Cecaelia is a gripping modern horror-thriller that blends small-town mystery with a creeping sense of dread lurking beneath the surface.

Set in the seemingly quiet island community of Pleasant Shores, the story follows Sheriff Morgan Reed as she investigates a missing person case that quickly spirals into something far more disturbing. When a mutilated body turns up and is hastily explained away as a shark attack, Morgan’s instincts tell her there’s something much darker at play—and that the truth may be far more terrifying than anyone is willing to admit.

What really stood out to me was the atmosphere. The isolation of the island setting adds a constant tension, making every interaction feel charged and every discovery more ominous. The author does a great job of slowly peeling back layers of the mystery, building suspense in a way that keeps you turning pages.

Morgan Reed is a determined, intuitive, and grounded, which makes the increasingly bizarre events feel even more unsettling. The contrast between logic and the unknown is handled especially well, giving the story a strong psychological edge alongside its horror elements.

At times, the pacing can feel a bit uneven, particularly in the middle sections, but the payoff as the story unfolds is worth it. The blend of investigative thriller and horror works effectively, creating a story that feels both tense and eerie.

Overall, this is an engaging read for fans of atmospheric horror and mystery-driven plots. Cecaelia delivers a chilling, suspenseful experience that will especially appeal to readers who enjoy small-town secrets with a sinister twist.

Started reading this last night and accidentally stayed up until 3am and only stopped because I dropped my kindle on my face falling asleep…

It’s really good! I liked that the names harkedback to myth and I learned so much about Octopuses. there is something here for everyone - gore, mystery, technology, romance, drama, spice.

Thank you NetGalley and Harrogate Lane Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

“Cecaelia” by E.A. Hoffmann is basically Jaws if the shark was replaced by a genetically modified revenge-driven octopus, and honestly, that’s enough to sell me.

I am always here for a good creature feature, and a killer octopus is such an underrated horror villain. Octopuses are already terrifying; they’re way too smart, can squeeze into basically anywhere, and somehow always look like they know your secrets. Now make one genetically altered, angry, and very interested in revenge? Absolutely horrifying.

The story takes place in the isolated island town of Pleasant Shores, where Sheriff Morgan Reed starts investigating what looks like a missing person case that very quickly turns into a mutilated body and a whole lot of people pretending everything is fine. Naturally, the suspicious medical company involved insists it was probably just a shark attack, which is obviously nonsense.

Morgan is a really solid main character; she is competent, grounded, and actually trying to protect people instead of making horror-movie-level bad decisions. She definitely gives strong Sheriff Brody from Jaws energy, where she’s the one person taking the danger seriously while everyone else is worried about tourism and Memorial Day weekend profits.

And of course, the real star is Cecaelia herself—the octopus.

The book does a great job making her feel both terrifying and strangely sympathetic. Right from the beginning, you see how intelligent and observant she is, and because we get POV chapters from her perspective, you understand that she’s angry for a reason. The scientists experimented on her, took her babies, and basically treated her like a lab project instead of a living creature. She wants revenge, and she will stop at nothing to achieve it.

But the important thing is: she’s still an animal. She’s not secretly a misunderstood Disney protagonist. She will absolutely kill and eat people if she feels threatened or hungry. That balance between “I get why she’s mad” and “that thing needs to be stopped immediately” works really well.

The book also adds a sci-fi twist with the mutations. Cecaelia’s altered blood can spread to victims, heal diseases, improve animals (including the very important elderly dog who thankfully stays safe), and eventually starts getting way more extreme. At first it’s an interesting creepy detail, and then by the end it goes full “wait, are we doing zombie horror now?” territory.

That shift is where the book gets a little messy for me.

I actually would’ve preferred if it stayed a simpler creature-feature story. Killer octopus on the loose? Perfect. Killer octopus whose blood creates near-immortality and zombie resurrection? Slightly harder to take seriously. It gets a little ridiculous by the end, especially when the mutations start making people basically superhuman.

The pacing also slows down in the middle because there are a lot of characters and backstories to keep track of. Every side character seems connected somehow, and sometimes the tension gets interrupted by information dumps when you just want the giant octopus to attack again.

Still, when the action hits, it really works. Rising body count, people trapped on an island, officials refusing to cause panic because it’s a holiday weekend, and the creeping realization that even land isn’t safe; it delivers exactly what you want from this kind of horror.

Also, I need to specifically mention the elderly dog because that dog surviving automatically improves the book by at least one star.

Overall, “Cecaelia” is a fun, chaotic creature-feature that mixes horror, mystery, and increasingly wild sci-fi. It starts as a tense small-town monster thriller and ends somewhere between revenge horror and mutation apocalypse setup. It doesn’t always know when to stop adding plot twists, but if you like killer animals, island settings, gore, and the phrase “genetically modified killer octopus” immediately interests you, this is a very entertaining ride.

Delightfully macabre! I particularly enjoyed the chapters from Cecaelia's POV, I wish there had been more of them! The stage felt set similar to a Twin Peaks-style mini-series and I have to say I love that the ending wasn't wrapped up in a bow, leaving us wondering about the fate of the residents of Pleasant Shores. I love when I get to root for the monster 👀

Thank you to NetGalley and Harrogate Lane Books for the Advance Reader's Copy in exchange for an honest review!

A great 'creature-feature' thriller! An isolated island accessible only by ferry. A pair of twins doing genetic research. An angry creature, who's incredibly intelligent and is out for revenge. A sherriff doing her best to try and make sense of the situation and keep people safe. A fast paced read that keeps you turning the page.
Thanks to Netgalley, Harrogate Lane Books, and E.A. Hoffmann for the free ARC. All opinions are my own.

To say I loved this horror book is an understatement!

I liked how real and developed the characters felt. I loved how, in a small town, they all knew each other and had their own drama, which gave their interactions more depth. I was invested in literally so many characters storylines!

The description of the Cecaelia, the modified octopus, was absolutely top tier. She had intelligence, a moral code (yes, even an octopus), and wasn’t afraid to act on it 👀

I really enjoyed the subplots too! The sisters from the lab department, the detective being newly pregnant, the longing looks from her subordinate detectives, and relationship tension between Freddie, Amory, and Elara… all of these character connections made the story rich and engaging.

I can honestly say I’ve already started recommending this book as a must read to my friends 👏🏻🐙

Thank you to NetGalley and Harrogate Lane Books for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This one was freaky, fast, and just a little unhinged.

A lab-altered creature.
A small island town.
And a body count that doesn’t stop.

I read it in one sitting, which tells you everything about the momentum.

Using my review system:

Depth: Light — more fun than layered.
Connection: Decent — the character dynamics add an unexpected layer. I especially enjoyed the interconnectedness of the small island community, where everyone’s lives overlap. The morally gray cast adds a sense of realism in an otherwise fantastical story.
Momentum: Strong — hard to put down, and I couldn’t wait to see what would happen next.

Final decision: Read & release

Not every book needs to stay on your shelf to be worth reading.

This is the kind of story you take to the beach for a wild ride… and then pass along to the next vacationer when you’re done.