Synopsis:
It’s 1997 and Leah just can’t seem to catch a break.
A year has passed since her fiancé went missing while hiking alone on a mountain, and she can’t shake the unanswered questions and nightmares Simon left behind.
On the anniversary of his disappearance, Leah and her new girlfriend Josie return to the trail where Simon disappeared with two of their best friends. Armed with incense, tarot cards, crystals, and snacks, the girls have everything they need to complete the Ritual of Closure to help Leah finally say goodbye to Simon, once and for all.
But the trails are hiding something sinister, and it’s been waiting. As night falls around them, the girls find themselves in a deadly game against something vicious and wild that’s made a home for itself on the mountain.
It’s time to find out what really happened to Simon.
Edition:
Paperback
Trigger Warnings:
Hover for Trigger WarningsMy Thoughts:
Do you want to read a creepy creature-feature novella that’s teeming with 90s nostalgia? Then Brutal Hearts might be just the book for you. This story has notes of all your 90s favorites – from Christopher Pike’s novels (did you know Cassie is also a host on The PikeCast – a Christopher Pike discussion podcast?), The Craft, and for some reason (maybe the anything-for-you friendship between these young women), I get pretty distinct Foxfire vibes.
I really love the dynamics of the group – Charlotte is a bit of a diva, her little sister May is, well, the little sister, Josie is newest to the group, and her girlfriend Leah is the one whose (defacto ex-)boyfriend Simon went missing on the trail the year before. Everyone seems perfectly fitted to their assigned role in this story, and I found that comforting.
“I think something is out here with us.”
Brutal Hearts is a sort of gentle, yet still effective scary story. It’s a creature feature, and it certainly gets quite gory, but not in a way that feels like a dare. It happens in a way that feels very…organically 90s. I don’t know how else to say that. It’s sort of like watching an episode of Are You Afraid of the Dark? that was written for new adults. Like, yeah, it’s gross and tense, but it’s also comfortable and fun.
I really enjoyed this story, and I’m always excited to read something new from Cassie.
Rating:
Brutal Hearts is a fun, fast, spooky read that I definitely recommend.
Brutal Hearts By Cassie Daley Galactic Press Published: July 15, 2022 ISBN: 9798218025588 Paperback 148 Pages BUY IT HERE
