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Whispering Pines #3
Reckoning
In this thrilling addition to the Whispering Pines middle grade series that’s “a cosmic blend of magical monsters and scary science as frightening as it is fun” ( Kirkus Reviews ), Rae and Caden venture into the monstrous Other Place to rescue their captured friends and save their town.
Eyeless horrors. Giant, flesh-eating bugs. Despite everything Whispering Pines has thrown at her, Rae has never given up searching for her missing father. But when she discovers a surprising connection between his disappearance and Green On!, the shady alternative energy company that runs her town, she’ll be forced to confront a monster more dangerous than anything she’s ever faced before.
Meanwhile, now that Caden’s vindictive older brother is gone, it’s up to him to uphold the family business and ensure that the evil in the Other Place never breaks free. But when a mangled body is discovered in his backyard, he realizes that he can’t protect Whispering Pines from the monstrous creatures of the Other Place—because they’re already here.
The only way for both Caden and Rae to save the people of Whispering Pines is to embark on a mission deep into the heart of the Other Place. There, Caden will have to come to terms with the truth of his family’s legacy and learn how to harness his full power.
If he fails, all the horrors of the Other Place will descend on Whispering Pines, and that’s a threat that the town—and the world—cannot survive.
Eyeless horrors. Giant, flesh-eating bugs. Despite everything Whispering Pines has thrown at her, Rae has never given up searching for her missing father. But when she discovers a surprising connection between his disappearance and Green On!, the shady alternative energy company that runs her town, she’ll be forced to confront a monster more dangerous than anything she’s ever faced before.
Meanwhile, now that Caden’s vindictive older brother is gone, it’s up to him to uphold the family business and ensure that the evil in the Other Place never breaks free. But when a mangled body is discovered in his backyard, he realizes that he can’t protect Whispering Pines from the monstrous creatures of the Other Place—because they’re already here.
The only way for both Caden and Rae to save the people of Whispering Pines is to embark on a mission deep into the heart of the Other Place. There, Caden will have to come to terms with the truth of his family’s legacy and learn how to harness his full power.
If he fails, all the horrors of the Other Place will descend on Whispering Pines, and that’s a threat that the town—and the world—cannot survive.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published September 6, 2022
17 people are currently reading
234 people want to read
About the author
Heidi Lang
15 books108 followersHeidi Lang believes that the next Grand Adventure is always just around the corner. She has chased her love of judo from the East to the West Coast, run ultramarathons, started her own dog-walking business, and converted a Sprinter van into a tiny home so she could experience #vanlife. Currently she lives in Washington with her husband, kids, and two dogs.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
October 3, 2022
Spooktober is upon us!!!
My #1 Spooktober read was certainly not disappointing. I had been forced to wait a whole month and a half to read this book, and believe me, it was agony. 🙃
This book was amazing, and it left me with two primary reactions:
1. Sadness, both because one of my favorite characters didn't get nearly as much screen time (as it were) as I would have liked and because this book is already over and now I have to wait a WHOLE YEAR for the next book. 😭
2. Terror. Right from the first pages, this book had me scared... and that ending... ugh as I read the last page of this book... I seriously think I might die if I don't find out what happens next this very moment. 😱
In summary, this series has become a favorite. Starting Spooktober with this book is settinga very high standard for all the books to follow. 🙃
Stay tuned for my review on Spooktober book #2 "What Lives in the Woods" by Lindsey Currie.
How many of y'all are reading spooky stories this season? Let me know in the comments!
My #1 Spooktober read was certainly not disappointing. I had been forced to wait a whole month and a half to read this book, and believe me, it was agony. 🙃
This book was amazing, and it left me with two primary reactions:
1. Sadness, both because one of my favorite characters didn't get nearly as much screen time (as it were) as I would have liked and because this book is already over and now I have to wait a WHOLE YEAR for the next book. 😭
2. Terror. Right from the first pages, this book had me scared... and that ending... ugh as I read the last page of this book... I seriously think I might die if I don't find out what happens next this very moment. 😱
In summary, this series has become a favorite. Starting Spooktober with this book is settinga very high standard for all the books to follow. 🙃
Stay tuned for my review on Spooktober book #2 "What Lives in the Woods" by Lindsey Currie.
How many of y'all are reading spooky stories this season? Let me know in the comments!
Want to read
June 11, 2022I COULD CRY I'M SO EXCITED I NEED THIS BOOK 😭🙏
March 24, 2023
WOw. Wow. Wowwwwwww! This was EPIC. INCREDIBLE. Absolutely PHENOMENAL. These continue to just get better & better somehow. This is the 3rd in the series, so can't say much. This continues with more terrifying monsters, horrifying science, paranormal/supernatural magical vibes, & more. With a great friendship at the core between Caden, Rae, & Vivienne-but especially between Caden & Rae(the chapters also still alternate POV between the 2 of them, which I love so much). The whole mystery with Patrick, Green On!, Aiden, & the mystery concerning Rae's dad continue to unfold perfectly. Everything is unraveling at the perfect pace. Everything we learn in this 1, especially at the end, was SUPERB. After everything we learn, & that ending?!?! I NEED that next book! I can't wait! Lol The creepy factor seemed amped up a notch too, from the very start. Such an engrossing, gripping, suspenseful, thrilling read. Almost read in 1 sitting. There's was never a point where I could be ok with putting it down-I had to know what was going to happen next. HIGHLY recommend. STUNNING cover by Xavier Collette too!💜
May 30, 2023
4.5 stars.
maybe a TINY bit of infodumping around the 60/70% mark but I can forgive it considering the sheer amount of Things happening that needed to be explained and also because the first 50% was a lot of fun and the last 20% was incredible insanity.
I mentioned in my review of Infestation that this series is neat because each book uses a different kind of horror, and that's true here as well. This time it relied a lot on . It's very compelling (if stressful) and definitely works to keep the last part of the book highly suspenseful. Again, different approach than the other books, but it lands.
This book was ALSO great character development wise because
maybe a TINY bit of infodumping around the 60/70% mark but I can forgive it considering the sheer amount of Things happening that needed to be explained and also because the first 50% was a lot of fun and the last 20% was incredible insanity.
I mentioned in my review of Infestation that this series is neat because each book uses a different kind of horror, and that's true here as well. This time it relied a lot on . It's very compelling (if stressful) and definitely works to keep the last part of the book highly suspenseful. Again, different approach than the other books, but it lands.
This book was ALSO great character development wise because
December 27, 2022
I love it and i want more!!!
September 12, 2022
I stayed up too late to finish this Book 3 and I sure hope there's another one coming. I thought this might be the end, but there could be so much more! Ahhh... this is a series that's popular at my school and I had to read this one before taking it in as I knew I wouldn't see it once it was there!
Creepy, suspenseful and full of surprises!
Creepy, suspenseful and full of surprises!
March 16, 2023
I went into this book thinking that this was a trilogy, and I was a little worried how they were going to wrap everything up. Thankfully, there's one more book left in the series.
Where the last one was more 80s sci-fi, this one felt like it was a nice blend between the horror of the first novel and all the alien goodness of the second. This one, more than the previous two, really felt like Stranger Things, what with Rae, Caden, and Vivienne venturing into the Other Place on a rescue mission, but not in a derivative way. It doesn't feel like a repackaged Stranger Things fanfiction nor does it feel like a straight ripoff; the similarities are there, but it's very much it's own thing.
Reckoning is a much more focused novel than Infestation. I mean this in the nicest way possible, but Infestation really was all about laying the ground work for this book. (And I say this as someone who liked Infestation.) A lot of new ideas where being thrown out, and there was a tonal shift from paranormal creatures from another realm stealing children's eyes to giant killer alien bugs. Here, the two blend together better, the plot lines are pared down and we can see that everything that has happened isn't simply a series of wild events that happen in this zany town, but it's all interconnected. There are several plot twists, and while as an adult I could guess most of them--I'm not going to lie though, there was a red herring that I totally fell for--they're still exciting. Each one had me going, "YES" because the story is just getting crazier and crazier.
I cannot stress enough how fantastic this series is, and not just in a "Oh yeah, kids will love this" way. I'm in my 30s and I LOVE this series. I am constantly telling everyone I know about these books--I horrify my coworkers by giving them updates on what's happening, eliciting cries of, "And this is for children??" every time--and I always have a copy on hand when I'm doing a book talk.
September cannot come soon enough.
Where the last one was more 80s sci-fi, this one felt like it was a nice blend between the horror of the first novel and all the alien goodness of the second. This one, more than the previous two, really felt like Stranger Things, what with Rae, Caden, and Vivienne venturing into the Other Place on a rescue mission, but not in a derivative way. It doesn't feel like a repackaged Stranger Things fanfiction nor does it feel like a straight ripoff; the similarities are there, but it's very much it's own thing.
Reckoning is a much more focused novel than Infestation. I mean this in the nicest way possible, but Infestation really was all about laying the ground work for this book. (And I say this as someone who liked Infestation.) A lot of new ideas where being thrown out, and there was a tonal shift from paranormal creatures from another realm stealing children's eyes to giant killer alien bugs. Here, the two blend together better, the plot lines are pared down and we can see that everything that has happened isn't simply a series of wild events that happen in this zany town, but it's all interconnected. There are several plot twists, and while as an adult I could guess most of them--I'm not going to lie though, there was a red herring that I totally fell for--they're still exciting. Each one had me going, "YES" because the story is just getting crazier and crazier.
I cannot stress enough how fantastic this series is, and not just in a "Oh yeah, kids will love this" way. I'm in my 30s and I LOVE this series. I am constantly telling everyone I know about these books--I horrify my coworkers by giving them updates on what's happening, eliciting cries of, "And this is for children??" every time--and I always have a copy on hand when I'm doing a book talk.
September cannot come soon enough.
October 18, 2022
WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT
LOSING MY MIND RIGHT NOW. THERE MIGHT BE ANOTHER BOOK TO THIS SERIES, RAE AND CAEDEN GO BRRR, VIVI AND NATE WHAT-
So yeah, I am in shock. I haven't read such good writing for middle grade novels. I genuinely was on my HEELS from page one. I love how the plot in Reckoning turned out. This was one of my most anticipated releases. Did not disappoint. Way too good.
Again, Caden and Rae are fantastic characters. The addition of Aiden and Doctor Nguyen and just all around fabulous writing made me scared, SCARED for everybody.
...and the fact that we might have to wait another year...
LOSING MY MIND RIGHT NOW. THERE MIGHT BE ANOTHER BOOK TO THIS SERIES, RAE AND CAEDEN GO BRRR, VIVI AND NATE WHAT-
So yeah, I am in shock. I haven't read such good writing for middle grade novels. I genuinely was on my HEELS from page one. I love how the plot in Reckoning turned out. This was one of my most anticipated releases. Did not disappoint. Way too good.
Again, Caden and Rae are fantastic characters. The addition of Aiden and Doctor Nguyen and just all around fabulous writing made me scared, SCARED for everybody.
...and the fact that we might have to wait another year...
February 6, 2026
I think this is my favourite book in the series so far. The reveals in it were perfectly orchestrated and well delivered. It ties in themes from both the previous books while also moving the story along.
I look forward to reading the final book.
I look forward to reading the final book.
September 15, 2024
The scariest part of the book was how much of a step down it was from its predecessors.
There was a metric ton of info dumping in the third act, which never lends itself to horror well. The lack of character development in the main cast is really starting to take its toll on me. In my review for Infestation, I said that there was a lot of set up for character development in Reckoning. There was a lot of promise of that with Caden's internal struggle of being able to manipulate people's emotions. His constant denial and making excuses for himself was really compelling. But it never really went anywhere, because he remained his morally white self.
For me, the writing seemed to take a hit here, too. I noticed there was a lot more telling rather than showing. A lot of the sentences are simplistic and can make the paragraphs feel choppy, or just a lot of weird sentences with too many commas.
The fourth step creaked, and she froze, locking eyes with Caden, both of them waiting, tense. - page 77
Lots of extraneous words, too.
Aiden nudged a small, rounded rock with one booted foot. - page 155
Why is this sentence being so extra? Aiden nudged a small, round rock with his foot is better.
But this series' main storytelling weakness is that it only gives you the information you need at the time. Thus the authors have to make up new elements in each installment, because the worldbuilding is so lacking. For Reckoning, we had the monsters on the cover, the added history of the town, and the connection the Prices have with the person in question. Because of this, it reads like the authors are making it up as they go along. That's fine, but this kind of storytelling tends to exhaust itself quickly. (Bleach is a great example of this.) There are very few stories that can sustain themselves like this, and they tend to be ones that are filled to the brim with adventure and unbridled imagination. (One Piece and Adventure Time are the only two I can think of.)
The other main weakness in these books is that Caden and Rae are still, primarily, reactionary heroes. They have their wants, but they're still at the whim of the antagonists. I just wrote something where my protagonist is mostly led along by others, and let me tell you, that shit was HARD. Definitely not meant for long term storytelling.
I do fear for the future of these books. I want them to keep being good, but I think the next installment needs to be the last.
There was a metric ton of info dumping in the third act, which never lends itself to horror well. The lack of character development in the main cast is really starting to take its toll on me. In my review for Infestation, I said that there was a lot of set up for character development in Reckoning. There was a lot of promise of that with Caden's internal struggle of being able to manipulate people's emotions. His constant denial and making excuses for himself was really compelling. But it never really went anywhere, because he remained his morally white self.
For me, the writing seemed to take a hit here, too. I noticed there was a lot more telling rather than showing. A lot of the sentences are simplistic and can make the paragraphs feel choppy, or just a lot of weird sentences with too many commas.
The fourth step creaked, and she froze, locking eyes with Caden, both of them waiting, tense. - page 77
Lots of extraneous words, too.
Aiden nudged a small, rounded rock with one booted foot. - page 155
Why is this sentence being so extra? Aiden nudged a small, round rock with his foot is better.
But this series' main storytelling weakness is that it only gives you the information you need at the time. Thus the authors have to make up new elements in each installment, because the worldbuilding is so lacking. For Reckoning, we had the monsters on the cover, the added history of the town, and the connection the Prices have with the person in question. Because of this, it reads like the authors are making it up as they go along. That's fine, but this kind of storytelling tends to exhaust itself quickly. (Bleach is a great example of this.) There are very few stories that can sustain themselves like this, and they tend to be ones that are filled to the brim with adventure and unbridled imagination. (One Piece and Adventure Time are the only two I can think of.)
The other main weakness in these books is that Caden and Rae are still, primarily, reactionary heroes. They have their wants, but they're still at the whim of the antagonists. I just wrote something where my protagonist is mostly led along by others, and let me tell you, that shit was HARD. Definitely not meant for long term storytelling.
I do fear for the future of these books. I want them to keep being good, but I think the next installment needs to be the last.
October 24, 2022
AHHHHH WE HAVE A COVER AND A BLURB I AM BEYOND EXCITED!!!! I CANNOT EVEN BEGIN I NEED THIS BOOK NOW
November 5, 2022
Love this series! Such a fun, creepy middle grade horror series. Highly recommend!
March 3, 2023
🛸🧪👽Reckoning👽🧪 🛸
3.25 Stars
Rae's friends have disappeared without a trace for several days, and all of her hypotheses point to Green On! being the culprit of such events. When a girl is brutally murdered and strange creatures stalk their targets, Rae and Caden support each other through it all. Ava is haunted by the past, and Aiden is keeping secrets from the family. As Vivienne's curse threatens to overcome her senses and threats are being sent Caden's way, the group must find out the truth and venture into the unknown in order to save the people they care for.
Reckoning was an intriguing addition to the series. I truly admire Heidi Lang and Kati Bartkowski's writing. Both are such versatile authors who manage to write great books in completely different genres. The Whispering Pines series is like a mixture of sci-fi, fantasy, horror, and mystery, making for a really interesting and intriguing read. Out of the entire trilogy, I have to admit this was my least favourite of the books.
Rae and Caden's friendship, which I grew to appreciate and love over the past two books, felt rather stilted and weak. While I read the first two books two years ago, it was easy to remember what happened. The plot twists were hinted at so heavily that it dimmed the shock effect for me. Vivienne is a character that I liked, but I felt like there was more that needed to be explored character-wise.
The plot didn't seem to really pick up until the last half, where the characters make decisions that aren't the smartest. Both Rae and Caden easily fell into traps that, in my perspective, were obviously suspicious. I enjoyed the exploration of Caden's fear. His relationship with his brother was one of the winning points of the story. It was a very important part of his character development, as well as the story itself. Ava's trauma added something to the story that I thought was necessary. After such traumatic events, I hate it when characters seem unaffected by everything that happened.
The revelations in these books were important. I hope that side characters can get a better exploration of their characters. I'm excited to see where the authors will take this story.
☑️PLOT
🆗☑️CHARACTERS
🆗PLOT TWISTS
3.25 Stars
Rae's friends have disappeared without a trace for several days, and all of her hypotheses point to Green On! being the culprit of such events. When a girl is brutally murdered and strange creatures stalk their targets, Rae and Caden support each other through it all. Ava is haunted by the past, and Aiden is keeping secrets from the family. As Vivienne's curse threatens to overcome her senses and threats are being sent Caden's way, the group must find out the truth and venture into the unknown in order to save the people they care for.
Reckoning was an intriguing addition to the series. I truly admire Heidi Lang and Kati Bartkowski's writing. Both are such versatile authors who manage to write great books in completely different genres. The Whispering Pines series is like a mixture of sci-fi, fantasy, horror, and mystery, making for a really interesting and intriguing read. Out of the entire trilogy, I have to admit this was my least favourite of the books.
Rae and Caden's friendship, which I grew to appreciate and love over the past two books, felt rather stilted and weak. While I read the first two books two years ago, it was easy to remember what happened. The plot twists were hinted at so heavily that it dimmed the shock effect for me. Vivienne is a character that I liked, but I felt like there was more that needed to be explored character-wise.
The plot didn't seem to really pick up until the last half, where the characters make decisions that aren't the smartest. Both Rae and Caden easily fell into traps that, in my perspective, were obviously suspicious. I enjoyed the exploration of Caden's fear. His relationship with his brother was one of the winning points of the story. It was a very important part of his character development, as well as the story itself. Ava's trauma added something to the story that I thought was necessary. After such traumatic events, I hate it when characters seem unaffected by everything that happened.
The revelations in these books were important. I hope that side characters can get a better exploration of their characters. I'm excited to see where the authors will take this story.
☑️PLOT
🆗☑️CHARACTERS
🆗PLOT TWISTS
February 16, 2025
The third book of an enthralling series, Reckoning continues the trend of intense twists and suspenseful situations. The book flows from the previous two like it is the same book, and leaves you with a cliff hanger ending that is devastating for Whispering Pines and the teens sucked into this dangerous situation. I found myself knowing at times what might happen, but was still excited and entertained how it played out, and then there were times where I was surprised by the outcomes or actions of the characters. I am excited to start the final book of the series! Very well done and written to capture the attention of teens and adults in ways similar to the show “Stranger Things” and other excellent suspenseful science fiction books, shows, and movies seem to do every time. Would definitely recommend!
October 5, 2022
-------Spooktober 2022 Read #1-----------
I thought I already wrote a review for this book...
Apparently not.
This is an amazing series and this book was no exception. It was very scary, very enjoyable, and I'm super sad that I'm already done this book.
Alas, I must wait an entire year for book 4 to come out (and that ending to book 3!) I don't know how I'll survive the wait.
I highly recommend this book. :)
I thought I already wrote a review for this book...
Apparently not.
This is an amazing series and this book was no exception. It was very scary, very enjoyable, and I'm super sad that I'm already done this book.
Alas, I must wait an entire year for book 4 to come out (and that ending to book 3!) I don't know how I'll survive the wait.
I highly recommend this book. :)
November 17, 2022
I continue to love this series SO MUCH, and Caden in particular. This poor boy has been through A Lot, and omg I just want to see him wrapped in blankets and given hugs by his friends. HE DESERVES ALL THE HUGS.
There was a lot happening in this book, but it was all handled deftly and I never felt like things were getting too convoluted or that too many threads were left dangling. Just enough to lead to what I just know is going to be an EPIC conclusion when book 4 arrives!!
There was a lot happening in this book, but it was all handled deftly and I never felt like things were getting too convoluted or that too many threads were left dangling. Just enough to lead to what I just know is going to be an EPIC conclusion when book 4 arrives!!
November 26, 2023
I really enjoy the world and mystery that has been created in this series, but this book just had something missing. I can't tell if too much was packed in such a short book or if there just wasn't enough. I feel that the events happened too quickly without enough buildup or the kind of suspense utilized heavily in the previous two editions. Because of this, all the things that should have been impactful just. . . weren't. Also, the events of the prologue were probably the most horrifying yet in the series, but this inciting event really had no significant impact on the plot. It just seemed kind of meaningless, which is sad in and of itself.
Despite all this, I will say I could not put this book down! I read it in less than 24 hours, and it kept me hooked the entire time. Unfortunately, I was just a little disappointed by the end, despite how good the twists should have been. I will definitely keep reading this series because I like the characters and I find the mishmash of fantasy, sci-fi, and horror intriguing, but this book just did not work for me.
Despite all this, I will say I could not put this book down! I read it in less than 24 hours, and it kept me hooked the entire time. Unfortunately, I was just a little disappointed by the end, despite how good the twists should have been. I will definitely keep reading this series because I like the characters and I find the mishmash of fantasy, sci-fi, and horror intriguing, but this book just did not work for me.
February 2, 2023
This series belongs to my 13 year old son, but he wanted me to check out the first book. This series is SO well written! Enough thrill, but not too scary and definitely keeps your interest. So glad my son recommended it!
May 24, 2024
I personally felt, book 1 & 2 were better. This one was too fast paced and not enough character development. I'll still continue this series, but I was disappointed...
5/10 Spookies
5/10 Spookies
November 22, 2024
intense! crazy ending omg
December 3, 2024
4.25✡️
October 27, 2025
I listened to this book years after the previous one. think I would have liked it better if I had remembered what happened in the other books.
June 12, 2023
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Probably one more book in this series.
Probably one more book in this series.
April 14, 2024
5 stars
The twist at the end is so well done and the build up to it is just chef's kiss! I can't wait to get my hands on the next one!
The twist at the end is so well done and the build up to it is just chef's kiss! I can't wait to get my hands on the next one!
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews