A STRANGE TOWN. A SPRAWLING MANSION. A PERILOUS ROMANCE.
Ever since her mother vanished, Selah Whitlock has been drawn to the unexplained. So it feels almost fated to live in Foggy Hollow, a place where mystery abounds. Even more so when her father accepts a job at the Vandenberg estate, the epicenter of the town’s most infamous cold case.
Moving into the estate’s carriage house pulls Selah into the orbit of the Vandenberg Jude, the brooding heir with a tragic past, and Rafe, effortlessly charming and undeniably dangerous.
Then a centuries-old portrait surfaces bearing Selah’s exact likeness. Suddenly, she isn’t just chasing a mystery. She’s caught in the heart of one. As the town prepares to celebrate its bicentennial, Selah and Jude are pulled into a secret that spans generations. Something sinister is stirring beneath the golden leaves and carved pumpkins. And the deeper they fall, the deadlier the consequences.
Perfect for readers who love: * Spooky Season Reads set in haunted towns with creepy old estates. * Small Town Secrets tied to chilling cold case mysteries. * Appalachian Folklore and paranormal investigations. * Forbidden, Slow Burn Romance with a grumpy sunshine dynamic. * Brooding, Wounded Heroes entangled in deep supernatural lore.
K.E. Ganshert writes YA/Adult crossover fiction filled with high stakes, exciting twists, mystery, and romance. Her stories often feature heroines with gifts they don’t fully understand, emotionally guarded heroes who fall hard for the girl, and dangerous worlds that aren't quite what they seem. Perfect for readers who want to escape into supernatural, dystopian, or fantasy tales where the romance runs deep but never explicit.
All her books are available on Kindle Unlimited. They are also available on audio and online libraries.
*3.5 stars* Overall I enjoyed this. However, the mystery had waaaayy too many pieces. I had a lot of trouble keeping the family tree straight. Then we have the portrait, the disappearing mom, the jewels, the diaries, a randomly appearing tatoo, a key, a compass, a disappearing family, a monster, a mysterious comet, strange urban legends, a family curse, strange illnesses, a book that won't open... all along with a very confusing family tree which ALSO has mysterious and suspicious tragedies that the reader is expected to remember along the way. This wasn't enough to keep me from reading more from this author, but it was enough to make this a confusing read.
This was a pretty strong start to a series. I have never read any of Ganshert’s work before but this was really solid. Foggy Hollow as a town is the kind of place I’ve always dreamed of living. Mysterious, spooky, and loves Halloween sounds like my dream town.
One negative is the main mystery had SO many branching lines and some of them felt like they really added to the story and some felt like they were convoluting things a bit. It just took away from what was a very strong main plot line for me.
Good cast of characters who I hope we continue to see more of and get development for moving forward.
Overall really positive start to a series and I’m looking forward to reading book 2!
I saw several Bookstagrammers say they loved this book and off to Kindle Unlimited I went to download it without even reading their full reviews or the synopsis first! Lol I just thought to myself, what a great title and great cover for the month of October. I also loved that it was being marketed as YA. The writing was incredible, and the mystery was intriguing. An overall great page-turner that I would recommend, but it was also very unexpected. The first half really pulls you into the story with fantastic character development. This story is truly hard to describe. It has a unique flair to it that makes it stand out as nothing else I’ve ever really picked up before. There’s a creepy and historical element to it that personifies the Autumn season. What I didn’t expect halfway through was to be sucked into more of a supernatural world. Things got a little dark, and that’s why I gave the 4.5-Star clean rating as a warning to that. Think the TV show, “Stranger Things”. No swearing though and kisses only. It’s just the overall “dark” theme that some may not be comfortable with. Could this supernatural story fall into the realm of fantasy or sci-fi? I’m not sure as they really aren’t genres I’ve ventured into before. What I do know is this was a very well thought out and written novel. It left me speechless and curious as it kind of ends on a cliffhanger.
Selah Whitlock and her best friend, Twig, have always been inexplicably drawn to bizarre and unsolved mysteries. Selah’s own mother vanished when she was little, without much explanation. The infamous Vandenberg estate has been a huge fascination for Selah. Legend has it that an entire family went missing from the estate one night, never to be found again. When Selah’s father gets hired as the new groundskeeper at Vandenberg, it’s as though all of her and Twitch’s mystery and adrenaline junkie dreams have come true! Selah now has personal access to the estate and meets some of the Vandenberg cousins – some charming, some seemingly dangerous. Creepier than anything she’s ever discovered in the past, is a painted portrait inside the estate that looks EXACTLY like HER. She now feels as though she’s a part of the home’s sinister secrets and is determined to unearth them.
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I've never in all my days read a YA paranormal romance. I am not the target reader for this kind of book—not even close. But I've been wanting read something by Ganshert, and her newest release looked interesting. It's the perfect book for Halloween, as it opens at the onset of fall and ends on All Saints' Day. If you want to recommend a spooky, atmospheric romance to your teens, this is the book. You've found it.
Selah Whitlock is obsessed with the paranormal. She lives in Foggy Hollow, a town with a long history of unexplainable events. When her dad gets a job as groundskeeper at the historic Vandenberg Manor (the site of a mysterious disappearance in the '90s), Selah finds herself at the center of an even bigger mystery. She is also drawn to the brooding, intellectual heir to the Vandenberg estate.
I will say, this book delivers on its promise. Ganshert weaves a complicated, multi-stranded story that is difficult to follow at times. I recommend not sweating the details of the Vandenberg family tree. I didn't have everything straight in my head, and I made it through. Just relax and keep reading. Ganshert does a good job of recapping and contextualizing things as you go along.
This book is very long, which may appeal to some young people who like to invest in thicker books.
The romance is clean, but it brings the heat. Because of that, I'd probably recommend this for older teens. I tend to be overly critical of YA romances because I feel like they set unrealistic expectations for young people (really, girls, because that's who's reading) and this one definitely depicts the hero as beautifully worthy in every respect but also way over and above the average teen boy out there, so you've got that tension. I want young girls to know that most boys are never going to measure up to their book crushes, and that's to be expected. But I also want them to (at least) see strong heroes raised as the gold standard because it's far preferable to depicting whiny, moody, childish boys as love interests.
"Death has become a storm cloud hovering above us. And yet, I've never felt more alive than I do right now."
Oh, I've missed K.E. Ganshert's stunning creativity and gift of bringing stories to life. This is more than a YA fantasy book. It combines the supernatural with suspense and mystery and throws in a dash of romance and angst to create a reading journey worthy of a theme park in excitement and thrill. I loved Selah's wicked sense of humor, wit, loyalty, and tenacity. Her first person voice was raw, curious, compassionate, tender and relatable. Though the book was exclusively from Selah's point of view, we got to know Jude pretty well. Underneath his tortured, aloof exterior lay a passionate, intelligent and thoughtful soul begging to be understood and loved. I was completely engrossed and invested in their journey to find answers to several mysteries at Vandenberg Manor. And the plot twists! I totally did not see any of those coming and was floored when the pieces started coming together. This book should be made into a movie!
I can't wait for the next book in the series. Though the cold cases presented at the beginning of the story are solved now, I think the second book will delve into a different mystery altogether involving a peripheral character introduced in this book. I received a complimentary copy courtesy of the author and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.
I’m not trying to be THAT person but I am a grown woman with multiple degrees and I could not for the life of me even attempt to follow the convoluted plot and lore of this YA book
I really enjoyed this book! The story was fast paced but not rushed, and the supernatural aspects were so entertaining! Will definitely be reading the second book in the series.
2.5 stars I was really invested in about the first half but the second half felt so confusing and because there was so much going on, it felt a little messy. It’s a shame because like I said, I was so invested to begin with.
I’ve been a fan of Katie Ganshert for years. She is a super talented author who can write adult contemporary romances and incredible young adult stories. It doesn’t matter what she writes; I’m going to read it. Wicked is the Hollow reminds me of her first young adult series, The Gifting, because it deals with good versus evil. And the villain in this story is definitely evil. You don’t have to be a teen to enjoy this story. Yes, the hero (Jude) and heroine (Selah) are in high school, but the story is so good, you forget about their ages. If you’re a mystery/suspense fan, you’ll find plenty of it in this story. I read way too late one night because I couldn’t stop until I knew how things would turn out. It’s a definite page-turner. Finally, there is romance, but it isn’t the main point. Fighting evil is the key element that makes this book so gripping. There’s a surprise at the end that sets up book two. I wish it came out tomorrow so I could see what Ganshert does next. This is definitely worth your time. A little creepy, very suspenseful, some romance, and a solid story all rolled into one.
Oh my gosh oh my gosh oh my gosh!!!!! This was probably one of THE BEST spooky mysteries I’ve ever read!! I loved it from BEGINNING TO END! And I’m so excited for the next book in the series to release! AHH btw I fully agree with the comparison of this book having Stranger Things and Gilmore Girls vibes ALSO THE ROMANCE???! so adorable and cute! Jude?? [swoon!] ugh he’s like that sweet broody blonde boy who LIKES TO READ GUYS and I’m not kidding, when we got introduced to him I was already in love with HIM.. found another book boyfriend guysss.. 🤭🤭🤭🤭🤭🤭😍😍😍😍😍😍 SELAH was also such a great character as well! I loved her so much! Having the confidence to go up to the new cute guy who-she-had-an-intense-stare-down-with-in-the-school-hallway mind you , and sit down at lunch with him UH YEAH and she was such a cutie.. I like that she was a red head cuz I feel like I don’t read a lot of FMC’s with red hair ☺️🙃 NEED ANYMORE CONVINCING TO READ IT?!! JUST TAKE MY WORD FOR IT AND GO READ ITTTTTT
✨ 6 starssss ✨
RTC later
⚠️ Age Suggestion: 15+ ⚠️
CONTENT INFO:
No spice- mildly descriptive kisses.. nothing more than that No foul language- I don’t think nothing other than “great Scot!” And stupid No LGBTQ
Y’all! This was a fantastic YA paranormal mystery! It's one of the best I’ve read in a long time. The prologue gripped me, and I was held captive till the final word. I loved it so much!
The mystery surrounding the Vandenberg family was so intriguing, and I was so curious how Selah was connected to everything. This was not a predictable read by any means. I was surprised by the unfolding events so many times. And I loved all the spooky vibes. I got goosebumps several times.
If you’re a fan of compelling and impossible-to-put-down paranormal mysteries, you’re going to love this book. I can’t recommend it highly enough. It’s one of my favorite reads of the year. I’m so excited this is the start of a series. I can’t wait to visit Foggy Hollow again!
I received a copy of this book and voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and comments are my honest opinion.
I was hooked from the first sentence! Selah is witty, loving and determined. Twig is loyal and intelligent. (I really hope the next book is from his POV.) Jude and Rafe are mysterious. I often see plot twists a mile away, but there were some surprises in this book. I don't know if it's because they were cleverly disguised or because I was reading it so quickly I didn't take the time to think about where the story might be going. Either way, I thoroughly enjoyed the book from start to finish and can't wait for the next book in the series. Thank you K.E. Ganshert for writing such captivating books that are free from bad language and sex!!
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I didn't know what to think going into this book. I've loved every book the author has written, especially The Gifting series (which is one of my all time favorite (and most read) series), but this one with its disappearances and Halloween/creepy-vibes had me uncertain. Horror is not my thing. But when one of your favorite authors brings out a new book, what's a girl to do but read it!
In all honesty, it was outside my comfort zone with the deaths and monster/ghosty stuff. That said, it was absolutely brilliantly written and imagined and held me utterly captivated from first sentence to last. I couldn't stop reading, and read it in a day. The characters, the twisty plot, the suspense, the evil v good, the mystery, it was impossible to walk away from. Days on, I still keep thinking about it.
Will I read it again? Maybe. Not sure. But I'm glad I read it. Even if it still creeped me out. Just call me a chicken :)
This was a fun little YA read. Lots of mysteries are happening, and a bit of a confusing family tree though, which made the story hard to follow. But, overall a cute little halloween read that scratched my fall itch.
You know I actually really liked this. First mystery I’ve read and liked in a while. I’m gonna wait on reading the second one so that I can go into it fresh but I do plan on reading it.. really liked selah and Jude. I feel like this has the makings of an Amazon Prime Video original you know ?
Went in thinking this was a moody mystery and it’s got a lot more to offer than that. A fun read with a good balance of mystery and supernatural and a super cutie patootie love story.
Delightfully spooky and giving all the right vibes for a Halloween season read, but without verging into straight up horror territory. I liked the mystery element and Selah was a great character. The way she delighted in the mysterious and was okay with holding things in uncertainty was beautiful.
The middle of the novel was a little slow in some parts and I really wish I could have had a window into Jude's perspective, but those are my only complaints.
This is the beginning of a series, which I didn't realize at first, but this story does come to a pretty satisfactory conclusion. While it may leave you intrigued about Book 2 it won't leave you frustrated and hanging on a cliff while you wait for the sequel.
I received an advanced copy for the purpose of reviewing. All opinions are my own.
A good premise to the book, but there were way too many plot lines/mysteries to keep straight in this book. The family tree was way too confusing and hard to follow. It felt like the author essentially threw 7 different plot lines toward this novel and wrote what stuck; should’ve just stuck with the original!!!!
WOW! What an incredible YA novel this is. The original lore, mythology, and legend that is planted and then ferociously grown on these pages is nothing short of genius. Such an impressive work. If you like spooky, supernatural mystery (with nods to millennial pop culture) intertwined with legend and lore, and a hint of nostalgic teenage romance, you've got to read this book!
This is one of the most intriguing stories I have read lately! The mysteries abound in this one and I was here for all of it. I really like the cast of characters and this story truly kept me guessing. I can not wait for the next book!
I received this ARC from the author and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.
From the very beginning, the book gave me flashbacks to the first episodes of The Vampire Diaries: an old town where traditions are cherished; a mysterious and gloomy sprawling mansion; two charming cousins whose ancestors founded the town; and a girl who is vulnerable but curious. The story progresses slowly, and the atmosphere is quite measured. Some might find the abundance of names from the past to be a bit overwhelming, but it didn't bother me at all. On the contrary, to fully immerse the reader in the story, the author gradually reveals details while simultaneously showing the development of the relationships between the characters. I should note that there are no 18+ scenes or foul language here. Toward the end, the book starts to feel like Stranger Things (at that point, you just want to play 'Running Up That Hill,' which, by the way, was featured in both shows, but in different arrangements). Everything feels organic, engaging, and very atmospheric. The second book in the series is already out, and I really want to read it. I recommend this to anyone looking for a slow-paced story with a mystical undertone, an autumnal mood, gothic architecture, and a touch of romance.