Jesse is returning to his small town home of Blacknot, North Carolina after receiving anonymous messages about the tragic and mysterious death of his mother when he was just a baby. But when he returns to town and begins his investigation, he stirs up a lot more than just information. Locals begin to get restless, he finds himself losing his own grip on reality, the mysterious abandoned Night House keeps calling to him, and there’s something strange in the woods.

Red Rabbit Ghost by Jen Julian releases on July 22nd!

“This world isn’t for me,” she says. “Do you know what that sounds like, knowing that? Nothing. A great fierce howl of nothing.”

Here’s what I loved:

Can I just say everything?

The entirety of this book had me in its clutches, and despite being close to 400 pages long, I devoured this book immediately. It’s an incredibly fast paced read while still managing to deeply explore characters, create an eerie vibe, and have you feeling twisted up within its story.

I don’t want to say too much because I think going into this book mostly blind is a lot of fun. Jesse is a fantastic character who is somehow confident in himself and also completely at a loss at the same time. He left for college and became independent, only to return home and regress immediately. The trauma he has been through and will face is so immense, and you become so protective of him while reading.

Alice, my sweet twisted child. She is probably my favourite character in this story. All of the reveals that happen for her character, backstory, and motives are so well done and twisted. And she’s also a bit of an unreliable narrator but you can’t help falling for her and believing every word she says, despite you knowing the real truth.

And I cannot say this enough; the vibes of this book are IMMACULATE. It’s like this mix of deep dread, delightful but creepy magic, and a sense of comfort and fear. When I finished the book, I was devastated to leave this world, even though this world is terrifying and filled with dark magic….or is it…

Ugh, I just loved this book. I’m rambling. But I just loved it.

Overall, I highly recommend pre-ordering Red Rabbit Ghost by Jen Julian. It hits shelves July 22nd. It’s perfect for those that love southern horror, deeply flawed characters, swamp magic, and immersive reading. A big thank you to Run For It (Orbit) for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

“She looked like she was seeing the end of the world.”