O is for One

I’m doing folklore and book review posts to reach and please a larger audience. Previous years have shown select interest in both and to minimise blogging throughout the year, I’m focusing my efforts on April.

Focusing on an A to Z of my TBR (to be read) list, each letter will have books starting with that letter on my list, a book I’ve read and reviewed (with the review!) and one of my books matching the letter with a link about more info about the book.

If you’d rather check out my folklore post for today, go here.

My TBR

About the Book I’ve Read

One of Us Knows by Alyssa Cole

From the critically acclaimed and New York Times bestselling author of When No One Is Watching comes a riveting thriller about the new caretaker of a historic estate who finds herself trapped on an island with a murderer—and the ghosts of her past.

Years after a breakdown and a diagnosis of dissociative identity disorder derailed her historical preservationist career, Kenetria Nash and her alters have been given a second chance they can’t refuse: a position as resident caretaker of a historic home. Having been dormant for years, Ken has no idea what led them to this isolated Hudson River island, but she’s determined not to ruin their opportunity.

Then a surprise visit from the home’s conservation trust just as a Nor’easter bears down on the island disrupts her newfound life, leaving Ken trapped with a group of possibly dangerous strangers—including the man who brought her life tumbling down years earlier. When he turns up dead, Ken is the prime suspect.

Caught in a web of secrets and in a race against time, Ken and her alters must band together to prove their innocence and discover the truth of Kavanaugh Island—and their own past—or they risk losing not only their future, but their life.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

A psychological thriller that leaves you guessing until the end.

I appreciated the content warning. With the way Ken’s inner world manifested, I actually braced for much worse than was revealed (though that’s enough trauma to make anyone splinter).

I found the DID aspect of the story quite intriguing. I liked that each of the alters (personalities) were distinct. The mystery of what happened to each missing alter added another layer of drama.

The scenery was beautifully described and made one feel like one was actually there. Which made the awful happenings on the island scary!

There’s an element of folkhorror woven throughout (goblins, traditions, Vikings, etc.) that added another layer of terror to the castle – the “real” one and the inner world one.

The story flowed, the various outer world characters were memorable, and the only one on the island I was really worried for was the dog. LOL.

The kind of thriller you can read again.

Trigger warnings: swearing, italics, obvious triggers in content warning (racism, sexism, ableism, etc.)

My Book

Once… Tales, Myths and Legends of Faerie

I hope you enjoyed this. For more books I’ve read and reviewed, check out either my Pinterest board about reviews or my Goodreads profile. Alternatively, you can check out my reviews on BookBub. Have you read any of the books? Loved or hated any of them?

You can now support my time in producing book review posts (buying books, reading, writing reviews and everything else involved) by buying me a coffee. This can be a once-off thing, or you can buy me coffee again in the future at your discretion.

*FYI, my reviews are my honest opinion and if something bothers me, I tell it straight. How else will anything change? My opinions are based on being a voracious reader and book buyer, not an attack on the author.*