Superstition is a fascinating start to The Secrets of Van Buren University series, and I am already craving the next instalment. I requested this book as soon as I saw it was Dark Academia as I know immediately in for a brilliant ride with hidden secrets and dark undertones.

This book contains an enticing blend of mystery, suspense, and supernatural intrigue. James’s writing pulls you in as its vivid and richly descriptive, the book will have you in a chokehold as the dark secrets of the university start to unravel.

As this is set at a university we get to meet a large cast of characters. I also appreciate how James didn’t rely on stereotypical college stereotypes but instead, we are given well thought out and developed characters.

Jerry Williams is a great protagonist; he is instantly likable, and it was easy to start rooting for him. I appreciate his unwavering commitment to uncovering the truth, no matter the cost as it made him both courageous and flawed but human.
I can wait to read the next instalment.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the ebook in exchange for an honest review.

I find it a little difficult to review this book. I Loved the premise and was really hoping for something more than what I got. I was able to finish it easily, but the whole time I kept expecting something exciting to happen. But unfortunately, it never really did. I think if there had been more time given to making it more of a supernatural atmosphere, rather than the endless amounts of time given to descriptions of what every single student was wearing every single time, it would have helped with the credibility of the story line. But it just seemed silly. And the clothing descriptions added nothing.

Overall, it was a letdown. Sorry.

It may help to target a younger audience, instead of an adult audience.

Superstition prompts you to consider what you would be willing to give up to achieve success or find love. This story easily combines elements of dark magic, superstition, and captivating technology, creating a mesmerizing and addictive paranormal thriller. While it may seem irreverent to call it a fun read, that’s precisely what it is. It's fast-paced, filled with plot twists and manages to balance very serious criminal activity with light-hearted comedy.

This book is perfect for the cosy/spooky season. A murder mistery with some magic and romance.

I found it a bit difficult to follow at first as there were many new characters but once you get used to the names it's easy to figure out who the main characters are.

It's a very easy to read YA story - it's quite short as well, so if you're looking for an easy book to read in a short time, this would be the perfect one to go for!

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this ahead of publication!

Book Review: Superstition by James Blakey

Rating: 3 Stars

So, I just finished Superstition by James Blakey and I’d give it a solid 3 stars. Let me break it down for you.

The story kicks off at Van Buren University, where a bunch of seemingly harmless superstitions—like opening an umbrella indoors or having a black cat cross your path—start to take a dark turn when they lead to actual deaths on campus. Our protagonist, Jerry Williams, is a sophomore journalist who’s super passionate about his reporting. He connects the dots between these gruesome happenings and the superstitions, but his editor isn’t having it. She shuts him down, and he finds himself suspended from the school newspaper. Talk about a buzzkill!

As the body count rises, Jerry’s girlfriend Darla gets caught up in the chaos, barely escaping with her life. This pushes Jerry into full-on detective mode as he decides to publish his findings in an alternative newspaper. But of course, the university administration isn’t thrilled about that either and threatens him with suspension for causing panic. It’s a race against time as Friday the 13th approaches, and Jerry has to figure out who—or what—is behind these bad luck deaths before it’s too late.

Now, onto my thoughts. Honestly, the beginning didn’t really grab me. It took a little while to get into the groove, but once I did, it was a fun read. The premise is intriguing—who doesn’t love a good murder mystery mixed with a bit of romance? The writing is beautiful and flows nicely, making it a quick read. However, I felt like the story got bogged down with too many extra tropes that didn’t quite fit together. There were all these cool ideas about superstitions leading to horrible deaths, but somehow it turned into a bit of a mishmash that didn’t fully click for me.

In the end, while I enjoyed the fast pace and the engaging writing style, I’m not sure I’m ready to dive into more books in this series. It was definitely entertaining but left me wanting something more cohesive. If you're looking for a light YA mystery with a sprinkle of romance, this might be right up your alley!

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

This was a really good book. I enjoyed the storyline and the characters. It definitely helped pull me out of a reading slump. I will definitely pick up more of this author’s books.

This was fun! It felt like a YA Final Destination, if y’all catch my drift. Not a horror at all, however; more so a thriller and mystery. I truly didn’t see the little twist at the end coming! Not a spooky season worthy read, but it wasn’t a regret by any means.

Having said all that, it is definitely written by a man.. This statement will be understood by many who read this book and observe the main character. Y’all remember back in the 90s/ early 2000s when every show had a smoking hot woman and a painfully white toast man? And those women weren’t just hot, they were smart. And somehow they are also into the unbuttered bread Fred…
That ending was just silly lol.

I really liked the premise of this book, but it didn't fully live up to its potential for me. I liked the aspects of deaths being linked to superstitions. Some of the characters were interesting, but there were a lot of them that made it hard to connect with them on a deeper level. The book starts strong, but as the story progressed, some of the plot felt muddled and the pacing off. Overall, an enjoyable book though.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an advanced copy of this book.

Oh I wanted to like this one so much but it wasn't for me. It's too YA and too full of descriptions that, at least to me, felt unnecessary. Also too many characters to keep track of.

The pace was quick and there was always something happening but a lot of it didn't feel that important and I caught myself thinking more than once "does this really need to be in here?". It's a shame but I'll try out other books from this author.

Do you knock on wood? Avoid the number thirteen? Students at Van Buren University didn't think much about superstitions and bad luck until it seemed like people were dying because of it. Jerry Williams was a respected member of Van Buren newspaper staff until he wrote an article about parking meter fraud on campus which brought down anger from the University's administration team. After that, story after story was killed. When he writes an article about how a series of sudden deaths on campus are connected to bad luck, not only does the editor refuse to print it, she also puts Jerry on suspension. Jerry continues to investigate the deaths with the help of his friends and discovers a link to deaths that happened decades earlier. As Friday the 13th looms closer and Jerry's new girlfriend is nearly killed, Jerry desperately searches for the way to stop the next death and prevent any more from happening. This novel started out a bit slow, but the ending was really good.

Superstition by James Blakey.
I did like the cover and blurb of this book. I loved the prologue with the witch scene. I did like Jerry the main character. But I wasn't sure about the other characters. I was a little disappointed the prologue only had a witch scene. But i still did enjoy this book. I liked the writing style. I was surprised by the end. Twisty and gripping. I do hope there is more to come.


Blurb.
An umbrella is opened indoors. A black cat crosses your path. Three cigarettes are lit from one match. These are omens of bad luck that no one takes seriously. But at Van Buren University when these and other superstitions are broken, students die.

Superstition by James Blakey is a dark and atmospheric thriller that weaves a gripping tale of fear, mystery, and paranoia. Blakey's vivid descriptions and tense pacing create a haunting narrative that keeps readers on edge until the final twist.

Jerry is a reporter who starts looking into all kinds of strange deaths that have superstitions linked to them. With Friday the 13th approaching, he is worried another tragic death will happen and is determined to figure out the mystery before something bad happens.

This book just wasn't quite what I was expecting. It was very slow and too many descriptions that didn't add anything to the story.

Superstition by James Blakey presents an exciting premise—a college campus plagued by mysterious deaths linked to broken superstitions like opening an umbrella indoors or crossing paths with a black cat. From the outset, the story promises a blend of thriller, mystery, and horror, which is undeniably intriguing. The idea that bad luck could actually kill is original, and Blakey crafts a world where superstition takes on a life-or-death significance. This concept alone hooked me, as it provides a fresh take on the typical campus murder mystery.

We follow Jerry as he investigates the series of deaths, his journalism instincts lead him down a twisting path that ties present-day events to a massacre on Friday the 13th in 1984. The tension builds as the plot thickens, with clues slowly revealing a more sinister force behind the deaths. The investigative element is where the book shines, as Jerry’s determination to uncover the truth becomes gripping, especially in the latter half. The plot twists, particularly towards the end, were well-executed and genuinely surprising. I enjoyed the sense of suspense that kicked in as the climax approached.

Superstition is an enjoyable, fast-paced read. It’s light on the horror and heavy on the mystery, which will appeal to fans of YA thrillers. The writing is solid, and the book offers enough twists to keep readers guessing until the end. However, I do wish it had leaned more into the horror elements and kept a tighter focus on the core mystery. With stronger character development and a more streamlined plot, Superstition could have been a standout in the genre.

Pros:

Intriguing Premise: The idea of bad luck and superstitions causing deadly consequences is fresh and interesting. As someone who doesn’t believe in superstitions, the idea of such severe consequences was actually quite fun. Every time a character died due to breaking one of these beliefs, I found myself imagining my own sorry fate had I been part of this world. This made the book very relatable and grabbed my attention to the characters actions very easily.

Pacing: The book is fast-paced and easy to read, making it a quick, engaging experience, particularly for fans of YA mystery-thrillers. Once the story picks up, around the halfway mark, it becomes hard to put down.

Journalism Angle: Jerry’s role as a student reporter adds an enjoyable investigative element. It brings in an intellectual layer, as he tries to piece together a complex puzzle from the past and present. Following the clue along with Jerry was quite a ride as we moved through speculations to confirmations to consequences.

Plot Twists: The twists and turns, especially towards the end, are satisfying and unexpected. It's refreshing when a reader’s assumptions are proven wrong, and the final revelations are surprising in a good way.

Cons:

Character Development: Many characters, including the main character Jerry and his girlfriend Darla, felt underdeveloped, especially early on. While Jerry becomes more relatable as the story progresses, Darla is frustratingly one-dimensional. More depth would have made the relationships and conflicts more compelling.

Excessive Details: The descriptions of clothing and other minor details distract from the main plot. Constantly describing what characters are wearing adds little to the atmosphere and takes away from the tension the mystery is supposed to build. The descritions feel like we are taking a break from the story to be told the information rathers than it being a part of the natural flow of the narrative. The book also introduced too many characters too quickly without spending much time with any of them. Essentially, there is too much telling rather than showing.

Disconnected Elements: Some elements of the story, like the internet jammer, feel disconnected from the central premise of superstitions causing death. These ideas don’t mesh well with the core narrative and create a sense of imbalance.

Conclusion

Superstition starts with an intriguing concept—superstitions becoming deadly—but gets bogged down by too many characters, unnecessary details, and underdeveloped subplots. While the pace picks up in the latter half and offers some exciting twists, the overall narrative feels disjointed. James Blakey is clearly a talented writer with great ideas, but the execution here leaves something to be desired. For readers looking for a spooky, fast-paced YA read, it’s a fun ride, but it may not leave a lasting impression.

**Review of *Superstition***

*Superstition* is a thrilling young adult mystery that deftly intertwines folklore with a gripping campus setting, creating a compelling narrative that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. Author [Author's Name] takes the classic concept of superstitions—often dismissed as mere quirks—and transforms them into a chilling premise where they lead to real, dire consequences.

The story follows sophomore Jerry Williams, a passionate journalist at Van Buren University whose investigative instincts are both his strength and his burden. When a series of bizarre deaths linked to superstitions begin to plague the campus, Jerry’s commitment to uncovering the truth is met with skepticism from his peers and hostility from the administration. His journey of discovery is not only about solving a mystery but also about standing up for his beliefs in the face of adversity.

The pacing of *Superstition* is expertly handled, with tension mounting as Jerry delves deeper into the dark connections between superstition and the inexplicable tragedies on campus. Each twist and turn raises the stakes, especially as Friday the 13th approaches, creating a palpable sense of urgency. The writing captures the mix of fear, intrigue, and teenage angst, making Jerry a relatable protagonist as he navigates the pressures of love, friendship, and responsibility.

Darla, Jerry’s girlfriend, adds depth to the story, embodying the stakes of his investigation. Her near brush with death serves as a powerful motivator for Jerry, emphasizing the emotional weight behind the plot. The interactions among the characters are well-drawn, highlighting the camaraderie and challenges of college life, while also addressing deeper themes of belief, skepticism, and the consequences of ignoring warnings.

The blend of mystery, supernatural elements, and a touch of horror makes *Superstition* an engaging read for fans of the genre. The exploration of superstitions as both cultural artifacts and potential harbingers of doom provides a thought-provoking layer to the narrative, inviting readers to consider how much we really believe in the unexplainable.

Overall, *Superstition* is a cleverly crafted tale that blends suspense with a nuanced exploration of belief and consequence. It’s a must-read for anyone who enjoys a thrilling mystery with a dash of the supernatural. With its unforgettable characters and heart-pounding plot, this book is sure to leave readers questioning the shadows lurking just beyond their line of sight.

This was such a fun book... and I finished just in time for Spooky season! I gravitate toward mystery and supernatural types of books so this one was right up my alley. The pacing was good and the writing style was easy. This had a creative plot that felt different from other books in the same genre. Highly recommend!

This book had a great plot with intriguing characters. I’ll definitely be looking out for more from this author.

Superstition by James Blakey is going to be a really good fall read for anyone, but especially those millennials who grew up watching The Craft and Final Destination and well, that’s me wrapped up in one. I really enjoyed this read and right around the 50% mark is where everything really started to piece together in this story and I flew through the second half of the book unable to put it down.

The story follows sophomore Jerry who’s writing for the universities school newspaper, soon he starts to connect some rather sinister deaths happening on campus to what appears to be old wives tales of bad luck. His quest for the truth takes him on some unlikely turns, some you even begin to question their motives, but nothing deters Jerry once his mind is set on the truth.

I did see this badged on Net Gallery as Horror & Thriller, but I would have easily added this to some of the YA genres too, and that’s no slight on Blakeys writing style I thoroughly enjoy YA thrillers, I hope this reaches the best audience to consume this as it easily has a more modern feel of the Netflix version of Sabrina the teenage witch.

Thank you to NetGallery for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Really enjoyed this one! The premise of the novel (what happens if you ignore rituals based on superstition) is something we all grew up with and had to work our own ways through. All the potential negative consequences appear to be coming to fruition. I love watching Jerry work his way through tense and dangerous predicaments as he works his way towards the final truth. The help he got from his friends along the way was hilarious, as well as nostalgia inducing - I remember being a college kid looking for an adventure. A fast and gripping ride! Would have been five stars for me except for the fact that the character arc one of the main female protagonists went through ended up feeling like “it was all for nothing.

3.5 stars, Just in time for spooky season.

This book, set in a university is a murder mystery, with thriller, romance and magic thrown in. To be honest, the beginning of the book didn’t pull me in, I found there were far too many characters, it was difficult to keep up and to make it more confusing sometimes they were addressed by their first names and other times by their second names. Once the story got going and you work out who the main players are though, that’s when I began to enjoy the book and raced through it.

Our main character Jerry is investigating freaky deaths that have happened at the university that seem linked with bad luck - opening an umbrella indoors, Friday the 13th etc. Jerry finds links to similar incidents in 1984 and as a journalist he delves deep to find out if that’s all linked to what’s happening now.

This was a fun read. I would say more YA, a good premise but I don’t think I would carry on with the series.

Many thanks to NetGalley, author and publisher for my eARC in exchange for my honest review.