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The Island of the Lost
Not yet published
Expected 10 Sep 26Liv doesn't believe in ghosts.
There is a small island off the coast of Italy that was once the site of a plague quarantine station, and later a psychiatric asylum. It now sits deserted, home only to the shadows of local folklore.
Liv doesn't believe her sister is dead.
Granted special permission to visit for a writing assignment, Liv sets sail for the abandoned island, but only she knows the real reason. She is certain it is the last place her twin sister Mia visited before she vanished eighteen months ago.
But Liv believes in whatever is on this island.
Alone with only her colleague Sam, Liv can't deny how unsettling the place truly is. How can a church tower toll when there is no bell? What is the ghostly figure in her peripheral vision? And why can she smell the smoke of burning bodies?
There is a small island off the coast of Italy that was once the site of a plague quarantine station, and later a psychiatric asylum. It now sits deserted, home only to the shadows of local folklore.
Liv doesn't believe her sister is dead.
Granted special permission to visit for a writing assignment, Liv sets sail for the abandoned island, but only she knows the real reason. She is certain it is the last place her twin sister Mia visited before she vanished eighteen months ago.
But Liv believes in whatever is on this island.
Alone with only her colleague Sam, Liv can't deny how unsettling the place truly is. How can a church tower toll when there is no bell? What is the ghostly figure in her peripheral vision? And why can she smell the smoke of burning bodies?
Kindle Edition
Expected publication September 10, 2026
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July 8, 2026
3.5 rounded up
“ I do not believe in ghosts, I do not believe in whatever is on this island”. That would be Poveglia in Italy, once used as quarantine for the plague and by 1939, it houses a psychiatric hospital. In the present day, Liv and photographer Sam, make their way across to the island from Venice, ostensibly to film and record it, before a hotel is built. In reality, Liv’s motives are more personal as eighteen months ago, her twin sister Mia disappears. Liv is certain that Poveglia is the last place her sister visits before her disappearance. Mia, and their deceased Italian mother before her, are obsessed with the island, believing it has ghosts. Liv doesn’t believe in ghosts, she doesn’t believe her sister is dead and yet she is unable to deny Poveglia is a truly unsettling island.
First of all, I really like the premise of this debut novel with the Gothic elements being chilling, spooky and very ghostly. Aspects of the novel are creative, the ending is clever and unexpected, which is always a bonus! The storytelling is descriptive and whilst it does result in parts being slow, the author does vividly capture the atmosphere of the island, making it come alive. It feels claustrophobic, in part due to what unfolds and at times, it exudes danger. There are some very good creepy images which sends shivers down the spine.
I thoroughly enjoy the story of the real island and its folklore is fascinating and woven well into the plot. There’s a good contrast and balance between the scientific Liv versus Mia‘s beliefs and later, that of Sam.
In my opinion the first half is much stronger than the second, as here the pace is noticeably uneven. There’s too much going backwards and forwards in the storytelling with a lot of wandering around the island by the twins, which becomes repetitious. Memories of both girls are perhaps overdone, but I can see why the author includes them.
Overall, this is a promising debut and it’s clear Daisy Stephens can write well as there are some lovely prose and so on that basis I feel raising 3.5 to 4 stars is only fair.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Hodder and Stoughton for the much appreciated early copy in return for an honest review.
“ I do not believe in ghosts, I do not believe in whatever is on this island”. That would be Poveglia in Italy, once used as quarantine for the plague and by 1939, it houses a psychiatric hospital. In the present day, Liv and photographer Sam, make their way across to the island from Venice, ostensibly to film and record it, before a hotel is built. In reality, Liv’s motives are more personal as eighteen months ago, her twin sister Mia disappears. Liv is certain that Poveglia is the last place her sister visits before her disappearance. Mia, and their deceased Italian mother before her, are obsessed with the island, believing it has ghosts. Liv doesn’t believe in ghosts, she doesn’t believe her sister is dead and yet she is unable to deny Poveglia is a truly unsettling island.
First of all, I really like the premise of this debut novel with the Gothic elements being chilling, spooky and very ghostly. Aspects of the novel are creative, the ending is clever and unexpected, which is always a bonus! The storytelling is descriptive and whilst it does result in parts being slow, the author does vividly capture the atmosphere of the island, making it come alive. It feels claustrophobic, in part due to what unfolds and at times, it exudes danger. There are some very good creepy images which sends shivers down the spine.
I thoroughly enjoy the story of the real island and its folklore is fascinating and woven well into the plot. There’s a good contrast and balance between the scientific Liv versus Mia‘s beliefs and later, that of Sam.
In my opinion the first half is much stronger than the second, as here the pace is noticeably uneven. There’s too much going backwards and forwards in the storytelling with a lot of wandering around the island by the twins, which becomes repetitious. Memories of both girls are perhaps overdone, but I can see why the author includes them.
Overall, this is a promising debut and it’s clear Daisy Stephens can write well as there are some lovely prose and so on that basis I feel raising 3.5 to 4 stars is only fair.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Hodder and Stoughton for the much appreciated early copy in return for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I absolutely flew through The Island of the Lost by Daisy Stephens... a tense, atmospheric read that is equal parts ghostly and emotional.
The story centres on Liv, a writer who insists she doesn’t believe in ghosts. When she receives special permission to visit a small abandoned island off the coast of Italy. Once a plague quarantine station and later a psychiatric asylum... it seems like the perfect setting for a writing assignment. But Liv has a much more personal reason for going. She’s convinced the island was the last place her twin sister Mia visited before she mysteriously vanished eighteen months earlier, and unlike everyone else, Liv refuses to believe Mia is dead.
What follows is a haunting and increasingly unsettling exploration of the island and the secrets it holds. Alone except for her colleague Sam, Liv begins to experience things she can’t explain... a church tower tolling when there’s no bell, fleeting ghostly figures in her peripheral vision, and even the lingering smell of burning fire.
One of the standout elements of the novel is Stephens’ ability to paint the island so vividly. The imagery is fantastic... you can almost feel the isolation pressing in from all sides. The ruins, the forest, the silence, and the island’s dark history create an atmosphere thick with unease. The setting feels alive in the best possible way, becoming almost another eerie character in the story.
The emotional thread running through the book works really well. Beneath the hair-raising events is Liv’s grief, determination, and complicated bond with her sister. As the tension builds, the characters’ fears and vulnerabilities begin to surface, which gives the mystery real emotional weight.
A Quote I enjoyed:
That sense of being watched... of something just out of sight... runs throughout the novel and keeps the tension simmering.
This is also a very quick read. The pacing moves briskly, making it easy to finish in just a couple of sittings. Even with the fast pace, Stephens never loses the creeping sense of dread that hangs over the island.
If I had one small critique, it’s that a few moments felt like they could have lingered slightly longer to deepen the tension even further. But overall, the combination of eerie atmosphere, emotional stakes, and vivid imagery made this a very compelling read.
⭐ 4.5 stars
Many thanks to Daisy Stephens, Hodder & Stoughton, and NetGalley for providing an advanced reader copy. I received this book for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.
The story centres on Liv, a writer who insists she doesn’t believe in ghosts. When she receives special permission to visit a small abandoned island off the coast of Italy. Once a plague quarantine station and later a psychiatric asylum... it seems like the perfect setting for a writing assignment. But Liv has a much more personal reason for going. She’s convinced the island was the last place her twin sister Mia visited before she mysteriously vanished eighteen months earlier, and unlike everyone else, Liv refuses to believe Mia is dead.
What follows is a haunting and increasingly unsettling exploration of the island and the secrets it holds. Alone except for her colleague Sam, Liv begins to experience things she can’t explain... a church tower tolling when there’s no bell, fleeting ghostly figures in her peripheral vision, and even the lingering smell of burning fire.
One of the standout elements of the novel is Stephens’ ability to paint the island so vividly. The imagery is fantastic... you can almost feel the isolation pressing in from all sides. The ruins, the forest, the silence, and the island’s dark history create an atmosphere thick with unease. The setting feels alive in the best possible way, becoming almost another eerie character in the story.
The emotional thread running through the book works really well. Beneath the hair-raising events is Liv’s grief, determination, and complicated bond with her sister. As the tension builds, the characters’ fears and vulnerabilities begin to surface, which gives the mystery real emotional weight.
A Quote I enjoyed:
“It is the footsteps I hear even when there's nothing behind me. Is it the movement in the corner of my eye when there's no one there.”
That sense of being watched... of something just out of sight... runs throughout the novel and keeps the tension simmering.
This is also a very quick read. The pacing moves briskly, making it easy to finish in just a couple of sittings. Even with the fast pace, Stephens never loses the creeping sense of dread that hangs over the island.
If I had one small critique, it’s that a few moments felt like they could have lingered slightly longer to deepen the tension even further. But overall, the combination of eerie atmosphere, emotional stakes, and vivid imagery made this a very compelling read.
⭐ 4.5 stars
Many thanks to Daisy Stephens, Hodder & Stoughton, and NetGalley for providing an advanced reader copy. I received this book for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I blame my soft spot for crumbling Italian masonry and the sheer, predictable ego of people who think they can outrun a personal collapse. Liv is your standard issue; skeptic, clutching logic like a weapon to ignore that her life actually stopped eighteen months ago when her twin, Mia, just... evaporated. The setting is pure bait: an island with a CV that includes the Black Death and a mental ward. It’s a place that practically screams for you to turn the boat around, but Stephens makes Liv’s fixated descent feel uncomfortably rational.
The pacing is tight. No filler, just a slow, airless drag through the rot of Poveglia. Her colleague Sam is basically a human grounding wire, existing mostly to remind the reader that people with functioning survival instincts don’t go looking for answers in plague pits. Their connection isn't some tiered romance; it’s just two people bound by the visceral fear that their own brains are starting to glitch.
Stephens bypasses the tired gothic cliches by leaning into the sensory filth. It’s not about jump scares; it’s the smell of smoke that isn't there and the tolling of a non-existent bell. The prose is lean and observant. It treats the haunting as a mathematical certainty; if you go digging for ghosts in a place built on agony, you're going to find exactly what you deserve.
The momentum hits a snag in the final act when the mystery starts to lose its fog. I usually prefer my ghosts to stay metaphorical, and there are beats where the plot starts checking off genre boxes I could do without. Still, the engine of the story, grief turning into a literal, physical haunting, holds up. It’s a cynical look at the lengths we go to avoid a final goodbye, even if it means stepping right into a meat grinder.
If your past feels like a physical weight you're dragging through the mud, this will land. It’s a reminder that the real monsters aren't hiding in the basement; they’re the ones we’ve already invited into our heads. Sharp, brief, and it doesn't insult you with a bow on top.
The pacing is tight. No filler, just a slow, airless drag through the rot of Poveglia. Her colleague Sam is basically a human grounding wire, existing mostly to remind the reader that people with functioning survival instincts don’t go looking for answers in plague pits. Their connection isn't some tiered romance; it’s just two people bound by the visceral fear that their own brains are starting to glitch.
Stephens bypasses the tired gothic cliches by leaning into the sensory filth. It’s not about jump scares; it’s the smell of smoke that isn't there and the tolling of a non-existent bell. The prose is lean and observant. It treats the haunting as a mathematical certainty; if you go digging for ghosts in a place built on agony, you're going to find exactly what you deserve.
The momentum hits a snag in the final act when the mystery starts to lose its fog. I usually prefer my ghosts to stay metaphorical, and there are beats where the plot starts checking off genre boxes I could do without. Still, the engine of the story, grief turning into a literal, physical haunting, holds up. It’s a cynical look at the lengths we go to avoid a final goodbye, even if it means stepping right into a meat grinder.
If your past feels like a physical weight you're dragging through the mud, this will land. It’s a reminder that the real monsters aren't hiding in the basement; they’re the ones we’ve already invited into our heads. Sharp, brief, and it doesn't insult you with a bow on top.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This one didn’t work for me unfortunately.
The story of Liv whose twin sister Mia has been missing for over a year presumed dead. But Liv doesn’t believe she is dead and gets permission to visit a deserted island close to Venice under the guise of a writing assignment in search of her.
The island used to be a plague quarantine station and later a psychiatric asylum and there is plenty of folklore from the locals of ghosts and unnatural things happening there.
The island linked to their mother’s Italian heritage, Liv is sure it’s where Mia last went looking for answers.
This is best described as a gothic horror but definitely more gothic than horror.
It just didn’t work for me. The island is interesting at the start but becomes quite monotonous as Liv (and others) wander around the island looking for answers with the very occasional spooky thing happening.
The book is more of a character study and people’s relationships and it didn’t work for me from this point either as the characters are weakly written and uninteresting.
The majority of the book is narrated by Liv and she just isn’t that interesting a person to spend time with. Everytime she narrates a new situation it reminds her of something in her past and we have to read through this little story totally disrupting any sort of atmosphere the author is trying to create.
Yes some of the flashbacks are relevant to the story but others aren’t and really it just felt like padding. Even when they were relevant, I felt my eyes going to heaven as we endure another flashback as little happens on the island.
There are some really nice descriptive passages of the island but they again become tedious as they also feel like page fillers as you realise there is very little to this story.
So yeah not for me. Hopefully others get more enjoyment from it than I did.
Many thanks to the publisher for the ARC through Netgalley.
The story of Liv whose twin sister Mia has been missing for over a year presumed dead. But Liv doesn’t believe she is dead and gets permission to visit a deserted island close to Venice under the guise of a writing assignment in search of her.
The island used to be a plague quarantine station and later a psychiatric asylum and there is plenty of folklore from the locals of ghosts and unnatural things happening there.
The island linked to their mother’s Italian heritage, Liv is sure it’s where Mia last went looking for answers.
This is best described as a gothic horror but definitely more gothic than horror.
It just didn’t work for me. The island is interesting at the start but becomes quite monotonous as Liv (and others) wander around the island looking for answers with the very occasional spooky thing happening.
The book is more of a character study and people’s relationships and it didn’t work for me from this point either as the characters are weakly written and uninteresting.
The majority of the book is narrated by Liv and she just isn’t that interesting a person to spend time with. Everytime she narrates a new situation it reminds her of something in her past and we have to read through this little story totally disrupting any sort of atmosphere the author is trying to create.
Yes some of the flashbacks are relevant to the story but others aren’t and really it just felt like padding. Even when they were relevant, I felt my eyes going to heaven as we endure another flashback as little happens on the island.
There are some really nice descriptive passages of the island but they again become tedious as they also feel like page fillers as you realise there is very little to this story.
So yeah not for me. Hopefully others get more enjoyment from it than I did.
Many thanks to the publisher for the ARC through Netgalley.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Island of the Lost is one of those rare gothic thrillers that manages to feel both intimate and cinematic, pulling you into its eerie world with a quiet, irresistible grip. From the moment Liv sets foot on the abandoned island off the Italian coast—a place steeped in plague history, whispered hauntings, and the lingering echoes of an asylum—you can feel the air shift. The setting is so vividly drawn it almost becomes a character in its own right.
Liv’s determination to uncover the truth about her twin sister Mia gives the story its emotional pulse. She doesn’t believe Mia is dead, and that stubborn, aching hope carries her through every unsettling moment on the island. Her grief is raw but never melodramatic, and the bond between the sisters—felt even in absence—adds a beautiful, haunting weight to the narrative.
The novel shines in its slow, creeping tension. Strange sounds in empty buildings, a church bell that rings despite having no bell, the flicker of a figure just out of sight—each moment is crafted with a subtlety that makes the supernatural feel dangerously plausible. The island’s history presses in from all sides, blurring the line between folklore and something far more sinister.
Liv’s partnership with Sam adds grounding and warmth, but even their dynamic is threaded with unease as the island begins to reveal its secrets. The sensory details—the smell of smoke, the echo of footsteps, the oppressive silence—build into a chilling atmosphere that lingers long after you close the book.
Dark, immersive, and beautifully unsettling, The Island of the Lost is a gripping exploration of grief, obsession, and the thin veil between the living and the dead. A perfect pick for readers who love their thrillers with a ghostly edge and a deeply human heart.
With thanks to Daisy Stephens, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
Liv’s determination to uncover the truth about her twin sister Mia gives the story its emotional pulse. She doesn’t believe Mia is dead, and that stubborn, aching hope carries her through every unsettling moment on the island. Her grief is raw but never melodramatic, and the bond between the sisters—felt even in absence—adds a beautiful, haunting weight to the narrative.
The novel shines in its slow, creeping tension. Strange sounds in empty buildings, a church bell that rings despite having no bell, the flicker of a figure just out of sight—each moment is crafted with a subtlety that makes the supernatural feel dangerously plausible. The island’s history presses in from all sides, blurring the line between folklore and something far more sinister.
Liv’s partnership with Sam adds grounding and warmth, but even their dynamic is threaded with unease as the island begins to reveal its secrets. The sensory details—the smell of smoke, the echo of footsteps, the oppressive silence—build into a chilling atmosphere that lingers long after you close the book.
Dark, immersive, and beautifully unsettling, The Island of the Lost is a gripping exploration of grief, obsession, and the thin veil between the living and the dead. A perfect pick for readers who love their thrillers with a ghostly edge and a deeply human heart.
With thanks to Daisy Stephens, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Island of the Lost is Daisy Stephens's debut novel, and just like Liv, our main character, Stephens is a journalist. It is a very strong debut; the abandonded island of Poveglia is atmospheric and spooky and I was pulled in by the story straight away. Liv arrives to Poveglia under the pretense of writing a story but is instead looking for her missing sister Mia. The island has a strange connection to their late mother, and Liv, the only one who believes Mia isn't dead, is sure she will find her sister on Poveglia.
The writing is very solid and vivid and the island was, honestly, immensely creepy. The writing made it easy to imagine the dampness of the cold January days, the lingering smell of the fire in the plague pits and the tolling of a missing bell. The island feels almost suffocating and I would be terrified to find myself alone there. However, instead of just a simple ghost story about an abandonded island that might not be abandoned at all, this is a story of grief; not only could I feel Liv's desperation to find her twin sister, but I could also feel the grief Sam, Liv's colleague who accompanies her to the island, carries with him.
The pacing also worked for me. It was never too slow, never too boring, and the story wraps up neatly when you want it to. I enjoyed the characters, their backstories (even though I wish we would have seen more of Sam) and the horror just worked for me. It was creepy enough that I didn't want to read this in the dark at night.
The Island of the Lost is a very good debut and I would love to read more by this author. 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 stars.
I’d like to thank the author, publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this arc.
The writing is very solid and vivid and the island was, honestly, immensely creepy. The writing made it easy to imagine the dampness of the cold January days, the lingering smell of the fire in the plague pits and the tolling of a missing bell. The island feels almost suffocating and I would be terrified to find myself alone there. However, instead of just a simple ghost story about an abandonded island that might not be abandoned at all, this is a story of grief; not only could I feel Liv's desperation to find her twin sister, but I could also feel the grief Sam, Liv's colleague who accompanies her to the island, carries with him.
The pacing also worked for me. It was never too slow, never too boring, and the story wraps up neatly when you want it to. I enjoyed the characters, their backstories (even though I wish we would have seen more of Sam) and the horror just worked for me. It was creepy enough that I didn't want to read this in the dark at night.
The Island of the Lost is a very good debut and I would love to read more by this author. 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 stars.
I’d like to thank the author, publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this arc.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
1 ⭐️
This had so much potential to be given a higher rating, but unfortunately it lost points in several areas as the story went on.
The setting and the beginning of the story were really great and fast-paced (covering the first 40%). After that, things just moved too fast, and I felt like we got several things that were unnecessary. Let's talk about our FMC: she was really, really annoying, and I didn't like her at all. Her actions and what she said at times felt childish and illogical—especially since she claims to be logical, and she was the one who got herself into that situation in the first place.
Now, regarding other aspects of the story: our main character searched about the island to learn more about it—which is good—did she find anything? NO. That really bothered me because in the very beginning of the book, we get a single prologue from 1939 featuring a doctor. What was the point of that, except for it being mentioned a few times throughout the story? When our character didn't find anything about the island, I thought maybe she would find something that would help her solve the situation—anything written or discovered by the doctor from that time. But nothing.
As for the ending, our FMC wasn't the one who solved the problem (if you read the book, you know who did). This got resolved in about 10 minutes; it didn't take a long time, and it was easy, with nothing complicated or requiring deeper knowledge to solve. So I thought, THAT'S IT???? There was no suspense at all, and the dreams they had felt pointless.
Everything about the synopsis sounded great, but the execution wasn't there at all.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This had so much potential to be given a higher rating, but unfortunately it lost points in several areas as the story went on.
The setting and the beginning of the story were really great and fast-paced (covering the first 40%). After that, things just moved too fast, and I felt like we got several things that were unnecessary. Let's talk about our FMC: she was really, really annoying, and I didn't like her at all. Her actions and what she said at times felt childish and illogical—especially since she claims to be logical, and she was the one who got herself into that situation in the first place.
Now, regarding other aspects of the story: our main character searched about the island to learn more about it—which is good—did she find anything? NO. That really bothered me because in the very beginning of the book, we get a single prologue from 1939 featuring a doctor. What was the point of that, except for it being mentioned a few times throughout the story? When our character didn't find anything about the island, I thought maybe she would find something that would help her solve the situation—anything written or discovered by the doctor from that time. But nothing.
As for the ending, our FMC wasn't the one who solved the problem (if you read the book, you know who did). This got resolved in about 10 minutes; it didn't take a long time, and it was easy, with nothing complicated or requiring deeper knowledge to solve. So I thought, THAT'S IT???? There was no suspense at all, and the dreams they had felt pointless.
Everything about the synopsis sounded great, but the execution wasn't there at all.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Click here for my full review.
The killjoys at the Italian Committee for the Investigation of Claims on Pseudosciences want you to know that the island of Poveglia isn’t haunted. They explain that lurid tales about it—mass graves of plague victims! asylums run by mad doctors!—have no historical basis beyond TV shows like Ghost Adventures, whose host Zak Bagans claims to have been possessed by a spirit while visiting Poveglia. Presumably Zak recovered quickly, because that happened in season 3 of 30.
Compared to the skeptics’ version, Poveglia’s portrayal in THE ISLAND OF THE LOST is much more fun. Journalist Liv and her colleague Sam arrive on the abandoned island in search of Liv’s missing sister. Her family has a strange connection to Poveglia, and as their search takes them deeper into its abandoned buildings and empty towers, dark secrets begin to surface.
This story’s prose is compellingly atmospheric, especially for a debut novel (like her protagonist, Stephens is a journalist). The prologue introducing the ghostly plague doctor haunting Poveglia is taut and thrilling, while following chapters layer simile-rich images of “shadows between the trees spreading like ink” and night skies sparkling like a “watercolour canvas of blues, silvers and purples” until you can almost feel Poveglia’s suffocating gloom...
Read more here
The killjoys at the Italian Committee for the Investigation of Claims on Pseudosciences want you to know that the island of Poveglia isn’t haunted. They explain that lurid tales about it—mass graves of plague victims! asylums run by mad doctors!—have no historical basis beyond TV shows like Ghost Adventures, whose host Zak Bagans claims to have been possessed by a spirit while visiting Poveglia. Presumably Zak recovered quickly, because that happened in season 3 of 30.
Compared to the skeptics’ version, Poveglia’s portrayal in THE ISLAND OF THE LOST is much more fun. Journalist Liv and her colleague Sam arrive on the abandoned island in search of Liv’s missing sister. Her family has a strange connection to Poveglia, and as their search takes them deeper into its abandoned buildings and empty towers, dark secrets begin to surface.
This story’s prose is compellingly atmospheric, especially for a debut novel (like her protagonist, Stephens is a journalist). The prologue introducing the ghostly plague doctor haunting Poveglia is taut and thrilling, while following chapters layer simile-rich images of “shadows between the trees spreading like ink” and night skies sparkling like a “watercolour canvas of blues, silvers and purples” until you can almost feel Poveglia’s suffocating gloom...
Read more here
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
What makes The Island of the Lost so compelling is that Daisy Stephens understands a truth at the heart of all great ghost stories: hauntings are rarely about ghosts alone. They are about grief, absence, and the impossible desire to retrieve what has already been lost.
Poveglia is an inspired setting. Stephens transforms the infamous island into far more than a backdrop; it becomes a living presence within the novel itself. The decaying buildings, lingering traces of plague and institutional trauma, and oppressive isolation create an atmosphere so vivid that the island feels sentient, as though it is actively resisting excavation. Every toll of the bell, every unexplained scent of smoke, every movement glimpsed at the edge of vision deepens that sense of unease.
What impressed me most, however, was the emotional core beneath the gothic exterior. Liv’s search for Mia is driven not simply by mystery, but by the refusal to surrender hope. The novel captures with remarkable sensitivity the particular grief of ambiguous loss—the agony of loving someone whose absence cannot be fully mourned because certainty never arrives. That emotional tension gives real weight to the supernatural elements.
Stephens also demonstrates considerable restraint as a horror writer. Rather than relying on shock, she allows dread to accumulate gradually through atmosphere, memory, and suggestion. The result is a haunting that feels psychological as much as paranormal, blurring the boundaries between history, trauma, and the stories we tell ourselves in order to survive.
Poveglia is an inspired setting. Stephens transforms the infamous island into far more than a backdrop; it becomes a living presence within the novel itself. The decaying buildings, lingering traces of plague and institutional trauma, and oppressive isolation create an atmosphere so vivid that the island feels sentient, as though it is actively resisting excavation. Every toll of the bell, every unexplained scent of smoke, every movement glimpsed at the edge of vision deepens that sense of unease.
What impressed me most, however, was the emotional core beneath the gothic exterior. Liv’s search for Mia is driven not simply by mystery, but by the refusal to surrender hope. The novel captures with remarkable sensitivity the particular grief of ambiguous loss—the agony of loving someone whose absence cannot be fully mourned because certainty never arrives. That emotional tension gives real weight to the supernatural elements.
Stephens also demonstrates considerable restraint as a horror writer. Rather than relying on shock, she allows dread to accumulate gradually through atmosphere, memory, and suggestion. The result is a haunting that feels psychological as much as paranormal, blurring the boundaries between history, trauma, and the stories we tell ourselves in order to survive.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Daisy Stephens, Hodder & Stoughton, and NetGalley for the ARC.
A wonderful novel about grief and memory haunting not only a place, but also other people. When and where you get a glimpse of that ghost, no one can know. Liv is skeptic to believe such things are real, but with the disappearance of her twin sister, Mia, she gets torn between wanting to trust in her sister's beliefs, and her own logic.
The dread and truth are slowly introduced to us when Liv and her colleague, Sam, arrive on Poveglia to make an article about the island. The atmosphere is heavy and charged as they see the decayed, abandoned buildings, and they read about what happened in the past due to the plague. Add to that Liv's fear that her sister has also come here 18 months ago and her desire to find Mia, and we slowly descend down a path of fear and madness. We see Liv battle her own memories, her feelings, her hopes and her logic as she looks around for clues about Mia's whereabouts.
The setting of being trapped on the island with no way out helps to drive them close to panic and insanity. The fact that the island Poveglia exists in reality with its tragic past makes it even sadder for us, the readers.
The writing is amazing and immersive, some of the memories filling some details about the twins and their lives. Other memories felt too winded and long, taking me too much from the immersion of the present, especially if it happened during a moment Liv was talking to Sam.
A great read, great debut novel, can't wait to see what else she will write.
A wonderful novel about grief and memory haunting not only a place, but also other people. When and where you get a glimpse of that ghost, no one can know. Liv is skeptic to believe such things are real, but with the disappearance of her twin sister, Mia, she gets torn between wanting to trust in her sister's beliefs, and her own logic.
The dread and truth are slowly introduced to us when Liv and her colleague, Sam, arrive on Poveglia to make an article about the island. The atmosphere is heavy and charged as they see the decayed, abandoned buildings, and they read about what happened in the past due to the plague. Add to that Liv's fear that her sister has also come here 18 months ago and her desire to find Mia, and we slowly descend down a path of fear and madness. We see Liv battle her own memories, her feelings, her hopes and her logic as she looks around for clues about Mia's whereabouts.
The setting of being trapped on the island with no way out helps to drive them close to panic and insanity. The fact that the island Poveglia exists in reality with its tragic past makes it even sadder for us, the readers.
The writing is amazing and immersive, some of the memories filling some details about the twins and their lives. Other memories felt too winded and long, taking me too much from the immersion of the present, especially if it happened during a moment Liv was talking to Sam.
A great read, great debut novel, can't wait to see what else she will write.
July 29, 2026
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc! I'm getting into more spooky stories and I felt like this one was an easily digestible one.
It had just enough mystery around it to have you wondering what could happen with the plot. I was definitely speeding through this book quickly because it had just enough eerie abandoned island moments and an interesting mystery to keep me going.
Liv was a deliberately naive person who had the mindset of if she didn't acknowledge anything, it didn't happen. That was kind of frustrating at tje start but then you see her slowly start to lose her sense of reality as the island plays tricks on her and it just makes it so much more creepy. I enjoyed feeling spooked by the moments where she'd be caught off guard.
I definitely think this is a good starting horror novel. It had a lot of creepy elements, as I enjoyed the descriptions of how desolate the island was, and the jumpscare factor was there too.
I loved reading about the bond Liv had with her sister and how it haunted the whole narrative. Definitely a bittersweet one that had my mind reeling from piecing things together. Really enjoyed this one and would recommend!
It had just enough mystery around it to have you wondering what could happen with the plot. I was definitely speeding through this book quickly because it had just enough eerie abandoned island moments and an interesting mystery to keep me going.
Liv was a deliberately naive person who had the mindset of if she didn't acknowledge anything, it didn't happen. That was kind of frustrating at tje start but then you see her slowly start to lose her sense of reality as the island plays tricks on her and it just makes it so much more creepy. I enjoyed feeling spooked by the moments where she'd be caught off guard.
I definitely think this is a good starting horror novel. It had a lot of creepy elements, as I enjoyed the descriptions of how desolate the island was, and the jumpscare factor was there too.
I loved reading about the bond Liv had with her sister and how it haunted the whole narrative. Definitely a bittersweet one that had my mind reeling from piecing things together. Really enjoyed this one and would recommend!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a nice, atmospheric little horror story set on an actual Italian island with its own ghost stories. It's well-written and at times spooky, though also in parts rather predictable and the main ghostly element didn't work for me so well. Still, I had a good time reading it and its a quick read too, I was never bored and I really liked the general atmosphere and vibe of Poveglia (and it made me read up on the island, which is always a plus). The main character is relatable and the family dynamics the book explores through the flashbacks is an interesting one combined with the paranormal elements of it, so especially for a debut it's definitely a well done work of horror fiction. Nothing you haven't read before, nothing that will really stay with you beyond the last page, but it's compelling from start to finish.
Many thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley for the arc!
Many thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley for the arc!
July 1, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC.
This was a great book. Although it was about the supernatural, it wasn’t particularly spooky, but there was an element of emotional fear when I thought about my own sister. I really felt for the characters and could imagine myself in those scenarios. I think it shows great talent when the author is able to create characters and emotions that feel so real.
The descriptive imagery works really well and the characters and their relationships are fantastic. It’s a slow burn but once the character chapters start changing it really picks up pace. And I knew it was coming but the ending broke my heart anyway. I found the history of Poveglia interesting but I would’ve liked to see more from Sam, I feel like he was maybe underutilised? Overall, a great, if not tragic, read.
This was a great book. Although it was about the supernatural, it wasn’t particularly spooky, but there was an element of emotional fear when I thought about my own sister. I really felt for the characters and could imagine myself in those scenarios. I think it shows great talent when the author is able to create characters and emotions that feel so real.
The descriptive imagery works really well and the characters and their relationships are fantastic. It’s a slow burn but once the character chapters start changing it really picks up pace. And I knew it was coming but the ending broke my heart anyway. I found the history of Poveglia interesting but I would’ve liked to see more from Sam, I feel like he was maybe underutilised? Overall, a great, if not tragic, read.
July 11, 2026
We follow Liv as she and colleague Sam travel to Poveglia for work as journalists. What Sam doesn’t know is that Liv is convinced that this island is where her sister, Mia was when reported missing.
This book is classed as horror and although there are a few creepy moments, the story focuses more on Liv’s family and the relationships between her, her twin sister, her parents and her aunty. So if you’re looking to something to just scare you, this isn’t the one.
The story is quite heavy, dealing with grief of losing her mother to cancer when she was young and her sister going missing 18 months before the story begins.
If you like a lot of mystery and folklore, I’d definitely give this one a read.
This book is classed as horror and although there are a few creepy moments, the story focuses more on Liv’s family and the relationships between her, her twin sister, her parents and her aunty. So if you’re looking to something to just scare you, this isn’t the one.
The story is quite heavy, dealing with grief of losing her mother to cancer when she was young and her sister going missing 18 months before the story begins.
If you like a lot of mystery and folklore, I’d definitely give this one a read.
July 7, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐
This one had me hooked! 👻 The creepy abandoned island setting was so atmospheric, and I loved trying to piece together the mystery alongside Liv as she searched for answers about her missing twin sister. It was the perfect mix of gothic vibes, suspense and supernatural chills, with plenty of moments that gave me goosebumps. A great slowburn mystery that kept me turning the pages I definitely recommend adding this one to your spooky season TBR or a read to get you out of a slump! 🖤📚
#Bookstagram #BookReview #TheIslandoftheLost
This one had me hooked! 👻 The creepy abandoned island setting was so atmospheric, and I loved trying to piece together the mystery alongside Liv as she searched for answers about her missing twin sister. It was the perfect mix of gothic vibes, suspense and supernatural chills, with plenty of moments that gave me goosebumps. A great slowburn mystery that kept me turning the pages I definitely recommend adding this one to your spooky season TBR or a read to get you out of a slump! 🖤📚
#Bookstagram #BookReview #TheIslandoftheLost
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is great for anyone a fan of ghost stories around campfires and those moments when you are sure you have seen something out of the corner of you eye. When Liv travels to an island off the coast of Italy she claims it’s for a story but the truth is she’s looking for her twin sister and is convinced she is somewhere on that island. Is she in danger and does she keep seeing things or is she slowly loosing her mind! A great creepy read!
March 2, 2026
Creepy, intriguing, emotional. I am now illogically scared of seeing ghosty plague doctors in all the dark corners of my house
Proper review to come at some point (probably)
Thank you to Hodder & Netgalley for an e-ARC 🫶
Proper review to come at some point (probably)
Thank you to Hodder & Netgalley for an e-ARC 🫶
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Chilling, scary, tense and atmospheric, I loved it. From the first word to the last I was gripped, it will take a while for the goosebumps on my arms to go down.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Review of ARC copy:
This was such an eerie and atmospheric read. I really felt like I was there on the island. Such a strong visual (especially for me who has difficulty picturing things) and description of the island was woven in my mind.
The smoke on the cover and in the pages wrapped round me as I read. It was slow creeping while also getting me grabbing through the pages.
Stephens ties everything in a neat bow by the end (which is always just so pleasing for me)and not a moment too soon or a moment too late. I really enjoyed the pacing.
What a great debut! I could see this being a great film!
FYI there is a reference to HP.
Rating: 4.25/5
Thank you so much Hodder Fiction Team (Hodder & Stoughton) for gifting me an ARC copy!
This was such an eerie and atmospheric read. I really felt like I was there on the island. Such a strong visual (especially for me who has difficulty picturing things) and description of the island was woven in my mind.
The smoke on the cover and in the pages wrapped round me as I read. It was slow creeping while also getting me grabbing through the pages.
Stephens ties everything in a neat bow by the end (which is always just so pleasing for me)and not a moment too soon or a moment too late. I really enjoyed the pacing.
What a great debut! I could see this being a great film!
FYI there is a reference to HP.
Rating: 4.25/5
Thank you so much Hodder Fiction Team (Hodder & Stoughton) for gifting me an ARC copy!
June 26, 2026
This book was so good. I have always been intrigued with the island of Poveglia and Daisy has done amazing justice to the island and the history of the island. The plague victims, doctors and the dark history this place has. I am so grateful to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this and I have seen that it is still on NetGalley. So if you can request it and read it, because you won’t regret it. A girl goes missing and the story is based around her sister going to the island to try and find her. This was right up my street and I promise you will not regret reading it. Daisy fair play you have done a fab job of this and you are a great writer, keeping my attention all the way through.
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