LoveReading4Kids Says
LoveReading4Kids Says
October 2026 Book of the Month
This creepy tale of an isolated community plagued by twisted reflections and a sinister, cunning monster that hides amongst them, is a strong choice for young readers who enjoy genuinely scary stories that send shivers down the spine.
At less than 250 pages Lykewise packs a lot in and is impressively satisfying. The isolated, foggy fenland setting brilliantly adds to the ever-deepening creepy tension. This is a remote community that supports and cares for each other, so when villager turns on villager and their deepest, most violent secrets are revealed, escape feels near impossible.
The sinister Lykewise monster is so skilfully depicted that I found myself searching to see if such creatures already exist in folklore, certain that they must. An exact time period is never specified, which further adds to the timeless, folklore feel of the novel.
Deliciously dark with instances of stomach-churning grossness this a horror story not to miss. Perfect for fans of Jack Mackay, the Red Eye series and Stranger Things.
Reviewed by Amy McKayAmy is a knowledgeable, innovative and enthusiastic school librarian, living and working in Cumbria. Amy is a past UK School Librarian of the Year.
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About
Lykewise Synopsis
Don't look to closely into the mirror.
It may look back...
Dunn Caulkner is no stranger to scary stories. The village of Harrowmere is plagued by danger and the unexplained: foggy boglands, eerie wraithlights and the terrifying legend of Grasping Jack. So how could Dunn ever have known that the darkest threat of all would come from a looking glass?
No one questions the arrival of a travelling salesman practically giving away his mirrors. Nor do Dunn and his friends think there's any harm in toying with a mirror ritual said to reveal your true self. For what could be dangerous about a reflection? But then the attacks and disappearances begin, and Dunn starts to grasp how very wrong he was...
A fantastically chilling middle-grade novel about cursed mirrors, perfect for fans of Gloam and The Haunting of Aveline Jones!
About This Edition
| ISBN: |
9781782696209 |
| Publication date: |
24th September 2026 |
| Author: |
Darren Simpson |
| Publisher: |
Pushkin Children's Books |
| Format: |
Paperback |
| Pagination: |
256 pages |
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Press Reviews
Darren Simpson Press Reviews
'This is everything I could ask for from a middle-grade horror... Sophisticated, spooky, and smart.' - Jack Mackay, author of Gloam
'This eerie work of genius proves why Darren Simpson is the king of middle-grade horror!' - Elle McNicoll, author of A Kind of Spark
'Dripping with dread, Lykewise had me reminiscing about the old Hammer films I loved in my youth, and the occult tales of Dennis Wheatley. If you're in search of foggy, fen-bound frights, look no further' - Curtis Jobling, author of Wyrdwood
'Perfect for fans of the Aveline Jones series, Lykewise will leave you thinking twice before you look in the mirror' - Scope for Imagination
Author
About Darren Simpson
Darren Simpson is the critically acclaimed author of Scavengers, The Memory Thieves, Furthermoor and Thirst. His award-winning books have been translated into several languages and he's been nominated twice for the prestigious Carnegie Medal. He also once won a budgie at school.
Darren lives with his wife and sons in Nottingham and loves long walks with headphones, playing the drums and reading in bed on rainy Sunday mornings. After not quite making it as a drummer in a rock band, Darren turned to writing and discovered that it's a fun way not only to escape reality, but also to explore and confront it in unusual ways. He can usually be found lost in his headphones or eating cake mix with a spoon.
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