DAMAGED SKULL WRITER AND REVIEWER’S REVIEW OF “THE DAUGHTERS OF BLOCK ISLAND” IS NOW ON GOODREADS!

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The Daughters of Block Island by Christa Carmen

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


The Daughters of Block Island
Christa Carmen
10/10/2023
Thomas & Mercer
Reviewed by Brian “Skull” Lewis
Hello speculative fiction fans, it’s your old pal Skull with an exceptional tale of mystery by the one and only Christa Carmen. The Daughters of Block Island is a two-part journey that follows sisters Blake Bronson and Thalia Mills who have reached their twenties with no knowledge of each other until the recent unfolding of events. It appears that they’re both daughters of Maureen Mills who lives and works on the New England summer vacation destination, Block Island. But it’s not a very nice place to visit in the off season when all the sunshine, laughter, and quaint beach umbrellas disappear into stormy darkness where it is easy to hide secrets and maybe even a few bodies.
Blake Bronson arrives on Block Island with the hopes of finding answers about her tumultuous life of foster homes, bad relationships, and addiction to drugs and alcohol that have made her life unmanageable to say the least. She wants her newfound sobriety to keep her strong and in control. Instead, she finds the B and B she’s staying at, a New England manor called White Hall, vastly unnerving. Blake feels as if she’s stepped into one of the Victorian novels she read as a child. Still, she squares her shoulders and tries to focus on her goals even as the ghosts of her past and the real one that inhabits White Hall do their best to push her off course. Maybe if she can meet her birth mother, it’ll help her to understand why she’s the way she is. Maybe they can even be friends? She finds some unexpected allies to help her with her quest and a few really smarmy ones, like the owner of Graham’s Resort whose hormones go into overdrive the minute anything remotely female comes into view. It is during this time that she gets ahold of Thalia’s address and writes her a letter about what’s happening on Block Island. Unfortunately, Blake meets a gruesome end before she can reunite with her sister…
Somehow Blake’s letter makes it to Thalia’s apartment in Boston and even after death she can still speak to her sister through the power of the written word. A quick internet search reveals that Blake is real and also quite dead. The media claims that it’s the work of one of White Hall’s owners. That’s enough to make Boston lawyer Thalia leave her partner Laura behind to tackle the mystery of Blake’s sudden death and also to revisit her difficult mother, Maureen, who appears to have forgotten to tell her some important things. Even though the geographic distance isn’t huge, Thalia feels like she’s on another planet when the ferry deposits her back onto the tiny place where she grew up. It’s not a good feeling and if it weren’t for her best friend Sarah greeting her at the dock, she’d probably just jump back on the ferry and abandon Block Island like she did so many years ago to be rid of the pain, her weird mother, and the discrimination she felt for preferring women over men. Having a friend on the island is good, but it isn’t long before Thalia finds herself deep into trouble. Her arrival hasn’t gone unnoticed, and a lot of people don’t seem very happy that’s she’s come home. White Hall’s owner claims she’s innocent of wrongdoing while her greasy boyfriend keeps showing up unexpectedly. Thalia begs her mother to just tell her the truth, but Maureen can’t. As she learns the reasons why, The Daughters of Block Island rockets into high gear, pulling readers along with it. Heart pumping action, unbelievably good plot twists, and the secrets being revealed will keep your eyes glued to the pages until the ending.
Damaged Skull Writer and Reviewer gives The Daughters of Block Island a glowing 5 STARS! This is without a doubt, the best novel your ol pal Skull has read in many moons. In fact, The Daughters of Block Island by Christa Carmen gets my vote for best book of 2023. The twin story lines weave around each other beautifully and readers will be surprised by what develops before their amazed eyes. Carmen continues to pull tricks out of her hat until the terrifying, wave crashing finale. Not only is this one hell of a fine story but the author continues to do what makes her previous work so strong and special. Christa Carmen weaves important issues into her work without being preachy. She shows us all sides of addiction, the fear of relapse in recovery, the hurt and anger, and some of the whys. How violence against women is often condoned, the victims force fed excuses, repeatedly hurt and lied to. Carmen also pulls aside the curtains of a cute little town, the kind that is idolized in America, and shows what’s really going on, especially when no one’s looking. Her portrayal of Block Island really resonates with your old pal Skull because in a former life, I lived and ran a business in a similar place and the scars still remain. Bottom line, The Daughters of Block Island is an excellent book that appeals to a wide scope of readers. It’s for lovers of mysteries, horror, and excellent storytellers who have something to say and the power to help old wounds to finally heal.
Want more information about Christa Carmen’s work? Then go to: www.christacarmen.com She’s also taking orders for signed copies of The Daughters of Block Island which would make a great holiday gift! While you’re at it, please consider giving Damaged Skull Writer and Reviewer a follow here on WordPress. This is your old pal Skull wishing you Happy Holidays and safe travels until we meet again!
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CHRISTA CARMEN’S NEW NOVEL “THE DAUGHTERS OF BLOCK ISLAND IS A FANTASTIC MYSTERY THAT TAKES READERS ON A TERRIFYING JOURNEY INTO THE HEART OF A VICTORIAN NOVEL

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The Daughters of Block Island
Christa Carmen
10/10/2023
Thomas & Mercer
Reviewed by Brian “Skull” Lewis

Hello speculative fiction fans, it’s your old pal Skull with an exceptional tale of mystery by the one and only Christa Carmen. The Daughters of Block Island is a two-part journey that follows sisters Blake Bronson and Thalia Mills who have reached their twenties with no knowledge of each other until the recent unfolding of events. It appears that they’re both daughters of Maureen Mills who lives and works on the New England summer vacation destination, Block Island. But it’s not a very nice place to visit in the off season when all the sunshine, laughter, and quaint beach umbrellas disappear into stormy darkness where it is easy to hide secrets and maybe even a few bodies.

Blake Bronson arrives on Block Island with the hopes of finding answers about her tumultuous life of foster homes, bad relationships, and addiction to drugs and alcohol that have made her life unmanageable to say the least. She wants her newfound sobriety to keep her strong and in control. Instead, she finds the B and B she’s staying at, a New England manor called White Hall, vastly unnerving. Blake feels as if she’s stepped into one of the Victorian novels she read as a child. Still, she squares her shoulders and tries to focus on her goals even as the ghosts of her past and the real one that inhabits White Hall do their best to push her off course. Maybe if she can meet her birth mother, it’ll help her to understand why she’s the way she is. Maybe they can even be friends? She finds some unexpected allies to help her with her quest and a few really smarmy ones, like the owner of Graham’s Resort whose hormones go into overdrive the minute anything remotely female comes into view. It is during this time that she gets ahold of Thalia’s address and writes her a letter about what’s happening on Block Island. Unfortunately, Blake meets a gruesome end before she can reunite with her sister…

Somehow Blake’s letter makes it to Thalia’s apartment in Boston and even after death she can still speak to her sister through the power of the written word. A quick internet search reveals that Blake is real and also quite dead. The media claims that it’s the work of one of White Hall’s owners. That’s enough to make Boston lawyer Thalia leave her partner Laura behind to tackle the mystery of Blake’s sudden death and also to revisit her difficult mother, Maureen, who appears to have forgotten to tell her some important things. Even though the geographic distance isn’t huge, Thalia feels like she’s on another planet when the ferry deposits her back onto the tiny place where she grew up. It’s not a good feeling and if it weren’t for her best friend Sarah greeting her at the dock, she’d probably just jump back on the ferry and abandon Block Island like she did so many years ago to be rid of the pain, her weird mother, and the discrimination she felt for preferring women over men. Having a friend on the island is good, but it isn’t long before Thalia finds herself deep into trouble. Her arrival hasn’t gone unnoticed, and a lot of people don’t seem very happy that’s she’s come home. White Hall’s owner claims she’s innocent of wrongdoing while her greasy boyfriend keeps showing up unexpectedly. Thalia begs her mother to just tell her the truth, but Maureen can’t. As she learns the reasons why, The Daughters of Block Island rockets into high gear, pulling readers along with it. Heart pumping action, unbelievably good plot twists, and the secrets being revealed will keep your eyes glued to the pages until the ending.

Damaged Skull Writer and Reviewer gives The Daughters of Block Island a glowing 5 STARS! This is without a doubt, the best novel your ol pal Skull has read in many moons. In fact, The Daughters of Block Island by Christa Carmen gets my vote for best book of 2023. The twin story lines weave around each other beautifully and readers will be surprised by what develops before their amazed eyes. Carmen continues to pull tricks out of her hat until the terrifying, wave crashing finale. Not only is this one hell of a fine story but the author continues to do what makes her previous work so strong and special. Christa Carmen weaves important issues into her work without being preachy. She shows us all sides of addiction, the fear of relapse in recovery, the hurt and anger, and some of the whys. How violence against women is often condoned, the victims force fed excuses, repeatedly hurt and lied to. Carmen also pulls aside the curtains of a cute little town, the kind that is idolized in America, and shows what’s really going on, especially when no one’s looking. Her portrayal of Block Island really resonates with your old pal Skull because in a former life, I lived and ran a business in a similar place and the scars still remain. Bottom line, The Daughters of Block Island is an excellent book that appeals to a wide scope of readers. It’s for lovers of mysteries, horror, and excellent storytellers who have something to say and the power to help old wounds to finally heal.

Want more information about Christa Carmen’s work? Then go to: www.christacarmen.com She’s also taking orders for signed copies of The Daughters of Block Island which would make a great holiday gift! You can also contact her on X (formerly Twitter) @christaqua. While you’re at it, please consider giving Damaged Skull Writer and Reviewer a follow here on WordPress. This is your old pal Skull wishing you Happy Holidays and safe travels until we meet again!

FEELING DRAINED AFTER THE LOSS OF OUR NEARLY 20 YEAR OLD CAT MURPHY BROWN

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Today we had to help one hell of a good reading companion cross the rainbow bridge. Luckily we had assistance from the wonderful people at The Cat Doctor and it was a peaceful and tearful final journey. Murphy was a fighter who beat cancer and used every one of his nine lives before he left this world behind. We were blessed that he chose us. Always charming, sometimes funny, and amazingly quiet with the softest fur, Murphy made even crummy days better. He would often sit like this on the porch with me as I wrote book reviews enjoying the sunshine in one of his shirts that he truly enjoyed wearing. Murphy was a very tolerant cat and usually enjoyed visitors much more than Moon who would disappear before quests even arrived. When we adopted a big dog, Murphy somehow let it be known that he was the boss of the house without any screaming, fur fluffing, or fisticuffs. He was not a big cat and the dogs had the physical upper hand, but neither Jake nor Axle ever tried to overrun Murphy’s authority. Much respect to the quiet little boss of the house. He will live on forever in our hearts.

Murphy with his watchdog, Axle, enjoying the outdoors

If you’re looking for this notebook, it is currently unavailable

LAST HALLOWEEN JOHN JAMES MINSTER THRILLED US WITH “THE UNDERTAKER’S DAUGHTER.” THIS YEAR, HE’S BACK WITH “THE VENGEFUL DEAD!”

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THE VENGEFUL DEAD
John James Minster
May 1, 2023
Reviewed by Brian “Skull” Lewis

Hello dear readers, it’s your old pal Skull with The Vengeful Dead, an awesome collection of short horror stories by John James Minster. This book yanks readers out of their chairs, slams them against the wall, and drops them on the floor in a terrified heap with a new understanding of the darkness all around us. From perverted teenagers trying to become online sensations, to a creepy cult that targets rich, middle-aged nerds, all will find out that the saying “where there’s a will, there’s a way” can be made horrifyingly true by those who somehow defy the finality of death to exact revenge. Minster’s work feels all the more real because he uses actual places as the locations of his stories so there’s no wishy-washy small town in the middle of nowhere that the reader has to construct in their heads. You’re in Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania with a man having the most amazing time of his life, or on the mucky bank of the Schuykill River amongst a pile of junk while a lifeless body sinks below the dark water…Intrigued? Good! Now let’s go visit The Vengeful Dead.

Son of A Ghoul is my favorite story in this collection, not because I’m a big fan of grave robbing but because the mix of super technology and old school money making is awesome. Grave robbing has been going on since time began and it’s still going on today. But the narrator of this tale explains how high-tech things have become in his profession. However, when these robbers cross an ancient curse during one fateful night, they learn the hard way that what you don’t believe in can hurt you. Logic flies out the window as the impossible rears its very ugly head. Anyone for a trip to the remotest parts of Alaska?

Magic 8 Ball Online dating sites have made for some successful relationships, but they also open the door for predatory types with agendas that don’t mean anything good for their victims. Gabe thinks he’s in paradise when he meets a woman who’s half his age, loves having sex, and seems to love him too. Not only that, but due to a creepy yard sale held by one of her friends, he becomes the owner of a Magic 8 Ball that’s helping him build his stock portfolio. Sounds great, right? What could possibly go wrong? Turns out, a whole lot. Gabe’s nirvana turns nightmare when it’s discovered that he has a fatal illness, or does he?

Magus. Why is a Jewish American male walking the streets of Palestine alone? Because he is seeking the best illusions to use in his magic show, of course. Sam Magus is a Las Vegas based magician who needs to knock his crowds out of their chairs or face the consequences. A proud and arrogant man, being the new owner of a talisman that enables him to do whatever he wants makes for astounding performances but also opens up a dark side that gets hungrier with each show. Blood sacrifices are demanded, and not just any old person will do. It must be someone Magus truly loves How long can this twisted relationship of murder and flash go on?

Book of the Dead After doing prison time for granting patients with debilitating conditions the opportunity to end their suffering, Dr. Merrick Arthur Bicko gets released. Unfortunately, his newfound freedom isn’t a source of joy. Stripped of his credentials, Bicko can’t practice medicine anymore, which also means he can’t kill people under the guise of helping them. In an effort to scratch the itch to kill anything, the doctor becomes a tree removal technician. At first, he enjoys his work and the money he makes doing it, but trees don’t show emotion or the totality of human death. So, he decides a new course, becoming a contracted killer for the American prison system. And like an over the hill rockstar returning to the business after hiatus, Bicko is back! He’s got a new drug and some new plans, and the prison wardens love him. Executions are going smoothly, they look good, he works cheap. On a more spiritual level, the darkness is rolling in. Bicko is being haunted by his victims in a rather unique way and there’s only one way to redeem himself. Is that a motor starting in the distance? I wonder what for?

Family Plot When Jayden Bonner sets his sights on getting himself a sugar mamma, he gets a whole lot more than he expected. Arabella’s family is so incredibly rich, they could light their cigars with hundred-dollar bills if they wanted to. But there is a lot more to this family than their bulging moneybags and luxurious estate that just happens to contain a family cemetery with tons of CCTV cameras all over the place. Bonner might be a sham lover with his eyes on the prize, but he’s far from the worst manipulator in this twisted pile of diamond studded cow pies. Like they say, it’s the quiet ones you need to watch out for.

Damaged Skull Writer and Reviewer gives THE VENGEFUL DEAD by John James Minster a FIVE STAR REVIEW! This is a massively intense reading experience that will terrify you with its realness, but you won’t be able to put it down. Definitely a book for mature readers and not those who are squeamish or puritanical, this is horror at its finest. So close to the bone, so chilling with the feeling that it could be happening right next door. I mean really, how well do you know your neighbors? Available at Amazon.com and many of your favorite booksellers. Get yourself a copy and tell them your old pal Skull sent you.

For more information about John James Minster, please visit www.JohnJamesMinister.com    

CHRISTA CARMEN RELEASES HER BEST WORK YET WITH HER NEW NOVEL “THE DAUGHTERS OF BLOCK ISLAND”

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Hello there horror fiends, it’s your old pal Skull with some good news. The Daughters of Block Island by speculative fiction sorceress Christa Carmen is now available for preorder at Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and Books A Million! To celebrate her novel’s publication and the month of Halloween, Christa Carmen is doing a series of reading/book signing events in her home state of Rhode Island. On !0/21 you can meet her at Wakefield Books from 10 am to 2 pm or Stillwater Books in Pawtucket from 2 pm to 3 pm. On the 24th, she’ll be at Charter Books in Newport from 6pm to 7pm. October 28th will find Christa Carmen at Rarities Books & Bindery in Wakefield from 6pm to 9pm. There are more events planned to celebrate the official release of The Daughters of Block Island this December. Stay informed about what’s happening next by following Christa Carmen at her blog http://www.christacarmen.com. Review coming soon!

TRIP TO PHILLY WHILE READING “THE VENGEFUL DEAD” BY JOHN JAMES MINSTER

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Hey there Horror Fans, it’s your old pal Skull with a deep dark read from John James Minster, The Vengeful Dead. I just came back from a quick trip to the city of brotherly(and sisterly) love PHILADELPHIA. Great weather and of course the usual fun roadwork you get everywhere this time of year. But that was okay because while my partner was driving I was soaking up some scary stories! John James Minster sources much of his material from the nightmares he’s constantly plagued with, much like H.P. Lovecraft, but with a modern flair. The other thing John frequently uses in his work are real places and locations, something I think readers will enjoy because it makes what you’re reading that much more tangible. So it was a treat to be rolling past Pennsylvania places such as Jim Thorpe, Allentown, Mahoning Valley, Bryn Mawr, the Schuykill River, and of course Philadelphia itself. There are also many other geographic locations included in The Vengeful Dead, such as Orange County, New York, and Alaska. Between that and Minster’s thoroughly researched medical, forensic, and legal details, these short stories leap off the page and into your brain. I’ll have the full review up soon. Until then, I highly encourage you to grab a copy of this excellent collection from your favorite bookseller right now. That way you can enjoy all of Minster’s surprise endings and unique plot twists. Let’s all keep independent horror strong!

EXCITING NEWS FLASH FROM DAMAGED SKULL WRITER!

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Hey everybody! Going to keep it short and sweet. Last night I got word that one of my stories has been accepted for publication. It was news that I really needed to give me some forward momentum to continue writing. The contract is a few weeks down the road, so I will give more details as they emerge since there may be a possibility of a title change in the works. I’m feeling invigorated and am truly back to writing with ass in chair and hands on keyboard. Hopefully this is just a taste of things to come in the near future. Thanks to everyone who subscribes and reads this blog, Skull and I appreciate you very much!

THE GROWTH BY ADAM HULSE IS A GRlPPING TALE THAT WON’T LET GO

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THE GROWTH
Adam Hulse
Raven Tale Publishing
May 17, 2022
Reviewed by Brian “Skull” Lewis

Hey there horror fans, it’s your old pal Skull with some cool independent horror! THE GROWTH from Adam Hulse and Raven Tale Publishing not only features a terrifying creature but gives readers a hard look at humanity once the thin veil of politeness is flung asunder by calamity. Speaking of stories, it’s pretty cool how I came to be the happy owner of an author signed copy of this novella. Adam was doing a giveaway of The Devil Takes You Home by Gabino Iglesias on Twitter and I just happened to be the lucky winner. That was awesome in itself, but it was a mega-bonus to also receive a copy of THE GROWTH! I was immediately intrigued and dug in…

Finding myself on what I thought was a prehistoric beach, but as I read more realized was the present for victims of The GROWTH. Unfortunate people are attempting to leave an island so that they can get away from the strange dark mass that continually attacks them. The huge body of evil follows any body of water to reach its prey, so being surrounded by water is not a good thing. This fact is found out in a terrifying fashion by some municipal workers in the UK who are cleaning sewer tunnels of waste that refuses to break down in water. They’ve never had the waste physically fight them back until THE GROWTH arrives, turning the water an oily black color, confusing their minds, and harvesting their bodies…

Above ground we make the acquaintance of Tax “the inevitable man”. Just like taxes, when this sturdy fella hunts you down, it’s gonna end in tears and pain. While he’s not an overly bright person, Tax is super strong and has the instincts of an animal when it comes to staying alive. All of which is good news when he decides to help a disgraced Army scientist make a very important journey. But it’s not just the boys who’ve got a fighter. Emma is an ex-Olympic boxer who is searching for her missing girlfriend. She’s having to rely on her physical strength and training to stay alive and travel the wastelands that cities have become. It would perhaps be a bit easier if THE GROWTH was all she had to worry about, but humanity is showing its true self during these dark days. Crazed gangs of thugs roam the streets looking for victims. Some of their motivation is hunger driven, but mostly it’s the high brought on by making others suffer. Thanks to them and the ever growing evil mass called THE GROWTH, no one is safe at any time anywhere.

The action picks up speed as the novella rockets along and it seems like evil is winning. But while the fighters for good seem dwarfed by their foes, they refuse to let the fire of freedom die. As the conclusion of the story arrived, I found out that this is actually a two-book series and that is a very good thing because we’re at real cliffhanger situation folks! To remedy that, I have ordered part 2 THE GROWTH LIVES so that I can give you the full scoop in the near future. Which brings us to: What did Skull think of the book? Glad you asked! Damaged Skull Writer and Reviewer gives THE GROWTH by Adam Hulse a hearty FIVE STAR RATING. Your old pal Skull really enjoyed this book. Hulse’s writing paints vivid scenes and gives us a great cast of diverse characters that are strong and believable. I found myself rooting for the good characters, being sad for those lost, and despising the villains. At 166 pages, THE GROWTH is the perfect size for travel reading, be it at the beach or on the bus to work. Highly recommended!

To find out more about Adam Hulse, visit him on Twitter @HULSEADAM . You can also check him out on linktr.ee/adamhulseauthor to see his other titles available, or contact him directly at: HULSEADAM979@gmail.com

You can also follow your old pal Skull at www.damagedskullwriterandreviewer.com for news and reviews and my mortal host Brian James Lewis is on Twitter@skullsnflames76 He has been reviewing books since 2016 when he started writing for Hellnotes and has been featured in both Aphotic Realm and Gallows Hill, Brian’s writing and poetry has most recently appeared in Trajectory Journal, The Siren’s Call e-Zine, and JMWW. He has been included in multiple HellBound Books anthologies as well.

IN A TIME WHEN POLITICIANS ARE TRYING TO BAN BOOKS AND STEAL OUR FREEDOM, BE A REBEL AND READ MORE INDEPENDENT HORROR

HERE’S A HOT TIP FROM DAMAGED SKULL WRITER & REVIEWER: CHECK OUT KEITH LANSDALE’S SPECIAL DEAL ON TWITTER!

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Hey speculative fiction fans, it’s your old pal Skull with a truly exciting tip for lovers of all things Lansdale. Today on Twitter, Keith Lansdale tweeted that he has some copies of this novel for sale at a great price that includes shipping. Just 30 Bucks! And here’s the best part: both he and Joe R. Lansdale will sign them. Zowie! You can also have your copy personalized if you’d like. All for a measly 30 clams! Holy hotdogs Batman, break out the mustard and sequined red party dress, it’s BIG LIZARD time!

I reviewed this fine collaboration a little while back and let me tell you, it’s a super charged, deep-fried, laugh your ass off, rollercoaster ride from beginning to end. There’s also that special Lansdale wisdom and care for folks dealing with hard times, and possibly a wink of political satire. Memorable characters achieving the impossible in a great story. I could keep on talking about BIG LIZARD by Keith Lansdale and Joe R. Lansdale, but a better choice would be for you to get in touch with Keith via Twitter @KeithLansdale for more info real pronto-like before all the copies he has for sale are G-O-N-E. Oh and tell him that your old pal Skull sent ya.

Happy Publication Day!

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An intense new read from GRINDHOUSE PRESS!

Grindhouse Press

Now available from Grindhouse Press!

Click here for paperback or Kindle.

From the author of international horror sensation Gone to See the River Man comes a new tale of terror that will drag you to the darkest corners of the soul.

Some girls are fearful, others are brave. One girl’s a princess, the next one, a slave. But all girls are equal, when they’re down in this cave, until just one is left standing—The Prettiest Girl in the Grave.

It’s only supposed to be a game.

When Bella, Celeste, and Rose meet with new friends at a graveyard in the woods, they soon realize they’re unprepared for what’s planned. At twenty-four, Aubrey is older than the high schoolers, and she knows of a secret game that’s been played by local girls for decades.

It starts with personal questions, but quickly moves on to a test of courage as Aubrey guides…

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