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The Quiet Resurrection of Sister Evelida Livingston
Not yet published
Expected 8 Sep 26A small-town occult horror for fans of Mona Awad’s Bunny and Grady Hendrix’s The Final Girl Support Group, blending ritual magic, toxic friendship, and queer terror in New England.
Witchcraft was just a game. Until the bodies started piling up.
Cinnamon Christine Carmichael doesn’t remember the killings. Not at first. But the blood on her hands, the whispers in her head, and the smile on her best friend Hedda’s face say enough. Something has been unleashed—and it’s using them to grow.
Two teenagers are burned alive in a corn maze as the crowd watches, paralyzed, filming every second. It’s the latest in a string of ritualistic murders that defy explanation. Sheriff Henry McGinty has seen a lot in his time—but nothing like this.
So he calls in Sister Eve.
Eve sees what others can’ echoes of the dead, glimpses of the future. But this time, the visions are fragmented. Wrong. As if something is blocking her sight. Something old. Something evil. Something wearing the face of her mother, reincarnated in the body of a teenage girl.
As Halloween nears, Cinnamon’s coven races to complete a ritual that could bring the Devil himself to earth—and Eve, Henry, and irreverent deputy Fink may be the last line of defense between our world and utter damnation.
Once the spell begins, it can't be undone.
And Hell is already watching.
Witchcraft was just a game. Until the bodies started piling up.
Cinnamon Christine Carmichael doesn’t remember the killings. Not at first. But the blood on her hands, the whispers in her head, and the smile on her best friend Hedda’s face say enough. Something has been unleashed—and it’s using them to grow.
Two teenagers are burned alive in a corn maze as the crowd watches, paralyzed, filming every second. It’s the latest in a string of ritualistic murders that defy explanation. Sheriff Henry McGinty has seen a lot in his time—but nothing like this.
So he calls in Sister Eve.
Eve sees what others can’ echoes of the dead, glimpses of the future. But this time, the visions are fragmented. Wrong. As if something is blocking her sight. Something old. Something evil. Something wearing the face of her mother, reincarnated in the body of a teenage girl.
As Halloween nears, Cinnamon’s coven races to complete a ritual that could bring the Devil himself to earth—and Eve, Henry, and irreverent deputy Fink may be the last line of defense between our world and utter damnation.
Once the spell begins, it can't be undone.
And Hell is already watching.
- GenresHorror
Kindle Edition
Expected publication September 8, 2026
About the author
Nick Wallin
1 book3 followersNick Wallin (he/him) fell in love with writing after reading Stephen King and Jacqueline Susann novels at an unreasonably young age.
He lives in northeast Iowa with his loving partner, several ghosts, and their reclusive barn cat, Little Edie. He enjoys writing, gardening, decorating, and renovating their historic home, Gaye Gardens.
When he’s not writing about haunted women and cursed towns, he can be found haunting antique stores for velvet drapes, gilded mirrors, and anything that looks like it belonged in a 1970s brothel.
Rising Action Publishing will release his horror novel, THE QUIET RESURRECTION OF SISTER EVELIDA LIVINGSTON, on August 4, 2026.
He is also the author of two novels under the pseudonym Jethro Collins. IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO KILL YOUR HUSBAND and LOVE IN THE TIME OF CONTRACTS, which both went to #1 on Amazon's Kindle best-seller list.
He lives in northeast Iowa with his loving partner, several ghosts, and their reclusive barn cat, Little Edie. He enjoys writing, gardening, decorating, and renovating their historic home, Gaye Gardens.
When he’s not writing about haunted women and cursed towns, he can be found haunting antique stores for velvet drapes, gilded mirrors, and anything that looks like it belonged in a 1970s brothel.
Rising Action Publishing will release his horror novel, THE QUIET RESURRECTION OF SISTER EVELIDA LIVINGSTON, on August 4, 2026.
He is also the author of two novels under the pseudonym Jethro Collins. IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO KILL YOUR HUSBAND and LOVE IN THE TIME OF CONTRACTS, which both went to #1 on Amazon's Kindle best-seller list.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
June 27, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!
Please note this is a 3.5.
An aggressively bubblegum-pop slasher with undertones of ‘The Craft’ and ‘The Witches of Eastwick’ (I say undertones- that one is straight up referenced), this was a heck of a wild ride from start to finish. We follow a group of teen girls who very clearly have something ominous cast over their birthdays, and who soon spiral into a wild cacophony of murder, mayhem, and malicious witchcraft.
The characters were really well done, especially for the time that they’re tied to. I didn’t love some of the references to very 2026 specific material, and I feel with time the book may end up a bit dated, but I also understand that it’s designed to appeal to a specific audience.
The plot starts off being totally gung-ho, and then it slows a little bit as it goes through. This is, by no means, a huge detriment, but I did think that it would have been nice to see a little more in respect of the characters in there.
My favourite character was Cinnamon, particularly as she struggled with the morality and the change in her friendships and her ‘coming of age’ in the most brutal way possible. I got very ‘Witchcraft for Wayward Girls’ vibes off of the dynamic sometimes, but I actually think this book managed the struggle with those dynamics better than the former.
There are some nasty little scenes in here too from the horror perspective, and while the end petered down a bit and I wasn’t a huge fan of that, it was a lot of fun. Definitely a great Halloween read when it comes up- this one is made for autumn nights!
Please note this is a 3.5.
An aggressively bubblegum-pop slasher with undertones of ‘The Craft’ and ‘The Witches of Eastwick’ (I say undertones- that one is straight up referenced), this was a heck of a wild ride from start to finish. We follow a group of teen girls who very clearly have something ominous cast over their birthdays, and who soon spiral into a wild cacophony of murder, mayhem, and malicious witchcraft.
The characters were really well done, especially for the time that they’re tied to. I didn’t love some of the references to very 2026 specific material, and I feel with time the book may end up a bit dated, but I also understand that it’s designed to appeal to a specific audience.
The plot starts off being totally gung-ho, and then it slows a little bit as it goes through. This is, by no means, a huge detriment, but I did think that it would have been nice to see a little more in respect of the characters in there.
My favourite character was Cinnamon, particularly as she struggled with the morality and the change in her friendships and her ‘coming of age’ in the most brutal way possible. I got very ‘Witchcraft for Wayward Girls’ vibes off of the dynamic sometimes, but I actually think this book managed the struggle with those dynamics better than the former.
There are some nasty little scenes in here too from the horror perspective, and while the end petered down a bit and I wasn’t a huge fan of that, it was a lot of fun. Definitely a great Halloween read when it comes up- this one is made for autumn nights!
June 19, 2026
✨Thank you NetGalley for eARC✨
The Quiet Resurrection of Evelida Livingston follows four teenage best friends, all born on 06/06/06. When one of the girls’ parents purchases the town’s infamous haunted house, the girls discover they’re witches. What starts as an exciting revelation quickly spirals into something much darker. Alongside them, we follow Sheriff Henry and (former) Sister Eve as these childhood friends team up and use Eve’s psychic abilities to try and stop the girls from unleashing hell.
I had such a fun time reading this book. It gave me The Craft meets My Best Friend’s Exorcism vibes, which is a combination I was immediately on board with.
There were moments where the writing felt a little disjointed, but I think that’s largely due to how fast-paced and chaotic the story is. My biggest struggle wasn’t with the magic or supernatural elements….It was with some of the teenage girl characterization. I was a teenage girl once, and some of their reactions and dialogue felt very much written by a man. There were a few moments that pulled me out of the story because they just didn’t feel authentic. For example, why are we talking about being starving while being held hostage and potentially murdered by your best friend? And how is a sixteen-year-old girl casually manhandling a fully grown man?
I also had a hard time following the “every 18 years” plotline at first. I found myself rereading a few sections to fully understand who was being discussed and how everything connected. Once it clicked, though, I realized it was actually a really unique and interesting premise.
If you’re looking for a fast-paced, spooky, teenage-witch story to get you in the Halloween mood, this is definitely one to pick up. The atmosphere was wonderfully eerie, the haunted house setting was a lot of fun, and despite a few issues, I genuinely enjoyed my time with it.
The Quiet Resurrection of Evelida Livingston follows four teenage best friends, all born on 06/06/06. When one of the girls’ parents purchases the town’s infamous haunted house, the girls discover they’re witches. What starts as an exciting revelation quickly spirals into something much darker. Alongside them, we follow Sheriff Henry and (former) Sister Eve as these childhood friends team up and use Eve’s psychic abilities to try and stop the girls from unleashing hell.
I had such a fun time reading this book. It gave me The Craft meets My Best Friend’s Exorcism vibes, which is a combination I was immediately on board with.
There were moments where the writing felt a little disjointed, but I think that’s largely due to how fast-paced and chaotic the story is. My biggest struggle wasn’t with the magic or supernatural elements….It was with some of the teenage girl characterization. I was a teenage girl once, and some of their reactions and dialogue felt very much written by a man. There were a few moments that pulled me out of the story because they just didn’t feel authentic. For example, why are we talking about being starving while being held hostage and potentially murdered by your best friend? And how is a sixteen-year-old girl casually manhandling a fully grown man?
I also had a hard time following the “every 18 years” plotline at first. I found myself rereading a few sections to fully understand who was being discussed and how everything connected. Once it clicked, though, I realized it was actually a really unique and interesting premise.
If you’re looking for a fast-paced, spooky, teenage-witch story to get you in the Halloween mood, this is definitely one to pick up. The atmosphere was wonderfully eerie, the haunted house setting was a lot of fun, and despite a few issues, I genuinely enjoyed my time with it.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The entire novel feels drenched in candle smoke, blood, religious paranoia, and small-town decay.
The book’s greatest strength is its mood. Wallin delivers a queer occult horror novel soaked in religious imagery, violent intimacy, and small-town gothic dread. The book works best when it leans into its queer gothic horror identity. The tension between intimacy and violence feels real, and the emotional messiness of the characters gives the horror weight beyond simple shock value. There’s a constant sense that everyone is spiraling toward something awful, and that dread carries the novel through slower sections.
This feels very much like a “mood-first” horror novel. If you love books that prioritize atmosphere, symbolism, and emotional intensity over clean plotting, you’ll probably have a great time. If you prefer tightly structured horror mysteries with clear rules and resolutions, this may feel frustrating.
Unfortunately, the story itself never fully came together for me. The mythology becomes increasingly convoluted, and the book sometimes mistakes ambiguity for depth. There are stretches where events feel emotionally powerful in the moment but hard to connect into a coherent whole afterward. I also wanted more development for certain characters outside the central emotional dynamic.
Overall, The Quiet Resurrection of Sister Evelida Livingston is a read that I admired it more than I loved. I found it a bit uneven, occasionally self-indulgent, but undeniably memorable.
The book’s greatest strength is its mood. Wallin delivers a queer occult horror novel soaked in religious imagery, violent intimacy, and small-town gothic dread. The book works best when it leans into its queer gothic horror identity. The tension between intimacy and violence feels real, and the emotional messiness of the characters gives the horror weight beyond simple shock value. There’s a constant sense that everyone is spiraling toward something awful, and that dread carries the novel through slower sections.
This feels very much like a “mood-first” horror novel. If you love books that prioritize atmosphere, symbolism, and emotional intensity over clean plotting, you’ll probably have a great time. If you prefer tightly structured horror mysteries with clear rules and resolutions, this may feel frustrating.
Unfortunately, the story itself never fully came together for me. The mythology becomes increasingly convoluted, and the book sometimes mistakes ambiguity for depth. There are stretches where events feel emotionally powerful in the moment but hard to connect into a coherent whole afterward. I also wanted more development for certain characters outside the central emotional dynamic.
Overall, The Quiet Resurrection of Sister Evelida Livingston is a read that I admired it more than I loved. I found it a bit uneven, occasionally self-indulgent, but undeniably memorable.
June 2, 2026
The Quiet Resurrection of Sister Evelida Livingston is a fast paced and frantic horror novel. Cinnamon’s parents have bought the local murder house. She and her gal pals decide to explore and find things they were never meant to find. Or were they? As the girls try out their new found powers, they find that there are forces stronger than them. Can they control it? End it? Or will the power eat them alive?
A great book for fans of Bunny and Jennifer’s Body, it reads almost like a fever dream. The action starts in chapter one and never lets up. A little gory in places, but nothing stomach churning. The girls are a little two dimensional, especially Eliza (I kept forgetting she was even in the group), but it works for this novel. Banality of evil and all that. It also shows how young they are, like they aren’t old enough to develop deeper personalities yet, unlike the older characters. The plot kept me entertained until the end and I enjoyed my time reading it. The tone and humor reminded me a lot of Jennifer’s Body, which was a plus for me as a fan of that movie.
I was given an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
A great book for fans of Bunny and Jennifer’s Body, it reads almost like a fever dream. The action starts in chapter one and never lets up. A little gory in places, but nothing stomach churning. The girls are a little two dimensional, especially Eliza (I kept forgetting she was even in the group), but it works for this novel. Banality of evil and all that. It also shows how young they are, like they aren’t old enough to develop deeper personalities yet, unlike the older characters. The plot kept me entertained until the end and I enjoyed my time reading it. The tone and humor reminded me a lot of Jennifer’s Body, which was a plus for me as a fan of that movie.
I was given an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Rising Action Publishing for an eARC of The Quiet Resurrection of Sister Evelida Livingston.
I enjoyed this more than I expected. The first few chapters did not hook me, but as more of Lawrenceville's past was revealed, I really got sucked into the novel. The horror was dark and intimate and there was definitely a lot of gory horror and religious iconography.
The girls' chapters were my least favorites. I read some other reviews and agree that the girls, especially Lainey and Eliza were a little two-dimensional. My favorite characters were Fink and Henry. For the formatting, I found the jumps backwards and forwards in time a little jarring at first, because it was hard to keep track of what had happened/had not happened. It did work for what the author was trying to do by revealing pieces of the story slowly.
3.75 rounded up to 4.
I enjoyed this more than I expected. The first few chapters did not hook me, but as more of Lawrenceville's past was revealed, I really got sucked into the novel. The horror was dark and intimate and there was definitely a lot of gory horror and religious iconography.
The girls' chapters were my least favorites. I read some other reviews and agree that the girls, especially Lainey and Eliza were a little two-dimensional. My favorite characters were Fink and Henry. For the formatting, I found the jumps backwards and forwards in time a little jarring at first, because it was hard to keep track of what had happened/had not happened. It did work for what the author was trying to do by revealing pieces of the story slowly.
3.75 rounded up to 4.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a random snag for me from Netgalley and was not a bad trip.
Cinnamon wakes up covered in blood, I know I know what girl hasn't?? But this is uh the blood of others and the voices she hears, this can't be good.
Cinnamon and her friends are all witches and born on the same day and then things get dark quick, playing with things they don't understand and calling on things older then the world itself..
As small town Sheriff McGinity is facing some things, specifically kids being burned alive, so he turns to Eve, who just so happens to see more then most. But this time something is in the way and it's from her past.
Can the town survive the blood shed and what could be the end of the world if the devil shows up to the call of Cinnamon coven?
This was a quick faced paced read and wouldn't mind checking out more from the author.
Cinnamon wakes up covered in blood, I know I know what girl hasn't?? But this is uh the blood of others and the voices she hears, this can't be good.
Cinnamon and her friends are all witches and born on the same day and then things get dark quick, playing with things they don't understand and calling on things older then the world itself..
As small town Sheriff McGinity is facing some things, specifically kids being burned alive, so he turns to Eve, who just so happens to see more then most. But this time something is in the way and it's from her past.
Can the town survive the blood shed and what could be the end of the world if the devil shows up to the call of Cinnamon coven?
This was a quick faced paced read and wouldn't mind checking out more from the author.
May 20, 2026
Thanks to Rising Action Publishing and netgalley for a copy of this arc
This is fun horror bordering on a horror comedy in a few places.
It's bloody and a little gross and not mean spirited at all.
It does have a plethora of pop culture references that will I think keep it very tethered to now, and that not my particular favorite but i think will really work for some readers.
This skews a bit young with most of of our cast being in school but in a way that if you don't particularly enjoy ya as a whole it wouldn't be a negative but if you do would be a draw.
It gave me big Codie Crowley vibes and was such a fun beach read.
I had a blast.
This is fun horror bordering on a horror comedy in a few places.
It's bloody and a little gross and not mean spirited at all.
It does have a plethora of pop culture references that will I think keep it very tethered to now, and that not my particular favorite but i think will really work for some readers.
This skews a bit young with most of of our cast being in school but in a way that if you don't particularly enjoy ya as a whole it wouldn't be a negative but if you do would be a draw.
It gave me big Codie Crowley vibes and was such a fun beach read.
I had a blast.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 ⭐
This certainly kicks off with a bang, from page one.
A sit up and pay attention opener.
It's quite a fun read, the girls are fun, sarcastic, evil and amusing in turn.
Their banter could make me smile, or annoy me, I think that's just my age though.
The stars of the show were Henry, Eve and Fink, thrown into the strangest of strange situations and battling it as well as they could, again with much banter.
Races to a thrilling conclusion, when at one point I felt anything could happen.
Enjoyable, if a little grusome in parts.
Thanks to netgalley for the free digital copy
This certainly kicks off with a bang, from page one.
A sit up and pay attention opener.
It's quite a fun read, the girls are fun, sarcastic, evil and amusing in turn.
Their banter could make me smile, or annoy me, I think that's just my age though.
The stars of the show were Henry, Eve and Fink, thrown into the strangest of strange situations and battling it as well as they could, again with much banter.
Races to a thrilling conclusion, when at one point I felt anything could happen.
Enjoyable, if a little grusome in parts.
Thanks to netgalley for the free digital copy
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC of this book for my honest review.
I love how the book drops you right into the action. The beginning was phenomenal and very engaging. The rest of the book building up to the crescendo did not keep my interest as much. Then the story came back in strong, but a little predictable at the end. I gave it 3.5 stars for the beginning and end. I read this as my nightly book so the middle could have just been me get tired and setting up the action took more of my brain power. It seemed slow to get through.
I love how the book drops you right into the action. The beginning was phenomenal and very engaging. The rest of the book building up to the crescendo did not keep my interest as much. Then the story came back in strong, but a little predictable at the end. I gave it 3.5 stars for the beginning and end. I read this as my nightly book so the middle could have just been me get tired and setting up the action took more of my brain power. It seemed slow to get through.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
*thank you netgalley for providing me with an ARC so i was able to give my honest review*
3.5 stars rounded up
I did like this book for most part. I liked the hints of humor in it and the pace was good. The twist at end was good i did predict it on most part but still enjoyable. Above average book to read during summer.
3.5 stars rounded up
I did like this book for most part. I liked the hints of humor in it and the pace was good. The twist at end was good i did predict it on most part but still enjoyable. Above average book to read during summer.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley and the author for giving me a chance to review!
I enjoyed this book! it's unique, spooky, even funny! There's quite a bit of different POVs and each one keeps you sucked in.
I enjoyed this book! it's unique, spooky, even funny! There's quite a bit of different POVs and each one keeps you sucked in.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Nick Wallin’s debut novel under his real name, “The Quiet Resurrection of Sister Evelida Livingston,” is a small-town queer occult horror story that brings supernatural terror to a secluded New England community.
The town refers to them as "the sixes": four girls born on June 6, 2006, the date marked by the infamous sequence of three sixes. Hedda Bunad, Cinnamon Carmichael, Elaine "Lainey" Lopez, and Eliza Taylor are inseparable despite their different social circles and interests.
Lawrenceville itself is built upon a dark history of witches and deaths, but its residents refuse to acknowledge the past. Even the local library has stripped away newspaper articles, photographs, and books documenting the town's gruesome history, leaving only whispers of what came before.
When Cinnamon's parents purchase the town's infamous haunted house and its adjoining abandoned zoo, the girls discover an ancient spellbook written in blood. As they begin to explore its contents, they learn they are witches. The suicide of Milfred Berry in the novel's second chapter sets off a devastating chain of events that leaves a growing trail of death in its wake.
Running parallel to the girls' story is Sister Evelida "Eve" Livingston's. Two years earlier, Eve was fatally shot, declared dead after her heart stopped, and then inexplicably returned to life. Since her resurrection, she has withdrawn from the nunnery and lives in isolation, burdened by visions of the future. The glimpses she receives are fragmented, violent, and filled with dread, warning of an ancient evil awakening beneath Lawrenceville. As the threat grows, Eve realizes she may be the only person capable of preventing an apocalyptic catastrophe.
Wallin fills the novel with religious symbolism and striking queer occult horror imagery, creating an atmosphere steeped in unease and visceral violence. The dual timelines steadily build suspense, deepening the sense of impending doom until the novel's final fifteen percent, when the pacing becomes relentless and genuinely unnerving.
Not every element is equally successful. Several members of the central quartet, particularly Lainey and Eliza, lack the depth needed to distinguish them from one another, making them difficult to remember as individuals. While many of the novel's revelations are genuinely surprising, some readers may find the open-ended conclusion frustrating, as the fates of several characters remain unresolved. Even so, “The Quiet Resurrection of Sister Evelida Livingston” delivers an unsettling blend of occult horror, religious horror, and supernatural mystery that lingers long after its final page.
I received a physical novel from Wallin himself along with the most amazing goodie box with all things horror. Despite the amazing gift, this is an honest review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
The town refers to them as "the sixes": four girls born on June 6, 2006, the date marked by the infamous sequence of three sixes. Hedda Bunad, Cinnamon Carmichael, Elaine "Lainey" Lopez, and Eliza Taylor are inseparable despite their different social circles and interests.
Lawrenceville itself is built upon a dark history of witches and deaths, but its residents refuse to acknowledge the past. Even the local library has stripped away newspaper articles, photographs, and books documenting the town's gruesome history, leaving only whispers of what came before.
When Cinnamon's parents purchase the town's infamous haunted house and its adjoining abandoned zoo, the girls discover an ancient spellbook written in blood. As they begin to explore its contents, they learn they are witches. The suicide of Milfred Berry in the novel's second chapter sets off a devastating chain of events that leaves a growing trail of death in its wake.
Running parallel to the girls' story is Sister Evelida "Eve" Livingston's. Two years earlier, Eve was fatally shot, declared dead after her heart stopped, and then inexplicably returned to life. Since her resurrection, she has withdrawn from the nunnery and lives in isolation, burdened by visions of the future. The glimpses she receives are fragmented, violent, and filled with dread, warning of an ancient evil awakening beneath Lawrenceville. As the threat grows, Eve realizes she may be the only person capable of preventing an apocalyptic catastrophe.
Wallin fills the novel with religious symbolism and striking queer occult horror imagery, creating an atmosphere steeped in unease and visceral violence. The dual timelines steadily build suspense, deepening the sense of impending doom until the novel's final fifteen percent, when the pacing becomes relentless and genuinely unnerving.
Not every element is equally successful. Several members of the central quartet, particularly Lainey and Eliza, lack the depth needed to distinguish them from one another, making them difficult to remember as individuals. While many of the novel's revelations are genuinely surprising, some readers may find the open-ended conclusion frustrating, as the fates of several characters remain unresolved. Even so, “The Quiet Resurrection of Sister Evelida Livingston” delivers an unsettling blend of occult horror, religious horror, and supernatural mystery that lingers long after its final page.
I received a physical novel from Wallin himself along with the most amazing goodie box with all things horror. Despite the amazing gift, this is an honest review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews