Secrets in the flames. Answers in the ashes.

PLOT SUMMARY:

Riley and her brother Oliver set off in the pitch-black night, fleeing their troubled home. They are heading for Nowhere—an abandoned ranch, once the playground of its former eccentric movie-star owner, now a haven for runaways.

What awaits could be the freedom they crave.

But this mysterious clan guards dark secrets, and the scorched grounds hold the ghosts of the past. Riley quickly realizes that while she and Oliver may have escaped the devil they knew, something darker lurks in the burnt shell of Nowhere.

Something which asks a terrible price for sanctuary…

GRADE: B-

REVIEW:

Ward is usually an auto-buy author for me, so whenever I get the chance to read an ARC of hers, I jump on it. That said, this is the first of her books that didn’t completely captivate me.

What worked best for me was Riley and Oliver’s storyline. Their escape from an abusive situation is gripping on its own, but things take a darker turn when they fall in with a group of kids living alone in the woods—very Lord of the Flies vibes. That section had the tension and emotional pull I’ve come to expect from Ward.

The novel then shifts to Leaf Winham, a famous Hollywood actor who retreats to the woods to indulge his serial killer tendencies. It’s an interesting premise, but I found it less engaging than Riley and Oliver’s arc.

The final thread follows two investigative journalists trying to piece together what happened at Winham’s burned-down property—and what became of the so-called Nowhere children. This part ties the narrative together, though it didn’t deliver the level of suspense I was hoping for.

Overall, the book is compelling, but I wouldn’t classify it as horror. It leans more toward drama, and it lacks the shocking twists I usually associate with Ward’s work. I still recommend it—just go in knowing it’s less eerie and more grounded than her previous novels.

*Thank you so much to NetGalley & MacMillan Audio for the audiobook copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

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