says Horrorstor meets Camp Damascus and I usually quibble with book comps from publisher but this is SPOT ON. If you like those, you will like this.
Three Words The Describe This Book: religious cults, small town horror, liminal space
crafting frame
Draft Review:
Ruth lives with her girlfriend in Kill Devil, KY, a town run by the New Creations Church. Recently, fired from her job at the church owned craft store because of their sin, Ruth, desperate to finish a commissioned blanket to help build their moving fund, jumps in the car for a quick trip (so quick she doesn't pack her insulin) to the craft store to shoplift some yarn and head home. Quickly confronted by employees who don't want to arrest her, rather they need to capture her– alive– for a ritual, Ruth must use her knowledge of the store and its contents to fight for her life against church members and her own body as her blood sugar fluctuates. But this battle is bigger than Ruth as the terror here runs deep into the land itself. Mixing religious cult and liminal space tropes, Kiefer presents a visceral, darkly comedic, but deadly serious horror novel that will knit readers into a frenzy of fear and anger.
Verdict: Well marketed as Horrorstor by Hendrix meets Camp Damascus by Tingle, this story will also appeal to fans of Wake Up and Open Your Eyes by Chapman and Coup de Grâce by Ajram.
Ruth and her girl friend Allison live in Kill Devil, KY. The New Creations church has taken over the town and they hate gay people. Allison wants to leave, her mom is dead. Ruth has never lived anywhere else, her parents are still there but they disowned her when they got scooped up in the religious fervor of the church. Reluctantly though, Ruth agrees it is probably time to move. She just needs to finish this blanket commission.
But that requires a trip to the craft store owned by the church-- where she worked for years but was recently let go because of her "sin." Since be fired, she has been stealing from the store for her supplies.
Allison is worried she will finally be caught. Ruth-- a diabetic-- says goodbye to Allison for just the hour it will take to go there, get the yarn, and come back. She doesn't bring insulin.
When she arrives, the parking lot is eerily empty. She is trying to get the yarn, but is stopped and they don't want to arrest her, these employees need her alive for a ritual and they will sacrifice everything, even their lives to capture her-- and so begins a fight for her life in the store with only the things she can find there to arm herself and eat in order to stay alive.
But this is bigger than Ruth as the narrative hints at-- podcast transcripts, letters, historical documents, message board exchanges-- ephemera that adds depth to history and the horror here. The horror here runs deep, and it is in the land itself, going back generations.
The detail that Ruth is a diabetic adds another level of believable terror to her fight to live.
Great descriptions of the store and details from her time working there that help her to survive, Also visceral and darkly comedic kills. The way she moves around and battles them is over the top and yet believable.
As Ruth is fighting for her life, she is able to find moments to rest and provide flashbacks to her life, the church as it grew in prominence in the town. Her escape has moves in fits and starts-- she does well, gets caught, escapes again etc... but it allows her (and us) to see the full picture of what is happening. This I snot just a few bad seeds-- this is a cult that NEEDS a sacrifice, and they have been grooming her for the slaughter.
Those who like liminal space horror will enjoy this as well. She is completely trapped in a place that is slightly outside reality, one for which she cannot just walk out and even when she does, she is still trapped. Even when outside the building.
The back of the book says Horrorstor meets Camp Damascus and I usually quibble with book comps from publisher but this is SPOT ON. If you like those, you will like this.
October 26, 2025
Jenny Kiefers second survival horror novel explores the horrors of a woman living in a small town in Kentucky where religion is used to reinforce discriminatory ideals. Unfortunately these places exist in reality all throughout America. I enjoyed her use of different media formats throughout the book; blog posts, newspaper articles, etc..
A large portion of the story takes place in a crafting store owned by The New Creationists, who also run and control the small town of Kill Devil. They are a cult like group attempting to spread their traditional conservative ideals and have devious traditions.
It is highly entertaining as Ruth, the protagonist, evades her pursuers using crafting supplies available to her while locked in the store. It has some pretty gory parts, some unexpected twists and turns, and a great ending addressing real life cruelties that should be ended. I liked this novel much more than her debut novel. Highly recommend this one!
A large portion of the story takes place in a crafting store owned by The New Creationists, who also run and control the small town of Kill Devil. They are a cult like group attempting to spread their traditional conservative ideals and have devious traditions.
It is highly entertaining as Ruth, the protagonist, evades her pursuers using crafting supplies available to her while locked in the store. It has some pretty gory parts, some unexpected twists and turns, and a great ending addressing real life cruelties that should be ended. I liked this novel much more than her debut novel. Highly recommend this one!
December 18, 2025
Pre-Read Notes:
A wonderful, wild, weird story of a young shoplifter fighting for her life to get free from a craft store and it's angry, morally-distracted staff. I couldn't resist really!
This was an arc that got away. This happens when I receive a copy from publishers that is not accessible. When this happens, I most often need to wait for the book to come out, and then I find an accessible copy on Libby, if I can. That's what I did here.
Final Review
(thoughts & recs) I actually really liked this book, despite the many quibbles I have with the execution. For me, the rigid plot and lack of real character development is offset by a terrifying and ever-evolving antagonist.
My Favorite Things:
✔️ "“You all know what’s at stake,” Gideon said, his voice dripping with daggers. “It must be kept contained. If we don’t maintain the seal, it will be released. If it escapes, it will deliver the world to hell.” She nearly giggled at that, her delirium reaching its peak. It was too cartoonish—or it would be, if it didn’t mean her death. What were they trying to contain?" p123 I *really* like when characters in the book directly engage the absurdities.
Content Notes: gore, blood, grievous injury, captivity, cults, religious abuse,
Thank you to Jenni Kiefer, Quirk Books, and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of CRAFTING FOR SINNERS. I found an accessible digital copy in Libby. All views are mine.
A wonderful, wild, weird story of a young shoplifter fighting for her life to get free from a craft store and it's angry, morally-distracted staff. I couldn't resist really!
This was an arc that got away. This happens when I receive a copy from publishers that is not accessible. When this happens, I most often need to wait for the book to come out, and then I find an accessible copy on Libby, if I can. That's what I did here.
Final Review
(thoughts & recs) I actually really liked this book, despite the many quibbles I have with the execution. For me, the rigid plot and lack of real character development is offset by a terrifying and ever-evolving antagonist.
My Favorite Things:
✔️ "“You all know what’s at stake,” Gideon said, his voice dripping with daggers. “It must be kept contained. If we don’t maintain the seal, it will be released. If it escapes, it will deliver the world to hell.” She nearly giggled at that, her delirium reaching its peak. It was too cartoonish—or it would be, if it didn’t mean her death. What were they trying to contain?" p123 I *really* like when characters in the book directly engage the absurdities.
Content Notes: gore, blood, grievous injury, captivity, cults, religious abuse,
Thank you to Jenni Kiefer, Quirk Books, and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of CRAFTING FOR SINNERS. I found an accessible digital copy in Libby. All views are mine.
December 10, 2025
3.5 stars - A little underbaked in characters and plot, but the premise was so up my alley and the gore scenes were really effective, so I'll give it an extra half star for style
October 14, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“Don’t be a lost sheep. Do you know a lost sheep? Are you a lost sheep? Lost sheep are those who have strayed from the truth and love of their creator. This may include liars, fornicators, gamblers, thieves, hypocrites, idolaters, atheists, homosexuals, punk rockers, goths, witches, feminists. We can help purify their sins. We welcome all to our flock. While others might shun those lost sheep, the New Creationists believe no one is beyond saving........”
.........hmmmm, although they have a unique way of saving lost souls!!
New Creations is a craft store in Kill Devil, Kentucky which is owned by a mega church and run by a religious cult. Ruth our MC was fired from her job there when they found out she was in a relationship with another woman, Abigail.
Ruth shoplifts yarn (amongst other things) to get her own back, but one day they lock her in the store and seemingly randomly attack her. However it evolves that their attack isn’t as random as first thought, they want to absolve Ruth of her “sins”, whether she likes it or not.
Ruth ends up fighting for her life, using any items available to her in the shop as a weapon (sharp knitting needles anyone?!). This is first and foremost a story of survival, of one woman’s fight to survive no matter what the odds or whatever she has to do. The cultists are complete fanatics and will also do everything in their power to ensure they “purify” Ruth.
Deliciously dark and gloriously gory, the story is littered with vivid descriptions and best avoided if you’re squeamish!
I thought the ending was quite fitting, I’m sure not everyone will be a fan, but I liked it.
This is the second book I’ve read by this author, and I’ve really enjoyed both of them.
“Don’t be a lost sheep. Do you know a lost sheep? Are you a lost sheep? Lost sheep are those who have strayed from the truth and love of their creator. This may include liars, fornicators, gamblers, thieves, hypocrites, idolaters, atheists, homosexuals, punk rockers, goths, witches, feminists. We can help purify their sins. We welcome all to our flock. While others might shun those lost sheep, the New Creationists believe no one is beyond saving........”
.........hmmmm, although they have a unique way of saving lost souls!!
New Creations is a craft store in Kill Devil, Kentucky which is owned by a mega church and run by a religious cult. Ruth our MC was fired from her job there when they found out she was in a relationship with another woman, Abigail.
Ruth shoplifts yarn (amongst other things) to get her own back, but one day they lock her in the store and seemingly randomly attack her. However it evolves that their attack isn’t as random as first thought, they want to absolve Ruth of her “sins”, whether she likes it or not.
Ruth ends up fighting for her life, using any items available to her in the shop as a weapon (sharp knitting needles anyone?!). This is first and foremost a story of survival, of one woman’s fight to survive no matter what the odds or whatever she has to do. The cultists are complete fanatics and will also do everything in their power to ensure they “purify” Ruth.
Deliciously dark and gloriously gory, the story is littered with vivid descriptions and best avoided if you’re squeamish!
I thought the ending was quite fitting, I’m sure not everyone will be a fan, but I liked it.
This is the second book I’ve read by this author, and I’ve really enjoyed both of them.
August 22, 2025
In Crafting For Sinners, Ruth is locked in a craft store run by a cult of religious zealots after being caught stealing. The premise of the story sounds exactly like something I would love, but I found myself a bit bored.
The first two-thirds of the book build up to a much more eventful final act, but it seemed repetitive and slow. The last of the book had plenty of squeamish violence and action, and once it finally arrived, I was excited to pick the book up and read every night.
Overall, the story works, and the horror is impactful, it just takes quite a while to get there.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC copy.
The first two-thirds of the book build up to a much more eventful final act, but it seemed repetitive and slow. The last of the book had plenty of squeamish violence and action, and once it finally arrived, I was excited to pick the book up and read every night.
Overall, the story works, and the horror is impactful, it just takes quite a while to get there.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC copy.
Want to read
March 26, 2025OMG the premise of the book. IT WAS MADE FOR ME—a Kentuckian, a crafter, and an exvangelical.
I had a tough time with this author's first novel, but I am bound and freaking determined to love this one!
Thanks to Quirk Books and NetGalley for this ARC! Crafting for Sinners by Jenny Kiefer comes out on October 7, 2025.
I had a tough time with this author's first novel, but I am bound and freaking determined to love this one!
Thanks to Quirk Books and NetGalley for this ARC! Crafting for Sinners by Jenny Kiefer comes out on October 7, 2025.
July 18, 2025
Fun, queer, culty horrorness.
I can safely say, I've never read a book like this one before.
The commentary on religion and queerness was apt and thoughtfully woven into the story.
Reading this book almost felt like playing yarn chicken (my crocheting friends will understand): I was on tenterhooks the whole time.
My only gripe was that I'd have liked the podcast segments to continue throughout.
The world needs more queer horror!
I can safely say, I've never read a book like this one before.
The commentary on religion and queerness was apt and thoughtfully woven into the story.
Reading this book almost felt like playing yarn chicken (my crocheting friends will understand): I was on tenterhooks the whole time.
My only gripe was that I'd have liked the podcast segments to continue throughout.
The world needs more queer horror!
September 10, 2025
I absolutely LOVED this book, holy shit.
June 4, 2025
ARC review (no spoilers):
I'm giving it 2 stars because I like the idea of the story. However, the writing is very repetitive. it would have been much better as a novella rather than a full out novel. The end change of POV for one chapter was unnecessary as well.
Basically it was a good concept, poor execution.
I'm giving it 2 stars because I like the idea of the story. However, the writing is very repetitive. it would have been much better as a novella rather than a full out novel. The end change of POV for one chapter was unnecessary as well.
Basically it was a good concept, poor execution.
October 20, 2025
This was an underdeveloped mess.
The MC was shallow and uninteresting, so I didn't care what happened to her. There was also no depth to the plot, so it was a slog to get through. As underdeveloped as it was, it was also weirdly overwritten... and yet nothing happened. No, I honestly have no idea how all of those things can be simultaneously true... and yet...
It seems like the author had an idea for a story but did nothing to flesh it out and, instead, just... started writing and hoped for the best. Plot devices ran rampant, dialogue was clunky, and the flashbacks were weirdly placed and took away from the main story.
Escaping a religious cult via fighting with craft supplies could have been amazing, but it wasn't. It was boring. Not worth the read.
The MC was shallow and uninteresting, so I didn't care what happened to her. There was also no depth to the plot, so it was a slog to get through. As underdeveloped as it was, it was also weirdly overwritten... and yet nothing happened. No, I honestly have no idea how all of those things can be simultaneously true... and yet...
It seems like the author had an idea for a story but did nothing to flesh it out and, instead, just... started writing and hoped for the best. Plot devices ran rampant, dialogue was clunky, and the flashbacks were weirdly placed and took away from the main story.
Escaping a religious cult via fighting with craft supplies could have been amazing, but it wasn't. It was boring. Not worth the read.
August 17, 2025
This was a solid 4 star read for me! I seriously could not put it down. As someone who knits, crochets, and loves horror books, I absolutely inhaled it. That craft store scene where she steals yarn had me low key cackling. If you are a crafter, you know exactly what store it will remind you of!
May 7, 2025
2.5 rounded up. I really want this book to be better - because it’s a fun story.
It needs a couple more drafts. It’s close. But not there yet.
It needs a couple more drafts. It’s close. But not there yet.
November 28, 2025
I saw this while browsing my library’s Libby offerings, and come on… You know I had to. A culty survival horror set in a craft store? Yes please.
I just finished it, and… while it didn’t quite live up to my hopes for it, it was still a compelling and fun read. That being said, I figured out the plot twist decades ahead of our main character, and I did feel like it was pretty repetitive between the anxiety over Abigail probably leaving Ruth, the anxiety of wanting to get back to Abigail to protect her, and the anxiety around her wildly erratic blood sugar situation. Those three themes were on repeat the entire… freaking… book. I get it, but it did still get kinda old after a bit.
I would have really liked more background on the cult, too. I was getting strong Devil's Creek, Old gods vibes - especially since both books take place in Nowhere, Kentucky. That book was miles more dark, gory, and depraved than this one, but I think if the narrative focus of this book wasn’t 3rd person limited, centralized on Ruth (mostly, anyway), and more of the cult was known, I think those similarities might have been even stronger. But maybe I’m reaching - it’s been 4 years since I read Devil’s Creek. The memory is what it is.
I will also just toss out there that some of the crafty lingo used here was awkward. I get what Kiefer was going for, but what is this? “Only when her body relaxed, when each muscle uncoiled from its skein, did the room itself seem to come into focus.” Huh? That doesn’t seem like how muscles… work?
Also, at one point Ruth says/thinks: “She would have to be like her namesake, ruthless.”
… She was named after Eazy-E’s record label? Her parents didn’t really seem like the type…
Anyway, this could have been a bit more concise, and a bit more detailed about those relics and the cult’s history, but I did like it well enough overall.
I just finished it, and… while it didn’t quite live up to my hopes for it, it was still a compelling and fun read. That being said, I figured out the plot twist decades ahead of our main character, and I did feel like it was pretty repetitive between the anxiety over Abigail probably leaving Ruth, the anxiety of wanting to get back to Abigail to protect her, and the anxiety around her wildly erratic blood sugar situation. Those three themes were on repeat the entire… freaking… book. I get it, but it did still get kinda old after a bit.
I would have really liked more background on the cult, too. I was getting strong Devil's Creek, Old gods vibes - especially since both books take place in Nowhere, Kentucky. That book was miles more dark, gory, and depraved than this one, but I think if the narrative focus of this book wasn’t 3rd person limited, centralized on Ruth (mostly, anyway), and more of the cult was known, I think those similarities might have been even stronger. But maybe I’m reaching - it’s been 4 years since I read Devil’s Creek. The memory is what it is.
I will also just toss out there that some of the crafty lingo used here was awkward. I get what Kiefer was going for, but what is this? “Only when her body relaxed, when each muscle uncoiled from its skein, did the room itself seem to come into focus.” Huh? That doesn’t seem like how muscles… work?
Also, at one point Ruth says/thinks: “She would have to be like her namesake, ruthless.”
… She was named after Eazy-E’s record label? Her parents didn’t really seem like the type…
Anyway, this could have been a bit more concise, and a bit more detailed about those relics and the cult’s history, but I did like it well enough overall.
October 23, 2025
I loved a lot about this book. The idea of someone having to fight for their life in a craft store, using knitting needles and glue, is right up my alley. The book overall was well written and entertaining enough. Some of Ruth's internal dialogue gets a little repetitive at times. There was also a part in the middle (when she was hiding between the shelves with the rats) that felt very slow to me and I struggled with but I'm happy I pushed through. It was overall a fun cult book.
I think my biggest gripe was this book is the lack of suspense. With the podcast at the very beginning you hear about a missing lady and her baby and I think its fairly obvious even early on what had happened to them. Nothing that happened throughout the book really surprised me at all. I feel like if the podcast piece had been cut it would have been a lot more shocking of a twist.
The cover and title of this book are killer.
I think my biggest gripe was this book is the lack of suspense. With the podcast at the very beginning you hear about a missing lady and her baby and I think its fairly obvious even early on what had happened to them. Nothing that happened throughout the book really surprised me at all. I feel like if the podcast piece had been cut it would have been a lot more shocking of a twist.
The cover and title of this book are killer.
October 26, 2025
4 stars
First line: "Stab."
I really enjoyed this. It will most likely remain one of the most unique reads of the year for me. Ruth and her girlfriend Abigail live in a small town in Kentucky that has basically been overrun / taken over by a cult who built a giant church upon their arrival. They are evangelicals in every way imaginable and they actively try to convert everybody around them. Ruth works at their craft store for a while before getting fired for having the audacity to be in love with another girl. She occasionally goes back to shoplift there afterwards because she makes a lot of crafts/blankets/etc.
Personally I think I connected with Ruth maybe a little more than the average reader because I too have some religious trauma and reading about the behaviors of the New Creationists rang true for me in more ways than one. The anger that builds up as she listens to their lies and the way they twist the narrative - also relatable.
Also, did I mention the gore? I know this is a horror novel but dang, some of the body stuff was ... hard to deal with. Creative, definitely, but painted horrible pictures in my mind. The struggle Ruth goes through just to stay alive, while also combating additional issues due to her diabetes, had me rooting for her as the bloodbath continued. I will say the plot slowed down a bit around the 60-80% mark but did not impact my overall enjoyment too much.
It was wild, queer, straight up unhinged and very much something I'd recommend for around Halloween.
First line: "Stab."
I really enjoyed this. It will most likely remain one of the most unique reads of the year for me. Ruth and her girlfriend Abigail live in a small town in Kentucky that has basically been overrun / taken over by a cult who built a giant church upon their arrival. They are evangelicals in every way imaginable and they actively try to convert everybody around them. Ruth works at their craft store for a while before getting fired for having the audacity to be in love with another girl. She occasionally goes back to shoplift there afterwards because she makes a lot of crafts/blankets/etc.
Personally I think I connected with Ruth maybe a little more than the average reader because I too have some religious trauma and reading about the behaviors of the New Creationists rang true for me in more ways than one. The anger that builds up as she listens to their lies and the way they twist the narrative - also relatable.
Also, did I mention the gore? I know this is a horror novel but dang, some of the body stuff was ... hard to deal with. Creative, definitely, but painted horrible pictures in my mind. The struggle Ruth goes through just to stay alive, while also combating additional issues due to her diabetes, had me rooting for her as the bloodbath continued. I will say the plot slowed down a bit around the 60-80% mark but did not impact my overall enjoyment too much.
It was wild, queer, straight up unhinged and very much something I'd recommend for around Halloween.
October 28, 2025
actual rating: 5/5 stars
read for reading anticipated 2025 horror 24 hour readathon vlog: https://youtu.be/_hM9A6zz7_o
this is a 5 star read and i'm genuinely upset more people aren't screaming about it. this book released at the beginning of october and only has 627 ratings, which feels like a crime against horror. this deserved to blow up!!!
i didn't even anticipate loving it this much when i first saw it. i walked into barnes and noble in a dangerous mood where my wallet was about to suffer, spotted this on the shelf, and thought "yeah, sure, why not." it happened to fit a reading vlog theme for new release horror, so i took it home. then i proceeded to inhale it at a speed i didn't know i was capable of. like, 100 pages in an hour. i've never read that fast in my life. this book grabbed me by the collar and refused to let me put it down.
if you loved black sheep by rachel harrison, you need to drop everything and read this immediately. it has similar culty vibes and that same fun campy energy. our main character is witty, relatable, and has that sharp humor reminiscent of vesper from black sheep. but she's absolutely her own person. this isn't a knockoff, it's just working in a similar tone that i happen to be obsessed with.
getting trapped in a craft store while a cult hunts you down is peak horror comedy, and i love that it's clearly riffing on hobby lobby. the book leans into the campy fun with cults, but it stays grounded in sharp religious commentary. it explores how religion impacts queer people, especially in small towns where escape feels impossible. systemic barriers trap you in places where getting fired for being queer is just another tuesday, even when you've done everything to stay closeted. even when you've played by their rules, they still find out and still destroy you. it's your worst nightmare in craft store fluorescent lighting.
i also loved that it took place in a craft store because i miss joann's so much now that it's gone. there's something about wandering those aisles that hits different, and this book captured that weird nostalgic energy while also turning it into a blood-soaked nightmare.
the first part of the book is this intense cat and mouse game where our main character is desperately trying to escape the craft store. the tension ratchets up with every page as she's hunted through aisles of yarn and picture frames and seasonal decorations. it's claustrophobic and frantic in the best way. the kills start coming and they get genuinely brutal and graphic. i was not prepared for how intense and visceral some of these scenes got. the author doesn't hold back at all, and the violence feels earned rather than gratuitous.
but honestly, if you'd told me where this book was headed before i read it, i probably would've been skeptical. the direction it takes is wild and unexpected, and on paper i'm not sure i would've thought it could work. but the author had the skill to pull it off so perfectly that every single wild choice landed exactly as intended. the pacing never faltered, the tone stayed consistent even when things got absolutely bananas, and somehow it all made sense within the world she built.
what happens at the end had me rooting so hard for everything. the way it all wrapped up felt so satisfying and complete. it tied together all the threads in a way that felt inevitable looking back but still managed to surprise me. it was just perfect. no notes. flawless execution from start to finish.
this deserves way more attention than it's getting. if you want something fun, campy, brutal, and surprisingly meaningful beneath all the chaos, pick this up immediately. it's everything i didn't know i needed and now i'm mad more people aren't talking about it.
read for reading anticipated 2025 horror 24 hour readathon vlog: https://youtu.be/_hM9A6zz7_o
this is a 5 star read and i'm genuinely upset more people aren't screaming about it. this book released at the beginning of october and only has 627 ratings, which feels like a crime against horror. this deserved to blow up!!!
i didn't even anticipate loving it this much when i first saw it. i walked into barnes and noble in a dangerous mood where my wallet was about to suffer, spotted this on the shelf, and thought "yeah, sure, why not." it happened to fit a reading vlog theme for new release horror, so i took it home. then i proceeded to inhale it at a speed i didn't know i was capable of. like, 100 pages in an hour. i've never read that fast in my life. this book grabbed me by the collar and refused to let me put it down.
if you loved black sheep by rachel harrison, you need to drop everything and read this immediately. it has similar culty vibes and that same fun campy energy. our main character is witty, relatable, and has that sharp humor reminiscent of vesper from black sheep. but she's absolutely her own person. this isn't a knockoff, it's just working in a similar tone that i happen to be obsessed with.
getting trapped in a craft store while a cult hunts you down is peak horror comedy, and i love that it's clearly riffing on hobby lobby. the book leans into the campy fun with cults, but it stays grounded in sharp religious commentary. it explores how religion impacts queer people, especially in small towns where escape feels impossible. systemic barriers trap you in places where getting fired for being queer is just another tuesday, even when you've done everything to stay closeted. even when you've played by their rules, they still find out and still destroy you. it's your worst nightmare in craft store fluorescent lighting.
i also loved that it took place in a craft store because i miss joann's so much now that it's gone. there's something about wandering those aisles that hits different, and this book captured that weird nostalgic energy while also turning it into a blood-soaked nightmare.
the first part of the book is this intense cat and mouse game where our main character is desperately trying to escape the craft store. the tension ratchets up with every page as she's hunted through aisles of yarn and picture frames and seasonal decorations. it's claustrophobic and frantic in the best way. the kills start coming and they get genuinely brutal and graphic. i was not prepared for how intense and visceral some of these scenes got. the author doesn't hold back at all, and the violence feels earned rather than gratuitous.
but honestly, if you'd told me where this book was headed before i read it, i probably would've been skeptical. the direction it takes is wild and unexpected, and on paper i'm not sure i would've thought it could work. but the author had the skill to pull it off so perfectly that every single wild choice landed exactly as intended. the pacing never faltered, the tone stayed consistent even when things got absolutely bananas, and somehow it all made sense within the world she built.
what happens at the end had me rooting so hard for everything. the way it all wrapped up felt so satisfying and complete. it tied together all the threads in a way that felt inevitable looking back but still managed to surprise me. it was just perfect. no notes. flawless execution from start to finish.
this deserves way more attention than it's getting. if you want something fun, campy, brutal, and surprisingly meaningful beneath all the chaos, pick this up immediately. it's everything i didn't know i needed and now i'm mad more people aren't talking about it.
October 1, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley and Quirk books for sending me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I really wanted to love this! The title caught my eye, and I really liked the sound of the premise, a woman trapped in a big craft store, being hunted by members of a religious cult. Unfortunately, this was a case of an amazing premise, but a poor execution.
I found the writing to be very repetitive, which made the book feel longer than it was. It dragged out and I found myself getting bored towards the end. I couldn't connect with the main protagonist, Ruth, so I found myself not caring about the outcome. I felt as though I couldn't really root for her, because I didn't know her. We get little snippets of her past through flashbacks and thoughts, but this wasn't enough. Her personality traits seemed to end at being diabetic and queer, so she didn't feel like a complex character. This was the same for her girlfriend, Abigail. Ruth was far too naive and trusting, given the circumstances, and some decisions she made for the plot were very frustrating. I think the frustration was also caused by the plot twists being obvious, so I knew what was going to happen, and Ruth came across as even more naive.
The quick flip from a survival thriller to a violent horror was a little jarring. Ruth decides she wants to kill as many members as possible, and in the most gruesome ways, feeling gleeful about it. The attacks and fights felt repetitive as well as the writing, so it got boring quite quickly. Most of the story is spent in the craft store, with Ruth hiding and running. I wanted more from the cult and the background of their organisation. We got this in small snippets in a random chapter towards the end, which wasn't enough for me.
It also felt like it was all tell and no show, especially given that Ruth would find out exactly what their plans were through conversations and listening to the walkie talkie. This made the writing feel a little lazy, and I just couldn't get on with it.
It started to be a little too far-fetched when Ruth had all of these wounds, broken bones, and a fatal drop in her blood sugar (she is diabetic). I'm not sure how she was able to keep running and fighting for so long, using force and different weapons.
I was quite confused when it came to the cult, especially when magical elements became involved. I personally don't think there should have been any magical realism, it didn't fit in with the overall vibes of the thriller. The magical elements were also not explained at all, so they became a strange subplot that was never touched upon enough. I don't think the cult was fleshed out enough, it fell flat and was a bit confusing at times. I also didn't enjoy the lead up to the ending, it felt rushed and a bit odd. I didn't think the final chapter switching POV was necessary, and it threw it off even more. I didn't like the final ending, and felt like it was just there for the dramatics, but I don't think it tied the story up well.
Overall, I really liked the premise, but the execution wasn't there for me. I think with some edits and changes, some more background and complexity to the cult and characters, this could have been a good, fun thriller.
I really wanted to love this! The title caught my eye, and I really liked the sound of the premise, a woman trapped in a big craft store, being hunted by members of a religious cult. Unfortunately, this was a case of an amazing premise, but a poor execution.
I found the writing to be very repetitive, which made the book feel longer than it was. It dragged out and I found myself getting bored towards the end. I couldn't connect with the main protagonist, Ruth, so I found myself not caring about the outcome. I felt as though I couldn't really root for her, because I didn't know her. We get little snippets of her past through flashbacks and thoughts, but this wasn't enough. Her personality traits seemed to end at being diabetic and queer, so she didn't feel like a complex character. This was the same for her girlfriend, Abigail. Ruth was far too naive and trusting, given the circumstances, and some decisions she made for the plot were very frustrating. I think the frustration was also caused by the plot twists being obvious, so I knew what was going to happen, and Ruth came across as even more naive.
The quick flip from a survival thriller to a violent horror was a little jarring. Ruth decides she wants to kill as many members as possible, and in the most gruesome ways, feeling gleeful about it. The attacks and fights felt repetitive as well as the writing, so it got boring quite quickly. Most of the story is spent in the craft store, with Ruth hiding and running. I wanted more from the cult and the background of their organisation. We got this in small snippets in a random chapter towards the end, which wasn't enough for me.
It also felt like it was all tell and no show, especially given that Ruth would find out exactly what their plans were through conversations and listening to the walkie talkie. This made the writing feel a little lazy, and I just couldn't get on with it.
It started to be a little too far-fetched when Ruth had all of these wounds, broken bones, and a fatal drop in her blood sugar (she is diabetic). I'm not sure how she was able to keep running and fighting for so long, using force and different weapons.
I was quite confused when it came to the cult, especially when magical elements became involved. I personally don't think there should have been any magical realism, it didn't fit in with the overall vibes of the thriller. The magical elements were also not explained at all, so they became a strange subplot that was never touched upon enough. I don't think the cult was fleshed out enough, it fell flat and was a bit confusing at times. I also didn't enjoy the lead up to the ending, it felt rushed and a bit odd. I didn't think the final chapter switching POV was necessary, and it threw it off even more. I didn't like the final ending, and felt like it was just there for the dramatics, but I don't think it tied the story up well.
Overall, I really liked the premise, but the execution wasn't there for me. I think with some edits and changes, some more background and complexity to the cult and characters, this could have been a good, fun thriller.
July 10, 2025
when i saw this book on Netgalley, i requested it right away as it seemed right up my alley. i love fun horror books and have a strange fascination with mega churches. plus, i’d read Jenny Kiefer’s debut, This Wretched Valley, last year and thought it was ok.
overall, i think Crafting for Sinners was a decent horror comedy. it was a truly unique, wacky, and wild ride filled with tons of blood and gore, creepy cult rituals, and revenge.
however, i do have a few gripes hence the 3 star rating.
the first 60% was honestly kind of boring and mostly consists of Ruth fighting her way through the store and hiding in tight places while her pursuers conveniently speak in exposition right within her earshot. i understand that the craft store element was the hook for the story but i think this section could’ve been cut down as it started to feel dragging repetitive.
the writing style was also very telling instead of showing. for instance, we’re told over and over again by Ruth how much she loves her girlfriend Abigail and is doing everything just so she can return to her. however, imo we didn’t get to know Abigail and see her and Ruth together enough to make me be invested in their relationship.
nonetheless, there were many elements to this book that i really enjoyed.
the premise and setting were super fun. i loved seeing Ruth being creative with her choice of weaponry amongst the crafty wares. plus, New Creations being a pseudo Hobby Lobby (down to the details about barcodes being the sign of the devil) was so funny.
the book definitely began picking up steam once the weird culty stuff started happening. the cult itself was very interesting in how it combines both the stereotypical kind of cult (blood rituals and sacrifices etc.) with the modern version of cults (mega churches and weaponized christianity etc.).
i liked the bits of mixed media interspersed throughout. it was like a fun puzzle trying to work out how it all fit together.
Ruth was a likeable mc. i related to her a lot as someone who was also raised religious but then became disillusioned by and then left the church after developing critical thinking skills. i also appreciated her commitment to being a tote bag baddie lol.
thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!
overall, i think Crafting for Sinners was a decent horror comedy. it was a truly unique, wacky, and wild ride filled with tons of blood and gore, creepy cult rituals, and revenge.
however, i do have a few gripes hence the 3 star rating.
the first 60% was honestly kind of boring and mostly consists of Ruth fighting her way through the store and hiding in tight places while her pursuers conveniently speak in exposition right within her earshot. i understand that the craft store element was the hook for the story but i think this section could’ve been cut down as it started to feel dragging repetitive.
the writing style was also very telling instead of showing. for instance, we’re told over and over again by Ruth how much she loves her girlfriend Abigail and is doing everything just so she can return to her. however, imo we didn’t get to know Abigail and see her and Ruth together enough to make me be invested in their relationship.
nonetheless, there were many elements to this book that i really enjoyed.
the premise and setting were super fun. i loved seeing Ruth being creative with her choice of weaponry amongst the crafty wares. plus, New Creations being a pseudo Hobby Lobby (down to the details about barcodes being the sign of the devil) was so funny.
the book definitely began picking up steam once the weird culty stuff started happening. the cult itself was very interesting in how it combines both the stereotypical kind of cult (blood rituals and sacrifices etc.) with the modern version of cults (mega churches and weaponized christianity etc.).
i liked the bits of mixed media interspersed throughout. it was like a fun puzzle trying to work out how it all fit together.
Ruth was a likeable mc. i related to her a lot as someone who was also raised religious but then became disillusioned by and then left the church after developing critical thinking skills. i also appreciated her commitment to being a tote bag baddie lol.
thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!
October 7, 2025
This novel did not disappoint!
This is a fast paced thriller with enough body horror to make you wish that you didn't have one. Read at your own risk. Read this if you have a particular hatred for a job of the past. Read this if you're queer, with a particular hatred for organized religion. You've been warned!
This is a fast paced thriller with enough body horror to make you wish that you didn't have one. Read at your own risk. Read this if you have a particular hatred for a job of the past. Read this if you're queer, with a particular hatred for organized religion. You've been warned!
September 10, 2025
From the very first chapter, with its podcast setup discussing the sudden disappearance of a queer man, I was immediately pulled into Crafting for Sinners. The story quickly shifts into a tense, fast-paced nightmare as Ruth finds herself trapped in the craft store run by the local church cult that had previously fired her for being queer. Now, they want her dead, and the reasons once revealed, are both infuriating and very unsettling…
This is a locked-room horror that had me on the edge of my seat, desperate to see how Ruth would escape the cult. The use of craft store supplies for survival (and for kills) is clever, gruesome, and so much fun! There’s inventive weapon choices (I’m seeing super glue and knitting needles in a whole new light), and a rat-filled scene that left me feeling claustrophobic. Layered on top of the physical danger, Ruth’s diabetes adds another level of urgency and dread, as she struggles with low blood sugar while being hunted.
What also elevates the story, was how it highlights the ways religion can harm those who don’t conform, especially queer people. If I have one complaint, it’s that the true-crime podcast framing device, while a fantastic hook, never reappears in the narrative. Looking back, it feels disconnected from the rest of the book, which is a missed opportunity.
With all that said, I had a blast with the bizarre and brilliant premise! If cult horror with queer characters and a snarky heroine taking down bigots sounds like your thing, consider picking this one up!
This is a locked-room horror that had me on the edge of my seat, desperate to see how Ruth would escape the cult. The use of craft store supplies for survival (and for kills) is clever, gruesome, and so much fun! There’s inventive weapon choices (I’m seeing super glue and knitting needles in a whole new light), and a rat-filled scene that left me feeling claustrophobic. Layered on top of the physical danger, Ruth’s diabetes adds another level of urgency and dread, as she struggles with low blood sugar while being hunted.
What also elevates the story, was how it highlights the ways religion can harm those who don’t conform, especially queer people. If I have one complaint, it’s that the true-crime podcast framing device, while a fantastic hook, never reappears in the narrative. Looking back, it feels disconnected from the rest of the book, which is a missed opportunity.
With all that said, I had a blast with the bizarre and brilliant premise! If cult horror with queer characters and a snarky heroine taking down bigots sounds like your thing, consider picking this one up!
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