Children of the Fog

by C.W. Anderson

"A haunting supernatural thriller blending splattery carnage with creepy derangements of the soul." —Kirkus Reviews
In the fog-drenched hills of San Francisco, siblings Lizzy and Dylan were once inseparable. It was the only way they could survive a childhood of horror and evil…until one final bloodstained night left them near-dead orphans.

Now in their twenties, each has taken a wildly different path through Lizzy is ambitious and polished, compulsively driven to escape her haunted past and the forbidden truth that still whispers in her soul, while her younger brother Dylan hitch-hikes across the country, homeless and half-insane, obsessed with a return of that dark realm and the sinister presence that hungered for them.

But something ominous is happening in the City by the Bay. Whispers of a strange fog that floods the streets at night, of beckoning shadows and dreams of a crumbling manor aloft over the city. As Dylan had feared, the Dark Lady has returned at last, and soon there will be nowhere for brother or sister to hide.

"You may be done with Her, but I'm not so sure She's done with you."

Genres: Thriller, Suspense

350 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 1, 2024

About the author

C.W. Anderson is a devotee of the ghostly and the macabre in all its forms, from fiction to filmmaking to visual art. A lifetime of night terrors, sleep paralysis, and paranormal obsession is his wellspring. Originally from the SF Bay Area, he currently resides with his family in Brooklyn, NY. He is also the author of the forthcoming novel, Suicide Demon.

Reviews

[Horror Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a novel about a brother and sister who faced something horrifying as children. They each went a different route dealing with this trauma. And now, as adults, they realize it's back and they have been marked.

Taking place in San Francisco and having horrific things coming from the thick fog is a great premise. And there are some truly unsettling things that happen.

Keep in mind that I think this author writes very well and there are some solid scares in the pages. In fact, I KNOW people who would absolutely love this book. But for me, personally, I was taken out of the story due to (for me) excessive descriptions and details which bogged down the narrative.

And that's really a shame because if those were a little tighter this would have been a much better read for me. But, there are still lots to like and I would recommend it to those who love details more than I do.

I received a copy of this book through Netgalley. This review is voluntary and is my own personal opinion.

[Judith Cormier · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC via Netgalley

I had a bit of a difficult time getting started with this one. My biggest issue was the formatting. I read an e-book and there was no indent, and the chapters were not spaced a part, so it read almost without breaks, outside of dialogue. I found that a touch jarring.

But once I did get into the story, I was able to get a bit more used to it, but I still found myself having a hard time following things. It felt a touch choppy at times, and maybe a bit too atmospheric, if that makes sense.

It wasn’t bad at all, it’s perhaps just not a style that resonates with me. And having said that, I still gave it a 3 which to me is a good solid read.

I felt for both characters. The author’s ability to really delve into both of their siblings’ perspectives and feelings really made the story for me. I do tend to like flawed characters, and these two fit that description.

[Jessica Gleason · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked the idea behind this one, a brother and sister dealing with childhood trauma that turns out to be something sinister and supernatural and evil.

The idea itself is chilling.

However, I really struggled to get through this one. There are pages and pages and pages of inner monologue and description, bounding between the two characters. It needed a bit more movement and dialogue to pull me in and to set a pace for the story. It felt bigger down to me.

But, if you like more description and don't want a ton of dialogue, this might be more your speed. So, give it a try.

[Callie Blanc · Rating 2 out of 5]

Let's start with the good things. Cosmic horror is probably my favorite in the horror genre. So, the antagonist of this book is both truly and deeply terrifying, and completely compelling for me. It drove me to keep reading all the way to the end. I also liked the sibling relationship between Dylan and Liz, which reminds me of my own sibling relationship sometimes. I relate to the idea that no matter how wild and unhinged my sibling gets, I will drop everything to be there for them. I also think some of the exposition was beautifully written, with vivid and creative descriptions. Ultimately, there were several engaging excerpts in the novel, and I think that the direction the plot took was well constructed.

And now for the bad. First, I will admit that it is possible that the writing style is just not for me. However, I think that the grandiose nature of the exposition was poorly matched with the characters. It clouded the text and made it so that it was difficult to follow the story, and it made it hard to connect with the characters.

There were a few other issues that made it difficult to connect with the characters. The dialogue was poorly constructed, and felt divergent from the exposition. The characters also just didn't talk like real people, often making the dialogue a struggle to read, which was unfortunate because that was often the only way to get information about the past or details about what was actually happening. The characters themselves don't feel completely believable. Liz's career is far too advanced for her age and qualifications. Dylan is treated like some elder, but he's still too young to rent a car in most places. I can suspend my disbelief, but combined with all the other issues, it's too hard to ignore these issues.

Next, I found several errors. I'm not talking about a few typos either, some of these errors are egregious. For example, when a very intimate scene between Liz and her boyfriend suddenly turns into an unfortunate scene between Liz and Dylan, because the author accidentally used the wrong name. The text also wavers between the use of passive voice, active voice, and a few verb conjugation slips. These errors make the already gratuitously verbose text difficult to read.

There are also some issues with the plot. A lot of details get lost in the murky exposition. There appear to be rules that the Dark Lady and her minions must follow, but they are confusing, and not well laid out. Dylan is meant to be this expert in the situation but we don't see that side of him very often, especially during his final ritual, which one could argue is because the fog folk started to get to him, but that isn't made clear. The scenes where we learn about the past when Dylan and Liz were kids and things with the grandmother were kind of just described or told to us instead of experienced. In a story like this, a shifting timeline might have worked better.

I did like the direction of the plot though, and I felt the pacing was good. There are really good nuggets of exposition among the confusing or poorly constructed ones. I think that there's good parts in the text that could be worked on. It just needs that work and ideally, to see an editor to help facilitate that. As it is now, I would not recommend this title.

[Joanne Ellis · Rating 4 out of 5]

C.W. Anderson’s Children of the Fog is a chilling, atmospheric thriller that weaves together horror, psychological trauma, and dark fantasy into a haunting tale of survival and destiny. Set against the mist-shrouded streets of San Francisco, the novel follows siblings Lizzy and Dylan, whose childhood was tainted by unspeakable horrors—ones they barely escaped with their lives. But survival doesn’t mean freedom, and years later, the darkness they fled is creeping back into their world.

Lizzy has worked tirelessly to distance herself from her past, embracing ambition and control as a shield against the nightmares that still lurk in her soul. Meanwhile, Dylan has been consumed by the mystery of what they endured, wandering the country in a near-mad obsession with the supernatural forces that once hunted them. His worst fears are realized when a sinister fog begins to roll through San Francisco, bringing whispers of the Dark Lady—an ancient, terrifying presence neither of them can outrun.

Anderson masterfully builds tension, crafting a dreamlike yet unsettling atmosphere where reality blurs with nightmare. The interplay between Lizzy’s denial and Dylan’s obsession makes for a gripping dynamic, pulling the reader deeper into the mystery surrounding their past and the looming threat of their future. The novel is rich with gothic horror elements, eerie symbolism, and a relentless sense of dread that keeps the pages turning.

For fans of eerie, slow-burning horror with psychological depth—think The Haunting of Hill House meets The Silent Companions—Children of the Fog is an unforgettable read. Anderson’s writing lingers like the very mist that haunts the novel, creeping into your thoughts long after you’ve finished. A must-read for those who enjoy stories where trauma and terror intertwine, and where the past is never truly buried.

[Kasi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free ARC by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This novel delivers an unsettling atmosphere that pulled me into the chilling ordeal of siblings Dylan and Lizzy Gardner as they navigate an ominous city setting. The story leans heavily into psychological horror, blurring the line between reality and delusion among the protagonists.

The book’s greatest strength is its eerie, oppressive tone. The fog itself feels almost sentient, a constant force of dread that amplifies Dylan and Lizzy’s growing paranoia. Their internal monologues reflect this descent, often fragmented and scattered to mirror their unraveling sanity. While this stylistic choice is effective in capturing the horror of their situation, it also makes for a disorienting reading experience. I often found myself struggling to keep track of what was happening in the real world versus what was occurring in their minds, which at times pulled me out of the story rather than immersing me further. Because much of the narrative is filtered through their fractured thoughts, the pacing can feel uneven. Sometimes gripping and other times meandering in circles of fear and uncertainty. Some moments lost their impact simply because I had to pause and reorient myself within the scene.

While Children of the Fog succeeds in creating an unsettling and immersive atmosphere, the fragmented storytelling may not be for everyone. Readers who enjoy deeply psychological horror and don’t mind untangling unreliable narration might appreciate the experience more. For me, it was an intriguing but frustrating read.

I know additional editing occurs after the ARC is sent out, but I’d like to note that Tom’s name changes names once at the beginning to Will, and once around 72% or on my reader, page 201, to Dylan. 

Final Thoughts: 
An atmospheric and thought-provoking horror story that effectively portrays psychological distress—but at the cost of clarity and narrative flow. Consider reading for its take on fear and isolation, though it may not be a smooth experience for all readers.

[Iain Culverhouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Children of the Fog" is a gripping psychological thriller that explores every parent's worst nightmare and holds you captive until the final page. C.W. Anderson crafts a haunting and emotionally resonant story that blends suspense, human vulnerability, and the burden of impossible choices.

The narrative centers on a mother thrust into an unimaginable situation, and Anderson skillfully delves into the psychological toll such trauma takes. His prose is direct yet evocative, immersing readers in the protagonist's inner turmoil without becoming overly sentimental. There is a palpable tension throughout the novel, with pacing carefully managed to keep the stakes high and the reader engaged.

Anderson's strength lies in his ability to create a sense of creeping dread within the familiarity of everyday life. The characters feel grounded and real, making their struggles even more impactful. Even the secondary characters are well-developed, adding depth to the overall narrative.

Where the book falls slightly short is in its predictability regarding certain plot twists. Some seasoned thriller readers may spot developments before they unfold, and a few moments feel somewhat conventional in execution. However, the emotional weight and well-developed characters more than compensate for these shortcomings.

Overall, "Children of the Fog" is an intense and poignant read that offers both suspense and heart. It is not just a thriller; it is a reflection on fear, guilt, and resilience, told through a lens that is both harrowing and profoundly human.

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for the ARC Copy for an honest review

[Virginia Cannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

C. W. Anderson intertwines horror and paranormal themes in his novel Children of the Fog. This story is not for the faint of heart; there are numerous gore scenes and self-harm scenes. The premise: Dylan and Lizzie are siblings who observe odd behavior from their grandmother; she tells the children ominous forebodings about their future. The siblings harm themselves, in hopes, to protect their mother from evil. This evil takes literal shape from the fog that lingers in their California town. The narrative fast forwards to their mid-twenties. Dylan is nomadic and burdened with the paranormal. Lizzie lives with her boyfriend and holds a job. The fog monster is back, and Dylan believes he must protect sister. The narrative tension centers on: Who will win: the siblings or the Dark Lady and fog minions?

Anderson captivated my attention. I was compelled to keep reading. There are moments of artistic expression true to the horror genre that seem almost Poe-esque. And, there are moments that the narrative seems lost in descriptive words taken from a thesaurus. The novel would have benefitted from some revision, specifically more dialogue and less description.

This novel is for true horror fans who want to be transported to a paranormal plane that transposes evil and good.

Thank you NetGalley and Fever Dream Books for my e-ARC copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Tyler Huor · Rating 2 out of 5]

Where there’s fog filled with trauma, psychological breakdowns and several pages of descriptions of evil and bone-chilling descriptions that overstay their welcome. 


Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC! Arc meaning Advanced Reader Copy.


We have Dylan and Lizzy Garnder, a sibling duo trying to survive the fog after the recent death of Kathy Ann. The fog itself feels alive, as if it’s being commanded by ‘something else’. That something else is on the hunt towards the two so they need to find a way to end it all.


This read was exhausting to read, since it felt like they couldn’t catch a break, just constant paranoia, and fear of ‘something’ going after them. The descriptions were well-done but it felt like Anderson overdid it to where the effect was lessened. 


I couldn’t find myself rooting or caring about either Dylan nor Lizzy, although I thought Tom’s dynamic with Lizzy was charming. Anderson’s strong suit was the descriptions, but the length of said descriptions made the pacing feel wonky at times. 


The worldbuilding, and what we know about the powers of the fog is still somewhat unknown which was frustrating, but I suppose that was the point. I’m still unsure about the ending, it kinda worked out but feels abrupt. It was bittersweet, and unsatisfying to me. The pacing felt unbalanced.


I don’t find myself recommending this one, aside from psychological and horror enthusiasts with an itch for long descriptions that feel a tad dramatic. 

[Krystelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

I got a definite vibe from this book that was somewhat similar to 'Skinamarink'. I feel like there was a lot of content in here that, when provided to the right person, would bring definite scares and substance, but sadly, I struggled to connect with this book. We follow a brother and sister who return to visit their old trauma, and find that it may not have just been shadows in the dark but a real, actual threat.

I feel like this book danced on the edge of good a lot of the time. There was a great deal of material here that was definitely on the edge of scary, but it got bogged down in exposition and drama between the siblings that just felt really hard to get through. I found that the end of the story as well wasn't quite what I had hoped for, and there's no real resolution from the side of the horror.

I still enjoyed the atmosphere that this book had, I just felt like it could have been better in other respects and tied more together than just the interpersonal side of it. If you are very much into assessing the minutiae of character's lives and getting horror out of processing trauma without an analogy, I genuinely think that you will love this book. For the more hardcore horror fans, sadly, it just doesn't quite hit the mark.

[Pakou · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was given the opportunity to read this book from Netgalley as an ARC and read this for leisure voluntarily. The title really intrigued me and it made me want to know who were the Children of the Fog. I found the beginning really interesting and wanting to know more about Dylan. The story though focuses more about Lizzy. The Fog was really interesting and I have found this theme in previous books and movies. Kind of the "are you afraid of the dark" theme, which yes, yes I am. This book claimed me and I read it in a day. I wanted to know what happened to these siblings. I wanted to know about their past, and their future. I will say the book had a twist which I wasnt expecting. I didnt think it would go in the direction it did. I found this book to be really easy to read and fast paced. I appreciated the length of the chapters and felt the chapter titles were well thought out. Thanks for an interesting read!

[Sage Calhoun · Rating 1 out of 5]

After reading the description of this book I thought it sounded really good, it was giving some gothic horror and paranormal vibes which I truly enjoy. However while reading this I found that the style of writing the author used may not have been my favorite at least for this book. The chapters were so droned out with excessive descriptions. I feel this would have been good cinematically but for a novel it just took away from the plot.

If I was the type of reader who DNFd books I would have stopped reading by like 40 % of this book because it just was too much and nothing at the same time. I did stick with it and the only saving grace I experienced with this book happened in part 4. Though I wasn’t rooting for a single character because neither Liz or Dylan had any qualities that I would deem to be redeeming for this story.

*I received a free ARC from NetGalley*

[Em · Rating 2 out of 5]

Liz's past comes to haunt her in a big way.

The book description is the most coherent part of the book. The story is there, but it's lost in the convoluted and thick style.
It feels like the author had a heyday with his thesaurus and or really wanted to make this seem like it was written a century ago even though it takes place in the present.
There were a handful of "disturbing" scenes, I think I only once said "EW". So I don't think I would qualify that as "Splatter carnage", but who am I really?
I think the only truly coherent part where I wasn't frowning at nearly every paragraph in confusion was Lizzy remembering grandma's lore.

Thanks Fever Dream Books for giving me the opportunity to ARC read this title

[Josette Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I chose this book to read because of where the novel takes place. I love San Francisco. When the fog rolls in slowly, it is something of an eerie show. The fog starts creeping in on the ocean and before one is aware, the fog surrounds and all noises disappears. This book was very creepy and the author was able to describe that chilling feeling so well. Because I know the area, I had an easy time picturing where Dylan had walked. I have never been to any caves but I am sure there are plenty invisible to the regular world. Maybe only those ‘claimed’ are able to find such places. The darkness Lizzy and Dylan described did seem alive and just waiting to claim people’s souls. This story will be in the depths of my subconscious the next time I visit the Bay Area.

[Josette Thomas]

I chose this book to read because of where the novel takes place. I love San Francisco. When the fog rolls in slowly, it is something of an eerie show. The fog starts creeping in on the ocean and before one is aware, the fog surrounds and all noises disappears. This book was very creepy and the author was able to describe that chilling feeling so well. Because I know the area, I had an easy time picturing where Dylan had walked. I have never been to any caves but I am sure there are plenty invisible to the regular world. Maybe only those ‘claimed’ are able to find such places. The darkness Lizzy and Dylan described did seem alive and just waiting to claim people’s souls. This story will be in the depths of my subconscious the next time I visit the Bay Area.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Children of the Fog has one of the creepiest atmospheres I’ve ever come across in a book. It follows a brother and sister as they each deal with a terrifying, supernatural childhood trauma in their own way. There are some really eerie, gripping scenes that kept my attention, but I felt like the story got bogged down by too much inner monologue and description. I wish there had been more dialogue and forward momentum. I also would have loved more depth and detail about the Dark Lady.

Thank you Fever Dream Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Janaya Buck · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the privilege of previewing this novel. Unfortunately, it wasn’t something I enjoyed.

From the prologue, I felt a lot of “what the heck am I even reading,” moments, not in a good way. The writing style felt forced and like it was trying to be something it wasn’t. The characters didn’t feel very developed and the “dark lady” celt pretty generic.

I found the ending predictable and the entire story very one-note/anticlimactic. This book felt, to me, felt like it was a wish of a screenplay that never got there, so it was turned into a book last minute.

Not the worst, but not for me.

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lizzy is trying to live a normal life and leave her traumatic past behind. When her brother arrives in town, everything changes. Can Lizzy resist the darkness brought by the fog, or will she succumb to what has been decided is her fate?

I enjoyed the concept of this book, but I found the language to be difficult to follow at times. I had to reread several sentences throughout and actually did not understand many words (could just be me). I also had a hard time with the chapter lengths. When reading before bed or on my lunch break and having only 10 minutes left but starting a chapter that is 45 minutes in length is difficult, as I like to finish a chapter before putting a book down.

[Bethany Liefeld · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the premise of this book. The execution was a little choppy for my taste. I feel like the main characters could have been fleshed out a little more. I had almost no investment in Tom, Dylan, or Lizzy. I think we could have delved a little deeper emotionally into Lizzy, which would have made us feel more connected to the other two. We see Lizzy talking about Dylan and Tom, but we don't really feel her love and attachment to them. I think this could be a fantastic novel with a little bit more character development!

I want to thank NetGalley, C. W. Anderson, and Fever Dream Books for gifting me a free copy of Children of the Fog!

[Nicole Lineberger · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liz and Dylan are young adults who haven't spoken in years after a life altering event as children. Dylan is a wandering nomad, believed to be crazy, however, Liz realizes there may be substance to what he says. An internal battle takes place within Liz about what is real and what she chose to forget.

This book was a little too wordy for me, and too descriptive on some aspects. I found myself skipping paragraphs to get to the point. With that being said, I still found it to be a good read. It had an old macabre vibe to it, so much so, that I had to make sure I knew the story took place in the United States and not in Olde England due to descriptions and words used within the texts.

[J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Children of the Fog was thoroughly disquieting with creeping unease and stabbing icy fingers throughout. The fog-filled coastal wilds and dispassionate concrete warrens of San Francisco embodied their own personas, and entombed the tormented main characters, sister and brother Lizzy and Dylan Gardner. In true horror fashion, everyone and everything in the lives of these two unfortunates suffered right along with them, with no hope of escape or respite. With respectful nods to Peter Straub and a dash of Ray Bradbury's macabre carnival, the building tension and unsettling touches of the grotesque lead you down a dark narrative without a glimmer of hope.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to enjoy this one, I love the idea of the story and the setting, but it didn't work for me. I couldn't connect with the characters and everything felt a bit...not as tense and scary as it should have been. Like the place in the fog should have been really creepy and intense and yet whenever I was reading about it it was just meh. I don't know why exactly it didn't work, something about the writing style didn't work for me.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for a copy of this book

[Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I Loved/Enjoyed About The Book:

Story/Writing/Structure:

* Simple, informative yet taken aback with a lot of information/background while effective style of writing throughout
* No jargons or phrases which are not necessary used


Background/A Bit Of The Plot Without Giving Anything Away:

* Strong Characters with a history
* Trauma, hurt, pain and suffering
* The story does fit in well and has many ups and downs

I Highly Recommend This Book I Will Give This 5 Out Of 5 Stars

[Bailey Eubank · Rating 4 out of 5]

Children of the Fog
Is a eerie tale of childhood monsters that don't quite leave you, even when you grow up. Though it does have a slow start, it does pick up after the first chapter and is very immersive on some realities. Anderson did not disappoint, enhancing the unsettling element of the fog and the personification of the main characters' nightmares.

I received an e-ARC copy of this book from the publishers on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Lorraine · Rating 3 out of 5]

As children the siblings suffered something terrible, and as adults go their own separate ways to deal with their trauma. However it’s back, the fog is returning, the dreams are drawing them in and they find themselves facing their demons again.

This was a slow start for me, I found it hard to get into but as the book went on I was sucked in more and more as I got used to the writing style being a bit clunky and choppy. Very spooky vibes that at times give you goosebumps

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

You won't want to put down your fork after reading Children of the Fog because it was such an eerie experience. As the major characters struggle for their sanity, the narrative portrays their mental states and creates a sense of dread and inevitable fate. At points, I felt both frustrated with the main characters and overwhelmed by the pointlessness of opposing them. You'll be left thinking "wow!!" after reading this.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This does start out a little slow but then it picks up around chapter 2. It's an eerie, creepy story about a brother and sister who went through something horrifying as children. Now that they're adults, they realize their childhood night isn't over. This horror did not disappoint and I'm excited to see what else Anderson comes up with

[Yuki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hay algo en la niebla que se está llevando a la gente.
Dos hermanos que por circunstancias traumaticas fueron separados, se reencuentran de adultos para hacerle frente a lo que se oculta en la niebla y descubrir la verdad de lo que pasó..

Estuvo muy bueno, entretenido, lo unico malo para mí que soy muy impresionable es que tiene autolesiones muy descriptivas..

[Neville Townsend · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lizzy and Dylan escape a childhood horror now it's back. Good characters love how the author shows same trauma effects them differently. Plenty of chill and thrills along the way. Slow start but soon picks up. Thanks to Fever Dream books and Netgalley for this review ARC.

[Linda D. Leoncilli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Children of the Fog

This book was WOW! Once I started I didn't want to stop! Any reader of horror should definitely check this one out. I would have given more stars if able.