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Sometimes They Hide
Cerulean had always known his life was a paradox.
Born as something not fully human, he learned how to stay hidden, terrified of being exposed for what he truly is—something the world would burn alive if they knew. But when a chain of events drag him into a brutal power struggle amongst Requiem’s leaders, he’s forced into a game he never wanted to play. With no one he can fully trust—and a girl he is inexplicably drawn to—he finds himself teetering on the edge of survival.
Sativa Catalina-Luar only ever wanted to matter.
To be enough. For her parents—for a world that only values what it can use. But when chaos throws her world off balance—and into Cerulean’s life—she’s pushed into a reality she can’t outrun. Each day strips something from her, forcing her to decide how much of herself she’s willing to sacrifice for the people she loves. Watched. Marked. She finds herself trapped beneath the unblinking eye of the Til.
As trust rots and secrets surface, their lives become entangled
with others hiding their own monsters. In a world designed to break the vulnerable and reward the cruel, hiding is only a temporary mercy.
Sooner or later, something has to break.
And when it does, it won’t be gentle.
Born as something not fully human, he learned how to stay hidden, terrified of being exposed for what he truly is—something the world would burn alive if they knew. But when a chain of events drag him into a brutal power struggle amongst Requiem’s leaders, he’s forced into a game he never wanted to play. With no one he can fully trust—and a girl he is inexplicably drawn to—he finds himself teetering on the edge of survival.
Sativa Catalina-Luar only ever wanted to matter.
To be enough. For her parents—for a world that only values what it can use. But when chaos throws her world off balance—and into Cerulean’s life—she’s pushed into a reality she can’t outrun. Each day strips something from her, forcing her to decide how much of herself she’s willing to sacrifice for the people she loves. Watched. Marked. She finds herself trapped beneath the unblinking eye of the Til.
As trust rots and secrets surface, their lives become entangled
with others hiding their own monsters. In a world designed to break the vulnerable and reward the cruel, hiding is only a temporary mercy.
Sooner or later, something has to break.
And when it does, it won’t be gentle.
698 pages, Paperback
Published May 21, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
3.75
First of all, I want to thank the author for sending me an ARC of this book. I feel honored to be among the first to read this story.
First and foremost, I have to say that the writing in this novel was phenomenal, especially considering that this is a debut novel. One of my favorite aspects was the way the novel portrays human greed and hubris. It does so in such a unique yet matter-of-fact way. As cruel and graphic as many of the scenes are, the author depicts them as both haunting and strangely ordinary in a way I have never encountered before.
For me, that was the whole point: this world and the people living in it are so deeply corrupted and devastated that horror and cruelty are treated as everyday occurrences. In this world, they are ordinary, and that made the fear and terror feel even more tangible.
I also found it incredibly fascinating that none of the characters are entirely good or entirely bad; somehow, they are both. The author portrays nearly all of them as simultaneously monsters and victims. Some are certainly more likable than others, but monstrosity grows within all of them as a result of their circumstances. That was definitely one of the strongest aspects of my reading experience.
That being said, because of the large number of POVs (as well executed as they were), it took me a while to become invested in both the story and the characters, which is one of the most important parts of reading for me. As a result, it also took me a bit longer to fully get into the novel. I can’t quite put my finger on what exactly was missing for me personally, but I felt a slight disconnect in the beginning. Once I settled into the world and the characters, however, I found myself much more immersed.
Long story short: if you're into horror and dystopian fiction, I would highly recommend this book.
PS: Y'all can't tell me Jin isn't your favorite character.
First of all, I want to thank the author for sending me an ARC of this book. I feel honored to be among the first to read this story.
First and foremost, I have to say that the writing in this novel was phenomenal, especially considering that this is a debut novel. One of my favorite aspects was the way the novel portrays human greed and hubris. It does so in such a unique yet matter-of-fact way. As cruel and graphic as many of the scenes are, the author depicts them as both haunting and strangely ordinary in a way I have never encountered before.
For me, that was the whole point: this world and the people living in it are so deeply corrupted and devastated that horror and cruelty are treated as everyday occurrences. In this world, they are ordinary, and that made the fear and terror feel even more tangible.
I also found it incredibly fascinating that none of the characters are entirely good or entirely bad; somehow, they are both. The author portrays nearly all of them as simultaneously monsters and victims. Some are certainly more likable than others, but monstrosity grows within all of them as a result of their circumstances. That was definitely one of the strongest aspects of my reading experience.
That being said, because of the large number of POVs (as well executed as they were), it took me a while to become invested in both the story and the characters, which is one of the most important parts of reading for me. As a result, it also took me a bit longer to fully get into the novel. I can’t quite put my finger on what exactly was missing for me personally, but I felt a slight disconnect in the beginning. Once I settled into the world and the characters, however, I found myself much more immersed.
Long story short: if you're into horror and dystopian fiction, I would highly recommend this book.
PS: Y'all can't tell me Jin isn't your favorite character.
May 15, 2026
Thank you to the author Piper Marie for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
The fact that this is the author’s debut is pretty impressive! It had a very engaging way of story telling.
Even though this book was over 700 pages, it didn’t feel like it! I flew through it. It was very readable.
We were thrown right into the thick of things and learned about the world as we went on. I was never confused or lost. I could understand everything that was going on.
There was a lot happening and a lot of character POVs. Part of me wishes there weren’t so many, but it still worked. I was never really confused on who was who, despite having a lot of people to keep track of. Maybe one or two characters I had to think for a second who it was, but I quickly remembered.
I could picture everything happening so vividly. The dialogue between the characters was very realistic!
This is a pretty dark book! But not ALL of it is filled with horror. It is a good dystopian type novel. I am pretty squeamish when it comes to reading or watching gore, but this was manageable. So if you are worried about that, I think you will be fine. Knowing the trigger warnings helped me to know what to expect.
I loved Cerulean right away. There is something about him I love. Maybe because he is slightly pathetic, and I like that in male characters haha. He did frustrate me sometimes like not caring about anyone else but himself. I am hoping he goes through a little bit of character development in that regard. He was showing some signs of it toward the end with Dirk! I loved his and Dirk’s friendship, even though it was a little one sided. That just shows how great of a person he is. He was one of my favorite characters. My other favorite character was Wolfgang! He was cool and another great person! I loved them both. Cerulean was a cool main character to follow, very different from what I ever read before.
That is another fun thing about this book, that it is so unique!
Jin is terrifying, but such a fascinating character. There is something about deranged villain-like characters, who laugh at the face of their actions, is almost more chilling than a fear tactic. You know they don’t care for anything, which almost makes it more dangerous. I wish he didn’t have slaves, that was hard to read about. I feel bad about what his father did to him, no one deserves to go through that.
I wish I liked Sativa more than I did. It’s not like I disliked her as a character, but her story, especially the parts with Bonsai, didn’t impress me. I just wanted to get back to Cerulean and co. Their paths eventually connected, but I wish they met sooner in the book. It took about 70% of the book for them to interact more.
There were a lot of side characters that were also so compelling to me. Everyone we met who played an important part in the novel was interesting tor read about. I couldn’t predict what would happen next. The only two I did not care for at all was Lauden and Bonsai. They were just annoying. I know they are supposed to be villains, but even other villains in the novel were at least cool or scary or intriguing. Those two were just annoying and creepy and uncomfortable to read their actions.
I felt so bad for Cerulean that he felt betrayed. Sativa should have been more honest with him, but I know her heart is pure. I am not quite sure if I am rooting for them to be together. I think it’s because I knew Cerulean thought he finally found someone he could trust, and I know she was just using him to help her mom. But I do believe she cares for him, so I think in the next book I could be convinced and start to root for them more, if they do end up together.
The ending was crazy. So much was happening! I couldn’t put it down. So many tragic things happened, and it sounds like it will only get worse! I am so curious where it is all going to go.
I loved the artwork, map and glossary in the book. I always appreciate the extra mile like that in books.
One small detail is I wish the translations were put on the bottom of the page when it was being said, and not at the end of the chapter, but I loved that the translations for the other languages being spoken was included! I don’t mind having to Google Translate it if need be, but I liked that it was available in the book.
The fact that this is the author’s debut is pretty impressive! It had a very engaging way of story telling.
Even though this book was over 700 pages, it didn’t feel like it! I flew through it. It was very readable.
We were thrown right into the thick of things and learned about the world as we went on. I was never confused or lost. I could understand everything that was going on.
There was a lot happening and a lot of character POVs. Part of me wishes there weren’t so many, but it still worked. I was never really confused on who was who, despite having a lot of people to keep track of. Maybe one or two characters I had to think for a second who it was, but I quickly remembered.
I could picture everything happening so vividly. The dialogue between the characters was very realistic!
This is a pretty dark book! But not ALL of it is filled with horror. It is a good dystopian type novel. I am pretty squeamish when it comes to reading or watching gore, but this was manageable. So if you are worried about that, I think you will be fine. Knowing the trigger warnings helped me to know what to expect.
I loved Cerulean right away. There is something about him I love. Maybe because he is slightly pathetic, and I like that in male characters haha. He did frustrate me sometimes like not caring about anyone else but himself. I am hoping he goes through a little bit of character development in that regard. He was showing some signs of it toward the end with Dirk! I loved his and Dirk’s friendship, even though it was a little one sided. That just shows how great of a person he is. He was one of my favorite characters. My other favorite character was Wolfgang! He was cool and another great person! I loved them both. Cerulean was a cool main character to follow, very different from what I ever read before.
That is another fun thing about this book, that it is so unique!
Jin is terrifying, but such a fascinating character. There is something about deranged villain-like characters, who laugh at the face of their actions, is almost more chilling than a fear tactic. You know they don’t care for anything, which almost makes it more dangerous. I wish he didn’t have slaves, that was hard to read about. I feel bad about what his father did to him, no one deserves to go through that.
I wish I liked Sativa more than I did. It’s not like I disliked her as a character, but her story, especially the parts with Bonsai, didn’t impress me. I just wanted to get back to Cerulean and co. Their paths eventually connected, but I wish they met sooner in the book. It took about 70% of the book for them to interact more.
There were a lot of side characters that were also so compelling to me. Everyone we met who played an important part in the novel was interesting tor read about. I couldn’t predict what would happen next. The only two I did not care for at all was Lauden and Bonsai. They were just annoying. I know they are supposed to be villains, but even other villains in the novel were at least cool or scary or intriguing. Those two were just annoying and creepy and uncomfortable to read their actions.
I felt so bad for Cerulean that he felt betrayed. Sativa should have been more honest with him, but I know her heart is pure. I am not quite sure if I am rooting for them to be together. I think it’s because I knew Cerulean thought he finally found someone he could trust, and I know she was just using him to help her mom. But I do believe she cares for him, so I think in the next book I could be convinced and start to root for them more, if they do end up together.
The ending was crazy. So much was happening! I couldn’t put it down. So many tragic things happened, and it sounds like it will only get worse! I am so curious where it is all going to go.
I loved the artwork, map and glossary in the book. I always appreciate the extra mile like that in books.
One small detail is I wish the translations were put on the bottom of the page when it was being said, and not at the end of the chapter, but I loved that the translations for the other languages being spoken was included! I don’t mind having to Google Translate it if need be, but I liked that it was available in the book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I'd sincerely like to thank Piper Marie for accepting me onto her ARC Team for this fantastic read. I feel so honored to be one of the first of many to read this amazing dystopian horror novel.
4.5⭐ rounded up
In Sometimes They Hide there are two main characters; Cerulean Pains and Sativa Luar. Cerulean who has secrets, and has never felt fully human, born as something other, in between. Being told from birth he's a monster that nobody will ever love. Sativa is a student who wants nothing more than to matter, and to better the world. When something happens to her mother, she sets out to find a way to save her no matter who she has to hurt to do so, even if it means hurting the boy who saved her life. They're being watched by the Til, the governing rule has secrets it really doesn't want getting out.
Honestly summing up such a long book, with so much plot is incredibly difficult. It's filled to the absolute brim with plotlines, motives, lore, relationships, and trauma. There are around 10ish points of view, ten different characters we get to see views from, and rather than feeling crowded with too many view points it makes complete sense. Because the book is so thick and juicy with plot, the character views are able to give you extra information behind the scenes of the action without spoiling anything, which is a huge feat for Marie. It's hard not to spoil things when you have a lot of POVs, and she managed it perfectly.
One thing I find very cool about Sometimes They Hide, is that there are obvious influences you can see throughout the book, and yet it is nothing like any other book I have ever read. There are factions, similar to divergent but set up more like The Hunger Games because they have different uses, and things they do. They're more so like states within a country, each has a head ruler and a council that runs things. The amount of planning that goes into making such an in depth political plot, and set up is insane. Figuring out the plot as I went had me flipping back and forth between my notes to connect lines. I ended up feeling like that one evidence board meme trying to connect all the dots. Speaking of planning and plotting, there must've been years of work that went into this novel with how in depth the lines connect between certain characters, their pasts, how involved they are in the corruption of the rule.
And to bring up the characters, they're very in depth and well created. I, of course, love a misunderstood male character so I immediately loved Cerulean. I didn't feel the same about Sativa though, I feel like I would've liked her more if she were more honest with herself and her motives and that's what's holding me back from really loving her character. There were characters I hated and some I absolutely despised (I'm looking at you Bonsai), and they were all written really well. I hated Bonsai with a burning passion, that man can throw himself off a bridge and I'd be pleased. Outside of Cerulean my favorite characters were side characters, I loved Macaiah and I'm really intrigued by Chaaya. Macaiah is my girl, she reminds me a lot of Mel from Arcane.
At the same time that I really enjoyed the book there were a few things I noticed that probably could've been caught by an editor, and its nothing huge, it only pulled me out for a moment. There were only two instances I'd noticed where characters were told something once and then seemed surprised by that same information when they hear it later, as if the author forgot they already knew something. Both instances happened in the beginning, and they're not a huge deal.
I think my biggest problem with reading ARCs for first books in series', is that this isn't even out yet and I need my hands and eyes on the second one. I never thought 700 pages could fly by so quickly, the horror content, the brutality and the action. I just need more, it was amazing.
Trigger Warnings are listed in the front of the book, but I will also list things I noticed: cannibalism/self cannibalism, rape, sexual harassment, body horror, human trafficking, child abuse, medical content, mentions war, mentions genocide, parent death, grief, child death, inhumane experiments, mentions CSA, drowning, suicide, attempted suicide, torture, dismemberment
4.5⭐ rounded up
In Sometimes They Hide there are two main characters; Cerulean Pains and Sativa Luar. Cerulean who has secrets, and has never felt fully human, born as something other, in between. Being told from birth he's a monster that nobody will ever love. Sativa is a student who wants nothing more than to matter, and to better the world. When something happens to her mother, she sets out to find a way to save her no matter who she has to hurt to do so, even if it means hurting the boy who saved her life. They're being watched by the Til, the governing rule has secrets it really doesn't want getting out.
Honestly summing up such a long book, with so much plot is incredibly difficult. It's filled to the absolute brim with plotlines, motives, lore, relationships, and trauma. There are around 10ish points of view, ten different characters we get to see views from, and rather than feeling crowded with too many view points it makes complete sense. Because the book is so thick and juicy with plot, the character views are able to give you extra information behind the scenes of the action without spoiling anything, which is a huge feat for Marie. It's hard not to spoil things when you have a lot of POVs, and she managed it perfectly.
One thing I find very cool about Sometimes They Hide, is that there are obvious influences you can see throughout the book, and yet it is nothing like any other book I have ever read. There are factions, similar to divergent but set up more like The Hunger Games because they have different uses, and things they do. They're more so like states within a country, each has a head ruler and a council that runs things. The amount of planning that goes into making such an in depth political plot, and set up is insane. Figuring out the plot as I went had me flipping back and forth between my notes to connect lines. I ended up feeling like that one evidence board meme trying to connect all the dots. Speaking of planning and plotting, there must've been years of work that went into this novel with how in depth the lines connect between certain characters, their pasts, how involved they are in the corruption of the rule.
And to bring up the characters, they're very in depth and well created. I, of course, love a misunderstood male character so I immediately loved Cerulean. I didn't feel the same about Sativa though, I feel like I would've liked her more if she were more honest with herself and her motives and that's what's holding me back from really loving her character. There were characters I hated and some I absolutely despised (I'm looking at you Bonsai), and they were all written really well. I hated Bonsai with a burning passion, that man can throw himself off a bridge and I'd be pleased. Outside of Cerulean my favorite characters were side characters, I loved Macaiah and I'm really intrigued by Chaaya. Macaiah is my girl, she reminds me a lot of Mel from Arcane.
At the same time that I really enjoyed the book there were a few things I noticed that probably could've been caught by an editor, and its nothing huge, it only pulled me out for a moment. There were only two instances I'd noticed where characters were told something once and then seemed surprised by that same information when they hear it later, as if the author forgot they already knew something. Both instances happened in the beginning, and they're not a huge deal.
I think my biggest problem with reading ARCs for first books in series', is that this isn't even out yet and I need my hands and eyes on the second one. I never thought 700 pages could fly by so quickly, the horror content, the brutality and the action. I just need more, it was amazing.
Trigger Warnings are listed in the front of the book, but I will also list things I noticed: cannibalism/self cannibalism, rape, sexual harassment, body horror, human trafficking, child abuse, medical content, mentions war, mentions genocide, parent death, grief, child death, inhumane experiments, mentions CSA, drowning, suicide, attempted suicide, torture, dismemberment
Review of advance copy received from Author
I feel really bad to write a negative review for a new author, but I also have to be honest.
This book wasn't bad. Let me start there. It is very obvious that the author put so much thought and effort into this book. There is so much detail its honestly impressive. I loved the world...but that's about it.
I was really trying to finish this book, but once I hit the halfway mark, I realized I couldn't continue on. Reading this was starting to feel like a chore, and I wasn't enjoying it. The writing itself was phenomenal. Piper is a very talented writer. My issue is that it doesn't seem like it was edited. I think if this book had a few rounds of professional editing, I would have enjoyed it. There were just several moments that felt weird or not paced correctly, or where the conversation felt unnatural. These moments really put me off from the story as a whole. I was also really struggling with how many POV's there were. I love multiple POV stories, but a lot of the ones in this book felt unnecessary. I was only really enjoying getting Sativa and Cerulean's POV.
I gave it 3 stars because it wasn't bad, and it has so much potential. I just wasn't enjoying it.
This book wasn't bad. Let me start there. It is very obvious that the author put so much thought and effort into this book. There is so much detail its honestly impressive. I loved the world...but that's about it.
I was really trying to finish this book, but once I hit the halfway mark, I realized I couldn't continue on. Reading this was starting to feel like a chore, and I wasn't enjoying it. The writing itself was phenomenal. Piper is a very talented writer. My issue is that it doesn't seem like it was edited. I think if this book had a few rounds of professional editing, I would have enjoyed it. There were just several moments that felt weird or not paced correctly, or where the conversation felt unnatural. These moments really put me off from the story as a whole. I was also really struggling with how many POV's there were. I love multiple POV stories, but a lot of the ones in this book felt unnecessary. I was only really enjoying getting Sativa and Cerulean's POV.
I gave it 3 stars because it wasn't bad, and it has so much potential. I just wasn't enjoying it.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I want to start off by thanking Piper for the opportunity to ARC read her debut novel! I was lucky enough to not only receive and ARC, but I was also able to beta read, so from seeing where it originally was when I first read it until now was so amazing to see where she took it! I would also like to preface I’m not usually into horror, but I LOVE dystopians so I thought I’d take a chance. And I am so glad I did! Piper does a wonderful job world building and hooks you into the story.
The gore? The horror? Deliciously terrifying!
Of course the book is dark and twisted, but Piper does a good job at mixing in a bit of comedic relief. Obviously wouldn’t call the book funny, but having the inside thoughts of Sativa and Cerulean and his distain for Crazy Old Dubi honestly helped level out everything.
I can’t wait to read the rest of the series because I have a feeling it will get darker and more twisted!
The gore? The horror? Deliciously terrifying!
Of course the book is dark and twisted, but Piper does a good job at mixing in a bit of comedic relief. Obviously wouldn’t call the book funny, but having the inside thoughts of Sativa and Cerulean and his distain for Crazy Old Dubi honestly helped level out everything.
I can’t wait to read the rest of the series because I have a feeling it will get darker and more twisted!
May 25, 2026
First off, Happy Book Birthday and thank you to Piper Marie for letting me read an eARC of her amazing debut Sometimes They Hide!
I am always amazed when authors manage to balance an intricate plot with several POVs, intrigues and secrets that are a maze to explore and awesome characters who fight their own demons as well as against a system that wants to bring them down.
Sometimes They Hide is dystopian horror and it gets dark, so please read the Trigger Warnings!
Since I like my dystopian books dark and seeing a new world order, Piper Marie definitely does bring fresh ideas and characters like Cerulean Pains and Sativa Luar leave an impression, especially Cerulean - and Baron Jin Vair!
I can't help adoring well written, original villains and Jin definitely hits that spot.
This is an amazing debut with several twists, a dark future and even though it's a big book, the pages fly by and you find yourself so immersed in Cerulean's dilemma that you don't want it to end!
I am always amazed when authors manage to balance an intricate plot with several POVs, intrigues and secrets that are a maze to explore and awesome characters who fight their own demons as well as against a system that wants to bring them down.
Sometimes They Hide is dystopian horror and it gets dark, so please read the Trigger Warnings!
Since I like my dystopian books dark and seeing a new world order, Piper Marie definitely does bring fresh ideas and characters like Cerulean Pains and Sativa Luar leave an impression, especially Cerulean - and Baron Jin Vair!
I can't help adoring well written, original villains and Jin definitely hits that spot.
This is an amazing debut with several twists, a dark future and even though it's a big book, the pages fly by and you find yourself so immersed in Cerulean's dilemma that you don't want it to end!
Review of advance copy
I really enjoyed the book up until the last few chapters. Human greed is a terrible thing and I think this book really exemplifies how that effects the world around us and the people inside of it.
I kept having a feeling I knew what was going on and while some feelings were correct I don’t think any could have prepared me for the ending. I have a feeling this will have a sequel where I’m hoping more answers are coming and I look forward to finding out more about this world or at least what’s left of it.
Overall I did greatly enjoy the book and I loved being able to see what the side characters were going through and how they chose to handle what was happening. The ending really just had me going wtf? How’d we get here? Which I think is what it is trying to achieve.
I kept having a feeling I knew what was going on and while some feelings were correct I don’t think any could have prepared me for the ending. I have a feeling this will have a sequel where I’m hoping more answers are coming and I look forward to finding out more about this world or at least what’s left of it.
Overall I did greatly enjoy the book and I loved being able to see what the side characters were going through and how they chose to handle what was happening. The ending really just had me going wtf? How’d we get here? Which I think is what it is trying to achieve.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC FROM AUTHOR
Firstly, thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to read this wild ride of a book!
If I had to describe this book without giving anything away, it's a horror adult hunger games/divergent world with a story that delves deeply into human greed and its devastation.
At first, the switching of POV was tough, mainly because I was hooked on Cerulean and his crazy inner monologue and just wanted to read more of him but you can't help but grow interested in the other character.
Can I just talk about the monsters for a moment? My goodness! Terrifying, so much so that I refused to read this before bed haha.
The writing was smooth and flowed really well, it was hard to ever find a stopping point in the book. I can't wait to see what else this author does.
Firstly, thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to read this wild ride of a book!
If I had to describe this book without giving anything away, it's a horror adult hunger games/divergent world with a story that delves deeply into human greed and its devastation.
At first, the switching of POV was tough, mainly because I was hooked on Cerulean and his crazy inner monologue and just wanted to read more of him but you can't help but grow interested in the other character.
Can I just talk about the monsters for a moment? My goodness! Terrifying, so much so that I refused to read this before bed haha.
The writing was smooth and flowed really well, it was hard to ever find a stopping point in the book. I can't wait to see what else this author does.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I started the book, and although I haven't finished yet, I can tell this is going to be incredible 🥹❤️🔥 The pacing, the description, I love how the book doesn't hide away from elements like blood or things like that. Like the beginning when he saw his dad's...I don't wanna spoil but y'all should get yourself a copy! I do promise to come back and give a full review when I'm done with the book! The book really is amazing, I love how every place like Servant and the rest is clearly distinct and it shows what power and greed can do fr. But honestly, this is incredible and y'all should support the author! 💕
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you Piper Marie for my ARC of Sometimes They Hide.
This book was like The Hunger Games mixed with Venom mixed with 28 Years Later. I’m not someone who typically reads dystopian novels, but this dystopian horror novel gripped me from the very beginning.
The characters were likable even if they were morally gray/corrupt. I was rooting for characters that were unaliving people left and right.
I was audibly gasping at some parts, scared in other parts, and shocked at the ending. This was a 5 star read for me, I thoroughly enjoyed my time reading it.
This book was like The Hunger Games mixed with Venom mixed with 28 Years Later. I’m not someone who typically reads dystopian novels, but this dystopian horror novel gripped me from the very beginning.
The characters were likable even if they were morally gray/corrupt. I was rooting for characters that were unaliving people left and right.
I was audibly gasping at some parts, scared in other parts, and shocked at the ending. This was a 5 star read for me, I thoroughly enjoyed my time reading it.
Review of advance copy
Bloody, dystopian, trauma filled horror at its finest. There are a lot of characters and moving pieces in this book! Going into it, I had no idea it was a series, and I’m so glad I will see more of these characters in the future! I loved Sativa and her character arc throughout the book. I also loved Jin and his chaotic energy.
May 15, 2026
Such a different concept, I'm particularly intrigued by the level of gore and dark horror this book explores. Although at times I wished it was a little shorter, I really value the efforts of the author, Piper Marie, on how expansive the world building is. It was hard to put this one down after the first 100 pages in, and I'm so so glad I got to read it!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was lucky enough to get an arc read for this—and this is my review.
Wow.
This book had me questioning my own sanity just as much as the characters sanity. The ending had be slack jawed and staring at the wall. I will in-fact be recommending this book to FAR too many people.
Wow.
This book had me questioning my own sanity just as much as the characters sanity. The ending had be slack jawed and staring at the wall. I will in-fact be recommending this book to FAR too many people.
Review of advance copy received from Author
@Glendaliz: I love this book!!!the way Cerulean develops character, al the things going on around at the same time and the unspoken thruth, the gore and the fantasy. The vibes are, The giver meets, hunger games, the movie “in time” and gave you “they live” for desert !
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The author has a beautiful writing style that draws you vividly into the story. There are some strong themes being explored that require a mature lens. Anyone looking for an interesting thought-provoking read should consider this!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book is amazing! I love this book because as a Christian I want to enjoy a good horror without all the smut and cursing. Highly recommend!
Review of advance copy received from Author
An amazing read, HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Absolutely in love with this book. Its an amazing concept and I absolutely adore the characters
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book is 🗣 PEAK!! It literally has everything. Drama, suspense, mystery, interesting characters, horror. Its a must read!!👍🏽👍🏽
August 18, 2026
This isn’t my usual genre, but this story completely surprised me. It’s a long read, yet I genuinely found myself wishing it was even longer because I wasn’t ready for the story to end. I connected with the characters; Cerulean is my personal favorite, as his story hit close to home in some aspects. The characters actually felt like real people, and Piper Marie did a good job showing and explaining why they are the way they are. Looking forward to the rest of the series and hoping it’s just as good or better.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Advanced Review Copy
This book is like Hunger Games meets monsters. I enjoy the way the main characters inner thoughts were written. The World-building is done well. I had a little bit of trouble keeping up with multiple characters, but that changed as I got further along in the book. Interesting concept. Gory and violent with lots of hate.
June 30, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 6/5 STARS — AN ALL-TIME FAVORITE! 🖤
Sometimes They Hide by Piper Marie
Where do I even BEGIN?! SIX. FREAKING. STARS. And quite frankly, even that doesn’t feel like enough to express how much I absolutely ADORE this book!
I had the privilege of ARC reading Sometimes They Hide, and let me tell you, this book had me in an absolute CHOKEHOLD. So much so that literally a month later, I picked it right back up and read it AGAIN. And you know what? I loved it just as much, if not MORE, the second time around. If that doesn’t tell you how phenomenal this book is, I don’t know what will!
There are books you enjoy, books you love, and then there are those rare gems that completely consume you and earn themselves a permanent place in your heart. THIS. IS. ONE. OF. THOSE. BOOKS. It’s the kind of read that reminds me exactly why I fell in love with reading in the first place.
And can we PLEASE talk about Piper Marie?! Because this woman deserves ALL the recognition! She has officially cemented herself as one of my absolute favorite authors of ALL TIME. Not just among indie authors. I’m talking ALL authors. Period. Her writing has made that much of an impression on me, and I genuinely believe she is an author everyone needs to have on their radar. PIPER MARIE IS AN AUTHOR TO WATCH, PEOPLE!
I don’t say this lightly, but Sometimes They Hide has earned its place among my all-time favorite books, and I already KNOW, without a single doubt in my mind, that this series is going to become one of my favorite series of all time as well. The bar has been set ridiculously high, and I am SO unbelievably excited to see where Piper takes us next!
As someone who reads a LOT of books, finding one that makes me want to experience it all over again almost immediately is something truly special. And that’s exactly what happened here.
Six stars. An automatic favorite. An author I’ll continue to scream about from the rooftops. 🖤
If Sometimes They Hide isn’t on your radar yet, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?!
Piper Marie, you’ve gained yourself a lifelong reader. 🖤📖
Sometimes They Hide by Piper Marie
Where do I even BEGIN?! SIX. FREAKING. STARS. And quite frankly, even that doesn’t feel like enough to express how much I absolutely ADORE this book!
I had the privilege of ARC reading Sometimes They Hide, and let me tell you, this book had me in an absolute CHOKEHOLD. So much so that literally a month later, I picked it right back up and read it AGAIN. And you know what? I loved it just as much, if not MORE, the second time around. If that doesn’t tell you how phenomenal this book is, I don’t know what will!
There are books you enjoy, books you love, and then there are those rare gems that completely consume you and earn themselves a permanent place in your heart. THIS. IS. ONE. OF. THOSE. BOOKS. It’s the kind of read that reminds me exactly why I fell in love with reading in the first place.
And can we PLEASE talk about Piper Marie?! Because this woman deserves ALL the recognition! She has officially cemented herself as one of my absolute favorite authors of ALL TIME. Not just among indie authors. I’m talking ALL authors. Period. Her writing has made that much of an impression on me, and I genuinely believe she is an author everyone needs to have on their radar. PIPER MARIE IS AN AUTHOR TO WATCH, PEOPLE!
I don’t say this lightly, but Sometimes They Hide has earned its place among my all-time favorite books, and I already KNOW, without a single doubt in my mind, that this series is going to become one of my favorite series of all time as well. The bar has been set ridiculously high, and I am SO unbelievably excited to see where Piper takes us next!
As someone who reads a LOT of books, finding one that makes me want to experience it all over again almost immediately is something truly special. And that’s exactly what happened here.
Six stars. An automatic favorite. An author I’ll continue to scream about from the rooftops. 🖤
If Sometimes They Hide isn’t on your radar yet, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?!
Piper Marie, you’ve gained yourself a lifelong reader. 🖤📖
Review of advance copy received from Author
Shocking, brilliant and I couldn't put it down.
I haven't read a dystopian for a while and this really didn't disappoint. I loved the story, the morally grey characters. It makes you question humanity and yourself. Jin Vair was an amazing and devastating character and the ending was shocking. Unlike other books you may read no one is safe. It has you hooked from the very beginning and I couldn't stop reading until I had finished. The creatures were terrifying and well written. If you love horror and dystopian books about the greed and selfishness of humanity make sure you read this when it releases.
I haven't read a dystopian for a while and this really didn't disappoint. I loved the story, the morally grey characters. It makes you question humanity and yourself. Jin Vair was an amazing and devastating character and the ending was shocking. Unlike other books you may read no one is safe. It has you hooked from the very beginning and I couldn't stop reading until I had finished. The creatures were terrifying and well written. If you love horror and dystopian books about the greed and selfishness of humanity make sure you read this when it releases.
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