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The New Apocrypha #1
The Little Woods
Do you believe in Demons? You will.
A HORROR STORY INSPIRED BY REAL EVENTS
A group of boyhood friends in the summer of 1977. An annual rite of passage in a dark and alluring Pennsylvania wood. The channeling of a malevolent Presence. And a childhood game about to go terribly wrong . . . Two brothers in the summer of 1995, reunited by the unspeakable nightmare of their past. A bewitching tavern proprietress and psychic intuitive from New Orleans. The revelation of an apocryphal prophesy. And a harrowing return to the woods haunted by something far more dangerous than a memory . . . Contains mature themes.
424 pages, Hardcover
First published February 23, 2021
2554 people are currently reading
5719 people want to read
About the author
A.G. Mock
6 books322 followersA.G. MOCK is an award-winning writer whose multi-decade career spans both the UK and the US. He currently lives in rural South Carolina with his incredibly patient wife, two peculiarly challenging but adorable rescue dogs, and a harmless ghost who likes to make himself known with a distinctive scent of tobacco and warm leather. His wife and dogs he treasures wildly; the ghost he can take or leave.
The 'Little Woods' is Book One in the New Apocrypha series and is his debut novel.
'Disciple' is Book Two in the New Apocrypha series and now available everywhere!
The 'Little Woods' is Book One in the New Apocrypha series and is his debut novel.
'Disciple' is Book Two in the New Apocrypha series and now available everywhere!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 286 reviews
March 5, 2021
W O W.
Horror-loving friends, this one was sooooo good. As a debut novel, A.G. Mock did an absolutely incredible job at delivering a boys’ coming-of-age story mixed with demons and some creepy woods. You want possession? You got it. You want creepy little kids? CHECK. You want a book that will continue to scare you and leave you on edge until the LAST FREAKIN PAGE? This is it!
The imagery used throughout completely immersed me into the depths of this novel. I had no trouble picturing every single bit of what was going on. I loved how when you questioned something occurring or a character’s part, it was quickly and efficiently explained and it meshed perfectly within the story. At close to 400 pages, this one read very quickly and just flowed so well. I just truly enjoyed every bit of it.
I can N O T wait for his next book, The Watchers, to be released. Oh, & I will NEVER look at woods the same again.
Horror-loving friends, this one was sooooo good. As a debut novel, A.G. Mock did an absolutely incredible job at delivering a boys’ coming-of-age story mixed with demons and some creepy woods. You want possession? You got it. You want creepy little kids? CHECK. You want a book that will continue to scare you and leave you on edge until the LAST FREAKIN PAGE? This is it!
The imagery used throughout completely immersed me into the depths of this novel. I had no trouble picturing every single bit of what was going on. I loved how when you questioned something occurring or a character’s part, it was quickly and efficiently explained and it meshed perfectly within the story. At close to 400 pages, this one read very quickly and just flowed so well. I just truly enjoyed every bit of it.
I can N O T wait for his next book, The Watchers, to be released. Oh, & I will NEVER look at woods the same again.
January 4, 2022
There's no getting around it; A.G. Mock makes a mockery of good writing. This is easily one of the worst books I have ever read. What begins as a good premise, a problematic piece of forest, is quickly overgrown with too many adjectives, too many adverbs. Just too damn many woods that sound stilted while trying too be "oh, so clever." The flow is hacked apart with sudden POV changes, many interjections, and unlikeable characters. Truthfully, I couldn't wade through this book, the effort being too difficult, too visceral.
Why did I choose to read it? It was praised by so many "everyday" reviewers. One even called Mock the next Stephen King. The new king of horror fiction. In some ways, so right. The Little Woods was a horror to read. I suspect that many of the reviewers are friends and family of the author who stretched the truth to give their writer friend some good press. Shame on all of you! How dare you deceive the large body of readers simply looking for a good book.
Here's a random example of the writer's prose. Speaking of Central Park:
Human predators, not monsters, stalked those wooded glades by night, transforming their
beauty into a dangerous, bete noir. .... How could such a presence of peace and enjoyment
devolve into such a tyrannical horror after the sun had cast its daily farewell?
The park stared back at him and had no answer; only smirked.
See what I mean?
Why did I choose to read it? It was praised by so many "everyday" reviewers. One even called Mock the next Stephen King. The new king of horror fiction. In some ways, so right. The Little Woods was a horror to read. I suspect that many of the reviewers are friends and family of the author who stretched the truth to give their writer friend some good press. Shame on all of you! How dare you deceive the large body of readers simply looking for a good book.
Here's a random example of the writer's prose. Speaking of Central Park:
Human predators, not monsters, stalked those wooded glades by night, transforming their
beauty into a dangerous, bete noir. .... How could such a presence of peace and enjoyment
devolve into such a tyrannical horror after the sun had cast its daily farewell?
The park stared back at him and had no answer; only smirked.
See what I mean?
April 25, 2021
Wow! The Little Woods was so good. As a debut novel, A.G Mock delivers a horror coming of age story that delivers creepy things in the woods. Let’s just say that this book is “Lord of the Flies” meets “IT”. There were several aha moments when reading where I thought this book takes me back to “IT”.
The Little Woods is told in dual timelines. In 1977, a group of boys engaged in an annual rite of passage in the woods until something goes terribly wrong. Fast forward to 1995, two
brothers are still haunted by the events that occurred in the woods.
The book was so atmospheric that the reader could picture walking through them and seeing things that create nightmares. The characters are well established in both timelines. The reader gets a sense of the relationship between the brothers and their desire to forget the summer of 1977. In the 1977 chapters, I loved how their friendships helped them overcome tragedy and the creepiness encountered in the woods.
At close to 400 pages, the book is descriptive but flows well. There was no real slow build up and the author throws you right into the story from page one. The novel brings horror, gore and pure terror.
It is a completely absorbing story that ends on a cliffhanger 🤯. The suspense is killing me! 😂Now I need to read book two ASAP.
5 ⭐️
Thank you @agmock for my review copyright
April 22, 2021
“𝗬𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗼𝗱𝘀, 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂?”
First I’d like to say thank you to A.G Mock for sending me a copy of his book in exchange for an honest review!
It’s 1977 and the last day of school in this small town in Pennsylvania. With the ending of school begins a summer of freedom. But deep inside The Little Woods, there’s a group of boys playing a game called War. What none of them know is that this childhood game would take a horrendous turn, the details so gruesome they would haunt two brothers late into adulthood.
The Little Woods is a haunting coming of age tale detailed in dreams that are more than just dreams but reflect what is to come, and a telepathic connection between brothers that reunites them over the memory of what happened in those woods.
While reading this book, I couldn’t help but be thrown into these wild little woods with their vivid description. And I was having flashbacks of what it was like as a kid when you were so excited for an adventure, aka going to the nearest creek to investigate what creatures you might find.
Della was my favourite character because she had this mis-mash of spiritual voodoo priestess vibes that I am ALWAYS here for.
This one has a bit of everything: gore, eerie woods, psychic phenomena, a prophesy and demonic possession.
4⭐️
First I’d like to say thank you to A.G Mock for sending me a copy of his book in exchange for an honest review!
It’s 1977 and the last day of school in this small town in Pennsylvania. With the ending of school begins a summer of freedom. But deep inside The Little Woods, there’s a group of boys playing a game called War. What none of them know is that this childhood game would take a horrendous turn, the details so gruesome they would haunt two brothers late into adulthood.
The Little Woods is a haunting coming of age tale detailed in dreams that are more than just dreams but reflect what is to come, and a telepathic connection between brothers that reunites them over the memory of what happened in those woods.
While reading this book, I couldn’t help but be thrown into these wild little woods with their vivid description. And I was having flashbacks of what it was like as a kid when you were so excited for an adventure, aka going to the nearest creek to investigate what creatures you might find.
Della was my favourite character because she had this mis-mash of spiritual voodoo priestess vibes that I am ALWAYS here for.
This one has a bit of everything: gore, eerie woods, psychic phenomena, a prophesy and demonic possession.
4⭐️
October 10, 2021
One of the best nail biter horror books I have read in a long time. I was on the edge of my seat through the entire book. The characters are relatable and you really end up caring for them. I know that I never want to go in the woods again. I cannot wait till book 2 comes out. Please hurry A G Mock!!!
November 10, 2024
A little long in the tooth, hopefully the rest is better paced.
May 6, 2021
Am I allowed to say that this book was like Ray Bradbury on bath salts? I was hooked on the imagery in this novel right from the start and couldn’t help but getting ‘Something Wicked This Way Comes’ vibes in the beginning.
This book jumps directly into chaos for the main characters and I 100% felt their stress and buckled up for the ride. Ian and Brian, two brothers suppressing a tragic childhood, are at once relatable and easy to care about. That’s part of what makes the 400-some pages of this book so terrifying and addictive.
Switching between timelines from 1977 and 1995, this story races along and immediately leaves you wanting for more. This was one of the scariest books I have read in a long time. It started out with a “people are the real monsters” kind of theme (think Lord of the Flies.) Then quickly dove into “monsters are the real monsters and they want to f^€k you up” theme.
I enjoyed this book a lot and absolutely cannot wait to see more in the series from this debut author! I would recommend this book for fans of powerful imagery, horror, supernatural themes, coming of age stories, and books that make you want to sleep with the lights on (totally not me, I’m just saying)
This book jumps directly into chaos for the main characters and I 100% felt their stress and buckled up for the ride. Ian and Brian, two brothers suppressing a tragic childhood, are at once relatable and easy to care about. That’s part of what makes the 400-some pages of this book so terrifying and addictive.
Switching between timelines from 1977 and 1995, this story races along and immediately leaves you wanting for more. This was one of the scariest books I have read in a long time. It started out with a “people are the real monsters” kind of theme (think Lord of the Flies.) Then quickly dove into “monsters are the real monsters and they want to f^€k you up” theme.
I enjoyed this book a lot and absolutely cannot wait to see more in the series from this debut author! I would recommend this book for fans of powerful imagery, horror, supernatural themes, coming of age stories, and books that make you want to sleep with the lights on (totally not me, I’m just saying)
April 19, 2023
1970s & 1990s nostalgia layered with the edge-of-your-seat suspense! Best horror book I've read in years. Definitely makes you sleep with one eye open. I see this becoming a major motion picture! Bravo to AG Mock on this amazing debut novel!
April 27, 2024
This book is terrible! How do so many people love it? So many inconsistencies throughout and r/menwritingwomen fodder. Does the author actually think women fondle their boobs when they take showers? Assess their boobs in the mirror? And why are these women always thin but have large breasts? Ugh so gross. There are things that didn’t exist in 1977 that he didn’t bother researching, I could go on and on. Check out my notes if you want to. I can’t finish this dribble. I want my money back.
February 19, 2021
The Little Woods was beautifully descriptive and very entertaining. The story develops in two time periods that converge and become one explosive revelation and a surprise ending you don't see coming. Let's just say my feet were knocked out from under me! Very curious about Book Two of the New Apocrypha series. The supernatural and spiritual elements tie into the horrific events that unfold in the Little Woods. Referencing the Bible and other sacred text becomes a journey into future apocalyptic prophecy. You are drawn into the Cockerton family and as the story unfolds its destruction. This book would make a hell of a movie ~
June 8, 2022
I obviously am not a professional reviewer - and I don't think its my job to necessarily dump on an author's hard work in writing a story or novel.....
According to the author bio in the back - "Little Woods" is his first novel. And "Little" is the first of three novels, the second being "Shadow Watchers" (there is a small preview in the back of the book)....the overall plot - not to give away any spoilers - concerns yet another Satanic plot to destroy the world.
I thought this book was clearly overwritten -with what I felt was a good deal of unnecessary exposition. I haven't been a child in many years...and felt that the children depicted in the novel...and their language - isn't how any child might speak.
And..concerning the main characters Ian and Bryan...I've never seen characters cry SO much in any story or novel...I felt like giving them a box of Kleenex....and it was annoying.
Anyone who reads horror doubtless knows this story....the heroes will sweep in, overpower/destroy the demonic, probably a death or two as well (as "Little" did)...but the heroes will emerge victorious.....perhaps sadder and wiser.
I'll probably give "Shadow Watchers" a pass.....
Jeff Mc
According to the author bio in the back - "Little Woods" is his first novel. And "Little" is the first of three novels, the second being "Shadow Watchers" (there is a small preview in the back of the book)....the overall plot - not to give away any spoilers - concerns yet another Satanic plot to destroy the world.
I thought this book was clearly overwritten -with what I felt was a good deal of unnecessary exposition. I haven't been a child in many years...and felt that the children depicted in the novel...and their language - isn't how any child might speak.
And..concerning the main characters Ian and Bryan...I've never seen characters cry SO much in any story or novel...I felt like giving them a box of Kleenex....and it was annoying.
Anyone who reads horror doubtless knows this story....the heroes will sweep in, overpower/destroy the demonic, probably a death or two as well (as "Little" did)...but the heroes will emerge victorious.....perhaps sadder and wiser.
I'll probably give "Shadow Watchers" a pass.....
Jeff Mc
August 4, 2022
So this is was a bit of a tough one. There is no question that this is a real achievement of a debut for the writer, but my god it’s hard work. As others have said, it is mind bogglingly over written and could easily be halved with a bit of fine tuning and exposition pruning. There are parts that really are unbearable, especially when Mock spends a page and a half discussing a family breakfast as if it’s integral to the story - it isn’t. It’s almost as if he’s enjoying the process so much that he’s cramming every innocuous detail with information, and then rounding it off with a metaphor, to make sure we get it. It’s not condescending in any way, but it is annoying. This means that he has a tendency to overuse words like “tendrils”, and keeps repeating the act of characters throwing up pustulant bile, which is described assiduously every time, a trait that just becomes comical by the end.
The narrative itself has no idea what it wants to be. Is it a possession story? A religious commentary? A coming of age tale? Or, with some truly bizarre masturbation scenes popping up out of nowhere, is it meant to be a comedy? The names were also baffling considering it was set in Pennsylvania: Diane, Andrew, Ian and Bryan. They sounded more like a roll call of the presenters of Countryfile. And we know what they like to eat, and how their blood flows around their body when they are either nervous or scared, but there’s not really much character development underneath the tissue and haemoglobin descriptions that we are constantly presented with.
The action only really finds it’s feet in the final act, but by then I was pretty exhausted. And just when you think it’s over, it carries on for yet another furlong.
That said, when this tale about two brothers who are experiencing nightmarish visions of some childhood tragedy, eighteen years on, gets its footing, I was actually quite into it.
I just think there was far too much thrown at it, confusing the plot and baffling the reader.
But despite the misgivings of The Little Woods, I do think there is a brilliance in Mock as a horror writer, because his use of description is competent, if not a little over played. However, with a good editor and a touch more focus, he could just have a belter on his hands.
The narrative itself has no idea what it wants to be. Is it a possession story? A religious commentary? A coming of age tale? Or, with some truly bizarre masturbation scenes popping up out of nowhere, is it meant to be a comedy? The names were also baffling considering it was set in Pennsylvania: Diane, Andrew, Ian and Bryan. They sounded more like a roll call of the presenters of Countryfile. And we know what they like to eat, and how their blood flows around their body when they are either nervous or scared, but there’s not really much character development underneath the tissue and haemoglobin descriptions that we are constantly presented with.
The action only really finds it’s feet in the final act, but by then I was pretty exhausted. And just when you think it’s over, it carries on for yet another furlong.
That said, when this tale about two brothers who are experiencing nightmarish visions of some childhood tragedy, eighteen years on, gets its footing, I was actually quite into it.
I just think there was far too much thrown at it, confusing the plot and baffling the reader.
But despite the misgivings of The Little Woods, I do think there is a brilliance in Mock as a horror writer, because his use of description is competent, if not a little over played. However, with a good editor and a touch more focus, he could just have a belter on his hands.
February 21, 2021
The Little Woods by A. G. Mock is a beautifully written suspense / horror novel that will have you glued to your seat until you finish it.
The story runs parallel in "present time" in 1995 and flashbacks in 1977 and features brothers Ian and Bryan tortured by the unspeakable events of a day of playing gone terribly wrong in the woods with their friends as teenagers. They seemingly move on and forget the horrors of that day, until it all comes back to hunt them 18 years later... and at that time they are forced to face it as it threatens not only them, but those dearest to them.
The book hooked me from the beginning to the end and I stayed up a few nights much later than I should have, to see what happens next. I found the scenes very descriptive, to the point where it felt like I was there. (And believe me, you DON'T want to be there!). The story is also very intelligently written, it's not just plain scary but informative and interesting. Warning - nothing can prepare you to the horrors of the scene when the game in the woods goes wrong. Or the ending, which, unfortunately is also a cliffhanger. The author better not make us wait too long for the Book Two of the New Apocrypha series!!!
The story runs parallel in "present time" in 1995 and flashbacks in 1977 and features brothers Ian and Bryan tortured by the unspeakable events of a day of playing gone terribly wrong in the woods with their friends as teenagers. They seemingly move on and forget the horrors of that day, until it all comes back to hunt them 18 years later... and at that time they are forced to face it as it threatens not only them, but those dearest to them.
The book hooked me from the beginning to the end and I stayed up a few nights much later than I should have, to see what happens next. I found the scenes very descriptive, to the point where it felt like I was there. (And believe me, you DON'T want to be there!). The story is also very intelligently written, it's not just plain scary but informative and interesting. Warning - nothing can prepare you to the horrors of the scene when the game in the woods goes wrong. Or the ending, which, unfortunately is also a cliffhanger. The author better not make us wait too long for the Book Two of the New Apocrypha series!!!
March 29, 2021
“You’re not afraid to come play in the Woods, are you?”
First I’d like to thank the author for gifting me with a copy of this book. I’m incredibly grateful as I ended up loving this story.
This book gave allllll the spooky scary vibes you could possibly want. I love horror and am normally not too affected by scary stories but let me tell you, this one had me SHOOK. My heart was literally clenching when reading some of the scenes. Something about demons really scares the ever living shit out of me.
I think that’s why it took me an extra day to read, because once it got too late and the house got too quiet, I had to put it down and turn on something light and airy on the TV 😂 . I may stick to walks in public instead of in the woods now! 🤣
Mock possesses the ability to take you right there in the story alongside the characters. His writing style was great and extremely descriptive. I had a few questions within the first half, but by the end, they were all mostly answered. The timeline going back and forth between 1977 and 1995 helped explain a lot.
Any author who is able to scare me the way AG Mock did, deserves all my respect.
And for that, I am giving this book:
5/5 stars ⭐️
I cannot wait to read the second book in this upcoming trilogy. Because that ending? 🤯🤯🤯
First I’d like to thank the author for gifting me with a copy of this book. I’m incredibly grateful as I ended up loving this story.
This book gave allllll the spooky scary vibes you could possibly want. I love horror and am normally not too affected by scary stories but let me tell you, this one had me SHOOK. My heart was literally clenching when reading some of the scenes. Something about demons really scares the ever living shit out of me.
I think that’s why it took me an extra day to read, because once it got too late and the house got too quiet, I had to put it down and turn on something light and airy on the TV 😂 . I may stick to walks in public instead of in the woods now! 🤣
Mock possesses the ability to take you right there in the story alongside the characters. His writing style was great and extremely descriptive. I had a few questions within the first half, but by the end, they were all mostly answered. The timeline going back and forth between 1977 and 1995 helped explain a lot.
Any author who is able to scare me the way AG Mock did, deserves all my respect.
And for that, I am giving this book:
5/5 stars ⭐️
I cannot wait to read the second book in this upcoming trilogy. Because that ending? 🤯🤯🤯
March 19, 2025
I had never heard of A. G. Mock before I picked up this book. I’m so thankful that I picked it up!!
There are two more books in this series and I can’t wait to read them!! I have to find out everything I can about this author and his work. He will definitely be an auto-buy author for me from this book forward. I don’t give out 5 stars often but, this is a book that deserves every single one!!! Enjoy!!!
Reread March 17th-18th
There are two more books in this series and I can’t wait to read them!! I have to find out everything I can about this author and his work. He will definitely be an auto-buy author for me from this book forward. I don’t give out 5 stars often but, this is a book that deserves every single one!!! Enjoy!!!
Reread March 17th-18th
March 1, 2021
Like a weird marriage of Jean Shepherd and M. Night Shyamalan, A.G. Mock weaves innocent childhood memories with the real and imagined horrors of adolescence. "The Little Woods" takes the reader on the path of adult dread and the loss of childhood friends while weaving the supernatural forces of biblical prophecy all in a setting of rural America.
Mock's first novel will appeal to fans of supernatural horror and brought chills up my spine while reading it. While not a genre that I usually read, I am now eagerly waiting for the release of the second volume of the trilogy.
Highly recommended, but don't read it alone in a dark house!
Mock's first novel will appeal to fans of supernatural horror and brought chills up my spine while reading it. While not a genre that I usually read, I am now eagerly waiting for the release of the second volume of the trilogy.
Highly recommended, but don't read it alone in a dark house!
April 23, 2021
YOU'RE NOT AFRAID TO COME PLAY IN THE WOODS ARE YOU...?
Thank you, to the author, A.G. Mock for sending me a copy of his debut novel in exchange for an honest review! This was such an even better read because I got to read it with two other horror lovers and what a ride this was!
The woods, a place ominous and frightening, conjuring creepy sensations that make the imagination run wild! This book did just that! We are introduced to a group of friends in 1977 who begin playing a game of War in the woods and boy does this story take a horrible left turn!
In dual timeline fashion, we meet brothers Ian and Bryan Cockerton, 18 years later in 1995 and we are then taken back to that fateful day in the woods when everything changed for these seven young boys. I am seriously loving these coming of age/horror stories and truly appreciated the dialogue, the imagery, and definitely Mock’s writing style. I delved right into the story and could not put it down! If you’re into suspense, gore, haunting imagery, supernatural phenomena, and horror, I highly recommend this book and hopefully, you get the same heebie-jeebies I did! This is the first book in his Apocrypha trilogy and I need to read the next one ASAP because that ending was whoa!! Round up to 4.5 stars!
Thank you, to the author, A.G. Mock for sending me a copy of his debut novel in exchange for an honest review! This was such an even better read because I got to read it with two other horror lovers and what a ride this was!
The woods, a place ominous and frightening, conjuring creepy sensations that make the imagination run wild! This book did just that! We are introduced to a group of friends in 1977 who begin playing a game of War in the woods and boy does this story take a horrible left turn!
In dual timeline fashion, we meet brothers Ian and Bryan Cockerton, 18 years later in 1995 and we are then taken back to that fateful day in the woods when everything changed for these seven young boys. I am seriously loving these coming of age/horror stories and truly appreciated the dialogue, the imagery, and definitely Mock’s writing style. I delved right into the story and could not put it down! If you’re into suspense, gore, haunting imagery, supernatural phenomena, and horror, I highly recommend this book and hopefully, you get the same heebie-jeebies I did! This is the first book in his Apocrypha trilogy and I need to read the next one ASAP because that ending was whoa!! Round up to 4.5 stars!
October 30, 2022
A torturous read ... and not in a good, scary way.
The only thing worse than the plot was the writing. Make sure you have a thesaurus by your side. And if 'over adjectified' is a term ... this book is the definition of it. Nobody ever just walks out a door. They scamper away like a sad, lonely hermit crab on a hot, salty beach on a cloudless Sunday morning ... in June. Writers are supposed to paint a picture with words ... not drown you in the paint. I suffered through the book in the hope it would have some redeeming value. It didnt.
The only thing worse than the plot was the writing. Make sure you have a thesaurus by your side. And if 'over adjectified' is a term ... this book is the definition of it. Nobody ever just walks out a door. They scamper away like a sad, lonely hermit crab on a hot, salty beach on a cloudless Sunday morning ... in June. Writers are supposed to paint a picture with words ... not drown you in the paint. I suffered through the book in the hope it would have some redeeming value. It didnt.
July 11, 2021
This book terrified me. I've always been spooked by the woods at night, but I doubt I'll ever feel comfortable going into again. I loved the characters and really felt for them, which made the story even scarier. The supernatural presence lurking in the woods, and its impact on innocent children, shattered me, in a good way. I can't wait for the next book in this series.
Merged review:
This book terrified me. I've always been spooked by the woods at night, but I doubt I'll ever feel comfortable going into again. I loved the characters and really felt for them, which made the story even scarier. The supernatural presence lurking in the woods, and its impact on innocent children, shattered me, in a good way. I can't wait for the next book in this series.
Merged review:
This book terrified me. I've always been spooked by the woods at night, but I doubt I'll ever feel comfortable going into again. I loved the characters and really felt for them, which made the story even scarier. The supernatural presence lurking in the woods, and its impact on innocent children, shattered me, in a good way. I can't wait for the next book in this series.
September 3, 2021
Scariest book I’ve read in years . So superbly detailed I wanted to close my eyes a few times ( but just couldn’t ). Kept me up reading until late at night and then of course had to sleep with a nightlight ! It’s one of those books when you read the last sentence you are filled with grief because it’s over. I can still see the characters when I close my eyes . Beautifully written , flawlessly executed and terrifying !!!! I’ll be sleeping with my light on , my husband off his CPAP machine so he can hear the sounds of the night ,and spooning my big dog for many nights to come. Bravo ! P.S. Sort of wishing we didn’t live on the woods.
March 8, 2023
I try not to rate books 1 star because somebody worked hard on this and is proud of it but this was a tough one it was overly written and all over the place. Plus it was like every other chapter someone was jerking themselves. It was just bad all around.
November 30, 2022
Got to page 35 and chucked it in the bin. Do not waste your time and money. This is pure and utter garbage.
November 22, 2022
The Little Woods, debut novel of A.G Mock and book #1 of the New Apocrypha trilogy, is a horror coming of age story told in two timelines. In 1977 a group of boys engage in a rite of passage in the dark Pennsylvania woods but their childhood game goes terribly wrong; almost 20 years later two brothers, still haunted by those horrible events, reunite to process and face the nightmare of their past, with the help of a psychic intuitive. But it seems the nightmare is not over yet...
With this very interesting, despite not too original premise, I was very excited to read The Little Woods, as it seemed exactly my cup of tea: I really enjoyed its setting and the vivid description of the haunting woods, as well as excitement and energy of the children, eager for an adventure and so curious about the world.
I did however struggle a bit at the beginning of the story to connect with the writing style: the prose is beautiful but sometimes too heavy in adverbs and adjectives (for my taste!), which unfortunately made me disconnect from the story as a reader and re-connect in editor mode. However this only happened in the first half of the book: during the second half, I was more immersed in the story and truly felt for the two brothers and their unique bond. The final chapters and cliffhanger were well executed and made me excited again for book #2 "Shadow Watchers".
Overall a very good book that could have benefitted of a heavier editing, but that I still enjoyed.
Solid 3.5 stars.
* I'd like to thank A.G. Mock for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
With this very interesting, despite not too original premise, I was very excited to read The Little Woods, as it seemed exactly my cup of tea: I really enjoyed its setting and the vivid description of the haunting woods, as well as excitement and energy of the children, eager for an adventure and so curious about the world.
I did however struggle a bit at the beginning of the story to connect with the writing style: the prose is beautiful but sometimes too heavy in adverbs and adjectives (for my taste!), which unfortunately made me disconnect from the story as a reader and re-connect in editor mode. However this only happened in the first half of the book: during the second half, I was more immersed in the story and truly felt for the two brothers and their unique bond. The final chapters and cliffhanger were well executed and made me excited again for book #2 "Shadow Watchers".
Overall a very good book that could have benefitted of a heavier editing, but that I still enjoyed.
Solid 3.5 stars.
* I'd like to thank A.G. Mock for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
October 11, 2021
Wow, where to begin with this one? Nine boys go into the woods to play, but only eight come out. Thus is kicked off a story spanning twenty years, encompassing nightmares, violence, the bond of brotherhood, coming of age vibes, sacrifice, and a deeply sinister evil which uses the lives of these young boys/men to kick off what just might be the end of days.
Ian and Bryan are brothers who lived through that fateful day in 1977 when something awful took over a number of their friends and made them do the unthinkable. A series of events in 1995 draw them back together as the evil they thought they'd put to rest long ago proves that it's still very much alive and well...and one more sacrifice is needed.
My one complaint is that there are a LOT of scenes reliving the day that started it all. In dreams and flashbacks we see the same scene over and over from different viewpoints, until the repetetiveness became rather tedious and I found myself skimming those passages. This is the only thing keeping the book from rating five stars for me.
Taking Biblical prophecy and turning it into horror, this story feels very Stephen-King's-IT meets-Good-Omens-except-without-the-humor.
The book is packed full of interesting characters who find themselves in an unimaginable situation, facing down evil and also examining the darkness within themselves.
This book is the first in a series and I have the feeling the story is about to get even bigger, even more diabolical in the subsequent books.
I really can't wait to see where the series goes from here.
Ian and Bryan are brothers who lived through that fateful day in 1977 when something awful took over a number of their friends and made them do the unthinkable. A series of events in 1995 draw them back together as the evil they thought they'd put to rest long ago proves that it's still very much alive and well...and one more sacrifice is needed.
My one complaint is that there are a LOT of scenes reliving the day that started it all. In dreams and flashbacks we see the same scene over and over from different viewpoints, until the repetetiveness became rather tedious and I found myself skimming those passages. This is the only thing keeping the book from rating five stars for me.
Taking Biblical prophecy and turning it into horror, this story feels very Stephen-King's-IT meets-Good-Omens-except-without-the-humor.
The book is packed full of interesting characters who find themselves in an unimaginable situation, facing down evil and also examining the darkness within themselves.
This book is the first in a series and I have the feeling the story is about to get even bigger, even more diabolical in the subsequent books.
I really can't wait to see where the series goes from here.
did-not-finish
June 7, 2021I received my copy of this book via Goodreads giveaway which has no bearing on my review.
At almost 200 pages in, I'm going to have to admit I am not enjoying this book at all. When you spend more time concentrating on how the book could have been better edited instead of enjoying it for what it is, it's time to call it quits. The only reason I would have to finish the book at this point is to shit all over it in a review.
That said, you can tell King is a major influence on the author. I caught vibes from 3 different works, so if you're a King fan, you might be interested. The relationships between the boys feel pretty authentic. Like King's works, there's a lot of wordiness here. Unfortunately, it comes across more as rambling than storytelling. It felt like the word count was being padded instead of a story being told, and there were some curious adjectives being used often (I think I previously read the word "binaural" once in my 48 years of reading life, and that was in a car stereo magazine in the 1970s. Here, I was treated to it 3 times in the first 77 pages.) The tale is also littered with adverbs. Overall, the lack of editing distracted from the story for me to the point where I don't care about the characters or what is happening.
DNFed at page 190.
At almost 200 pages in, I'm going to have to admit I am not enjoying this book at all. When you spend more time concentrating on how the book could have been better edited instead of enjoying it for what it is, it's time to call it quits. The only reason I would have to finish the book at this point is to shit all over it in a review.
That said, you can tell King is a major influence on the author. I caught vibes from 3 different works, so if you're a King fan, you might be interested. The relationships between the boys feel pretty authentic. Like King's works, there's a lot of wordiness here. Unfortunately, it comes across more as rambling than storytelling. It felt like the word count was being padded instead of a story being told, and there were some curious adjectives being used often (I think I previously read the word "binaural" once in my 48 years of reading life, and that was in a car stereo magazine in the 1970s. Here, I was treated to it 3 times in the first 77 pages.) The tale is also littered with adverbs. Overall, the lack of editing distracted from the story for me to the point where I don't care about the characters or what is happening.
DNFed at page 190.
April 25, 2021
The Little Woods (The New Apocrypha Book 1), is the debut novel by A. G. Mock and I was lucky to be gifted a copy for review. On the last day of school in 1977 a group of boys gather to play a game of War in the woods. But an unforeseen horror will turn this into a game that will traumatize two brothers and leave scars that will linger for decades. The book is told in the dual time periods of 1977 and 1995
as the two brothers reunite and are bonded together by the terror they experienced on that long ago afternoon. I loved that this was not just a regular horror novel. It’s a horror novel masquerading as a coming of age story and a really effective one at that. Mock’s descriptive writing style is wonderful and he creates a nostalgic feeling that transports the reader back to the simplicity of childhood. But don’t worry, this is a horror novel complete with demons and gore and phenomenal terror. It delivers true scares and kept me up way too late reading even as I was looking around every corner of the room. I am so happy it is a planned trilogy so I can spend further time in this world and with these characters that Mock has created. A spooky and emotional read.
as the two brothers reunite and are bonded together by the terror they experienced on that long ago afternoon. I loved that this was not just a regular horror novel. It’s a horror novel masquerading as a coming of age story and a really effective one at that. Mock’s descriptive writing style is wonderful and he creates a nostalgic feeling that transports the reader back to the simplicity of childhood. But don’t worry, this is a horror novel complete with demons and gore and phenomenal terror. It delivers true scares and kept me up way too late reading even as I was looking around every corner of the room. I am so happy it is a planned trilogy so I can spend further time in this world and with these characters that Mock has created. A spooky and emotional read.
April 21, 2023
Definitely one of the best books I have ever read. It kept me on the edge of my seat from the get go. I was so immersed in each character that I felt I was living each characters life. The story sucks you in and doesn't let go. It takes you places you never thought truly existed, yet they do and that's the scariest thing about this book. These young boy's experience a friendship but a horror only they share. A horror so frightening it changed them forever because most of them never survived The Little Woods; yet unknowingly, they are forever a part of it. A horror nipping at the minds of two brothers as they grow into adults. A horror they didn't realize was imbedded into their very souls which effected them in unimaginable ways that it leaves them spinning from their sanity! And once again, The Little Woods claims another victim. But this time, that very death saved another child, the next generation where the Woods have cursed the child unbeknownst to everyone; or so they thought as the ending will leave you gobsmacked and nearly breathless!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 13, 2021
Thank you to AG Mock for sending me a copy of his book The Little Woods for an honest review.
This was a terrific coming of age horror story that had me flying through the pages!
The descriptions in each scene were so vivid and creepy! This story had me hooked from the start.
AG Mock’s writing is spectacular! I absolutely loved his writing style. Also loved the dual timelines! You would never guess that this is his debut novel.
I will never see the woods the same ever again! And I definitely won’t be going in the woods any time soon!
Highly recommend this book. You won’t be disappointed. I can’t wait for book 2!!
This was a terrific coming of age horror story that had me flying through the pages!
The descriptions in each scene were so vivid and creepy! This story had me hooked from the start.
AG Mock’s writing is spectacular! I absolutely loved his writing style. Also loved the dual timelines! You would never guess that this is his debut novel.
I will never see the woods the same ever again! And I definitely won’t be going in the woods any time soon!
Highly recommend this book. You won’t be disappointed. I can’t wait for book 2!!
September 9, 2022
I finished this book 2 days ago and I can’t stop thinking about it! I loved it! There were a few times I almost, ALMOST threw my Kindle across the room due to getting spooked. I read at night in bed (no lights) when all are asleep and everything is quiet. I look forward to reading book 2! I can see this easily becoming a movie. Great story line with plenty of shock value and twists and turns.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️’s for me! Excellent page turner! I don’t want to give anything away, so I won’t say much about the contents. It’s both horror and psychological thriller with a doomsday touch to it. I recommend this book if you like these things!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️’s for me! Excellent page turner! I don’t want to give anything away, so I won’t say much about the contents. It’s both horror and psychological thriller with a doomsday touch to it. I recommend this book if you like these things!
April 12, 2021
A. G. Mock draws you into his writing with fantastically frightening and horrid scenes. His words pull on all of your senses, plunging you into the dark reality of his story. The end of the book draws many of the pieces together, tying in references to ancient texts, but leaving enough open for the next book.
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