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Mazywood
All the Sinners Bleed meets My Sister, the Serial Killer in this literary thriller following the grandson of a famous Black actress from the 1940s and 1950s, now a filmmaker himself, who returns to his grandmother’s cabin retreat in the California mountains only to encounter the legacy of her rage.
With flashbacks to Johnny’s grandmother, this novel explores three generations beginning with Mazelle Washington’s life as a young actress. Fifty years after Mazelle’s death, Johnny will discover the secret she’s kept and nurtured since she was a child when she had a dark wish come true.
There’s a monster in the woods outside her mountain retreat, Mazywood, and it is lonely and angry.
With flashbacks to Johnny’s grandmother, this novel explores three generations beginning with Mazelle Washington’s life as a young actress. Fifty years after Mazelle’s death, Johnny will discover the secret she’s kept and nurtured since she was a child when she had a dark wish come true.
There’s a monster in the woods outside her mountain retreat, Mazywood, and it is lonely and angry.
504 pages, Hardcover
First published September 22, 2026
About the author
Tananarive Due
117 books7,663 followersTANANARIVE DUE (tah-nah-nah-REEVE doo) is the award-winning author of The Wishing Pool & Other Stories and the upcoming The Reformatory ("A masterpiece"--Library Journal). She and her husband, Steven Barnes, co-wrote the Black Horror graphic novel The Keeper, illustrated by Marco Finnegan. Due and Barnes co-host a podcast, "Lifewriting: Write for Your Life!"
A leading voice in Black speculative fiction for more than 20 years, Due has won an American Book Award, an NAACP Image Award, and a British Fantasy Award, and her writing has been included in best-of-the-year anthologies. Her books include Ghost Summer: Stories, My Soul to Keep, and The Good House. She and her late mother, civil rights activist Patricia Stephens Due, co-authored Freedom in the Family: A Mother-Daughter Memoir of the Fight for Civil Rights. She and her husband live with their son, Jason.
A leading voice in Black speculative fiction for more than 20 years, Due has won an American Book Award, an NAACP Image Award, and a British Fantasy Award, and her writing has been included in best-of-the-year anthologies. Her books include Ghost Summer: Stories, My Soul to Keep, and The Good House. She and her late mother, civil rights activist Patricia Stephens Due, co-authored Freedom in the Family: A Mother-Daughter Memoir of the Fight for Civil Rights. She and her husband live with their son, Jason.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 478 reviews
August 19, 2026
Famous Hollywood grandmother + California mountain cabin + Legacy of rage + Monster in the woods.
The Reformatory irrevocably changed me and is one of my favourite books of all time, so preparing to be wrecked again.
Review to come!
The Reformatory irrevocably changed me and is one of my favourite books of all time, so preparing to be wrecked again.
Review to come!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
4.5 stars — getting to hear tananarive speak about the writing process of mazywood and her research was an absolute honor!
i absolutely loved the reformatory despite its gruesome plot (especially the double whammy of reading it directly after the nickel boys…) and now tananarive due has solidified herself as an autobuy author for me🙂↕️
mazywood is a paranormal thriller that alternates povs between mazelle washington’s life as a type-casted child and young woman in the past, and her grandson johnny washington's life in the present as a struggling director in hollywood…
upon returning to her california cabin retreat, johnny and his family uncover mazelle's gruesome legacy of trauma and rage…
i absolutely loved the reformatory despite its gruesome plot (especially the double whammy of reading it directly after the nickel boys…) and now tananarive due has solidified herself as an autobuy author for me🙂↕️
mazywood is a paranormal thriller that alternates povs between mazelle washington’s life as a type-casted child and young woman in the past, and her grandson johnny washington's life in the present as a struggling director in hollywood…
upon returning to her california cabin retreat, johnny and his family uncover mazelle's gruesome legacy of trauma and rage…
August 13, 2026
All I can say is wow, what a novel! Tananarive Due has done it again!
Mazywood tells a tale spanning decades from the time Mazelle is a child actress in the 20s all the way through to the present day where her grandson Johnny is a screenwriter in Hollywood. While visiting Mazelle’s cabin retreat in the mountains, Johnny realizes his grandmother was harboring some deadly secrets.
This was absolutely fantastic. The historical fiction elements were done so well that at times I had to remind myself Mazelle was a fictional character. There were so many themes in this book from racism, abuse, sexual harassment, all the way through to the underlying themes of loneliness and wanting an attachment to somebody/something.
Mazelle’s timeline was the one that hooked me the most. I was sucked into the historical elements and struggles Mazelle went through. I struggled a little bit with Johnny’s timeline only because survivalist elements usually don’t work with me just as a personal preference. However, despite those elements not being my favorite, I ended up really loving where it went. And that ending was perfect. I couldn’t imagine any other ending. I never would’ve thought I would’ve felt the emotions that I did. So good!
The combination of horror elements both real and fantastical are blended flawlessly. This is now my second novel by this author that has followed this similar formula and I have loved both of them. I most certainly will be first in line for this author’s next novel.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
Mazywood tells a tale spanning decades from the time Mazelle is a child actress in the 20s all the way through to the present day where her grandson Johnny is a screenwriter in Hollywood. While visiting Mazelle’s cabin retreat in the mountains, Johnny realizes his grandmother was harboring some deadly secrets.
This was absolutely fantastic. The historical fiction elements were done so well that at times I had to remind myself Mazelle was a fictional character. There were so many themes in this book from racism, abuse, sexual harassment, all the way through to the underlying themes of loneliness and wanting an attachment to somebody/something.
Mazelle’s timeline was the one that hooked me the most. I was sucked into the historical elements and struggles Mazelle went through. I struggled a little bit with Johnny’s timeline only because survivalist elements usually don’t work with me just as a personal preference. However, despite those elements not being my favorite, I ended up really loving where it went. And that ending was perfect. I couldn’t imagine any other ending. I never would’ve thought I would’ve felt the emotions that I did. So good!
The combination of horror elements both real and fantastical are blended flawlessly. This is now my second novel by this author that has followed this similar formula and I have loved both of them. I most certainly will be first in line for this author’s next novel.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
September 23, 2026
Hot damn! I now get people’s undying love for Ms. Tananarive Due! A genre-bending triumph of historical fiction, survival horror, supernatural thrills, and family drama, Mazywood not only delivered a slow yet intoxicating game of cat-and-mouse, but also gave me chills with the monster-in-the-woods vibes. Don’t get me wrong, there were some serious, timely themes in this one as well. From the true horrors of Black history to the dark side of Hollywood, Due had me thinking long and hard as she explored misogyny, racism, and exploitation. On top of that, it was packed to the brim with dysfunctional family dynamics, generational trauma, and morally gray characters. Complicated, realistic, and messy, they brought this story to life. Especially Mazy. A strong, resilient, and ambitious woman, she was the standout character for me by far. Then again, Scout—and his arc—was pretty memorable as well.
So what was my absolute favorite part of this novel? Well, that had to be the atmosphere. With dual timelines that radiated their own separate feel, it was a masterpiece of time and place as things came together. From the ominous and dark vibes oozing from the present to the glamorous and seductive air of Old Hollywood, I was instantly immersed in Due’s fully formed worlds. After all, it was not only haunting and richly detailed, but also emotionally layered. Let’s not forget, though, that there was a horror story at its core. With supernatural elements, unsettling imagery, and psychological unease, this book gave me definite read-with-the-lights-on vibes. So if you’re looking for a My Sister, the Serial Killer-meets-Stephen King kind of read, this should be the very next book on your TBR. Was it a tad slower in the middle? Sure…but that unforgettable ending made up for it completely. Rating of 4.5 stars.
Read if you’re a fan of:
- Monster-in-the-woods vibes
- Historical fiction
- Supernatural elements
- Survival horror
- Thought-provoking themes
- Complex characters
- Long-buried secrets
- Messy family dynamics
- Family sagas
- A haunting atmosphere
- Dual timelines/POVs
- Clever endings
- Old Hollywood glamour
- Horror grounded in reality
SYNOPSIS:
When Johnny—a filmmaker and grandson of the famous Black actress Mazelle Washington—brings his family to Mazywood, the secluded California mountain lodge left behind by his grandmother, he expects a quiet retreat. Instead, he uncovers a legacy of rage, secrets, and terror that has haunted his family for generations.
Set primarily in the present day, with haunting flashbacks to Hollywood’s Golden Age, Mazywood explores three generations while following Johnny as he pieces together the true story of his grandmother. As a young Black actress whose career spanned from the 1920s to the 1940s, Mazelle brushed shoulders with giants like Lena Horne, Clark Gable, and Hattie McDaniel. But beneath her public appearance, she carried a secret she had kept and nurtured since she was a child, when a dark wish came true and changed the course of her life forever.
Now, fifty years after Mazelle’s death, Johnny finds himself confronting the truth she buried—and the consequences she left behind. For a monster lurks outside Mazywood, hidden for generations, and Johnny brought his family to its hunting grounds.
Thank you Tananarive Due and Saga Press Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: September 22, 2026
Content warning: racism, sexual assault, racial slurs, physical abuse, animal cruelty, terminal illness, emotional and physical abuse, murder, car accident, pregnancy, miscarriage, blood, stalking, violence
So what was my absolute favorite part of this novel? Well, that had to be the atmosphere. With dual timelines that radiated their own separate feel, it was a masterpiece of time and place as things came together. From the ominous and dark vibes oozing from the present to the glamorous and seductive air of Old Hollywood, I was instantly immersed in Due’s fully formed worlds. After all, it was not only haunting and richly detailed, but also emotionally layered. Let’s not forget, though, that there was a horror story at its core. With supernatural elements, unsettling imagery, and psychological unease, this book gave me definite read-with-the-lights-on vibes. So if you’re looking for a My Sister, the Serial Killer-meets-Stephen King kind of read, this should be the very next book on your TBR. Was it a tad slower in the middle? Sure…but that unforgettable ending made up for it completely. Rating of 4.5 stars.
Read if you’re a fan of:
- Monster-in-the-woods vibes
- Historical fiction
- Supernatural elements
- Survival horror
- Thought-provoking themes
- Complex characters
- Long-buried secrets
- Messy family dynamics
- Family sagas
- A haunting atmosphere
- Dual timelines/POVs
- Clever endings
- Old Hollywood glamour
- Horror grounded in reality
SYNOPSIS:
When Johnny—a filmmaker and grandson of the famous Black actress Mazelle Washington—brings his family to Mazywood, the secluded California mountain lodge left behind by his grandmother, he expects a quiet retreat. Instead, he uncovers a legacy of rage, secrets, and terror that has haunted his family for generations.
Set primarily in the present day, with haunting flashbacks to Hollywood’s Golden Age, Mazywood explores three generations while following Johnny as he pieces together the true story of his grandmother. As a young Black actress whose career spanned from the 1920s to the 1940s, Mazelle brushed shoulders with giants like Lena Horne, Clark Gable, and Hattie McDaniel. But beneath her public appearance, she carried a secret she had kept and nurtured since she was a child, when a dark wish came true and changed the course of her life forever.
Now, fifty years after Mazelle’s death, Johnny finds himself confronting the truth she buried—and the consequences she left behind. For a monster lurks outside Mazywood, hidden for generations, and Johnny brought his family to its hunting grounds.
Thank you Tananarive Due and Saga Press Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: September 22, 2026
Content warning: racism, sexual assault, racial slurs, physical abuse, animal cruelty, terminal illness, emotional and physical abuse, murder, car accident, pregnancy, miscarriage, blood, stalking, violence
September 4, 2026
ARC REVIEW…..
Okay first of all….. I loved every bit of SCOUT. This generational supernatural horror takes you on a ride to early Hollywood where the only job Black actors were getting were roles of Maids,Mammys, or anything that was making a fool of themselves. Mazelle Washingotn “Lazy Mazy” as most will call her. We get a glimpse of what it’s was like and how it still is now for Black producers in the show biz. Fast forward, Johnny Washington following in his grandmothers footsteps just from behind the camera takes his family on a little “getaway” that has all of his childhood trauma resources. Was it all in his imagination as a little kid? Or is it really something sinister going on at his grandfathers lodge? What’s under the snow?
There are some parts of this book that was reallllly freaking me out lmao.
I also had the ALC and anything with Joniece Abbott-Pratt is a hit in my book
Okay first of all….. I loved every bit of SCOUT. This generational supernatural horror takes you on a ride to early Hollywood where the only job Black actors were getting were roles of Maids,Mammys, or anything that was making a fool of themselves. Mazelle Washingotn “Lazy Mazy” as most will call her. We get a glimpse of what it’s was like and how it still is now for Black producers in the show biz. Fast forward, Johnny Washington following in his grandmothers footsteps just from behind the camera takes his family on a little “getaway” that has all of his childhood trauma resources. Was it all in his imagination as a little kid? Or is it really something sinister going on at his grandfathers lodge? What’s under the snow?
There are some parts of this book that was reallllly freaking me out lmao.
I also had the ALC and anything with Joniece Abbott-Pratt is a hit in my book
October 3, 2026
Thank you to Saga Press for the ARC! Well, The Reformatory surely spoiled me because my expectations were extremely high going into Mazywood. I LOVED Mazelle’s story. Johnny’s POV started great, but with how much it was dragged out, I got so tired of reading about him. There are a lot of important topics this book covers and while I appreciate Due SO much for her work, I can’t say I loved this one. Structurally, this book still needed a lot of work. It starts slow and never really picks up. The multiple timelines and dual POV is this book’s weakness. I was loving everything Mazelle and the historical parts, but all the interesting themes (to me) seemed to fizzle out towards the middle of the book. It was so long and detailed for no reason at all, but when it came time for me to visualize things happening, I had a hard time. Especially when it came to Scout. I wanted to be spooked but I wasn’t until the last few pages.
Review of advance copy
Back-to-school season hits hard for us book people, and Mazywood is paradise for a teacher’s pet: you’ll learn a ton while reading, without any of it feeling like homework. This book is equal parts high-octane horror flick and whipsmart academic essay—a tricky needle to thread.
But if anyone can do it, it’s long-time Aardvarkian favorite Tananarive Due—winner of our Members’ Choice Award back in 2024! With Mazywood, she spins her signature horror-historical hybrid, literalizing the anti-Blackness of golden-age Hollywood as the horror it was. Weaving in real-life historical figures (like Hattie McDaniel, the first-ever Black person to win an Oscar), Mazywood imagines the life of Mazelle Washington, a Black actress navigating a career in a deeply racist industry, as well as the legacy—and horrors—she leaves behind for future generations to contend with.
Mazelle and her pet showdog Scout give a whole new meaning to the phrase “everyone loves an underdog.”
But if anyone can do it, it’s long-time Aardvarkian favorite Tananarive Due—winner of our Members’ Choice Award back in 2024! With Mazywood, she spins her signature horror-historical hybrid, literalizing the anti-Blackness of golden-age Hollywood as the horror it was. Weaving in real-life historical figures (like Hattie McDaniel, the first-ever Black person to win an Oscar), Mazywood imagines the life of Mazelle Washington, a Black actress navigating a career in a deeply racist industry, as well as the legacy—and horrors—she leaves behind for future generations to contend with.
Mazelle and her pet showdog Scout give a whole new meaning to the phrase “everyone loves an underdog.”
October 2, 2026
An author that blends history with horror - the supernatural and humane.
1926 Gracetown, Florida, Mazelle "Mazy" Washington makes a wish for a companion, that results in an intelligent dog. This rockets the duo into Hollywood fame.
50 years later, a screenwriter and filmmaker takes his family to a secluded manor lodge he inherited from his grandmother after his latest project is deemed "too Black".
The present timeline is full of creature scares and a harrowing story of survival. The highlight for me was the family bonds that are tested and strengthened. Two young girls who are grappling with the realisation their parents aren’t infallible and two parents who are haunted and troubled.
The human horror is present in the past timeline, where Mazey is subject to systemic racism, tokenisation, economic exploitation, and degrading caricatures that were the reality of Black actors in Golden Age Hollywood.
This heavy load combined with pride, shame and guilt shows itself in a generational curse - quite like how trauma leaves lingering familial scars. I always appreciate how the historical aspect always educates and horrifies.
The writing was easy to read and translated well to the audiobook with amazingly performed narration.
I found the twists fairly predictable and the climax slightly unsatisfying. The switching between the two timelines also made this a slightly jarring experience. As soon as you were invested, you would jump back or forwards.
The present timeline fell flat in comparison to the Hollywood Golden Age. Whilst I enjoyed the icy atmosphere towards the back end of this long book, I found it hard to stay interested in the grandson’s story. He just wasn’t as compelling as Mazey.
Even though I am hugely sympathetic to both their circumstances, I find it hard to connect to unlikable characters and Mazey becomes harder and harder to like (as a result of her circumstances) and the grandson was quite boring.
The present timeline reminded me of Warning Signs which is an icy thriller I read last year.
Overall, I am in awe of how the author rewrites history from marginalised perspectives. It makes you reflect on media portrayals, preconceptions, and how we can glamourise history. However, I didn’t find the characters or story as heart-wrenching as The Reformatory.
Note: you don’t have to have read her collection of short stories (The Wishing Pool and Other Stories) to understand this.
3.5-3.75 stars.🌟
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Tiktok
1926 Gracetown, Florida, Mazelle "Mazy" Washington makes a wish for a companion, that results in an intelligent dog. This rockets the duo into Hollywood fame.
50 years later, a screenwriter and filmmaker takes his family to a secluded manor lodge he inherited from his grandmother after his latest project is deemed "too Black".
The present timeline is full of creature scares and a harrowing story of survival. The highlight for me was the family bonds that are tested and strengthened. Two young girls who are grappling with the realisation their parents aren’t infallible and two parents who are haunted and troubled.
The human horror is present in the past timeline, where Mazey is subject to systemic racism, tokenisation, economic exploitation, and degrading caricatures that were the reality of Black actors in Golden Age Hollywood.
This heavy load combined with pride, shame and guilt shows itself in a generational curse - quite like how trauma leaves lingering familial scars. I always appreciate how the historical aspect always educates and horrifies.
The writing was easy to read and translated well to the audiobook with amazingly performed narration.
I found the twists fairly predictable and the climax slightly unsatisfying. The switching between the two timelines also made this a slightly jarring experience. As soon as you were invested, you would jump back or forwards.
The present timeline fell flat in comparison to the Hollywood Golden Age. Whilst I enjoyed the icy atmosphere towards the back end of this long book, I found it hard to stay interested in the grandson’s story. He just wasn’t as compelling as Mazey.
Even though I am hugely sympathetic to both their circumstances, I find it hard to connect to unlikable characters and Mazey becomes harder and harder to like (as a result of her circumstances) and the grandson was quite boring.
The present timeline reminded me of Warning Signs which is an icy thriller I read last year.
Overall, I am in awe of how the author rewrites history from marginalised perspectives. It makes you reflect on media portrayals, preconceptions, and how we can glamourise history. However, I didn’t find the characters or story as heart-wrenching as The Reformatory.
Note: you don’t have to have read her collection of short stories (The Wishing Pool and Other Stories) to understand this.
3.5-3.75 stars.🌟
Bookstagram
Tiktok
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR.
Tananarive Due has become such an auto-read author for me, so I jumped at the chance to dive into her newest horror novel, MAZYWOOD, as soon as possible. Thank you @sagapressbooks for this gifted copy!
If there's one thing when you come to expect from a Tananarive Due novel, you know the message is going to be loud and clear. The novel takes place in two timelines, current day, and also during the 1920s-50s. Mazelle Washington is a Black child actress in the 1920s and became a successful actress (playing on racial stereotypes in Old Hollywood) through the 1950s. Without going into the story too much (they leave a lot out in the synopsis), we are also given her grandson Johnny's perspective in current day. As Johnny explores the history of his grandmother's legacy (both her career and her Bear Creek Lodge resort she opened up towards the end of her career), he will come to discover a secret she has kept since she was a child that is best kept hidden.
MAZYWOOD explores themes of generational trauma, racism, fame, and family dynamics. We explore both the horrors of real life and the supernatural. At over 500 pages, you think the pacing would be slower than expected, but Due provides such compelling characterization that you will quickly turn the pages like I did. I caught myself staying up to read the book, sneaking reads on the subway, walking with my book in hopes of not knocking into anyone on the street, you name it!
MAZYWOOD features Tananarive Due's powerful storytelling and the subject matter is again very serious. The tone is a bit less f'd up than The Reformatory, but still a historical horror in its own rite. Tananarive Due could write a CVS receipt and I'll read it. MAZYWOOD will be in my top 10 reads of the year, that's for sure especially after that ending. I cannot wait to see what she has next for readers! STARS: 5, PUB: 9/22
Tananarive Due has become such an auto-read author for me, so I jumped at the chance to dive into her newest horror novel, MAZYWOOD, as soon as possible. Thank you @sagapressbooks for this gifted copy!
If there's one thing when you come to expect from a Tananarive Due novel, you know the message is going to be loud and clear. The novel takes place in two timelines, current day, and also during the 1920s-50s. Mazelle Washington is a Black child actress in the 1920s and became a successful actress (playing on racial stereotypes in Old Hollywood) through the 1950s. Without going into the story too much (they leave a lot out in the synopsis), we are also given her grandson Johnny's perspective in current day. As Johnny explores the history of his grandmother's legacy (both her career and her Bear Creek Lodge resort she opened up towards the end of her career), he will come to discover a secret she has kept since she was a child that is best kept hidden.
MAZYWOOD explores themes of generational trauma, racism, fame, and family dynamics. We explore both the horrors of real life and the supernatural. At over 500 pages, you think the pacing would be slower than expected, but Due provides such compelling characterization that you will quickly turn the pages like I did. I caught myself staying up to read the book, sneaking reads on the subway, walking with my book in hopes of not knocking into anyone on the street, you name it!
MAZYWOOD features Tananarive Due's powerful storytelling and the subject matter is again very serious. The tone is a bit less f'd up than The Reformatory, but still a historical horror in its own rite. Tananarive Due could write a CVS receipt and I'll read it. MAZYWOOD will be in my top 10 reads of the year, that's for sure especially after that ending. I cannot wait to see what she has next for readers! STARS: 5, PUB: 9/22
March 18, 2026
TLDR: Heartbreakingly Horrific
OMG! Finally! The cover! I cannot wait for this read!
Tananarive has been busy. It's been nearly 3 years since the publication of the awesome 5 star read, The Reformatory. September is still 6 months away, but it's coming! 🎞️📽🎞️
THREE 3️⃣more days 📅! 🕒😃
TWO 2️⃣ ✌️ more days 🗓️
ONE 1️⃣☝️more day 🕛👀
⌛
⩇⩇:⩇⩇ 𖹭.ᐟ 🎧💌📖
It's GO time! ℂ𝕙𝕖𝕖𝕣📣📣 ✺◟(＾∇＾)◞✺ 👏🏻🎉🤸🏼♀️🎊
Audiobook (21 hours 21 minutes) narrated by Joniece Abbott-Pratt
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Joniece Abbott-Pratt is a skilled multi-award winning narrator, who previously narrated The Reformatory, the last book published by Tananarive Due.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joniece...
I was so wrapped up in the story that I almost forgot. This narration is impressive. The character voices are good, with the general type of male voices. What tips this narration to good character voices to impressive is not just the consistency of voice but the ability to keep that consistency with multiple types and levels of emotions all while managing to match the energy of the characters into the descriptive narration to bring up the feelings of the reader as if the book had been scored. Just wow!
Excellent.
The audio is flawless.
Whew!
Holy crap.
I stood here with a solo standing ovation.
Absolutely awesome.
Tananarive writes realistic characters and relationships. She captures the imperfections of an American black family through time. The love. The hate. The challenges.
This family, who could be living next door, is written into a world just a bit off from reality. Times and places that are beautiful, tragic, and contain an unknown that is just as imperfect as the family... No spoilers here. I want to write more, so much more! This is a book worthy of a discussion.
Wow.
I love this book.
Absolutely nothing like the one before it, while at the same time having Tananarive Due's signature style seeping out of every word.
Encore!
This isn't just a 5 star read for me, I added this to my favorites list. Wow. So much good!
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
OMG! Finally! The cover! I cannot wait for this read!
Tananarive has been busy. It's been nearly 3 years since the publication of the awesome 5 star read, The Reformatory. September is still 6 months away, but it's coming! 🎞️📽🎞️
THREE 3️⃣more days 📅! 🕒😃
TWO 2️⃣ ✌️ more days 🗓️
ONE 1️⃣☝️more day 🕛👀
⌛
⩇⩇:⩇⩇ 𖹭.ᐟ 🎧💌📖
It's GO time! ℂ𝕙𝕖𝕖𝕣📣📣 ✺◟(＾∇＾)◞✺ 👏🏻🎉🤸🏼♀️🎊
Audiobook (21 hours 21 minutes) narrated by Joniece Abbott-Pratt
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Joniece Abbott-Pratt is a skilled multi-award winning narrator, who previously narrated The Reformatory, the last book published by Tananarive Due.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joniece...
I was so wrapped up in the story that I almost forgot. This narration is impressive. The character voices are good, with the general type of male voices. What tips this narration to good character voices to impressive is not just the consistency of voice but the ability to keep that consistency with multiple types and levels of emotions all while managing to match the energy of the characters into the descriptive narration to bring up the feelings of the reader as if the book had been scored. Just wow!
Excellent.
The audio is flawless.
Whew!
Holy crap.
I stood here with a solo standing ovation.
Absolutely awesome.
Tananarive writes realistic characters and relationships. She captures the imperfections of an American black family through time. The love. The hate. The challenges.
This family, who could be living next door, is written into a world just a bit off from reality. Times and places that are beautiful, tragic, and contain an unknown that is just as imperfect as the family... No spoilers here. I want to write more, so much more! This is a book worthy of a discussion.
Wow.
I love this book.
Absolutely nothing like the one before it, while at the same time having Tananarive Due's signature style seeping out of every word.
Encore!
This isn't just a 5 star read for me, I added this to my favorites list. Wow. So much good!
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
October 1, 2026
🎧Audio/Book Review🎧
I got this stunner through @aardvarkbookclub with my September selections! If you don’t have a subscription, you should!
Narrator - Joniece Abbott-Pratt
Mazywood follows two timelines. One, Mazelle Washington’s life starting from her childhood in the 20’s. She begins her acting career as a child and by her side is her amazing dog, scout.
The second timeline is in the present and it follows Johnny Washington, Mazy’s grandson who is also in the film industry. He takes his family out to a remote cabin that belonged to his grandmother.
His family will soon learn that there is an awful creature outside that awaits them.
This was a full-on creature feature! When I started this, I had no idea this was where it would lead. I started with the physical and switched over to the audiobook from my library. The narrator was fantastic!
I highly enjoyed it and recommend you giving it a read for spooky season.
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I got this stunner through @aardvarkbookclub with my September selections! If you don’t have a subscription, you should!
Narrator - Joniece Abbott-Pratt
Mazywood follows two timelines. One, Mazelle Washington’s life starting from her childhood in the 20’s. She begins her acting career as a child and by her side is her amazing dog, scout.
The second timeline is in the present and it follows Johnny Washington, Mazy’s grandson who is also in the film industry. He takes his family out to a remote cabin that belonged to his grandmother.
His family will soon learn that there is an awful creature outside that awaits them.
This was a full-on creature feature! When I started this, I had no idea this was where it would lead. I started with the physical and switched over to the audiobook from my library. The narrator was fantastic!
I highly enjoyed it and recommend you giving it a read for spooky season.
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Starred review in the August 2026 issue of Booklist and on the blog: https://raforall.blogspot.com/2026/08... (link live on 8/10 at 7 am central)
Three Words That Describe This Book: brains and bite, racism, old hollywood
So many more words....
Perfectly paced, great world building, generation trauma, Old Hollywood (with real stuff), racism, awesome old fashioned monster horror with modern sensibilities, brains and bite, perfectly paced. dual time frames, perfect use of foreshadowing, natural storytelling, multi-pov.
This is a good old fashioned supernatural horror novel. It is long, there are two time frames, the world building and charcater are spectacular. Readers will be glued to their seats.
Mazelle (Mazy) Washington is one of the first negro stars in Hollywood. As a kid actor in a Little Rascals type production. She is from a show business family-- live shows around the South-- and as a kid, in Gracetown, FL, goes into the woods to make a wish at the wishing pool. She wants a friend and success. What she gets is Scout the Wonderdog. Scout leaves her at one point and her career flags after. Also she is too early to be taken seriously. But she does find a way to make films-- as a dumb maid in a series of Lazy Mazy films-- She builds a Negro Only ski resort in the CA mountains-- Bear Creek Lodge aka Mazywood.
The other timeline is Johnny, her grandson who is in the present day and is a film maker at a crossroads in his own career. He is known for his horror movies, but he is trying to get a more serious film made. He does well for himself. He never had a relationship with his grandmother because of a bad experience when he visited her as a child. Now, he brings his 2 teenaged sisters and wife to Bear Creek Lodge (he is the last living family member), but the creature he remembers encountering there-- the thing he thought he imagined-- has been alone for years, has grown, and is hunting his family.
This novel is a perfect horror novel and also a great look at racism in America but specifically Hollywood and how it affects even well off families. It is about generational trauma as well. And it is an edge of your seat exciting supernatural creature feature!!!
What makes it all work-- giving the reader time to understand and think about the serious parts, but also get excited about the monsters and danger-- is that Due does not switch time lines quickly. Rather readers spend large chunks of the story in Mazelle's story. Her world is built, we get to go on the set of Gone with the Wind, spend time on sets, at Hollywood parties, with Sammy Davis Jr at the lodge, etc.... You are fully vested and living in Mazelle's world and then something big happens and we are left on the cliff, dangling, sent to Johnny's story told by him and his wife and both girls. It is all third person omniscient so it flows well. We get invested into their family and its drama and details. Again fully vested and living in it. And then they chose to go to Bear Creek Lodge, in a snow storm, with no cell service.....
Again, it switches back to Mazelle's POV and time line just as the danger is cresting. Then we get vested again. And it repeats but again, only a few times.
This long time in each time frame not only helps the characters world Building, and pacing, but it also does the work of planting seeds of info, foreshadowing, leaving trails in the snow (word choice on purpose) to help inform the other time line.
I don't want to give anything away because there are so many discoveries and revelations and surprises here-- like a great movie. Some of these discoveries are of the horror type but others are the family story parts. Just know that when the story fades to black, readers will want to give the book a standing ovation worthy of an award winning film.
For fans of Hollywood set Horror in the vein of Coldheart Canyon by Barker and through provoking supernatural monsters like in The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones.
Also a great true readalike is Mallory O'Meara's Daughter of Daring. A perfect book to pair here. About the awful sexism of Hollywood and one woman who was ahead of her time and didn't get the respect or money she deserved because of it.
Three Words That Describe This Book: brains and bite, racism, old hollywood
So many more words....
Perfectly paced, great world building, generation trauma, Old Hollywood (with real stuff), racism, awesome old fashioned monster horror with modern sensibilities, brains and bite, perfectly paced. dual time frames, perfect use of foreshadowing, natural storytelling, multi-pov.
This is a good old fashioned supernatural horror novel. It is long, there are two time frames, the world building and charcater are spectacular. Readers will be glued to their seats.
Mazelle (Mazy) Washington is one of the first negro stars in Hollywood. As a kid actor in a Little Rascals type production. She is from a show business family-- live shows around the South-- and as a kid, in Gracetown, FL, goes into the woods to make a wish at the wishing pool. She wants a friend and success. What she gets is Scout the Wonderdog. Scout leaves her at one point and her career flags after. Also she is too early to be taken seriously. But she does find a way to make films-- as a dumb maid in a series of Lazy Mazy films-- She builds a Negro Only ski resort in the CA mountains-- Bear Creek Lodge aka Mazywood.
The other timeline is Johnny, her grandson who is in the present day and is a film maker at a crossroads in his own career. He is known for his horror movies, but he is trying to get a more serious film made. He does well for himself. He never had a relationship with his grandmother because of a bad experience when he visited her as a child. Now, he brings his 2 teenaged sisters and wife to Bear Creek Lodge (he is the last living family member), but the creature he remembers encountering there-- the thing he thought he imagined-- has been alone for years, has grown, and is hunting his family.
This novel is a perfect horror novel and also a great look at racism in America but specifically Hollywood and how it affects even well off families. It is about generational trauma as well. And it is an edge of your seat exciting supernatural creature feature!!!
What makes it all work-- giving the reader time to understand and think about the serious parts, but also get excited about the monsters and danger-- is that Due does not switch time lines quickly. Rather readers spend large chunks of the story in Mazelle's story. Her world is built, we get to go on the set of Gone with the Wind, spend time on sets, at Hollywood parties, with Sammy Davis Jr at the lodge, etc.... You are fully vested and living in Mazelle's world and then something big happens and we are left on the cliff, dangling, sent to Johnny's story told by him and his wife and both girls. It is all third person omniscient so it flows well. We get invested into their family and its drama and details. Again fully vested and living in it. And then they chose to go to Bear Creek Lodge, in a snow storm, with no cell service.....
Again, it switches back to Mazelle's POV and time line just as the danger is cresting. Then we get vested again. And it repeats but again, only a few times.
This long time in each time frame not only helps the characters world Building, and pacing, but it also does the work of planting seeds of info, foreshadowing, leaving trails in the snow (word choice on purpose) to help inform the other time line.
I don't want to give anything away because there are so many discoveries and revelations and surprises here-- like a great movie. Some of these discoveries are of the horror type but others are the family story parts. Just know that when the story fades to black, readers will want to give the book a standing ovation worthy of an award winning film.
For fans of Hollywood set Horror in the vein of Coldheart Canyon by Barker and through provoking supernatural monsters like in The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones.
Also a great true readalike is Mallory O'Meara's Daughter of Daring. A perfect book to pair here. About the awful sexism of Hollywood and one woman who was ahead of her time and didn't get the respect or money she deserved because of it.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
5 Glorious Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ebook format 📖
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review via NetGalley.
Y’all, if you haven’t heard of Tananarive Due, you might be living under a rock. Crawl out from under that rock and check out one of her books. Maybe this one?!
Here’s the thing. This lady is a storyteller.
She will wring the emotion out of you like a wet rag. You’ll not only feel sad and gutted, but hopeful and reflective after finishing this book.
Mazywood is a journey.
A journey into glitzy Old Hollywood when racism is so thick it’s a bowl of oatmeal with molasses thrown in for good measure.
“Mammy”, “Geisha Girl”, “ Drunk Indian”, “Pickaninny” and more were common caricatures in Hollywood for years. If a talented actor or actress wanted to do something different than this type of role, well that was just too damn bad.
This was Mazelle Washington’s life. She was a talented child star and young woman who became broken by this system.
She’s also furious and has dark secrets. Secrets that bring her to a mountain retreat and becomes a recluse from Hollywood.
In present day, Mazelle’s grandson Johnny hasn’t been back to Bear Creek Lodge since she passed away. What type of adventure, terror and trauma will he find when he finally returns and brings his own family?
Part historical fiction, family saga and supernatural horror, Mazywood shows us what generational trauma and dark secrets can do to a family, and how resilience and strength can bring the same family into the light.
I loved this one and I’m always excited to read a book by Tananarive Due!
Ebook format 📖
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review via NetGalley.
Y’all, if you haven’t heard of Tananarive Due, you might be living under a rock. Crawl out from under that rock and check out one of her books. Maybe this one?!
Here’s the thing. This lady is a storyteller.
She will wring the emotion out of you like a wet rag. You’ll not only feel sad and gutted, but hopeful and reflective after finishing this book.
Mazywood is a journey.
A journey into glitzy Old Hollywood when racism is so thick it’s a bowl of oatmeal with molasses thrown in for good measure.
“Mammy”, “Geisha Girl”, “ Drunk Indian”, “Pickaninny” and more were common caricatures in Hollywood for years. If a talented actor or actress wanted to do something different than this type of role, well that was just too damn bad.
This was Mazelle Washington’s life. She was a talented child star and young woman who became broken by this system.
She’s also furious and has dark secrets. Secrets that bring her to a mountain retreat and becomes a recluse from Hollywood.
In present day, Mazelle’s grandson Johnny hasn’t been back to Bear Creek Lodge since she passed away. What type of adventure, terror and trauma will he find when he finally returns and brings his own family?
Part historical fiction, family saga and supernatural horror, Mazywood shows us what generational trauma and dark secrets can do to a family, and how resilience and strength can bring the same family into the light.
I loved this one and I’m always excited to read a book by Tananarive Due!
October 13, 2026
Another banger that Tananarive Due has knocked out of the park!
As someone who loves "old hollywood" films as much as I love horror, this was fantastic!
Hope to write a better review soon.
As someone who loves "old hollywood" films as much as I love horror, this was fantastic!
Hope to write a better review soon.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Tananarive Due's most recent book follows the story of Mazelle Washington and her grandson Johnny.
We are first introduced to Mazelle around the time she meets a dog named Scout who will become her closest friend. Lil' Mazy and Scout soon become successful movie stars in an early silent film series. Mazelle will go on to have a film career as an adult actress too, but finds herself used by the white men who run Hollywood and forced to play stereotypical roles written for black women, rather than the ones she knows could bring her true stardom. The abuse she experiences leads to rage and she carries secrets that will haunt her family.
Next we meet Johnny Washington as he is on his way to pitch a film that could help him break free from his Frat House Haunting horror franchise. Like his grandmother, Johnny is beginning to feel that his career may never move beyond a set of films he wrote mainly for the income. He believes his talent is being overlooked.
The book soon changes settings to the Bear Creek Lodge, sometimes better known as Mazywood. The lodge was built by Mazelle as a ski resort for famous black entertainers that is now abandoned and owned by Johnny. Johnny's wife convinces him to take her and their two daughters on a short trip to the lodge where they can relax and have the opportunity for the children to learn some of their family history. From here on out the book moves back and forth between Mazelle and Johnny's narratives, telling a brutal intergenerational story of abuse, grief and rage.
Will deadly family secrets destroy Johnny and his family? Or will they find a way to overcome the past that has haunted it for decades?
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an advance reading copy of this book.
We are first introduced to Mazelle around the time she meets a dog named Scout who will become her closest friend. Lil' Mazy and Scout soon become successful movie stars in an early silent film series. Mazelle will go on to have a film career as an adult actress too, but finds herself used by the white men who run Hollywood and forced to play stereotypical roles written for black women, rather than the ones she knows could bring her true stardom. The abuse she experiences leads to rage and she carries secrets that will haunt her family.
Next we meet Johnny Washington as he is on his way to pitch a film that could help him break free from his Frat House Haunting horror franchise. Like his grandmother, Johnny is beginning to feel that his career may never move beyond a set of films he wrote mainly for the income. He believes his talent is being overlooked.
The book soon changes settings to the Bear Creek Lodge, sometimes better known as Mazywood. The lodge was built by Mazelle as a ski resort for famous black entertainers that is now abandoned and owned by Johnny. Johnny's wife convinces him to take her and their two daughters on a short trip to the lodge where they can relax and have the opportunity for the children to learn some of their family history. From here on out the book moves back and forth between Mazelle and Johnny's narratives, telling a brutal intergenerational story of abuse, grief and rage.
Will deadly family secrets destroy Johnny and his family? Or will they find a way to overcome the past that has haunted it for decades?
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an advance reading copy of this book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I've been meaning to read The Reformatory, but this ended up being my first Tananarive Due novel. And let me tell you, what a wild ride!
I'm a huge fan of thriller/horror stories, especially if they're written in such a cinematic way that I can picture each scene in my mind vividly. Add in historical fiction and I'm seated.
I was actually surprised that the historical fiction portions were a significant part of the story. I was expecting minor flashback chapters, but they were well developed that they could've been their own story without the modern plotline with Johnny (Mazelle's grandson) and his wife and daughters. The blend of history and fiction was written meticulously. I could easily imagine Mazelle as a child actress relegated to racist typecasting in order to be the breadwinner in the family. And the vivid descriptions of her childhood and adulthood in the film world and the real world really gripped me.
I won't lie, Johnny's story didn't really grab me as much as Mazelle's story, or even Imani's POV, Johnny's younger daughter (which was excellent in the second half). But I really did appreciate Johnny's chapters for letting readers understand his complex and fraught relationship with Mazelle and her eerie mountain lodge. No spoilers, but the beast ended up being one of my favorite characters in this novel. We stan a misunderstood monster in this house.
The climax really dragged imo, but honestly, the characters and the writing were so gripping that I didn't really care too much one way or another. If you're into the outdoors, you might like it more than I do.
Anyway, I can't wait to read The Reformatory now. Consider me a new fan!
Thank you to S&S/Saga Press and NetGalley for this arc.
I'm a huge fan of thriller/horror stories, especially if they're written in such a cinematic way that I can picture each scene in my mind vividly. Add in historical fiction and I'm seated.
I was actually surprised that the historical fiction portions were a significant part of the story. I was expecting minor flashback chapters, but they were well developed that they could've been their own story without the modern plotline with Johnny (Mazelle's grandson) and his wife and daughters. The blend of history and fiction was written meticulously. I could easily imagine Mazelle as a child actress relegated to racist typecasting in order to be the breadwinner in the family. And the vivid descriptions of her childhood and adulthood in the film world and the real world really gripped me.
I won't lie, Johnny's story didn't really grab me as much as Mazelle's story, or even Imani's POV, Johnny's younger daughter (which was excellent in the second half). But I really did appreciate Johnny's chapters for letting readers understand his complex and fraught relationship with Mazelle and her eerie mountain lodge. No spoilers, but the beast ended up being one of my favorite characters in this novel. We stan a misunderstood monster in this house.
The climax really dragged imo, but honestly, the characters and the writing were so gripping that I didn't really care too much one way or another. If you're into the outdoors, you might like it more than I do.
Anyway, I can't wait to read The Reformatory now. Consider me a new fan!
Thank you to S&S/Saga Press and NetGalley for this arc.
October 4, 2026
3 Stars ✨
Very well written, which is what you’d expect from Tananarive Due. However, this leans much more historical fiction with a sprinkle of suspense and horror. The story of Mazywood is certainly a slow burn. The alternating POVs initially caused some frustration for me as a reader. Every time I felt settled and invested in the story, the POV changed.
The story is best from Mazelle’s POV. I found Johnny and family’s POV particularly frustrating because things are drawn out, and solutions came too easy/too convenient, especially for Imani.
I found the short stories related to Mazywood (The Wishing Pool, Incident at Bear Creek Lodge, Return to Bear Creek Lodge) to be much more intriguing than this full story.
Pick this up if you want a slow burn, atmospheric story, with touches of horror. This is my sixth book by Ms. Due and while it wasn’t BAD, it was still a disappointment for me, as I’ve grown to LOVE her work. Nonetheless, I’ll continue to read whatever she puts out!
Very well written, which is what you’d expect from Tananarive Due. However, this leans much more historical fiction with a sprinkle of suspense and horror. The story of Mazywood is certainly a slow burn. The alternating POVs initially caused some frustration for me as a reader. Every time I felt settled and invested in the story, the POV changed.
The story is best from Mazelle’s POV. I found Johnny and family’s POV particularly frustrating because things are drawn out, and solutions came too easy/too convenient, especially for Imani.
I found the short stories related to Mazywood (The Wishing Pool, Incident at Bear Creek Lodge, Return to Bear Creek Lodge) to be much more intriguing than this full story.
Pick this up if you want a slow burn, atmospheric story, with touches of horror. This is my sixth book by Ms. Due and while it wasn’t BAD, it was still a disappointment for me, as I’ve grown to LOVE her work. Nonetheless, I’ll continue to read whatever she puts out!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
ARC for review. To be published September 22, 2026.
4.3 stars
Due has become an automatic read for me and this sounded so good, a Black child actress attempts to transition to an adult star in old Hollywood combined with a present day horror story where her grandson and his family are left to reckon with what she left behind.
As always Due does this so well. Monsters are not usually my thing but you wouldn’t know it from the way I enjoyed this. And Marzelle, the actress, is such an interesting character; Due has done her research on Hollywood and I loved the insertion of so many real-life stars.
And in present day, Johnny, Tasha, Sharise and Imani are a vibrant family; so well drawn and a reader gets a good sense of what each one is about. There are so many characters to root for here, even some who may surprise you. Excellent book.
4.3 stars
Due has become an automatic read for me and this sounded so good, a Black child actress attempts to transition to an adult star in old Hollywood combined with a present day horror story where her grandson and his family are left to reckon with what she left behind.
As always Due does this so well. Monsters are not usually my thing but you wouldn’t know it from the way I enjoyed this. And Marzelle, the actress, is such an interesting character; Due has done her research on Hollywood and I loved the insertion of so many real-life stars.
And in present day, Johnny, Tasha, Sharise and Imani are a vibrant family; so well drawn and a reader gets a good sense of what each one is about. There are so many characters to root for here, even some who may surprise you. Excellent book.
October 13, 2026
As a child, she'd thought lies would send her to Hell. Now she knew the truth could do far worse.
Once upon a time, a lonely little girl named Mazelle Washington conjured up a best friend. Her new pal helped bring about fame, and a small amount of fortune before his mysterious disappearance. And once again, Mazy was left to fend for herself, doing work she'd rather not.
Many decades later, Mazelle's grandson and his family are left coping with Mazy's creations - one in the form of an abandoned ski lodge, and the other a creature that has evolved into an evil watchdog.
I'm usually not a fan of alternating timelines as one story always seems much more involving than the other, and indeed, that's the case here. I loved Mazelle's Old Hollywood chapters describing the grit behind the glamor. The present day tale of Johnny and company bored me. It's not that the characters were unlikable, but I found them tedious. Though those chapters should have been compelling as they contained the action-packed "horror" scenes, I wanted to skip them to get the far-more-fascinating Mazy-bits. Turns out, real-life for black actors in the early days of Hollywood was an honest-to-God horror story.
In my dreams, this book would have ended with Mazelle, Everyone raise a glass, and toast this sadly wasted talent.
Five stars for Mazy's story, three for the rest.
Thanks to NetGalley and Saga Press for sharing, though my review is of the finished hardback purchased for the library where I work.
Once upon a time, a lonely little girl named Mazelle Washington conjured up a best friend. Her new pal helped bring about fame, and a small amount of fortune before his mysterious disappearance. And once again, Mazy was left to fend for herself, doing work she'd rather not.
Many decades later, Mazelle's grandson and his family are left coping with Mazy's creations - one in the form of an abandoned ski lodge, and the other a creature that has evolved into an evil watchdog.
I'm usually not a fan of alternating timelines as one story always seems much more involving than the other, and indeed, that's the case here. I loved Mazelle's Old Hollywood chapters describing the grit behind the glamor. The present day tale of Johnny and company bored me. It's not that the characters were unlikable, but I found them tedious. Though those chapters should have been compelling as they contained the action-packed "horror" scenes, I wanted to skip them to get the far-more-fascinating Mazy-bits. Turns out, real-life for black actors in the early days of Hollywood was an honest-to-God horror story.
In my dreams, this book would have ended with Mazelle, Everyone raise a glass, and toast this sadly wasted talent.
Five stars for Mazy's story, three for the rest.
Thanks to NetGalley and Saga Press for sharing, though my review is of the finished hardback purchased for the library where I work.
October 7, 2026
The nitty-gritty: Tananarive Due mixes history and survival horror with well drawn characters and plenty of tense action in her latest, an entertaining tale with never a dull moment.
"Sometimes good luck whistled for bad luck to follow right behind it."
Mazywood is one of the most surprising books I’ve read this year, for a couple of reasons. First, Tananarive Due has taken several ideas that have no business being in the same story together and made them work, a feat that shows what a talented writer she is. I was also surprised by how addictively readable this was, despite some very heavy themes. I had absolutely no idea where the story was going until about two thirds into the story, but this only made it more fun to read. I also want to mention this is my first book by the author so I can’t compare it to anything else, but I am now a fan for life!
The story opens in 1929 and follows nine-year-old Mazelle Washington and her family. One day, Mazelle brings home a stray dog (she names him Scout) who can dance and do tricks, and her parents realize their “act” is special enough to catch the attention of a movie producer. Mazelle and Scout land a job working for Lorenzo Studios, stars of the show Li’l Gumshoes, and from there Mazelle’s career as an actress takes off, although there are many ups and downs along the way.
In the present we meet Mazelle’s grandson Johnny Washington, a well known Black screen writer who is famous for a slasher franchise called Frat House Haunting, but he’s having trouble breaking into more serious projects. After a disappointing meeting with a producer who is trying to get his latest project green lit, Johnny decides to take his wife Tasha and their two teenage daughters Imari and Sharise to Bear Creek Lodge in Mount Shasta, the private ski lodge that Johnny inherited from Mazelle. The girls, who are avid snowboarders, are thrilled to leave Los Angeles behind for a few days and finally visit the place their father spent some time as a child. Tasha is excited to learn more about Mazelle’s history, since she’s writing a biography on her, and Bear Creek Lodge is sure to be a treasure trove of information.
But something happened to Johnny at the lodge when he was a boy, something he’s still having trouble believing. And coming back here is shaking loose some bad memories of Mazelle as well. When the girls find a bloody deer head in the snow, Johnny realizes the impossible creature he saw all those years ago might still be around—and it’s probably hungry.
Mazywood is both a thrilling survival story and a fascinating peek into the history of American Black cinema, and these are the two elements that seem to be on opposite ends of the spectrum, and yet the author has figured out a way to tie them together. I loved reading about Mazelle’s life growing up as a child actor, although it was sobering to see how poorly Blacks were treated in the entertainment industry. Even as Mazelle becomes well known, she never feels like an equal and has to fight for every professional victory. At one point, she gets a small part as an extra in Gone With the Wind and meets Clark Gable and Hattie McDaniel. I loved all the name dropping, and throughout the story Mazelle meets such luminaries as Duke Ellington, Lena Horne and even Walt Disney.
Mazelle grows up being physically and verbally abused by her Aunt Ruby (her mother shrugs it off as normal) and the generational abuse in the story was one of the tougher things to read about. I didn’t necessarily like Mazelle—she does plenty of questionable things in the story—but I did respect her struggle and sympathize with what she was going through.
When we switch to the present timeline, Mazywood becomes pure horror, as Johnny and his family have to survive something on the property that is trying to attack them. I loved the snowy setting, and even though Due uses some predictable tropes, like the power going out during a snow storm and no cell service, it was all a lot of fun. There are also a couple of cool nods to The Shining, so be on the lookout for those if you’re a fan. I especially loved all the characters. Imari was my favorite, she’s thirteen and has ADHD, but she turns out to be the most resourceful one in the family. Tasha feels a strange connection to Mazelle and even looks like her, strangely enough. And Johnny is frustrated with his career as well as a bomb that Tasha just dropped on him, so when things go south up at the lodge, his life really starts to implode.
And remember Scout the dog? Well, he’s very important to the story, although I won’t tell you why or how. His appearance in the beginning is connected to a wish that little Mazelle makes, and that wish has consequences that follow Mazelle throughout her life in some very odd and terrifying ways.
The ending was tense and exciting, and I loved the way Due wrapped everything up. Aside from a few spots that went on too long—like the scenes in the snow—Mazywood was thoroughly entertaining from start to finish.
Big thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy.
"Sometimes good luck whistled for bad luck to follow right behind it."
Mazywood is one of the most surprising books I’ve read this year, for a couple of reasons. First, Tananarive Due has taken several ideas that have no business being in the same story together and made them work, a feat that shows what a talented writer she is. I was also surprised by how addictively readable this was, despite some very heavy themes. I had absolutely no idea where the story was going until about two thirds into the story, but this only made it more fun to read. I also want to mention this is my first book by the author so I can’t compare it to anything else, but I am now a fan for life!
The story opens in 1929 and follows nine-year-old Mazelle Washington and her family. One day, Mazelle brings home a stray dog (she names him Scout) who can dance and do tricks, and her parents realize their “act” is special enough to catch the attention of a movie producer. Mazelle and Scout land a job working for Lorenzo Studios, stars of the show Li’l Gumshoes, and from there Mazelle’s career as an actress takes off, although there are many ups and downs along the way.
In the present we meet Mazelle’s grandson Johnny Washington, a well known Black screen writer who is famous for a slasher franchise called Frat House Haunting, but he’s having trouble breaking into more serious projects. After a disappointing meeting with a producer who is trying to get his latest project green lit, Johnny decides to take his wife Tasha and their two teenage daughters Imari and Sharise to Bear Creek Lodge in Mount Shasta, the private ski lodge that Johnny inherited from Mazelle. The girls, who are avid snowboarders, are thrilled to leave Los Angeles behind for a few days and finally visit the place their father spent some time as a child. Tasha is excited to learn more about Mazelle’s history, since she’s writing a biography on her, and Bear Creek Lodge is sure to be a treasure trove of information.
But something happened to Johnny at the lodge when he was a boy, something he’s still having trouble believing. And coming back here is shaking loose some bad memories of Mazelle as well. When the girls find a bloody deer head in the snow, Johnny realizes the impossible creature he saw all those years ago might still be around—and it’s probably hungry.
Mazywood is both a thrilling survival story and a fascinating peek into the history of American Black cinema, and these are the two elements that seem to be on opposite ends of the spectrum, and yet the author has figured out a way to tie them together. I loved reading about Mazelle’s life growing up as a child actor, although it was sobering to see how poorly Blacks were treated in the entertainment industry. Even as Mazelle becomes well known, she never feels like an equal and has to fight for every professional victory. At one point, she gets a small part as an extra in Gone With the Wind and meets Clark Gable and Hattie McDaniel. I loved all the name dropping, and throughout the story Mazelle meets such luminaries as Duke Ellington, Lena Horne and even Walt Disney.
Mazelle grows up being physically and verbally abused by her Aunt Ruby (her mother shrugs it off as normal) and the generational abuse in the story was one of the tougher things to read about. I didn’t necessarily like Mazelle—she does plenty of questionable things in the story—but I did respect her struggle and sympathize with what she was going through.
When we switch to the present timeline, Mazywood becomes pure horror, as Johnny and his family have to survive something on the property that is trying to attack them. I loved the snowy setting, and even though Due uses some predictable tropes, like the power going out during a snow storm and no cell service, it was all a lot of fun. There are also a couple of cool nods to The Shining, so be on the lookout for those if you’re a fan. I especially loved all the characters. Imari was my favorite, she’s thirteen and has ADHD, but she turns out to be the most resourceful one in the family. Tasha feels a strange connection to Mazelle and even looks like her, strangely enough. And Johnny is frustrated with his career as well as a bomb that Tasha just dropped on him, so when things go south up at the lodge, his life really starts to implode.
And remember Scout the dog? Well, he’s very important to the story, although I won’t tell you why or how. His appearance in the beginning is connected to a wish that little Mazelle makes, and that wish has consequences that follow Mazelle throughout her life in some very odd and terrifying ways.
The ending was tense and exciting, and I loved the way Due wrapped everything up. Aside from a few spots that went on too long—like the scenes in the snow—Mazywood was thoroughly entertaining from start to finish.
Big thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy.
September 23, 2026
Thank you @sagapressbooks + @simon.audio for the ARC + ALC ♡
I was so nervous that my expectations would be too high, following The Reformatory, but I loved Mazywood.
🎥 The historical timeline was my favorite even though there was so much injustice, I really nerded out to meet historical actors on the set of Gone with the Wind as well as the likes of Sammy Davis Jr and Lena Horne, Charlie Chaplin, and learning more about their activism. I went down a whole YouTube rabbit hole afterwards!
The present day timeline was just a lot of frightening fun, it felt a like YA horror++ and I was so scared for Imani and Sharise and their whole family. And Scout! 🐾🦴scout the wonder dog creature 🥹🪽
▶︎ •၊၊||၊|။||။|• 🎧 I def recommend the audio edition! It is narrated by one of my favorite narrators Joniece Abbott-Pratt (she narrated Legendborn cycle and Reformatory as well).
https://www.instagram.com/p/DdoeAYskV9A/
I was so nervous that my expectations would be too high, following The Reformatory, but I loved Mazywood.
🎥 The historical timeline was my favorite even though there was so much injustice, I really nerded out to meet historical actors on the set of Gone with the Wind as well as the likes of Sammy Davis Jr and Lena Horne, Charlie Chaplin, and learning more about their activism. I went down a whole YouTube rabbit hole afterwards!
The present day timeline was just a lot of frightening fun, it felt a like YA horror++ and I was so scared for Imani and Sharise and their whole family. And Scout! 🐾🦴scout the wonder dog creature 🥹🪽
▶︎ •၊၊||၊|။||။|• 🎧 I def recommend the audio edition! It is narrated by one of my favorite narrators Joniece Abbott-Pratt (she narrated Legendborn cycle and Reformatory as well).
https://www.instagram.com/p/DdoeAYskV9A/
September 26, 2026
I’ve been thinking about this book for the past few days, and I have to admit, I’m a bit disappointed. Ms. Due really spoiled me with The Reformatory. This was my #1 most anticipated new release of the year, so I had very high expectations, especially because this author is amazing and still is despite my rating, although 3 ⭐️’s isn’t bad.
I loved Mazelle’s storyline. The history, Hollywood, discrimination, racism, and horror had me completely hooked. There was so much about her story that I couldn’t get enough of.
Unfortunately, her grandson’s storyline was a dud for me. I just couldn’t get into it. It felt like nothing was really happening, and I found myself constantly wanting to get back to Mazelle’s story.
The writing is incredible, and in my opinion, Mazelle’s storyline was top tier. Part of me wishes we had just stayed with her story because I think I would have enjoyed the book so much more.
I also expected this to be scarier, but outside of the horrors of racism, I didn’t find it particularly frightening.
I definitely plan to read more from this author. I actually have two of her books sitting on my shelf. This one was just okay for me in the end. Hopefully, others will enjoy it more than I did!
I loved Mazelle’s storyline. The history, Hollywood, discrimination, racism, and horror had me completely hooked. There was so much about her story that I couldn’t get enough of.
Unfortunately, her grandson’s storyline was a dud for me. I just couldn’t get into it. It felt like nothing was really happening, and I found myself constantly wanting to get back to Mazelle’s story.
The writing is incredible, and in my opinion, Mazelle’s storyline was top tier. Part of me wishes we had just stayed with her story because I think I would have enjoyed the book so much more.
I also expected this to be scarier, but outside of the horrors of racism, I didn’t find it particularly frightening.
I definitely plan to read more from this author. I actually have two of her books sitting on my shelf. This one was just okay for me in the end. Hopefully, others will enjoy it more than I did!
April 29, 2026
I couldn’t put this one down. An intense blend of horror and emotional storytelling. This follows Johnny and his family as they return to his Aunt Mazelle’s secluded ski resort. Unbeknownst to him the land holds a dark secret that could destroy his family. An eerie tale reminiscent of The Shining and The Hellbound Heart. The unpredictability keeps the pacing steady and the anxiety high. I was stressed for them the ENTIRE time.
Layered beneath the horror is a thoughtful exploration of Black Hollywood, generational struggle, and mental health. The use of time jumps and flashbacks adds depth revealing trauma that shapes the family’s present.
Layered beneath the horror is a thoughtful exploration of Black Hollywood, generational struggle, and mental health. The use of time jumps and flashbacks adds depth revealing trauma that shapes the family’s present.
October 9, 2026
🔪 MAZYWOOD by Tananarive Due
★★★★★ | 5/5 Stars | My Top Read of 2026!
Move over, Stephen King. There’s a new Queen of Horror on my bookshelf, and her name is Tananarive Due! 👑
Every once in a while, you come across a book that reminds you why you fell in love with reading in the first place. Mazywood was that book for me. This wasn’t simply a horror novel. It was an experience, and one I won’t soon forget.
Told through two interconnected timelines, Mazywood follows the extraordinary life of Mazelle Washington, a Black actress navigating the unforgiving world of early Hollywood, and her grandson, Johnny Washington, whose family finds themselves confronting a terrifying legacy at the secluded Bear Creek Lodge.
And woven throughout both timelines is a chilling reminder that sometimes the things we wish for come with consequences we could never imagine.
Let’s talk about the ATMOSPHERE!
Tananarive Due doesn’t just describe a setting. She transports you into it. I could practically feel the cold surrounding Bear Creek Lodge, sense the isolation of the mountains, and experience the growing dread alongside the Washington family. Then, just as effortlessly, she transported me into another era. I could vividly picture Mazelle in her beautiful green dress, seated at that white grand piano during the patriotic fundraiser. It was cinematic, immersive, and absolutely breathtaking.
But what truly elevated this novel beyond traditional horror was its emotional and historical depth.
Due masterfully explores racism, sexism, ageism, and the skepticism faced by those whose voices and experiences are so often dismissed. Through Mazelle’s life, we witness the painful realities of discrimination in Hollywood, the sacrifices demanded by fame, and the devastating consequences of dreams pursued in a world determined to limit them.
And somehow, she intertwines all of this with supernatural horror, generational trauma, family loyalty, love, loss, and survival without ever losing the heart of the story.
That is extraordinary storytelling.
What I appreciated most was how deeply human these characters felt. Their fears, ambitions, flaws, regrets, and love for one another gave the horror genuine emotional weight. I wasn’t simply frightened for these characters. I cared about them.
The dual timelines complemented each other beautifully, gradually revealing how the past continues to shape the present. Every revelation added another layer of meaning, and the supernatural elements became so much more powerful because of the human story beneath them.
Mazywood made me uncomfortable, emotional, anxious, fascinated, and completely captivated. I didn’t want to leave this world, even when I desperately wanted its characters to escape it.
My final verdict?
This book is an absolute masterpiece of atmospheric horror and historical storytelling. Tananarive Due has an extraordinary ability to make you fear the monsters lurking in the darkness while reminding you that some of history’s most terrifying monsters were entirely human.
A haunting, heartbreaking, beautifully written story that will stay with me long after the final page.
Five knives. No hesitation.
And as of right now, Mazywood holds the crown as my favorite read of 2026.
Tananarive Due, you have officially earned a permanent place on my bookshelf.
— The Enthrillerist 🖤📚
★★★★★ | 5/5 Stars | My Top Read of 2026!
Move over, Stephen King. There’s a new Queen of Horror on my bookshelf, and her name is Tananarive Due! 👑
Every once in a while, you come across a book that reminds you why you fell in love with reading in the first place. Mazywood was that book for me. This wasn’t simply a horror novel. It was an experience, and one I won’t soon forget.
Told through two interconnected timelines, Mazywood follows the extraordinary life of Mazelle Washington, a Black actress navigating the unforgiving world of early Hollywood, and her grandson, Johnny Washington, whose family finds themselves confronting a terrifying legacy at the secluded Bear Creek Lodge.
And woven throughout both timelines is a chilling reminder that sometimes the things we wish for come with consequences we could never imagine.
Let’s talk about the ATMOSPHERE!
Tananarive Due doesn’t just describe a setting. She transports you into it. I could practically feel the cold surrounding Bear Creek Lodge, sense the isolation of the mountains, and experience the growing dread alongside the Washington family. Then, just as effortlessly, she transported me into another era. I could vividly picture Mazelle in her beautiful green dress, seated at that white grand piano during the patriotic fundraiser. It was cinematic, immersive, and absolutely breathtaking.
But what truly elevated this novel beyond traditional horror was its emotional and historical depth.
Due masterfully explores racism, sexism, ageism, and the skepticism faced by those whose voices and experiences are so often dismissed. Through Mazelle’s life, we witness the painful realities of discrimination in Hollywood, the sacrifices demanded by fame, and the devastating consequences of dreams pursued in a world determined to limit them.
And somehow, she intertwines all of this with supernatural horror, generational trauma, family loyalty, love, loss, and survival without ever losing the heart of the story.
That is extraordinary storytelling.
What I appreciated most was how deeply human these characters felt. Their fears, ambitions, flaws, regrets, and love for one another gave the horror genuine emotional weight. I wasn’t simply frightened for these characters. I cared about them.
The dual timelines complemented each other beautifully, gradually revealing how the past continues to shape the present. Every revelation added another layer of meaning, and the supernatural elements became so much more powerful because of the human story beneath them.
Mazywood made me uncomfortable, emotional, anxious, fascinated, and completely captivated. I didn’t want to leave this world, even when I desperately wanted its characters to escape it.
My final verdict?
This book is an absolute masterpiece of atmospheric horror and historical storytelling. Tananarive Due has an extraordinary ability to make you fear the monsters lurking in the darkness while reminding you that some of history’s most terrifying monsters were entirely human.
A haunting, heartbreaking, beautifully written story that will stay with me long after the final page.
Five knives. No hesitation.
And as of right now, Mazywood holds the crown as my favorite read of 2026.
Tananarive Due, you have officially earned a permanent place on my bookshelf.
— The Enthrillerist 🖤📚
September 16, 2026
I had a great time diving into this supernatural, historical, horror, contemporary genre blender of a book! I appreciated the references to old Hollywood and you can tell Tananarive Due really did her research for this one.
The story follows Mazelle Washington and her rising stardom alongside her dog Scout (a dog who mysteriously appeared after Mazelle makes a wish at a bog for a lifelong friend 👀). We get a peek behind the curtain into what truly happens behind the scenes in an industry that masks itself under the guise of fame, fortune, and glamour. Flash forward to present day and the main character Johnny, Mazelle’s grandson, and his family take a trip to Mazelle’s old lodge in Mt Shasta - the birthplace of Johnny’s traumas and nightmares.
This book is full of generational trauma, the insidious side of the film industry, supernatural elements, and a family’s fight for survival. I thought this also had great mental health representation. Although I never found it very scary, it was SO unsettling and freaky at times. Also loved the very ending, so clever.
Thank you so much to Saga press and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy.
The story follows Mazelle Washington and her rising stardom alongside her dog Scout (a dog who mysteriously appeared after Mazelle makes a wish at a bog for a lifelong friend 👀). We get a peek behind the curtain into what truly happens behind the scenes in an industry that masks itself under the guise of fame, fortune, and glamour. Flash forward to present day and the main character Johnny, Mazelle’s grandson, and his family take a trip to Mazelle’s old lodge in Mt Shasta - the birthplace of Johnny’s traumas and nightmares.
This book is full of generational trauma, the insidious side of the film industry, supernatural elements, and a family’s fight for survival. I thought this also had great mental health representation. Although I never found it very scary, it was SO unsettling and freaky at times. Also loved the very ending, so clever.
Thank you so much to Saga press and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
It hurts to type this, but let’s just rip the band-aid off: this was a disappointment for me. After loving The Reformatory, I had high hopes going into Mazywood.
The story follows two timelines. In the 1920s, we meet Mazelle Washington, who feels like an outcast in her talented family. She seeks out an infamous wishing well to request a best friend—someone to perform with, have fun with, love her, and keep her safe. Her wish is granted in the form of a mangy mutt named Scout, who can perform incredible tricks on Mazy’s command. Together, they break into Hollywood, but when Scout disappears later in her career, a devastated Mazy returns to the well. However, the Scout that comes back is... different.
In the present day, we follow Mazy’s grandson, Johnny, a struggling movie producer balancing career pressure with an expanding family. During a family trip to his grandmother's cabin to share some big news with his daughters, they quickly realize Mazy's history isn't the only thing waiting for them.
Mazy’s timeline was easily the highlight—her experiences as a Black woman in 1920s Hollywood and her relationships with fellow Black actors were captivating. On the other hand, Johnny’s timeline felt a bit disjointed and didn't hold my attention as well. Additionally, the overall structure and the inclusion of short stories felt jarring at times.
Final Verdict: Mazy’s storyline was strong enough to keep this at a 3.5/5 stars for me, even if the present-day POV fell short. If you don't mind a unique structure and are interested in 1920s Black Hollywood with a side of modern "cabin in the woods" suspense, it's worth checking out. Just temper your expectations if you're coming off her previous work.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Release Date: September 22, 2026.
The story follows two timelines. In the 1920s, we meet Mazelle Washington, who feels like an outcast in her talented family. She seeks out an infamous wishing well to request a best friend—someone to perform with, have fun with, love her, and keep her safe. Her wish is granted in the form of a mangy mutt named Scout, who can perform incredible tricks on Mazy’s command. Together, they break into Hollywood, but when Scout disappears later in her career, a devastated Mazy returns to the well. However, the Scout that comes back is... different.
In the present day, we follow Mazy’s grandson, Johnny, a struggling movie producer balancing career pressure with an expanding family. During a family trip to his grandmother's cabin to share some big news with his daughters, they quickly realize Mazy's history isn't the only thing waiting for them.
Mazy’s timeline was easily the highlight—her experiences as a Black woman in 1920s Hollywood and her relationships with fellow Black actors were captivating. On the other hand, Johnny’s timeline felt a bit disjointed and didn't hold my attention as well. Additionally, the overall structure and the inclusion of short stories felt jarring at times.
Final Verdict: Mazy’s storyline was strong enough to keep this at a 3.5/5 stars for me, even if the present-day POV fell short. If you don't mind a unique structure and are interested in 1920s Black Hollywood with a side of modern "cabin in the woods" suspense, it's worth checking out. Just temper your expectations if you're coming off her previous work.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Release Date: September 22, 2026.
September 23, 2026
I pick my Aardvark books blind with little to no insight beyond reading the synopsis, but right before reading this one a friend told me they heard great things about Tananarive Due which made me even more excited to read the book. And she was right - well half right. A solid, thought-provoking read that's definitely way too long.
The book is told in 2 timelines: the past focusing on Mazelle and her journey through life and experiences in showbusiness, the present with her grandson Johnny who seems to hate his grandmother and is terrified of going to her ski retreat, finally persuaded to go back there.
It became very clear to me early on that the past timeline was by and far the more interesting and engrossing story, but for the first half or so of the book (pre 'Survivor') I enjoyed both of them. Johnny and his family were a little harder to get invested in, but the creepy atmosphere out in the woods and the weird shit happening made up for it.
Later on (now in 'Survivor,') the book starts to drag, and very very noticeably. The chapters are long, and not that much is happening. There's a lot of wandering around half-concussed or unprepared in the snow and it's all described in deep detail that started to flatline. Fans of this sort of thing may enjoy this more than me, but personally I started to skim a bit and hope that a timeline shift was coming.
The conclusion to the book was in no way surprising to me - it was exactly where I expected the story would go - not that this was bad in any way. Did not care for the final little twist at the end.
The book is told in 2 timelines: the past focusing on Mazelle and her journey through life and experiences in showbusiness, the present with her grandson Johnny who seems to hate his grandmother and is terrified of going to her ski retreat, finally persuaded to go back there.
It became very clear to me early on that the past timeline was by and far the more interesting and engrossing story, but for the first half or so of the book (pre 'Survivor') I enjoyed both of them. Johnny and his family were a little harder to get invested in, but the creepy atmosphere out in the woods and the weird shit happening made up for it.
Later on (now in 'Survivor,') the book starts to drag, and very very noticeably. The chapters are long, and not that much is happening. There's a lot of wandering around half-concussed or unprepared in the snow and it's all described in deep detail that started to flatline. Fans of this sort of thing may enjoy this more than me, but personally I started to skim a bit and hope that a timeline shift was coming.
The conclusion to the book was in no way surprising to me - it was exactly where I expected the story would go - not that this was bad in any way. Did not care for the final little twist at the end.
September 29, 2026
Editing to 4.25 stars. The more I think about certain aspects of this book, the more I am not understanding why it needed to be included. It's a topic that I usually don't love in books, so I was trying to keep an open mind, but it did ultimately affect my reading enjoyment.
I loved this! I am always a fan of Hollywood stories and this was excellent. The two different timelines worked well for me and both kept me interested and engaged in the story. I don't typically enjoy stories with children or teen POVs, but this one worked so well. Mazelle is a fantastic character. The relationship with her and Scout was my favorite thing. While this is creature feature horror with some survival elements, I do think historical fiction fans could appreciate this if they are looking for some spookier reads.
Thank you Saga Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
I loved this! I am always a fan of Hollywood stories and this was excellent. The two different timelines worked well for me and both kept me interested and engaged in the story. I don't typically enjoy stories with children or teen POVs, but this one worked so well. Mazelle is a fantastic character. The relationship with her and Scout was my favorite thing. While this is creature feature horror with some survival elements, I do think historical fiction fans could appreciate this if they are looking for some spookier reads.
Thank you Saga Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
September 28, 2026
Having recently read Ms. Due’s short story, “Battle of the Round House” and liked it, I was excited to jump into my first novel of hers. The summary looked intriguing, and the POV of Mazelle Washington in 1926 was fascinating. I was hooked when Mazelle was first walking home from the woods. She had just made a wish and thrown a penny into the Wishing Pool and…we all know how these wishes tend to work out. I, personally, have known about the dark side of wishes since I was a child and read all of the fairytales I could get my hands on, and they were decidedly *not* the sanitized, Disney versions. I also read Bruce Coville’s, “The Monster’s Ring” around that time, and he was very good at steering me away from wishes, magic shops and strange persons offering me something for nothing.
However, Mazelle is only seven years old, she’s extremely lonely, and the Wishing Pool seems like the only option.
She will come to regret finding the pool.
And so will her grandson, Johnny…decades later.
I was enthralled by this story. Tananarive Due has become an auto-read author for me. I also very much appreciate the minority perspective (it boils my blood how African-Americans have been and are treated), as a white person trying to learn how to be a better ally to that community.
4.5 stars, rounded up.
Thank you to NetGalley and S&S/Saga Press for the advance copy. I am writing this review entirely voluntarily.
However, Mazelle is only seven years old, she’s extremely lonely, and the Wishing Pool seems like the only option.
She will come to regret finding the pool.
And so will her grandson, Johnny…decades later.
I was enthralled by this story. Tananarive Due has become an auto-read author for me. I also very much appreciate the minority perspective (it boils my blood how African-Americans have been and are treated), as a white person trying to learn how to be a better ally to that community.
4.5 stars, rounded up.
Thank you to NetGalley and S&S/Saga Press for the advance copy. I am writing this review entirely voluntarily.
October 1, 2026
This was my first book by this author so I went in with limited expectations. The story was definitely original with a plot that easily grabbed my attention.
However the pace of the book was unstable. We get fave paced chapters paired with slow paced chapters that seem like information overload that wasn't needed. At times it was dragged out and I found myself not being able to focus on the plot. Even though the ending was satisfying, it started to become repetitive and predictable.
I will give other books from this authors catalog a chance because even though the pace didn't work for me in this book, the writing was captivating.
However the pace of the book was unstable. We get fave paced chapters paired with slow paced chapters that seem like information overload that wasn't needed. At times it was dragged out and I found myself not being able to focus on the plot. Even though the ending was satisfying, it started to become repetitive and predictable.
I will give other books from this authors catalog a chance because even though the pace didn't work for me in this book, the writing was captivating.
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