Twisty and fast moving urban fantasy, great for a wide age range. Good versus evil, but who is who - and how many secrets are hiding away? A solid mystery, the beginning of a series, and definite fun reading (especially if you are into wings ...)

If you stuff like;
Angels Vs. Fallen Angels
Slow Burn
Magical Realism
Morally Grey Villain
this book may be for you

Did take me a bit to finish the book but I enjoyed it still would still recommend

3/5 – A Moody Read with Missed Potential
Flutter has a cool premise and some beautifully atmospheric writing, but the slow pacing and underdeveloped mystery made it a bit frustrating. Daphne’s character felt too passive, and the romance didn’t quite land. Romy was a standout, but she came in too late. Not bad if you like a slow-burn with supernatural vibes, but I wanted more focus and payoff.

Thank you Netgalley and to the Author for this ARC!

From the very beginning of this book I was pulled into the story. It was a tad weird at first but by chapter five I was so engrossed in the story I couldn't put it down. The story itself is so refreshing. I loved the mystery and the character arcs. Such an amazing read I NEED the sequel pronto!!!!

I did not finish this book. I can see there’s a good story there, but it needs more editing to be ready for publication. The story kind of meanders, there’s some line editing needed for grammar and sentence structure, and the events got confusing at times. But I thought the underlying story was very interesting and I enjoyed the setting. With additional editing, I think it could be a very good read!

The atmosphere of this book is what grabbed me most. The writing leans cinematic with tight scenes and quick chapter turns, so the tension stays high without getting bogged down in lore dumps. The small town backdrop feels lived in and a little unsettling, which adds a steady hum of dread even in quiet moments. I also liked how the story hints at a larger supernatural framework rather than spelling it all out. That choice kept me curious and made the weird moments land harder because they arrive as flashes instead of lectures.
Pacing worked for me because the book pushes the plot forward almost every chapter. Even when the action slows, the mood does the heavy lifting, so I never felt stalled. The mystery breadcrumbs are spaced well enough that you can theorize without feeling lost, and the reveals are staged to keep pages turning.
Where it faltered for me comes down to character depth and cause and effect. Several characters feel defined by one or two traits, so big emotional beats sometimes pass quickly. I wanted a little more interiority to connect the dots between what happens and how people process it. A few transitions ask you to accept a leap, and while that is common in high tension stories, it occasionally pulled me out because I was asking why a choice made sense in the moment. The romance thread uses a protector dynamic that can be compelling, but the power imbalance sometimes overshadows the chemistry. I found myself wanting more shared scenes that build trust and banter to balance the intensity.
Overall, I kept reading because the mood is strong and the concept promises a world with room to grow. If you love YA mysteries that prioritize atmosphere and momentum, this will likely scratch that itch. If you want deeply layered character studies and airtight logic, you may feel a little underfed.

This book leaves you wanting more. I was a little confused when supernatural elements started coming to light and I thought this was a simple murder mystery. Some of my questions are left unanswered but the story ends on a cliffhanger leaving room for another book. I’m hoping everything comes together nicely then.

This ARC had an intriguing premise—angels, murder, and small-town secrets—but for me, the execution fell short. There were too many grammar and spelling errors to overlook, and the plot was full of inconsistencies and unexplained moments. Characters seemed to know things they had no way of knowing, and some events (like a robbery that apparently never happened?) left me confused and frustrated.
The world-building also felt shallow. The motivations behind the angelic war weren’t fully clear, and the villain’s “save humanity” justification felt hollow—especially since he spent most of his time murdering humans. It just didn’t add up!

<i>Thank you to Netgalley and OCS Publishing for the e-arc</i>
I wanted to like this so bad. The description reminded me of that random time in 2006-2014 when ever supernatural being was getting a teen romance book written about them. I was so excited for the nostalgia to hit! Unfortunately this read like it was written in the earlier 2006. The FMC is just insufferable. I don't understand her at all. She is what really killed the book for me.

This book was definitely different than I expected it to be. I thought it was just going to be a murder mystery but turns out there were also supernatural pieces involved. Throughout the book, I was questioning which love interest to trust but thankfully it was the one I was hoping for.

The book ends on a cliff hanger and I look forward to what happens next.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. It had an interesting premise with somewhat unique characters. I say “somewhat” because the characters fit into a predictable formula, but I did enjoy each character as their own “person.”

That being said, there was some jumping around that caused confusion while I was reading. During one scene the character would be talking to someone and then it felt like we would be somewhere completely unrelated. It’s often referred to as “talking head syndrome.”

If you can work through the spots where the author jumps around, then I feel like you’d enjoy this book. I would recommend it as a YA Fantasy novel as it is pretty clean so far.

If you like
Love Triangles
Angels Vs. Fallen Angels
Slow Burn
Magical Realism
Morally Grey Villain
this book may be for you
Triggers
Murder
Corrupted government
Serial Killer
Fire & Explosions
(this book had great potential just felt slightly preachy for me but I also was reading this on an 11 hour car ride which may have been part of the issue will be willing to read the next book though)

Thank you Netgalley and OCS publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Unfortunately this needed another round of edits to fix all the errors and inconsistencies, such as sometimes Gabriel being said to be 1 year older than Daphne, and in other instances he is 2 years older, or how Bo knows Sebastians name even though there is no indication that he should have any knowledge of that, especially when he goes back to calling him the poppy killer a few lines later (we do find out why later, but because the main character doesn't question it, it just feels like a plot hole), which isn't a big deal usually, but paired with all the other issues it just annoyed me more in this book.

'never kiss someone who scares you'
Other issue I have with this book is that the whole relationship with Gabriel gives me the ick, one paragraph he is acting like a protective older brother, the next like he is in love with her, and at one point he is even described as acting parental towards her, so already I hate their dynamic. Plus the scene in her room at her birthday party squashed any positive feelings I might have had for them together, or Gabriel at all, and by the end of the book I was just so done with him that the mere mention of his name had me rolling my eyes.

'You may have never gone to college, but you sure as hell attended the Academy of Stupid!'
It's funny that Daphne said this when it fits her so perfectly. She is the most passive main character that I think I have ever read, like what do you mean you don't even know your mother's name!? 'oh my father doesn't like talking about her so I never knew' so you didn't ask anyone else!?!? You didn't look it up!?!? She grew up in the town, she went to presumably the same school you went to, and she knew most of the people in this town, but somehow you never thought to figure out her name!?!? I swear the only character in this book with a brain was Romy, which is why she was my favorite character.

The actual plot of this book was decent, it was fast paced, and reveals happened, for the most part, at the right times, but the characters and the inconsistency just ruined this book for me.

4.5/10 on CAWPILE

DNF at 40%

I really wanted to like this book. The premise had potential: angels living among humans, hunted by a serial killer. Unfortunately, the execution fell apart quickly.

I spent most of my reading time confused, and the story felt riddled with inconsistencies. For example, Daphne, our protagonist, hates her bodyguard Gabriel for two paragraphs… and then is suddenly swooning over him for the next three. This constant flip-flopping made it hard to take their relationship seriously.

The characters also seem bizarrely detached from the stakes. There’s a serial killer targeting angels, yet no one reacts with the urgency or fear you’d expect. Daphne herself came across as a “pick-me” girl, and despite Gabriel telling her outright that he likes her, she still behaves strangely toward him.

While the premise was intriguing, the story was messy, the characters’ actions often made little sense, and the pacing felt off. Sadly, this one just wasn’t for me.

Unfortunately, at 31% I am unable to continue this story.

While the premise, a serial killer who kills everyone but her, sounded promising, the execution was lacking. To be honest, I was very confused majority of the time. The plot bounced all over the place and there were lots of inconsistencies. One second Daphne hates Gabriel and the next she's lusting after him. The one thing that kept me going was the amount of action. Major events were happening left and right that kept me going but in the end, as the plot holes continues to add up, I had to stop.

While this story was not for me, that doesn't mean someone else won't enjoy it.

*Thank you to Netgalley, OCS Publishing, and the author, Melody Percario, for the ARC. Opinions expressed are solely my own.

Flutter starts with a classic whosunit and morphs into so much more as angels battle around humans who are left clueless of their existence. There were many inconsistencies and the characters often didn’t react realistically to the gravity of the situation; however, the last 20% or so of the book promises a better sequel. The author did well at capturing the villain so that readers fall in love with his journey, and I hope the second novel adds to the protagonists as well. 3/5 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Flutter is a moody, supernatural YA thriller with a strong atmosphere and a promising concept. The book opens with a chilling murder and quickly immerses readers in a small town cloaked in secrets, fear, and shadowy myth. Melody Percario brings a rich, eerie tone to the setting, particularly in scenes set in cemeteries, forgotten places, or moments hinting at the uncanny. The blend of thriller and fantasy is ambitious and makes for an engaging, if sometimes uneven, read.

The protagonist, Daphne, is the mayor’s daughter, navigating grief, repression, and danger after her classmates are targeted by a killer dubbed "The Poppy Killer." When she’s assigned a mysterious protector, Gabriel, tension rises on both emotional and psychological levels. Daphne’s emotional vulnerability is a strength, and there are effective scenes where her inner turmoil is palpable. The novel also plays with compelling themes—control, inherited trauma, and the weight of secrecy.

However, there are areas where the story didn’t fully deliver on its potential. Pacing is one of the main issues: the first third of the novel feels slow, with significant developments and supernatural elements arriving too late. Some twists—especially those related to Daphne’s family history and the town's hidden war—felt more confusing than shocking, often lacking the buildup or clarity needed for impact. At times, Daphne’s passivity in the face of obvious red flags made it harder to connect with her arc.

The romance subplot, while offering some interesting tension, felt inconsistent. Gabriel’s hot-and-cold behavior and abrupt emotional shifts were difficult to follow, and the relationship didn’t fully land as either swoony or dangerous. Secondary characters, particularly Romy, had the potential to shine but weren’t utilized as fully as they could’ve been. That said, one late-arriving character (Sebastian) added energy to the story that left me intrigued for the sequel.

Despite its flaws, Flutter is an ambitious debut with a fresh take on supernatural conflict and atmospheric suspense. There’s clear potential in the series going forward, especially if the pacing and character development are given more room to breathe in future installments.

Thank you NetGalley and OCS Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This story had a lot of promise. I feel that there were certain elements of the story that were never really explained, and as a reader, we had to decide for ourselves what each element was.

All that aside, I loved the story. I loved the secret supernatural aspects of the story. I really enjoyed the mystery behind the Poppy killer, and why he was killing, but leaving our girl alive, while at the same time, falling her for childhood crush. Later, as more and more truths are revealed, I was not expecting the betrayal we experienced. They say the truth rarely needs defending, and this was a perfect example of that.

I liked the little bit of background/history we received, and hope that is expanded more in book 2. War is coming, and I want more Daphne and Sebastian.

Before you ask, yes. The storyline and the writing was just as beautiful as the cover! Sometimes judging a book by its cover works…. This story was amazing!

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this arc.

Honestly, this was a DNF for me. I understand what the author was trying to do with the story but I was just not connecting with the story. Maybe at a later date I will try again.