I kept going because I love Craig's writing style. The prose flows brilliantly and I know that after The House of Salt and Sorrows, she can construct a refreshing fairytale retelling. But this book is almost 500 pages and it felt like I never got anything for the time I put in. There's some instalove-esque thing going on. A bunch of people are "acting out of character" (but we don't get to see what "in character" looks like, so it feels just like melodrama). And because there's not a lot of movement, it has started to feel repetitive. Something happens, Sam has the least possible logical response, Ellerie is concerned for / mad at Sam for being a total waste of space, something bad happens, Ellerie rushes in to fix everything by herself - repeat ad infinitum.

There's no release of tension, and only the barest peeks at the spooky stuff (so bare that Ellerie can dismiss it all outright and we can say "yeah, that tracks, nothing spooky to see here, folks")

Read it if you like pretty writing and want a slow burn.

In the small town of Amity Falls, where elders watch over everyone and the townsfolk all lend one another a helping hand, something has found it’s way into the town. Something with a dark purpose lurking in the pine forest, causing people to turn on each other without a second’s pause.

Ellerie Downing lives in this mountain town with her twin brother Sam, two younger sisters and her parents. Her father keeps bees and her mother’s honey cakes are beloved by everyone.

When it is announced that people have gone missing and strange creatures have been sighted, the town begins to fear that the monsters of old that used to roam have returned. Now, neighbors are turning against neighbors, happy to watch the people they have always cared for fall victim to hard times.

Erin A. Craig does a wonderful job of amping up the intensity. In this book, we see hardships fall on many a family, especially the Downings. Tragedy strikes again, causing her parents to leave town, leaving Ellerie and her siblings to tend the homestead… with some help from the handsome and beguiling young man who has just arrived. And as winter approaches and more and more strange occurrences are happening, it is a race against the clock for Ellerie to save her family.

There is a serious heaviness in this book and it’s perfection. You can sense the dread around every corner, lurking in every shadow of the pine forest. This was a phenomenal and vivid tale that I would recommend to anyone who wants a bit of horror/fantasy mixed in with their historical fiction.

A girl living in a small town in a historic setting with a scary forest filled with monsters find strange things plaguing the town amid a chance romance. Ellerie rarely sees visitors as no one tries to get through the forest of monsters often. Until she meets a strange but beautiful boy, who won't tell her his real name. Meanwhile, her family is plagued by some bad chances - her mother injured in a fire, her father seemingly gone trying to help, her brother fighting with another boy over a girl - Ellerie slowly starts to see plenty of strange circumstances happening amid town, accusations flying, the town slowly turning against each other, and she is caught in the middle. Who is behind these strange occurances? Is it tied to her mysterious boy?

A retelling of Rumplestilskin mixed with "The Village" there's a creepy atmosphere through the whole story that also has a romance storyline as well. It's a bit slow paced, but does pick up toward the end. It is a fun read for those who enjoy fairy tales with a dash of horror.

So I went into this one COMPLETELY blind 🤣🤣 I requested this on NetGalley simply because of who the author is. I really enjoyed House of Salt & Sorrows so I was ecstatic to snag this E-ARC. That being said....

While this was enjoyable I definitely loved House of Salt & Sorrows more. The writing is good and I love this author's style but I honestly feel like this could have been 100pgs shorter and still been just as good. Also, the mystery wasn't really a mystery as I figured it all out from beginning...and I mean all of it. 🤣🤣 I guess I read too many of these LMAO

However, THAT being said this has super creepy vibes (like The Village movie by M. Night Shyamalan vibes) and I was there for all of that. This would be a very fun one to add to those Spooktober lists and make sure to read in the darkest dark of the night 🤣🤣🤣

I sincerely appreciate the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an E-ARC. All opinions expressed herein are mine and mine alone.

I absolutely loved House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin Craig, so when I saw this book on Netgalley I knew I had to read it.

Craig’s atmospheric writing style really makes you feel like you are a part of the story. So the setting is what truly enveloped me into this story. I will say by the time I got to the end of the book, I felt like it could have been at least 100 pages shorter.

All in all though, this was a very enjoyable and creepy read. I would recommend this to anyone who doesn't mind a predictable mystery that is backdropped with a creepy small town secrets atmosphere.

I look forward to picking up whatever Craig writes next, because the writing is truly great!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was... Creepy. Far too creepy for me, tbh, but also very good. I expected creepy after Erin Craig's first book, but this one took it to the next level. It reminded me a lot of the movie The Village, with some fairy tales / lore mixed in.

Ellerie was a strong heroine, though her habit of almost realizing something important and then being distracted from it and forgetting for several chapters was a bit annoying. Whitaker was rather too perfect and had a tinge of heartache and desperation that it took a long time for Ellerie to see.

It was also a bit... gory. I really wasn't expecting that. So, like I said, it was really well-written and a good story, just not really one I would normally read. It also wrapped up rather quickly / easily, after dragging on a bit too long, though it's a stronger ending than in her first book.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children's for providing an e-arc for review.

I am so surprised by how much I loved this book. It was definitely out of my comfort zone with the ultra-spooky vibe, but I dug it, even if I was afraid to read it before bed. I was obsessed with the setting- the old-fashioned, conservative, Children of the Corn-esque isolated community created the perfect atmosphere for this story and it really drew me in. Ellerie was a terrific narrator and I loved seeing this world through her eyes and how deeply she cared for her family and how she dealt with the chaos. The romance was a welcome relief from the horrors happening in the town, and Whitaker was an interesting and mysterious love interest. This book was a simmering, sinister ride, and I was honestly pleasantly shocked by the grit and darkness- especially towards the end. Some of the secrets were predictable, but the story definitely took a turn that I was not expecting. That ending stays with me, and I'm still not quite sure how I feel about its ambiguity, but I also kind of love that. I'm not usually one for scary stories, but I'll gladly let this one haunt me.

Ellerie Downing and her family live in the quiet, idyllic town of Amity Falls. The townsfolk rarely see outsiders, and only leave town once or twice a year for supply runs to a much bigger city across the mountains. When one of the supply trains goes missing, it seems to be the work of the beasts the town founders fought off when they settled Amity Falls. As the year turns to winter, and the town starts running out of supplies, tempers flare and neighbor turns on neighbor. Soon people begin acting out of character, and Ellerie begins to wonder if it is their true nature showing through or if it's something more sinister.

I've read Erin A. Craig's first book, House of Salt and Sorrows, and I can say for sure that if you enjoyed it, you'll like this one too. It was super suspenseful, and played a lot on relationships within the family and community. Up until the very end, I couldn't decide if there were really monsters, or if it was just people showing their darkest sides in adversity. I couldn't put it down!

I received this ARC courtesy of Netgalley, in return for my honest opinions

What a ride!! what a tale!!!!
This is the type of book that you do not want to put down because it is so alluring and mysterious.
Creepy, chilling, and captivating, this is one that you’re going to want to read and leave all the lights on after! 😂

Ellerie Downing is the eldest daughter in a family of apiarists living in the secluded and orderly Amity Falls- where the sense of community is strong. After a supply party goes missing, the townspeople of Amity Falls start wondering what could have led to this strange disappearance.
Soon enough, mysterious and dangerous occurrences start happening and neighbors start wondering what could have brought this downfall to amity falls.
Ellerie Downing may be the town’s last hope of salvation but will she be able to save them all?

Ahhh this book was SCARY and oh so THRILLING! When I wasn’t reading this book I was thinking about it and trying to clue all the pieces together. Erin Craig has such a wonderful way of keeping you guessing. The entire book I felt so uneasy and it was almost like I was watching a really good horror movie!
I loved our MC Ellerie- super headstrong and wise! I was 100% rooting for her every step of the way!

Overall, this was such a good and fast paced thrilling read that everyone needs to read!

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.

Small Favors caught my attention due to the interesting premise, especially the fact that it was a Rumplestiltskin retelling, and you don’t see that retold very often. And while it didn’t end up being what I expected, I still enjoyed some aspects.

Craig has a dark, atmospheric writing style. Even with the myriad flaws, I still found myself compelled to keep going, due to the descriptions of the monsters in the woods and the dark acts of murder. The small town life juxtaposed against it is also really well done.

But the pacing was really slow. I didn’t feel like it gained any momentum until the last few chapters, upon which it concluded anticlimactically with a lot left unanswered. I guess in a way, stuff like this is messy and there would be unanswered questions, but I wanted more from the ending.

I didn’t feel super connected with the characters, although I guess there was some emotional connection to Ellerie in the tougher moments. And the romance with Whitaker felt very shallow, one of those where they barely know each other, but are in love anyway.

This book just fell a little flat for me, and it doesn’t even really deliver on the “Rumplestiltskin” vibes.

This is a case of me liking the idea, but not being a huge fan of the execution. I can absolutely see the appeal for other people, however, and would encourage anyone looking for a dark YA fantasy/horror to check this out.

This was the first book I've read by Erin A. Craig and I was not disappointed. Small Favors was an amazingly well-written story that I got lost in from the start. Ellerie is one of those rare characters you just can't help like from the start and root for her till the very end. If Erin's other books are as amazing as Small Favors I can't wait to read them.

Thanks to NetGalley and Delacorte for an advanced copy of this to review! House of Salt and Sorrows was such a creepy, atmospheric retelling, and I couldn't wait to read it. Unfortunately, it didn't quite live up to my expectations. Which makes me sad, because look at that cover! It is gorgeous!

The strongest aspect of this book is the way Craig creates this creepy atmosphere in the book. You can feel that something sinister is happening, but you don't really know what it is. You're drawn into this town that's extremely isolated, with these people that aren't quite what they seem. It feels a horror movie atmosphere and this was my favorite thing about the book.

As far as character goes, they're well fleshed out and interact well with the setting. I just didn't necessarily like any of them. Ellerie is probably the most likeable, but even then, there was just something that made it difficult to connect with her. Maybe it was the setting, maybe it was something else. I can't really put my finger on it, but it made the book hard to get into for me.

Also the plot. I'm not necessarily a plot reader, but I had a really difficult time seeing where this was going. Or seeing the point, really. By the end, I didn't really see the motivation behind the monstrous creatures. I wanted this to be expanded more, because this aspect of the plot fell flat for me.

Overall, I don't think this book was necessarily for me. If you like novels that really focus on creating a creepy, spooky atmosphere, this one might be for you! Keep an eye out for it when it comes out on July 27th.

I received a copy of this novel as an e-ARC from NetGalley and Delacorte Press in exchange for an honest review. Any and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

I can't tell you guys the last time I read a thriller so engaging and convincing as this story. And for my first book by this author, I now want to read even more of what she writes.

Ellerie Downing lives in Amity Falls, an isolated village on the edge of the woods surrounding God's Grasp. She lives with her family of farmers and siblings that she both loves and hates. Suddenly, threats of unseen monsters and destruction loom on the edges of the village, and Ellerie is scared for the safety of her family, and the mysterious boy that appeared at the edge of town just as everything bad started to happen. What will Ellerie do to make sure those she loves are okay, and who will make it out alive?

The world-building of this story is insanely good. With the way the story is set, it gives off very much prairie gothic vibes, but the entire story itself reminded me so much of the movie "Midsommar." There's no technology and Amity Falls is completely isolated, but there is the underlying assumption that other advanced cities lie somewhere else beyond the forest and mountains, which I believe helped to add to the tension of the story. Amity Falls is also built on this network of rules, as it is such a small rural area, so you really get the feel of everyone knows everyone, even though the overload of names at the beginning can be a bit overwhelming.

Small Favors also does well with the building of the thriller and the lore of what is going on in Amity Falls. I honestly didn't know who to trust, or what to trust, or if there were people disguised as those they weren't. It was just so horrifically beautiful in its execution and really left me on the edge of my seat with the fear that exuded from the page.

Craig makes you fall in love with a good portion of these characters (the main ones at least) only to rip your heart out with all the DRAMA. Whitaker Price deserves ALL THE LOVE AND I WILL NOT TAKE ANY SLANDER ABOUT HIM. I teared up so much with so many moments between him and Ellerie, and I actually liked Ellerie a lot as a main character. Clever, bound to her family, caring, I didn't hate her at all.

I will admit one of the big plot twists was a bit predictable once the right clues came into place around 70-80% through but I am not complaining. The end at least felt a little anti-climatic for me, however, and I kind of wish we got some closure on some points which I won't get into cause of spoilers.

Small Favors is the next best thriller with an unassuming yet captivating cover that will lure you in with every page. I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a change in the thriller genre.

When you can see the bigger picture, to put the needs of others before your own, there’s no darkness that can claim you. Craig’s chilling account of one family and town’s plunge into darkness and subsequent crawl back to hope and light is masterful and thought provoking. Craig’s plot and characters are enthralling, you won’t want to put it down.

Synopsis: Ellerie Downing lives in the quiet town of Amity Falls in the Blackspire Mountain range… To this day, visitors are few and rare. But when a supply party goes missing, some worry that the monsters that once stalked the region have returned. As fall turns to winter, tribe of devilish and mystical creatures who promise to fulfill the residents’ deepest series, however grand and impossible, for just a small favor. But their true intentions are much more sinister, and Ellerie finds herself in a race against time…

I can’t express enough how much I LOVED this book! I really enjoyed and fell in love with Erin’s writing in House of Salt and Sorrows, but this book has made me add her to my author auto-buy list! This was the perfect combination of spooky and creepy, I’m not a huge fan of horror stories but creepy eerie stories are my jam. This book kept me engaged and needing more. Once you pick it up, you won’t be able to put it down because you will need to know what happens next.

This book releases next week on July 27th and if you loved House of Salt and Sorrows or want something that is mysterious, dark, or with disturbing world building; you need to pick this up.

Dark and twisty perfection!

I was blown away by this story! Erin A. Craig is easily one of my top favorite authors. So much talent!

Small Favors sucked me in from the very first page and didn't let go until the last. I was totally entranced. I am not even a horror or mystery fan. Yet this will be one of my favorite books of the year. Make sure you set aside a good chunk of time when you start this book, you won't want to put it down. Fast-paced and mesmerizing.

If you loved creepy stories, small towns, a pinch of romance, do yourself a huge favor and pick up Small Favors.

I loved the author’s debut House of Salt and Sorrows, so I was thrilled to be approved for Small Favors on NetGalley! Small Favors is a creepy and atmospheric retelling of Rumpelstiltskin. I loved the vivid world building - the small town setting and the forest were the perfect setting and I absolutely could picture both of them. The MC Ellerie is very likable and well developed. There were quite a few townspeople to keep track of, but there is a chart at the front of the book which I referenced several times. It is a very immersive writing style and I loved the combination of fable/folk story, dark fantasy, and horror. There are some predictable elements but they didn’t take away from the story for me. I did feel the pacing was a little off - the first half is slower, which you can expect with the world building, but the ending felt a bit rushed and left me with several unanswered questions. I would also have loved to have an epilogue. This is a great book that I would recommend to dark fantasy lovers! 4/5 ⭐️

Thank you to Delacorte Press and NetGalley for gifting me this DRC to read and review. Small Favors will be out on July 27.

"Only the Lord knows what wickedness is kept in the hearts of men."

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...or maybe not. If M. Night Shyamalan and Blake Crouch teamed up to write a YA book, it would be this one. Small Favors is The Village meets Wayward Pines. The Downing family lives in a small hamlet cut off from the rest of the world by a forest filled with evil creatures. The town has a set of rules to protect them and limits their interactions with the world to seasonal supply runs. When one of these supply runs is massacred, the panic reaches a fevered pitch. The town decides to forgo the suppy run before winter and we see the impact of isolation, mysterious crop failures and lack of supplies from the outside world. The infighting and paranoia runs rampant but is this just normal human behavior or the influence of something more sinister.

The fantasy elements in this one are minimal but the building of the town and its characters as we head towards a climax reminded me a lot of The Crucible. Lots of pointing fingers and lifelong relationships torn apart as the living conditions get worse. The evil is balanced by a heavy religious hand of the town parson and we see how dangerous blind belief can be in the face of real danger.

Ellerie is a great main character because while she is an elder teenager she tries to approach everything with logic and is dedicated to taking care of her family. We see how principled she is and what it takes to tempt her away from her responsibilities. You really feel for her as she faces adversity and the impact of her choices.

Also if you're a fan of bees and beekeeping, the Downing family are beekeepers and there are some lovely passages about their care. Probably my favorite parts! Small Favors is the perfect creepy YA with a dash of magic. It is a long book but the pace flows nicely. The big baddie is slightly predictable but I think that just meant there were good clues along the way!

Thanks to Random House Children's for access to this novel. All opinions above are my own.

This book is a prime example for expectations vs reality. I went into this one hoping for a fantasy mixed with a little mystery. Now while I did get a mystery, I’m still waiting on the fantastical element. I really did try to enjoy it but the more I kept reading, the more disappointment I felt.

I think if you consider this more of a horror novel then yes, it was really good. It’s just not what I was looking for unfortunately.

Book review: Small Favors by Erin A Craig

Small Favors is a young adult historical fantasy about a tiny isolated town that finds their citizens in the grip of a series of attacks from monstrous creatures on supply runs, mysterious newcomers to town, resentments against each other, bad luck and increasing violence. Ellerie Downing is a teenage girl trying to hold her family together in a town gone mad.

Amity Falls starts out as a quiet pioneer type town with kind neighbors and little need for law enforcement or weapons. But when a supply run goes wrong teenage Ellerie Downing watches her father and twin brother head to the deadly forests to find out what happened. This is the beginning of months of horror for Ellerie and Amity Falls as they discover the truth behind the monsters and the violence and cruelty each citizen is capable of.

Ellerie is a strong and capable main character that is also vulnerable. She is devoted to her family but also intrigued by a handsome new fur trapper that emerges unscathed from the forests. I thought she showed the right suspicion and naïveté that a teenager in her position would have. I loved the increasing tension and breadcrumbs that Erin A Craig dropped as we headed toward the conclusion.

I highly recommend this slow burn young adult horror novel. It has the right amount of suspense, action, world-building and characters to keep an audience of all ages intrigued.

4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️