Though this was a fast read, it was fun and different and I enjoyed it.
This is the telling of a young girl whose family goes to keep on her dead Nana's legacy and puppet show, but the place had gone downhill after her passing.
Tessa's parents hire a random lady to take after the puppet show and more children begin to come.
Tessa makes friends her age but some kids go missing, and the parents seem to be under-spell and think of it all as a silly joke.
Even the ones who lost children seemed to not notice or even care.
Tessa is determined to save her friends and all the other innocent lives taken hostage, but she feels drawn to the witch as if she's being manipulated and wants to be the same.
(The rest I'll leave out🌚)
Though I very much enjoyed this I wished for more as the ending felt a bit rushed to me.

Thanks netgalley and the publisher for this free copy in exchange for an honest review 🫶🏻

Firstly, I would like to say how enthralling this book is! It had my attention from the very beginning and I finished it so quick. It was such an easy read. The characters were well developed and I really appreciated Zac lol! If you want a palate cleanser, please choose this one! Simple but detailed and intriguing! It was a delightful read!

*Hidden Strings* by K.J. Mist is a captivating blend of mystery and fantasy, offering a rich, immersive world that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. The story follows a protagonist with unique abilities, navigating a web of secrets and hidden agendas, all while grappling with personal dilemmas. Mist’s writing is vivid and engaging, with intricate world-building and dynamic character development that makes each twist and turn feel both unpredictable and earned. Fans of urban fantasy and suspense will find themselves quickly drawn into the complex, enigmatic plot. Overall, *Hidden Strings* is a spellbinding read that leaves a lasting impression.

A great dark mystery for younger readers. I would have loved this as a kid and quite enjoyed it in my thirties. I especially lived the POV character.

Overall, this was a good thriller! It's short but it conveys what it needs to convey. Tessa was sweet and I liked her determination to save the kids. It was an easy read and I flew through it. Sweet and short!

Overall, I enjoyed this title. Was easy to follow along, especially because of the short chapters and clear character descriptions. Didn't find anything especially creative overall, but maybe for this younger audience it would be more of a new story. Suggested for 2nd and 3rd graders....I thought some of the storyline might be a little mature for that age group but it is a different world for sure so maybe that's just me. Overall, it was a pretty quick read on my Kindle.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me review this book. This is a middle school suspense novel. I like how Tessa never gave up and kept trying to get to the bottom of the mystery of why people kept disappearing. I like how words can bring stories to life and make magic happen.

This was an enjoyable horror read on a play of an old criminal minds episode with dolls & mixed with pinnochio of the wooden “toys.” I guessed both of the twists. It was an entertaining horror novella read. I would recommend. I don’t expect happily ever afters in horror books so that’s why it’s getting lower than 4 stars for me.

I found this to be such a cute young readers horror book. It is the perfect introduction to the horror genre for younger kids with such a gripping story line. I loved the stories within the story itself and the message of you can do brave things even when you're scared. My only negative with this story was whenever they were telling the stories within the book, the author used the same lead in every time, I just wish there were a little diversity in the lead up, but overall great book and I absolutely loved Zac the donkey!

Thank you to NetGalley, KJ Mist and North Star Editions for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book has an excellent concept that Mist executes really well. The characters were endearing, especially the main character Tessa. I really felt for her and her backstory.

I think this is perfect for the target demographic (10-14) but I had a really good time with it too! I’d recommend it to young fans of books like goosebumps.

Thanks so much for letting me read this! It’s cute and creepy, and a lot of fun. The formatting was a little difficult, but not too bad.

I loveee a middle grade book! So quick, easy to read and fun!! I devoured this spooky, YA thriller!!

Ok y’all, I’m new to NetGalley and didn’t know to check the tags. I was just intrigued by the description, and then surprised by the length of the book. Now I know this is a book for Middle Grades. But you know what, so was the Hunger Games and I adore that story to this day.

I’m not sure how valuable my review will be, since I am not in middle grades nor do I know anyone who is, but I will just say that I loved this story.

It felt more like a fleshed out fable than a novel, and was wholly original. The fact that I polished it off so fast is a testament to how good the story is, and the fact that it’s for someone a several decades my junior but it still kept my interest says a lot.

If you have a child who is a little spooky and isn’t afraid of old ladies in RVs, get this book in their hands!

Such a great young adult horror book. The overall story was interesting and so were the mini stories told by Liza. The ending was not expected either.

Over all enjoyed. Tessa’s journey through the book was a bit wishy washy but glad it all worked out in the end. I wish there was more about mason and the twins at the end. I loved the story times, short simple n to the point.
Thank you net galley for allowing me an arc. Perfect YA thriller.

Really enjoyed this story, great for the intended audience and even as an adult I really enjoyed it. The story itself was clever, enjoyed the horror elements and the writing was quick and clear.