The Wicked Unseen was a page turner that keeps you wondering if it's really something supernatural or religious zealots, and which one is more scary?

It's fun, it's creepy, it keeps you on the edge of your seat. I enjoyed the main character/narrator and the cultural horror references. The author included a historical endnote and I strongly recommend you read it - it adds even more creepy light to a horrifyingly good story.

"So this is a horror novel. It's fiction. The characters, the story, the mystery -- it's all made up. But the scariest, most unbelievable bits were stolen from real life."

This was Gigi Griffis' debut and I can promise that I'll be reading her future novels.

The Wicked Unseen is a YA religious horror book. It pays tribute to the satanic panic of the 1980s. Audre has recently moved to a more rural town. There's no separation of church and state. The administration openly leads the high school kids in the Lord's Prayer. Audre is chastised for painting her nails purple and mock Haunted Houses focus more on conservative social agenda's than ghosts and vampires.

At the heart of the story is Elle, the daughter of the local town pastor. He rules with an iron fist, quotes Bible passages and believes that everything is sinful. Pokemon cards are said to "scream" as he throws them into camp fires. Suddenly Elle goes missing and it's up to Audre and her friend David to figure out what happened.

Strong elements of friendship between Audre and David. Good LGBTQ rep. I good YA horror novel with an excellent note from the author at the end which describes the satanic panic of the 80s and true events that happened during that time period. A strong 3.5 stars

Audiobook listeners should steer clear of this version and instead read the book itself. I've never heard such an overly dramatic interpretation in my life. Yes, I realized that the book is YA but the sections from Audre's perspective were like listening to a California 80s girl on Adderall.

Secret Satanic cult, rituals in the woods, and a missing preacher’s daughter? This sounded like a book I wouldn’t be able to put down – and I was right.

In a town obsessed with demons and Satanic cults, Audre and her family don’t quite fit in with the fervently religious citizens. Audre sports a nose ring, combat boots, loves purple nail polish (the school sent her home for wearing it), and collects Ouija boards. Her younger sister is obsessed with bats, her dad joined a Satanic cult briefly for book research purposes, and her mother is the new town mortician after inheriting the mortuary. Students at her high school are less than welcoming, but fortunately she makes friends with David (who’s also gay) and Elle, the preacher’s daughter and Audre’s secret crush. But when Elle goes missing on Halloween night and local police set their sights on Audre’s parents as possible suspects, she and David do everything in their power to find Elle. This story is set in 1996 and draws from the hysteria surrounding the 80s and 90s Satanic Panic in the US during that time.

I immediately liked Audre. She knows exactly who she is and doesn’t apologize for it. Elle is little more than a stranger to her, but Audre does more to find her than local law enforcement. Elle’s preacher father is a character you love to hate. The author did a fabulous job with him. Instead of actively trying to locate his daughter, he holds prayer meetings and talks about Satanic cults. I’m all for prayer, but if it’s my child, I’m out there looking until they’re found. He also claims God speaks directly to him about what’s best for Elle and chooses a fiance for her – and she’s only sixteen. The crooked, racist cops who harrass Audre’s family are maddening and make my blood boil over their actions.

This novel completely captivated me from page one, and it’s an outstanding debut. I was confident I had it all figured out, but around the eighty percent mark I realized I absolutely didn’t. The characters are well-written, both good guys and villains, and I especially liked Audre’s parents – they totally rocked.

The Wicked Unseen is for readers who enjoy an engaging mystery, a chilling atmosphere, and jaw-dropping twists.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

*Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC for review.

The Wicked Unseen is set during Halloween weekend in 1996 when a local girl goes missing, and there might be a satanic cult involved in the girl’s disappearance.

Oh, my. I still don’t know exactly how I feel about this book. I was drawn to this book because of the creepy, ominous cover and I enjoy reading books involving cults. This sounded like a read I was going to love, and I did like it, but the story was different than I thought it would be. It felt more like a drama than a horror/thriller. This story dealt with a lot of difficult subject matter that might be triggering for some readers, including parental abuse and religious bigotry.

I did enjoy the chilling atmosphere that Griffis created and I was intrigued by the mystery. I loved that the main character, Audre, was obsessed with horror films (that was so me in the 90s) and her family was very unique and cool.

Overall, this wasn’t exactly the horror/thriller I was hoping for, but I did think it was an entertaining read. I would be interested in reading Griffis’s next book.

3.5/5 stars

The Wicked Unseen was adequately creepy and suspenseful. The characters were diverse. I could see YA readers relating to them. I would recommend for teen readers.

When sixteen Audre finds herself as the new girl in a rural town, she feels that she doesn’t fit in at all. For starters, she has her own unique style and secretly has a crush on Elle, the preacher’s daughter. Also - there’s the fact that the entire town seems to believe that there’s a secret satanic cult that performs rituals in the woods. Audre doesn’t believe it, but when Elle goes missing she is forced to explore the possibility that something evil may be lurking beyond these woods.

Whew, what a debut! I loved the premise of this story; a new girl who didn’t fit in and a dark secret that may or may not be hidden in the woods. The characters were well-developed and relatable. Lately, I have been finding myself reading quite a bit of Young Adult literature; it’s not my usual genre but this one blew me away. It was unique and refreshing from anything else I have read lately! I would love to check out more from this author in the future.

This review will be shared to my instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly :)

This was a fun book. The plot relies heavily on the hysteria surrounding a fear of satanists/devil worshipping of the 80s and 90s. It has quite a bit of nostalgia that was fun to read. I appreciated the diversity of the main character. Not only was she a lesbian, but also diverse in that she came from a big city to a small town. The cast was also diverse. Loved that her BFF was Hispanic and also gay. Such great representation. The religious fervor was hard for me as it hit a little too close to home. Easy, flowing dialogue with nice humor. Overall a great book that I highly recommend!

This book talks about the theme of Satanic Panic, which I have never read before. What I loved most about this book is that I didn't feel like I was reading a very new topic; everything was expressed so well.

Audre's character was so realistic. She felt like a companion. She was moved to a town, and like me, she was too wondering and questioning their beliefs, which made the story more connected.

David, Audre's friend, was such a sweetheart. I loved their relationship so much. He was so supportive and protective towards her. Ahh!! I love him so much. He was my most favourite character in the book.

Judging by the cover and the title, one might think this is a horror novel. But it is not a scary ghost story. It's about real horror, the horror you feel when your abusive father takes away your happiness and says he did what he believes is "right" because he "cares" for you. After reading the end note by the author, I was shocked to know that most of the horrible parts were true and happened in real life.

The mystery that revolves around the story was so extraordinary. It kept me on edge till the end. There were so many twists at the climax that it took me time to process all of it.

This book was a unique, thrilling, engaging read with a satisfying climax.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC copy!

The Witch loving, New Englander in me was immediately drawn in by the title. I mean come on! =] And the cover is also eye catching. The description seemed great. I was in....

The overall story wasn't bad. I found it to be a really easy and quick read. The writing to me felt geared somewhere between middle grade and young adult. Not saying an adult can't enjoy it. Just stating that's what the writing felt it was geared towards. It felt truly from the mind and perspective of the main character. However the content was Adult aimed in my opinion. Tons of swearing and tough topics. (Abuse, attempted murder, racism, sexism, Assault) I figured out the majority of the plot pretty much right up front. I think one tiny thing surprised me throughout the whole thing. It was a very unlikely story how it played out as a whole but pieces of it were realistic and felt true.

I have to say if it weren't for the humor of the two main characters and their interactions together, I am not sure I would have enjoyed the book nearly as much. The two main characters are super funny and truly made me laugh out loud on numerous occasions throughout the story.

The racism and Hatred portrayed in the book were hard to get through-as it was supposed to be. The author did a good job of making you really dislike certain characters.

Overall this wasn't my favorite book. But it wasn't bad. Just not really my kind of writing. But if you are looking for a super easy read and humor with some really dark topics and alot of religion then This is likely right up your alley!

3.5 stars ***

Reviewed on StoryGraph and at @bookjuls2023

Wow! This was a crazy read. I am slowly venturing more into the world of YA Horror and I really enjoyed this. I liked the setting of the 90’s and had very nostalgic moments throughout my reading. The cult aspect was well done and added so much to the mystery. I am a born and raised Utahn who is not religious but lives in a religious dominant world. I dealt with the discrimination that comes with not believing and this book brought so many of those feelings back.

I commend Griffis for her writing of this book and thought she did a great job of writing all the emotions that go into someone who feels like an outsider. Of someone who doesn’t feel validated by society around them for being who they are. I really related with Audre and appreciated the way she continued to hold her ground.

David’s character was a great offset to Audre. He understood her but also understood the power that religion can have in a person’s life. He believed in God but didn’t believe in the teachings of the cult. He helped Audre understand that not everyone who believes in god is the same or carry the same beliefs. I thought his character really helped to balance that part of the story out.

This book was a wild ride. It got frustrating at times, sad at times, and the end was shocking! Overall I enjoyed this book and recommend it to anyone looking for their next horror or mystery read!

As the blurb states, this is perfect for fans of Fear Street. The small town vibes, not fitting in, loving horror movies and a bit of a cooky family fit perfectly together. How the main character is treated for being "different" is infuriating and makes it really easy to root for her. The mystery of the satanic cult rumor was great.

This book was so much darker than I expected, mainly because stuff like this can happen and is still happening to this day. I didn't know much about the 90's Satanic Panic as I was only a kid, but the idea that using "Satanists" to create mass hysteria, prejudice, and homophobia and make them "understandable" and "necessary" is barbaric. Characters in this book prey on impressionable young men/women, creating fear & making them feel as there is no one to help them. Using religious beliefs to justify physical/emotional/mental abuse is beyond reprehensible & the idea that anyone different or outside the "norm" (whatever that is) is bound for hell is ludicrous. The main character & her mom are a beacon of hope in this small town of corruption and torture.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with this galley.

I liked the book generally. The characters were interesting, as was the town. The dynamics between the religious characters and the non-religious characters were eerie and fascinating. The author's perspective on abuse dynamics were quote well done in my opinion.

This was a good, creepy inventive take America's Satanic Panic.

Content Warnings: Parental/Religious/Domestic abuse, Arranged Marriages, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racism, Kidnapping, Loss of a loved one, Abuse by Police, Grief

Thank you to Gigi Griffis for an eARC as part of being in their street team in exchange for an honest review!

The Satanic Panic was (and still is to some extent) a very real thing. This book might be fiction but a lot of it is based on real things. Religious abuse is still something that happens often in many religions, but it's important to remember that there's many different groups under each religion, not all of them are similar to the others.

Audre and her family move into a close-knit religious town where they quickly realise they don't fit in. After a bonfire with some other kids - and finding a new crush - Audre's world is flipped upside down suddenly as her crush vanishes and her family gets targeted. Can she free her family and solve the disappearance before everyones arrested - or killed?

I loved the characters, all flawed but some are quite likeable. A strong female lead, good subversion of horror tropes. I like this trend of horror lovers being main characters of horror media! I wish it had a bit more time for its queer rep, but for the main character her crush vanishes only a couple chapters in and for the other queer character his sexuality is only mentioned like twice in passing.

The horror was well built up, it felt a tad ham-fisted at the start but it quickly found its flow. By the end though, it was tense and gripping! Small towns, cults and mystery, it was all done very well!!

I loved this book, and flew through it in one sitting! Audre is one of my favorite MCs, and I love her spooky horror loving soul.
This book kept me on the edge of my seat, and I loved all the twists and turns. It gave me all the creepy, culty, overly religious small-town vibes I was hoping for.

Audre is new in town and struggling to fit in. Her new community is very religious, and she is not. The churches in the area believe that satanic cults have been having sacrifices in the woods. When Audre’s best friend goes missing, Audre sets out to find her. Her father is the prime suspect, and her mother seems to have secrets. Will Audre find her friend before things are too late?

When the book included a historical note, and it was based off the satanic cult panic of the 90’s I felt so old because I lived that panic! Regardless, it made me excited to dive into this book. I usually love a good YA thriller, and this one definitely delivered. It was so atmospheric and captivating. I was sucked right into the story and didn’t want to put it down. I loved how Audre’s began sleuthing to find her friend, and crush. It was also a story of how people who are out of place got vilified during this time. I also loved the LGBT aspect of this book. It was done in an appropriate way when were talking about teenagers and having crushes. I liked it. I particularly loved the ending. I can’t wait to read more from this author.

Make sure to grab a copy of this one if you are wanting a fun YA Thriller with an LGBT theme.

Thank you so much to Random House Children’s, Underlined, and Netgalley @netgalley, for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in return for an honest review.

I felt like the synopsis promised something that it didn't deliver. I read Satanic cult and thought I would be reading a book about a creepy town harboring secrets. Instead I get a more contemporary book that centers around a teen that is unlikeable in the way that she seems to think she's better than everyone else around her because she's a skeptic. The fact that she has no problem telling everyone, even her best friend, that she is better than them definitely irked me. I take no issue with an atheist character who has these views about religion and other beliefs she views as extreme, but the fact that Audre spent a big chunk of the book acting high-and-mighty. I do, however, appreciate a character that stands behind her beliefs, I just felt like I there wasn't enough plot to justify this.

This book had exactly one scene that made it feel horror and the rest was about yet another character obsessed with horror movies. I am growing tired of the trope where the female main character is a horror aficionado and narrates her life like it was a horror movie. It's been done so many times that each book I read with this type of character brings me out of the plot. I wished the plot lived up to the synopsis and delivered more satanic cult and less religious fanatic. Overall, it was just okay.

If you have religious trauma, this may not be the book for you. If you are a believer, this book may tick you off or it could cause you to take a long look in the mirror. This book is a work of fiction, but it rings of some horrible truths - truths I’ve experienced in my own life.

There are things that happen in this book that sound fantastical, like they couldn’t be real. But there are versions of these things that are, in fact, real. In fact, the author has a note at the end of the book to give the reader insight into what is and isn’t real.

With the exception of Audre’s sexual orientation, she could be me. I don’t believe the way that others do. I listen to “devil music” and I’m sarcastic and spooky. As you can tell, I love her.

I’m also very fond of Elle. She couldn’t be more different from me, but she questions what she’s told when others say they know God’s will for her. I like that about her.

I like that David is a Christian but that he is one of the ones who knows that zealots like those in this book are a problem.

The plot for this book drew me in and kept me wanting to read. In fact, I started the book at 2pm and finished at 9:30pm the same night… I just paused to run to the grocery store and have dinner. It’s a great story, fast paced and easy to follow.

The twists that come up aren’t ones you’ll see coming. In fact a major twist that happened never once occurred to me until it happened. That’s a sign of a great horror book.

I gave this book four stars because it was a great read and a great ride from beginning to end. I highly recommend it to anyone wanting a YA horror novel.

The Wicked Unseen is a captivating and distinctive book that immediately seized my attention and held it throughout. The mystery surrounding Elle's disappearance was masterfully executed, leaving me on the edge of my seat until the very end. Additionally, I appreciated the gradual revelation of the plot and the characters' true natures, which added depth and complexity to the story. Overall, The Wicked Unseen is a must-read for anyone seeking a thrilling and thought-provoking novel.

The Wicked Unseen is centered on Audre, a gothish girl obsessed with horror movies and all things spooky, as she moves to a new town full of Christian extremists. Set in 1996 during the Satanic Panic, a girl named Elle goes missing under mysterious circumstances, which leads everyone to believe some Satanists must have taken her. Elle, along with her friend David, set to solve the mystery of what happened to her and try to get her back.

There were some twists and turns in this book that were unexpected, though most I had figured out before they were revealed. I loved the characters in Audrey’s family and I would have loved to have some more focus on them. Though this isn’t a dual pov, we do have a few times where the story flashes to Elle’s perspective.

I felt this book was geared toward a younger audience, so keep that in mind if you want to read it.
All in all, this was a quick read and I enjoyed this book but would probably only recommend it to younger readers.

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