I really liked the premise of this book, but it didn't fully live up to its potential for me. I liked the aspects of deaths being linked to superstitions. Some of the characters were interesting, but there were a lot of them that made it hard to connect with them on a deeper level. The book starts strong, but as the story progressed, some of the plot felt muddled and the pacing off. Overall, an enjoyable book though.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an advanced copy of this book.

Oh I wanted to like this one so much but it wasn't for me. It's too YA and too full of descriptions that, at least to me, felt unnecessary. Also too many characters to keep track of.

The pace was quick and there was always something happening but a lot of it didn't feel that important and I caught myself thinking more than once "does this really need to be in here?". It's a shame but I'll try out other books from this author.

Do you knock on wood? Avoid the number thirteen? Students at Van Buren University didn't think much about superstitions and bad luck until it seemed like people were dying because of it. Jerry Williams was a respected member of Van Buren newspaper staff until he wrote an article about parking meter fraud on campus which brought down anger from the University's administration team. After that, story after story was killed. When he writes an article about how a series of sudden deaths on campus are connected to bad luck, not only does the editor refuse to print it, she also puts Jerry on suspension. Jerry continues to investigate the deaths with the help of his friends and discovers a link to deaths that happened decades earlier. As Friday the 13th looms closer and Jerry's new girlfriend is nearly killed, Jerry desperately searches for the way to stop the next death and prevent any more from happening. This novel started out a bit slow, but the ending was really good.

Superstition by James Blakey.
I did like the cover and blurb of this book. I loved the prologue with the witch scene. I did like Jerry the main character. But I wasn't sure about the other characters. I was a little disappointed the prologue only had a witch scene. But i still did enjoy this book. I liked the writing style. I was surprised by the end. Twisty and gripping. I do hope there is more to come.


Blurb.
An umbrella is opened indoors. A black cat crosses your path. Three cigarettes are lit from one match. These are omens of bad luck that no one takes seriously. But at Van Buren University when these and other superstitions are broken, students die.

Superstition by James Blakey is a dark and atmospheric thriller that weaves a gripping tale of fear, mystery, and paranoia. Blakey's vivid descriptions and tense pacing create a haunting narrative that keeps readers on edge until the final twist.

Jerry is a reporter who starts looking into all kinds of strange deaths that have superstitions linked to them. With Friday the 13th approaching, he is worried another tragic death will happen and is determined to figure out the mystery before something bad happens.

This book just wasn't quite what I was expecting. It was very slow and too many descriptions that didn't add anything to the story.

Superstition by James Blakey presents an exciting premise—a college campus plagued by mysterious deaths linked to broken superstitions like opening an umbrella indoors or crossing paths with a black cat. From the outset, the story promises a blend of thriller, mystery, and horror, which is undeniably intriguing. The idea that bad luck could actually kill is original, and Blakey crafts a world where superstition takes on a life-or-death significance. This concept alone hooked me, as it provides a fresh take on the typical campus murder mystery.

We follow Jerry as he investigates the series of deaths, his journalism instincts lead him down a twisting path that ties present-day events to a massacre on Friday the 13th in 1984. The tension builds as the plot thickens, with clues slowly revealing a more sinister force behind the deaths. The investigative element is where the book shines, as Jerry’s determination to uncover the truth becomes gripping, especially in the latter half. The plot twists, particularly towards the end, were well-executed and genuinely surprising. I enjoyed the sense of suspense that kicked in as the climax approached.

Superstition is an enjoyable, fast-paced read. It’s light on the horror and heavy on the mystery, which will appeal to fans of YA thrillers. The writing is solid, and the book offers enough twists to keep readers guessing until the end. However, I do wish it had leaned more into the horror elements and kept a tighter focus on the core mystery. With stronger character development and a more streamlined plot, Superstition could have been a standout in the genre.

Pros:

Intriguing Premise: The idea of bad luck and superstitions causing deadly consequences is fresh and interesting. As someone who doesn’t believe in superstitions, the idea of such severe consequences was actually quite fun. Every time a character died due to breaking one of these beliefs, I found myself imagining my own sorry fate had I been part of this world. This made the book very relatable and grabbed my attention to the characters actions very easily.

Pacing: The book is fast-paced and easy to read, making it a quick, engaging experience, particularly for fans of YA mystery-thrillers. Once the story picks up, around the halfway mark, it becomes hard to put down.

Journalism Angle: Jerry’s role as a student reporter adds an enjoyable investigative element. It brings in an intellectual layer, as he tries to piece together a complex puzzle from the past and present. Following the clue along with Jerry was quite a ride as we moved through speculations to confirmations to consequences.

Plot Twists: The twists and turns, especially towards the end, are satisfying and unexpected. It's refreshing when a reader’s assumptions are proven wrong, and the final revelations are surprising in a good way.

Cons:

Character Development: Many characters, including the main character Jerry and his girlfriend Darla, felt underdeveloped, especially early on. While Jerry becomes more relatable as the story progresses, Darla is frustratingly one-dimensional. More depth would have made the relationships and conflicts more compelling.

Excessive Details: The descriptions of clothing and other minor details distract from the main plot. Constantly describing what characters are wearing adds little to the atmosphere and takes away from the tension the mystery is supposed to build. The descritions feel like we are taking a break from the story to be told the information rathers than it being a part of the natural flow of the narrative. The book also introduced too many characters too quickly without spending much time with any of them. Essentially, there is too much telling rather than showing.

Disconnected Elements: Some elements of the story, like the internet jammer, feel disconnected from the central premise of superstitions causing death. These ideas don’t mesh well with the core narrative and create a sense of imbalance.

Conclusion

Superstition starts with an intriguing concept—superstitions becoming deadly—but gets bogged down by too many characters, unnecessary details, and underdeveloped subplots. While the pace picks up in the latter half and offers some exciting twists, the overall narrative feels disjointed. James Blakey is clearly a talented writer with great ideas, but the execution here leaves something to be desired. For readers looking for a spooky, fast-paced YA read, it’s a fun ride, but it may not leave a lasting impression.

**Review of *Superstition***

*Superstition* is a thrilling young adult mystery that deftly intertwines folklore with a gripping campus setting, creating a compelling narrative that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. Author [Author's Name] takes the classic concept of superstitions—often dismissed as mere quirks—and transforms them into a chilling premise where they lead to real, dire consequences.

The story follows sophomore Jerry Williams, a passionate journalist at Van Buren University whose investigative instincts are both his strength and his burden. When a series of bizarre deaths linked to superstitions begin to plague the campus, Jerry’s commitment to uncovering the truth is met with skepticism from his peers and hostility from the administration. His journey of discovery is not only about solving a mystery but also about standing up for his beliefs in the face of adversity.

The pacing of *Superstition* is expertly handled, with tension mounting as Jerry delves deeper into the dark connections between superstition and the inexplicable tragedies on campus. Each twist and turn raises the stakes, especially as Friday the 13th approaches, creating a palpable sense of urgency. The writing captures the mix of fear, intrigue, and teenage angst, making Jerry a relatable protagonist as he navigates the pressures of love, friendship, and responsibility.

Darla, Jerry’s girlfriend, adds depth to the story, embodying the stakes of his investigation. Her near brush with death serves as a powerful motivator for Jerry, emphasizing the emotional weight behind the plot. The interactions among the characters are well-drawn, highlighting the camaraderie and challenges of college life, while also addressing deeper themes of belief, skepticism, and the consequences of ignoring warnings.

The blend of mystery, supernatural elements, and a touch of horror makes *Superstition* an engaging read for fans of the genre. The exploration of superstitions as both cultural artifacts and potential harbingers of doom provides a thought-provoking layer to the narrative, inviting readers to consider how much we really believe in the unexplainable.

Overall, *Superstition* is a cleverly crafted tale that blends suspense with a nuanced exploration of belief and consequence. It’s a must-read for anyone who enjoys a thrilling mystery with a dash of the supernatural. With its unforgettable characters and heart-pounding plot, this book is sure to leave readers questioning the shadows lurking just beyond their line of sight.

This was such a fun book... and I finished just in time for Spooky season! I gravitate toward mystery and supernatural types of books so this one was right up my alley. The pacing was good and the writing style was easy. This had a creative plot that felt different from other books in the same genre. Highly recommend!

This book had a great plot with intriguing characters. I’ll definitely be looking out for more from this author.

Superstition by James Blakey is going to be a really good fall read for anyone, but especially those millennials who grew up watching The Craft and Final Destination and well, that’s me wrapped up in one. I really enjoyed this read and right around the 50% mark is where everything really started to piece together in this story and I flew through the second half of the book unable to put it down.

The story follows sophomore Jerry who’s writing for the universities school newspaper, soon he starts to connect some rather sinister deaths happening on campus to what appears to be old wives tales of bad luck. His quest for the truth takes him on some unlikely turns, some you even begin to question their motives, but nothing deters Jerry once his mind is set on the truth.

I did see this badged on Net Gallery as Horror & Thriller, but I would have easily added this to some of the YA genres too, and that’s no slight on Blakeys writing style I thoroughly enjoy YA thrillers, I hope this reaches the best audience to consume this as it easily has a more modern feel of the Netflix version of Sabrina the teenage witch.

Thank you to NetGallery for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Really enjoyed this one! The premise of the novel (what happens if you ignore rituals based on superstition) is something we all grew up with and had to work our own ways through. All the potential negative consequences appear to be coming to fruition. I love watching Jerry work his way through tense and dangerous predicaments as he works his way towards the final truth. The help he got from his friends along the way was hilarious, as well as nostalgia inducing - I remember being a college kid looking for an adventure. A fast and gripping ride! Would have been five stars for me except for the fact that the character arc one of the main female protagonists went through ended up feeling like “it was all for nothing.

3.5 stars, Just in time for spooky season.

This book, set in a university is a murder mystery, with thriller, romance and magic thrown in. To be honest, the beginning of the book didn’t pull me in, I found there were far too many characters, it was difficult to keep up and to make it more confusing sometimes they were addressed by their first names and other times by their second names. Once the story got going and you work out who the main players are though, that’s when I began to enjoy the book and raced through it.

Our main character Jerry is investigating freaky deaths that have happened at the university that seem linked with bad luck - opening an umbrella indoors, Friday the 13th etc. Jerry finds links to similar incidents in 1984 and as a journalist he delves deep to find out if that’s all linked to what’s happening now.

This was a fun read. I would say more YA, a good premise but I don’t think I would carry on with the series.

Many thanks to NetGalley, author and publisher for my eARC in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 stars rounded down to three because I found the plot a little predictable. However, the premise was intriguing, and I liked the way the author tied in the superstitions to the deaths in the story, it was very Final Destination-like.

Journalism major Jerry Williams is trying to follow in his father's footsteps by hoping to land a sensational story that will garner him lots of attention from bigwigs, despite the dwindling days of glory journalism and printed newspapers. He has written several stores for the Van Buren University Chronicle but unfortunately, the best stories are shot down by the editor in chief, likely due to how it paints the university in bad lighting but mostly to cover her own tush.

When several random deaths occur on campus, he starts to piece together the victims had a connection to a superstition that causes bad luck. And then the actual bad luck occurs in the form of a freak accident. The more Jerry puts together the more the university wants to silence him before he supposedly causes mass panic (what's unsaid is mostly panic among the major donors pulling funding... yay capitalism).

Like I said, the plot was promising but Jerry is such a self-absorbed jerk when he hops from one girlfriend to the next was completely off-putting. However, the girls weren't much better. This felt a lot more like high school than college and the whole OMG I got the cheerleader thing smacked of immaturity.

Also, note to the male author. You don't need to tell me what every single character is wearing when they appear in the scene. If it's not relevant to the plot, I don't care what color someone's sneakers are or the Addidas logo on their shirt. However, the outfit you put Jerry in for his big date with the cheerleader sounds like it doesn't match in the slightest. Yellow shirt and burgundy tie? Ewww.

I was impressed by the accuracy of Jerry's first aid skills but there was one glaring error (may be fixed in edits since this is an advance copy) that made me literally yell at my kindle. However, that's just me being picky.

Thank you to City Owl Press and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are my own.

From the description, this book sounded like something I'd enjoy and I did like the different deaths. However, I just really couldn't get into it. There was nothing bad about the writing or the plot but it just wasn't for me. I can see this book being a favorite for a lot of people so don't let my review discourage you from checking this book out.

I was initially drawn to this book by the cover and was kept hooked from the prologue! The concept of this story is immensely intriguing and I found myself unable to book this book down! I will say I had trouble being super invested in the characters and deaths in the first 25% of the story - I felt like we needed more background on the characters that were dying because I just wasn't invested in their accidental deaths that turned into Jerry's obsession.

That being said, my love for our main character Jerry had me completely interested in the rest of the story. I loved the journalism aspect of this, it gave me slight AGGTM vibes. I love that I got a character to hate out of Darla and was completely convinced that she had something to do with all of this (which I'm sure is what Blakey wanted from us). When Jerry started to piece everything together I had thought that I had everything figured out too and had guessed the plot twist. I have never been so delighted to be wrong! The last 15% of the book had my jaw on the floor! It was an excellent ending to a really great story!

The only gripes I had with this was the relationship & romance aspect seemed to be lacking and as a mainly romance reader I could tell that this was written by a man. That being said, I loved that we got even a little bit of romance out of this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it and had so much fun with this story! It was a super easy, fast paced story that had me on the edge of my seat. I will definitely be buying a physical copy and recommending to all of my friends! This was the perfect fall book to get you into the spooky season spirit!

“An umbrella is opened indoors. A black cat crosses your path. Three cigarettes are lit from one match. These are omens of bad luck that no one takes seriously. But at Van Buren University when these, and other superstitions, are broken… students die.“
Get your lucky rabbits foot ready because you’re in for a wild ride. Strange things are going on at Van Buren University. Let’s just say I have already recommended this book to several of my friends. We all love a good paranormal read but when you add college students, superstitions, and the spook level is on 10 you get this wonderfully written book! I really loved the story and I could definitely see a major streaming company picking this up and turning it into a mini series or a movie. I would totally love more spin offs of Van Buren University! I can’t wait to see what else James Blakey comes up with next!
A big thank you to NetGalley, James Blakey, & City Owl Press for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I couldn't get into this book, The different deaths from superstition was interesting, but all and all, i just could get into it.

The premise for this novel was intriguing. Horrible deaths caused from breaking certain superstitions. And while we do find some of that here, ultimately it became a hodge podge of ideas that didn't quite click for me.

Jerry is a reporter for his college newspaper. When three deaths occur in a very short time, he discovers they all had broken some superstitious rules (spilling salt, etc).

This concept is interesting but we find out later that some people don't die, they just get injured. Finding a string of deaths which all happened on Friday the 13th in 1984, he suspects they might be related. Since Friday the 13th is coming up in the present time, he thinks a massacre is about to happen.

This is the basic plot and it does require some investigative efforts to uncover the connection between past and present.

But the story gets bogged down in extras which don't add to the narrative. A romance angle, something about a homemade internet jammer that will stop the evil (?), and one dimensional side characters that don't add anything of substance.

And clothes. The author describes what any character is wearing every time we read about them. Almost every chapter has instances where they are introduced or reintroduced by describing what they're wearing. What brands, what colours, and how good they look. I found this annoying after awhile.

I won't spoil the ending but it didn't really have anything to do with bad luck because of superstition. It kind of felt anticlimactic with the rest of the narrative.

I wouldn't discourage anybody from reading this or any other book. You should make up your own minds. You might find this novel intriguing. This is just my personal opinion.

The author is very competent and writes really well. This book just wasn't for me.

I absolutely loved everything about this book. The characters and story was very well written. The plot twist surprised me. I highly recommend this book.

Thank you so much to the NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review!