This book reminded me a lot of sleefoot and the forest of hands and teeth, but without a real plot or world building. I wish more had gone into it

Publishing date: 11.04.2025 (DD/MM/YYYY)
Thank you to NetGalley and Quill & Crow Publishing House for the ARC. My opinions are my own.

TLDR: Beliefs rule all, but is it really protecting the people? Or is it to control/scare people? 4 stars

Wow, just wow. This is a true work of art in book form. So glad I got to read the arc for this.

To summarize, in this world we fear entities from the woods that seem to kill and eat people and leave their bones. You can ward them off with bones from people or animals, and naturally by following the rules the elders set. Our main character questions the practices and beliefs and gets herself into trouble and situations she would rather not experience.

Pacing and progress wise, this is a very domestic book. You get to see the everyday (as disturbing as it is) and the challenges the villagers face every day. Sometimes something happens that stray from the domestic events, but it doesn't happen that often. And when it happens, it is usually a hint to the ending of the book and the fate of the villagers. Also a tiny trigger warning for highly patriarchal villages where the women are treated as lesser.

I did find the story very entertaining and it hooked me from the moment I saw one of my favorite types of stories shine through. The religious village with the girl/woman that questions the practices. Hyacinth is suspect and unhappy with all of their practices. She of course gets in trouble for every little thing, but not as much as I feared. It is riveting, I was absolutely hooked.

Horror wise this is uncanny and gorey. If you can think about a use for bones, they use them that way here. In every way shape and form. Lots of sacrifice, lots of violence, and lots of uncanny valley creatures lurking in the woods.

The only thing I didn't really enjoy is the ending. While expected, I wanted something more dramatic.

I think you will like this if you enjoyed books like Antenora and Slewfoot.
Giving this 4 stars. Enjoyed it lots, highly recommend.

A big thank you to Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) & NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book!

This book feels very relevant right now with its overall feeling of existential doom and feminine rage. While it is a bit of a difficult book to consume I think it’s a very worthwhile read. It heavily touches on very real and very awful realities present in our world in such a poignant and scary way while still feeling like a work of horror fiction. It is very well written and evokes the thoughts and feelings intended in a such a profound way and is a very thought-provoking read—one I am glad to have read.

So firstly and most importantly, the dog does survive.

This is a wondrously crafted novel which reminds me a little of The Shrouded Isle and other Lovecraftian influences with the idea of sacrifice to keep the community safe from the things lurking in the woods. And Hyacinth through the necessary movement of married couples to other villages is inflicted upon the monsters in the ocean as well as the woods.

The story is atmospheric, taking place in a scant handful of locations which evokes the same stifling conditions that the characters experience, terror not just at the monsters but at their neighbours as well for potentially inflicting them upon them all. Hyacinth not an immediately loveable character and at the two thirds mark, she was starting to irk me with her insistence on contradicting everything she was being told about. However, this was a minor irritation and able to be smoothed along by the events of the book.

I loved the rituals. They made sense in the context of the book and also in what people would do in the situations.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7644440592
My review was posted on 6/11/25
I finished this book within a day. The prose was easy to get through, and I enjoyed the ride the book took me on! I will say that there is a good amount of gore and a ton of very dark imagery throughout.
This story follows Hyacinth, a woman that is quickly married to what her village calls an Elder after a night where she dares to step into the Teeth. The woods surrounding her village holds creatures called the Teeth who routinely snatch and mutilate townspeople to feed. Townspeople are hung as witches, sacrificed to the creatures, or hung on crosses if they refuse to take paths offered to them. A group of men called the Elders decide the fate of each member of town, a patriarchy making life and death decisions left and right. The women in town stagger beneath the grief and expectations of them. After Hyacinth is sent through the woods with her husband, Sorrel, she is met with a different, but similar village on the other side. On the other side, there are not only Teeth, but creatures in the sea (the Deep)that also steal townsfolk in the night and require sacrifice. Hyacinth struggles to find a life for herself in this village as well. The sins of many wreak havoc on the towns, causing chaos for Hyacinth and her fellow townspeople.
If you enjoy atmospheric and gothic horror, this is a book for you. Though the two places we are introduced to are small, you can picture things very clearly. The setting is dark and stifling.
The main character, Hyacinth, is extremely well developed and strong. She wants the freedom to choose the way she ends, a theme that follows her throughout the book as she tries to navigate life and make her mind about how she wants to die. In the book, she makes it clear that dying in inevitable, she just wants a say in how. The women of this book are pretty powerless throughout, but they figure out ways to manipulate their constraints in certain moments.
The bones of the townspeople play an important part in protection throughout the book. They use them as tributes to the monsters that surround them. I found it haunting that the bones of those lost to the monsters are meant to protect the town. It seemed to me that the monsters were as humanly flawed as the actual people in the book-- picking off whoever they want without rules at once point.
It felt as if the reason behind all of this book was a little unhinged and ambiguous. We never learn how all of this started, and never got a hint of how the situation would resolve. Why do they use the bones and wear the masks? The creatures do not even choose based on those things, according to the passages toward the end of the book.
The entire book was so dark and disturbing. Faolan, Hyacinth's dog, was the highlight of goodness for me in this book. There were glimpses of sisterhood within, but by the end of the book, I felt like it was out of selfishness to keep certain people alive that we see that.
The ending was very confusing. The footsteps in the snow, seeing Abelia-- all of it pointed toward a certain ending, but the writing neither confirms or denies that thought. I feel like other readers felt similarly.
I enjoyed the book a ton, but I am not sure what it was meant to say. I believe it showed us all of us are flawed and we end in different ways because of that, but that is probably a very vague digestion of it. It just didn't feel fleshed out enough with the characters and meaning behind everything; I can say this could be a flaw I have because I need resolution in a text.

An amazing work of horror that is both whimsical and surreal. The writing is like a fever dream; you get sucked right into it. This was a fun read, but not in the typical sense of fun. I adored how the book didn't hold back from getting really dark where it needed to be. An amazing read, worthy of all accolades.

You have:

• Eldritch beings
• An outspoken woman
• Men in power using their people's fear against them
• Families sacrificing themselves for their loved ones
• Unsettling deaths/gore
• Men getting what they deserve

If you mixed the hysteria of the witch trials with supernatural entities, you'd get this book.

The Teeth (and later in the book, The Deep) were fed by the Elders, using the bodies of “sinful” people. And once these Eldritch beings were sated the village folk would use the bones as protection and say their prayers. I felt like the Elders used the people's fear of these creatures to keep them in check.

Hyacinth, our FMC, was not a meek woman and often had accusatory eyes on her.
She had many brushes with death – as well leaving them in her wake.
Yet she also found a sisterhood in her new environment.

The deaths were grotesque, and instills an image in your head of the savagery of these creatures.
But I think in the end they also served as protection and, in a way, a welcoming hand to a new life.

If you want a “good for her” book I'd recommend this.

**I'd rate this 4.5/5**

Thank you to Quill & Crow and NetGalley for the review copy.

Hungry God-creatures, an unforgiving patriarchal society and cult-like religious practices make this book a truly haunting folk horror. And the writing is exquisite. The author does an excellent job at creating a tense and disturbingly macabre atmosphere with her imagery and specific choice of language. Freshly skinned masks of woodland creatures, carved bones left to dangle like windchimes upon porches, and so, so much blood.

Despite being a solid story, there were a couple of things that diminished my enjoyment overall. Hyacinth, the main character, walks a fine line between headstrong and inpudent, forthcoming and cruel. She seemed to become angrier and more detached as the book went on, and given all that happened to her it could have been excused but I couldn't help but think that she was unnecessarily cruel towards her one friend and ally. There wasn't much in the way of character development in general, unfortunately.

I also would have liked to know more about the world itself and the background behind the religious practices. How do the villages communicate? What is the world's history? Perhaps these details aren't wholly necessary but I think it would have added another layer of rich detail to properly understand the characters and their motivations.

Apart from those points, The Bone Drenched Woods kept me hooked and I devoured every word. I'll be looking out for more of the author's work.

Creepy, dark, oppressive, and genuinely terrifying! That can be said of the Teeth in the Oaks, or the evil and power hungry men that wield their bloodlust at will. The vibe of Handmaid's Tale with the dark horror of folklore, a gory and horrifying tale you won't forget.

The Bone Drenched Woods is a folk horror set in a world dominated by The Teeth, an unknown entity that feeds on blood and flesh. There's great atmospheric chills with violent and fast-paced action and plot. The protagonist, Hyacinth, is forced to marry against her will. She is a wild woman with a sharp tongue who seems to not care for anyone but herself.
In her village, their customs and unfair hierarchy keep the villagers as safe as possible from The Teeth but it is easy for accusations to fly, for the word 'witch' to be flung while The Elders plot who is next to be fed to The Teeth. Hyacinth learns how to survive the best way she can, even if it means she becomes as bloodthirsty as The Teeth.
While I enjoyed some aspects of Hyacinth's character, it felt like she had little growth, never really learning from her mistakes and so the plot could feel let down by it. I also felt the world-building needed more development too. The Teeth doesn't develop and remains as a horror entity that I am not meant to understand, but it would've been interesting to learn about its origins for example.
In the end, I was disappointed with this book as I really wanted to love it, but it had a flop of an ending, lack of world-building and character growth which made it hard to empathise with Hyacinth. Overall, I'd say this is more of a gothic story than folk horror and perhaps this is why it truly doesn't resonate with me.

This spooky, atmospheric book follows Hyacinth as she is sent off to be married after a series of horrific events.

I was so gripped by this! The writer's voice is amazing and so gripping.

I don’t read a lot of horror books, but what with a forest in my backyard and living within 30 miles of the coast, this book gave me nightmares! Russel does a great job setting the tone from the very first page.

We open to Hyacinth on her 17th naming day, and learn she is soon to be wed in an arranged marriage and be sent to a new town through the forest on the coast. However, the forest and ocean are filled with wildling creatures, the Teeth and the Deep, that take sacrifice from surrounding villages if they are not satisfied with their offerings. After being wed to one of the Elders, whose job it is enforce the religious practices, Hyacinth is stuck trying to survive and resisting her own call to the wild.

This book had a slow start but a relatively strong finish. Unfortunately, I just didn’t care about Hyacinth. We don’t know anything about her expect her sharp tongue and her love for her father. While the tone set in the book is fantastic for a horror story, there was a lot to be desired when it comes to character development, world-building,

or learning more meaning behind the towns’ customs and religion. I can respect the mystery of the Teeth, but how has this village come to practicing their ways and why?

There were also some moments that took me out of the story when characters seemed to be lost track of. The dog was there and then it wasn’t, character names were mixed up, etc.

Overall, I had a good time with this story. For those that like classic, witchy horror this might be for you. I just think more time could have been spent building up the characters and setting.

The setting is gory and gorgeous, the descriptions lush and horrifying.  There’s a lot of slow, creeping dread before a big climax, but then everything rushes along, tripping over itself to get to the inevitable ending.

"Share the stories, keep the faith, bring the bones, carve the bones. There was nothing beyond that."

ˋ° *⁀➷ Rating: 2.5/5 ✰

The Bone Drenched Woods is a gothic fantasy about superstitious villages trying their best to stay safe and "pure" in the face of all the hungry and evil nature spirits that crave their flesh. It has interesting cult-y vibes and I would've loved to learn more about the villages and their beliefs/practices, as well as just general knowledge about the world, but unfortunately that just wasn't happening here. The writing was decent, and the characters served their purpose, but there just wasn't anything really grabbing me here honestly.

Even though this was a short book, I struggled to finish it. It was definitely creepy and did a good job keeping everything mysterious, but it honestly felt pretty aimless, and that only solidified with the ending. I tend to like open-ended stories with lots of room for interpretation, but this just felt a bit too open, and overall there was a lot of messiness with the story. There was even a plot hole scene with the dog - it seemed like Hyacinth left him behind while running from her house, but then suddenly she was mad at someone else because the dog was supposedly at their place the whole time. I'm not really sure what happened there, but it made the book just feel a bit sloppy.

Closing thoughts:
Decent if you enjoy reading books with the sole purpose of creating a spooky atmosphere, but if you're looking for a strong story or multifaceted characters then this probably isn't for you.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own and not sponsored in any way

From page one, I was swept into a world full of bones and Teeth and Deep. I needed to know how this world functioned, I needed to see the horrors. This novel kept me thinking about our dear Hyacinth every second I had put the book down. I found that I needed to take breaks after several of the scenes, but I was morbidly curious. I was not prepared for some of the mental images, and yet they were written so well that I couldn't even be upset, I just needed a break every once in awhile.
This was honestly my first step into more of a horror genre, and I fear I have been spoiled with a fantastic introduction. I don't see many of these scenes leaving my head, and I shamelessly wish there was more.

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“Keep the stories alive, feed the trees, fear the woods, obey the Elders.”
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My gosh this book was so good! It was a slow paced story with emphasis on setting the atmosphere which is very eerie with vivid descriptions that evoke a sense of dread. There’s is also a focus on the characterisation and relationships. I took my time with it and enjoyed every moment. The sense of dread grew stronger and stronger every chapter and I loved it!

I adored Hyacinth and how independent she was, how she talked back to everyone, how she never truly backed down and submitted to her husband, the other elders, or even the women around her. It was amazing to see her growth and resilience. Also really loved her dog Faolan who brought some comfort to Hyacinth’s life.

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“Witch.””How could I be anything else?””I was never given room to become anything but.”
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If you are a lover of folk horror don’t let this one pass you by! There are creepy forests, creatures from the deep, eerie vibes, a pinch of romance, and some female rage/ revenge.

Thank you so much to the publisher and author for the digital review copy!

A chilling folk horror fuelled by feminine rage that will creep you out and make you want to scream into the wind. I had such a great time reading this book and would love to read more by this author.

4 ✰

The trees are watching you… and they’re hungry.

This book is undeniably atmospheric. From the very first pages, you’re plunged into an oppressive and disorienting folk horror setting, with dark forests and hidden presences lurking in the shadows. On top of that, the story unfolds in a village ruled by strict laws, rituals, sacrifices, fear, and control, where doubt simply isn’t allowed.

The worldbuilding isn’t particularly deep. It serves more as a backdrop than a fully fleshed-out universe but the atmosphere is so strong that it completely takes over. You’re swept along without needing to understand everything. And honestly, for a short book of just over 200 pages, I wasn’t expecting more in terms of complexity.

When it comes to plot, there’s not a lot of action or twists. But again, the atmosphere does all the heavy lifting. The book builds a strong sense of danger and tension that fully pulled me in!

The characters also match the tone of the book — cold and distant. I didn’t feel particularly attached to any of them, but the main character, Hyacinth, did surprise me. She’s a young woman who refuses to live by the rules others impose. What she wants is to truly live — or, in the worst case, to choose her own death. She’s full of defiance and rage in a world that wants her silent and obedient.

The writing created a completely immersive experience. I’ll definitely be checking out more of this author’s work if she continues to craft such haunting and atmospheric worlds.


─── ⋆⋅༄⋅⋆ ───
•Folk Horror
•Forest as an entity
•Rituals
•Sacrifices
•Feminism
•Female rage
•Freedom


જ⁀➴ Thanks to the author and NetGalley for this eARC <33

The Bone Drenched Woods is a book I fell into don't think I ever climbed out. It has stuck around in my mind ever since finishing it. The combination of the folk lore and cultish society with the spooky threat of what's just beyond the woods made for a thrilling read.

This is a short horror book that follows our main character Hyacinth in a village surrounded by terror, death and eeriness. This has an interesting premise and was very atmospheric. The woods and the village felt alive and ever present.
However, I wish this had more of a plot as we are not working towards anything in the story, we just follow the character move through her days in this terror without a bigger overarching cause or search. While following Hyacinth, it also wasn't a character study, nor did it explore her in an in-depth, engaging and unique way. I wish we had gotten more flesh on the main character and the others in the book because they felt rather flat and generic. I also wish that we had more explanation and knowledge on the world. While well-built, it didn't answer or try to speculate on why the world was that way or the causes. As in I could picture the world she described I just didn't know how it came to be and I needed that. It's really more a book on vibes to explore the world and the set, but I needed it to have a structured plot, stronger main characters or to be much scarier and horrifying. It was still a fun read overall; I just left it wanting more answers and more structure.