This book fell right in the middle for me. I loved the atmosphere and the horror pieces, but it felt like it really missed the mark with understanding the characters and everything felt so random. It felt rushed most of the time and I had a hard time really connecting to any of the characters.

3.5/5 Star Read

The Bleeding Woods has a fantastic story that hooked me from the start. I loved the blend of horror, dark forest atmosphere, and the layered mystery that kept unfolding as I read. The plot was genuinely engaging, with twists I didn’t see coming, and the forest setting added the perfect eerie backdrop.

The prose is where I had mixed feelings. It was excellent in many places, with lyrical, vivid lines that really worked for the mood and genre. I generally enjoy lyrical prose, so I didn’t mind it most of the time, but it was inconsistent. At points, it leaned too heavily into purple prose, making scenes feel overwritten when a simpler line might have had more impact. This inconsistency sometimes pulled me out of the story, even though I was invested in what was happening.

Overall, this was a solid read with a great story at its core. If you like dark, forest-set horror with a bit of a poetic touch, I’d still recommend checking it out.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

This book had me at a woman who has powers in the Appalachian Mountains. Clara (the woman with the powers who may have accidently killed her parents when she was 14), Jade, Grayson, and Joey go for a trip to repair their broken relationships. Unfortunately, they break down in the Blackstone Forest and chaos and bloodshed ensues. I loved Brittany Amara's writing style and the way she makes beautiful writing. The 2nd half of this book was a horrific ride, and I was there for it. I definitely did not see the twist coming, and the eeriness of the Appalachian forest completely had me hooked! Amazing horror story!

I'm 99% sure this book is AI written. The author has no online presence and the book is written so poorly, I can't imagine it's come from a human.

The book is almost impossible to read. The 'author' has used a thesaurus for every. Single. Word. Even the word teeth has been called something silly. It makes the reading experience so difficult and convoluted. You're spending so long focusing on each word, trying to make the sentence make sense, that you are completely thrown out of the story.

I'm not normally one to through around conspiracy theories, but I cannot get my head round the fact that this is so un-human that it must be AI

This book gave hauntingly creepy vibes that I was absolutely here for! I love a good horror read that sprinkles in hints of eldritch terror. It was fascinating to delve into this world and the complicated relationships between the characters. I would have loved a bit more description at certain parts but overall it was just enough to lead my imagination ahead.

THE BLEEDING WOODS by Brittany Amara is an intricately woven novel about what it means to be human. Told through several points of view, the story begins with a bang and ends with a thought-provoking message that will stay with the reader for a very long time.

This was a work of literary fiction in the horror genre--literary being the main word, here. Clara, the main character, was consistently drawn to something dark inside herself, and as the story progressed, she learned just what that was. It was interesting watching her develop, though much of her issues with shame, guilt, and worthlessness put a pall over the pacing. I also wished we could have learned more about Jade, her sister. Jade wasn't very likable, mired in grief and guilt that turned to rage. The two other characters, Grayson and his younger brother, paled next to the sisters. (I'm still not sure what the younger brother's role was except to illustrate the protective nature of Grayson, which we already saw with Clara and Jade.) Honestly, I found the "villain" of the piece to be the most fascinating character. I loved those scenes. While I did wish a little more had been developed there, I understood why the author stuck with Clara as the main focus.

My biggest complaint about the story concerned the at-times overly written narrative, which bogged down the story's pacing and clarity. I found myself rereading passages trying to figure out if the character was actually experiencing something physically or just experiencing it emotionally/metaphysically.

All in all though, THE BLEEDING WOODS was a lovely horror novel about relationships and how much perception plays a part in what we think about ourselves. Great imagery throughout. I'd definitely read this author again and very much enjoyed the story.

4 Stars
SJ

The premise was absolutely amazing and unlike anything I've ever read before. I did find that the 1st person narrative with multiple pov's made it get choppy for me. I appreciated the suspense and the AHA moment when everything pieced together. I was expecting a plot twist and definitely got it. For a debut author, I am most definitely going to check out further publishings if they are as thrilling as this one.

I think it's best to go into this one not knowing too much detail so I'll provide quick descriptions:
- botanical horror elements and gore
- sci-fi/thriller vibes
- mild romance aspects
- supernatural abilities
- dreadful & ominous setting

At times, the writing style took me out of the story but I think this was a compelling debut novel. It definitely had me clutching my pearls at times and there are several wtf moments, which i love in this type of book. I was able to predict some of the twists and turns but it still kept me interested. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

The Bleeding Woods is a mix of psychological horror and paranormal suspense, set deep within the Appalachian Mountains. The story follows Clara Lovecroft, whose teenage tragedy—killing her parents in a childhood episode triggered by awakening dark powers—has haunted her into adulthood. 10 Years later on the Anniversary of her Parents Death she embarks on a healing weekend retreat with her sister Jade, childhood friend Grayson, and his brother Joey,

But when their car breaks down in the eerie Blackstone Forest, the group finds themselves entangled with Fear, Secrets, and an infatuated stranger psychically bound to Clara for reasons Unknown.
I really enjoyed the descriptive writing style of this book esp the gory scenes...i could Really envision things playing out in my mind which truly made it very Horrifying. This story brought aspects sci fi, horror & a sprinkle of romance while , which i appreciated.
Thank you Netgalley For the Arc of the Debut Novel.

Arc review: 3.9 star rating

Thank you Netgalley and Brittany Amara!

The Bleeding Woods is a dark horror, slow suspense, psychological and a bit of romance type of book. Amara's writing is extremely poetic, with heavy usage of metaphors.

A trip that goes completely wrong, when Clara, the main complex and character, along with her sister and some friends are trapped in a haunted forest that wants to consume them. By the way Clara has a big secret, she killed her parents when she was 14, and has to take pills to keep something dark inside of her at bay.

I liked the book, it was dark and weird and the twist had my jaw hitting the floor. However the writing style was too poetic for my taste. I feel that the usage of the metaphors could have been toned down.

The Bleeding Woods stars with an eerie, atmospheric setting that immediately draws you in. The forest, steeped in dark folklore and mystery, creates the perfect backdrop for a slow-burning tale. In the early chapters, the suspense is strong.

Amara’s prose is accessible and often vivid, especially when describing the haunting landscape. Her ability to build mood and tension is a definite strength, and at times the horror feels genuinely unsettling.

Where the novel falters is in its pacing and character development. While the first half moves at a good clip, the middle section loses momentum, with scenes that feel repetitive or overly drawn out. The main characters are serviceable but don’t quite evolve in meaningful ways, which makes it harder to stay emotionally invested as the stakes rise.

Three stars. Worth a read for the atmosphere, but not without its rough patches.

I have never wanted to love a book more—seriously, just look at that cover! Huge thanks to NetGalley and 47North for the digital ARC. Unfortunately, I had to DNF this one. I couldn’t get past the writing style.

The story centers on Clara Lovecroft, a strange and secretive young woman who awakens something dormant within herself after her parents' deaths. Whatever it is, it’s held at bay by a special prescription. But now she only has a handful left. We don’t know what the pills are, what exactly is wrong with Clara, or how her parents were involved.

On a road trip with her sister, their best friend, and his younger brother, they encounter a mysterious stranger who shares an inexplicable connection with Clara.
Who is this man? What does he know about Clara’s past? How are their histories intertwined?

The premise drew me in and was compelling. I truly wanted to push through and uncover the secrets. But the writing didn’t work for me, and it pulled me out of the story too often to stay invested. It seemed like it was trying to be a bit off-putting and lyrical. Usually, I love weird, lyrical prose—give me Mona Awad, M.L. Rio, Olivie Blake—if it’s a little pretentious and dreamlike, I’m all in. But this just didn't hit for me.

I made it about 10% in before I had to set it down.

This one might be the right book for another reader, but unfortunately, it wasn’t for me. The audiobook may flow a bit better!

What an incredible story of love, healing, and vengeance all wrapped up in a beautifully written horror novel, full of poetic imagery.
Very cool. The descriptive nature of this novel was incredible - for the first chapter. After that, I discovered it just wasn't my style. But I'm sure many will truly appreciate it, it was quite an experience.

I know it's quite early to post a review but I just couldn't help myself.
When I first saw the cover I found it a bit off, uncomfortable even, but very captivating and I think is the perfect feel for the book and great way to portray Clara's feelings - uncomfortable but curious and percevered!
The story is extremely addictive. I continuously wanted more. It had mystery, angst, gore, red flag relationships, devotion, betrayal and the classic moral struggle between "are villains born or are they made?".
So in other words, a great recipe to hipnotise the readers.
Hot take... I see Jasper's point and he became my favourite character. His pain and hate were portrayed soooo well, along with his desperation and twisted side (not supporting all his actions btw, just understand why).
The only not so positive thing I'd say about the book is the pace. I love a quick read but I think that some parts really needed a bit of detail and time to create the emotion the book is trying to portray + allow things to sink in.
None the less, still a 5 star read for me that I have and will be recommending.
Cant wait for the hard cover edition to come out!!! I'll be all over it!

"𝑾𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒔, 𝒔𝒉𝒆'𝒔 𝒂 𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒇𝒖𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒄𝒖𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒃𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒎 𝒊𝒏 𝒂 𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒒𝒖𝒆𝒕. 𝑾𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒎𝒆, 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒂 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒅𝒇𝒍𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓."
_

ARC REVIEW:

3.5 / 5
_
This book was wild.
We follow Clara Lovecroft and she’s not your average main character.
Ten years after a huge turning point in her life, she goes on a trip with her sister Jade and two friends (brothers – Grayson and Joey) and ofc they end up near a haunted forest where allegedly no one comes out alive.
Enter Jasper (aka JS-7R)... and let me just say: obsessed. Like, literally. The moment he realises that Clara is like him, it’s game over.
His POV chapters were my fave - dark, poetic and twisted. He’s unhinged, but the writing makes it so captivating.

The first part of the book is a little slow, and the bickering between Clara and her sister Jade gets a bit tiring, but it does add to the tension and character dynamics. Once the story picks up, it really picks up. Twists, emotions, obsession, trauma.. all of it wrapped in this eerie, mysterious vibe that had me hooked.
There's a plot twist near the end that I did not expect AT ALL.
I'm kinda disappointed with the ending but it was still good.

_
The writing style is amazing, especially for a debut.
I’m super impressed by Brittany Amara and can’t wait to see what she writes next.
If you’re into dark romance with a touch of the paranormal, broken characters, and forests that absolutely should not be entered, add The Bleeding Woods to your TBR this October.

Huge thanks to NetGalley, 47North for the ARC!

Are there any bad books these days on NetGalley or am I really good at picking the ones I will like?

This one is just WOW! The text is so rich, so full and so beautiful. The story is terrifying, gory, romantic, sad, macabre, Frankenstein + Dracula/Nosferatu + Stranger Things. What an emotional rollercoaster. Didn't know how to feel and what to think and I loved every momet of it. Ending was a bit weak for me, though I honestly don't know what could have made it better. I just wish something else happened.

Anyways, I loved the book. It is one of my favourite this year and I am definitely getting myself a shelf trophy.

Thank you, NetGalley and 47North, for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

The story follows Clara, who accidentally killed her parents when she was 14. It was an accident, and when it happened, something in her awoke. What awoke in her was something terrible and dangerous that causes Clara to have to take a pill each day, otherwise another side of her will come out. A decade later, on the anniversary of her parents’ death, Clara joins her sister (who hates her and blames her for killing their parents), Grayson, their friend they grew up with, and his younger brother Joey on a getaway to repair their relationship. While on the way, their car breaks down in the middle of the forest, where something sinister is lurking. Clara, her sister, and their friends now must uncover the secrets that are hidden away in the forest while trying to get back home.

I liked the ending of this book, and felt like that saved it for me. I didn’t really vibe with the writing in the book. When I was reading the book, it felt like everything was a metaphor, and since it was written in first person, it read a little weird. It just didn’t feel as authentic as I had hoped. I felt like the book went on, the writing started to flow better, and then the story really picked up. Then that's when I really started to enjoy the story more.

While everyone is stuck in the forest, there is still so much action. The descriptions that Brittany Amara can create leave little to the imagination. You get all the gruesome details, and none are spared. The twists and turns at the end will have you gripping the edge of your seat. The last 100 pages had me gripping my Kindle, and I wasn’t putting it down until I finished the book. I did like the ending, and felt like the ending wrapped up nicely.

Thank you, Netgalley, for the ARC!
***
"In this chilling debut horror novel, a young woman discovering dangerous new powers finds herself lost in the Appalachian Mountains with her first love, the sister she betrayed, and an infatuated stranger bound to her telepathically as a string of vicious murders taints the woods red." Clara Lovecroft killed her parents when she was 14...it was an accident though, right? Now a decade later, Clara and her group are stranded in a forest where NOTHING is as it appears. Even Clara herslef.
***
Amara combined the best aspects of horror and sci-fi in her brilliantly poetic writing. This book felt like a fever dream but in a beautifully, creepy way! As we follow Clara into her descent into madness/finding out her true identity, we are taken on an epic journey against an evil that is incomprehensible.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)

ARC Review. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this early in exchange for an honest review.

The Bleeding Woods is a dark and atmospheric fantasy that immediately gripped me with its eerie forest setting, mysterious lore, and strong emotional undercurrents. Brittany Amara’s writing is lush and lyrical, pulling you into a world that feels both otherworldly and intimate. Every tree seems to hold a secret, and the danger beneath the surface is always just a breath away.

The protagonist was compelling, layered with a mix of vulnerability and determination that made her easy to root for. I especially appreciated how the emotional themes of grief, identity, and survival were interwoven with the fantasy elements without ever feeling heavy-handed.

What really stood out was the vibe of the book. It has the kind of gothic fairytale energy that fans of Naomi Novik or Ava Reid will likely enjoy. If you love morally grey characters, dark folklore, and forest settings that feel like living entities, you’ll feel right at home here.

My only minor critique is that some parts of the pacing felt a little slow, particularly in the middle, but the tension always picked back up at the right moment.

Overall, this is a haunting, beautifully written debut that I’ll be recommending to fans of dark fantasy and fairytale horror. I’m excited to see what Brittany Amara writes next.

Thank you netgalley, the author and the publisher for accepting me for this arc in exchange of an honest review.

I’d give this book a 3.5 rounded up to 4.

I absolutely love the front cover and I would honestly pick it up straight away in a shop if I saw it. The color and those eyes are very attractive.
The story itself stands out against everything we see in bookshop, think paranormal, stranger things, halloween vibes and a dash of romance.
The first 5-6 chapters were really captivating, I was engrossed and couldn’t stop thinking about them. After that it dwindled a bit, I think due to the fact that we then get into two different realms which can be quite confusing. I think that’s more a me problem as I always struggle to differentiate both with these kind of books.
I loved the twists, the discoveries and I was very interested to read until the end to see what was actually going on and what all the secrets were. I think that’s a bonus because it shows that the author knows how to make the book captivating for people to carry on.

The writing itself was really good, very poetic at times and with a variety of vocabulary which adds to the atmospheric feel of the book. The description were really good and I really pictured all the scenes and scenerys.
I think this is a very promising book and I hope it gets the success it deserves!