Growing up I always loved scary stories and darker fairy tales. This book brings in elements of the Grimms’ style of fairy tale and ends up being a suspenseful thriller that will have you questioning whether or not the main character is actually crazy or sane until the very end. I definitely recommend “Little Darlings” by Melanie Golding. I can’t believe this is her first novel and I look forward to anything she may write in the future.

This was a very intriguing story. When a mother goes into the hospital to give birth to her twins strange things start happening. Though no one believes anything she is saying and they end up putting her in a mental hospital she never gives up the fact that she knows there is something wrong with her babies. This book really had me on the edge of my seat a few times. The writing is fantastic and I loved every minute of this story.

What a wonderfully creepy book! I can remember when my children were newborns and being exhausted by being a new mother and having a new baby. The fear of anything small happening when I was sleeping or when I wasn't with them. This book definitely resonated with me and I connected with the main character on that level. It had me flying through chapters and wondering if the main character was having mental health issues or if this was really happening to her. VERY reminiscent of a Grimm's fairytale..(which are some of my fave fairytales). I would definitely recommend this book!

A far greater book than I had imagined, Little Darlings, takes us on a modern-day "Grimm" fairy tale. Lauren has just given birth to her twin boys and is immediately haunted by a treacherous demon that wants to kidnap her twin boys. Fully empathizing with the main character, I can wholeheartedly remember the daze of the first few months with all three of my kids. The lack of sleep, questioning your awareness and then add horror into the mix and that would definitely make you feel and appear to be crazy to everyone around you.

Characters are well developed and support their roles and each other through out the story. I didn't much care for the supporting character of Amy, the journalist, but I suppose you can't like them all. She was flamboyant, overly flirtatious, and just an annoying woman over all. The husband makes me very angry with his treatment of his wife through the first few months of their babies being born. All he wants is his own personal time and this too I know exists because I experienced something very similar as well! haha

All in all this was an excellent read and I cannot wait to tell everyone how much they'll enjoy it as well!

I’ve been a fan of Grimm Fairytales since my birth. My mom used to read stories to me and when I was able to read, I’d gladly pick up a copy of Grimm and read for myself. Although Grimm Fairytales were horrifyingly gruesome stories, there was always a lesson to be learned, and Little Darlings definitely demonstrated that well.

Lauren and Patrick Tranter were pregnant with twins. Morgan and Riley were born just mere minutes apart. Giving birth is hard enough, but it was double for poor Lauren. To say she was exhausted was truly an understatement. She fell in love with her boys from the moment they were introduced to her. She never knew there was a love you could feel so strongly until her sons were born.

One night while lying comfortably with her twins under each arm, an intruder found her way into the maternity ward and threatened to take Lauren’s twins from her. What in the world is going on here? How did this woman get into her room? Where was hospital security? Why did this woman wrap her grimy hands around her wrist and try to get Lauren to listen to what she had to say? She’d gladly take Morgan and Riley off her hands and swap them for her twin boys. What planet was this woman from? Why would Lauren give up her sons to this horrible woman. Somehow, Lauren managed to get away from the woman and lock herself in the bathroom. She called the police and needless to say, the hospital was up in arms trying to figure out how this woman got into Mrs. Tranter’s room.

Eventually, Patrick came to take Lauren and his boys home. Lauren was so tired. She needed to sleep, but that wasn’t to come right away. She had two small babies that needed her. Every time she wanted to rest, the twins began crying and she started breastfeeding. At this time, the police investigation chocked up the fiasco at the hospital as a figment of Lauren’s imagination, or was it? The CCTV certainly captured something on video, so why is it Lauren knew something happened, but not one person believed her—that is, until she met the detective that originally answered her first call at the hospital.

Something happened at the hospital alright, but what? Lauren was placed in a mental facility to help her get better, and the better Lauren was supposed to get, the stranger the story got.

This was one of the most sick and twisted stories I’ve read in quite a long time. I gobbled this story up like a Thanksgiving meal. I couldn’t get enough! How much did I love this story you ask? I sacrificed my work sleep to finish it. There was so much excitement and mystery, I just had to find out what the hell was going on? And that, folks, is where things went south for me. Shocking, eh, you might say? Yes, the ending left me asking more questions and didn’t satisfy all the buildup of the story. How can a book be this damn good and then leave me hanging in the end?

Sadly, this book brought back a bad bitter taste of a story I read a few years ago called Gone Girl. I read that book in two days, only to get to the end and I literally threw my Kindle across the room. I was close to doing that with this book. I mulled over this story through the night to the point I couldn’t sleep because I had no idea how I should feel about this story? So, I went with my gut. The frustration I felt last night was still lingering early this morning, so what I’m writing now, is how I still feel. Outstanding book with a sort of let-down ending. Umm, I was not happy at all. Anyhoo, I reread the last six pages to make absolutely sure I didn’t miss anything in my hunger for reading last night, and um, nope, I missed nothing!

Ok, so, this is a damn good book, readers, that you could potentially read in a day or two and gobble up the words, and then the last six pages may leave you scratching one’s head. Hmm?

“She hadn’t loved them immediately, but she loved them after a spell. It seeped into her. Slowly. Like the love was something she’d been sipping at. Intoxicating. Accumulating. Snowballing. Slowly, quietly but unstoppably until she was quite drunk with it, and it was all she did. She loved them, it was her calling. Every instant was devoted to it, every thought, every action, every reaction. All her plans, all her dreams were about them, through them, for them, because of them, because of this love, that had not been there immediately but came upon her slowly, inexorably, irreversibly. That was why it was such a shock when it disappeared, the love: just like that, click your fingers, gone. She’d looked at those creatures in the stroller and the love was not there, not for them. It existed in her as a painful yearning, a missing part, reaching out to her real babies, wherever they were now, wherever that revolting woman had taken them. Under the water, somewhere. It didn’t matter, she’d find them. Because she was their mother, and that was her job.”

........

Psychotic break? Postpartum? Grimm fairy tale? Real life?!

Lauren gives birth to twins and while in the maternity ward has a traumatic experience when a woman tries to abduct her babies. But, was the woman real or is something else going on?

I was on the edge of my seat this whole book and kept myself up at night thinking of Lauren, the babies, the woman from the river...

Though aspects of the story line could be considered “played out” lately - i.e., the tireless police investigator going above and beyond the call of duty following a hunch that could cost her job and the dogged reporter stopping at nothing to get the latest scoop - it actually felt fresh and exciting and overall thrilling (with a bit of terror!). I loved the horror theme, ties to old Grimm’s fairy tales, and the quotes from old literature which really added to the storyline.

Unfortunately, I found the majority of the characters forgettable and wish there had been better character development. I also would have liked the history of the town to be woven in much sooner so as to provide more of a backdrop and build the suspense.

Overall I absolutely loved this book and absolutely recommend it for anyone seeking a new thriller!!

Love that cover! This book is written from the perspective of Lauren Tranter, who has just given birth to twin boys and a creepy visit at the hospital from a strange woman wanting to trade her strange babies with Lauren. Only problem is: no one believes her and thinks she imagined it all due to exhaustion. Then you have the perspective of Detective Harper, who just feels that something isn’t right. This book started out great with just the right sort of creepy element, but then I feel like I got bogged down by all the descriptions. Same with the detective side of the story, I felt bored with some things I felt unimportant to the story. But,oh man! At a little over the halfway mark, I was hooked and the story became more of a page turner with all the little creepy facts that come to light and Lauren taking a stand for what she knew to be true. An enjoyable read overall.

3.5 stars I enjoyed the darkness of this book, some sections in the beginning were really drawn out. I am also wondering why every female detective in books turns out to favour women? It’s getting a bit cliche. I would have liked to see the ending a bit more complete and wrapped up with Patrick.

The storyline is unique and very well written. There are some paranormal aspects to the story which I particularly don't enjoy, however it wasn't as creepy or terrifying as the genre suggests. Though it grabbed my attention from the start and was a page-turning read, what disappointed me was the way it ended. I believe the ending leaves the reader confused and wanting to know more about what happens next.
However, overall it was a good read and I would recommend it to people who like dark folklore and fairy tales.
3 stars from my side!

Thank you, Net Galley and the Publisher for my free advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Little Darlings by Melanie Golding was a fantastic read that was hard to put down. The cross over between real world and fantasy/myth was well done and kept you entertained throughout. I was not a fan of the ending of the book, but that did not ruin the rest for me.

This is a book that is for everyone, even those who don't think they like the fantasy genre. I will definitely read Ms. Golding's subsequent works.

It is very hard to believe that Little Darlings is Melanie Goldings debut novel. She seems like a veteran, writing quite realistically, blending and blurring the lines between a nasty folklore tale and a new mother's fears and doubts in such a way, that the reader isn't quite sure what to believe!

Laura Tranter has just given birth to identical twin boys. Overwhelmed by the hardship of labor, the physical after-effects of giving birth, and the unending demands of her new sons, it takes a while for her maternal instincts to kick in. Her husband, Patrick, and maternity nurses are a bit concerned. That concern ramps up when Laura places a 999 call to the police while locked in the bathroom of her hospital room saying a woman is trying to steal her children and exchange them for her own twin boys.

DS Joanna Harper responds to the call, even though it has been marked as "handled". With a past that makes her sympathetic to new mothers, the young detective finds that she believes the woman, and much to her superiors’ chagrin, investigates the case even after being told to consider it closed.

When Laura goes home with the boys, she is extremely fearful and won’t leave the house. She insists time and again, that a horrible woman is trying to take her children. Her husband and doctors are sure that she is suffering from post-partum psychosis. But is she? Detective Harper, called by Laura, finds evidence that someone has recently been where Laura told Patrick the woman was looking through their windows. And odd things are happening around Laura and the babies. Is she telling the truth, or is she mentally unstable?

Ms. Golding offers readers a fascinating, though disturbing read, filled with richly described characters. Kudos to her on a more than fine first effort! I look forward to reading more from her!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for allowing me to read an ARC of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Really liked this book! It was thoroughly creepy and addicting. The folklore aspect was really interesting and makes me want to read more about changelings. I usually like books that have endings wrapped in a bow but I like that this was left unresolved. I’ll be thinking about this for a while.

“Give me one of yours. I’ll take care of it. You have one of mine, treat it like your own.”

A lingering and disturbing dream haunts new mother Lauren Tranter’s thoughts. Coincidentally, while still in the hospital with her new twin boys, an evil and ugly woman threatens to swap the boys with her own twins, though terrified Lauren cannot find anyone at the hospital to corroborate her story.

When Detective Jo Harper shows up for work the day after the incident, she reads Lauren’s unsettling police report and is compelled to take the case since babies are involved. Will she find that Lauren is psychotic or is there something more sinister going on?

The story starts off as a slow burner and builds into a surreal and unnerving page-turner that had me questioning reality vs fantasy. The main characters Laura and Jo are well drawn by Golding, yet the character that most intrigued me was Lauren’s husband Patrick. His character’s behavior had an undercurrent that I couldn’t put my finger on. Supportive and encouraging at times, dismissive and cold at others; he just got to me.

Golding’s imaginative storytelling kept me completely engaged to the end.

*will post in additional online venues once published

It was hard to put down and very creepy. Thank you to the publisher for this ARC. I'll definitely recommend this book in the future.

Such a great read! I was intrigued by the synopsis and very excited to start this book. The author did a great job of bringing fairytale into a real world setting. Truly enjoyed this. Would absolutely recommend!

A psychologically disturbing and suspenseful, creepy modern folklore story, with a fairy tale feel!

4.5.

Lauren Tranter gives birth to two healthy twin boys, Riley and Morgan. Her first night on the maternity ward, sore and exhausted from a tough labour, she hears, from the bed next door to hers. another new mother whispering to her own twin babies. The next morning a nurse informs Lauren that no one's sleeping there, and that hers are the only multiple births currently in the hospital. Night two, the sound of a horrible lullaby drifts through the dividing curtain, and getting up to investigate, Lauren finds an old woman, dressed in rags, a basket of what appears to be babies (although Lauren can't see them, can only hear them breathing and snuffling) at her feet. Before Lauren knows what's happening the woman tries to convince her to swap babies.

‘”I'll take yours and you can have mine. You'll never know the difference.”’

She then attempts to grab Riley and Morgan, but Lauren manages to escape, locking herself and her babies in the bathroom. But, when hospital security arrive on the scene, there's no sign of any intruder, and they don't believe her. Nor do the nurses, the police, not even her own husband.

Then, the woman follows her home...

Dark and absolutely thrilling, this story quickly captured my imagination and attention. Fairy tales, cartoons, Disney movies, and children's stories like Spike Milligan's, Bad Jelly the Witch teach us early on that the face of evil often belongs to an old women, and generally a little bit of that fear carries over into adulthood. So, I have to admit that the vile, hag-like, reeks of decay, dark magic casting, baby-stealing villain in this story scared the bejeezers out of me. And of course, I loved every minute of it. The folk tales, superstitions, and excerpts relating to changelings, twins, and babies, preceding chapters, upped the spooky ante.

Throughout the novel we're never quite sure whether Lauren has postpartum/postnatal depression combined with lack of sleep, or if her babies are really being threatened by a supernatural being, only visible to her, and the argument is strong for either.

Embracing and adjusting to new motherhood was a prominent theme. Lauren's strength, fragility and love for her children shone through the pages, and it was clear that she would go to any lengths to protect her twin boys from anything or anyone, and when she thought her children were stolen away, would sacrifice herself, and her freedom, at any cost to get them back.

For a debut novel, this one really impressed me, and I can't wait to read whatever Melanie Golding writes next.

I'd like to thank Netgalley, Crooked Lane Books, and Melanie Golding for the e-ARC.

Release Date: 30th April, 2019.

Actual Rating - 4.5

Melanie Golding's writing is brilliant. I had a hard time believing this was a debut. The vivid imagery and atmospheric setting that Golding conjures with her writing is truly masterful and I'd definitely pick up anything she writes.

“Come away, O human child
To the waters and the wild
With a faery hand in hand
For the world's more full of weeping than
You can understand.”

- From 'The Stolen Child' by W.B.Yeats


The story starts with the birth of Lauren's twins and in the hospital room, the author deftly shows us many things; the nature of her husband Patrick, Lauren's fear of labor, fear of being a new mother, as well as something much more sinister and it'll all just SO real. We the readers are right next to Lauren, feeling her pain, confusion and happiness and I think that was very important because Lauren's thoughts and feelings are what build the story hauntingly. The postpartum depression and anxiety is so brilliantly and chillingly written. I've read quite a few reviews by readers who have suffered PPD themselves and they've all said the PPD representation in this book is accurate and spot on. And it plays an important role in the feel of the story and really messes with our heads when it comes to the mystery.

“Was this love, this fear of them dying?”


Though the story is about Lauren and her twins, the author deftly and subtly weaves in the facets of motherhood, relationships, marriage and different kinds of heartbreak which only adds to the haunting atmospheric feel of the book. The eerie little poems from literature and folklore also add to the haunting atmosphere.

“Look at someone every day for long enough and you stop seeing what everyone else sees. You start to see what no one else sees, what is kept hidden from most people.”


The plot drew me in quickly. the idea of changelings in mythology and folklore has always intrigued me and in no time I was fully immersed into the story. The story also moves from the view of Harper, a cop who because of her own past with motherhood, takes it upon herself to help Lauren. When Lauren starts insisting her babies are not really her babies, Harper is torn between wanting to believe Lauren and wanting to be logical as a cop. I liked seeing glimpses of Harper's past and how it affected the case at hand. Harper and Lauren are brought together by a bond that is shaped by Harper's past and I wish it had been fleshed out more. The backstory was there but it failed to bring forth any strong emotion from me.

Throughout the book, Golding makes us doubt ourselves; is there really a sinister paranormal hand behind it all or is it all just in Lauren's mind. So as to not give any spoilers, I won't say more but I will say that different readers have interpreted the chain of events differently. The final pages are open for interpretation and it is upto the readers what they choose to believe. Despite what you might choose to believe as you turn that last page, you can't deny the brilliance that is Melanie Golding's power of storytelling.

Stories of changelings are always good for me. A changeling, a fairy child that had been left in place of a human child stolen by the fairies, plays upon my need for 'creepy' in books.

Little Darlings did not disappoint. While this is categorized under 'thrillers' this is more fiction with a little but of fantasy thrown in. Lauren is a new mother of twins. A rather traumatic birth has left her physically exhausted and her newborn twins needs have left her mentally exhausted. One night, during her hospital stay, Lauren encounters a strange woman who wants to trade her twins with Lauren's. Lauren is terrified by this woman, grabs her babies and retreats to the bathroom.

Joanna Harper is a detective with her own secrets. She comes across the notes on the 999 call from Lauren and immediately feels like something is there - that the decision to just write this off as a mental health episode is wrong.

What follows is a terrifying story of mental illness, of a woman who isn't being listened to - who is told that she is wrong. This is also the story of Joanna who knows that something is wrong and that Lauren should be listened to and believed.

This story does require you to step out of reality - to think about changelings, about fairies, about depression and stress. To believe that bad things can happen, that babies can be missing and replaced and speak in songs and whispers.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers and Melanie Golding for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This is something I would not have normally picked up. I do have to say it took me awhile to get into the book and I almost DNF but something kept nagging at me to go back to it and I’m glad I did. Little Darlings keeps you guessing all the way through the book. I’m still not sure if it was all in Lauren’s mind or if her husband set it up because he was having an affair. This is the kind of book that keeps you on your toes, hoping that it wasn’t the girlfriend messing with Lauren or if she had read the fairy tales before and her mind was compromised and the story became real to her and she had to protect her babies. Great job! ARC provided by publisher and Netgalley for a honest review.

I was really interested in this book as the story is quite scary. I like how Little Darlings is inspired by dark fairy tales. As I am fond onf psychological thrillers, this book was a perfect fit for me as the atmosphere is well implemented. A good read for sure if you like this type of thrillers.