Review: Where The Shadows Hide by Amy Clarkin

 

Publisher: O'Brien Press
Publication Date: October 2025
Source: Borrowed From Library
Series: PSI #3

Blurb: The chill intensified, and Archer opened his eyes to see the candles extinguish one by one …

PSI – Paranormal Surveyance Ireland – are in deep water. When the operators of a luxury cruise ship ask for their help with a series of unexplainable events, Raven and the team are hopeful that this case, for once, won’t endanger their lives.
As they try to blend in with the wealthy passengers, it quickly becomes clear to Davis, Fionn and the others that there is more lurking in the shadows than they've realised. With the eerie encounters escalating and rising tensions threatening to tear the team apart, time is running out for PSI. Can they save the ship – and themselves – before it’s too late?

If you have not read the previous 2 books in the Paranormal Surveyance Ireland (PSI) trilogy - WHY NOT?! But please also be aware that, since this is the final book in the series, this review will contain spoilers for the previous two books, What Walks These Halls & Who Watches This Place, as well as for this final book. You have been warned ... 

This series is up there with one of the best Irish young adult series I have ever read. The trilogy centers on a paranormal ghost hunting team set in Dublin, made up of twin siblings Archer (golden retriever) and Raven (black cat). These siblings along with their other members of their team - Fionn the tech guy, Davis the practical one and Eabha the clairvoyant - they take on requests from people who may have a little "ghost problem". 

Review: The Coldest Girl In Coldtown by Holly Black

Publication Date: September 2013
Publisher: Little Brown Books
Source: Borrowed from library

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Blurb: 
Tana lives in a world where walled cities called Coldtowns exist. In them, quarantined monsters and humans mingle in a decadently bloody mix of predator and prey. The only problem is, once you pass through Coldtown's gates, you can never leave.

One morning, after a perfectly ordinary party, Tana wakes up surrounded by corpses. The only other survivors of this massacre are her exasperatingly endearing ex-boyfriend, infected and on the edge, and a mysterious boy burdened with a terrible secret. Shaken and determined, Tana enters a race against the clock to save the three of them the only way she knows how: by going straight to the wicked, opulent heart of Coldtown itself.

So I know y'all gonna hate me, but I've never read a Holly Black book before this one! I know, I know... I picked this book up from my library because I've heard a lot of hype around holly Blacks books and thought this would be a great spooky read for October. 

So this book takes place in a world where vampirism is a disease that had spread throughout some places in the world. The infected people and vampires are quarantined into "Coldtowns" where they are cut off from society. These coldtowns are broadcast on TV 24/7 as a reality TV show for the population. The novel kicks up a gear when Tana, our main character, has to enter a Coldtown. 

Review: The Invasion by Peadar O'Guilin

Publisher: David Fickling Books
Publication Date: March 2018
Source: Purchased
Series: Greylands Book 2 (Book 1 Review)

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Blurb: 
After so much danger, Nessa and Anto can finally dream of a happy life. But the terrible attack on their school has created a witch-hunt for traitors -- boys and girls who survived the Call only by making deals with the enemy. To the authorities, Nessa's guilt is obvious. Her punishment is to be sent back to the nightmare of the Grey Land for the rest of her life. The Sídhe are waiting, and they have a very special fate planned for her.

Meanwhile, with the help of a real traitor, the enemy come pouring into Ireland at the head of a terrifying army. Every human they capture becomes a weapon. Anto and the last students of his old school must find a way to strike a blow at the invaders before they lose their lives, or even worse, their minds. But with every moment Anto is confronted with more evidence of Nessa's guilt.

For Nessa, the thought of seeing Anto again is the only thing keeping her alive. But if she escapes, and if she can find him, surely he is duty-bound to kill her... 

 So if you haven't read the first book in this series, The Call, you should stop reading this blog post right now and go read it - then come back!

This series takes place in an Ireland unlike the Ireland we know now. After a civil war between the Irish population and fae-like creatures called the Sidhe, Ireland has now been cut off from the rest of the world. After losing the war, the Sidhe now punish the population by "calling" teenagers to their banished land, the Greylands, where they revel in torturing them. 

This series is absolutely breathtaking. For a series that is only 2 books long, it packs a punch that would take other series 6-10 books! The characters are completely three dimensional, the writing style is gripping with a masterfully told story. Heart-pounding action and expertly told horror. Perfect reading for Halloween. 

5 Scary YA Books Perfect For Halloween Reading

Hi guys! It's that time of year again, the weather gets cooler, the leaves begin to change colour and the spookiness is ramped up.

So why not embrace all things Halloween this October by reading some creepy and scary books that I recommend....

If you have any spooky YA books that you think I would  enjoy, please leave a comment below and I will definitely add them to my Goodreads TBR! Click the book covers to read my full review on each title...let's get the spooky recommendations started



Series: First book in a duology
[ Book Depository ]  

Why this book is spooky and perfect for Halloween;

This book was absolutely terrifying, like almost sleeping with the light on scary! 
The book centres around an alternative Ireland where children are sent to a school / military academy to prepare themselves for the day when they are kidnapped by evil fae creatures and tortured beyond comparison. 

The writing style is extremely captivating, the main character Nessa is just so badass and powerful. The gruesome and haunting descriptions of the horrors of this novel are terrifying. Definitely a perfect novel for Halloween. 

Review: The Call by Peadar O' Guilin

Release Date: September 2016
Publisher: David Fickling Books
Source: Purchased

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Blurb :

3 minutes and 4 seconds. The length of time every teenager is 'Called', from the moment they vanish to the moment they reappear. 9 out of 10 children return dead. Even the survivors are changed. The nation must survive. 

Nessa, Megan and Anto are at a training school - to give them some chance to fight back. Their enemy is brutal and unforgiving. But Nessa is determined to come back alive. Determined to prove that her polio-twisted legs won't get her killed. But her enemies don't just live in the Grey Land. There are people closer to home who will go to any length to see her, and the nation, fail...

 I first heard about this book at the Dept Con book convention and immediately rushed out to buy it! 


I kinda went into this book without knowing anything about it or hearing anyone else talk about the plot and honestly I think that could possibly be the best way to go into the novel. 

The novel centers around a future Ireland where fairy folk known as Sidhe were banished from Ireland to another realm. As revenge for being evicted from their homeland, the Sidhe take children out of Ireland to their world for 3 minutes and torture them before sending them back. Kids and teenagers are now sent to military style combat schools where they learn to train and prepare for their call one day so that they might survive the horrors that the Sidhe have planned for them. 

Review: The Fallen Children by David Owen

Publication Date: 4th May 2017
Publisher:  Atom Books
Source: Review copy

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Blurb: Young people on the Midwich Estate don't have much hope for their futures. Keisha has lived there her whole life, and has been working hard to escape it; others have just accepted their lot.

But change is coming...

One night everyone inside Midwich Tower falls mysteriously unconscious in one inexplicable 'Nightout'. No one can explain what happened during those lost hours, but soon afterwards Keisha and three other girls find they're pregnant - and the babies are growing at an alarming rate.

As the news spreads around the tower its residents turn against them and the situation spirals toward violence. Keisha's life unravels as she realises that the pregnancy may not have just ruined her hopes for the future: she might be mother to the end of the world.

 Big thank you to Atom Books for sending me a copy of this novel in exchange for my full and honest review.

This book was such a pleasant surprise for me. The book is based on The Midwich Cuckoos by John  Wyndham. I've not read TMC but this YA retelling of it was so creepy and utterly captivating. Also there are 360 different covers of this novel, all in different colours and colour combinations which I think is such a cool idea!

After being in a little bit of a reading slump for a while, I was looking for a book that would completely suck me in and make me want to read again. This was the perfect book. 

The novel focuses around Keisha, Maida, Olivia and Siobhan who, following a mysterious night where all residents of their apartment block fall unconscious for a few hours, discover they have become pregnant. As the girls begin to realise that this is no ordinary pregnancy and search for answers, the more sinister and creepy the novel becomes. 

Review: Nightfall by Jake Halpern & Peter Kujawinski

Publisher:  Hot Key Books
Publication Date: May 1st 2016
Source: Review copy

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Blurb: 
Night is coming.

On Marin’s island, sunrise doesn’t come every twenty-four hours--it comes every twenty-eight years. Each sunset, the townspeople sail to the south, where they wait out the long Night. None of the adults will tell Marin, Kana, or their friend Line exactly what happens when they leave the island, but when the three are accidentally left behind in the gathering dusk, they learn the truth: at Night, their town belongs to others, and those others want them gone.

Fleeing through the now-alien landscape that used to be their home, the three confront shocking transformations and uncomfortable truths about themselves.  They are challenged to trust one another or perish. Marin, Kana, and Line must find their way off the island . . . before the Night finds them.

 Thank you to Hot Key Books for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. 

I had not heard anything about this novel before receiving it for review but once I'd read the blurb I was instantly interested in the concept. 

On this mysterious Island, twins Marin & Kana have lived their whole lives in the sun, until now when the 14 year cycle of night begins. With everyone set to evacuate the island, Marin & Kana end up left behind while searching for their lost friend Line. Then the night brings all sorts of problems and terrors their way. 

I was surprised by this novel. After a pretty slow start, the novel began to pick up pace and suck me in. I became really interested in the mystery of the island, why the cycle of 14 years happens and invested in finding out what happens to the characters. The plot was interesting, well written although a little slow in places. There was one or two incredible twists in the novel that I did not see coming at all which I really enjoyed as usually I can guess whats going to happen. 

Review: Monster by C.J Skuse

 Publication Date: September 24th 2015
Publisher: Mira Ink 
Source: Review copy

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Blurb: 

At sixteen Nash thought that the fight to become Head Girl of prestigious boarding school Bathory would be the biggest battle she’d face. Until her brother’s disappearance leads to Nash being trapped at the school over Christmas with Bathory’s assorted misfits. As a blizzard rages outside, strange things are afoot in the school’s hallways, and legends of the mysterious Beast of Bathory – a big cat rumoured to room the moors outside the school – run wild. Yet when the girls’ Matron goes missing it’s clear that something altogether darker is to blame – and that they’ll have to stick together if they hope to survive.

 A huge thank you to Mira Ink for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for a full and honest review. 

Monster is an intriguing novel which takes place in an all girls boarding school called Bathory . Bathory is a very typical idea of a boarding school, strict rules and uniform, but what I enjoyed most about the school setting was seeing how the girls in the story either accepted or rejected the idea of the strict school. 

Review: Under My Skin by James Dawson

Publication Date: 5 March 2015
Publisher: Hot Key Books
Source:  Received Copy For Review

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Blurb : 

Meet Molly Sue. Once she's under your skin there's no getting rid of her...

Seventeen-year-old Sally Feather is not exactly a rebel. Her super-conservative parents and her treatment at the hands of high school bullies means that Sally's about as shy and retiring as they come - but all that's about to change. Accidentally ending up in the seedier side of town one day, Sally finds herself mysteriously lured to an almost-hidden tattoo parlour - and once inside, Sally is quickly seduced by its charming owner, Rosita, and her talk of how having a secret tattoo can be as empowering as it is thrilling. Almost before she knows what she is doing, Sally selects sexy pin-up Molly Sue, and has her tattooed on her back - hoping that Molly Sue will inspire her to be as confident and popular as she is in her dreams.

But things quickly take a nightmareish turn. Almost immediately, Sally begins to hear voices in her head - or rather, one voice in particular: Molly Sue's. And she has no interest in staying quiet and being a good girl - in fact, she's mighty delighted to have a body to take charge of again. Sally slowly realises that she is unable to control Molly Sue... and before long she's going to find out the hard way what it truly means to have somebody 'under your skin'.

A HUGE thank you to Hot Key Books for sending me a review copy of this novel! This was my first James Dawson novel that I have read and I will definitely be reading some more of his novels very soon! 

Can I also comment on how beautiful the design of this novel is! From the beautiful cover with Molly Sue, to the tattoo drawings at the start of each chapter to the gorgeous pink sprayed edges of the book! Shout-out to the design team for amazing work on this novel. 

Book was the best balance of being relate-able and being wholly scary and creepy. The plot was so intriguing and gripping. I loved the idea of demonic possession as the result of a tattoo. I thought that the horror and scary aspects of this novel were so well written, especially one scene in particular that I think I will be seeing again in my nightmares! 

Review: Zom-B: City (#3) by Darren Shan

Series: #4 (Zom-B series)
|Published by: Simon & Schuster UK| Release date: March 14 2013| [Book Depository] [Goodreads] 

Plot: 
After escaping a secret military complex amid the zombie apocalypse, B roams the streets of a very changed London, dirty and dangerous and eerily quiet, except for the shuffling of the undead. 

Once again, B must find a way to survive against brain-eating zombies --and now also against those who have seized control of the city. With danger lurking around every corner and no one to trust, B must decide whether to join the creepy Mr. Dowling in exchange for his protection. 

When everyone around you is dead, where do you turn for help?

Book Trailer: 

Review: 



Zom-B: City is the third instalment in Darren Shan's Zom-B series. To see reviews on the other books in the series click for book 1 here and book 2 here. 

Review: Zom-B: Underground (#2) by Darren Shan

|Series: (#2) Zom-B | Release Date: January 17 2013| Publisher: Simon & Schuster |                 [Goodreads] [BookDepository] 

Blurb:
 Waking up in a military complex, months after zombies attacked school, B has no memory of the last few months. Life in the UK has turned tough since the outbreak, and B is woven into life- and battle- in the new military regime quickly.

 But as B learns more about the zombies held in the complex and the scientists keeping them captive, unease settles in. Why exactly was B saved? And is there anyone left in the world to trust?



Review: 

I devoured both Zom-B and Zom-B: Underground in less than a day each. When I finished Zom-B, I was so happy that I was able to go to my library and take out the next three  books in the series. I think I am planning on reading the series back to back, one novel after the other. The books are so action paced and relatively short that I hope I can finish them all in a matter of days. 


Zom-B: Underground kicks off with B in a whole new environment with a new bunch of characters. She is now a zombie, or revitalised as the new characters refer to it as, but she also is able to communicate and think independently. This novel throws a lot of obstacles B's way which she has to deal with. I think we definitely see her grow a little as a character as she stops trying to put up a front to impress people and tries her best to be less racist and bullying.