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Whisperwood
A journey into the wild woods with a character who just needs a break—and the terrible things that stare back at her.
When curious nomad Anna hears about Whisperwood, a town that’s not on any maps, that nobody goes to, and nobody comes from, she sees an opportunity to hide from her violent witch-hunting ex.
But not everything is peaceful in the isolated community. A vanishing town, a gruesome funeral rite, an emergency field surgery—these surprises and more test Anna's resolve.
Prevented from leaving the frontier settlement by folk magic she doesn’t understand, Anna lends helping hands everywhere she can, but quickly finds that investigating the forest too closely could end up being the last thing she does.
FLAME TREE PRESS is the imprint of long-standing independent Flame Tree Publishing, dedicated to full-length original fiction in the horror and suspense, science fiction & fantasy, and crime / mystery / thriller categories. The list brings together fantastic new authors and the more established; the award winners, and exciting, original voices. Learn more about Flame Tree Press at www.flametreepress.com and connect on social media @FlameTreePress
When curious nomad Anna hears about Whisperwood, a town that’s not on any maps, that nobody goes to, and nobody comes from, she sees an opportunity to hide from her violent witch-hunting ex.
But not everything is peaceful in the isolated community. A vanishing town, a gruesome funeral rite, an emergency field surgery—these surprises and more test Anna's resolve.
Prevented from leaving the frontier settlement by folk magic she doesn’t understand, Anna lends helping hands everywhere she can, but quickly finds that investigating the forest too closely could end up being the last thing she does.
FLAME TREE PRESS is the imprint of long-standing independent Flame Tree Publishing, dedicated to full-length original fiction in the horror and suspense, science fiction & fantasy, and crime / mystery / thriller categories. The list brings together fantastic new authors and the more established; the award winners, and exciting, original voices. Learn more about Flame Tree Press at www.flametreepress.com and connect on social media @FlameTreePress
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 11, 2023
26 people are currently reading
987 people want to read
About the author
Alex Woodroe
36 books102 followersRomanian writer and editor of dark speculative fiction. Editor-in-chief of Tenebrous Press and writer of WHISPERWOOD, THE NIGHT SHIP, and TATRATEA, as well as short stories and articles.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 157 reviews
July 29, 2023
Fast-paced. Creepy. Enchanting.
And did you see that cover?! So pretty. 💖
I would classify Whisperwood as haunted-forest historical horror. In a sense, it is unlike any other horror books I've read, in terms of the time period and settings. Another positive note is the amount of strong and admirable women in this story.Just really too bad that none of them were gay for one another... 🤐
I did find the middle part to drag a bit though, to be honest.
But all in all? Great fun, I'll keep an eye out for future books by Alex Woodroe.
And did you see that cover?! So pretty. 💖
I would classify Whisperwood as haunted-forest historical horror. In a sense, it is unlike any other horror books I've read, in terms of the time period and settings. Another positive note is the amount of strong and admirable women in this story.
I did find the middle part to drag a bit though, to be honest.
But all in all? Great fun, I'll keep an eye out for future books by Alex Woodroe.
March 18, 2023
I don't usually dip my toes in fantasy but, every once in a while, a book comes along that piques my interest and this book is one of them.
This is a dark fantasy with several horror elements that made it unique and highly engaging. Whisperwood is a town with secrets. Nobody ever wanders in and those who dare cannot leave if they stay past sundown.
Anna is a young woman who is escaping a horrifying situation. She was kept in a cellar and tortured by a psychopath who she thought she loved and trusted. She was shunned by family and friends in her former village, being accused of witchcraft.
She winds up in Whisperwood to try and escape those horrors, completely unaware that the things in this village are much more terrifying than she could imagine.
Throughout this novel we'll meet the townsfolk, learn what secrets abound there, and get an up close look at the creatures from another realm who are at war with the humans here. As Anna tries to understand her new life and home, it soon becomes apparent that there are other forces at work behind the scenes (both human and supernatural) and she might have jumped out of the frying pan into the fire.
Filled with frightening creatures, plenty of action, and often bloody set pieces, Whisperwood is a fantastic dark fantasy that will keep you reading. The world building is excellent and you'll love the characters (maybe even wind up hating some). It's an excellent example of mixing fantasy with horror and I recommend it.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is a dark fantasy with several horror elements that made it unique and highly engaging. Whisperwood is a town with secrets. Nobody ever wanders in and those who dare cannot leave if they stay past sundown.
Anna is a young woman who is escaping a horrifying situation. She was kept in a cellar and tortured by a psychopath who she thought she loved and trusted. She was shunned by family and friends in her former village, being accused of witchcraft.
She winds up in Whisperwood to try and escape those horrors, completely unaware that the things in this village are much more terrifying than she could imagine.
Throughout this novel we'll meet the townsfolk, learn what secrets abound there, and get an up close look at the creatures from another realm who are at war with the humans here. As Anna tries to understand her new life and home, it soon becomes apparent that there are other forces at work behind the scenes (both human and supernatural) and she might have jumped out of the frying pan into the fire.
Filled with frightening creatures, plenty of action, and often bloody set pieces, Whisperwood is a fantastic dark fantasy that will keep you reading. The world building is excellent and you'll love the characters (maybe even wind up hating some). It's an excellent example of mixing fantasy with horror and I recommend it.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 10, 2023
Interesting folk horror. I loved the Romanian monsters and the creepy forest. The main heroine was easy to root for, although the side characters were a bit thin.
May 20, 2023
Wow! I can’t believe this was a debut novel.
It was fairly creepy, and really fascinating. The characters were Ok, Anna felt a bit static, and not as passionate as you’d expect about her journey. A majority of other characters weren’t as well developed as they could be.
The steam of the story kind of ran out towards the end, maybe a shorter story would’ve been more effective.
I’d like to see more folk horror from this writer in the future!
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, & Flame Tree Press for a copy.
It was fairly creepy, and really fascinating. The characters were Ok, Anna felt a bit static, and not as passionate as you’d expect about her journey. A majority of other characters weren’t as well developed as they could be.
The steam of the story kind of ran out towards the end, maybe a shorter story would’ve been more effective.
I’d like to see more folk horror from this writer in the future!
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, & Flame Tree Press for a copy.
Read
May 31, 2023Tapping out at 50%.
Things I liked - I was very curious about Whisperwood and what was going on, but even at 50% there's not much going on. The setting was ominous and I wanted to root for our MC.
Things I didn't like - 100% on me, but I didn't realize how much of this was a period piece and I reaaaallly struggle with old-timey dialogue which this contains in large amounts. And, as I said, with so much promise, I just wasn't hooked in.
The writing is solid and there's great potential here, just not the book for this reader.
Things I liked - I was very curious about Whisperwood and what was going on, but even at 50% there's not much going on. The setting was ominous and I wanted to root for our MC.
Things I didn't like - 100% on me, but I didn't realize how much of this was a period piece and I reaaaallly struggle with old-timey dialogue which this contains in large amounts. And, as I said, with so much promise, I just wasn't hooked in.
The writing is solid and there's great potential here, just not the book for this reader.
August 8, 2023
Whisperwood is a town with many secrets. This is a dark fantasy well sprinkled with horror. Nobody can just wander in and nobody can leave after sundown. The villagers cannot leave and many have tried. The main character Anna is running after a traumatic experience in her young life. Shunned by her family and friends, not believed and accused of witchcraft.
All she wants is a quiet life where nobody knows her and she thinks Whisperwood will be the ideal place. Little does she realise that there are things in this village that are more terrifying than she could ever imagine. Filled with other worldly creatures, plenty of spine tingling action with great characters and impressive world building. Fantasy and horror welcome to Whisperwood if you dare!!!!!
Thanks to Netgalley for the Arc.
All she wants is a quiet life where nobody knows her and she thinks Whisperwood will be the ideal place. Little does she realise that there are things in this village that are more terrifying than she could ever imagine. Filled with other worldly creatures, plenty of spine tingling action with great characters and impressive world building. Fantasy and horror welcome to Whisperwood if you dare!!!!!
Thanks to Netgalley for the Arc.
July 12, 2023
A really great take on a dark fantasy period piece mixed with a bit of horror. This was my first book by this author and will not be my last.
I enjoyed the small town with secrets atmosphere, the creepy creatures, and the atmospheric horror created.
TYSM for letting me be an ARC reader for this one!
I enjoyed the small town with secrets atmosphere, the creepy creatures, and the atmospheric horror created.
TYSM for letting me be an ARC reader for this one!
Read
July 11, 2023An enchanting folk-horror/fantasy, WHISPERWOOD is a fresh, richly imaginative fable filled with flawed people and ominous creatures, but it holds empathy, humanity, and respect for them all. Alex Woodroe has conjured up a magical place brimming with Darkness & Light, but most of all, Hope.
October 2, 2024
Whisperwood
Me sorprendió. Me gusto mucho el mundo que creo la autora con lo del pueblo fronterizo, y el otro mundo. Si al principio el secretismo y misterio, igual que a la protagonista me hacia exasperarme, pero conforme vas aprendiendo que ocurre, por que hacen ciertas cosas, se va develando una historia muy bella y compleja, salpicada de misticismo y tradición, con esa aura de peligro.
Eso si cuando descubre que es lo que hay en la “torre”, si es de “malditos humanos” y todavía se quejan y busca echar culpas.
Y toda la aventura en el otro mundo, como odie cuando el herrero…
LA verdad no sabia nada del libro y cuando comencé parecía así como que medio meh, pero conforme leía más, no podía parar. Una grata sorpresa.
5 stars
Me sorprendió. Me gusto mucho el mundo que creo la autora con lo del pueblo fronterizo, y el otro mundo. Si al principio el secretismo y misterio, igual que a la protagonista me hacia exasperarme, pero conforme vas aprendiendo que ocurre, por que hacen ciertas cosas, se va develando una historia muy bella y compleja, salpicada de misticismo y tradición, con esa aura de peligro.
Eso si cuando descubre que es lo que hay en la “torre”, si es de “malditos humanos” y todavía se quejan y busca echar culpas.
Y toda la aventura en el otro mundo, como odie cuando el herrero…
LA verdad no sabia nada del libro y cuando comencé parecía así como que medio meh, pero conforme leía más, no podía parar. Una grata sorpresa.
5 stars
July 25, 2023
***I thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced reader copy of this book in return for an honest review***
Welp! It’s not even autumn, yet I am eating up horror books right now and enjoying myself.
Whisperwood was—I don’t know how to put it—weird? In a very good way actually.
The main character, Anna, didn’t quite develop over the plot-line but the story was well-driven and well-written overall. Whisperwood is a town of secrets, and secrets lead to ill fates. There was this subtle gothicness to the atmosphere that I really liked, blending in folklore and fairy tales.
The book definitely succeeded in the horror and thriller part. Adding to that, the fantasy and world-building was amazing! I also loved the supernatural concept <3
It was fun to read this and, I’ll say this again, support + read small authors! Hoping to read more of Alex Woodroe soon again!
Rounding up, it’s 3.75.
★ ★ ★ ★/5
Would recommend it to anyone who wants to dip into creepy vibes ;)
⊹ . ⋆ ☽ ⋆ . ➶
Welp! It’s not even autumn, yet I am eating up horror books right now and enjoying myself.
Whisperwood was—I don’t know how to put it—weird? In a very good way actually.
The main character, Anna, didn’t quite develop over the plot-line but the story was well-driven and well-written overall. Whisperwood is a town of secrets, and secrets lead to ill fates. There was this subtle gothicness to the atmosphere that I really liked, blending in folklore and fairy tales.
The book definitely succeeded in the horror and thriller part. Adding to that, the fantasy and world-building was amazing! I also loved the supernatural concept <3
It was fun to read this and, I’ll say this again, support + read small authors! Hoping to read more of Alex Woodroe soon again!
Rounding up, it’s 3.75.
★ ★ ★ ★/5
Would recommend it to anyone who wants to dip into creepy vibes ;)
⊹ . ⋆ ☽ ⋆ . ➶
July 12, 2023
Whisperwood is the debut novel from Alex Woodrow.
It tells the story of Anna, a woman who in a bid to outrun her traumatic past runs to the arse end of the arse end of anywhere civilised.
In a bid to find somewhere to belong, she travels to the forbidding village of Whisperwood. A village that holds dark secrets and is ruled by superstition.
As soon as she enters the village, she comes across the unwelcoming villagers. Electing to stay overnight, she finds herself haunted by the evil of her past. However, it soon becomes clear that she cannot leave. Trapped, she attempts to find her place in the village. Soon she begins to uncover the strange occurrences as inexplicable events lead her to find the truth of the Whispers that live in the dark forest that surrounds Whisperwood.
Whisperwood is a strange beast, it's kind of a mix of The Wicker Man, Annihilation and Grimm's fairytales.
In all honesty, I quite liked Whisperwood, but I did find it to be a mixed bag of a book.
As a writer, I think Alex Woodrow is really good. She brought to the table originality in spades. I loved the inclusion of Romanian folklore and the different types of creatures that inhabit the world. She brings them to life so well.
Throughout the book, Alex Woodrow peppers the book with some fantastic bits of prose, like this one when she is describing the essence of what the Whispers are
Whispers come and look for the angry bits of soul left in the body. They draw them out and make Pricolici. Whether moving or still, they are made of unfinished tasks. They alter the natural order of the world.”
The characters in the book are gnerally good especially Anna. However, I think it is the side characters of the story that, for me, hampered the tale that Alex Woodrow was weaving. I just felt there were too many of them and none really stood out against the tide, except for the most unlikeliest character, the matriarchal Mrs Crosman, who rules the village with a heavy dose of steel and vitriol.
However, that aside, I really liked the character of Anna. She's snarky, pragmatic and incredibly strong. In addition to that, despite what she has gone through, she has a willingness to trust, and you can see that she just wants to belong. Although, why she wants to belong in Whisperwood is a bit beyond me, they are certainly not the friendliest of bunches.
The book is strongest when the descriptions of the creatures come to the fore, especially when we enter the third act of the book. This is when Anna and a party of villagers enter the forest in order to find a list member of Whisperwood. For me, the book comes alive in this third act and that is when the magic of the story fizzes off the page. The forest around Whisperwood is alive and dangerous, and Alice Woodroe convincingly brings the weird and wonderful beings alive.
Whisperwood is a strong debut that makes me want to read more from Alex Woodroe, and I definitely cannot wait to see what she brings in the future, and I hope it revolves around the Romanian folklore which was captivating.
It tells the story of Anna, a woman who in a bid to outrun her traumatic past runs to the arse end of the arse end of anywhere civilised.
In a bid to find somewhere to belong, she travels to the forbidding village of Whisperwood. A village that holds dark secrets and is ruled by superstition.
As soon as she enters the village, she comes across the unwelcoming villagers. Electing to stay overnight, she finds herself haunted by the evil of her past. However, it soon becomes clear that she cannot leave. Trapped, she attempts to find her place in the village. Soon she begins to uncover the strange occurrences as inexplicable events lead her to find the truth of the Whispers that live in the dark forest that surrounds Whisperwood.
Whisperwood is a strange beast, it's kind of a mix of The Wicker Man, Annihilation and Grimm's fairytales.
In all honesty, I quite liked Whisperwood, but I did find it to be a mixed bag of a book.
As a writer, I think Alex Woodrow is really good. She brought to the table originality in spades. I loved the inclusion of Romanian folklore and the different types of creatures that inhabit the world. She brings them to life so well.
Throughout the book, Alex Woodrow peppers the book with some fantastic bits of prose, like this one when she is describing the essence of what the Whispers are
Whispers come and look for the angry bits of soul left in the body. They draw them out and make Pricolici. Whether moving or still, they are made of unfinished tasks. They alter the natural order of the world.”
The characters in the book are gnerally good especially Anna. However, I think it is the side characters of the story that, for me, hampered the tale that Alex Woodrow was weaving. I just felt there were too many of them and none really stood out against the tide, except for the most unlikeliest character, the matriarchal Mrs Crosman, who rules the village with a heavy dose of steel and vitriol.
However, that aside, I really liked the character of Anna. She's snarky, pragmatic and incredibly strong. In addition to that, despite what she has gone through, she has a willingness to trust, and you can see that she just wants to belong. Although, why she wants to belong in Whisperwood is a bit beyond me, they are certainly not the friendliest of bunches.
The book is strongest when the descriptions of the creatures come to the fore, especially when we enter the third act of the book. This is when Anna and a party of villagers enter the forest in order to find a list member of Whisperwood. For me, the book comes alive in this third act and that is when the magic of the story fizzes off the page. The forest around Whisperwood is alive and dangerous, and Alice Woodroe convincingly brings the weird and wonderful beings alive.
Whisperwood is a strong debut that makes me want to read more from Alex Woodroe, and I definitely cannot wait to see what she brings in the future, and I hope it revolves around the Romanian folklore which was captivating.
July 12, 2023
*I received a free copy of this book, with thanks to the author, Flame Tree Press and Anne Cater of Random Things Blog Tours. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*
This is a compelling dark fantasy-horror which blends folklore and fairy tale with the darkness inside human hearts – witch hunts, mob rule and the things we do to save ourselves when the monsters come for us.
Anna, the main character, is running from trauma in her past but finds herself in even more danger instead of the isolated village sanctuary she had hoped for. This leads to three main plot strands: the threat of an increasingly violent incursion of the paranormal into the everyday world of the story, involving some fascinatingly original worldbuilding of Whispers and Tides; the ‘real world’ violence of mob mentality and witch hunts and the impact of an outsider in a closed community at a time of turmoil (think The Wicker Man or Midsommar folk-horror); and the flashbacks to Anna’s past and the mystery of what led her to her current situation.
These threads weave in and out of each other, forming a complex and immersive story. There were a few moments when I found myself a little confused, as the author doesn’t lead the reader through the story answering every question but instead allows us to wander through the woods and people with Anna, only understanding as far as she can see. Which I didn’t find a problem, as I found Anna a very engaging main character, and loved seeing the bonds she made with different individuals and her relatable struggle to hold onto her morality and hope in the face of death, violence and betrayal.
There are some shocking and gory moments peppered throughout the action, including amputations and eviscerations, so this isn’t a book for the squeamish… like the old, classic fairy tales it is ‘red in tooth and claw’ and echoes the usual warnings about straying from the path, the shadows that haunt the night, and the dangers of wild animals and wild woodlands. But that is not to say any of the story is predictable – on the contrary, there are a couple of great twists that I didn’t see coming at all and thoroughly enjoyed.
Fans of dark fantasy and monster horror (the natural, the supernatural and the human kind) will enjoy this haunting foray into the Unknown and Unspoken as much as I did. By the end of the story, I really didn’t want to leave Anna or Whisperwood and I would definitely read more from this world and its characters, and from this author, in future.
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
This is a compelling dark fantasy-horror which blends folklore and fairy tale with the darkness inside human hearts – witch hunts, mob rule and the things we do to save ourselves when the monsters come for us.
Anna, the main character, is running from trauma in her past but finds herself in even more danger instead of the isolated village sanctuary she had hoped for. This leads to three main plot strands: the threat of an increasingly violent incursion of the paranormal into the everyday world of the story, involving some fascinatingly original worldbuilding of Whispers and Tides; the ‘real world’ violence of mob mentality and witch hunts and the impact of an outsider in a closed community at a time of turmoil (think The Wicker Man or Midsommar folk-horror); and the flashbacks to Anna’s past and the mystery of what led her to her current situation.
These threads weave in and out of each other, forming a complex and immersive story. There were a few moments when I found myself a little confused, as the author doesn’t lead the reader through the story answering every question but instead allows us to wander through the woods and people with Anna, only understanding as far as she can see. Which I didn’t find a problem, as I found Anna a very engaging main character, and loved seeing the bonds she made with different individuals and her relatable struggle to hold onto her morality and hope in the face of death, violence and betrayal.
There are some shocking and gory moments peppered throughout the action, including amputations and eviscerations, so this isn’t a book for the squeamish… like the old, classic fairy tales it is ‘red in tooth and claw’ and echoes the usual warnings about straying from the path, the shadows that haunt the night, and the dangers of wild animals and wild woodlands. But that is not to say any of the story is predictable – on the contrary, there are a couple of great twists that I didn’t see coming at all and thoroughly enjoyed.
Fans of dark fantasy and monster horror (the natural, the supernatural and the human kind) will enjoy this haunting foray into the Unknown and Unspoken as much as I did. By the end of the story, I really didn’t want to leave Anna or Whisperwood and I would definitely read more from this world and its characters, and from this author, in future.
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
June 3, 2023
Thank you NetGallery for providing me with a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Let's start with the good things, of which there are, unfortunately, very few:
The Setting.
The overall premise of this book is very intriguing -- a small town in the middle of nowhere that shares a border with a forest full of malevolent creatures? Count me in. I have always loved supernatural horror and loved stories about small desolate towns plagued with some sort of evil, there is just something so special about settings like that, and Whisperwood is a town that checks both those requirements.
Descriptions of the Whispers.
I found the Whispers (monsters) in this book rather imaginative and the descriptions of them have, though not always, helped me to picture them in detail. This is something that I always appreciate when it comes to creatures that are unique to the story and therefore the readers have no real point of reference when it comes to their looks. I especially enjoyed the Pricolici.
This, unfortunately, is where the good things about this bookend for me. I was very excited to read it when I requested an ARC, and I think that this is where the problems started -- it was promoted to me as "a must-read for fans of The Witcher", which is my favourite book series of all time, but there is absolutely nothing that resembles Sapkowski's world in this book. Many other books involve monsters from a different world, and The Witcher is not a good example to use in the promotion of Whisperwood. I hope the promotional team changes that, as I'm sure, I'm not the only one who will eventually feel misled. If anything, this book feels much closer to "For the Wolf" by Hannah Whitten, and I'm pretty sure that the author drew at the very least some inspiration from it.
Now, let's look at the cons of this book a little more closely:
Pacing.
This is one of the biggest, if not THE biggest, flaws of this book. It just feels incredibly rushed and underworked. Everything happens way too fast, literally throughout a couple of days, and because of that, the story feels both overwhelming and empty, not to mention that people don't become the best of friends in about three hours. The pacing of this story, unfortunately, bothered me the entire time I was reading it, and because everything happened so quickly, I felt no attachement to any of the characters in this story.
Writing.
From the first chapter, I have found the writing style very dry and rushed. There are little to no descriptions in this story (other than the Whispers), and it's mostly built in an "I did this, and then I did then and also this other thing" manner, which only added to the problems with the pacing. There's also a lot of dialogue in this book, but it rarely comes with descriptions of the character's expressions, tone of voice or gestures.
Relationships.
As I have mentioned before, everything just happens way too fast. Anna meets the main cast of characters on her second (I believe) day, and 24 hours later, they are best friends. She even mentions that she might be falling for one of the other characters when they have spent a grand total of three to four hours together. This kept pulling me out of the story due to how unrealistic it is, and the reader doesn't have any time to make up their mind about one character or the next.
The main character just knows everything.
And once again, the pacing is making all other aspects of the story much worse than they could have been. Anna comes to Whisperwood knowing nothing, talks to a couple of people reads books for one night, and suddenly, she knows more than the people that have lived in the town all their lives. I understand that the plot needs to move somehow but if the author had only decided to make her stay last for at least a few weeks, it would've solved so many problems.
Main character's past and conflict.
This, to me, was probably the most useless part of the story. We are told from the beginning that Anna was deemed a witch by her ex-husband or partner, and that he's tortured her, but why? her entire family turned away from her but why? Because he told them? That's one shitty family if you ask me. This plotline is only needed so that the author can justify Anna being a Walker, which requires dying and them coming back to life, but there are so, so many other ways to achieve that without the weird witch-hunting trials subplot. It irked me throughout the entire book.
The plot twist.
Finally, I had a huge problem with the plot twist. And the reason is very simple -- it's not hinted upon, not teased, it is said out loud by one of the characters and then confirmed a couple of chapters later. I feel like the author had more than enough freedom to drop hints about it before the actual reveal, and I'm severely disappointed that they didn't.
Overall, I in all honesty think this book isn't ready to be published yet. There is so much room for improvement, and what I've read feels like the first or maybe the second draft. I wish the author all the best in their career, and if they're reading this, I hope that they are not upset with my review, I've tried my best to lay out my thoughts in a constructive manner.
Once again, thank you to NetGallery, the publisher, and the author. These thoughts are completely my own and uninfluenced.
Let's start with the good things, of which there are, unfortunately, very few:
The Setting.
The overall premise of this book is very intriguing -- a small town in the middle of nowhere that shares a border with a forest full of malevolent creatures? Count me in. I have always loved supernatural horror and loved stories about small desolate towns plagued with some sort of evil, there is just something so special about settings like that, and Whisperwood is a town that checks both those requirements.
Descriptions of the Whispers.
I found the Whispers (monsters) in this book rather imaginative and the descriptions of them have, though not always, helped me to picture them in detail. This is something that I always appreciate when it comes to creatures that are unique to the story and therefore the readers have no real point of reference when it comes to their looks. I especially enjoyed the Pricolici.
This, unfortunately, is where the good things about this bookend for me. I was very excited to read it when I requested an ARC, and I think that this is where the problems started -- it was promoted to me as "a must-read for fans of The Witcher", which is my favourite book series of all time, but there is absolutely nothing that resembles Sapkowski's world in this book. Many other books involve monsters from a different world, and The Witcher is not a good example to use in the promotion of Whisperwood. I hope the promotional team changes that, as I'm sure, I'm not the only one who will eventually feel misled. If anything, this book feels much closer to "For the Wolf" by Hannah Whitten, and I'm pretty sure that the author drew at the very least some inspiration from it.
Now, let's look at the cons of this book a little more closely:
Pacing.
This is one of the biggest, if not THE biggest, flaws of this book. It just feels incredibly rushed and underworked. Everything happens way too fast, literally throughout a couple of days, and because of that, the story feels both overwhelming and empty, not to mention that people don't become the best of friends in about three hours. The pacing of this story, unfortunately, bothered me the entire time I was reading it, and because everything happened so quickly, I felt no attachement to any of the characters in this story.
Writing.
From the first chapter, I have found the writing style very dry and rushed. There are little to no descriptions in this story (other than the Whispers), and it's mostly built in an "I did this, and then I did then and also this other thing" manner, which only added to the problems with the pacing. There's also a lot of dialogue in this book, but it rarely comes with descriptions of the character's expressions, tone of voice or gestures.
Relationships.
As I have mentioned before, everything just happens way too fast. Anna meets the main cast of characters on her second (I believe) day, and 24 hours later, they are best friends. She even mentions that she might be falling for one of the other characters when they have spent a grand total of three to four hours together. This kept pulling me out of the story due to how unrealistic it is, and the reader doesn't have any time to make up their mind about one character or the next.
The main character just knows everything.
And once again, the pacing is making all other aspects of the story much worse than they could have been. Anna comes to Whisperwood knowing nothing, talks to a couple of people reads books for one night, and suddenly, she knows more than the people that have lived in the town all their lives. I understand that the plot needs to move somehow but if the author had only decided to make her stay last for at least a few weeks, it would've solved so many problems.
Main character's past and conflict.
This, to me, was probably the most useless part of the story. We are told from the beginning that Anna was deemed a witch by her ex-husband or partner, and that he's tortured her, but why? her entire family turned away from her but why? Because he told them? That's one shitty family if you ask me. This plotline is only needed so that the author can justify Anna being a Walker, which requires dying and them coming back to life, but there are so, so many other ways to achieve that without the weird witch-hunting trials subplot. It irked me throughout the entire book.
The plot twist.
Finally, I had a huge problem with the plot twist. And the reason is very simple -- it's not hinted upon, not teased, it is said out loud by one of the characters and then confirmed a couple of chapters later. I feel like the author had more than enough freedom to drop hints about it before the actual reveal, and I'm severely disappointed that they didn't.
Overall, I in all honesty think this book isn't ready to be published yet. There is so much room for improvement, and what I've read feels like the first or maybe the second draft. I wish the author all the best in their career, and if they're reading this, I hope that they are not upset with my review, I've tried my best to lay out my thoughts in a constructive manner.
Once again, thank you to NetGallery, the publisher, and the author. These thoughts are completely my own and uninfluenced.
July 12, 2023
This is a compelling dark fantasy-horror which blends folklore and fairy tale with the darkness inside human hearts – witch hunts, mob rule and the things we do to save ourselves when the monsters come for us.
Anna, the main character, is running from trauma in her past but finds herself in even more danger instead of the isolated village sanctuary she had hoped for. This leads to three main plot strands: the threat of an increasingly violent incursion of the paranormal into the everyday world of the story, involving some fascinatingly original worldbuilding of Whispers and Tides; the ‘real world’ violence of mob mentality and witch hunts and the impact of an outsider in a closed community at a time of turmoil (think The Wicker Man or Midsommar folk-horror); and the flashbacks to Anna’s past and the mystery of what led her to her current situation.
These threads weave in and out of each other, forming a complex and immersive story. There were a few moments when I found myself a little confused, as the author doesn’t lead the reader through the story answering every question but instead allows us to wander through the woods and people with Anna, only understanding as far as she can see. Which I didn’t find a problem, as I found Anna a very engaging main character, and loved seeing the bonds she made with different individuals and her relatable struggle to hold onto her morality and hope in the face of death, violence and betrayal.
There are some shocking and gory moments peppered throughout the action, including amputations and eviscerations, so this isn’t a book for the squeamish… like the old, classic fairy tales it is ‘red in tooth and claw’ and echoes the usual warnings about straying from the path, the shadows that haunt the night, and the dangers of wild animals and wild woodlands. But that is not to say any of the story is predictable – on the contrary, there are a couple of great twists that I didn’t see coming at all and thoroughly enjoyed.
Fans of dark fantasy and monster horror (the natural, the supernatural and the human kind) will enjoy this haunting foray into the Unknown and Unspoken as much as I did. By the end of the story, I really didn’t want to leave Anna or Whisperwood and I would definitely read more from this world and its characters, and from this author, in future.
Anna, the main character, is running from trauma in her past but finds herself in even more danger instead of the isolated village sanctuary she had hoped for. This leads to three main plot strands: the threat of an increasingly violent incursion of the paranormal into the everyday world of the story, involving some fascinatingly original worldbuilding of Whispers and Tides; the ‘real world’ violence of mob mentality and witch hunts and the impact of an outsider in a closed community at a time of turmoil (think The Wicker Man or Midsommar folk-horror); and the flashbacks to Anna’s past and the mystery of what led her to her current situation.
These threads weave in and out of each other, forming a complex and immersive story. There were a few moments when I found myself a little confused, as the author doesn’t lead the reader through the story answering every question but instead allows us to wander through the woods and people with Anna, only understanding as far as she can see. Which I didn’t find a problem, as I found Anna a very engaging main character, and loved seeing the bonds she made with different individuals and her relatable struggle to hold onto her morality and hope in the face of death, violence and betrayal.
There are some shocking and gory moments peppered throughout the action, including amputations and eviscerations, so this isn’t a book for the squeamish… like the old, classic fairy tales it is ‘red in tooth and claw’ and echoes the usual warnings about straying from the path, the shadows that haunt the night, and the dangers of wild animals and wild woodlands. But that is not to say any of the story is predictable – on the contrary, there are a couple of great twists that I didn’t see coming at all and thoroughly enjoyed.
Fans of dark fantasy and monster horror (the natural, the supernatural and the human kind) will enjoy this haunting foray into the Unknown and Unspoken as much as I did. By the end of the story, I really didn’t want to leave Anna or Whisperwood and I would definitely read more from this world and its characters, and from this author, in future.
July 3, 2023
If I were to break things down into subgenres, I would say this is somewhere between folk horror and dark fantasy. It’s also my first and only work of Romanian speculative fiction, for whatever that’s worth. Regardless, I enjoyed it quite a lot.
Anna is keeping on the move, looking to escape the traumas she has endured. (It’s not clear that anything is actually *chasing* her, but the demons we carry…) She ends up in a remote and isolated forest village. There, she learns that the village is on the edge of a forest the residents name the Unspoken, inhabited by creatures they collectively call the Whispers, and that no one ever leaves the village. There’s been a stasis between the Whispers and the villagers for a while now, but that seems to be breaking down; the Whispers have taken people, and killed people, in the past, and it looks like they might be doing so again.
What happens is a mix of horror, fantasy, and small-town power politics. Anna as an outsider with an outside perspective, is both welcomed and viewed with suspicion. As the dealings with the Whispers get more fraught and more deadly, she gets more deeply enmeshed in the town’s history and secrets.
It’s dark, and it’s well done, but it’s not perfect. I had trouble keeping most of the villagers straight, and I felt like her friends among them were too quick and too unsuspicious in their embrace of Anna. But this was a solid story and worth the reading.
My blog
Anna is keeping on the move, looking to escape the traumas she has endured. (It’s not clear that anything is actually *chasing* her, but the demons we carry…) She ends up in a remote and isolated forest village. There, she learns that the village is on the edge of a forest the residents name the Unspoken, inhabited by creatures they collectively call the Whispers, and that no one ever leaves the village. There’s been a stasis between the Whispers and the villagers for a while now, but that seems to be breaking down; the Whispers have taken people, and killed people, in the past, and it looks like they might be doing so again.
What happens is a mix of horror, fantasy, and small-town power politics. Anna as an outsider with an outside perspective, is both welcomed and viewed with suspicion. As the dealings with the Whispers get more fraught and more deadly, she gets more deeply enmeshed in the town’s history and secrets.
It’s dark, and it’s well done, but it’s not perfect. I had trouble keeping most of the villagers straight, and I felt like her friends among them were too quick and too unsuspicious in their embrace of Anna. But this was a solid story and worth the reading.
My blog
April 5, 2023
This book starts off with Anna, whose past is dark and guarded. She's running away from home and catches a ride into a town full of half-truths and secrets. Her presence is seemingly unwanted, yet once the sun sets , she can never leave...
This story was awesome, I don't want to give anything away because the best part was being swept away into this mysterious town. Just know that you won't be disappointed; the writing is detailed and imaginative and the characters are unique. There are some dark scenes in this book and the action is fast paced, suspenseful and unpredictable. This is definitely a book that will stay with me for a while, I can't wait to read more from this author.
Thanks to NetGalley and Flame Tree Press for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This story was awesome, I don't want to give anything away because the best part was being swept away into this mysterious town. Just know that you won't be disappointed; the writing is detailed and imaginative and the characters are unique. There are some dark scenes in this book and the action is fast paced, suspenseful and unpredictable. This is definitely a book that will stay with me for a while, I can't wait to read more from this author.
Thanks to NetGalley and Flame Tree Press for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
July 31, 2023
A very dark fantasy, a novel where a young girl go exploring the unknown and may she will discover that monsters exists and not everything is what it seems
Well plotted, creepy and entertaining.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
Well plotted, creepy and entertaining.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
March 30, 2023
Whisperwood was a book I was really excited to read, as the description painted a tale of folk horror, which is a subgenre I am incredibly fond of. Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy it as much as I had hoped.
It took me a while to really get into the story, partly due to how terse the descriptions were at the start. I'm someone who doesn't like needlessly descriptive text, but this was distractingly sparse when building the setting for the town of Whisperwood. Once I was fully engrossed in the story, this became a non-issue for me.
The relationships between Anna and her newfound neighbors felt a little rushed. Most of the townspeople are weary of her arrival, but she becomes very good friends with a few of them within the matter of hours it seemed. It felt a little unnatural. The dialogue between characters felt juvenile, with ill-timed quips that took me out of the book.
What really drew me into the story were the fantastical "Whispers". I assume said Whispers are from Romanian folklore. Woodroe did an excellent job of bringing these creatures to life and I could easily picture their grotesque visages. Every time the book introduced a new one, I'd rush to Google to read up on their origins. They truly fascinated me.
The biggest strength of the writing is when Woodroe focuses on the horror aspects of the story. The parts that are meant to be creepy ARE creepy. Action sequences are vividly described, right down to the details of the blood and gore. I could easily picture the entire scene playing out during these moments.
Overall, I found too many faults in "Whisperwood" to really enjoy it. The middle was engrossing, but the beginning and end were a slog for me to get through. I really wanted to like it because I love folklore and mythology, but the book just wasn't for me.
Thank you to Flame Tree Press and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
It took me a while to really get into the story, partly due to how terse the descriptions were at the start. I'm someone who doesn't like needlessly descriptive text, but this was distractingly sparse when building the setting for the town of Whisperwood. Once I was fully engrossed in the story, this became a non-issue for me.
The relationships between Anna and her newfound neighbors felt a little rushed. Most of the townspeople are weary of her arrival, but she becomes very good friends with a few of them within the matter of hours it seemed. It felt a little unnatural. The dialogue between characters felt juvenile, with ill-timed quips that took me out of the book.
What really drew me into the story were the fantastical "Whispers". I assume said Whispers are from Romanian folklore. Woodroe did an excellent job of bringing these creatures to life and I could easily picture their grotesque visages. Every time the book introduced a new one, I'd rush to Google to read up on their origins. They truly fascinated me.
The biggest strength of the writing is when Woodroe focuses on the horror aspects of the story. The parts that are meant to be creepy ARE creepy. Action sequences are vividly described, right down to the details of the blood and gore. I could easily picture the entire scene playing out during these moments.
Overall, I found too many faults in "Whisperwood" to really enjoy it. The middle was engrossing, but the beginning and end were a slog for me to get through. I really wanted to like it because I love folklore and mythology, but the book just wasn't for me.
Thank you to Flame Tree Press and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 19, 2023
From killer opening line to spectacular finish, Whisperwood is a fantastic read through and through. Every page is filled with enough atmosphere that you’ll swear you can smell the trees and glimpse the Whispers just out of sight. I loved all of Anna, her painful past, her search for a place to belong, and above all, her desire to do right and believe in the best of humanity despite having seen the worst of it.
Whisperwood is a beautiful, layered story that’ll break your heart in the gentlest way. Perfect for those who, like me, adore folklore, forest settings, and stories that aren’t afraid to shine a light on the dark while caring for its readers. Highly, highly recommend picking up a copy when it’s out (July 11, FlameTree Press)!
Thank you to FlameTree for a free advanced review copy through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
Whisperwood is a beautiful, layered story that’ll break your heart in the gentlest way. Perfect for those who, like me, adore folklore, forest settings, and stories that aren’t afraid to shine a light on the dark while caring for its readers. Highly, highly recommend picking up a copy when it’s out (July 11, FlameTree Press)!
Thank you to FlameTree for a free advanced review copy through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
September 7, 2024
I liked the atmosphere of this book and it was an interesting story. I thought a lot of the characters had potential but they either got killed before you could get to know them or just didn’t have much of a storyline.
April 4, 2023
"Whisperwood" by Alex Woodroe is an addictive and highly intriguing fantasy novel with elements of horror and folklore. This fast-paced, nail-biting read delves into a world of monsters and folkloric creatures that don't just go bump in the night, but when you least expect it.
Anna is running away from a bad situation and ends up in a small town that is stranger and perhaps more dangerous than the place she is trying to leave behind. People don't typically stay in Whisperwood, and if they do, they find themselves stuck there after sundown. Foreigners aren't exactly welcome in this town, but Anna manages to make a few friends who are willing to teach her a few tricks to survive past the night. Because the seemingly quaint town is at war with an entity far beyond anything Anna could ever imagine. Choosing to stay and fight, Anna must learn the strange folklore magic of the town and outsmart the opposing forces that seek to destroy the town and everyone in it.
Wow, wow, wow! The world-building in this story was so surreal. Whisperwood feels more like it should be a creepy, folkloric documentary rather than a work of fiction. There was so much to learn about the town and the strange system they've long adapted to (that is slowly unfurling and hurtling the residents into an age of chaos) that it's easy to get lost in the pages trying to piece together the danger that plagues the town.
Even though there was a large cast of characters, their voices and personalities were distinct, so there was never any confusion or mixups about which character had entered the scene or was being spoken of. It was also neat to learn about most of them over a span of a novel, as secondary characters tend to fade into the background. Instead, Woodroe brought each character to life, letting them own their part of the story and the dark history of Whisperwood. Getting attached to these characters was easy to do, especially with Anna who had a tragic past and ended up in another dangerous situation she couldn't easily walk away from.
"Whisperwood" was an incredible novel and I thoroughly enjoyed the Romanian folklore and beasts as well as the creepy little town of Whisperwood. The expected publication date for "Whisperwood" by Alex Woodroe is July 11th, 2023. If you enjoy stories like the fairytales from the Grimm Brothers, then add this book to your reading lists and make sure to pick it up at your local bookstore or order online to venture into the mysteries hidden in Whisperwood.
Thank you to NetGalley and Flame Tree Press for providing me with a free copy of this e-arc and the opportunity to share my honest opinion in this review.
Anna is running away from a bad situation and ends up in a small town that is stranger and perhaps more dangerous than the place she is trying to leave behind. People don't typically stay in Whisperwood, and if they do, they find themselves stuck there after sundown. Foreigners aren't exactly welcome in this town, but Anna manages to make a few friends who are willing to teach her a few tricks to survive past the night. Because the seemingly quaint town is at war with an entity far beyond anything Anna could ever imagine. Choosing to stay and fight, Anna must learn the strange folklore magic of the town and outsmart the opposing forces that seek to destroy the town and everyone in it.
Wow, wow, wow! The world-building in this story was so surreal. Whisperwood feels more like it should be a creepy, folkloric documentary rather than a work of fiction. There was so much to learn about the town and the strange system they've long adapted to (that is slowly unfurling and hurtling the residents into an age of chaos) that it's easy to get lost in the pages trying to piece together the danger that plagues the town.
Even though there was a large cast of characters, their voices and personalities were distinct, so there was never any confusion or mixups about which character had entered the scene or was being spoken of. It was also neat to learn about most of them over a span of a novel, as secondary characters tend to fade into the background. Instead, Woodroe brought each character to life, letting them own their part of the story and the dark history of Whisperwood. Getting attached to these characters was easy to do, especially with Anna who had a tragic past and ended up in another dangerous situation she couldn't easily walk away from.
"Whisperwood" was an incredible novel and I thoroughly enjoyed the Romanian folklore and beasts as well as the creepy little town of Whisperwood. The expected publication date for "Whisperwood" by Alex Woodroe is July 11th, 2023. If you enjoy stories like the fairytales from the Grimm Brothers, then add this book to your reading lists and make sure to pick it up at your local bookstore or order online to venture into the mysteries hidden in Whisperwood.
Thank you to NetGalley and Flame Tree Press for providing me with a free copy of this e-arc and the opportunity to share my honest opinion in this review.
April 30, 2023
Whisperwood started off strong: the simple writing style made it easy to read, the set-up promised a dark village shrouded in ancient mystery, and I liked that our main character Anna travelled around to collect folk stories and customs, now on her way to a town said to bar anyone from leaving.
I would've loved to follow this character on her journey, but unfortunately her interest in local customs and stories didn't seep through at all. I completely forgot that that was what she actually came to do in Whisperwood cause there was no passion or hunger for knowledge, except for that which was helpful for her current situation. A lot of the side characters kinda blurred into the background and weren't that interesting, a fact that made some scene far less impactful than they could've been.
The town and its inhabitants were eerie in the beginning, but quickly lost all creepiness. Some scenes with the incredible monsters from Romanian folklore were great, but they were too sparse to keep up the scary atmosphere. The best moment by far was the encounter with Zburătorul Zmeilor. That creature was terrifying and I loved it, and the Dochia gave me anxiety as well, but they were the only ones who really horrified me. That's just me of course, but I wish there would've been more monsters like these two.
As much as I liked the idea of the setting and the heavy incorporation of folklore, I felt like the actual plot was stretched pretty thin and kinda meandered along. I had an absolutely okay time with Whisperwood, but after the first half I found myself checking how many pages I had left.
Keeping in mind that this is a debut novel, all of these points are forgivable. I can see that Alex Woodroe has potential as a writer and I think she'll be able to write great creepy folk horror when she's polished her craft a little more. There are some really good elements in here and I hope to read another book of hers later down the line.
- ARC received from NetGalley -
I would've loved to follow this character on her journey, but unfortunately her interest in local customs and stories didn't seep through at all. I completely forgot that that was what she actually came to do in Whisperwood cause there was no passion or hunger for knowledge, except for that which was helpful for her current situation. A lot of the side characters kinda blurred into the background and weren't that interesting, a fact that made some scene far less impactful than they could've been.
The town and its inhabitants were eerie in the beginning, but quickly lost all creepiness. Some scenes with the incredible monsters from Romanian folklore were great, but they were too sparse to keep up the scary atmosphere. The best moment by far was the encounter with Zburătorul Zmeilor. That creature was terrifying and I loved it, and the Dochia gave me anxiety as well, but they were the only ones who really horrified me. That's just me of course, but I wish there would've been more monsters like these two.
As much as I liked the idea of the setting and the heavy incorporation of folklore, I felt like the actual plot was stretched pretty thin and kinda meandered along. I had an absolutely okay time with Whisperwood, but after the first half I found myself checking how many pages I had left.
Keeping in mind that this is a debut novel, all of these points are forgivable. I can see that Alex Woodroe has potential as a writer and I think she'll be able to write great creepy folk horror when she's polished her craft a little more. There are some really good elements in here and I hope to read another book of hers later down the line.
- ARC received from NetGalley -
May 1, 2023
Woodroe's prose reads like T Kingfisher's, with its lush setting seen through a dream-like gaze. The story quickly draws you slowly into a nightmare with roots in Romanian folklore, and you find yourself rooting for Anna, even as you want to follow her deeper into the woods, where the border between superstition and reality blurs. The liminal town of Whisperwood, where no one really belongs, enthralled, terrified, and kept me guessing until the unexpected ending.
March 31, 2023
In Whisperwood we follow Anna into an insular isolated village which people rarely enter and never leave and secrets abound. This is a dark fantasy folk horror story with really interesting folklore and world building. Anna making her way in this village and meeting the various people living there and exploring what is going on with this overlapping shadow realm in the forest and what lives within it and how the village has coexisted and survived along side it was really interesting.
The pacing of how the relationships between the various the characters were formed could be stronger, at times it moved quite fast, although given the nature of the town it made a certain kind of sense. Also, the pacing does slow down at certain points but I feel this works within the story giving it an otherworldly quality. Overall I really enjoyed it and would really like to read more from this author.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The pacing of how the relationships between the various the characters were formed could be stronger, at times it moved quite fast, although given the nature of the town it made a certain kind of sense. Also, the pacing does slow down at certain points but I feel this works within the story giving it an otherworldly quality. Overall I really enjoyed it and would really like to read more from this author.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 1, 2024
Alex Woodroe's Whisperwood is such a fresh take on the folk horror tale. I loved the world where this story takes place, with its eerie creatures and lovingly detailed characters. Anna has escaped her traumatic past and ended up in Whisperwood, where things are not what they seem at first. As Anna tries to make sense of this strange town and discover its secrets, she befriends a number of young people who are helping guard against creatures known as Whispers. It's here where Alex's prose really shines. You can feel the love for Romanian folklore throughout, and the encounters with the creatures are all well written, creepy, and thrilling. Anna is a wonderful, curious heroine and I enjoyed exploring Whisperwood through her eyes.
I can't wait to see what Alex writes next! This is a strong and promising debut and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I can't wait to see what Alex writes next! This is a strong and promising debut and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
July 21, 2023
There is a timeless, almost fairytale quality to the world of Whisperwood. Woodroe has weaved a rich tapestry with a mythology that lives and breathes on every page and I was instantly immersed. There are themes of found family and the power of living authentically and even some very timely critiques of humanity’s failures in honoring the natural world, but the subtext is deftly handled. We feel these things through vividly realized characters who are navigating these challenges themselves. Woodroe’s characters are all wounded in some way, and anyone who’s lived through trauma will find something relatable- and honestly endearing. What an incredible debut.
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April 4, 2023N.B I do not rate on Goodreads.
As soon as I heard about Whisperwood by Alex Woodroe I was eager to read it. I know Alex as an incredibly talented editor and a lover of all things folk horror. I have to admit, the Romanian folklore aspect was of particular appeal as I love learning about the folklore of other cultures.
The opening drew me in with its hint of backstory and had me asking lots of questions. The M.C., Anna, is flawed because of her past, a past fraught with danger which she is trying to escape. There’s an innocence to Anna, a naivete that somewhat belies her past. She is quick to trust considering her background and forms friendships easily, almost too easily at times, I felt, but that might just be the cynical side of me. Nevertheless I admired her courage and openness.
The story definitely had a timeless feel, and I was particularly drawn in by the parts involving the folkloric Whispers. The world building in Whisperwood was also excellently done and very visual. I truly felt I was right there with her. The overall sense of place was rife with mystery and unease.
As a comp, the writing and overall feel of Whisperwood reminded me of A Skinful of Shadows by Frances Hardinge which was previously shortlisted for Waterstones Book of the Year. If that’s your vibe then I highly recommend you read this one because I would classify this as folk fantasy rather than horror. Yes there are some horrific moments and I’m not a genre purist, not in the least, but that is my overall impression. Also, because many of the characters are so young and because of the fantasy elements I would say it would appeal to a YA audience as well as adult fantasy readers.
An enjoyable read.
My thanks to the author and publisher for providing an ARC of the novel.
As soon as I heard about Whisperwood by Alex Woodroe I was eager to read it. I know Alex as an incredibly talented editor and a lover of all things folk horror. I have to admit, the Romanian folklore aspect was of particular appeal as I love learning about the folklore of other cultures.
The opening drew me in with its hint of backstory and had me asking lots of questions. The M.C., Anna, is flawed because of her past, a past fraught with danger which she is trying to escape. There’s an innocence to Anna, a naivete that somewhat belies her past. She is quick to trust considering her background and forms friendships easily, almost too easily at times, I felt, but that might just be the cynical side of me. Nevertheless I admired her courage and openness.
The story definitely had a timeless feel, and I was particularly drawn in by the parts involving the folkloric Whispers. The world building in Whisperwood was also excellently done and very visual. I truly felt I was right there with her. The overall sense of place was rife with mystery and unease.
As a comp, the writing and overall feel of Whisperwood reminded me of A Skinful of Shadows by Frances Hardinge which was previously shortlisted for Waterstones Book of the Year. If that’s your vibe then I highly recommend you read this one because I would classify this as folk fantasy rather than horror. Yes there are some horrific moments and I’m not a genre purist, not in the least, but that is my overall impression. Also, because many of the characters are so young and because of the fantasy elements I would say it would appeal to a YA audience as well as adult fantasy readers.
An enjoyable read.
My thanks to the author and publisher for providing an ARC of the novel.
July 20, 2023
‘Whisperwood’ is a dark fantasy that is full of ungodly tension, peppered with characters and a tale that is as old as time itself. This is a debut novel but didn't read like one, it was well structured and the writing was superb. I will definitely be looking out for more of her work!
Anna is on a journey of escape and she just needs to hide and be given a stroke of luck. When she hears about the town of Whisperwood, a town which isn't shown on maps she thinks it is the perfect place to hide from her witch-hunting ex. But not everything is peaceful in Whisperwood. A vanishing town, a strange funeral rite, an emergency surgery - there are things you can't explain. Prevented from leaving by folk magic, Anna gives a helping hand but the woods nearby are whispering and Anna can't help but be drawn to them…
I love folk tales and although this book takes them from Romanian influences there were still a lot of reference points that I found were present. Maybe I have just watched too much Supernatural! I loved this book. It drew me in quickly and easily created this complete and thriving world. This isn't an easy thing to do in fantasy as it is inherent that things should feel alien and weird. It was filled with frightening creatures, packed full of action and the tension was just spot on. It is a fantastic piece of dark fantasy and I wish that there was more of it to read! I would read anything that involved Anna and Perdy. Hopefully, the author will revisit this world at some point.
Let me know if you pick this one up!
Anna is on a journey of escape and she just needs to hide and be given a stroke of luck. When she hears about the town of Whisperwood, a town which isn't shown on maps she thinks it is the perfect place to hide from her witch-hunting ex. But not everything is peaceful in Whisperwood. A vanishing town, a strange funeral rite, an emergency surgery - there are things you can't explain. Prevented from leaving by folk magic, Anna gives a helping hand but the woods nearby are whispering and Anna can't help but be drawn to them…
I love folk tales and although this book takes them from Romanian influences there were still a lot of reference points that I found were present. Maybe I have just watched too much Supernatural! I loved this book. It drew me in quickly and easily created this complete and thriving world. This isn't an easy thing to do in fantasy as it is inherent that things should feel alien and weird. It was filled with frightening creatures, packed full of action and the tension was just spot on. It is a fantastic piece of dark fantasy and I wish that there was more of it to read! I would read anything that involved Anna and Perdy. Hopefully, the author will revisit this world at some point.
Let me know if you pick this one up!
May 12, 2023
Thank you Netgalley, for this arc in exchange for an honest review.
Anna, a girl who has seen tragedy, betrayal, and lost is haunted by a vision she had while she was dying. She runs away to a town known as Whisperwood and despite the rumors that the town is evil, decides to stay.
The first night staying there, however, she starts noticing the evil. She hears footsteps and even gets chased by something invisible. She gets told that what she was chased by were called Whispers, and the town acts as currents meaning the Whispers come in tides. Sometimes they're there, other times they're not. The town is living in constant fear.
Anna, Paul, and Perdy want to fix this and do everything in their power to stop the Whispers from killing more people. The only issue is the forest is far more dangerous than they thought.
I liked this book and the plot. I loved the analogy surrounding the lighthouse with the tides. I thought that this was a really cool addition. This book wasn't in any way too scary, in my opinion. It seemed more like a thriller than a horror book.
I do, however, wish that we got to know the characters a little more closely. This would help get the reader into the book a bit more. The characters were introduced, but on only a minimal level. By giving the characters more loving attributes you could get the reader more enticed in the character so if they die, there's more emotion.
Anna, a girl who has seen tragedy, betrayal, and lost is haunted by a vision she had while she was dying. She runs away to a town known as Whisperwood and despite the rumors that the town is evil, decides to stay.
The first night staying there, however, she starts noticing the evil. She hears footsteps and even gets chased by something invisible. She gets told that what she was chased by were called Whispers, and the town acts as currents meaning the Whispers come in tides. Sometimes they're there, other times they're not. The town is living in constant fear.
Anna, Paul, and Perdy want to fix this and do everything in their power to stop the Whispers from killing more people. The only issue is the forest is far more dangerous than they thought.
I liked this book and the plot. I loved the analogy surrounding the lighthouse with the tides. I thought that this was a really cool addition. This book wasn't in any way too scary, in my opinion. It seemed more like a thriller than a horror book.
I do, however, wish that we got to know the characters a little more closely. This would help get the reader into the book a bit more. The characters were introduced, but on only a minimal level. By giving the characters more loving attributes you could get the reader more enticed in the character so if they die, there's more emotion.
July 22, 2023
This dark fantasy, folk horror novel inspired by Romanian folklore follows Anna, a young woman who flees from her brutal past and finds herself in the eerie, isolated town of Whisperwood. Anna soon notices everything works differently here, and dark creatures known as Whispers roam in the woods around the town…
Whisperwood is a dark, atmospheric novel that blends fantasy with folk horror and still leaves room for humour. For me personally, the folk horror elements were the strongest aspect of the book and captivated me the most. The often terrifying creatures from Romanian folklore - here called Whispers - were brought to life intricately, making me very horrified and very fascinated at the same time. I was constantly anticipating the next scene about the Whispers and loved gradually learning more about the mysterious world they came from. Together with the detailed descriptions of the creepy town, the dark forest and the magical realm of the Whispers, I was truly transported to this very unique world Woodroe has crafted.
The characters and their motivations were a bit less fleshed out than some other elements of the story, which made it at times difficult for me to distinguish them from each other and really feel with them. I think the cast was just a bit too large for a novel of around 300 pages. While we got to know the protagonist a bit better, I would have loved to see her healing journey more in depth and discover more about her deeper thoughts and feelings.
This wasn't my favourite story, but I loved the folklore elements, the atmosphere and the setting, and I want to try some of Woodroe's other (folk horror) works in the future. I'm very glad I was introduced to Romanian folklore and will definitely do some further reading on the fascinating creatures and figures - like the Dochia, pricolici, iele and vâlve - mentioned in Whisperwood!
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐💫
Thank you to NetGalley and Flame Tree Press for the eARC.
Whisperwood is a dark, atmospheric novel that blends fantasy with folk horror and still leaves room for humour. For me personally, the folk horror elements were the strongest aspect of the book and captivated me the most. The often terrifying creatures from Romanian folklore - here called Whispers - were brought to life intricately, making me very horrified and very fascinated at the same time. I was constantly anticipating the next scene about the Whispers and loved gradually learning more about the mysterious world they came from. Together with the detailed descriptions of the creepy town, the dark forest and the magical realm of the Whispers, I was truly transported to this very unique world Woodroe has crafted.
The characters and their motivations were a bit less fleshed out than some other elements of the story, which made it at times difficult for me to distinguish them from each other and really feel with them. I think the cast was just a bit too large for a novel of around 300 pages. While we got to know the protagonist a bit better, I would have loved to see her healing journey more in depth and discover more about her deeper thoughts and feelings.
This wasn't my favourite story, but I loved the folklore elements, the atmosphere and the setting, and I want to try some of Woodroe's other (folk horror) works in the future. I'm very glad I was introduced to Romanian folklore and will definitely do some further reading on the fascinating creatures and figures - like the Dochia, pricolici, iele and vâlve - mentioned in Whisperwood!
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐💫
Thank you to NetGalley and Flame Tree Press for the eARC.
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