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Bloody Mary
You know her legend, but it's time to learn the truth.
Two women, centuries apart. Two stories, intertwined.
Before she was a slumber party nightmare, she was a woman. Mary Worthe started humbly in late 17th century Massachusettes, but what drove this woman to legendary evil?
Kat Clary needs to find out. Eleven years have passed since Kat and her friends invoked Bloody Mary, leading to an unspeakable tragedy and ultimate shunning in her community. Now a successful travel blogger, Kat returns to her hometown of Bishop, Massachusetts, for her high school reunion. She hopes everyone has forgotten the events of the past—but Mary didn’t forget. Mary has never left; she’s endured, waiting, and watching her legend rise. With Kat’s return to town, she and her friends become mysterious cogs in a plan written centuries before. Can Kat unravel Bloody Mary’s origins and stop her before all hell breaks loose?
Two women, centuries apart. Two stories, intertwined.
Before she was a slumber party nightmare, she was a woman. Mary Worthe started humbly in late 17th century Massachusettes, but what drove this woman to legendary evil?
Kat Clary needs to find out. Eleven years have passed since Kat and her friends invoked Bloody Mary, leading to an unspeakable tragedy and ultimate shunning in her community. Now a successful travel blogger, Kat returns to her hometown of Bishop, Massachusetts, for her high school reunion. She hopes everyone has forgotten the events of the past—but Mary didn’t forget. Mary has never left; she’s endured, waiting, and watching her legend rise. With Kat’s return to town, she and her friends become mysterious cogs in a plan written centuries before. Can Kat unravel Bloody Mary’s origins and stop her before all hell breaks loose?
- GenresHorrorParanormalFiction
352 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 30, 2020
218 people are currently reading
282 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
August 18, 2025
3.5☆
What fun! The legend of Bloody Mary all fleshed out beyond the slumber-party game.
Current time ~ I was exasperated with the romancy parts of the story, but in the end the relationship between Kat and Erik was a large part of the overall story. The flirtation between Kat and Ian was gratuitous, which dropped my rating.
1703 ~ Before Mary became a vengeful ghost her life story was full of abuse from every man she knew and she lived a sad existence. Her only friend, mentor and mother figure was Malvina, a wise woman, who sacrifices her life so that Mary can have a life.
But when Mary attempts to trap her lover into leaving his wife, and then accidentally kills him instead of his wife, Mary's life is over. Before her death Mary leaves a curse on a mirror, which if you know the legend is huge.
What fun! The legend of Bloody Mary all fleshed out beyond the slumber-party game.
Current time ~ I was exasperated with the romancy parts of the story, but in the end the relationship between Kat and Erik was a large part of the overall story. The flirtation between Kat and Ian was gratuitous, which dropped my rating.
1703 ~ Before Mary became a vengeful ghost her life story was full of abuse from every man she knew and she lived a sad existence. Her only friend, mentor and mother figure was Malvina, a wise woman, who sacrifices her life so that Mary can have a life.
But when Mary attempts to trap her lover into leaving his wife, and then accidentally kills him instead of his wife, Mary's life is over. Before her death Mary leaves a curse on a mirror, which if you know the legend is huge.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 14, 2023
Nightmare come true
The Bloody Mary legend is still around, playing a part in many girly sleepovers. But how did the legend start and why does she never appear? Finally, the story behind the legend, in a scary and wonderful read!
The Bloody Mary legend is still around, playing a part in many girly sleepovers. But how did the legend start and why does she never appear? Finally, the story behind the legend, in a scary and wonderful read!
September 15, 2020
I devoured this book in a matter of days to the chagrin of my husband who wanted my attention while we were on vacation. There was so much that I adored about this book and the character development. The author oscillates between modern day and the past of the Bloody Mary character. There is a rich and unexpected explanation for why she is what she is today. The historical sections were my favorite part. The author wrote in a style and cadence that was reminiscent of the time period and it made the dialogue and events much more believable. The transitions between modern day and the past were seamless; often leaving you hanging at the absolute perfect moment.
The characters were multidimensional, the relationships were unpredictable and the ending absolutely was not what I would have anticipated but was nonetheless very enjoyable. Without giving too much away, the plot comes full circle and you come to realize that all these characters are intertwined and entrenched in history and their connection and shared curse is also their key to freedom.
As a lover of all things spooky and sexy I would absolutely recommend this book to my fellow urban legend conspirators.
The characters were multidimensional, the relationships were unpredictable and the ending absolutely was not what I would have anticipated but was nonetheless very enjoyable. Without giving too much away, the plot comes full circle and you come to realize that all these characters are intertwined and entrenched in history and their connection and shared curse is also their key to freedom.
As a lover of all things spooky and sexy I would absolutely recommend this book to my fellow urban legend conspirators.
April 11, 2021
Amazing read!
I started this book hesitantly as I’m
Not big on scary books or movies any more. But I could not put this book down! I read it in just over a day!
I started this book hesitantly as I’m
Not big on scary books or movies any more. But I could not put this book down! I read it in just over a day!
December 17, 2022
Creepy!
Wow! I loved this take on the bloody Mary legend so much. So many have come up from books to movies and this is definitely my favorite. Would love to see this as a movie!
Wow! I loved this take on the bloody Mary legend so much. So many have come up from books to movies and this is definitely my favorite. Would love to see this as a movie!
March 7, 2022
LOVED IT!!!!
This book infused this urban legend with so much character and dimension! I didn’t know what to expect coming in but every character I feel in love with, except you know who. You get to know her back story and how she came to be. Amazing detail and a definite must read!!!
This book infused this urban legend with so much character and dimension! I didn’t know what to expect coming in but every character I feel in love with, except you know who. You get to know her back story and how she came to be. Amazing detail and a definite must read!!!
April 15, 2022
I discovered this book in a Facebook group when it piqued my interest.
This is a clever story which flicks between different perspectives and past and present and is creepy, but not too creepy. I would label it "light horror." It's a great retelling of the Bloody Mary legend, and I also enjoyed the characters' relationships with one another.
This is a clever story which flicks between different perspectives and past and present and is creepy, but not too creepy. I would label it "light horror." It's a great retelling of the Bloody Mary legend, and I also enjoyed the characters' relationships with one another.
May 4, 2022
A brilliant take on an urban legend
Loved this book couldn't put it down. The blending between past and present was very well done. I am really looking forward to reading the rest in this series and already rage for the release of the 4th one in 2023
Loved this book couldn't put it down. The blending between past and present was very well done. I am really looking forward to reading the rest in this series and already rage for the release of the 4th one in 2023
February 28, 2025
I have been wanting to read this book for awhile and I was in a slowdown so I picked it up. This book was quite frightening. The witch in this story was persistent on getting what she wanted. She set the whole thing up when the people involved were children! She was placing a lot of her goals on planning not fate. All it would have taken is for one thing about her plan to be disrupted and she would have to start over. The witch also controlled many of the tragedies that happened to keep her plan on course. Enjoyed the telling of this urban legend.
February 28, 2024
3.5 really. Would have done 4, but was a bit slow in parts. Overall a decent read though.
March 12, 2024
Loved all of the POVs here and getting Mary’s story. Couldn’t put it down!
October 24, 2021
spooky good
What a great read during Halloween season. Kept me on the edge of my seat. Fabulous tale surrounding the infamous Bloody Mary.
What a great read during Halloween season. Kept me on the edge of my seat. Fabulous tale surrounding the infamous Bloody Mary.
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November 30, 2025Bloody Mary
Kat, Erik (her boyfriend), Juniper (his sister), and Kayla (a popular girl at their school) all hang out one night drinking, smoking joints, and popping Estacy pills. Talk gets around to the Erik and Juniper’s creepy house and Juniper tells them its haunted. There was a beautiful woman with long, dark, hair that was a friend to her at first but then turned violent (leaving her with scratches when she wouldn’t do as she was asked). She disappeared after attacking her and wasn’t seen again.
Kayla pulls out a Ouija board but it just a lil too freaky with the combination of the drugs when the board spells out Erik. The high starts to kick in and Kat says this hometown was where the origin of Bloody Mary originated. Juniper starts acting all erratic and says she wants to do it. She wants to call up Bloody Mary. Kayla says uh no. BAD IDEA! But Juniper REALLY wants to do it so Kat goes in the bathroom with her. Kat does it quick and nothing happens. When Juniper does it a figure appears in the mirror and starts to come out of the mirror. Erik opens the door and he and Kat find her on the ground -when the lights finally come back on- clawing at her flesh and her eyes are missing.
It's been a decade; Kat comes back to her hometown and runs into Kayla. We find out their back for a reunion (for different reasons). While at the bar that night, she meets an (attractive)fellow travel blogger named (Ian). Ian has a paranormal blog and shares the story of how paranormal activity found him when he saw his aunt one night and found out the next morning she’d died the day before. They then talk about the hotel they’re staying in (which is haunted). The hotel room he’s staying in is said to be haunted by a gilded bride that got used by a man that used her for robbery. So, she hung herself on the bed wearing the gown. He asks Kat if she’d been interested in meeting this bride in his room and she’s like I thought you’d never ask.
(The name of the hotel btw is the Bishop Inn). In the room, Bridget is heard from one of the devices. She says she’s there for Erik. Then reiterates that SHES come for Erik. Even going as far as to call the name Katherine. Kat admits to Eric that that is her real name and she does know Eric. Things start to heat up between Ian and Kat but the armoire starts to open and shut on its own. Kat then decides its time to leave. When she does there’s cutlery at the door. Ian says he wants to see her again. When Kat gets on the elevator she sees the reflection of someone behind her but when she gets off sees no one there. When she gets back to her room, there’s a black hair on her pillow.
At the reunion, Erik and Kat are reunited and all is forgiven and forgotten. Erik says Juniper (who is now legally blind) would like to see Kat (and Kayla). In 1708, Mary is given to Gregory Worthe to pay off her pa’s gambling debts. Mr. Worthe had very little in assets and lived month to month on smuggling runs. They have a housekeeper Malvina that teaches Mary to cook and clean. Her second summer there, Mary becomes pregnant and has a daughter who she names Iris. It takes some years for Mary to realize that Mary is into herbology and after a while because to learn it from her. Eventually Mary became her apprentice. Malvina confessed to her one day that she believed she had “the gift” (an ability to divine and influence).
Mr. Worthe starts to be home more and Mary becomes pregnant again. He gets more aggressive and starts to take his rants out on her and his daughter. Malvina warns Mary that it will lead to her death if she delivers this child and then shows her the vision. Malvina is in the vision but won’t speak of why this is or what happens to her. She gives Mary a paste to terminate the pregnancy. She tells her she’s taught her all she knows and when she’s gone come to her shack and look under the woodpile for her inheritance. Mario (the one who sold Kat the exstacy, wakes up at the hotel and doesn’t know how he got there. He decides he’s going to “take” Kat).
When Kat and Kayla meet up with Juniper the next day, Juniper tells them that she did see her (and Kat saw her). And that this was her punishment for telling them about her. She thought it was safe and that she was gone, but she’d been bidding her time all along until she was summoned (through the Ouija board). She says that when she took her eyes, she took the power to control her but she can still control *them*. And not only that she’s there now.
Juniper says they let her out now they have to put her back in, but it won’t be easy because she’s stronger now that they’re in town (Kat). They have to close out the Ouija session. Juniper tells Kat that when she was a child her mother remembered all Mary’s demands were about Kat. Then Mary killed her mother. Kat and Kayla say they need time to think about it. Ian tho warns Kat that having another Ouija session isn’t the way to go about it. Opening up another session could let something else in and there’s no way of telling if the portal will be closed. Kat notices black hair in his hands while going to have coffee with Ian and then later in the room, it wrapped around her toe. There’s an accident while Kat is in the shower and she falls. There’s figure with dark hair standing above Kat levitating. Kat finds her voice, the light comes on, and the figure disappears.
Kayla then comes to the door and they know that its true. She’s there. Mary’ becomes attracted to a man in town named George. They end up meeting in the fields and having a picnic. Kayla says that when she was doing yoga, she saw something in the mirror that was scratching the materess and looked like the woman Kat described. They decide there’s nothing else to do but take Juniper up on her suggestion. Once they get there, Erik confides to Kat about his fiancée and her accident and how he had unanswered questions. Juniper told him it was the phantom that took her and their unborn child. That’s when he turned into an alcoholic. He says he believes Juniper is clairvoyant but he doesn’t want to deal with this everyday so if doing the séance will either stop her visions or rid them of the spirit he’s for it. While they’re talking, Kat again notices black strands falling from her hair.
When her husband isn’t there, Mary gets away to the meadow to see George every chance she can. George sees the bruises on Mary and becomes angered. He admits to her that he is also married. She says that she is too but she just wants him. They end up making love. For the next month, they continue to meet in the meadow. Mary finds out that her father was killed and that Mr. Worthe never paid off her father’s debt. Then he rapes her bloody. Malvina says she can “solve her problem” and he’ll trouble her no more. When she meets up with George, she sends him to Boston to find her mother.
On the 7th day, they meet. He tells her (her) father was murdered and her mother turned to prostitution until she died from a fever. Malvina and Mary prepare a “special” cake for Mr. Worthe (made of poison) to take on a trip. It’s not long before they get the news that Mary’s husband has perished in Boston. The Magistrate says he had strong suspicions on his death bed and Malvina has been arrested and sentenced. During the session, when asked what it wants the board responds everything. Kat sees a humanoid creature creeping up from the corner. She comes at Cara (Kayla’s girlfriend). No one else sees her but Kat (whose paralyzed). Kat finds her voice and yells out to Cara.
Mary screams and disappears. Juniper orders her to leave. She banishes Mary and tells them to slide their hands to GOODBYE. When its done, Juniper says it’s the first time she hasn’t felt Mary’s presence in years. Mary goes to find Malvina, but George warns her it wouldn’t be wise to cast more suspicion on herself. When she sees her, she tries to apologize but she says she accepted her fate a long time ago. She has a trial and then that’s that and she’ll have to move on. Mary gives her a bottle and tells her if she’s to die she must do it on her own terms, but she refuses and says she won’t have suspicion back on her. It doesn’t matter to her how she dies.
Malvina then tells her of her legacy and how to retrieve it. It’s an arcane volume of magics. If she doesn’t find a successor she’s to destroy it. She instructs her to use the book wisely. On the way out, she sees George with his wife and daughter. She goes to Malvina’s and finds the book (nothing the spells to bring the dead back). At 9pm (back at home), Mary knows Malvina is gone. Ian then shows up to warn them about Mario.
Malvina is hanged. George stays with her until the end. Mary refuses to talk about the encounter with his wife and child. Mary starts to want more from George-becoming jealous of all the children she sees Sarah with-. She suggests they run away. George tells her he can’t leave his children. He tries to plead with her and offers her a monthly stipend, but this offends her and she tells him she’s not his whore. The argument drops but the obsession doesn’t go away. Mary sees the book and contemplates using it to “influence” him but knows Malvina won’t approve. In two months, she’s become pregnant with his child. George is horrified. He thought she could no longer have children. He accuses Mary of not taking the herbs Malvina prescribed her.
He reminds her she’ll be seen as a witch and an adulteress. Mary says they can leave but he says he’s a married man with children and he won’t leave. He reminds her from the start he said he had nothing to offer her. So, Mary kicks him out. She decides its best if she and Iris leave. She’ll go to family (on her mother’s side) and tell them her husband died. Mary then gets a knock on the door and finds Sarah on the other side. It looks like Mario is about to attempt to rape Kat at the hotel, but has a bi-polar moment and tells her to run. He then switches up again and ties her to the bed and tells her it’s almost time. Then starts to speak in tongues. His eyes change colors and then Kat falls into darkness.
Sarah says she’s come to Mary for help because her husband’s attention is elsewhere and she wants him to desire and love her again. Mary says she can help and asks what she’ll give her for her services. Sarah offers her a years saving and begs her to use her most potent magic. Mary gives her a cream to make a cake out of and offers to bake it for her. (It’s the same cake she gave her husband). She instructs her to take it home and eat it whole. It will make her instantly desirous to her husband. Before she leaves, she tells her when she eats it think of her. Only she puts it in the pantry and George eats it and is the one who dies.
Mary sends Iris away and gives her instructions before sending her off. Mary sits calmly in her chair as she hears the horses approaching to end her life. Erik realizes something is off with Kat when he meets up with her at the hotel and she comes on to him aggressively and offers him wine. So, he leaves and tells her goodnight. Cara and Kayla tell Ian about Kat’s strange behavior and he says he’ll do research and he’ll go talk to Mario.
Mary is taken (to the Magistrate’s house?) where she’s confronted by Sarah who shoves cow manure in her face and slaps the ish out of her. Mary just cackles wildly in satisfaction. Mary is thrown into the city’s jail. The Magistrate (Samuel) is George’s father and she tells him its his grandchild. He doesn’t want to believe this. He tells her she’ll be seen tomorrow for a judgment. Before leaving, he says he does believe his son was with her but it was because she spelled him. It comes out that the cake was meant for Sarah and he promises she’ll hang for it whether she denies being a witch or not. He then cuts off all her hair. He then places a mirror in her cell to see what a life with Satan has brought her. She thanks him because her beauty has been her biggest curse. He says she’ll be left there until she delivers her child.
After he leaves, Mary takes out the book and chants. Knowing she’ll be long gone before the trial. She then takes the potion inside her dress and watches the world blacken. Ian and Erik find out that a Mary died in Erik’s house. As she tells the story, Erik realizes his ancestor might have been her lover and that the old cellar where he and Juniper played as kids was where Mary took her life. Briefly no one knows where Mary was buried, Sarah died alone of illness, the magistrate went crazy and killed himself, and Iris escaped and married. Kathy goes to say that they found a spell book on Mary and Erik’s grandmother donated it years ago. Then she shows them the book in the basement. Kayla, Erik, and Ian go to see Mario. Mario says he didn’t want to do any of it. One day he started to hear voices. When he was five he started seeing things. So, when he got to HS he start to drink and do drugs. For years they stopped. Until recently. Mostly it was an old woman. Then there was another. He confirms her name was Malvina. He says when he went to the Bishop, he saw her at the bar. When he turned around she was in his face. She wanted him to know Erik and his sister.
He says he remembers flashes from being possessed by Mary (like what he did to Kat). Mary says if he tells anyone he’ll kill Kat and the rest of them. He says he doesn’t know what she wants. He remembers a memory of her calling Iris to her mirror. And he knows she has a thing against blonds. There has to be an object tied to the spell and a mirror in Erik’s house comes to mind. They decide to lure her to Erik’s house and consult with Juniper. Mario says he wants to help banish Mary. He offers to go to the Bishop and see Malvina-even tho he’s uncomfortable with it-. The decide the best way to destroy Mary is to destroy the mirror.
They find out that Katherine Clary is directly descended from Iris Adams, meaning she is also a descendant of Mary Worthe. So Kat’s blood is the answer. They’ll get her there, tie her up, put her in front of the mirror, and cut her. So they invite her over, get her drunk, and lock her in a cell. Only she comes out of it too early. Mary says she wants to live the life that was stolen from her. She says she has to have a life for Kats and one to atone for George’s. So, she wants Erik to impregnant her. Mary admits to Erik that she did kill his parents and his fiancée (by appearing to her in her car).
Mary lifts up Juniper and hits her head against the cell. She tells Erik if he doesn’t let her out she’ll kill her. Erik lets Mary out and she looks him, Juniper, and Kayla in. Ian sneaks up from behind (where the mirror is)and says her name three times. Mary screams and emerges setting Kat free. Mario appears and Malvina gives her a lecture then says if she wants to be with Iris she knows what she must do. Kat says bloody Mary three times and banishes her into the mirror as she cuts her hand, smears it over the mirror, and then smashes the mirror.
Rating: 5 Sometimes it felt like Plot B (Kat’s plot) was slightly more pushed to the front than Plot A (Mary’s). Plot B felt like it was more focused on a reunion. Particularly the reunion of Erik and Kat. And then I started to think about Plot A. At first, ir didn’t make sense to me why Mary just “randomly” choose Erik to get her pregnant. Then I thought ok he reminded her of George. Fine but did she *really* need Kat. Other than her connection to her why was she really all that important. I was just thinking she *could* have used Monica and took possession of *her* rather than kill her. It would have been easier and quicker than waiting for Kat to come back. I just don’t know. I didn’t rally have any expectations for this one and it was a little lack luster to be honest.
Kat, Erik (her boyfriend), Juniper (his sister), and Kayla (a popular girl at their school) all hang out one night drinking, smoking joints, and popping Estacy pills. Talk gets around to the Erik and Juniper’s creepy house and Juniper tells them its haunted. There was a beautiful woman with long, dark, hair that was a friend to her at first but then turned violent (leaving her with scratches when she wouldn’t do as she was asked). She disappeared after attacking her and wasn’t seen again.
Kayla pulls out a Ouija board but it just a lil too freaky with the combination of the drugs when the board spells out Erik. The high starts to kick in and Kat says this hometown was where the origin of Bloody Mary originated. Juniper starts acting all erratic and says she wants to do it. She wants to call up Bloody Mary. Kayla says uh no. BAD IDEA! But Juniper REALLY wants to do it so Kat goes in the bathroom with her. Kat does it quick and nothing happens. When Juniper does it a figure appears in the mirror and starts to come out of the mirror. Erik opens the door and he and Kat find her on the ground -when the lights finally come back on- clawing at her flesh and her eyes are missing.
It's been a decade; Kat comes back to her hometown and runs into Kayla. We find out their back for a reunion (for different reasons). While at the bar that night, she meets an (attractive)fellow travel blogger named (Ian). Ian has a paranormal blog and shares the story of how paranormal activity found him when he saw his aunt one night and found out the next morning she’d died the day before. They then talk about the hotel they’re staying in (which is haunted). The hotel room he’s staying in is said to be haunted by a gilded bride that got used by a man that used her for robbery. So, she hung herself on the bed wearing the gown. He asks Kat if she’d been interested in meeting this bride in his room and she’s like I thought you’d never ask.
(The name of the hotel btw is the Bishop Inn). In the room, Bridget is heard from one of the devices. She says she’s there for Erik. Then reiterates that SHES come for Erik. Even going as far as to call the name Katherine. Kat admits to Eric that that is her real name and she does know Eric. Things start to heat up between Ian and Kat but the armoire starts to open and shut on its own. Kat then decides its time to leave. When she does there’s cutlery at the door. Ian says he wants to see her again. When Kat gets on the elevator she sees the reflection of someone behind her but when she gets off sees no one there. When she gets back to her room, there’s a black hair on her pillow.
At the reunion, Erik and Kat are reunited and all is forgiven and forgotten. Erik says Juniper (who is now legally blind) would like to see Kat (and Kayla). In 1708, Mary is given to Gregory Worthe to pay off her pa’s gambling debts. Mr. Worthe had very little in assets and lived month to month on smuggling runs. They have a housekeeper Malvina that teaches Mary to cook and clean. Her second summer there, Mary becomes pregnant and has a daughter who she names Iris. It takes some years for Mary to realize that Mary is into herbology and after a while because to learn it from her. Eventually Mary became her apprentice. Malvina confessed to her one day that she believed she had “the gift” (an ability to divine and influence).
Mr. Worthe starts to be home more and Mary becomes pregnant again. He gets more aggressive and starts to take his rants out on her and his daughter. Malvina warns Mary that it will lead to her death if she delivers this child and then shows her the vision. Malvina is in the vision but won’t speak of why this is or what happens to her. She gives Mary a paste to terminate the pregnancy. She tells her she’s taught her all she knows and when she’s gone come to her shack and look under the woodpile for her inheritance. Mario (the one who sold Kat the exstacy, wakes up at the hotel and doesn’t know how he got there. He decides he’s going to “take” Kat).
When Kat and Kayla meet up with Juniper the next day, Juniper tells them that she did see her (and Kat saw her). And that this was her punishment for telling them about her. She thought it was safe and that she was gone, but she’d been bidding her time all along until she was summoned (through the Ouija board). She says that when she took her eyes, she took the power to control her but she can still control *them*. And not only that she’s there now.
Juniper says they let her out now they have to put her back in, but it won’t be easy because she’s stronger now that they’re in town (Kat). They have to close out the Ouija session. Juniper tells Kat that when she was a child her mother remembered all Mary’s demands were about Kat. Then Mary killed her mother. Kat and Kayla say they need time to think about it. Ian tho warns Kat that having another Ouija session isn’t the way to go about it. Opening up another session could let something else in and there’s no way of telling if the portal will be closed. Kat notices black hair in his hands while going to have coffee with Ian and then later in the room, it wrapped around her toe. There’s an accident while Kat is in the shower and she falls. There’s figure with dark hair standing above Kat levitating. Kat finds her voice, the light comes on, and the figure disappears.
Kayla then comes to the door and they know that its true. She’s there. Mary’ becomes attracted to a man in town named George. They end up meeting in the fields and having a picnic. Kayla says that when she was doing yoga, she saw something in the mirror that was scratching the materess and looked like the woman Kat described. They decide there’s nothing else to do but take Juniper up on her suggestion. Once they get there, Erik confides to Kat about his fiancée and her accident and how he had unanswered questions. Juniper told him it was the phantom that took her and their unborn child. That’s when he turned into an alcoholic. He says he believes Juniper is clairvoyant but he doesn’t want to deal with this everyday so if doing the séance will either stop her visions or rid them of the spirit he’s for it. While they’re talking, Kat again notices black strands falling from her hair.
When her husband isn’t there, Mary gets away to the meadow to see George every chance she can. George sees the bruises on Mary and becomes angered. He admits to her that he is also married. She says that she is too but she just wants him. They end up making love. For the next month, they continue to meet in the meadow. Mary finds out that her father was killed and that Mr. Worthe never paid off her father’s debt. Then he rapes her bloody. Malvina says she can “solve her problem” and he’ll trouble her no more. When she meets up with George, she sends him to Boston to find her mother.
On the 7th day, they meet. He tells her (her) father was murdered and her mother turned to prostitution until she died from a fever. Malvina and Mary prepare a “special” cake for Mr. Worthe (made of poison) to take on a trip. It’s not long before they get the news that Mary’s husband has perished in Boston. The Magistrate says he had strong suspicions on his death bed and Malvina has been arrested and sentenced. During the session, when asked what it wants the board responds everything. Kat sees a humanoid creature creeping up from the corner. She comes at Cara (Kayla’s girlfriend). No one else sees her but Kat (whose paralyzed). Kat finds her voice and yells out to Cara.
Mary screams and disappears. Juniper orders her to leave. She banishes Mary and tells them to slide their hands to GOODBYE. When its done, Juniper says it’s the first time she hasn’t felt Mary’s presence in years. Mary goes to find Malvina, but George warns her it wouldn’t be wise to cast more suspicion on herself. When she sees her, she tries to apologize but she says she accepted her fate a long time ago. She has a trial and then that’s that and she’ll have to move on. Mary gives her a bottle and tells her if she’s to die she must do it on her own terms, but she refuses and says she won’t have suspicion back on her. It doesn’t matter to her how she dies.
Malvina then tells her of her legacy and how to retrieve it. It’s an arcane volume of magics. If she doesn’t find a successor she’s to destroy it. She instructs her to use the book wisely. On the way out, she sees George with his wife and daughter. She goes to Malvina’s and finds the book (nothing the spells to bring the dead back). At 9pm (back at home), Mary knows Malvina is gone. Ian then shows up to warn them about Mario.
Malvina is hanged. George stays with her until the end. Mary refuses to talk about the encounter with his wife and child. Mary starts to want more from George-becoming jealous of all the children she sees Sarah with-. She suggests they run away. George tells her he can’t leave his children. He tries to plead with her and offers her a monthly stipend, but this offends her and she tells him she’s not his whore. The argument drops but the obsession doesn’t go away. Mary sees the book and contemplates using it to “influence” him but knows Malvina won’t approve. In two months, she’s become pregnant with his child. George is horrified. He thought she could no longer have children. He accuses Mary of not taking the herbs Malvina prescribed her.
He reminds her she’ll be seen as a witch and an adulteress. Mary says they can leave but he says he’s a married man with children and he won’t leave. He reminds her from the start he said he had nothing to offer her. So, Mary kicks him out. She decides its best if she and Iris leave. She’ll go to family (on her mother’s side) and tell them her husband died. Mary then gets a knock on the door and finds Sarah on the other side. It looks like Mario is about to attempt to rape Kat at the hotel, but has a bi-polar moment and tells her to run. He then switches up again and ties her to the bed and tells her it’s almost time. Then starts to speak in tongues. His eyes change colors and then Kat falls into darkness.
Sarah says she’s come to Mary for help because her husband’s attention is elsewhere and she wants him to desire and love her again. Mary says she can help and asks what she’ll give her for her services. Sarah offers her a years saving and begs her to use her most potent magic. Mary gives her a cream to make a cake out of and offers to bake it for her. (It’s the same cake she gave her husband). She instructs her to take it home and eat it whole. It will make her instantly desirous to her husband. Before she leaves, she tells her when she eats it think of her. Only she puts it in the pantry and George eats it and is the one who dies.
Mary sends Iris away and gives her instructions before sending her off. Mary sits calmly in her chair as she hears the horses approaching to end her life. Erik realizes something is off with Kat when he meets up with her at the hotel and she comes on to him aggressively and offers him wine. So, he leaves and tells her goodnight. Cara and Kayla tell Ian about Kat’s strange behavior and he says he’ll do research and he’ll go talk to Mario.
Mary is taken (to the Magistrate’s house?) where she’s confronted by Sarah who shoves cow manure in her face and slaps the ish out of her. Mary just cackles wildly in satisfaction. Mary is thrown into the city’s jail. The Magistrate (Samuel) is George’s father and she tells him its his grandchild. He doesn’t want to believe this. He tells her she’ll be seen tomorrow for a judgment. Before leaving, he says he does believe his son was with her but it was because she spelled him. It comes out that the cake was meant for Sarah and he promises she’ll hang for it whether she denies being a witch or not. He then cuts off all her hair. He then places a mirror in her cell to see what a life with Satan has brought her. She thanks him because her beauty has been her biggest curse. He says she’ll be left there until she delivers her child.
After he leaves, Mary takes out the book and chants. Knowing she’ll be long gone before the trial. She then takes the potion inside her dress and watches the world blacken. Ian and Erik find out that a Mary died in Erik’s house. As she tells the story, Erik realizes his ancestor might have been her lover and that the old cellar where he and Juniper played as kids was where Mary took her life. Briefly no one knows where Mary was buried, Sarah died alone of illness, the magistrate went crazy and killed himself, and Iris escaped and married. Kathy goes to say that they found a spell book on Mary and Erik’s grandmother donated it years ago. Then she shows them the book in the basement. Kayla, Erik, and Ian go to see Mario. Mario says he didn’t want to do any of it. One day he started to hear voices. When he was five he started seeing things. So, when he got to HS he start to drink and do drugs. For years they stopped. Until recently. Mostly it was an old woman. Then there was another. He confirms her name was Malvina. He says when he went to the Bishop, he saw her at the bar. When he turned around she was in his face. She wanted him to know Erik and his sister.
He says he remembers flashes from being possessed by Mary (like what he did to Kat). Mary says if he tells anyone he’ll kill Kat and the rest of them. He says he doesn’t know what she wants. He remembers a memory of her calling Iris to her mirror. And he knows she has a thing against blonds. There has to be an object tied to the spell and a mirror in Erik’s house comes to mind. They decide to lure her to Erik’s house and consult with Juniper. Mario says he wants to help banish Mary. He offers to go to the Bishop and see Malvina-even tho he’s uncomfortable with it-. The decide the best way to destroy Mary is to destroy the mirror.
They find out that Katherine Clary is directly descended from Iris Adams, meaning she is also a descendant of Mary Worthe. So Kat’s blood is the answer. They’ll get her there, tie her up, put her in front of the mirror, and cut her. So they invite her over, get her drunk, and lock her in a cell. Only she comes out of it too early. Mary says she wants to live the life that was stolen from her. She says she has to have a life for Kats and one to atone for George’s. So, she wants Erik to impregnant her. Mary admits to Erik that she did kill his parents and his fiancée (by appearing to her in her car).
Mary lifts up Juniper and hits her head against the cell. She tells Erik if he doesn’t let her out she’ll kill her. Erik lets Mary out and she looks him, Juniper, and Kayla in. Ian sneaks up from behind (where the mirror is)and says her name three times. Mary screams and emerges setting Kat free. Mario appears and Malvina gives her a lecture then says if she wants to be with Iris she knows what she must do. Kat says bloody Mary three times and banishes her into the mirror as she cuts her hand, smears it over the mirror, and then smashes the mirror.
Rating: 5 Sometimes it felt like Plot B (Kat’s plot) was slightly more pushed to the front than Plot A (Mary’s). Plot B felt like it was more focused on a reunion. Particularly the reunion of Erik and Kat. And then I started to think about Plot A. At first, ir didn’t make sense to me why Mary just “randomly” choose Erik to get her pregnant. Then I thought ok he reminded her of George. Fine but did she *really* need Kat. Other than her connection to her why was she really all that important. I was just thinking she *could* have used Monica and took possession of *her* rather than kill her. It would have been easier and quicker than waiting for Kat to come back. I just don’t know. I didn’t rally have any expectations for this one and it was a little lack luster to be honest.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 10, 2022
Honestly one of the best books I've read .
Bloody Mary is one of my all time favorite lores and the author did it so much justice.
Even better than I thought it would be
Bloody Mary is one of my all time favorite lores and the author did it so much justice.
Even better than I thought it would be
January 5, 2022
I am a huge urban legend fan and this was really well written. It was easy to read without feeling “dumbed down”. I especially loved Mary’s backstory. Looking forward to reading more of her takes on urban legends.
September 13, 2022
Great Book
I absolutely loved this book. I could not put it down. I am a huge fan of urban legends so when I saw this I knew I needed to read it. It did not disappoint.
I absolutely loved this book. I could not put it down. I am a huge fan of urban legends so when I saw this I knew I needed to read it. It did not disappoint.
February 6, 2022
Long have I loved the legend of Bloody Mary. It was such a fun way to get a spooky thrill as a kid, and all you needed was nerve and a dark bathroom mirror. Urban legends allow us to be part of a larger narrative because when we add to the story and then tell it, we really participate in a giant game of telephone. Even in the internet era, we can't disprove the ghostlier legends. So, here is my contribution to it all, my idea of who Mary was and why she does the things she does. I present you with Bloody Mary, a mixture of the modern and the arcane, horror and romance, and levity and dread.
May 24, 2021
I could not put this down and I read it in a day! This was a surprising blend of sexy, spooky, and funny. I just loved the characters, story, and the spooky factor. It had some romance, humor, a haunted house, hot guys, and a really well fleshed out villain. My goodness, I just loved reading about Mary. This legend scared me senseless as a child, so it was cathartic to read about her now and I love what the author did with her story. A definite recommendation for anyone who likes a bit of creep factor with their fun, colorful characters.
September 5, 2020
Poetically written, funny and witty, spooky, spellbinding, and scary as hell!
July 19, 2021
Great book
This was my kind of book! I loved the scary parts and the descriptions given. It was a great telling of the story.
This was my kind of book! I loved the scary parts and the descriptions given. It was a great telling of the story.
August 27, 2025
This was a fun, interesting re-imagining of "Bloody Mary" and how she came to be. Present time characters were lighthearted (if struggling with their life's problems) but let's face it, they weren't even close to poor Mary Worthe's. Mary's life was hard and brutal!
They were all described as being incredibly beautiful or handsome and young so it reads like "The Vampire Diaries". A little spicy but not so over the top (which I appreciated).
The story is told through different First Person POVs and moves between the present with Kat, Ian, Erik and Kayla to 1703 with Mary.
Overall, an enjoyable read and I would definitely like to read more in the Urban Legends Series.
They were all described as being incredibly beautiful or handsome and young so it reads like "The Vampire Diaries". A little spicy but not so over the top (which I appreciated).
The story is told through different First Person POVs and moves between the present with Kat, Ian, Erik and Kayla to 1703 with Mary.
Overall, an enjoyable read and I would definitely like to read more in the Urban Legends Series.
December 28, 2023
This book was pretty disappointing. I have been majorly creeped out by the legend of Bloody Mary since I was a kid and still to this day as a 33 year old grown woman I can't pass a mirror in the dark without turning a light on first. I thought this book would finally be the book to scare my pants off but it was just not it. It fell far from the mark for me. I wasn't really a fan of the writing, I didn't really care about any of the characters and it was just too long. I was frankly just wishing for it to end for most of the book. This one probably should have been a DNF but I kept hoping it would get better and scare me. I'd say pass on this one.
April 11, 2024
Honestly, this book just wasn't for me. I read it as a buddy read.
Although I did Iike the broad cast of characters their dialogue didn't always feel like natural conversation which tended to drag me a bit out of the story.
The highlight of the book, for me, was Mary's chapters where we get to see how she became the urban legend almost every teenager girl who's been to a sleepover knows.
If you're a huge fan of horror, this book may not be for you. I predicted the ending pretty early on with only a few minor unpredicted things. But if you only really dabble in horror this book may be a fun easy read!
Although I did Iike the broad cast of characters their dialogue didn't always feel like natural conversation which tended to drag me a bit out of the story.
The highlight of the book, for me, was Mary's chapters where we get to see how she became the urban legend almost every teenager girl who's been to a sleepover knows.
If you're a huge fan of horror, this book may not be for you. I predicted the ending pretty early on with only a few minor unpredicted things. But if you only really dabble in horror this book may be a fun easy read!
June 10, 2022
I enjoyed this book. It was fun and took a fun little spin on the Bloody Mary tale that we all grew up knowing and fearing and slumber parties! It was an easy read- it was well written in that the details were there that allowed you to picture the characters, outfits, mannerisms, and/or facial expressions- but the writing did feel a bit rushed- hard to really emotionally attach to the characters much- but with that said, I still really enjoyed it. Nothing groundbreaking, just a fun idea and a good quick read!
December 23, 2023
Fantastic
An incredible telling of an age old legend. From start to finish I was hooked. I stayed up reading until I actually fell asleep on my Kindle, and when I woke up, I started reading again, only stopping once I'd finished.
First thing I'm doing once I wake up, I'm buying book #2.
This is for anyone that enjoys a good scary tale, an interesting take on historical fiction or any great story. I honestly cannot say enough good things in reference to this.
Read it, you'll be glad you did.
An incredible telling of an age old legend. From start to finish I was hooked. I stayed up reading until I actually fell asleep on my Kindle, and when I woke up, I started reading again, only stopping once I'd finished.
First thing I'm doing once I wake up, I'm buying book #2.
This is for anyone that enjoys a good scary tale, an interesting take on historical fiction or any great story. I honestly cannot say enough good things in reference to this.
Read it, you'll be glad you did.
March 1, 2025
Kat and Mary's destiny's have been intertwined even before Kat met Erik. Mary's reach has spanned the centuries to continue her curse in the modern day.
Will Kat, Erik, Ian, and the girls be able to figure out this mystery before it's too late?
I loved the jumps between the modern time story and what was happening in the past. Filling in the questions as we go.
I look forward to reading Ian's story.
Will Kat, Erik, Ian, and the girls be able to figure out this mystery before it's too late?
I loved the jumps between the modern time story and what was happening in the past. Filling in the questions as we go.
I look forward to reading Ian's story.
November 10, 2020
Very entertaining. Adulting and responsibilities didn’t allow me to read it fast enough. Looking forward to the next books in the series and seeing Ian again. Was concern nothing was explain while in the cellar and everyone was hugging. Me yelling at my Kindle, “Check On Ian!!!!” Highly recommend to paranormal fans.
July 9, 2022
Interesting
I enjoyed the book quite a bit, I was looking for a good " weekend read" and this was exactly what I was looking for. However, the ending was a bit anticlimactic... Not bad just felt a bit lacking. Still, I can't wait to start on the second book in the series.
I enjoyed the book quite a bit, I was looking for a good " weekend read" and this was exactly what I was looking for. However, the ending was a bit anticlimactic... Not bad just felt a bit lacking. Still, I can't wait to start on the second book in the series.
June 14, 2023
I played Bloody Mary as a kid - the legend has been around forever. So this book was a great read that I read it so quickly because I didn't want to put it down. And even though I normally do not read anything to scary at night, with this book I didn't care, I just wanted to keep reading.
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