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The DuPage Parish Mysteries #1
Stray Fears
Elien Martel is a survivor, but surviving, he’s beginning to discover, isn’t the same thing as living. In the house he shares with his much older boyfriend, Elien spends his days trying to stay as far away from living as possible. Living, he has learned, means that sooner or later you’ll get hurt.
When a member of Elien’s support group dies under strange circumstances, though, Elien finds himself in a web of bizarre coincidences. The responding officer turns out to be another member of Elien’s support group—a man named Mason, who has made no effort to hide his dislike of Elien. Then, just a few days later, Mason tries to kill Elien in front of dozens of witnesses.
As violence ripples through Elien’s world, he begins to suspect that the coincidences are not coincidences at all. Something is at work behind the cascade of tragedies, something vicious and intelligent. Something that has wanted Elien for a long time.
To defeat it, Elien will have to do what he fears most and face the darkness in his own past. Worse, he’ll have to take the risk of trying to live again.
When a member of Elien’s support group dies under strange circumstances, though, Elien finds himself in a web of bizarre coincidences. The responding officer turns out to be another member of Elien’s support group—a man named Mason, who has made no effort to hide his dislike of Elien. Then, just a few days later, Mason tries to kill Elien in front of dozens of witnesses.
As violence ripples through Elien’s world, he begins to suspect that the coincidences are not coincidences at all. Something is at work behind the cascade of tragedies, something vicious and intelligent. Something that has wanted Elien for a long time.
To defeat it, Elien will have to do what he fears most and face the darkness in his own past. Worse, he’ll have to take the risk of trying to live again.
284 pages, ebook
First published October 21, 2020
67 people are currently reading
616 people want to read
About the author
Gregory Ashe
135 books1,781 followersI'm a long-time Midwesterner. I've lived in Chicago, Bloomington (IN), and Saint Louis, my current home. Aside from reading and writing (which take up a lot of my time), I'm an educator.
While I enjoy reading across many genres, my two main loves are mystery and speculative fiction. I used to keep a list of favorite books, but it changes so frequently that I've given up. I'm always looking for recommendations, though, so please drop me a line if you have something in mind!
My big goal right now is one day to be responsible enough to get a dog.
While I enjoy reading across many genres, my two main loves are mystery and speculative fiction. I used to keep a list of favorite books, but it changes so frequently that I've given up. I'm always looking for recommendations, though, so please drop me a line if you have something in mind!
My big goal right now is one day to be responsible enough to get a dog.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 138 reviews
October 8, 2021
Audiobook- 4 stars
Story - 4.25 stars
This book is full of Triggers. Not going to list them though. Spoilers and all.
Welp! Greg wrote a horror/ paranormal/mystery story, set just a tiny bit outside one of my favorite places on earth, New Orleans.
The door to the porte cochere was open; it was December, and even in New Orleans, December was cold. The frigid air came in like waves that hit me at the knee.
I freaking enjoyed every minute of this creepy book. Right up my Supernatural alley.
The writing
Flowed so well. This one is very readable and listenable book. I was hooked from the very 1st word and couldn’t stop. I am so used to Greg’s writing by now that it definitely feels like coming home to drink warm milk before you bite a cookie then you realize the cookie is not sweet and you are left with a bitter taste. This book deals with some very serious topics, in a way that it is not offensive and preachy. The scenery descriptions were surreal, took me to NOLA and back.
The Characters
Elien – Hmmm! Elien! Elien! What an unlikable likable character. He is the first character we meet. I really wanted to smack him most of the time, he is one spoilt, sweet, selfish, lovable character. Greg writes some of my fav characters because they feel real and relatable to some extent. My tiny peanut heart broke for Elien.
Dag – I liked him a lot. He is one sarcastic, take no bullshit from no one character. I loved his parents, what a bunch of weird sweet parents. They brought so much joy whenever they were on page.
The mystery was creepy; what kind of monster was that? Eeeeewww!! At first I had no clue who it was then as the story progresses, I put on my Sam and Dean gloves then went to working. Let’s just say the hunting experience was an adventure.
There were some funny bits that got me loling hard. Especially the conversations.
The relationship between Elien and Dag was a good one, they got mad chemistry, it felt short though, I wanted more time with them. I guess I will just have to go with the flow for now.
Overall, I had so much fun listening to this book.
Disclaimer! A copy of the audiobook was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review
Story - 4.25 stars
This book is full of Triggers. Not going to list them though. Spoilers and all.
Welp! Greg wrote a horror/ paranormal/mystery story, set just a tiny bit outside one of my favorite places on earth, New Orleans.
The door to the porte cochere was open; it was December, and even in New Orleans, December was cold. The frigid air came in like waves that hit me at the knee.
I freaking enjoyed every minute of this creepy book. Right up my Supernatural alley.
The writing
Flowed so well. This one is very readable and listenable book. I was hooked from the very 1st word and couldn’t stop. I am so used to Greg’s writing by now that it definitely feels like coming home to drink warm milk before you bite a cookie then you realize the cookie is not sweet and you are left with a bitter taste. This book deals with some very serious topics, in a way that it is not offensive and preachy. The scenery descriptions were surreal, took me to NOLA and back.
The Characters
Elien – Hmmm! Elien! Elien! What an unlikable likable character. He is the first character we meet. I really wanted to smack him most of the time, he is one spoilt, sweet, selfish, lovable character. Greg writes some of my fav characters because they feel real and relatable to some extent. My tiny peanut heart broke for Elien.
Dag – I liked him a lot. He is one sarcastic, take no bullshit from no one character. I loved his parents, what a bunch of weird sweet parents. They brought so much joy whenever they were on page.
The mystery was creepy; what kind of monster was that? Eeeeewww!! At first I had no clue who it was then as the story progresses, I put on my Sam and Dean gloves then went to working. Let’s just say the hunting experience was an adventure.
There were some funny bits that got me loling hard. Especially the conversations.
The relationship between Elien and Dag was a good one, they got mad chemistry, it felt short though, I wanted more time with them. I guess I will just have to go with the flow for now.
Overall, I had so much fun listening to this book.
Disclaimer! A copy of the audiobook was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review
December 25, 2021
You gotta love a writer who lets the plot and not the romance drive the story.
I was excited to get my hands on this audiobook since it was Ashe’s foray into the paranormal!! 👏👏
It didn’t disappoint!
I thought that once I figured out who the baddie was that everything would resolve itself and the protagonist would clean up.
But this is Ashe.
Once I figured out the bad “guy” it only started to get worse. And the horrors truly began.
I don’t want to say much to spoil this, but this a solid 4.5 read and horrifically addictive!
I was excited to get my hands on this audiobook since it was Ashe’s foray into the paranormal!! 👏👏
It didn’t disappoint!
I thought that once I figured out who the baddie was that everything would resolve itself and the protagonist would clean up.
But this is Ashe.
Once I figured out the bad “guy” it only started to get worse. And the horrors truly began.
I don’t want to say much to spoil this, but this a solid 4.5 read and horrifically addictive!
January 17, 2023
4.5**** stars
I am so not a scary-movie kinda girl, but it’s spooky season, right? *lolll
And yap, I’m glad it didn’t turn out as scary as I feared, but this book got my blood pumpin’ a few times nonetheless. Because Dag & Elien are hunting a monster (that hunts them right back) that feeds of pain and kills people - a scary, murderous thingey coming directly from the swamp land of the bayou.
This was a solid paranormal mystery with typical GA characters that had a lot baggage and mental health issues to bring to the table and a sick showdown. The author’s writing as well as the storyline was entertaining and captivating and it was hard to put it down - giving enough thrill to be a perfect October read.
(And shit these books have new covers, and they are creepy as hell!!)
The romance is honestly hard to describe. Like with my previous experience with GA books the love story feels secondary and I wouldn’t even call it a romance per se. But at least Dag & Elien made progress in the relationship department A LOT faster than other pairings GA invented and they were very sweet with each other a few times. ♡ And although these guys were hot with each other and had chemistry, the author does not indulge us with extended sex scenes - much to my dismay. Just so you know.
To close my review I wanna add that Dag’s parents are truly something else *lmaooo I covered my face a lot from embarrassment right alongside Dag. Elien, when he met them later, was only smirking in amusement. It was hilarious.
All in all I had a very good time with this audio and I can totally recommend it. I will def jump into book two before spooky season is over.
*************
The DuPage Parish Mysteries:
Book 1 - Stray Fears - 4.5 stars
Book 2 - Cascade Hunger
Book 3 - Lethal Control
Book 4 - Second Line
I am so not a scary-movie kinda girl, but it’s spooky season, right? *lolll
And yap, I’m glad it didn’t turn out as scary as I feared, but this book got my blood pumpin’ a few times nonetheless. Because Dag & Elien are hunting a monster (that hunts them right back) that feeds of pain and kills people - a scary, murderous thingey coming directly from the swamp land of the bayou.
This was a solid paranormal mystery with typical GA characters that had a lot baggage and mental health issues to bring to the table and a sick showdown. The author’s writing as well as the storyline was entertaining and captivating and it was hard to put it down - giving enough thrill to be a perfect October read.
(And shit these books have new covers, and they are creepy as hell!!)
The romance is honestly hard to describe. Like with my previous experience with GA books the love story feels secondary and I wouldn’t even call it a romance per se. But at least Dag & Elien made progress in the relationship department A LOT faster than other pairings GA invented and they were very sweet with each other a few times. ♡ And although these guys were hot with each other and had chemistry, the author does not indulge us with extended sex scenes - much to my dismay. Just so you know.
To close my review I wanna add that Dag’s parents are truly something else *lmaooo I covered my face a lot from embarrassment right alongside Dag. Elien, when he met them later, was only smirking in amusement. It was hilarious.
All in all I had a very good time with this audio and I can totally recommend it. I will def jump into book two before spooky season is over.
*************
The DuPage Parish Mysteries:
Book 1 - Stray Fears - 4.5 stars
Book 2 - Cascade Hunger
Book 3 - Lethal Control
Book 4 - Second Line
November 8, 2021
This was weird and fucked up, but also delightfully sweet? Very unexpected to say the least. I didn’t know what I was getting into when I started reading this book, but I really enjoyed it! The author describes this as horror, and I will say some parts are super creepy, but I’ve never read horror so I can’t say definitively if it counts as horror or not. It’s the perfect spooky read as a paranormal mystery though, with a HEA at the end.
Trigger warnings for multiple violent suicides, suicidal ideation, body dysphoria, murder, violence, homomisia, transmisia, gaslighting, PTSD, attempted sexual assault, and racism.
This story is from two character’s first-person POVs. We first meet Elien Martel, a 22-year-old who has PTSD and is living with his much older and very rich boyfriend. He goes to a PTSD support group and under a series of events, meets Dag LeBlanc.
Dag is a sheriff’s deputy, 27, and not all that happy with his job. He lives with his very loving parents and only ever wanted to help people but feels like the job isn’t what he expected it to be. He loves marine life and he loves listens to whale sounds instead of music.
I think this is the most diverse book the author has written? There’s multiple people of color in this book and Elien is not white. However, we are left to our own devices to guess what ethnicity Elien is and, really, for all intents and purposes I think he comes off as white outside of the one mention about his skin color being light brown and once mentioning outright that he’s not white. So. There’s that.
The paranormal aspect of this comes from Choctaw mythology. It’s interesting, considering this story takes place in Louisiana, right outside of New Orleans. I can’t really say how close to mythology the story sticks to but what happens in this book adds creepy elements to the story. For that reason, I would say this book is great for fans of the Hollow Folk series. It’s a paranormal mystery, and the feel of the story is less YA and more NA/adult.
You might be wondering how a book with a character in an established relationship comes to fall for another man, but just wait! We’ve seen it before with Hazard and Somerset, and with North and Shaw, so if you think along those lines, you know that Elien and Dag are well on their way to a happy ending. I don’t want to spoil too much but I hate Richard and his smarmy, gaslighting ways and Elien definitely deserves better. And he does find better with Dag.
What’s interesting here is that this book is a standalone I think? So it is weird in that I don’t have to actually wait multiple books for the characters to get together. In that sense, this feels like a quick romance story between the two characters, but only by Gregory Ashe terms. I think there’s still a slow burn romance here if you love the trope.
Something wonderful another this book is that we see supportive parents!! Dag’s parents are wholly supportive of their son being gay and provides a lot of comic relief in the book being maybe too invested. It’s rare from the Gregory Ashe books I’ve read where there are two parents who have zero angst with their child so I loved this. I do have a question about the dinner date Dag sets up with a guy his parents found for him. It went forgotten in the story and I’m guessing he can never shop at that supermarket again.
My only side eye moment is when Dag said his father’s a Republican and while his dad didn’t quite deny it, he said the world was changing, and hopefully that means he’s NOT Republican anymore? It’s not clear in the text. Add that in with the fact that Dag is basically a cop and I was side eyeing a bit of this interaction, I guess. Only saving grace is that Dag gets placed on admin leave for most of the book and decides to pursue a different career at the end that’s more aligned to his interests and caring nature.
This book has some really great funny moments but there are some seriously dark moments as well that might be triggering to folks. So, I would highly take the warnings I’ve listed in this review into consideration before starting this book.
I really loved Elien and Dag as characters and I’m almost sad this is a standalone. I would almost love to see them fight random monsters of legend across the country, but since I wish them much needed joy and healing in their futures, maybe not. They get their HEA at the end of this book and they definitely deserve it.
Thanks to the author for giving me a copy of the ARC for review!!
Trigger warnings for multiple violent suicides, suicidal ideation, body dysphoria, murder, violence, homomisia, transmisia, gaslighting, PTSD, attempted sexual assault, and racism.
This story is from two character’s first-person POVs. We first meet Elien Martel, a 22-year-old who has PTSD and is living with his much older and very rich boyfriend. He goes to a PTSD support group and under a series of events, meets Dag LeBlanc.
Dag is a sheriff’s deputy, 27, and not all that happy with his job. He lives with his very loving parents and only ever wanted to help people but feels like the job isn’t what he expected it to be. He loves marine life and he loves listens to whale sounds instead of music.
I think this is the most diverse book the author has written? There’s multiple people of color in this book and Elien is not white. However, we are left to our own devices to guess what ethnicity Elien is and, really, for all intents and purposes I think he comes off as white outside of the one mention about his skin color being light brown and once mentioning outright that he’s not white. So. There’s that.
The paranormal aspect of this comes from Choctaw mythology. It’s interesting, considering this story takes place in Louisiana, right outside of New Orleans. I can’t really say how close to mythology the story sticks to but what happens in this book adds creepy elements to the story. For that reason, I would say this book is great for fans of the Hollow Folk series. It’s a paranormal mystery, and the feel of the story is less YA and more NA/adult.
You might be wondering how a book with a character in an established relationship comes to fall for another man, but just wait! We’ve seen it before with Hazard and Somerset, and with North and Shaw, so if you think along those lines, you know that Elien and Dag are well on their way to a happy ending. I don’t want to spoil too much but I hate Richard and his smarmy, gaslighting ways and Elien definitely deserves better. And he does find better with Dag.
What’s interesting here is that this book is a standalone I think? So it is weird in that I don’t have to actually wait multiple books for the characters to get together. In that sense, this feels like a quick romance story between the two characters, but only by Gregory Ashe terms. I think there’s still a slow burn romance here if you love the trope.
Something wonderful another this book is that we see supportive parents!! Dag’s parents are wholly supportive of their son being gay and provides a lot of comic relief in the book being maybe too invested. It’s rare from the Gregory Ashe books I’ve read where there are two parents who have zero angst with their child so I loved this. I do have a question about the dinner date Dag sets up with a guy his parents found for him. It went forgotten in the story and I’m guessing he can never shop at that supermarket again.
My only side eye moment is when Dag said his father’s a Republican and while his dad didn’t quite deny it, he said the world was changing, and hopefully that means he’s NOT Republican anymore? It’s not clear in the text. Add that in with the fact that Dag is basically a cop and I was side eyeing a bit of this interaction, I guess. Only saving grace is that Dag gets placed on admin leave for most of the book and decides to pursue a different career at the end that’s more aligned to his interests and caring nature.
This book has some really great funny moments but there are some seriously dark moments as well that might be triggering to folks. So, I would highly take the warnings I’ve listed in this review into consideration before starting this book.
I really loved Elien and Dag as characters and I’m almost sad this is a standalone. I would almost love to see them fight random monsters of legend across the country, but since I wish them much needed joy and healing in their futures, maybe not. They get their HEA at the end of this book and they definitely deserve it.
Thanks to the author for giving me a copy of the ARC for review!!
May 27, 2024
Audio - 5 Stars
Story - 2.5 Stars
Story - 2.5 Stars
October 26, 2021
In many ways this is a classic Gregory Ashe book.
✔️ Character driven plot with the love story being secondary.
✔️ Engaging mystery
✔️ Guys with baggage who will grab your heart and also hurt it.
✔️ That beautiful writing that draws you in and makes you feel like you are actually there.
✔️ Funny. It always amazes me how much I’ll laugh while reading a GA book despite how tense things get.
In other ways, this was something entirely different.
☑️ Horror/Supernatural. I suppose this isn’t completely different as the Hollow Folk series has this but it’s not too often that his books have this element.
☑️ A rather fast romance. By fast I mean that these two actually get together within the book. And not after 100 books. It was almost jarring to me. At one point I was channeling my inner Victorian lady saying, “Oh my. Slow down you two!” In all seriousness it wasn’t insta-love or anything. Just fast for Greg. 😂
☑️ Supportive parents. Color me shocked again that Dag’s mom and dad were so loving. In all of Greg’s novels, I think I’ve only ever loved Hazard’s mom. Dag’s parents verged on being too much for me. They had that meddling quality that I’m not keen on. But I was still super happy we had some quality parental units.
Overall I quite enjoyed this. Dag and Elien were easy to love. They aren’t on my favorites list yet but I sure liked spending time with them and look forward to more. The descriptions of New Orleans were so lush that it reminded me how I’d like to go there one day. Without monsters of course. 😬
“Can you please be good for five minutes?” I asked. “One time I went a solid three and a half,” he said. “Let’s try to break that record.”
✔️ Character driven plot with the love story being secondary.
✔️ Engaging mystery
✔️ Guys with baggage who will grab your heart and also hurt it.
✔️ That beautiful writing that draws you in and makes you feel like you are actually there.
✔️ Funny. It always amazes me how much I’ll laugh while reading a GA book despite how tense things get.
In other ways, this was something entirely different.
☑️ Horror/Supernatural. I suppose this isn’t completely different as the Hollow Folk series has this but it’s not too often that his books have this element.
☑️ A rather fast romance. By fast I mean that these two actually get together within the book. And not after 100 books. It was almost jarring to me. At one point I was channeling my inner Victorian lady saying, “Oh my. Slow down you two!” In all seriousness it wasn’t insta-love or anything. Just fast for Greg. 😂
☑️ Supportive parents. Color me shocked again that Dag’s mom and dad were so loving. In all of Greg’s novels, I think I’ve only ever loved Hazard’s mom. Dag’s parents verged on being too much for me. They had that meddling quality that I’m not keen on. But I was still super happy we had some quality parental units.
Overall I quite enjoyed this. Dag and Elien were easy to love. They aren’t on my favorites list yet but I sure liked spending time with them and look forward to more. The descriptions of New Orleans were so lush that it reminded me how I’d like to go there one day. Without monsters of course. 😬
“Can you please be good for five minutes?” I asked. “One time I went a solid three and a half,” he said. “Let’s try to break that record.”
July 4, 2023
This book gave me some really strange dreams. I wouldn't go so far as to say it was scary, but the buzzing ecosystem within Louisiana and all of the paranormal lore attached to the state definitely gave the story an overall creepy vibe. Louisiana is alive in ways that make each and every bump in the night worthy of a second glance, which is why I love supernatural stories that take place there. The cultural richness, the history and, of course, the voodoo/hoodoo of it all, make it easy to believe that if there truly is a veil between worlds, it would be thinnest there.
Gregory Ashe has written some bratty characters. Colt from Hazard & Somerset and Emmett from Hollow Folk / Flint & Tinder are the first to come to mind. He knows how to write characters who push buttons and, in this story, Elien was no exception. His backstory was devastating and his mental health would be best explained using the DSM as a reference guide, but he still managed to come across as a selfish, stubborn toddler in desperate need of attention. I felt for him and I liked him, but only because I didn't have to be alone in a room with him poking me with his toe or throwing cans of carbonated water at expensive cabinetry.
Dag (oh my god, Dagobert - I had to google how to say his name) was the softest, fluffiest kitten to ever become an officer of the law. The whale songs! The night light! The gentle refusal to engage with Elien's theatrics! His calm demeanor and naivety made his career choice questionable at best. He wanted to help people, but instead he got a front row seat to the ugly underbelly of humanity and experienced the helpless feeling of showing up too late. He saw his sensitivity and empathy as hinderances when it came to doing his job well and that hurt my heart. I think we'd all like to believe that empathy would be valued in public service, but constantly seeing the worst in people must make it feel like a well worn dry after awhile and that's really, really sad.
I'd be remiss not to mention Dag's parents since they were prominently featured in this book and impossible to ignore (though I tried at times). I have to admit, I am an embarrassing parent. I've been known to bring up topics that make my kids cringe. I don't pry, but I also don't shy away from uncomfortable conversations. I can be what some might call inappropriate at times. I might have told my oldest son to consider modeling for romance novel covers, but also told him to stick to MF so I don't accidentally buy one with him on it. BUT, Dag's parents put me to shame. I almost want to have my kids read their parts in this book so they'll see how good they've got it with me. I love supportive parents, but Hubert and Gloria sailed right past support and into please, god, make it stop.
I loved the mystery, the setting, the characters, the writing and that special something that continues to set Gregory Ashe apart as an author. I think a lot of it has to do with the levity he injects into some really tough subject matter, but also the respectful way he makes sure that levity isn't reductive. And he speaks fluent sarcasm, which is my native tongue. The only thing I didn't love in this book was the pacing of Elien and Dag's relationship. It was a little too much, too fast for me, which was surprising since this author typically makes us wait for what feels like forever for his MC's to get together. Further proof that I'm a masochist, because I kind of wanted them to sweat it out a little bit longer. Even so, I know GA won't make it easy on them because he never does. I can't wait to see what's in store for these two next.
Gregory Ashe has written some bratty characters. Colt from Hazard & Somerset and Emmett from Hollow Folk / Flint & Tinder are the first to come to mind. He knows how to write characters who push buttons and, in this story, Elien was no exception. His backstory was devastating and his mental health would be best explained using the DSM as a reference guide, but he still managed to come across as a selfish, stubborn toddler in desperate need of attention. I felt for him and I liked him, but only because I didn't have to be alone in a room with him poking me with his toe or throwing cans of carbonated water at expensive cabinetry.
Dag (oh my god, Dagobert - I had to google how to say his name) was the softest, fluffiest kitten to ever become an officer of the law. The whale songs! The night light! The gentle refusal to engage with Elien's theatrics! His calm demeanor and naivety made his career choice questionable at best. He wanted to help people, but instead he got a front row seat to the ugly underbelly of humanity and experienced the helpless feeling of showing up too late. He saw his sensitivity and empathy as hinderances when it came to doing his job well and that hurt my heart. I think we'd all like to believe that empathy would be valued in public service, but constantly seeing the worst in people must make it feel like a well worn dry after awhile and that's really, really sad.
I'd be remiss not to mention Dag's parents since they were prominently featured in this book and impossible to ignore (though I tried at times). I have to admit, I am an embarrassing parent. I've been known to bring up topics that make my kids cringe. I don't pry, but I also don't shy away from uncomfortable conversations. I can be what some might call inappropriate at times. I might have told my oldest son to consider modeling for romance novel covers, but also told him to stick to MF so I don't accidentally buy one with him on it. BUT, Dag's parents put me to shame. I almost want to have my kids read their parts in this book so they'll see how good they've got it with me. I love supportive parents, but Hubert and Gloria sailed right past support and into please, god, make it stop.
I loved the mystery, the setting, the characters, the writing and that special something that continues to set Gregory Ashe apart as an author. I think a lot of it has to do with the levity he injects into some really tough subject matter, but also the respectful way he makes sure that levity isn't reductive. And he speaks fluent sarcasm, which is my native tongue. The only thing I didn't love in this book was the pacing of Elien and Dag's relationship. It was a little too much, too fast for me, which was surprising since this author typically makes us wait for what feels like forever for his MC's to get together. Further proof that I'm a masochist, because I kind of wanted them to sweat it out a little bit longer. Even so, I know GA won't make it easy on them because he never does. I can't wait to see what's in store for these two next.
October 27, 2020
A Joyfully Jay review.
3.5 stars
This latest book from Gregory Ashe offers what the author calls a paranormal horror mystery. While the reference to paranormal mystery had my attention, I don’t read a lot of horror, but a new book by this author had me deciding to step into the horror genre. While this book did have paranormal and it did have a mystery, I didn’t feel this really hit the notes of horror.
There is a relationship storyline here for Dag and Elien, but it is not the primary focus. The main focus is Elien sorting through his trauma and seeing similarities to the violence that is going on around him. The book takes place in Louisiana and there is a little bit of folklore and research the men do on paranormal creatures to try and figure out what is going on, but it wasn’t overly dark or creepy for me at all. There are scenes where the men are running for their lives and the intensity that should have come off the page just didn’t for me.
Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.
3.5 stars
This latest book from Gregory Ashe offers what the author calls a paranormal horror mystery. While the reference to paranormal mystery had my attention, I don’t read a lot of horror, but a new book by this author had me deciding to step into the horror genre. While this book did have paranormal and it did have a mystery, I didn’t feel this really hit the notes of horror.
There is a relationship storyline here for Dag and Elien, but it is not the primary focus. The main focus is Elien sorting through his trauma and seeing similarities to the violence that is going on around him. The book takes place in Louisiana and there is a little bit of folklore and research the men do on paranormal creatures to try and figure out what is going on, but it wasn’t overly dark or creepy for me at all. There are scenes where the men are running for their lives and the intensity that should have come off the page just didn’t for me.
Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.
January 10, 2023
Second read: I think this is the only GA series that doesn’t cause stress when reading
~
I love GA and his never ending mission to give his characters the most unusual names
~
I love GA and his never ending mission to give his characters the most unusual names
November 16, 2023
Audiobook review 11/15/23
Audio: 5 stars
Story: 5 stars
OMG!!! I am in love with this book! I enjoyed it when I first read it but the audio put it over the top for me. Declan Winters is such an amazing narrator, I love his narration! He added so much to this story, which was an awesome story to begin with. I especially love his New Orleans accent for Dag!
The sweetest, most patient character ever is Dagobert LeBlanc. He is perfection and he doesn’t let anyone walk all over him either. He is the most lovely character Gregory Ashe has ever written!
Elian Martel has a troubled past. His story is a very sad one and he is trying to pick up the pieces. He lives with his boyfriend Richard who is a psychiatrist and almost 30 years his senior. You wonder why he’s with Richard because he doesn’t seem to like him much but when he meets Dag he just lights up. They were perfect together.
The creepiness factor is definitely here and Ashe does it so well. The setting is reminiscent of my favorite Anne Rice book. I love reading paranormal stories set in and around New Orleans.
One of the best things about this book are Dag’s parents. They are hilarious! They want their son to get laid so badly! I loved every second they were around.
I am getting to ready to read the last book so I’m relisten if to this series to jog my memory. I highly recommend this if you like paranormal stories and Gregory Ashe’s writing.
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4.75 stars
This was both different than other Gregory Ashe books I’ve read but similar at the same time. I still loved it though because it has quirky, messed up characters and monsters!!! I loved the setting outside New Orleans. I’m very, very excited to continue this series!
Audio: 5 stars
Story: 5 stars
OMG!!! I am in love with this book! I enjoyed it when I first read it but the audio put it over the top for me. Declan Winters is such an amazing narrator, I love his narration! He added so much to this story, which was an awesome story to begin with. I especially love his New Orleans accent for Dag!
The sweetest, most patient character ever is Dagobert LeBlanc. He is perfection and he doesn’t let anyone walk all over him either. He is the most lovely character Gregory Ashe has ever written!
Elian Martel has a troubled past. His story is a very sad one and he is trying to pick up the pieces. He lives with his boyfriend Richard who is a psychiatrist and almost 30 years his senior. You wonder why he’s with Richard because he doesn’t seem to like him much but when he meets Dag he just lights up. They were perfect together.
The creepiness factor is definitely here and Ashe does it so well. The setting is reminiscent of my favorite Anne Rice book. I love reading paranormal stories set in and around New Orleans.
One of the best things about this book are Dag’s parents. They are hilarious! They want their son to get laid so badly! I loved every second they were around.
I am getting to ready to read the last book so I’m relisten if to this series to jog my memory. I highly recommend this if you like paranormal stories and Gregory Ashe’s writing.
***********************************************************
4.75 stars
This was both different than other Gregory Ashe books I’ve read but similar at the same time. I still loved it though because it has quirky, messed up characters and monsters!!! I loved the setting outside New Orleans. I’m very, very excited to continue this series!
October 21, 2023
Elien esta acostumbrado a una vida sin responsabilidades. Vive con su novio Richard con quien tiene una "relación abierta", mantiene la casa y asiste a sus reuniones anuales con el grupo de PTSD. Pero realmente se siente vacío, la cual por la muerte de su familia lo ahoga, y tiene momentos en los que la culpa es tan grande que quiere hacer daño, a el y a todos los que tiene cerca. Pero sus prioridades cambian cuando comienzan a aparecer muertos sus compañeros del grupo de PTSD, y de formas tan horribles que no parecen ser causados por ninguna persona o animal conocido. Así que junto con Grad deciden investigar los asesinatos, esperando poder detenerlos. Pero serán capaces de hacerlos? Como lograr detener algo que ni siquiera sabes si es humano o animal? Podrán Elien y Grad llegan a algún tipo de acuerdo que les permita realmente trabajar juntos?
Esta fue una lectura que no me termino de convencer. Tiene momentos tensión, algunas pistas sobre lo que están persiguiendo, pero casi desde el comienzo sabes como va a terminar todo. Además, los protas no tenían ninguna química entre ellos. La malcriadez y terquedad de Elien me desesperaba, y la pasividad de Grad me molestaba.
A este libro no le conseguí ni pies ni cabeza, no hay un razonamiento lógico del porque los asesinatos en ese momento, ni porque hicieron lo que hicieron, ni siquiera hay un verdadero motivo de los protas de atraparlos mas que la terquedad de "vengarse" de lo que le hizo a sus amigos.
En fin, he leído otros libros de este autor y no me habían parecido tan lentos o pesados de leer, quizás mas adelante le de otra oportunidad con alguna de sus otras series, porque esta no pienso continuarla
Esta fue una lectura que no me termino de convencer. Tiene momentos tensión, algunas pistas sobre lo que están persiguiendo, pero casi desde el comienzo sabes como va a terminar todo. Además, los protas no tenían ninguna química entre ellos. La malcriadez y terquedad de Elien me desesperaba, y la pasividad de Grad me molestaba.
A este libro no le conseguí ni pies ni cabeza, no hay un razonamiento lógico del porque los asesinatos en ese momento, ni porque hicieron lo que hicieron, ni siquiera hay un verdadero motivo de los protas de atraparlos mas que la terquedad de "vengarse" de lo que le hizo a sus amigos.
En fin, he leído otros libros de este autor y no me habían parecido tan lentos o pesados de leer, quizás mas adelante le de otra oportunidad con alguna de sus otras series, porque esta no pienso continuarla
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 1, 2021
Wow, so, somehow I did it. I read all of Ashe's books (not counting the co-authored ones) I wanted to read (aka everything but what I think was his very first series) in a month. And we ended with a hell of a bang, too, because I fucking loved this.
I didn't know what to expect from this and the paranormal element didn't phase me after reading the author's Hollow Folk series but this was more a case of monsters existing instead of this being a world where people had gifts, or powers, so it was still something new. But what made this so good, beyond the well done spooky mystery, was the characters at the heart of this. Ashe has given us another damaged character in Elien, but different from the protagonists who have come before him, and in Dag we had.. well, a big lovely delightful teddy bear. Who knew exactly how to deal with Elien.
For being a story with a rampaging killer monster in it, this was ridiculously sweet and precious and while I would love to read more about these two, I loved how it ended. It was just right.
4.5 stars
I didn't know what to expect from this and the paranormal element didn't phase me after reading the author's Hollow Folk series but this was more a case of monsters existing instead of this being a world where people had gifts, or powers, so it was still something new. But what made this so good, beyond the well done spooky mystery, was the characters at the heart of this. Ashe has given us another damaged character in Elien, but different from the protagonists who have come before him, and in Dag we had.. well, a big lovely delightful teddy bear. Who knew exactly how to deal with Elien.
For being a story with a rampaging killer monster in it, this was ridiculously sweet and precious and while I would love to read more about these two, I loved how it ended. It was just right.
4.5 stars
October 10, 2020
This is another fantastic, gripping, spellbinding piece of fiction by Gregory Ashe that fits wonderfully into his backlist of phenomenal plot, strong character growth, and lyrical narrative. Honestly, I vibe 100% with Ashe's style and talent, and at this point, I don't expect to ever not be head over heels for one of his books. But this one stood out in stark contrast—not only for being a paranormal/horror when Ashe writes mostly mysteries, but he went all-out with the imagination, which was simply delicious to read.
Our story follows Elien Martel, a young man living in DuPage Parish outside of New Orleans, who's had his world turned upside down by tragedy. His older boyfriend, Richard, a psychiatrist, encourages him to attend a support group for those with PTSD—a plan that backfires when members of the group begin to die one-by-one. Elien is Suspect #1 for Mason, another member of the group and a local cop, so much so that Mason decides to try and take Elien out himself. When Mason becomes another victim of the mysterious deaths, Elien looks to Dag LeBlanc, Mason's partner on the force, for help, support, and most surprisingly—love.
The characterization in Stray Fears is where this book gets all its gold stars. Ashe time and again constructs original, believable, and lovable personalities that are flawed, broken, romantic, and complex. Elien is a beautiful and fractured soul, that on the surface, jokes and makes light of his mental health, but underneath the smart-mouth veneer he's desperate to be whole again and find closure from his past. Then there's Dag. He's the sweetest, most wholesome love interest and partner I think Ashe has ever written. A truly kind and caring man who does his best as a cop, excels at hunting down the horror behind the murders, and has an absolutely hilarious and awesome relationship with his parents. (Mom and Dad seriously stole the spotlight!)
Stray Fears is such a great book. I consumed the entire thing within a day or two—there's just never a good place to stop because every chapter one-ups in terms of danger, mystery, deaths, and terrifying details of the monster—yes, monster. But I'll say no more here, for fear of giving away even the tinniest sliver that ought to be savored when first experienced by the reader.
Another winning book full of complex and compelling storytelling. Ashe simply does not and cannot disappoint!
Our story follows Elien Martel, a young man living in DuPage Parish outside of New Orleans, who's had his world turned upside down by tragedy. His older boyfriend, Richard, a psychiatrist, encourages him to attend a support group for those with PTSD—a plan that backfires when members of the group begin to die one-by-one. Elien is Suspect #1 for Mason, another member of the group and a local cop, so much so that Mason decides to try and take Elien out himself. When Mason becomes another victim of the mysterious deaths, Elien looks to Dag LeBlanc, Mason's partner on the force, for help, support, and most surprisingly—love.
The characterization in Stray Fears is where this book gets all its gold stars. Ashe time and again constructs original, believable, and lovable personalities that are flawed, broken, romantic, and complex. Elien is a beautiful and fractured soul, that on the surface, jokes and makes light of his mental health, but underneath the smart-mouth veneer he's desperate to be whole again and find closure from his past. Then there's Dag. He's the sweetest, most wholesome love interest and partner I think Ashe has ever written. A truly kind and caring man who does his best as a cop, excels at hunting down the horror behind the murders, and has an absolutely hilarious and awesome relationship with his parents. (Mom and Dad seriously stole the spotlight!)
Stray Fears is such a great book. I consumed the entire thing within a day or two—there's just never a good place to stop because every chapter one-ups in terms of danger, mystery, deaths, and terrifying details of the monster—yes, monster. But I'll say no more here, for fear of giving away even the tinniest sliver that ought to be savored when first experienced by the reader.
Another winning book full of complex and compelling storytelling. Ashe simply does not and cannot disappoint!
December 13, 2020
I've given this an A- at AAR, so 4.5 stars
Stray Fears is another compelling story from the pen of Gregory Ashe that once again showcases his talent for creating strong, clever plots and engaging but flawed characters who exhibit considerable growth as individuals throughout the course of the story. As in most of his output, we’ve got an intriguing mystery and a central romance, but this time the mystery has a paranormal/horror vibe that focuses on the members of a support group for people with PTSD. It’s an imaginative, fast-moving and perfectly-paced story in which the author creates a real sense of menace that builds from chapter to chapter, making it a difficult book to put down.
Twenty-two-year-old Elien Martel’s life was ripped apart around a year earlier when his parents were shot dead by his older brother who then turned the gun upon himself. Plagued by grief and guilt, Elien is volatile and prone to lashing out, especially at his much older boyfriend, Richard (whom he lives with), a psychiatrist whose Quiet Understanding (Elien’s capitalisation), insistence on Giving Him Space and refusal to have a damn good row irritates Elien no end. It’s Richard who encourages Elien to attend a support group for people with PTSD which is run by one of his colleagues. Even though Elien comes across as a bit of a self-centred prick to start with, he’s really good with the other members of the group, showing them kindness and compassion and offering support when they need it. The group leader even suggests Elien could lead a support group himself – an idea he laughs off – but he agrees to her request that he keep an eye on fellow group member Ray who’s not been doing so well lately.
A day or so after this, Sheriff’s deputy Dag LeBlanc answers the call for a wellness check on Ray Field and arrives at Ray’s building with his partner Mason – who is a member of the same support group as Elien. Mason dislikes Elien intensely – and for no apparent reason – and when he and Dag arrive to find it was Ellen who made the call, Mason tries to persuade Dag the guy is pulling some kind of stunt – but Dag calmly dismisses that idea and accompanies Elien to Ray’s door. Inside, they discover Ray’s dead body, sprawled on his bed, eyes open and dancing with blue fire, and… well, I’m not going to elaborate, so I’ll just say that things take a really creepy turn, and Dag – deciding he can’t possibly have seen what he thinks he saw – escorts a freaked-out Elien outside… only for the guy to accuse him of cowardice when Dag refuses to acknowledge anything out of the ordinary happened.
But Dag isn’t going to be able to stay in denial for much longer. Mason has been behaving increasingly erratically, and he tries to kill Elien – in broad daylight and full view of anyone passing by – after the next meeting of the support group. Dag, who had been waiting to collect Mason and take him home, intervenes quickly – and this time there’s no denying that something weird is going on. Not long after this, a third member of the group is found dead, apparently a suicide… then a fourth. Someone – or something – is picking off the members of the group one by one, and isn’t going to stop until they’re all dead.
The plot moves swiftly as Elien and Dag race to find out who – or what – is responsible for the murders and then work out a way to stop them before they become its latest victims. Mr. Ashe makes good use of local (the story is set just outside New Orleans) mythology to add extra chills, and the pervasive sense of dread grows slowly but inexorably as Elien and Dag get closer to the truth and we head towards a final nail-biting confrontation.
The plot is solid and the locations are vividly described, but once again, the characterisation is where this author truly shines. He excels at creating believable, loveable characters whose flaws make them that much more human, and the two leads here are no exception. Elien and Dag are like chalk and cheese; Dag is quiet, kind and one of the sweetest characters I think the author has ever written, while deeply troubled Elien is all sharp edges, using his caustic tongue to push people away and make self-disparaging marks about his mental health. Deep down however, he’s a genuinely caring person who just wants to feel whole again and to find some closure following the tragedy that ripped his life apart.
The romance between Elien and Dag develops over only a couple of weeks, but it’s a nicely developed slow-burn, and the strong connection between the pair on an emotional level makes their eventual, hard-won HFN/HEA all the more believable.
Despite the heavy subject matter and the grisly deaths, there’s plenty of humour in the book, which comes mainly from the banter between the leads and from Dag’s parents who are wonderfully supportive of him but are perhaps too invested in his love life! Given that so many protagonists in Mr. Ashe’s books have difficult relationships with their parents, it was a welcome change to read about a healthy familial relationship – even if the LeBlancs do go a bit over the top at times!
My only real criticism of the book is with the fact that Elien stumbles across answers a little easily and conveniently, and I admit that caused me to dither over the grade a bit. In the end though, it didn’t really spoil my enjoyment of what is an otherwise well-put together story, and as it’s a book I’ll re-read, onto the keeper shelf it goes. I don’t read horror in general, so I can’t really offer any insights as to how far Stray Fears fits into that genre, but as a paranormal mystery/romance, it offers a gripping, spine-tingling read for the long dark winter nights.
Note: This book contains several violent (off-screen) suicides and a scene of attempted sexual assault.
Stray Fears is another compelling story from the pen of Gregory Ashe that once again showcases his talent for creating strong, clever plots and engaging but flawed characters who exhibit considerable growth as individuals throughout the course of the story. As in most of his output, we’ve got an intriguing mystery and a central romance, but this time the mystery has a paranormal/horror vibe that focuses on the members of a support group for people with PTSD. It’s an imaginative, fast-moving and perfectly-paced story in which the author creates a real sense of menace that builds from chapter to chapter, making it a difficult book to put down.
Twenty-two-year-old Elien Martel’s life was ripped apart around a year earlier when his parents were shot dead by his older brother who then turned the gun upon himself. Plagued by grief and guilt, Elien is volatile and prone to lashing out, especially at his much older boyfriend, Richard (whom he lives with), a psychiatrist whose Quiet Understanding (Elien’s capitalisation), insistence on Giving Him Space and refusal to have a damn good row irritates Elien no end. It’s Richard who encourages Elien to attend a support group for people with PTSD which is run by one of his colleagues. Even though Elien comes across as a bit of a self-centred prick to start with, he’s really good with the other members of the group, showing them kindness and compassion and offering support when they need it. The group leader even suggests Elien could lead a support group himself – an idea he laughs off – but he agrees to her request that he keep an eye on fellow group member Ray who’s not been doing so well lately.
A day or so after this, Sheriff’s deputy Dag LeBlanc answers the call for a wellness check on Ray Field and arrives at Ray’s building with his partner Mason – who is a member of the same support group as Elien. Mason dislikes Elien intensely – and for no apparent reason – and when he and Dag arrive to find it was Ellen who made the call, Mason tries to persuade Dag the guy is pulling some kind of stunt – but Dag calmly dismisses that idea and accompanies Elien to Ray’s door. Inside, they discover Ray’s dead body, sprawled on his bed, eyes open and dancing with blue fire, and… well, I’m not going to elaborate, so I’ll just say that things take a really creepy turn, and Dag – deciding he can’t possibly have seen what he thinks he saw – escorts a freaked-out Elien outside… only for the guy to accuse him of cowardice when Dag refuses to acknowledge anything out of the ordinary happened.
But Dag isn’t going to be able to stay in denial for much longer. Mason has been behaving increasingly erratically, and he tries to kill Elien – in broad daylight and full view of anyone passing by – after the next meeting of the support group. Dag, who had been waiting to collect Mason and take him home, intervenes quickly – and this time there’s no denying that something weird is going on. Not long after this, a third member of the group is found dead, apparently a suicide… then a fourth. Someone – or something – is picking off the members of the group one by one, and isn’t going to stop until they’re all dead.
The plot moves swiftly as Elien and Dag race to find out who – or what – is responsible for the murders and then work out a way to stop them before they become its latest victims. Mr. Ashe makes good use of local (the story is set just outside New Orleans) mythology to add extra chills, and the pervasive sense of dread grows slowly but inexorably as Elien and Dag get closer to the truth and we head towards a final nail-biting confrontation.
The plot is solid and the locations are vividly described, but once again, the characterisation is where this author truly shines. He excels at creating believable, loveable characters whose flaws make them that much more human, and the two leads here are no exception. Elien and Dag are like chalk and cheese; Dag is quiet, kind and one of the sweetest characters I think the author has ever written, while deeply troubled Elien is all sharp edges, using his caustic tongue to push people away and make self-disparaging marks about his mental health. Deep down however, he’s a genuinely caring person who just wants to feel whole again and to find some closure following the tragedy that ripped his life apart.
The romance between Elien and Dag develops over only a couple of weeks, but it’s a nicely developed slow-burn, and the strong connection between the pair on an emotional level makes their eventual, hard-won HFN/HEA all the more believable.
Despite the heavy subject matter and the grisly deaths, there’s plenty of humour in the book, which comes mainly from the banter between the leads and from Dag’s parents who are wonderfully supportive of him but are perhaps too invested in his love life! Given that so many protagonists in Mr. Ashe’s books have difficult relationships with their parents, it was a welcome change to read about a healthy familial relationship – even if the LeBlancs do go a bit over the top at times!
My only real criticism of the book is with the fact that Elien stumbles across answers a little easily and conveniently, and I admit that caused me to dither over the grade a bit. In the end though, it didn’t really spoil my enjoyment of what is an otherwise well-put together story, and as it’s a book I’ll re-read, onto the keeper shelf it goes. I don’t read horror in general, so I can’t really offer any insights as to how far Stray Fears fits into that genre, but as a paranormal mystery/romance, it offers a gripping, spine-tingling read for the long dark winter nights.
Note: This book contains several violent (off-screen) suicides and a scene of attempted sexual assault.
December 31, 2021
RTC * I swear but I have to get all this stuff out of the way before I can think, LOL.
October 31, 2022
I need to create a different rating system for Greg's books. I can't keep rating them all 5, it doesn't mean anything anymore. This book, THIS BOOK, is a 6 on the revised Ashe Rating Scale, which means it's approximately 12 stars in GR rating.
I have never fallen in love this fast and this hard for a book or its characters.
I'll come back and write more later, right now I just want to jump into book 2 straight away.
But just know that this is the perfect Halloween read, scary monster, creepy suspects, the mystery aspect is (as usual) masterfully executed. It's also an easier read than your usual GA book, less painful. Eli is hurting but Dag is good and their relationship is the sweetest Greg has ever written. I'm a big fan of his most painful books (hello Transactional Dynamics) but I must admit that it's also really nice to be able to enjoy more straightforward dynamics.
On to book 2!
I have never fallen in love this fast and this hard for a book or its characters.
I'll come back and write more later, right now I just want to jump into book 2 straight away.
But just know that this is the perfect Halloween read, scary monster, creepy suspects, the mystery aspect is (as usual) masterfully executed. It's also an easier read than your usual GA book, less painful. Eli is hurting but Dag is good and their relationship is the sweetest Greg has ever written. I'm a big fan of his most painful books (hello Transactional Dynamics) but I must admit that it's also really nice to be able to enjoy more straightforward dynamics.
On to book 2!
October 4, 2024
Okay. I did not know I was looking for horror romance, but here we are. Already bought the rest of the series.
January 9, 2021
This was a bit disappointing compared to the author’s other books. It wasn’t bad but not great either. I don’t really recommend this book unless you just want to read the author’s complete works.
May 7, 2024
Fun to see GA branching out into horror, but this didn't feel quite at his normal level.
November 7, 2023
I've given this a B+ for narration and an A- for content at AudioGals - 4.5 stars
Gregory Ashe’s paranormal/horror novel Stray Fears is a spooky tale featuring two engaging, flawed characters and a clever mystery plotline which draws on Louisiana folklore for inspiration. I read and enjoyed it when it was published last year, and was pleased to see it coming to audio with Declan Winters narrating; I’ve enjoyed his work in C.S. Poe’s Magic & Steam series and was looking forward to a similarly strong performance here.
The story centres around a support group for people with PTSD, and when it begins, a meeting is in progress. Elien Martel is one of the attendees, a young man of twenty-two whose life was ripped apart a year earlier when his elder brother shot their parents and then himself. Mired in grief and guilt, Elien is a mess; volatile, sarcastic and filled with self-loathing, he lives with his much older boyfriend Richard – a psychiatrist and therapist – whose equanimity and refusal to rise to Elien’s frequent baiting and have a damn good row irritate Elien no end.
Quite honestly, Elien seems like a total dick much of the time, but his sharp tongue belies a genuine kindness and wit, and he’s surprisingly good with the other members of the group, showing them the sort of patience and compassion he doesn’t extend to himself. When the group leader – who is a colleague of Richard’s – asks Elien if he’ll check up on fellow group member Ray, who hasn’t been doing so well lately, Elien agrees without question.
Sheriff’s Deputy Dagobert – Dag – LeBlanc has been on the job for a few years now, but even though he’s good at it (something he continually disputes) it’s not really what he wants to do with his life. He’s a total sweetheart; kind, supportive and caring, he just wants a simple life where he can enjoy listening to his whale song and indulge his interest in marine life.
Elien and Dag meet when, a few days after the group meeting, Elien goes to Ray’s apartment and after getting no response to his knocking on the door and calling Ray’s name, dials 911 and requests a wellness check. Dag and his partner Mason – who is also a member of the support group and who, for no apparent reason, hates Elien’s guts – respond to the call, but when Mason sees Elien there, he tries to persuade Dag that Elien is pulling some kind of stunt and that they should leave. But Dag isn’t about to neglect his duty and calmly accompanies Elien into Ray’s apartment, where they find Ray’s dead body sprawled on the bed, eyes open and dancing with blue fire. No spoilers, but things take a particularly creepy turn here – and Dag escorts a freaked-out Elien out of the building, only for Elien to call him a coward for refusing to admit to the truth of what they’d both seen happening inside.
A few days later, however, finds Dag unable to deny that something weird is going on when he goes to pick up Mason from a group meeting – and watches him pull a gun on Elien in broad daylight. Dag acts quickly to stop his friend murdering Elien in cold blood – but unfortunately, Mason is killed during the altercation. Not long after this, another member of the support group is found dead, apparently by suicide, and then another… someone – or something – is picking them off one by one, and clearly isn’t going to stop until they’re all dead, and Dag and Elien are going to have to work quickly to find out who – or what – is responsible before they become its latest victims.
Stray Fears is fast-paced and imaginative, and Mr. Ashe creates a real sense of unease right from the start, developing a strong sense of disquiet as the story progresses and peppering it with a few nail-biting set-pieces along the way. The spooky mystery is really well done, but once again, it’s the damaged yet loveable characters who are the book’s heart and soul. Mr. Ashe excels at creating protagonists who, while sometimes massively flawed are nonetheless captivating individuals you come to care about and root for – and that’s especially true of Elien here. He’s suffered a horrible tragedy – and worse – and he clearly doesn’t like himself very much, but despite his propensity for self-destruction he’s sympathetic, in that he just wants to feel whole and ‘normal’ again. Dag… well, Dag is this huge teddy bear who, while generally calm and laid back, is no pushover and quickly works out how to handle Elien. Their romance is sweet and although it takes place over a short space of time (shocker! It’s a Gregory Ashe book – what’s going on?! *wink*) it’s founded on a strong connection and, actually, does have the feel of a slow burn about it.
Despite the dark subject matter, there is a considerable amount of humour in the book, much of it provided by Dag’s parents, who clearly adore their son, but are just a little bit (!) over-invested in his love life – and Elien’s snark and Dag’s dry sense of humour are entertaining, too.
Declan Winters proves once again that he’s a narrator to look out for in m/m audiobooks. I said, when I reviewed him in The Gangster , that I suspected he may work under another name as well because he was too good to be a newbie, and I’ve since discovered that to be the case; I mention it only because if, like me, you check out a new-to-you-narrator by looking up what else they’ve done, I don’t want you to be put off by the small number of books he’s narrated under this name. His performance is well-paced and clearly enunciated, and he voices the various supporting characters – male and female – using a variety of timbre and tone and differentiates well between them all. His portrayals of Dag and Elien work really well; he does a great job of conveying the vulnerability beneath Elien’s sharp-tongued waspishness, and the bravery and stubbornness that lurk behind Dag’s easy-going exterior; his comic timing is good in the bantering exchanges and other lighter moments, and you can hear the exasperated affection in Dag’s interactions with his parents. The one criticism I can level is that there isn’t always enough of a difference between the way Dag and Elien sound, so that sometimes I struggled to work out which of them was speaking during conversations or whose PoV we were in (the story is third person alternating PoV.) Dag has a very very slight Southern accent, which I appreciated, because it’s enough to subtly place the story without being completely over the top, but because it’s so slight, it completely disappears at times, and leaves Dag and Elien sounding too similar in both narrative and dialogue. That caused me to knock off half a grade point, but otherwise, Mr. Winters delivers a strong and expressive performance, expertly conveying the strength of the emotional connection between the two leads and injecting just the right amount of tension into the scary bits!
Stray Fears is every bit as clever, twisty and well-plotted as Gregory Ashe’s ‘usual’ mysteries, and the characters are just as complex and well-observed. I’d probably describe it as paranormal rather than horror, although there’s no denying it does have some grisly moments, and that the pervasive sense of dread that builds throughout is truly creepy! If you’re unfamiliar with the author’s work, this could be a good place to start, as it’s the first in a series (book two, Cascade Hunger came out in print at the end of October) – just bear in mind you might want to listen to it in a well-lit room or from behind the sofa!
This book features several violent (off-screen) suicides, gaslighting and a scene of attempted sexual assault.
This review originally appeared at AudioGals .
Gregory Ashe’s paranormal/horror novel Stray Fears is a spooky tale featuring two engaging, flawed characters and a clever mystery plotline which draws on Louisiana folklore for inspiration. I read and enjoyed it when it was published last year, and was pleased to see it coming to audio with Declan Winters narrating; I’ve enjoyed his work in C.S. Poe’s Magic & Steam series and was looking forward to a similarly strong performance here.
The story centres around a support group for people with PTSD, and when it begins, a meeting is in progress. Elien Martel is one of the attendees, a young man of twenty-two whose life was ripped apart a year earlier when his elder brother shot their parents and then himself. Mired in grief and guilt, Elien is a mess; volatile, sarcastic and filled with self-loathing, he lives with his much older boyfriend Richard – a psychiatrist and therapist – whose equanimity and refusal to rise to Elien’s frequent baiting and have a damn good row irritate Elien no end.
Quite honestly, Elien seems like a total dick much of the time, but his sharp tongue belies a genuine kindness and wit, and he’s surprisingly good with the other members of the group, showing them the sort of patience and compassion he doesn’t extend to himself. When the group leader – who is a colleague of Richard’s – asks Elien if he’ll check up on fellow group member Ray, who hasn’t been doing so well lately, Elien agrees without question.
Sheriff’s Deputy Dagobert – Dag – LeBlanc has been on the job for a few years now, but even though he’s good at it (something he continually disputes) it’s not really what he wants to do with his life. He’s a total sweetheart; kind, supportive and caring, he just wants a simple life where he can enjoy listening to his whale song and indulge his interest in marine life.
Elien and Dag meet when, a few days after the group meeting, Elien goes to Ray’s apartment and after getting no response to his knocking on the door and calling Ray’s name, dials 911 and requests a wellness check. Dag and his partner Mason – who is also a member of the support group and who, for no apparent reason, hates Elien’s guts – respond to the call, but when Mason sees Elien there, he tries to persuade Dag that Elien is pulling some kind of stunt and that they should leave. But Dag isn’t about to neglect his duty and calmly accompanies Elien into Ray’s apartment, where they find Ray’s dead body sprawled on the bed, eyes open and dancing with blue fire. No spoilers, but things take a particularly creepy turn here – and Dag escorts a freaked-out Elien out of the building, only for Elien to call him a coward for refusing to admit to the truth of what they’d both seen happening inside.
A few days later, however, finds Dag unable to deny that something weird is going on when he goes to pick up Mason from a group meeting – and watches him pull a gun on Elien in broad daylight. Dag acts quickly to stop his friend murdering Elien in cold blood – but unfortunately, Mason is killed during the altercation. Not long after this, another member of the support group is found dead, apparently by suicide, and then another… someone – or something – is picking them off one by one, and clearly isn’t going to stop until they’re all dead, and Dag and Elien are going to have to work quickly to find out who – or what – is responsible before they become its latest victims.
Stray Fears is fast-paced and imaginative, and Mr. Ashe creates a real sense of unease right from the start, developing a strong sense of disquiet as the story progresses and peppering it with a few nail-biting set-pieces along the way. The spooky mystery is really well done, but once again, it’s the damaged yet loveable characters who are the book’s heart and soul. Mr. Ashe excels at creating protagonists who, while sometimes massively flawed are nonetheless captivating individuals you come to care about and root for – and that’s especially true of Elien here. He’s suffered a horrible tragedy – and worse – and he clearly doesn’t like himself very much, but despite his propensity for self-destruction he’s sympathetic, in that he just wants to feel whole and ‘normal’ again. Dag… well, Dag is this huge teddy bear who, while generally calm and laid back, is no pushover and quickly works out how to handle Elien. Their romance is sweet and although it takes place over a short space of time (shocker! It’s a Gregory Ashe book – what’s going on?! *wink*) it’s founded on a strong connection and, actually, does have the feel of a slow burn about it.
Despite the dark subject matter, there is a considerable amount of humour in the book, much of it provided by Dag’s parents, who clearly adore their son, but are just a little bit (!) over-invested in his love life – and Elien’s snark and Dag’s dry sense of humour are entertaining, too.
Declan Winters proves once again that he’s a narrator to look out for in m/m audiobooks. I said, when I reviewed him in The Gangster , that I suspected he may work under another name as well because he was too good to be a newbie, and I’ve since discovered that to be the case; I mention it only because if, like me, you check out a new-to-you-narrator by looking up what else they’ve done, I don’t want you to be put off by the small number of books he’s narrated under this name. His performance is well-paced and clearly enunciated, and he voices the various supporting characters – male and female – using a variety of timbre and tone and differentiates well between them all. His portrayals of Dag and Elien work really well; he does a great job of conveying the vulnerability beneath Elien’s sharp-tongued waspishness, and the bravery and stubbornness that lurk behind Dag’s easy-going exterior; his comic timing is good in the bantering exchanges and other lighter moments, and you can hear the exasperated affection in Dag’s interactions with his parents. The one criticism I can level is that there isn’t always enough of a difference between the way Dag and Elien sound, so that sometimes I struggled to work out which of them was speaking during conversations or whose PoV we were in (the story is third person alternating PoV.) Dag has a very very slight Southern accent, which I appreciated, because it’s enough to subtly place the story without being completely over the top, but because it’s so slight, it completely disappears at times, and leaves Dag and Elien sounding too similar in both narrative and dialogue. That caused me to knock off half a grade point, but otherwise, Mr. Winters delivers a strong and expressive performance, expertly conveying the strength of the emotional connection between the two leads and injecting just the right amount of tension into the scary bits!
Stray Fears is every bit as clever, twisty and well-plotted as Gregory Ashe’s ‘usual’ mysteries, and the characters are just as complex and well-observed. I’d probably describe it as paranormal rather than horror, although there’s no denying it does have some grisly moments, and that the pervasive sense of dread that builds throughout is truly creepy! If you’re unfamiliar with the author’s work, this could be a good place to start, as it’s the first in a series (book two, Cascade Hunger came out in print at the end of October) – just bear in mind you might want to listen to it in a well-lit room or from behind the sofa!
This book features several violent (off-screen) suicides, gaslighting and a scene of attempted sexual assault.
This review originally appeared at AudioGals .
May 3, 2024
So enjoyable. Reminded me of Buffy in the best way, entertaining but just enough dark and scary things happening to hook me in. I instantly loved the characters too so looking forward to next book in the series.
September 27, 2021
Yet another book buried in my mountainous tbr pile 😕. 4 stars from me.
Creepy story from Greg, this time set in Louisiana. Have already ordered book 2 Cascade Hunger, which comes out at the end of next month.
Creepy story from Greg, this time set in Louisiana. Have already ordered book 2 Cascade Hunger, which comes out at the end of next month.
March 13, 2023
Sooo I finished this book in one sitting - very much so had my attention from start to finish, which to me is a very good sign for a mystery/romance!
This has spooky stuff, this has horror, this has gore. This also has a very slow and sweet romance!
I appreciated the little cute moments between the MCs, eating pizza in bed, bickering, setting boundaries, understanding that they came with baggage. It worked. Also don't mind me finding overbearing parents actually endearing??
I will say the beginning was a little rough to start out with, but once it started moving and there was character development and background shared, I was invested.
Also! The narration!! Was so good! 4.5 stars only because I think it'll only get better in the next book.
This has spooky stuff, this has horror, this has gore. This also has a very slow and sweet romance!
I appreciated the little cute moments between the MCs, eating pizza in bed, bickering, setting boundaries, understanding that they came with baggage. It worked. Also don't mind me finding overbearing parents actually endearing??
I will say the beginning was a little rough to start out with, but once it started moving and there was character development and background shared, I was invested.
Also! The narration!! Was so good! 4.5 stars only because I think it'll only get better in the next book.
October 25, 2020
I'm not even overly keen on supernatural themes, but this was yet another great book from Gregory Ashe and a nice read to get you into that Halloween spirit.
I do regret starting reading this before bed last night, as I stayed up until 3am reading it, and then didn't accomplish half the things I wanted to get done today so that I could finish reading it.
I do regret starting reading this before bed last night, as I stayed up until 3am reading it, and then didn't accomplish half the things I wanted to get done today so that I could finish reading it.
October 1, 2022
Really? Three stars for Gregory Ashe? Well, grading on a curve (if that means what I think it means), yes.
Ashe's genius with words, descriptions and characterisation remains 5-star stuff. But compared to Hazard & Somers or the Lamb & the Lion, "Stray Fears" felt curiously unformed.
I think it's because the scope of what Elien is up against can't be fully comprehended until it's over, so the reader, like Elien, flounders to understand what's happening. In his non-paranormal books, Ashe describes his worlds so bountifully that half the pleasure (for this reader, anyway) is feeling confident enough to guess what might be happening, and sometimes even to get it right! It's a fantastic talent that Ashe has, to flatter his readers by helping them predict events just before the MCs get there.
Here, though, with events linked to an other-worldly set of forces, that sense of fully inhabiting the book's world is (for me) missing.
Ashe's genius with words, descriptions and characterisation remains 5-star stuff. But compared to Hazard & Somers or the Lamb & the Lion, "Stray Fears" felt curiously unformed.
I think it's because the scope of what Elien is up against can't be fully comprehended until it's over, so the reader, like Elien, flounders to understand what's happening. In his non-paranormal books, Ashe describes his worlds so bountifully that half the pleasure (for this reader, anyway) is feeling confident enough to guess what might be happening, and sometimes even to get it right! It's a fantastic talent that Ashe has, to flatter his readers by helping them predict events just before the MCs get there.
Here, though, with events linked to an other-worldly set of forces, that sense of fully inhabiting the book's world is (for me) missing.
July 7, 2022
Well, nobody will be surprised to know that I love this book, it's Gregory Ashe, of course I love it!
The characters, as always, are great. Dag is such a wonderful person, so caring and so brave... and he has no clue about it. Elien, however, is a tougher sell. Yes, I later understood why he was acting the way he was and could sympathize with him, but it took me a while. But once I got there I loved him. He is... floating through life, not really living. He's broken and hurt and he knows that hiding behind his walls of lies, self-deprecating humour and temper tantrums he can keep himself safe.
He is very traumatized by an event in his past, and all of what is going on is bringing back memories of it and making him wonder if what happened one-year ago it's related to what it's happening now. His PTSD is very real and soon things are spiralling into a vortex of violence and death. But he manages to stand up for what he knows it's real and fight back. Dag helps him, even when he's also in a very bad place after having to kill his partner, who, in what seems to be a psychotic break, tried to shoot Elian, because he knows that it's the right thing to do. Seeing Elien growing and getting rid of his chains of fear is beautiful, but watching these two men learn to trust in each other and falling in love? That, it's even better.
Their relationship is fantastic because Dag challenges Elian, he takes no shit and he doesn't allow him to use his mental health's issues as an excuse. Understanding and patient, but not coddling nor enabling. And Dag's family! OMG! They were such a refreshing breeze of humour!
And I won't talk about the rest of the characters, because I don't want to spoil the story.
I love that the 'monster' comes from Louisiana's folklore. I always enjoy more those stories that are based on legends and myths. And boy, did I enjoy this one.
There are a lot of really scary moments, full of tension and suspense, but there are also a lot of emotional and funny ones.
The story is gripping and spin-chilling, the mystery thrilling and the writing, superb. This book should be your first choice as Halloween's reading :)
EDIT: Well, while I'm waiting for the audiobook for Final Orders I decided to revisit this series, which I adore.
And it was as scary this time as it was the first one. I still find the characters amazing, the way in which we get to slowly know them, particularly Elian. Yes, he's hard to like at the beginning but even at his worst, you can see there is a core of goodness in him.
The mystery of the monster is soooooooooooo good! The way in which Elian investigates it it's... different *laughs* But it shows you that you should always be considerate to your librarian :P
And Dag parents are a nightmare *dies laughing*
I really hope there will be a new book in this series, because I love these characters ♥
The characters, as always, are great. Dag is such a wonderful person, so caring and so brave... and he has no clue about it. Elien, however, is a tougher sell. Yes, I later understood why he was acting the way he was and could sympathize with him, but it took me a while. But once I got there I loved him. He is... floating through life, not really living. He's broken and hurt and he knows that hiding behind his walls of lies, self-deprecating humour and temper tantrums he can keep himself safe.
He is very traumatized by an event in his past, and all of what is going on is bringing back memories of it and making him wonder if what happened one-year ago it's related to what it's happening now. His PTSD is very real and soon things are spiralling into a vortex of violence and death. But he manages to stand up for what he knows it's real and fight back. Dag helps him, even when he's also in a very bad place after having to kill his partner, who, in what seems to be a psychotic break, tried to shoot Elian, because he knows that it's the right thing to do. Seeing Elien growing and getting rid of his chains of fear is beautiful, but watching these two men learn to trust in each other and falling in love? That, it's even better.
Their relationship is fantastic because Dag challenges Elian, he takes no shit and he doesn't allow him to use his mental health's issues as an excuse. Understanding and patient, but not coddling nor enabling. And Dag's family! OMG! They were such a refreshing breeze of humour!
And I won't talk about the rest of the characters, because I don't want to spoil the story.
I love that the 'monster' comes from Louisiana's folklore. I always enjoy more those stories that are based on legends and myths. And boy, did I enjoy this one.
There are a lot of really scary moments, full of tension and suspense, but there are also a lot of emotional and funny ones.
The story is gripping and spin-chilling, the mystery thrilling and the writing, superb. This book should be your first choice as Halloween's reading :)
EDIT: Well, while I'm waiting for the audiobook for Final Orders I decided to revisit this series, which I adore.
And it was as scary this time as it was the first one. I still find the characters amazing, the way in which we get to slowly know them, particularly Elian. Yes, he's hard to like at the beginning but even at his worst, you can see there is a core of goodness in him.
The mystery of the monster is soooooooooooo good! The way in which Elian investigates it it's... different *laughs* But it shows you that you should always be considerate to your librarian :P
And Dag parents are a nightmare *dies laughing*
I really hope there will be a new book in this series, because I love these characters ♥
October 30, 2022
4,25/5
Voilà un roman bien différent de ce à quoi nous offre Gregory Ashe d'habitude. Certes c'est un poil dark, étrange, paranormal, mais on retrouve bien sa patte, à savoir une plume captivante d'un bout à l'autre, une enquête, des personnages charismatiques qui fonctionnent à merveille ensemble !
Elien est un jeune homme qui vit sans vivre, je dirais plutôt qu'il survit. Il habite avec son petit-ami, bien plus âgé que lui. Lorsque j'ai sur la profession de ce dernier, je me suis dit que cette situation était vraiment glauque lol
Elien va être témoin de choses étranges, et quelque chose d'horrible va se produire. Par la force des choses il va être lié à Dag, et ensemble ils vont tenter de résoudre cette affaire.
J'ai adoré les personnages, mais vraiment ! Elien a l'air d'être si fragile, mais en même temps il fonce dans le tas. Sa situation est vraiment particulière, comment ne pas être touché par ce jeune homme.
Dag (d'ailleurs, ce nom hein, il s'appelle Dagobert en fait... Alors, même si à la fin du livre, je trouvais que finalement il lui allait bien, pendant un bon moment j'avais une certaine chanson qui impliquait un certain roi qui a mis sa culotte à l'envers ahah) n'aime pas vraiment son job et vit encore avec ses parents. Comme beaucoup de monde, il va être captivé par Elien qu'il va connaître par l'intermédiaire de son collègue Mason.
Comme je le disais, le duo fonctionne super bien ! L'alchimie est présente dès le départ.
Alors certes, le rapprochement est rapide, enfin les sentiments développés en particulier par Dag sont rapides, mais ça marche quand même !
Je n'avais rien lu du résumé, je ne parlerai pas de l'intrigue de fond du coup pour laisser la surprise ^^
L'auteur aborde des sujets peu joyeux dans ce livre, mais on en a un rapide aperçu par l'intermédiaire de Elien au début et de ce qu'il ressent de temps à autre.
A côté de Elien et Dag, on a droit à de nombreux personnages secondaires. Mention spéciale aux parents de Dag qui m'ont fait trop rire !!
Gregory Ashe a d'ailleurs su mêler son intrigue assez sombres, en ajoutant des touches d'humour, mais tellement d'autres choses. Je trouve ce livre vraiment riche et complexe. Rien n'est tout blanc, ni tout noir, mais au contraire, c'est toute une multitudes de tons qu'on y trouve.
Je me rends compte que plus je repense à ce livre en écrivant cet avis et plus je l'ai apprécié et plus j'ai envie de monter ma note. C'est apparemment un one shot, les deux personnages ont leur fin. Mais je me suis attachée à ces deux personnages, dommage que ce soit fini en fait... lol
Voilà un roman bien différent de ce à quoi nous offre Gregory Ashe d'habitude. Certes c'est un poil dark, étrange, paranormal, mais on retrouve bien sa patte, à savoir une plume captivante d'un bout à l'autre, une enquête, des personnages charismatiques qui fonctionnent à merveille ensemble !
Elien est un jeune homme qui vit sans vivre, je dirais plutôt qu'il survit. Il habite avec son petit-ami, bien plus âgé que lui. Lorsque j'ai sur la profession de ce dernier, je me suis dit que cette situation était vraiment glauque lol
Elien va être témoin de choses étranges, et quelque chose d'horrible va se produire. Par la force des choses il va être lié à Dag, et ensemble ils vont tenter de résoudre cette affaire.
J'ai adoré les personnages, mais vraiment ! Elien a l'air d'être si fragile, mais en même temps il fonce dans le tas. Sa situation est vraiment particulière, comment ne pas être touché par ce jeune homme.
Dag (d'ailleurs, ce nom hein, il s'appelle Dagobert en fait... Alors, même si à la fin du livre, je trouvais que finalement il lui allait bien, pendant un bon moment j'avais une certaine chanson qui impliquait un certain roi qui a mis sa culotte à l'envers ahah) n'aime pas vraiment son job et vit encore avec ses parents. Comme beaucoup de monde, il va être captivé par Elien qu'il va connaître par l'intermédiaire de son collègue Mason.
Comme je le disais, le duo fonctionne super bien ! L'alchimie est présente dès le départ.
Alors certes, le rapprochement est rapide, enfin les sentiments développés en particulier par Dag sont rapides, mais ça marche quand même !
Je n'avais rien lu du résumé, je ne parlerai pas de l'intrigue de fond du coup pour laisser la surprise ^^
L'auteur aborde des sujets peu joyeux dans ce livre, mais on en a un rapide aperçu par l'intermédiaire de Elien au début et de ce qu'il ressent de temps à autre.
A côté de Elien et Dag, on a droit à de nombreux personnages secondaires. Mention spéciale aux parents de Dag qui m'ont fait trop rire !!
Gregory Ashe a d'ailleurs su mêler son intrigue assez sombres, en ajoutant des touches d'humour, mais tellement d'autres choses. Je trouve ce livre vraiment riche et complexe. Rien n'est tout blanc, ni tout noir, mais au contraire, c'est toute une multitudes de tons qu'on y trouve.
Je me rends compte que plus je repense à ce livre en écrivant cet avis et plus je l'ai apprécié et plus j'ai envie de monter ma note. C'est apparemment un one shot, les deux personnages ont leur fin. Mais je me suis attachée à ces deux personnages, dommage que ce soit fini en fait... lol
October 26, 2020
5 stars
A whole package.
For someone who never, ever, ever reads paranormal horror, I couldn't take my eyes off this book.
Gregory Ashe managed to mix mystery, romance, suspense in a perfect sync that would leave you always wanting more. The characters were diverse in both their ethnicity and personality, and even though I had my doubts in the beginning Eli and Dag were so perfect and sweet together and managed to lighten up the book and make you fall in love with them at the same time.
I think Eli's character would be more interesting (with his fucktone of trauma and behavioral issues) but I honestly drifted more to Dag,
Dag is strong in his vulnerability; the way he's open and honest and I particularly special in the way he admits his feelings when he's getting hurt without lashing out, and for someone who is portrayed as immature for his age, it makes him lightyears in maturity than most of the characters.
Eli on the other hand does lashing out like no other, his behavior is worrisome, sometimes borderline "crazy angry ex who will trash your car", but you understand that it's his to-go behavior when he's getting hurt. I loved that Dag didn't let it slide, straight out said that he won't accept anyone treating him this way without backing out, and his honesty and vulnerability that lacked any propaganda reined back Eli pretty well--no one wants to hurt someone who's pure goodness and then feel like shit about it.
Dag's parents were amazing. Funny as heck. I was looking forward to every interaction and what kind of shit that will be coming from their mouth.
I didn't expect the ending but I loved it. A perfect Halloween book. Highly recommended.
A whole package.
For someone who never, ever, ever reads paranormal horror, I couldn't take my eyes off this book.
Gregory Ashe managed to mix mystery, romance, suspense in a perfect sync that would leave you always wanting more. The characters were diverse in both their ethnicity and personality, and even though I had my doubts in the beginning Eli and Dag were so perfect and sweet together and managed to lighten up the book and make you fall in love with them at the same time.
I think Eli's character would be more interesting (with his fucktone of trauma and behavioral issues) but I honestly drifted more to Dag,
Dag is strong in his vulnerability; the way he's open and honest and I particularly special in the way he admits his feelings when he's getting hurt without lashing out, and for someone who is portrayed as immature for his age, it makes him lightyears in maturity than most of the characters.
Eli on the other hand does lashing out like no other, his behavior is worrisome, sometimes borderline "crazy angry ex who will trash your car", but you understand that it's his to-go behavior when he's getting hurt. I loved that Dag didn't let it slide, straight out said that he won't accept anyone treating him this way without backing out, and his honesty and vulnerability that lacked any propaganda reined back Eli pretty well--no one wants to hurt someone who's pure goodness and then feel like shit about it.
Dag's parents were amazing. Funny as heck. I was looking forward to every interaction and what kind of shit that will be coming from their mouth.
I didn't expect the ending but I loved it. A perfect Halloween book. Highly recommended.
October 31, 2021
Well, I read/listened to this all in one day and I feel like I completely short-changed myself by not going slower. I have hit my stride with GA's books obviously and it's taking everything inside me not to devour everything I haven't read yet but I really need to give myself time to process the 2 GA books I read back to back.
This was a perfect example of how I like my horror books to be. It was subtle, cerebral and not too gory, but the horror element was still very strong.
I guess I do have some questions about how the creatures were able to function so well in society. How did they get degrees and money initially? I don't know if they took different human forms previously and how long had they been around? It's just stuff I wonder about but I guess it doesn't need to be that deep.
The narrator was very refreshing as well. I don't think I had heard anything by Declan Winters before but I was happy with him.
This was a perfect example of how I like my horror books to be. It was subtle, cerebral and not too gory, but the horror element was still very strong.
I guess I do have some questions about how the creatures were able to function so well in society. How did they get degrees and money initially? I don't know if they took different human forms previously and how long had they been around? It's just stuff I wonder about but I guess it doesn't need to be that deep.
The narrator was very refreshing as well. I don't think I had heard anything by Declan Winters before but I was happy with him.
January 9, 2022
Gregory Ashe writing a paranormal storie was a huge surprise! He crushed it! I could not turn it off. Definitely creepy. Didn’t see where the story/mystery was going. Kinda saw who the big bad was but it took a while. Mild heat. Tigger warnings should be looked up. I cannot wait for the next book. Narration was wonderful. I’ll be checking out more books narrated by him.
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