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The Dark Between the Trees
An unforgettable, surrealist gothic folk-thriller with commercial crossover appeal from a brilliant new voice.
1643: A small group of Parliamentarian soldiers are ambushed in an isolated part of Northern England. Their only hope for survival is to flee into the nearby Moresby Wood... unwise though that may seem. For Moresby Wood is known to be an unnatural place, the realm of witchcraft and shadows, where the devil is said to go walking by moonlight...
Seventeen men enter the wood. Only two are ever seen again, and the stories they tell of what happened make no sense. Stories of shifting landscapes, of trees that appear and disappear at will... and of something else. Something dark. Something hungry.
Today, five women are headed into Moresby Wood to discover, once and for all, what happened to that unfortunate group of soldiers. Led by Dr Alice Christopher, an historian who has devoted her entire academic career to uncovering the secrets of Moresby Wood. Armed with metal detectors, GPS units, mobile phones and the most recent map of the area (which is nearly 50 years old), Dr Christopher's group enters the wood ready for anything.
Or so they think.
1643: A small group of Parliamentarian soldiers are ambushed in an isolated part of Northern England. Their only hope for survival is to flee into the nearby Moresby Wood... unwise though that may seem. For Moresby Wood is known to be an unnatural place, the realm of witchcraft and shadows, where the devil is said to go walking by moonlight...
Seventeen men enter the wood. Only two are ever seen again, and the stories they tell of what happened make no sense. Stories of shifting landscapes, of trees that appear and disappear at will... and of something else. Something dark. Something hungry.
Today, five women are headed into Moresby Wood to discover, once and for all, what happened to that unfortunate group of soldiers. Led by Dr Alice Christopher, an historian who has devoted her entire academic career to uncovering the secrets of Moresby Wood. Armed with metal detectors, GPS units, mobile phones and the most recent map of the area (which is nearly 50 years old), Dr Christopher's group enters the wood ready for anything.
Or so they think.
258 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 11, 2022
115 people are currently reading
5683 people want to read
About the author
Fiona Barnett
2 books24 followersMy debut novel, The Dark Between the Trees, is part historical thriller, part slow-burn horror (with a dash of science fiction if you squint), and was published by Solaris Books in 2022. I’m currently working on my second book.
The rest of the time, I’m a proofreader and copy-editor with eight years of experience. The work I have edited and proofread has ranged from academic articles and PhD theses to technical documents to company terms and conditions, from psychology to geology, social policy to astrophysics, and modern art to evolutionary biology.
The rest of the time, I’m a proofreader and copy-editor with eight years of experience. The work I have edited and proofread has ranged from academic articles and PhD theses to technical documents to company terms and conditions, from psychology to geology, social policy to astrophysics, and modern art to evolutionary biology.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 524 reviews
August 30, 2023
The year is 1643 and Captain Davies and his right hand man Sergeant Harper lead seventeen men into the Moresby woods for cover from a surprise attack on the field. The locals say and fear that the woods hold legends of creatures and witches plus disappearances of many so they never enter these woods but the captain will have none of this nonsense not knowing that only two men will leave these Cursed Woods.
Present day: Dr. Alice Christopher leads her team of five including herself into the infamous Moresby woods. Alice has waited almost her her entire life to be approved a grant that would allow her to investigate the disappearance of Captain Davies troop and hopefully her team will discover some relics left behind and more importantly bones from the departed soldiers. These women are invested in the science of archaeology and are fascinated by the spooky stories of the legends but they only believe in hard facts and these women are tough and haven't any fear of the dark or camping out in the unknown. Little do they know that their science based minds will be tested beyond belief and maybe one or more will start questioning some of these old legends as they all begin experiencing certain events that could not be explained by logic. Will these women live to tell their tales or will the Moresby woods swallow up all of them in ways that only nightmares are made of!
I loved this intensely, creepy book written by Fiona Barnett. The storytelling was deliciously tense and eerie although it would seem slow to some, I thought it was wonderfully paced. The book was written in dual timelines and each chapter would leave you on a cliffhanger while swinging back and forth with the timelines. I truly appreciated the way this novel was written. The characters were solid and believable. The book was immersed with creepy atmosphere and tension. I would love to see this book made into a film in the future. I hope this author will continue to write books along this line since she has a special gift for writing horror.
I want to thank the publisher "Rebellion" Solaris and Net alley for the opportunity to read this special book and any thoughts or opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
I highly recommend this book to all horror readers and have given a rating of 4 1/2 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌠 SPOOKY AND STUNNING STARS!!
Present day: Dr. Alice Christopher leads her team of five including herself into the infamous Moresby woods. Alice has waited almost her her entire life to be approved a grant that would allow her to investigate the disappearance of Captain Davies troop and hopefully her team will discover some relics left behind and more importantly bones from the departed soldiers. These women are invested in the science of archaeology and are fascinated by the spooky stories of the legends but they only believe in hard facts and these women are tough and haven't any fear of the dark or camping out in the unknown. Little do they know that their science based minds will be tested beyond belief and maybe one or more will start questioning some of these old legends as they all begin experiencing certain events that could not be explained by logic. Will these women live to tell their tales or will the Moresby woods swallow up all of them in ways that only nightmares are made of!
I loved this intensely, creepy book written by Fiona Barnett. The storytelling was deliciously tense and eerie although it would seem slow to some, I thought it was wonderfully paced. The book was written in dual timelines and each chapter would leave you on a cliffhanger while swinging back and forth with the timelines. I truly appreciated the way this novel was written. The characters were solid and believable. The book was immersed with creepy atmosphere and tension. I would love to see this book made into a film in the future. I hope this author will continue to write books along this line since she has a special gift for writing horror.
I want to thank the publisher "Rebellion" Solaris and Net alley for the opportunity to read this special book and any thoughts or opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
I highly recommend this book to all horror readers and have given a rating of 4 1/2 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌠 SPOOKY AND STUNNING STARS!!
November 23, 2022
The Dark Between The Trees is a deliciously creepy story following one of my favourite horror tropes - the spooky woodland. In this book we follow two timelines, the first being a group of soldiers who mysteriously vanish years ago, another a modern-day troupe of women exploring the long-avoided site.
From the offset there is an immediate intrigue. The set up peaks curiosity instantly, with this woodland being unexplored and largely disconnected from civilisation. There are no accurate maps, compass readings are unpredictable, and you're immediately met with a sense of dread. Still, the thrill of the hunt is palpable from some of the characters, the team of explorers eager to be the ones to solve the long-forgotten mystery of the place. It's easy to get caught up in, and I could very well believe I'd also get caught up in the experience if there.
Fiona Barnett did a great job at balancing the uneasy feeling with assumed logic. The ever-conflicting thoughts of reason vs superstition was a note of contention in both timelines, and felt authentic with so many people affected by this woodland. Whatever the reason behind the unease, it almost felt like a whole character in itself with how present it was, a shadow lingering behind a tree ready to spring at any point.
I would have loved for this book to go just a tiny bit further with the horror aspect, as it did feel more like a tense build-up than events at one point. I did ultimately come to appreciate the ending though, and was glad to have read this during spooky season.
I was sent a copy of this book for review. This in no way affects my opinion of the book itself
From the offset there is an immediate intrigue. The set up peaks curiosity instantly, with this woodland being unexplored and largely disconnected from civilisation. There are no accurate maps, compass readings are unpredictable, and you're immediately met with a sense of dread. Still, the thrill of the hunt is palpable from some of the characters, the team of explorers eager to be the ones to solve the long-forgotten mystery of the place. It's easy to get caught up in, and I could very well believe I'd also get caught up in the experience if there.
Fiona Barnett did a great job at balancing the uneasy feeling with assumed logic. The ever-conflicting thoughts of reason vs superstition was a note of contention in both timelines, and felt authentic with so many people affected by this woodland. Whatever the reason behind the unease, it almost felt like a whole character in itself with how present it was, a shadow lingering behind a tree ready to spring at any point.
I would have loved for this book to go just a tiny bit further with the horror aspect, as it did feel more like a tense build-up than events at one point. I did ultimately come to appreciate the ending though, and was glad to have read this during spooky season.
I was sent a copy of this book for review. This in no way affects my opinion of the book itself
September 12, 2022
A weird-ass book that feels a bit like Blair Witch mixed with The Others. A little unsatisfying in places, but a good halloween read.
March 10, 2023
The gorgeous cover art belies the drabness within The Dark Between the Trees. This had so much potential and there are some truly scary scenes created, but it never quite took hold for me.
Five scholars and forestry aficionados go into the wood to explore the disappearance of a group of soldiers from the 1600s. The soldiers escaped into the wood, after an attack by the opposing side in a civil war. Two of the men fled, and although considered traitors, kept their lives and told their story to the local priest. First, a humongous tree in which they were camped under disappeared. Later, that night, the men scarpered. They were locals and had heard nasty stories about an inhuman creature who lived there and ate people. Taking no chances, they hared off home.
The book tells the story of the men and the women who search for their remains in alternate chapters. I became more interested in the soldiers, than the modern day women, and really couldn't tell the women apart for most of it, until the forest starts winnowing their number down. The ending is weird and not quite satisfying at least to me.
Five scholars and forestry aficionados go into the wood to explore the disappearance of a group of soldiers from the 1600s. The soldiers escaped into the wood, after an attack by the opposing side in a civil war. Two of the men fled, and although considered traitors, kept their lives and told their story to the local priest. First, a humongous tree in which they were camped under disappeared. Later, that night, the men scarpered. They were locals and had heard nasty stories about an inhuman creature who lived there and ate people. Taking no chances, they hared off home.
The book tells the story of the men and the women who search for their remains in alternate chapters. I became more interested in the soldiers, than the modern day women, and really couldn't tell the women apart for most of it, until the forest starts winnowing their number down. The ending is weird and not quite satisfying at least to me.
March 30, 2023
Oh man…. Thank god I’m free. I mean it in the nicest way possible. This book almost destroyed reading for me, and I feel terrible about that as it’s a debut for this author in this genre at the least. I truly did think I’d like it. It was a 5 star prediction! On paper I should have loved it. Folk horror, creatures, and an ever changing forest! What’s not to like?
I’ll keep this short, and say the main issue is that the author made this sooooo painfully boring. Like literally I think I got a migraine from how bored I was at one point. Literally nothing happened that was even remotely interesting ever.
The pacing genuinely made me feel like I was in my own personal hell. And that’s saying something because I usually love a slow burn. 95% of this was literally two timelines of characters just walking around and talking about the trees.
With the creature in this I think there was supposed to be a feeling of being stalked and an atmosphere of otherness. But the author just didn’t deliver because it was always interrupted by really long drawn out and unnecessary dialogue or stream of consciousness. I wanted to skim so badly.
The cast in both timelines was also HUGE and the author just made it so confusing because she tried to flesh them out but at the same time I really couldn’t tell you anything about anymore than 3 out of like 20 of them.
The last 5% started to get interesting but the ending was soooo unsatisfying.
If this author spent less time talking about the trees or did something a little different with the past timeline, this could have been so interesting. It had the makings to be great, it just failed in literally every way.
She somehow even made my favorite type of character (morally gray, has some sort of obsession based motive) as boring as humanly possible.
I never rate things this low unless they’re offensive or I literally have nothing positive to say….. so there’s that.
Not sure I’ll write this author off completely but I definitely won’t rush to read her next book. This literally took me most of the month to read. I kept hoping it would get better or the answers to everything would make it worth it. I’m so let down.
I’ll keep this short, and say the main issue is that the author made this sooooo painfully boring. Like literally I think I got a migraine from how bored I was at one point. Literally nothing happened that was even remotely interesting ever.
The pacing genuinely made me feel like I was in my own personal hell. And that’s saying something because I usually love a slow burn. 95% of this was literally two timelines of characters just walking around and talking about the trees.
With the creature in this I think there was supposed to be a feeling of being stalked and an atmosphere of otherness. But the author just didn’t deliver because it was always interrupted by really long drawn out and unnecessary dialogue or stream of consciousness. I wanted to skim so badly.
The cast in both timelines was also HUGE and the author just made it so confusing because she tried to flesh them out but at the same time I really couldn’t tell you anything about anymore than 3 out of like 20 of them.
The last 5% started to get interesting but the ending was soooo unsatisfying.
If this author spent less time talking about the trees or did something a little different with the past timeline, this could have been so interesting. It had the makings to be great, it just failed in literally every way.
She somehow even made my favorite type of character (morally gray, has some sort of obsession based motive) as boring as humanly possible.
I never rate things this low unless they’re offensive or I literally have nothing positive to say….. so there’s that.
Not sure I’ll write this author off completely but I definitely won’t rush to read her next book. This literally took me most of the month to read. I kept hoping it would get better or the answers to everything would make it worth it. I’m so let down.
Read
January 6, 2025Dual timeline slow burn horror of a group of Civil War era soldiers (UK version) trapped in a scary forest where the trees won't stay put and Things are hunting, and a group of academics attempting to explore said forest several centuries later. It's an enjoyably sinister read with great atmosphere and lots of human conflict.
May 11, 2022
** Thanks to NetGalley, Fiona Barnett, and Rebellion for this ARC **
The Dark Between the Trees by Fiona Barnett will be out October 2022.
The Dark Between The Trees is told from multiple perspectives. A group of academics, map makers, and park rangers are entering the Moresby Wood, an area of England that the locals believe is haunted by The Corrigal, a creature that kills anyone who enters the woods. The lead researcher, Alice, is interested in solving the mystery of what happened in 1643, when a group of soldiers entered the woods, were ambushed, and then disappeared. Only two survived, and they reported to the local priest a story of The Corrigal and of trees disappearing and reappearing. This mystery has become her professional and personal obsession and she finally has a chance to solve it.
This book was really promising! It was atmospheric, supernatural, and horror-light. At times I thought I would be rating it 4 stars. Unfortunately, the ending really didn't do it for me. There were a lot of unexplained loose ends and I disliked that very little was ever resolved. When the book ended, I had a lot of questions, and not in a good way.
2 stars - it was okay
The Dark Between the Trees by Fiona Barnett will be out October 2022.
The Dark Between The Trees is told from multiple perspectives. A group of academics, map makers, and park rangers are entering the Moresby Wood, an area of England that the locals believe is haunted by The Corrigal, a creature that kills anyone who enters the woods. The lead researcher, Alice, is interested in solving the mystery of what happened in 1643, when a group of soldiers entered the woods, were ambushed, and then disappeared. Only two survived, and they reported to the local priest a story of The Corrigal and of trees disappearing and reappearing. This mystery has become her professional and personal obsession and she finally has a chance to solve it.
This book was really promising! It was atmospheric, supernatural, and horror-light. At times I thought I would be rating it 4 stars. Unfortunately, the ending really didn't do it for me. There were a lot of unexplained loose ends and I disliked that very little was ever resolved. When the book ended, I had a lot of questions, and not in a good way.
2 stars - it was okay
December 20, 2022
The Blair Witch Project meets The Terror in this chilling novel. Told through alternative time periods and perspectives, we ponder the questions: What does it mean to be truly trapped? What happens when ambition outweighs safety? Is pride worth the ultimate price? Using the manipulation of time and space, the Dark Between the Trees is an unsettling journey which will make you reconsider your weekend hiking plans.
Want to read
April 8, 2022This sounds like my kind of creepy and if I'm declined an arc there will be hell to pay. You've been warned! 😈
ARC APPROVED! ARC APPROVED! ARC APPROVED! 🥳💃🤘 Thank you to Rebellion Publishing! You've made my Friday!
ARC APPROVED! ARC APPROVED! ARC APPROVED! 🥳💃🤘 Thank you to Rebellion Publishing! You've made my Friday!
October 6, 2022
A promising gothic premise with excellent buildup that unfortunately drags on endlessly without any real action and fails to deliver.
The Dark Between The Trees had all the elements for a good Halloween read: an eerie folklore about a demonic creature, an out-of-bounds forest, dual timelines set about three hundred years apart told through multiple perspectives, lots of telltales, and an incredible atmosphere, but even with this great package, it failed to make any impact.
Seventeen soldiers enter the Moresby forest in 1643 despite being warned by some from their own company, of the infamous cursed woods and the monster that inhabits it. Only two survivors make it back and their accounts of shifting landscapes and a stalking monster don’t make much sense. Fast forward to today, a group of five women are all set to explore the same route the soldiers took and figure out the cause behind their disappearance.
The best part about this book is the atmosphere. The shifting landscapes are well explained, and even though it’s a bizarre concept, Barnett makes it believable. The ‘woods within the woods’ concept could initially throw you off, but as you delve further, you’d begin to understand the graphics. Although never confirmed, it points out intersecting dimensions and entities that roam freely through them, or let’s just say that’s how I interpreted it. Through the multitude of PoVs, the buildup of tension is slow but steady and quite natural.
Now onto the things I disliked: the endless dragging on of the invisible monstrosity. People keep getting killed but not once, anyone sees anything. There’s so much buildup that you’d expect a huge reveal at the end, or at least a face-off, but there is absolutely nothing. Whether it’s the soldiers or the women's squad, everyone is walking in loops, seeing the same things again and again, and still trying to sound excited. The repetition is frustrating. The book ended on, I don’t even know what to call it, a bizarre suspended idea - you know, basically left hanging without any explanation. No questions answered, no cliffhanger, just a bland unresolved climax!
Overall, excellent atmosphere, and eerie vibes, but the redundancy and loose ends make it an unsatisfying read.
Thanks to Rebellion, Solaris and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Publication Date: October 11th, 2022.
3.25/5🌟 (rounded down).
The Dark Between The Trees had all the elements for a good Halloween read: an eerie folklore about a demonic creature, an out-of-bounds forest, dual timelines set about three hundred years apart told through multiple perspectives, lots of telltales, and an incredible atmosphere, but even with this great package, it failed to make any impact.
Seventeen soldiers enter the Moresby forest in 1643 despite being warned by some from their own company, of the infamous cursed woods and the monster that inhabits it. Only two survivors make it back and their accounts of shifting landscapes and a stalking monster don’t make much sense. Fast forward to today, a group of five women are all set to explore the same route the soldiers took and figure out the cause behind their disappearance.
The best part about this book is the atmosphere. The shifting landscapes are well explained, and even though it’s a bizarre concept, Barnett makes it believable. The ‘woods within the woods’ concept could initially throw you off, but as you delve further, you’d begin to understand the graphics. Although never confirmed, it points out intersecting dimensions and entities that roam freely through them, or let’s just say that’s how I interpreted it. Through the multitude of PoVs, the buildup of tension is slow but steady and quite natural.
Now onto the things I disliked: the endless dragging on of the invisible monstrosity. People keep getting killed but not once, anyone sees anything. There’s so much buildup that you’d expect a huge reveal at the end, or at least a face-off, but there is absolutely nothing. Whether it’s the soldiers or the women's squad, everyone is walking in loops, seeing the same things again and again, and still trying to sound excited. The repetition is frustrating. The book ended on, I don’t even know what to call it, a bizarre suspended idea - you know, basically left hanging without any explanation. No questions answered, no cliffhanger, just a bland unresolved climax!
Overall, excellent atmosphere, and eerie vibes, but the redundancy and loose ends make it an unsatisfying read.
Thanks to Rebellion, Solaris and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Publication Date: October 11th, 2022.
3.25/5🌟 (rounded down).
August 8, 2022
3.5 rounded up to 4.
1643: A small group of soldiers are ambushed in an isolated part of Northern England and their only hope for survival is to flee into the nearby Moresby Wood... an unnatural place, the realm of witchcraft and shadows, where the devil is said to go walking by moonlight...
Seventeen men enter the wood. Only two are ever seen again, and the stories they tell of what happened make no sense. Stories of shifting landscapes, of trees that appear and disappear at will... and of something else. Something dark. Something hungry.
Today: Five women are headed into Moresby Wood to discover, once and for all, what happened to that unfortunate group of soldiers. Led by Dr Alice Christopher, and armed with metal detectors, GPS units, mobile phones and the most recent map of the area (which is nearly 50 years old), Dr Christopher's group enters the wood ready for anything.
Or so they think.
I really enjoyed this dual-timeline story and thought that both storylines were well written, tense and depicted interesting and relatable characters. Both storylines were well paced and the switch between them after each chapter was a clever way of revealing important plot points; also having to make connections and discover links yourself was entertaining.
Nevertheless, I have to be honest that the ending is what made me drop my rating. I felt after all I had invested in the book and the characters that the ending was a little far fetched, seriously confusing and ultimately didn’t really answer any of my burning questions which was very disappointing. A shame because the rest of the book was great.
1643: A small group of soldiers are ambushed in an isolated part of Northern England and their only hope for survival is to flee into the nearby Moresby Wood... an unnatural place, the realm of witchcraft and shadows, where the devil is said to go walking by moonlight...
Seventeen men enter the wood. Only two are ever seen again, and the stories they tell of what happened make no sense. Stories of shifting landscapes, of trees that appear and disappear at will... and of something else. Something dark. Something hungry.
Today: Five women are headed into Moresby Wood to discover, once and for all, what happened to that unfortunate group of soldiers. Led by Dr Alice Christopher, and armed with metal detectors, GPS units, mobile phones and the most recent map of the area (which is nearly 50 years old), Dr Christopher's group enters the wood ready for anything.
Or so they think.
I really enjoyed this dual-timeline story and thought that both storylines were well written, tense and depicted interesting and relatable characters. Both storylines were well paced and the switch between them after each chapter was a clever way of revealing important plot points; also having to make connections and discover links yourself was entertaining.
Nevertheless, I have to be honest that the ending is what made me drop my rating. I felt after all I had invested in the book and the characters that the ending was a little far fetched, seriously confusing and ultimately didn’t really answer any of my burning questions which was very disappointing. A shame because the rest of the book was great.
September 24, 2022
After finally getting the funding she needed, Dr. Alice Christopher gathers a team of four other women for an expedition into the infamous Moresby Forest. A forest with a history of mysterious occurrences. Armored with the latest gear and equipment, the five women venture into the depths of the unknown, ready to unearth the secrets that lay hidden. But soon the women discover that all is not what it seems and the forest is teaming with more than just the flora of the region.
The Dark Between the Trees is a slow and creepy read. The story is told with two timelines — 300 years in the past and then present day. It was a little confusing at first, but once the rhythm is established, the transitions became smooth as silk.
The plot is straightforward with very little twists and turns. There were, however, some unexpected surprises along the way for that “didn’t see that coming” effect.
I didn’t particularly care for any of the characters as they all seemed to carry their egos on their shoulders. Teamwork didn’t appear to be in their vocabulary. It was like every man for himself.
For the most part, The Dark Between the Trees was a decent read. A little weird at times and eerie at others. I didn’t care too much for the ending. It wasn’t a cliffhanger, but it wasn’t satisfying either. Three stars.
I received a digital ARC from Rebellion Publishing through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
The Dark Between the Trees is a slow and creepy read. The story is told with two timelines — 300 years in the past and then present day. It was a little confusing at first, but once the rhythm is established, the transitions became smooth as silk.
The plot is straightforward with very little twists and turns. There were, however, some unexpected surprises along the way for that “didn’t see that coming” effect.
I didn’t particularly care for any of the characters as they all seemed to carry their egos on their shoulders. Teamwork didn’t appear to be in their vocabulary. It was like every man for himself.
For the most part, The Dark Between the Trees was a decent read. A little weird at times and eerie at others. I didn’t care too much for the ending. It wasn’t a cliffhanger, but it wasn’t satisfying either. Three stars.
I received a digital ARC from Rebellion Publishing through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
May 12, 2022
First of all, my gracefulness and major thanks to NetGalley and Rebellious Books for allowing me the pleasure to read an ARC of this book. This review has no spoilers, and is quite detailed, so I would appreciate your patience.
I have grown up reading Satyajit Ray’s various horror stories, and reading Chander Pahar (Mountain of the Moon) by Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay every few months. I have loved, since I was able to read, the thrill and rush of reading horror and adventure. This book reminded me of these works, after quite a long time. This was especially because both Chander Pahar and this novel take place in the forest, with the same sense of disorientation, doubt, an unknown but legendary animal chasing and killing comrades, and finally, the cave. It didn’t feel borrowed, but like two stones is the same alley. This book had managed to scare me off from late night reading, that’s how good it is. And it is honestly an honour to read it in May, because I know when it comes out during the Halloween season, it will fit right in.
Barnett has a gift of building her story and its world. The novel alternates between the group led by Davies, and the group led by Dr. Alice Christopher. The narrative jumps right in, no lengthy exposition, but a constant flow of context while the events don’t cease. Right from the onset, the thrill and horror is built up. It is one thing to include visible ghosts in a story, or a legend that exists only in one version and is quite solid. Nothing such is happening in the Moresby woods; the entity that haunts it is invisible, the forest is conscious and hearing, and the environ not quite familiar in terms of known geography. Common sense and logic are wasted, and not even modern tech stands. It is an unfamiliar world that we are too scared to think of, made quite alive. It is Bermuda Triangle but without casual accounts or conspiracies. It unsettles not just the characters, but also the readers.
The pace of the book was impressive, although around the middle it seemed to slow down. But that was easily overcome, and the story advanced fast. A special mention goes to the end, extremely mature and fulfilling. The slight open-ended way of ending it was also a welcome move, making the story not give up its uncertain nature. The characters were great to follow around and study. It is truly pathetic how the fate of the dead ones turned out, or even of those trapped in the woods. The concept of time was something being hinted at quite early in my opinion, as I could tell the intersection from the moment both parties passed the charcoal pit. But even then it happened it an unexpected way, and was quite exciting to read.
The only areas I felt could be better were, first, the way the Moresbys spoke: English until the 15th century was quite different of how it is now, or even when Shakespeare wrote. And it was certainly nothing like the written language we read frequently. However, for the sake of modern readers, it is an understandable adjustment, although it could have been incorporated better. Even an inclusion of medieval French could fit, since French was at that time one of the most popular languages in Europe. Second, some of the sentences, conjoined by commas, felt a tad bit long.
The way the characters are well developed, and so many of them, that it doesn’t feel like a debut novel. The mix of folk and history, the woes of academia, the risks and thrills of an adventure into the unknown: they all feel amazing. I also like how several questions remained unanswered, although it might be something frowned upon. This is because those have been left unanswered quite strategically, in a way where they don’t feel like plot holes, or become one. It was also an unputdownable read, unless like me you read it alone in darkness in the middle of the night while the weather outside is exactly like Moresby woods.
If you’re looking for the perfect Halloween read that isn’t just mythical beings or plain ghosts, this is it. You’ve found the perfect read.
I have grown up reading Satyajit Ray’s various horror stories, and reading Chander Pahar (Mountain of the Moon) by Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay every few months. I have loved, since I was able to read, the thrill and rush of reading horror and adventure. This book reminded me of these works, after quite a long time. This was especially because both Chander Pahar and this novel take place in the forest, with the same sense of disorientation, doubt, an unknown but legendary animal chasing and killing comrades, and finally, the cave. It didn’t feel borrowed, but like two stones is the same alley. This book had managed to scare me off from late night reading, that’s how good it is. And it is honestly an honour to read it in May, because I know when it comes out during the Halloween season, it will fit right in.
Barnett has a gift of building her story and its world. The novel alternates between the group led by Davies, and the group led by Dr. Alice Christopher. The narrative jumps right in, no lengthy exposition, but a constant flow of context while the events don’t cease. Right from the onset, the thrill and horror is built up. It is one thing to include visible ghosts in a story, or a legend that exists only in one version and is quite solid. Nothing such is happening in the Moresby woods; the entity that haunts it is invisible, the forest is conscious and hearing, and the environ not quite familiar in terms of known geography. Common sense and logic are wasted, and not even modern tech stands. It is an unfamiliar world that we are too scared to think of, made quite alive. It is Bermuda Triangle but without casual accounts or conspiracies. It unsettles not just the characters, but also the readers.
The pace of the book was impressive, although around the middle it seemed to slow down. But that was easily overcome, and the story advanced fast. A special mention goes to the end, extremely mature and fulfilling. The slight open-ended way of ending it was also a welcome move, making the story not give up its uncertain nature. The characters were great to follow around and study. It is truly pathetic how the fate of the dead ones turned out, or even of those trapped in the woods. The concept of time was something being hinted at quite early in my opinion, as I could tell the intersection from the moment both parties passed the charcoal pit. But even then it happened it an unexpected way, and was quite exciting to read.
The only areas I felt could be better were, first, the way the Moresbys spoke: English until the 15th century was quite different of how it is now, or even when Shakespeare wrote. And it was certainly nothing like the written language we read frequently. However, for the sake of modern readers, it is an understandable adjustment, although it could have been incorporated better. Even an inclusion of medieval French could fit, since French was at that time one of the most popular languages in Europe. Second, some of the sentences, conjoined by commas, felt a tad bit long.
The way the characters are well developed, and so many of them, that it doesn’t feel like a debut novel. The mix of folk and history, the woes of academia, the risks and thrills of an adventure into the unknown: they all feel amazing. I also like how several questions remained unanswered, although it might be something frowned upon. This is because those have been left unanswered quite strategically, in a way where they don’t feel like plot holes, or become one. It was also an unputdownable read, unless like me you read it alone in darkness in the middle of the night while the weather outside is exactly like Moresby woods.
If you’re looking for the perfect Halloween read that isn’t just mythical beings or plain ghosts, this is it. You’ve found the perfect read.
October 1, 2024
What a neat concept for a horror (speculative?) novel centered on the deep, dark woods. Come for the split-timeline horror pitch—stay for the creeping tension and seriously trippy finale.
Concept: ★★★★★
Pacing: ★★★
Enjoyment: ★★★★
The Dark Between the Trees is a novel I've put off reading for quite a long time. I'm not completely sure why, but the core idea is that I thought I knew what this novel was about. Let's clear that assumption right away: I did not.
This is one of those nebulous stories that sounds really vague and predictable from the synopsis. A group of people disappeared into a supposedly haunted woods in the long-ago past. Today, a group of people head into that same woods to see if they can discover what happened to that lost group.
Dun dun dun, it's about to get dark real fast. (And we don't think that present-day timeline group of people are going to have a good time.)
On the surface, that IS what this novel is about. Two timelines, two groups of people, two ventures into the deep dark with unexpected trials awaiting them.
But let me be both vague and yet, hopefully, more interesting—this novel takes us to some interesting places. I found myself captivated by the tension and anxiously eager to see where this plot was heading. It's a taut, bare-bones plot with a great sense of ominous atmosphere. And its ending is truly quite cool—can't say it's something I've read before and it's very unique in its particular level of execution (or at least, it was new to this reader).
Is it a mystery/thriller? A horror novel? An unexpectedly speculative/magical adventure? All of the above?
...Yes and no. This hybrid beast is all of the above, and I think that's partially why the ratings for The Dark Between the Trees are so lukewarm. It's not enough of a mystery, not enough of a horror, not enough of a resolution. It just is. It's a lingering, half-formed, folkloric kind of thing.
If you like weird little tales of the dark woods, check this one out with an open mind. It's pretty cool.
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Concept: ★★★★★
Pacing: ★★★
Enjoyment: ★★★★
The Dark Between the Trees is a novel I've put off reading for quite a long time. I'm not completely sure why, but the core idea is that I thought I knew what this novel was about. Let's clear that assumption right away: I did not.
This is one of those nebulous stories that sounds really vague and predictable from the synopsis. A group of people disappeared into a supposedly haunted woods in the long-ago past. Today, a group of people head into that same woods to see if they can discover what happened to that lost group.
Dun dun dun, it's about to get dark real fast. (And we don't think that present-day timeline group of people are going to have a good time.)
On the surface, that IS what this novel is about. Two timelines, two groups of people, two ventures into the deep dark with unexpected trials awaiting them.
But let me be both vague and yet, hopefully, more interesting—this novel takes us to some interesting places. I found myself captivated by the tension and anxiously eager to see where this plot was heading. It's a taut, bare-bones plot with a great sense of ominous atmosphere. And its ending is truly quite cool—can't say it's something I've read before and it's very unique in its particular level of execution (or at least, it was new to this reader).
Is it a mystery/thriller? A horror novel? An unexpectedly speculative/magical adventure? All of the above?
...Yes and no. This hybrid beast is all of the above, and I think that's partially why the ratings for The Dark Between the Trees are so lukewarm. It's not enough of a mystery, not enough of a horror, not enough of a resolution. It just is. It's a lingering, half-formed, folkloric kind of thing.
If you like weird little tales of the dark woods, check this one out with an open mind. It's pretty cool.
Blog | Instagram | Libro.fm Audiobooks
December 19, 2024
Truly, this is one of my favorite British folk hero books. I am not certain how I managed to forget to review it, but I finally noticed that I had never even marked it as read.
I couldn't put this book down, and I dearly wish it had been marketed more broadly to the States because I think most serious horror readers over here simply don't know about it. It is most definitely a "thinking person's horror book." The two primary characters are both academics, it's written on a college reading level, but it's a heart pounding, lightening fast read if you are an educated horror reader. It's both psychologically and directly frightening--eerie in the extreme--especially if readers are sensitive to imagistic motifs. The banter among the characters in the beginning is so entertaining that it innocently draws readers in immediately with a false sense of security. When the truly terrifying events begin it almost feels like you've been hit over the head and left to stumble around in a vortex of winding shadow.
The story takes place in the UK in a woodland location which is infamous for its hauntings. There's a bit of historical background offered by one of the main characters, a professor who has studied the region, the people who settled there long ago, and the region's dark history of crimes against the women who lived there and who were accused of witchcraft. Her student and assistant has agreed to accompany her into the forest to aid her in the completion of a book which details accounts of the many people who have mysteriously gone missing in the forest. The forest has never been mapped with any certainty. It seems to resist mapping innately. And even though the characters have taken every precaution, they too quickly find themselves lost in a web of persistent shadow.
Readers might think at first that they recognize several classic folk horror tropes, but please let me assure you--this book's storyline is utterly original in the manner by which it develops and unfolds. I have never experienced anything quite like it. The teacher/student dynamic between the characters is just brilliantly constructed--humorous, provocative, and frustratingly familiar to just about any university student who has ever been determined to win a professor's praise or a byline in publication. As the plot pace quickens (something which occurs almost immediately), one poor choice after another leads to inevitable mayhem.
I loved every part of this book--beginning to end. The prose structure and diction are perfectly sculpted--this author seriously writes well. She's predominantly an academic herself and has published widely, but this is her first work of fiction. I keep hoping she will publish more. I continuously check back to see if she has anything in progress.
I couldn't put this book down, and I dearly wish it had been marketed more broadly to the States because I think most serious horror readers over here simply don't know about it. It is most definitely a "thinking person's horror book." The two primary characters are both academics, it's written on a college reading level, but it's a heart pounding, lightening fast read if you are an educated horror reader. It's both psychologically and directly frightening--eerie in the extreme--especially if readers are sensitive to imagistic motifs. The banter among the characters in the beginning is so entertaining that it innocently draws readers in immediately with a false sense of security. When the truly terrifying events begin it almost feels like you've been hit over the head and left to stumble around in a vortex of winding shadow.
The story takes place in the UK in a woodland location which is infamous for its hauntings. There's a bit of historical background offered by one of the main characters, a professor who has studied the region, the people who settled there long ago, and the region's dark history of crimes against the women who lived there and who were accused of witchcraft. Her student and assistant has agreed to accompany her into the forest to aid her in the completion of a book which details accounts of the many people who have mysteriously gone missing in the forest. The forest has never been mapped with any certainty. It seems to resist mapping innately. And even though the characters have taken every precaution, they too quickly find themselves lost in a web of persistent shadow.
Readers might think at first that they recognize several classic folk horror tropes, but please let me assure you--this book's storyline is utterly original in the manner by which it develops and unfolds. I have never experienced anything quite like it. The teacher/student dynamic between the characters is just brilliantly constructed--humorous, provocative, and frustratingly familiar to just about any university student who has ever been determined to win a professor's praise or a byline in publication. As the plot pace quickens (something which occurs almost immediately), one poor choice after another leads to inevitable mayhem.
I loved every part of this book--beginning to end. The prose structure and diction are perfectly sculpted--this author seriously writes well. She's predominantly an academic herself and has published widely, but this is her first work of fiction. I keep hoping she will publish more. I continuously check back to see if she has anything in progress.
July 30, 2023
An army unit is attacked, decimated and the survivors flee into a forrest, haunted by something. Only two of them get out alive to give an unreliable account of what happened in those woods.
400 years later a handful of park rangers, historians and a surveyor retrace their steps, hoping to find the bodies of those soldiers and an explanation for their disappearance. Be afraid of what you wish for! They get lost, their phones stop working, the GPS is also not working, someone gets hurt, something seems to be stalking them.
In the meantime in the alternating chapters the soldiers are also lost in the woods. They keep walking, trying to find a way out and something is starting to pick them off.
At that stage I was a third into the story, I was bored and I started skimming. Probably sounds odd, I know. It should have been a gripping read, but it was too slow, too vague, too many interchangeable characters that I found hard to tell apart. There was quite a bit stream-of-consciousness happening for various characters, that killed the suspense for me. The author tried hard to create an athmospheric setting, describing smells, the feeling of the forrest floor, etc., etc., but by that point I didn‘t care anymore. Too much hiking through the woods, too few monsters.
I skimmed along for a few more chapters, getting glimpses of the underlying explanation for the what and why of the story. I put the book down around halfway, but could‘t let it lie and checked out the beginnings of all following chapters. Lots of walking through the woods, spoilery things not to be mentioned here, a not particularly exciting ending (I kinda liked the last chapter). I looked for a different book, I guess. More blood, gore, creatures and nail-biting, less hiking.
PS: I feel a little bad about this review, because it‘s a debut novel and I like what I found about the author. http://www.fiona-barnett.com/about
400 years later a handful of park rangers, historians and a surveyor retrace their steps, hoping to find the bodies of those soldiers and an explanation for their disappearance. Be afraid of what you wish for! They get lost, their phones stop working, the GPS is also not working, someone gets hurt, something seems to be stalking them.
In the meantime in the alternating chapters the soldiers are also lost in the woods. They keep walking, trying to find a way out and something is starting to pick them off.
At that stage I was a third into the story, I was bored and I started skimming. Probably sounds odd, I know. It should have been a gripping read, but it was too slow, too vague, too many interchangeable characters that I found hard to tell apart. There was quite a bit stream-of-consciousness happening for various characters, that killed the suspense for me. The author tried hard to create an athmospheric setting, describing smells, the feeling of the forrest floor, etc., etc., but by that point I didn‘t care anymore. Too much hiking through the woods, too few monsters.
I skimmed along for a few more chapters, getting glimpses of the underlying explanation for the what and why of the story. I put the book down around halfway, but could‘t let it lie and checked out the beginnings of all following chapters. Lots of walking through the woods, spoilery things not to be mentioned here, a not particularly exciting ending (I kinda liked the last chapter). I looked for a different book, I guess. More blood, gore, creatures and nail-biting, less hiking.
PS: I feel a little bad about this review, because it‘s a debut novel and I like what I found about the author. http://www.fiona-barnett.com/about
July 31, 2022
Thank's to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free Arc!
Although the story is based on an enticing idea I didn't love it. It was very predictable and for a thriller/horror book seriously lacked in both darkness and twists. It's not to mention the underwhelming ending and it's many loose ends.
To be fair although this was only 200 pages long (on my Kobo e-reader), when I got to the last chapters I didn't even care about the characters anymore and just wanted to be over and done with it.
One thing the author did very well though is switching point of views/narration during the chapters. It was really smooth. I also really liked reading how the characters tried to cope with the situation of being lost in an everchanging, cold, foggy, scary forest. I thought however that the supernatural elements were just "there". The story is obviously built around it and yet it doesn't bring much? Generally, the supernatural is used to highlight some difficulty the characters are experiencing in their "normal lives" I don't really know what it was for here, nor were the rules it obeys very clear.
This was okay, but not something I'd personally recommend.
Although the story is based on an enticing idea I didn't love it. It was very predictable and for a thriller/horror book seriously lacked in both darkness and twists. It's not to mention the underwhelming ending and it's many loose ends.
To be fair although this was only 200 pages long (on my Kobo e-reader), when I got to the last chapters I didn't even care about the characters anymore and just wanted to be over and done with it.
One thing the author did very well though is switching point of views/narration during the chapters. It was really smooth. I also really liked reading how the characters tried to cope with the situation of being lost in an everchanging, cold, foggy, scary forest. I thought however that the supernatural elements were just "there". The story is obviously built around it and yet it doesn't bring much? Generally, the supernatural is used to highlight some difficulty the characters are experiencing in their "normal lives" I don't really know what it was for here, nor were the rules it obeys very clear.
This was okay, but not something I'd personally recommend.
September 20, 2022
3.5 stars.
This was weird and creepy! Following two groups of people, 1) soldiers in the 1600s caught in an ambush who run for safety into Moresby Wood, and 2) a small, all-female team comprised of historians and park rangers, in the present, who enter a fenced-off Moresby Wood, looking for evidence of the long lost squad. Moresby Wood had a reputation, even years before the soldiers entered it, of darkness, witchcraft, and a monster even older than when Christianity came to Britain.
The soldiers soon find themselves lost, and gradually picked off, by something that no one can see, but that one amongst them is convinced is the monster, the Corrigal. The soldiers are already injured, and coming apart from the stress of the sudden and unexplained murders.
The present day team is fine their first day, but find themselves eerily repeating what we know happened to the soldiers.
The atmosphere is fantastic in this story! Claustrophobic, constant mist, cold, with the dripping of rain off the people and the trees around them. And slow, building, choking fear.
The author does sort of give us an answer, but also doesn’t, of what was causing the danger, which left me both a little frustrated and happy. In some ways, I’m glad the ending was as hopeless and lonely and dark as it was. It’s a monster story, a ghost story, and a malevolent entity story. I think I liked it, but its slow pacing won’t be for everyone.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Rebellion for this ARC in exchange for my review.
This was weird and creepy! Following two groups of people, 1) soldiers in the 1600s caught in an ambush who run for safety into Moresby Wood, and 2) a small, all-female team comprised of historians and park rangers, in the present, who enter a fenced-off Moresby Wood, looking for evidence of the long lost squad. Moresby Wood had a reputation, even years before the soldiers entered it, of darkness, witchcraft, and a monster even older than when Christianity came to Britain.
The soldiers soon find themselves lost, and gradually picked off, by something that no one can see, but that one amongst them is convinced is the monster, the Corrigal. The soldiers are already injured, and coming apart from the stress of the sudden and unexplained murders.
The present day team is fine their first day, but find themselves eerily repeating what we know happened to the soldiers.
The atmosphere is fantastic in this story! Claustrophobic, constant mist, cold, with the dripping of rain off the people and the trees around them. And slow, building, choking fear.
The author does sort of give us an answer, but also doesn’t, of what was causing the danger, which left me both a little frustrated and happy. In some ways, I’m glad the ending was as hopeless and lonely and dark as it was. It’s a monster story, a ghost story, and a malevolent entity story. I think I liked it, but its slow pacing won’t be for everyone.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Rebellion for this ARC in exchange for my review.
July 25, 2022
THE PERFECT CREEPY STORY. In England, in the 1600's a group of soldiers are on the run from ambushes and are forced into Moresby Wood. Only 2 survive to tell the tale of a strange and haunted wood. Many years later a small group of women head into the same woods to try and discover what happened to those men. Lead by Dr. Alice Christopher, the women enter the wood without trepidation.
However when trees begin to appear and disappear and they find themselves completely lost, the group wonders - are they alone? Told from two timelines, and two supporting casts' point of view, this story is COMPLETELY TERRIFYING and will thrill all you Halloween lovers to death! If you love a creepy story, supernatural and unexplained phenomenon, if you want to stay up all night with the light on, The Dark Between The Trees is for you!
.#Rebellion #TheDarkBetweenTheTrees #FionaBarnett #NEtGalley #NetGalleyreads
However when trees begin to appear and disappear and they find themselves completely lost, the group wonders - are they alone? Told from two timelines, and two supporting casts' point of view, this story is COMPLETELY TERRIFYING and will thrill all you Halloween lovers to death! If you love a creepy story, supernatural and unexplained phenomenon, if you want to stay up all night with the light on, The Dark Between The Trees is for you!
.#Rebellion #TheDarkBetweenTheTrees #FionaBarnett #NEtGalley #NetGalleyreads
November 4, 2023
There were lots of good things in this debut novel but, for me, it wasn't a satisfying read.
I admired the way The Darkness Between The Trees was structured and the way it used narrative to pursue a complicated and counter-intuitive possibility.
The Darkness Between The Trees used dual timelines to drive the novel in a way that made them more than a device for amping up the suspense by jumping between the two timelines at key moments and using the Then timeline to reveal things that change how the Now timeline is seen Here, the timelines interacted in a powerful and unusual way firstly because the people in the present-day timeline are aware of and actively seeking signs of the people in the English Civil War timeline and secondly because the two groups are sharing the same space, Moresby Woods at different times. It's soon clear that Moresby Woods does strange things to both space and time and the way the timelines are written starts subtly to promote the idea that the two timelines, instead of being sequential are, in some strange way, simultaneous. The first time we know for sure that the two groups are at exactly the same place in different times is when they shelter under a huge oak tree. It's a disquieting experience for both groups and it started leading my imagination along a path where it seemed possible that space might be more important than time in Moresby Woods.
I liked the way the differences and similarities between the groups in each timeline were used to change how I saw Moresby Woods. In each timeline, the groups undergo similar experiences as the weirdness and then the threat to life of travelling through Moresby woods presses in on them. Initially, the differences between the two groups seemed stark. The 1649 group are all male. They have a clear hierarchy. They all believe in God and the devil and the possibility of losing their immortal souls. They start their journey already traumatised by an ambush that wiped out half of their number. The present-day group are all female. They are a mix of academics and forest rangers with a hierarchy that shifts according to circumstance. They all default to a scientific, rational view of the world. They start their journey believing themselves to be safe. The longer the two groups travel in the woods and the more attrition they suffer, the more similar they become. In both groups, stress produces a struggle for leadership. Both groups split between a minority who accept what they see around them and try to learn more about it and those who retreat into their core religious or scientific beliefs as a refuge against or denial of the strangeness that is enveloping them. Both groups start to suffer a loss of agency and begin to surrender themselves to fate.
One of the problems I had with the book was that I found the storytelling in the 1649 timeline to be much more compelling than the storytelling in the contemporary timeline. Partly that was because the 1649 timeline is very well done. The language worked and the attitudes and actions of the people felt authentic. Also, the 1649 storyline starts in blood and carnage and moves swiftly into fear of the unknown and the unnatural, whereas the contemporary timeline has the task of setting both the context for the expedition in terms of academic politics and the historical context and local legends that apply to the 1649 timeline and starts slowly with five women walking through the woods, getting spooked by an unnatural event, getting lost and then arguing about which direction to walk in. I struggled to become engaged with the contemporary timeline not so much because less was going on but because the point of view from which the story was being told kept moving around, lessening the coherence of the experience. By contrast, the 1649 story is told mainly from the point of view of the Captain and one of his Sergeants.
One of the strengths of the book is that it suceeds in making Moresby Woods feel like a threatening presence in both timelines. The academics in the contemporary timeline are able to deny the threat for a little longer than the soldiers in 1649 because they see themselves as competent and rational and they've chosen to be in the woods. The first death in the contemporary timeline changes the tone and starts to bring the experience of the two groups closer together.
I found the last twenty per cent of the story hard to read because, on both timelines, things had become dire. Both stories were filled with unremitting fear and coated in a sort of acceptance that was less fatalism and more an analogue of a wounded animal going into shock. It was well done but hard to bear.
Towards the end of the book, the cast of characters has reduced in both timelines. I liked the contrast between the two groups in the motivation for those who remained and who chose to move forward. The soldiers in 1649 felt the pull of fate and duty and a need to know while the academics were pulled by a determination to be right and an inability to say no.
I hadn't realised how much the book was wearing on my emotions until, with ten per cent left, Alice the leader of the contemporary expedition had a thought that made me go: "That's exactly how I feel too." Here's the line that did it for me:
"{ALICE} couldn't rest here either and she knew it. Onwards to the end which was coming. She had to keep going. If there was something to find out, she had to get to it."
When I reached the end, I found that, while I admired Fiona Barnett's courage in pursuing the central idea behind Moresby Wood to its logical and perhaps inevitable conclusion, I didn't enjoy where she took me.
There was more to admire than to regret in this debut novel and I will be looking out for more work from Fiona Barnett.
I recommend the audiobook version of The Darkness Between The Trees, both of the narrators: Vicky Hall, for the contemporary timeline and Tayla Kovacevic-Ebong for the 1649 timeline, did a great job.
I admired the way The Darkness Between The Trees was structured and the way it used narrative to pursue a complicated and counter-intuitive possibility.
The Darkness Between The Trees used dual timelines to drive the novel in a way that made them more than a device for amping up the suspense by jumping between the two timelines at key moments and using the Then timeline to reveal things that change how the Now timeline is seen Here, the timelines interacted in a powerful and unusual way firstly because the people in the present-day timeline are aware of and actively seeking signs of the people in the English Civil War timeline and secondly because the two groups are sharing the same space, Moresby Woods at different times. It's soon clear that Moresby Woods does strange things to both space and time and the way the timelines are written starts subtly to promote the idea that the two timelines, instead of being sequential are, in some strange way, simultaneous. The first time we know for sure that the two groups are at exactly the same place in different times is when they shelter under a huge oak tree. It's a disquieting experience for both groups and it started leading my imagination along a path where it seemed possible that space might be more important than time in Moresby Woods.
I liked the way the differences and similarities between the groups in each timeline were used to change how I saw Moresby Woods. In each timeline, the groups undergo similar experiences as the weirdness and then the threat to life of travelling through Moresby woods presses in on them. Initially, the differences between the two groups seemed stark. The 1649 group are all male. They have a clear hierarchy. They all believe in God and the devil and the possibility of losing their immortal souls. They start their journey already traumatised by an ambush that wiped out half of their number. The present-day group are all female. They are a mix of academics and forest rangers with a hierarchy that shifts according to circumstance. They all default to a scientific, rational view of the world. They start their journey believing themselves to be safe. The longer the two groups travel in the woods and the more attrition they suffer, the more similar they become. In both groups, stress produces a struggle for leadership. Both groups split between a minority who accept what they see around them and try to learn more about it and those who retreat into their core religious or scientific beliefs as a refuge against or denial of the strangeness that is enveloping them. Both groups start to suffer a loss of agency and begin to surrender themselves to fate.
One of the problems I had with the book was that I found the storytelling in the 1649 timeline to be much more compelling than the storytelling in the contemporary timeline. Partly that was because the 1649 timeline is very well done. The language worked and the attitudes and actions of the people felt authentic. Also, the 1649 storyline starts in blood and carnage and moves swiftly into fear of the unknown and the unnatural, whereas the contemporary timeline has the task of setting both the context for the expedition in terms of academic politics and the historical context and local legends that apply to the 1649 timeline and starts slowly with five women walking through the woods, getting spooked by an unnatural event, getting lost and then arguing about which direction to walk in. I struggled to become engaged with the contemporary timeline not so much because less was going on but because the point of view from which the story was being told kept moving around, lessening the coherence of the experience. By contrast, the 1649 story is told mainly from the point of view of the Captain and one of his Sergeants.
One of the strengths of the book is that it suceeds in making Moresby Woods feel like a threatening presence in both timelines. The academics in the contemporary timeline are able to deny the threat for a little longer than the soldiers in 1649 because they see themselves as competent and rational and they've chosen to be in the woods. The first death in the contemporary timeline changes the tone and starts to bring the experience of the two groups closer together.
I found the last twenty per cent of the story hard to read because, on both timelines, things had become dire. Both stories were filled with unremitting fear and coated in a sort of acceptance that was less fatalism and more an analogue of a wounded animal going into shock. It was well done but hard to bear.
Towards the end of the book, the cast of characters has reduced in both timelines. I liked the contrast between the two groups in the motivation for those who remained and who chose to move forward. The soldiers in 1649 felt the pull of fate and duty and a need to know while the academics were pulled by a determination to be right and an inability to say no.
I hadn't realised how much the book was wearing on my emotions until, with ten per cent left, Alice the leader of the contemporary expedition had a thought that made me go: "That's exactly how I feel too." Here's the line that did it for me:
"{ALICE} couldn't rest here either and she knew it. Onwards to the end which was coming. She had to keep going. If there was something to find out, she had to get to it."
When I reached the end, I found that, while I admired Fiona Barnett's courage in pursuing the central idea behind Moresby Wood to its logical and perhaps inevitable conclusion, I didn't enjoy where she took me.
There was more to admire than to regret in this debut novel and I will be looking out for more work from Fiona Barnett.
I recommend the audiobook version of The Darkness Between The Trees, both of the narrators: Vicky Hall, for the contemporary timeline and Tayla Kovacevic-Ebong for the 1649 timeline, did a great job.
April 21, 2023
Dear god, the writing was rough in this one. I read one chapter and then gave up. It reads like a first draft, full of all the chaff and clumsy sentences that should have been pruned out long before it was published. What a let down
January 19, 2023
truly truly the Terror meets Annihilation.... perfect for the terror girlies who like the woods
April 15, 2022
This is what I love about horror: a creepy setting, rising sense of dread, and simple but driven characters. I was a big fan of the Ritual (the movie) for its simple plot, forest, and villain so while this story doesn't quite reach its level, this is still a great read.
What I liked:
- The setting. I love a mysterious wood with an unseen creature and questions about how it came to be. The addition of two different times (present and hundreds of years ago) was a nice touch, in my opinion, and made things interesting
- The characters didn't grab me but for a horror story, they were solid. They had different motives and distinct personalities and while I didn't care if they lived or died, I could empathize with their situation and motives
- The monster isn't constantly in your face, which I love. It has limited "screen time" and most of what it does happens outside the characters' view
What I didn't like:
- The ending fell flat for me. It felt like a few mysteries were still left unanswered (which I think was the point) but left it not just feeling unsatisfying but incomplete
- I would have preferred we stick to maybe 3-4 POVs instead of the numerous members of the group. Alice had an interesting POV (because she was frustratingly stubborn) but the men and other women all blended together
- The story could get very slow at times and while there's nothing wrong with this slow burn, I found myself hoping something exciting would actually happen when it never did. However, this wasn't a major issue in the book
Overall, a great read for horror fans who love: stories set in the forest, a sense of mystery and exploration, fans of the Ritual or the Descent, and a clean horror that doesn't rely on discomfort or immorality to creep you out. I would recommend this to other horror fans.
[This book was kindly provided as a free e-arc and I greatly appreciate it.]
What I liked:
- The setting. I love a mysterious wood with an unseen creature and questions about how it came to be. The addition of two different times (present and hundreds of years ago) was a nice touch, in my opinion, and made things interesting
- The characters didn't grab me but for a horror story, they were solid. They had different motives and distinct personalities and while I didn't care if they lived or died, I could empathize with their situation and motives
- The monster isn't constantly in your face, which I love. It has limited "screen time" and most of what it does happens outside the characters' view
What I didn't like:
- The ending fell flat for me. It felt like a few mysteries were still left unanswered (which I think was the point) but left it not just feeling unsatisfying but incomplete
- I would have preferred we stick to maybe 3-4 POVs instead of the numerous members of the group. Alice had an interesting POV (because she was frustratingly stubborn) but the men and other women all blended together
- The story could get very slow at times and while there's nothing wrong with this slow burn, I found myself hoping something exciting would actually happen when it never did. However, this wasn't a major issue in the book
Overall, a great read for horror fans who love: stories set in the forest, a sense of mystery and exploration, fans of the Ritual or the Descent, and a clean horror that doesn't rely on discomfort or immorality to creep you out. I would recommend this to other horror fans.
[This book was kindly provided as a free e-arc and I greatly appreciate it.]
May 26, 2023
The people who live near Moresby Forest know to stay clear of it; or if you have to enter it, at least make sure you leave before dark. Its mythos is antediluvian: ancient, murky, biblical. Moresby Forrest: one of the most interesting—and flushed out characters—in the book.
The forest is designated as a “marshy microclimate”; the national park service labeling it “actively dangerous”. There are no man-made paths; compasses/GPS’ do not work; a giant oak tree appears and disappears; and the surroundings appear to change at a drop-of-a-hat. As one character puts it, “What (we were walking through) was not all there was to walk through, and what they were seeing was not all there was to see.”
There is a surreal sense of time, place, and identity throughout the novel. The basic plot is about a group of present-day women who enter the forest to find evidence of a 17th century army company that entered the forest and disappeared. A deserter was the sole witness to the party entering the woods; his story is what impels Dr. Alice Christopher to put together an expedition and—against all advice--enter Moseby Forest.
Through the eyes and thoughts of a couple of men, we learn about what happened in Moresby Forrest after the army deserter left. It is 1643 and Captain Alexander Davis’ battalion has been ambushed by an unseen enemy. Only 17 of the original party make it into the forest; several of whom are injured. Chapters switch between the two groups (the present-day women, and the men in the past) as they experience parallel situations.
This was an enjoyable read. The paranormal juxtaposed over the actual physical and mental hardships of the people involved made for an exciting read.
I would like to thank Netgalley and Solaris Publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.
The forest is designated as a “marshy microclimate”; the national park service labeling it “actively dangerous”. There are no man-made paths; compasses/GPS’ do not work; a giant oak tree appears and disappears; and the surroundings appear to change at a drop-of-a-hat. As one character puts it, “What (we were walking through) was not all there was to walk through, and what they were seeing was not all there was to see.”
There is a surreal sense of time, place, and identity throughout the novel. The basic plot is about a group of present-day women who enter the forest to find evidence of a 17th century army company that entered the forest and disappeared. A deserter was the sole witness to the party entering the woods; his story is what impels Dr. Alice Christopher to put together an expedition and—against all advice--enter Moseby Forest.
Through the eyes and thoughts of a couple of men, we learn about what happened in Moresby Forrest after the army deserter left. It is 1643 and Captain Alexander Davis’ battalion has been ambushed by an unseen enemy. Only 17 of the original party make it into the forest; several of whom are injured. Chapters switch between the two groups (the present-day women, and the men in the past) as they experience parallel situations.
This was an enjoyable read. The paranormal juxtaposed over the actual physical and mental hardships of the people involved made for an exciting read.
I would like to thank Netgalley and Solaris Publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.
October 4, 2022
I just could not get into this book at all! It did not grip me, I did not feel the atmosphere - just dual timelines with dialogue.
I do not know what exactly I was expecting from this book, but nevertheless, it did not deliver.
While reading the book, I felt like I did not care about the characters, the timelines, or the happenings... I just don't know, it just did not gel with me at all.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC!
I do not know what exactly I was expecting from this book, but nevertheless, it did not deliver.
While reading the book, I felt like I did not care about the characters, the timelines, or the happenings... I just don't know, it just did not gel with me at all.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC!
October 6, 2022
Set in two time periods 1643 and the present. I had high hopes for this book but it was so slow. Halfway through this book I nearly gave up. I perservered and it did get better. An Urban legend that did not even raise my pulse. I am sure other readers will enjoy it more just not for me.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for giving an honest review.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for giving an honest review.
January 5, 2023
Pants.
I’ll try and be more constructive later, but it’s hard..
I’ll try and be more constructive later, but it’s hard..
August 11, 2023
Oh man, where do I start? This was supposed to be a quick read. And I guess it kinda was. Took me about 3 hours, including me going back and forth a few pages to reread some confusing parts. The thing is... that was 3 hours over two days, because I kept putting my Kindle down. And that's not a good sign at all.
First of all, the story was – how should I put it – uninteresting. Nothing was happening. Technically, something was: people died/disappeared, the characters told stories about the woods, and they bickered among each other. But it was all very tell-y and not show-y.
There were two timelines. One was set in the present day, and the other was set like 300-400 years in the past. The present-day story was sooo boring, sooo hard to get through. The characters weren't any better. I couldn't care less about any of them or their issues, honestly. Two of the characters, Sue and Kim, were so forgettable that I don't even know who they were and what they were doing. They were pretty much interchangeable in my head. And don't get me started on Nuria. She wasn't forgettable, alright, but she was quite unlikeable.
The other timeline, set in the past, is a bit more interesting, but there were so many characters and not enough differences between them that it was also hard to care at first. Eventually, it got a bit better, and I actually started speed-reading the women's chapters to get to the men's faster.
My second issue is that the story didn't really go anywhere. There was some semblance of a horror story in there, something about a family that disappeared in the woods, but it was never really fleshed out. The author also tried to provide some explanations for the mysteries near the very end, but again, it wasn't fully fleshed out and was definitely not enough. And just when things were getting kinda interesting... the book ends. Just like that. It was so frustrating.
The thing is, this is actually the author's first published book, so I kinda feel bad about this review. Her writing skills are really great. The descriptions were quite vivid, and I can imagine the forest right in front of me. I just couldn't FEEL any of the emotions I think I was supposed to feel, because the story, the characters, the plot – they were all subpar. I can say, unbiased, that she's a good writer, but a decent storyteller, she is not. Hopefully, that changes in the future.
Thanks NetGalley for the free ARC.
First of all, the story was – how should I put it – uninteresting. Nothing was happening. Technically, something was: people died/disappeared, the characters told stories about the woods, and they bickered among each other. But it was all very tell-y and not show-y.
There were two timelines. One was set in the present day, and the other was set like 300-400 years in the past. The present-day story was sooo boring, sooo hard to get through. The characters weren't any better. I couldn't care less about any of them or their issues, honestly. Two of the characters, Sue and Kim, were so forgettable that I don't even know who they were and what they were doing. They were pretty much interchangeable in my head. And don't get me started on Nuria. She wasn't forgettable, alright, but she was quite unlikeable.
The other timeline, set in the past, is a bit more interesting, but there were so many characters and not enough differences between them that it was also hard to care at first. Eventually, it got a bit better, and I actually started speed-reading the women's chapters to get to the men's faster.
My second issue is that the story didn't really go anywhere. There was some semblance of a horror story in there, something about a family that disappeared in the woods, but it was never really fleshed out. The author also tried to provide some explanations for the mysteries near the very end, but again, it wasn't fully fleshed out and was definitely not enough. And just when things were getting kinda interesting... the book ends. Just like that. It was so frustrating.
The thing is, this is actually the author's first published book, so I kinda feel bad about this review. Her writing skills are really great. The descriptions were quite vivid, and I can imagine the forest right in front of me. I just couldn't FEEL any of the emotions I think I was supposed to feel, because the story, the characters, the plot – they were all subpar. I can say, unbiased, that she's a good writer, but a decent storyteller, she is not. Hopefully, that changes in the future.
Thanks NetGalley for the free ARC.
November 3, 2022
The Dark Between The Trees took an unexpected turn, but I can't really say I took much out of my experience with it. While it offers an interesting cast of characters and conflict, it ultimately is a little too straight forward. Bounded by its alternating timeline - The Dark Between The Trees never reaches its full potential in terms of eeriness and scare. I still found some enjoyment in the modern timeline but I couldn't help but feel unsatisfied by the final page.
October 14, 2022
I just finished The dark between the trees by Fiona Barnett
A group of 17th century soldiers end up going into Moresby wood after being ambushed… A place teeming with witchcraft… A place the devil likes to walk.
17 men go in and none come out….
Present day and 5 women go into the woods to see if they can unveil the secrets the woods hold. They are armed with the latest tech and maps, they are ready for anything.
The problem is, they have no idea what they have just walked into.
Did that give you chills? It should have because the whole book has an undercurrent of creepiness that would set the devil himself at ill ease.
Firstly this book is more literary fiction than horror so bear that in mind before you crack it open. I loved the writing. Some serious talent went into these pages and each page delivered the kind of entertainment a serious reader needs.
The plot was fantastic, I actually quite enjoyed the 2 timelines and really felt it bought the whole thing together. Not much in the way of character development for me, but I find that horror reads don’t need that so much. The descriptions of the woods and whole vibe in general really hit the high notes for me.
Don’t get looking for an explanation of the supernatural because you won’t get one. That would usually bother me but as I read this from a literary perspective instead of horror, it worked really well to give the ambience of the unknown.
This book is rock solid so if you are a literary fiction fan who loves a dash of horror then this book is a winner!
4.5 stars!
Thank you #netgalley and #rebellion for my review copy! I thoroughly enjoyed it
A group of 17th century soldiers end up going into Moresby wood after being ambushed… A place teeming with witchcraft… A place the devil likes to walk.
17 men go in and none come out….
Present day and 5 women go into the woods to see if they can unveil the secrets the woods hold. They are armed with the latest tech and maps, they are ready for anything.
The problem is, they have no idea what they have just walked into.
Did that give you chills? It should have because the whole book has an undercurrent of creepiness that would set the devil himself at ill ease.
Firstly this book is more literary fiction than horror so bear that in mind before you crack it open. I loved the writing. Some serious talent went into these pages and each page delivered the kind of entertainment a serious reader needs.
The plot was fantastic, I actually quite enjoyed the 2 timelines and really felt it bought the whole thing together. Not much in the way of character development for me, but I find that horror reads don’t need that so much. The descriptions of the woods and whole vibe in general really hit the high notes for me.
Don’t get looking for an explanation of the supernatural because you won’t get one. That would usually bother me but as I read this from a literary perspective instead of horror, it worked really well to give the ambience of the unknown.
This book is rock solid so if you are a literary fiction fan who loves a dash of horror then this book is a winner!
4.5 stars!
Thank you #netgalley and #rebellion for my review copy! I thoroughly enjoyed it
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