This was a riveting, suspenseful, magical and realistic historical horror based in the year and country I was born in (Estonia 1989), so this had a special place in my heart. I’m also a bit biased, yes, but I really enjoyed the story, the characters, the writing, the atmosphere, the realistic horrors of Soviet occupation. The author clearly did a lot of research and I respect and was so excited for Estonian horror representation. As I most recently returned from visiting Estonia myself, including a bog, I was able to really hone in on the horrors and myths around bogs, and how people get easily lost in their eeriness where very little life can survive there, and prolonging your stay can make you dizzy. Bogs are so eerily silent that I can imagine in pitch black lighting, having no sound as point of reference can be disorienting.

Back to the story, I loved the sisterhood between characters, the endless conspiracies, the real fear of hiding from Russian soldiers, and the determination right to the very end. I enjoyed the spooky and science-fiction elements. And I loved how the ending tied into some real events around Estonian liberation. Very powerful and inspiring. Highly recommended for those that have never heard of this little part of the world and its sacred connections to nature. Especially if you enjoy a slightly more innocent perspective where it feels like a game of cat and mouse in the woods/bog.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced readers copy.

4.25⭐️

This surprised the heck out of me, I enjoyed this so so much. The slow burn pacing and subtle unraveling of the mystery worked so well for me, I couldn’t put it down.

I found Vik to be a really compelling and relatable character, and appreciated reading about such an authentic experience with mental health and grief, with the backdrop of an oppressive, tense, and paranoid political landscape.

I loved the subtle creeping dread that persists throughout the entire novel as Vik unravels this mystery…and like all great horror novels, the truth is more horrifying and distressing than any of my theories.

I also loved the ambiguity for most of the novel around whether there’s a presence of supernatural/paranormal forces or not. I LOVE when you have to ask yourself “is there something supernatural going on? Or is there a rational explanation?”

My absolute favorite aspect of the book was Viks cards and how each chapter relates to one of her cards. I loved the inclusion of the cards and how Vik used them to reflect, guide, comfort, or ground her.

While on the surface this books reads like a folk horror, there’s also so much more to it, like themes of identity, family, friendship, forgiveness, and mental health. I highly recommend to anyone craving a really good slow burn, unnerving, unraveling mystery.

Also shoutout to the fox for being an absolute DELIGHT every time she was on page

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for an e copy of this book, all opinions and thoughts in this review are my own

“And The Trees Stare Back” by Gigi Griffis is speculative literary horror at its finest.

Flawless writing, an authentic voice and keen storytelling abilities, make for a deeply emotional and disturbing reading experience. This high-caliber novel isn’t some tour through a haunted house or a jump-scare fest. Heck, I enjoy those so much too; it’s quiet horror and it is so much worse, so much deeper, and inherently reflective of the realities of Estonia’s history, under an oppressive, imperialistic Soviet Regime.

Vik blames herself after the bog takes her little sister, Anna. Five years later, Anna returns, but she hasn’t aged and no longer speaks Estonian, so is it Anna at all?

There are some fascinating and genre-bending twists that I won’t even hint at. The characterizations of the people, the setting, the atmosphere of suspicion and paranoia, the weight of heavy oppression, dire uncertainty, superstition, loss of identity, the flattening of an entire culture, creeping dread, deadly sinkholes, the dangers of the bog, the secrets of the woods, the black hearts of power-hungry men — there’s a lot to unpack and process.

By the end, this is a heart-wrenching, unnerving, and terrifying read which is superbly executed and deserves every one of its 5/5 stars.

Do not to miss the author’s Historical Note and The Mental Health Note found in the back matter of the book.
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Big thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for the chance to review this book pre-release. And the Trees Stare Back wasn't the horror I expected it to be, but I really liked it none the less! It was an atmospheric coming of age, dressed in folk horror, which was really unique in itself. This is my first read from this author, but I'll be keeping an eye out for future releases.

I really enjoyed this book. A bit of folk horror, a bit of political horror and some mad scientist thrown in there.

My favorite part of was the setting and time the book took place. I knew nothing about Estonia or its ties to the USSR. Their fight for freedom, although a relatively minor part of the story, had me researching the history.

I also enjoyed the science aspect and the setting of the asylum in the woods. So terrifying. Mixing cold science with the natural setting of the bog/woods.

The characters and family drama was intriguing and kept me reading. It started to move at a faster pace about 75% in and there was lots of action.

Recommend for those looking for something a little different in their horror.

Beautifully written with elements of folklore, community, rebellion and unconditional love. Though the pacing was slow to start, once I was at the 60% mark I could not put it down! Really loved the historically accurate details and the twist at the end completely caught me off guard.

Thank you to NetGalley and Holiday House for the ARC!

Horror and folklore have interesting connections to history, culture and people who lived on the <i>other</i> side - the side that took the burnt, the shunned, the ignored, the oppressed and the forgotten. Set in late eighties Estonia, a young girl Vik discovers her sister who went missing five years ago who didn't seem to have aged a single day. Thus begins story about a girl, her family, friends and the people in her village who have lived under oppression and occupation for so long that distrust is ingrained, help is rarely expected and those who do become close as family, cling.

While the set up and narration starts strong, it gets weary as the novel progresses. Horror is relegated to the circumstances and the feeling of boxed in. History itself was terrible to the people of this village and no external horror creature would inflict that kind of terror. The end was okay, and lacked the grandiosity that generally comes in this genre. It was hushed and a bit of a let down.

Mysterious and intriguing, And the Trees Stare Back will had my mind spinning to connect the clues and still, the twist got me. Scifi and folklore are married together into an gripping story of love, loss, and courage which I enjoyed but was a bit disappointed this wasn't the bog monster horror novel the synopsis made it sound like.

This was a book that piqued my interest based on the description. I’m a big fan of supernatural elements that can’t fully be explained, and this book seemed promising in delivering. I will admit that the first half of the book felt very slow, with a lot of stops and low points in between trying to figure out the mystery. The second half definitely picked up though and was continuous till the end with its questions and twists and turns. Just as you thought you might have something figured out, something else would throw a spanner in the works.

That was one of the things I liked about this book - you never quite knew where it was going. I felt as confused as the main character, Vik, and while I felt her frustration at times, I still wanted to push on and figure things out. Every time a question was answered, another would appear. Sometimes you would get answers but didn’t know what question it answered. It made it impossible to pin down how things were going to end. It wasn’t until about the third quarter that it became clear it was leaning towards a more grounded soviet explanation than a purely supernatural one.

That is something I did enjoy, as despite how much I wanted to know the truth about Soovana, I am glad it ultimately remains unclear. It is the air of mystery and uncertainty that gives these folklore tales their intrigue, so to have the answers laid out would take away from the interest. I can’t say I’m fully on-board with the ending however, as it felt like it was trying to be grounded in reality to contrast the supernatural, but ended up leaning that way anyway. After reading the explanation as to why and how things were happening, it answered the questions, but in a slightly unsatisfactory way. I may be being too harsh with wanting unanswered supernatural questions but answered grounded questions, but it felt like a bit of a cop out. It felt like it was trying too hard to be strange whilst staying grounded in science, and whilst the end notes about the history helped a little, I think it would’ve been better had their plan not had any success, rather than some success.

The endnotes were very interesting and helpful in adding additional context to the story, especially for those like myself who are too young to know what it was like in the 80’s under Soviet rule. I also like the explanation about mental health representation in the book. It isn’t understood or explained by the characters in the same way we do today, but it is still clear throughout the book that it is present. The acknowledgments did make me tear up a little at reaffirming the overall message of the book - to fight back against corruption.

Overall, it was a good book. I perhaps would’ve liked a bit more supernatural than Soviet, but that’s my personal preference. I do think the two blend well together regardless.

First off this is really not horror unless you count the horror of history. The first chapter I was excited to read this one. I was ready for the spooky bog and the creatures and the myths and all the things with the Soviet background, but I didn't get that. Pretty much right away it turned into a YA novel about our main character and her feelings of guilt at all the things and was...not great. I started getting bored and skimming the book as I wanted to see where it would end, if any horror would show up. Well if you count horrible things that have happened to people in history as horror then I guess it is there, but this story wasn't for me. It wasn't the story I thought it would be, that I was excited to read going in.

If you’re on the hunt for stories with disability representation, look no further. Gigi Griffis has done a fantastic job of it. I won’t mention the specific disabilities because I think it’s important to go in blind, read the entire story, and then read the very important author’s note at the very end.

Griffis brings late-1980s Soviet-occupied Estonia to vivid life in this tale of bogs, forests, secrets and folklore. I will say, though, I personally was hoping for more folklore. Still, this is a haunting story of life under occupation, and what it means to chafe under expectations.

Vik has lived for five years without her little sister, who disappeared when they were both in the forest. Vik has always blamed herself, and both she and her mother are traumatized without little Anna. Suddenly, Anna reappears just inside the tree line…but she’s odd. Different, somehow. Vik can’t quite put her finger on it, but she starts to wonder—is this *really* her sister?

Twists and turns abound. It’s well worth a read.

Thank you to both NetGalley and Holiday House for an advance copy. I am writing this review voluntarily.

This is only the second novel I have read where the main character has OCD and it’s ACTUALLY a realistic depiction of OCD; and for that alone I will always love this book.

This book was not just a creepy story about something that should be impossible, but about navigating trauma, facing oppression, and cherishing those we love. I highly recommend it to a YA audience or anyone who is looking for a creepy story with a lot of depth.

In addition to the amazing story, the author provides both a historical and mental health note at the end. These and the acknowledgments had me tearing up. It was like the scenes after the credits: something you don’t want to miss.

I had high expectations for this book. There was mystery, suspense, and a country that was under military rule (which is something I haven't read about in a teen book before). The author did an amazing job showing the life of a teen living in Estonia during the Soviet era. The fear, the lack of comforts, and the lack of freedom were well portrayed.
It was so interesting learning about local legends, tarot cards, and the bog. And the suspense was constant as new things came to light.
The only part that I struggled with was the ending didn't seem to mesh with the first part of the book. You start with mysticism and folklore that switched abruptly to hard science. The story was discordant from then on for me.
I appreciated the authors notes at the end of the story and I can see how this story developed. And I appreciate the author showing us this world.
Enjoy.

60/100 or 3.0 stars

The ending is what saved this story for me. I liked the writing and the atompshere was done well enough, but it felt a little repetitive. The ending felt a little rushed, but I do like where the story went. I want to avoid spoilers, so I have to be vague! I would be interested in checking out future books from this author!

I think that overall this was a strong read. I found it a bit slow at first but like with most intricate plots, it needed time to get established. That being said, the pacing wasn't great. I kept waiting for something MORE to happen and when it didn't, I struggled to keep going. The second half of the novel was a lot stronger and gave more answers. The mental health aspect was a nice way to weave together the very well-developed characters and the supernatural theme and elements. It can be easy to only focus on the settings when books explore specific timelines in history, but I never felt that the setting or time period was overshadowing the horror aspects or the deep characterization of Vik. Some elements did remind me of "Annihilation" when it comes to what lays beyond on the unknown, but it also felt very grounded which was appreciated. The folklore aspect was strong and I think worked in a way that felt natural rather than just using it as a magic system as I have seen in other novels. The highlight of the book was the tone as it embraced the "don't look over your shoulder" feel of a horror novel. I think I will pick this back up in the darker months and see if I can get absorbed in the first act a bit more compared to my first read. Thank you.

I loved how the author used the cards in the plot to make it interesting and original but still telling the story. The plot is amazing and I love the writing. With the beautiful cover, this is a top book!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eArc in exchange for my honest opinions.

At its core, And the Trees Stare Back by Gigi Griffis is about strength. The strength to work past your fears, or work with them. The strength to trust in your friends and family, as well as the strength to trust yourself as well. The strength to do the right thing, even in the face of great danger, imagined or real.

Even as the story focused on the mystery of what happened to Anna, I knew it was really about Vik's struggle to gain the strength she needed to move forward from the past, from her old self. Vik's journey of self-realization was awkward at times to read, but ultimately necessary to see how Vik was meant to grow.

And the Trees Stared Back by Gigi Griffis is a smart, enthralling blend of folk horror and historical fiction that had me hooked from the start. I was especially drawn in by the mystical atmosphere and the clever use of Vik’s oracle cards as a narrative guide—they added a layered, symbolic richness to the story. The eerie forest, the haunting return of Vik’s sister, and the creeping sense of dread were all beautifully balanced with sharp political insight and true historical threads. Griffis delivers a gripping, thought-provoking tale that lingers long after the final page.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers as well as Peach Tree for my physical ARC in enhance for my honest review!!

Actual rating 4.5 stars

I was pulled into this story for the horror aspect but stayed for the interesting history lesson about Estonia. I didn’t know anything about Estonia and how it was under the USSR so this was a super fascinating read.

While I was expecting a supernatural story about haunted trees or mystical spirits that take away little girls, the truth of the story was unique and I enjoyed the twists.

The family and friends aspect in this was very strong and I wanted to see a layout of this little village. I can also only imagine the anguish of the Russians being over everything and not being able to fully be yourself.

This book also goes into a bit about mental illness and I appreciated the breakdown at the end for the historical notes and the notes about mental illness throughout.

This was also a more emotional book than I anticipated. I was actually kinda sad through a good bit of it. I really enjoyed this one and I’m looking forward to more from Gigi like this!

This was a great read! The main best friend’s characters were likable, heart-warming, and just overall good. I loved how even if they weren’t on the same page, they still held on to their love for one another. It is because of that love and friendship they were able to find out why people in their town were disappearing. The story was slow at first and therefore hard to get in to but around halfway through it started to pick up. Thank you NetGalley for the early read!!