This book sounded amazing! I was really excited to start reading it, but part of the way through, I was losing interest. Sadly, I'm not that much of a fan of where it was headed and unfortunately had to put it down as I was struggling to continue. It was an interesting premise, I would still recommend it to others.

First interesting and weird, then creepy and weird, and then veers to just plain boring and unsatisfying. A good start, but then the story placed all its bets on the wrong horse. ★½

I’m going to keep this short and to the point because no matter what I say it will NEVER convey how much I loved this book!

If you love creepy eerie towns that hold secrets this book is definitely for you! This book features a big twist that you will never see coming but will make you love the plot of the story even more.

This book keeps you on the edge of your seat from the very first page to the very last.The writing is beautifully full of tension and everything you could ever wish for!

I highly recommend picking up a copy of this book.

From the publisher:
What the Woods Keep is the stunning debut of Katya de Becerra, who combines mystery, science fiction, and dark fantasy in a twisty story that will keep you mesmerized right up to the final page.
On her eighteenth birthday, Hayden inherits her childhood home—on the condition that she uncover its dark secrets.
Hayden tried to put the past behind her, and it worked. She’s getting ready for college, living in a Brooklyn apartment, and hanging out with her best friend and roommate Del. But now it’s all catching up with her: her mother’s mysterious disappearance a decade before, her father’s outlandish theories about a lost supernatural race, and Hayden’s own dark dreams of strange symbols and rituals in the Colorado woods where she grew up.
As soon as Hayden arrives at her hometown, her friend Del in tow, it begins: Neighbors whisper secrets about Hayden’s mother; the boy next door is now all grown-up in a very distracting way; and Hayden feels the trees calling to her. And among them, deep in the woods, Hayden will discover something incredible—something that threatens reality itself.
My thoughts:
I did not want to read this book. This was another fantasy book where the teenager is protected or hidden by a guardian or remaining parent and does not know until they hit some "magic" age that they are different and that they have some sort of super power. Does this sound like Harry (Potter)? How about Mortal Instruments, Percy Jackson? What makes this different is this is a one and done compared to most of the other stories that pull in readers with a series.

One and done, though was not the problem. The problem was that I was not loving the cover. For some reason I kept seeing a face. Do you see it? I then realized that these are feathers, but they should be feathers from a white raven, so I had another problem. One more wondering/problem that really is not for just this book - is there something about virginity that holds "superpowers" tightly in check until they are forced to burst out? I have just been noticing this pattern but I don't have enough data yet. And the ending. I cannot give it away, but I wish I could have chipped in for a little more story line. Did I miss it? Where did her father go?

What I did like was the pacing of this book. This is a fast-paced action-packed book once it gets started. I found myself reading faster because everything starts imploding, literally. Perhaps that is why I did not know what happened to the father.

If readers want something shorter than a series, like the genre of fantasy, tween/YA, excitement, adrenaline. . .this is a great book for a long evening at home.

An advanced copy provided by Net Galley and the publisher for an honest review.

What the Woods Keep was certainly interesting. It's an urban fantasy with German Mythology at its heart. The story follows Hayden Holland who, after suffering a traumatic childhood, has finally managed to live some semblance of a normal life in NY, but when she receives a call from the family lawyer to return home, Hayden must confront the past.

I loved the suspense in this novel. I loved the mystery and the masterful world built. Hayden was a well-developed character who garnered sympathy and empathy from me, too.

What follows ends up being a mix of SF, dark horror fantasy, and a whole lot of mythos. While I liked the twist this gave to the story, at times it was too science heavy for a fantasy and had too much tension to truly horrify me.

Overall, I would recommend What the Woods Keep to friends who enjoy Science Fantasy or more of a SF mythos genre. I'm not sure this is well suited to those accustomed to traditional fantasy narratives.

What the Woods Keep is a story I am not used to reading. I read a lot of fantasy but not a lot of urban fantasy, especially ones that are heavy on German mythology. This was unexpected and surprising for me by but my interest was still piqued!

The story focuses on Hayden Holland who had gone through several traumatic events throughout her childhood. When she was just eight years old, her mother disappeared- that is not a spoiler; it’s technically the driving point of the story. She is now living a normal life in New York after her father made them move them following mother Ella’s disappearance. She lives in an apartment with her now best friend, Del. On her eighteenth birthday, she receives a call from her family’s lawyer which led her to return to her hometown Promise. Then the story starts from there.

The story is heavy with scientific explanations. You may not find this a bad thing and it certainly is not irrelevant since Hayden is studying science and she had grown up surrounded with science since her father is also a scientist. One thing I really enjoyed reading is the main protagonist- Hayden. She is a likeable character. She is very human- very real. As I’ve mentioned, she had gone through several traumatic life events during her childhood and she had to go through therapy basically her whole life. The only way she could cope was to immerse herself with all the natural ways she could explain all the otherworldly things that had happened in her life. She had definitely grown so much as a character throughout the story and I really liked that.

There is also a lot of mystery revolving around the story. The story is written in first point of view so as a reader, I got to unveil the mystery behind mother’s disappearance and her “legacy” she left with Hayden along with her.

If you are a fan of urban fantasy and stories with supernatural worlds and beings like Narnia, for example, you would definitely enjoy this too!

Final Rating: 3.5 Stars

Part horror, part science fiction, and all tension, WHAT THE WOODS KEEP by Katya de Becerra is a riveting read for fans of "Stranger Things," and "Twin Peaks."

Hayden has had a strange upbringing, to put it mildly. When she was very young, her mother disappeared into the woods by their Colorado estate, leaving only a scorched section of the earth and someone else's pinky finger. In the years that followed, Hayden's father not only pulled her out of school following a violent outbreak, but removed her from Colorado entirely, forcing her to give up her childhood and any memories of her beloved mother. But on her eighteenth birthday, all of that changes.

When Hayden inherits her mother's home, she also inherits a few conditions that she finish what her mother started and give blood to the clearing near where her mother disappeared. Along with her roommate, Hayden takes off to Colorado to discover what took her mother once and for all and what it might mean for her.

What follows is a combination of mythology, science fiction, horror and dark fantasy and I am sorry to say that the result did not quite work for me. It is clear that de Becerra is highly imaginative and a beautiful writer, but I fear that she attempted too many elements with WHAT THE WOODS KEEP. For the first half of the book I was absolutely riveted --- and deliciously terrified. But as more and more loose ends began to reveal themselves and the story gained more and more fantasy elements, the book became less scary and more silly.

I would love to see more from de Becerra --- her prose is gorgeous and her ability to immerse the reader in suspense is refreshing and exciting. However, I feel as though WHAT THE WOODS KEEP could have been much tighter in order to meet the standard set by de Becerra's pitch-perfect opening and moments of true horror.

I received a copy of this through a book Tour. I read part of it but just decided the book was not for me. I just did not get in to the style of the book but Katya was very nice and I still participated in the tour with promotions

I found this one to be pretty overwritten and I couldn't get past 50 pages. This just didn't work for me.

Don't get me wrong. I love science fiction. I love fantasy. I particularly love that sub-genre of dark urban fantasy that Holly Black and Neil Gaiman do so well. And maybe Holly Black and Neil Gaiman ruined me for urban fantasy because I did not enjoy "What the Woods Keep." The fusion of norse mythology and quantum physics-- done so well in the Thor film franchise-- felt corny and forced in Katya de Becerra's novel. While it doesn't have any overwhelmingly glaring flaws, it feels like it is missing the critical element that would help it rise above the masses of YA Adventure and Fantasy novels that inundate the shelves of Barnes and Noble every year. Give it a try if Niflheim is your thing, but prepare yourself for a perfectly mediocre work of prose.

4.5 stars.

de Becerra produced an unexpectedly stellar gem here, blending a gothic sense of atmosphere with an unique and impressive take on standard YA fantasy tropes.

I struggled initially with the Germanic myth angle, but de Becerra sold it well. I enjoyed the scientific vignettes at the start of each chapter too, and thought they functioned well as a way to tie the mythology with the scientific bent.

Obviously some of this is fantastical pseudoscience, but the author brought just enough real world physics into the story to make it feel plausible in the book's universe without making it feel fraudulent in ours.

I wish the author had resolved a bit more of the plot at the end of the novel, but I appreciated the indication that there will be a follow-up book.

In all, refreshingly unique, delightfully creepy, and a cut above most YA fantasy.

This book was a wild ride that kept a high level of suspense!

Thank you netgalley for providing this ARC for an unbiased review.

You may want to be lost in these woods. Okay, my corny jokes aside. I saw this book being raved by Karlita (our lovely tour organizer) on Twitter. Of course, the curious cat I am, I searched on what it is about. As per description from the blurb, it was alluring, trees calling in the MC to go into the deep woods.. umm, I signed up.

The atmosphere What the Woods Keep reflects is rich in all sort of creepy and eerie vibes. Completely in love with the world, it gave. I didn’t find a dull moment in it. I got vivid images of present and flashbacks all the way to its last page. I was clutching my Kindle waiting for something to happen in the real world as well. And that speaks volume, if that doesn’t get you, I don’t know what will.

It is plot driven the story began when Hayden turned eighteen and was contacted by their lawyer for her inheritance, something from her mother whom she lost at a young age in the Woods. And returns to this place brought along a friend and discovers that whatever happened to her mother goes deeper than just her being lost in those woods. Later then reveals what really the woods keep…

With what is happening in the present and a bit of flashback, the style is a yes from me. It is something that we all have seen before but I had to admit the way it was told and revealed bit by bit as grappling well.

Characters. *Exhales loudly* here’s the tea, I couldn’t trust any-frigging-one of them. My trust was completely tossed out of the window. A reader will be up and in for an agonizingly good experience with these characters. Everyone seems so sketchy even the MC seems to send me this unreliable vibe, made the assumption from her flashbacks. The character development was a leap yet so unnoticeable. *Monica Geller* “I know!”. If you know what I mean, we’ve read something like that at least once in our life, right?

Writing. Of, course all of these adorations is almost a reflection of the enslaving writing. What I adore most is the blending and layering of mystery, paranormal elements, sci-fi, mystery, and thrill of it all. The mixture of the enigmatic air is present, the scientific and medical jargons were clearly well researched, the thrill of what will happen? yes. All here!

The ending struck me abrupt. I understand that this may be a clear intent of the author to do, for the readers to want more and I surrender because I do want more. You succeeded Katya, I haven’t finished a book so fast in a while. I sat and finished this with just one bathroom break. Since then I had to hold it, my thoughts were spiraling that someone will be there waiting for me at the ungodly hour of the am.

If you’re a huge fan of mystery-paranormal read, I dare you to pick a this up and discover this world yourself.

I’m honestly not sure what I expected when I started What the Woods Keep but a contemporary sci-fi/Nordic/Germanic mythology mash-up was not it. . . and I’m totally okay with that!

Despite a slow start, this intriguing book captured my attention and made it nearly impossible to read late at night for fear of nightmares to come. The writing follows a pattern of internal monologues by the protagonist, Hayden, mixed with related “current” events, and sprinkled with accounts from her therapist, news articles, and other bits and bobs to round out the narrative. The overall effect read almost like a mystery novel where the reader has the pieces but has to solve the puzzle.

Unlike most fantasy-esque contemporaries, this took the unrealistic and made it real. Hayden likes science, logical answers, the ability to explain away the paranormal. Her theories permeate the book and set me at odds with believing the paranormal much like she did. And then the supernatural element came into play and I was pleasantly surprised to recognize the tale of the Nibelungs as one related to Norse mythology (plus the added symbolism of the ravens all but confirmed it for me early on). Science meets myth and I’m HOOKED.

But that wasn’t all. What the Woods Keep has that haunting vibe that makes you want to put it aside and devour it all at once. I wanted to stop reading late into the night but found I just couldn’t put it down. I needed to solve the mystery behind Hayden’s mother’s disappearance, Hayden’s unusual heritage, her father’s secret research, all of it. But like Hayden, I couldn’t see through the fog around her old hometown that came through the very writing. It was a heady reading experience, to say the least.

And I loved Hayden’s character. She’s had a strange upbringing. Her father was stripped of his title as a professor for following conspiracy theories and stories. Her mother disappeared, never to be found, in the woods of her old town. She’s had strange events happen all around her for years. I felt for her. She just wants to know what’s going on and I wanted to know with her. Plus I loved the snark she added to the page.

Every element of this book heightens the tension. Even when the rational became the fantastical, I was long gone under the spell. Somehow through it all, there’s a thread of horror and suspense lingering beneath the surface. This book is kind of messed up and I loved every second of it.

My only real issue after I got into the world? The ending. All this tension and suddenly the book. . .

Stops.

I thought I missed a chapter. I didn’t have the closure I needed to really wrap the book up. And as far as I know, it’s a standalone? I can certainly hope for a sequel or companion novel or even a short story to end things, but I wasn’t fully satisfied with this ending.

Overall, this book is haunting and atmospheric, blending science and fantasy so thoroughly you won’t know where one ends and the other begins. I’d recommend it to fans of Dawn Kurtagich’s And the Trees Crept In and Melissa Albert’s The Hazel Wood, those of you who like a touch of horror with your magic.

"There are terrible forces hiding in this town, in these woods, that we don't understand and that are dangerous."

This wonderfully dark atmospheric novel will keep you fixated on the world and Hayden's journey. What the Woods Keep is an eerie novel that will make you question the daily noises you hear and the things you see and quite possibly your own sanity. This book gives a new meaning to uncanny and the obscure. I was pleasantly hooked to this haunting tale.

What the Woods Keep bends mystery, paranormal, and fantasy. It does so in wonderful fashion, equally sufficing all genres in one book. There's also the sense of an unknown horror. I'm one of those people that loves the horror genre, along with all the genres listed above. I don't read a lot of horror, but when I do, I'm usually engrossed in the novel or bored because I know how everything will play out. What the Woods Keep was in no way boring or predictable, but rather an edgy new addition to the YA genre.

The book starts off with the reader meeting Hayden, the main protagonist, and learning surprising aspects about her life, the main one being that her mom died in a rather suspicious way. Hayden finds out on her eighteenth birthday that she has inherited her old house, a Manor in Promise, Colorado, based on her Mom's will. However, her Mom leaves her a set of cryptic conditions:

"My first condition is that Hayden goes to the Manor and looks for the gifts I left her. They'll call to her. She needs to listen with her blood.

"My second condition is that Hayden uses my gifts to destroy my darkest secret - my hidden treasure, my heaviest burden.

My third and final condition is that Hayden trusts no one where my treasure is concerned, especially the ravens."

Cryptic yet intriguing messages, all that immediately pique Hayden's (and the reader's) interest. From there, Hayden and her best friend, Del, take a trip to Promise, Colorado, hoping to find answers not just about her Mom, but also Hayden's upbringing and why her own Father wants her to never return to Promise (and also to see Shannon, an old -- and very good-looking -- childhood friend).

"It's springtime, but Promise seems frozen in an eternal fall, its spirit crushed by rain and wind. It's wet and miserable, and yet this place feels right to me. As if, despite it being inhospitable and damp and glum, it wants me here -- and I belong."

Hayden knows there is something unusual going on in her old hometown, but she can't quite pinpoint it. People stare at her as if they've seen a ghost. There's a research facility collecting blood NOT for a traditional blood drive. And then there's a few members of the town that have been waiting for Hayden's arrival for quite some time. And even though a lot of red flags go off in Hayden's head, she is determined to uncover her Mom's death and buried secrets. She never once thought the paranormal beings, Nibelungs, would be linked to her Mom, nor to her, especially when she believes scientific theories can explain everything.

"For the first time I truly wonder if all of it -- my recurring dream about the shadowy army, Mom's clues, and Dad's crackpot science -- point toward an impossible truth."

The atmosphere in this book is astounding and unlike most fictional towns. As the reader, you know something is just off when the town is first introduced. The only issue: you don't know what. But the mysterious townsfolk and luring woods will draw you in and keep you guessing. Just how does everything connect? And how does Hayden and her Mom fit into all of this?

I was overall happy with this book. The ending was a little fast, but the book itself is a tantalizing read. Katya de Becerra weaves beautiful and breathtaking writing to bring to life this haunting and eerie read. With strong characters, mystery, and an undeniable pull to the world, you won't want to put this book down.

A beautiful writing paired with magnetizing words, I was immediately drawn. The mystery that surrounds the woods unapologetically lured me in. The writing style made is easy for the readers to follow the story, but at the same time it managed to make everything questionably complex. No doubt, it’s addictive. What could have been another boring Science-Fiction for me was given life by the incorporation of horror, thriller, and suspense.

Introduced was this main character, Hayden, who is not our usual YA protagonist, I FIND HER TOO STRANGE. Besides the mystery that her mother left her to crack, Hayden herself is a riddle to be solved. I’m grateful that the darkness that envelops Hayden was equaled by her best friend, Del’s, light. A humorous and flirty supporting character who has her own creepy flaw.

The story includes a lot of scientific theories, research findings, discoveries, and there is also a bit of Psychology present. Hayden loves Physics, she relies on it. Physics is a branch of Science (one of too many, and too complicated branches) which I am familiar of, and is my only favorite. I find the scientific aspects unbelievably interesting. Katya masterfully managed to relate it to her characters ‘ life. At the mention of NIBELUNGS, I was dumbfounded, FOR I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT NIBELUNGS ARE. So I did some research, and oh my, Katya must have done some serious research for this one.

With the kind of setting Katya created you wouldn't dare read the book where everyone else seems to be asleep, when you're somewhere in the dark alone. I'm not someone who can be easily scared but this book, given its atmosphere, truly gave me chills. Additionally, the slow pacing made the story more thrilling, tho the ending felt like it’s rushed.


Overall, What the Woods Keep has a perfect blend of fun and spook. Plus a powerful writing that will keep you glued on your seat. You wouldn’t want to miss this unusually good book!

I did not have trouble getting hooked on this book despite the fact that, genre-wise, it’s not a book I would typically read. I did get hooked pretty easily. That being said, I found the pace to be incredibly slow. At one point toward the end of the book it was only day 4 when in reality it felt like it was about 10 - not because so much was happening but because it was just moving so slowly.

I also felt the end left something to be desired. It was like the book moved so slowly but the end was a bit rushed. Besides Hayden, I didn’t really feel that the characters were really all that developed.

Perhaps it’s because it was science fiction and I don’t typically read science fiction, but I just didn’t love the book. It had the creepy-vibe and there were times when I was expecting something big to happen because of the build up but then it would fizzle.

**2.5 to 3 stars**
I received this ARC to do a blog tour for this book. This was a highly anticipated release but sadly I was disappointed overall with this book. I do respect how well it blends genres, the setting, plot ideas and some side characters. But the scientific principles that started many chapters made the narrative choppy and jarring to read. The main character was also very forgettable and I think the story would have really benefited with being in third person POV instead. There was also a major lack of answers at the end, since there was such a long build that by the time we came to the actual climax, it was so rushed and vaguely explained. I think these things will turn off some readers. But those who like the writing style of Stephen King should at least try this, since I see some similarities.

Actual rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

If you were like me who thought watching Supernatural, starting from its pilot episode, and reading this book was the perfect combo, please do me a favor to do it in daylight. Because the moment I picked this book, I quickly sense that eerie atmosphere within the story.

Katya de Becerra lures the readers in with the mystery behind Hayden’s character who has this weird and odd personality. Not only the way how she has different colored eyes, because that’s basically had science explained as heterochromia, but how her mom’s strange disappearing a decade ago promised a dark, creepy tale in it.

Every inch there is in this story gave a slice of horror. First, the setting of a quiet, small town with people who looked as if they’ll going to eat you alive for dinner started out predictable. But anything that has to do with the forest and a house in the woods easily creeps me out.

The cryptic messages from Hayden’s mom, blood dials, rituals and images that were vividly described and a bit too outré, I could literally visualize them on my head, didn’t escape my being extra spooked. Even the letters, patient’s appendices of Hayden, Arista Kazan’s notes, findings and Dr. Holland’s journals attached in some of the chapters were pretty spooktacular too.

As Hayden unfolds the mystery and truth about her mother, all things that she could make sense using science and physics changed because her father was right all along. This made the suspense grows steadily and the twist on the Nibelungs absolutely popped up on the pages.

The story also explores Hayden’s need to have that sense of comfort, to belong, where she found on her best friend Del. Even being completely opposite, their friendship became one of the highlights in the story—how Del didn’t leave Hayden knowing every supernatural completely freaks her out or how Hayden will do everything to save her.

And let’s not forget about Shannon, Hayden’s former childhood friend. It’s not easy for her to trust and get along with other people. But with Shannon, she felt that there’s nothing have changed, that’s if he was not using her for the Institute.

When the story nears its end, the scenes went in high gear and completely turned my head in a mind-bending spiral. Hayden, knowing that she’s completely not human and going into a wholly different universe of the Nibelungs? I could have easily heard a pin drop.

Everything became too intense and before I know it, the story ended. Honestly, I want more! I need to know what happen to Abigail, to Hayden’s father and everyone in Promise. So, I asked Katya about this in an interview, which you can read on a post for today's What the Woods Keep blog tour.

What the Woods Keep is a plot-driven story about learning one’s true identity while discovering the unknown, punched with a deeply chilling vibe and consistent spine-tingling narrative. From the settings, characters, plot, storytelling, and even the title and cover itself, this book captured an excellent blend of science fiction, fantasy and horror.

I highly recommend this book to everyone. It’s a great addition to your fall TBR.

***I received an eARC of What the Woods Keep from the publisher via NetGalley and this in no way influence my rating nor my opinion on this book.

Katya De Becerra's debut is an engrossing, atmospheric, and creepy mystery/thriller/paranormal fantasy. And yes - it is an impossible book to classify (I had to ask what the official designations were).

The atmosphere of this book is electrifying. Most reviews I've seen mention it - and those of you following the blog tour/this book are probably rolling your eyes at YET another mention of the atmosphere, but it should not be understated.

It's creepy and uneasy and mystical and slightly off. You read it knowing something's wrong - very, very, very wrong - but never quite sure what. The location (the fictional town of Promise, Colarado) gets under your skin with its eerie woods, thick mist and severe weather.

This setting plays perfectly into the mystery sucking you in and in. I flicked through the pages rapidly, wanting to know more and hoping no one I loved was going to get badly injured (I was reading on my kindle at an average of a percent a minute).

Hayden is a walking contradiction of being scientific and logical, and yet superstitious all at the same time. She's quirky, with physics reference coming out her ears (and geek me loved it). The narration pulls you into her mind, which is slightly unsettling as she's a bit unsettled and doesn't always feel like the most reliable narrator - not in a I'm-keeping-secrets kinda way, but in a I-can't-quite-remember-it-all-and-that's-worrying-me way.

Shannon is not your typical love interest as he a) isn't physically seen for a while and b) you can never know if you can trust him. Hayden doesn't know how much he knows (not to mention, there's a ton of secrets she discovering) or what his part in the whole mystery is.

By far, however, Del was my favourite. She's bold and confident and an amazing friend. I mean, who decides to go to their flatmate's abandoned childhood home and stays despite the creepiness? I want a flatmate like that. Hayden and Del's friendship is THE most important relationship in this book and it's great to see a positive, empowering female relationship taking centre stage.

The writing was addictive - I read most of the book in one sitting (sprawling). It pulled me through this whirl-wind mystery but a few phrases really stuck out to me that I stopped and noted them down.

'...we marinate in the cramped waiting space...'

'...the drizzle envelops my face like a thin veil...'

Katya De Becerra manages to make very ordinary things (waiting at a stuffy airport gate and drizzle) feel slightly mystical and different. Her writing is really what builds the atmosphere and nagging feeling that something is wrong here - even if you can't quite put your finger on it.

If I have one criticism of this book, it was that the ending went so fast (or was that just me sucked in?) that I had a bit of trouble following it. Even if you really want to just race through, slow down and savour the ending so you can fully appreciate and absorb how all these dangling threads come together and resolve.

I've never been to USA, but if (when!) I go, WHAT THE WOODS KEEP has scared me off heading towards any woods in Colorado. I'm sure the woods there are lovely, but I'm not risking it.