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A Girl Walks Into the Forest
Midsommar meets The Shadows Between Us in this alluring mash-up of horror and fairy tale from New York Times bestselling author Madeleine Roux, where a girl must embark on a harrowing journey through a deadly forest filled with otherworldly creatures, supernatural forces, and one maniacal villain who will stop at nothing to bring her down.
For as long as she can remember, Valla’s been told her beauty would give her a life most people only dreamed of. So when the mysterious Count Leonid calls on her to be his betrothed, Valla jumps at the chance to leave her small, bleak village. The only thing standing in her way? The journey through the dangerous Gottyar Wood that many don’t survive.
Filled with deadly and cunning creatures, the Gottyar immediately delivers on its reputation with an attack that leaves Valla injured; her face torn to shreds. Barely making it to the castle in one piece, Valla is relieved to finally be safe. But things have changed. Valla’s face is no longer beautiful. And the Count is not happy…Valla thought making it through the Gottyar was a victory, but when she sees what awaits beyond the palace walls, the true battle begins.
In this ruthlessly female-forward narrative that borrows from the best of horror, fairy tales, and folklore, a chewed-up-and-spit-out heroine must lean on the brutality of nature and her biggest fears in order to win back what she's been robbed of: her life.
For as long as she can remember, Valla’s been told her beauty would give her a life most people only dreamed of. So when the mysterious Count Leonid calls on her to be his betrothed, Valla jumps at the chance to leave her small, bleak village. The only thing standing in her way? The journey through the dangerous Gottyar Wood that many don’t survive.
Filled with deadly and cunning creatures, the Gottyar immediately delivers on its reputation with an attack that leaves Valla injured; her face torn to shreds. Barely making it to the castle in one piece, Valla is relieved to finally be safe. But things have changed. Valla’s face is no longer beautiful. And the Count is not happy…Valla thought making it through the Gottyar was a victory, but when she sees what awaits beyond the palace walls, the true battle begins.
In this ruthlessly female-forward narrative that borrows from the best of horror, fairy tales, and folklore, a chewed-up-and-spit-out heroine must lean on the brutality of nature and her biggest fears in order to win back what she's been robbed of: her life.
10 pages, Audiobook
First published June 10, 2025
77 people are currently reading
14333 people want to read
About the author
Madeleine Roux
50 books4,862 followersNew York Times Bestselling Author of the ASYLUM series, Allison Hewitt Is Trapped, Sadie Walker Is Stranded and the upcoming House of Furies series.
MADELEINE ROUX received her BA in Creative Writing and Acting from Beloit College in 2008. In the spring of 2009, Madeleine completed an Honors Term at Beloit College, proposing, writing and presenting a full-length historical fiction novel. Shortly after, she began the experimental fiction blog Allison Hewitt Is Trapped. Allison Hewitt Is Trapped quickly spread throughout the blogosphere, bringing a unique serial fiction experience to readers.
Born in Minnesota, she now lives and works in Seattle, Washington.
MADELEINE ROUX received her BA in Creative Writing and Acting from Beloit College in 2008. In the spring of 2009, Madeleine completed an Honors Term at Beloit College, proposing, writing and presenting a full-length historical fiction novel. Shortly after, she began the experimental fiction blog Allison Hewitt Is Trapped. Allison Hewitt Is Trapped quickly spread throughout the blogosphere, bringing a unique serial fiction experience to readers.
Born in Minnesota, she now lives and works in Seattle, Washington.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 245 reviews
November 22, 2025
I just devoured "A Girl Walks into the Forest" and wow, Madeleine Roux has created something really special here! This dark fantasy-horror mashup feels like discovering an ancient fairy tale that's been given a deliciously modern, twisted makeover.
Let me start with the absolute star of the show - the Gottyar Wood. Holy crow, this forest! Roux's writing makes it feel so alive and menacing that I actually caught myself holding my breath during certain scenes. Every creaking branch, every shifting shadow is written with such atmospheric precision that the forest becomes its own character. I'm not usually someone who gets spooked by books, but there were moments when I had to remind myself I was reading safely in my well-lit living room!
Valla's journey from sheltered dreamer to hardened survivor really worked for me. Sure, there are moments when her transformation feels a bit quick, but Roux does such a good job with her emotional core that I was completely invested in her story. There's something really compelling about watching her navigate this nightmare while holding onto pieces of who she is.
Count Leonid makes for an effectively creepy antagonist. While he might not be the most original villain I've encountered, Roux writes him with enough menace and presence that he serves the story perfectly. His scenes definitely gave me the shivers I was hoping for.
The way Roux blends fairy tale elements with horror is really clever. You can feel the echoes of classic folklore, but she puts her own dark spin on everything. Yes, the pacing dips a bit in the middle, but honestly? I was so wrapped up in the atmosphere that I didn't mind the slower moments - they felt like catching my breath before the next intense scene.
Some real standout elements here: the gorgeous, haunting descriptions; several genuinely surprising plot turns; and some beautifully crafted scenes that will stick with me for a while. Roux has a real talent for creating moments that feel both dreamlike and nightmarish.
Is it perfect? No, but what book is? What matters is that "A Girl Walks into the Forest" delivers exactly what it promises - a dark, enchanting story that keeps you turning pages well past your bedtime. It's the kind of book that makes you want to check if your houseplants have moved while you were reading.
Four solid stars from me! If you're into dark fantasy with a horror edge, or if you love fairy tales that bite back, you should definitely add this to your TBR pile. Can't wait to see what Roux writes next - she's definitely earned a spot on my auto-buy list!
(Also, can we talk about that ending? No spoilers, but... WHEW! Did not see that coming!)
Many thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books | Quill Tree Books for sharing this gripping fantasy reading with me in exchange for my honest reviews that I fully appreciated it.
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Let me start with the absolute star of the show - the Gottyar Wood. Holy crow, this forest! Roux's writing makes it feel so alive and menacing that I actually caught myself holding my breath during certain scenes. Every creaking branch, every shifting shadow is written with such atmospheric precision that the forest becomes its own character. I'm not usually someone who gets spooked by books, but there were moments when I had to remind myself I was reading safely in my well-lit living room!
Valla's journey from sheltered dreamer to hardened survivor really worked for me. Sure, there are moments when her transformation feels a bit quick, but Roux does such a good job with her emotional core that I was completely invested in her story. There's something really compelling about watching her navigate this nightmare while holding onto pieces of who she is.
Count Leonid makes for an effectively creepy antagonist. While he might not be the most original villain I've encountered, Roux writes him with enough menace and presence that he serves the story perfectly. His scenes definitely gave me the shivers I was hoping for.
The way Roux blends fairy tale elements with horror is really clever. You can feel the echoes of classic folklore, but she puts her own dark spin on everything. Yes, the pacing dips a bit in the middle, but honestly? I was so wrapped up in the atmosphere that I didn't mind the slower moments - they felt like catching my breath before the next intense scene.
Some real standout elements here: the gorgeous, haunting descriptions; several genuinely surprising plot turns; and some beautifully crafted scenes that will stick with me for a while. Roux has a real talent for creating moments that feel both dreamlike and nightmarish.
Is it perfect? No, but what book is? What matters is that "A Girl Walks into the Forest" delivers exactly what it promises - a dark, enchanting story that keeps you turning pages well past your bedtime. It's the kind of book that makes you want to check if your houseplants have moved while you were reading.
Four solid stars from me! If you're into dark fantasy with a horror edge, or if you love fairy tales that bite back, you should definitely add this to your TBR pile. Can't wait to see what Roux writes next - she's definitely earned a spot on my auto-buy list!
(Also, can we talk about that ending? No spoilers, but... WHEW! Did not see that coming!)
Many thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books | Quill Tree Books for sharing this gripping fantasy reading with me in exchange for my honest reviews that I fully appreciated it.
medium.com
December 20, 2025
A Girl Walks into the Forest follows Valla, a teenage girl selected for her beauty to marry a member of the aristocracy of a neighboring kingdom.
Valla sees her betrothal to mysterious Count Leonid as a blessing. It's not just a way for her to escape the confines of her small desolate village, but it'll also win favor for the village. Life should be easier for everyone after this.
Unfortunately, in order to get to her new husband, and new kingdom, Valla must traverse the infamous Gottyar Wood, where many dangerous creatures lurk.
Valla is escorted by her brother and sister-in-law, and it seems their journey is cursed from the start. After a vicious attack leaves Valla in a feverish stupor and her face maimed, they're lucky to make it through alive.
The Count isn't pleased when presented with Valla's new, altered appearance. Where is the beautiful bride he was expecting? Ugh, how frustrating for him...
Valla feels the same. Where is her beautiful prize? The luxurious lifestyle and extravagant castle, not to mention the sweet Prince, she was expecting? Because she's not finding any of those things here.
But Valla's shock and surprise at the state of the castle, her soon-to-be husband and his family is just scratching the surface of the unpleasantness she is in store for.
This is such an engrossing, beautifully-told YA Dark Fantasy. The blending of Horror elements with the Fairy Tale-feel captured my attention from the start.
I loved the incorporation of the Baba Yaga lore, and the atmosphere was very well done. I was also impressed by the level of body horror included, and how far Roux took some of the darker elements.
I will say the 1st-half was stronger for me than the later half, but overall, I was happy with the conclusion, and the story as a whole. We like it dark!
I've never read from this author before, but I'm definitely interested in checking out more of their work. If you have a favorite, drop it below.
The writing was so readable. I liked that Roux didn't get too flowery with it. I hate when a plot gets lost with overly-purple prose. The way this was told was easy to follow, yet still complex and exciting as far as the themes and action.
I liked the feminist elements as well, and feel like this would be such a great story for younger Readers looking to expand further into the Horror genre. I think this is a great transition novel from YA to Adult, though it can clearly be enjoyed and appreciated by Readers of all ages.
Additionally, if you are a Reader like me, who craves lush, creepy atmosphere, you have to check this out. Starting with the forest, and then into the castle, Roux riddled this story with an atmosphere to get under your skin.
I also appreciated how Roux paced the story. Once the main action in the castle kicks off, things escalate fairly quickly, until everything starts to unravel at once. I was so attached to Valla; I was at the edge of my seat wishing for her safety.
At the end of the day, I think this is a must for Readers of Dark Fantastical Fiction. Particularly, if you still enjoy novels in the YA-space. Bonus for the Feminist Feels.
Thank you to the publisher, Quill Tree Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I'm definitely excited to pick up more from this author!
Valla sees her betrothal to mysterious Count Leonid as a blessing. It's not just a way for her to escape the confines of her small desolate village, but it'll also win favor for the village. Life should be easier for everyone after this.
Unfortunately, in order to get to her new husband, and new kingdom, Valla must traverse the infamous Gottyar Wood, where many dangerous creatures lurk.
Valla is escorted by her brother and sister-in-law, and it seems their journey is cursed from the start. After a vicious attack leaves Valla in a feverish stupor and her face maimed, they're lucky to make it through alive.
The Count isn't pleased when presented with Valla's new, altered appearance. Where is the beautiful bride he was expecting? Ugh, how frustrating for him...
Valla feels the same. Where is her beautiful prize? The luxurious lifestyle and extravagant castle, not to mention the sweet Prince, she was expecting? Because she's not finding any of those things here.
But Valla's shock and surprise at the state of the castle, her soon-to-be husband and his family is just scratching the surface of the unpleasantness she is in store for.
This is such an engrossing, beautifully-told YA Dark Fantasy. The blending of Horror elements with the Fairy Tale-feel captured my attention from the start.
I loved the incorporation of the Baba Yaga lore, and the atmosphere was very well done. I was also impressed by the level of body horror included, and how far Roux took some of the darker elements.
I will say the 1st-half was stronger for me than the later half, but overall, I was happy with the conclusion, and the story as a whole. We like it dark!
I've never read from this author before, but I'm definitely interested in checking out more of their work. If you have a favorite, drop it below.
The writing was so readable. I liked that Roux didn't get too flowery with it. I hate when a plot gets lost with overly-purple prose. The way this was told was easy to follow, yet still complex and exciting as far as the themes and action.
I liked the feminist elements as well, and feel like this would be such a great story for younger Readers looking to expand further into the Horror genre. I think this is a great transition novel from YA to Adult, though it can clearly be enjoyed and appreciated by Readers of all ages.
Additionally, if you are a Reader like me, who craves lush, creepy atmosphere, you have to check this out. Starting with the forest, and then into the castle, Roux riddled this story with an atmosphere to get under your skin.
I also appreciated how Roux paced the story. Once the main action in the castle kicks off, things escalate fairly quickly, until everything starts to unravel at once. I was so attached to Valla; I was at the edge of my seat wishing for her safety.
At the end of the day, I think this is a must for Readers of Dark Fantastical Fiction. Particularly, if you still enjoy novels in the YA-space. Bonus for the Feminist Feels.
Thank you to the publisher, Quill Tree Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I'm definitely excited to pick up more from this author!
April 9, 2025
This felt like a dreamy mix of horror and folktale. I've read a handful of books by this author now and I think so far this is my favorite one. I've noticed that I can always be sure to enjoy the writing from Madeleine Roux. And the cover is absolutely stunning. I feel like readers have been blessed with so many beautiful book covers recently!
I deeply appreciated the feminine struggles within this book and the battle of beauty. Towards the very beginning of the book, Valla survives a brutal attack, but at a cost. She survives a wound to her face that leaves her scarred. I appreciated seeing her come to terms with what this means for her appearance and how she is perceived by others.
The folklore within this book was gripping and so were the visuals. I loved hearing about the forest and what dangers lurked within. I also thought the twists towards the end were well executed. While this was a retelling, I still found myself entertained. The personal touches to this book made it unique in its own way while not straying too far.
If you're looking for a bleak, dark, mysterious fantasy novel with horror elements then this will be for you.
This is a book that I'll be purchasing once published!
Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are always my own.
TW: Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail
StoryGraph Review
Fable Review
I deeply appreciated the feminine struggles within this book and the battle of beauty. Towards the very beginning of the book, Valla survives a brutal attack, but at a cost. She survives a wound to her face that leaves her scarred. I appreciated seeing her come to terms with what this means for her appearance and how she is perceived by others.
The folklore within this book was gripping and so were the visuals. I loved hearing about the forest and what dangers lurked within. I also thought the twists towards the end were well executed. While this was a retelling, I still found myself entertained. The personal touches to this book made it unique in its own way while not straying too far.
If you're looking for a bleak, dark, mysterious fantasy novel with horror elements then this will be for you.
This is a book that I'll be purchasing once published!
Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are always my own.
TW: Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail
StoryGraph Review
Fable Review
December 2, 2024
The beginning was the strongest part of the book for me. It read like a truly dark fairy tale with a very strong Eastern European vibe throughout. Valla is a young girl sent off very far away, to marry a well off Count about whom she knows absolutely nothing about. Her journey is difficult, and her life becomes even harder once she's at the castle and sees what goes on in the castle.
Once the truth behind the creatures of the forest is revealed to our young heroine, the book lost it's main appeal to me. Valla's strength came from her own drive to persevere, but the 'gifts' of the forest kind of made her gain power from an outside source (taking away some of her own agency). I would have preferred if she kept her humanity & worked alongside the forest to get rid of the Count and his people. Also, the character of her brother wasn't really utilized well in the conclusion of the book. I thought he would take a more active role in helping Valla, but other than one scene, he felt kind of forgotten by the plot.
The folk horror vibes are STRONG here, and that is the best part of "A Girl Walks into the Forest", horror fans will especially love the battle at the castle (it weaves horror & action together really well).
Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book.
Once the truth behind the creatures of the forest is revealed to our young heroine, the book lost it's main appeal to me. Valla's strength came from her own drive to persevere, but the 'gifts' of the forest kind of made her gain power from an outside source (taking away some of her own agency). I would have preferred if she kept her humanity & worked alongside the forest to get rid of the Count and his people. Also, the character of her brother wasn't really utilized well in the conclusion of the book. I thought he would take a more active role in helping Valla, but other than one scene, he felt kind of forgotten by the plot.
The folk horror vibes are STRONG here, and that is the best part of "A Girl Walks into the Forest", horror fans will especially love the battle at the castle (it weaves horror & action together really well).
Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book.
Read
May 1, 2025"The forest is vicious, but the forest knows its own.”
DNF @ 36%
When I see that an author I love is releasing a new book, I dive right in without even reading the synopsis. There's no need to do that because I'm going to devour it anyway. No matter what they are writing, I’m all in.
This latest release looked promising. The author has never disappointed me before, and their stories often make me feel as though a spirit is watching me as I read. The cover is twisted and really draws you in, and the title is my favorite part. All of these elements combined should create an unforgettable horror read. Unfortunately, this is one I would prefer to forget.
It wasn't the subject matter that made me lose interest. I loved the idea of something lurking in the woods, be it man or creature. The dialogue threw me and some of the characters were god awful. There was just something about this that I couldn't get into. It just wasn't a good fit for me. I can see others really digging this tale and I'll be cheering those readers on.
DNF @ 36%
When I see that an author I love is releasing a new book, I dive right in without even reading the synopsis. There's no need to do that because I'm going to devour it anyway. No matter what they are writing, I’m all in.
This latest release looked promising. The author has never disappointed me before, and their stories often make me feel as though a spirit is watching me as I read. The cover is twisted and really draws you in, and the title is my favorite part. All of these elements combined should create an unforgettable horror read. Unfortunately, this is one I would prefer to forget.
It wasn't the subject matter that made me lose interest. I loved the idea of something lurking in the woods, be it man or creature. The dialogue threw me and some of the characters were god awful. There was just something about this that I couldn't get into. It just wasn't a good fit for me. I can see others really digging this tale and I'll be cheering those readers on.
September 12, 2025
“ᴛʜɪꜱ ᴅᴀʀᴋɴᴇꜱꜱ ɪꜱ ᴍʏ ᴅᴀʀᴋɴᴇꜱꜱ.”
this book blew my mind. what did I just read? (I say in the most loving, adoring, astounded manner.) can’t even believe I’m writing a review, because I’m just at a complete loss for words.
“ɪ ᴀᴍ ᴀ ꜱᴍᴀʟʟ ᴘʀɪᴄᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴘᴀʏ ꜰᴏʀ ꜰᴏᴏᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ᴡᴀʀᴍᴛʜ.”
the story starts with Valla, a vain young woman who has spent her whole life knowing that her beauty would save her. she lives in the small village of Arylik, having been separated from the other children from the very beginning, set aside as a future bride of Count Leonid. essentially, her whole life depends on her beauty.
“‘ᴏʜ, ᴠᴀʟʟᴀ, ʏᴏᴜ ᴍɪɢʜᴛ ʙᴇ ʟᴏᴠᴇʟʏ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏᴜᴛꜱɪᴅᴇ,’ ꜱʜᴇ ꜱᴀʏꜱ. ‘ʙᴜᴛ ʏᴏᴜʀ ɪɴꜱɪᴅᴇꜱ ᴀʀᴇ ᴀꜱ ʙʟᴀᴄᴋ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛᴡɪꜱᴛᴇᴅ ᴀꜱ ᴀ ʙᴜʀɴᴇᴅ ʀᴏᴏᴛ.’”
and then tragedy hits. Valla’s beautiful face is torn to shreds by a woodland beast on her way to meet the count. her face, her only value, her only asset, her only saving quality. gone.
“ɪ ᴀᴍ ᴛʜᴇ ꜱʜᴀʀᴘ, ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴇʀᴇ, ᴀᴛ ʟᴀꜱᴛ, ɪꜱ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏᴍᴘʟᴇᴛɪᴏɴ ᴏꜰ ᴍʏ ʙʟᴏᴏᴅʏ ᴡᴏʀᴋ.”
watching Valla’s transformation from a damsel in distress to a powerful, ruthless woman is incredible. it’s a slow change, which I really appreciate. she really tries to hold on to her hope of a happy life, but as the story progresses, she realizes that that’s impossible.
“ɴᴏᴡ ɪ ꜱᴇᴇ ɪᴛ ᴡɪᴛʜ ɴᴇᴡ ᴇʏᴇꜱ, ᴀʟʟ ᴛʜᴇ ʟᴇɢᴇɴᴅꜱ ᴀɴᴅ ʀᴜᴍᴏʀꜱ ꜱᴛʀɪᴘᴘᴇᴅ ᴀᴡᴀʏ, ʀᴇᴠᴇᴀʟɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ꜱɪɴɪꜱᴛᴇʀ ʙᴇᴀᴜᴛʏ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴀꜱ ᴀʟᴡᴀʏꜱ ʀᴇᴀᴅʏ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ᴇᴍʙʀᴀᴄᴇᴅ.”
the inspiration taken from russian mythology was really, really cool. the world building was incredibly elaborate, including the language, mythology, climate, geography, magic, the names of the characters, etc. there was not a single detail that was left out or felt out of place.
“ᴅᴀᴡɴ ɪꜱ ᴄᴀꜱᴛɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴀʀɴᴀɢᴇ ᴀɴᴇᴡ.”
I would never have predicted any of the twists- they were INSANE!!! and the gore was kept to a decently YA level, but was still incredibly satisfying. besides some mild cursing and only a few instances of heavy cursing, this book is totally clean too!
“ɴᴀᴛᴜʀᴇ ɪꜱ ᴄʟᴏꜱᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴡᴀʟʟꜱ ᴀʀᴇ ꜰʀᴀɪʟ.”
I would highly recommend this for fans of House of Blight, The Cruel Prince, The Rose Bargain, What the Woods Took, Beasts and Beauty, and just fantasy books with a strong fmc, insane plot twists, and horrible, disgusting, lying men who get what they deserve
“ᴡᴇ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴄᴏᴍᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ᴛʜᴇ ꜰᴏʀᴇꜱᴛ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴀʏ, ᴀɴᴅ ɪɴ ᴛɪᴍᴇ, ɪᴛꜱ ᴅᴀʀᴋɴᴇꜱꜱ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ʙᴇ ᴏᴜʀ ᴅᴀʀᴋɴᴇꜱꜱ.”
this book blew my mind. what did I just read? (I say in the most loving, adoring, astounded manner.) can’t even believe I’m writing a review, because I’m just at a complete loss for words.
“ɪ ᴀᴍ ᴀ ꜱᴍᴀʟʟ ᴘʀɪᴄᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴘᴀʏ ꜰᴏʀ ꜰᴏᴏᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ᴡᴀʀᴍᴛʜ.”
the story starts with Valla, a vain young woman who has spent her whole life knowing that her beauty would save her. she lives in the small village of Arylik, having been separated from the other children from the very beginning, set aside as a future bride of Count Leonid. essentially, her whole life depends on her beauty.
“‘ᴏʜ, ᴠᴀʟʟᴀ, ʏᴏᴜ ᴍɪɢʜᴛ ʙᴇ ʟᴏᴠᴇʟʏ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏᴜᴛꜱɪᴅᴇ,’ ꜱʜᴇ ꜱᴀʏꜱ. ‘ʙᴜᴛ ʏᴏᴜʀ ɪɴꜱɪᴅᴇꜱ ᴀʀᴇ ᴀꜱ ʙʟᴀᴄᴋ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛᴡɪꜱᴛᴇᴅ ᴀꜱ ᴀ ʙᴜʀɴᴇᴅ ʀᴏᴏᴛ.’”
and then tragedy hits. Valla’s beautiful face is torn to shreds by a woodland beast on her way to meet the count. her face, her only value, her only asset, her only saving quality. gone.
“ɪ ᴀᴍ ᴛʜᴇ ꜱʜᴀʀᴘ, ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴇʀᴇ, ᴀᴛ ʟᴀꜱᴛ, ɪꜱ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏᴍᴘʟᴇᴛɪᴏɴ ᴏꜰ ᴍʏ ʙʟᴏᴏᴅʏ ᴡᴏʀᴋ.”
watching Valla’s transformation from a damsel in distress to a powerful, ruthless woman is incredible. it’s a slow change, which I really appreciate. she really tries to hold on to her hope of a happy life, but as the story progresses, she realizes that that’s impossible.
“ɴᴏᴡ ɪ ꜱᴇᴇ ɪᴛ ᴡɪᴛʜ ɴᴇᴡ ᴇʏᴇꜱ, ᴀʟʟ ᴛʜᴇ ʟᴇɢᴇɴᴅꜱ ᴀɴᴅ ʀᴜᴍᴏʀꜱ ꜱᴛʀɪᴘᴘᴇᴅ ᴀᴡᴀʏ, ʀᴇᴠᴇᴀʟɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ꜱɪɴɪꜱᴛᴇʀ ʙᴇᴀᴜᴛʏ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴀꜱ ᴀʟᴡᴀʏꜱ ʀᴇᴀᴅʏ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ᴇᴍʙʀᴀᴄᴇᴅ.”
the inspiration taken from russian mythology was really, really cool. the world building was incredibly elaborate, including the language, mythology, climate, geography, magic, the names of the characters, etc. there was not a single detail that was left out or felt out of place.
“ᴅᴀᴡɴ ɪꜱ ᴄᴀꜱᴛɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴀʀɴᴀɢᴇ ᴀɴᴇᴡ.”
I would never have predicted any of the twists- they were INSANE!!! and the gore was kept to a decently YA level, but was still incredibly satisfying. besides some mild cursing and only a few instances of heavy cursing, this book is totally clean too!
“ɴᴀᴛᴜʀᴇ ɪꜱ ᴄʟᴏꜱᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴡᴀʟʟꜱ ᴀʀᴇ ꜰʀᴀɪʟ.”
I would highly recommend this for fans of House of Blight, The Cruel Prince, The Rose Bargain, What the Woods Took, Beasts and Beauty, and just fantasy books with a strong fmc, insane plot twists, and horrible, disgusting, lying men who get what they deserve
“ᴡᴇ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴄᴏᴍᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ᴛʜᴇ ꜰᴏʀᴇꜱᴛ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴀʏ, ᴀɴᴅ ɪɴ ᴛɪᴍᴇ, ɪᴛꜱ ᴅᴀʀᴋɴᴇꜱꜱ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ʙᴇ ᴏᴜʀ ᴅᴀʀᴋɴᴇꜱꜱ.”
September 8, 2025
3.5 ⭐️’s rounded up
Read
June 24, 2025I had the pleasure of reading an ARC of this book (thank you NetGalley) and mark 👏🏻my 👏🏻words 👏🏻, this WILL be a 2025 best seller.
From the moment I saw the cover of this book I was drawn in. Not only is the cover captivating, but from the first page, the author draws the reader with such vivid imagery, that they themselves feel as if they are thrust into Valla’s world and along her through her journey.
I would’ve read it in one sitting had I not realized it was somehow already 2 am after starting it at 9 pm.
It is fast paced and had me on the edge of my seat
for 3/4 of the book. I often caught myself holding my breath for what was to come. It is equal parts disturbing and suspenseful; however, it was not too much for someone who isn’t usually drawn to a thriller/horror/fairytale-esque story.
It is a must read and I will definitely be recommending this one to my friends and family.
From the moment I saw the cover of this book I was drawn in. Not only is the cover captivating, but from the first page, the author draws the reader with such vivid imagery, that they themselves feel as if they are thrust into Valla’s world and along her through her journey.
I would’ve read it in one sitting had I not realized it was somehow already 2 am after starting it at 9 pm.
It is fast paced and had me on the edge of my seat
for 3/4 of the book. I often caught myself holding my breath for what was to come. It is equal parts disturbing and suspenseful; however, it was not too much for someone who isn’t usually drawn to a thriller/horror/fairytale-esque story.
It is a must read and I will definitely be recommending this one to my friends and family.
June 21, 2025
Roux's writing has noticeably improved since her previous work. I enjoyed the characters and world building but had a hard time getting into the story; it just felt disconnected. Pacing was executed well.
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If you love active book communities, check out LiterALLy BOOKiSh Book Club (on Facebook)! Games, giveaways, discussions, reviews, bingo, swaps, pen pals, traveling books, and a lot more!
June 13, 2025
"This darkness is my darkness."
A young girl has been prepared since she was little to be given away to a Count in a castle - to be married off because she is beautiful. She's waited years and she's finally old enough to be sent to him, her soon to be husband, and live the easy life she was promised.
But as she moves through the forest near her house, the one between her and her new castle, she forest fights back. Once she arrives to the Count, she realizes she did not fully understand what she was walking into.
This was such a fun but dark read. There are terrible people in here, and a house with legs. I had no idea the lore this story leaned on and I loved when I encountered it. The rage and the vengeance was just a lovely part of the story and I reveled as did the forest.
A young girl has been prepared since she was little to be given away to a Count in a castle - to be married off because she is beautiful. She's waited years and she's finally old enough to be sent to him, her soon to be husband, and live the easy life she was promised.
But as she moves through the forest near her house, the one between her and her new castle, she forest fights back. Once she arrives to the Count, she realizes she did not fully understand what she was walking into.
This was such a fun but dark read. There are terrible people in here, and a house with legs. I had no idea the lore this story leaned on and I loved when I encountered it. The rage and the vengeance was just a lovely part of the story and I reveled as did the forest.
September 12, 2025
Valla has been chosen by the Count to be his bride. With visions of beautiful gowns and ladies in waiting in her head she sets out with her brother Gavril and his wife Maksi through the Gottyar Forest, a place crawling with things better left alone. The first night staying in the forest Valla is attacked, her beauty destroyed, the one thing that she was sure to keep her in the Count's good graces. Upon arriving at the camp of the Count Valla discovers two things: 1. She has been lied to, he is no fairy tale prince, but a cold-hearted small man who treats Valla and everyone around him as an object. And 2. The loss of her beauty is a small thing compared to the horrors that await her once she arrives at his castle.
Omg given the actually really very tame in comparison to the book Dear Reader note at the beginning I was not expecting this to go as sideways as it did as quickly as it did. That being said this was one absolutely fantastic ride!
Valla is an interesting character to say the least. Quite honestly, there are a few times when I don't really buy anything she's selling. Especially when it comes to Yulnia, she is just as unhinged as her brothers, and try as she might Roux never truly establishes Yulnia as the victim, actually quite the opposite. Valla uses this as well, she knows Yulnia is not well, there's just no way she can't, and yet she pushes her time and again. As far as I'm concerned Valla got her killed and she was well aware of that. But honestly, I don't think that Valla was ever really right either. There's something off and wrong about her from the very beginning, I mean if there was anyone who you'd have pinned as going on a murderous rampage pretty much from the beginning it's her, no interference from Baba Yaga needed. And again Roux never really sells it that she's ever truly affected by any of this pretty privilege that she goes on and on about. Valla actually seems to take advantage of it more than anything to be able to get away with things she wouldn't if people were around her more. Now, yes I know this all sounds like a ton of complaints. They aren't. I'm not sure Valla was supposed to come across as a victim, victimized certainly, but Valla needed to be just a little twisted to do what she ends up doing. Trying to take some perfect goodie two-shoes character and turning her into a monster would have taken way more work and way more sadism in a book chock full of it.
Leonid (the Count) and Ermo are sadly just kind of standard run-of-the-mill absolute psychopaths. Make no mistake they are twisted spoiled rotten children who do things because they can. There's nothing truly inventive or unique with them and that's okay. What I did find interesting, what I *loved*, is every time, every single solitary time there is a reference to why they are the way they are it's their Dad's fault. And ya wanna know what you never really find out? What their dad did. Starve your wife? Dad's fault. Keep your dads freaking corpse at the dinner table? Dads fault. Give people to some quack dr to torture? Dads fault. Do we ever hear what dad did? Nope not really. And Gods this is so important, possibly the most important thing in the whole book; when you live in a cycle of abuse it is so *easy* to blame the previous gen that taught you while never taking stock of the fact that you are an adult and you are in charge of yourself. Growing up in abuse is no excuse to perpetuate the cycle. Period end of story and for that alone I applaud this book, an absolutely ingenious little phrase added that unless you've been there you probably wouldn't catch it.
I really love how this ultimately ends up as a circle of violence from abuser to victim and how the victim is both the bad guy and the good guy. Incorporating Baba Yaga as the first victim of this incredibly twisted family was another stroke of genius. Baba Yaga is not inherently bad nor is she inherently good and to make her the protector and the monster at once I found to be a perfect use of the Baba Yaga character in terms of feminine rage. Valla as Baba Yaga gets to unleash a rage that is primal but not just her own, its the forests as well, its all of the victims in this family's 200 year history, its as close to the anger of the gods as you can get and yet allows us to hold on to some of Valla's humanity. It's not just her, these people are an affront to humanity, abominations, a blight as Yulnia so aptly puts it and Valla/Baba Yaga has been given a blessing to destroy them. It's bloody. It's unhinged. It's Glorious.
Truly this was just an amazing little read. Don't get me wrong it was twisted asf on so many freaking levels but omg it was worth it. Highly recommend!
As always thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins Children's Books.
Omg given the actually really very tame in comparison to the book Dear Reader note at the beginning I was not expecting this to go as sideways as it did as quickly as it did. That being said this was one absolutely fantastic ride!
Valla is an interesting character to say the least. Quite honestly, there are a few times when I don't really buy anything she's selling. Especially when it comes to Yulnia, she is just as unhinged as her brothers, and try as she might Roux never truly establishes Yulnia as the victim, actually quite the opposite. Valla uses this as well, she knows Yulnia is not well, there's just no way she can't, and yet she pushes her time and again. As far as I'm concerned Valla got her killed and she was well aware of that. But honestly, I don't think that Valla was ever really right either. There's something off and wrong about her from the very beginning, I mean if there was anyone who you'd have pinned as going on a murderous rampage pretty much from the beginning it's her, no interference from Baba Yaga needed. And again Roux never really sells it that she's ever truly affected by any of this pretty privilege that she goes on and on about. Valla actually seems to take advantage of it more than anything to be able to get away with things she wouldn't if people were around her more. Now, yes I know this all sounds like a ton of complaints. They aren't. I'm not sure Valla was supposed to come across as a victim, victimized certainly, but Valla needed to be just a little twisted to do what she ends up doing. Trying to take some perfect goodie two-shoes character and turning her into a monster would have taken way more work and way more sadism in a book chock full of it.
Leonid (the Count) and Ermo are sadly just kind of standard run-of-the-mill absolute psychopaths. Make no mistake they are twisted spoiled rotten children who do things because they can. There's nothing truly inventive or unique with them and that's okay. What I did find interesting, what I *loved*, is every time, every single solitary time there is a reference to why they are the way they are it's their Dad's fault. And ya wanna know what you never really find out? What their dad did. Starve your wife? Dad's fault. Keep your dads freaking corpse at the dinner table? Dads fault. Give people to some quack dr to torture? Dads fault. Do we ever hear what dad did? Nope not really. And Gods this is so important, possibly the most important thing in the whole book; when you live in a cycle of abuse it is so *easy* to blame the previous gen that taught you while never taking stock of the fact that you are an adult and you are in charge of yourself. Growing up in abuse is no excuse to perpetuate the cycle. Period end of story and for that alone I applaud this book, an absolutely ingenious little phrase added that unless you've been there you probably wouldn't catch it.
I really love how this ultimately ends up as a circle of violence from abuser to victim and how the victim is both the bad guy and the good guy. Incorporating Baba Yaga as the first victim of this incredibly twisted family was another stroke of genius. Baba Yaga is not inherently bad nor is she inherently good and to make her the protector and the monster at once I found to be a perfect use of the Baba Yaga character in terms of feminine rage. Valla as Baba Yaga gets to unleash a rage that is primal but not just her own, its the forests as well, its all of the victims in this family's 200 year history, its as close to the anger of the gods as you can get and yet allows us to hold on to some of Valla's humanity. It's not just her, these people are an affront to humanity, abominations, a blight as Yulnia so aptly puts it and Valla/Baba Yaga has been given a blessing to destroy them. It's bloody. It's unhinged. It's Glorious.
Truly this was just an amazing little read. Don't get me wrong it was twisted asf on so many freaking levels but omg it was worth it. Highly recommend!
As always thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins Children's Books.
December 13, 2024
THE COVER. THE SYNOPSIS. HORROR FOLKLORE. Not to mention dark, bleak villages, a deadly forest, and a magical villain in a palace. And it’s a BABA YAGA retelling aka one of the SCARIEST FOLKTALES OUT THERE? I internally ran through the hills screaming when I saw that I got approved to read this book a whole 6 months early!
The worldbuilding is my favorite part of the book, as it usually is in books like these. There is nothing appealing about the village of Arylik where Valla is from, where the ice never melts and the trees look withered. Depressing. But the Count’s castle is so much worse than Arylik I cannot even begin to tell you…..You don’t get much info about the country/kingdom itself, and life outside of the vicinity of the Gottyar Wood is only mentioned. Though, you do find out that the whole kingdom/country (or whatever it is) isn’t bleak like this, since the book hints towards brighter more populated territories such as the Capital and the central territories where life is filled with sunshine and swans, unlike the poor, bleak villages. It does make the book feel less bleak knowing there are people in this book world living better lives, you just don’t get to see it, which sucks for our characters!
As for us, our bleak setting begins near the village of Arylik is the Gottyar Wood and despite the dangers of the cursed and haunted wood, there actually is civilization inside the wood (but only a handful of families who manage to survive there though idk why anyone would choose to stay there), and even trading posts and watchtowers inside. But, all remain close to the single road that goes through it, and staying close to the road is the only safe way to travel through it. The most renowned danger of the forest are the Yiliskii, the cursed children of the forest, but there are also haunting toneless songs that carry in the wind, trees that bleed red sap, and false deer paths that become spirals. Most notably, the mysterious Count, the future husband of Valla, who lives in a castle within the Gottyar Wood. It appears that this place is a fictional version of some sort of Slavic country, as I was googling some of the cultural terms in this book to find that they’re not from any existing language, so they must’ve been made up words to resemble Russian or Polish.
This book is DARK. It’s dark and brutal and however evil you think the Count will be, he’s worse. It’s bleak and hopeless and makes you wish you were back in that little village at the beginning of the book that seems far less undesirable after you experience the Count’s castle. There’s also a massive twist near the middle that I genuinely didn’t see coming. The thing is, the book starts really strong. When the book is setting everything up and you experience all the dark ambience and you’re learning the world building and you feel so much anticipation for it all. But that’s the thing, the anticipation of what you think it’ll be like is better than the actual thing. The beginning is GREAT. But once you end up in the Count’s castle, it kind of drags. It picks up after a while but the beginning parts of her life at the castle are kind of just filler. It feels like, strong beginning and set up, filler middle, then action packed end. I kind of wish the middle had more going for it aside from her being miserable in that castle and not other plot aside from little things that are setting the stage for the ending. I still enjoyed this a lot, it just wasn’t as creepy as I’d hoped it would be. The villains were way worse than I was expecting though. It’s more so a story of brutality and human evil, than a creepy horror story about a dangerous wood and a haunted castle, which was more of what I was expecting and hoping for. I still enjoyed this though, and the amazing worldbuilding and the incredible setting are where this book truly shines. 3.5/5 but I’ll round it up to 4 stars.
Thank you to Netgalley and Quill Tree for sending me an advanced copy in return for my honest review.
The worldbuilding is my favorite part of the book, as it usually is in books like these. There is nothing appealing about the village of Arylik where Valla is from, where the ice never melts and the trees look withered. Depressing. But the Count’s castle is so much worse than Arylik I cannot even begin to tell you…..You don’t get much info about the country/kingdom itself, and life outside of the vicinity of the Gottyar Wood is only mentioned. Though, you do find out that the whole kingdom/country (or whatever it is) isn’t bleak like this, since the book hints towards brighter more populated territories such as the Capital and the central territories where life is filled with sunshine and swans, unlike the poor, bleak villages. It does make the book feel less bleak knowing there are people in this book world living better lives, you just don’t get to see it, which sucks for our characters!
As for us, our bleak setting begins near the village of Arylik is the Gottyar Wood and despite the dangers of the cursed and haunted wood, there actually is civilization inside the wood (but only a handful of families who manage to survive there though idk why anyone would choose to stay there), and even trading posts and watchtowers inside. But, all remain close to the single road that goes through it, and staying close to the road is the only safe way to travel through it. The most renowned danger of the forest are the Yiliskii, the cursed children of the forest, but there are also haunting toneless songs that carry in the wind, trees that bleed red sap, and false deer paths that become spirals. Most notably, the mysterious Count, the future husband of Valla, who lives in a castle within the Gottyar Wood. It appears that this place is a fictional version of some sort of Slavic country, as I was googling some of the cultural terms in this book to find that they’re not from any existing language, so they must’ve been made up words to resemble Russian or Polish.
This book is DARK. It’s dark and brutal and however evil you think the Count will be, he’s worse. It’s bleak and hopeless and makes you wish you were back in that little village at the beginning of the book that seems far less undesirable after you experience the Count’s castle. There’s also a massive twist near the middle that I genuinely didn’t see coming. The thing is, the book starts really strong. When the book is setting everything up and you experience all the dark ambience and you’re learning the world building and you feel so much anticipation for it all. But that’s the thing, the anticipation of what you think it’ll be like is better than the actual thing. The beginning is GREAT. But once you end up in the Count’s castle, it kind of drags. It picks up after a while but the beginning parts of her life at the castle are kind of just filler. It feels like, strong beginning and set up, filler middle, then action packed end. I kind of wish the middle had more going for it aside from her being miserable in that castle and not other plot aside from little things that are setting the stage for the ending. I still enjoyed this a lot, it just wasn’t as creepy as I’d hoped it would be. The villains were way worse than I was expecting though. It’s more so a story of brutality and human evil, than a creepy horror story about a dangerous wood and a haunted castle, which was more of what I was expecting and hoping for. I still enjoyed this though, and the amazing worldbuilding and the incredible setting are where this book truly shines. 3.5/5 but I’ll round it up to 4 stars.
Thank you to Netgalley and Quill Tree for sending me an advanced copy in return for my honest review.
December 22, 2024
Thanks to Quill Tree Books & NetGalley for the early copy in exchange for an honest review. Sadly, I DNF'ed at 20%.
Wasn't a fan of the plot, ridiculous characters, and writing. Nothing really made sense either.
Wasn't a fan of the plot, ridiculous characters, and writing. Nothing really made sense either.
July 29, 2025
Bruh, what?
October 3, 2025
Slewfoot for teens, perfect blend of horror and folklore.
May 13, 2025
Thank you to the publisher for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are completely my own.
While this book is described as being a mix of horror and fairytale/folklore, I would say that the horror element is so small that I would categorize this entirely as a fantasy based on fairytales. I did enjoy the slavic folklore a lot but I was constantly waiting for the horror elements to come more forward and that definitely effected my reading experience.
I liked the main character and I also really liked the way the author writes, but the story itself kind of lost me at points. I really liked the element of women's empowerment in this and the exploration of abuse women face was really well written.
All of this to say, I do still recommend this for readers of fantasy and lovers of fairytales. If you go into this expecting folklore and fairytales, you will love this! So, ignore the mention of horror, as it's barely present in the story.
While this book is described as being a mix of horror and fairytale/folklore, I would say that the horror element is so small that I would categorize this entirely as a fantasy based on fairytales. I did enjoy the slavic folklore a lot but I was constantly waiting for the horror elements to come more forward and that definitely effected my reading experience.
I liked the main character and I also really liked the way the author writes, but the story itself kind of lost me at points. I really liked the element of women's empowerment in this and the exploration of abuse women face was really well written.
All of this to say, I do still recommend this for readers of fantasy and lovers of fairytales. If you go into this expecting folklore and fairytales, you will love this! So, ignore the mention of horror, as it's barely present in the story.
December 31, 2025
I wish I liked this more, but - yet again - the Baba Yaga inspired tale fails me. (I did not know it was another Baba Yaga story or I wouldn't have picked it up. Totally soured on them. In fairness, it's only like 30% Baba Yaga.)
Valla is a beautiful girl who has been chosen by the Count to be his bride. When she arrives (her face injured in the haunted forest), she finds that nothing is as promised - the Count is a horrible, cruel man who wants to conquer the natural world.
So this is half feminist and half environmentalist horror-ish (not really) fantasy YA. Valla is abused, as is the forest, and they join forces to get their revenge. I liked the idea, but I did not like the execution. All the villains are creepy and gross, but they're cartoonish in their villainy - I expected them to twirl their handlebar mustaches as they tied Valla to train tracks. On the flip side, all of Valla's allies felt very empty - here is a forest witch to guide you on your quest! Here are some formerly monstrous but actually gentle forest creatures to help you on your quest! Here is some magic for some reason! They all served their purpose and immediately passed out of the story (even if they were in the background). Even Yulina, the secondary female character, feels like she is there to create narrative beats and deliver the exposition. I didn't feel like Valla earned any of her vengeance, except by virtue of being the one to survive the longest - there is nothing about her that makes her the one to do this. (This is sort of lampshaded, but even if there's no mystical reason to be the hero, it'd be great if there was a reason I could say to myself, "Ah yes, *this* is the girl that will win!")
I did like the feminist and environmentalist vengeance. I did like the fact that it got messy and bloody, because heroines don't need to be prim. But it felt messy narratively too. Also, it gets gross (there's a corpse kept at the dinner table near the beginning), but it never really gets the creepy factor that I require to call something horror. All in all, while I understand why some people would love it, this was a miss for me.
Valla is a beautiful girl who has been chosen by the Count to be his bride. When she arrives (her face injured in the haunted forest), she finds that nothing is as promised - the Count is a horrible, cruel man who wants to conquer the natural world.
So this is half feminist and half environmentalist horror-ish (not really) fantasy YA. Valla is abused, as is the forest, and they join forces to get their revenge. I liked the idea, but I did not like the execution. All the villains are creepy and gross, but they're cartoonish in their villainy - I expected them to twirl their handlebar mustaches as they tied Valla to train tracks. On the flip side, all of Valla's allies felt very empty - here is a forest witch to guide you on your quest! Here are some formerly monstrous but actually gentle forest creatures to help you on your quest! Here is some magic for some reason! They all served their purpose and immediately passed out of the story (even if they were in the background). Even Yulina, the secondary female character, feels like she is there to create narrative beats and deliver the exposition. I didn't feel like Valla earned any of her vengeance, except by virtue of being the one to survive the longest - there is nothing about her that makes her the one to do this. (This is sort of lampshaded, but even if there's no mystical reason to be the hero, it'd be great if there was a reason I could say to myself, "Ah yes, *this* is the girl that will win!")
I did like the feminist and environmentalist vengeance. I did like the fact that it got messy and bloody, because heroines don't need to be prim. But it felt messy narratively too. Also, it gets gross (there's a corpse kept at the dinner table near the beginning), but it never really gets the creepy factor that I require to call something horror. All in all, while I understand why some people would love it, this was a miss for me.
November 24, 2025
This is a feminist and ecologist dark fairytale. This is YA, but mainly because there's no smut and because the magic system is not too complicated, because this feels more like a fantasy to me! This book is exactly how I want my female rage, I want revenge and I want it bloody. And the commentary on nature, its exploitation and the way it will always be stronger than us and we should never forget that was really really well done! I spent a good time with this book and wanted to know the ending. I overall really liked the message, the dark forest and tree creatures and the main character (and her relationship to the sister and her brother).
However, I listened to the audiobook and the narrator was way too old to narrate this (i'm sorry). Like, this girl is supposed to be 18 to 21 ish and the narrator sounds 40 ish. So it distracted me a lot. And I think the pacing was really off. The climax kind of came in the middle of the book so we were left with less material for the second half and it's never a good sign when the second part of a book is less interesting than the first half. I would also would have appreciated more complex characters for the two brothers. Pure evil doesn't sit right with me because I do not think it exists. And yes, okay, their father. But they could have shown doubt, remorse, curiosity, jealousy, sadness, ... something other than disinterested mistreatment.
So, interesting enough with some good messages, but this would have benefited a bit more depth and a better pacing.
However, I listened to the audiobook and the narrator was way too old to narrate this (i'm sorry). Like, this girl is supposed to be 18 to 21 ish and the narrator sounds 40 ish. So it distracted me a lot. And I think the pacing was really off. The climax kind of came in the middle of the book so we were left with less material for the second half and it's never a good sign when the second part of a book is less interesting than the first half. I would also would have appreciated more complex characters for the two brothers. Pure evil doesn't sit right with me because I do not think it exists. And yes, okay, their father. But they could have shown doubt, remorse, curiosity, jealousy, sadness, ... something other than disinterested mistreatment.
So, interesting enough with some good messages, but this would have benefited a bit more depth and a better pacing.
July 25, 2025
I really enjoyed this dark fairy tale-esque teen horror novel. Honestly, it could have been an adult novel, it was deliciously dark and disturbing at times. When a teenaged girl has been selected to be the new count's bride, she is sent through the dark and dangerous forest to meet him at his castle. She is not looking forward to marrying a stranger, but she is looking forward to a life of luxury and maybe making some female friends. While on the way to meet the Count she is viciously attacked by a being of the forest and her once beautiful face is now destroyed. To make matters worse, life in the castle is far from what she imagined it to be. There is something evil and menacing lurking within her walls. She used to be scared of the forest, but maybe it's what is inside the castle walls that should concern her the most. Lush writing, this folk tale is definitely a memorable one. Loved it!
May 27, 2025
thank you to netgalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!
i’ve said it many times in many reviews but there is nothing i love more than seeing men get what they deserve!!! start to finish this book was so intriguing and hard to put down once i picked it up. it’s so fun and refreshing seeing a different set of monsters with the use of folklore. the world building in this was so well done. the plot was amazing. the characters (even the ones i hated) were so well done and believable. all in all, the perfect mix of horror and fantasy with women getting their much overdue revenge.
i’ve said it many times in many reviews but there is nothing i love more than seeing men get what they deserve!!! start to finish this book was so intriguing and hard to put down once i picked it up. it’s so fun and refreshing seeing a different set of monsters with the use of folklore. the world building in this was so well done. the plot was amazing. the characters (even the ones i hated) were so well done and believable. all in all, the perfect mix of horror and fantasy with women getting their much overdue revenge.
July 30, 2025
3 🪣
i mean, it’s a short book so i don’t have anything to really say. it’s nicely paced and an okay storyline. i can definitely feel the midsommar vibes cause why is there a corpse at the dinner table. ? it kinda feels like it was written by a 9 year old but i’m going to say to myself that’s the way it’s meant to feel.
i mean, it’s a short book so i don’t have anything to really say. it’s nicely paced and an okay storyline. i can definitely feel the midsommar vibes cause why is there a corpse at the dinner table. ? it kinda feels like it was written by a 9 year old but i’m going to say to myself that’s the way it’s meant to feel.
July 30, 2025
This was beautiful! Midsommar meets magical forests and haunting little creatures.
Subtle burn, fight for survival and elements of horror. I haven't read anything like this before.
I'm not a massive fantasy fan but this had a good sprinkling in and kept me hooked.
Subtle burn, fight for survival and elements of horror. I haven't read anything like this before.
I'm not a massive fantasy fan but this had a good sprinkling in and kept me hooked.
June 10, 2025
I did ask the publisher if I could get an advanced review copy of this because I have enjoyed this author’s books in the past. I also was in the mood for a good horror story, and the books I’ve read by her in the past worked for me in that way. This is basically a Baba Yaga story, and I guess if I’d realized that, I might not have requested it, with my past experiences with that type of story. I did finish it in the end, so yay me for pushing through instead of DNFing like normally I would.
It definitely has some horror in it, the woods, the Count and the castle she ends up living in. There the family is keeping their father’s corpse sitting in the dining room until a magician/magical person that lives with them can supposedly bring him back to life. The people in the family that Valla thinks might actually be on her side may not be, and those she is unsure of trusting in the end may come through. There are all kinds of creatures as well that are grotesque and horrifying. Not to mention things the Count does as a “gift” for his bride, and even things we learn later when she is fighting back that were done, definitely all count as horror.
For me there was so much of the fantasy world in it, all the long descriptions, the things that take me out of the story. I get it, those are what you get in this type of story. But it makes it so slow for me to get through. Very slow for me to read, so much so that I was ready to take a nap after forcing myself to get through to the very end.
All that said, if you enjoy that kind of fantasy world, that kind of descriptive horror story, this is probably a book for you. And you might enjoy it so much more than I did!
Review first posted on Lisa Loves Literature.
It definitely has some horror in it, the woods, the Count and the castle she ends up living in. There the family is keeping their father’s corpse sitting in the dining room until a magician/magical person that lives with them can supposedly bring him back to life. The people in the family that Valla thinks might actually be on her side may not be, and those she is unsure of trusting in the end may come through. There are all kinds of creatures as well that are grotesque and horrifying. Not to mention things the Count does as a “gift” for his bride, and even things we learn later when she is fighting back that were done, definitely all count as horror.
For me there was so much of the fantasy world in it, all the long descriptions, the things that take me out of the story. I get it, those are what you get in this type of story. But it makes it so slow for me to get through. Very slow for me to read, so much so that I was ready to take a nap after forcing myself to get through to the very end.
All that said, if you enjoy that kind of fantasy world, that kind of descriptive horror story, this is probably a book for you. And you might enjoy it so much more than I did!
Review first posted on Lisa Loves Literature.
May 27, 2025
defeating an eldritch horror < becoming an eldritch horror
oh my god. this book is horrifying.
in a very 'this is what girls across time and the world have done and I should be eternally grateful that i will never have to be sent out of my home and into the arms of a strange man and a strange house with strange people and strange customs' kind of way. (not to mention the 'house' literally has a moat filled with their shit)
but oh my god do I love this book.
it has been so long since I have been truly shocked by a book, plots these days have become too predictable, too formulated but this was wild and gruesome and evil (and not the best to read at 3am... whoops) and it's everything I've been loving in books recently.
its the perfect dark fairytale/folklore story that will chill you to your bones and guard those you care about, very close to your chest.
thanks to edelweiss and quill tree for the arc!
oh my god. this book is horrifying.
in a very 'this is what girls across time and the world have done and I should be eternally grateful that i will never have to be sent out of my home and into the arms of a strange man and a strange house with strange people and strange customs' kind of way. (not to mention the 'house' literally has a moat filled with their shit)
but oh my god do I love this book.
it has been so long since I have been truly shocked by a book, plots these days have become too predictable, too formulated but this was wild and gruesome and evil (and not the best to read at 3am... whoops) and it's everything I've been loving in books recently.
its the perfect dark fairytale/folklore story that will chill you to your bones and guard those you care about, very close to your chest.
thanks to edelweiss and quill tree for the arc!
July 3, 2025
The book started out strong but the ending part felt rushed and unsatisfactory. I wished there was more character development but I felt that the heroine didn’t have a choice in her own destiny and a lot of the other characters felt flat and cartoonishly evil.
Read
August 3, 2025Thank you to the publisher for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Unfortunately, I ended up DNF-ing this book around the 70% mark. It wasn’t unreadable by any means, but continuing would’ve been tedious. I had clearly lost interest, and forcing myself to finish would’ve just made it feel like a chore.
That said, the beginning really drew me in and was definitely the strongest part for me. The premise was compelling, and I loved the eerie, folktale-inspired horror elements (even if the horror element was minimal). The worldbuilding was rich and immersive, especially the unsettling forest and its strange creatures. The aftermath of the Valla’s survival in the forest was also interesting, along with a few other plot points I won’t mention to avoid spoilers.
While the book’s blurb suggests a harrowing journey through the forest, the actual journey only spans a few chapters. The majority of the story takes place in the count’s manor and its surrounding grounds, which honestly left me a bit disappointed since I was expecting more of a forest-centered journey.
I also struggled to connect with the characters. None of them were particularly likeable, and there were parts of their development that felt confusing or underwhelming. Some characters seemed to simply fill a role rather than bring depth to the story.
Moreover, the writing at times read awkward and left me confused. I considered that it might be an intentional choice to match the tone of the story, but even if that was the intention, it still made the story harder to follow.
Overall, while the characters and writing style weren’t my cup of tea, I can see how others might enjoy it as it does have an interesting, and almost nostalgic, feel to it.
Unfortunately, I ended up DNF-ing this book around the 70% mark. It wasn’t unreadable by any means, but continuing would’ve been tedious. I had clearly lost interest, and forcing myself to finish would’ve just made it feel like a chore.
That said, the beginning really drew me in and was definitely the strongest part for me. The premise was compelling, and I loved the eerie, folktale-inspired horror elements (even if the horror element was minimal). The worldbuilding was rich and immersive, especially the unsettling forest and its strange creatures. The aftermath of the Valla’s survival in the forest was also interesting, along with a few other plot points I won’t mention to avoid spoilers.
While the book’s blurb suggests a harrowing journey through the forest, the actual journey only spans a few chapters. The majority of the story takes place in the count’s manor and its surrounding grounds, which honestly left me a bit disappointed since I was expecting more of a forest-centered journey.
I also struggled to connect with the characters. None of them were particularly likeable, and there were parts of their development that felt confusing or underwhelming. Some characters seemed to simply fill a role rather than bring depth to the story.
Moreover, the writing at times read awkward and left me confused. I considered that it might be an intentional choice to match the tone of the story, but even if that was the intention, it still made the story harder to follow.
Overall, while the characters and writing style weren’t my cup of tea, I can see how others might enjoy it as it does have an interesting, and almost nostalgic, feel to it.
March 31, 2025
A novel about learning to trust and rely on oneself, and embracing the strength from within.
We follow Valla, chosen to be the bride of the Count Leonid in exchange for providing for her village. But when she is injured traveling through the woods towards her betrothed, she realizes that promises mean nothing and she must do whatever it takes to survive her new husband.
A combination of fairytale and horror, it isn’t until we see the true colors of everyone around that Valla can embrace her anger to claw her way to victory - no matter the cost. This book was a whirlwind of events, and there were multiple twists I absolutely didn’t see coming. Without spoiling anything, I’ll say that I really enjoyed how the multiple villains within this novel were handled - even those we are unaware are villains until it is almost too late. (I will say that I was a bit disappointed that one character is so violently treated and then killed, but then another survives - if only because it makes the one who survived much more tragic, despite the almost-hopeful feeling at the end of this novel.)
Brutal and dark, this book doesn’t hesitate to explore the darker aspects hidden in any fairytale, and forces Valla to either embrace her destiny and thrive - or to wither and die.
A huge thank you to the author, NetGalley, and HarperCollins Children's Books for providing this e-ARC.
We follow Valla, chosen to be the bride of the Count Leonid in exchange for providing for her village. But when she is injured traveling through the woods towards her betrothed, she realizes that promises mean nothing and she must do whatever it takes to survive her new husband.
A combination of fairytale and horror, it isn’t until we see the true colors of everyone around that Valla can embrace her anger to claw her way to victory - no matter the cost. This book was a whirlwind of events, and there were multiple twists I absolutely didn’t see coming. Without spoiling anything, I’ll say that I really enjoyed how the multiple villains within this novel were handled - even those we are unaware are villains until it is almost too late. (I will say that I was a bit disappointed that one character is so violently treated and then killed, but then another survives - if only because it makes the one who survived much more tragic, despite the almost-hopeful feeling at the end of this novel.)
Brutal and dark, this book doesn’t hesitate to explore the darker aspects hidden in any fairytale, and forces Valla to either embrace her destiny and thrive - or to wither and die.
A huge thank you to the author, NetGalley, and HarperCollins Children's Books for providing this e-ARC.
November 11, 2025
A Girl Walks in the Forest is an adult debut by the author, yet still feels very YA, albeit very dark. Valla is promised in an arranged marriage to a mysterious count just on the other side of a lethal forest. With her brother and sister in law as escorts, it's immediately clear they will be stepping off the path and into the wilds despite the warnings and potential deadly consequences. When she emerges, however, Valla only has lost her stunning beauty. A small price to pay, except that is also the one thing our girl has going for her. Her new man is not happy about it, but honestly he's sketchy af so I don't really care what he thinks.
This book is mostly setting-driven. Characters are fairly one dimensional except for Valla, and the plot is relatively slow moving. The atmosphere though is very, very unsettling and creepy. Isolation, confinement, and a castle full of mentally unstable in laws who collect disfigured bodies and creepy porcelain dolls in their likeness are just scraping the surface of crazy in this family.
What keeps this feeling YA are the character relationships. Though they are creepy, they lack tension, passion, even an ounce of romance, forbidden or otherwise. Nothing feels deep enough, and I didn't love the resolution at the end, which felt cheap for the journey.
Overall excellent concept and first 60% plot, very readable, and no shortage of spooky vibes, monsters, and gore.
This book is mostly setting-driven. Characters are fairly one dimensional except for Valla, and the plot is relatively slow moving. The atmosphere though is very, very unsettling and creepy. Isolation, confinement, and a castle full of mentally unstable in laws who collect disfigured bodies and creepy porcelain dolls in their likeness are just scraping the surface of crazy in this family.
What keeps this feeling YA are the character relationships. Though they are creepy, they lack tension, passion, even an ounce of romance, forbidden or otherwise. Nothing feels deep enough, and I didn't love the resolution at the end, which felt cheap for the journey.
Overall excellent concept and first 60% plot, very readable, and no shortage of spooky vibes, monsters, and gore.
August 12, 2025
⅘ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A Girl Walks Into the Forest
Author: Madeleine Roux
This was the perfect creepy horror fantasy read. Valla is our main character and she is extremely beautiful. She is set to wed a Count and must travel through a dark forest to reach him. On her journey she faces many creatures and mystical beings and is attacked, her face left in shreds. When she arrives at the castle alive she should be celebrated, but instead she is treated terribly because she no longer has her beauty. She soon discovers the real horror was not surviving the forest but living on the other side. I loved the dark fantasy vibes in this book, and it thoroughly creeped me out. The story flowed beautifully and I really enjoyed Valla as a character. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator did a fantastic job. This was just released on June 10 and I highly recommend my dark fantasy and horror fans check it out.
A Girl Walks Into the Forest
Author: Madeleine Roux
This was the perfect creepy horror fantasy read. Valla is our main character and she is extremely beautiful. She is set to wed a Count and must travel through a dark forest to reach him. On her journey she faces many creatures and mystical beings and is attacked, her face left in shreds. When she arrives at the castle alive she should be celebrated, but instead she is treated terribly because she no longer has her beauty. She soon discovers the real horror was not surviving the forest but living on the other side. I loved the dark fantasy vibes in this book, and it thoroughly creeped me out. The story flowed beautifully and I really enjoyed Valla as a character. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator did a fantastic job. This was just released on June 10 and I highly recommend my dark fantasy and horror fans check it out.
September 12, 2025
I LOVE Roux’s books. I have read both “House of Furies” and “Asylum” series and devoured them. When I saw she was writing another novel, I immediately went on release day to purchase. When I saw it was YA Horror, I knew I had to save it for my spooky season TBR. Within the first 20 pages I knew I probably wasn’t going to enjoy this as much as her other books I’ve read. By 200 pages I gave up.
1. The writing was extremely choppy. There was no flow to how it was written. Some chapters felt like an actual story, while others felt like filler sentences that just didn’t work.
2. Story-line. By 200 pages the only thing “horror” that had happened was she was attacked, and that happened within the first 50 pages. It was also mentioned in the synopsis on the sleeve, so that wasn’t a surprise. It wasn’t going anywhere and I couldn’t see myself trying to read 100 more pages.
3. So many names. Within the first 100 pages there were probably 50 different names mentioned (people, cities, “monsters”). It was just too much in my opinion for a YA novel.
1. The writing was extremely choppy. There was no flow to how it was written. Some chapters felt like an actual story, while others felt like filler sentences that just didn’t work.
2. Story-line. By 200 pages the only thing “horror” that had happened was she was attacked, and that happened within the first 50 pages. It was also mentioned in the synopsis on the sleeve, so that wasn’t a surprise. It wasn’t going anywhere and I couldn’t see myself trying to read 100 more pages.
3. So many names. Within the first 100 pages there were probably 50 different names mentioned (people, cities, “monsters”). It was just too much in my opinion for a YA novel.
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