💦

*Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an early copy of this book for review, all opinions are my own*

Trigger warnings: domestic abuse, violence, drugs, mention of rape, murder, and addictions.

I had no idea what this book was about but I had a feeling that I would like it, I'm glad that the feeling was correct.
I really liked this story, it is not at all conventional and surprises you on every page.
It has an air of mystery and magic that I loved, almost hallowed.
It is a super quick book to read because you get stuck in the story.
The author's writing brings an incredible atmosphere to the story and makes everything more magical.
The characters are good, but I think they could have been developed better and with more depth, but I liked them all but Nave (I hated every second she appeared in the story, too annoying).
I recommend this book if you like books with magical realism, lyrical writing, and a magical and mysterious atmosphere.

I was excited about this book. I love the 80s and its movies. I LOVE the lost boys and the craft so this one was a no brainer. That being said THIS BOOK WAS SO SLOW; I caught myself wanting to skim to get past things. That is never a good sign. I really wanted to love this but I just did not.

As some of the other reviewers pointed out there is a ton of pieces picked straight from the lost boys. Honestly, I think it wouldn’t have bothered me so much if it at least was as good as the lost boys. I wanted a love letter to 80s but I feel like if we had not been told the date we would not have been able to guess it was the 80s. I think for me what this is lacking that The lost boys is not is the humor and campiness you get in the best of the 80s movies. There was just zero humor here.

As for the craft being referenced, I agree with my fellow reviewers, I don’t see it. As others said more practical magic vibes.

All in all this is two stars for me. I’m sure this would be a good read for someone who is not familiar with film it was inspired by.

So.. this book felt chaotic..
There were so many things going on, and the book is very short, so it felt as if all the stories were done a bit half.
We had Mayhem and her mom escaping her abusive stepdad, her mom’s drug addiction, some kind of magic, some mystery, some stories surrounding her aunts adopted children, the relation between these adoptive children and Mayhem.. And the book is just over 200 pages long..
I think the author should have chosen between the magical town and the thing surrounding that or the abusive stepdad story. Having both things going on was too much. Both stories were interesting, but they did not feel complete.
I think this already explains most of my ratings.. Since all parts; plot, characters, magic system, felt underdeveloped, I didn’t really like most aspects..
The writing was okay, it read quite easily!
Tbh, I think I would have DNF’ed this book if it would have been longer..

Happy Book Birthday to Mayhem!

I have heard many people comparing this book to the movie Lost Boys. As a child of the 80’s I can say that there were a few similarities but not enough for you to guess the plot of this book.

I found this book to be quite engaging, a quick read and the world a bit eerie at times. The character growth that both Mayhem and her mother experience in this book was beautiful to me. If you are a fan of magical realism, I would suggest picking this one up. And that is all I will say so I don’t spoil any more of the story!

Trigger Warnings for rape, abuse, and drug use.

Big thank you to St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read and E-ARC of this book!

I have already posted my review to GoodReads.

I really wanted to like Mayhem, but the book just didn't quite work for me. The pacing was a bit too slow for my liking, and the story felt too contrived and played off of The Lost Boys film a bit exhaustively. In the end, I couldn't bring myself to finish the book, stopping around the 50% mark. I will not be reviewing this book on my blog, however, will share feedback on Goodreads.

oop I really didn't like this 🤭
I absolutely LOVED the first few chapters but then my enjoyment hit a plateau.. then started to plummet. I liked a lot of the writing style and the IDEA of this, but that was about it. this felt so messy and all over the place. there was little to no explanation of the fantastical elements - they drink water anddd? can teleport? can read people's thoughts? that's about all I got from it. I also found the characterization to be super weak and I wasn't really rooting for anyone.
I've also seen a lot of reviews that say this takes a little bit too much inspiration from The Lost Boys - I can't speak too much on that bc I haven't watched this movie in probably 10 years but even so, parts of the book were DEFINITELY reminding me a lot of the movie. so do with that what you will.
this had a lot of promise but just really did not end up working for me /:

The concept of this book was a 5/5 - and occasionally, the words on the page really made me think that this book was going to be a full 5 stars from me. But I kept waiting and waiting for more purpose, more umf to feel and I never did. To me this book ended up feeling quite flat to me. The plot felt quite messy to me as well. Things were not explained - which didn’t bother me much in the beginning because I actually quite liked the mysterious atmosphere of the setting. But when things suddenly started happening quickly and without explanation, I started to feel the books lack of substance. The romance in here was insta lovey, which again, would be fine except for the fact that there was zero chemistry between these characters. This felt so off compared to the beautiful descriptions of the town of Santa Maria. Additionally, Mayhem’s relationship with her mother Roxy was so interesting, it was the aspect of the novel I enjoyed the most. I was enamoured entering this story, but the second half of the novel was a real let down for the above mentioned reasons. The novel also wrapped up so fast and easy at the end… Man, I was really vibing with this book in the beginning, I just wish it was longer and more fleshed out, I think it could have been really great.

3.5 stars

This is kind of an odd review... apologies in advance. (Another case of it's not you, it's me.)

Writing: ★★★★
Plot: ★★★★
Pacing: ★★★
Enjoyment: ★★

Mayhem had all the ingredients to be a book that I'd enjoy: speculative magic, ocean vibes, female protagonist, witchy vibes, 1980s aesthetic. But it didn't mesh with me, and I'm still not exactly sure why.

Described as a YA feminist mash-up of The Lost Boys and The Craft, this book follows its main character, literally named Mayhem, and her mother, Roxy, as they deal with secrets, hidden magic, and the ties that bind in families.

It's witchy, it's 1987, and it's Santa Monica.

Mayhem and her mother are on the run from her abusive stepfather, Lyle, and its gotten so bad that Roxy decides to bite the bullet and take them home to the Braeburn house. Roxy used to be a Braeburn, but she's spent all of Mayhem's life trying to forget her roots.

Mayhem doesn't understand her mom's reluctance to go home, because her aunt and cousins are awesome. Being a Braeburn means belonging, accepting, and a home of her own. It's a dream come true.

Being a Braeburn also means that Mayhem has a legacy, and one that her mother literally tried to squash out of her—the Braeburn women are magical.

When Mayhem, her cousins, and the Braeburn legacy all intertwine for the first time....things are about to get intense in a major way. And there's also the disappearing girls. That too.

My thoughts:
As I said at the beginning, I think this novel wasn't for me. It was written well, the characters leapt off the page, and the plot seemed to mesh well with a lot of other readers, so I'm clearly not the core audience for this one—take my thoughts with that grain of salt.

It was just a case of the novel not fitting with my tastes of YA. I think I'll leave it with that to keep things spoiler-free.

If the description appeals to you, check this out!

Thank you the Wednesday Books for an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.

Disclaimer: I received an e-arc copy of this book from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: Mayhem

Author: Estelle Laure

Book Series: Standalone

Rating: 3.5/5

Recommended For...: Classic 80s fans, magic lovers

Publication Date: July 14, 2020

Publisher: Wednesday Books

Pages: 304

Recommended Age: 16+ (violence, kidnapping, drug abuse TW, domestic violence TW)

Synopsis: It's 1987 and unfortunately it's not all Madonna and cherry lip balm. Mayhem Brayburn has always known there was something off about her and her mother, Roxy. Maybe it has to do with Roxy's constant physical pain, or maybe with Mayhem's own irresistible pull to water. Either way, she knows they aren't like everyone else. But when May's stepfather finally goes too far, Roxy and Mayhem flee to Santa Maria, California, the coastal beach town that holds the answers to all of Mayhem's questions about who her mother is, her estranged family, and the mysteries of her own self. There she meets the kids who live with her aunt, and it opens the door to the magic that runs through the female lineage in her family, the very magic Mayhem is next in line to inherit and which will change her life for good. But when she gets wrapped up in the search for the man who has been kidnapping girls from the beach, her life takes another dangerous turn and she is forced to face the price of vigilante justice and to ask herself whether revenge is worth the cost.

Review: Overall this was a good book. The book had a great story line and the plot kept me intrigued until the end. The book also had very strong developed characters and world building.

However I did feel like maybe the author relied too much on her research material for this book. The book heavily relied on The Lost Boys and The Craft (never seen, so I'm just using what my husband pointed out and what I could read on Wikipedia). The book is also incredibly slow in the beginning with it picking up in the last 40% of it.

Verdict: It was good, just too slow in the beginning.

I am so happy to have the opportunity to be part of the blog tour for Mayhem by Estelle Laure. Thank you to the team at Wednesday Books, for sending me an e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

About The Author:

Estelle Laure, the author of This Raging Light and But Then I Came Back believes in love, magic, and the power of facing hard truths. She has a BA in Theatre Arts and an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts in Writing for Children and Young Adults, and she lives in Taos, New Mexico, with her family. Her work is translated widely around the world.

Synopsis:

It's 1987 and Mayhem Brayburn has always known something's off about her and her mum, Roxy. Roxy is in constant physical pain, and Mayhem has an irresistible pull to water. She knows they aren't like the other people.

When one day, Mayhem's stepfather goes one step too far, her and Roxy escape to Santa Maria, California, the beach town that holds the answers to all of Mayhem's questions about who her mother is. There, she meets the kids who live with her aunt, and she opens the door to the magic that runs through the female lineage of the Brayburn family. The very magic Mayhem is next in line to inherit and which will change her life for good.

But when she is on a mission to search for a man that has been kidnapping girls from the beach, her life takes another dangerous turn and she needs to pay the price of vigilante justice and to ask herself whether revenge is worth the cost.

My Thoughts:

Mayhem by Estelle Laure is one of a kind. Entwined with mystery, magic with family heritage and revenge, this book is full of emotions.

The beginning of the book, although powerful, is very slow. It took me a little while to get into it, but as soon as I was hooked, it stayed amazing.

Mayhem is an interesting character. She holds a lot of emotions inside of her, all from past experiences that have shaped her character. Sad to say that most of her experiences were not good, and she holds the burden for it all. I can imagine how hard it must be to write a character as complicated as Mayhem, and I think Estelle Laure did and amazing job doing it.

I loved the kids as well - each of them different in their own way, battling their own demons and living through their bad experiences in the past. Some of these characters drastically change over the course of the book, which was unbelievable to me.

The magic aspect of this book was interesting, and for me, original. I have seen many reviews mentioning that this might not be true, and it is a very similar story to The Lost Boys. Since I haven't watched The Lost Boys, I am unable to comment on this part. Personally, I really enjoyed the magic concept with the water, the dependency on it and the family heritage part too.

If you are searching for a YA fantasy thriller, with rich characters and mysterious adventures, I think you will definitely enjoy this book.

Trigger warnings: rape, assault, murder, drug addiction, magic addiction.

DNF

I started Mayhem with gusto, very excited. The writing was very good and instantly captivating. But I had to take into consideration the words of caution given in the beginning for sensitive topics.

MAYHEM really caught me by surprise. I didn’t know much about the book, but I saw the comp to WILDER GIRLS and The Lost Boys and felt like this would be up my alley.

It was very, very up my alley.

I personally feel like this book was more like the spiritual love child of FOUL IS FAIR, SAWKILL GIRLS, and PRACTICAL MAGIC, with a heavy seasoning of The Lost Boys. My one sentence description would be: competent angry girls get revenge and inherit mystical powers to help them do so.

For the first 50 pages or so, The Lost Boys influence is very strong. It made me a little worried that this was just going to be a pretty blatant retelling (although it was fun to see the Frog brothers pop in). Laure quickly adds her own spin to the tale that really made me so much more attached to the characters. In particular, I couldn’t help but be totally entranced by Neve. I got serious Fairuza-Balk-in-The-Craft vibes in the best possible way. I always love when powerful people become a little unhinged.

I also love when there are complicated inherited magic systems, which I think this book does really well. Especially as it explains more of the consequences of using the magic. My only critique is that I love a good training montage, and I wish we spent a little more time with Mayhem as she figured out her new abilities.

Overall, I thought this was a really nostalgic, satisfying, campy beach read, and I would definitely recommend picking up a copy.

*I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

I liked the idea behind this. Mystical town, mysterious women and magical water? Sounded awesome but in reality this book just flopped. It was slow going and too angsty for it to actually feel exciting. I did enjoy the setting, the cave and the weird house. Also Mayhem is a cool name so there's that. I just really expected more of this and was unfortunately disappointed.

When I saw that Mayhem by Estelle Laure was billed as a “supernatural feminist YA novel” I was immediately intrigued. It sounded like the type of book that I would love, and while the story was good, I ended up feeling like it would have made a better movie than a book (Gasp! I know!). In my defense, the author said they were inspired by the movie The Lost Boys (which I haven’t seen, so I can’t confirm or deny any similarities here).

Mayhem follows the story of Mayhem Brayburn, who moves with her mom, Roxy, back to their hometown of Santa Maria. They’re staying with family while fleeing from Mayhem’s abusive stepfather, and are trying to restart their lives. However, we quickly learn about the Brayburn family secrets, and see why Roxy left home in the first place.

There are numerous content warnings readers should be aware of for this book, including suicide, domestic violence, rape, and drug use.

While spending time with her adoptive cousins, Mayhem slowly learns about her family’s supernatural traditions and finds herself caught up in situations that her mom wanted to run far away from. Honestly, I don’t blame her, because some of the situations are incredibly scary and dangerous. I can’t say too much without giving the plot away, but I found myself wanting more from the story. It seemed like some details were left out, and I was frustrated with the lack of explanation.

Sometimes this works for me, especially with speculative fiction, but in this book it just felt off. At times the plot seemed to be a bit rushed, and I felt more confused than anything. However, it was still entertaining, and put a weird, eerie spin on the story. It’s not the type of thematic setting you’d expect from a book set in a beach town during the summer.

I really appreciated the themes included in this book. Discussing domestic abuse isn’t easy, but the author presented it in a very real, raw way. It’s not a fun or easy topic to include, but it was realistic, and showed the issues that that both Mayhem and her mom were struggling with.

If you’re looking for a quick, suspenseful read with a hint of magic, filled with family secrets and feminist themes, be sure to check out Mayhem.

Thank you to the publisher, St. Martin’s Press for an electronic copy of this book via NetGalley, and for including me in the blog tour. Mayhem comes out on July 14, 2020 and can be purchased wherever books are sold.

I liked the concept of this book but didn't love the execution. This is one of the books where everything is supposed to seem larger than life, and I don't usually enjoy the writing style in these types of books. There were many interesting characters, conflicts, and magic but I feel like a lot of it was lost in the writing.

Book Review
Title: Mayhem
Author: Estelle Laure
Genre: YA/Family/Occult
Rating: ****
Review: Mayhem has been on my radar for a while as the synopsis really caught by eye and when I got the chance to review it, I jumped at it. The opening letter of Mayhem introduces us to the Brayburn family as Roxy leaves with her daughter after what seems like the suicide of her partner, Lucas but there seems to be something also going on with someone named Elle, who might be Roxy’s sister. Roxy is taken Mayhem and leaving Santa Maria despite her family’s wish for her to stay close because she feels it is the best thing she can do for her daughter at that moment in time. The opening to Mayhem certainly was gripping and made me ask a lot of questions and I can’t wait to find out what the answers are as the novel progresses.
We jump forward to when Mayhem is older, most likely in here mid-teens as she and her mother flee from Mayhem’s abusive step-father, Lyle who has beaten her mother for years. However, Roxy is extremely on edge about returning to California even though the only member of her family still alive is her twin sister, Elle. We get some clues about something larger going on in the form of Roxy’s mysterious illness and Mayhem sharing the pull to water that her mother mentioned in the letter to her grandmother in the beginning of the novel. Elle and Roxy couldn’t be more different, Roxy is controlled while Elle is a free spirit and Mayhem is a bit uncomfortable as she is introduced to Elle’s foster children but she is glad to be away from Lyle. Mayhem is also very curious as Elle tells her she looks like her grandmother, combined with her mother’s stories of her children here she is eager to find the answers to the questions she has about her family and her father and instinctively knows that they are hidden in this house.
As we approach the ¼ mark in the novel, Mayhem is trying to learn more about herself and where she came from beside what her mother has told her but we also see a tension between Roxy and Elle. Obviously, something happened in their past, something that Roxy hasn’t never forgiven Elle for bur we don’t know what it is. As Mayhem settles into her new life alongside the other kids, Neve, Jason, and Kidd, she comes across a diary that might have been written by her great-great-grandmother; Julianna and might hold the key to what it really means to be a Brayburn and why her mother left in the first place. Mayhem is learning that there is something strange going on in Santa Maria as girls are going missing and that everyone treats her like royalty. However, through observing Elle’s children she realises that there is something more going on here but doesn’t get to ask question as she is taken to the police station with her mother to make a report again her step-father. The officer, Boner, is a friend from Roxy’s past and is the person who takes the report, upon returning home both Roxy and Mayhem are emotionally exhausted and Mayhem decides to continue reading Julianna’s journal. Here we learn of how Julianna feel in love with her eventual husband but before that she was raped and found herself pregnant. After the rape, she prayed for the destruction of the man that raped her and found herself with powers that she didn’t have before and she attributes it to witchcraft. This part of the journal does make sense and matches up with the strange things happening around Mayhem and why everyone looks at her strangely.
As we the cross the ¼ mark in the novel, things aren’t turning out how Mayhem imagined them. After making the report Roxy has retreated from her daughter which seems to be quite common leaving Mayhem alone as Elle works and the children basically ignore her for the majority of the time she has been there. By the time she manages to coax Roxy out of her shell again, she begins to form a bond with Kidd, who seems to have the ability to see into the past as she knows things about Mayhem that only she knows and Kidd also recognises that Mayhem is someone who has been abused and controlled for most of her life, like them before they came to Elle. She does hang out with the children on one occasion where they go to the beach but she later learns there is a reason behind Neve, Kidd and Jason being so distant and it all centres around the Brayburn family. I must admit that while not much has happened in the way of action or drama, Estelle Laure definitely knows how to write characters and relationship and these are some of the most believable relationships I have seen written in quite a long time. We finally get to see the mystery behind the Brayburn family starting to come together but I have a feeling that there is a lot more to be revealed. The children take Mayhem aside after promising Roxy that they won’t go near the beach as there are still girls going missing in the area. Neve gives Mayhem some mushrooms and explains that after she takes them they will be able to show her the truth that they have been a part of since they came into Elle’s family. Mayhem takes the mushrooms and begins to trip but she also begins to understand some of the things Neve has been saying that she didn’t understand before. Despite Jason’s protests, they decide to take Mayhem to their hideout which is an underwater cave, but the cave itself is dry.
As we approach the halfway mark in the novel, once they arrive at the cave, the children explains that the water there is magic and it will open her to the truth if she drinks it, however, Jason does tell her once she drinks she will crave it the same way they do and that this is her opportunity to turn back. Mayhem doesn’t as she agrees with Neve that people are keeping secrets from her and she wants to know the truth about who she is and drinks. While we don’t know what this means for her yet, we do know that Elle told her children not to bring Mayhem there and to let her find it on her own otherwise Roxy would freak out. However, it is hypocritical that Elle said this and yet the time they went to the beach, Mayhem also swam into it and Elle sent Jason to bring her back to the beach. In the aftermath of drinking the water, Mayhem is more open to the world around her but she doesn’t completely understand it yet but drinking the water also caused changes in her body. When she returns home, Elle pulls her aside and gives her a necklace containing a small amount of the water and she will wear it until a time when she doesn’t need it anymore. Elle explains that by drinking she is now a part of the Brayburn legacy like her and her mother but her mother has been trying to rid herself of her Brayburn blood by moving away and taking pills and Mayhem sees this for herself as her mother appears blurry around the edges, the dullness, Jason called it. For the first time we see Mayhem changes from a mild, meek girl to speaking the truth she has kept inside for so long and turning her back on her mother for hiding all the important things from her but Elle’s children are willing to teach her.
As we cross into the second half of the novel, Elle explains more about their family history and how the powers each Brayburn woman has is different using herself and Roxy as an example. She tells Mayhem that their job is dispatching the evil that finds it’s way into Santa Maria as they can find it easily in the dark, and their latest target is the Sand Snatcher, the kidnapper haunting the area. However, before Mayhem can help Neve and the others she needs to get tap into her abilities and be able to control them which is what Elle begins teaching her and unlike Neve, Jason, and Kidd, she is a natural because she is a true Brayburn. Her final task is to find the three children hiding somewhere on the farm and she finds Kidd and Neve easily, but Jason proves harder because of her feelings for him. We know that Brayburn women only have one true love and it seems only children from that pairing are considered true Brayburn children, Roxy, and Lucas as well as her grandparents were all true pairs, Elle is the exception as her true love is a woman named Melissa. I have a feeling that Jason is Mayhem’s true love which is why she feels so drawn to him and is even encouraged by Neve to pursue him even when they have their own thing going on. However, before she finds Jason and kisses him for the first time, she has a vision about the Sand Snatcher and learns that he is a lifeguard which is how he chooses the women he is going to take because he can watch them all day without being confronted as it is his job. It is clear from Elle’s reaction to Mayhem’s revelation that her ability hasn’t been seen in the Brayburn family since Julianna and her sight is obviously stronger and I was very eager to see where the story was going to go now.
As we approach the ¾ mark in the novel, Mayhem knows who the Sand Snatcher is even if Neve can’t get a read off him and they return the information to Elle who tells them that when night falls they will go after him and deal with him. Mayhem is worried about having to kill someone but Neve just tells her to follow her instincts and she will know what to do when the time comes and she does. She does it so well in fact, that Jason looks terrified of her and she is immediately hit with the reality of what she has just done despite the fact he kidnapped and killed all those girls. The relationship between Roxy and Mayhem is also dissolving as Mayhem enjoys being a Brayburn and feels powerful enough to threaten Lyle when he calls and knows she will deal with him the same way when he eventually comes for them. However, her mother wants to take her away again but there is no way in hell Mayhem is ever going to leave now, when she finally has everything she ever wanted and more. Roxy finally comes around to what Mayhem has been telling her and decides to detox but things are getting difficult as Neve is showing signs of the madness that affects people who aren’t a Brayburn but have drunk the water. Despite all attempts to get through to Neve, they aren’t working and I have a feeling that like Mayhem’s father she might kill herself or have to be killed in order to stop her. However, Elle does know of a few non-Brayburn people who have survived the detox from the water so they might be hope for Neve, Jason, and Kidd yet. Jason and Mayhem’s relationship is also developing as she confesses that he is her true love and they spend the night together which was a nice change of pace.
As we cross into the final section of the novel, the pieces of the puzzles are finally coming together as we learn the truth behind the Brayburn family and why they were chosen and why outsiders can’t be part of that. Mayhem uses her gifts to save her mother and herself from Lyle but she retains the pure heart she inherited from her father as she saves Neve, Kidd and Jason from the horrid fate that awaited them. Mayhem requires a lot of emotional investment as the first half of the novel is exposition as we are introduced to the characters and the Brayburn family and for me the final part of the novel just didn’t resolve everything in a satisfying manner for me. Overall, I would say it is well worth the read but the ending did require some work and as far as I am aware this is a standalone novel, so it just didn’t quite merit a five star rating for me.

I was not a fan of this book. The writing was difficult to follow and the story was incredibly boring. It seems as if absolutely nothing happens in the first 100 pages of the book. None of the characters seemed interesting whatsoever. Also, Some aspects of this book are really similar to The Lost Boys. I know it says it's suppose to be a retelling but there didn't seem to be any original material brought into the story.

REVIEW
Mayhem is a book about feminism, chronic pain, magic, crime and family. I highly enjoyed reading this book! It was fast-paced and had an unique magic system (and I’ve read a lot about magic!) . I loved all the references and I definetely felt the Lost Boys connection. It is a book that was written with so much understanding and own experiences, it truly felt special.

Q&A WITH THE AUTHOR
How were you inspired by the books: The Lost Boys and The Craft?

The Lost Boys was one of my favorite movies when I was young, and I think it epitomizes the energy of the 80s: bad boys, bad hair, no cell phones, and a certain level of danger. I also loved the setting. The movie was filmed in Santa Cruz, CA where I spent a lot of time as a kid growing up in the Bay Area, so I mined that for sure. I also loved the idea of a band of outlaw kids with a paranormal power, so I took that from the Lost Boys, too. The Craft just has all the sisterhood and complex girl relationships and girls trying to deal with their own power, so I tried to capture that feeling and essence. Also, one of my characters goes off the rails in the same way one of the girls does in The Craft. It was so much fun to pay homage to two of my favorites intentionally as I wrote.


What advice would you give aspiring authors?

I would say to read as much as you possibly can. Follow the award-winners and the NYT list and try to see what people are doing. Then find little treasures and people doing unique things. I would never suggest writing to the market because it’s ever-changing, but you have to demystify the industry and find inspiration wherever you can. I also think the most important thing as a writer is to take chances. Don’t stay safe. Don’t worry about perfection. Do your thing, express yourself, read, and practice. Learn the craft any way you can. And don’t give up (unless you want to, in which case you totally should).

What does diversity, as you feature a character with chronical pain, mean to you?

Specifically in terms of chronic pain, I have Fibromyalgia and am literally always dealing with a level of pain that almost feels debilitating. In this story I liked the idea of connecting pain to somehow living out of alignment with some aspect of life. One very frustrating thing about this type of chronic pain is that short of opioids no one can really do much about it. You can lower stress and eat certain things, but it’s really difficult to manage, so I suppose Roxy’s condition was my way of giving it all a reason and a purpose rather than being some random and inexplicable condition. I think in general it’s important to showcase a variety of experiences in writing without appropriating anyone else’s story or doing so thoughtlessly.

In terms of diversity when it comes to race, it gets much trickier. I don’t want to take stories away from others and so would never write a POV character outside of my own racial experience. I also feel it’s not reality to have full casts of only white people. That’s not the world around me and I want my books to feel rich and real. I think the more I examine my own blind spots and educate myself, the more I understand, and I’m committed to staying open in that process and to understanding my own limitations in that sphere. I am a work in progress and will continue to adjust.

When did you first realize you wanted to become a writer?

I was 34 when I started writing in earnest. I had fallen in love with it in my twenties but worked several jobs and was getting married and having babies and my focus was on other things. Then I had an idea for a book after my son was born and I wrote daily. That first idea turned out to be This Raging Light and it set my life on an entirely different path. I have never stopped since then.

What is something unique you do when you write?

Because of my chronic pain I write in bed most of the time, usually with headphones on but no music playing because I get distracted by the words in songs. Sometimes if I’m having trouble focusing I put on binaural beats. I try to make a cocoon for myself and not come out until I’ve made my word count for the day, so I’m not a café writer at all. I wish I was. Seems like a much less isolating way to write.

Rate: 4 out of 5 Stars

Recommend: Definitely

Review:

The Feline Familiars: Appreciate the cat, she was obviously star. Smart hooman. Also like the flying snakks in book.

The Bibliophile: *sigh* I swear, I have no control of them. Just let them believe Millie, the cat, was the star of this book and all the crows were there to be snacks. Anyway! Before I get any further, I should mention the Trigger Warnings in this book, which the author will have included at the beginning of the finished copies.

Trigger Warnings: This books mentions drug abuse, depicts drug use, physical abuse, sexual assault, and murder. While I personally did not find any of these things explicit or used too much, everyone should go into this book knowing these things are mentioned/depicted in the book.

What I Liked:

Okay, so this book was really interesting and I truly enjoyed it! The Brayburn women for generations have been protecting the citizens of Santa Maria, but to find out how you’ll have to read this book ;). I will tell you that there is magic, but not the kind you’re used to reading about in books. This magic reminded me more of sirens and vampires, but it worked and it was a great new concept.

I also really liked how this story was told, though there were a few times that I found myself confused due to formatting issues. This book takes place in the 1980’s, so be prepared for payphones and VHS tapes! But it’s also told in the form of journal entries from the Brayburn women of the past and Mayhem’s own flashbacks. Personally, I just really enjoyed getting to learn how the family came to be what they are from the women of the past, learning about what it means to be a Brayburn along with Mayhem, and also just how the story flowed.

I love how strong the message of family was in this story. Besides the story constantly reminding you that this family’s survival depends on the women passing on what they know of their magic and how it works, there’s also the family love between Mayhem and her mother, Elle and Roxy, and Elle with her foster children. A major theme in this story is how strong family is, how deep family bonds run, and how found family is just as important as blood.

There LGBTQ characters! Elle is a confirmed lesbian and I suspect one of the other main characters is pansexual, but that’s not confirmed. I just loved how this book, which takes place in the 80’s, included queer characters.

The Lost Boys references. I loved them! I mean, they might be something only a minority of readers pick up, but they were great and made me laugh.

What Didn’t Work For Me:

I didn’t like how the serial killer plot of the story wrapped up so quickly and cleanly. I get how part of the reason it was so easy is due to their powers, but it was kind of built up and seemed like it would be an epic discovery and then it just…wasn’t. I don’t know, I just hoped more would happen than actually did.

There wasn’t much action. I get this book focused a lot more on family and Mayhem’s story, but I wish there would’ve been more action and shocking twists. Personally, there were no points in this book that I was shocked. I like books that shock me and give me twists on top of twists.

The ending kind of petered out? Considering where the book was going, I was all pumped and prepared for an incredible ending, but instead I got one that was kind of just…happy? Which I know sounds weird, but this happy ending was kind of just a 180 from what was happening right before it. I don’t know, I just feel like this book didn’t pack the punches I wanted.

Final Thoughts:

I really did enjoy this book and thought it was a fun take on magic. I liked a lot more than I disliked and truly enjoyed the characters as a whole. Honestly, if there’s a sequel I will pick it up.

I highly recommend you guys go pick this book up and tell me what you think!

That’s all I’ve got for you this week my lovely bookworms! I hope you are all staying safe, wearing your masks, and enjoying some incredible books. Please tell me what you’re currently reading down below!

-The Bibliophile

The author dives you into the story right away, which at the beginning was a little overwhelming for me because I couldn’t quite grasp what was going on, but you slowly find your way into the story and get involved in everything that’s happening. We get to know Mayhem Brayburn, who’s a teenager that has had a rough life, with her father dying when she was very young and her mother Roxy stuck in an abusive relationship.

Mayhem was a very realistic character. The author did a good job at depicting what a girl that was raised in an abusive household might behave and what might go through the mind of someone in that situation. She constantly debates whether to face the abuser or hold back because of the fear that has paralyzed her and her mother all those years. Sadly, Roxy didn’t have as much of a development as I would’ve like. What I thought would be a story where we could see her improving and healing from the trauma turned out to be quite the opposite. I also couldn’t see her as a mother figure for Mayhem, as she was barely present in her daughter’s life.

The story has a slow pace, and it takes its sweet time building the characters and the plot. The story is set in 1987, and while I always love books set in the past, I think Mayhem could’ve used some more references to the year the story took place. Another thing also worth noticing is the family found kind of vibe in Mayhem’s friend circle, Neve, Kidd and the others show her the support she doesn’t get in her home. They fill her in the dangers of the beach town and make her a stronger person, which was really entertaining to read.

The book plays with different time periods, going back and forth between decades in small flashback chapters. They were great and kept the suspense as to why was important to know about Mayhem and Roxy’s ancestors. Time jumps are always a hit or miss for me but this time it was perfectly executed and necessary for the story.

Different kinds of abuse play an important part on Mayhem, and the author made a good job at making the feelings of the Brayburn girls very raw and real, transcending the page and getting to the readers’ hearts. I got emotionally invested with the characters and their struggles, and I feel many people that decide to pick up this book will get attached to them as well.