Heather’s Bookshelf: Silverskin
Author: Caitee Cooper
Released: 09/15/23
Genre: Supernatural fantasy romance with horror elements
“Another horrible howl echoed in her ears as if from a long way away, and she thought she saw black shapes bounding over her head into the cool air. Hundreds, thousands, so many that they blotted out the sky. The awful specter screeched in what seemed like triumph, its skeletal arms raised. Ellie’s battered head hit the cold earth. She wanted to cry out in relief as the terror finally released her, but oblivion took her before she could make a sound.”
“Silverskin” introduces Ellie Forth, a young woman on an adventure to Alaska with her father and brother. She’s not big on hunting, but she loves the outdoors and her remaining family. Four years ago, she lost her mother and sister in a car accident. She’s trying to move on and hopes this trip might be a fresh start, but the universe has other plans.
While on their hunting trip, Ellie and her father separate from the rest of the group in search of the perfect buck. Unfortunately, what they find is much more sinister, terrifying, and deadly.
Ellie fears those around her will think she’s crazy, but she knows what she saw. Compelled to reveal the truth about what happened in Alaska, she recruits help from Oliver Cole. Oliver’s a family friend trying to get his life back together after his own personal tragedies led him down a bad path. After Ellie and her brother, Sam, head home, Oliver’s left in Alaska to face the consequences of what happened on that hunting trip. Will they be able to fix everything that was made so wrong?
Trigger Warning: violence, death, reference to animal death (hunting)
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It is one of those books that crosses through many genres, which I enjoy. The romance is certainly there. However, the supernatural and horror elements stood out a bit more to me. There were parts of this book where I though I might need to wait until the morning to pick it back up (and I mean that in the best possible way). The story is told through two POVs. The first POV is of Ellie which both provides insight into her character and enhances the fear pouring off the pages. Ellie’s a well done protagonist. She’s flawed and more than a little bit broken, but she’s also brave, selfless, and hopeful even when everything screams at her not to be. The second POV is Oliver’s. He’s damaged, guilt-ridden, and somehow still very introspective. Ellie and Oliver together provide a solid emotional foundation, especially through their relationships with Helen, Henry, & Sam. But it’s their connection with each other that really shines. There’s also bits of fantasy and lore built into the story including references to demons, angels, vampires, and Nantinaq (an Alaskan version of bigfoot) which adds intrigue and something new while also enhancing the supernatural aspects. I found the scenes that highlighted the supernatural to be some of the most vivid and well-written. The pacing of the book is also well done and enhanced by the flipping POVs and the underlying mystery of what’s happening in Alaska. I found myself reading much more than I intended before I could put it down. This story would have absolutely received a 5 rating, if it hadn’t been for the cliffhanger ending. If you’ve read some of my other reviews, you know how I feel about a cliffhanger. The author has promised a sequel and I’d love to find out what happens with Ellie and Oliver…
I received a copy of this story in exchange of a fair and honest review.
OVERALL REVIEW:
A genre-bending tale highlighted by supernatural and horror aspects. Dual POVs enhance characterization and propel the pacing. A cliffhanger ending left me wanting more.
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