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Picking
Sophie has spent her entire life in her remote, mountain village—picking strawberries, caring for her family, and getting home before sunset. All she wants is to keep her family safe, well-fed, and alive, and she doesn’t trust anyone to do it except herself. Work hard, waste no time, and everything will be okay.
However, the nightsnatchers that visit each night want full bellies, too. Fast, strong, and hungry, they’ll eat any living thing. No one knows where they come from, where they go, or how to kill them. All villagers are trapped, fated to live out their days under the nightsnatchers’ reign. After disaster strikes, Sophie’s family dissolves into husks of their former selves, and she yearns for a life free of nightsnatchers. Filled with grief and regret, Sophie leaves her village for the first time, determined to destroy every last one.
Nightsnatchers aren’t the only creatures lurking in the forest, however. Spirits, monsters, and fae all call these wild places home. Exposed and vulnerable, she must learn which are friends and which are foes, all while battling the terrors within her mind. To find the nightsnatchers’ secret and survive the ordeal, Sophie will have to turn to others, leaning on their strength to forge her own.
However, the nightsnatchers that visit each night want full bellies, too. Fast, strong, and hungry, they’ll eat any living thing. No one knows where they come from, where they go, or how to kill them. All villagers are trapped, fated to live out their days under the nightsnatchers’ reign. After disaster strikes, Sophie’s family dissolves into husks of their former selves, and she yearns for a life free of nightsnatchers. Filled with grief and regret, Sophie leaves her village for the first time, determined to destroy every last one.
Nightsnatchers aren’t the only creatures lurking in the forest, however. Spirits, monsters, and fae all call these wild places home. Exposed and vulnerable, she must learn which are friends and which are foes, all while battling the terrors within her mind. To find the nightsnatchers’ secret and survive the ordeal, Sophie will have to turn to others, leaning on their strength to forge her own.
352 pages, Paperback
First published April 22, 2022
5 people are currently reading
23 people want to read
About the author
Samantha Marchand
2 books7 followersBorn under a wolf moon in the Rocky Mountains, Samantha Marchand now lives on the coast of the Baltic Sea. Sami loves fantasy, magic, animals, and monsters that she expresses in her written worlds. She also creates digital of these passions under the name Dancing Fox. When she's not writing or drawing, she enjoys eating candy, watching TV with her husband, exploring nature, trying to be a responsible adult, and playing with her dog.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
November 29, 2022
Is there anything more terrifying than creatures that go "bump" in the night? Sophie lives in a remote village with her family. All she wants to do is keep them safe from the deadly nightsnatchers that haunt the forest. No one knows what exactly they are, or where they came from, but everyone knows they must get inside before night falls. As Sophie struggles to keep her family safe and well-fed, tragedy strikes. Her life has been forever altered, but will she have the courage to truly change things for the better? Marchand does an excellent job creating a world full of terror akin to dark fairy tales, though the first act did drag a bit for me. Overall, however, this was a great read and I do recommend it!
December 17, 2024
Did not finish. In the summary, a disaster is mentioned. When that disaster came, it angered me so much that I couldn’t finish the book. Perhaps there is a redemption story for the main character, but I found her unlikeable and I couldn’t relate to her at all. Others seem to love the book, so I wish the author well, but I just couldn’t get past the disaster.
October 15, 2022
This is one of those rare books that I know will really stick with me. The monsters alone, dubbed the Nightsnatchers by the villagers they are terrifying, are one of the most effective yet original I've ever read. Their absolute implacability and alien form and movement are truly horrifying and kept me on the edge of my metaphorical seat the entire book. At heart, this is a quest novel as Sophie, the ultra responsible older sibling who feels like she is unfairly shouldering her family's burdens, sets out to destroy these monsters once and for all or die trying. The "die trying" part seems more than likely from start to finish, which just adds to the at times unbearable tension. Along the way, she meets some valuable and charming allies and, of course, learns a few things about herself. This is the kind of fantasy I really enjoy: grounded in a familiar enough reality, yet imaginatively altered to make everything seem fresh and new. Content warning: Be aware there are some truly gruesome and tragic events but a very rewarding read for lovers of high-stakes, high-tension horror/fantasy.
June 28, 2022
Oh my gosh, this book is amazing!
Picking takes you over within the first page, not letting you go till the end. Charming, adventurous, and magical in the likes of Labyrinth, we meet hard-working Sophie, who has felt she has to be the matriarch of the family, being that she is the oldest. That is all due to her and her village being taunted by the Nightsnachers. No one knows when they appeared, only the terror and grief they create once the sun goes down. Never be out after dark. That's the only monster Sophie knows is horrifyingly real.
Let me tell ya! The Nighsnatchers are the most brilliant monster creation I have ever read. Marchand does not make them pushovers either, which I loved. Marchand put her characters and you as a reader through the wringer in this book, and you will love every heart-pounding step. Marchand writes to make you feel. As I said, Picking reminded me a bit of Labyrinth as both Sophie and Sarah are strong-willed and have an annoying younger sibling they wish ill will upon. It sadly happens; thus, Sophie and Sarah must go on a magical journey to learn more about the appreciation of life and family. That is all I can say without revealing too much.
Picking is Marchand's debut novel, and I can say she came out kicking. A wondrous YA dark fantasy tale is sure to be someone's coveted favorite book. Books are to bring joy, and this book brought me joy.
Picking takes you over within the first page, not letting you go till the end. Charming, adventurous, and magical in the likes of Labyrinth, we meet hard-working Sophie, who has felt she has to be the matriarch of the family, being that she is the oldest. That is all due to her and her village being taunted by the Nightsnachers. No one knows when they appeared, only the terror and grief they create once the sun goes down. Never be out after dark. That's the only monster Sophie knows is horrifyingly real.
Let me tell ya! The Nighsnatchers are the most brilliant monster creation I have ever read. Marchand does not make them pushovers either, which I loved. Marchand put her characters and you as a reader through the wringer in this book, and you will love every heart-pounding step. Marchand writes to make you feel. As I said, Picking reminded me a bit of Labyrinth as both Sophie and Sarah are strong-willed and have an annoying younger sibling they wish ill will upon. It sadly happens; thus, Sophie and Sarah must go on a magical journey to learn more about the appreciation of life and family. That is all I can say without revealing too much.
Picking is Marchand's debut novel, and I can say she came out kicking. A wondrous YA dark fantasy tale is sure to be someone's coveted favorite book. Books are to bring joy, and this book brought me joy.
August 18, 2022
Sophie is a bit of a do-gooder and as hard on herself as she is on others, which makes her difficult to like. But Marchand creates a world around her that desperately needs saving and she's the only one crazy and brave enough to do the job. No lie: this book's inciting incident is really hard to take, but it motivates Sophie and puts her on a journey of learning to stop BEing better and to actually DO better, which are two completely different things.
Along the picaresque way she'll meet a wonderful assortment of characters who will become her support, her team, her comrades. If you don't fall in love with Ralph in particular you might be declared an enemy of nature.
This is a book that borrows from the best of fairy tales and folklore, but puts a fresh spin on everything and that is mighty refreshing as well. It's a quest that's familiar but has plenty of surprises along the way. But also some heartbreak, so be a little forewarned diving in!
Along the picaresque way she'll meet a wonderful assortment of characters who will become her support, her team, her comrades. If you don't fall in love with Ralph in particular you might be declared an enemy of nature.
This is a book that borrows from the best of fairy tales and folklore, but puts a fresh spin on everything and that is mighty refreshing as well. It's a quest that's familiar but has plenty of surprises along the way. But also some heartbreak, so be a little forewarned diving in!
January 6, 2025
What an unanticipated gem! This book had me HOOKED, and I don’t even usually read anything in the horror genre that doesn’t involve swoony vampires and the like. But this was like watching an M. Night Shyamalan movie only not having it ultimately suck at some point. It was gripping and fantastical, sooo creative and atmospheric. And I even got the faintest Howl’s Moving Castle vibe, which was *chef’s kiss*. The MC, Sophie, is entirely unlikable at the beginning but also I got why she was the way she was. And her growth arc was such a joy to experience. Although there are some tears at the end, I highly enjoyed this amazing adventure. Ten stars.
April 10, 2023
Picking strawberries - who doesn't enjoy doing that? But what if you're caught doing it as the sun sets?
Samantha Marchand has created a thrilling, bone-chillingly, plot driven adventure for any adrenaline seeking reader to dive into.
You'll fall in love with the protagonist, Sophie, who's desire and will to not only survive but fight back is utterly inspiring. With a multitude of monsters and fairytale-esc creatures, Picking is a rare gem not to be missed.
Samantha Marchand has created a thrilling, bone-chillingly, plot driven adventure for any adrenaline seeking reader to dive into.
You'll fall in love with the protagonist, Sophie, who's desire and will to not only survive but fight back is utterly inspiring. With a multitude of monsters and fairytale-esc creatures, Picking is a rare gem not to be missed.
January 18, 2025
An adventure full of fantastical creatures
I don’t usually read this type of book, but it sounded intriguing and the next book in my series hasn’t come out yet. I decided to give it a try and was pleasantly surprised. If scary things give you nightmares, I might stay away, but the adventure Sophie goes on and the friends she meets along the way, along with the relationships she mends made the book sort of special.
I don’t usually read this type of book, but it sounded intriguing and the next book in my series hasn’t come out yet. I decided to give it a try and was pleasantly surprised. If scary things give you nightmares, I might stay away, but the adventure Sophie goes on and the friends she meets along the way, along with the relationships she mends made the book sort of special.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews