As the Snow Gathers

by Mere Joyce

The forest doesn't just take what it's owed—it takes whatever it wants.

Dominic was born in Aplin Shade, a remote Canadian town built on the bones of another that vanished without a trace. Bookish and quiet, he never asked to lead his family, but after a carriage crash kills his father and leaves his sister forever changed, he has no choice.

The only person who truly sees him is Lex, a logger in the camp near town and the love Dominic must keep secret. Together they dream of escaping Aplin Shade, a place where isolation breeds judgment and every kindness hides a cost.

But the forest is no refuge. The Fanteur dwell there—shadowed beings who come at night to drain the dead of their blood and return them for burial by dawn.

They've never touched the living.

Until now.

As winter descends and the Fanteur strike back against the logging camp, Dominic and Lex must fight for their lives, their love, and a way out of the woods' tightening grasp.

Because the forest doesn't forgive, and it never forgets.

Genres: Horror, Queer, LGBT, Fiction, Adult, Historical, Paranormal

368 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication September 1, 2026

About the author

Mere Joyce lives in Atlantic Canada. As both a writer and a librarian, she understands the importance of reading, and the impact the right story can have.

Reviews

[The Reading Frog · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Mere Joyce, Poisoned Pen Press & NetGalley for this free ARC in exchange for my honest review

Rating: 3.25/5 ⭐
CW: Explicit | Blood, death, gore, grief
Moderate | Ableism, animal death, fade-to-black sex scene, homophobia, injury description, past infant death, racism, (racist) slurs, religious bigotry, sexism, stillbirth, suicidal ideation, violence, xenophobia
Mild | Alcoholism, burn injury description, medical procedures, mention of a suicide, mention of miscarriage, minor mention of sexual coercion, mistreatment of an animal, past death of a parent, self-injury, vomit
My chosen soundtrack(s): My Special Girl - Cristobal Tapia De Veer | Gifted - Cristobal Tapia De Veer

For nearly two decades, the Fanteur had been harmless to the living residents of Aplin Shade. But there was never any doubt about their potential for danger. When Father’s corpse was taken—the blood drained, the flesh destroyed, and the bones crushed—the creatures from the woods were showing their strength. The living hadn’t taken heed. And since that day, Fanteur snow had appeared every time someone in the village had died. The Fanteur were never the cause of the death, however. They’d never seemed capable of harming the living. Or they’d never seen a need to. Unless that had now changed as well.

Representation
╰┈➤ Queer MCs | Dominic and Lex
╰┈➤ Established MLM dynamic | Dominic and Lex
╰┈➤ Unspecified BIPOC side character | Peter, is described with these words: "the dark shade of his skin", and is implied to be black.
╰┈➤ Unspecified disabled side character | Isadora, implied psychological or brain damage and mutism as a result of a carriage accident
╰┈➤ Implied albino MC | Lex has the colouring associated with albinism, though no impaired vision is mentioned
╰┈➤ Implied mental health rep through MC | Some PTSD symptoms, intrusive memories, suicidal ideation and grief


Themes
Bigotry, cowardice vs bravery, deforestation, exploitation, greed, gender based expectations and roles, nature fights back, open secrets, otherness, poverty, prejudice, self-worth issues, selfishness, the ugliness of humanity, "who is really the monster?"


Tropes/What to expect
‎ ‎ ‎ ❥ Something is wrong with the forest
‎ ‎ ‎ ❥ Us against the world dynamic
‎ ‎ ‎ ❥ Looming crisis
‎ ‎ ‎ ❥ Monstrous humans
‎ ‎ ‎ ❥ "Crash out, king. You earned it."


What I liked/loved
‎ ‎ ‎ ✧ The setting | The story takes place in Aplin Shade. A village once found mysteriously abandoned, now inhabited by a new group of people.
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ This snowy village is cold in more ways than one. Conservative men are set in their bigoted old ways, otherness is seen as obscene, every coin counts, and there is no sympathy for travelling workers trying to set up a life for themselves. Money is scarce in Aplin Shade, and its inhabitants are greedy, self-serving and exploitative as a result.
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Add to this the loggers' camp, whose inhabitants are shunned while simultaneously exploited/relied on for the coin their labour brings and the invisible yet overarching presence of the 'Fanteur', and you get something pretty intriguing.
‎ ‎ ‎ ✧ The Fanteur | A silent pact held the peace between man and Fanteur ever since a group of humans settled on the ground neighbouring the forest in which they reside. As long as the villagers stay out of the woods, nothing astrotioucs will happen.
‎ ‎ ‎ Yes, the villagers have to deal with their dead mysteriously being stolen, drained of their blood and safely returned some time later, but that's a small price to pay for the truce between men and nature.
‎ ‎ ‎ The woods are creepy, heavy with a sense of being watched, continuously looming over Aplin Shade, yet very much treated with a 'turning a blind eye' approach.
‎ ‎ ‎ When the logging efforts increase, this long-held truce becomes volatile and unsteady. Nature decides to fight back.
‎ ‎ ‎ I won't go into detail about what this entails, but I found myself really surprised by the uniqueness of the Fanteur as a concept, its design, and its behaviour. It felt fresh and unpredictable.
‎ ‎ ‎ ✧ Misanthropic Narrative | Though the Fanteur serve as an antagonistic force in this story, this doesn't mean that humans are framed as 'the good ones'. There is a huge focus on the ugliness and evil of humans. It made me go: "Is it bad that I'm siding with the Fanteur? Honestly, forest go off, deforestation is no joke."
‎ ‎ ‎ If you enjoy stories that highlight humanity as an invasive species, whose absence or even eradication would benefit nature, you will probably enjoy the discourse in this book.

“This village. It makes monsters of us all, doesn’t it?” “Yes,” I agreed. “That it does.”

‎ ‎ ‎ ✧ There is a focus and repeated exploration of the invisible, ignored and quiet and how they shouldn't be underestimated.
‎ ‎ ‎ How loudness, ego, and confidence don't equal or guarantee actual power/competence. How acting like something isn't there won't make it go away. And a highlight of the art of noticing, how looking/listening can serve as a skill. Some examples:
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ✵ The Fanteur are scary because they are unseen and thus intangible.
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ✵ Dominic is described as invisible, easily ignored, disrespected and thus, underestimated. This aspect plays a huge part in his character arc.
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ✵ Isadora isn't able to verbally communicate, which I wish had been explored more. (Honestly, I wish Isadora in general would've been explored more)
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ✵ Lex and Dominic's relationship is a known secret, constantly held over their heads without being properly addressed, yet always used to inflict hurt and exploit.
‎ ‎ ‎ ✧ Satisfying and believable character arc | I really enjoy Dominic's character development. I love that he is not instantly brave. It's something he learns gradually, sometimes falling back on what he knows, which feels realistic. Displaying that feeling of knowing what needs to change, yet not being ready, capable or able to do so, makes it easy to sympathise with him.
‎ ‎ ‎ ✧ This book contains morally grey characters/actions without losing the readers' sympathy for them, which I love.
‎ ‎ ‎ Also, a little taste of unhinged queer characters? Don't mind if I do!
‎ ‎ ‎ ✧ Characters that you love to hate! I had a 'men I hope die before this book ends' list, and that's honestly all you need to know.
‎ ‎ ✧ Exploring discourse on gender-based expectations. Specifically through the MC, who must assume his deceased father's roles, both as head of the household and in his profession, while simultaneously fulfilling his responsibilities as a son and brother.
‎ ‎ ‎ ✧ The first 60% builds mystery and fear of the unknown, while the last 40% dives into the heaviness of knowing, tense with anticipation and dread. I enjoyed both, but preferred the second part since it was faster-paced and kept me more engaged than the first segment did.
‎ ‎ ‎ ✧ There is an exploration of going through life as a passive passenger in contrast to taking ownership of one's life that I really enjoyed.
‎ ‎ ‎ ✧ This is not a positive or a negative to me personally, but the romantic relationship between the main characters is already established. I know some people don't really enjoy that, so I thought it was worth mentioning.



What I didn't like/felt lacklustre about
‎ ‎ ‎ ✦ I felt a bit infodumped in the beginning, specifically when it came to the introduction of characters. I had to take notes, which I did end up needing because a lot of the introductions just didn't stick.
‎ ‎ ‎ ✦ There were specific characters whose death I feel a bit weird about. Choosing to kill off the only black character and a pregnant woman on page, while most other deaths happen off-page, made me feel a bit iffy about it.
‎ ‎ ‎ ✦ I should love this book since it has elements I love; something is wrong with the forest trope, body horror, mystery, queer main characters and some unhingedness. Yet, for some reason, I wasn't fully invested. That did change a little in the second segment of the book, but overall, I just wasn't as immersed in this read as I thought I would be.
‎ ‎ ‎ ✦ I wanted to know more about Lex as a character and his past, as well as some of the characters we lost. I would've been more invested in them if I had more time to learn and care about them. Some moments should've been devastating, but they didn't hit as such. I found myself going "Damn, rip. Anyways-"
‎ ‎ ‎ ✦ I don't know how to talk about the ending without spoiling it.
So non-spoiler version, that probably won't make sense: I got the ending I wanted, but the intensity was at 60% while I longed for it to be 160%. There was also an open-ended adjacent aspect to it that I didn't really vibe with.
Now, the spoilery version: I liked the promise of a cathartic revenge, and there definitely was some of that, but I wish we had got the full intensity of it instead of the promise of more in an imagined future beyond the pages.



Conclusion/Notes
There was so much here I should've loved, and I did, to a certain degree. This was not a bad read by any means; it was fun, bloody, a little unhinged and unique. Yet, I didn't feel as connected to the story or characters as I thought I would be. Though I thoroughly enjoyed my time with this book, I anticipate it won't really stay with me beyond its pages.

Regardless of this not being a 5⭐ read for me, I do recommend it! It's a fun time and has something unique to offer.

Definitely pick this one up if you enjoy queer-centric horror, freaky forest creatures and commentary on humanity.

Little disclaimer regarding my rating: this book followed a reading streak of 4.5⭐ or higher-rated books, which is hard to follow up. My reading experience might have been influenced by that streak.


⋆⁺₊⋆ ━━━━⊱༒︎ • ༒︎⊰━━━━ ⋆⁺₊⋆



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[Kaysie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cold, horrible, bleak story where everyone sucks and humans are the worst and that ending? Honestly? Go off, king, you deserve that crash out. I really loved this isolated snowy setting too. This would be a perfect snowstorm read in winter!

Thank you to Mere Joyce, Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[RootsfortheVillain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aplin Shade is a remote Canadian town that was discovered abandoned, its former residents gone without a trace. At first glance, it looks like an ideal place to settle, but at night, a magical force called the Fanteur arrives and drains the dead. Dominic was born in Aplin Shade and never wanted to stay, but after his father died in a carriage accident, he became the head of his family. Only Lex, a logger working at a camp outside town, notices Dominic. Together, they have dreams of escaping Aplin Shade. But the Fanteur are now going after the living and killing anyone trying to escape. Dominic and Lex must find out what the Fanteur wants before it's too late.

As the Snow Gathers is a gripping horror story filled with a village of unlikable characters and a paranormal mystery hidden in the woods. The town feels even more eerie because of its winter isolation, and I liked how the tension grew between the townspeople and the logging camp as the Fanteur continued to terrorize the villagers. The romance between Lex and Dominic was a nice break from the horrors of the Fanteur, but it was truly heartbreaking in the end. Overall, this was a fantastic horror novel, and I would definitely recommend it to fans of the genre.

As the Snow Gathers is out September 1st.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the opportunity to review As the Snow Gathers. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Novels and Nummies · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was horribly miserable, I loved it. Set in a vile little village with a logging camp at its outskirts, the dead are taken by an unknown source for years until one day the source stops waiting until they are dead.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The storyline was incredibly unique. Essentially, the author crafted a setting and group of characters that explores what happens in a place where hope has gone to die.

I can acknowledge that this book wasn’t perfect, some of the world building left unanswered questions, and the pacing ebbed and flowed, but I was quickly sucked into this story. I feel like the author did an excellent job of setting the tone at the beginning and I don’t know.. this book just really worked for me.

I would highly recommend this book and it had a sort of Wildjackets vibe to it (it evoked the same feeling in me I had when watching the show despite them being nothing alike). I truly was not expecting to like this as much as I did.

In conclusion everything is awful and everyone sucks in this book, it’s my favorite read of the year so far (and I could truly see it being my top read of the year).

[Bailey (Myveinsbleedink) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was so different then anything I have picked up lately. I feel like it started off kind of slow but as the book progresses I became more and more invested in what was happening and what could possibly be the outcome. The outcome was not what I expected at all .
One thing to note, this book is not happy, it's not romantic, it's sad and depressing....basically everyone is a pretty horrible person in this book except our main characters Lex & Dominic. And even they have nothing, besides each other, to be even remotely happy or hopeful about.

To set the stage a bit, the book takes place in Aplin Shade a small Canadian town that settlers just happen to discover empty and decided to move on in. Seems like an amazing stroke of luck right?!? Hmmm.... They soon discover that the forest they are surrounded by is not all that it seems. "The Fanteur dwell there—shadowed beings who come at night to drain the dead of their blood and return them for burial by dawn." Sounds fun. Except things start to escalate when a logging camp moves in and begin to do what logging companies to best, destroy forests.

Things move pretty quickly at a certain point in the book and then before you know it you are so engulfed in the story that you can't stop. You want even the tiniest bit of happiness for our MMCs. Do they get it? Expect the unexpected.

As most horror novels check your triggers if you have any, this book deals with a lot of different things, homophobia, PTSD, descriptive gory scenes, animal death and a lot of other things that you may want to check out.
Thank you Poisoned Pen Press, Mere Joyce and Netgalley for this eARC. Definitely recommend.

[Ashlie | ashlieinpages 🤎 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press for an eARC.

4.25 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ this was really, really good. Review to come!!

[donutdot · Rating 4 out of 5]

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the e-arc!!

i always like small town horror, usually set in the summer or fall (you know that one set the 80s...) and this one, in the middle of what has the be the bleakest winter ever, caged in by the mysterious fanteur that lurk in the woods draining no longer just the dead of their blood and crushing them into power like snow i don't think it can get more miserable than that. if i had to compare it, it would be something like from (on prime) if it was a queer historical novel.

it's morally wrong of me but i liked the whole, aplin shade is surrounded by monsters but the residents are all monstrous people too thing going on. literally everyone sucks, and it's harsh to see it through the eyes of our protagonist dom, always undermined and underestimated bt everyone except his not so secret beau lex.

personally i thought going at this with more of a mystery, how to take down the fanteur or just survive, angle was interesting though i have to say parts i and half of ii dragged for quite a bit and i found myself getting a little bored, especially when i cared for none of the characters but dom and lex, with the exception of grace, james and peter.

on a side note i love an established couple, especially in a horror setting. the way lex is so supportive of dom to the point of having his wages docked, how dom wants to overcome his fears for lex is something to be admired, truly. in some ways, because they're on opposite dies, lex as a logger and dom a villager, it feels very romeo and juliet esque.

"his movements so soft and content it made me ache with the knowledge that i would never have enough of him in my life."

"i promise you. i want to do it like this. you are tattered. i will go through eternity tattered with you."

"if it comes between the village and you, i will choose you every time, dom." and he DID. they both did.

spoilers from here on!!

i almost put the book down when james, grace and peter died. then when lex died i swear i nearly dnfed out of frustration. i really wish the author leaned more into the, came back wrong trope but overall i am so happy with the last bit. dom deserves to crash out and make the whole village burn to the ground.

"if i was going to die on this cursed village, i was going to bring everyone else to hell with me." slay king.

i loved watching him manipulate rebecca and blackmailing the rest of the horrible people, con pharmacist albert grant, pervy pastor mallow, cheat and murderer parkinson and foremam chester roy. and of course rebecca herself for lying and leading to lex's death. it was so satisfying.

of course after that i expected him to die by lex's hands, now a fanteur. both of them!! step 1 take down the village. step 2 get back together, though they've always been together. this was a plot twist but i saw it coming and i wish we got more of lex's pov for this part!! step 3 (eventually) take down the fanteur too.

power couple!! actually really enjoyed this.

[Books with Becs · Rating 4 out of 5]

When settlers first arrived in Aplin Shade 20 years ago, they discovered a fully built town with not a single soul living there. They soon discovered why. Whenever a settler died, the body would disappear only to return a day or two later fully drained of blood, but otherwise ready for burial. The settlers named the mysterious creatures who lived in the surrounding woods The Fanteur. This strange arrangement between the settlers and Fanteur was largely peaceful until the settlers started logging. Now, the Fanteur are angry and they aren’t just taking dead bodies anymore. They are actively killing the settlers and only returning their bones…crushed so finely that they look like freshly fallen snow. Dominic and Lex know that the logging needs to stop, but the stubborn settlers know of no other way to survive. All Dom and Lex can do is hope they can survive long enough to escape Aplin Shade.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for letting me read an early copy of As the Snow Gathers by Mere Joyce. When I requested a review copy of this book, I fully expected an atmospheric, creature feature horror. What I didn’t expect was a beautiful queer love story to go along with it. Our protagonists, Lex and Dom, had a loving relationship that they had to spend a lot of time and energy to hide in the 1860’s. This was an already-established relationship built on mutual respect and care, so I really loved that. The first chapter of the book grabbed me immediately and set the stage for the horrors to come. While the first half of the book was slow burn and a bit repetitive, it ended up being worth the wait. The first chapter was good enough that the slow build wasn’t too tedious for me, but it might be for others. There was one chapter towards the middle that I think might be one of the most frightening single chapters of horror literature I’ve read in a long time. Towards the end, the book went into unhinged territory and I love that. The setting of the story was bleak, cold, and felt claustrophobic. Most of the settlers were either bitter, meek, downright awful, or conniving, but I suppose you can’t expect too much from a frozen backwoods settlement cut off from the rest of the world. This is not at all a critique. I think the villagers being so awful was the correct move for the story. Joyce created enough characters to root for or at least feel sorry for, that I was invested. I particularly liked Lex, Grace, and Dom. Man, that ending. That ending was incredible. It left me more curious about the Fanteur in the best way. I’m hoping a more talented reader is able to draw some fan art of them. If Joyce can tighten up the more repetitive stuff and fix up a few of the typos, I think she is going to be a writer I will want to see a lot more from. As the Snow Gathers releases September 2026! 3.5/5 stars

[Evie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book that has such solid bones and an intriguing premise, and yet, unfortunately for me it was also a book that just so often left me thinking ‘just a little more please’.

In the 1840’s a small group of settlers come across a small cluster of cabins mysteriously abandoned, and rather than question the who built the cabins or where the previous occupants are now, they take the opportunity presented to them and decided to build the township of Alpine Shade in the shade of this previous town. Twenty years later, the town find themselves being hunted, one by one, by a creature they call the Fanteur, a being who has coexisted with the town previously, but something has changed and now the Fanteur are angry.

Dominic, has lived his whole life in Alpine Shade and longs for nothing more than to escape with his lover Lex, and build a quiet life farming far away. Unfortunately, with the depths of winter howling and the Fanteur on their doorstep, Dom and Lex’s dreams seem to be growing forever further out of reach.

This is one of those stories that while technically historical, is not necessarily one I would recommend to avid readers of the historical genre. I personally found that the book gave me very little sense of time and place that I love in a good historical, which generally comes from a foundation of good research underpinning the details of the plot and characters. Other than an abundance of talk about tallow candles and medicine of the 1800s, you would be hard to pin down the time period this was set in and I JUST WANTED MORE SENSE OF HISTORY.

I enjoyed that Dom and Lex were an established couple as it gave their dynamic a different focus than most other romances where the focus is on the tension of the chemistry. It was very sweet with a few brief fade to black moments, but I JUST WANTED MORE DEVOTION AND DEPTH TO THEIR RELATIONSHIP.

I admit I was kind of confused about some elements, there was a Pastor in the town and yet there was very little fire and brimstone talk, and Dom and Lex being lovers was almost an open secret amongst the villagers, yet again very little condemnation from the town? And given that the town was meant to be full of utterly horrible people, I JUST WANTED THEM TO BE MORE HORRID. I feel like the book was aiming for a similar vibe to something like ‘Slewfoot’ or ‘The Woods All Black’ and just kind of missed the mark a bit.

I will be absolutely honest, I thought that this was a debut, and with that in mind, thought it was a good effort with a lot of potential, but with the plot challenges and barriers navigated a little too conveniently. Apparently it is not however, so take that as you will. I think that this could be a lot of fun for an audience who like a historical horror ‘lite’ with an unconventional HEA but it just left me hungry for what it could have been.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book

Planned release date 1 September 2026




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[Rae B Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are books you enjoy, books you admire, and then there are books that quietly settle somewhere inside you long after you’ve turned the final page.

As the Snow Gathers is one of those books.

On the surface, it’s a beautifully atmospheric Gothic horror wrapped in folklore, grief, and winter darkness. But beneath its haunting imagery lies a profoundly human story about love, sacrifice, loss, and the impossible choices we make when the people we love are at stake.

What struck me most wasn’t simply the horror, it was how deeply emotional it was.

Mere Joyce crafts an atmosphere so immersive that the snow-covered forests almost become another character. Every shadow feels alive, every silence carries weight, and every revelation deepens both the mystery and the emotional stakes. The horror is unsettling without ever feeling excessive. The moments of body horror are impactful because they’re rooted in the story, never included merely for shock value.

The character work is where this novel truly shines.

No one is entirely innocent, and no decision comes without consequence. Every morally gray choice feels authentic because the characters are forced to navigate impossible circumstances rather than convenient plot devices. Their grief, hope, fear, and love are written with remarkable honesty, making it impossible not to become emotionally invested in their journey.

And then there’s the prose.

It’s elegant, lyrical, and deeply evocative without ever slowing the story’s momentum. This is one of those rare novels where I found myself rereading passages simply because they were so beautifully written.

The ending is everything I hoped it would be, heartbreaking, surprising, and completely earned. It doesn’t rely on cheap twists or manufactured emotion. Instead, it delivers an ending that feels inevitable in the best possible way, leaving behind that bittersweet ache that only a truly memorable story can create.

If you enjoy Gothic horror where atmosphere is just as important as plot, if you love folklore woven into emotionally rich storytelling, or if you’re looking for horror that values heart as much as fear, I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

This wasn’t just one of my favorite horror novels of the year.

It was one of my favorite reading experiences.

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and Mere Joyce for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. It was an absolute privilege to experience this story ahead of publication, and I have no doubt it will stay with me for a very long time.

Publication Date: September 1, 2026

Final Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)

[VeroniCanRead · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐ ARC Review

TLDR; A cross between an atmospheric forest horror and a queer romance in a remote logging town that was equal parts creepy, heartbreaking, and satisfying.

🪾 For Fans of:
- forest horror
- queer romance (m-m)
- remote small town
- winter setting
- set in 1860s
- Canadian logging town
- revenge
- single timeline
- dual POV
- Book: Don’t Let The Forest In by CG Drews

✏️ Spoiler-Free ARC Review
This book is an eerie horror novel AND a beautiful romance between Dom, a barrister whom no one respects, and Lex, an albino logger. In this small, remote and snowy town there are monsters who live in the forest. When someone dies, the forest takes the body, drains their blood, and returns them until one day, the forest takes a living person. As the town descends into fear and mob-mentality, Lex and Dom try to figure out what is in the forest and if they can ever escape.

This book has it all. We’ve got a horror that feels atmospherically creepy with the snowy forest truly taking shape into its own character and a gay queer romance between two men who have always felt out of place and find solace in one another

Still, throughout the horror of it all, I did truly enjoy the look at their queer romance and how it comes into play within their friend group, their family, their employers, and the various townspeople that they interact with.

Even the fact that it is 1863 provides context for the way the town works but never makes it feel outdated or like true historical horror since it rarely references other historical happenings other than some medical components.

NOTE: While I do recommend this book for anyone who enjoyed Don’t Let The Forest In by CG Drews, I will say that it DOES move a bit quicker which was nice because it kept me engaged. I also found the CG Drews book to be extremely depressing and kind of difficult to read knowing that they were still children and they go through SO MUCH pain and hopelessness whereas this book felt more hopeful even through all the death. It was just generally much less depressing even though it’s set in winter in the middle of nowhere Canada in a town with the forest trying to kill them lol


🖤 Thank you to author Mere Joyce and publisher Poisoned Pen Press for the digital advanced reader copy (ARC) via NetGalley.
As always, my reviews are honest, my own, and voluntary!

📚 Book: As The Snow Gathers by Mere Joyce
📅 Release Date: September 1, 2026
⭐ Rating: 4.5 out of 5

[Megan Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This isn’t my usual genre, but sometimes the best reads are the ones that feel like taking an unexpected detour—and this one led straight into a cold, haunting wilderness I won’t soon forget.

From the start, As The Snow Gathers establishes a relentlessly dark tone. There’s no warmth to cling to here—no easy comfort or lightness—but there is a quiet, striking beauty woven throughout. The setting feels almost cinematic, reminiscent of the stark brutality of The Revenant blended with the eerie isolation of a place like Smeerenburg in Klaus: snowbound, unforgiving, and steeped in an old-world heaviness.

The characters are, by design, difficult—guarded, self-serving, and tangled in secrets. Yet, within that harsh landscape, the relationship between Dom and Lex offers a rare and luminous contrast. Their connection is handled with a delicate restraint that feels both authentic and historically grounded. Much of what makes their story compelling lies not in what is said outright, but in what lingers beneath the surface—unspoken, but deeply felt.

This is very much a slow-burn narrative. The pacing is deliberate, almost meditative, drawing you deeper into the mystery of the unseen terror lurking beyond the village. Rather than relying on sharp twists or overt scares, the novel builds tension in the quiet spaces—in the cold, in the silence, and in the sense that something is always just out of reach.

Readers looking for a plot-driven thriller or a feel-good escape may find this challenging. Character development outside of Dom and Lex is minimal, and the story leans heavily into atmosphere over action. But for those willing to settle into its rhythm, there is something undeniably compelling about its mood and restraint.

Ultimately, As The Snow Falls is a haunting, introspective read—one best experienced curled up under a blanket, when you’re in the mood to sit with something a little darker, a little quieter, and a little more elusive.

If you enjoy slow, atmospheric historical fiction where much is left unsaid—and where beauty exists even in the bleakest places—this is well worth the journey.

[Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an e-ARC and am giving my honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this opportunity!

I went into this book blind, I couldn't even remember if it was going to be queer or not. Wow. I was completely blown away, devoured it in 24 hours.

As a side note, there is pretty gory animal (2 horses) harm/death around 22% after Dom and Lex wake up in the night. "The horses were bleeding." is a good place to stop and then continue around "My stomach coiled." Though it is brought up again a bit later in the same detail via dream, but I found it easier to skip over than the first chunk. It's brought up a few more times throughout the book but I was able to continue anyways.

The start of the book is very atmospheric, unable to know what the Fanteur are or look like but knowing they're there. It isn't until the 60ish percent mark that it takes a turn. Normally, I'm not one for horrors books taking such abrupt turn from the vibe and feeling they've laid out, but this one did a phenomenal job of it. The drastic change the story takes a bit after that was at first a bit hard for me to get used to, it was so people-heavy with nothing of the Fanteurs, but the outcome definitely allowed it to pay off. The ending was really good and allowed for a properly good ending, despite the road to get there.

One thing I really want to applaud this book for is, although it may seem unrealistic, the lack of shame both Lex and Dom felt about the other. I can't remember the last time I read a historical queer novel where neither character outright pushed to hide their relationship, acted like the other didn't exist around other people, etc. Of course I understand the necessity of that, but in fiction it can be nice to forego realism and allow tenderness. And this book did a really lovely job of that.

The cast of characters is also incredibly diverse, including Lex (the love interest) being albino. I don't think I've ever read a book with an albino character, it was incredibly interesting.

If you're sick of how society treats minorities and especially poor people and are filled with queer rage, this book is for you.

[storriebooked · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm trying to write this review & wondering if I actually know anything anymore, because a book I was hesitant on ended up being my FIRST 5-star read of 2026. When I first read the description for As the Snow Gathers I was absolutely intrigued ((as any good horror goblin would be)) but the mentions of romance had me pausing. I love a romance plot line for anyone who ISN'T me, but I tend to get annoyed when my horror is too romance heavy. What I didn't know before reading this book is that Mere Joyce is brilliant at using romance to twist the knife & make the horror hit that much harder.

The setting of this book instantly called to me. It's isolated, wooded, & icy- perfect for losing yourself in. ((But remember... you're not alone out there...)) I also found myself quickly wrapped up in both the tension that blanketed the town of Aplin Shade & the overwhelming sense of dread that Dom is grappling with. I really loved him & Lex as characters and thought they balanced each other well.

If you're not one for gore there will be some scenes here that aren't for you, but I loved them. Joyce has this innate skill for making even gruesome scenes read like poetry. I'd simultaneously love to see this as a horror film & dread seeing someone bring it to life as anything less than what it deserves. I don't picture things when I read ((my brain doesn't work that way)) but As the Snow Gathers is a book that I felt on a visceral level the whole time I was consuming it. ((Or was it consuming me? It's too soon to tell...))

I need this book to be on the radar of every horror reader ASAP, because though it isn't expected to release until 9/1/26, Mere Joyce has written something darkly captivating. Pre-order, request at your local library, see what you can do to get this book in your hands & on the shelves- I can't wait to hear what you think about this one!

((While the viewpoints shared are my own, I want to thank NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press, and Mere Joyce for this complimentary copy.))

[Liberty Richardson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This started out really intriguing, and I liked a lot of the elements As the Snow Gathers was working with. The snowy, isolated village is a great setting for this kind of supernatural horror, and it really works as backdrop for the introspection and frustration we get to explore with our queer main characters. I also really liked how the social dynamics of this village evolved and how that influenced/was influenced by the looming threat of the fanteur.

Unfortunately a lot of other things just didn't get handled well in the long run, and a lot of the tension we get from the setup just doesn't go anywhere fast enough to keep me interested. While we get some bits of information about the supernatural forces at play in the first half, there isn't enough for me to really understand how much of a threat they pose to the villagers. Then we do eventually get some reveal, and though the scene was unsettling it left me with more questions than answers. While I can appreciate that ambiguity can add to suspense I felt like I never knew enough to understand the the kind of danger anyone was in or why any of this was happening. There are so many eerie aspects to this story, but we just don't do enough with them.

Pacing was similarly an issue with character development, and it left me frustrated. While there's definitely a big change in Dom from beginning to end it isn't until the last quarter or so that we see this rapid shift, and I just wish that process had begun sooner. There's certainly reason for the sudden change, but it was more one extreme to another and not actual character "development." This in addition to the way the situation with the village was resolved left me with a sense of whiplash more than anything, and it kept me from getting totally invested in these characters that I really wanted to like.

Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC

[CJ Espinoza · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you enjoy a slow-burn, queer gothic steeped in folklore and atmosphere, As the Snow Gathers by Joyce Mere may be exactly what you’re looking for. Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC.

The heart of this novel lies in the forbidden relationship between Dom and Lex. Their chemistry is undeniable, tender, aching, and filled with a quiet defiance. I found myself completely drawn into their longing and their shared dream of building a life together, even as the world around them threatens to tear that possibility apart. While some villagers turn a blind eye to their connection, others respond with cruelty, adding tension that feels both intimate and painfully real.

Set in a remote Canadian mountain village during the brutal winter of 1863, the story is drenched in isolation. The setting is one of the book’s greatest strengths: a snowbound settlement surrounded by dense, unforgiving woods, with a logging camp looming at its edge under the control of a greedy overseer. As the forest is carved away, something ancient and dangerous stirs. The Fanteur—haunting, predatory creatures—emerge as a chilling presence, draining the dead and returning their hollowed bodies. The novel makes one thing clear: the forest does not forgive.

While I was consistently engaged, especially by Dom’s relationships with his mother, sister, and Lex. I did find myself wishing for more intensity in the horror elements. The story leans heavily into atmosphere over action, favoring a slow, simmering dread rather than sharp scares. For some readers, the pacing may feel too measured.

Overall, the tone is dark, eerie, and somber, like a long winter that never quite breaks. Though it didn’t fully meet my expectations in terms of tension and payoff, I was deeply invested in Dom and Lex—their love is what lingers.

⭐️ 3.5 stars

[SpookyxSpice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley & The Publisher for this ARC in exchange for a review.

AS THE SNOW GATHERS is a slow burn tale with a winter backdrop, set in an isolated town with supernatural beasts killing off members of the town and the logging camp one by one. That's the way it's always been, but the Fanteur are growing restless and killing outside of their usual habits.

What worked for me: I enjoyed the town set up of Aplin Shade and the bigoted townfolk who instead of bettering their situations and leaving, have decided to stay miserable and make everyone around them as miserable too. I enjoyed the character of Lex, the mysterious depictions of the Fanteur and the horror aspects of the novel. The unhinged ending was an unexpected twist and definitely felt uncharacteristic of Dominic, however I can see how it happened and wanted revenge for him just as much as his friends.

What didn't work for me: I despised Dominic so much, he was far too nervous and meek to his detriment. He loathes his actions and his self but does nothing to change anything about himself until it is far too late. The descriptions and reveal of the Fanteur not happening until the very end didn't meet the expectations of build up throughout the story. I feel it would have been better never revealing them or doing so beforehand.

The main characters are in an M/M gay relationship and there is homophobia throughout the book. The romance is very basic and there are no sex scenes, it's more about their connection and their dreams for the future. (How I feel about female authors writing gay male romances, especially when they're straight representing is a different story. )

AS THE SNOW GATHERS is out September 1st 2026.

[Amy (ReadThisAndSteep) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so atmospheric! It's Gothic horror with folklore, queer romance, supernatural entities, and psychological dread and is such a haunting read.

Set in a brutal 1863 Canadian winter, a young barrister must protect his secret lover and survive a remote village's descent into madness as blood-draining forest spirits begin hunting the living. Dark, and slow burning, the setting of this is very well done. Cut off from civilization, they experience brutal blizzards, and everything is always freezing and gray, and it feels like even the trees are watching you.

The characters are deeply flawed and unsympathetic. Many of them behave in truly awful ways, as fear fractures the already difficult community. The villagers are suspicious and highly judgemental, and their paranoia and cruelty create as much danger as the monsters. There is strong LGBTQ rep in Dom and Lex, the main couple and emotional anchor of the story. They are full of longing and hope to escape for a better future together. Dom, a gentle person, becomes warped by social rejection and trauma, and he plots revenge against the villagers who have rejected and ostracized him and Lex. There is a lot of unhinged behavior from several of the characters, and there's an examination of human nature told from a dark place.

The prose is lovely and descriptive, and the author does a great job with the characters' psychological landscape as much as with the setting's physical one. There are a few pacing issues, particularly in the middle third, but for the most part, an inescapable feeling of impending doom keeps things moving. It is strange, eerie, and bloody.

Unsettling, emotional, and unique, this is horror for a chilly, spooky winter night!

Thank you Poisoned Pen Press for the gifted review copy

[Off Service Book Recs · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alpin Shade, a remote town in the Canadian wilderness, may have an idyllic name, but the bones of ta past abandoned town its built on should have served as a warning, not an invitation. Dominic was born here, raised here, and will likely die here - after a carriage crash which killed his father and maimed his siter, he's now the reluctant head of his family, and his dreams of leaving the judgement, isolation, and destitution of Alpin Shade with Lex - a logger in the camp near town and his secret love - seem more far-fetched by the day.

Making an escape through the woods more complicated are the Fanteur - shadowed beings who come at night to drain the dead of their blood and return them for burial by dawn. Before now, they've never touched the living - but as winter descents on the logging camp so do the Fanteur on the loggers - and if Lex and Dominic aren't careful, the lovely, dark and deep woods will be their reluctant resting place before they can even dream of spring.

If this doesn't get picked up by Netflix - or probably HBO, because this is an R-rated book - I don't know what I'm going to do. Horror is not happy and is not easy, and this was EXACTLY what I wanted in a book about the things we don't talk about in the forest. This was dripping with horror - both the things that go bump in the night and that of a micro-town in a time before antibiotics where you happen to be a man who likes a man. Big fan of the horrors within and without, and I finished this book in a few short days because I needed to KNOW what happened next. This would be a great atmospheric read for the fall or for that nice trip to the Canadian woods you have this summer - try not to die!

[Jess Stadler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow okay.. I ate this up. As The Snow Gathers is definitely one of those slow-burning horrors that gets creepier and more gruesome as the story goes on. The feeling of dread grows, and when that last 40% hits, Joyce puts her foot on the gas, and you get all the gruesome horror treats you’ve been waiting for. My mind was spinning over the imagery and trying to piece together what these Fanteurs look like. I would love to see some art of these forest entities (I LOVE a spooky forest entity). The pacing of this one is a bit slow, but I don’t let that deter me as I’ve learned that these slower-paced books always take me by surprise in the last half.

There are a handful of characters who make up this story that takes place in a remote Canadian town, but Dom and Lex are the two main MMCs. Dom is the main POV in the book, and Lex has a couple of POV chapters. I really loved that there was a romantic element, giving a soft, loving emotional underbelly that is much-needed relief in a dreadful, dark story. At its core, this is also a revenge story. After Dom feels disowned and rejected by pretty much everyone around him, Lex is his only safe space. I felt sad for Dom… and when he started to plan his revenge, I knew I was in for a strong, satisfying conclusion. At times, it left me wondering if I actually liked Dom as a character or if I am a little bit scared of him (LOL)?

This is an atmospheric read — you feel the desolate, dark, and suffocating environment of this small town and the eerie forest around it. That silence that you feel in the dead of winter. It’s dreary and sad. Everyone is on edge because of the Fanteurs, but for the majority of the book, you have no idea what they actually are. The mystery is what kept me fully engaged in the slower parts of the story.

[BB · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you both the publisher, the author and NetGalley for an opportunity to read As the Snow Gathers and share my thoughts about the book.

My flabbers are gasted. I really didn’t know what to expect but it wasn’t this. And I’m not mad about it.

The story follows Dom and Lex who are trying to survive until the spring would come and they could leave Aplin Shade, a remote, isolated Canadian town where Dom was born. But the forest around them and Fanteur living in it don’t want anyone to leave the place. Not alive, at least. Not after the logging camp destroying their forest has turned them against the town and loggers who work in the camp.

I love forest horror nowadays which made me request this book. I expected it to be something like “us against the evil in the woods” type of thing and at first, it was it. Both Dom and Lex struggle with both the woods around them and the town that’s not exactly the safest and most comfortable place for two young men who love each other.

At first, the book felt a bit slow and I think it’s a great book for people who enjoy a bit slower, atmospheric vibe with lingering horror and everyone taking their revenge against people who have not respected them. The book took some time for me to get into it, but after I really got into it, I couldn’t stop reading it. It’s honestly one of the most positive surprises from the books I have read this year, because I didn’t know at all what to expect and while the book took a direction I didn’t expect, it accidentally went exactly to the direction I needed it to go.

I love woods, especially scary woods with monsters in them.

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautifully written, starkly driven folk horror story. But it's also a love story. And a period piece. And an important tale of Canadian history. It's a lot of things that I think are collectively responsible for how much I absolutely loved this novel. Dominic is our reluctant hero and we follow him through the unforgiving landscape of the forests of Canada, and the more hostile forces that are apparent at home in the little, manufactured and purpose-built town where he was born. Both the location and the time period don't present obstacles, as the characterisations are keenly drawn and we trust Dom as he weaves his way through the horrors without and within.

I found the narrative distinct and clear with some beautiful descriptions of both the geography as well as the cold. It's impossible to imagine just how brutal those Canadian winters must have been in the middle of nowhere, but I read this novel in 30 degree plus heat and was shivering at all the different ways to describe the cold and damp and snow that gets everywhere - a wonderful metaphor for the characters as well as the ever-present danger around them.

I'm a huge fan of folk horror. I can easily believe that there are all sorts of monsters existing out there in the wilds of Canada, in places that have never been explored. Or, if they have, like this little village, sometimes they're abandoned. Emptied, as it were.

This was such a wonderful read: visual, descriptive, heartbreaking as well as triumphant. Without spoiling too much, I was despondent and then uplifted by the twists and turns of the plot, which pleased me and kept me guessing at what, who, when, how, etc.

[Tilly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this eARC.

I knew I needed to read this not only the second I saw the gorgeous cover, but once I read the brief synopsis I knew this would be for me!

Our main character Dom and his partner Lex's relationship are what really drew me into this story, give a queer story and I'm in! Their chemistry and tender longing for one another really made me believe and feel for their relationship so deeply. They love one another so deeply despite all of the negativity and bigotry being thrown at them from almost every other character. Their longing for a better life was so sweet and endearing.

This story spends a lot of time building up this fantastic dark, isolated, depressing atmosphere that does not subside at any point throughout. The village of Aplin Shade feels so real and cold it seems like a waking everyday nightmare. Descriptions of the forest and what goes on inside it kept me on the edge of my seat not wanting to put the book down!

My only slight complaint about the story is that despite the atmospheric writing that built such a solid picture of this village in my mind, I wish a little more would have happened plot wise, especially in the first 6o to 70%, we spent a while just watching Dom wake up and at the end of the chapter go to sleep without too much happening in between to further the plot. This is however, such a personal issue of mine and did not tamper my enjoyment of the story very much, I know that this will not be an issue for readers who love more character focused stories.

[luke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to the folks at Poisoned Press for providing this ebook via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!
***

"All forests have their beasts"

A 25 minute long standing ovation by myself in my room, yes. Thank you.
That was so good. The characters are so compelling and simultaneously lovely and completely awful. The romance at the core of this story is wonderful and heartbreaking. The struggle of queer people in this specific period and placing in time is very well portrayed in my opinion. Bawled my eyes out in certain scene, fell to my knees and crawled because I couldn't believe what I was reading, I had to force myself to continue because I was so shocked I couldn't function. The sibling relationship is completely shattering and heavy I can't express it coherently.
But the feeling of impending doom is what holds this story high for me. Every page is filled with dread and I love that. The claustrophobic feeling of the village along with the Allan Poesque elements of the horror and the mystery solving that lead nowhere but just pessimistic places. Plus the writing style and the sort of fragmented narration really add the finishing touches.
Absolutely wonderful read.
Highly recommended to everyone who loves folk horror!

This book might contain topics that could trigger sensitive readers like: mentions of homophobia and racism and sexual harassment, bullying, hate crimes, gore, death, suicide ideation, blood, murder, violence, paranormal and supernatural entities, substance abuse and sexual activity.

[Mercury · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another book finished at work because at this point I clock in just to read. If I *really* think about it, I’m being paid to indulge in my hobby. How awesome!

Anyways, I love my downright dreadful folk horrors, and this one really nailed it. While the Fanteur did their job of being your typical hauntings in the woods, the monstrous nature of humanity takes the cake for which force is more appalling. The relationship between Dominic and Lex was dynamic and did not bore me. No notes. A couple that won’t hesitate to terrorize the townsfolk together, stays together <3 They had it coming anyways, and I’m a big fan of characters who ultimately don’t shy away from enacting revenge.

The side characters were a tad underdeveloped so their deaths did not sway me much, and I think the brutality of their deaths was a heavy storytelling crutch. The ending of the book hinted at more than we were given, and I wish we could’ve had one more chapter to see the seeds of strife blossom from the roots we were shown in Dominic’s last few chapters. Those are my few critiques for an overall solid story. The tension simmers at just the right pace and I was glad to see Dom’s and Lex’s relationship written as the centerpiece to the cryptic horrors unfolding around them. Their love was crucial to the plot. Huzzah

Reading about the Fanteur’s reason for the shift in draining the dead to pulverizing the living reminds me a bit of FernGulley. It’s a nice touch. They’re not villainous for wanting to protect their home from being logged.

[Jensen McCorkel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating 2.75 rounded up

As The Snow Gathers is a introspective novel that leans heavily into atmosphere and emotional nuance with themes of isolation, emotional distance and regret. The narrative unfolds through fragments of memory combined with subtle interactions and shifting emotional states. Tension builds quietly over time leading to a sense of acceptance, or at least recognition, rather than a dramatic resolution.

The world building seems it’s deliberately constrained. Joyce builds a tight, almost claustrophobic setting shaped by winter which suits the story line perfectly and creating more of a psychological worldbuilding. The result is a setting that feels less like a place on a map and more like a state of being. This creates this sense of stillness that’s immersive… at least at first.

The problem is that the novel leans so heavily into that stillness that it starts to work against itself. The pacing is very slow, and not much happens on a plot level. Instead, the story focuses on internal emotion but those feelings are often so restrained that they never fully land. I kept waiting for something to break open, for a moment of clarity or confrontation, and it never quite came.

Overall, its a thoughtfully written, atmospheric novel that will work for readers who love slow, introspective fiction but for me, it was a bit too distant and uneventful to fully connect with.

[Yolanda Raya · Rating 4 out of 5]

As the Snow Gathers by Mere Joyce is an atmospheric horror book that takes place in 1863 in a little isolated town called Aplin Shade. It starts off with an immediate sense of dread as someone from the town appears to be lost in the woods and the people fear that the worst may have happened to him because the woods are not safe. There are supernatural beings, referred to as The Fanteur that lurk in the woods and they wait patiently for townspeople to die so they can drain their blood only to return the body later. This missing person sparks a series of events that basically creates uncertainty in the town.
In the story we meet Lex who is a logger that works in the woods and alongside his boyfriend, Dominic they begin to uncover the truth behind The Fanteur to see if there is a way to stop them. They try their hardest to stay safe as slowly more and more townspeople become victims of The Fanteur. Their ultimate goal is to save enough money to leave the town.
This story definitely carries atmospheric horror and tension throughout the book. There is also a lot of gore which adds to the scary factor of what The Fanteur can do. You can feel the dread and fear that Lex and Dom feel as they encounter altercations amongst the townspeople as well as dealing with the horror of The Fanteur.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good atmospheric horror book. Thank you Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press. All opinions are my own.

[Kim Layman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eerie and atmospheric in the best way.

Set in the isolated Canadian town of Aplin Shade, Lex, Dominic, and the rest of the townsfolk are trapped by a mysterious and deadly creature known as the Fanteur. No one makes it through the woods alive, and the deaths are only growing more numerous. But the creature is not the only danger in the village. Lex and Dom’s relationship makes them a sitting target for the wrath of the townsfolk. Add in top of that how isolated and dependent Dom’s mother and sister are on him, and Dominic knows he’s vulnerable to the town’s ire.

The first half of the novel sets the scene of the dark winter nights, the terror of the monster’s stalking, and the desperation the loggers feel about wanting to walk away from their work but knowing it’s the only source of income available. All of this brews a simmering tension under the surface of the fragile town veneer.

The second half ramps up the unease and shows us what happens to people who become broken by loss, and have no more fucks to give. The cunning is sharp, the patience is long, and the revenge is sweet, even if the ending itself is bittersweet.

This half of the novel also gives us the story of Fanteur, and why they are attacking the villagers.

I really enjoyed this chilling horror/supernatural tale of things that go bump in the night. Add this one to your TBR.

Thank you NetGalley, and Poisoned Pen Press, for my arc. My opinion is my own.

[lorenzodulac · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slightly conflicted and moderately confused, I have finished this book. I wish I had enjoyed this one way more.
I was initially drawn in by the promise of queer people living in a remote Canadian town, dreaming of leaving said place (Alpin Shade, it’s called) together. There’s not really much more about it that excited me. And that in fact ended up being the only thing about it liked. Not that I disliked anything about it in particular, it just took so long and I was bored out of my mind through most of it. It’s a relatively short book, it should not take me (specifically) that long of a time to read. Okay, it’s not that short, but it’s not long!
You know, it could’ve probably hit a lot more had I read it in winter. It’s not the book of the summer, let’s just say that, but I’m grateful I got to read it early. Now back to the book.
Dominic and Lex stole my heart. Their story is what kept the book alive to me. It’s the kind of love I tend to like reading about. Tragic, instead of fluffy. The kind that couldn’t be labeled a romance, if you know what I mean. They’re everything. Even separately, but especially together.
But. This is a horror book. And though it was moderately spooky at times, it was not all that. I wasn’t scared, not that I had to be, but I feel like that’s what you want if you’re wanting to get into a horror book. But I will say it’s pretty bloody and gory.
I can’t get over that twist though. In the sense that I didn’t like it. Why? I understand why it had to be the way it is, but why? I don’t know, it just did not gel with me at all, even though I knew it was going to go there.
I mostly… didn’t enjoy myself, due to how much it was taking me (boredom played a part in that) and pacing issues/plot things I didn’t like. The romance, I guess you could call it, is what kept me in it. I’m giving this book a 3.5/5⭐️ and I’d say that’s pretty generous, all things considered.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Matt Gomes · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️ 1🌶️ 2🌪️ 3😱 1😭 1🤗

Thank you NetGalley, Mere Joyce, and the publishing team at Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC!

I don’t even know where to begin with this review. As the Snow Gathers by Mere Joyce is such a unique book, and the ending was just about as perfectly wrapped up as you can get—especially for a genre-bending story that seamlessly combines horror and romance. I’m also a huge fan when you can bring me a “new” unique monster…Wow! I’ll be thinking about this one all year.

Set in 1863, Joyce writes as if she lived in this time period—the language, dialogue, and descriptions all felt authentically period-appropriate, completely immersing me in the era. The story takes place in a remote, isolated village where trees and winter control everything. Joyce was incredibly clever to withhold the specific location, adding mystery and a timeless, fairy-tale quality. It’s also told over just one month, so the pacing is relentlessly fast.

As for the plot, you’ll just need to read it—I don’t want to provide any spoilers, and this story is perfect for going in blind. Just know there are frights, gore, romance, tension, and everything that makes a compelling horror story. One of the most impressive debuts I’ve read in a while.