Great book! Was so invested in every second of the story. Thank you for letting me read in advance. Cannot wait to read other things from this author.

A Norse spin on the Blair Witch Project”

I devoured this sci-fi/mystery novel in 2 nights! Super fast paced and unpredictable

5⭐️

This book was very interesting! And unlike any book I’ve ever read. The mix of modern times and ancient Norse mythology and lore kept me intrigued and interested. I loved how bad ass the MFC was and what she was willing to do for those she loved! A great story of ancestry, courage, and the many spirits of the lands and world.

Fast paced, action packed, dark, deadly, gripping and bloody entertaining! You Can't Stay: A Dark Thriller is a book that kept me on my toes and turning the pages! I enjoyed the mingling of genres such as horror, supernatural, fantasy, and mystery mixed with Norse mythology and Native folklore in this book. I also enjoyed the twists, turns, and shocking moments which had my pulse pounding and my fingers turning the pages! This book was like Predator meets Annihilation, meets The Blair Witch Project, meets The Hunger games, meets.... you get the picture. I found this book to be entertaining, atmospheric, and hard to put down. I won't want to take a stroll through the woods anytime soon after reading this book!

Esther, who is just shy of becoming a veterinarian. is desperate to find her sister, Jasmine who disappeared without a trace two years ago. Esther has been desperately searching for Jasmine, but it is Esther who has been found by a woman in the military. The woman asks Esther to take her place on a mission into New Hampshire’s White Mountains. Woods that people enter and are never seen again. Desperate to find her sister, Esther agrees to take the female soldier's place.

Ryder is a tough as nails character who has led his teams through many harrowing and dangerous situations. He is in prison at the beginning of this book, but the government needs him and his unique skills to deliver cargo into the White Mountains. He has a keen eye and strong ties to his heritage.

Esther and Ryder are in the same military group which enters the woods and things get interesting fast! Once the action starts, it never gives up. There are things that go bump in the night and then there are well.... you will need to read this book to find out!

I enjoyed the use of Norse mythology and Native lure. (At the end of the book the author gives further detail into what is shown in this book.) This book is oozing with atmosphere and vivid descriptions. Have you ever gotten turned around or lost in the woods? Then you know the feeling that the characters begin to feel in this book. I loved the chilling and eerie vibe that permeated the pages. I also loved the growing tension, the sense of dread, and the mounting danger which leapt from the pages! Like the characters in the book, I never knew what was going to happen next and that is one of the things that I enjoyed most about the book. It's unsettling and adds to the unease felt by the characters. Do things get OTT? Sure, but that just adds to the drama, the danger, the threat, and the unrelenting sinister feel of the woods. Whew!

Entertaining, fast paced, eerie, dark, dangerous, and hard to put down.

Omg!!! This book! I have no words.
The suspense and horror. You want answers and to know what is going on!

Horror fantasy thriller... It's all those genres. I think.
Norse mythology. Natives. I love it. I highly recommend all reading the notes at the end. I always read all when I read books. There is so much extra wow factor.

Esther is a fantastic caring character that I believe many might feel a bit drawn to. I understood her in so many ways. She's stronger than she believes.
She's is a vet student but loses her spot because she saves a white fox after hours.
Her sister has been missing for 2 years, and she's been searching all this time. Police don't seem to care since her sister was a drug addict etc. People dissappear, and only those who won't be "missed."
One late evening, all changes. She changes places with a Ranger. SEAL sniper. Enters the military mission as Wager. Her ID and all. Can she fool them. Is it true she might find her sister there? Dead? Alive?
Why the secrecy? What's in that forest?

Viking, Huldra, stone giants, Seiđkvinne etc... They must keep safe. Stay together. Keep to the path and find the safety of the huts before dark.

This book 🤩 is my first read from this author, and I will absolutely follow her and read more from her for sure.

I was able to get this as an ARC through NetGalley. I’d also like to give a HUGE thank you to S.T. Ashman for not only giving me a chance to read this, but for also reaching out to make sure I was aware of what I would be reading. This was my first book by her and I’m adding more to my TBR instantly! 🖤

I thoroughly enjoyed this story. Esther is struggling with a lot after the loss of her family in a fire when she was little. Now as an adult she’s dealing with the disappearance of her sister Jasmine and she’s desperate for ANY chance to find her. Which leads to a late night meeting with a hope to learn more about her disappearance.

Add in the elements of Norse mythology and Native folklore the book is filled with dark and sinister secrets. Will Esther survive the unimaginable monsters that lurk in the vast darkness of the woods? Does she find out what happened to her sister Jasmine? All I can say is that this book should be a MUST for everyone wanting a good creepy thriller.

If you’ve read I Kill Killers, you already know S.T. Ashman doesn’t do “mild.” But You Can’t Stay isn’t just a new chapter in her bibliography—it’s a whole new direction. Still razor-sharp, still dark at the core, but this one veers wildly into horror-fantasy territory with Norse gods, ancient rage, government secrets, and something monstrous crouched in the woods of New Hampshire.

At the center of the story is Esther, whose sister—a struggling addict—disappears. Everyone else has already written her off. Esther doesn't. She refuses to move on, and instead barrels straight into large-scale conspiracy. Think: dozens of missing people, a national forest with secrets, and some kind of government-sanctioned activity that smells simultaneously like folklore, rot, and cover-ups.

The pacing is relentless. The woods are terrifying. And the stakes are higher than an Odin fever dream.

Ashman threads real historical details into the story, weaving in Viking mythology and Native American perspectives with surprising nuance. It’s not just monsters and myths—it’s about the legacy of colonization, erasure, and the brutal things that get buried, both literally and not.

Esther is the kind of protagonist you sweat for. Her search for her sister isn’t just emotional; it’s existential. Every chapter feels like a countdown to something worse. And when she finally walks into the heart of the woods, the tagline—“Not everything lost should be found”—starts to feel less like a warning and more like a scream.

This book is like a genre blender set on high—producing Norse mythology, backwoods horror, deep-state paranoia, and just the right dose of odd. It’s strange. It’s smart. It’s a lot of fun. You’ll laugh nervously. You’ll Google weird stuff at 2 a.m. And you’ll wonder what exactly is watching from the trees. If The Blair Witch had an axe and a government clearance badge, she’d live in these pages. Highly recommended.

Release: April 30, 2025
Author: S T Ashman
Publisher: Victory editing

Rating: 4 ★ 

You Can’t Stay by S.T. Ashman is an intriguing blend of horror, thriller, and supernatural elements that takes you on a wild ride through mythology and mystery. The plot follows Esther, a nearly qualified vet tech haunted by the loss of her family in an arson attack, and her missing sister, Jasmine. When a mysterious soldier reaches out, offering a mission into the White Mountains that could hold clues to Jasmine’s disappearance, Esther takes matters into her own hands. She impersonates a sniper to infiltrate a high-risk operation and joins a team of elite individuals on a treacherous journey into the forest, where danger, secrets, and nightmares await.
At first, the story seems like it could be a slow burn, with Esther’s tragic backstory and determination to find her sister taking center stage. However, once the action picks up, the plot takes a thrilling turn, introducing brutal and gruesome scenes, terrifying creatures, and plenty of suspense. The incorporation of Norse mythology and Native American lore adds a unique layer, creating a captivating and unpredictable narrative that you won’t want to put down.
One of the most compelling aspects of the story is Esther's unwavering determination, which keeps you hooked as she faces unimaginable challenges. Although the idea of her impersonating a sniper is a bit far-fetched, it’s still a fun and engaging premise. The story keeps the tension high, and the characters, including Ryder, the soldier, are well-developed and interesting.
However, it’s not without its flaws. Some readers might find the shift into science fiction and Viking lore jarring, and the blending of cultures, particularly the Native American elements, may feel somewhat out of place for some. While I personally found it intriguing, it’s a sensitive area, and I can understand why others might question whether the story was told in the right way by the author.
Overall, You Can’t Stay is a unique and fast-paced read that blends elements of horror, fantasy, and thriller into a captivating adventure. It might be a little outside the box for some, but for fans of gripping, action-packed stories, it’s definitely worth checking out. It’s a fun and unpredictable ride that keeps you on the edge of your seat, wondering what’s lurking next in the forest.
Esther’s world is shattered when her sister, Jasmine, disappears without a trace. As a struggling addict, Jasmine's disappearance is dismissed by everyone, but Esther refuses to give up. Determined to find her sister, Esther’s search uncovers disturbing secrets about a string of other disappearances, all linked to the same eerie location. Each year, the government sends a group of people into the White Mountains of New Hampshire, and every year, none of them return. When another group is sent into the woods, Esther joins them, hoping it will lead her to answers. But some secrets, buried deep in the wilderness, are far too dangerous to uncover—and not everything lost should be found. 

Favorite Quote:
"the journey inward is the most profound one we will ever take, and yet it often requires the courage to face the things we fear the most."

You Can't Stay by S.T. Ashman is an engaging horror thriller with elements of Norse mythology and Native cultures.

Esther is a nearly qualified vet tech and she is haunted by a tragedy that happened when she was younger. Her sister Jasmine had pulled her out of an arson attack on their home but their parents and grandmother did not survive. Last year, Jasmine disappeared. She was an addict so the local cops figure that she just took off. But Esther is determined to find her. When a soldier contacts Esther and tells her about a secret mission to deliver cargo to the White Mountains, Esther thinks that this mission just might lead her to clues to Jasmine whereabouts. Taking places with the soldier, Esther impersonates a top sniper to be able to attend the op meeting. Joined by a group of the best of the best, Esther begins a terrifying journey into the forest of the White mountains. But will she be able to find Jasmine? And what else is lurking in the woods?

This was such a unique plot! You Can't Stay blends horror, thriller, and supernatural while delving deep into North mythology and native lore! I really liked Esther's determination, no matter what happens or what she sees in the forest, she will not stop her hunt for her sister. This novel is written in such a way that you are engaged throughout and can't wait to see what happens next. This is definitely different from S.T. Ashman's I Kill Killers series but I definitely recommend giving it a try!!

Thank you to NetGalley and S.T Ashman for this Arc!! Publication date is April 10th 2025.

This book tried to be Dan Brown meets fantasy meets military thriller meets mythology primer… and honestly? It lost the plot. Quite literally. I went in expecting a dark, suspenseful ride, and instead got a fever dream full of mythology deep-dives and highly questionable plot decisions. A veterinary technician somehow manages to convince the world she’s a Navy SEAL sniper, while tangled in a convoluted web of Norse and Native Abenaki mythology. Toss in some secret societies, magical creatures, intense action scenes, and 20 pages of end-of-book mythology cliff notes, and you've got You Can’t Stay. And I, frankly, wish I didn’t.
Technically, it's a mythology-fueled fantasy thriller, but it felt more like an overambitious first draft of several books smushed into one. Esther was supposed to be a badass, but I couldn’t suspend my disbelief enough to buy into the premise. A vet tech posing successfully as a Navy SEAL sniper?? No. Just no. Ryder was interesting, but even his storyline just seemed like a plot device. The side characters, some of which even got their own randomly thrown in POV chapters, were forgettable or used as props to fill out the story. The whole thing was over-stuffed with mythological references that never fully clicked into place. The plot was disjointed, and there was just too much going on. Instead of building intrigue, it drowned the story in random lore and confusing logic gaps. I believe it was intended to explore themes of self-discovery, identity, and maybe power through deception, but it was hard to tell because those main ideas were overshadowed by all the chaos.
The pace was inconsistent. Some scenes dragged, while other jumped wildly with little setup. It felt like I was constantly trying to catch up to a story that didn’t know where it was going. The writing was serviceable, albeit repetitive in parts, and the storytelling needed serious tightening. And then, the author plugged another of her books inside this one! That broke the immersion completely and honestly felt random, if not a little self-indulgent. I was more frustrated than anything while reading. I kept hoping it would redeem itself or wrap up with clarity, but even the ending was more confusing than cathartic. Are we seriously trying to set up a sequel? Gods I hope not. It didn’t land for me, and by the time I finished, I was just relieved to be done.
This was a hard pass for me. Between the unrealistic character dynamics, the mythology overload, and the plot that required a guidebook to understand, You Can’t Stay just did too much and not well. I love when authors weave in cultural and mythological depth, but this felt more like an info-dump than an immersive experience. I would only recommend this for readers with extensive mythology backgrounds who enjoy deciphering layered references, anyone who wants a wildly unrealistic thriller with a heavy fantasy twist and doesn’t mind suspending disbelief to the max, or people looking for something… very, very different.
Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing for the opportunity to review this title in advance!

Goodreads link: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7451806328
Date published: 4/10/2025

I rate this book 3.5 stars

This was so different to anything I've ever read before. It starts out a little slow, hard done by woman, who can't make anything of her life. Family is dead, sister is missing, and no one wants to help her.
Around 25% of the way through, I almost ALMOST stopped reading.
But then it all completely changes up, and all of a sudden, you can't put the damn thing down! There's some brutal, gruesome scenes, theres fear, panic, theres creatures of your wildest nightmares.
I had not heard of this author before, received this as an eARC from Netgalley. And I really enjoyed it. Will definitely be looking at the authors' other books to read

As a fan of S.T. Ashman’s previous thrillers, I was excited to dive into “You Can't Stay”, but unfortunately, this one missed the mark. The story took an unexpected turn into science fiction and Viking lore, which threw me off completely. It felt disconnected from the authors usual style, and I found it hard to stay engaged (as the plot shifted in a direction I wasn’t expecting). The main character, a vet tech, somehow switches places with an ex-military person to run a high-risk operation — it’s a concept that could work in fiction, but it just pushed the boundaries of believability too far. I know it’s fiction, but it went past the point where I could suspend my disbelief and still enjoy the story.

Ashman is a great writer, but this book just didn’t hit the mark for me.

Characters ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Story ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

As a mood reader I'm always looking for something that grabs me and keeps me reading.
When I started this book I got immediately pulled in by two usually unmixing culture, the North myth and the native Americans believes.
Something unexpected.
The characters were likable easy to get into their skin, to understand their motivation even the secondary characters were interesting.
I enjoyed the Story a lot, finished in three days with limited time to read.
Also, it was easy to read even For a non native English speaker person.
It was interesting till the end, unpredictable and grabbing.
I recommend it 😊💕

Oh and just one more thing

Spolier ahead
.
.
.
.
.
.
. I loved that there was no forced romance. Thank you eternally for that!

First book in a short while that I absolutely couldn't put down! Very impressed, this was a quick read, fast paced, and lots of action. More of a horror fantasy than pure horror, and unlike a lot of people I wouldnt compare this novel to "The Ritual". It reminded me more of the film "Predator" but with Nordic monsters and spirits, instead of aliens. As for the Native American history and mythology... I was surprised to see a book about this written by a white woman in 2025. I'm not Native American so I can't speak to whether this plot line was done well, or not. But I do wonder why it was needed? Is this the writer to tell this story? Undecided. Overall, it's a bit of dumb fun, an easy holiday read.

Absolutely love the writing style just like her previous work this one didn’t disappoint!! Thank you NetGalley and publisher for early arc of this novel!

Well written story with lots of twists and turns. I liked her book called “I Kill Killers” the best. But this one was worth reading

You Can't Stay
by S. T. Ashman
Pub Date: Apr 30 2025

I received an e-ARC and here is my review. I was introduced to S.T. Ashman by a friend at book club and glad she recommended this book which is my first by this author and new to horror genre.

I do not write reviews which contain spoilers. The character I loved most was Esther. She’s a very strong woman! I was introduced to Norse mythology which is also new to me but seemed different to be in a horror genre.

I read this book in two days as I was captivated from the beginning. If you’re looking for a new genre or a new horror book I do recommend reading this.

Thanks to NetGalley, S. T. Ashman and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for this ARC.

An absolute blinder of a horror-thriller! Horror isn't my usual genre, but the synopsis totally hooked me and I had to read it! Im so pleased that I did.

Esther is determined to find her sister, Jasmine, who disappeared two years ago. All she really knows is that once per year, a black SUV takes a group of people into the forest and they never return. What happens to them?

A lead from a member of the military gives Esther the opportunity to go undercover and try to find out the truth. The fact she will be there under false pretences as a sniper when she can't shoot? Oh well! It was never going to be easy!

Fascinating characters, mythology and danger are the order of the day here and I found myself liking Esther and Ryder more and more as I got to know them, especially Ryder. As well as a gripping plot, I enjoyed reading about the indigenous people of the area.

4 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, S. T. Ashman and Victory, for an ARC in return for an honest review.

Hmm. As a norwegian I have to admit the "viking" stuff was sort of ridiculous.. Anyhow. I understand what the author was trying to do, but the story was too messy and all over the place. I felt no connection to the fmc at all. Breaks my heart, but I didn’t enjoy this.

I read this because I loved Ashman's <i>I Kill Killers</i>. This book was quite different!

I think if this book finds the right person, they would likely enjoy it, but best to know what you're getting into. First: you will need to suspend disbelief. (A vet tech impersonates a Navy Seal sniper...a prisoner (murderer) is released for the purpose of leading a super secret mission).

So already we're not terribly grounded in reality. And then there are mystical/supernatural things going on, maybe from Norse gods and goddesses? Indigenous spirits? There's a lot going on here.

All that said, I did like the two main characters and their relationship. But magical mysticism is not my preferred cup of tea. Readable, though!

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing for providing me with an advance reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

Publishes April 30, 2025.