I’d not heard of the author before but upon reading the description this book sounded exactly like something I would love.
This book had me enthralled throughout, I literally couldn’t wait to read more to see in what direction the story was headed.
The story was at times had an Mysterious spooky Blair witch/ the ritual vibe but at the same
Time nothing like them! I also loved how the author managed to two separate timelines running alternate chapters, at times leaving one of the stories on a cliffhanger and making you wait a chapter to find out what happened next.
If I had any complaints it would be the ending, which although satisfied also was a little abrupt. It did however leave me wanting more, which I guess is a good thing.
Will definitely pick up a copy when this book is released.
Highly recommended!

This book gave me the perfect amount of Blair Witch meets The Descent vibes which I was SO here for.

+ A horror novel set in English countryside! I love American horror however whenever it takes a British setting, I always feel more involved as I can picture forests that I've visited as the setting and it just adds to the atmosphere.
+ Barnett's scene setting was creepy and foreboding and made me read almost every page twice in case I had missed a little scrap of a clue, which gave me a really immersive perspective in the story.
+ The dual narratives from present day and three centuries ago worked really well and I loved how the characters in each setting seemed to map onto each other and you could see similarities (e.g. between Davies and Alice).
+ The constant undercurrent of tension throughout the book - probably due to the scene setting.
<spoiler> + The time travel element - the idea of the woods being a "gatekeeper" really resonated and I absolutely loved this element. I wish this had been explored more as it really stuck with me however I am also aware this may have lost some of its mystery. </spoiler>

- Some of the narratives felt very similar and at times I had to go back to double-check who was narrating. I would have preferred more distinctive voices (Alice's was my favourite as her stream of consciousness really stood out).
- The first 30% of the book was very slow for me and I really struggled to get stuck in - if this was not an ARC there would have been a chance I would not have powered through. At times I found myself getting distractible and not being pulled into the story.
- The chapters became very repetitive as the characters were walking through the words (however I also understand that this was almost purposeful as they were getting lost).

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A creepy forest tale? I'm all in. The dual narrative was written well and not confusing, like some can be. I love folk horror and stories that take place in the forest or woods. Great job.

I’m a fool for a good spooky forest. Though I found the ending kind if flat, I did enjoy thé journey.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Dark Between the Trees follows five women as they enter Moresby Wood, in search of unraveling the mystery of not only the woods themselves (and what creatures of legend may or may not lie within), but also the mystery of what happened to a group of Parliamentarian soldiers in 1643. The narrative shifts back and forth between the women and the 17th century soldiers as they go deeper into the woods and become more and more entangled in the mystery.

While I thought that portions of the book were suspenseful and atmospheric, I was left feeling frustrated. The book seemed to go on and on without much really happening. When a character does disappear, the other characters just seem to react so oddly and really not in a way that any normal human being would act under the circumstances. The decisions they make don't make sense, and any explanation of those decisions is head-scratching. Maybe the woods are driving them crazy? If so, the narrative doesn't delve into that very much. I found the book to be boring, and kept reading hoping that a heart-pounding event was just around the corner. However, I do love the theme and the setting - just feel that an opportunity was missed.

I'm sorry I didn't like it better, but very much appreciate the opportunity to read it.

This is what I love about horror: a creepy setting, rising sense of dread, and simple but driven characters. I was a big fan of the Ritual (the movie) for its simple plot, forest, and villain so while this story doesn't quite reach its level, this is still a great read.

What I liked:
- The setting. I love a mysterious wood with an unseen creature and questions about how it came to be. The addition of two different times (present and hundreds of years ago) was a nice touch, in my opinion, and made things interesting
- The characters didn't grab me but for a horror story, they were solid. They had different motives and distinct personalities and while I didn't care if they lived or died, I could empathize with their situation and motives
- The monster isn't constantly in your face, which I love. It has limited "screen time" and most of what it does happens outside the characters' view

What I didn't like:
- The ending fell flat for me. It felt like a few mysteries were still left unanswered (which I think was the point) but left it not just feeling unsatisfying but incomplete
- I would have preferred we stick to maybe 3-4 POVs instead of the numerous members of the group. Alice had an interesting POV (because she was frustratingly stubborn) but the men and other women all blended together
- The story could get very slow at times and while there's nothing wrong with this slow burn, I found myself hoping something exciting would actually happen when it never did. However, this wasn't a major issue in the book

Overall, a great read for horror fans who love: stories set in the forest, a sense of mystery and exploration, fans of the Ritual or the Descent, and a clean horror that doesn't rely on discomfort or immorality to creep you out. I would recommend this to other horror fans.

** Thanks to NetGalley, Fiona Barnett, and Rebellion for this ARC **

The Dark Between the Trees by Fiona Barnett will be out October 2022.

The Dark Between The Trees is told from multiple perspectives. A group of academics, map makers, and park rangers are entering the Moresby Wood, an area of England that the locals believe is haunted by The Corrigal, a creature that kills anyone who enters the woods. The lead researcher, Alice, is interested in solving the mystery of what happened in 1643, when a group of soldiers entered the woods, were ambushed, and then disappeared. Only two survived, and they reported to the local priest a story of The Corrigal and of trees disappearing and reappearing. This mystery has become her professional and personal obsession and she finally has a chance to solve it.

This book was really promising! It was atmospheric, supernatural, and horror-light. At times I thought I would be rating it 4 stars. Unfortunately, the ending really didn't do it for me. There were a lot of unexplained loose ends and I disliked that very little was ever resolved. When the book ended, I had a lot of questions, and not in a good way.

2 stars - it was okay

A scary tale of folk-horror and gothic monsters. Don't take it into the woods with you.

In 1643, at the height of the English Civil War, a company of Roundhead soldiers was ambushed, and in an attempt to evade capture, retreated to the nearby Moresby woods. They subsequently disappeared and all but two were never heard of again. One survivor, a deserter, turned up in a nearby village and related his tale to the local vicar, whose notes made their way down the years to a group of women - academics led by a Professor with a burning desire to find out the truth, of both the vanished soldiers and the tales of a wood long haunted by a monster. The story of how both groups are drawn deeper into the woods, and their subsequent fates, is one with more than a few scares.

This is yet another dual-timeline book, which I'm coming to loathe. Yes, it allows the writer to slowly reveal things that otherwise might need to all be presented up-front, but it's a format I'm really tiring of. That said, the story moves forward at a pace, with each chapter alternating between the past and the present. The effect the woods has on both groups is well described and you really do feel the trees closing in on you. The dynamics of both groups, as they succumb to their own fears and the devices of the woods are nicely described, and build up to a satisfying climax.

None of the characters, modern-day or otherwise, are particularly well-fleshed-out, but it doesn't affect the story. There are likeable characters, not-so-likeable ones, a couple you'll sympathise with and a few you'll happily see fed to whatever mobster lies in the woods. At least one character's back-story lends sufficient colour to the narrative for the reader to understand how they came to be here and end up where they do.

Overall, I enjoyed the book, and having been lucky enough to enjoy a Netgalley ARC, will still look forward to reading it again in proper book form.

The author is a regular blogger on all matters Civil War, so clearly knows her stuff. The chapters devoted to the fate of the soldiers in 1643 are compelling, albeit light in historical fact - but that isn't what this book is about. It's about the fates of two groups, separated by hundred of years, slowly moving towards a common revelation. And it's really the woods that are the central character.

Definitely recommended to fans of folk horror and gothic scariness.

I loved this spooky story. The dual narrative was great and I loved the intrepid all female band of Forest Rangers and historians caught in the terrifying woods. The Dark Between the Trees had that genuine sense of dread that is the hallmark of a good ghostly thriller but was satisfyingly twinned with the feeling of a genuine historical foundations underneath the story, The characters are pretty well drawn and the whole style is very visual, I could see it playing out beautifully in a Netflix series! Fiona Barnett has created a genuinely scary new mythology and I never thought I'd be so unsettled by an Oak tree not matter how ancient! I would recommend this book heartily for anyone who likes their summer reading a little more on the dark side.

This one features two narratives four hundred years apart that twine around and echo each other, as a group of Civil War soldiers stumble into a dark and mysterious wood, and a modern day all-female team of archeologists attempt to retrace their steps and solve their disappearance. The publicity mentions the obvious parallels with The Ritual and The Descent, and they are indeed strong, but there’s also a lot of the unresolved eeriness of Picnic At Hanging Rock and the sense of ancient landscape Alan Garner evokes. Very atmospheric, creepy, and a real page turner - I blazed through it.

This is one of the scariest books I have ever, ever, ever read. The premise doesn't seem that spooky - a group of women researchers treks to a British forest to do archaeological work - but you quickly realize that there is WAY more to this forest than meets the eye. Traveling back and forth between the 15th century and present day, this book disrupts the time/space continuum and plays with our perception of reality.

First of all, my gracefulness and major thanks to NetGalley and Rebellious Books for allowing me the pleasure to read an ARC of this book. This review has no spoilers, and is quite detailed, so I would appreciate your patience.

I have grown up reading Satyajit Ray’s various horror stories, and reading Chander Pahar (Mountain of the Moon) by Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay every few months. I have loved, since I was able to read, the thrill and rush of reading horror and adventure. This book reminded me of these works, after quite a long time. This was especially because both Chander Pahar and this novel take place in the forest, with the same sense of disorientation, doubt, an unknown but legendary animal chasing and killing comrades, and finally, the cave. It didn’t feel borrowed, but like two stones is the same alley. This book had managed to scare me off from late night reading, that’s how good it is. And it is honestly an honour to read it in May, because I know when it comes out during the Halloween season, it will fit right in.

Barnett has a gift of building her story and its world. The novel alternates between the group led by Davies, and the group led by Dr. Alice Christopher. The narrative jumps right in, no lengthy exposition, but a constant flow of context while the events don’t cease. Right from the onset, the thrill and horror is built up. It is one thing to include visible ghosts in a story, or a legend that exists only in one version and is quite solid. Nothing such is happening in the Moresby woods; the entity that haunts it is invisible, the forest is conscious and hearing, and the environ not quite familiar in terms of known geography. Common sense and logic are wasted, and not even modern tech stands. It is an unfamiliar world that we are too scared to think of, made quite alive. It is Bermuda Triangle but without casual accounts or conspiracies. It unsettles not just the characters, but also the readers.

The pace of the book was impressive, although around the middle it seemed to slow down. But that was easily overcome, and the story advanced fast. A special mention goes to the end, extremely mature and fulfilling. The slight open-ended way of ending it was also a welcome move, making the story not give up its uncertain nature. The characters were great to follow around and study. It is truly pathetic how the fate of the dead ones turned out, or even of those trapped in the woods. The concept of time was something being hinted at quite early in my opinion, as I could tell the intersection from the moment both parties passed the charcoal pit. But even then it happened it an unexpected way, and was quite exciting to read.

The only areas I felt could be better were, first, the way the Moresbys spoke: English until the 15th century was quite different of how it is now, or even when Shakespeare wrote. And it was certainly nothing like the written language we read frequently. However, for the sake of modern readers, it is an understandable adjustment, although it could have been incorporated better. Even an inclusion of medieval French could fit, since French was at that time one of the most popular languages in Europe. Second, some of the sentences, conjoined by commas, felt a tad bit long.

The way the characters are well developed, and so many of them, that it doesn’t feel like a debut novel. The mix of folk and history, the woes of academia, the risks and thrills of an adventure into the unknown: they all feel amazing. I also like how several questions remained unanswered, although it might be something frowned upon. This is because those have been left unanswered quite strategically, in a way where they don’t feel like plot holes, or become one. It was also an unputdownable read, unless like me you read it alone in darkness in the middle of the night while the weather outside is exactly like Moresby woods.

If you’re looking for the perfect Halloween read that isn’t just mythical beings or plain ghosts, this is it. You’ve found the perfect read.

The Dark Between the Trees tells a pair of tales in alternating chapters. Both take place in the Morseby Wood, a forlorn forest fabled to have a witch's curse and a mythical evil creature known as the Corrigal roaming about it. Half the story is that of a group of Parliamentarian soldiers in 1643 who have escaped battle only to find themselves lost in the Moresby Wood with its numbers being slowly culled. The other half takes place modern day with a group of five women led by historian Dr. Alice Christopher searching for evidence of what really befell the missing soldiers. The story brings to mind a combination of Annihilation mixed with The Blair Witch Project.
It's hard to believe that this is the author's first novel, as the prose is that of a veteran writer. The book wastes no time throwing the reader right into the action of both stories. Each tale parallels the other as both parties become entrenched deeper in the woods, their senses deceiving them the farther they go, and their predicaments sowing distrust and a breakdown of morale. The soldiers' tale is more one of survival as the troop attempts to outrun whatever is picking them off as they fight not just Nature and their unseen foe, but themselves as well. Modern day sees more of a battle of senses as most of the party wants only to abandon their confusing and doomed venture while Christopher becomes an Ahab figure, determined to find her "whale" come Hell or high water.
The narrative maintains a fairly steady build throughout, and while it does feel like it bogs down a bit in the middle, the pace builds significantly in the latter chapters as it rushed towards its finale. Although the ending wasn't as conclusive as I might have liked, I did enjoy the story very much and would definitely consider reading more from this author in the future.

There are some forests that don’t let go. Some woods you can’t enter twice. Or leave. Moresby Wood is one of those. So much more than a mere accumulation of trees.
There have been legends about it, stories told and retold, of witches, of a beast dwelling there. Modern day doesn’t take to legends kindly, wants to analyze and disprove them. And so a small team of women led by a professor, obsessed with local past, set off to explore the Moresby Woods. Their goal is to retrace the steps of the Parliamentarian soldiers who got lost there and never left all the way back in 1643.
The modern team is equipped with the latest in GPS tech and outfitted to a tee, but the place they enter is too forbidding, too dark, too hungry…can anyone be really prepared for that?
Will they fare more impressively than the soldiers centuries ago did?
Read on and find out.
The novel is told through alternating storylines, past chapter/present chapter style, and, while essentially it can be boiled down to people wandering the creepy woods…the author does her best to make it exciting and scary.
It’s a very atmospheric read, you can practically feel the trees closing in around you, cutting off the sunlight. Quite right too, since this is a book best read in the dark.
Slightly repetitive since its protagonists are likely doing loops, slightly distanced because of the character engagement (somewhat low), but overall it does the job right – creates a terrifying Blair-Witch-style-can’t’leave-them woods that makes you glad you glad to stay out of the nature. After all, some things in nature are just…unnatural. Or too natural, maybe. Or supernatural. Anyway…you get the idea. Pretty good read, especially for a debut. Thanks Netgalley.

Many thanks for the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC, I was very excited to receive it.

Being a horror fan I was expecting something between The Descent and The Blair Witch Project. In a way it was similar to both, at times you feel like you’re watching a documentary of the exploration in your head as there is not much prose, the writing style is very realistic and clean.

The dual mirroring timelines felt at times repetitive and a bit boring, and I need to agree that the characters all bleed into one. I liked a previous reviewer suggesting to look at 3 characters 1: the soldiers 2: the women 3: the forrest.

Having said that it is still atmospheric, however there are lots of themes I’ve seen in other films in the same genre.

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

As much as I wanted to be, I was not a fan of this book. For me I think there wasn’t answers or climax to the myth and lore the author had created. I guess if I could put it into a perspective of if I were watching it as a movie, a lot of the scary, or gory moments would have occurred off screen, There also was not a lot of character development as the majority of the book was spent on the build of the supernatural/mythical presents in the woods and so I didn’t feel a connection to any of the characters. I was expecting portions of the book as well as the end to be a lot more intense.

I gave this book three stars because I definitely appreciate the work the author put into creating a mythical/supernatural presence that I had never heard of, that in it self had me trying to research myself which is why I gave it the extra star.

The Dark Between the Trees is a creepy, atmospheric horror story, with dual mirroring storylines set centuries apart. The setting of the story screams tension. I’d like to thank the author, publisher and NetGalley UK, for my copy of this engaging story which I recommend to anyone looking for a fulfilling, page-turning read.

Superbly discomfiting, this book brings alive the duality of Time through the eyes of 2 sets of people separated by centuries. It has echoes of The Ritual and A Field In England, while developing the mystery around folktales and oral history.
In the modern day, a team of female academics find not only their GPS equipment inadequate in Moresby Woods, but also basic maps. Nothing will give a true reading of where they are or help them escape from an encroaching menace. It may be witchcraft, it may be the Jabberwocky-like ‘Corrigal’, but whatever it is, it shows no more mercy to them than their historical counterparts, a band of soldiers.
Foliage shifts, streams change direction, water isn’t fresh, abandoned buildings shouldn’t still exist……
The novel drew me in almost as though Moresby Forest was a real place. Anyone who has ever taken the wrong turning on a hike will recognise the slow unease as darkness falls.

I was provided with an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Here it comes:

Okay. This was delightful.
Not in the way that you usually use that word, no. It was delightful in the way that it was exactly what was promised, and it, to talk in Tiktok terms, gave what it was supposed to give.

This book is about the Wood. The Moresby Wood, to be precise. In the 17th century, a group of soldiers takes refuge in this mysterious forest after being attacked by unknown foes, even though they are aware of the legends surrounding these woods, legends of witches and monsters and death. But they are soldiers, and they are confident that those legends are superstition and that they will be able to defeat anything that comes in their way.

Only two of those soldiers are ever seen again.

In present day, a group of women heads into the wood, to discover what happened to the soldiers and to survey the forest itself. They, too, are aware of the stories, the legends, but they attribute them to folklore and superstition. They walk in there, armed with modern GPS technology, metal detectors, and the works, confident that they will find something interesting.
And oh, do they find something.

Here begins the spoiler part! I will use spoiler tags on goodreads but beware if you read this on another platform.

The POV switches between the women and the soldiers each chapter. As far as characters go, sure, the groups are made up of a bunch of people, but especially at the beginning, they bleed together, making it hard to tell quite just through whose eyes we're looking at the moment. As the story goes on and their numbers dwindle, the divisions between the characters become more clear and they crystallize into complete personalities. I saw some other reviews saying that the amount of names and people was confusing, but if you accept that there's only three characters at the beginning, it could make things easier: Character 1 - the women, Character 2 - the soldiers, Character 3 - the forest.

The writing style is very precise, for lack of a better term. There's not much purple prose here, and I am truly astounded how well the author manages to build suspense through her words. I am not a horror gal, I gotta admit, and I did have to turn the lights on and make sure nothing was in the room with me before I could continue reading. But then, I am a proud scaredy-cat, and other readers might not find this book as terrifying as I did. However, as I said before, I commend the author's ability to build up suspense and athmosphere.

Now, why not 5 stars then? The answer is quite simple. The ending was complete bullshit. It just ends. I was so disappointed. I was expecting some kind of resolution, some definite end point, but it just ends, and I literally said out loud: "That's it???" So yeah. That was super disappointing and honestly? Kind of ruined the whole experience. I'm just gonna pretend the copy I got was missing a chapter or two, because I will not accept that.

I do highly recommend this book, but beware that the ending might leave you unsatisfied, just as it did with me. Otherwise, this is a brilliant little book, and it will stay with me for quite some time.

The plot of the book punched a bit of tension but the confusion arises from jumping from one part to another and to and fro. The characters are not well built and a lot of characters add to the confusion more.
I didn't enjoy the book as much as I thought I'd.