Small Favors by Erin A. Craig

Small Favors

by Erin A. Craig

THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From the critically-acclaimed author of House of Salt and Sorrows comes a mesmerizing and chilling fairy-talesque novel about Ellerie Downing, a young woman in a small town with monsters lurking in the trees and dark desires hidden in the shadows—in Amity Falls, nothing is more dangerous than a wish come true.
 
"Unique, enchanting, and haunting."—Brigid Kemmerer, New York Times bestselling author of the Cursebreaker series

“Full of beasts, bargains, and blood, Small Favors is a folk horror tale that feels like a classic but is utterly fresh. Sweet, dark, and complex as wildflower honey.”—Hannah Whitten, New York Times bestselling author of For the Wolf

"A deliciously dark fairy tale filled with bone-chilling horror and breathtaking romance that will keep you turning the pages long into the night."—Kara Thomas, author of The Cheerleaders and That Weekend

“As dark and romantic as it haunting, Small Favors is an eerie fairytale that I couldn’t put down.”—Alexis Henderson, author of The Year of the Witching

Ellerie Downing is waiting for something to happen. Life in isolated Amity Falls, surrounded by an impenetrable forest, has a predictable sameness. Her days are filled with tending to her family's beehives, chasing after her sisters, and dreaming of bigger things while her twin, Samuel, is free to roam as he wishes.

Early town settlers fought off monstrous creatures in the woods, and whispers that the creatures still exist keep the Downings and their neighbors from venturing too far. When some townsfolk go missing on a trip to fetch supplies, a heavy unease settles over the Falls.

Strange activities begin to plague the town, and as the seasons change, it's clear that something is terribly wrong. The creatures are real, and they're offering to fulfill the residents' deepest desires, however grand, for just a small favor. These seemingly trifling demands, however, hide sinister intentions. Soon Ellerie finds herself in a race against time to stop Amity Falls, her family, and the boy she loves from going up in flames.
 

Reviewed by Quirky Cat on

4.5 of 5 stars

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Yes! Erin A. Craig (author of House of Salt and Sorrows) is back with another fantastical tale - SmallFavors. I knew right away that this latest world was going to thrill and chill me – much like its predecessor.

Ellerie Downing has spent her entire life in a town village called Amity Falls. It's an isolated town, with supply caravans taking days to get to and from. The isolation had once been a treasure, but now it appears to be fatal.

It all starts when one supply party goes missing. Then, tales of monsters crop up within the town and very alarmingly valid stories. With winter coming, the town can't afford to go without supplies. But they can't keep sacrificing people to the woods, either. Not for a journey they certainly won't survive.

"Enter not the forest deep. Beyond the bells, the dark fiends keep."

Guys, I think I'm in love. There is something so beautiful and enchanting about Erin A. Craig's writing. I first fell in love during House of Salt and Sorrows and fell once again here with Small Favors.

Small Favors felt like a darker remix of Little Red Riding Hood and Rumpelstiltskin. That sentence is evoking a lot in my head, but I'm worried that this is because I read the book. The Little Red Riding Hood comparison is more about the isolated location and vibes.

The slow-building of tension is just... chef's kiss! It's perfect and left me utterly unable to put the book down, even for a second. I had to see what was happening to Ellerie and her family. I was so worried that they wouldn't make the winter or that the monsters would come for them.

The truth of what was actually happening is so much darker, and I loved every minute of it. In that sense, this story feels very much like a fairytale in that it has an important lesson to teach the readers.

That lesson hits hard, and it hits home. I'm noticing a trend here with Craig's writing. She gets us attached to these characters and then puts them through hell and back to further force our emotions into these tiny little knots. And we thank her for it!

In case it wasn't obvious, I really enjoyed Small Favors, and I am seriously looking forward to seeing whatever world Erin A. Craig designs next, as I know I will be diving headfirst into it.

Check out more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 9 August, 2021: Finished reading
  • 9 August, 2021: Reviewed