Hi all!

Today I am going to review Haley Newlin’s new release, Take Your Turn, Teddy. I was lucky to receive a physical copy from the author herself, in exchange for an honest review. I was also given the opportunity to interview Haley (click here). Furthermore, I got to provide a testimonial on the back of the book. What an honour! Please order a copy here. Without further ado, let’s get into it!

THE PLOT

Nothing has been normal for Teddy, not since discovering the harsh identity of the monster he had been living with his whole life – his own father. Teddy and his mother leave that behind, to start over in a small Indiana township. But as Teddy begins to learn of humanity’s monsters, he unveils an otherworldly evil he calls “The Shadow.” The Shadow tests Teddy’s vulnerability and growing sense of isolation, poisoning his mind and conjuring a vile killer-in-the-making. A year later, Officer Leonard Strode is called in to offer consultation on a case, similar to the most brutal and scarring of those he’s worked on before. One is the case of Jackie Warren, the other, Theodore “Teddy” Blackwood – two missing children. As he and two other officers follow the trail of clues, Strode is haunted by the ghosts of his own past; horrified to find them wreaking havoc on his present.

When both Teddy and Strode finally meet face-to-face, they must confront their inner darkness as well, or else be consumed by it.

THE CHARACTERS 

To be perfectly honest, this book triggered me in ways I didn’t expect. I grew up with an abusive father, very similar to Teddy’s, so reading about the experience from his perspective, was very relatable. From the first page, I was protective over the protagonist; his childhood mirroring my own in a lot of ways. However, as the story progressed, I saw less of the innocent boy and more of The Shadow take over. I truly loved the parallel stories with Teddy and Strode. Strode was also a relatable character. We get to witness him processing trauma and grief through horrific hallucinations. I almost felt like he deserved a book of his own. As a woman, I appreciated the diverse characters, representing female strength; fighting the oppression of men. We see this in Finch and Teddy’s mother. The Shadow itself was an interesting entity, that fed off its vulnerable victims. It was deeply unsettling and unmerciful. I honestly wanted more from all of them!

THE WRITING STYLE 

What I loved most about the writing style, was the way it was broken up into different parts and timelines. We begin with Teddy’s narrative, then a year later, follow Strode, as he attempts to locate the missing children. It felt like a blend of horror and crime/mystery. If I were to describe this novel in one word, it would be: dark. It is heavy; both emotionally and physically. As I mentioned above, it hit close to home, but not only that, it made me uncomfortable. Witnessing an innocent child transform into a vicious killer was intense. I didn’t expect it to go down such a tragic path. It also legitimately terrified me. There was a scene involving Strode and a clown that still haunts me. My only criticism was I wanted more. I would’ve loved for both Teddy and Strode’s storylines to have been stretched out a bit more. There was definitely room to go further. Other than that, Haley is an excellent writer. She certainly knows how to draw a reader in, leaving them speechless.

STAR RATING 

I gave it 4/5 stars. It held my attention the entire time, leaving me gagged by the end. I highly recommend it!

My Testimonial – @You’ll Read Too Bookclub 

I hope you enjoyed this honest, spoiler-free review. Please order a copy from the link above.

Thank you for reading

Peace & Love xoxo