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Rainforest
An experience like no other.
From a writer like no other.
The virgin rainforest seems a paradise to Englishman Simon Corbett. A last chance to salvage his career. A final refuge from a terrible secret.
But the jungle is no Eden. It hides secrets of its own. It does not forgive.
As Simon is drawn deeper into its haunted shadows, he learns to his horror that the past will not stay buried. For there are places in the forest where the line between the living and the dead is thinner than the skin of water.
A terrifying supernatural tale from Sunday Times bestseller Michelle Paver, author of Dark Matter, Thin Air and Wakenhyrst.
From a writer like no other.
The virgin rainforest seems a paradise to Englishman Simon Corbett. A last chance to salvage his career. A final refuge from a terrible secret.
But the jungle is no Eden. It hides secrets of its own. It does not forgive.
As Simon is drawn deeper into its haunted shadows, he learns to his horror that the past will not stay buried. For there are places in the forest where the line between the living and the dead is thinner than the skin of water.
A terrifying supernatural tale from Sunday Times bestseller Michelle Paver, author of Dark Matter, Thin Air and Wakenhyrst.
228 pages, Paperback
First published October 9, 2025
60 people are currently reading
1271 people want to read
About the author
Michelle Paver
56 books2,363 followersMichelle Paver was born in central Africa, but came to England as a child. After gaining a degree in biochemistry from Oxford University, she became a partner in a city law firm, but eventually gave that up to write full-time.
The hugely successful Chronicles of Ancient Darkness series arose from Michelle's lifelong passion for animals, anthropology and the distant past—as well as an encounter with a large bear in a remote valley in southern California. To research the books, Michelle has traveled to Finland, Greenland, Sweden, Norway, Arctic Canada and the Carpathian Mountains. She has slept on reindeer skins, swum with wild orca (killer whales), and got nose-to-nose with polar bears—and, of course, wolves.
The hugely successful Chronicles of Ancient Darkness series arose from Michelle's lifelong passion for animals, anthropology and the distant past—as well as an encounter with a large bear in a remote valley in southern California. To research the books, Michelle has traveled to Finland, Greenland, Sweden, Norway, Arctic Canada and the Carpathian Mountains. She has slept on reindeer skins, swum with wild orca (killer whales), and got nose-to-nose with polar bears—and, of course, wolves.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 155 reviews
July 27, 2025
How do you rate a book that you didn't love, but didn't hate either? How do you rate a book that is oddly compelling and interesting yet bizarre? I am going with a solid 3 stars for Rainforest. I found this book to be atmospheric with vivid descriptions and horrific premise.
Doctor Simon Corbett, an entomologist, is an interesting character who feels like a man possessed. His career is in shambles, and he goes to a rainforest to save his career while mourning and examining his 'relationship' with a young woman with whom he was obsessed. He is a bit of an odd fellow; he becomes obsessed easily, is haunted by his actions/choices, is socially awkward, and his thought processes are a bit bizarre. He loves insects, but particularly the mantids. He journals his thoughts, what he does in a day, and about those around him.
His interactions with others at the archaeological dig are odd, but they are all a bit odd, a bit off, a bit peculiar. He is not sure what to make of the native Mayans/tribe members. He also must deal with the jungle with its harsh beauty, dark shadows, biting insects, deadly predators, and lush vegetation. He has many expectations for his time in the rainforest but doesn't seem to have much to do. He is asked to help, but he wants to look for Mantids and to tackle his demons.
This was an interesting book as I mentioned. It examines obsession, stalking, paranoia, social awkwardness, predilections, nature, native culture, loneliness, and mental health issues. For most of the book, I wondered if what was happening was real or if he hallucinating the entire thing? This was an odd one, yet I could not put it down. I enjoyed how the book had a sense of foreboding, dread, and danger. This book has a heavy feeling like one might get on a humid day.
Coming in at 240 pages, Rainforest proved to be a fast read. As I mentioned it's a bit different. I have a feeling this is going to be a polarizing book. It's eerie, full of creepy characters, vivid descriptions and atmosphere galore. Be sure to read the author's note at the end of the book.
*This was a buddy read with Mary Beth. Please reader her review as well to get her thoughts on Rainforest.
Thank you to Orion Publishing Group | Orion and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
Doctor Simon Corbett, an entomologist, is an interesting character who feels like a man possessed. His career is in shambles, and he goes to a rainforest to save his career while mourning and examining his 'relationship' with a young woman with whom he was obsessed. He is a bit of an odd fellow; he becomes obsessed easily, is haunted by his actions/choices, is socially awkward, and his thought processes are a bit bizarre. He loves insects, but particularly the mantids. He journals his thoughts, what he does in a day, and about those around him.
His interactions with others at the archaeological dig are odd, but they are all a bit odd, a bit off, a bit peculiar. He is not sure what to make of the native Mayans/tribe members. He also must deal with the jungle with its harsh beauty, dark shadows, biting insects, deadly predators, and lush vegetation. He has many expectations for his time in the rainforest but doesn't seem to have much to do. He is asked to help, but he wants to look for Mantids and to tackle his demons.
This was an interesting book as I mentioned. It examines obsession, stalking, paranoia, social awkwardness, predilections, nature, native culture, loneliness, and mental health issues. For most of the book, I wondered if what was happening was real or if he hallucinating the entire thing? This was an odd one, yet I could not put it down. I enjoyed how the book had a sense of foreboding, dread, and danger. This book has a heavy feeling like one might get on a humid day.
Coming in at 240 pages, Rainforest proved to be a fast read. As I mentioned it's a bit different. I have a feeling this is going to be a polarizing book. It's eerie, full of creepy characters, vivid descriptions and atmosphere galore. Be sure to read the author's note at the end of the book.
*This was a buddy read with Mary Beth. Please reader her review as well to get her thoughts on Rainforest.
Thank you to Orion Publishing Group | Orion and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
October 9, 2025
Rainforest marks Michelle Paver’s return to the exploration-based horror novel, à la
Dark Matter
and Thin Air, although here the action is transposed to (brace yourself) the rainforest. It’s the early 1970s and Simon Corbett is an entomologist joining a long-running exploratory dig in Central America, where he hopes to study his beloved mantids. It’s also clear he’s running away from something in England: from the start, his narrative is studded with references to a lost love and some kind of indiscretion. At the camp, he instantly makes himself unpopular by clashing with both his fellow explorers and the native Mayans, all the while venting his frustrations in his journal.
I kind of wish we’d had some more time to sit with Simon before the reveal of his true nature – his language, and the way he describes others, make his personality immediately apparent, which for me diluted the suspense and made this less powerful as a character study. However, it’s certainly gripping, and Paver describes the lush rainforest and its creatures in detail that ranges from gorgeous to horrifying. This was a super-quick read for me, finished in a day, and a perfect addition to the still-too-small canon of summer horror. Imagine the voice of The Collector ’s Frederick meshed with the atmosphere of Chris Beckett’s Beneath the World, a Sea and you’re halfway there.
I received an advance review copy of Rainforest from the publisher through NetGalley.
I kind of wish we’d had some more time to sit with Simon before the reveal of his true nature – his language, and the way he describes others, make his personality immediately apparent, which for me diluted the suspense and made this less powerful as a character study. However, it’s certainly gripping, and Paver describes the lush rainforest and its creatures in detail that ranges from gorgeous to horrifying. This was a super-quick read for me, finished in a day, and a perfect addition to the still-too-small canon of summer horror. Imagine the voice of The Collector ’s Frederick meshed with the atmosphere of Chris Beckett’s Beneath the World, a Sea and you’re halfway there.
I received an advance review copy of Rainforest from the publisher through NetGalley.
Want to read
March 4, 2025This is now my most anticipated book of 2025 and nothing will take its place.
October 14, 2025
2.5 Stars
One Liner: Can’t say I’m impressed
1973
Englishman Simon Corbett feels the virgin rainforest is a paradise and the last chance to save his career and hide from a terrible secret. But the rainforest has secrets, shadows, and traps that threaten to pull him under.
The story comes in Simon’s first-person POV (in the form of journal entries and narration).
My Thoughts:
This is my first book by the author, and I admit to being impressed with her knowledge of insects and wild animals.
The setting has immense potential (the main reason I grabbed the book), but thanks to the narrator, we don’t feel its full impact until the last quarter. Sure, there are descriptions, danger, and details (a lot of them, too). However, none of it actually feels intense until the final section.
The book is about the main character (obviously) and his psychological issues. It also throws in other themes like paedophilia, exploitation, colonial brutality, power dynamics, status dynamics, etc.
No denying that most of the content is dark. The book is supposed to be that way. However, I can’t say I was moved by any of it. A few bits here and there, yes. But for the majority of the time, I was reading it superficially, for the sake of it, almost.
The writing style is like a proper journal in the journaling section, which can be an advantage or a disadvantage. It worked for me. Since the story is set in the early 1970s, it has this old-timey vibe (and eliminates the need to deal with modern-day stuff like smartphones and trackers).
Also, I’m glad that this is a short book. The pacing is not that bad, kinda moderate. That said, the plot is not complex. Even at the halfway point, there is not much to say about what happened.
Things change afterward and get better (or worse), though the final resolution was different from what I expected. It could go either way.
The author’s note is really good, though. It is detailed and informative, where she clarifies what bits are fiction, what parts are real, which comes from her personal experience, and where she sourced her information from. The bibliography (of sorts) is categorized into sections, which I appreciate.
To summarize, Rainforest has its moments of intensity and great atmosphere, but fails to create an impact as a whole. In a way, I’d say the author’s note is the best part of the book!
Thank you, NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #Rainforest
One Liner: Can’t say I’m impressed
1973
Englishman Simon Corbett feels the virgin rainforest is a paradise and the last chance to save his career and hide from a terrible secret. But the rainforest has secrets, shadows, and traps that threaten to pull him under.
The story comes in Simon’s first-person POV (in the form of journal entries and narration).
My Thoughts:
This is my first book by the author, and I admit to being impressed with her knowledge of insects and wild animals.
The setting has immense potential (the main reason I grabbed the book), but thanks to the narrator, we don’t feel its full impact until the last quarter. Sure, there are descriptions, danger, and details (a lot of them, too). However, none of it actually feels intense until the final section.
The book is about the main character (obviously) and his psychological issues. It also throws in other themes like paedophilia, exploitation, colonial brutality, power dynamics, status dynamics, etc.
No denying that most of the content is dark. The book is supposed to be that way. However, I can’t say I was moved by any of it. A few bits here and there, yes. But for the majority of the time, I was reading it superficially, for the sake of it, almost.
The writing style is like a proper journal in the journaling section, which can be an advantage or a disadvantage. It worked for me. Since the story is set in the early 1970s, it has this old-timey vibe (and eliminates the need to deal with modern-day stuff like smartphones and trackers).
Also, I’m glad that this is a short book. The pacing is not that bad, kinda moderate. That said, the plot is not complex. Even at the halfway point, there is not much to say about what happened.
Things change afterward and get better (or worse), though the final resolution was different from what I expected. It could go either way.
The author’s note is really good, though. It is detailed and informative, where she clarifies what bits are fiction, what parts are real, which comes from her personal experience, and where she sourced her information from. The bibliography (of sorts) is categorized into sections, which I appreciate.
To summarize, Rainforest has its moments of intensity and great atmosphere, but fails to create an impact as a whole. In a way, I’d say the author’s note is the best part of the book!
Thank you, NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #Rainforest
November 10, 2025
Following on from Wakenhyrst, Thin Air and Dark Matter, Michelle Paver returns with a psychological tale that twists and weaves itself pulling you into the disturbed mind of the main protagonist - Doctor Simon Corbett.
Simon Corbett is a scientist who studies mantids/mantises and when the opportunity arises of him to travel to South American jungle to study the creatures for three months , he seizes the opportunity; however - he is running away from tragedy and obsession. A short lived friendship /obsession that ended in death.
It's 1973 and a world where colonial /western attitudes still reign and the scientist along with the people who are part of an archaeological dig treat the local community with contempt, derision and arrogance. An indian community that holds strong beliefs and where life and death life in co-existence.
As the visit develops, Simon Corbett becomes more and more haunted by past events and feels that he is being watched ..haunted.; ignoring local advice he wants to venture deeper into the jungle and in doing so may disturb spirits.....
The tension in this novel is palpable; the mental decline and obsession of Corbett to connect with the past; the terrors hidden within the jungle- imagined and real; the claustrophobia within the small group of visitors and their tensions and the continued awareness that games are being played with lives.
Michelle Paver grips you and the jungle environment although enthralling is no doubt a place full of darkness and danger. The only downside to this read is that at times it was hard to empathise with Corbett despite his struggle to bring peace and understanding to his past.
This supernatural tale of spirits and mind games is certainly worth reading - ideally late at dusk or nightfall. Gripping.
Simon Corbett is a scientist who studies mantids/mantises and when the opportunity arises of him to travel to South American jungle to study the creatures for three months , he seizes the opportunity; however - he is running away from tragedy and obsession. A short lived friendship /obsession that ended in death.
It's 1973 and a world where colonial /western attitudes still reign and the scientist along with the people who are part of an archaeological dig treat the local community with contempt, derision and arrogance. An indian community that holds strong beliefs and where life and death life in co-existence.
As the visit develops, Simon Corbett becomes more and more haunted by past events and feels that he is being watched ..haunted.; ignoring local advice he wants to venture deeper into the jungle and in doing so may disturb spirits.....
The tension in this novel is palpable; the mental decline and obsession of Corbett to connect with the past; the terrors hidden within the jungle- imagined and real; the claustrophobia within the small group of visitors and their tensions and the continued awareness that games are being played with lives.
Michelle Paver grips you and the jungle environment although enthralling is no doubt a place full of darkness and danger. The only downside to this read is that at times it was hard to empathise with Corbett despite his struggle to bring peace and understanding to his past.
This supernatural tale of spirits and mind games is certainly worth reading - ideally late at dusk or nightfall. Gripping.
October 23, 2025
I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review as part of the book tour hosted by Random Things Tours.
3.5 stars rounded to 4.
Rainforest is a creepy and darkly atmospheric book with a dash of horror.
The story follows Simon Corbett, who has taken up a position to study mantids in the Virgin rainforest after an even that nearly derailed his career. Haunted by the even and blaming himself for the results of his actions, the story starts out as diary type entries of his thoughts, feelings, and beliefs to his therapist. But Simons frustrated as he's somehow been roped in to become part of the dig the professor there is undertaking, taking his time away from his passion of studying the mantids. And even more frustratedly, he can't seem to find any in the rainforest. As the Yachikel (descendants of Mayans) help with the dig due to desperate times, he is shunned for his practices of smoking the trees to retrieve the dead insects etc that drop from them, especially when it results in zero mantids and death of many other forms of forest species. And Simon becomes obsessed with the local shamans practices of contacting the dead.
Simon is rude and obnoxious and not likeable in the slightest, and neither are the other white males there at the dig. The story touches on how we have taken so much from native and indigenous peoples and how little regard we have for their beliefs and practices and how this resentment builds and spirals. I couldn't put the book down at the end when Simon got lost and that part of the book was the best part for me.
3.5 stars rounded to 4.
Rainforest is a creepy and darkly atmospheric book with a dash of horror.
The story follows Simon Corbett, who has taken up a position to study mantids in the Virgin rainforest after an even that nearly derailed his career. Haunted by the even and blaming himself for the results of his actions, the story starts out as diary type entries of his thoughts, feelings, and beliefs to his therapist. But Simons frustrated as he's somehow been roped in to become part of the dig the professor there is undertaking, taking his time away from his passion of studying the mantids. And even more frustratedly, he can't seem to find any in the rainforest. As the Yachikel (descendants of Mayans) help with the dig due to desperate times, he is shunned for his practices of smoking the trees to retrieve the dead insects etc that drop from them, especially when it results in zero mantids and death of many other forms of forest species. And Simon becomes obsessed with the local shamans practices of contacting the dead.
Simon is rude and obnoxious and not likeable in the slightest, and neither are the other white males there at the dig. The story touches on how we have taken so much from native and indigenous peoples and how little regard we have for their beliefs and practices and how this resentment builds and spirals. I couldn't put the book down at the end when Simon got lost and that part of the book was the best part for me.
October 24, 2025
Wow! Is this nature-core horror? Is that a thing? I dunno, anyway, this was my second Michelle Paver book, and just like ‘Dark Matter’ it hit differently. I just sat and stared at the wall for ten minutes on finishing! 😳
I love how her storytelling is so subtle yet completely unnerving, she’s sensational!
This is the full package for me. No more, no less. Absolute perfection. I didn’t just read Rainforest, I consumed it and it consumed me.
I love how her storytelling is so subtle yet completely unnerving, she’s sensational!
This is the full package for me. No more, no less. Absolute perfection. I didn’t just read Rainforest, I consumed it and it consumed me.
November 1, 2025
I’d read all three of Paver’s previous horror novels for adults (Thin Air, Dark Matter and Wakenhyrst) and found them easy, atmospheric reading but not nearly as scary as billed. This is her best yet. Set in 1973 on an expedition to Mexico, it has as its unreliable narrator Dr. Simon Corbett, an English entomologist. Adding to the findings of the archaeological dig he’s accompanying, he’ll be hunting for mantids (praying mantises, stick insects and the like) by fogging sacred trees with pesticides. He also experiments with taking a hallucinogenic plant extract used by the Indigenous shamans, hoping to be reunited with his lost love, Penelope.
We know that Corbett’s employment is tenuous and that he’s seeing a therapist. Paver authentically reproduces the casual racism and sexism of the time and seeds little hints that this protagonist may not be telling the whole truth about his relationship with Penelope. The long sequence where he’s lost in the jungle is fantastic. Corbett seems fated to repeat ancient masochistic rites, as if in penance for what he’s done wrong. My husband is an entomologist, so I was interested to read about period collecting practices. The novelty of the setting is a bonus to this high-quality psychological thriller and ghost story.
Originally published on my blog, Bookish Beck.
We know that Corbett’s employment is tenuous and that he’s seeing a therapist. Paver authentically reproduces the casual racism and sexism of the time and seeds little hints that this protagonist may not be telling the whole truth about his relationship with Penelope. The long sequence where he’s lost in the jungle is fantastic. Corbett seems fated to repeat ancient masochistic rites, as if in penance for what he’s done wrong. My husband is an entomologist, so I was interested to read about period collecting practices. The novelty of the setting is a bonus to this high-quality psychological thriller and ghost story.
Originally published on my blog, Bookish Beck.
September 1, 2025
I'm a longtime fan of Michelle Paver's work. Her sense of atmosphere is second to none. There are scenes in this that had the hairs on the back of my neck standing up as I looked over my shoulder to make sure nothing was lurking in the dark.
But this was a first pancake kind of book. I feel bad saying that because I read the author's notes and I understand Rainforest was a hard fought breakthrough after battling writers' block. I also see, and acknowledge, the huge amount of research Paver did, and how personal this story was to her, incorporating her own experiences while traveling. I don't know who this book was for, though. It had shades of female rage. 'A feminist revenge story with no female characters? Bold', I thought. 'I don't know. But I trust Paver. I'm willing to see it through.' Except that wasn't what she was attempting at all, it turns out. For all her afterword commentary, Paver doesn't mention Penelope at all - not her inspiration, her motivation to tackle the plot, any similar experiences as a woman in this world... Nada. I don't know how I feel about that. Confused, mostly.
There's elements of this that are exceptional. The atmosphere, as I said. The slow boil feeling of dread. The way Paver captures that slimy 1970s offhand misogyny, and the grim collection of perverts all stabled nicely in academia where their predilections are never confronted. The inherit racism in archaeology is so well portrayed it was uncomfortable to read (as it should be). But Rainforest fell apart for me at the end. Was that supposed to be a redemption arc? When the price paid was nothing of consequence? I really don't know.
Still a huge Michelle Paver fan. Still looking forward to her next work. Sadly this one is not for me.
But this was a first pancake kind of book. I feel bad saying that because I read the author's notes and I understand Rainforest was a hard fought breakthrough after battling writers' block. I also see, and acknowledge, the huge amount of research Paver did, and how personal this story was to her, incorporating her own experiences while traveling. I don't know who this book was for, though. It had shades of female rage. 'A feminist revenge story with no female characters? Bold', I thought. 'I don't know. But I trust Paver. I'm willing to see it through.' Except that wasn't what she was attempting at all, it turns out. For all her afterword commentary, Paver doesn't mention Penelope at all - not her inspiration, her motivation to tackle the plot, any similar experiences as a woman in this world... Nada. I don't know how I feel about that. Confused, mostly.
There's elements of this that are exceptional. The atmosphere, as I said. The slow boil feeling of dread. The way Paver captures that slimy 1970s offhand misogyny, and the grim collection of perverts all stabled nicely in academia where their predilections are never confronted. The inherit racism in archaeology is so well portrayed it was uncomfortable to read (as it should be). But Rainforest fell apart for me at the end. Was that supposed to be a redemption arc? When the price paid was nothing of consequence? I really don't know.
Still a huge Michelle Paver fan. Still looking forward to her next work. Sadly this one is not for me.
July 28, 2025
Bugs, sweat, unfriendly plants, and maybe ghosts. In this book we follow Simon, a pompous Englishman who thinks he's too good for jungle camp and makes his disdain known to all involved. We get a first row seat to the whole mess as we read his diary in which he does nothing to improve our perceptions about himself.
The whole book had an old timey feel to it, and not only the diary style, or how he kept addressing a mysterious doctor in his entries, but also the use of highbrow vocabulary which reminded me the feeling of reading a classic H. G. Wells book. The story moved a bit slowly to begin with, but the unnerving dread kept creeping in steadily.
With lush description of the jungle foliage (aka rotting vegetation), creepy crawlies and a touch of the supernatural, Rainforest by Michelle Paver will appeal to readers who enjoy exploration horror and ghost stories.
ARC provided by the publisher.
The whole book had an old timey feel to it, and not only the diary style, or how he kept addressing a mysterious doctor in his entries, but also the use of highbrow vocabulary which reminded me the feeling of reading a classic H. G. Wells book. The story moved a bit slowly to begin with, but the unnerving dread kept creeping in steadily.
With lush description of the jungle foliage (aka rotting vegetation), creepy crawlies and a touch of the supernatural, Rainforest by Michelle Paver will appeal to readers who enjoy exploration horror and ghost stories.
ARC provided by the publisher.
November 17, 2025
I decided to read Rainforest because Paver's Dark Matter was fun and I do like novels in which the rainforest unravel a man's sanity. It is told via the diary entries of Simon Corbett, an entomologist specialising in mantids. He leaves England for the jungles of Mexico after a tragic turn in his love life. Particulars of this situation are gradually revealed to the reader. When I began Rainforest, I didn't realise that it is set in 1973, thus was astonished by somebody smoking on a plane! The attitudes towards indigenous people seemed plausibly 1970s, not that I imagine things have hugely improved since.
The sense of ominous threat in the story builds gradually. It is a creepy novel rather than truly frightening. As I anticipated, vivid depictions of the rainforest were the clear highlight. Simon's rainforest wanderings are gloriously detailed and evocative. Thanks to his profession, they include lavish descriptions of lovely bugs. What violence occurs is more implied than described, which can have greater impact than lashings of gore but here seemed a bit coy. The rainforest itself was more interesting than the supernatural and human forces acting within it, and thankfully the protagonist knew that. Rainforest is a neatly structured and paced novel with a wonderful setting.
The sense of ominous threat in the story builds gradually. It is a creepy novel rather than truly frightening. As I anticipated, vivid depictions of the rainforest were the clear highlight. Simon's rainforest wanderings are gloriously detailed and evocative. Thanks to his profession, they include lavish descriptions of lovely bugs. What violence occurs is more implied than described, which can have greater impact than lashings of gore but here seemed a bit coy. The rainforest itself was more interesting than the supernatural and human forces acting within it, and thankfully the protagonist knew that. Rainforest is a neatly structured and paced novel with a wonderful setting.
October 17, 2025
In Rainforest, by Michelle Paver, it’s 1973 and we follow British entomologist Simon Corbett into the Mexican jungle, where he joins up with some archaeologists who are looking for Mayan artefacts.
Simon’s been sent there by his university to study mantids and clear his mind in the wake of a mental breakdown following the death of his beloved Penelope. Instead, though, he continues to obsess over what happened, and can’t help but take an interest in the beliefs about death and the supernatural held by a nearby indigenous tribe – the Yachikel, direct descendents of the Mayans themselves. This leads him down a dark path, both metaphorically and literally.
If I were only permitted one word to sum up Rainforest, it would have to be “creepy”. Simon’s in the jungle to study creepy-crawlies. There’s something creepy there that’s neither man nor beast. Simon and some of his colleagues are real creeps.
It didn’t take long for me to get an inkling that Simon’s relationship with Penelope wasn’t all he initially made it out to be, and over the course of the story, you discover more and more about its true nature. It was fascinating to spend time with such a delusional, self-centred character, and I was more curious than saddened when bad things happened to him! At the same time, Paver keeps Simon’s humanity in sight with his miserable childhood, endearing delight in the company of animals (the harmless ones, anyway), and nerdy passion for insects.
Simon’s empathy doesn’t stretch to the Yachikel, however. Typically for their demographic and the time that the book is set, he and his fellows’ attitudes towards indigenous people range from dehumanising to condescending. Even when Simon desperately wants something from the local shaman, Kayun, he’s disrespectful and unpleasant towards him. And while Simon has more reverance for the rainforest than most, all the white men treat it as something they have the right to dominate and exploit.
Paver’s portrayal of the rainforest and the creatures that live there is absolutely stunning. She describes the characters’ surroundings in such a way that none of the senses are left out, and the minute details she provides about the flora and fauna convey not only what Simon would notice as an authority on insects, but also the incredible diversity of life that flourishes there.
By the same token, when the weather takes a turn and Simon is stuck, she really gets across the huge variety of dangers it can present to an underequipped human – and those are just the earthly entities! I additionally found it very interesting to learn a bit about ancient Mayan culture and beliefs.
Rainforest is extraordinarily rich in detail and delightfully creepy.
Simon’s been sent there by his university to study mantids and clear his mind in the wake of a mental breakdown following the death of his beloved Penelope. Instead, though, he continues to obsess over what happened, and can’t help but take an interest in the beliefs about death and the supernatural held by a nearby indigenous tribe – the Yachikel, direct descendents of the Mayans themselves. This leads him down a dark path, both metaphorically and literally.
If I were only permitted one word to sum up Rainforest, it would have to be “creepy”. Simon’s in the jungle to study creepy-crawlies. There’s something creepy there that’s neither man nor beast. Simon and some of his colleagues are real creeps.
It didn’t take long for me to get an inkling that Simon’s relationship with Penelope wasn’t all he initially made it out to be, and over the course of the story, you discover more and more about its true nature. It was fascinating to spend time with such a delusional, self-centred character, and I was more curious than saddened when bad things happened to him! At the same time, Paver keeps Simon’s humanity in sight with his miserable childhood, endearing delight in the company of animals (the harmless ones, anyway), and nerdy passion for insects.
Simon’s empathy doesn’t stretch to the Yachikel, however. Typically for their demographic and the time that the book is set, he and his fellows’ attitudes towards indigenous people range from dehumanising to condescending. Even when Simon desperately wants something from the local shaman, Kayun, he’s disrespectful and unpleasant towards him. And while Simon has more reverance for the rainforest than most, all the white men treat it as something they have the right to dominate and exploit.
Paver’s portrayal of the rainforest and the creatures that live there is absolutely stunning. She describes the characters’ surroundings in such a way that none of the senses are left out, and the minute details she provides about the flora and fauna convey not only what Simon would notice as an authority on insects, but also the incredible diversity of life that flourishes there.
By the same token, when the weather takes a turn and Simon is stuck, she really gets across the huge variety of dangers it can present to an underequipped human – and those are just the earthly entities! I additionally found it very interesting to learn a bit about ancient Mayan culture and beliefs.
Rainforest is extraordinarily rich in detail and delightfully creepy.
January 6, 2026
A dark and atmospheric novel set in the Mexican rainforest in the 1970s at an archeological site. The narrator is a horrid man, most of the novel is his journal. He studies mantids and before heading for the rainforest he was obsessed with a young woman named Penelope who dies in a car accident. It was hard to rate this book, I didn’t hate it and found it hard to look away from the vivid imagery but maybe I didn’t really like it because of the unlikeable main character.
September 22, 2025
A dark, psychological story with elements of the supernatural
Simon Corbett is an entomologist who escapes to the jungle in South America to study Mantids. When he arrives, he is forced to assist with an archaeological dig. Local Mayan’s are helping the excavation; however, they are very secretive and resentful of the Westerner. Simon finds himself being drawn into a world he doesn’t understand, as he explores the surrounding area and progresses deeper into the rainforest.
As the story builds, a mystery unravels of why Simon has had to run away and what he is trying to come to terms with. In this journey, he finds himself discovering and exploring many aspects of culture that Westerners had no concept of. It also portrays subtly, how Westerners had stolen considerable artefacts over the years, and how this is their history that they are now living without. An important message and sensitively written.
Most of the characters were difficult to like, Simon, Ridley, Birkenshaw, the Professor, Kayun and Penelope particularly. Weirdly, this just added to the depth and tension as you found out the background for each and everyone. Most were unlikeable for a reason and not all comfortable reading, despite no graphic detail being written.
I really did enjoy this supernatural mystery. Michelle Paver writes about the rainforest with astounding vividity and description. There is a dark undertone of which gives tension and suspense throughout. Plus, an unknown quantity of an ancient culture with mystical realism in the 1970s (when understanding and times were much different to now). Many important messages were incorporated, including the biodiversity and importance of the rainforest.
After a holiday recently in Mexico discovering the Mayan Culture, this was a fitting and enjoyable read for me. I found this a quick, unputdownable, story where I was immersed within the rainforest and the mysteries revealed. I also enjoyed the Author’s note at the end, where Michelle detailed her journey into the rainforest and the accuracy and changes in historical detail given. I found this very interesting and enlightening.
I would definitely recommend this novel, if you like a slightly unusual read with a deeper undertone.
Thank you to Netgalley, Orion Publishing Group and Michelle Paver for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Due to be published on 9 October 2025.
Simon Corbett is an entomologist who escapes to the jungle in South America to study Mantids. When he arrives, he is forced to assist with an archaeological dig. Local Mayan’s are helping the excavation; however, they are very secretive and resentful of the Westerner. Simon finds himself being drawn into a world he doesn’t understand, as he explores the surrounding area and progresses deeper into the rainforest.
As the story builds, a mystery unravels of why Simon has had to run away and what he is trying to come to terms with. In this journey, he finds himself discovering and exploring many aspects of culture that Westerners had no concept of. It also portrays subtly, how Westerners had stolen considerable artefacts over the years, and how this is their history that they are now living without. An important message and sensitively written.
Most of the characters were difficult to like, Simon, Ridley, Birkenshaw, the Professor, Kayun and Penelope particularly. Weirdly, this just added to the depth and tension as you found out the background for each and everyone. Most were unlikeable for a reason and not all comfortable reading, despite no graphic detail being written.
I really did enjoy this supernatural mystery. Michelle Paver writes about the rainforest with astounding vividity and description. There is a dark undertone of which gives tension and suspense throughout. Plus, an unknown quantity of an ancient culture with mystical realism in the 1970s (when understanding and times were much different to now). Many important messages were incorporated, including the biodiversity and importance of the rainforest.
After a holiday recently in Mexico discovering the Mayan Culture, this was a fitting and enjoyable read for me. I found this a quick, unputdownable, story where I was immersed within the rainforest and the mysteries revealed. I also enjoyed the Author’s note at the end, where Michelle detailed her journey into the rainforest and the accuracy and changes in historical detail given. I found this very interesting and enlightening.
I would definitely recommend this novel, if you like a slightly unusual read with a deeper undertone.
Thank you to Netgalley, Orion Publishing Group and Michelle Paver for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Due to be published on 9 October 2025.
June 19, 2025
Probably my most anticipated book of 2025! Cannot bloody wait!
UPDATED 19/06/25…
Phenomenal. All of the stars. Every single time I read a Michelle Paver book I am completely entranced. Sucked straight into the words and not let go until the very last page. This book took me completely unawares with its direction and I couldn’t have loved it more if I tried. I knew that it was going to be creepy but holy cow, the violence that lay within these pages was handled so well.
Simon is incredibly flawed. He deeply mistrusts the local people of the part of the rainforest where he is working. He’s running away from his own demons back home in England. And even now he just cannot let go of his obsessions.
Written with consummate skill with gorgeous, often raw prose, and with a conclusion that made me physically shout out in horror, this was a joy and easily my top read of the year so far.
Every time I read one of her books it’s like coming home, and I am so grateful to have experienced that wonderful feeling once again! ♥️
* My thanks to Orion for a proof in exchange for an honest review. *
UPDATED 19/06/25…
Phenomenal. All of the stars. Every single time I read a Michelle Paver book I am completely entranced. Sucked straight into the words and not let go until the very last page. This book took me completely unawares with its direction and I couldn’t have loved it more if I tried. I knew that it was going to be creepy but holy cow, the violence that lay within these pages was handled so well.
Simon is incredibly flawed. He deeply mistrusts the local people of the part of the rainforest where he is working. He’s running away from his own demons back home in England. And even now he just cannot let go of his obsessions.
Written with consummate skill with gorgeous, often raw prose, and with a conclusion that made me physically shout out in horror, this was a joy and easily my top read of the year so far.
Every time I read one of her books it’s like coming home, and I am so grateful to have experienced that wonderful feeling once again! ♥️
* My thanks to Orion for a proof in exchange for an honest review. *
September 22, 2025
This short atmospheric book follows Simon as he travels to the rainforest to escape his life after the death of the girl he was basically stalking.
It was an odd book and I am not entirely sure what I was meant to take from it.
I loved Thin Air, it was unsettling and tense and had me turning the pages, but with this one I kept expecting more to happen and it kinda didn't.
It was an odd book and I am not entirely sure what I was meant to take from it.
I loved Thin Air, it was unsettling and tense and had me turning the pages, but with this one I kept expecting more to happen and it kinda didn't.
October 21, 2025
Fans of jungle thrillers will be swept away by Michelle Paver's hypnotic journey in Rainforest. The protagonist is slightly harder to empathize with than some of the other explorers she's written, but as Simon Corbett's health and sanity gradually degenerate, the most authentic details of this harrowing experience shine--the real life experiences of Teddy Roosevelt and Percy Fawcett echo in the canopy of this forest. Every page is overgrown with verdure and crawling with primal creatures, all of it engaged in a life or death struggle for survival that leaves no room for mistakes. For a transporting, immersive vacation from the ordinary, grab Paver's latest.
July 18, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
The rainforest appears to be a paradise to Englishman Simon Corbett—a last chance to salvage his crumbling career, and a final refuge from a haunting secret.
But the jungle is no Eden. As Simon is drawn deeper into its shadowed depths, he discovers that the past refuses to remain buried. In this eerie, atmospheric tale, the boundary between the living and the dead is as thin as the skin of water.
In true Michelle style, the writing is exceptional. Her attention to detail and the depth of research that goes into her work are second to none. Drawing from her own experiences in the jungle, the prose feels remarkably immersive and vivid—you can almost feel the humidity, hear the cacophony of the rainforest, and sense the lurking unease beneath the canopy.
I loved the lush setting and evocative descriptions, which brought the story to life. That said, this wasn’t my favorite of her novels. The male main character, Simon, was quite difficult to connect with. While Michelle is careful to contextualize his attitudes and language as reflective of the period, it did create a barrier to fully engaging with his point of view.
Although there were a few genuinely chilling moments that I appreciated, overall it didn’t deliver quite the same spooky impact as some of her previous ghost stories. Still, I enjoyed the book love Michelle’s writing. Even if this one didn’t resonate with me as deeply as her other works.
Thankyou Orion publishing for the review copy, all thoughts are my own
The rainforest appears to be a paradise to Englishman Simon Corbett—a last chance to salvage his crumbling career, and a final refuge from a haunting secret.
But the jungle is no Eden. As Simon is drawn deeper into its shadowed depths, he discovers that the past refuses to remain buried. In this eerie, atmospheric tale, the boundary between the living and the dead is as thin as the skin of water.
In true Michelle style, the writing is exceptional. Her attention to detail and the depth of research that goes into her work are second to none. Drawing from her own experiences in the jungle, the prose feels remarkably immersive and vivid—you can almost feel the humidity, hear the cacophony of the rainforest, and sense the lurking unease beneath the canopy.
I loved the lush setting and evocative descriptions, which brought the story to life. That said, this wasn’t my favorite of her novels. The male main character, Simon, was quite difficult to connect with. While Michelle is careful to contextualize his attitudes and language as reflective of the period, it did create a barrier to fully engaging with his point of view.
Although there were a few genuinely chilling moments that I appreciated, overall it didn’t deliver quite the same spooky impact as some of her previous ghost stories. Still, I enjoyed the book love Michelle’s writing. Even if this one didn’t resonate with me as deeply as her other works.
Thankyou Orion publishing for the review copy, all thoughts are my own
June 19, 2025
‘The virgin rainforest seems a paradise to Englishman Simon Corbett. A last chance to salvage his career. A final refuge from a terrible secret.
But the jungle is no Eden. It hides secrets of its own. It does not forgive.
A terrifying supernatural tale from Sunday Times bestseller Michelle Paver, author of Dark Matter, Thin Air and Wakenhyrst.’
My thoughts are all over the place after finishing this book. Simon, the MMC, was such an obsessive, creepy, nerdy & entitled little prick. And his rainforest adventure was just outright odd. I wish I’d have had a reason to like him. Or at least appreciate his character or his goal. Something, anything... But I didn’t care. Maybe that was intentional…Idk
Until the severing at the end. That bullhonkey had me green around the gills. I was flat sickened…🤢
That said, the writing was notable. And I was 1000% frightened on several occasions, so definitely props there! I won’t take that away from the experience.
I just need time to get my musings in order. I’ll come back to this.
Thank you NetGalley and Orion for this arc in exchange for review.
Pub: 10.09.2025.
A terrifying supernatural tale from Sunday Times bestseller Michelle Paver, author of Dark Matter, Thin Air and Wakenhyrst.’
My thoughts are all over the place after finishing this book. Simon, the MMC, was such an obsessive, creepy, nerdy & entitled little prick. And his rainforest adventure was just outright odd. I wish I’d have had a reason to like him. Or at least appreciate his character or his goal. Something, anything... But I didn’t care. Maybe that was intentional…Idk
Until the severing at the end. That bullhonkey had me green around the gills. I was flat sickened…🤢
That said, the writing was notable. And I was 1000% frightened on several occasions, so definitely props there! I won’t take that away from the experience.
I just need time to get my musings in order. I’ll come back to this.
Thank you NetGalley and Orion for this arc in exchange for review.
Pub: 10.09.2025.
January 9, 2026
The sublimity of a Michelle Paver novel. Sigh!
This is how you do the anti-hero; this is how you do unreliable narrator; this is how you do the first-person perspective; this is how you do the epistolary novel; this is how you do horror. Amen.
This is how you do the anti-hero; this is how you do unreliable narrator; this is how you do the first-person perspective; this is how you do the epistolary novel; this is how you do horror. Amen.
November 21, 2025
Started off intriguing and I was skimming over the ugliness, telling myself it's fiction, until I get more gross details about the characters, and well more into White People Commenting on Other Cultures, then I just couldn't bear it. I love insects so that aspect was grand. Not much for stalkers, so the parts with Simon after Penelope were rather awful. Then we have the pedophile and the rapist on the dig, so I'm just wondering what the fuck happened. Professor leading the dig acting like a dick? Yep. Condescending attitudes about a culture the White People Characters know zilch about? Yep. Greed overcoming any scruples or morals or decency or, well, anything close to not-shitty? Yep. Commenting on an Indigenous culture from a non-Indigenous mindset? Yep. Yeah, this was absolute garbage. Paver's Afterword can fuck off. I am so sick of White People glamorizing non-European cultures before, during, and after their vacations to these places. Privilege allows you in and around, your lack of shame lets you speak, and your hubris leads others to assign any level of importance to your "field notes" or whatever you want to label them. Research? Observations? Wonderment? Anyway. Hard fucking pass.
November 30, 2025
extremely dissatisfied with the ending. every white man at that camp should have been killed by the ghost.
August 3, 2025
Rainforest by Michelle Paver is my second book from the author this year, and I’m still surprised I hadn’t heard of her before. A couple of months ago I didn’t even know her books existed. Now I find myself reaching for more, even when the story doesn’t fully land for me.
This time, we leave the cold isolation of Dark Matter and dive into the suffocating, living heart of the South American jungle. We follow Simon Corbett, an entomologist traveling to a remote rainforest to save what’s left of his career. He’s also mourning a loss that’s less about love and more about obsession. Clinging to the memory of a much younger woman who never quite belonged to him the way he imagined. Simon is not the most likable protagonist, and he’s definitely not a reliable one, which makes the psychological elements of the story more claustrophobic than thrilling.
Paver’s writing is, once again, deeply immersive. In Dark Matter I felt the cold; here, I felt the heat, the insects, the thick air pressing in. The rainforest is alive, gorgeous and grotesque in equal measure and she captures that beautifully. The atmosphere is easily the strongest part of the novel.
That said, the plot didn’t grip me. It took me almost two weeks to finish a relatively short book (just over 240 pages). I kept hoping for more tension, more danger, maybe something in the vein of The Ruins or even the long-forgotten TV show The River but this isn’t that kind of story. It’s quieter. More psychological. Less about what's lurking in the jungle, and more about what’s rotting inside the man walking through it.
In the end, I didn’t hate it but I didn’t love it either. It left me somewhere in the middle: impressed by the craft, but unmoved by the story. Still, Michelle Paver is a writer I’ll return to. Even when the plot falters, her ability to conjure place and mood is masterful.
This time, we leave the cold isolation of Dark Matter and dive into the suffocating, living heart of the South American jungle. We follow Simon Corbett, an entomologist traveling to a remote rainforest to save what’s left of his career. He’s also mourning a loss that’s less about love and more about obsession. Clinging to the memory of a much younger woman who never quite belonged to him the way he imagined. Simon is not the most likable protagonist, and he’s definitely not a reliable one, which makes the psychological elements of the story more claustrophobic than thrilling.
Paver’s writing is, once again, deeply immersive. In Dark Matter I felt the cold; here, I felt the heat, the insects, the thick air pressing in. The rainforest is alive, gorgeous and grotesque in equal measure and she captures that beautifully. The atmosphere is easily the strongest part of the novel.
That said, the plot didn’t grip me. It took me almost two weeks to finish a relatively short book (just over 240 pages). I kept hoping for more tension, more danger, maybe something in the vein of The Ruins or even the long-forgotten TV show The River but this isn’t that kind of story. It’s quieter. More psychological. Less about what's lurking in the jungle, and more about what’s rotting inside the man walking through it.
In the end, I didn’t hate it but I didn’t love it either. It left me somewhere in the middle: impressed by the craft, but unmoved by the story. Still, Michelle Paver is a writer I’ll return to. Even when the plot falters, her ability to conjure place and mood is masterful.
November 17, 2025
[NetGalley Read #54]
3.75 ⭐️
"All my life I've believed that knowledge gives you power. That there's no sense remaining in the dark, if you have a problem you need to find out as much as you can about what you're up against. I don't believe that anymore. Sometimes it's better not to know. "
Enjoyed it.
The story is a mix of horror, survival, and obsession. The mention of Penelope (and the back story) in almost every chapter might feel repetitive, but I found it to be a good depiction of obsession. And how all-consuming it can be. How one can feel trapped in its clutches. Whether it's Simon with Penelope, Professor with his dig site, or locals with violent deaths.
The subplot with Kayun and his brother and some of the supernatural stuff felt just ok. It could have been explored a little bit more.
The bit I enjoyed the most was the survivalist tale it becomes in the final act. Just the descriptions of everything in the rainforest were very well done. All the animals, plants, lakes, rain, myths and shrines. I never felt bored.
And I'll never get tired of the bit in any story where characters walk and walk and walk and realise too late that they are back in the same place, whether through some supernatural phenomenon (as seems to be the case here) or just sheer ineptitude.
The characters are a bunch of horrible people, with some exceptions, that are written very well and are enjoyable to read. At times, my feelings for some characters were described best by Norm Macdonald: 'Now this might strike some viewers as harsh, but I believe everyone involved in this story should die.'
It's a short book (240+ pages). Could be a quick read if you don't start Googling all the flora and fauna mentioned in the book (which is understandable, there's some interesting stuff). I found it quite easy to read. Liked some things better than the others.
Recommended. 👍
3.75 ⭐️
"All my life I've believed that knowledge gives you power. That there's no sense remaining in the dark, if you have a problem you need to find out as much as you can about what you're up against. I don't believe that anymore. Sometimes it's better not to know. "
Enjoyed it.
The story is a mix of horror, survival, and obsession. The mention of Penelope (and the back story) in almost every chapter might feel repetitive, but I found it to be a good depiction of obsession. And how all-consuming it can be. How one can feel trapped in its clutches. Whether it's Simon with Penelope, Professor with his dig site, or locals with violent deaths.
The subplot with Kayun and his brother and some of the supernatural stuff felt just ok. It could have been explored a little bit more.
The bit I enjoyed the most was the survivalist tale it becomes in the final act. Just the descriptions of everything in the rainforest were very well done. All the animals, plants, lakes, rain, myths and shrines. I never felt bored.
And I'll never get tired of the bit in any story where characters walk and walk and walk and realise too late that they are back in the same place, whether through some supernatural phenomenon (as seems to be the case here) or just sheer ineptitude.
The characters are a bunch of horrible people, with some exceptions, that are written very well and are enjoyable to read. At times, my feelings for some characters were described best by Norm Macdonald: 'Now this might strike some viewers as harsh, but I believe everyone involved in this story should die.'
It's a short book (240+ pages). Could be a quick read if you don't start Googling all the flora and fauna mentioned in the book (which is understandable, there's some interesting stuff). I found it quite easy to read. Liked some things better than the others.
Recommended. 👍
October 9, 2025
Rainforest is a short atmospheric psychological horror with supernatural elements.
This is one of those books with an incredible premise and setting, but unfortunately, it just didn’t land for me. Told through journal entries, it follows Simon, an entomologist with a complicated past as he ventures into the jungle. It’s a well written atmospheric setup, and I really wanted to love it.
But for all its potential, I sadly struggled to connect with Simon. I found him unlikable, not in an interesting way, but in a way that made it difficult to be engaged in his story. The journal format, while fitting for his character, also made the pacing feel a little disjointed.
Again, the setting is definitely vivid, and I loved the descriptions of the insects, but something about the story itself felt lacking. I kept waiting for the horror or emotion to sink in, and it never quite did.
In the end, I think Rainforest is beautifully written and atmospheric, but it just didn’t come together for me in a way that would make it memorable.
I will still pick up the author's other books as I've heard they're better than this one!
This is one of those books with an incredible premise and setting, but unfortunately, it just didn’t land for me. Told through journal entries, it follows Simon, an entomologist with a complicated past as he ventures into the jungle. It’s a well written atmospheric setup, and I really wanted to love it.
But for all its potential, I sadly struggled to connect with Simon. I found him unlikable, not in an interesting way, but in a way that made it difficult to be engaged in his story. The journal format, while fitting for his character, also made the pacing feel a little disjointed.
Again, the setting is definitely vivid, and I loved the descriptions of the insects, but something about the story itself felt lacking. I kept waiting for the horror or emotion to sink in, and it never quite did.
In the end, I think Rainforest is beautifully written and atmospheric, but it just didn’t come together for me in a way that would make it memorable.
I will still pick up the author's other books as I've heard they're better than this one!
October 30, 2025
An entomologist haunted by grief travels to a remote rainforest in Central America, believing it’s the only place he can find happiness among the mantids he studies. Our main character and his stubborn views definitely annoyed me, but his ignorance was clearly intentional on the author’s part. He’s dismissive of other people’s perspectives and quite frankly, racist toward the Indigenous people assisting at the dig. Considering the setting and time period, likely the 1970s, I wasn’t entirely surprised by his casual racism, but it still made him difficult to tolerate. He’s so unbearable that I actually wanted the forest to give him a rude awakening.
What he discovers there I won’t spoil, but I was interested in where his journey would lead. I was a bit disappointed by the ending, though. Overall, this had an intriguing setup, but I think I would have liked it more if the main character weren’t so unlikeable or if the ending had been more satisfying.
What he discovers there I won’t spoil, but I was interested in where his journey would lead. I was a bit disappointed by the ending, though. Overall, this had an intriguing setup, but I think I would have liked it more if the main character weren’t so unlikeable or if the ending had been more satisfying.
November 4, 2025
Enjoyable, but I couldn’t get over the unfortunate obsession the narrator had with mantids, which on audio sounded like man tits! 😂 Cue searching through the jungle for man tits, ‘if only I could find my man tit’ etc etc. How did they not hear this in the editing!😂
September 3, 2025
RAINFOREST - MICHELLE PAVER
Rainforest will be a divisive book; there's no doubt about this. That's largely down to the main character, who is easily one of the most unlikeable characters I've read in a long time. Simon Corbett is an entomologist (he studies insects), and he's sent to the Central American rainforests to study mantids.
However, he has recently committed some seriously unsavoury behaviour, which is slowly and fully revealed to the reader through his diary entries. So, he is both an unreliable narrator AND an unlikeable character. As unsettling and uncomfortable as it is, Simon is very much a man of his time, and he and his fellow characters embody this through their behaviour with each other, as well as their terrible behaviour towards the local population.
I love Michelle Paver's writing; Wakenhyrst is a great horror novel and I was impressed by Michelle's take on the very different time period in Rainforest. Rainforest's setting is so good too; there's an archaeological dig of Mayan ruins, a danger-filled ancient rainforest and local folklore to untangle.
The biggest factor that will divide readers (apart from Simon himself) is the ending. You won't find spoilers here, but the more I've thought about it, the more sense this ending makes, especially within the time it's been set. If you love creepy and unpredictable horrors set in nature, you'll enjoy this one.
Release date: 9 Oct 2025
Review score: 4/5
TWs: d*ath, injury detail, violence, r*pe, r*cism paed*philia
Rainforest will be a divisive book; there's no doubt about this. That's largely down to the main character, who is easily one of the most unlikeable characters I've read in a long time. Simon Corbett is an entomologist (he studies insects), and he's sent to the Central American rainforests to study mantids.
However, he has recently committed some seriously unsavoury behaviour, which is slowly and fully revealed to the reader through his diary entries. So, he is both an unreliable narrator AND an unlikeable character. As unsettling and uncomfortable as it is, Simon is very much a man of his time, and he and his fellow characters embody this through their behaviour with each other, as well as their terrible behaviour towards the local population.
I love Michelle Paver's writing; Wakenhyrst is a great horror novel and I was impressed by Michelle's take on the very different time period in Rainforest. Rainforest's setting is so good too; there's an archaeological dig of Mayan ruins, a danger-filled ancient rainforest and local folklore to untangle.
The biggest factor that will divide readers (apart from Simon himself) is the ending. You won't find spoilers here, but the more I've thought about it, the more sense this ending makes, especially within the time it's been set. If you love creepy and unpredictable horrors set in nature, you'll enjoy this one.
Release date: 9 Oct 2025
Review score: 4/5
TWs: d*ath, injury detail, violence, r*pe, r*cism paed*philia
November 12, 2025
Actual rating is 3.5 stars.
This is marketed as a ghost story, but I found it a bit lacking on that front. It’s more of a psychological horror than anything. However, it was still enjoyable enough to read, and I loved the rainforest setting and the elements of ancient Mayan folklore.
This is marketed as a ghost story, but I found it a bit lacking on that front. It’s more of a psychological horror than anything. However, it was still enjoyable enough to read, and I loved the rainforest setting and the elements of ancient Mayan folklore.
December 8, 2025
When Dr Simon Corbett, a British entomologist, arrives in the Mexican rainforest in 1973 he has two goals in mind: first, to study the rare mantids that live there – and also to try to make contact with Penelope, the woman he loved. However, both of these things prove very difficult. The mantids live in the sacred ceiba trees and Simon’s guide is reluctant to let him touch them. As for Penelope, she’s dead and Simon is hoping to obtain a special Mayan drug that will allow him to summon her spirit. No one seems prepared to cooperate with him on this either, but Simon is determined to get what he wants, one way or another.
Rainforest is written entirely from Simon’s perspective in the form of diary entries. He tells us that his doctor has advised him to keep a journal to help him cope with the ‘thoughts going round and round like angry wasps’ – although this doesn’t seem to work, as Simon’s thoughts simply become more and more unstable and obsessive as the book progresses. Simon is a man consumed by grief, remorse and guilt, yet he’s such an unlikeable narrator I found it impossible to feel any real sympathy for him. He’s also not being completely honest with the reader, even in his own journal, because the impression he initially gives of his relationship with Penelope is very different from the truth that emerges later in the novel.
This is the second book I’ve read by Michelle Paver, the first being Wakenhyrst, a Gothic novel set in the Suffolk Fens. Although I enjoyed Wakenhyrst, I remember being surprised that it wasn’t scarier, having heard her previous novels Dark Matter and Thin Air described as very creepy horror novels. Rainforest is also not a particularly scary book, despite the cover claiming that it’s a ‘terrifying supernatural tale’. I think it’s best to know that going into it, as some people may be disappointed that it’s not more terrifying, while others will be pleased! Like Wakenhyrst, though, it is still very atmospheric; the rainforest is beautifully described – Paver mentions in her author’s note that she has visited rainforests herself – but, seen through Simon’s eyes, it becomes an oppressive, claustrophobic, menacing place.
Rainforest is a fascinating novel in many ways. As well as the setting which I’ve already mentioned, Paver also explores the arrogance of the white explorer and the lack of respect for the environment and the indigenous people – referred to specifically as the Yachikel, a term Paver says she made up and based on other Mayan peoples. I also learned more about Simon’s beloved mantids than I ever knew I needed to know! Simon being such an unpleasant character, though, meant that I struggled to care about what happened to him and this stopped me from engaging with his story as much as I would have liked. Despite this, I did enjoy the book overall and will catch up with her earlier ones at some point.
Rainforest is written entirely from Simon’s perspective in the form of diary entries. He tells us that his doctor has advised him to keep a journal to help him cope with the ‘thoughts going round and round like angry wasps’ – although this doesn’t seem to work, as Simon’s thoughts simply become more and more unstable and obsessive as the book progresses. Simon is a man consumed by grief, remorse and guilt, yet he’s such an unlikeable narrator I found it impossible to feel any real sympathy for him. He’s also not being completely honest with the reader, even in his own journal, because the impression he initially gives of his relationship with Penelope is very different from the truth that emerges later in the novel.
This is the second book I’ve read by Michelle Paver, the first being Wakenhyrst, a Gothic novel set in the Suffolk Fens. Although I enjoyed Wakenhyrst, I remember being surprised that it wasn’t scarier, having heard her previous novels Dark Matter and Thin Air described as very creepy horror novels. Rainforest is also not a particularly scary book, despite the cover claiming that it’s a ‘terrifying supernatural tale’. I think it’s best to know that going into it, as some people may be disappointed that it’s not more terrifying, while others will be pleased! Like Wakenhyrst, though, it is still very atmospheric; the rainforest is beautifully described – Paver mentions in her author’s note that she has visited rainforests herself – but, seen through Simon’s eyes, it becomes an oppressive, claustrophobic, menacing place.
Rainforest is a fascinating novel in many ways. As well as the setting which I’ve already mentioned, Paver also explores the arrogance of the white explorer and the lack of respect for the environment and the indigenous people – referred to specifically as the Yachikel, a term Paver says she made up and based on other Mayan peoples. I also learned more about Simon’s beloved mantids than I ever knew I needed to know! Simon being such an unpleasant character, though, meant that I struggled to care about what happened to him and this stopped me from engaging with his story as much as I would have liked. Despite this, I did enjoy the book overall and will catch up with her earlier ones at some point.
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