There Ought to be Shadows

by Krissie Williams

Welcome to Moonstone, a town where nothing is what it seems.

Marilyn Maxwell is an accomplished woman in all areas. But what people don’t know is she has struggled with the demon of death since she was a child. After a personal crisis forces her to re-evaluate her life, she reluctantly decides to relocate back to her hometown of Moonstone, South Carolina. This decision sends her spiraling into a world full of conjure, celestial wonder, and the murky unknown.

An insidious force has crippled the town she once left behind, and she must rush against time to stop it. Guided by Great Grandmother, her beloved spirit from the other side, she embarks on the most difficult journey she has ever had to undertake. Marilyn uncovers Moonstone’s dark history—one that is filled with horror, deceit, and dread. In the end, she questions what is fantasy, what is reality, and who she really is.

Genres: Fantasy, Gothic

182 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 15, 2024

About the author

Krissie Williams is the author of several books. She earned her B.A. in History/Secondary Education from Providence College and M.A. in Learning and Thinking from The Graduate Institute. She is a high school history teacher and also is founder of Barnstable Ally Group, a local civil rights and social justice organization. She is also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

When she is not teaching or writing you can find her doing retail therapy, soaking up a historical tour (in which ghosts may or may not be involved), and traveling. She also spends as much time as she can with her merry band of misfit friends and laughing with her mom, dad, and sister. She lives on Cape Cod, MA with her mischievous black cat Luna.

Reviews

[Andrew Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book put me under the Spanish moss of the trees in South Carolina, where the soil is rich but also tainted by the blood of the southern sins of slavery and racism. Ghosts and spirits haunt its pages. Revenge and love are at odds and we, as readers, find ourselves at times rooting for both.

A favorite line: “Seeing dead people ain’t for the weak.”

[Katie O’Reilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this one! I LOVED the characters, especially Marilyn & her Great-Grandmother. The plot also had me gasping, and I loved how fast-paced and engaging it was. There were still some unanswered questions by the end, and I think Marilyn is pursuing the wrong guy, but am hoping there’s another book set in Moonstone, because I’ll definitely read it!

Great lil Southern gothic

[Charlene (pageandplace) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beware of Moonstone, it reflects what you want to see.
Thrust back to her hometown of Moonstone, South Carolina, Marilyn sets out on a journey amongst the shadows.

There are many types of shadows we may encounter in life and Marilyn is no stranger to darkness. With her beloved Great Grandmother, Marilyn navigates the lands of both the living and the dead to complete her journey and return some balance to Moonstone.🪦

Time is not on your side. The only moment when it’s on your side is in death.
The author has some great, thought provoking lines throughout the book!✍️

There are places (like Moonstone) and people that pull you in no matter how hard you try or far you go away. The pull can be extreme. The line about there not being enough shadows to hide the terrible truth from us and that pull are a perfect reminder to keep going. Don’t let the balance be tipped so far that the fear and misery of the masses wins. Climbing out is harder than climbing in, there may be struggle along the way but persevere and don’t give up on yourself; spread kindness to overcome The Awful Evils in life.💓

This was a beautifully written book about darkness and shadows. She incorporated history and Marilyn’s lineage to show the struggles throughout not only her lifetime but that of her family.

Thank you to the author, Krissie Williams, BookSirens, and publisher Quill and Crow Publishing House for the opportunity to read this book. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.


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[Katherine Shaw · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting southern gothic novella, and I personally found it to be a bit of a mixed bag. I loved the lore that was woven throughout, and really enjoyed getting to learn a mythology that was new to me. The other-worldly characters came to life on the page, and I especially liked Great-Grandmother. She was spicy but caring, and the bond between her and Marilyn was portrayed very well.

There were some really interesting familial relationships described throughout which felt very authentic, and I enjoyed exploring Marilyn’s connection to each character we met as the story progressed. I thought the shifting POVs worked very well, with the “villain”a scenes feeling particularly foreboding, which built up a good amount of tension as the story went on.

While I liked the story, I found the pacing to be a little jarring. It began at a slower pace, giving the reader time to feel the emotion at play and get invested in Marilyn and her story, but as the book went on it got faster and faster and started to feel rushed for me. Some big revelations take place that didn’t make the impact I thought they deserved, which is a shame. I wanted to feel Marilyn’s reactions and understand her motivations for her next actions better.

I assume this is going to be a series, as the book ends at what feels like the start of a new plot line. I would be interested to keep reading, so I could spend more time in Moonstone and delve deeper into the mythology of this world and its characters.

[Sabrina Voerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

There Ought to be Shadows takes on serious themes and challenges, with a Beetlejuice-esque look at the other side. It blends elements of real-human caused horror such as domestic abuse with ghosts from the other side, spirits, and lots of paranormal elements.

I will say, the opening chapter hits hard, it's tough to swallow and definitely sinks its teeth into you. Well done to Krissie Williams for capturing that. What she also captured very well is the difficult dynamic of family; the main character, Marilyn, has a complicated relationship with the people in her life. She's forced to keep herself at arm's length because she's been hurt. But who is she closest with? Her grandmother, who has passed into the spirit world, but likes to make an appearance.

Marilyn and her grandma are likeable characters, each with their own goals and determinations to push them through the difficulties they're facing as the dark forces in Moonstone claw their way to the forefront of the story.

Although it did feel like there was a lot more that needed to be explained, much more story to dive into, this felt like a start of a series. If that's the case, I'm looking forward to what more can be brought out of this unique look at ghosts, spirits, and what it means to be human.

I was given an ARC for an honest review.

[Christine HorrorReaderWeekend · Rating 4 out of 5]

My goodness. This opening chapter was one of the most tense and shocking I have ever read. Williams perfectly captures the desperation and depression in her telling of an assault in a bathtub. I do not want to say more because the last sentence of this chapter made me physically jolt with shock. It was an amazing reading experience.

Marilyn Maxwell returns home to the town of her birth after her divorce. But Moonstone is on the verge of violence as The Awful Evil has possessed a young man. Marilyn is counseled by the ghost of her Great Grandmother, who helps Marilyn access help in this spiritual realm and others, among the living and the dead. Williams tackles heavy, thought provoking themes of domestic violence, slavery, organized religion, generational trauma, modern dating, guilt, forgiveness, depression and hope.

Williams has built an entire mythology in the cursed town of Moonstone, South Carolina. I sincerely hope she revisits Moonstone and its history. There are entire novels waiting to be written about the Crooked Woods, the Renegades, the Fates, the sea people, and the Maxwell family history.

Rarely do I read a book where I am so aching for more. I am intrigued by Moonstone.

[Jan Matthews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rich evocative prose, interesting characters, and a compelling plot make for an unputdownable read in this southern gothic novella. The opening chapter had me shouting “Brilliant!”
When her marriage finally collapses for good, Marilyn returns to her family home in Moonstone, South Carolina, but it’s not easy. The legacy of generational trauma and the memory of more recent traumas haunt her. The spirit of her great-grandmother, however, is her guardian as Marilyn descends into the darkness and danger abiding in Moonstone.
Highly recommended gothic fantasy and looking forward to this author’s next novel.

Thank you Quill and Crow Publishing and BookSirens for a copy of this book to read and review.

[Kat M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Krissie K. Williams does a fantastic job in writing this book, it had that Gothic element that I was hoping for and enjoyed about the genre. I thought Moonstone was a unique place and was engaged with the characters. I was engaged with the history of Moonstone overall. The fantasy elements worked well together with the atmosphere and characters. I'm excited to read more from Krissie K. Williams.

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

[Jen Self · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW!! Absolutely my favorite read of the entire year so far! The author did such an excellent job developing such relatable characters, and the story is fast paced, but with so much heart! There are some excellent, thought provoking conversations on deep topics such as religion, society, love,hate, generational curses and trauma…..and breaking free of them. If I could give 500 stars, I would!!

* I received an advanced review copy for free, and am leaving my honest review voluntarily

[Jamie Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off, I love the way the author describes Great Grandmother, just the little details are so good. And she does an excellent job with tension, especially when it comes to the villain and his own past experiences. I was so, so worried about him even though I knew he was about to be doing something absolutely awful.

[Josette Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a really good insight into African American folklore. I learned many new cultural traditions as well as some stories I had never heard about. The main theme I felt was that the crossroads are important, the Fates are involved in many cultures and that all cultures fight evil in their own way.

[Nadine Bells · Rating 5 out of 5]

There Ought to be Shadows is short yet impactful. Starting out with a bang, this book compelled me from the very first page. It incorporates many of the qualities which make the Southern Gothic genre so beloved yet combined them with unexpected and new elements. Williams’ writing evoked a unique, creepy, and at times dreamlike atmosphere which fully immersed me into the story.

[Cakki · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 maybe…. I really wanted to like this book. I love southern gothic stories but this one was all over the place and hard to follow. I enjoyed the writing but the story lacked depth. The characters were flat and nondescript.

[Jade Black · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very unique book for me. Loved the cultural elements and the character writing is excellent! There are stylistic elements I don’t usually like that are done very well - skillful writing