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Tainted Glass
What if Heartstopper were a psychological horror?
In this mind-shattering, crazily twisted thriller, George is a shy, loyal, but anxious teen desperately trying to find himself. Meagan is a reserved intellect, gravely trying to tune into her feelings. Despite the depression, trauma, and everyday life issues, both friends can't wait to start university life, but more importantly, they can't wait to discover their true selves. However, something more sinister lurks behind the glass.
Relationships are strained, but soon George, Meagan, and their friends discover something truly ominous about their small rural town - dark secrets and occult activity run rich in the town's history. Intense decision-making creates a dark, suspenseful, and crazily twisted psychological puzzle they need to figure out before a bleak and wicked fate befalls the whole town. Defining their sexualities and their sense of self-worth will help aid them on this mysterious, horrifying journey.
In this mind-shattering, crazily twisted thriller, George is a shy, loyal, but anxious teen desperately trying to find himself. Meagan is a reserved intellect, gravely trying to tune into her feelings. Despite the depression, trauma, and everyday life issues, both friends can't wait to start university life, but more importantly, they can't wait to discover their true selves. However, something more sinister lurks behind the glass.
Relationships are strained, but soon George, Meagan, and their friends discover something truly ominous about their small rural town - dark secrets and occult activity run rich in the town's history. Intense decision-making creates a dark, suspenseful, and crazily twisted psychological puzzle they need to figure out before a bleak and wicked fate befalls the whole town. Defining their sexualities and their sense of self-worth will help aid them on this mysterious, horrifying journey.
314 pages, Paperback
Published October 17, 2025
3 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
February 6, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
Tainted Glass really finds its stride in the middle to latter half of the story, where the pacing picks up and the tension ramps up, ending on a cliffhanger that definitely caught my attention. The characters are teenagers fresh out of high school, navigating intense emotions and darker mental states, and their immaturity feels very authentic. At times, that realism worked against my enjoyment as an adult reader, especially when spice was introduced. It felt a bit off-putting given their age and mindset.
That said, the creature was genuinely spooky and had me on edge, with a distinct and memorable description. I also appreciated the LGBT representation, which felt naturally woven into the story.
Tainted Glass really finds its stride in the middle to latter half of the story, where the pacing picks up and the tension ramps up, ending on a cliffhanger that definitely caught my attention. The characters are teenagers fresh out of high school, navigating intense emotions and darker mental states, and their immaturity feels very authentic. At times, that realism worked against my enjoyment as an adult reader, especially when spice was introduced. It felt a bit off-putting given their age and mindset.
That said, the creature was genuinely spooky and had me on edge, with a distinct and memorable description. I also appreciated the LGBT representation, which felt naturally woven into the story.
November 26, 2025
What a whirlwind expanse of a story that's a gift which keeps on giving. Its hard to find a book filled with so many themes and so much heart, and KP really did it. This book felt like a marriage of self-reclamation and the horrors that can be found in both humanity and the supernatural - and what a wild breath of fresh air I didn't know I needed. It was truly touching to see how the main character grew over the course of some extremely harrowing and upsetting events, and I cannot wait to see what will happen next.
Also! Please heed the publisher's note regarding trigger warnings! There were certain points where I needed to put the book down and step away and practice some self-care because some themes and events became very personal and touched close to home. I do not mean this in a negative way, more so aspects of the main character especially felt incredibly real, relatable, and sometimes hard to face. But just as in real life, it's worth pushing through to see what comes next. <3
Also! Please heed the publisher's note regarding trigger warnings! There were certain points where I needed to put the book down and step away and practice some self-care because some themes and events became very personal and touched close to home. I do not mean this in a negative way, more so aspects of the main character especially felt incredibly real, relatable, and sometimes hard to face. But just as in real life, it's worth pushing through to see what comes next. <3
December 17, 2025
eerily fantastic
I just finished this book and it immerses you into the story. So vivid are the descriptions that you feel you are in the story. What a great work of thriller fiction. Stayed tuned….
I just finished this book and it immerses you into the story. So vivid are the descriptions that you feel you are in the story. What a great work of thriller fiction. Stayed tuned….
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews