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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.
243 pages, Paperback
Published December 2, 2025
1 person is currently reading
3 people want to read
About the author
John R. Thayer
5 books13 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 - 2 of 2 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
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.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews