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The Forest
Everyone in Edgewood believes their annual tithes at the fall festival are what purchase Edgewood’s safety, but as Faye and her husband prepare to take over as town stewards—a long tradition carried out by her family for generations—they learn the terrible truth: in order to guarantee the town’s safety, the forest demands an unthinkable sacrifice.
In the midst of everything, Faye is secretly battling debilitating postpartum anxiety that makes her all the more terrified to leave the safe cocoon of her enchanted town.
When everyone turns against her—including her own husband—Faye is forced to flee with her infant son into the forest. She must face whatever lurks there and, perhaps most frightening of all, the dark torments of her own mind.
The Forest is an adult folk horror novel appealing to fans of 'The Lottery' by Shirley Jackson and Bird Box by Josh Malerman, with a hint of The Changeling by Victor LaValle. It is Quigley’s debut novel.
In the midst of everything, Faye is secretly battling debilitating postpartum anxiety that makes her all the more terrified to leave the safe cocoon of her enchanted town.
When everyone turns against her—including her own husband—Faye is forced to flee with her infant son into the forest. She must face whatever lurks there and, perhaps most frightening of all, the dark torments of her own mind.
The Forest is an adult folk horror novel appealing to fans of 'The Lottery' by Shirley Jackson and Bird Box by Josh Malerman, with a hint of The Changeling by Victor LaValle. It is Quigley’s debut novel.
244 pages, Paperback
First published October 5, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
November 4, 2021
Review originally published at Mystery & Suspense Magazine (October 26th)
https://www.mysteryandsuspense.com/th...
In this debut novel, Lisa Quigley blends together dark fantasy elements with folk horror and suspense.
The book opens with a familiar but effective hook. A woman feeling betrayed by her circumstances and loved ones is stealing away in the middle of the night with her infant son.
Destination: the Forest.
From here, readers take a trip back in time to experience the circumstances in Faye’s life leading up to this planned escape.
As a mother of three, Quigley’s emphasis on the emotional and psychological aspects of motherhood and parenting was relatable for me. I did find myself having to fight off those tendencies to judge Faye’s behavior and actions throughout the story and take a posture of empathy. This helped me to have a more enjoyable reading experience because at first, I was zeroing in on all those “first-time mom” paranoias and fears with too much scrutiny. Why is Faye defaulting to breastfeeding every time baby Jonas is fussy? Can’t Faye just let Charlie figure things out with his newborn son the way she allows herself to figure things out? I really had to silence the inner critic.
Scattered throughout the first-person narrative are some attempts at world-building by way of Faye expressing some kind of thoughts or emotions about them. Edgewood is a magical or enchanted place where nothing bad happens, guarded by generational Stewards.
There is enough information gleaned from conversations and Faye’s inner thoughts to get a good sense of how everything works but perhaps a little too thin to answer all the questions readers are sure to have. And that is sometimes the problem with first-person narratives. Everything comes filtered through one character so there’s a real limit to how much technical information can transfer over without feeling like an awkward info dump.
However, this doesn’t distract from Quigley’s natural ability to easily draw her audience into the lives of these fictional characters to see how everything was going to play out. I’m definitely recommending this book to people who love those stories about small, rural towns with something secretive going on; think about the M. Night Shyamalan movie, The Village.
Why do the townspeople fear the forest; who or what lives there? With every new discovery, Faye’s fate gets more and more intriguing. Once you start The Forest, be prepared to carve out enough time to finish because this is easily a one sitting read. A great debut book from Lisa Quigley. I’ll be sure to keep an eye on any new releases from this author.
https://www.mysteryandsuspense.com/th...
In this debut novel, Lisa Quigley blends together dark fantasy elements with folk horror and suspense.
The book opens with a familiar but effective hook. A woman feeling betrayed by her circumstances and loved ones is stealing away in the middle of the night with her infant son.
Destination: the Forest.
From here, readers take a trip back in time to experience the circumstances in Faye’s life leading up to this planned escape.
As a mother of three, Quigley’s emphasis on the emotional and psychological aspects of motherhood and parenting was relatable for me. I did find myself having to fight off those tendencies to judge Faye’s behavior and actions throughout the story and take a posture of empathy. This helped me to have a more enjoyable reading experience because at first, I was zeroing in on all those “first-time mom” paranoias and fears with too much scrutiny. Why is Faye defaulting to breastfeeding every time baby Jonas is fussy? Can’t Faye just let Charlie figure things out with his newborn son the way she allows herself to figure things out? I really had to silence the inner critic.
Scattered throughout the first-person narrative are some attempts at world-building by way of Faye expressing some kind of thoughts or emotions about them. Edgewood is a magical or enchanted place where nothing bad happens, guarded by generational Stewards.
There is enough information gleaned from conversations and Faye’s inner thoughts to get a good sense of how everything works but perhaps a little too thin to answer all the questions readers are sure to have. And that is sometimes the problem with first-person narratives. Everything comes filtered through one character so there’s a real limit to how much technical information can transfer over without feeling like an awkward info dump.
However, this doesn’t distract from Quigley’s natural ability to easily draw her audience into the lives of these fictional characters to see how everything was going to play out. I’m definitely recommending this book to people who love those stories about small, rural towns with something secretive going on; think about the M. Night Shyamalan movie, The Village.
Why do the townspeople fear the forest; who or what lives there? With every new discovery, Faye’s fate gets more and more intriguing. Once you start The Forest, be prepared to carve out enough time to finish because this is easily a one sitting read. A great debut book from Lisa Quigley. I’ll be sure to keep an eye on any new releases from this author.
February 9, 2022
** Edited as review is now live on Kendall Reviews!**
Straight up – if I was forced to only read a single storyline for the rest of my life – it would be books centered around towns that sacrifice things to the forest so that they have security and safety from what lives within those woods.
You can take all other storylines and subgenres and have ’em – for me the absolute most chilling stories are these. And you can even see a lot of that in my own writing.
With ‘The Forest,’ Quigley gives us just that, and adds on a layer of mother-son survival that really rams this one home to the reader.
What I liked: The story is set in Edgewood, a town that has a tentative agreement with something in the woods. The stewards of the town sacrifice things to keep the peace and have continued safety.
Because of this agreement, most citizens never leave the small town and it is this aspect that rears its head frequently. We follow young mother, Faye and her son, as Faye discovers that her son is to be sacrificed. As most mothers would do, she flees, running into the woods and trying to find safety.
This book gallops along and parts reminded me of ‘The Village’ by Shyamalan, where we know there’s something going on and something out there, but we’re not sure what. I will say this does not end like that movie, just to make sure you don’t get turned off!
Quigley really does a great job making Faye a stunning character and one that you’ll root for throughout the entire story, even when a few things get revealed and ultimately a decision is made at the end.
What I didn’t like: This was a story where we get a lot of hints that there is something in the woods but ultimately we barely see it and when we do I felt it was far too brief and not as frightening as I’d made it out to be in my head. I still liked it but the reveal wasn’t as impactful as I expected.
A lot of the story is told before Faye enters the forest. It felt it went on far longer than necessary.
Why you should buy this: This book will grab you and hold you and make you race through it. I read it over two nights, and was captivated the entire time, wanting to see just what happened.
If you love “what the heck is going on” in forest stories – this one is for you.
Straight up – if I was forced to only read a single storyline for the rest of my life – it would be books centered around towns that sacrifice things to the forest so that they have security and safety from what lives within those woods.
You can take all other storylines and subgenres and have ’em – for me the absolute most chilling stories are these. And you can even see a lot of that in my own writing.
With ‘The Forest,’ Quigley gives us just that, and adds on a layer of mother-son survival that really rams this one home to the reader.
What I liked: The story is set in Edgewood, a town that has a tentative agreement with something in the woods. The stewards of the town sacrifice things to keep the peace and have continued safety.
Because of this agreement, most citizens never leave the small town and it is this aspect that rears its head frequently. We follow young mother, Faye and her son, as Faye discovers that her son is to be sacrificed. As most mothers would do, she flees, running into the woods and trying to find safety.
This book gallops along and parts reminded me of ‘The Village’ by Shyamalan, where we know there’s something going on and something out there, but we’re not sure what. I will say this does not end like that movie, just to make sure you don’t get turned off!
Quigley really does a great job making Faye a stunning character and one that you’ll root for throughout the entire story, even when a few things get revealed and ultimately a decision is made at the end.
What I didn’t like: This was a story where we get a lot of hints that there is something in the woods but ultimately we barely see it and when we do I felt it was far too brief and not as frightening as I’d made it out to be in my head. I still liked it but the reveal wasn’t as impactful as I expected.
A lot of the story is told before Faye enters the forest. It felt it went on far longer than necessary.
Why you should buy this: This book will grab you and hold you and make you race through it. I read it over two nights, and was captivated the entire time, wanting to see just what happened.
If you love “what the heck is going on” in forest stories – this one is for you.
February 28, 2022
I think parts of this one worked, and others really did not. The ending was just....eh. It didn't fit what came before it. And I think that parts of the book most definitely dragged. But I liked this combination of "The Lottery" and "Harvest Home" that we got in this book.
"The Forest" follows a young woman named Faye. Faye and her family have lived in the village of Edgewood for generations it seems. Faye has struggled since the birth of her son, Jonas. And now that she and her husband Charlie are about to become the new town stewards (replacing Faye's mother and father) she feels more apprehension. However, things get darker when Faye is told what the annual sacrifice to Edgewood is and decides if she is has what it takes to fight back.
I liked Faye. You get her apprehension of what Edgewood is and her desire to get beyond this place and out into the real world. I thought the other characters were not as developed though outside of Faye's mother. You definitely get that character and all that is going on with her. But Charlie felt like a non-entity. But maybe he was supposed to? Blossom was interesting, as was Arrow and Faye's father. We just didn't get to spend much time with them as we should have due to the book setting.
The book setting moves to different time periods which are "Before the Forest" and then the "Present". You get to see Faye at different points before the Autumn Equinox and then as it gets ever closer.
The ending though felt like a bit of a cheat to me. I wish Quigley had gone dark (a la Harvest Home/The Lottery) or at least explained things better. Because it just felt like a really confusing "Get out of jail free" card that came out of nowhere.
"The Forest" follows a young woman named Faye. Faye and her family have lived in the village of Edgewood for generations it seems. Faye has struggled since the birth of her son, Jonas. And now that she and her husband Charlie are about to become the new town stewards (replacing Faye's mother and father) she feels more apprehension. However, things get darker when Faye is told what the annual sacrifice to Edgewood is and decides if she is has what it takes to fight back.
I liked Faye. You get her apprehension of what Edgewood is and her desire to get beyond this place and out into the real world. I thought the other characters were not as developed though outside of Faye's mother. You definitely get that character and all that is going on with her. But Charlie felt like a non-entity. But maybe he was supposed to? Blossom was interesting, as was Arrow and Faye's father. We just didn't get to spend much time with them as we should have due to the book setting.
The book setting moves to different time periods which are "Before the Forest" and then the "Present". You get to see Faye at different points before the Autumn Equinox and then as it gets ever closer.
The ending though felt like a bit of a cheat to me. I wish Quigley had gone dark (a la Harvest Home/The Lottery) or at least explained things better. Because it just felt like a really confusing "Get out of jail free" card that came out of nowhere.
January 29, 2022
I read THE FOREST by Lisa Quigley in two sittings, but the first sitting had me to the 90% waypoint and I only had to stop because I needed to work on dinner. I loved all the dark fantasy and folk horror vibes in addition to some psychological horror. The town of Edgewood is an ideal place to live, where people are healthy and safe. But they don't know that they owe their thanks to the Forest, and the Stewards of the town who have made sacrifices to keep the people/things out there appeased. Will Faye, an upcoming Steward, be able to make an equivalent sacrifice to save the town and the lives of everyone around her ?
The book is told in three parts with alternating POVs: before Faye knows what is going on and after Faye knows what is going on. This format translates into extremely fast page turning because you just can't wait to figure out how the two storylines converge. You know something bad leads up to the current state of fear and actions, but you just have to find out exactly how the puzzle pieces fit together. Quigley excels at leading us deeper into the dark realm of truth the further we get in to The Forest.
And oh wow, The Forest is not a place I would want to be alone (or with an infant) at night by myself. It is a character all on its own and the atmospheric vibes are bountiful. Quigley creates a perfect setting here and uses it to her advantage every time.
I do think there are a lot of nuances of being a mother (and maybe a parent in general?) that I did not totally connect with as I am not a parent, but that does not mean the book does not still click or resonate. I just think there is another potential layer of fear and empathy that some readers will be able to experience from firsthand familiarity that I cannot.
This is Lisa Quigley's debut novel and I am absolutely going to be on the lookout for whatever is next. This is a must-read!
The book is told in three parts with alternating POVs: before Faye knows what is going on and after Faye knows what is going on. This format translates into extremely fast page turning because you just can't wait to figure out how the two storylines converge. You know something bad leads up to the current state of fear and actions, but you just have to find out exactly how the puzzle pieces fit together. Quigley excels at leading us deeper into the dark realm of truth the further we get in to The Forest.
And oh wow, The Forest is not a place I would want to be alone (or with an infant) at night by myself. It is a character all on its own and the atmospheric vibes are bountiful. Quigley creates a perfect setting here and uses it to her advantage every time.
I do think there are a lot of nuances of being a mother (and maybe a parent in general?) that I did not totally connect with as I am not a parent, but that does not mean the book does not still click or resonate. I just think there is another potential layer of fear and empathy that some readers will be able to experience from firsthand familiarity that I cannot.
This is Lisa Quigley's debut novel and I am absolutely going to be on the lookout for whatever is next. This is a must-read!
October 23, 2021
The only way out is through the wilderness. While we walk with Faye into an unknown future, we also walk her past and see what led to her desperate circumstances, how she has faced down others' selfishness and held her son close. Every turn and betrayal is heart-wrenching, and the mounting injustice and dissection of Faye's relationship with her own mother is enough to make me quake while reading. Overall, The Forest is an immersive, atmospheric journey through the unknown, hunted by the familiar.
October 29, 2021
Welcome to Edgewood, A picture perfect town that nobody else can find unless they've been invited. A glorious, safe haven of good luck and fortune where nothing bad can ever happen. This is where Faye has been born and raised. It is where she is meant to spend her entire life and where she and her husband are expected to take over as town stewards now that her parents are retiring from the role. As the time of the ceremony draws near, Faye learns the true cost of living in such a magical place, and the price is not one she is willing to pay. With very little time to plan, she makes her escape from the only life she has ever known. Can she survive the forest?
This is a chilling and suspenseful folk horror with a strong female main character. I loved the whole family dynamic and the stunning way the truth was revealed. This would have been a 5 star read for me if not for some repetition. The tension that was increasing kind of evaporated a few times but the fear factor was kicked up several notches for the ending.
4 out of 5 stars
I read a digital file under no obligation to write a review.
All of my reviews are posted at https://wellwortharead.blogspot.com/
This is a chilling and suspenseful folk horror with a strong female main character. I loved the whole family dynamic and the stunning way the truth was revealed. This would have been a 5 star read for me if not for some repetition. The tension that was increasing kind of evaporated a few times but the fear factor was kicked up several notches for the ending.
4 out of 5 stars
I read a digital file under no obligation to write a review.
All of my reviews are posted at https://wellwortharead.blogspot.com/
December 19, 2022
Lisa Quigley uses motherhood and folk horror to craft a new tale of a community gone wrong. Faye, despite her recent struggle with postpartum, has been safe and happy within the boundaries of Edgewood. Ready but a little reluctant to step into a leadership role, she soon finds the forest and the people she loves are not what they seem.
You can read Tracy's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
You can read Tracy's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
May 22, 2022
THE FOREST, by Lisa Quigley was an emotional, atmospheric read. Although the "plot" was instantly recognizable from the beginning, I don't believe it was the author's intent for it to be a mystery at all. In this small town, the residents are all protected--so long as they stay there--with good health, and no illnesses. Of course, there is a price to be paid for this, and apparently it rests upon the town's stewards alone.
Told from the point-of-view of the newest town steward--who was just told what she needed to do to insure the safety of the village--we get a very emotional, often repetitious, narration. Since we know the sacrifice required, this is all about the conflicting emotions, and the nature of the people in town, verses the will of one woman who always wondered "what else was out there".
" . . . sometimes, there wasn't much difference between a gift and a curse."
I thought the writing was fairly good, but honestly would have liked more of the history of what began this knowledge of safety. Still, it was a fast paced novel, and I did want to continue reading it, even without a true mystery involved. The one thing I felt, personally, was that the end was a bit too ... convenient for my tastes, leaving me not thinking further on the subject when the book was finished.
Told from the point-of-view of the newest town steward--who was just told what she needed to do to insure the safety of the village--we get a very emotional, often repetitious, narration. Since we know the sacrifice required, this is all about the conflicting emotions, and the nature of the people in town, verses the will of one woman who always wondered "what else was out there".
" . . . sometimes, there wasn't much difference between a gift and a curse."
I thought the writing was fairly good, but honestly would have liked more of the history of what began this knowledge of safety. Still, it was a fast paced novel, and I did want to continue reading it, even without a true mystery involved. The one thing I felt, personally, was that the end was a bit too ... convenient for my tastes, leaving me not thinking further on the subject when the book was finished.
May 15, 2022
3.5 stars
September 26, 2021
Lisa Quigley is a masterful writer. She encompassed my experience with post partum anxiety so well. It’s delightful to see feminist horror written by a woman, Quigley catches all the nuance of motherhood that I felt other similar horror missed. I love this spooky, fall book and highly recommend.
September 28, 2021
Review in the October 2021 issue of Library Journal: https://www.libraryjournal.com/?revie...
Three Words That Describe This Book: engrossing, Folk Horror, thought-provoking
An excellent debut. Not to miss! This was the first runner up for a star. I only give 3 per column.
Draft Review:
Opening anxiously, as Faye is desperately attempting to disappear, with her infant son, through the forest, Quigley then pulls back to introduce Edgewood, a town like no other, a place where everyone is completely safe, as long as they never leave due to the oversight of generations of Stewards and the townsfolk’s annual Fall offerings to the forest surrounding them. However, Faye, poised to become the next Steward, learns the dark truth behind this veil of perfection, she cannot be complicit any longer. Told with an engrossing back and forth style of chapters set in “Present” and “Before the Forest,” readers are kept on the edge of their seats following the urgent chase and held in suspense as the nefarious foundations are laid bare. Folk Horror, with excellent world-building and believable terror, this is also a cautionary and thought-provoking tale about unearned privilege. A story that empowers the reader to question both the cost of safety and blind acceptance of the status quo.
Verdict: Quigley, co-host of the award-winning Ladies of the Fright podcast, is well versed in active contemplation of the Horror genre itself, and it shows here with a storyline that could be described as a 21st Century update to Jackson’s “The Lottery.” Fans of Hex by Huevelt and The Twisted Ones by Kingsolver will also find a kindred spirit in The Forest. [pun intended]
Three Words That Describe This Book: engrossing, Folk Horror, thought-provoking
An excellent debut. Not to miss! This was the first runner up for a star. I only give 3 per column.
Draft Review:
Opening anxiously, as Faye is desperately attempting to disappear, with her infant son, through the forest, Quigley then pulls back to introduce Edgewood, a town like no other, a place where everyone is completely safe, as long as they never leave due to the oversight of generations of Stewards and the townsfolk’s annual Fall offerings to the forest surrounding them. However, Faye, poised to become the next Steward, learns the dark truth behind this veil of perfection, she cannot be complicit any longer. Told with an engrossing back and forth style of chapters set in “Present” and “Before the Forest,” readers are kept on the edge of their seats following the urgent chase and held in suspense as the nefarious foundations are laid bare. Folk Horror, with excellent world-building and believable terror, this is also a cautionary and thought-provoking tale about unearned privilege. A story that empowers the reader to question both the cost of safety and blind acceptance of the status quo.
Verdict: Quigley, co-host of the award-winning Ladies of the Fright podcast, is well versed in active contemplation of the Horror genre itself, and it shows here with a storyline that could be described as a 21st Century update to Jackson’s “The Lottery.” Fans of Hex by Huevelt and The Twisted Ones by Kingsolver will also find a kindred spirit in The Forest. [pun intended]
November 1, 2021
The atmosphere in this one....OMG!!! I think the "world" Lisa Quigley created in THE FOREST drove this book for me. I was so engrossed in the spooky darkness, and every time I picked this one up it just put me in such a mood. Faye's story is full of tension, but it's also so compelling and relatable. As a mother myself, I could put myself in Faye's place and feel her utter desperation and heartbreak.
To be initiated as town steward, Faye must make the ultimate sacrifice and submit her only child to the forest (and the beings that live within) in order to ensure the safety of Edgewood. And speaking of Edgewood....what a creepy, cult-like little town....like seriously. Anyone else get those "culty" vibes? Anyway, Faye is a dreamer, full of wanderlust. She longs for a life outside of the "idyllic" town she was raised in...she just knows there is something more outside of its boundaries....adventure, risk, and danger.
Ughhhh.....this is seriously folk horror at its finest! Quigley's writing resonated in my head and had me savoring every page. I won't be forgetting this story, and Faye, for quite some time.
To be initiated as town steward, Faye must make the ultimate sacrifice and submit her only child to the forest (and the beings that live within) in order to ensure the safety of Edgewood. And speaking of Edgewood....what a creepy, cult-like little town....like seriously. Anyone else get those "culty" vibes? Anyway, Faye is a dreamer, full of wanderlust. She longs for a life outside of the "idyllic" town she was raised in...she just knows there is something more outside of its boundaries....adventure, risk, and danger.
Ughhhh.....this is seriously folk horror at its finest! Quigley's writing resonated in my head and had me savoring every page. I won't be forgetting this story, and Faye, for quite some time.
December 6, 2021
3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.
I was apprehensive about this book. I'm not a mother and I'm not big on motherhood themes. But the internal dialog we hear from Faye and her concerns about the safety of her son felt very real. I liked the back and forth chapters showing us Faye fleeing in the woods, versus the slow reveal of how she got to this point in the first place.
There's also a lot of uncertainty in this book about if the town of Edgewood is as magical as it seems, or if it's just some culty nonsense. I liked how we eventually learn the truth.
I felt like the very very ending was a little too wrapped in a bow, and I understood Faye's love for her family... but I don't think I could feel the same way. I also wish the book had been a bit longer, with more of a slow reveal of Faye's childhood to show the reader how something is off in Edgewood.
All in all, a good story.
I was apprehensive about this book. I'm not a mother and I'm not big on motherhood themes. But the internal dialog we hear from Faye and her concerns about the safety of her son felt very real. I liked the back and forth chapters showing us Faye fleeing in the woods, versus the slow reveal of how she got to this point in the first place.
There's also a lot of uncertainty in this book about if the town of Edgewood is as magical as it seems, or if it's just some culty nonsense. I liked how we eventually learn the truth.
I felt like the very very ending was a little too wrapped in a bow, and I understood Faye's love for her family... but I don't think I could feel the same way. I also wish the book had been a bit longer, with more of a slow reveal of Faye's childhood to show the reader how something is off in Edgewood.
All in all, a good story.
October 14, 2022
I picked this up on a whim and I’m so glad I did! I read it in one sitting which I have not done with a book for a long time!
First things first. This is a book that is at its core about motherhood; new motherhood to be precise. The struggles, the magic and the all consuming love of a child that only a parent knows. Because of this I can see how some people may not find it as compelling as others. (This isn’t to say that if you’re not a mother you won’t enjoy it though).
If you’re looking for a survival horror story infused wine folk elements and spooky forest vibes you are also likely to enjoy this. It simply may not hook you as much emotionally.
The atmosphere is incredible. I felt like I could see, hear and smell the forest as we follow Faye, the main character.
This one really worked for me and I’m glad I read it!
May 23, 2022
I'm a huge fan of M. Night Shyamalan's The Village, and I've seen The Forest compared to it, so I was quite excited.
I knew this was going to be a mothers-child centric story, but I was simply unprepared for it. Specifically how often the main character nurses her son- it's just so frequent. I understand infants eat a lot, but it's bad. It's so bad.
The concept was promising, but I can't get past the constant nursing, the "sour-sweet milk smell" of him that we're reminded of every chapter.
It also isn't horror. Nothing about the events are scary unless you're also a mother/parent.
I knew this was going to be a mothers-child centric story, but I was simply unprepared for it. Specifically how often the main character nurses her son- it's just so frequent. I understand infants eat a lot, but it's bad. It's so bad.
The concept was promising, but I can't get past the constant nursing, the "sour-sweet milk smell" of him that we're reminded of every chapter.
It also isn't horror. Nothing about the events are scary unless you're also a mother/parent.
October 11, 2021
Review to come on Sci Fi And Scary
After not being able to stop thinking about this, I’m moving it to a 4.5 rounded to a 5. The best books linger.
After not being able to stop thinking about this, I’m moving it to a 4.5 rounded to a 5. The best books linger.
October 19, 2021
Lisa Quigley’s debut novel, The Forest, is one of those novels that sucked me into the plot and characters quicker than I expected. When the story started with Faye, the main character, running away from her town with her infant son to hide in the forest, I could not help but think about another book I read this year, Sorrowland by Rivers Solomon. I love Sorrowland, and I tried not to compare the two, but the plots in the beginning felt fairly similar. Both have mothers running away from a society that has their own rules, rules they cannot be a part of. The difference is that the main character in Sorrowland is much harder and much more angry than Faye. Faye had had a good life in Edgewood, mostly because Edgewood is a mystical town where nothing bad happens. Her husband came to this town to help his mother heal, and the town healed her so he stayed. Her parents and siblings are happy and satisfied people, and even though Faye does have a few wanderlust tendencies in the back of her mind, her life is so good that the thought of leaving the town was not too overpowering. Until now.
I wanted to dislike this much because of how much I enjoyed Sorrowland, but it did not take long for me to latch onto these characters and the dilemmas they faced and forget about comparing books. The Forest is it’s own novel, and even though I loved it, there are some things that start to get a little redundant, like the way she uses breastfeeding as a plot device. It seems like there is not much that Faye knows about how to soothe her infant son besides giving him her breast. There are times when he is hungry, but there are more times when she breastfeeds him because she does not know what else to do to soothe him. Something so normal becomes one of the few actions between her and her son. Another thing that she repeats often is the infant’s “downy” or “soft” hair. She uses this as a repeated way to give Faye some comfort. These things (and a few others) are very noticeable, but this does not get in the way of the fact that this is a great book.
There are things about the premise that I wish was explored more. I want to know more about Edgewood and what it is like to be a citizen of the town. I want to know more about the role of the town stewards and what that entails. I want to know more about the background of Faye’s postpartum anxieties. I know that it exists but I don’t know how it manifests. I want to know more about the forest and the fears that the town has of it. Lisa Quigley builds a world that we want to visit, and despite some of the imperfections of this novel, I will be recommending it to many of my friends and be looking forward to what comes next.
September 27, 2021
WOW. If you are looking for a chilling read with a spooky atmosphere, THE FOREST by Lisa Quigly needs to be on your tbr.
I received this book in my Nightworms package and I was very intrigued.
The story follows a mother escaping her small town after she learns about a terrible sacrifice she is expected to make at her initiation as town steward. She’s grown up in this cult like society and has known nothing different. She takes to the forest while there is a town wide manhunt looking for her and fights to the very end.
This book was shocking and so raw. It reminded me a lot of The Grace Year in the sense that the small town believes in a CRAZY concept and will do anything for it. Including kill.
Seriously, pick this one up! Hands down 5⭐️!
I received this book in my Nightworms package and I was very intrigued.
The story follows a mother escaping her small town after she learns about a terrible sacrifice she is expected to make at her initiation as town steward. She’s grown up in this cult like society and has known nothing different. She takes to the forest while there is a town wide manhunt looking for her and fights to the very end.
This book was shocking and so raw. It reminded me a lot of The Grace Year in the sense that the small town believes in a CRAZY concept and will do anything for it. Including kill.
Seriously, pick this one up! Hands down 5⭐️!
October 24, 2021
Quigley - an author who identifies as a pagan witch - ladles her debut novel with a rich layer of folklore and magic, all set in present day. The seemingly perfect community of Edgewood sure seems great, and maybe it is, but all that goodness does come at a price. When Faye learns the reality she decides take her infant son and take off into the titular forest.
I liked the woodsy vibe, as well as Quigley's ability to imbue a genuinely palpable, powerful maternal instinct into the narrative.
I may not have been completely in love with the final act, but I really enjoyed the journey and I look forward to more from Lisa Quigley.
I liked the woodsy vibe, as well as Quigley's ability to imbue a genuinely palpable, powerful maternal instinct into the narrative.
I may not have been completely in love with the final act, but I really enjoyed the journey and I look forward to more from Lisa Quigley.
March 21, 2022
Such a brilliant read! Highly recommended!
July 11, 2023
I’d love to hear more about the adventures of the three sisters!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 23, 2022
A folk horror novella that centers on a small town and the ugly secret behind its perfect facade.
With chapters that alternate between the present (Faye running through the forest, trying to escape her hometown with her infant son) and the past (what happened before she flees), this one keeps you turning pages—I just wanted to know what was going to happen to Faye and her son! The back-and-forth also gives you time to slowly understand the scope of the story, which incorporates a dark fantastical mindset alongside the very real horrors of postpartum depression and fear for the life of one's child.
There are some definite cultish vibes here, in the sense of Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery" or Harvest Home, where an idyllic veneer covers a dark truth and those who benefit from it are willing to ignore the grotesque reality. For me, Faye's time in the forest felt a bit repetitive and I wish that the story could have focused more on the events of the climax, which come a bit out of nowhere and are too neatly tied up at the end.
Overall, this is a strong, emotive debut that reveals Quigley as a new voice in horror fiction.
My thanks to the publisher for my review copy of this one.
With chapters that alternate between the present (Faye running through the forest, trying to escape her hometown with her infant son) and the past (what happened before she flees), this one keeps you turning pages—I just wanted to know what was going to happen to Faye and her son! The back-and-forth also gives you time to slowly understand the scope of the story, which incorporates a dark fantastical mindset alongside the very real horrors of postpartum depression and fear for the life of one's child.
There are some definite cultish vibes here, in the sense of Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery" or Harvest Home, where an idyllic veneer covers a dark truth and those who benefit from it are willing to ignore the grotesque reality. For me, Faye's time in the forest felt a bit repetitive and I wish that the story could have focused more on the events of the climax, which come a bit out of nowhere and are too neatly tied up at the end.
Overall, this is a strong, emotive debut that reveals Quigley as a new voice in horror fiction.
My thanks to the publisher for my review copy of this one.
December 15, 2021
The Forest was a book about motherhood in all it’s glorious and frightening forms. It’s a story about generations and family and a sense of duty. Duty to someone’s family, but also duty to someone’s community. Making a choice on which should take priority shouldn’t be hard in my opinion.
This book made me cry and made me cherish my daughter and the bond of motherhood. I loved the overall theme of womanhood and strength. And also survival. Doing what you have to do to make others around you thrive.
I’ll be reading more from Lisa Quigley for sure!
This book made me cry and made me cherish my daughter and the bond of motherhood. I loved the overall theme of womanhood and strength. And also survival. Doing what you have to do to make others around you thrive.
I’ll be reading more from Lisa Quigley for sure!
January 9, 2022
A really skilfully crafted folk horror story.
The dual timelines at the beginning unfold so expertly, so when you reach part two you're dying for more.
The rawness of the maternal instinct on display here is seriously impressive. I don't have kids, I'm a man, but I really felt it at times.
Great read. Blasted through it in a week (fast for me).
Strongly recommend.
The dual timelines at the beginning unfold so expertly, so when you reach part two you're dying for more.
The rawness of the maternal instinct on display here is seriously impressive. I don't have kids, I'm a man, but I really felt it at times.
Great read. Blasted through it in a week (fast for me).
Strongly recommend.
September 25, 2021
Tense, thrilling, touching. If you like non-linear narratives and small towns with dark secrets, check this one out!
October 3, 2021
The Forest is part horror, part thriller, with a bit of supernatural thrown in.
Edgewood is a very special town. People are safe in Edgewood and hardly anyone ever leaves. No one suffers ailments in Edgewood and everyone is happy. All this is due to the tithes that people offer to the forest in the fall festival. Tithes meant to be something of deep value to them. Faye and her husband Charlie are about to become the new town stewards, and as the new stewards, they are now privy to the real sacrifice that is meant to take place to keep the town safe.
Faye is horrified when the secret is revealed and wants no part of it. But when it seems no one will help her, she decides to flee with her baby son into the forest to seek refuge elsewhere. The forest has always been seen as a place of mystery and danger, so has Faye headed to the one place that could hurt her?
As a debut novel this is a superb piece of writing. I truly loved how each chapter goes back and forth between Faye in the forest and on the run, and the reasons leading up to her escape. When the timelines eventually collide, further secrets are revealed that could tear a family apart. By breaking the timelines, the chapters draw you in to read just one more, as you need to then go to the chapter after that to see where the story goes, and so the chapters roll on.
I did find, however, that sometimes the story seemed to get bogged down, especially in the forest. The number of instances where breastfeeding was mentioned made me want to skip over the parts. Once – no problem. Twice – all good. Three times – getting repetitive. Then four, five, six etc. and it almost became a filler. I felt the ending was a little rushed, and what was heading towards a great supernatural finale, became an “Oh, really?” moment. I needed more information about the Rowan amulet and the tunnel too.
All in all, a good book where you can connect with the characters, whether you love them or hate them.
Thanks to Perpetual Motion Machine for the opportunity to review the book.
Edgewood is a very special town. People are safe in Edgewood and hardly anyone ever leaves. No one suffers ailments in Edgewood and everyone is happy. All this is due to the tithes that people offer to the forest in the fall festival. Tithes meant to be something of deep value to them. Faye and her husband Charlie are about to become the new town stewards, and as the new stewards, they are now privy to the real sacrifice that is meant to take place to keep the town safe.
Faye is horrified when the secret is revealed and wants no part of it. But when it seems no one will help her, she decides to flee with her baby son into the forest to seek refuge elsewhere. The forest has always been seen as a place of mystery and danger, so has Faye headed to the one place that could hurt her?
As a debut novel this is a superb piece of writing. I truly loved how each chapter goes back and forth between Faye in the forest and on the run, and the reasons leading up to her escape. When the timelines eventually collide, further secrets are revealed that could tear a family apart. By breaking the timelines, the chapters draw you in to read just one more, as you need to then go to the chapter after that to see where the story goes, and so the chapters roll on.
I did find, however, that sometimes the story seemed to get bogged down, especially in the forest. The number of instances where breastfeeding was mentioned made me want to skip over the parts. Once – no problem. Twice – all good. Three times – getting repetitive. Then four, five, six etc. and it almost became a filler. I felt the ending was a little rushed, and what was heading towards a great supernatural finale, became an “Oh, really?” moment. I needed more information about the Rowan amulet and the tunnel too.
All in all, a good book where you can connect with the characters, whether you love them or hate them.
Thanks to Perpetual Motion Machine for the opportunity to review the book.
March 27, 2022
Lisa Quigley’s debut novel The Forest is disturbing, but I found myself anxiously turning the pages to discover the answers to questions that no mother should ever have to face.
Quigley uses a unique style of dividing the chapters into “the present” and “before the forest” to develop two frightening questions: what would a mother do to save the life of her newborn baby, and would a mother sacrifice the life of her baby to save the people that she loves? She uses foreshadowing to subtly plant these questions into the readers’ minds to create so much fear and anxiety that they will probably read all afternoon to find answers.
The Forest begins in “The Present.” The town of Edgewood has always been safe and protected. The community preserves this lifestyle by sacrificing their most valuable possessions in exchange for the protection from the surrounding forest. As the fall festival approaches, Faye realizes that her family and community, especially her mother and husband, expect her to sacrifice her newborn Jonas at the festival since it is her most valuable possession. Faye refuses to let that happen and secretly plans an escape through the forest. She drugs her husband Charlie so that he will not wake up and notice she has fled. When her mother confronts her at the bottom of the stairs, Faye knocks her unconscious.
Faye’s escape is perilous as the townspeople attempt to capture her and Jonas. She uses some man-made camouflage shelters, a family member’s aid, and a dark and wet underground tunnel to protect her until she can reach the surface. Faye faces numerous obstacles as she tries to keep a step ahead of her captors.
I loved this debut novel, and I recommend it for its suspense, family secret, and outcome.
Quigley uses a unique style of dividing the chapters into “the present” and “before the forest” to develop two frightening questions: what would a mother do to save the life of her newborn baby, and would a mother sacrifice the life of her baby to save the people that she loves? She uses foreshadowing to subtly plant these questions into the readers’ minds to create so much fear and anxiety that they will probably read all afternoon to find answers.
The Forest begins in “The Present.” The town of Edgewood has always been safe and protected. The community preserves this lifestyle by sacrificing their most valuable possessions in exchange for the protection from the surrounding forest. As the fall festival approaches, Faye realizes that her family and community, especially her mother and husband, expect her to sacrifice her newborn Jonas at the festival since it is her most valuable possession. Faye refuses to let that happen and secretly plans an escape through the forest. She drugs her husband Charlie so that he will not wake up and notice she has fled. When her mother confronts her at the bottom of the stairs, Faye knocks her unconscious.
Faye’s escape is perilous as the townspeople attempt to capture her and Jonas. She uses some man-made camouflage shelters, a family member’s aid, and a dark and wet underground tunnel to protect her until she can reach the surface. Faye faces numerous obstacles as she tries to keep a step ahead of her captors.
I loved this debut novel, and I recommend it for its suspense, family secret, and outcome.
December 26, 2021
The Forest by Lisa Quigley is a great new horror novel examining sacrifice, motherhood, and safety. Edgewood is a special town where nothing bad ever seems to happen. But when things start to go wrong, Faye discovers that safety may have a price. Quigley has written a novel reminiscent of Jackson’s The Lottery and Tyron’s Harvest Home, but focused in a powerful new direction and told through the lens of a young mother. The characters and quandaries proposed by the novel were highly compelling and heart-wrenching. The structure of alternating timelines (a trope I often find exhausting) was employed to great effect in this novel as each chapter seemed to spur me on to read the next. For all I loved about this book I did find my suspension of disbelief strained at times. Additionally I noticed a fair number of typos throughout the book. For these reasons I’m inclined to rate this book ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 rather than five stars, although I really enjoyed the story overall.
October 7, 2022
I really enjoyed this book and it was a true page turner. I'd set out to read one chapter and plow through 4 instead to see what would happen next. The characters, setting, and emotions all seem and feel viscerally real. There were genuinely scary moments, truly sad moments, and honestly never a dull moment. The only thing that keeps this from being a 4-star book to me is that there are a few "clunker" sentences that truly snap me out of the reading (I'm thinking of one related to "the sewage of my heart" in particular)--these are sparse, very few and far between and the rest of the writing is so stellar that I almost hate pointing it out. The ending is satisfying, though there is one particular detail that is probably debatable in terms of logistics (no spoilers). I loved "Hell's Bells" and still need to check out "Camp Neverland" but will do so in the near future. I look forward to reading future novels by Quigley.
January 27, 2022
From the opening dedication, The Forest felt like it was going to be intense and it didn’t disappoint. It’s a heart-pounding treat and so relevant to the events we’re all living through today. What are we willing to give up for safety? What are we willing to make others give up? Who should decide and what are ultimately the consequences for all of us?
The characters in The Forest battle with all of those questions while dealing with the familiar conflicts of family, motherhood, grief and trust. It’s one that will stick with me for a while as I ponder what my choices would have been, as a parent and for my community.
A full five stars for a story that’s entertaining and thought-provoking.
The characters in The Forest battle with all of those questions while dealing with the familiar conflicts of family, motherhood, grief and trust. It’s one that will stick with me for a while as I ponder what my choices would have been, as a parent and for my community.
A full five stars for a story that’s entertaining and thought-provoking.
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