I had the opportunity to read an ARC of Eye of the Ouroboros by Megan Bontrager thanks to NetGalley! It is an adult fantasy horror as she seeks to find the truth about her sister’s disappearance, only to discover more than meets the eye.

I haven’t been able to say I enjoyed horror before, but this book has changed that for me. The writing is absolutely delicious and captivates the attention immediately. Megan has a knack for making things that are (I hope at least haha) unrealistic in our world, feel like they’re happening to you, right there and then. At times, after a prolonged period of reading, I found myself getting goosebumps while looking out of my window and into the night, or while turning off the lights while leaving a room. The horror is good – creepy, otherworldly, and most importantly, it sticks to you.

Outside of that, it certainly helps that the characters around whom the novel revolves – Theo, Quinn, Delilah, Wesley and, of course, Bear the dog – are all likeable or at least endearing, and most importantly multi-faceted. They feel like real people with real struggles and real flaws, but also enough redeeming qualities for it to hurt when things happen to them. Theo herself is a disaster, in a deeply heart-wrenching way, but rather than coming off pathetic, she has the appeal of a soggy dog on the side of the road. You want to take her in and dry her off, wishing the best for her future. The subtle comedy woven throughout Theo’s internal monologue and interactions with her environment and the other characters is also a shining plus for this book.

Overall, the book was a very impressive 4.75/5, rounded up to 5! I look forward to seeing more from Megan, as well as from Theo and the gang.

This was a really great story! I've not read this author previous to this one and it was so worth going out to check out a new author. The story building was solid and a very new take on the genre. Even though the name is hard to try and say for me, I will have this on my recommend to others list for sure. I cant wait to read some more by this author.

Lovecraftian horror meets good old "don't go in the woods" stories in this gripping and devastating book. Theo's desperate attempts to locate her missing sister land her smack in the middle of something much bigger, more dangerous, and more multi-dimensional than she could imagine.

I was enthralled with this book from start to finish. The premise is really intriguing to begin with, but the opening brings you right into the thick of things and doesn't stop moving until the story ends. The prose is so atmospheric and immersive, and the world is well-built. The pacing of the plot was very effective; Bontrager is excellent at weaving in little details and building the foundations of intrigue for the incredibly impactful reveals she sets up for later. It's part of what kept me so invested!

The characters are well-developed, for the most part; I do wish we could have known more about Delilah or Roman. Each of the individual relationships between Theo and the other characters is so nuanced and specific—particularly her relationships with Quinn and Flora—and it's part of what brings a lot of life to a story that deals with a lot of death. I will admit I found Theo to be a bit standoffish at first, and it took me a minute to warm up to her. That being said, once I did warn up to her I found Theo to be a wonderful narrator and protagonist; she's raw, she's earnest, she's determined, and she cares so deeply that it heightens the stakes of the entire rest of the story.

Overall, this was a fantastically spooky and heart wrenching read that left me wanting more long after I had put it down.

I enjoyed this book and for this to be a debut novel… 😳 All of the genres and with the main character being LGBTQ+ was a great for the story. I am looking forward to see if there is a sequel!

Thank you Megan Bontrager and the publisher for an ARC!

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher Quill and Crow for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the setting, the prose, the characters, I absolutely loved the premise (big fan of stairs in wood stories on Reddit) so for that I think the book will definitely find its audience. It's a pretty solid debut.

There is, however, one paragraph that completely threw me off and I found it hard to concentrate on the book for several chapters ("Do you blame yourself?"). I really don't like finding """"internet culture"""" in the books I read, so it's really more of a personal issue.

I also feel that Theo was thinking too much at times and that was dragging the chapters out. I'd add that the plot was quite confusing at times and I had to reread to make sure I'd got it right, but overall it's a very good read!

Really really enjoyed this novel. Science fiction, fantasy, friendship, action plot and great gay central character. What is there not to like. I do hope there is a sequel. Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book and thank you to Megan Bontrager. Now, let's start with the review!

Boy howdy, what a ride. First things first: I thoroughly enjoyed this reading experience, so much so that I read the book in a day and was hardly able to put it down. So to anyone reading this: I can definitely recommend giving the book a shot, especially if you're into the X-Files or Wynonna Earp. This is the author's debut novel, and I'm excited to read more of her future works! Now, without further ado, let's analyse some key points I wanted to mention in this review...

The plot: Was really good! I liked the world-building and how we gradually learnt more about the Ouroboros and the character's as well as their relationships to each other. The story line was easy to follow and very engaging- there was not a moment where I was bored. That being said, towards the middle I felt that the pacing was slightly off- I wanted it to go slower at one point, so as to have more details and scenes between the characters. Other than that, I enjoyed this reading experience a lot!

The characters: The author was able to make you relate to the characters, even if they were just there for a few pages. Even though you hated some of them, you understood that they had depth and it made the story even more engaging. The main character, Theo, is a very likable person who has interesting relationships to the other two main characters, Delilah and Quinn. I wish there had been more scenes between Theo and Delilah, as I loved the anticipation and tension that was being built throughout the story between them, and they had great chemistry. Quinn and Theo are brother and sister in all but blood, and it was really nice to read a heterosexual platonic soulmates story.

The setting: Eerie! I loved the woods and the Ouroboros and Theo's cabin- it all added to the story feeling a bit dangerous and otherworldly.

The booze: Now, I appreciate it a lot that there were TW's in the beginning of this book, i.e. for the substance abuse happening. But at one point I became a bit fed up with the fact that whenever there was alcohol around, Theo needed to drink it. I understand that it's her way of dealing with the stressful situations she was under, but especially when the stakes were really high, she still drank, which came off as irresponsible and a bit uncaring. But also showcased her addiction- so I'm a bit torn on this one. But there are my thoughts on that.

The ending: AHHHHHHH. I want more. I need more! The author left the ending so that it could be a stand-alone book, but I really hope it is not, because the ending can also be interpreted as having been left open...I really want to return to Theo's world and think that the author's world-building allows for more stories being told, because I want to (need to!) learn more about the Federal Bureau of Reality, the Ouroboros, and the characters in general! So this is me shouting into the void that I need this to be at least a trilogy.

I gave this book only 4/5 and not 5/5 stars because I wish the author had taken more time to write scenes between the characters and because I think the drinking could have been toned down. Those are just my personal preferences and apart from that, the other 4 stars are for the amazing setting, storyline, well thought-out characters and the representation of a layered queer relationship!

⊰ 3,5 stars

First of all, I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Eye of the Ouroboros tells the story of Theodora, Theo for short, whose sister mysteriously disappeared in the woods when they were younger. Theo is on a quest to redeem herself and is determined to find her sister, even all those years later and dedicates her life to the woods as a Park Ranger.

Theo as a character seemed to ramble a lot, at least in her thoughts. Since we read from her POV, we get a lot of insight into her thought process and how she ticks. I felt a lot of compassion for Theo for the loss she has suffered, but that's where my liking of Theo about stopped. My favorite character was Quinn.
The first few chapters were very informational; mostly worldbuilding and character descriptions. I was almost scared that I had misread the description of the book and there wouldn't be any fantasy vibes. The biggest thing that made this book not a 5 star read to me is the description and explanation of the Ouroboros itself. I went back a few times to the chapter where the mechanism of it all was explained, because it doesn't really go in-depth later on and that made me very confused.
I did really love the atmosphere that the author set, it was very well described.

For anyone that is into horror books with a touch of paranormal fantasy, this is for you. The horror wasn't too scary, making this an okay read for at night.

Although I did enjoy the overall plot of this book the pacing and lack of in depth explanation really took me out of the storyline. I was constantly rereading pages to see if I missed something important. The progression of Sator as a villain felt very rushed with little to no explanation of his backstory until the final fight.

I did love the representation of a queer romance in a horror/sci-fi novel, but Theo as a character was not my favorite part to read. Her internal dialog felt scrambled. (This may have been a writing choice).

Overall the mystery kept me reading until the end, but I was more confused than satisfied at the conclusion.

As a National Parks Service Search and Rescue Team, Theo scours the Appalachian forest day and night searching for missing people... and for any hint of what happened to her sister, swallowed by the forest years ago. After years of no results her life seems to be spiraling down, when suddenly she happens unto a conspiracy right out of a bigfoot convention - only this one happens to be true.

This book is excellent: a very well rounded story with very few loose threads character-wise but a vast background lore that remains largely unexplored. Not a complaint - not every question needs to be answered, although I would have LOVED more detail on the Ouroboros itself.

The main character, Theo, is not wholly likeable but she's very easy to empathize with. I mean, who wouldn’t upturn the very fabric of reality for a loved one? The rest of the cast feel equally close to the reader – just real people with merits and flaws, who make mistakes and deal with the consequences however they can.
So, pick up this book if you’re into:
- Strange disappearances in the forest
- Big conspiracies!
- Sapphic pining
- All of the above

This book held my attention to the very last second. I think that's the part I want to highlight the most. The pacing and tension was absolutely superb.

Secondly, I found the characters very relatable. Even when they made shitty decisions (and they make a lot), I could still follow their line of logic. I personally don't mind when characters make bad calls as long as I can understand why they do it. And that was very much the case for this book.

Thirdly, the writing itself was super smooth. It wasn't overly pretty, necessarily, but it flowed in a way that made the book hard to put down.

Lastly, the first half had the definite feel of a mystery and thriller while the latter half of the book veers into territory that leans a lot more horror and dark fantasy. I found it a very natural and organic progression.

I don't want to spoil anything too badly, but let's just say that I'm a sucker for (semi?)tragic endings.

A book that when I was not reading it I was constantly thinking about reading it. Every waking moment that I wasn't reading this book to it's completion I was wishing whatever task I was doing would go by faster because I just wanted to read this book.

If you like SCP horror with a lesbian main character then this is the correct book for you. If you like park rangers who fight for their lives as unspeakable horrors begin to invade their day to day lives, then this is the correct book for you.

The main character Theo is a badass who I'd trust to have my back in a knife fight honestly. Her devotion and navigation of the world makes for an extremely good basis for a narrator of the story. I enjoyed her thought process and I enjoyed that despite her 'not being like other girls' it wasn't one of those things constantly shoved in your face. The fact that she was different from Delilah in demeanor and dress and pretty well everything wasn't set as though you were setting the two women against each other. But rather that they were complimenting one another by picking up where the other lacked.

I can't wait to see what else this author does and if we get more world-building into this same universe with the next novel she chooses to write.

4.5 ⭐

this was such a good book! from the very first chapter, i was enchanted by the writing and the plot -- and the characters quickly won me over too! there’s a creepy atmosphere throughout the book that brings out the eeriness and the mystery without being too much, and the questions that are raised keep coming back until they’re eventually answered.
the book talks a lot about grief and the guilt of those who were left behind, and i felt like the author did a great job there. i could really feel how much theo was hurting and her internal struggles. another thing i loved was the platonic relationship (quinn!!!!!)

overall, i really really really enjoyed this book!! i can’t wait to see what the author will keep doing next.

thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was a little too… flowery. I think I would have given this a 5 star review had this book been a bit shorter with less dialogue in Theo’s head. It wasn’t bad, per se, but it got a bit tiring to read so many of her thoughts.

Otherwise, I really enjoyed this book! Creepy, but not so creepy that I couldn’t sleep at night. Interesting and fast paced so I didn’t feel bored. The sense of urgency and fear kept the story moving pretty quickly. I LOVED the spooky random stairs and doors in the woods - it reminded me of a story that I was obsessed with on the r/nosleep subreddit.

I liked Theo as a main character and I thought her ending was perfect. She obviously has a lot of guilt about her sister’s disappearance, seen through her self-destructive tendencies and alcoholism, and it was intriguing to follow her along. Her flaws were really well written.

First ARC of the year and what a book to choose. I loved every single page of this book.

The first chapters built the character of Theo so well that it felt like you had known her all of your life. The tangible sense of grief and blame was apparent from the offset. The way that the family dynamic was portrayed perfectly demonstrated how the loss of a family member can affect a family.

Each early chapter left just enough unanswered, small hints of the unknown, that you just had to read on.

As the story developed, the new world and the old world of Theo merged excellently.

There wasn’t a single plot line which wasn’t needed, even if I didn’t always like the outcome (won’t spoil it). A superb story.

4 star rating for this title.

I chose this title simply due to its cool cover. I've picked many books this way and although not all are necessarily good, doesn't mean there aren't any bad ones either. "Eye of the Ouroboros" was somewhere in the middle. The premise of the book after the cover is what got me to download the book and I eagerly finished my library book to immediately start this right after.

I felt like this could have been a 5 star read had the author not put in so much fluff when Theo was in her own headspace while describing things. Do we really need ostentatious descriptions? It also started off really slow, of course you get to know all the characters really well, BUT the caveat is that it kind of starts to drag after awhile. No real juicy bits of information start to flow until chapter 8. To me that was way too long. I'm not one to stop reading a book unless I find myself dreading to finish it, but I can see why anyone would want to do that to this book. Once you get to the crux of the story things still aren't fast rolling, but nonetheless you get to the climax. And it's GOOD.

What made me give this 4 stars was the reason Theo finds herself in the situation that she is in. I don't want to give away any spoilers so I won't mention what it is, but I really liked that part of this book! It was fun to read what the author cooked up for that and it really made me think about a lot of things. If you're a fan of the paranormal, the strange, or the unexplained then you will like this book. It reminded me of the podcast "Monsters Among Us" I could not stop thinking about the podcast while reading this.

Besides the fluff and the slow going story, the author has a unique way of writing that made me love the characters. Messy as they were or extremely loyal and loveable. These characters are ones I probably won't forget for a long while. Megan Bontrager really knows how to write a character and for that I applaud her for writing this book.

The fact that this is a debut is INSANE. Bontrager’s prose is to die for, and so visceral that I could literally see, smell, and taste parts of this book. (Yeah, it’s just as unsettling as it sounds. In the best way.)

Theo might not be everyone’s cup of tea but damn it she is mine, and her story had me hooked from the very beginning. She’s a grumpy park ranger trying to unravel the mystery of her sister’s disappearance and the creepy forest where she works while dealing with the grief and guilt that comes with it. From portals and conspiracy theorists, to the mysterious stairs and doors in the woods a la r/nosleep, I loved all the supernatural and horror elements and could not put this down.

I was SO surprised by this book! Part thriller, bit horror. Hemlock Grove, Slenderman, Dark Matter and The Umbrella Academy vibes. SO AMAZED.

#EyeoftheOuroboros #NetGalley

I requested this book simply because of its description. I haven't heard about the author before and had no idea it was a debut novel. I was very pleasantly surprised. This book doesn't seem like a debut. The plot is very well crafted, characters are easy to like and root for, the language is very good and the pacing doesn't let you take a deep breath. I will definitely follow the author to see her future work. It deserves 5 stars.

actually amazing. i'm a big r/nosleep lurker and this was like a wet dream to read. horror/sci-fi novels are notoriously hard for me to not be picky with, but i thoroughly enjoyed this one. Theo is an amazing FMC and she sacrificed everything for her sister. i loved Quinn and Wesley too. the little bits about equivalent exchange and the Truth scratched my little FMA loving brain. definitely recommend to people who enjoy freaky stuff alongside some portals and a kickass FMC.