ReAwakening is the second book in Terrell Chafin’s Mother’s Little Helpers fantasy and horror series. Just rescued from the kidnapping by demon reincarnate Emile Navarro, teenage Patty McNealy starts hearing strange voices in her head. One intimidating voice, in particular, worries her the most. As if it were not enough, the standoff with Navarro damaged the hind legs of Bruno, her dog, who also started to talk, and the lovely elderly couple of nearby neighbors has disappeared. After a bad experience at a classmate’s party Ouija séance, Patty confides in her judo teacher about the strange voices. Before long, brave Patty has a rescue team of neighbors and ghosts determined to free her from the voice that possesses her. And they have a plan. But will they succeed?

Reading ReAwakening by Terrell Chafin, I felt a rare surge of emotions that the novel’s blend of realism and fantasy triggered. I appreciated how the story addressed important social issues, such as school bullying, substance addiction, and the hardships and unthought-of benefits of being homeless. For me, as a dog-lover, the talking Maltese Bruno was a show-stealer and, together with rival dog Fatty, the utmost worry! A fan of paranormal fiction, I enjoyed the creepy Ouija seances, exorcism, and ghosts. On a deeper level, Pattie’s relationship with her father and Kati felt heartwarming, and I particularly liked how the characters of Rage, Alicia, Tim, and Pattie evolved. This novel and the prequel will appeal to young adults and older fantasy and horror fans open-minded about graphic supernatural violence involving human and animal remains, demons, and golems.

Reawakening by Terrell Chafin is the second book in the Mother's Little Helpers series, and it introduces the fungal nightmare in which the sentient entity “Mother” and her undead servant, Emile Navarro, resurface. Ten-year-old Pippi thought she was already safe, but the thing hasn’t been defeated. Now it whispers in her mind, and she knows it is Navarro, disembodied but still malevolent. He is reconstructing himself from coyote remains, scavenged bones, and fungal tendrils buried deep in the ground. Pippi is the target, and he intends to use her to expand his bone collection. Rage, Ken, Tim, and martial artist Kati arm themselves with gasoline, gardening tools, and hallucinogenics so they can descend into the cave and destroy Navarro’s infection before he rises again. In the showdown, will Pippi become her own hero or surrender to the fictional character she is made to believe she is?

Terrell Chafin's horror story gave me the chills, and the absurdist humor makes the story as unsettling as it is funny. The author uses biological grotesquerie, like the talking dogs Daisy and Bruno fused with fungal intelligence, Navarro’s six-legged corpse, and the mass of Mother that consumes everything in her path, to deepen the horror. The character work is spectacular, and I enjoyed following Pippi, who evolves from a child cosplaying Pippi Longstocking to a strong survivor standing her ground. The author cleverly infuses cosmic dread into physical geography. The places have a life of their own. The uncertainty grows from page to page. Reawakening mesmerized me with the sharp prose and the unflinching embrace of the weird, from zombie rats to Ouija boards. It delivers a fantastic sequel.

Terrell Chafin’s ReAwakening: Mother's Little Helpers is the second book in this series. Pippi’s rescue has done nothing to free her from the nightmare consuming her mind. Pippi struggles with invasive thoughts and sinister whispers. These thoughts were from Emile Navarro and a mysterious girl. Navarro, a murderer, refuses to stay dead. He survives through a fungal network spreading beneath the neighborhood. Bruno, Pippi’s beloved dog, returns after disappearing for days. Bruno is infected with the same terrifying fungus. Pippi was forced to drink weed killer in a desperate attempt to destroy the infection within her body. Pippi wants to communicate with Navarro through a Kitty Ouija board she brought. The small group of survivors uncovers a horrifying truth. There is more to be done before everything can go back to normal.

ReAwakening by Terell Chafin was an unusual read. The events had me glued to my seat, and I had a hard time putting the book down. The action started right at the beginning and never stopped. I could not turn the pages fast enough to find out what would happen next. I had empathy with Pippi. She tried to stay true to herself and not let the monster inside her win. Navarro was pure evil, and I could literally feel his dark and evil presence. Bruno’s character lightened the dark mood and brought some humor to the plot. The writing style was vivid and descriptive. Some of the events felt overwhelming due to the horror. The story was brilliantly written and had the right mood for this genre. I still find myself thinking about the book from time to time.

ReAwakening is the second book in the Mother's Little Helpers series by Terrell Chafin. Pippi is a nine-year-old girl haunted by the spirit of a murderer named Emile Navarro. She barely survived the dead killer's devious plans after the all-encompassing mass of mushrooms named Mother revived his spirit. Now, her neighbor, Rage, and his friends, Alice and Tim, are the only ones who can help her fend off Navarro. Navarro's first victim, Lisa, hasn't yet passed on to the other realm either. Meanwhile, Pippi's father, Alan, takes the family dog, Bruno, to the vet, as he has inexplicably started to talk. Mother finds a way to put Navarro's spirit into an abomination of a body made of coyote and dog parts. Can Rage and his friends destroy Mother and rescue Pippi?

A zombie horror thriller laced with dark humor and drama, ReAwakening is a fantastic sequel for the fans of the series. This is one of the best horror novels I've read all year. The characters are lively and have unique eccentricities that entertain in different ways. Despite their irreverent personalities, I couldn't help but find them likeable and easy to root for. Some of the funniest scenes in the book were the ones involving Rage, Alice, and Tim together. I also enjoyed Bruno's antics and Alan's and Pippi's reactions. Terrell Chafin keeps the plot moving smoothly while placing surprising twists and turns along the way to keep you constantly on the edge of your seat. The stakes are high, especially in the last few chapters that are absolutely action-packed. If you're a fan of the zombie horror genre, this novel will sate your appetite.