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Lykewise: A spine-tingling middle-grade novel filled with curse mirrors and doppelgangers
Dunn Caulkner is no stranger to scary stories. The village of Harrowmere is plagued by danger and the foggy boglands, eerie wraithlights and the terrifying legend of Grasping Jack. So how could Dunn ever have known that the darkest threat of all would come from a looking glass?
No one questions the arrival of a travelling salesman practically giving away his mirrors. Nor do Dunn and his friends think there's any harm in toying with a mirror ritual said to reveal your true self. For what could be dangerous about a reflection? But then the attacks and disappearances begin, and Dunn starts to grasp how very wrong he was...
No one questions the arrival of a travelling salesman practically giving away his mirrors. Nor do Dunn and his friends think there's any harm in toying with a mirror ritual said to reveal your true self. For what could be dangerous about a reflection? But then the attacks and disappearances begin, and Dunn starts to grasp how very wrong he was...
240 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 24, 2026
About the author
Darren Simpson
7 books31 followersDarren Simpson writes vivid, unruly fiction for older children and teens. He's also a Literacy Champion for the National Literacy Trust and loves visiting schools to nurture passion for reading and writing.
Darren's stories have won awards and been translated into several languages, and he's been nominated twice for the prestigious Carnegie Medal. His novels have featured in bookish initiatives such as the national Summer Reading Challenge, and often end up on Best Book lists from the likes of Waterstones, Foyles, the Observer, the Guardian and the Literary Review.
So far he's written Scavengers, The Memory Thieves, Furthermoor and Thirst – tales ranging from dystopia and fantasy to sci-fi and horror. Something for everyone.
His next book, Lykewise, will be published on 24th September.
If you'd like to find out more, visit darrensimpsonwrites.co.uk
Darren's stories have won awards and been translated into several languages, and he's been nominated twice for the prestigious Carnegie Medal. His novels have featured in bookish initiatives such as the national Summer Reading Challenge, and often end up on Best Book lists from the likes of Waterstones, Foyles, the Observer, the Guardian and the Literary Review.
So far he's written Scavengers, The Memory Thieves, Furthermoor and Thirst – tales ranging from dystopia and fantasy to sci-fi and horror. Something for everyone.
His next book, Lykewise, will be published on 24th September.
If you'd like to find out more, visit darrensimpsonwrites.co.uk
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 13, 2026
Lykewise is an enjoyably creepy folk horror story suitable for upper middle grade and above. It's set in the same world as Thirst but you don't need to have read that first (although I would heartily recommend it as it's great). We never learn exactly when the book's events take place, nor where in the wider world. The time period feels like the latter end of The Middle Ages and the place and river names in Thirst felt like slightly modified real English ones. In Lykewise the actual English town of Thirsk is mentioned which solidified the wider place for me. I think the setting was a really smart choice by the author. There's little need to worry about slang or technological references ageing the books prematurely and it is easier to imagine such events taking place in the past than now when so much has been explained by science and we can turn on a light to dispel the shadows.
The main events of the book take place in Harrowmere. As the name suggests, this is a village in the watery fenlands. It's very remote and few have reason to travel there. The high water table means people mostly rely on boardwalks, stilts and boats to get around so there is isolation even within Harrowmere. In combination with the thick fog it makes for a great spooky setting.
The plot has plenty of suspense and tension to keep you reading. From smaller moments of horror where your mind is initially left to guess exactly what injury has been inflicted to the larger theme of being unsure exactly which villager has been replaced by the lykewise. For the villagers, this leads to fear and suspicion. For the reader, there are hints but also red herrings. One chapter in particular is wonderfully ambiguous and even when you think you know who it is, you wonder if it was a double bluff.
As well as being a enjoyable horror story there is also a really good message running throughout this book. The lykewise acts on the deepest, darkest desires of those it impersonates. Originally we are told it is a reflection of the true self. But the characters come to realise that even the best mirror still distorts the truth. This book acknowledges that it is normal to have the occasional dark thought or impulse. It does not mean that you are a monster. It's when you act on those thoughts and impulses that it is wrong.
I thought the pacing of the book was good, the descriptions of the setting were great and the story had real atmosphere. I especially like that there is an epilogue that shows the changes the events of the book have brought to the villagers. In terms of age rating, I would say this is suitable for 11+ horror fans. There are some grisly moments but nothing too gory.
Thanks to NetGalley and Pushkin Press for the eARC. Lykewise is available from 24/09/2026, ISBN: 9781782696209.
The main events of the book take place in Harrowmere. As the name suggests, this is a village in the watery fenlands. It's very remote and few have reason to travel there. The high water table means people mostly rely on boardwalks, stilts and boats to get around so there is isolation even within Harrowmere. In combination with the thick fog it makes for a great spooky setting.
The plot has plenty of suspense and tension to keep you reading. From smaller moments of horror where your mind is initially left to guess exactly what injury has been inflicted to the larger theme of being unsure exactly which villager has been replaced by the lykewise. For the villagers, this leads to fear and suspicion. For the reader, there are hints but also red herrings. One chapter in particular is wonderfully ambiguous and even when you think you know who it is, you wonder if it was a double bluff.
As well as being a enjoyable horror story there is also a really good message running throughout this book. The lykewise acts on the deepest, darkest desires of those it impersonates. Originally we are told it is a reflection of the true self. But the characters come to realise that even the best mirror still distorts the truth. This book acknowledges that it is normal to have the occasional dark thought or impulse. It does not mean that you are a monster. It's when you act on those thoughts and impulses that it is wrong.
I thought the pacing of the book was good, the descriptions of the setting were great and the story had real atmosphere. I especially like that there is an epilogue that shows the changes the events of the book have brought to the villagers. In terms of age rating, I would say this is suitable for 11+ horror fans. There are some grisly moments but nothing too gory.
Thanks to NetGalley and Pushkin Press for the eARC. Lykewise is available from 24/09/2026, ISBN: 9781782696209.
August 28, 2026
Lykewise by Darren Simpson is a delightfully creepy middle grade novel that is dark enough to spook an adult reader too.
When a travelling salesman comes to the village of Harrowmere the villagers see nothing strange about his extremely reasonably priced mirrors but when several of the village children decide to try out the magic ritual he tells them about they unleash a terrifying creature known as a Lykewise. The Lykewise not only steals the likeness of the person who summons them from the mirror, it acts on their darkest thoughts, jealousy, vengeance and even murder, rapidly moving from one victim to another and leaving the whole village unsure of who they can trust or how they can save the people who lost themselves to the ritual. It is up to two brave children to seek the answers that could save their home.
This was a genuinely creepy read, I think many middle grade readers will love it, as will many older readers but some younger readers my find it disturbing. The main characters of Dunn and Beah are easy to relate to, and I loved their friendship. I think it is important that the book explores the fact that it is natural to have dark or mean thoughts at times, and the message that while the thoughts are not wrong, acting on them is, is an important one and one that is well illustrated by the storytelling. The writing is descriptive but not overly so and I think the author did a really good job of structuring the story in a way that keeps the reader guessing about who the Lykewise is impersonating at any given time.
Sensationally spooky, this was a fun read.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.
When a travelling salesman comes to the village of Harrowmere the villagers see nothing strange about his extremely reasonably priced mirrors but when several of the village children decide to try out the magic ritual he tells them about they unleash a terrifying creature known as a Lykewise. The Lykewise not only steals the likeness of the person who summons them from the mirror, it acts on their darkest thoughts, jealousy, vengeance and even murder, rapidly moving from one victim to another and leaving the whole village unsure of who they can trust or how they can save the people who lost themselves to the ritual. It is up to two brave children to seek the answers that could save their home.
This was a genuinely creepy read, I think many middle grade readers will love it, as will many older readers but some younger readers my find it disturbing. The main characters of Dunn and Beah are easy to relate to, and I loved their friendship. I think it is important that the book explores the fact that it is natural to have dark or mean thoughts at times, and the message that while the thoughts are not wrong, acting on them is, is an important one and one that is well illustrated by the storytelling. The writing is descriptive but not overly so and I think the author did a really good job of structuring the story in a way that keeps the reader guessing about who the Lykewise is impersonating at any given time.
Sensationally spooky, this was a fun read.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
*I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
This was an utterly fantastic, eerie and strange read, despite being of the middle grade genre I certainly got chills from reading this!
The fenland village of Harrowmere felt so small, cosy yet borderline creepy. From the thick fog to the dangerous bogs, it felt like every page had you holding your breath, waiting for something awful to happen. I adored the atmosphere in this book, especially later on when the townsfolk begin to suspect each other of being the 'Lykewise'- a strange spirit mirroring the people of Harrowmere, acting on their darkest, most horrible desires.
The plot had me hooked, I was following Dunn and Beah every step of the way, trying to figure out who could be trusted and how to defeat the Lykewise. The plot twists were often shocking, I did guess some, but most had me shook. The story felt quite dark and grousome at times despite this being middle grade, and some parts even had me peeking over my Kindle in the dead of night, searching the shadows suspiciously.
Overall, this book is perfect for a spooky read, something that'll have you avoiding looking into the mirror for too long, and certainly will give you a sense of foreboding as you read! It surprised me in the best of ways.
5/5 🌟
This was an utterly fantastic, eerie and strange read, despite being of the middle grade genre I certainly got chills from reading this!
The fenland village of Harrowmere felt so small, cosy yet borderline creepy. From the thick fog to the dangerous bogs, it felt like every page had you holding your breath, waiting for something awful to happen. I adored the atmosphere in this book, especially later on when the townsfolk begin to suspect each other of being the 'Lykewise'- a strange spirit mirroring the people of Harrowmere, acting on their darkest, most horrible desires.
The plot had me hooked, I was following Dunn and Beah every step of the way, trying to figure out who could be trusted and how to defeat the Lykewise. The plot twists were often shocking, I did guess some, but most had me shook. The story felt quite dark and grousome at times despite this being middle grade, and some parts even had me peeking over my Kindle in the dead of night, searching the shadows suspiciously.
Overall, this book is perfect for a spooky read, something that'll have you avoiding looking into the mirror for too long, and certainly will give you a sense of foreboding as you read! It surprised me in the best of ways.
5/5 🌟
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A Note: My only concern with this book is that it's "middle grade" but I'm wondering if some parts are a bit too gruesome. Be careful if you pick this book for children too young.
This book has the best-written plot twist I have read in a while. That's all I will say. Read it.
I don't pick middle-grade books very often because I lack the knowledge to know where to look for them (mostly). It did remind me of Lockwood & Co, a great book series too. I hope this book gets translated so I can gift it to my nephews. They would like it.
It took me a couple of pages to get hooked on the place, the characters, the story. Everything works. It's even better when the title of the book starts making sense.
A great read. I haven't read any other book by this author but I might make my way through them.
>> Dear author, please write horror books for adults, I'm sure you will knock it out of the park.
Thank you to Pushkin Press | Pushkin Children's Books for the e-copy. This review is my own, and I'm leaving it voluntarily.
This book has the best-written plot twist I have read in a while. That's all I will say. Read it.
I don't pick middle-grade books very often because I lack the knowledge to know where to look for them (mostly). It did remind me of Lockwood & Co, a great book series too. I hope this book gets translated so I can gift it to my nephews. They would like it.
It took me a couple of pages to get hooked on the place, the characters, the story. Everything works. It's even better when the title of the book starts making sense.
A great read. I haven't read any other book by this author but I might make my way through them.
>> Dear author, please write horror books for adults, I'm sure you will knock it out of the park.
Thank you to Pushkin Press | Pushkin Children's Books for the e-copy. This review is my own, and I'm leaving it voluntarily.
August 28, 2026
A chilling, higher end of middle grade, book. Released in the coming weeks in time for the spooky season. Gripping, great writing which draws you in. The description of the landscape is perfect to build the suspense. Lots of twists and turns. Keep looking over your shoulder, for who is the Lykewise guise now?
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews