This is a powerful feminist novel that is very similar to Summer of Salt and Sawkill Girls. I love Laure’s writing and the imagery it invokes is stunning. Make no mistake though, this book is violent and at times difficult to read.
This book is marketed as The Lost Boys meets The Craft and I definitely agree with that. I happened to grow up very close the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk (where The Lost Boys and I’m assuming this book, used as inspiration) and this whole book brought that place back to life for me. That background coupled with Laure’s magnetic writing made this whole story so vivid for me. I was captivated by The Craft angle, but I don’t want talk anymore about it, because I think it is best for the readers to find that out for themselves.

The characters were all damaged by pasts that they didn’t choose and I really felt for all of them. I think the way the book starts out helps to solidify the connection between our main character and reader because it is a heartbreaking life that Mayhem is living. Neve gave me very strong Nancy Down vibes (The Craft) and Kidd reminded me a little of Eleven from Stranger Things. I could go down the list and tell you who every character was in my head but the point is, that they were all distinct and fleshed out characters.

I received an e-arc from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Mayhem and Roxy Brayburn left their home in hopes to get away from Roxy's abusive husband, Lyle. They both return to Roxy's hometown and everything is the same as Roxy remembers although her sister adopted three children. Except there is a kidnapper taking young women. While adjusting to life in her mother's home town, Mayhem learns that things are not all that they seem and there is magic that runs through her family's blood. Mayhem takes to the magic like a fish in water and things quickly turn south for Mayhem and her aunt's adopted children.

I enjoyed reading Mayhem. It wasn't one of my favorite reads, but it was entertaining. I thought it was interesting how Estelle Laure approached the idea of magic being passed down through the family in water that the next daughter has to drink to gain the powers. The powers gained from drinking the cave water were different than how I have seen powers portrayed in other books. That was refreshing and made the story different than others. While this may not be a popular opinion, I found myself like Kidd and Jason a lot more than Mayhem, but only because Mayhem reminded me of the typical whiney teenager who doesn't want to listen to her mother.

I have another one of Estelle Laure's books on my TBR and look forward to reading it as I really enjoyed her writing style and world-building.

3.5 stars

i think i actually like surrealistic fantastical elements? which is news to me.

the atmosphere is wonderful, moody, uncanny. the characters are distinct and fun. complex relationships between sisters and between mother and daughter are always nice to read about. i loved the scenes on the boardwalk and the immediate bonding between mayhem, neve, jason, and kidd. i loved reading about mayhem experiencing the water for the first time. this book balanced themes of anger and resentment extremely well with a beach side atmosphere. i loved elle - she doesn't like cops AND her true love was a woman. i love what the author was trying to do - strong female relationships, a touch of magic, the '80s and summer nostalgia, a hint of murder.

also mayhem should've been gay

i've never read the lost boys so i can't compare the two. i haven't seen the craft in years, but it feels unfair to compare any piece of media about a group of girls and magic to the craft.

although it was not the main focus of the story at all, the romance between jason and mayhem felt forced. maybe i am just scared of men, but they had a weird power imbalance in my head (we don't definitively know mayhem's age until 92% of the way through, but we are aware that jason is almost 18 when he is first introduced) . ALSO they are going to be cousins, even if jason isn't adopted, kidd is. kidd is going to be first cousins with mayhem. i understand there's no blood relation, but like, was the romance aspect necessary? at all? i don't think so.

neve felt underdeveloped in the second half. actually, most of the characters change drastically in the second half. roxy suddenly starts speaking in paragraph long monologues, she suddenly is capable of standing up for herself against lyle, she suddenly doesn't want mayhem near her when there's trouble.

thank you to the publisher and netgalley for providing my review copy

---

some quotes:

At night, when I’m holding on to my mother because she’s trying to get away from you so she can have a few hours of peace, I think about ways you might die. I’d love to stab you, to pull your dreamy blue eyes from your head. I’d love to hear you scream, to see you beg for your life and then take it from you anyway. You’re a plague and a pestilence, and the way you carry your manliness like it’s a permission slip from God to act like you rule everything and everyone in your path, like you can do whatever you want—well, I think the guillotine is a good option. I’d love to watch your head roll across the grass.

Terrible things always happen when you aren’t paying attention and you’re just being.

Kidd plops down next to me in her white bathing suit and plays with my fingers until I tickle her and she lies back laughing. My anxiety fades.

Julianna, you are a spitfire, my father used to tell me. What are you going to do with that spark? I don’t know, I used to tease. Burn everything down?

"Don’t deny evil. Crush it."

When she skims my cheek, I don’t flinch, which tells me something.

“Marcy isn’t any good at small talk, May. Ask her the weather and she’ll predict your future.”

As soon as I’m back to the boardwalk, Kidd reaches for my hand, and though I am surprised, I take it and give her an extra squeeze.

“Family.” Like a wedding vow. “I do,” I say. “I do, too,” Neve says.

“Don’t let the idea of people overshadow truth.”

"This whole place is a trap, and we’re the monsters.”

The trees whisper to me and I search out just the right one, with the plums just beginning to make their way to its branches. I hear it. And then, the birds. We’re here, they seem to say. Come find us.

I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

Mayhem is set in the 80s in a small town with a founding family being held in high regard by the townspeople for helping members of the townspeople when sought.

Mayhem and her mother Roxy return to the town when Roxy's husband (Mayhem's step father) attacks Mayhem.
Roxy has been in this abusive relationship for 13 years and its only when the abuse shifts to her daughter that she finally finds the courage to leave and return to her home town.

Mayhem befriends Roxy's soon to be adopted children and they show her a hidden magical club house in which Mayhem taps in to the magic they are a part of and that is a part of them. They use this magic to do good and seek to stop a serial killer targeting young women that are simply vanishing off the beach.

I enjoyed this book but just wish more was explained as to the magical side such as what the family do to help the townsfolk to receive daily offerings at the gates and that there was more magical occurrences and paranormal happenings as this would have made the book even better.

I enjoyed reading several aspects of this book! The pacing was wonderful, characters were well drawn, and the reading experience on the whole was delightful.

Thank you to Netgallery, and St. Martins Press for a free e-copy of this book, in exchange of a honest review.

I think this might be an interesting read for young adults and teenagers, but unfortunately, it was not really the book for me. I was attracted to the story because I’ve been wanting to read books set on the 80’s, with a bit of Madonna and Depeche Mode vibes on the background, and the challenges of a generation growing up in the middle of an economic crisis, the appearance of HIV, drugs and the overcoming of many taboos.
Mayhem is the story of Mayhem Brayburn, a 17-year old girl who runs away with her mother, Roxy, from an abusive husband and stepfather. Both head to California, to an imaginary place called Santa Maria, from where Roxy ran away 14 years ago after the death of Mayhem’s father. Roxy was hiding something and promised not to return, as she wanted to spare her daughter of the family’s inheritance. The secret is that Brayburn women have the power of magic - they are witches.

The premise was interesting enough for me and that is why I wanted to read this book. However, I think that while the book goes along the lines of this premise, it strays into many stories, many narrative styles and a couple of characters that felt, at least to me, all over the place, and in the end, did not result on the impactful story that I expected or it could have been. At times the story felt messy or a bit simplistic.
For example, I think the origin of the magic within the Brayburn women could have been explained and built upon way more than it was, as well as how it arise and grew in each of the women. We get a couple of chapters explaining how the first Brayburn acquired that power, in the beginning of the 20th century and how she passed on this gift; however, I found it quite simple, considering this is magic and witches we are dealing with! Also, I found it a bit simple on how Mayhem discovered her gift and how all of a sudden she was able to manage and user her magic.

In terms of the narrative choices, most of the story is told from Mayhem’s perspective but there are a couple of chapters that are either entry diaries or letters. In truth, they felt a bit, random. I think they could have added much more to the story if they had been more used –let us say that half chapters were from Mayhem’s perspective and half from her great-grandmother’s diary. But to be honest, they could have been left out and that story could been narrated by Mayhem herself.

I also felt there was a mix of topics that did not blend well. The book deals with issues of domestic abuse, rape, crime, drug abuse, the pain of becoming and adult and magic. All of these are important issues on their own, but I think all together do not work, particularly the one about magic. I can understand a story about abuse and crime, about drugs and rape, about growing up and abuse, all of these combinations work, but the magical element? Not so sure. It might have worked I guess in a story of domestic abuse plus magic and with a quite solid narrative that did not had so many other subplots. For example, there’s a serial killer in Santa Maria and as soon as Mayhem discovers her magical abilities, she’s able to use them in two days to contribute to the solving of the mystery. To me –the speed with which Mayhem uses her power and the appearance of serial killer, were just… random. There is also a suggestion of the existence of vampires –but is just merely a suggestion so not sure what the importance of this was.

With all that said, I don’t think the story is bad or boring, maybe it was just not for me. I can imagine myself reading this as a teenager or even before my 20s and I think it might have worked as it does have some interesting elements to it. But I am an adult now and I was left with the feeling that there was something missing in the development of Mayhem, on her relationship with the other people from the house and with Roxy, etc. Also, I did not find the 80s vibe I was looking for, as per the description –the setting could have been in present day and nothing would have changed.

So, not for me, but definitely believe the book can have its audience that will thoroughly enjoy it.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an arc.

Rating 3.5

The first half of this was a really good slow-burn. But the second was way too fast paced for me. The relationship between the main character and the love interest was too insta-lovey. I guess it was trying to be the same kind of relationship that her mom had with her dad, which we also don't get to see enough of. But in the beginning, it seemed like the author was going for a hate-to-love, slow-burn, misunderstanding type of relationship, which I would have liked a lot more. I really liked the characters and the writing, but I wish the book would have been longer.

I don't know anything about The Lost boys that this story is connected to or supposed to be like so I can't comment on that but it wasn't quite what I was expecting either. This may sound weird but I feel like I enjoyed the synopsis more so than I did the actual story. It was just really slow and hard for me to get into although the subject matter involved is things that need to be talked about.

Santa Maria has witches, and they belong to the Brayburn family. But with power comes sacrifice, the Brayburn women have made many. Roxy Brayburn loses her husband to suicide and flees from Santa Maria in the hopes of saving her daughter Mayhem from the terrible legacy of her family. But circumstances bring her back home along with a teenaged Mayhem. Together with Roxy's twin sister Elle and her foster children - Jason, Neve and Kidd, Mayhem explores the dark painful secrets and the magical abilities of the Brayburn witches - a power that comes with a catastrophic cost. With a serial killer on the loose, abducting girls from the beaches of Santa Maria. Mayhem and her gang must catch the murderer before another goes missing.
I loved how the characters grew and fought back. The message this book brings out is heavy but simple - we must stand and fight. We must say- No! This is enough! This book shows us how abusers hide behind their charm - beating their victims into submission until they stop fighting. Obsession and possession is NOT the same thing as love. Men get away with abuse, rape, murder and torture in this world and their victims are drowned in a sea of doubts and ridicule and technicalities. It infuriates me. Mayhem is no different. She is realistic. She is scared. She is no do-gooder from the usual YA novels but she isn't afraid to fight back.
This is more of a character based novelthana plot based one but it was interesting throughout the length of the novel. The story has a slow build-up - the first half is mostly setting the scene but the second half is fast (too fast, in my opinion). I liked the Lyle-Roxy-Mayhem angle more than the serial killer angle. But I l really liked the sunny beach setting (instead of the usual castle-twilight-autumn-witchy vibes we read about in most books).
I enjoyed reading reading this book, although I would have loved it more if it had more supernatural elements. The magic system was a bit vague. Overall, it was a good read. Recommended.

TW for rape, physical violence, domestic abuse, drugs.

Thank you Netgalley and Sarah Bonamino of St. Martin's Press for the e-ARC.

Mayhem lives with her mother Roxie, and abusive stepfather, in a small town. When they finally escape him one day, Roxie takes them to the town she grew up in, a place she has always said she’d never return to. Mayhem can’t understand why Roxie has never brought them back – as far as she’s concerned, this is the first right decision Roxie has made. Living with her aunt and the foster kids she is raising, May desperately hopes she can fit in with them. After doing the kids a favour one night, she’s invited into their inner circle and finds out there is much more to their story, and her family history, than she knew.

Dealing with addiction, troubled families, and the struggle to figure out the right choices in hard circumstances, Mayhem is a dark and exciting book, with just the right dash of magic, it had me engrossed the entire way through.

I’ve seen this one compared to both The Lost Boys and The Craft and I could see those influences throughout the storyline, but I think Mayhem holds its own as a book that’s both familiar and original enough to feel like something new.

I’d recommend picking this one up if you loved The Lost Boys, The Craft, Practical Magic and Buffy.

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.- Goodreads

TW | Suicide, Rape, Domestic violence, Drugs, Murder, Abuse

Before I begin my review, I would like to note that the author addresses the difficult topics within this book in a letter to the reader. When I began reading this book, I wasn't expecting the topics, I listed, to be so prominent in this book. I honestly didn't know there would be these many trigger warnings.  I hope that if you do decide to read this book, understand that the magic within this book does not cover, hide or brush aside these traumas. 

Now my review. This book was drawn out to oblivion. I struggled with connecting with Mayhem because although she is in a time of her life where everything changes, she doesn't exactly practice what she preaches. What I mean by that is she wanted family. So being back at the family home was the opportunity to do so but she didn't dig deep into the family history, ask the right questions or even push for the information she needed to know. Yes, she did find out what she needed but to know but that was it. Even at the end of the book there was still so many things that could have been said about her family history. There was so many things that Mayhem could have known but she was solely focused on what was in her face.  I mean she is from a list of women who can use magic to save the day. There was so much to learn. 

However, I loved how flawlessly the author was able to blend the magical aspects of this book with everyday life.  It was written extremely well and she made it made sense. But when I talk about the magic, I have to also talk about how there was not enough detail. Yes, you know how the family came to retrieve that magic, you know what it does to you but it is mentioned in the book that Mayhem's aunt did a lot of research and looked up as much information as she could to collect for the next generation. This was not focused enough in the novel. This should have peaked Mayhem's interest but it didn't. 

But overall, the book was slow and drawn out. There wasn't enough care for details, creativity in creating this magic world or depth within the surrounding characters. Also the romantic interest had no chemistry. It just happened. 

I would read this author again because I love to growth. 

2 Pickles

What I Loved:
I loved the mystery involved in this story. There is a mystery surrounding the girls’ deaths and a mystery about Mayhem’s history. I enjoyed watching both unfold.

How I Felt:
Mayhem is a story that created a lot of emotions for me. I was really impressed with the author’s ability to put such feeling into the story. The characters deal with abuse and drug use, and the emotional rollercoaster that goes with it.

The character Mayhem, has moved to California with her mother and ends up caught up in this murder mystery, while also discovering some secrets about her own bloodline. I liked her character growth as she learned more about herself, and I enjoyed her relationship with her mother.

The plot was a draw and somewhat of a negative for me. The claim that this was for fans of Lost Boys had me intrigued, and it was very closely aligned to Lost Boys. I think that it was a bit too much sometimes. I enjoy retellings, but I would have liked to see a bit more deviation.

I thought that the first half of the book was very emotional and would be a great story for readers that enjoy the emotional angst a story can bring out. The second half though felt different. It was raw and paranormal with a very different vibe from the first half. So I think it works well for anyone that enjoys an ever-changing feeling to a book.

Overall, I enjoyed Mayhem because of the mystery and the emotional pull of the story. I would have liked to see more variation from Lost Boys, but that’s just me, and I think that anyone that hasn’t been introduced to Lost Boys will not be affected by this at all. It’s a gripping story that takes you places in the story you weren’t expecting, and I loved that.

To Read or Not To Read:
I would recommend Mayhem to readers that like a paranormal YA mystery.

I was provided a gifted copy of this book for free. I am leaving my review voluntarily.

I was drawn to the description of this book, the witchy premise, and the great cover art.

The story follows Mayhem and her mother Roxy as they escape her abusive husband back to Roxy's hometown. There Roxy uncover secrets about her family history that will change their lives forever.

While the story started off with a bang, I began to lose a bit of interest a couple chapters in.

I am a lover of YA books and I was very intrigued by the premise of this story. Set in the mid-eighties, I knew it would be a reminder of my younger days and I loved the supernatural element. This is my first read by Estelle Laure and based upon the plot and smooth writing, I don't see this being the last book by her that I'll read. The kicker here is the great cast of characters, with strong personalities marred by dysfunctional families and tragedy. Not surprisingly, Mayhem and her Brayburn lineage is at the center of the story.

The women of the Brayburn family, with power cultivated by the water from a specific cave along the coast of Santa Maria California, have a unique power to see people's actions. Mayhem is particularly adept at this; at finding someone by feeling them, seeing their deeds, feeling their presence. The story is driven by Mayhem accepting and developing this power, by the escape she and her mother have made from her step-father, and of a serial kidnapper/killer deemed the Sand Snatcher, who needs to be stopped.

Supporting this is Mayhems' aunt Elle, her mother Roxy's twin sister, and a three kids who found the cave, therefore they are taken in by Elle (Neve, Jason and Kidd). The four kids form a bond of sorts, and Mayhem is on her way to leading the pack. It's an equally fun and scary story. The passive aggressive Neve drives conflict Mayhem, the draw of attraction between Mayhem and Jason, and the fear of the step-father tracking them down is enough in itself to put the reader on edge.

I would recommend to readers of YA who enjoy a the supernatural twist. There are a few triggers with abuse and worse, but nothing too graphic.

Set in 1987 against the backdrop of Santa Maria, with a girl and her mother fleeing their abusive household, Mayhem is a poetically wrought mess that disappointed me the more I read.

The core message of the story is sound and impactful, about taking control and power in an environment where you're offered little of either, but it's heavily stifled by a tangle of storylines and genres that gets thrown onto your lap without much fanfare. From research, it seems that the book is less of a mashup of The Lost Boys and The Craft and more of a direct retelling with a few changes made here and there. Which is a little eyebrow-raising considering how the marketing did its usual "If you like X and Y, you must check this out!" and made it out to be a book that takes elements of those films while still remaining an original, not a near-same story with a different filter. And I would have been fine with that, since I didn't know much about the source materials to begin with, if it wasn't obvious that the book is multiple stories awkwardly cobbled into one. It tries to fit magical witchy elements, mother-daughter relationships, new friendships, budding romance, navigation of past trauma, an abusive husband/stepfather on the loose, and a serial killer mystery in 300 pages.

It just doesn't work.

It picks up a plotline then pushes it aside in favour of a different one, resolves the latter with underwhelming speed, and returns to the old one only to leave it hanging or tied in the messiest knot imaginable. Characterization suffers because of this. There are just too many people introduced all at once--Roxy, Roxy's twin sister Elle, the three children living in Elle's attic, Roxy's old friends--and Roxy, the one character aside from May who should have had been the main focus throughout, fades into the background in the second half. The other side characters are surface-level interesting, but again, never given enough time for me to get attached to.

The writing is beautiful, however; that's what hooked in the beginning. And environmental storytelling is the story's strongest suite. Laure knows how to create quiet scenes that expand with each sentence, and some of the chapters read like haunting vignettes, a moment in time frozen by the lingering memories of what May and her mother endured. There are scenes that made my throat close up in empathy and anger, and the horrors of abuse and assault are depicted with care.

If Laure had just taken that and expanded on it for the rest of the book, focusing solely on the relationships between the characters and their individual pains and journey to healing, while introducing the magic as a subtle undercurrent? How complete the story might have been.

As it is, Mayhem knows what it wants to accomplish, and the emotional depth is well present, but it tries to go about it with more tools than it can hold and falls in the execution.

Review posting on July 9th: http://pagesbelowvaultedsky.wordpress.com/

There's are things to love in this book, but also things that I found lacking.

What intrigued me was definitely the 80s setting and the magical realism. It was my first MR read and I enjoyed it. It helped this story and these characters.

The main character Mayhem lives with her mom Roxy and her step father in Texas. The step father is abusive towards Roxy, and has been like that as long as Mayhem can remember. They live in fear, and Roxy in drug and alcohol haze. When Mayhem gets beaten for the first time by this man, they finally make the choice to run away, back to Roxy's hometown in California.

They move in with Roxy's twin sister Elle and her adopted children. In this house Mayhem starts to learn about the family history and the reasons why Roxy moved away in the first place. Why she wouldn't go back to her family home, and chose to live in an abusive family. There's something dark and magical in this family, and Mayhem needs to accept her destiny or follow in her mother's steps.

The pain behind the abuse and the drug use is real and raw and painful. You can tell it comes from experience. The moment where both women find the courage to stand up and change their destinies was great to see. The characters were aplenty, and interesting in some ways, but not deep. There's not much depth to them. Some even unnecessary (besides connection to the blurbed movie?). I enjoyed the weird magic and would have loved deeper history of these witches, not just a one letter from each period.

Overall an interesting coming of age story, just not as strong as I hoped especially when it came to standing up for yourself and growing up.

Mayhem is a story I immediately felt compelled to read. I was very interested in following Mayhem’s journey.

Mayhem left Texas with her mother, Roxy, after her step-dad crossed a line. They returned to Santa Maria where her last name is practically considered royalty. As the story goes, Mayhem learns about her family and starts to see Santa Maria for what it is. As the truth unravels and a series of disappearance shakes the town, Mayhem will learn that nothing is as it seems.

This story tackles heavy topics, and I have to say that the author did a pretty good job there. The format of the book is engaging – a novel broken at times by journal entries from other characters. This part gave a deeper dimension to the story and allowed me to better understand what was happening.

I would say the first part of the book is pretty slow, but the story takes off in the second part. The mystery with the disappearances, the family’s secrets, and the dynamic between the foster kids drew me in. The magic system was definitely interesting. The ending was too. I’m pretty neutral on this book. There is a lot to like about this story, but it missed the mark on a few things for me. With that said, I would read more from this author.

Warning: Physical/Mental abuse, Suicide, Mention of rape, Substance Abuse, Depression, Murder, and Suicide.

Huge thanks to Wednesday Books and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review and for the honor of being included in the Mayhem blog tour.

This story follows Mayhem as she navigates the world of her mother's past and the roots of her power. This book contains an unexpected murder mystery element which I fully enjoyed. The plot is rich and powerful. The characters are addictive and strong. I loved the female protagonists especially the unapologetic Mayhem. I loved the supernatural elements and how they were woven into the modern world. I stayed up all night and read this book in one sitting because I had to know what happened. This was the emotional rollercoaster I didn't know I needed.

I gave this book 4.5 stars because of how strongly it has stuck with me. I would definitely read this again and recommend it to a friend.

*** Thank you to the publisher for reaching out to me to review this book and for Netgalley providing me with an e-arc! The arc was sent to me unsolicited, but all thoughts are my own.***

**THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS**

Mayhem is a contemporary magical realism about a girl named Mayhem Brayburn and her mother, Roxy fleeing Mayhem's abusive stepfather, Lyle and going back to Roxy's mysterious hometown of Santa Maria, California. Her family the Brayburns are known throughout the town and respected, but also feared. Much has happened to the town since Roxy left thirteen years before when her husband, Mayhem's father, Lucas jumps off a cliff. Roxy and Mayhem left when Roxy could no longer handle the pain of losing her husband; since then Roxy has been taking pain pills to cope and is constantly sick. Once they have returned to the Brayburn farm where Roxy's twin sister Elle resides with the three kids she cares for, they learn that five girls have gone missing on the beach nearby and the person who took them is being referred to as the "Sand Snatcher", but have no clue who it is. The Brayburns are a very magical family, Mayhem's great-great-grandmother Julianna delved into witchcraft when she was younger, and after a terrible thing happens to her behind the stage of the production of Romeo and Juliet she is in, she curses herself and her daughter, which leads to the power that the Brayburn's possess. This power comes from a water source in the cave that is so addicting that a Brayburn will never be able to stop drinking the water. To anyone who isn't a Brayburn, it could kill them. We see in the Brayburn book, a book full of diary entries and other information pertaining to the Brayburns and their magic. Mayhem find out that as being a Brayburn, the water gives them power to protect people and take down those who do harm to the city of Santa Maria. They learn that they have to find out the Sand Snatcher is and stop him from taking these girls.

So I know this book is said to be a mashup of The Lost Boys and The Craft (which I have seen neither, but did a tad bit of research on beforehand.) I can definitely see the reference to these two movies and how it works with the story. One thing about this book is it has A LOT going in it. From the traveling back in time through the diary entries of the Brayburn women, to the search for the Sand Snatcher, to Mayhem learning everything about herself and her family. I did not think that so much packed into this book would work but it. I liked learning all the history of the Brayburn family going all the way back to the 1900's with Julianna to 1987 when the book is set. At times though, I felt it was more centered around Mayhem's mother than Mayhem herself. Mayhem and her mother are very close after everything they have been through, but I didn't expect so much of the story to surround Roxy. Although I think this book was interesting, it didn't feel spectacular to me. It was good and definitely different than my normal reading tastes. It is dark and magical and I recommend you check it out if it is your type of book.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the gifted copy, all thoughts are completely my own

I thought the concept of this book sounded intriguing but it just wasn't for me.