Title: Burden Falls
Author: Kat Ellis
Pages: 304
Book Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | IndieBound | Indigo
Synopsis: Riverdale meets Stephen King in the terrifying new thriller from the author of Harrow Lake.
Content Warnings: strong elements of horror; in particular, there is some gore (relating to bloodand eyes), death of 2 parents, gaslighting , andseveral deaths/dead bodies on-page.
The town of Burden Falls drips with superstition, from rumors of its cursed waterfall to Dead-Eyed Sadie, the disturbing specter who haunts it. Ava Thorn grew up right beside the falls, and since a horrific accident killed her parents a year ago, she’s been plagued by nightmares in which Sadie comes calling—nightmares so chilling, Ava feels as if she’ll never wake up. But when someone close to Ava is brutally murdered and she’s the primary suspect, she begins to wonder if the stories might be more than legends—and if the ghost haunting her dreams might be terrifyingly real. Whatever secrets Burden Falls is hiding, there’s a killer on the loose . . . with a vendetta against the Thorns.
REVIEW
Burden Falls did not disappoint, and I read it in one sitting. Kat Ellis has a knack for creating uncanny atmospheres that draw you in and refuse to let you go. The small-town atmosphere, family history, and legacies make this a creepy book.
We’re following Ava who recently lost both of her parents in a vehicle accident. She is grieving, and to make matters worse, her Uncle Ty is forced to sell the family home, which has been in their family for centuries. The Millers, who have always despised the Thorns, purchased it from Ty. Madoc Miller was the one who collided with her parents’ automobile, killing them. So, Ava isn’t doing her best right now, dealing with so much, but then one of the Millers appears.
Kat Ellis has created a strong protagonist that is able to stand on her own. I usually read horror for adults, but I appreciate reading about powerful adolescent characters. The intricacies, the responses to circumstances. Ava is an example of such a character. Her precious has been through a lot of sorrow and suffering, yet she has remained a strong character. She made mistakes like any other person her age, but despite her age, she sought to correct them. She has a maturity far above her years. Her reactions to certain occurrences made me like her even more.
Then things start to get out of hand, and Ava is singled out as the prime suspect. What is the explanation for this? Everything begins on the anniversary of her parents’ deaths in a vehicle accident. Eva isn’t sure if she’s being watched or if she’s seeing things. The author handled extremely delicate subjects with grace and clarity. If you appreciate spooky young adult horror, add this to your TBR list right away.
Burden Falls is brimming with creativity. Intelligent and fast-paced. A brilliant and amazing novel. Thank you to TBRandBeyond for having me on this tour!
About the Author
Kat Ellis is the author of young adult novels Harrow Lake, Purge, Breaker, and Blackfin Sky, as well as a novella within the Three Strikes collection titled The Twins of Blackfin.
Kat studied English with Creative Writing at Manchester Metropolitan University, then spent several years working in local government communications and IT.
When she is not writing, Kat can usually be found exploring ruins and cemeteries with her camera. She is an active blogger, instagrammer and tweeter, and is represented by Molly Ker Hawn at The Bent Agency.
Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Facebook
e and social media links
Tour Schedule
August 23rd
SubtleBookish – Interview & Top 5 Reasons to Read Burden Falls
Rajiv’s Reviews – Review
Mallory Books – Review, Journal Spread & Favourite Quotes
August 24th
Book-Keeping – Review
Lit Lemon Books – Review & Favourite Quotes
August 25th
Stuck in Fiction – Promo Post
Pages & Plots – Review
lousbookstuff – Review & Favourite Quotes
August 26th
Kait Plus Books – Interview
The Book Dutchesses -Review
Robinlea BookBird – Review, Playlist & Favourite Quotes
HerBookishObsession – Review & Mood Board
August 27th
Book Lover’s Book Reviews – Review
Booker T’s Farm – 15 Reactions While Reading Burden Falls
I Dream in Books – Review & Fanart
August 28th
Nine Bookish Lives – Review
Rae’s Reading Lounge – Review & Favourite Quote
Laura’s Bookish Corner – Review
August 29th
Stuck in the Stacks – Interview
Confessions of a YA Reader – Review
Avni Reads – Review
HerBookishObsession 
Great review Haadiya! I really enjoyed this book as well… it was totally creepy and had such strong supernatural vibes! x
LikeLiked by 2 people