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A missing voice. A missing mother. Who will be taken next?
There's something in the woods, and four years ago, it took Trinity Warren's voice. All she wants is to speak again, yet her search has led to a dead end. That's when she discovers the Students' Aid Alliance, run by fellow college students Isaac and Noah. Maybe this is the spark of hope she needs—if she can convince them to help her.
A cynical skeptic, Isaac refuses to believe Trinity's story. But when Noah's mother disappears, a midnight search leads Isaac and Noah to an unsettling discovery in the woods. Isaac, Trinity, and Noah must come together to find the truth—and reclaim what they've lost.
There's something in the woods, and four years ago, it took Trinity Warren's voice. All she wants is to speak again, yet her search has led to a dead end. That's when she discovers the Students' Aid Alliance, run by fellow college students Isaac and Noah. Maybe this is the spark of hope she needs—if she can convince them to help her.
A cynical skeptic, Isaac refuses to believe Trinity's story. But when Noah's mother disappears, a midnight search leads Isaac and Noah to an unsettling discovery in the woods. Isaac, Trinity, and Noah must come together to find the truth—and reclaim what they've lost.
- GenresLGBT
248 pages, Paperback
Published January 10, 2020
8 people are currently reading
91 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
January 18, 2020
Such a well-crafted adventure!! Beautifully drawn characters, an overall spooky tone perfect for a mystery, and an intense plot with a great deal of masterful foreshadowing. I laughed out loud and cried like a baby. 100% recommend!
March 17, 2020
One thing.
Phenomenal.
Phenomenal.
January 2, 2021
A touching and powerful novel about trauma and mental illness and dealing with grief and complicated situations. I enjoyed the three characters and their relationship, especially Isaac who I could relate to way too much at times. I also really liked the secondary characters. The prose is beautiful and carried me through the whole book easily.
I'm usually not one to complain about having a lot of scenes where the characters just sit down and talk, but as I thought I was getting into a mystery novel where three young adults try to solve disappearances and deal with the supernatural, the plot felt a little scarce and scattered. I think if I'd gone in expecting a novel that puts a focus on character moments with a background of mystery and supernatural, I might have been less constantly expecting SOMETHING plot-related to happen. While I loved the character moments to bits, I was often wondering when the plot was going to come in - it felt a bit like a parenthesis before plot events, but in fact took up most of the book. I also found that the resolution came a little easy and could have been better built up: it didn't feel completely related to the characters' arc and themes while it really could have been (Trinity with forgiveness!!). I was a bit disappointed that of all the characters' arcs, while super interesting and touching, it's mostly Isaac's that really tied in with the plot. There was definitely more to exploit within Trinity and Noah's character arcs - in the end, it felt like both characters got a lot of character-related moments that had little to do with the plot, and Isaac is the one who really carried the plot forward.
That being said, I did enjoy the book greatly and nearly cried a few times. It's definitely worth reading - although if you're expecting something plot-heavy and fast-paced, it might not be for you. BASA is a beautiful book and I'm very glad I read it.
I'm usually not one to complain about having a lot of scenes where the characters just sit down and talk, but as I thought I was getting into a mystery novel where three young adults try to solve disappearances and deal with the supernatural, the plot felt a little scarce and scattered. I think if I'd gone in expecting a novel that puts a focus on character moments with a background of mystery and supernatural, I might have been less constantly expecting SOMETHING plot-related to happen. While I loved the character moments to bits, I was often wondering when the plot was going to come in - it felt a bit like a parenthesis before plot events, but in fact took up most of the book. I also found that the resolution came a little easy and could have been better built up: it didn't feel completely related to the characters' arc and themes while it really could have been (Trinity with forgiveness!!). I was a bit disappointed that of all the characters' arcs, while super interesting and touching, it's mostly Isaac's that really tied in with the plot. There was definitely more to exploit within Trinity and Noah's character arcs - in the end, it felt like both characters got a lot of character-related moments that had little to do with the plot, and Isaac is the one who really carried the plot forward.
That being said, I did enjoy the book greatly and nearly cried a few times. It's definitely worth reading - although if you're expecting something plot-heavy and fast-paced, it might not be for you. BASA is a beautiful book and I'm very glad I read it.
December 28, 2020
disclaimer: I picked this book up to help support a fellow author on tumblr (as well as because it looked super gay and really intriguing). normally I would say something like "since this is an indie/I semi-know the author my rating will be gentler" but tbh that would be a great disservice for this book because it absolutely smashed all my expectations for any book, tradpub or otherwise, out of the park and absolutely deserves the full five stars
stuff I loved:
- the three main characters! Trinity, Isaac, and Noah are all incredible, well-fleshed out characters whom I really enjoyed finding out more about as the story progressed. their relationships are supportive and sweet and warm and a perfect counter for the book's darker themes
- the side characters! the trios' friends and families all felt like real people living full lives on the periphery of the plot--I loved Lark in particular!
- the scary bits, which considering I'm a huge weenie coward is a miracle in and of itself, but the characters really carried me through it
- the mental health bits, which definitely could be triggering if you share issues with the characters, but were also written with real depth and care and honesty
- THE PROSE IS SO LUSH, and I especially loved the descriptions of the city near the start!
stuff I was less keen on:
- the British? Irish? monster seemed like a slightly weird choice for Washington and either I missed the explanation or it was never explained. I felt like it could have just been some new horror monster instead of an old world fae creature, but that might just be personal opinion
stuff I loved:
- the three main characters! Trinity, Isaac, and Noah are all incredible, well-fleshed out characters whom I really enjoyed finding out more about as the story progressed. their relationships are supportive and sweet and warm and a perfect counter for the book's darker themes
- the side characters! the trios' friends and families all felt like real people living full lives on the periphery of the plot--I loved Lark in particular!
- the scary bits, which considering I'm a huge weenie coward is a miracle in and of itself, but the characters really carried me through it
- the mental health bits, which definitely could be triggering if you share issues with the characters, but were also written with real depth and care and honesty
- THE PROSE IS SO LUSH, and I especially loved the descriptions of the city near the start!
stuff I was less keen on:
- the British? Irish? monster seemed like a slightly weird choice for Washington and either I missed the explanation or it was never explained. I felt like it could have just been some new horror monster instead of an old world fae creature, but that might just be personal opinion
April 22, 2020
I love horror, in books and movies. A lot of times there meh, not very scary at all. This though, this gave me chills. The descriptions are VIVID and will send shivers racing down your spine. I'd say it's like watching a movie unfold in your mind, but it's more than that. You're completely immersed and you'll lose hours in the pages of this book.
August 11, 2022
Jesus Christ.
I recall reading a snippet of BASA months ago on Tumblr and thinking, "Wow, this is some seriously solid writing." I filed it away for later reference and then discovered earlier this month that BASA had recently been published.
Let me just say . . . this was a delightful treat. Lytle's writing style is breathtaking. Specifically, I am a massive fan of their descriptions (to the point of loving envy). Every scene was painted so beautifully.
I am furious over one thing: there aren't any more Lytle stories to devour . . . but I will try to be patient.
I recall reading a snippet of BASA months ago on Tumblr and thinking, "Wow, this is some seriously solid writing." I filed it away for later reference and then discovered earlier this month that BASA had recently been published.
Let me just say . . . this was a delightful treat. Lytle's writing style is breathtaking. Specifically, I am a massive fan of their descriptions (to the point of loving envy). Every scene was painted so beautifully.
I am furious over one thing: there aren't any more Lytle stories to devour . . . but I will try to be patient.
August 17, 2020
The relationship that I had with this book was a special one, and one that I don’t remember ever having had with any other book. When I started reading, I was immediately enraptured, but rather than sprinting to the final page, I found myself purposely drawing out the reading experience. It was almost like studying it. Even before reaching the final page, I already started flipping back to the first ones, just to reread some of the passages, enjoy the moments, linger on sentences that I found especially beautiful and whenever I wasn’t reading the book (because, sadly, life and work do get in the way of things sometimes), I was thinking about it. About Trinity, and Isaac, and Noah, and also about Lark and Renee and every other character, even when they barely took up more space than a couple of pages. It was only when things reached their lowest point that I didn’t put the book down again, when I stopped flipping back to earlier passages, because no – it just couldn’t end like this.
I laughed and I cried, gasped and shouted at this book in all the best ways possible. I’ve rarely ever encountered a novel in which the characters are written with as much compassion as Lytle treats his main three and in return, I loved them are fiercely. I still do. As soon as I finished it, I hugged it closely and then put it on that special place on my shelf where I keep all my favourite books, knowing that I will return to it many times in the future.
Despite finding first person narration often a little off-putting, especially when the POV switches throughout the book, I found it oddly refreshing in this novel. It fits and the voices are so strong that I am sure I would have found something missing with a third-person narrator. The prose is beautiful, often poetic without ever seeming pretentious or breaking with the voices of the characters. The allusions that Lytle draws throughout the novel are captivating and spoke to me both intellectually and emotionally.
The honesty and emotional vulnerability were incredibly moving and had me spilling tears of both joy and sorrow over these pages. It’s where this novel truly shines and it’s also what this novel is actually about – the characters. So much even so, that the main plot of it all takes a break in the middle, as . Instead, the novel branches out into different story arcs, following the characters interacting with others, growing, and struggling. It doesn’t take anything away from the tension, but instead raises the stakes when the main plot does eventually speed up again and hits the reader like a brick wall that you might have seen coming but that still knocks the fucking breath out of you.
I have no doubt that Lytle loves these characters, because it shines through it all, and it inspired me to love them too. Part of that was maybe also finding many of my experiences reflected in them, being queer and neurodivergent myself. But I felt just as strongly for those characters going through experiences that I couldn’t fully relate to. In that way the narrative both helps to understand others and is understanding itself. Most of all though, this book is about a struggle that many people go through – depression. This is not the first book I’ve read about depression but it’s by far the best. I read the dedication on the first page of the novel and I read it again at the end and then I hugged the book. And I wanted to hug Trinity, and Isaac, and Noah, and all the others. And I wanted to hug the author too, just to say thank you. I can’t really do that so I’m writing this review instead. Thank you. Thank you for sharing this with us, with me. I’ll treasure it forever.
I laughed and I cried, gasped and shouted at this book in all the best ways possible. I’ve rarely ever encountered a novel in which the characters are written with as much compassion as Lytle treats his main three and in return, I loved them are fiercely. I still do. As soon as I finished it, I hugged it closely and then put it on that special place on my shelf where I keep all my favourite books, knowing that I will return to it many times in the future.
Despite finding first person narration often a little off-putting, especially when the POV switches throughout the book, I found it oddly refreshing in this novel. It fits and the voices are so strong that I am sure I would have found something missing with a third-person narrator. The prose is beautiful, often poetic without ever seeming pretentious or breaking with the voices of the characters. The allusions that Lytle draws throughout the novel are captivating and spoke to me both intellectually and emotionally.
The honesty and emotional vulnerability were incredibly moving and had me spilling tears of both joy and sorrow over these pages. It’s where this novel truly shines and it’s also what this novel is actually about – the characters. So much even so, that the main plot of it all takes a break in the middle, as . Instead, the novel branches out into different story arcs, following the characters interacting with others, growing, and struggling. It doesn’t take anything away from the tension, but instead raises the stakes when the main plot does eventually speed up again and hits the reader like a brick wall that you might have seen coming but that still knocks the fucking breath out of you.
I have no doubt that Lytle loves these characters, because it shines through it all, and it inspired me to love them too. Part of that was maybe also finding many of my experiences reflected in them, being queer and neurodivergent myself. But I felt just as strongly for those characters going through experiences that I couldn’t fully relate to. In that way the narrative both helps to understand others and is understanding itself. Most of all though, this book is about a struggle that many people go through – depression. This is not the first book I’ve read about depression but it’s by far the best. I read the dedication on the first page of the novel and I read it again at the end and then I hugged the book. And I wanted to hug Trinity, and Isaac, and Noah, and all the others. And I wanted to hug the author too, just to say thank you. I can’t really do that so I’m writing this review instead. Thank you. Thank you for sharing this with us, with me. I’ll treasure it forever.
June 27, 2020
Do you believe in demons? -- the question is posed early on, and can be considered both in the actual and metaphorical senses of the word. Presented within these pages are the inner trappings of a self-imposed turmoil that wages war on the spirit; struggles with acceptance, feelings of anxiety and individual worth painting a portrait of despondency.... The book takes a pretty deep dive into these and other mature themes, such as coping with grief surrounding the loss of a loved one. Though perhaps difficult for some, for others it helps to read and relate to those, fictional or not, who are going through the same sorts of ordeals.
It is a tale of woe, but also of hope, as there are moments of self discovery with true tenderness and genuine courage found throughout. This story is framed in the bonds of friendship and love, told through the eyes of its main characters. The reader gets a chance to experience the different perspectives as the chapters toggle between the three protagonists, allowing for a first person view into the headspace of each. Together they navigate the twists and turns revolving around an ever evolving paranormal phenomenon. They will need to learn how to rely on one another as well as themselves if they ever want to triumph over these haunting forces that mean to cause a complete break to mental faculties.
Where fast-paced writing matches with fantastic descriptions, it makes for a compelling read that never fails to keep you on the edge of your seat. Recommended for anyone who enjoys supernatural suspense, LGBTQ+, romance, the occult, and dark fantasy.
It is a tale of woe, but also of hope, as there are moments of self discovery with true tenderness and genuine courage found throughout. This story is framed in the bonds of friendship and love, told through the eyes of its main characters. The reader gets a chance to experience the different perspectives as the chapters toggle between the three protagonists, allowing for a first person view into the headspace of each. Together they navigate the twists and turns revolving around an ever evolving paranormal phenomenon. They will need to learn how to rely on one another as well as themselves if they ever want to triumph over these haunting forces that mean to cause a complete break to mental faculties.
Where fast-paced writing matches with fantastic descriptions, it makes for a compelling read that never fails to keep you on the edge of your seat. Recommended for anyone who enjoys supernatural suspense, LGBTQ+, romance, the occult, and dark fantasy.
August 31, 2020
Do you believe in demons? -- the question is posed early on, and can be considered both in the actual and metaphorical senses of the word. Presented within these pages are the inner trappings of a self-imposed turmoil that wages war on the spirit; struggles with acceptance, feelings of anxiety and individual worth painting a portrait of despondency.... The book takes a pretty deep dive into these and other mature themes, such as coping with grief surrounding the loss of a loved one. Though perhaps difficult for some, for others it helps to read and relate to those, fictional or not, who are going through the same sorts of ordeals.
It is a tale of woe, but also of hope, as there are moments of self discovery with true tenderness and genuine courage found throughout. This story is framed in the bonds of friendship and love, told through the eyes of its main characters. The reader gets a chance to experience the different perspectives as the chapters toggle between the three protagonists, allowing for a first person view into the headspace of each. Together they navigate the twists and turns revolving around an ever evolving paranormal phenomenon. They will need to learn how to rely on one another as well as themselves if they ever want to triumph over these haunting forces that mean to cause a complete break to mental faculties.
Where fast-paced writing matches with fantastic descriptions, it makes for a compelling read that never fails to keep you on the edge of your seat. Recommended for anyone who enjoys supernatural suspense, LGBTQ+, romance, the occult, and dark fantasy.
It is a tale of woe, but also of hope, as there are moments of self discovery with true tenderness and genuine courage found throughout. This story is framed in the bonds of friendship and love, told through the eyes of its main characters. The reader gets a chance to experience the different perspectives as the chapters toggle between the three protagonists, allowing for a first person view into the headspace of each. Together they navigate the twists and turns revolving around an ever evolving paranormal phenomenon. They will need to learn how to rely on one another as well as themselves if they ever want to triumph over these haunting forces that mean to cause a complete break to mental faculties.
Where fast-paced writing matches with fantastic descriptions, it makes for a compelling read that never fails to keep you on the edge of your seat. Recommended for anyone who enjoys supernatural suspense, LGBTQ+, romance, the occult, and dark fantasy.
August 7, 2020
(Content warning for potential readers: thoughtful and well-handled depictions of depression, self-harm, suicide, homophobia and transphobia)
I loved this book. I gushed about this book the entire time I read it for its beautiful and smooth prose and its wonderful characters and dynamics. I cared deeply for all three main characters. The plot was engaging as well, but it wouldn't have been without how those characters related to each other either so I can't think those two aspects seperately! The story broke my heart but nourished it more often. I both want to fight the author in a parking lot and treat him to a friendly drink, maybe even a hug if it was his thing.
If you like horror, young people trying to find themselves against all terrifying odds and absolutely arresting prose*, get this book.
*Trust me, my personal highlights don't even show 10% of it.
I loved this book. I gushed about this book the entire time I read it for its beautiful and smooth prose and its wonderful characters and dynamics. I cared deeply for all three main characters. The plot was engaging as well, but it wouldn't have been without how those characters related to each other either so I can't think those two aspects seperately! The story broke my heart but nourished it more often. I both want to fight the author in a parking lot and treat him to a friendly drink, maybe even a hug if it was his thing.
If you like horror, young people trying to find themselves against all terrifying odds and absolutely arresting prose*, get this book.
*Trust me, my personal highlights don't even show 10% of it.
December 28, 2020
This book is very well-written and beautiful, AND VERY DARK. There is definitely a lot of potentially triggering content in this book. It deals explicitly with suicidal ideation and fully carried out suicide, as well as self-harm and alcoholism (in the case of Isaac's father). A character that you will probably get attached to DOES DIE. I wasn't expecting it, and I thought perhaps he would come back in the end. He doesn't.
All three main characters are fully developed queer people (Noah is bi; Isaac is figuring out that he's gay; Trinity is trans). It also deals a bit with social anxiety (in Noah's case) and ADD (in Isaac's case) in ways that I found refreshing.
It is an interesting story with a (mostly) happy ending. Just go into it knowing that it won't make you feel good about 90% of the time.
All three main characters are fully developed queer people (Noah is bi; Isaac is figuring out that he's gay; Trinity is trans). It also deals a bit with social anxiety (in Noah's case) and ADD (in Isaac's case) in ways that I found refreshing.
It is an interesting story with a (mostly) happy ending. Just go into it knowing that it won't make you feel good about 90% of the time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 17, 2020
A story that offers a lot of insights, laughter, excitement, escape, and comfort. The themes are tackled in a considerate but honest way that are absolutely inspiring, truly brought to justice through the author’s brilliant writing style and effortless character voices. Each character felt remarkably individual throughout the story, their struggles relatable and perspectives understandable in their variety. Shifts from memories of the past and how they affect the present were masterfully incorporated and felt very natural to developing these characters. The plot itself was very engrossing, often leaving me wide-eyed and at the edge of my seat. This is a highly impactful book that has spoken to me in many ways.
March 9, 2020
A rollercoaster of feels!
I loved it. The flow was very different from what I am used to and took a few pages to settle into; but once I did, I was absorbed into it. The author's style is refreshing and it evokes strong emotion through symbolism. The characters are believable and deep; it's so easy to empathize and fall in love with them. This book keeps you on the edge of your seat with fear and suspense one minute and heart wrenching grief, relief, or happiness the next. It's a great read and I highly recommend it for those who like suspense and 3 dimensional LGBTQ characters.
I loved it. The flow was very different from what I am used to and took a few pages to settle into; but once I did, I was absorbed into it. The author's style is refreshing and it evokes strong emotion through symbolism. The characters are believable and deep; it's so easy to empathize and fall in love with them. This book keeps you on the edge of your seat with fear and suspense one minute and heart wrenching grief, relief, or happiness the next. It's a great read and I highly recommend it for those who like suspense and 3 dimensional LGBTQ characters.
August 24, 2020
I was hooked from page one to the very end. The writing style was so beautiful and I found myself gasping at some of the metaphors because of how much I adored them. The characters were all so beautifully developed, and had such great chemistry! the plot was filled with so much intrigue, and had me gripping each page, unwilling to put the book down. The build up was fantastic, and left me with a satisfied and well deserved happy ending. It was such a fun read and I couldn’t get enough of these characters.
January 24, 2021
This was a wonderful read. The story was engaging, the characters were interesting, and it was paced well. I enjoyed the perspective switching and seeing the same events from different characters eyes. I was hooked from the start, but there was a point somewhere in the middle where I realized I didn't know how the story was going to end and from that point my reading was fervent. I did not set this book down from the moment I picked it up. I read it all in one sitting and I'm glad I was able to. I definitely recommend this book, it is well worth your time.
June 29, 2021
I can safely say I've never read anything that hit me quite like BASA did. Lytle is such a talented writer and storyteller, and I connected with Trinity, Noah, and Isaac separately and together. The way the story flowed and the characters interacted felt so natural and drew me into the story in a way I've never been drawn in before. As someone with both Anxiety and Depression, and as someone in the LGBTQ+ community, I connected with the world of BASA on a level that left me breathless and in tears.
March 9, 2020
Young adults face relationship issues as well as a monster. I found myself drawn deeper and deeper into the lives of the characters with each page I read. I really think this book is phenomenal. The characters have a rich flavor that draws you in and makes you feel like you know them. I think anyone who tried this book will love it.
April 21, 2020
This book was fantastic. It's incredibly character driven, and incredibly well-written. I was crying before the ending. I love these characters, I love this concept, and I love how it was executed. I'm really glad I made the impulse decision to buy a paperback of this book, because now I own it forever and can force my friends to read it.
July 10, 2022
Such a wonderful read.
I am so so greatful I read this book. The story, the character dynamics, the atmosphere were all just incredible. Anyone who wants to read queer horror, this is a read for you.
Thank you for sharing your beautiful story and characters with the world Angelo 🧡
I am so so greatful I read this book. The story, the character dynamics, the atmosphere were all just incredible. Anyone who wants to read queer horror, this is a read for you.
Thank you for sharing your beautiful story and characters with the world Angelo 🧡
January 22, 2020
A riveting story! The immersive style, the diverse, lovable characters and the masterful storytelling suck you right in and send you on an emotional journey that you have never been on before. I couldn't put the book down for one second without itching to just keep on reading!
A must-read!
A must-read!
Currently reading
May 31, 2020I really liked how this book begun and I can't wait to find out how it ends.I like the writing style and how easy I can read it on pdf format.The characters are quite interesting and the ideea of the story made me ask myself some questions
January 29, 2020
A very promising debut filled with memorable characters and confident, engaging prose. Hard to put down, and I’m looking forward to seeing what this author does next!
May 12, 2020
Beautiful book with well written, well rounded characters and dynamic storytelling.
October 5, 2020
I'm still shook by how fricking good this book was. I loved Isaac, Trinity and Noah soooo much!!
October 13, 2020
This book shook me to my core and changed my perception of things. It made me want to be a better person. Thank you.
December 18, 2022
This was a very wholesome yet spoopy read, good for fans of queer found family vibes who want creepy fairies in their urban fantasy instead of the sexy ones.
March 25, 2025
4.25 ☆
April 22, 2020
This was an absolutely amazing book. It’s beautifully written and full of emotion.
April 22, 2020
Vibrant scenery, engaging dialogue, meaningful characters as diverse as life without a hint of tokenism, and a plot that kept me snatching this book back up every few minutes to find out what would happen next! Hard-hitting, gritty and real, BASA is a journey through modern issues that is both richly fleshed out and optimistic without being cheesy. This book is also an oasis away from a world of memes and inane tweets into a prose that matters and an exploration of sensitive topics handled with finesse and compassion. A masterful work!
May 2, 2020
This is a beautiful work. Amazing read. My emotions were everywhere, tears were falling. I LOVE the characters. They made me want to hug them forever.
This book is 100% recommend.
This book is 100% recommend.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews