Mock Cob Village

by Jackie Sonnenberg

Only the brave to apply
An apprentice I seek
With a keen eye and knack for stealth
If danger you do not mind
Then you can come
To Mock Cob Village

When young orphan Poe reads the ad in the paper, it's so strange and mysterious that she decides to answer it. In person. Poe is strange and mysterious herself and may have found her perfect element.
She arrives in Mock Cob Village, a place sitting on the border between worlds, where every night the entire town is forced to go into lockdown to defend against what visits them.

Rex Arken is a paranormal hunter looking for an assistant and is surprised that someone answered his ad.Through her own natural skills, Poe impresses Rex enough that he hires her on the spot. She learns that the otherworldly activity in Mock Cob has gotten worse, and they are nearing the last night of October when the veil between worlds is thinnest.

The more Poe hunts paranormal things, the more it becomes clear that she just might be in her element after all. Poe has more of a connection to the other realm than she thought.. and she just might be the key that will either save the town or destroy it.

337 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 13, 2025

About the author

Jackie Sonnenberg has a background in journalism and creative writing. She wrote for local newspapers in both print and online before publishing books. She wrote and published three requested reference titles under Atlantic Publishing on business, housing, and pet care. She indie published her first novel ALL THAT GLITTERS before diving into the right genre for her...

"semhyR yresruN" is the name of her growing standalone collection writing horror stories based on, of course, the classic Nursery Rhymes.

She is an active member in the horror community as a haunted house actor thriving on every Halloween season, where she creates original characters to go with given themes and settings. She uses her knack for character development to bring them to life on paper, and in person, with original costuming. She is known for interacting with people in character at conventions at events to promote her books.
She lives in Orlando, FL where she is surrounded by creativity and imagination.

https://www.jackiesonnenberg.com

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Reviews

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer]

Mock Cobb Village by Jackie Sonnenberg, Poe is strange a night owl and has never fit in in any foster home she’s been in so when she sees an advertisement wanting someone brave she packs her meegger belongings her cloak made of mini skins and hits the road her journey to the village is strange and she will learn many things but none of it prepares her for what she finds when she arrives at Mock Cobb Village. when she first arrives the businesses and homes are shutting down at dusk and Poe doesn’t know what to make of it but when she finds the man who placed the ad she not only finds a job that suits her but a family she never knew she wanted. I loved the mini strange creatures in the book and how Rex despite expecting someone different excepted and eventually came to care for Poe. I thought the world Ms. Sonnenburg created was a great one with great traditions and an awesome origin story and wonderful characters. if you love the strange in mysterious with a touch of magical realism and some out of this world creatures and you will definitely enjoy this story. It isn’t long but it is oh so good! #BooksSprout, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview,

[Royal Tea Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

The perfect YA Halloween read! Absolutely LOVED this book! YA paranormal fantasy packed with adventure, spooky creature hunting, costume making, Halloween lore, found family, and adolescent friendship. It was really hard to put down. The fmc is super cool, creative, brave and badass! The story doesn’t have a single dull moment. It’s got constant action and movement and incredibly engaging. Love the monsters Sonnenberg has dreamed up. Super creepy and original and her illustrations in the middle of the book are excellent! Can’t wait for the next book! Highly recommend 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Reader_for_LifeTLG · Rating 4 out of 5]

A monster of a good read - Poe leaves her village to venture into monster hunting. An orphan often kept under lock and key to stifle her wandering nature, she leaves to seek her fortune. Rex takes her under his wing, teaching her about the creatures of the night that plague Mock Cob Village and how to temper their aggression. As she stalks the darkness with Rex and the townies, Poe experiences changes, adapting traits akin to the beings she hunts. Heightened senses, unmatched flexibility and her climbing ability are just a few things that make her new friends, a witch and a child who died but came back from the light, look at her sideways, even as they battle the beasties together. A revelation is made, Poe being so much more than expected. The question remains - what is she? This tale is one part coming-of-age, one part monster fantasy. A good read overall that alludes to the creation of Halloween, the townies disguising themselves and their homes to blend in with the things that go bump in the night.

One thing I couldn't discern is when the story takes p!ace. Poe leaves on a train but references carriages, not cars, in her home village. 1503 is referenced from when the village was engaging in its sacrifices to the nether realm creatures, and there has definitely been a change in fashion since the mayor's youth (unmentioned), but no clear timeline has been established.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sherry Priddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great paranormal mystery. A town, where every night they are forced to go into lockdown, to protect themselves, because of what visits them? Sign me up!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Grail Schroeder · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a journey you can follow. New characters to find out where they stand and if they are genuine. The book club questions in the back were helpful to focus on the story and keep an eye out for things.
Looking forward to reading more from this author.

[Bree · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was something different for me! This is a YA horror/ h adventure book that has a great story. The characters are likable, and the monsters are scary. The illustrations are eally neat as they tiein well! Overall, a fun horror adventure book!