Season of Fear

by Emily Cooper

Night of the Witch meets The Handmaid's Tale in this queer Gothic horror debut set against the monstrous Bavarian forest of Hexenwald. In the Bavarian village of Heulensee, women feed their terror to an ancient Saint of Fear. In return, it protects them from the monsters of the Hexenwald, the haunted forest on their doorstep. Born unfearing, Ilse Odenwald has felt like an outsider all her life. When the Saint discovers Ilse’s divergence, it levels a she must find her fear, or the Saint will devour her sister, Dorothea—the only person who loves Ilse unconditionally. Unwilling to lose Thea, Ilse enters the Hexenwald. She hopes that its horrors will finally unleash her fear and, in turn, save her sister. But during her quest Ilse inadvertently uncovers something far more sinister than the monsters that hunt a darkness within herself. As the forest closes in, Ilse’s hopes for a normal future begin to slip away, as well as the chance to save not just Thea, but all women in Heulensee. Bewitching and timely, this gripping debut novel is a dark fairy tale about the fate of girls and women in a world grown accustomed to sacrificing them. ★“Hauntingly poetic and monstrously romantic.”—Ava Reid, #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Study in Drowning ★"A dark and dreadful tour de force of a debut! Exquisitely beautiful and horrific."—Erin A. Craig, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Thirteenth Child

Genres: Horror, Fantasy, Young Adult, Queer, Lesbian, Thriller, LGBT

350 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 2, 2025

Reviews

[jenny reads a lot · Rating 5 out of 5]

I fear I loved this book.

I imagine all women dream of living without fear, not the absence of the emotion, rather the absence of the monsters that evoke fear. To live in a world where a woman does not need to fear would be a blessing. But to be fearless in a world where monsters exist would be a dangerous thing. Or would it?

The Saint of Fear protects a village from the cursed forest that threatens to consume it. In exchange for protection, the Saint requires fear and the women gladly sacrifice for the good of their village, for a woman is already well-versed in fear, why not use it to protect those she loves.

But Ilse feels no fear, she is different. With nothing to offer the Saint in a world where all women must pay, she must find her fear to feed the Saint or the Saint with devour her sister.

“There is little difference between a Saint and a monster when both intend to abuse you.”

Let me tell you a story…

A girl is drawn to a book by its cover, she’s further ensorcelled by its brief synopsis. As she opens the book and begins to read she is unaware of whats to come, of how this book will live with her, how it will speak to so many facets of her being, of how this book might change her. She finishes the book. She feels seen, as a woman, as someone who often feels other, and as a sister of blood and of choice. She feels fear, for the girls who will grow up to be women, who will have no choice but to feel fear, for the darkness that lurks in everyone, even herself. She feels sadness for the loss of sisters, and for those who have yet to feel seen, loved, and supported. But she feels hope and joy, because books like this exist, and people like Hans and Ash live not only between the pages of this book but in the real world as well. She also feels wholly unequipped to write a review that will do this brilliant book the justice it deserves. But she undertakes the task regardless, because all of us are capable of slaying monsters, and perhaps, if she is able to share this book with one person who needs it, together they may slay the beast inside that tells them they are not enough.

If you haven’t guessed already, I am the girl in that story and this book is brilliant beyond measure.

I could stop here, I’ve said enough but I know many of you will skip right to the end in search of my list of loves. So for you, dear friend, I will continue. However, I will not promise to be as brief as usual.

Whats to love…
- Everything? All of it. The whole book.
- Cursed sentient forest
- Rich in Bulgarian folklore
- Sapphic romantic subplot that enhances the story in all the best ways
- speaking of the romance, it is a magical example of first love and discovery
- Explores what it is to be a monster
- family forward + found family
- Creepy, occasionally gory, but totally scaredy-cat safe
- Relevant themes and beautiful symbolism
- A story rooted in sisterhood. Blood sisters, those we choose, and the sisterhood that is being a woman in a world filled with monsters
- stunning prose, atmospheric, and utterly perfect for autumn
- perfectly paced, never lags in plot, yet still feels rich in world and characters
- Made me cry, multiple times, for a multitude of reasons
- Unputdownable, I sat down to start this, blinked and it was 2am and I had read 67%
- For those who have ever felt less than, not whole, different, or lacking in anyway
- a mini QUEST!

Whats not to love…
- you’re kidding right? Did you read my story?

GO READ THIS BOOK! NOW!

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Thank you Little Brown for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.

[Erin Craig · Rating 5 out of 5]

A dark and dreadful tour de force of a debut! Season of Fear is a consuming tale of sacrifice and service that will haunt you long after its final page. Cooper's worldbuilding is exquisitely beautiful and horrific.

[Kobe · Rating 4 out of 5]

i love lesbians <3

[thevampireslibrary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excuse me I am unwell ✋️ a lyrical lush dark feminist fantasy horror (should I have used a comma somewhere) this book oozes atmosphere and a creeping dread that seeps in slowly, Cooper writes relationship dynamics so well, they felt genuine and authentic, I love lesbians don't you? And haunted forests are you kidding this was CHEFS KISS, haunting, brutal and beautiful and I am obsessed, I'm incapable of reading a book I love and not thinking it would make a great movie or TV series because I need the things I love in every format and media because I can't like things in a normal way ( also I dunno who I think I am some hot shot movie director) BUT this would make such a perfect creepy girl mini series right? (Validate my movie mogul dreams) have you read this one? I'm obsessed, did I say that already

[Jodie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Simon and Schuster and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Season of Fear is one of those stories that sinks its claws into you from the first page and doesn’t let go. Atmospheric, emotional, and laced with horror, it’s a book that’s equal parts nightmare and fairytale, and I loved EVERY SINGLE minute of it.

Inspired by Bavarian folklore, this is a dark feminist fairytale full of horror, heart, and a sapphic romance that absolutely delivers.

Ilse lives in a village where fear is sacred and protection requires the women offering up their terror to an ancient Saint. But Ilse was born without fear. When her sister’s life is threatened, Ilse ventures into the monstrous forest that borders their town, hoping it can teach her to be afraid.

As a German speaker, I loved the use of German words throughout the story. It added so much atmosphere!
The forest is filled with nightmare fuel, and some scenes are horrifyingly descriptive. But beneath the horror is also a powerful story about being different, not fitting in, and learning to accept who you are.

Ilse is such a strong and compelling main character. I was completely rooting for her. And then there's the slow-burn sapphic romance, which is EVERYTHING. If you're looking for yearning and tension, look no further.
The side characters were so fun and charming, too. And the ending? What a beautiful conclusion. The final chapters had me on the edge of my seat, and the epilogue genuinely made me cry.

This was a haunting gothic fairytale I’ll be thinking about for a long time.

5 stars.

[Lilibet Bombshell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew this book was going to destroy me, and it did. I leaked copious amounts of eye water all the while I was reading it and I don’t regret one drop that I promptly wiped on my Taylor Swift t-shirt. It’s books like this that make ARC reading and taking chances on debut authors worthwhile. It’s also why I never dismiss YA novels as being unworthy of my time even though I’m in my late 40s–because this book isn’t something that can just be boiled down into a single anything.

I’m afraid of what Emily Cooper will do with time if this is what she will do with her first novel, because Season of Fear is not only a book with relevant themes and a sincere heart beating at the heart of it–it’s also so lovingly crafted and beautifully written. Cooper has obviously lived in and walked this world inside her head, she’s also spent a lot of time with her characters and ruminated extensively with her creatures. Her scientific background shines through in her immaculate worldbuilding and it makes me wish more fantasy-horror writers had a science background.

There is a real-life genetic condition where one is incapable of feeling fear: Urbach-Wieth disease. It affects about 400 people per year around the world. It’s that rare. Ilse, the protagonist of this story, doesn’t have this condition, but the very thought of what it might be like to be a woman in this world and not be afraid is a heady one. Women are afraid, every day, and this book tells us a story of what it might be like to feel other emotions in the place of that fear. What might we do if we had no reason to fear the world around us? 5⭐️


I was provided a copy of this title by the author and publisher via Netgalley. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you.

File Under: 5 Star Review/Coming of Age/Dark Fantasy/Fantasy/Feminist Horror/Folk Fantasy/Folk Horror/Found Family/Horror/LGBTQ Fantasy/LGBTQ Horror/Religious Horror/Sapphic Romance/YA Fiction/YA Horror

[ShannonXO · Rating 5 out of 5]

A dark and monstrous tale of monsters, saints, and sisterly love. The premise of a dangerous forest held back by a saint that feeds on the fear of women with a main character who feels no fear at all? Incredible. Add in a couple excellent twists and a fabulous commentary on women and how they are used--this is going to appeal to a lot of readers!

Thank you to the author for the early copy!

[Leanna Streeter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, this book was gorgeous and haunting in the best way. It’s dripping with atmosphere, a dark fairytale that feels equal parts creepy and heartbreaking.

Ilse was such a fascinating main character. Born without the ability to fear, she’s always been an outsider in a village where fear is literally survival. When her sister’s life is threatened, she has no choice but to dive into the cursed Hexenwald and face gods, monsters, and secrets that will change everything.

What I loved most were the relationships at the core of this story. The sibling bonds, the sapphic romance, the messy but tender connections, they all hit so hard. There’s a bittersweetness that lingers long after the last page.

It’s creepy, raw, emotional, and beautifully written. The kind of book that gives you goosebumps but also makes you feel deeply. Perfect for spooky season! Thanks to Colored Pages book tour for the gifted book!

[charlotte, · Rating 1 out of 5]

On my blog.

Galley provided by publisher

Season of Fear is a book that I picked up based on the (admittedly US version of the) cover. Well, that’s me schooled because this was one of those ones that’s “don’t judge a book by its cover” but for reasons that are reversed. It’s also a book that was published by a YA imprint in the US, but seems to have got an adult release in the UK and if I had known this, I would have worked out it wasn’t for me and I wouldn’t have tried it. Alas, this did not come to pass and so I read it.

Before I get into things, perhaps I need to add the caveat here that a lot of this is simply me being an awkward reader. Or rather, there is a reason I’ve stopped reading YA anymore and this book has not convinced me I’ve made a wrong decision. Feel free to blithely disregard this review and continue on.

Season of Fear is a horror-fantasy about a girl who can’t feel fear born into a village where the women there offer up their fear to a saint-slash-monster in return for protection against other monsters. Because our protagonist can’t feel fear, she’s forced to pretend that she can, and pray that one day she will be “normal” like everyone else. If this sounds to you like a thinly veiled allegory for being gay, it did to me too. (There was even a point where the protagonist’s lack of fear was described as “just a phase”.)

Let’s start with the main issue which is that none of this story was remotely scary. I wrote in my notes that “in retrospect, it’s probably quite hard to build a sense of fear/terror in a book where your first person POV protagonist is lacking fear”, which I still think is true to an extent. There’s a hard balance to draw between this horror book actually being horrifying and a protagonist who isn’t feeling that fear herself and I don’t think first person POV helps with that (especially not when you keep accidentally writing her as being “shaken” by events. If she can’t feel fear, how can she be shaken??). So there’s that. But it was also generally un-scary because everything about it felt incredibly bland. The worldbuilding was lacking, the dialogue was inane, there was no sense of urgency or complexity to the story: so of course it’s not going to be scary either.

The second issue was Ilse, our main character. There were so many notes I wrote about her that it’s hard to know where to start. She’s the one who doesn’t feel fear so is an outsider in the village, a cuckoo in the nest. Her mother doesn’t love her (of course) but her grandmother does, and so does her sister, and both of those women plus Hans, the man her sister marries, treat her kindly. But because Ilse is needlessly self-pitying and melodramatic, she claims she “doesn’t know kindness”. At this point, I had to take a deep breath because what is with books that present me with some information (that Ilse is not unloved!) and then go and tell me the opposite is true. I’m not being gaslit here! If you want me to think Ilse is unloved and alone in the world then you have to show that to be the case! She loves her grandmother back, she loves her sister back, she hates Hans for no discernible reason because apparently no one can be nice to her without an ulterior motive (sister? grandmother??), but there is absolutely no grounds for her believing this to be true, based on what I’m being shown in the narrative. It was infuriating! This is the kind of inconsistency that should be picked up by an editor, and yet!

There is, subsequently, a twist which reveals that she isn’t the biological child of her mother and therefore isn’t related to her sister. I’ll keep it vague even if the twist itself is stupid and annoying to me (hint: I feel like this story would have had much more impact if it had been about how ordinary people can defeat evil rather than her turning out to be some kind of special snowflake). Anyway, unsurprisingly, Ilse becomes self-pitying and melodramatic over this discovery, claiming two things that pissed me off. First, that because her sister is now no longer a blood relation, she (Ilse) is alone in the world. Second, that this explains why her mother doesn’t love her. Namely:

She might not have known that was her child, but mothers have a special sense for their own blood, don’t they? She watched her own babe snapped in half while the cuckoo baby sat fearless beside her. No wonder she could not love me.

(The context here being that Ilse is swapped at birth with her mother’s biological daughter who is later killed.)

Now maybe this isn’t what was intended but I thought it was an awful message to send here, that mothers can’t love a child who isn’t their own blood and that they’ll always know when a child is their blood. Yes, this is from Ilse’s self-pitying POV, and then the narrative later turns around and says yes her mother knew and she tried so hard not to love Ilse because she knew. As if that sounds better? I mean, even contextually, I don’t think it’s great! I’m not 100% sure all of the implications of that were thought through.

Anyway, all of this to say, I did not enjoy this one. It just goes to show that I should really not get too drawn in by pretty covers.

[Raaven&#x1f496; · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!!

From the beginning, this book grabs you and pulls you in by its teeth. We are introduced to Isle, a girl who is different from everyone else in her village. Monsters plague their village and they rely on the Saint of Fear to help protect them. He feeds off their fear. Isle is the only one who has never felt fear.

I loved the themes explored in this book. Misogyny, sisterhood, magic, fear, love, & how women can fight back against oppression. The more I heard about this village, the more I hated it. The women put themselves in front of a monster and beg for its help with their fear. The men just stay behind and are barely seen in this book except for Hans. Hans is the perfect himbo boy. I loved how much he loved Thea. Speaking of Thea, the love between her and Isle was beautiful. Sisters in every way. While their mother was hot and cold for me, I’m glad they had each other.

The sapphic angle this went was interesting. Ash was a good character with her brother and it again shows a great strong sibling bond. There is so much sadness and agony in this book and the plot twists just kept coming. I didn’t expect anything that was happening. I also didn’t expect how gory and dark this was going to be. I loved it. The images were actually gruesome. I enjoyed this book a lot and you want to read something on the horror spectrum with fantasy/folklore elements I highly recommend!

[Erin Talamantes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such an interesting and unique concept! The prose is absolutely beautiful and the story too, full of hope, love, bravery, and sisterhood.
I’d recommend for people who like dark fairytales, stories in the vein of Erin A. Craig and Ava Reid.

[Laurens.Little.Library · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

[Jamey [Longhollow.Lore] · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a bleak, harrowing world, when fear becomes currency, and the creature that protects you, the Saint, demands it as tribute. We’re immediately immersed in a society shaped by dread, where the Saint of Fear feeds off the terror of its people to keep the corrupted forces of the Ether at bay. It’s a twisted kind of safety, one built on sacrifice, and that burden is shouldered almost entirely by women. Fear becomes not just emotion, but obligation. Meanwhile, the men seem to have distanced themselves from the weight of that cost. What kind of community does that shape, when death is always near and fear is your only worth?

The world is only a couple of centuries old, birthed from a rupture that brought with it the Hexenwald, an overwhelming force of corruption and cruelty. In this world, Ilse stands apart. She knows she has no fear. And in a society that measures value by how much fear you can offer, she is...lacking. Unworthy. Or so she believes.

What follows is a journey of self-discovery rooted in rich lore, magical unease, and a darkness that is both external and internal. Ilse is a compelling character, not because she is fearless, but because her desires reach beyond simple survival. Her love for her sister Thea brings emotional depth to her journey, showing us that fearlessness doesn’t mean heartlessness.

This is a story that asks: Can we find fear? Should we? And as we walk beside Ilse, we experience grief, joy, love and perhaps most powerfully, courage. Season of Fear is a dark and fantastical tale about what makes us human, and what we're willing to endure for the ones we love.

A special thank you to Simon & Schuster UK and NetGalley for the advanced digital copy; All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[ThianeJansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ “I wonder what it would be like not to live in fear.” ✨

Imagine living in a village where fear is currency -you literally feed it to a Saint so it keeps the monsters of the forest at bay. Ilse? She was born without it. And when the Saint threatens to eat her sister unless she finds her fear, she dives headfirst into the cursed Hexenwald… a forest that is alive, watching, and brimming with gods, monsters, and secrets.

What follows wrapped around me like vines and pulled me into sinking sand. I read this in one sitting.

Tropes you’ll find in these dark parts:
🌲 Haunted / sentient forest
🩸 Dark fantasy / Gothic horror
👭 Fierce sisterhood & sacrifice
🌙 Sapphic romance subplot
⚔️ Gods & monsters
🇩🇪 Sprinkled with German words (yes I understood the words = clearly I’m cultured now 😆🤌🏻)

This book was gorgeous, haunting, gruesome, and dripping with atmosphere. It’s the kind of dark fairy tale that sinks its claws into you and doesn’t let go. Honestly? I ate this up. It was absolutely HORRIFYING! Instant chills. Like actual goosebumps, because I was terrified And I was completely enraptured.

The writing is lush and atmospheric, the forest is practically its own villain, and the story clung to me long after the last page. Marketed as The Handmaid’s Tale meets Night of the Witch, this is for readers who love Erin A. Craig’s eerie vibes or Rachel Gillig’s dark and magical storytelling. I cried big fat tears for that epilogue, honestly just gorgeous.

I can’t give you a better book to add to your spooky season TBR, this is ✨it✨

[KMart Vet · Rating 4 out of 5]

The perfect blend of spooky season vibes and a heartfelt sapphic story. It is set in a village where women are expected to feed their terror to an ancient Saint in exchange for protection from the monsters in the surrounding haunted forest. Ilse, born without the ability to fear, has always felt like an outsider, but when her difference threatens her sister’s safety, she’s forced to confront what it means to live in a world built on fear and sacrifice. And she has to enter the woods to find a way to fear to feed the Saint.

I adore queer YA horror, because it so often strikes that razor-sharp balance of unsettling atmosphere and emotional depth, and this book nails it. The folklore at its core is eerie and fascinating. As always with good horror, it’s not just about the creepy. It’s about how society perceives women, their suffering, and their survival, and the commentary is sharp. I kept thinking how easily this could be unpacked in a college course.

What worked especially well for me were the numerous relationships it had at its core. They're all pretty complicated, sometimes messy, and often tender at the core. There’s a bittersweetness here that lingers after the last page. The atmosphere is creepy, the emotions are raw, and the queerness at the heart of the story feels like both resistance and celebration. Both fun and creepy, this is a hauntingly beautiful read. My only complaint is that I wish it leaned even darker. But I really enjoyed this one.

Thank you so much to The Novl, ColoredPages Book Tours, the author, and Christy Ottaviano Books for the complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.

[Lilly - Fantasyandfern · Rating 5 out of 5]

I usually like to scream and shout about my recommendations but this one resonated so deeply with me I almost want to whisper about it??

This one is for the girls who spent their teens staying up late reading scary stories about humanoids, skinwalkers, and Alpe; the small creatures who sit on your chest while you sleep, crushing you until you’d wake, gasping for air

It’s also for those of us who never felt quite right, never fit in, never felt normal or accepted. Those of us who always felt ‘other’. Those of us who are just starting to appreciate that our differences are not shortcomings.

It’s for girls whose fear was preyed upon by men drunk on power, who let their rage silently simmer beneath the surface.

If this sounds like you, I encourage you to pick up Season of Fear. The characters are raw and authentic, the atmosphere is terrifying and delicious. Emily Cooper does not shy away from writing about the gritty and uncomfortable, but instead leans into it.

If the idea of a sentient forest brimming with humanoids and terrifying creatures sounds like your sort of thing, Season of Fear is out on August 28th and I highly recommend picking it up. This is THE book for spooky season

Read if you like:

🌲Wtf is wrong with the forest vibes
💀Creepy and uncomfortable oddities
🍄‍🟫Unpredictable twists and reveals
🥀Humanoids
🍂Bavarian folklore
🦇Raw feminine rage
🪷 Sapphic love stories
🪲 Chosen family

Thank you Simon and Schuster for gifting me a proof of Season of Fear. All thoughts and opinions are my own

[Laura Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Out now!
In a remote Alpine village, fear is not only a natural emotion but a sacred offering. Each year, as the skies bleed red at dusk, the townsfolk channel their terror into an ancient protector known only as the Saint of Fear. This spectral guardian, born from dark folklore, shields the community from the horrors lurking just beyond their borders in the Hexenwald, a forest said to be teeming with nightmarish creatures waiting to prey on the unwary.

From birth, the central figure stands apart: where every villager trembles and weeps at the mere whisper of the forest, she feels nothing. Despite countless attempts to summon even a sliver of dread, her heart remains untouched by the panic that binds her people together. With each failed ritual, her outsider status grows more pronounced, and whispers of her divergence spread throughout the cobbled lanes of the town.

During a pivotal coming-of-age ceremony, the Saint itself uncovers her inability to fear and lashes out with a chilling ultimatum: unless she discovers genuine terror within herself, it will consume her beloved sister as payment. Confronted by this cruel bargain, she realizes that the safety of her family hinges on her mastering an emotion she has never known. Faced with impossible stakes, the prospect of letting her sister perish forces her hand toward a path no villager has dared to tread.

Determined to save her sister, she embarks on a perilous journey into the heart of the Hexenwald, accompanied by her sister’s kind-hearted husband, whose unwavering support becomes her lifeline. As they venture deeper beneath the blood-red canopy, they encounter twisted landscapes, spectral visions, and riddles that test more than her capacity for fear. Along the way, she unravels long-buried secrets of the Saint and the forest itself, confronting not only external terrors but the shadows within her own soul.

Thank you to NetGalley and Christy Ottaviano Books for this ARC!

[Sophie Cornell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. I loved this so much.
Easily made its way into my list of "best reads of 2025"

[elysia ☕️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

“when i step into the hexenwald, the trees do not loom. they beckon.”

as someone that giggles through horror films and finds them hilarious, this book had me shaking in my boots and closing my eyes so i couldn’t see what was coming. such a devastatingly beautiful story of the strength of women, chosen family, and forgiveness. not to mention: lesbians!!!!!

[Lydia Hephzibah · Rating 3 out of 5]

3

setting: heulensee (fantasy)
rep: sapphic protagonist

unfortunately this book has fallen foul of mismarketing in the UK, where it is pubbed as an adult title but it is definitely YA. as such, it always felt a bit ... safe, to me, and I was aching for more darkness and depth. had I known it was YA, I wouldn't have picked it up but having found it in the horror section of the bookstore and it mentioning sapphic rep in the front flap, I thought it would be a great read! it never fully grabbed my attention and I wish there had been slightly stronger world building, I could never quite wrap my head around a town where "saints" feed off women's fear. enjoyed the sapphic rep, but wish it'd had more development

[chelsea reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

HOLY SHIT THIS BOOK!!! my jaw in on the floor!

season of fear is non stop from the very beginning. the plot constantly has something happen -- you're whizzed from one thing to the next with no time to come up for air in between. i struggled to put this book down at the end of the night so i could sleep (i just wanted to keep going!).

this book opens with a scene straight from a horror book/movie/whatever. the opening scene is so captivating and sets the tone perfectly for what's to come. when it's ilse's turn to take the "rite", she fails. the saint of fear then threatens ilse, where she then decides to take matters into her own hands. a large portion of this book takes place in a forest. as with any great forest, this one's filled with horrific creatures determined to cause as much pain and suffering as possible.

from the get-go, i adored ilse. she was a captivating and intriguing main character. i liked how she wasn't fragile but actually very strong and determined. i was weary about hans at first, because all the men in this book were depicted as selfish and greedy, however he became my favourite character swiftly. i hoped so hard that nothing would harm his kind soul.

as the pair make their way into the forest, we meet ash (an absolutely wonderful woman) and her brother. they team up with ilse and hans on their mission to save the women of heulensee.

the romance in this book is minimal but it does play a large role. i found it so cute to read. it is a sapphic romance, which i found very fitting for this particular story.

the plot twist towards the end!! i genuinely didn't see that coming! (what an oblivious queen). there was just so much that happened in such a short space of time but nothing felt rushed. i will say though, that the ending (while happy and wholesome) made me really sad. i may or may not have shed a tear. or two. maybe five. i wasn't counting.

thank you so much for the chance to read this early! this is easily my new favourite book.

[TT · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an incredible read. It’s hauntingly beautiful, the characters are incredibly well written and fleshed out, and the twists just keep coming.

Born without fear, FMC has to venture into the cursed woods next to her village to try find her fear and save her sister. The book follows her journey through the forest, with a few companions along the way. The plot was really well built - detailed but not complicated, twisty but not convoluted. It keeps you on your toes with what’s coming next. The characters are interesting and three dimensional, and the sapphic romance was very well portrayed - it didn’t feel shoehorned in, and was beautifully written.

It felt very poignant at times with how women are depicted. The sacrifices the women (and girls) make to keep their village safe, whilst the men live normally. It’s an excellent commentary on the role of women in society. There was one scene at the end (how the final ‘battle’ played out) which was truly breathtaking.

4.5/5, rounded up to 5.

Thanks Netgalley for the ARC.

[Keri Smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

A very mournful 2.5 stars. Season of Fear was absolutely an anticipated read of the year for me. That gorgeous cover! The concept! The Bavarian forest setting! And when I cracked it open, I found that I really liked Emily Cooper’s writing style. It reminded me of Ava Reid’s writing, with plenty of lush descriptions and cool imagery. But after the first 100 pages or so, Season of Fear drastically switched genres, from folk horror fantasy to straight up romantasy with the faintest tinge of horror, and things started to unravel considerably from there.

While the concept of Ilse, a protagonist who can’t feel fear, is really cool, she didn’t make for the best main character because the reader can’t feel fear if the main character can't either. First person narration makes this problem even worse than it would be in third person. Also, while I wanted to love the romance, it just felt like instalove; unearned and purely physical. Unfortunately, I found myself not feeling as attached to any of the characters as I should have, and the bizarre way Ilse kept going back and forth about whether or not her sister counted as being her actual sister or not took all of the wind out of the sails of her character’s motivation. The author needed to plan out the journey of her thought process; instead, it feels like a jumbled mess.

I also felt like the magic system itself was messy. It’s set up like a hard magic system with rules, but then it breaks the rules or changes them at many points throughout the story. It made me feel like I couldn’t trust anything, in a bad way.

Season of Fear did have some good twists that surprised me, but ultimately it had too much going on and couldn’t follow through on them all. In the end it goes out with a whimper rather than a bang. I’d only potentially recommend Season of Fear to readers who like Ava Reid’s style of writing, and also aren’t put off by the issues I mentioned.

For a debut novel that’s a similar fantasy romance with a little horror, I highly recommend A.B. Poranek’s Where the Dark Stands Still as an alternative.

[Therése · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fans of Rachel Gillig, look over here!!
I tend to dismiss YA books, and I started listening to this one without knowing it was. I am so, so glad I did.

WHY is this not talked about more????!

This is fantasy, horror, dark, thriller, fairytale-based, magic, and romance all wrapped up in fantastic writing. It's about monsters, saints, feminism, sisterly love and what family means. And I have to recommend going audiobook, because this narrator was absolutely amazing - every tense moment, every whispered secret, every swoon-worthy glance came alive in a way that made me completely lose myself in the story. Also, if you're in an "I hate men and the patriarchy" kind of mood, and you want to see some justice delivered since you can't get it irl, you might just love this.

The worldbuilding is phenomenal. The author masterfully crafts a world that feels tense, dangerous, and hauntingly alive. The tension in the plot kept me so on edge, I found myself listening late into the night because I needed to know what happened next.

The characters are unforgettable. The MC is layered, relatable, ambitious and struggles with her secrets in a way that never felt cliché. And the romance? Ugh. The longing, the stolen glances, the subtle gestures. The slow burn is to die for. The supporting cast also shines brightly, adding charm and humor.

Season of Fear has all the tension, magic, and emotional depth of adult fantasy, but with that extra YA spark that makes it feel immediate and raw. It's never immature, even though the MC is only 18. It's dark, terrifying, thrilling, romantic, and utterly compelling.

If you love books that give you chills, tug at your heart, and leave you desperate for more, do yourself a favor: read (or better yet, listen to) Season of Fear. You will not regret it. I'm going to be thinking about this book for a long time.

[Paulina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ilse lives in a village on the edge of Hexenwald, a forest full of terrifying monsters. Thankfully the village is protected by the Saint of Fear, he does however require a following of fearful women who are ready to power the saint with their fear. The problem is, Ilse is incapable of feeling fear and the saint knows it. And if she doesn't find the fear in herself, her beloved sister will die.

This reminded me at times of the movie The Village (and this is said as someone who did like that movie). It's definitely leaning towards YA book so the scares aren't really on "will give you nightmares" level but it doesn't make it any less fun.

This story is filled with plot twists and while some where pretty predictable, other ones took me by complete surprise. And Ilsa is a brilliant main character, she's flawed and stubborn and she loves her sister more than anything else in the world. The book actually invests the time to establish the relationship between the sisters and that gives such a clear motivation behind the story because we know Ilse would do anything for her sister. And I loved how well the relationships were built between Ilse and other characters. While the romance might have been a little rushed at first, it was still charmingly beautiful. And Ilse and her brother in law made for the best friendship storyline I read in a while.

Definitely worth a read for anyone who still enjoys YA stories with a good adventure.

[Roxanne Thorne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book sucked me in and wouldn't let me go until the very last tear stained page.

Ilse lives in Huelensee, a village ravaged by terrifying creatures from the Hexenwald, a dark and magical forest.
The Women and girls must offer up their terror to the Saint of Fear who feeds on and uses it to defeat the monsters and keep the village safe, but the problem is, Ilse doesn't feel fear and the Saint isn't happy about it and threatens to kill Ilse's sister unless she finds her fear.
So it is that Ilse journeys through the Hexenwald, where she finds much more than terrifying creatures and a cursed forest.
I found this a thoroughly enjoyable read, the characters, environments, monsters and heroes are all very well written and the themes of feminism, oppression and prejudice are handled well.

I would recommend this to fans of T. Kingfisher or anyone that loves a dark fairytale, folk horror.

[Joanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I want to forget this book so I can read it again for the first time.

This is what I want from books with creepy forests, terrifying monsters and badass women. Every page was an utter joy - even when I was tense and crying. I genuinely didn't want to put this book down but also didn't want it to end.

Everything about it was perfection: Excellent pacing, stunning world-building, beautiful magic systems, characters I fell in love with and great development from the main character. The bittersweet journey that Ilse goes through had me hooked and wanted her to succeed so much.

The UK cover may look awful (in my opinion), but this book is well worth picking up as it is a stunning standalone fantasy about becoming who you were meant to be, chosen family and grief. I want more from this world but it doesn't need another book, so I'll have to settle for reading it again.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emily Cooper’s Season of Fear is a marvel; her prose is poetic and compelling, the imagery she plays with matching the dark intensity of the story she tells, the beating and bloody heart of her book is visceral, haunting and totally enthralling. From the prologue Cooper’s confidence in the story she wants to tell is emphatic - there’s not a line or word that feels careless, not a turn of phrase, or passage of description which doesn’t feel deliberate. The craft in her prose from that very first chapter is a promise of what is to come - a dark feminist fairytale that has teeth and claws and that rages and rages and rages, but that, above all else, radiates love.

There’s a foreboding sense of dread that seeps into the story and into your bones as you read; Ilse is all sharp edges and a bleak outlook, the perfect compliment to this community which trades in the fear of women as currency for the protection of its men. But what happens when one is fearless, when one refuses the societal contract, refuses to fear and sacrifice and chooses defiance and courage in its stead? Isle’s otherness - both in her sexuality, her nonconformity and her fearlessness - and her journey to acceptance is fraught with self doubt, intensely therapeutic and violently empowering. Her courage echoes beyond the page, her spirit unyielding, her scream one of rage not terror. In a world where subservience is cultivated, where women are complicit in their own exploitation, the best form of defiance is owning one’s truth, truly living it and guiding others towards that same liberation. An absolute triumph.

[Joanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Undoubtably one of the best fantasy books I've read in a long time, Great concept, extremely well executed, beautiful writing and a brilliant tear jerking ending. Bordering on horror at times - both literally and figuratively (our girls are being targeted by monsters AND the patriarchy!!!!)

The only thing that kept this from hitting five stars for me is that I think the romance could have been a little better developed, by it's crescendo it hit so hard but I think that there could have been a little more of them falling in love that could have just turned the heartache dial up to full max.

Great stuff, well done Miss Emily Cooper

[Ren · Rating 4 out of 5]

so good!! i love the dynamics between the characters, i love women, i love an emotional sibling story, i love found family, i love a spooky forest, i love lesbians