Little Rock

by Alex Beltran

England, fall 1993. Sent against his will, Owen Appletoff arrives at Little Rock boarding school from his hometown of San Diego. Within its high walls awaits Taylor, his handsome golden-haired roommate, with whom a strong friendship quickly
blossoms. Meanwhile Daniel, the sexy school bully, lends a watchful eye to the school’s newest arrival. As the days go by, any harmony Owen sought is torn apart by the strange visions haunting his dreams. The kelpie, a spirit of ancient Celtic legend, has marked him out as a target. In a school where things are not quite as they first appear and everyone seems to be hiding something, Owen, Taylor, and Daniel must put aside their differences to unravel the mysteries of Little Rock.

Genres: Romance, Fantasy, Mystery, Young Adult, Queer, LGBT, M M Romance

235 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 7, 2022

About the author

Álex Beltrán grew up in his hometown of Valencia in Spain. Since an early age, he began to narrate fantasy stories to friends and family members. Years later, he decided to study Audiovisual Communication at university. Following his passion, he moved to Los Angeles and enrolled at the New York Film Academy (NYFA), expanding his storytelling techniques. He currently lives in Europe where he is working on his next novel: “Stars Navigators”

More information:

https://www.instagram.com/_alex_beltran/

Reviews

[Luis M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

ES: Little Rock es el debut de Alex Beltrán y menudo debut…

Alex fue tan amable de contactarme para que leyera su libro antes de la publicación y me ha sorprendido muy gratamente.

Es un libro en el que la fantasía y la realidad se mezclan en una vorágine que a veces te hace dudar de lo que es sueño y lo que es realidad.

Una trama muy bien construida que utiliza elementos de la cultura popular y también de la mitología Celta. Está plagado de referencias y pistas que te ayudan a comprender la historia y navegar un mundo muy bien construido.

Los personajes son lo mejor, están muy bien creados, cada uno con sus sueños y batallas y todos ilustran la fuerza y el valor que muchos adolescentes tienen que mostrar en los años de instituto. Especialmente el colectivo LGTBIQ+ muy presente en esta novela.

Alex nos hace reflexionar en esta novela. No todo iba a ser disfrutar.
Nos hace ver la cara fea del ser humano. El abuso, la pérdida, el bullying… todas están presentes en esta novela, que las trata con cuidado y nos ayuda a comprender la situación.

Además de todo lo ya mencionado, la novela tiene mucho pero mucho amor, muchas veces subidito de tono jajaja y mucho misterio que se mantiene a lo largo de la novela y se revela justo al final.

Como veis es un libro que tiene de todo lo bueno y os recomiendo mucho que lo leáis y le deis una oportunidad, porque os aseguro que merece mucho la pena. Yo me lo leí en nada y lo disfruté muchísimo.

EN: Little Rock is Alex Beltran's debut and what a debut it is....

Alex was kind enough to contact me to read his book before publication and I was very pleasantly surprised.

This is a book in which fantasy and reality mix in a maelstrom that sometimes makes you doubt what is dream and what is reality.

A very well constructed plot that uses elements from popular culture and also from Celtic mythology. It is riddled with references and clues that help you understand the story and navigate a very well constructed world.

The characters are the best, they are very well developed, each with their own dreams and battles and all illustrate the strength and courage that many teenagers have to show in their high school years. Especially the LGTBIQ+ community is very present in this novel.

Alex makes us reflect in this novel. It's not all about enjoyment.
He makes us see the ugly face of human beings. Abuse, loss, bullying... they are all present in this novel, which treats them with care and helps us to understand the situation.

In addition to everything mentioned above, the novel has a lot of love, a lot of love, many times a little bit naughty hahaha and a lot of mystery that is maintained throughout the novel and is revealed right at the end.

As you can see this book has all the good things and I highly recommend you to read it and give it a chance, because I assure you that it is worth it. I read it in a flash and enjoyed it very much.

[Jamie Pitman · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I received a free eARC copy from booksirens initally and read that version first... however I then had some emails from the author who told me that there was another verison to be released prior to the release date with minor changes to the book. After some conversation on whether or not I needed to read both versions I decided to do just that.

Spoilers ahead

As mentioned by other reviews of the older version, it contained a scene where there was a rape that took place in a cinema in Keswick. This was one of the changes to the second version I have read and the end scene also changed as originally Daniel dies from his gun shot wound. This was changed to Daniel being saved just in time so both Owen and Daniel got to be together, whereas the older version he visits Daniels grave not Jimmy's.

I have to say I normally am fine to ignore content warnings and read but the rape scene in the original took me by suprise. But I liked both versions just as much as I cried for both versions in different ways. First version when said rape scene happens then when he distances himself from his friends then when Daniel dies. The second version the ending I was like yey so happy tears.

[Roger Hyttinen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full of dark menace and sinister undertones, Little Rock takes place in 1993 and follows Owen Appleton, a new student at a boarding school who is attending against his will. He is, as of yet, confused about his sexuality and finds himself developing romantic feelings for his roommate, Daniel. To add to his confusion, he’s also sexually attracted to the school bully/bad boy Daniel and begins developing romantic feelings for him as well. Normally, I’m not a fan of love triangles, but I enjoyed the way the author handled it in this novel. I soon found myself rooting for the boy I hoped Daniel would choose.

But alas, Little Rock is not solely about a boy falling in love. Daniel soon begins to have nightmares and even visions about a Kelpie, a shape-changing aquatic spirit of Scottish Legend, often in the shape of a horse or with the skull of a horse. The spirit is said to haunt rivers and streams. Daniel soon hears murmurs about a student who had drowned in the lake the year prior, and many say it was a Kelpie that killed him. As Daniel’s nightmares intensify, he is certain that the Kelpie is now targeting him and that perhaps his days are numbered.

This was the first story I’ve ever read that featured a Kelpie, and I feel this really added a compelling element to the narrative. In this way, the author takes the fantasy genre and turns it into something interesting and new — at least, for me. I loved how the author ratchets up the menace, as the narrative turns a bit dark, with an overall sense of foreboding, hints of menace, and a nagging feeling that something wasn’t quite right.

In telling the story, the author touches on some tough themes, such as bullying, abuse, murder, and more, though the author handles them with sensitivity. I enjoyed journeying with Daniel, Owen, and Taylor as they navigate a dark and twisting path, investigating old Celtic legends and unearthing dark secrets about their school. All three characters were distinct in their own ways, and I loved seeing their relationships play out on the page.

Let me also add that the original version of this book was much more graphic and much darker than this latest version. The author informed me that he had made some significant updates to the story and had removed the most disturbing sections of it. Thus, you may read earlier reviews that speak of these now absent scenes. Though the story in its current form does touch upon some dark topics, there are no gruesome, gory, or especially disturbing explicit scenes (or at least from my perspective).

All in all, I really enjoyed this unique story. It was heartbreaking in places, a tad disturbing but ultimately hopeful. I like how the tension, drama, and surprising denouement bring this unorthodox novel home to a pretty compelling and satisfying conclusion, and though the story takes place in 1993, I enjoyed how the flowing prose added a gothic, old-timey feel to it. Recommended!

A huge thank you to Álex Beltrán and BookSirens for providing me with a review copy of this book.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

American Owen ends up at boarding school and whilst sorting out his own sexuality he is drawn to not one but two of his fellow students.

Taking place at an English boarding school in 1993, to me the time period felt like it didn't always match the dialogue. One of the characters says Jeepers a lot, and phrases like old chap are used. To me it read as older so I think I built up an image of a boarding school of say the 1950s era instead. But it didn't affect how the story flowed so that was fine to me.

This coming of age novel which is YA and showcases MM romance does contain sex and violence, as well as scenes of a MMM encounter, so keep that in mind if you choose to read.

For the story itself, I liked the characters and the way the relationships built up. I was able to read the book quickly and it held my interest.

As it does have a rather darker undertone and sense of foreboding I don't think that this is for every reader of YA fiction, but I do think there is definitely an audience that will throughly enjoy it.

My copy was given through Booksirens, and I have based my review on the newer updated version of the novel I was given.

[Regarderlalune · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough last year to be a beta reader for “Little Rock”. My review will take into account the final novel with all its changes since then.

Let me start by pointing out that “Little Rock” is not your typical YA story, instead the author adds new elements that enrich the narrative while telling a human story that deals with real issues. This beautiful book can be enjoyed by younger people and adults especially. Its main genre revolves around a YA romance with some mystery elements that are highly entertaining. The main plot follows the traditional 3-act structure story line, with some flashbacks and flash-forwards from time to time. Characters are really well defined and always behave according to their motivations and desires. As part of it, dialogues suit perfectly with smart speeches.

The main protagonist “Owen" remains very interesting and a key point for the story plot itself without forgetting “Daniel” and “Taylor”. As an audience, we get to see how these characters' arcs change and influence each other throughout the whole story. Apart from that, the fact that Daniel is the school bully makes it twice as interesting to watch since you never know how he will behave.

The book's main concept spins around the idea that “Things aren’t always as they first seem”. From the very beginning, (starting at the prologue with Emma at Tuolumne Meadows) this Motif appears introduced by the author and repeats itself five more times with a symbolic significance throughout the entire novel ending on the very last page when Owen writes down his “wish list” for Daniel. There is great emphasis on detail, readers will find out that Beltrán has taken care of even the smallest elements. Every act, word, or pause, has been meticulously planned in advance, enriching the story as a whole.

“Little Rock” has a peculiar way of structuring the story. Some of its chapters borrow techniques that can be seen in films. For example, in chapter IX, the author uses a “montage” to narrate how Owen and his friends fix up the attic of the astronomy club over the course of a few weeks. Perhaps of all the different formats introduced in the novel, chapter XIV is the most avant-garde of them all. When Owen arrives at Keswick cinema, Beltrán uses a "false parallel montage" to narrate the actions of three characters (Owen, Taylor and Daniel) making the reader believe that they all take place in the same spacetime, when this is not the case. (This chapter reminds me of the movie “silence of the lambs”, when we see two stories going on simultaneously and cut between them.)

**SPOILER ALERT**

Daniel never gets to go to the movies that day because he is held by Peter and John in Little Rock. On the other hand, Taylor arrives late to the cinema when the film has already ended, and yet the reader thinks that he will arrive to save Owen from the Kelpie. It is no wonder that this chapter is the fourth turning point of the book or “great setback” for the protagonist.

**END OF SPOILER**

Another thing that struck me was how well the book explores the coming of age of Owen and the authors great care to reflect this as the story unfolds. On the other hand, it was really compelling to see what drove each character individually and pushed them further (to their limit), while doing things they will never imagine to protect those they love.

The kelpie was another refreshing element from the story, for there can't be light without darkness, and that is where the gloomy spirit comes into action, reminding the audience of the invisible dangers that constantly lie in the shadows of our own world.

As a whole, “Little Rock” is an exciting story full of intimate moments that will win the readers hearts. Strongly recommend it.

**SPOILER ALERT** / DON'T CONTINUE READING UNLESS YOU FINISH THE STORY!

The novel is full of easter eggs too for those who know how to read between lines. I would encourage other readers to discover them for themself. Perhaps the one that comes to mind while writing this review, would be the conversation between Owen and Mr. Mountbatten at the library regarding the fate of Sir Percy of Scandia aka the Black Night. The author brilliantly tells us what his destiny holds at the hands of Mordred. If the reader has been paying attention, they would have figured out by then, that Daniel secret name is Sir Percy and his fate is to die holding his magic sword (Conan the barbarian replica) against Mordred aka Mr. Mountbatten on the island of Little Rock.

[Chechu Rebota · Rating 3 out of 5]

Este libro ha sido una auténtica sorpresa, me llamó la atención por la ilustración de la portada y la sinopsis y terminé de leerlo en solo un día. No es un libro perfecto, creo que Alex Beltran tiene talento pero tiene que pulirlo para jugar tanto con las sutilezas como en la narrativa, en lo que respecta a los personajes va muy a saco desde el principio en el tema romántico, personalmente hubiera preferido que al principio fuera un poco más lento, que nos permitiera ver como nacen los sentimientos en vez de que estos surjan de la nada. Por el lado narratio, no logra equilibrar del todo la trama sobre el misterio y la trama romántica, por lo que hay algunas caídas de ritmo y algunos agujeros en la trama, aunque nada importante.

Lo dicho, pese a esos pequeños defectos, que son más algo subjetivo, he disfrutado mucho de la lectura: me ha gustado la ambientación, las referencias a las leyendas artúricas y los personajes, me ha tenido enganchado por saber la resolución del misterio y he disfrutado mucho de la parte final, con todas esas revelaciones y giros.

Por otro lado, me hubiera gustado leer este libro con 16 o 17 años, me hubiera ayudado mucho a no sentirme un "bicho raro" y a aceptarme más. Estas obras son necesarias porque todos nos merecemos tener personajes e historias en las que sentirnos reflejados.

[Andrés MSerrano · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un buen libro, y de lectura fácil! me gusta la forma en el que el autor ha entrelazado las historias de los protagonistas, por lo que me ha enganchado en todo momento.

Además, este autor ha sabido plasmar las emociones de dichos personajes entrelazándola con un misterio que no deja indiferente.

A su vez, esta historia ha sabido jugar muy bien con el lector, ya que, así como dice la historia: “nada es lo que parece“

Se la recomiendo a todos los amantes de literatura juvenil!!

[Dieter Moitzi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has been provided for free by the publisher. The review below has also been published on Rainbow Book Reviews.

By and large, the blurb already tells the broad outlines of the story. Owen Appletoff, a Californian teenager recently bereaved of his much-loved mother, is sent to a British boarding school for boys by his mostly absent father. His roommate Taylor turns out to be a charming if slightly rebellious blond boy with whom he quickly becomes friends. Against all odds, he also strikes an improbable friendship with the school bully, handsome Daniel. What most intrigues him, though, are the strange visions and dreams he’s haunted by; dreams of a lake lost in the woods nearby, and dreams of the Celtic lake monster, the legendary kelpie, a bloodthirsty being half human, half horse. While his two closest friendships soon bloom into something more—love, that is—these visions spell danger not only in his dreams, but also in his real life… the two main questions being, whom between Taylor and Daniel will he ultimately choose, and more importantly: how will he survive the attempts on his life?

Well, this was… a first. Meaning this was the first book I ever read that was written by a Spanish writer (read: a writer from Spain), then translated into English. It was also Alex Beltran’s debut novel, so I decided to be indulgent—I almost always am, but even more so when someone has just published their very first book. Without any indulgence, I can already say that I enjoyed most of the book. The storyline was interesting enough to keep me going, the secrets were revealed slowly, the mysteries unraveled one by one, and the tension mixed in by the strange kelpie creature was upheld throughout the book until the—surprising and unexpected—ending. Mixed in was the romantic sideplot (sideplots, I should say, as with Taylor and Daniel, two love interests were involved), which didn’t lead me down the path of insta-love, but showed Owen’s intrigued interest, then self-questioning—“What does it mean that I feel drawn not only to one boy, but two?”—then acceptance, avowal, deliverance, new torments triggered by the sheer impossibility to choose one of the two, and finally… happy ending or not? Sorry, I don’t do spoilers. It’s in the book, so you should find out by yourselves.

As debut novels go (except those proofread, edited, and streamlined to death by major publishers eager to release the next bestseller), ‘Little Rock’ had flaws. Even though the writing and style were engaging and pleasant to read, some passages felt clumsy and a little bit off. Of course, as I said in the previous paragraph, this is a translation, and some details and characteristics of a writer’s style are always lost in the process. Having mentioned proofreading, a thorough final round of that should have been done, too—maybe the clumsiness I perceived came from the errors and typos I encountered. They were plentiful enough for me to notice, yet quite fortunately not too overwhelming for me to stop reading.

In my eyes the major flaw, however, was the changing points of view. I’m not averse to characters telling and pushing a story alternately, but that should be done expertly, in alternating chapters or subchapters. What I’m not keen on is the alternation of the “narrating voice” in one chapter or even one paragraph. I understood whether it was Owen, Taylor, or Daniel; that was not the problem. It just added to the… clumsiness, for want of a better word. As the three boys (and the many others they interacted with in that boarding school) were often referred to as “he” (duh!), it sometimes got hard to distinguish of whom the author was talking, too.

Last but not least, even though I did enjoy the story, the characters felt a bit flat. For one, Owen’s background could have been fleshed out (the absent father figure was just a teensy bit too absent to make sense—he was the one sending the boy to the UK, after all) so that I could better understand him and his actions. Taylor, whose rebellion didn’t exceed the odd forbidden cigarette, was too nice to be true, too selfless; he could have done with a bit more edge and bite and fight in him. As to Daniel, who was probably my favorite, he was the school bully, all right, but only in name. Yes, I know, I followed his despicable actions in the beginning, but it felt as if his heart weren’t in it. His subsequent wooing and gently pursuing of Owen, without pressure nor nastiness, therefore struck me as the logical side effect of his nice nature, yet it didn’t match his stance as the mean boy. Bullies should inspire fear and loathing to be believable, I guess, to make their transformation all the more surprising; Daniel was likeable from the start, so that didn’t work out.

All in all, ‘Little Rock’ was a mixed bag. Clever storyline with a clever ending. Well constructed group dynamics, which always make a huge part of the attraction of boarding school plots, and a heart-warming romance woven in. Too many flecks and flaws, however, to make this my read of the year. And yet… I recommend it if only because I always appreciate a good yarn, even one somewhat clumsily spun.

[Val]

Thanks to BookSirens and the author for providing me with an early copy in exchange for an honest review. The book comes out October 7th 2022.

So one general rule that I set for myself is that if I receive an ARC from a smaller publisher or an indie authors and I if don’t really end up liking it then I'll write the review but I won't rate it because I don't want to bring the rating down. Which is what I'm doing in this case too.
It makes me sad I didn't end up liking this because I thought I would and the author seems like a lovely person. I received both the first version of the book and then the second which had some changes. My review is only about the second one which I read fully. I did skim read through the first one a bit and I will say that the second version is much better in terms of some choices. I think it's great when authors listen to feedback from their readers and try to make their books better and safer.

I'll say what I liked first. The cover is really nice and it was what first drew me to this book and made me check the synopsis which seemed like something I would totally love. England during the 90's. A boarding school. Mystery surrounding it and it's very clear that the kelpie will have a big role in it. It also features queer characters and I adore any queer horror even if it's not too scary. I think the concept was fine. I like the ideas and I like the basic premise. Unfortunately, this book totally lost me with the romance aspects.

The main character Owen gets sent to boarding school where he meets Taylor and Daniel who both later turn into love interests. Taylor is his roommate and they get closer sooner than him and Daniel, however it was just too fast and too rushed. There was no real build-up or anything. Owen even though Taylor had a girlfriend and they still end up kissing at around 28% which just felt so sudden. But okay, I get teenage boys could be like that. However, the romance aspects and the "love triangle" seem to take over the story. I expected a lot more focus on kelpie and the dreams Owen had and all the promised mystery. Relationship with Daniel wasn't developed any better either and I was really wondering where it was all going considering there was a threesome moment at one point. But then it shifted back to Owen having to make a choice between Taylor and Daniel and it seems like the sole focus of the story. Especially when he starts using terms like "love". “Which boy loves him more” and “which one does he love more”? “Which one will he pick?” It was giving me very 2012 YA heroine vibes where they had to choose between two equally bland boys who weren't developed properly.

I enjoyed the second part of the book a lot more, mainly because it revolved more around the kelpie mystery. Which also makes me think I would really like this if the relationship about boys was more about found family and friendship especially considering their role in helping Owen, before jumping right into the romance. Being a bully isn't a personality trait and Daniel could have been an interesting character if there was more to him and if he had better development. Owen's choice of the two did surprise me for that reason. So yeah, romance would work if it wasn't so insta lovish I think. I also think the big reveal at the end would have more impact if there were more gradual hints. I get what the author was going for based on some scenes, I just wish there was more of that and I feel like the story would have benefited if it was longer.

I think I already overdid this review but I just wanted to share the reason why I didn’t really like it despite wanting to. But I guess it just wasn’t for me.

[ella · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Thanks so much to BookSirens for providing me with a free eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Ok so I got that this book was going to have creepy vibes, and I really enjoyed that aspect of it, but my christ?? I was not expecting things to get that heavy or dark. As a result I’m actually finding it really difficult to work out my rating. The general spooky/mystery vibe was really fun! The more specific situation I’m referring to is what I’m going to discuss below (so potential spoiler ahead I guess)



I went back after finishing the book to check I didn’t just miss a trigger warning for rape, but no, I was right and there just isn’t one. The only warning I did see on BookSirens was for ‘sex and violence’. This isn’t a finished copy, so maybe that’s why there wasn’t any sort of proper warning but yeah. I think people going into this book should definitely be aware that a rape does happen and is described while it’s happening. I’m going to put a spoiler tag for when it happens now for anyone who might want to know or skip that (Chapter XIV, things start at 74%, and then that scene is woven with other scenes, and the rape is at the 75% mark). The non-rape sections are separated by page breaks so you can read around it if you want to and not really miss any of the story.

Up until that point the book was reasonably lighthearted while also being creepy and it was a decent blend (though I probably would have liked a little more creepiness personally). But still, my favourite aspect was definitely the atmosphere and the build up of the tension throughout the entire story.

Though I have to say I was also surprised by how much I got into the romance aspect of this book! Love triangles generally aren’t for me, they tend to stress me out, but I liked the way this one unfolded and worked out.

I also found it really easy to imagine everything in this book, the settings were really vividly painted in my head so that was another great aspect. And I can confirm that after a few days away, I was a fan of the conclusion - it shocked me a bit but I was into it.

One other thing I did notice were some interesting word choices but I have no idea if that’s on account of the translation or whether they were the author’s choice. For example the use of the word “scallywags” by a guy in his mid 30s, like this book is set in the 1990s not the 1890s. One sentence that really stood out to me was “A strong aroma inundated his nasal path.” I mean what an extra way to say there was a strong smell. This also came up during some of the more mature scenes, with words such as “precious elixir” and “ambrosia” which just,, ok.

Originally I was thinking maybe 4 stars, but I’m actually going to go with 3/3.5 because yeah the whole above situation did throw me. I had to take a bit of a break for a little while at that point. I don’t necessarily think it’s wrong to put in books, again I’m just highlighting the need for some sort of warning before you start reading because you really don’t know how that can affect someone who isn’t expecting it. Trigger warnings are there for people to ignore if they want to, and that’s a choice if someone doesn’t want to be ‘spoiled’, but I personally think they should be included, especially for a topic like this and when it is actually depicted on page as that can be super harmful for some readers without pre-warning.


Trigger warnings: sexual assault, rape (depicted on page), pedophilia, homophobia, drugs, bullying, violence

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Review
I received an ARC of this book from BookSirens. Book comes out Oct 7, 2022

Please note the trigger warnings before deciding to pick up this novella. They are: Sex, Violence, and Rape. This is also a LGBT Mystery, Gay Romance novella.

Little Rock is a well-written novella. It centers around Owen Appletoff and is adventures at his new boarding school, Little Rock in England. Once at school, Owen makes friends with Taylor, who is also his roommate and Daniel, the school bully, as well as a few others. Owen is a very intriguing boy. He is very, very smart. He is also a great friend and at first glance doesn’t seem like someone who would have a care in the world, but Owen is being tortured by horrible nightmares and seemed to have been marked by the kelpie, a spirit of ancient Celtic legend. The three boys must figure out what is really going on with Owen and Little Rock.
Dear reader, this book, short though it was, wrecked me. I feel like I need a bowl of ice-cream, a hug and a good cry after reading this. While reading this, I experienced a lot of emotions. I laughed at the shenanigans of boys at boarding school and smiled as I saw what going to boarding school would be like. I felt angry at some of the things that happened and sadness to the point of tears gathering. My tears haven’t fallen yet, but I still feel like they might. This was a great read.
Would I read more from Alex Beltran? Yes, Little Rock has made me a fan. It will be awhile before I forget Little Rock, if I do at all.

Until next time peace and happy reading.

[Dear Reader 0801 · Rating 4 out of 5]

First time reading this author and I have to say I really enjoyed their writing. It’s a good paced book and before I realized it, I was halfway through the book in one sitting.

The book deals with several themes, self-discovery, first loves, mystery and intrigue and it does it all without overwhelming each other. Owen comes to a new boarding school in the UK from California and deals with discovering who he is and who he is attracted to along with being attracted to not one but two different people. Although Taylor and Daniel have a tense friendship, they have very different personalities. I won’t say if I am Team Taylor or Team Daniel but it’s an interesting journey for Owen as he figures out where his heart belongs. I wish the book would have gone into a little more but I sometimes think it's a fine line between not enough angst and too much.

The trio face backlash from less than open minded fellow students and the intrigue and mystery around the school starts to ramp up in the later half of the book. The suspense keeps the storyline moving throughout the rest of the book until the surprise ending. I see that some readers labeled this as a YA novel and think it would be more for the older group of that audience or even new adult as some of the content was a little advanced. I love the artwork on the cover and several drawings through the book. I would have loved to read an epilogue of the trio to see how things are in five years or so.

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

[Rebekah · Rating 1 out of 5]

1 Sentence Summary: Owen is sent to boarding school in England where he begins having strange dreams about a kelpie, and he and his roommate Taylor along with the school bully Daniel must get to the bottom of the mysterious events occurring at Little Rock.

My Thoughts: idk this book just didn’t do it for me. The writing was weird and didn’t flow very well (though that very well may have been due to the translation). I think it has good potential, but definitely needs to be developed a lot more.

I didn’t really care about any of the characters, and all of the relationships felt super rushed. Also, the love triangle was so bizarre. Like, it goes from a love triangle to a threesome back to a love triangle?? There was a lot of strange dialogue and uncomfortable sex scenes.

The story itself also felt rushed and could have been fleshed out more, with the whole mystery of the kelpie and everything. The world building as well fell a little flat.

Recommend to: probably nobody.

(Warnings: swearing; underage drinking; smoking; bullying; explicit sexual content; death)

***
thank you to booksirens and the author for providing me an eARC in exchange for an honest review

[Walter Roper · Rating 4 out of 5]

REVIEW ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Little Rock by Alex Beltran is a captivating YA romance with a blend of mystery and intrigue. Owen Appletoff, quite against his will, finds himself a student of Little Rock boarding school. There he meets Taylor, his golden-haired roommate, along with the handsome Daniel, the reputed school bully. Upon settling in, Owen is plagued by strange and haunting dreams centered around a local Celtic legend. As Owen struggles to determine whether it is Daniel or Taylor who holds the key to his heart, the three must band together to uncover a dangerous mystery. ⠀
⠀
The author does a splendid job of world building and plot development in crafting an intriguing and slightly dark romantic mystery. The book tackles some weighty subject matter such as sex, violence and sexual assault, so I can see that it may not be everyone’s cup of tea. I, however, find it very captivating. The characters are strong and uniquely drawn with depth and complexity. The pace lagged at times, and the romantic elements could use a punching up, but all in all, I find Little Rock to be an enjoyable and entertaining read. I hope to see more from Alex Beltran in the future. ⠀

[TaurReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

“In a school where things are not quite as they first appear and everyone seems to be hiding something, Owen, Taylor, and Daniel must put aside their differences to unravel the mysteries of Little Rock.”

Super enjoyable read! Owen, Taylor, and Daniel were well written characters. The plot was interesting and kept my attention. I enjoyed the added Celtic mythology aspect as well.

I enjoyed the romantic and sexual relationship between Owen, Taylor, and Daniel. Owen had to choose one of them. I wasn’t a huge fan of that part because both made him happy and all seemed happy together.

The ending was a surprising twist! It left me wondering if Owen was being hunted by man and creature (Without giving away any spoilers, there are some parts were Owen wakes up with markings, yet his roommate Taylor never heard or saw anything. )

Overall this was a really great story. I definitely recommend anyone who enjoys mysteries, monsters, and unexpected love to give it a read

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

[Bill · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was something new for me --an MM Romance in translation. I also want to encourage male MM romance writers--and was intrigued to read one by a non-US author. There were many things that I liked about the book--the location--a broody British prep school with a mysterious death in its recent past and a legend about a local monster living in a cave on the lake. The hero is a sympatheic and intrepid young American named Owen with a sad past and he becomes the focus of the school's mystery as well as being an avid astronomer. Lots of action and tension.

While I normally forgive grammar, usage, and spelling errors in ARCs, this one should have benefitted from a translator who knows the difference between soles and souls.

Both characters and plot needed more development. We don't know much about Taylor or Daniel (Daniel's change happens very early on) and we don't know why Owen would choose one over the other. We don't know why the culprit is the culprit; the author drops Owen's obsession with astronomy part way through to focus on the mystery. I thought of all the characters, apart from Owen, Walter's was the most sympathetic and nicely drawn. The time of the novel is unclear until late in the book when a reference is made to I Would Do Anything for Love coming out (1993). Oddly characters refer to one another as "old bean.' Are we in the 1020's suddenly? Why are Peter and John attacking the other kids in the prop room? Not sure how this ties in with the kelpie plot. The author mentions that Owen's father went to the school as well. The author does not do anything with this fact.

The final scene had lots of action (I could see the movie version!) Nice work with the kelpie! Very scary! I think a thruple would have worked better in resolving the romantic plot.

I am sure the author will learn from writing this book and I look forward to reading more from him.

[NereB · Rating 5 out of 5]

No me esperaba que la historia me fuese a gustar tanto, aunque me lo regaló mi amigo sabiendo que así sería. Es la lectura perfecta para Octubre y la Spooky Season (bueno, en general para todo el año), pero sin duda creo que es una lectura que no pasará desapercibida para nadie. Es la mezcla perfecta entre romance, misterio y cierta fantasía/realismo mágico. Además, la prosa del autor, muy poética y con unas metáforas que llegan al alma. Ojalá haber sabido más de otros personajes como Evelyn, pero sin duda estoy enamorada.

[Kitty · Rating 4 out of 5]

El autor le tuvo miedo al éxito con cierto detalle pero después de todo el fue .💓💓👏🏻💓🤯

[Stuart Wakefield · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having finished Little Rock by Alex Beltran, I'm still trying to decide what genre it really is. Yes, it's YA, but is it a mystery, a fantasy, or a romance - or all three? It certainly has lots of elements from them all.

As a book coach, I would have asked Alex to really think this through and decide on the book's 'centre of gravity'. Only by doing that could he have zoned in on the main story, then layered in the other subplots.

I've read that a previous version didn't have an HEA, so the original intention was that it wasn't a romance, and I think that's where the genre confusion comes from. Reshaping a novel from one genre to another is a huge job, and I'm not entirely sure the new version survived the process unscathed.

From that, you might think I didn't enjoy the book, but I really did. Yes, some of the pacing was off—I'm looking at you, mystery (sub?)plot—and, yes, one of the relationships felt a little rushed, but I've forgiven that—and more—of books I've read in the past.

Also, I'm a sucker for Orkney mythology, having written some myself. There's a real sense of space in this novel, and Owen in particular is a well-realised character.

As an aside, I would quite have happily read the original, darker version of this story. Perhaps shooting for a New Adult readership would have been more successful for that version?

Okay, I'm off to watch Alex's films. They look amazing.

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

[Raaven💖 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Updating my review because the author sent me another version of the book:

Yay! An updated version! I still really love the cover art and the art in this book. It’s very beautiful. The author emailed me with a new version of this book and I sat down and read the updates. I really enjoyed the dynamic the three main character have. You feel the tension of the love triangle throughout the whole book. There was a change to a violent scene in the book as well as the ending changing. I loved the new ending! Made me so happy to see that there was a happy ending. Thanks so much Alex for updating me on this. The book comes out this month so it’s perfect for spooky season!

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

[Han · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had very mixed feelings throughout this book but decided to push through and I’m glad I did.

The last 30% of the book was the best part in my opinion. Lots of plot twists and turns, mystery, and a happy ending.

It was so hard to picture Daniel as a bully when he was pretty much likable from the start, and I also think both boys falling for Owen (and vice versa) was a little far fetched but it was cute nonetheless.

I won’t say it was the best book I’ve read this year but definitely wasn’t the worst.

[Maryann Kafka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Owen Appletoff had a special relationship with his Mother, Emma. He loved to go traveling with her on star gazing adventures. One, he especially remembers took place at the age of ten. They traveled towards Yosemite National Park and star gazed from the Tuolumne Meadows. But his joy of spending those special moments with his mother ended when she passed away. Not too long after, with a father that was too immersed in his work, Owens life takes another turn. At the age of sixteen, Owen’s father sends him to England to attend Little Rock college.

Little Rock is very overwhelming and Owen is in awe of the Georgian style building and the imposing sculpture of the horse, rising from water. Although he feels the building would be a place of exploration and secrets, the sculpture leaves him with an odd feeling. As he’s taken to his dorm room, by Mr. Brown, he spies another young man by the name of Daniel Woodford and he’s warned by his roommate Taylor Johnson about Daniel.

Daniel is a bully, along with his two fellow kelpies Peter and John. In time, Owen had made friends with Walter and Taylor’s friend Mark. But Walter was often bullied by Daniel and his followers. As time progressed, Daniel and Owen wind up in trouble during a class demonstration requested by their teacher, Mr. Mountbatten. Things go to far and Mr. Brown deals out a punishment for both young men. For Owen, Daniel is a temptation. While proceeding with one of their punishment there’s almost an accident and Daniel saves Owen. Owen makes a deal with Daniel about his bullying and they have a moment that goes to far until Daniel runs off when he’s called by Peter.

For Owen it doesn’t get easier he is also attracted to Taylor and they start to have a connection. When he tells Taylor of the star gazing, Taylor has a way they can watch the stars, Taurids. Going to meet Taylor Owen passes down a strange corridor and sees a green door. He knows he has to leave as Taylor is waiting for him and in passing he sees the trophy case and a picture of students by a telescope from 1952. As he finally finds Taylor they are off to the roof in the old building, with a very old trap door that could lock them on the roof. As Taylor and Owen are amazed with the star gazing, there’s a moment between them. Owen is surprised because Taylor has a girlfriend and he never thought Taylor was gay. But the kiss they share is unbelievable and a first kiss for Owen.

As this strange triangle between Owen, Daniel and Taylor grows, he will eventually have to choose. But all is not what it seems, as Owen is continually plagued with strange and terrifying dreams. There’s abusive attacks and murders that occur. Is the myth of the kelpie real or will a team of young people who form the astronomy club make a very horrid discovery

Alex Beltran creates a dark theme story with the myth of the Celtic Kelpie. I’ve read a couple of Kelpie stories but this is unique in that it’s more modern and involves young adults. The author does well in making the description of the Kelpie and its terrifying scenes frightening. “Little Rock” is very eerie, suspenseful, with menacing evil that surrounds Owen as he will have to make difficult decisions. He will have to deal with coming of age situations and making new friends and face moments of heartbreak.

I really was intrigued with Owen, Taylor and Daniel. All three characters are very well written and they all bring interesting feelings and factors to the novel. The addition of the secondary characters: Evelyn, Mark and Walter also bring the development of a lasting friendship.

There’s also a group of characters that left me suspicious: Mr. Brown, Mr. Jason, Zuzanna, Mr. Ahearn, and Mr. Mountbatten. The author made it difficult to know who to trust.

I highly recommend “Little Rock” by Alex Bertran, for anyone who likes dark myths with a twist. I found it to be very entertaining with just the right amount of terror and decisions that young adults find themselves dealing with.

[Natalia Gimeno · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Things aren't always as they first seem in this endearing LGBT story ^^ ”.

Well this was something else!!! Never before had I experienced so many emotions while reading a YA novel. If you are looking for an exciting story with M/M, love triangles, and a terrifying Kelpie, this is your book! Be aware that the author tackles some hefty issues in the story such as bullying, sex, death or sexual assault. As an important message to younger people, this stuff happens constantly and the author tries to make us aware of it. Just like there can't be light without darkness, “Little Rock” finds a perfect balance between its story to remind us of the importance of life itself and those things that keep us alive.

Now let me start by pointing out that this book is really enjoyable to read, and before you notice you will be done with it. It's well written and can easily be enjoyed by younger people and adults especially. Its main character, Owen, will steal your heart straight away with his kindness. On the other hand his faithful knight Taylor and troublemaker Daniel will keep you guessing until the very end. I found the love triangle actually refreshing. Instead of being the typical relationship between all three of them, Taylor and Daniel will compete between each other to win Owens' heart for themselves.

One thing that struck me was how well the characters build up in this story as a whole. You can tell the author has done his homework and delivers a wonderful cast of characters that feel alive at all times. For instance Owen's obsession with astronomy is just a reflection of his inner self in search of those unknown questions that we all consider throughout life. Apart from him, Walter remains another interesting character throughout the story.

Now let's talk about all those spicy sex scenes everyone has been gossiping around. The author takes an interesting approach here, instead of hiding or disguising with romanticism what happens like in many other Ya books, he decides to be completely open about it. I myself find it refreshing and welcome for once.

Lastly, the gloomy presence of the Kelpie in the story reminds us of death itself and the dangers of the world we live in. The spooky dreams and sinister tone helps to create a wonderful world that constantly challenges the reader between what we think is real and not.

As a whole, this was a great read that made me a huge fan of Beltran. It will be a long time before I forget Owen and his friends inside Little rock…

[Kuba Boltacz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Give me queer characters, dark academia vibes (especially set in England), 90's esthetic and a paranormal mystery and I'm sold! If you like any of these you'll like this book too - just pay attention to the trigger warnings.

I didn't fully expect the dark tones that underline everything that happens in the story (especially since I've just read a few other dark academia queer books in rapid succession and all of them were more on the light side), but it only made me like this one even more. The atmosphere is thick and and full of mystery and the whole book pulls you in so much it almost makes you feel like you're observing this story sitting in Taylor's rocking chair. The characters are well-developed (maybe Daniel is a bit less so, but I can easily forgive that), the twists are all in the right places, the balance between romance (and to be honest I was skeptical about the love triangle, but it won me over) and the dark mystery was just right for me (though it might not be for everybody).

Overall a very enjoyable read and I will definitely come back to this author in the future. pay attention to the trigger warnings.

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

[Nic · Rating 2 out of 5]

*I am voluntarily leaving this review after having received a free copy of this book.*

2.5/5. I was stoked to see this book on Hidden Gems, as it is the season for creepy vibes. And Little Rock has plenty of creepiness, which I loved! The other elements kind of fell short for me, though. The narrative was jarring in spots, and I felt like the love triangle was resolved too quickly, with the relationships not being quite believable. And side note on that: wouldn't a poly ending have made more sense? I dunno, maybe that's just me. The language the characters use also trends toward the old-timey, which is maybe an issue of translation more than anything, but it's kind of comical and detracts from the spookiness. As for the mystery itself, it kept me interested and I definitely did not predict the ending.

Other reviews mention a previous edition which contained an explicit scene of rape. There is nothing explicit in this updated edition, but the reveal of the rape was still very shocking to me and took me out of the story for a bit. It definitely still needs a trigger warning at the beginning of the book (and there might have been one which I missed.)

[Georgia Fradico · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Alex Beltran for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review! All the opinions are my own
This was very fun to read. It kept my interest and make me curious until the end. It also deals with important and sensitive subjects that need to be talked about. I loved how horror and reality were always together in this one.
That said, the writing definitely needs more work, especially in the development of the characters and their relationships. Everything happened way too fast and I didn't have the time to understand and get attached to them. The love triangle could have been more worked on and even ended in a poly) because the MC's choice wasn't based on very strong reasons or feelings. I also recommend checking the trigger warnings and being aware that the book is very explicit at times.

[Ana Torres · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me compré el libro porque me lo recomendó un amigo que conoce el trabajo cinematográfico del autor. La verdad no suelo leer este género, pero me sorprendió y quedé encantada. En cuanto lo abrí no paré de leer hasta acabarlo ya pasada la medianoche. La lectura se hace amena, con giros inesperados y momentos de misterio, tensión, pasión y ternura. El autor consigue que te adentres en la vida de un internado inglés de los 90. Los personajes están muy bien logrados, cada uno con su propósito en la historia, con sus sueños e inquietudes... pero tengo que decir que me quedo con Taylor. Sin querer descubrir más datos a los demás lectores, estoy convencida de que todos merecemos un amigo como Taylor. Sin duda, estoy esperando a la siguiente novela... ¡ojalá salga pronto!

[Michael · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was poorly written. That’s pretty much the summary.

The overdramatic melodrama was insufferable. The characters made ridiculous decisions. The odd sentence structure and point of view changes were jarring. It was hard to follow.

Beneath that there was the potential for a decent story. The mysterious killer and the myth of a creature on the loose. A budding romance triangle.

Instead it was hard to even know what was going on. And the sex scenes were pretty graphic for a teen novel.

This needed a tremendous amount of work still before it was published.

[Lucas Burrows · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book takes an exciting dive into the struggles of teenage love in a world of fantasy. The story beautifully encapsulates the life of British public schools which are still sandwiched away in an antiquated world of their own. It's hard not to fall in love with the quirky traits of the characters, and I felt the love, loss, and fear on every page. I would really recommend this story to any teenagers who sometimes wonder how they fit into this modern world, this book has taught me so much more than I could have imagined!

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. This book had a lot of potential but didn’t quite live up to it. I don’t think it was helped by the translation, which felt clunky - it’s hard to tell if the dialogue was stilted in the original or if it felt that way from the translation, for example.

I felt like the relationships between the boys were rushed and not fleshed out enough, and the conclusion/big reveal felt rushed.

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