Two perspectives. One haunting secret. A town where the unseen is starting to show. When Beckett—a veteran chasing peace—and Nick—a man running from his past—both find themselves drawn to a small-town coffee shop called Sacred Grounds, neither expects the strange pull that binds them—or the darkness that hides beneath the surface. As the town's quiet streets begin to hum with something unnatural, their separate paths converge, revealing trauma, loyalty, and a force neither of them fully understands. Told through dual perspectives, Sacred The Bitter Cup blends supernatural thriller elements, small-town mystery, and psychological suspense against the eerie backdrop of the Pacific Northwest. The story unfolds in whispers and shadows—where trauma meets transformation, friendship meets the supernatural, and redemption feels just out of reach. Perfect for readers who * Supernatural thrillers and slow-burn suspense with emotional depth * Dual-POV storytelling and character-driven plots * Small-town mysteries with cinematic atmosphere * Stories like This Present Darkness, The Exorcist, or Stranger Things —but grounded and human Book One of the Sacred Grounds trilogy.
This story was amazing. The last couple of chapters took me by the hand and dragged me right in. At one point, I literally looked like this 😲. Beautifully written. There were giggles. There were tears (that I wasn't prepared for). The tears surprised me because it woke up feelings I hadn't had in quite a long time. There was the really sweet 🤭 aww. And there were gasps. Definitely looking forward to book 2.
Sacred Grounds is one of the most unique books I have ever read, and I do mean that in a good way.
It was easy to read, and the characters, especially Beckett, feel so real. Theme through the book is haunting and dark without being gory. A story of redemption, grief and hope.
Each character deals with deep emotional turmoils shaped by their unique life experiences and a shared past that connects them in suprising ways.
Not sure what else to say- my review is on the back of the book after all! The book is amazing. The author is amazing. Book two is even more amazing. (Never in a million years thought reviewing a book would lead to my review getting PUT ON THE BACK OF A BOOK) - I have loved every second of the Sacred Grounds journey. This book hits deeps. It’s not just coffee and demons and love 🤪 the mental health struggle and growth and found family aspect is amazing. If you read it, be prepared to become part of the fam because I’m positive you’ll be here for book two. I heard there might be glitter…
This book had me hooked from the dedication! I usually don't read thrillers, but this book has me rethinking that decision. L. Castle delivered a page-gripping supernatural thriller that'll leave you craving more! He paints vivid descriptions of every possible detail that allows immerse yourself in the world. There were times when I literally had to put the book down and remind myself that I was in my room reading and not actually in Sacred Grounds! You truly get to know and love every character in the story in a way that makes you feel what they feel. After reading this, I will definitely be adding more thrillers to my tbr, but I think only book two will come close to this level of awe for me!
This book completely took me by surprise—in the best way possible. From the very first page, I was hooked. Beckett and Nick’s stories are raw, heartfelt, and full of emotion. Both men have faced deep trauma, yet their journey toward healing and faith is so powerful and moving. I found myself reflecting on my own life as I read. I have questions I’m dying to see answered in Book 2! This story truly touched my heart and had me deep in my feels from start to finish.
I received an ARC of this book. And let me tell you, this is a story everyone needs to read. Supernatural meets Stranger Things … Small town vibes. The story follows two main male characters as they work through some troubled relationships and revamp their walk with God. There is a love interest but this is not a romance book. I give it a solid 4.5 stars
Date : 2nd November 2025 Book : Sacred Grounds Author : Logan Castle Genre : Supernatural Thriller
Rating : ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Okay.. so this book is nothing like what I expected it to be when I first saw that cover with the cute little coffee cup😆 I went in expecting something light and quirky but found out at the end that this book hits home for some reason because you will find that pain, love and faith will all tangle together and it’s just a huge ball of emotion-filled book!
The story is about a combat veteran named Beckett who’s seen too much and a dreamer who’s been quietly trying to keep their world together. Both are broken in different ways and both end up somehow connected by this kinda eerie small town that feels haunted from the inside out.
All I’ll say is that this book is RAWWW and poetic. I really love books like this and I’m kinda mad at myself for not reading this sooner when I received it. The writing is definitely different and the whole book on its own gave me a new introduction to something spiritual. Perhaps it’s called a spiritual awakening?✨Oooo
Knowing the backstory of the author and reading the dedication is enough to make you get invested into reading this book. Originally I was interested in thriller books, then I took my plummet into romance and now I’m stepping back for the pleasure of reading this book.
Even with my prior knowledge of a thriller this novel still seemed to stand out in a way only reading it could make you understand. From raw, and real emotions and characters that you have to remind yourself that you don’t personally know - your gut is wrenched SEVERAL TIMES! You’ll fall in love, you’ll mourn, you’ll celebrate, you’ll mourn. It just kept going in all of the best ways.
This was an absolute pleasure to read and I HIGHLY recommend it to the next reader!
I was completely spellbound by this book! The author’s talent in this masterpiece was absolutely captivating. It whisks you away on a journey of emotions, mixing shadows with a sprinkle of optimism like confetti. The narrative explores profound themes of healing, forgiveness, and discovering light in the darkness. This book is undeniably a work of art that warms your soul, gives you goosebumps, all in one package. I assure you, delving into this emotional rollercoaster of a read will be worth every moment!
Logan did a great job keeping me on my toes with this story! Just when I thought I knew where it was headed and BAM! he completely flipped the script. It’s an intense and gripping story of good versus evil that keeps you guessing until the end. I’m definitely looking forward to the sequel!
Wow! Just wow!! This book is spiritual and overall amazing!! One of the best books I’ve ever read. You can feel every emotion within the characters. This book took me on an emotional rollercoaster! I related to this book and it awoke me to many feelings. I can’t wait for book 2! This is a book everyone should read!! I wish I was better at words. But please go read this book!! It is amazing!!
This is a story that had me feeling all kinds of emotions. This is a supernatural thriller with a lot of trauma, memories and a lot of psychological warfare our minds deal with from our own life experiences. This story is about grief and hope of redemption in a cruel world. These two main male characters deal with their troubles, relationships and the mental horrors that bleed over into our everyday lives all while trying to connect on their path to God. This was a healing journey for them as well as a realization to us readers.
This was a quiet, deeply intellectual read. There is some supernatural elements, but ultimately it is about the characters walk with God and struggles in their personal lives. Thank you for allowing me to read it.
I am usually a romance reader so this was a little different for me, but it had me hooked from the very beginning. The raw emotion and depth in the characters kept surprising me. Its not a warm fuzzy book. It makes you think and feel too much. Had me reevaluating some things in my own life. well written and fast paced... definitely recommend to my friends.
5/5 — A cozy cup of comfort… filled with secrets sharp enough to cut.
Sacred Grounds: The Bitter Cup is one of those rare books that looks whimsical on the surface—cute cup, warm vibes, soft art—but the moment you crack it open, you realize Logan Castle has tricked you in the best possible way. This isn’t just a story. It’s an experience steeped in mystery, emotion, and a kind of quiet magic that lingers long after the final page.
Castle blends warmth and unease with absolute precision. The atmosphere feels like walking into your favorite café… only to discover the barista knows more about you than they should. The writing is addictive—gentle when it needs to be, sharp when it wants to hurt, and always purposeful. And the tagline? “Where the steam burns, the secrets spill.” That’s exactly the energy this book delivers.
Every chapter peels back another layer of humanity—our guilt, our longing, the things we hide in plain sight. It’s spiritual without being preachy, emotional without being melodramatic, and mysterious without losing its heart. The characters feel real, flawed, lovable, and frustrating in the most human ways.
This is the kind of book you end up recommending to everyone because you need someone—ANYONE—to talk about it with.
If you love: ☕ Magical realism ☕ Character-driven stories ☕ Secrets that unravel slowly ☕ Atmosphere you can taste
Then do yourself a favor: read this. Immediately. It’s tender. It’s haunting. It’s beautifully written. And it deserves to blow up everywhere.
It is the dramatic writing style that draws you into this gripping paranormal thriller set in the PNW and keeps you thoroughly immersed to the last page.
Follow the tale of two men, once almost friends, warriors caught in a stealthy battle between ancient gods with humanity's future the ultimate prize. A war that is only just beginning.
Air Force veteran Beckett Pryor is a family man starting to question his life, his faith, and everything he knows, including his wife Elisha. He finds himself facing not only the ghosts of his past, but something insidious lurking in the dark shadows around him.
Nick Dawson has his own ghosts to deal with while desperately attempting to forge a romantic relationship with a former schoolmate. He too is starting to feel the dark energy emerging in the small Washington town.
Strong American Gods vibes with a Christian centered storyline and well developed believable characters. Definitely recommend to fans of paranormal suspense thrillers and Christian fiction.
Logan Castle’s Sacred Grounds isn’t just a book- it’s a slow descent into dread, brewed black and bitter. His prose is eerily creepy, laced with anticipation and suspense like the onset of a panic attack: you feel it coming, chest tightening, breath shortening, and then…doom. Gloom. No escape.
Every chapter pulses with unease. The atmosphere is so thick with foreboding it feels like you’re reading through fog, unsure what’s lurking just beyond the page. Castle doesn’t rely on jump scares or gore…he weaponizes silence, shadow, and the uncanny. It’s the literary equivalent of hearing footsteps behind you when you’re alone.
If you like your horror cerebral, your suspense suffocating, and your endings emotionally devastating, Sacred Grounds will ruin your sleep and haunt your coffee breaks. I closed the book and immediately checked my locks.
L. Castle truly did an amazing job writing Sacred Grounds: The Bitter Cup. He gives the story of his two protagonists breath and brings it alive. He makes it feel as real as the morning sun. His two main characters started in one place, separated, and shows how the stronger unearthly forces can bring them back together when the time is right. It also shows how the two men have vastly different lives yet still face the same struggles and both need help when they're going through it. Additionally L. Castle does a fantastic job writing from two very different perspectives and depicting two separate lives. Once again, he Truly did an AMAZING job writing Sacred Grounds: The Bitter Cup. Congratulations Logan Castle.
I never give 5-star reviews but this book deserves it.
Let me start by saying Wow! Pulled in immediately by both the storylines and the author’s ability to turn a phrase.
Two high school friends are brought back together by the strange and supernatural events happening around them. Visions and discernment of other entities cause each of them to question their childhood faith and if God is still there.
Beckett’s marriage is crumbling into a pair of roommates who have lost their passion between a soul-sucking job, homeschooling their two children and a church that feels like they are just going through the motions.
Nick has been wandering in his Honda Civic, and ends up back in their hometown and working at the same coffee shop he did years ago. Some of the same people are still around but he senses they have changed.
Both men feel an almost continuous Buzz, sometimes from within and sometimes from the world outside. As the story unfolds, each of them experiences an encounter with an evil entity in human form.
Just finished this up. I think it is going to have to sit with me for a while. I am going to say it is a 4 star read. The beginning left me waiting and at one point I told my husband I wasnt going to finish it. HOWEVER I did finish and am happy about it. You can easily picture every detail of this book in your head while reading. The writing is great!! The last half of the book had me hooked. I want to know what is going happen.
This book was my first ever read from the horror genre and I have no regrets. Ive always stayed away from this genre of reading because I dont need any more reasons to have anxiety. But this book has a way of keeping you grounded while you're trying to figure out how the dots connect. Once I started it, I couldn't stop and it left me wanting more. Theres old friendships that never died, theres the kind of romance that hurts and heals at the same time, and there's a dog who was my favorite side character. Im hopeful that there's more coming from Logan soon because I need to know how this story ends. This book came into my world as a prize from a drawing and I'm so glad that it did because it's one that will sit with me for a very long time.
Logan Castle’s Sacred Grounds: The Bitter Cup is quietly stunning. It’s part spiritual horror, part emotional healing, and all heart. The writing is rich and atmospheric — you can feel the rain, the silence, the weight of what isn’t said.
It’s not just a story about hauntings; it’s about faith, survival, and the unseen things that break and remake us. Beautifully written and deeply human.
Oh this book...I am not sure how to start this review. Logan Castle sure has a way of making you dig deep into your head while reading this book. I absolutely cried a ton and put the book down many times. I did not realize how much the journey of my life would be brought out in the book. I was told it could happen though. This book was part of my healing journey in many ways.
This book really made me sit back and think! It made me take a look back at things in my past as well as pay attention to things going on around me now. I listened to this on audio and it kept me hooked. 2 high-school friends, going through there own trials and tribulations somehow end up meeting back up and are encountering the same type of evil that has shown itself to each of them through different people. This book may just make you sit back and take stock in everything you think you know.
I found this book to be engaging, amazing, exciting, educational, spiritually enlightening, well written and an emotional roller coaster. I was caught by surprise by my emotional response, which gave my wife and I an opportunity to have a deeper conversation about our past experiences, especially with brothers, sisters, family and friends. If you've experienced any real world trauma and/or been involved in spiritual warfare; I highly recommend this book. Kudos to the Logan Castle family, may God Richly Bless you all.
First let me say I am not religious in any way, and to each their own beliefs.
With that being said there is a very clear (to me at least) struggle with Beckett’s mental well being, his faith and becoming distant in his marriage. His high school friend Nick is not in a much better situation.
They both fight their demons alone until Beckett walks into Sacred Grounds where Nick is working. Reminiscing about the past, neither mentioning the weight they both felt pressing on them, they questioned their faith and their paths.
The demons they both visualize and fight but not speak of are the mental health issues that many others are overwhelmed and burdened with.
This book brings those problems and issues into a well crafted and written story of broken people who fight their battles alone until they realize fighting together is much easier. Sacred Grounds is an emotional roller coaster that will have you questioning your own beliefs and purpose in life. Have you actually healed from your own traumas and issues?
The writing is descriptive and will grab you and pull you into their lives. You can feel all their pain, passion, love and growth.
Okay, Sacred Grounds: The Bitter Cup—where do I even start? This book took me on a ride I was not prepared for. I laughed, I gasped, and I may have ugly-cried once (okay, twice). It’s dark and a little haunting, but somehow still full of hope and healing. How??
Beckett and Nick felt real—like people you want to hug and grab a cup of coffee with. The writing is gorgeous and atmospheric; you can practically smell the coffee and feel the weight of the rain. It’s not just demons and drama—it’s about healing, forgiveness, and finding light in the dark. By the time I hit those last few chapters, I was in my feelings. Hard.
Not only is the book amazing, but the author is equally amazing. After a few conversations with him, it’s clear that he has a genuine heart for mental health and a love for people that absolutely shines through in this story.
I received an early copy, but I loved it so much I bought a copy straight from the author before it even officially released.
Solid 4 stars from me ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Emotional, eerie, and surprisingly beautiful. Logan, hurry up and release book two because WE NEED ANSWERS!!!
What makes things scary? From our earliest memories as humans living in caves lit only by flickering flames, our deepest fears have inhabited the edges of our perception: what we can see, hear, smell. Logan Castle, the author of Sacred Grounds: The Bitter Cup, understands this. His 2 protagonists, Nick and Bennett, high school and youth group friends who have grown apart, are both equally tormented by things just beyond the grasp of their senses. There are a few skirmishes with the Enemy, but exactly who the Enemy is and what he/she/it wants is part of the ongoing horror. The closest literary comparison I can make is with The Exorcist--the novel by William Peter Blatty, not the gross-out film--for its skillful characterization and masterful plotting of a spiritual battle. So, what is the evil uncoiling in the small coastal town of Sequim, WA? How will Beckett and Nick battle against an unseen enemy? That is a very good question...