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The Winter Folk
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. 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
First published July 21, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 217 reviews
July 9, 2026
This book was not what I expected at all. My expectations were definitely more horror leaning, monsters in a forest or something but it wasn’t anything like that and you know what, it was better than that.
We follow Vera who is telling this story of how she had fallen on hard times when she was younger and when suddenly a strange girl appeared offering to take her to Deerhaven to meet and work for Mr. Oslin. Deerhaven is this magical door that just appears when people need it and it basically leads to this otherworldly resort/hotel. She’s offered to work for 3 months as a housemaid and in return she gets whatever she wishes. But she has to follow the rules and serve the not so human guests to the best of her abilities.
The book switches back and forth between past and present and it definitely amplified the mystery on how she ended up where she is after experiencing that weird place in her past.
Was this horror? Kind of? It’s more magical realism with found family and some mystery elements regarding fairy like creatures.
I did really enjoy it. I almost couldn’t put it down and read well past my bed time. My one complaint is there’s a ‘romance’ that suddenly happens and I really didn’t like it and didn’t understand why it needed to happen. It got weird and was very one sided.
Full review to come on my YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/@hollyheartsbooks...
We follow Vera who is telling this story of how she had fallen on hard times when she was younger and when suddenly a strange girl appeared offering to take her to Deerhaven to meet and work for Mr. Oslin. Deerhaven is this magical door that just appears when people need it and it basically leads to this otherworldly resort/hotel. She’s offered to work for 3 months as a housemaid and in return she gets whatever she wishes. But she has to follow the rules and serve the not so human guests to the best of her abilities.
The book switches back and forth between past and present and it definitely amplified the mystery on how she ended up where she is after experiencing that weird place in her past.
Was this horror? Kind of? It’s more magical realism with found family and some mystery elements regarding fairy like creatures.
I did really enjoy it. I almost couldn’t put it down and read well past my bed time. My one complaint is there’s a ‘romance’ that suddenly happens and I really didn’t like it and didn’t understand why it needed to happen. It got weird and was very one sided.
Full review to come on my YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/@hollyheartsbooks...
August 16, 2026
🌲❄️ The Winter Folk 🏚️🖤
I would not necessarily describe this as a horror novel, but I really liked it all the same! 🌲✨ I read it straight through and genuinely enjoyed the writing style.
I can see how the writing might not work for everyone, but I found it so intriguing! 👀 The story completely pulled me into the strange world of Deerhaven.
I am also a sucker for old style fae and faerie stories, and this book fit the bill perfectly! 🧚🖤
This would have been a 5 star read, but the ending fell slightly short for me. It ended rather abruptly, and I wanted a little more resolution.
What to Expect
🧚 Dark Fairy Tale
🚪 Portal Fantasy
🌲 Creepy Forest
🏚️ Mysterious Lodge
👹 Mythical Creatures
⛰️ Appalachian Gothic
⭐️ 4.5 stars!
🌲 ❄️ 🖤 🏚️ 🌲 ❄️ 🖤🌲 ❄️ 🖤
📅 Pub Date: July 21, 2026
Thank you to Orbit Books, and NetGalley for the advanced copy.
I would not necessarily describe this as a horror novel, but I really liked it all the same! 🌲✨ I read it straight through and genuinely enjoyed the writing style.
I can see how the writing might not work for everyone, but I found it so intriguing! 👀 The story completely pulled me into the strange world of Deerhaven.
I am also a sucker for old style fae and faerie stories, and this book fit the bill perfectly! 🧚🖤
This would have been a 5 star read, but the ending fell slightly short for me. It ended rather abruptly, and I wanted a little more resolution.
What to Expect
🧚 Dark Fairy Tale
🚪 Portal Fantasy
🌲 Creepy Forest
🏚️ Mysterious Lodge
👹 Mythical Creatures
⛰️ Appalachian Gothic
⭐️ 4.5 stars!
🌲 ❄️ 🖤 🏚️ 🌲 ❄️ 🖤🌲 ❄️ 🖤
📅 Pub Date: July 21, 2026
Thank you to Orbit Books, and NetGalley for the advanced copy.
August 15, 2026
This both filled the Wayward Children void, and made me need to go re-read all the Wayward Children books.
This has that dark, rotting fairytale vibe that I love dearly, and it sucked me in so fast. I loved the idea of the lodge, the friendships that Moth found there, and the mysterious guests. Very Spirited Away, but make it Appalachia.
The only thing that I need is a sequel. And I don't know if we're getting one? This book left me with many unanswered questions, and it felt like we would be likely getting a POV switch to Moth's daughter if there's a future book, which I'm really interested in.
This has that dark, rotting fairytale vibe that I love dearly, and it sucked me in so fast. I loved the idea of the lodge, the friendships that Moth found there, and the mysterious guests. Very Spirited Away, but make it Appalachia.
The only thing that I need is a sequel. And I don't know if we're getting one? This book left me with many unanswered questions, and it felt like we would be likely getting a POV switch to Moth's daughter if there's a future book, which I'm really interested in.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Wow. What a ride. I honestly came across this on NetGalley and applied to review it on a whim, thinking I probably wouldn’t love it, but it might be interesting.
This was phenomenal. Seriously. Put this author on the map!!! It’s very rare that I read a story that engulfs me, encircles me, has me hanging on every word and dreading the finish. I’m the type of person who typically wants to get through a book and on to the next one, but every so often, one comes along like this and it’s decadent. I enjoyed every single second of it.
With similar vibes to Hayao Miyazaki’s “Spirited Away,” this is set in both the real world and a fantasy one, but instead of a bathhouse, it’s a hotel. The guests are imaginative, creative, beyond your wildest nightmares and the protagonist has to “give up her name” while she’s working at DeerHaven. If she breaks any rules, the consequences are dire.
This book left me guessing at every turn. The dark fantasy aspect was spectacular. I want to pick this author’s imagination because phewwww where did she come up with some of this stuff. I have a hard time picturing books when I read, but wow did she paint a picture for me. I will be thinking about this one for a while. 🦌
I was a bit thrown by the ending, I didn’t feel like we got the answers we wanted or a solid wrap up to everything that happened. But perhaps there’s another book to come? A girl can dream. Also please make this a movie, thanks. I need all of these characters to come to life.
Highly highly recommend. This is getting added to the favorites shelf!
Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.
Wow. What a ride. I honestly came across this on NetGalley and applied to review it on a whim, thinking I probably wouldn’t love it, but it might be interesting.
This was phenomenal. Seriously. Put this author on the map!!! It’s very rare that I read a story that engulfs me, encircles me, has me hanging on every word and dreading the finish. I’m the type of person who typically wants to get through a book and on to the next one, but every so often, one comes along like this and it’s decadent. I enjoyed every single second of it.
With similar vibes to Hayao Miyazaki’s “Spirited Away,” this is set in both the real world and a fantasy one, but instead of a bathhouse, it’s a hotel. The guests are imaginative, creative, beyond your wildest nightmares and the protagonist has to “give up her name” while she’s working at DeerHaven. If she breaks any rules, the consequences are dire.
This book left me guessing at every turn. The dark fantasy aspect was spectacular. I want to pick this author’s imagination because phewwww where did she come up with some of this stuff. I have a hard time picturing books when I read, but wow did she paint a picture for me. I will be thinking about this one for a while. 🦌
I was a bit thrown by the ending, I didn’t feel like we got the answers we wanted or a solid wrap up to everything that happened. But perhaps there’s another book to come? A girl can dream. Also please make this a movie, thanks. I need all of these characters to come to life.
Highly highly recommend. This is getting added to the favorites shelf!
Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.
Did Not Finish
July 16, 2026DNF 30%
Thank you Orbit Books for the E-arc
Unfortunately, this is not aligning with my expectations based on the marketing.
I wouldn’t even call it horror and the huge majority of what I read she is young and it reads very YA.
All of this has thrown off the vibe.
I was hoping for something like CG Drew’s but make it Appalachian folklore, and this is not hitting the mark in terms of atmosphere or writing style for me.
Thank you Orbit Books for the E-arc
Unfortunately, this is not aligning with my expectations based on the marketing.
I wouldn’t even call it horror and the huge majority of what I read she is young and it reads very YA.
All of this has thrown off the vibe.
I was hoping for something like CG Drew’s but make it Appalachian folklore, and this is not hitting the mark in terms of atmosphere or writing style for me.
May 10, 2026
This 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.
Did Not Finish
August 12, 2026Not sure what's going on. Not sure I care.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐ 3.25 stars
The Winter Folk is one of those books that I’m still unpacking after finishing it.
Blending Appalachian folklore, horror, fantasy, and family drama, it creates a strange, dreamlike atmosphere that’s both cozy and unsettling. The setting, folklore, and eerie sense of place kept me invested, and I was intrigued enough to keep turning pages because I genuinely wanted to see where the story was going.
What stood out most was the atmosphere. There’s a constant feeling that something isn’t quite right, and the book does a great job balancing wonder with unease. The themes surrounding family, addiction, generational trauma, and escapism also gave the story emotional depth.
That said, this is a book that leaves a lot open to interpretation. Many of the questions I had by the end felt intentionally unanswered, and the line between what’s real, symbolic, or something in between remains blurry throughout. I can appreciate that ambiguity was a deliberate choice, but I’m not sure it fully worked for me as a reader.
Overall, I enjoyed the journey more than the destination. I was always curious about what would happen next, but when I reached the end, I was left with more uncertainty than satisfaction.
The Winter Folk is one of those books that I’m still unpacking after finishing it.
Blending Appalachian folklore, horror, fantasy, and family drama, it creates a strange, dreamlike atmosphere that’s both cozy and unsettling. The setting, folklore, and eerie sense of place kept me invested, and I was intrigued enough to keep turning pages because I genuinely wanted to see where the story was going.
What stood out most was the atmosphere. There’s a constant feeling that something isn’t quite right, and the book does a great job balancing wonder with unease. The themes surrounding family, addiction, generational trauma, and escapism also gave the story emotional depth.
That said, this is a book that leaves a lot open to interpretation. Many of the questions I had by the end felt intentionally unanswered, and the line between what’s real, symbolic, or something in between remains blurry throughout. I can appreciate that ambiguity was a deliberate choice, but I’m not sure it fully worked for me as a reader.
Overall, I enjoyed the journey more than the destination. I was always curious about what would happen next, but when I reached the end, I was left with more uncertainty than satisfaction.
August 4, 2026
BLEW ME AWAY!!
The Winter Folk by Jen Julian is the darkest kind of folktale that you've been NEEDING to read. It feels forbidden and secretive and BELIEVABLE. The story follows Moth, a woman drawn back to Deerhaven, a secret Appalachian lodge where the mysterious Winter Folk gather each year. Decades earlier, as a struggling college dropout desperate for a better life, Moth accepted an irresistible bargain from the antlered and enigmatic Mr. Oslin: one winter of service as a housekeeper in exchange for a wish. This story follows 3 time periods in Moth's life as she recounts her stays with the enigmatic Mr. Oslin and the terrifying Winter Folk. Moth cannot seem to let the Winter Folk go, but you know as the tension builds that SOMETHING happened. The drive and mystery, made this book truly something that I could not put down. It is compelling and dark and twisted, but also full of light and love and peaceful moments. However, Julian does her job making sure that you know that these moments won't last forever and the darkness is right around the corner.
Deerhaven, our mysterious setting, eventually becomes its own character a while. The lodge feels simultaneously magical, predatory, and impossible to resist. The Winter Folk themselves are fascinating, terrifying, and frequently disgusting in ways readers are going to LOVE learning about. Like any fae folk, you can expect that promises hold weight and consequences are hard to pay off once they have been earned (even if innocently given). And at the center of it all is Moth's obsession with Mr. Oslin, a relationship that gives the entire book this aching, fairy-tale quality that lingers long after you finish. The result is a deeply atmospheric blend of Appalachian gothic horror, dark fantasy, and folklore that feels completely unique. Like Moth, I found myself unable to stop thinking about Deerhaven and wondering what waited behind the next door in the woods.
The Winter Folk by Jen Julian is the darkest kind of folktale that you've been NEEDING to read. It feels forbidden and secretive and BELIEVABLE. The story follows Moth, a woman drawn back to Deerhaven, a secret Appalachian lodge where the mysterious Winter Folk gather each year. Decades earlier, as a struggling college dropout desperate for a better life, Moth accepted an irresistible bargain from the antlered and enigmatic Mr. Oslin: one winter of service as a housekeeper in exchange for a wish. This story follows 3 time periods in Moth's life as she recounts her stays with the enigmatic Mr. Oslin and the terrifying Winter Folk. Moth cannot seem to let the Winter Folk go, but you know as the tension builds that SOMETHING happened. The drive and mystery, made this book truly something that I could not put down. It is compelling and dark and twisted, but also full of light and love and peaceful moments. However, Julian does her job making sure that you know that these moments won't last forever and the darkness is right around the corner.
Deerhaven, our mysterious setting, eventually becomes its own character a while. The lodge feels simultaneously magical, predatory, and impossible to resist. The Winter Folk themselves are fascinating, terrifying, and frequently disgusting in ways readers are going to LOVE learning about. Like any fae folk, you can expect that promises hold weight and consequences are hard to pay off once they have been earned (even if innocently given). And at the center of it all is Moth's obsession with Mr. Oslin, a relationship that gives the entire book this aching, fairy-tale quality that lingers long after you finish. The result is a deeply atmospheric blend of Appalachian gothic horror, dark fantasy, and folklore that feels completely unique. Like Moth, I found myself unable to stop thinking about Deerhaven and wondering what waited behind the next door in the woods.
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July 27, 2026
Appalachian gothic horror was the hook, and I was snared.
Moth's storytelling was so clear, and her POV so well realized, that I truly feel I know her. I can't say we'd be friends, but I see her and understand her perspective. I think that's what I enjoyed most about this story: I wasn't simply rooting for a character—I was experiencing the story through her. Separate.
I'm a fan of fairy tales, and the Appalachian flavor woven into what feels like classic folklore added so much intrigue. It introduced a mythos I want to explore more deeply.
How was Moth tricked into believing the Winter Folk cared for humans? Was it the small kindnesses? The brief moments of stability? I found the humans here to be rather naive, and I suspect that was intentional. After all, who else would follow the fae into their world and willingly be subject to their wiles?
Deerhaven feels magical and terrifying. One single misstep away from a banishment the human mind can't comprehend. After all, our world and theirs are interwoven through portals and doorways. What exists in between? Can we even comprehend it?
Through Moth's experiences, we uncover a legacy I never expected. I kept asking myself, *When?* When will this circle back around, and how? This cycle has to return.
Find out for yourself. And remember... never sign a bargain.
A special thank you to Orbit Books for the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Moth's storytelling was so clear, and her POV so well realized, that I truly feel I know her. I can't say we'd be friends, but I see her and understand her perspective. I think that's what I enjoyed most about this story: I wasn't simply rooting for a character—I was experiencing the story through her. Separate.
I'm a fan of fairy tales, and the Appalachian flavor woven into what feels like classic folklore added so much intrigue. It introduced a mythos I want to explore more deeply.
How was Moth tricked into believing the Winter Folk cared for humans? Was it the small kindnesses? The brief moments of stability? I found the humans here to be rather naive, and I suspect that was intentional. After all, who else would follow the fae into their world and willingly be subject to their wiles?
Deerhaven feels magical and terrifying. One single misstep away from a banishment the human mind can't comprehend. After all, our world and theirs are interwoven through portals and doorways. What exists in between? Can we even comprehend it?
Through Moth's experiences, we uncover a legacy I never expected. I kept asking myself, *When?* When will this circle back around, and how? This cycle has to return.
Find out for yourself. And remember... never sign a bargain.
A special thank you to Orbit Books for the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 27, 2026
How I’d describe it: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe collides with an Appalachian folklore/whimsical horror novel. I traversed this one via audio and the narrator was spectacular. Highly recommend. Very creepy at times and yet melancholic.
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.
September 19, 2026
5 stars! Now this is my kind of niche’ literature! 👏
“I haven’t seen Mr. Oslin or any of the Winter Folk since my expulsion twenty-two years ago. Now I am striving to find my way back. I know my own story, but I don’t know yet how to tell it, or whether I understand it and you should know that I’m astonished, truly astonished, at how much I still yearn for that place. Even after so many terrible things happened there.”
In “The Winter Folk” we are brought into the inner workings of our beloved Vera, or shall I say Moth. She is a mother, a wife, a daughter, oh and I must not forget to mention dear listener that she was employed at “Deerhaven.” A magical hotel one would stay at in the Wintertime made up of odd creatures deemed “the winter folk” who have strange lives and abilities, and it all is completely unknown and top secret to normal people. There is friendship, adventure, magic, love, and I would be failing you if I did not mention the strict rules written in contract that have fatal consequences once broken. Moth was a house maid there, until she was expelled many years ago. With a dream, and a heartache she brings her family to her small hometown of Gunning where it all began. Can she make the red door appear? What will happen if she can go back?
I picked this up on a whim when I saw some chatter about a folk horror book taking the reading world by storm. I immediately ordered a copy and sat eagerly by the door until its arrival. This was a completely fantastical, atmospheric story that felt as real as the air I breathe. The characters came alive, and picturing this eerie and eccentric hotel was enamoring. I couldn’t look away or put this down. The creative flow of this story is incredibly well executed. Everything was perfect.
“I know it didn’t start with love. If I really think back, it started with stories. The ones my mother used to tell.”
When I think of the relationship between Moth and her mother it is SO comparable to the relationship of the mom/daughter dynamic in “The Maid” yes, the one with Margaret Qualley. I believe this is what leaves Moth in such a desperate and vulnerable state, Is this what makes the staff eager to comply with the Deerhaven rules?
I still have so many questions and want so dearly to hear more stories within this otherworld. My heart is broken to be finished with this book.
It does read more fantasy than horror!
“I haven’t seen Mr. Oslin or any of the Winter Folk since my expulsion twenty-two years ago. Now I am striving to find my way back. I know my own story, but I don’t know yet how to tell it, or whether I understand it and you should know that I’m astonished, truly astonished, at how much I still yearn for that place. Even after so many terrible things happened there.”
In “The Winter Folk” we are brought into the inner workings of our beloved Vera, or shall I say Moth. She is a mother, a wife, a daughter, oh and I must not forget to mention dear listener that she was employed at “Deerhaven.” A magical hotel one would stay at in the Wintertime made up of odd creatures deemed “the winter folk” who have strange lives and abilities, and it all is completely unknown and top secret to normal people. There is friendship, adventure, magic, love, and I would be failing you if I did not mention the strict rules written in contract that have fatal consequences once broken. Moth was a house maid there, until she was expelled many years ago. With a dream, and a heartache she brings her family to her small hometown of Gunning where it all began. Can she make the red door appear? What will happen if she can go back?
I picked this up on a whim when I saw some chatter about a folk horror book taking the reading world by storm. I immediately ordered a copy and sat eagerly by the door until its arrival. This was a completely fantastical, atmospheric story that felt as real as the air I breathe. The characters came alive, and picturing this eerie and eccentric hotel was enamoring. I couldn’t look away or put this down. The creative flow of this story is incredibly well executed. Everything was perfect.
“I know it didn’t start with love. If I really think back, it started with stories. The ones my mother used to tell.”
When I think of the relationship between Moth and her mother it is SO comparable to the relationship of the mom/daughter dynamic in “The Maid” yes, the one with Margaret Qualley. I believe this is what leaves Moth in such a desperate and vulnerable state, Is this what makes the staff eager to comply with the Deerhaven rules?
I still have so many questions and want so dearly to hear more stories within this otherworld. My heart is broken to be finished with this book.
It does read more fantasy than horror!
July 22, 2026
3.5⭐️
Thank you to Orbit Books and Jen Julian for the e-arc in exchange for my review. All opinions are honest and my own.
An Appalachian gothic horror following Moth who secures a housekeeping job at Deerhaven, a secret lodge used as a gathering place for the winter folk. All manner of creatures call this lodge a refuge, but they are dangerous, and Moth and her fellow staff must take care to follow all rules. After all, if she wishes to stay on as assistant to the beautiful host Mr. Oslin, she's going to have to endure some of her most difficult trials. Including one that eventually gets her banished, and has her desperate to find her way back in.
This was such a...interesting? Weird? Cryptic? read...I'm not really sure how to describe it because at times it felt like I was transported into the world of Spirited Away which I absolutely adored, but then it became this very strange romance which to me didn't really fit in the story, and add in all the creatures who I feel like we only saw at surface level. I guess if anything I feel like there is so much more to this story, we only see Deerhaven but it was made to seem there was so much more magic and a plethora of creatures that could be described.
The main plot itself was more interesting in the past than the present, Deerhaven was such a fascinating place to read about and all the characters that called it a temporary home. The present plot with Moth's husband and her daughter just felt like an extra addition that got in the way of finding out more of what happened at Deerhaven, which maybe was the point but I definitely found myself wanting to skip those present chapters.
Overall, this definitely kept me intrigued but I'm not sure it's one I can fully recommend just due to the confusing nature of the story.
Thank you to Orbit Books and Jen Julian for the e-arc in exchange for my review. All opinions are honest and my own.
An Appalachian gothic horror following Moth who secures a housekeeping job at Deerhaven, a secret lodge used as a gathering place for the winter folk. All manner of creatures call this lodge a refuge, but they are dangerous, and Moth and her fellow staff must take care to follow all rules. After all, if she wishes to stay on as assistant to the beautiful host Mr. Oslin, she's going to have to endure some of her most difficult trials. Including one that eventually gets her banished, and has her desperate to find her way back in.
This was such a...interesting? Weird? Cryptic? read...I'm not really sure how to describe it because at times it felt like I was transported into the world of Spirited Away which I absolutely adored, but then it became this very strange romance which to me didn't really fit in the story, and add in all the creatures who I feel like we only saw at surface level. I guess if anything I feel like there is so much more to this story, we only see Deerhaven but it was made to seem there was so much more magic and a plethora of creatures that could be described.
The main plot itself was more interesting in the past than the present, Deerhaven was such a fascinating place to read about and all the characters that called it a temporary home. The present plot with Moth's husband and her daughter just felt like an extra addition that got in the way of finding out more of what happened at Deerhaven, which maybe was the point but I definitely found myself wanting to skip those present chapters.
Overall, this definitely kept me intrigued but I'm not sure it's one I can fully recommend just due to the confusing nature of the story.
August 12, 2026
For anyone who wants Spirited Away meets Labyrinth set in Appalachia, who loves dark fairytales, Holly Black and T. Kingfisher. For the deranged individuals out there who have always wanted to stumble into a dark forest and encounter a creature that makes you ache with both desire and dread, who is drawn to the monsters of folklore that are both unbearably beautiful and undeniably ugly. You know you should look away, but you can't. You won't.
I finished this book in a half-asleep frenzy late last night, and it felt impossible that it was over, impossible for me to let it go and let myself fall asleep. I wrote that I felt like I'd been bitten by a ghost. Not the kind you're thinking of (iykyk). And I did. I felt and still feel like I'm going slightly mad—in the best way possible.
Every bit of this book was delicious; even the most grotesque and disturbing parts I devoured like they were keeping me alive. I am full to bursting with creative magic, with words that are lingering like chalk-mark runes on my skin. I don't know what will happen to me now, but I'm not the same as I was, and I love that feeling. This is how it should feel to be engulfed and spit back out by a truly good story. Like I am shivering and confused and have no idea what to do with all of this inside of me now that it's over.
I will never forget Lo, Birch, Crow, Barkus, Lys. I will be trying to figure out Oslin for years to come, thinking about Cass, Eddy and her Sifter sisters. Moth. Goddammit, Moth. These characters will haunt me. Each one is so real in my mind. So frustratingly flawed and three dimensional.
If I could hunt down a red door and slip through I would.
I finished this book in a half-asleep frenzy late last night, and it felt impossible that it was over, impossible for me to let it go and let myself fall asleep. I wrote that I felt like I'd been bitten by a ghost. Not the kind you're thinking of (iykyk). And I did. I felt and still feel like I'm going slightly mad—in the best way possible.
Every bit of this book was delicious; even the most grotesque and disturbing parts I devoured like they were keeping me alive. I am full to bursting with creative magic, with words that are lingering like chalk-mark runes on my skin. I don't know what will happen to me now, but I'm not the same as I was, and I love that feeling. This is how it should feel to be engulfed and spit back out by a truly good story. Like I am shivering and confused and have no idea what to do with all of this inside of me now that it's over.
I will never forget Lo, Birch, Crow, Barkus, Lys. I will be trying to figure out Oslin for years to come, thinking about Cass, Eddy and her Sifter sisters. Moth. Goddammit, Moth. These characters will haunt me. Each one is so real in my mind. So frustratingly flawed and three dimensional.
If I could hunt down a red door and slip through I would.
July 24, 2026
🎧Pub Week Review🎧
🎧 Narrated by Caroline Hewitt
Wow! I first want to talk about this amazing storyteller!!! @carolineahewitt does a phenomenal job narrating this story. I mean, her voice completely changes for these characters and with accents to boot! It was as if I was hearing a completely different person. This was one of the best audiobooks I’ve ever listened to. I was blown away.
The Winter Folk is totally out of my comfort zone, folks. This reads like a fairy tale but make it twisted and weird.
Every year, the Winter Folk gather at a secret lodge in the Appalachians, a place known only as Deerhaven. Moth has been summoned to work there for the season but with a contract. She’s granted one wish for a winter of service. She agrees.
These creatures were fascinating and creepy at times. There were a few I felt drawn to. I wouldn’t necessarily call this horror, but definitely a creepy fairy tale. I highly enjoyed it and recommend the audiobook.
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🎧 Narrated by Caroline Hewitt
Wow! I first want to talk about this amazing storyteller!!! @carolineahewitt does a phenomenal job narrating this story. I mean, her voice completely changes for these characters and with accents to boot! It was as if I was hearing a completely different person. This was one of the best audiobooks I’ve ever listened to. I was blown away.
The Winter Folk is totally out of my comfort zone, folks. This reads like a fairy tale but make it twisted and weird.
Every year, the Winter Folk gather at a secret lodge in the Appalachians, a place known only as Deerhaven. Moth has been summoned to work there for the season but with a contract. She’s granted one wish for a winter of service. She agrees.
These creatures were fascinating and creepy at times. There were a few I felt drawn to. I wouldn’t necessarily call this horror, but definitely a creepy fairy tale. I highly enjoyed it and recommend the audiobook.
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
August 12, 2026
The Winter Folk throws you immediately into its folklore and the strange, intriguing world of Deerhaven - I was hooked almost from the get-go! There’s something so atmospheric about this book, so dark and interesting, it was easy getting completely immersed in the world and getting to know its characters. The folklore feels like such an integral part of the story rather than just a lil bit of flavor, which made Deerhaven feel like a place with its own history, secrets, and rules.
The pace is quick from the start & I appreciated how little time the story spends getting to the point. There’s always something happening and the momentum kept me turning the pages.
My only real complaint is that the book hurtles toward the ending a little too quickly. By the time we reach the latter half, I found myself wishing there was more room to breathe and explore everything that had been set up. Honestly, I think there’s enough world & snippets of plot lines & character motivations left unexplored here to have been built out into a trilogy. I would have happily spent more time in Deerhaven with these characters. Giving the later half more space might have made for a more satisfying (complete) ending.
I had such a good time getting lost in this world, I just wish I’d gotten to stay a little longer.
Thanks to Orbit Books & NetGalley for this ARC!
The pace is quick from the start & I appreciated how little time the story spends getting to the point. There’s always something happening and the momentum kept me turning the pages.
My only real complaint is that the book hurtles toward the ending a little too quickly. By the time we reach the latter half, I found myself wishing there was more room to breathe and explore everything that had been set up. Honestly, I think there’s enough world & snippets of plot lines & character motivations left unexplored here to have been built out into a trilogy. I would have happily spent more time in Deerhaven with these characters. Giving the later half more space might have made for a more satisfying (complete) ending.
I had such a good time getting lost in this world, I just wish I’d gotten to stay a little longer.
Thanks to Orbit Books & NetGalley for this ARC!
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August 19, 2026
A strangely flat, lifeless YA pastiche (which borrows especially liberally from Miyazaki's Spirited Away) about an unpleasant girl who grows up to be an unpleasant woman. You're supposed to sympathize with her, fret over her and her self-inflicted travails, but it's difficult to care much about such a miserable character. She has a loving, devoted, extremely-patient husband whom she seems only to resent and hold in contempt, and a troubled daughter suffering from a protracted "failure-to-launch" but whom she also seems only to resent and hold in contempt. During the precious few moments in which Moth/Vera accepts accountability for her actions, it's only so she can play the martyr and feel sorry for herself. Even her "heroic" "sacrifice" at the end is actually done purely for self-gratification, an attempt to recapture the magic of a lover long since lost.
You may perhaps note that I haven't brought up any of the supernatural elements and that's because they're pretty superficial, almost more like window-dressing. It was improperly advertised as "Appalachian," "folk horror" and "gothic horror" but it is none of these. We are told it is set in Appalachia, but if you'd told me it was set anywhere in the United States outside of New England I would have believed you -- that's how little sense of place there was. There's no horror, and what fantasy exists seems more like an excuse to gussy up a tediously mundane narrative full of tediously mundane characters. Likewise, there's nothing "gothic" about it and I don't recall any "folk" aspect until the final chapter -- even that felt almost obligatory, as though intended to justify the marketing claim.
I stuck with this book, long past the point at which I'd ceased to have any hope for it. And in the end the juice simply wasn't worth the squeeze. Wish I'd passed on it.
You may perhaps note that I haven't brought up any of the supernatural elements and that's because they're pretty superficial, almost more like window-dressing. It was improperly advertised as "Appalachian," "folk horror" and "gothic horror" but it is none of these. We are told it is set in Appalachia, but if you'd told me it was set anywhere in the United States outside of New England I would have believed you -- that's how little sense of place there was. There's no horror, and what fantasy exists seems more like an excuse to gussy up a tediously mundane narrative full of tediously mundane characters. Likewise, there's nothing "gothic" about it and I don't recall any "folk" aspect until the final chapter -- even that felt almost obligatory, as though intended to justify the marketing claim.
I stuck with this book, long past the point at which I'd ceased to have any hope for it. And in the end the juice simply wasn't worth the squeeze. Wish I'd passed on it.
September 9, 2026
I agree with the reviews that do not classify this book as a horror book. I would say at most it’s a fantasy thriller. Love how weird and original this book is while also being a callback to classic fairy lore. I loved the characters, flawed as they were. This book hooked me immediately and did not let go.
August 8, 2026
Such a delightful, cozy little Appalachian Spirited Away. Loved it and want more of this world!
September 2, 2026
I cannot tell if I hated the ending, or if I’m mourning the fact that it’s over 😭
August 1, 2026
I had a great time reading this. It has such a whimsical language surrounding harrowing topics
July 22, 2026
4/5!
This was COMPLETELY different from my expectations. It felt like a more adult version of Spirited Away to be honest. Which, don't get me wrong, obsessed with that concept, just not what I imagined at all from the description.
This book switches between the past, where the character is part of the "cult" you may say and the present where she is going on vacation with her family.
This felt like more magical realism than horror but I still really liked it! Thank you Run For It for the early copy!!
This was COMPLETELY different from my expectations. It felt like a more adult version of Spirited Away to be honest. Which, don't get me wrong, obsessed with that concept, just not what I imagined at all from the description.
This book switches between the past, where the character is part of the "cult" you may say and the present where she is going on vacation with her family.
This felt like more magical realism than horror but I still really liked it! Thank you Run For It for the early copy!!
August 26, 2026
Never read anything like it. It was a fever dream, but an exceptional one. I hope there is a sequel bc I need more closure.
July 9, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and Orbit Books for the opportunity to read this arc!
As a born and raised Appalachian girlie, when I saw this Appalachian horror novel I knew I needed it immediately. Within the first few pages I just had a feeling that this novel is based locally to me. Turns out, the author is local to me! That being said, this story just felt like home to me. The Winter Folk is a dark fantasy gothic rooted in folklore. It follows Moth, renamed by the local cryptid Deerman known to steal women’s souls, as she reminisces on her past and tries to find connection to her home as an adult. Moth (Vera) and her family are visiting her hometown that she has been estranged from for nearly two decades, and she is trying to find her way back to a place that served as “home” to her in her early twenties. Growing up, Moth has a flaky dad and a sketchy mom, and her life begins falling apart for her after flunking out of college. She is offered a job by the Deerman, Mr. Oslin, to be a housekeeper for the seasonal winter lodge called Deerhaven. Deerhaven is a dangerous place located in a blip in time between her world and the Winter Folk’s world. After her first season working, Deerhaven and the people there begin to feel like home to Moth, despite the danger to her life she has encountered. As a young adult, she decides she wants to stay there forever and run Deerhaven alongside Mr. Oslin. However, things really are not as they seem. Moth finds herself banished from Deerhaven in her third season, and is searching for a way back to save her beloved Host after twenty years. The Winter Folk is a story of survival, found family, and love, as well as generational trauma. It is a reminder that some things from the past just don’t stay buried.
As a born and raised Appalachian girlie, when I saw this Appalachian horror novel I knew I needed it immediately. Within the first few pages I just had a feeling that this novel is based locally to me. Turns out, the author is local to me! That being said, this story just felt like home to me. The Winter Folk is a dark fantasy gothic rooted in folklore. It follows Moth, renamed by the local cryptid Deerman known to steal women’s souls, as she reminisces on her past and tries to find connection to her home as an adult. Moth (Vera) and her family are visiting her hometown that she has been estranged from for nearly two decades, and she is trying to find her way back to a place that served as “home” to her in her early twenties. Growing up, Moth has a flaky dad and a sketchy mom, and her life begins falling apart for her after flunking out of college. She is offered a job by the Deerman, Mr. Oslin, to be a housekeeper for the seasonal winter lodge called Deerhaven. Deerhaven is a dangerous place located in a blip in time between her world and the Winter Folk’s world. After her first season working, Deerhaven and the people there begin to feel like home to Moth, despite the danger to her life she has encountered. As a young adult, she decides she wants to stay there forever and run Deerhaven alongside Mr. Oslin. However, things really are not as they seem. Moth finds herself banished from Deerhaven in her third season, and is searching for a way back to save her beloved Host after twenty years. The Winter Folk is a story of survival, found family, and love, as well as generational trauma. It is a reminder that some things from the past just don’t stay buried.
Read
August 20, 2026Enjoyed this one! A dark magical fairytale in the vein of Coraline and Spirited Away, but with its own unique identity. Something I really enjoyed here was the author’s voice, things weren’t too fanciful, but there was a nice balance of realness in the conversations and cinematic set pieces. Recommend this one for the fall and winter months.
Thanks Orbit for the ARC!
Thanks Orbit for the ARC!
August 8, 2026
This book was okay. I went into it expecting horror but didn’t feel it really delivered. The story was interesting. I don’t think I liked ANY of the characters though. Except for maybe Cass.
Did Not Finish
August 5, 2026The writing style wasn’t for me.
August 5, 2026
I went into this mostly blind, expecting a really atmospheric horror story with Appalachian twists, and this absolutely delivered (mostly).
First off, this was super atmospheric. I felt like I was actually there, experiencing Deerhaven and the town of Little Gunning. The world building was incredible despite how small of a setting it was. I loved our cast of characters and thought each of the guests have their own quirks to them. I thought this has a lot to say about generational trauma, found family and the ways your own family can betray you, as well as naivety of being young. This book had so many cool things going for it, and I think Jen Julian did a fantastic job with it.
I expected a lot more horror based on how it was described. This book read more similar to Spirited Away (which is by all means a compliment) in the ways of horror, but it did the story justice. This was such a cool book, and I honestly recommend it to everyone. A fun romp through a mystical land with a touch of reality.
Thank you so much to the publisher for the ARC! I really enjoyed this one.
First off, this was super atmospheric. I felt like I was actually there, experiencing Deerhaven and the town of Little Gunning. The world building was incredible despite how small of a setting it was. I loved our cast of characters and thought each of the guests have their own quirks to them. I thought this has a lot to say about generational trauma, found family and the ways your own family can betray you, as well as naivety of being young. This book had so many cool things going for it, and I think Jen Julian did a fantastic job with it.
I expected a lot more horror based on how it was described. This book read more similar to Spirited Away (which is by all means a compliment) in the ways of horror, but it did the story justice. This was such a cool book, and I honestly recommend it to everyone. A fun romp through a mystical land with a touch of reality.
Thank you so much to the publisher for the ARC! I really enjoyed this one.
Did Not Finish
August 3, 2026DNF at 63%. Story seemed pointless.
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