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Where Creatures Hide #1
Where Creatures Hide
When Dawn awakens from her icy slumber, she can't recall who she is or how she became a prisoner of Eden Laboratories. But her uncontrollable power and the hope of belonging to a family compel her to act. Fast. But there is something dark that lingers beneath her skin and it will do whatever it takes to ensure Dawn never reaches her goal. Dawn must overcome her demons before they overcome her and she loses sight of the world around her.
- GenresFantasyYoung Adult
418 pages, Hardcover
First published November 10, 2017
10 people are currently reading
995 people want to read
About the author
P.J. Shepherd
5 books88 followersP J Shepherd is an author and YouTuber who often daydreams when she’s supposed to be writing. You can find her with her nose in a book and a tea to her right.
(Preferably Lady Grey with a teaspoon of maple syrup, no milk.)
Where Creatures Hide is her debut novel inspired by a scene in Austin Powers.
She can be found on Instagram @p_j_shepherd and on her website wherecreatureshide.com
She currently resides in sunny Hawkes Bay, New Zealand where she plans to build her forever home.
(Preferably Lady Grey with a teaspoon of maple syrup, no milk.)
Where Creatures Hide is her debut novel inspired by a scene in Austin Powers.
She can be found on Instagram @p_j_shepherd and on her website wherecreatureshide.com
She currently resides in sunny Hawkes Bay, New Zealand where she plans to build her forever home.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
January 1, 2018
An advance e-copy of this book was sent to me in exchange for my honest review! While it needs a bit of polishing, I thought that Where Creatures Hide was a creative and engrossing blend of fantasy and science-fiction. The protagonist, Dawn, is a "creature" who has been woken up after a long time in a research facility that carries out inhumane experiments. Creatures are people who have been given a dark and magically powerful "puppet soul" that is triggered by fear and is quite deadly.
Dawn has no memory of who she is and, while undergoing horrific experimentation, is watched over by the handsome and benevolent Alex, who may not be quite human himself... Without spoiling the novel, I can't say too much more about the story, but the story and world are engaging and make you want to keep reading. There is a fairly slow-burn romance that I found myself quite invested in by the end, and a cast of quirky and relatively diverse characters as well. The book is set in some version of New Zealand and one kind of cool thing is that Maori language and culture are sporadically integrated. (The author is from New Zealand herself I believe)
There were some questions and/or inconsistencies in terms of world-building that I would like to see clarified, and moments that pulled me out of the story (like references to the director of the research facility eating cup of noodles). There were also flashbacks that were sometimes confusing in the flow of the story, but adding a convention like italics could clear that up. Overall, I think this was a pretty strong first novel and I definitely want to see what happens next! I'm totally shipping two of the characters!
Dawn has no memory of who she is and, while undergoing horrific experimentation, is watched over by the handsome and benevolent Alex, who may not be quite human himself... Without spoiling the novel, I can't say too much more about the story, but the story and world are engaging and make you want to keep reading. There is a fairly slow-burn romance that I found myself quite invested in by the end, and a cast of quirky and relatively diverse characters as well. The book is set in some version of New Zealand and one kind of cool thing is that Maori language and culture are sporadically integrated. (The author is from New Zealand herself I believe)
There were some questions and/or inconsistencies in terms of world-building that I would like to see clarified, and moments that pulled me out of the story (like references to the director of the research facility eating cup of noodles). There were also flashbacks that were sometimes confusing in the flow of the story, but adding a convention like italics could clear that up. Overall, I think this was a pretty strong first novel and I definitely want to see what happens next! I'm totally shipping two of the characters!
March 12, 2019
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/5
"To the lost. May you find your way home" - PJ Shepard, Where Creatures Hide
✅ Amazing world and charecter building
✅ Dark and very well thought out plot
✅ Unique Magic
✅ Darkness inside us all
✅ Strong main and side charecters
It has taken me soooo long to write this review because I've been so worried I'm not going to express how much i love this book properly. I just can't put it I to words! I was absolutly hooked after the 1st 2 chapters, i was so intrigued by what i was reading that I would think about it even when I wasn't. The story PJ has written is amazing! The charecters, even the 'tiny' (❤) little side ones you become so invested in. My heart was ripped out, torn up and put back together so many times, I believe my initial reaction to finishing WCH was "OH. MY. FREAKING. HEART" I love this book. I love the world. I love the charecters, and the plot, and the twists that had me completely blindsided and sobbing in a corner. PJ has done a wonderful job on her 1st novel. I just know that Where Puppets Hide is going to break me!!
"Like a game of hide and seek,
Close you're eyes and never peek"
🖤
"To the lost. May you find your way home" - PJ Shepard, Where Creatures Hide
✅ Amazing world and charecter building
✅ Dark and very well thought out plot
✅ Unique Magic
✅ Darkness inside us all
✅ Strong main and side charecters
It has taken me soooo long to write this review because I've been so worried I'm not going to express how much i love this book properly. I just can't put it I to words! I was absolutly hooked after the 1st 2 chapters, i was so intrigued by what i was reading that I would think about it even when I wasn't. The story PJ has written is amazing! The charecters, even the 'tiny' (❤) little side ones you become so invested in. My heart was ripped out, torn up and put back together so many times, I believe my initial reaction to finishing WCH was "OH. MY. FREAKING. HEART" I love this book. I love the world. I love the charecters, and the plot, and the twists that had me completely blindsided and sobbing in a corner. PJ has done a wonderful job on her 1st novel. I just know that Where Puppets Hide is going to break me!!
"Like a game of hide and seek,
Close you're eyes and never peek"
🖤
July 20, 2025
I read the rewrite i got as a kindle version and it made me cry. There were changes made and those changes were good. After reading where puppets hide it just made me cry because i knew who nadya was and who xavier reminded her of and it just broke me when they started talking about nadya and Shadow cuz i freaking love them. But yeah it made me cry unlike the first version (even though i was close) it's amazing to see the changes. I'm also very glad i get to be a part of the fandom
July 20, 2025
THIS BOOK IS AMAZING. I felt so many emotions through this and it made me tear up, what I haven't done i ages. And Xavier. Omg he's so relatable and sad. I also really love the idea of a puppet soul, it's a better name for the sadness and the anger and all the hatred that you can feel. It gives you a way to kind of make a face to the name and really makes me feel like I can punch it in the face next time I see it. I was really hyped even before the book arrived and I hyped all my friends. Who will ofcourse buy the books. I left a small review of each chapter on my Insta and my friends were all Like. "I don't know what series this is but just seeing you all excited makes me happy and it's so cute." Or "stop making me so hyped!!!" I can't say enough. I mean, the author is amazing and very funny and I'm glad that I could read her book. I really Love "the creature chant" and every time I read it I get goosebumps and trouble breathing. Like. It calms me down and that's what it's supposed to do.
June 20, 2019
This was one of THE BEST books I have ever read.. The story grabbed me from the very first chapter and it tore me to pieces and utterly broke me for the last 5 or so chapters. It created an entirely new, complex world filled with enriching characters and unique concepts.
If I could rate this 100/10 I would!
If I could rate this 100/10 I would!
November 11, 2017
(I received an advanced reading e-copy of the book in exchange for an honest review)
Details:
Genre: Fiction/Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Year of Publishing: 2017
Format: E-book
Number of pages: 456 (in paperback)
***
NO SPOILERS
I don’t think I have felt this conflicted about liking a book or not this year.
The story starts out with us being introduced to a “Chant of Creatures” followed by a scene of some sort of tests being carried out on a girl. As the book description mentions, this girl, Dawn, has some sort of “uncontrollable power” and has been captured by “Eden Laboratories”. The story basically follows Dawn and her quest for finding out about her past.
The story intrigued me in the first few pages, as I was met with many mysteries about who Dawn was, what she was, where she was and what was going on around her. However, as the story proceeded, it failed to grip me. The mysteries continued to grow and I was not being provided as much information as I needed. I found myself pushing myself to continue reading the book.
Till about halfway, the story grew tiresome, with the same feelings and emotions being portrayed by the protagonist and some obscure information being scattered here and there did not intrigue me like it was supposed it to. I had no idea where the story was headed, really. However, after the halfway mark is when the story really picks up. A lot of things happen after that, which add interesting twists to the main narrative.
Towards the end though, it felt like I was being bombarded with too much information. So many past events were brought to the surface, that honestly left me confused quite a few times. I can understand how it must have been clear to the author, but it was not explained well enough for us to get clear picture of what had happened and why it had happened the way it did.
The end of the book, had to be my favourite part of it. After I was loaded with all that information, things did become more clear, and I loved the way the whole thing ended. There were so many surprises towards the end, that I did think I loved the book. It was just that it had all been cramped right towards the end and would have been so much better if it had been seeped into the narrative slowly throughout the book.
I liked almost all the characters of the book, besides the protagonist Dawn, and that was disheartening. But like I said, at the end, I really liked her character. Just the fact that I went through almost the whole book disliking the main character was a let down, but then again I liked her real character at the end, so I don’t know how to feel about that. I also did not like the centaur Aziel, trying to act all mysterious. Other than that though, the other characters, Alex, Xavier, and all other side characters I really liked.
The overall story is actually really good and intelligent on the part of the author, and I believe the problem is in the execution of it. Had the story been written in a slightly different manner, I think it could have been one of my favourite reads this year. There was just too much happening at the end and I found it difficult to keep up. I did also feel like some events and actions were unnecessary and avoidable, but there were not too many and that is not something I am really complaining about.
So what’s the verdict? I really cannot decide. Overall, the story is quite interesting, but for the most part, while reading it, I did not enjoy it, but I did love the ending. So I am conflicted about how to feel about this. Maybe you could read it and let me know? 😀
I cannot say whether I would recommend the book to someone or not, but I know that if I would, I would recommend it to someone who likes reading Sci-Fi/Fantasy books with young protagonists and mystery surrounding the whole narrative.
Hope the review was helpful 😀 🙂
(If you liked the review, you can check out my blog https://thelittlebibliophileblog.word... )
Details:
Genre: Fiction/Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Year of Publishing: 2017
Format: E-book
Number of pages: 456 (in paperback)
***
NO SPOILERS
I don’t think I have felt this conflicted about liking a book or not this year.
The story starts out with us being introduced to a “Chant of Creatures” followed by a scene of some sort of tests being carried out on a girl. As the book description mentions, this girl, Dawn, has some sort of “uncontrollable power” and has been captured by “Eden Laboratories”. The story basically follows Dawn and her quest for finding out about her past.
The story intrigued me in the first few pages, as I was met with many mysteries about who Dawn was, what she was, where she was and what was going on around her. However, as the story proceeded, it failed to grip me. The mysteries continued to grow and I was not being provided as much information as I needed. I found myself pushing myself to continue reading the book.
Till about halfway, the story grew tiresome, with the same feelings and emotions being portrayed by the protagonist and some obscure information being scattered here and there did not intrigue me like it was supposed it to. I had no idea where the story was headed, really. However, after the halfway mark is when the story really picks up. A lot of things happen after that, which add interesting twists to the main narrative.
Towards the end though, it felt like I was being bombarded with too much information. So many past events were brought to the surface, that honestly left me confused quite a few times. I can understand how it must have been clear to the author, but it was not explained well enough for us to get clear picture of what had happened and why it had happened the way it did.
The end of the book, had to be my favourite part of it. After I was loaded with all that information, things did become more clear, and I loved the way the whole thing ended. There were so many surprises towards the end, that I did think I loved the book. It was just that it had all been cramped right towards the end and would have been so much better if it had been seeped into the narrative slowly throughout the book.
I liked almost all the characters of the book, besides the protagonist Dawn, and that was disheartening. But like I said, at the end, I really liked her character. Just the fact that I went through almost the whole book disliking the main character was a let down, but then again I liked her real character at the end, so I don’t know how to feel about that. I also did not like the centaur Aziel, trying to act all mysterious. Other than that though, the other characters, Alex, Xavier, and all other side characters I really liked.
The overall story is actually really good and intelligent on the part of the author, and I believe the problem is in the execution of it. Had the story been written in a slightly different manner, I think it could have been one of my favourite reads this year. There was just too much happening at the end and I found it difficult to keep up. I did also feel like some events and actions were unnecessary and avoidable, but there were not too many and that is not something I am really complaining about.
So what’s the verdict? I really cannot decide. Overall, the story is quite interesting, but for the most part, while reading it, I did not enjoy it, but I did love the ending. So I am conflicted about how to feel about this. Maybe you could read it and let me know? 😀
I cannot say whether I would recommend the book to someone or not, but I know that if I would, I would recommend it to someone who likes reading Sci-Fi/Fantasy books with young protagonists and mystery surrounding the whole narrative.
Hope the review was helpful 😀 🙂
(If you liked the review, you can check out my blog https://thelittlebibliophileblog.word... )
May 23, 2018
Where Creatures Hide is about a world full of creatures who are tortured and tormented and long for freedom and a home. The novel begins with a gripping scene that introduces our two main characters, Alex and Dawn. From the start I was hooked on this novel. Although I did hit some slow parts, the characters and the plotline were so intriguing I couldn’t put the book down. I loved the concept of “puppet souls” and was very curious about how they were controlled and harnessed. The writing in Where Creatures Hide does require a little bit of fixing up as the intrigue of the story was the main thing that kept me reading, however, I commend Parehuia for self-publishing a novel (you go girl!) and can’t wait to see how she’s progressed in the second edition of Where Creatures Hide.
January 22, 2019
I really enjoyed this book, it was a great start to the series. I can't wait to read more from her series.
I felt really confused by Alex's behaviour at the end of the book. He seems to.completely give up on Dawn after all of that build up and just accepts it which feels really incomplete to me.
Also that cliff hanger, not knowing if it's Dawn or Inaya is really messing with me and I hope this story is continued later in the series to get some overall closer from the characters.
I felt really confused by Alex's behaviour at the end of the book. He seems to.completely give up on Dawn after all of that build up and just accepts it which feels really incomplete to me.
Also that cliff hanger, not knowing if it's Dawn or Inaya is really messing with me and I hope this story is continued later in the series to get some overall closer from the characters.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 23, 2018
This book starts with a girl shattering from an icy tomb. When she's thawed and remarkably alive, the reader joins Dawn's journey in finding out about her past, but not until she escapes Eden (a lab that runs tests on creatures). An undercover creature comes to her aid, taking her to a sanctuary to live with a variety of creatures not of this world. Dawn tries to seek out her past but her past wants to remain hidden. With her puppet soul growing stronger every day, she must learn to control it before it controls her.
I adored the beginning of this book. It grabbed my attention and really made me want to know more about Dawn's past. It did begin to drag in the middle, and could have used another round of edits (that's why I took away one star) but picked up again at the end. If you love fantasy creatures this is the book for you! It has every creature under the sun, plus some you didn't even know about.
I adored the beginning of this book. It grabbed my attention and really made me want to know more about Dawn's past. It did begin to drag in the middle, and could have used another round of edits (that's why I took away one star) but picked up again at the end. If you love fantasy creatures this is the book for you! It has every creature under the sun, plus some you didn't even know about.
February 6, 2019
Beautiful story! I absolutely adored the characters and the interactions they had to offer. I can't wait to read more!
November 7, 2018
This was my first experience with PJ’s writing, and I absolutely fell in love! The first chapters of the book set up a world so dark and cruel, but the journey is ultimately one of light, love and honour. I adored the appearance of threads from Where Puppets Hide (which I hadn’t read when I read this book), connecting the disparate novels within this world. I can see plot archs that will span the multiple books tying them all together taking shape around me, and I can’t wait to see how they will resolve!
December 5, 2017
Yaaay finished! Full review will be up this month!
Lckily the main character changed a bit, but a bit too late for my liking. Nevertheless I really enjoyed the other characters in this book, and I loved the idea of this world!
Once again, full review will be up at the end of this month!
Lckily the main character changed a bit, but a bit too late for my liking. Nevertheless I really enjoyed the other characters in this book, and I loved the idea of this world!
Once again, full review will be up at the end of this month!
February 2, 2018
The book for me started off in an interesting way bringing our main character, Dawn, with a very important supporting character, Alex, together. PJ wrote her book in a way that allowed you to see her Dawns pain and struggles through both her own eyes, yet the eyes of Alex as well. As the story progressed bringing others into play, the balance was still held and I thoroughly continued to enjoy it.
There were times the book felt a little slow, but I hurried through those portions to get to the part I knew was coming. I was kept on my every breath. There were times I wanted to just rush to the end, to have my fears confirmed or displaced. I felt so many things while continuing to read.
The story is more than just a simple chosen one plot. It's complex with many roles supporting a beautiful storyline. The ending? Oh my god. I burst into tears reading it. I could feel the tension, the pain, the fear that these characters were dealing with. There's a twist with Xavier and it broke my heart. Shattered it.
The last page made my heart stop, my breath catch and I seriously just can NOT wait for the next book to come out this year.
There were times the book felt a little slow, but I hurried through those portions to get to the part I knew was coming. I was kept on my every breath. There were times I wanted to just rush to the end, to have my fears confirmed or displaced. I felt so many things while continuing to read.
The story is more than just a simple chosen one plot. It's complex with many roles supporting a beautiful storyline. The ending? Oh my god. I burst into tears reading it. I could feel the tension, the pain, the fear that these characters were dealing with. There's a twist with Xavier and it broke my heart. Shattered it.
The last page made my heart stop, my breath catch and I seriously just can NOT wait for the next book to come out this year.
May 1, 2018
I’m obsessed!!! The author has a clear path to which she is taking her characters. Xavier is 100% my fave character he’s so funny. The twist at the end had me so torn!! Also made me think a tone about my puppet soul...(read right at the end of the book for more on that!!)
September 5, 2020
**CONTAINS BIG SPOILERS**
Holy crap. I don't even know where to start.
I absolutely adored this book!
I literally could not put it down(which is why it only took a day to read! 😂)
This story had me feeling everything!
When a certain group of characters died, my heart sunk, I was mad, I was sad(I legit shed a tear), I had become so invested in these characters and all of a sudden they were gone. (I was ready to message PJ and be like "Why? Why did they have to die?!")😂 Instead I continued on with the book and then those deaths were undone and oh my god my heart squealed with joy!
Also, the ending. I need to know now!
I highly recommend this book. You will not regret it!
Holy crap. I don't even know where to start.
I absolutely adored this book!
I literally could not put it down(which is why it only took a day to read! 😂)
This story had me feeling everything!
When a certain group of characters died, my heart sunk, I was mad, I was sad(I legit shed a tear), I had become so invested in these characters and all of a sudden they were gone. (I was ready to message PJ and be like "Why? Why did they have to die?!")😂 Instead I continued on with the book and then those deaths were undone and oh my god my heart squealed with joy!
Also, the ending. I need to know now!
I highly recommend this book. You will not regret it!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 12, 2018
won this as a goodreads firstreads prize. I have to admit that I had a little trouble getting into this book. It is a bit different from what I normally read. I did like the characters though. But the last few chapters really reeled me in. Now I cant wait for the next book in the series to find out what happens next.
March 29, 2019
Beautiful.
I’ll write a better review once I have the time to sit down with my thoughts about this book, but I will say that I fell in love and I honestly want to reread it already. Go read it!
I’ll write a better review once I have the time to sit down with my thoughts about this book, but I will say that I fell in love and I honestly want to reread it already. Go read it!
April 20, 2019
I enjoyed the second half of this book a LOT more than the first half.
The reason for this: the first half was incredibly slow and tired. Not much of anything happened. It was just repetition of Dawn at Eden trying to figure out who she was, then Dawn at Europa trying to figure out who she was. And honestly I couldn’t for the life of me figure out where the story was headed - except that perhaps we’d find out who she was. But everything else was incredibly hazy. The beginning was interesting and left me many questions, so that I wanted to come back and find out the answers. But it stretched on for far too long.
The second half was much better, albeit a little too full of information. I think this could’ve done with another read through, another edit. Lots of what happened in the second half (flashbacks, reveals) could’ve been done earlier, or at least foreshadowed a little better, so that the story felt more succinct, more like a circle, than a jumble of lines zigzagging this way and that. That said, the end was pretty good, exciting and fast, interesting. And pretty devastating tbh. Not fun. But also fun.
The characters were good. I didn’t realise I’d grown slightly attached until the end when things got serious, which was cool. Xavier was my favourite, along with Uma & Luna & Aziel. I didn’t much care for Dawn or Alex, which is unfortunate, since they’re kinda the protagonists. They were ok, I just didn’t feel a connection. I also didn’t buy their connection - felt insta-love-y, or that very tired trope of “she’s not like anyone else and I feel like I’ve been waiting for her my whole life,” which is so tiresome. BUT that said, I was satisfied with the ending, the way each of the relationships stood at the end of the story.
The ending as a whole was satisfying, actually. It was intense and wild, and then everything made sense. Very well done.
The writing could’ve used some finesse. There were grammatical issues - which is why I mentioned it could’ve benefited from another edit - and some phrases were overused. But overall, it was easy to read and enjoyable.
One last thing - I really enjoyed the analogy of the ‘puppet soul,’ and what it means in relation to real people - that voice that everyone has (and if you don’t have it, well teach me your ways) that tells us we’re not good enough, or that harkens to our dark soul, that tells us to give in, give up. The message of that, and the way it was portrayed throughout the book was really well done, because it’s not shoved down your throat as a reader. It’s very subtle, and when you get it, it’s kind of “oh wow” moment. Was for me anyway.
Overall, some problems, mainly with pacing and grammar, but I enjoyed it for the most part and I’m looking forward to the next two books.
The reason for this: the first half was incredibly slow and tired. Not much of anything happened. It was just repetition of Dawn at Eden trying to figure out who she was, then Dawn at Europa trying to figure out who she was. And honestly I couldn’t for the life of me figure out where the story was headed - except that perhaps we’d find out who she was. But everything else was incredibly hazy. The beginning was interesting and left me many questions, so that I wanted to come back and find out the answers. But it stretched on for far too long.
The second half was much better, albeit a little too full of information. I think this could’ve done with another read through, another edit. Lots of what happened in the second half (flashbacks, reveals) could’ve been done earlier, or at least foreshadowed a little better, so that the story felt more succinct, more like a circle, than a jumble of lines zigzagging this way and that. That said, the end was pretty good, exciting and fast, interesting. And pretty devastating tbh. Not fun. But also fun.
The characters were good. I didn’t realise I’d grown slightly attached until the end when things got serious, which was cool. Xavier was my favourite, along with Uma & Luna & Aziel. I didn’t much care for Dawn or Alex, which is unfortunate, since they’re kinda the protagonists. They were ok, I just didn’t feel a connection. I also didn’t buy their connection - felt insta-love-y, or that very tired trope of “she’s not like anyone else and I feel like I’ve been waiting for her my whole life,” which is so tiresome. BUT that said, I was satisfied with the ending, the way each of the relationships stood at the end of the story.
The ending as a whole was satisfying, actually. It was intense and wild, and then everything made sense. Very well done.
The writing could’ve used some finesse. There were grammatical issues - which is why I mentioned it could’ve benefited from another edit - and some phrases were overused. But overall, it was easy to read and enjoyable.
One last thing - I really enjoyed the analogy of the ‘puppet soul,’ and what it means in relation to real people - that voice that everyone has (and if you don’t have it, well teach me your ways) that tells us we’re not good enough, or that harkens to our dark soul, that tells us to give in, give up. The message of that, and the way it was portrayed throughout the book was really well done, because it’s not shoved down your throat as a reader. It’s very subtle, and when you get it, it’s kind of “oh wow” moment. Was for me anyway.
Overall, some problems, mainly with pacing and grammar, but I enjoyed it for the most part and I’m looking forward to the next two books.
February 15, 2019
My rating for this brilliant novel is 5/5 stars or should I say 5/5 crescent moons.
I have to admit I have been really slack with reading lately. But I just devoured this book and by devoured I mean I read it in a few hours because it’s just such an amazing story.
P.J. Is a self published author who certainly needs an agency to pick her but because these books are amazing. Yes there may be a few grammatical and formatting errors, it’s nothing a good editor wouldn’t fix. This book and series I might add definitely needs to be picked up for a movie or tv show deal.
I read Where Puppets Hide first which is actually the second book in the series but a prequel to WCH, so it doesn’t really matter what order you read them in. So reading WCH I had some extra knowledge and picked up on all the little Easter Eggs, which I absolutely loved. Obviously I’m keeping this review spoiler free. So I won’t tell you any of those little Easter Eggs.
My favourite characters for this book were definitely Alex and Xavier both precious little sugar plums, but nothing comes between my love for another of Shepherd’s character Atticus who unfortunately wasn’t in this one. (Cry). I loved the complexity and backstories to both Alex and Xavier and made it very enjoyable. Also very funny, especially a certain scene which I have requested to be written in full. I have to admit all the Creatures are amazing though, so it’s hard to fault any of them. I also would love to praise that the Elves are not all loved up like we find in other books, Shepherd has written them like proper fae elves fierce and ruthless and I LOVE IT.
Something I love about this book is how Shepherd has incorporated Maori culture into these books, also with most of that characters having strong New Zealand accents it’s fantastic and a really new fresh novel because of that. Cheers for P.J. On this!
These books are super easy to read but that doesn’t take away from the depth and the effort Shepherd has put into it. And you can tell that research has gone into it and it’s fantastic. I cannot wait to have Where Rogues Hide in my hands!
I recommend this book if you love: magic, family, young adult, self published, fantasy creatures, fantasy
I have to admit I have been really slack with reading lately. But I just devoured this book and by devoured I mean I read it in a few hours because it’s just such an amazing story.
P.J. Is a self published author who certainly needs an agency to pick her but because these books are amazing. Yes there may be a few grammatical and formatting errors, it’s nothing a good editor wouldn’t fix. This book and series I might add definitely needs to be picked up for a movie or tv show deal.
I read Where Puppets Hide first which is actually the second book in the series but a prequel to WCH, so it doesn’t really matter what order you read them in. So reading WCH I had some extra knowledge and picked up on all the little Easter Eggs, which I absolutely loved. Obviously I’m keeping this review spoiler free. So I won’t tell you any of those little Easter Eggs.
My favourite characters for this book were definitely Alex and Xavier both precious little sugar plums, but nothing comes between my love for another of Shepherd’s character Atticus who unfortunately wasn’t in this one. (Cry). I loved the complexity and backstories to both Alex and Xavier and made it very enjoyable. Also very funny, especially a certain scene which I have requested to be written in full. I have to admit all the Creatures are amazing though, so it’s hard to fault any of them. I also would love to praise that the Elves are not all loved up like we find in other books, Shepherd has written them like proper fae elves fierce and ruthless and I LOVE IT.
Something I love about this book is how Shepherd has incorporated Maori culture into these books, also with most of that characters having strong New Zealand accents it’s fantastic and a really new fresh novel because of that. Cheers for P.J. On this!
These books are super easy to read but that doesn’t take away from the depth and the effort Shepherd has put into it. And you can tell that research has gone into it and it’s fantastic. I cannot wait to have Where Rogues Hide in my hands!
I recommend this book if you love: magic, family, young adult, self published, fantasy creatures, fantasy
February 4, 2022
Where creatures hide is a character driven fantasy about a girl with no memories of her past whom posses incredible powers. It’s a book about found families in a world where everything seems lost. It’s a book about love sacrifice.
I’m not usually one for character driven stories, and i must admit the middle section of the book did drag a little for me. But I feel it had a solid and interesting beginning and a heartbreakingly amazing end.
The world Building was small but good, and the characters were incredible. I think the back stories they all had are incredible and I fell in love with some of the side characters, and felt I actually cared more about them than the main character, Dawn, sometimes.
I found some of the story a bit predictable but that’s not always a bad thing.
I felt it ended really well, but I’m not sure how it works as a trilogy. I felt the end was well done and could easily have been left so im unsure if I shall pick up the other two books.
I’m not usually one for character driven stories, and i must admit the middle section of the book did drag a little for me. But I feel it had a solid and interesting beginning and a heartbreakingly amazing end.
The world Building was small but good, and the characters were incredible. I think the back stories they all had are incredible and I fell in love with some of the side characters, and felt I actually cared more about them than the main character, Dawn, sometimes.
I found some of the story a bit predictable but that’s not always a bad thing.
I felt it ended really well, but I’m not sure how it works as a trilogy. I felt the end was well done and could easily have been left so im unsure if I shall pick up the other two books.
June 6, 2020
Where Creatures Hide, by Parehuia Shepherd, is a book written by a New Zealand author. It tells the story of a girl, a creature, found frozen in a globe of ice, and her battle to find her identity. Simultaneously being told is the wider story of magical creatures hiding from evil and awaiting their princess and saviour.
I loved this book. It is complicated, and enchanting. I did get a bit lost every now and then, and noted some spelling/grammatical points that didn't make sense to me, but these were minor details and didn't affect my enjoyment of the story. This world is wonderfully built and beautiful. This is a dark story that is full of light, beauty and love. The characters leapt of the page, were beautiful, endearing, and all so different.
I highly recommend this one, and cant wait to get my hands on the other 2 books in this series. 4 stars.
I loved this book. It is complicated, and enchanting. I did get a bit lost every now and then, and noted some spelling/grammatical points that didn't make sense to me, but these were minor details and didn't affect my enjoyment of the story. This world is wonderfully built and beautiful. This is a dark story that is full of light, beauty and love. The characters leapt of the page, were beautiful, endearing, and all so different.
I highly recommend this one, and cant wait to get my hands on the other 2 books in this series. 4 stars.
January 19, 2019
Let me explain my rating. I almost didn't continue reading this book due to poor editing and grammatical errors. They were so prolific that they often took me out of the narrative. I was curious where the plot was going so I trudged onward. It was interesting and there were genuinely beautiful relationships built in the pages, especially between Alex and Xavier. Somewhere, however, that story took a turn and I felt like I was reading a completely different book with no real basis to care about what was happening anymore. Overall, i was disappointed with how everything played out. The side characters were the only thing keeping me invested by the end.
September 14, 2022
3.5/5
I loved most of this book. The side characters and the main characters were so easy to love. The plot overall, was extremely confusing and made it difficult for me to trudge through it. It was worth it in the end. And the ending was heartbreaking. Not just for Dawn, Xavier, and Alex, but for all the side characters. I figured out who Alex must be and I was right. I just was shocked at how it all played out. Was not expecting it to turn out so badly. I will definitely be continuing this series because I need to know what happens next. I loved Dawn's over arching storyline. And I hope to see her continue, or a version of her, continue on the story
I loved most of this book. The side characters and the main characters were so easy to love. The plot overall, was extremely confusing and made it difficult for me to trudge through it. It was worth it in the end. And the ending was heartbreaking. Not just for Dawn, Xavier, and Alex, but for all the side characters. I figured out who Alex must be and I was right. I just was shocked at how it all played out. Was not expecting it to turn out so badly. I will definitely be continuing this series because I need to know what happens next. I loved Dawn's over arching storyline. And I hope to see her continue, or a version of her, continue on the story
January 3, 2019
I'm giving this book five stars based on the actual story itself. Which was amazing and pulled me right in. If I really have to base my review on the book as a whole, I'd have to give it a four? Only because it needed another editing session, but that is not a big deal, the book is still flawless.
If you love books with magic, love, conflict, a book that will pull you out of reality- this is definitely the book for you! I don't want to spoil anything, so take my word for it, you'll be glad you read "Where Creatures Hide". Recommended +++
If you love books with magic, love, conflict, a book that will pull you out of reality- this is definitely the book for you! I don't want to spoil anything, so take my word for it, you'll be glad you read "Where Creatures Hide". Recommended +++
April 26, 2020
Omg I Absolutely loved the book. I could relate to it so much tbh. I feel in love with Xavier🥺 love him sm. And why Dawn/ Inaya had to diee😭😭 im so sad right now like WHYYYY. The cliffhanger in the end ughh does it mean that she is alive?
And also, i looove the relationship between Uma and Ava❤️❤️
Also i think that Alex kinda lacked his perspective towards the end of the book and we cant really have a insight of his thoughts etc. Which kinda left me wondering whats going on with him cuz the ending was mainly focused on Xavier and Inaya.
And also, i looove the relationship between Uma and Ava❤️❤️
Also i think that Alex kinda lacked his perspective towards the end of the book and we cant really have a insight of his thoughts etc. Which kinda left me wondering whats going on with him cuz the ending was mainly focused on Xavier and Inaya.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 19, 2021
PJ YOU BEAUTIFUL SOUL YOU.
The way PJ weaves each of her books together even though they’re told years apart, they all weave together so beautifully. I saw favorite characters re surface in this book and neared a break down at work cause they all DIED IN THE BATTLE. Like PJ knows how to rip out your heart strings but also how to stitch them back together. PJ’s writing is truly beautiful and I adore each of her stories. I hope there’s more to come from this world cause I’m not ready to leave it behind!
The way PJ weaves each of her books together even though they’re told years apart, they all weave together so beautifully. I saw favorite characters re surface in this book and neared a break down at work cause they all DIED IN THE BATTLE. Like PJ knows how to rip out your heart strings but also how to stitch them back together. PJ’s writing is truly beautiful and I adore each of her stories. I hope there’s more to come from this world cause I’m not ready to leave it behind!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 24, 2018
I really really like this book. Like a lot. Such an imaginative universe.I don't think I've ever read anything quite like it. I can't wait to read what happens next.
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