Spidersight

by Tirzah M.M. Hawkins

Have you met Fred? He's the imaginary friend of 5-year-old Missy. Missy insists to everyone that Fred is real. No one believes her until Fred starts doing horrible things.
Missy seems like any other 5-year-old except that she believes that she sees spiders that no one else can. Her parents are only mildly worried because every 5-year-old has a big imagination. But bad things start happening wherever Missy goes. People start dying.
Come along for this paranormal, creature horror, and you just might end up more afraid of spiders after you finish reading.

Genres: Horror, Adult

217 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 29, 2022

Reviews

[David (on hiatus) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute little yarn by Tirzah M.M Hawkins. We have little Missy, A five year old girl who has a imaginary best friend named Fred. Fred is a spider that only she can see who also has hundreds of other spiders who hang out on the walls and ceiling and they follow Missy around everywhere she goes.

Only Fred is actually a demon who waits for years for the perfect host to use to feed: Go on a murder spree. lol. This book is off the rails and totally creepy. If I wasn't freaked out about spiders before I'm pretty sure I am now!

The book is plotted well and very short and sweet at around 250 pages (I think) It is really scary / creepy in places as Missy starts to get scared of the power she has to kill humans. There is also a satisfying sense of dread and hopelessness and she tries to get rid of Fred and finds out that ancient demon spiders aren't that easy to get rid of. The ending is also nails as you start to think there is no way Missy can get out of this mess.....

The bad stuff: The dialogue is not the greatest and doesn't flow that well in places. Plus you start to forget that Missy is only five years old in parts. I guess the difficulty in writing a book with a five year old POV? There is also a weird part in the end that doesn't really fit. It's like the author was trying to just lengthen the book.

All is all, if you want to read a short, scary read then go for this one. It doesn't disappoint!

I really appreciate Tirzah M.M Hawkins for letting me review her book and it's out right now.

Book was given for free for an honest review.

[Lia's Haunted Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an impressive debut novel, and I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised. When I first read the summary, I worried it might come off as too fantastical (I mean, invisible spiders and all), but the author did an incredible job describing everything through the main character’s perspective. The way she portrayed the spiders and her experiences felt genuinely eerie, almost like a demon was haunting, possessing, and controlling her, but in a form we could visualize.

I don’t usually have strong opinions on spiders, but the way they were described—staring at her—definitely gave me goosebumps. It’s that kind of detail that really pulls you into the story. This would’ve been a solid 5 stars, but the last two chapters felt rushed, and I actually liked some of the mystery surrounding her friend being left unresolved. Still, it’s a great read. Just a heads-up: if you’re scared of spiders, this might not be for you.

[Bethany · Rating 4 out of 5]

A young girl who has an imaginary friend that is a spider? Is it imaginary though? Or is gonna... maybe... bite ya? eat ya? Who knows. Don't upset it!

This was very unique and easy read. I'm not sure what the target audience is for this one. At first I thought it was young adults but then it got kind of brutal so I'm not sure! But either way, I think if you enjoy horror then you'll enjoy this. I found myself devouring massive chunks as it's just a nice, easy read. Well, if you can call invisible spiders following you around biting and killing people nice! Hehe!!

I'd be interested to read this book in third person, just to see the effects of the situation and deaths, and raise the voice to a more adult tone. However I wouldn't say the child being the narrative took away any of the story. It also meant we got to see more of the spiders, what they looked like, what they were doing, how it made her feel etc so this POV did work well.

The ending is pretty intense too and made for a quick finish as I had to know what was happening! A great one for spooky season. What's scarier than spiders huh?

[TAMMY WRIGHT · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a total arachnophobic.... I can't stand spiders!!!!!!!!! The story was good, I gave it 5 stars, but it really creeped me out. I will follow Tirzah Hawkins. 🕸🕷🕸🕷

[Clarabelle]

A great page turner.

[andshe.reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

GAHHH, this was horrific [ in the best sense ] Geez, I really really dislike spiders, and im so creeped out. It's been a long time since a book has been about to make the hairs on my arm stand on end, and that's why this book was so good!

Our main protagonist is 5 year old Missy, who can see things no one else can see. In her case, it's spiders. Now, I was going to include a bit here about the book, but in every way I tried wording it, it gives the story away, and I'm not about that. [ sorry ]

Only one critique was that occasionally, I felt the writing didn't flow so well, and it kind of felt Missy was older than 5 at times.

It didn't stop it from being a creepy, spine-tingling read that's just perfect for this halloween season.

[ Maybe don't read it if you're absolutely terrified of spiders 😬]

Thank you to @indie_visible_services for a digital copy of the book to review.

[Samantha H]

What the fuck did I just read? 😭

[Melissa Dally · Rating 5 out of 5]

A unique horror story & an intense page turner! Definitely recommend!

[Jeanette Wonder · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this story rather enjoyable. It just kept escalating and by the end it was a big “what even just happened?” 😂🕷️

[Alicia B.A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This book kept me hooked and wanting to know what happens next. The POV is Missy's, but when the narration is her thoughts the language is not consistent with her age, so my visualization of her would often switch from a child to an adult when reading her thoughts. I appreciated the ending because it answered a question I had from the very beginning. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and felt that I was taken on a journey.

[Adriana | nannersreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Tirzah MM Hawkins and Katie and Brey PA for providing me with a physical copy of this book. This is my honest review.
-
Word to the wise: Don’t read a book about murderous spiders at 2am 😂 I started reading Spidersight and I couldn’t stop turning the page. Hawkins delivers a unique, skin-crawling creature horror that’ll make you peek under your bed just to be safe. There’s a good balance of scares, thrills, and mystery to keep you hooked the entire way.
-
While the book is clearly written by an adult, I think Hawkins did a great job putting forth the range of emotions that a child in distress would. I think the book would have benefited from a slightly different ending, but I understand why it ended the way it did. If I never have to read about evil spiders again, it’ll be too soon. 💀
-
If you’re looking for a shorter read that’ll make your skin crawl, check out Spidersight! It is available for purchase in ebook and paperback format.

[Kelly {SpaceOnTheBookcase] · Rating 4 out of 5]

The spiders are inside the house…or, in this case, attached to the girl. Missy should be playing with dolls and learning how to read, but instead finds herself trapped by a spider who feeds on human beings. When people around her die under unusual circumstances it’s up to Missy to put the puzzle pieces together and find a way to break free from the spider's grasp.

Spidersight is a creepy book that will keep you up at night. The only critique I have is Missy’s age is presented as five, but the book is written from her point of view and even the most precocious five year old doesn’t speak with the level of maturity Missy is written with. However, if you ignore that, you will become enthralled in this creepy, crawly horror book.

[Brittneyreads_ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so good and so creepy… I’m terrified of spiders and this didn’t help 😅

You follow Missy, who is the only person who can see her imaginary spider, Fred, and his countless spider minions. Fred is Missy’s best friend! He rides on her shoulder, sleeps with her at night and follows her everywhere. Many think that it’s strange, but chalk it up to an overactive imagination. Soon, bodies start dropping due to mysterious spider bites everywhere Missy goes. People keep dying, Fred keeps growing and there isn’t any way to stop it.

Creep meter was off the charts and all I could do was picture Fred as the spider from Harry Potter. Read at your own risk.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five year old Missy has a friend, one no one can see despite her efforts to point Fred out. Fred is an unusual friend though as he is a spider and despite Missy thinking he is sweet, he is nothing but. What happens when the people around Missy start dying though, couldn't possibly be Fred could it?

This one definitely gave me the heebie jeebies. Very well told horror story that your not sure how its going to play out. It had all the elements that make a great horror story stand out. I thought this was very entertaining.

[Kaija · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have you ever read a book that’s almost like it comes straight from your nightmares?
Well I have a huge fear of spiders and this book? Fred? Man it’s insane! In the best possible way of course!

This is a thriller that just kept me turning the page needing answers!

If you want a book that has MASSIVE thriller vibes and will keep you up all night then this is the book for you! I really enjoyed it despite my overwhelming fear of spiders

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet Missy is bullied in kindergarten, but takes comfort in her one true friend Fred. Only Missy can see Fred, the tarantula that sleeps on her pillow and rides on her shoulder. Only Missy can see Fred’s friends…the hundreds of spiders that cover every surface of her bedroom and follow her everywhere she goes. Her classmates don’t see the spiders all over their desks. One day Fred speaks! “Feed me”, he demands. When Missy finally figures out what Fred wants to eat she is in over her head she begins to fear her friend Fred. Everyone should fear her friend Fred, and what ever you do…..don’t make Missy mad at you.
This is a creeeeeepy book for the images it put in my head. Spiders scampering everywhere. Spiders you don’t know exist until you feel them all over you, and if you feel them then you’re done for. Thank you #netgalley and allowing me to read and review #Spidersight. Yikes!

[Shannen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up this book as soon as I saw the cover and after reading the synopsis, I KNEW I had found a good one! I’m beyond excited that I didn’t miss out on this and hope to see much more from this author.

While normally people think of imaginary friends as cute and ordinary, 5-year-old Missy is about to flip your world upside down. She has a wonderful imaginary friend named Fred, and he likes to be perked on her shoulder. Did I mention Fred is a spider?! Missy sees spiders everywhere and while this would creep me out, her parents seem to think it’s just a phase. But when people start dying in mysterious circumstances, is Missy or Fred to blame?

I could NOT read this book fast enough! I plowed through it with minimal pauses, and I highly recommend picking this up. Full of creepy crawlies, horror, and plenty of action, you won’t be able to put it down!

[Teresa Rollen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! It is so good! It is about a five-year-old girl who has an imaginary friend named Fred who is a tarantula. He has hundreds of little spiders that follow him around and do his bidding. The only problem is Fred is real, but Missy is the only one who can see him. At first, Missy loves Fred because he is small and seems sweet. Also, Missy doesn’t have any friends, so she gets very close to Fred. But things change.

This book is fast-paced and hard to put down. Wherever Missy goes, things happen, and they aren’t good. Another good thing that I liked about this book was that it was told from Missy’s point of view. This book also has plenty of twists and turns throughout.

I am terrified of spiders, so this book did creep me out quite a bit. I very highly recommend this book if you like horror books about spiders. It is one of the best.

[Denay W · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hate spiders lol and was looking for a book that would creep me out. Well I am very hard to scare so it didn't hit the mark with that. I wasn't scared, but let me tell you I finished this book in one setting!!
I will say there were a few phrases a 5 year old shouldn't know but setting that aside I loved the premise!! I was so worried for the ending! I got to one part and had to set it down because I knew it was horror but was so sad it happened!
The entire time I was racking my brain trying to think of how the author could possibly get them out of this situation without it being overly easy or shattering my heart. And they did it and I was happy!! Also I'm glad the author tells you what Fred really is. So many books leave that open and you never find out what the monster was. So bravo!! Loved this book

[Tanya Quevedo · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars .. seriously a page turner!! This shit was wild!!! The reason I didn’t give a full 5 stars was the POV is from A five year old child, and at times the narration was a bit advanced/mature for even the brightest 5 year old. And the spider POV cracked me up!!

Soo Missy has an imaginary friend she calls Fred, he’s NOT a child, he’s a freaking tarantula!! And where Missy goes Fred follows along with what sounds like thousands of other 8 legged friends that only Missy can see. Once she realizes shit goes down basically at her command things get wild!! Death and mayhem ensues!! Lol Fred is not a cute little tarantula he’s a freaking demon! That is hungry and needs to be fed. This read goes quickly because you just can’t put it down wondering what will happen next and if Missy can ever be free from Fred.

Ready for a quick wild read with monster spiders!? This one is for you!

[Missgotty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Young Missy has always had an imaginary spider friend called Fred, or so they thought. Everyone thinks Missy just has an obsession with spiders until things start to seriously go wrong, and all fingers point towards one person.

This is a brilliant and very credible piece of horror fiction. Perhaps not for people who suffer with arachnophobia though. I in particular hate spiders and was thankful that the author did not go into detailed depictions of the spiders, so I was easily able to focus on the main story. I very much enjoyed this book and would highly recommend to horror/paranormal fans. I will definitely be adding Hawkins to my list and I'm looking forward to reading future creations from this author.

[Kate Victoria RescueandReading · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want a book to give you nightmares, this one will do it!
Honestly have had so many messed up spider 🕷 dreams and am paranoid now about any being in my house 😆 I’ve had one small black spider living by my back door inside the house all summer, it gets all the mosquitoes, so we’ve have a symbiotic relationship where I allow it to stay …. NOT ANYMORE MY GUY!!!

This was an awesome debut novel, intensely creepy, compelling, and easy to understand as the point of view switches between 5 year old Missy and Fred the entity.

Now, to go deep clean my house and clear out any roommate spiders….


Thank you to NetGalley, the author Tirzah Hawkins, and Xpresso Book Tours for a copy!

[Vickiec192 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Missy has an imaginary friend, his name is Fred. Fred just so happens to be a spider, one that only she can see, so he must be imaginary right?! However, things take a turn when people she dislikes start dropping like flies (sorry!) Cause of death? toxins from a spider bite....

This was such a cool concept, and extremely well executed. The character of Missy was crafted really well and to say the story was from her POV, I think the narrative was well thought out.

I read this in 2 sittings. I definitely couldn't put it down. This is a very creepy read and pretty dark at points so please check trigger warnings.

I honestly think this would make a great film!!!

[AJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

We. Need. More.

This story is SO GOOD, I’ve never wanted a spider friend more. I read this book in a day and cried when it ended. You know why? Because there’s no more. I cried because I want more and there isn’t any. Tirzah, I’m begging you, I NEED more. This was so good I’m just….I’m at a loss for words, and I’m never quiet. This is one of the best things I’ve ever read.

It’s also my first book of yours that I’ve read and now I think I need to read more, but at the same time what if they’re all the same and end with no more after?

Please please please write more.

[Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so entertaining I literally could not put it down. This book isn’t my usual read but I needed something different to get me out of my slump I’m in and it was great! I’ve never heard of anything like this and it was refreshing to have a new idea of a book. Missy is all the little girls who ever felt different or left out and only try to do the right thing, I can definitely relate to that. I do think she seemed a little older than she actually is but doesn’t really make a difference to me. Don’t read if you have arachnophobia lol.

[Kristen Arndt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this back in 2022 and it still gives me creeps how much I couldn't put it down. I have a very strong dislike and fear of spiders so this was a pretty big deal for me. This story was written in the point of view of a 5-year-old named Missy. Missy has an imaginary tarantula, named Fred, haunting her. He is the leader and any time Missy has ill thoughts or feelings for someone, things start happening to them and Fred starts to grow. Missy was faced with some tough decisions to free herself from these monsters.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

This little girl has an invisible, creepy little friend that makes her mom seriously uncountable. First they think it's a simple imaginary thing, but then her mother becomes more concerned. They even have her eyes tested. Her father feels like everything is fine... Until people start getting sick and/or dying!

My favorite part of this story is the end, and I really hope there is a sequel in the works!

[Christopher Sweet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hats off to Tirzah MM Hawkins for coming up with an interesting and scary monster, AND creating some of the creepiest spider-related fiction I’ve read. Excellent novel, especially for a debut. Can’t wait to read more of Hawkins’ work.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jack Koamos · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was actually pretty cool. It's told through the gaze of a five year old child. She is followed everywhere by spiders only she can see. She doesn't realize the consequences of her actions. The entire time I was at the edge of my seat trying to figure out how she was going to get out of that mess. I did enjoy the conclusion

[TaniaRina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Creeped me out!
Not the usual Poe’esque tales of things that go thump in the night.

‘I think it is just an overactive imagination. She’ll either grow out of it or make a lot of money writing books when she grows up.’
Possibly a fictionalized autobiography of childhood ghost stories?