I wish NetGalley would let me do half stars, I would bump this one up to 4.5/5. Lloyd has a good grasp on the necessary parts of a haunted house tale - she sets up normalcy beautifully before she begins to disturb it, for instance. She even subverts one of the tropes with one of the point of view characters, and it's very well done. The pacing is a little uneven in places and the language occasionally a bit clunky, but overall as someone who really loves a good haunted house story I enjoyed this book. Totally worth your time.

This book was one of the best haunted house/ghost story that I have read in a long time. This book captured my attention from the first page and just kept getting better and better. I thought the ending was pretty shocking. I look forward to reading more books by this author.

There are certainly enough scares, thrills and spine chilling moments here to satisfy most lovers of the supernatural and horror genre. Considering this is Cailyn Lloyd's first book she certainly shows a mastery of the art of providing a satisfyingly absorbing and page turning read. I read that the author spent three years living in an allegedly haunted house and experienced the strange and eerie atmosphere derived from such a location. Although I'm a confirmed sceptic on such matters there is no doubt that such experiences would have enhanced and seeped though into Cailyn's writing.

The story is set in rural Wisconsin and centres on a strange anomaly of an abandoned mansion that has the requisite history of ghostly happenings intertwined with strange unexpected deaths and a disappearance. The locals as in keeping with such stories are deeply suspicious of the property and keep their distance. Following the death of their mother, Lucas MacKenzie and his brother Nate inherit the property (for which they had no previous knowledge) and begin a renovation project. Now the fun starts and layer by layer the incredible and terrifying past history of the house is revealed, a past that will threaten the lives of all who enter it.

With its short chapters (there are over 70 in all) often ending on a dramatic moment and a pacy plot that never lingers for long I found myself having difficulty in putting it down and read long into the night. Also as a UK reader I was intrigued with the historic connection that the plot has with our at times rather bloody history we had here. This blending of the supernatural, horror, mystery, the occult and history certainly made an engrossing read and if you like a good scare then I would certainly recommend that you give this a try.

Wasn't sure what to expect here, so was very pleasantly surprised to find such an engrossing horror/mystery. Hard to put this one down. An intriguing story line following two brothers and their wives (one of which is psychic), who come to a house they didn't know existed after the death of their mother. The townspeople talk about the house in hushed voices, and ghosts and dark entities are felt here and there. Throw in Shepherd, an ancient sorcerer from the 700s a.d. and the story takes on another level.Do not want to give too much away, but one of the better books I've read in awhile. Highly recommend this book and author. Now to see what else the author has written.

Let’s talk.

I just finished Shepherd’s Warning by Cailyn Lloyd and can I just say I am overcome.

I’ve never read a horror book before, not even the widely popular Goosebumps by R. L. Stine and this being my first horror book I am extremely impressed. It didn’t scare the shit out of me but it certainly held my attention from beginning to end and I devoured it in the span of one and a half days. It was that worthy.

Since this is an ARC my standard style of reviewing won’t apply (because that would mean spoilers) but we’re still going to be diving deep into certain aspects of this book and the one scene near the end that you need to be ready for if you’re easily triggered.

Summary
(official Goodreads summary)

For years the abandoned MacKenzie mansion remained hidden in rural Wisconsin. Rumours and stories of apparitions, odd noises, accidents, and strange deaths in or near the property were enough to convince the townsfolk it was haunted and they stayed away.

Lucas MacKenzie and his brother Nate know nothing of this when they inherit the property and decide to bring their families to Wisconsin for a major renovation project with HGTV stardom in mind. As they tear out old fixtures and open shuttered windows, the house begins to reveal secrets of a terrible past and it soon becomes clear the MacKenzies are in grave danger. In the end, only one person can save them.

Writing Style
Cailyn Lloyd did okay in this department. The writing built up the suspense throughout the book and I was pleased to find that everything flowed from one scene to the next without any leaps, gaps or loopholes.

All the sequences were highly engaging and I particularly liked that scene at the end when Laura decided to just fuck it all and end things on her own terms.

Plot
Not much to say here either. I liked the natural progression of things and everything felt very natural for me. The middle could have lagged a little less but generally, it was passable. Each action seemed to have an equal and opposite reaction that compounded over the course of the book and ended in a resounding conclusion. There is a rape scene at the end and if you’re easily triggered then you need to know so you can skip past it.

Characterisation
All the characters were well fleshed out save one: Ashley MacKenzie. Her character seemed a little vain and her only purpose appeared to be the fact that she was one of the character’s wives who enjoys daily shopping and other such mindless activities. I didn’t particularly like her and it didn’t seem like she had much to contribute to the story other than being the ‘blonde’ and a convenient vessel for the antagonist in the end.

Favourite Quotes
“In practice, the years had taught him toleration and mindfulness, and he shrugged off the small slights of life and moved on”

“He acted as though his grief was greater and she resented his lackadaisical attitude”

“Her dreams were often vivid and seldom happy, but now she dreamt of a funny little man wearing the cap and cloak of a magician, a wand in his right hand, mumbling unintelligibly”

Overall, this was a very engaging book and I found only one typo. I’m so very glad I picked it up. Will you be reading Shepherd’s Warning by Cailyn Lloyd? Tell me in the comments down below!

A very good book, engrossing and entertaining.
I liked the world building, the fleshed out cast of characters and the fascinating plot.
I look forward to reading other books by this author.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

I love when fate intervenes. I was on NetGalley to see what books I needed to post reviews for, and I decided I wanted to read a horror book soon. So I clicked on that section, and saw the cover for Sheperd’s Warning because it caught my eye. When I read that it takes place in rural Wisconsin, and it was a debut novel, I knew that would be my next read.

And I must say, an excellent book for a new author.

Cailyn Lloyd does a fabulous job with the building of suspense. While I was never freaked out (watching horror movies since the age of eight, might have jaded me a bit…) she kept perfectly ratcheting up the anxiety that her characters were experiencing. What started as a new beginning after a tragedy, quickly led to feelings of uneasy, then to the characters feeling jittery, with the final outcome of complete terror.

Lloyd also did very well with incorporating the supernatural aspect. Wisconsin is well known for its many haunted houses, hospitals, and buildings, so the MacKenzie mansion fit in perfectly with it’s rural surroundings. Lloyd has the perfect balance of very detailed descriptions of the mansion, surrounding woods, and town. But she doesn’t go on and on with it, to the point where I wanted to skim, so that is always a plus for me.

I think the reason why I enjoy horror so much is because there is almost always a mystery involved in the story. Why is the killer or supernatural entity doing what they are doing? Lloyd wrote a very interesting mystery, incorporating historical data and folklore. I enjoyed the journey she took me on.

The very small thing that I have to mention is how I was a bit confused, at first, in regards to the characters. Lloyd gave us half a dozen names, and it was immediately on with the story. Although she does develop the characters going forward, it took me a couple of chapters to straighten out their relationships to each other. But it could have been that I was a bit sleepy since I started reading right before bed.

Looking forward to her future works. And if you enjoy Dean Koontz or John Saul, definitely give this one a try.

Shepherd's Warning is a fantastic paranormal book. The author has done a good job with character development and making a interesting storyline. I enjoyed this book.

SHEPHERD'S WARNING is an immensely engrossing horror/paranormal novel with contemporary issues and deep historical background. The paranormal elements are inventive, focusing on one ancestral lineage. Additionally the author weaves in a congruent plot line in one Kenric Shepherd, University professor and sorcerer. This is a "can't-put-down" paranormal thrill ride, wrenching reader's emotions and delivering an ultimately gratifying and re-readable novel.

CAILYN LLOYD, is not only a Composer. Musician. Stormchaser, and Photographer - but now she is an Author with amazing talent. Shepherd’s Warning is a horror novel that will keep you at the edge of your seat until the very end.

The story is about two brothers and their wives inheriting a house their mother had kept a secret. She kept it a secret for good reason. The house is haunted and with it comes a very angry spirit.​

The characters are well defined. As to the scenery, the author makes you feel as if you are there along side Laura every step of the way trying to figure out the history, the people, the evil. The descriptions are vibrant and and true to the Tudor style.

​Overall this book is engaging and a great read, and I plan on giving it a 5 star. But, there is one thing I need to stress that to me is important. Laura’s constant refusing her gift is a bit annoying and tedious. If possible I would change that so that it is not repetitive within the novel.

Besides that bit of suggestions I would not change a thing - Great Job!​

I was provided this book for free in exchange for my honest opinion. That being said, I cannot wait for book two. Not wanting to give anything away all I can say is - I would like to see what happens to Leah.

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this book for anyone who loves a good horro mystery filled with trap doors, spirits, and lots of ancient references and evil. 📕👍🏼

I GIVE IT A 5 STAR: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️