The premise of this story is so intriguing and has so much potential. The main characters seemed strong and I really wanted to learn more about them. However, the writing was a bit clunky. There is so much focus on the characters’ stream of consciousness. I felt like more time could have been spent on character development outside of this, as well as delving more into the network and the cult backstories. The back and forth timeline was choppy at times and didn’t always contribute to the progression of the story. A compelling story for fans of cults/true crime.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this!

As a listener of true crime podcasts and mystery and thriller fiction, I knew I would enjoy this book from the blurb! We follow a couple of characters POVS through this book, I definitely feel like we could’ve learned so much more about Karma’s upbringing but it does go into some heavy topics (such as child abuse, child sexual abuse, although not into too much detail to the former, thankfully).

The concept of the Medusa network had me intrigued from the beginning! I’m glad we got some insight into it and the into the way that it is run, I wish we could have delved more into it.

At times Zoe did frustrate me, as she almost gaslit herself BUT I can understand why, and it definitely makes you think more about abuse and people’s backgrounds and how that affects their actions and thoughts going forwards! The same can be said of one of our other main characters, Karma. I do love her confidence and how she has overcome her upbringing and turned it around to create something cool.

Overall this book gave me “A good girls guide to murder” but more mature, darker and with more twists I didn’t manage to see coming!

Although this book might not be for everyone, I’ve rated it 5 stars based on the emotional impact it had on me and the premise behind the storyline. It’s not a perfect book, and I know not everyone will feel the same way—but for me, it really resonated. It’s a story about strength, injustice, and survival, and that message hit hard.

As soon as I read the blurb, I knew this would be a me book—and I wasn’t wrong. From the first few chapters, I was completely pulled in.

The story jumps through timelines and shifts between POVs, which can sometimes be confusing in other books, but here it works so well. It actually adds to the immersion, helping you understand the characters and the layers of the story on a deeper level. The structure feels intentional and seamless, making it easy to follow while keeping you curious about where it’s going.

I also love that the story is set in England—it makes everything feel familiar and easy to visualise. The descriptions of places and buildings are vivid without being overdone, grounding the story in a very real way.

It does start off slow, but once the pace picks up, you’re in too deep to stop. Next thing you know, it’s 2AM and you’re telling yourself “just one more chapter”… and then reading three.

While the book doesn’t include trigger warnings, I think it’s worth noting that readers should be mindful of the nature of the story. It’s not overly graphic, but there’s just enough detail to clearly paint the picture—and some of those pictures are emotionally heavy.

The female main characters are absolutely amazing. Their strength, growth, and resilience throughout the story are powerful to witness. This book is a testament to women’s strength and how deeply rooted power can grow in even the most painful of circumstances. The character development is done so well, and you can’t help but root for them every step of the way.

One line that stuck with me—“It’s not all men. But it is this one.” I’d heard that in a song recently, and seeing it in the book hit differently. It really encapsulates the rage and heartbreak that runs through the story. I don’t even fully know how to describe the feeling this book brings out—it’s raw. I feel angry, but also empowered. There’s this big mix of emotion that lingers even after you’ve finished reading.

The story is just… wow. I don’t even know how else to put it. Yes, there are parts you might figure out before the reveal, but it doesn’t take anything away from the story—or the message hidden in it. If anything, it adds to the weight of it. I think this might end up being one of my favourite reads. The strength of the women in this book is phenomenal. I’m still processing it all, and I have a feeling this story will stay with me for a long time.

I enjoyed this story. I think that the characters are good. The release copy hopefully had a bit more editing as some of the sentences were a bit confusing/disorganized.
Things I liked:
- The very last few lines of the book were impactful! I absolutely loved those.
- It has a sweet, mostly innocent LGBT+ romance aspect and the way Karma talks about her love interest is actually very sweet.
- The story is about not only overcoming trauma, but tackling it and helping others avenge theirs.
- I loved Karma as a character and think that she is awesome. I wish there was more from her viewpoint within the book, but the sections from her viewpoint I mostly enjoyed.
Why I am giving it three stars:
- I think that this book has a good story line, but would have worked better as a series. The characters are very interesting and I felt like I was left wanting a bit more backstory on them as well as "The Farm" where the cult took place. Of course you get a surface level of everything, but there is a lot that is missing or not elaborated on fully. The Medusa Network murders are also interesting and could be further discussed. It isn't that there needs to be more graphic scenes, but I think if this was a series it would have fit better.
- The first half of the book is more relaxed, then at about the halfway point it begins to feel like the story was rushed. This ties into the book fitting better as a series. New characters get introduced into the "modern day" aspect and they are there, then they are gone. The ending felt extremely rushed which made it anticlimactic to me. You spend the whole book learning about these people and they get introduced, then the resolution is shoved into a few brief chapters which was disappointing.
- Around the last three or so chapters, the author randomly starts adding in jabs at "liberals" which just felt out of place and unnecessary to the story.

Wow, what a wild ride. It’s creepy, emotional, & totally sucked me in. The story follows Karma after she escapes the farm, & a podcaster who starts helping her tell her story. Their interviews & storyline are intense in the best way. It’s like you’re sitting right there with them, piecing everything together.

There’s this darker layer involving the Medusa Network murders that adds a true-crime feel, & the way it all unravels is so twisted & gripping. Karma is such a raw, complex character & you feel everything she’s been through, but she’s also so strong in her own way.

If you’re into psychological thrillers with a documentary-style vibe & real emotional depth, you’ve gotta check this one out. Definitely still thinking about it!

I genuinely tried to get into this book, but when the very first thing you read from the author is "I don't believe in trigger warnings," I knew I would have some trouble. Thomas then followed with what sounded like a passive aggressive rant about how calling people victims is wrong, they're survivors only, and how if you're going through something then it's your duty to push through it.
The actual book starts with an in depth explanation on how someone, a vigilante network of justice killers as you find out later, kidnaps and kills people who have done bad things. Now I am all for rapists, murderers, etc getting their karmic justice, whatever that may be, but to describe it in detail is an odd choice.
This book's formatting is very confusing. At some points, it's in first person, then third, other times it reads like a play. There were multiple grammatical and spelling errors. And the constant description of Karma's skin tone just rubbed me the wrong way.
I was really interested in the Medusa Network and more in depth, yet mysterious, explanations of how they operate. Maybe that happens later in the book, but I had to DNF at around 30%. The plot wasn't engaging enough for me personally to feel inclined to finish. Also, can I just add, as a bisexual woman I understand the "is she flirting with me, are we both feeling this chemistry" vibes.. but what exactly did it add to the plot of the book?? Again, maybe it was resolved more in later parts of the book..

Thank you to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for the eARC (even though I received it on release day). Date published: April 8th, 2025

This book was comforting. Not in the way that a warm cup of tea is or a sunny day, but the way that you feel comforted by sharing trauma with another or a nod of understanding by a survivor. It makes one feel seen for all their worst experiences. I love the use of the word “survivor” over victim and the author making Zoe want to show that Karma is more than her trauma, that is something that readers who have experienced trauma may want to see as it shows they are more than their worst moments. Having some of the victims be male hurt but also made me proud of the author for that choice, more often than not male sexual assault is ignored because of toxic masculinity and belief that it doesn’t matter. The book was a struggle to get through in the best possible way. It holds up a mirror to the darker parts of this world but lets the reader see themselves through the survival and growth within it. Overall, it is a painfully beautifully book and left me traumatized for the characters while healing a bit of my own pain, which is what a good book is meant to do.

This book was very different than I expected—in a good way.

The story follows Karma Anne Jones, who was born and raised in a cult. She escapes at the age of 11 and helps rescue 49 other children. Now, as an adult, she's being interviewed by Zoe, the host of a true crime podcast, to share her story.

The book is told from multiple points of view, mainly Karma’s and Zoe’s. Despite the shifts, it was surprisingly easy to follow. My only gripe was that some chapters were in first person while others were in third, which threw me off a bit at first—but I adjusted quickly.

One of my favorite aspects was the vigilante network and their targets—really intriguing and unique. Some twists I saw coming, but others genuinely surprised me.

That said, I wish the story went deeper into the cult background. Some plot points felt unresolved—particularly the situation with Harry, which left me wanting more.

I also wasn’t a fan of the romance element; it felt unnecessary and would’ve worked better as a platonic relationship.

On a more critical note, the repeated use of the phrase “Indian skin tone” stood out. As someone of South Asian heritage, I found it a bit offensive—it’s overly general and doesn’t reflect the wide range of skin tones among Indian people. A more thoughtful description could’ve been used.

At the start, I was confused about the setting—British English was used, but then terms like “kindergarten” popped up, which felt out of place. It became clear later that the story is set in England, but that initial confusion could have been smoothed out.

Overall, this was a well-paced read with a compelling storyline. Zoe was a bit infuriating at times, but I loved Karma and her character development. I would’ve liked more about the Medusa network, but I’m still glad I read it.

3 stars feels too low, but 4 feels a bit generous—if I could, I’d give it a 3.5 or 3.75 but I'm not a fan of .5 or .75 ratings.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. This review reflects my honest opinion.

The podcast guest of Zoe’s dreams becomes more than she could have ever imagined.

This story follows Karma, who has escaped a cult and Zoe a true crime podcaster with a keen interest in Karmas story. I was slightly concerned at first when I noticed many of the chapters jump between Zoe and Karmas POV, but also jump from present day to the past of the cult. The author however manages to keep the flow between these beautifully, not once leaving me confused with new characters or the connection each part has to the rest of the story. Even with the insights into the vigilante network that is protecting the country from evils that have escaped the consequences of the law, you don’t feel lost within the story and can easily place the importance these events hold. You gain a quick connection to Zoe and over time grow to understand Karma and her experiences.

Overall I greatly enjoyed this story, I would say some things felt expected but that didn’t take away from what I was reading. The story itself kept me tuned in wanting to find out more about Karmas past, the workings of the vigilante Medusa Network and the connection between Karma and Zoe.