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Incarnate
Chessie doesn't remember what happened during the three days she vanished, only that she woke up in the woods near a town she's never heard of, consumed by a longing pull she can't explain.
Determined to unravel the truth, Chessie returns to Kilbrook with her dog, Xolo. She finds the town to be dark and unwelcoming, the air heavy with quiet menace. When Xolo leads her to a horrifying discovery in the woods, she awakens a grudge older than time itself and the town's secretive cult, led by a divine entity known as the High Father, sets their sights on her.
Plagued by intense headaches, fleeting visions, and a looming sense of dread, Chessie's growing paranoia isn't helped by her encounters with Gloria, a woman who lost her young daughter decades ago, and Diego "Rose" Rosales, the volatile detective with a dark history and a haunting familiarity that draws Chessie in.
But Chessie can't shake the feeling that Rose is keeping something from her, and she begins to question whether he’s trying to help her at all. As the cult tightens its grip, Chessie must uncover the truth before history repeats itself. And this time, the end might just be forever.
Determined to unravel the truth, Chessie returns to Kilbrook with her dog, Xolo. She finds the town to be dark and unwelcoming, the air heavy with quiet menace. When Xolo leads her to a horrifying discovery in the woods, she awakens a grudge older than time itself and the town's secretive cult, led by a divine entity known as the High Father, sets their sights on her.
Plagued by intense headaches, fleeting visions, and a looming sense of dread, Chessie's growing paranoia isn't helped by her encounters with Gloria, a woman who lost her young daughter decades ago, and Diego "Rose" Rosales, the volatile detective with a dark history and a haunting familiarity that draws Chessie in.
But Chessie can't shake the feeling that Rose is keeping something from her, and she begins to question whether he’s trying to help her at all. As the cult tightens its grip, Chessie must uncover the truth before history repeats itself. And this time, the end might just be forever.
288 pages, Paperback
Published July 3, 2025
4 people are currently reading
7 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
July 17, 2025
Thank you to the author for providing this ARC!
Incarnate was a pleasantly surprising, twisty, supernatural debut novel. We follow Chessie, who wakes up in a dark, mysterious woods with no memory of how she got there, or what has happened to her and her dog, Xolo, in the last 3 days. Other descriptors of this novel include:
⏰ Lost time
⚫️ Blackouts/headaches
👀 Creepy/mysterious vibe (town & people)
🤫 Close knit town with obvious secrets and dislike of new people (culty??? 🤔)
🙏🏻 Religious undertones
As I was reading, I felt like this was something that Mike Flanagan (Haunting of Hill House, Fall of the House of Usher) would have written as a hit TV show. The author definitely captured the creepy vibes of the town/atmosphere.
I was surprised it is going to have a sequel novel, as I felt like it could have been wrapped up in one book. But I am excited to see where it takes our character next in her story!
Incarnate was a pleasantly surprising, twisty, supernatural debut novel. We follow Chessie, who wakes up in a dark, mysterious woods with no memory of how she got there, or what has happened to her and her dog, Xolo, in the last 3 days. Other descriptors of this novel include:
⏰ Lost time
⚫️ Blackouts/headaches
👀 Creepy/mysterious vibe (town & people)
🤫 Close knit town with obvious secrets and dislike of new people (culty??? 🤔)
🙏🏻 Religious undertones
As I was reading, I felt like this was something that Mike Flanagan (Haunting of Hill House, Fall of the House of Usher) would have written as a hit TV show. The author definitely captured the creepy vibes of the town/atmosphere.
I was surprised it is going to have a sequel novel, as I felt like it could have been wrapped up in one book. But I am excited to see where it takes our character next in her story!
July 11, 2025
I had to sit on this review overnight so I could really settle into the story that Incarnate was. One of the teaser pictures that I saw for this book, prior to requesting the ARC, was that the narrator was unreliable and this was more mystery/thriller than romance. And you know what? I love to be bamboozled, or I thought I did. Then I started Incarnate and realized that I was easily tricked by semi-fever dream writing and far too skeptical to trust a man that the author has teased as the love interest.
This was beautifully written. I cannot express how well done this was, especially for a debut novel. A few things that I started having issues with (i.e. minor plot holes, lack of descriptions) made sense when you think of the narrator as a woman who is mentally unstable and not sleeping. Were these issues intentional? I have no idea. I know that this story ends on a cliffhanger and I anticipate that questions I have about particular things that seemed like plot holes will more than likely be answered.
There were no trigger warnings in the ARC copy I was gifted. I am not one that is triggered by most things, however, I (and I'm sure many others) would appreciate the option of knowing particular triggers prior to reading, even if they are potential spoilers. So that being said, here are the triggers that I thought were the most egregious:
I'm sure there are more but those are the ones that got my hackles raised.
Overall, this was such an eerie and wonderful story. It was atmospheric and unnerving. I spent the majority of it wondering what the hell was going on (clearly by design.) I will be impatiently waiting for both the physical copy to be available for purchase and the sequel to be released.
This was beautifully written. I cannot express how well done this was, especially for a debut novel. A few things that I started having issues with (i.e. minor plot holes, lack of descriptions) made sense when you think of the narrator as a woman who is mentally unstable and not sleeping. Were these issues intentional? I have no idea. I know that this story ends on a cliffhanger and I anticipate that questions I have about particular things that seemed like plot holes will more than likely be answered.
There were no trigger warnings in the ARC copy I was gifted. I am not one that is triggered by most things, however, I (and I'm sure many others) would appreciate the option of knowing particular triggers prior to reading, even if they are potential spoilers. So that being said, here are the triggers that I thought were the most egregious:
I'm sure there are more but those are the ones that got my hackles raised.
Overall, this was such an eerie and wonderful story. It was atmospheric and unnerving. I spent the majority of it wondering what the hell was going on (clearly by design.) I will be impatiently waiting for both the physical copy to be available for purchase and the sequel to be released.
August 7, 2025
I’ll start by saying that thrillers are not my usual go to, I tend to stay more in romantasy/dark romance land, but when I saw Incarnate’s blurb I immediately knew I had to give it a go. The beginning immediately drew me in, even if it felt a little slow or confusing at times. Based on the mental state of the female main character, it was understandable. I felt like I was piecing the story together along with her instead of on my own, which is something that I LOVED about this book. I thought I had the plot figured out in the middle, but booooy I was completely wrong. The last quarter of the book had me anxiously turning the pages…I couldn’t put it down. I’d recommend this to people who love the dark/religious cult vibe with the little hints of romance in it (which I hope we get to see more of in the sequel!). I absolutely cannot wait to read the next book, and I will most definitely be reading more from Oriana Lazaro in the future! 🤍
July 25, 2025
This story was so beautifully written and the world building was extraordinary. This fantasy romance is the debut novel for Oriana Lazaro. After vanishing for three days with no memory of what happened our fmc Chessie wakes up in unfamiliar woods. She is determined to find answers so she returns to the small town of Kilbrook with her dog Xolo. There she makes a discovery in the forest that draws her into the sights of a secretive cult and its powerful leader the High Father. As Chessie battles strange visions she’s forced to question who she can trust before the town’s dark history claims her for good.
July 10, 2025
I can’t say enough about this book! If you like suspense, romance, horror, cult vibes, mystical reads then this is the book for you! Let’s not forget trauma and mental health either. This book kept me on the edge of my set wanting to know what is going to happen next. This book is so well written that you feel all the emotions that the characters are feeling. If I was able to give this more than 5 stars I would!
September 17, 2025
I will say this is a very different book. I am not a huge triller reader but when I saw what this book was about I immediately signed up to read it. This is book is not what I expected. It started off slow but stick with it. Once it gets going you can’t stop reading. You get to the point that you read faster just to get to the next moment faster. It was a really chaotic but fun ride.
I can’t wait for the next book. This perfect for the spooky season.
Must read
I can’t wait for the next book. This perfect for the spooky season.
Must read
August 28, 2025
Incarnate is one of those books that you wish you could reread for the first time. It roped me in from the very first chapter. Chessie’s struggles of “who am I, what is happening to me, and why is this happening” are palpable through the pages. The suspense was top notch. I could not put this book down and I flew through it. Be warned, the cliffhanger took me out!
October 1, 2025
A psychological thriller with a relatable, unreliable narrator FMC with spooky, cult vibes, and a twist I wasn’t expecting. Plus a slowburn with moments that had me giggling and swooning, and the best dog a girl could ask for. After reading so many cookie cutter stories, this was such a unique and entertaining read! Perfect for the spooky season!!
August 7, 2025
Incarnate is dark, lyrical, and completely immersive. Oriana Lazaro’s writing is haunting and beautiful. Every page feels like a spell. The world is brutal and rich, the characters unforgettable. This story lingers. A must-read for dark fantasy lovers.
July 22, 2025
Such a good combination of dark and romantic. So haunting and really makes you question things. Couldn't put it down u til I finished it. 100% recommend to everyone, just an all around great book
August 11, 2025
Recap: Incarnate pulls you into the eerie woods of Southern Oregon, where memories and murder intertwine. Chessie, a girl haunted by a past she can't remember, returns to the strange town of Killbrook and crosses paths with Rose, a brooding detective fixated on a decades-old murder.
As secrets unravel and tensions rise, the two are forced to work together, uncovering haunting truths and unexpected emotions.
This was such a fun, yet disturbing at the same time read. Oriana did an amazing job at capturing the creepiness the vast woods of Oregon can create. This was a perfect mix of mystery, horror, slow burn vibes that every person needs in their life for a fall read. You and I both will be begging for more.
As secrets unravel and tensions rise, the two are forced to work together, uncovering haunting truths and unexpected emotions.
This was such a fun, yet disturbing at the same time read. Oriana did an amazing job at capturing the creepiness the vast woods of Oregon can create. This was a perfect mix of mystery, horror, slow burn vibes that every person needs in their life for a fall read. You and I both will be begging for more.
August 10, 2025
I loved it!! Enjoyable read! Loved the characters and their relationships. Can’t wait for the sequel! Telling all my friends to read this book!!!
August 6, 2025
With all of the romantasies I've been into lately, this was refreshingly different.
This book was more of a slow-burn mystery/thriller with hints of romance, leaving me with more questions than answers. The first half was slowly paced, giving little hints of what was to come, but by the end I was definitely on the edge of my seat and wanting more! I am now anxiously awaiting the sequel.
If you enjoy dark/creepy vibes, religious undertones, a cliffhanger ending, and a whisper of deep romance, then I would recommend !
This book was more of a slow-burn mystery/thriller with hints of romance, leaving me with more questions than answers. The first half was slowly paced, giving little hints of what was to come, but by the end I was definitely on the edge of my seat and wanting more! I am now anxiously awaiting the sequel.
If you enjoy dark/creepy vibes, religious undertones, a cliffhanger ending, and a whisper of deep romance, then I would recommend !
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews