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Nowhere Burning
A place for lost children may also be their prison...
High in the mountains sits Nowhere, a verdant valley surrounded by walls of rock. People have lived at Nowhere for centuries, though never for long, and rarely happily. Its last owner was its most famous: movie star Leaf Winham, who built Nowhere House as his refuge, to hide from his fame - and to hide his crimes. Only when Nowhere House went up in flames were the graves discovered, the last resting places of young men who would never go home.
Years later, it is rumoured that Nowhere is now a refuge for runaway children, a place where adults cannot enter. Drawn by this promise, fourteen-year-old Riley pulls her brother Oliver from his bed in the middle of the night, hoping to find a new family. But there is darkness in the ruins of Nowhere House, something which asks a terrible price for sanctuary...
High in the mountains sits Nowhere, a verdant valley surrounded by walls of rock. People have lived at Nowhere for centuries, though never for long, and rarely happily. Its last owner was its most famous: movie star Leaf Winham, who built Nowhere House as his refuge, to hide from his fame - and to hide his crimes. Only when Nowhere House went up in flames were the graves discovered, the last resting places of young men who would never go home.
Years later, it is rumoured that Nowhere is now a refuge for runaway children, a place where adults cannot enter. Drawn by this promise, fourteen-year-old Riley pulls her brother Oliver from his bed in the middle of the night, hoping to find a new family. But there is darkness in the ruins of Nowhere House, something which asks a terrible price for sanctuary...
304 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication February 24, 2026
19824 people want to read
About the author
Catriona Ward
30 books5,506 followersCATRIONA WARD was born in Washington, DC and grew up in the United States, Kenya, Madagascar, Yemen, and Morocco. She read English at St Edmund Hall, Oxford and is a graduate of the Creative Writing MA at the University of East Anglia. Her forthcoming novel, Nowhere Burning, will be published by Tor Nightfire in the US and Viper Books in the UK this year. `Her last book, Looking Glass Sound, was a USA Today bestseller. Her fourth novel, the gothic thriller Sundial (2022 - Viper, Tor Nightfire) was Observer Thriller of the Month and a USA Today, CNN and Apple Books selection for best new fiction. Stephen King called Sundial ‘Authentically terrifying…. Do not miss this book.’
Ward’s third breakout novel The Last House on Needless Street (2021 - Viper, Tor Nightfire) won the August Derleth Prize and has been shortlisted for the Kitschies, the British Book Awards, the South Bank Award, and the World Fantasy Award. Esquire magazine listed it as one of the top 25 best horror novels of all time. Rights have been sold in twenty-nine territories, it was a Richard and Judy Book Club selection, a Times Book of the Month, Observer Book of the Month, March Editor’s Pick on Radio 4’s Open Book, a Between the Covers BBC2 book club selection and a Sunday Times bestseller. The Last House on Needless Street is being developed for film by Andy Serkis and Jonathan Cavendish’s production company, The Imaginarium. Stephen King said of The Last House on Needless Street, ‘I was blown away. It's a true nerve-shredder that keeps its mind-blowing secrets to the very end. Haven't read anything this exciting since GONE GIRL.’
Ward’s second novel Little Eve (2018 - W&N, Tor Nightfire) won the 2019 Shirley Jackson Award, the August Derleth Prize at the British Fantasy Awards and was a Guardian best book of 2018. Nightfire published Little Eve for the first time in the US in 2022. Ward’s debut Rawblood (2015 - W&N, Sourcebooks) also won the 2016 August Derleth, making her the only woman to have won the prize three times. Her short stories have appeared in numerous anthologies and have been shortlisted for various prizes. She lives in London and Devon.
Her short story, The African Painted Dog, is part of The End of The World as We Know It, Tales from The Stand. Introduced by Stephen King, this anthology is the first time authors have been permitted to write in Stephen King;'s universe.
Ward’s third breakout novel The Last House on Needless Street (2021 - Viper, Tor Nightfire) won the August Derleth Prize and has been shortlisted for the Kitschies, the British Book Awards, the South Bank Award, and the World Fantasy Award. Esquire magazine listed it as one of the top 25 best horror novels of all time. Rights have been sold in twenty-nine territories, it was a Richard and Judy Book Club selection, a Times Book of the Month, Observer Book of the Month, March Editor’s Pick on Radio 4’s Open Book, a Between the Covers BBC2 book club selection and a Sunday Times bestseller. The Last House on Needless Street is being developed for film by Andy Serkis and Jonathan Cavendish’s production company, The Imaginarium. Stephen King said of The Last House on Needless Street, ‘I was blown away. It's a true nerve-shredder that keeps its mind-blowing secrets to the very end. Haven't read anything this exciting since GONE GIRL.’
Ward’s second novel Little Eve (2018 - W&N, Tor Nightfire) won the 2019 Shirley Jackson Award, the August Derleth Prize at the British Fantasy Awards and was a Guardian best book of 2018. Nightfire published Little Eve for the first time in the US in 2022. Ward’s debut Rawblood (2015 - W&N, Sourcebooks) also won the 2016 August Derleth, making her the only woman to have won the prize three times. Her short stories have appeared in numerous anthologies and have been shortlisted for various prizes. She lives in London and Devon.
Her short story, The African Painted Dog, is part of The End of The World as We Know It, Tales from The Stand. Introduced by Stephen King, this anthology is the first time authors have been permitted to write in Stephen King;'s universe.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 387 reviews
January 30, 2026
“I'm never afraid. But this place scares me.”
How much would you sacrifice for sanctuary?
Nowhere Burning is due for release on February 24, 2026.
Ward delivers a psychological horror-mystery with a gothic feel and a heavy dose of suspense. There is a lingering dread that creates an unsettling yet intriguing atmosphere. It has a fragmented narrative, so it's not a breezy read, it requires focus and attention.
Nestled within the unforgiving depths of the Rocky Mountains lies Nowhere, a burnt-down, abandoned ranch that became a refuge for runaways and children in need. The story begins with siblings Riley and Oliver, who escape their devilish guardian in the wee hours of the night to find Nowhere. But did they flee a devil just to find themselves in hell? The ranch has a dark history, including its previous owner, movie star Leaf Winham, who claimed he built “Nowhere House” as an escape from his life of fame. Or was it because of something more sinister? Nowhere is full of secrets, and its history goes back even further. This eerie mind-bender was an interesting read for my first Catriona Ward book. It reveals twists at the end you never saw coming!
“You have the right hunger. The cold place deep inside you. No one survives here without those things.”
A big Thank You to Netgalley and Tor Publishing Group for gifting me this advanced copy. It was an absolute pleasure to read and review this book.
How much would you sacrifice for sanctuary?
Nowhere Burning is due for release on February 24, 2026.
Ward delivers a psychological horror-mystery with a gothic feel and a heavy dose of suspense. There is a lingering dread that creates an unsettling yet intriguing atmosphere. It has a fragmented narrative, so it's not a breezy read, it requires focus and attention.
Nestled within the unforgiving depths of the Rocky Mountains lies Nowhere, a burnt-down, abandoned ranch that became a refuge for runaways and children in need. The story begins with siblings Riley and Oliver, who escape their devilish guardian in the wee hours of the night to find Nowhere. But did they flee a devil just to find themselves in hell? The ranch has a dark history, including its previous owner, movie star Leaf Winham, who claimed he built “Nowhere House” as an escape from his life of fame. Or was it because of something more sinister? Nowhere is full of secrets, and its history goes back even further. This eerie mind-bender was an interesting read for my first Catriona Ward book. It reveals twists at the end you never saw coming!
“You have the right hunger. The cold place deep inside you. No one survives here without those things.”
A big Thank You to Netgalley and Tor Publishing Group for gifting me this advanced copy. It was an absolute pleasure to read and review this book.
January 28, 2026
**4.5-stars**
Nowhere Burning is a dark, melancholic novel set deep in the wilds of the Rocky Mountains.
Although told via three main perspectives, the perspective that kicks off our tale, and really serves as the heart of the story, is that of Riley, a young girl, who saves herself and her brother from the clutches of their abusive Uncle's home.
Running away in the middle of the night, Riley has one plan in mind, to join a group of unhomed teens squatting on the abandoned grounds of a infamous movie star's ranch, aptly named, Nowhere.
I don't want to mention the other two perspectives, as the Publisher's Synopsis leaves them out, therefore I don't want to be accidentally giving things away.
Just know this story is much more complex and nuanced than the synopsis may lead you to believe. One of the most interesting aspects of this novel, in my opinion, was trying to figure out how all three were going to ultimately connect.
Initially it seems Nowhere is the only connection, but is that actually true?
This novel is quite stark and gritty. It feels bleak, the tone of which reminded me a bit of the 2010 movie, Winter Bone. It's also a very slow burn, that sneaks up on you emotionally.
I didn't realize how much it had captured me until the very end. I begrudgingly admit this book made me cry actual tears and they seemed to come out of nowhere.
I was shocked at the emotion Ward was able to draw out of me. It was like a punch in the gut. I feel like the way she pulled everything together, it was just beautifully done. It was hard to not feel emotion and empathy for this set of characters that life seemed to be so unkind to.
The world isn't always an easy place, but beauty, hope and love can often be found even on the darkest of days. This story felt like moving through a deep, unending fog, but it's worth the darkness; it's worth the trudge.
I would recommend this to Readers who like a dark, emotional slow burn. It feels very Literary Horror, with plenty of dark subject matter to really sink your teeth into. For fans of Ward, this is a must read.
Thank you to the publisher, Tor Nightfire, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I feel like this one is going to stick in my mind for a long time to come!
Nowhere Burning is a dark, melancholic novel set deep in the wilds of the Rocky Mountains.
Although told via three main perspectives, the perspective that kicks off our tale, and really serves as the heart of the story, is that of Riley, a young girl, who saves herself and her brother from the clutches of their abusive Uncle's home.
Running away in the middle of the night, Riley has one plan in mind, to join a group of unhomed teens squatting on the abandoned grounds of a infamous movie star's ranch, aptly named, Nowhere.
I don't want to mention the other two perspectives, as the Publisher's Synopsis leaves them out, therefore I don't want to be accidentally giving things away.
Just know this story is much more complex and nuanced than the synopsis may lead you to believe. One of the most interesting aspects of this novel, in my opinion, was trying to figure out how all three were going to ultimately connect.
Initially it seems Nowhere is the only connection, but is that actually true?
This novel is quite stark and gritty. It feels bleak, the tone of which reminded me a bit of the 2010 movie, Winter Bone. It's also a very slow burn, that sneaks up on you emotionally.
I didn't realize how much it had captured me until the very end. I begrudgingly admit this book made me cry actual tears and they seemed to come out of nowhere.
I was shocked at the emotion Ward was able to draw out of me. It was like a punch in the gut. I feel like the way she pulled everything together, it was just beautifully done. It was hard to not feel emotion and empathy for this set of characters that life seemed to be so unkind to.
The world isn't always an easy place, but beauty, hope and love can often be found even on the darkest of days. This story felt like moving through a deep, unending fog, but it's worth the darkness; it's worth the trudge.
I would recommend this to Readers who like a dark, emotional slow burn. It feels very Literary Horror, with plenty of dark subject matter to really sink your teeth into. For fans of Ward, this is a must read.
Thank you to the publisher, Tor Nightfire, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I feel like this one is going to stick in my mind for a long time to come!
November 18, 2025
How can I possibly resist a Catriona Ward book—especially when I know I’m about to be shaken to my core, physically and mentally? She never fails to disturb, devastate, and utterly mesmerize me. This time, she gifts us a twistedly clever yet heartbreakingly emotional reimagining of Peter Pan—one that trades Neverland for Nowhere and blends multiple POVs and timelines into a haunting, puzzle-like narrative. As past and present collide, the full, horrifying—and profoundly sad—picture emerges piece by piece.
This story affected me far more deeply than I expected, especially the unbreakable bond between Riley and her little brother, Oliver (or “Olive,” as she lovingly calls him). Their shared tragedies, survival instincts, and desperate trust in each other broke my heart. Ward layers the book with stunning symbolism: a crocodile named Tinkerball; a one-legged documentary filmmaker reminiscent of Hook; “flying” children gliding on zip lines; and a Nowhere Land where abused children form their own eerie new world. It’s a dark, brilliant homage to Peter Pan, transformed into something far more sinister—a cult led by the legendary filmmaker Leaf Winham, who slit his followers’ throats and allegedly committed grotesque acts on his secret island before his suicide. Even after his death, the horror lingers in his charred estate, complete with a Ferris wheel (a chilling metaphor possibly nodding to a real-life pop icon accused of child abuse).
The execution is flawless—each chapter a perfectly tuned note in a symphony of dread and sorrow. We first meet young Riley, a girl battling real-life demons to protect Oliver after their mentally unstable mother’s death. Sent to live with a cruel cousin who starves and locks them away, Riley’s only hope arrives in the form of Noon, a mysterious girl who invites her to escape to Nowhere. Following cryptic clues into the night, the siblings risk everything—mountain lions, starvation, and perhaps worse—to find this promised refuge.
Parallel to their story, we meet Marc and Kimble, documentary filmmakers investigating the legend of Nowhere. They interview survivors who were once abducted by Nowhere’s “children,” desperate to learn how to reach the hidden land. Their search leads them to Linus, an ex-firefighter and the sole survivor of Leaf Winham’s massacre. Traumatized yet tempted by money, Linus agrees to guide them back to the cursed site he swore never to see again.
And then there’s Adam—a brilliant architect whose life unravels when he learns his girlfriend is pregnant. When Leaf Winham offers him a job designing and renovating his estate, Adam accepts, drawn in by both the challenge and Leaf’s intoxicating charisma. What begins as curiosity soon becomes obsession, testing Adam’s morals and sanity in devastating ways.
As the timelines intertwine, Ward masterfully brings every thread together in a breathtaking finale that left me misty-eyed. The final chapter, in particular, hit me like a quiet heartbreak after a thunderstorm—both devastating and strangely beautiful.
Ward’s darkly twisted Peter Pan worked for me on every level—disturbing, emotional, and impossibly creative. I didn’t expect to love it this much, but it may just be my new favorite of her works.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Many thanks to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group / Tor Nightfire for the ARC of this mind-blowing horror-thriller. And deepest thanks to Catriona Ward for her brilliant, fearless imagination—this book is pure, haunting genius.
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This story affected me far more deeply than I expected, especially the unbreakable bond between Riley and her little brother, Oliver (or “Olive,” as she lovingly calls him). Their shared tragedies, survival instincts, and desperate trust in each other broke my heart. Ward layers the book with stunning symbolism: a crocodile named Tinkerball; a one-legged documentary filmmaker reminiscent of Hook; “flying” children gliding on zip lines; and a Nowhere Land where abused children form their own eerie new world. It’s a dark, brilliant homage to Peter Pan, transformed into something far more sinister—a cult led by the legendary filmmaker Leaf Winham, who slit his followers’ throats and allegedly committed grotesque acts on his secret island before his suicide. Even after his death, the horror lingers in his charred estate, complete with a Ferris wheel (a chilling metaphor possibly nodding to a real-life pop icon accused of child abuse).
The execution is flawless—each chapter a perfectly tuned note in a symphony of dread and sorrow. We first meet young Riley, a girl battling real-life demons to protect Oliver after their mentally unstable mother’s death. Sent to live with a cruel cousin who starves and locks them away, Riley’s only hope arrives in the form of Noon, a mysterious girl who invites her to escape to Nowhere. Following cryptic clues into the night, the siblings risk everything—mountain lions, starvation, and perhaps worse—to find this promised refuge.
Parallel to their story, we meet Marc and Kimble, documentary filmmakers investigating the legend of Nowhere. They interview survivors who were once abducted by Nowhere’s “children,” desperate to learn how to reach the hidden land. Their search leads them to Linus, an ex-firefighter and the sole survivor of Leaf Winham’s massacre. Traumatized yet tempted by money, Linus agrees to guide them back to the cursed site he swore never to see again.
And then there’s Adam—a brilliant architect whose life unravels when he learns his girlfriend is pregnant. When Leaf Winham offers him a job designing and renovating his estate, Adam accepts, drawn in by both the challenge and Leaf’s intoxicating charisma. What begins as curiosity soon becomes obsession, testing Adam’s morals and sanity in devastating ways.
As the timelines intertwine, Ward masterfully brings every thread together in a breathtaking finale that left me misty-eyed. The final chapter, in particular, hit me like a quiet heartbreak after a thunderstorm—both devastating and strangely beautiful.
Ward’s darkly twisted Peter Pan worked for me on every level—disturbing, emotional, and impossibly creative. I didn’t expect to love it this much, but it may just be my new favorite of her works.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Many thanks to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group / Tor Nightfire for the ARC of this mind-blowing horror-thriller. And deepest thanks to Catriona Ward for her brilliant, fearless imagination—this book is pure, haunting genius.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
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February 23, 2026
☆彡 Fleeing their troubled home, Riley and her younger brother, Oliver, run into the darkness and into the woods, searching for the infamous abandoned ranch, Nowhere, where an eccentric actor used to live, but is now turned into a haven for runaway children. To Riley, Nowhere is a place where she and Oliver can run away from her demons, but the longer they stay at the mysterious place, the more Riley begins to realize that the children of Nowhere have dark secrets of their own, one that hides the evil lurking in the shadows that demands a price for their freedom.
═══ ⋆★⋆ ═══
ᴺᴼᵂ ᴾᴸᴬᵞᴵᴺᴳ: Daylight by David Kushner
0:49 ───ㅇ───── 3:32
☆彡 Wow! Good lord, I…I was not expecting that. I mean, I kinda figured that THAT was going to happen, but still, my jaw freaking dropped! 😱
Granted, it took me almost a month to finish this story, but I don’t do well with audiobooks because I can’t ever find the right time to listen, so it’s not the book's fault that I took forever to finish this–it was mine because this was really good.
Whatever you do, though, don’t listen to this at night. I did an idiotic thing and listened to the last 2-3 hours as I lay in my bed at night. Imagining all that happened in the thick darkness was certainly an experience because I couldn’t fall asleep when I finished the audiobook. I don’t know if I could say that it’s scary, per se, but it was crazy enough for me to be like, “Umm…I’m going to stay awake for a bit because, oh shoot. Is that something standing in the corner over there?” 😂🤦♀
It made me so sad that Riley, Oliver, and the children at Nowhere had to flee because of the abuse they were experiencing. No child should ever feel unsafe or unloved in their homes. 😔 And the history/story behind Nowhere was crazy! I was shocked, like wow, it’s crazy, but it makes sense. It was all just so chilling and creepy. I'm not going to say much because I don't want to spoil anything, but know that just like life, everything is connected in some way, shape, or form.
All in all, this was an interesting yet scary story that kept me on the edge of my seat and made my mind whirl. I recommend it if you are looking for a creepy horror story to keep you up at night because it works, lol! 😂 I will definitely be reading more of Catriona Ward's books in the future. 🖤
⋆ ★ Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own. Pub date is 02/24/2026! ⋆ ★
❗Content Warnings❗
Death, murder, blood, child abuse, and violence.
Swearing: Yes
Spice: Mentions kissing and lovemaking. (🌶/5)
═══ ⋆★⋆ ═══
ᴺᴼᵂ ᴾᴸᴬᵞᴵᴺᴳ: Daylight by David Kushner
0:49 ───ㅇ───── 3:32
☆彡 Wow! Good lord, I…I was not expecting that. I mean, I kinda figured that THAT was going to happen, but still, my jaw freaking dropped! 😱
Granted, it took me almost a month to finish this story, but I don’t do well with audiobooks because I can’t ever find the right time to listen, so it’s not the book's fault that I took forever to finish this–it was mine because this was really good.
Whatever you do, though, don’t listen to this at night. I did an idiotic thing and listened to the last 2-3 hours as I lay in my bed at night. Imagining all that happened in the thick darkness was certainly an experience because I couldn’t fall asleep when I finished the audiobook. I don’t know if I could say that it’s scary, per se, but it was crazy enough for me to be like, “Umm…I’m going to stay awake for a bit because, oh shoot. Is that something standing in the corner over there?” 😂🤦♀
It made me so sad that Riley, Oliver, and the children at Nowhere had to flee because of the abuse they were experiencing. No child should ever feel unsafe or unloved in their homes. 😔 And the history/story behind Nowhere was crazy! I was shocked, like wow, it’s crazy, but it makes sense. It was all just so chilling and creepy. I'm not going to say much because I don't want to spoil anything, but know that just like life, everything is connected in some way, shape, or form.
All in all, this was an interesting yet scary story that kept me on the edge of my seat and made my mind whirl. I recommend it if you are looking for a creepy horror story to keep you up at night because it works, lol! 😂 I will definitely be reading more of Catriona Ward's books in the future. 🖤
⋆ ★ Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own. Pub date is 02/24/2026! ⋆ ★
❗Content Warnings❗
Death, murder, blood, child abuse, and violence.
Swearing: Yes
Spice: Mentions kissing and lovemaking. (🌶/5)
November 14, 2025
ARC for review. To be published February 24, 2026.
3 stars
So, in this one, Ward has three, possibly four different stories going on in only 226 pages. They do manage to weakly fuse together at the end, but some better than others and by jamming so much into such a short book it feels like at least one of the stories (Marc and Kimble) gets short shrift. And another of the stories is way too much like something I’ve read before.
Overall, though, I liked the pacing and I enjoyed some of the characters quite a bit. If you are a fan of Ward, this is more of what you already like from her.
3 stars
So, in this one, Ward has three, possibly four different stories going on in only 226 pages. They do manage to weakly fuse together at the end, but some better than others and by jamming so much into such a short book it feels like at least one of the stories (Marc and Kimble) gets short shrift. And another of the stories is way too much like something I’ve read before.
Overall, though, I liked the pacing and I enjoyed some of the characters quite a bit. If you are a fan of Ward, this is more of what you already like from her.
November 16, 2025
To think I only had to sell my soul to get this arc 🫶🏻. - - - - - >Review below<- - - - -
TW/CW: Language, physical abuse, death of parents, death by suicide, mental illness, trauma, depression, drinking, smoking, blood, violence, death of animal (bird), cancer, miscarriages, child abandonment, child abuse, murder, death of children
*****SPOILERS*****
About the book:
A refuge for lost children may also be their prison.In the middle of the night, Riley pulls her younger brother Oliver out of bed, and the two run away from home. Riley is intent on joining a group of teenagers squatting in the abandoned ruins of an infamous movie star’s ranch, Nowhere. For actor Leaf Winham, Nowhere was a place to hide from his fame, and to hide his crimes―until a fire ravaged his home and exposed him as a murderer.It is rumored that the ranch nestled in the peaks of the Rocky Mountains is now home to group of feral children, a place where adults cannot enter, and Riley hopes to find a new family there. But the Nowhere Kids are fierce in defending their turf and their clan, and Riley quickly realizes that while she and Oliver may have left the devil they knew, this group is a new type of diabolical.For something dark lives in the burned shell of Nowhere, something which asks a terrible price for sanctuary...
Release Date: February 24th, 2026
Genre: Horror/Thriller
Pages: 304
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
What I Liked:
1. Always the writing style
2. The characters are so complex but interesting too
3. Everything comes full circle
4. Omg the ending 😭
What I Didn't Like:
1. Repeating people's names; Oliver Olive/Marky Mark
2. Felt like at times too many povs
3. Timelines just change without notice in mid-paragraph
Overall Thoughts:
{{Disclaimer: I write my review as I read}}
So the girl goes on a 3 day adventure to Riley's town to get new food? There are no other towns along the way for the kids to steal food from.
Linus deciding to trust these strangers to actually pay him. They mention that they will sign a contract but it isn't mentioned so far if they did and Linus will be getting $10,000 for him showing them where the location is. I'm even more shocked that others haven't offered to pay him before to go up there and why is he so persuaded to talk to Marc and Kimble.
Oh my gosh now we have a POV from Adam. I'm really trying grasp all the different characters added in plus the timelines changing in the middle of their povs in the middle of the book without any notice. If you're not really paying attention or you put the book down a lot it can get confusing. I read on my breaks at work and at home so I found myself having to refresh mentally who we were to talking about and what timeline we're in.
How is Riley not freaking out when Cal mentions that his brother is missing and then Oliver comes over and says that Riley killed a demon? Cal mentions that he's going to go out everyday to find his brother on this trail and eventually he's going to come across this body of his brother and put two and two together when she says she killed a demon. Honestly, I'd be getting out of here. She has no idea what these kids are capable of.
Adam being calm about the fact that there is a closet full of different men's clothing that smells like different men would frighten me so much. It's odd. I don't know why Adam is staying. At some point Adam has to have some common sense. So far Leaf has said he wanted these things;
A. Rooms with windows for him to see in to watch people
B. Secret areas built into the walls
Those plus he has the clothing from other men. Wake up Adam!
Also was curious because Cal mentions that his brother Danny has disappeared and he thinks he went out to the woods to go on the trail. So how do they get the winch back to them on the other side? Because Danny would have had to use the zip line to go up. Also it's mentioned that somebody has to turn the handle as you go up. If Danny was by himself going up the zip line how was he able to turn the winch to get up if he was in the basket?
Kimble picks up a burger that's meat but she's vegan and eats it and goes to bed. Yeah right! You see it's going to be crapping her pants all night from that meat. There's just no way she can eat meat and it wouldn't mess up her stomach.
How did a rabbit get up there? It's the top of a fence they cannot jump that high. I've owned rabbits and they can't climb like that.
I wish that Riley would listen to Oliver. She's so worried about him saying something about the demon she misses the other stuff he says. He mentions that Hattie says the real demon is growing up.
I love how Adam is being turned into this person that just ignores the obvious either for love or the fact that he is being manipulated into not seeing what is right in front of him. The sounds in the house, Leaf not having luggage, and now a 13th grave where there was only 12.
Riley should have left when she had the chance and even more so when her brother was starting to get acclimated to everybody. She knew that they wouldn't hurt the kids but she knew she was on thin ice so why wouldn't she have just left? It drives me crazy that she stayed and then even begins a relationship with the brother. I know Riley is still young so she isn't thinking past day to day but she had to have known at some point Cal would find the remains of Danny.
Why did I not realize that Riley was Adam's child? Wonder what happened to Oliver's father.
So I'm really not shocked that all of Oliver would vote to have her killed or whatever they're going to do she has not been the kindest to him. I really believe she does not like children. She's just treating the same way that the cousin was. Plus he doesn't understand what's really happening - he's just going along with the group.
Noon tells Riley that the little children are actually dead and were killed by Leaf. I'm also really not sure what that means. So then I was confused why they were kissing hands toward the house when Noon said before that it was harmless for everyone to worship Leaf since most of them don't remember Leaf. I guess in the same breath she even said that most of them worship the land for giving them somewhere safe to live. Really just confused on these children though. Noon does say that she took them from under the house where they were buried and that it took them a year to pull the bodies out so they could bury them again. They all wear the bones of the children around their necks too so they can see them and be accepted by them.
We jump back in time to when the owners of the land lived there at Nowhere house. Jane goes to a knitting circle but then they jump into talking about crocheting. I'm not sure if this a mistake of the arc I have or a mistake of print but knitting and crocheting are different.
Okay so Jane really had 5 kids and that is where the kids came from. Her husband killed her and the kids. The towns people buried them in the fruit cellar so the other towns people wouldn't judge mountain people. I am absolutely shocked at that Jane had kids and hid them from people. I do wish there was more of explanation of what happened and why. It's such a huge part of the story that skims over the why. I suppose the mountain is toxic to people and they end up killing one another.
I can't believe that Riley started a fire like her father did to get away. Now she is sending Oliver off on his own while she stays with the kids and becomes their mother after catching everyone else on fire. Wild!
Excuse me Oliver is Marc... And he's been in a different time line looking for Riley to save his daughter with a kidney replacement. Well I definitely missed that one. Plus Marc/Oliver is the Lilac boy too.
God, this ending of their reunion is sad. Riley being sure the kids are real and Marc saying they are not gives doubts to readers. He says the children were real and Riley burned them in the fire. Riley keeps saying you gave to have the bones around your necks to see them and that's why Mark can't but if you remember Riley and Oliver both were seeing them fir a while begire they got the bone necklace.
Riley finally agrees the give the kidney to his daughter. And then she's gone to back home. I really thought she was going to stay with Oliver but maybe she finally saw he didn't need her anymore and that the "kids" at home were the ones she needed.
It was all just so sad though.
Final Thoughts:
This book is something special. It takes you for a ride and you have no idea where you are going with it. I thought we were getting a simple retelling of Peter Pan and Lord of the Flies, but this is so much more than that. There are jems inside this book that are so unique.
I love Catriona Wards writing style and the way she makes characters feel so fever dream. With every chapter I was itching to go to the next. I had to know what was happening.
I do think there were some answers I must have missed or were never given.
A. When Riley started the fire why would no one come put it out?
B. Did Oliver loose his baby teeth
C. What happened to Cousin when he was dead and why did no one come looking for the kids? Riley was enrolled in school and they knew they were in custody of them.
D. If Riley knows she's the only one taking care of the kids why wouldn't she find others to help because one day she would die and they'd be all alone again?
E. I understand why people never climbed over the fence but why did people never cut a hold through the fence then?
F. If Riley was the only grown up in Nowhere after the others were dead and in Marc's timeline how did she manage to carry Annie when she thought she was passed out?
The thing that drove me up the wall was that something important happened but we kind of skimmed over the why someone did that and why it happened. There was very little follow up to the actions of certain people. We just moved on from that. I wish there was more to the ideas and actions of the characters. It almost at times made certain parts feel unfinished.
IG | Blog
Thanks to Netgalley and Tor Nightfire for this advanced copy of the book (ebook & physical). All thoughts and opinions are my own
TW/CW: Language, physical abuse, death of parents, death by suicide, mental illness, trauma, depression, drinking, smoking, blood, violence, death of animal (bird), cancer, miscarriages, child abandonment, child abuse, murder, death of children
*****SPOILERS*****
About the book:
A refuge for lost children may also be their prison.In the middle of the night, Riley pulls her younger brother Oliver out of bed, and the two run away from home. Riley is intent on joining a group of teenagers squatting in the abandoned ruins of an infamous movie star’s ranch, Nowhere. For actor Leaf Winham, Nowhere was a place to hide from his fame, and to hide his crimes―until a fire ravaged his home and exposed him as a murderer.It is rumored that the ranch nestled in the peaks of the Rocky Mountains is now home to group of feral children, a place where adults cannot enter, and Riley hopes to find a new family there. But the Nowhere Kids are fierce in defending their turf and their clan, and Riley quickly realizes that while she and Oliver may have left the devil they knew, this group is a new type of diabolical.For something dark lives in the burned shell of Nowhere, something which asks a terrible price for sanctuary...
Release Date: February 24th, 2026
Genre: Horror/Thriller
Pages: 304
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
What I Liked:
1. Always the writing style
2. The characters are so complex but interesting too
3. Everything comes full circle
4. Omg the ending 😭
What I Didn't Like:
1. Repeating people's names; Oliver Olive/Marky Mark
2. Felt like at times too many povs
3. Timelines just change without notice in mid-paragraph
Overall Thoughts:
{{Disclaimer: I write my review as I read}}
So the girl goes on a 3 day adventure to Riley's town to get new food? There are no other towns along the way for the kids to steal food from.
Linus deciding to trust these strangers to actually pay him. They mention that they will sign a contract but it isn't mentioned so far if they did and Linus will be getting $10,000 for him showing them where the location is. I'm even more shocked that others haven't offered to pay him before to go up there and why is he so persuaded to talk to Marc and Kimble.
Oh my gosh now we have a POV from Adam. I'm really trying grasp all the different characters added in plus the timelines changing in the middle of their povs in the middle of the book without any notice. If you're not really paying attention or you put the book down a lot it can get confusing. I read on my breaks at work and at home so I found myself having to refresh mentally who we were to talking about and what timeline we're in.
How is Riley not freaking out when Cal mentions that his brother is missing and then Oliver comes over and says that Riley killed a demon? Cal mentions that he's going to go out everyday to find his brother on this trail and eventually he's going to come across this body of his brother and put two and two together when she says she killed a demon. Honestly, I'd be getting out of here. She has no idea what these kids are capable of.
Adam being calm about the fact that there is a closet full of different men's clothing that smells like different men would frighten me so much. It's odd. I don't know why Adam is staying. At some point Adam has to have some common sense. So far Leaf has said he wanted these things;
A. Rooms with windows for him to see in to watch people
B. Secret areas built into the walls
Those plus he has the clothing from other men. Wake up Adam!
Also was curious because Cal mentions that his brother Danny has disappeared and he thinks he went out to the woods to go on the trail. So how do they get the winch back to them on the other side? Because Danny would have had to use the zip line to go up. Also it's mentioned that somebody has to turn the handle as you go up. If Danny was by himself going up the zip line how was he able to turn the winch to get up if he was in the basket?
Kimble picks up a burger that's meat but she's vegan and eats it and goes to bed. Yeah right! You see it's going to be crapping her pants all night from that meat. There's just no way she can eat meat and it wouldn't mess up her stomach.
On top there are the remains of animals. A gleaming green spike pierces the body of some bird, a blackbird perhaps. It has been impaled. There are others. A rat, a possum, a rabbit, a blue jay – dried-out old remains.
How did a rabbit get up there? It's the top of a fence they cannot jump that high. I've owned rabbits and they can't climb like that.
I wish that Riley would listen to Oliver. She's so worried about him saying something about the demon she misses the other stuff he says. He mentions that Hattie says the real demon is growing up.
I love how Adam is being turned into this person that just ignores the obvious either for love or the fact that he is being manipulated into not seeing what is right in front of him. The sounds in the house, Leaf not having luggage, and now a 13th grave where there was only 12.
Riley should have left when she had the chance and even more so when her brother was starting to get acclimated to everybody. She knew that they wouldn't hurt the kids but she knew she was on thin ice so why wouldn't she have just left? It drives me crazy that she stayed and then even begins a relationship with the brother. I know Riley is still young so she isn't thinking past day to day but she had to have known at some point Cal would find the remains of Danny.
Why did I not realize that Riley was Adam's child? Wonder what happened to Oliver's father.
So I'm really not shocked that all of Oliver would vote to have her killed or whatever they're going to do she has not been the kindest to him. I really believe she does not like children. She's just treating the same way that the cousin was. Plus he doesn't understand what's really happening - he's just going along with the group.
Noon tells Riley that the little children are actually dead and were killed by Leaf. I'm also really not sure what that means. So then I was confused why they were kissing hands toward the house when Noon said before that it was harmless for everyone to worship Leaf since most of them don't remember Leaf. I guess in the same breath she even said that most of them worship the land for giving them somewhere safe to live. Really just confused on these children though. Noon does say that she took them from under the house where they were buried and that it took them a year to pull the bodies out so they could bury them again. They all wear the bones of the children around their necks too so they can see them and be accepted by them.
We jump back in time to when the owners of the land lived there at Nowhere house. Jane goes to a knitting circle but then they jump into talking about crocheting. I'm not sure if this a mistake of the arc I have or a mistake of print but knitting and crocheting are different.
Okay so Jane really had 5 kids and that is where the kids came from. Her husband killed her and the kids. The towns people buried them in the fruit cellar so the other towns people wouldn't judge mountain people. I am absolutely shocked at that Jane had kids and hid them from people. I do wish there was more of explanation of what happened and why. It's such a huge part of the story that skims over the why. I suppose the mountain is toxic to people and they end up killing one another.
I can't believe that Riley started a fire like her father did to get away. Now she is sending Oliver off on his own while she stays with the kids and becomes their mother after catching everyone else on fire. Wild!
Excuse me Oliver is Marc... And he's been in a different time line looking for Riley to save his daughter with a kidney replacement. Well I definitely missed that one. Plus Marc/Oliver is the Lilac boy too.
God, this ending of their reunion is sad. Riley being sure the kids are real and Marc saying they are not gives doubts to readers. He says the children were real and Riley burned them in the fire. Riley keeps saying you gave to have the bones around your necks to see them and that's why Mark can't but if you remember Riley and Oliver both were seeing them fir a while begire they got the bone necklace.
Riley finally agrees the give the kidney to his daughter. And then she's gone to back home. I really thought she was going to stay with Oliver but maybe she finally saw he didn't need her anymore and that the "kids" at home were the ones she needed.
It was all just so sad though.
Final Thoughts:
This book is something special. It takes you for a ride and you have no idea where you are going with it. I thought we were getting a simple retelling of Peter Pan and Lord of the Flies, but this is so much more than that. There are jems inside this book that are so unique.
I love Catriona Wards writing style and the way she makes characters feel so fever dream. With every chapter I was itching to go to the next. I had to know what was happening.
I do think there were some answers I must have missed or were never given.
A. When Riley started the fire why would no one come put it out?
B. Did Oliver loose his baby teeth
C. What happened to Cousin when he was dead and why did no one come looking for the kids? Riley was enrolled in school and they knew they were in custody of them.
D. If Riley knows she's the only one taking care of the kids why wouldn't she find others to help because one day she would die and they'd be all alone again?
E. I understand why people never climbed over the fence but why did people never cut a hold through the fence then?
F. If Riley was the only grown up in Nowhere after the others were dead and in Marc's timeline how did she manage to carry Annie when she thought she was passed out?
The thing that drove me up the wall was that something important happened but we kind of skimmed over the why someone did that and why it happened. There was very little follow up to the actions of certain people. We just moved on from that. I wish there was more to the ideas and actions of the characters. It almost at times made certain parts feel unfinished.
IG | Blog
Thanks to Netgalley and Tor Nightfire for this advanced copy of the book (ebook & physical). All thoughts and opinions are my own
Want to read
April 10, 2025NEW CATRIONA WARD? IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS? “FOR FANS OF YELLOWJACKETS??????”
ARE YOU KIDDING ME???
ARE YOU KIDDING ME???
November 17, 2025
Nowhere Burning is an atmospheric and deliciously strange work of horror with Children of the Corn vibes. Written in Catriona’s trademark brisk writing style with short sentences which are hard to pull off but Catriona always makes it work.
Like her prior works, Nowhere Burning is sprinkled with the odious and repellent but also includes poignant themes of family, and community. The book reads like a film and kept me on my toes guessing what would happen next. The multiple perspectives that come together at the end, made for a memorable conclusion.
I did wish that there were more details as to what motivated certain characters' actions and also I wanted the characters to have more depth but overall I really enjoyed Nowhere Burning and I would recommend it. Nowhere Burning is my fifth read by Catriona Ward and I can see fans of her prior works as well as horror readers loving this one!
Nowhere Burning by Catriona Ward will be available on February 24, 2026. Many thanks to Tor and NetGalley for the gifted copy!
Like her prior works, Nowhere Burning is sprinkled with the odious and repellent but also includes poignant themes of family, and community. The book reads like a film and kept me on my toes guessing what would happen next. The multiple perspectives that come together at the end, made for a memorable conclusion.
I did wish that there were more details as to what motivated certain characters' actions and also I wanted the characters to have more depth but overall I really enjoyed Nowhere Burning and I would recommend it. Nowhere Burning is my fifth read by Catriona Ward and I can see fans of her prior works as well as horror readers loving this one!
Nowhere Burning by Catriona Ward will be available on February 24, 2026. Many thanks to Tor and NetGalley for the gifted copy!
preordered
August 21, 2024a whole year oh my god i’m counting down the minutes
February 14, 2026
’Monsters and gods are the same thing. Neither are human anymore’
Nowhere Burning is a gothic, psychological horror thriller based in the mountains of Colorado. The story is set in the past, present, and future of ‘Nowhere’ - the now burnt down house of actor and serial killer Leaf Winham. We follow siblings Riley and Oliver as they decide to join the infamous and reclusive ‘Nowhere children’, who make their home in the houses charred remains.
In typical Ward fashion, Nowhere Burning is as equally bizarre as it is brilliant. Each of the characters had a somewhat manic, uncanny element to their speech and actions, which fit well with ‘Nowhere’s’ unearthly and harrowing atmosphere. It leaves you questioning whether its occupants made the house and land dangerous, or whether they were cursed from the beginning by settling there. It is a story that plays with the idea of real human evil vs paranormal evil, and it does this wonderfully. Even after the end, I was still left questioning which I believed.
The characters were compelling, particularly Riley and journalist Marc. Both tragically haunted characters, I felt that the way in which ‘Nowhere’ defined both of their lives in inescapable ways to be utterly devastating. While I may have guessed two of the narratives ‘twist’ reveals, it did not detract from my enjoyment of the story at all, especially as the breadcrumbs were there for us to find throughout.
Overall, Nowhere Burning was a beautifully written, unique, and captivating book that I thoroughly enjoyed my time with. 4/5 stars.
thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review! <3
Nowhere Burning is a gothic, psychological horror thriller based in the mountains of Colorado. The story is set in the past, present, and future of ‘Nowhere’ - the now burnt down house of actor and serial killer Leaf Winham. We follow siblings Riley and Oliver as they decide to join the infamous and reclusive ‘Nowhere children’, who make their home in the houses charred remains.
In typical Ward fashion, Nowhere Burning is as equally bizarre as it is brilliant. Each of the characters had a somewhat manic, uncanny element to their speech and actions, which fit well with ‘Nowhere’s’ unearthly and harrowing atmosphere. It leaves you questioning whether its occupants made the house and land dangerous, or whether they were cursed from the beginning by settling there. It is a story that plays with the idea of real human evil vs paranormal evil, and it does this wonderfully. Even after the end, I was still left questioning which I believed.
The characters were compelling, particularly Riley and journalist Marc. Both tragically haunted characters, I felt that the way in which ‘Nowhere’ defined both of their lives in inescapable ways to be utterly devastating. While I may have guessed two of the narratives ‘twist’ reveals, it did not detract from my enjoyment of the story at all, especially as the breadcrumbs were there for us to find throughout.
Overall, Nowhere Burning was a beautifully written, unique, and captivating book that I thoroughly enjoyed my time with. 4/5 stars.
thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review! <3
November 26, 2025
3.5 stars
Catriona Ward has become an auto-read author for me, so I was very excited to read that she is returning with her 2026 horror novel, NOWHERE BURNING. I mean, the cover alone is incredibly dark and inviting! Thanks @tornightfire for my gifted copy!
Catriona Ward returns with a feral, heartbreaking reimagining of Peter Pan that trades whimsy for dread and wonder for ruin. She threads together fractured timelines, cult-like mythmaking, and a haunting sibling bond that feels as fragile as it is fierce. Riley and little Oliver anchor the story with their desperate love and shared trauma, escaping "Cousin", a brutal man who takes advantage of their misfortune. The two of them run to the reclusive Nowhere where runaway children have banded together at the ruins of an infamous movie star, Leaf Winham's ranch. Riley and Oliver believe they can live with this group until they see that these other children have may been more than they bargained for. Across parallel storylines, are documentarians chasing the legend of Nowhere and see if they can find any of the children to gather more information.
This story was confusing bookstafam, but overall I liked it. It's not as dark as I was expecting, but the comparison to Yellowjackets is spot on. Think Yellowjackets meets F'd up Peter Pan. That being said, the ending was spectacular and unexpected. It's definitely slower-paced and similar vibes to Looking Glass Sound. I miss Ward's The Last House of Needless Street and Sundial vibes, but this book was still a fun experience. Less horror and more dark coming of age, but I would still categorize it in a darker tone and voice. If you like Ward's previous books, especially Looking Glass Sound, you'll enjoy this one.
Catriona Ward has become an auto-read author for me, so I was very excited to read that she is returning with her 2026 horror novel, NOWHERE BURNING. I mean, the cover alone is incredibly dark and inviting! Thanks @tornightfire for my gifted copy!
Catriona Ward returns with a feral, heartbreaking reimagining of Peter Pan that trades whimsy for dread and wonder for ruin. She threads together fractured timelines, cult-like mythmaking, and a haunting sibling bond that feels as fragile as it is fierce. Riley and little Oliver anchor the story with their desperate love and shared trauma, escaping "Cousin", a brutal man who takes advantage of their misfortune. The two of them run to the reclusive Nowhere where runaway children have banded together at the ruins of an infamous movie star, Leaf Winham's ranch. Riley and Oliver believe they can live with this group until they see that these other children have may been more than they bargained for. Across parallel storylines, are documentarians chasing the legend of Nowhere and see if they can find any of the children to gather more information.
This story was confusing bookstafam, but overall I liked it. It's not as dark as I was expecting, but the comparison to Yellowjackets is spot on. Think Yellowjackets meets F'd up Peter Pan. That being said, the ending was spectacular and unexpected. It's definitely slower-paced and similar vibes to Looking Glass Sound. I miss Ward's The Last House of Needless Street and Sundial vibes, but this book was still a fun experience. Less horror and more dark coming of age, but I would still categorize it in a darker tone and voice. If you like Ward's previous books, especially Looking Glass Sound, you'll enjoy this one.
December 23, 2025
Review to come upon release.
DAMN, that was a good book.
DAMN, that was a good book.
October 11, 2025
Riley and her younger brother Oliver are orphans and after living in care for a short while move in with their only living relative Cousin. However he makes their life a hell, drilling religion into them and abusing them.
Riley decides that she has to get her younger brother Oliver away from Cousin before he kills one or both of them.
As they escape they discover the old ruins of a ranch of an old film star, Nowhere. Now a haven for kids that have run away from bad situations and not accessible by adults, Riley thinks she has finally found a place of salvation for her and Oliver but as Nowhere’s secrets are slowly revealed, both current and past, she realises she may have led them into more than she bargained for.
Another utterly interesting and off kilter story from Ward. She’s kind of like the David Lynch of the literary world. Her stories are always set in reality but reality always feels slightly skewed and off kilter. Good versus evil a plenty with interesting and odd characters, nowhere itself is a character as is nature and everything really seems to have a personality.
A slow burn story told from three different viewpoints in different timelines, they all come together in the end beautifully and in a way I did not see coming.
There’s a lot going on here and a lot left open to interpretation. I did find myself a little confused on more than one occasion but, having read previous books from Ward I knew the writing style and just hung on for the ride.
A truly original writer with her own style, once you are used to the worlds and stories she creates the more you will enjoy her unique narrative and storytelling.
Many thanks to the publisher for the ARC through Netgalley.
Riley decides that she has to get her younger brother Oliver away from Cousin before he kills one or both of them.
As they escape they discover the old ruins of a ranch of an old film star, Nowhere. Now a haven for kids that have run away from bad situations and not accessible by adults, Riley thinks she has finally found a place of salvation for her and Oliver but as Nowhere’s secrets are slowly revealed, both current and past, she realises she may have led them into more than she bargained for.
Another utterly interesting and off kilter story from Ward. She’s kind of like the David Lynch of the literary world. Her stories are always set in reality but reality always feels slightly skewed and off kilter. Good versus evil a plenty with interesting and odd characters, nowhere itself is a character as is nature and everything really seems to have a personality.
A slow burn story told from three different viewpoints in different timelines, they all come together in the end beautifully and in a way I did not see coming.
There’s a lot going on here and a lot left open to interpretation. I did find myself a little confused on more than one occasion but, having read previous books from Ward I knew the writing style and just hung on for the ride.
A truly original writer with her own style, once you are used to the worlds and stories she creates the more you will enjoy her unique narrative and storytelling.
Many thanks to the publisher for the ARC through Netgalley.
November 14, 2025
Finally adding my finished thoughts.
This was so cinematic. So atmospheric. I could envision every description crystal clear. Moreso, I could even feel the creepiness. I mean...kids in the horror genre is guaranteed to be extra creepy! This has multiple POV's and they just come together flawlessly.
Nowhere Burning is described to be for fans of Riley Sager and Yellowjackets; I don't know if I agree with the Sager comparison and I haven't seen the latter so I can't speak to those. BUT! I couldn't help but picture a bit of Lord of the Flies meets Peter Pan meets Children of the Corn (like I said, kids in horror = automatically creepy).
Catriona Ward has proven time and time again to be a master of the slow burn, but she always delivers a punch at the end. The setting of the Rocky Mountains and inspiration taken from the idea of an abandoned Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch is just...idk, I didn't know I needed that combination but I'm happy it exists!
I got to see Catriona in a horror panel--I was internally screaming with excitement at the opportunity to read this then and I'm screaming with excitement for everyone to be able to read another brilliant Catriona Ward book. Thank you to CALIBA for enjoying one of the greatest perks of being a bookseller!
This was so cinematic. So atmospheric. I could envision every description crystal clear. Moreso, I could even feel the creepiness. I mean...kids in the horror genre is guaranteed to be extra creepy! This has multiple POV's and they just come together flawlessly.
Nowhere Burning is described to be for fans of Riley Sager and Yellowjackets; I don't know if I agree with the Sager comparison and I haven't seen the latter so I can't speak to those. BUT! I couldn't help but picture a bit of Lord of the Flies meets Peter Pan meets Children of the Corn (like I said, kids in horror = automatically creepy).
Catriona Ward has proven time and time again to be a master of the slow burn, but she always delivers a punch at the end. The setting of the Rocky Mountains and inspiration taken from the idea of an abandoned Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch is just...idk, I didn't know I needed that combination but I'm happy it exists!
I got to see Catriona in a horror panel--I was internally screaming with excitement at the opportunity to read this then and I'm screaming with excitement for everyone to be able to read another brilliant Catriona Ward book. Thank you to CALIBA for enjoying one of the greatest perks of being a bookseller!
November 20, 2025
Thank you Tor Nightfire for the free early copy!! I was obsessed with this 4.5 stars
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTreapFPC/
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTreapFPC/
February 2, 2026
Kids are scary, but a cult comprised entirely of kids? Eep.
November 5, 2025
Queen of keeps you guessing, boss of my horror heart, thank u cat ward for simultaneously unnerving and comforting me. [more tk?]
February 10, 2026
Catriona definitely has a unique writing style, short sentences that pack a punch with rivers of unspoken subtext.
No where burning follows the lives of two siblings who decide to run away in the middle of the night to an abandoned ranch previously belonging to a movie star, where other teenagers are taking refuge. Think Peter Pan took a dark turn. The siblings quickly realize that they may have left one horrific situation and landed themselves in an even worse one. This place reeks of danger and the lawless chaos is likely to be far more deadly.
If you are a fan of the author, youll definitely enjoy her latest book.
Thank you for the gifted copy, all opinions are my own.
No where burning follows the lives of two siblings who decide to run away in the middle of the night to an abandoned ranch previously belonging to a movie star, where other teenagers are taking refuge. Think Peter Pan took a dark turn. The siblings quickly realize that they may have left one horrific situation and landed themselves in an even worse one. This place reeks of danger and the lawless chaos is likely to be far more deadly.
If you are a fan of the author, youll definitely enjoy her latest book.
Thank you for the gifted copy, all opinions are my own.
February 1, 2026
Easily my favorite Catarina Ward book. I loved the story and the characters and it flowed so well from one timeline to another. Nature got a little fantastical at the end but otherwise it was a wonderful story.
I can definitely see the comparison with Peter Pan and Lord of the Flies.
I can definitely see the comparison with Peter Pan and Lord of the Flies.
October 20, 2025
*whispering* What the fuck?
There is a place for lost and damaged children, somewhere called Nowhere, constructed by a famous actor and deeply disturbed individual, Leaf Winham, who died in the fire that consumed his house and exposed his crimes. Riley and Oliver are the newest strays adopted into the community that has sprung up in the ashes of Winham's legacy, but they wonder if Nowhere is really the haven they're seeking as the community's practices are revealed.
I admire Catriona Ward's dedication to thinking up the most bizarre and disturbing forms of child abuse to feature in her books, because I'm lowkey impressed every time. Anyways, this was awesome and just captured this vibe...it's kind of hard to explain. Maybe the obvious comparison is Lord of the Flies or Yellowjackets, but I was actually reminded more of Into the Wild (Call of the Wild is actually explicitly referenced in the book). There's this sense of characters being drawn into something much wilder and older than themselves and it's just chilling. I also think stylistically Ward's writing always feels very honest to me–or maybe raw, but I think that descriptor is overused–in the sense that you as the reader are right up against the characters. There's no feeling of a big gap between you and their experience, which I find a lot in horror and litfic.
Pretty much my only issues is that I'm not sure all of the threads came together as cleanly as I would have liked, which is in part my fault as a reader. I'd like to come back to this book and really comb through it, but as. it is I think it's difficult to appreciate all the intricacy and depth that's clearly going on here, so it wasn't perfectly satisfying.
Thank you to Catriona Ward and Tor Nightfire for this ARC in exchange for my full, honest review!
Happy reading!
There is a place for lost and damaged children, somewhere called Nowhere, constructed by a famous actor and deeply disturbed individual, Leaf Winham, who died in the fire that consumed his house and exposed his crimes. Riley and Oliver are the newest strays adopted into the community that has sprung up in the ashes of Winham's legacy, but they wonder if Nowhere is really the haven they're seeking as the community's practices are revealed.
I admire Catriona Ward's dedication to thinking up the most bizarre and disturbing forms of child abuse to feature in her books, because I'm lowkey impressed every time. Anyways, this was awesome and just captured this vibe...it's kind of hard to explain. Maybe the obvious comparison is Lord of the Flies or Yellowjackets, but I was actually reminded more of Into the Wild (Call of the Wild is actually explicitly referenced in the book). There's this sense of characters being drawn into something much wilder and older than themselves and it's just chilling. I also think stylistically Ward's writing always feels very honest to me–or maybe raw, but I think that descriptor is overused–in the sense that you as the reader are right up against the characters. There's no feeling of a big gap between you and their experience, which I find a lot in horror and litfic.
Pretty much my only issues is that I'm not sure all of the threads came together as cleanly as I would have liked, which is in part my fault as a reader. I'd like to come back to this book and really comb through it, but as. it is I think it's difficult to appreciate all the intricacy and depth that's clearly going on here, so it wasn't perfectly satisfying.
Thank you to Catriona Ward and Tor Nightfire for this ARC in exchange for my full, honest review!
Happy reading!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
my rating is 4.25
Creepy, sad and horrifying, all at the same time. A tale of children - abandoned, alone and abused - searching for a safe place to call home. They did not find that in Nowhere, but what they did find was terrifying.
Riley takes Oliver and runs. Starving and afraid, they head out to Nowhere, the dread only builds as they make their way to the destination. This is ominous and suspenseful.
I enjoyed the difference POV's, the atmospheric writing style that drew you in to the horror around these children, and the sheer foreboding of what was to come in the story.
There is no happy ending at Nowhere.
I was lucky enough to receive the ALC from NetGalley and MacMillan Audio - thank you! - and I can say that the narrators Katherina Fenton and Christopher Ragland did a terrific job bringing the characters to life and imparting that feeling of doom as we made our way through the story.
Creepy, sad and horrifying, all at the same time. A tale of children - abandoned, alone and abused - searching for a safe place to call home. They did not find that in Nowhere, but what they did find was terrifying.
Riley takes Oliver and runs. Starving and afraid, they head out to Nowhere, the dread only builds as they make their way to the destination. This is ominous and suspenseful.
I enjoyed the difference POV's, the atmospheric writing style that drew you in to the horror around these children, and the sheer foreboding of what was to come in the story.
There is no happy ending at Nowhere.
I was lucky enough to receive the ALC from NetGalley and MacMillan Audio - thank you! - and I can say that the narrators Katherina Fenton and Christopher Ragland did a terrific job bringing the characters to life and imparting that feeling of doom as we made our way through the story.
February 6, 2026
2.5 stars. The first quarter was very intriguing and I loved the nods to Peter Pan throughout the book. The child abuse/neglect elements and the relationship between Riley & Oliver had me emotionally invested right from the start. Unfortunately, once the kids get to Nowhere I was pretty bored. The two other storylines we follow, one with the founder of Nowhere and the other with Mark & friends, weren’t very interesting or suspenseful and really should have been considering who the characters are. The whole story never got particularly exciting or scary or thrilling for me, unlike the authors previous books.
I also did not enjoy the audiobook very much. One of the narrators was not my favorite to listen to but I also can’t fault them completely as the writing itself sounded quite…. stilted? I don’t have the actual text to look at since this was an ALC but that’s how it sounded as it was read.
Super bummed I didn’t enjoy this very much. I’ve read most of Cat Ward’s previous novels and never had this issue before. I typically love them! Unfortunately this was a miss for me.
Despite my experience, thank you so much to Macmillan audio and Netgalley for access to the ALC. Much appreciated!!!
I also did not enjoy the audiobook very much. One of the narrators was not my favorite to listen to but I also can’t fault them completely as the writing itself sounded quite…. stilted? I don’t have the actual text to look at since this was an ALC but that’s how it sounded as it was read.
Super bummed I didn’t enjoy this very much. I’ve read most of Cat Ward’s previous novels and never had this issue before. I typically love them! Unfortunately this was a miss for me.
Despite my experience, thank you so much to Macmillan audio and Netgalley for access to the ALC. Much appreciated!!!
November 29, 2025
I enjoyed my time reading this and felt like I flew through it whenever I was reading but there’s something about most of Ward’s books that always feels a little too confusing while reading. This is my fourth book by her and 3 of them felt like something was off/convoluted. I will still continue to read her books that sound interesting to me though because I feel like they’re always unique.
Want to read
July 2, 2025What wonderful news! I am so excited! I can't wait for Ms. Ward's next work! She is a delightful writer!
February 9, 2026
You ever read a book that you genuinely want to love and has a cool ass concept but you force yourself to finish it HOPING the end delivers but instead just pisses you off even more?
Very grateful for the ARC but the writing was choppy and kinda all over the place, the entire thing didn’t truly ever come together (some parts did, other parts didn’t), the characters all lacked depth, and there was so much unnecessary sub plots that just didn’t need to exist.
Very grateful for the ARC but the writing was choppy and kinda all over the place, the entire thing didn’t truly ever come together (some parts did, other parts didn’t), the characters all lacked depth, and there was so much unnecessary sub plots that just didn’t need to exist.
June 28, 2025
This sounds so good!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
How do I start reviewing a book that's so confusing but also intriguing? 🤭🩷
Thank you so much Viper for sending this copy of Nowhere Burning! 🤎🔥
Nowhere Burning from Catriona Ward is a psycholotical horror/thriller. Nowhere is a place in this book and it's the refuge for lost children. Many people wonder what's going on there but either can't find it or don't dare to enter. It's said that the children who live there will defend their clan and grounds, so it's better to avoid this place. 👀 Riley is a child and she and her brother Oliver have a tough life. They need to escape and decide they want to go to Nowhere. ✨️ They do end up in this weird place in the mountains but what will it cost them to stay?
HOLY SHIT. This book is INSANE! 😬 You have multipule pov's that don't make any sense in the beginning of the book. But they slowly work towards each other and everything ends with a plot twist. I didn't even think this was a possibility. 🤭 While I was really confused, I was so intigued that I just could not put this book down. The chapters were short and not one of them was boring. Sure, some of them were bizarre but I needed more.
All the characters were so well written. Riley was compelling and I loved how Catriona really took us along for the ride in her mind. Everything gets more twisted and turned while the story progresses. Marc was also a really good character with a deeper meaning. He's a journalist and needs to find out more about Nowhere and is prepared to go really far to achieve this. And then I have to mention Leaf Winham. He is a god-like figure which I could not make up if he was dead or alive at some point. He was the bad guy but also not?! Idk guys, this story is so crazy. I haven't read anything like this ever! 🥹 There were secrets that I could uncover from time to time and the whole setting was sinister. We have a few time jumps but it all made so much sense. I'm literally mentally challenged by this book and it felt so good! 🤭🔥 Sometimes the whole thing reminded me of some twisted version of Peter Pan. It's brilliant if you ask me. This book has it all; murders, horror, magic and love.
This was my first book by Catrione Ward but I have to read more! This is genius and disturbing at the same time. Who wouldn't love that? 🫶🏼
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you so much Viper for sending this copy of Nowhere Burning! 🤎🔥
Nowhere Burning from Catriona Ward is a psycholotical horror/thriller. Nowhere is a place in this book and it's the refuge for lost children. Many people wonder what's going on there but either can't find it or don't dare to enter. It's said that the children who live there will defend their clan and grounds, so it's better to avoid this place. 👀 Riley is a child and she and her brother Oliver have a tough life. They need to escape and decide they want to go to Nowhere. ✨️ They do end up in this weird place in the mountains but what will it cost them to stay?
HOLY SHIT. This book is INSANE! 😬 You have multipule pov's that don't make any sense in the beginning of the book. But they slowly work towards each other and everything ends with a plot twist. I didn't even think this was a possibility. 🤭 While I was really confused, I was so intigued that I just could not put this book down. The chapters were short and not one of them was boring. Sure, some of them were bizarre but I needed more.
All the characters were so well written. Riley was compelling and I loved how Catriona really took us along for the ride in her mind. Everything gets more twisted and turned while the story progresses. Marc was also a really good character with a deeper meaning. He's a journalist and needs to find out more about Nowhere and is prepared to go really far to achieve this. And then I have to mention Leaf Winham. He is a god-like figure which I could not make up if he was dead or alive at some point. He was the bad guy but also not?! Idk guys, this story is so crazy. I haven't read anything like this ever! 🥹 There were secrets that I could uncover from time to time and the whole setting was sinister. We have a few time jumps but it all made so much sense. I'm literally mentally challenged by this book and it felt so good! 🤭🔥 Sometimes the whole thing reminded me of some twisted version of Peter Pan. It's brilliant if you ask me. This book has it all; murders, horror, magic and love.
This was my first book by Catrione Ward but I have to read more! This is genius and disturbing at the same time. Who wouldn't love that? 🫶🏼
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
February 17, 2026
Nowhere Burning is unsettling. Having just finished I still can’t decide whether the characters involved were victims of trauma, drugged and hallucinating or evil. Perhaps there are elements of all three options.
The story has three key strands which do merge, though not always clearly.
Riley has always felt responsible for her brother, Oliver. Since the death of their mother they have depended on one another. At the start of the story they are living with Cousin, and it’s evident they are victims of neglect/abuse. When they eventually decide to run, nobody blames them.
The children are following a myth, that of NoWhere. The home of celebrated actor Leaf Winham who kept the home as a base to hide his secrets. When he was eventually unmasked, he almost killed a young man called Adam. Since then, rumours of blood letting and sacrifice are rife. Nobody in the area will talk about it. They are all convinced that abandoned feral children live there.
Riley and Oliver experience a journey fraught with danger. They do find their way to Nowhere and appear to be surviving. Then Oliver talks of what happened on the way there and the decision is made that Riley must die. At this point we learn of the link between Adam and Riley.
The final strand involves a filmmaker called Marc who is determined to find his way to NoWhere. It’s not until very near the end that we realise why this place is so significant to him.
As may be expected with Ward, there’s a brooding darkness to this. Supernatural elements merge with human horror. All in all, a dark and unusual read. Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the chance to read and review it before publication.
The story has three key strands which do merge, though not always clearly.
Riley has always felt responsible for her brother, Oliver. Since the death of their mother they have depended on one another. At the start of the story they are living with Cousin, and it’s evident they are victims of neglect/abuse. When they eventually decide to run, nobody blames them.
The children are following a myth, that of NoWhere. The home of celebrated actor Leaf Winham who kept the home as a base to hide his secrets. When he was eventually unmasked, he almost killed a young man called Adam. Since then, rumours of blood letting and sacrifice are rife. Nobody in the area will talk about it. They are all convinced that abandoned feral children live there.
Riley and Oliver experience a journey fraught with danger. They do find their way to Nowhere and appear to be surviving. Then Oliver talks of what happened on the way there and the decision is made that Riley must die. At this point we learn of the link between Adam and Riley.
The final strand involves a filmmaker called Marc who is determined to find his way to NoWhere. It’s not until very near the end that we realise why this place is so significant to him.
As may be expected with Ward, there’s a brooding darkness to this. Supernatural elements merge with human horror. All in all, a dark and unusual read. Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the chance to read and review it before publication.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I have read two other books by Ward and I always find them so unique, intriguing and imaginative. Her writing style is different in the sense that she keeps you guessing and you truly don't know what to expect. This one was different from her others that I read. Some parts were slow, but the intrigue and mystery of it had me and I had to keep going. Then the story picked up, and really ended up enjoying it. This was an atmospheric and dark read and the ranch has some secrets that come to light. I did guess some but other things did surprise me. I'm definitely glad I read this one. Catriona Ward is still an auto read for me. I love her books.
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
Want to read
August 13, 2025Ahhh!!! I cannot wait to get lost in this!! It sounds deliciously dark and thrilling!!
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