Wow! I'm not sure what exactly I was expecting when I started this one but I can tell you that it was totally unexpected.
They Fear Not Men in the Woods leaves the reader just on the cusp of fully understanding what is happening or being able to predict what will happen in the most delightful and suspenseful way. Like the humanoid figures Jen sees slipping behind trees, just out of the eye line, this story offers glimpses and whispers of what to come but never allows you to fully see the whole picture.
I really enjoyed the fast paced plot, the unique story lines/twists, and all the creepy forest imagery. The ending was abrupt and perfect. 3.5/5 ⭐
Loved this one and would absolutely recommend it to anyone who likes forest, forest horror, women, and "they had it coming" plots 😍.

Thank you netgalley for the ARC, I really enjoyed this book. It was a slow burn but a great read for me. Good plot that was well paced and interesting characters. A must read if you like those things.

I love horror that centers around there being *something* in the woods, and They Fear Not Men in the Woods definitely delivered on that premise. It’s a great mix of dark humor from the protagonist, Jen, and a vivid, sinister atmosphere of an old-growth forest where little light makes it to the bottom. Terrifying incidents begin to occur as she and several high school friends she hasn’t seen in years trek further in, but all of them have hidden motives for the trip, and few are willing to turn back even with a killer remaining just out of sight.

I found it difficult to connect with the POV at first, but Jen really grew on me as the story went on. I thought the ending fit the tone of the story perfectly; I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and DAW for the ARC.

This was cool! A spooky story taking place in a California forest? That is so cool and so unique. I feel like you never see that kind of scary story taking place in California. (I am from California, so it is cool to picture places that I know because I can totally see how a massive redwood forest could be a little spooky. Of course, I love redwood forests so I do not see them as spooky, but I see this vision and that's all that matters!) I just love when the setting of a story almost becomes a character.

If you've heard of the Fern Canyon (they shot a scene from Jurassic Park there), that's where this is.

There's mystery, supernatural elements, folklore inspiration, murder and spooky woods!

I really don't want to spoil anything, but I really would recommend this if you're looking for a more unique spooky story. This is very attention-grabbing, so you will speed through it!

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My Goodreads review is up and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly reading wrap-up.

The setting of this book was absolutely my favorite part of it. The forest absolutely felt alive, and if the book took place literally anywhere else, it would absolutely be missing the best element of the book.

This book blends the supernatural with folklore and absolutely leaves an impression. It was mysterious, thrilling, tragic, and dark. If you’re a horror fan, this one should be added to your tbr pile immediately.

The story immediately drew me in on the very first page. We’re in the story immediately. What better place to start a story like this one than in the woods?

This book is written in first person from the protagonist’s point of view.

Thank you very much to DAW and NetGalley for an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own and are not influenced by the manner in which I received it.

Thank you Netgalley and DAW for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

In “They Fear Not Men in the Woods,” Gretchen McNeil takes us deep into the lush, eerie forests of rural Washington and doesn’t let us out without a few scratches—and maybe a body count. With a protagonist whose humor cuts through the horror like a dull pocketknife and a forest that might literally be out for revenge, this book is a wild, weird trek into a primal nightmare. A dark, witty, and atmospheric eco-horror novel that blends supernatural folklore with eco-terror and family trauma—like Midsommar with more moss, mayhem, and millennial sarcasm. When I saw that McNeil had written her first adult book after loving her YA books, I could not wait to read this story, and it definitely did not disappoint.

Seven years ago, Jen Monre fled Barrow, Washington, after the disappearance of her father—a forest ranger and tree preservationist with a fierce love for the wilderness and an equally fierce hatred for the logging companies consuming it. Now in her twenties and living far away from the woods and the fractured family she left behind, Jen is pulled back home when her father’s remains are suddenly discovered. Unconvinced by the official explanation and determined to uncover the truth, Jen joins a memorial camping trip organized by her well-meaning (and possibly clueless) ex-boyfriend. What starts as an emotional reunion and a reluctant walk down memory lane quickly spirals into a waking nightmare where the forest seems too alive, the trees may be watching—and something ancient, angry, and green is stirring beneath the moss.

McNeil absolutely nails the setting. The forest feels like a character in its own right—lush, breathing, watchful. You can practically feel the damp soil and hear the creak of ancient branches. The descriptions of nature are vivid and immersive, making the horror feel both surreal and rooted in the real world. Drawing from Finnish and Icelandic mythologies—particularly the huldrefolk—McNeil crafts a chilling take on the idea that nature isn’t just alive, but aware… and maybe a little pissed. There's a speculative edge to the horror, blending folklore with scientific curiosity (thanks to Jen’s background in botany), and it adds depth to what could’ve been just another slasher in the woods.

Once the blood starts flowing, it doesn’t stop. The kills are creative, gory, and deeply connected to the forest itself. You won’t find standard-issue horror deaths here—each one is disturbingly tied to the woods, giving the sense that the forest is punishing the group for intruding.

Jen is sharp-tongued, impulsive, and sometimes sounds more like a teen than a woman in her twenties, but her voice is unique and engaging. Her inner monologue brings levity to even the darkest moments, though it may not be for everyone—some readers might find her immaturity a bit grating. Still, her emotional journey, particularly her estranged relationship with her mother and her obsession with her father’s disappearance, grounds the horror in personal stakes.

The book takes a little too long to get going. The camping trip—the heart of the horror—doesn’t begin until nearly a third of the way through. You might get antsy waiting for the scares to kick in, though the forest scenes make the wait worth it.

While the climax is intense and rewarding, a few twists (especially regarding the mysterious character Sammy and the supernatural nature of the forest) are fairly easy to guess. That said, the story isn't about surprise so much as inevitability—like the slow, creeping crawl of roots under your feet.

Overall, “They Fear Not Men in the Woods” is a deliciously eerie tale for fans of nature fights back horror. It’s filled with heart, dark humor, and a growing sense that maybe the real monsters aren’t mythical—maybe they’re human. Or maybe they’re trees. Either way, Gretchen McNeil crafts a story where the wilderness doesn’t just defend itself—it devours.

🌲 Highlights: sentient forests, eco-horror, folklore, LGBTQ+ themes, mother-daughter tension, gruesome deaths
🩸 Content Warnings: gore, body horror, grief, logging industry violence (against trees and people)