In this special edition newsletter, we are shining a spotlight on the work of Rebecca Rook, author of Young Adult fantasy, horror, and thriller novels, including:
- The Penance of Valentine Cash, YA Urban Fantasy
- False Haven, YA Thriller/Suspense
- City of Graves, YA Literary Fiction, YA Thriller/Suspense
The Penance of Valentine Cash
Genre: YA Urban Fantasy4.7 stars, 7 ratings on Amazon
Paperback: From $14.88
Ebook: $4.99
Neil Gaiman's American Gods meets Jennifer Mason-Black's Devil and the Bluebird in this modern adaptation of the Greek legend The Twelve Labors of Hercules for young adult fantasy readers.
When Valentine Cash dies in an accidental collision she caused on the cusp of musical fame, Valentine is offered a deal: Complete a series of difficult tasks to get her life back. Fail, and she dies a final, everlasting death.
Guided by Route 66, the Mother Road of America, on her quest, she tackles one herculean task after another, giving up a piece of herself with each trial.
Valentine begins to understand that the fame she once sought won’t bring her happiness or belonging—and if she fulfills the penance, she must decide what’s more important: Her old life or restoring the lives of the strangers who died alongside her.
The young and the ancient, the tangible and the mythical, collide as Valentine learns the true meaning of redemption, connection, and the enduring power of the human spirit.
★★★★★ "Slick and intelligent blend of mythology and contemporary themes." ~Readers' Favorite
False Haven
Genre: YA Thrillers/Suspense4.3 stars, 14 ratings on Goodreads
Paperback: From $14.88
Ebook: $4.99
Holes meets The Haunting of Hill House in this young adult horror novel for fans of Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake, Asylum by Madeleine Roux, and Fiendish by Brenna Yovanoff.
Seventeen-year-old Vivienne Barston’s life has fallen apart. With her mother recently dead, her father disappears into his grief—leaving Viv to deal with her sadness and anger alone. Viv turns to destructive behaviors like petty vandalism, but after a disturbing stint in a juvenile detention center frightens her, Viv agrees to a court mandated service opportunity designed to expunge her record. The deal: work for six weeks with a trail conservation crew in the rural woods of southern Oregon, and she’ll be free with a clean slate. She knows it’s her last chance to fix her life.
When Viv arrives at the small town of Hard Luck, Oregon, she meets her motley crewmates, all with troubles of their own. The unusual group travels to Grafton Stake, a remote and derelict former asylum with a haunted history—and now Viv must face the ghosts of the past while fighting for her future.
★★★★★ "Scary, suspenseful, and entertaining!" ~Goodreads Review
City of Graves
Genre: YA Literary Fiction, YA Thrillers/Suspense4.2 stars, 5 ratings on Goodreads
Paperback: From $14.88
Ebook: $4.99
A young adult thriller that will appeal to fans of I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga, None Shall Sleep by Ellie Marney, and Paper Valentine by Brenna Yovanoff.
Finch Marlowe is gifted and privileged. She knows she’s lucky. Except her wealthy parents have high expectations for her future. Every extracurricular activity and every volunteer endeavor contributes to the never ending quest for a perfect college application—and Finch feels every bit of that pressure. Failure is not an option.
But Finch has a secret. She belongs to the city’s urban exploration community—a dangerous and thrilling pastime that involves exploring abandoned buildings. Moving through these forgotten places gives Finch with a sense of freedom she’s never experienced at home, and she begins to unearth her real self in this new community.
However, everything changes when Finch finds a body in one of the buildings. And as Finch becomes the target of a killer, she finds herself questioning everything she knows in a desperate attempt to save herself.
★★★★★ "Wonderful, spooky read." ~Amazon Review
About the Author
Rebecca Rook designs tabletop games, makes art, and lives in the Pacific Northwest with two wonderful dogs. She also writes young adult fiction in the fantasy, thriller, and horror genres. Rebecca was a 2021-2022 Hugo House Fellow in Seattle, WA, and attended the 2021 Tin House YA Fiction Workshop in Portland, OR. Prior to this, she completed the Yearlong Workshop for Young Adult and Middle-Grade Fiction at Hugo House. Learn more at byrebeccarook.com where you can also sign up for her newsletter (follow the link and then scroll to the bottom of the page for the sign-up form), and be sure to follow her online:
