The Others by Cheryl Isaacs

Today's read came out September last year, and I've had it in my sights since then. It's the second book in a horror series, and I, actually, read and enjoyed the first one back in 2024. (You can see that review HERE ) See, I can read a series from the very beginning!  The first book rotated around a myth and a very creepy lake, and the main character had to discover more about her indigenous roots to defeat the evil, which is trying to take over the town and turned individuals into The Unfinished (also the name of the series and first novel). 

I'm assuming this one will continue is a similar direction and might even build on some aspects of the first novel, especially since the main character rescued her best guy friend under extreme circumstances. Maybe, that will come back to haunt them?

Let's open this one up and find out!

THE OTHERS

The Unfinished

by Cheryl Isaacs

Heartdrum

YA Horror

336 pages

In this haunting sequel to her deliciously scary debut, Cheryl Isaacs (Mohawk) explores the sharp edges of lingering trauma and the bonds of love that heal us.

Only weeks ago, Avery pulled her best friend, Key, from the deadly black water. The cycle from her family’s Kanyen’kehá:ka (Mohawk) stories is finally broken, the black water is now a harmless lake, and her problems are far from All Avery wants is a normal summer with Key, her now-boyfriend.

The trauma, however, casts a long shadow over the town. Some victims never returned. Terrifying memories threaten to resurface, but Avery pushes them down. Who she’s really worried about is Key. The two are supposed to be closer than ever—so why does he feel so distant?

Wracked by anxiety, Avery begins to see a chilling reflection in every mirror, one that moves on its own—and she’s not the only one. With her family’s safety in the balance, Avery must Run away to the safety of normal life with Key, or return to lake’s edge and face her reflection, before her home is subsumed by darkness once and for all….

GOODREADS    /    AMAZON

MY TIDBITS

The evil lurks in the background, carefully extending its influence in a quiet and almost unnoticeable way to make this second novel even more sinister than the first.

Only two weeks have passed since Avery broke the cycle of the black water and pulled her best friend, Key, out of its deadly grasp. She's doing her best to shove the memories and fear behind a mental wall and get on with life, which would work better if Key, now her boyfriend, wasn't acting slightly off. But then, the experience had to leave scars for all involved. Still, something isn't quite right. Anxiety claws at Avery whenever she lets her guard down, and when she believes she sees things which aren't there, tension rises. She's sure its the lingering fear and stress, which she can't completely shake off, but when an odd reflection begins to appear in every mirror or reflective surface she sees, she knows the danger isn't over yet.

I recommend reading the first book before diving into this one, since the entire plot is based on the events of book one. However, the author takes effort to recall the happenings of book one, in the first chapter and, every now and then, during the rest of the read. 

In many aspects, I enjoyed this second book more than the first. The play on the psychological aftermath of the horror of book one adds an understandable depth to the characters and provides a logical uncertainty for them and their relationships. Avery is doing her best to force normality, and that makes her desire not to see some things understandable. This allows a hum of creepiness to seep in while the 'normal' life weaves its own depth. Her father comes into the scene as well as others to mount in a few side plots, which grab and make Avery sympathetic. The horror aspect, however, doesn't really get going until 40% through the read...and combined with the recalling of events from book one, the pacing slowed, at times. When tense moments occur, though, they carry an extra level of creepiness compared to book one.

Thanks to some open-strings at the end of this book, I'm assuming there will be, at least, one more to come, and I'm looking forward to seeing what it might hold for Avery. 

And here she is...

Cheryl Isaacs can often be found running through the Carolinian forest of southwestern Ontario, where she has fearlessly enjoyed the trails for years. Her Kanyen’kéha culture often appears in her writing. Her first novel was The Unfinished.