If dystopian cosmic dread plus grim puritanical dark folklore vibes written by an author with beautiful, addictive, atmospheric prose and imagery is your jam then Welcome to The Bone Drenched Woods by LV Russell!

This one is perfect for cold days or nights (if you dare) spent by the fire, sipping hot tea.

When I started this story, I immediately reminisced of Carrie Ryan’s “The Forest of Hands and Teeth” as far as imagery and themes go. To be clear, there are no zombies in Bone Drenched! And Bone Drenched is NOT YA!! This one deep-dives into very adult wildlings and the wicked, holding no bars when it comes to going much, much darker. However, there is plenty of violent, oppression, and paranoia and both the cast of characters and the world-building is complex and intentionally flawed, which is quite refreshing and kept me reading.

Hyacinth is a complex, unpredictable MC. The Teeth and the Deep and the entire messed up world they inhabit did disturbed and chill me. The story continued to pulling back masks that were much better left on. In this incredibly bleak world, you can’t and shouldn't trust anything or anyone.

Some writers have a rhythm, an enchantment, a subliminal cadence that sneaks into the reader’s subconscious, heightening whatever the story vibe is, taking it to a deeper, subliminal level—in this case, the ever present-threat of the Teeth and accompanying dread. The author’s skillful use of language and cadence emotes and gets under the skin. I loved that!

I loved so many aspects of this story. I loathed and feared the dystopian puritanical world, the ****ed up cast of characters, and the dark folk lore nightmare which hits as grotesque and barbaric.

Due to it being an ARC I encountered a few continuity issues that took me out of the moment, enough to notice. The dog- is it here or is it there? Where is it?? Thinking maybe this was part of the story, but, no. I’m sure this will be fixed for the final release so if the dog is where it should be, then disregard.

Also, the last 1/4 of the story veered and took me sideways with some character development and (possible) inferences (?) (again where they inferences or were they not?)—I was stumped, I’m not sure how to explain it without giving anything away. This was enough to knock my rating down from 5 to 4.25 still a fab read.

Horrific, bleak, written with such impactful, delicious prose.

4.25/5

Dread. Unease. Disquiet. All these words describe The Bone Drenched Woods by L. V. Russell. This book is folk horror done absolutely right.

“…all she was and ever would be was a girl with a wicked tongue and bones only good for hanging.”

Hyacinth is prickly, difficult, even if being so isn’t the best thing for a young woman in her position. She never changes to better fit peoples’ expectations of her either, and I loved her for that.

This reads like an alternate history, where strict Puritan society meets pagan practice. The world is dark and unforgiving, and I mourned every scrap of comfort Hyacinth lost. The atmosphere lends itself well to how she fits in her world. She’s never comfortable—never accepted as who she is—and we, the readers, are never quite comfortable either. It’s cold, wet, and the tension between the characters draws everything taut. There’s budding connection, and burning disdain. The Bone Drenched Woods runs the gambit of emotions.

And when we finally get eyes on one of Them? *shivers* They live, vividly, in my head. You’ll just have to read to find out why.

The only drawback for me was I didn’t get a strong sense of what Hyacinth actually wanted. It seemed like she almost wanted to slip into the woods, or escape, or take what she wanted, but she never did. Fear, even for a strong character like Hyacinth, is a powerful motivator. So if her fear of disobedience, or the Teeth, or the Deep had been drummed up, or we discovered a deeper reason why she didn’t shirk the yoke of living under the Elder’s hypocrisy, it would have been a solid, unshakeable 5 stars for me.

That wasn’t enough for me to knock The Bone Drenched Woods down a star, not at all. It’s a beautiful story—especially if you like them macabre and dark and sometimes unpleasant (for the characters, not for the reader 😉). It’s an immersive dive into a dark and dangerous world.

I was given the opportunity to read a free review copy of this book, thanks to Netgalley and Quill & Crow Publishing House. My review is honest, and given freely.

“Carve the bones. One for the gate, one for the door. Two for the mantel, and three for the floor”

This was SO good. I don't know what I was expecting, but this surpassed all expectations I had and sucked me in straight from the start. I read this in almost one sitting, which is rare for me these days, and I will definitely be re-reading this in the future.

Hyacinth was such a refreshing character. I loved her dedication and fierceness to staying true to herself, despite constant pressure around her to submit, conform, stay quiet, and not ask questions. Her biggest driving force is her desire for autonomy over her life, and that really resonated with me deeply. Her wit, authenticity, and sharp tongue made he really stand out as a favorite FMC for me.

I hate to sound cliche, but the vibes of this book were truly perfection. I cannot recommend this enough to fans of folk horror and eldritch horror. Imagine a simple (and misogynistic), puritanical society whose every action and belief revolves around appeasing the monsters that occupy the forest and the oceans that surround their settlements. This often involves torture, sacrifices, disfigurement, and misery.

It was atmospheric, bloody, ritualistic, and delicious. This read like a fairy tale straight from the Brothers Grimm, and had plenty of moments that had me saying “good for her”.

Thank you so much NetGalley and Quill & Crow Publishing for allowing me to read The Bone Drenched Woods. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

This just wasn't my vibe. The blurb sounded really good and it drew me in. Upon reading it, the vibe wasn't really there for me. I couldn't really get into It and ended up not finishing after a few chapters. The book went by very slow and felt like it wasn't going anywhere and it felt like it was lacking In plot.

(3.5)
There were a couple errors in the second half that confused me but I'm assuming they were fixed for the final version. Overall this was a story about what is truly evil. I enjoyed it but it didn't fully grab me as much as it could have. I think for me it's partly that I don't see things as a "mind movie" when I read which is nothing to do with the writing.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this advanced reader's copy and the opportunity to this early. Review has been posted on Waterstones and Goodreads.

I enjoyed this dark and atmospheric read. It gave me the chills sometimes but also kept me reading with its spooky and twisted atmosphere. It's not my typical type of genre, but I was glad I gave it a try.
Thank you to netgalley and the author for providing me with a copy of this book.

The Bone Drenched Woods is a quiet kind of horror — eerie, melancholic, and slow-burning in the best way. The setting pulls you in immediately: a small, insular coastal village where old beliefs and brutal traditions still hold sway. Everything feels soaked in dread, but it’s not loud or flashy. The unease creeps up on you slowly.

Hyacinth’s story is compelling. She’s caught in a life she didn’t choose, bound by rules that don’t make sense to her, and watching her push back against those constraints is what makes the book resonate. The writing is elegant and understated, never rushing to explain too much. It trusts the reader to sit in the discomfort, and that patience pays off.

Some of the middle does drag a little, and not every emotional moment lands as sharply as it could, but overall it’s a strong, well-written novel with a distinct voice. It feels like it was written with purpose. Mysterious, sorrowful, and steeped in quiet rage, it’s the kind of story that lingers.

Thanks to NetGalley and Quill & Crow Publishing House for the ARC.

The Bone Drenched Woods is filled with atmosphere, grisly horror, and poetic writing. I love a strong, unlikeable-to-others, bitter female character who doesn't give a heck what others think of her. The horror aspects were fantastic and descriptive. Where the story fell short for me was with the romance and relationships; I felt that with a story this short there wasn't really any time for any of that to build up naturally and the relationships that were there at the end came across slightly forced to me and I couldn't get invested. Overall, I enjoyed the read and would love to see more stories set in this world.

Plot? No where to be found
World building? Never heard of her
Character growth? Who??
What was this book….the vibes where there I suppose? And there were some beautiful lines but not much else whatsoever sadly

I really enjoyed this book! The writing was excellent, the setting was fascinating, and the characters were very fleshed out (even the ones you didn’t see much of). My only real criticism is that I wish it was a longer book - a brief prologue to enhance the world-building would have made some things make more sense. There were also an occasional moments where an extra few pages would have added details to make scenes and decisions clearer. With that said, I truly enjoyed this book and would love other tales in this setting!

This was my first folk horror and I really liked it! Hyacinth is someone who questions things in a religion that tolerates no questions and sees things as they are in a religion that commits many atrocities. While I still have many questions at the end of the book, it makes sense that Hyacinth isn't all knowing and we don't really know everything that is happening as she doesn't know. The atmosphere is very spooky and I feel like the unknown of everything really contributed to that. I love the vivid descriptions throughout the book to describe both horrors and normal settings.
Thanks NetGalley for providing this awesome book!

Thank you to Netgalley, L.V Russell and Quill and Crow publishing for allowing me to read this ARC.

I have never read a folk/gothic horror before but I absolutely adored this and read it so quickly

Hyacinth, the rebellious FMC completely stole my heart with her determination to question everything and stay true to herself.

LOVED EVERY SECOND.

The Bone Drenched Woods
Gothic Horror
L.V. Russell
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

• ʜᴀᴜɴᴛɪɴɢ • ꜰᴏʟᴋ ʟᴏʀᴇ • ꜱᴜᴘᴇʀꜱᴛɪᴛɪᴏɴꜱ •

I really enjoyed reading this book. The first few chapters were quite slow but they were creepy and mysterious enough that I was eager to find out what was happening to the villagers.

The eerie vibes were perfect and I liked how the desperation fuelled everyone into making sacrifices, creating rituals and traditions and trying to appease Gods that clearly didn't care about them.

I loved Hyacinth's character. She was rebellious, brave and stubborn. She didn't believe in the prayers, the useless talismans or the teachings of the Elders, and to be honest, I couldn't blame her. Her anger was infectious and she knew that there was more to life than just trying to survive every day.

The world building intrigued me but I wanted to know even more about the ancient beings, where they came from etc, the land and other villages and the outside world.

I would definitely read more books by this author.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Quill & Crow Publishing House for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I feel like I don’t have sufficiently eloquent words to describe how hauntingly lovely and eerie this book was. I was hooked from the first page to the end, completely engrossed in the atmospheric world that L.V. Russell weaves so beautifully.

“Blessed am I for the small mercies of men.”

To be able to accomplish so much in so few pages is an impressive feat on its own, but I most loved Hyacinth’s quiet strength and defiance in the face of constant terror and keen awareness of her lack of power, and the secrets that are slowly unravelled.

The Bone Drenched Woods was near-perfect book for me, however I found that I still had several unanswered questions by the end - which was a bit too rushed for my liking (I would have happily devoured the book even if it was double the length to extend the ending).

I am not usually one for horror but this was an absolute delight to read and was balanced perfectly with strong character development.

“She had never been good at offering comfort, any softness lingering within her long carved out.”

A short, entertaining read. The thing I enjoyed most about this book was the atmosphere. The world really drew me in, as I wanted to learn more about it. I also enjoyed the character dynamics, and how Hyacinth had some grit. The plot itself dragged for me though, and I kept expecting the horror elements to really ramp up, but they fell flat for me.

Atmospheric and chilling.
This really ticks all the boxes of a folk horror.
Whatever The Teeth and The Deep are, they are terrifying.
Even with the monsters on the outside, there are far worse on the inside, never letting you feel at ease.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher.
4/5 ⭐️

I loved this book. This book has flavors of Lovecraft and T. Kingfisher. It is dark and sinister and has a macabre beauty to it. It is extremely visual with characters well written and deep. These is little choice for women in this world, the elders control all in tiny communities surrounded by unknowable creatures known as the Teeth or the Deep. The elders wield control over life and death and frequently are power hungry monsters akin to the Teeth themselves. Hyacinth Turning knows she has little control over her life, but within her lurks a fierce and wild spirit. After losing a beloved friend to the Teeth she is left being forced into an unwelcome marriage and being sent forth through the dangerous woods to a new village to live, if she even makes it there alive. Her husband is said to commit unspeakable sins, another kindred soul calls to her spirit with a love she's never experienced in life. And all around her world is lashed by monsters on all sides. Blood and bones can keep them at bay but will it be her own that will feed their hunger in the end? just brilliant.

The Bone Drenched Woods is a great read for fall. I love the atmospheric forest rot vibes. This seems to be becoming a popular niche. The book was a little on the short side causing the end to feel a little rushed. I would like to see this expanded upon and maybe re-released.

First of all, I love that the Teeth, from the beginning - and later the Deep - are real. They are not Elders in costume or tall tales. They are physical, terrifying, folk horrors of the woods and sea. They have influence and demand sacrifice and tribute, and yet the rules are vague. Even by the end they are still undefeatable, innumerable and unknowable, and that's great. If you've ever watched or read "The Ritual," you'll understand what kind of "things" Hyacinth and her fellow villagers are facing. She comes to find that the other villagers are not blindly obedient, but simply weighed down by fear and suffering.

This is a novella, so the story moves quickly, but I'm glad the author took the time to explore Hyacinth's sexuality. In a story that centers on bone, blood, salt, and sinew, the raw, unhibited act of sex fits right in. Thankfully Hyacinth is never forced or coerced, yet her choices in that regard will have the reader wondering what is going on in her head. That's really the only reason I gave this one a four, is because Hyacinth herself remains impenetrable, even to the reader. Elder Reed is very much the same. Their relationship is resentful, carnal and vengeful, but never truly resolves itself. The ending is left slightly open ended, but not in the frustrating way. Such a sinister, desperate, isolated setting definitely deserves a sequel and I would look forward to it.