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The Staircase in the Woods
A group of friends investigates the mystery of a strange staircase in the woods.
While on a camping trip, five high-schoolers bound by an oath to always protect one another discover something in the middle of the forest: a mysterious staircase to nowhere. One friend climbs up but does not come back down. Then the staircase disappears. Twenty years later it reappears, and the friends return to find the lost boy—and what lies beyond the staircase.
While on a camping trip, five high-schoolers bound by an oath to always protect one another discover something in the middle of the forest: a mysterious staircase to nowhere. One friend climbs up but does not come back down. Then the staircase disappears. Twenty years later it reappears, and the friends return to find the lost boy—and what lies beyond the staircase.
13 pages, Audiobook
First published April 29, 2025
1656 people are currently reading
73274 people want to read
About the author
Chuck Wendig
183 books7,274 followersChuck Wendig is a novelist, a screenwriter, and a freelance penmonkey.
He has contributed over two million words to the roleplaying game industry, and was the developer of the popular Hunter: The Vigil game line (White Wolf Game Studios / CCP).
He, along with writing partner Lance Weiler, is a fellow of the Sundance Film Festival Screenwriter's Lab (2010). Their short film, Pandemic, will show at the Sundance Film Festival 2011, and their feature film HiM is in development with producer Ted Hope.
Chuck's novel Double Dead will be out in November, 2011.
He's written too much. He should probably stop. Give him a wide berth, as he might be drunk and untrustworthy. He currently lives in the wilds of Pennsyltucky with a wonderful wife and two very stupid dogs. He is represented by Stacia Decker of the Donald Maass Literary Agency.
You can find him at his website, terribleminds.com.
He has contributed over two million words to the roleplaying game industry, and was the developer of the popular Hunter: The Vigil game line (White Wolf Game Studios / CCP).
He, along with writing partner Lance Weiler, is a fellow of the Sundance Film Festival Screenwriter's Lab (2010). Their short film, Pandemic, will show at the Sundance Film Festival 2011, and their feature film HiM is in development with producer Ted Hope.
Chuck's novel Double Dead will be out in November, 2011.
He's written too much. He should probably stop. Give him a wide berth, as he might be drunk and untrustworthy. He currently lives in the wilds of Pennsyltucky with a wonderful wife and two very stupid dogs. He is represented by Stacia Decker of the Donald Maass Literary Agency.
You can find him at his website, terribleminds.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,982 reviews
December 26, 2025
Each story where a group of young adults faces a tragedy and reunites years later to confront a monster reminds me of Stephen King’s It—one of my favorite plotlines. Chuck Wendig's unique twist, blending this concept with a mysterious staircase in the woods, immediately drew me in!
The story transported me back to my teenage years, recalling the excitement of locking myself away with a gripping book, eyes burning from exhaustion but too captivated to stop reading. Now, as an adult, I found myself sneaking in pages whenever I could—whether I was cooking, working, or even watching TV, the story kept pulling me back.
Wendig’s novel delves into broken friendships, guilt, abandonment, and deeply-rooted fears. It follows five friends who, as teenagers, made a pact to always protect each other. But one fateful night in the woods, their bond shatters when they discover a staircase leading to a terrifying unknown. When one of them, Matty, vanishes after jumping in, their lives are forever changed. Questions about Matty’s disappearance haunt them for twenty years, until Nick, the friend who never gave up the search, calls them back for a reunion.
As adults, they’re scarred and broken in different ways. Owen, trapped by trauma and OCD, works in a bookstore. Lor, the successful but lonely game designer, still carries guilt for betraying Owen years ago. Hamish, who has drastically transformed, now lives a polished, suburban life. Meanwhile, Nick is unchanged—still obsessed with finding Matty and the answers they never got. Now, he’s found the staircases again.
The reunion isn’t what it seems. When the group follows Nick into the eerie woods, they face not only the staircase but their own worst nightmares. The house they enter feeds on their deepest fears, forcing them to confront long-buried secrets.
At first, I struggled with some characters—Nick's bluntness and Lor’s narcissism irritated me—but their growth throughout the story shifted my perspective. The suspense, twists, and pacing kept me hooked, and the mystery was brilliantly executed.
Overall, this is a gripping, dark fantasy thriller with well-developed characters and a chilling atmosphere. I’m rounding my 4.5 stars up to 5, and I can’t wait for Wendig’s next book!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House/Del Rey for providing me with a digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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The story transported me back to my teenage years, recalling the excitement of locking myself away with a gripping book, eyes burning from exhaustion but too captivated to stop reading. Now, as an adult, I found myself sneaking in pages whenever I could—whether I was cooking, working, or even watching TV, the story kept pulling me back.
Wendig’s novel delves into broken friendships, guilt, abandonment, and deeply-rooted fears. It follows five friends who, as teenagers, made a pact to always protect each other. But one fateful night in the woods, their bond shatters when they discover a staircase leading to a terrifying unknown. When one of them, Matty, vanishes after jumping in, their lives are forever changed. Questions about Matty’s disappearance haunt them for twenty years, until Nick, the friend who never gave up the search, calls them back for a reunion.
As adults, they’re scarred and broken in different ways. Owen, trapped by trauma and OCD, works in a bookstore. Lor, the successful but lonely game designer, still carries guilt for betraying Owen years ago. Hamish, who has drastically transformed, now lives a polished, suburban life. Meanwhile, Nick is unchanged—still obsessed with finding Matty and the answers they never got. Now, he’s found the staircases again.
The reunion isn’t what it seems. When the group follows Nick into the eerie woods, they face not only the staircase but their own worst nightmares. The house they enter feeds on their deepest fears, forcing them to confront long-buried secrets.
At first, I struggled with some characters—Nick's bluntness and Lor’s narcissism irritated me—but their growth throughout the story shifted my perspective. The suspense, twists, and pacing kept me hooked, and the mystery was brilliantly executed.
Overall, this is a gripping, dark fantasy thriller with well-developed characters and a chilling atmosphere. I’m rounding my 4.5 stars up to 5, and I can’t wait for Wendig’s next book!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House/Del Rey for providing me with a digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
medium.com
October 29, 2024
Okay, so never climb random staircases sitting in the woods. Got it. I mean, I don't think I have the requisite amount of bravery needed to do such a thing anyway (I would have hauled myself in the opposite direction so quickly that there would have been a smoke trail) and I probably never would have agreed to camp out in the woods to begin with (eww, bugs), but it's still good to have a list of this stuff, I think.
But, yeah, this one was creepy. It's hard to say much without spoiling things, but it leans pretty heavily on the classic “a group of friends return home to right a supernatural wrong that occurred when they were teenagers” trope. That's not a bad thing – it's one of my favorite tropes in all of literature, probably due to me having read Stephen King's It at far too young and influenceable of an age – but expect the usual flashbacks and adults with major unresolved trauma and such. And it is kind of It-ish in parts: the initial summoning home by the one person who stayed behind, the single female friend who is the object of a secret crush, the fat kid turned not fat adult, and a teenage gangbang. Ha ha, just kidding on that last one … that's all King (thank goodness).
Once the adult group of friends – and I don't think I'm spoiling anything to say this because the book blurb hints at it really, really strongly – ascend the staircase in the woods for the second time, things get supremely wonky. Everything that comes afterward is (initially) confusing and disturbing and kind of sad, but it's also completely enthralling. It's a horror story, for sure, but it's also a story of friendship and guilt and grief and letting go of the past, and it's almost unputdownable (figuratively, anyway - I had to put it down a lot since my husband being home from work for two weeks totally disrupted my reading schedule).
My one minor complaint? The writing is a little repetitive at times. It's mostly unavoidable due to the nature of the book, I think, but there's definitely a lot of rehashing the same subjects and doing the same things over and over. It isn't a huge distraction from the story and it's kind of necessary to the plot, but it's something to be aware of, I suppose.
So, yeah. Overall, The Staircase in the Woods a creepy and entertaining read that takes an old horror trope in new directions. If you're a fan of creepy staircase horror (which may or may not be a subgenre that I just made up), definitely considering giving this one a read. 4.35 stars, rounded down.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Del Ray for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. It's expected publication date is April 29, 2025.
But, yeah, this one was creepy. It's hard to say much without spoiling things, but it leans pretty heavily on the classic “a group of friends return home to right a supernatural wrong that occurred when they were teenagers” trope. That's not a bad thing – it's one of my favorite tropes in all of literature, probably due to me having read Stephen King's It at far too young and influenceable of an age – but expect the usual flashbacks and adults with major unresolved trauma and such. And it is kind of It-ish in parts: the initial summoning home by the one person who stayed behind, the single female friend who is the object of a secret crush, the fat kid turned not fat adult, and a teenage gangbang. Ha ha, just kidding on that last one … that's all King (thank goodness).
Once the adult group of friends – and I don't think I'm spoiling anything to say this because the book blurb hints at it really, really strongly – ascend the staircase in the woods for the second time, things get supremely wonky. Everything that comes afterward is (initially) confusing and disturbing and kind of sad, but it's also completely enthralling. It's a horror story, for sure, but it's also a story of friendship and guilt and grief and letting go of the past, and it's almost unputdownable (figuratively, anyway - I had to put it down a lot since my husband being home from work for two weeks totally disrupted my reading schedule).
My one minor complaint? The writing is a little repetitive at times. It's mostly unavoidable due to the nature of the book, I think, but there's definitely a lot of rehashing the same subjects and doing the same things over and over. It isn't a huge distraction from the story and it's kind of necessary to the plot, but it's something to be aware of, I suppose.
So, yeah. Overall, The Staircase in the Woods a creepy and entertaining read that takes an old horror trope in new directions. If you're a fan of creepy staircase horror (which may or may not be a subgenre that I just made up), definitely considering giving this one a read. 4.35 stars, rounded down.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Del Ray for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. It's expected publication date is April 29, 2025.
October 20, 2024
Terrifying, gripping, nostalgic, and creepy, The Staircase in the Woods grabbed my attention and never let go! I was instantly drawn into the dual timeline story about a group of friends, the past, the present, and all the things in-between. I had a hard time putting this book down as I was fully invested in learning what happened when five friends walked into the woods and only four came out! I don't know about you but if I am walking in the woods and see a staircase, I won’t be climbing it. Just saying. Nothing good can come of it, and yet five teenage friends on a camping trip are intrigued and decide to climb........
Twenty years after the night they found a staircase in the woods, four friends came home. Their lives have taken them in different directions, and they lost touch after that fateful camping trip. But they have been invited back and hope to find their missing friend once and for all. If you are getting It vibes, you are not alone. But The Staircase in the Woods stands on its own (pun intended) and Wendig delivers a creepy and terrifying tale of friendship, abandonment, grief, loss, guilt, love, and the things that haunt us.
I loved the creepy and eerie vibe of this book. I also loved the tension, the atmosphere, the sense of danger that oozed throughout the book, the vivid descriptions, and the heaviness of the character's feelings. Don't even get me started on the ending!
Creepy, tense, well thought out, and hard to put down!
4.5 stars
Thank you to Random House Worlds | Del Rey and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
Twenty years after the night they found a staircase in the woods, four friends came home. Their lives have taken them in different directions, and they lost touch after that fateful camping trip. But they have been invited back and hope to find their missing friend once and for all. If you are getting It vibes, you are not alone. But The Staircase in the Woods stands on its own (pun intended) and Wendig delivers a creepy and terrifying tale of friendship, abandonment, grief, loss, guilt, love, and the things that haunt us.
I loved the creepy and eerie vibe of this book. I also loved the tension, the atmosphere, the sense of danger that oozed throughout the book, the vivid descriptions, and the heaviness of the character's feelings. Don't even get me started on the ending!
Creepy, tense, well thought out, and hard to put down!
4.5 stars
Thank you to Random House Worlds | Del Rey and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
Read
November 1, 2024DNF-NO RATING
Although not a reader of horror or fantasy, I am a fan of SUSPENSE and I was intrigued by this PREMISE so when I was invited to read this by the Publisher, I thought I would give it a try.
Five high school friends-a crew-are bonded by an oath-the Covenant -to protect one another no matter what.
When on a camping trip, they find a mysterious staircase to nowhere.
One friend walks up—but the staircase disappears before he can ever come down.
Twenty years later, the Covenant has been invoked, and the crew will reconvene to get answers when the staircase reappears.
Unfortunately, I am not the right audience for this book. I could not relate to the characters-or to the sex, the drugs, or the online gaming, and I don’t enjoy books that include Politics and/or Conspiracy theories.
DO read a sample of reviews to determine if this would be a better fit for you. There are plenty of positive ones out there!
Thank You to Del Rey for the gifted ARC provided through Netgalley.
Although not a reader of horror or fantasy, I am a fan of SUSPENSE and I was intrigued by this PREMISE so when I was invited to read this by the Publisher, I thought I would give it a try.
Five high school friends-a crew-are bonded by an oath-the Covenant -to protect one another no matter what.
When on a camping trip, they find a mysterious staircase to nowhere.
One friend walks up—but the staircase disappears before he can ever come down.
Twenty years later, the Covenant has been invoked, and the crew will reconvene to get answers when the staircase reappears.
Unfortunately, I am not the right audience for this book. I could not relate to the characters-or to the sex, the drugs, or the online gaming, and I don’t enjoy books that include Politics and/or Conspiracy theories.
DO read a sample of reviews to determine if this would be a better fit for you. There are plenty of positive ones out there!
Thank You to Del Rey for the gifted ARC provided through Netgalley.
November 25, 2025
Normally, I would try to write a bit of a punchy synopsis of this book in order to entice other Readers to pick it up, but I'm at a loss here. I've literally got nothing.
While so many of my friends are loving this one, I'm finding myself yet again on Outlier Island, but not in a fun way.
I suppose it's at this point where I should add in the obligatory, this is purely my personal opinion, statement. If you enjoyed this book, I am really, really happy that you did.
I'm not casting aspersions on this author, or their work. This story just absolutely, in no way, worked for me. There wasn't one single, solitary moment, where I was enjoying my time reading this.
I struggled the whole way through. I didn't like the writing, the characters, the action; none of it.
I pushed through because so many others were enjoying it, and I thought, it will turn around, it could get better. Sadly, for me, it never did.
I walk away, happy that it's over and that I can move on with the rest of my life. Honestly, I have nothing further to say. Let's all just forget this ever happened.
Thank you, Del Rey, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I'm sorry this is the shortest, most blunt review I've ever written.
Perhaps, I should have taken a min before writing it...
While so many of my friends are loving this one, I'm finding myself yet again on Outlier Island, but not in a fun way.
I suppose it's at this point where I should add in the obligatory, this is purely my personal opinion, statement. If you enjoyed this book, I am really, really happy that you did.
I'm not casting aspersions on this author, or their work. This story just absolutely, in no way, worked for me. There wasn't one single, solitary moment, where I was enjoying my time reading this.
I struggled the whole way through. I didn't like the writing, the characters, the action; none of it.
I pushed through because so many others were enjoying it, and I thought, it will turn around, it could get better. Sadly, for me, it never did.
I walk away, happy that it's over and that I can move on with the rest of my life. Honestly, I have nothing further to say. Let's all just forget this ever happened.
Thank you, Del Rey, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I'm sorry this is the shortest, most blunt review I've ever written.
Perhaps, I should have taken a min before writing it...
October 22, 2024
Chuck Wendig’s books always seem to make their way into my list of best reads of the year. So needless to say I had very high expectations going into this one.
Not only did The Staircase in the Woods meet my expectations, but it exceeded them! I know I rave about a ton of books, (I don't review or promote books that I don't like) but this book, is truly one of the absolute best horror books I've read this year!
One of my favorite tropes in horror is the childhood friends who reunite as adults over a shared trauma experience. Chuck Wendig took this trope and made it something completely unique and new.
The Staircase in the Woods is a genre-bending novel by one of the best horror authors of our time. From page one until the end, I could not put this one down. Atmospheric, nail biting (iykyk), terrifying, and filled with twists, The Staircase in the Woods will be an absolute delight for horror readers.
Not only do I highly recommend this book, but I also recommend Wendig’s prior works, The Book of Accidents, Wanderers, Wayward, and Black River Orchard.
The Staircase in the Woods by Chuck Wendig will be available on April 29, 2025. A massive thanks to Del Rey Books and NetGalley for the gifted copy!
Not only did The Staircase in the Woods meet my expectations, but it exceeded them! I know I rave about a ton of books, (I don't review or promote books that I don't like) but this book, is truly one of the absolute best horror books I've read this year!
One of my favorite tropes in horror is the childhood friends who reunite as adults over a shared trauma experience. Chuck Wendig took this trope and made it something completely unique and new.
The Staircase in the Woods is a genre-bending novel by one of the best horror authors of our time. From page one until the end, I could not put this one down. Atmospheric, nail biting (iykyk), terrifying, and filled with twists, The Staircase in the Woods will be an absolute delight for horror readers.
Not only do I highly recommend this book, but I also recommend Wendig’s prior works, The Book of Accidents, Wanderers, Wayward, and Black River Orchard.
The Staircase in the Woods by Chuck Wendig will be available on April 29, 2025. A massive thanks to Del Rey Books and NetGalley for the gifted copy!
August 8, 2025
Title/Author: Chuck Wendig
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Del Rey
Format: I read the NetGalley arc
Other Books I Enjoyed by This Author: Miriam Black series, The Book of Accidents, Black River Orchard, etc
Affiliate Link: https://bookshop.org/a/7576/978059315...
Release Date: April 29th, 2025
General Genre: Horror
Sub-Genre/Themes: urban legend, camping trip, creepy woods, friendship, childhood friends into adulthood, relationships, small town, haunted house, trapped!, ghosts, self-harm, suicidal ideation, murder, death, violence, domestic violence, rape, sexual abuse, child abuse (pretty much everything-this is the darkest Wendig yet)
Writing Style: Those short, buzzy, binge-worthy chapters we have come to love
What You Need to Know: "A group of friends investigates the mystery of a strange staircase in the woods in this mesmerizing horror novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Accidents."
My Reading Experience: Wowsers, Chuck Wendig! He delivers a fresh and deeply unsettling twist on the haunted house genre in The Staircase in the Woods. Just when I thought nothing new could be done with this classic horror trope, Wendig proved me wrong.
The novel is pitch-black dark. And I do mean that. The horror level is at a ten with genuinely terrifying scenes unfolding with wicked and gruesome details. I strongly advise against reading this one at night unless you enjoy disturbing images in your mind before drifting into nightmare territory. The short, buzzy chapters make it impossible to put down. The tension is so high most of the time that when there is a bit of a lull, it drags a little. I felt like there were a few times where the story cycled through some repeated subject matter.
One of the book’s greatest strengths is its layered backstory, which adds depth. The relationships between the group of friends are complex, shaped by trauma that is slowly revealed through dialogue and flashbacks. In that way, it reminded me of The Ritual by Adam Nevill—another novel where personal history is mixed in with real-time supernatural drama.
Final Recommendation: If you’re looking for a horror novel that doesn’t just rely on jump scares but instead gets under your skin with psychological depth and seriously terrifying scenes, The Staircase in the Woods is a must-read. Wendig has crafted a story that lingers long after the final page. Pretty disturbing. Please note my CWs in the sub-genre section
Comps: The Ritual by Adam Nevill, IT by Stephen King, The Haunting of Velkwood by Gwendolyn Kiste
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Del Rey
Format: I read the NetGalley arc
Other Books I Enjoyed by This Author: Miriam Black series, The Book of Accidents, Black River Orchard, etc
Affiliate Link: https://bookshop.org/a/7576/978059315...
Release Date: April 29th, 2025
General Genre: Horror
Sub-Genre/Themes: urban legend, camping trip, creepy woods, friendship, childhood friends into adulthood, relationships, small town, haunted house, trapped!, ghosts, self-harm, suicidal ideation, murder, death, violence, domestic violence, rape, sexual abuse, child abuse (pretty much everything-this is the darkest Wendig yet)
Writing Style: Those short, buzzy, binge-worthy chapters we have come to love
What You Need to Know: "A group of friends investigates the mystery of a strange staircase in the woods in this mesmerizing horror novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Accidents."
My Reading Experience: Wowsers, Chuck Wendig! He delivers a fresh and deeply unsettling twist on the haunted house genre in The Staircase in the Woods. Just when I thought nothing new could be done with this classic horror trope, Wendig proved me wrong.
The novel is pitch-black dark. And I do mean that. The horror level is at a ten with genuinely terrifying scenes unfolding with wicked and gruesome details. I strongly advise against reading this one at night unless you enjoy disturbing images in your mind before drifting into nightmare territory. The short, buzzy chapters make it impossible to put down. The tension is so high most of the time that when there is a bit of a lull, it drags a little. I felt like there were a few times where the story cycled through some repeated subject matter.
One of the book’s greatest strengths is its layered backstory, which adds depth. The relationships between the group of friends are complex, shaped by trauma that is slowly revealed through dialogue and flashbacks. In that way, it reminded me of The Ritual by Adam Nevill—another novel where personal history is mixed in with real-time supernatural drama.
Final Recommendation: If you’re looking for a horror novel that doesn’t just rely on jump scares but instead gets under your skin with psychological depth and seriously terrifying scenes, The Staircase in the Woods is a must-read. Wendig has crafted a story that lingers long after the final page. Pretty disturbing. Please note my CWs in the sub-genre section
Comps: The Ritual by Adam Nevill, IT by Stephen King, The Haunting of Velkwood by Gwendolyn Kiste
February 10, 2025
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 1/2
Next time I see a random staircase in the woods, I’m definitely walking up them because now I just assume they’ll lead me to self-actualization and healing from childhood trauma.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the advanced copy and the opportunity to provide an honest review.
This book kicked ass. This is my second Wendig book, and both have been differentiated pieces of art. He’s a gifted storyteller.
The Good…
I mean, pretty much all of it. The characters, the vivid, otherworldly setting, the prose, the nostalgia, the themes… all of it, stellar.
I was invested in this story from page one, and maybe it’s my soft spot for traumatic, supernatural events reuniting a group of disbanded friends, but this hit all the right notes for me.
The Less Good…
I don’t know that I’d change much of anything in this book. It’s one of the best I’ve read this year by far.
The Conclusion…
Go read this the second it is published.
Next time I see a random staircase in the woods, I’m definitely walking up them because now I just assume they’ll lead me to self-actualization and healing from childhood trauma.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the advanced copy and the opportunity to provide an honest review.
This book kicked ass. This is my second Wendig book, and both have been differentiated pieces of art. He’s a gifted storyteller.
The Good…
I mean, pretty much all of it. The characters, the vivid, otherworldly setting, the prose, the nostalgia, the themes… all of it, stellar.
I was invested in this story from page one, and maybe it’s my soft spot for traumatic, supernatural events reuniting a group of disbanded friends, but this hit all the right notes for me.
The Less Good…
I don’t know that I’d change much of anything in this book. It’s one of the best I’ve read this year by far.
The Conclusion…
Go read this the second it is published.
January 5, 2025
A lot of people are going to like this book very much. It's just really not for me.
The core of the book is a strong idea with a lot of potential, which is why I tried it even though I have not been a big Wending reader in the past. The characters are solid starting points, and there are some quite good turns of the plot that I admired. But it's a classic case of horror novel bloat. I think this would have been most effective as a novella, and there's an alternate universe version of this book that is trimmed down and tightened up that I could see myself really loving. Latch on to the core of the concept, include the best of the plot twists. The only thing that needs to be fleshed out here is the character development, but that is more about quality than quantity. The quantity there is also much more than is needed, a lot of mileage but not much of a journey.
This is also a Trauma Book. Which is becoming more of a thing in horror these days, but I'm starting to look back fondly on the days when horror was about finding metaphors for trauma rather than just straight up piling on the trauma. Without spoiling the book (and it is much better to go in completely cold) along the journey is one terrible situation after another, scenario after scenario of pain and torture and death and hatred. It is a lot to go through so much of it and while there is A Point as far as the major plot is concerned, I did not feel like it was all really necessary. Diving into all the details of the Awful Traumas did not scare me or thrill me or keep me in suspense. It was more like a list of awful, and that is not terribly compelling.
The emotional journey of these characters is also quite basic. Very much a 101 Emotional Intelligence kind of thing. That said, a lot of mainstream horror doesn't even get that far, so the fact that Wendig is so blatant about it, not bothering to use metaphor at all, is going to be what appeals to a lot of people. For a lot of readers it'll open up something and feel honest in a way they may have not found elsewhere. And I'm happy for them. But there is plenty of horror that deals with emotions in nuanced and complex ways, and that is much more my speed.
I think maybe it's time we call a moratorium on the Group of Friends With Two Timelines book. I get it, we all read IT, but I have read a lot of these in the last few years and only one (2024's THE DISSONANCE) worked for me. This one didn't need the flashbacks or needed to make the past version more interesting and fleshed out, but as is it didn't work well.
The core of the book is a strong idea with a lot of potential, which is why I tried it even though I have not been a big Wending reader in the past. The characters are solid starting points, and there are some quite good turns of the plot that I admired. But it's a classic case of horror novel bloat. I think this would have been most effective as a novella, and there's an alternate universe version of this book that is trimmed down and tightened up that I could see myself really loving. Latch on to the core of the concept, include the best of the plot twists. The only thing that needs to be fleshed out here is the character development, but that is more about quality than quantity. The quantity there is also much more than is needed, a lot of mileage but not much of a journey.
This is also a Trauma Book. Which is becoming more of a thing in horror these days, but I'm starting to look back fondly on the days when horror was about finding metaphors for trauma rather than just straight up piling on the trauma. Without spoiling the book (and it is much better to go in completely cold) along the journey is one terrible situation after another, scenario after scenario of pain and torture and death and hatred. It is a lot to go through so much of it and while there is A Point as far as the major plot is concerned, I did not feel like it was all really necessary. Diving into all the details of the Awful Traumas did not scare me or thrill me or keep me in suspense. It was more like a list of awful, and that is not terribly compelling.
The emotional journey of these characters is also quite basic. Very much a 101 Emotional Intelligence kind of thing. That said, a lot of mainstream horror doesn't even get that far, so the fact that Wendig is so blatant about it, not bothering to use metaphor at all, is going to be what appeals to a lot of people. For a lot of readers it'll open up something and feel honest in a way they may have not found elsewhere. And I'm happy for them. But there is plenty of horror that deals with emotions in nuanced and complex ways, and that is much more my speed.
I think maybe it's time we call a moratorium on the Group of Friends With Two Timelines book. I get it, we all read IT, but I have read a lot of these in the last few years and only one (2024's THE DISSONANCE) worked for me. This one didn't need the flashbacks or needed to make the past version more interesting and fleshed out, but as is it didn't work well.
June 23, 2025
The Staircase in the Woods is a difficult book to categorize, but who needs labels anyway?
A group of kids in high school form a bond...a covenant, actually. They all vow to protect each other, they fight bullies together and are there for one another. Until one night when they discover a staircase in the woods. Their friend Matt enters it....and is never seen again. They become pariahs in their school and in their neighborhood. Almost all of them leave their hometown but one. Fast forward twenty years, when they gather again and search out the staircase for a second time. Will they climb it this time? Will they discover what happened to Matt? You'll have to read this to find out!
I've been a fan of Chuck Wendig's for years now and this book was no exception. I had trouble connecting with a few of the characters at first, but as the narrative progressed my feelings towards all of them changed.
It's difficult to talk about this tale without any spoilers, but the last half of it is where the story really lived, in my opinion. That's where we got down to the nitty-gritty with each character and their motivations. A lot of surprises were sprung as we got down to the history of these youths and what happened to them back in high school after Matt's disappearance. It was sad but extremely realistic, and it brought each character's heart out to be examined in the light of day and some of the time, those hearts were not pretty.
I think most narratives of this type lose ground, (and my interest), when it comes to the explanation of the big bad-whether it be a haunted house, a dark wood, or the discovery of ancient, eldritch, evil. I think Wendig hit a home run with this one. It was a mostly believable and terrifying explanation and to that I say WOO HOO!
I accidentally got behind on reading my review copy, so I actually purchased the audiobook. This way, I could review this in a more timely manner. I'm glad I did! Narrated by Jay Myers, Amber Benson and Xe Sands-these narrators did a great job.
Overall, this was an intriguing and engaging book that has me still thinking about these characters a week after I've finished the story. Kudos to Chuck Wendig on yet another winner!
*ARC from publisher, audiobook purchased from Audible
A group of kids in high school form a bond...a covenant, actually. They all vow to protect each other, they fight bullies together and are there for one another. Until one night when they discover a staircase in the woods. Their friend Matt enters it....and is never seen again. They become pariahs in their school and in their neighborhood. Almost all of them leave their hometown but one. Fast forward twenty years, when they gather again and search out the staircase for a second time. Will they climb it this time? Will they discover what happened to Matt? You'll have to read this to find out!
I've been a fan of Chuck Wendig's for years now and this book was no exception. I had trouble connecting with a few of the characters at first, but as the narrative progressed my feelings towards all of them changed.
It's difficult to talk about this tale without any spoilers, but the last half of it is where the story really lived, in my opinion. That's where we got down to the nitty-gritty with each character and their motivations. A lot of surprises were sprung as we got down to the history of these youths and what happened to them back in high school after Matt's disappearance. It was sad but extremely realistic, and it brought each character's heart out to be examined in the light of day and some of the time, those hearts were not pretty.
I think most narratives of this type lose ground, (and my interest), when it comes to the explanation of the big bad-whether it be a haunted house, a dark wood, or the discovery of ancient, eldritch, evil. I think Wendig hit a home run with this one. It was a mostly believable and terrifying explanation and to that I say WOO HOO!
I accidentally got behind on reading my review copy, so I actually purchased the audiobook. This way, I could review this in a more timely manner. I'm glad I did! Narrated by Jay Myers, Amber Benson and Xe Sands-these narrators did a great job.
Overall, this was an intriguing and engaging book that has me still thinking about these characters a week after I've finished the story. Kudos to Chuck Wendig on yet another winner!
*ARC from publisher, audiobook purchased from Audible
June 30, 2025
I loved this book! It definitely wasn’t what I was expecting when I first started reading so I was pleasantly surprised. It’s like if a game nerd wrote a horror book!
I thought the characters were super smart with their thinking (although some of them are not likeable and their stories are over repeated)
I’d highly recommend this book!
I thought the characters were super smart with their thinking (although some of them are not likeable and their stories are over repeated)
I’d highly recommend this book!
October 9, 2025
1.5 stars— I am always on the lookout for a good supernatural horror book so I was won over by several good reviews I read of “The Staircase in the Woods” by Chuck Wendig. After slowly (and I do mean slowly) making it through this very strange book, I can best describe it in one word… unpleasant. The book resembled in ways earlier books I read: “The September House” and “Just Like Home” but just not as enjoyable. I believe what lessened my enjoyment of “The Staircase “ was the characters. I know I’m getting old and maybe I don’t relate to the younger generation as well (just call me Paw-Paw), but I didn’t like one character in this book. I have always said that if I don’t have a character to root for or at a minimum relate to then I am not going to like the book very much. (I guess the fact I liked “The Exorcist” and not this book says something about me🤔). “The Staircase” tells the story of four friends who come back together after one of the four, Nick, is diagnosed with terminal cancer and wishes to have one last hurrah with his friends before his health takes a turn for the worse. As the story unfolds, the reader learns there was a fifth member of the group who disappeared after climbing a staircase that appeared in the woods when the group was camping out many years ago. When they come together for the reunion, they soon learn they may have an attempt to solve this mystery in an unusual and personal way. The so called ‘horror” aspect of the book was missing to me as nothing I read made me even feel uncomfortable. In fact, even as far-fetched supernatural horror books go, this one was a big stretch and laughable in its plot twists. I wanted to put this book down so many times I quit counting, but I didn’t —only to be left with an unresolved ending that could have been so much better. (Please see my review of Ashley Flowers’ “All Good People Here” for more of my thoughts (and tantrums) when a story is left unresolved.) My final point— I refuse to give up trying to find good horror books because I have read so many great ones, but I do realize the stranger the concept and storyline the more I dislike the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 11, 2025
No. Just no. No thank you. 🙂↔️
Read for my Halloween Horror reading vlog: https://youtu.be/Lgu4XOoLWGk
Written review to come!
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Read for my Halloween Horror reading vlog: https://youtu.be/Lgu4XOoLWGk
Written review to come!
You can find me on...
Youtube | Instagram | TikTok
You can join our book club over on Patreon...
PBB Book Club
April 6, 2025
4.0 Stars
I tend to enjoy this author's storytelling so I was pleased to find myself sucked in from the first chapter. I like his characters who always feel like real people.
Compared to his last several releases, I didn't enjoy this one quite as much as his previous books but it was still a solid read.
If you have enjoyed his previous books or are looking at a place to start with this author, I would certainly recommend this one.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
I tend to enjoy this author's storytelling so I was pleased to find myself sucked in from the first chapter. I like his characters who always feel like real people.
Compared to his last several releases, I didn't enjoy this one quite as much as his previous books but it was still a solid read.
If you have enjoyed his previous books or are looking at a place to start with this author, I would certainly recommend this one.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
November 4, 2024
2/3 thirds in and I'm done. Can't finish this nonsense. Not sure what's worse, the fact that the story is dull as dishwater and rambles on and on and on without any likable characters or interesting developments or the author's need to shove his politics and woke BS down the readers' throats time and time again. I don't care how it ends, so I'm done wasting my time.
Read
October 11, 2025This was a DNF for me for a horror novel where was the horror? None I read up to page 100 nothing is frightening me! It’s dull & nonsense why do authors put their political views in books keep your opinions to yourself I have enough politics in my own country Australia 🇦🇺 to worry about a big load of crap no rating.
April 25, 2025
Hot Diggity Dang that was deep!!
A horror with emotional teeth that sunk right into me.
Let me stir the cauldron for a moment, because this one isn’t your average horror thriller. I went in expecting a spooky tale in the woods (and I do love a creepy forest), but what I got was something far deeper, more bewitching, and downright brilliant. This story didn’t just creep under my skin—it cast a spell, slow and strange, pulling me into a tangle of shadows.
The Stairs Are Back
It all starts with a camping trip. Five high school friends, deep in the woods, stumble across something impossible—a staircase leading nowhere. One of them climbs it… and vanishes. The staircase disappears with him.
Fast forward twenty years. The staircase is back. And so are the friends—now older, haunted, and returning to the forest to face what they lost… and maybe what they buried.
Sounds wild, right? Oh, it is. But it’s also eerie, emotional, and way deeper than I expected.
What Lurks Beyond the Stairs….
I don’t want to spoil anything, so I won’t say too much about what I loved most—but trust me, after the stairs, this book takes a sharp turn into something strange and surreal, dark and deeply emotional. Wendig uses this eerie, otherworldly event as a portal to explore the messiness of being human—trauma, friendship, being lost, loneliness, pain, and the quiet dangers that can live inside our own homes.
Climbing Fast, Stalling, Ending Strong
Now, the pacing wasn’t perfect. It starts off strong, slows down in the middle (with some repetition that could’ve been trimmed), and then ramps up hard in the final stretch. I’ll admit, I got confused a couple of times. But Wendig helps pull it all together. And it hits hard!
The Characters: Struggling with Shadows
The characters are scarred and profoundly lost, each one grappling with their own personal demons. They’re not just haunted by the supernatural—they’re haunted by themselves and each other. Wendig brings their pain, and growth, to life in a way that transcends typical horror, grounding the supernatural in real, raw human emotion.
This isn’t just about what haunts you from the outside. It’s about what haunts you from within. It's about growing up, growing apart, and confronting our shadow selves.
Climb the Stairs, Take the Leap—And Let Your Shadows Catch You
A Witches Words discussion with Carolyn, Mary Beth and Debra and again I geeked out over this one!
I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley
A horror with emotional teeth that sunk right into me.
Let me stir the cauldron for a moment, because this one isn’t your average horror thriller. I went in expecting a spooky tale in the woods (and I do love a creepy forest), but what I got was something far deeper, more bewitching, and downright brilliant. This story didn’t just creep under my skin—it cast a spell, slow and strange, pulling me into a tangle of shadows.
The Stairs Are Back
It all starts with a camping trip. Five high school friends, deep in the woods, stumble across something impossible—a staircase leading nowhere. One of them climbs it… and vanishes. The staircase disappears with him.
Fast forward twenty years. The staircase is back. And so are the friends—now older, haunted, and returning to the forest to face what they lost… and maybe what they buried.
Sounds wild, right? Oh, it is. But it’s also eerie, emotional, and way deeper than I expected.
What Lurks Beyond the Stairs….
I don’t want to spoil anything, so I won’t say too much about what I loved most—but trust me, after the stairs, this book takes a sharp turn into something strange and surreal, dark and deeply emotional. Wendig uses this eerie, otherworldly event as a portal to explore the messiness of being human—trauma, friendship, being lost, loneliness, pain, and the quiet dangers that can live inside our own homes.
Climbing Fast, Stalling, Ending Strong
Now, the pacing wasn’t perfect. It starts off strong, slows down in the middle (with some repetition that could’ve been trimmed), and then ramps up hard in the final stretch. I’ll admit, I got confused a couple of times. But Wendig helps pull it all together. And it hits hard!
The Characters: Struggling with Shadows
The characters are scarred and profoundly lost, each one grappling with their own personal demons. They’re not just haunted by the supernatural—they’re haunted by themselves and each other. Wendig brings their pain, and growth, to life in a way that transcends typical horror, grounding the supernatural in real, raw human emotion.
This isn’t just about what haunts you from the outside. It’s about what haunts you from within. It's about growing up, growing apart, and confronting our shadow selves.
Climb the Stairs, Take the Leap—And Let Your Shadows Catch You
A Witches Words discussion with Carolyn, Mary Beth and Debra and again I geeked out over this one!
I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley
September 16, 2025
In Chuck Wendig’s latest book, The Staircase in the Woods, he constructs quite the harrowing house of horrors for unwary readers to troop through. Distracted by the shockingly gruesome, visitors in these haunted halls will finally detect they are being hunted a little too late.
A staircase inexplicably appears to a ragtag bunch of teenagers one ill-fated night in the woods. These friends are chained together by a simple promise pledged with youthful abandon---they must protect each other at all costs. But they break their sacred childhood Covenant that night when one friend recklessly ascends that incongruous staircase in the woods alone, vanishing without a single friend lifting a finger to help him. Two decades later, the staircase is back but their friend is still missing. Now this broken friend group must confront all-consuming fears of the unknown to save the lost boy in the woods. They must dare to know the unknown from the past, resurrecting memories and traumas best left closeted and forgotten, and they will have to face what lies in wait for them at the top of those stairs.
Nobody will get away unscathed from their first encounter with the staircase, each of them contending with various mental health issues and feelings of crushing failure/inadequacy, but together again as adults, they will discover they have the capacity to face their fears and heal their hurts and defeat their bogeymen with the power of friendship. It honestly reminded me strongly of Stephen King’s book, IT. A small detail I really appreciated were the Chapter Titles---love, love, love! Seeing chapter titles really furnishes a more personal feel to the story, tapping into the memory of first reading chapter books. Wendig’s writing traps the reader inside a twisty, bloodcurdling nightmare plucked from the deepest, darkest recesses of ephemeral memory. I was repeatedly horrified to my core, but unable to stop myself from traversing into yet another chapter, our friends leading the way of course.
Inevitably everyone must finally grow up: You leave your childhood home and strike out for the unknown, severing the umbilical cord to your parents and everything you knew from the first chapters of life. Often you are only left with the vestiges of your previous life and lamentable regret you didn’t realize how much you’d miss what you were so quick to abandon. This story is a horrifying haunted house with the bones of a good mystery, but it was also a very heartwarming story of new beginnings where friends relearn to fight for their broken relationships, realize that being together is better than apart, and ultimately unite to conquer monstrous traumas pursuing them well into adulthood.I highly recommend NOT walking up that staircase in the woods…
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Random House Worlds/Del Rey for the ARC and the opportunity to share what I think! All opinions are my own.
A staircase inexplicably appears to a ragtag bunch of teenagers one ill-fated night in the woods. These friends are chained together by a simple promise pledged with youthful abandon---they must protect each other at all costs. But they break their sacred childhood Covenant that night when one friend recklessly ascends that incongruous staircase in the woods alone, vanishing without a single friend lifting a finger to help him. Two decades later, the staircase is back but their friend is still missing. Now this broken friend group must confront all-consuming fears of the unknown to save the lost boy in the woods. They must dare to know the unknown from the past, resurrecting memories and traumas best left closeted and forgotten, and they will have to face what lies in wait for them at the top of those stairs.
Nobody will get away unscathed from their first encounter with the staircase, each of them contending with various mental health issues and feelings of crushing failure/inadequacy, but together again as adults, they will discover they have the capacity to face their fears and heal their hurts and defeat their bogeymen with the power of friendship. It honestly reminded me strongly of Stephen King’s book, IT. A small detail I really appreciated were the Chapter Titles---love, love, love! Seeing chapter titles really furnishes a more personal feel to the story, tapping into the memory of first reading chapter books. Wendig’s writing traps the reader inside a twisty, bloodcurdling nightmare plucked from the deepest, darkest recesses of ephemeral memory. I was repeatedly horrified to my core, but unable to stop myself from traversing into yet another chapter, our friends leading the way of course.
Inevitably everyone must finally grow up: You leave your childhood home and strike out for the unknown, severing the umbilical cord to your parents and everything you knew from the first chapters of life. Often you are only left with the vestiges of your previous life and lamentable regret you didn’t realize how much you’d miss what you were so quick to abandon. This story is a horrifying haunted house with the bones of a good mystery, but it was also a very heartwarming story of new beginnings where friends relearn to fight for their broken relationships, realize that being together is better than apart, and ultimately unite to conquer monstrous traumas pursuing them well into adulthood.I highly recommend NOT walking up that staircase in the woods…
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Random House Worlds/Del Rey for the ARC and the opportunity to share what I think! All opinions are my own.
March 26, 2025
A deliciously tense and mysterious Horror from the mind of Chuck Wendig. Will i read a better horror than this in 2025?
'And then the place just fucking sits there, abandoned. Empty and gutted. Another ruin left to that force in the world that wants everything to fall apart.'
This was my second foray into the works of Chuck Wendig. The first happened to be the much-lauded Book of Accidents.
I was hoping this would at least come close to that amazing book. It didn't just do that, it surpassed it and has possibly become one of my all-time favourites.
As always with my reviews, I try to give away as little of the plot as possible so I'll tread carefully with what I'm about to say.
Yes, this is a horror novel, and yes it is kinda graphic on occasion but the one thing Chuck Wendig did exceptionally was highlight the human condition. We all have hangups, issues from our past that haunt us from time to time and this is delivered perfectly within this story.
There is a constant undercurrent of uneasiness, but one I'm sure the majority of us could relate to in some shape or form.
'That was the funny thing about a fear of the dark; you weren't really afraid of it, but rather what lurked within it.'
As always the writing is nigh on perfection, with beautifully drawn scenes and scenarios throughout which I could almost see in my mind's eye. I also loved Wendig's use of video game and programming references throughout.
This was a book that will stick with me for a long time, if not forever. A book that resonates with me and I hope it will for you.
In summary, READ THIS!
I received an advanced copy for free and I'm leaving this unbiased review voluntarily.
'And then the place just fucking sits there, abandoned. Empty and gutted. Another ruin left to that force in the world that wants everything to fall apart.'
This was my second foray into the works of Chuck Wendig. The first happened to be the much-lauded Book of Accidents.
I was hoping this would at least come close to that amazing book. It didn't just do that, it surpassed it and has possibly become one of my all-time favourites.
As always with my reviews, I try to give away as little of the plot as possible so I'll tread carefully with what I'm about to say.
Yes, this is a horror novel, and yes it is kinda graphic on occasion but the one thing Chuck Wendig did exceptionally was highlight the human condition. We all have hangups, issues from our past that haunt us from time to time and this is delivered perfectly within this story.
There is a constant undercurrent of uneasiness, but one I'm sure the majority of us could relate to in some shape or form.
'That was the funny thing about a fear of the dark; you weren't really afraid of it, but rather what lurked within it.'
As always the writing is nigh on perfection, with beautifully drawn scenes and scenarios throughout which I could almost see in my mind's eye. I also loved Wendig's use of video game and programming references throughout.
This was a book that will stick with me for a long time, if not forever. A book that resonates with me and I hope it will for you.
In summary, READ THIS!
I received an advanced copy for free and I'm leaving this unbiased review voluntarily.
November 13, 2024
₊‧ ୨୧ 1 star ◞♡
uh uh. nope.
lemme give u a quote and pls tell me if this makes u feel anything:
“stepping on puppies until they pop”
i mean eXcUsE Me 😭😭 yuck.
so ye…. this book was weird and it defs delivered on the “spooky” side of things… except it was leaning more towards disturbing than anything else.
firstly, the pacing was so confusing. at one moment they were here and the next it was half a year later and they still have phone battery left??
ye that don’t make sense.
the characters were all unique, except i kinda hated them sometimes… but their friendship was super cute 🧸🎧
other than that, i think the writing was ok overall…
tbh i thought this was gonna be a thriller and not a horror… uhm i was wrong. like, at times i thought i would puke bc of how disgusting some things were 😀↕️
i defs recommend reading this ( when it comes out ) if u want a nice horror book with some SUPPPERRRRRRRRR slow slow-burn ( if it can even be called that 🌝 )
₊‧ ୨୧ pre-read ◞♡
💌 ꒱ ahhhhhh my arc request finally got approved 🥹🫂
super excited for some spooky vibes…
uh uh. nope.
lemme give u a quote and pls tell me if this makes u feel anything:
“stepping on puppies until they pop”
i mean eXcUsE Me 😭😭 yuck.
so ye…. this book was weird and it defs delivered on the “spooky” side of things… except it was leaning more towards disturbing than anything else.
firstly, the pacing was so confusing. at one moment they were here and the next it was half a year later and they still have phone battery left??
ye that don’t make sense.
the characters were all unique, except i kinda hated them sometimes… but their friendship was super cute 🧸🎧
other than that, i think the writing was ok overall…
tbh i thought this was gonna be a thriller and not a horror… uhm i was wrong. like, at times i thought i would puke bc of how disgusting some things were 😀↕️
i defs recommend reading this ( when it comes out ) if u want a nice horror book with some SUPPPERRRRRRRRR slow slow-burn ( if it can even be called that 🌝 )
₊‧ ୨୧ pre-read ◞♡
💌 ꒱ ahhhhhh my arc request finally got approved 🥹🫂
super excited for some spooky vibes…
April 29, 2025
“THIS PLACE HATES YOU.”
Five troubled high school friends find an abandoned staircase in the woods. One of them runs up the stairs and never returns. What happened to Matty? When Nick lures the remaining friends Hamish, Lore, and Owen to the staircase in the woods twenty years later in the hopes of finding Matty, they must choose between friendship and the unknown.
The Staircase in the Woods can best be described as The Breakfast Club meets The Matrix and is littered with so many deal breakers for me.
1. It reads as YA
2. Political agenda
3. Several plot holes
4. Confusing and not in a good way
5. Very slow pacing
6. Open ending
The book includes very dark issues (see trigger warnings) and centers around themes of friendship, abandonment, fear, and PTSD. It also confirms for me that nail biting is an absolutely disgusting habit. Owen’s nail biting bothered me more than the parts that were supposed to be nauseating.
The very clever chapter titles made me chuckle and I enjoyed a nostalgic nod to Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress (whether or not it was intentional). And…I did make it to the end.
I will leave you with a quote from the book that explains how I felt about these characters:
“God, for a bunch of smart people you’re a little fucking stupid.”
Unfortunately, The Staircase in the Woods did not work for me. Many others have really enjoyed it, so please check out their reviews as well.
Trigger warnings: suicide, cutting, sexual abuse, and racism
2.5/5 stars rounded up
Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey publishing for the ARC of The Staircase in the Woods in exchange for an honest review.
Five troubled high school friends find an abandoned staircase in the woods. One of them runs up the stairs and never returns. What happened to Matty? When Nick lures the remaining friends Hamish, Lore, and Owen to the staircase in the woods twenty years later in the hopes of finding Matty, they must choose between friendship and the unknown.
The Staircase in the Woods can best be described as The Breakfast Club meets The Matrix and is littered with so many deal breakers for me.
1. It reads as YA
2. Political agenda
3. Several plot holes
4. Confusing and not in a good way
5. Very slow pacing
6. Open ending
The book includes very dark issues (see trigger warnings) and centers around themes of friendship, abandonment, fear, and PTSD. It also confirms for me that nail biting is an absolutely disgusting habit. Owen’s nail biting bothered me more than the parts that were supposed to be nauseating.
The very clever chapter titles made me chuckle and I enjoyed a nostalgic nod to Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress (whether or not it was intentional). And…I did make it to the end.
I will leave you with a quote from the book that explains how I felt about these characters:
“God, for a bunch of smart people you’re a little fucking stupid.”
Unfortunately, The Staircase in the Woods did not work for me. Many others have really enjoyed it, so please check out their reviews as well.
Trigger warnings: suicide, cutting, sexual abuse, and racism
2.5/5 stars rounded up
Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey publishing for the ARC of The Staircase in the Woods in exchange for an honest review.
October 16, 2024
This is a difficult book to review. I have only read one other book by this author—The Book of Accidents—and I found that story very compelling. So, when NetGalley offered me an ARC of this book, I jumped at the opportunity. However, it did not live up to my expectations.
Here's what worked: atmosphere. Wendig is good at creating a horrific atmosphere—the story literally feels suffocating at times. It's not comfortable to read this, but it is a horror novel, so it does its job well in that regard. There are lots of fun, creepy concepts and the overall story idea is really good. If the Backrooms intrigues you, then pick this book up for sure!
The book also does a pretty good job of looking at the pain of being a human (this was a theme in The Book of Accidents also, so definitely this author's hobbyhorse). However, this examination is less skillful here - the book hits you over the head with gruesome imagery and repeated stories of people hurting people to the point that it just starts to feel depressing to read. Perhaps that was his intent, in which case it's well done, but I like my horror novels to be more creepy then sad. This book is both in equal measure.
For me, what did not work were the characters. They are all hard to root for or care about, which I think was a mistake. I understand they are all suffering from a case of arrested development due to traumatic childhoods, but given the dark nature of the book and the repeated violence and labyrinth (literally) of pain and suffering, having characters I could care about more would have kept me more invested.
The only likable character - maybe - was Matty. I had a tough time believing Matty would have ever been friends with the other kids. It made zero sense. If there was an early childhood connection he could have still been friendly with them, but as teenagers there is just no way this kid would have still hung out with the others. His character didn't even make sense by itself...a teenager beloved by everyone who is good at everything - including sports AND being the star of every theater production. His character is not fleshed out at all, which is fine since he is not a main player, but he seemed completely unbelievable.
Finally, there was one aspect of the story that was pointless. Why the random couple of political statements? The author's views do not differ from mine, so it's not that this irritated me because I disagree. It irritated me because it served zero purpose in the story. It felt like clumsy, tacked-on, virtue-signaling garbage. I blame the editor as much as the author - a better editor would have pointed out how out of place this was.
Although the ending feels rushed, I actually liked it. I definitely have mixed feelings on this book. It's worth a read for horror fans but didn't quite live up to its promise.
Here's what worked: atmosphere. Wendig is good at creating a horrific atmosphere—the story literally feels suffocating at times. It's not comfortable to read this, but it is a horror novel, so it does its job well in that regard. There are lots of fun, creepy concepts and the overall story idea is really good. If the Backrooms intrigues you, then pick this book up for sure!
The book also does a pretty good job of looking at the pain of being a human (this was a theme in The Book of Accidents also, so definitely this author's hobbyhorse). However, this examination is less skillful here - the book hits you over the head with gruesome imagery and repeated stories of people hurting people to the point that it just starts to feel depressing to read. Perhaps that was his intent, in which case it's well done, but I like my horror novels to be more creepy then sad. This book is both in equal measure.
For me, what did not work were the characters. They are all hard to root for or care about, which I think was a mistake. I understand they are all suffering from a case of arrested development due to traumatic childhoods, but given the dark nature of the book and the repeated violence and labyrinth (literally) of pain and suffering, having characters I could care about more would have kept me more invested.
The only likable character - maybe - was Matty. I had a tough time believing Matty would have ever been friends with the other kids. It made zero sense. If there was an early childhood connection he could have still been friendly with them, but as teenagers there is just no way this kid would have still hung out with the others. His character didn't even make sense by itself...a teenager beloved by everyone who is good at everything - including sports AND being the star of every theater production. His character is not fleshed out at all, which is fine since he is not a main player, but he seemed completely unbelievable.
Finally, there was one aspect of the story that was pointless. Why the random couple of political statements? The author's views do not differ from mine, so it's not that this irritated me because I disagree. It irritated me because it served zero purpose in the story. It felt like clumsy, tacked-on, virtue-signaling garbage. I blame the editor as much as the author - a better editor would have pointed out how out of place this was.
Although the ending feels rushed, I actually liked it. I definitely have mixed feelings on this book. It's worth a read for horror fans but didn't quite live up to its promise.
November 8, 2024
3.5
This is a horror story about a former group of high school students that have come together in a forest 20 yrs after the last time they were together .. and they find a staircase in the woods… the second one in the history of their friendship, the first time, their friend Matty climbed one and disappeared!
So all these yrs later they are trying to find out what happened to him… because the group of five were in a “ covenant “ since high school.. meaning they stuck together always.
This genre is really not my thing but it sounded interesting and parts of it were.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Worlds for the ARC!
This is a horror story about a former group of high school students that have come together in a forest 20 yrs after the last time they were together .. and they find a staircase in the woods… the second one in the history of their friendship, the first time, their friend Matty climbed one and disappeared!
So all these yrs later they are trying to find out what happened to him… because the group of five were in a “ covenant “ since high school.. meaning they stuck together always.
This genre is really not my thing but it sounded interesting and parts of it were.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Worlds for the ARC!
May 9, 2025
As Mr. Wendig notes in his comments at the end, The Staircase in the Woods was partially inspired by the actual phenomenon of finding just such ruins left naturally as a house in the woods decays around the strongest structure, it's stairway--the inside splayed bare for all the world to see. In a way, this is the metaphor that then wormed into the core of this novel--a house takes on the damage of the lives lived in it and eventually those lives in turn become that damage or trauma, trauma which unwitnessed becomes an entity, a prison, a horror onto itself.
This novel is incredibly creepy, and the fear only escalates. But like excellent horror literature should, this novel offers many other layered themes as well. It's offers more than just a fear that stays with readers long after the last page. Mr. Wendig's polished use of organic prose to imitate the mood and his diverse characters' truly poignant interior monologues make for a fascinating, thoughtful read start to finish. This is a novel about the sanctity of friendship, childhood abuse, the disillusionment of adulthood, and most interestingly, the creative process itself.
Basic Premise: Lifelong friends who have drifted apart reunite to go camping in the woods. For the second time in their lives, they find a staircase to seemingly nothing at all, a staircase which represents a past trauma which has haunted all of them into adulthood--the loss of one of their friends. Naturally they feel they must climb up, and of course at this point mayhem ensues. They find that as friends they must unite and face their greatest personal horrors.
Like many of Mr. Wendig's best novels, the plot is original and unpredictable as it continues to unfold. But it's also not the feature that drives his work. His characters--what hinders them, isolates them, motivates them--are the heart of his writing, and these characters are so very different from one another yet all highly sympathetic. The dialogue is spot on. I felt like I knew each of them and could recognize them in the history of my own past friendships. Two of the characters are involved in the writing and designing of video games, and I really enjoyed the passages in which they reflect on this process as of course the prose here becomes a metaphor for writers and writing as art form. As an aside: I can't help but wonder if these moments are Mr. Wendig's personal way of "strutting and fretting his hour"...his own "ars poetica." I have noticed that in several of his other novels he has a character who is an artist of sorts and the prose he composes for that artist's interior world is always brilliant.
If you read one horror/thriller this season, make it The Staircase in the Woods. I think it's Mr. Wendig's best one yet. I finished in two sittings as I couldn't stand to put it down, and I just started reading it a second time so that I can savor and further contemplate this truly genius, thematically layered writing. This is horror at its best.
This novel is incredibly creepy, and the fear only escalates. But like excellent horror literature should, this novel offers many other layered themes as well. It's offers more than just a fear that stays with readers long after the last page. Mr. Wendig's polished use of organic prose to imitate the mood and his diverse characters' truly poignant interior monologues make for a fascinating, thoughtful read start to finish. This is a novel about the sanctity of friendship, childhood abuse, the disillusionment of adulthood, and most interestingly, the creative process itself.
Basic Premise: Lifelong friends who have drifted apart reunite to go camping in the woods. For the second time in their lives, they find a staircase to seemingly nothing at all, a staircase which represents a past trauma which has haunted all of them into adulthood--the loss of one of their friends. Naturally they feel they must climb up, and of course at this point mayhem ensues. They find that as friends they must unite and face their greatest personal horrors.
Like many of Mr. Wendig's best novels, the plot is original and unpredictable as it continues to unfold. But it's also not the feature that drives his work. His characters--what hinders them, isolates them, motivates them--are the heart of his writing, and these characters are so very different from one another yet all highly sympathetic. The dialogue is spot on. I felt like I knew each of them and could recognize them in the history of my own past friendships. Two of the characters are involved in the writing and designing of video games, and I really enjoyed the passages in which they reflect on this process as of course the prose here becomes a metaphor for writers and writing as art form. As an aside: I can't help but wonder if these moments are Mr. Wendig's personal way of "strutting and fretting his hour"...his own "ars poetica." I have noticed that in several of his other novels he has a character who is an artist of sorts and the prose he composes for that artist's interior world is always brilliant.
If you read one horror/thriller this season, make it The Staircase in the Woods. I think it's Mr. Wendig's best one yet. I finished in two sittings as I couldn't stand to put it down, and I just started reading it a second time so that I can savor and further contemplate this truly genius, thematically layered writing. This is horror at its best.
October 16, 2025
sooo moral of the story, if i ever stumble upon a mysterious staircase in the woods don't be stupid... lesson learned.
i really ended up enjoying this! at first i wasn't sure if i was going to finish it because the characters were insufferable but around the 100 pg mark i was hooked. this is not your typical haunted house ok, this was something made of nightmares...this was a house of horrors literally.
even though i hated almost every character, Lore made me want to hit my head with a brick, i wish i had a group of ragtag friends like this. i know if my ass went up some mysterious steps & vanished my friends would have left me behind😂😂. i really grew to love their bond in the end. this was a book about friendship, abandonment, loneliness, & trauma
the writing was good, even though at times a little repetitive, & the descriptions were vivid which helped create that eerie atmosphere i was hoping to get when i picked this up. All i know is i could NOT have made it inside that house.
4/5 ✨
i really ended up enjoying this! at first i wasn't sure if i was going to finish it because the characters were insufferable but around the 100 pg mark i was hooked. this is not your typical haunted house ok, this was something made of nightmares...this was a house of horrors literally.
even though i hated almost every character, Lore made me want to hit my head with a brick, i wish i had a group of ragtag friends like this. i know if my ass went up some mysterious steps & vanished my friends would have left me behind😂😂. i really grew to love their bond in the end. this was a book about friendship, abandonment, loneliness, & trauma
the writing was good, even though at times a little repetitive, & the descriptions were vivid which helped create that eerie atmosphere i was hoping to get when i picked this up. All i know is i could NOT have made it inside that house.
4/5 ✨
March 8, 2025
Last read of 2004
In “The Staircase in the Woods," Chuck Wendig weaves a haunting narrative that blends horror, mystery, and deep emotional resonance, leaving a lasting impression long after turning the final page.
With his signature masterful prose, Wendig crafts a tightly spun tale filled with characters who feel like old friends. As you navigate through spine-tingling suspense and heart-wrenching drama, your pulse quickens and your stomach churns, creating an experience that is anything but ordinary. Prepare yourself for a journey into the depths of fear and humanity that only the bold should undertake.
At the story's core lies “The Covenant,” a group of five friends whose lives spiral into chaos after a terrifying incident in which one vanishes into the abyss of a mysterious staircase deep in the woods. Fast forward twenty years, and the scars of that fateful day still shape their realities, pushing them toward self-destructive paths and creating rifts that appear impossible to mend. When the staircase re-emerges, old wounds are reopened, prompting the friends to confront their past and venture into the unknown to rescue their missing friend — a daunting challenge filled with horrors beyond their imagination.
Wendig skillfully alternates between past and present, illuminating the evolution and deterioration of their once unbreakable bonds. He richly develops each character's history and inner struggles, allowing for an intricate exploration of their pasts. This depth transforms the narrative from a simple quest into a harrowing examination of survival, guilt, and the desperate search for closure. The heavy themes resonate deeply, ensuring that the emotional weight hits as hard as the unsettling moments of terror.
The story unfolds gradually as a slow burn that kindles suspense and builds toward a nail-biting climax. The horror is grotesque and psychological, with the staircase as the enigmatic centrepiece. Wendig artfully reflects the characters' primal fears and regrets, intertwining elements of body horror and surreal menace that may linger long after you’ve closed the book. For anyone who's ever wrestled with anxiety, feared the unknown lurking in the shadows, or grappled with their inner critic, the terrors in this tale will feel all too relatable.
Yet, amid the chills and spine-tingling encounters, themes of friendship, loyalty, and redemption elevate this novel to extraordinary heights. “The Staircase in the Woods” is as much about the ties that bind us as it is about the spectral horrors that haunt us. These relatable themes make the terrifying moments even more gut-wrenching. We've all felt the pangs of drifting apart from friends, the awkwardness of reuniting with someone who has changed, or the burden of grudges carried for too long. Wendig encourages us to ponder meaningful questions: How far would you go for someone you love? What happens when grief, guilt, and fear collide? How well do we know those closest to us?
More than just an eerie staircase, this story delves into the ghosts of our pasts, the fraying threads of friendship, and the lengths we’ll go to right our wrongs. It serves as a chilling reminder that the scariest journeys often lead us within ourselves and that confronting our past can be the greatest challenge for all. For those who crave supernatural horror infused with heart and depth, Chuck Wendig delivers an unforgettable experience that strikes at the core of what it means to be human.
I highly recommend adding this to your TBR list! You won’t be disappointed! Chuck Wendig's “The Staircase in the Woods” is expected to be released on April 29, 2025.
Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Worlds, and Del Rey for providing me with the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
In “The Staircase in the Woods," Chuck Wendig weaves a haunting narrative that blends horror, mystery, and deep emotional resonance, leaving a lasting impression long after turning the final page.
With his signature masterful prose, Wendig crafts a tightly spun tale filled with characters who feel like old friends. As you navigate through spine-tingling suspense and heart-wrenching drama, your pulse quickens and your stomach churns, creating an experience that is anything but ordinary. Prepare yourself for a journey into the depths of fear and humanity that only the bold should undertake.
At the story's core lies “The Covenant,” a group of five friends whose lives spiral into chaos after a terrifying incident in which one vanishes into the abyss of a mysterious staircase deep in the woods. Fast forward twenty years, and the scars of that fateful day still shape their realities, pushing them toward self-destructive paths and creating rifts that appear impossible to mend. When the staircase re-emerges, old wounds are reopened, prompting the friends to confront their past and venture into the unknown to rescue their missing friend — a daunting challenge filled with horrors beyond their imagination.
Wendig skillfully alternates between past and present, illuminating the evolution and deterioration of their once unbreakable bonds. He richly develops each character's history and inner struggles, allowing for an intricate exploration of their pasts. This depth transforms the narrative from a simple quest into a harrowing examination of survival, guilt, and the desperate search for closure. The heavy themes resonate deeply, ensuring that the emotional weight hits as hard as the unsettling moments of terror.
The story unfolds gradually as a slow burn that kindles suspense and builds toward a nail-biting climax. The horror is grotesque and psychological, with the staircase as the enigmatic centrepiece. Wendig artfully reflects the characters' primal fears and regrets, intertwining elements of body horror and surreal menace that may linger long after you’ve closed the book. For anyone who's ever wrestled with anxiety, feared the unknown lurking in the shadows, or grappled with their inner critic, the terrors in this tale will feel all too relatable.
Yet, amid the chills and spine-tingling encounters, themes of friendship, loyalty, and redemption elevate this novel to extraordinary heights. “The Staircase in the Woods” is as much about the ties that bind us as it is about the spectral horrors that haunt us. These relatable themes make the terrifying moments even more gut-wrenching. We've all felt the pangs of drifting apart from friends, the awkwardness of reuniting with someone who has changed, or the burden of grudges carried for too long. Wendig encourages us to ponder meaningful questions: How far would you go for someone you love? What happens when grief, guilt, and fear collide? How well do we know those closest to us?
More than just an eerie staircase, this story delves into the ghosts of our pasts, the fraying threads of friendship, and the lengths we’ll go to right our wrongs. It serves as a chilling reminder that the scariest journeys often lead us within ourselves and that confronting our past can be the greatest challenge for all. For those who crave supernatural horror infused with heart and depth, Chuck Wendig delivers an unforgettable experience that strikes at the core of what it means to be human.
I highly recommend adding this to your TBR list! You won’t be disappointed! Chuck Wendig's “The Staircase in the Woods” is expected to be released on April 29, 2025.
Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Worlds, and Del Rey for providing me with the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
May 1, 2025
I will begin by saying this is my first Wendig read and boy… did I love it.
Five friends who are best friends in high school refer to themselves as The Covenant. One night while partying in the woods… they find a mysterious staircase. One of them runs up the staircase and never comes back down. He was the only one to truly enter the unknown and never return.
Years later, their friend summons them for their last hurrah as he is dying of cancer. What he really wants… is to find their missing friend…. Through a whole other staircase.
This really starts as a slow burn. We get the backstories on these broken characters. We are being setup for what horrors truly await. Once I got to the halfway mark, everything leads to a door into hell. LITERAL HELL!
Be prepared, this sucker gets really dark! Trigger warnings galore! It gets gory and seriously fucked up! I absolutely loved it!
Thank you to DelRay, Chuck Wendig and NetGalley for the opportunity. I even had to buy a copy for my shelves.
4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Five friends who are best friends in high school refer to themselves as The Covenant. One night while partying in the woods… they find a mysterious staircase. One of them runs up the staircase and never comes back down. He was the only one to truly enter the unknown and never return.
Years later, their friend summons them for their last hurrah as he is dying of cancer. What he really wants… is to find their missing friend…. Through a whole other staircase.
This really starts as a slow burn. We get the backstories on these broken characters. We are being setup for what horrors truly await. Once I got to the halfway mark, everything leads to a door into hell. LITERAL HELL!
Be prepared, this sucker gets really dark! Trigger warnings galore! It gets gory and seriously fucked up! I absolutely loved it!
Thank you to DelRay, Chuck Wendig and NetGalley for the opportunity. I even had to buy a copy for my shelves.
4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
April 12, 2025
What’s scarier than a haunted house? A haunted home. A place that should be a refuge, safety and comfort, but instead is an all-consuming testament to your deepest fears and insidious traumas. Wendig does a great job at excavating what that home might look like in this painful character study, with metaphoric and metaphysical hauntings doing the same work as the psyche just louder.
The characters are the heart of this story, a group of five misfits that we see through the POVs of two of them, with occasional flashbacks as well. Wendig can’t help but pay homage to King’s Loser’s Club, but these five are all unique and complete and painfully real. We learn about who and how they were as teenagers, the different types of broken homes that stitched them all together, and how one traumatic event eclipsed the overall trauma of their childhoods to separate them, to lead them down the paths of maybe their darkest timelines to the adults we meet them as in the present. The connection and evolution from childhood to adult is really well done, but even more so is how realized the characters feel. None of perfect, not in their villainy nor their victimhood, not in their apathy or their friendship. They are all ruins left to rot under dark skies but trying to find the spare lumber to rebuild themselves, desperate and incomplete but in different ways. Of course, when talking about childhood trauma there are some clichés or expected histories, but none feel trite or contrived. We see this group lose themselves, and go through hell to try and find themselves again.
The world-building is fun, and morbid. The real world of our characters is broken and divided present, not shying to comment on the current political climate. But the place they find themselves about a third of the way into the book, the place their quest takes them, is one where Wendig lets himself indulge in all sorts of dark and twisted ideas, set pieces sometimes elaborate and harrowing in details and sometimes just mentioned in passing, a constantly shifting madhouse of perspective and distortion, and it is a lot of fun. It works as the perfect environment for our characters’ drama to play out, inviting and all-encompassing with just the right amount of detail and shadow to feel both known and menacing. The writing itself is compelling, moving between two characters at a fast clip, balancing internal monologues with description and desperate dialogue. The writing isn’t particularly poetic but our characters are doing a lot of inner work and the writing is willing to be philosophical or melodramatic or terrified as appropriate. The plot slows down a little around the 2/3 mark, with a section where it seems like the momentum has stalled a little, but the writing keeps you engaged and captivated anyway. Mostly the pacing is efficient, not wasting any time in the beginning to get our characters right into the heart of the story’s action, bringing them together and separating them only to bring them together in good order, letting us learn more about them throughout. There is a bit of a slowdown around 2/3 of the way through, but that is in part because Wendig doesn’t want to give the characters any easy epiphanies or deux ex machina moments, and the result is it takes time for them to learn what they need to learn to move forward. The character work and world-building, along with crisp and emotional writing, make sure that there is always something to keep you interested, regardless, and the story soon finds its footing again for a memorable and nonstop final act.
Wendig isn’t subtle about the themes or ideas he wants to explore, here. He says in his afterward (and this isn’t spoiling anything about the story,) “We are creatures of extraordinary depth, a deep cavern with infinite strata, and we have seen things and felt things and experienced things—we’re reckoning with a wealth of love and trauma and pain and wonder, and storytelling, at its best, represents that reckoning on the page." Like any good story about a haunting, this story is about the people that live through it, through the hauntings of their lives and their pains and their celebrations and their friendships. It is about facing what haunts us, staring it in the face, and making friends with it.
I want to thank the author, the publisher Del Ray, and NetGalley, who provided a complimentary eARC for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The characters are the heart of this story, a group of five misfits that we see through the POVs of two of them, with occasional flashbacks as well. Wendig can’t help but pay homage to King’s Loser’s Club, but these five are all unique and complete and painfully real. We learn about who and how they were as teenagers, the different types of broken homes that stitched them all together, and how one traumatic event eclipsed the overall trauma of their childhoods to separate them, to lead them down the paths of maybe their darkest timelines to the adults we meet them as in the present. The connection and evolution from childhood to adult is really well done, but even more so is how realized the characters feel. None of perfect, not in their villainy nor their victimhood, not in their apathy or their friendship. They are all ruins left to rot under dark skies but trying to find the spare lumber to rebuild themselves, desperate and incomplete but in different ways. Of course, when talking about childhood trauma there are some clichés or expected histories, but none feel trite or contrived. We see this group lose themselves, and go through hell to try and find themselves again.
The world-building is fun, and morbid. The real world of our characters is broken and divided present, not shying to comment on the current political climate. But the place they find themselves about a third of the way into the book, the place their quest takes them, is one where Wendig lets himself indulge in all sorts of dark and twisted ideas, set pieces sometimes elaborate and harrowing in details and sometimes just mentioned in passing, a constantly shifting madhouse of perspective and distortion, and it is a lot of fun. It works as the perfect environment for our characters’ drama to play out, inviting and all-encompassing with just the right amount of detail and shadow to feel both known and menacing. The writing itself is compelling, moving between two characters at a fast clip, balancing internal monologues with description and desperate dialogue. The writing isn’t particularly poetic but our characters are doing a lot of inner work and the writing is willing to be philosophical or melodramatic or terrified as appropriate. The plot slows down a little around the 2/3 mark, with a section where it seems like the momentum has stalled a little, but the writing keeps you engaged and captivated anyway. Mostly the pacing is efficient, not wasting any time in the beginning to get our characters right into the heart of the story’s action, bringing them together and separating them only to bring them together in good order, letting us learn more about them throughout. There is a bit of a slowdown around 2/3 of the way through, but that is in part because Wendig doesn’t want to give the characters any easy epiphanies or deux ex machina moments, and the result is it takes time for them to learn what they need to learn to move forward. The character work and world-building, along with crisp and emotional writing, make sure that there is always something to keep you interested, regardless, and the story soon finds its footing again for a memorable and nonstop final act.
Wendig isn’t subtle about the themes or ideas he wants to explore, here. He says in his afterward (and this isn’t spoiling anything about the story,) “We are creatures of extraordinary depth, a deep cavern with infinite strata, and we have seen things and felt things and experienced things—we’re reckoning with a wealth of love and trauma and pain and wonder, and storytelling, at its best, represents that reckoning on the page." Like any good story about a haunting, this story is about the people that live through it, through the hauntings of their lives and their pains and their celebrations and their friendships. It is about facing what haunts us, staring it in the face, and making friends with it.
I want to thank the author, the publisher Del Ray, and NetGalley, who provided a complimentary eARC for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 24, 2025
I truly felt like I needed to stand in one of those biohazard showers to wash away everything this book left on me. It had potential, and the description really caught my attention. I’ve spent years on the r/nosleep subreddit and was excited to see what this story might become. But ultimately, it didn’t work for me. It’s repetitive, but not in the adds to the plot kind of way. The writing jumps from basic descriptions like as red as a clown balloon to unnecessarily long, over the top descriptions. It felt like the author was trying to be clever, but ended up making the prose feel more performative than engaging. There were also political rants? Those felt very heavy handed and more of an angry lecture than meaningful commentary. The characters are shallow and about as compelling as background extras in a low budget film.
The physical and emotional trauma felt excessive, and not in a a way the served the horror effectively. It leans more into body horror than classic horror, which isn’t my thing. The disturbing imagery? No thanks. I could have gone my whole life without reading a sentence that includes the words centipede enema or stepping on puppies until the pop. The characters are incredibly unlikable, and it doesn’t even seem like they enjoy each other’s company. There’s no real chemistry or depth. Just a group of people who feel less like friends, and more like hostages of the plot. At best, they tolerate each other.
The book is packed with pop culture references. But instead of feeling natural, they come off as forced. Like the literary equivalent of someone trying too hard to seem relatable. I’ve also come to realize that trauma driven horror with gruesome shock value scenes just isn’t for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Worlds for the ARC!
The physical and emotional trauma felt excessive, and not in a a way the served the horror effectively. It leans more into body horror than classic horror, which isn’t my thing. The disturbing imagery? No thanks. I could have gone my whole life without reading a sentence that includes the words centipede enema or stepping on puppies until the pop. The characters are incredibly unlikable, and it doesn’t even seem like they enjoy each other’s company. There’s no real chemistry or depth. Just a group of people who feel less like friends, and more like hostages of the plot. At best, they tolerate each other.
The book is packed with pop culture references. But instead of feeling natural, they come off as forced. Like the literary equivalent of someone trying too hard to seem relatable. I’ve also come to realize that trauma driven horror with gruesome shock value scenes just isn’t for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Worlds for the ARC!
May 9, 2025
A little late, but happy publication day!
So, this one went places I never would have expected! Chuck Wendig never fails to surprise me. Pretty solid 4 stars in my book.
Lore, Owen, Matty, Nick, and Hamish are a crew of high school friends bound by what they call The Covenant. Each have their own background of family trauma whether the rest of the group know about it or not. This trauma is what shaped their response when Matty vanishes from the top of a mysterious staircase in the woods. Twenty years post staircase mishap, they are each living their own separate lives without Matty until Nick calls upon The Covenant to get them all back together for a weekend away. Unbeknownst to them, he has some tricks up his sleeve.
I know, I know. This is pretty much just the blurb on the back of the book, right? But man there is no way I can say anything else without ruining it.
I can tell you about the vibes. Think escape rooms, video games, purgatory, and even his previous Book of Accidents. This one is a bit different than his others, so don’t go in thinking you’ll run into an apple orchard cult or an all-knowing AI. If you want to go on an adventure like none other, pick this one up. It’s kinda crazy.
There’s also a theme to this one- The heart is where the home is. And no, I didn’t say it backwards.
Downsides. Technical stuff that I had no clue about. But it doesn’t ruin the story. Some repetition, but there’s a point to it. Politics. If you can’t stand certain things, or read to escape from what’s happening in the world, this might not be it for you.
A great thank you goes out to Chuck Wendig, Del Rey, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
So, this one went places I never would have expected! Chuck Wendig never fails to surprise me. Pretty solid 4 stars in my book.
Lore, Owen, Matty, Nick, and Hamish are a crew of high school friends bound by what they call The Covenant. Each have their own background of family trauma whether the rest of the group know about it or not. This trauma is what shaped their response when Matty vanishes from the top of a mysterious staircase in the woods. Twenty years post staircase mishap, they are each living their own separate lives without Matty until Nick calls upon The Covenant to get them all back together for a weekend away. Unbeknownst to them, he has some tricks up his sleeve.
I know, I know. This is pretty much just the blurb on the back of the book, right? But man there is no way I can say anything else without ruining it.
I can tell you about the vibes. Think escape rooms, video games, purgatory, and even his previous Book of Accidents. This one is a bit different than his others, so don’t go in thinking you’ll run into an apple orchard cult or an all-knowing AI. If you want to go on an adventure like none other, pick this one up. It’s kinda crazy.
There’s also a theme to this one- The heart is where the home is. And no, I didn’t say it backwards.
Downsides. Technical stuff that I had no clue about. But it doesn’t ruin the story. Some repetition, but there’s a point to it. Politics. If you can’t stand certain things, or read to escape from what’s happening in the world, this might not be it for you.
A great thank you goes out to Chuck Wendig, Del Rey, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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