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Forest Underground
Luna was lost. Hospitalized following an incident in a local grocery store, she finds herself volunteered for treatment by the brilliant psychiatrist, Dr Sizemore.
As the doctor’s interest in her new patient grows, Luna reveals shocking details of her past. Ailing grandmothers, seductive strangers and a blood-soaked childhood are only the tip of the iceberg as her revelations paint a picture more akin to a twisted and nightmare-fuelled fairy-tale.
Detailing this case for the publication of a book, Dr Sizemore’s fascination reveals a dark history of her own. One that continues to haunt her to the present day. The pair take a journey, twisting and turning through the labyrinths of their psyches. Through lands, fertile with anguish and dread.
Join them if you dare, to a place where glowing eyes are forever watching, lurking in the shadows of this internal woodland; of this forest underground.
As the doctor’s interest in her new patient grows, Luna reveals shocking details of her past. Ailing grandmothers, seductive strangers and a blood-soaked childhood are only the tip of the iceberg as her revelations paint a picture more akin to a twisted and nightmare-fuelled fairy-tale.
Detailing this case for the publication of a book, Dr Sizemore’s fascination reveals a dark history of her own. One that continues to haunt her to the present day. The pair take a journey, twisting and turning through the labyrinths of their psyches. Through lands, fertile with anguish and dread.
Join them if you dare, to a place where glowing eyes are forever watching, lurking in the shadows of this internal woodland; of this forest underground.
- GenresHorror
122 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 19, 2017
1 person is currently reading
83 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
March 11, 2019
This is an instantly engrossing story that is akin to a tenebrous fairy tale. Steeped in the psychological investigation into a young woman's past, the plot also examines the background of the psychiatrist treating the patient. Both women have endured harrowing experiences, and the results of their traumatic ordeals draw the reader into a web of grotesquery and twisted outcomes. Forest Underground is a requisite for those who enjoy dark and creative fiction.
February 27, 2018
This was my first time reading Lydian's work, and now I'm a fan. The writing in Forest Underground is tight and well-paced, and the characters have great depth despite the novella's length. The tale is a twisted psychological thriller where ultimately the two main characters, Luna and Alisha, try to use and manipulate one another in order to satisfy their own desires. You just don't know if they both or only one has sinister intent until their stories merge at the end. Well told.
January 6, 2020
"Doctor...what are you doing to me?"
Forest Underground was my first read of 2020, and it was a great pick! This was such an intriguing horror novella, and I loved the story.
I'm not going to say much about this book because the synopsis isn't super detailed, and you should get to read it without a lot of outside information. Just know that it's a very mysterious fairytale-like story, and it was such a good read. I hope to read more from Lydian Faust!
Forest Underground was my first read of 2020, and it was a great pick! This was such an intriguing horror novella, and I loved the story.
I'm not going to say much about this book because the synopsis isn't super detailed, and you should get to read it without a lot of outside information. Just know that it's a very mysterious fairytale-like story, and it was such a good read. I hope to read more from Lydian Faust!
February 8, 2019
This is a tricky review to write. I don’t feel I can describe the events of this book without giving things away, and I’m very anti-spoilers, don’t you know!
Although saying that, it’s easy to state that this horror novella was a superbly horrific and fun ride into insanity (if that’s even possible). It took me no time at all to blast through this one, and some of the settings are still haunting my mind as I sit here typing away. Particularly that ‘hospital’. *shudders*
Without giving too much away, the story starts with Luna talking to her psychiatrist (I think), Dr Sizemore about a traumatic moment in her life. The doctor encourages her to recount her tale, telling Luna that they are about to make a real breakthrough. In truth, the doctor seems a bit too keen to hear all about this.
Well they do make a breakthrough, kind of, but I can’t really mention that here. Talk about gripping, I was desperate to know exactly what happened to Luna and what drove her to the events that had her locked up in a semi-mental institution.
As the story progresses we learn not only of Luna’s past, but also Dr Sizemore’s. I’ll stop there because I feel like I’m already starting to give things away.
To summarise, this was a fast-paced yet engrossing tale with twists aplenty, something very well achieved in such a relatively short page count. Luna’s walks through the forest are brought very much to life, as are the happenings with Dr Sizemore’s other patients; very American Horror Story-y.
There were also a few ‘eww’ moments that helped galvanise the torrent of killer punches that were thrown from the pages. No one is who they seem and the story keeps you guessing throughout. Everything is nicely tied up at the end yet I still craved more, but this is a massive compliment to the writing and not because things weren’t concluded adequately. Teasey horror, if that’s even a thing.
I’ve neglected to mention many things here, such as Grandma, a school, a cop, and this cottage-type place, but you need to read it to embrace all these excellent additions to the story.
I’m fully embracing Women in Horror Month, but at this rate it’s going to Women in Horror Year for me. Sorry dudes, the dudettes are kicking my ass good and proper.
Although saying that, it’s easy to state that this horror novella was a superbly horrific and fun ride into insanity (if that’s even possible). It took me no time at all to blast through this one, and some of the settings are still haunting my mind as I sit here typing away. Particularly that ‘hospital’. *shudders*
Without giving too much away, the story starts with Luna talking to her psychiatrist (I think), Dr Sizemore about a traumatic moment in her life. The doctor encourages her to recount her tale, telling Luna that they are about to make a real breakthrough. In truth, the doctor seems a bit too keen to hear all about this.
Well they do make a breakthrough, kind of, but I can’t really mention that here. Talk about gripping, I was desperate to know exactly what happened to Luna and what drove her to the events that had her locked up in a semi-mental institution.
As the story progresses we learn not only of Luna’s past, but also Dr Sizemore’s. I’ll stop there because I feel like I’m already starting to give things away.
To summarise, this was a fast-paced yet engrossing tale with twists aplenty, something very well achieved in such a relatively short page count. Luna’s walks through the forest are brought very much to life, as are the happenings with Dr Sizemore’s other patients; very American Horror Story-y.
There were also a few ‘eww’ moments that helped galvanise the torrent of killer punches that were thrown from the pages. No one is who they seem and the story keeps you guessing throughout. Everything is nicely tied up at the end yet I still craved more, but this is a massive compliment to the writing and not because things weren’t concluded adequately. Teasey horror, if that’s even a thing.
I’ve neglected to mention many things here, such as Grandma, a school, a cop, and this cottage-type place, but you need to read it to embrace all these excellent additions to the story.
I’m fully embracing Women in Horror Month, but at this rate it’s going to Women in Horror Year for me. Sorry dudes, the dudettes are kicking my ass good and proper.
January 11, 2018
Full review from my website
Lydian Faust uses an intensive, boundary-pushing therapy session to frame her debut novella Forest Underground. The book’s “action” occurs mostly in the content of testimony and memory, but what Faust underlines most explicitly is the unexpected connection between two traumatized women—the doctor and the patient.
I’m impressed by Faust’s decision to use this structural approach to tell this story—she maneuvers through both the frame narrative and the use of multiple P.O.V.s with confidence and style. The novella benefits from her choice, because the closing revelations necessitate that readers are familiar with both main characters’ backstories.
Faust plays gleefully with many of the horror genre’s tropes—she delivers on the perverse/sacred space for ritual murder, dark familial pasts, forbidden asylum rooms, and the indeterminate line between perception and reality. She seems to be as interested in horror’s applications to her characters as she is in the characters themselves.
There are a number of noteworthy things going on in this book, not least of which is Faust’s deliberate choice to navigate tricky structural terrain. There’s also an obvious interest in human psychology and the lasting impact of trauma and violence, and a sense for the ways in which horror can accomplish things not available to other genres.
Lydian Faust uses an intensive, boundary-pushing therapy session to frame her debut novella Forest Underground. The book’s “action” occurs mostly in the content of testimony and memory, but what Faust underlines most explicitly is the unexpected connection between two traumatized women—the doctor and the patient.
I’m impressed by Faust’s decision to use this structural approach to tell this story—she maneuvers through both the frame narrative and the use of multiple P.O.V.s with confidence and style. The novella benefits from her choice, because the closing revelations necessitate that readers are familiar with both main characters’ backstories.
Faust plays gleefully with many of the horror genre’s tropes—she delivers on the perverse/sacred space for ritual murder, dark familial pasts, forbidden asylum rooms, and the indeterminate line between perception and reality. She seems to be as interested in horror’s applications to her characters as she is in the characters themselves.
There are a number of noteworthy things going on in this book, not least of which is Faust’s deliberate choice to navigate tricky structural terrain. There’s also an obvious interest in human psychology and the lasting impact of trauma and violence, and a sense for the ways in which horror can accomplish things not available to other genres.
August 10, 2018
FINALLY, more from the wickedly talented Lydian Faust. I've been fortunate once before, having read her short in Dark Designs: Tales of Mad Science, I knew then she had a flair for the dramatic and equally robust lycanthropic pose. In Wolfencorn there are glimpses of this "other" deeper level of fable, and in FOREST UNDERGROUND the complete vision unfolds. Faust's prose grows richer with this new story, dragged into a (forgive the pun) underground world of the mind in which reality and myth are questioned--what is real and what isn't, these are the questions a great many of us ask in our individual quests to understand ourselves. Perhaps there's a little bit of Little Red Riding Hood in us all.
In closing: Faust's debut novel leaves me wanting more...because its just that damn good.
In closing: Faust's debut novel leaves me wanting more...because its just that damn good.
March 1, 2018
Holy crap, it's been a while since a book grabbed me like that and near enough forced me to finish it there and then, alas, time constraints didn't let me, but I got through it as quickly as I could. The way it's written, really engages you from the get-go, through a nice set of twists and turns, and whilst they're not jaw-dropping, are still enough to pull you further into the story. Outstanding stuff from Ms Faust, if you want a quick read, this won't disappoint.
November 8, 2019
Quick and very creepy. Full review to come!
August 20, 2020
My earliest fascination for the darker side of fiction grew from hearing fairy tales as a child. As I got older, I tended to think of those bedtime stories as wholesome and comforting, until I reread them as an adult. Witches who want to eat small children, poisoned apples as gifts, and hungry wolves who roam the woods – wow, they’re dark! And Forest Underground by Lydian Faust reminded me in so many ways of those wonderfully ghoulish tales from my childhood, though much more gruesome. Suffice to say, I loved it!
The story begins with Luna reliving her childhood traumas as guided by Dr. Alisha Sizemore in a private psychiatric facility. Luna recalls wearing a red coat, carrying a heavy picnic basket through the forest to her grandmother’s house and something else lurking in the shadows. So far sounds like “Little Red Riding Hood” and there are many similarities, but then Luna’s story takes an even stranger twist. Memories of a small stone cottage, her first love, and human sacrifices are eased out of Luna by the doctor – or are they?
When detectives find a cottage crawlspace filled with corpses, matching Luna’s memories of slaughter, of course Luna is a suspect. However, Dr. Sizemore might be just as skilled at planting memories as she is at extracting them. Both women have reason to lie to the police and digging through their violent and tragic pasts only further muddies the waters on who is telling the truth.
Part fairy tale, part detective mystery, Forest Underground grabbed me on the first page and didn’t let go. What I found most fascinating was that the further along in the story I got, the less sure I was about what was real. Selfish motives, abuse of power, and histories of trauma line both characters up as unreliable, heightening my interest in figuring out who should be believed.
On top of that, Faust’s writing is beautiful and understated. One of my favourite passages was the description of Luna’s surroundings: “She's kept in a cloud. All white, padded walls, even the bedroom furniture is upholstered with rounded corners…Safe from herself. She ought to be grateful.” The author knows when to use details sparingly, when to let them flow, and brilliantly guides the reader through bizarre twists and turns while keeping them right where she wants them.
I highly recommend picking up a copy of Forest Underground and other works by this talented author.
*This review first appeared on Kendall Reviews*
The story begins with Luna reliving her childhood traumas as guided by Dr. Alisha Sizemore in a private psychiatric facility. Luna recalls wearing a red coat, carrying a heavy picnic basket through the forest to her grandmother’s house and something else lurking in the shadows. So far sounds like “Little Red Riding Hood” and there are many similarities, but then Luna’s story takes an even stranger twist. Memories of a small stone cottage, her first love, and human sacrifices are eased out of Luna by the doctor – or are they?
When detectives find a cottage crawlspace filled with corpses, matching Luna’s memories of slaughter, of course Luna is a suspect. However, Dr. Sizemore might be just as skilled at planting memories as she is at extracting them. Both women have reason to lie to the police and digging through their violent and tragic pasts only further muddies the waters on who is telling the truth.
Part fairy tale, part detective mystery, Forest Underground grabbed me on the first page and didn’t let go. What I found most fascinating was that the further along in the story I got, the less sure I was about what was real. Selfish motives, abuse of power, and histories of trauma line both characters up as unreliable, heightening my interest in figuring out who should be believed.
On top of that, Faust’s writing is beautiful and understated. One of my favourite passages was the description of Luna’s surroundings: “She's kept in a cloud. All white, padded walls, even the bedroom furniture is upholstered with rounded corners…Safe from herself. She ought to be grateful.” The author knows when to use details sparingly, when to let them flow, and brilliantly guides the reader through bizarre twists and turns while keeping them right where she wants them.
I highly recommend picking up a copy of Forest Underground and other works by this talented author.
*This review first appeared on Kendall Reviews*
February 24, 2020
Wow! This is a hard review to write as I think not knowing too much about the story makes Forest Underground even more thrilling and disturbing. These are one of those rare books that I read in one sitting as it was so gripping.
This is a tale about Luna a troubled young women who was been written off from conventional therapy. As a last resort for treatment she is sent to Dr Sizemore where we learn more of her story.
With encouragement from Dr Sizemore Luna relieves the trauma that brought her here, it's no ordinary upbringing that's traumatised her yet it's oddly familiar. However Dr Sizemore also has secrets from her upbringing...
Despite this being a novella there is a lot going on in this tale which is very cleverly written. It's a really fun take on a lot of horror tropes which form something really original.
At times this is a really brutal tale of trauma and its effects. The tale goes to some really dark places that leaves you breathless. I can't say too much without giving spoilers except that it is an exquisite tale I can't wait to read again.
This is a tale about Luna a troubled young women who was been written off from conventional therapy. As a last resort for treatment she is sent to Dr Sizemore where we learn more of her story.
With encouragement from Dr Sizemore Luna relieves the trauma that brought her here, it's no ordinary upbringing that's traumatised her yet it's oddly familiar. However Dr Sizemore also has secrets from her upbringing...
Despite this being a novella there is a lot going on in this tale which is very cleverly written. It's a really fun take on a lot of horror tropes which form something really original.
At times this is a really brutal tale of trauma and its effects. The tale goes to some really dark places that leaves you breathless. I can't say too much without giving spoilers except that it is an exquisite tale I can't wait to read again.
August 21, 2017
Forest Underground is a truly inventive and original work. I think what I really appreciate is how it comes at the story from several different perspectives, circling around the key players until it focuses down and brings everything together quite nicely and effectively.
I also liked the vibe of this book and how much of it has the feel of a really disturbing fairy tale. You won't be sure what's real or not and what the full story is behind the central character and I think that makes the story very effective.
Faust has a great knack for character and she really delves into them in this story and lets their complexities shine through. This is not a paint-by-numbers story with paper-thin characters. This entire book breathes with a feeling of depth and maturity.
It's a quick read but don't let that fool you. There is a lot going on in here.
I also liked the vibe of this book and how much of it has the feel of a really disturbing fairy tale. You won't be sure what's real or not and what the full story is behind the central character and I think that makes the story very effective.
Faust has a great knack for character and she really delves into them in this story and lets their complexities shine through. This is not a paint-by-numbers story with paper-thin characters. This entire book breathes with a feeling of depth and maturity.
It's a quick read but don't let that fool you. There is a lot going on in here.
February 13, 2020
Whoah, what an experience. This read. There’s a lot going on and a lot to process, especially for a novella. Faust throws us into several therapy sessions with Luna, who is obviously dealing with a uniquely troubled past, one right out of a nightmarish fairy tale. However, we soon sniff out that Dr. Sizemore has a skeleton closet full of her own issues. What makes these women tick? And where is this all going? Those are only two of the questions keeping us hooked on the page. The believable dialogue, the colorful minor characters, and the atmosphere, all contribute to a well-crafted tale where reality and delusion meld together.
It’s difficult to go into more depth here, without giving all the pieces away. However, Faust makes us contemplate how our past shapes us. Specifically, it’s a careful look at the female plight of abuse, neglect, and bullying. Oh, and let’s not forget the complicated agony of young lust/love. These characters are literally haunted by their experiences, and not handling the fallout very well at all, which is the core of this disturbing read. Indirect themes abound, like how we are all more connected than we realize. And how stories like “Little Red Riding Hood” are possibly a deeper part of the collective unconscious than we realize. I’m just scratching the surface here. I think readers will take away their own meanings after finishing this, which is a compliment to the author. Not easy to pull off.
Just some minor notes of critique. The switch in POV from Luna to Dr. Sizemore is somewhat abrupt. I would’ve liked to see more of a transition, or even more time spent on both characters. Although the construction of the story lends itself to a quick paced read, Faust could surely have turned this into a longer work. Also, I was thrown off a few times when Luna talks about herself in the third person. But I understand how it’s a mark of someone who’s not well, so...
In the end, readers should thoroughly enjoy this read, especially the twisty ending. In my opinion, one of the best parts.
It’s difficult to go into more depth here, without giving all the pieces away. However, Faust makes us contemplate how our past shapes us. Specifically, it’s a careful look at the female plight of abuse, neglect, and bullying. Oh, and let’s not forget the complicated agony of young lust/love. These characters are literally haunted by their experiences, and not handling the fallout very well at all, which is the core of this disturbing read. Indirect themes abound, like how we are all more connected than we realize. And how stories like “Little Red Riding Hood” are possibly a deeper part of the collective unconscious than we realize. I’m just scratching the surface here. I think readers will take away their own meanings after finishing this, which is a compliment to the author. Not easy to pull off.
Just some minor notes of critique. The switch in POV from Luna to Dr. Sizemore is somewhat abrupt. I would’ve liked to see more of a transition, or even more time spent on both characters. Although the construction of the story lends itself to a quick paced read, Faust could surely have turned this into a longer work. Also, I was thrown off a few times when Luna talks about herself in the third person. But I understand how it’s a mark of someone who’s not well, so...
In the end, readers should thoroughly enjoy this read, especially the twisty ending. In my opinion, one of the best parts.
September 30, 2017
A wonderful and compelling debut, equal parts dark fairy-tale and psychological horror. Very well crafted. Brilliant!
Another fine book from The Sinister Horror Company, this novella is author Lydian Faust's debut. And what a way to announce yourself on the indie horror scene! Described as a dark fairy-tale, it certainly has elements of that, with Luna's retelling of her visits to Grandma's house while she is held in an unorthodox psychiatric facility by the enigmatic Dr. Sizemore. However, as the story unfolds, first with Luna's past experiences and then a look at the doctor's tragic childhood, the book feels more like a dark psychological horror. Both women have faced traumatic and disturbing challenges in their past, and Faust does an excellent job of intertwining the separate stories and bringing the book to a rewarding conclusion. The characters are complex and realistic, and the language is at times poetic. This is a wonderful debut and I look forward to hearing more from Lydian Faust!
Another fine book from The Sinister Horror Company, this novella is author Lydian Faust's debut. And what a way to announce yourself on the indie horror scene! Described as a dark fairy-tale, it certainly has elements of that, with Luna's retelling of her visits to Grandma's house while she is held in an unorthodox psychiatric facility by the enigmatic Dr. Sizemore. However, as the story unfolds, first with Luna's past experiences and then a look at the doctor's tragic childhood, the book feels more like a dark psychological horror. Both women have faced traumatic and disturbing challenges in their past, and Faust does an excellent job of intertwining the separate stories and bringing the book to a rewarding conclusion. The characters are complex and realistic, and the language is at times poetic. This is a wonderful debut and I look forward to hearing more from Lydian Faust!
March 25, 2021
Summary
Dr. Sizemore stumbles upon Luna, a troubled girl in the hospital after a failed suicide attempt.
Being a psychologist who's had a troubled past herself she makes an offer to help Luna for free.
Both women have dark, sinister tales that are about to come to light during their time together.
Personal Opinion
A great read that was part dark fairytale, horror and a bit of a psychological thriller all rolled into one novella.
The perspective is split mainly between Dr Sizemore and her patient, Luna for the most part.
I really liked Luna's portion as it had some similarities to Little Red Riding Hood.
I would definitely recommend checking this one out!
Dr. Sizemore stumbles upon Luna, a troubled girl in the hospital after a failed suicide attempt.
Being a psychologist who's had a troubled past herself she makes an offer to help Luna for free.
Both women have dark, sinister tales that are about to come to light during their time together.
Personal Opinion
A great read that was part dark fairytale, horror and a bit of a psychological thriller all rolled into one novella.
The perspective is split mainly between Dr Sizemore and her patient, Luna for the most part.
I really liked Luna's portion as it had some similarities to Little Red Riding Hood.
I would definitely recommend checking this one out!
December 26, 2018
I can't actually remember what made my buy this, because when I read the description later I was like, this doesn't sound like anything I'd read. I buy lots of stuff I don't remember buying on Amazon, that probably means they have a solid business model haha.
Anyway, this book was AWESOME. For the first couple of pages I was a little confused, but after it got rolling I was hooked till the end. Most of the first half is dialogue between a psychiatrist and a patient who's apparently delusional and tells these wild tales of her grandmother eating people and throwing the remains under the house, then the book shifts over to the psychiatrist and her past in a haunted private school. Everything comes to a head in a weird twist ending that I'm still not exactly clear on, then a very cool few extra pages about another character you'd forgotten about. I couldn't believe how well-written it was, super excited to read more by this author. Lydian Faust, that has to be a fake name, doesn't it?
Anyway, this book was AWESOME. For the first couple of pages I was a little confused, but after it got rolling I was hooked till the end. Most of the first half is dialogue between a psychiatrist and a patient who's apparently delusional and tells these wild tales of her grandmother eating people and throwing the remains under the house, then the book shifts over to the psychiatrist and her past in a haunted private school. Everything comes to a head in a weird twist ending that I'm still not exactly clear on, then a very cool few extra pages about another character you'd forgotten about. I couldn't believe how well-written it was, super excited to read more by this author. Lydian Faust, that has to be a fake name, doesn't it?
March 7, 2020
Unputdownable! Part dark fairytale, part psychological thriller. A lot of story and great characters and writing packed into its 100 pages. I loved it, and will be looking for more of her books in the future. Highly recommended! 😃📚
August 26, 2017
Okay, I'm gonna be straight with you—not to offend anyone who can't get enough of it, but at this point, if someone tries to sell me on something by using words like 'Dark Twisted Spooky Fairytale' or anything like that, my instinctual reaction is to roll my eyes (or not move them at all, just staring blanky as they glass over a bit more) and move on. That's my default on that sort of thing.
So with that in mind, the same things could be said about this novella—but I loved it.
I've put some effort into figuring that little contradiction in myself out and I'll try to work through it for you.
I think what makes this work so well on that fairytale associated level for me is that it's not cute or like 'naughty'. It's not thickly layered on, like a cloying treacle. It's never really made the spotlight, and the reason it feels right for me is that the fairytale aspects are implied, and mostly presented and framed by a well-rendered unreliable narrator. It feels almost like Luna (and LF) know what you are expecting from a 'Dark Fairytale'... but they both play with that and subvert it. This author knows about people like me, and knows, I think, how important it is to find a grounding in some lateral way to keep my aversion to some aspects of the higher concept of this from being too heavily set off.
Without spoilers then I'll say that I was continuously impressed and satisfied with the ways in which this writer fused grounded, gritty realism, horrific dark elements, and the more fantastic and surreal aspects.
And there are real moments of brilliance in this work. It's very good overall... but there are parts that come together and even subtler nods that show much more going on beneath the surface.
Luna is now a favorite character of mine. She, her family, and the forest they inhabit are so well fleshed out that I didn't want Luna's stories to end.
I guess that's a big part of why it worked so well for me—as cliche as it sounds, this dark and breathing world was a place I didn't want to leave, even with its sinister and frightening layers.
I will read anything this author publishes going forward.
pml
So with that in mind, the same things could be said about this novella—but I loved it.
I've put some effort into figuring that little contradiction in myself out and I'll try to work through it for you.
I think what makes this work so well on that fairytale associated level for me is that it's not cute or like 'naughty'. It's not thickly layered on, like a cloying treacle. It's never really made the spotlight, and the reason it feels right for me is that the fairytale aspects are implied, and mostly presented and framed by a well-rendered unreliable narrator. It feels almost like Luna (and LF) know what you are expecting from a 'Dark Fairytale'... but they both play with that and subvert it. This author knows about people like me, and knows, I think, how important it is to find a grounding in some lateral way to keep my aversion to some aspects of the higher concept of this from being too heavily set off.
Without spoilers then I'll say that I was continuously impressed and satisfied with the ways in which this writer fused grounded, gritty realism, horrific dark elements, and the more fantastic and surreal aspects.
And there are real moments of brilliance in this work. It's very good overall... but there are parts that come together and even subtler nods that show much more going on beneath the surface.
Luna is now a favorite character of mine. She, her family, and the forest they inhabit are so well fleshed out that I didn't want Luna's stories to end.
I guess that's a big part of why it worked so well for me—as cliche as it sounds, this dark and breathing world was a place I didn't want to leave, even with its sinister and frightening layers.
I will read anything this author publishes going forward.
pml
December 9, 2018
This review first appeared on scifiandscary.com, I received a copy of the book to review.
‘Forest Underground’ is the debut novella from Lydian Faust and is published by the Sinister Horror Company, a small UK based indie publisher. It’s very good indeed. In fact it’s the best indie horror I’ve read for some time.
I always worry when I see rave reviews of small press or self-published books. Instinctively, part of my brain wonders if the praise is just down to enthusiasm or hubris on the part of the reviewer. If they’re that good, why haven’t they been picked up by a big publisher? That’s a terrible thing to think, and clearly displays an ignorance of the way that modern publishing has gone. My rational mind knows that my gut reaction is wrong, but it’s there all the same. Maybe you feel the same way, or maybe it’s just me. Either way, believe me when I say that ‘Forest Underground’ is worth your time. It’s not perfect, but it is very, very good and I suspect it marks the entry of a bold new talent on the horror stage.
It’s a hard book to describe, as a simple relaying of the plot doesn’t do it justice. Having finished it I’m left with the feeling that I don’t really know what I just read. That might sound like a bad thing, but it’s anything but. I felt the same way after finishing Samanta Schweblin’s brilliant ‘Fever Dream’ or after watching movies like ‘Mother!’ or ‘Videodrome’. All these pieces of art have a timeless, dreamlike quality that taps into our psyches and needles at our deepest anxieties and fears. Faust’s book does that too, weaving a reinterpretation of Little Red Riding Hood in with a ghost story and a deeply creepy serial killer tale. Those elements might sound at odds with each other, but Faust does a great job of combining them into a coherent, if nightmarish, whole. She packs the book with fantastically dark imagery: cannibalism, self-mutilation, mass graves. The most horrifying scenes are more memorable than you might want them to be.
Central character Luna is deliberately weird and enigmatic, but Faust gives her problems that are recognisable and easy to relate to. Despite the mystery that surrounds Luna, and the fact that I never felt like I truly knew her, I did find myself caring about her. The book centers on a series of Luna’s therapy sessions with her doctor, Alisha Sizemore. As Luna tells the doctor about her past it becomes hard to tell what is reality and what is illusion. There is a Russian doll element that works brilliantly, with the story going in a different direction two thirds of the way through and then again towards the end, before wrapping up in a very satisfying conclusion.
Thematically there is a lot going on here for such a short book. The troubles of female adolescence are explored through both Luna and Alisha’s memories. At times it feels reminiscent of Angela Carter’s retellings of European folk tales. Like Carter, Faust gets to the bloody heart of Little Red Riding Hood. Her take is very different, but equally effective.
Bullying and parental neglect are compellingly and sensitively covered too, without ever overwhelming the story. And throughout it all looms a mistrust of authority and institutions (hospitals and schools in this case), that feels very current.
In the end the much of the book feels like a fresh new fairy tale. Unsettling, bloody, timeless and haunting. I enjoyed every blood-soaked, horrific page.
‘Forest Underground’ is the debut novella from Lydian Faust and is published by the Sinister Horror Company, a small UK based indie publisher. It’s very good indeed. In fact it’s the best indie horror I’ve read for some time.
I always worry when I see rave reviews of small press or self-published books. Instinctively, part of my brain wonders if the praise is just down to enthusiasm or hubris on the part of the reviewer. If they’re that good, why haven’t they been picked up by a big publisher? That’s a terrible thing to think, and clearly displays an ignorance of the way that modern publishing has gone. My rational mind knows that my gut reaction is wrong, but it’s there all the same. Maybe you feel the same way, or maybe it’s just me. Either way, believe me when I say that ‘Forest Underground’ is worth your time. It’s not perfect, but it is very, very good and I suspect it marks the entry of a bold new talent on the horror stage.
It’s a hard book to describe, as a simple relaying of the plot doesn’t do it justice. Having finished it I’m left with the feeling that I don’t really know what I just read. That might sound like a bad thing, but it’s anything but. I felt the same way after finishing Samanta Schweblin’s brilliant ‘Fever Dream’ or after watching movies like ‘Mother!’ or ‘Videodrome’. All these pieces of art have a timeless, dreamlike quality that taps into our psyches and needles at our deepest anxieties and fears. Faust’s book does that too, weaving a reinterpretation of Little Red Riding Hood in with a ghost story and a deeply creepy serial killer tale. Those elements might sound at odds with each other, but Faust does a great job of combining them into a coherent, if nightmarish, whole. She packs the book with fantastically dark imagery: cannibalism, self-mutilation, mass graves. The most horrifying scenes are more memorable than you might want them to be.
Central character Luna is deliberately weird and enigmatic, but Faust gives her problems that are recognisable and easy to relate to. Despite the mystery that surrounds Luna, and the fact that I never felt like I truly knew her, I did find myself caring about her. The book centers on a series of Luna’s therapy sessions with her doctor, Alisha Sizemore. As Luna tells the doctor about her past it becomes hard to tell what is reality and what is illusion. There is a Russian doll element that works brilliantly, with the story going in a different direction two thirds of the way through and then again towards the end, before wrapping up in a very satisfying conclusion.
Thematically there is a lot going on here for such a short book. The troubles of female adolescence are explored through both Luna and Alisha’s memories. At times it feels reminiscent of Angela Carter’s retellings of European folk tales. Like Carter, Faust gets to the bloody heart of Little Red Riding Hood. Her take is very different, but equally effective.
Bullying and parental neglect are compellingly and sensitively covered too, without ever overwhelming the story. And throughout it all looms a mistrust of authority and institutions (hospitals and schools in this case), that feels very current.
In the end the much of the book feels like a fresh new fairy tale. Unsettling, bloody, timeless and haunting. I enjoyed every blood-soaked, horrific page.
September 6, 2018
I haven’t had a lot of reading time lately and I’ve had this book on my TBR pile for a while now. I picked it up the other day planning to read a few pages and see how it went. I found myself reading just over the first half of the book in one sitting. I then finished the rest in a second sitting. It’s rare I do that these days due to time restrictions.
I really enjoyed Faust’s style of writing which always helps with any book. Some authors write great stories but I just can’t quite gel with their style. Lydian’s writing flows easily with some great descriptions along the way.
The overall storyline of Forrest Underground is a great concept too and I didn’t realise where it was going to the very end, something that again is a rarity these days.
I hope Lydian has more work out soon. I’ll certainly give it a read if she does.
I really enjoyed Faust’s style of writing which always helps with any book. Some authors write great stories but I just can’t quite gel with their style. Lydian’s writing flows easily with some great descriptions along the way.
The overall storyline of Forrest Underground is a great concept too and I didn’t realise where it was going to the very end, something that again is a rarity these days.
I hope Lydian has more work out soon. I’ll certainly give it a read if she does.
October 2, 2017
This novella intrigued me from the first page, and that curiosity remained as I followed the story's dark path. It's a truly remarkable debut with a sharp plot, tight writing, and relatable characters. I'm most definitely going to follow Faust's work.
November 6, 2017
Ms Faust has deft touch, skilfully combining the gothic, the psychological and the folk, to weave together this intriguing novella. I won't spoil the plot or settings, suffice to say that this is a good read by a writer who knows what she's doing. Recommended.
February 16, 2021
I ordered this as soon as it was released and ended up reading it in one sitting, it's pretty good! And as a debut, it's very promising. Looking forward to lots more from Lydian :)
January 7, 2020
Lydian Faust was able to pull me in through a eerie story line and well developed characters. Even the characters that played small parts in the story were easily portrayed in my mind.
FOREST UNDERGROUND is, in my opinion, a very creepy messed up version of Little Red Riding Hood. Luna who is the central character is being held at a mental hospital, of sorts. She is Dr. Sizemore's very special case. As a reader you follow Luna's sessions with the doctor through Luna's memories to help explain why she ended up there.
As time elapses, you begin to find out some very disturbing things that happened to Luna when she was young that molded her into the person she is today. There are other patients in the building, but they are separated from Luna at all times. Doctor Sizemore seems mainly interested in only Luna, as the doctor has a personal stake in all of what Luna can tell her.
There were times in this book that I found myself with my jaw dropped. By the end you are left to figure out if Luna was more like Little Red Riding Hood (all innocent and young) or was she really the Big Bad Wolf (that you need to watch out for because she is so dangerous).
This short story was a very enjoyable read. I am looking forward to reading other books by Lydian Faust.
FOREST UNDERGROUND is, in my opinion, a very creepy messed up version of Little Red Riding Hood. Luna who is the central character is being held at a mental hospital, of sorts. She is Dr. Sizemore's very special case. As a reader you follow Luna's sessions with the doctor through Luna's memories to help explain why she ended up there.
As time elapses, you begin to find out some very disturbing things that happened to Luna when she was young that molded her into the person she is today. There are other patients in the building, but they are separated from Luna at all times. Doctor Sizemore seems mainly interested in only Luna, as the doctor has a personal stake in all of what Luna can tell her.
There were times in this book that I found myself with my jaw dropped. By the end you are left to figure out if Luna was more like Little Red Riding Hood (all innocent and young) or was she really the Big Bad Wolf (that you need to watch out for because she is so dangerous).
This short story was a very enjoyable read. I am looking forward to reading other books by Lydian Faust.
December 30, 2021
Wow, this short tale packs so much in, it's a real heady mix of a dark fairytale & psychological thriller.
Great characterisation which really allowed me to connect to the story and the scene was set so well I could just see it all.
I enjoyed this and its a book I would recommended.
Great characterisation which really allowed me to connect to the story and the scene was set so well I could just see it all.
I enjoyed this and its a book I would recommended.
January 20, 2019
Forest Underground was a good book, a delve into the terror of the mind and humanity, and certainly worth a read!
December 12, 2017
Sins of the Past. My favourite stories are those steeped in yesteryear, the subconscious, humanity trying to fathom the future by delving into ghosts of days gone by. In Forest Underground, the reader will receive plenty of all the aforementioned. Here, through the eyes of a doctor and patient (and set inside the cathedral atmosphere of abandoned school), Lydian uses horror, terror, and fantasy to define fundamental human states - ultimately leading to a unequivocal conjuring of trail by suffering. A confident debut and a dark signpost for the future ...
April 22, 2019
** Edited as review is now live on Kendall Reviews! **
Forest Underground came onto my radar after reading a feature interview on Kendall Reviews.
The cover was intriguing and the synopsis sounded like a good time.
So, like usual, I snagged this book and then it ended up buried in my TBR!
I finally got around to it and it’s a unique psychological thriller!
The story focuses on Dr. Alicia Sizemore as she works on gleaning details from one of her patients Luna. Sizemore is specifically wanting more details for a proposed book release.
The first third of the book focuses predominantly on Luna’s back story, what led her from her situation to her current residency at Dr. Sizemore’s facility. Faust does introduce us to a few other patients, but for the most part they stay on the periphery.
The second half of the book then changes over and we follow Dr. Sizemore’s story, following her from childhood to present day.
The final third acts to resolve things and wrap it all up.
I enjoyed the tale, but did find the switch from Luna to Dr. Sizemore jarring. I thought we were just about to really find out and make more discoveries about Luna’s intriguing background/back story, and then we were thrown in a completely different direction.
Dr. Sizemore’s back story was a bit stunted, and I find I struggled to make a connection with her situation involving her parents which prevented me from developing much empathy for her when she was shuttled off to the boarding/prep school.
I think this was a case where I wished the story had another two-hundred pages. There was just so much that could have been explored and so much I wanted to find out. But maybe that was the beauty of this tale? To give us a look at the carrot hanging in front of us but never allow us to even get a chance to try and bite it?
Overall I’m glad I read this and I look forward to what else Faust has coming down the pipeline.
This was a fast read and I think a lot of folks will dig it.
A psychological tale that left me wanting a bit more but also wanting to know more!
Forest Underground came onto my radar after reading a feature interview on Kendall Reviews.
The cover was intriguing and the synopsis sounded like a good time.
So, like usual, I snagged this book and then it ended up buried in my TBR!
I finally got around to it and it’s a unique psychological thriller!
The story focuses on Dr. Alicia Sizemore as she works on gleaning details from one of her patients Luna. Sizemore is specifically wanting more details for a proposed book release.
The first third of the book focuses predominantly on Luna’s back story, what led her from her situation to her current residency at Dr. Sizemore’s facility. Faust does introduce us to a few other patients, but for the most part they stay on the periphery.
The second half of the book then changes over and we follow Dr. Sizemore’s story, following her from childhood to present day.
The final third acts to resolve things and wrap it all up.
I enjoyed the tale, but did find the switch from Luna to Dr. Sizemore jarring. I thought we were just about to really find out and make more discoveries about Luna’s intriguing background/back story, and then we were thrown in a completely different direction.
Dr. Sizemore’s back story was a bit stunted, and I find I struggled to make a connection with her situation involving her parents which prevented me from developing much empathy for her when she was shuttled off to the boarding/prep school.
I think this was a case where I wished the story had another two-hundred pages. There was just so much that could have been explored and so much I wanted to find out. But maybe that was the beauty of this tale? To give us a look at the carrot hanging in front of us but never allow us to even get a chance to try and bite it?
Overall I’m glad I read this and I look forward to what else Faust has coming down the pipeline.
This was a fast read and I think a lot of folks will dig it.
A psychological tale that left me wanting a bit more but also wanting to know more!
March 24, 2018
Forest Underground was very interesting and gripped my attention pretty quickly. Some books can take some time for me to really get committed to them, but this one had me within five minutes.
I liked how Lydian Faust teased a lot of the world but stopped short of really revealing what was going on. I think that may have broken the pace of this novella up too much if there’d been a lot of scene setting.
The story is really interesting and splits into telling the story of the two main characters, and you end up feeling a little for each one and the trials that life has thrown at them.
I listens to the audiobook of this and Pippa Bailey’s narration is on point and works well for the story. She brings an energy that adds to the story incredibly well.
Definitely worth a read/listen, and left me wanting to know more about this setting.
I liked how Lydian Faust teased a lot of the world but stopped short of really revealing what was going on. I think that may have broken the pace of this novella up too much if there’d been a lot of scene setting.
The story is really interesting and splits into telling the story of the two main characters, and you end up feeling a little for each one and the trials that life has thrown at them.
I listens to the audiobook of this and Pippa Bailey’s narration is on point and works well for the story. She brings an energy that adds to the story incredibly well.
Definitely worth a read/listen, and left me wanting to know more about this setting.
March 6, 2018
This is a stunning debut novella from Lydian Faust, which sucked me into it's dark world from page 1. You can hear the leaves rustling underfoot as you plunge headfirst into Luna's troubled mind. The way Lydian crafts this dark fairy tale thriller is masterful, and I can't wait to read more of her work. My only complaint is that it is a novella rather than a full novel, as I could have read another two hundred pages. Fantastic.
December 29, 2019
What an excellent, quick read. Forest Underground is an impossible to pin down horror tale - every time I thought I knew what direction it was taking, Faust pulled the rug out from under me. Every twist was earned, however, and none of it was trite - this was a well-plotted, tightly written tale of horror including a number of very cool elements, including fairy tale elements, an asylum, and a haunted girls' school. Faust is an excellent writer, and I'll be looking for more from her.
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