I really wanted to love this one, the preface sounded incredible and while it initially started off strong with the spooky elements, it fell flat for me by about the 30% mark. I found I didn’t really care about anything going on, the romance was interesting but it felt forced. The characters didn’t really hold my attention and the mystery was predictable.

Kelly Creagh’s *Strange Unearthly Things* is a spellbinding novel that blends eerie suspense with intricate supernatural elements. Creagh’s atmospheric writing and compelling characters create a hauntingly immersive experience. The novel’s blend of mystery and the supernatural delivers a captivating read that keeps readers enthralled from beginning to end.

Thank you penguinteen for the gifted digital copy!

"What is hate but not love in hell."

I think I might be in love. This is my first novel by Kelly Creagh and I was hooked from the first ghostly appearance.

▫️Demons
▫️Bargains
▫️Gothic romance
▫️Psychics
▫️Jane Eyre retelling

That's just the beginning. Three psychics are brought to a mansion to use their unique sensitive abilities to help the homeowner, Elias. Jane's skill is drawing what ghostly apparitions she sees, literally drawing them near. Giovanni can sense connections by touch and Ingrid can read the tarot. These three walk headlong into a fight that requires all of their strengths.

I'll start by saying that I loved the atmosphere. It's House on Haunted Hill vibes with a building plot of romance and suspense. I won't go much into the romance because it's an integral part to the plot but know that it's beautiful. It's the swoon of Jane Eyre with an almost Phantom of the Opera/Dracula vibe.

The characters drive the story. There is so much growth between the three psychics as a friend group. I personally loved Giovanni and his sarcastic remarks the most. I can't tell you how often I chuckled. Carlotta Brentan narrates for the audiobook and she is phenomenal! Each distinct voice from male to female, British to English and swoon worthy Elias speak, is seriously so good. She could read a nutrition label to me and I'd be thrilled.

For me this was wonderfully done. I did feel some of the reactions and thoughts expressed by an 18 year old were slightly immature at times. However, the themes of love, souls and grief are easy to get lost in and overlook those elements. This is one I'll recommend to my YA Paranormal Romance lovers for a very long time. Add this to that TBR!

Another DNF for me. I just couldn’t get into this one. I didn’t love the characters, I think that plays a big part. Just wasn’t for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the free book in exchange for an honest review.


I don't really know what to think of this one I kind of zoomed through it because I wanted to be finished reading it and I had to reread a lot of things and nothing really stuck in my brain, it was very forgettable for me.

DNF at 12%

I know it was very early on but the writing was just not my taste at all. Not only did it feel very young, but it was very campy and stereotypical in a lot of ways. I just knew that this wasn't for me and I wasn't going to like it very much.

I’m a huge fan of Kelly Creagh, her Nevermore series has stayed with me for over 10 years. I absolutely loved this reimagining of Jane Eyre, another favorite.

As always, Creagh creates an otherworldly eerie atmosphere that I love immersing myself in. Although, this is Jane Reye and she’s a psychic artist, the threads of Jane Eyre are prevalent enough to give a good strong nod, I think this is one of the most engaging clever retellings I’ve read.

Fairfax Hall and Elias are a delight, along with the engaging secondary characters! What a group! I think this haunting romance and mystery evoked a lot of emotions out of me and left me with a few tears.

Haunting, romantic, snarky, & heart wrenching

I apologize for the lateness of this review, I'm not sure how I missed it but it was the summer from hell so that may have had a little to do with it. Again, my apologies!

Disappointing. I expected more from this book; the beautiful cover drew me in, promising an enchantingly gothic story, but I was left sorely disappointed. The plot was so predictable and the writing had none of that atmospheric gloom I associate with gothic books. The romance was very insta-lovey, which I don’t mind in certain scenarios, but in this book it just felt inauthentic. A quick, spooky read, but nothing special.

Soon to be Fall means hitting you with all the moody, YA retellings… so if you were a Jane Eyre junky, this one is for you.

💔Moody gothic romance
💔 Love triangle
💔Jane Eyre in YA format
💔Happy for now Romance
💔Hero had a previous lover
💔 Heartbreaking in a way that only gothic romance can be.

BLURB: Eighteen-year-old Jane Reye is a psychic artist. She draws what she sees, and what she sees are spirits and the supernatural. Growing up orphaned, she’s now of legal age and can no longer return to the girls’ school she’s called home for most of her life. Lost and alone after the death of her lifelong friend, she receives an invitation to partake in a study at the English manor Fairfax Hall: an investigation of the property that requires her specific area of expertise. Upon arrival, Jane understands this will be no ordinary study when she meets Elias Thornfield, the elusive proprietor of the estate, a boy her age, roguishly handsome, who dons a mysterious eye patch. During the study it becomes clear that something is amiss—something having to do with Elias and the spiritual activity taking place around the manor. Turning to her art to unravel the mystery, Jane is shocked to find that her talents—and her growing affection for Elias—could be the key to saving him from a horrible fate.

💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔

So here’s the thing, this book was moody, and gothic, and heartbreaking… however, that isn’t always my jam. Hear me out, I love a classic literature retelling, I love some spooky with my romance. However, I don’t really love, “love triangles”, and I don’t love when the hero has had a past one true love. Honestly, this book left me with a lot more questions than answers. This book was less romance, and more hauntingly (and heartbreakingly) beautiful.

So I guess it depends on your personal preference.

Swipe to get a view of the gorgeous cover! Thank you @penguinteen for the book mail :) #strangeunearthlythings
#penguinteenpartner

Heat Level: 🔥

Strange Unearthly Things pales drastically in comparison to Jane Eyre. I didn't root for the characters or care about the FMC at all. Her backstory was shallow and I ended up skimming a lot of the book because the plot wasn't engaging.

I don't think this was an overall bad book--it just didn't hold my attention and wasn't for me.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

I love this cover so much. I didn’t realize it was a Jane Eyre retelling. It was easy to follow because of that. Jane Eyre isn’t my favorite novel but I do like the creativeness of the author with this story.

I don’t know much, but I do know I’m a sucker for reimagining of the classics, especially Jane Eyre.

There are some fairly creepy elements in Strange Unearthly Things that I was absolute living for, along with a cast of characters who you’d love to know just a bit more about, but unfortunately don’t get to.

I recommend this for anyone who does enjoy classic reimaginings, YA books & love triangles. I fairly enjoyed it while reading it, it just isn’t something that’s necessarily going to stick with me.

4.5/5 stars, this book utterly consumed me

One of my favorite classics ever is Jane Eyre, so when I saw that this was a retelling of that story but with themes of gothic horror I knew that I was probably going to love this book. Luckily I was exactly right, sometimes classics are hit or miss in retellings for me but this was amazing. Everything about the story worked perfectly in tandem with one another, and this was definitely a story I won't forget about for a while.

The plotline for this story, while partially easy to follow due to it being a retelling, was still so much fun and definitely kept me engaged. I think the thing that still made it feel new was the dip into heavy gothic horror, instead of just gothic vibes. The horror was much more involved with the characters and also genuinely kind of scary. That's how I love my horror though, I don't just want a little bit, I want it to creep me out. I was very happy that this story fully committed to this, as it made the overall plotline all the more interesting.

Something else that I thought was a really great addition was the psychic powers that the main characters had. This was part of the reason they were called to the house, to try to help the owner with their powers, and it was something else that made the story feel unique. It also reminded me a lot of my favorite horror franchise, The Conjuring, and made me fall in love with the story even more.

I also really loved the main cast, of Jane, Ingrid, Giovanni as well as Elias. I think having them all together made the story flow smoothly. Jane herself is the main character, and obviously a retelling or reflection of Jane Eyre. I think she embodied the original character quite well while adapting to the new story that she was in. Ingrid and Giovanni were there to help with the ghost situation as well, and their personalities meshed well with the story to create a fun cast. Elias was the man who gathered them all there, and he also definitely reminded me of Mr. Rochester, he was the perfect mysterious main love interest.

The romance between Jane and Elias was also very well done and I loved it. It was sort of like mild enemies to lovers which is one of my favorite tropes, and with everything happening in the story I think that it was also well done in terms of pace. I really enjoyed how it all happened.

Overall, this story was really unique despite being a retelling and also being reflective of Jane Eyre. I loved all aspects of this story but especially how the horror felt truly scary, and the romance was very well done as well. The plot twists in this story were very well done and overall this was just an amazing story, I'm so thankful that I was able to read this.

[TW: nightmares, ghosts and creatures, house fire, threats of life]

If you're into modern gothic mysteries, this book is right up your alley. The main character is named after Jane Eyre, and the whole story is a loose retelling of that classic. Besides the main spooky mystery, you've also got demons and ghosts adding some extra spice. It's a cool mix of ideas that keeps things interesting.

The main thing is the romance between Jane and Elias. That's where the story really hits its stride. I gotta be real, there's a bit in the middle that drags, but the start and finish are fire. Reading this book as the plot unfolds is a wild ride, and Creagh's writing sets a vibe that's like a mashup of a Victorian novel and a modern one. Sounds weird, but it totally works.

All in all, it's a spooky, mysterious, gothic YA romance that's got its own spin on classic lit. If you're into that kinda thing, you're like it.

I was really excited to read this book since I am a huge Jane Eyre fan. However, it didn't totally live up yo my expectations.

At first, it had a lot of promise. This book is very atmospheric and the vibes were perfect. I really loved the sides characters, they may have been my favorite part.

The actual character of Jane didn't really work for me. There was a lot of slang used. Almost too much. When Jane asks Elias if the frightening supernatural entity is his "homeboy" it juts took me out of the story.

The ending was also very unsatisfactory. If this book had a second book perhaps it could redeem itself.

At the end, this isn't really a retelling. It takes on the names and a few character details but it doesn't have the passion or depth that makes Jane eyre a classic.

However, it was a mostly enjoyable. It's worth a read on a cold autumn night. I give it a 3 star rating.

"Strange Unearthly Things" offers a promising start but quickly disappoints with stereotypical characters, cringe-worthy dialogue, and an unrealistic insta-love romance. The plot lacks depth, focusing more on angsty romance than the paranormal elements. Despite marketing itself as a reimagining of "Jane Eyre," it falls short in capturing the original's themes of equality and freedom. The climax leaves much to be desired, and the characters lack emotional attachment. The epilogue reveals a problematic side of the protagonist. In contrast, some readers may find the story fast-paced and enjoy the unique characters like Ingrid and Giovanni, making it a suitable choice for young paranormal romance enthusiasts seeking a hauntingly gothic tale.

Thank you Penguin for this ARC
Don't read this book, it's not worth it.
I was intrigued by the premise, and the beginning started off strong and my interest was hooked. The moment Jane reached the manor everything went downhill and my regret came swiftly and grew as I slugged through the remainder.
Let me tell you what to expect from this book.
Characters that are very stereotypical, and many could not have been included for how little they matter to the plot, or how much attention is given to their development.
Some of the worst dialogue I've seen in a book, I had to stop frequently to send quotes to my friends it was so bad. Such lines* such as "My heart riffs Metallica. His thunders against my cheek, like the storm we escaped has found refuge within him." and "His scent is everywhere-in my bloodstream, mixed up with the tatters of my own shredded soul." are frequent and in certain chapters happen LITERALLY EVERY OTHER PARAGRAPH. Maybe they would have hit harder or been more swoony worthy if the characters actually had a developed relationship or cringey lines like that weren't happening every page.
Insta-love romance that makes no sense at the time, with such groundbreaking realizations such as Jane resisting everyone telling her she loves him, multiple times! MISS GIRL YOU'VE KNOWN HIM 3 DAYS!
A mc that falls into the "all the men want her trope". I don't know what it is about her but everyone wants to (and does) kiss her. More attention is given to Jane's drawings then the character herself, I had no investment in any of them at any moment in time.
Mostly angsty romance and less paranormal stuff happening. I just don't understand how any of them are even paranormal investigators considered they really can't do much with it. (You get tarot cards, and feelings, and drawings, but no way to actually truly fight the paranormal. The climax scene at the end physically pained me with how plot-holey it is.)
This is supposed to be a reimagining of Jane Eyre, I've never read the book myself so I did some research. According to Goodreads Jane Eyre is "a passionate depiction of a woman's search for equality and freedom". There is NOTHING remotely close to that in Strange Unearthly Things. It's not that it isn't even in the same ballpark, it's playing an entirely separate game! SUT focuses on an insta-love romance, and is incredibly one dimensional in its depiction of its characters. The only parallels that can be drawn between both books are the names. It is a very, very loose reimagining, and I highly doubt anyone would ever draw comparison between the two had it not been for the marketing blurb. (Quite frankly it is like saying Twilight is a reimagining of Great Expectations. (Though I think we all feel a nostalgia for the former at least)
When the ending and climax happened I think I was supposed to cry or feel sad, but instead I felt such relief that I was finally nearing the end and could stop reading. There is no attachment to the characters, so it's hard to care what happens to them. Because the romance is so immediately "omg I love you!" it's hard to even care what happens to either one in the relationship. Plus, I do think the the kiss between her and Giovanni was just so...unnecessary?
In the epilogue Jane gives major pick me vibes, and I don't think I would ever want to be her friend. The way she thinks of Giovanni's new relationship is such a red flag. In her mind she says she doesn't "approve" of her yet. It's giving those guys who have a girl best friend that is toxic if you know what I mean.
Retellings/reimaginings are honestly so hit or miss. It sets high expectations for the story, and the fine line between original writing and copying the plot is really hard to walk. It's important to make the story your own, while at the same time if you're marketing it so heavily as a reimagining, making sure it actually is one.
I would NOT recommend this book! This is my first Kelly Creagh book, and at this point I don't think I would read another.
I can't even say the cover is a saving grace for the book, because I really think it has poor composition and design. If I saw it on a shelf my eyes would glaze over and I would probably just complain about how it looks.
*This is an ARC I read, so writing is subject to change and does not reflect the finished copy.

First, this cover. Amazing. Spectacular.

ALSO JANE EYRE? The English major in me is screaming. Jane is a psychic artist and she receives an invitation to partake in a study giving her a sense of direction. Jane tries to figure out the mystery behind Elias and the manor and the spiritual activity and her feelings for Elias.

This was hauntingly beautiful. I loved everything about this. It was a very interesting read. I loved the group of friends and the mystery behind Elias. It was such an addicting and quick read. I adored the gothic vibe from this.

3.5
I enjoyed this!
It did at times feel very stereotypical and kinda read on the younger side for ya, but the spooky vibes were there!! so good for fall

This was a retelling of sorts of Jane Eyre and for me this was slow moving and took a while to get into. I think not being that big of a Jane Eyre played a part. The characters were interesting as I got to know them throughout the story but I was not really a fan of any one character particularly. There is definitely the portrayal of good versus evil and there is more going on then they realize. This would be the perfect book to read this fall for spooky season.