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The Wellness Retreat
A Picture of Dorian Grey meets A Cure for Wellness in this suspenseful, horror-tinted thriller set at an exclusive health retreat on a remote Scottish island, where miraculous treatments offered to wealthy clientele may not be precisely what they seem.
Perfection comes at a cost.
Jaimie Vane used to measure her life in concert halls and standing ovations. Now she measures it in symptoms. The chronic illness that ended her career as a cellist doesn’t have a name or a cure—just a long list of things her body can’t do anymore.
When her wild child younger sister Sybil reinvents herself as a live-in staffer at an ultra-exclusive wellness retreat, Jaimie assumes it’s another phase.
Until her messages stop.
Until the voucher arrives.
Talamh Dhubh, a black-sand island in the middle of a wintery sea and home to Saoghal Spa, is a place for guests to be reborn. The founder, the enigmatic and glamorous Cyan Blache, promises restoration. Clarity. Transcendence. Whatever ails you, Saoghal will draw it from you. For guests willing to surrender completely, body and soul, the results are nothing short of miraculous.
Jaimie tells herself she’s only there to find Sybil. Not to drink organic detox smoothies or pour herself onto canvas in art therapy. Not to lie in the mineral baths and bask in the curiously soothing black mud. Not to believe the guests and staff who say Saoghal changed their lives.
But the longer she stays, the lighter her body feels. The quieter her pain becomes. The easier it is to forget what she was like before she got sick.
At Saoghal, healing is real.
And so is the cost.
Because the island doesn’t merely cure the visitors who revel in the embrace of its rich, black mud…it ensnares them. And the ones who arrive broken don’t always leave.
Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.
Perfection comes at a cost.
Jaimie Vane used to measure her life in concert halls and standing ovations. Now she measures it in symptoms. The chronic illness that ended her career as a cellist doesn’t have a name or a cure—just a long list of things her body can’t do anymore.
When her wild child younger sister Sybil reinvents herself as a live-in staffer at an ultra-exclusive wellness retreat, Jaimie assumes it’s another phase.
Until her messages stop.
Until the voucher arrives.
Talamh Dhubh, a black-sand island in the middle of a wintery sea and home to Saoghal Spa, is a place for guests to be reborn. The founder, the enigmatic and glamorous Cyan Blache, promises restoration. Clarity. Transcendence. Whatever ails you, Saoghal will draw it from you. For guests willing to surrender completely, body and soul, the results are nothing short of miraculous.
Jaimie tells herself she’s only there to find Sybil. Not to drink organic detox smoothies or pour herself onto canvas in art therapy. Not to lie in the mineral baths and bask in the curiously soothing black mud. Not to believe the guests and staff who say Saoghal changed their lives.
But the longer she stays, the lighter her body feels. The quieter her pain becomes. The easier it is to forget what she was like before she got sick.
At Saoghal, healing is real.
And so is the cost.
Because the island doesn’t merely cure the visitors who revel in the embrace of its rich, black mud…it ensnares them. And the ones who arrive broken don’t always leave.
Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.
14 pages, Audible Audio
First published September 8, 2026
About the author
Dawn Kurtagich
12 books1,713 followersDAWN KURTAGICH IS AN AWARD-WINNING HORROR AUTHOR.
Her debut novel, THE DEAD HOUSE, was a YALSA Top 10 Pick, An Audie Award Nominee and an Earphone Award Winner. It has been optioned for TV by Lime Productions. She is also the author of THE CREEPER MAN / AND THE TREES CREPT IN, NAIDA and TEETH IN THE MIST, and BLOOD ON THE WIND. Her adult debut novel, THE MADNESS, was pre-empted in a two book, six-figure deal and was published in August 2024. Her next adult novel, DEVIL’S THORN, was announced in 2024, another two-book, six-figure deal, forthcoming in 2025.
By the time she was eighteen, she had been to fifteen schools across two continents. The daughter of a British globe-trotter and single mother, she grew up all over the place, but her formative years were spent in Africa—on a mission, in the bush, in the city and in the desert.
She has been lucky enough to see an elephant stampede at close range, a giraffe tongue at very close range, and she once witnessed the stealing of her (and her friends’) underwear by very large, angry baboons. (This will most definitely end up in a book . . . ) While she has quite a few tales to tell about the jumping African baboon spider, she tends to save these for Halloween!
When she was sixteen, she thought she'd be an astronomer and writer at the same time, and did a month-long internship at Cambridge's prestigious Cavendish Laboratories. At the age of 25, she received a life-saving liver transplant. Her doctor’s still have no idea why her original liver (Leonard) failed. She is enjoying life with her new liver, Lucy.
She leaves her North Wales crypt after midnight during blood moons. The rest of the time she exists somewhere between mushrooms, maggots and mould.
Her debut novel, THE DEAD HOUSE, was a YALSA Top 10 Pick, An Audie Award Nominee and an Earphone Award Winner. It has been optioned for TV by Lime Productions. She is also the author of THE CREEPER MAN / AND THE TREES CREPT IN, NAIDA and TEETH IN THE MIST, and BLOOD ON THE WIND. Her adult debut novel, THE MADNESS, was pre-empted in a two book, six-figure deal and was published in August 2024. Her next adult novel, DEVIL’S THORN, was announced in 2024, another two-book, six-figure deal, forthcoming in 2025.
By the time she was eighteen, she had been to fifteen schools across two continents. The daughter of a British globe-trotter and single mother, she grew up all over the place, but her formative years were spent in Africa—on a mission, in the bush, in the city and in the desert.
She has been lucky enough to see an elephant stampede at close range, a giraffe tongue at very close range, and she once witnessed the stealing of her (and her friends’) underwear by very large, angry baboons. (This will most definitely end up in a book . . . ) While she has quite a few tales to tell about the jumping African baboon spider, she tends to save these for Halloween!
When she was sixteen, she thought she'd be an astronomer and writer at the same time, and did a month-long internship at Cambridge's prestigious Cavendish Laboratories. At the age of 25, she received a life-saving liver transplant. Her doctor’s still have no idea why her original liver (Leonard) failed. She is enjoying life with her new liver, Lucy.
She leaves her North Wales crypt after midnight during blood moons. The rest of the time she exists somewhere between mushrooms, maggots and mould.
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Review of advance copy received from Publisher
A haunting and nuanced tale that touched this chronically ill reader to her core, The Wellness Retreat was not only an escape for yours truly, but a mind-bending trip into a slow-burning mystery with a touch of both gothic and supernatural horror. Taking place at a luxury wellness retreat with definite cult-ish vibes, the atmosphere and setting were easily the stars of the show. Otherworldly, vivid, and downright chilling, it gave the island itself a very character-like feel as the misty bogs, torrential rain, and pounding waves swept right into my bones. Don’t get me wrong, there was more to this story than the Scottish isle where it took place. With relationship drama, a deeply developed narrator, and a twisty last third that shocked me but good, it was quite the cinematic story of survival, sisterhood, and power that was tense and creepy while also delivering emotional depth.
In spite of my love for the lyrically narrated storyline, eerie supernatural elements, and deeply immersive storytelling, the respectful look at chronic illness was still what got and held my attention. Turning the wellness retreat setting into a relevant plot point instead of just a sinister backdrop, it had me feeling my own desperation as I locked into the emotion of this well-crafted story. You see, I could easily put myself in Jaimie’s shoes. But it didn’t stop there. Oh no. After all, the gradual ascension to the crescendo was well worth it when I reached that Homeric yet poignant finale. Preceded by twist after twist that turned the very genre of this book on its head, I was truly blown away by the time I reached the last page. So if a Dorian Grey-meets-Sirens-esque tale with a supernatural side sounds like your cup of tea, grab this book now. It was quite the ride. Rating of 4.25 stars.
Read if you’re a fan of:
- Supernatural elements
- The wellness culture
- Genre-bending stories
- Cult-like vibes
- Folklore/mythology
- Chronic illness representation
- Lyrical descriptions
- Slow-burning suspense
- Roiling tension
- Relationship drama
- Supernatural/gothic horror
- Atmospheric settings
- Divisive endings
- Immersive storytelling
SYNOPSIS:
Jaimie Vane used to measure her life in concert halls and standing ovations. Now she measures it in symptoms. The chronic illness that ended her career as a cellist doesn’t have a name or a cure—just a long list of things her body can’t do anymore.
When her wild child younger sister Sybil reinvents herself as a live-in staffer at an ultra-exclusive wellness retreat, Jaimie assumes it’s another phase.
Until her messages stop.
Until the voucher arrives.
Talamh Dhubh, a black-sand island in the middle of a wintery sea and home to Saoghal Spa, is a place for guests to be reborn. The founder, the enigmatic and glamorous Cyan Blache, promises restoration. Clarity. Transcendence. Whatever ails you, Saoghal will draw it from you. For guests willing to surrender completely, body and soul, the results are nothing short of miraculous.
Jaimie tells herself she’s only there to find Sybil. Not to drink organic detox smoothies or pour herself onto canvas in art therapy. Not to lie in the mineral baths and bask in the curiously soothing black mud. Not to believe the guests and staff who say Saoghal changed their lives.
But the longer she stays, the lighter her body feels. The quieter her pain becomes. The easier it is to forget what she was like before she got sick.
At Saoghal, healing is real.
And so is the cost.
Because the island doesn’t merely cure the visitors who revel in the embrace of its rich, black mud…it ensnares them. And the ones who arrive broken don’t always leave.
Thank you Dawn Kurtagich and Hanover Square Press for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: September 8, 2026
Content warning: chronic illness, medical trauma, anxiety, death/murder, sexual content, kidnapping, confinement, violence, blood, gore, body horror
In spite of my love for the lyrically narrated storyline, eerie supernatural elements, and deeply immersive storytelling, the respectful look at chronic illness was still what got and held my attention. Turning the wellness retreat setting into a relevant plot point instead of just a sinister backdrop, it had me feeling my own desperation as I locked into the emotion of this well-crafted story. You see, I could easily put myself in Jaimie’s shoes. But it didn’t stop there. Oh no. After all, the gradual ascension to the crescendo was well worth it when I reached that Homeric yet poignant finale. Preceded by twist after twist that turned the very genre of this book on its head, I was truly blown away by the time I reached the last page. So if a Dorian Grey-meets-Sirens-esque tale with a supernatural side sounds like your cup of tea, grab this book now. It was quite the ride. Rating of 4.25 stars.
Read if you’re a fan of:
- Supernatural elements
- The wellness culture
- Genre-bending stories
- Cult-like vibes
- Folklore/mythology
- Chronic illness representation
- Lyrical descriptions
- Slow-burning suspense
- Roiling tension
- Relationship drama
- Supernatural/gothic horror
- Atmospheric settings
- Divisive endings
- Immersive storytelling
SYNOPSIS:
Jaimie Vane used to measure her life in concert halls and standing ovations. Now she measures it in symptoms. The chronic illness that ended her career as a cellist doesn’t have a name or a cure—just a long list of things her body can’t do anymore.
When her wild child younger sister Sybil reinvents herself as a live-in staffer at an ultra-exclusive wellness retreat, Jaimie assumes it’s another phase.
Until her messages stop.
Until the voucher arrives.
Talamh Dhubh, a black-sand island in the middle of a wintery sea and home to Saoghal Spa, is a place for guests to be reborn. The founder, the enigmatic and glamorous Cyan Blache, promises restoration. Clarity. Transcendence. Whatever ails you, Saoghal will draw it from you. For guests willing to surrender completely, body and soul, the results are nothing short of miraculous.
Jaimie tells herself she’s only there to find Sybil. Not to drink organic detox smoothies or pour herself onto canvas in art therapy. Not to lie in the mineral baths and bask in the curiously soothing black mud. Not to believe the guests and staff who say Saoghal changed their lives.
But the longer she stays, the lighter her body feels. The quieter her pain becomes. The easier it is to forget what she was like before she got sick.
At Saoghal, healing is real.
And so is the cost.
Because the island doesn’t merely cure the visitors who revel in the embrace of its rich, black mud…it ensnares them. And the ones who arrive broken don’t always leave.
Thank you Dawn Kurtagich and Hanover Square Press for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: September 8, 2026
Content warning: chronic illness, medical trauma, anxiety, death/murder, sexual content, kidnapping, confinement, violence, blood, gore, body horror
September 8, 2026
Confession time.
I initially requested The Wellness Retreat because...
I liked the colors on the cover.
That's it. That's the sophisticated literary reasoning we're working with here. :D
BUT then I read the blurb and thought... okay, isolated Scottish island? Mysterious wellness retreat? Missing sister? Former asylum? Stormy weather?
You have my attention.
Jaimie and her sister Sybil couldn't be more different. Jaimie is the more serious one, while Sybil is the extroverted, adventurous sister who's always off doing something new.
So when Sybil suddenly announces that she's found herself at an exclusive wellness retreat and is completely at peace there, Jaimie isn't exactly convinced.
Then Sybil stops calling.
The retreat keeps assuring Jaimie that her sister is simply busy testing products and doing various activities, but when Sybil leaves her a voucher for a free stay, Jaimie's alarm bells start ringing louder than Santa's sleigh.
And off to Scotland we go.
The journey itself isn't easy for Jaimie. She used to have a promising career as a cellist before chronic illness and pain completely changed her life, and even everyday activities can take a considerable amount out of her.
Still, she's determined to find Sybil.
She arrives at this isolated retreat on a tiny Scottish island in terrible weather, barely makes it there, discovers the place used to be an asylum and...
COME ON.
At this point I was practically rubbing my hands together.
Give me the creepy stuff.
Except... it took a while for the creepy moments to arrive.
Jaimie doesn't immediately reveal her connection to Sybil and instead starts investigating while pretending to be another guest. She gets to know the other residents and staff, reluctantly participates in some of the treatments and even gets a little...
cough cough
...personally acquainted with one particular member of staff.
Woop woop...
But then something genuinely strange happens.
Jaimie starts feeling better.
The treatments she was so skeptical about actually seem to be helping her chronic pain and fatigue.
Which creates a pretty interesting dilemma. She's there because something clearly isn't right and her sister is still missing... but what happens when the suspicious place you're investigating starts giving you something you've desperately wanted back?
Unfortunately, the first part was painfully slow for me.
And I think that ultimately had the biggest influence on my rating. It took so long for the story to really get moving that I struggled to connect with it and its characters as much as I wanted to.
The second half was considerably more interesting. We finally get some twists, a body enters the equation, things become increasingly strange, and there are supernatural, or paranormal-ish elements that made me much more curious about what was actually happening at the retreat.
I do have slightly mixed feelings about this being marketed primarily as horror, though.
With an isolated Scottish island, stormy weather, a former asylum, a missing woman and a mysterious wellness retreat, the beginning gave me expectations of something much darker and creepier. Instead, the story eventually felt more like a modern wellness thriller/mystery with some darker and supernatural elements.
Not necessarily a bad thing!
It just wasn't quite the horror experience I expected from that setup.
Overall, The Wellness Retreat had a fantastic premise and a setting that immediately grabbed me, and I enjoyed the second half considerably more once the mystery started unfolding. I just wish the first half had moved a little faster because by the time things really kicked into gear, I'd already spent too much of the book struggling to become invested.
Also, apparently requesting books because “oooooh, pretty colors” occasionally results in Scottish wellness-retreat conspiracies.
There are worse methods of choosing books, I guess...
3.5⭐
Thank you to the publisher and Edelweiss+ for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. All opinions are my own.
https://turnthepagewithana.blogspot.c...
I initially requested The Wellness Retreat because...
I liked the colors on the cover.
That's it. That's the sophisticated literary reasoning we're working with here. :D
BUT then I read the blurb and thought... okay, isolated Scottish island? Mysterious wellness retreat? Missing sister? Former asylum? Stormy weather?
You have my attention.
Jaimie and her sister Sybil couldn't be more different. Jaimie is the more serious one, while Sybil is the extroverted, adventurous sister who's always off doing something new.
So when Sybil suddenly announces that she's found herself at an exclusive wellness retreat and is completely at peace there, Jaimie isn't exactly convinced.
Then Sybil stops calling.
The retreat keeps assuring Jaimie that her sister is simply busy testing products and doing various activities, but when Sybil leaves her a voucher for a free stay, Jaimie's alarm bells start ringing louder than Santa's sleigh.
And off to Scotland we go.
The journey itself isn't easy for Jaimie. She used to have a promising career as a cellist before chronic illness and pain completely changed her life, and even everyday activities can take a considerable amount out of her.
Still, she's determined to find Sybil.
She arrives at this isolated retreat on a tiny Scottish island in terrible weather, barely makes it there, discovers the place used to be an asylum and...
COME ON.
At this point I was practically rubbing my hands together.
Give me the creepy stuff.
Except... it took a while for the creepy moments to arrive.
Jaimie doesn't immediately reveal her connection to Sybil and instead starts investigating while pretending to be another guest. She gets to know the other residents and staff, reluctantly participates in some of the treatments and even gets a little...
cough cough
...personally acquainted with one particular member of staff.
Woop woop...
But then something genuinely strange happens.
Jaimie starts feeling better.
The treatments she was so skeptical about actually seem to be helping her chronic pain and fatigue.
Which creates a pretty interesting dilemma. She's there because something clearly isn't right and her sister is still missing... but what happens when the suspicious place you're investigating starts giving you something you've desperately wanted back?
Unfortunately, the first part was painfully slow for me.
And I think that ultimately had the biggest influence on my rating. It took so long for the story to really get moving that I struggled to connect with it and its characters as much as I wanted to.
The second half was considerably more interesting. We finally get some twists, a body enters the equation, things become increasingly strange, and there are supernatural, or paranormal-ish elements that made me much more curious about what was actually happening at the retreat.
I do have slightly mixed feelings about this being marketed primarily as horror, though.
With an isolated Scottish island, stormy weather, a former asylum, a missing woman and a mysterious wellness retreat, the beginning gave me expectations of something much darker and creepier. Instead, the story eventually felt more like a modern wellness thriller/mystery with some darker and supernatural elements.
Not necessarily a bad thing!
It just wasn't quite the horror experience I expected from that setup.
Overall, The Wellness Retreat had a fantastic premise and a setting that immediately grabbed me, and I enjoyed the second half considerably more once the mystery started unfolding. I just wish the first half had moved a little faster because by the time things really kicked into gear, I'd already spent too much of the book struggling to become invested.
Also, apparently requesting books because “oooooh, pretty colors” occasionally results in Scottish wellness-retreat conspiracies.
There are worse methods of choosing books, I guess...
3.5⭐
Thank you to the publisher and Edelweiss+ for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. All opinions are my own.
https://turnthepagewithana.blogspot.c...
Review of advance copy received from Author
Hi! I wrote The Wellness Retreat, and if you'd like trigger warnings, please see my website here: https://www.dawnkurtagich.com/trigger...
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5 stars!
Wow, this book was quite different— in a good way! If you’re into dark, gothic tales sprinkled with a touch of the supernatural, this mystery will captivate you. But before we dive in, let’s take a moment to appreciate the stunning cover! It should resonate deeply with the essence of this book!
The main character, Jaimie Vane, is grappling with a chronic illness. Her sister, Sybil, has been out of touch for a while, but suddenly reaches out for help, sending Jaimie a voucher for a stay at a luxurious spa. With no one able to give her any information about Sybil's whereabouts, Jaimie decides to go undercover as a guest while indulging in some amateur sleuthing. Surprisingly, she starts to feel better after attending several treatments, all the while unaware of the positive impact the treatments are having on her. Amidst all this, she encounters the enigmatic Cyan Blache, the spa's founder, whose peculiar personality and behavior add an interesting twist to the story.
Naturally, this all unfolds in a secluded location, heightening the sinister atmosphere. To make things even more eerie, the spa is situated in a former asylum that once served as a prison! If that doesn’t send shivers down your spine, I don’t know what will! The mystery and unexpected turns come rushing to the surface, immersing you in Jaimie's struggles and the bizarre environment she finds herself in. What’s even more poignant is that the author draws from her own experiences living with a chronic illness, making the story all the more relatable.
Having visited Scotland myself, I can vividly imagine the setting and the chilling atmosphere. Although it moves at a slower pace, it's tough to set aside because there's always something happening. If you appreciate Scottish tales rich with folklore, supernatural elements, and complex characters with disabilities, this story will pull you right in. It offers a modern take on beauty treatments spiraling into the unimaginable, keeping you hooked until the very last page. So, if you’re daring enough to visit this spa, enjoy that mud bath—but be careful; you might find yourself getting sucked in! Ha!
Thank you, @TheHive @HarlequinTradePublishing and @NetGalley, for the gifted DRC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Wow, this book was quite different— in a good way! If you’re into dark, gothic tales sprinkled with a touch of the supernatural, this mystery will captivate you. But before we dive in, let’s take a moment to appreciate the stunning cover! It should resonate deeply with the essence of this book!
The main character, Jaimie Vane, is grappling with a chronic illness. Her sister, Sybil, has been out of touch for a while, but suddenly reaches out for help, sending Jaimie a voucher for a stay at a luxurious spa. With no one able to give her any information about Sybil's whereabouts, Jaimie decides to go undercover as a guest while indulging in some amateur sleuthing. Surprisingly, she starts to feel better after attending several treatments, all the while unaware of the positive impact the treatments are having on her. Amidst all this, she encounters the enigmatic Cyan Blache, the spa's founder, whose peculiar personality and behavior add an interesting twist to the story.
Naturally, this all unfolds in a secluded location, heightening the sinister atmosphere. To make things even more eerie, the spa is situated in a former asylum that once served as a prison! If that doesn’t send shivers down your spine, I don’t know what will! The mystery and unexpected turns come rushing to the surface, immersing you in Jaimie's struggles and the bizarre environment she finds herself in. What’s even more poignant is that the author draws from her own experiences living with a chronic illness, making the story all the more relatable.
Having visited Scotland myself, I can vividly imagine the setting and the chilling atmosphere. Although it moves at a slower pace, it's tough to set aside because there's always something happening. If you appreciate Scottish tales rich with folklore, supernatural elements, and complex characters with disabilities, this story will pull you right in. It offers a modern take on beauty treatments spiraling into the unimaginable, keeping you hooked until the very last page. So, if you’re daring enough to visit this spa, enjoy that mud bath—but be careful; you might find yourself getting sucked in! Ha!
Thank you, @TheHive @HarlequinTradePublishing and @NetGalley, for the gifted DRC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 2, 2026
Jamie's body aches, her world is small, and her sister is missing. When repeated emails from her sister reveals a hidden message in an invitation to the spa Sybil works at, Jamie forces herself to accept the offer to go to a remote island Scotland at the isolated spa. But Sybil is not there and things are definitely off.
Even as Sybil knows things aren't right, she cannot deny the spa seems to offer a transformative healing to her body the comes from the mud on the island. As the search for her sister continues, a body is found in the bog and sinister secrets are slowly revealed.
I wasn't prepared for this ending and definitely would never have guessed at the twist.
Wonderfully narrated by Ell Potter. Thank you to Libro.fm's ALC program for this audiobook.
Even as Sybil knows things aren't right, she cannot deny the spa seems to offer a transformative healing to her body the comes from the mud on the island. As the search for her sister continues, a body is found in the bog and sinister secrets are slowly revealed.
I wasn't prepared for this ending and definitely would never have guessed at the twist.
Wonderfully narrated by Ell Potter. Thank you to Libro.fm's ALC program for this audiobook.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Wellness Retreat by Dawn Kurtagich: Come for the Creepy Asylum, Stay Because the Plot Keeps Wandering Off
This book has everything. An abandoned prison. A former asylum. A remote Scottish island. Sinister folklore. A missing sister. A luxury wellness retreat with enough red flags to upholster the Titanic. It should have been an unsettling gothic thriller that kept me reading long past my bedtime.
Instead, it seemed determined to ask the far more pressing question: "Yes, but who is everyone attracted to?"
The missing sister is supposedly the reason we're here, but the investigation often feels like an inconvenience interrupting everyone's complicated romantic feelings. The mystery keeps trying to get started, only to be shoved aside for another round of longing glances and emotional angst. By the halfway point, I wasn't sure if I was reading a psychological thriller or watching the world's least productive dating show.
And can we talk about the characters? Everyone's physical appearance is treated like a personality test. If they're gorgeous, they're fascinating. If they're rugged, they're dependable. If they're delicate, they must be deeply haunted. I started expecting someone to solve the mystery simply because they had particularly expressive cheekbones.
The biggest crime isn't even the romance. It's the wasted setting. You give me an abandoned asylum on an isolated Scottish island and somehow make it feel less interesting than everyone's relationship drama? That takes commitment. The island, the retreat, the folklore, and the history all promise something deliciously creepy, but the book keeps glancing at those ideas before saying, "We'll get back to that. First, let's process our feelings."
Spoiler: it rarely gets back to that.
The pacing is almost impressive in its consistency. Every single time the story builds genuine tension, every single time I think, "Finally, now we're getting somewhere," it immediately slams on the brakes. It's like watching someone sprint toward the finish line only to stop for an in-depth conversation about their crush.
There are flashes of the novel this could have been, and that's what makes it frustrating. The atmosphere is strong when the book remembers it exists. The mystery has potential when it's allowed on the page. The backstory is genuinely intriguing when it isn't treated like optional bonus content.
I kept waiting for the prison, the asylum, the folklore, or the missing sister to become the main event.
Apparently the love hexagon had other plans.
This isn't a bad book so much as a book with spectacular priorities in the wrong order. It had all the ingredients for a chilling, unforgettable gothic mystery and somehow decided the garnish was the entrée.
Two stars. One for the atmosphere, one for the wasted potential. The abandoned asylum deserved a better novel than the one it was trapped in.
This book has everything. An abandoned prison. A former asylum. A remote Scottish island. Sinister folklore. A missing sister. A luxury wellness retreat with enough red flags to upholster the Titanic. It should have been an unsettling gothic thriller that kept me reading long past my bedtime.
Instead, it seemed determined to ask the far more pressing question: "Yes, but who is everyone attracted to?"
The missing sister is supposedly the reason we're here, but the investigation often feels like an inconvenience interrupting everyone's complicated romantic feelings. The mystery keeps trying to get started, only to be shoved aside for another round of longing glances and emotional angst. By the halfway point, I wasn't sure if I was reading a psychological thriller or watching the world's least productive dating show.
And can we talk about the characters? Everyone's physical appearance is treated like a personality test. If they're gorgeous, they're fascinating. If they're rugged, they're dependable. If they're delicate, they must be deeply haunted. I started expecting someone to solve the mystery simply because they had particularly expressive cheekbones.
The biggest crime isn't even the romance. It's the wasted setting. You give me an abandoned asylum on an isolated Scottish island and somehow make it feel less interesting than everyone's relationship drama? That takes commitment. The island, the retreat, the folklore, and the history all promise something deliciously creepy, but the book keeps glancing at those ideas before saying, "We'll get back to that. First, let's process our feelings."
Spoiler: it rarely gets back to that.
The pacing is almost impressive in its consistency. Every single time the story builds genuine tension, every single time I think, "Finally, now we're getting somewhere," it immediately slams on the brakes. It's like watching someone sprint toward the finish line only to stop for an in-depth conversation about their crush.
There are flashes of the novel this could have been, and that's what makes it frustrating. The atmosphere is strong when the book remembers it exists. The mystery has potential when it's allowed on the page. The backstory is genuinely intriguing when it isn't treated like optional bonus content.
I kept waiting for the prison, the asylum, the folklore, or the missing sister to become the main event.
Apparently the love hexagon had other plans.
This isn't a bad book so much as a book with spectacular priorities in the wrong order. It had all the ingredients for a chilling, unforgettable gothic mystery and somehow decided the garnish was the entrée.
Two stars. One for the atmosphere, one for the wasted potential. The abandoned asylum deserved a better novel than the one it was trapped in.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Did you ever read a book where the narrator sounds like they’re putting on an accent, only to find out they’re actually from the place they’re portraying? That’s what I felt reading this audiobook, which I was graciously granted from The Hive via NetGalley.
El Potter was lovely, and she has a really pleasant tone. It just sounded “off” to me as she switched between different dialects, and at times the accents weren’t consistent. It was distracting, but it’s not why I gave this 2⭐️. If anything, I think it was more of a miscast that accentuated some of the challenges I was already having with the prose itself.
I genuinely don’t know what this book wants to be. Combining mystery/thriller/gothic horror genre with romance is popular right now, and I am absolutely here for that combination, when it works. Unfortunately, here the romance repeatedly got in the way of the other elements. Any time the mystery started gaining momentum, it would be interrupted by a glance, a touch, or some yearning that diverted the action, and suddenly we were off into the next romantic entanglement.
The writing itself just felt “off.” It was chock-full of bizarre similes, and the structure was so predictable you could practically set a clock by which beat was coming next. And yes, I know the FMC was a cellist, but having the prose and dialogue constantly salted and peppered with musical terminology was excessive. Instead of adding depth to her character, it repeatedly pulled me out of the story.
Unfortunately, there were so many strange choices that pulled me out of the book that I spent more time outside the story than in it. The constant stops and starts were frustrating rather than propulsive, especially when the main twist was incredibly predictable and I found myself just wanting to get to it already.
This had so much potential. Unfortunately, somewhere between the genre mashup, the prose, the pacing, and the predictable plot, it lost its way. For me, there was simply too much working against it to make the experience an enjoyable one.
El Potter was lovely, and she has a really pleasant tone. It just sounded “off” to me as she switched between different dialects, and at times the accents weren’t consistent. It was distracting, but it’s not why I gave this 2⭐️. If anything, I think it was more of a miscast that accentuated some of the challenges I was already having with the prose itself.
I genuinely don’t know what this book wants to be. Combining mystery/thriller/gothic horror genre with romance is popular right now, and I am absolutely here for that combination, when it works. Unfortunately, here the romance repeatedly got in the way of the other elements. Any time the mystery started gaining momentum, it would be interrupted by a glance, a touch, or some yearning that diverted the action, and suddenly we were off into the next romantic entanglement.
The writing itself just felt “off.” It was chock-full of bizarre similes, and the structure was so predictable you could practically set a clock by which beat was coming next. And yes, I know the FMC was a cellist, but having the prose and dialogue constantly salted and peppered with musical terminology was excessive. Instead of adding depth to her character, it repeatedly pulled me out of the story.
Unfortunately, there were so many strange choices that pulled me out of the book that I spent more time outside the story than in it. The constant stops and starts were frustrating rather than propulsive, especially when the main twist was incredibly predictable and I found myself just wanting to get to it already.
This had so much potential. Unfortunately, somewhere between the genre mashup, the prose, the pacing, and the predictable plot, it lost its way. For me, there was simply too much working against it to make the experience an enjoyable one.
September 1, 2026
Thank you to HTP Books and The Hive for the ARC and ALC via NetGalley! All opinions are my own.
The Wellness Retreat is a slow-burn horror/thriller that will string you along the entire time, and you won’t mind at all!
The plot is incredibly engaging and there is always an element of the unknown which kept me coming back for more over and over. I truly didn’t know where the story would go!
I genuinely connected with our protagonist Jaimie. I felt her pain, her angst, her aches. I appreciated the chronic illness/pain rep. I also felt her desperation for finding her sister Sybil.
The Scottish/Welsh dialect on the page can be hard to read. If it wasn’t for me watching Outlander I would have stumbled more. The audiobook version is fantastic and I enjoyed being able to hear the narrator’s accent as well as each character’s personality shine through the dialogue. It made it that much more immersive as I did a tandem read. Ell Potter is a fabulous narrator and I’ll be seeking out other books she has read!
I didn’t realize it would have demonic/otherworldly vibes towards the end and honestly didn’t pick up that throughout the book. That is the reason for the 4 stars, as it felt kind of out of left field and I didn't sense that in the first 3/4 of the plot. Instead of being shocking, it felt more like it wasn't connected.
This story will leave you with a chill down your spine. The Wellness Retreat starts out with an uneasy edge but transitions into something melodic as you go. Don’t get too comfortable though, that’s where they want you… ;)
The Wellness Retreat is a slow-burn horror/thriller that will string you along the entire time, and you won’t mind at all!
The plot is incredibly engaging and there is always an element of the unknown which kept me coming back for more over and over. I truly didn’t know where the story would go!
I genuinely connected with our protagonist Jaimie. I felt her pain, her angst, her aches. I appreciated the chronic illness/pain rep. I also felt her desperation for finding her sister Sybil.
The Scottish/Welsh dialect on the page can be hard to read. If it wasn’t for me watching Outlander I would have stumbled more. The audiobook version is fantastic and I enjoyed being able to hear the narrator’s accent as well as each character’s personality shine through the dialogue. It made it that much more immersive as I did a tandem read. Ell Potter is a fabulous narrator and I’ll be seeking out other books she has read!
I didn’t realize it would have demonic/otherworldly vibes towards the end and honestly didn’t pick up that throughout the book. That is the reason for the 4 stars, as it felt kind of out of left field and I didn't sense that in the first 3/4 of the plot. Instead of being shocking, it felt more like it wasn't connected.
This story will leave you with a chill down your spine. The Wellness Retreat starts out with an uneasy edge but transitions into something melodic as you go. Don’t get too comfortable though, that’s where they want you… ;)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 10, 2026
I absolutely loved the first part.
The disability representation was so well done and I really felt seen and straight up thrown inside the book. And that drove the rating up, because sadly it's all I really loved.
At the start you have this great way of introducing you to the island. The storm, the roughness of the place, the desperation as everything seems to fall apart. Then all the positive sides of the luxury spa, which I probably appreciated more than Jamie did.
But then I felt it does get lost. It gets really slow, and for a whilre you're in a limbo. Or at least that's how I felt. Then, as things finally escalated, I feel like it really lost me. Somehow it wasn't for me. It also felt way more Fantasy than Horror to me.
I appreciated the part at the end, with the questions to help you reflect about your thoughts about the book, and the author's words made me appreciate her and be even more thankful to her for the representation.
More on the spoilers side (heavy spoilers, don't click if you're not finished):
The disability representation was so well done and I really felt seen and straight up thrown inside the book. And that drove the rating up, because sadly it's all I really loved.
At the start you have this great way of introducing you to the island. The storm, the roughness of the place, the desperation as everything seems to fall apart. Then all the positive sides of the luxury spa, which I probably appreciated more than Jamie did.
But then I felt it does get lost. It gets really slow, and for a whilre you're in a limbo. Or at least that's how I felt. Then, as things finally escalated, I feel like it really lost me. Somehow it wasn't for me. It also felt way more Fantasy than Horror to me.
I appreciated the part at the end, with the questions to help you reflect about your thoughts about the book, and the author's words made me appreciate her and be even more thankful to her for the representation.
More on the spoilers side (heavy spoilers, don't click if you're not finished):
October 29, 2026
Really good! Entertaining mix of thriller, mystery, horror and supernatural. Light, good pacing.
September 10, 2026
3.5 stars
The Wellness Retreat by Dawn Kurtagich is a horror/thriller novel about a woman with a chronic illness who travels to a remote Scottish island spa to find her sister.
Let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Harlequin Trade Publishing | Hanover Square Press, and of course the author (Dawn Kurtagich), for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Okay. this was really good. However, it was really long and drawn out, very slow moving.
I liked how folklore was woven into the story. The setting of a really remote island that once held a prison, and then an asylum, all added to the mystery, and to the atmosphere.
The plot is about family, and how far you would go to protect your loved ones. But it is also about the island, and how far some would go to protect their home. It is about isolation, physical and emotional. It is about the power of nature.
I liked Jaimie. Her chronic illness somehow defined her, which made for an uncomfortable read at times. Perhaps it made me aware of how we are often judged by a health issue which is no fault of our own. It also made me hope for an unrealistic cure on a remote island, where I would never be able to leave -- not sure that is a good thing.
The actual wellness center seemed to be a little extreme (although I've never been to one), and for all the time spent outdoors in the seemingly never-ending rain, I think Jaimie may have at least caught a cold, maybe pneumonia...
Overall, it was a rather creepy, very atmospheric read, but it moved too slowly for me.
For a more thorough review of this book and others (including the reason I chose to read/review this book, my own synopsis of the book, its author information and a favorite quotation or two from this book), please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
August 9, 2026
The last time Jaimie heard from her sister, Sibyl was working at a wellness retreat in the Outer Hebrides. Unable to contact her, Jaimie uses her gift certificate to visit the spa and the island on which it sits. She quickly learns that nothing is what it seems.
This gothic horror/thriller had me in its clutches from the beginning. The setting is brilliant - a spa in an imposing gothic building hewn from the stone of a remote island and clogged with the mud mined from its ancient bogs. There is nothing wash-rinse-repeat about the plot. Its supernatural, gothic, folk, and survival horror themes are displayed in a new and fresh way. The story twists and turns in ways that I might have had hints of but would never have guessed the whole. This book is slow burn and filled with creeping dread. The culmination of the story feels both epic and inevitable, and yet I was stunned. I loved it.
Thank you to Hanover Square Press, Dawn Kurtagich, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this advance reader’s proof. I hope everyone enjoys this as much as I did.
This gothic horror/thriller had me in its clutches from the beginning. The setting is brilliant - a spa in an imposing gothic building hewn from the stone of a remote island and clogged with the mud mined from its ancient bogs. There is nothing wash-rinse-repeat about the plot. Its supernatural, gothic, folk, and survival horror themes are displayed in a new and fresh way. The story twists and turns in ways that I might have had hints of but would never have guessed the whole. This book is slow burn and filled with creeping dread. The culmination of the story feels both epic and inevitable, and yet I was stunned. I loved it.
Thank you to Hanover Square Press, Dawn Kurtagich, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this advance reader’s proof. I hope everyone enjoys this as much as I did.
October 5, 2026
Um…. what???
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I'm starting to believe this author was a one hit wonder for me. Out of her books I've read I've only really enjoyed one. This started off promising and I really sympathized with the main character and her chronic illness. But holy moly this dragged so bad. The story should have just focused on her finding her sister but it went off in so many different directions my head was spinning. The ending was absolutely ridiculous and had me rolling my eyes and thanking my stars that I was done.
Many thanks to Hanover Square Press for the gifted copy for my honest review!
Many thanks to Hanover Square Press for the gifted copy for my honest review!
September 10, 2026
Dawn Kurtagich does it once again with The Wellness Retreat. Jaimie Vane realizes that her sister has disappeared and sent her an SOS code disguised in an email along with a gift for a fourteen day trip to Saoghal Spa. Jaimie has an undefined chronic illness that causes her a lot of pain. She loses her pain medication and her cane along the way to the spa. At first, she holds her secret about searching for her missing sister close to her chest. After several spa treatments, involving the healing mud from the island, she starts feeling better and in less pain. She starts questioning more people and lets her true intentions slip. She starts to research about the island and people who have disappeared after visiting. The townspeople don’t hold the spa in high regards. I never would have guessed this mystery or the horror that many of the guests have faced. A Fall/Spooky read set on a Gothic island with the perfect blend of mystery and horror. Think twice about that miracle cure before committing. 4.5 stars, rounded up. ARC was provided by Harlequin Trade Publishing/Hanover Square Press via NetGalley. I received an advance reading copy for free and I am leaving this feedback voluntarily.
September 27, 2026
Thank you so much to Libro.fm for the advance listener copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
I enjoyed the elements of the story and even some of the characters, but the execution was a little clunky for me.
Jaimie Vane was once a promising cellist whose career was derailed by a mysterious chronic illness that left her struggling with pain, fatigue, and severe physical limitations. Doctors won't take her seriously, and she is worn down by life. While trying to navigate her new reality, her younger sister, Sybil, has reinvented herself as a wellness influencer and eventually takes a position at an exclusive health retreat on a remote Scottish island. Sybil used to stay in close contact with her sister, but when her messages dry up, Jaimie becomes concerned. When she receives one last message from her, it contains a voucher for a free stay at the wellness retreat...and some disturbing messages in code.
Determined to find her sister, Jaimie travels to the isolated island and takes up residence at Saoghal Spa, an extravagant wellness sanctuary founded by the enigmatic Cyan Blache. The retreat promises physical and spiritual transformation through an assortment of treatments, including mineral baths, black mud therapies, detox programs, and group healing activities. Under the guise of being a regular guest, Jaimie begins the search for her sister. Although she initially thought most of the treatments were a bit "woo woo" for her taste, Jaimie soon realizes that she is feeling better. Her chronic pain is melting away, and she is starting to form bonds with some of the other guests and staff at the resort.
Of course, every good thing must come with a price tag attached, and although Jaimie is healing, she is starting to see a darker side to the treatments and the people who offer them.
The very beginning of the narrative launches with big fantasy vibes but then transitions into more of a traditional suspense/thriller. Then the ending goes way off the rails back into fantasy/folklore. I was enjoying the "rich people behaving badly" vibes and the culty aspects. I wish the author had stuck more closely to that. I also felt like there were too many side characters for any of them to be very meaningful to the plot.
On the positive side, this book is a VERY good representation of chronic illness and how people, especially women, suffer in silence with hidden illnesses.
Suspension of disbelief is a must. I thought the audio production was well done. Just kind of middling for me, but I'm not mad that I read it.
3 stars.
I enjoyed the elements of the story and even some of the characters, but the execution was a little clunky for me.
Jaimie Vane was once a promising cellist whose career was derailed by a mysterious chronic illness that left her struggling with pain, fatigue, and severe physical limitations. Doctors won't take her seriously, and she is worn down by life. While trying to navigate her new reality, her younger sister, Sybil, has reinvented herself as a wellness influencer and eventually takes a position at an exclusive health retreat on a remote Scottish island. Sybil used to stay in close contact with her sister, but when her messages dry up, Jaimie becomes concerned. When she receives one last message from her, it contains a voucher for a free stay at the wellness retreat...and some disturbing messages in code.
Determined to find her sister, Jaimie travels to the isolated island and takes up residence at Saoghal Spa, an extravagant wellness sanctuary founded by the enigmatic Cyan Blache. The retreat promises physical and spiritual transformation through an assortment of treatments, including mineral baths, black mud therapies, detox programs, and group healing activities. Under the guise of being a regular guest, Jaimie begins the search for her sister. Although she initially thought most of the treatments were a bit "woo woo" for her taste, Jaimie soon realizes that she is feeling better. Her chronic pain is melting away, and she is starting to form bonds with some of the other guests and staff at the resort.
Of course, every good thing must come with a price tag attached, and although Jaimie is healing, she is starting to see a darker side to the treatments and the people who offer them.
The very beginning of the narrative launches with big fantasy vibes but then transitions into more of a traditional suspense/thriller. Then the ending goes way off the rails back into fantasy/folklore. I was enjoying the "rich people behaving badly" vibes and the culty aspects. I wish the author had stuck more closely to that. I also felt like there were too many side characters for any of them to be very meaningful to the plot.
On the positive side, this book is a VERY good representation of chronic illness and how people, especially women, suffer in silence with hidden illnesses.
Suspension of disbelief is a must. I thought the audio production was well done. Just kind of middling for me, but I'm not mad that I read it.
3 stars.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received this book courtesy of NetGalley for the purpose of a fair and honest review.
Overview: Jaimie Vane was once a celebrated cellist. Then her father got sick, and her sister disappeared. They have been keeping in touch, until recently. Sybil disappeared from her job at a wellness retreat. What happened to Sybil? What is going on with the bogs? And why are some people being found in the bogs, and not in good shape? Let's find out.
Dislikes: We get a rather dark story here, one just a little too close to the nihilistic border.
The country folk and the retreat members were kept at loggerheads. Perhaps things would have been different for all involved if the communication between both sides was better.
Likes: Jaimie and Sybil were dedicated to keeping in touch. It made the search fit better.
The town folk even found some inroads with Jaimie. That's a good thing for her.
Conclusion: This was a decent story, just darker than I prefer. If you like dark horror based on folklore, then this book is for you. Enjoy the read.
Overview: Jaimie Vane was once a celebrated cellist. Then her father got sick, and her sister disappeared. They have been keeping in touch, until recently. Sybil disappeared from her job at a wellness retreat. What happened to Sybil? What is going on with the bogs? And why are some people being found in the bogs, and not in good shape? Let's find out.
Dislikes: We get a rather dark story here, one just a little too close to the nihilistic border.
The country folk and the retreat members were kept at loggerheads. Perhaps things would have been different for all involved if the communication between both sides was better.
Likes: Jaimie and Sybil were dedicated to keeping in touch. It made the search fit better.
The town folk even found some inroads with Jaimie. That's a good thing for her.
Conclusion: This was a decent story, just darker than I prefer. If you like dark horror based on folklore, then this book is for you. Enjoy the read.
September 8, 2026
This was such a creepy and atmospheric read. The idea of a luxury wellness retreat on a remote Scottish island already had me intrigued, but add in a missing sister, dark folklore and some seriously unsettling vibes and I was hooked. I especially loved the setting because it really felt like its own character.
The pacing was a little slow in places, especially at the beginning, but once things started to unravel I was completely invested. I loved the mystery and the eerie atmosphere, and there were definitely moments where I had no idea where the story was going. Definitely one to pick up if you like gothic thrillers, folklore and creepy isolated settings.
The pacing was a little slow in places, especially at the beginning, but once things started to unravel I was completely invested. I loved the mystery and the eerie atmosphere, and there were definitely moments where I had no idea where the story was going. Definitely one to pick up if you like gothic thrillers, folklore and creepy isolated settings.
November 2, 2026
Första halvan är br-ilj-ant! Kul satir över den offentliga vården och hur det kapitaliseras på av wellness-guruer, salta och fantastiska miljöbeskrivningar och starka karaktärer. Sedan händer något. Det är som om redaktören går på semester. Upprepningar, slarv, lösa trådar, karaktärer som oförklarat agerar obegripligt. Sedan kommer äntligen plottens crescendo, mysteriets upplösning. Och då är det fortfarande 20% kvar av boken! Författaren skriver sig ut ur berättelsen i ytterligare två timmar. Jag fattar ingenting. Det började ju så bra.
September 14, 2026
No because what the actual fuck did I just read...? This was the weirdest and longest book. I had to force myself to finish it, and even then I wish I wouldn't have. Not worth it to me.
October 14, 2026
Too too too. Ugh
September 25, 2026
Probably should have docked to one star after reading this line: “I’m a blur, knife flashing in the firelight, hacking, carving through flesh that steams and sizzles with its own unnatural heat, parting like”—wait for it—“so much deli meat.”
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Spice: 2/5 - one scene VERY on page.
Rating: 3/5
I loved PARTS of this book, but I wanted MORE. I wanted more cult, more horror, more creepy remote island. I wanted LESS love triangle. The book itself was fine, but I felt like the premise was SO cool only to be let down by the focus on the sexual tension of it all.
What I liked:
Jamie's character felt well developed, and I loved the portrayal of living with an invisible illness and advocating for yourself until you're blue in the face only to have doctors not take you seriously. That's such an important thing to bring to the forefront. I love the cult, folklore, horror aspects of the book and wished they had been further developed. I loved the setting. It felt very claustrophobic and creepy.
What didn't work for me:
The love triangle/romance aspects of the book. I just feel like they took up valuable page time that needed to be spent developing other aspects of the plot. Ultimately, none of it really mattered for the story, so it was wasted space that could have been used to give me more of the culty, folklory horror that I wanted. The side characters all felt very one note to me. To the point that all of the spa workers were interchangeable in my mind.
Overall, this book felt mediocre, but it had really good bones. I just wish that more page time had been devoted to the creep of it all.
Spice: 2/5 - one scene VERY on page.
Rating: 3/5
I loved PARTS of this book, but I wanted MORE. I wanted more cult, more horror, more creepy remote island. I wanted LESS love triangle. The book itself was fine, but I felt like the premise was SO cool only to be let down by the focus on the sexual tension of it all.
What I liked:
Jamie's character felt well developed, and I loved the portrayal of living with an invisible illness and advocating for yourself until you're blue in the face only to have doctors not take you seriously. That's such an important thing to bring to the forefront. I love the cult, folklore, horror aspects of the book and wished they had been further developed. I loved the setting. It felt very claustrophobic and creepy.
What didn't work for me:
The love triangle/romance aspects of the book. I just feel like they took up valuable page time that needed to be spent developing other aspects of the plot. Ultimately, none of it really mattered for the story, so it was wasted space that could have been used to give me more of the culty, folklory horror that I wanted. The side characters all felt very one note to me. To the point that all of the spa workers were interchangeable in my mind.
Overall, this book felt mediocre, but it had really good bones. I just wish that more page time had been devoted to the creep of it all.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I wanted to like this, to be swept up in the mystery. But, I was so terribly bored during most of it and had to force myself to keep reading. If this wasn't a review copy I wouldn't have bothered to keep going.
There are little bits about the lore and then the same lore is repeated as if its new information. But nothing really felt all that supernatural so when the supernatural aspect started up later it felt out of place. I feel like the story didn't really get to the point till after 75% and I just didn't care by then.
Thank you to NetGalley for a review copy
There are little bits about the lore and then the same lore is repeated as if its new information. But nothing really felt all that supernatural so when the supernatural aspect started up later it felt out of place. I feel like the story didn't really get to the point till after 75% and I just didn't care by then.
Thank you to NetGalley for a review copy
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Jaimie gets a coded SOS from her sister, who has vanished after taking a job at the most suspicious wellness retreat ever created. And instead of saying, "You know what? The police can have this one," she cashes in the complimentary voucher and heads straight to an island where everyone smiles just a little too much and keeps insisting she's going to feel transformed. Absolutely not. The moment strangers start describing themselves as "reborn," I'm already swimming back to the mainland.
The funniest part is that Jaimie arrives determined to rescue Sybil, and then the spa immediately starts working on her. Her chronic pain eases. She sleeps. She feels lighter. Suddenly she's taking mud baths, doing art therapy, eating suspiciously healthy meals, and I'm sitting there yelling, "Girl! You came here for your SISTER!" This island had the world's most effective customer retention program.
Cyan, the glamorous woman running the retreat, has the exact energy of someone who could convince you to hand over your wallet while thanking her for the opportunity. Everyone around her seems peaceful in that very specific way people do right before you find out they're in a cult. I never trusted a single smiling face on that island. Not one. Every conversation felt like someone was gently trying to sell me enlightenment and identity theft at the same time.
The setting absolutely carried me through so much of this book. That black-sand island, the endless winter, the ancient folklore, the bog, the abandoned prison and asylum history...the whole place felt like it had signed a contract with bad decisions centuries ago. Even before anything truly awful happened, I would've slept with one eye open and my suitcase packed.
I also really liked that Jaimie's illness wasn't magically forgotten the second the mystery showed up. Watching someone who's been trapped inside a body they can't trust suddenly experience relief was genuinely emotional. That hope made everything else feel even more unsettling because once you desperately want something to be true, it's amazing what you'll stop questioning.
I will admit there were stretches where I wanted the story to stop admiring the scenery and get back to asking why literally everyone was acting like they had signed the world's creepiest employee handbook. About halfway through I found myself thinking, "Someone please either explain the bog or throw another horrifying revelation at me." Thankfully, once things started clicking into place, they really started clicking.
This ended up being one of those books where I enjoyed the ride more than the destination. I loved the creepy wellness cult vibes, the Scottish folklore, and the unsettling feeling that the island itself had opinions. I just kept waiting for everything to crank up one more notch. Still, I never regretted taking the trip...from the safety of my couch.
This lands at 3.5 stars for me. It had me side-eyeing every wellness influencer I've ever seen online and reminded me that if someone offers miraculous healing on a remote island, maybe ask a few more follow-up questions before packing your bags.
Whodunity Award: For the Most Aggressively Suspicious Complimentary Spa Voucher Ever Mailed
And thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC. Next time someone offers me an all-inclusive wellness retreat on a mysterious island, I'll be checking for ancient curses before I check the spa menu.
The funniest part is that Jaimie arrives determined to rescue Sybil, and then the spa immediately starts working on her. Her chronic pain eases. She sleeps. She feels lighter. Suddenly she's taking mud baths, doing art therapy, eating suspiciously healthy meals, and I'm sitting there yelling, "Girl! You came here for your SISTER!" This island had the world's most effective customer retention program.
Cyan, the glamorous woman running the retreat, has the exact energy of someone who could convince you to hand over your wallet while thanking her for the opportunity. Everyone around her seems peaceful in that very specific way people do right before you find out they're in a cult. I never trusted a single smiling face on that island. Not one. Every conversation felt like someone was gently trying to sell me enlightenment and identity theft at the same time.
The setting absolutely carried me through so much of this book. That black-sand island, the endless winter, the ancient folklore, the bog, the abandoned prison and asylum history...the whole place felt like it had signed a contract with bad decisions centuries ago. Even before anything truly awful happened, I would've slept with one eye open and my suitcase packed.
I also really liked that Jaimie's illness wasn't magically forgotten the second the mystery showed up. Watching someone who's been trapped inside a body they can't trust suddenly experience relief was genuinely emotional. That hope made everything else feel even more unsettling because once you desperately want something to be true, it's amazing what you'll stop questioning.
I will admit there were stretches where I wanted the story to stop admiring the scenery and get back to asking why literally everyone was acting like they had signed the world's creepiest employee handbook. About halfway through I found myself thinking, "Someone please either explain the bog or throw another horrifying revelation at me." Thankfully, once things started clicking into place, they really started clicking.
This ended up being one of those books where I enjoyed the ride more than the destination. I loved the creepy wellness cult vibes, the Scottish folklore, and the unsettling feeling that the island itself had opinions. I just kept waiting for everything to crank up one more notch. Still, I never regretted taking the trip...from the safety of my couch.
This lands at 3.5 stars for me. It had me side-eyeing every wellness influencer I've ever seen online and reminded me that if someone offers miraculous healing on a remote island, maybe ask a few more follow-up questions before packing your bags.
Whodunity Award: For the Most Aggressively Suspicious Complimentary Spa Voucher Ever Mailed
And thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC. Next time someone offers me an all-inclusive wellness retreat on a mysterious island, I'll be checking for ancient curses before I check the spa menu.
November 6, 2026
It had its problems, but was overall pretty fun.
I liked that this book added so many different genres. It was wacky and really interesting to see exactly what was going to go down. However, at times it seemed to get a bit carried away to the point where it seemed like it didn't know what it wanted to be.
The setting felt so atmospheric. The rain, the isolation, the bog, the wet earth smell, everything was used to practically personify this island. This is one of the book's strongest characteristics. Also, the folklore is really cool and adds to the overall mystery and allure of the setting.
I liked the writing because it was fast and poetic, but it was also simultaneously really melodramatic and filled with pop culture references. Yes, the main character plays the cello, but instead of actually building on that in the narrative, the prose just has musical terms scattered throughout. The particular pop culture references were cheesy, and one used when the MC confronted the Big Bad "seriously" honestly made me burst out laughing. Ripped me right out of the scene. Regarding the general writing, the author likening blue things to a bruise got to be grating; we need a synonym or something. Also, there are several spelling and punctuation errors in here. Lastly, as far as the pacing goes, it was fast like I said earlier but there were certain parts, such as the ending, that really dragged.
I liked the characters well enough, but they never felt fully recognized to me; I never really cared that much about Jaimie, Sybil, or the slew of background characters they meet. Never mind the fact that occasionally they do and say things that are downright outlandish, but the background characters simply are too numerous and the relationship between Sybil and Jaimie was really confusing for me to navigate.
I didn't need a romance in here. Like I said earlier, I enjoyed the bending of contemporary Gothic, horror, thriller, mystery, and fantasy, but the - what felt to be shoehorned in - addition of a romance was the straw that broke the camel's back for me. I didn't care about it from a character perspective, and I just didn't see the reason for it in general. The "banter" honestly gave me the ick or just had me rolling my eyes. I didn't mind the underlying tension regarding relationships in general in the book, however this felt completely unnecessary. In terms of the fantasy aspect, while I enjoyed them, they really come into play late in the story and it's a shame; it's wackiness that reminds me of The Lighthouse, but not utilized quickly enough. This goes for the horror aspects, too. We have a cult in here and I wanted to see more of it.
I loved how atmospheric this book was, and I thoroughly enjoyed the mix of genres it applied. Even though many parts of this book didn't land, many did.
I liked that this book added so many different genres. It was wacky and really interesting to see exactly what was going to go down. However, at times it seemed to get a bit carried away to the point where it seemed like it didn't know what it wanted to be.
The setting felt so atmospheric. The rain, the isolation, the bog, the wet earth smell, everything was used to practically personify this island. This is one of the book's strongest characteristics. Also, the folklore is really cool and adds to the overall mystery and allure of the setting.
I liked the writing because it was fast and poetic, but it was also simultaneously really melodramatic and filled with pop culture references. Yes, the main character plays the cello, but instead of actually building on that in the narrative, the prose just has musical terms scattered throughout. The particular pop culture references were cheesy, and one used when the MC confronted the Big Bad "seriously" honestly made me burst out laughing. Ripped me right out of the scene. Regarding the general writing, the author likening blue things to a bruise got to be grating; we need a synonym or something. Also, there are several spelling and punctuation errors in here. Lastly, as far as the pacing goes, it was fast like I said earlier but there were certain parts, such as the ending, that really dragged.
I liked the characters well enough, but they never felt fully recognized to me; I never really cared that much about Jaimie, Sybil, or the slew of background characters they meet. Never mind the fact that occasionally they do and say things that are downright outlandish, but the background characters simply are too numerous and the relationship between Sybil and Jaimie was really confusing for me to navigate.
I didn't need a romance in here. Like I said earlier, I enjoyed the bending of contemporary Gothic, horror, thriller, mystery, and fantasy, but the - what felt to be shoehorned in - addition of a romance was the straw that broke the camel's back for me. I didn't care about it from a character perspective, and I just didn't see the reason for it in general. The "banter" honestly gave me the ick or just had me rolling my eyes. I didn't mind the underlying tension regarding relationships in general in the book, however this felt completely unnecessary. In terms of the fantasy aspect, while I enjoyed them, they really come into play late in the story and it's a shame; it's wackiness that reminds me of The Lighthouse, but not utilized quickly enough. This goes for the horror aspects, too. We have a cult in here and I wanted to see more of it.
I loved how atmospheric this book was, and I thoroughly enjoyed the mix of genres it applied. Even though many parts of this book didn't land, many did.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Horror-tinted creepy and atmospheric slow-burn thriller blending folklore with a focus on wellness cults by a master writer of this genre. Horror genre lovers get in line for this one!
Jaime Vane is a celloist who’s performed in many concert settings but for the last seven months has been the victim of persistent pain. It seems no one can help her when she receives a mysteriously coded message from her sister, Sybil, who’s been working at an ultra exclusive wellness retreat in Scotland. Jaime knows something is wrong. Then she receives a voucher from Saoghal Spa, where Sybil is, on the isolated island of Tamalh Dhybh she sets out to find her sister. Once there though, Jaime finds the regime, the mud baths, and food of the spa is somehow healing her and she forgets why she’s come. But then things start to become sinister.
The book starts with a Scottish folklore tale of a girl thrown into a big for religious purposes - this sets up the foreboding atmosphere of this intense novel. Once on the island, the story is divided into days that Jaime is there. As Jamie acclimates, she becomes engaged with the staff and other retreaters (Cyan, Astraia, Ava, Sophie, Cici, Catriona, Jean, Aubrey, Isla, Freya, Rhea, Ben, Shaun, Lisa, Aiden, Ryan - there are a lot of characters). A romance might have possibilities but she can’t find Sybil and Kelly, someone mentioned by Sybil, is found lying on the grass after three weeks in the bog. The atmosphere grows intense as tales and ancient evils are revealed through newspaper stories, history of the island, dark tales, and strange happenings. Then there’s Ethel who lives on the island and knows its dark side. And finally comes the Dark of the Moon. Underpinning this is the revelations of the dark side of the wellness retreats where greed is the end all and be all.
I have to say while horror based on folklore is not my favorite sub-genre, this one worked for me. It’s such a creepy intense read. The whole island itself is a character - that bog and the folklore tale add a depth that keeps on giving. Suffice it to say this is another Dawn Kurtagich winner for me.
My thanks to NetGalley and Hanover Square Press to allowing me access to this ARC.
Jaime Vane is a celloist who’s performed in many concert settings but for the last seven months has been the victim of persistent pain. It seems no one can help her when she receives a mysteriously coded message from her sister, Sybil, who’s been working at an ultra exclusive wellness retreat in Scotland. Jaime knows something is wrong. Then she receives a voucher from Saoghal Spa, where Sybil is, on the isolated island of Tamalh Dhybh she sets out to find her sister. Once there though, Jaime finds the regime, the mud baths, and food of the spa is somehow healing her and she forgets why she’s come. But then things start to become sinister.
The book starts with a Scottish folklore tale of a girl thrown into a big for religious purposes - this sets up the foreboding atmosphere of this intense novel. Once on the island, the story is divided into days that Jaime is there. As Jamie acclimates, she becomes engaged with the staff and other retreaters (Cyan, Astraia, Ava, Sophie, Cici, Catriona, Jean, Aubrey, Isla, Freya, Rhea, Ben, Shaun, Lisa, Aiden, Ryan - there are a lot of characters). A romance might have possibilities but she can’t find Sybil and Kelly, someone mentioned by Sybil, is found lying on the grass after three weeks in the bog. The atmosphere grows intense as tales and ancient evils are revealed through newspaper stories, history of the island, dark tales, and strange happenings. Then there’s Ethel who lives on the island and knows its dark side. And finally comes the Dark of the Moon. Underpinning this is the revelations of the dark side of the wellness retreats where greed is the end all and be all.
I have to say while horror based on folklore is not my favorite sub-genre, this one worked for me. It’s such a creepy intense read. The whole island itself is a character - that bog and the folklore tale add a depth that keeps on giving. Suffice it to say this is another Dawn Kurtagich winner for me.
My thanks to NetGalley and Hanover Square Press to allowing me access to this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Well, now I want to go to an all inclusive spa in the Scottish countryside. Unfortunately, I think that's about the only thing this book successfully convinced me of. Talk about a great premise: an ultra luxurious wellness retreat tucked away in a remote Scottish peat bog, where Jamie arrives searching for answers about her missing sister. The spa itself is so vividly described that, for a while, it almost completely overshadowed the mystery I was supposedly there to solve. Give me the robes, massages, fancy food, and creepy isolated setting and I'm in.
Unfortunately, the pacing made getting there feel like a very long journey. The first half in particular moves at a snail's pace, spending a great deal of time establishing the characters and the retreat before the mystery really begins to take shape. The character development is actually one of the stronger aspects of the book, but I think the story could have accomplished the same thing with considerably fewer pages.
And then there were the romances. So. Many. Love triangles. Overlapping relationships, romantic entanglements... Ugh. I am not a fan of the trope under the best of circumstances, and here it felt like there were simply too many romantic subplots competing with the actual mystery.
Thankfully, the pacing does eventually pick up, and the final stretch moves considerably faster. But then the story takes a sharp turn into some very strange territory that didn't quite feel like it belonged with the rest of the novel. I appreciate a weird ending, but this one left me more confused than impressed. There is a genuinely cool book buried in here. The setting is fantastic, the premise is intriguing, and there are some great character moments. Unfortunately, the slow pacing, excessive romantic drama, and tonal shift at the end kept it from becoming the atmospheric mystery I was hoping for. So... beautiful Scottish spa? Absolutely. This book? Meh.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and Dawn Kurtagich for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Unfortunately, the pacing made getting there feel like a very long journey. The first half in particular moves at a snail's pace, spending a great deal of time establishing the characters and the retreat before the mystery really begins to take shape. The character development is actually one of the stronger aspects of the book, but I think the story could have accomplished the same thing with considerably fewer pages.
And then there were the romances. So. Many. Love triangles. Overlapping relationships, romantic entanglements... Ugh. I am not a fan of the trope under the best of circumstances, and here it felt like there were simply too many romantic subplots competing with the actual mystery.
Thankfully, the pacing does eventually pick up, and the final stretch moves considerably faster. But then the story takes a sharp turn into some very strange territory that didn't quite feel like it belonged with the rest of the novel. I appreciate a weird ending, but this one left me more confused than impressed. There is a genuinely cool book buried in here. The setting is fantastic, the premise is intriguing, and there are some great character moments. Unfortunately, the slow pacing, excessive romantic drama, and tonal shift at the end kept it from becoming the atmospheric mystery I was hoping for. So... beautiful Scottish spa? Absolutely. This book? Meh.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and Dawn Kurtagich for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Hanover Square Press, Harlequin Audio, and NetGalley for the free advanced ebook and listening copy - all thoughts and opinions are my own!
One of the themes I have really been enjoying in books lately has been the wellness retreat or company that’s actually super culty, especially set in a remote setting that just gives off just the right touch of an “off” atmosphere! The Wellness Retreat is no exception and is in fact one of the most atmospheric, moody, and suspenseful books I have read recently, making it the perfect read as we head into the colder and darker months of fall and winter.
I really enjoyed the audiobook, and immensely appreciated hearing the Scottish Gaelic words being pronounced, as it helped me a lot to be able to hear them correctly in my mind! Each character was well-voiced and many even had different accents, so kudos to the narrator, Ell Potter, for her excellent voicing, as it truly added to the story.
At the heart of this story, I loved seeing the love that Jamie had for her missing (even though somewhat estranged) sister Sybil, and how she continued to try to find her even when her chronic illness fought against her own efforts. I always like seeing the realities of chronic and unseen illnesses being represented in books I read, and as the author herself stated that she also struggles with chronic illness, I felt that it was handled in an accurate and respectful way. While this leans more towards an atmospheric suspense thriller than horror, I do like that there were some horror elements to this story!
So if you are looking for a dark and moody atmospheric thriller full of dark histories, cult-like wellness retreats, isolated Scottish islands, and a bit of folklore and Druids, then The Wellness Retreat should be next on your TBR!
One of the themes I have really been enjoying in books lately has been the wellness retreat or company that’s actually super culty, especially set in a remote setting that just gives off just the right touch of an “off” atmosphere! The Wellness Retreat is no exception and is in fact one of the most atmospheric, moody, and suspenseful books I have read recently, making it the perfect read as we head into the colder and darker months of fall and winter.
I really enjoyed the audiobook, and immensely appreciated hearing the Scottish Gaelic words being pronounced, as it helped me a lot to be able to hear them correctly in my mind! Each character was well-voiced and many even had different accents, so kudos to the narrator, Ell Potter, for her excellent voicing, as it truly added to the story.
At the heart of this story, I loved seeing the love that Jamie had for her missing (even though somewhat estranged) sister Sybil, and how she continued to try to find her even when her chronic illness fought against her own efforts. I always like seeing the realities of chronic and unseen illnesses being represented in books I read, and as the author herself stated that she also struggles with chronic illness, I felt that it was handled in an accurate and respectful way. While this leans more towards an atmospheric suspense thriller than horror, I do like that there were some horror elements to this story!
So if you are looking for a dark and moody atmospheric thriller full of dark histories, cult-like wellness retreats, isolated Scottish islands, and a bit of folklore and Druids, then The Wellness Retreat should be next on your TBR!
August 5, 2026
Jaimie is a former cellist whose career was derailed by a mysterious chronic illness she can’t get a diagnosis for and can’t seem to shake. When her younger sister Sybil takes a job at an ultra-exclusive wellness spa on a remote Scottish island and suddenly stops responding to messages, Jaimie uses a conveniently timed voucher to get herself through the door and find out what is going on.
The concept here is genuinely compelling. A mysterious island spa with cult vibes, a missing sister, supernatural elements woven into the atmosphere. It had everything I wanted from this kind of story. And the setting itself really does deliver on mood. The atmosphere is cold, gothic, and layered.
The problem is the pacing. The first half of the book moves at such a slow crawl through the daily rhythms of the spa that it starts to feel like the story is going nowhere. I understand the intention was to immerse you in the retreat experience before things begin to unravel, but it went on too long. By the time the tension finally builds, it has some catching up to do.
When things do start to go sideways, there’s genuine momentum. But then the story goes quite far off the rails in a way that left me more confused than unsettled. The supernatural elements are interesting in concept but weren’t explained clearly enough for me. I finished the book with real questions about how the island and the mud actually worked, what each character’s role was in it all, and what the rules of this world were. For a horror-adjacent book, the lack of clarity undercut the creepiness rather than adding to it.
Good concept, uneven execution. Worth reading if the premise speaks to you, but it falls short of what it could have been.
The concept here is genuinely compelling. A mysterious island spa with cult vibes, a missing sister, supernatural elements woven into the atmosphere. It had everything I wanted from this kind of story. And the setting itself really does deliver on mood. The atmosphere is cold, gothic, and layered.
The problem is the pacing. The first half of the book moves at such a slow crawl through the daily rhythms of the spa that it starts to feel like the story is going nowhere. I understand the intention was to immerse you in the retreat experience before things begin to unravel, but it went on too long. By the time the tension finally builds, it has some catching up to do.
When things do start to go sideways, there’s genuine momentum. But then the story goes quite far off the rails in a way that left me more confused than unsettled. The supernatural elements are interesting in concept but weren’t explained clearly enough for me. I finished the book with real questions about how the island and the mud actually worked, what each character’s role was in it all, and what the rules of this world were. For a horror-adjacent book, the lack of clarity undercut the creepiness rather than adding to it.
Good concept, uneven execution. Worth reading if the premise speaks to you, but it falls short of what it could have been.
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