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The Phantom Circuit
After 28-year-old Lyft driver Erica Westfield learns her pop star sister is dead, the last thing she wants to deal with is a stupid hacker threatening to delete her sister’s Facebook profile. Let alone a hacker who brings up Bloody Mary.
Since childhood, when Erica and her sister played the classic game of Bloody Mary one night, she has been haunted by the shadows Mary sent after her through the mirror. They’re always nearby, waiting for the right moment to pull her through to a void somewhere far beyond the cosmos. Erica has tried to ignore them, but this hacker seems to know about them too. It turns out she’s not talking to a hacker at all, but the lost spirit of a girl named Macy Abigayle, a lone wanderer who perished long ago on the Oregon Trail.
Macy has been trapped within those same shadows Erica has been running from, within Bloody Mary’s realm on the other side of every mirror, including Erica’s computer screen. Bloody Mary sentenced Macy to relive the most traumatic moments of her life for eternity. Only Erica can help her escape. To do so, Erica must race to the other side of Bloody Mary’s mirror by facing the memories of her dead sister, including the ones she wishes she could forget. If she fails, all her remembrances of her sister will be lost—and she and Macy will be trapped within the mirror forever.
Since childhood, when Erica and her sister played the classic game of Bloody Mary one night, she has been haunted by the shadows Mary sent after her through the mirror. They’re always nearby, waiting for the right moment to pull her through to a void somewhere far beyond the cosmos. Erica has tried to ignore them, but this hacker seems to know about them too. It turns out she’s not talking to a hacker at all, but the lost spirit of a girl named Macy Abigayle, a lone wanderer who perished long ago on the Oregon Trail.
Macy has been trapped within those same shadows Erica has been running from, within Bloody Mary’s realm on the other side of every mirror, including Erica’s computer screen. Bloody Mary sentenced Macy to relive the most traumatic moments of her life for eternity. Only Erica can help her escape. To do so, Erica must race to the other side of Bloody Mary’s mirror by facing the memories of her dead sister, including the ones she wishes she could forget. If she fails, all her remembrances of her sister will be lost—and she and Macy will be trapped within the mirror forever.
- GenresHorror
Audible Audio
First published January 1, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
December 21, 2021
3.5 Stars
I love horror that incorporates technology so I was very excited for this novel. I really enjoyed how the story took the idea of the Bloody Mary urban myth into a modern world. Likewise, I enjoy stories that incorporate grief, so that aspect also really appealed to me.
In terms of execution, I liked but did not love this one. Despite the intimate perspective we got of a woman mourning her sister, I just failed to become emotionally attached to the narrative which made it hard to be invested in the overall story.
Depsite my reservations, I would recommend this one to readers look for a unique modern take on the tale of Bloody Mary.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
I love horror that incorporates technology so I was very excited for this novel. I really enjoyed how the story took the idea of the Bloody Mary urban myth into a modern world. Likewise, I enjoy stories that incorporate grief, so that aspect also really appealed to me.
In terms of execution, I liked but did not love this one. Despite the intimate perspective we got of a woman mourning her sister, I just failed to become emotionally attached to the narrative which made it hard to be invested in the overall story.
Depsite my reservations, I would recommend this one to readers look for a unique modern take on the tale of Bloody Mary.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
February 6, 2022
1,5*
Since I am hungry for more horror incorporating technology and more modern tools into the story, I knew I had to check this one out.
It is also combining a classic horror story we all know, the legend of Bloody Mary, with a twist. This is a psychological horror story that was unfortunately too slow paced and confusing making it really hard to be engaged with a story that seemed to go on endless circles.
When it comes to the concept I did like to see the new approach to the Bloody Mary tale we all know. The twist is that our main character, instead of a mirror, uses a computer screen to communicate with the otherworld. It is a stream of consciousness narrative that deals with the questions of what happens when a loved one with a social media presence dies.
Since I am hungry for more horror incorporating technology and more modern tools into the story, I knew I had to check this one out.
It is also combining a classic horror story we all know, the legend of Bloody Mary, with a twist. This is a psychological horror story that was unfortunately too slow paced and confusing making it really hard to be engaged with a story that seemed to go on endless circles.
When it comes to the concept I did like to see the new approach to the Bloody Mary tale we all know. The twist is that our main character, instead of a mirror, uses a computer screen to communicate with the otherworld. It is a stream of consciousness narrative that deals with the questions of what happens when a loved one with a social media presence dies.
June 22, 2024
"Read a book that is under 350 pages"
Firstly, thank you to both Netgalley and Austin Farmer for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review!
Erica has just received the sudden news that her famous sister Dianne has died via social media, an unknown hacker contacting Erica via her sister's Facebook profile promises to fulfill Erica's final wish in seeing her sister one last time.
Growing up Erica and Dianne did what most curious kids in the 90's and 00's did, they innocently played the infamous mirror game "Bloody Mary", unbeknownst to them they accidentally summoned the spirit of Bloody Mary who lurks on the other side of the mirror throughout Erica and Dianne's life. As the two sisters grow up, they slowly drift apart due to mental health issues and Dianne's struggle with drug addiction and popstar fame, causing tension between the two.
After another night of Lyft and Uber driving to try and make ends meet, Erica receives the sudden news of her the death of Dianne. Erica wishes into the void that she could see her sister one more time, only to have her wish granted by a hacker contacting her via Dianne's Facebook account... However, the hacker is not a normal person, it claims to be the spirit of a young girl who died on the Oregon Trail many years before hand named Macy Abigayle and she needs Erica's help to escape from Bloody Mary's shadow void behind the mirrors...
I won't lie, at first I was very sceptical of this book based off of the other reviews on Goodreads but I was intrigued by the storyline and wanted to give it a go, I can definitely see why a few people have found the book to be confusing and hard to read, the storyline itself is easy to follow and the author's writing style is very descriptive but repetitive in some parts which can easily leave a reader confused, however if you're a fan of an emotional read that is in depth and really sets an atmospheric scene as Erica flashes between her shared memories with her sister Dianne, desperately trying to save her from the clutches of drug addiction.
Overall, I genuinely enjoyed "The Phantom Circuit" and I'm eager to read more from Austin Farmer in the future.
Firstly, thank you to both Netgalley and Austin Farmer for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review!
Erica has just received the sudden news that her famous sister Dianne has died via social media, an unknown hacker contacting Erica via her sister's Facebook profile promises to fulfill Erica's final wish in seeing her sister one last time.
Growing up Erica and Dianne did what most curious kids in the 90's and 00's did, they innocently played the infamous mirror game "Bloody Mary", unbeknownst to them they accidentally summoned the spirit of Bloody Mary who lurks on the other side of the mirror throughout Erica and Dianne's life. As the two sisters grow up, they slowly drift apart due to mental health issues and Dianne's struggle with drug addiction and popstar fame, causing tension between the two.
After another night of Lyft and Uber driving to try and make ends meet, Erica receives the sudden news of her the death of Dianne. Erica wishes into the void that she could see her sister one more time, only to have her wish granted by a hacker contacting her via Dianne's Facebook account... However, the hacker is not a normal person, it claims to be the spirit of a young girl who died on the Oregon Trail many years before hand named Macy Abigayle and she needs Erica's help to escape from Bloody Mary's shadow void behind the mirrors...
I won't lie, at first I was very sceptical of this book based off of the other reviews on Goodreads but I was intrigued by the storyline and wanted to give it a go, I can definitely see why a few people have found the book to be confusing and hard to read, the storyline itself is easy to follow and the author's writing style is very descriptive but repetitive in some parts which can easily leave a reader confused, however if you're a fan of an emotional read that is in depth and really sets an atmospheric scene as Erica flashes between her shared memories with her sister Dianne, desperately trying to save her from the clutches of drug addiction.
Overall, I genuinely enjoyed "The Phantom Circuit" and I'm eager to read more from Austin Farmer in the future.
January 2, 2022
The Phantom circuit by Austin Farmer.
After twenty-eight-year-old Lyft driver Erica Westfield learns her popstar sister is dead, the last thing she wants to deal with is a stupid hacker threatening to delete her sister’s Facebook profile. Let alone a hacker who brings up Bloody Mary.
A good read. Likeable story and characters. I did like the cover. It was different. 4*.
After twenty-eight-year-old Lyft driver Erica Westfield learns her popstar sister is dead, the last thing she wants to deal with is a stupid hacker threatening to delete her sister’s Facebook profile. Let alone a hacker who brings up Bloody Mary.
A good read. Likeable story and characters. I did like the cover. It was different. 4*.
November 19, 2021
The Phantom Circuit is a psychological horror story that is guaranteed to deliver shivers to the reader. The author creates characters that the reader can connect with easily and leaves the reader pining to learn the characters’ fate. This is a tale of terror unlike others I have read due to author’s incredibly intriguing storytelling style. Definitely one to put on your reading list!
November 18, 2021
Thank you Netgalley and Author Austin Farmer for this ARC.
I so wanted to like this book, however, the writing was all over the place and I was too confused to follow along with what was going on.
I so wanted to like this book, however, the writing was all over the place and I was too confused to follow along with what was going on.
November 30, 2021
Very clever with key characters experiencing mysterious, interwoven story lines - all comes together at various jaw-dropping instances throughout. Very entertaining and really makes one think.
February 5, 2024
Definitely a horror/thriller to read! I love ghost stories and urban legends, I remember being scared of Bloody Mary and can relate to the girl's fear. Tangled with the death of her sister, this makes for an interesting, all-consuming read that is a must for any thriller fan.
Read
December 27, 2021I always enjoy a modern spin on an old story. So I loved how Phantom Circuit takes on the Bloody Mary legend using computers as a medium. This happens within a stream of consciousness narrative that deals with the questions of what happens when a loved one with a social media presence dies.
The main characters internal dialogue reads as a beautiful meditation on the nature of issues and grief. There are not a lot of stories that deal with the nature of losing someone who still has an internet footprint so it is refreshing that this book ventures into this direction.
The story maintains a good balance between being reflective and using supernatural horror to entertain. I would definitely recommend it to fans of horror and dark fantasy!
Thank you Netgalley for my advanced reader's copy.
I am also posting my review on Goodreads.
The main characters internal dialogue reads as a beautiful meditation on the nature of issues and grief. There are not a lot of stories that deal with the nature of losing someone who still has an internet footprint so it is refreshing that this book ventures into this direction.
The story maintains a good balance between being reflective and using supernatural horror to entertain. I would definitely recommend it to fans of horror and dark fantasy!
Thank you Netgalley for my advanced reader's copy.
I am also posting my review on Goodreads.
November 24, 2021
I heard about this book from my best friend. She told me she couldn’t sleep alone after reading it, so I naturally had to read it, too. Well, she was right…it’s a terrifying book, and now I can’t sleep alone, either.
I love Farmer’s writing style. He has a unique ability to make each scene illuminated (with darkness!) as he creates a frightening new dimension that is one I NEVER hope to actually enter in this lifetime!
I love Farmer’s writing style. He has a unique ability to make each scene illuminated (with darkness!) as he creates a frightening new dimension that is one I NEVER hope to actually enter in this lifetime!
February 2, 2022
I read about 25% of The Phantom Circuit as an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) thanks to @NetGalley! Unfortunately I had to shelve this one under Did Not Finish (DNF). Three main things -- I didn't buy it, it was too much, and the #facts were just wrong.
I didn't buy it. The first-person narrative was written with omniscient third-person insight. Were we really to believe that a woman who talks to her mother on the phone about her job WOULDN'T call her mother upon hearing her sister died? She hears her sister died and then checks Google? No phone call TO her sister? To her mother? She just...buys it? I don't buy it. I don't buy that this 28-year-old calls mirrors "looking glasses" without being ironic. Using old-timey phrases would have been fine if the omniscient third-person tone required them to differentiate between the 28-year-old's frantic, Millennial tone, but this 28-year-old spoke in tones and words that I don't believe one would use in 2021. I'm assuming this was 2021, because the pandemic is referenced.
The pandemic, the Bloody Mary ghost/phantom/concept/being, the old-timey 1800's Macy, it was too much. I would have loved a book on a computer-based, technological phantom haunting people through their internet. That would have been very 2022-Black-Mirror-y. I would have loved a book about a vengeful 1800s pioneer/Oregon-Trail-traveling witch. I would have loved a book about mysterious circumstances surrounding a sister's death that must be solved through her social media. There were three entirely different book concepts SHOVED together in one attempt, and it was too much.
Also, and most frustratingly, the facts were wrong. I was getting too hung up with glaring inaccuracies. Some of the phrases didn't make sense. How is a horizon "like a cosmic, newborn nebula with memories shooting out like lightning, branching in tornadoes." What?! What does a newborn nebula look like? Does it shoot things like lightning? I don't think there's lightning in space because the atmosphere is different? And how do things "shoot like lightning" and simultaneously "branch in tornadoes?" Do tornadoes BRANCH?
Farmer was lazy with his language. Metaphors were recycled in confusing ways. Toward the beginning of the book, another metaphor described a car "scraping across the cement wall, sparks erupting in volcanic tornadoes." What are volcanic tornadoes?? Tornadoes that branch, but also erupt...but also, tornadoes do neither!
Most frustratingly were the lazy and just plain wrong #alternativefacts. Why would a girl from the 1800s have "no memory of her life" except know EXACTLY what a 21st Century girl needs to do to save her sister. Why would Macy care about Dianne? Also, California wasn't incorporated until 1850, so how would Macy's family be traveling "toward California" before the property was annexed from Mexico? As a California native, I was almost personally offended by this one.
Also, Macy's family was traveling the Oregon Trail, which notably passed ABOVE California to Oregon. Why would Macy say her family was traveling to California from the Oregon Trail...only to settle in San Diego?? Again, San Diego, at the southernmost point of California, wasn't incorporated until 1850. California didn't exist until then, and it certainly wasn't part of the Oregon Trail. Farmer insulted California natives with blatantly incorrect facts. Parts of the novel read like he regurgitated snippets he'd overhead at cocktail parties about "life in pioneer days." Rude.
I rated this book One Star because I don't foresee myself ever recommending it or picking it up again. There are three distinct ideas for different books, but even then, the writing made my stomach turn.
Try again.
I didn't buy it. The first-person narrative was written with omniscient third-person insight. Were we really to believe that a woman who talks to her mother on the phone about her job WOULDN'T call her mother upon hearing her sister died? She hears her sister died and then checks Google? No phone call TO her sister? To her mother? She just...buys it? I don't buy it. I don't buy that this 28-year-old calls mirrors "looking glasses" without being ironic. Using old-timey phrases would have been fine if the omniscient third-person tone required them to differentiate between the 28-year-old's frantic, Millennial tone, but this 28-year-old spoke in tones and words that I don't believe one would use in 2021. I'm assuming this was 2021, because the pandemic is referenced.
The pandemic, the Bloody Mary ghost/phantom/concept/being, the old-timey 1800's Macy, it was too much. I would have loved a book on a computer-based, technological phantom haunting people through their internet. That would have been very 2022-Black-Mirror-y. I would have loved a book about a vengeful 1800s pioneer/Oregon-Trail-traveling witch. I would have loved a book about mysterious circumstances surrounding a sister's death that must be solved through her social media. There were three entirely different book concepts SHOVED together in one attempt, and it was too much.
Also, and most frustratingly, the facts were wrong. I was getting too hung up with glaring inaccuracies. Some of the phrases didn't make sense. How is a horizon "like a cosmic, newborn nebula with memories shooting out like lightning, branching in tornadoes." What?! What does a newborn nebula look like? Does it shoot things like lightning? I don't think there's lightning in space because the atmosphere is different? And how do things "shoot like lightning" and simultaneously "branch in tornadoes?" Do tornadoes BRANCH?
Farmer was lazy with his language. Metaphors were recycled in confusing ways. Toward the beginning of the book, another metaphor described a car "scraping across the cement wall, sparks erupting in volcanic tornadoes." What are volcanic tornadoes?? Tornadoes that branch, but also erupt...but also, tornadoes do neither!
Most frustratingly were the lazy and just plain wrong #alternativefacts. Why would a girl from the 1800s have "no memory of her life" except know EXACTLY what a 21st Century girl needs to do to save her sister. Why would Macy care about Dianne? Also, California wasn't incorporated until 1850, so how would Macy's family be traveling "toward California" before the property was annexed from Mexico? As a California native, I was almost personally offended by this one.
Also, Macy's family was traveling the Oregon Trail, which notably passed ABOVE California to Oregon. Why would Macy say her family was traveling to California from the Oregon Trail...only to settle in San Diego?? Again, San Diego, at the southernmost point of California, wasn't incorporated until 1850. California didn't exist until then, and it certainly wasn't part of the Oregon Trail. Farmer insulted California natives with blatantly incorrect facts. Parts of the novel read like he regurgitated snippets he'd overhead at cocktail parties about "life in pioneer days." Rude.
I rated this book One Star because I don't foresee myself ever recommending it or picking it up again. There are three distinct ideas for different books, but even then, the writing made my stomach turn.
Try again.
April 10, 2022
It’s just a game, Erica. Everyone knows that.
Austin Farmer’s debut novel is a richly atmospheric exploration of grief, adulthood, and sisterhood. It is set during the pandemic and kicks off with Erica, a young woman who lives from gig to gig driving for Lyft and Uber and any similar apps that will approve her. She is caught up in the middle of trying to figure out where the next paycheck is coming from in a world where everyone looks like they’ve got everything figured out, at least on social media. That’s when she learns she’s lost her sister, Dianne, who used to be her best friend. They haven’t talked properly in a long time, so how can Erica be getting messages from her now, seemingly from beyond the grave? And if the messages are being sent by a cruel hacker, how does the hacker know the name the sisters called three times in front of a mirror when they were children?
The urban legend of Bloody Mary is recognizable across many cultures, and in this novel it gets a clever technological twist. Two very recognizable things are efficiently welded together, and the supernatural element allows Farmer to explore the relationship between the sisters by showing us flashes and scenes from their past.
What if all we had was this moment? What if the only thing that mattered was right now, before it goes away?
Whether it’s a friend or a sibling, we can all relate to the experience of drifting apart from someone. But the memories we share with them are undeniable, and they can become a powerful currency that can make or break us.
The themes of isolation and feeling disconnected in an age of technology and social media are tackled really powerfully in the first part of the novel, which is particularly strong. Another great strength of the novel are the passages that detail moments from Erica’s and Dianne’s past, as well as the descriptions of Macy’s journey along the trail. There are moments in the book that read somewhat like a creepypasta or a reddit/nosleep story, but definitely like the better and more literary ones that end up as published short stories or novels. There are definitely places that recall recognizable elements from urban and folk horror alike.
One possible downside of the novel is that the descriptions may come across as a little repetitive, and so lose the more impatient readers or those who expect relentless, non-stop action. The rules of the world the characters inhabit could also be made just a little bit clearer. There are also very few sentences that could use another round of editing (which probably happened before the final version was released).
What could have worked really well in this kind of novel would have been bits visually designed as Facebook posts or Messenger messages, or at least graphically more separated from the rest of the text (maybe this has already been done in the final version, or the author simply didn’t want to go that way, which is also understandable). However, Farmer already manages to give the three first-person narrators three distinct voices, which is a huge success, especially with such an ambitious novel. The bond between the three women is strengthened by the subtle and not so subtle parallels and keywords that are skillfully planted across their narratives and very fun to spot. There is a delicate balance between keeping the three voices distinct and pointing out how they are connected, which is another strength to consider.
All in all, “The Phantom Circuit” is a praiseworthy effort and an enjoyable read that reflects (pun intended) many relatable themes and represents a satisfying whole.
Austin Farmer’s debut novel is a richly atmospheric exploration of grief, adulthood, and sisterhood. It is set during the pandemic and kicks off with Erica, a young woman who lives from gig to gig driving for Lyft and Uber and any similar apps that will approve her. She is caught up in the middle of trying to figure out where the next paycheck is coming from in a world where everyone looks like they’ve got everything figured out, at least on social media. That’s when she learns she’s lost her sister, Dianne, who used to be her best friend. They haven’t talked properly in a long time, so how can Erica be getting messages from her now, seemingly from beyond the grave? And if the messages are being sent by a cruel hacker, how does the hacker know the name the sisters called three times in front of a mirror when they were children?
The urban legend of Bloody Mary is recognizable across many cultures, and in this novel it gets a clever technological twist. Two very recognizable things are efficiently welded together, and the supernatural element allows Farmer to explore the relationship between the sisters by showing us flashes and scenes from their past.
What if all we had was this moment? What if the only thing that mattered was right now, before it goes away?
Whether it’s a friend or a sibling, we can all relate to the experience of drifting apart from someone. But the memories we share with them are undeniable, and they can become a powerful currency that can make or break us.
The themes of isolation and feeling disconnected in an age of technology and social media are tackled really powerfully in the first part of the novel, which is particularly strong. Another great strength of the novel are the passages that detail moments from Erica’s and Dianne’s past, as well as the descriptions of Macy’s journey along the trail. There are moments in the book that read somewhat like a creepypasta or a reddit/nosleep story, but definitely like the better and more literary ones that end up as published short stories or novels. There are definitely places that recall recognizable elements from urban and folk horror alike.
One possible downside of the novel is that the descriptions may come across as a little repetitive, and so lose the more impatient readers or those who expect relentless, non-stop action. The rules of the world the characters inhabit could also be made just a little bit clearer. There are also very few sentences that could use another round of editing (which probably happened before the final version was released).
What could have worked really well in this kind of novel would have been bits visually designed as Facebook posts or Messenger messages, or at least graphically more separated from the rest of the text (maybe this has already been done in the final version, or the author simply didn’t want to go that way, which is also understandable). However, Farmer already manages to give the three first-person narrators three distinct voices, which is a huge success, especially with such an ambitious novel. The bond between the three women is strengthened by the subtle and not so subtle parallels and keywords that are skillfully planted across their narratives and very fun to spot. There is a delicate balance between keeping the three voices distinct and pointing out how they are connected, which is another strength to consider.
All in all, “The Phantom Circuit” is a praiseworthy effort and an enjoyable read that reflects (pun intended) many relatable themes and represents a satisfying whole.
January 10, 2022
ARC was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
2/5---------------------------------3/10
This review maybe it's not the best because I DNF this book at 75% since I wasn't understanding ANYTHING. So...Let's get into it.
The Phantom Circuit by Austin Farmer presents a story about grief, memories, sisterhood, depression, and loss. It shows in a very reflexive manner a complex story that intertwines three different hurt characters, technology, a reinvented bloody mary, and ¿the afterlife?
I mean, I didn't get what was going on, so bear with me, please.
First things first, the main premise of this book is this: Erica is a young woman with an unfulfilling life that had 0 contact with his beloved big sister since she became a star (and also an addict). Sadly, that relationship would never get on the good track again, because the news has reported the death of her sister.
Not knowing how to feel or what to do (she was ghosting her sister) she post on Facebook how much she would like to see her sister one more time.
What she was not expecting was her sister's account popping up, sending her a message.
What she suppose to be a hacker turns out to be Macy, a girl locked on the other side of the mirror by Bloody Mary.
She warns her, Mary is going for her and her sister's spirit and she may be the only one who can stop this evil spirit.
...Sounds kind of cool. I guess it was. The fact that the plot was so weird and fast and...I don't know...didn't help at all.
I didn't understand how exactly the bloody mary thing work. I would like to blame the fact that English is not my first language, but at the end of the day, I believe it wasn't well explained and developed. She was supposed to be this neutral being related with time and memories that eventually turn evil and do...¿things?
You see, this is problem number one: I don't even understand the worldbuilding and the main villain. I didn't get her story, nor the space where it was happening.
¿Macy character?¿Erica going through her memories and fighting Mary? Same story. What was happening? I DON'T KNOW
Yet there's something positive about it. I liked Dianne's chapters. Her perspective was enchanting. Easy to follow, full of pain for the lost relationship with her sister, the letter format recalling her memories...Chef kiss. Well done and captivating. The writing style shine on those pages.
2/5---------------------------------3/10
This review maybe it's not the best because I DNF this book at 75% since I wasn't understanding ANYTHING. So...Let's get into it.
The Phantom Circuit by Austin Farmer presents a story about grief, memories, sisterhood, depression, and loss. It shows in a very reflexive manner a complex story that intertwines three different hurt characters, technology, a reinvented bloody mary, and ¿the afterlife?
I mean, I didn't get what was going on, so bear with me, please.
First things first, the main premise of this book is this: Erica is a young woman with an unfulfilling life that had 0 contact with his beloved big sister since she became a star (and also an addict). Sadly, that relationship would never get on the good track again, because the news has reported the death of her sister.
Not knowing how to feel or what to do (she was ghosting her sister) she post on Facebook how much she would like to see her sister one more time.
What she was not expecting was her sister's account popping up, sending her a message.
What she suppose to be a hacker turns out to be Macy, a girl locked on the other side of the mirror by Bloody Mary.
She warns her, Mary is going for her and her sister's spirit and she may be the only one who can stop this evil spirit.
...Sounds kind of cool. I guess it was. The fact that the plot was so weird and fast and...I don't know...didn't help at all.
I didn't understand how exactly the bloody mary thing work. I would like to blame the fact that English is not my first language, but at the end of the day, I believe it wasn't well explained and developed. She was supposed to be this neutral being related with time and memories that eventually turn evil and do...¿things?
You see, this is problem number one: I don't even understand the worldbuilding and the main villain. I didn't get her story, nor the space where it was happening.
¿Macy character?¿Erica going through her memories and fighting Mary? Same story. What was happening? I DON'T KNOW
Yet there's something positive about it. I liked Dianne's chapters. Her perspective was enchanting. Easy to follow, full of pain for the lost relationship with her sister, the letter format recalling her memories...Chef kiss. Well done and captivating. The writing style shine on those pages.
May 20, 2022
Erica and her sister Dianne played Bloody Mary often as children. The result is that Bloody Mary would continue to haunt her by sending shadows after her. They want to send her to a void somewhere beyond the cosmos. Twenty eight Erica is a Lyft driver. She is run ragged driving for Lyft is underunemployed. She finds out that her sister now “international superstar” is dead. Erica will get a message from Dianne’s Facebook Messenger account. Erica think it’s a hacker. This event causes Erica to start a mystery that launches her from one plane to the next. She travels to a cybermirror realm that has Erica meet (the hacker but wasn’t a hacker) Macy who died on the Oregon Trail in the 1800’s. Bloody Mary is trapped there too. To save Macy and herself, she must dive into mirrors and face her memories of her sister and their childhood battles and Bloody Mary. Erica must finish her quest before Bloody Mary consumes them.
The novel includes time travel, an original mix of supernatural, drama and tech-driven anxieties. It’s a suspenseful, dramatic thriller novel that includes the supernatural. I liked how Erica works to save Macy and herself.
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I wasn’t obligated to write a favorable review or any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
The novel includes time travel, an original mix of supernatural, drama and tech-driven anxieties. It’s a suspenseful, dramatic thriller novel that includes the supernatural. I liked how Erica works to save Macy and herself.
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I wasn’t obligated to write a favorable review or any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
January 29, 2022
Thanks to NetGalley and Austin Farmer for a free advanced copy of this book to read and review.
I'm in two minds about The Phantom Circuit, on the one hand there were parts I really enjoyed and though omg this is so COOL, but then on the flipside I just found it a slog to read at points, and I really did consider DNFR. I think the big blocks of text didn't help and if the author had broken those up a bit more I absolutely would have found it much easier to read!
To brief you about the story... The Phantom Circuit is a modern day retelling of Bloody Mary, and instead of mirrors she uses ~other~ methods shall I say (don't want to give too much away!) and as someone who was obsessed with urban legends as a child/teenager this was definitely something I thought I would love.
It did frighten me a lil bit, as I am still (at 26 years old) deathly afraid of Bloody Mary and so I want applaud the author for bringing that fear back into the forefront of my life...
The idea of this book was incredible, the author had taken quite a traditional legend and injected something new to the story. However, it just wasn't executed in the best way.
Character wise they were kind of a focus of the book, but they also weren't - it was pretty mixed and therefore hard to form a real opinion on them. I get what the author was trying to do, and I can see how the characters could have been such an amazing part of the story, they just needed fleshing out a bit more so that we could form an attachment to them and then start to root for them.
And I don't think the delivery of the book helped with matters. The execution of the story is what lacked for me, it was all over the place and I felt like I was wading through treacle to read it. Some parts lacked relevance to the story and would have been better left out and as such would probably have helped with the flow of the story. I did enjoy the way the author had messages written from Dianne though, I found that really interesting and thought it worked well with the way Bloody Mary was appearing.
Overall, it definitely has potential! The premise is super cool and the idea of a modern touch on an old legend is interesting, it just needed some work on the execution of the story.
ALSO, a warning that it was going to discuss the pandemic would have been nice haha, I try and avoid that while I'm reading and it just suddenly got sprung on us!
I'm in two minds about The Phantom Circuit, on the one hand there were parts I really enjoyed and though omg this is so COOL, but then on the flipside I just found it a slog to read at points, and I really did consider DNFR. I think the big blocks of text didn't help and if the author had broken those up a bit more I absolutely would have found it much easier to read!
To brief you about the story... The Phantom Circuit is a modern day retelling of Bloody Mary, and instead of mirrors she uses ~other~ methods shall I say (don't want to give too much away!) and as someone who was obsessed with urban legends as a child/teenager this was definitely something I thought I would love.
It did frighten me a lil bit, as I am still (at 26 years old) deathly afraid of Bloody Mary and so I want applaud the author for bringing that fear back into the forefront of my life...
The idea of this book was incredible, the author had taken quite a traditional legend and injected something new to the story. However, it just wasn't executed in the best way.
Character wise they were kind of a focus of the book, but they also weren't - it was pretty mixed and therefore hard to form a real opinion on them. I get what the author was trying to do, and I can see how the characters could have been such an amazing part of the story, they just needed fleshing out a bit more so that we could form an attachment to them and then start to root for them.
And I don't think the delivery of the book helped with matters. The execution of the story is what lacked for me, it was all over the place and I felt like I was wading through treacle to read it. Some parts lacked relevance to the story and would have been better left out and as such would probably have helped with the flow of the story. I did enjoy the way the author had messages written from Dianne though, I found that really interesting and thought it worked well with the way Bloody Mary was appearing.
Overall, it definitely has potential! The premise is super cool and the idea of a modern touch on an old legend is interesting, it just needed some work on the execution of the story.
ALSO, a warning that it was going to discuss the pandemic would have been nice haha, I try and avoid that while I'm reading and it just suddenly got sprung on us!
April 8, 2022
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a copy of this book!
This book was confusing. Let me break it down.
Characters: The main three characters were easy to understand. Everyone else I was massively confused about. Bloody Mary as a villain is such a cool character. I would've liked more lore about her.
Atmosphere: The idea of the mirror world is really cool, but everything kept changing all of the time, and I was confused.
Writing: The writing of this book made it very confusing.
Plot: The book ended very suddenly with main character saying sorry if she left us on read (a callback to earlier). This is a book where you have to focus to understand anything that's going on in it.
Intrigue: I was intrigued by Macy's story and Bloody Mary mostly.
Logic: I'm still confused by everything.
Enjoyment: The book was okay, but I think it could've been written better. This ended up with 3 stars.
This book was confusing. Let me break it down.
Characters: The main three characters were easy to understand. Everyone else I was massively confused about. Bloody Mary as a villain is such a cool character. I would've liked more lore about her.
Atmosphere: The idea of the mirror world is really cool, but everything kept changing all of the time, and I was confused.
Writing: The writing of this book made it very confusing.
Plot: The book ended very suddenly with main character saying sorry if she left us on read (a callback to earlier). This is a book where you have to focus to understand anything that's going on in it.
Intrigue: I was intrigued by Macy's story and Bloody Mary mostly.
Logic: I'm still confused by everything.
Enjoyment: The book was okay, but I think it could've been written better. This ended up with 3 stars.
January 31, 2022
Thanks to NetGalley and Austin Farmer for a free advanced copy of this book to read and review. When I read the short snippet of what the book was going to be about I thought it sounded interesting. I'm not sure that I would conisder this book a straight up "horror" book, it fell more into the "thriller" genre. Like I said I liked the premise, but unfortunately this book fell flat for me. I honestly considered DNFing it about half way through. I thought the story lines were a bit confusing and all over the place. I was having a hard time figuring out if we were in present time or if it was a flashback. I liked some of the storyline of Erica reliving important moments in her life with her sister. I really didn't like the Bloody Mary character, she seemed more alien that horror scary with all the talk of "ectoplasm." I probably wouldn't recommend this book to a friend.
February 19, 2022
Unfortunately this entire thing was a no for me. I couldn't get into the content and how the story was told and ended up DNFing at 40%.
I kept wanting to give this a chance since its supposed to be a story of grief and sisters and all the things that come along with those two things. Sadly, this just missed the mark. I think this could definitely be enjoyed but someone but unfortunately I am not that person.
Thank you to the publisher & Netgalley for the opportunity to read the book in advance in exchange for an honest review.
I kept wanting to give this a chance since its supposed to be a story of grief and sisters and all the things that come along with those two things. Sadly, this just missed the mark. I think this could definitely be enjoyed but someone but unfortunately I am not that person.
Thank you to the publisher & Netgalley for the opportunity to read the book in advance in exchange for an honest review.
June 8, 2022
The Phantom Circuit is, at its core, a heartfelt horror. It is comprised of resonating themes involving memory, grief, loneliness, and connection. Erica’s experience is one of intense grief that can only be shown through the lens the horror genre allows, but through the terror is an equal amount of unending love. Farmer’s musical voice elegantly paints a unique world through beautiful poetic prose, and even though this world is comprised of nightmares there is an amazing draw to understand how everything and everyone connects.
December 8, 2021
I loved the concept and characters in this book, but ultimately I think it was a bit ambitious. The first several chapters felt like a lot of one character explaining a complicated (and mysterious) scenario directly to the reader, but I think if some aspects had been allowed to unfold more organically this would easily be a 3+ star read.
Still looking forward to reading more from this author, though - the concept was that good.
Still looking forward to reading more from this author, though - the concept was that good.
Did Not Finish
November 28, 2021DNF @ 20%
I really wanted to love this - I thought the premise sounded really interesting but I struggled from the beginning with the writing style, and then the plot was weird and confusing and I literally just couldn't keep reading it.
Thanks netgalley for providing me with this arc in exchange for an honest review.
I really wanted to love this - I thought the premise sounded really interesting but I struggled from the beginning with the writing style, and then the plot was weird and confusing and I literally just couldn't keep reading it.
Thanks netgalley for providing me with this arc in exchange for an honest review.
May 28, 2022
I found The Phantom Circuit to be profound and very intriguing. The story is well written with a bit of mysticism added to keep you on the hook. The characters are well developed and intelligent but also down to Earth. I really enjoyed listening/reading this book. I received this book for free upon my request but it has no bearing on my honest unbiased review that I am voluntarily leaving.
May 31, 2022
Loved the narration of Michelle H. Lee
This a psychological horror story that will make you shiver. Listen in the day time...We have the Bloody Mary legend with the use computers, A hacker and death.... DAY TIME
This a psychological horror story that will make you shiver. Listen in the day time...We have the Bloody Mary legend with the use computers, A hacker and death.... DAY TIME
March 12, 2022
This was an ambitious first novel, but I found it a unique and fun reading experience. I'm looking forward to enjoying more of Farmer's work in the future!
Did Not Finish
February 6, 2022Thank you to the author for the opportunity to give this a read!
Unfortunately, I ended up DNFing this at around 75ish pages in. While the idea of this story is very intriguing, I felt as though I was constantly being told plot, instead of having it be shown and growing organically. I barely got to know the main characters before being thrown into the story, meaning I don't really care about what happens to them. The fact that I noticed and became increasingly annoyed with how many times the word "ectoplasm" got repeated on every other page also pulled me out of the story. Erica read as much, much younger than her supposed age of late 20s, and the letter-type entries where Erica and Macy first begin getting to know each other felt more like the author telling me the memories, than actual characters remembering, and the writing styles were interchangeable and thus hard to differentiate. I can definitely see how this book has its audience! Unfortunately, I am not in it.
Unfortunately, I ended up DNFing this at around 75ish pages in. While the idea of this story is very intriguing, I felt as though I was constantly being told plot, instead of having it be shown and growing organically. I barely got to know the main characters before being thrown into the story, meaning I don't really care about what happens to them. The fact that I noticed and became increasingly annoyed with how many times the word "ectoplasm" got repeated on every other page also pulled me out of the story. Erica read as much, much younger than her supposed age of late 20s, and the letter-type entries where Erica and Macy first begin getting to know each other felt more like the author telling me the memories, than actual characters remembering, and the writing styles were interchangeable and thus hard to differentiate. I can definitely see how this book has its audience! Unfortunately, I am not in it.
January 3, 2022
Thank you NetGalley for letting me read this arc!
I loved the story - a modern day Bloody Mary that can see everything through any reflective surface, not just a mirror. I did how ever not finish this book but not by account of the story.
I read half the book before I realised that I was reading it because I HAD to and not because I wanted to so I didn't finish it. It just happens to be written in a way that I do not enjoy. Like I said its a good story, I just happen to not like the way the author writes. But if you have any interest in the Bloody Mary legend you should totally give this a read!
I loved the story - a modern day Bloody Mary that can see everything through any reflective surface, not just a mirror. I did how ever not finish this book but not by account of the story.
I read half the book before I realised that I was reading it because I HAD to and not because I wanted to so I didn't finish it. It just happens to be written in a way that I do not enjoy. Like I said its a good story, I just happen to not like the way the author writes. But if you have any interest in the Bloody Mary legend you should totally give this a read!
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