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Shima
In the quiet, rain-soaked town of Ashland, Maine, Kat Shaw is just trying to survive, juggling a dead-end job, a haunted past, and the suffocating weight of loss. But when her closest friend dies under mysterious circumstances and a massive, enigmatic wolf appears at her door, Kat’s world is upended. The wolf, Shima, is more than she seems—an ancient spirit guide with ties to Kat’s bloodline and the dark legends of the North Woods.
As Kat’s nights fill with visions, lost time, and chilling encounters, she’s forced to confront the supernatural forces that have stalked her family for centuries. Ghosts, demons, and shapeshifters emerge from the shadows, each with their own agenda, and Kat realizes she’s at the center of a curse older than the town itself. With only a handful of allies - her gruff landlord, a wise tribal elder, and the fiercely loyal Shima - Kat must unravel the secrets of her ancestry before the darkness claims her for good.
As Kat’s nights fill with visions, lost time, and chilling encounters, she’s forced to confront the supernatural forces that have stalked her family for centuries. Ghosts, demons, and shapeshifters emerge from the shadows, each with their own agenda, and Kat realizes she’s at the center of a curse older than the town itself. With only a handful of allies - her gruff landlord, a wise tribal elder, and the fiercely loyal Shima - Kat must unravel the secrets of her ancestry before the darkness claims her for good.
281 pages, ebook
Published December 1, 2025
About the author
John R. Thayer
5 books14 followersJohn Thayer lives in Riverview, Florida with his wife, Judy, and son, Jared. His debut novel, Jared’s Island, came out in September, 2012. Jared was John’s inspiration to begin writing, which is why there is always a character named Jared in his books. His latest work, SHIMA, is currently avaiable through amazon. You can follow him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/jaredsisland. He also always loves to hear from people who have read his books and can be reached by email at Johnthayer11@gmail.com
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 2, 2026
Slow start, but an interesting paranormal/supernatural read filled with Native American folklore. Loved the climax and resolution
The only thing that made it a difficult read was the formatting (not always starting a new paragraph every time the speaker changes). But overall, it was still a nice read and the characters were very interesting
The only thing that made it a difficult read was the formatting (not always starting a new paragraph every time the speaker changes). But overall, it was still a nice read and the characters were very interesting
March 1, 2026
"Shima" was a very different story than I expected. When I saw the cover of this book, my mind immediately went to urban fantasy, but this has more of a spooky, ghost story vibe to it. The book is set in Maine – not sure if that was an intentional nod to Stephen King, but the author was definitely able to conjure up some pretty creepy imagery that is very reminiscent of King's works.
The story is steeped in Native American lore, which is something I'm not very familiar with. I don’t know if the author created it for this book, or if it was researched and based on actual beliefs and practices of the tribes in that region. Either way it felt fleshed out and believable and added a nice dimension to the proceedings.
Although Kat was the main character, Shima was my favorite. I really like the way she developed over the course of the story from this enigmatic observer to a more active role as we uncover more about her origins.
There were a few aspects where I felt the tale suffered. The author has a habit of not starting each character's dialogue with a new paragraph. This got to be confusing, especially during scenes where three different characters were speaking and it was all stuffed together in the same block of text. In addition, the whole subplot involving Clair seemed extraneous and for me it detracted from Kat's journey.
That aside, this was a pretty interesting book and quite different from anything I've read before. If you're looking for a story that includes Native American folklore, spirits, and generally creepy goings-on, this one might be right up your alley.
3.5/5 stars
The story is steeped in Native American lore, which is something I'm not very familiar with. I don’t know if the author created it for this book, or if it was researched and based on actual beliefs and practices of the tribes in that region. Either way it felt fleshed out and believable and added a nice dimension to the proceedings.
Although Kat was the main character, Shima was my favorite. I really like the way she developed over the course of the story from this enigmatic observer to a more active role as we uncover more about her origins.
There were a few aspects where I felt the tale suffered. The author has a habit of not starting each character's dialogue with a new paragraph. This got to be confusing, especially during scenes where three different characters were speaking and it was all stuffed together in the same block of text. In addition, the whole subplot involving Clair seemed extraneous and for me it detracted from Kat's journey.
That aside, this was a pretty interesting book and quite different from anything I've read before. If you're looking for a story that includes Native American folklore, spirits, and generally creepy goings-on, this one might be right up your alley.
3.5/5 stars
January 27, 2026
Very hard to put down!
From the first page, Kat (our protagonist) is thrown into a tornado of chaos that is only gaining power and speed as the story progresses. Shima is rich in Native American lore, which was beautifully put on display, in my opinion. The story has a great balance of everyday life and people, as well as the paranormal and supernatural. It was genuinely hard for me to put down as I constantly wanted to see what was coming next, and how Kat, Shima, and those around her would handle every new and menacing threat. The book's conflict focuses on centuries-old tension between two familial bloodlines that Kat is now discovering she is not only deeply rooted in, but the last descendant standing of on one end. However, the underlying theme of family being more than just the people you are blood-related to is just as strong, present, and well-crafted. Shima (the wolf) and Kat are also a great pairing, with Shima's ancient experience and wisdom and Kat's strong drive and youthfulness. I loved seeing their relationship develop over the course of the story. Kat's progression through the story is also deep and engaging. She goes from a young woman full of loss, isolation, and uncertainty to a woman of strength, wisdom, ambition, and an understanding of herself, her background, and the world around her. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for something unique, suspenseful, supernatural, and yet relatable.
From the first page, Kat (our protagonist) is thrown into a tornado of chaos that is only gaining power and speed as the story progresses. Shima is rich in Native American lore, which was beautifully put on display, in my opinion. The story has a great balance of everyday life and people, as well as the paranormal and supernatural. It was genuinely hard for me to put down as I constantly wanted to see what was coming next, and how Kat, Shima, and those around her would handle every new and menacing threat. The book's conflict focuses on centuries-old tension between two familial bloodlines that Kat is now discovering she is not only deeply rooted in, but the last descendant standing of on one end. However, the underlying theme of family being more than just the people you are blood-related to is just as strong, present, and well-crafted. Shima (the wolf) and Kat are also a great pairing, with Shima's ancient experience and wisdom and Kat's strong drive and youthfulness. I loved seeing their relationship develop over the course of the story. Kat's progression through the story is also deep and engaging. She goes from a young woman full of loss, isolation, and uncertainty to a woman of strength, wisdom, ambition, and an understanding of herself, her background, and the world around her. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for something unique, suspenseful, supernatural, and yet relatable.
March 23, 2026
Shima by John R. Thayer is a gripping blend of paranormal suspense and emotional storytelling that pulls you in from the very first page. Kat is a compelling and relatable protagonist—flawed, resilient, and easy to root for as her world unravels into something far darker than she ever imagined.
What truly sets this story apart is its rich grounding in Native American lore, which adds depth and authenticity to the supernatural elements. The balance between everyday struggles and the looming spiritual conflict is handled beautifully, making the story feel both intimate and epic at the same time.
And then there’s Shima—the spirit wolf who steals every scene she’s in. Loyal, wise, and powerful, she brings both heart and strength to the story, elevating it beyond a typical paranormal thriller.
This is a fast-paced, emotionally driven novel about loss, identity, and the ties that bind us—both seen and unseen. Highly recommended for fans of supernatural fiction with depth and meaning.
What truly sets this story apart is its rich grounding in Native American lore, which adds depth and authenticity to the supernatural elements. The balance between everyday struggles and the looming spiritual conflict is handled beautifully, making the story feel both intimate and epic at the same time.
And then there’s Shima—the spirit wolf who steals every scene she’s in. Loyal, wise, and powerful, she brings both heart and strength to the story, elevating it beyond a typical paranormal thriller.
This is a fast-paced, emotionally driven novel about loss, identity, and the ties that bind us—both seen and unseen. Highly recommended for fans of supernatural fiction with depth and meaning.
April 17, 2026
Just finished reading "Shima” by John Thayer; writer of many words. It starts quietly as he introduces you to the world of Kat, an indigenous member of a small Penobscot tribe in Maine, trying to make it on her own. Kat has all sorts of troubles — trouble with her foster dad, trouble with her work boss/landlord, oh and yeah, she sees dead people.
Some spoilers below -
What starts out slowly builds up very fast and before you know it, she’s neck deep in a paranormal thriller full of vengeful ghosts, homicidal spirits and a really nasty curse. But Kat gains an ally who won’t give up…her spirit wolf, Shima. Kat and Shima stand side by side as she quite literally fights for her life and the lives of those she cares about.
If you love paranormal thrillers with a some nice indigenous backstory and a faithful wolf, this story is perfect for you.
Some spoilers below -
What starts out slowly builds up very fast and before you know it, she’s neck deep in a paranormal thriller full of vengeful ghosts, homicidal spirits and a really nasty curse. But Kat gains an ally who won’t give up…her spirit wolf, Shima. Kat and Shima stand side by side as she quite literally fights for her life and the lives of those she cares about.
If you love paranormal thrillers with a some nice indigenous backstory and a faithful wolf, this story is perfect for you.
March 23, 2026
This paranormal thriller takes you through a young Indigenous woman who is estranged from her tribe. Kat has always been plagued with ghosts and other paranormal events but lately it's getting worse. Now she has to reconnect with her heritage with the help of her new spirit animal to learn about the past and stop a curse that it killing everybody around her.
This isn't normally the kind of book I get into, but Thayer pulled me into her story, and it was difficult to put down. The world building gives you this home town vibe that makes you feel like you've always known everybody.
At 245 pages, it was a lot shorter of a read than I'm used to, but the story didn't feel rushed. This is a perfect standalone read for people who want an emotional story in a thriller.
This isn't normally the kind of book I get into, but Thayer pulled me into her story, and it was difficult to put down. The world building gives you this home town vibe that makes you feel like you've always known everybody.
At 245 pages, it was a lot shorter of a read than I'm used to, but the story didn't feel rushed. This is a perfect standalone read for people who want an emotional story in a thriller.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews