Camp Firwood

by Boris Bacic

If the counselors of Camp Firwood send you into the woods, you're as good as dead.

When the rebellious teenager Kevin gets sent to a summer camp by his parents, he initially has no idea what's in store for him. Every two weeks, the camp organizes an event called The Trial. The campers all dread it. They don't want to spend the night in the woods with the Firwood Wraith roaming around. And the more they misbehave, the higher the chances they'll be chosen.

By the time Kevin realizes what Camp Firwood really is, he is trapped—and every week, more and more campers go missing.

Genres: Horror, Thriller, Fiction, Summer Reads, Death, Halloween

Audible Audio

Published May 5, 2022

About the author

"Boris is my favorite author on Nosleep, he's always killing it with his stories!"
"The security guard series is the best one ever!!"
"I love the subtle connection between each story."
"Like R.L. Stine, but better."
"I want to see this book as a Netflix mini-series!"
"No one can scare me like Boris."

Both traditionally and self-published, Boris is a prolific writer whose horror novels often find themselves on the #1 bestselling ranks. With the books he has published, he is quickly becoming a big name in the horror community.

His stories have been narrated by famous YouTube and podcast narrators, including MrCreepypasta, CreepsMcPasta, DrCreepen, etc. His book, Tales of a Security Guard, is currently in the works to become a short film.

Reviews

[Faith Larson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Camp Firwood is an excellently written horror novel that doesn't deal in cliché tricks. Boris Bacic has managed to make this story both entertaining and tense without relying on in your face scares and gross out methods, instead relying on plot, suspense, and the terror of imagining yourself in his protagonist Kevin's shoes. The author does a fantastic job at writing young characters in a believable manner, while not making the reader annoyed with broody teenage adolescence. What I most enjoyed about the author's writing is that he provides a great amount of detail while still making it clear what is happening, which left the book with a crisp, clean feel. The plot was very interesting with likeable characters, I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a fresh take on horror with a unique and terrifying plot.

[Richard K. Wilson · Rating 1 out of 5]

SO boring, overly LONG and been done tons of times before!!!

So, do NOT do what I did and waste your time on this book that was 200 pages too long, very boring and dumb. This story COULD have been so creepy and scary had it been supernatural.....but, no! This was the worst and poorly executed book of teens sent to a rehabilitation camp.....
I had this figured out (and I was 100% correct with my guess!) in the first 6 chapters.
Total waste of 8 hours on this one with the audiobook. Skip it!

1 😴

[John Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thrilling and exciting!

When I began reading this book I thought, oh no a bunch of miscreant kids at an American summer camp, how boring. But, I carried on and how glad I was with that decision. This was the fast moving story of a summer camp with a big difference. A psychotic senior counsellor, sadistic staff and a murderous conspiracy involving, perhaps, hundreds of people. This story was well constructed, it slowly and cleverly enveloped the reader into a web of intrigue and extreme psychological cruelty. Highly recommended!

[Mylene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not the typical camp experience

It is my first read from author Boris Bacic, and I had a very unusual reaction to this book. Typically, when I read a new story, I have a gut feel on whether I like it or not. While reading, I vacillated between enjoyment and boredom. I think the main issue was the pace, as it took me much longer to get through the book than it normally does. That being said, my overview of the entirety is much higher than its parts. Although there are issues with writing style and editing, Boris is a very good storyteller. You empathized with the characters and I even felt he did a decent job wrapping up the end of the tale (sequel?)

[Karen · Rating 1 out of 5]

It's like the adolescent campers wrote the book

Plot was obvious. Writing was terrible. The editor should be fired b/c there were so many grammatical errors and misspelled words. Ugh, can't get those hours back.

[Katie Followell · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's weird, but this was NOT what I expected at all. It's like a mixture of Lord of the Flies, Hunger Games, and Squid Game with it's own type of thing too!

It's pretty violent, with some cursing-- but it's worth a read!

[Boris Bacic]

Now available in audiobook format with the following retailers:

Audible, Amazon: https://www.audible.com/pd/B09ZN31VY5

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/audiobook/...

Bingebooks: https://bingebooks.com/book/camp-firwood

Scribd: https://www.scribd.com/audiobook/5698...

Libro.FM: https://libro.fm/audiobooks/978166968...

Chirp: https://www.chirpbooks.com/audiobooks...

[Lillian Mathews · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book dragged so much. It took forever to get to the ending. I get it. Camp is awful. Campers are abused. Counselors suck. Started out so strong but go bored and literally skipped to the end to see what happened (which I had already guessed halfway in).

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Camp Firwood - 5/5
By Boris Bacic

Another epic offering from Boris Bacic - and isn’t this cover just gorgeous?! 😍

[SPOILER ALERT]

A terrifying mix of Hostel and The Hunger Games - with a tiny reference to the Wrong Turn franchise (YES!), this is definitely a read not to be missed.

What starts out as a summer camp for undisciplined teens, quickly turns into something much more sinister. Unruly teens being sent to learn about discipline and being hunted for sport!!

There was one part of this book which made me feel ridiculously uncomfortable and I am sure I will be thinking about it for days to come.

Definitely a book you need to add to your TBR list!

[Shane · Rating 1 out of 5]

Couldn’t finish this one. I got to %25 and nothing has happened. Not willing to waste any more time on this.

[Betsy VanderBerg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Camp Firwood was an interesting read. The concept of the camp made my jaw drop at the end. However, the long chapters and the slow pace at times made it hard to get through. Unfortunately I thought the ending was a little disappointing, I was hoping for more in the final chapter, but overall, a great mystery/thriller! I loved every bit of revenge that our main character got. Would be interested in reading a sequel!

[Alex Wilkie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brooooooo
This was Goosebumps meets Hostel and it was AWESOME
At not one single point did I have any idea wtf was gonna happen next and it was so unbelievably bleak and depressing and GROSS
This truly made adult me feel exactly how I felt reading the Animorphs or Goosebumps books as a kid, not every horror or mystery needs a happy ending!! Sometimes the monsters are just humans and shit fucking sucks!!! End of story!!!

[Lani · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was a good story there but it was longer than it had to be.

[That One Right There · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up. This book should have been far shorter.

[Andoulini · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 /5 rounded up to 4.
It was abit long but the story was interesting. It could have been a much shorter book and i believe it would have made a very good horror movie.

[H. Everend · Rating 4 out of 5]

[3.5/5]
My first Boris Bacic book - and I was not disappointed with this creepy tale at all! While there were times I felt it drug a little bit, it was well written and even had some humorous bits to boot (whether they were meant to be or not is up for debate, but I do have a dark sense of humor). The characters were well written and believable, the setting felt nostalgic (minus the horrible staff on camp) and the plot itself was very interesting and had me wanting to know more of what was going on -- especially in those woods!

[Kathy Wortham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slow burn horror, it may start slow, but true horror needs belief. If you have not been exposed to the themes in the book you need build up to believe. Who wouldn't want to go to a summer camp with lots of activities? Other than missing your friends what could go wrong? It starts with no tech devices, lots of chores, rigid schedules and rules, lots of not to be broken rules. And it ends in a total horror of a story.

[Betsy Bruinsma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun YA read but needs an editor

This was an entertaining plot for the 11 to 14 age bracket, but this author really needs an editor. The number of grammatical errors is staggering! The author has three words he uses incorrectly consistently and frequently—batter, resounded, and proceeding. He doesn’t understand how to punctuate dialogue. But if you can overlook the many, many grammatical errors, the book is actually well plotted and enjoyable.

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent read but kinda predictable

Not a bad story but not something I'd reread either; several events were predictable and I wouldn't call it challenging. One major grammatical error was repeated over and over and over, making me a little nuts toward the end. Do books not have editors anymore?

[Cody · Rating 3 out of 5]

Worth it for the ending

It was a bit drawn out and it took a long time for action to start. I'd figured out the snitch right away. But had no clue where this story was going. That's a good thing ,BTW .
But the 6 years later last chapter part was an absolute 5 star 🌟 ending.

[andi · Rating 3 out of 5]

No so great

The premise of the book is good, but the writing leaves a lot to be desired. The author consistently uses words no teenager, let alone a teenage boy, would use. I finished the book because I wanted to know how it ends, but it was hard to read.

[G · Rating 3 out of 5]

Agonizing

This was a very long drawn out book. The last 2 chapters were exciting. Chapter 14 didn't even seem like it was written by the author. There are a lot of mistakes in the book. For the 1st 3⁄4's of the book I was fighting with myself to hang on and keep reading...

[Madison · Rating 1 out of 5]

Did not actually finish. The tenses switch in the middle of sentences, and it was convoluted from the beginning.

[Michael Dawson · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book started as a sort of Friday the 13th but ended up being very high school and childish.

[Ary · Rating 3 out of 5]

BB really really needs to hire an editor. This book was riddled with errors, tense-usage, missing words, misused words, & various other things. It made it hard to read.

[❤ArtfullySinful❤ · Rating 3 out of 5]

What do you think the wraith looks like? How do you think it kills the campers? Do you think it uses a weapon like an ax? Has anyone ever survived the encounter?

Sent to an isolated summer camp deep in the Oregon Woods, Kevin isn't looking forward to ten weeks without his friends or even cell service. With his parents angry at him for wrecking their yacht, this is his punishment to get his behavior back on check. Beginning a romance with Amy, seemed to be the only shining light in his darkened predicament. As he nears closer, he's shocked by the overly fake and friendly nature of the counselors and the perfected molding of the campers. Each boy was sent from their homes for a wide range of problems, some with violent occurrences and others just because their parents have grown tired of them. Meeting his fellow camp mates, the nine boys quickly begin friendships as he's led through the ropes by Barrel Mark. Tough Norton and Ninja are also quick to become close with him as they warn him through his first week there. Watching the Choosing, he never expected to be sentenced to one so early on, as he goes with Ninja into the woods with only a backpack of minimum supplies. As night falls, rumors that the Firwoood Wraight is growing stronger as they hear the whistles in the wind and begin seeing the monster poking around the trees. Separated, Kevin is met by fellow canoer Bill, the one who vanished right before he was sent in as his replacement. Taking shelter in a cave not even ten minutes away from the camp, he's been assisted by groundskeeper Andy with food and basic supplies.

The creature jumped in front of the tree and screamed a muffled scream with its non-existent mouth, the skin stretching across the gap where the mouth should be, rushing toward Kevin with a hand raised above its head. Kevin couldn't see what the creature was holding, and he had no intention of waiting to find out.

Hearing the story of Andy's son Owen who went missing from that camp a year prior, Kevin never anticipated someone would actually be on their side to end this nightmare. Hiding weapons and informing Michael and Mark of the plans, they only had a few days before all fifty campers are sacrificed in a hunt for the death as wealthy individuals partook. Those sent to Departure would be sold to the highest bidder as either an adoptive child, organ harvesting, or a toy for those most sickened. Confronted with Mark snitching to the Director of this, the entire thing almost fell to shambles but through distractions and the save from Ninja, everything would turn more towards their favors. Haunted by the words of the Director of more claps existing, it's haunted Kevin the last six years and ruined his relationship with Amy. Unable to watch him dink into the past, they split only days before he himself took on a groundskeeper role at a new camp for the summer. Another summer to begin avenging Mark's death and everybody else who has fallen to these monsters.

"Camp Firwood buys teens from parents who don't want them anymore. They get sent to the camp under the pretense of getting a reeducation, but in reality, the parents who send their kids to Camp Firwood simply want to get rid of them for a fee.”

[Nightshade Manor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Boris Bacic's Camp Firwood is a gripping horror novel that takes readers deep into the chilling atmosphere of a summer camp gone awry. Blending elements of classic slasher fiction with modern psychological suspense, this book delivers a thrilling and unsettling reading experience.

Plot Summary

Set in the remote, picturesque Camp Firwood, the story follows a group of campers and staff members who find themselves trapped in a nightmarish scenario when a series of mysterious and violent incidents disrupt their summer fun. As tensions rise and fear takes hold, the once-idyllic camp becomes a breeding ground for terror.

The central character, Jamie, a camp counselor with a troubled past, becomes embroiled in the chaos as she tries to protect the campers and uncover the truth behind the horrors that have started to unfold. With each passing hour, the stakes get higher, and the sense of dread intensifies.

What I Loved

Atmospheric Setting: Bacic masterfully creates a sense of foreboding with the camp’s isolated setting. The juxtaposition of the camp’s serene beauty against the sinister events adds a layer of psychological tension that enhances the horror.

Well-Developed Characters: The characters are multidimensional, each with their own secrets and motivations. Jamie, in particular, is a compelling protagonist whose backstory adds depth to her role in the unfolding drama.

Tense Pacing: The novel’s pacing keeps readers on edge from start to finish. Bacic effectively builds suspense with well-timed reveals and escalating threats, ensuring that the story remains engaging and unpredictable.

Effective Use of Classic Tropes: Camp Firwood pays homage to classic horror tropes while also subverting expectations. This balance creates a fresh take on the genre and keeps readers guessing about the true nature of the threat.

What Was a Miss

Predictability in Some Plot Points: While the novel excels in atmosphere and suspense, a few plot twists may feel predictable to seasoned horror readers. Certain revelations and character motivations follow familiar paths, which might diminish the impact for those well-versed in the genre.

Pacing Issues in the Middle: The middle sections of the book experience some pacing issues, with certain scenes feeling prolonged. This can disrupt the momentum and make the story feel slightly uneven.

Trigger Warnings
Graphic violence
Psychological trauma
Death and injury of characters
Intense scenes of fear and suspense

Overall, Camp Firwood by Boris Bacic is a riveting addition to the horror genre. With its atmospheric setting, strong character development, and suspenseful narrative, it offers a compelling read for fans of supernatural and psychological horror. Despite minor predictability and pacing issues, the novel's tension and eerie ambiance make it a standout choice for those seeking a chilling summer read.

[Sarah Heilbron · Rating 3 out of 5]

Characters - great development and believability.
Plotline and pacing - exceptional. LOVED it, wanted more of it, super impressed and I wonder what experiences this author had at what summer camps!
Writing - as in, actual use of language - abysmal. Painful for an English Major to read. Frequent misuse of words, to the point it was so distracting from the otherwise excellent story that I almost quit the book multiple times. What this author needs is an editor who can go through, find each misused word, and suss out what the author wanted the word to mean, then use the correct word. Instead, this often felt like an under-studied SAT student trying to impress a college professor with their prowess of vocabulary which they had clearly yet to master.
I WANT to read more of this author, because the rest of the work was great and I love how their brain works, but until this issue is fixed, reading the actual writing is unpleasant.

[Caroline Carter · Rating 1 out of 5]

Needs an editor!

The concept of this novel was interesting. Not unique, but could have made for a good story. Unfortunately, it was very poorly edited, if at all. I understand that English is likely not Mr. Bacic’s native language, but a halfway decent editor could have salvaged this book. Many words were misused, while others were repeated (sometimes within the same sentence), and many sentences should have been trimmed to half their length. Too many characters “happened to” or “proceeded to” do things. For the last quarter of the book, people were suddenly “waltzing” everywhere. The author is also addicted to adverbs. Nearly every description of a character’s speech had an adverb attached. More than one character “inquisitively asked” (redundant), “reticently retorted” (what does that even look like?), and “tentatively responded matter-of-factly” (I had to put the book down and walk away after that one). I only finished it because we chose it in my book group.

[Christina Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will admit, I have always wanted to send my kids to camp when they were young but, something held me back from doing so, and I never send them. After reading this book, I was glad I didn't. This story was freaking stressful. LoL. Due to what this camp has done to the campers. Good Lord... I liked Bill and Kevin a lot, even Mark. Bunch of savages counselors I will state... As a kid, I was a hardcore one and I would've blown up regardless of the threats. (Way to go, Kevin!) I was stunned to learn what the camp was initially intended for, causing my heart to race rapidly and I wanted the campers to seek justice. I will be honest and cried for one character because, it wasn't his fault, so innocent and...ugh, thinking about it makes me sad again... All in all, another fantastic story and I highly recommend for readers to check this book out! :)