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Cold Creek
He should’ve never answered the door…
One fateful decision turns Raiden Morita’s peaceful existence into a living Hell. Forced to take part in unthinkable, illegal acts in the name of entertainment, an underground organization takes him far from home and keeps him under the watchful eyes of The Cutter, the sinister leader. If he attempts any form of escape, he will surely meet his demise.
Seo-jun, the alluring hired hand, befriends Raiden and swears he’ll help him and the other victims escape.
The two of them fall fast into an unbreakable friendship, putting them under immediate suspicion. But they remain obedient to the system just long enough to think of a perfect escape.
As days go by, what becomes more apparent goes well beyond brutality. It unearths long-buried secrets of Raiden’s own past that are far more unsettling than he could’ve ever imagined…
One fateful decision turns Raiden Morita’s peaceful existence into a living Hell. Forced to take part in unthinkable, illegal acts in the name of entertainment, an underground organization takes him far from home and keeps him under the watchful eyes of The Cutter, the sinister leader. If he attempts any form of escape, he will surely meet his demise.
Seo-jun, the alluring hired hand, befriends Raiden and swears he’ll help him and the other victims escape.
The two of them fall fast into an unbreakable friendship, putting them under immediate suspicion. But they remain obedient to the system just long enough to think of a perfect escape.
As days go by, what becomes more apparent goes well beyond brutality. It unearths long-buried secrets of Raiden’s own past that are far more unsettling than he could’ve ever imagined…
351 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 19, 2022
4 people are currently reading
16 people want to read
About the author
E.S. Clifton
2 books10 followersEsther Clifton has been telling stories since she was seven-years-old and grew up in a home of passionate storytellers and readers. She developed her love for writing even more when she signed up on the global online writing site, Wattpad. There, she entered her first short story, A NOVELIST, in the 2012 Wattpad Awards, which earned its rightful place on the Finalist list. Afterwards, Ms. Clifton continued sharing and publishing her stories online, ranging between historical fiction, romantic drama, and mystery. Her style was soon compared to as a mixture of Dean Koontz and Nicholas Sparks, bringing together a large young adult audience. Her strong character development and page-turning plots have become a memorable trademark and she continues to deliver it even more in her current novels, BRAWLER and COLD CREEK.
"Writing has been a part of me, something I was born with and have grown to love. Books continue to raise me, music always inspires me, and movies constantly show me storytelling.
Regardless of my own opinions, beliefs, morals, likes, dislikes, I've made it my goal to write about as many different topics and genres as I can manage. Writing is a form of expression, discovery, and adventure that is endless. Therefore, take an advantage of it and make it worthy.
Apart from being published online, I hope to pursue writing as a career and make my work available to everyone."
"Writing has been a part of me, something I was born with and have grown to love. Books continue to raise me, music always inspires me, and movies constantly show me storytelling.
Regardless of my own opinions, beliefs, morals, likes, dislikes, I've made it my goal to write about as many different topics and genres as I can manage. Writing is a form of expression, discovery, and adventure that is endless. Therefore, take an advantage of it and make it worthy.
Apart from being published online, I hope to pursue writing as a career and make my work available to everyone."
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
October 31, 2022
Thank you so much for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Please excuse any mistakes I may have made in my review as English is not my first language.
First and foremost, I loved this book. It's been a while since a psychology horror book gave me shivers since I could usually foresee what would happen.
I really enjoy gory and gruesome horror books, which makes this book perfect for me. Although it isn't as gory as some of the other horror books I've read, the suspense was so well written that it had my heart racing so fast the entire time.
Trigger warning ⚠️ If you're uncomfortable with any type of torture or violence, this book is not for you.
I'm so glad this novel has many likeable characters. You have no idea how many psychological novels I've read with awful, whiny main characters. Raiden is without a doubt my favourite character. I appreciate the author for not exaggerating or underplaying his mental illness. As someone who has suffered from anxiety and depression in the past, I can relate to Raiden deeply.
—rating : ☆☆☆☆
First and foremost, I loved this book. It's been a while since a psychology horror book gave me shivers since I could usually foresee what would happen.
I really enjoy gory and gruesome horror books, which makes this book perfect for me. Although it isn't as gory as some of the other horror books I've read, the suspense was so well written that it had my heart racing so fast the entire time.
Trigger warning ⚠️ If you're uncomfortable with any type of torture or violence, this book is not for you.
I'm so glad this novel has many likeable characters. You have no idea how many psychological novels I've read with awful, whiny main characters. Raiden is without a doubt my favourite character. I appreciate the author for not exaggerating or underplaying his mental illness. As someone who has suffered from anxiety and depression in the past, I can relate to Raiden deeply.
—rating : ☆☆☆☆
October 30, 2022
First of all thank you so much to the author for providing me the review copy of cold creek!
The review is no way affiliated or sponsored.. it is just my personal opinion.
This is dark novel and keeps getting darker.
I got goosebumps and weird sensation through my spine while reading every single page and had to take breaks in between because it was so intense and a heavy read but I start rereading the very next second cause the suspense and thrill created by author was just chef kiss and made it page turner!
The friendship of seojun and raiden and the sweet little talks between lana and raiden AND ava and raiden was ✨. The author did a great job in the ending and it makes me super excited for the sequel.
The book contains all type of violence so make sure to check trigger warnings!
Recommending to every violent thriller readers!
Wish you a goodluck on release of your debut novel!
The review is no way affiliated or sponsored.. it is just my personal opinion.
This is dark novel and keeps getting darker.
I got goosebumps and weird sensation through my spine while reading every single page and had to take breaks in between because it was so intense and a heavy read but I start rereading the very next second cause the suspense and thrill created by author was just chef kiss and made it page turner!
The friendship of seojun and raiden and the sweet little talks between lana and raiden AND ava and raiden was ✨. The author did a great job in the ending and it makes me super excited for the sequel.
The book contains all type of violence so make sure to check trigger warnings!
Recommending to every violent thriller readers!
Wish you a goodluck on release of your debut novel!
August 31, 2024
This book... It is really well written and makes your brain think things that you probably don't want to, but you do it anyway.
It brings a male perspective, and that's not something you see or hear a lot of. E.S Clifton brings you this story of Raiden and the diabolical sick depravities that the individuals who run trafficking rings are capable of.
This emotional roller coaster of emotions will bring you Rage, silence, stunned thoughts, more rage, and tears.
This was well written and honestly slightly difficult to read because the atrocities that humans do to one another is awful and astounding....I do recommend this book for those who love thriller/suspense/horror/psychological horrors..
If you love true crimes, Criminals minds and Unsolved Mysteries this is definitely a book you want to read!!!
5 🌟 Characters
5 🌟 World
0 🌶 There is sexual situations but no spice.
💯 % Recommend. I can't wait for book 2..
It brings a male perspective, and that's not something you see or hear a lot of. E.S Clifton brings you this story of Raiden and the diabolical sick depravities that the individuals who run trafficking rings are capable of.
This emotional roller coaster of emotions will bring you Rage, silence, stunned thoughts, more rage, and tears.
This was well written and honestly slightly difficult to read because the atrocities that humans do to one another is awful and astounding....I do recommend this book for those who love thriller/suspense/horror/psychological horrors..
If you love true crimes, Criminals minds and Unsolved Mysteries this is definitely a book you want to read!!!
5 🌟 Characters
5 🌟 World
0 🌶 There is sexual situations but no spice.
💯 % Recommend. I can't wait for book 2..
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 14, 2024
I loved this book—it’s been a while since a psychological horror novel truly gave me chills. The suspense was so well-crafted that it kept my heart racing, making this a real page-turner. Although not as gory as some horror novels, the tension was relentless, leaving me on edge the entire time. It’s a heavy, intense read, so be sure to check trigger warnings before diving in.
The story of Cold Creek delves into the dark, unsettling world of human trafficking, with scenes of extreme violence and cruelty. Raiden Morita, an anxious and OCD-prone surgeon, lives a quiet life until a single knock on his door changes everything. Abducted and forced into a human trafficking ring, Raiden must navigate unimaginable horrors while grappling with his mental health. The portrayal of his struggles felt real and relatable, especially for those familiar with anxiety and depression.
One of the book’s highlights is Raiden’s bond with a fellow captive, Seo-jun. Their journey together is both heart-wrenching and inspiring, showing resilience in the face of despair. The author, Clifton, does a masterful job of bringing these characters to life, making their suffering and triumphs deeply emotive.
While the graphic content makes this a challenging read, it’s undeniably worth it for fans of thrillers, suspense, and psychological horror. The ending left me eagerly awaiting a sequel—I need more of Raiden’s story! If you enjoy dark thrillers or true crime, this is a must-read. Just be prepared for a wild emotional ride.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The story of Cold Creek delves into the dark, unsettling world of human trafficking, with scenes of extreme violence and cruelty. Raiden Morita, an anxious and OCD-prone surgeon, lives a quiet life until a single knock on his door changes everything. Abducted and forced into a human trafficking ring, Raiden must navigate unimaginable horrors while grappling with his mental health. The portrayal of his struggles felt real and relatable, especially for those familiar with anxiety and depression.
One of the book’s highlights is Raiden’s bond with a fellow captive, Seo-jun. Their journey together is both heart-wrenching and inspiring, showing resilience in the face of despair. The author, Clifton, does a masterful job of bringing these characters to life, making their suffering and triumphs deeply emotive.
While the graphic content makes this a challenging read, it’s undeniably worth it for fans of thrillers, suspense, and psychological horror. The ending left me eagerly awaiting a sequel—I need more of Raiden’s story! If you enjoy dark thrillers or true crime, this is a must-read. Just be prepared for a wild emotional ride.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 11, 2023
Cold Creek covers a very emotive subject, reaching into the deep dark recesses of human trafficking and readers need to be aware that it is quite a graphic novel, which features extreme abuse, violence and cruelty.
This book took me on such an emotional journey, it left me wrung out by the end, but this is the proof of Clifton's writing prowess.
Raiden should never have answered his door that fateful day, it changes the course of his life and uncovers the underbelly of a world Raiden had never been privy too. Raiden, suffering from OCD and anxiety, must try and control his struggles whilst in the grip of a disturbing group. He forms an unlikely alliance with Seo-jun, they plan to escape and as their friendship grows so does the suspicion from the Cutter and his Crew. Suffering together they show resilience, strength of character and determination.
This book really does reach into your soul and Clifton need to be proud of how well written this book is, how she portrays Raiden’s mental health problems to how the most graphic scenes are depicted, puts you in no doubt that this is a book that will linger with you for a long time after reading. It really is an emotional rollercoaster.
Be prepared and happy reading.
This book took me on such an emotional journey, it left me wrung out by the end, but this is the proof of Clifton's writing prowess.
Raiden should never have answered his door that fateful day, it changes the course of his life and uncovers the underbelly of a world Raiden had never been privy too. Raiden, suffering from OCD and anxiety, must try and control his struggles whilst in the grip of a disturbing group. He forms an unlikely alliance with Seo-jun, they plan to escape and as their friendship grows so does the suspicion from the Cutter and his Crew. Suffering together they show resilience, strength of character and determination.
This book really does reach into your soul and Clifton need to be proud of how well written this book is, how she portrays Raiden’s mental health problems to how the most graphic scenes are depicted, puts you in no doubt that this is a book that will linger with you for a long time after reading. It really is an emotional rollercoaster.
Be prepared and happy reading.
July 29, 2023
Raiden Morita is a not so successful surgeon who lives a quite interesting life with his trusted German Shepherd. Not only does Morita struggle with OCD, but he also has some peculiar personality traits that seem to show themselves as the story progresses. One day there is a knock on his front door and that is the day that his life changes.
Raiden gets not only abducted, but forced into a human trafficking ring. He must fight to survive and not only save himself, but he must save the lives of the friends that he has made while being held captive. As if being made to perform horrible sex acts and commit heinous crimes is not enough, Raiden will soon discover that what he has known his whole life as "family" may very well all be a lie.
There are many many triggers involved in this novel so please make sure to read them before diving into this dark, gory, violent, but amazingly written book.
My fingers are crossed for a sequel because that ending has left me wanting so much more!
Raiden gets not only abducted, but forced into a human trafficking ring. He must fight to survive and not only save himself, but he must save the lives of the friends that he has made while being held captive. As if being made to perform horrible sex acts and commit heinous crimes is not enough, Raiden will soon discover that what he has known his whole life as "family" may very well all be a lie.
There are many many triggers involved in this novel so please make sure to read them before diving into this dark, gory, violent, but amazingly written book.
My fingers are crossed for a sequel because that ending has left me wanting so much more!
August 28, 2024
You can feel the suspense and horror of this book in your core!
Raiden Morita lives an everyday life after a traumatic childhood. He mainly keeps to himself and lives a life of solitude. Until one night everything changes...
Raiden finds himself in some of unforgivable hell. He befriends a boy named Seo-jun and together they find themselves in a race for their lives to escape what will be a life of torture and pain.
I definitely recommend this book to all thriller, suspense and horror readers out there! (Even if you don't typically read those categories, I still recommend it. Keep in mind there are plenty of triggers.) The characters are easily likeable, some with hero spirits, and the story was well written. I was on the end of my seat with the high-paced suspense! I can not wait for the second book of Cold Creek!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Raiden Morita lives an everyday life after a traumatic childhood. He mainly keeps to himself and lives a life of solitude. Until one night everything changes...
Raiden finds himself in some of unforgivable hell. He befriends a boy named Seo-jun and together they find themselves in a race for their lives to escape what will be a life of torture and pain.
I definitely recommend this book to all thriller, suspense and horror readers out there! (Even if you don't typically read those categories, I still recommend it. Keep in mind there are plenty of triggers.) The characters are easily likeable, some with hero spirits, and the story was well written. I was on the end of my seat with the high-paced suspense! I can not wait for the second book of Cold Creek!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 29, 2023
Cold Creek gave me all the goosebumps from page 1. The main character, Raiden Morita is a man with struggles. I loved this book. It's been a while since a psychology horror book gave me shivers since I could usually foresee what would happen. This was really good! There’s an abundance of violence of all kinds, though not too explicitly or graphically narrated, but it is still enough to make your skin crawl and yet, I found it difficult to put the book down.
There are also nice things in this one:
The friendship between Seojun and Raiden
The little talks between Lana and Raiden
Ava and Raiden
The author did a great job in the ending and it makes me super excited for the sequel.
Again, this book is not for the faint of heart. I would recommend it to readers of gory and violent thrillers.
There are also nice things in this one:
The friendship between Seojun and Raiden
The little talks between Lana and Raiden
Ava and Raiden
The author did a great job in the ending and it makes me super excited for the sequel.
Again, this book is not for the faint of heart. I would recommend it to readers of gory and violent thrillers.
November 10, 2024
An unfortunate DNF. I have read many books that contain graphic descriptions of the worst things that humans can do to each other, violence, body horror and none of those things bother me. They wouldn't be the catalyst to make me put a book down. With this I just found that it wasn't interesting enough to make me keep reading. I found that I didn't care about the characters - even Raiden our main viewpoint. I wasn't interested in what they were going through because I didn't know him. If there had been more about his life at the beginning to draw me in to caring about the character maybe it would have hit different when things went cataclysmically wrong for him.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 3, 2024
A 5 star read you won't put down
First, please read all trigger warnings ⚠️
First and foremost, I love this book a 5 start read. The characters were so likable and relatable in my eyes. The mental health awareness in this book was so well written and not overwritten 👏 . It was an emotional roller-coaster, to say the least, but it was so worth the ride.
Raiden was definitely my favorite character, I can't wait for book 2 ♥️
There is no spice, but if you love true crime shows or criminal minds like I do, this is definitely the read for you .
First, please read all trigger warnings ⚠️
First and foremost, I love this book a 5 start read. The characters were so likable and relatable in my eyes. The mental health awareness in this book was so well written and not overwritten 👏 . It was an emotional roller-coaster, to say the least, but it was so worth the ride.
Raiden was definitely my favorite character, I can't wait for book 2 ♥️
There is no spice, but if you love true crime shows or criminal minds like I do, this is definitely the read for you .
November 14, 2022
Thank you for the ARC copy
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
This is my first time reading a dark novel. The story kept me hooked from the beginning till the end and gave me goosebumps. My heart kept beating louder as i advanced trough the story. It has triggers too but it's ok for me. I really loved the novel. Definitely 5* from me. Looking forward for the next series.
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
This is my first time reading a dark novel. The story kept me hooked from the beginning till the end and gave me goosebumps. My heart kept beating louder as i advanced trough the story. It has triggers too but it's ok for me. I really loved the novel. Definitely 5* from me. Looking forward for the next series.
September 5, 2023
I really enjoyed this book. I was given an arc to review and I just want to say that you should really give this book a read. If you have a lot of trigger warnings you might need to look into it more but if you are looking for a book that’s a thrilling page turner, then this is for you!
July 2, 2023
Definitely not use to this dark so look at TWs. Kept me hooked from the first page but wow it was so great except the CLIFF HANGER. Ahh ready for the next book.
September 18, 2023
Great book with an amazing plot
September 14, 2024
This book was one that I couldn't put down. It was one I wish I could read again for the first time. It is one you can't snack while reading. It is one that will make you question your own sanity.
October 22, 2022
4.5 / 5
ARC Review
Many thanks to author E S Clifton for sending me the ARC. The review, however, is not sponsored and the words represent only my personal opinion.
Right off the bat, if I start listing the trigger warnings appropriate to this story, we will be stuck reading pages after pages of warnings. Suffice it to say, this is not a book for the faint of heart, nor for a casual read.
Cold Creek is a story revolving around Raiden Morita, in fact the part one of the overarching saga about Raiden Morita. Raiden is a surgeon with a not-so-successful career. He gets by comfortably, living alone with his trusted German Shepherd. Raiden is a package of personality traits and psychiatric diagnoses that unveil themselves gradually throughout the story, from a relatively standard obsessive-compulsive disorder to more than a few other disturbing labels.
But his seemingly simple, picture perfect, meticulously arranged life gets blown into smithereens when he is thrown into the middle of a human trafficking organization which caters to all kinds of deprave clientele, serving everything from child pornography to selling human beings and almost everything in between.
From there starts Raiden’s journey of survival, uncovering strength and courage he didn’t know he had, remembering his past trauma he had all but forgotten and realizing traits of his own personality he never could have imagined. In midst of all this, keeping him sane is one of his captors Roe Seo-jun. The two develop a bond that matures with each perceived betrayal, strengthens with each spell of violence, and deepens with each secret uncovered.
Against the courage and compassion stands the perpetrator of the operation, the epitome of cruelty and depravity known as The Cutter.
In this story there is an overabundance of violence of all kinds. Though not too explicitly or graphically narrated, it is still enough to make your skin crawl and yet, I found it difficult to keep the book down.
There are parts of the story where a certain sudden turn of events seem unexpected and out of order, but that adds to the unpredictability of the horrifying predicament the protagonist has found himself in. The book ends with a fitting end to the episode of Raiden’s life, sealing the fate of Cold Creek and yet, starts a new chapter immediately. I am looking forward to see where this story leads now in the next book.
My rating does not take into account the typos, formatting and other errors which are inherent to most ARCs and will assuredly be dealt with before the final publishing.
I would recommend this book to readers of gory, violent thrillers. Again, this book is not for the faint of heart.
ARC Review
Many thanks to author E S Clifton for sending me the ARC. The review, however, is not sponsored and the words represent only my personal opinion.
Right off the bat, if I start listing the trigger warnings appropriate to this story, we will be stuck reading pages after pages of warnings. Suffice it to say, this is not a book for the faint of heart, nor for a casual read.
Cold Creek is a story revolving around Raiden Morita, in fact the part one of the overarching saga about Raiden Morita. Raiden is a surgeon with a not-so-successful career. He gets by comfortably, living alone with his trusted German Shepherd. Raiden is a package of personality traits and psychiatric diagnoses that unveil themselves gradually throughout the story, from a relatively standard obsessive-compulsive disorder to more than a few other disturbing labels.
But his seemingly simple, picture perfect, meticulously arranged life gets blown into smithereens when he is thrown into the middle of a human trafficking organization which caters to all kinds of deprave clientele, serving everything from child pornography to selling human beings and almost everything in between.
From there starts Raiden’s journey of survival, uncovering strength and courage he didn’t know he had, remembering his past trauma he had all but forgotten and realizing traits of his own personality he never could have imagined. In midst of all this, keeping him sane is one of his captors Roe Seo-jun. The two develop a bond that matures with each perceived betrayal, strengthens with each spell of violence, and deepens with each secret uncovered.
Against the courage and compassion stands the perpetrator of the operation, the epitome of cruelty and depravity known as The Cutter.
In this story there is an overabundance of violence of all kinds. Though not too explicitly or graphically narrated, it is still enough to make your skin crawl and yet, I found it difficult to keep the book down.
There are parts of the story where a certain sudden turn of events seem unexpected and out of order, but that adds to the unpredictability of the horrifying predicament the protagonist has found himself in. The book ends with a fitting end to the episode of Raiden’s life, sealing the fate of Cold Creek and yet, starts a new chapter immediately. I am looking forward to see where this story leads now in the next book.
My rating does not take into account the typos, formatting and other errors which are inherent to most ARCs and will assuredly be dealt with before the final publishing.
I would recommend this book to readers of gory, violent thrillers. Again, this book is not for the faint of heart.
October 28, 2022
I was given an advanced reader copy of this book to provide an honest review.
Still trying to get myself over this one. Any book that comes with a disclaimer, you should know not to read at night and there were many times I had to put this down and pick up something a bit happier because this was HEAVY.
Cold Creek was giving me all the goosebumps from page 1. The main character, Raiden Morita is a man with struggles. Clifton's ability to describe his mental illness, especially anxiety, was something I don't think I have seen accurately described as she has done. You follow him on a journey through the darkest parts of this world. Human trafficking mixed with torture and a whole lot more is graphically described throughout. I won't pretend that this book wasn't extremely disturbing. Those graphic details she provides throughout the book made my legs go numb a few times. Readers beware! There will be graphic visualizations of kitchen utensils being used as a form of torture.
Similar to Stephen King and his novels, E.S. Cliftons's Cold Creek brings you to a dark place. With surprises every corner, it is a book that is hard to put down. Word to the wise, to spare sleep deprivation, I highly recommend you don't read before bed. I think the level of fear and disgust this book instills in the readers is a testament to Cold Creek's well written and descriptive storyline.
Still trying to get myself over this one. Any book that comes with a disclaimer, you should know not to read at night and there were many times I had to put this down and pick up something a bit happier because this was HEAVY.
Cold Creek was giving me all the goosebumps from page 1. The main character, Raiden Morita is a man with struggles. Clifton's ability to describe his mental illness, especially anxiety, was something I don't think I have seen accurately described as she has done. You follow him on a journey through the darkest parts of this world. Human trafficking mixed with torture and a whole lot more is graphically described throughout. I won't pretend that this book wasn't extremely disturbing. Those graphic details she provides throughout the book made my legs go numb a few times. Readers beware! There will be graphic visualizations of kitchen utensils being used as a form of torture.
Similar to Stephen King and his novels, E.S. Cliftons's Cold Creek brings you to a dark place. With surprises every corner, it is a book that is hard to put down. Word to the wise, to spare sleep deprivation, I highly recommend you don't read before bed. I think the level of fear and disgust this book instills in the readers is a testament to Cold Creek's well written and descriptive storyline.
November 10, 2022
Cold Creek gets heavy at times and it took me longer than usual to read due to the nature of the dark topics. Please check content warnings- but I assume if dark thrillers are your typical genre, You will enjoy this book. It is easy to enjoy Clifton’s minority lead characters, and page turning suspense.
Please note, I was given an advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review. For this reason, I believe it is important to mention that Cold Creek was way outside of my typical genre. What drew me to this book was Clifton’s ability to address, advocate, and bring awareness to difficult topics. Topics that are easier to avoid than write about. I believe strongly in advocating for topics that are too sad or dark to talk about. If we want to make a difference in the world, books such as Cold Creek can educate about human trafficking in ways that pull emotions and and empathy and have the ability to bring upon self awareness and change. Clifton includes minority lead roles, diverse characters, LGBT awareness and the sad reality of human trafficking. There are also themes of mental illness. This is a page turning novel that also shows the development of a friendship, and brings you to the dark reality of physical and sexual abuse. I’m basing my review on Clifton’s ability to write these topics and her ability to educate on human trafficking, despite me being squeamish over the content it was an unforgettable story and it seems like there will be more to come!
Please note, I was given an advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review. For this reason, I believe it is important to mention that Cold Creek was way outside of my typical genre. What drew me to this book was Clifton’s ability to address, advocate, and bring awareness to difficult topics. Topics that are easier to avoid than write about. I believe strongly in advocating for topics that are too sad or dark to talk about. If we want to make a difference in the world, books such as Cold Creek can educate about human trafficking in ways that pull emotions and and empathy and have the ability to bring upon self awareness and change. Clifton includes minority lead roles, diverse characters, LGBT awareness and the sad reality of human trafficking. There are also themes of mental illness. This is a page turning novel that also shows the development of a friendship, and brings you to the dark reality of physical and sexual abuse. I’m basing my review on Clifton’s ability to write these topics and her ability to educate on human trafficking, despite me being squeamish over the content it was an unforgettable story and it seems like there will be more to come!
November 21, 2024
Ok buckle up because Cold Creek by E.S. Clifton is a wild ride! Like, seriously, it’s not your usual read—this one is DARK and packed with some majorly heavy stuff.
First off… HELLO TRIGGER WARNINGS. If you're sensitive to intense triggers, you might want to give this one a miss. There’s a lot going on that could be overwhelming. Rape, racism, pedophilia, etc etc
Now, with that said, let’s spill the tea. Raiden and Seo-jun? Ugh, these two! The way their friendship forms through all the chaos is both heartbreaking and fascinating. Don’t even get me started on poor Ava! The stuff that happens is sooo messed up (visualize rape & snuff films) but here we are, rooting for them all the way through this twisted horror fest.
The story itself is like a haunted house—you know you should probably turn back, but you're also like, "Okay, just one more chapter…" And then, before you know it, you're neck-deep in all the dark twists and turns, and honestly? I was totally here for it. A couple times I had to flip back and reread just to wrap my head around it.
So, while it’s definitely not a cozy night-in kind of book, if you can handle the heavy stuff and love a good horror that makes you think, this one is totally worth the read. Four stars, because wow, what a ride!
First off… HELLO TRIGGER WARNINGS. If you're sensitive to intense triggers, you might want to give this one a miss. There’s a lot going on that could be overwhelming. Rape, racism, pedophilia, etc etc
Now, with that said, let’s spill the tea. Raiden and Seo-jun? Ugh, these two! The way their friendship forms through all the chaos is both heartbreaking and fascinating. Don’t even get me started on poor Ava! The stuff that happens is sooo messed up (visualize rape & snuff films) but here we are, rooting for them all the way through this twisted horror fest.
The story itself is like a haunted house—you know you should probably turn back, but you're also like, "Okay, just one more chapter…" And then, before you know it, you're neck-deep in all the dark twists and turns, and honestly? I was totally here for it. A couple times I had to flip back and reread just to wrap my head around it.
So, while it’s definitely not a cozy night-in kind of book, if you can handle the heavy stuff and love a good horror that makes you think, this one is totally worth the read. Four stars, because wow, what a ride!
October 22, 2022
My rating is a 3/5✨’s. The thrill of this story was remarkable, but please check trigger warnings before reading. It was a very heavy read,I had to take breaks from it at times. But I loved the friendship bond we see between Raiden & Seo-Jun throughout the entire book till the very end. The story kept me flipping pages to try & figure out more clues. I felt like the ending was very well done & we might see the characters in the future. I’d also like to say thank you to the author for allowing me to review her novel. As well being kind enough to send me a physical arc and I wish her success with this 2022 release.
October 25, 2022
**Please be mindful of the trigger warnings. They are there for a reason.**
This is a deep dark novel that will lead you down an even darker tunnel. But me oh my it was good.
I really enjoyed the friendship between Raiden and Seo-Jun throughout this book. E.S. Clifton did a really great job at keeping you interested and waning more.
This book contains violence of all kinds. Even though its not over the top gruesome, it did cause some goosebumps and sent some chills down my spine.
If you enjoy reading gory, violent thrillers then this book is for you!
Thank you E.S. Clifton for the ARC.
This is a deep dark novel that will lead you down an even darker tunnel. But me oh my it was good.
I really enjoyed the friendship between Raiden and Seo-Jun throughout this book. E.S. Clifton did a really great job at keeping you interested and waning more.
This book contains violence of all kinds. Even though its not over the top gruesome, it did cause some goosebumps and sent some chills down my spine.
If you enjoy reading gory, violent thrillers then this book is for you!
Thank you E.S. Clifton for the ARC.
November 3, 2022
Thank you so much for the ARC❤️
The book was Lit but the trigger warnings are for some reason so everyone be careful and must read them beforehand
Whenever cutter the perpetrator is mentioned in the book i got chills each and every time.😷
the bond btwn seojun and raiden was heartwarming
⚠️
Definitely not for sweet/ light hearted readers
⚠️
i would have given it 5⭐️ but the writing was kinda difficult to understand sometimes and the starting was a bit off
Overall
WORTH TO READ
The book was Lit but the trigger warnings are for some reason so everyone be careful and must read them beforehand
Whenever cutter the perpetrator is mentioned in the book i got chills each and every time.😷
the bond btwn seojun and raiden was heartwarming
⚠️
Definitely not for sweet/ light hearted readers
⚠️
i would have given it 5⭐️ but the writing was kinda difficult to understand sometimes and the starting was a bit off
Overall
WORTH TO READ
October 23, 2022
I read this a while back and check the trigger warnings okay. This is a deep and dark novel that will take you down a path that will have you questioning your own sanity. But damn was it good. This author pulled out the big stuff on this, she held nothing back...only problem was the cliff hanger lol.
But check trigger warnings ⚠️
Happy Reading 📚
But check trigger warnings ⚠️
Happy Reading 📚
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