Things in the Ground

by Sarah Sapp

Lottie Lowe was content to be a daydreaming wallflower—until the death of her grandmother encouraged reckless distraction. At first, it was a delicious charming and intoxicating, perfect fodder for her fantasies. But desire spiraled into danger, forcing a terrorized Lottie into hiding. Now, when that distraction turns up dead and Lottie is somehow responsible, her lifelong suspicion of witchcraft proves chillingly true as a search for answers drags her down a harrowing descent into magick and murder.



Meanwhile, Imogen Rose never had a problem believing in magick; it’s trusting in it that haunts her. But when a mystical society offers to grant her deepest wish in exchange for terrifying Tasks, Imogen accepts with abandon. This is her chance to get back the only person she's ever belonged the smiley boy from her childhood foster home who disappeared years ago.



As both women’s realities collide with things unseen, they find themselves tethered together by memories and nightmares, hauntings and ghosts. The deeper they dig for the truth, the closer death stalks and sanity unravels, as their efforts threaten to expose what was meant to stay buried.

354 pages, Hardcover

Published October 17, 2025

About the author

Whimsical and eerie bestselling author here - hello!

My newly released witchy thriller "Things in the Ground" hit bestseller status on Amazon in Witch & Wizard Thrillers over its launch weekend!

If you are interested, more info can be found at the link in my bio. (:

Reviews

[Haly Hoards Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.0☆
"The woman is a walking haunted house." This sentence describes Lottie Lowe, one of two main characters in Things in the Ground.

The novel tells two very different stories about two very different women. Lottie's story reads like a psychological thriller with a touch of magick. It is intense and interspersed with touching scenarios involving Lottie's memories of her deceased magical grandmother.

Imogen is the second main character. Her story is mysterious and heartbreaking. Imogen grows up in the foster care system and develops a strong friendship with a boy named Dinny. The tale of Imogen and Dinny is achingly poignant. Imogen's life is also touched by magick.

The coming together of Lottie and Imogen is strange. I had difficulty finding a comfortable joining of the two character's experiences and making their narratives flow together. It just felt off, not quite snapping into place.

The ending was disappointing. For the last few pages I thought that a cliffhanger was coming leading to a set up for a sequel. The possibility of continuing the story is there but I didn't get the impression that a second installment is forthcoming.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I want to thank Sarah Sapp, Booksirens and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

[Sarah Sapp · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was enchanting, haunting, and well done! Buried trauma, haunting pasts, warped memories, and all the feels.

[Jemma Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a good read that I got through within 24 hours. It took me a little while to get into it, but once I was there, I was engrossed. The aspects of magic and witchcraft are strong throughout which is key to the story.
Lottie was a character I connected with right away, the author/herbalist hiding from something in her past but still trying to continue on with her life.
The way she describes her relationship with the character Dottie is so heartwarming throughout. The introduction of Imogen caught me off guard as I went in blind but was a pleasant surprise once I could see where it was going and how their lives ended up connected.
The twists and turns throughout the book kept me hooked and wondering what would happen next, and the ending has me screaming for more!

[Meagan · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.*

This was a super quick and easy read, I was able to read it within a few hours. It's not my usual type of book, but I wanted to try something different, and it did take a little bit for me to get into it.
I loved the storyline and the character, even though I was thrown off by a second POV at first! I loved how the story progressed and came together and was surprised by a few things in it as well.
Sarah Sapp wrote an excellent book, and I would definitely read more of hers!

[Ryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is beautiful. From the start, it reads as a poetic story filled with loving descriptions of the earth and the world around the characters. The book draws you in and keeps you hooked with twists and turns, making you wonder what could happen next! I loved the main characters, but more than that, I loved the descriptions of magick and how the earth contributes to natural versions of it. I don’t want to spoil anything, but this is definitely a book that is at the top of my recommendation list for anyone that loves thriller witchy vibes!

[Caro · Rating 3 out of 5]

i didn't really know my opinion for a while bc i don't really feel anything about it. the book had really poetic prose that sometimes felt like i was reading some 19th century classic but ngl that made it hard to stay invested in the plot or the characters. they were interesting and it was cool to see the mysteries come together but it also wasn't a very satisfying conclusion. which really sucked bc it sounded so cool and it WAS pretty cool, so idk maybe it was the combo of her writing style + pacing that put me off. arc from booksirens for honest review.

[Jill E · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honest review for the book "Things In the Ground" by Sarah Sapp. This witchy thriller started off slow for me but then got super engaging. I couldn't wait to see what happens next. Loved the friendship between Imogen and Dinny! This book is packed with emotions. I thought it was very fascinating how some of the magick was connected to nature. It left me with questions and wanting more of the story. Overall great for the fall/Halloween with the magick witchy vibes.

[Jayde Piazza · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW: I will say that this book had a very slow build, but the imagery and descriptions throughout were absolutely beautiful. The language was so whimsical and thrilling. I was confused about the storyline until about 60% of the way through, which did make it hard to continue, but I stuck it out because I did want to understand why things were being laid out the way they were, and I’m happy I finished it! It had a very satisfying end to a complex issue!

[KellyM.reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book will have you going through so many emotions.. it is beautifully written, the plot in this story is so creative and I absolutely loved it. I truly enjoyed how everything develops throughout the book and the relationships with specific characters was so heartwarming. I'm telling you, so many emotions lol. The ending, chef's kiss!! I enjoyed the ride with this one.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

🌟 Rating: 3.25/5

I really enjoyed the witchcraft elements in this book! The magical vibes were captivating, and Lottie’s journey of self-discovery had some truly beautiful moments. While I did find myself a bit confused at times with the plot twists, the overall experience was still engaging. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Frosted Fern · Rating 4 out of 5]

Started off a little slow, but then really got into the book. It was beautifully written. It’s witchy and magical and the imagery that the author creates just draws you in. Would definitely recommend this book and will be following this author.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book and was left wanting more. The writing style is a bit different than I’m used too, but once I got used to it, the story pulled me in. It has interesting twists that kept me guessing and I would love to read a second book continuing the story.

[Amy Rinner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great storyline! Kept me engaged and has plot twists that that kept me on the edge of my seat! Sarah Sapp is an author to follow! I will read all of her books!!

[Rachel Blanchard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was full of all the feels, twists and turns, and left me wanting more. The writing was lyrical and atmospheric and I didn’t want it to end!

[Katie · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author of The Things in the Ground clearly loves language. The command of vocabulary, metaphor, and poetic devices is impressive, with obvious ambition behind the story. However, the execution collapses under the weight of literary devices.

The prose is dense and overworked, often giving objects the actions ("a note unfolds slowly," "the mirror stares back at her"). Instead of heightening atmosphere, this sentence structure repeatedly blurs meaning and emotional focus. And the use of so many poetic and literary devices (metaphor, alliteration, allusion, imagery) obscures meaning rather than enhancing it. At times, I felt like I was decoding the writing more than experiencing the story.

The plot itself, full of witches, dreams, and overlapping memories, leans into confusion as a device. But when everything is uncertain, it becomes hard to care about what’s real. Characters appear late, relationships lack grounding, and by the time the pieces start to connect, the emotional thread is frayed.

The author has a distinctive voice and a deep love of words. With restraint and clarity, that lyricism could shine rather than suffocate.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Kristy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sarah Sapp's Things in the Ground has a great deal of potential, showcasing a strong narrative structure and a compelling protagonist that immediately draws the reader in. The book's beginning is a fantastic hook, establishing a world and a character that promise an excellent story. It’s clear that Sapp is a talented writer with a firm grasp on how to build a world and an engaging narrative in the initial stages.

However, the book struggles to maintain this momentum. The promising start gives way to a muddled middle section where the narrative seems to lose its focus. The author appears to introduce too many layers, making the plot increasingly difficult to follow. This over-complication ultimately detracts from the story's initial potential, preventing it from becoming the truly excellent tale it could have been. Ultimately, this leads to a final rating of 3 out of 5 stars, though it feels closer to a 3.5.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.