When you find a new take or story line you know this book is going to impress you. This story idea is something Ive never read and I loved it! Not only was it a new idea but the author did a great job creating this world and connecting me to the characters, I was completely invested in this book and wanted to know what would happen next.

Hush is created when someone dies with a secret, now this Hush carries the secret with them. Most Hush don't live long because the pull to tell their secret to the person it's about is so strong they tell then die. Eerie is a Hush but she is different because she doesn't know her secret and doesn't have the pull all other Hush have to tell her secret. Living in a governmental designated area with her family Eerie has one goal and thats to get out before her brother tells his secret. Most Hush don't last too long but she will do everything she can to help her brother.

Eerie may not remember her secret but she knows where she first woke so she stays away, until she meets Logan and finds out who his mother was. The fear she has of being too close to Logan is just as strong as the desire to be close to him. With Eerie's plans soon changing she is taken by the Hush who will do anything to keep their group safe even if it means sacrifice some of their own. They want information from Eerie she's sure she doesn't have.

I love the history of the Hush in this book, we see how they come to be and how many in the world hate them because what they represent as well as the fear they bring just for knowing secrets. I also love the twist in this book. The story is just superb and so impressive, we don't end this book on a cliffhanger per se but this story is not finished at all. I will for sure be reading the next book in this series

not only is this story amazing we get a great love story between Eerie and Logan and then so many other characters and twists in this book makes for a must read that I didn't want to put down. I am so impressed with this book and the author K.R. Blair. I can't lie the cover drew my attention and everything else made me not only stay but become hooked, I can't wait for book 2!

*Thank you Netgallery and Blackstone publishing for this book

I really love this book conceptually. There were some low spots but they needed to be there to build the plot. So don't expect a fast paced book. This has layers to it that will develop so stay with it. The ending of this book sets up the next part of the series in a way that should leave you excited if you're into sci-fi/fantasy.

Does this have the potential to go off the rails in the next book? Yup but I'm holding on to some faith that it'll be a solid installation.

I was fortunate enough to receive an audio ARC of this title but I am leaving my review voluntarily and honestly.

This was a truly unique read. Its plot and storyline are not like anything I have read before. However, I will say it gave me 2008 fantasy nostalgia. It has some drama, it has some paranormal aspects, some mystery and a dash of romance.

I found this one entertaining but the last few chapters are really what had me rounding my rating up. The plot twists had me screaming and that's a success to me.

Premise: Imagine a world where secrets literally come to life, and when those secrets unleash their truth, they die. That's the book. Like what!? It's such an interesting concept.

I rounded my 3.5 rating to 4 stars.

Thank you to Blackstone Publishing and K. R, Blair for providing me with a complimentary ALC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This book!! What a unique premise! I loved the concept of the hushed, which blends genres between fantasy, romantasy, and paranormal! Imagine a world where if ine dies with a secret, a hushed rises in its place, and its sole purpose is to tell the secret to then die as well. I mean, wow! It was executed brilliantly.

There’s forbidden love, found family, adventure, and life altering secrets. All of which led to some fantastic twists that I didn’t see coming! In a world that hates the very existence of those that are considered the hushed, this book feels very timely and relatable. I loved the complexity of the plot and the characters, especially Eerie, as she comes to terms with what’s expected of her versus what she wants out of her life. I think there’s a little bit of Eerie in all of us.

“𝐼 𝑎𝑚 𝑏𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑒 𝑑𝑒𝑎𝑡ℎ 𝑠𝑜 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑚𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑏𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑒 𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑒.”

The narration was fantastic-voiced by the master of fantasy voice work Elizabeth Evans (she narrates ToG and Crescent City)! She really brought these characters and story to life in the way that only she can achieve with this type of story. I highly recommend the audio book route although I know I’ll want a physical copy for my shelves as well! I can’t wait for the next in what I hope will be a series, as it leaves off on quite a cliffhanger. This is a must read, and it will be one you can turn the page fast enough but will leave you thinking about it long after!

•𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭 •
+ ends on a cliffhanger
+ unique premise
+ paranormal fantasy done well
+ when someone dies with secrets, a hushed is “born”
+ forbidden love
+ found family
+ shocking twists embedded in a complex mystery
+ enemies to lovers
+ fantastic audiobook narration
+ world building and atmospheric, sinister setting
+ race against the clock adventure

Thank you so much, @netgalley and @blackstonepublishing for this gifted ALC

I enjoyed the story of this book. I enjoyed the world building and the interesting idea of the Hushed. The ending makes me excited there is a second!
It was a good fantasy non-spice book that kept me interested and read this is 24 hours!
This narrator is one of my favorites and the way should told the story was perfect!
Thank you NatGalley and Blackstone publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

Let's start this off by saying, it is an interesting premise. The whole premise is based around that our secrets do not die with us, they come back to life and seek out those it would affect to tell them in turn upon saying said secret it kills the hushed as they call it that was once holding that secret. All things considered it had opportunity to be a great book it was just in my opinion executed poorly, maybe it was done entirely on purpose but the story was a mess.

The timeline felt like it could never be kept straight, things were just randomly being thrown in with no bearing on what the timeline was or were that event was falling in the timeline. The whole “romance” just did not feel like a romance really, it kind of felt like you took two characters and went “andddd kiss”. It felt rushed and forced and I just did not care for Eerie and Logan’s relationship. I’ll be honest their relationship gave me that vibe of that zombie movie from the 2010’s where the zombie fell in love with a human and I think he became human?

The book was incredibly slow paced, it took forever for anything even remotely interesting to happen, I’m talking like 60-70% of the book before stuff actually started to happen. We are told things that just seem to contradict things we were previously told and then not even given more information on it until like 80% of the way through the book. For example there are these things called slip pills that the hushed takes to appear human on the tests and we are told they are massively difficult to get ahold of but in the same breath are led to believe that Eerie is taking them to appear human, except wait. We aren’t told that the effects actually last several years until like 80% of the way through the book. In all honesty with the way this book is basically shoved together it felt like it wasn’t actually properly planned out. Stuff felt like it was just shoved into places because the author forgot to mention it earlier and even with the characters I felt no real connection to any of them, they were just there and there was no real reason for me to feel any type of way when something bad happens or when one of them died.

All around I was just disappointed in this book as I thought it was going to be something new and exciting based on the description and I was just quite frankly let down at every turn.

This book was very unique and I loved every second. Elizabeth Evans was perfect for the narration, and she did an incredible job!

This book took me a little while to fully get into, but once it grabbed hold of me, it really grabbed hold. The premise is so unique and fascinating—it’s unlike anything I’ve read before. I love how the story unfolds in unexpected ways, keeping you on your toes.

The characters are well-developed, and I found myself invested in each one. What stood out to me most was how you could almost feel the author’s creativity and thought process in every twist and turn of the plot. It’s clear that a lot of care went into crafting this story, and that’s something I really appreciate.

I like to think I’m pretty good at figuring out where a story is headed, but this one completely blindsided me. I honestly had no clue where it was going next, and that made the experience all the more thrilling. It’s one of those rare books that keeps you guessing right up to the end, and when it finally clicks, it’s a rewarding payoff.

Overall, this book is a thrilling, unpredictable ride that I won’t soon forget. The unique premise, memorable characters, and expertly crafted plot twists make it stand out from the crowd. If you’re looking for a story that will keep you engaged and leave you in awe, this one definitely delivers. It’s a journey worth taking from start to finish.

This story started out really strong for me. The Hushed are living, breathing secrets. That's right, when someone dies with a secret, a Hushed is "born" and their sole purpose on earth is to tell their secret. That being said, if they tell their secret, they will drop dead instantly.

I think at some point along the way, this story got a little convoluted for me and so I struggled following from the middle to the end. Could that have been due to the audio? Maybe. The narrator, Elizabeth Evans, is phenomenal in all the audio she's done so I'm not sure what the problem was.

I do think it's worth a listen or read. I think the premise was pretty cool and the twists kept me going.

"The Hushed" is an authentic paranormal thriller that exudes all the creepy vibes with a slow-burn narrative. Eerie is one of the Hushed, but unlike the others, she cannot remember the secret she was created to reveal. All she knows is that the secret is strongly connected to a fire at Ironbark Prison. When Eerie meets Logan, she begins to piece together the puzzle. As she embarks on a mission to help him find his own answers, Eerie becomes entangled in multiple secrets. She may hold the key to uncovering the truth about her kind.
The audio production of the novel was excellent. The pacing was exceptional, and I enjoyed the characters overall.

I truly enjoyed a new and unique story with great twists. It was fairly easy to follow in its world building with only minimal questions. The characters were likable and I am looking forward to the next book in this series.

Not all books are for everyone, and that's ok. Unfortunately this one was just not for me. It had a really interesting premise, but the execution didn't do it for me. i just couldn't get into the story. 1 star because I finished it, another star for the unique premise.

I really enjoyed this book. I listened to the audio version, and it was so well done. The idea behind the novel was so creative... the fact that when people die they create a living, breathing secret. It was unique and fascinating. I couldn't stop listening. I can't wait for more from this author.

Thank you Net Galley ARC and Blackstone Publishing!

The Hushed completely blew me away. It’s one of those books where you’re hooked from the first chapter and just can’t put it down. The whole concept of the Hushed (people created from secrets they can’t reveal) felt so fresh and unique, and the way everything built up to that jaw-dropping ending was incredibly satisfying.

Eerie is such a compelling character. Her struggle to uncover her past while knowing it might literally kill her added so much tension, and her dynamic with Logan was the perfect mix of forbidden romance and genuine connection. The mystery around the Ironbark Prison fire had me guessing the whole time, and when the pieces finally came together, it was worth every second.

This story has it all—paranormal thrills, romance, and twists you won’t see coming. It’s haunting, gripping, and so satisfying by the end. Highly recommend!

I found this book super unique in terms of the plot, but quite a few times I found myself struggling to be really gripped by it. It took me quite a while to get through this considering I absolutely love the narrator, I just feel like maybe this one wasn’t for me. I found myself getting confused quite a bit trying to remember who was who, what was happening in the world and why people were doing certain things.

If you love books such as The Host and Divergent, you may enjoy this one quite a bit! It certainly had that kind of vibe going which I did love.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read The Hushed!

I was genuinely shocked by how much I loved this book! The plot is so unique and original and the writing kept me wanting to know more! I can't wait for the sequel (I'm assuming there will be one with the way it ended.) I was offered the audiobook to review and the narrator did a wonderful job! Would highly recommend the audio version!

The Hushed by K.R. Blair is a paranormal, forbidden-romance thriller. The novel follows a group of “Hushed” - human like beings created by the confessed secret of a human just before dying. The Hushed don’t know what the secret is that created them, nor do they know who the secret belonged to. What they do know is this - one day, without control, they will tell that secret to the person it will hurt the most, then the Hushed will die. (Yep. Pretty dark and twisty)
This book is perfect for those looking for a YA novel with multi layer characters, original premise, suspense and surprising twists.
Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for this prerelease audiobook. The story was amazing and Elizabeth Evans’ narration was great.

I literally devoured this in 24 hours.

First of all, the audiobook has the same narrator (Elizabeth Evans) as Throne of Glass and Crescent City, so it was an immediate yes for me. Love her.

Second of all, the plot was so unique and refreshing for a paranormal thriller.

Imagine a world where, when you die, your deepest, darkest secrets become living, breathing beings. Not only do they look human, but their only goal in life is to tell your secret to the one who needs to hear it the most. Once they find them, they are compelled to tell the secret, and then they die. That is the whole premise of this novel. Throw in a deadly forbidden romance with lots of plot twists, and you have a great read!

There is something I’m hoping will happen in the next one, and fans of Shatter Me will understand when I say I want an Aaron Warner situation. Love Logan, but there is someone else that’s piqued my interest…That is all.

4.5 stars!!

Wow, I love the concept of this book. Eerie is a part of a class of beings known as the Hushed, who carry the secrets of humans after they have died. What happens when she falls in love with a human named Logan? She believes that she is the Hushed for Logan's mom, who perished in a prison fire. There is a dark mystery surrounding the circumstances of the fire, and members of the Hushed set out to uncover it. But not everyone wants this secret out.

This was a really unique story that I was able to get into pretty easily after rewinding the start of the audiobook a couple of times. I've never listened to a fantasy audiobook before so I really found myself paying extra attention to the world building. Some things will not make sense right away, but keep listening/reading because it gets interesting.

The audiobook narration was decent.

I would venture a guess that this is going to be the first in a series or that there's at least a sequel coming, based on the ending. I look forward to more!

Elizabeth Evans is an amazing narrator. She lends her voice to Eerie and enhances the experience as a listener.

This is a secret I will be spilling. The Hushed will be the next smash hit book that will hit the shelves and booktok. K.R. Blair provides a new species to the paranormal thriller world and did not leave any plot holes.

If Crescent City is your favorite Sarah J Maas series, run to read or listen to The Hushed.

Friendships. Romances. Mystery. A huge twist at the end. An opening for this to become a series. I can’t wait for the world to get ahold of this book and author.

Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing Audiobooks for the ARC opportunity in exchange for my honest opinion.