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The Whisperwood Legacy
Knives Out meets The Hazel Wood in this twisty contemporary fantasy about an amusement park shrouded in dark secrets—and the family desperate to inherit it at any cost.
Welcome to Whisperwood, a sprawling theme park nestled in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, where thrilling rides and picture-perfect scenery bring cult-classic fairy tales to life. Or at least they did until eighteen months ago, when the family matriarch, Virginia Strauss, suddenly shut Whisperwood’s gates and the beloved park was left to wither away along with the family’s dwindling fortune.
For seventeen-year-old Frankie Strauss, Whisperwood's closure has been a blessing in disguise. After seeing three generations of wealth’s corrupting influence, she is more than ready to shed the Strauss-family's gilded handcuffs.
But when Virginia goes missing, Frankie realizes that her family might be guilty of something much worse than mere dysfunction. With the help of the mysterious and handsome groundskeeper, Jem, Frankie sifts through a web of near truths and outright lies, uncovering a reality where nothing is as it seems and fairy tales aren’t just real—they’re deadly.
Welcome to Whisperwood, a sprawling theme park nestled in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, where thrilling rides and picture-perfect scenery bring cult-classic fairy tales to life. Or at least they did until eighteen months ago, when the family matriarch, Virginia Strauss, suddenly shut Whisperwood’s gates and the beloved park was left to wither away along with the family’s dwindling fortune.
For seventeen-year-old Frankie Strauss, Whisperwood's closure has been a blessing in disguise. After seeing three generations of wealth’s corrupting influence, she is more than ready to shed the Strauss-family's gilded handcuffs.
But when Virginia goes missing, Frankie realizes that her family might be guilty of something much worse than mere dysfunction. With the help of the mysterious and handsome groundskeeper, Jem, Frankie sifts through a web of near truths and outright lies, uncovering a reality where nothing is as it seems and fairy tales aren’t just real—they’re deadly.
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First published May 27, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
April 15, 2025
Pardon me, but what an absolute rollercoaster!
Love, love, loved this book! It's a fun and at time humorous dark fantasy with an intriguing mystery, unique German-inspired folklore, and so much family drama that makes you want to whip out the popcorn. Truly could not put it down.
Thanks to the author for the early copy!
Love, love, loved this book! It's a fun and at time humorous dark fantasy with an intriguing mystery, unique German-inspired folklore, and so much family drama that makes you want to whip out the popcorn. Truly could not put it down.
Thanks to the author for the early copy!
May 22, 2025
I’m torn here, because I liked this, and yet there were things I didn’t like. I think I’m going to give it a 3.25, rounded down. There’s a great story in here, but too many things don’t really add up for me. There are flashbacks that are confusing for a while, and then the finale didn’t make complete sense. I liked the descriptions of the amusement park itself, and the fairytales interspersed with current day was a nice touch. I would’ve liked to dive more into *why* the events were happening. Also, there are a couple of gory scenes, one of them being so shockingly gruesome that it completely pulled me out of the story.
Overall, now that I’ve finished it, it’s a one and done for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Little Brown Books for Young Readers for an eARC. All opinions are mine.
Overall, now that I’ve finished it, it’s a one and done for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Little Brown Books for Young Readers for an eARC. All opinions are mine.
February 19, 2025
The Whisperwood has been on my must-read list since its deal announcement, and wow does it deliver. I could not get over the creativity of the lore within this story! This book is steeped in Appalachian German folklore, with eery suspense, morally-grey characters, and runaway magic. The abandoned amusement park was the perfect setting, and I loved how big a role it played in the plot. The twists were extremely well done, and had the perfect balance of family drama, teenage angst, and generational secrets to keep me engaged from start to finish. Highly recommend!
Thank you to Netgalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Netgalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
February 28, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley and Little, Brown Books for Children for the eARC!
I really truly wanted to love this book. I mean, that COVER? It's fantastic.
Unfortunately, this book did not work for me.
This book felt like it contained two different books inside of it. The first 35-40ish% was straight boring contemporary - a family all hating each other a la Knives Out and wanting their grandmother to die so they could inherit the park. This part can be best described as the type of YA that adult YA readers hate: sporadic, jumping from thought to thought too hurriedly, adding in stupid random tidbits no one cares about, etc.
The second portion was a magical story/fairy tale adventureish contemporary fantasy a la the Goosebumps movie (the one with Jack Black). In my opinion, Schulte should have given us the fantasy FAR sooner than 1/3 of the way through the book. AND given us WAY more world building around said fantasy. By the end, I was just skimming like "what the ef is going on" because it was all so chaotically done.
There was an idea here.... buried deep. I just do not think it was executed efficiently. We got some of the stories in book and a few I kinda just glossed over because I wasn't a fan of them. I did read the important one(s) but I was frustrated that we didn't get a lot of IRL backstory/worldbuilding. I think I needed that to really connect with the plot more and actually CARE about this world and its magic and characters. (Like why were certain characters able to do certain things.... without spoilers, it was kind of not handled well....)
Also, I guessed the plot twists. Go me. (Except for a small part of the one twist, which to be fair, would never have been guessed because there wasn't any actual foreshadowing.)
I'm not sure who I would peg as the audience for this book. On the one hand, the first 1/3 was juvenile. Adult or upper YA readers are going to DNF it. But you also have an uncle character who swears in almost EVERY SINGLE SENTENCE. (Why!? It's so unnecessary!) And there are some additional slightly more dark portions in the last 2/3's of the book. So I couldn't in good conscious give it to a 12-14yo. But I also don't think a 16-18yo would even like that beginning portion? So... who knows? I hope this book finds its readers but I am unfortunately, not one.
I really truly wanted to love this book. I mean, that COVER? It's fantastic.
Unfortunately, this book did not work for me.
This book felt like it contained two different books inside of it. The first 35-40ish% was straight boring contemporary - a family all hating each other a la Knives Out and wanting their grandmother to die so they could inherit the park. This part can be best described as the type of YA that adult YA readers hate: sporadic, jumping from thought to thought too hurriedly, adding in stupid random tidbits no one cares about, etc.
The second portion was a magical story/fairy tale adventureish contemporary fantasy a la the Goosebumps movie (the one with Jack Black). In my opinion, Schulte should have given us the fantasy FAR sooner than 1/3 of the way through the book. AND given us WAY more world building around said fantasy. By the end, I was just skimming like "what the ef is going on" because it was all so chaotically done.
There was an idea here.... buried deep. I just do not think it was executed efficiently. We got some of the stories in book and a few I kinda just glossed over because I wasn't a fan of them. I did read the important one(s) but I was frustrated that we didn't get a lot of IRL backstory/worldbuilding. I think I needed that to really connect with the plot more and actually CARE about this world and its magic and characters. (Like why were certain characters able to do certain things.... without spoilers, it was kind of not handled well....)
Also, I guessed the plot twists. Go me. (Except for a small part of the one twist, which to be fair, would never have been guessed because there wasn't any actual foreshadowing.)
I'm not sure who I would peg as the audience for this book. On the one hand, the first 1/3 was juvenile. Adult or upper YA readers are going to DNF it. But you also have an uncle character who swears in almost EVERY SINGLE SENTENCE. (Why!? It's so unnecessary!) And there are some additional slightly more dark portions in the last 2/3's of the book. So I couldn't in good conscious give it to a 12-14yo. But I also don't think a 16-18yo would even like that beginning portion? So... who knows? I hope this book finds its readers but I am unfortunately, not one.
February 10, 2025
{Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC}
I was looking forward to this book for so long, and I think my expectations were too high based on the description, cover, and reviews from authors I love. I DNF’d at 89 pages after a long struggle to get into the book, there were just way too many cringe meme references for me to handle in a book who’s tone and storyline did not vibe well with them. Add in a classic YA insta-romance that distracts from the actual mystery, a stereotypical influencer character, fanfiction style writing, and you have the perfect recipe to kill me. I may try this book again someday because of the aforementioned high hopes but I just had to walk away from it too many times to justify it for now.
I was looking forward to this book for so long, and I think my expectations were too high based on the description, cover, and reviews from authors I love. I DNF’d at 89 pages after a long struggle to get into the book, there were just way too many cringe meme references for me to handle in a book who’s tone and storyline did not vibe well with them. Add in a classic YA insta-romance that distracts from the actual mystery, a stereotypical influencer character, fanfiction style writing, and you have the perfect recipe to kill me. I may try this book again someday because of the aforementioned high hopes but I just had to walk away from it too many times to justify it for now.
May 24, 2025
As a lover of fairytales and horror, this book sounded like it was right up my alley. I mean, look at this cover. Not to mention, the first paragraph starts with “once upon a time should come with a warning label” which is such a smart way to start the book. The downside to this is….it isn’t quite horror . Despite the fact that it comes off as that way. That enticingly dark cover is massively deceiving. It’s got creepy parts but none of this book is actually upsetting or scary 🤷🏻♀️
Whisperwood is basically a dark version of Disney world, more of a darker, German themed fairytale land, but the fairytale characters are all fully made up for this book rather than ones we know. Rather than rides based on Disney movies, the rides are based on dark fairytales invented solely by the author for this book, some of them uneasy, and all of them with a similar feel as reading a Grimm’s fairytale.
There’s interludes between the chapters that show excerpts from stories about old folklores and that’s really where I see the Hazel Wood comparisons come in. Those chapter excerpts telling the fairytales behind the Whisper-wood characters were actually my favorite parts of the book; I especially liked the story about the apothecary and his brother, and the nymph named Lorena. These excerpts are where the book fully shines and I would read a whole anthology of just Whisperwood fairytales because those parts were just SO creative.
This book is also very magical realism-y despite coming off as more of a thriller in the blurb. Magic definitely exists in this book’s world and that isn’t established from the get go whether that’s the case or if it’s just a thriller, but it’s definitely magical realism.
Aside from the fairytale excerpts which are not part of the plot, nothing else about this book is a super big standout. With an almost horror cover like that I expected more urgency but I just really wasn’t invested. The biggest plot point is the disappearance of her grandmother and tbh I just didn’t really care lol. The stakes aren’t high enough if that’s all there is to it. I would’ve rather read a book of Whisperwood fairytales over the actual book to be honest. The book wasn’t badly written at all; the stakes were just too low for me to care. There needed to be more to the plot than just a disappearance of a grandmother as the biggest conflict.
But, the strong point of this book definitely is the concept. Fairytales brought to life by a family and a theme park created around these made up fairytales of their own is like a modern day Grimm’s brothers and it’s a concept I’ve never read anywhere before. Not to mention how good the fairytale excerpts are and they’re only designed to be there to add only the story. Which is funny because they’re the strongest part of this book. This took me forever to finish because I had no urgency to get to the end and find out what happens. The concept of it all was so good and the Whisperwood fairytales so interesting; I just wish a more engaging plot was given to it because it needed a more gripping mystery.
Thank you to Netgalley for sending me an advanced copy in return for my honest review.
Whisperwood is basically a dark version of Disney world, more of a darker, German themed fairytale land, but the fairytale characters are all fully made up for this book rather than ones we know. Rather than rides based on Disney movies, the rides are based on dark fairytales invented solely by the author for this book, some of them uneasy, and all of them with a similar feel as reading a Grimm’s fairytale.
There’s interludes between the chapters that show excerpts from stories about old folklores and that’s really where I see the Hazel Wood comparisons come in. Those chapter excerpts telling the fairytales behind the Whisper-wood characters were actually my favorite parts of the book; I especially liked the story about the apothecary and his brother, and the nymph named Lorena. These excerpts are where the book fully shines and I would read a whole anthology of just Whisperwood fairytales because those parts were just SO creative.
This book is also very magical realism-y despite coming off as more of a thriller in the blurb. Magic definitely exists in this book’s world and that isn’t established from the get go whether that’s the case or if it’s just a thriller, but it’s definitely magical realism.
Aside from the fairytale excerpts which are not part of the plot, nothing else about this book is a super big standout. With an almost horror cover like that I expected more urgency but I just really wasn’t invested. The biggest plot point is the disappearance of her grandmother and tbh I just didn’t really care lol. The stakes aren’t high enough if that’s all there is to it. I would’ve rather read a book of Whisperwood fairytales over the actual book to be honest. The book wasn’t badly written at all; the stakes were just too low for me to care. There needed to be more to the plot than just a disappearance of a grandmother as the biggest conflict.
But, the strong point of this book definitely is the concept. Fairytales brought to life by a family and a theme park created around these made up fairytales of their own is like a modern day Grimm’s brothers and it’s a concept I’ve never read anywhere before. Not to mention how good the fairytale excerpts are and they’re only designed to be there to add only the story. Which is funny because they’re the strongest part of this book. This took me forever to finish because I had no urgency to get to the end and find out what happens. The concept of it all was so good and the Whisperwood fairytales so interesting; I just wish a more engaging plot was given to it because it needed a more gripping mystery.
Thank you to Netgalley for sending me an advanced copy in return for my honest review.
May 19, 2025
Frankie Strauss is part of the legendary Strauss family, famous for the tales her many-greats grandfather, Wilhelm, published - The Whisperwood Tales. Their wealth now comes mainly from a theme park with rides based on the Whisperwood. But a year-and-a-half ago, Virginia, the family matriarch, shuttered the park without any explanation whatsoever.
Strangely, the best friend Frankie thought she had, Zara, vanished from her life the day after and essentially abandoned her. And shortly afterward, Virginia shared a life-shattering secret with Frankie. There is such a thing as magic, and it comes from storytelling. But now that Virginia is growing old, she can't control the magic like she used to in younger days. And because of this, strange things are happening in the park. Frankie needs to learn to take her grandmother's place - and do it fast. Not long after, Virginia goes missing and Frankie uncovers mysteries, magic, horror and mayhem in the park with the help of mysterious and gorgeous groundskeeper Jem - a guy who just might be the key to everything.
Wow. Just wow. This book had me gobsmacked. I sat up all night and devoured it in a single sitting. The dark fairy tales and touches of folk horror stirred the gothic corner of my little reader heart and made this story unputdown-able.
And Jem - oh my. By far my favorite character. The only real complaints I have are some unnecessary foul language (because why? There are so many other words to use...and why must characters swear in a fantasy story?) And the lack of a German word glossary and pronunciation guide. There are a LOT of German words and names in this book. None of them are translated, leaving the reader to have to resort to Google Translate to find pronunciations and meanings. When did glossaries stop being a thing?
Due to this, I give the book 4 stars. It was really a pleasure to read and I can't wait to see where Ms. Schulte goes from here. Thank you to Netgalley, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers and Ms. Jo Schulte for the advanced reader copy. This review is voluntary. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
Strangely, the best friend Frankie thought she had, Zara, vanished from her life the day after and essentially abandoned her. And shortly afterward, Virginia shared a life-shattering secret with Frankie. There is such a thing as magic, and it comes from storytelling. But now that Virginia is growing old, she can't control the magic like she used to in younger days. And because of this, strange things are happening in the park. Frankie needs to learn to take her grandmother's place - and do it fast. Not long after, Virginia goes missing and Frankie uncovers mysteries, magic, horror and mayhem in the park with the help of mysterious and gorgeous groundskeeper Jem - a guy who just might be the key to everything.
Wow. Just wow. This book had me gobsmacked. I sat up all night and devoured it in a single sitting. The dark fairy tales and touches of folk horror stirred the gothic corner of my little reader heart and made this story unputdown-able.
And Jem - oh my. By far my favorite character. The only real complaints I have are some unnecessary foul language (because why? There are so many other words to use...and why must characters swear in a fantasy story?) And the lack of a German word glossary and pronunciation guide. There are a LOT of German words and names in this book. None of them are translated, leaving the reader to have to resort to Google Translate to find pronunciations and meanings. When did glossaries stop being a thing?
Due to this, I give the book 4 stars. It was really a pleasure to read and I can't wait to see where Ms. Schulte goes from here. Thank you to Netgalley, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers and Ms. Jo Schulte for the advanced reader copy. This review is voluntary. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
March 31, 2025
I love a good genre-blend, and this book had it all: a spooky theme park backdrop, riveting Knives Out family dynamics, a love interest to die for (literally), and can we talk about that supporting cast?? The dialogue is snappy, the German folklore adds such a unique mythology to mine and above all else, I adored the message: You get to be the agent of your own narrative, so build the story you want to see in the world.
June 2, 2025
This book is about twisted family and creepy mysteries. And soon enough, we are treated to so many crumbling facades (both the park and the family). The whole defunct theme park angle? obsessed. There’s something deliciously eerie about abandoned rides and broken-down attractions that used to sell magic to the masses. It’s a setting that practically begs for horror...and the book delivers.
The horror elements are well-woven, leaning into the uncanny and the darkly magical more than gore or shock. The reveal about the monsters was so satisfying. And then you’ve got the Strauss family drama simmering under everything, full of old grudges, secrets, and corruption. It's messy in all the right ways.
If you’re into modern fairy tale retellings with bite, dysfunctional families, or watching people uncover horrifying truths in crumbling places, The Whisperwood Legacy is going to hit just right.
Thanks to The Novl and Storygram Tours for the complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
Rep: Bisexual WMC
The horror elements are well-woven, leaning into the uncanny and the darkly magical more than gore or shock. The reveal about the monsters was so satisfying. And then you’ve got the Strauss family drama simmering under everything, full of old grudges, secrets, and corruption. It's messy in all the right ways.
If you’re into modern fairy tale retellings with bite, dysfunctional families, or watching people uncover horrifying truths in crumbling places, The Whisperwood Legacy is going to hit just right.
Thanks to The Novl and Storygram Tours for the complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
Rep: Bisexual WMC
August 8, 2025
The Whisperwood Legacy is an interesting YA Fantasy with a bit of horror, interesting tales, and a theme park that contains an old family secret just waiting to be discovered.
I saw this book at the library and as soon as I saw the cover I was sold! I am a sucker for anything theme park so I was excited to check it out and I am happy that I did because this book delivered! I enjoyed the author put in various tales from the Strauss family known as Die Marchen der Flusterwald because I found them fascinating. It gave off Grimm Fairy Tale vibes.
The characters were interesting while I found half to be unlikeable lol. I enjoyed the family dynamics in this novel because it was nice to see the cousins were able to be close despite how their parents act to each other.
This one is a bit of a slow burn so it did take a bit before I really got into it but I am glad I stuck with it because it is a good little horror.
I highly recommend The Whisperwood Legacy to those wanting to break into the horror genre, fans of fairy tales, and/or anyone who likes the Five Night's a Freddy series, book or TV.
I saw this book at the library and as soon as I saw the cover I was sold! I am a sucker for anything theme park so I was excited to check it out and I am happy that I did because this book delivered! I enjoyed the author put in various tales from the Strauss family known as Die Marchen der Flusterwald because I found them fascinating. It gave off Grimm Fairy Tale vibes.
The characters were interesting while I found half to be unlikeable lol. I enjoyed the family dynamics in this novel because it was nice to see the cousins were able to be close despite how their parents act to each other.
This one is a bit of a slow burn so it did take a bit before I really got into it but I am glad I stuck with it because it is a good little horror.
I highly recommend The Whisperwood Legacy to those wanting to break into the horror genre, fans of fairy tales, and/or anyone who likes the Five Night's a Freddy series, book or TV.
March 19, 2025
The Whisperwood Legacy follows Frankie Strauss as she returns to her family’s theme park at the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. Virginia Strauss, family matriarch, closed Whisperwood eighteen months ago and no one truly knows why. When the family returns for one night to celebrate the anniversary, Virginia goes missing and Frankie realizes her family may be guilty. She accepts help from the young and handsome groundskeeper, Jem, and the two work to uncover decades of lies and more.
This was perfectly pitched. Knives Out meets The Hazel Wood at a rundown amusement park is the perfect way to describe this book. The family dysfunction and drama gave such Knives Out vibes. They’re so ruthless and greedy. The plot starts a little slow, but it lays the groundwork really well and when it picks up, things get crazy. I had so much fun and loved all the twists and turns. And I adored the setting. There is something so hauntingly creepy about abandoned amusement parks and the author created such a magical, horrifying park. I could read so many books set in this park—it was so cool!
Loved the cast of characters in this one. Jem was so lovely and I loved his story. Frankie is a great mc and the reveal was so well done. Their romance was really cute and the ending was perfect. Her cousins were hilarious—the silk shrunken pjs had me laughing so hard. The family dynamic was really well done and believable in this one.
Overall, if you love Knives Out or The Hazel Wood, I’d totally recommend checking this out!
Thank you to Little, Brown Books for Young Readers and Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
This was perfectly pitched. Knives Out meets The Hazel Wood at a rundown amusement park is the perfect way to describe this book. The family dysfunction and drama gave such Knives Out vibes. They’re so ruthless and greedy. The plot starts a little slow, but it lays the groundwork really well and when it picks up, things get crazy. I had so much fun and loved all the twists and turns. And I adored the setting. There is something so hauntingly creepy about abandoned amusement parks and the author created such a magical, horrifying park. I could read so many books set in this park—it was so cool!
Loved the cast of characters in this one. Jem was so lovely and I loved his story. Frankie is a great mc and the reveal was so well done. Their romance was really cute and the ending was perfect. Her cousins were hilarious—the silk shrunken pjs had me laughing so hard. The family dynamic was really well done and believable in this one.
Overall, if you love Knives Out or The Hazel Wood, I’d totally recommend checking this out!
Thank you to Little, Brown Books for Young Readers and Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
April 30, 2025
I really enjoyed this one. It was a YA Horror/Fantasy that centered around dark fairy tales that might not be as fictious as everyone thought.
It was a unique concept about a family that owned an amusement park based on famous fairy tales written by their ancestor. Virginia, the matriarch of the family decided to close the gates with no real explanation. The family is left to figure out what is going on when Virginia suddenly goes missing, and explicit instructions were left with an attorney about what to do when she goes missing but hasn't been declared dead.
The story is mixed in with copies of the actual fairy tales that the amusement park attractions are based on, and in true fairy tale fashion, they were pretty dark. The concept of it really just pulled me into the story.
I don't always love fantasy in my horror, but the way it was told kept me engaged. I don't know how to explain this one any better because the tale was quite bizarre. I would recommend if you enjoy YA horror and fantasy, and something that won't necessarily keep you awake and scared all night.
It was a unique concept about a family that owned an amusement park based on famous fairy tales written by their ancestor. Virginia, the matriarch of the family decided to close the gates with no real explanation. The family is left to figure out what is going on when Virginia suddenly goes missing, and explicit instructions were left with an attorney about what to do when she goes missing but hasn't been declared dead.
The story is mixed in with copies of the actual fairy tales that the amusement park attractions are based on, and in true fairy tale fashion, they were pretty dark. The concept of it really just pulled me into the story.
I don't always love fantasy in my horror, but the way it was told kept me engaged. I don't know how to explain this one any better because the tale was quite bizarre. I would recommend if you enjoy YA horror and fantasy, and something that won't necessarily keep you awake and scared all night.
September 14, 2025
Not sure if it was the books or me this week. Everything I picked up lost me at some point.
Although I started this book several times and never got more than a few pages in until this week...
Had the makings of a fantastic read: amusement park setting and magic.
Started super strong with plenty of family drama. Told through a unique mix of fairy tale chapters, flashbacks and present day action with some online elements. The format worked at first, but then got to be repetitive. The fairy tales were interesting but pulled away from the real time story.
the first 100 pages went down fast as the plot about a family that owns a theme park similar to disney but with creepier fairy tales. When the matriarch of the family goes missing, the plot should have sped up. Instead it started to get stuck in a place without much action.
The "flashback" chapters were told in tiny font that was a style very hard to read.
I've only read a few amusement park books that have been hits. I always want more. This one also missed that extra element/descriptions of the park. The park wasn't used to the maximum capacity.
Although I started this book several times and never got more than a few pages in until this week...
Had the makings of a fantastic read: amusement park setting and magic.
Started super strong with plenty of family drama. Told through a unique mix of fairy tale chapters, flashbacks and present day action with some online elements. The format worked at first, but then got to be repetitive. The fairy tales were interesting but pulled away from the real time story.
the first 100 pages went down fast as the plot about a family that owns a theme park similar to disney but with creepier fairy tales. When the matriarch of the family goes missing, the plot should have sped up. Instead it started to get stuck in a place without much action.
The "flashback" chapters were told in tiny font that was a style very hard to read.
I've only read a few amusement park books that have been hits. I always want more. This one also missed that extra element/descriptions of the park. The park wasn't used to the maximum capacity.
May 15, 2025
The Whisperwood Legacy was described as Knives Out meets The Hazel Wood and that feels like a pretty solid descriptor. Though, it skews more Knives Out in my opinion, not quite as dark as The Hazel Wood.
I enjoyed the core story, a family fighting over a derelict theme park, one with a supernatural secret. The book is peppered with short stories which didn't really grab me in any way. I skimmed them and would have skipped them entirely were they not useful to the main plot in some way.
Overall, this was an interesting read.
I enjoyed the core story, a family fighting over a derelict theme park, one with a supernatural secret. The book is peppered with short stories which didn't really grab me in any way. I skimmed them and would have skipped them entirely were they not useful to the main plot in some way.
Overall, this was an interesting read.
July 3, 2025
“Why do you break your own heart before it even has a chance to beat?”
“The Whisperwood Legacy,” by Jo Schulte
The biggest thing I liked most about this book was that it was about a shutdown family amusement park, that stuff is right up my alley. There was a ton of mystery and family drama mixed with magic lore and YA vibes throughout the entire book. The fact that the entire family was so cutthroat about the inheritance was really interesting to read about. 3 out of 5 stars.
-Amusement Park
-Mystery
-Family Drama
-Magic
Thank you for the ARC, Netgalley.
“The Whisperwood Legacy,” by Jo Schulte
The biggest thing I liked most about this book was that it was about a shutdown family amusement park, that stuff is right up my alley. There was a ton of mystery and family drama mixed with magic lore and YA vibes throughout the entire book. The fact that the entire family was so cutthroat about the inheritance was really interesting to read about. 3 out of 5 stars.
-Amusement Park
-Mystery
-Family Drama
-Magic
Thank you for the ARC, Netgalley.
April 19, 2025
This book had such a unique concept! This book blends mystery and fantasy in this whodunnit tale. I liked the incorporation of German folklore as well as the abandoned theme park setting. This book had a lot of cool ideas and story elements, but I had a hard time connecting to the characters. Overall this was a good debut novel and I look forward to trying future books by this author.
Thank you to @thenovl for the gifted arc.
Thank you to @thenovl for the gifted arc.
July 7, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
It was a very interesting read that’s for sure. I listened to the audiobook on Libby and really loved the voice actors. They showed emotion in their voices, which is something I always love.
It was a very interesting read that’s for sure. I listened to the audiobook on Libby and really loved the voice actors. They showed emotion in their voices, which is something I always love.
August 7, 2025
wow I really loved this spooky tale!
July 12, 2025
2.5 stars rounded up
I wanted to love this book more than I did. The story started off so strong, and it was going well. I thought it was going to be a new favorite read of mine! Until we got to the last quarter of the book. Then everything went down hill, to where I was actually angry about many (most) of the decisions the author made for the last quarter of the story. So many of those decisions were just entirely unnecessary, convoluted, and/or frustrating. This story has so much potential, only for the plot to unravel at the very end.
A positive I will say is that I loved the fairytale short stories that were featured throughout the book! Some had stronger plots than others, but I still feel like they were the strongest element of the entire book!
I liked a lot of the characters! Bertram was hilariously obnoxious, and was my favorite because of it. In regards to character motivations—I understood them for the most part, until we reached the end. The decisions that certain characters made in the last quarter of the book were infuriating, to be honest.
I liked the creepy Whisperwood park a lot as a setting. Some of the descriptions for it were top notch. There were some scenes, however, where I personally had a hard time visualizing what the author was describing. But I still appreciate the spooky amusement park vibes. I will say that the magic system as it’s tied to the park got really confusing in the latter half of the book.
I would be open to reading more books from this author in the future. I just didn’t appreciate feeling like the rug was pulled out from under me towards the end in terms of the quality of story I was reading. So when it comes to my expectations, I will proceed with caution next time.
NOTES I TOOK WHILE READING:
I wanted to love this book more than I did. The story started off so strong, and it was going well. I thought it was going to be a new favorite read of mine! Until we got to the last quarter of the book. Then everything went down hill, to where I was actually angry about many (most) of the decisions the author made for the last quarter of the story. So many of those decisions were just entirely unnecessary, convoluted, and/or frustrating. This story has so much potential, only for the plot to unravel at the very end.
A positive I will say is that I loved the fairytale short stories that were featured throughout the book! Some had stronger plots than others, but I still feel like they were the strongest element of the entire book!
I liked a lot of the characters! Bertram was hilariously obnoxious, and was my favorite because of it. In regards to character motivations—I understood them for the most part, until we reached the end. The decisions that certain characters made in the last quarter of the book were infuriating, to be honest.
I liked the creepy Whisperwood park a lot as a setting. Some of the descriptions for it were top notch. There were some scenes, however, where I personally had a hard time visualizing what the author was describing. But I still appreciate the spooky amusement park vibes. I will say that the magic system as it’s tied to the park got really confusing in the latter half of the book.
I would be open to reading more books from this author in the future. I just didn’t appreciate feeling like the rug was pulled out from under me towards the end in terms of the quality of story I was reading. So when it comes to my expectations, I will proceed with caution next time.
NOTES I TOOK WHILE READING:
June 5, 2025
I received a copy from Little, Brown Books for Young Readers through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
A year and a half after Whisperwood’s closure, the Strauss family is falling apart at the seams. The Strauss family is known for their long and strange history as well as their popular theme park, but now that Whisperwood is closed, there’s even more public interest than ever. What the public doesn’t know is that the family’s money has dried up without the theme park’s income, and the fighting has begun. Insert Frankie, one of the Strauss grandchildren, who is slowly learning the ropes of controlling the magic that is weaved throughout Whisperwood. When her grandma goes missing, the entire family discovers the real reason Whisperwood closed.
I was really looking forward to reading this, so it’s unfortunate that it ended up being a total miss for me. I think it has an interesting premise, but it had way too many characters and not enough world building. I ended up being far more interested in the few entertaining characters just because the majority of the characters were either extremely bland or very unlikable. I’m also not sure why Uncle Preston cusses almost every time he speaks. It was funny at first just because it was always so out of place, but it just kept taking me out of the story.
I kept reading because it was interesting enough that I wanted to see where the story was going, but Ella and her blog post when her grandma goes missing was the last straw. I finished that chapter, shut the book, and decided I was not going to continue. Her looking to capitalize off her adoptive grandmother’s disappearance was the final straw for me, so I shut the book at 48% and ditched it.
Ultimately, I think this book has an interesting plot, but it’s weighed down by too many characters and random bits of information that didn’t add to the story. We were being told too much and not enough at the same time, and it suffered some pacing issues that the memory flashes didn’t help. I probably would’ve still found a way to enjoy it if there weren't so many unlikable characters and a romance plot with an unsettling vibe.
A year and a half after Whisperwood’s closure, the Strauss family is falling apart at the seams. The Strauss family is known for their long and strange history as well as their popular theme park, but now that Whisperwood is closed, there’s even more public interest than ever. What the public doesn’t know is that the family’s money has dried up without the theme park’s income, and the fighting has begun. Insert Frankie, one of the Strauss grandchildren, who is slowly learning the ropes of controlling the magic that is weaved throughout Whisperwood. When her grandma goes missing, the entire family discovers the real reason Whisperwood closed.
I was really looking forward to reading this, so it’s unfortunate that it ended up being a total miss for me. I think it has an interesting premise, but it had way too many characters and not enough world building. I ended up being far more interested in the few entertaining characters just because the majority of the characters were either extremely bland or very unlikable. I’m also not sure why Uncle Preston cusses almost every time he speaks. It was funny at first just because it was always so out of place, but it just kept taking me out of the story.
I kept reading because it was interesting enough that I wanted to see where the story was going, but Ella and her blog post when her grandma goes missing was the last straw. I finished that chapter, shut the book, and decided I was not going to continue. Her looking to capitalize off her adoptive grandmother’s disappearance was the final straw for me, so I shut the book at 48% and ditched it.
Ultimately, I think this book has an interesting plot, but it’s weighed down by too many characters and random bits of information that didn’t add to the story. We were being told too much and not enough at the same time, and it suffered some pacing issues that the memory flashes didn’t help. I probably would’ve still found a way to enjoy it if there weren't so many unlikable characters and a romance plot with an unsettling vibe.
April 21, 2025
This was 100% a case of the writing style not working for me at all. I couldn’t connect with the story or characters, and the entire thing was confusing and hard to follow. The first half also had a very different feel from the second half. The little fairy tales interspersed throughout were my favorite part. It was interesting to see how they fit into the story. I just wish everything had fit together more cohesively. I really wish I had liked this one more!
September 28, 2025
When you’ve grown up as a lover of Disney and theme parks, it’s hard not to gravitate towards and see the things you enjoy in other places. When I heard this was filled with Knives Out familial vibes, Germanic folklore and fairytales, and a spooky abandoned theme park, I was ready for it. The fact that MC has my name just added another layer to my excitement that I wasn’t expecting until I started it.
With the disappearance of the Strauss matriarch and elderly grandmother figure to our MC, Frankie, their family converges on the now defunct theme park, Whisperwood. Located in the Appalachian foothills, it now sits idly awaiting to either be reopened or fully disappear. What once was a destination that brought joy to thousands of people has been left to crumble… but no one knows why, except the one person they can’t ask.
Coming to hear the last will and testament: to find out who will inherit the home, the park, and what’s left of the money, we get to see who’s there to mourn and who only wants what they think they deserve. This is definitely where the backstabbing comes in. Because if someone is only there for money, they would kill anyone that they think gets what’s theirs.
I didn’t go into this by reading the synopsis, so I wasn’t expecting magic at all. Yes, I assumed this is speculative, but there was much more magical realism involved than I thought there would be. I definitely enjoyed that aspect. It brought another layer to the story and a reason for Frankie wanting to be the inheritor of the theme park.
At first, I definitely thought this was going to be scary. The cover gives you haunted, spooky vibes, and it did have that. It’s an abandoned theme park, suddenly shut down with no notice. So it has an eerie atmosphere to it. Those are definitely the feelings I got while reading.
I’m amazed that this is Jo Schulte’s debut novel. I really want more atmospheric spooky speculative books from her and can’t wait to see what’s up next!
With the disappearance of the Strauss matriarch and elderly grandmother figure to our MC, Frankie, their family converges on the now defunct theme park, Whisperwood. Located in the Appalachian foothills, it now sits idly awaiting to either be reopened or fully disappear. What once was a destination that brought joy to thousands of people has been left to crumble… but no one knows why, except the one person they can’t ask.
Coming to hear the last will and testament: to find out who will inherit the home, the park, and what’s left of the money, we get to see who’s there to mourn and who only wants what they think they deserve. This is definitely where the backstabbing comes in. Because if someone is only there for money, they would kill anyone that they think gets what’s theirs.
I didn’t go into this by reading the synopsis, so I wasn’t expecting magic at all. Yes, I assumed this is speculative, but there was much more magical realism involved than I thought there would be. I definitely enjoyed that aspect. It brought another layer to the story and a reason for Frankie wanting to be the inheritor of the theme park.
At first, I definitely thought this was going to be scary. The cover gives you haunted, spooky vibes, and it did have that. It’s an abandoned theme park, suddenly shut down with no notice. So it has an eerie atmosphere to it. Those are definitely the feelings I got while reading.
I’m amazed that this is Jo Schulte’s debut novel. I really want more atmospheric spooky speculative books from her and can’t wait to see what’s up next!
May 30, 2025
I had high hopes for this book about a supposedly haunted amusement park based on German fairy tales (though not Wilhelm and Jakob Grimm's). The longer the book went on, the more bummed and then angrier I became because it JUST KEPT GOING and there never seemed to be a satisfactory end coming.
Hopefully this will change in the edits but I hate the repeated use of words in books and if I had to read how her stomach "roiled" one more time, I was going to have a roiling stomach of my own. Thesaurus is your friend.
The plot is about a beloved theme park, Whisperwood, that has suddenly closed it's doors with no warning eighteen months prior to the beginning of the story, The family matriarch, affectionately known as Oma, has closed her tight fist around the family legacy and won't explain herself to anyone. However, due to the significant public following the park has, her family (without her knowing) throws a centennial celebration for the park, hoping if Oma sees how much it's still popular, she will reconsider and open. This plan backfires spectacularly and soon the family learns the dark whispers and characters from stories are much more than they thought...
I didn't honestly really like any of the characters, even when we got some redemption arcs, I still felt like they were all a bunch of greedy grubbers and had complete lack of appreciation for the family legacy. There needed to be more monsters and fewer family whining sessions for this book to be successfully called 'horror." I thought with the vast German fairytale lore to be drawn on, this book was a ginormous disappointment. I was bored by the end.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC. I am happy not to have wasted money on this book.
Hopefully this will change in the edits but I hate the repeated use of words in books and if I had to read how her stomach "roiled" one more time, I was going to have a roiling stomach of my own. Thesaurus is your friend.
The plot is about a beloved theme park, Whisperwood, that has suddenly closed it's doors with no warning eighteen months prior to the beginning of the story, The family matriarch, affectionately known as Oma, has closed her tight fist around the family legacy and won't explain herself to anyone. However, due to the significant public following the park has, her family (without her knowing) throws a centennial celebration for the park, hoping if Oma sees how much it's still popular, she will reconsider and open. This plan backfires spectacularly and soon the family learns the dark whispers and characters from stories are much more than they thought...
I didn't honestly really like any of the characters, even when we got some redemption arcs, I still felt like they were all a bunch of greedy grubbers and had complete lack of appreciation for the family legacy. There needed to be more monsters and fewer family whining sessions for this book to be successfully called 'horror." I thought with the vast German fairytale lore to be drawn on, this book was a ginormous disappointment. I was bored by the end.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC. I am happy not to have wasted money on this book.
July 28, 2025
What do you get when you combine Knives Out and The Hazel Wood? The Whisperwood Legacy.
Thank you Hachette Audio for the gifted audiobook!
Welcome to Whisperwood, an amusement park shrouded in dark secrets and the family desperate to inherit it at any cost. Virginia Strauss, the family matriarch, shuts Whisperwoods gates and mysteriously goes missing. Desperate to find her grandmother, Frankie decides to explore the park grounds with the help of the groundskeeper, Jem. What they find is a reality where nothing is as it seems and fairy tales aren't real, they're deadly.
Any story involving an amusement park or carnival is a must read for me. Whisperwoods theme revolved around German folklore/tales, which added a very unique twist to the storytelling.
I feel like I can't say too much about this story without giving away the major plot twist. Throughout the book, I constantly got Don't Let The Forest In by CG Drews vibes. Stories brought to life, otherworldly characters, and dysfunctional family dynamics to the max.
The story was narrated by both Bailey Carr and David DeVries. I loved both narrators, but David was the real star for me. I loved his storytelling throughout, I think he'd be the perfect children's narrator!
I really wanted to love this book, but I felt myself getting lost in the folklore told throughout, rather than the overall story itself. This book has a lot of potential, and I can see it being a favorite among many. I just think, personally, it wasn't for me.
Add to your TBR if you like....
-cult-classic fairy tales brought to life (with a twist)
-the corruption of wealth
-unlikely love stories
-morally gray characters
Thank you Hachette Audio for the gifted audiobook!
Welcome to Whisperwood, an amusement park shrouded in dark secrets and the family desperate to inherit it at any cost. Virginia Strauss, the family matriarch, shuts Whisperwoods gates and mysteriously goes missing. Desperate to find her grandmother, Frankie decides to explore the park grounds with the help of the groundskeeper, Jem. What they find is a reality where nothing is as it seems and fairy tales aren't real, they're deadly.
Any story involving an amusement park or carnival is a must read for me. Whisperwoods theme revolved around German folklore/tales, which added a very unique twist to the storytelling.
I feel like I can't say too much about this story without giving away the major plot twist. Throughout the book, I constantly got Don't Let The Forest In by CG Drews vibes. Stories brought to life, otherworldly characters, and dysfunctional family dynamics to the max.
The story was narrated by both Bailey Carr and David DeVries. I loved both narrators, but David was the real star for me. I loved his storytelling throughout, I think he'd be the perfect children's narrator!
I really wanted to love this book, but I felt myself getting lost in the folklore told throughout, rather than the overall story itself. This book has a lot of potential, and I can see it being a favorite among many. I just think, personally, it wasn't for me.
Add to your TBR if you like....
-cult-classic fairy tales brought to life (with a twist)
-the corruption of wealth
-unlikely love stories
-morally gray characters
September 3, 2025
I don't read a lot of horror (unless you count MG graphic novels) but occasionally I will have the urge to try one out. And The Whisperwood Legacy started out so eerie and spooky being set at an almost abandoned amusement park. But about halfway through the book the story went from horror to fantasy and it kind of took me out of the story. Which is fine. But I was very invested in the horror.
February 7, 2025
Thank you Netgalley and Little, Brown Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Jo Schulte’s “The Whisperwood Legacy” is a dark mystery book filled with unique German folklore and family drama set against the eerie backdrop of an abandoned amusement park. With elements reminiscent of “Knives Out” (the mystery aspect with a missing person and an inheritance) and “The Hazel Wood,” (fictional folklore) this book expertly blurs the line between reality and fairy tale, weaving an atmospheric tale filled with secrets.
At the heart of the story is Frankie Strauss, a determined protagonist who has spent years distancing herself from her family’s legacy. But when her grandmother disappears, she is drawn back into the world of Whisperwood, an amusement park built around her family’s unique (and often unsettling) German folklore. As Frankie, along with her witty and sometimes chaotic cousins, attempts to unravel the park’s mysteries, she discovers that the stories she once dismissed as myths might hold more truth—and danger—than she ever imagined.
Schulte masterfully balances the book’s dark, creeping tension with humor that actually made me laugh out loud, particularly through Frankie’s interactions with her cousins. The book’s multimedia elements, such as news articles and snippets of folklore at the end of chapters, enhance the world-building and immerses you further into the Whisperwood legacy. The park itself is hauntingly described, its decaying attractions and unsettling atmosphere making for a truly immersive setting, though I would have appreciated a map to help me really visualize this unique park.
While the twists surrounding certain characters, like Jem and Zara, may be a bit predictable, the story’s strength lies in its rich folklore and the way magic subtly intertwines with the overarching plot. I did want some more focus on the supernatural elements, specifically with the fairy tales coming alive, but the book still delivers an engaging and layered mystery. The family drama is just as gripping as the park’s secrets, with greedy relatives waiting for their inheritance (all the adults in this book are horrible, like in “Knives Out”) and a subplot involving Frankie’s past adding depth to her character.
Ultimately, “The Whisperwood Legacy” is a captivating dark fantasy filled with mystery and a touch of magic. The ending, much like the fairy tales woven throughout the book, leaves you with a hopeful yet thought-provoking conclusion. Fans of eerie theme-park mysteries, folklore-infused fantasy, and high-stakes family dramas will find this book impossible to put down.
Jo Schulte’s “The Whisperwood Legacy” is a dark mystery book filled with unique German folklore and family drama set against the eerie backdrop of an abandoned amusement park. With elements reminiscent of “Knives Out” (the mystery aspect with a missing person and an inheritance) and “The Hazel Wood,” (fictional folklore) this book expertly blurs the line between reality and fairy tale, weaving an atmospheric tale filled with secrets.
At the heart of the story is Frankie Strauss, a determined protagonist who has spent years distancing herself from her family’s legacy. But when her grandmother disappears, she is drawn back into the world of Whisperwood, an amusement park built around her family’s unique (and often unsettling) German folklore. As Frankie, along with her witty and sometimes chaotic cousins, attempts to unravel the park’s mysteries, she discovers that the stories she once dismissed as myths might hold more truth—and danger—than she ever imagined.
Schulte masterfully balances the book’s dark, creeping tension with humor that actually made me laugh out loud, particularly through Frankie’s interactions with her cousins. The book’s multimedia elements, such as news articles and snippets of folklore at the end of chapters, enhance the world-building and immerses you further into the Whisperwood legacy. The park itself is hauntingly described, its decaying attractions and unsettling atmosphere making for a truly immersive setting, though I would have appreciated a map to help me really visualize this unique park.
While the twists surrounding certain characters, like Jem and Zara, may be a bit predictable, the story’s strength lies in its rich folklore and the way magic subtly intertwines with the overarching plot. I did want some more focus on the supernatural elements, specifically with the fairy tales coming alive, but the book still delivers an engaging and layered mystery. The family drama is just as gripping as the park’s secrets, with greedy relatives waiting for their inheritance (all the adults in this book are horrible, like in “Knives Out”) and a subplot involving Frankie’s past adding depth to her character.
Ultimately, “The Whisperwood Legacy” is a captivating dark fantasy filled with mystery and a touch of magic. The ending, much like the fairy tales woven throughout the book, leaves you with a hopeful yet thought-provoking conclusion. Fans of eerie theme-park mysteries, folklore-infused fantasy, and high-stakes family dramas will find this book impossible to put down.
May 12, 2025
This book was wild!
18 months after Virginia Strauss closes her amusement park, Whisperwood, her remaining family throws a party there with all sorts of press and media. Our main character Frankie knows this is a bad idea. After Virginia kicks everyone out except the family (who has not been around in the entire time the park has been closed except Frankie), she goes missing and things start to get weird.
There is so much drama in this family. Frankie's mom, 2 uncles and 3 cousins (Rhodes, Bertram and Ella) are staying at Virginia's house after she goes missing. They have all kind of grown up at this amusement park and know that someday they will inherit a lot of money. Frankie is the only one who has stuck around to make sure Virginia (Oma) has groceries even though Oma is very brash. The adults are almost happy that Virginia has gone missing because their inheritance is not growing since she closed the park and they can either cash in or reopen the park. Rhodes and Bertram are very preppy, but they are good guys that really love Frankie and their family. Ella was brought into the family through marriage (I can't remember if it was her mom or dad), but she was obsessed with Whisperwood before she even knew any of the family. She is the youngest (15 maybe) but she is very smart. The other big side character is Jem who Virginia hired as a groundskeeper after the park closed.
There was a lot going on in this book, but I don't want to give too much away. There was the fact the Virginia had gone missing and all the weird things happening around the park. There were a couple pretty horrific/gory scenes too. Everything that happened flowed well together and created a compelling story, but there were a few times I felt like things weren't explained well enough or I felt that something was missing.
The park itself was such an intense setting for such a spooky story. I really felt like I could picture everything perfectly and the way the rides and park were integrated into another part of the story (that I won't give away) was really creative. I was dialed in the entire time and I really couldn't wait to find out what happened.
The ending was really kind of bittersweet and had me crying. I think it really stayed in the spirit of the rest of the book and was the perfect ending for what it was, even though it was kind of sad.
Thank you to Netgalley and Little Brown Books for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
18 months after Virginia Strauss closes her amusement park, Whisperwood, her remaining family throws a party there with all sorts of press and media. Our main character Frankie knows this is a bad idea. After Virginia kicks everyone out except the family (who has not been around in the entire time the park has been closed except Frankie), she goes missing and things start to get weird.
There is so much drama in this family. Frankie's mom, 2 uncles and 3 cousins (Rhodes, Bertram and Ella) are staying at Virginia's house after she goes missing. They have all kind of grown up at this amusement park and know that someday they will inherit a lot of money. Frankie is the only one who has stuck around to make sure Virginia (Oma) has groceries even though Oma is very brash. The adults are almost happy that Virginia has gone missing because their inheritance is not growing since she closed the park and they can either cash in or reopen the park. Rhodes and Bertram are very preppy, but they are good guys that really love Frankie and their family. Ella was brought into the family through marriage (I can't remember if it was her mom or dad), but she was obsessed with Whisperwood before she even knew any of the family. She is the youngest (15 maybe) but she is very smart. The other big side character is Jem who Virginia hired as a groundskeeper after the park closed.
There was a lot going on in this book, but I don't want to give too much away. There was the fact the Virginia had gone missing and all the weird things happening around the park. There were a couple pretty horrific/gory scenes too. Everything that happened flowed well together and created a compelling story, but there were a few times I felt like things weren't explained well enough or I felt that something was missing.
The park itself was such an intense setting for such a spooky story. I really felt like I could picture everything perfectly and the way the rides and park were integrated into another part of the story (that I won't give away) was really creative. I was dialed in the entire time and I really couldn't wait to find out what happened.
The ending was really kind of bittersweet and had me crying. I think it really stayed in the spirit of the rest of the book and was the perfect ending for what it was, even though it was kind of sad.
Thank you to Netgalley and Little Brown Books for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
May 24, 2025
Based on the concepts of this book, I really wanted to like it. I came in with the expectations of a YA book set in an abandoned theme park in Appalachia, rife with family drama, magic, and horror. While it did have those concepts, I just feel like there was a lot of potential that was missed. Unfortunately, I had to DNF this at 2/3 of the way through the book.
In this, we follow the story of our protagonist, Frankie, who lives at an abandoned theme park that her family has run through the generations. Her grandmother has been resistant to maintaining the park and allowing visitors in, but when she goes missing, hell breaks loose and Frankie's in over her head with all of the secrets and magic that come from the park.
Again, these are really cool ideas in theory and concept. As I was reading this, though, the main thing that got me was the pacing. It kept switching back and forth between present and flashback so much to where I stopped caring about what was being said. I also wish that the magic and fantasy aspect of the book was introduced earlier on in the book, cause the first third of it was just squabbling between the family. The book's magic seems really cool - I just wish there was more explanation earlier on in the book.
The characters didn't feel as endearing as it was probably supposed to come across. I didn't get the whole "putting the FUN in dysFUNctional" - as the blurbs had said. I got a bunch of adults cussing up a storm and trying to do their mother dirty by taking her fortune. I liked the groundskeeper, Jem. He was an interesting fellow that I thought was written well.
The other love interest (? not sure what her purpose really is in the story), Zara, was also someone that I had a hard time caring about. She was introduced through a series of haphazardly placed flashbacks, and she had such a small role in the present that I just didn't care.
My other main gripe is the tiktok references throughout the book. They were jarring and really made the tone feel a lot more juvenile than it really needed to be - and I have a strong feeling that young adults would raise a brow at references to "losing the plot" and "don't be suspicious, don't be suspicioussss".
All in all, I thought that this book had a strong concept, and there may be some who enjoy it. It wasn't for me, however, and I would have liked to see this book executed differently.
Thank you to Little Brown for an ARC copy of this book.
In this, we follow the story of our protagonist, Frankie, who lives at an abandoned theme park that her family has run through the generations. Her grandmother has been resistant to maintaining the park and allowing visitors in, but when she goes missing, hell breaks loose and Frankie's in over her head with all of the secrets and magic that come from the park.
Again, these are really cool ideas in theory and concept. As I was reading this, though, the main thing that got me was the pacing. It kept switching back and forth between present and flashback so much to where I stopped caring about what was being said. I also wish that the magic and fantasy aspect of the book was introduced earlier on in the book, cause the first third of it was just squabbling between the family. The book's magic seems really cool - I just wish there was more explanation earlier on in the book.
The characters didn't feel as endearing as it was probably supposed to come across. I didn't get the whole "putting the FUN in dysFUNctional" - as the blurbs had said. I got a bunch of adults cussing up a storm and trying to do their mother dirty by taking her fortune. I liked the groundskeeper, Jem. He was an interesting fellow that I thought was written well.
The other love interest (? not sure what her purpose really is in the story), Zara, was also someone that I had a hard time caring about. She was introduced through a series of haphazardly placed flashbacks, and she had such a small role in the present that I just didn't care.
My other main gripe is the tiktok references throughout the book. They were jarring and really made the tone feel a lot more juvenile than it really needed to be - and I have a strong feeling that young adults would raise a brow at references to "losing the plot" and "don't be suspicious, don't be suspicioussss".
All in all, I thought that this book had a strong concept, and there may be some who enjoy it. It wasn't for me, however, and I would have liked to see this book executed differently.
Thank you to Little Brown for an ARC copy of this book.
May 28, 2025
It’s the last Wednesday of May and you know what that means. Book review time! This month, I decided to go with some dark fairy tale vibes. The Whisperwood Legacy by Jo Schulte was released yesterday (May 27th) from Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. As usual, I must thank them and NetGalley for access to an ARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. Let’s do the thing!
The Whisperwood Legacy follows Frankie through the turbulent time after her grandmother abruptly closes the family amusement park, the main source of the family’s income. Frankie spends most of her time carrying groceries and other necessities to her grandmother after the rest of the family basically disowns the old woman unless they need something from her. After a scene at an unwanted celebration, her grandmother disappears and things start going very wrong at the park, but Frankie and the rest of her family are trapped there along with the mysterious new groundskeeper. It’s up to her to figure out what’s going on and fix it before everyone dies.
The plot is interesting and there was a lot of potential with it. The story is built around fairy tale magic and family legacies and all that fun stuff. It sounds like it will be great. But the pacing is off. There are tiny hints of maybe magical things, but then the blatant magical stuff is just plopped on the page without any natural growth towards it. It’s abrupt and jarring and a bit unsatisfying. Also, there’s this big reveal that Frankie knows exactly what’s happening with the park even though she’s clueless about other things, but there’s zero foreshadowing to clue in the reader, so it totally feels like an afterthought. I was afraid I just missed something, but other people complained about it as well. Things are just awkwardly timed or have little to no build up. It’s meh.
As far as the characters go, Jem is pretty much the only decent person, but he just feels like a caricature of the “ideal dude.” Everyone else is disgusting and I wanted them all to die. If mommy/grandma was such a horrible person (which she was), then cut ties with her and get a job instead of relying on her money. Don’t just sit around wishing her dead, then get pissed when you’re left out of the not-will. And Frankie isn’t much better than the rest of her family, despite the fact that she pretends to be. The book itself was meh, but the characters ruined any chance I had of actually enjoying anything about it.
The writing was fine. It relied far too heavily on pop culture references that are already becoming dated, which I don’t particularly care for, but I guess some people like that kind of thing.
Ultimately, I was not a fan of The Whisperwood Legacy. I was originally just glad to be done with it, but the more I think about it, the more I actively dislike it.
Overall, I gave it 2 out of 5 stars. More like 1.5, but I rounded up. If you’re super into everything fairy tales, check it out. Otherwise, you’re not missing anything.
The Whisperwood Legacy follows Frankie through the turbulent time after her grandmother abruptly closes the family amusement park, the main source of the family’s income. Frankie spends most of her time carrying groceries and other necessities to her grandmother after the rest of the family basically disowns the old woman unless they need something from her. After a scene at an unwanted celebration, her grandmother disappears and things start going very wrong at the park, but Frankie and the rest of her family are trapped there along with the mysterious new groundskeeper. It’s up to her to figure out what’s going on and fix it before everyone dies.
The plot is interesting and there was a lot of potential with it. The story is built around fairy tale magic and family legacies and all that fun stuff. It sounds like it will be great. But the pacing is off. There are tiny hints of maybe magical things, but then the blatant magical stuff is just plopped on the page without any natural growth towards it. It’s abrupt and jarring and a bit unsatisfying. Also, there’s this big reveal that Frankie knows exactly what’s happening with the park even though she’s clueless about other things, but there’s zero foreshadowing to clue in the reader, so it totally feels like an afterthought. I was afraid I just missed something, but other people complained about it as well. Things are just awkwardly timed or have little to no build up. It’s meh.
As far as the characters go, Jem is pretty much the only decent person, but he just feels like a caricature of the “ideal dude.” Everyone else is disgusting and I wanted them all to die. If mommy/grandma was such a horrible person (which she was), then cut ties with her and get a job instead of relying on her money. Don’t just sit around wishing her dead, then get pissed when you’re left out of the not-will. And Frankie isn’t much better than the rest of her family, despite the fact that she pretends to be. The book itself was meh, but the characters ruined any chance I had of actually enjoying anything about it.
The writing was fine. It relied far too heavily on pop culture references that are already becoming dated, which I don’t particularly care for, but I guess some people like that kind of thing.
Ultimately, I was not a fan of The Whisperwood Legacy. I was originally just glad to be done with it, but the more I think about it, the more I actively dislike it.
Overall, I gave it 2 out of 5 stars. More like 1.5, but I rounded up. If you’re super into everything fairy tales, check it out. Otherwise, you’re not missing anything.
June 8, 2025
Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.
The Whisperwood Legacy is a genuinely creepy YA fantasy/mystery by Jo Schulte. Released 27th May 2025 by Hachette on their Young Readers imprint, it's 346 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links.
This is a surprisingly horror-filled dark fantasy, uncomfortably full of jump scares and unlikable characters. They all *loathe* one another, and the narrative is told in staccato interludes woven between the current day and flashbacks. There are glimpses of some impressive world building (the chapter headers are full of whole-cloth German style fairy tales which are interwoven in the plot as it plays out in real life).
The abandoned creepy amusement park with dangerous rides and extremely scary nightmares-come-to-life is well done and the author definitely has a knack with setting. That being said, it's quite graphically violent in places and might be a tad too explicit for young readers (or more sensitive ones) in the lower end of the target audience (12+). The language is also quite gratuitously rough (f-bombs every other sentence). It seems unnecessary.
The climax, denouement, and resolution are self contained in this novel, it's a standalone, but they're not particularly well resolved or satisfying.
Three stars. It's unclear who the target audience really is. It's too scary for younger readers, but too juvenile and not engaging enough for YA readers at the higher end of the range.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
The Whisperwood Legacy is a genuinely creepy YA fantasy/mystery by Jo Schulte. Released 27th May 2025 by Hachette on their Young Readers imprint, it's 346 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links.
This is a surprisingly horror-filled dark fantasy, uncomfortably full of jump scares and unlikable characters. They all *loathe* one another, and the narrative is told in staccato interludes woven between the current day and flashbacks. There are glimpses of some impressive world building (the chapter headers are full of whole-cloth German style fairy tales which are interwoven in the plot as it plays out in real life).
The abandoned creepy amusement park with dangerous rides and extremely scary nightmares-come-to-life is well done and the author definitely has a knack with setting. That being said, it's quite graphically violent in places and might be a tad too explicit for young readers (or more sensitive ones) in the lower end of the target audience (12+). The language is also quite gratuitously rough (f-bombs every other sentence). It seems unnecessary.
The climax, denouement, and resolution are self contained in this novel, it's a standalone, but they're not particularly well resolved or satisfying.
Three stars. It's unclear who the target audience really is. It's too scary for younger readers, but too juvenile and not engaging enough for YA readers at the higher end of the range.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
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