Into the beast’s lair ★★★☆☆

Historian Dr Alice Christopher is determined to solve the secrets of Moresby Wood once and for all. Having waited twenty years for this research trip, she now sets out with four others to find out what happened to the soldiers in 1643 and unravel the myths surrounding a creature that lurks in the shadows and a medieval witch.

The group quickly realise something us dangerously amiss in these woods. None of their navigation equipment works and when they wake up the first morning the landmark oak tree has entirely disappeared. Far worse, something is following them in the dark. However, obsessed with her research, Alice refuses to turn back or give in at any cost.

In a parallel time frame, the doomed group of Parliamentarian soldiers are stalked by the same shadow-like creature. Hindered by serious injuries and divided loyalties, the group are picked off one by one by something they can’t see coming.

A creepy Blair-witch-type novel where time is untethered and ancient evil awaits.

I HATE novels that have far-fetched plots, and then don't properly explain them or resolve anything. The story itself was good; the plot moved quickly and I was creeped out and interested in finding out what happened to both the past and present day parties.

Unfortunately, though, you don't... not really anyway. I still don't understand what was in The Nest, what happened with the Morebys, the concept behind the forest, what happened to everyone???

Cliffhanger in the worst possible way. Add another 50-100 pages to resolve the ending and this novel would be a winner.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest opinion!

"The Dark Between the Trees" uses a dual timeline to retrace the path a group of soldiers took in 17th century England before their mysterious disappearance, and the one these contemporary women take in their pursuit of knowledge. Moresby Wood is haunted by stories as much as by history.

I enjoyed the book, but not as much as I thought I would when I was halfway through it. Barnett's writing style is clear and very descriptive, making you feel as if you were there. I really liked the dual POV, following both groups of people as they go deeper into the forest, hearing the legends each brought with them, seeing them come to their own conclusions. I enjoyed the folk tales element playing out. It reminded me of The Blair Witch Project and The Witch.

The beginning might feel a bit slow for some, but I thought it did a good job of leading us into the story. And then things start happening, and you don't want to put this book down! I was super interested in the plot, so I read the first half in a day. The second half was harder to get through. I still wanted to finish it, but it felt slow and a bit repetitive, all the walk in the woods with not much happening.

The horror element was very conceptual and ambiguous. This is tricky to pull off well, and not everybody is a fan of it. I'm not against it per se, but I didn't think it was fully realized here. There's graphic gore and a monster, yes, but the monster isn't really The monster. And that would be fine, if - well, if all the deaths hadn't actually been caused by the monster. So in the end, I just thought, what was the point of everything? There are a lot of loose ends. If you want a clear-cut explanation about everything that happened, you won't find it.

The ending was open-ended and affected by this lack of answers. I actually didn't hate it; I love that kind of endings, but I still wish what came before it had provided some more answers, a clearer insight into what had really happened to everyone, and why.

I would recommend this to readers looking for haunted forest stories, and I'm looking forward to Barnett's next works!

I struggled reading this book and I'm not sure why. It's an intriguing premise and I love the idea of the landscape changing around them but there wasn't quite enough interest to take me all the way to the end.

In 1643, a group of soldiers entered the Moresby Woods. Only two came out alive and the stories they reported were shocking and supernatural. Cut to present day, a group of women lead by Dr Alice Christopher, head into the same woods to find out what exactly occurred.

A mix of folklore and downright scary moments, The Dark Between the Trees took me a moment to get into. The multiple POVs and switching between past and present with the soldiers and the group of women took time to adjust but I felt it served the story well to see the parallels between the two groups. As much as multi POVs can take away from emotional attachment and getting to know the characters, I thought Barnett did an excellent job of building tension and expressing each characters concerns and thoughts though the emotional moments were lacking outside of fear and anger.

I was surprised to see the soldiers spoke in such a modern tone considering the two characters we meet by the fire towards the end spoke more in the proper time period language. I wish there was more differentiation between the soldiers and the doctors.

The pacing was a tense, slow burn that built to some stomach churning moments of horror I loved. The confusion of the woods, the atmospheric descriptions, the tension of the two separate groups felt very cinematic. I found it impressive for a debut novel and the writing was elevated and intelligent.

I really wanted to give this book 4 stars but I am going to give it 3 because the ending was truly a disappointment. I believe it ended the way it did so the parallel was complete: there was another 'deserter' to tell the tale. However, it was completely unsatisfying and provided no answers whatsoever. It took away a star for me.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of the films The Descent and Annihilation and the French series, Black Spot. The novel had concepts of all of the above, providing a richly supernatural world and smart women determined to find answers. Sadly, the ending sadly did not entirely define this world and what was actually happening though I was able to piece some of it together.

I enjoyed this book and look forward to more from Fiona Barnett. Thank you to NetGalley and Rebellious Books for the advanced digital copy.

I really loved the idea of this story, but ultimately I struggled to get through it.

It started promisingly, the split narratives between the two timelines and the similarities in how the groups experienced the woods and what happens within were intriguing, however soon enough I felt the pace drop and my interest waned.

By the halfway stage I was just pushing in to get through it so I could move on to the next book.

Writing style and characterization for the modern timeline were good, but the use of modern English and style of speech in the historic timeline jarred a little.

If the description grabs you I'd suggest giving it a go for sure. Solid writing, interesting idea, but in this occasion just not for me.

Firstly, thank you for the early access of this novel. I found this book to be extremely atmospheric, that was done very well. The descriptions of the forest were enough that you could picture them, almost smell them. This is a book over two time lines and these were very easy to follow along with. I found it quick and easy to read. The characters were also fleshed out enough that you could connect with them…I found Dr Alice quite unlikeable. I thought this book had a good plot, it moved along well with no stagnant sections. There are a few mentions of body horror, which did help with the feeling of foreboding that this novel has. I read this over a couple of days and for the most part I very much enjoyed it. What I did not enjoy was the ending. There was no solid conclusion and too many things left unanswered. I like an ending to wrap it all up. Overall I would give this book a 3.5 rating

This book is dark, atmospheric, intense and filled to the brim with folklore themes intertwined with surreal episodes. Tension starts to build up from the beginning, slowly incorporating legends and folk tales and then horror elements slowly creep in. The book draws you in and doesn't let the grip on you until the end. Without spoilers difficult to explain more, go and read more for yourselves. Get into those woods!

Whoa! What a ride. It was very fast-paced. The writing style kept me hooked and I didn't find myself losing any interest. I enjoyed getting to know each of the characters and how real the story felt. The author did a great job painting the setting, so it was easy for me to visualize the scene played out before me. I recommend giving this one a chance!

I enjoyed this book, liked the way it was written following the soldiers and the professor. The start of the book is very fast passed and gory. Chapter were a nice size and I liked the look of the headers for each chapter.

This book had so much potential but unfortunately didn't deliver for me.

Strong start, but soon drags on to not much happening, very little world building and minimal character development.
Disappointed we didn't get anything particularly spooky or much of the Corrigal.
Otherwise as the potential to be a great story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my arc in exchange for my honest review.

Such a unique and different read from what I go towards but definitely an amazing read at that. It reminded me of the Blair witch vibes as has too by my friends who have read an arc which is amazing as I love that movie so I more than ever flew through the book, I loved it.

The storyline was very well written that I was engaged from start to finish. The characters were a good read overall I did first find it hard remembering the characters as there was a few than what I’m used to reading.

I really was impressed with the history aspects throughout the book as it showed and piqued my interest that the author has good knowledge on the facts, another huge plus as I am a huge history fan

Overall the book was excellent but I was deflated from the ending but it really left me wanting more. I look forward to what the author next brings out.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc in exchange of my honest review

'The Dark Between the Trees' reminds me of Shirley Jackson's writing. Not only because of its characterful prose, but also because of its slower, dread-oriented pacing, gradually building up an unsettling atmosphere rather than going all in with more shocking moments - although, admittedly, it provides those two.

Alongside this book I've been delving into a collection of haunted forest short stories, and I'm struck by how well Fiona Barnett has explored this trope. TDBTT very much feels like a full length version of one of those stories, but by bringing its own unique elements - most notably, light surrealism and a dimensional angle - it is an excellent example of this type of story. The author demonstrates a brilliant understanding of these concepts and the subgenre in which she's writing. On offer here is both a literal and a figurative haunting, like all of the best haunting stories are - and it is a compelling example of both, most notably thanks to the monster in this story. Whatever the Corrigal ends up representing, this is a fantastic monster for the book, being unexpected, being unsettling at times, but most importantly, serving the greater tone and theme excellently well.

There are a lot of characters in this story, and at first I found this too much, that it made the story overwhelming and difficult to get to grips with. But something pushed me through these early struggles, and I'm glad they did, since with every new chapter, and every new detail, I became more and more invested in all of these characters. Their conflicts, both internal and relational, are so well written.

Admittedly, I'm undecided on the ending. I sort of expected something bigger, something that would act as more of a gut punch. But maybe the understated element of the chosen ending is brilliant, maybe this is in fact the better ending.

Either way, I loved this book, and I think it deserves a cult following when it eventually releases later in the year. I hope it gets that cult following - I'll certainly be recommending it to people, especially those who will appreciate its slow burn, atmospheric sense of progression, and great cast of characters.

[Advanced Reader Copy provided by the author]

"The Dark Between The Trees" is the story of the Moresby Woods, where a group of soldiers enter during the English Civil War, and where during the present day five women also enter these woods to find out what happened to these men.

Honestly, based on the premise, I thought I would love this book. Folk horror and Blair Witch vibes is something I live for, but this fell so flat for me. At times the creepy atmosphere really hit the spot, but not enough happened. I really disliked all of the female party in the present day part of the story, so much so that I really didn't care what happened to them.

The solider pov was much more interesting, and where most of the action happened, but even then it was sparse.

Overall there was too little of the supernatural action, not enough suspense, too much vagueness and a lukewarm conclusion

Thank you NetGalley and Rebellion publishing for the chance to read this ARC.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for my honest opinions.

"Which came first, the dismal wilderness of an inaccessible place or the ghost stories? Surely, in this place, they were now too intertwined to know."

This darkly atmospheric thriller set in a mysterious wood built the tension well throughout, with an ending I didn't quite expect. The creepy, uncomfortable vibes under the trees had me feeling at times claustrophobic as the story flitted between two groups, separated by centuries.

First, a group of soldiers driven into the woods by an attack three hundred years before. Second, an expedition led by a historian obsessed with their tale. Both stalked by an invisible threat.

I really liked that there wasn't some big reveal right away and that for most of the book you had no idea what was going on, just like the characters. The woods reveal secrets slowly, peeling back layers as people are picked off one by one.

The cast of characters were complex - the wood revealed sides of them that were darker, more dangerous than they would have been outside it. It was also interesting to guess how much of it was disorientation from being lost in the woods and how much was the wood itself, getting to them.

"The wood was a liar, but beneath that was buried something true, and fascinating, and the wood was telling her what it was, if only she could tune into it properly, or decipher it."

Thank you @netgalley for giving me my first book to review!

BOOK REVIEW
4 ⭐️

Summary: An unforgettable, surrealist gothic folk-thriller with commercial crossover appeal from a brilliant new voice. 

1643: A small group of Parliamentarian soldiers are ambushed in an isolated part of Northern England. Their only hope for survival is to flee into the nearby Moresby Wood... unwise though that may seem. For Moresby Wood is known to be an unnatural place, the realm of witchcraft and shadows, where the devil is said to go walking by moonlight...

Seventeen men enter the wood. Only two are ever seen again, and the stories they tell of what happened make no sense. Stories of shifting landscapes, of trees that appear and disappear at will... and of something else. Something dark. Something hungry.

Today, five women are headed into Moresby Wood to discover, once and for all, what happened to that unfortunate group of soldiers. Led by Dr Alice Christopher, an historian who has devoted her entire academic career to uncovering the secrets of Moresby Wood. Armed with metal detectors, GPS units, mobile phones and the most recent map of the area (which is nearly 50 years old), Dr Christopher's group enters the wood ready for anything.

Or so they think.

I read this book within 2 days. I literally just finished it and my heart is still pounding. It was really interesting, the descriptions were fun.

Two thirds into it I had a feeling I knew where it was going, and I was almost disappointed that I was right. It was still gripping.

I will admit that during the exposition, I skimmed past it. I wanted to get to the action. I did find those parts tedious in the first portion of the book, so started skipping them. At some parts it felt repetitive. I took off the one ⭐️ for that.

I did enjoy the atmosphere. I do scare easily, and this definitely had me on the edge of my seat. If you're into horror, gothic tales and spookiness, this will be right up your alley.

Going to be sleeping with a light on tonight, that's for sure! 😶

“Getting lost is better than being found”

THE DARK BETWEEN THE TREES was a very creepy but intriguing read from start to finish that had me actually turning on the light as I read because I kept feeling like there was something in my room with me.

It starts out a little confusing in the beginning in that it was very hard to keep track of the many characters and even differentiate between their many narrations of the story. But later on in the chapters it changed and I was able to even remember the names of each narrator.

All through the read the book was heading towards being a 5 star read but got a little disappointed in the end because I felt I had more questions than answers and like nothing was really resolved.

All in all, great read.

I got an e-ARC of this book from NetGalley and Rebellion Publishing for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for a free E-ARC in return for an honest review!

A pagan-type Blair Witch with a historical POV twist. Honestly, not too bad, I certainly enjoyed it more than blair witch itself.

A group of researchers go into a cursed forest in pursuit of any knowledge relating to a company of soldiers who went missing in the same woods in the 1600s. The book is split, mostly, into alternating chapters half are in present day with the research group lead by Alice, half follows the old company lead by Captain Davies. I'm not normally one for confusing PoVs, but I think this book really benifited from having these. It is confusing at first, it's hard to work out what character is who, but that does get better as the book goes on and I think the side-by-side stories is critical to how the story is told and it fits in with the world literally perfectly.

I did find one of the characters absolutely insufferable though, which made the ending feel a bit longer than it actually is. No character arc with them, I didn't get any sense of growth from them even after everything that had happened. Their actions don't really make much sense to me either.

The ending also felt a bit.. eh? It does make total sense within the story and the world, but as a reader I came away feeling a little dissapointed with how many questions I had left. I think I'd quite like a spin-off story perhaps, a sequel might not work with how this was tied up, but I think a spinoff would be able to answer a bit more, dive more into the history and folklore of the forest and expand on that a lot more than a couple eyewitness accounts could.

This really appealed to me because it reminded me of a lit of my fav scandi-thrillers/horror so I was keen to read a version set closer to home and this didn't disappoint. It was a bit slow but it did build the tension and have that eerie vibe throughout. A bit Blair witch and I loved the duel narrative. The characters got a bit confusing but overall it was still a good creepy wee read

This one looked promising! The Blair Witch/Documentary vibes I got from this were great. The writing is good and atmospheric, but the book pacing was so slow. I got so bored and it took me so long to finish it.
I am not a fan of dual POV or dual timeline as it's all been overdone, to be quite honest. This book had so many characters, it was hard to distinguish and keep track of them.
I really enjoyed the history aspect. The author seems to be knowledgeable on the subject.
The ending really fell flat for me and that is why I am only giving it three stars.
Definitely, not a favorite, but a good choice for a horror fan!
Thank you NetGalley and Fiona Barnett for th opportunity to read an eARC.
All opinions are my own.