It’s hard to talk about When the Wolf Comes Home without just yelling “READ IT” and shoving it into people’s hands. It’s that good. And not just “oh wow this is a fun, spooky read” good, it’s emotionally bruising, deeply unsettling, unexpectedly moving, and somehow also a love letter to old-school horror paperbacks and 80s thrillers. This is one of those stories where the less you know going in, the better. What starts as a tense, mysterious moment, our main character Jess coming home from a brutal shift to find a little boy hiding in her bushes, quickly spirals into something far more dangerous, strange, and heartbreaking than you can imagine. From there, it becomes a breakneck, emotionally loaded, horror-laced chase novel with layers upon layers beneath the surface. Cassidy takes familiar tropes like the runaway kid, the dangerous dad, and the woman on the run then flips them all inside out in the most unexpected ways. There’s a ton of horror here, sure (some of it stomach-dropping), but what really did it for me was the emotional weight. This isn’t just a story meant to scare you (though I think it will do that) it’s also about fear itself, how it evolves as we age, what we carry from childhood, and how we cope with what we’ve survived. Jess is such a layered protagonist. She's vulnerable but funny, fierce, deeply human and watching her unravel and push forward at the same time is mesmerizing. And the kid at the centre of the story? Somehow terrifying and heartbreaking all at once. I truly didn’t know whether I wanted to hug him or run away screaming. Cassidy’s writing is on another level. The pacing is relentless in the best way. You’re constantly tense, constantly waiting for the next beat to drop, but it never sacrifices character or emotional payoff for cheap scares. He manages to pull off huge genre swings without it ever feeling chaotic. The ending completely gutted me in the way where you sit there in stunned silence, like your soul just got cracked open a little. I don’t say that lightly. It was the kind of reading experience that sticks with you, burrows in deep, and leaves you thinking long after you’ve finished. Cassidy has already proven himself with Mary and Nestlings, but When the Wolf Comes Home is something else entirely. It’s brutal, bizarre, raw, and cathartic. It’s horror with a soul. Cassidy is abdsolutly cementing himself as a must-read horror author. This is perfect for those who are a fan of horror that dares to be tender, weird, and devastating all at once. Also, just as a quick note, don’t skip the afterword. Cassidy always writes incredible author notes, and this one gives you such an incredible glimpse into the personal history and emotional depth behind the story. It adds so much meaning to what you’ve just read. If you're listening to the audiobook, Cassidy himself pops in for the afterword (which made it feel even more personal).

You ever pick up a book and immediately know it’s going to be an amazing time for you? That was Heir of Illusion for me. From the very first chapter, I was hooked like eyes-glued-to-the-page, “just one more chapter” until suddenly it’s 2 a.m. kind of hooked. It’s fast-paced, emotionally intense, wildly entertaining, and packed with everything I personally look for in a fantasy romance. The story centres on Ivy, a fierce and clever vigilante with a traumatic past, who’s magically bound to a cruel king. She’s not just trying to survive, she’s trying to fight back, and her strength and snark had me rooting for her from the jump. And then… enter Thorne. A brooding, deadly shadow of a man with secrets and sharp edges, who somehow still manages to fall first and fall hard. Their dynamic? I absolutely love it. The banter is bantering, the tension is off-the-charts, and yes, we’ve got that amazing “touch her and die” energy in full force. Madeline Taylor’s writing is stunning. It's so vivid, so immersive, and so detailed which is just the writing I like to read. The world she’s built is full of Gods, fae (but different kinds, our FMC is a wraith!), enchantments, illusions, and power plays, yet nothing feels overwhelming. She weaves in lore, magic, and plot twists with a natural flow that keeps the pace flying without sacrificing depth. The magic system itself is so refreshing and unique. Actually, it all feels new and like something I haven't read a million times before, which is pretty rare in fantasy these days. Honestly, really great for a debut book. If you're into morally grey love interests, resilient heroines, dark magic, enemies to lovers, reluctant alliances, deadly touches, and genuinely great banter, run to this book. It gave me all the good fantasy romance vibes in the best possible way, but with its own fresh voice and fire. Honestly, I think it even helped pull me out of a reading slump, and now I want to reread it just to relive the chaos and chemistry all over again. Madeline Taylor, whatever you write next, I’m already there.