This book was extremely hard for me to get into. The writing style just wasn't for me and I struggled to connect with the characters. At over 50% into the story I didn't see this coming out as a better experience for me so I decided to put it down. It is not an objectively bad book, just not one that I felt I would enjoy.

This sounded like an enticing fairytale, but the characters just didn't connect with me. I may try again in future, but sadly it was a DNF. Apologies.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Flame Tree Press in exchange for an honest review.

I ended up DNFing this book at 28%, which I hate to do. I think maybe I just didn't read this at the right time, or that my expectations made it so I couldn't enjoy the book for what it really is. I don't typically read fantasy or period pieces, and this book is both those things. I struggled a lot with the language and honestly thought that I was reading about teenagers/young adults -- I had to keep reminding myself that the main character, Anna, is actually a grown woman running from a traumatic past. The vanishing town was a neat idea, but overall I didn't feel drawn to the story.

First of all the cover is lovely! That's what attracted me to this book. And I love creepy stories which are set in forests and this book delivered! But I felt like the middle was a bit slow paced, and characters could be more . overall I enjoyed the atmosphere and eeriness. thanks for the copy on net gallery

Whisperwood is a truly captivating read that has you hanging on every word unable to turn the pages fast enough. I absolutely loved this book and thought it was beautifully creepy and it made my spooky little heart happy.

A very dark fantasy, a novel where a young girl go exploring the unknown and may she will discover that monsters exists and not everything is what it seems
Well plotted, creepy and entertaining.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I've put off this review a bit so I can try to get a grasp on my feelings about this book. I'm still not sure I'm there. It took me 18 days to finish this, and I'm not sure if that was because of the book, or me and how tired I've been lately.

It dragged for me in the beginning, and I wasn't really clear on what was going on. Once it got going though, it definitely caught my interest a bit more. I loved the characters, the author did an excellent job of making them well rounded and making me, as a reader, care about them. Perdy was probably my favorite, she was sweet, but tough, and her story reminded me of myself when I was young a little.

Overall, this is a good dark fantasy, and I look forward to seeing more from this author.

Fast-paced. Creepy. Enchanting.

And did you see that cover?! So pretty. 💖

I would classify Whisperwood as haunted-forest historical horror. In a sense, it is unlike any other horror books I've read, in terms of the time period and settings. Another positive note is the amount of strong and admirable women in this story.

I did find the middle part to drag a bit though, to be honest.

But all in all? Great fun, I'll keep an eye out for future books by Alex Woodroe.

<i>***I thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced reader copy of this book in return for an honest review*** </i>

Welp! It’s not even autumn, yet I am eating up horror books right now and enjoying myself.

<i>Whisperwood</i> was—I don’t know how to put it—weird? In a very good way actually.

The main character, Anna, didn’t quite develop over the plot-line but the story was well-driven and well-written overall. Whisperwood is a town of secrets, and secrets lead to ill fates. There was this subtle gothicness to the atmosphere that I really liked, blending in folklore and fairy tales.

The book definitely succeeded in the horror and thriller part. Adding to that, the fantasy and world-building was amazing! I also loved the supernatural concept <3

It was fun to read this and, I’ll say this again, support + read small authors! Hoping to read more of Alex Woodroe soon again!

Rounding up, it’s 3.75.
★ ★ ★ ★/5
Would recommend it to anyone who wants to dip into creepy vibes ;)

⊹ . ⋆ ☽ ⋆ . ➶

Anna is on the run from a dark and dangerous past, so desperate she is willing to disappear into any backwaters part of the world just to find a place where no one has ever heard of her husband, a fanatical witch hunter. Although initially mistrusted, she finds herself drawn into a small community that is fighting an alternative world full of dark and often dangerous creatures. The setting is remarkably intriguing but I struggled a bit with the pace of the revealing. I enjoyed the tidal scenes where everyone would vanish and the world would seem almost like a twisted Alice in wonderland full of vicious and alien beings but the dialogue was often frustrating and drawn out, like the rules about not discussing things that were misunderstood. Overall, I think this is a really good book but not something that I would read again because of the small towns folk hush hush conversations that seemed too in depth yet frustratingly uninformative.

If you like dark fantasy, folk horror, folk magic and creepy forests, you might like:

🌲 Whisperwood by Alex Woodroe 🌲

This dark fantasy, folk horror novel inspired by Romanian folklore follows Anna, a young woman who flees from her brutal past and finds herself in the eerie, isolated town of Whisperwood. Anna soon notices everything works differently here, and dark creatures known as Whispers roam in the woods around the town…

🍄

Whisperwood is a dark, atmospheric novel that blends fantasy with folk horror and still leaves room for humour. For me personally, the folk horror elements were the strongest aspect of the book and captivated me the most. The often terrifying creatures from Romanian folklore - here called Whispers - were brought to life intricately, making me very horrified and very fascinated at the same time. I was constantly anticipating the next scene about the Whispers and loved gradually learning more about the mysterious world they came from. Together with the detailed descriptions of the creepy town, the dark forest and the magical realm of the Whispers, I was truly transported to this very unique world Woodroe has crafted.

The characters and their motivations were a bit less fleshed out than some other elements of the story, which made it at times difficult for me to distinguish them from each other and really feel with them. I think the cast was just a bit too large for a novel of around 300 pages. While we got to know the protagonist a bit better, I would have loved to see her healing journey more in depth and discover more about her deeper thoughts and feelings.

This wasn't my favourite story, but I loved the folklore elements, the atmosphere and the setting, and I want to try some of Woodroe's other (folk horror) works in the future. I'm very glad I was introduced to Romanian folklore and will definitely do some further reading on the fascinating creatures and figures - like the Dochia, pricolici, iele and vâlve - mentioned in Whisperwood!

My rating: ⭐⭐⭐💫

Thank you to NetGalley and Flame Tree Press for the eARC.

This is a tricky one to review as I've got mixed feelings. Whisperwood certainly has the eerie atmosphere, mysterious characters and unusual horrors I enjoy
I also enjoyed how whimsical it was, with elements of superstition and folklore however at times it just felt a little flat. I'm sure there will be lots of you that will enjoy this, so please check out the blurb.

A book that was written very well. I had a hard time following what was going on. I am sure that the author was trying to convey how confusing it was for the townspeople dealing with the Whispers. There was a lot of death and the use of the occult. I think that many people will find this enjoyable.

Whisperwood by Alex Woodroe is an impressive horror novel that will captivate fans of the genre. With its engrossing plot, well-developed characters, and atmospheric storytelling, it delivers a chilling experience that lingers long after the final page. If you're a horror enthusiast looking for a thrilling and spooky read, this book should be on your list. However, the author's writing style is engaging and evocative, successfully transporting readers into a nightmarish realm. The book's conclusion is both satisfying and unsettling, leaving room for interpretation and discussion, which is a sign of a well-crafted horror story.

Definitely 4 stars for the book. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with an opportunity to be a part of the blog tour.

"There were very clearly two kinds of whispers in Whisperwood. Wondering which was the more dangerous of the two was like wondering whether you’d rather die hanged or eaten by a bear."

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

There is a lot about Whisperwood that I find adoring. The author's way of writing is right up my alley. The atmosphere is beautifully set. The friendships are endearing. The world feels unique.

But there are some serious shortcomings that make those parts I adore hard to enjoy.

While the atmosphere is well-constructed, the setting is confusing. Whisperwood is obviously fictitious, I found myself constantly wondering about the rest of the world, which significantly slashes at the world-building for me. What time period is the story set in? Parts of the story pull one way and parts of it pull another. Is this meant to be set in a fictitious town in our world or is the world itself fictitious as a whole? I couldn't tell you for sure.

I also found the motivation and character-building a bit lacking. So those friendships that seem so endearing are hard to fully believe without the characters themselves being well-established.

Overall, a great debut. Just some critical aspects that should be worked on in future novels, which I am very much looking forward to!

"Dangerous things are often beautiful, and I was looking at something that was clearly both."

But not everything is peaceful in the isolated community. A vanishing town, a gruesome funeral rite, an emergency field surgery―these surprises and more test Anna's resolve.
Prevented from leaving the frontier settlement by folk magic she doesn’t understand, Anna lends helping hands everywhere she can but quickly finds that investigating the forest too closely could end up being the last thing she does.
My Review
Thanks to NetGalley, Anna at Random Things Book Tour and Flame Tress Press for the arc.

I didn't know what I was getting into with this book. It gives off a mystical type of vibe with a bit of a horror aspect, as well as the brother's grim. A bold fusion of dark fantasy, horror, and speculative fiction is Alex Woodroe. The world of Whisperwood is odd; it is home to visible and invisible otherworldly beasts, other realities that can change at any time, and bizarre magics. Anna, who is running from a tragic past, needs a place where she can hide and take refuge, and she finds it in Whisperwood because if the sun sets inside the city lines, you're stuck there forever. This novel was fantastic, I thought.

Whisperwood #NetGalley.

4 Stars!

I had never read anything by Alex Woodroe and had very little idea what to expect coming into Whisperwood, but the fact that it was a Flame Tree Press release was enough to pique my interest. With its cover that put me in mind of a dark fantasy, I was looking forward to discovering what surprises the novel held.



Anna was seeking an escape from her past. She had been imprisoned and tortured by someone she was once close to and her entire town had turned against her and accused her of witchcraft. When she heard of Whisperwood, a town that does not appear on any maps and exists on the border of human perception, it seemed like the perfect place for her. It seemed like a place she could disappear and remain hidden until she was ready to emerge into the world again. It seemed like it could be a utopia. Unfortunately for Anna, none of this was true.



She soon learns that she may have escaped the horrors of her past only to rush into the realm of a new set of nightmares. There are forces at work in Whisperwood, both the supernatural as well as the devious machinations of power-hungry men, that put her right in the path of a new set of dangers. Anna is soon trapped in Whisperwood and her only chance of ever making it out is to figure out the mysteries of the strange town so that she may protect it from the evils that besiege it. As soon as things begin to become clear, victory seems like it may be too much to hope for. Survival may be the best that can be achieved.



Whisperwood is a work of fantasy, but there it is a lot more than a simple fantasy novel. Woodroe delves deep into the dark side of fantasy and is more concerned with the nightmares that live in the darkness than the beings of light and magic. There is magic here, for sure, but it is mostly of a dark and gritty nature. This is a heavy novel that dwells in the dark and almost at times feels as if it is journey into Anna’s mind more than a tale of swords and sorcery. There are monsters here and, well, very little else. Every character in the novel is a anti-hero at best and a villain at worst, with the reader left to guess at their true intentions. Nothing is simple nor is anything as it seems. It is left up to the reader to discern what is really going on and the true meaning can be difficult to understand. The only certainty is that, much like the real world, the realm of Whisperwood is a dark and dangerous place.



If horror fantasy is not a genre yet, Woodroe goes a long way toward creating it in Whisperwood. This novel is downright brutal at times and the thrills and action bring more cringes than cheers. It is not a fantasy in the traditional sense of the genre. This is a very, very dark novel that is much closer to horror than fantasy. That is not a criticism but just a statement of fact. Woodroe works in the darkness and this makes the story stronger. Fans of traditional fantasy may not find this novel as enjoyable as fans of horror. The story is just that dark and, at times, difficult to read. There were some chapters that were a bit shocking even to me as I felt a small churning in my stomach. Whisperwood is not for the faint of heart. It is not a flight of fancy but a journey into the heart of darkness that resides in the core of the world. Readers need to be prepared to be shocked and challenged along the way, but the novel is ultimately an entertaining and rewarding read. I do not know what Woodroe has in store for us in the future, but I cannot wait to find out. Highly recommended.



I would like to thank Flame Tree Press and NetGalley for this review copy. Whisperwood is available today.

Although I really liked Anna and all the characters, I found it a little bit slow and confusing, and I struggled to keep up with what was happening. As always, just because this book wasn't for me doesn't mean you shouldn't check it out!

Creepy eerie story thats perfect for anyone looking for a little chill down their spine!

Dark fantasy period piece with a touch of horror, the author painted the perfect town setting setting for all those who love darks woods and autumn vibes. Perfect fall read!

I would have loved to see a little more depth from the main character surrounding her journey but all in all a good read!

Just finished Whisperwoods by Alex Woodroe and here are my musings.

Whisperwoods is a place with a reputation. People go in and don’t come back out. Anna is running away and Whisperwoods seems like a great place to get lost in. A town on no map… It seems like the perfect place to hide from her witch hunting abusive ex.

It soon becomes clear that this sleepy town is much more than meets the eye. Witnessing some bizarre and supernatural occurrences has Anna wishing she had never come but curiosity gets the better of her. Not like she can leave…. Something is preventing anyone from leaving.

This was a really weird book, good weird but still very weird! The whole forest and what is in it had me hooked from the get go. I always felt that underlying chill down my spine and I needed to know more about what was happening.

What didn’t I like? I felt the story got a little muddled in places and I felt a little lost sometimes. Lots going on and it felt a little rushed in places but I loved all the descriptions and explanations that were given. The book was well thought out and planned which shows in the intricate details woven into the storyline.

I could have done with a bit more character development but all in all I was really pleased with this book!

4 stars! Thank you @netgalley and @flametreepress for my gifted copy