Perfectly atmospheric and dark, this was fantasy unlike anything else I’ve read, and I really enjoyed it.

Whisperwood By Alex Woodroe is an ambitious blend of dark fantasy, horror, and speculative fiction. The world of Whisperwood is strange, filled with otherworldly monsters, both seen and unseen, alternate realities that can shift on a dime, and weird magicks.
Anna is fleeing a terrible past and desperately needs a place to hide, a place where she can seek shelter and she finds this in Whisperwood for if the sun goes down while you're inside the city limits, you can never leave.
i really enjoyed this book. The characters were quite engaging and this ever-so-odd world was fleshed out in such a delightful way. The descriptions were vivid and rich. The stained glass windows especially lingered in my mind. A wonderful reading experience.
So to sum up:
Highly recommended.
5 stars out of 5.

Thank you Netgalley and the author for the opportunity to read this book!

I found it really hard to get into this book and I thought about dropping it a few times.
The first pages were AMAZING but then I got to 15% and I was not invested in the story and didn't find Anna's storytelling interesting or passionate enough to care. I'm very happy I kept going though, because this was very creepy and dark and just what I hoped it would be. The horror elements were good, and the world-building is great, Whisperwood was a very interesting place from the first few words, but I couldn't understand why Anna wanted to fit in that place when everyone is so unfriendly.

The thing I loved the most about the book was the descriptions of creatures. At first, it felt a little boring a dense but once I got into the story it was just amazing to read. Once I finished the book I fell down a rabbit hole of stories. The thing I liked the least was the amount of dialogue. Learning everything about the characters and the world through dialogue got annoying very fast and maybe that's a me thing and other people don't find it that way, but it made it very hard to keep going.

I was surprised when I saw the book is only a bit more than 300 pages long because it felt much much longer than that. The scary parts are actually scary and I was very happy about that, but in the first 75% of the book there aren't many of those. The last 25% though, that was VERY good and I loved it. A great ending.

This is a very good debut novel by a writer with a lot of potential, and I'm really excited about what comes next for Alex Woodroe.

I was provided a digital ARC of Whisperwood by Alex Woodroe in exchange for my honest review.

Whisperwood is about Anna, a mysterious woman running away from her past and toward the supernatural. She decides to go to Whisperwood, a town that nobody ever comes back from and is surrounded by rumors and superstition. Once Anna arrives, she finds a town embroiled in secrecy, and locked in a secret war with the fantastical Unspoken.

The actual plot of this is super interesting. The idea of this mysterious town and its inhabitants being isolated from the world feels very Twilight Zone. The creatures also seem to be very based in fae mythology (i.e, can’t pass through salt) which always fills me with a bit of nostalgia from my YA fae fantasy days.

There are, however, a few things that prevented me from fully enjoying myself— as well as a few things readers should just be aware of before diving in:

Time Period: I don’t know why, but I when I read the description for the book, I wasn’t expecting it to take place historically. I guess maybe the “witch hunter ex” mentioned in the original description could have clued me in (think Salem witch trials). That being said, the description didn’t really feel like something written for a historical novel. The fact that it takes place historically isn’t a bad thing at all— but if you’re going into this expecting something more contemporary, it can be a little jarring. So, it’s just something to be aware of.

Even after I figured out this was intended to take place in the past, I still had trouble grounding it in a specific time period. A lot of it did give Salem Witch Trial vibes— so 1600s— but then the main character makes reference to a war where she was a field nurse. The question then becomes, which war? Are we talking Revolutionary War? But if that’s the case, that puts us past my original guess of 1600s. In general, there just weren’t a lot of clues for me to go off of in determining when this was supposed to take place, which I think would have contextualized some things more.

Relationships: Throughout the novel, some of the main characters are put into romantic relationships— or almost-relationships— with one another. I love a good romance, especially in fantasy literature. I think it adds something to the story, especially because fantasy books tend to be very world-based, and it can be easy to lose interiority. But in this specific case, I think the relationships needed to be fleshed out a little more. We never really see the characters in romantic situationships spend any time with each other, because they’re too busy trying to solve crisis after crisis. I think that the book would have benefited if things had been slowed down and drawn out a little bit more.

Characters: This is sort of a similar comment to the “relationships” section. We’re introduced to a lot of different characters very quickly, which makes it hard to get attached to them or fully understand their importance to the story before they’re gone. For example, at the very beginning of the book, we’re introduced to a reverend. It seems like he’s going to be important for the main character’s journey and growth— but then he dies soon after. His actions end up being really important later though, and it’s hard for the reader to care when we never got a feel for his character.

Fantastical Creatures/Magic System: I’m a really big fantasy reader, so world building is really important to me. I freely admit that I’m probably a little picky about stuff like this, and you should take what I say with a grain of salt. However, I had a hard time following some of the more fantastical elements of the novel.

As I said, there was a fae-fantasy element to it. But there were also a lot of different kinds of Unspoken, with different purposes and characteristics that don’t feel fully explained. Same with the terminology: the Unspoken are supposed to only be able to enter town during a “Tide.” But what brings on the Tides? What even are they exactly?

Within the town, people have different jobs to defend themselves from the Unspoken, as well. There are Warders and Walkers, for instance. Their basic purpose is communicated clearly, but there is some confusion as to how they do it. Additionally, there are questions as to what their standing is in town. It seems like early in the book they’re trying to ignore the problem all together— and therefore, they aren’t involved with the Walkers and Warders either— but then a switch is flipped and it seems like the Unspoken is all they talk about.

Overall: All that having been said, the author’s writing style is pleasant. It’s easy to read, easy to get drawn in. The plot, as I said, is intriguing. There is also a decent amount of moral complexity— it’s not just good vs. evil. If you’re looking for a good time, this novel works.

Thanks to Netgalley and Flame Tree Press for giving me a chance to review this title early!

Lately, I've very much admired Flame Tree Press's vision of bringing bold ideas to the world of speculative fiction, and The Whisperwood continues this trend with a fascinating journey into the darkest parts of the world, both supernatural and all too real, as we follow a woman in exile as she tries to make a new life in a mysterious town, only to find there are things beyond her imagination hiding just beyond the treeline. The world-building here is first rate, and for its kind of novel very original, earning it almost full marks, but the way this information is dispersed leaves much to be desired. One wishes the novel had held back on a bit of its mystery for longer, as it feels like most of the book's secrets are on full display by midway through the tale, with little left to keep one hooked in the final stages. Sure, the enemy is fascinating enough, and there's excellent discussion to be had over on which side the true enemy really lies, but on the whole the pacing left a bit of a sour note on what was otherwise a very fine adventure.

Woodroe's skill at creating unique worlds is fascinating, and I very much look forward to their next venture, as Whipserwood was bursting with good ideas that with slightly better finishing could have been extraordinary. As it is, Whisperwood is still well worth a read, especially if you're a fan of darkly whimsical fantasy.

This reminded me of The Witcher but a milder version. I thought that the writer did a fantastic job of creating this eerie, other worldly landscape which doesn’t take away from the plot and I found this perfect for me as i’m not a fan of massively descriptive world building. The scene unfolded as the plot unfolded which was fab as I felt I was discovering the world of Whispers along with Anna. The elements of humanity even in the creatures of the Unspoken was a really big draw for me. That just because they are creatures of a dark world doesn’t mean they don’t want to live in peace, or love and have friendships. That there were good Whispers and good people as much as there were evil Whispers and evil people. It’s a theme I really did enjoy as it developed through the novel. I was surprised at the end as I didn’t think it was going to go the way it did and was actually happy that the novel reached the conclusion it did. I’m not massive on horror or this type of genre and so I felt this was a great way of me dipping my toe in without getting too freaked out!

This was an entertaining whimsical journey down a rabbit hole with specs of dark folklore and fantasy combine to create this curious story of a girl named Anna who seeks out a town called Whisperwood which is like no other. Once there she finds herself smack in the middle between the humans and the whispers. I loved the imaginative building of worlds, the hint of witchery and magic, interesting new creatures, and the characters’ hearts. This was a dark fantasy like no other that I’ve read. I also found the writing to be smart and humorous at times which made it a fun read. I can really see this translating to a silver screen really well!

Unfortunately had to Dnf. I tried a few times but I ended up just putting my kindle away which was a shame because I was drawn into it by its description.

I have still given it 2.5 stars (rounded up to 3) as I do hate giving lower stars especially when it's more due to me not enjoying the writing style.

Thank you for the ARC.

Hauntingly Disturbing

I loved it! Whisperwood is a well-written and original fantasy/horror story. I've never read The Witcher, but I've seen the TV series and it seems misleading to compare it to that. Not that lack of Henry Cavill reduced my enjoyment a bit. It's definitely not a sanitized happily-ever-after story in any Disney fairy tale sense, but I could definitely see the comparison to Grimm's fairy tales.

The author has a great imagination and the skills to bring this world to life. I had the sense that there was something deeply wrong from the very beginning and the suspense kept ratcheting up to a white-knuckle conclusion.

I was delighted to discover that the main character is female. I liked her and several other characters very much. The conditions that the village lived under were terrifying, and not only because of creatures, forces, and unnatural events. Many of the villagers themselves seemed to be as big of a threat as any unknown monster.

Thank you very much to Alex Woodroe, Flame Tree Press, and NetGalley for a free advance readers copy of the book. It's not out of any sense of obligation to them that I recommend it highly. I suspect that I'm going to have it in the back of my mind every time I go outside in the dark by myself!

I really did not know what I was getting into when I picked up an ARC of Whisperwood by Alex Woodroe.

Is fantasy horror a thing? If so, this is it. I came in looking for a magical forrest full of lore and left with that but also a lot of gore.

Whisperwood is an incredibly unique concept with unique creatures. The town itself gave me major "The Village" vibes. The writing was very descriptive and I felt like I was walking the streets of the town. (I didn't love the descriptiveness as much when it was the gruesome stuff... yuck.)

Where the book lost points for me was the main character. She had this trauma that wasn't really fully fleshed out and I feel like she never developed much or overcame that. She was still compelling enough to make me keep reading. The other characters are so hard to trust or love, but it made sense in a way.

I'm not sure I loved the ending. Too neat of a little bow after the chaos of the book.

Overall, I couldn't put it down because I had to know what the next horror around the corner was and if the characters would make it through. Spoiler: Don't get too attached.

If you're more into horror, you might like this more than me.

Stars: 3/5

Busy Girls Rating: 3/5

Thank you to Flame Tree Press and NetGalley for the advanced copy. Whisperwood was published yesterday (7/11)!

The description said dark fantasy and this is just that! The story is dark, there is death and mystery- but there is also hope and humor.
The author did well at melding the horror of what was happening with the human urge to try find light and humor wherever you can!

I was extremely lost as to what was happening in the little town of Whisperwood much like our MC; the author did wonderfully at revealing the tidbits and enlightening the reader with the MC without losing my interest.

I found the descriptions to be easy to picture without overloading the story with unimportant details.

I have so many questions about the Unspoken and the Whispers and I’d love to see another book set in this world 😍

All in all I would highly suggest this book to anyone who like dark fantasy books!

WHISPERWOOD is one of the books where the lore will stick with me for a long time. I finished it hours ago and yet I'm still mulling things over my head and it's been awhile since I've read something that I know will set up shop for a bit. The folkloric creatures were altogether dangerous and fascinating, and the people equally so if not sometimes more monstrous just because they pretended they weren't. Bindings and rituals that pulled from existing sources but twisted into something refreshing. All of the characters were rich and had their motivations even if they weren't known until it was too late. Anna was known and unknown at the same time, as the main character, but there always felt like there was something under the surface of her that not even she knew. I think the only nitpick I have, and it's a small one, is that we don't learn what that thing was the came to her in her past, but that may be the point: that we can't always know everything. I greatly enjoyed reading and I can't wait to add this to my physical shelf.

This is a compelling dark fantasy-horror which blends folklore and fairy tale with the darkness inside human hearts – witch hunts, mob rule and the things we do to save ourselves when the monsters come for us.

Anna, the main character, is running from trauma in her past but finds herself in even more danger instead of the isolated village sanctuary she had hoped for. This leads to three main plot strands: the threat of an increasingly violent incursion of the paranormal into the everyday world of the story, involving some fascinatingly original worldbuilding of Whispers and Tides; the ‘real world’ violence of mob mentality and witch hunts and the impact of an outsider in a closed community at a time of turmoil (think The Wicker Man or Midsommar folk-horror); and the flashbacks to Anna’s past and the mystery of what led her to her current situation.

These threads weave in and out of each other, forming a complex and immersive story. There were a few moments when I found myself a little confused, as the author doesn’t lead the reader through the story answering every question but instead allows us to wander through the woods and people with Anna, only understanding as far as she can see. Which I didn’t find a problem, as I found Anna a very engaging main character, and loved seeing the bonds she made with different individuals and her relatable struggle to hold onto her morality and hope in the face of death, violence and betrayal.

There are some shocking and gory moments peppered throughout the action, including amputations and eviscerations, so this isn’t a book for the squeamish… like the old, classic fairy tales it is ‘red in tooth and claw’ and echoes the usual warnings about straying from the path, the shadows that haunt the night, and the dangers of wild animals and wild woodlands. But that is not to say any of the story is predictable – on the contrary, there are a couple of great twists that I didn’t see coming at all and thoroughly enjoyed.

Fans of dark fantasy and monster horror (the natural, the supernatural and the human kind) will enjoy this haunting foray into the Unknown and Unspoken as much as I did. By the end of the story, I really didn’t want to leave Anna or Whisperwood and I would definitely read more from this world and its characters, and from this author, in future.

An enchanting folk-horror/fantasy, WHISPERWOOD is a fresh, richly imaginative fable filled with flawed people and ominous creatures, but it holds empathy, humanity, and respect for them all. Alex Woodroe has conjured up a magical place brimming with Darkness & Light, but most of all, Hope.

A young woman, running from her traumatic past and tormentor finds herself in a strange village on the edge of even stranger, otherworldly woods.  The writing gives a very atmospheric feel to this clever, often gruesome story, and the descriptions of the town and woods with its occupants are wonderful.  But, for me, the human characters never really seemed fully defined, though I loved the bursts of snappy, often snarky narration and dialogue. A decent novel, all in all and I would certainly be interested to see what this author comes up with next.  3.5 stars

Anna is running from one night May I straight into another she hears about whisperwood from a vendor who tells her if she doesn’t leave before sundown she may never get to leave at all. People who go there are never seen again but Anna has been on the run for a while and is ready to settle Lynn. She goes to the local guesthouse that’s run by Miss Carson and it’s told to stay there she must sign a contract one agreeing to do favors while a guest there and two never ask questions about things you don’t understand. Wanting to stay she signs it. The next morning however when she wakes up she goes out to the town and sees it is abandon then she can’t find anyone around in while investigating at the end of town near the woods she hears laughter only to come face-to-face with a strange looking creature. This is just the beginning of her strange time in whisperwood from witches to those elusive strange creatures the horror has just begun. I couldn’t wait to read this book and I must say I was not disappointed I love a good horror story with good monsters which is 80 saying in this book delivered if you are a big fan of horror with magical realism occult and macabre tales the new definitely love this book I certainly did and highly recommend it. I want to think Flametree press and Net Galley for my free art copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

This is beautiful and creepy. I am obsessed. I really want to listen to this one too. It is perfect for an audiobook. There is a whole setting in this book that I think most people would love. Oh and the opening is perfect!

I am a huge fan!

Whisperwood is the debut novel from Alex Woodrow.

It tells the story of Anna, a woman who in a bid to outrun her traumatic past runs to the arse end of the arse end of anywhere civilised.

In a bid to find somewhere to belong, she travels to the forbidding village of Whisperwood. A village that holds dark secrets and is ruled by superstition.

As soon as she enters the village, she comes across the unwelcoming villagers. Electing to stay overnight, she finds herself haunted by the evil of her past. However, it soon becomes clear that she cannot leave. Trapped, she attempts to find her place in the village. Soon she begins to uncover the strange occurrences as inexplicable events lead her to find the truth of the Whispers that live in the dark forest that surrounds Whisperwood.

Whisperwood is a strange beast, it's kind of a mix of The Wicker Man, Annihilation and Grimm's fairytales.

In all honesty, I quite liked Whisperwood, but I did find it to be a mixed bag of a book. However, if asked I would find it hard to exactly put my finger on what stopped me from loving it.

As a writer, I think Alex Woodrow is really good. She brought to the table originality in spades. I loved the inclusion of Romanian folklore and the different types of creatures that inhabit the world. She brings them to life so well.

Throughout the book, Alex Woodrow peppers the book with some fantastic bits of prose, like this one when she is describing the essence of what the Whispers are

Whispers come and look for the angry bits of soul left in the body. They draw them out and make Pricolici. Whether moving or still, they are made of unfinished tasks. They alter the natural order of the world.”

The characters in the book are gnerally good especially Anna. However, I think it is the side characters of the story that, for me, hampered the tale that Alex Woodrow was weaving. I just felt there were too many of them and none really stood out against the tide, except for the most unlikeliest character, the matriarchal Mrs Crosman, who rules the village with a heavy dose of steel and vitriol.

However, that aside, I really liked the character of Anna. She's snarky, pragmatic and incredibly strong. In addition to that, despite what she has gone through, she has a willingness to trust, and you can see that she just wants to belong. Although, why she wants to belong in Whisperwood is a bit beyond me, they are certainly not the friendliest of bunches.

The book is strongest when the descriptions of the creatures come to the fore, especially when we enter the third act of the book. This is when Anna and a party of villagers enter the forest in order to find a list member of Whisperwood. For me, the book comes alive in this third act and that is when the magic of the story fizzes off the page. The forest around Whisperwood is alive and dangerous, and Alice Woodroe convincingly brings the weird and wonderful beings alive.

Whisperwood is a strong debut that makes me want to read more from Alex Woodroe, and I definitely cannot wait to see what she brings in the future, and I hope it revolves around the Romanian folklore which was captivating.

“I saw something otherworldly. I’ve been looking for answers ever since. Looking for proof that there’s anything more to this world than the eye can see.”
Anna just needs to escape her past life, get lost in a place she can never be found again. Whisperwood is that kind of town, once you spend the night, there is no leaving.
The setting is dark and beautiful with a mysterious old world feel. The setting really is a character unto itself. The story reminded me of The Neverending Story with the brutal darkness seeping into the light. It is the dappled sunlight flashing through the trees before being overcome by thunderheads from the storm.
The characters seem like they could be from Neil Gaiman or Tim Burton with their unique quirkiness.
This quote from the book sums it up best-
“Dangerous things are often beautiful, and I was looking at something that was clearly both.”

A wonderful read that keeps you up at night wanting to finish it. It was layered and beautiful and brutal all at the same time, and the characters were impossible not to love. There were several moments where I had to stop and ask WTF, and couldn't stop reading. It was a unique take on the 'the town is weird' & the 'the woods are haunted' tropes, and it was refreshing to read a story inspired by mythology that was something other than Greek.