Most people have been devoured by the eldritch creatures, but Sara and her family have been fighting for survival, armed with their knowledge of folklore and pagan rituals - the only weapon that seems to work against these monsters.
And then a young woman, Parsley, comes out of nowhere into Sara's life. Found in their garden, they have no idea where she is from.
Sara and Parsley begin to fall in love, but disaster strikes when Sara’s brother Noah is taken by the creatures. They set out to find him, across a landscape of merciless terror, haunted by death.
But can Parsley truly be trusted in a world where humanity is as scarse as humans themselves?
I love the vibes. Let me repeat- I LOVE the vibes. This really gave me the feeling of both classic and modern takes on horror. If you were to combine “The Blair Witch Project” with “A Quiet Place”, I think you would end up with something like this book.
The “witches” in this story were so interesting. They are very different from what you would typically imagine when you think of a witch. They are more like monsters or animals- and do not share human characteristics. I really wish that we got a little bit more description on them! As it seems each one is very different.
We do still get some typical witchy elements in this. Particularly in the use of wards, like stones and herbs that the humans use to protect themselves. I am so glad the author did things this way, because it really added so much excitement for me. I just love classic dark magic themes.
I think the only thing missing here is a backstory. It would have been great to hear about life when the witches first appeared, and how the humans learned to ward them off. Huge oppournity for a prequel here! I would rush to read it.
There is also a sapphic side-romance going on, between the main characters Sara and Parsley. I won’t say too much to avoid spoilers, but this was big. And emotional.
This book pulled me right out of a reading slump. I would absolutely recommend it!
Thank you to Netgalley, Poisoned Pen Press and author India-Rose Bower for providing me with the eARC of “We Call Them Witches”, in exchange for my honest review! Publication date: April 07, 2026
Thanks to Netgalley & Michael Joseph Penguin Random House
Okay, so We Are Witches was a ride. I loved the whole concept—post-apocalyptic Britain mixed with folklore? Yes please. The atmosphere was eerie and vivid, and I actually felt like the moors and forests were alive. The family dynamics were also really well done; they bicker and clash like a real family, which made them feel believable. And I’ll give it this: the mystery kept me hooked. I was constantly wondering what the witches really were, what happened to the world, and where it was all going. The twist at the end definitely surprised me.
But… the execution didn’t always hit. The beginning dragged a little, and then the ending felt kind of rushed. There are a lot of time jumps between past and present, which sometimes left me confused, and I wanted more clarity about the witches themselves, they were interesting but stayed a bit too vague. I also struggled with Sara’s choices at times; her obsession with Parsley didn’t always feel realistic compared to, y’know, saving her brother.
Overall: a really cool idea, great atmosphere, and some creepy, gruesome details—but uneven pacing and a rushed finale held it back for me.
I've not read an apocalyptic work and this was different from what I expected.
The first half of the story focussed on the life led by Sara, surrounded by her family, who protected them through wards from the witches. The witches in the story aren't really witches, but something more evil and difficult to be controlled. Sara and her family was living comfortably (as far as a post apocalyptic world can be), when a girl arrives - Parsley.
Parsley's arrival led to discomfort among the house members and they believe she is one of the witches. But she wasn't and before anyone could predict it, Sara and Parsley forms a bond that made their life bearable amidst the circumstances. It was until Sara's younger brother is taken by a witch and the family goes in search of him.
Truth be told, I enjoyed reading on Sara's life. Her family even with all their issues, loved each other deeply. Sibling bond was also shown beautifully where Sara's interactions with her younger siblings was filled with love and quarrels.
I was able to see the story through Sara's eyes. The way she comforts Parsley even when her family distrusts her. The love they shared through stolen glances was interesting to read.
I also liked the thrill that came when the characters leave the safety of their house to search for her brother. Close encounters with the witches and near death experience made this story thrilling.
The last twist and an emotional ending made me really feel sentimental. But in reality, I wished to know more about the witches and have something more to this story.
We Call Them Witches is a perfect Eldritch horror read set in present day. It follows Sara who, after the world is set upon by creatures, survives with her family with the use of wards. With the unexpected arrival of Parsley that survival is tested when the witches steal away one of Sara's siblings, prompting a journey across the county to bring him back.
This was a brilliant read, and quite gruesome in parts so if you're not a fan of body horror I'd give this a miss. TW warnings include death and body horror. I'll definitely be reading more books by India if they're anything like this.
When I read the description I thought this was the book for me, horror, sapphic, apocalypse - What’s not to love? But I soon found out in the first few chapters there was a lot I didn't gel with.
This book follows Sara and her family in a post-apocalyptic world trying to survive the ‘Witches’ that keep narrowing them in. I found it hard to keep up with the story, and at times was completely lost on what was happening in the scenes. Some aspects in scenes didn’t feel thorough and it became a little flat in acknowledging secondary characters.
I wanted to push through to see how it would end but the progression felt slow with no reward and nothing seemed clear at any time for me. I love foreboding and hiding parts of a story away for a more dramatic reveal at the end but sadly it didn’t grip me enough to hold out.
Thank you to Net Galley, Poisoned Pen Press and India-Rose Bower for gifting me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was honestly one of the most interesting reads I’ve had in a while. I might be a little biased because I love post-apocalyptic content, and since there aren’t that many post-apocalyptic books out there, I was absolutely thrilled to dive into this one. The fact that it also included a queer element made it even better for me.
I really, really enjoyed this book. It was so enticing that I genuinely didn’t want to put it down. Despite being set in a post-apocalyptic world with eerie folklore elements and a dark atmosphere, it somehow managed to maintain a sort of cozy energy throughout the first half, which I really appreciated.
I thought the storyline itself was great, but I did feel like the main conflict came a bit too late, around the halfway point, and the resolution happened very quickly, almost within the last five percent of the book. It left me with quite a few unanswered questions, though I can see how that might have been intentional. In a real life apocalypse, people probably wouldn't get all the answers either, so it fits the tone of the story. Still, I feel like there’s room for a bit more, maybe a sequel or just some extra exploration of those lingering mysteries.
Overall, though, it was an incredibly engaging, atmospheric read that kept me hooked from start to finish.
Are you looking for a spooky and apocalyptic story? This is for you! 🤭
They Call Them Witches by India-Rose Bower is about Sara and her family. They live in a world where your nightmares might just come true because there are literal monsters. But they call them witches in the book. ✨️ Everything goes well for Sara and her family until they find a human girl in the garden. They want to help her but everything seems to go wrong since Parsley came into their lives. 👀
I loved this slow paced dystopian story. I really liked the characters and loved the queer representation here! ❤️ Sara was really likeable and also really relatable. She is a teenager in an ending world and I really feel like a real girl of her age would behave like Sara did. That was really well done!
Do you think this is your typical monster story? Nope, it really isn't. The so called witches are so interesting. 👻 There appearances are always different and trust me.. they didn't look like our stereotypical witches 😂 I wish we could hear more about where they come from. I missed a little background story there.
I felt like the book started of really good but the middle part became a little less exciting. The ending was WILD but there was happening so much at once. However, it did result in me finishing the ending in one go so that's a good sign 🎀
I absolutely flew through this one. Sapphic eldritch folk horror? Those are some of my favourite things! Highly recommend if any of those things also appeal to you. I hope they turn this one into a movie with practical effects, that would look sick af.
The concept of a post apocalyptic world with folklore woven through was appealing to me and I looked forward to exploring this would through one family. Unfortunately, the characters didn’t feel developed to me and I did not find myself invested in the plot as a result. (Via NetGalley)
🌑 ARC Review – We Call Them Witches by India-Rose Bower 📅 Release date: 22 Jan 2026 ⭐️ 1/5 stars
#WeCallThemWitches #NetGalley
This was my first NetGalley ARC and I was excited: queer horror, folklore, post-apocalyptic Britain. What’s not to love? Unfortunately, it just didn’t work for me.
The writing felt overly stylised, packed with clashing metaphors and odd analogies that made it hard to follow. The plot meandered with random, often confusing moments (including one bizarre line about a vibrator that’s never mentioned again).
Character building was another struggle. I never truly got to know Sara, and the world building was bogged down by so much fluff that both plot and character fell flat. At times, I felt like Bastian in The Never Ending Story, shouting at the book to give me more.
The handling of pronouns and language also muddled things. Instead of enhancing dynamics, it often made sentences clunky and unclear. It felt like the book was trying so hard to be different, it forgot to be readable.
Overall, reading this felt like walking through a crowd of people waiting for a train, when all I wanted was to catch the bus. To quote the book itself, it was full of “ranting tangents that lose track of themselves halfway through.” That line sums it up perfectly.
Huge thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and Netgalley for the review copy!
Good gods, this author knows how to create a suffocating, anxious atmosphere. I loved the incredibly unique take on the post-apocalypse trope, blending it with folklore in a way I’ve never quite seen before. And while the story doesn’t shy away from gore, it leans heavily on suggestion, letting your imagination fill in the blanks - which somehow makes it all even more terrifying. And that ending? Brutal choices, devastating consequences. I loved it.
That being said, the pacing did feel a bit uneven: a long, slow build-up with most of the real gut punches crammed into the final 20%, which made the ending feel a little rushed. I also found that, despite the heavy themes, the writing occasionally felt a bit too YA for my taste. Additionally, I wished some of the characters and their relationships had been explored in more depth. Still, it’s an easy recommendation if you’re in the mood for something eerie, original, and quietly disturbing.
Post apocalypse sapphic and creepy this book had me hooked. I normally only watch apocalyptic stuff on TV but this was my first time reading it and it honestly didn’t let me down. The writing was quick, the descriptions were so vivid and the folklore gave it such an eerie vibe.
We Call Them Witches follows Sara and her family who survive using wards until Parsley shows up and things change. When her sibling is taken by the witches it turns into a dark and dangerous journey. The witches in this were so different to what you’d imagine, more like terrifying creatures, and I loved the use of herbs and stones for protection.
It felt like The Blair Witch Project meets A Quiet Place and the sapphic romance was emotional and such a nice touch. It does get gruesome in parts so maybe not one for the squeamish, but I flew through it and it pulled me right out of my reading slump.
Big thank you to NetGalley Poisoned Pen Press and India-Rose Bower for the ARC. This comes out April 7th 2026 so get it on your TBR!
I didn’t really like any of the characters they where either boring or just shitty people and the main character moans the whole book about being treated like a child which to be fair she is but then she proceeds to act like a child it infuriating
The overall story is okay it’s like any other post apocalyptic book the concept of the witches is new ish and I feel like it was done well if a bit simple but the whole book just felt quite simple and underdeveloped overall
The book feels as if it’s not sure whether it wants to be ya or adult in general it feels ya then there r moments where it reminds you it meant to be adult but it just feels out of place
A girl in post-apocalyptic England will do anything to protect her family—but the arrival of an outsider at their safe haven throws everything into chaos.
The horror elements were amazing, very evocative and original descriptions of the witches which really brought the book to life. I almost wanted more of that, but then again, the impact of the horror is most powerful in small doses.
The main character feels very young, and at times I found her decisions/thought processes frustrating. Her dynamic with her family was very well-written and nuanced, and it’s fun to read a middle child perspective for once.
The pacing was a bit up and down, but the prose was consistently good and the characterisation worked to make up for the slower moments.
All in all perfect for fans of The Last of Us or 28 Years Later.
We Call Them Witches is a thrilling journey that follows a girl, Sara, as she and her family survive in an apocalyptic Britain, plagued by horrific creatures that hunger for flesh. This story delves into topics of responsibility and love and leaves us questioning what we would do to protect those we care about. This book is fast-paced and puts a new spin on the doomsday hellscape. Overall a great read!
Not my favorite. You never really find out what the witches are, where they came from, or why they are. You also know from the get-go not to trust Parsley and yet Sara prioritizes this girl over her own family. I just didn't connect with the characters or story in this one.
A gripping and unsettling read, so vividly described that by the end, you’ll swear the trees are watching and your shadow has a mind of its own. I really loved the concept; it felt like a fresh, eerie twist on post-apocalyptic Britain, deeply rooted in ancient pagan folklore.
That said, I was left wanting more. The ending felt rushed, and I found myself re-reading sections just to make sense of what was happening. Because of that pacing, the 'big reveal' didn’t hit as hard as it could have. I wasn’t as emotionally invested in Parsley’s true intentions or her end as I expected to be. A haunting premise, but I wish the final act had been given more room to breathe.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I didn’t get it, it started out great— an interesting and original idea and engaging writing style, but it was very slow and confusing. It’s hard to figure out some of the background characters, their relationships and introductions are slightly lacking at the beginning, leaving it feeling a little flat. It also could also use more description for characters physical features and it’s a long way in before I start to get an idea of the main characters appearance or even name.
The progression of the plot is weak, without much substance or believability, the characters don’t suspect anything nor wonder about why they’d be doing things. It’s an original idea and unique take on an apocalypse that could have been interesting but just lacks clarity, detail and meaning. I really don’t understand the ending, I guess it’s supposed to be non-HEA and just a creepy, full cycle moment ending, but it just didn’t hit the mark for me.
An interesting pagan folklore read. The 'Witches' as they are referred to in the book and the post apocalyptic theme gave me horror movie vibes which was interesting.
Firstly thanks to NetGalley for letting me be an arc.
‘They call them witches’ An atmospheric creepy read that started off slow but took you on a journey you won’t want to put down. If the cover makes you feel creeped out then the book will do the exact same. The only things I struggled with is that the ending although good could have had a bit more. As others said it was rushed and it was as though Sarah didn’t really care about her mum that much. The two girls exploring their feelings for each other was done really well but I did struggle with Daniel. Daniel being a they them just didn’t sit well in the reading, I found myself struggling with some of that and having to re read sections to make sense of what felt stilted writing. I did really enjoy it and I think you could read it again to take more from it the second time. It leaves you with lots of questions you’ll ponder for quite some time…
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Thank you to Netgalley and India-Rose Bower for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I think that this book had a lot of great things going for it, even though it ultimately wasn't the book for me.
This book had a great atmosphere, and there were certain sections, particularly involving travel through the woods and the decaying remains of human society, that genuinely got under my skin. These elements were super enjoyable, and the midpoint of the book did a great job of lingering in that unsure, dystopian vastness that I so enjoy. The witches themselves were a truly unique iteration, and their individual appearances and behaviours both intrigued me and sometimes made some appearances scarier or more threatening than others.
The first section of the book moved quite slowly, and at times had a fuzzy and cosy feeling that felt at odds with the tension and dystopia that the book was trying to convey. Particularly, the 'crush' antics and teasing felt a little out of place for me, and I wanted to skip ahead to the story beats that I was looking forward to. At times, I struggled to believe that the characters could be so focused on attraction and 'she loves me, she loves me not', when facing such eldritch horrors!
I'm not sure whether others would agree, but I personally felt that elements like these made the book lean more Young Adult than Adult fiction, despite the Adult fiction and horror tags. This was very much an internally-driven 'coming of age' story, when I was expecting a bit more of a plot-driven dystopia. YA does not personally align with me anymore (due to being almost 30!), so perhaps a Young Adult tag would have given me more accurate expectations for this book.
On to the characters! Sara and Parsley sometimes felt a little too similar to me: very current, vaguely alternative Gen-Z humour. They were sweet, but I ultimately found myself most intrigued by Sara's mother, who operates as a mysterious, self-sacrificing figure who is almost so bent on protecting her family that she isolates herself from them and loses some humanity herself. I think being able to understand her more, perhaps even see some chapters from her perspective, would have really worked for me and given me a stronger connection to her. I thought Danny was really intriguing, too. They are decisive, sometimes cruel, but ultimately selfless, and I can reflect on how I more fully enjoyed the characters who come across as flawed and beaten down by the circumstances they have found themselves in.
Some great twists at the end that I would have loved to spend more time on, but I definitely appreciate going for such an interesting ending, rather than taking a simple path. That's all I'll say!
A fun read with some engaging fantasy ideas and many possibilities to explore.
Admittedly a weird sentiment for a book about post-apocalyptic England wherein vicious creatures reign, but I can only be honest with you. This struck a brilliant balance between genuinely chilling horror and the quieter moments to keep the reader anchored through quick paced tension. Sara and her dysfunctional little family especially are so well done. There are some utterly human moments in this book that seem so mundane in that beat but everything ties together to make this a satisfying read.
This was something I devoured in a little over a day. It’s quick paced, and does exactly as it sets out to do without being overly complicated. But in that vein Bower makes every word, page and beat absolutely count. It doesn’t feel rushed, and for a quite short work I really appreciate and felt every ounce of development these characters work for. There’s stakes juicy enough to get your teeth into, this is a world where nothing feels safe and it works brilliantly.
The main pairing in Sara and Parsley were a complete standout in this. When considering the page time we spend with them before things get serious every second of their relationship felt earned. From the initial interaction and Sara’s panic at meeting a new human being (same buddy same) after so long right through to the ending twist, these two were fantastic to follow. Sara’s want to see more of the world and be given more trust and responsibility was relatable and compelling. Paired with Parsley’s intrigue and blossoming trustworthiness made this entirely addictive.
So when the final blow hits, it hit damn hard. I’ll be honest I saw the twist coming a mile off but the author put in the leg work to make it damn enjoyable anyway.
I don’t personally know enough about the pagan traditions described to comment on authenticity (or credibility as thus far my life has thankfully been free of murderous creatures, touch wood), but it was both really interesting and never reads like an educational tome. There’s enough world building to flesh out both the terror and what keeps them at bay, but I found Bower does it in a really organic manner.
The titular witches (I am a poet who doesn’t know it) are absolutely chilling. If you’re a fan of the all-powerful, feral/animalistic unreasoning villain trope you will devour this. I adored how well Bower described their adaptations, and gave enough red herrings at potential humanity to make the end twist just… *chefs kiss*.
My only real complaint is I found the prose a bit barebones and Bower has a tendency to over explain/really drill home certain points. Her writing is quality enough to speak for itself, without really driving home themes. Particularly the point about whether in discussing whether the old traditions are working are just a matter of luck. I wished she’d left more guesswork for the reader, but that’s honestly just me being pedantic.
If you’re looking for queer-centric, The Quiet Place x The Mitchell’s v the Machines, esque horror, this will honestly be right up your alley.
First of all thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC of this to read!
We Call Them Witches is a post apocalyptic horror set in the UK and draws from pagan folklore that centers on the story of one family doing their best to survive after the appearance of witches. The author does a great job of describing the witches in really interesting ways using a lot of natural imagery that works really well. Like the characters in the book I still have so many questions about the witches themselves, where they came from and what exactly they are. While I would love to have these questions answered because I love lore I think that not knowing this helped immerse the reader in the world because when the apocalypse happens there isn't really anyone to explain everything to the characters we meet so they have to theorise about what's happening all by themselves.
The characters we spent a bit more time with were well rounded and I felt I had a good grasp on the point of view character Sara in particular. A lot of the plot revolves around siblings and sibling relationships which felt really realistic to me. But there are also characters I would have liked to learn more about like Ma who is around a fair bit during the earlier parts of the novel but we don't really get the chance learn too much about. She has the opportunity to be one of the more interesting characters to me because she's the one who has a lot of the pagan knowledge that helps keep the family safe. And I'd love to hear/see more about her struggle with keeping her children safe during the apocalypse.
Queer rep is well written in this book with a sapphic romance between two characters as well as a non binary character whose use of they/them pronouns is woven in pretty seamlessly. The romance itself is quite cute but I would say for something that markets itself so heavily on sapphic romance I was left wanting a bit more from it. A lot of the time is spent with characters pining so by the time they actually start to acknowledge their feelings and do anything about it there didn't feel like there was that much of the book left.
I didn't always love the pacing of this as it felt somehow both too slow and too fast depending on where in the book I was. The first section felt a little too long and slow but a lot of lore/world building was in there so I can't be too mad about that it does tend to slow down pace a bit so its understandable especially when there is a lot of lore/backstory to give to the reader. The middle section of the book felt really well paced and flowed well but then the end felt quite rushed which was a shame.
Overall I really enjoyed this but it left me wanting just a little bit more out of it. I am hopeful that it ended in a way that could leave room for another book where we could dig more deeply into the world and get some questions answered.
Side note how stunning is the cover! I'm in love with it and it fits with the imagery of the book so well!
Although I do always love exclusively reading horror in October for Spooky Season, I do enjoy a spooky read all year round and so I was excited to start We Call Them Witches.
Sara and her family live in fear of the witches, who have changed the world around them and civilisation as they know it. They have put up wards and they move constantly to stay safe, so when a girl appears just outside of their boundaries, they are reluctant to welcome her into the circle. Is she another survivor, or is it a trap?
I initially struggled to get into We Call Them Witches – to the point where I actually stopped at about 15% and went back to the start to try again. I don’t have a particularly graphic imagination, but I was really struggling to picture the witches and what they were like which wasn’t helping with my engagement of the story. There was also a lot of characters to get to know and the descriptions of them didn’t feel very clear. It seemed like second time was the charm though as I finished it in just a few sittings after starting again. I really enjoyed the focus on folklore – how the herbs and charms worked against this unknown enemy. I would have liked to have known a little more about the characters though – I feel like Ma in particular, was glossed over even though her knowledge was what was saving them all.
The book is very heavily focused on a coming of age story and sapphic relationship between our main character Sara and the girl who appears in the woods – Parsley. The second half of the book, where they are travelling together and scavenging through homes and discovering death and destruction was scary and I enjoyed the imagery portrayed in this section. The last part in the manor house suddenly felt very rushed though – it was disjointed and confusing and I again struggled to picture what was going on.
The book would have gotten 3 stars from me, but the ending is where it really turned it around. This type of conclusion may divide readers, but I really enjoyed the choice that was made and thought it was a nice twist (no spoilers!).
Overall, We Call Them Witches has a bit of a rocky start, but if you stick with it, I think you’ll be pleased by the payoff in the conclusion. Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House – Michael Joseph for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
We Call Them Witches follows Sara after an apocalyptic event that turns her home in Britain upside down. She and her family move from house to house, protecting themselves with wards and old spells to keep out the witches whose only aim is to destroy their entire family. Sara is 18, and helps care for the children in her family while her mom, her sibling, and their partner try to help keep the family protected. At night they hear the terrible sounds of the witches screaming, and during the day they meticulously check the perimeters to make sure they can’t get in- but one day they see an unconscious girl at the edge of the wards, they bring her in, and Sara nurses her back to health. Parsley becomes all Sara can think about, but as their visitor gets comfortable, horrible things start happening- and Sara must choose what’s important before she loses everything.
The book thrusts you right into the middle of the apocalypse with little understanding of what’s occurred. The first chapter hooks you- it’s viscous and the terror is palpable, but after that chapter- the story goes stagnant. You follow Sara for a while, there are a few flashbacks, but it all feels a bit disjointed. There are moments when you think something is about to happen, only to be placed back into a lull, waiting for it to occur. As you navigate through the story, it’s quite obvious what will happen and when it does- 50% in, it’s a relief for the story to pick back up. In the first half of the book, I had a hard time staying in- waiting for the story to progress- but after about 50% it started to pick back up- with fewer lulls in the second half, I felt able to move a bit quicker through the narrative, but still found moments where it was hard to continue.
The ending comes quickly, the descriptions of the witches are fantastic, the gore and gruesome scenes are beautifully descriptive and propel you through to the end. I do wish we had more explanation on what happened, on what the things were (rather than many theories) and that the ending had been explored further, but idk if the author wanted us to know.
I do feel there may have been something deeper I may have missed due to the pacing and structure of the story- because it felt like there should have been more-
I think this book feels more like YA horror- and would do very well in that genre.
Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the privilege of reading this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
*Disclaimer, I know the author personally. But any relations I have with Bower have been pushed aside as I give an unbiased review.
We all know what we’d do in a zombie apocalypse, but what would you do when eldritch monsters emerge one night and take over the world? Yeah, it wasn’t something I had thought about until I read this book. Sara is every middle sibling, somehow an adult but somehow still a child. Put that into an apocalypse and you have an identity crisis.
Bower keeps you on edge. What starts as an eerie kitchen sink apocalyptic drama slowly unravels with each page you turn, grasping at your throat with tense moments, ripping your sense of security right from under you. Though it does start quite slow, Bower edges you with suspense with the right amount of mystery, strange girls who show up at borders, monsters that howl & squeal in the dark and the fight for your own humanity.
The LGBTQ+ representation is wonderful, the seamlessness of the realness of the complex relationships between family members and new found friends and your own identity is something Bower has captured wonderfully. But what’s she’s done well is that it isn’t the main focus. Yes, there are queer characters and that adds layers to the narrative but it doesn’t take away from the bigger picture. There’s something out there. Waiting for them. Killing them.
I don’t read horror, I was foolish to think because I had known about all the plot twists (Bower, count your days for that ending by the way) I wouldn’t be scared. But what a fool I was. There were moments where I felt if I breathed too hard they would hear. They would somehow come crawling underneath my armchair or from the book itself to wrap around me, pulling me into despair. I felt watched reading this, eyes pressed against my skin constantly. I had to run up the stairs just in case the monsters did get me. I hadn’t felt that fear since I was a kid.
This is all in all an enthralling, capturing, horrific read which will entrap you into family dynamics, first relationships, folklore, monsters and some excellently named chickens.