Y’all. THIS BOOK!!!

As someone who does not want to have children, I appreciated this book sO MUCH. It’s basically all of my greatest fears about child bearing and rearing manifested. And I’ll imagine reading this book as a parent is an even wilder experience!

But this is just so, SO GOOD. What a well written, haunting tale. I read this a lot at night, in the dark on my kindle, and there were times when I’d have to read just a few more chapters before I could comfortably sleep without this book seeping into my dreams.

Ghost stories (or some ~version of them) always get me, y’all. And this is soooo creepy and well done! Can this also be a movie, like, immediately? It would be even scarier on screen and I am here for it!

So. Loved this. I’ll definitely be thinking about the black haired woman, uh, forever???

I also just loved the ~way this was written. I’m not usually a huge fan of dual timelines but it really worked for this story. I appreciated both Olivia and Shannon’s stories and liked them equally. So. This was just all around well done! Could not recommend this more highly! If you’re looking for a good little horror number, please pick this up!!

And thank you to NetGalley & Poisoned Pen Press for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review!

Thanks so much to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the e-arc I received in exchange for my honest opinion.

Graveyard of Lost Children is the first book I’ve read by Katrina Monroe. It is about new mom Olivia and her new baby Flora and Olivia’s belief that Flora is a changeling. Olivia herself survived being murdered as a baby by her own mother who felt the same way about her. Now Olivia is seeing a dark haired woman everywhere, is she real or inside her head and what does she want?

Reviewing this book is a bit difficult for me. Part of me wants to give it 2 stars for being a bit too long and not being scary but also 3 stars because I’m not a mother. I didn’t dislike it but did not love it because I think to find it the least bit scary you need to be a mom or at least a parent which I am not. I can only imagine how exhausting being a new mom must be with this little tiny being who is 100% dependent on you for everything. While I found this book lacking in supernatural scares I did find it an interesting depiction of what postpartum depression and psychosis must feel like.

I’m not sure I will read another book by the author.

Almost as soon as Olivia gives birth to Flora she feels that her new baby isn't hers. Her wife, Kris, isn't the supportive and caring partner she needs. The twist, however, didn't quite work for me. The plot of the book was well thought out, but the supernatural side of the book felt convenient. I also struggled to connect with the depiction of PPD. As someone who struggled with it following the birth of my youngest daughter, I also felt the mixture of mental health and supernatural just infuriated me more than entertained me.

I appreciate access to this ARC.

New mom, Olivia Dahl, thinks something is wrong with her daughter. She tries to fake her way through new-mommy-hood, but no one seems to see or understand Olivia's concerns. She begins to slowly deteriorate, not even her wife, Kris, can ease Olivia's mounting paranoia. Soon, she becomes plagued by waking nightmares of a black-haired woman, Olivia turns to her own mother, Shannon, who was committed after attempting to kill Olivia at four-months-old, but had experienced the same hallucinations.
Told in alternating POV of Olivia (in 3rd person) and Shannon (through journal entries in 1st person), this book is creepy and utterly dark as Katrina Monroe explores postpartum depression (PPD) woven with supernatural elements. The use of alternating POVs adds to the element of fear, suspicion, and paranoia for the reader (what part of the narrative can we actually trust? Who is sane?) without losing the credibility of both narrators. Monroe is masterful in describing gore and viscera that literally made my skin crawl.
Overall, this was a psychological horror with supernatural elements that kept me up at night! It was very realistic that Olivia tries to solve her mental health crisis alone as it is difficult to reach out to trusted resources safely. The ending was a bit rushed in terms of resolution, in particular, in regards to the shady psychiatrist, which didn't match the pacing of the book as there are also instances that feel repetitive. A solid 4!

This book is toll from two different points of view wanna Shannon the mother and the other is Olivia the daughter both have given birth to children and ultimately suffer from some form of mental disorder. Olivia lives with her wife Chris and their new baby flora as Olivia unravels her wife Chris tries to be supportive encouraging in even tense to the baby to let her get some rest but it seems Olivia has too much time on her own she is hallucinating and paranoid and knowing that her mom Shannon suffered from the same debilitating illness she is also worried about what this may mean for her in Little Flora. when Olivia was in college she found out about the devastating actions that put her mom where she is today and threw letters we find out from her mom‘s point of view what happened this book truly has a Gothic feel and I kept waiting for something to happen but mostly felt like this was much to do about nothing, but having said that I feel like I am under selling the book. It is a good intriguing read that holds your attention in anticipation but I didn’t feel the payoff was worth the long read. I think this may have more to do with the reader than the writer because I kept waiting for the Gothic feel to flow into the horror I am used to and although they had aspects of that I guess I was more disappointed than anything else but I still continue to read and wanted to finish the book. As a literary fiction book with slight aspects of a Gothic feel and A slight sample of horror I was interested in the ending as a mom who hallucinated that I had bugs coming out of my skin I could totally understand the turmoil a baby can put a woman’s mind and body through I only think God it only lasted 42 days and went away seemingly instantly as opposed to the suffering the moms in this book went through I would definitely say this book deserves four stars because at no moment what are you rolling your eyes are shaking your head in disbelief because all of it was believable because I know this to be all too true it was totally tragic as well I guess I just was expecting more than I got but still a definite solid read. I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

I think readers who have children or want children will be able to relate to this book but I really couldn't relate to this one and couldn't bring myself to enjoy it. Even though it was in the horror genre and there was some creepy stuff going on there was also the idea that it could be strictly post partum issues so it leaves the reader to decide. This story was heavily focused on children and motherhood and I just didn't enjoy it even when there were some weird unexplained things going on.

This book was so good!! I didn’t know what to expect going into it, and I haven’t seen it around Bookstagram much. But I was hooked pretty much instantly.

I loved the ghost story vibes of this one. It left me wondering what was real and what wasn’t, and it took me until the end of the book to fully understand what was going on. But I really liked that because it made the story more ominous.

The author takes the concept of postpartum depression and turns it into something else entirely. I could relate to so many things that were talked about in the beginning…but then the wild ride started and I’m happy to report that I couldn’t relate as much anymore.

Definitely recommend this one if you’re in the mood for something a bit spooky and unsettling!

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press for my gifted copy!

I was enraptured with Katrina Monroe's talent since I discovered her debut novel, THEY DROWN OUR DAUGHTERS. Her newest, GRAVEYARD OF LOST CHILDREN (Release May 9), is equivalently stunning and I predict will touch the hearts of every mother and grandmother, and anybody who feels! Olivia and Shannon and even Shannon's mother (a tougher lady to admire) elicit empathy even as they err and sometimes fail. I think GRAVEYARD OF LOST CHILDREN will be especially poignant for new mothers; but then, what mother forgets those early days? So, apropos for us all!

Even though the theme of mental health (postpartum depression, Imposter syndrome--where the newborn is viewed as a changeling) is strong throughout, and heartwrenching, as a number of young mothers strive to work through loss and grief and their own troubled minds, there is also an ongoing thread weaving through that could be considered Paranormal (and I, of course, choose to do so), with the mysterious, elusive, recurring, mostly undesired, "black-haired woman" (which I continually noted as "black-eyed"). I think this is a case when the reader can choose for herself: is it strictly psychological? Is it psychological fomenting by Paranormal? Or is it solely Paranormal?

Mommy dearest…

One of the reasons I love the thriller/horror genre is that it allows for deeper messages to be embedded in pacey, suspenseful plots.

Monroe tackles postpartum depression in her latest novel, Graveyard of Lost Children. Don’t let the title spook you, there isn’t a literal dead baby field.

The book is told in two timelines and in two POVS.

The first is Olivia, who’s a new mom to hell child Flora. Kris, her wife, is doing the best she can to support Olivia but she believes her wife is becoming unhinged. Olivia is convinced that Flora isn’t really Flora and that she is literally sucking the life from her breasts.

We then learn that Olivia was almost killed by her mother as an infant. Olivia hasn’t seen her mother since she was committed. Shannon, Mommy Dearest enters the chat.

We learn in Shannon’s POV what led up to the attempted murder of Olivia. The two stories convene in the present day with baby Flora in the middle of it all.

The writing, pacing, plot and character development are all fine and good. I think this is a case of me not the book. I just recently watched the movie Abandoned on Amazon Prime and it has a similar plot. There’s A LOT of content dissecting this subplot and I think I’m just mommy’d out.

I’m childfree and there are a lot of books about motherhood I enjoy like The School For Good Mothers, but this one is so technically and emotionally linked to motherhood that I just couldn’t latch.

Thank you Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for this advanced copy!

I requested this one off Netgalley on author’s name alone. If I hadn’t read Monroe’s work before and thought highly of it, it’s difficult to tell whether this book would have attracted me by description alone. I tend to stay away from mommy thrillers aka books with main focus being on mothers’ relationships with their children, mothers trying to have children, mothers mothering children, etc. at all costs.
But then you give the theme to someone talented enough and they’ll do something wild, strange, and original with it. Like here.
In Monroe’s book, motherhood is a nightmare. Because really it is. If you take the hormonal mushiness out of it and view it objectively, it’s terrifying. And this book is so very good at highlighting all those terrors an exhausted (and post-partum) brain might weave.
The plot centers around a first-time mother who is slowly driven mad by her baby. Isolated and turned essentially into a feeding machine for a voraciously hungry creature she doesn’t know how to love, with no real support from her wife or family, the woman starts suspecting madness. It is, after all in her genes. Time to track down her long-locked up mad mother and ask? Yeah, just how well that’s going to play out, you think?
The real success of this book is in its claustrophobic atmosphere and vividly rendered slow psychological unraveling of a person.
I read it during the same week I watched Rachel Weisz spectacular remake of Dead Ringers and the combination was horrifyingly awesome. If that doesn’t put people off motherhood, nothing will.
But of course, the thing is…NOTHING WILL. Doesn’t matter the complications, dangers, or ramifications. Mommyhood always comes through, all shining and desirable. Even in stories like this. Presumably because the authors are mothers themselves and once that drive kicks in…
So the ending is something of a letdown. Or rather a softening of an otherwise razor-sharp blade of a novel. But otherwise, it’s a really good read. For fans of dark psychological fiction. Recommended. Thanks Netgalley.

Such a horror book and loving this book!! I was not very disappointed. This book is fully loaded with horror, thriller, mystery, depression, fear, and anxeity.

While reading through the book, all the characters were great. It was such a dark and horror story. It gives me goosebumps. Literally!! Creepy! I definitely love this book. It wasn't boring. It was very entertaining!

Five stars and definitely recommend to read this book!

Thank you to Katrina Monroe, Netgalley, and Poisoned Pen Press for the eARC! All opinions are my own.

I think I was drawn to this book because it was sapphic and also because I hadn’t read a horror in awhile. Unfortunately, I DNFed this for the most petty reason. I guess I didn’t really read the description when I first heard about this book, because I didn’t realize there was childbirth and children involved. As someone who is child free by choice, I rarely gel with books where the main character has a child.

I love a good psychological thriller and this one is nothing short of just that. A tale of love, loss and postpartum depression. An exploration of mental illness and the idea that sometimes it may just be something more sinister.

In this story we meet Olivia and her partner Kris. Olivia has just given birth to a daughter, Flora and almost immediately feels that something just is off. While this is supposed to be a time of rejoicing, Olivia is not feeling that at all, instead all she feels is dread.

Olivia herself has a very dark past. At the age of 4 months old her mother tried to murder her because she believed that she had been taken by who she calls "The Black-Haired woman" and replaced with an imposter. Her mother has been committed to a local asylum for her entire life but as Olivia learns more, she realizes that the same thing is happening to her. The Black-Haired woman has come for her and her child. Olivia believes herself to be going crazy and is afraid to tell anyone for fear of being committed herself, but she is convinced that her daughter is an imposter, and she will do anything it takes to get the real Flora back. Can she unravel the mystery before it's too late and get back her daughter?

This story is told from two different perspectives. On the one hand we have the view from Olivia, her new adventure into motherhood and dealing with all that comes with that. On the other hand, we have the view from her mother Shannon as she appears to be writing in a journal to Olivia, recounting her story of how she got pregnant, ended up in the woman's asylum and her own dealings with The Black-Haired Woman. This book has a different take on postpartum depression-setting it as a horror story. The book giving postpartum depression a physical form and an interesting take at that one. The story asks hard questions about what it means to be a mother. It explores all the expectations that come along with motherhood as well.

Overall, it's a solid story. Exploring mental illness and what that means not only in today's society but also what it means as mothers. Often, we feel pressure to be the "Pinterest mom" or the Instagram worthy mom. We push aside the notion that we might be struggling and then become overwhelmed and hopeless. Despite the mental illness fads, we often see on social media, there is still a stigma regarding mental health. There are ramifications for either seeking or not seeking help, especially when children are involved. I received this book free from NetGalley for an honest review.

I loved Monroe’s They Drown Our Daughters and Graveyard of Lost Children has the same dark gothic feel.

Olivia, a woman whose mother suffered from terrible delusions when she was born is now suffering the same as her baby girl is born. A black-haired woman appears to Olivia, as she did before to her mother, bringing up old and new traumas.

Lord have mercy! This book! There’s a sinister undertone throughout and I was never quite sure if there was something supernatural occurring or if it was a case of PPD or generational trauma or a mixture of both.

Thoroughly enjoyed this one! Putting Katrina Monroe on my auto-read list!

Graveyard of Lost Children by Katrina Moore is a haunting tale of a women facing deep postpartum depression. This book was unputdownable. The Black-Haired Woman she saw was horrifying and haunted my dreams for sure. Loved the book!!
Thank you NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press and Katrina Moore for the ARC for my review.

Graveyard of Lost Children by Katrina Monroe
Other Books by this author: They Drown Our Daughters
Affiliate Link: https://bookshop.org/a/7576/9781728248233
Release Date: May 9th, 2023
BISAC Categories: Ghost, Horror - General, LGBT - Lesbian, Occult & Supernatural, GothicThrillers - Supernatural, Women, Feminist

Sub-Genre/Themes: Reads Like a Thriller, Mystery, Human Monsters, Strong Women, Psychological, Folklore, Cursed, Haunted, Motherhood, Family Drama, Institutions, Postpartum Depression, Changelings, Secrets & Lies, Mental Illness

Writing Style: Intricately plotted, Multiple POV, Descriptive/Detailed

What You Need to Know: I think it’s important to know that this is a plot-driven story. Even though the central characters, Olivia (present-day POV) and her mother Shannon (past POV) have all this page time with the reader, I still felt detached from them, less like authentic people going through trauma and more like general women in a larger narrative. Not necessarily a bad thing, just a good thing to know in order to set early expectations. And of course, every reader’s mileage may vary. Also, the “black-haired woman” mentioned in the synopsis felt cliched at first due to iconic, horror movie imagery of black-haired female ghosts, but I still find it scary. It worked on me.

My Reading Experience: This book is a psychological thriller dealing with themes of postpartum psychosis as a generational affliction but with some welcomed horror elements.
There are dual timelines, Olivia and her partner with their new baby, Flora, and a look back on the events in Olivia’s mother’s life leading up to Shannon being institutionalized for throwing baby Olivia into a well. Sometimes, when there are dual timelines, I will favor one storyline over the other which makes me want to hurry through one of the timelines just to get back to the other one I find more intriguing and that was the case with Graveyard of Lost Children. I preferred the present-day story. Some of the chapters with Shannon at an institution were confusing. I lost the threads of the story a few times.

Olivia’s mental health crisis is disturbing and terrifying. There were times I felt like I shouldn’t read the book at night. The whole “black-haired woman”/ bent-neck lady imagery from movies is scary and this book plays with the trope well. I also enjoyed the way the author explored the stigma of teen pregnancy in some families. As Olivia’s postpartum condition worsens I enjoyed questioning her reliability.

As things escalate toward the climax/ending, everything straightens out and I appreciated the way the author ties things together but I’m not sure I liked where we wound up. A Deus Ex Machina.
The overall message and the introduction of motherhood folklore as a symptom or causation for postpartum psychosis. I feel like it crossed a boundary. I can’t really say too much about it with spoiling some major plotlines, so I’ll have to wait until more people have read it.

Final Recommendation: I absolutely love motherhood themes in horror and I will be recommending this one in big lists of books to read if you enjoy them too. This book is compelling, entertaining, and pretty scary at times. Unsettling and creepy. I definitely wouldn’t read it if I was a first-time mom–the newborn/changeling stuff would freak me out.

Comps: Baby Teeth by Zoje Stage, The Push by Ashley Audrain, Beneath Cruel Waters by Jon Bassoff

I struggled with Monroe's Graveyard of Lost Children, which was a bit of a disappointment considering how much I enjoyed They Drown Our Daughters last year. I do want to make it clear that this is not at all a reflection on Monroe's writing abilities. The writing was lovely, the emotions palpable. But the middle section of the book was slow and a bit repetitive, and I could feel myself losing interest.

I don't know, this one might be one me. I think I need to just opt out of horror books about motherhood/birth trauma at this point. Lately they feel more like a miss than a hit.

I feel weirdly bad not liking this book. It seems like I almost have to. But I didn’t. I was bored and found it to be predictable and trite. I don’t know what would have made it better.

When I tell you this book had me extremely unsettled… I mean it! The story centers around new motherhood with heavy themes of postpartum depression/postpartum psychosis that were so vivid and dark, I felt completely submerged at times. At one point in the story, I got genuine chills. The mental health themes that were explored were very unsettling but appealing to me as a reader.

There were a couple of confusing bits and the book started off by gradually building the dread but kind of plateau around the middle for me which was a bummer but I still enjoyed this book.

Thanks to Sourcebooks and Poisoned Pen Press for letting me enjoy this book early in exchange for an honest review!

Whoa...whoa...whoa! This is a dark, deeply twisted, disturbing read. That will take you in its skeletal grip and not let you go. It is a slow burn that quickly builds steam, making your mind bend and warp in directions you did not expect or want to go. As a mother I was flung back to the days of having an infant. The exhaustion that I have never experienced before. Everything is out of your control and in the control of a tiny crying human. Completely and totally dependent on you for everything. You on the other hand are hanging by a thread.

There is much more to this story than the beginning of a human life. It is about the dark, untalked about issues that Olivia has never faced before. Her mother committed early on in her life for trying to kill her. She does not ask questions, and no one gives her any information. Leaving her to dwell on just how dark her mother is. The woman who still sits in the hospital. When Olivia and her wife Kris are pregnant, thoughts begin to circle Olivia's mind. Dark, horrific thoughts. Thoughts that everyone in her life has told her never to talk about or you too will become committed. Once Flora is born and utter exhaustion hits, Olivia begins to see things, and hear things. Is this what happened to her mother?

Wow! This book will take you on a ride that you will not expect. You will go down dank, chilling wells of thoughts that are beyond your comprehension. Until the final few chapters begin to shed light on what has been occurring this entire time. Making you wonder if there is a little dark-haired woman in all of us? Thank you to Katrina Monroe and Poisoned Pen Press for this uniquely twisted book.