Mazywood

by Tananarive Due

S. A. Cosby's All the Sinners Bleed meets Percival Everett's Erasure in this literary thriller following the grandson of a famous Black actress from the 1920s to the 1940s, now a filmmaker himself, who returns to his grandmother's cabin retreat in the California mountains only to encounter the legacy of her rage born in Old Hollywood.

Award-winning author Tananarive Due returns with the follow-up to the multi-award-winning The Reformatory in this generational novel of rage. With flashbacks to Johnny’s grandmother—who brushed shoulders with giants like Lena Horne, Clark Gable, and Hattie McDaniel—this novel explores three generations, beginning with Mazelle Washington’s life as a young actress. Fifty years after Mazelle’s death, Johnny will discover the secret she kept and nurtured since she was a child, when she had a dark wish come true.

A monster lurks outside Mazywood, hidden for generations, and Johnny brought his family to its hunting grounds.

Genres: Horror, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Thriller, Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Adult

Audible Audio

First published September 22, 2026

About the author

TANANARIVE DUE (tah-nah-nah-REEVE doo) is the award-winning author of The Wishing Pool & Other Stories and the upcoming The Reformatory ("A masterpiece"--Library Journal). She and her husband, Steven Barnes, co-wrote the Black Horror graphic novel The Keeper, illustrated by Marco Finnegan. Due and Barnes co-host a podcast, "Lifewriting: Write for Your Life!"

A leading voice in Black speculative fiction for more than 20 years, Due has won an American Book Award, an NAACP Image Award, and a British Fantasy Award, and her writing has been included in best-of-the-year anthologies. Her books include Ghost Summer: Stories, My Soul to Keep, and The Good House. She and her late mother, civil rights activist Patricia Stephens Due, co-authored Freedom in the Family: A Mother-Daughter Memoir of the Fight for Civil Rights. She and her husband live with their son, Jason.

Reviews

[Esta]

Famous Hollywood grandmother + California mountain cabin + Legacy of rage + Monster in the woods.

The Reformatory irrevocably changed me and is one of my favourite books of all time, so preparing to be wrecked again.

[DianaRose]

4.5 stars — getting to hear tananarive speak about the writing process of mazywood and her research was an absolute honor!

i absolutely loved the reformatory despite its gruesome plot (especially the double whammy of reading it directly after the nickel boys…) and now tananarive due has solidified herself as an autobuy author for me🙂‍↕️

mazywood is a paranormal thriller that alternates povs between mazelle washington’s life as a type-casted child and young woman in the past, and her grandson johnny washington's life in the present as a struggling director in hollywood…

upon returning to her california cabin retreat, johnny and his family uncover mazelle's gruesome legacy of trauma and rage…

[Dutchie]

All I can say is wow, what a novel! Tananarive Due has done it again!

Mazywood tells a tale spanning decades from the time Mazelle is a child actress in the 20s all the way through to the present day where her grandson Johnny is a screenwriter in Hollywood. While visiting Mazelle’s cabin retreat in the mountains, Johnny realizes his grandmother was harboring some deadly secrets.

This was absolutely fantastic. The historical fiction elements were done so well that at times I had to remind myself Mazelle was a fictional character. There were so many themes in this book from racism, abuse, sexual harassment, all the way through to the underlying themes of loneliness and wanting an attachment to somebody/something.

Mazelle’s timeline was the one that hooked me the most. I was sucked into the historical elements and struggles Mazelle went through. I struggled a little bit with Johnny’s timeline only because survivalist elements usually don’t work with me just as a personal preference. However, despite those elements not being my favorite, I ended up really loving where it went. And that ending was perfect. I couldn’t imagine any other ending. I never would’ve thought I would’ve felt the emotions that I did. So good!

The combination of horror elements both real and fantastical are blended flawlessly. This is now my second novel by this author that has followed this similar formula and I have loved both of them. I most certainly will be first in line for this author’s next novel.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

[Brittany]

ARC REVIEW…..

Okay first of all….. I loved every bit of SCOUT. This generational supernatural horror takes you on a ride to early Hollywood where the only job Black actors were getting were roles of Maids,Mammys, or anything that was making a fool of themselves. Mazelle Washingotn “Lazy Mazy” as most will call her. We get a glimpse of what it’s was like and how it still is now for Black producers in the show biz. Fast forward, Johnny Washington following in his grandmothers footsteps just from behind the camera takes his family on a little “getaway” that has all of his childhood trauma resources. Was it all in his imagination as a little kid? Or is it really something sinister going on at his grandfathers lodge? What’s under the snow?

There are some parts of this book that was reallllly freaking me out lmao.

I also had the ALC and anything with Joniece Abbott-Pratt is a hit in my book

[Dennis]

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR.

Tananarive Due has become such an auto-read author for me, so I jumped at the chance to dive into her newest horror novel, MAZYWOOD, as soon as possible. Thank you @sagapressbooks for this gifted copy!

If there's one thing when you come to expect from a Tananarive Due novel, you know the message is going to be loud and clear. The novel takes place in two timelines, current day, and also during the 1920s-50s. Mazelle Washington is a Black child actress in the 1920s and became a successful actress (playing on racial stereotypes in Old Hollywood) through the 1950s. Without going into the story too much (they leave a lot out in the synopsis), we are also given her grandson Johnny's perspective in current day. As Johnny explores the history of his grandmother's legacy (both her career and her Bear Creek Lodge resort she opened up towards the end of her career), he will come to discover a secret she has kept since she was a child that is best kept hidden.

MAZYWOOD explores themes of generational trauma, racism, fame, and family dynamics. We explore both the horrors of real life and the supernatural. At over 500 pages, you think the pacing would be slower than expected, but Due provides such compelling characterization that you will quickly turn the pages like I did. I caught myself staying up to read the book, sneaking reads on the subway, walking with my book in hopes of not knocking into anyone on the street, you name it!

MAZYWOOD features Tananarive Due's powerful storytelling and the subject matter is again very serious. The tone is a bit less f'd up than The Reformatory, but still a historical horror in its own rite. Tananarive Due could write a CVS receipt and I'll read it. MAZYWOOD will be in my top 10 reads of the year, that's for sure especially after that ending. I cannot wait to see what she has next for readers! STARS: 5, PUB: 9/22

[Panda]

TLDR: Heartbreakingly Horrific

OMG! Finally! The cover! I cannot wait for this read!

Tananarive has been busy. It's been nearly 3 years since the publication of the awesome 5 star read, The Reformatory. September is still 6 months away, but it's coming! 🎞️📽🎞️

THREE 3️⃣more days 📅! 🕒😃

TWO 2️⃣ ✌️ more days 🗓️

ONE 1️⃣☝️more day 🕛👀

⌛

⩇⩇:⩇⩇ 𖹭.ᐟ 🎧💌📖

It's GO time! ℂ𝕙𝕖𝕖𝕣📣📣 ✺◟(＾∇＾)◞✺ 👏🏻🎉🤸🏼‍♀️🎊

Audiobook (21 hours 21 minutes) narrated by Joniece Abbott-Pratt
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

Joniece Abbott-Pratt is a skilled multi-award winning narrator, who previously narrated The Reformatory, the last book published by Tananarive Due.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joniece...
I was so wrapped up in the story that I almost forgot. This narration is impressive. The character voices are good, with the general type of male voices. What tips this narration to good character voices to impressive is not just the consistency of voice but the ability to keep that consistency with multiple types and levels of emotions all while managing to match the energy of the characters into the descriptive narration to bring up the feelings of the reader as if the book had been scored. Just wow!
Excellent.
The audio is flawless.

Whew!

Holy crap.

I stood here with a solo standing ovation.

Absolutely awesome.

Tananarive writes realistic characters and relationships. She captures the imperfections of an American black family through time. The love. The hate. The challenges.

This family, who could be living next door, is written into a world just a bit off from reality. Times and places that are beautiful, tragic, and contain an unknown that is just as imperfect as the family... No spoilers here. I want to write more, so much more! This is a book worthy of a discussion.

Wow.

I love this book.

Absolutely nothing like the one before it, while at the same time having Tananarive Due's signature style seeping out of every word.

Encore!

This isn't just a 5 star read for me, I added this to my favorites list. Wow. So much good!
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[suspenseisthrillingme]

Hot damn! I now get people’s undying love for Ms. Tananarive Due! A genre-bending triumph of historical fiction, survival horror, supernatural thrills, and family drama, Mazywood not only delivered a slow yet intoxicating game of cat-and-mouse, but also gave me chills with the monster-in-the-woods vibes. Don’t get me wrong, there were some serious, timely themes in this one as well. From the true horrors of Black history to the dark side of Hollywood, Due had me thinking long and hard as she explored misogyny, racism, and exploitation. On top of that, it was packed to the brim with dysfunctional family dynamics, generational trauma, and morally gray characters. Complicated, realistic, and messy, they brought this story to life. Especially Mazy. A strong, resilient, and ambitious woman, she was the standout character for me by far. Then again, Scout—and his arc—was pretty memorable as well.

So what was my absolute favorite part of this novel? Well, that had to be the atmosphere. With dual timelines that radiated their own separate feel, it was a masterpiece of time and place as things came together. From the ominous and dark vibes oozing from the present to the glamorous and seductive air of Old Hollywood, I was instantly immersed in Due’s fully formed worlds. After all, it was not only haunting and richly detailed, but also emotionally layered. Let’s not forget, though, that there was a horror story at its core. With supernatural elements, psychological unease, and unsettling imagery, this book gave me definite read-with-the-lights-on vibes. So if you’re looking for a My Sister, the Serial Killer-meets-Stephen King kind of read, this should be the very next book on your TBR. Was it a tad slower in the middle? Sure…but that unforgettable ending made up for it completely. Rating of 4.5 stars.

Read if you’re a fan of:
- Monster-in-the-woods vibes
- Historical fiction
- Supernatural elements
- Survival horror
- Thought-provoking themes
- Complex characters
- Long-buried secrets
- Messy family dynamics
- Family sagas
- A haunting atmosphere
- Dual timelines/POVs
- Clever endings
- Old Hollywood glamour
- Horror grounded in reality

SYNOPSIS:

When Johnny—a filmmaker and grandson of the famous Black actress Mazelle Washington—brings his family to Mazywood, the secluded California mountain lodge left behind by his grandmother, he expects a quiet retreat. Instead, he uncovers a legacy of rage, secrets, and terror that has haunted his family for generations.

Set primarily in the present day, with haunting flashbacks to Hollywood’s Golden Age, Mazywood explores three generations while following Johnny as he pieces together the true story of his grandmother. As a young Black actress whose career spanned from the 1920s to the 1940s, Mazelle brushed shoulders with giants like Lena Horne, Clark Gable, and Hattie McDaniel. But beneath her public appearance, she carried a secret she had kept and nurtured since she was a child, when a dark wish came true and changed the course of her life forever.

Now, fifty years after Mazelle’s death, Johnny finds himself confronting the truth she buried—and the consequences she left behind. For a monster lurks outside Mazywood, hidden for generations, and Johnny brought his family to its hunting grounds.

Thank you Tananarive Due and Saga Press Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

PUB DATE: September 22, 2026

Content warning: racism, sexual assault, racial slurs, physical abuse, animal cruelty, terminal illness, emotional and physical abuse, murder, car accident, pregnancy, miscarriage, blood, stalking, violence

[Becky Spratford]

Starred review in the August 2026 issue of Booklist and on the blog: https://raforall.blogspot.com/2026/08... (link live on 8/10 at 7 am central)

Three Words That Describe This Book: brains and bite, racism, old hollywood

So many more words....

Perfectly paced, great world building, generation trauma, Old Hollywood (with real stuff), racism, awesome old fashioned monster horror with modern sensibilities, brains and bite, perfectly paced. dual time frames, perfect use of foreshadowing, natural storytelling, multi-pov.

This is a good old fashioned supernatural horror novel. It is long, there are two time frames, the world building and charcater are spectacular. Readers will be glued to their seats.

Mazelle (Mazy) Washington is one of the first negro stars in Hollywood. As a kid actor in a Little Rascals type production. She is from a show business family-- live shows around the South-- and as a kid, in Gracetown, FL, goes into the woods to make a wish at the wishing pool. She wants a friend and success. What she gets is Scout the Wonderdog. Scout leaves her at one point and her career flags after. Also she is too early to be taken seriously. But she does find a way to make films-- as a dumb maid in a series of Lazy Mazy films-- She builds a Negro Only ski resort in the CA mountains-- Bear Creek Lodge aka Mazywood.

The other timeline is Johnny, her grandson who is in the present day and is a film maker at a crossroads in his own career. He is known for his horror movies, but he is trying to get a more serious film made. He does well for himself. He never had a relationship with his grandmother because of a bad experience when he visited her as a child. Now, he brings his 2 teenaged sisters and wife to Bear Creek Lodge (he is the last living family member), but the creature he remembers encountering there-- the thing he thought he imagined-- has been alone for years, has grown, and is hunting his family.

This novel is a perfect horror novel and also a great look at racism in America but specifically Hollywood and how it affects even well off families. It is about generational trauma as well. And it is an edge of your seat exciting supernatural creature feature!!!

What makes it all work-- giving the reader time to understand and think about the serious parts, but also get excited about the monsters and danger-- is that Due does not switch time lines quickly. Rather readers spend large chunks of the story in Mazelle's story. Her world is built, we get to go on the set of Gone with the Wind, spend time on sets, at Hollywood parties, with Sammy Davis Jr at the lodge, etc.... You are fully vested and living in Mazelle's world and then something big happens and we are left on the cliff, dangling, sent to Johnny's story told by him and his wife and both girls. It is all third person omniscient so it flows well. We get invested into their family and its drama and details. Again fully vested and living in it. And then they chose to go to Bear Creek Lodge, in a snow storm, with no cell service.....

Again, it switches back to Mazelle's POV and time line just as the danger is cresting. Then we get vested again. And it repeats but again, only a few times.

This long time in each time frame not only helps the characters world Building, and pacing, but it also does the work of planting seeds of info, foreshadowing, leaving trails in the snow (word choice on purpose) to help inform the other time line.

I don't want to give anything away because there are so many discoveries and revelations and surprises here-- like a great movie. Some of these discoveries are of the horror type but others are the family story parts. Just know that when the story fades to black, readers will want to give the book a standing ovation worthy of an award winning film.

For fans of Hollywood set Horror in the vein of Coldheart Canyon by Barker and through provoking supernatural monsters like in The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones.

Also a great true readalike is Mallory O'Meara's Daughter of Daring. A perfect book to pair here. About the awful sexism of Hollywood and one woman who was ahead of her time and didn't get the respect or money she deserved because of it.

[Christian Z]

Tananarive Due's most recent book follows the story of Mazelle Washington and her grandson Johnny.

We are first introduced to Mazelle around the time she meets a dog named Scout who will become her closest friend. Lil' Mazy and Scout soon become successful movie stars in an early silent film series. Mazelle will go on to have a film career as an adult actress too, but finds herself used by the white men who run Hollywood and forced to play stereotypical roles written for black women, rather than the ones she knows could bring her true stardom. The abuse she experiences leads to rage and she carries secrets that will haunt her family.

Next we meet Johnny Washington as he is on his way to pitch a film that could help him break free from his Frat House Haunting horror franchise. Like his grandmother, Johnny is beginning to feel that his career may never move beyond a set of films he wrote mainly for the income. He believes his talent is being overlooked.

The book soon changes settings to the Bear Creek Lodge, sometimes better known as Mazywood. The lodge was built by Mazelle as a ski resort for famous black entertainers that is now abandoned and owned by Johnny. Johnny's wife convinces him to take her and their two daughters on a short trip to the lodge where they can relax and have the opportunity for the children to learn some of their family history. From here on out the book moves back and forth between Mazelle and Johnny's narratives, telling a brutal intergenerational story of abuse, grief and rage.

Will deadly family secrets destroy Johnny and his family? Or will they find a way to overcome the past that has haunted it for decades?

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an advance reading copy of this book.

[Zana]

I've been meaning to read The Reformatory, but this ended up being my first Tananarive Due novel. And let me tell you, what a wild ride!

I'm a huge fan of thriller/horror stories, especially if they're written in such a cinematic way that I can picture each scene in my mind vividly. Add in historical fiction and I'm seated.

I was actually surprised that the historical fiction portions were a significant part of the story. I was expecting minor flashback chapters, but they were well developed that they could've been their own story without the modern plotline with Johnny (Mazelle's grandson) and his wife and daughters. The blend of history and fiction was written meticulously. I could easily imagine Mazelle as a child actress relegated to racist typecasting in order to be the breadwinner in the family. And the vivid descriptions of her childhood and adulthood in the film world and the real world really gripped me.

I won't lie, Johnny's story didn't really grab me as much as Mazelle's story, or even Imani's POV, Johnny's younger daughter (which was excellent in the second half). But I really did appreciate Johnny's chapters for letting readers understand his complex and fraught relationship with Mazelle and her eerie mountain lodge. No spoilers, but the beast ended up being one of my favorite characters in this novel. We stan a misunderstood monster in this house.

The climax really dragged imo, but honestly, the characters and the writing were so gripping that I didn't really care too much one way or another. If you're into the outdoors, you might like it more than I do.

Anyway, I can't wait to read The Reformatory now. Consider me a new fan!

Thank you to S&S/Saga Press and NetGalley for this arc.

[Kimberly Nicole]

I couldn’t put this one down. An intense blend of horror and emotional storytelling. This follows Johnny and his family as they return to his Aunt Mazelle’s secluded ski resort. Unbeknownst to him the land holds a dark secret that could destroy his family. An eerie tale reminiscent of The Shining and The Hellbound Heart. The unpredictability keeps the pacing steady and the anxiety high. I was stressed for them the ENTIRE time.

Layered beneath the horror is a thoughtful exploration of Black Hollywood, generational struggle, and mental health. The use of time jumps and flashbacks adds depth revealing trauma that shapes the family’s present.

[brewdy_reader]

Thank you @sagapressbooks + @simon.audio for the ARC + ALC ♡

I was so nervous that my expectations would be too high, following The Reformatory, but I loved Mazywood. 

🎥 The historical timeline was my favorite even though there was so much injustice, I really nerded out to meet historical actors on the set of Gone with the Wind as well as the likes of Sammy Davis Jr and Lena Horne, Charlie Chaplin, and learning more about their activism. I went down a whole YouTube rabbit hole afterwards!

The present day timeline was just a lot of frightening fun, it felt a like YA horror++ and I was so scared for Imani and Sharise and their whole family. And Scout! 🐾🦴scout the wonder dog creature 🥹🪽

▶︎ •၊၊||၊|။||။‌‌‌‌‌|• 🎧 I def recommend the audio edition! It is narrated by one of my favorite narrators Joniece Abbott-Pratt (she narrated Legendborn cycle and Reformatory as well).

https://www.instagram.com/p/DdoeAYskV9A/

[Carly]

I had a great time diving into this supernatural, historical, horror, contemporary genre blender of a book! I appreciated the references to old Hollywood and you can tell Tananarive Due really did her research for this one.

The story follows Mazelle Washington and her rising stardom with her dog Scout (a dog who mysteriously appeared after Mazelle makes a wish at a bog for a lifelong friend 👀). We get a peek behind the curtain into what truly happens behind the scenes in an industry that masks itself under the guise of fame, fortune, and glamour. Flash forward to present day and the main character Johnny, Mazelle’s grandson, and his family take a trip to Mazelle’s old lodge in Mt Shasta - the birthplace of Johnny’s traumas and nightmares.

This book is full of generational trauma, the insidious side of the film industry, supernatural elements, and a family’s fight for survival. I thought this also had great mental health representation. Although I never found it very scary, it was SO unsettling and freaky at times. Also loved the very ending, so clever.

Thank you so much to Saga press and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy.

[Mr. Mccane]

This was one of my most anticipated books of the year. I adore this author, and I was really hoping my high expectations wouldn’t ruin my reading experience. I’m pleased to report that she exceeded my expectations, and I found this book completely satisfying.

I used both the hardcover and the audiobook for this one. It’s narrated by Joniece Abbott-Pratt, the same narrator who narrated The Reformatory. The book is 504 pages and 16.5 hours on audio.

I also never read the synopsis, so I went in completely blind. The story is told in the third person and follows two different timelines.

In the first timeline, we follow a little girl named Mazelle Washington (Mazy), the youngest daughter of a traveling Black family act in the 1920s. Mazy wishes for a friend, and Scout the Wonder Dog enters her life. And he can read her mind. Together, they become an act. But because of racism, Mazy’s opportunities and roles were extremely limited.

The second timeline takes place in the present day. We follow Johnny, Mazy’s grandson. He struggles with embracing his grandmother’s legacy, but he brings his family to Mazywood, his deceased grandmother’s retreat.

It’s there that he discovers that a deadly creature is lurking in the snow, and that his grandmother was keeping an enormous secret.

This was an outstanding read for me. I felt as if I were right there in the story. The author and narrator did an amazing job bringing everything to life.

And yes, everyone, we got us a horror!

[Erricka Hager]

It hurts to type this, but let’s just rip the band-aid off: this was a disappointment for me. After loving The Reformatory, I had high hopes going into Mazywood.

The story follows two timelines. In the 1920s, we meet Mazelle Washington, who feels like an outcast in her talented family. She seeks out an infamous wishing well to request a best friend—someone to perform with, have fun with, love her, and keep her safe. Her wish is granted in the form of a mangy mutt named Scout, who can perform incredible tricks on Mazy’s command. Together, they break into Hollywood, but when Scout disappears later in her career, a devastated Mazy returns to the well. However, the Scout that comes back is... different.

In the present day, we follow Mazy’s grandson, Johnny, a struggling movie producer balancing career pressure with an expanding family. During a family trip to his grandmother's cabin to share some big news with his daughters, they quickly realize Mazy's history isn't the only thing waiting for them.

Mazy’s timeline was easily the highlight—her experiences as a Black woman in 1920s Hollywood and her relationships with fellow Black actors were captivating. On the other hand, Johnny’s timeline felt a bit disjointed and didn't hold my attention as well. Additionally, the overall structure and the inclusion of short stories felt jarring at times.

Final Verdict: Mazy’s storyline was strong enough to keep this at a 3.5/5 stars for me, even if the present-day POV fell short. If you don't mind a unique structure and are interested in 1920s Black Hollywood with a side of modern "cabin in the woods" suspense, it's worth checking out. Just temper your expectations if you're coming off her previous work.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Release Date: September 22, 2026.

[She’s]

Mazywood is a tour de force. It is a combination of horror, social commentary, history, psychology, and family dynamics. The reader is immediately invested in Mazelle Washington, her quest for success, and the generational curses that plague her family. The novel explores racism, sexism, motherhood, family ties, hate, and love from the 1920s American South to present day California. Mazelle, traumatized, lonely, and ambitious, creates for herself a focus for her loyalty, caring, and affection and receives absolute love and devotion in return. Decades after her death, her grandson brings his family to her former home where they must come face to face with her secrets and survive. The brilliance of this novel is in its emotional deftness. The reader is immersed in fear, dread, and suspense while simultaneously overwhelmed with love, compassion, empathy, and pain. The characters are complex, thoughtful, and deeply flawed. Only the reader is shown the various motives and feelings behind pivotal events and important relationships, and that knowledge is sometimes excruciating. I bawled, y’all.

[Anna]

4.75⭐️

MAZYWOOD is horror at its best and so much more than that. Tananarive Due delivers a novel that refuses to be limited to a single genre. She blends historical fiction and horror and sets it against a backdrop of a family saga that literally had me on the edge of my seat.

Keeping this review spoiler free, I’ll tell you only that this multigenerational novel exposes the ugly side of racism in Hollywood and America as it follows Mazelle Washington’s career as an actress. Mazelle has tremendous talent and also has a big secret related to a wish she made as a child. Nothing stays hidden forever including that dangerous secret when her grandson and his family visit Mazywood, the secluded mountain retreat originally built as a destination for Black entertainers.

Due gives the reader an utterly delicious novel spanning dual timelines. From old Hollywood glamour to abject terror, not a single detail is missed. The tension builds slowly, layer by layer, and culminates in a pulse pounding fight for survival.

I paired the digital ARC from @sagapressbooks with my gorgeous @aardvarkbookclub edition and the audiobook from @simonaudio that I purchased for the maximum immersive experience. Any of those formats will deliver, but the combination worked exceptionally well for me.

Anyone looking for an intensely atmospheric novel perfect for the spooky season will find MAZYWOOD an ideal choice. Do not be intimidated by its length as every scene adds to the impact of this phenomenal book.

[Chelsea (gofetchabook)]

Wow, this one evoked so many emotions. I don’t even know where to begin. It’s horror, but two very different types.

The first is the horror of Mazelle Washington, a black actress in the 1920’s - 40’s and how her life and career were taken advantage of and destroyed.

In the present day, Mazelle’s grandson brings his family for a vacation at her estate, and new horrors await them.

This one was incredibly thought provoking. I loved how it followed Mazelle’s life from childhood and all through her career. It was horror in a sense that your heart just kept repeatedly breaking for her, but you understood how and why she ended up like she did.

I liked the present story less until it all clicked for me and then it was horror in more of a sad way.

Overall, I highly recommend. This one was great.

[Saiel]

I pick my Aardvark books blind with little to no insight beyond reading the synopsis, but right before reading this one a friend told me they heard great things about Tananarive Due which made me even more excited to read the book. And she was right - well half right. A solid, thought-provoking read that's definitely way too long.

The book is told in 2 timelines: the past focusing on Mazelle and her journey through life and experiences in showbusiness, the present with her grandson Johnny who seems to hate his grandmother and is terrified of going to her ski retreat, finally persuaded to go back there.
It became very clear to me early on that the past timeline was by and far the more interesting and engrossing story, but for the first half or so of the book (pre 'Survivor') I enjoyed both of them. Johnny and his family were a little harder to get invested in, but the creepy atmosphere out in the woods and the weird shit happening made up for it.
Later on (now in 'Survivor,') the book starts to drag, and very very noticeably. The chapters are long, and not that much is happening. There's a lot of wandering around half-concussed or unprepared in the snow and it's all described in deep detail that started to flatline. Fans of this sort of thing may enjoy this more than me, but personally I started to skim a bit and hope that a timeline shift was coming.
The conclusion to the book was in no way surprising to me - it was exactly where I expected the story would go - not that this was bad in any way. Did not care for the final little twist at the end.


I did not love the damn dog coming back. Why did it come back? Can it just fucking do that at will? I like dogs but this was the one time I did not want to see it return.

I really wanted more details on Mazelle in the later stages of her life. Why was she so cruel to her children and grandchildren? We get a little on this, with Ricky looking like her ex-husband who used to beat her thus she hates her son, and then possibly the fact that she had to love Scout more than anybody else but the way she mercilessly told Scout to kill Ricky if he came looking for him? The fuck bruh.
Overall I guess this all contributed to the complexity of her character and thus we always want to know more about her motives and reactions.

[Erika]

This is probably now my favorite horror novel! I'm so excited to recommend this to patrons when they're looking for something spooky to read this fall.

As a big fan of horror movies, I've always found horror novels to be a bit boring. Tananarive Due could give lessons in how to solve that issue. Alternating between Mazelle's acting career in the 1940's-50's to her grandson and his family vacation from hell kept me glued to the pages the whole time. The writing was so vivid and really made the story come to life. I don't think I've ever read a book that blended historical fiction and horror, and if so it definitely wasn't as well done as Mazywood. The real life horror of Mazelle's experience as a Black actress in Hollywood was just as scary as the cabin scenes.

I decided to read this on a whim, and I can't wait to read The Reformatory closer to Halloween.

[Punkin’]

I Knew. I JUST KNEW. This next book written by her was going to be fantastic. I’m still riding a high from reading The Reformatory. There is not a day that goes by that I don’t think about that book and the impact it had on my life and my brain. Not only did it impact me in such a way that it shaped the way that I see horror written from a historical black perspective, but it also deeply influenced me to start reading horror and fiction with a more centered black narrative and books written by black authors; one could argue it was a cultural awakening for me. Now that I am done absolutely gushing about her other book, let me tell you about this book hahah.

We start with young Mazzelle, who is; for all non spoiler purposes is just a poor sweet little girl growing up in Gracetown,Florida; its 1920s and racism, segregation and the like is still heavily prevalent and a everyday horror in and of it’s self. She sets off to make a very specific wish. “Be careful what you wish for girl” is a heavy theme in this book. There is a supernatural/mild horror element in this read. It is long winded and it takes a while for the reader to understand what the supernatural entity is and what is happening with it. This is a slow burn horror/thriller type of read with an insane build up.

What I truly loved, and what stood out to me about this read was reading about her story. It was never boring to me. I love historical fiction mixed with a little bit of extra scary, and if that’s your genre, then I think you’re really gonna like this. Reading about the way Mazzy handled relationships, her navigating and climbing up the metaphorical ladder of a industry that is going to try to kill her every step of the way, standing up for herself in a space that likes to suffocate the voices and talents of women, but especially black women.. it Was hard, admirable, frustrating, and at times devastating to read but captivating nonetheless. I think some of the more tragic parts of the story; could be where we get a lot of the realistic every day horror.

I think that some people are going to say that the first half of this book is boring and while I can agree that the second half is unstoppable and you’re going to want to stay up all night to read it and finish it! A piece of my heart stayed with the first half of this book and Mazzelle’s story.

This is really just a very fascinating and interesting work of fiction. The thriller element is there, but there is so much more to this book than it just being another thriller. That is what I appreciate about Tananarive Due and her writing. I can’t, CANNOT, wait to read whatever else you put out there. You are unstoppable force of a woman and author. Thank you so much for another incredible read!

₊˚⊹⋆˙⟡Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy! My opinions on this read and this review are my own!₊˚⊹⋆˙⟡

[Sheila The Reader]

I picked up Mazywood because it was described as All the Sinners Bleed meets My Sister, the Serial Killer, and as someone who will read anything S.A. Cosby writes, that comparison got me. Having finished it, I don't really see the S.A. Cosby connection at all. If I were making the comparison, I'd say this felt much more like Get Out meets My Sister, the Serial Killer. But honestly, none of that mattered because I really enjoyed this book.

It grabbed me almost immediately, probably because it starts with a young girl and a dog, and apparently that's all it takes to get my attention. Is it a dog story? Yes. Is this a cute dog story? No. Did I love the dog anyway? Absolutely. Even after Scout took a rather surprising turn, I still wanted to pet him.

What I especially loved was the combination of horror and historical fiction. The earlier timeline is full of Black Hollywood glamour, but also everything Black actors and actresses were up against during that era. Having previously read The Queen of Sugar Hill about Hattie McDaniel, some of that history was familiar to me, but I still appreciated how much this story made me think about the performers who paved the way for the generations who came after them.

And this book is creepy! I wouldn't necessarily call it scary, but early on there was so much unknown that I remember calling my daughter and telling her I wasn't sure I was going to be able to sleep that night. It has that unsettling feeling where you know something isn't right, but you don't quite know what you're dealing with yet.

I kept thinking I preferred Mazelle's historical timeline, and then the book would switch to the present day and I'd change my mind. Then I'd change it back again. At some point I realized that probably just meant I liked both.

This was my second Tananarive Due after The Reformatory, and she is just such a good writer. Mazywood is strange, creepy, cinematic, historical, and completely its own thing. I had a really good time with it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Saga Press for the complimentary advanced copy of this e-book ahead of publication. All opinions are my own.

[Beth]

Thank you to NetGalley and Saga Press | S &S/Saga Press, as well as the author, for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

#NetGalley #SagaPress #S&S #TananariveDue #Mazywood #Horror #Fiction #Books #Reading #BookReviews

Title: Mazywood

Author: Tananarive Due

Format: eBook

Publisher: Saga Press | S &S/Saga Press

Publication Date: September 22, 2026

Rating: 5 Stars

Themes: historical horror, multiple POVs, dual timelines, old Hollywood, generational trauma, racism, supernatural

Trigger Warnings: Sexual harassment/assault, racism, sexism, violence, gore, death, child abuse, pregnancy, infertility, miscarriage, supernatural

Tananarive Due is an auto-buy and quickly becoming a favorite author for me. This book is another reason why. Decades of family drama come to a head as Johnny Washington; the grandson of Mazy Washington discovers a years-old dark secret that she had hidden since childhood.

Historical horror is fast becoming one of my favorite subgenres almost entirely due to Tananarive Due and Alma Katsu. Ms. Due is simply an unbelievable talent. Her ability to combine fiction and nonfiction is seamless and then there’s the horror elements. Her horror creeps up on the reader slowly and from behind, usually while he or she is distracted by something masquerading as the real horror. It carries a message in each story. In “Mazywood”, it’s racism and Old Hollywood, plus trauma and mental illness throughout generations. I loved the world building here. The forest setting really set the horror theme off, and I loved that she used her Wishing Pool from a previous shirt story. The story is told in dual timelines, and both are equally compelling. Thankfully, we get plenty of time in both timelines. I got so attached to each timeline and its characters that I would dread the switch to the other, only to get hooked on the current one.

“Mazywood” was truly wonderful and I’d recommend it to any fan of historical fiction, whether or not he or she is a horror fan. Tananarive Due is an author that demands to be read.

[Stephanie]

Mazywood was my first novel by Tananarive Due, and it will definitely not be my last. This literary supernatural thriller tells the story via dual timelines of Mazelle Washington from her days as a child actress in 1920s Hollywood through to the present day and her grandson Johnny, who is a Hollywood screenwriter. 


Mazelle's chapters were my favorites. She is a fascinating, strong character. I appreciated the exploration of how Black actors were treated and how they only roles they were given were as hired help. I loved the inclusion of Hattie McDaniel and her pioneering attitude! Mazelle is not a perfect character, but I loved that Due took the time and care to show us why she did the things she did and the choices she made. 


Johnny's chapters were interesting to read as it really showcased family and the enduring power of generational trauma. The supernatural came into play here, and it had me stressed out and pn the edge of my seat. Once I realized how everything tied together, I really appreciated how these chapters connected with Mazelle's. 


I love that the author didn’t quickly jump between perspectives. She gave the reader time to be fully immersed in the story before switching to a more action packed plot. The world is fully fleshed out. I absolutely loved the references in here: Nat King Cole, Hattie McDaniel, Butterfly McQueen, Lena Horne, Sammy Davis Jr., Clark Gable, and so many more. They made the book feel more grounded, which in turn amped up the danger when it switched back to present day. 


This was so well written and well paced. It hooked me from the first line and didn’t let me go until the end. Tananarive Due is a gifted storyteller, and I adore the love and care she poured into this book. 


Also, Scout is my FAVORITE. 

[Shannon]

Thank you Saga Press & Simon Audio for the gifted copies!

Mazywood
Tananarive Due
Publishing Date: September 22, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🎧 Narrator: Joniece Abbott-Pratt 🎧

When I saw that Tananarive Due had a new book coming out this year I was ecstatic, and a little bit nervous. The Reformatory very well may be my favorite horror novel ever, so how was anything going to compare?! But upon starting Mazywood I quickly realized that there is no need for comparison. Mazywood highlights Tananarive Due’s fantastic writing and storytelling but is a completely different beast (literally) than The Reformatory.

In Mazywood we get two different timelines with very different vibes. Mazelle’s chapters were so captivating as we see her ambition and drive to become a star. These chapters were emotionally heavy as readers are given an eye opening look at the real life horrors of the past; how black actors in Hollywood were treated, how they were pigeon holed into inferior roles that limited and stifled their careers, and the impact this left behind.

In present day, we get a faster paced paranormal/monster horror, as we see Mazelle’s grandson and his family spend time at her home. These chapters had me holding my breath and on the edge of my seat. In a way they felt like a lighter reprieve from the emotional weight of the historical chapters, despite the horrors that were also taking place here.

Scout was a scene stealer for sure. I will forever love the non-human characters the most and he was no exception!

✨ The way Due ties it all together is where this book really shines. It just further highlights her talent for storytelling and bringing depth and meaning to everything she writes. She was already an auto-read author for me and this book just confirmed why.

🎧 Joniece Abbott-Pratt is top tier so it’s no surprise that the narration here was absolutely fantastic!

[Neek Brown]

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC copy. All opinions are my own.

Mazywood is a dark, atmospheric blend of generational horror, Black Hollywood history, family trauma, and supernatural terror. Tananarive Due’s writing is immersive and cinematic, with a slow-building sense of dread that makes the story feel unsettling long before the horror fully reveals itself.

Mazelle Washington was the most compelling character for me. Her journey from Black child star to Hollywood icon is filled with glamour, racism, exploitation, rage, and heartbreak. She is wounded, powerful, deeply flawed, and never easy to define, which made her feel incredibly human.

Scout gives the story its supernatural heartbeat. The idea of a presence that protects, grants desires, and stays loyal at all costs becomes more disturbing the more you understand what that protection may require.

In the present day, Mazelle’s grandson Johnny brings his family to the lodge she left behind and is forced to confront both the history of the property and the damage Mazelle caused within their own family. I loved the contrast between who Mazelle was to the public and who she was behind closed doors.

Due does an excellent job moving between past and present, allowing the history to feel alive rather than simply serving as backstory. The Old Hollywood setting adds even more depth, especially in the contrast between fame and exploitation.

Mazywood is ultimately about more than a supernatural entity. It is about generational rage, racism, buried trauma, family secrets, and what happens when pain is allowed to grow unchecked.

Dark, layered, emotional, and haunting, this is a memorable read for anyone who enjoys historical horror, complicated families, morally complex characters, and stories where the past refuses to stay buried.

[Candace Sewell]

I received this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Want to read a little less problematic Stephen King without all the verbose writing? (No shade, I do enjoy his books.) This is 100% for you.

The plot is a split timeline, multi POV foray into a generational story. Mazelle certainly doesn’t have it easy growing up, and life is never truly easy for her. Due does a fantastic job outlining what life as a Black actress would be like in the 40’s and onward. She works so hard only to be typecast and shunned by her own race for cementing a Black actress in the maid role. Mazelle really lives a tragic life, and she knows she’s done wrongs herself. Her character arc is really wonderful, I thoroughly enjoy her development. The present timeline focuses on her grandson and his family when they decide to finally visit her private ski lodge. They are completely unprepared for what will happen during this ill fated visit. They have a spectacular story to tell as well.

The characters are all fantastic, from Scout to Mazelle to Mr. Sharpe to the weasel Lorenzo. The antagonists are not good people, but Due has a way of writing them that seems so realistic and human. There are many facets to each character, and most of them do have gray areas. The only truly pure character seems to be Imani, who is untainted by adulthood. Scout is a marvelous construct and I absolutely love that character arc.

The writing is incredibly easy to immerse yourself into. Due has a way of making things flow, turning a 500+ page book to what feels like a 300 page book. Once I was hooked, I flew through this. The tone is perfect for each timeline, with an almost sad tone for the past and a decidedly ominous tone in the present.

I can’t recommend this enough. 10/10 no notes.

[Bethany Mock (bethanyburiedinbooks)]

4.5/5

Thank you @sagapressbooks #partner for the gifted copy of this book!

My prediction before I started this one was that it was going to be fan-freakin-tastic. It’s almost like I’m a psychic because my prediction was spot on. Tananarive has such a way with her words...almost like she’s magical! Her last book was one of those stories that just stuck with me for such a long time and Mazywood is absolutely another one I know I won’t be forgetting anytime soon. There is just something about Tananarive’s writing that completely pulls me in to her worlds. She has a knack for setting the stage with vivid imagery that it’s impossible almost for all of that detail to not play out like a movie in my head. I could just see this story as I read and just was so enamored from the very get go.

From the get go Mazelle makes a simple wish on a well that forever changes her young life. 👀 What a cute little obedient dog who comes out of nowhere. And that’s where we meet Scout! Scout was such an interesting character. There were definitely moments where some of his actions scared me but I loved that underneath his bloody snacks there was this protective side to him. He was such a fascinating character to watch come full circle. Eh hmm...the ending.

The story moves through two timelines after the initial opening scenes and I did enjoy both. All of that being said though, if I am honest I would say I found myself more enthralled with the present day timeline after the opening part. I think a lot of that came down to pacing because once that timeline kicked in, the story felt more action packed and scarier. Scary has been my mood lately, after all it IS spooky season! The Old Hollywood storyline was still interesting and there were definitely parts of it that were sad and frustrating but I was just loving and fully invested in the supernatural horror aspects and revisiting of the childhood home and horrors!

Mazywood was a great blend of historical fiction and horror with some messy family dynamics. I just thought it was a great mix and perfectly creepy! If you've not read Tananarive yet then I really encourage you to do so because she is just such a talented storyteller!

[Jess Reads]

Thank you to Saga Press for the advanced reader copy. This was one of my most anticipated releases of the year and unfortunately might be one of the biggest disappointments too.

This story is told in a dual timeline format and I absolutely loved the historical timeline. In this timeline we follow Mazelle Washington on her jouney from a child star in Black Hollywood to an adult star. You can tell this was a passion project for the author and it is well researched and extremely well written.

The other timeline is in present day and we follow Mazelle's grandson, who is also in the Hollywood film industry, and his family as they visit Mazelle's abandoned ski lodge. This timeline is a survivalist horror story. Survivalist horror is a genre that I really enjoy, but I think that it is a really hard genre to write. The author needs to have a base understanding of what the human body can survive in extreme conditions in order to make the story both thrilling and believable. In this case I do not think that this timeline was researched well. The characters were placed in conditions that made the believability factor extremely low and gave this timeline a D level horror movie feel.

This 100% could be a "it's me not you" situation because of the amount of survivalist books I have read in the horror, thriller and non-fiction genres. Sadly I was very dissapointed in this one, but do look forward to what the author comes up with next.

[Eden]

Received as an ARC

Thank you Netgalley and Saga Press

Tananarive Due does it again! This story is captivating from beginning to end. The way that she weaves history and fiction together, it transports the reader in time. She beautifully blends the past with the present in this story.

Johnny Washington is a film writer and producer but he is also the grandson of Mazelle Washington, a famous actress from the Golden Age of Hollywood. Johnny never talks about his grandmother, but his wife has always had a fascination with Mazelle and her story.

Johnny finally agrees to take his family to his grandmother’s mountain retreat, but when they get there memories from Johnny’s time there as a little boy come flooding back. Instead of a nice family get away, they are confronted with a dark secret from Mazelle’s past that just might cost them their lives.

The book mostly takes place in present day but there are parts where you are transported back to the past. We see Mazelle as a little girl who breaks into the film industry, then her 20’s as she tries to make a comeback on the silverscreen and again as a mother at the end of her career. The mix of characters is amazing, from Mazelle’s parts we meet Sammy Davis Jr., Hattie McDaniel, Lena Horne and even Clark Gable.

Make sure to grab your copy September 22, 2026!