We’re Not Safe Here

by Rin Chupeco

Wispy Falls’ town motto “You’ll be safe here!” But that doesn’t seem to be true. Because in Wispy Falls, monsters live in the woods, and children go missing, and the bodies are beginning to stack up.

A seventeen-year-old vlogger known as Storymancer is determined to get to the bottom of what’s wrong in Wispy Falls. A few years ago his six-year-old brother went missing in the woods and no one in town seemed to care enough to find him.

So now he’s investigating why every household participates in something called the Bloodmoon Ritual, why cryptid sightings are so common, and why everyone who goes into the woods, goes missing. If he can’t fix what’s wrong with the town, he just might be the next body in the woods.

Told primarily through video transcripts, message boards, and radio shows, this Welcome to Nightvale-inspired horror will chill you to your core.



Deanna Anthony Patrick Lawlor Emily Lawrence Sean Pratt Erin Bennett Stephanie Németh-Parker Joel Froomkin EJ Lavery Kelli Tager Christian Leatherman Feodor Chin Marni Penning James Fouhey Alex Picard Hillary Huber Matt Godfrey Dominique Salvacion Ramiz Monsef

Genres: Horror, Young Adult, Mystery, Fiction, Paranormal, Audiobook, Thriller

Audible Audio

First published November 4, 2025

About the author

Gone.

Newsletter: http://www.rinchupeco.com/newsletter
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Reviews

[Rachel (TheShadesofOrange) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars
I normally don't enjoy these kinds of unconventional narratives, especially in audiobooks but this one surprised me. To be clear, this was a very campy young adult horror novel. However since I expected that, I ended up having a lot of fun with it.

[Steven · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and SOURCEBOOKS Fire for the pre-release copy of We're Not Safe Here by Rin Chupeco. Below you'll find my honest review.

I absolutely LOVED Rin's The Sacrifice. My experiences with Chupeco's work have shown that they have an extremely creative mind and that they try to push boundaries with new ideas, and I love that.

Alas, for me We're Not Safe Here led to mixed feelings.

PROS: Really strong weirdness vibes. Good characters. Excellent creepy cryptids. Compelling enough to be hard to put down, just because you want to see what happens next.

CONS: At times, it was vague in its answers in a way that wasn't satisfying (sometimes the vague answers are satisfying because you can fill in the blanks), including the ending. The blog post/video/chat/forum post format was an interesting twist, but at times, it could be difficult.

All in all, I enjoyed this one, but I do wish there were some tweaks that would have kicked it up a notch. And Rin, if you're reading this (you're probably not), I'd love a novella prequel to give us a bit more information!

I'd give this one three and a half stars, but after waffling a bit on how to round it, I rounded down to three. I liked it but didn't love it.

Definitely still recommended for horror fans who like creative creatures. I still liked the book and think it's worth a read, especially when my misgivings might be someone else's shining gem.

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

ARC for review. To be published November 4, 2025.

2 stars

Told through mixed media, which is a format I love, a teenager called Storymancer is investigating the disappearance of his younger brother in a town that is filled with missing people, but no one really looks for them. Wispy Falls is an isolated town, surrounded by woods; those who live there believe there’s nothing beyond it (this isn’t explained at all, nor is it explained how the town has internet, get its supplies (what, they make their own chemotherapy there?) and this sort of thing drives me insane, so I hated it pretty much from the beginning.). The woods are filled with they call cryptids, but I don’t know that we think cryptids are the same thing. The shady town is filled with shadiness and shady people hiding shady doings. I really didn’t like it, but it’s YA, so 2 stars instead of just one.

[SJARR ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do you love youtube comments and discussion boards? What about endless online discourse, and pesky conspiracy theorists?
If you answered yes- this book might just be for you.
I would describe this as "Scooby Doo" meets "The Blair Witch Project” meets… “The Matrix”?

This story ended up being quite different from what I was expecting it to be, but I wasn’t really upset about it.

Here, we have a teenage boy who makes videos about his small town.
A town where everyone who goes into the woods gets lost, and none of them are ever seen again. Nobody looks for them, and the people that once loved them become indifferent to their disappearance.
After loosing his younger brother to whatever creatures lurk within the trees, he uses his online platform to try and get to the bottom of things.

To start, this entire book is basically video manuscripts, comments and forums.
This style won’t be for everyone, but I happened to really enjoy it.
It makes things pretty fast-paced and easy to read (for me, at least. Perhaps I am just chronically online.)
Though I must say, it feels like a lot of “telling” and not as much “showing”.
A good chunk of the story is discussion, instead of action- which isn’t the end of the world, but I think it did need a bit more horrific display.

With that being said, for most of this story I was really engaged and excited to find out what was going to happen next.
I also love a horror book with a variety of creatures, and good descriptions of them. This had that! So I was pretty satisfied there.

Things got a little bit tricky for me at the end.
I was a little bit… confused!
I am still not sure I understand why this was going on, even though I think I was supposed to. I didn’t really have that “AHA!” moment that I usually have at the end of a book like this, where I am shocked to discover what was actually going on.
I won’t rule out the possibility that it might be my fault though. Maybe I am simply not clever.

Despite not understanding the ending that much, I did like the story overall. I think for a young adult horror, it is done really well. It wasn’t super graphic, but also not too silly or light.
I think the style might appeal to a young audience, given the social media vibe.

Thank you to Netgalley, Sourcebooks Fire and author Rin Chupeco for providing me with the eARC of “We’re Not Safe Here”, in exchange for my honest review!
Publication date: November 04, 2025

[CarlysGrowingTBR · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audiobook Stats:
⏰: 8 hours 6 minutes
🎤: Full Cast
Publisher: Blackstone Publishing

General Thoughts:
On paper this should have been a slam dunk. But there was just a few things about this that did not overall work for me. I really liked the premise, but even with a full cast, all the characters felt pretty much the same. I really thought I would like the message board aspect, but honestly, it created so much distance between me and the characters that I found it hard to care about anything that was happening.

The overall premise as I mentioned was really interesting. The shady town and conspiracy theories abound. The unsavory and corrupt government that can't be trusted. various threads of the story that just did not seem to tie together until the end. For all of those reasons, I do really feel like this would be a novel that would work for a lot of people if you are into the format in which the story is told.

Overall, I did not hate this, but unfortunately, I can't say that I loved it either. An average read that I recommend to people that it might work for.

Disclaimer: I read this audiobook via free ALC through NetGalley and PRH Audio. All opinions are my own. This is my honest and voluntary review.

[Steph ✨ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pretty gutted about this one to be honest. I found it on the Libro ALC programme and was so excited to see it was entirely told in mixed media format. Some of my favourite books are mixed media. So immediately downloaded the audiobook. I think the storytelling was done well, the audio production was great, some creepy music thrown into the mix, LOTS of narrators giving everyone their own voice. However, the story itself seemed to lack some depth. The world building wasn't great, there were too many unanswered questions all the way through the books and honestly, I couldn't even tell you what happened at the end of this one. And I JUST finished it.

Overall, not a great read. But a pretty quick one.

[KMart Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Horror Fans!!! Take note.

This is such an amazing and intense epistolary horror book and I'm really excited about that. Rin Chupeco, I love your weird little brain because it speaks so much to my own weird little brain. As a child of internet culture, who eagerly bounds down rabbit holes, and adored Buzzfeed Unsolved, this was basically written for me and my internet friends.

This story is so wonderfully creepy. You don’t just read the story, you live it. Every message board thread, every glitchy video log, every eerie radio segment pulls you deeper into the illusion until you start questioning what’s real. It’s immersive in the most chilling way. The creatures are nightmare fuel, the tension is relentless, and the sense of dread is constant.

But what really makes this special is the experience. It’s less about traditional character arcs and more about being caught in the web of mystery and mythos, like you’ve stumbled onto something you weren’t supposed to see. Unique, immersive, and unforgettable.

I also think some of the harsher reviews are missing the point of the book entirely. This one really hits different if you spend a lot of time online. It’s definitely not for everyone, but I absolutely loved it.

Thank you so much to ColoredPages Book Tours + Sourcebooks fire + the author for the complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.

[Anna Quilter · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

Wispy Falls is Not Safe.
Despite a lot of friendly advice and warnings from authorities....there's plenty not to be safe about.
the various Monsters/Cryptoids out in the Woods make it not safe.
you know....people go missing in those woods...
there's videographers...bloggers trying to help ..but when the Authorities can't be trusted..who can?

[May (previously Violet)]

Thank you for Netgalley for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review
Ok I’m gonna be completely honest, I dnfed it. Idk if it was because I’m in a major slump, or the writing style, or the videos and podcasts and stuff, but I couldn’t stand it. I wish this author well but there is no way I’ll pick up this book again.

[b. ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5/5

as is the case with many a thriller/horror/mystery, the whole is only as good as its ending

while i had a lot of fun following along during the first 80% of the book, everything tied up so abruptly that i was left annoyed rather than horrified

the multimedia aspect of the storytelling was inventive and engaging, but ultimately the story itself did not fully deliver. truly disappointing

the first 3/4 of this book? solid 3.5/5
the final act? 1.5-2/5

thank you to libro.fm for this alc!

[Nila Tena · Rating 1 out of 5]

I picked up this book because it was reccomended to fans of Netflix’s Stranger Things. While there is a great idea behind this book, it was confusing and hard to follow. I believe this would have worked better as a TV.
It felt like I was not reading a book but instead scrolling through online forums - if I wanted to do that I would have gone on Reddit…

[Angie Jenkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

We Are Not Safe Here: This is a full cast audio drama-A++++. The story reminded me a lot of the Nightvale podcast, but with more of a horror edge. I would love to read an adult book set in this world, because the YA tone kept it somewhat light....
But overall this was very fun!
Thank you so much @librofm & @blackstonepublishing for the ALC!

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ahhh, the idea of this one was so good!

A town and its community kept safe by the forest that surrounds it from the outside world that is apparently gone. Also, monsters.

I enjoyed the format, a series of video blogs, online posts and voice overs from the main character. This is such a cool way to build dread in a story/setting like this, and it definitely worked. The downside is you lose any connection to the characters as there is always that distance. Throughout the entire story we don't even know the main character's name, just his username: Storymancer. This disconnect unfortunately lowered my overall rating.

Minor spoilers... one thing that keeps bothering me, if this is a small, isolated town and the rest of the world is gone, how are SO many people liking these blog posts/videos?! Like thousands of people upvoting and downvoting....
The not knowing is the true horror.

3.5 stars.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!

[Fireplace.Bookworm · Rating 2 out of 5]

What did I just read? And not in a good way..

This books was so engaging and page turning, but it lacked some important fundamental elements. The world building was nonexistent which made the beginning and the end of the book super confusing. I’m not even sure I could explain that ending. I enjoyed the mixed media of video descriptions, podcast transcripts, and chat rooms, but really wish it could have been paired with some exposition. I also enjoyed the mystery the main character was hunting down and truly was hoping for a resolution. Maybe it’s just me and I didn’t comprehend it.

[g]

dnf at 16%. chupeco... this just ain't it. if i wanted to read forum creepypasta posts and comments, i would have opened reddit

[Kay Younger · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was just…confused the whole time. The writing was unique and the concept had potential, but I never fully understood what was happening or why. Definitely one that left me scratching my head more than anything else.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Normally, Rin Chupeco's novels strike a chord within me, filling that need for compelling, spooky, and slightly weird stories that I love to read. Unfortunately, WE'RE NOT SAFE HERE fails to do that this time. Something about the story did not click with me, but the fault lies with me as the reader and not with the author.

WE'RE NOT SAFE HERE is still compelling, spooky, and slightly weird. In fact, it starts really well in that regard, adequately creeping me out in all the right places. Each piece Storymancer adds to build his case adds to that weirdness and increases the creep factor. That is, until it doesn't. For me, around the halfway point, once other online presences get involved in the search for answers, the story loses its way.

It doesn't help that even at the end, you know very little about Wispy Falls, its founding as a town, its geography, demographics, or really anything. I found myself more than once wondering how a town that is supposedly the only town in existence has a fully operational internet and cell phone service, and functions like a normal, on-the-grid town connected to a larger world. You get the impression that the town was founded a long time ago, before any of the existing characters were born, and they still have all this technology. At one point in the story, someone mentions a dry cleaning store, and I had to stop reading as I questioned why such a place would exist in what is supposed to be some sort of dystopian world. Not knowing any details other than the few tidbits gleaned through each of Storymancer's submissions makes it all but impossible to envision this world that has Storymancer so concerned.

At the same time, we know very little about Storymancer or his fellow sleuths. We may get details like real names, ages, and physical descriptions, yet we don't know anything about them. WE'RE NOT SAFE HERE is told solely through message boards, text messages, and video transcripts, so we have no way of knowing whether this is all one elaborate hoax or not. We simply do not know enough about Storymancer beyond what he shows us.

The story ends on a discordant note and leaves you with the feeling that the story simply collapsed rather than coming to some sort of conclusion. It doesn't help that you have no way of determining Storymancer's reliability as the narrator. Plus, because of the way in which the story is told, there is nothing available to explain what you are shown. Fungus, virus, zombie, imagination, a drug-addled brain - it could be any of those things or none of them. You just don't know.

While I am a big proponent of the idea that a reader's mind will conjure up something scarier/more intense/more horrific than anything an author can write, in this case, the lack of concrete answers harms the story more than helps it. Because you know practically nothing, you can't build upon anything in your mind. While I will certainly give Rin Chupeco another chance because I've enjoyed everything else they've written, WE'RE NOT SAFE HERE is a little too weird and not very compelling for me to consider it a story I enjoyed.

[Staci (stacisbookishprobs) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Huge thank you to Sourcebooks Fire and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this!

3.5/5 stars.

i knew nothing about this going in and it was absolutely bonkers! This is told in video style format and while i always think thats very cool i felt it pulled us away from any connection to our main character. i will say, this will probably make for a dope ass autobook!

this was also a lot darker and grittier than i was expecting! the descriptions of this stories crpytids was so disturbing! There were several times after we were introduced to one I had to take a break because it gave me the CREEPS!

I will also say I was also very confused a lot. That might be purposeful tho as I felt this was as much a mystery as it was horror. This town the author has built is widely complex and down right creepy.

Overall I am intrigued to read more horror from this author and I am glad I got to read this.

[Lel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this mixed media style book. The main gist of the story is that there seems to be a conspiracy in this town surrounded by woods. The inhabitants of the town are kept in the town for fear of what cryptids are lurking in the woods waiting to snatch people. A few people in the town start to investigate what is happening and this is played out in the book in the form of message boards and video transcriptions.
The tension in the book is great, it really ramps up in places and makes it very compulsively readable. You dont really get a sense of any real characters in the story just the plot that unfold on the page which is different to most stories that latch on to characters to drive the narrative forward. I liked this approach a lot.

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was creepy and slightly terrifying. I enjoyed how creepy it was and I wish I would have read this before Halloween. This book reminded me of a mix between Stranger Things and The Blair Witch Project. I really enjoyed the format of this book and how the story was told through a video blog and online forums. It was a very interesting form of storytelling and it added so much to the creep factor.

[Pie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eh, this was okay but didn't really rock my world. I'm a big fan of books with fun formats so I did really enjoy the idea of a horror novel told through stuff like online forums and video transcripts and thought that was fun. I kept constantly getting hung up on the world-building, though–it never made sense to my why the town in takes place in is apparently the last bastion of a world overrun by monsters but everything in it functions completely normally down to having cars and cellphones (and is also always referred to as a "town" even though it apparently has thousands of people in it and can support a university, a museum, and a hospital) and I thought the explanations being dumped on the reader at the end about what was up with the cryptids were kind of convoluted. Some cool ideas, though!

[notmaiareading · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was good, I would recommend listening to the audiobook for this one as it is a whole production with multiple voice actors and characters, I felt like I was watching a movie. Speaking of movie's, I do think this would have been better as a screenplay rather than a novel. I did really enjoy the ending; it was the highlight for me it made the book.

[nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

really enjoyed the mixed media analog horror vibes, but was i supposed to be astronomically confused at the ending? like am i missing something?? don’t get me wrong, i loved the style and writing, but is my brain supposed to be jumping through fire-flaming hoops at that last page??? but is my puzzlement gonna deter me from trying my hand at another chupeco novel? ? no, because the sacrifice sounds fantastic

[Kay Oliver · Rating 3 out of 5]

This could have easily been a five-star book, but it needs some serious proofreading. Even despite the editing errors, it was still a lot of fun to read, and I was never yanked out of the captivating plot.

[Mandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book both unsettling and intriguing.

Check out my full review at Forever Young Adult.

[Thirza Kooi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Het was een spannend boek om te lezen. Ook een originele manier van schrijven. Ik kreeg er een reddit vibe, wat het lezen interessant maakte. Ik geef dit boek 4 sterren en geen 5, omdat dit boek mij teveel vragen laat houden. Veel vragen zijn mij niet beantwoord met het einde, omdat het einde erg open blijft. Dit vind ik persoonlijk jammer

[Melissa]

Dnf

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a reread. I REALLY wish I had gotten the audiobook of this first. It was amazing. I liked the book a lot the first read but the audiobook. Ahhhhh the audiobook is amazing.

[Liv Gudeahn · Rating 2 out of 5]

vaguely reminiscent of a YouTube shorts video of a text to speech voice reading Reddit creepypasta while Minecraft parkour plays in the background.

[Lizzie Strong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genuinely so unique and terrifying. If you liked welcome to nightvalle and paranormal activity but want it scary cryptids? Read this now