The Wrong Clearing

by Jeremy Eagan

The Wrong Clearing introduces readers to neurodivergent teen Isaac Andrews, an unforgettable autistic protagonist determined to fit in at his new high school. Hoping to make friends, he joins a camping trip in the Coconino National Forest despite his great-grandfather's warning to stay away. What begins as an ordinary attempt at belonging spirals into a harrowing confrontation with Syphrae, a malevolent entity trapped deep within the forest—a darkness that now threatens to consume Isaac and his new friends. Published by Alien Buddha Press, The Wrong Clearing is a sharp addition to YA horror and is a must-have for your spooky season reading list. Eagan blends supernatural terror with the raw insecurities of adolescence, capturing the way fear, love, and hope collide.

287 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 28, 2025

About the author

Having lived in six different states, Jeremy now calls Tennessee home with his wife and two adult kids. He holds a Master of Education degree with a specialization in Curriculum and Instruction from Concord University. For fourteen years, he taught high school, and he was a principal for two years. He has since built a career as an instructional designer, where he focuses on writing and designing asynchronous learning and certifications. While writing has been a passion of his for 20 years, his novel, THE WRONG CLEARING, marks his debut in fiction, with several works in progress behind it.

Reviews

[Peggy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although this is not my preferred genre, I absolutely LOVED this book! Don’t start it if you have plans later in the day. You will find this book is unputdownable. Issac, a high school student, is new to the school and doesn’t find it easy to make friends. What better way to get to know others than a weekend camping trip and Isaac knows just the place. Until they find that it is entirely the wrong clearing! I can’t wait for Jeremy’s next book.

[Robert Jeffers · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Wrong Clearing is the best YA Mystery/Horror book I’ve read all year. Although it takes place in the desert Southwest, the specific location only adds to the mystery. In just a couple of hours' drive on a spur-of-the-moment camping trip, these characters are transported from everything they know and cut off from everyone they can turn to for help. Every page drips with teenage angst and an invincibility complex, all wrapped in a story that twists and turns, keeping you wondering what could possibly go right. Jeremy is clearly an accomplished writer with a vividly creative imagination, and I look forward to seeing what he comes up with next.

[Abhay Singh · Rating 5 out of 5]

⚫️The Wrong Clearing by Jeremy Eagan is a captivating supernatural thriller that sends chills down your spine while grounding its eerie moments in deeply human experiences. At the heart of the story is Isaac Andrews, an autistic protagonist who is beautifully crafted, making this novel a unique mix of emotional depth and nail-biting suspense.

⚫️Isaac is a character you won't forget easily. His neurodivergence is depicted with such authenticity and respect that you really feel what it’s like to navigate a world that often misses the mark. All he wants is to fit in at his new high school, and his choice to join a camping trip despite his great-grandfather's ominous warnings hits home in a way that's heartbreakingly relatable. That yearning for belonging opens the door to a nightmare he never saw coming.

⚫️Eagan's storytelling truly shines as he skillfully intertwines the vulnerabilities of being a teenager with the spine-chilling elements of the supernatural. The Coconino National Forest is brought to life with haunting detail, its serene beauty hiding ancient terrors. The antagonist, Syphrae a timeless souleater bound to a tree by the gods stands out as one of the most chilling and inventive supernatural beings in YA horror. The mythology surrounding Syphrae adds layers to the fear, transforming the tale from a simple haunting into a battle steeped in centuries of forgotten legends.

⚫️Yet, amid all the screams and shadows, this book is alive with heart: Isaac's insecurities, his yearning for connection, and his courage born from fear make you root for him with fierce affection. The horror enhances his journey rather than eclipsing it, making this story just as much about identity, resilience, and self-acceptance as it is about confronting monsters.

⚫️The Wrong Clearing is sharp, atmospheric, and utterly compelling perfect for the spooky season or any reader who craves a YA tale rich in emotional depth.

Happy reading ❤️✨

[Jeff Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Wrong Clearing is your perfect YA horror-thriller novel. It blends those classic teenage camping tropes with dense supernatural dread... think Stranger Things meets the Blair Witch Project. Eagan's voice grabs your attention, and his pacing does not let go of your attention from the first scene straight through to the end. The Arizona forests are the perfect setting for the horror that unfolds here, and in my experience this is a totally unique / underleveraged setting.

While the story hits the right beats and the right speed, Eagan also demonstrates this uncanny ability to make the ordinary absolutely terrifying. The "wrong clearing" itself is the perfect hook in that regard... it is a place that from the outside looks right, but you absolutely know it isn't... and that throughline of tension holds the reader for the entire story.

The characters are authentic through-and-through. Their banter, their points-of-view, their quirks command such a realistic representations of teenagers. Ike is likeable and relatable protagonist; Seth perfectly gets on your nerves; Josie develops the warmth and creepiness.

All-in-all, this a fantastic YA horror debut where Eagan commands the development of atmosphere and tension with sharp pacing and authentic dialogue.

[Emily C Messer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eagan immediately pulls you in to this gripping tale of a teen going from just trying to belong to suddenly learning how to lead in the face of fear and extreme danger. The reader is transported right into the woods and into the emotions of the characters throughout making this story hard to put down! I can't wait to see more from Eagan and his interesting and relatable characters. Add this to your reading list!

[Guinny (semi-hiatus for school) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this YA thriller! I felt a connection with the characters, feeling their scared and their love for each other. They were new friends,and they went through a lot throughout the story. From monsters to vampires, this story was keeping me hooked the whole way through. I would definitely recommend reading this!