Cascade

And the Trees Crept In
Dawn Kurtagich

Two sisters, Silla and Nori, flee a bad home life and arrive at the doorstep of their aunt’s mansion one night. The large house is imposing, deteriorating, and seems to induce madness in its inhabitants. Silla tries to care for Nori after her aunt confines herself to the attic, but the woods seem to keep edging closer and Nori longs to wander off and explore. And then there are the unexplainable guests–a man Nori plays with in the basement… and a charming boy who emerged from the trees one day and claims he used to live in the manor. The atmosphere of this book is best described as fever-dreamlike and the narrator of the audiobook, along with the immersive sound effects, amplified this feeling perfectly. This twisty psychological horror novel creeped me out! 

Sunrise on the Reaping
Suzanne Collins

Considering my middling feelings toward the last Hunger Games prequel, A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, I was leery when I heard a new book chronicling Haymitch's games was being published. How could there be stakes and tension when it is already established that Haymitch is reaped and becomes the victor of the 50th games? So, I was happily surprised when Sunrise on the Reaping brought back the same feelings and engaged me in the same way the original books did when I read them years ago. This is a must-read for any Hunger Games fan and is easily spoiled, so I won’t provide a detailed description of the plot, just trust me and pick it up if you haven’t already. Although this newest installment can be understood and enjoyed independently of the main trilogy, readers will find it most rewarding if they are familiar with the other books in the series. 

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