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The Winter Folk
Not yet published
Expected 21 Jul 26A woman returns to the mysterious lodge in the woods where she once worked, and to the inscrutable creature that bound her there, in this haunting Appalachian gothic horror from singular voice Jen Julian. Perfect for fans of Alix E. Harrow and T. Kingfisher.
This is the story of Moth, who earned her name working for the Winter Folk.
Every year, the Winter Folk gather at a secret lodge in the Appalachians, a place known as Deerhaven, refuge for the time-worn and weary. As a child, Moth heard warnings from her mother: They are heartless, wild creatures—and they got no concern of us. At twenty-one, Moth is a college dropout, indebted, impoverished, and desperate for better things. She falls instantly for Deerhaven’s beautiful antlered host, the mild-mannered Mr. Oslin. When he offers her a housekeeper’s contract—one wish granted for a winter of service—she signs without question.
But Deerhaven is a dangerous place. Staff must follow strict rules or else face dire consequences, and the guests can be unpredictable and savage. And yet, Moth endures, enticed by a rumor that Mr. Oslin is looking for a protégé. A singular worker who would stay with him forever and be transformed.
Decades later, Moth returns to Appalachia with her husband and teenage daughter. She can't shake the feeling that she needs to return to Deerhaven, which banished her twenty years ago. As she hunts for a way in, her haunting memories and harrowing experiences come roaring back — her friends and rivals, her growing obsession with Mr. Oslin, and her mysterious exile.
A door exists in the dark of the woods. After so long away, what has Deerhaven become?
This is the story of Moth, who earned her name working for the Winter Folk.
Every year, the Winter Folk gather at a secret lodge in the Appalachians, a place known as Deerhaven, refuge for the time-worn and weary. As a child, Moth heard warnings from her mother: They are heartless, wild creatures—and they got no concern of us. At twenty-one, Moth is a college dropout, indebted, impoverished, and desperate for better things. She falls instantly for Deerhaven’s beautiful antlered host, the mild-mannered Mr. Oslin. When he offers her a housekeeper’s contract—one wish granted for a winter of service—she signs without question.
But Deerhaven is a dangerous place. Staff must follow strict rules or else face dire consequences, and the guests can be unpredictable and savage. And yet, Moth endures, enticed by a rumor that Mr. Oslin is looking for a protégé. A singular worker who would stay with him forever and be transformed.
Decades later, Moth returns to Appalachia with her husband and teenage daughter. She can't shake the feeling that she needs to return to Deerhaven, which banished her twenty years ago. As she hunts for a way in, her haunting memories and harrowing experiences come roaring back — her friends and rivals, her growing obsession with Mr. Oslin, and her mysterious exile.
A door exists in the dark of the woods. After so long away, what has Deerhaven become?
384 pages, Paperback
Expected publication July 21, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
April 29, 2026
I did not know what I was diving into reading this book initially. I have varied tastes but usually stick to my typical fantasy romance, and was stretching my legs dabbling in this novel. Wow, it did not disappoint. It was truly unexpected, gripping, and relatable in an abstract way.
You're immersed into a very rural small town in Appalachia, where a woman is drawn back to her hometown to try to find the hidden door to a magical inn she was banished from 20 years ago. During flashbacks, a young woman is trying to make sense of her life, coming to terms with they way she was raised, who her parents are, and the circumstances of her life choices, when she is approached with the opportunity to work at Deerhaven for The Winter Folk. In taking on this contract, she is thrust into another dimension, that can be dark, unexpected and eery at times, met with trying choices, and teetering on the edge of reality all along.
The young adult recounting of her experiences during Deerhaven and in between contracts addresses trauma in a unique and very poignant way. The author truly depicts trauma in such a deep way, especially during her time outside of Deerhaven, which resonated with me, as someone who also has strained relationships.
As someone who tends to read into story building patterns, and can see most endings coming, this story kept me guessing turn after turn. Towards the end, ! could see a few potentials occurring, but overall, was very happy to be surprised.
I can't lie, I think about this book almost daily.
It is eloquently written, immersive, engaging, stressful, touching in a melancholic way, and thought provoking.
You're immersed into a very rural small town in Appalachia, where a woman is drawn back to her hometown to try to find the hidden door to a magical inn she was banished from 20 years ago. During flashbacks, a young woman is trying to make sense of her life, coming to terms with they way she was raised, who her parents are, and the circumstances of her life choices, when she is approached with the opportunity to work at Deerhaven for The Winter Folk. In taking on this contract, she is thrust into another dimension, that can be dark, unexpected and eery at times, met with trying choices, and teetering on the edge of reality all along.
The young adult recounting of her experiences during Deerhaven and in between contracts addresses trauma in a unique and very poignant way. The author truly depicts trauma in such a deep way, especially during her time outside of Deerhaven, which resonated with me, as someone who also has strained relationships.
As someone who tends to read into story building patterns, and can see most endings coming, this story kept me guessing turn after turn. Towards the end, ! could see a few potentials occurring, but overall, was very happy to be surprised.
I can't lie, I think about this book almost daily.
It is eloquently written, immersive, engaging, stressful, touching in a melancholic way, and thought provoking.
Read
May 10, 2026This was a very mixed experience for me that I think I'd ultimately call a solid 3.5, it was definitely much stronger in the first half and I don't think it really stuck the landing.
What I really liked:
The world of the Winter Folk was stuffed full of interesting details. The imagery was evocative (sometimes very disgustingly so) and the characters were larger than life. The plots there were strange and sometimes scary, but overall quite good. Each guest they met brought with them an entourage of new ideas and strangeness that I really enjoyed.
What didn't work for me:
Anytime we were back in the real world (past or present) it just felt like a contemporary fiction and didn't hold my interest. Even hints of the fantastical all but evaporated and mostly it was a bunch of wallowing and poverty and stagnation. Realistic, but not as much of an enjoyable reading experience for me.
Additionally, I didn't feel like Stoker had truly lived a life, especially not one with her husband and daughter, since so much of her present solely focused on her past. Her present self felt like a ghost or a shell that inhabited the visage of her younger self, but had been sapped of any character.
Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
What I really liked:
The world of the Winter Folk was stuffed full of interesting details. The imagery was evocative (sometimes very disgustingly so) and the characters were larger than life. The plots there were strange and sometimes scary, but overall quite good. Each guest they met brought with them an entourage of new ideas and strangeness that I really enjoyed.
What didn't work for me:
Anytime we were back in the real world (past or present) it just felt like a contemporary fiction and didn't hold my interest. Even hints of the fantastical all but evaporated and mostly it was a bunch of wallowing and poverty and stagnation. Realistic, but not as much of an enjoyable reading experience for me.
Additionally, I didn't feel like Stoker had truly lived a life, especially not one with her husband and daughter, since so much of her present solely focused on her past. Her present self felt like a ghost or a shell that inhabited the visage of her younger self, but had been sapped of any character.
Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
In some ways this is a story about found family and connecting with others, but in others it’s about escapism and survival. On one side we have a girl who has not felt connected to her family in a very long time and is currently struggling to find her place in life, and on the other side we have the same girl finding a place she’d like to call home — but that place is tinged with horror and governed by rules and beings that she is not fully knowledgeable of. It’s a story that has both realistic family drama as well as life-threatening adventures (for lack of a better word) in a fantasy world where few actually care about the safety of human lives.
I really enjoyed the pacing here and found the story really easy to fall into. This is definitely one of those novels that grabbed my attention from the very beginning! The prose flowed well and the alternating timelines were presented in a way that made sense and was easy to follow. I’d say that the present day timeline being sprinkled in throughout the novel really helped build up some tension and curiosity that made me want to keep on reading so I could figure out exactly what happened next in Moth’s backstory.
I also have to say that Jen Julian did a fantastic job of introducing the world around Deerhaven and the enigmatic guests that resided there — the worldbuilding felt very natural and never felt like a big infodump that I needed to take time to sit back and process. As the reader I felt like I was discovering everything I really needed to know alongside Moth, who was also entering the world of Deerhaven completely blind. The atmosphere crafted here manages to be eerie but also comforting at times, which sounds like an odd paradox but it definitely works in this case. There’s also a rather unique cast of characters here with the majority of them really managing to stand out and be memorable, despite some of them only getting a handful of mentions throughout.
If you’re a fan of atmospheric stories that blend reality with fantasy, and don’t mind having some gothic horror elements thrown into the mix, then I highly recommend you pick this one up! It really was a story that managed to feel both unique and familiar at the same time and I’m very glad I took a chance on it.
(I received an advance review copy of this book from the publisher, Run For It, via NetGalley and I am leaving this review voluntarily. All opinions are my own.)
I really enjoyed the pacing here and found the story really easy to fall into. This is definitely one of those novels that grabbed my attention from the very beginning! The prose flowed well and the alternating timelines were presented in a way that made sense and was easy to follow. I’d say that the present day timeline being sprinkled in throughout the novel really helped build up some tension and curiosity that made me want to keep on reading so I could figure out exactly what happened next in Moth’s backstory.
I also have to say that Jen Julian did a fantastic job of introducing the world around Deerhaven and the enigmatic guests that resided there — the worldbuilding felt very natural and never felt like a big infodump that I needed to take time to sit back and process. As the reader I felt like I was discovering everything I really needed to know alongside Moth, who was also entering the world of Deerhaven completely blind. The atmosphere crafted here manages to be eerie but also comforting at times, which sounds like an odd paradox but it definitely works in this case. There’s also a rather unique cast of characters here with the majority of them really managing to stand out and be memorable, despite some of them only getting a handful of mentions throughout.
If you’re a fan of atmospheric stories that blend reality with fantasy, and don’t mind having some gothic horror elements thrown into the mix, then I highly recommend you pick this one up! It really was a story that managed to feel both unique and familiar at the same time and I’m very glad I took a chance on it.
(I received an advance review copy of this book from the publisher, Run For It, via NetGalley and I am leaving this review voluntarily. All opinions are my own.)
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 stars rounded up
Let me start out by saying this book is extremely well written and the story is good! The story definitely felt like it had some elements of Spirited Away, which I enjoyed. There was a lot to like about this book; Moth's interactions with the guests at Deerhaven, Deerhaven itself was very interesting, and I did grow to like the friendship that blossomed between Moth, Birch, and Crow.
Additionally I also enjoyed the dual timelines element of the book, I so love when we're with an MC in the present racing towards something while filling us in on the events of the past. Love it & eat it up every single time. And there was so much to explore thematically with this book. Complicated familial ties, both between Moth and her parents and Moth and her own daughter, how Deerhaven has had Moth's family visit there for one reason or another for three generations. SALAMANDERS!
But, and it pains me to say this, I did not connect with or like Moth. And it's not that she's an admitted unlikable character. Y'all who know me know I love an unlikable female protagonist. However something prevented me from really investing in Moth and I'm not sure what it is. It might be that I couldn't really fathom Moth's motivations in the present. Her past self absolutely constantly had motivations such as wanting to keep her mother safe, wanting a roof over her head, and of course, how can we forget, wanting to smash The Deer Man.
It could be that's what I didn't like about Moth too. She acted really foolish for a lot of the book over a man with antlers on his head and girl, for what??? What did you end up accomplishing at the end of the day? Tell me. Quickly. Something else I have to mention is the ending felt, I don't know, unplanned? Unfinished? You definitely see hints of what's going to happen at the end but then when we get there, it's not really explained beyond a light explanation. I have questions Jen, please answer me!
Lastly, I picked this up thinking there'd be more horror but this book absolutely leans more into the fantasy & gothic elements than the horror. Which is honestly a real shame because the horror that was sprinkled in was GOOD. Like when we see Mr. Oslin in his Deer Man form for the first time, amazing! The ghosts?! I loved them! I would love to see what this author comes out with next.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a DRC; all opinions are my own.
Let me start out by saying this book is extremely well written and the story is good! The story definitely felt like it had some elements of Spirited Away, which I enjoyed. There was a lot to like about this book; Moth's interactions with the guests at Deerhaven, Deerhaven itself was very interesting, and I did grow to like the friendship that blossomed between Moth, Birch, and Crow.
Additionally I also enjoyed the dual timelines element of the book, I so love when we're with an MC in the present racing towards something while filling us in on the events of the past. Love it & eat it up every single time. And there was so much to explore thematically with this book. Complicated familial ties, both between Moth and her parents and Moth and her own daughter, how Deerhaven has had Moth's family visit there for one reason or another for three generations. SALAMANDERS!
But, and it pains me to say this, I did not connect with or like Moth. And it's not that she's an admitted unlikable character. Y'all who know me know I love an unlikable female protagonist. However something prevented me from really investing in Moth and I'm not sure what it is. It might be that I couldn't really fathom Moth's motivations in the present. Her past self absolutely constantly had motivations such as wanting to keep her mother safe, wanting a roof over her head, and of course, how can we forget, wanting to smash The Deer Man.
It could be that's what I didn't like about Moth too. She acted really foolish for a lot of the book over a man with antlers on his head and girl, for what??? What did you end up accomplishing at the end of the day? Tell me. Quickly. Something else I have to mention is the ending felt, I don't know, unplanned? Unfinished? You definitely see hints of what's going to happen at the end but then when we get there, it's not really explained beyond a light explanation. I have questions Jen, please answer me!
Lastly, I picked this up thinking there'd be more horror but this book absolutely leans more into the fantasy & gothic elements than the horror. Which is honestly a real shame because the horror that was sprinkled in was GOOD. Like when we see Mr. Oslin in his Deer Man form for the first time, amazing! The ghosts?! I loved them! I would love to see what this author comes out with next.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a DRC; all opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Appalachian Folk Horror is really seeming to have it's moment in the sun! I hope that moment never ends, because as a Born and Raised in Appalachia card carrying member, I love this stuff.
and this book, in particular is just really- something else! It pulls on my memories, and introduces new ideas, mixing in with familiar myths involving wishes grated (with additional unseen consequences).
Jen Julian, a new author to me, really knocks this one out of the part. I love that she got a degree at a college where I also got a degree. We're just one degree apart (HA HA HA)
No spoilers- just some teasers: Our main character- Vera Stoker grows up with stories of the Deer King. Her mother warns her off the Deer King, which likely makes him all the more attractive, and Vera- Moth is fascinated by the folks that come and go from Deer Lodge. Eventually, she lands a contract at Deer Haven- a season of work for a wish granted... (Could that be a BARGAIN? We all know that when bargains are made things may not go well for humans... at that point I was hooked! Bringing the modern to the mythical is something that's often tried - with varying success. Julian seems to have melded the two together as we move from former times at Deerlodge to the current day.
Readers move seamlessly between the reality of Moth's current life and her former situation l Through out the novel the uneasy sensation builds leaving readers with much to think about. What's real? Was it always real? Was it never real? If it wasn't as remembered, what really happened? Moth must come to terms with the past to free her for her future.
Now, all the pre-reviews and blurbs note that readers of T. Kingfisher and Alix E. Harrow will enjoy this book and I'd agree, but I also feel that if you're a fan of Seanan McGuire, - Jen Julian is an author you'll want to pick up- especially The Winter Folk. I definitely felt the "Every Heart a Doorway" vibes through this novel.
This novel doesn't come out until July- but with a wintery kind of theme, it's going to be perfect to bring a chill to that July air.
and this book, in particular is just really- something else! It pulls on my memories, and introduces new ideas, mixing in with familiar myths involving wishes grated (with additional unseen consequences).
Jen Julian, a new author to me, really knocks this one out of the part. I love that she got a degree at a college where I also got a degree. We're just one degree apart (HA HA HA)
No spoilers- just some teasers: Our main character- Vera Stoker grows up with stories of the Deer King. Her mother warns her off the Deer King, which likely makes him all the more attractive, and Vera- Moth is fascinated by the folks that come and go from Deer Lodge. Eventually, she lands a contract at Deer Haven- a season of work for a wish granted... (Could that be a BARGAIN? We all know that when bargains are made things may not go well for humans... at that point I was hooked! Bringing the modern to the mythical is something that's often tried - with varying success. Julian seems to have melded the two together as we move from former times at Deerlodge to the current day.
Readers move seamlessly between the reality of Moth's current life and her former situation l Through out the novel the uneasy sensation builds leaving readers with much to think about. What's real? Was it always real? Was it never real? If it wasn't as remembered, what really happened? Moth must come to terms with the past to free her for her future.
Now, all the pre-reviews and blurbs note that readers of T. Kingfisher and Alix E. Harrow will enjoy this book and I'd agree, but I also feel that if you're a fan of Seanan McGuire, - Jen Julian is an author you'll want to pick up- especially The Winter Folk. I definitely felt the "Every Heart a Doorway" vibes through this novel.
This novel doesn't come out until July- but with a wintery kind of theme, it's going to be perfect to bring a chill to that July air.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for a digital ARC of this book for review.
The Winter Folk by Jen Julian might just be a sleeper hit of the spring for me. This book is like a combination of House on the Cerulean Sea, The Scholar and the Last Faerie Door, and A Sorceress Comes to Call, mixed together in an Appalachian setting. It's got a darker version of the whimsy of House with the Winter Folk themselves; the other-worldliness of Scholar; and the horror-fantasy blend of Sorceress.
I went into this fairly blind, so I don't want to give too much away in my review as far as synposis goes. Loosely, The Winter Folk is about Moth, and the story of her winters working at Deerhaven, amongst the titular Winter Folk. There is also a present-day timeline from which Moth is narrating past and present. But this is also a story about belonging; about family legacy and cyclical poverty; about secrets and regret.
I was drawn in by The Winter Folk from the get-go. Julian's prose is wonderful; at times casual and other times poetic. The world she's built with Deerhaven and its touch on our world was intriguing, and as a notorious worldbuilding hole-poker, I didn't find holes to poke, which made this book all the more delightful. There were also sprinkles of painful relatability throughout, which made the real world bits of The Winter Folk feel so grounded, and sometimes painful, so that even as a reader, I was like, "Yes, let's go back to Deerhaven."
My only critiques are that the ending felt a bit rushed, and perhaps a little shoe-horned in to leave room for a sequel, and I wanted more from the salamanders (iykyk).
Overall, I think I'd give this a 4.25-4.5 on Storygraph, but I am going to bump up to 5 stars elsewhere. I'll absolutely be recommending this to friends and other fantasy/horror readers. It's almost a shame for this to be a July release, because I'd recommend it as a January/February read, perhaps during a howling snowstorm, so you feel immersed with Moth, Deerhaven, and the Winter Folk.
The Winter Folk by Jen Julian might just be a sleeper hit of the spring for me. This book is like a combination of House on the Cerulean Sea, The Scholar and the Last Faerie Door, and A Sorceress Comes to Call, mixed together in an Appalachian setting. It's got a darker version of the whimsy of House with the Winter Folk themselves; the other-worldliness of Scholar; and the horror-fantasy blend of Sorceress.
I went into this fairly blind, so I don't want to give too much away in my review as far as synposis goes. Loosely, The Winter Folk is about Moth, and the story of her winters working at Deerhaven, amongst the titular Winter Folk. There is also a present-day timeline from which Moth is narrating past and present. But this is also a story about belonging; about family legacy and cyclical poverty; about secrets and regret.
I was drawn in by The Winter Folk from the get-go. Julian's prose is wonderful; at times casual and other times poetic. The world she's built with Deerhaven and its touch on our world was intriguing, and as a notorious worldbuilding hole-poker, I didn't find holes to poke, which made this book all the more delightful. There were also sprinkles of painful relatability throughout, which made the real world bits of The Winter Folk feel so grounded, and sometimes painful, so that even as a reader, I was like, "Yes, let's go back to Deerhaven."
My only critiques are that the ending felt a bit rushed, and perhaps a little shoe-horned in to leave room for a sequel, and I wanted more from the salamanders (iykyk).
Overall, I think I'd give this a 4.25-4.5 on Storygraph, but I am going to bump up to 5 stars elsewhere. I'll absolutely be recommending this to friends and other fantasy/horror readers. It's almost a shame for this to be a July release, because I'd recommend it as a January/February read, perhaps during a howling snowstorm, so you feel immersed with Moth, Deerhaven, and the Winter Folk.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Huge thank you to Netgalley and Orbit Books for the opportunity to read and review The Winter Folk.
"Any word you speak, he'll catch it and keep it, and if he turns his head to the side, and you see the white of his eye, you're as good as gone."
The Winter Folk takes readers on a journey into a magical realm through the eyes of the main character, Moth. We first meet Moth in her present life: married, with a daughter, returning to her hometown of Little Gunning. When Moth was 10 years old, she had a brief encounter with one of the Winter Folk, Lo, a meeting that changed her life forever. At 19, she meets Lo again and is offered a job at Deerhaven, a lodge open only to magical creatures during the winter.
Deerhaven is full of strict rules, and it’s a dangerous place for humans. The warnings of “dire consequences” if the rules are broken hang over the story from the start.
Moth quickly adapts to her role and returns each winter until her eventual expulsion after breaking one of the rules and barely escaping with her life. Years later, she longs to return to Deerhaven and to Mr. Oslin, its mysterious host, but she must first face the consequences of the rule she broke so long ago.
Quick note: The Winter Folk is marketed as horror, but to me it felt much more like fantasy.
I’m giving this book 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4, because Jen Julian is such a wonderful writer. This book had been on my radar for months, and I was so excited to finally read it. The story starts beautifully, amazing world building, fantastical characters, and the friendship between Moth, Birch, and Crow are endearing. Julian’s descriptive writing really makes you feel like you’re part of the story.
Unfortunately, the storyfalls flat toward the end. Moth doesn’t experience much meaningful character development, and several relationships fall apart with the characters mechannically written off. I also found Moth fairly unlikeable, and the romance came across as wooden and transactional. The ending was fine, but ultimately a bit anticlimactic.
Overall, this is a beautifully written fantasy with great atmosphere and compelling characters, but the ending didn’t fully deliver for me.
"Any word you speak, he'll catch it and keep it, and if he turns his head to the side, and you see the white of his eye, you're as good as gone."
The Winter Folk takes readers on a journey into a magical realm through the eyes of the main character, Moth. We first meet Moth in her present life: married, with a daughter, returning to her hometown of Little Gunning. When Moth was 10 years old, she had a brief encounter with one of the Winter Folk, Lo, a meeting that changed her life forever. At 19, she meets Lo again and is offered a job at Deerhaven, a lodge open only to magical creatures during the winter.
Deerhaven is full of strict rules, and it’s a dangerous place for humans. The warnings of “dire consequences” if the rules are broken hang over the story from the start.
Moth quickly adapts to her role and returns each winter until her eventual expulsion after breaking one of the rules and barely escaping with her life. Years later, she longs to return to Deerhaven and to Mr. Oslin, its mysterious host, but she must first face the consequences of the rule she broke so long ago.
Quick note: The Winter Folk is marketed as horror, but to me it felt much more like fantasy.
I’m giving this book 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4, because Jen Julian is such a wonderful writer. This book had been on my radar for months, and I was so excited to finally read it. The story starts beautifully, amazing world building, fantastical characters, and the friendship between Moth, Birch, and Crow are endearing. Julian’s descriptive writing really makes you feel like you’re part of the story.
Unfortunately, the storyfalls flat toward the end. Moth doesn’t experience much meaningful character development, and several relationships fall apart with the characters mechannically written off. I also found Moth fairly unlikeable, and the romance came across as wooden and transactional. The ending was fine, but ultimately a bit anticlimactic.
Overall, this is a beautifully written fantasy with great atmosphere and compelling characters, but the ending didn’t fully deliver for me.
May 16, 2026
"Once upon a time, your mother loved a monster. This is not a metaphor. This is a fact."
Oh wow oh wow I truly had NO idea what I was getting into when I picked up this book. I was expecting a classic appalachian horror, certainly not the whimsical, lyrical, absolutely fucking heartbreaking masterpiece of this book.
Moth is such a complex and interesting and broken character, and I'm so drawn to her despite all the mistakes she made, and my heart breaks for her over and over. Crow (sweet precious baby Crow) was my favorite character from the very second he was introduced. I knew he would break my heart and I still sobbed anyways. Oslin was much the same, I fell in love with him just as Moth did, and I never ever could've expected how they ended up where they did.
This book, while it does have some traditional horror elements and rather creative body horror, is more a story of grief, longing, and love than anything else. Love between friends, love lost between families, loving something (or someone) you know could never truly love you back—and doing it anyways. The amount of times I cried over what I thought would be a spooky story needs to be studied in a lab.
I enjoyed the narrative way the story was told, the bouncing back and forth between past and present day was creative and flowed incredibly well. It kept me very hooked, wondering how exactly Moth got from where she was to where she is.
The only reason I've marked this four stars instead of five is because it does start to drag just a bit around the 70% mark, but dear god does it pick back up around 90%. Never once could I have guessed where the ending would go. I also wish that Julian would have written more about the healing process after, seeing if Moth's family was able to heal and understand each other—if she broke the cycle of secrets and broken homes.
What a beautiful and devastating read. I loved it a thousand times more than I ever expected to.
Thank you to NetGalley and Run For It for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Oh wow oh wow I truly had NO idea what I was getting into when I picked up this book. I was expecting a classic appalachian horror, certainly not the whimsical, lyrical, absolutely fucking heartbreaking masterpiece of this book.
Moth is such a complex and interesting and broken character, and I'm so drawn to her despite all the mistakes she made, and my heart breaks for her over and over. Crow (sweet precious baby Crow) was my favorite character from the very second he was introduced. I knew he would break my heart and I still sobbed anyways. Oslin was much the same, I fell in love with him just as Moth did, and I never ever could've expected how they ended up where they did.
This book, while it does have some traditional horror elements and rather creative body horror, is more a story of grief, longing, and love than anything else. Love between friends, love lost between families, loving something (or someone) you know could never truly love you back—and doing it anyways. The amount of times I cried over what I thought would be a spooky story needs to be studied in a lab.
I enjoyed the narrative way the story was told, the bouncing back and forth between past and present day was creative and flowed incredibly well. It kept me very hooked, wondering how exactly Moth got from where she was to where she is.
The only reason I've marked this four stars instead of five is because it does start to drag just a bit around the 70% mark, but dear god does it pick back up around 90%. Never once could I have guessed where the ending would go. I also wish that Julian would have written more about the healing process after, seeing if Moth's family was able to heal and understand each other—if she broke the cycle of secrets and broken homes.
What a beautiful and devastating read. I loved it a thousand times more than I ever expected to.
Thank you to NetGalley and Run For It for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Appalachian folklore meets gothic fantasy? Yes, please! This one gives off definite T. Kingfisher vibes, and Kingfisher is one of my favorite authors so I was not at all disappointed. I was never quite sure what the Winter Folk were supposed to be — fae, perhaps? — but I was absolutely hooked by the end of the first chapter. I mean, there is a handsome maybe-fae with antlers in this one, you guys!
Although this novel is tagged as horror on Goodreads, the scares are few and far between. It's gothic-y and atmospheric, for sure, but seasoned horror aficionados will not be at all shocked by anything that happens within its pages. The Winter Folk is more fantasy served with a side of uneasiness, and it's done really, really well. The worldbuilding is absolutely fantastic, and you almost feel as if you're there with Moth in the enchanting (yet dangerous) Deerhaven. There's adventure and found family and romance and all kinds of marvelous creatures, and Moth is a complex yet sympathetic main character.
My one tiniest of complaints is that the final scene was a little too open-ended for my liking. I don't know if it's been set up for a sequel or if Moth's story will end here with The Winter Folk, but I hope it's the former because there's still so much left of the story to tell. Eddy the Sifter needs an entire novel of her own!
Honestly, this is one of those books that you just need to read for yourself to truly appreciate — me rambling on and on won't do it any justice. If you enjoy dark Appalachian folklore and atmospheric gothic tales, definitely consider giving this one a go. It's almost certainly going to be one of my top reads of 2026.
4.6 stars, rounded up.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Run For It for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is July 21, 2026.
Although this novel is tagged as horror on Goodreads, the scares are few and far between. It's gothic-y and atmospheric, for sure, but seasoned horror aficionados will not be at all shocked by anything that happens within its pages. The Winter Folk is more fantasy served with a side of uneasiness, and it's done really, really well. The worldbuilding is absolutely fantastic, and you almost feel as if you're there with Moth in the enchanting (yet dangerous) Deerhaven. There's adventure and found family and romance and all kinds of marvelous creatures, and Moth is a complex yet sympathetic main character.
My one tiniest of complaints is that the final scene was a little too open-ended for my liking. I don't know if it's been set up for a sequel or if Moth's story will end here with The Winter Folk, but I hope it's the former because there's still so much left of the story to tell. Eddy the Sifter needs an entire novel of her own!
Honestly, this is one of those books that you just need to read for yourself to truly appreciate — me rambling on and on won't do it any justice. If you enjoy dark Appalachian folklore and atmospheric gothic tales, definitely consider giving this one a go. It's almost certainly going to be one of my top reads of 2026.
4.6 stars, rounded up.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Run For It for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is July 21, 2026.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley, Jen Julian, and Orbit Books for the ARC.
Gosh. I lay here after having finished this book, quite stunned, in the way you emerge back into the world, blinking at the daylight, after finishing a movie.
This story is told in both past and present where in the present, Moth, married and with a daughter, returns to her Appalachian hometown with her family for a vacation. She’s trying to find something intangible she has lost from her past, and she narrates to us her time at Deerhaven, an in-between world where she served the fae when she was in her 20s before ultimately being expelled. The story is gripping and at times, as promised by its genre, horrifying.
I’m impressed by Jen Julian’s knack for harnessing the whimsical fae horror. None of the people are what I could dream up, from limbs and mud and caverns beneath dresses.
I like that the characters are so fleshed out. They’re complicated, none of them fully likable but not dislikable, some mournable despite their flaws.
I’ve never been to Appalachia (and Little Gunning appears to be a fictionalized town), but the description and Moth’s voice make it feel real and alive. It’s beautiful, the mountains and forest, but the town is small and nowhere and home to poverty and, as Moth puts it, she grew up “white trash.”
By avoiding spoilers, I’ve made this book sound like some passive self-searching journey, but it’s certainly not. There is action. There are events. There is danger.
I’ve got nothing to truly dislike, but be warned this book is definitely adult with sexual content. I’m not a huge fan of crudeness, but it fits the genre. Nothing graphic, but it’s enough for me to think at times, gross.
Gosh. I lay here after having finished this book, quite stunned, in the way you emerge back into the world, blinking at the daylight, after finishing a movie.
This story is told in both past and present where in the present, Moth, married and with a daughter, returns to her Appalachian hometown with her family for a vacation. She’s trying to find something intangible she has lost from her past, and she narrates to us her time at Deerhaven, an in-between world where she served the fae when she was in her 20s before ultimately being expelled. The story is gripping and at times, as promised by its genre, horrifying.
I’m impressed by Jen Julian’s knack for harnessing the whimsical fae horror. None of the people are what I could dream up, from limbs and mud and caverns beneath dresses.
I like that the characters are so fleshed out. They’re complicated, none of them fully likable but not dislikable, some mournable despite their flaws.
I’ve never been to Appalachia (and Little Gunning appears to be a fictionalized town), but the description and Moth’s voice make it feel real and alive. It’s beautiful, the mountains and forest, but the town is small and nowhere and home to poverty and, as Moth puts it, she grew up “white trash.”
By avoiding spoilers, I’ve made this book sound like some passive self-searching journey, but it’s certainly not. There is action. There are events. There is danger.
I’ve got nothing to truly dislike, but be warned this book is definitely adult with sexual content. I’m not a huge fan of crudeness, but it fits the genre. Nothing graphic, but it’s enough for me to think at times, gross.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A woman returns to the mysterious lodge in the woods where she once worked, and to the inscrutable creature that bound her there, in this haunting Appalachian gothic horror from singular voice Jen Julian.
Dual timeline...Moth in Deerhaven, and Stoker in her "real" world after becoming a wife and mother.
I've been sitting on this read for a few days, trying to think of the best way to describe it without throwing out a ton of spoilers, so I think I'm just going to go bare bones with my review.
As a child, Vera Stoker was like a lot of kids...self-absorbed mother, non-existent father, few friends, tired town with no hope of becoming more than it is. So, when her mother's stories of the Deer King come to life, why wouldn't a young woman with little to no home life wander off into a magical world where monsters exist and magic is real?
But Deerhaven is more than just the magical resort it claims to be. It is full of horrors, monsters, and mysteries that can bring great happiness and friendships like a person has never known. But it is also a place where a wrong move or leaked secret can bring pain and death.
Honestly, this would have been a cover buy for me. I love the folksy cover and the hint of blood, assuring us that not all is right with this world.
I pretty much ate this book up from page one and thought about it when I wasn't reading.
Jen Julian has pretty much become an auto-buy author for me, and I'm looking forward to the physical release of this book so I can add it to my shelf.
As always, my thanks to Orbit Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read this before the publication date.
You guys are great!
Dual timeline...Moth in Deerhaven, and Stoker in her "real" world after becoming a wife and mother.
I've been sitting on this read for a few days, trying to think of the best way to describe it without throwing out a ton of spoilers, so I think I'm just going to go bare bones with my review.
As a child, Vera Stoker was like a lot of kids...self-absorbed mother, non-existent father, few friends, tired town with no hope of becoming more than it is. So, when her mother's stories of the Deer King come to life, why wouldn't a young woman with little to no home life wander off into a magical world where monsters exist and magic is real?
But Deerhaven is more than just the magical resort it claims to be. It is full of horrors, monsters, and mysteries that can bring great happiness and friendships like a person has never known. But it is also a place where a wrong move or leaked secret can bring pain and death.
Honestly, this would have been a cover buy for me. I love the folksy cover and the hint of blood, assuring us that not all is right with this world.
I pretty much ate this book up from page one and thought about it when I wasn't reading.
Jen Julian has pretty much become an auto-buy author for me, and I'm looking forward to the physical release of this book so I can add it to my shelf.
As always, my thanks to Orbit Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read this before the publication date.
You guys are great!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Honestly? This was... different. Like, really different. I went into this expecting a standard horror, but what Jen Julian delivered was this strange, beautiful, and deeply atmospheric Gothic tale that felt more like a collection of dark wonders than a typical scary story.
“I’d say not to tell anyone,” Lo whispered. “But who would believe you?”
Imagine living your whole life being told stories of the Winter Folk, only to learn they weren't stories at all!
Moth was 21, broke, and looking for an escape when she met the beautiful, antlered Mr. Oslin at a secret lodge in the mountains. She signed a housekeeper's contract, one winter of service for one wish, without even thinking about the fine print. Fast forward twenty years and Moth is living a "normal" life with a family. Unfortunately, she’s haunted by the memories of the savage guests, the rules she had to follow, and the mysterious exile that tore her away from the only place she ever felt like she belonged. Now, she’s returned and is hunting for the door back into the woods to find out what she really left behind and what happened all those years ago.
Moth is such an odd girl, and I loved the way Julian wrote her with a gritty, realistic view of a poor Appalachian person. She isn't always "likable" (her motives are mostly selfish) but she felt so real. The story is told with her talking directly to us, and let me tell you, I did not trust her rememberings for a second. She is a textbook unreliable narrator, stuck living in the past and chasing unfulfilled dreams, which made my heart break for her.
The imagery of Deerhaven is absolutely top-tier. I was so invested in watching Moth's friendships form under such bizarre circumstances and seeing her growing obsession with the antlered Mr. Oslin. The world Julian built is fantastical and strange.
The pacing ebbs and flows, flipping between the present day and her memories of being twenty-one at the lodge. My biggest struggle, though, was the ending. It felt a bit rushed, and honestly, I’m still not altogether sure what actually happened. It’s one of those books where you have to just sit with it for a while and maybe even read it again to catch what you missed.
If you love a slow-burn, atmospheric Gothic with a singular voice and a complex, flawed FMC, you need to pick this up. Just be prepared to have some questions when you hit that final page!
“I’d say not to tell anyone,” Lo whispered. “But who would believe you?”
Imagine living your whole life being told stories of the Winter Folk, only to learn they weren't stories at all!
Moth was 21, broke, and looking for an escape when she met the beautiful, antlered Mr. Oslin at a secret lodge in the mountains. She signed a housekeeper's contract, one winter of service for one wish, without even thinking about the fine print. Fast forward twenty years and Moth is living a "normal" life with a family. Unfortunately, she’s haunted by the memories of the savage guests, the rules she had to follow, and the mysterious exile that tore her away from the only place she ever felt like she belonged. Now, she’s returned and is hunting for the door back into the woods to find out what she really left behind and what happened all those years ago.
Moth is such an odd girl, and I loved the way Julian wrote her with a gritty, realistic view of a poor Appalachian person. She isn't always "likable" (her motives are mostly selfish) but she felt so real. The story is told with her talking directly to us, and let me tell you, I did not trust her rememberings for a second. She is a textbook unreliable narrator, stuck living in the past and chasing unfulfilled dreams, which made my heart break for her.
The imagery of Deerhaven is absolutely top-tier. I was so invested in watching Moth's friendships form under such bizarre circumstances and seeing her growing obsession with the antlered Mr. Oslin. The world Julian built is fantastical and strange.
The pacing ebbs and flows, flipping between the present day and her memories of being twenty-one at the lodge. My biggest struggle, though, was the ending. It felt a bit rushed, and honestly, I’m still not altogether sure what actually happened. It’s one of those books where you have to just sit with it for a while and maybe even read it again to catch what you missed.
If you love a slow-burn, atmospheric Gothic with a singular voice and a complex, flawed FMC, you need to pick this up. Just be prepared to have some questions when you hit that final page!
May 2, 2026
This novel is incredibly unique. I have read a lot of different content and I can say that I have never read anything like this in my memory. Deemed gothic horror and Appalachia folklore, I didn’t put too much effort in learning what this book was about, it sounded fascinating just from that. I expected vampires, backwoods forest monsters and the like. I got a secret lodge in the deep woods called Deerhaven ran by a man with antlers, who will grant you one wish for a winter season of work at an inn made for monsters. Monsters literally. Miss Twill has a full congress of owls that travel with her in her dress, Mr Moon has twelve eyes, and Mr Barkus, a monster of a man with a coat that will electrocute you if you lie.
Our protagonist, Vera, aka Moth, finds herself as a worker in the lodge and craves the attention of our host Mr Olson, the antlered man. Friendships are made, lives are risked, and truly you will be left wondering what in the actual hell is going on????
This may be misguided as adult fiction, feeling a YA genre may appreciate this more. To me, this was Hotel Transylvania (the kids movie) meets The Never Ending Story, meets Narnia, meets….. I don’t even know.
A wild story for those with big imaginations.
Our protagonist, Vera, aka Moth, finds herself as a worker in the lodge and craves the attention of our host Mr Olson, the antlered man. Friendships are made, lives are risked, and truly you will be left wondering what in the actual hell is going on????
This may be misguided as adult fiction, feeling a YA genre may appreciate this more. To me, this was Hotel Transylvania (the kids movie) meets The Never Ending Story, meets Narnia, meets….. I don’t even know.
A wild story for those with big imaginations.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘 𝒐𝒇 𝒂𝒅𝒗𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒅 𝒄𝒐𝒑𝒚 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒊𝒗��𝒅 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝑵𝒆𝒕𝒈𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒚
Where do I start? This story was extremely well written. I really enjoy when an author can make care about the secondary and background characters like they are main characters. Crow, Birch, Mr. Guzman, Miss Lys's child... I would absolutely read books about most of the characters we meet at Deerhaven. I feel like we were barely introduced to the Deerhaven universe and I need more.
I do not feel that this book should be labeled as Appalachian folk horror. I was constantly waiting for the "horror" aspects of the story to appear, and they never did. This, however, was an amazing dark fantasy novel.
This book is definitely for people who straddle the Gothic fantasy/horror line. I don't think people who read strictly horror would enjoy this. This story at it's root, is a story about family, blood or chosen, and the lengths we will go to to protect our loved ones.
I want to thank Jen Julian, Orbit Books, and Netgalley for an ARC copy in exchange for a review
Where do I start? This story was extremely well written. I really enjoy when an author can make care about the secondary and background characters like they are main characters. Crow, Birch, Mr. Guzman, Miss Lys's child... I would absolutely read books about most of the characters we meet at Deerhaven. I feel like we were barely introduced to the Deerhaven universe and I need more.
I do not feel that this book should be labeled as Appalachian folk horror. I was constantly waiting for the "horror" aspects of the story to appear, and they never did. This, however, was an amazing dark fantasy novel.
This book is definitely for people who straddle the Gothic fantasy/horror line. I don't think people who read strictly horror would enjoy this. This story at it's root, is a story about family, blood or chosen, and the lengths we will go to to protect our loved ones.
I want to thank Jen Julian, Orbit Books, and Netgalley for an ARC copy in exchange for a review
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Winter Folk is eerie, atmospheric, and steeped in Appalachian folklore. And Deerhaven feels like a dream you’re not sure you want to wake up from, full of beautiful, dangerous, and quiet menace. Moth is a compelling character too, especially watching how her choices and obsessions ripple across time. First as a young adult discovering Deerhaven, and then later, as a mother herself.
This is a slower, moodier read, and that really works in its favor. Jen Julian has created a magical and unsettling world inhabited by humans, gods, and the god-adjacent, hidden somewhere in the wintery mountains of Appalachia. I loved this book and can't wait to get a hard copy as soon as it's released!
Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
This is a slower, moodier read, and that really works in its favor. Jen Julian has created a magical and unsettling world inhabited by humans, gods, and the god-adjacent, hidden somewhere in the wintery mountains of Appalachia. I loved this book and can't wait to get a hard copy as soon as it's released!
Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
April 17, 2026
The Winter Folk is a beautiful, delightful, and often horrifying book that I couldn’t get enough of. Do you want female rage? This has that. Do you want sexy antlered deermen? This has that too. Terrifying and sometimes nasty fae? Yup, they’re here. We follow Vee/Stoker/Moth through her childhood encounters with the fae up until she’s offered a housekeeping job at one of their winter retreats. There are rules to follow with dire consequences if you break them. I loved all the characters here, and the worldbuilding was just wonderful and magical. It did end in sort of an open ended way so I’m wondering if a sequel is happening. I’d love to read it!
Thank you so much to Orbit for the arc!
Thank you so much to Orbit for the arc!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Let’s start with saying… you should be in the mood for a weird book before starting this story. I was not, but by halfway through I was completely sucked in! This is a wild ride filled with strange moments and splashes of horror throughout, and the characters are just as bizarre as the story itself. The plot easily jumps between present day and the past without feeling confusing.
My only critique is that I wanted more explanation about what Deerhaven actually is and where it originated from. Does that take away from the story or the conclusion? No. It just left me hoping there might be a sequel… maybe?
Thank you Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my unbiased review.
My only critique is that I wanted more explanation about what Deerhaven actually is and where it originated from. Does that take away from the story or the conclusion? No. It just left me hoping there might be a sequel… maybe?
Thank you Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my unbiased review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you, NetGalley/Jen Julian for the ARC and treasure of a reading experience.
This story felt like watching a thunderstorm roll in and listening to the wind chimes ringing on the porch. I was swept away by how unsettlingly beautiful everything was.
Appalachia meets Spirited Away, Labyrinth, maybe even a little Coraline. But also it’s very own story.
I don’t like when things are spoiled for me, so I won’t list tropes or go on about events. But I will be recommending this to anyone who is willing to talk to me.
This story felt like watching a thunderstorm roll in and listening to the wind chimes ringing on the porch. I was swept away by how unsettlingly beautiful everything was.
Appalachia meets Spirited Away, Labyrinth, maybe even a little Coraline. But also it’s very own story.
I don’t like when things are spoiled for me, so I won’t list tropes or go on about events. But I will be recommending this to anyone who is willing to talk to me.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Want to start this review off by thanking Netgalley and the publisher to allow me to have an advanced copy.
This book reminds me so much of books written by T kingfisher.
This book is a good ride! Goes between present time and the past. I really wanted to live in it for first half of the book!
One star off for getting a bit repetitive towards the end but overall a great story about how the world isn't quite what it seems.
This book reminds me so much of books written by T kingfisher.
This book is a good ride! Goes between present time and the past. I really wanted to live in it for first half of the book!
One star off for getting a bit repetitive towards the end but overall a great story about how the world isn't quite what it seems.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I am rounding up from a 3.75
A lovely unique read. I really enjoyed the world building aspect - it felt natural and not like a bunch of information was immediately dumped on you. I did have a bit of a hard time connecting with Moth. I thought there would be a bit more horror elements but for me the book landed more in the gothic/fantasy realm.
Recommended read - especially for those interested in Appalachian folklore.
A lovely unique read. I really enjoyed the world building aspect - it felt natural and not like a bunch of information was immediately dumped on you. I did have a bit of a hard time connecting with Moth. I thought there would be a bit more horror elements but for me the book landed more in the gothic/fantasy realm.
Recommended read - especially for those interested in Appalachian folklore.
May 9, 2026
I was lucky enough to win a copy of The Winter Folk through a Goodreads giveaway, and I’m so glad I got the chance to read it.
The way the story blended mystery, supernatural elements, and multi-generational secrets was *chefs kiss*
This book pulled me in with its haunting atmosphere and beautiful imagery.
I also really loved the dual timelines and way it was revealed just how connected everything really was at the end.
The way the story blended mystery, supernatural elements, and multi-generational secrets was *chefs kiss*
This book pulled me in with its haunting atmosphere and beautiful imagery.
I also really loved the dual timelines and way it was revealed just how connected everything really was at the end.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Love the Appalachian folklore in this. While not outright horror, its Deerhaven is eerie. Like waking from a dream you aren't fully awake from yet. My first read by this author and I will be looking into Julian's other work. Thank you to Netgalley and Orbit books for the eARC!
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Fun read and loved the Georgia setting. Unusual world that doesn’t give you all the answers but that’s okay.
April 5, 2026
This is simply Folk gothic/fantasy/horror at its best. Honestly, this story was something so unique, leaving me in love with Moth, Crow, Birch, but especially Mr. Oslin. The plot was wholly unique and had empathizing with each character. I can't stop thinking about Deerhaven and how I would wish to go back year after year. Family trauma, friendships, bonds, unique creatures, and Moonflowers. Do not sleep on this novel. I have no problem saying that The Winter Folk is one of my favorite reads of the year.
May 21, 2026
I won a copy of this on Goodreads before it was released. I will agree with some other reviewers i didn’t i wow jay i was getting into when i started it and that the first half of the book is more interesting than the second. But that said i do think a lot of people will enjoy this book. But overall it wasn’t for me.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️
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