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A Wild and Hungry Place
Cricket is trapped.
When she was wed, her dreaded mother-in-law laid a blood curse on her, and now that her husband is dead, fully intends to commit her to an asylum … or worse.
To save her life, Cricket flees to a small New England town and throws herself upon the mercy of a man she has never met.
Gabriel Throckmorton is not happy when Cricket turns up on his doorstep, but he does grudgingly agree to help her break the curse. Cricket expects the process to be difficult, but she has no idea how many secrets are waiting for her in the forest just beyond the garden wall.
There is a ghostly woman who visits Cricket in her dreams. Whether to seduce her or to ask for help, Cricket isn't sure. Then there is Throckmorton himself with a garden full of poisonous plants and a predator's smile. The two of them awaken desires in Cricket that she has never experienced and threaten to reveal secrets she has long kept hidden.
When she discovers bones in the forest, a strange hole in the ground that exudes a frightening power, and townspeople driven to terrible violence by deep and wild magic, she begins to think she might be in over her head.
When she was wed, her dreaded mother-in-law laid a blood curse on her, and now that her husband is dead, fully intends to commit her to an asylum … or worse.
To save her life, Cricket flees to a small New England town and throws herself upon the mercy of a man she has never met.
Gabriel Throckmorton is not happy when Cricket turns up on his doorstep, but he does grudgingly agree to help her break the curse. Cricket expects the process to be difficult, but she has no idea how many secrets are waiting for her in the forest just beyond the garden wall.
There is a ghostly woman who visits Cricket in her dreams. Whether to seduce her or to ask for help, Cricket isn't sure. Then there is Throckmorton himself with a garden full of poisonous plants and a predator's smile. The two of them awaken desires in Cricket that she has never experienced and threaten to reveal secrets she has long kept hidden.
When she discovers bones in the forest, a strange hole in the ground that exudes a frightening power, and townspeople driven to terrible violence by deep and wild magic, she begins to think she might be in over her head.
249 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 29, 2025
5 people are currently reading
124 people want to read
About the author
E.E. Ottoman
29 books348 followerswrites romance novels, wears pretty clothes, does history stuff.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
October 31, 2025
Disclaimer: I received an ebook-ARC from the author.
Cursed by her mother-in-law to always need to stay within a certain distance of a member of her late husband’s family, Cricket finds herself begging her late husband’s cousin (twice removed) Throckmorton for assistance. Initially reluctant to help, he relents and offers his help in breaking the curse. But when Cricket finds a deep hole during one of her walks in the forest with a rotting beast at the bottom, they are soon forced to face the fact that something is deeply wrong with this place. Interspersed with haunting dream scenes, where Cricket encounters a strange ghostly woman, who both disturbs and entices her, they begin to solve the mystery of this strange forest and its inhabitants.
This is gorgeously written gothic horror romance, including a main character ensnared in a tangled web of exploitative mechanisms that seek to keep her compliant and struggling for her agency, some fun uses of poisons, a terrifying curse that seeps out from the ground and taints everything it touches, forced proximity and a lot of erotic tension between all three main characters. The writing is one of the highlights of this story as is the setting, managing to create a lot of atmosphere that allowed the tension to really seep into every page of the story.
I also really liked how Gabriel’s transness was dealt with and how Cricket verbalized her nonbinary identity (some great rep for the forest-loving gremlins among us). Additionally, I liked the way Cricket reacted to her newfound attraction to Rosaleen and how it differs from her attraction to Gabriel, allowing her to explore her bisexuality without undermining Gabriel’s gender.
All in all, an incredibly well written gothic horror romance, perfect for the season, with a haunting atmosphere, a delicious polyamorous V-relationship and really interesting worldbuilding, especially regarding the horrors.
TW: animal death, cannibalism, caves, domestic abuse (mention), drowning, drug use (mention), gender dysphoria, fear of institutionalization, murder, parasites (worms and fungi), suicidal ideation (mention), suicide of family member (mention), undead, violence
Cursed by her mother-in-law to always need to stay within a certain distance of a member of her late husband’s family, Cricket finds herself begging her late husband’s cousin (twice removed) Throckmorton for assistance. Initially reluctant to help, he relents and offers his help in breaking the curse. But when Cricket finds a deep hole during one of her walks in the forest with a rotting beast at the bottom, they are soon forced to face the fact that something is deeply wrong with this place. Interspersed with haunting dream scenes, where Cricket encounters a strange ghostly woman, who both disturbs and entices her, they begin to solve the mystery of this strange forest and its inhabitants.
This is gorgeously written gothic horror romance, including a main character ensnared in a tangled web of exploitative mechanisms that seek to keep her compliant and struggling for her agency, some fun uses of poisons, a terrifying curse that seeps out from the ground and taints everything it touches, forced proximity and a lot of erotic tension between all three main characters. The writing is one of the highlights of this story as is the setting, managing to create a lot of atmosphere that allowed the tension to really seep into every page of the story.
I also really liked how Gabriel’s transness was dealt with and how Cricket verbalized her nonbinary identity (some great rep for the forest-loving gremlins among us). Additionally, I liked the way Cricket reacted to her newfound attraction to Rosaleen and how it differs from her attraction to Gabriel, allowing her to explore her bisexuality without undermining Gabriel’s gender.
All in all, an incredibly well written gothic horror romance, perfect for the season, with a haunting atmosphere, a delicious polyamorous V-relationship and really interesting worldbuilding, especially regarding the horrors.
TW: animal death, cannibalism, caves, domestic abuse (mention), drowning, drug use (mention), gender dysphoria, fear of institutionalization, murder, parasites (worms and fungi), suicidal ideation (mention), suicide of family member (mention), undead, violence
October 21, 2025
Rounded up from 4.5
This book is a masterwork of atmosphere. Much of it takes place in dreams, and even the parts in real life feel somewhat unreal because of Cricket's narration. Everything about the setting was unsettling and impossible to look away from.
I struggled to reach full narrative immersion until about the 25% mark. But I could not be more glad I finished it. Like The Companion, the story is forced proximity in a rural, historical, and northeastern US setting. The prose is riveting, and the visual descriptions are visceral, heart-wrenching, and completely compelling.
The book is high tension, slow burn, and sadly closed door. I definitely wished in vain for erotic scenes—especially because of how aroused Cricket is throughout the book (and also how hot Gabriel is, but I digress). The tension in and of itself is delicious, and I enjoyed every second of it.
For those who enjoyed The Woods All Black, Don't Let the Forest In, or The Honeys.
If you're looking for a spooky read featuring atmospheric folk horror, a love triangle with a ghost and a transgender werewolf, poisonous mushrooms, and LOTS of dream sequences, this is absolutely the book for you.
This book is a masterwork of atmosphere. Much of it takes place in dreams, and even the parts in real life feel somewhat unreal because of Cricket's narration. Everything about the setting was unsettling and impossible to look away from.
I struggled to reach full narrative immersion until about the 25% mark. But I could not be more glad I finished it. Like The Companion, the story is forced proximity in a rural, historical, and northeastern US setting. The prose is riveting, and the visual descriptions are visceral, heart-wrenching, and completely compelling.
The book is high tension, slow burn, and sadly closed door. I definitely wished in vain for erotic scenes—especially because of how aroused Cricket is throughout the book (and also how hot Gabriel is, but I digress). The tension in and of itself is delicious, and I enjoyed every second of it.
For those who enjoyed The Woods All Black, Don't Let the Forest In, or The Honeys.
If you're looking for a spooky read featuring atmospheric folk horror, a love triangle with a ghost and a transgender werewolf, poisonous mushrooms, and LOTS of dream sequences, this is absolutely the book for you.
October 27, 2025
What a beautiful, eerie and atmospheric book !
I really love E.E. Ottoman's prose and imagery. The character development is always divine and immersive, you understand how they feel and where they come from.
The take of the werewolf transformation is so great, as well as the feelings about genre and transition.
Beautiful, gothic, folk horror, mycology and poisons, ghosts and dream world.
*Thank you E.E. Ottoman for the ARC.
I really love E.E. Ottoman's prose and imagery. The character development is always divine and immersive, you understand how they feel and where they come from.
The take of the werewolf transformation is so great, as well as the feelings about genre and transition.
Beautiful, gothic, folk horror, mycology and poisons, ghosts and dream world.
*Thank you E.E. Ottoman for the ARC.
September 21, 2025
Sometimes a family can be a ghost, a trans werewolf and a nonbinary plant loving person. I absolutely loved this southern gothic tale, brimming with love and want. So eerie and unsettling and perfect for spooky season. I loved the way Gabriel used becoming the wolf to describe his gender identity, and I loved how Cricket found who she was alongside him. They both opened up to each other and their tentative, blooming relationship was the heart of this book. I’d describe it as queer southern gothic folk horror and I loved every minute!
Thank you so much to E.E. for the arc!
Thank you so much to E.E. for the arc!
October 18, 2025
I am not a brave soul when it comes to horror, so it is a recommendation in itself that I finished EE Ottoman’s A Wild and Hungry Place. Did I read this with my hands over my eyes at times? Yes I did. Did I actually enjoy the creepy tension? Surprisingly, yes. It is gorgeous and genuinely scary. There is a curse, poisonings, stabbings, cannibalism, ghosts, lycanthropy, and something that should have been left slumbering undisturbed.
Cricket is newly widowed and invites herself to live with a distant cousin of her late husband, Gabriel Throckmorton. Cricket has inherited wealth from her parents and her late husband’s family would like to keep hold of that money. Early in the marriage, a curse was laid on Cricket. If she stays beyond a certain distance from a member of her husband’s family, she will sicken and die. Throckmorton is a black sheep, and seems like her best option for getting away from her mother in law without dying. Throckmorton isn’t thrilled, but eventually is willing to house Cricket until they can figure out how to lift the curse.
I’ve been reading a lot of books with gothic elements, and in them, the transgressive characters are either the barrier to happiness or the happiness itself. In A Wild and Hungry Place, the transgressive characters are the bulwark against the evil unleashed by extractive capitalism. Throckmorton is a trans man who turned himself into a werewolf in order to reshape his human body. Cricket looks like a woman, but she is more truly a non-binary water gremlin. And then there is Rosaleen, who goes beyond gender and morality because she is dead. Cricket was unhappy in her marriage for many reasons, one being that they tried to force into the shape of a lady, and the other that they kept her in an orderly civilization when she is happiest in nature. As Cricket wanders the lands around her new home, both waking and in dreams, she discovers something is very wrong.
There were moments in A Wild and Hungry Place where I thought of The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Cricket reminded me at times of a Hobbit who had been kept from her garden and her particular interest in mushrooms. I thought of Gandalf talking about Khazad-Dûm and the dwarves who dug too greedily and deeply, awakening something that should have been left dormant. Ottoman’s love of and respect for nature and its creatures shines through.
This is a genuinely creepy book, for all that it’s beautiful. Perfect for spooky season. This is for those of us who dream of moving to the woods and becoming the terrifying witch of our dreams.
I received this as an advance reader copy from the author. My opinions are my own, freely and honestly given.
Cricket is newly widowed and invites herself to live with a distant cousin of her late husband, Gabriel Throckmorton. Cricket has inherited wealth from her parents and her late husband’s family would like to keep hold of that money. Early in the marriage, a curse was laid on Cricket. If she stays beyond a certain distance from a member of her husband’s family, she will sicken and die. Throckmorton is a black sheep, and seems like her best option for getting away from her mother in law without dying. Throckmorton isn’t thrilled, but eventually is willing to house Cricket until they can figure out how to lift the curse.
I’ve been reading a lot of books with gothic elements, and in them, the transgressive characters are either the barrier to happiness or the happiness itself. In A Wild and Hungry Place, the transgressive characters are the bulwark against the evil unleashed by extractive capitalism. Throckmorton is a trans man who turned himself into a werewolf in order to reshape his human body. Cricket looks like a woman, but she is more truly a non-binary water gremlin. And then there is Rosaleen, who goes beyond gender and morality because she is dead. Cricket was unhappy in her marriage for many reasons, one being that they tried to force into the shape of a lady, and the other that they kept her in an orderly civilization when she is happiest in nature. As Cricket wanders the lands around her new home, both waking and in dreams, she discovers something is very wrong.
There were moments in A Wild and Hungry Place where I thought of The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Cricket reminded me at times of a Hobbit who had been kept from her garden and her particular interest in mushrooms. I thought of Gandalf talking about Khazad-Dûm and the dwarves who dug too greedily and deeply, awakening something that should have been left dormant. Ottoman’s love of and respect for nature and its creatures shines through.
This is a genuinely creepy book, for all that it’s beautiful. Perfect for spooky season. This is for those of us who dream of moving to the woods and becoming the terrifying witch of our dreams.
I received this as an advance reader copy from the author. My opinions are my own, freely and honestly given.
October 3, 2025
Gently eerie, sometimes gross (it’s the live body stuff for me). I came for the poison and enjoyed the ride.
The name of this book perfectly describes the horrors the MCs encounter, in a small town in Somewhere America, sometime in the 1800s.
I found the first half to be a very easy, quick read. The second half was a little slower, and leaned more telling vs showing.
Overall I would recommend this book if you’re looking for horror without the jump scares. The author called it folk horror and I think that’s very fitting.
There is a long list of CWs available at the start of the book.
Thank you to the author for an eARC. All opinions are my own.
The name of this book perfectly describes the horrors the MCs encounter, in a small town in Somewhere America, sometime in the 1800s.
I found the first half to be a very easy, quick read. The second half was a little slower, and leaned more telling vs showing.
Overall I would recommend this book if you’re looking for horror without the jump scares. The author called it folk horror and I think that’s very fitting.
There is a long list of CWs available at the start of the book.
Thank you to the author for an eARC. All opinions are my own.
October 19, 2025
The author describes this as “Gothic horrormance but make it New England folk horror”. I’m not a horror reader at all, however this had me riveted.
This book is creepy and dark with tangled relationships, ghosts, werewolves and unnamed monsters.
Told in single POV, this has a side of romance as well.
Highly recommended if you’re looking for gothic vibes and scary but not too scary.
Thank you EE Ottoman for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
This book is creepy and dark with tangled relationships, ghosts, werewolves and unnamed monsters.
Told in single POV, this has a side of romance as well.
Highly recommended if you’re looking for gothic vibes and scary but not too scary.
Thank you EE Ottoman for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
January 12, 2026
Honestly super disappointed to dnf this book. I really enjoyed Ottoman’s The Companion. It was a fun book with a beautifully written group of characters, I loved the representation and the writing style. And this one…The premise was boring, the story felt rushed, the writing alternated between info dumping and not saying enough. The characters felt lifeless and cliche. I think I’m mostly just surprised I had such a bad time with it.
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February 7, 2026Cool premise and characters, uneven execution - I feel kind of disappointed but mostly confused.
Don't really know why my attention kept drifting off while reading, forcing me to backtrack, whereas reading the Companion had been such a joy...I like atmospheric horror, and there's some lovely/horrible visceral images in there, but I had a hard time following the articulation between dream and reality and where survival fit in, and it muddled the stakes.
Don't really know why my attention kept drifting off while reading, forcing me to backtrack, whereas reading the Companion had been such a joy...I like atmospheric horror, and there's some lovely/horrible visceral images in there, but I had a hard time following the articulation between dream and reality and where survival fit in, and it muddled the stakes.
October 24, 2025
That was a fucking fever dream. 5 stars.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews