The Night Pool

by Lauren Lee Smith

The Night Pool is a blood-soaked, page-turning horror set in the Gold Rush West, where three women must battle monsters both human and inhuman to survive—perfect for fans of Alma Katsu’s The Hunger and Victor LaValle’s Lone Women.

The American West is no safe haven for women—least of all in the Gold Rush town of Coloma, California. Not for Clara Tice, the blacksmith’s strange and stubborn daughter. Not for Mei, the healer whose calm presence the makeshift camp for Chinese immigrants contrasts sharply with her brother’s hard-eyed pursuit of riches. And certainly not for Haloke, a Nisenan Shaman’s granddaughter whose native village has been devastated by smallpox, hunger, and the relentless greed of Outsiders.

One night, Clara and Haloke meet at the river’s edge and watch in horror as Clementine Cobb, the town beauty, is lured across the water. Together they witness something terrible in the Night Pool. Soon after, an unseen attacker descends upon the mining men of Coloma, abandoning heartless bodies one-by-one. As the gruesome killings in Coloma threaten to incite further violence, Clara, Haloke, and Mei find themselves unlikely allies—without the gangs, guns, or bravado of the men who claim Coloma’s riches. The three women must work together to confront the evil that menaces them from both monsters and men.

A gripping tale of sisterhood, vengeance, and survival, The Night Pool explores the horrors of greed and lust, and the hidden strength of the most vulnerable among us.

Genres: Horror, Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Fiction, Historical, Westerns, Paranormal

354 pages, Hardcover

First published August 25, 2026

About the author

Lauren Lee Smith was born and raised in rural Northern California Gold Country on Nisenan land, surrounded by remnants of forgotten history like pioneer cemeteries, abandoned gold mines, indigenous grinding rocks and of course, the powerful river and its many tributaries. As a mother, mental health advocate, and history lover, her work often explores maternal mental health, trauma, male brutality, and the historical intersections of diverse cultures through the lens of feminist horror. She now lives by the sea in Southern California with her family and a herd of dogs and cats. She enjoys trying to grow old fashioned roses in the balmy climate and writing novels and screenplays that confront the darker, more taboo elements of the feminine experience. 

Reviews

[Sadie Hartmann]

Title/Author: The Night Pool by Lauren Lee Smith
Format Read: Audio (LibroFM) and NetGalley ARC (Thank you Blackstone Publishing)
Pub date: August 25, 2026
Publisher: Blackstone
Page Count: 400
Affiliate Link: https://bookshop.org/a/7576/979822870...
Recommended for readers who enjoy:
- Weird Westerns/Supernatural + History
- Historical Fiction from a feminist lens
- The California Gold Rush
- Themes of Sisterhood, friendship, and survival
- Monsters-both supernatural and human (men)
- Preservation and respect for the Indigenous people in California- just a lot of care and detail invested in the inclusion of Haloke's story through her POV

"The Night Pool is a blood-soaked, page-turning horror set in the Gold Rush West, where three women must battle monsters both human and inhuman to survive--perfect for fans of Alma Katsu's The Hunger and Victor LaValle's Lone Women. A gripping tale of sisterhood, vengeance, and survival, The Night Pool explores the horrors of greed and lust, and the hidden strength of the most vulnerable among us."
__
Minor complaints:
- I feel like the author came to the writing table with very strong objectives and an agenda to do right by underrepresented communities in stories about the American West and I applaud this intentionality. My only smallish complaint is that she could trust the reader more and allow her audience to arrive at the conclusions she wants us to without explicitly stating them in the narrative. This is a debut, so that trust will come, Lauren is a very capable and astute author who knows what horror fans want. I am her target audience.

Final recommendation: 
I was born and raised and lived in Nevada County, California for 40 years. The heart of the California Gold Rush. In school, we studied our history every single year. We took field trips all over the state to learn about the transcontinental railroad, mining towns, and striking gold. One of these small towns we visited is there this book takes place, Coloma, CA!
So I went into this book already a fan. It's important to express my bias :)
I love that this book has dual POVs and that women are central to this story. Most Westerns, especially stories about the Gold Rush, prioritize the perspective of the miners who were predominately male. Smith flips the script with Haloke (Indigenous young woman), Clara (newly arrived to this mining town) and Mei (a Chinese immigrant). Really important perspectives from people groups who were at risk during this time in history.
https://www.ebsco.com/research-starte...
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexpe...
I absolutely love the intentionality here. Lauren Lee Smith's storytelling is absolutely beautiful in its wordsmithing. I love all the descriptions of setting and historically accurate details. She is especially gifted at dialogue. The supernatural elements are so good and add a layer of eerie dread to the historical "human horrors". This is a very impressive debut!
Comps: The Hunger by Alma Katsu, Bone White by Ronald Malfi

[Ash · Rating 5 out of 5]

🦉 The Night Pool by Lauren Lee Smith 🦉

What a stunning debut! This book made me feel everything: love, loss, disdain, and joy. There are a lot of heavy themes in this book, but everything is handled with care and respect. This historical horror was a five star read for me. The short chapters always ending with a bit of a cliff hanger kept me eager to keep coming back for more! The representation of Indigenous and Chinese history was well researched and presented with the utmost respect.

The Night Pool is set during the 1850s during the California gold rush. It follows Haloke—a Nisenan native who’s being run out of her home by outsiders carrying deadly diseases— and Clara—a woman dragged to the frontier by her blacksmith father looking for a fresh start after the death of her mother and sister. The two strike up an unlikely friendship after witnessing a supernatural event in a mysterious night pool. After this, a terrifying creature begins ravaging the townsfolk.

Be sure to pick up this haunting debut on August 25th!

Special thanks to the publisher for the gifted e-arc via netgalley @blackstonepublishing

[Kate | Date With A Thriller · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great historical horror novel! And it’s a debut! Incredibly atmospheric and I loved the Gold Rush American West setting! You can tell the author did their research! Definitely recommend checking this one out! 👏

Thank you Blackstone Publishing for the gifted eARC in exchange for my honest review! ❤️

[sof · Rating 4 out of 5]

a stunning debut that tackles greed and grief in equal measure at the height of the American Gold Rush.

wow. where to begin. there is so much to love about this book. first off, the writing was gorgeous; flowing and thoughtful, I was swept away. there were some delicate themes and serious historical references balanced here, and I thought Lauren Lee Smith delivered them beautifully.

in terms of the horror elements… you know it’s bad when the town runs out of lumber for coffins. there were some cringing, gasping moments with an overall haunting aura that was very fun.

the themes and ideas here were very powerful and this story serves as a great reminder to recall the mistakes of our recent past. the displacement of Indigenous communities was unjust and shameful, and completely changed the physical and social landscape of North America. further, the treatment of women (ongoing, by the way) was disheartening. at the same time, it was empowering to read about three women who stood by their beliefs despite the social repercussions and setbacks they endured.

one of my critiques was the delivery of themes and commentary was sometimes overly transparent and repetitive (i.e., greed, human capacity for violence, dark desires, power, morality, etc). as a reader, I want to be invited to draw conclusions, not have them explicitly stated for me. although they were still meaningful, the impact was lost on me. another critique was how the flow of the central plot felt a bit disjointed at times.

however, I think this was an incredible debut. I can’t wait to see more from Lauren Lee Smith in the future.

thank you very much to Blackwell Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book.

4 stars

[megs_bookrack]

ARC received! Thank you, Blackstone Publishing!!

[A Bookish Little Life · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Night Pool
By Lauren Lee Smith
Publisher: Blackstone Publishing
Genres: Mystery / Feminist Horror / Historical Fiction
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Story
Set against the brutal backdrop of the 1850s California Gold Rush, The Night Pool follows two young women bound by grief and an ancient, burgeoning terror.

• Haloke, a Nisenan teenager, mourns her murdered brother while sensing a predatory spirit lurking in the Sierra Nevada shadows.

• Clara, newly arrived in the settlement of Coloma, carries the heavy silence of her own lost sibling.

Their lives collide one night when they witness a local beauty lured into a warm sulfur spring by a "man beast"—a horrific hybrid of mountain lion and man. As the creature’s influence spreads, the men of Coloma are found mutilated, and Haloke begins to suffer "waking dreams" where she finds herself elbow-deep in the victims' chest cavities. Together with Mei, a Chinese immigrant, the women must navigate a landscape of rising body counts and ancient curses to find a way to survive.

My Thoughts
This novel is a searing look at autonomy and the trapped circumstances of women in the mid-19th century. Whether escaping domineering parents or the stigma of being a "misfit," Haloke and Clara are both burdened by the painful realization that their parents might have preferred they be the ones lost to death instead of their siblings.

What I Loved:
• Character Growth: Witnessing Haloke’s transformation from an anger-filled avenging sister into a powerful shaman of deep compassion was the highlight of the book.

• The Atmospheric Blend: I wasn't initially thrilled by the "Wild West" setting, but the deeper I delved, the more fascinated I became. It is a surprising, gory blend of historical fiction and psychological introspection.

• The Emotional Weight: The prose captures the physical sensation of grief beautifully—like "incremental pressure" around the throat.

Final Verdict
The Night Pool is a must-read for fans of historical horror who don't mind getting their hands a little dirty. It is a 5-star journey into the dark heart of the Gold Rush.

⚠️ Content Warning: This book contains graphic accounts of violence, sexual assault, and extreme gore. It is not recommended for readers sensitive to depictions of dismembered bodies or sexual assault.

Favorite Quotes:
"Peace of mind, perhaps. A rarer thing than gold in this world, and something I doubt I’ll ever find for myself." — Haloke

"It is such a horrible sensation, the impulse to weep. Like someone has you round the throat and they’re squeezing with agonizingly slow, incremental pressure." — Clara

Thank you to Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Kayla ✧♥︎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐

I've been on a historical fiction horror kick here lately and this fit in perfectly.

The Night Pool is set in the gold rush era, and my oh my, am I glad to not have been there. As the synopsis states, that is no place for women. This story follows two FMCs as weird shit starts to happen around the settlement. Both of these women were wonderfully written.

The pacing in this one was alright, it kind of lulled at one point. It is a very fun and gory, creature feature read with great characters and relationships. The romance that was sprinkled in had no right being that hot. Ma'am, I needed more.

» Thank you to Blackstone Publishing | NetGalley for an eARC of this book! «

❗ Expected Publication Date: August 25, 2026

[Hoyt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Blackstone Publishing for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

A stunning and gruesome tale of greed and vengeance in this amazing debut horror novel. This is a true horror story, with many layers of horror: 1) the despicable treatment of Indigenous people and immigrants in the US by settlers/miners and the government, 2) the general misogyny of the time period toward the female main characters, and 3) all overlaid with the supernatural horrors of the evil slaughtering the inhabitants of the town.

The writing is very atmospheric, instantly drawing the reader into this world. The characters are nice and complex, in particular our two main POVs (Clara, the newly arrived blacksmith's daughter, and Haloke, the Nisenan shaman's granddaughter) and several of the inhabitants of the town. The steady pace of the plot held attention throughout, making this a true page-turner (I was compelled to finish the book in two sessions!).

Overall, a superb debut from Lauren Lee Smith, and I'll definitely be reading whatever else she chooses to write in the future. Highly recommended for all horror fans!

[Ash · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brutal and captivating. You can tell this was well researched. The descriptions were accurately disgusting to the time period and living situations, which I appreciated. Captured the grief of watching your home, nature, be ripped from you and the feeling of helplessness to do anything to stop it. That resonated with me considering we are plunging ourselves into a climate crisis with thoughts only for the profits of the billionaire class. I think I will be sad for a long while now after finishing this book.

ARC provided by Blackstone Publishing, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Bee]

DNF @ 55%

From the start I could tell this book wasn't for me. The writing is very flowery which is something I personally do not like in a book, but the characters were so interesting I decided to try to continue on. In the end though I found the pacing to be too slow and for those reasons I decided to DNF. However, if this one ever gets made into a movie I'll be one of the first to see it!

Some things I liked:
- Both Main characters were great
- The creature was interesting
- The gore, when there was excellent
- Dual POVs

While I didn't click with the writing in this one, it doesn't mean you shouldn't give it a go. This one might be for you if you like lyrical, atmospheric reads, period pieces, creature features and a little bit of gore.

[KRISTEN CONNELL]

The Night Pool is a gripping, atmospheric, and fiercely original work of historical horror that masterfully blends supernatural terror with the brutal realities of the California Gold Rush. In this haunting novel, Lauren Lee Smith transforms one of America's most mythologized eras into a chilling landscape where greed, violence, colonialism, and ancient evil collide. Through the intertwined journeys of three remarkable women, Smith crafts a story that is as emotionally powerful as it is terrifying, offering readers a horror novel with remarkable depth and unforgettable characters.

One of the novel's greatest strengths is its richly immersive historical setting. Rather than romanticizing the Gold Rush, Smith vividly portrays the harsh realities of frontier life, exposing the exploitation, prejudice, and relentless pursuit of wealth that defined the period. The historical backdrop creates a constant sense of unease, making the supernatural horror feel both believable and deeply rooted in the violence of the era.

Particularly compelling is the novel's trio of heroines. Clara, Mei, and Haloke each bring distinct perspectives, strengths, and cultural experiences to the story, creating a narrative driven by resilience, intelligence, and courage. Their unlikely alliance forms the emotional heart of the novel, demonstrating how solidarity and compassion can emerge even in the darkest circumstances. Their individual journeys enrich the story while highlighting the experiences of women whose voices are often overlooked in historical fiction.

Another notable strength is the way Smith intertwines supernatural horror with real human cruelty. The monstrous force lurking within the Night Pool is undeniably frightening, yet the novel never loses sight of the dangers posed by greed, prejudice, colonial violence, and unchecked ambition. This layered approach gives the horror greater emotional impact, suggesting that the most terrifying monsters are often born from human actions as much as supernatural forces.

The book also excels in its exploration of Indigenous history and cultural identity. Through Haloke's perspective and the devastating effects of disease, displacement, and colonization on her community, Smith thoughtfully acknowledges the profound historical consequences of westward expansion. These elements add emotional and historical weight while deepening the novel's examination of survival and resistance.

Equally impressive is the novel's suspenseful pacing and vivid atmosphere. Smith steadily builds tension through eerie imagery, mysterious disappearances, and escalating violence, creating a constant sense of dread that keeps readers fully engaged. The unsettling mystery surrounding the Night Pool unfolds with precision, balancing shocking horror with compelling emotional stakes.

Despite its graphic horror and dark subject matter, the storytelling remains accessible and emotionally resonant. Smith skillfully balances action, historical detail, supernatural mystery, and character development, ensuring that readers remain invested not only in uncovering the source of the terror but also in the lives of the women fighting to survive it.

Perhaps the novel's most significant achievement is its reimagining of the Western through the lens of women whose strength has long been overlooked. By centering Clara, Mei, and Haloke in a story that confronts both supernatural evil and historical injustice, The Night Pool offers a fresh and powerful perspective on survival, vengeance, and collective resilience.

Darkly atmospheric, emotionally compelling, and relentlessly suspenseful, The Night Pool is an outstanding contribution to historical horror and supernatural fiction. Lauren Lee Smith has created a remarkable novel that will captivate fans of gothic horror, historical fiction, dark fantasy, and stories where courage, sisterhood, and resilience shine against unimaginable darkness.

[hannah ⊹ ࣪ ˖ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Historical horror can often times be pretty hit or miss for me, but there was something really intriguing about a horror book set during the Gold Rush, and after finishing this, I'm really glad I decided to give this a try! This was a dark, atmospheric, blood-soaked debut that blends supernatural horror with the very real horrors of greed, violence, misogyny, and the destruction of Indigenous land and communities.

The story follows Clara and Haloke, two very different women who become unlikely allies after witnessing something horrifying at the river’s edge. Clara is stubborn, intelligent, and determined to make something of herself despite the limitations placed on her as a woman, while Haloke is carrying the grief and rage of watching her people and homeland be devastated by settlers. Mei, a healer in the nearby Chinese immigrant camp, also becomes an important part of their circle. I really enjoyed watching these women gradually build trust and support each other despite everything that separates them.

The setting was probably my favorite part. Coloma feels grimy, dangerous, and oppressive, with the supernatural horror almost feeling like an extension of the violence already surrounding the town. The novel does a great job showing how the greed of the Gold Rush affected Indigenous people, Chinese immigrants, women, and the land itself. There are some genuinely disturbing moments, and there is plenty of gore present. If body horror and gruesome deaths aren't your thing, proceed with caution!

Once the supernatural elements really kicked in, I was HOOKED. The Night Pool itself is creepy as hell, and the creature mythology was fascinating. I especially liked how the supernatural threat wasn't the only thing the characters had to fear. Some of the most horrifying moments came from the human monsters surrounding them.

I did have a few issues with the pacing. The beginning took me a little while to get into, and there were moments where the story felt like it was wandering or becoming more convoluted than necessary. The prose can also be VERY poetic and descriptive which sometimes worked beautifully with the atmosphere, but occasionally I wanted the book to just get to the point and be more concise. I also wish Mei had been given more page time. With how prominently she's featured in the premise, I expected her to have a larger role, and I would have loved to see more of her perspective and her relationship with Clara and Haloke develop.

Still, for a debut, this was incredibly impressive. Beneath all the blood and horror is a story about women finding strength in one another, choosing compassion when vengeance would be easier, and trying to survive in a world that seems determined to destroy them. The Night Pool is eerie, brutal, beautifully atmospheric, and occasionally heartbreaking. It's definitely not an easy read, but it is a memorable one. If you like historical horror, feminist rage, creature features, and morally complicated characters fighting back against both supernatural and human monsters, this one is absolutely worth reading!

Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone for this ARC!

[Ariel · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐

Set during the 1850s in the gold rush town of Coloma, The Night Pool is a gruesome, feminist, Western horror. It features two point-of-view characters, and a cast of interesting side characters (some of whom don't wind up dead). Themes include the displacement of indigenous peoples, the destruction of the environment due to greed, and cruelties against women. A glimmer amongst the darkness, there are also themes of found family, friendship, healing, and even a light smattering of romance.

The two main characters are Clara Tice and Haloke. Clara, dragged to the frontier by her blacksmith father, has just moved to Coloma following the deaths of her mother and sister. Though she's conventionally attractive, she's an odd woman who studies to be a doctor's assistant and doesn't defer to men, causing her trouble acclimating to the town. Haloke, a Nisenan native to the valley, has already suffered through the introduction of small pox into her tribe, the murder of her brother and death of many of the members of her village, and is driven by a desire for revenge that sends her into the settler's town. Chapters alternate between Clara and Haloke's points-of-view, and while both have their own motivations, the writing can blur together at times.

The description of this book also mentions Mei, which made me expect a third POV character, but Mei, a Chinese immigrant who's come to Coloma with her brother, doesn't appear for the first time until about 30% into the book. She's no more major a character than Texas Ellen, the local madam, Will Fury, the mysterious leader of a group of bounty hunters, or Liam Murphy, an Irish fop who came on the same wagon train out west that Clara did.

As a horror, this is first and foremost a creature feature. Clara and Haloke witness the town beauty being lured into the Night Pool, a supernatural location only accessible by night, where she's set upon by a beastly creature, half man, half big cat. This unleashes a Killing Spirit into the valley, and it racks up a high death toll in short order. There are many descriptions of viscera and gore, and body horror as we see more of the creature. As with most good horror though, The Night Pool comes at you from multiple fronts. The horrors of the Old West are also present on every page, along with the horrors of greed and misogyny.

Once this book got going, I found it compelling, but it was slow to pick up for me and I fell asleep trying to read it multiple times. It includes graphic sexual assaults and dismemberments, which may make it a hard read for some people. Enjoyers of western settings and horror will probably find this a perfect niche.

Thank you to Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this early in exchange for an honest review.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you to Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for the ebook in exchange for my honest review.

Summary

Set during the California Gold Rush, The Night Pool follows three very different women: Clara, the stubborn daughter of a blacksmith; Mei, a healer living among a community of Chinese immigrants; and Haloke, a Nisenan woman whose people have already suffered terribly because of the arrival of outsiders.

After Clara and Haloke witness something horrifying at the river, strange and gruesome deaths begin happening around Coloma. As fear and violence grow, Clara, Mei, and Haloke are brought together and must face not only whatever is lurking around the Night Pool, but also the very human monsters surrounding them.

My Review

This book was written SO well, and honestly, I had a hard time putting some of my feelings about it into words. Yes, there is supernatural horror, blood, violence, and some genuinely gruesome moments, but the human side of this story disturbed me just as much. The treatment of women, racism, greed, power, and the way certain people were treated as disposable made this incredibly dark. Even though this takes place during the Gold Rush, there were moments where the themes felt uncomfortably familiar to things we still see happening now. That gave the story a heaviness I wasn't expecting.

I really loved having Clara, Mei, and Haloke at the center of the story. They're coming from completely different experiences, but each woman is trying to survive in a world where men with money and power believe they can take whatever they want. Watching these three women come together gave the story so much more than just its horror. There is anger here, but there is also sisterhood, survival, and strength. The supernatural elements were creepy and bloody, but some of the most frightening parts were completely human. This was dark, beautifully written, and one of those books that gave me a lot to think about after I finished it. I will absolutely be reading more from Lauren Lee Smith.

Would I Recommend?

Yes! Especially if you enjoy historical horror that isn't afraid to get uncomfortable. This has supernatural horror, gruesome deaths, history, survival, and three women I really enjoyed following, but it also has something meaningful underneath all that blood. Definitely an author I'll be watching.

[Jonnie M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Lauren Lee Smith for the advance copy in exchange for my honest thoughts. Thankfully, I can say I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Lauren’s characters in the old American West.

It’s 1856 in the Gold Rush town of Coloma, and all is not well. Newly arrived blacksmith’s daughter Clara Tice and Nisenan shaman’s granddaughter Haloke meet and witness a horrific act at the titular Night Pool, before a monstrous force descends on the town to tear through its inhabitants – quite literally.

Together with Chinese immigrant Mei, Clara and Haloke become unlikely allies, forced to confront the evil stalking the streets of Coloma, from monsters and men alike.

The themes aren’t subtle, but they don’t need to be. Lauren Lee Smith deftly weaves together multiple strands of horror: the misogyny, sexual violence and physical brutality faced by women; the violent displacement of Indigenous people; and finally, the more traditional supernatural horrors lurking in the dark.

The writing is gorgeous, atmospheric and visceral. The pages drip with tension, just as the gore drips from the town’s trees.

The characters are complex and well written, especially the two narrators. Clara and Haloke are given distinct voices and viewpoints, each growing and developing throughout the story. I was intrigued whenever the dark and mysterious Will Fury entered a scene, and I was also a big fan of brothel madame Texas Ellen. The most monstrous character in the book, however, isn’t the entity tearing people limb from limb, but the Irish dandy Liam Murphy – a hateful mix of pride, greed, violence and perversion, who I wanted to punch through the pages myself.

My one issue with the book – and it is a small one – is that jumping back and forth between Clara and Haloke’s perspectives in alternating chapters occasionally left the plot feeling a little disjointed. However, I was deeply invested regardless, and this is a minor complaint in what is otherwise a hugely compelling read.

For a debut author, this is thoroughly impressive stuff. The Night Pool is bloody, atmospheric and emotionally charged historical horror, and I’m very much looking forward to its physical release later this year. Lauren Lee Smith is definitely an author to watch.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing, as well as the author, for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

#NetGalley #BlackstonePublishing #TheNight Pool #LaurenLeeSmith #Horror #Fiction #Books #Reading #BookReviews

Title: The Night Pool

Author: Lauren Lee Smith

Format: eBook

Publisher: Blackstone Publishing

Publication Date: August 25, 2026

Rating: 4 Stars

Themes: Historical horror, western, small town, folk horror, female friendships, humans as monsters, non-human monsters, supernatural, dual POV, greed, grief

Trigger Warnings: Racism, classism, misogyny, sexual assault, violence, gore/blood, hanging, death, graphic murders on page, supernatural, alcohol use, graphic and crude medical treatments such as amputation on page, epidemic of smallpox, legal injustice, greed

Loved this book! Three women united by circumstance in a small California town in the middle of the Gold Rush, and from different walks of life must discover the evils of the Night Pool and what lives there. The American west is dangerous enough for a woman without the sinister presence threatening the town.

This is a beautifully written story. The prose is lyrical and just paints a beautiful picture throughout the book. The women in the 1850s “Wild West” struggled with basic human rights, which is illustrated beautifully here with Haloke, Clara, and Mei. Haloke was my favorite character. The author’s writing really shone through a lot of Haloke’s dialogue as well as her character growth. She evolved from an angry, fearful child to a true shaman, and it was beautiful to read.

My very minor complaints were pacing and repetition. While the writing was beautiful and the story was compelling, it did wouldn’t have lost anything if it were 50 pages shorter. A lot of this was due to repetition. It would be just as effective to say it once and then let the reader connect the pieces on her own. The time period alone says plenty!

All in all, this is a stunning debut. I loved it and any fan of historical fiction and horror will love it too. Just watch the content warnings and be kind to yourself. There is a lot of graphic gore and it’s not for the squeamish.

[Devon · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Night Pool by Lauren Lee Smith is set in the 19th century and told from two viewpoints—Clara Tice, a white settler from out East arriving with her father, who aims to become the blacksmith for the town of Coloma, and Haloke, an indigenous woman whose people are being slaughtered while the land around her is being ripped up and parcelled away. The two bear witness to a monster being summoned, and they struggle with how to stop it from killing everyone in sight.

Negative thought:

-From the blurb, I thought Mei would be a bigger part of the story. She is a Chinese woman who has settled in the Chinese camp with her brother Jin, who is digging for gold. She is not as big a part of the story as Haloke and Clara, and it’s a shame we don’t spend more time with her and Haloke together.

Mixed thought:

-The language is VERY often poetic, which might turn some people off. An example: “A bloodied stone rested nearby, a jewel darkened brown by liquid guilt, standing out amongst its innocent grey companions”. I guess I got used to it, because it started to weave more into the plot and I didn’t notice it as I did from the start.

Positive thought:

+The creation of the monster, and the monster itself, makes for a fascinating book.

+The connection between the women, especially Clara and Haloke, was really well done. Clara might have acted a little TOO foolishly—I think if I had been told to stay put while narrowly avoiding being imprisoned, I would have done it—but she really cared. And Haloke, even with her justified rage toward the Outsiders for their continued destruction of all she holds dear, managed to stay her hand and quell her violent impulse several times when she had the opportunity.

+The character of Will Fury and his ruthlessness was also very interesting. The way the author let out little bits of information about him to make a reader question what he was doing and if he WAS bad made for an enjoyable time.

Recommended for people seeking horror placed in a historical setting, with women joining together to fight to survive.

I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Beau · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Thank you to Blackstone Publishing for a complimentary arc of the Night Pool. All opinions expressed are my own.*

I honestly don’t know where to begin with this one. I went in expecting a slower-paced horror that might loose me at times, but instead I found an absolutely stunning debut that weaves together horror with themes of grief, greed and survival during the American Gold Rush in such a compelling way.

One of my favourite aspects of this story, was the female cast of characters - whether Native American, Chinese or white - which all brought so much depth from different angels and gave the story so much authenticity. They all provided their own perspectives into what life might have been like for women during the Gold Rush in such a natural way that I became invested in them a lot quicker than I expected.

And the horror? Phenomenal. It’s eerie, sinister, and dripping with atmosphere. Every chapter seemed to ratchet up the tension, but not in a rushed way - more like the book itself was creeping up on you. The more the body count climbed, the less able I was to stop turning the pages.

The prose is stunningly atmospheric, and the story is every bit as brutal as it is beautiful. Yes, there’s darkness, gore and plenty of moments that made me wince, but there’s also healing, friendship, found family, resilience and even the slightest touch of romance that shines through all the horror that brings a great balance to the story.

My only real criticism is that a couple of elements felt a little repetitive, which dulled some of the impact of a few plot points. Even so, it never took away from how invested I was in the story or its characters.
Watching the characters grow throughout the novel made it incredibly easy to connect with them, and I can’t wait to see what the author writes next.

If you’re a fan of historical horror with rich atmosphere, unforgettable characters, and don’t mind becoming attached to characters that are about to go through it - then you should definitely jump into this pool too.

[Ruthann · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most highly anticipated books releasing in 2026, “The Night Pool” is a compelling, violent, and stunning debut novel from author Lauren Lee Smith.

The California Gold Rush provides a backdrop of greed, misogamy, and all manner of horrors, both human and supernatural, with a well-researched and little-known connection to early Native American lore.
The lives of three young women, Clara, Mei, and Haloke, unfold as each is forced to confront turbulence, abuse, and desperation in circumstances Smith expertly defines with visceral descriptions.
Their unlikely bonds ground this story of survival in unforgettable scenes of determination, vivid characters, and, ultimately, the consequences of actions forced on them by those around them, including men who demand control of their fate.

The writing is razor-sharp, and the author doesn’t shy away from the sights, smells, and gore surrounding the harsh personal environment that all three women struggle to overcome; she scratches at every emotion, sometimes with sharp claws!
When we’re introduced to the creature of Night Pool, there’s a dreadful originality to the monster that is positively cinematic in its satisfaction.

Smith crafts not only a uniquely harrowing story but also a poignant one that will leave the reader satisfied long after her relevant concluding notes.
“The land never forgets,” and neither will readers of “The Night Pool.”

Lauren Lee Smith is poised not only as an important writer to watch but also as one who understands and champions the force of nature that is exclusively female.

[Nicole Perkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the ARC of Lauren Lee Smith's fantastic book "The Night Pool!"

THIS BOOK. The synopsis sounded interesting, so I requested it. Interesting doesn't begin to define it. Suspenseful, creepy, disturbing, heartwarming, sad; this book encompasses all of these emotions. Every time I had to put it aside to do something "useful" like feed my teenager or use the bathroom, my fingers were itching to pick it back up. My husband watched a movie on the couch beside me, apparently, and I didn't even notice.

Smith's characters are intelligent, fierce, determined women who refuse to sit back and be mute shadows. All are at risk of violence, primarily because they are women: Clara, whose father has hauled her literally across the country, is assaulted along the wagon trail; Haloke is a Nisenan woman whose people are being hunted and driven to death by white settlers and miners; and Mei is a Chinese immigrant whose people are trying to settle and survive in 1800's California. There is also Texas Ellen, the fearless town madam, and Clementine, the town beauty caught in the grip of something so sinister that the entire town will be changed forever. Lee's book also features some truly appalling men that reap what they sow.

I rarely give books a full five-star review, but this one deserves no less. It is exciting, mysterious, rather gory, and in parts really lovely. "The Night Pool" is Lauren Lee Smith's debut novel. If her debut is this amazing, I cannot wait to see what else she gives us.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Night Pool
by Lauren Lee Smith
⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

First of all, thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of The Night Pool.

This was such an impressive debut. Set during the American Gold Rush, The Night Pool blends historical fiction and horror into an atmospheric, haunting story that explores grief, greed, and survival.

The writing was absolutely beautiful. Lauren Lee Smith's prose is immersive and lyrical, making it easy to get lost in the eerie world of Coloma. The horror was unsettling without relying on constant scares, creating a creeping sense of dread that lingered throughout the entire book. Some scenes genuinely made me cringe.

I especially loved the two female protagonists, Clara and Haloke. Their stories were compelling in different ways, and I appreciated how the novel explored the displacement of Indigenous communities, the treatment of women, and the devastating consequences of greed, while still leaving room for hope through friendship, resilience, and found family.

My only criticism is that some of the themes felt a little too on-the-nose, and the pacing occasionally felt uneven. I would have loved the story to trust the reader a bit more rather than explaining its messages so directly.

Overall, The Night Pool is a beautifully written, atmospheric historical horror and an incredibly strong debut. If you enjoy gothic settings, feminist horror, and stories that blend history with the supernatural, this is definitely one to add to your TBR.

[Sherri · Rating 4 out of 5]

***I received an ARC from Net Galley in exchange for my honest review

In the Gold Rush town of Coloma, California, three young women strike up an unlikely alliance: Clara Tice, the blacksmith’s headstrong daughter., Mei, the healer from the makeshift camp for Chinese immigrants, & Haloke, a Nisenan shaman’s granddaughter whose native village has been devastated by smallpox, hunger, and the relentless greed of Outsiders. One night, Clara and Haloke are both standing at the river’s edge watching on in horror as Clementine Cobbs, the town beauty, is lured across the water. Together they witness something terrible in the Night Pool. Soon after, an unseen attacker descends upon the mining men of Coloma. Clara, Mei & Haloke must work together to confront the evil that menaces them from both monsters and men.

This started as a bit of a slow burn. The book highlighted how dangerous it was for women during the 1850's California Gold Rush, as well as the way the miners took land that tribes had settled on & made it dangerous for them to remain there. It also highlighted how different white miners were treated from Chinese miners, and the fact that they had two seperate camps. There was a lot of blood & gore in this book, so if you have a weak stomach, this may not be the book for you. At times I felt like the plot was getting off course a bit, or getting a little convoluted, but for the most part I really enjoyed this. This was an impressive debut, and I expect we will see a lot more by this author!

[From The Reader’s Nest · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Night Pool is a deeply important book, historical horror at its finest. The book was billed as Victor Lavelle’s Lone Women and Alma Katsu’s The Hunger, and it is so very accurate for comps. I would also add in Stephen Graham Jones for Buffalo Hunter Hunter as its focusing on the indigenous people who were wiped out. I really enjoyed learning about how rough and wild it was with the behaviors and beliefs at that time. Superstitions and entitlement. Greed. Lawlessness. The xenophobia and feelings of superiority are throughout the novel. The book is very well written, obviously very well researched. You can tell even before reading the POV from the author how important telling this story is and shining a light on hidden atrocities. As a debut novel, would definitely read more of their work. One “complaint” is the cover did not match my experience with the book, which is sad, because I feel that it will be potentially overlooked as just another creepy pool book, when it’s nothing of the sort. It’s deep, rich, and the point of the night pool has indigenous spiritual properties. I felt that the cover will make it that it’s not read as much as it should be as this work was profound and deserves to be read and the stories exhumed in it with a few add on for embellishments and liberties, has roots in historical impacts that show the gross beginnings of our nation and expose the American dream, gold rush, pioneers, and land cultivation for what it was: horrific.

[Cthuuhluu_reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this novel we follow two young women, Clara Tice, and Haloke. Clara who is accompanying her father to Coloma, California and Haloka who is already there with her tribe. Quickly, we are made aware that both women have experienced the loss of someone close to them. The weight of the grief shaping the actions they choose to take throughout the course of the book.

Clara, who is stuck with an abusive father and Haloke who lives with the spiteful ghost of her mother. Both consumed in their own grief to the point they lash out at their daughters.

The beginning of this novel was gritty. The writing for these characters was sharp, dark, and left an excitement to continue to traverse the depths with which Smith weaved with each new page. However, there were moments when our main characters, Clara and Haloka, meet their side character counterparts, Clementine and Mei, and it felt rushed. There was no organic nature to their meeting and it felt unbelievable that these women would all become so close or that Mei (a Chinese immigrant) and Haloke (Indigenous) would know English as well as is imagined in the story.

I enjoyed the minor plots Smith wove throughout the story that drove home how grief can create a dark chasm inside anyone that is just as treacherous and deep as greed. The horror elements in this are some of my absolute favorite with the descriptions being vivid and artfully done.

Thank you to Blackwell Publishing and NetGalley for this eARC!

[Alison Faichney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a gory one! I was kind of surprised because the prose flows so beautifully and then it’s as though a giant hammer of brutality drops. The Night Pool follows three different women in nineteenth century California during the somewhat lawless gold rush period. Clara is a white settler who has recently arrived in the town. Haloke is an indigenous woman whose village is collapsing due to the influx of outsiders, disease and environmental overuse. And Mei is a Chinese woman who has accompanied her brother in search of wealth. When a combination of really shitty dudes clashes with a supernatural evil things swiftly dissolve into chaos. Smith spares no punches in this one and the evil is merciless.

I vibed with this one. I live in the southeastern US and don’t possess much beyond a cursory knowledge of the gold rush. Smith does an excellent job at truly absorbing the reader into this period: the imagery, smells and even the way in which textures are described. I looooved the female characters and found them to be strong yet human. Most of the men in this one left something to be desired but I mean *gestures vaguely at all of human history.*

This is a bleak read and was surprisingly violent. Smith handles the violence well and doesn’t dwell on the details too extensively. If you like historical horror with both a human and preternatural evil component then I’d definitely recommend this one. Very well written and yet wholly absorbing.

[Krystelle (based on the novel by Stephen King) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

A fascinating historical fiction horror with a focus on an era that’s more neglected than others, this is a really unique horror. It has distinctly Innsmouth-esque vibes but with an Indigenous folklore tilt, which is a brilliant way to handle the material.

Some of the scenes in this were fantastically visceral. There’s a lot of gore for those who are seeking that payoff, and I love the creepiness of the story as it unfolds.

The characters are really good too, although I do wish they were a little more fleshed out in places. The use of Clementine in the way that the author positioned her was fantastic, although I think one of my poor dogs (also called Clementine) got tired of me singing it.

Clara, Mei, and Haloke are fascinating characters, and they carry the story beautifully. It can be frustrating when you have so many characters involved in a book, but this one did it so well. I was shocked by just how well the flow of it went, and I really enjoyed learning little bits about all of them and their backgrounds too.

I do think that some of the writing could have been pared back a little. It did get a bit flowery at times, but I really enjoyed how lyrical it was for some of the scenes. This is a fantastic debut novel, and well worth the read.

[Cec · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was sent this book by the publisher through Netgally so thank you for that. This had everything I like, historical. female lead horror stories. I wanted to like this more than I ended up when I finished. It had some really interesting parts like I like the premise and the time period of people moving west when Gold had been found plus the horror. It was very bloody with the scenes and I liked the monster and the similarities between Clementine and Lucy from Dracula was cool too. I felt things moved along kinda fast it seemed like it took all of 3 days for things to unfold and the character of Liam kinda bugged me. He's meant to be a bad and a weasel and he did something very bad to Clara but even with her not trusting him and a lot of her early chapters ending with her making a comment on him shit eating grin or something, at points in the book Clara calls on him to be her witness or to tell the truth like you know he won't so why are you banking on him helping you. Same with Will Fury I wasn't sure if we were meant to like him and by the end I'm not too sure why he was even at the confirmation. Either way it's a decent book and it will defiantly be recommended as a suggestion in the future too

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Night Pool mixes gruesome horror and wraps it up beautiful, poetic language. In this story, we are transported to the 1850s Gold Rush Era in California, focusing mainly on a Native American woman, Haloke, and a young Irish woman, Clara. Both women have lost siblings and are struggling with their deaths. They meet up on a night when Haloke sees Clara jump in a river in an attempt to end her life. Haloke jumps in and pulls her to shore; the women form a bond, but what they see after is where the true horror begins.

The horrors in this book come from both men and other creepy things that hide at night in the woods. This was a really unique horror story that is extremely atmospheric. It did take me a bit to get used to the poetic language style, but after we are introduced to “The Night Pool” (at about 20% into the book) I was fully entrenched in the story.

In addition to the main story, I enjoyed the perspective Native Americans and women during the Gold Rush era, which is something that’s not really ever referred to much in history books.

If you like horror, I think you’ll love this book, just check your trigger warnings.

Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Coleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of two women in a California town during the gold rush. There is Haloke who has lived in the area along with her people long before the "Outsiders" came. She is young and angry at what has happened to her home and her family. There is also Clara a single woman who comes along with her father to Coloma out west to set up a his blacksmithing business.
These women will soon intertwine and become part of each others story. They are both feeling grief and anger and that opens them up to strange happenings. Their grief and anger weave a strong theme througjout this gritty story.
I did like some of the historical nods to a gold rush town that has displaced nearby tribes. There were moments where the liberties that were taken that I felt were a little jarring. Also the side character/love interest Will's backstory I felt was a little over the top in his hunger for knowledge and the way he collected it.
The writing is engaging and I was very interested in the mythology that was used in this story.
I'd like to thank NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for providing me with a copyof this book formy free and honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Erin Clemence · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genre: Feminist horror, paranormal

Setting: Gold Rush era, California, United States

Synopsis: One night, Clara and Haloke meet at the river’s edge and watch in horror as Clementine Cobbs, the town beauty, is lured across the water. Together they witness something terrible in the Night Pool. Soon after, an unseen attacker descends upon the mining men of Coloma, abandoning heartless bodies one by one. As the gruesome killings in Coloma threaten to incite further violence, Clara, Haloke, and Mei find themselves unlikely allies—without the gangs, guns, or bravado of the men who claim Coloma’s riches. The three women must work together to confront the evil that menaces them from both monsters and men.

Overall: very well written, with beautiful language and descriptive prose. Relevant social themes such as feminism and land rights set against the backdrop of the gold rush in California. Both Clara and Haloke narrate in turn, and the monsters they fight are all too real, everything from supernatural creatures to the dark hearts of men. A stellar debut from a talented writer.