I remember being really intrigued by this one when I requested it, and then avoiding books that felt like they might be monster horror because I had a bad run with those. I'm glad I finally picked this up to round out my spooky reading season because it was creepy, bizarre, and not at all what I was expecting. This is a GREAT Halloween season read, or any time.

The comps for this were spot on -- it truly is Midsommar meets Blair Witch Project, but somehow less compelling than either of the two. It was incredibly readable, but really fell apart in the last act for me. There was a hint of a paranormal element that just wasn't fully explored in any way, and some plot points that I wish had been expanded upon were just glossed over. By the end, I just kind of felt like "that's it?"

The treatment of mental illness in this was also... not great. I did like that the author addressed how draining it can be to be the sole support of a friend in the midst of crisis, but that was canceled out by writing off an entire character as psychotic and violent because they [checks notes] take abilify.

The concept itself was really interesting and could have turned out so much cooler with some more thought-out writing. I will say that I got pretty creeped out at some parts and it was an incredibly atmospheric read. This would be a fun horror read if you're not looking for anything too well put together.

Review limited to Goodreads due to rating

1 Star

This is a book storyline that I should have gobbled up like there was no tomorrow. Sadly, the book fell beyond flat for me enough to where it dragged out in reading. I found myself having to force myself to finish the book.

I found the characters beyond irritating and the storyline just never rose up to where it should given the premise.

Reviewed for publisher via netgalley.

Thank you, Netgalley!

Trigger Warning: Rape

This is why cults are bad.

Okay, now that's out of the way, I have to say after learning what was happening to Birgitta, I didn't really care what happened with the rest of the town. Save for Elsa, the rest could have burned. I definitely hadn't expected to cry while reading this, but I did. The reality of her situation just hit me 1) because of how often it really happened - both the rape and people claiming she was possessed for her disability and 2) because my own son would like have been burned/stoned for possession as well.
Mattias was a complete bastard for what he did to her. I don't even care about his cult. They chose to follow him blindly. They'd have been better with the alcoholic priest, but that's another topic. What he did to her and how everyone in the town - who knew her and how helpless she was - chose to look the other way and then blame her for what happened. It makes me sick.

I was a little disappointed with the end. I was really hoping for something scary.

Incredible Blair Witch vibes, dark, gory, and absolutely keeps the reader reeling until the end. Perfect spooky season read or for anyone for loves darker spooky books with ghost town vibes like To Break a Covenant.

I really wanted to like this book but it just didn't work for me. I love the premise and was patiently waiting for some creepy things to happen but unfortunately they never did. Starting from the beginning the plot just didn't seem to make sense to me. Also, the ending was ridiculous.

Thank you so much @Minotaur_Books & @NetGalley for giving me this physical ARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased review (Release Date | 23 March 2021)

SYNOPSIS | In 1959 an entire village of people from a small rural mining town go missing. Alice's grandmother's family were among those missing people so she takes it upon herself to return to the town 60 years later to film a documentary uncovering the mystery of what really happened.

WHAT I LIKED:
- the isolated small town eerie vibes
- the fact we are trying to solve the mystery of what happened

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
- the character development. I never got a sense of who this group of characters really was & why they specifically had been brought along.
- the escalation of tension & the 'big reveal' didn't work for me
- I wanted more creepy haunted ghost vibes
- the portrayal of mental illness in both the past & current timelines was problematic to say the least

My rating scale:
5☆ - I loved this book and it brought out true emotion in me (laughter, anger, a good cry, etc)
4☆ - I loved this book.
3☆ - I liked this book.
2☆ - I didn't really care for this book.
1☆ - I did not like this book at all and probably did not finish it.

I really enjoyed this book. I wasn’t really sure what to expect heading into this but I was pleasantly surprised. This is the type of story that makes you question everything you know about what's happening in the story. You’re second guessing everything that’s happening within the story and you are very unsure whether it’s paranormal or not.

The Lost Village is set in Sweden which I really enjoyed. I haven't read a lot of books set in many other countries that are not set in the UK or the US. This is a very fast paced story and almost straight away you feel the sense of foreboding and claustrophobia of this little village.

Right from the start creepy things start to happen, the characters feel like they are being watched, they start hearing screaming, giggling and other weird things start happening.

This is a very fast paced story and I could not get enough of it. Throughout the story we realise some of the crew are hiding secrets from the other characters and when it comes out it doesn’t end very well.

The Lost Village discusses some important themes such as mental illness, recovery, how certain mental illnesses have a bad reputation and how scared people can get, saving yourself from someone who is dragging you down, suicidal thoughts and so much more. This story really packs a punch.

Camilla Sten does not hold back her punches. There is a lot of gore and a lot of violence within this story so please be careful going in.

Documentary filmmaker Alice Lindstedt is trying to figure out what happened to the people of "The Lost Village", which includes her grandmother. She decided to get answers and gathers some friends and a crew to find the answers. When they get there, mysterious things begin to happen and things go missing. Can they get the answers they want before they all disappear?

This book was atmospheric to the core. The author did such a great job describing the setting. The abandoned town seemed deeply unsettling and menacing with so many creepy old buildings, broken and discarded things and just the absolute quiet of the place. It definitely wouldn't be the type of place I would choose to spend the night. The mysterious and unexplainable happenings definitely gave off haunted ghost vibes. The chapters were nice and short and it alternated between then and now. It gave the reader a glimpse into what could have happened in 1959 but no answers are revealed until the end of the book. All in all, a book I'd recommend to possible newcomers of horror.
Review to come on YouTube.

In Sweden there is a village by the name of Silversjarn that used to be a thriving mining village, but once the mine closed it became known for the fact that the entire town disappeared without a trace leaving nothing behind except a baby in the schoolhouse. It was clear by the remnants in the village that something awful took place, but it remains a mystery as to what exactly happened.

The story is a dual perspective following Alice and her team filming in the village in the present, and the past being represented by Alice's relatives that lived in the town before the disappearance took place. The pacing of the story is quite fast, and I found myself constantly captivated. The setting is creepy, the plot is super suspenseful.

Check out my YouTube video where I have done a dedicated review.

Whew— I feel like I can take a deep breath now. I am not sure what I expected, but the ending was definitely NOT in the realm of possibilities for me. Well done, Camilla Sten! This is the first book I’ve read by this author, but I am sure it won’t be the last.

I was intrigued by the storyline, although at first it didn’t really seem like anything was happening. I realize now that the details were ever so slowly and expertly building tension toward the discovery of what happened to the village of Silvertjärn.

The characters are well developed, and easy to picture. The details are so vivid, I swear you could close your eyes and touch this lost village. Following a dual storyline, we jump between the present and past of Silvertjärn. Both timelines are easy to follow. Both timelines are well written and keep your attention.

The Lost Village follows Alice Lindstedt, a documentary filmmaker and her crew of friends, as they pursue the truth as to what happened to her grandmother’s entire family and the village of Silvertjärn in 1959. Taking leads from letters between her grandmother and her grandmother’s sister, they find their way to the village and as mysterious things begin to happen to them, they begin to realize that they are not alone.

This book is so well written, it’s hard not to get sucked into the world of Silvertjärn right away.

This book was very atmospheric from the beginning. I love atmospheric stories with missing people and this one definitely had this in abundance.
Alice Lindstedt is doing a documentary on the village of Silvertjärn which is an old mining town where the residents seemingly disappeared. The documentary will be told over six episodes accompanied by a blog. Alice has been obsessed with this town since she was a little girl. In 1959, her grandmother's family disappeared but two people remained. One was a woman who was stoned to death in the town's center, and the other was a newborn baby. Alice hopes to find out what really happened to this remote town long ago.
I found the book very creepy and disturbing which is exactly what I want in a horror novel. The story kept me intrigued to the end.

Blair Witch Project meets Midsommar? Did Camilla Sten write this just for me?! Seriously, the premise is right up my alley. It centers on a documentary film crew on location in a remote abandoned village where many families disappeared years and years ago. The mystery of what happened to all these people has never been solved.

This was a horror/thriller combo that, while it didn't quite live up to my expectations, was engrossing and creepy. You know from the first few pages that nothing good is going to come out of this for these people, and, as sick as it sounds, it was a fun decline to witness.

If you like horror, thrillers, and creepy abandoned towns/buildings, this one is for you.

This book was mysterious and spooky and a great time. The haunted deserted ghost town was well written with an atmophere I won't forget and the ending was well developed. I felt as though it was very plausible that it could happen as some freak accident that. I also found the cultish aspect interesting and the dual timeline worked to really illuminate that.

This was good!

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for my advanced copy.

What I Enjoyed-

*The Atmosphere- The Lost Village has a rich, spooky atmosphere and is perfect for the fall / winter months.

*The Plot- The premise of this book is what initially drew me in. The suspense and mystery surrounding the disappearances in this village is what kept me reading. Well done!

Why This Wasn't a 5 Star Read-

The second half of this book was a struggle for me. I finished it a couple days ago and I clearly don't remember a lot about it. The Lost Village is not a book that will stay with me and that's ok. I can still enjoy a book and not absolutely love it.

Overall- I do recommend this to other readers. I will give Camilla Sten another chance.

Super creepy and strange. Loved the Blair Witch vibes! I wished it went more in a paranormal direction with the twist, but still enjoyed the story. I think it went on a little long but is worth the spooky energy if you're interested in a weird thriller.

I love the premise of documentary filmmakers or podcasts, and yet I can rarely find a novel that does it justice.
This had creepy vibes, and whilst I was interested, I was never fully engaged or committed to the story as much as I expected.
The characters intrigued me, and I liked their personalities, but the main downfall for me was the believable nature, or not so much, and this fell into the latter category and was a miss for me.

I usually don't read this type of books. I don't like the scary stories but gave it a try as part of a book club. It didn't disappoint, it's a great book for the scary enthusiasts.