About the book, Hummingbird Moonrise 

• Paranormal Thriller / Fantasy / Magical Realism / Witch-Lit
• Publisher: Black Rose Writing
• Pages: 304
• Publication Date: October 9, 2025
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The past two years have taken their toll on Arista Kelly. Once an eternal optimist, now she has faced the darkness and must recalibrate what true happiness means for her. Meanwhile, Shane, her ex-boyfriend, is pulling all the right moves to help keep her sane from her heightening paranoia. But it doesn’t help that Iris, her Great Aunt Bethie’s friend, has disappeared.

Still, one additional trial remains. While searching for Iris, Bethie and Arista stumble upon a grand revelation in the eccentric woman’s home. With the discovery, they realize their run of chaos and loss of kin may have roots in a curse that dates back to the 1940s-the time when their family patriarch first built Arista’s cottage in the redwoods and crafted his insightful Ouija table.

This pursuit will not follow their accustomed recipe of adrenalized action, but the high stakes remain. Will the mysterious slow burn of unfolding events finally level Arista’s entire world or be fully extinguished, once and for all?

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About the author, Sherri L. Dodd

Sherri L. Dodd was raised in southeast Texas. Walking barefoot most days and catching crawdads as they swam the creek beds, she had a love for all things free and natural. Her childhood ran rampant with talk of ghosts, demons, and backcountry folklore. This inspired her first story for sale, about a poisonous flower that shot toxins onto children as they smelled it. Her classmate bought it for all the change in his pocket. Shortly thereafter, her mother packed the two of them up and headed to the central coast of California. Since that time, she has worked corporate, married, raised two sons, and now writes full-time creating atmospheric paranormal fiction. Her debut novel – Murder Under Redwood Moon – shot straight to #1 on Amazon, holding firm as a Best Seller in the Occult Supernatural genre.

Connect with Sherri:

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My Thoughts

There’s something especially satisfying about a trilogy that sticks the landing, and Hummingbird Moonrise does just that. It’s the third and final book in Sherri L. Dodd’s Murder, Tea & Crystals series, but even as a standalone, it welcomes new readers with open arms. I didn’t read the first two entries before diving in, yet I never felt lost—only intrigued by the rich world Dodd has built. Those who’ve been with the series from the start will no doubt find an even deeper resonance in the character arcs and the closing of long-simmering threads.

At the heart of the story is Arista, a heroine whose quiet uncertainty gives way to real strength as the story unfolds. Her journey—balancing intuition, power, and compassion—anchors the book’s supernatural and emotional currents. Auntie, meanwhile, steals scenes with her perfect blend of humor, wisdom, and grit. The supporting cast feels lived-in and purposeful: from longtime friends to surprise visitors, each one contributes to the story’s exploration of identity, protection, and legacy. The antagonist, unsettling but never cartoonish, casts just the right amount of shadow over the narrative, keeping readers on edge without tipping into melodrama.

Dodd’s writing fuses folklore, witchcraft, and family bonds into a spellbinding blend of mystery and heart. The prose is lyrical without being heavy-handed, the dialogue sparkles with warmth and wit—especially between Arista and Auntie—and the pacing is deliberate but immersive. Tension builds naturally as secrets surface and choices tighten around the characters like a storm.

If “cozy thriller” sounds like a contradiction, Dodd proves it’s not. Between the tea rituals, the flicker of romance, and the bursts of danger—a murder in the first chapter, eerie moments of being followed—the book maintains both comfort and suspense. It’s a rare balance that works beautifully. Vivid details, such as the description of a nine-tiered wooden carving of Dante’s Inferno, add atmosphere and texture, grounding the story in a world that feels both mystical and tangible.

Perspective shifts between Arista, Iris, and others give the narrative a layered depth, offering closure to arcs left unresolved in the earlier books—particularly the fates of Iris, Fergus, and Soonsil. These interwoven threads come together seamlessly, making Hummingbird Moonrise both a satisfying conclusion and an engaging read in its own right.

Goes well with: a pot of smoky lapsang souchong tea, buttered shortbread, and the sound of rain against old windows.

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