Rounding up a bit to 3 stars, but I did overall enjoy reading this and there was a lot to like about it.

The prose was quite lovely; it flowed and had some nice word choices without being too flowery (disclaimer: purple prose is not a turn-off to me 👀). I also liked the three different POVs and how they all gave different perspectives into the world, as well as how the plotlines came together. Where I think both the writing and the POVs where letdown was in the presentation of the story itself.

There seemed to be some issues in pacing, with a lot of the story just feeling uneven to me. While the writing itself flowed, the plot did not. Everything felt quite surface level, especially the characters. Yes, I liked having multiple POVs, but none of the characters really experienced any growth or development. Things and plot happened to them, sure, but the characters themselves remained quite unchanged. They were shallow, and I don't just mean Elisya.

Some great concepts and I loved the dark fairytale feel of this, but I think the execution let it down. The setup of having the first half of the book being setting these characters in motion and them each having their own journeys, their own little road novels, if you will, and then the second half being creepy horror castle is a great idea. The mythology seemed to fit well, though I think more time could have been spent with that aspect. Overall, adventurous, a strong atmosphere, and a ride to read, but a bit of a bumpy ride.

Yes a book with OWN voices! A beautiful Slavic fantasy written by somebody who is a Slavic. This dark folk tale has 3 POVs - so there is someone for everyone to connect with. This was an amazing mystery told so lyrically over 40 years. I am so excited to check out Dunato's career as she builds her fantasy work.

Jelena Dunato has said "Dark Woods, Deep Water started as an image and a feeling."

3.5/5 stars

First things first - I am a Slav and reading Slavic fantasy written by somebody who is a Slav, too, felt like a breath of fresh air, and it felt a little bit like home. It was a special reading experience because almost all "Slavic fantasy" is not Slavic at all and I feel really privileged to have been able to read an ARC of something like this.

I do think that non-Slavs will scrunch up their noses at the narrative structure and some pacing decisions, but it makes PERFECT SENSE. It's unconventional in some places, but trust me, it's JUST right.

The one but unfortunately huge negative was the characters. I ultimately came out of this thinking that I didn't need all three POVs - especially one of them felt unnecessary and I only really connected to one of them. It brought my enjoyment down quite a lot as some of the chapters felt like a chore.

HOWEVER, I will absolutely shout about this book from the rooftops because I think it's essential and all fantasy readers should consider it for their reading lists.

3.5 ⭐'s
Dark fantasy with Gothic vibes.
Nearly 4 stars for me but the first HALF of the book felt like the character introductions would never end, and there were only 3 POVs. Once we hit the forest and castle the story started to pick up (thoroughly making up for the snooze of a beginning) and I flew through it! An ever changing, murky setting, with fates intertwined, and mysterious magics and Gods at work.
I'd be interested in a sequel especially if it had more to do with said magics and Gods.

Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC.

I enjoyed this story very much. Like a dark fairy tale. Hope to read more by this author. I do wish this one had been a bit longer.

One of the best debuts I've read recently.

Dunato wrote short stories before she wrote the novel. And you can see it! The book - especially its first half - has this amazing atmosphere of adventure. "They go, they go, and people, gods and events meet them along the way".
The other half... the other half is full of Gothic horror. And slightly worse.

But let's start from the beginning.

We have 3 POV here - a folk girl, trying to survive, a daughter of a lord, in love with fairy tales, and a companion of a true hero, loyal to the core. Each of the characters is different, has a different characters and life experiences. And their behaviors reflect those differences. Faced with the same threat, the three of them will react differently and draw different conclusions.

It's obvious that the author put a lot of thought into creating the characters.
However, she was not able to avoid some problems. Sometimes the characters behave irrationally, sometimes we - as readers - do not get enough reasons behind this or that decision. It's the most evident in Elisya (young lady) behavior. We have to add up the decades of her life and the reasons why her character developed in this one particular direction.

The Slavic inspiration is more visible in the atmosphere of the story and its ending than, for example, in the monsters etc. You can also see elements rom a Gothic horror here - a mysterious castle, a curse, the lord of the castle, shrouded in evil legend, and his sad, but beautiful, wife.

But was I scared at least once while reading? No.

What fails is the ending.

After a rather slow, unhurried pace of story development, suddenly there is too much of everything. Dunato closes all plots. At the same time. Chaos ensues, which isn't hard to follow, but which causes... boredom. At the moment, when I should be turning the pages with the greatest commitment, I was most bored.
Still - it's a debut, so I'm not surprised by some shortcomings, and I turn a blind eye to them.

What did I like the most? Message.

Want a good life? You must keep a cool head and take matters into your own hands. Nothing good will come from dreaming of knights and someone to save you from the tower

While I did enjoy the book, I was confused about 60% of the time. Dual timelines, 3 POVs, and a plot that really doesn’t reveal inside until the last 30% of the books. There’s still parts I’m shaking my head over, wondering exactly what happened.

I appreciate the opportunity to read this as an arc.
Unfortunately I struggled to get into this one. I managed to get through around 41% before calling it.
The jumping between three stories was my biggest struggle.
I found the rouge to be the most interesting of the three story tellers but sadly not enough for me to continue reading.

I liked the folklore aspects, but the story was too drawn out and dragged for so long it was difficult to enjoy, and the characters needed more details, especially Telani. The ending was a let down as well, and made the whole plot so very underdeveloped.

Dark Woods and Deep Water is truly the medieval, fairytale style story I have been searching for after reading The Winternight Trilogy by Katherine Arden. The POV’s are a bit confusing but only because each person’s side of the story pulls you in and you expect more in the following chapter. Once you get used to it, it’s an incredible read that transports you right into its vivid world of folklore. Side note- Ida kind of reminds me of Birdy from Catherine called Birdy and I love her. Thank you, NetGalley for the advanced copy. I enjoyed it.

A spell binding book, evocative and mysterious. The mixing of folklore and human relationships blends beautifully to create an amazingly compelling book.

dark woods, deep water by jelena dunato is an enthralling novel that captivates readers with its fully fleshed and imaginative worldbuilding. from the very first page, i was transported to a realm where magic and the power of gods intertwines with reality, creating an intricate tapestry of wonder and mystery. dunato's attention to detail and rich descriptions bring the world to life, immersing readers in a place both familiar and extraordinary.

one of the book's greatest strengths lies in its well-written characters. among them, ida stands out as a remarkable protagonist, showcasing a complexity that is both relatable and intriguing. her struggles and flaws make her a believable and deeply human character, allowing readers to empathize with her journey. ida's exploration of her personal issues and the way she addresses them and tries to downplay the traumatic experiences she goes through on the daily add layers of depth to the narrative, making her growth and development at the end all the more satisfying.

as i turned the pages, i found myself hoping for a sequel set in the same captivating world. although the characters may change, the immersive setting dunato has crafted begs for further exploration. the author has created a universe brimming with untapped potential, leaving me yearning to uncover more secrets and unravel the hidden truths that lie within.

while dark woods, deep water left me thoroughly engaged and satisfied for the majority of the story, i must admit that my only gripe lies with the ending. as the plot reached its climax, the pace quickened, and the events unfolded with an intensity that had me on the edge of my seat. however, the resolution felt a tad rushed, leaving me craving a more extended denouement. given the compelling nature of the narrative, it would have been a delight to savor the aftermath and witness the aftermath of the characters' tumultuous journey.

despite this minor qualm, dark woods, deep water remains an exceptional novel that will leave readers enchanted and craving for more. with its fully realized world, captivating characters, and a touch of unresolved intrigue, jelena dunato's debut promises an exciting future for both the author and her fans. i eagerly anticipate her next installment, hopeful that it will provide the same depth and immersive experience as its predecessor.

A good take on the Slavic folklore. It worked for me,but the various POV'S kind of didn't mingle together. Anyways,I was so curious about the goddess of death than it make me anxious to read more of the story. Tank you net galley for having me opinion on this one.

This story is told from three points of views that go between the present and the past. Dark Woods, Deep Water is about the Goddess of Death, Morana, and her servants. This book is fantasy with dark otherworldly elements.
I gave this book 4/5 stars. I really liked the plot of this book and it’s fantasy elements. The characters were all different from each other. The horror aspect of this novel was good as well. I personally think it would be cool for the author to do a book about the Goddess of Death. I started to get into this book at around 3/4 of it. At first, I didn’t really know what was going to happen. I like how this was easy to follow and the multiple POV’S. I would recommend this book to others. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ebook. The opinion is mine.

3.5 stars

A story told with three POV characters that change chapter by chapter.
The beginning is slow paced and introduces the characters and the events that lead them to the curse place. This is about half the book.
The rest of the book kind of derailed. I feel that we were given so much about the characters but somehow not enough about the world for the the climax to truly hit you. It felt like we were going from one scene to another but something was missing in between.
Good imagery and the characters were very good. I had the urge to slap some sense into characters in a "you are written so well this feels in character from what is shown but oh go let me slap you."

Super engaging from the first paragraph, but I wish the POVs meshed a bit better. Definitely cool world building, a neat insight into Slavic myth.

Although I wasn’t a huge fan of the there POVs, the folklore in this was enjoyable. I wasn’t a fan of the characters but enjoyed the storyline enough to finish the book I love when an author writes about folklore and the Slavic folklore in this made this a worth while read.

I loved the world building, and the characters were charming! I have some people in mind to recommend this to. I was personally hoping for some more tension throughout the story.

A very okay novel. The premise is amazing but the povs did not mesh well together at all. The cover is beautiful though.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

The first few paragraphs, WOW!
I was drawn to Idas' story from the start and I wish the momentum with her had kept up.
Telani needed more background and so did the Prince he served.
Elisya was annoying and I don't agree with her ending.
Actually, I didn't like the ending for any of these characters. The ending was so underwhelming and predictable. You almost feel betrayed, haha.

Overall, the story is okay but its not developed well. We are left with way too many questions.