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Wicked Little Things
Join a coven.
Catch a killer.
Get a makeover...?
When his cousin is murdered, recently outed 16 year old Dane Craven, is forced to return to his unbearably small hometown of Jasper Hollow. It would be easy enough for him to keep his head down if it weren't for three inescapable facts.
One, Dane is a witch with fiery powers he can barely control.
Two, he's been claimed by a coven of fashion forward 'mean girls' desperate to give him a makeover.
And three, Dane is pretty sure he's responsible for the death of his cousin.
Being the gay best friend to a trio of teenage witches was never high on Dane's list of aspirations, but fortunately for him these girls have the necromantic powers he needs to figure out who killed his cousin. Plus, he could do with some new clothes.
While on the hunt for his cousin's killer, Dane discovers life in Jasper Hollow isn't all bad. There's the cute boy who works at the local coffee shop and enjoys long walks in the woods, for one.
But when the rabbit-faced killer comes for Dane, he'll be forced to come to terms with who he is and where he belongs before it's too late for him and everyone in Jasper Hollow.
Wicked Little Things is a spooky, campy, horror complete with mystery, romance, and a whole lot of sass. It's Netflix's Chilling Adventures of Sabrina meets Caleb Roehrig's The Fell of Dark.
Catch a killer.
Get a makeover...?
When his cousin is murdered, recently outed 16 year old Dane Craven, is forced to return to his unbearably small hometown of Jasper Hollow. It would be easy enough for him to keep his head down if it weren't for three inescapable facts.
One, Dane is a witch with fiery powers he can barely control.
Two, he's been claimed by a coven of fashion forward 'mean girls' desperate to give him a makeover.
And three, Dane is pretty sure he's responsible for the death of his cousin.
Being the gay best friend to a trio of teenage witches was never high on Dane's list of aspirations, but fortunately for him these girls have the necromantic powers he needs to figure out who killed his cousin. Plus, he could do with some new clothes.
While on the hunt for his cousin's killer, Dane discovers life in Jasper Hollow isn't all bad. There's the cute boy who works at the local coffee shop and enjoys long walks in the woods, for one.
But when the rabbit-faced killer comes for Dane, he'll be forced to come to terms with who he is and where he belongs before it's too late for him and everyone in Jasper Hollow.
Wicked Little Things is a spooky, campy, horror complete with mystery, romance, and a whole lot of sass. It's Netflix's Chilling Adventures of Sabrina meets Caleb Roehrig's The Fell of Dark.
312 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 15, 2022
22 people are currently reading
1032 people want to read
About the author
Justin Arnold
3 books52 followersJustin Arnold is the author of gay fiction including Wicked Little Things, The Prince and The Puppet Thief: A Gay Fairytale, and Keep It In The Dark. He is also the twisted mind behind The NoSleep Podcast season 18 feature episode Haunter's Game. Before fiction, Justin reimagined numerous classics such as Anne of Green Gables, Cinderella, and The Snow Queen for stage, and his plays are performed by schools and community organizations internationally each year. When not writing, he serves as CEO and co-founder of Triple Crown Theater Group, the first community theater of its kind in his hometown. He lives in the bluegrass region of Kentucky with a cat named Evie and Huckleberry, a wild raccoon who Justin foolishly feeds.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
October 19, 2022
Thanks so much to Tiny Ghost Press for my eARC of this book!
I started this almost as soon as it arrived in my inbox then flew through it in two sittings, and I really don’t think I could’ve picked a better first read for October. If this amazing cover art isn’t enough to draw you in, I promise that the spooky vibes only get better inside. We have a small town with a dark past, a (truly unsettling) killer on the loose, a murder mystery unfolding, paranormal happenings galore, a cute queer romance (with some secrets) and musical theatre references that made me so happy. It’s witchy and autumnal and creepy, with as many scares as funny moments and characters I just want to spend more time with and get to know better. (Note: I will start my TV adaptation campaign as soon as my sequel campaign is a success).
I’ve seen this likened to a lot of things, but I see The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina comparisons most, plus some Heathers for good measure. But more queer. With more coffee. And these are big wins in my book. There were allusions to the existence of other paranormal creatures and I think it’s a testament to how much I enjoyed this setting and the potential of it that I’m already dreaming up ways for them to make an appearance. Also that I couldn’t pick up another book in days because I just couldn’t get my head out of this one. It deals with some dark things beyond the horror itself - and includes CWs before it starts - but has plenty of humour too, and I loved the support network that only grows as the book goes on. Especially the sweet, talking animal members of said support network. This has some lovely messages in it, namely that we all have the capacity for good and bad in us but it’s not up to anyone else to tell us who or what we are.
I can’t wait to get a physical copy of this, and I definitely recommend checking it out if you want:
- witches and ghosts and …👀
- a paranormal murder mystery
- a small town with secrets
- animal familiars
- a perfect halloween read!
Let me know what you think if you read it!
I started this almost as soon as it arrived in my inbox then flew through it in two sittings, and I really don’t think I could’ve picked a better first read for October. If this amazing cover art isn’t enough to draw you in, I promise that the spooky vibes only get better inside. We have a small town with a dark past, a (truly unsettling) killer on the loose, a murder mystery unfolding, paranormal happenings galore, a cute queer romance (with some secrets) and musical theatre references that made me so happy. It’s witchy and autumnal and creepy, with as many scares as funny moments and characters I just want to spend more time with and get to know better. (Note: I will start my TV adaptation campaign as soon as my sequel campaign is a success).
I’ve seen this likened to a lot of things, but I see The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina comparisons most, plus some Heathers for good measure. But more queer. With more coffee. And these are big wins in my book. There were allusions to the existence of other paranormal creatures and I think it’s a testament to how much I enjoyed this setting and the potential of it that I’m already dreaming up ways for them to make an appearance. Also that I couldn’t pick up another book in days because I just couldn’t get my head out of this one. It deals with some dark things beyond the horror itself - and includes CWs before it starts - but has plenty of humour too, and I loved the support network that only grows as the book goes on. Especially the sweet, talking animal members of said support network. This has some lovely messages in it, namely that we all have the capacity for good and bad in us but it’s not up to anyone else to tell us who or what we are.
I can’t wait to get a physical copy of this, and I definitely recommend checking it out if you want:
- witches and ghosts and …👀
- a paranormal murder mystery
- a small town with secrets
- animal familiars
- a perfect halloween read!
Let me know what you think if you read it!
November 15, 2022
[I received a digital arc for an honest review]
Wicked Little Things by Justin Arnold is a Queer Ya Paranormal Horror that's campy and witchy.
Dane is in Jasper Hollow to attend the funeral of his cousin Grant. He's recently gained the not so great ability to hear people's thoughts, psychically read objects and create fire from his fingertips. Turns out he's a witch, and now he has to join a coven of teen girls and stop a rabbit-skin masked killer ghost. Along the way he gains a raccoon for a familiar and a crush on a local boy whose more than he seems. In the end, will he be able to resist the dark urges he has in order to save his family and new friends.
I can be me and not let him or any person dictate what Dane Craven is.
This book is full of fun, quirky characters. The lead Dane is a bit awkward but lovable with his love of queso and conflicted emotions. He genuinely has ever reason to be angry at his cousin, but still feels bad and responsible for his fate. He spends the book struggling with whether he's a good or bad witch. He is surrounded by his mother, aunt, and cousin whose loves all things spooky. Then there's the "mean girls" coven of teenage witches, who each bring their own ability and sarcasm to the table. Plus the local boy, EJ, who is Dane's romantic interest and keeping secrets of his own. I also have to mention how much I absolutely loved that Dane's familiar was a raccoon, it was the BEST!
The story line brings the creep factor right from the start with Dane's cousin being attacked in the woods by a ghostly killer wearing a deteriorating rabbit hood. There's plenty of scenes throughout that are just the right amount of "eeww gross" for a YA Horror. The book balances out the creepy gore with sarcastic banter and cheesy teenage flirting. Our characters are teenagers and believe me they act like it but not in an obnoxious way but a fun relatable way.
Oh, hell no. This is the closest I've ever come to first base with a boy. A demon witch-ghost is not ruining this for me.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading Wicked Little Things by Justin Arnold. A YA Horror filled with magic, witches, ghosts, first kisses, abandoned hospitals, fall festivals, a killer ghost, and good overcoming evil. I think it's a strong debut novel and hope he writes more adventures for these characters in the future.
Rep: Gay MC, Bi Secondary character
TW/CW: being outed, homophobic slurs, physical bullying, violence, gore, and death.
Wicked Little Things by Justin Arnold is a Queer Ya Paranormal Horror that's campy and witchy.
Dane is in Jasper Hollow to attend the funeral of his cousin Grant. He's recently gained the not so great ability to hear people's thoughts, psychically read objects and create fire from his fingertips. Turns out he's a witch, and now he has to join a coven of teen girls and stop a rabbit-skin masked killer ghost. Along the way he gains a raccoon for a familiar and a crush on a local boy whose more than he seems. In the end, will he be able to resist the dark urges he has in order to save his family and new friends.
I can be me and not let him or any person dictate what Dane Craven is.
This book is full of fun, quirky characters. The lead Dane is a bit awkward but lovable with his love of queso and conflicted emotions. He genuinely has ever reason to be angry at his cousin, but still feels bad and responsible for his fate. He spends the book struggling with whether he's a good or bad witch. He is surrounded by his mother, aunt, and cousin whose loves all things spooky. Then there's the "mean girls" coven of teenage witches, who each bring their own ability and sarcasm to the table. Plus the local boy, EJ, who is Dane's romantic interest and keeping secrets of his own. I also have to mention how much I absolutely loved that Dane's familiar was a raccoon, it was the BEST!
The story line brings the creep factor right from the start with Dane's cousin being attacked in the woods by a ghostly killer wearing a deteriorating rabbit hood. There's plenty of scenes throughout that are just the right amount of "eeww gross" for a YA Horror. The book balances out the creepy gore with sarcastic banter and cheesy teenage flirting. Our characters are teenagers and believe me they act like it but not in an obnoxious way but a fun relatable way.
Oh, hell no. This is the closest I've ever come to first base with a boy. A demon witch-ghost is not ruining this for me.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading Wicked Little Things by Justin Arnold. A YA Horror filled with magic, witches, ghosts, first kisses, abandoned hospitals, fall festivals, a killer ghost, and good overcoming evil. I think it's a strong debut novel and hope he writes more adventures for these characters in the future.
Rep: Gay MC, Bi Secondary character
TW/CW: being outed, homophobic slurs, physical bullying, violence, gore, and death.
October 4, 2022
We’re in a fantastic time for queer horror, and WICKED LITTLE THINGS is right on the money with a campy, spooky, and gruesome tale that sparks thoughts of THE CRAFT meets MEAN GIRLS!
Dane Craven is a bit of a hot-head sometimes, in more ways than one. It’s not too much of a shock when his pyromantic tendencies end up being a sign of general witchyness (in a kind of ‘one in every generation’ Buffy but Chilling Adventures of Sabrina way) and the local coven of mean-girls in who wear red on days that end with Y want him to join their crew. Enter more ooky spooky babadooky concerns in the form of the downright terrifying and creepy Rabbit Skins, who definitely wants to skin you and eat you, and lots of dark history—made somewhat softer by the cute local barista with a secret.
This story is a lot of fun, and surprisingly brutal at times, we even get a bit of a hint at there being more to tell…so now I can’t wait to see what happens next!
*This book was provided to me for free as an advanced copy by the Publisher for my honest thoughts and comments*
Dane Craven is a bit of a hot-head sometimes, in more ways than one. It’s not too much of a shock when his pyromantic tendencies end up being a sign of general witchyness (in a kind of ‘one in every generation’ Buffy but Chilling Adventures of Sabrina way) and the local coven of mean-girls in who wear red on days that end with Y want him to join their crew. Enter more ooky spooky babadooky concerns in the form of the downright terrifying and creepy Rabbit Skins, who definitely wants to skin you and eat you, and lots of dark history—made somewhat softer by the cute local barista with a secret.
This story is a lot of fun, and surprisingly brutal at times, we even get a bit of a hint at there being more to tell…so now I can’t wait to see what happens next!
*This book was provided to me for free as an advanced copy by the Publisher for my honest thoughts and comments*
November 2, 2022
Freaky!
*Review to come*
*Review to come*
October 21, 2022
Wicked Little Things is a fun campy YA horror fantasy about a gay teenage witch and his search for his cousin’s killer. Dane has just recently been outed and must return to his tiny hometown for his cousin’s funeral. There, he must confront his still-developing witch powers, a trio of mean girl witches who want him to join their coven, and a serial killer who he may or may not have accidentally summoned.
𝘑𝘰𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘯. 𝘊𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘳. 𝘎𝘦𝘵 𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴?
Dane Craven is an awkward teenager with the tendency to blurt out the first thing that comes to mind. He is an entirely lovable and complex character full of adorkable moments, teenage angst, and identity issues. He struggles with his complicated relationship with his now-diseased cousin, the emerging darkness that come with his powers, and the family legacy that was kept hidden from him. That doesn’t mean he doesn’t have time for mundane teenage problems. He must navigate a new relationship with a boy he likes after a not-so-cute meet-cute, ward off some mean girls that both torment him (with a makeover and more), and balance his new secret life with his personal one.
𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘪𝘵, 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘢 𝘫𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘺𝘧𝘪𝘴𝘩 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘚𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘉𝘰𝘣.
This book is funny with plenty of laugh out loud moments and fun quirky interactions. There’s pop culture references, horror classics like the condemned psychiatric turned tuberculosis hospital, and talking animal familiars. While it embraces the camp, it also doesn’t shy away from the horror as this book is surprisingly dark and gruesome as well. Think Are You Afraid of the Dark meets The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. With a rabbit-faced serial killer who collects body parts and faces on the loose, the book is gory, spooky, and sometimes genuinely horrific.
Wicked Little Things is a funny YA horror full of camp, gore, and teenage angst.
*Thank you to Tiny Ghost Press for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
𝘑𝘰𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘯. 𝘊𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘳. 𝘎𝘦𝘵 𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴?
Dane Craven is an awkward teenager with the tendency to blurt out the first thing that comes to mind. He is an entirely lovable and complex character full of adorkable moments, teenage angst, and identity issues. He struggles with his complicated relationship with his now-diseased cousin, the emerging darkness that come with his powers, and the family legacy that was kept hidden from him. That doesn’t mean he doesn’t have time for mundane teenage problems. He must navigate a new relationship with a boy he likes after a not-so-cute meet-cute, ward off some mean girls that both torment him (with a makeover and more), and balance his new secret life with his personal one.
𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘪𝘵, 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘢 𝘫𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘺𝘧𝘪𝘴𝘩 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘚𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘉𝘰𝘣.
This book is funny with plenty of laugh out loud moments and fun quirky interactions. There’s pop culture references, horror classics like the condemned psychiatric turned tuberculosis hospital, and talking animal familiars. While it embraces the camp, it also doesn’t shy away from the horror as this book is surprisingly dark and gruesome as well. Think Are You Afraid of the Dark meets The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. With a rabbit-faced serial killer who collects body parts and faces on the loose, the book is gory, spooky, and sometimes genuinely horrific.
Wicked Little Things is a funny YA horror full of camp, gore, and teenage angst.
*Thank you to Tiny Ghost Press for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 7, 2022
Thank you to Tiny Ghost Press for an earc of this book.
“Are you a good witch, or a bad witch?”
Wicked little things is a young adult horror book with witches, werewolves and a rabbit-faced serial killer.
Dane, a witch, who’s been outed as a gay by his cousin Grant, has to return to his hometown, when Grant dies.
Searching for his cousin’s killer, Dane gets a help in the form of Reds - a loval coven, who help him discover his abilities.
Together they have to find out the killer before it’s too late.
I really liked this book. I love the humor, it made me cackle so many times, and it just made the whole book more enjoyable.
The killer in this story is absolutely terrifying, and as you never really know what’s coming next, it really keeps you on your toes.
As it’s a young adult book, you also get some teenage angst and also a first love arc. I thought that the making-ups after the fights Dane had with the coven, his family, and EJ were done well.
I really like that witches in this book have familiars, and Dane’s was a raccoon named Aloysius, who talked like a proper English gentleman. I want to cuddle him so much, he was absolutely precious.
This story has a gay, bi, non-binary and trans rep.
Content warning for bullying, homophobia, death, violence.
“Are you a good witch, or a bad witch?”
Wicked little things is a young adult horror book with witches, werewolves and a rabbit-faced serial killer.
Dane, a witch, who’s been outed as a gay by his cousin Grant, has to return to his hometown, when Grant dies.
Searching for his cousin’s killer, Dane gets a help in the form of Reds - a loval coven, who help him discover his abilities.
Together they have to find out the killer before it’s too late.
I really liked this book. I love the humor, it made me cackle so many times, and it just made the whole book more enjoyable.
The killer in this story is absolutely terrifying, and as you never really know what’s coming next, it really keeps you on your toes.
As it’s a young adult book, you also get some teenage angst and also a first love arc. I thought that the making-ups after the fights Dane had with the coven, his family, and EJ were done well.
I really like that witches in this book have familiars, and Dane’s was a raccoon named Aloysius, who talked like a proper English gentleman. I want to cuddle him so much, he was absolutely precious.
This story has a gay, bi, non-binary and trans rep.
Content warning for bullying, homophobia, death, violence.
October 1, 2022
Throw The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Are You Afraid of The Dark, Mean Girls, and Heathers into a cauldron, stir in a little queerness (for flavor) and you've got this book! Wicked Little Things brings the creep factor of urban legends, and mixes in humor, found family vibes, oh yeah, and a possible deal with the "devil" to create a sassy, spooky read that readers will come back to again and again.
Wicked Little Things is the spooky queer YA witch book I didn't know I needed, and I can't wait to get my copy to add it to my collection!
Wicked Little Things is the spooky queer YA witch book I didn't know I needed, and I can't wait to get my copy to add it to my collection!
Want to read
June 10, 2022This cover is fucking dope
October 16, 2022
Following the bloody murder of his cousin Grant (that he feels responsible for), Dane Craven and his mother return to Jasper Hollow for the funeral and to spend some time with Grant's mother and sister Hannah. Dane is an unusual boy. He can read people's thoughts and sometimes the memories of objects. Oh. And he can light fires with his mind. After a ruckus at the funeral, Dane meets a group of three girls all wearing red jackets who turn out to be a coven of witches and Dane is meant to join them and complete the circle. Working with the witches, Dane attempts to solve the mystery of the serial killer plaguing Jasper Hollow.
Y'all. This book is incredible. It so perfectly fits my vibe. Heathers meets The Craft. Dane is hilarious as a main character. Despite his angst I never got sick of him; all of his reactions and OVERreactions all felt entirely understandable and true to life. And McScuse me, but his little Muppet arms? Hilarious to imagine. This book is dark and filled with murder and gore but it fulfills on everything it promises to do. I honestly didn't want to put this down.
I fully recommend picking this up when it is released on 11/15/22!
Thank you to Tiny Ghost Press who provided me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Y'all. This book is incredible. It so perfectly fits my vibe. Heathers meets The Craft. Dane is hilarious as a main character. Despite his angst I never got sick of him; all of his reactions and OVERreactions all felt entirely understandable and true to life. And McScuse me, but his little Muppet arms? Hilarious to imagine. This book is dark and filled with murder and gore but it fulfills on everything it promises to do. I honestly didn't want to put this down.
I fully recommend picking this up when it is released on 11/15/22!
Thank you to Tiny Ghost Press who provided me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 19, 2023
Are you a good witch or a bad witch?
That’s the ultimate question at hand for Dane. He’s suddenly found himself with a lot of power and it’s not fully in his control. On top of that he has to solve a mystery and catch a killer.
I was in from page one. This book has so many of my favorite things: horror, queerness, witches, mean girls, an adorable animal sidekick. Not to mention sarcasm and sass.
It’s giving Heathers meets Chilling Adventures of Sabrina meets Halloween. How very!!
I don’t read a lot of horror, even though it’s one of my favorite movie genres, and I honestly picked this up on a whim. I thought it looked fun and gay and creepy. And it delivered on all of the above. I’m so here for the creepy rabbit man and his even creepier lullaby.
The whole story has an undercurrent of eeriness. Every bump and creek might be the killer coming to claim his next victim. Especially when you least expect it. It does a good job of balancing the hair-raising scares and the sweetness of a budding queer romance without either feeling out of place.
This weird world of magic and monsters is inhabited by standout characters who make it hard to pick a favorite. Some had to grow on me, but by the end I was fully invested in them, rooting for them every time they went into a situation any sane person would walk away from. There are too many damn abandoned buildings in this town!
And of course I love me a bitchy mean girl. Blair Waldorf, Regina George, Cordelia Chase, the Heathers. The loves of my gay life. I’ll take them all and eat up every crumb. And now I have the Reds to add to my collection of queens and icons.
I don’t want to say too much and spoil it. So I’ll just say, if you’re looking for a fun, creepy Halloween read, I highly suggest checking it out. I’m really hoping there’s going to be a sequel. I need more Dane and Aloysius and EJ and Hannah and the Reds in my life.
That’s the ultimate question at hand for Dane. He’s suddenly found himself with a lot of power and it’s not fully in his control. On top of that he has to solve a mystery and catch a killer.
I was in from page one. This book has so many of my favorite things: horror, queerness, witches, mean girls, an adorable animal sidekick. Not to mention sarcasm and sass.
It’s giving Heathers meets Chilling Adventures of Sabrina meets Halloween. How very!!
I don’t read a lot of horror, even though it’s one of my favorite movie genres, and I honestly picked this up on a whim. I thought it looked fun and gay and creepy. And it delivered on all of the above. I’m so here for the creepy rabbit man and his even creepier lullaby.
The whole story has an undercurrent of eeriness. Every bump and creek might be the killer coming to claim his next victim. Especially when you least expect it. It does a good job of balancing the hair-raising scares and the sweetness of a budding queer romance without either feeling out of place.
This weird world of magic and monsters is inhabited by standout characters who make it hard to pick a favorite. Some had to grow on me, but by the end I was fully invested in them, rooting for them every time they went into a situation any sane person would walk away from. There are too many damn abandoned buildings in this town!
And of course I love me a bitchy mean girl. Blair Waldorf, Regina George, Cordelia Chase, the Heathers. The loves of my gay life. I’ll take them all and eat up every crumb. And now I have the Reds to add to my collection of queens and icons.
I don’t want to say too much and spoil it. So I’ll just say, if you’re looking for a fun, creepy Halloween read, I highly suggest checking it out. I’m really hoping there’s going to be a sequel. I need more Dane and Aloysius and EJ and Hannah and the Reds in my life.
May 21, 2025
Had a great time with this book. It gave me all the witchy spooky vibes. it was pretty fast-paced. i absolutely loved Aloysius. Not to mention this stunning cover. If you're thinking about it, do it!!
July 14, 2025
“This isn’t fair,” Hannah scoffs. “Serial killers are my comfort and joy. You can’t take them from me.”
When his cousin is murdered, Dane Craven is forced to return to the small town where he grew up. His attempt at keeping his head down is spoiled the moment he gives a disastrous eulogy.
Feeling responsible for his cousin’s death and finding out he is a witch, he and his raccoon familiar join a small coven of three catty teen girls who can help him solve his cousin’s murder, sending him off into a world of magic, serial killers, and paranormal rabbits.
“Raccoons don’t talk. I think you’re just confused and tired.”
“Robyn.” Aunt Bella sighs. “Don’t gaslight your child.”
To start, this book is the funniest I’ve ever read. It had me stifling laughter while secretly reading in the back of my classroom. Dane’s cynical voice set the tone for this story, keeping the reader entertained with a running commentary. Not to forget the bunny-faced killer, his true-crime addict of a cousin, the coven of teenage girls, and the intentional and clever use of certain cliché tropes to add to the humour of the story.
Justin Arnold starts the story strong, with the murder of Dane’s cousin as a gripping opening scene, followed by the funeral where Dane gives a disastrous, cringe-worthy, hilarious eulogy. Arnold wastes no time engaging the reader in a humorous story full of unstable characters who make for comedic goldmines.
However, I hate to admit I was disappointed in the ending. It was simply too easy. Everyone shows up. Everything is forgiven. The villain is too easily defeated. After such a build-up, so many obstacles, it simply felt too simple, as if the author was tired of writing it and decided to just round up. Additionally, Dane’s tone-setting cynicism and ironic voice fades from the narrative the closer you get to the climax, which is unfortunate.
Don’t be bad. Don’t be good. Just be. Be Dane. And don’t let anyone tell you who that is.
To sum up, though the ending was disappointing, if you are looking for a hilarious murder mystery full of cynical humour and lots of queer representation, I would truly recommend this comedic pearl of a book.
When his cousin is murdered, Dane Craven is forced to return to the small town where he grew up. His attempt at keeping his head down is spoiled the moment he gives a disastrous eulogy.
Feeling responsible for his cousin’s death and finding out he is a witch, he and his raccoon familiar join a small coven of three catty teen girls who can help him solve his cousin’s murder, sending him off into a world of magic, serial killers, and paranormal rabbits.
“Raccoons don’t talk. I think you’re just confused and tired.”
“Robyn.” Aunt Bella sighs. “Don’t gaslight your child.”
To start, this book is the funniest I’ve ever read. It had me stifling laughter while secretly reading in the back of my classroom. Dane’s cynical voice set the tone for this story, keeping the reader entertained with a running commentary. Not to forget the bunny-faced killer, his true-crime addict of a cousin, the coven of teenage girls, and the intentional and clever use of certain cliché tropes to add to the humour of the story.
Justin Arnold starts the story strong, with the murder of Dane’s cousin as a gripping opening scene, followed by the funeral where Dane gives a disastrous, cringe-worthy, hilarious eulogy. Arnold wastes no time engaging the reader in a humorous story full of unstable characters who make for comedic goldmines.
However, I hate to admit I was disappointed in the ending. It was simply too easy. Everyone shows up. Everything is forgiven. The villain is too easily defeated. After such a build-up, so many obstacles, it simply felt too simple, as if the author was tired of writing it and decided to just round up. Additionally, Dane’s tone-setting cynicism and ironic voice fades from the narrative the closer you get to the climax, which is unfortunate.
Don’t be bad. Don’t be good. Just be. Be Dane. And don’t let anyone tell you who that is.
To sum up, though the ending was disappointing, if you are looking for a hilarious murder mystery full of cynical humour and lots of queer representation, I would truly recommend this comedic pearl of a book.
November 20, 2022
READ READ READ THIS BOOK !!!
Especially if you’re a Sabrina fan (but make it gay and mix it with ‘clueless’ because of ✨Makeover✨)
This book was a fun read, full of adventure and mystery 👀 Dane was somehow relatable on some aspects and they were so funny 😩
I have put multiple “funny” tabs on this books because of the humor and how some of the characters just talks back to the other characters sarcastically.
🤍
Especially if you’re a Sabrina fan (but make it gay and mix it with ‘clueless’ because of ✨Makeover✨)
This book was a fun read, full of adventure and mystery 👀 Dane was somehow relatable on some aspects and they were so funny 😩
I have put multiple “funny” tabs on this books because of the humor and how some of the characters just talks back to the other characters sarcastically.
🤍
October 27, 2022
Before anything else, WE MUST PROTECT ALOYSIUS AT ALL COSTS! Okay moving on…I LOVED THIS! It was so genuinely perfect for what I expected! I was captivated from the start. I hated when I had to put it down to actually work or sleep.
The whole Mean Girls meets The Heathers meets serial killer? *chefs kiss* Give me more of it! I really do hope that a sequel or series is started from this one because it could be so amazing!
Thank you so much to Justin Arnold and Tiny Ghost Press for allowing me to read an eARC of this!
Wicked Little Things by Justin Arnold releases November 15, 2022!
The whole Mean Girls meets The Heathers meets serial killer? *chefs kiss* Give me more of it! I really do hope that a sequel or series is started from this one because it could be so amazing!
Thank you so much to Justin Arnold and Tiny Ghost Press for allowing me to read an eARC of this!
Wicked Little Things by Justin Arnold releases November 15, 2022!
November 29, 2022
Wicked Little Things is a queer YA horror book with a boy witch main character. I always want more boy witches in YA, and I always want more spec fic with boys in YA. So my heart was happy that Dane Craven was the hero of Wicked Little Things!
Dane had a wicked (see what I did there) sense of humour that was interspersed throughout the book. So even though there were a lot of heavy themes in the story, there were some light-hearted moments too. Dane never took himself too seriously, and it was an endearing character trait for me. I found myself rooting for Dane throughout the book, and I wanted him to come out okay at the end.
Dane’s relationships with the people around him were some of the best parts of the book. Grant, his cousin, has been murdered, which is why Dane and his mum return to her home town of Jasper Hollow to begin with. Dane’s relationship with Grant was messy and hard to define, and I thought this was really true to life. His relationship with his mum and his cousin were also realistic in that they weren’t perfect, but the characters were always there for each other.
There is also a romance in Wicked Little Things between Dane and the local barista, EJ. I thought their relationship added moments of sweetness to the book, and I was definitely in their corner. They weren’t always the best at communication but they are teenagers so this is understandable. I definitely want to learn more about EJ, and I’d love to see the two of them get to know each other more too, and also grow as a couple.
Even though I mentioned that there is humour in Wicked Little Things, the author did not hold back on the horror elements. The villain is a dude who wears rabbit skins and also sings a creepy little nursery rhyme about himself. He was spooky and added a lot to the horror atmosphere of the book. I liked that there was an illustration of him on the front cover because it really helped with the imagery, too!
The ending of Wicked Little Things really set itself up for a sequel, which I hope happens! I would read more of Dane’s world and magic and relationships for sure.
© 2022, Chiara @ Books for a Delicate Eternity. All rights reserved.
rigger warning: homophobia, bullying (physical assault), violence, gore, murder, death, reference to conversion therapy, character outed, missing sibling of side character, reference to transphobia
Dane had a wicked (see what I did there) sense of humour that was interspersed throughout the book. So even though there were a lot of heavy themes in the story, there were some light-hearted moments too. Dane never took himself too seriously, and it was an endearing character trait for me. I found myself rooting for Dane throughout the book, and I wanted him to come out okay at the end.
Dane’s relationships with the people around him were some of the best parts of the book. Grant, his cousin, has been murdered, which is why Dane and his mum return to her home town of Jasper Hollow to begin with. Dane’s relationship with Grant was messy and hard to define, and I thought this was really true to life. His relationship with his mum and his cousin were also realistic in that they weren’t perfect, but the characters were always there for each other.
There is also a romance in Wicked Little Things between Dane and the local barista, EJ. I thought their relationship added moments of sweetness to the book, and I was definitely in their corner. They weren’t always the best at communication but they are teenagers so this is understandable. I definitely want to learn more about EJ, and I’d love to see the two of them get to know each other more too, and also grow as a couple.
Even though I mentioned that there is humour in Wicked Little Things, the author did not hold back on the horror elements. The villain is a dude who wears rabbit skins and also sings a creepy little nursery rhyme about himself. He was spooky and added a lot to the horror atmosphere of the book. I liked that there was an illustration of him on the front cover because it really helped with the imagery, too!
The ending of Wicked Little Things really set itself up for a sequel, which I hope happens! I would read more of Dane’s world and magic and relationships for sure.
© 2022, Chiara @ Books for a Delicate Eternity. All rights reserved.
rigger warning: homophobia, bullying (physical assault), violence, gore, murder, death, reference to conversion therapy, character outed, missing sibling of side character, reference to transphobia
October 25, 2022
Today I bring you the review of "Wicked Little Things", a book that I was *very* looking forward to and I am very happy because I loved it.
In this book we have witches, ghosts, talking animals, serial killer, mystery, gore and horror, all wrapped up perfectly in hilarious humor.
The beginning of the book is just like a horror movie, I was very surprised by how strong it starts and how it doesn't slow down at almost any time.
The writer is not afraid to introduce us to dismembered bodies and gory scenes mixed with horror, but at the same time the whole trip is full of humor and is very funny, the mix is perfect!
I liked the protagonist GREAT from the beginning, I really liked him a lot, his cousin more of the same, I liked him from the first moment and the "bad girls" in this book, although they are very diva witches, They are not tedious at all and it is very easy to love them
The touch of romance (boy with boy) has given it a little touch that has been great and the truth is that it has not cost me to fall in love with the relationship, although it is a short book, the writer has handled everything in a very fluid way and natural
Has small social criticism very well
implemented, and all the witchcraft, magic, coven and other stuff I have ADORED (there is a specific scene that I give the writer a kiss on the forehead because it is amazing) and visually this book would be brutal as a series
There is a talking raccoon and IT IS THE BEST
Yes, it is true that perhaps the ending would have lengthened it about 20/30 pages because it is resolved quite quickly, but a part of that the truth is that I have no complaints
Big thanks to Tinyghostpress and Justin Arnold for sending me the ARC and giving me a chance to read it before publication.
Español:
Hoy os traigo la reseña de "Wicked Little Things", un libro al que le tenía *muchísimas* ganas y estoy contentisimo porque me ha encantado 🤩.
En este libro tenemos brujas, fantasmas, animales que hablan, asesino en serio, misterio, gore y terror, todo eso envuelto perfectamente en un humor muy divertido.
🐰 El principio del libro es tal cual una película de terror, me ha sorprendido mucho lo fuerte que empieza y como no baja el ritmo en casi ningún momento.
🔥 El escritor no tiene miedo de meternos cuerpos desmembrados y escenas gores mezcladas con terror, pero a la vez todo el viaje está lleno de humor y es muy divertido, ¡la mezcla es perfecta!
💀 El protagonista me ha caído GENIAL desde el principio, de verdad que me ha gustado muchísimo, su prima más de lo mismo, me ha gustado desde el primer momento y las "chicas malas" de este libro, si bien son una brujas bien divas, no son para nada tediosas y es muy fácil cogerles cariño
🐰 El toque de romance (chico con chico) le ha dado un toquecito que le ha venido genial y la verdad que no me ha costado enamorarme de la relación, aunque es un libro corto, el escritor lo ha llevado todo de una manera muy fluida y natural
💀 Tiene pequeñas críticas sociales muy bien
implementadas, y todo el rollo de brujería, magia, aquelarre y demás lo he ADORADO (hay una escena en específico que le doy un besito en la frente al escritor porque es una pasada) y este libro visualmente sería brutal como serie
🐰 Hay un mapache que habla y ES LO MEJOR
🔥 Si que es verdad que quizá el final lo habría alargado unas 20/30 páginas porque se resuelve bastante rápido, pero a parte de eso la verdad es que no tengo quejas
In this book we have witches, ghosts, talking animals, serial killer, mystery, gore and horror, all wrapped up perfectly in hilarious humor.
The beginning of the book is just like a horror movie, I was very surprised by how strong it starts and how it doesn't slow down at almost any time.
The writer is not afraid to introduce us to dismembered bodies and gory scenes mixed with horror, but at the same time the whole trip is full of humor and is very funny, the mix is perfect!
I liked the protagonist GREAT from the beginning, I really liked him a lot, his cousin more of the same, I liked him from the first moment and the "bad girls" in this book, although they are very diva witches, They are not tedious at all and it is very easy to love them
The touch of romance (boy with boy) has given it a little touch that has been great and the truth is that it has not cost me to fall in love with the relationship, although it is a short book, the writer has handled everything in a very fluid way and natural
Has small social criticism very well
implemented, and all the witchcraft, magic, coven and other stuff I have ADORED (there is a specific scene that I give the writer a kiss on the forehead because it is amazing) and visually this book would be brutal as a series
There is a talking raccoon and IT IS THE BEST
Yes, it is true that perhaps the ending would have lengthened it about 20/30 pages because it is resolved quite quickly, but a part of that the truth is that I have no complaints
Big thanks to Tinyghostpress and Justin Arnold for sending me the ARC and giving me a chance to read it before publication.
Español:
Hoy os traigo la reseña de "Wicked Little Things", un libro al que le tenía *muchísimas* ganas y estoy contentisimo porque me ha encantado 🤩.
En este libro tenemos brujas, fantasmas, animales que hablan, asesino en serio, misterio, gore y terror, todo eso envuelto perfectamente en un humor muy divertido.
🐰 El principio del libro es tal cual una película de terror, me ha sorprendido mucho lo fuerte que empieza y como no baja el ritmo en casi ningún momento.
🔥 El escritor no tiene miedo de meternos cuerpos desmembrados y escenas gores mezcladas con terror, pero a la vez todo el viaje está lleno de humor y es muy divertido, ¡la mezcla es perfecta!
💀 El protagonista me ha caído GENIAL desde el principio, de verdad que me ha gustado muchísimo, su prima más de lo mismo, me ha gustado desde el primer momento y las "chicas malas" de este libro, si bien son una brujas bien divas, no son para nada tediosas y es muy fácil cogerles cariño
🐰 El toque de romance (chico con chico) le ha dado un toquecito que le ha venido genial y la verdad que no me ha costado enamorarme de la relación, aunque es un libro corto, el escritor lo ha llevado todo de una manera muy fluida y natural
💀 Tiene pequeñas críticas sociales muy bien
implementadas, y todo el rollo de brujería, magia, aquelarre y demás lo he ADORADO (hay una escena en específico que le doy un besito en la frente al escritor porque es una pasada) y este libro visualmente sería brutal como serie
🐰 Hay un mapache que habla y ES LO MEJOR
🔥 Si que es verdad que quizá el final lo habría alargado unas 20/30 páginas porque se resuelve bastante rápido, pero a parte de eso la verdad es que no tengo quejas
October 12, 2024
I started this book in print but the words seemed super tiny for some reason. Like it made my head hurt tiny. So I switched to the audio and really enjoyed it.
This was a fun dark fantasy adventure that borders on horror. It mixes a mystery, fantasy and crime story together in one. I enjoyed the variety in the characters and abilities and the overlapping plot lines that all tied together in the end.
The coming out storyline played a vital role in all the other plot lines which I loved. It added a lot of character depth and complicated dynamics in what could have been a bit of a linear, straightforward plot.
A few plot twists sprinkled in to keep things interesting.
This was a fun dark fantasy adventure that borders on horror. It mixes a mystery, fantasy and crime story together in one. I enjoyed the variety in the characters and abilities and the overlapping plot lines that all tied together in the end.
The coming out storyline played a vital role in all the other plot lines which I loved. It added a lot of character depth and complicated dynamics in what could have been a bit of a linear, straightforward plot.
A few plot twists sprinkled in to keep things interesting.
November 2, 2023
3 / 5 ⭐️'ˢ
“Wicked Little Things” By Justin Arnold
📕 Edition: Audiobook
Honestly, this book wasn't my cup of tea. While the premise had potential, it just didn't resonate with ME. 🤷🏻♂️
The story follows Dane Craven, a 16-year-old witch who returns to his small hometown after his cousin's murder. With uncontrollable fiery powers, he's thrust into a coven of fashion-conscious 'mean girls' who want to give him a makeover. The idea of mixing witchcraft, murder, and high school drama sounded intriguing, but the execution fell short for ME.
📚
“Wicked Little Things” By Justin Arnold
📕 Edition: Audiobook
Honestly, this book wasn't my cup of tea. While the premise had potential, it just didn't resonate with ME. 🤷🏻♂️
The story follows Dane Craven, a 16-year-old witch who returns to his small hometown after his cousin's murder. With uncontrollable fiery powers, he's thrust into a coven of fashion-conscious 'mean girls' who want to give him a makeover. The idea of mixing witchcraft, murder, and high school drama sounded intriguing, but the execution fell short for ME.
📚
January 11, 2024
A little creepy when I deeply thin about what I've actually read 😀 !! However I was distracted by witch and rabbits and thought I was reading Alice in Wonderland and giggled a bit. Anyways thanks to Fi once again. I love my life.
September 28, 2024
this just really wasn't for me. Nothing resonated with me here without it being outright bad, I just experienced nearly no feelings here.
probably it is at least partly my fault for just not "being the right reader" for this.
probably it is at least partly my fault for just not "being the right reader" for this.
December 30, 2022
4.5
Aloysius, never change, you fuzzy little dandy
Aloysius, never change, you fuzzy little dandy
September 29, 2023
Gay, that is all.
March 9, 2023
OMG, this book was amazingly fun to read! Wickedly funny, with a lot of magic and witchcraft, page after page was full of mystery, laughs, and intrigue.
October 30, 2022
This book did things to me! It was everything I wanted and so much for this spooky season. It was surprisingly cozy in many parts as well as tense enough to make me want to keep reading and not stop. I definitely recommend this book to everyone who wants astounding LGBTQ+ representation and some spooky fun along the way! My overall rating for this book is 4.5/5.
Extended Breakdown:
Characters: 5/5
Story: 4/5
Pace: 4.5/5
TikTok/Insta: @wvbookwitch
Extended Breakdown:
Characters: 5/5
Story: 4/5
Pace: 4.5/5
TikTok/Insta: @wvbookwitch
October 14, 2022
So friggen good!
July 23, 2023
This book is weird but not in a good sorta way?
I want to start off with what I liked.
The horror elements were pretty good and I quite liked how the author wrote intense situations. The writing itself isn’t bad.
Here’s my main problem. TONALITY.
This book has no sense of introspection or realism when it comes to the characters interactions with the narrative itself.
Maybe the author was going for a kind of popcorn comedy-horror? But it fails for me personally because the MC is written in such a jerkish way. There’s this lack of sympathy/empathy with the characters and the high-strung situations they’re found in. Everything is a witty, deadpan sort of ordeal even when the scenes call for seriousness. Just in the first few pages we’re introduced to the MC and he’s already cracking inner monologue jokes and centering himself at his cousins funeral? Like?
(He’s written so passively and unfeeling in a lot ways especially when it relates to other characters. Like there’s this lack of connectivity between his inner monologue and the conversations being had.
This is especially so for Grant (Cousin). The author almost wants you to not care about grant because he was homophobic? Like okay…. He was young and murdered gruesomely… AND HE TRIED TO APOLOGIZE)
Honestly the main issue was the MC for me, he wasn’t relatable… he was too much of an archetype.
I see in theory what the writer was going for? But personally I like characters to have distinct qualities and a certain level of awareness. We spent so much time in the MC’s head and he felt kind of uncaring, but it’s passed off as quirkiness and “Witt”…
They just didn’t feel human enough. When you got such a dark premise you kinda have to also give great depth to the characters… if you make everything jokey… it takes away from the readers anticipation.
I want to start off with what I liked.
The horror elements were pretty good and I quite liked how the author wrote intense situations. The writing itself isn’t bad.
Here’s my main problem. TONALITY.
This book has no sense of introspection or realism when it comes to the characters interactions with the narrative itself.
Maybe the author was going for a kind of popcorn comedy-horror? But it fails for me personally because the MC is written in such a jerkish way. There’s this lack of sympathy/empathy with the characters and the high-strung situations they’re found in. Everything is a witty, deadpan sort of ordeal even when the scenes call for seriousness. Just in the first few pages we’re introduced to the MC and he’s already cracking inner monologue jokes and centering himself at his cousins funeral? Like?
(He’s written so passively and unfeeling in a lot ways especially when it relates to other characters. Like there’s this lack of connectivity between his inner monologue and the conversations being had.
This is especially so for Grant (Cousin). The author almost wants you to not care about grant because he was homophobic? Like okay…. He was young and murdered gruesomely… AND HE TRIED TO APOLOGIZE)
Honestly the main issue was the MC for me, he wasn’t relatable… he was too much of an archetype.
I see in theory what the writer was going for? But personally I like characters to have distinct qualities and a certain level of awareness. We spent so much time in the MC’s head and he felt kind of uncaring, but it’s passed off as quirkiness and “Witt”…
They just didn’t feel human enough. When you got such a dark premise you kinda have to also give great depth to the characters… if you make everything jokey… it takes away from the readers anticipation.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 21, 2022
“Fear not your wickedness. Embrace it for it makes you stronger.”
I don’t even know where to start with this review. first of all, have you seen this cover! I MEAN- STUNNING!
Wicked Little Things follows Dane, a witch, who returns to his hometown with his mum after the murder of his cousin Grant. There he meets a coven of witches who call themselves the reds, E.J the cute coffee shop boy, and a raccoon named Aloysius. Together they search for the rabbit faced serial killer, to find out what happened to Grant and to put a stop to the murders once and for all.
This book manages to be full of comedy whilst still being creepy as heck at the same time. This was actually one of my favourite things about it. It was giving major AHS Coven/Half Bad vibes and i absolutely loved it!
If you’re looking for a spooky, queer read with witches, werewolves and wicked things, then i highly, highly recommend this book!
p.s. petition to get this adapted into a tv series because I NEED IT!
p.p.s. the ‘Make your own kind of music’ scene sent me absolutely feral, you have no idea!
[ massive thank you to Tiny Ghost Press for sending me an eARC of this one! ]
I don’t even know where to start with this review. first of all, have you seen this cover! I MEAN- STUNNING!
Wicked Little Things follows Dane, a witch, who returns to his hometown with his mum after the murder of his cousin Grant. There he meets a coven of witches who call themselves the reds, E.J the cute coffee shop boy, and a raccoon named Aloysius. Together they search for the rabbit faced serial killer, to find out what happened to Grant and to put a stop to the murders once and for all.
This book manages to be full of comedy whilst still being creepy as heck at the same time. This was actually one of my favourite things about it. It was giving major AHS Coven/Half Bad vibes and i absolutely loved it!
If you’re looking for a spooky, queer read with witches, werewolves and wicked things, then i highly, highly recommend this book!
p.s. petition to get this adapted into a tv series because I NEED IT!
p.p.s. the ‘Make your own kind of music’ scene sent me absolutely feral, you have no idea!
[ massive thank you to Tiny Ghost Press for sending me an eARC of this one! ]
August 30, 2023
oughh i liked it it was funny and silly it just moved really fast i think? so it was a little hard to process everything that was happening i did really like it though and i liked that it was set in fall smiles just ueeuueeueueu the plot twists were crazyyy!!!!
December 1, 2022
I'm feeling so satisfied, so represented, so happy that this book came into existence on this world while I'm alive. It is a literary hug for a self identified weirdo, and an ode to being strange, and messy, to the feeling of constantly trying to find one self and flailing while doing it.
The prose is fast-paced, rich and unique. It is "movie-esque" in a way that brings out images, visuals and movement of what is going on, and it is well polished. Justin Arnold does look like he knows what he is doing, and boy he delivers. The character building and world building is on point - he doesn't go deep into details and lengthy explanations of backgrounds and rules and things like that, but he writes everything in such a way that it feels like there's a whole wide mysterious supernatural world out there and it functions in its own way, even though we're not privy to every aspect of it.
His take on magic is also on point. He doesn't overly simplify it, but doesn't burden itself with over-explaining the inner workings and rules. The limitations and boundaries of witchcraft seem tied to characters' emotional and mental states in a way that it all clicks together. I found it very clever and masterful in the way it was handled.
There's also the thing about his take on the idea of the relationship of the outcasts versus the "ones that fit in". It is a common trope on YA that we follow the weird, awkward main character (with which the majority of weird, awkward, queer readers will identify). But they are paired with this popular, perfect, well adjusted romantic interest and/or friends, and despite their own perfectness they have just the right amount of pain or vulnerability to make them relatable, or even dreamy. This trope, the relationship between the weirdo and their popular counterpart gets us all the feels of being seen by that one unattainable crush and/or friends that we once wanted to belong with. BUT NOT HERE, NO. The popular one is laid out in all of its complex, broken toxicity (specially here, there's a take on the mask of toxic masculinity that's just *cheffs kiss*). And the cool kids are actually the weird kids and it's just beautiful that suddenly it is the weirdos supporting the weirdos, and that's kind of the magic of the coven thing.
But all of that is just the subtext that can be extracted while we have fun with a murder mystery, and the mystery of what happened on Dane's past that drove him here. And there's some well deserved cutesy boy meets boy romance on the side that a queer boy like me longs for.
So I got a book that has a witch weirdo gay boy as the main character and it is proficiently written and I'm very satisfied.
Thank you, Mr. Arnold.
The prose is fast-paced, rich and unique. It is "movie-esque" in a way that brings out images, visuals and movement of what is going on, and it is well polished. Justin Arnold does look like he knows what he is doing, and boy he delivers. The character building and world building is on point - he doesn't go deep into details and lengthy explanations of backgrounds and rules and things like that, but he writes everything in such a way that it feels like there's a whole wide mysterious supernatural world out there and it functions in its own way, even though we're not privy to every aspect of it.
His take on magic is also on point. He doesn't overly simplify it, but doesn't burden itself with over-explaining the inner workings and rules. The limitations and boundaries of witchcraft seem tied to characters' emotional and mental states in a way that it all clicks together. I found it very clever and masterful in the way it was handled.
There's also the thing about his take on the idea of the relationship of the outcasts versus the "ones that fit in". It is a common trope on YA that we follow the weird, awkward main character (with which the majority of weird, awkward, queer readers will identify). But they are paired with this popular, perfect, well adjusted romantic interest and/or friends, and despite their own perfectness they have just the right amount of pain or vulnerability to make them relatable, or even dreamy. This trope, the relationship between the weirdo and their popular counterpart gets us all the feels of being seen by that one unattainable crush and/or friends that we once wanted to belong with. BUT NOT HERE, NO. The popular one is laid out in all of its complex, broken toxicity (specially here, there's a take on the mask of toxic masculinity that's just *cheffs kiss*). And the cool kids are actually the weird kids and it's just beautiful that suddenly it is the weirdos supporting the weirdos, and that's kind of the magic of the coven thing.
But all of that is just the subtext that can be extracted while we have fun with a murder mystery, and the mystery of what happened on Dane's past that drove him here. And there's some well deserved cutesy boy meets boy romance on the side that a queer boy like me longs for.
So I got a book that has a witch weirdo gay boy as the main character and it is proficiently written and I'm very satisfied.
Thank you, Mr. Arnold.
February 9, 2023
This book is--simply put--a vibe. Spooky, creepy, cozy autumnal vibes. It's the kind of book that you read every Halloween while curled up on the couch as Over the Garden Wall plays in the background.
I appreciated the exploration of complicated family dynamics as it intersected with grief. The way that Dane grapples with his feelings over losing Grant felt very real and raw for me in how he struggled to reconcile the loveliness of their childhood with Grant's wretched behavior in their teens. Through Dane and Grant, we also have a very interesting examination of good vs. evil--what makes us one way vs. the other? Is it our genetics, a predesigned fate, or our choices who make us who we are?
I LOVED EJ and Dane's dynamic. This can be at times an emotionally tough read but their scenes were so soothing and wholesome. They fall for each other pretty quickly, but it's believable because of how they confide in one another and how effective their communication is. Probably one of my fave romantic pairings in YA that I've read in a long time, honestly.
The dialogue is so punchy, and I found myself laughing out loud at the jokes or gasping in shock at the harsh burns the characters gave to one another. It has a great cast with interesting relationship dynamics.
WLT also pulls no punches with its horror and descriptive, gory scenes. Be prepared for a stomach churning scene or two... or for that melody that's repeated throughout the book. "Rabbit skins, rabbit skins, here to cleanse you of your skins." Mcscuse me? No thank you!
Spine-tingling and sincere, this is a spooky little book that will live rent free in the back of my mind for years to come.
I appreciated the exploration of complicated family dynamics as it intersected with grief. The way that Dane grapples with his feelings over losing Grant felt very real and raw for me in how he struggled to reconcile the loveliness of their childhood with Grant's wretched behavior in their teens. Through Dane and Grant, we also have a very interesting examination of good vs. evil--what makes us one way vs. the other? Is it our genetics, a predesigned fate, or our choices who make us who we are?
I LOVED EJ and Dane's dynamic. This can be at times an emotionally tough read but their scenes were so soothing and wholesome. They fall for each other pretty quickly, but it's believable because of how they confide in one another and how effective their communication is. Probably one of my fave romantic pairings in YA that I've read in a long time, honestly.
The dialogue is so punchy, and I found myself laughing out loud at the jokes or gasping in shock at the harsh burns the characters gave to one another. It has a great cast with interesting relationship dynamics.
WLT also pulls no punches with its horror and descriptive, gory scenes. Be prepared for a stomach churning scene or two... or for that melody that's repeated throughout the book. "Rabbit skins, rabbit skins, here to cleanse you of your skins." Mcscuse me? No thank you!
Spine-tingling and sincere, this is a spooky little book that will live rent free in the back of my mind for years to come.
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