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The Bone Drenched Woods
Carve the bones. One for the gate, one for the door, two for the mantel, and three for the floor… Hyacinth Turning knows the terrors beyond her village, the insatiable hunger of the Teeth. She listens to the sermons given by the Elders in their hare-skin masks. She watches as the heathens hang and the witches burn. They tell her to be good and quiet. But Hyacinth is neither good nor quiet. After a series of tragic events, Hyacinth finds herself hastily wedded and sent far away from all she has ever known to a settlement at the edge of the sea. Where more than just the Teeth are hungry. Another horror swims below, leviathan shadows kept at bay by offerings of flesh and bone.
But no sooner does Hyacinth take root in her new home do the Teeth and the Deep come to feed. Suspicion soon falls upon the outspoken Hyacinth, who spends more time with the outcasted Morgan Carroway than her own husband. The Elders want her burned, her husband wants her hanged, and a long-lost love claws at her dreams, but Hyacinth only wants one thing. A life and death of her choosing.
But no sooner does Hyacinth take root in her new home do the Teeth and the Deep come to feed. Suspicion soon falls upon the outspoken Hyacinth, who spends more time with the outcasted Morgan Carroway than her own husband. The Elders want her burned, her husband wants her hanged, and a long-lost love claws at her dreams, but Hyacinth only wants one thing. A life and death of her choosing.
238 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 15, 2025
15 people are currently reading
1215 people want to read
About the author
L.V. Russell
8 books134 followersLydia grew up on a farm deep in the Dorset countryside alongside her three elder brothers, using the fields and woodland as their playground.
As an adult with two young children, she has used the memories of the wild woods of her youth to write The Wicked Woods Chronicles
A tale of lost sisters, whispering trees, and dark romance.
oh, the woods are dark and wicked...
As an adult with two young children, she has used the memories of the wild woods of her youth to write The Wicked Woods Chronicles
A tale of lost sisters, whispering trees, and dark romance.
oh, the woods are dark and wicked...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 227 reviews
May 11, 2025
No plot. No worldbuilding. No character growth. No satisfying ending.
This must be the first Horror book I read that had absolutely nothing to cling onto and enjoy the ride. From start to finish, it’s an endless parade of scenes with Hyacinth being subjected to plot demand after plot demand that involved misery and suffering, but much of the suffering is of her own doing, because she’s one unsympathetic, mouthy, uncouth, and brash chit that is usually either courting disaster every time and having others killed or taunting them into killing her. I could never care about what happened to her for one single moment; to me she read like a mouth with two legs, always spouting some "clever" retorts that get her in trouble, that’s how superficial her characterization felt. The book goes by in a scene-dialogue-scene-dialogue straight line that doesn't show much of a storytelling structure.
What about the creepy woods atmosphere? I love creepy woods stories. That was the selling point for me, the reason I picked this book up. But unfortunately this is a case where the woods are evil because. What are the Teeth? Nobody knows. What caused the cannibal woods to be like that? Nobody knows. Why this specific town and not another? Nobody knows. What’s the Deep? Nobody knows. Nobody knows anything, they simply accept things as they are, nobody explains why this evil exists, and nobody combats this evil into victory or seeks a solution. I get the impression that the author wanted to create a literary setting that would be a metaphor for real life situations, but forgot that when trying to show what evil stuff people will tolerate, you have to explain what this evil is and why it exists. It can’t simply exist for the sake of it and people simply go along with it unquestioningly. That’s not how the human psyche works.
In the end, because nobody knows and nobody cares but Hyacinth and her ambiguous "friend," it all ends very predictably, with Hyacinth paying for her foolery, and you come out of reading this thinking that it was a poorly executed body horror story in which the horror is the plot. If porn without plot exists as a subgenre, then surely horror without plot exists too. Because story, there was none I could speak of. If you asked me to do a summary of this book, I’d merely say it’s a nasty girl from a town where everyone is nasty, is subjected to ritual suffering and ultimately pays with her life like everyone else, no lessons learnt, no progress made.
I’m still baffled at what the point even was.
I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This must be the first Horror book I read that had absolutely nothing to cling onto and enjoy the ride. From start to finish, it’s an endless parade of scenes with Hyacinth being subjected to plot demand after plot demand that involved misery and suffering, but much of the suffering is of her own doing, because she’s one unsympathetic, mouthy, uncouth, and brash chit that is usually either courting disaster every time and having others killed or taunting them into killing her. I could never care about what happened to her for one single moment; to me she read like a mouth with two legs, always spouting some "clever" retorts that get her in trouble, that’s how superficial her characterization felt. The book goes by in a scene-dialogue-scene-dialogue straight line that doesn't show much of a storytelling structure.
What about the creepy woods atmosphere? I love creepy woods stories. That was the selling point for me, the reason I picked this book up. But unfortunately this is a case where the woods are evil because. What are the Teeth? Nobody knows. What caused the cannibal woods to be like that? Nobody knows. Why this specific town and not another? Nobody knows. What’s the Deep? Nobody knows. Nobody knows anything, they simply accept things as they are, nobody explains why this evil exists, and nobody combats this evil into victory or seeks a solution. I get the impression that the author wanted to create a literary setting that would be a metaphor for real life situations, but forgot that when trying to show what evil stuff people will tolerate, you have to explain what this evil is and why it exists. It can’t simply exist for the sake of it and people simply go along with it unquestioningly. That’s not how the human psyche works.
In the end, because nobody knows and nobody cares but Hyacinth and her ambiguous "friend," it all ends very predictably, with Hyacinth paying for her foolery, and you come out of reading this thinking that it was a poorly executed body horror story in which the horror is the plot. If porn without plot exists as a subgenre, then surely horror without plot exists too. Because story, there was none I could speak of. If you asked me to do a summary of this book, I’d merely say it’s a nasty girl from a town where everyone is nasty, is subjected to ritual suffering and ultimately pays with her life like everyone else, no lessons learnt, no progress made.
I’m still baffled at what the point even was.
I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 4, 2025
˙₊➴ ꒰ 4-stars★ ꒱ ꒷⊹࣪˖
📜┆ ARC ⤿ Quill & Crow Publishing House & NetGalley
✒️┆ Author ⤿ L.V. Russell
💌┆ Pub Date ⤿ 04/15/25
Accused, hunted, and drawn to a darkness she doesn’t fully understand, Hyacinth wants only one thing: a life and death of her choosing.
She has never been good at staying quiet and clueless, and when she's forced into a marriage and exiled to a new village haunted by other ancient hungers, she soon discovers that the Teeth aren't the only things that feast. As whispers rise, doubts grow, and bodies fall, Hyacinth must choose. Follow the rules or carve her own path, no matter the cost.
⊹ ࣪ ˖ੈ Character
⟡ Hyacinth Turning - is sharp, strong, deeply aware of the cruelties around her, and unwilling to pretend they make sense. The forest may scare her, but living without fully ”living” is a life she wouldn’t settle for.
What I fully enjoyed in the story is Hyacinth herself. She is a character forged in defiance, sorrow, and quiet rage. She's bitter with the world, but not cruel; broken, but not empty. Her inner strength makes her the most resilient character, and her journey to find her place in the world becomes a powerful story of defiance, leaving her mark on the island and the people who continue to erase her.
Being born into a world that forces to mold her into something docile and silent. She yearns for freedom, for self-determination, for choice. They call her a witch, not because of what she’s done, but because of what she is: unyielding. She refuses to feel ashamed for being different in a world ruled by fear and control. And in that, she is powerful even if she’s not yet free.
⊹ ࣪ ˖ੈ Thoughts
This is a world soaked in fear, sacrifice, and a terrifying reverence for the unknown. Where society is built on ritual, fear, and appeasement, it is a dark, mystical, and deeply superstitious island where people live in fear of ancient and godlike forces tied to the sea and forest — the Deep and the Trees. Safety is an illusion upheld by tradition, and doubt is a dangerous, isolating thing.
It is a haunting blend of folk and gothic horror. This story pulled me into a deep world that feels unsettlingly real as L.V. Russell masterfully crafts a setting so raw and vivid, from the eerie village and its fearful people to the ominous forest and the all-consuming Deep. It's a fantastically eerie tale that made my bones shiver. The smidge of romance was also a cute sprinkle to the story, which lightened the deep-rooted problems of the village.
I didn’t just read this story, I felt it. From the haunting traditions and quiet horrors of the village to Hyacinth’s raw, powerful character and the creeping mystery of the Deep and the Trees, every part of the world felt alive and unnervingly real. L.V. Russell has a gift for crafting eerie, immersive settings, and I’d gladly pick up anything else she writes.
➳ Huge thanks to the publisher & author—Quill & Crow Publishing House, L.V. Russell & NetGalley—for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
˚₊ ⟢┊pre-read 🖇️┊⊹࣪⋆
I'm an easy girl to please. I see Folk-Gothic Horror, I click!
📜┆ ARC ⤿ Quill & Crow Publishing House & NetGalley
✒️┆ Author ⤿ L.V. Russell
💌┆ Pub Date ⤿ 04/15/25
❝ Bless the Oaks and bless the Deep. ❞
Accused, hunted, and drawn to a darkness she doesn’t fully understand, Hyacinth wants only one thing: a life and death of her choosing.
She has never been good at staying quiet and clueless, and when she's forced into a marriage and exiled to a new village haunted by other ancient hungers, she soon discovers that the Teeth aren't the only things that feast. As whispers rise, doubts grow, and bodies fall, Hyacinth must choose. Follow the rules or carve her own path, no matter the cost.
⊹ ࣪ ˖ੈ Character
❝ Witch.” “How could I be anything else? I was never given room to become anything but. ❞
⟡ Hyacinth Turning - is sharp, strong, deeply aware of the cruelties around her, and unwilling to pretend they make sense. The forest may scare her, but living without fully ”living” is a life she wouldn’t settle for.
What I fully enjoyed in the story is Hyacinth herself. She is a character forged in defiance, sorrow, and quiet rage. She's bitter with the world, but not cruel; broken, but not empty. Her inner strength makes her the most resilient character, and her journey to find her place in the world becomes a powerful story of defiance, leaving her mark on the island and the people who continue to erase her.
❝ Don’t be foolish, or wicked, or loud. Don’t be brazen, wild, hopeful, or hungry. Be pretty, be quiet, be good. Obedient. ❞
Being born into a world that forces to mold her into something docile and silent. She yearns for freedom, for self-determination, for choice. They call her a witch, not because of what she’s done, but because of what she is: unyielding. She refuses to feel ashamed for being different in a world ruled by fear and control. And in that, she is powerful even if she’s not yet free.
⊹ ࣪ ˖ੈ Thoughts
This is a world soaked in fear, sacrifice, and a terrifying reverence for the unknown. Where society is built on ritual, fear, and appeasement, it is a dark, mystical, and deeply superstitious island where people live in fear of ancient and godlike forces tied to the sea and forest — the Deep and the Trees. Safety is an illusion upheld by tradition, and doubt is a dangerous, isolating thing.
❝ Are we truly little more than delectable flesh to ancient beings with insatiable appetites? ❞
❝ The grounds were soaked in generations of blood, souls scrambling over themselves to give up their bodies for those they loved… The ground was so saturated in butchery, it was a wonder the Teeth were so famished. ❞
It is a haunting blend of folk and gothic horror. This story pulled me into a deep world that feels unsettlingly real as L.V. Russell masterfully crafts a setting so raw and vivid, from the eerie village and its fearful people to the ominous forest and the all-consuming Deep. It's a fantastically eerie tale that made my bones shiver. The smidge of romance was also a cute sprinkle to the story, which lightened the deep-rooted problems of the village.
❝ Those easy parts to love. I carved it all out and swallowed it before the Teeth could. ❞
❝ Ah, good thing I like the difficult parts. I would gladly cut myself on your sharp edges, Hyacinth. ❞
I didn’t just read this story, I felt it. From the haunting traditions and quiet horrors of the village to Hyacinth’s raw, powerful character and the creeping mystery of the Deep and the Trees, every part of the world felt alive and unnervingly real. L.V. Russell has a gift for crafting eerie, immersive settings, and I’d gladly pick up anything else she writes.
➳ Huge thanks to the publisher & author—Quill & Crow Publishing House, L.V. Russell & NetGalley—for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
˚₊ ⟢┊pre-read 🖇️┊⊹࣪⋆
I'm an easy girl to please. I see Folk-Gothic Horror, I click!
May 27, 2025
Carve the bones. One for the gate, one for the door, two for the mantel, and three for the floor
if you liked Slewfoot & want a witchy, folklore read you have to pick this one up!
I'm fully convinced this was a book about a cult & you can't convince me otherwise...the sacrifices, the masks & the rituals I mean come on!
this has so many things that I love in horror. there's witches(or is she), creatures lurking & watching from the woods & the sea, gothic vibes, & even a little bit of female rage.
"Witch."
"How could I be anything else? I was never given room to become anything but."
the writing is lush & really pulls you in quickly. the atmosphere is creepy & the horror bits throughout were tastefully done, not too gory or over the top, making it a perfect read for someone new to the genre
this felt soooo 'Slewfoot' in so many ways. hyacinth really reminded me of Abitha. Both are strong, witty, fierce women & I love that for them.
my oooonly issue is I really wish we got more background on the Teeth & The Deep & some more female rage. other than that this is a good, quick read.
You wonder why the world is so very hungry for us. It is for the heavy sins we carry, for the rot here.
if you liked Slewfoot & want a witchy, folklore read you have to pick this one up!
I'm fully convinced this was a book about a cult & you can't convince me otherwise...the sacrifices, the masks & the rituals I mean come on!
this has so many things that I love in horror. there's witches(or is she), creatures lurking & watching from the woods & the sea, gothic vibes, & even a little bit of female rage.
"Witch."
"How could I be anything else? I was never given room to become anything but."
the writing is lush & really pulls you in quickly. the atmosphere is creepy & the horror bits throughout were tastefully done, not too gory or over the top, making it a perfect read for someone new to the genre
this felt soooo 'Slewfoot' in so many ways. hyacinth really reminded me of Abitha. Both are strong, witty, fierce women & I love that for them.
my oooonly issue is I really wish we got more background on the Teeth & The Deep & some more female rage. other than that this is a good, quick read.
You wonder why the world is so very hungry for us. It is for the heavy sins we carry, for the rot here.
April 30, 2025
I will review later but OMG I loved this book!!! Folk Horror hasn’t been on my radar but it is now!!
This was my first experience with L.V. Russell's work, and am eager to read more. "The Bone Drenched Woods" is a vividly dark and atmospheric novel that captivates and immerses you completely.
"Carve the bones. One for the gate, one for the door, two for the mantel, and three for the floor" Hyacinth is well aware of the horrors beyond her village and the insatiable hunger of the teeth. These entities demand blood sacrifices, and if they are not offered, they will take their fill. Hyacinth has listened to the Elders wearing hare-skin masks, witnessed the hanging of heathens and watched witches burn. She knows what is expected of her: be good, be quiet. Yet, she neither. Following series of tragic events, Hyacinth marries and is taken to settlement by the sea, where more than just the teeth are ravenous. When the outspoken Hyacinth begins spending time with the outcast Morgan, she is blamed for the arrival of monsters that have to feed. The villagers demand her death, but Hyacinth seeks a life—or a death—of her own choosing.
I found her writing utterly captivating. The's darkness and her exquisite style were irresistible; I devoured every word.
This was my first experience with L.V. Russell's work, and am eager to read more. "The Bone Drenched Woods" is a vividly dark and atmospheric novel that captivates and immerses you completely.
"Carve the bones. One for the gate, one for the door, two for the mantel, and three for the floor" Hyacinth is well aware of the horrors beyond her village and the insatiable hunger of the teeth. These entities demand blood sacrifices, and if they are not offered, they will take their fill. Hyacinth has listened to the Elders wearing hare-skin masks, witnessed the hanging of heathens and watched witches burn. She knows what is expected of her: be good, be quiet. Yet, she neither. Following series of tragic events, Hyacinth marries and is taken to settlement by the sea, where more than just the teeth are ravenous. When the outspoken Hyacinth begins spending time with the outcast Morgan, she is blamed for the arrival of monsters that have to feed. The villagers demand her death, but Hyacinth seeks a life—or a death—of her own choosing.
I found her writing utterly captivating. The's darkness and her exquisite style were irresistible; I devoured every word.
May 6, 2025
I have been slumped out of my mind lately. I told myself I'd go through NetGalley's 'Read Now' options and select a book I hadn't heard of that just sounded good. That's how The Bone Drenched Woods came to find me, and boy am I glad it did.
An atmospheric folk horror, The Bone Drenched Woods is eerie, violent, fast-paced, and fueled by feminine rage. The story takes place in a world held hostage by the Teeth, a shadowy entity that requires blood and flesh to satiate their hunger. The village governs itself similar to any human village ever has - kill, torture, or sacrifice those who fall out of line (or, also, are women they dislike). Our FMC, Hyacinth, naturally, is a disobedient woman with a sharp tongue and a kickass dog. After narrowly avoiding the punishment of being thrown to the Teeth, she is married to an evil little man and sent off to a new village, one ruled by the Teeth AND the ocean's mysterious monstrous entity, the Deep.
This is vibey, creepy, and so much fun. I have a feeling I'll be recommending this one a LOT.
An atmospheric folk horror, The Bone Drenched Woods is eerie, violent, fast-paced, and fueled by feminine rage. The story takes place in a world held hostage by the Teeth, a shadowy entity that requires blood and flesh to satiate their hunger. The village governs itself similar to any human village ever has - kill, torture, or sacrifice those who fall out of line (or, also, are women they dislike). Our FMC, Hyacinth, naturally, is a disobedient woman with a sharp tongue and a kickass dog. After narrowly avoiding the punishment of being thrown to the Teeth, she is married to an evil little man and sent off to a new village, one ruled by the Teeth AND the ocean's mysterious monstrous entity, the Deep.
This is vibey, creepy, and so much fun. I have a feeling I'll be recommending this one a LOT.
January 30, 2026
A very atmospheric and eerie horror story.
For the first half of the book I couldn’t stop reading, the evocative writing and the dark and brutal setting worked really well. After a while I felt the story became a bit repetitive, mainly because the horrors never stopped and the despair only grew, but I eventually understood the reason for this.
I have to say I had mixed feelings about the ending at first, but I cannot deny any other ending wouldn’t have been nearly as satisfying.
Overall I really recommend this one for lovers of folk horror, witches and a fair amount of gore, I had to read some light and fluffy romance after I finished reading this 🤣
Thanks to Quill & Crow Publishing House via NetGalley for providing an eARC
For the first half of the book I couldn’t stop reading, the evocative writing and the dark and brutal setting worked really well. After a while I felt the story became a bit repetitive, mainly because the horrors never stopped and the despair only grew, but I eventually understood the reason for this.
I have to say I had mixed feelings about the ending at first, but I cannot deny any other ending wouldn’t have been nearly as satisfying.
Overall I really recommend this one for lovers of folk horror, witches and a fair amount of gore, I had to read some light and fluffy romance after I finished reading this 🤣
Thanks to Quill & Crow Publishing House via NetGalley for providing an eARC
April 15, 2025
find more reviews on my blog
Where do I even start with this deliciously creepy, folk-horror gem? It’s like stumbling into a haunted forest with a gorgeous guide who whispers, “Don’t worry, it’s only mostly terrifying.” It had me hooked, spooked, and swooning, though it didn’t quite rip my heart out and carve it into a ritualistic bone totem. But, like, it came close.
First off, let’s talk about the vibes. Picture yourself in a misty, isolated village where the trees loom like they’re plotting your demise, and the air smells of damp earth, woodsmoke, rot, and secrets so old they’ve fossilized. Russell’s prose is like a velvet glove wrapped around a dagger: lush, poetic, and sharp enough to make you flinch. The story follows Hyacinth Turning, a heroine who’s a defiant spitfire while also being a vulnerable lost soul. She’s not your cookie-cutter “strong female lead” (ugh, that phrase makes my eyes roll). Hyacinth is messy, raw, and so relatable I wanted to hug her through the pages. When she’s shipped off to a creepy seaside settlement after a last minute arranged marriage and her father hanged, you feel her dread, like that time I moved into a sketchy apartment and swore the walls had eyes.
Russell crafts a folk-horror tapestry that’s both nostalgic and nightmarish, like a Grimm fairy tale got a gritty reboot. The Teeth and the Deep are both monstrous entities lurking beyond the village. The rituals, with their bone carving chants (“One for the gate, one for the door…”), gave me actual chills. I mean, I was reading this at 2 a.m., wrapped in a blanket burrito, and I still felt exposed. The Elders in their hare-skin masks? Nope. Hard pass from that culty nonsense. They’re the kind of creepy authority figures who’d make you confess to stealing cookies you didn’t even eat and will hang you or burn you if you look at them wrong.
Hyacinth’s journey is a wild ride. She’s stuck in this oppressive, witch hunt obsessed community, and her only ally is Morgan, the outcast who’s got that brooding, “I’m trouble but also maybe your soulmate” energy. I dig the bisexual vibes when Hyacinth loves Abelia who haunts her dreams after she disappeared into the Teeth, and now Morgan. (We can always use more bisexuals in fiction!) Russell knows how to tease a slow-burn romance without making it feel like a slog.
The snark comes in with the villains. Hyacinth’s husband and the Elders are so insufferably sanctimonious, I wanted to yeet them into the Deep myself. They’re the kind of people who’d scold you for wearing mismatched socks while ignoring the literal monsters at their doorstep. Russell nails the hypocrisy of rigid, fear-driven societies, and it’s so satisfying watching Hyacinth flip them the metaphorical bird.
So why not five stars? Okay, confession: the pacing tripped a bit in the middle. There’s a stretch where Hyacinth’s inner turmoil feels like it’s on a loop, and I was like, “Girl, I get it, you’re stressed, let’s move!” Also, while the lore is haunting, I craved a smidge more clarity about the Teeth and the Deep. Are they gods? Demons? Really cranky squid? I’m nosy, and I wanted answers. Still, these are tiny gripes in a book that had me so immersed I skipped sleep to keep reading. Sleep, people. That’s love.
In short, this story is perfect for anyone who loves their fantasy with a side of gothic gloom and a sprinkle of rebellious girl power. L.V. Russell, you’ve got me under your spell, and I’m already counting down to your next book.
May 19, 2025
This story certainly gave off “The Watchers” by A.M. Shine and “The Forest of Hands and Teeth” by Carrie Ryan vibes!
Follow Hyacinth as she traverses The Teeth to start a new home on the edge of The Deep, bride to a terrible man. There are ancient beasts surrounding the town and they are hungry and angry. Women are always blamed for the problems of men, and Hyacinth has drawn the ire of the Elders. Will she burn? Be lowered into the cold waters on a hook? Will her bones be carved to ward the paths? Or can she finally find a way to be free…
“Flowers and bone, girl and woman, maiden and mother.”
“The Bone Drenched Woods” was a dark, horrifying and hopeless story. Following a main character who is bound by rituals and tradition, hemmed in by monsters human and eldritch. From trees to the deep waters, it was a fascinating world the author created. More backstory/history would only enhance the tale, as I was left curious about many things, like how the towns communicated between themselves.
“Carve the bones. One for the gate, one for the door, two for the mantel, and three for the floor.”
I really loved the creepy factor and darkness of the overall plot. Each scene had me captivated, from the intense moments when the creatures are near as well as the day-to-day activities of the townspeople.
The ending felt a bit rushed, I was hoping for more based on how the rest of the book took its time with each transition.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Quill & Crow Publishing House for a copy!
Follow Hyacinth as she traverses The Teeth to start a new home on the edge of The Deep, bride to a terrible man. There are ancient beasts surrounding the town and they are hungry and angry. Women are always blamed for the problems of men, and Hyacinth has drawn the ire of the Elders. Will she burn? Be lowered into the cold waters on a hook? Will her bones be carved to ward the paths? Or can she finally find a way to be free…
“Flowers and bone, girl and woman, maiden and mother.”
“The Bone Drenched Woods” was a dark, horrifying and hopeless story. Following a main character who is bound by rituals and tradition, hemmed in by monsters human and eldritch. From trees to the deep waters, it was a fascinating world the author created. More backstory/history would only enhance the tale, as I was left curious about many things, like how the towns communicated between themselves.
“Carve the bones. One for the gate, one for the door, two for the mantel, and three for the floor.”
I really loved the creepy factor and darkness of the overall plot. Each scene had me captivated, from the intense moments when the creatures are near as well as the day-to-day activities of the townspeople.
The ending felt a bit rushed, I was hoping for more based on how the rest of the book took its time with each transition.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Quill & Crow Publishing House for a copy!
April 24, 2025
“Do not be foolish, Hyacinth.” Don’t be foolish, or wicked, or loud. Don’t be brazen, wild, hopeful, hungry. Be pretty, be quiet, be good. Obedient.
A BIG BIG thank you to Quill & Crow Publishing House for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Where do I even start??
I randomly requested this book on Netgalley because the premise sounded interesting, and I liked the cover and what do you know? I've started reading it, and I was instantly HOOKED. This book is seriously underrated, and I can't wait to read more from this author. Easily one of my favourite books now.
The writing was beautifully descriptive, immediately immersing me into the story. I fell in love with the world building, the folklore, and the dark atmosphere the story takes on right from the very beginning. Trust me when I say this story will have you hooked from the first page.
The book is about a cultist like village where a great terror lurks in the woods. Heathens hang and witches burn, of which our main character is neither, but she is defiant, and that is enough to look suspicious to others.
If sacrifices, female rage, wicked girls, and Eldritch horrors are your jam or you loved the movie "The Witch," then you'll love this book.
I'm giving it 4.5 stars in total. Would have been a 5 star read, but I got a little lost towards the ending, and I think this could have been improved if the book was a little longer.
A BIG BIG thank you to Quill & Crow Publishing House for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Where do I even start??
I randomly requested this book on Netgalley because the premise sounded interesting, and I liked the cover and what do you know? I've started reading it, and I was instantly HOOKED. This book is seriously underrated, and I can't wait to read more from this author. Easily one of my favourite books now.
The writing was beautifully descriptive, immediately immersing me into the story. I fell in love with the world building, the folklore, and the dark atmosphere the story takes on right from the very beginning. Trust me when I say this story will have you hooked from the first page.
The book is about a cultist like village where a great terror lurks in the woods. Heathens hang and witches burn, of which our main character is neither, but she is defiant, and that is enough to look suspicious to others.
If sacrifices, female rage, wicked girls, and Eldritch horrors are your jam or you loved the movie "The Witch," then you'll love this book.
I'm giving it 4.5 stars in total. Would have been a 5 star read, but I got a little lost towards the ending, and I think this could have been improved if the book was a little longer.
May 17, 2025
** I received a copy of this book for free via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions below are my own. **
This was a difficult review to write. I really wanted to like this book. It has an interesting title and cover, and the description promised mystery, dark secrets, and strife, all with a feminist twist. That being said, and evidenced by my rating, this fell very flat for me.
I’ll start with the good. There are a lot of promising aspects of the setting and themes of this book. A simple and quiet village nestled in the woods contrasted with an insidious religion - and hulking, violent monsters just beyond the tree line that create a sincere need to follow that religion. There’s a lot of visceral imagery that consistently adds to the aspects of horror throughout the book. The idea that the sacrifice of your family and neighbors, and their very bones, can keep you safe is compelling and could drive an interesting and meaningful plot.
Unfortunately, there was more bad than good done with these premises. Character development throughout the story is completely lacking. Even when someone seems to grow or change in some way it never lasts, and they revert back to who they were earlier. If information is revealed that would show them in a different light and reveal more about the world around them, it might happen for a page or two, and then it’s as if it never happened.
There is never a full or satisfying explanation of the setting or events that happen in the story. Even seemingly important (and overt) foreshadowing from the first few chapters is glossed over and unrealized. Stemming from this, and further contributing to it, the plot points feel entirely contrived. If someone needs to be somewhere else, there’s suddenly a cultural practice that means they have to go there. If they need to meet someone, that person appears around the corner.
I found the editing throughout this book to leave much to be desired. There are a number of typos, minor for the most part, but consistent throughout the novel. Timelines don’t match up for parts of the story – something happens at nightfall, and then later that day, something happens all afternoon until evening. There are oft-repeated phrases, words and visuals. Peoples’ noses constantly touch when they’re speaking closely, the sun is always creeping over or through or on the trees, everything drips or seeps. These are frankly mistakes that I do not expect to see in an edited and published book.
My final gripe with this book was the promise of feminist themes. The female protagonist is barely capable of making a meaningful decision or taking any real action throughout the book that isn’t short-sighted and self-serving. Even if she voices an idea, she is happy to stand back and let a man take the lead and see it through. She has little to no respect for other women and their decisions. If this book passes the Bechdel test, it's by a razor thin margin.
Without a consistent setting or any real character arcs, the Bone Drenched Woods heaves itself kicking and screaming by its angsty bootstraps to an unsatisfying conclusion.
This was a difficult review to write. I really wanted to like this book. It has an interesting title and cover, and the description promised mystery, dark secrets, and strife, all with a feminist twist. That being said, and evidenced by my rating, this fell very flat for me.
I’ll start with the good. There are a lot of promising aspects of the setting and themes of this book. A simple and quiet village nestled in the woods contrasted with an insidious religion - and hulking, violent monsters just beyond the tree line that create a sincere need to follow that religion. There’s a lot of visceral imagery that consistently adds to the aspects of horror throughout the book. The idea that the sacrifice of your family and neighbors, and their very bones, can keep you safe is compelling and could drive an interesting and meaningful plot.
Unfortunately, there was more bad than good done with these premises. Character development throughout the story is completely lacking. Even when someone seems to grow or change in some way it never lasts, and they revert back to who they were earlier. If information is revealed that would show them in a different light and reveal more about the world around them, it might happen for a page or two, and then it’s as if it never happened.
There is never a full or satisfying explanation of the setting or events that happen in the story. Even seemingly important (and overt) foreshadowing from the first few chapters is glossed over and unrealized. Stemming from this, and further contributing to it, the plot points feel entirely contrived. If someone needs to be somewhere else, there’s suddenly a cultural practice that means they have to go there. If they need to meet someone, that person appears around the corner.
I found the editing throughout this book to leave much to be desired. There are a number of typos, minor for the most part, but consistent throughout the novel. Timelines don’t match up for parts of the story – something happens at nightfall, and then later that day, something happens all afternoon until evening. There are oft-repeated phrases, words and visuals. Peoples’ noses constantly touch when they’re speaking closely, the sun is always creeping over or through or on the trees, everything drips or seeps. These are frankly mistakes that I do not expect to see in an edited and published book.
My final gripe with this book was the promise of feminist themes. The female protagonist is barely capable of making a meaningful decision or taking any real action throughout the book that isn’t short-sighted and self-serving. Even if she voices an idea, she is happy to stand back and let a man take the lead and see it through. She has little to no respect for other women and their decisions. If this book passes the Bechdel test, it's by a razor thin margin.
Without a consistent setting or any real character arcs, the Bone Drenched Woods heaves itself kicking and screaming by its angsty bootstraps to an unsatisfying conclusion.
April 13, 2025
4★
Thank you NetGalley for the e-arc of this book.
When I first saw the synopsis I was instantly intrigued as it sounded exactly like something I’d enjoy and I was not wrong.
It’s difficult for me to rate this, so I’m gonna try to write this review in notes - as in what I liked and didn’t like - and hope it helps me land on a rating.
What I didn’t like:
☆ The pacing felt too slow. I don’t really mind slower paced books most of the time, but at one point I thought the story started to drag. Despite the book being very short, it felt longer. I was never bored reading it but I wish the pacing felt smoother.
☆ On the other hand, the book could’ve been a bit longer as I felt like it lacked some details - especially when it came to the relationships between the characters.
☆ As much as I loved the folklore of this world, I wish it went even deeper and we learnt more.
Now for what I liked:
☆ The atmosphere of the book! It was dark, eerie and spooky. I very much enjoyed the time I spent in this world. The vibes were vibing.
☆ The main character. She was strong and wicked, and just a lot of fun to follow.
☆ The folklore of this world. The Deep and the Teeth. Both of those were so intriguing and I wish we learnt some more about them.
☆ The creepy parts. The rituals of the villages, the bones and the masks.
Overall a very enjoyable folk horror. I very much enjoyed this and would definitely recommend.
Thank you NetGalley for the e-arc of this book.
When I first saw the synopsis I was instantly intrigued as it sounded exactly like something I’d enjoy and I was not wrong.
It’s difficult for me to rate this, so I’m gonna try to write this review in notes - as in what I liked and didn’t like - and hope it helps me land on a rating.
What I didn’t like:
☆ The pacing felt too slow. I don’t really mind slower paced books most of the time, but at one point I thought the story started to drag. Despite the book being very short, it felt longer. I was never bored reading it but I wish the pacing felt smoother.
☆ On the other hand, the book could’ve been a bit longer as I felt like it lacked some details - especially when it came to the relationships between the characters.
☆ As much as I loved the folklore of this world, I wish it went even deeper and we learnt more.
Now for what I liked:
☆ The atmosphere of the book! It was dark, eerie and spooky. I very much enjoyed the time I spent in this world. The vibes were vibing.
☆ The main character. She was strong and wicked, and just a lot of fun to follow.
☆ The folklore of this world. The Deep and the Teeth. Both of those were so intriguing and I wish we learnt some more about them.
☆ The creepy parts. The rituals of the villages, the bones and the masks.
Overall a very enjoyable folk horror. I very much enjoyed this and would definitely recommend.
April 29, 2025
Actual rating 4.5/5 stars.
Hyacinth Turning knows to stay clear from the woods that have teeth to tear into any who venture into their midst. Hyacinth Turning knows to keep her voice low and her head bowed, to respect the Elders and follow the rules they have laid out for her salvation. Hyacinth Turning knows she must not question the way things are lest she sway with the other hanged heathens who broke the many rules. Hyacinth Turning does none of those things.
Folk horror is not a sub-genre I was previously aware of but is definitely one I have an interest in exploring now! The way Russell invited the natural world into the story was both sharp and sensuous. But it met its match in protagonist, Hyacinth.
Hyacinth was everything a bad woman in a worse world ought not to be. She was too loud, too brash, too... everything! And I adored her! Her fighting spirit and large heart, all cocooned beneath her harsh demeanour, made me instantly love her character and I ardently longed for her freedom from this world of false piousness and incessant rules.
I had no idea which direction this story would take and was breathless with anticipation from the outset, so imbued with a creeping sense of unease and dreaded tension was this, from the very first page. This is a relatively short fantasy story but every word is precise and cutting, carefully places for ultimate impact and the most beautiful of prose. This is definitely an author, a world, and a genre I will return to!
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, L. V. Russell and the publisher, Quill & Crow Publishing House, for this opportunity.
Hyacinth Turning knows to stay clear from the woods that have teeth to tear into any who venture into their midst. Hyacinth Turning knows to keep her voice low and her head bowed, to respect the Elders and follow the rules they have laid out for her salvation. Hyacinth Turning knows she must not question the way things are lest she sway with the other hanged heathens who broke the many rules. Hyacinth Turning does none of those things.
Folk horror is not a sub-genre I was previously aware of but is definitely one I have an interest in exploring now! The way Russell invited the natural world into the story was both sharp and sensuous. But it met its match in protagonist, Hyacinth.
Hyacinth was everything a bad woman in a worse world ought not to be. She was too loud, too brash, too... everything! And I adored her! Her fighting spirit and large heart, all cocooned beneath her harsh demeanour, made me instantly love her character and I ardently longed for her freedom from this world of false piousness and incessant rules.
I had no idea which direction this story would take and was breathless with anticipation from the outset, so imbued with a creeping sense of unease and dreaded tension was this, from the very first page. This is a relatively short fantasy story but every word is precise and cutting, carefully places for ultimate impact and the most beautiful of prose. This is definitely an author, a world, and a genre I will return to!
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, L. V. Russell and the publisher, Quill & Crow Publishing House, for this opportunity.
April 20, 2025
“𝘒𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦, 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘴, 𝘧𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘰𝘥𝘴, 𝘰𝘣𝘦𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘌𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴.”
Hyacinth is a young woman with a wild soul, that’s not meant to be kept within the confines of a community controlled by fear. And her story is hauntingly poetic.
It’s a dark, atmospheric and morbidly gothic folk story about the monsters that lurk in the shadows that feels oh-so familar to the scary stories we’re told as children. You better behave, or else…
But it’s also so much more than that as it tells a story of a world where religion is weaponized and fear is used to control the people. It depicts the erasure of women’s individuality as they succumb to the wants of controlling men, and what happens to those who don’t bow to the threat.
Needless to say, this story will stoke the flames of your inner female rage.
The writing is absolutely amazing and Russell’s use of imagery really transports you right into the ‘bone drenched woods’. I found the clever use of names and their meaning to be additional tools in her story telling. Those small details are always fun to catch and really add depth to the story.
Overall, I loved this book. It left me wanting more, in the best way. I received this as an ARC read via NetGalley. This was my first from this author and I can confidently say that I will be looking forward to reading more of her work!
Hyacinth is a young woman with a wild soul, that’s not meant to be kept within the confines of a community controlled by fear. And her story is hauntingly poetic.
It’s a dark, atmospheric and morbidly gothic folk story about the monsters that lurk in the shadows that feels oh-so familar to the scary stories we’re told as children. You better behave, or else…
But it’s also so much more than that as it tells a story of a world where religion is weaponized and fear is used to control the people. It depicts the erasure of women’s individuality as they succumb to the wants of controlling men, and what happens to those who don’t bow to the threat.
Needless to say, this story will stoke the flames of your inner female rage.
The writing is absolutely amazing and Russell’s use of imagery really transports you right into the ‘bone drenched woods’. I found the clever use of names and their meaning to be additional tools in her story telling. Those small details are always fun to catch and really add depth to the story.
Overall, I loved this book. It left me wanting more, in the best way. I received this as an ARC read via NetGalley. This was my first from this author and I can confidently say that I will be looking forward to reading more of her work!
May 27, 2025
Special thanks to Netgalley for providing a digital copy in exchange for an honest review
Hmm. I spent the first 40% being confused, but still intrigued. I spent the last 60% also confused, but utterly bored.
Nothing is explained here. Nobody knows why things are the way they are. It’s just how it is. I found Hyacinth to be really unlikeable. She made poor choices, and other people were killed for it. And then she continued to make bad choices. There was no character development. It was just bad things happening and the same actions causing more bad things to happen. I was expecting much more than what I got from this
Hmm. I spent the first 40% being confused, but still intrigued. I spent the last 60% also confused, but utterly bored.
Nothing is explained here. Nobody knows why things are the way they are. It’s just how it is. I found Hyacinth to be really unlikeable. She made poor choices, and other people were killed for it. And then she continued to make bad choices. There was no character development. It was just bad things happening and the same actions causing more bad things to happen. I was expecting much more than what I got from this
May 6, 2025
Happy Release Day! Thank you to Netgalley and L.V. Russell for the opportunity to read this and to leave an honest review.
I loved the atmosphere of this story and how dark the premise was with the cult like behaviours of the villages. The first half captured my interest quickly and I was deeply invested in the lore and its impact on the life of the villagers.
Unfortunately, for me, I felt like the second half lacked further detail in the conclusions to make the story feel complete and well rounded. I feel like this could have been achieved with the book being longer; giving space for some deeper developed plot points and relationships. I didn’t truly feel connected to Hyacinth and Morgan, nor did I fully grasp Hyacinth’s distaste towards Miss Yarrow. Even the plot twist regarding Sorrell and Miss Yarrow didn’t seem developed enough. Also, there was a big plot hole regarding her dog Faolan. When the Boatmen were out trying to appease the Deep, Faolan was with Hyacinth when Miss Yarrow came to collect her from her house to bring her to safety from the storm. However, when the Boatmen returned, Hyacinth was upset that Morgan left Faolan at his house during the storm, which led to the dog’s rescue and turning point of the village Elders against Hyacinth.
Though I loved the dark, gothic vibes of the story; overall, The Bone Drenched Woods needed more detail and explanations regarding the lore and the conclusion.
I loved the atmosphere of this story and how dark the premise was with the cult like behaviours of the villages. The first half captured my interest quickly and I was deeply invested in the lore and its impact on the life of the villagers.
Unfortunately, for me, I felt like the second half lacked further detail in the conclusions to make the story feel complete and well rounded. I feel like this could have been achieved with the book being longer; giving space for some deeper developed plot points and relationships. I didn’t truly feel connected to Hyacinth and Morgan, nor did I fully grasp Hyacinth’s distaste towards Miss Yarrow. Even the plot twist regarding Sorrell and Miss Yarrow didn’t seem developed enough. Also, there was a big plot hole regarding her dog Faolan. When the Boatmen were out trying to appease the Deep, Faolan was with Hyacinth when Miss Yarrow came to collect her from her house to bring her to safety from the storm. However, when the Boatmen returned, Hyacinth was upset that Morgan left Faolan at his house during the storm, which led to the dog’s rescue and turning point of the village Elders against Hyacinth.
Though I loved the dark, gothic vibes of the story; overall, The Bone Drenched Woods needed more detail and explanations regarding the lore and the conclusion.
February 15, 2025
I received an ARC copy of this book and am leaving a review voluntarily.
All of Russell’s books have this dark, gothic charm to them but this one really embodies everything to love about the dark fantasy genre. The cover is easily one of my favorites and catches the eyes immediately.
One of the descriptions used for this book is a comparison to “The VVitch” and what a pitch perfect one it is. The book feels old, filled with blood, bones and old secrets. There’s the scent of old magic and older knowledge that permeates every page.
And at the heart of our story is Hyacinth who you are fully behind as she struggles to find her place in a world insistent on pushing square pegs into round holes. As she has to escape a cultist mindset and decide if the bone drenched woods might actually be safer than her own home.
Cause where is home for someone that’s different like her?
Full of macabre imagery, a dark magic system and driven by a lead full of fire, you definitely want this one in your shelf to read again and again
All of Russell’s books have this dark, gothic charm to them but this one really embodies everything to love about the dark fantasy genre. The cover is easily one of my favorites and catches the eyes immediately.
One of the descriptions used for this book is a comparison to “The VVitch” and what a pitch perfect one it is. The book feels old, filled with blood, bones and old secrets. There’s the scent of old magic and older knowledge that permeates every page.
And at the heart of our story is Hyacinth who you are fully behind as she struggles to find her place in a world insistent on pushing square pegs into round holes. As she has to escape a cultist mindset and decide if the bone drenched woods might actually be safer than her own home.
Cause where is home for someone that’s different like her?
Full of macabre imagery, a dark magic system and driven by a lead full of fire, you definitely want this one in your shelf to read again and again
June 1, 2025
4 ✰
The trees are watching you… and they’re hungry.
This book is undeniably atmospheric. From the very first pages, you’re plunged into an oppressive and disorienting folk horror setting, with dark forests and hidden presences lurking in the shadows. On top of that, the story unfolds in a village ruled by strict laws, rituals, sacrifices, fear, and control, where doubt simply isn’t allowed.
The worldbuilding isn’t particularly deep. It serves more as a backdrop than a fully fleshed-out universe but the atmosphere is so strong that it completely takes over. You’re swept along without needing to understand everything. And honestly, for a short book of just over 200 pages, I wasn’t expecting more in terms of complexity.
When it comes to plot, there’s not a lot of action or twists. But again, the atmosphere does all the heavy lifting. The book builds a strong sense of danger and tension that fully pulled me in!
The characters also match the tone of the book — cold and distant. I didn’t feel particularly attached to any of them, but the main character, Hyacinth, did surprise me. She’s a young woman who refuses to live by the rules others impose. What she wants is to truly live — or, in the worst case, to choose her own death. She’s full of defiance and rage in a world that wants her silent and obedient.
The writing created a completely immersive experience. I’ll definitely be checking out more of this author’s work if she continues to craft such haunting and atmospheric worlds.
─── ⋆⋅༄⋅⋆ ───
• Folk Horror
• Forest as an entity
• Rituals
• Sacrifices
• Feminism
• Female rage
• Freedom
જ⁀➴ Thanks to the author and NetGalley for this eARC <33
The trees are watching you… and they’re hungry.
This book is undeniably atmospheric. From the very first pages, you’re plunged into an oppressive and disorienting folk horror setting, with dark forests and hidden presences lurking in the shadows. On top of that, the story unfolds in a village ruled by strict laws, rituals, sacrifices, fear, and control, where doubt simply isn’t allowed.
The worldbuilding isn’t particularly deep. It serves more as a backdrop than a fully fleshed-out universe but the atmosphere is so strong that it completely takes over. You’re swept along without needing to understand everything. And honestly, for a short book of just over 200 pages, I wasn’t expecting more in terms of complexity.
When it comes to plot, there’s not a lot of action or twists. But again, the atmosphere does all the heavy lifting. The book builds a strong sense of danger and tension that fully pulled me in!
The characters also match the tone of the book — cold and distant. I didn’t feel particularly attached to any of them, but the main character, Hyacinth, did surprise me. She’s a young woman who refuses to live by the rules others impose. What she wants is to truly live — or, in the worst case, to choose her own death. She’s full of defiance and rage in a world that wants her silent and obedient.
The writing created a completely immersive experience. I’ll definitely be checking out more of this author’s work if she continues to craft such haunting and atmospheric worlds.
─── ⋆⋅༄⋅⋆ ───
• Folk Horror
• Forest as an entity
• Rituals
• Sacrifices
• Feminism
• Female rage
• Freedom
જ⁀➴ Thanks to the author and NetGalley for this eARC <33
April 10, 2025
⭐️ 4.5
This is a dark, brutal fairy tale with just the right ratio of unknowable magic and sacrificial gore. If you're a fan of Slewfoot: A Tale of Bewitchery by Brom, the movie The Witch, or just crave stories about wicked forests and witches, you'll love this short book. The writing is lush and immersive and so fast paced. Once I started, I just couldn't stop until I'd devoured the whole thing. I'll be thinking about this story for a long time. Would recommend and buy for myself.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is a dark, brutal fairy tale with just the right ratio of unknowable magic and sacrificial gore. If you're a fan of Slewfoot: A Tale of Bewitchery by Brom, the movie The Witch, or just crave stories about wicked forests and witches, you'll love this short book. The writing is lush and immersive and so fast paced. Once I started, I just couldn't stop until I'd devoured the whole thing. I'll be thinking about this story for a long time. Would recommend and buy for myself.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 10, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley, L.V Russell and Quill and Crow publishing for allowing me to read this ARC.
I have never read a folk/gothic horror before but I absolutely adored this and read it so quickly
Hyacinth, the rebellious FMC completely stole my heart with her determination to question everything and stay true to herself.
LOVED EVERY SECOND.
I have never read a folk/gothic horror before but I absolutely adored this and read it so quickly
Hyacinth, the rebellious FMC completely stole my heart with her determination to question everything and stay true to herself.
LOVED EVERY SECOND.
May 1, 2025
hyacinth, you are an IT girl to me.
this was eerie, unnerving, and SO good. i was hooked from the first page.
there’s nothing i love more than stories about creepy cult-like villages and strange entities in the woods, it gave the witch vibes (which is one of my favorite movies), but with its own beautifully haunting way. the writing is so poetic and atmospheric, i felt like i was right there with hyacinth the entire time. only wish it had been a little longer just so i could get even more into the strangeness of this world but i really loved this from start to finish.
i haven’t read much folk horror before, but it’s very much my thing now and i will 100% be tuning into this author’s work in the future.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.
this was eerie, unnerving, and SO good. i was hooked from the first page.
there’s nothing i love more than stories about creepy cult-like villages and strange entities in the woods, it gave the witch vibes (which is one of my favorite movies), but with its own beautifully haunting way. the writing is so poetic and atmospheric, i felt like i was right there with hyacinth the entire time. only wish it had been a little longer just so i could get even more into the strangeness of this world but i really loved this from start to finish.
i haven’t read much folk horror before, but it’s very much my thing now and i will 100% be tuning into this author’s work in the future.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.
May 6, 2025
Belladonna meets a cult...but this isn't horror. This is dark fantasy.
While there are some aspects of this story that are a little grim and grizzly, it definitely reads more like a dark folk tale than anything else. Full of rituals, superstitions, forced marriage and hungry creatures. Yeah it's a good story but not what I signed up for.
While there are some aspects of this story that are a little grim and grizzly, it definitely reads more like a dark folk tale than anything else. Full of rituals, superstitions, forced marriage and hungry creatures. Yeah it's a good story but not what I signed up for.
April 13, 2025
4.5 stars!! WOOOW was i awed by this book! from the very first page i was sucked in by the descriptive writing and the dark, dreary atmosphere. i haven’t read much folk horror before but this was absolutely what ive been looking for in my horror reads! i would 100% read more from this author in the future.
*thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review*
*thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review*
February 24, 2025
You shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but sometimes a book just seizes you by the laps with its cover and refuses to let go. That was absolutely the case with The Bone-Drenched Woods, because the cover is absolutely stunning and as soon as I saw it, I knew that I needed this book – and I am counting down until I can nab a physical copy.
I wasn’t prepared for just how this book would consume me, and even as I get to writing this review a few weeks later, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it. I think part of the reason why this book was so consuming, is that Russell has dived into the very human fear of the unknown, of stepping across that boundary and border, whether a physical one, an emotional one of a societal one, unless the path is mapped out. How many of us have had that moment of being in the woods, and hearing movement in the depths and having that shiver at the back of your neck? Or stared out at the ocean late at night and wonder what lurked in its depths? That fear is tapped into here, and I think the fact that it is so grounded in nature, and in human lives, is why it slips in so deep, like a knife slipping between the bones.
In the same way that fear sparked familiarity, and understanding, even in the face of the fantastical elements; the way that society had developed in response to that fear was something that resonated. Russell capturing both historical influences, but also the human desire to stamp control and rules over the wilderness and uncertainty that lay beyond the threat of that fear.
‘They were all witches, the wicked women, the women who looked beyond the lantern glow of the doorways, beyond the dangling bones.’
Safety in the known, the idea of home, and village and a shared burden as a shield against the unknown. The idea that anyone who looked beyond or dared to step beyond those carefully established paths and rules, was a threat or a wicked accomplice to the Trees or the Deep. The Bone-Drenched Woods calls upon the idea and tradition of witch hunts, on the othering of those different, and almost laughs in its face – we see the cost to those caught in the crosshairs of those beliefs, we see the bargaining, the sacrifices – and we see that that ultimately those actions are futile, because the threat and the fear and the hunger are both external and internal threats. Humans themselves are in so many ways, the same as the threats they try to defend themselves against.
‘This world is too full of fear and hunger. We consume ourselves, we starve ourselves, and the world continues to turn and feed.’
The worldbuilding is spectacular and yet in many ways breathtakingly simple, and when I wasn’t wrapped up in the atmosphere that permeates every inch of this book, I was marvelling at how Russell had built up this world around that fear. When I say simple, I don’t mean there weren’t layers, but it was almost laser focused and nuclear, because that was what this world had become in the face of that unknown. The villages were islands, and therefore so was the worldbuilding, but within that scope Russell has developed such individuality for both villages that are central to the story, shaped by the location, by different threats, different hierarchies that were mirrors but different. The way bones are interwoven into everything both as protection, tradition but also threat was a creepy delight to read; and I loved that the horror of the bones was often human-centric, through ritual and choice, and condemnation.
I also liked the threads we got of how people moved on to different villages, through safe paths. It was subtle, adding both to the threat of the woods, but also building up the impression of a wider world beyond this nuclear existence that we follow in the Bone-Drenched Woods. It was easy to imagine almost a spider-web of villages spread out across a much wider landscape, held together by tenuous threads, but each connection its own island and castle against the threat. And after seeing the difference between the villages, it was so easy to imagine the subtle differences that would exist across all of them, adding an extra depth to the worldbuilding.
Character wise, I absolutely adored Hyacinth. This is a girl turned woman, absolutely shaped by the world she’s grown up in, with the traditions and expectations, the weight a family where some children have left and more remain, and all eyes are on you. When she first pushes the boundaries it’s so understandable that you cheer for her and want to go on this adventure; and Russell plays with that to devastating effect. The fallout of that, and the events that unfold, could destroy a person – instead we see Hyacinth bloom, as stubborn as the flower on the rockface exposed to the worst of the elements. Hyacinth is a complicated mess of grief and loss, stubbornness and independence, and willing to speak up and act in a way that goes against expectations, even with a noose hanging above her neck. Her interactions with her husband were some of my favourites, Russell encapsulating a relationship where both parties are being held to the knife and the barbs had me laughing and wincing, but the tension and threat, but also the equilibrium when it was needed was absolutely stellar writing.
While there were certainly direct antagonists, usually the men who had risen to be Elders and were the rods that kept everyone on the agreed path or else brought punishment down on their heads. And of course, what lurked in the shadows of the forest and depths of the ocean, which were an ever-present menace that permeated every inch of this book. The main enemy here was more insidious, so that in many ways every character including Hyacinth herself was an antagonist. Against one another, because fear makes an uneasy bedfellow and unity in the face of fear can be fragile. Against the unknown. Against humanity itself – as we see when Hyacinth risks punishment for the simple act of daring to go and check on people.
Mistress Yarrow was a character I found fascinating, because in some ways she was a more subtle mirror to Hyacinth. The push and pull between them, and Sorrell, was woven into the story in such a way that by the time it builds to a crescendo it catches you off guard. I also like the aspect that these two women who dare, who push back against expectations, one more overtly than the other to be sure, are almost the most honest characters, even though they weave lies to live. And also in a way, they are the ones who truly live – yes with a risk of death a hairbreadth a way, but when you compare them to the other characters bound into the way of life, it’s almost like they have stepped beyond an illusion.
Sorrell and Morgan were almost foils to these two women. Sorrell actually grew on me, in the shadow cast by Hyacinth and the light cast by Mistress Yarrow; whereas Morgan was someone who I ended up disliking more by the end. But these men had found ways to be themselves as much as they could within the restraints of society, both scarred and marred by the expectations of society and their own actions disappointing those expectations. But again, there is feeling that life itself was constrained, and that they were consumed by the world because they couldn’t break free.
I did find that the ending itself felt a little rushed, and as though there was half a step missing between what happened at sea and the ending. In some ways it was fitting as it felt like Hyacinth had been tossed on the currents of fate from the very beginning, and the ending was a final coming home; but it did take me a little out of the story at the very end. However, what I did like about the end, was that it felt very much like a beginning, like a new path opening up because of the journey that had happened before, and it felt like a promise being kept, as though this was what we had been waiting for alongside Hyacinth.
The Bone-Drenched Woods is an intensely atmospheric read, that showcases a masterful understanding of human fears and how they manifest both individually, but through interactions with others, until the line of the original fear is entirely blurred. The folk horror elements were deliciously described, and this was a book that creeps under your skin, until you want to either clutch bones against the unknown or run off under the trees; and has a main character who absolutely captured my heart.
I wasn’t prepared for just how this book would consume me, and even as I get to writing this review a few weeks later, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it. I think part of the reason why this book was so consuming, is that Russell has dived into the very human fear of the unknown, of stepping across that boundary and border, whether a physical one, an emotional one of a societal one, unless the path is mapped out. How many of us have had that moment of being in the woods, and hearing movement in the depths and having that shiver at the back of your neck? Or stared out at the ocean late at night and wonder what lurked in its depths? That fear is tapped into here, and I think the fact that it is so grounded in nature, and in human lives, is why it slips in so deep, like a knife slipping between the bones.
In the same way that fear sparked familiarity, and understanding, even in the face of the fantastical elements; the way that society had developed in response to that fear was something that resonated. Russell capturing both historical influences, but also the human desire to stamp control and rules over the wilderness and uncertainty that lay beyond the threat of that fear.
‘They were all witches, the wicked women, the women who looked beyond the lantern glow of the doorways, beyond the dangling bones.’
Safety in the known, the idea of home, and village and a shared burden as a shield against the unknown. The idea that anyone who looked beyond or dared to step beyond those carefully established paths and rules, was a threat or a wicked accomplice to the Trees or the Deep. The Bone-Drenched Woods calls upon the idea and tradition of witch hunts, on the othering of those different, and almost laughs in its face – we see the cost to those caught in the crosshairs of those beliefs, we see the bargaining, the sacrifices – and we see that that ultimately those actions are futile, because the threat and the fear and the hunger are both external and internal threats. Humans themselves are in so many ways, the same as the threats they try to defend themselves against.
‘This world is too full of fear and hunger. We consume ourselves, we starve ourselves, and the world continues to turn and feed.’
The worldbuilding is spectacular and yet in many ways breathtakingly simple, and when I wasn’t wrapped up in the atmosphere that permeates every inch of this book, I was marvelling at how Russell had built up this world around that fear. When I say simple, I don’t mean there weren’t layers, but it was almost laser focused and nuclear, because that was what this world had become in the face of that unknown. The villages were islands, and therefore so was the worldbuilding, but within that scope Russell has developed such individuality for both villages that are central to the story, shaped by the location, by different threats, different hierarchies that were mirrors but different. The way bones are interwoven into everything both as protection, tradition but also threat was a creepy delight to read; and I loved that the horror of the bones was often human-centric, through ritual and choice, and condemnation.
I also liked the threads we got of how people moved on to different villages, through safe paths. It was subtle, adding both to the threat of the woods, but also building up the impression of a wider world beyond this nuclear existence that we follow in the Bone-Drenched Woods. It was easy to imagine almost a spider-web of villages spread out across a much wider landscape, held together by tenuous threads, but each connection its own island and castle against the threat. And after seeing the difference between the villages, it was so easy to imagine the subtle differences that would exist across all of them, adding an extra depth to the worldbuilding.
Character wise, I absolutely adored Hyacinth. This is a girl turned woman, absolutely shaped by the world she’s grown up in, with the traditions and expectations, the weight a family where some children have left and more remain, and all eyes are on you. When she first pushes the boundaries it’s so understandable that you cheer for her and want to go on this adventure; and Russell plays with that to devastating effect. The fallout of that, and the events that unfold, could destroy a person – instead we see Hyacinth bloom, as stubborn as the flower on the rockface exposed to the worst of the elements. Hyacinth is a complicated mess of grief and loss, stubbornness and independence, and willing to speak up and act in a way that goes against expectations, even with a noose hanging above her neck. Her interactions with her husband were some of my favourites, Russell encapsulating a relationship where both parties are being held to the knife and the barbs had me laughing and wincing, but the tension and threat, but also the equilibrium when it was needed was absolutely stellar writing.
While there were certainly direct antagonists, usually the men who had risen to be Elders and were the rods that kept everyone on the agreed path or else brought punishment down on their heads. And of course, what lurked in the shadows of the forest and depths of the ocean, which were an ever-present menace that permeated every inch of this book. The main enemy here was more insidious, so that in many ways every character including Hyacinth herself was an antagonist. Against one another, because fear makes an uneasy bedfellow and unity in the face of fear can be fragile. Against the unknown. Against humanity itself – as we see when Hyacinth risks punishment for the simple act of daring to go and check on people.
Mistress Yarrow was a character I found fascinating, because in some ways she was a more subtle mirror to Hyacinth. The push and pull between them, and Sorrell, was woven into the story in such a way that by the time it builds to a crescendo it catches you off guard. I also like the aspect that these two women who dare, who push back against expectations, one more overtly than the other to be sure, are almost the most honest characters, even though they weave lies to live. And also in a way, they are the ones who truly live – yes with a risk of death a hairbreadth a way, but when you compare them to the other characters bound into the way of life, it’s almost like they have stepped beyond an illusion.
Sorrell and Morgan were almost foils to these two women. Sorrell actually grew on me, in the shadow cast by Hyacinth and the light cast by Mistress Yarrow; whereas Morgan was someone who I ended up disliking more by the end. But these men had found ways to be themselves as much as they could within the restraints of society, both scarred and marred by the expectations of society and their own actions disappointing those expectations. But again, there is feeling that life itself was constrained, and that they were consumed by the world because they couldn’t break free.
I did find that the ending itself felt a little rushed, and as though there was half a step missing between what happened at sea and the ending. In some ways it was fitting as it felt like Hyacinth had been tossed on the currents of fate from the very beginning, and the ending was a final coming home; but it did take me a little out of the story at the very end. However, what I did like about the end, was that it felt very much like a beginning, like a new path opening up because of the journey that had happened before, and it felt like a promise being kept, as though this was what we had been waiting for alongside Hyacinth.
The Bone-Drenched Woods is an intensely atmospheric read, that showcases a masterful understanding of human fears and how they manifest both individually, but through interactions with others, until the line of the original fear is entirely blurred. The folk horror elements were deliciously described, and this was a book that creeps under your skin, until you want to either clutch bones against the unknown or run off under the trees; and has a main character who absolutely captured my heart.
June 9, 2025
Thank you to Quill & Crow Publishing House, NetGalley & L.V. Russell for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: 5 stars.
Genre(s): horror.
Overall impression: a dark, bleak and gory horror novel with incredible world-building and beautifully lyrical writing. It felt like I was there with the characters, covered in a layer of dirt and blood, watching the horrors of folk legend and sacrificial rituals unfold.
Tropes:
➵ Defiant FMC
➵ Animal companion
➵ Forced marriage
➵ Flawed characters
➵ Female rage
➵ Witch hunt
➵ Whispering villagers
➵ Masked men
➵ Rituals & human sacrifice
➵ Something is in the woods
➵ Sense of dread
➵ No one is safe
➵ Gods & Goddesses
➵ Botanical horror
➵ Isolated village
➵ Secrets & betrayal
➵ Everyone is a sinner
➵ Not everyone survives
➵ No happy ending
⤷ Plot:
The storyline was fairly mundane - following the early days of Hyacinth's forced marriage, exile, and attempt at survival in a small isolated village. She had to navigate her new life and learn to adjust to the whims of the Teeth and the Deep. Despite the simplicity of the overarching plot, the novel was packed with folklore, rituals, sacrifices and gore, which kept me fascinated until the end.
⤷ Characters:
Hyacinth was a very strong FMC that dared to question the oppressive patriarchy in her small village. She rebelled against the brutality of the elders, which had innocent people maimed and slaughtered to appease ancient gods. Whilst she didn't save the world, she took control of her own life and encouraged other women to do the same. In that, she had some character development but not much.
The villagers demonstrated the dark side of human nature. They were sinners to their core and were quick to blame their neighbours for their misfortunes, resulting in witch hunts and murder. A couple of them had some character development and were swayed by Hyacinth but most went through their life only knowing misery and fear of the unknown.
⤷ World-building:
The world-building was so in depth, it felt like I was in the forest experiencing the horrors with the characters. I'm glad I wasn't there IRL because I definitely wouldn't have survived long in such a cold, damp and unforgiving place. The whole village felt creepy and there was a sense of foreboding lingering throughout the entire novel. It kept me positively hooked because I wanted to know if any of the characters made it out alive. I liked that the Teeth and the Deep weren't described in as much detail as the rest of the world. Instead they were these grotesque shadow/animal hybrid creatures that took sinners from their beds in the night. It made my imagination go wild!
⤷ Writing:
The descriptions were all so lyrical and beautiful, which contrasted strongly with the dark content of the story. It wasn't too descriptive to the point that it slowed the reader down, which is good because I was on the edge of my seat wanting to know what was going to happen next and binged the book in a couple of days. I would definitely read more of L.V. Russell's work in the future because she did such an amazing job at crafting a beautifully dark and gruesome horror novel, unlike anything I've read before.
Statistics:
➵ Date read: 17/05/2025-18/05/2025 (2 days).
➵ Page count: 232.
➵ Type: e-book.
➵ Volume: standalone.
➵ Special: NetGalley ARC.
Social Media Links:
Instagram | TikTok | Threads
Follow for reviews, unboxings and book aesthetic videos.
Rating: 5 stars.
Genre(s): horror.
Overall impression: a dark, bleak and gory horror novel with incredible world-building and beautifully lyrical writing. It felt like I was there with the characters, covered in a layer of dirt and blood, watching the horrors of folk legend and sacrificial rituals unfold.
Tropes:
➵ Defiant FMC
➵ Animal companion
➵ Forced marriage
➵ Flawed characters
➵ Female rage
➵ Witch hunt
➵ Whispering villagers
➵ Masked men
➵ Rituals & human sacrifice
➵ Something is in the woods
➵ Sense of dread
➵ No one is safe
➵ Gods & Goddesses
➵ Botanical horror
➵ Isolated village
➵ Secrets & betrayal
➵ Everyone is a sinner
➵ Not everyone survives
➵ No happy ending
⤷ Plot:
The storyline was fairly mundane - following the early days of Hyacinth's forced marriage, exile, and attempt at survival in a small isolated village. She had to navigate her new life and learn to adjust to the whims of the Teeth and the Deep. Despite the simplicity of the overarching plot, the novel was packed with folklore, rituals, sacrifices and gore, which kept me fascinated until the end.
⤷ Characters:
Hyacinth was a very strong FMC that dared to question the oppressive patriarchy in her small village. She rebelled against the brutality of the elders, which had innocent people maimed and slaughtered to appease ancient gods. Whilst she didn't save the world, she took control of her own life and encouraged other women to do the same. In that, she had some character development but not much.
The villagers demonstrated the dark side of human nature. They were sinners to their core and were quick to blame their neighbours for their misfortunes, resulting in witch hunts and murder. A couple of them had some character development and were swayed by Hyacinth but most went through their life only knowing misery and fear of the unknown.
⤷ World-building:
The world-building was so in depth, it felt like I was in the forest experiencing the horrors with the characters. I'm glad I wasn't there IRL because I definitely wouldn't have survived long in such a cold, damp and unforgiving place. The whole village felt creepy and there was a sense of foreboding lingering throughout the entire novel. It kept me positively hooked because I wanted to know if any of the characters made it out alive. I liked that the Teeth and the Deep weren't described in as much detail as the rest of the world. Instead they were these grotesque shadow/animal hybrid creatures that took sinners from their beds in the night. It made my imagination go wild!
⤷ Writing:
The descriptions were all so lyrical and beautiful, which contrasted strongly with the dark content of the story. It wasn't too descriptive to the point that it slowed the reader down, which is good because I was on the edge of my seat wanting to know what was going to happen next and binged the book in a couple of days. I would definitely read more of L.V. Russell's work in the future because she did such an amazing job at crafting a beautifully dark and gruesome horror novel, unlike anything I've read before.
Statistics:
➵ Date read: 17/05/2025-18/05/2025 (2 days).
➵ Page count: 232.
➵ Type: e-book.
➵ Volume: standalone.
➵ Special: NetGalley ARC.
Social Media Links:
Instagram | TikTok | Threads
Follow for reviews, unboxings and book aesthetic videos.
August 3, 2025
Thank you so much to Quill & Crow Publishing House for the earc, all opinions are my own.
I would categorize this in my mind as a cult horror book. Hyacinth lives in a small village surrounded by the forest, she lives with her mother, father, and 3 sisters. As you are old enough to wed, you move onto the next village to expand your family line into the surrounding areas. Innocent enough.. except the trees have teeth. Hyacinth's father is a Woodsmen, a member of the village that goes into the forest to offer sacrifices and clear the pathways. One night, Hyacinth and her friend go into the forest, when she finds herself surrounded by her father.. and her friend dead. It is found out that she broke the rules of the village Elders, her father is hung as a sacrifice, and an example, and Hyacinth is married to a dirty Elder and shipped off to the next village.
They arrive as a newly married couple, through the forest, and reach the cliffs, where the deep waits. Horrors on all sides, between the forest and the sea. She seems to find her community here, making friends with the other elder's wives, and generally being a good villager. Except trouble continues to follow her.
Extremely dark and gory, I slowed down and savored this book. The visuals that L.V. Russell wrote were so detailed. The women in this book seem to be in the back seat, but they are calling the shots all along.
I would categorize this in my mind as a cult horror book. Hyacinth lives in a small village surrounded by the forest, she lives with her mother, father, and 3 sisters. As you are old enough to wed, you move onto the next village to expand your family line into the surrounding areas. Innocent enough.. except the trees have teeth. Hyacinth's father is a Woodsmen, a member of the village that goes into the forest to offer sacrifices and clear the pathways. One night, Hyacinth and her friend go into the forest, when she finds herself surrounded by her father.. and her friend dead. It is found out that she broke the rules of the village Elders, her father is hung as a sacrifice, and an example, and Hyacinth is married to a dirty Elder and shipped off to the next village.
They arrive as a newly married couple, through the forest, and reach the cliffs, where the deep waits. Horrors on all sides, between the forest and the sea. She seems to find her community here, making friends with the other elder's wives, and generally being a good villager. Except trouble continues to follow her.
Extremely dark and gory, I slowed down and savored this book. The visuals that L.V. Russell wrote were so detailed. The women in this book seem to be in the back seat, but they are calling the shots all along.
May 22, 2025
Got this arc for review on Netgally.
Dark, short and atmospheric. It's a story that dosent give a lot of answers or explanations, yet pack punches and make you feel. I rarely read a book that feels so atmospheric. Felt like an cold gloomy autumn day even if it was a light spring day.
Dark, short and atmospheric. It's a story that dosent give a lot of answers or explanations, yet pack punches and make you feel. I rarely read a book that feels so atmospheric. Felt like an cold gloomy autumn day even if it was a light spring day.
December 4, 2025
This was a fantastic book. It had a horror cottagecore vibe, but was ACTUAL horror - ambience, monsters, fear, everything. The vibes were immaculate, the writing was evocative & so descriptive, and the characters... holy moly the characters.... they were so real, so raw, so good. They each embodied something different, they were their own archetype, and they all fit together just so well. The atmosphere was really well done - it wasn't a traditional horror story, but it was scary & dark nonetheless, and I really enjoyed every moment of it.
I already want to reread it, and I want to read everything this author has ever written. This was a great book to read this year, and I'm so glad I got my hands on a copy of it!
This was sent to me as an ARC.
I already want to reread it, and I want to read everything this author has ever written. This was a great book to read this year, and I'm so glad I got my hands on a copy of it!
This was sent to me as an ARC.
May 30, 2025
🖤 Feminine rage
💀 Folk Horror + Cult Vibe
🖤 Dark & Haunting
💀 Yearning
🖤 Beautiful Prose
~
I would say that this is not a very plot-forward story... it's more of a slow dismantling of our protagonist and her wicked surroundings.
I enjoyed it so much.
Hyacinth lives in a blood-drenched world. If you aren't claimed by the teeth (which are giving a little bit of eldritch abomination + deity), you could be burned for being a witch, hung for breaking the village rules created by bloodthirsty elders or left to fester as sacrificial food, for the birds and the teeth. But that's alright. Human bones are collected and carved to keep the terrors away.
This story is very eerie and unsettling throughout. You can't help but root for Hyacinth despite the blood-soaked world she calls home. The world-building + setting is purposefully ambiguous because it's more about how we can succumb to wickedness through fear than it is about getting from point A to point B. Is there a moral high ground when both sides are wicked? Is it really wicked to punish those who offer their neighbours on a silver platter for sins created and outlined by men? The writing is stunning. The story is very quotable, and I found myself frequently highlighting passages that resonated with me.
If you're looking for a concrete story with a clear beginning, middle, and end, this might not be the right choice. But if you want to lose yourself in the horrors and a little bit of ambiguity, I think this is a wonderful choice. It's dark and gruesome, but also oddly... lovely.
Carve the bones.
𝓣𝓱𝓪𝓷𝓴 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓽𝓸 𝓝𝓮𝓽𝓰𝓪𝓵𝓵𝓮𝔂 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓠𝓾𝓲𝓵𝓵 & 𝓒𝓻𝓸𝔀 𝓟𝓾𝓫𝓵𝓲𝓼𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓗𝓸𝓾𝓼𝓮 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓐𝓡𝓒 𝓸𝓯 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝓫𝓸𝓸𝓴. 𝓐𝓵𝓵 𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓯𝓮𝓮𝓭𝓫𝓪𝓬𝓴 𝓬𝓸𝓷𝓽𝓪𝓲𝓷𝓮𝓭 𝔀𝓲𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝓻𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀 𝓪𝓻𝓮 𝓶𝔂 𝓸𝔀𝓷.
~
Quotes:
"𝓓𝓸𝓷'𝓽 𝓫𝓮 𝓯𝓸𝓸𝓵𝓲𝓼𝓱, 𝓸𝓻 𝔀𝓲𝓬𝓴𝓮𝓭, 𝓸𝓻 𝓵𝓸𝓾𝓭. 𝓓𝓸𝓷'𝓽 𝓫𝓮 𝓫𝓻𝓪𝔃𝓮𝓷 𝔀𝓲𝓵𝓭 𝓱𝓸𝓹𝓮𝓯𝓾𝓵, 𝓱𝓾𝓷𝓰𝓻𝔂. 𝓑𝓮 𝓹𝓻𝓮𝓽𝓽𝔂, 𝓫𝓮 𝓺𝓾𝓲𝓮𝓽, 𝓫𝓮 𝓰𝓸𝓸𝓭. 𝓞𝓫𝓮𝓭𝓲𝓮𝓷𝓽."
"𝓣𝓱𝓮𝔂 𝔀𝓮𝓻𝓮 𝓪𝓵𝓵 𝔀𝓲𝓽𝓬𝓱𝓮𝓼, 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝔀𝓲𝓬𝓴𝓮𝓭 𝔀𝓸𝓶𝓮𝓷, 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝔀𝓸𝓶𝓮𝓷 𝔀𝓱𝓸 𝓵𝓸𝓸𝓴𝓮𝓭 𝓫𝓮𝔂𝓸𝓷𝓭 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓵𝓪𝓷𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓷 𝓰𝓵𝓸𝔀 𝓸𝓯 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓭𝓸𝓸𝓻𝔀𝓪𝔂, 𝓫𝓮𝔂𝓸𝓷𝓭 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓭𝓪𝓷𝓰𝓵𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓫𝓸𝓷𝓮𝓼. 𝓦𝓲𝓽𝓬𝓱𝓮𝓼 𝓫𝓮𝓬𝓪𝓾𝓼𝓮 𝓼𝓸𝓶𝓮𝓸𝓷𝓮 𝓼𝓪𝓲𝓭 𝓼𝓸."
💀 Folk Horror + Cult Vibe
🖤 Dark & Haunting
💀 Yearning
🖤 Beautiful Prose
~
I would say that this is not a very plot-forward story... it's more of a slow dismantling of our protagonist and her wicked surroundings.
I enjoyed it so much.
Hyacinth lives in a blood-drenched world. If you aren't claimed by the teeth (which are giving a little bit of eldritch abomination + deity), you could be burned for being a witch, hung for breaking the village rules created by bloodthirsty elders or left to fester as sacrificial food, for the birds and the teeth. But that's alright. Human bones are collected and carved to keep the terrors away.
This story is very eerie and unsettling throughout. You can't help but root for Hyacinth despite the blood-soaked world she calls home. The world-building + setting is purposefully ambiguous because it's more about how we can succumb to wickedness through fear than it is about getting from point A to point B. Is there a moral high ground when both sides are wicked? Is it really wicked to punish those who offer their neighbours on a silver platter for sins created and outlined by men? The writing is stunning. The story is very quotable, and I found myself frequently highlighting passages that resonated with me.
If you're looking for a concrete story with a clear beginning, middle, and end, this might not be the right choice. But if you want to lose yourself in the horrors and a little bit of ambiguity, I think this is a wonderful choice. It's dark and gruesome, but also oddly... lovely.
Carve the bones.
𝓣𝓱𝓪𝓷𝓴 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓽𝓸 𝓝𝓮𝓽𝓰𝓪𝓵𝓵𝓮𝔂 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓠𝓾𝓲𝓵𝓵 & 𝓒𝓻𝓸𝔀 𝓟𝓾𝓫𝓵𝓲𝓼𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓗𝓸𝓾𝓼𝓮 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓐𝓡𝓒 𝓸𝓯 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝓫𝓸𝓸𝓴. 𝓐𝓵𝓵 𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓯𝓮𝓮𝓭𝓫𝓪𝓬𝓴 𝓬𝓸𝓷𝓽𝓪𝓲𝓷𝓮𝓭 𝔀𝓲𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝓻𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀 𝓪𝓻𝓮 𝓶𝔂 𝓸𝔀𝓷.
~
Quotes:
"𝓓𝓸𝓷'𝓽 𝓫𝓮 𝓯𝓸𝓸𝓵𝓲𝓼𝓱, 𝓸𝓻 𝔀𝓲𝓬𝓴𝓮𝓭, 𝓸𝓻 𝓵𝓸𝓾𝓭. 𝓓𝓸𝓷'𝓽 𝓫𝓮 𝓫𝓻𝓪𝔃𝓮𝓷 𝔀𝓲𝓵𝓭 𝓱𝓸𝓹𝓮𝓯𝓾𝓵, 𝓱𝓾𝓷𝓰𝓻𝔂. 𝓑𝓮 𝓹𝓻𝓮𝓽𝓽𝔂, 𝓫𝓮 𝓺𝓾𝓲𝓮𝓽, 𝓫𝓮 𝓰𝓸𝓸𝓭. 𝓞𝓫𝓮𝓭𝓲𝓮𝓷𝓽."
"𝓣𝓱𝓮𝔂 𝔀𝓮𝓻𝓮 𝓪𝓵𝓵 𝔀𝓲𝓽𝓬𝓱𝓮𝓼, 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝔀𝓲𝓬𝓴𝓮𝓭 𝔀𝓸𝓶𝓮𝓷, 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝔀𝓸𝓶𝓮𝓷 𝔀𝓱𝓸 𝓵𝓸𝓸𝓴𝓮𝓭 𝓫𝓮𝔂𝓸𝓷𝓭 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓵𝓪𝓷𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓷 𝓰𝓵𝓸𝔀 𝓸𝓯 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓭𝓸𝓸𝓻𝔀𝓪𝔂, 𝓫𝓮𝔂𝓸𝓷𝓭 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓭𝓪𝓷𝓰𝓵𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓫𝓸𝓷𝓮𝓼. 𝓦𝓲𝓽𝓬𝓱𝓮𝓼 𝓫𝓮𝓬𝓪𝓾𝓼𝓮 𝓼𝓸𝓶𝓮𝓸𝓷𝓮 𝓼𝓪𝓲𝓭 𝓼𝓸."
April 28, 2025
Folk horror is a strange one for me. When it clicks, I really enjoy it…but I often had to wade through a bunch of DNFs to get to that point. Thankfully, the Bone Drenched Woods was excellent.
Several things stood out with this eerie, gloomy, dread-laden tale…none more so than the writing. The prose here is lush - highly evocative, patient, and atmospheric. It doesn’t rush itself, it’s certainly a slowburn book, but that meandering, plodding pace feels in keeping with the horrible monsters of The Teeth too.
That’s something else that impressed me; the world building. It’s often an area where I struggle with this kind of folk horror, but we’re thrown into these cursed woods from the off and quickly learn the ways they work. I could really sense how nasty, vicious and scared these villages were, I could picture their modest houses trembling in the shadows of the woods with nothing more than a few bones and blind faith to keep them safe. It was evocative and effective.
I also really liked the main character, Hyacinth. She was painfully flawed and felt thoroughly real. Her cynicism and sharp tongue, her street smarts, and her unwillingness to conform…all excellent. She was a messy, complicated hero and I rooted for here.
The scares here came largely from the dread and what was in the shadows just beyond what you could see. The narrative did enough to chill you, but also let your imagination get involved too, resulting in something truly unnerving.
Like a Dark Tower spin-off story but with no gunslingers to save the day, this is a bleak, slowburn of a fairy tale that will linger with me for a while.
Thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for the ARC.
Several things stood out with this eerie, gloomy, dread-laden tale…none more so than the writing. The prose here is lush - highly evocative, patient, and atmospheric. It doesn’t rush itself, it’s certainly a slowburn book, but that meandering, plodding pace feels in keeping with the horrible monsters of The Teeth too.
That’s something else that impressed me; the world building. It’s often an area where I struggle with this kind of folk horror, but we’re thrown into these cursed woods from the off and quickly learn the ways they work. I could really sense how nasty, vicious and scared these villages were, I could picture their modest houses trembling in the shadows of the woods with nothing more than a few bones and blind faith to keep them safe. It was evocative and effective.
I also really liked the main character, Hyacinth. She was painfully flawed and felt thoroughly real. Her cynicism and sharp tongue, her street smarts, and her unwillingness to conform…all excellent. She was a messy, complicated hero and I rooted for here.
The scares here came largely from the dread and what was in the shadows just beyond what you could see. The narrative did enough to chill you, but also let your imagination get involved too, resulting in something truly unnerving.
Like a Dark Tower spin-off story but with no gunslingers to save the day, this is a bleak, slowburn of a fairy tale that will linger with me for a while.
Thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for the ARC.
May 7, 2025
Thanks for the arc NetGalley
It’s been some time since I read any horror books and this book sure was a thrill to read. We are taken to a world were everything is set around the hunger of the Teeth. As long as everyone sticks to the rules no one should get hurt. But things go down bad before you know it. It feels like the village desperately tries to keep the monsters at bay, resulting in a kind of cult like belief that made me think of The Handmaid’s Tale.
The horror aspect was great and it had me hooked from the start. I was a little skeptical cause it is a short read, and it did felt rushed near the end sadly. I really liked that the Teeth and the Deep, that are hidden in the woods and the water are kind of mysterious throughout the whole book. That somehow makes them even scarier.
Hyacinth is a very determined character from the start on and she really made the book for me. She knows what she wants and isn’t afraid for what’s to come. That’s all I can say without giving anything away. I feel like some of the other characters felt flat and one-sided especially the Elders and their wives. Her family, including her dog, were just lovely but not much more than that.
Rating: 3 stars
+ Great main character and teeth clenching horror
- Plot was rushed and other characters felt flat
This story is for anyone who likes a horror which leaves some open for imagination, a strong female character and a quick read with high stakes.
It’s been some time since I read any horror books and this book sure was a thrill to read. We are taken to a world were everything is set around the hunger of the Teeth. As long as everyone sticks to the rules no one should get hurt. But things go down bad before you know it. It feels like the village desperately tries to keep the monsters at bay, resulting in a kind of cult like belief that made me think of The Handmaid’s Tale.
The horror aspect was great and it had me hooked from the start. I was a little skeptical cause it is a short read, and it did felt rushed near the end sadly. I really liked that the Teeth and the Deep, that are hidden in the woods and the water are kind of mysterious throughout the whole book. That somehow makes them even scarier.
Hyacinth is a very determined character from the start on and she really made the book for me. She knows what she wants and isn’t afraid for what’s to come. That’s all I can say without giving anything away. I feel like some of the other characters felt flat and one-sided especially the Elders and their wives. Her family, including her dog, were just lovely but not much more than that.
Rating: 3 stars
+ Great main character and teeth clenching horror
- Plot was rushed and other characters felt flat
This story is for anyone who likes a horror which leaves some open for imagination, a strong female character and a quick read with high stakes.
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