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Dark Woods, Deep Water
In the depths of a remote forest, an enchanted castle preys on unwary travellers. The servants of the Goddess Morana sacrifice to their dark mistress every soul who crosses its threshold . One terrible night, three people who should never have met find themselves trapped there: a spoiled lady escaping an unwanted marriage, an aging warrior-prince on a deadly mission, and a resourceful rogue caught up in a botched heist. As their destinies entwine and the dawn approaches, the solution to the castle’s riddle becomes clear: if they want to escape, one of them must die.
A dark fantasy tale inspired by Slavic folklore, Dark Woods, Deep Water is the debut novel by Croatian author Jelena Dunato. Set in an intricately imagined world that staggers the line between fairytale and brutality, this novel will appeal to fans of Katherine Arden and Naomi Novik, as well as lovers of classic Gothic fiction.
A dark fantasy tale inspired by Slavic folklore, Dark Woods, Deep Water is the debut novel by Croatian author Jelena Dunato. Set in an intricately imagined world that staggers the line between fairytale and brutality, this novel will appeal to fans of Katherine Arden and Naomi Novik, as well as lovers of classic Gothic fiction.
321 pages, Paperback
First published September 19, 2023
31 people are currently reading
6337 people want to read
About the author
Jelena Dunato
24 books130 followersJelena Dunato is an art historian, curator, speculative fiction writer and lover of all things ancient. She grew up in Croatia on a steady diet of adventure novels and then wandered the world for a decade, building a career in the arts.
Jelena’s stories have been published in Beneath Ceaseless Skies, The Dark, Future SF and Mermaids Monthly, among others. She is a member of SFWA and Codex.
Jelena’s stories have been published in Beneath Ceaseless Skies, The Dark, Future SF and Mermaids Monthly, among others. She is a member of SFWA and Codex.
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January 6, 2025Seeing my book here still feels strange.
Dark Woods, Deep Water started as an image and a feeling. The image was a desolate
castle in a snowy forest, the feeling was a deep, hollow yearning, an inevitable sense of loss.
I wanted to write a story about mistakes, about bad choices made in good faith, about people
brought together by misfortune. It had three narrators from the beginning, an elaborate
structure that brought three stories together, and Death at its core.
The story is set in a secondary world inspired by the folklore and history of the Eastern Adriatic. The fans
of Slavic fantasy will find some familiar creatures here, as well as some things that reside only in my head. Growing up in a place with turbulent history, various belief systems and ever-changing cultural identity influenced my writing - the resulting mosaic is now before you.
I hope you will enjoy it.
CW: violence, sexual assault, injury, death
Dark Woods, Deep Water started as an image and a feeling. The image was a desolate
castle in a snowy forest, the feeling was a deep, hollow yearning, an inevitable sense of loss.
I wanted to write a story about mistakes, about bad choices made in good faith, about people
brought together by misfortune. It had three narrators from the beginning, an elaborate
structure that brought three stories together, and Death at its core.
The story is set in a secondary world inspired by the folklore and history of the Eastern Adriatic. The fans
of Slavic fantasy will find some familiar creatures here, as well as some things that reside only in my head. Growing up in a place with turbulent history, various belief systems and ever-changing cultural identity influenced my writing - the resulting mosaic is now before you.
I hope you will enjoy it.
CW: violence, sexual assault, injury, death
September 20, 2023
I, a South Slavic person from the Balkans, am always craving fantasy/gothic/horror books written by actual Slavic authors and I finally got that here, please put your hands together for a round of applause!!!
So imagine my delight when I not only got the arc, but also opened it to see titles like Gospa, Gospodar, Knez and Vlastelin inside. It might not mean much to a non-Slavic reader, but I got an extra kick out of it every time someone's title was used, because it worked so well.
Morana was the main featured Goddess here, but I loved seeing other Slavic Gods and Goddesses get a mention (or appearance) too. And I also loved how well the elements they control were used in the story.
Said story was extremely captivating, like a fairytale. In part this is due to the beautiful writing which made me feel like I was sitting down in front of a warm fire, listening to someone spin a tale from long ago.
There's three PoVs in the story, each interesting in their own way. Ida's ended up being my favourite, despite Elisya's starting off as such (I know!). Because I felt like Ida was the most interesting of the three, and I desperately wanted her to be the one to survive the night.
Elisya changed as the story went on, I wanted her to live out her main character dreams, but sadly it was not meant to be. I somehow thought she'd change for the better though, not worse.
Telani got the least amount of chapters, especially during the second half, and I wasn't sure what to make of him until the very end where I started to like him. So I wish his time to shine came a bit sooner, because he's a pretty cool character.
I also liked Tinka, Orsiana and Prince Amron.
I DID NOT like Volk, but with a name like that he deserves a special mention. I was just waiting for him to turn into a werewolf and devour everything and everyone in sight...which isn't too far from the truth.
Him being who he was, and performing that wedding ceremony was so funny to me, but in a dark way. Like yeah obviously there's no one else in an enchanted castle deep in the sentient woods who could do it, but still!
I *think* this is a standalone, but I'd love a sequel or novella where we follow the characters who survived, even the side ones, because there's a lot more story to tell.
I'd recommend this to anyone who likes their fantasy a bit darker, or more on the gothic side with a pinch of horror, and particularly to other Slavic readers because this is a story that was written for us.
That's not to say you shouldn't give it a chance if you're not Slavic, please, PLEASE do, I'm just saying that I think it hits harder when you already know the mythology and Gods, grew up with them etc. There's little things here and there you'll catch while reading that will feel like coming home.
P. S. Pay attention to the years in each chapter, they're important!!
*Huge thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review*
So imagine my delight when I not only got the arc, but also opened it to see titles like Gospa, Gospodar, Knez and Vlastelin inside. It might not mean much to a non-Slavic reader, but I got an extra kick out of it every time someone's title was used, because it worked so well.
Morana was the main featured Goddess here, but I loved seeing other Slavic Gods and Goddesses get a mention (or appearance) too. And I also loved how well the elements they control were used in the story.
Said story was extremely captivating, like a fairytale. In part this is due to the beautiful writing which made me feel like I was sitting down in front of a warm fire, listening to someone spin a tale from long ago.
There's three PoVs in the story, each interesting in their own way. Ida's ended up being my favourite, despite Elisya's starting off as such (I know!). Because I felt like Ida was the most interesting of the three, and I desperately wanted her to be the one to survive the night.
Elisya changed as the story went on, I wanted her to live out her main character dreams, but sadly it was not meant to be. I somehow thought she'd change for the better though, not worse.
Telani got the least amount of chapters, especially during the second half, and I wasn't sure what to make of him until the very end where I started to like him. So I wish his time to shine came a bit sooner, because he's a pretty cool character.
I also liked Tinka, Orsiana and Prince Amron.
I DID NOT like Volk, but with a name like that he deserves a special mention. I was just waiting for him to turn into a werewolf and devour everything and everyone in sight...which isn't too far from the truth.
Him being who he was, and performing that wedding ceremony was so funny to me, but in a dark way. Like yeah obviously there's no one else in an enchanted castle deep in the sentient woods who could do it, but still!
I *think* this is a standalone, but I'd love a sequel or novella where we follow the characters who survived, even the side ones, because there's a lot more story to tell.
I'd recommend this to anyone who likes their fantasy a bit darker, or more on the gothic side with a pinch of horror, and particularly to other Slavic readers because this is a story that was written for us.
That's not to say you shouldn't give it a chance if you're not Slavic, please, PLEASE do, I'm just saying that I think it hits harder when you already know the mythology and Gods, grew up with them etc. There's little things here and there you'll catch while reading that will feel like coming home.
P. S. Pay attention to the years in each chapter, they're important!!
*Huge thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review*
October 2, 2024
This was a fantastic book; the only reason why it's not a 5 for me is that I feel like it was missing something to attach me emotionally.
Aside from that, we follow three stories that will at one point collide and all of them were interesting and engaging enough to the point I would feel both angry (because I wanted to know more about the current story) and exited (cause I was returning to another that I was equally invested in) at the end of every single chapter.
Aside from that, we follow three stories that will at one point collide and all of them were interesting and engaging enough to the point I would feel both angry (because I wanted to know more about the current story) and exited (cause I was returning to another that I was equally invested in) at the end of every single chapter.
May 5, 2024
So What's It About?
In the depths of a remote forest, an enchanted castle preys on unwary travellers. The servants of the Goddess Morana sacrifice to their dark mistress every soul who crosses its threshold . One terrible night, three people who should never have met find themselves trapped there: a spoiled lady escaping an unwanted marriage, an aging warrior-prince on a deadly mission, and a resourceful rogue caught up in a botched heist. As their destinies entwine and the dawn approaches, the solution to the castle’s riddle becomes clear: if they want to escape, one of them must die.
A dark fantasy tale inspired by Slavic folklore, Dark Woods, Deep Water is the debut novel by Croatian author Jelena Dunato. Set in an intricately imagined world that staggers the line between fairytale and brutality, this novel will appeal to fans of Katherine Arden and Naomi Novik, as well as lovers of classic Gothic fiction.
My Thoughts
Obligatory note: I received my ARC copy of this book from NetGalley.
3.5/5 overall. This is a book replete with dark, menacing atmosphere, and it absolutely hit the spot when I read it. I think the author’s writing is quite strong overall, both in the sense that her prose is quite evocative and in the sense that each character’s perspective is written distinctly and effectively.
In addition to the gloomy, oppressive, haunting atmosphere, I think the character work is another success. The three perspectives are all interesting in and of themselves, to be sure. Ida, a poor rogue who gets trapped in a heist by bad men, is incredibly smart and resourceful, and I wanted her to be okay so badly!! Mercenary-turned-secretary Telani is engaging too, especially because of his extremely understated relationship with his prince master and that relationship’s impact towards the end. Spoiled noble girl Elisya seems to be the most controversial of the three, and I understand why - she careens from one bad decision to another and is very naive and selfish. For me, this is more a reflection on how she was raised by a terrible father to be a useless, ignorant, and decorative wife than a personal indictment of her. Queen Orsiana more or less voices this perspective directly after Elisya is caught in her affair, and it helped me view her more sympathetically. The book notes how she is at once a victim and a victimizer who could be doing more to support the abused servants in the castle, which I thought was a nuanced touch.
The first half puts all the pieces in place for each character to arrive at the cursed castle where they will be trapped in the second half, and unfortunately I don’t think the two halves mesh together very well overall. The pacing changes dramatically, and a lot of plot points get resolved very quickly. I am also not entirely clear about why the curse’s resolution had to work out in as convoluted a way as it did, why the gods had to intervene as obliquely as they did, and why so much time passed before the situation was resolved. That being said, the second half of the book features its most evocative writing and some truly grim imagery that I enjoyed a lot.
I’ll also mention that there is a great deal of rape in this book. Ida’s perspective in particular is interesting because of how she seems to see being used by men as an inevitability that she does not spend a lot of time thinking about beyond a survival/strategy standpoint. Part of me really wishes that her ending could have been different - it is definitely practical that she secures her future by seducing a clueless wealthy man, but I couldn’t help but want more for her. Then again, the tone of this book is fairly bleak overall and the other characters’ endings are bittersweet at best, so maybe it is fitting. There are definitely hints at a sequel in Telani’s ending. If so, I will absolutely be interested in checking it out due to this book’s uniqueness and strengths.
In the depths of a remote forest, an enchanted castle preys on unwary travellers. The servants of the Goddess Morana sacrifice to their dark mistress every soul who crosses its threshold . One terrible night, three people who should never have met find themselves trapped there: a spoiled lady escaping an unwanted marriage, an aging warrior-prince on a deadly mission, and a resourceful rogue caught up in a botched heist. As their destinies entwine and the dawn approaches, the solution to the castle’s riddle becomes clear: if they want to escape, one of them must die.
A dark fantasy tale inspired by Slavic folklore, Dark Woods, Deep Water is the debut novel by Croatian author Jelena Dunato. Set in an intricately imagined world that staggers the line between fairytale and brutality, this novel will appeal to fans of Katherine Arden and Naomi Novik, as well as lovers of classic Gothic fiction.
My Thoughts
Obligatory note: I received my ARC copy of this book from NetGalley.
3.5/5 overall. This is a book replete with dark, menacing atmosphere, and it absolutely hit the spot when I read it. I think the author’s writing is quite strong overall, both in the sense that her prose is quite evocative and in the sense that each character’s perspective is written distinctly and effectively.
In addition to the gloomy, oppressive, haunting atmosphere, I think the character work is another success. The three perspectives are all interesting in and of themselves, to be sure. Ida, a poor rogue who gets trapped in a heist by bad men, is incredibly smart and resourceful, and I wanted her to be okay so badly!! Mercenary-turned-secretary Telani is engaging too, especially because of his extremely understated relationship with his prince master and that relationship’s impact towards the end. Spoiled noble girl Elisya seems to be the most controversial of the three, and I understand why - she careens from one bad decision to another and is very naive and selfish. For me, this is more a reflection on how she was raised by a terrible father to be a useless, ignorant, and decorative wife than a personal indictment of her. Queen Orsiana more or less voices this perspective directly after Elisya is caught in her affair, and it helped me view her more sympathetically. The book notes how she is at once a victim and a victimizer who could be doing more to support the abused servants in the castle, which I thought was a nuanced touch.
The first half puts all the pieces in place for each character to arrive at the cursed castle where they will be trapped in the second half, and unfortunately I don’t think the two halves mesh together very well overall. The pacing changes dramatically, and a lot of plot points get resolved very quickly. I am also not entirely clear about why the curse’s resolution had to work out in as convoluted a way as it did, why the gods had to intervene as obliquely as they did, and why so much time passed before the situation was resolved. That being said, the second half of the book features its most evocative writing and some truly grim imagery that I enjoyed a lot.
I’ll also mention that there is a great deal of rape in this book. Ida’s perspective in particular is interesting because of how she seems to see being used by men as an inevitability that she does not spend a lot of time thinking about beyond a survival/strategy standpoint. Part of me really wishes that her ending could have been different - it is definitely practical that she secures her future by seducing a clueless wealthy man, but I couldn’t help but want more for her. Then again, the tone of this book is fairly bleak overall and the other characters’ endings are bittersweet at best, so maybe it is fitting. There are definitely hints at a sequel in Telani’s ending. If so, I will absolutely be interested in checking it out due to this book’s uniqueness and strengths.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 11, 2023
NetGalley ARC
“Dark Woods, Deep Water” is a story told by three narrators: Ida, a clever young rogue trying to escape a hard life; Telani, a faithful old soldier turned secretary to a tired warrior prince, and Elisya, a naïve young lady who believes her life will be a fairy tale.
It takes a few chapters to meet all the characters and for their stories to get going, but they’re all interesting and have very distinct voices. Once they pull you in, the book becomes unputdownable.
Basically, I think this is a story about bad choices. Elisya, the most frustrating and silly of the three, constantly makes them, each worse than the previous one. She falls in love with the wrong man, makes stupid plans, makes enemies of people who have power over her and generally ruins everything she touches. She is like a YA character who has stumbled into a very dark fantasy – and that’s why it’s so hard to hate her. She’s foolish and cowardly, but she’s not evil.
Ida is her perfect opposite: intelligent, resourceful and just immoral enough to be interesting. She’s the easiest character to root for, the most fun to spend time with, and she deserves every good thing that comes her way. She makes mistakes, but she doesn’t expect anyone to save her. If you’re looking for a strong female lead, she’s perfect.
Telani is trickier to figure out, because he comes as a unit with his master, the prince. Their act is somewhere between a hero and his sidekick and two old veterans bickering about life. His story was the most heartbreaking for me because he was neither foolish, like Elisya, not calculating, like Ida. He is one of those people who see the disaster unravelling but are unable to stop it.
The three stories meet in a very surprising, twisted finale in a cursed castle. The pieces of the plot fall into their slots like a puzzle, creating a claustrophobic atmosphere of dread. The castle itself is almost like a character in the story – alive, malevolent and inhabited by monsters. It gives off a deliciously eerie gothic vibe with some Slavic folklore thrown in.
It’s hard to say more without revealing too much of the plot, but this book is perfect for people who like very dark stories with clever twists and strong-voiced narrators.
“Dark Woods, Deep Water” is a story told by three narrators: Ida, a clever young rogue trying to escape a hard life; Telani, a faithful old soldier turned secretary to a tired warrior prince, and Elisya, a naïve young lady who believes her life will be a fairy tale.
It takes a few chapters to meet all the characters and for their stories to get going, but they’re all interesting and have very distinct voices. Once they pull you in, the book becomes unputdownable.
Basically, I think this is a story about bad choices. Elisya, the most frustrating and silly of the three, constantly makes them, each worse than the previous one. She falls in love with the wrong man, makes stupid plans, makes enemies of people who have power over her and generally ruins everything she touches. She is like a YA character who has stumbled into a very dark fantasy – and that’s why it’s so hard to hate her. She’s foolish and cowardly, but she’s not evil.
Ida is her perfect opposite: intelligent, resourceful and just immoral enough to be interesting. She’s the easiest character to root for, the most fun to spend time with, and she deserves every good thing that comes her way. She makes mistakes, but she doesn’t expect anyone to save her. If you’re looking for a strong female lead, she’s perfect.
Telani is trickier to figure out, because he comes as a unit with his master, the prince. Their act is somewhere between a hero and his sidekick and two old veterans bickering about life. His story was the most heartbreaking for me because he was neither foolish, like Elisya, not calculating, like Ida. He is one of those people who see the disaster unravelling but are unable to stop it.
The three stories meet in a very surprising, twisted finale in a cursed castle. The pieces of the plot fall into their slots like a puzzle, creating a claustrophobic atmosphere of dread. The castle itself is almost like a character in the story – alive, malevolent and inhabited by monsters. It gives off a deliciously eerie gothic vibe with some Slavic folklore thrown in.
It’s hard to say more without revealing too much of the plot, but this book is perfect for people who like very dark stories with clever twists and strong-voiced narrators.
April 19, 2025
4.5/5
This is a very underrated gothic dark fairytale.
Had this been written a few centuries ago this would have been part of the Grimm brothers collection.
Three POV with their own separated stories, their own motivations and goals, and all of them touching magic in a way or another.
A creepy castle, an enchanted forest and a knight who escaped Death. I'm gonna need everyone to read this.
This is a very underrated gothic dark fairytale.
Had this been written a few centuries ago this would have been part of the Grimm brothers collection.
Three POV with their own separated stories, their own motivations and goals, and all of them touching magic in a way or another.
A creepy castle, an enchanted forest and a knight who escaped Death. I'm gonna need everyone to read this.
September 19, 2023
A fabulous dark Gothic fantasy that will take you on a journey through an enchanted forest to a castle ruled by a vengeful goddess.
The story follows three protagonists - a clever rogue, an old soldier and a spoiled noble girl. The first half reads like a fairy tale adventure, as the characters travel (and make fateful decisions). I almost didn't pay attention to the dates at the beginnings of chapters - big mistake - because they show you the span of the story is 40 years. At first that seems strange, but once all the pieces click together and the narrators reach the castle, the mystery becomes clear.
I just want to add that I absolutely loved Telani and his prince. They were a heartbreaking duo and I hope there will be more stories about them.
The story follows three protagonists - a clever rogue, an old soldier and a spoiled noble girl. The first half reads like a fairy tale adventure, as the characters travel (and make fateful decisions). I almost didn't pay attention to the dates at the beginnings of chapters - big mistake - because they show you the span of the story is 40 years. At first that seems strange, but once all the pieces click together and the narrators reach the castle, the mystery becomes clear.
I just want to add that I absolutely loved Telani and his prince. They were a heartbreaking duo and I hope there will be more stories about them.
July 10, 2023
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book. Here is my honest review:
I’m a massive folklore, dark fantasy, and Gothic lit geek. That being said, Dark Woods, Deep Water by Jelena Dunato is a fulfilling and atmospheric blend of all three. For me, that’s a dream!
Dunato draws inspiration from Slavic folklore and successfully brings that glittering darkness I’ve come to connect with Slavic folklore into your mind. We have three perspectives: an aging prince on his last adventure, a young woman who falls into the trap of romanticizing legends, and an almost-brigand just making an attempt at surviving the world.
None of the three had much business being connected in any way, yet a hungry goddess of Death makes it so. All are at her mercy after stumbling across an illusioned castle in terrifying woods.
The hold of the castle seeps in slowly throughout most of the book and you’re in the midst of a Gothic nightmare before you even fully realize it. It gives the creeping sense of "oh, this is going to be weird in the best way" that makes your stomach feel like it's turning over with anxiety/anticipation. Which is exactly as it should be! I’d love to read some short stories of the other nightmare hunts.
The writing is quality, and I enjoyed how it went from feeling like an innocent, simple folk tale to a dark, Gothic horror fantasy.
Great for fans of Naomi Novik and Hannah Whitten.
I’m excited to order this when it publishes in September!
I’m a massive folklore, dark fantasy, and Gothic lit geek. That being said, Dark Woods, Deep Water by Jelena Dunato is a fulfilling and atmospheric blend of all three. For me, that’s a dream!
Dunato draws inspiration from Slavic folklore and successfully brings that glittering darkness I’ve come to connect with Slavic folklore into your mind. We have three perspectives: an aging prince on his last adventure, a young woman who falls into the trap of romanticizing legends, and an almost-brigand just making an attempt at surviving the world.
None of the three had much business being connected in any way, yet a hungry goddess of Death makes it so. All are at her mercy after stumbling across an illusioned castle in terrifying woods.
The hold of the castle seeps in slowly throughout most of the book and you’re in the midst of a Gothic nightmare before you even fully realize it. It gives the creeping sense of "oh, this is going to be weird in the best way" that makes your stomach feel like it's turning over with anxiety/anticipation. Which is exactly as it should be! I’d love to read some short stories of the other nightmare hunts.
The writing is quality, and I enjoyed how it went from feeling like an innocent, simple folk tale to a dark, Gothic horror fantasy.
Great for fans of Naomi Novik and Hannah Whitten.
I’m excited to order this when it publishes in September!
November 5, 2023
First, i’d like to thank the author, Jelena Dunato, for emailing me an ARC of this wonderful book!
“But gods don’t care for such things, and the world goes on, the sun rises and sets, the days go by. And you realise your sorrow is ridiculous.”
“sometimes it is easier to cry in front of a total stranger. A broken heart is not so very rare.”
The book starts off with Ida, a clever rogue, who talks about how much we can trust her:
“I’m a pretty girl with big eyes, so I am sure you want to hear my story. Which one do you want, the happy or the sad one? We barely know each other, so let us start cheerfully.”
She then proceeds to say:
“Feel free to choose the story you like the best; it is all the same to me.”
Then, we have Elisya, a naive princess, after being in her father’s domain for a little too long, knowing nothing about the world outside her. Her bad decisions and inexperience outside the world leads her to wish for a life she could never have and live a life she never wanted.
Next, we have Telani, the loyal and old soldier turned secretary to a worn out warrior prince, just trying to accompany his lord in extremely dangerous quests.
You don’t really get to meet the three of them together in the start, making it look like they have no business together at all, but as you read further, this book is basically a puzzle being finished slowly by the goddess Morana herself, piecing the three of their lives to meet in the castle.
Now that i’ve mentioned the castle, the castle itself seemed like it had it’s own character! A very gothic, old and cursed castle with illusions one does not want to visualise.
The story was slow at first, making me curious on where this is going to go, but as i kept reading, everything that was taking place in the castle kept me through the pages till the end!
Was there moments i was disappointed with the book? I would say yes. The ending seemed pretty rushed to be honest.
Dunato did a really good job on setting the atmosphere in the start. The descriptions on whatever was happening was very clear, and easy to understand! Though the end was quite rushed, the story was still a very good start for a debut novel!
“But gods don’t care for such things, and the world goes on, the sun rises and sets, the days go by. And you realise your sorrow is ridiculous.”
“sometimes it is easier to cry in front of a total stranger. A broken heart is not so very rare.”
The book starts off with Ida, a clever rogue, who talks about how much we can trust her:
“I’m a pretty girl with big eyes, so I am sure you want to hear my story. Which one do you want, the happy or the sad one? We barely know each other, so let us start cheerfully.”
She then proceeds to say:
“Feel free to choose the story you like the best; it is all the same to me.”
Then, we have Elisya, a naive princess, after being in her father’s domain for a little too long, knowing nothing about the world outside her. Her bad decisions and inexperience outside the world leads her to wish for a life she could never have and live a life she never wanted.
Next, we have Telani, the loyal and old soldier turned secretary to a worn out warrior prince, just trying to accompany his lord in extremely dangerous quests.
You don’t really get to meet the three of them together in the start, making it look like they have no business together at all, but as you read further, this book is basically a puzzle being finished slowly by the goddess Morana herself, piecing the three of their lives to meet in the castle.
Now that i’ve mentioned the castle, the castle itself seemed like it had it’s own character! A very gothic, old and cursed castle with illusions one does not want to visualise.
The story was slow at first, making me curious on where this is going to go, but as i kept reading, everything that was taking place in the castle kept me through the pages till the end!
Was there moments i was disappointed with the book? I would say yes. The ending seemed pretty rushed to be honest.
Dunato did a really good job on setting the atmosphere in the start. The descriptions on whatever was happening was very clear, and easy to understand! Though the end was quite rushed, the story was still a very good start for a debut novel!
June 22, 2023
Thank you Netgalley for the review copy!
This Slavic folklore-inspired fantasy novel has a great premise. Three strangers find themselves together in a creepy castle in an enchanted forest. Their destinies are intertwined by familial relations and an old curse brought on by the Goddess of Death, Morana. Their journeys start in different places, their stories set in motion by a series of unfortunate events. When they find themselves in the decrepit castle and its everchanging labyrinth of corridors, one has to die for the others to live. Will the chosen one break the curse?
Dark Woods, Deep Water is told in three POVs. First, we meet Ida – a young trickster forced to fight her way from the hands of her mentor Dr. Bellemus. After trading herself to a group of young men, she ends up helping them rob the owner of the castle. Then we meet Telani, a secretary to Prince Amron of Larion. Prince Amron is the king's uncle, and he is on a mission to retrieve Raden, a boy with the gift of divination, who is a threat to the king. Once they had taken the boy, they lost their way in the forest in a snowstorm. And finally, we meet Elisya, the girl whose unfortunate love affair led her to the son of the castle's owner. What is the string that ties them together, and how will their fates mesh together? Does Morana have the answer?
The first half of the story was truly promising. While the pacing was slow, I was intrigued to see where the story goes. Dunato introduces us to these compelling characters, slowly building up the world and crafting a crescendoing atmosphere until Elisya finds herself inside the castle. The overall atmosphere is adventurous, and the fantasy storytelling is strong. I liked how Dunato uses Croatian words like gospodar (lord), gospa (lady), and vlastelin (landowner) as titles for characters. There is a lot of exposition in the first couple of chapters as we navigate the rich world of a variety of characters and their relations. Ultimately, few of those characters remain relevant.
The second half was a bit disappointing and underwhelming. The setting shifts to the inside of the castle's walls. In the castle, the three main characters face immense darkness, rot, and utter deterioration, disguised under the veil of the curse. Instead of seeing the true nature of the building, they see astounding decor, tables covered in food, and winding corridors. I was not as intrigued by this part of the story. It felt as if the story's focus shifted into uncharted territory. By the end of the story, Dunato loses her voice and leads her characters astray. In contrast to an ambitious start, the ending is abrupt, weird, and unfitting.
This Slavic folklore-inspired fantasy novel has a great premise. Three strangers find themselves together in a creepy castle in an enchanted forest. Their destinies are intertwined by familial relations and an old curse brought on by the Goddess of Death, Morana. Their journeys start in different places, their stories set in motion by a series of unfortunate events. When they find themselves in the decrepit castle and its everchanging labyrinth of corridors, one has to die for the others to live. Will the chosen one break the curse?
Dark Woods, Deep Water is told in three POVs. First, we meet Ida – a young trickster forced to fight her way from the hands of her mentor Dr. Bellemus. After trading herself to a group of young men, she ends up helping them rob the owner of the castle. Then we meet Telani, a secretary to Prince Amron of Larion. Prince Amron is the king's uncle, and he is on a mission to retrieve Raden, a boy with the gift of divination, who is a threat to the king. Once they had taken the boy, they lost their way in the forest in a snowstorm. And finally, we meet Elisya, the girl whose unfortunate love affair led her to the son of the castle's owner. What is the string that ties them together, and how will their fates mesh together? Does Morana have the answer?
The first half of the story was truly promising. While the pacing was slow, I was intrigued to see where the story goes. Dunato introduces us to these compelling characters, slowly building up the world and crafting a crescendoing atmosphere until Elisya finds herself inside the castle. The overall atmosphere is adventurous, and the fantasy storytelling is strong. I liked how Dunato uses Croatian words like gospodar (lord), gospa (lady), and vlastelin (landowner) as titles for characters. There is a lot of exposition in the first couple of chapters as we navigate the rich world of a variety of characters and their relations. Ultimately, few of those characters remain relevant.
The second half was a bit disappointing and underwhelming. The setting shifts to the inside of the castle's walls. In the castle, the three main characters face immense darkness, rot, and utter deterioration, disguised under the veil of the curse. Instead of seeing the true nature of the building, they see astounding decor, tables covered in food, and winding corridors. I was not as intrigued by this part of the story. It felt as if the story's focus shifted into uncharted territory. By the end of the story, Dunato loses her voice and leads her characters astray. In contrast to an ambitious start, the ending is abrupt, weird, and unfitting.
September 13, 2023
Review originally on JamReads
Dark Woods, Deep Water is the debut novel of Jelena Dunato, an excellent example of what could be called Slavic folk horror, with some touches of Gothic Horror, published by Ghost Orchid Press. With a rather unconventional narrative style, Dunato tells a story inspired by Slavic mythology, following three characters whose fates will meet one night on an enchanted castle which preys on the unaware travellers.
Talking about the main characters, the first of them will be Ida, a trickster that after being traded by her mentor to a group of robbers, will end on this castle helping them to steal to the castle's owner, being unaware of the real nature of it. After this, we meet Elysia, a young and naive girl, whose bad decisions taken because of her inexperience outside of her father's domains, will end with her marrying to the son of the castle's owner. And finally, we have Telani, secretary to prince Amrion, who is on a mission to retrieve a boy by the king's orders; in the middle of a snowstorm, they seek shelter in this castle.
Each one of those characters has its own POV, with Dunato making an excellent job of giving each one a distinctive voice and characteristics; while some of their choices might be frustrating (especially with Elysia), they are justified by their past.
In the first half of this book, Dunato slowly introduces us to these characters, while creating a highly immersive world, full of details that allow us to grasp those Slavic inspirations. There's a certain aura of mystery around these characters, which goes in crescendo until Elysia ends marrying the Gospodar of that castle; you can guess there's something building behind the scenes.
And that's where the second half of this book is used to introduce a big change in the mood, passing from being a book which was closer to folk fantasy to a darker book, which absolutely nails the gothic horror atmosphere. Instead of an enormous world where our characters are travelling, we are in an oppressive castle, where the cultists of Morana are trying to finish with them. The pace is quite frenetic, quite fitting for the danger our characters are experiencing.
Dark Woods, Deep Water is a highly immersive novel, set in an imaginative world whose Slavic influences are marvelously introduced. If you like folk inspired horror, and are looking for a different kind of book, give this one a try!
Dark Woods, Deep Water is the debut novel of Jelena Dunato, an excellent example of what could be called Slavic folk horror, with some touches of Gothic Horror, published by Ghost Orchid Press. With a rather unconventional narrative style, Dunato tells a story inspired by Slavic mythology, following three characters whose fates will meet one night on an enchanted castle which preys on the unaware travellers.
Talking about the main characters, the first of them will be Ida, a trickster that after being traded by her mentor to a group of robbers, will end on this castle helping them to steal to the castle's owner, being unaware of the real nature of it. After this, we meet Elysia, a young and naive girl, whose bad decisions taken because of her inexperience outside of her father's domains, will end with her marrying to the son of the castle's owner. And finally, we have Telani, secretary to prince Amrion, who is on a mission to retrieve a boy by the king's orders; in the middle of a snowstorm, they seek shelter in this castle.
Each one of those characters has its own POV, with Dunato making an excellent job of giving each one a distinctive voice and characteristics; while some of their choices might be frustrating (especially with Elysia), they are justified by their past.
In the first half of this book, Dunato slowly introduces us to these characters, while creating a highly immersive world, full of details that allow us to grasp those Slavic inspirations. There's a certain aura of mystery around these characters, which goes in crescendo until Elysia ends marrying the Gospodar of that castle; you can guess there's something building behind the scenes.
And that's where the second half of this book is used to introduce a big change in the mood, passing from being a book which was closer to folk fantasy to a darker book, which absolutely nails the gothic horror atmosphere. Instead of an enormous world where our characters are travelling, we are in an oppressive castle, where the cultists of Morana are trying to finish with them. The pace is quite frenetic, quite fitting for the danger our characters are experiencing.
Dark Woods, Deep Water is a highly immersive novel, set in an imaginative world whose Slavic influences are marvelously introduced. If you like folk inspired horror, and are looking for a different kind of book, give this one a try!
January 19, 2024
After sitting with my impressions, this is still in the 3 to 3.5 star range. I think it's a pretty good debut and might try the author again one day; it's not as memorable as I'd hoped. I was engaged while actively reading it, but every time I set the book down, it felt like I wouldn't miss much by not finishing the story.
I do like the Eastern European mythological background, and I think that depth made this feel fresher than many other folklore-infused stories I've tried lately. The author also has a gift for distinct narrative voices. Two of the POV characters are teenage girls, but they've had vastly different life experiences (as a naive noblewoman and a girl struggling to survive), and those mindsets come through clearly in their narration.
On the other hand, it was just hard to tell if I was missing out on useful context from stories I hadn't heard before (maybe I need to read some Croatian folktales?) or if the balance of the story was just off in focusing on how one non-POV character was being drawn into a trap after an old bargain with the gods. I was interested to read his story more than the one that was being told, I think. I also would have liked more of a sense of the unusual characterization of characters trapped unaging in a dark castle, but the forty-year time jump between some of the POV segments leaves that out.
Overall, this was an interesting read that makes me more interested in the region's folklore than in these characters or main plot in particular.
Content warnings: moderate to severe;
//
3 to 3.5 stars for me. I'm particularly impressed by the varied voices-- there are three first-person POVs and all three are strikingly different from each other, which is so rare in debut novels. The story itself didn't fully grip me, though, and I kept feeling like this was a sequel to a book I hadn't read. There's a lot of rich, intriguing history driving the third POV, but it's frustratingly out of focus in a way that makes the ending somewhat cloudy. Overall, interesting, and it makes me want to explore more Eastern European fantasy. RTC.
I do like the Eastern European mythological background, and I think that depth made this feel fresher than many other folklore-infused stories I've tried lately. The author also has a gift for distinct narrative voices. Two of the POV characters are teenage girls, but they've had vastly different life experiences (as a naive noblewoman and a girl struggling to survive), and those mindsets come through clearly in their narration.
On the other hand, it was just hard to tell if I was missing out on useful context from stories I hadn't heard before (maybe I need to read some Croatian folktales?) or if the balance of the story was just off in focusing on how one non-POV character was being drawn into a trap after an old bargain with the gods. I was interested to read his story more than the one that was being told, I think. I also would have liked more of a sense of the unusual characterization of characters trapped unaging in a dark castle, but the forty-year time jump between some of the POV segments leaves that out.
Overall, this was an interesting read that makes me more interested in the region's folklore than in these characters or main plot in particular.
Content warnings: moderate to severe;
//
3 to 3.5 stars for me. I'm particularly impressed by the varied voices-- there are three first-person POVs and all three are strikingly different from each other, which is so rare in debut novels. The story itself didn't fully grip me, though, and I kept feeling like this was a sequel to a book I hadn't read. There's a lot of rich, intriguing history driving the third POV, but it's frustratingly out of focus in a way that makes the ending somewhat cloudy. Overall, interesting, and it makes me want to explore more Eastern European fantasy. RTC.
July 26, 2023
One of the best debuts I've read recently.
Dunato wrote short stories before she wrote the novel. And you can see it! The book - especially its first half - has this amazing atmosphere of adventure. "They go, they go, and people, gods and events meet them along the way".
The other half... the other half is full of Gothic horror. And slightly worse.
But let's start from the beginning.
We have 3 POV here - a folk girl, trying to survive, a daughter of a lord, in love with fairy tales, and a companion of a true hero, loyal to the core. Each of the characters is different, has a different characters and life experiences. And their behaviors reflect those differences. Faced with the same threat, the three of them will react differently and draw different conclusions.
It's obvious that the author put a lot of thought into creating the characters.
However, she was not able to avoid some problems. Sometimes the characters behave irrationally, sometimes we - as readers - do not get enough reasons behind this or that decision. It's the most evident in Elisya (young lady) behavior. We have to add up the decades of her life and the reasons why her character developed in this one particular direction.
The Slavic inspiration is more visible in the atmosphere of the story and its ending than, for example, in the monsters etc. You can also see elements rom a Gothic horror here - a mysterious castle, a curse, the lord of the castle, shrouded in evil legend, and his sad, but beautiful, wife.
But was I scared at least once while reading? No.
What fails was the ending.
After a rather slow, unhurried pace of story development, suddenly there is too much of everything. Dunato closes all plots. At the same time. Chaos ensues, which isn't hard to follow, but which causes... boredom. At the moment, when I should be turning the pages with the greatest commitment, I was most bored.
Still - it's a debut, so I'm not surprised by some shortcomings, and I turn a blind eye to them.
What did I like the most? Message.
Want a good life? You must keep a cool head and take matters into your own hands. Nothing good will come from dreaming of knights and someone to save you from the tower.
* * * * *
NetGalley ARC, sorry for typos 😶🥲
Dunato wrote short stories before she wrote the novel. And you can see it! The book - especially its first half - has this amazing atmosphere of adventure. "They go, they go, and people, gods and events meet them along the way".
The other half... the other half is full of Gothic horror. And slightly worse.
But let's start from the beginning.
We have 3 POV here - a folk girl, trying to survive, a daughter of a lord, in love with fairy tales, and a companion of a true hero, loyal to the core. Each of the characters is different, has a different characters and life experiences. And their behaviors reflect those differences. Faced with the same threat, the three of them will react differently and draw different conclusions.
It's obvious that the author put a lot of thought into creating the characters.
However, she was not able to avoid some problems. Sometimes the characters behave irrationally, sometimes we - as readers - do not get enough reasons behind this or that decision. It's the most evident in Elisya (young lady) behavior. We have to add up the decades of her life and the reasons why her character developed in this one particular direction.
The Slavic inspiration is more visible in the atmosphere of the story and its ending than, for example, in the monsters etc. You can also see elements rom a Gothic horror here - a mysterious castle, a curse, the lord of the castle, shrouded in evil legend, and his sad, but beautiful, wife.
But was I scared at least once while reading? No.
What fails was the ending.
After a rather slow, unhurried pace of story development, suddenly there is too much of everything. Dunato closes all plots. At the same time. Chaos ensues, which isn't hard to follow, but which causes... boredom. At the moment, when I should be turning the pages with the greatest commitment, I was most bored.
Still - it's a debut, so I'm not surprised by some shortcomings, and I turn a blind eye to them.
What did I like the most? Message.
Want a good life? You must keep a cool head and take matters into your own hands. Nothing good will come from dreaming of knights and someone to save you from the tower.
* * * * *
NetGalley ARC, sorry for typos 😶🥲
June 7, 2023
Netgalley ARC:
This was a thoroughly enjoyable book, and one that I really enjoyed getting the chance to read. The plot was definitely the main appeal, with a mystery that stretched over 40 years, just waiting to be pieced together. When it eventually came to fruition about halfway through the book, it was satisfying, logical, and entertaining.
Although I felt that this took slightly too long to get going, that's my only criticism of the text. It was made up for in an impressive second half, which moved at a fast pace and was utterly unputdownable.
These characters were all delightful, especially Ida, who was practical to a fault and just immoral enough to be worth the time. She knew what she wanted and how to get it, and I can respect that hustle. Elisya was a great foil to her, with her innocence and somewhat frustrating insistence on treating the world like a story. I think my favourite was Telani though, because I'm a sucker for a guy and his Lord, and for secretaries who definitely aren't kept around for their letter writing ability.
Truly a great book, and I'm looking forward to more from the author- maybe even more from this world because that last chapter left me with so many questions!
This was a thoroughly enjoyable book, and one that I really enjoyed getting the chance to read. The plot was definitely the main appeal, with a mystery that stretched over 40 years, just waiting to be pieced together. When it eventually came to fruition about halfway through the book, it was satisfying, logical, and entertaining.
Although I felt that this took slightly too long to get going, that's my only criticism of the text. It was made up for in an impressive second half, which moved at a fast pace and was utterly unputdownable.
These characters were all delightful, especially Ida, who was practical to a fault and just immoral enough to be worth the time. She knew what she wanted and how to get it, and I can respect that hustle. Elisya was a great foil to her, with her innocence and somewhat frustrating insistence on treating the world like a story. I think my favourite was Telani though, because I'm a sucker for a guy and his Lord, and for secretaries who definitely aren't kept around for their letter writing ability.
Truly a great book, and I'm looking forward to more from the author- maybe even more from this world because that last chapter left me with so many questions!
July 5, 2025
Dvije zvijezde ne izgledaju dobro, znam, ali nisam se mogla prisiliti zaokruziti na vise. Možda nije fer, s obzirom na to koliko sam uzivala u prvoj polovici knjige, ali upravo je u tome razlog - ocekivala sam vise.
Jednom kad su se tri POV-a susrela, moj entuzijazam je splašnjavao sa svakim sljedećim poglavljem. Zbog druge polovice knjige i prva je pocela djelovati nezgrapno, neki dijelovi koji su mi bili odlicni - suvisno. Karakterizacija koja je bila na razini, odjednom je nestala u nekoj zurbi da se stvar zavrsi, zbog cega je patila i atmosfera koja je trebala biti mracna i beznadna (mislim).
Jelena Dunato ostaje na popisu autora koje cu pratiti i citati, jer ovu je knjigu napisala osoba koja ima dobar osjecaj za likove, zna stvoriti dobru atmosferu i utjerati strah u kosti, a bogme jako dobro zna da ne treba potcjenjivati citatelja i objasnjavati mu sve u tancine.
Prijevod je daleko od savrsenog, ali nije toliko los da utjece na kvalitetu, sto mi je drago jer je hrvatsko izdanje Naklade Morana prekrasno.
Jednom kad su se tri POV-a susrela, moj entuzijazam je splašnjavao sa svakim sljedećim poglavljem. Zbog druge polovice knjige i prva je pocela djelovati nezgrapno, neki dijelovi koji su mi bili odlicni - suvisno. Karakterizacija koja je bila na razini, odjednom je nestala u nekoj zurbi da se stvar zavrsi, zbog cega je patila i atmosfera koja je trebala biti mracna i beznadna (mislim).
Jelena Dunato ostaje na popisu autora koje cu pratiti i citati, jer ovu je knjigu napisala osoba koja ima dobar osjecaj za likove, zna stvoriti dobru atmosferu i utjerati strah u kosti, a bogme jako dobro zna da ne treba potcjenjivati citatelja i objasnjavati mu sve u tancine.
Prijevod je daleko od savrsenog, ali nije toliko los da utjece na kvalitetu, sto mi je drago jer je hrvatsko izdanje Naklade Morana prekrasno.
September 27, 2023
An absolutely fantastic piece of storytelling. Three unique characters dvd up falling into a dangerous castle where magic, myth and gods await. Original, lyrically written and I loved it
Full review - https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/bl...
Full review - https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/bl...
September 8, 2023
I abhorred turning real people into legends and heroes. It glossed over the pain and loss; it ignored the price they paid.
I started reading this book at a very good point this year - right after I was done with The Witcher's first book, which was a total disaster for me. So, it was just what I needed, meaning a true slavic, goth horror story.
Not gonna lie, not all of it was a page-turner. Elisya's parts were awful to read through - the woman had a real case of "main hero syndrome". She thought she was the center of the universe, that she would meet her prince charming, that even after being humiliated and cast aside the guy who was the cause of it all would actually come for her. Hell, even after she had lived for so long in that damn castle, with people dying left and right and her being pretty much an accessory to, well, murder - or genocide at this point - she still sat there all depressed and sighing and hoping for a hero to come rescue HER! I was really hoping she would "hero-up" and be her own savior, but...
And don't even get me started on Raden! What is wrong with all the noble-born brats in this book?! Were Amron and Queen Osriana the only reasonable and nice ones around? (which is kind of ironic, given the fact everyone had such a low opinion on those two, fearing them and talking behind their backs, when they were actually really kind and wise, just because they didn't take bullshit from anyone)
What really made the story enjoyable was Ida and Telani. Admittedly, the old warrior had my heart, and what happened to his prince will forever be an injustice in my eyes, but the pacing in his parts - and Ida's, too - were a joy to read. It showed the troubles of a lower social class, people that were trying to get by, either by serving someone else or by trying to cheat others in order to survive. They were humble but knew their strengths, and while they had their selfish flaws, they still were humane enough to care for those that helped them even a little.
One thing that honestly sets the horror mood here was at first the dates under the names in each chapter. I didn't give it much thought when I saw it, and then I realized the years were different. But they were all talking about the same place, and in almost a present tense, so when the pieces started clicking together, it was reaaaaally creepy! Then the rituals and the manhunts began - it's at this point that you won't stop turning the pages and won't put the book down, because the pace picks up until the crescendo slows down near the end. As you'll be reaching said end, you'll sort of feel like you were expecting the way things turned out, but it was still sad and horrifying to watch, despite being fitting for the kind of story the author wanted to write.
All in all, a rather good tale, though not my type certainly. I definitely wouldn't have liked it any other time, but I guess the timing was right with this one and that shows that sometimes, we need certain story themes in certain points of our lives to truly enjoy them.
***I was given an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinion stated in this review is solely mine, and no compensation was given or taken to alter it.***
Read this and other reviews at: http://cupcakesandpopcorn.wordpress.com
I started reading this book at a very good point this year - right after I was done with The Witcher's first book, which was a total disaster for me. So, it was just what I needed, meaning a true slavic, goth horror story.
Not gonna lie, not all of it was a page-turner. Elisya's parts were awful to read through - the woman had a real case of "main hero syndrome". She thought she was the center of the universe, that she would meet her prince charming, that even after being humiliated and cast aside the guy who was the cause of it all would actually come for her. Hell, even after she had lived for so long in that damn castle, with people dying left and right and her being pretty much an accessory to, well, murder - or genocide at this point - she still sat there all depressed and sighing and hoping for a hero to come rescue HER! I was really hoping she would "hero-up" and be her own savior, but...
And don't even get me started on Raden! What is wrong with all the noble-born brats in this book?! Were Amron and Queen Osriana the only reasonable and nice ones around? (which is kind of ironic, given the fact everyone had such a low opinion on those two, fearing them and talking behind their backs, when they were actually really kind and wise, just because they didn't take bullshit from anyone)
What really made the story enjoyable was Ida and Telani. Admittedly, the old warrior had my heart, and what happened to his prince will forever be an injustice in my eyes, but the pacing in his parts - and Ida's, too - were a joy to read. It showed the troubles of a lower social class, people that were trying to get by, either by serving someone else or by trying to cheat others in order to survive. They were humble but knew their strengths, and while they had their selfish flaws, they still were humane enough to care for those that helped them even a little.
One thing that honestly sets the horror mood here was at first the dates under the names in each chapter. I didn't give it much thought when I saw it, and then I realized the years were different. But they were all talking about the same place, and in almost a present tense, so when the pieces started clicking together, it was reaaaaally creepy! Then the rituals and the manhunts began - it's at this point that you won't stop turning the pages and won't put the book down, because the pace picks up until the crescendo slows down near the end. As you'll be reaching said end, you'll sort of feel like you were expecting the way things turned out, but it was still sad and horrifying to watch, despite being fitting for the kind of story the author wanted to write.
All in all, a rather good tale, though not my type certainly. I definitely wouldn't have liked it any other time, but I guess the timing was right with this one and that shows that sometimes, we need certain story themes in certain points of our lives to truly enjoy them.
***I was given an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinion stated in this review is solely mine, and no compensation was given or taken to alter it.***
Read this and other reviews at: http://cupcakesandpopcorn.wordpress.com
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 21, 2023
Dark Woods, Deep Water is a dark fantasy with Slavic folklore elements. It’s the story of a cursed castle and three travelers brought together one ill fated night. How do their stories intertwine and will they be able to escape the enchanted castle with their lives?
I loved the folklore elements and seeing how the stories of the three characters we were following interconnected with each other. As the story goes on and the reader starts to realize what is happening and how the pieces come together the tension builds. Once we are at the castle and everything comes in to play it’s really satisfying.
In some ways I wish it went further into the folklore because it was so interesting but perhaps it’s best left mysterious. The cursed castle and its haunting vibes were everything, very dark fairytale core aesthetic. How the stories interconnect could have the potential to be a little confusing but I loved how the pieces came together like a puzzle and seeing the big picture made me want to read it again.
I think if you’re into dark fantasy or love folklore and fairytales this is a perfect autumn/winter read as the nights get longer and cold winds start to blow.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I loved the folklore elements and seeing how the stories of the three characters we were following interconnected with each other. As the story goes on and the reader starts to realize what is happening and how the pieces come together the tension builds. Once we are at the castle and everything comes in to play it’s really satisfying.
In some ways I wish it went further into the folklore because it was so interesting but perhaps it’s best left mysterious. The cursed castle and its haunting vibes were everything, very dark fairytale core aesthetic. How the stories interconnect could have the potential to be a little confusing but I loved how the pieces came together like a puzzle and seeing the big picture made me want to read it again.
I think if you’re into dark fantasy or love folklore and fairytales this is a perfect autumn/winter read as the nights get longer and cold winds start to blow.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 21, 2023
I was initially drawn to this book because of the mention of it being Slavic folktale inspired. I don't normally read horror, but this had more of a Gothic horror feel than it did the fairytale vibe I was expecting. All that being said, I still was not disappointed in it. I loved the multiple points of view, and the introduction with Ida had me hooked from the first chapter. The twist ending is clever and well done. The only complaint I have with the story is it feels like it could have been fleshed out more with backstories.
July 19, 2023
I liked the folklore aspects, but the story was too drawn out and dragged for so long it was difficult to enjoy, and the characters needed more details, especially Telani. The ending was a let down as well, and made the whole plot so very underdeveloped.
I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 18, 2024
Yessss - this was so good! Hard people, cynical choices, the weight of the past, heroes who have overlived their deeds, old loyalties and politics, a deliciously creepy castle, scary gods.
September 15, 2023
This was such a fascinating dark fantasy inspired by Slavic folklore! 🏰
I found the characters/main narrators to be equally interesting, though I did prefer two of the three. Ida was a smart and resourceful young woman, with enough grey morality to really make her stand out. Her journey to and later escape from the castle was what really interested me compared to the other POVs. 🐚
Like another reader pointed out, I thought she was a great foil to the other female POV, Elisya. This woman was very naive and spoiled to the point that she couldn’t see past her own wants and needs and was essentially stuck in a fairytale (and later nightmare) of her own making. Her fate at the end of the story, while not what I expected for her, was rightfully given in my opinion. Sadly, I think she still didn’t learn yer lesson with growing a conscious and being aware of others’ needs. 😕
Telani was the one narrator that I thought was very neutral in all this. While the women were fighting and plotting for their own future, Telani is just kind of there with his prince. I did think he was a good character to show a knight’s loyalty to their superior, but he still felt like an odd man out to me. 🗡️
While I did enjoy this book, I was left wondering about a few points in the plot that were felt like they were left to open interpretations. My biggest ones were what was Queen Orisana’s last appearance for and is she stuck? And why is Gospara Liana so important, but solely only mentioned in the book? 🤔
All in all, I thought the plot was still well written, the world and castle setting well thought out, and the goddess Morana creepy enough to really keep your attention. Definitely recommend for those looking to get a good intro to the darker side of mythology/folklore through Slavic folklore. ☠️
Thank you to NetGalley and Ghost Orchid Press for gifting this eARC in exchange for an honest review! 💙
Publication date: September 19!🌙
Overall: 3.75/5 ⭐️
I found the characters/main narrators to be equally interesting, though I did prefer two of the three. Ida was a smart and resourceful young woman, with enough grey morality to really make her stand out. Her journey to and later escape from the castle was what really interested me compared to the other POVs. 🐚
Like another reader pointed out, I thought she was a great foil to the other female POV, Elisya. This woman was very naive and spoiled to the point that she couldn’t see past her own wants and needs and was essentially stuck in a fairytale (and later nightmare) of her own making. Her fate at the end of the story, while not what I expected for her, was rightfully given in my opinion. Sadly, I think she still didn’t learn yer lesson with growing a conscious and being aware of others’ needs. 😕
Telani was the one narrator that I thought was very neutral in all this. While the women were fighting and plotting for their own future, Telani is just kind of there with his prince. I did think he was a good character to show a knight’s loyalty to their superior, but he still felt like an odd man out to me. 🗡️
While I did enjoy this book, I was left wondering about a few points in the plot that were felt like they were left to open interpretations. My biggest ones were what was Queen Orisana’s last appearance for and is she stuck? And why is Gospara Liana so important, but solely only mentioned in the book? 🤔
All in all, I thought the plot was still well written, the world and castle setting well thought out, and the goddess Morana creepy enough to really keep your attention. Definitely recommend for those looking to get a good intro to the darker side of mythology/folklore through Slavic folklore. ☠️
Thank you to NetGalley and Ghost Orchid Press for gifting this eARC in exchange for an honest review! 💙
Publication date: September 19!🌙
Overall: 3.75/5 ⭐️
November 6, 2025
Pročitao sam dvije knjige domaće autorice Jelene Dunato koju je izdala izdavačka kuća Morana.
Prvo sam pročitao prednastavak tj. novelu “Nasljeđe krvi”. Novela je samostalna priča Orsiane koja se kao sporedni lik pojavljuje u romanu “Tamna šuma, duboka voda”. Ja stvarno nisam čitač fantazije i baš sam izašao iz svoje zone komfora. Uživao sam u potpunosti u noveli. Ima političke intrige, izdaje, osvete i još puno toga na jako malo stranica.
Nisam htio da priča završi jer me jako zanimalo što se sve dalje događa. Orsiana je bila izuzetno zanimljiva i navijao sam za nju da uspije.
Baš sam ostao iznenađen koliko mi se svidjela novela. Bez problema može biti zanimljiva osobama koji žele osjetiti dašak slavenske mitologije.
S takvim visokim očekivanjima sam počeo čitati roman “Tamna šuma, duboka voda”. Roman je jako kompleksniji od novele jer pratimo priču iz više uglova.
Priča se može podijeliti u dva dijela s obzirom da se u sredini romana događa veliki događaj koji mijenja priču.
Prvi dio romana mi je izvrstan. Baš sam imao osjećaj da se nalazim u srednjem vijeku zajedno sa likovima. Atmosferičnost je na maksimumu i jedva sam čekao da dođem do drugog dijela romana.
Drugi dio mi je bio razočaranje. Nije sad kritično loše jer i dalje autorica ima lijep stil pisanja i dalje sam zainteresiran što će se dogoditi likovima.
Ono što mi je najviše bila šteta, to što lik Morane zapravo bio poluneiskorišten. Imao sam dojam da autorica daleko više toga može napraviti sa likovima koje ima. Također sama pravila su mi postala pomalo konfuzna. Možda je problem u meni jer ne čitam bas fantaziju, ali nekako sam očekivao više, posebice nakon super prvog dijela romana.
Svakako ću pratiti što autorica u budućnosti bude objavljivala jer vjerujem da ima ogromni potencijal za koji se nadam da će iskoristiti
Prvo sam pročitao prednastavak tj. novelu “Nasljeđe krvi”. Novela je samostalna priča Orsiane koja se kao sporedni lik pojavljuje u romanu “Tamna šuma, duboka voda”. Ja stvarno nisam čitač fantazije i baš sam izašao iz svoje zone komfora. Uživao sam u potpunosti u noveli. Ima političke intrige, izdaje, osvete i još puno toga na jako malo stranica.
Nisam htio da priča završi jer me jako zanimalo što se sve dalje događa. Orsiana je bila izuzetno zanimljiva i navijao sam za nju da uspije.
Baš sam ostao iznenađen koliko mi se svidjela novela. Bez problema može biti zanimljiva osobama koji žele osjetiti dašak slavenske mitologije.
S takvim visokim očekivanjima sam počeo čitati roman “Tamna šuma, duboka voda”. Roman je jako kompleksniji od novele jer pratimo priču iz više uglova.
Priča se može podijeliti u dva dijela s obzirom da se u sredini romana događa veliki događaj koji mijenja priču.
Prvi dio romana mi je izvrstan. Baš sam imao osjećaj da se nalazim u srednjem vijeku zajedno sa likovima. Atmosferičnost je na maksimumu i jedva sam čekao da dođem do drugog dijela romana.
Drugi dio mi je bio razočaranje. Nije sad kritično loše jer i dalje autorica ima lijep stil pisanja i dalje sam zainteresiran što će se dogoditi likovima.
Ono što mi je najviše bila šteta, to što lik Morane zapravo bio poluneiskorišten. Imao sam dojam da autorica daleko više toga može napraviti sa likovima koje ima. Također sama pravila su mi postala pomalo konfuzna. Možda je problem u meni jer ne čitam bas fantaziju, ali nekako sam očekivao više, posebice nakon super prvog dijela romana.
Svakako ću pratiti što autorica u budućnosti bude objavljivala jer vjerujem da ima ogromni potencijal za koji se nadam da će iskoristiti
October 1, 2023
What an unexpected surprise. I love when I request a book that I have never heard of, never heard of the author, go in completely blind and walk away with a gem of a read. That was this book for me.
Dark Woods, Deep Water is told from 3 POVs. Ida, Telani, and Elysia. It takes a few chapters to meet all the characters, but once you do...you slowly begin to realize that their fates are destined to weave together to tell this crazy, dark, twisty tale. We have dark enchanted forests, bad decisions, forbidden love, murder, monsters, and unexpected heroes. I love also that it included Slavic Folklore. I ended up enjoying this so much I went and researched and read up on the history of some of the folklore. The three storylines end up meeting at a cursed castle and the battle to break the curse begins.
At times, it felt like pacing dipped a bit, but it would quickly pick back up and reign you back in. This felt like a gothic fantasy fairytale. If you are a fan of T. Kingfishers, Thornhedge, or Broyny and Roses... I think you'd really enjoy this book.
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book!
Dark Woods, Deep Water is told from 3 POVs. Ida, Telani, and Elysia. It takes a few chapters to meet all the characters, but once you do...you slowly begin to realize that their fates are destined to weave together to tell this crazy, dark, twisty tale. We have dark enchanted forests, bad decisions, forbidden love, murder, monsters, and unexpected heroes. I love also that it included Slavic Folklore. I ended up enjoying this so much I went and researched and read up on the history of some of the folklore. The three storylines end up meeting at a cursed castle and the battle to break the curse begins.
At times, it felt like pacing dipped a bit, but it would quickly pick back up and reign you back in. This felt like a gothic fantasy fairytale. If you are a fan of T. Kingfishers, Thornhedge, or Broyny and Roses... I think you'd really enjoy this book.
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book!
July 16, 2025
“When gods give a gift, they take far more in return…”
Dark Woods, Deep Water is one of those rare dark fantasy novels that grabs you from the first page and doesn’t let go. Jelena Dunato weaves a richly atmospheric, gothic tale rooted in Slavic folklore and Adriatic heritage—one that feels both timeless and startlingly modern in its emotional depth and sharp feminist undercurrents.
Told through the eyes of several complex and painfully human characters, the novel traces the fates of a rogue, a noblewoman, and a prince’s aide—all caught in the grip of an ancient castle that demands a sacrifice to a forgotten goddess. What struck me most was how skillfully Dunato handles multiple POVs across timelines, never losing narrative momentum or emotional intensity.
This is a book about survival, power, and the weight of choice—especially for women in a brutal, patriarchal, medieval world where they are often treated as currency. Dunato doesn’t flinch from this reality; instead, she offers piercingly honest character development, particularly for her female protagonists. Their pain, agency, and resilience are rendered with stark beauty and emotional truth.
The psychological depth isn’t reserved for the leads, either—every character feels lived-in and layered, with motivations that unfold slowly and meaningfully. And the atmosphere… it’s soaked in dread. From haunted forests to cursed stone walls, the book builds a creeping unease that slowly blossoms into full-blown horror.
If you enjoyed the rich folklore of Katherine Arden or the dread-soaked fairy tale worldbuilding of Naomi Novik, this will be right up your alley—but Dunato’s voice is wholly her own: poetic, fierce, and unafraid to wound.
Absolutely unforgettable. I can’t wait for Ghost Apparent.
Dark Woods, Deep Water is one of those rare dark fantasy novels that grabs you from the first page and doesn’t let go. Jelena Dunato weaves a richly atmospheric, gothic tale rooted in Slavic folklore and Adriatic heritage—one that feels both timeless and startlingly modern in its emotional depth and sharp feminist undercurrents.
Told through the eyes of several complex and painfully human characters, the novel traces the fates of a rogue, a noblewoman, and a prince’s aide—all caught in the grip of an ancient castle that demands a sacrifice to a forgotten goddess. What struck me most was how skillfully Dunato handles multiple POVs across timelines, never losing narrative momentum or emotional intensity.
This is a book about survival, power, and the weight of choice—especially for women in a brutal, patriarchal, medieval world where they are often treated as currency. Dunato doesn’t flinch from this reality; instead, she offers piercingly honest character development, particularly for her female protagonists. Their pain, agency, and resilience are rendered with stark beauty and emotional truth.
The psychological depth isn’t reserved for the leads, either—every character feels lived-in and layered, with motivations that unfold slowly and meaningfully. And the atmosphere… it’s soaked in dread. From haunted forests to cursed stone walls, the book builds a creeping unease that slowly blossoms into full-blown horror.
If you enjoyed the rich folklore of Katherine Arden or the dread-soaked fairy tale worldbuilding of Naomi Novik, this will be right up your alley—but Dunato’s voice is wholly her own: poetic, fierce, and unafraid to wound.
Absolutely unforgettable. I can’t wait for Ghost Apparent.
November 13, 2023
As an avid fantasy reader from the Balkans, I was really excited when I found out about this book. I'm used to reading fantasy inspired by, for example, Norse or British mythology, but not so much by Slavic folklore (other than, perhaps, The Witcher). Anyway, I'm really happy to say Dark Woods, Deep Water didn't disappoint.
I really enjoyed this novel. It tells a story about imperfect characters, which are my favorite stories to tell. I found Elisya to be the most interesting - I loved the way her story subtly subverted the trope of a beautiful young noble woman who meets her prince charming and falls in love. She's not a likeable person by any means. She's conceited and selfish, and her personality impacts the story in a major way. But I don't have to like a person to think the character work is good.
I sort of wished Dark Woods, Deep Water was more of a high fantasy novel so we could spent a lot more time with the characters and get to know Morana and other Slavic gods better. The ending did feel slightly rushed (and sort of deus ex machina-ish), but that didn't take too much from my experience as a reader.
The way the novel ends also indicates that the story could continue. I hope we do get a sequel.
I really enjoyed this novel. It tells a story about imperfect characters, which are my favorite stories to tell. I found Elisya to be the most interesting - I loved the way her story subtly subverted the trope of a beautiful young noble woman who meets her prince charming and falls in love. She's not a likeable person by any means. She's conceited and selfish, and her personality impacts the story in a major way. But I don't have to like a person to think the character work is good.
I sort of wished Dark Woods, Deep Water was more of a high fantasy novel so we could spent a lot more time with the characters and get to know Morana and other Slavic gods better. The ending did feel slightly rushed (and sort of deus ex machina-ish), but that didn't take too much from my experience as a reader.
The way the novel ends also indicates that the story could continue. I hope we do get a sequel.
June 11, 2025
Nekada je potrebno vratiti se određenim korijenima; tamo gdje je sve počelo, ali nije bilo toliko naziva kao danas. U ono vrijeme, ovo bi se svrstalo pod čisti horor. Danas ovo nazivamo dark fantasy inspiriran slavenskom mitologijom s elementima gotičkog horora. And I looove it!
Tamna šuma, duboka voda ima tri naratora: Idu, Telania i Elisyu. Svatko od njih živi svoj život do onog trenutka kada se, svatko zasebno, nađe na puteljku koji vodi u duboku šumu do misterioznog dvorca. Nitko od njih nije u potpunosti svjestan magije u dvorcu, ali ono što se osjeća je prisutnost božice Morane. Oni, ali i ostala plejada likova, uskoro će se boriti za vlastiti život.
''Opasne zvijeri vrebaju iz sjene''.
@jelena_author izvrsno je izgradila ovaj snijegom zameteni šumski svijet. U početku je potrebno malo strpljenja, ali jednom kada magija započne svoje djelovanje, osjećate se jednako zarobljeni kao likovi u dvorcu. Možete osjetiti Moraninu mračnu magiju, taj hladni osjećaj tjeskobe koji izbija iz svake stranice i koji vas uvjeri da sami stojite na rubu te duboke vode.
''Činilo se namjerno, nešto živo... ili neživo, ali svjesno. Bilo je iza svega: šume, sela, dvorca. Sve je nosilo trag namjernog propadanja.''
Nema osobe sa ovih prostora koja tijekom svog odrastanja nije čula za slavenske bogove i mitologiju koja je, u konačnici, dio našeg folklora. I izuzetno mi je drago da dobiva više prostora u knjiškom svijetu! Od mene velika preporuka za ovu mračnu fantastiku za koju se nadam da će dobiti svoj nastavak!
P.S.
Ima li negdje Volkova slika? Asking for a friend
Tamna šuma, duboka voda ima tri naratora: Idu, Telania i Elisyu. Svatko od njih živi svoj život do onog trenutka kada se, svatko zasebno, nađe na puteljku koji vodi u duboku šumu do misterioznog dvorca. Nitko od njih nije u potpunosti svjestan magije u dvorcu, ali ono što se osjeća je prisutnost božice Morane. Oni, ali i ostala plejada likova, uskoro će se boriti za vlastiti život.
''Opasne zvijeri vrebaju iz sjene''.
@jelena_author izvrsno je izgradila ovaj snijegom zameteni šumski svijet. U početku je potrebno malo strpljenja, ali jednom kada magija započne svoje djelovanje, osjećate se jednako zarobljeni kao likovi u dvorcu. Možete osjetiti Moraninu mračnu magiju, taj hladni osjećaj tjeskobe koji izbija iz svake stranice i koji vas uvjeri da sami stojite na rubu te duboke vode.
''Činilo se namjerno, nešto živo... ili neživo, ali svjesno. Bilo je iza svega: šume, sela, dvorca. Sve je nosilo trag namjernog propadanja.''
Nema osobe sa ovih prostora koja tijekom svog odrastanja nije čula za slavenske bogove i mitologiju koja je, u konačnici, dio našeg folklora. I izuzetno mi je drago da dobiva više prostora u knjiškom svijetu! Od mene velika preporuka za ovu mračnu fantastiku za koju se nadam da će dobiti svoj nastavak!
P.S.
Ima li negdje Volkova slika? Asking for a friend
December 20, 2024
I believe I found this title via a goodreads recommendation. Three separate POV characters—the secretary to an uncomfortably powerful uncle to the king, a young travelling woman who scams the gullible with herbal remedies, and an unwanted third noble daughter—find themselves ensnared in a castle controlled by an evil goddess.
I found this to be a very striking, beautifully written novel, if rather dark and unhappy. Dunato has done a great job with the background and worldbuilding. It's the sort of world that never feels like flat stage scenery, and you get glimpses of complex background plot elements that are only lightly touched on—the past succession crisis that Telani's master used to put his nephew on the throne, the Slavic mythology, the politics of the court Elisya sees only briefly. It's advertised as a gothic novel, but the majority of the novel is spent on developing the characters individually, and they only meet at the very last bit of the book. If I have any caveats, it's that the narrative is a little unfair to Elisya. Yes, she is self-centered and naive, but she's lived in the world where she's unwanted and no one has ever really thought about her. Heads up to those who prefer happy endings, though—this is a dark little novel where many of the characters are very unhappy and this is unchanged at the end. Vagabond Ida especially has a hard lot, and it seems her entire life is one long string of grinding poverty and abuse.
A gorgeous dark fairy tale grounded in Slavic mythology with a bittersweet ending. I immediately looked up the author's other books after finishing this one. Highly recommended.
I found this to be a very striking, beautifully written novel, if rather dark and unhappy. Dunato has done a great job with the background and worldbuilding. It's the sort of world that never feels like flat stage scenery, and you get glimpses of complex background plot elements that are only lightly touched on—the past succession crisis that Telani's master used to put his nephew on the throne, the Slavic mythology, the politics of the court Elisya sees only briefly. It's advertised as a gothic novel, but the majority of the novel is spent on developing the characters individually, and they only meet at the very last bit of the book. If I have any caveats, it's that the narrative is a little unfair to Elisya. Yes, she is self-centered and naive, but she's lived in the world where she's unwanted and no one has ever really thought about her. Heads up to those who prefer happy endings, though—this is a dark little novel where many of the characters are very unhappy and this is unchanged at the end. Vagabond Ida especially has a hard lot, and it seems her entire life is one long string of grinding poverty and abuse.
A gorgeous dark fairy tale grounded in Slavic mythology with a bittersweet ending. I immediately looked up the author's other books after finishing this one. Highly recommended.
April 19, 2024
It's been a while since I have read a good standalone novel. Lately I have mostly come around trilogies and rarely continued after the first book. The story just goes too slow for my taste (at this point of my reading life).
But this... this was something else.
I will start by saying that I listened to the audio version, and the narrators were perfect. They are actors, so they didn't just read but performed the scenes, which was a plus for me. At the end where the lady narrator did "the thing" with her voice still gives me the chills. If you can, check out this version.
As for the story, and the book itself, I came by it via a local podcast where Jelena was a guest, and it was such a lovely conversation that intrigued me enough to check it out.
The beginning was so strong, with a smart female character and a sharp style that it gripped me from the first page (or minute, if you like). I was a bit challenged in the middle (which I think was mostly the issue of my headphones and driving, so I sometimes lost concentration), but at the end everything settled in its place.
I won't repeat what the blurb said or count all the good bits. The best I can do is say to get this book, one way or another, and read/listen to it. You won't regret it.
But this... this was something else.
I will start by saying that I listened to the audio version, and the narrators were perfect. They are actors, so they didn't just read but performed the scenes, which was a plus for me. At the end where the lady narrator did "the thing" with her voice still gives me the chills. If you can, check out this version.
As for the story, and the book itself, I came by it via a local podcast where Jelena was a guest, and it was such a lovely conversation that intrigued me enough to check it out.
The beginning was so strong, with a smart female character and a sharp style that it gripped me from the first page (or minute, if you like). I was a bit challenged in the middle (which I think was mostly the issue of my headphones and driving, so I sometimes lost concentration), but at the end everything settled in its place.
I won't repeat what the blurb said or count all the good bits. The best I can do is say to get this book, one way or another, and read/listen to it. You won't regret it.
September 27, 2023
Dark, delightful and lyrical. I loved the world building, Slavic gods and monsters, and complex characters.
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