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The Call of Cassandra Rose
Annabelle seems to have it all. The perfect house, a successful husband, a darling son. But Annabelle is troubled.
Trapped in an unhappy marriage, failing at motherhood, and at odds with her new privileged lifestyle, Annabelle begins to self-harm, a habit resurrected from her traumatic past.
When she meets the alluring and charismatic hypnotherapist Cassandra Rose, she is offered a way out.
Through hypnosis, Annabelle is encouraged to unearth her painful repressed memories and face her childhood demons. But as the boundaries between her hypnotic trance and reality begin to dissolve, Annabelle becomes increasingly vulnerable to much darker forces.
Filled with twists and suspense, The Call of Cassandra Rose is a chilling thriller that examines how trauma shapes our lives and asks whether we can ever really escape our pasts.
Trapped in an unhappy marriage, failing at motherhood, and at odds with her new privileged lifestyle, Annabelle begins to self-harm, a habit resurrected from her traumatic past.
When she meets the alluring and charismatic hypnotherapist Cassandra Rose, she is offered a way out.
Through hypnosis, Annabelle is encouraged to unearth her painful repressed memories and face her childhood demons. But as the boundaries between her hypnotic trance and reality begin to dissolve, Annabelle becomes increasingly vulnerable to much darker forces.
Filled with twists and suspense, The Call of Cassandra Rose is a chilling thriller that examines how trauma shapes our lives and asks whether we can ever really escape our pasts.
367 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 13, 2022
82 people are currently reading
3095 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews
September 17, 2022
Thank you Lume Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. IYKYK, my reviews are always honest.
BIG ASS TRIGGER WARNING: self-harm
SYNOPSIS
Annabelle is going through it - marriage, motherhood, and friendship are all a struggle for her. After she starts self-harming again, she decides to see Cassandra, a hypnotherapist who promises to unlock Annabelle's darkest memz so she can move tf on. But are Cassandra's intentions as true as they seem?
MY OPINION
LE. SIGH. Now ya'll know I'm gonna keep it real... I was vibing aggressively with the first 50% or so. Yes, the struggling rich new mom is very passe, but Spiers' writing elevated this to a new level. I could feel Annabelle's insecurity and anxiety radiating off the page; Spiers does a fantastic job of showing not telling.
Full disclaimer, I know jack shit about hypnotherapy. However, I did like how Spiers' wrote these scenes. Adopting a "childish" tone when Annabelle travelled back to her younger self under hypnosis was clever - again, showing not telling.
So up until 50% I was thinking, damn we've got a solid 4 stars on our hands. Then Annabelle started the two-week program at Cassandra's house and things started to go sideways. At 60% I was clinging to that Honda Civic Reliable 3-star rating for dear life, but unfortunately it slipped into 2-star territory as the plot began to crumble like feta cheese.
From 60% onward, Annabelle goes full dumbass and gaslights herself about 45 times. We read about the same cycle of "Cassandra is crazy! But wait, I need her because she makes me better even though I am beyond miserable!" again and again and again until fina-fucking-ly something different happens. Also the ending was sooooo bleak I literally yeeted my kindle at my husband in annoyance.
SPOILER WARNING - SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM AGGRESSIVELY
IGHT so why TF did we spend so much time reading about Annabelle's fraught relationship with her flaky ass mother when in the end she had absolutely NOTHING to do with the plot??? Literally the big reveal is that Mr. Dumbass wants a divorce to link up with Crazy Cassandra and make Annabelle out to be an unfit mother... so did we need all that mother back story? You could've just focused on her insecurities with Mr. Dumbass and how controlling he was. I mean, that's still lame but it makes sense.
Now if you wanted to keep the mom stuff - which I personally found very interesting - then the ending should've been related to that. As in Cassandra - who also had mom issues - went off her rocker when her mom died so she's trying to recreate that relationship with Annabelle. Then I would've been like oh ok this math does in fact math. But spending so much time talking about her mom and mother-daughter relationships only for it to be completely irrelevant to the twist was ANNOYING.
NOW if the editor or publisher or whoever tf is responsible for this could tighten up the last 40% by cutting down the Cassandra program scenes in half (at least) and then change the direction of the ending, this would be more solid than a slab of concrete. However, as it stands, *fart noises*
PROS AND CONS
Pros: first half was fantastic - writing was on point, emotions were emoting, the suspense was suspenseful... loved the hypnotherapy sessions, very interesting (cannot comment on the accuracy)
Cons: last 40% was repetitive and boring, the big twisty twist and ending seemed random af
BIG ASS TRIGGER WARNING: self-harm
SYNOPSIS
Annabelle is going through it - marriage, motherhood, and friendship are all a struggle for her. After she starts self-harming again, she decides to see Cassandra, a hypnotherapist who promises to unlock Annabelle's darkest memz so she can move tf on. But are Cassandra's intentions as true as they seem?
MY OPINION
LE. SIGH. Now ya'll know I'm gonna keep it real... I was vibing aggressively with the first 50% or so. Yes, the struggling rich new mom is very passe, but Spiers' writing elevated this to a new level. I could feel Annabelle's insecurity and anxiety radiating off the page; Spiers does a fantastic job of showing not telling.
Full disclaimer, I know jack shit about hypnotherapy. However, I did like how Spiers' wrote these scenes. Adopting a "childish" tone when Annabelle travelled back to her younger self under hypnosis was clever - again, showing not telling.
So up until 50% I was thinking, damn we've got a solid 4 stars on our hands. Then Annabelle started the two-week program at Cassandra's house and things started to go sideways. At 60% I was clinging to that Honda Civic Reliable 3-star rating for dear life, but unfortunately it slipped into 2-star territory as the plot began to crumble like feta cheese.
From 60% onward, Annabelle goes full dumbass and gaslights herself about 45 times. We read about the same cycle of "Cassandra is crazy! But wait, I need her because she makes me better even though I am beyond miserable!" again and again and again until fina-fucking-ly something different happens. Also the ending was sooooo bleak I literally yeeted my kindle at my husband in annoyance.
SPOILER WARNING - SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM AGGRESSIVELY
IGHT so why TF did we spend so much time reading about Annabelle's fraught relationship with her flaky ass mother when in the end she had absolutely NOTHING to do with the plot??? Literally the big reveal is that Mr. Dumbass wants a divorce to link up with Crazy Cassandra and make Annabelle out to be an unfit mother... so did we need all that mother back story? You could've just focused on her insecurities with Mr. Dumbass and how controlling he was. I mean, that's still lame but it makes sense.
Now if you wanted to keep the mom stuff - which I personally found very interesting - then the ending should've been related to that. As in Cassandra - who also had mom issues - went off her rocker when her mom died so she's trying to recreate that relationship with Annabelle. Then I would've been like oh ok this math does in fact math. But spending so much time talking about her mom and mother-daughter relationships only for it to be completely irrelevant to the twist was ANNOYING.
NOW if the editor or publisher or whoever tf is responsible for this could tighten up the last 40% by cutting down the Cassandra program scenes in half (at least) and then change the direction of the ending, this would be more solid than a slab of concrete. However, as it stands, *fart noises*
PROS AND CONS
Pros: first half was fantastic - writing was on point, emotions were emoting, the suspense was suspenseful... loved the hypnotherapy sessions, very interesting (cannot comment on the accuracy)
Cons: last 40% was repetitive and boring, the big twisty twist and ending seemed random af
November 12, 2022
Annabelle - isn't that just the loveliest name?! - comes from an underprivileged background but is lucky in her marriage to Matt who is able to provide her with things she was deprived of in her younger years. They have a 6-year-0ld son named Joshy. Not sure if that's a nickname for something but I don't like it although that's not important. Annabelle suspects that her husband is having an affair and deals with her feelings of inferiority by drinking too much and by self-harming. Serendipitously a leaflet from Cassandra Rose offering hypnotherapy sessions drops through the letterbox and Annabelle takes advantage of it. Naturally there's a deep dark secret in her past that Annabelle and Cassandra are hoping to unearth.
Although I liked this book it seemed to drag on for too long with too many side stories, some of which didn't have a lot to do with the main story, and more repetition than I like. I wanted to root for Annabelle but she could be very frustrating at times and I just wanted her to wake up and realize the hypnotherapy was doing her more harm than good. As the story ended, I was impressed by Annabelle's maturity and improved state of mind and would've been fine if the book had ended there but then it all devolved into chaos again. The book is well written, especially for a debut, and I'd be interested in reading future works by this author. 3.5 Stars rounded UP because it held my attention and I read it pretty quickly.
My thanks to Lume Books (a new-to-me publisher) via Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book which became available on October 13, 2022. All opinions expressed are my own.
Although I liked this book it seemed to drag on for too long with too many side stories, some of which didn't have a lot to do with the main story, and more repetition than I like. I wanted to root for Annabelle but she could be very frustrating at times and I just wanted her to wake up and realize the hypnotherapy was doing her more harm than good. As the story ended, I was impressed by Annabelle's maturity and improved state of mind and would've been fine if the book had ended there but then it all devolved into chaos again. The book is well written, especially for a debut, and I'd be interested in reading future works by this author. 3.5 Stars rounded UP because it held my attention and I read it pretty quickly.
My thanks to Lume Books (a new-to-me publisher) via Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book which became available on October 13, 2022. All opinions expressed are my own.
October 7, 2022
Outlier alert!
This book started off a little slowly for my liking. Poor Annabelle from a disadvantaged and dysfunctional background meet the older, handsome and very wealthy Matt. Soon she is pregnant - oops and they get married. It is not long before the gaslighting starts. She is out of her depth, socially awkward and has no confidence in her value. It is not long before Matt is calling all the shots. After all, what else can she do? She even suspects him of having an affair. The only bright spot in her life is 6 year Joshy, their son.
If all this sounds very familiar that’s because it is! There are any number of books that start like this. The three main characters - Annabelle, Matt and Cassandra (we’ll get to her in a minute) are all unreliable narrators and they are all pretty unlikeable. I think we are meant to root for Annabelle but really, she is no naive and kind of pathetic. She also has a dark secret in her past, of course she does! But she can’t remember the details so Annabelle starts seeing a hypnotherapist - Cassandra. Straight away I picked up a whole bunch of red flags which the hapless Annabelle did not.
Soon Annabelle sees Cassandra as her friend and saviour which, of course, couldn’t be further from the truth! The story got more interesting from that point on and I did want to see how it all panned out. So while I mostly enjoyed the read it was hardly anything new or revelatory. However, there are many 4 and 5 star reviews for this book so take mine, as a jaded reader, with a grain of salt. Many thanks to Netgalley and Lume Books for the much appreciated arc which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.
This book started off a little slowly for my liking. Poor Annabelle from a disadvantaged and dysfunctional background meet the older, handsome and very wealthy Matt. Soon she is pregnant - oops and they get married. It is not long before the gaslighting starts. She is out of her depth, socially awkward and has no confidence in her value. It is not long before Matt is calling all the shots. After all, what else can she do? She even suspects him of having an affair. The only bright spot in her life is 6 year Joshy, their son.
If all this sounds very familiar that’s because it is! There are any number of books that start like this. The three main characters - Annabelle, Matt and Cassandra (we’ll get to her in a minute) are all unreliable narrators and they are all pretty unlikeable. I think we are meant to root for Annabelle but really, she is no naive and kind of pathetic. She also has a dark secret in her past, of course she does! But she can’t remember the details so Annabelle starts seeing a hypnotherapist - Cassandra. Straight away I picked up a whole bunch of red flags which the hapless Annabelle did not.
Soon Annabelle sees Cassandra as her friend and saviour which, of course, couldn’t be further from the truth! The story got more interesting from that point on and I did want to see how it all panned out. So while I mostly enjoyed the read it was hardly anything new or revelatory. However, there are many 4 and 5 star reviews for this book so take mine, as a jaded reader, with a grain of salt. Many thanks to Netgalley and Lume Books for the much appreciated arc which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.
September 7, 2024
Domestic Thriller
Is he cheating?
Giving this book 3 stars is a stretch. So much repetition which bores me. The last 1/4 if the book or more was an ending that took forever. This book could have been much better if condensed into a book at least half the size.
Is he cheating?
Giving this book 3 stars is a stretch. So much repetition which bores me. The last 1/4 if the book or more was an ending that took forever. This book could have been much better if condensed into a book at least half the size.
October 18, 2022
This is honestly the most gripped Iv been in a psychological thriller way, for a good while!
The truth of what was going on was always lurking in the shadows of my mind, but I kept brushing it away as I didn't want it to be true. I really liked the MC, Annabelle, and wanted a tidy happy end for her. I felt like I actually really cared for her and although her decisions sometimes angered me, I still felt the need to mother her, poor mite!
When the reveal came about, I felt emotional, and honestly had that bad feeling inside as to what it all meant for the characters and families involved.
The Call Of Cassandra Rose was a god send, came at the right time for Annabelle, it was the answer to her hell .... or was it!?
It feels familiar in the way that this has highly unreliable narrators, but the plot is twisty enough not to feel like its all been done before.
Strong Sharon Bolton, Lisa Jewell and Gillian Flynn vibes - can't go wrong there :-)
An author to add to the favorites for this genre I think.
The truth of what was going on was always lurking in the shadows of my mind, but I kept brushing it away as I didn't want it to be true. I really liked the MC, Annabelle, and wanted a tidy happy end for her. I felt like I actually really cared for her and although her decisions sometimes angered me, I still felt the need to mother her, poor mite!
When the reveal came about, I felt emotional, and honestly had that bad feeling inside as to what it all meant for the characters and families involved.
The Call Of Cassandra Rose was a god send, came at the right time for Annabelle, it was the answer to her hell .... or was it!?
It feels familiar in the way that this has highly unreliable narrators, but the plot is twisty enough not to feel like its all been done before.
Strong Sharon Bolton, Lisa Jewell and Gillian Flynn vibes - can't go wrong there :-)
An author to add to the favorites for this genre I think.
October 19, 2022
This twisty thriller is filled with an abundance of nasty and deceitful characters that will keep you on your toes!
The striking cover of The Call of Cassandra Rose is outstanding. It’s striking and hypnotic but in a slow-burn style.
Annabelle is married to Matt—a rich, older man. She has everything she could ever want but is still unhappy so she’s hard to relate to in the beginning. Matt grew up with this upper-class crowd; therefore comfortable mingling with his wealthy friends. Annabelle lacks self-confidence and isn’t so she chooses unhealthy coping mechanisms. Of course, she constantly disappoints and embarrasses Matt, which leads to more stress and self-esteem issues. Not an original premise until Cassandra—an unconventional hypnotherapist—spices things up. But is she the Godsend Annabelle believes? Is Matt as awful as she thinks or is Cassandra the one she should keep her eye on?
At about 40% into the book, I start to question Cassandra and her hypnotherapy process. And after hearing the story of how Matt and Annabelle met, it’s hard to picture her as the meek, self-harming character the author portrays. What happened to the self-assured and spunky woman?
#TheCallofCassandraRose #SophiaSpiers #randomthingstours #LumeBooks #booktourhost #bookreviewer #honestreview #justfinished #childhoodtrauma #unreliablecharacter #hypnotherapy #gaslighting #crimeandcocktailsbookcrew #mysteryandthrills #readwithme #bookaddict #thrilleraddict #thrillersofinstagram #lovebooks #bookreviewersofinstagram #lovetoreadbooks #cantstopreading #fortheloveofbooks #bookrecommendations #readingintherockies #booktour #newrelease
The striking cover of The Call of Cassandra Rose is outstanding. It’s striking and hypnotic but in a slow-burn style.
Annabelle is married to Matt—a rich, older man. She has everything she could ever want but is still unhappy so she’s hard to relate to in the beginning. Matt grew up with this upper-class crowd; therefore comfortable mingling with his wealthy friends. Annabelle lacks self-confidence and isn’t so she chooses unhealthy coping mechanisms. Of course, she constantly disappoints and embarrasses Matt, which leads to more stress and self-esteem issues. Not an original premise until Cassandra—an unconventional hypnotherapist—spices things up. But is she the Godsend Annabelle believes? Is Matt as awful as she thinks or is Cassandra the one she should keep her eye on?
At about 40% into the book, I start to question Cassandra and her hypnotherapy process. And after hearing the story of how Matt and Annabelle met, it’s hard to picture her as the meek, self-harming character the author portrays. What happened to the self-assured and spunky woman?
#TheCallofCassandraRose #SophiaSpiers #randomthingstours #LumeBooks #booktourhost #bookreviewer #honestreview #justfinished #childhoodtrauma #unreliablecharacter #hypnotherapy #gaslighting #crimeandcocktailsbookcrew #mysteryandthrills #readwithme #bookaddict #thrilleraddict #thrillersofinstagram #lovebooks #bookreviewersofinstagram #lovetoreadbooks #cantstopreading #fortheloveofbooks #bookrecommendations #readingintherockies #booktour #newrelease
January 26, 2023
4.5 stars
The Call of Cassandra Rose is the most decent thriller I've read in a while. Whilst it's a bit slow in parts, there's still plenty of suspense to keep you reading with a twist you didn't see coming!
🌹 Storyline 🌹
Annabelle is a young mother struggling with life. Although she lives a life of luxury, Annabelle feels misunderstood by her aloof husband, Matt, who is always busy, and she struggles to parent her six-year-old son Joshie. Also, a person from Annabelle's past has gotten in touch, bringing up painful memories from the past. She begins to self-harm in order to deal with her pain. That's until she meets hypnotherapist, Cassandra. Cassandra helps Annabelle to uncover the past and unlock painful memories. However the boundaries become blurred and Cassandra's methods become more unorthodox...
🌹 The good 🌹
- There was a lot of suspense and the story was really unusual and intriguing. I find patient and therapist thrillers really interesting and this didn't disappoint.
- Although Annabelle is vulnerable and naive, at the same time she's likeable and relatable. Cassandra especially is a very shady and mysterious character and I was curious to find out what her deal was.
- I did not see the twist at the end coming! It really topped everything off!
- The book is well written- not too basic but not too overwritten. Just the right combination.
🌹 The not so good 🌹
- There weren't really many negatives. Just that the story was a little slow paced at times and I was a bit disappointed that there weren't any shocking twists revealed about Annabelle's past.
🌹 Conclusion 🌹
This is my first book by this author and she certainly created a good impression. I look forward to more of her work. I recommend this book especially for fans of psychological thrillers. It's an extremely decent read and this is coming from a harsh critic who is not easily impressed or pleased especially when it comes to thrillers I have very high standards.
🌹 Grading 🌹
Characterisation: A
Ending: A+
Setting: A-
Suspense: A
Writing style: A
Overall grade: A/A+
The Call of Cassandra Rose is the most decent thriller I've read in a while. Whilst it's a bit slow in parts, there's still plenty of suspense to keep you reading with a twist you didn't see coming!
🌹 Storyline 🌹
Annabelle is a young mother struggling with life. Although she lives a life of luxury, Annabelle feels misunderstood by her aloof husband, Matt, who is always busy, and she struggles to parent her six-year-old son Joshie. Also, a person from Annabelle's past has gotten in touch, bringing up painful memories from the past. She begins to self-harm in order to deal with her pain. That's until she meets hypnotherapist, Cassandra. Cassandra helps Annabelle to uncover the past and unlock painful memories. However the boundaries become blurred and Cassandra's methods become more unorthodox...
🌹 The good 🌹
- There was a lot of suspense and the story was really unusual and intriguing. I find patient and therapist thrillers really interesting and this didn't disappoint.
- Although Annabelle is vulnerable and naive, at the same time she's likeable and relatable. Cassandra especially is a very shady and mysterious character and I was curious to find out what her deal was.
- I did not see the twist at the end coming! It really topped everything off!
- The book is well written- not too basic but not too overwritten. Just the right combination.
🌹 The not so good 🌹
- There weren't really many negatives. Just that the story was a little slow paced at times and I was a bit disappointed that there weren't any shocking twists revealed about Annabelle's past.
🌹 Conclusion 🌹
This is my first book by this author and she certainly created a good impression. I look forward to more of her work. I recommend this book especially for fans of psychological thrillers. It's an extremely decent read and this is coming from a harsh critic who is not easily impressed or pleased especially when it comes to thrillers I have very high standards.
🌹 Grading 🌹
Characterisation: A
Ending: A+
Setting: A-
Suspense: A
Writing style: A
Overall grade: A/A+
June 15, 2022
Annabelle has had a tough life, but now feels safe and secure, with her own family. However, she's quite certain her husband is having an affair. She's drinking a lot more lately, and there's a memory she can't quite reach, which is making sure she has nightmares every night. Then, like fate, a leaflet falls through the door for a hypnotherapist, Cassandra Rose. Glamorous and confident, she's everything Annabelle needs and wants to become. But does Cassandra really have Annabelle's best interests at heart?
This is a new author to me, and I liked how the story flowed. The story developed gradually, but kept me interested with tiny twists and information that gave more insight to Annabelle.
The only slight downside was the ending. I get it, but it felt like something was missing. The story felt so built up, that it felt it should have ended with something a lot bigger and more shocking.
But that's my personal thought, and it was a good story so I would definitely recommend.
NetGalley book.
This is a new author to me, and I liked how the story flowed. The story developed gradually, but kept me interested with tiny twists and information that gave more insight to Annabelle.
The only slight downside was the ending. I get it, but it felt like something was missing. The story felt so built up, that it felt it should have ended with something a lot bigger and more shocking.
But that's my personal thought, and it was a good story so I would definitely recommend.
NetGalley book.
June 6, 2022
Addictive. Bold and savage.
A gripping thriller with an unforgettable character in Cassandra and a hero to root for in naive Annabelle.
Teeming with suspense and foreboding the atmosphere drew me in deeper and deeper. I raced through the pages until the early hours of the morning needing to know how it ended.
Loved the working class setting and the taut fast paced prose. I would really love a sequel.
Highly recommended.
A gripping thriller with an unforgettable character in Cassandra and a hero to root for in naive Annabelle.
Teeming with suspense and foreboding the atmosphere drew me in deeper and deeper. I raced through the pages until the early hours of the morning needing to know how it ended.
Loved the working class setting and the taut fast paced prose. I would really love a sequel.
Highly recommended.
July 28, 2022
I received this Arc in exchange for an honest review
I have read thrillers and mystery books quite a bit, however, I must say that this was an entirely different category, not only was it a different take but it involved a lot of psychological aspects with regards to Annabelle and her hypnotherapy journey.
The twists here were unpredictable I had suspicions on certain characters however the author manages to divert your mind from it by casting it aside with a form of reassurance in a different aspect, she has me questioning my own conclusions and reasoning on each suspicion and feeling I had and that takes a lot of skill to make me feel like that while reading a book.
This book is like a reminder to you that you cant always escape your past and sometimes the journey through it is more healing. I was surprised to see aspects of how well the topic of self-harm was handled here and how the feeling is.
The book starts with mystery and has a dark and gloomy vibe to it from the first page right up until the very end., the twists were unpredictable and there were many small things that have been put in front of our eyes but so easily overlooked, I would call them clues. I want to add more however I do not want to spoil the book.
The book was well written, and the story had a good development to it and had me hooked on the plot, the only fault I had reading this was the ending, there was so much build throughout the book that I was expecting more to the ending.
I have read thrillers and mystery books quite a bit, however, I must say that this was an entirely different category, not only was it a different take but it involved a lot of psychological aspects with regards to Annabelle and her hypnotherapy journey.
The twists here were unpredictable I had suspicions on certain characters however the author manages to divert your mind from it by casting it aside with a form of reassurance in a different aspect, she has me questioning my own conclusions and reasoning on each suspicion and feeling I had and that takes a lot of skill to make me feel like that while reading a book.
This book is like a reminder to you that you cant always escape your past and sometimes the journey through it is more healing. I was surprised to see aspects of how well the topic of self-harm was handled here and how the feeling is.
The book starts with mystery and has a dark and gloomy vibe to it from the first page right up until the very end., the twists were unpredictable and there were many small things that have been put in front of our eyes but so easily overlooked, I would call them clues. I want to add more however I do not want to spoil the book.
The book was well written, and the story had a good development to it and had me hooked on the plot, the only fault I had reading this was the ending, there was so much build throughout the book that I was expecting more to the ending.
June 5, 2022
I wanted to love this book, I really did. The premise had me hooked! I just KNEW between the husband, the best friend, the therapist and the unreliable narrator there was a psychological thriller to die for.
Unfortunately, I loathed the main character and could not get past the ridiculous decisions she made. It was a page turner for sure, and I kept reading right to the end because I HAD to know (so that in itself makes it unputdownable). I just wish the main character was more believable. That would have made this a 5 star.
I will, however, read the next novel by Ms. Spiers because I think she’s a real diamond!
#netgalley #thecallofcassandrarose #sophiaspiers #lumebooks
Unfortunately, I loathed the main character and could not get past the ridiculous decisions she made. It was a page turner for sure, and I kept reading right to the end because I HAD to know (so that in itself makes it unputdownable). I just wish the main character was more believable. That would have made this a 5 star.
I will, however, read the next novel by Ms. Spiers because I think she’s a real diamond!
#netgalley #thecallofcassandrarose #sophiaspiers #lumebooks
September 27, 2022
** Angel Street **
Needy, clingy, emotionally immature, and trophy wife to Matt and mum to Joshy, Annabella resides in the posh and affluent NW3 postal area of London, which is far removed from the deprived housing estate she grew up in.
Coming from a dysfunctional family, - emotionally neglected by an incompetent mother - , she ran away from home at seventeen, straight in the arms of Matt.
Matt is rich, charming, concerned, a very involved husband and a wonderful father to their young son Joshy.
Annabelle is bored out of her mind, and despite the fact she is financially well-to-do, she drinks too much, doesn’t know how to behave, and seems to be lacking parental skills, just like her mum.
Hubby Matt is close to despair after yet another embarrassing display at a party, he is fed up with her erratic behaviour and urges her to seek treatment to cope with her issues.
With her marriage on the brink of collapsing, and troubled with blackouts, self-harm and too much drinking, Annabelle finally decides to go into counselling at Cassandra’s clinic.
Via flashbacks, we learn how Annabelle grew up, although it doesn't really reveal what exactly happened. Annabelle's mother is terminally ill and still wants contact with her daughter. However, the mere thought of going back to her mother’s house fills her with panic and fear.
The story switches between her past and what could possibly have happened, and the therapy sessions with Cassandra.
I wanted to read the book because of the title, but soon became disappointed. The first part is slow, and there is a lot of emphasis on the socal high-class which she is in, and on Annabelle’s idiotic behaviour.
The tension builds up agonisingly slowly, and as a reader you really get to dislike the particularly unsympathetic Annabelle.
I regularly felt the need to yell at my Kindle, and to give her the proverbial kick in the ass.
When halfway through, little had actually happened except describing the life of a woman who considers herself 'a waste of space', I was almost tempted to give up.
I don't want to give away too much, for fear of predicting too much, - but this noir/psychological Hitchcockian thriller will leave you bewildered and in doubt. And I should know, for my name is Sandra.
Shocking, and gripping, this noir/ psychological thriller will haunt you in your sleep. A highly recommended read!
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this arc. I leave this review voluntarily.
Needy, clingy, emotionally immature, and trophy wife to Matt and mum to Joshy, Annabella resides in the posh and affluent NW3 postal area of London, which is far removed from the deprived housing estate she grew up in.
Coming from a dysfunctional family, - emotionally neglected by an incompetent mother - , she ran away from home at seventeen, straight in the arms of Matt.
Matt is rich, charming, concerned, a very involved husband and a wonderful father to their young son Joshy.
Annabelle is bored out of her mind, and despite the fact she is financially well-to-do, she drinks too much, doesn’t know how to behave, and seems to be lacking parental skills, just like her mum.
Hubby Matt is close to despair after yet another embarrassing display at a party, he is fed up with her erratic behaviour and urges her to seek treatment to cope with her issues.
With her marriage on the brink of collapsing, and troubled with blackouts, self-harm and too much drinking, Annabelle finally decides to go into counselling at Cassandra’s clinic.
Via flashbacks, we learn how Annabelle grew up, although it doesn't really reveal what exactly happened. Annabelle's mother is terminally ill and still wants contact with her daughter. However, the mere thought of going back to her mother’s house fills her with panic and fear.
The story switches between her past and what could possibly have happened, and the therapy sessions with Cassandra.
I wanted to read the book because of the title, but soon became disappointed. The first part is slow, and there is a lot of emphasis on the socal high-class which she is in, and on Annabelle’s idiotic behaviour.
The tension builds up agonisingly slowly, and as a reader you really get to dislike the particularly unsympathetic Annabelle.
I regularly felt the need to yell at my Kindle, and to give her the proverbial kick in the ass.
When halfway through, little had actually happened except describing the life of a woman who considers herself 'a waste of space', I was almost tempted to give up.
I don't want to give away too much, for fear of predicting too much, - but this noir/psychological Hitchcockian thriller will leave you bewildered and in doubt. And I should know, for my name is Sandra.
Shocking, and gripping, this noir/ psychological thriller will haunt you in your sleep. A highly recommended read!
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this arc. I leave this review voluntarily.
September 30, 2022
Annabelle the main character in this twisty debut novel seems to have the perfect life. She has a beautiful home successful husband and is mother to her treasured son.
Behind the facade lies a woman who is troubled resorting to self harming as a means of escape. With her husband despairing of her behaviour and her own doubt and worry about her mental state she tries to self heal . When she receives a flyer from therapist Cassandra Rose she feels that this may offer her the answer to she has been searching for.
Casandra offers hypnosis which makes Annabelle re-examined her past. The repressed memories of her childhood are laid bare and she finds herself struggling with panic and fear. I was on the edge of my seat ( sometimes with a feeling of dread ) when I read the hypothesis sessions. It is something I am intrigued and frightened by, the ability to access the subconscious.
This book was a slow burner for me but I soon became a invested in Annabelle's story and willed her to have a happy ending. I really enjoyed how her character grew and the personal courage she displayed in trying to face and fix her demons.
Childhood trauma can affect your whole life and this was brilliantly portrayed. This book was full of suspense with an ending which I didn’t see coming . Gripping and shocking in equal measures it was one I really enjoyed.
Behind the facade lies a woman who is troubled resorting to self harming as a means of escape. With her husband despairing of her behaviour and her own doubt and worry about her mental state she tries to self heal . When she receives a flyer from therapist Cassandra Rose she feels that this may offer her the answer to she has been searching for.
Casandra offers hypnosis which makes Annabelle re-examined her past. The repressed memories of her childhood are laid bare and she finds herself struggling with panic and fear. I was on the edge of my seat ( sometimes with a feeling of dread ) when I read the hypothesis sessions. It is something I am intrigued and frightened by, the ability to access the subconscious.
This book was a slow burner for me but I soon became a invested in Annabelle's story and willed her to have a happy ending. I really enjoyed how her character grew and the personal courage she displayed in trying to face and fix her demons.
Childhood trauma can affect your whole life and this was brilliantly portrayed. This book was full of suspense with an ending which I didn’t see coming . Gripping and shocking in equal measures it was one I really enjoyed.
October 25, 2022
Thank you @randomTTours and @SophiaSpiers for letting me part of this tour and reviewing this book. The call of cassandra rise is psychological thriller absolutely loved it. It gripped me straight the way snd i had to finish it to see what happeneds to Annabelle. The story has suspense and twists and turns i did not see coming. I like Sophie Spiers writing style i could not put the book down will definatly read more of her books. Sophie know how to keep the reader hooked to the story is was paced really well and great plot. Dose talk about senstive issues self harm which Annabelle has yo deal with but it is written really well in the book. 5 stars i love good psychological read and this did not let me down. strongly recommend out not to buy
October 13, 2022
At first sight, Annabelle appears to have the perfect life, but she’s unhappy in her marriage and struggling with motherhood. Desperate, Annabelle turns to hypnotherapist Cassandra Rose for help. But how effective is this for Annabelle and how trustworthy is Cassandra Rose?
A perfectly plotted, dizzying-paced, very accomplished debut. Sophia Spiers weaves a dark, intricate story with intriguing, unreliable characters and deals sensitively with important issues, such as self-harming.
An exciting new voice in psychological thrillers and I look forward to reading what she comes up with next.
A perfectly plotted, dizzying-paced, very accomplished debut. Sophia Spiers weaves a dark, intricate story with intriguing, unreliable characters and deals sensitively with important issues, such as self-harming.
An exciting new voice in psychological thrillers and I look forward to reading what she comes up with next.
May 29, 2023
Well this was the epitome of a pyschological thriller for me. As much as the topics were confronting and hard to read, Sophia had me glued to the kindle . Its a book that focuses on hypnotherapy as a tool to help Annabelle get back on track. Everybody seems to be taking control of Annabelles life except for Annabelle. Manipulation and control of Annabelle's mind. The last part of the book was filled with twists and turns and what an ending. !!
October 7, 2022
A solid debut! A bit slow for the first half, but it picked up. The writing was great. Definitely looking forward to more from Sophia Spiers
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 24, 2022
Beautifully plotted and intense thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat!
Every now and again a debut novel comes along and completely blows your mind with just how accomplished and fantastic it is. Sophia Spiers is taking that crown! The Call of Cassandra Rose is everything you could possibly want in a psychological thriller. It has darkness, tension, unreliable characters, a flawlessly constructed potential descent into madness, intrigue, violence and moments for thought and reflection. It’s a relentless read, but in the very best way. I felt thrusted into the narrative and I was immediately hooked. The pace is breakneck and the narrative had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I was immediately drawn to Annabelle as a character, feeling a lot of sympathy for her whilst also being wary of whether she was completely reliable. Similarly, I was immediately suspicious of most of the other characters, including Annabelle’s husband Matt and her hypnotherapist Cassandra. Part of what makes Spiers writing so brilliant is that she manages to flex the realms of sanity and madness, which meant as a reader I wasn’t sure of what was the truth and what was fabrication. This meant I was kept guessing throughout reading, even when I thought I’d worked out what was going on! Needless to say, there’s so much gaslighting, manipulation, terrorising and coercion at the heart of this story, it’s impossible to see the picture clearly until Spiers finally weaves it all together into its final gloriously dark tapestry.
My favourite aspect of this book - aside from the gripping plot and intriguing characters - is how thoroughly Spiers tackles the issues at the very core of the narrative. This book contains intense references to self-harming (something Annabelle has struggled with since her teenage years), but whilst these certainly add to the tension and darkness of the story, Spiers also handles them with an incredible sensitivity. I really felt both the pain and the release that Annabelle feels when she harms herself and Spiers really paints a well-rounded image of both the enticing lure and resulting danger of this habit. Spiers writing is expressive and evocative, which lends itself so well to such a visceral and immersive thriller. I also found the scenes that describe the hypnosis sessions to be vividly realistic and at times I felt like I was going under with Annabelle. Spiers gives Cassandra such a distinctive look and voice that I could really picture her sat there sending me under. I really loved how the line between hypnosis as a healing tool and as something that shouldn’t necessarily be trusted was always blurred. This totally kept me turning the pages and I was desperate to find out Cassandra’s motives and whether she really was helping Annabelle. The relationships between all the characters are really well drawn and realistic. I was fascinated by them all and so intrigued to discover the truth of both the past and the present. Spiers really knows how to bring the reader along on the journey and I was fully invested in how this played out for Annabelle. Despite the darkness and despair that flows so freely through the plot, I loved how this was ultimately a story of Annabelle’s redemption and discovery of her inner strength. She’s a really remarkably character, who’s head I was absolutely thrilled to get inside.
Every now and again a debut novel comes along and completely blows your mind with just how accomplished and fantastic it is. Sophia Spiers is taking that crown! The Call of Cassandra Rose is everything you could possibly want in a psychological thriller. It has darkness, tension, unreliable characters, a flawlessly constructed potential descent into madness, intrigue, violence and moments for thought and reflection. It’s a relentless read, but in the very best way. I felt thrusted into the narrative and I was immediately hooked. The pace is breakneck and the narrative had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I was immediately drawn to Annabelle as a character, feeling a lot of sympathy for her whilst also being wary of whether she was completely reliable. Similarly, I was immediately suspicious of most of the other characters, including Annabelle’s husband Matt and her hypnotherapist Cassandra. Part of what makes Spiers writing so brilliant is that she manages to flex the realms of sanity and madness, which meant as a reader I wasn’t sure of what was the truth and what was fabrication. This meant I was kept guessing throughout reading, even when I thought I’d worked out what was going on! Needless to say, there’s so much gaslighting, manipulation, terrorising and coercion at the heart of this story, it’s impossible to see the picture clearly until Spiers finally weaves it all together into its final gloriously dark tapestry.
My favourite aspect of this book - aside from the gripping plot and intriguing characters - is how thoroughly Spiers tackles the issues at the very core of the narrative. This book contains intense references to self-harming (something Annabelle has struggled with since her teenage years), but whilst these certainly add to the tension and darkness of the story, Spiers also handles them with an incredible sensitivity. I really felt both the pain and the release that Annabelle feels when she harms herself and Spiers really paints a well-rounded image of both the enticing lure and resulting danger of this habit. Spiers writing is expressive and evocative, which lends itself so well to such a visceral and immersive thriller. I also found the scenes that describe the hypnosis sessions to be vividly realistic and at times I felt like I was going under with Annabelle. Spiers gives Cassandra such a distinctive look and voice that I could really picture her sat there sending me under. I really loved how the line between hypnosis as a healing tool and as something that shouldn’t necessarily be trusted was always blurred. This totally kept me turning the pages and I was desperate to find out Cassandra’s motives and whether she really was helping Annabelle. The relationships between all the characters are really well drawn and realistic. I was fascinated by them all and so intrigued to discover the truth of both the past and the present. Spiers really knows how to bring the reader along on the journey and I was fully invested in how this played out for Annabelle. Despite the darkness and despair that flows so freely through the plot, I loved how this was ultimately a story of Annabelle’s redemption and discovery of her inner strength. She’s a really remarkably character, who’s head I was absolutely thrilled to get inside.
October 3, 2022
What a fantastic debut this was.
I had a strong dislike of Matt from the start and the more I read the more I felt like he was gaslighting Annabelle who has had a troubled past and doesn’t need a controlling partner in her life.
Her mother was a waster, abusive by neglect and more interested in smoking weed and being the local bike than being a mother.
I thought that Cassandra was going to be a beacon of light, but as things progressed their relationship became more dark and twisted.
With a husband like Matt, a needy child, a housekeeper who thinks she’s the boy’s mother and a gaggle of hideous cliquey school mums, no wonder Annabelle felt she had no where to turn.
Disturbing, twisty and highly addictive, this was definitely not a book for the faint hearted and I loved every bloody soaked, stomach churning word of it.
I had a strong dislike of Matt from the start and the more I read the more I felt like he was gaslighting Annabelle who has had a troubled past and doesn’t need a controlling partner in her life.
Her mother was a waster, abusive by neglect and more interested in smoking weed and being the local bike than being a mother.
I thought that Cassandra was going to be a beacon of light, but as things progressed their relationship became more dark and twisted.
With a husband like Matt, a needy child, a housekeeper who thinks she’s the boy’s mother and a gaggle of hideous cliquey school mums, no wonder Annabelle felt she had no where to turn.
Disturbing, twisty and highly addictive, this was definitely not a book for the faint hearted and I loved every bloody soaked, stomach churning word of it.
August 7, 2022
Oh wow, I loved this book and read it really quickly, it was one I didn’t want to put down as I was desperate to know what happened next.
Annabelle is a troubled person, her life now is very different to her life growing up. She has little or no contact with her family and the relationship with her husband is strained.
One day a leaflet for a hypnotherapist drops through her letterbox and she sees it as the answer to her problems but in reality it’s just the beginning.
There were lots of twists and turns in the book, some clues which were red herrings and other plot twists thrown in which seemed to be coincidences but were in fact, pointing you in the right direction.
There were times when I wanted to shout at Annabelle to wake up and not to be so trusting but I was invested in her as a main character which is important to me in a book.
I enjoyed the way the book was written, it had a beginning, middle and end and the plot was well thought out and delivered without it dragging or feeling rushed.
I am looking forward to reading more from this author based on this debut novel.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Annabelle is a troubled person, her life now is very different to her life growing up. She has little or no contact with her family and the relationship with her husband is strained.
One day a leaflet for a hypnotherapist drops through her letterbox and she sees it as the answer to her problems but in reality it’s just the beginning.
There were lots of twists and turns in the book, some clues which were red herrings and other plot twists thrown in which seemed to be coincidences but were in fact, pointing you in the right direction.
There were times when I wanted to shout at Annabelle to wake up and not to be so trusting but I was invested in her as a main character which is important to me in a book.
I enjoyed the way the book was written, it had a beginning, middle and end and the plot was well thought out and delivered without it dragging or feeling rushed.
I am looking forward to reading more from this author based on this debut novel.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 24, 2022
Just finished THE CALL OF CASSANDRA ROSE. At first, it dragged for me as I thought the main character, Annabella was too weak. But as I pushed ahead, I became more and more enthralled and wondered it I was reading a thriller. Since I had not read anything about the book or the inside cover, I was in suspense as to what kind of story I had actually picked up. Finally, I knew I was reading a winner. Carefully planned and indeed a thriller, this book has as many twists and turns as a bag of pretzels and finally reaches success by bringing not only the snack but a sparkly, fizzy drink as well! The reader comes to a finished masterpiece. I was a bit sad when it ended. I fell in love with Annabella, and I want to stay with her throughout her life. And only a wonderful character can bring you to that feeling.
October 2, 2022
Unfortunately, I just couldn’t get into this book, I found it slow-moving and I didn’t really like the characters or relate to any of them. I don’t think it was what I was expecting, which sometimes is a good thing, but other times it’s not. Looking at other reviews I think I’m completely in the minority, so if you like the sound of the blurb, please don’t let me put you off.
I always appreciate the hard work an author puts into writing a book and thank you so much to the author, publishers and NetGalley for my copy of this book, sadly this one just wasn’t for me.
I always appreciate the hard work an author puts into writing a book and thank you so much to the author, publishers and NetGalley for my copy of this book, sadly this one just wasn’t for me.
October 19, 2022
Suspenseful and twisty from start to end. This book had me gripped. Annabelle had some unprocessed experiences from her past that leads her to self harming, this is something she has done for a number of years. She meets her husband who is a little older than her, he is wealthy and well presented, Annabelle fall pregnant very early into their relationship and they then marry. Joshy who is Annabelle’s son is her world and she wants to do her best by him. She decides to try and get support on her self harming and her ‘irrational thoughts’ and finds a card in the house advertising Cassandra Rose who is a hypnotherapist, she signs right up. Through the therapy Annabelle begins to uncover her past and many of the reasons why she feels the way she does but along the way she discovers that her current situation is far more dangerous.
I expect that this book will be very popular for those who like physiological thrillers.
Thanks to Random Things Tours and the author for an opportunity to read this book in exchange for my review.
I expect that this book will be very popular for those who like physiological thrillers.
Thanks to Random Things Tours and the author for an opportunity to read this book in exchange for my review.
August 15, 2022
The Call of Cassandra Rose was definitely an interesting read!
Told in first person by our main character, Annabelle, this is a chilling thriller that will have you questioning everything.
Annabelle finds herself conflicted and trapped in her supposedly perfect life. Feeling like a failed mother and wife, she finally decides to face the demons of her past and the monsters in her head.
What's better than a hypnotherapist?
What Annabelle believes as hypnotherapy turns into a trap of suspense and fear, making her doubt everything she thought she knew about herself and her loved ones.
I enjoyed the story. Sophia Spiers really did justice to Annabelle's character. I enjoyed her character growth and courage. The story is full of plot twists and jump scares. To say that this book took me through an emotional rollercoaster would be quite the understatement.
I didn't quite like the pacing of the book. It fell a bit lengthy for my taste. I won't be lying when I say that I skimmed past a few pages. Even still, the mystery is enjoyable and the shocks entertaining.
In conclusion, The Call of Cassandra Rose was an extremely engaging read that will leave your mind conflicted and confused. I would recommend it to mystery and thriller fans who enjoy a slow yet thrilling suspense story.
I would like to that Netgally and Lumes Books for providing me with an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Told in first person by our main character, Annabelle, this is a chilling thriller that will have you questioning everything.
Annabelle finds herself conflicted and trapped in her supposedly perfect life. Feeling like a failed mother and wife, she finally decides to face the demons of her past and the monsters in her head.
What's better than a hypnotherapist?
What Annabelle believes as hypnotherapy turns into a trap of suspense and fear, making her doubt everything she thought she knew about herself and her loved ones.
I enjoyed the story. Sophia Spiers really did justice to Annabelle's character. I enjoyed her character growth and courage. The story is full of plot twists and jump scares. To say that this book took me through an emotional rollercoaster would be quite the understatement.
I didn't quite like the pacing of the book. It fell a bit lengthy for my taste. I won't be lying when I say that I skimmed past a few pages. Even still, the mystery is enjoyable and the shocks entertaining.
In conclusion, The Call of Cassandra Rose was an extremely engaging read that will leave your mind conflicted and confused. I would recommend it to mystery and thriller fans who enjoy a slow yet thrilling suspense story.
I would like to that Netgally and Lumes Books for providing me with an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 11, 2022
The story was thrilling and suspenseful. I found it hard to put it down and kept turning page after page to know what would happen to the main character in the end. The world-building was well written.
The characters are relatable. Each character's background stories are realistic and convincing.
The story follows Anabelle Clarke, a 29-year-old full-time mother with a dark past. Married to a wealthy husband, Anabelle lives a privileged life vastly superior to the one she had when she was young. All was perfect until she received unrelenting calls from her mother. Armed with insecurity and low self-esteem, Anabelle finds it difficult to socialize with other parents. Doubts start to surface about her husband's fidelity driving her to self-harm. To stop herself from causing more harm and become a fitter mother, Anabelle decided to visit a hypnotherapist.
A story full of plot twists and surprising revelations will take you to the edge of your seat. Although the main antagonist was predictable for me, this story was superb for a debut novel. I highly recommend it!
I'm thankful to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for allowing me to read and review a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The characters are relatable. Each character's background stories are realistic and convincing.
The story follows Anabelle Clarke, a 29-year-old full-time mother with a dark past. Married to a wealthy husband, Anabelle lives a privileged life vastly superior to the one she had when she was young. All was perfect until she received unrelenting calls from her mother. Armed with insecurity and low self-esteem, Anabelle finds it difficult to socialize with other parents. Doubts start to surface about her husband's fidelity driving her to self-harm. To stop herself from causing more harm and become a fitter mother, Anabelle decided to visit a hypnotherapist.
A story full of plot twists and surprising revelations will take you to the edge of your seat. Although the main antagonist was predictable for me, this story was superb for a debut novel. I highly recommend it!
I'm thankful to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for allowing me to read and review a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
May 20, 2022
I've been lucky enough to read and advance copy of this chilling psychological thriller.
Annabelle seems to have it all: the hot, rich husband, the house, the child. But she isn't happy. Something is very wrong. She knows that her past is the key, but she can't access her memories so she seeks the help of hypnotherapist, Cassandra Rose.
If I tell you any more, it will spoil the thrill of reading the book. But suffice to say there are so many twists and turns in this nail biting debut, that it will leave you breathless. I actually had to put the book down now and then because the tension was so high.
An excellent debut from an exciting new voice in the psychological thriller genre.
Annabelle seems to have it all: the hot, rich husband, the house, the child. But she isn't happy. Something is very wrong. She knows that her past is the key, but she can't access her memories so she seeks the help of hypnotherapist, Cassandra Rose.
If I tell you any more, it will spoil the thrill of reading the book. But suffice to say there are so many twists and turns in this nail biting debut, that it will leave you breathless. I actually had to put the book down now and then because the tension was so high.
An excellent debut from an exciting new voice in the psychological thriller genre.
October 25, 2022
The Call of Cassandra Rose
“From the moment she had pulled me out of hypnosis, and I'd opened my eyes, I knew I wanted more. I was hooked.
She'd done the impossible: she'd helped me to escape.”
Sinister, dark and unnerving, The Call of Cassandra Rose is a compelling debut that oozes an anxious tension from start to finish. Hard to predict, it keeps you on your toes with its jaw-dropping twists and turns that hit like bolts out of the blue. New author Sophia Spiers shows that she is a talent to watch as she tackles difficult subjects such as mental health, self-harm, abuse and trauma. Skillfully and sensitively written, it is also achingly real and so hard to read at times that I had to put it aside and take a break before coming back to it.
In the story’s narrator, Annabelle, Spiers perfectly captures how it feels to be in the grip of the black hole of anxiety and depression, the fear, isolation and self-doubt of domestic abuse, the power of trauma and the overwhelming battle to fight the urge to self-harm. Annabelle is wracked with guilt, insecurities and is often naive. Her world a claustrophobic state of terror that is suffocating and you can feel her increasing desperation to uncover the truth of the buried trauma that plagues her subconscious. She was someone I liked, empathised with and felt a strong connection to. Someone I wished I could reach into the book and save.
The eponymous Cassandra Rose is the antithesis to Annabelle. Magnetic, alluring and enigmatic, the hypnotherapist appears like a much-needed saviour. Annabelle sees her as her only hope of getting better and believes she’s piecing her back together like no one else can. But from the start there was something about Cassandra Rose I didn’t trust and I was just waiting for the other shoe to drop. I certainly never imagined what was to come and was left reading in breathless anticipation as Spiers took me on a crazy ride that left me speechless..
Atmospheric, harrowing and addictive, this unique debut left me wondering what the hell I’d just read. I’m still not sure. But I would highly recommend you read it and try to find out for yourself.
“From the moment she had pulled me out of hypnosis, and I'd opened my eyes, I knew I wanted more. I was hooked.
She'd done the impossible: she'd helped me to escape.”
Sinister, dark and unnerving, The Call of Cassandra Rose is a compelling debut that oozes an anxious tension from start to finish. Hard to predict, it keeps you on your toes with its jaw-dropping twists and turns that hit like bolts out of the blue. New author Sophia Spiers shows that she is a talent to watch as she tackles difficult subjects such as mental health, self-harm, abuse and trauma. Skillfully and sensitively written, it is also achingly real and so hard to read at times that I had to put it aside and take a break before coming back to it.
In the story’s narrator, Annabelle, Spiers perfectly captures how it feels to be in the grip of the black hole of anxiety and depression, the fear, isolation and self-doubt of domestic abuse, the power of trauma and the overwhelming battle to fight the urge to self-harm. Annabelle is wracked with guilt, insecurities and is often naive. Her world a claustrophobic state of terror that is suffocating and you can feel her increasing desperation to uncover the truth of the buried trauma that plagues her subconscious. She was someone I liked, empathised with and felt a strong connection to. Someone I wished I could reach into the book and save.
The eponymous Cassandra Rose is the antithesis to Annabelle. Magnetic, alluring and enigmatic, the hypnotherapist appears like a much-needed saviour. Annabelle sees her as her only hope of getting better and believes she’s piecing her back together like no one else can. But from the start there was something about Cassandra Rose I didn’t trust and I was just waiting for the other shoe to drop. I certainly never imagined what was to come and was left reading in breathless anticipation as Spiers took me on a crazy ride that left me speechless..
Atmospheric, harrowing and addictive, this unique debut left me wondering what the hell I’d just read. I’m still not sure. But I would highly recommend you read it and try to find out for yourself.
October 18, 2022
I received a proof copy of this book in exchange for an honest, independent review.
On the outside, Annabelle lives the privileged lifestyle and has a successful husband and an adorable son. But in reality, she finds herself in an unhappy marriage, failing at motherhood, and troubled by her traumatic past.
So when she meets the bewitching hypnotherapist Cassandra Rose, she feels she has found her way out. But as the hypnosis sessions get underway, the past rears its ugly head and Annabelle becomes increasingly vulnerable.
Wow! This is a brilliant debut! A chilling thriller, it is full of twists, suspense, and tension and is addictive, making it the perfect psychological thriller.
Perfectly plotted, I was drawn in and almost hypnotised myself by the alluring Cassandra Rose. The story developed gradually, but there were plenty of hints that something was amiss with both Annabelle and Cassandra.
I loved the character of Annabelle; she came from a dysfunctional family, is vulnerable and in need of a hug and friend to understand her, someone to stop her from making mistakes. This is where Cassandra comes in: glamorous and confident, you think she is the ideal friend for Annabelle.
I found the relationship between Annabelle and Cassandra realistic and could understand why Annabelle would have trusted Cassandra.
There are intense references to self-harming, something which Annabelle struggles with, but these add to the tension and are handled sensitively by the author.
A brilliant debut which comes highly recommended; I would love to read more by Sophia Spiers.
On the outside, Annabelle lives the privileged lifestyle and has a successful husband and an adorable son. But in reality, she finds herself in an unhappy marriage, failing at motherhood, and troubled by her traumatic past.
So when she meets the bewitching hypnotherapist Cassandra Rose, she feels she has found her way out. But as the hypnosis sessions get underway, the past rears its ugly head and Annabelle becomes increasingly vulnerable.
Wow! This is a brilliant debut! A chilling thriller, it is full of twists, suspense, and tension and is addictive, making it the perfect psychological thriller.
Perfectly plotted, I was drawn in and almost hypnotised myself by the alluring Cassandra Rose. The story developed gradually, but there were plenty of hints that something was amiss with both Annabelle and Cassandra.
I loved the character of Annabelle; she came from a dysfunctional family, is vulnerable and in need of a hug and friend to understand her, someone to stop her from making mistakes. This is where Cassandra comes in: glamorous and confident, you think she is the ideal friend for Annabelle.
I found the relationship between Annabelle and Cassandra realistic and could understand why Annabelle would have trusted Cassandra.
There are intense references to self-harming, something which Annabelle struggles with, but these add to the tension and are handled sensitively by the author.
A brilliant debut which comes highly recommended; I would love to read more by Sophia Spiers.
May 24, 2022
What an absolute chilling read! This book is perfect for thriller fans. Annabelle on the surface seems to have the picture perfect life. A beautiful home, a rich husband, and a cute kid. She has all of this before the age of 30. But she is miserable and stuck in an unhappy marriage. She just seems to be failing at everything and she turns to a habit of her dark past. Self harm is her escape and way of coping with the unhappiness she is surrounded by. Annabelle soon finds a way out of the self harm when she meets Cassandra Rose. Will Cassandra really help Annabelle escape from her unhappiness? Will Annabelle be able to escape her past? The pages will be flying while you read this dark, and chilling thriller.
What I enjoyed:
- right away we are brought into the mystery of Annabelle's past. We aren’t quite sure what happened. Or what has caused her to be so cage-y. This definitely helps entice the reader to keep reading!
- I honestly couldn't figure this one out. The thrill is very well done.
- The twist. And a few other unexpected things!
There is more I enjoyed but I don't want to spoil the story. The writing was excellent, and helps draw you in. The pacing was perfect for a thriller as well. I really enjoyed this book! 4 stars out of 5! Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for a honest review!
What I enjoyed:
- right away we are brought into the mystery of Annabelle's past. We aren’t quite sure what happened. Or what has caused her to be so cage-y. This definitely helps entice the reader to keep reading!
- I honestly couldn't figure this one out. The thrill is very well done.
- The twist. And a few other unexpected things!
There is more I enjoyed but I don't want to spoil the story. The writing was excellent, and helps draw you in. The pacing was perfect for a thriller as well. I really enjoyed this book! 4 stars out of 5! Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for a honest review!
September 12, 2022
The Call of Cassandra Rose is a superb debut psychological thriller that had me from the start. I was instantly drawn into Annabelle’s world which on the surface is perfect but hides a deeply unhappy woman. Her vulnerability (obvious to the reader but not to those around her) and the poor decisions she makes as a result fascinated me and made the book unputdownable. I genuinely feared for her from page one! What really impressed me was the author’s skilled and sensitive handling of Annabelle’s early trauma and how this impacts her life. Annabelle’s harrowing childhood experience unfolds perfectly in its crafting and impact, eventually allowing the reader to understand how she could be so open to being manipulated. The character of Cassandra is a chilling master study in how a person can get into your mind. Full of twists and turns, this dark tale moves towards a shocking and powerful climax that stayed with me. This is an incredibly accomplished debut and I’m excited to see what the author does next.
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