Published by Gallery Books Genres: Fiction, Horror, thriller
Format: ARC, eBook
Creepy, horrific, haunting, and unsettling, Ania Ahlborn delivers an eerie tale with The Unseen. This book is brimming with tension, dread, and will have the hairs sticking up on the back of your neck! An odd-looking orphanage child, a mother who recently suffered a loss, and a moody eerie vibe pulled me in and never let go. This book played out like a horror film in my mind.
Isla Hansen, a married mother of five is no stranger to loss. When she sees an orphaned child on the edge of their property, she insists she and Luke, her husband, take the child into their home when no one claims him. The boy is strange, odd, and non-verbal except for loud screeching yells. He makes Isla’s husband and children uncomfortable. When strange things begin to occur, the household becomes tense, and Isla begins to be more attached to the orphaned boy.
You could cut the tension with a knife in this book. Ania Ahlborn has mastered creating unease, dread, and tension. I felt for the children and their father. I wanted to tell Luke to take a stand and to do something – anything!!!! Now!!! Do Something Now!!!! But well…….
This book is told through the POV of several characters which is a nice touch! I liked getting into their heads and being able to see things their way. There are a nice number of twists and turns along the way. I did not see the ending coming at all and I do have some conflicted feelings about it.
What I did not have conflicted about was the descriptions of loss and grief. I also thought the author did well with showing the children’s feelings and thoughts. There is a lot of talk of miscarriages which may be upsetting for some readers.
Overall, a creepy, unsettling, book that delivered on the chills and thrills. This was the first book I have read by this author, but it will not be my last.
Thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
