Black Forest

by Shane Lee

Near a small farming village, there is a forest with black trees. The leaves never grow, and the trees never die. The villagers say it's cursed, but the legends are old and mostly ignored.

Monty's family farm is right on the edge of the black forest. He's nineteen, and he's grown out of his fear of the woods. His younger sister Terra...not so much.

But one day, something calls her to the woods. And after Monty finds her and has her swear to never tell anyone she went inside, people in their village begin to die. One by one. Their living bodies shrivel and turn black.

Monty fears that something has escaped the black forest. Something that wants to kill them all. He has no idea what to do. No one believes him.

And time is running out.

Genres: Horror

367 pages, Paperback

Published March 31, 2020

About the author

Shane Lee is an epic dark fantasy author living in Buffalo, NY with his wife and their two dogs. He reads a lot, but between words he plays the drums, golf, and a fair amount of video games.

Find Shane on Facebook and Threads @ShaneLeeBooks

Reviews

[Cam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this little gem on kindle unlimited. It a horror fiction about a witch that comes back from the dead and kills the village out of revenge. The Black is burning you from the inside out.

[Leslie Erkman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an excellent book. It felt like a folklore that you would here your grandpa telling you… but better.
This horror story had places in it that made me hide under my covers as I went to sleep, but nothing was so scary I had nightmares. It was the perfect fall read!
The characters were well thought out and the MCs had transitions to them that seemed organic.
Why read this book? It as a witch, Black Death, power hungry mean dude, strong family dynamic (brother/sister bond), enjoyable world building, and a Gypsy!

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story started off pretty slow and I struggled staying interested. The story certainly picked up it's pace with the "black death" starting hitting the town. It's a good versus evil, man versus witch, decent family versus power hungry town official story. I liked most of the characters except for Mullen, but then who would really like that type of power hungry jerk? I wish the ending battle was defined better with a little more explanation on what was happening in the battle and why. It was a good story about a witch and tales handed down through generations. Worth the read.

[Lioness7 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book started out slow for me. I picked it up and put it down a couple of times before I started getting interested. Overall, I think it was that I had a hard time feeling like much was happening in the beginning.

After the story got going, I did enjoy it though. I liked how the book was more a spooky story than anything. I really liked how the tale of the witch was woven into throughout. For anyone reading this, if you are a little bored in the beginning, stick with it. The story picks up and is pretty good later on.

One thing I did want to let the author know. In one spot of the book, the name Iselle was changed to Isabelle. This took me from the story because I didn't know who Isabelle was. So, in future editions, this will need changed.

[barbara chaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a good book but a little slow at times. The girl Terra who is supposed to be 11 acts like a smaller child through the first part and then when things get very bad she acts like she is much older and wiser. It's okay but it doesn't feel quite right. The story is good and I did like the people.

[Krystle · Rating 5 out of 5]

So happy I picked this up!!!

Had my attention from start to finish.
I highly recommend giving this book a read if you are looking for a supernatural related horror story!

[Sean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

Quite a page-turner! It was easy to read but very captivating. I did not expect to enjoy it as much as I did.

[Minya · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up this book at a local Christmas market and am always happy to provide feedback to indie authors. So, I'll begin by saying I am five starring this book because I was able to connect with the characters immediately. I can't tell you how many professionally published novels I've picked up and couldn't make it through five chapters because I didn't give a shit about the characters. This story involves a working-class family and a small town, so already off to a great start seeing as my family comes from working-class members and small villages. MC Monty is likable, hard-working, and dedicated to his family but wishes to find a more fulfilling position in the world. Sounds like most middle-class folks. Throw in a local ghost story/ legend and some bodies and we have a winner. I did enjoy this simple, yet relatable read!

[Cujo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dark Fantasy/Fairy Tale involving a village outside of a "Cursed Forrest" with a power hungry corrupt town official, a plague, whispers of the vengeful spirit of a witch, and 2 farm kids thrust into a fight to save to their home and their souls

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable Fairy Tale

I really enjoyed the characters and cared about what happened to them. The description of the places was so good I felt as if I were there. The addition of the "gypsies" added interest to the story. I wanted to read this book straight through, but couldn't. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

[Amy Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this story! Well written, intense imagery, and a villain that you'll love to hate.

[Staci · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spectacular

I wanted a spooky read for October. While not particularly dread-inducing, the tale is solid in folklore of witches and spirits.

I quite enjoyed the writing style too.

[Brittany Siemon · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy read and a great spooky book for Halloween or any moment where you need a little chill. While the beginning was a bit slow, the story began to pick up and found its pacing right before halfway when the author introduces the unnatural phenomenon happening in town. While the story feels familiar, a supernatural force coming from the forest for revenge, the author provides a fresh face and new elements for a unique story that sets the tone for a good fairy tale like story.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit of Evil Dead meets Oliver or Little Orphan Annie, this novel was better than I expected. Likable protagonists and a solid supporting cast, not one but two menacing and despicable villains, and a town gripped by fear and unexplainable death. The writing was more than proficient, and the editing sound. I was a little frustrated at first by the unidentified time period and location, but in the end found it didn't matter much to the enjoyment of the story.

[Kiernan Reynolds · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great story l, but felt a little slow at times. It picked up and had a great ending. Overall, a good read despite some pacing issues

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very interesting story that kept me turning pages. Loved the ending.

[Joshua Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nineteen year old Monty figures out that sometimes legends about forbidden forests are true in Shane Lee’s Black Forest! On the edge of a farming village grows a forest, a dark forest whose leaves never grow and the locals avoid at all costs. When Monty’s younger sister disappears into the forest and subsequently returns, things start to turn bad for the village. I love all things horror, and Lee captures that pervasively creeping ‘haunted house’ evil feel, making the dead forest seem eerily alive like a character all its own! This one’s creepy and has some great twists which I won’t spoil here, so check it out if you also love horror!