Tessa loved stories, most of all the ones her grandmother used to tell. After her Nana passed, her family needed to hire a new puppeteer. Liza , was not what she expected, with her fascination of scary stories and hate of children, what would become of the “Fairy Tale Family Fun Park & RV Campground”?
After all, “what you believe doesn’t matter. Stories are meant to entertain”.
When children start to go missing , everything begins to unfold….

1st person
Novella
YA- 10+ yrs
Horror/ psychological thriller.

This novella was so good. I devoured it so quickly. It was an easy fun read and perfect for the age group intended. It had just enough horror to make it creepy for a YA reader but not enough to truly scare them.

Thank you to NetGalley and North Star Editions for providing me with an e-arc copy of Hidden Strings by K. J. Mist, publishing on August 1st.
This is a spooky novella following our main girl Tessa when her recently deceased grandmother’s Family Fun Park finds a replacement puppeteer int he form of a woman named Liza. But the stories this puppeteer tells to the local children are NOTHING like Tessa’s grandmother used to tell - these are spooky, fear inducing tales of ghosts, witches and monsters. When the local children start to disappear and the adults around her seem unfazed, Tessa knows Liza must have something to do with it. And she is determined to figure out this mystery for herself…
Overall this was an interesting, quick read. I would recommend this to younger readers who are looking for a spooky thrill!
I think I would have enjoyed it a lot more if I had either read this when I was younger or if I had read things like this when I was younger; then this book would have felt nostalgic instead of immature.

I enjoyed this book a lot. Reminded me of Goosebumps. It was really well written and had an interesting concept.

~thank you to NetGalley & Jolly Fish Press for giving me a chance to read & review this book~

Very fast paced short little story. Creepy too. Reminded me of when I was younger and would read the goosebumps books. Similar feeling. I enjoyed it

ah, what a story! I will for sure be saving this one to read to kids on a scary evening. The kids are very ingenious and smart here, even though I found it enfuriating that kids in such books never feel comfortable enough to tell the adult what ails them, and what is actually happening. Still, a nice horror story for the little ones.

Stepping out of my comfort zone but this book gave it all, creepy vibes and keeping me on the edge of my seat

Not what I expected but definitely glad I jumped at it!

It was a fun little middle-grade summerween story! I know i would have loved this as a kid. Kind of Coraline-esque during summer vacation.
Sometimes the kids’ dialogue was just not accurate. I wish something with the main character’s Nana happened like she needed a ghostly visit from her or something…

This is a quick little middle grade horror involving witchy badness, puppets, and a campground.

The story introductions felt a little odd each time one was told, but overall the story was interesting.

Growing up I loved watching Are You Afraid of The Dark, Dr. Who and the Demon Headmaster, but I never got the chance to read the Goosebump books or Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, but I think this is a great entry book to start a new generation horror lovers.
Also as an educator, it is so important that children read and well this is a great fast paced story that can really create a feast for the mind.

Great setting and great characters. Thank you, author, for an ending that closes on a higher note. The puppets are terrifying, and the descriptions/stories make them great creepy elements. It's a great horror short book; I will keep this one on my list for recs in amusement parks with a puppet show and lots of short, creepy tales.

A fantastic debut! Hidden Strings is just the right amount of suspense and mystery. The characters are very well written and I found myself invested right away. The undertones of the protagonists grief and regrets is very well executed. This is an excellent age appropriate horror novel, the amusement park setting was perfect, and I enjoyed getting to know Tessa and Liza very much! The blend of good spooky story and raw emotion is very delicately executed with care and I can’t recommend it enough.

I love horror and I love stories with puppets, so Hidden Strings was a must read for me.
Missing children, forgetful adults, a sinister puppeteer - these are all perfect elements for a horror story. Tessa very bravely goes into the lions den, but it's not as easy as she thought it would be, as Liza encourages Tessa's abilities, giving Tessa a sense of accomplishment and self-worth. Tessa doesn't make friends easily, but luckily meets and befriends twins Gabe and Reya who are staying in the fun park for a few days. The twins are not only good friends to Tessa, but when Reya disappears, Gabe is willing to do anything to get her back.

Tessa is a very relatable heroine, riddled by guilt for having a natural desire for spending time with kids her own age, and torn by grief over the loss of her beloved grandmother. Her skill with carving and willingness to teach others, as well as her love for the animals in the petting zoo are engaging traits. She is also determined to save all the missing children.

I loved the device of Liza's frightening stories being included in Hidden Strings. When Mason, Liza's assistant, tells Tessa that Liza never lies, it makes the scary tales sound chillingly like events from Liza's past. Another wonderful touch is when children go missing in the park, the adults quickly forget about the missing. How terrifying for a child that the adults who should defend them from evil are oblivious to it! It is really up to Tessa and her friends to do something to stop Liza.

Hidden Strings isn't so much frightening as creepy and atmospheric, with wonderful characters and a great setting. I loved the theme of manipulation and control, and of course evil preying on children is a staple of horror and fairy tales (maybe of life too!). Having said that, this delightfully creepy horror story will be enjoyed best by those drawn to horror or fans of Goosebumps. I certainly really enjoyed it.

Tessa is struggling to come to terms with her beloved grandma's death while trying to convince her parents not to give up on the summer camp Nana created, bringing joy to the hearts of children. An enigmatic puppeteer arrives with enticing puppets and haunting stories, a woman who speaks in riddles and covert threats. And children start disappearing. And new puppets are being created. And new stories are being conceived and narrated...As the fairy lights cast a magic aura on the summer nights, secrets must lie hidden.

Like hidden strings...

A modern fable, a fairytale for the modern era, set in a saltry summer when the nights are short but no less threatening. A story to be told under the twinkling lights in hushed voices, a tale as old as time itself.

The character of Liza was fascinating beyond words. Unfortunately, Tessa is given the short end of the stick, and her character is the average naive teenager of today's YA nonsense. In addition, the dialogue is almost lifeless, and the writing itself is lacklustre at best. Thank God for the haunting story, the dark tales and the short length of the novel.

Many thanks to North Star Editions and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you so much to Jolly Fish Press and Netgalley for the ebook to read and review.

Tessa is now living at her Nana’s fun family park after she died. As the new storytelling puppeteer arrives telling stories her Nana would never have liked, strange things start to happen and Tessa is determined to figure out what the woman is up to.

This was a really intriguing book the whole story makes you want to know exactly what Liza was up too. You are given glimpses and your ideas run, making you so suspicious and then we get our answers to the mysterious woman. It certainly entertains and grips you in, wanting to get to the bottom of the mystery.

The storytelling within was great, I wouldn’t have said they were particularly scary stories considering our protagonist Tessa constantly says they are. But the stories were still very creative and added an extra layer to the story of what was really going on.

This is a really great read for those that like horror mysteries but don’t like anything too scary or that will stick in their minds. The horror and scare and creepiness is very mild and not overly graphic either. So it’d be a wonderful read for those either starting with horror or prefer a simpler less scary horror.

Hidden Strings by K.J. Mist was an absolute delight! the kind of book I craved as a teen and can’t wait to share with my daughter someday. It’s got everything: eerie mystery, family secrets, and just the right amount of nostalgia to make it feel timeless.

Short, fast-paced, and packed with atmosphere, this is the kind of spooky story that sticks with you. The drama was juicy, the chills were subtle but effective, and the whole thing just worked. If you love YA horror with heart, grab this one.

Thank you NetGalley for this eARC!

I just finished this book and thought it was such a fun, eerie read. It’s definitely aimed at a YA audience, and the writing is super accessible—perfect for a quick weekend read. The story centers around Tessa, who’s struggling with the loss of her grandmother and the slow decline of her family’s amusement park. Things get weird (in a good way) when a mysterious puppeteer named Liza shows up and offers to revive the park’s puppet show… but her performances start to feel a little too real.

There’s this great mix of nostalgia, magic, and mystery throughout. It doesn’t get overly dark, but it has just enough creepiness to keep you turning the pages—especially when kids start disappearing and Tessa has to go undercover to figure out what’s really going on. The puppeteer is the perfect kind of unsettling, and the tension builds in a way that’s subtle but effective.

If you like slightly spooky stories with a magical twist and a brave, likable protagonist, this one’s definitely worth checking out. It’s an easy read, but it sticks with you.

Thank you to North Star Editions, K.J. Mist, and NetGalley for this arc!

Solid 3.5 stars! A short, quick novel that I gobbled up in a few sittings. This reminded me of Goosebumps or Are you Afraid of the Dark. An interesting, slightly ominous story with a small cast of characters I liked from the get go. The story picked up from the start, and even caused some anxiety and tension. It wrapped up in a neat bow, and that left me really happy. Thank you to NetGalley for this advanced copy. This was my first approval, and boy did it leave me with a good taste in my mouth. Excited for future books to review. I would definitely recommend this book for young adult looking for a simple story that is spooky.

Though this was a fast read, it was fun and different and I enjoyed it.
This is the telling of a young girl whose family goes to keep on her dead Nana's legacy and puppet show, but the place had gone downhill after her passing.
Tessa's parents hire a random lady to take after the puppet show and more children begin to come.
Tessa makes friends her age but some kids go missing, and the parents seem to be under-spell and think of it all as a silly joke.
Even the ones who lost children seemed to not notice or even care.
Tessa is determined to save her friends and all the other innocent lives taken hostage, but she feels drawn to the witch as if she's being manipulated and wants to be the same.
(The rest I'll leave out🌚)
Though I very much enjoyed this I wished for more as the ending felt a bit rushed to me.

Thanks netgalley and the publisher for this free copy in exchange for an honest review 🫶🏻

Firstly, I would like to say how enthralling this book is! It had my attention from the very beginning and I finished it so quick. It was such an easy read. The characters were well developed and I really appreciated Zac lol! If you want a palate cleanser, please choose this one! Simple but detailed and intriguing! It was a delightful read!

*Hidden Strings* by K.J. Mist is a captivating blend of mystery and fantasy, offering a rich, immersive world that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. The story follows a protagonist with unique abilities, navigating a web of secrets and hidden agendas, all while grappling with personal dilemmas. Mist’s writing is vivid and engaging, with intricate world-building and dynamic character development that makes each twist and turn feel both unpredictable and earned. Fans of urban fantasy and suspense will find themselves quickly drawn into the complex, enigmatic plot. Overall, *Hidden Strings* is a spellbinding read that leaves a lasting impression.