Lute is a great thriller but also a thoughtful study on loss and grief and relationships. There are supernatural forces at play that add an element of uncertainty and tension, and from the lead up to the day, the dawning of the truth and the rush of THE DAY, Lute kept me on the edge of my seat all the way through. I couldn't put it down. I highly recommend this book.

Midsommar from the perspective of a believer! Lute was a really fun dose of folk horror, the island’s mythology felt well-established, and the narrator doesn’t spend the entire novel screaming about how barbaric everything is. That’s a win in my book!

A terrific and propulsive folk-horror tale, with a few elevating quirks that keep it feeling fresh even when you more or less know where the plot is going. There's a FINAL DESTINATION quality to some of this book and that feeling of ratcheting dread, where any little thing could spell doom, is a delight to encounter on the page (as opposed to on the screen). Thorne also keeps things interesting by placing the book in the near-future, where some kind of third world war has broken out... between the US/Russia and the rest of the world. The off-kilterness of this, and of Lady Treadway's Americanness/fish-out-of-water-ness on Lute, helps bring things to life. A thrilling entry into the canon.

Disappointing and does not live up to its description or concept. Slow moving and character is not interesting or sympathetic in anyway. Could have been so much more. Do not recommend.

Lute was a really enjoyable read, including one of my favourite atmospheric settings, on a Scottish island. This added to the reading experience because I could clearly picture everything, from the forest grove to the small cozy village and pub. I also enjoyed learning about the history of Lute and the relationships between the small community on the island and how cut off they were from mainstream society, having to bear the secrets of the island alone.

The book definitely has some cultish vibes in the beginning and I can see some parallels between this book and the film Midsummer, but it would have been good if the book went further with this and includes some more sinister or horrifying elements because I wanted a full blown cult and rituals. However, it was still interesting to find out along with the main character Nina about "the day" when she is in disbelief about its occurrence.

There was lots of action at the end of the book which didn't disappoint and I was happy with the ending, it took an interesting turn as to how people chose to deal with "the day" going forwards and how certain relationship dynamics ended I was also happy with.

All in all, this book is an ideal, quick autumnal read which you should definitely pick up if you like stories about small isolated communities with some mild horror elements and a cozy, atmospheric setting.

I've never read anything like Lute. It was folk horror/dystopian/fantasy all rolled up into one heck of a story. On the idyllic island of Lute, every 7 years between sunrise and sundown on the summer solstice, 7 people die. This book gives an hour-by-hour account of "The Day" leading up to sunset, and it was riveting. It is uniquely and enjoyably character driven rather than plot driven, something that is not typical for suspense books. Nina, the main character and mother of two, is an outsider experiencing "The Day" for the first time. She's fierce. This book has a great backstory explanation and solid character development throughout the story.

The story is just as haunting and unsettling as the book cover art!! Love and duty comes first to the community that lives in the island of Lute. Every seventh summer, seven people are destined to die. The answer to the question “why” lies with the long told folklore! It took me a while to get into it this slow burn story, but I enjoyed the creepy atmospheric vibes of some scenes! Interesting book to read if you are looking for something different in the horror genre. Also a must read if you enjoy folklore infused storyline.

Thank you Tor Nightfire for the arc via Netgalley

The premise was good, but Lute got waylaid by tired tropes. Lute was such a special read. I thought Lute was going to be better than it turned out to be. The narrative jumped around, leaving me confused.

As everyone knows I love my folk horror but it is a genre that can be difficult to find. So when I read the description for Lute and it proclaimed it to be a combination of Wicker Man meets Final Destination I was all in. I enjoyed this book. It is a slow burn with a lot of time spent building atmosphere and tension as the narrative led up to “the Day”. I was definitely getting Wicker Man and Midsommar vibes. I really enjoyed the beautiful and lush prose that greatly enhanced the feeling of impending doom. Overall, this was an effective and entertaining bit of folk horror.

The spooky tones in this book really got me ready for halloween. I wanted to like this book more, but the plot felt underdeveloped and with that the pacing felt off.

The cover immediately grabbed me, but then I read the synopsis and the combination of "Final Destination meets Wicker Man" and then I knew I had to save this for the most special time of the year: October. So I added this to my October TBR and I wasn't disappointed. I was pulled into this world and it did not let me go until the end when I felt like I could finally breathe again. What a story.

Nina was a great main character--I feel like you don't often see mom characters as main characters in fiction, but I wish we did because Nina is a great example of the power of moms!! I felt just as in the dark and confused as she did, but the creepy tone and atmosphere of the story seeped into me as I kept reading, and I have to give props to Jennifer Thorne for that. The writing is great, it's sharp and cutting and quite ominous.

I think that this was a most excellent choice for creepy season, but also I feel that this is the sort of book to enjoy any month of the year. If you want to feel a rush to the head as you read about characters on an isolated island come to terms with The Day, an all-day event that occurs every seven years, in which seven people will die no matter what, then this book is for you. It's classic folk horror and I'm glad that I read it. 4 stars.

Promos for this one claim it’s Wicker Man meets Final Destination, and you know what, I’d kinda agree with that.

War may rage all over the world, but the island of Lute seems immune to the woes of the rest of the world. No one on the island seems touched by the horrors happening outside of their idyllic, little community. However, every seven years, seven people die to honor the gifts of prosperity the island bestows on its inhabitants. Residents simply refer to it as, “The Day,” and for Nina Treadway, it’s all brand new. She doesn’t buy into the superstitions of the town and wonders what the big deal of “The Day,” is, other than her husband lost his father seven years ago. However, when it comes around, Nina quickly changes her mind, and neither she nor the town will ever be the same when it’s over.

I really enjoyed this one! Folk horror is hit or miss for me. It’s either a fascinating look at an insular community full of terrors, or it’s just slow and boring. I feel like this one struck a good balance of horror, story, and characterization. The community faces horrors, but it brings them closer together and forces Nina to look at them in a new way, not as an outsider as before, but as someone who is now experiencing their lives and deaths with them. In a weird way, it unites the characters and makes them stronger. Definitely recommend. Tor does it again, always providing me with the content I need in my life.

Thank you to Netgalley & the publisher for an advance readers copy in return for an honest review.

Description: On the idyllic island of Lute, every seventh summer, seven people die. No more, no less.

Lute and its inhabitants are blessed, year after year, with good weather, good health, and good fortune. They live a happy, superior life, untouched by the war that rages all around them. So it’s only fair that every seven years, on the day of the tithe, the island’s gift is honored.

Nina Treadway is new to The Day. A Florida girl by birth, she became a Lady through her marriage to Lord Treadway, whose family has long protected the island. Nina’s heard about The Day, of course. Heard about the horrific tragedies, the lives lost, but she doesn’t believe in it. It's all superstitious nonsense. Stories told to keep newcomers at bay and youngsters in line.

Then The Day begins. And it's a day of nightmares, of grief, of reckoning. But it is also a day of community. Of survival and strength. Of love, at its most pure and untamed. When The Day ends, Nina—and Lute—will never be the same

Lute is truly an interesting read. At different points of the novel, I kept forgetting what time period the story was set in! The author created the island of Lute to be the main & most mysterious character in this novel! When Lute's history & newly arrived characters collide, the tension and intrigue only grows! A Very atomspheric & engrossing novel in the tradition of subtle horror tales of years past. Will appeal to readers of many different genres!

The Final Destination and Midsommar comps are so on point for this book, so if you enjoy either of those, definitely pick this up for spooky season!

I really enjoyed this book. It was a dark and atmospheric story dealing with lore and traditions and was told from the perspective of an outsider who married into the head family of the idyllic island of Lute. She has heard all the stories of how every seven years on the summer solstice seven people die, but she doesn't really believe it. Every day on the island is perfect and people are happy. Then comes the summer solstice. Everything changes.
I wasn't sure how I felt about the ending, but overall I really enjoyed it.

Reading this was an experience. I heard the premise, read an excerpt on tor.com, waited impatiently for the book's release, and finally got an advanced reader copy from the publisher (thanks Net Galley!).

I didn't want this book to end. It drew me in immediately, and all I wanted to do was find out more about this strange island. I found myself doodling the map of the island while working. I didn't see the story ending the way it did, at least in one aspect, but I thoroughly enjoyed this strange little island and all the interesting people in it. I would have liked to see some things fleshed out a bit more, but for any small critiques my only real complaint is that it ended.

I can't wait to recommend this moody read to others.

What would you do if you were promised a perfect and safe life – on the condition that you and everyone you love had to face grave danger once every seven years? I imagine most of us would be more worried about the catch, thanks to our obsession with the cost of bargains. Enter the tale of Lute, written by Jennifer Marie Thorne.

Lute is a perfect, beautiful, and secluded island. Despite the war waging around on every side, the island remains perfectly untouched. Perfectly safe. In truth, everything about Lute seems idyllic, as if time and trouble never touch it.

A fact that is far from the truth. A bargain has been struck. The town receives great fortune and luck, but a price must be paid. The price must be paid every seven years; for the first time, Nina Treadway is about to experience that firsthand.

I originally picked up Lute because it was described (to me) as a combination of Wicker Man and Final Destination. I would like to throw a final comparison into The Lottery. Those three together should give you a perfectly accurate feeling of what to expect.

Lute is a dark and compelling read. Given the description, you could argue that it is easy to predict how this story will go. Yet I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. Thankfully, I was able to get through this novella in one go. I can't imagine having to walk away partway through!

Nina's perspective of events is perfect. She's new to the island but not so new as to have zero idea of what will go down. It's more accurate to describe her as a skeptic. In that sense, Nina represents most of us. Because really, if you moved to a lovely island and got told a dark and horrible story about sacrifice, you would think somebody was pulling your leg, right?

I was blown away by Lute, and I almost wish I could go back in time to read it for the first time. It was such an experience. You guys are in for a treat.

Lute is a picturesque island off the coast of Britain with perfect weather, it’s inhabitants enjoy good health, and even men from Lute who volunteer for the war are miraculously kept safe from harm. The price for perfection… seven deaths every seven years. The island chooses who will die, but the people of Lute accept this as a good bargain. Nina is an American that has married the Lord of Lute and this is her first time to experience The Day.

This is a fun read for spooky season. It took me a bit to get into and the character development was less then I prefer, but the suspense was great once it got going. There’s a lot to unpack in this relatively short book. How people grieve and the acceptance of one’s fate were interesting themes. I really liked the sense of community in this book and the ending was done really well.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge for an advanced copy of this book, all opinions are my own.

Actual Rating 3.5

This is a book that I'm having a hard time rating. I loved the actual horror, almost Final Destination-type, elements. They were suspenseful, well-written, and downright chilling.

But they also weren't the most significant part of this novel. Our main character, Nina, is very poetic about how she feels about Lute and its inhabitants. This isn't necessarily bad, but it did feel like it took away from the anticipation of the horror elements.

There was also a weird romantic sub (sub-sub) plot that didn't feel organic and was basically cheating. I didn't understand why it was included and it turned me off of those characters a bit.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing the E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved this haunting, atmospheric, beautifully written tale. It evokes ancient fairy tales while rooting its people and characters firmly in the modern world. A must-read.