The Hidden Gods of Appalachia: A Spicy Folkloric Horror-Romance Novella

by Jessica Leigh

My mama always said "Don’t fly too far or you may forget where your nest is".

So, naturally, I flew thousands of miles away—because when there’s nothing left in the nest, what else is there to do?

After her death, I couldn’t sit still.

And when my little brother Daniel disappeared two years later, I knew there was nothing left for me in North Carolina.
Oregon took me in, as well as I could’ve hoped for a lonely girl from Appalachia who showed up with only a single suitcase and the hollow ache that comes with a family that’s fallen apart.

But that was ten years ago.

Now, a random phone call has left me with more questions than answers. A distant aunt’s passing has necessitated my return home to handle her final affairs, as I’m her only living relative.

But there's more. . .

People are vanishing into the dense woods of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Strange sigils are being found all along the Parkway.
. . .And there's a private detective with a dangerous magnetism, who thinks I might be the only one able to help him work out why.

Home is nearly unrecognizable.

Industry and development have crept into the heart of something ancient, and it feels as though the old gods are angry . . .

Genres: Horror, Dark Romance, Romance, Novella, Gothic, Dark, Forced Proximity

153 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 18, 2024

About the author

Jessica Leigh is a folkloric romance author. Her stories draw from the eerie side of legends and lore—tales of love, loss, and the kind of magic that never really dies. She loves exploring where myth meets emotion, and how ancient tales can still speak to us today.

When she’s not writing, you can find her perusing the bookstore with her husband, soaking in a Colorado sunset, or commuting to her 9-5, dreaming up new stories on
the train.

Reviews

[Sydney ✽ (currently slumping🥲) · Rating 4 out of 5]

.･｡ﾟ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ﾟ｡･.ﾟ❀
✦･ﾟ: * Spoiler Free Book Summary * :･ﾟ✦

When Charlie receives a call from an investigator informing her that she’s the last living relative of her aunt, she knows she has no choice but to return home to Tsali Springs, North Carolina. But the moment she arrives, she’s reminded exactly why she left; flooded with memories and surrounded by people who never made her feel like she belonged.

When she meets with the investigator, Warren, he reveals a pattern of mysterious deaths in the community over the past decade and that Charlie’s aunt had led him to believe Charlie might know more about them. It quickly becomes clear there’s more to Tsali Springs than meets the eye.

❀ﾟ.･｡ﾟ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ﾟ｡･.ﾟ❀
✦･ﾟ: * My Thoughts * :･ﾟ✦

˗ˏˋ ★★★.5☆ ˎˊ˗

This is not a masterpiece by any means but this was a good time. Loved the plot, it was very fast paced. The way that the author was able to write this type of folklore fantasy was very amazing. If the book was able to undergo a serious edit for grammatical errors and some plot holes, I think this could be an amazing book and has lots of potential!

❀ﾟ.･｡ﾟ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ﾟ｡･.ﾟ❀
✦･ﾟ: * Vibes * :･ﾟ✦

Genre: 𝑅𝑜𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒
Tropes: 𝑆𝑜𝑢𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑛 𝐺𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑐, 𝐹𝑜𝑙𝑘𝑙𝑜𝑟𝑒, 𝐻𝑜𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟, 𝑆ℎ𝑜𝑟𝑡 𝑆𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑦, 𝐷𝑎𝑟𝑘
Spice: ❧❧❧
Song: 𝄞 𝑀𝑒𝑒𝑡 𝑀𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑊𝑜𝑜𝑑𝑠 － 𝑀𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑜𝑛 𝐻𝑢𝑔ℎ𝑒𝑠

❀ﾟ.･｡ﾟ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ﾟ｡･.ﾟ❀
✦･ﾟ: * Favorite Quotes * :･ﾟ✦

╰┈➤ 𝚃𝚘 𝚊𝚗𝚢𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚎𝚕𝚜𝚎. . . 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚕𝚍, 𝚊 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚐 𝚐𝚒𝚛𝚕’𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚎𝚛 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚒𝚗𝚜𝚒𝚐𝚗𝚒𝚏𝚒𝚌𝚊𝚗𝚝. 𝙶𝚒𝚛𝚕𝚜 𝚖𝚢 𝚊𝚐𝚎 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚊𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚘𝚝𝚝𝚕𝚎 𝚒𝚝 𝚞𝚙. 𝙵𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎 𝚊 𝚋𝚘𝚢 𝚏𝚒𝚛𝚜𝚝 𝚙𝚞𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚍 𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚑𝚊𝚒𝚛 𝚊𝚝 𝚛𝚎𝚌𝚎𝚜𝚜, 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚛𝚊𝚐𝚎 𝚠𝚎’𝚍 𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚍𝚊𝚢 𝚏𝚎𝚎𝚕 𝚊𝚜 𝚐𝚛𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚠𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚗, 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚎 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚠𝚊𝚢 𝚒𝚗 𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚋𝚘𝚍𝚒𝚎𝚜 𝚞𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚕 𝚒𝚝 𝚋𝚎𝚐𝚊𝚗 𝚝𝚘 𝚎𝚊𝚝 𝚊𝚠𝚊𝚢 𝚊𝚝 𝚞𝚜.
╰┈➤ 𝙷𝚞𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚑𝚊𝚜 𝚍𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚊 𝚕𝚘𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚞𝚛𝚜𝚞𝚒𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 “𝚝𝚛𝚞𝚝𝚑” 𝚝𝚑𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚑𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚢—𝚕𝚒𝚎𝚍 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚒𝚝. 𝚂𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚠𝚊𝚛𝚜 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚗𝚊𝚖𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚒𝚝. 𝚂𝚝𝚘𝚕𝚎𝚗 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚒𝚝. 𝙺𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚍 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚒𝚝. 𝚆𝚑𝚢 𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚖𝚢 𝚖𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚍𝚜 𝚋𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚢 𝚍𝚒𝚏𝚏𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚗𝚝?
╰┈➤ “𝙸 𝚍𝚘𝚗’𝚝 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚜𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚜𝚘𝚛𝚌𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚞𝚕𝚝𝚒𝚟𝚊𝚝𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚕𝚍, 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞’𝚟𝚎 𝚐𝚘𝚝 𝚖𝚎 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚙𝚕𝚎𝚝𝚎𝚕𝚢 𝚜𝚙𝚎𝚕𝚕𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍, 𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚕𝚒𝚎.”

[Ashly · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️.5/5
📚 Standalone Novella
🗣️ Dual POV
🖤 M/F
🏔️ Appalachian Folklore

This was a quick novella, that was jam packed with interesting twists and turns. I was invested from the beginning and devoured this book super quickly. I would have loved if this was a full length novel so that we could get more depth from the main characters, and more details on the creatures but for this being a novella it was still really well written. Highly recommend giving this a try if you love Appalachian folklore, and want a quick horror-romance to read. I will be keeping an eye on Jessica Leigh moving forward to read more from her, she hooked me.

[Nadine Sturgill · Rating 5 out of 5]

5🌟 2 🌶
This novella has it all!!!!! Thank you Jessica Leigh for trusting me to be an early reader for The Hidden Gods of Appalachia. I'm not gonna be specific because I don't want to give it away. Can't wait to read more!!!

The Appalachian Folklore is a rabbit hole I can down and never leave. I wasn't raised in true Appalachia but I was raised by family who grew up there. And lemme tell ya, Jessica blows it out the park with this!

Charlie is basically summoned back to her roots in North Carolina as she is listed as the only kin alive to her aunt who had passed. It was initially deemed a suicide, but there was/is some questionable ideas on that. Not for this book though.

Warren, a Scottish detective who found himself contacting Charlie as he is tying to investigate the deaths that have been occurring and seem connected yet suspicious.

Spicy scenes are GREAT! Love the dowsing sticks and memories Charlie has. Warnings for violence, the psychological aspects, death, pregnancy loss/deformities/miscarriages, substance abuse and a few others.

There is scary folklore instances, multiple deaths that seemed centered around actions taken towards Charlie. Voices of past love ones being mimicked to confuse said characters to doing things that make no sense.

The ending is great, as Charlie begins to find closure. And loving that she names her child after her father.

[Emily Casilli · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this from start to finish as soon as I got it. If you like anything Appalachia, this is a must read. I do wish there was a little bit more with the creatures. Great description on the not deer, haints, and skinwalkers. This is a nice Horror Romance with plenty of Southern Gothic vibes and folk horror. My only complaint was the build up for the romance was spur of the moment more times than a brew or heated rush.

[eclecticbychoicereads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is it possible for a one-hundred-fifty-page novella to pull you in by its claws and thrust you deep into a world of myths and lore, where fates collide and forests whisper? When written by Jessica Leigh, it absolutely can. Trust me.

One hundred fifty pages of a story rooted deep in Appalachian folklore. One hundred fifty pages of supernatural mystery woven with long-forgotten family curses, wilderness suspense, and a murderous spree.

One hundred fifty pages of a romance between two people haunted by both their pasts and their present. One hundred fifty pages of sizzling tension and slow-building suspense. One hundred fifty pages of love born out of chaos and darkness.

The Hidden Gods of Appalachia may be a novella, but it is so much more. It's a folk-horror romance ignited by eight generations of untamed feminine rage and sharpened with ancestral reckoning. A tale concealed in rural isolation and set against the lush atmosphere of the Blue Ridge Mountains. A tale of attraction evolving into something far deeper.

The forests are calling your name. Will you heed their call?

Thank you, Jess, for another opportunity to ARC read for you. It's always a true honor.

[Anna Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was hooked through the whole book. I did not want to put it down. It was so good definitely kept you on your toes.

[Inara Reads Dark and Twisted · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really excited to read this book. When I saw the chance to get an early copy, I didn’t hesitate at all and signed up. Honestly, though, the book just wasn’t for me. It’s very well written and the story is well put together, but I felt the characters lacked depth, and I wanted more background on the area, more darkness, more horror. Maybe it’s also because I’m used to reading darker stories, and this one felt quite light to me.

It’s not a bad book—the writing is good, and if you enjoy this type of story, you might love it. For me, though, it didn’t capture me, it didn’t excite me, and I found myself bored. I couldn’t connect with the characters or the story. I genuinely feel sorry because I was really looking forward to loving it. But given the kind of books I’ve been reading lately, this one didn’t feel particularly dark. Everything was told very superficially, and very little was explored in depth.

I understand it’s a short novel, but I would have preferred it to be longer, with more detail about the area’s history, folklore, magic, rituals, and events, and more character development. We do get a little of both characters’ pasts, but it’s all quite surface-level.

Because of this, I’m giving it three stars. I can see why others might give it four or five, but for me, at this moment, it didn’t convince me. Still, the book is well written, the story is good, and I’d recommend reading it anyway—just because it didn’t captivate me doesn’t mean it won’t captivate you. I’m very grateful to the author for giving me this opportunity

[Jordyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

As soon as I received this book, I absolutely devoured it. As someone who’s grown up in the Appalachian area, I was curious how this would play out and I have to say, I was very impressed. A quick, cute, mysterious book with perfect amount of spice and storytelling. I highly recommend this book!

[Daizy Perez · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. This was a fairly interesting novella, but I wanted this to be more unhinged than it was. while reading this, I kept encountering moments in the story where the plot reached what felt like a crossroads- and it felt like 'okay, this is a moment where the events that happen next can either take a safe direction, or they can go unhinged.' but every time this happened, the story took the safe route. I feel like there were so many opportunities where the door was open and practically begging to be dragged into the abyss of insanity, and I wanted to go there! I was disappointed that the plot kept reverting to the safe side.

[Rhiannon Richards · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was creepy, and full of my favorite folklore. My only complaint is that the ending felt rushed and overall it didn’t feel long enough. I loved it though!

[Marjorie · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 4.5 so rounding up to 5 for Goodreads

I had the privilege of being selected as an ARC reader for this spicy Appalachian folklore romance novella, and wow, what a ride.

Pros:
I loved the dual POV, and I’m always a sucker when the MMC falls first. It’s a fast-paced, short novella, but it never felt rushed. The pacing felt tight and intentional in the best way.

The blend of Appalachian and bits of Scottish folklore was one of my favorite parts. I went into this knowing nothing about Appalachian mythology, and I kept stopping to Google terms and creatures because I just wanted more of it. The worldbuilding completely pulled me in.

I also appreciated the darker historical thread about how women were treated, especially when religion was used to erase them so men could claim what they owned. It gave the story an emotional depth I didn’t expect.

Cons (sort of):
I’m not usually a fan of insta love/lust, but it actually worked here. Both characters are dealing with some past and current demons, and the stakes felt high right from the start. Their connection felt frantic and dark at first, but eventually turned into something safe and lasting.

My biggest “complaint” is simply that I wanted more. More backstory, more creatures and magic, more history surrounding her ancestors. This world deserves extra pages.

One small historical note: the mention of witch “burning” isn’t quite accurate. Women accused of witchcraft were definitely killed, but in the U.S. they weren’t burned. Hanging was the primary method during the Salem era. I still loved how the story wove in generational feminine rage and revenge, though. That theme hit perfectly.

Overall, this novella delivered atmosphere, spice, folklore, and heart. If the author expands this world, I’ll be first in line to read it.

[Nikita · Rating 4 out of 5]

"If there's one thing I know about these woods, it's that if you hear something out hear calling you by name, no you didn't. We need to go. Now."

Any story that promises Appalachian folklore, I'm gravitating towards. And The Hidden Gods of Appalachia delivered on that promise! A short novella filled with unease, it mingles vicious depictions of Appalachian creatures with romance, but also themes of grief, loss, and accepting oneself.

"I'd never been one to shy from danger. This time, that might be my undoing."

After the death of a distant aunt calls Charlie back to a hometown she fled, she is quickly swept back up in the mysteries and disappearances that plague Tsali Springs. Add in the dedicated detective hired by her late-aunt, with vicious secrets of his own, and Charlie's homecoming has become much more than she bargained for.

"I didn't just touch down in Tsali Springs, I crash-landed."

The Hidden Gods of Appalachia offers an enigmatic story that sucks in the reader - from it's eerie, viscerally-described creatures to it's romance with a traumatic bond that is oft to rear it's head in terrifying situations such as the one Charlie and Warren find themselves in.

"That delicious edge between danger, fear, and desire. I wanted to be consumed - at whatever cost."

I also loved the Appalachian folklore resources provided at the back of the book as well. That was a great touch!

[The Fabled Librarian🖤 · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off, I’ve never read a book that had me so invested in the lore, I was googling because it was so interesting. The mystery 5/5 ⭐️; the spice 5/5 ⭐️; the plot 5/5 ⭐️; and the ENDING OMG I LOVED IT. Seriously love our MMC Warren who protects our FMC Charlie at all costs. Yall this book is amazing and I want more!!

[Melissa Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

The vibes of this book are a cross between Blair Witch Project, Highlander ( for the accent 😉 Jaime Fraiser iykyk) and some nice spice that will hit just right.
This is a novella so it moves pretty fast and their is a lot of back story and folklore I wish we got just a bit more detail on. The chemistry between Charlie and Warren is instant and HOT! Again I wished it could have built up a little more.I felt like The world description was incredible, I felt like I was in the woods with Charlie. That being said , this is a novella and I knew that going in. I finished in one sitting and enjoyed every part of it.

[Kristina Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC review: 4.5 ⭐
I thought this book was great! Quick, efficient read. It is a novella, so short and fast, as the author describes. But the native elements and horror vibes in the book were great; they could have been touched on a little more, but I enjoyed it enough I'll be checking out some of the author's other books!

[Ayee C.]

A horromance novella about the power of grief, rage, love, and curses spawning throughout generations and lands.

I enjoyed the beautiful descriptions of the landscapes and the creepy elements.

I feel compelled to read as many Appalachian-themed stories as possible. All the lore surrounding those mountains is fascinating.

[Adrienne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story, creepy in its own way. I could have done without the romance part- felt forced.

[khubble · Rating 4 out of 5]

The ending felt a little rushed, but I loved this overall! Creepy, spicy, and full of Appalachian witchy lore, it was so fun!

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

*ARC Review*
Right when I started this novella, it pulled me in. I loved the writing style. It has enough mystery, intrigue, & spice. I also loved the setting and how well everything was described to really allow you to picture what was happening. I’ll be checking out more from Jessica Leigh after how much I loved this one!

[Raven⚔️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This little book surprised me! I will be seeing Ethel Cain this weekend so this was perfect to help set the tone.

[Alexis Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

This dark, twisted tale explores love, loss, reconciling with the past, and self-discovery. It follows two people, both haunted by their past and present, as they navigate a tense journey to uncover the truth. Charlie, the FMC, has a troubled past and is called back to her hometown after the passing of a distant aunt. Warren, the MMC, is the detective assigned to investigate her aunt’s death.

I especially loved Charlie and her journey to understand and accept herself, I’m always a sucker for those moments when we recognize our true strength. Charlie and Warren’s chemistry sparks instantly, but the lines blur as his investigation unfolds and his attraction to her complicates matters.

The author masterfully weaves folklore, romance, and suspense into a story so gripping that I couldn’t help but sigh every time life interrupted my reading, lol.

I do wish this book had been longer, as I wanted more of the folklore behind the story. Thankfully, Jessica includes plenty of references and articles at the end of the book for further reading.

The tension and suspense made this such a thrilling read, & in true fashion, what’s suspense without a little spice?! 😏


⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️/5

[Alli Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. Just the right amount of spooky & mystery. As someone from the area & familiar with a lot of the lore, I loved the local Appalachian lore & the colloquialisms used in this book.
The author does a great job capturing both of the main characters voices, too. 10/10 will read another book by Jess Leigh!

[TBRBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charlie is called back home after the death of a family member and is thrust right back into the deadly world she tried to leave behind.

The Hidden Gods of Appalachia is a quick read filled with Appalachian folklore, horror-tinged mystery, and the occasional graphic intimate scene. I appreciated the incorporation of real Appalachian folklore, though I did pause at a reference to witch burnings. I couldn’t tell whether it was included for dramatic, fantasy-leaning effect or was just an unintentional historical error as there were no witch burnings ever documented in the US. As a history lover, that detail snagged my attention, but overall I still enjoyed the story.

If Appalachian folklore and the entities said to roam those haunting forests interest you, this one is definitely worth the read. Remember to check the trigger warnings before starting this one! A Thank You to Jessica Leigh for allowing me the opportunity to ARC read and review this book!

[Anne-Marie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Spicy…yes.
Folklore…somewhat.
Appalachia…not quite.

This book is 166 pages. That leaves only so much room for the author to artfully develop characters, their interpersonal journies, and to describe an expansive region in our country that is rich in culture.

I would have preferred the author going deeper into the culture of the region and expanding more on the actual folklore. While reading, I felt the journey to the haints, along with Charlie’s personal connection to the ancestry of the land felt only touched upon. I also would have liked the author to delve into Charlie’s ability to manipulate water. I felt that was another missed opportunity to expand the folklore aspect.

The relationship between Charlie and Warren felt very rushed and unbelievable. There wasn’t a meaningful or thoughtful relationship built between the two that would lead to realistic spicy scenes. The characters were hot and cold with each other, so the intensity of their physical scenes didn’t seem to make sense. They didn’t have a playful, teasing, or even tension building dialogue. They were obviously drawn to each other, but I would have liked a little more show-not-tell description and banter to lead to their intimacy.

I think because of the number of pages, there was only room for one character’s murky past. Making both characters troubled was too much for a short book. The ending felt rushed and anticlimactic. I walked away from the book not knowing or feeling any real connection to the characters. When characters are not properly developed, it keeps me from truly connecting to and feeling compassion for them or their experiences.

This book had potential, but was unable to deliver. I’ve read shorter novels and novellas that were able to pack a good punch into a shorter story. Timing and development are crucial. If someone is looking for a lighter, more surface read that provides some spice without a lot of context, this is will scratch that itch.

[Kara Herzig · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've always wanted to opportunity to be an ARC reader, but not for the next Amazon-rush-publish book... I'd never want my first reviews to potentially be bad.

Then I finally stumbled on @authorjessleigh looking for ARC reviews for her new novella, The Hidden God's of Appalachia.

Set in the Blue Ridge Mountains of NC, a place near and dear to my heart. The heroine, if you could call her that, is gritty and mysterious-but so REAL in terms of the lifestyle so many experience outside of the shiny tourist traps of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Jessica Leigh also perfectly captures the folklore and culture so unique to Appalachia, everyone there knows you dont answer to the haints that haunt the woods. You dont look too hard, you dont try to know too much.

This book is a genius blend of that unique folklore, the actual struggle of many of those trying to make their lives in those mysterious mountains, and just enough romance to leave readers curling their toes a little bit!

You definitely want to pre-order this one!
Www.authorjessicaleigh.com


#thehiddengodsofappalachia #authorjessicaleigh #blueridgemountains #bookreview #arcreader

[Ammie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Hidden Gods of Appalachia by Jessica Leigh is a spicy folkloric horror romance novel.

Blurb:
People are vanishing into the dense woods of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Strange sigils are being found all along the Parkway. And there’s a private detective with a dangerous magnetism, who thinks I might be the only one able to help him.

I first want to say that as someone who gets scared easily, this was the perfect amount of horror. It was so well written and the mystery element to it added an extra layer. Appalachia is a place that everyone knows including the countless folklore behind it. What I love about Jess’s writing is she always manages to find the best elements of folklores to weave into her stories. She takes such care of history whether it’s in her Celtic folklore or folklore to NC.

We are introduced to Charlie and Warren. Charlie is summoned back to her roots in NC as she is listed as her aunt’s only kin that is alive. It was initially deemed a suicide but that quickly unravels into something more sinister. Warren is a detective on the case investigating the mysterious deaths that have taken place recently.

The mystery was extremely suspenseful it will have you on the edge of your seat. Fantastic pining moments, romance, and spice. Everything was well written and well placed in the story. Especially for a novella, it had great pacing. I highly recommend picking this up, happy reading!

[Shay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jessica Leigh's love and respect towards folklore makes her writing so much more. Many authors change things in order to fit their world, but Leigh likes to give these old myths and legends a chance to shine.

Her spicy folklore novella mixes folk horror and the fear of the unknown into a tale of acceptance of things that we may never truly understand.

Warren and Charlie are imperfect people, they are characters you can relate to. Characters you root for because even though they aren't perfect, they are tangible.

I adore this novella and hope that Leigh revisits the Appalachian wilderness for other stories.

[Shelby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC and appreciate Jess for providing it!

This novella as similar vibes to Fairydale with an American Scottish twist, that being said I enjoyed the story line significantly more than Fairydale. THGA stays true to its dark, Gothic themes and while it is a short read, it's packed full of twists and turns as Charlie explores the lurking paranormal depths of her home town.

Charlie's character does project small town, American girl vibes and you can see her through the novella desperately try to reach above the difficulties she's experienced in her life with her mother and brother. The magic of her character shines in her memories, particularly about her father; which tie in later to the story and connect pieces that were hiding throughout the early parts of the book.

Warren is a Scottish PI with a whiskey addiction and his own personal traumas. The chemistry he has with Charlie is certainly spicy. While their connection still remains a mystery, it is incredibly clear that these two have a strong twin flame energy that they certainly explore.

What was done well in this book was the strong paranormal folklore that the Appalachian mountains are known for. If you're familiar with the lore such as skin walkers, haides and whatnot, then its in like with those traditions. The imagery that Jessica Leigh provided about the entities was beautifully done and I could easily picture the myths that I grew up hearing as a North American. I enjoyed reading about the spooky small town and lived the dark tonality that hung across the book. It is very transparent that this book is a fast paced read and I had to remember this a few times as the story catalysed into deeper plot points.

I wish that this could have been made into a longer story to provide more clarification and in depth tones. while things were explained, it lacked the depths that I wanted the story to dive into, particularly when the climax of the story hit. at times, the spice appeared to be the focus point and while it was done well, I would have really loved to have seen this come to light deeper into the pivotal plot points, as these at times appeared rushed or unfinished

overall, it was a great quick read that truly embraced the odes to the folklore that was written!

[Kayla Galvin · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I came across this story I just new I needed to read it. Ancient folklore and mystery. A location with a rich history that has always fascinated me, and characters with nuance and depth.

When I first sat down to read this, I got through almost half of it! I will say its not very long however, it is a captivating read.
The author sets the tone for the story immediately, giving you a feel for not only the surroundings but the MC's emotions.

After having had a busy day I found myself really longing to continue reading this story. I just had to know more. The paranormal/ folk magic elements in this felt so real, because it takes place in a location where the belief in the things that go bump in the night is very much alive. It felt less like a story someone wrote and more like I was reading someone's experience.

There weren't too many side characters, the few that did appear served to aid the stories progression and the MC's interactions. It primarily follows the 2 pivotal characters journey together. I think this aided in the sense of immersion, there was no distracting side quests or confusing details.

I love a good bit of 'romantic' tension. The push and pull between the individuals builds to a crescendo however, this had more of a soul tie vibe. I wouldnt say its insta-love. It was more like the characters souls recognised each other and despite their pasts and their fears, the pull to know one another was so strong that they couldnt resist. I love this almost as much as I love tension!

Whilst I'm on the topic of things I love, give me a tall, dark and mysterious MMC every day of the week! Warren absolutely fits the bill for this! He gave off the vibe that whilst, big strong and gruff on the outside he would use that strength to protect his woman no matter what! on the inside however he was soft and generous if you catch my drift! The author definitely gets bonus points for including the Scottish phrases and colloquialisms, it just gave that extra bit of spice that made Warren so hot!

All in all i thoroughly enjoyed this read and if your looking for a short story that has a good spice to plot ratio, with fascinating dark folklore elements this is the book for you!

[Veronica Perez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the privilege of receiving an ARC of The Hidden Gods of Appalachia and can I just say—WOW.
Dual POV (FMC/MMC) packed with folklore and lush, vivid prose...I found the story to be dark, dangerously spicy, and above all haunting.

The storyline captivated me from the start. I liked Charlie a lot and LOVED Warren (scot with tats and emotional damage—yes, please).

some parts of this book literally chilled me to the bone. Leigh does a wonderful job of building up to these horrifying moments and painting lasting (some what disturbing, hehe,) imagery.

The spice was great. tasteful. exciting. Very well written.

My complaints? Mostly that I wanted more!! I went into this knowing it was only a novella and feel a deep sadness that it was...only a novella (😭) the book itself is so layered and rich, I wanted more backstory on both characters and I feel like the plot has SO much potential to be expanded on! gimme, gimmie!
(spoiler part...proceed with caution!)
The ending was my second complaint. Gods, I LOVE a HEA (thank you, Jessica!!!) but I do fear because of the shorter length of the book, the ending especially was rushed and a bit anticlimactic. There's so much tension and build up. I was gloriously at the very tippy edge of my seat only to have it be that the solution was right in front of them, so accessible, and so easily/quickly solved that I felt a tiny bit let down. I had expected more gruesome struggle simply because of the tone of the book overall.

however, that epilogue filled my heart to the brim!! I'm so happy for these fictional characters. I only wish Charlie would have recognized Daniel someway, maybe introduced Ezra to him (like she did her dad's grave) or something more here because she cared about him so much.

Wow, this is getting long. But what a great read! So happy to have been included in this ARC distribution. looking forward to reading more books by this author 🖤