Very creepy and atmospheric. The dread and creepiness build well to full terror. I still don't know how I feel about the big reveal at the end, but i loved the build up to it and the commentary about environmental protection.

I'm going back and forth on how I feel about They Fear Not Men in the Woods. I love the beautifully described setting ,and was immediately drawn in by Jen's perspective on nature and her conservationist job. (Side note: The book cover is also gorgeous.)

While I appreciate a strong narrative voice, Jen's was a bit heavy-handed for me. Her sarcasm and dry humor ultimately pushed me away from the story, rather than making me want to engage. However, I think there are readers who will absolutely love this book, and I'm excited for them! It's just not a fit for me.

I want to get this first bit out of the way, because I genuinely loved this book, BUT... This is the first adult horror novel from a YA author, and I have to say that the 'adults' in this book were so juvenile and infuriating that I honestly disliked almost all of them and was just waiting for them all to die 🤣 I really didn't care who was sh*gging who and who was jealous of whose boyfriend.

That is my only gripe though, and let me tell you why...

THIS FOREST IS BEAUTIFUL AND MENACING AND INSANE!!

You know I love books that include the forest as though it were a character itself, and trust me that, in this book, it is legitimately the main character, and the love, care and protection of the forest is the key theme that runs through the heart of the story. The way it is so vividly described in detail, it was as if I was there hiking the trails myself.

From about the 55% mark I was completely hooked and couldn't put it down.

This book gives off Blair Witch vibes, but it isn't only the mysterious women that whisper in the trees that you should be afraid of here. When the forest gore comes knocking it REALLY goes there. I did predict the final chapter's revelations very early on in the book, but I could never have guessed how it would get there, so it ruined nothing for me

See, there's a reason I don't go camping, and it's not just because there's no air conditioning or wi-fi. One minute you're traipsing around the forest, minding your own business and admiring the scenery, and the next you're (view spoiler). Not my idea of a good time, really.

But, seriously, I have some mixed feelings about this book. The characters are awful, every last one of them. Our main character, Jen, calls women who get French manicures “lunch-shift strippers” if that gives you any indication of what we're talking about here, and she's one of the nicer ones. And then all of these awful people get thrown into the woods together and proceed to spend the rest of the novel arguing with each other. There were points where I really, really hoped that a grizzly bear or mountain lion was going to jump out and maul them all into blissful silence.

The story is also a little predictable. I mean, not the supernatural bits – I never in a million years would have seen that coming – but the “what happened to Jen's dad” part. I don't want to spoil things (as least as much as you can spoil something that's completely obvious) so I'll leave it at that, but don't expect Agatha Christie-level twists and turns with this one.

Honestly, though, this wasn't terrible overall? I mean, it isn't anything to write home about, but once you get to the second half of the book things pick up a lot and it gets pretty creepy. There's some gore, there's some betrayal, there are weird forest-y shenanigans, and there's lots and lots of terror (which you would think would make the characters stop arguing for half a second, but no). There's a definite suspension of disbelief required, but it's horror so it's to be expected to a certain extent, I suppose.

I do have an issue with some of the things Jen was willing to go along with at the end. I'm not surprised that she did what she did, but I am surprised that she was okay with some of the things that certain other characters did. Honestly, Jen really just didn't seem to care much about what happened to her friends, even the ones that - if you ignore their terrible personalities - didn't really deserve to be getting terrorized in the woods to begin with.

So, yeah, I dunno. This was alright. If you're generally a fan of eco-horror and don't mind awful characters who make you root for their demise, you might just enjoy this one more than I did.

3.25 stars, rounded down.

Many thanks to NetGalley and DAW for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is September 9, 2025.

I didn’t know what to expect when I first began reading but I was immediately lured in and hooked. I read this within a day because I just couldn’t put it down. It had it all: spooky woods, horror tropes, “good for her”. If you liked Midsommar you’ll love this.

Jen Monroe grew up in the woods. Her father, a forest ranger, went missing when she was seventeen. He was passionate about conservation and the forest she looked over. She never believed he was dead, just living out there happily away from his wife. She left her hometown for college and started to follow in her father's footsteps. That is, until she gets a call to say her father's remains have been found, and the memorial is in a few days, just enough time for her to rush back home and see for herself that he is dead and gone. Once home and surrounded by some of her old friends, it is suggested they go into the woods her father loved the most, so she can say goodbye. But things are not so straightforward, as they head deeper into the forest, on a trail none of them have ever walked before, into the old groves. But all is not what it seems, from the flora and fauna, or the people she is with.

This is one of those books that (for me) was a slow grower. It took me a few chapters to get accustomed to the first-person writing style, but once I did, I found myself engrossed. I could hardly put it down until I finished it, and then I was sad as there was no more. This was such a great read, and it seemed to have been written by someone who genuinely loves the woods, as McNeil's descriptions evoke the feeling of being there. But the good and the bad.

A deeply unsettling and creepy feminist horror for those of us who have always know that there is something waiting in the woods. A forest hiding folkloric horrors beyond imagining and a rambling hike through mountains of horror with imagery that will feature in your nightmares.

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐃𝐀𝐖 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲 𝐯𝐢𝐚 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐆𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐅𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐌𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐬 𝐛𝐲 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐌𝐜𝐍𝐞𝐢𝐥

People will call this a slow burn, but I was absolutely enthralled by this brilliant folk, survival horror novel. A park ranger returns to her hometown for her father’s memorial service, a man who went into the woods but was never found. More people have begun to go missing and Jen and a few people from her younger life set out to find answers. What they find… is not what they expected. This is a dread soaked nightmare of a book and I loved it.

A tense tale of trees and terror

I’ll be completely honest: at first, I really didn’t like our protagonist, Jen. She’s tough, but not just in a ‘don’t mess with me’ sense (which she has in spades). The opening of the book does not paint her in a very sympathetic light… But! As I look back on the story as a whole, I see her as a really, truly complex character. Every decision she makes is reasonable and understandable once I discovered her origins, what shaped her. Her likeability rose astronomically for me from that point on.

The setting is creepy, the events are uncanny, and there’s just enough atmosphere to give you the heebie-jeebies. This is not a book you’d want to read while camping! You may look twice at the comfortable shade under your local towering hemlock, too.

Honestly, if it had been a touch more serious in parts—specifically when Jen’s thinking about the events around her in the deep woods—this story could have been truly terrifying. Sometimes, the prose is a little too light, too purposefully tongue-in-cheek, and that took me out of the story. Looking back, I get why Jen’s skeptical of what’s happening, but even if she’d been skeptical and serious, it would have upped the tension (for me personally).

That being said, the final third of the book absolutely captivated me, and the ending really stuck the landing. Overall, I’d definitely pick up another horror story from Gretchen McNeil.

I had the opportunity to read a free advance review copy of They Fear Not the Men in the Woods, with thanks to DAW and NetGalley. My review is honest, and given freely.

This book follows Jennifer Monroe, a ranger just like her father. She lives of an own without going to her hometown until she receives a news about her father, who disappeared 6 years ago.
I have to say that while reading this book, I was truly depressed because Jen is a complete mess. She has abandonment issues, commitment issues and self loathing so yk what I meant. It’s really hard enjoy a book when we cannot grow to like the main character.

The horror elements were okay, I guess, but it takes too much time for things to get going. I’d like if she added some creepy scenes. Overall it’s Okayish book.

Thank you DAW and Netgalley for the ARC!

This book wasn't bad, but it was definitely slow. Nothing really horror happens to about 60% in the book. Most of the first part of the book is the FMC character talking about how great her father was (honestly, sounds like she wanted to fuck him), how much her mother sucked, how much her life sucks, how much her partner who is married and she is helping have an affair sucks, and how much she hates humans. Honestly, she is a very unlikable FMC but that's okay, I like unlikable FMCs. I just wish she would acknowledge that she is insufferable.

That being said, I think the concept of this book is great. I loved the last 40% when the horror and plot was actually happening. I liked how it ended. I loved the bi panic the FMC experiences. And I love the message of the story: don't mess with the trees.

This book delivers on its promise of eerie, folklore-inspired horror set in an oppressive, unsettling forest. I was drawn in by the mystery—Jen returns to her hometown after hearing her father’s remains have been found, but she’s convinced he’s still alive. What follows is a slow, tense unraveling of truth, memory, and something much darker rooted in the woods.

The atmosphere is definitely the standout here. McNeil brings the Washington wilderness to life in a way that’s vivid and genuinely creepy. You can almost feel the weight of the trees pressing in around Jen as she searches for answers. There’s a lingering sense of dread throughout the book that really worked for me.

Jen herself is a complicated protagonist—grieving, bitter, often hard to like—but also very human. Her flaws made her frustrating at times, but also believable, which made the horror elements hit a little harder. I didn’t always connect with her emotionally, but I appreciated how raw and unfiltered she was.

The horror takes a while to fully emerge, so if you're looking for fast-paced scares, this might not be the one. But once it gets going, it definitely delivers some disturbing, unexpected twists. The feminist and environmental themes are present, though more as subtle threads than major focal points. Still, they added depth to the story and gave it a little more bite.

Overall, this was a solid and unsettling read—atmospheric, slow-burning, and a bit off-kilter in a way I enjoyed. If you like your horror with a psychological edge and a side of folklore, it’s worth diving into.

Jen Monroe left her hometown in Washington when her dad, who was a forest ranger, disappeared into the woods. Now her mother lets her know that her father's remains have been found. Jen goes back to her childhood home because she believes her father is still alive. This book definitely delivered an atmospheric horror, and McNeil's description of the woods make me feel like I am there. It's definitely a creepy vibe. Most of the book I felt a sense of unease while Jen is searching for her father. I enjoyed the folklore and the woodsy horror woven throughout. I also liked the feminist aspects of the story. Good read!

Jen was an interesting main character — she was a bit of a mess and not always easy to root for, but in some ways that also made her an interesting main character as I never fully knew what to expect. I really appreciated the underlying commentary on forest preservation and climate protection. The horror elements went in a direction I didn’t expect but that I did enjoy.

This was a bit of a miss for me, but I feel like if it were properly advertised I would’ve liked it more. Also, saw that the author wrote some YA novels - I feel like this would’ve fit better as a YA novel for sure.

They Fear Not Men in the Woods made me believe I was in for a delightfully creepy forest horror, but did not deliver.

Oohhh yes, women in a creepy woods hunting men? Yes please!! This was so atmospheric and gothic. The characters were so real and I felt badly for all of them.

2.75⭐

This book follows Jennifer "Jen" Monroe, as she is pulled back into her childhood hometown of Barrow, Washington after receiving news about her father, esteemed park ranger Hank Monroe, who disappeared 6 years ago in one of his excursions onto a secluded part of the woods known as 'The lost grove'. The disappearance of her father (whom she had a close bond) left her a wreck and Jen's departure from her hometown shortly after ruined her already souring relationship with her mother. Her return to barrow and subsequent events to find closure for the loss of her father by uncovering the reason of his disappearance make up the remaining part of the book.

To say our protagonist character has issues is underselling it (like a lot). We follow this "mess" of Jen as she struggles with abandonment issues, commitment issues, self loathing..... well, loathing in general all around. Her return to barrow only serves to further fan her issues (like seriously, why do you hate everyone). It's rather hard to enjoy a book when we cannot grow to like the main character. She looks down on everyone and mostly only sees the worst in people which makes her annoying to follow and since she's the only POV, it gets rather tiresome fast. One caveat to consider is that we can't really blame her too much for her general dislike of everyone as the secondary characters are not that great either. The horror elements were okay, I guess, but it takes too much time for things to get going. The light political commentary regarding preservation of environment and acts against deforestation could've been improved/increased. My biggest issue by far still was that everything felt kind of predictable. From what I gather, this is the author's first foray into horror so maybe they'll improve it in the future so I'm going to be a little bit kinder.

ARC was provided by DAW books through Netgalley

3.5 Stars – Atmospheric and Ambitious, But Uneven

They Fear Not Men in the Woods offers a moody, feminist twist on the classic “something’s-wrong-in-the-woods” horror trope. Jen Monroe, a flawed but ultimately compelling protagonist, returns to her eerie hometown after her long-missing father’s remains are discovered. What follows is a slow-burn dive into grief, secrets, and forest-born nightmares.

McNeil builds tension beautifully, with lush, unsettling descriptions of the Pacific Northwest woods and hints of eco-horror and folklore. The setup is strong, and the themes—grief, feminism, nature’s wrath—are intriguing. However, the story struggles with uneven pacing, underdeveloped side characters, and a climax that doesn't fully deliver on the promise of its buildup.

Still, it’s a quick, creepy read with plenty of atmosphere. If you like your horror thoughtful and moss-covered, it’s worth a read—just don’t expect all the scares to stick the landing.

There were a lot of things I enjoyed about this book. It was engaging, unique, and different to read. I will say, it was somewhat predictable from start to finish. I was hoping I wasn’t going to be correct, but, I still held my attention and engaged me. I liked learning about a new mythical creature I hadn’t heard of before and am very interested to learn more about them. Overall, I would recommend it, as long as you aren’t looking for a surprising ending.