Sweet Reviews: Incantations of Blood by SR Fischer

"Celia Dickenson finds herself alone in the forest, searching for a missing woman. Minerva Penderghast performs a seance at the behest of a grieving family, only to reap disastrous consequences. Maeve Baudelaire is reeling from the unexpected loss of her mother.

For these three women, all roads lead to Shady Grove.

But ancient demonic forces are stirring deep in the forest surrounding the small town, clamoring for sacrificed souls to slake their thirst. Armed with a cursed book and knowledge of the occult, can an unlikely group of friends save Shady Grove from a threat that's been festering for centuries? Welcome to Shady a town where horrifying family secrets and coming of age just might be the end of you."

This is a strong debut from S.R. Fischer. I was impressed with the descriptions and imagery of the small town of Shady Grove. I could imagine myself being there alongside the MC as the evil slowly presented itself to her.

Small-town horror is one of my favourite tropes and this one did not disappoint. The characters---including Shady Grove itself--were realistic and had depth. I enjoyed being let into the characters' histories bit by bit as new situations and information were presented. One of my favourite characters was the store owner. Major small-town apothecary shop vibes! I enjoyed following the story to the bitter end.

My only criticism would be in regard to the pacing at the end. Things were building up nicely and then it seemed to all suddenly came to a head in a way that didn't flow for me. I thought some relationships and conclusions could have been more fleshed out. I know that stories have to end, and I'm picky with how this is done. I'm always complaining that endings seem rushed to me, haha.

Ultimately, I loved the story and characters so much, and I look forward to reading more from Fischer. Hopefully a sequel or more stories set in Shady Grove!

4 stars from me ****

Where to find Incantations of Blood: KU/Amazon https://a.co/d/3J21Jqz