This was sort of entertaining, but I couldn't connect to it much deeper than that. The idea was super cool--I definitely was hooked by the promise of cult stuff--but ultimately the way this was written made it hard to really get sucked into, and I never really cared for the characters. I think that the dialogue didn't really serve the story, or flesh out the characters, in a meaningful way. I know the author mentions that she really enjoys unlikeable female characters, but I almost feel that Audre was so unlikeable in a way that, again, doesn't serve the story at all. And making her "unlikeable" doesn't make her more believable, just harder to relate to. I think maybe the author meant she likes female characters that are flawed, nuanced beings, but she just went too far into that characterization.

Overall, the story was a relatively quick read with an interesting idea that ultimately didn't really pan out in the writing. The characters and the writing style were my two biggest issue with this work. While I generally would read more from this author, I probably wouldn't if any of the characters were marketed as "unlikeable", hah.

Nice and creepy, but unfortunately not without its faults. I couldn't always truly connect with the writing and the characters. Still, I liked the book and would recommend it to certain readers.

I came for the cult vibes, but ended up not sticking around. The book just wasn't for me, and I couldn't get into it which was such a bummer

TW for domestic violence (mostly off-page or flashbacks).

This isn't your average young-adult mystery/thriller. It's so much better. And so much more sad-- for Elle, Ryan, Mrs. Mason and every other character who's been hurt by a system that claims to want the best for them.
It's also not a supernatural thriller at all, even though it may look like one based on the cover and the title (which seems intentional). It's a story about how real life is so much scarier than any religious or supernatural idea. (Audre's mom's rant on this topic was my favorite part of the book).

It's 1996, and goth-girl Audre Weaver has recently moved to the story's small-town Pennsylvania setting from New York. It's apparent for her entire family right away that they stand out: Audre is openly lesbian, her mom is a mortician, and her dad has a collection of Ouija boards and other spiritual-type items, and was previously a member of the Church of Satan for research purposes. Everyone else, with the exception of Audre's new best friend David, seems to be a hardcore conservative and Christian, even administrators and teachers in their public school. Audre is called out in front of the entire church for wearing a "demonic" Pokémon shirt, teenagers are subject to a trauma-inducing Hell House instead of a Halloween celebration, and when Audre and David speak Spanish to each other, their classmates assume they're speaking in tongues. There's also a rumor that a Satan-worshipping cult lives in the town's woods, which makes Audre and her family even more of a target.
It's not long before Audre develops a crush on Elle Mason, the pastor's daughter, but just when she's getting to know Elle, she disappears-- and not even the pastor has answers. As the locals blame the rumored Satanic cult, their views of Audre's family start to go from "weird" to "evil and suspicious." Every time new evidence comes up, they lose faith that Elle will be found alive, but Audre is sure that she's out there somewhere and whatever took her has nothing to do with demons or Satanists and everything to do with their town's most power-hungry abusers in the church.

While Audre is a great character who I really liked, my favorite character was 100% her mom. She's not here for anyone's bullshit in the name of religion, and I love how outspoken she is about it. I want to know what she was like at Audre's age. And, hello? She and Audre's dad dress as Morticia and Gomez Addams for Halloween? What's not to love about them?

I cannot recommend this book enough. Even if you usually only read supernatural thrillers, READ THIS.

Audre and her family have trouble fitting in to their new town, which seem to orbit heavily around a creepy pastor and a cult-like arm of Christianity. I have to be honest: I was not a fan of this book, but I also don't think I'm the right audience for it. I could not stand Audre. She really bothered me. We get it; you're edgy, not afraid to challenge authority and the status-quo, and constantly call out the social injustices around you. Like, constantly. Maybe the disconnect for me was that this is a YA novel; but to me, Audre's character development was just SO heavy-handed. I did think it was pretty funny when I found in Gigi's "About the Author" section, she noted that she's a sucker for "unlikeable" female characters. To me, she succeeded that with Audre.

This was a pretty quick read, and I did find the story to be interesting. The main reason I kept reading it was because I wanted to find out what in the world happened and what was going on in the community. But I did struggle to finish this, because of my issues with Audre.

This seemed potentially interesting to me but it the end I nearly dnf. I forced myself to get through it though. I did not like the dialogue at all and I didn't really understand the whole 'satanic panic' thing as it happened in the 90s so not sure why a YA book would be set at this time.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for providing me with the eARC!

This was such a strong debut! This book embodies the reason why I love the horror genre: not for the scares, not for some boogie man that will give me nightmares, but for ACTUAL horror and to have a voice in societal/political issues. The different conversations the characters have are so important, as well as the rants some of them have (I LOVED Audre's mom! Any time her character spoke, I was like, "Yes, queen!! Say it louder for the people in the back!"). This book discusses abuse, racism, healthy religion vs. cultish religion, and harmful ignorance.
I read this book so fast that I didn't even realize how fast I was reading it. Audre's character is so lovable, and so is her entire family. David and Elle are both lovable as well, especially with how Audre interacts with them and the immediate connections they have.
I really appreciated the historical endnote that Griffis included in the back - the story already had loads of depth, but knowing that the most extreme, horrible parts are based on history adds even more meaning to it. I'm not the biggest fan of YA books, but this one is a must-read for any horror or thriller lover. This has to be one of the best, well-written books I've read so far this year and has definitely made it onto my favorites list.

I cannot put into words how AMAZING this book is. First of all, the way it's written, it grabs you from the beginning and just keeps you on tenterhooks until the end! Second, our main character is just AWESOME. A well adjusted 16 year old doing the MOST and sometimes being VERY funny in the process.

I will say, trigger warning for cult like themes and religious abuse. But man oh man, this was one of the best books I've ever read. Cannot wait to get my hands on more by this author and will enthusiastically recommend this to anyone, whether they ask me or not.

The whole idea for the story seemed great. I love a good cult story if its done properly. With that being said, I felt like the author was almost pushing their religious ideas too much for me to be able to look past that. All and all a nice easy and fun read but not my favorite. Thank you for the ARC!

I probably should have put this book down after the first few chapters when I realized it wasn’t working for me. However, I continued with the story in hopes that it would get better. It did not. While The Wicked Unseen is a quick read, it is not one that I would recommend picking up due to its unrealistic plot and boring cast of characters.

The Wicked Unseen by Gigi Griffins
Now this book was a wild ride, one that I didn’t really enjoy until a quarter of the way through. The basics of this book is that Audre and her family has moved to a new town filled with evangelical, satan fearing, weird people. It is a mystery novel, by all things considered, but there are some tough or triggering topics that appear throughout the book. One being, abuse and manipulation, it feels like all the church members (not David’s church though, he’s great) are abusive and manipulative. There is also mention of well Police mistreatment and brutality, and some homophobia (very small amount but still appears). It was hard to read sometimes, not necessarily because of these tough topics but the switch from cringey teen writing/POV to teen describing or witnessing one of the things mentioned above. There was also a lack of consistency in POV, Audre was first, but then Elle was third but also first at some points? At least that is what it felt like to me. But overall this was a very enjoyable story, Griffin’s created such a good mix of mystery, spooky, and realism in this novel. And honestly, my biggest problems with this story is just that it needs maybe an adjustment in editing or a revision in some areas (personal preference however). I do think this could be one of the next big Book-Tok books or other social media if there are some slight writing changes. However, seeing some other books being promoted on social media, this book as is, is still miles better than those.
I look forward to purchasing this book, and I also will request it at my local library.

What I like most about this book is that Audre’s family is unapologetically who they are and this is a YA where the MC actually has a good family dynamic with smart, loving parents. There is also LGBT+ & minority representation.

Outside of the family and the mystery, this book deals with a variety of religious and patriarchal/family trauma. I was in high school in 1996, and some of the things that happened in this church brought back memories of why I stopped going myself. It’s spot-on about the era and Satanic panic.

The only thing that took me out of the story were some stylistic choices. There were a few Elle flashbacks but I’d prefer two MCs or one rather than three Elle backstories. There are also a lot of telling asides like, “Feeling: heartbroken. Mind: buzzing.”

I was given a chance to read this as an ARC and my honest opinion was that the religious aspects that the author kept going on and on about made me uncomfortable. I get it, its a thing that has happened and happens in our world but I guess religious horror is for a specific kind of person who is not me.

Thank you for this opportunity. I had a blast reading this and cackled quite a few times. The author captured teenage snark quite well. However I think this would have been an epic book to release around Halloween.

Gigi Griffis really taps into a timely and powerful story with this book. She hits all the markers for me of a solid and entertaining LGBT+ YA horror novel. Given the intensity of the situation presented before the characters I found the writing complimented the overall feelings I felt while reading this book. The ending wrapped up nicely. I look forward to Griffis next work.

Thank you to Random House Children and NetGalley for providing an eARC for a honest review.

Remember the Satanic panic of the late 80's and 90's? Gigi Griffis draws on that panic in this gripping and hard to put down YA LGBT horror mystery book. This book was both clever, riveting, and a homage to the 90's.

Sixteen-year-old Audre is the new girl in town that sticks out like a sore thumb! She has a nose ring, has her own style, loves horror films and her family has a Ouija board collection. The small town in Pennsylvania where she moved with her family, believes that there is a secret satanic cult doing rituals in the surrounding woods. Audre and her family don't believe in such things, but the town does.

She makes friends with Elle, whose father is a preacher, and David who wants to a journalist and is also gay. Audre has a crush on Elle who goes missing on Halloween night and as the police begin to point fingers at Audre's parents, Audre and David do their best to find out what happened to their friend. Are Satanic Cults responsible for Elle's disappearance or is this the mention of Satanic cults a ploy to cover up the real evil in town? Danger lurks, but does it lurk in the woods or within?

The Wicked Unseen is a unique and gripping book which grabbed my attention from the very beginning and never let go. The mystery of what happened to Elle was very well done. I also enjoyed how the plot unfolded and characters began to show their true colors. What happened to Elle? Read and find out!

This is a YA book, but all ages will enjoy this. Readers who were teens during the time frame this book takes place will also enjoy and spot the 90's references and appreciate them more than YA readers may.

Clever and gripping! A wicked good book!


#TheWickedUnseen #NetGalley #GigiGriffis

I received this book from Random House Children and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This statement is always true. I’m not given compensation to discuss a book and I’m not told how to rate a book. I am given a book in exchange for my opinions on it, and I am truthful in all my reviews whether I loved them or not.

First, I need to say that this book is an excellent read. I really loved the little known historical facts (I even looked some up) I really loved the satanic and christian tones of the book and how religion can make people act in mysterious ways.

Audre is a newcomer, at 16 years old, to a small, religious community. Growing up in Brooklyn did not prepare her for a quiet life in rural Pennsylania, or is it a quiet life? As she tries to make friends, things go horrid. The cemetary behind her house is defaced, her mother is a mortician, her father once belonged to a satanic cult. The preacher's daughter of this small town goes missing. Did the new family in town have something to do with her disappearance, or was it something more sinister and deeper than that.

This book is a wild ride. There are so many suspects with no leads and the police are not worried about finding the girl, they are more worried to blame someone. Who better than the weird family that just moved in. We see friendships form and die, we see the lengths that people will go through for someone they love. I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to people that are interested in occult, satanism, and christianty, as they collide in good versus evil in this book. This book did not give the feel of overly, throw it in your face religion, but just enough to keep up with the storyline and the plot.

Great writing, great plot, and great i=little known historical content. I really enjoyed it.

The Wicked Unseen Review!

Thanks so much Random House Children and Netgalley for this gifted copy, in exchange for an honest review! The Wicked Unseen comes out June 20, 2023!

I’m always down for a book set in the Satanic Panic era. The Wicked Unseen was a 3.75/5 ⭐️ for me! I loved the whole satanic panic plot in a small town in the 90s! It was very eerie and kept me guessing until pretty close to the end! You had a sense of dread right from the beginning and it just kept building. And that ending was absolutely crazy! I wasn’t a fan of a single character besides the gay best friend, so I was a little annoyed throughout. 😅 But I think that the characters were meant to be unlikable. This one stereotyped Christians into one horrible box and I had a really hard time reading it as times, being a Christian myself. I think in the end though the main character had a change of heart and realized not all Christians are judgmental jerks, so that was comforting! 😄 This did read as a ya horror and it did give me Fearstreet vibes!

Synopsis: Audre does not fit in at all in her new small town, which she unfortunately calls home. The town is very worried that there are satanists in their town and when the pastors daughter (and Audre’s crush) goes missing, people immediately blame the cult. Audre isn’t quite sure though and she’s the only one in the town to seem to want to do anything about it.

If I’m being completely honest, I came into this book without any real expectations besides the fact that the cover looked neat and the description mentioned the possibility of a Satanic cult in a small town. The book definitely lived up to its cover.

Griffif’s novel takes you on a whirlwind story of the mysterious disappearance of the town’s golden girl. When Elle, the pastor’s daughter, disappears, the small Pennsylvania town is quick to suspect the newest (and seemingly odd) family in town. For fans of Stephen Graham Jones’ My Heart is a Chainsaw, The Wicked Unseen gives off similar vibes and is a unique and thrilling experience for readers who enjoy spooky stories and nods to horror films.

The setting of a small closed-minded town adds critical depth to the story and a strong element of immersion, allowing the author to explore real-life historical themes and happenings like the satanic panic, hell houses, Dungeons & Dragons, and the power of religion. Griffif’s ability to weave together real-life events and themes with a thrilling plot and dynamic characters is truly impressive.

The characters are well-developed and believable, making them either really likable or really hateable. The plot twist is also solid and keeps readers on the edge of their seats. The story builds up to an exciting climax, and readers will find themselves flying through the last quarter of the book.

Overall, The Wicked Unseen a must-read for fans of horror stories, thrillers, first loves, and towns with secrets.

The Wicked Unseen is a wicked-fun mix of mystery, horror, and modern day monsters. There are so many things I liked, beyond the twists, turns and jump-scares. It’s not just a quirky YA horror/mystery page-turner, there’s wisdom and a few lessons here too.

The writing is especially clever, and the characters are well-developed and thoughtful. It would be easy to reduce the evangelical players into caricatures, but the author keeps them believable and balanced. And even though this is a thriller-mystery, there was a good amount of humor too, which I thoroughly appreciated. I’m a fan of well-placed snark, and nobody is better at it than teenagers, especially one as intelligent and self-assured as the main character, Audre. I was rooting for her every step of the way. All in all, this was a fun and fast read, with a totally unexpected ending you won’t see coming!