What do you think?
Rate this book
Candlelight
"[A] tale of astonishing creatures and an unfathomable otherworld." - Kirkus Reviews
In the spring of 1986, the children of Beaumont, Texas disappear one by one. Vanishing without a trace from secluded streets, busy supermarkets, and dark bedroom closets. Drawn by the light of a candle only they can see.
There are no witnesses, no bodies, and no explanation. Only the certainty that they were taken.
High school freshman Matthew Dean doesn't believe in faeries. But when he visits a forbidden clearing in the woods behind his home and rips open a gateway to the world of the fae, he invites something ancient and hungry back into his hometown.
Matthew's mother, Lina, a centuries-old witch in hiding, will now suffer the consequences of keeping their history a secret. And skeptical police detective Jacob Fusilier must investigate the string of missing children while reality erodes around him.
The first book of The Grey Neighbors series, Candlelight is a dark fairy tale fueled by mythic horror, stolen innocence, and the scars parents leave for their children. There are no happily ever afters once the Grey Neighbors come calling...
In the spring of 1986, the children of Beaumont, Texas disappear one by one. Vanishing without a trace from secluded streets, busy supermarkets, and dark bedroom closets. Drawn by the light of a candle only they can see.
There are no witnesses, no bodies, and no explanation. Only the certainty that they were taken.
High school freshman Matthew Dean doesn't believe in faeries. But when he visits a forbidden clearing in the woods behind his home and rips open a gateway to the world of the fae, he invites something ancient and hungry back into his hometown.
Matthew's mother, Lina, a centuries-old witch in hiding, will now suffer the consequences of keeping their history a secret. And skeptical police detective Jacob Fusilier must investigate the string of missing children while reality erodes around him.
The first book of The Grey Neighbors series, Candlelight is a dark fairy tale fueled by mythic horror, stolen innocence, and the scars parents leave for their children. There are no happily ever afters once the Grey Neighbors come calling...
426 pages, Hardcover
Published August 21, 2026
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 28, 2026
Candlelight has that atmospheric Irish setting that I love, and the illustrations within add to the mood. Mr. Tolin builds a strange environment, which is slightly slow to reveal itself.
The core themes are of danger, dread, and 'a past that you cant outrun'. The eventual boss to beat is definitely creepy, and the tale has an eerie folk-horror underlying lore centered on Irish Fae and child disappearances. When the creature mechanics and portal elements finally kick in, the threat feels quite dangerous.
Its narrative and pacing is what I feel has the most scope for improvement. While the atmospheric setup is strong, the pacing is rather slow in the beginning. It would have been served better with a relentless underlying drive to match its quiet dread. The early chapters spend far too much time wading through 1980s slice-of-life routines and school-yard dynamics.
The prose is functional, though it lacks that lush quality that I look for in dark fantasies.
Enjoyable read focussing on dark mythic lores as long as you have patience for a patient, coming-of-age set-up.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This title is available from Aug 21st, 2026.
2.5 stars rounded up because this was for a different audience (younger), and that hampered my enjoyment somewhat.
The core themes are of danger, dread, and 'a past that you cant outrun'. The eventual boss to beat is definitely creepy, and the tale has an eerie folk-horror underlying lore centered on Irish Fae and child disappearances. When the creature mechanics and portal elements finally kick in, the threat feels quite dangerous.
Its narrative and pacing is what I feel has the most scope for improvement. While the atmospheric setup is strong, the pacing is rather slow in the beginning. It would have been served better with a relentless underlying drive to match its quiet dread. The early chapters spend far too much time wading through 1980s slice-of-life routines and school-yard dynamics.
The prose is functional, though it lacks that lush quality that I look for in dark fantasies.
Enjoyable read focussing on dark mythic lores as long as you have patience for a patient, coming-of-age set-up.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This title is available from Aug 21st, 2026.
2.5 stars rounded up because this was for a different audience (younger), and that hampered my enjoyment somewhat.
September 1, 2026
Featuring original artwork inspired by Aubrey Beardsley’s woodcut-style illustrations for Le Morte d’Arthur, commissioned from Austin-based artist, Chelsea Denetz.
^I love the credit to human artists, the want for a specific wood cut style, things that are beautiful and made by hand. Movies do the same thing, the old lithography, line and cross hatching. That style is iconic for myths and folk because that's how art was made! So, loving the human art x book team up.
It is September! It is basically Fall now. The time for spooky stories and rain, and the smell of leaves.
It's a scary story with dark faeries and stolen children. I enjoyed it a lot and I am excited for the next one!
^I love the credit to human artists, the want for a specific wood cut style, things that are beautiful and made by hand. Movies do the same thing, the old lithography, line and cross hatching. That style is iconic for myths and folk because that's how art was made! So, loving the human art x book team up.
It is September! It is basically Fall now. The time for spooky stories and rain, and the smell of leaves.
It's a scary story with dark faeries and stolen children. I enjoyed it a lot and I am excited for the next one!
Review of advance copy
This book was wonderfully written with a blend of new characters and lovable names that you’ll recognize. The classic storybook characters are very humorous in the way that they are weaved into our reality.I enjoyed the world building and the use of old forgotten words.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 5, 2026
I wasn't able to be fully immersed or gripped by this story at all- it was very dragged out and read as more of a fantasy story as opposed to a horror one.
A dnf for me at the 60% mark.
Thankyou to Netgalley and the publisher for an arc.
A dnf for me at the 60% mark.
Thankyou to Netgalley and the publisher for an arc.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews