I DNFed and I’m so sorry. I wanted to like this so bad but I just didn’t. I didn’t feel any connection to any of the characters and I really felt like I was forcing myself to push forward.

I’ve been a fan of Chuck Wendig’s work since reading his dystopian duology Wanderers and Wayward. The Staircase in the Woods leans much harder into horror than his other books I’ve read, and while I prefer his dystopian work more than this book specifically, Wendig’s signature grit and relatable (if not always likeable) characters are still very much present here, which I appreciated.

The premise of the book feels familiar in a way: a group of friends, a mysterious staircase in the forest, and a decades-old disappearance. It almost reads like a story you’ve heard before, but it’s executed with such a unique twist that the narrative stays fresh and compelling. The horror elements are heavy: there’s gore, there’s atmosphere, and a total sense of creeping dread that sticks with you from the beginning to the very end.

There is also a nod to nerdier interests (in such a good way!) with threads involving video games/coding that will definitely appeal to fans of speculative horror with a tech twist. There is also some queer rep with one of the main characters identifying early on as nonbinary and pansexual. Though present, it wasn't what I would consider central to the plot.

THAT ENDING THOUGH. It really did take me by surprise though I wasn’t entirely satisfied with where it left off. It’s still killing me that I don't’ truly know what happened next after the final reveal.

Overall, I enjoyed this, despite it not being QUITE the standout as the Wanderer series was for me. I will definitely read more of Chuck's work in the future!

wanted to love this book, I really did. I was a huge fan of the Reddit stories series years ago about the mysteries and bad things that happen when staircases appear in the woods. So seeing this book had me extremely hyped. However, overall I was really let down by this book. It dragged on in the middle and felt completely rushed at the end. At times it was also a bit confusing when they were in the house. I didn’t find it clear that Nick had been in the house before until the friends were discussing it. My biggest gripe is the number of unanswered questions:

1) Since Nick had been in the house before why didn’t he tell them how to get out when he was “himself”?
2) How much time actually passed when they got out?
3) How would Matty disappear as a child and then escape but completely start a new life without anyone knowing?
4) Why does the book end right before they meet Matty again?!?

I wish I could give feedback on this book. I requested this book when it was still possible to transfer on Kobo.

I'll update this review once I read this book on my own.

The Staircase in the Woods is the newest Chuck Wendig novel, and it is the first novel written by him that I have read in a long time, since Blackbirds and the Angry Robot days. I have bought a few of his novels and have watched him find success, particularly with the Star Wars novels that he wrote, but this is the first I have read in close to a decade. It is a shame that it has taken me this long to get back to another Wendig novel, especially since when I wrote the review of Blackbirds in 2016, I said that he was a novelist that should be followed and read. I guess I did not follow my own advice.

His newest novel starts with a group of five friends that were always there for one another during high school. They saw themselves as friends with a bond that could never be broken. Until they were on a camping trip and a staircase in the middle of the woods appears and Matty decides to go up the stairs. He disappears and so does the staircase. After this, the friend group is accused of his death and their friendship dissolves. After years, one of the members, Nick, finds another staircase in the woods, and they decide to climb the stairs to try to find their friend who disappeared years earlier. The horrors that await them are unspeakable. A hidden world unfolds, making the friends face their individual and collective past, their anger toward one another, and their sorrow in and attempt to survive long enough to find their friend.

When I first started reading The Staircase in the Woods, I quickly remembered how Chuck Wendig writes. He uses a tone that feels lighthearted and jokey, even when his characters are in horrible and dangerous situations. There are times when the tone of the writing is what keeps the sadness and fear at bay, as if he is reminding us that these characters are in this story, but it’s still a story. There’s nothing to be afraid of. This tone keeps The Staircase in the Woods from being so bleak and dreary that it is unreadable. The way Wendig writes scenes and chapters keeps us as a spectator and just removed enough from the story to bring too much heartache and sadness. This separation is what makes this novel palatable and effective, and this is why any reader should not hesitate to climb up the staircase in the woods and disappear into this story.

I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

In high school, The Covenant, a group of 5 teens, went for a camping trip in the forest to drink and get high. A staircase appeared that led to nowhere and one of their own, the athletic, popular cool kid (Matty) who had no cause to hang out with the geeks and druggies, was keen to go up. None of the others were, but he called on the covenant, their bond, their promise to each other, and they all said no. He went anyway, the staircase disappeared, and they never saw him again. After that, the Covenant broke up, each going their own ways. One, Hamish, became a real estate agent really into fitness, the one woman in the group, Lor, became a killer video game designer, leaving one of the others who helped her, Owen, with ideas behind to work dead end jobs and give up on game design, and the fourth, Nick, that went to jail for them all after their friend disappeared. Now, twenty years later, Nick calls on the covenant, gathers them into the woods, and another staircase awaits them. This time, they all go up in the hopes of finding Matty alive. Creepy and sinister, the house they find themselves in is a character all its own that tests them – their flaws, fears, griefs, secrets – at every turn, forcing the group of four to lean on each other to try and find the truth and escape the house. Some of the truths break their friendships further and some of them bind them together even more tightly. If you like books by Chuck Wendig, Joe Hill, and Paul Trembley, put this book on your list to read.

After reading The Book of Accidents by this author, I was nervous to pick up another of his books as that one was really confusing and didn’t really work for me. But the premise of a mysterious staircase in the woods where a teen just vanished into thin air was too intriguing to pass up. And I love stories about childhood friendships and bringing the gang back together again, so I gave it a shot. And I ended up really enjoying this!

There were definitely still elements of the story that felt over my head, but this was overall a much more enjoyable reading experience for me. The mystery at the center was so intriguing, and I loved that we got flashbacks to when the group of friends were teens and their friend initially disappeared. I loved getting the background on their friendship as well as it then totally made sense why they would be willing to go to the lengths they would for each other. There is just something so special about the friends you make before you are an adult, and Wendig really captures that sentiment in a very Stephen King-like way. I also appreciated that he made each friend in the group very distinct and gave them their own set of traumatic experiences they were working through as well as their shared trauma. The author also described one thing about a character with anxiety that was so specific to my own anxiety that I was completely floored.

Although the friend group was the highlight for me, I really appreciated this as a kind of twist on the haunted-house story but also kind of like another dimension kind of horror story. I don’t even know what to call it, but I’ve never read anything else like this. The house itself was so well described and just seemed like the trippiest and most terrifying experience to be involved in. But I also loved following the characters as they discovered new rooms and slowly put the pieces together of what was going on in the hopes of figuring out what had happened to their friend. This book really made me think and got under my skin a little bit as I was trying to figure out the house alongside the group (I definitely didn’t figure it out). And the ending was so unexpected for me that I am still piecing myself back together from the shock.

Overall, I can’t recommend this one to psychological horror lovers enough. It is such a unique read and really showed me once again why horror is my favorite genre.

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Chuck Wendig's “The Staircase in the Woods” is an unsettling, atmospheric dive into contemporary horror, blending elements of folklore and existential dread into a gripping narrative. Wendig, known for his sharp prose and complex character development, continues his tradition of crafting narratives that linger long after the final page.

At the heart of the novel is a simple yet haunting premise: a mysterious staircase appears in the heart of a dense forest, defying logic and nature. The protagonist, Owen, is a well-developed character whose personal grief and curiosity draw him and the rest of the characters toward uncovering the secrets of this eerie phenomenon. Wendig excels in portraying the character’s internal struggles, confrontations with past traumas, and the palpable tension as reality begins to blur.

Wendig’s writing is vivid, sensory-driven, and immersive, creating a sense of unease that permeates the entire novel. His depiction of the woods as an almost sentient entity adds to the psychological horror, enveloping readers in an atmosphere thick with suspense and dread. The pacing is skillful, with tension escalating gradually, culminating in an intense and satisfying climax.

However, “The Staircase in the Woods” does have its shortcomings. The narrative occasionally veers into overly ambiguous territory, particularly in its exploration of the staircase’s origins and its broader implications. Readers craving clear explanations or neatly tied conclusions might find the novel’s resolution somewhat unsatisfying. Additionally, while Owen’s character is richly drawn, supporting characters occasionally feel underdeveloped or peripheral, serving primarily to move the plot along rather than contributing meaningfully to the narrative's emotional depth.

Despite these minor flaws, Wendig's novel remains a captivating and chilling read. Its strength lies in the psychological depth and masterful buildup of suspense rather than overt horror tropes or explicit scares. Fans of thoughtful, atmospheric horror that emphasizes mood over shock will find much to appreciate.

Overall, “The Staircase in the Woods” is a compelling, haunting addition to Chuck Wendig’s oeuvre, reinforcing his place as a significant voice in contemporary horror fiction. It is a recommended read, especially for those who enjoy unsettling, slow-burn narratives that challenge as much as they entertain.

A new Chuck Wendig book is always a welcome sight. This one is called The Staircase in the Woods. It’s a novel of supernatural terror packed with emotional depth, if that’s your sort of thing. It’s got a Losers Club meets House of Leaves feel to it.

A quick synopsis: Twenty years ago, five teens found a strange, freestanding staircase in the woods that seemed to lead to nowhere. When Matty climbed it, he vanished. The staircase disappeared too, until it rematerialized two decades later. With its return, Nick, still haunted by the past, calls the group back together to face what really happened.

The staircase is menacing but the real horror involves a house with no exits and rooms that reshape themselves into personalized hellscapes.

Staircase is a fast read that’s surprisingly short for Chuck Wendig at “only” 400 pages. Recommended.

This book hit all of the points for me. I love a story where kids make horrible choices and then those choices come back to bite them in the ass as adults. I thought this story was going to revolve around faeries for the first bit because of the structure in the middle of nowhere, but it definitely gave me a run for my money! I highly recommend this one to anyone who loves to have their mind blown in a terrifying way!

I really tried to get into this one. I know this is a super popular author so my feelings may be in the minority here but I just couldn't connect with the characters and the plot was a little too slow-burn in the beginning and didn't really hook me in.

This was such a wild, eerie ride - and I loved every minute of it. Chuck Wendig has a way of writing that’s both creepy and beautiful, and this book is no exception. The premise is instantly unsettling (a staircase in the middle of the woods? that's a no from me), but it’s the slow build and emotional depth that really got me.

There’s horror, yes, but also grief, memory, and the weight of the past woven in. The characters felt real, flawed, and relatable, which made everything hit harder when the weirdness ramped up. Wendig manages to keep the tension high while also pulling at your heartstrings. Totally recommend if you're into horror with substance and a touch of the uncanny.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

✨ The Vibes ✨
IT for the modern era

📖 Read if…
✨ Stephen King is one of your favorite authors
✨ You’re not afraid of a horror story that gets dark emotionally
✨ You want a book that puts a lot of focus on friendship and found family
I’m a big horror fan, so when I read the summary, The Staircase in the Woods sounded really appealing to me. Unfortunately, I don’t think this book was for me.

The Staircase in the Woods is scary, I will give it that. Some of the scenes and descriptions were downright terrifying to the point where I had to stop reading, which is something that never happens with me. I think Chuck Wendig does a great job of curating those feelings of fear and terror in a way that is very visceral, and if I ever need a book that will scare me like no other, I’ll be sure to pick up another one of his.

That being said, reflecting on my reading experience, there were two main reasons why I didn’t connect with this book. First, it felt very derivative from various horror books and movies I’ve read and watched in the past (IT is the main one that comes to mind). The trope of friends face a scary thing in the woods is fine, if some new and creative elements are added, and this one just didn’t have enough creativity to make it stand out. Second, I found the majority of this book to be sad, rather than scary, which really put a damper on it, especially since it didn’t feel like there was a true redemptive arc for some of the characters. I think if there had been just a smidge more hopefulness, this might have been more of a winner for me.

The Staircase in the Woods is out now. Thanks to Del Ray and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first book by this author. The cover is what captivated me! It was a different story to what I usually gravitate towards but I didnt mind it!!!

Five high school friends swore to protect each other no matter what. When they find a staircase in the woods while camping, one climbs it to explore and never comes back, the staircase disappearing. Thirty years later, the staircase is back. Now it's time to find their lost friend, and whatever else might be hiding in the woods.

We begin in the present day, with some talk about the past. Owen is a nervous wreck, biting his nails and consumed by his OCD thoughts and repetitive behaviors. Lore is a game designer that is currently stuck in her project. Hamish is now overly healthy and works as a mortgage broker. Nick draws them all back together after years of silence saying he's dying and wants to see them before he dies. Of course this guilts them into returning to his side, but it isn't the hotel he promised. Instead, it's the forest where he had found another staircase like the one they saw in the woods when they were teenagers.

Chapters are short and serve to increase the tension. We see how the friendships had gone in the past, and the day their friend Matt had disappeared up the staircase. None of them had gone up at the time, but now they climb the stairs hoping to find him. Their lives have changed drastically since the first trip in the woods, and they aren't close now. It's another layer of tension as the story progresses, and they explore their new horror-inducing surroundings. Each door leads somewhere else, and there are horrors in every room. Some of the horrors resonate with a particular person, some of them echo Matt.

The horrors in the house amplify the horrors of the lives they had before Matt disappeared, ripping into the softer and vulnerable portions of their psyches. It's not just a blood and gore horror, but the horror of lives unlived and the loss of friendship when growing up and they needed it most. This probably hints at how the novel ties it all together at the end, but it's very well done and was so utterly spellbinding, I had to continue to see how it ended. The horror is still there, lingering after the last page is done, and the mark of an excellent book.

Own, Lore, Hamish, Nick, and Matty were bonded as friends in high school when they stuck together and vowed to protect each other. But when they venture on a camping trip the stumble on a staircase that leads to nowhere.Matty decides to venture up the staircase, but none of the others follow. When Matty and the staircase disappear, the remaining friends are left not only under a cloud of suspicion, but grief over their friend. When Nick calls on their bond to get the 4 friends back together 20 years late, they find a staircase again and decide that together they will try and find their missing friend.

The story was a very slow starter for me, it didn't really pick up and grab me until at least 75% of the way through. I really enjoyed reading the author's final word chapter explaining how the story idea generated and how the book was about our different types of friendships we have in life and the difficulty of keeping friendships, how it can hurt when you lose a friendship, and how amazing it can be when you rediscover a friendship.

4.5 stars

I was 100% convienced, based on the first 120 pages that this book was going to be a five star read for me. But once the action started in this story, it kind of made me pump the brakes a little bit. The story took a different turn and I was a little confused as to what was happening but once I got used to this shift in the story, I was on board. Loved the writing so much and I could totally see this story turn into a movie, Highly recommend.

Before I write my review I want to acknowledge how much time, work and effort that authors put into books. It's always difficult for me to give this kind of rating on one of my favorite authors.

This book tells the story of five friends in the late 1990s who venture out into the woods, discover a staircase and only one of them comes back. Later in life they head back into the woods and chaos ensures.

The plot and pacing of this book didn't work out for me. The section of the book where the adults were in the "staircase location" grew repetitive and I was bored. Multiple times I contemplated DNFing the book. The areas of the book that kept me interested were hearing the backstory of the adults as children. I grew to have empathy for the kids and cared about them. But their personalities as adults were incredibly unlikeable. I didn't care about any of them.

The ending felt rushed. The central portion of the characters and what they were experiencing "in the staircase world" should've been drastically edited and the denouement/a-ha moment should've been developed more. Random characters were added that gave us a backstory and reason for the staircase and then the book abruptly ended. The book felt like it promised a resolution with Matty and instead he was touched upon in one chapter and then we were left hanging.

We needed stronger editing in the mid-section of the book and more elaboration in the last 20%.

4.5 stars, rounded down

What a ride this story was. It’s heavy, gory, and filled with trauma. It’s the kind of horror that lingers long after you turn the last page. The pacing is slow for much of the book, but it builds intentionally and pays off in a way that suits the story without feeling rushed or forced.

I’ve sat with this one for a few days, letting it settle before writing a review, and I can confidently say I loved almost everything about it. The flawed characters, the eerie atmosphere, and the sense of creeping dread were all so well done.

That said, a couple of things kept it from being a full 5 stars for me: the loose ending left me wanting more closure, and the story could’ve been trimmed by 30 pages or so without losing its impact. Still, this was a haunting, memorable read I won’t soon forget.

Thank you NetGalley and Del Rey for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

I am always up for a new book by Chuck Wendig. The Staircase in the Woods has a great synopsis, enough to bring you in without giving too much away.

Wendig has done a fantastic job with his characters. The cast is small, this allows his readers to spend more time with each one, really getting to know them. This allowed me to feel like I was one of the gang, going up that staircase in search of our friend.

Normally, I love a book that takes its time, meandering through the lives of its characters. From my perspective, a great story is as much about the voyage as it is the destination. There is an art to making this work, a skill in development and presentation that moves the story forward, while at the same time demonstrating patience. It just didn’t work for me here. There was too much of this story that felt redundant. I don’t want to give any of the story away, but there was a section of the story where the characters were moving, but nothing new came to light; it just got a little stagnant.

That being said, The Staircase in the Woods was an exceptionally creative story. I found myself asking, where do you come up with these ideas? I enjoyed the time that I spent with Wendig’s characters; it was a new, unique experience; I just found myself there a bit too long.

*4 Stars