Fast paced, a little disturbing, but in the best way. I really appreciated the in-depth look at new motherhood.

Good Irish tell, this is a hard to put down read

Deliciously chilling. Lauren is a very relatable new mother, overwhelmed and unsupported. But can she be believed? Did an evil fairy swap out her children, or is she having a stress enduced nervous breakdown? I would definitely recommend this unique psychological horror.

Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

You’ll never look at childbirth, fairy tales or postpartum the same!

Lauren is exhausted...after a difficult birth to twins, she’s struggling to cope. Still healing physically from childbirth, she’s naturally finding caring for twins to be quite difficult. Her husband, while loving, is not exactly hands on, so that doesn’t help things. Her first night in the hospital is unnerving when an unkempt woman enters her room and asks to switch one of the twin babies with one of her own...and if Lauren says no, the woman will take them both. Was this a dream?? Or did it actually happen? If so, why won’t anyone believe her?

DI Jo Harper is the police officer investigating the case. It’s obvious that Lauren is terrified, but is there more to this situation than just exhaustion? Is there any enemy lurking in the darkness? Are the babies safe?

PROS: Exceptional writing, a fast paced plot and excellent character development...I felt the trauma of the birth, and remembered just how difficult those early days can be! The folklore excerpts really add a special layer of mystery to this one.

CONS: Little Darlings has some fairy tale/fantasy elements; while I loved this departure from a typical psychological thriller story line, others may not be so inclined.

YES or NO: It’s a definite YES from me; chilling, unexpected and amazing!!! It's one of my favourites of the year!

5 Stars

Creepy and atmospheric!

Nicely creepy changeling tale with well-developed characters that probes the dark side of new parenthood. The narrator of the audiobook is fantastic!

I enjoyed it! It kept me reading, not sure which way it would go. I liked the ending. It didn’t wrap things up nice and tidy but kept you thinking about it after the book was over.

I found this novel to be similar to a much better one by author Victor LaValle(The Changeling)
Maybe that was the problem--I was comparing the two books, where there is definitely no comparison. I did not care for the characters in Little Darlings, and alot of the storyline involving the female detective seemed irrelevant. The ending kind of left the reader up in the air. I kept hoping that the rivermother would take the main character's husband for trade :)

Edmonton journal recommended

Rounded up from 3.5. I found this dark, domestic tale to be fascinating in the telling, but the end left me with many unanswered questions. Lauren's character was very well-developed. Her anguish during childbirth, the uncertainty of parenting new babies multiplied by two, the disappointing new dad, and the threat of the dark woman. . . She truly bonds with Riley and Morgan and knows them as her own. The complementary view of Harper, the police sergeant aided in moving the plot along, giving the reader respite from Lauren's melancholy view of the world outside. At the end of it all I found I was disappointed in the development of Harper's character as well as that of Patrick, the husband. The ride to the finish felt rushed and I needed an epilogue or something to tie it all up.