This book drew me in initially…I felt empathy for the mom and daughter on the run… until she pulled out her fathers heart preserved in alcohol… that was gross and over the edge and unnecessary and I don’t want to finish it.

Anna and her mother are on the run after a tragedy shatters their world. A stranger has offered them protection in a private community hidden deep in the woods, and Anna and her mother have no choice but to abandon their life and belongings to take refuge until they can figure out their next move. But the woman who helped them may not be what she seems.

Anna's mother is a witch and Anna sees horrible things. Amidst demons and witches this is thick with both horror and suspense, that works well as a scary, evil read, packed with all things dark. It is vivid and at times disturbing. There is great tension and pace, which makes for a great horror experience. And it is a trilogy so hopefully more to come. A great blend of all things that make a good horror with an afterburn.

“The First Time I Saw Her” by Jae Mazer is about a young girl discovering the depth of her power upon finding herself in the fight for life after stumbling upon a mysterious community teeming with dark forces. The story is teeming with magic, elements of classic horror stories laced with elements of mystery and brutality. A novel that is terrifying but elegant in the descriptions of gore and murder.

This is a story that I feel deserves a reread upon which I will discover even more nuances laced within the horrifyingly poetic imagery.

A story about a mom and daughter in hiding. They find themselves in a secret community that might be a cult. And the daughter has a mysterious little friend only she can see.

"The First Time I Saw Her" is a testament to Jae Mazer’s talent as a writer. It’s a story that resonates on multiple levels, offering both entertainment and emotional depth. Highly recommended for readers seeking a novel that is both engaging and thought-provoking."The First Time I Saw Her" is a captivating read that combines the best elements of horror and psychological drama. Jae Mazer’s expert storytelling and rich character development make this novel a standout in its genre. Whether you’re a fan of suspenseful horror or simply enjoy well-crafted narratives, this book is sure to leave a lasting impression.

The narration is from the point of a child and Mazer's dialogue from a childish perspective is outstanding. I look forward to more.

Witchy, gritty, and wonderfully executed. The First Time I Saw Her is a thrilling coming of age story woven with themes of trauma and identity. Mazer has a clear talent and I am excited for the rest of this trilogy and continue along on Anna's journey.

This is a first time author for me and I'm not disappointed! I loved the suspense and thrill of this book. I couldn't wait to find out what happened next and it kept me turning pages, which is a must in thriller/suspense/horror books for me. I loved following the FMC story! While this is going to be part of a series but can be read as a stand alone, I can't wait to see what the author come out with next to follow up this book!

This was a vivid horror story with a lot of interesting supernatural bits added in. I was hooked from the moment that the MC started to mention her new "friend," and I couldn't stop reading until the end.

-*~ My thoughts ~*-
I went into this book thinking I would probably just get a little spooked based on the cover. Little did I know how riveting, joyfully horrific, and even heartwarming this story is. In the beginning I thought I had Anna and her mother figured out. I did not. They have a beautiful mother/daughter bond that eventually becomes an important part of Anna’s character and origin story. There are supernatural elements, gore (which announced itself at the very beginning), fantasy, crime and very relatable albeit terrifying situations for all the characters. It is good versus evil and the gray area in between. I loved this story! I was left haunted, relieved and hopeful! I really hope there is a another part coming soon!

This is one of those books that made me question whether my level of being able to handle the darker things like gore is healthy because of my lack of shock to what I'm reading. I would use the term casual gore to describe the graphic scenes, in the sense that they weren’t written to shock but provide an insight to a mind very different to what we deem normal. The things that Anna sees in her mind are shown to us with a sense of calm, she still feels fear and lacks understanding of them, but they are not unnatural to her nature to see.

Once I'd finished reading and i read the about the author page the themes and thoughts i had throughout reading made perfect sense, you can very much see how the authors background of working with mental health has influenced her writing. The plot was not that unpredictable, but I spent enough time looking for the hidden or double meaning to be bothered by it, there was a consistently interesting, reflective thread of thought and questioning throughout.

Only thing that bothered me was no mention of what happened to Liza, what became of her?

I just finished reading a fascinating book by Jae Mazer, and I’m blown away. Following Anna, the young protagonist, was an incredible journey through a unique, creative world filled with witches, demons, ghosts, and murderers. The story begins with Anna and her mom on the run, leading to a strange village where dark secrets lurk beneath a facade of kindness.

The writing is often poetic and vividly detailed, making each scene come alive. While some descriptions were a bit over the top, the narrative kept me hooked with its mystery and horror elements. This intense, captivating tale is a great start to the Gossamer and Pitch trilogy. I can't wait to dive into more from Jae Mazer. All the stars to this mesmerizing book! Thank you, NetGalley and Last Waltz Publishing, for the ARC.

Such a good book. Loved the story. Loved the characters. The plot and storyline was impecable. I gave it 4 stars.

OK. Wait…just give me a minute.

*sits down*

Let me process this a wee bit.

*takes a deep, shaky breath*

I’ve just said goodbye to our little protagonist, Anna. I’m going to really miss her and the completely unique bookscape within which she resides. I’ve met witches and demons and ghosts and murderers over the last few hundred pages and I’m reeling as if I’ve been sucked up by a tornado of creativity and dumped down, bereft, in a much less interesting place.

We meet Anna and her Mum on the run, after something terrible has happened. Anna makes a new friend, a headless girl that carries a bowl of blood and/or tears wherever she goes; and is accompanied to strange little religious village in the country where many others seem also to be hiding. Where she also makes a few more friends and enemies, living and otherwise.

As dark things are afoot. Scape the shiny surface of the smiling aid given to them under the guise of the church and evil lurks within. To explain any more would be to suck the air out of such an exquisitely rendered tale full of wonder and grief, heartache and discovery.

Oftentimes, the writing is so beautiful, it reads like poetry. It unapologetically takes glee in describing things in ways that children might with the finesse of an adult vocabulary.

I genuinely chose this ARC copy as a ‘filler’ as I thought it was a short story.

It was neither short and it was certainly all killer, no filler.

Lovers of the strange, the supernatural, the mysterious and esoteric; of blood and spells, fire and brimstone: get this book in your brain and let it live there; as I know it will indefinitely with me from now on.

All the stars. All the kudos. All the wow.

THANK YOU for your words, Jae Mazer

If it seems too goof to be true then it probably is--advice these characters should have headed. This was a spooky and atmospheric read. I loved the setting, and the great cast of characters.

I loved this book! Mysterious, a little spooky and page turning. I would love to read more from this author and definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves a good mystery!

Ok so I really enjoyed this book. The narrator, although young, was very engaging and had great dialogue. The descriptive details in the book had me wanting more. There were some descriptions of things (comparing dripping blood to women’s cycles) that felt unnecessary, and found myself having to skim through that particular portion. Otherwise it’s a great tale, full of mystery, horror, and some gore. Definitely can’t wait to read more from this author and series! Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

Even though the protagonist was young, this book did not shy away from the horrific things she’d been through. The atmosphere was built so well and left me feeling unsettled. The story drew me in but the characters kept me reading. I’m excited to see what the author writes next.

What a diabolical coming of age story! Despite the main character’s youth, there are some extremely traumatic and horrifying events she goes through. This definitely isn’t a tale for children.

Anna and her mother flee after a crime to a sheltered commune in the forest. It’s too good to be true and the darkness and rot start to show through. Anna is also not like other girls, and as such everything becomes so much more complicated as she navigates horrors (supernatural and otherwise), entering womanhood, and trying to find out who/what she is.

This was certainly an intense and distressing read at times; one that really captivated my mind and put me in each moment and scene along with Anna. Jae Mazer definitely knows how to tell a tale, and the writing truly sucks you in.

Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Last Waltz Publishing for a copy!

Brutal and intense, a riveting horror book. Excellent character connection. Thank you for the opportunity to read this book. This story will stay with me for awhile.
4.5 stars

Great visualizations and left me feeling creeped out. Ending felt a little rushed and a bit confusing. Overall, I loved getting to know the characters