Reviewed by Lee Ashford for Readers' Favorite

Wendy Won’t Go by Amanda M. Lyons is a sad, haunting tale of a young mother and wife who died giving birth to Sara, but could not leave the earthly plane. Her death was unexpected, and unexpectedly horrendous and painful. Her husband, Billy, was devastated by Wendy’s death, but vowed to raise Sara to the best of his ability. Billy was a writer, working from his home, so he could tailor his work schedule to meet Sara’s needs. However, when Sara was 8 months old, a ghostly Wendy returned to savage the child unwittingly responsible for her death. With Wendy punching, scratching, and generally terrorizing Sara, no matter what Billy tried he could not fully protect his young daughter from the monstrous being her mother had become. After a visit from Child Protective Services, investigating reports that Sara was bruised and lacerated, Billy was forced to move away, or risk having Sara taken from him. The story continues until the day Billy finally agrees to leave Sara home alone for a short time. When he returns home, Sara’s bedroom had been demolished, and the girl is nowhere to be found. Would he find her? Was she even still alive? What about Wendy… was she responsible for taking Sara away?

Wendy Won’t Go is a short but potent story. The writing is very descriptive, enabling the reader to share the pain of all three main characters. This is not a happy tale. There really can be no “happily ever after” for any of the characters, but ultimately there comes a resolution that leaves them with the best of possible outcomes. They say time heals all wounds, but Billy and Sara may have a different point of view on that maxim. Wendy Won’t Go is worth reading, but I would recommend you have something light and uplifting to read immediately afterward. The sadness on which this entire tale is built is not the emotion you will want to take to bed with you.