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Wildewood
364 pages, Paperback
Published January 6, 2026
1 person is currently reading
11 people want to read
About the author
Jessica Thorne
13 books256 followersJessica Thorne watched far too much sci-fi and read far too much fantasy at an impressionable age. And it was awesome. She writes fantasy and sci-fi romance with a steampunk edge and just refuses to face reality.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
*Arc review*
Ooooooft this had all the feels, had me gasping a few times and was a tad angsty at times.
The writing style flew so well that i read it a day.
Our fmc totally different to any I've read about. She's a skeptic who knows how to run away from problems, who ends up believing.
If you like haunted houses, a ghost hunter in exile, curses, irish mythology, Irish folklore and ancient breathing woods then this is for you. Yes that's right this book is packed with it and i actually enjoyed it for the vibes it was giving out.
Thank you second sky for this opportunity in exchange for an honest review
Ooooooft this had all the feels, had me gasping a few times and was a tad angsty at times.
The writing style flew so well that i read it a day.
Our fmc totally different to any I've read about. She's a skeptic who knows how to run away from problems, who ends up believing.
If you like haunted houses, a ghost hunter in exile, curses, irish mythology, Irish folklore and ancient breathing woods then this is for you. Yes that's right this book is packed with it and i actually enjoyed it for the vibes it was giving out.
Thank you second sky for this opportunity in exchange for an honest review
January 4, 2026
Wildewood is atmospheric and full of malevolent presence. Firstly the setting was amazing. The rural landscape was rich in details and the manor truly haunting. I loved the horror undertones used throughout, the creepy sounds, feelings of being watched and the unspoken secrets. The audiobook definitely brought these elements to life even more, highly recommend. The FMC is a skeptic and the perfect character to focus on. I also liked the groundskeeper, he’s brooding and secretive. The romance for me was a bit questionable and things do go in a rather strange direction. Saying that this is a dark gothic story of lust at its heart and it delivered on that. Thank by you to the publisher and NetGalley for an audio-copy. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I would like to thank the publisher for sending me an audio-arc in exchange for an honest review through NetGalley.
Alex is a scientist and a ghost hunter, though her stance is that they do not exist. Which is wild to say since, as the last of the de Wildes, she has inherited a house full of ghosts along with the family curse. With her twin brother having just passed, she’s finally headed back to Wildewood, her family’s manor, back in Ireland, determined to sell it and be done with the place once and for all. When she heads to the manor and meets Nick – the groundskeeper and her her brother’s best friend – she begins digging into his past, and while he was a suspect in her brother’s death, there wasn’t enough evidence… or any record of him before he came to Wildewood fifteen years ago. But the longer Alex is in the manor, the more she finds herself throwing herself at Nick, speaking in a voice that isn’t hers, and as the accidents begin piling up, Alex will not only be forced to dig into her family’s history, but also admit that maybe ghosts are real, and that Wildewood is hiding something much darker than she could have ever thought possible.
This was a gothic romance set in an Irish manor/castle and I was here for it. The eerie happenings around the manor that have you questioning your sanity bit by bit, the little girl playing with “imaginary friends,” the painting that keeps moving on its own, the lustful thoughts that plague Alex randomly that aren’t her own… yeah, it got intense. I loved the history we get of the manor and the explanations as to what is happening. I loved the idea of a sentient forest and the way that it interacts with Alex. I loved the romance and the moments between the two of them that are both theirs and not theirs. There was so many hot moments, dark moments, and intense moments, scattered throughout this book, and I was gripped. I loved this book, and the audiobook was so well done that I would absolutely without a doubt recommend it to everyone. If you’re looking for a spicy Irish version of the Haunting of Hill House with a dash of American Horror Story filled with romance, then this is definitely for you.
Alex is a scientist and a ghost hunter, though her stance is that they do not exist. Which is wild to say since, as the last of the de Wildes, she has inherited a house full of ghosts along with the family curse. With her twin brother having just passed, she’s finally headed back to Wildewood, her family’s manor, back in Ireland, determined to sell it and be done with the place once and for all. When she heads to the manor and meets Nick – the groundskeeper and her her brother’s best friend – she begins digging into his past, and while he was a suspect in her brother’s death, there wasn’t enough evidence… or any record of him before he came to Wildewood fifteen years ago. But the longer Alex is in the manor, the more she finds herself throwing herself at Nick, speaking in a voice that isn’t hers, and as the accidents begin piling up, Alex will not only be forced to dig into her family’s history, but also admit that maybe ghosts are real, and that Wildewood is hiding something much darker than she could have ever thought possible.
This was a gothic romance set in an Irish manor/castle and I was here for it. The eerie happenings around the manor that have you questioning your sanity bit by bit, the little girl playing with “imaginary friends,” the painting that keeps moving on its own, the lustful thoughts that plague Alex randomly that aren’t her own… yeah, it got intense. I loved the history we get of the manor and the explanations as to what is happening. I loved the idea of a sentient forest and the way that it interacts with Alex. I loved the romance and the moments between the two of them that are both theirs and not theirs. There was so many hot moments, dark moments, and intense moments, scattered throughout this book, and I was gripped. I loved this book, and the audiobook was so well done that I would absolutely without a doubt recommend it to everyone. If you’re looking for a spicy Irish version of the Haunting of Hill House with a dash of American Horror Story filled with romance, then this is definitely for you.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Wildewood By Jessica Thorne
Rating - 4.5
Wildewood is a standalone, gothic romance set in an atmospheric and spooky mansion in Ireland.
Dr Alex O’Neill, a sceptical paranormal investigator, must travel back to her ancestral home, Wildewood, after the death of her twin brother.
This is the latest in a long line of de Wilde deaths in the manor and the locals believe that the family is cursed. Alex has no interest in any alleged curses and simply wants to get this house off her hands as quickly as possible.
However, the tall, brooding and very handsome groundskeeper, Nick, is determined to stand in her way.
Alex refuses to accept any of the dark or creepy occurrences around the house and ploughs on with her plans, but when a tumble down the stairs nearly ends in her death, and Nick is the one to save her, she must confront the truth inside of Wildewood.
This book was dramatic, atmospheric and truly spooky. I flew through the story and it was a genuine struggle to put this book down as it was so captivating.
There’s folklore, ghost hunting, romance, and some horror, all of which come together to make a truly atmospheric story that I highly recommend.
It gave me vibes of The Haunting of Hill House and particularly Bly Manor, a family tormented by dark and dangerous presences. Book-wise wise I did find it similar to Galant in the theming and setting, but it stands uniquely alone.
My only slight complaint is that I cannot find any trigger warnings for this book, and I do feel people should be aware that there are elements of dubious consent, sexual coercion, and grooming of a minor.
However, overall, I really did enjoy this story and will be recommending it to anyone who wants some horror and creepiness wrapped in folklore with a romance.
Thankyou to Second Sky and NetGalley for this ARC.
Rating - 4.5
Wildewood is a standalone, gothic romance set in an atmospheric and spooky mansion in Ireland.
Dr Alex O’Neill, a sceptical paranormal investigator, must travel back to her ancestral home, Wildewood, after the death of her twin brother.
This is the latest in a long line of de Wilde deaths in the manor and the locals believe that the family is cursed. Alex has no interest in any alleged curses and simply wants to get this house off her hands as quickly as possible.
However, the tall, brooding and very handsome groundskeeper, Nick, is determined to stand in her way.
Alex refuses to accept any of the dark or creepy occurrences around the house and ploughs on with her plans, but when a tumble down the stairs nearly ends in her death, and Nick is the one to save her, she must confront the truth inside of Wildewood.
This book was dramatic, atmospheric and truly spooky. I flew through the story and it was a genuine struggle to put this book down as it was so captivating.
There’s folklore, ghost hunting, romance, and some horror, all of which come together to make a truly atmospheric story that I highly recommend.
It gave me vibes of The Haunting of Hill House and particularly Bly Manor, a family tormented by dark and dangerous presences. Book-wise wise I did find it similar to Galant in the theming and setting, but it stands uniquely alone.
My only slight complaint is that I cannot find any trigger warnings for this book, and I do feel people should be aware that there are elements of dubious consent, sexual coercion, and grooming of a minor.
However, overall, I really did enjoy this story and will be recommending it to anyone who wants some horror and creepiness wrapped in folklore with a romance.
Thankyou to Second Sky and NetGalley for this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This story had a wonderful blend of paranormal, romance, suspense/horror lite, and mythology. The book had twists and turns and mystery galore. The story was interesting and the characters had great backstories and as the story developed and we saw what was hidden it got even better. The last third of the book was nonstop action which made up for the first 2/3s of the book being a bit too drawn out. This book will keep you entertained but is best when broken up a little because it gets a bit lost in the details at times.
The narrator did a great job with all the voices and accents and the story was interestingly narrated.
The narrator did a great job with all the voices and accents and the story was interestingly narrated.
January 28, 2026
This was interesting to say the least. I loved the gothic atmosphere and setting of a haunted, mysterious manor. This is actually what drew me in to choosing this book. The pacing was a little uneven with some parts feeling rushed while other parts lingered a bit too much on details that felt minor. But as far as the plot... I’m not sure how I feel. It started out good but I felt like the ghost orgies and the ghost grooming was a little much and was just there for shock value? I wasn’t really sold on the relationship between Alex and Nick. I just wasn’t feeling it. I think it was too insta-lovey for me which is not really my favourite trope. It was a decent read but it wasn’t my favourite.
Thank you to the author, Bookouture Audio, Second Sky Books, and NetGalley for the Advanced Listener Copy (ALC) of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to the author, Bookouture Audio, Second Sky Books, and NetGalley for the Advanced Listener Copy (ALC) of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews