Backwoods Banshee by David R. Slayton is the kind of horror novel that reminds you why spooky season is one of the best times of the year to pick up a chilling read. Blending folklore, mystery, and supernatural terror, it's an atmospheric story that pulls you into the eerie isolation of the woods and doesn't let go.

The story follows a man who returns to a place tied to painful memories, only to find himself caught up in a series of unsettling events connected to a legendary creature said to haunt the surrounding forests. As strange encounters become more frequent and the line between myth and reality begins to blur, he must confront both the darkness lurking in the wilderness and the ghosts of his own past.

David R. Slayton's writing is vivid and engaging, making it easy to picture the dense forests, lonely roads, and creeping sense of danger that hangs over every chapter. His prose strikes a wonderful balance between character-driven storytelling and steadily building suspense. The pacing allows the mystery to unfold naturally, layering in just enough tension and eerie atmosphere to keep the pages turning while making each revelation feel earned.

What I enjoyed most was how the folklore was woven into the story, creating an unsettling mood without sacrificing the emotional depth of the characters. The supernatural elements never overshadow the personal journey, making the horror feel even more impactful.

If you're ready to start filling your fall reading list, Backwoods Banshee is a fantastic way to ease into spooky season. It's atmospheric, suspenseful, and filled with the kind of creeping dread that horror fans look for as autumn approaches.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an advance reader copy (ARC). All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you Blackstone Publishing and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. I loved being back in Adam Binder’s world! Adam is struggling to recover from the torture he suffered and on top of that he’s plagued by nightmares of his unborn nephew and dealing with relationship issues with Vic. While he’s dealing with all of the personal things Banshees have begun preying on humans and fey and the Between, a forbidden magical realm, holds a secret that the fey are desperate to keep. More mysterious then that someone is purging knowledge about the Eleven religion from everywhere. And no one seems to know why or how. Somehow everything is connected and Adam needs to figure it all out before destruction happens. But can he? Or will it all be too much? David Slayton always delivers a rich world with diverse characters that keeps me hooked! Plenty of twists to keep the reading guessing and some darker elements that I really enjoyed! This one’s suspenseful, creepy, full of action and heart, and left me wanting more!

(4.5*) The highest praise I can give the fifth instalment of an ongoing series is that reading it motivated me to go right back to the beginning of the series to re-read them all again and experience the characters at the start of their journey and fully appreciate how far they've come. I'm currently halfway through White Trash Warlock and loving it even more than my first readthrough. The second highest praise I can give is that the characters of the Adam Binder series are that rare experience for me where they genuinely feel real, flesh and blood people, their lives tangible, their apartments and daily routines detailed in my mind and endearingly desired - this is a world I long to drop into and be welcomed as a friend. I think Adam and I would vibe. Although I want to be careful to avoid spoilers, I particularly appreciated the exploration of post-violent trauma, and the metaphorical meaning of the victims of the banshees felt relevant and rich.

I highly recommend this series to fans of low and urban fantasy with refreshingly original characterisation and setting, as well as sensitive rendering of economic instability and mental health topics.

I am grateful to Blackstone Publishing for reaching out to offer me an ARC. Thank you for the opportunity to read Backwoods Banshee and I look forward to enjoying the continuation of this series.