Carve the bones.
One for the gate,
one for the door,
two for the mantel,
and three for the floor…

L.V. Russell’s The Bone-Drenched Woods is a lush, blood-slicked tapestry of folklore, body horror, and feminist rage, woven together in a narrative as lyrical as it is nightmarish. With its folk-chant refrain and sinister rituals, this novel grips you by the jaw from the first page and drags you screaming into the rot of tradition, faith, and survival.

At its heart is Hyacinth Turning, a young woman too stubborn to be cowed by fire or sermons. Her world is ruled by fear—of the flesh-eating Teeth that roam beyond the village borders, of the Elders in hare-skin masks, and of the patriarchal doctrines that demand obedience, silence, and blood. Hyacinth, gloriously, gives them none of these things.

When tragedy rips her from her home and weds her to a stranger, she’s thrust into an isolated coastal settlement where deeper terrors lurk. Here, the sea itself hungers, and the villagers feed it offerings carved in bone. As Hyacinth becomes entangled with Morgan Carroway, a brooding outsider, and haunted by love that refuses to stay buried, the story dives into a gothic unraveling of myth, memory, and monstrous inheritance.

Russell’s prose is sharp and sinuous, with an eerie beauty that echoes Shirley Jackson and T. Kingfisher, yet retains a unique voice steeped in grim folklore. Every scene is charged with dread, every character frayed at the edges by secrets. But it’s Hyacinth’s journey—from shackled girlhood to a woman who will carve her own fate—that leaves the deepest cut.

The Bone-Drenched Woods is a triumph of modern folk horror: deeply atmospheric, richly feminist, and utterly feral. It reminds us that monsters wear many faces, and sometimes, the only way out of the woods is to become one yourself.

This was a surprisingly gripping read. It reminded me of a blend of the witch and brows slewfoot, tinged with lovecraftion lore. It follows the story of a girl who is trapped in a faith-based patriarchy founded on the fear of ancient horrors lurking in the woods. Throughout, she feels a sense that she doesn't belong. The lack of clear explanation is frustrating but also adds the feeling of unease thrust upon the reader. Would definitely read again!

A truly haunting story, set in a village with a hungry forest at its edges, the Teeth in a grin around it that is hungry and insatiable, waiting for anyone to pass through the shadows to devour them, leaving only scraps of bone, flesh, and gore for the villagers to clean and hang above their doorways for protection. Hyacinth is all too aware of the calling of the wildlings within the trees, and longs to join them to get away from a life she never planned nor wanted to be arranged for her. One night she sets out with her closest friend Abelia into the forest, chasing the call. But Abelia disappears, and Hyacith cannot find her.

The rest you must read for yourself because I have truly so many thoughts and not enough words about this story. The world is incredibly mysterious and dark, with no room left for innocence to flow. I enjoyed how everything is portrayed Hyancinth is an interesting character, and I felt every emotion she had with a fervour that I could not contain. The other characters in the story are also complex and have depth to them that I could feel each scene had more to it than the surface.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I would do almost anything to learn more about the world and creatures within the book. I was hooked (pun fully intended, if you've made it to *that* part of the book), and I hope L. V. Russell creates more dark whimsy for me to devour like the Deep.

❝ Bless the Oaks and bless the Deep. ❞

Accused, hunted, and drawn to a darkness she doesn’t fully understand, Hyacinth wants only one thing: a life and death of her choosing. She has never been good at staying quiet and clueless, and when she's forced into a marriage and exiled to a new village haunted by other ancient hungers, she soon discovers that the Teeth aren't the only things that feast. As whispers rise, doubts grow, and bodies fall, Hyacinth must choose. Follow the rules or carve her own path, no matter the cost.

⊹ ࣪ ˖ੈ Character

❝ Witch.” “How could I be anything else? I was never given room to become anything but. ❞

⟡ Hyacinth Turning - is sharp, strong, deeply aware of the cruelties around her, and unwilling to pretend they make sense. The forest may scare her, but living without fully ”living” is a life she wouldn’t settle for.

What I fully enjoyed in the story is Hyacinth herself. She is a character forged in defiance, sorrow, and quiet rage. She's bitter with the world, but not cruel; broken, but not empty. Her inner strength makes her the most resilient character, and her journey to find her place in the world becomes a powerful story of defiance, leaving her mark on the island and the people who continue to erase her.

❝ Don’t be foolish, or wicked, or loud. Don’t be brazen, wild, hopeful, or hungry. Be pretty, be quiet, be good. Obedient. ❞

Being born into a world that forces to mold her into something docile and silent. She yearns for freedom, for self-determination, for choice. They call her a witch, not because of what she’s done, but because of what she is: unyielding. She refuses to feel ashamed for being different in a world ruled by fear and control. And in that, she is powerful even if she’s not yet free.

⊹ ࣪ ˖ੈ Thoughts

This is a world soaked in fear, sacrifice, and a terrifying reverence for the unknown. Where society is built on ritual, fear, and appeasement, it is a dark, mystical, and deeply superstitious island where people live in fear of ancient and godlike forces tied to the sea and forest — the Deep and the Trees. Safety is an illusion upheld by tradition, and doubt is a dangerous, isolating thing.

❝ Are we truly little more than delectable flesh to ancient beings with insatiable appetites? ❞

❝ The grounds were soaked in generations of blood, souls scrambling over themselves to give up their bodies for those they loved… The ground was so saturated in butchery, it was a wonder the Teeth were so famished. ❞

It is a haunting blend of folk and gothic horror. This story pulled me into a deep world that feels unsettlingly real as L.V. Russell masterfully crafts a setting so raw and vivid, from the eerie village and its fearful people to the ominous forest and the all-consuming Deep. It's a fantastically eerie tale that made my bones shiver. The smidge of romance was also a cute sprinkle to the story, which lightened the deep-rooted problems of the village.

❝ Those easy parts to love. I carved it all out and swallowed it before the Teeth could. ❞
❝ Ah, good thing I like the difficult parts. I would gladly cut myself on your sharp edges, Hyacinth. ❞

I didn’t just read this story, I felt it. From the haunting traditions and quiet horrors of the village to Hyacinth’s raw, powerful character and the creeping mystery of the Deep and the Trees, every part of the world felt alive and unnervingly real. L.V. Russell has a gift for crafting eerie, immersive settings, and I’d gladly pick up anything else she writes.

➳ Huge thanks to the publisher & author—Quill & Crow Publishing House, L.V. Russell & NetGalley—for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

WOW. This book was absolutely STUNNING, from start to finish. The writing is haunting and visceral and packed full of poetic imagery. It may be a short read, but every word felt intentionally chosen, and the effect was inarguably beautiful.

The story itself is more of a quiet, domestic horror, the kind that is bred in generations of local legend and myth. The kind of horror that forces to you examine which is worse - the unseen terrors that live in the shadowy parts of the forest, or the ones that exist right next to you, in your home, in the bright light of day.

Fans of other eldrich-type horror like A Loney Broadcast by Kel Byron and movies like Midsommar will absolutely love this book!

Another beautiful and evocative read!

The lush narrative and setting became a delicious backdrop for this tale that at first reminded me of my favorite by VE Schwab, THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF ADDIE LARUE.

Enjoy the chilling unease.

3.5 stars
Sooooo, it's a cult.... That's comforting...The blood, the bones, and the gore, oh my. they story concept was amazing and horrifying. The fact that next to no one was questioning accept the FMC and maybe like one or two others. The rules of the cult disguised as "religion" and all the religious imagery made everything even more unnerving. I don't know if I liked Hyacinth or not and maybe that was the point because everyone else couldn't decide either really. I loved the dog though! Sweet big baby!! The writing and descriptions were really well done and I wish the book was longer honestly. I want to know more about the Teeth.

A tale of one women’s desperate pursuit for autonomy and freedom: a life and death of her choosing. Beautiful, gripping and dark. A story that will leave readers enchanted and horrified by the monsters and magic they find within these blood drenched pages.

𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼 𝗤𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗹 & 𝗖𝗿𝗼𝘄 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗽𝘆 𝘃𝗶𝗮 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝗚𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗗𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗪𝗼𝗼𝗱𝘀 𝗯𝘆 𝗟. 𝗩. 𝗥𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗹

✨ARC Review✨
Provided graciously by Netgalley and Quill & Crow Publishing House for advanced review. All thoughts potrayed within are my own.

A wonderfully eerie story of an old world where wickedness is sacrificed to save the greater good.

We are to fear The Woods, The Teeth and The Deep. Women should "be pretty, be quiet, be good. Obedient."

This book was suspenful, and just dark enough to envoke shivers each time you came across a revelation.

Hyacinth is a snarky FMC that has wickedness running through her bones and eventually she gets the ending she wished for.

I loved every minute of this book and will definitely seek out more of L.V. Russell's work.

I really enjoyed the dark atmosphere and the detailed, grotesque descriptions. The prose was beautiful. I just could not connect with any of the characters and the storyline just didn’t hook me unfortunately :/

a dauntingly atmospheric folk horror piece that had my breath constantly hitching and toes curled. full of villainy and cult/pagan lore, i felt myself so intrigued yet so disgusted so learn their traditions and ritualistic practices of the villages we find our main character hyacinth throughout the book. i loved the ambiguity of the monsters terrorizing the villagers, creepily referred to as “the teeth” and “the deep”, but it goes even deeper than that—we find that the monsters are not just those that devour the sacrificed in the pitch, but also in those who are trusted to guide the groups to sanctity.

this was my first read in this genre, and it will not be my last. i had such a fulfilling yet horrifying journey full of chills and thrills, and i am excited to dive into another from this author in the future.

This book gives off major 'Slewfoot' and 'The Witch' energy, and I'm here for it.

After I got this book, I kind of regretted it because I felt like I wasn't in the mood for this kind of book. Well, I'm dumb and was wrong. The writing is so captivating that I was devouring this book right away, and I am in a sad little haze that it's over.

The world building and folklore in this book were a treat. The characters in it are plagued by endless rituals and traditions set out by the Elders so that their sins may be forgiven all in an effort to not be visited by the Teeth or The Deep (creatures that would leave you worse for wear). You really are kind of just thrown into the world with little explanation and throughout the book kind of piece things together. Overall, I thought it was enough, but maybe a tiny bit more explanation for some of it would have improved the experience.

Hyacinth was a great MC. She was a little spitfire. Fierce, witty, and a softie with a hard exterior. She had me laughing with some of her lines. I really enjoyed all of the scenes of her and Morgan together.

The one part I didn't like was how things wrapped up with one of the characters near the very end. It felt like things moved so fast, and I had to go back to re read what had even happened. I felt almost robbed because it was a character that I cared about, and things felt so sudden.

But the ending ending, I really enjoyed and thought fit very well with the theme of the book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Quill & Crow Publishing House.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!!!

4.5 rounded up

In this folk horror novella, a young woman must question all she holds dear and has been lead to believe. Away from the rabbit masked, overbearing eyes of her village elders and bewitched by the monster lurking in the Deep, Hyacinth must decide what she's willing to risk to live following her own desires. Perhaps a death of her own choosing would be better than a life clasped in another's shackles. She's traded one set of capricous village elders for another.

Hyacinth never was the <i>good</i>—or particularly quiet—girl her village elders demanded of her. When she's toed the line one too many times, she's shipped off to the seaside far from her home and all she's ever known. The girl she loved left seemingly far behind... along with any chance at escape into the woods. The haunted forest <i>The Teeth</i> that eats as many as it grants safe passage, feared and revered in equal measure called them both, yet spat Hyacinth back out again.

This world is not for the faint of heart. Masks, mayhem, and monsters oh my... and <i>bones</i>, oh so many bones.

Bearing little interest in her husband or the teachings on which she was raised, Hyacinth elects to instead spend time with her fellow outcast Morgan. Time with a man not her husband and longing for the love she lost, coupled with Hyacinth's own strangeness made her the prime suspect when events in her new home took a turn for the worst. When things go awry, those deemed odd or other were always the first to suffer blame.

The creatures of the Deep hunger, stomach never satisfied, yet why strike <i>now</i> of all times? Could it be a sign of something shifting in the tides or something altogether more terrifying?

If you've ever felt unwanted by society—a queer person stifled under overbearing religious dogma—you may feel seen here. As a bi woman, I know I was. Grappling against nonsencial sermons and the control of those who just love to hear themselves talk, caring little for the drivel that spews from their mouths. Those who escaped high control religions and/or a cult however please be wary and go into this with the knowledge you may be triggered just as easily as you could feel validated.

Great dark fantasy horror read..i really enjoyed this folk story and the idea of these monsters in the deep. this book was gory and bloody and coming from a fanstasy background it was a little hard to get thru but i did enjoy it. i wish i would have gotten my questions answered in the ending but it adds to the mystery.

This was a great gothic with a wonderful heroine that’s bitter and savage, but the real star here is the world building. Russell does a fantastic job balancing the eldritch horror of the supernatural and the banal, everyday horror of religion, masculinity, and abuse. The rituals, spirituality, and monsters are all pitch perfect. And I did love the ending, be with your dog and your girlfriend in the creepy woods!

I am a sucker for folk horror stories and this one did not disappoint! It was dark and gory, creepy, and had great folklore. I loved learning about The Teeth and The Deep--both could have been explored deeper though. I appreciated that the horror of the story didn't just revolve around the eerie forest/sea but also with the men leading the villages with with dripping, bloody masks and their rituals/religious practices.

Russell’s writing is both haunting and beautiful, like silk hiding a blade—elegant yet cutting. The world Russell builds is steeped in folk horror, evoking the dark magic of a twisted fairy tale, with terrifying legends like the Teeth and the Deep looming in the background. The village’s eerie rituals—bone-carving chants and cryptic rites—are genuinely unsettling, and the Elders, donning hare-skin masks, exude the kind of unnerving control that makes your skin crawl. They’re the type of figures who could coerce confessions with a glance and punish you for simply existing wrong. I loved reading this during the night because it creeped me out so bad!

L.V. Russell's "The Bone Drenched Woods" is an atmospheric folk horror tale with sumptuous prose that creates a world of genuine dread and unease. The story follows Hyacinth, a defiant woman who refuses to bend to the will of the Elders and their hare-masked religion, as she's sent away to a coastal settlement where new horrors await.

The worldbuilding is incredible! Russell crafts a deliciously oppressive environment where ancient terrors called the Teeth lurk in the woods and leviathans swim in the Deep, both held at bay by grim offerings. The prose is patient and richly evocative, creating a slow-burn experience that perfectly matches the setting's bleak nature.

Hyacinth herself is a compelling protagonist—flawed, cynical, and wonderfully complex. Her sharp tongue and unwillingness to conform make her stand out in a world determined to silence women like her.

The romantic subplot with Morgan lacks a bit of the chemistry it needs, and the ending feels a little rushed with moments of confusion that slightly detract from an otherwise intriguing conclusion.

"The Bone Drenched Woods" creates a haunting atmosphere that lingers long after reading—a bleak, fairytale-like experience for readers who enjoy literary horror with beautiful prose and world-building that hints at deeper mysteries beneath its surface.

Thank you NetGalley, L.V. Russell, and Quill & Crow Publishing for this ARC!

ARC was given by NetGalley & Quill & Crow Publishing House.


Content/Trigger Warnings: Witch hunt themes, human sacrifices, arranged marriages, death, murder, blood, gore, loss of loved ones, grief, violence, adultery, very brief mentions of pregnancy, alcohol


I'm absolutely in love, obsessed, on my hands and knees raving about this book to friends and family. Two days, in just two days I finished this book. All I could think about was wanting to know what was going to happen next, wanting to know what was going to happen to Hyacinth (our female lead), and would we learn more of the ancient gods that could absolutely wipe humanity out of existence. The atmosphere of this book was enticing and left me craving more. I think the dread of knowing there was literally no escape from the ancient deities and the amounting tense with Hyacinth and her husband in the new village really added to that desire to wanting to keep reading. Overall, I just really freaking loved this and had a great time sinking my grabby little hands into this book. I'll definitely be reading more of Russell's work in the future and I'm excited to see what other dark tales they have waiting for us!



All thoughts, feelings, experiences, and opinions are honest and my own.

"Don’t be foolish, or wicked, or loud. Don’t be brazen, wild, hopeful, hungry. Be pretty, be quiet, be good. Obedient."

The Bone Drenched Woods got its claws into me from the first chapter and I devoured it in a day. This is an angry folk horror gem which is fiercely feminist.

Hyacinth Turning lives in a village steeped in fear, both from the horrors that lurk in the woods but equally evil are the elders of the village who take sadistic joy at rooting out heathens and witches. Following a series of incidents, she is forcibly married off and sent to a village by the sea where she must contend with the doctrine, her new husband and the new horror of what lurks in the depths of the sea. Choice and agency are key themes threading through this book, as they are so often denied, to particularly the women in the community.

A perfect read if you like dark and twisty folk horror.