Dark folklore, terrifying fae, unforgettable characters, and the nostalgic magic of classic fantasy film Candlelight completely swept me into its enchanting and dangerous world. 🕯️✨🍂

Thank you 🙏 for the ARC provided by NetGalley, Twisted Spindle Press, and the author in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

As someone who likes dark fantasy films like Labyrinth and Legend, Candlelight immediately felt like the kind of story I was destined to fall into. Blending Irish and Welsh folklore with mythic horror, fae magic, and a heavy sense of unease, D.L. Tolin has created a world that feels both nostalgic and entirely its own.

Set partly in Southeast Texas, the story balances the familiar with the fantastical. The references to Beaumont and places like ShowTime Pizza gave the novel an authentic, grounded feel, while the creeping darkness beneath the surface constantly reminded me that this was no ordinary fantasy. From the opening pages, there is a sense that something ancient, dangerous, and hungry is lurking just beyond sight.

What truly made this book stand out for me, however, were the characters.

Matthew, Lina, Jacob, and Stacey felt like real people rather than simply pieces moving around a fantasy plot. Each of them carried their own struggles, fears, and emotional wounds, making it easy to become invested in their journeys. Tolin does an excellent job of slowly peeling back layers and revealing hidden depths within the cast. More than once, I found myself unexpectedly attached to a character or surprised by a decision that revealed a strength or vulnerability I hadn't anticipated.

The alternating perspectives kept the story moving at a perfect pace. Every time a chapter ended, I wanted to know what was happening with the other group, which made this an incredibly easy book to binge. The narrative constantly rewards curiosity, and I found myself reading far later than intended.

One of my favourite aspects was the way the faerie world was portrayed. This isn't a whimsical or comforting version of fae folklore. The Grey Neighbors are beautiful, mysterious, terrifying, and utterly unpredictable. Wonder and horror exist side by side throughout the novel, creating an atmosphere that feels magical while never allowing readers to feel completely safe. The mythology feels rich and well researched, and the Irish language elements added another layer of authenticity and immersion. I especially appreciated the pronunciation guide, although I would have loved to have it available at the beginning of the book.

The creatures and folklore-inspired horrors are genuinely unsettling. The Dullahan, the Maoth'fala, and the other mythological elements feel pulled from ancient nightmares rather than modern fantasy tropes. There are moments of real dread woven throughout the story that give the book a darker edge than many fantasy novels.

What stayed with me long after finishing wasn't a single plot twist or creature reveal, but the overall feeling the story created. It captured that rare sense of stepping into another world entirely, a world that is enchanting, dangerous, heartbreaking, and impossible to forget.

Candlelight is a dark fairy tale filled with mythic horror, family wounds, stolen innocence, and the lingering scars that parents leave behind. It's atmospheric, emotional, unsettling, and beautifully written. Most importantly, it left me wanting more. A haunting and unforgettable start to what promises to be an incredible series.

My Final Verdit:

When I finally closed the book, it wasn’t just the terrifying creatures like the Maoth’fala that lingered; it was the haunting atmosphere and the feeling that I wasn't quite ready to leave this world behind. It is a phenomenal start to The Grey Neighbors series, and I will absolutely be picking up the next installment when it drops next year!

Highly Recommended for fans of classic dark folklore, mythic horror, and 80s fantasy nostalgia.

This book was so good. I don’t usually read fantasy, but this book sounded so interesting I just had to read it. It kept me hooked between the action and the adventure themes throughout. It was thrilling to wonder what comes next while reading. I got a lot of answers, but I am definitely ready to pick up and read the second book when it comes out. This book is based around some Scottish/Irish folklore so Some of the words were not of my native English language so I really appreciate that in the back of the book it shows you how to pronounce the non English words. I highly recommend this book if you love adventure, fantasy, stranger things vibes.

Going in blind and being swallowed by the darkest folklore.

Since I prefer skimming synopses just to catch the vibe without spoiling the experience, I went into Candlelight mostly blind, and what an excellent surprise. I was gripped by a story that dives headfirst into dark folklore and reclaims the most dangerous and ancestral side of fae mythology.

What made this experience perfect:
• Multiple Voices with Soul: The story is told through multiple points of view (multiple POVs), and the author does this incredibly well. Unlike other books with multiple POVs where you usually end up favoring one storyline, I was equally invested in all of them. The characters feel and behave completely differently from one another, each carrying their own weight, traumas, and backstories.

• The Dark Roots of Folklore: Ancient legends, witches, and Celtic mythology recover their original essence: dark, dense, gothic, and full of mystery. The suspenseful atmosphere is present throughout the entire book.

• A Pace Impossible to Put Down: The writing has a fantastic fluidity, ideal for digital readers. The chapters move forward without any dead moments or tedious descriptions. Before I knew it, the 50% mark was behind me in the blink of an eye.

A must-read for anyone who loves dark conspiracies, dense worlds, and complex character arcs. I can't wait to read the next one!

What a refreshingly unexpected, intriguing story. I went in expecting more folk horror, but the novel quickly became something else entirely. It’s much more of a dark modern fairy tale with strong folklore horror elements. The pacing is excellent. There is a lot of worldbuilding to establish, but the author avoids long stretches of exposition. Instead, information is woven naturally into the story, keeping the plot moving. Within just a few chapters, I was completely invested and eager to keep turning pages.

It’s a multi-POV novel, which is usually hit or miss for me, but the author balances the perspectives exceptionally well. I found myself equally invested in nearly every storyline, even before they began converging. The story primarily follows Matt, an ordinary kid whose life is suddenly upended when increasingly impossible things begin happening around him. I’ll leave it there because this is definitely a book best experienced with as few spoilers as possible.

The characters are rich, distinct, and well developed. One thing I especially appreciated was that the adults are actually competent. Instead of the common trope where every adult is oblivious while the child carries the entire story, the adults here are intelligent, capable, and actively involved. It was a refreshing change and helped ground the story. The author strikes a nice balance between character development and plot progression.

I was genuinely surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. It begins with a stronger folk horror atmosphere before evolving into a dark fantasy rooted in folklore, and the transition works beautifully. There is humor alongside genuine moments of horror, and the various beings drawn from folklore are incorporated naturally into the story. As someone who knows very little about folklore, I never felt lost or like I was being lectured. New creatures and concepts are introduced with just enough explanation to keep the story moving.

Fantasy readers, in particular, should absolutely give this one a look. While it contains horror elements, it ultimately feels much more like a dark fantasy than a horror novel. Despite some genuinely dark moments, there is plenty of warmth, humor, and a cast of characters worth rooting for.

My only real complaint is the ending. I don’t mind unanswered questions in the first book of a series, but this one leaves a lot unresolved. It’s very much a “to be continued” ending, and with the next book not releasing until 2027, that stings a little. That said, my frustration comes from how invested I became in these characters and this world. I would have happily read several hundred more pages.