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Llamas en Nuncanada (Runas)
Ven a conocer a los niños de Nuncanada. Te esperan en su hogar perdido en las Montañas Rocosas. Y no están solos.
En medio de la noche, Riley saca a su hermano pequeño de la cama para fugarse de su casa de acogida. Quieren encontrar a un grupo de adolescentes que ocupan las ruinas del rancho Nuncanada, donde el infame actor Leaf Winham se ocultó de su fama, ocultó sus crímenes y todo se perdió en un incendio que mostró el asesino que fue.
Pero en este rancho de niños salvajes no entran los adultos y, por mucho que Riley espere encontrar un nuevo hogar, algo se oculta en las brasas de Nuncanada, algo que pide un pago horrible a cambio de santuario.
En medio de la noche, Riley saca a su hermano pequeño de la cama para fugarse de su casa de acogida. Quieren encontrar a un grupo de adolescentes que ocupan las ruinas del rancho Nuncanada, donde el infame actor Leaf Winham se ocultó de su fama, ocultó sus crímenes y todo se perdió en un incendio que mostró el asesino que fue.
Pero en este rancho de niños salvajes no entran los adultos y, por mucho que Riley espere encontrar un nuevo hogar, algo se oculta en las brasas de Nuncanada, algo que pide un pago horrible a cambio de santuario.
319 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 24, 2026
482 people are currently reading
22499 people want to read
About the author
Catriona Ward
27 books5,619 followersCATRIONA WARD was born in Washington, DC and grew up in the United States, Kenya, Madagascar, Yemen, and Morocco. She read English at St Edmund Hall, Oxford and is a graduate of the Creative Writing MA at the University of East Anglia. Her forthcoming novel, Nowhere Burning, will be published by Tor Nightfire in the US and Viper Books in the UK this year. `Her last book, Looking Glass Sound, was a USA Today bestseller. Her fourth novel, the gothic thriller Sundial (2022 - Viper, Tor Nightfire) was Observer Thriller of the Month and a USA Today, CNN and Apple Books selection for best new fiction. Stephen King called Sundial ‘Authentically terrifying…. Do not miss this book.’
Ward’s third breakout novel The Last House on Needless Street (2021 - Viper, Tor Nightfire) won the August Derleth Prize and has been shortlisted for the Kitschies, the British Book Awards, the South Bank Award, and the World Fantasy Award. Esquire magazine listed it as one of the top 25 best horror novels of all time. Rights have been sold in twenty-nine territories, it was a Richard and Judy Book Club selection, a Times Book of the Month, Observer Book of the Month, March Editor’s Pick on Radio 4’s Open Book, a Between the Covers BBC2 book club selection and a Sunday Times bestseller. The Last House on Needless Street is being developed for film by Andy Serkis and Jonathan Cavendish’s production company, The Imaginarium. Stephen King said of The Last House on Needless Street, ‘I was blown away. It's a true nerve-shredder that keeps its mind-blowing secrets to the very end. Haven't read anything this exciting since GONE GIRL.’
Ward’s second novel Little Eve (2018 - W&N, Tor Nightfire) won the 2019 Shirley Jackson Award, the August Derleth Prize at the British Fantasy Awards and was a Guardian best book of 2018. Nightfire published Little Eve for the first time in the US in 2022. Ward’s debut Rawblood (2015 - W&N, Sourcebooks) also won the 2016 August Derleth, making her the only woman to have won the prize three times. Her short stories have appeared in numerous anthologies and have been shortlisted for various prizes. She lives in London and Devon.
Her short story, The African Painted Dog, is part of The End of The World as We Know It, Tales from The Stand. Introduced by Stephen King, this anthology is the first time authors have been permitted to write in Stephen King;'s universe.
Ward’s third breakout novel The Last House on Needless Street (2021 - Viper, Tor Nightfire) won the August Derleth Prize and has been shortlisted for the Kitschies, the British Book Awards, the South Bank Award, and the World Fantasy Award. Esquire magazine listed it as one of the top 25 best horror novels of all time. Rights have been sold in twenty-nine territories, it was a Richard and Judy Book Club selection, a Times Book of the Month, Observer Book of the Month, March Editor’s Pick on Radio 4’s Open Book, a Between the Covers BBC2 book club selection and a Sunday Times bestseller. The Last House on Needless Street is being developed for film by Andy Serkis and Jonathan Cavendish’s production company, The Imaginarium. Stephen King said of The Last House on Needless Street, ‘I was blown away. It's a true nerve-shredder that keeps its mind-blowing secrets to the very end. Haven't read anything this exciting since GONE GIRL.’
Ward’s second novel Little Eve (2018 - W&N, Tor Nightfire) won the 2019 Shirley Jackson Award, the August Derleth Prize at the British Fantasy Awards and was a Guardian best book of 2018. Nightfire published Little Eve for the first time in the US in 2022. Ward’s debut Rawblood (2015 - W&N, Sourcebooks) also won the 2016 August Derleth, making her the only woman to have won the prize three times. Her short stories have appeared in numerous anthologies and have been shortlisted for various prizes. She lives in London and Devon.
Her short story, The African Painted Dog, is part of The End of The World as We Know It, Tales from The Stand. Introduced by Stephen King, this anthology is the first time authors have been permitted to write in Stephen King;'s universe.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 835 reviews
January 30, 2026
“I'm never afraid. But this place scares me.”
How much would you sacrifice for sanctuary?
Nowhere Burning is due for release on February 24, 2026.
Ward delivers a psychological horror-mystery with a gothic feel and a heavy dose of suspense. There is a lingering dread that creates an unsettling yet intriguing atmosphere. It has a fragmented narrative, so it's not a breezy read, it requires focus and attention.
Nestled within the unforgiving depths of the Rocky Mountains lies Nowhere, a burnt-down, abandoned ranch that became a refuge for runaways and children in need. The story begins with siblings Riley and Oliver, who escape their devilish guardian in the wee hours of the night to find Nowhere. But did they flee a devil just to find themselves in hell? The ranch has a dark history, including its previous owner, movie star Leaf Winham, who claimed he built “Nowhere House” as an escape from his life of fame. Or was it because of something more sinister? Nowhere is full of secrets, and its history goes back even further. This eerie mind-bender was an interesting read for my first Catriona Ward book. It reveals twists at the end you never saw coming!
“You have the right hunger. The cold place deep inside you. No one survives here without those things.”
A big Thank You to Netgalley and Tor Publishing Group for gifting me this advanced copy. It was an absolute pleasure to read and review this book.
How much would you sacrifice for sanctuary?
Nowhere Burning is due for release on February 24, 2026.
Ward delivers a psychological horror-mystery with a gothic feel and a heavy dose of suspense. There is a lingering dread that creates an unsettling yet intriguing atmosphere. It has a fragmented narrative, so it's not a breezy read, it requires focus and attention.
Nestled within the unforgiving depths of the Rocky Mountains lies Nowhere, a burnt-down, abandoned ranch that became a refuge for runaways and children in need. The story begins with siblings Riley and Oliver, who escape their devilish guardian in the wee hours of the night to find Nowhere. But did they flee a devil just to find themselves in hell? The ranch has a dark history, including its previous owner, movie star Leaf Winham, who claimed he built “Nowhere House” as an escape from his life of fame. Or was it because of something more sinister? Nowhere is full of secrets, and its history goes back even further. This eerie mind-bender was an interesting read for my first Catriona Ward book. It reveals twists at the end you never saw coming!
“You have the right hunger. The cold place deep inside you. No one survives here without those things.”
A big Thank You to Netgalley and Tor Publishing Group for gifting me this advanced copy. It was an absolute pleasure to read and review this book.
March 16, 2026
**4.5-stars**
Nowhere Burning is a dark, melancholic novel set deep in the wilds of the Rocky Mountains.
Although told via three main perspectives, the perspective that kicks off our tale, and really serves as the heart of the story, is that of Riley, a young girl, who saves herself and her brother from the clutches of their abusive Uncle's home.
Running away in the middle of the night, Riley has one plan in mind, to join a group of unhomed teens squatting on the abandoned grounds of a infamous movie star's ranch, aptly named, Nowhere.
I don't want to mention the other two perspectives, as the Publisher's Synopsis leaves them out, therefore I don't want to be accidentally giving things away.
Just know this story is much more complex and nuanced than the synopsis may lead you to believe. One of the most interesting aspects of this novel, in my opinion, was trying to figure out how all three were going to ultimately connect.
Initially it seems Nowhere is the only connection, but is that actually true?
This novel is quite stark and gritty. It feels bleak, the tone of which reminded me a bit of the 2010 movie, Winter Bone. It's also a very slow burn, that sneaks up on you emotionally.
I didn't realize how much it had captured me until the very end. I begrudgingly admit this book made me cry actual tears and they seemed to come out of nowhere.
I was shocked at the emotion Ward was able to draw out of me. It was like a punch in the gut. I feel like the way she pulled everything together, it was just beautifully done. It was hard to not feel emotion and empathy for this set of characters that life seemed to be so unkind to.
The world isn't always an easy place, but beauty, hope and love can often be found even on the darkest of days. This story felt like moving through a deep, unending fog, but it's worth the darkness; it's worth the trudge.
I would recommend this to Readers who like a dark, emotional slow burn. It feels very Literary Horror, with plenty of dark subject matter to really sink your teeth into. For fans of Ward, this is a must read.
Thank you to the publisher, Tor Nightfire, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I feel like this one is going to stick in my mind for a long time to come!
Nowhere Burning is a dark, melancholic novel set deep in the wilds of the Rocky Mountains.
Although told via three main perspectives, the perspective that kicks off our tale, and really serves as the heart of the story, is that of Riley, a young girl, who saves herself and her brother from the clutches of their abusive Uncle's home.
Running away in the middle of the night, Riley has one plan in mind, to join a group of unhomed teens squatting on the abandoned grounds of a infamous movie star's ranch, aptly named, Nowhere.
I don't want to mention the other two perspectives, as the Publisher's Synopsis leaves them out, therefore I don't want to be accidentally giving things away.
Just know this story is much more complex and nuanced than the synopsis may lead you to believe. One of the most interesting aspects of this novel, in my opinion, was trying to figure out how all three were going to ultimately connect.
Initially it seems Nowhere is the only connection, but is that actually true?
This novel is quite stark and gritty. It feels bleak, the tone of which reminded me a bit of the 2010 movie, Winter Bone. It's also a very slow burn, that sneaks up on you emotionally.
I didn't realize how much it had captured me until the very end. I begrudgingly admit this book made me cry actual tears and they seemed to come out of nowhere.
I was shocked at the emotion Ward was able to draw out of me. It was like a punch in the gut. I feel like the way she pulled everything together, it was just beautifully done. It was hard to not feel emotion and empathy for this set of characters that life seemed to be so unkind to.
The world isn't always an easy place, but beauty, hope and love can often be found even on the darkest of days. This story felt like moving through a deep, unending fog, but it's worth the darkness; it's worth the trudge.
I would recommend this to Readers who like a dark, emotional slow burn. It feels very Literary Horror, with plenty of dark subject matter to really sink your teeth into. For fans of Ward, this is a must read.
Thank you to the publisher, Tor Nightfire, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I feel like this one is going to stick in my mind for a long time to come!
March 11, 2026
How can I possibly resist a Catriona Ward book—especially when I know I’m about to be shaken to my core, physically and mentally? She never fails to disturb, devastate, and utterly mesmerize me. This time, she gifts us a twistedly clever yet heartbreakingly emotional reimagining of Peter Pan—one that trades Neverland for Nowhere and blends multiple POVs and timelines into a haunting, puzzle-like narrative. As past and present collide, the full, horrifying—and profoundly sad—picture emerges piece by piece.
This story affected me far more deeply than I expected, especially the unbreakable bond between Riley and her little brother, Oliver (or “Olive,” as she lovingly calls him). Their shared tragedies, survival instincts, and desperate trust in each other broke my heart. Ward layers the book with stunning symbolism: a crocodile named Tinkerball; a one-legged documentary filmmaker reminiscent of Hook; “flying” children gliding on zip lines; and a Nowhere Land where abused children form their own eerie new world. It’s a dark, brilliant homage to Peter Pan, transformed into something far more sinister—a cult led by the legendary filmmaker Leaf Winham, who slit his followers’ throats and allegedly committed grotesque acts on his secret island before his suicide. Even after his death, the horror lingers in his charred estate, complete with a Ferris wheel (a chilling metaphor possibly nodding to a real-life pop icon accused of child abuse).
The execution is flawless—each chapter a perfectly tuned note in a symphony of dread and sorrow. We first meet young Riley, a girl battling real-life demons to protect Oliver after their mentally unstable mother’s death. Sent to live with a cruel cousin who starves and locks them away, Riley’s only hope arrives in the form of Noon, a mysterious girl who invites her to escape to Nowhere. Following cryptic clues into the night, the siblings risk everything—mountain lions, starvation, and perhaps worse—to find this promised refuge.
Parallel to their story, we meet Marc and Kimble, documentary filmmakers investigating the legend of Nowhere. They interview survivors who were once abducted by Nowhere’s “children,” desperate to learn how to reach the hidden land. Their search leads them to Linus, an ex-firefighter and the sole survivor of Leaf Winham’s massacre. Traumatized yet tempted by money, Linus agrees to guide them back to the cursed site he swore never to see again.
And then there’s Adam—a brilliant architect whose life unravels when he learns his girlfriend is pregnant. When Leaf Winham offers him a job designing and renovating his estate, Adam accepts, drawn in by both the challenge and Leaf’s intoxicating charisma. What begins as curiosity soon becomes obsession, testing Adam’s morals and sanity in devastating ways.
As the timelines intertwine, Ward masterfully brings every thread together in a breathtaking finale that left me misty-eyed. The final chapter, in particular, hit me like a quiet heartbreak after a thunderstorm—both devastating and strangely beautiful.
Ward’s darkly twisted Peter Pan worked for me on every level—disturbing, emotional, and impossibly creative. I didn’t expect to love it this much, but it may just be my new favorite of her works.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Many thanks to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group / Tor Nightfire for the ARC of this mind-blowing horror-thriller. And deepest thanks to Catriona Ward for her brilliant, fearless imagination—this book is pure, haunting genius.
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This story affected me far more deeply than I expected, especially the unbreakable bond between Riley and her little brother, Oliver (or “Olive,” as she lovingly calls him). Their shared tragedies, survival instincts, and desperate trust in each other broke my heart. Ward layers the book with stunning symbolism: a crocodile named Tinkerball; a one-legged documentary filmmaker reminiscent of Hook; “flying” children gliding on zip lines; and a Nowhere Land where abused children form their own eerie new world. It’s a dark, brilliant homage to Peter Pan, transformed into something far more sinister—a cult led by the legendary filmmaker Leaf Winham, who slit his followers’ throats and allegedly committed grotesque acts on his secret island before his suicide. Even after his death, the horror lingers in his charred estate, complete with a Ferris wheel (a chilling metaphor possibly nodding to a real-life pop icon accused of child abuse).
The execution is flawless—each chapter a perfectly tuned note in a symphony of dread and sorrow. We first meet young Riley, a girl battling real-life demons to protect Oliver after their mentally unstable mother’s death. Sent to live with a cruel cousin who starves and locks them away, Riley’s only hope arrives in the form of Noon, a mysterious girl who invites her to escape to Nowhere. Following cryptic clues into the night, the siblings risk everything—mountain lions, starvation, and perhaps worse—to find this promised refuge.
Parallel to their story, we meet Marc and Kimble, documentary filmmakers investigating the legend of Nowhere. They interview survivors who were once abducted by Nowhere’s “children,” desperate to learn how to reach the hidden land. Their search leads them to Linus, an ex-firefighter and the sole survivor of Leaf Winham’s massacre. Traumatized yet tempted by money, Linus agrees to guide them back to the cursed site he swore never to see again.
And then there’s Adam—a brilliant architect whose life unravels when he learns his girlfriend is pregnant. When Leaf Winham offers him a job designing and renovating his estate, Adam accepts, drawn in by both the challenge and Leaf’s intoxicating charisma. What begins as curiosity soon becomes obsession, testing Adam’s morals and sanity in devastating ways.
As the timelines intertwine, Ward masterfully brings every thread together in a breathtaking finale that left me misty-eyed. The final chapter, in particular, hit me like a quiet heartbreak after a thunderstorm—both devastating and strangely beautiful.
Ward’s darkly twisted Peter Pan worked for me on every level—disturbing, emotional, and impossibly creative. I didn’t expect to love it this much, but it may just be my new favorite of her works.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Many thanks to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group / Tor Nightfire for the ARC of this mind-blowing horror-thriller. And deepest thanks to Catriona Ward for her brilliant, fearless imagination—this book is pure, haunting genius.
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February 26, 2026
☆彡 Fleeing their troubled home, Riley and her younger brother, Oliver, run into the darkness and into the woods, searching for the infamous abandoned ranch, Nowhere, where an eccentric actor used to live, but is now turned into a haven for runaway children. To Riley, Nowhere is a place where she and Oliver can run away from her demons, but the longer they stay at the mysterious place, the more Riley begins to realize that the children of Nowhere have dark secrets of their own, one that hides the evil lurking in the shadows that demands a price for their freedom.
═══ ⋆★⋆ ═══
ᴺᴼᵂ ᴾᴸᴬᵞᴵᴺᴳ: Daylight by David Kushner
0:49 ───ㅇ───── 3:32
☆彡 Wow! Good lord, I…I was not expecting that. I mean, I kinda figured that THAT was going to happen, but still, my jaw freaking dropped! 😱
Granted, it took me almost a month to finish this story, but I don’t do well with audiobooks because I can’t ever find the right time to listen, so it’s not the book's fault that I took forever to finish this–it was mine because this was really good.
Whatever you do, though, don’t listen to this at night. I did an idiotic thing and listened to the last 2-3 hours as I lay in my bed at night. Imagining all that happened in the thick darkness was certainly an experience because I couldn’t fall asleep when I finished the audiobook. I don’t know if I could say that it’s scary, per se, but it was crazy enough for me to be like, “Umm…I’m going to stay awake for a bit because, oh shoot. Is that something standing in the corner over there?” 😂🤦♀
It made me so sad that Riley, Oliver, and the children at Nowhere had to flee because of the abuse they were experiencing. No child should ever feel unsafe or unloved in their homes. 😔 And the history/story behind Nowhere was crazy! I was shocked, like wow, it’s crazy, but it makes sense. It was all just so chilling and creepy. I'm not going to say much because I don't want to spoil anything, but know that just like life, everything is connected in some way, shape, or form.
All in all, this was an interesting yet scary story that kept me on the edge of my seat and made my mind whirl. I recommend it if you are looking for a creepy horror story to keep you up at night because it works, lol! 😂 I will definitely be reading more of Catriona Ward's books in the future. 🖤
⋆ ★ Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own. This book is now available! ⋆ ★
❗Content Warnings❗
Death, murder, blood, child abuse, and violence.
Swearing: Yes
Spice: Mentions kissing and lovemaking. (🌶/5)
═══ ⋆★⋆ ═══
ᴺᴼᵂ ᴾᴸᴬᵞᴵᴺᴳ: Daylight by David Kushner
0:49 ───ㅇ───── 3:32
☆彡 Wow! Good lord, I…I was not expecting that. I mean, I kinda figured that THAT was going to happen, but still, my jaw freaking dropped! 😱
Granted, it took me almost a month to finish this story, but I don’t do well with audiobooks because I can’t ever find the right time to listen, so it’s not the book's fault that I took forever to finish this–it was mine because this was really good.
Whatever you do, though, don’t listen to this at night. I did an idiotic thing and listened to the last 2-3 hours as I lay in my bed at night. Imagining all that happened in the thick darkness was certainly an experience because I couldn’t fall asleep when I finished the audiobook. I don’t know if I could say that it’s scary, per se, but it was crazy enough for me to be like, “Umm…I’m going to stay awake for a bit because, oh shoot. Is that something standing in the corner over there?” 😂🤦♀
It made me so sad that Riley, Oliver, and the children at Nowhere had to flee because of the abuse they were experiencing. No child should ever feel unsafe or unloved in their homes. 😔 And the history/story behind Nowhere was crazy! I was shocked, like wow, it’s crazy, but it makes sense. It was all just so chilling and creepy. I'm not going to say much because I don't want to spoil anything, but know that just like life, everything is connected in some way, shape, or form.
All in all, this was an interesting yet scary story that kept me on the edge of my seat and made my mind whirl. I recommend it if you are looking for a creepy horror story to keep you up at night because it works, lol! 😂 I will definitely be reading more of Catriona Ward's books in the future. 🖤
⋆ ★ Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own. This book is now available! ⋆ ★
❗Content Warnings❗
Death, murder, blood, child abuse, and violence.
Swearing: Yes
Spice: Mentions kissing and lovemaking. (🌶/5)
March 12, 2026
This is the fifth book by Catriona Ward I’ve read.
Structured around three timelines which are deliberately muddled, Nowhere Burning is a loose reimagining of Peter Pan and Michael Jackson’s abandoned Neverland estate.
Replete with not-so-subtle references — there's even a giant crocodile and ferris wheel — Neverland is replaced with a ruined ranch in a remote part of the Rocky Mountains.
Inhabited by a group of abandoned and/or abused (ie. lost) children, Nowhere Ranch is accessed, not via pixie dust, but by using a zip line.
Sincere apologies to J.M. Barrie.
Admittedly, this should probably have been a DNF, but I kept thinking, "This has to get better."
And it did... at the end.
Nowhere Burning reads like an urban legend told around the campfire. It certainly takes its time, but the narratives eventually come together in a satisfying conclusion few will see coming.
Structured around three timelines which are deliberately muddled, Nowhere Burning is a loose reimagining of Peter Pan and Michael Jackson’s abandoned Neverland estate.
Replete with not-so-subtle references — there's even a giant crocodile and ferris wheel — Neverland is replaced with a ruined ranch in a remote part of the Rocky Mountains.
Inhabited by a group of abandoned and/or abused (ie. lost) children, Nowhere Ranch is accessed, not via pixie dust, but by using a zip line.
Sincere apologies to J.M. Barrie.
Admittedly, this should probably have been a DNF, but I kept thinking, "This has to get better."
And it did... at the end.
Nowhere Burning reads like an urban legend told around the campfire. It certainly takes its time, but the narratives eventually come together in a satisfying conclusion few will see coming.
November 14, 2025
ARC for review. To be published February 24, 2026.
3 stars
So, in this one, Ward has three, possibly four different stories going on in only 226 pages. They do manage to weakly fuse together at the end, but some better than others and by jamming so much into such a short book it feels like at least one of the stories (Marc and Kimble) gets short shrift. And another of the stories is way too much like something I’ve read before.
Overall, though, I liked the pacing and I enjoyed some of the characters quite a bit. If you are a fan of Ward, this is more of what you already like from her.
3 stars
So, in this one, Ward has three, possibly four different stories going on in only 226 pages. They do manage to weakly fuse together at the end, but some better than others and by jamming so much into such a short book it feels like at least one of the stories (Marc and Kimble) gets short shrift. And another of the stories is way too much like something I’ve read before.
Overall, though, I liked the pacing and I enjoyed some of the characters quite a bit. If you are a fan of Ward, this is more of what you already like from her.
November 16, 2025
To think I only had to sell my soul to get this arc 🫶🏻. - - - - - >Review below<- - - - -
TW/CW: Language, physical abuse, death of parents, death by suicide, mental illness, trauma, depression, drinking, smoking, blood, violence, death of animal (bird), cancer, miscarriages, child abandonment, child abuse, murder, death of children
*****SPOILERS*****
About the book:
A refuge for lost children may also be their prison.In the middle of the night, Riley pulls her younger brother Oliver out of bed, and the two run away from home. Riley is intent on joining a group of teenagers squatting in the abandoned ruins of an infamous movie star’s ranch, Nowhere. For actor Leaf Winham, Nowhere was a place to hide from his fame, and to hide his crimes―until a fire ravaged his home and exposed him as a murderer.It is rumored that the ranch nestled in the peaks of the Rocky Mountains is now home to group of feral children, a place where adults cannot enter, and Riley hopes to find a new family there. But the Nowhere Kids are fierce in defending their turf and their clan, and Riley quickly realizes that while she and Oliver may have left the devil they knew, this group is a new type of diabolical.For something dark lives in the burned shell of Nowhere, something which asks a terrible price for sanctuary...
Release Date: February 24th, 2026
Genre: Horror/Thriller
Pages: 304
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
What I Liked:
1. Always the writing style
2. The characters are so complex but interesting too
3. Everything comes full circle
4. Omg the ending 😭
What I Didn't Like:
1. Repeating people's names; Oliver Olive/Marky Mark
2. Felt like at times too many povs
3. Timelines just change without notice in mid-paragraph
Overall Thoughts:
{{Disclaimer: I write my review as I read}}
So the girl goes on a 3 day adventure to Riley's town to get new food? There are no other towns along the way for the kids to steal food from.
Linus deciding to trust these strangers to actually pay him. They mention that they will sign a contract but it isn't mentioned so far if they did and Linus will be getting $10,000 for him showing them where the location is. I'm even more shocked that others haven't offered to pay him before to go up there and why is he so persuaded to talk to Marc and Kimble.
Oh my gosh now we have a POV from Adam. I'm really trying grasp all the different characters added in plus the timelines changing in the middle of their povs in the middle of the book without any notice. If you're not really paying attention or you put the book down a lot it can get confusing. I read on my breaks at work and at home so I found myself having to refresh mentally who we were to talking about and what timeline we're in.
How is Riley not freaking out when Cal mentions that his brother is missing and then Oliver comes over and says that Riley killed a demon? Cal mentions that he's going to go out everyday to find his brother on this trail and eventually he's going to come across this body of his brother and put two and two together when she says she killed a demon. Honestly, I'd be getting out of here. She has no idea what these kids are capable of.
Adam being calm about the fact that there is a closet full of different men's clothing that smells like different men would frighten me so much. It's odd. I don't know why Adam is staying. At some point Adam has to have some common sense. So far Leaf has said he wanted these things;
A. Rooms with windows for him to see in to watch people
B. Secret areas built into the walls
Those plus he has the clothing from other men. Wake up Adam!
Also was curious because Cal mentions that his brother Danny has disappeared and he thinks he went out to the woods to go on the trail. So how do they get the winch back to them on the other side? Because Danny would have had to use the zip line to go up. Also it's mentioned that somebody has to turn the handle as you go up. If Danny was by himself going up the zip line how was he able to turn the winch to get up if he was in the basket?
Kimble picks up a burger that's meat but she's vegan and eats it and goes to bed. Yeah right! You see it's going to be crapping her pants all night from that meat. There's just no way she can eat meat and it wouldn't mess up her stomach.
How did a rabbit get up there? It's the top of a fence they cannot jump that high. I've owned rabbits and they can't climb like that.
I wish that Riley would listen to Oliver. She's so worried about him saying something about the demon she misses the other stuff he says. He mentions that Hattie says the real demon is growing up.
I love how Adam is being turned into this person that just ignores the obvious either for love or the fact that he is being manipulated into not seeing what is right in front of him. The sounds in the house, Leaf not having luggage, and now a 13th grave where there was only 12.
Riley should have left when she had the chance and even more so when her brother was starting to get acclimated to everybody. She knew that they wouldn't hurt the kids but she knew she was on thin ice so why wouldn't she have just left? It drives me crazy that she stayed and then even begins a relationship with the brother. I know Riley is still young so she isn't thinking past day to day but she had to have known at some point Cal would find the remains of Danny.
Why did I not realize that Riley was Adam's child? Wonder what happened to Oliver's father.
So I'm really not shocked that all of Oliver would vote to have her killed or whatever they're going to do she has not been the kindest to him. I really believe she does not like children. She's just treating the same way that the cousin was. Plus he doesn't understand what's really happening - he's just going along with the group.
Noon tells Riley that the little children are actually dead and were killed by Leaf. I'm also really not sure what that means. So then I was confused why they were kissing hands toward the house when Noon said before that it was harmless for everyone to worship Leaf since most of them don't remember Leaf. I guess in the same breath she even said that most of them worship the land for giving them somewhere safe to live. Really just confused on these children though. Noon does say that she took them from under the house where they were buried and that it took them a year to pull the bodies out so they could bury them again. They all wear the bones of the children around their necks too so they can see them and be accepted by them.
We jump back in time to when the owners of the land lived there at Nowhere house. Jane goes to a knitting circle but then they jump into talking about crocheting. I'm not sure if this a mistake of the arc I have or a mistake of print but knitting and crocheting are different.
Okay so Jane really had 5 kids and that is where the kids came from. Her husband killed her and the kids. The towns people buried them in the fruit cellar so the other towns people wouldn't judge mountain people. I am absolutely shocked at that Jane had kids and hid them from people. I do wish there was more of explanation of what happened and why. It's such a huge part of the story that skims over the why. I suppose the mountain is toxic to people and they end up killing one another.
I can't believe that Riley started a fire like her father did to get away. Now she is sending Oliver off on his own while she stays with the kids and becomes their mother after catching everyone else on fire. Wild!
Excuse me Oliver is Marc... And he's been in a different time line looking for Riley to save his daughter with a kidney replacement. Well I definitely missed that one. Plus Marc/Oliver is the Lilac boy too.
God, this ending of their reunion is sad. Riley being sure the kids are real and Marc saying they are not gives doubts to readers. He says the children were real and Riley burned them in the fire. Riley keeps saying you gave to have the bones around your necks to see them and that's why Mark can't but if you remember Riley and Oliver both were seeing them fir a while begire they got the bone necklace.
Riley finally agrees the give the kidney to his daughter. And then she's gone to back home. I really thought she was going to stay with Oliver but maybe she finally saw he didn't need her anymore and that the "kids" at home were the ones she needed.
It was all just so sad though.
Final Thoughts:
This book is something special. It takes you for a ride and you have no idea where you are going with it. I thought we were getting a simple retelling of Peter Pan and Lord of the Flies, but this is so much more than that. There are jems inside this book that are so unique.
I love Catriona Wards writing style and the way she makes characters feel so fever dream. With every chapter I was itching to go to the next. I had to know what was happening.
I do think there were some answers I must have missed or were never given.
A. When Riley started the fire why would no one come put it out?
B. Did Oliver loose his baby teeth
C. What happened to Cousin when he was dead and why did no one come looking for the kids? Riley was enrolled in school and they knew they were in custody of them.
D. If Riley knows she's the only one taking care of the kids why wouldn't she find others to help because one day she would die and they'd be all alone again?
E. I understand why people never climbed over the fence but why did people never cut a hold through the fence then?
F. If Riley was the only grown up in Nowhere after the others were dead and in Marc's timeline how did she manage to carry Annie when she thought she was passed out?
The thing that drove me up the wall was that something important happened but we kind of skimmed over the why someone did that and why it happened. There was very little follow up to the actions of certain people. We just moved on from that. I wish there was more to the ideas and actions of the characters. It almost at times made certain parts feel unfinished.
IG | Blog
Thanks to Netgalley and Tor Nightfire for this advanced copy of the book (ebook & physical). All thoughts and opinions are my own
TW/CW: Language, physical abuse, death of parents, death by suicide, mental illness, trauma, depression, drinking, smoking, blood, violence, death of animal (bird), cancer, miscarriages, child abandonment, child abuse, murder, death of children
*****SPOILERS*****
About the book:
A refuge for lost children may also be their prison.In the middle of the night, Riley pulls her younger brother Oliver out of bed, and the two run away from home. Riley is intent on joining a group of teenagers squatting in the abandoned ruins of an infamous movie star’s ranch, Nowhere. For actor Leaf Winham, Nowhere was a place to hide from his fame, and to hide his crimes―until a fire ravaged his home and exposed him as a murderer.It is rumored that the ranch nestled in the peaks of the Rocky Mountains is now home to group of feral children, a place where adults cannot enter, and Riley hopes to find a new family there. But the Nowhere Kids are fierce in defending their turf and their clan, and Riley quickly realizes that while she and Oliver may have left the devil they knew, this group is a new type of diabolical.For something dark lives in the burned shell of Nowhere, something which asks a terrible price for sanctuary...
Release Date: February 24th, 2026
Genre: Horror/Thriller
Pages: 304
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
What I Liked:
1. Always the writing style
2. The characters are so complex but interesting too
3. Everything comes full circle
4. Omg the ending 😭
What I Didn't Like:
1. Repeating people's names; Oliver Olive/Marky Mark
2. Felt like at times too many povs
3. Timelines just change without notice in mid-paragraph
Overall Thoughts:
{{Disclaimer: I write my review as I read}}
So the girl goes on a 3 day adventure to Riley's town to get new food? There are no other towns along the way for the kids to steal food from.
Linus deciding to trust these strangers to actually pay him. They mention that they will sign a contract but it isn't mentioned so far if they did and Linus will be getting $10,000 for him showing them where the location is. I'm even more shocked that others haven't offered to pay him before to go up there and why is he so persuaded to talk to Marc and Kimble.
Oh my gosh now we have a POV from Adam. I'm really trying grasp all the different characters added in plus the timelines changing in the middle of their povs in the middle of the book without any notice. If you're not really paying attention or you put the book down a lot it can get confusing. I read on my breaks at work and at home so I found myself having to refresh mentally who we were to talking about and what timeline we're in.
How is Riley not freaking out when Cal mentions that his brother is missing and then Oliver comes over and says that Riley killed a demon? Cal mentions that he's going to go out everyday to find his brother on this trail and eventually he's going to come across this body of his brother and put two and two together when she says she killed a demon. Honestly, I'd be getting out of here. She has no idea what these kids are capable of.
Adam being calm about the fact that there is a closet full of different men's clothing that smells like different men would frighten me so much. It's odd. I don't know why Adam is staying. At some point Adam has to have some common sense. So far Leaf has said he wanted these things;
A. Rooms with windows for him to see in to watch people
B. Secret areas built into the walls
Those plus he has the clothing from other men. Wake up Adam!
Also was curious because Cal mentions that his brother Danny has disappeared and he thinks he went out to the woods to go on the trail. So how do they get the winch back to them on the other side? Because Danny would have had to use the zip line to go up. Also it's mentioned that somebody has to turn the handle as you go up. If Danny was by himself going up the zip line how was he able to turn the winch to get up if he was in the basket?
Kimble picks up a burger that's meat but she's vegan and eats it and goes to bed. Yeah right! You see it's going to be crapping her pants all night from that meat. There's just no way she can eat meat and it wouldn't mess up her stomach.
On top there are the remains of animals. A gleaming green spike pierces the body of some bird, a blackbird perhaps. It has been impaled. There are others. A rat, a possum, a rabbit, a blue jay – dried-out old remains.
How did a rabbit get up there? It's the top of a fence they cannot jump that high. I've owned rabbits and they can't climb like that.
I wish that Riley would listen to Oliver. She's so worried about him saying something about the demon she misses the other stuff he says. He mentions that Hattie says the real demon is growing up.
I love how Adam is being turned into this person that just ignores the obvious either for love or the fact that he is being manipulated into not seeing what is right in front of him. The sounds in the house, Leaf not having luggage, and now a 13th grave where there was only 12.
Riley should have left when she had the chance and even more so when her brother was starting to get acclimated to everybody. She knew that they wouldn't hurt the kids but she knew she was on thin ice so why wouldn't she have just left? It drives me crazy that she stayed and then even begins a relationship with the brother. I know Riley is still young so she isn't thinking past day to day but she had to have known at some point Cal would find the remains of Danny.
Why did I not realize that Riley was Adam's child? Wonder what happened to Oliver's father.
So I'm really not shocked that all of Oliver would vote to have her killed or whatever they're going to do she has not been the kindest to him. I really believe she does not like children. She's just treating the same way that the cousin was. Plus he doesn't understand what's really happening - he's just going along with the group.
Noon tells Riley that the little children are actually dead and were killed by Leaf. I'm also really not sure what that means. So then I was confused why they were kissing hands toward the house when Noon said before that it was harmless for everyone to worship Leaf since most of them don't remember Leaf. I guess in the same breath she even said that most of them worship the land for giving them somewhere safe to live. Really just confused on these children though. Noon does say that she took them from under the house where they were buried and that it took them a year to pull the bodies out so they could bury them again. They all wear the bones of the children around their necks too so they can see them and be accepted by them.
We jump back in time to when the owners of the land lived there at Nowhere house. Jane goes to a knitting circle but then they jump into talking about crocheting. I'm not sure if this a mistake of the arc I have or a mistake of print but knitting and crocheting are different.
Okay so Jane really had 5 kids and that is where the kids came from. Her husband killed her and the kids. The towns people buried them in the fruit cellar so the other towns people wouldn't judge mountain people. I am absolutely shocked at that Jane had kids and hid them from people. I do wish there was more of explanation of what happened and why. It's such a huge part of the story that skims over the why. I suppose the mountain is toxic to people and they end up killing one another.
I can't believe that Riley started a fire like her father did to get away. Now she is sending Oliver off on his own while she stays with the kids and becomes their mother after catching everyone else on fire. Wild!
Excuse me Oliver is Marc... And he's been in a different time line looking for Riley to save his daughter with a kidney replacement. Well I definitely missed that one. Plus Marc/Oliver is the Lilac boy too.
God, this ending of their reunion is sad. Riley being sure the kids are real and Marc saying they are not gives doubts to readers. He says the children were real and Riley burned them in the fire. Riley keeps saying you gave to have the bones around your necks to see them and that's why Mark can't but if you remember Riley and Oliver both were seeing them fir a while begire they got the bone necklace.
Riley finally agrees the give the kidney to his daughter. And then she's gone to back home. I really thought she was going to stay with Oliver but maybe she finally saw he didn't need her anymore and that the "kids" at home were the ones she needed.
It was all just so sad though.
Final Thoughts:
This book is something special. It takes you for a ride and you have no idea where you are going with it. I thought we were getting a simple retelling of Peter Pan and Lord of the Flies, but this is so much more than that. There are jems inside this book that are so unique.
I love Catriona Wards writing style and the way she makes characters feel so fever dream. With every chapter I was itching to go to the next. I had to know what was happening.
I do think there were some answers I must have missed or were never given.
A. When Riley started the fire why would no one come put it out?
B. Did Oliver loose his baby teeth
C. What happened to Cousin when he was dead and why did no one come looking for the kids? Riley was enrolled in school and they knew they were in custody of them.
D. If Riley knows she's the only one taking care of the kids why wouldn't she find others to help because one day she would die and they'd be all alone again?
E. I understand why people never climbed over the fence but why did people never cut a hold through the fence then?
F. If Riley was the only grown up in Nowhere after the others were dead and in Marc's timeline how did she manage to carry Annie when she thought she was passed out?
The thing that drove me up the wall was that something important happened but we kind of skimmed over the why someone did that and why it happened. There was very little follow up to the actions of certain people. We just moved on from that. I wish there was more to the ideas and actions of the characters. It almost at times made certain parts feel unfinished.
IG | Blog
Thanks to Netgalley and Tor Nightfire for this advanced copy of the book (ebook & physical). All thoughts and opinions are my own
March 5, 2026
I hate to say it, but this one was a bit of a miss for this reader. I wasn’t feeling the Peter Pan vibe.
Riley and her brother Oliver manage to escape from their abusive home in search of a place called Nowhere. It is rumored to be run by lost children high up in the mountains on a deserted property once owned by a popular actor, Leaf. It was burnt to the ground and Leaf was labeled a murderer. To add a little bit more to the story, Marc and Kimble are creating a documentary on Nowhere.
I unfortunately did not connect with this from a storyline nor a character perspective. While the three perspectives all tied up together nicely, there was just not enough depth within each point of view. Leaf’s perspective felt like I was missing details. I didn’t necessarily grasp his and Adam’s relationship; it felt very surface level. Riley’s point of view was definitely the most engaging, but I still felt that something was missing. I can’t really put my finger on it. It just was something that didn’t click for me. And finally, we are given some backstory about the property, but it felt like an afterthought. And I always like a bit of history/backstory.
I definitely wanted to know how it turned out, and it ended up being an OK read, but this is my least favorite so far from this author.
Riley and her brother Oliver manage to escape from their abusive home in search of a place called Nowhere. It is rumored to be run by lost children high up in the mountains on a deserted property once owned by a popular actor, Leaf. It was burnt to the ground and Leaf was labeled a murderer. To add a little bit more to the story, Marc and Kimble are creating a documentary on Nowhere.
I unfortunately did not connect with this from a storyline nor a character perspective. While the three perspectives all tied up together nicely, there was just not enough depth within each point of view. Leaf’s perspective felt like I was missing details. I didn’t necessarily grasp his and Adam’s relationship; it felt very surface level. Riley’s point of view was definitely the most engaging, but I still felt that something was missing. I can’t really put my finger on it. It just was something that didn’t click for me. And finally, we are given some backstory about the property, but it felt like an afterthought. And I always like a bit of history/backstory.
I definitely wanted to know how it turned out, and it ended up being an OK read, but this is my least favorite so far from this author.
November 17, 2025
Nowhere Burning is an atmospheric and deliciously strange work of horror with Children of the Corn vibes. Written in Catriona’s trademark brisk writing style with short sentences which are hard to pull off but Catriona always makes it work.
Like her prior works, Nowhere Burning is sprinkled with the odious and repellent but also includes poignant themes of family, and community. The book reads like a film and kept me on my toes guessing what would happen next. The multiple perspectives that come together at the end, made for a memorable conclusion.
I did wish that there were more details as to what motivated certain characters' actions and also I wanted the characters to have more depth but overall I really enjoyed Nowhere Burning and I would recommend it. Nowhere Burning is my fifth read by Catriona Ward and I can see fans of her prior works as well as horror readers loving this one!
Nowhere Burning by Catriona Ward will be available on February 24, 2026. Many thanks to Tor and NetGalley for the gifted copy!
Like her prior works, Nowhere Burning is sprinkled with the odious and repellent but also includes poignant themes of family, and community. The book reads like a film and kept me on my toes guessing what would happen next. The multiple perspectives that come together at the end, made for a memorable conclusion.
I did wish that there were more details as to what motivated certain characters' actions and also I wanted the characters to have more depth but overall I really enjoyed Nowhere Burning and I would recommend it. Nowhere Burning is my fifth read by Catriona Ward and I can see fans of her prior works as well as horror readers loving this one!
Nowhere Burning by Catriona Ward will be available on February 24, 2026. Many thanks to Tor and NetGalley for the gifted copy!
March 12, 2026
3.5 stars. Very dark at times, decent twists and I generally liked how it all came together
This is a horror reimagining of Peter Pan (and also a bit of Michael Jackson) that goes in a very heart wrenching direction. It reads as a series of disconnected plot threads: of kids Riley and her brother Oliver who are escaping a horrific family situation and go to live with other kids at Nowhere, of documentarians Marc and Kimble who are searching for Nowhere and of Adam, an architect hired by Leaf Windham, the original owner of the estate. These stories fold back and forth within each other until they are finally woven together in the end.
I listened to this partially as an audiobook, with the dual narrators of the brilliant Christopher Ragland (If you haven't listened to his narration of Ward's The Last House on Needless Street you're missing out) and Katherine Fenton. They do a superb job at bringing this complex story to life. I also read part of this as a print copy because I really wanted to know what was happening and with the combination of formats I was able to binge the book in a day.
This isn't a story for everyone. It has very dark themes that you can partially ignore if you don't think about it too much, but they are devastatingly present if you look for them. The ending of this book totally blew me away and I immediately wanted to start again at the beginning to see how the various threads fit together once I knew the ultimate resolution.
This is a very unique read and the darkly melancholy story will stay with you long after the last page is turned.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
This is a horror reimagining of Peter Pan (and also a bit of Michael Jackson) that goes in a very heart wrenching direction. It reads as a series of disconnected plot threads: of kids Riley and her brother Oliver who are escaping a horrific family situation and go to live with other kids at Nowhere, of documentarians Marc and Kimble who are searching for Nowhere and of Adam, an architect hired by Leaf Windham, the original owner of the estate. These stories fold back and forth within each other until they are finally woven together in the end.
I listened to this partially as an audiobook, with the dual narrators of the brilliant Christopher Ragland (If you haven't listened to his narration of Ward's The Last House on Needless Street you're missing out) and Katherine Fenton. They do a superb job at bringing this complex story to life. I also read part of this as a print copy because I really wanted to know what was happening and with the combination of formats I was able to binge the book in a day.
This isn't a story for everyone. It has very dark themes that you can partially ignore if you don't think about it too much, but they are devastatingly present if you look for them. The ending of this book totally blew me away and I immediately wanted to start again at the beginning to see how the various threads fit together once I knew the ultimate resolution.
This is a very unique read and the darkly melancholy story will stay with you long after the last page is turned.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
February 14, 2026
’Monsters and gods are the same thing. Neither are human anymore’
Nowhere Burning is a gothic, psychological horror thriller based in the mountains of Colorado. The story is set in the past, present, and future of ‘Nowhere’ - the now burnt down house of actor and serial killer Leaf Winham. We follow siblings Riley and Oliver as they decide to join the infamous and reclusive ‘Nowhere children’, who make their home in the houses charred remains.
In typical Ward fashion, Nowhere Burning is as equally bizarre as it is brilliant. Each of the characters had a somewhat manic, uncanny element to their speech and actions, which fit well with ‘Nowhere’s’ unearthly and harrowing atmosphere. It leaves you questioning whether its occupants made the house and land dangerous, or whether they were cursed from the beginning by settling there. It is a story that plays with the idea of real human evil vs paranormal evil, and it does this wonderfully. Even after the end, I was still left questioning which I believed.
The characters were compelling, particularly Riley and journalist Marc. Both tragically haunted characters, I felt that the way in which ‘Nowhere’ defined both of their lives in inescapable ways to be utterly devastating. While I may have guessed two of the narratives ‘twist’ reveals, it did not detract from my enjoyment of the story at all, especially as the breadcrumbs were there for us to find throughout.
Overall, Nowhere Burning was a beautifully written, unique, and captivating book that I thoroughly enjoyed my time with. 4/5 stars.
thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review! <3
Nowhere Burning is a gothic, psychological horror thriller based in the mountains of Colorado. The story is set in the past, present, and future of ‘Nowhere’ - the now burnt down house of actor and serial killer Leaf Winham. We follow siblings Riley and Oliver as they decide to join the infamous and reclusive ‘Nowhere children’, who make their home in the houses charred remains.
In typical Ward fashion, Nowhere Burning is as equally bizarre as it is brilliant. Each of the characters had a somewhat manic, uncanny element to their speech and actions, which fit well with ‘Nowhere’s’ unearthly and harrowing atmosphere. It leaves you questioning whether its occupants made the house and land dangerous, or whether they were cursed from the beginning by settling there. It is a story that plays with the idea of real human evil vs paranormal evil, and it does this wonderfully. Even after the end, I was still left questioning which I believed.
The characters were compelling, particularly Riley and journalist Marc. Both tragically haunted characters, I felt that the way in which ‘Nowhere’ defined both of their lives in inescapable ways to be utterly devastating. While I may have guessed two of the narratives ‘twist’ reveals, it did not detract from my enjoyment of the story at all, especially as the breadcrumbs were there for us to find throughout.
Overall, Nowhere Burning was a beautifully written, unique, and captivating book that I thoroughly enjoyed my time with. 4/5 stars.
thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review! <3
March 26, 2026
NEW CATRIONA WARD? IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS? “FOR FANS OF YELLOWJACKETS??????”
ARE YOU KIDDING ME???
Update: it was better than I could have ever predicted!
ARE YOU KIDDING ME???
Update: it was better than I could have ever predicted!
own-to-read
August 21, 2024a whole year oh my god i’m counting down the minutes
March 12, 2026
there’s a kid cult and a squeaky crocodile. what else do you need to know?
4.5 rounded up
4.5 rounded up
November 26, 2025
3.5 stars
Catriona Ward has become an auto-read author for me, so I was very excited to read that she is returning with her 2026 horror novel, NOWHERE BURNING. I mean, the cover alone is incredibly dark and inviting! Thanks @tornightfire for my gifted copy!
Catriona Ward returns with a feral, heartbreaking reimagining of Peter Pan that trades whimsy for dread and wonder for ruin. She threads together fractured timelines, cult-like mythmaking, and a haunting sibling bond that feels as fragile as it is fierce. Riley and little Oliver anchor the story with their desperate love and shared trauma, escaping "Cousin", a brutal man who takes advantage of their misfortune. The two of them run to the reclusive Nowhere where runaway children have banded together at the ruins of an infamous movie star, Leaf Winham's ranch. Riley and Oliver believe they can live with this group until they see that these other children have may been more than they bargained for. Across parallel storylines, are documentarians chasing the legend of Nowhere and see if they can find any of the children to gather more information.
This story was confusing bookstafam, but overall I liked it. It's not as dark as I was expecting, but the comparison to Yellowjackets is spot on. Think Yellowjackets meets F'd up Peter Pan. That being said, the ending was spectacular and unexpected. It's definitely slower-paced and similar vibes to Looking Glass Sound. I miss Ward's The Last House of Needless Street and Sundial vibes, but this book was still a fun experience. Less horror and more dark coming of age, but I would still categorize it in a darker tone and voice. If you like Ward's previous books, especially Looking Glass Sound, you'll enjoy this one.
Catriona Ward has become an auto-read author for me, so I was very excited to read that she is returning with her 2026 horror novel, NOWHERE BURNING. I mean, the cover alone is incredibly dark and inviting! Thanks @tornightfire for my gifted copy!
Catriona Ward returns with a feral, heartbreaking reimagining of Peter Pan that trades whimsy for dread and wonder for ruin. She threads together fractured timelines, cult-like mythmaking, and a haunting sibling bond that feels as fragile as it is fierce. Riley and little Oliver anchor the story with their desperate love and shared trauma, escaping "Cousin", a brutal man who takes advantage of their misfortune. The two of them run to the reclusive Nowhere where runaway children have banded together at the ruins of an infamous movie star, Leaf Winham's ranch. Riley and Oliver believe they can live with this group until they see that these other children have may been more than they bargained for. Across parallel storylines, are documentarians chasing the legend of Nowhere and see if they can find any of the children to gather more information.
This story was confusing bookstafam, but overall I liked it. It's not as dark as I was expecting, but the comparison to Yellowjackets is spot on. Think Yellowjackets meets F'd up Peter Pan. That being said, the ending was spectacular and unexpected. It's definitely slower-paced and similar vibes to Looking Glass Sound. I miss Ward's The Last House of Needless Street and Sundial vibes, but this book was still a fun experience. Less horror and more dark coming of age, but I would still categorize it in a darker tone and voice. If you like Ward's previous books, especially Looking Glass Sound, you'll enjoy this one.
February 24, 2026
Thanks to Netgalley and Tor Nightfire for the pre-release copy of Nowhere Burning by Catriona Ward. You'll find my honest review below.
Wow. Just... wow. This book slammed straight into my heart. I absolutely loved this one. The twists, the turns, the traumas, the triumphs, the devastation of abuse and being powerless, loss, grief, hope, finding strength... so many big feels and big psychological explorations.
This is my first Catriona Ward, beyond a little shortie through Amazon's Original Stories (Night and Day in Misery, part of The Shivers collection) that I really enjoyed, but this will not be my last.
I really don't want to spoil things, because the synopsis does a fantastic job of giving you a picture of the plot setup, but it doesn't really prepare you for what's to come. And the "what's to come" was what really pushed this novel into becoming one of my favorite reads of 2025.
Five stars, highly recommended, but gird yourself - there are potential trigger warnings all over with this one.
Wow. Just... wow. This book slammed straight into my heart. I absolutely loved this one. The twists, the turns, the traumas, the triumphs, the devastation of abuse and being powerless, loss, grief, hope, finding strength... so many big feels and big psychological explorations.
This is my first Catriona Ward, beyond a little shortie through Amazon's Original Stories (Night and Day in Misery, part of The Shivers collection) that I really enjoyed, but this will not be my last.
I really don't want to spoil things, because the synopsis does a fantastic job of giving you a picture of the plot setup, but it doesn't really prepare you for what's to come. And the "what's to come" was what really pushed this novel into becoming one of my favorite reads of 2025.
Five stars, highly recommended, but gird yourself - there are potential trigger warnings all over with this one.
April 1, 2026
3.5 stars. Love her books or hate them, no one writes novels like Catriona Ward. In Nowhere Burning, she uses her spare, almost liminal prose to weave a story about a commune of lost children and the complicated legacy of Nowhere, the ruined place they call home. The vibe is Peter Pan meets Michael Jackson and his Neverland Ranch meets Lord of the Flies, with Ward’s signature dark, unsettling touches.
The story unfolds on multiple timelines, but it’s Riley and her little brother Oliver who serve as the book’s anchor and emotional heart. Desperate to escape their abusive caretaker, Riley and Oliver are lured to the gates of Nowhere - hoping for sanctuary but finding something much more sinister. Their story converges with the other two narratives in a thoroughly satisfying conclusion, which unfolds with the unnerving, disquieting finesse I’ve come to think of as a Ward trademark.
I enjoyed Nowhere Burning quite a bit and would place it second out of the four Ward novels I’ve read (behind Looking Glass Sound). It’s intensely atmospheric and evocative, laced with dark and disturbing imagery, which is only enhanced by Ward’s uncanny turns of phrase. On the surface, her writing seems so straightforward, almost simplistic - but the pictures she paints with her words, the emotions she conveys, are anything but simple. She’s a truly gifted writer.
Here, the story she’s telling does get a bit muddled; there are some pacing issues, some elements that aren’t fully explained, some perspectives that aren’t fully explored. But I loved how she paid homage to Peter Pan (the crocodile named Tinkerbell, the boy in green, the one-legged man) while also managing to make this story feel completely original. Woven among the book’s darker moments are complex insights about family - both the one we’re born into, and the ones we find along the way; childhood innocence and the loss of it; the fierce bond between siblings; and what results when broken children try to heal each other without quite knowing how. It’s dark, melancholy, thoughtful, and much more moving than I expected it to be.
The story unfolds on multiple timelines, but it’s Riley and her little brother Oliver who serve as the book’s anchor and emotional heart. Desperate to escape their abusive caretaker, Riley and Oliver are lured to the gates of Nowhere - hoping for sanctuary but finding something much more sinister. Their story converges with the other two narratives in a thoroughly satisfying conclusion, which unfolds with the unnerving, disquieting finesse I’ve come to think of as a Ward trademark.
I enjoyed Nowhere Burning quite a bit and would place it second out of the four Ward novels I’ve read (behind Looking Glass Sound). It’s intensely atmospheric and evocative, laced with dark and disturbing imagery, which is only enhanced by Ward’s uncanny turns of phrase. On the surface, her writing seems so straightforward, almost simplistic - but the pictures she paints with her words, the emotions she conveys, are anything but simple. She’s a truly gifted writer.
Here, the story she’s telling does get a bit muddled; there are some pacing issues, some elements that aren’t fully explained, some perspectives that aren’t fully explored. But I loved how she paid homage to Peter Pan (the crocodile named Tinkerbell, the boy in green, the one-legged man) while also managing to make this story feel completely original. Woven among the book’s darker moments are complex insights about family - both the one we’re born into, and the ones we find along the way; childhood innocence and the loss of it; the fierce bond between siblings; and what results when broken children try to heal each other without quite knowing how. It’s dark, melancholy, thoughtful, and much more moving than I expected it to be.
February 28, 2026
"Cuando te lo han arrebatado todo, solo te quedan las cosas más pequeñas. A los niños les encantan las cosas pequeñas. El mundo es demasiado grande para ellos"
No sabéis como me hacía falta un libro que me enganchase. Que me enganchase de verdad.
El libro me llegó el jueves y pensé: "Voy a leerme el primer capítulo, a ver qué tal", porque ya estaba con dos libros y tampoco era la intención ponerme a fuego con él. Pero la cuestión es que me lo terminé en dos sentadas. Un día lo empecé, al siguiente me lo terminé. Cierto que es cortito, no llega a las 300 páginas, pero es que yo tampoco soy una lectora especialmente rápida.
La historia comienza con Riley y Oliver, dos niños huérfanos que escapan de su casa de acogida en dirección a Nuncanada, una tierra en las montañas que antaño fue el hogar de un asesino en serie, además de un misterioso lugar con mucha historia enterrada. Lugar en el que aparentemente se alojan otros niños que no tienen otro sitio al que acudir.
La historia de Riley y Oliver se va entremezclando con la de otros personajes de distintas edades que han tenido algún tipo de lazo más o menos estrecho con Nuncanada, y todo se va desgranando poco a poco hasta que explota al final.
Habiendo ya leído otros libros de Catriona y sabiendo lo mucho que le gustan los giros, tengo que decir que los de este me los vi venir bastante, y es quizá el único motivo por el que no me parece un libro redondo. Y aún así, me tuvo tan enganchada a la historia desde la primera página hasta la última, que tampoco siento que eso me haya estropeado la novela. Creo que la autora tiene una capacidad especial para conseguir generarte esa chispa de curiosidad e ir desgranándote poco a poco tramas que mezclan toques de misterio y terror, pero que giran muy alrededor de unos personajes que despiertan la empatía y el interés del lector.
Lo que más me gusta de sus historias es que en todas pasan cosas terribles, y aún así la autora es capaz de mantener ese tono turbio e inquietante sin rebozarse en lo grotesco y sin inundarte en detalles escabrosos. No lo necesita parar horrorizarte ni para removerte. A veces solo te insinúa, y con eso basta para que tu imaginación haga el resto. No es excesivamente explícita con todo lo que decide mostrarte, y aún así consigue ponerte los pelos de punta.
Catriona escribe novelas durísimas, con personajes grises y torturados, pero sin perder nunca la sensibilidad hacia ellos y sin tratarlos como trozos de carne a los que apalear para el "disfrute" del lado más morboso del lector. Sus historias siempre tienen hueco para la esperanza, y en este caso aprovecha para hablar de abuso, abandono y redención a través de una protagonista que ha tenido que dejar de lado su infancia y su inocencia demasiado pronto.
A pesar de escribir novelas tan adictivas, la autora nunca me deja la sensación de haber leído "una novela entretenida más", esa que puedes meter en un cajón de tu memoria y olvidar para siempre. Siempre me deja algo más de poso. Y aunque ninguna de momento ha superado "La casa al final de Needle Street", que es mi favorita, "Llamas en Nuncanada" no se queda muy atrás. Todavía no encontré un libro de Catriona que no me guste, y espero poder seguir leyéndola y que me siga dejando estas sensaciones tan positivas.
No sabéis como me hacía falta un libro que me enganchase. Que me enganchase de verdad.
El libro me llegó el jueves y pensé: "Voy a leerme el primer capítulo, a ver qué tal", porque ya estaba con dos libros y tampoco era la intención ponerme a fuego con él. Pero la cuestión es que me lo terminé en dos sentadas. Un día lo empecé, al siguiente me lo terminé. Cierto que es cortito, no llega a las 300 páginas, pero es que yo tampoco soy una lectora especialmente rápida.
La historia comienza con Riley y Oliver, dos niños huérfanos que escapan de su casa de acogida en dirección a Nuncanada, una tierra en las montañas que antaño fue el hogar de un asesino en serie, además de un misterioso lugar con mucha historia enterrada. Lugar en el que aparentemente se alojan otros niños que no tienen otro sitio al que acudir.
La historia de Riley y Oliver se va entremezclando con la de otros personajes de distintas edades que han tenido algún tipo de lazo más o menos estrecho con Nuncanada, y todo se va desgranando poco a poco hasta que explota al final.
Habiendo ya leído otros libros de Catriona y sabiendo lo mucho que le gustan los giros, tengo que decir que los de este me los vi venir bastante, y es quizá el único motivo por el que no me parece un libro redondo. Y aún así, me tuvo tan enganchada a la historia desde la primera página hasta la última, que tampoco siento que eso me haya estropeado la novela. Creo que la autora tiene una capacidad especial para conseguir generarte esa chispa de curiosidad e ir desgranándote poco a poco tramas que mezclan toques de misterio y terror, pero que giran muy alrededor de unos personajes que despiertan la empatía y el interés del lector.
Lo que más me gusta de sus historias es que en todas pasan cosas terribles, y aún así la autora es capaz de mantener ese tono turbio e inquietante sin rebozarse en lo grotesco y sin inundarte en detalles escabrosos. No lo necesita parar horrorizarte ni para removerte. A veces solo te insinúa, y con eso basta para que tu imaginación haga el resto. No es excesivamente explícita con todo lo que decide mostrarte, y aún así consigue ponerte los pelos de punta.
Catriona escribe novelas durísimas, con personajes grises y torturados, pero sin perder nunca la sensibilidad hacia ellos y sin tratarlos como trozos de carne a los que apalear para el "disfrute" del lado más morboso del lector. Sus historias siempre tienen hueco para la esperanza, y en este caso aprovecha para hablar de abuso, abandono y redención a través de una protagonista que ha tenido que dejar de lado su infancia y su inocencia demasiado pronto.
A pesar de escribir novelas tan adictivas, la autora nunca me deja la sensación de haber leído "una novela entretenida más", esa que puedes meter en un cajón de tu memoria y olvidar para siempre. Siempre me deja algo más de poso. Y aunque ninguna de momento ha superado "La casa al final de Needle Street", que es mi favorita, "Llamas en Nuncanada" no se queda muy atrás. Todavía no encontré un libro de Catriona que no me guste, y espero poder seguir leyéndola y que me siga dejando estas sensaciones tan positivas.
April 3, 2026
4.5 stars
Complex, but paid off with a deeply affecting ending, Catriona Ward is an author I’ll always pick up whenever there’s a new release. Her storytelling might not be the most approachable (especially her recent novels, one really has to pay attention to untangle what’s happening), but what she consistently delivers is a unique mix of characters and situations, rich atmosphere, and narratives laden with dramatic weight. Nowhere Burning might be my favourite entry from her, right after The Last House on Needless Street.
Nowhere Burning requires a bit of patience at the start, as it drops readers straight into its world with multiple narrative threads already in motion. With at least three timelines and sets of characters to keep track of, it can feel like a lot all at once. While I was never disoriented, this isn’t a story you can read or listen to on a whim, it works best when you can settle in and immerse yourself in large stretches.
Things begin to click around the 40% mark, when enough groundwork has been laid for readers to start piecing together how the different threads might connect. The resolution might be one of the most satisfying I’ve encountered in recent years, tying together its themes of childhood innocence, pain of growing up, and the many forms love can take. Its audiobook — performed by dual narrators — is also very well done, and definitely helps with orienting yourself within the story.
Nowhere Burning is more of a mystery with dark undertones than a straightforward thriller or horror novel. I appreciate its gradual build, and there are small details scattered throughout that feel refreshingly uncommon in recent fictions. There’s also a romance plot that feels both fatally romantic and deeply tragic. Besides The Last House on Needless Street, I’m happy to say there’s now another Catriona Ward novel I can wholeheartedly recommend.
***This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!***
Complex, but paid off with a deeply affecting ending, Catriona Ward is an author I’ll always pick up whenever there’s a new release. Her storytelling might not be the most approachable (especially her recent novels, one really has to pay attention to untangle what’s happening), but what she consistently delivers is a unique mix of characters and situations, rich atmosphere, and narratives laden with dramatic weight. Nowhere Burning might be my favourite entry from her, right after The Last House on Needless Street.
Nowhere Burning requires a bit of patience at the start, as it drops readers straight into its world with multiple narrative threads already in motion. With at least three timelines and sets of characters to keep track of, it can feel like a lot all at once. While I was never disoriented, this isn’t a story you can read or listen to on a whim, it works best when you can settle in and immerse yourself in large stretches.
Things begin to click around the 40% mark, when enough groundwork has been laid for readers to start piecing together how the different threads might connect. The resolution might be one of the most satisfying I’ve encountered in recent years, tying together its themes of childhood innocence, pain of growing up, and the many forms love can take. Its audiobook — performed by dual narrators — is also very well done, and definitely helps with orienting yourself within the story.
Nowhere Burning is more of a mystery with dark undertones than a straightforward thriller or horror novel. I appreciate its gradual build, and there are small details scattered throughout that feel refreshingly uncommon in recent fictions. There’s also a romance plot that feels both fatally romantic and deeply tragic. Besides The Last House on Needless Street, I’m happy to say there’s now another Catriona Ward novel I can wholeheartedly recommend.
***This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!***
February 25, 2026
Catriona Ward brings something special to horror. Her plots are creepily eerie, often surreal and dreamlike, and extremely unsettling. You often don’t know exactly what’s going on until the very end.
Nowhere Burning, while still unsettling, is one of Ward’s most straightforward horror books. There are still some good twists along the way, but it has the least confusing plot.
I personally prefer books that keep me guessing along the way, so I gravitate toward Ward’s previous novels, The Last House on Needless Street, Sundial, and Looking Glass Sound. But if you’re looking for a less surreal novel, something more grounded, I’d highly recommend Nowhere Burning.
Even though it’s not my favorite, I still really enjoyed this story about a brother and sister who run away from home to live in the Rocky Mountains with a bunch of teenagers squatting in the abandoned ruins of an infamous movie star’s ranch, Nowhere. The novel jumps into the past, showing readers the ranch’s dark history and how it gained it’s reputation as evil. We also follow a pair of filmmakers who are working on a documentary of Nowhere.
My favorite characters is Riley. She’s such a tough girl! Riley’s a bit unlikable, and she makes some questionable decisions, but her love for her brother Oliver and her willingness to do whatever it takes to keep him safe made me root for her. The ending brought together many of the timelines and plot threads together in a satisfying end.
If you’re a big Catriona Ward fan, or if you’ve wanted to pick up one of her books, I’d highly recommend Nowhere Burning! I’ve read everything she’s written, and I look forward to whatever she writers next :)
*Thanks to NetGalley, Tor Nighfire and Macmillan Audio for the arc and dlc. All opinions are my own.
Nowhere Burning, while still unsettling, is one of Ward’s most straightforward horror books. There are still some good twists along the way, but it has the least confusing plot.
I personally prefer books that keep me guessing along the way, so I gravitate toward Ward’s previous novels, The Last House on Needless Street, Sundial, and Looking Glass Sound. But if you’re looking for a less surreal novel, something more grounded, I’d highly recommend Nowhere Burning.
Even though it’s not my favorite, I still really enjoyed this story about a brother and sister who run away from home to live in the Rocky Mountains with a bunch of teenagers squatting in the abandoned ruins of an infamous movie star’s ranch, Nowhere. The novel jumps into the past, showing readers the ranch’s dark history and how it gained it’s reputation as evil. We also follow a pair of filmmakers who are working on a documentary of Nowhere.
My favorite characters is Riley. She’s such a tough girl! Riley’s a bit unlikable, and she makes some questionable decisions, but her love for her brother Oliver and her willingness to do whatever it takes to keep him safe made me root for her. The ending brought together many of the timelines and plot threads together in a satisfying end.
If you’re a big Catriona Ward fan, or if you’ve wanted to pick up one of her books, I’d highly recommend Nowhere Burning! I’ve read everything she’s written, and I look forward to whatever she writers next :)
*Thanks to NetGalley, Tor Nighfire and Macmillan Audio for the arc and dlc. All opinions are my own.
October 11, 2025
Riley and her younger brother Oliver are orphans and after living in care for a short while move in with their only living relative Cousin. However he makes their life a hell, drilling religion into them and abusing them.
Riley decides that she has to get her younger brother Oliver away from Cousin before he kills one or both of them.
As they escape they discover the old ruins of a ranch of an old film star, Nowhere. Now a haven for kids that have run away from bad situations and not accessible by adults, Riley thinks she has finally found a place of salvation for her and Oliver but as Nowhere’s secrets are slowly revealed, both current and past, she realises she may have led them into more than she bargained for.
Another utterly interesting and off kilter story from Ward. She’s kind of like the David Lynch of the literary world. Her stories are always set in reality but reality always feels slightly skewed and off kilter. Good versus evil a plenty with interesting and odd characters, nowhere itself is a character as is nature and everything really seems to have a personality.
A slow burn story told from three different viewpoints in different timelines, they all come together in the end beautifully and in a way I did not see coming.
There’s a lot going on here and a lot left open to interpretation. I did find myself a little confused on more than one occasion but, having read previous books from Ward I knew the writing style and just hung on for the ride.
A truly original writer with her own style, once you are used to the worlds and stories she creates the more you will enjoy her unique narrative and storytelling.
Many thanks to the publisher for the ARC through Netgalley.
Riley decides that she has to get her younger brother Oliver away from Cousin before he kills one or both of them.
As they escape they discover the old ruins of a ranch of an old film star, Nowhere. Now a haven for kids that have run away from bad situations and not accessible by adults, Riley thinks she has finally found a place of salvation for her and Oliver but as Nowhere’s secrets are slowly revealed, both current and past, she realises she may have led them into more than she bargained for.
Another utterly interesting and off kilter story from Ward. She’s kind of like the David Lynch of the literary world. Her stories are always set in reality but reality always feels slightly skewed and off kilter. Good versus evil a plenty with interesting and odd characters, nowhere itself is a character as is nature and everything really seems to have a personality.
A slow burn story told from three different viewpoints in different timelines, they all come together in the end beautifully and in a way I did not see coming.
There’s a lot going on here and a lot left open to interpretation. I did find myself a little confused on more than one occasion but, having read previous books from Ward I knew the writing style and just hung on for the ride.
A truly original writer with her own style, once you are used to the worlds and stories she creates the more you will enjoy her unique narrative and storytelling.
Many thanks to the publisher for the ARC through Netgalley.
November 20, 2025
Thank you Tor Nightfire for the free early copy!! I was obsessed with this 4.5 stars
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTreapFPC/
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTreapFPC/
February 27, 2026
4.5 stars rounded to five.
Nowhere Burning is a dark Peter Pan reimagining that grips you tightly and leaves you questioning what exactly is occurring. It’s a tale of survival teeming with mystery and horror, where Riley and her younger brother Oliver escape the grasp of an abusive cousin and travel to Nowhere, an isolated haven for children existing within the immolated remnants of an infamous movie star’s ranch home.
Told from multiple perspectives, Nowhere Burning has an atmosphere tinged with tension and uncertainty, as Riley and Oliver’s time within Nowhere and its unsettling band of children is interspersed with the darker histories of its previous owners. Catriona Ward is a master of keeping the reader slightly off-balance and yet having details flow together so seamlessly that the inevitable moment of revelation is still impactful despite previous assumptions.
Narrators Katherine Fenton and Christopher Ragland are excellent in their respective roles. Katherine Fenton’s portrayal of Riley especially captures the exasperation and anxiety of an older child who has spent most of the time pacifying and parenting a younger sibling. Christopher Ragland’s characters have great versatility, with one in particular possessing this almost-stilted cadence that made him seem all the more unnatural when paired with his behavior.
The past and present are intricately linked in Nowhere Burning and as such, there is never a feeling of safety within its boundaries. Riley’s desire to do anything to protect Oliver-even at the expense of herself-is excellent foreshadowing and also a tragic consequence of her upbringing. Oliver is a slightly frustrating character, but as a child who also suffered and yearned for security, he is still mostly sympathetic.
Although I was correct in some of my predictions, I still did not expect the true reason behind a certain character’s motivations. Nevertheless, I wish some of the secondary characters received a bit more depth, but it did not detract from my overall enjoyment of the audiobook.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio, Tor Nightfire and NetGalley for providing access to this audiobook. All opinions expressed are solely my own.
Nowhere Burning is a dark Peter Pan reimagining that grips you tightly and leaves you questioning what exactly is occurring. It’s a tale of survival teeming with mystery and horror, where Riley and her younger brother Oliver escape the grasp of an abusive cousin and travel to Nowhere, an isolated haven for children existing within the immolated remnants of an infamous movie star’s ranch home.
Told from multiple perspectives, Nowhere Burning has an atmosphere tinged with tension and uncertainty, as Riley and Oliver’s time within Nowhere and its unsettling band of children is interspersed with the darker histories of its previous owners. Catriona Ward is a master of keeping the reader slightly off-balance and yet having details flow together so seamlessly that the inevitable moment of revelation is still impactful despite previous assumptions.
Narrators Katherine Fenton and Christopher Ragland are excellent in their respective roles. Katherine Fenton’s portrayal of Riley especially captures the exasperation and anxiety of an older child who has spent most of the time pacifying and parenting a younger sibling. Christopher Ragland’s characters have great versatility, with one in particular possessing this almost-stilted cadence that made him seem all the more unnatural when paired with his behavior.
The past and present are intricately linked in Nowhere Burning and as such, there is never a feeling of safety within its boundaries. Riley’s desire to do anything to protect Oliver-even at the expense of herself-is excellent foreshadowing and also a tragic consequence of her upbringing. Oliver is a slightly frustrating character, but as a child who also suffered and yearned for security, he is still mostly sympathetic.
Although I was correct in some of my predictions, I still did not expect the true reason behind a certain character’s motivations. Nevertheless, I wish some of the secondary characters received a bit more depth, but it did not detract from my overall enjoyment of the audiobook.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio, Tor Nightfire and NetGalley for providing access to this audiobook. All opinions expressed are solely my own.
March 12, 2026
DNF @ 58%
I'm very sad to say this after loving Cat's other books SO much, but this book just isn't for me. I'm not enjoying the plot, writing, or characters very much. Hopefully her next release will click with me the way the other books of hers I've read have!
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy! All thoughts are honest and my own.
I'm very sad to say this after loving Cat's other books SO much, but this book just isn't for me. I'm not enjoying the plot, writing, or characters very much. Hopefully her next release will click with me the way the other books of hers I've read have!
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy! All thoughts are honest and my own.
November 14, 2025
Finally adding my finished thoughts.
This was so cinematic. So atmospheric. I could envision every description crystal clear. Moreso, I could even feel the creepiness. I mean...kids in the horror genre is guaranteed to be extra creepy! This has multiple POV's and they just come together flawlessly.
Nowhere Burning is described to be for fans of Riley Sager and Yellowjackets; I don't know if I agree with the Sager comparison and I haven't seen the latter so I can't speak to those. BUT! I couldn't help but picture a bit of Lord of the Flies meets Peter Pan meets Children of the Corn (like I said, kids in horror = automatically creepy).
Catriona Ward has proven time and time again to be a master of the slow burn, but she always delivers a punch at the end. The setting of the Rocky Mountains and inspiration taken from the idea of an abandoned Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch is just...idk, I didn't know I needed that combination but I'm happy it exists!
I got to see Catriona in a horror panel--I was internally screaming with excitement at the opportunity to read this then and I'm screaming with excitement for everyone to be able to read another brilliant Catriona Ward book. Thank you to CALIBA for enjoying one of the greatest perks of being a bookseller!
This was so cinematic. So atmospheric. I could envision every description crystal clear. Moreso, I could even feel the creepiness. I mean...kids in the horror genre is guaranteed to be extra creepy! This has multiple POV's and they just come together flawlessly.
Nowhere Burning is described to be for fans of Riley Sager and Yellowjackets; I don't know if I agree with the Sager comparison and I haven't seen the latter so I can't speak to those. BUT! I couldn't help but picture a bit of Lord of the Flies meets Peter Pan meets Children of the Corn (like I said, kids in horror = automatically creepy).
Catriona Ward has proven time and time again to be a master of the slow burn, but she always delivers a punch at the end. The setting of the Rocky Mountains and inspiration taken from the idea of an abandoned Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch is just...idk, I didn't know I needed that combination but I'm happy it exists!
I got to see Catriona in a horror panel--I was internally screaming with excitement at the opportunity to read this then and I'm screaming with excitement for everyone to be able to read another brilliant Catriona Ward book. Thank you to CALIBA for enjoying one of the greatest perks of being a bookseller!
November 5, 2025
Queen of keeps you guessing, boss of my horror heart, thank u cat ward for simultaneously unnerving and comforting me. [more tk?]
February 2, 2026
Kids are scary, but a cult comprised entirely of kids? Eep.
March 25, 2026
This one reads as if J.M. Barrie watched a ton of M. Night Shyamalan movies, spent a night eating mushrooms at MJ’s Neverland Ranch, then reimagined Peter Pan in modern day Boulder, Colorado. And toss in some Lord of the Flies vibes as well. It’s that kinda good.
Ward’s writing is excellent. The storylines twist and thread their ways into each other so pay attention or you’ll get turned around. I have questions about Leif appearing in certain scenes but I suspect that’s intended. And the storyline about Mark’s daughter seemed a little pressed but it wasn’t bothersome enough to cause much fuss since it was close to the end. I think saving his sister and reconciling his bizarre and impactful past could have been motivation enough. I don’t want to spoil it for you.
Loved this one because I’m weird.
Ward’s writing is excellent. The storylines twist and thread their ways into each other so pay attention or you’ll get turned around. I have questions about Leif appearing in certain scenes but I suspect that’s intended. And the storyline about Mark’s daughter seemed a little pressed but it wasn’t bothersome enough to cause much fuss since it was close to the end. I think saving his sister and reconciling his bizarre and impactful past could have been motivation enough. I don’t want to spoil it for you.
Loved this one because I’m weird.
March 2, 2026
I wasn’t sure what to think going into this one because I saw the author and requested without reading anything more. This was a very interesting one and listening to audio I was not instantly aware of timeline changes which was a bit odd at first. I did see the biggest twists coming in this one which was fine but surprising for this author. Nowhere is a place like no other. Nothing is quite as it seems there. This story is sad but also pretty riveting. I feel like if I summarize it I will give away important bits so I will avoid that. Narration was excellent and really brought the character to life.
March 15, 2026
3.5★
”You will always be Nowhere and Nowhere will always be you.”
Kid cults, lilacs, a 15ft long squeaky crocodile…
Though I thought this was definitely lacking in horror, and seemed a little all over the place at times, it was an interesting read. I loved the twist near the end and didn’t expect it at all!
”You will always be Nowhere and Nowhere will always be you.”
Kid cults, lilacs, a 15ft long squeaky crocodile…
Though I thought this was definitely lacking in horror, and seemed a little all over the place at times, it was an interesting read. I loved the twist near the end and didn’t expect it at all!
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