DNF at 50%.

Ugh, I’m so sad that this just didn’t work for me. The concept sounded so cool, and that cover is stunning. I just had a really hard time with the writing style, and felt no connection to the characters. As a character driven reader that’s a big problem for me. I think this might be a case of this not being the right book for me. I really think there will be a lot of people that enjoy it.

I was really excited to read this one because I love the cover and it sounded really interesting, but it fell a bit short for me. I struggled to get into this and wound up DNFing about 25% through because I just could not get into this. Maybe I will pick it back up again in the future. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy!

I enjoyed this book’s plot i found it to be entertaining throughout however i couldn’t connect with the characters as i found them to be unlikeable

Unfortunately I DNF'ed this book around the 100 page mark- too many modern day meme references and I really struggled to get into the story.

What an enjoyable novel with the right amount of tragedy and comedy with some magic, good and bad, thrown into the mix. The Whisperwood amusement park is based on folklore and tales told by elder patriarch of the family about 100 years ago, We join the story 18 months after the current family matriarch,Virginia Strauss, suddenly closed the park leaving the rest of the family angry and broke. Young Frankie Strauss has been helping her grandmother in more ways than one while cahoots with a handsome young maintenance man, Jem.. As the whole family gathers for a celebration of Virginia, things go awry after Virginia throws everyone out and ends the celebration. When Virginia goes missing the next day, Jem and Frankie and her cousins look for her in the park which has become both sinister and alive as new attractions appear and monsters come to life.
Frankie and Jem must solve the mystery of how the park and its fables actually began if they hope to save themselves and her family. Without giving any spoilers, this is an intricate tale with an attention to detail that pulls together the smallest details for the reader. I feel like the whole story deserves more installments and could be come a a great saga.

This was 100% a case of the writing style not working for me at all. I couldn’t connect with the story or characters, and the entire thing was confusing and hard to follow. The first half also had a very different feel from the second half. The little fairy tales interspersed throughout were my favorite part. It was interesting to see how they fit into the story. I just wish everything had fit together more cohesively. I really wish I had liked this one more!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I was so excited for this book based on the beautiful cover and the blurb, the comparison to Knives Out really drew me in! But while I do think this book has a unique and fun premise, I don’t feel like I was the right reader for this story.
For me, the problems began with the writing style. I found a lot of the phrasing awkward, especially the dialogue. I also found the main characters to be flat. I just couldn't fully connect with any of them.
The plot was intriguing but very slow going at the beginning. I had trouble following what was going on at times. The plot did eventually pick up, but by that point I still wasn't fully invested in the story.
Also, there was so much cursing in this book! This didn’t bother me at all, but I feel it’s worth mentioning in case that’s something you know will upset you.
I do think this book might be appealing to younger audiences, or those that don’t mind a slightly slower paced plot.

Pardon me, but what an absolute rollercoaster!

Love, love, loved this book! It's a fun and at time humorous dark fantasy with an intriguing mystery, unique German-inspired folklore, and so much family drama that makes you want to whip out the popcorn. Truly could not put it down.

Thanks to the author for the early copy!

I was so excited when I read the synopsis for this and I found the concept of the German folklore interwoven with the theme-park and mystery to be so interesting. The interspersed fables through the book interweaving with what was going on in the story was the highlight for me and I think it was wonderfully done. But ultimately this book fell short of my expectations. There seemed to be a complete lack of urgency on the characters part up until the last 20% and then everything was a flurry of action.
Frankie was hard to connect with as a character her feelings felt all over the place and the relationship development between her and Jem was fragmented since most of it happened prior to the books opening so we only get snippets in flashbacks, it doesn't help that its overshadowed by her feeling toward another character that goes unnamed for about 50% of the story.
I pegged Jem's story very early on, but I actually liked his character more that really any of the others.

I was excited to read this book given the description and cover, but sadly I felt it just didn't deliver in a way that was meaningful for me.
I thoroughly enjoyed the embedded fables within the story. They were by far my favorite part.
I found the pacing slow, with nothing truly interesting or magical happen until 3/4 of the way through. Then even when the action picks up, it's inconsistent and I found myself skimming the last 10%.
I was never able to connect or care about any of the characters. I would have loved if Oma had been better developed. The romance and teenage angst between Frankie and Jem just didn't hit and was quite unnecessary.
There are minor language uses and slight brutal descriptions toward the end, but other than that this book would be better geared for a younger audience.
Thank you to NetGalley I appreciate the opportunity to read the arc.

Whisperwood is an amusement park owned by the Strauss family—until Frankie’s grandmother abruptly shuts it down. Eighteen months later, the family reunites, only for her to vanish without a trace.

Told from Frankie’s first-person POV, the story follows her search for answers. The attractions are inspired by fictional Appalachian German folktales, woven into the plot with an eerie, Grimm-like quality. The book’s atmosphere is undeniably creepy—an abandoned park, a wealthy family on the brink of ruin, and a mystery begging to be solved.

The beginning felt chaotic, with too many characters and plotlines introduced at once, but despite that, I devoured it like chocolate cake. It had the energy of Riverdale—if Riverdale took place in an amusement park.

I loved the narrator’s voice; it was seamless, funny, and engaging. The fragmented storytelling worked well, and the dialogue was strong. The romance, however, didn’t fully convince me—trimming a subplot might have given it more space to breathe.

Overall, I had a great time reading this book. A strong debut with a compelling blend of folklore and mystery—I think the target audience will love it!

With nods to many, many sources - folkloric, modern film, YA horror - The Whisperwood Legacy turns them all inside out in this fabulous, creepy, dark fairytale. Just when I think I won’t find another author or story to surpass books like The Hazelwood and The Clackity, along comes something new that just blows my mind.

Emerging readers of dark fiction will adore this twisted, anxiety-ridden tale as our protagonists attempt to control a story centuries in the making. Schulte spins a tale that envelops you with sticky little tendrils that just won’t let go until the last little bit of your nerve has been shredded.

This one will be at the top of my October spooky reads list this year. Highly recommended.

This was SUCH a fun and dark and thrilling book to read! I had the best time in this world and fell in love with the characters.

The Whisperwood Legacy promises a mix of German folklore, fantasy, a mysterious disappearance, and a closed amusement park. The mystery and fantasy come in slowly. From the beginning, we see a lot of the folklore that inspired Whisperwood and a weird family.
Frankie's grandmother owns - and lives in - a shut-down amusement park. All the bickering family want the park reopened as a source of income.
With the park's popularity, there seems no reason for the grandmother's decision to close it. But there’s something mysterious in the air, something unsettling. When the grandmother disappears, Whisperwood's danger starts to become clear.
The folklore shines best in this book, particularly when it comes off the page. Too much of the book feels like a showcase for Frankie's dysfunctional family, who are more annoying than whimsical. The abandoned theme park is an interesting setting, but almost feels like a missed opportunity to show more change and decay than the short year-and-a-half closure creates.

I want to thank NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for the ARC of The Whisperwood Legacy by Jo Schulte in exchange for an honest review.

Jo Schulte takes the reader on an adventure through a magical amusement park in this twisted fairy tale. The Whisperwood Amusement park was a favorite among the people in the Appalachian region with the rides that seemed to be straight out of the Strauss families’ storybooks. One day the sole proprietor and matriarch of the family (Virginia Strauss) closed the doors to the park and locks everyone out except the Grounds keeper Jem. Virginia’s granddaughter Frankie is left with conflicting emotions about the closure of the park and what it means for the family’s financial future. It is not until Virigina Strauss goes missing, that Frankie realizes there are secrets hidden within the park and that the fairytales written by her family may be real and dangerous.

I loved the German folklore and the different relationship dynamics that are seen throughout this book. I think young adult readers will be able to relate to this book with the family relationship conflicts and confusing emotions within oneself. This book is good pick for people who are looking for a spooky, magical, mystery read.

What an engaging and twisty tale about the stories we tell ourselves, and how we can be the agents of our own narratives. The haunting German Folklore was a high point, all set against a spooky theme park backdrop and riveting Knives Out family dynamics. This one was hard to put down.

The Whisperwood Legacy is just simply a must read! Generational secrets, a creepy theme park, family drama and twists that are done so well they sneak up on you!! I loved the darkness of this one and the mystery that seemed to never end. Just enough spooky vibes to keep you hooked, and great characters that make it worth it.

Absolute delight to read.

I was so excited to be able to read The Whisperwood Legacy. The spooky cover and carousel along with the synopsis captured my interest. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Overall, I adored this book and think that young adults will as well. The spookiness and eeriness are captivating and keep you wanting to know more. The emphasis on the power of folklore and storytelling are apparent. The stories included regarding the legends of the park were my favorite part and added to the mystery of the events at the park.

I enjoyed the character relationship dynamics. Although most of Frankie's family are money and power hungry, I wish everyone had a friend like Jem.

The only reason I did not give this a five star was the first 40% of the book. I felt intrigued by the legends, but felt bored and confused at times with the main narrative. I'm glad that I stayed the course though because the rest of the book was a fun and wild ride.

Except for that, I loved everything. The atmospheric setting, the characters, and the magic combined to create a wonderful reading experience.

Schulte's debut is not one to miss! The theme park setting, complicated family dynamics, and twists around every corner kept me engaged. I think this is perfect for its YA audience with plenty of humor to balance the creepier elements.

There was definitely a lot going on in this book. I felt as though I was being pulled in multiple directions, and I was not a huge fan of any direction I was being pulled.