I thought this one was really interesting. I enjoy books like this- a little history, a little horror and some mystery. I thought the beginning was very strong. The ending left a little to be desired but I overall enjoyed it and will be recommending!

Thanks to Netgalley for an a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review. I was very intrigued by the fact this was set in the woods. I really enjoyed the dual timeline aspect of this book, both set 300-400 hundred years apart in a woodland in rural England. I loved the folklore that both groups of people shared even though they were centuries apart - it gave an additional spooky vibe to the setting. The setting of the woods in general increased the spooky atmosphere and instantly makes you feel isolated and uneasy. The unknown element of this story, the question of whats in the woods had a slow build up throughout but sadly for me I would have like the horror element to be explored a little more.

An enjoyable suspense novel with an interesting premise and strong bunch of characters. The author writes suspense really well, and the gloomy but sinister atmosphere was believable and convincing. I'm not usually a fan of dual timeline narratives, but the author weaved them together so effortlessly that I really enjoyed the switch from chapter to chapter.

Unfortunately the ending lost me a bit. I felt like we were building up to a big reveal or at least some sort of devastating event, but we got neither of those things. You could argue that the anticlimactic ending actually fits perfectly with the story and the idea that you never have all the answers, but I think this book could have benefitted from a stronger ending for at least one/some/all of the characters.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I really waffled on what rating to give this one, because it was such a solid folk horror tale right up until the end. The relationships between the women, as well as their characterization in general, could have been fleshed out a bit more -- I felt like some of their decisions were confusing and disjointed from how they'd been presented up until that point.

In 1643, 17 soldiers flee into Moresby Wood, only two are ever seen again and the tale they tell is beyond belief. Today, five women set out to find out what really happened all those years ago, but nothing could prepare them for what they encounter in Moresby Wood.

Aside from a few pacing issues, and feeling at a bit of a distance from some of the characters, I did really enjoy this book. It had a really cool concept and nicely set the scene in an eerie and inhospitable environment.
I enjoyed the back and forth between timelines, although both suffered from a rather lengthy, drawn out set-up. That said, in ways, it was quite fitting for the story, there was even a point where one of the characters remarks on how it felt as if they had been in the woods weeks rather than the actual two days, which made me pause and realise it had only been two days for both parties. So this pacing may have been intentional, but I still would have preferred it to have been slightly faster in getting to the point and connecting the two narratives, as this interconnected element was very interesting.
I was also surprised by my preference for the historic timeline over the present day. I struggled to get invested in the journey of the characters in the present day. Their group was at odds with one another from the start and not enough was revealed about any of them for me to really make a connection with any of them. The soldiers on the other hand, I found oddly compelling and found myself enjoying those chapters more.
The mythology and horror elements were cool, I would just have preferred to have seen them woven in earlier, but the reveal was nicely done, if a bit anticlimactic.

Overall, a fun, atmospheric gothic horror with a really cool concept.

Thank you NetGalley and Solaris for my e-arc of this title, received in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Rebellion Publishing for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review. This was a very interesting book to read and, in the end, I really don't know how to feel about it. I guess I will go with 3.5 stars, but really this could fluctuate in the future depending on how my thoughts process over these next couple of days. The writing was a very interesting and unique way to tell a story in that we do not get all the answers even as the story is progressing. There were moments when I flipped back a few pages to make sure I hadn't missed anything while reading on my kindle. I'm not sure what the "theme" or "point" of the story was but I'm not sure it matters. If you're looking for a confusing horror tale that isn't going to give you all the answers but will be a story in which you can kind of create your own thoughts as to what is going on, then this will be for you. Super quick read and a small page number actually helps this story. Had it been longer I would have most likely been frustrated by the lack of answers. Because this story moves quickly it makes sense that the reader has a lost feeling much like what the characters are experiencing. I can honestly say I haven't read a horror like this before and it really made me think about this type of storytelling.

This book was definitely eerie and tense. It was a little slow at times but kept me engaged and wanting to continue to read into the night. The characters were well written and believable.

6 / 10 ✪

https://arefugefromlife.wordpress.com/2022/12/04/the-dark-between-the-trees-by-fiona-barnett-review/

In 1643, two soldiers from the Roundhead company—a unit of Parliamentarian soldiers—stumble into the small village of Tapford, wounded and shaken. Here, the men are taken and gaoled for desertion. Only one man, Thomas Edgeworth, sees the sunrise the following day, his companion, Josiah Moody, having succumbed to his injuries during the night. Upon asking to speak with a local priest, he tells his tale, the one that eventually drew Dr. Alice Christopher to him—and to the Corrigal.

Onto the present day, which finds five women heading into the confines of Moresby Wood in an effort to trace the footsteps of the Roundhead company, as provided by Edgeworth, the sole survivor of the incident. In addition to the stories and legends passed down by locals over the years, the history of Roundhead company remains one of the most promising pieces of the puzzle—a tale that Alice has staked her entire career on.

And so, while Dr. Christopher leads her team of wardens and grad students into the Wood, some 350 years prior, Captain Alexander Davies leads his company of seventeen men into Moresby as well. Neither know what they’ll find here—though one has a much better idea.

Something dark lurks in Moresby Wood. Something ancient, something unnatural.

The Corrigal.

—

I was surprised by just how much of this book <i>wasn’t</i> about the Corrigal. I mean, the starring, almost titular villain, and it plays just a footnote to the real mystery of Moresby: that of the… what exactly?

There’s a witch in there—or so it’s said, as we never see one. Like the Corrigal, after a time it’s just abandoned in place of… a mystery.

But let’s not get too far ahead.

The Dark Between the Trees starts out as a gothic, atmospheric horror story, set in the disorientating and often claustrophobic confines of Moresby Wood—a place that might’ve been lightened up somewhat had anyone had the idea of climbing a tree. Plastered by rain and often choked by mist, the two groups follow more or less the same pathways along their journey to the center of the mystery—one to find what has befallen the other. There are two main POVs: that of Dr. Christopher’s group, and that of Captain Davies. They are told in alternating form, with the two groups progressing at around the same rate. It actually works quite well, for a time, as the tension and atmosphere of the tale plays well in the confines of the Wood.

The dueling legends of the Corrigal and the Witch wreak havoc with each group, albeit for different reasons. The scientists are divided in two on the legend—between skeptics and believers. The soldiers, on the other hand, are divided into three—those that fear the Witch (and through her the Devil), those that fear the Corrigal (an ancient beast predating religion), and those that scoff at both notions. It’s honestly hard for me to pick which group I related to more, as I think they’re all a bit disillusioned. The Witch never really materializes into anything. The Corrigal <i>does</i>, but likewise is dropped in favor of the more mysterious mystery. A mystery which I still don’t really understand even though it was the center of the last handful of chapters.

Okay, so what am I saying here? I realize it’s a bit confusing, as even I’m a bit confused. The story was good until it wasn’t. The atmosphere, the tension, the plot all start off strong, but wither long before the end. I experienced some genuinely terrifying moments when we are at last confronted by the Corrigal, but then it’s whisked away and never really holds the same place in the story again. The end was confusing. And a letdown. Not to mention a complete departure from the rest of the book. The pacing—again, which started off quite well, and continued that way for most of the tale—went to pieces near the close. The characters followed its lead.

So… pretty much what I’m saying is that the Dark Between the Trees is 50-80% of a good book. After that it’s a book, and after that it’s just confusing and dark. I… wouldn’t recommend it, but I’d keep an eye on the author, as this <i>was</i> her debut, and there’s a lot to like in this story. Just maybe not enough.

The Dark Between the Trees by Fiona Barnett

A Gothic folk-thriller set in a mysterious wood in Northern England. A story of old mythical monsters and ghosts, The Dark Between the Trees is a fast-paced, anxiety inducing tale.

Named after a 14th century family who enter the trees to establish a homestead, The Moresby Woods hold many old stories, some born before Christendom, like the Corrigal’s nest lying deep within the woods core.

In 1643 Parliamentarian Soldiers led by Captain Davis flee to the woods to escape an ambush by the Kingsmen on their march North, and never to be seen again. Present day, Dr Alice Christopher leads a small team of historians and park rangers into the woods to trace Davis’s steps and discover the truth behind the disappearance of the men. The two timelines fit seamlessly together, and though they are separated by more than 300 years, the similarities in the dynamics and mindset of the groups, when faced with an extreme hair-raising climate, is mentionable.

For me, Moresby Woods is the main character and the author breaths life into it with her eerie, atmospheric prose. This was a pretty solid read, in a sub-genre I’m becoming more interested in and I was genuinely anxious in parts, however, I was vaguely disappointed with the ending. In hindsight, I can see how the two timelines were perhaps more intertwined than I realised and maybe with a slightly sharper execution I would have given the story another star. All that said, this would be a good choice for these darker, cold nights.

🌟🌟🌟/5

Thank you @Netgalley and @rebellionpublishing for an advance copy in return for an honest review.

The Dark Between the Trees by Fiona Barnett was published on 11th October 2022.

This book took me an embarrassingly long time to finish.

The writing itself was fine, I just wasn’t able to get lost in the book. It felt like a chore to read.

In 1643 a group of Parliamentarian soldiers are ambushed & take cover in Moresby Wood- a place that is steeped in scary stories & legends. Only two of the group are ever heard from again & their stories of shifting trees & monsters in the dark are not entirely disbelieved- the wood has secrets & people think it is best left alone!

Present day & Dr Alice Christopher has spent her academic life studying the stories of these men. After years of trying she finally gets permission to got to the wood & try & find answers. The wood is surrounded by a high fence to discourage visitors! Along with Nuria, her PHD student & three others they unlock the padlocks. They have two maps that do not agree & all modern equipment seems to have stopped working. As time goes on, all apart from Alice think this is a huge mistake as they argue about their route & the path they should follow.
In 1643 a group of Parliamentarian soldiers are ambushed & take cover in Moresby Wood- a place that is steeped in scary stories & legends. Only two of the group are ever heard from again & their stories of shifting trees & monsters in the dark are not entirely disbelieved- the wood has secrets & people think it is best left alone!

Present day & Dr Alice Christopher has spent her academic life studying the stories of these men. After years of trying she finally gets permission to got to the wood & try & find answers. The wood is surrounded by a high fence to discourage visitors! Along with Nuria, her PHD student & three others they unlock the padlocks. They have two maps that do not agree & all modern equipment seems to have stopped working. As time goes on, all apart from Alice think this is a huge mistake as they argue about their route & the path they should follow.

The story is told in two time frames. One from the original soldiers & Alice's expedition. The author does a great job of creating a very unsettling creepy atmosphere & making the reader as confused as those in the wood as to what is going on. I did admire that part of the story but the fact that the reader is left with more questions that even by the end left me vaguely dissatisfied.

Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this disturbing book.
The story is told in two time frames. One from the original soldiers & Alice's expedition. The author does a great job of creating a very unsettling creepy atmosphere & making the reader as confused as those in the wood as to what is going on. I did admire that part of the story but the fact that the reader is left with more questions that even by the end left me vaguely dissatisfied.

Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this disturbing book.

The dark between the trees weaves two stories together, one from present day and one from the 1600’s, taking place in the same set of woods. An expedition of academics goes into Moresby Forest to investigate the disappearance and retrace the steps of a group of soldiers from the 1600’s. According to legend, if you go in the forest, you’re never coming out and the forest is home to a terrifying creature, The Corrigal. Fiona Barnett does a very good job of overlaying the present day narrative on top of the past one. The plot was pretty linear without many twists and turns. While I didn’t see the end coming, I did find it slightly unsatisfying. This is a spooky, atmospheric novel that reminded of The Ritual, Blair Witch, and Annihilation. Overall a solid read.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC to review. I really wanted to get into this, but I could not, so unfortunately I did not finish it.

I was really into the premise of this novel, however, I found it to be predictable and the ending fell short for me. I’d normally go more in-depth but, for me, this is not a novel that’s sticking in my mind.

This folk-horror follows 2 groups of people as they find themselves in a mysterious forest. In 1643, a group of soldiers are ambushed and the survivors flee into the nearby Moresby Wood. A few of the soldiers know of the wood's rumored history filled with witchcraft and unnatural creatures. Of the group of survivors, only 2 survive to tell the tale of what happened in Moresby Wood. In current day, a group of 5 researchers enter Moresby Wood in search of evidence to what happened to that group of soldiers. They bring maps, GPS units, mobile phones, and other equipment in order to be prepared for their journey. Only, they aren't prepared for what the wood has in store for them.

The setting and lore was the real key of this story for me and I thought both were fantastic. I was expecting this read to be more of a creeping gradual horror but we know almost immediately that something isn't right in Moresby Wood and I absolutely loved it. I did find some of the supernatural scenes to be a little vague and I wasn't entirely sure what was going on but that made sense because the characters had no real idea what was going on. I also loved how both sets of characters - 1693 and present day - were sharing theories/rumors/ghost stories about what is going on in the wood. There was a nice mix of the supernatural threats with some realistic environmental hardships that really built up well over the course of the book. I thought I knew where the lore was going, but I was pleasantly surprised that I was wrong. On NetGalley, the description said this book was perfect for fans of The Ritual and The Descent. I can see elements of both those movies in this story but I feel like it is much closer to The Ritual with the eerie forest, tense friend group, and unique supernatural-ish element.

I really enjoyed the dual timeline aspect but I do wish the book was a little longer in order to more fully flesh out both sides of the story. The story is split pretty much 50/50 between the soldiers in 1643 and the researchers in present day. The events in the two timelines somewhat mirror each other, which leads to a really fun dynamic for the reader. I also thought it was interesting to see the differences between the 1693 story and what the present day characters know based on historical texts. I was pretty equally interested in both timelines which is always a good sign. I also liked how the two timelines, while very similar, did have their own individual elements that highlighted the tense situation the characters were in.

Where this book lost me a bit was with all the characters. I found this to be a pretty short read at around 300 pages and since it was split pretty evenly between the two timelines, there just wasn't a lot of room for all the characters and relationships. I'm more of a character-focused reader which is why I think I like these isolated mystery/horror reads so much. I was really excited to see how this setting impacted the characters and their interactions. And while we did get those scenes, they weren't as impactful to read because I didn't feel like the initial character relationships were sufficiently fleshed out. I knew the ranks and surface relationships between the characters, but I wanted more depth. I felt this way about the character groups in both timelines. I really think if this book was just a little longer and there was more time setting up the group dynamic before things start going off the rails then I would have really been able to sink into the story more.

I wasn't the biggest fan of the narration style of this read. The story was told from a 3rd person POV that alternated being closer to one character and then farther away so the reader could get information from other characters. It wasn't technically headhopping, but it gave me that same feeling while reading of not being completely settled in the narration. I did read an ARC so this could potentially be fixed in the final copy but I think this would come down to personal preference. For me, the narration choices to be more removed from our main-ish character just meant that I had a harder time settling into the story and with these characters.

Overall, I really liked the premise and setting of this read, but I wanted some tweaks in order to be more connected to the characters.

Thanks to NetGalley and Rebellion publishing for the ARC.

Expected publication date is October 11, 2022.

This story had the perfect gothic premise to deliver an exceptional story. I loved the idea - but the delivery was lacking. It could be a timing thing - not the right place or time for me - but the ending really failed, there were too many loose ends, and I had a lot of questions.

I don’t know about you but if I ever go into a forest the temptation to stray off the past is strong. The idea of going into the woods where humans may never have walked always appeals. There are parts of the United Kingdom where the forest easily measure their time in centuries and possibly millennia. Who knows what lurks within. The dark woods are a staple part of fantasy and horror and in Fiona Barnett’s very atmospheric horror tale The Dark Between The Trees we have a disturbing tale of two groups lost in the same strange forest but centuries apart

Morseby Wood has a long dark history. Folk tales tell of witches and monsters; in 1643 it saw a group of Roundhead shoulders enter and only two survived to tell their tale and ever since its known as a isolated place now bordered off from the world for occasional military activity. In the present -day Dr Alice Christopher has at long last achieved her ambition of being allowed access to prove her theories and her group of five women enter the woods to soon find Morseby is as strange and deadly as the legends say.

This is a really impressive horror tale. and I was very impressed how Barnett weave’s two tales linked yet separated by nearly 400 years. We move from Alice’s expedition to the night the Roundheads led by seasoned soldier Captain Davies are suddenly attacked out of nowhere and the survivors of the battle flee into Moresby Wood. Barnett runs between the two tales and unsettlingly we notice the parallels in each’s journey – paths that seem to change; trees that vanish and then we notice Davies’ men starts to decrease in number. This cleverly builds up tension that the same thing is going to happen to Alice’s team. Barnett has a fine way of making the Woods appear a dangerous and malevolent place in either storyline. When true horror strikes its usually very swift and devastating which adds to the feeling anything and anyone can meet their fate at any moment which builds up the tension greatly.

Character-wise I liked the contrasts between the all-male army and the all-women specialists sent to explore the territory. Both groups are professionals and just get on with things…initially but weirdly it’s the older group who are more accepting that something dangerous lurks in the woods and their folk tales are true. Barnett makes both groups start to feel the pressure and Davies finds his captainship questioned just as Alice is but in contrast Alice wants to explore more. I think I’d had liked a little more chance to get to know both teams prior to the Wood making their appearance just to understand their dynamics better and how the stresses of the woods start to make the groups fracture. There is one quite passive character in the shape of Dr Christopher’s assistant Nuria who I’d had liked to understand their decisions a little bit earlier as to the casual reader like me I’d be hightailing it out of there pretty pronto (yes Reader I am easily scared on occasion).

What though really struck me is that Barnett does not make this tale explain itself. Its final acts are eerie, strange, and mythic and while some answers are given others are not. The best supernatural horror is often about good people being in the wrong place at the wrong time. The universe will step on them not out of malice but simply because they’re the ants in the way of bigger creatures. In these woods it’s a malevolent force known as The Corrigal but even when we see it more questions arise that will not be answered. That lack of answers just makes it even more unsettling to read.

The Dark Between The Trees is a deeply enjoyable horror tale and one perfect for this time of year. A reminder to look where you go and beware forests at night or daytime. Highly recommended and I look forward to watching out for what Barnett has in store for us next!

3⭐️

A crew of five women seek out to find evidence of the remains of soldiers that mysteriously disappeared in the unnatural Moresby Wood three centuries prior. The women are relying on the two survivors who made it out in order to find where the others may have gone. The book is split between what happens on both expeditions of the women scholars and the seventeen soldiers. It’s essentially the same story being told in tandem 300 years apart, which does make sense because the forest itself it essentially timeless. It was hard to get into this book for me. The pacing is kind of slow and makes the book boring, and yet at the same time there are so many different characters that I found it hard to keep up and know who was who.

The Dark Between The Trees took an unexpected turn, but I can't really say I took much out of my experience with it. While it offers an interesting cast of characters and conflict, it ultimately is a little too straight forward. Bounded by its alternating timeline - The Dark Between The Trees never reaches its full potential in terms of eeriness and scare. I still found some enjoyment in the modern timeline but I couldn't help but feel unsatisfied by the final page.

Thank you Netgalley for the Arc!
Folk horror is a special sub-genre that I've always loved.
This book was very enjoyable. It had a great ominous atmosphere, an awesome darkness.
I'm not huge on different timeline stories, so that i enjoyed less, but regardless it was still very enjoyable for me. Definitely recommend.