Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC. I’ll start by saying, I should’ve loved this book. It has everything I’m looking for—a creepy setting, a serial killer, and unreliable narrators galore. I also really enjoyed the writing style. So the only thing I can come up with for why I didn’t love this is twofold: 1, I seem to be in a bit of a slump. Nothing is grabbing my attention. And 2, the layout of the digital ARC was near impossible to read. It was definitely missing paragraphs, and the layout in general was a nightmare. This may be one that I buy and give another go, because I really want to love it.

The Looking Glass Sound means different things to different people with the folklore, the rumours and different stories. The folklore and rumours were not all made up, and each person has a special connection to the place and each other.

The initial 1/4 of the book was atmospheric, and the bond between Wilder, Nat and Harper was interesting. As the book progressed it got confusing to differentiate what was happening. Towards the end, it started to kind of make more sense, but was still confusing as heck. I think it was a chance for each person to explain their connection to the place, and their connections to each other.

I am choosing to not complete this book (made it to 50%) as it has content I am not personally comfortable reading. As far as mysteries go, it seems tangled and interesting (feels like Stephen King but the prose isn’t as arresting), and the mood/atmosphere of the book will appeal to many.

I love ambitious books. In this one, Catriona Ward swung for the fences and knocked it into another dimension with this stunning piece of metafiction. I thought I was in for some summer vacation horror about another weird kid, but this one ended up being way more. The plot alone is killer, making it a thrilling ride through trauma and the power of shared experiences. This is far and away Ward's best, and she's written many incredible stories before this one. I highly recommend this and would not be surprised if this title took over TikTok upon its release.

4.5 rounded down

Really engaging but equal parts mind bending and wtf.

If you liked the last house on needless street, definitely pick this one up.

I find Ward’s writing engaging and her characters so interesting.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of Catriona Ward’s latest, Looking Glass Sound. I loved Last House on Needless Street, so I was anticipating some twists and turns with this story. This book was completely mind-bending. I think it’s best to go into this one without knowing too much. This book has A LOT going on. I was absolutely confused up until the very end. And if I’m being honest, I feel like I need to reread it to grasp more of the meta concepts. Overall, it took me a minute to get into the story, but by 30% through I really was digging it. I would recommend reading for a bit of a brain exercise, definitely not light reading. I loved the horror and witchy aspects for sure. Those were the best parts. I gave this book a three because I feel like it could have been slightly less confusing, but I did really enjoy the ride.

Well, this book definitely delivered on the “mind bending” promise! This is my 2nd book by Ward, and both of them have been strange and atmospheric, with the story not making total sense until basically the end.

This book has multiple POV, which I always like. It was a little confusing at times to follow the story in each POV and keep track of who was who. The book within a book sections also got a little confusing, but overall I followed it enough to understand what was happening.

I’d say this isn’t an “in your face” horror, but rather a slow and sinister one. There are some creepy elements sprinkled throughout, but especially in the last quarter of the book. I liked the addition of witchcraft in the plot, but wish it was explained a little more. The ending was great and wrapped up/explained things nicely, and I felt like my (many) questions were answered.

If you’re in the mood for a mindf*ck of a book, look no further!

I feel like I can’t delve too much into the details of this book without giving things away, but it’s about a boy named Wilder and the two friends he makes while summering in a small New England town where a serial killer is on the loose.

LOOKING GLASS SOUND by Catriona Ward was my first read by her, but it sounds like her other books include some of the same fuckery…

The first half of this book was really strong for me! It was atmospheric and eerie, and the mystery surrounding the Dagger Man had me hooked!

BUT it took a turn (many if I’m being honest) that had me thinking way too hard and tunneled me into a confusion spiral that I have yet to fully come out of.

This book felt like a million books squished into one book (iykyk) and my brain still feels a little fried from the information overload.

I thought I’d know how I actually felt about this book by the time I finished writing this review, but “This book is great, I hated it!” is all that’s running through my head 😂

I think this one will be divisive for sure!

Thanks to NetGalley, Tor Publishing, and Tor Nightfire for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Publication Date: August 8

Wilder Harlow returns to his family’s cottage overlooking the Maine coast to finish the last book he’ll ever write; a story about childhood friends and the serial killer who terrorized their small community. I went into LOOKING GLASS SOUND having never read any of Catriona Ward’s books but knowing that her stories are notably twisty and eccentric. So, I left all expectations at the door, paid close attention to every detail, and let the story consume me. And for about ¾ of the book I was enthralled, even when confused or oblivious to what would happen next, I couldn’t put it down. I was almost desperate to see how it would all come together in the end. Then something happened that disrupted the tension and suspense, replacing it with repetition and reveals that felt a bit anti-climactic. However, the intricacy of the story – there were so many layers and, somehow, she tied up all the loose ends and still maintained an air of ambiguity – was mind blowing. Even though this wasn’t my favorite book, I’m looking forward to reading something from her backlist in the future. Huge thank you to Tor Nightfire for the arc!

Thank you NetGalley, Tor Publishing Group and Catriona Ward for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

I went into this book blind and I'm so glad I did! It was so wild and unsettling in the best way and I couldn't "turn" the pages of my kindle fast enough! This was my first time reading Catriona Ward but it won't be my last! I loved the multiple timelines and while it did get a tad confusing at times, I absolutely loved it all and want to read it again because it was so good!!

Solid 4 star book for me and I need to grab a physical copy for my shelf asap. ◡̈

Looking Glass Sound was dark and unsettling. I enjoyed so much about this book. This is the second book by Catriona Ward that I've read and I had so much fun with this story than I did the other. Plot twists i didn't see coming, eerie and bleak. Loved this book!

Wowza - this book was wild! Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing/Macmillan Audio for advanced copies of both the ebook and audiobook because this was such a trip!

I had no idea what to expect from this book going into it but it ended being absolutely mind blowing and had me looking in every direction for answers. Even now that I’m completely done with the book, I still don’t know what was true and what was false. There were multiple timelines and I couldn’t tell you which one was the main/true story (I think I know but I won’t get into it because it’s kind of spoiler-y.) I also can’t tell you which characters actually existed and which were fictionalized within the story (again - maybe I know? But maybe I don’t? 😂)

I 100% think my mystery/suspense/horror friends will love this and I 100% recommend going in blind. It might be kind of messy doing so but it’ll be worth the adventure. Looking Glass Sound drops Aug 8!

In this creepy and twisty novel, Wilder, an awkward teenager, finally makes friends when his family spends the summer at their seaside cottage. Unfortunately, the trio uncover a horrific truth that will forever change their lives.

Thank you NetGalley, Tor Nightfire, and Catriona Ward for the advanced copy of Looking Glass Sound in exchange for my honest review.

I was absolutely HOOKED on this one until roughly 70% in, and then I got so beyond confused I had a really hard time even understanding what I was reading. Having finished it, I still can't confidently say I understood what happened.

Fans of Ward's writing style from her previous books will definitely not be surprised by this one, ultimately I think it just wasn't for me.

Nevertheless, I will continue to anxiously await everything Ward publishes! Looking Glass Sound is on bookshelves next Tuesday, August 8!

I’m quickly becoming a big fan of Catriona Ward’s work, this is the third novel of hers that I have read and they continue to keep me guessing. Her work reads like a breath of fresh air in a genre that can often be subject to trends and repetitive narratives. This particular book has a really interesting narrative structure that in the hands of a less skilled author could have felt trite but here kept me turning the pages well into the night. Can’t wait to see what she does next.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

𝘼 𝙢𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙥 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙮𝙖𝙡, 𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙠 𝙤𝙗𝙨𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙗𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙚𝙨𝙘𝙖𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮.

This is one of the most difficult reviews to write, just because I still don’t understand everything that happened. It took me almost half the book to fully grasp what was going on.

There’s always something about Catriona Ward’s stories that just get me. I love her writing style, but I’m always finding myself having to go back because I get so confused about what’s real and what’s not.

As always, the setting in this one is super creepy and eerie. I did a combo of the ebook and audio, and honestly, I was still confused most of the time 🤣 there’s always a lot going on and I was contemplating whether I read it right or not.

I do recommend going into this one not knowing much, you’ll probably be confused either way - unless it was just me. I do think I liked the ending more than the beginning.

My favorite thing about the book was the mystery of the dagger man. I liked Wilder, Nat, and Harper. Although, at times, their friendship was super rocky and toxic.

Ultimately, the book was super weird and confusing at times. I’ll honestly still pick up anything this author writes because the writing is super satisfying and engaging. I think Sundial is still my favorite from Ward, but there’s no doubt this twisty, gothic story will be a great summer read for some!

Thank you so much NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for the eARC and physical copy, and Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest review!

I requested a copy of the ARC from the publisher, TOR Nightfire, on NetGalley and was approved in exchange for consideration of a review. All opinions discussed are my own and are subjective to myself as a reader.

Catriona Ward has a long list of accomplishments from her works: Winner of Best Hardcover Novel at the ITW Thriller Awards for SUNDIAL, Finalist for the Bram Stoker and Locus Awards, Shortlisted for the British Fantasy Award for Best Horror Novel and a finalist here on Goodreads for Best Horror!

After the mind-bending ride that was SUNDIAL, I knew there would be more Catriona Ward in my future and was delighted to discover NetGalley was offering ARCs for her newest release, LOOKING GLASS SOUND, slated for expected release August 8, 2023.

"Friends can break your heart, it seems, just like love."


Wilder Harlow will never forget when his family began spending summers at the cottage on Whistle Bay in New England. Due to his strange looks and tendency to keep to himself, Wilder had no friends and thought there might be something special about this cottage overlooking the Maine coast. He is quickly welcomed by the friendly, easy-going Nathaniel and his best friend, Harper. The three are almost inseparable - until tragedy strikes, which only serves to bond them closer together - forever.

"People around here don't seem to talk much, but they like to do small kindnesses."


The character of Wilder Harlow is written so well. His loneliness during the school year, unwilling to share the pain with his parents about the constant bullying. He was around the age of 16, Wilder was struggling to understand what love was and if it was tied to a specific gender. I found this confusion to be very relatable. The author made me feel the depth of this child's emotions. When he meets Harper and Nat in New England, watching their friendship form and strengthen was so endearing and charming. Not only did Wilder fall in love with his new pair of friends, he also fell in love with the small town and its people who lived there. I enjoyed watching him emerge from his shell. He had such a kind soul.

"Being scared is fun. But you have to make it feel real to be properly afraid."


In addition to the budding friendship, readers also learn this little town has a dangerous mystery shrouding it - the mystery of The Dagger Man. Who is this mysterious person breaking into occupied homes, yet takes nothing? In fact, the families never know The Dagger Man has been there until they receive the picture in the mail...and the picture is terrifying. As soon as I read my first bit about The Dagger Man, I. WAS. ON. BOARD! I love when a story has high stakes, where a life or lives hang in the balance - that sense of time running out, not knowing if/when this person may escalate or where they may show up next. This mystery, along with Wilder's character development were my favorite things about this book.

'Writing is power,' she says. 'Big magic. It's a way of keeping someone alive forever.'


Isn't this what we love most about reading? The ability to return to our favorite worlds, characters and scenes over and over and over as the years go by? Catriona Ward has once again written a book that impacted me with its insight at how stories we read can shape us in ways that can change us forever. This is only rivaled by how masterful she is at writing characters that mean something to you - whether it be because of shared personal experience or because someone close to you has - how she writes human fragility is utterly captivating.

Another hit for me from this author - I will continue to read more of her backlog as I wait for anything new she publishes!

The quotes in this review were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.

Rating: 3.5/5 — but could even be closer to 4 stars?? I think I need to reread the book (knowing what I know now) 😂🥲 This one was so meta that it was hard to grasp at times, but I also think I really enjoyed my reading experience? A book within a book within a book. A lot of tense & unsettling feelings. Unreliable narrator much? In the end, I'm pretty sure I understood everything, even if it was a bit of a struggle to get there. It definitely challenged me as a reader to fully understand the story in total. I need a re-read/to annotate. I loved the Last House on Needless Street so I was a little sad this didn't quite live up to the same expectation, but I'll definitely be reading more by Catriona Ward.

Ward's books are always creepy and creative and always an immediate buy for me! Utterly terrifying and mysterious!

This was my third book read by Catriona Ward. I loved Sundial and I’m a bit familiar with her writing style. I’m also a big fan of Literary Horror. The weirder the better!

I thought this book started really good!! Loved the atmosphere, the characters and the plot!! Was flying through it and then about the halfway mark, it started to lose me. I was getting confused and didn’t know what was going on. I was hoping the ending would have the answers on what I was so confused about but I just did not like it.

I think this book will work for people that love her books but for me it just didn’t.

Thank you Tor Nightfire and Netgalley for the arc!