I was shocked that the book started with a horrific death right off the bat but I'm glad it put the reader right in the action straight away. Wreath's death wasn't the focus of the story but the catalyst. While a girl dying to propel a story forward would usually frustrate me, I think it really works here. Greif, after all, is for the living and this story really embodies that sentiment. That said, there were some deaths later in the book that didn’t feel as impactful as I hoped they would.

I liked how the book shows how shared trauma and grief can manifest in different ways. There are times when this felt over-explained, like when Chrissy talks to her boyfriend why she hides herself in horror novels; I think the reader understands her reasoning without this monologue. That said, Chrissy is probably my favourite character, or at least the character I relate to the most. I think that's what I liked about the characters: you can understand why they respond to things the way they do and the dynamics between the siblings felt genuine for each of their personalities and circumstances. For example, Charlie trying to be nice and encourage his father and brother to come around more but not entirely meaning it.

I don't mind switching POVs so this aspect of the narrative didn't bother me and I think the characters, especially in the first half of the books, were different enough that I always knew whose POV I was reading from. I think it was helped by having each POV be in third-person rather than first. Where I did get a bit lost was in the second half of the book, when the action started, because it felt like the narrative switched between too many different characters.

Overall, though, this was an interesting and fast paced read.

Have you heard the one about the family that moved to Tanner's Switch from Block Island after claiming their sibling was eaten by a monster?

I am in love with this book! It is 100% character driven and even the characters that are intentionally horrible people end up tugging on the heart strings. The spooky stuff is top notch and the book is perfectly paced. Absolute 5⭐️ read. Long live Vinx!

I feel like the town of Tanner’s Switch has a lot more stories to tell & I truly hope Gage lets us visit from time to time.

I was finally able to sit down and read last weekend, so I grabbed this from the top of my TBR and went in (mostly) blind. I’ve tried my best to avoid reviews so I wouldn’t see any spoilers or know too much about the book, but I’ve seen “F you, Gage” quite a few times. Who wouldn’t want to know what that’s about, right? Well, let me just tell you, this book is excellent. I’m not going to write a review with details that might spoil something for you, but it is a beautifully written story of grief, loss, family dynamics, and the terrifying unknown. The way Gage put this story together had such an impact on me. I’ve had several losses in my life recently, and this one just ripped my heart out and shredded it (in a good way). It definitely makes you FEEL. An intense sense of dread and fear are woven throughout the story, and there are parts that are truly terrifying. There is a scene (again I won’t give away spoilers here) that actually made me jump. I was reading the event when my phone rang, and I just about jumped out of my chair. I can’t tell you the last time that happened to me. It takes a lot to make me jump. We ARE horror readers after all. But Gage did it. Oh, and like everyone else said… F you, Gage! Seriously though read this book. It’s effing fantastic. Release date 2/10/24. Preorders are available now on Gage’s page (physical book) and the Zon (ebook).

I received an e-reader ARC through Netgalley in exchange for a review.

I loved this book. It is a heavy book, not only are you dealing with a monster like terror but the horrors of grief and loss. This books captures how people deal with grief and loss differently, it can feel isolating, it can cause anger, it can cause growth and change. We are taken on a journey of discovery, searching for answers, and ultimately, realizing that some damage may not be fully repaired.

If I had one complaint, I would say the ending drags on just a bit but it by no means detracts from the story. It is a great monster book, but it is more than just a monster book. The characters grow, the setting comes alive for the reader.

A family of five, father and four children, deal with loss and grief which it seems to me— takes the form of a monster. The monster brings out vices in each family remember like alcoholism, anxiety, anger, promiscuity etc. and we watch each deal with these problems and each other throughout. This read like a Stephen King novel and a Stranger Things season in equal parts. Thrilling and a good way to pass the time.

*It was a pleasure to read the ARC for On a Clear Day, You Can See Block Island, thank you G. Greenwood and Tanner's Switch Publishing.

On a clear day you can see Block Island…⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ well this book started off with a bang! Jackson and his 5 kids are grieving the loss of wife/mother. While playing a game in their new house on Block Island, tragedy strikes again.
The story advances to four years later and we start learning how each of the kids and Jackson have changed. The chapters vary by the POV of each of characters. As you read on you can tell how the tragedies have shaped the family, which is very sad. Chrissy is adamant that she wants to find out what happened to her sister, Wreath, when they lived on Block Island. Soon they begin a quest to find out the truth.

What I really liked about the book is that each chapter kept you hooked, wanting to find out more about each of them and you hope that they uncover the truth. The one thing I didn’t like is that the youngest children engaged in behavior that seemed too young for their age but that’s just my opinion!
I strongly recommend this book. It is a good mystery story and as you read it you feel like you are alongside them trying to figure out what happens on Block Island.
Thank you to Netgalley and Gage Greenwood (Wicked House Publishing) for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

On a Clear Day, You Can See Block Island
by Gage Greenwood is a tense imaginative horror tale built on the foundation of grief and trauma. It deals with the monsters that a life altering tragic event can make of us. It also deals with literal monsters.

The Keating family is, by anyone’s metric, already put the wringer before the story begins. The Matriarch was killed in a horrible work related incident and the family, using funds from the hefty settlement, is moving to a large house on Block Island. They’ve more space for their large five child family than they’ve ever had before.
Unfortunately for them, with that space comes a monster. A child eating monster.
You might think that’s enough of a plot for a reasonable horror story. And it could be.

But that’s not what we’re doing. That’s just the start. The bulk of the story takes place when we meet up with the family again, years later.
Each member with their own complex struggles from dealing with a horrific loss and the media circus that followed. We live in the heads and lives of each of the family members as they try to make sense of and survive a truly wild situation.

I loved this story. I felt for the characters and their struggles. I recognized some of the toxic ways I’ve tried to deal with my own trauma and my own past. Some of the moments in this book are seriously heartbreaking. And some of the insight it gives into dealing with turmoil are eye opening.

On a Clear Day, You Can See Block Island is a beautiful examination of how we try to survive. The monsters the world makes us.

And also literal monsters.

On a Clear Day, You Can See Block Island by Gage Greenwood is a tale of monsters and deeply-seated trauma that will leave readers heartbroken for the characters in the book while also feeling the urge to look to the corners of the room in the real world to make sure nothing is lurking there with a dark smile.

Content Warnings:
Death of a parent, alcoholism, drug use, overdose, suicide, death of a child, injury detail, and blood.

Let’s dive in!

My Thoughts on On a Clear Day, You Can See Block Island by Gage Greenwood –
Having lost their mother to an accident at the workplace, this family moves to Block Island using the money from the settlement. The father is still mourning, but happy to see his children getting a bit of normalcy back when they move into their new home. However, it’s not long before a fun game they were all playing comes to a screeching halt when the family witnesses the brutal murder of their sister and daughter, Wreath. To make matters even worse, people don’t believe them when they explain what happened and the general public puts them through the wringer, thinking they are all crazy as they stated a monster killed their sister.

Four years later, each family member is dealing with the trauma in their own way; numbing the horror with drugs and alcohol, avoiding human connection, keeping the lights on, questing for answers, acting out… Each of them are stuck, and none of them realize just how much they need one another.

One day, after seeing an illustration of their monster in a book about Block Island, the kids decide to visit the island where their sister was killed to ask the artist some questions. Unfortunately, their search for information ends up freeing the monsters from the confines of the shorelines and puts more than just their family at risk back on the mainland.

What comes next is tense and anxiety-inducing as readers follow the kids as they run from the monsters until they can’t run any longer.

I had such a hard time putting this book down! I needed to see what happened next and with each turn of the page, I was so nervous to see what new horrors this poor family would face. The author does such a great job stringing readers along in the dark, not knowing why this family was the target until the “OH SHOOT” moment where the dad gives a little detail that makes the puzzle pieces slam into place.

The way this author creates atmosphere and tension is incredible. For example, the fog element and description of how it looked was so eerie and the descriptions of how it smelled brought me right back to my hometown, an island off the coast of Maine! Not only that, but I was ready for a jump scare each time the fog rolled into a scene. And speaking of jump scares, a scene in Chapter 15 gave me a stomach ache like one specific terrifying scene in The Taking of Deborah Logan… my gosh!

While focused mainly on grief, loss, and terror, there are also many uplifting elements sprinkled in! However, when it came time for some of the uplifting bits, I really appreciated that it wasn’t all sunshine and daisies; that the author allowed the characters to begin to forgive, but not forget and not excuse poor behavior with a quick “I’m sorry.”

What an all-around wild ride!

My Favorite Passages from On a Clear Day, You Can See Block Island –
Block Island. From the Charlestown beach, on a clear day, a person could make out the outlines of the island. It had two lighthouses on each side, two little thumbtacks. Charlie imagined plucking them and watching the island curl up into a scroll.

Horror wasn’t a spotlight on evil, it was control. If a person could create beautiful sentences from horrific events, then any person could weave their way through life’s trauma You just had to make the grime shine.

“Charlie, me knowing about this doesn’t expose you. It gives you more armor. I’m your friend.”

The kid was a weathered and leaning gravestone, stuck in the place where his sister lay and ready to crumble from a gentle breeze.

None of them were in control. Never
had been. They all spiraled in different directions, but in the end, they all had to meet the fucking wall. One explosion after the next. It was their destiny, a tale set in stone the moment their father opened the door and revealed to them a creature who fed on their sister.

Angela tried to stand but almost fell over, as though her legs had turned to seaweed in a current.

My Final Thoughts on On a Clear Day, You Can See Block Island –
Oh boy, if there was ever a book tagline that perfectly sums up my childhood for better or for worse, it’s this one (for very different reasons than these characters of course!): They left the island, but the island never left them.

Horror fans, you’re going to love this intense tale! I know I had a blast with it! From intense human emotion and relationships to the bloodshed and the creatures, this book will have you on the edge of your seat!

On a Clear Day, You Can See Block Island by Gage Greenwood
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Holy moly I truly don't know where to start. I read this bad boy in one sitting because I just had to know what happened. You get sucker punched and thrown right in IMMEDIATELY and it doesn't let you go. The character development in this book crushed me and I felt myself really rooting for them. They're all imperfect, angry, trying to hide the worst parts of them, and they're 100% all relatable but they're all fair game for the monstrosities of the past. 😭

I can't recall a recent read that puts me straight into the atmosphere like this did without boring me with details, he executed it so quickly and with so much impact it felt like I was walking right there in the streets with the characters and never once felt I was struggling to be in the moment.

On a Clear Day is going to set the bar for any folklore horror I pick up this year. This book has left me unwell. I don't know if I should thank Gage for an amazing story or bill him for therapy.

i really enjoyed this book. the story was tight and fast paced. there are excellent believable characters. definitely recommended!

I read this book because I enjoy books by Gage Greenwood. Horror of this sort typically does not interest me, but the description and the cover hooked me. I was very pleased and am glad I did. This was a really good suspense/horror book with good characters and they seemed real in their dynamics within the family. I'm not one for giving lengthy plot reviews, but if you like to "feel" your characters and be able to envision you are there, this is a good book for that. The wrapup is awesome and explains everything!!

Thank you to netgalley for providing an e-galley for review. On a Clear Day You Can See Block Island is an indie title written by a local (to me) author. This creepy tale tells the story of a family who is haunted by monsters, monsters of their own creation and monsters from fairy tales. The world of the monsters was fantastic as was the humanizing of the monsters.

Painful and dark, with occasional heartwarming moments but primarily not that heartwarming or positive overall. Very well done. Thanks for the arc

The Keating siblings are haunted by an horrific event that took place in their house on Block Island, no-one believed them and now they live a stagnant existence. When the possibility of proving what they had witnesses they decide to return to confront their monster.
 
This story begins at full throttle horror but then slows down to introduce the characters who survived chapter one. Jackson, the father is struggling to cope, he is a useless alcoholic and constantly lets them down. Brian, the oldest son is a drug addict and is not really around. Charlie is trying to keep his family together whilst struggling with his lack of confidence, Chrissy hides her trauma as the cool kid with her head in a book and a boyfriend and Angela is angry and hitting out at the world.
 
This is a story of grief, loss, anger and trauma, both for the humans and the monsters. Dipping into folk horror, the monsters are nightmare fuel and relentless. The back story when it comes will evoke rage. The pacing was a bit slow for me in places but a good solid horror read. Beware of the mist and don’t get attached to any of the characters!

I really enjoyed this book. It was the first I’ve ever read by this author. The story flowed nicely and i was such an easy read and had me hooked from the start.

Gage is a genius. This book is a masterpiece. For the rest of my life, this novel is all everyone is getting for Christmas. I felt dread, devastation, hope, joy…. This book made me feel all the things. The story is one you’ll get lost in, and it’s one I wasn’t ready to end. Long Live Vinx!

This was exhausting, but in a good way. I didn't want it to end but it wore me out.
Awesome monster by the way.
Good action through out with lots of blood.

After an unexpected tragedy left the Keating children without a mother--and Jackson Keating without a wife--the Keating family settled on Block Island in the hopes to start their lives over.

And then tragedy struck again.

Four years after the terrifying ordeal on Block Island, the remaining Keating family members are still grappling with what really happened that fateful day. Their recollections are different, as are the ripple effects of their trauma; some of the Keatings turned to drugs and drinking to quiet the memories, while others cling to a near-manic vigilance in the hopes of evading whatever curse may have followed them from Block Island.

"On a Clear Day, You Can See Block Island" boasted a vague--and for that reason, intriguing--summary about a family attempting to piece their lives back together after unthinkable tragedy. Having not read a horror novel since the fall, I was more than ready to dive into Greenwood's novel and had high hopes for it, mostly from early reviews.

What I found, unfortunately, was a haphazard story riddled with plot holes (and equal amounts of plot armor) that suffered most from Greenwood's underdeveloped writing. The story, in essence, felt like a rough draft of what could have eventually been a somewhat-decent horror plot that was rushed unfinished to publication. The characters lacked any semblance of development, the dialogue was odd at best and painful at worst, and the plot's only redeeming element was its explosive and surprising opening scene. Certainly a disappointing start to horror reads for 2024; I'd encourage readers to skip this one.

I really enjoyed this kinda cosmic tale. The writing flows easily and the scenery comes alive in your mind. I didn't love the characters and I would have liked a bit more detail about the intervening years but overall, a solid, entertaining read.

Life is not going well for the Keatings. After his wife dies in a horrible factory accident, Jackson takes the settlement money and purchases a big, new home on Block Island for him and his five kids. While playing a game in the new house, the entire family witness the eldest child, Wreath, being eaten by a monster. No, this is not a spoiler. It is only the first chapter of the book.

Four years later, the family has moved away from Block Island in an attempt to forget. The four remaining children are living with their aunt, and Jackson is living in his own squalid home attempting to drink himself to death after giving away most of the settlement money. Not surprisingly, the kids are all a mess: Brian dropped out of college and is on drugs; Charlie has withdrawn into himself and has no friends; Chrissy is promiscuous, the only thing she's shown an interested in besides the books that she buries herself in; and Angela has physically lashed out at teachers and classmates. Chrissy comes across a book at the library about Block Island, and it includes a picture of the monster she saw eat her sister. The same monster that neither the police, nor the press, nor the internet armchair detectives ever believed existed. Anxious to help put an end to their nightmares, Chrissy goes to Block Island with Charlie and Angela to meet the artist. But instead of making things better, they only get worse...

While I have several of his books on my never-ending TBR, this is the first book of Gage's that I've read. And what a ride! Gage steps on the gas and doesn't leave up. Part coming-of-age, part creature feature, part gory horror, sprinkled in with lots of trauma. Well-written and compelling, I highly recommend this one.