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Watcher of the Woods
After eighteen months staying home under rolling pandemic lockdowns with her girlfriend Joy, artist Thea Palmer has decided the strained relationship has run its course and she’s ready to end it—right after the stress of her birthday has passed.
Unfortunately, her surprise party comes with a special gift from Joy that puts the breakup on hold: a week-long cabin rental in the tiny northern Ontario community of Hope Falls, for just the two of them.
No phone.
No internet.
No contact with the outside world.
Joy says it’ll give them the perfect chance to reconnect and maybe restore Thea’s creativity after pandemic stress wearing down her desire to paint. But the cabin creaks at night under invisible steps, and the woods have trees that seem to shift in the corner of her eye. Thea swears she sees a strange white figure on the lake beckoning to her and an empty boat that drifts by in the early morning mist.
And Joy...Joy seems to be becoming someone else entirely.
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Unfortunately, her surprise party comes with a special gift from Joy that puts the breakup on hold: a week-long cabin rental in the tiny northern Ontario community of Hope Falls, for just the two of them.
No phone.
No internet.
No contact with the outside world.
Joy says it’ll give them the perfect chance to reconnect and maybe restore Thea’s creativity after pandemic stress wearing down her desire to paint. But the cabin creaks at night under invisible steps, and the woods have trees that seem to shift in the corner of her eye. Thea swears she sees a strange white figure on the lake beckoning to her and an empty boat that drifts by in the early morning mist.
And Joy...Joy seems to be becoming someone else entirely.
Read less
310 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 14, 2023
4 people are currently reading
180 people want to read
About the author
Skyla Dawn Cameron
60 books188 followersFriend Requests: I am really happy to accept new friends, however there is a challenge question. I realize it sounds bitchy, but I don't like author spam any more than any other reader. I ignore requests that don't respond to the challenge question (unless I *actually* know you in some capacity).
Please don't spam me with invitations to read your book. Thanks.
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Award-winning author Skyla Dawn Cameron has been writing approximately forever. Her early storytelling days were spent acting out strange horror/fairy tales with the help of her many dolls, and little has changed except that she now keeps those stories on paper. She signed her first book contract at age twenty-one for River, a unique werewolf tale, which was released to critical and reader praise alike and won her the 2007 EPPIE Award for Best Fantasy. She now has multiple series on the go to keep her busy, which is great for her attention deficit disorder.
Skyla lives in Southern Ontario where she dabbles in art, is an avid gamer, and watches Buffy reruns. She’s naturally brunette, occasionally a redhead, and currently blonde. If she ever becomes a grown-up, she wants to run her own pub, as well as become world dictator. You can visit her on the web at www.skyladawncameron.com for free fiction, book news, a community forum, and tons of other totally awesome stuff.
Info about the current series she's working on--which begins with Bloodlines--can be found at www.ZaraLain.com
Please don't spam me with invitations to read your book. Thanks.
-----------
Award-winning author Skyla Dawn Cameron has been writing approximately forever. Her early storytelling days were spent acting out strange horror/fairy tales with the help of her many dolls, and little has changed except that she now keeps those stories on paper. She signed her first book contract at age twenty-one for River, a unique werewolf tale, which was released to critical and reader praise alike and won her the 2007 EPPIE Award for Best Fantasy. She now has multiple series on the go to keep her busy, which is great for her attention deficit disorder.
Skyla lives in Southern Ontario where she dabbles in art, is an avid gamer, and watches Buffy reruns. She’s naturally brunette, occasionally a redhead, and currently blonde. If she ever becomes a grown-up, she wants to run her own pub, as well as become world dictator. You can visit her on the web at www.skyladawncameron.com for free fiction, book news, a community forum, and tons of other totally awesome stuff.
Info about the current series she's working on--which begins with Bloodlines--can be found at www.ZaraLain.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
May 5, 2025
3.5
Almost DNF, but the second half was good.
Almost DNF, but the second half was good.
September 30, 2025
I started this book as a filler, didn’t have any kind of high expectations at all. I knew absolutely nothing about it at all going into it. I was NOT disappointed. Eerie, a lot weird, spooky, alternate worlds, body snatcher vibes, relationship issues, trauma bonding, and so much more. This book had it all. My only regret is that I didn’t read the first book first (in my defense I didn’t know there was one…this was a new author for me).
3.8⭐️
3.8⭐️
Read
March 23, 2024DNF 25%
July 4, 2025
2.5 stars, rounded up. I listened to the audiobook on Evereand. This book took me forever to get through. A goodreads review said it picked up in the last half, so I kept reading. And I agree with that.
However, the first half is a slog to get through. It spends a lot of time setting up odd things, and I feel like it did a good job of setting up the characterization of the main character, even though she is kind of unlikeable. Her girlfriend is pretty manipulative and tries to play it off as "oh I was just trying to be nice", and Thea knows this, and has been thinking about breaking up with her for months. But instead, she keeps thinking that there's not a good time to do it, and you can feel the resentment dripping through the pages. The whole story is that Joy, the gf in question, throws her a surprise party, even though she hates surprises, doesn't want people in her house because of Covid restrictions and issues, and Joy doesn't even invite people she is close to. Thea's best friend finds out about it through the grapevine, and Joy video calls Thea's abusive mother, who she doesn't get along with. Then Joy gives Thea a gift of a week (or some amount of time) trip to a cabin in the woods. And instead of breaking up with her then, Thea thinks that she'll do it after the trip. Of course, things go fully off the rails and get creepy as hell on the trip. Joy also doesn't like that Thea is on psych meds and keeps saying she doesn't need them. Joy is covertly manipulative, but Thea doesn't want to think she's a bad person, she thinks that they're just not compatible. Why did they relationship last this long? They started dating a few months before Covid lockdown and moved in together waaaay to early when lockdown started.
The last half is good and things pick up, but the first half is a whole lot of nothing. It's basically things are kind of weird and off things are happening at the cabin and in the surrounding woods and lake, and that Joy says she's trying to be closer to Thea but also seems to ignore the person Thea actually is. And Thea trying to be nice, but really looking forward to breaking up with Joy after this is over. And that set up drags on a bit too long. We don't learn anything else new for a while, and it takes too long for the story to get to explaining what is off and why. Something is weird, these to women who are girlfriends don't really seem to like each other.
All in all, firs half is kind of slow. But I was determined to finish it, and I ultimately though the last half picked up a lot more.
However, the first half is a slog to get through. It spends a lot of time setting up odd things, and I feel like it did a good job of setting up the characterization of the main character, even though she is kind of unlikeable. Her girlfriend is pretty manipulative and tries to play it off as "oh I was just trying to be nice", and Thea knows this, and has been thinking about breaking up with her for months. But instead, she keeps thinking that there's not a good time to do it, and you can feel the resentment dripping through the pages. The whole story is that Joy, the gf in question, throws her a surprise party, even though she hates surprises, doesn't want people in her house because of Covid restrictions and issues, and Joy doesn't even invite people she is close to. Thea's best friend finds out about it through the grapevine, and Joy video calls Thea's abusive mother, who she doesn't get along with. Then Joy gives Thea a gift of a week (or some amount of time) trip to a cabin in the woods. And instead of breaking up with her then, Thea thinks that she'll do it after the trip. Of course, things go fully off the rails and get creepy as hell on the trip. Joy also doesn't like that Thea is on psych meds and keeps saying she doesn't need them. Joy is covertly manipulative, but Thea doesn't want to think she's a bad person, she thinks that they're just not compatible. Why did they relationship last this long? They started dating a few months before Covid lockdown and moved in together waaaay to early when lockdown started.
The last half is good and things pick up, but the first half is a whole lot of nothing. It's basically things are kind of weird and off things are happening at the cabin and in the surrounding woods and lake, and that Joy says she's trying to be closer to Thea but also seems to ignore the person Thea actually is. And Thea trying to be nice, but really looking forward to breaking up with Joy after this is over. And that set up drags on a bit too long. We don't learn anything else new for a while, and it takes too long for the story to get to explaining what is off and why. Something is weird, these to women who are girlfriends don't really seem to like each other.
All in all, firs half is kind of slow. But I was determined to finish it, and I ultimately though the last half picked up a lot more.
June 14, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️ | Original, Atmospheric, and Slightly Flawed
Watcher in the Woods by Skyla Dawn Cameron delivers a refreshingly original take on supernatural horror, blending eerie suspense with deeply rooted character development. Set against the lingering backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, the story cleverly weaves real-world tension into its eerie, isolated setting, giving the horror an unsettling relevance.
One of the novel’s strongest elements is its lead character—a fierce, independent woman whose resilience and emotional depth feel authentic and compelling. Her evolution over the course of the book is handled with nuance, and Cameron does an excellent job showing vulnerability and strength side by side. The monster element, too, is vividly described, offering chilling imagery that lingers long after turning the page.
The ending is wild and unexpected—in the best way—delivering a final twist that redefines much of what came before without feeling cheap or forced. It’s a satisfying payoff that horror fans will likely appreciate.
However, the book stumbles in its overuse of coarse language, particularly the F-word in internal monologue. While gritty realism can enhance a story, the frequency and placement of the profanity felt excessive and, at times, detracted from the intelligence and strength of the protagonist. It occasionally undercut moments of introspection or tension that might have otherwise carried more emotional weight.
In short, Watcher in the Woods is a well-crafted horror tale with a fresh premise, strong character work, and an evocative setting—but it could have benefited from more restraint in language to better serve its smart, capable lead.
Watcher in the Woods by Skyla Dawn Cameron delivers a refreshingly original take on supernatural horror, blending eerie suspense with deeply rooted character development. Set against the lingering backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, the story cleverly weaves real-world tension into its eerie, isolated setting, giving the horror an unsettling relevance.
One of the novel’s strongest elements is its lead character—a fierce, independent woman whose resilience and emotional depth feel authentic and compelling. Her evolution over the course of the book is handled with nuance, and Cameron does an excellent job showing vulnerability and strength side by side. The monster element, too, is vividly described, offering chilling imagery that lingers long after turning the page.
The ending is wild and unexpected—in the best way—delivering a final twist that redefines much of what came before without feeling cheap or forced. It’s a satisfying payoff that horror fans will likely appreciate.
However, the book stumbles in its overuse of coarse language, particularly the F-word in internal monologue. While gritty realism can enhance a story, the frequency and placement of the profanity felt excessive and, at times, detracted from the intelligence and strength of the protagonist. It occasionally undercut moments of introspection or tension that might have otherwise carried more emotional weight.
In short, Watcher in the Woods is a well-crafted horror tale with a fresh premise, strong character work, and an evocative setting—but it could have benefited from more restraint in language to better serve its smart, capable lead.
April 7, 2025
3.75 stars
I listened to this as an audiobook and overall really enjoyed it. It wasn't perfect, but it was good enough that I listened to most of it in two sittings in less than 24 hours. The audiobook narrator has a great voice for this story and did a fantastic job. Only complaint I have for the audiobook is that there wasn't a clear demarcation between this story and the book that she is reading in the story and some times I missed when one story switched to the other.
As for the book itself, I enjoyed it. It felt very r/nosleep story fleshed out which isn't necessarily a bad thing. The ending was a little more ambiguous than I personally prefer although it wrapped the actual story up pretty well- you just walk away without much information on why the supernatural is.
At the end, I really enjoyed it and would be interested in more from this author.
I listened to this as an audiobook and overall really enjoyed it. It wasn't perfect, but it was good enough that I listened to most of it in two sittings in less than 24 hours. The audiobook narrator has a great voice for this story and did a fantastic job. Only complaint I have for the audiobook is that there wasn't a clear demarcation between this story and the book that she is reading in the story and some times I missed when one story switched to the other.
As for the book itself, I enjoyed it. It felt very r/nosleep story fleshed out which isn't necessarily a bad thing. The ending was a little more ambiguous than I personally prefer although it wrapped the actual story up pretty well- you just walk away without much information on why the supernatural is.
At the end, I really enjoyed it and would be interested in more from this author.
March 18, 2023
Loved it! I enjoyed the references to the other book in this ... I'll call it series, since the location is the same city and there are some shared characters (think of this as Stephen King's Castle Rock, Maine books). One reference was excerpts from a novel written by the MC from the companion novel Dweller on the Threshold. I kept thinking, I really want to read this book! And was relieved and delighted to read the Author's Note at the end, which promises to write this book within the book.
I was also pleasantly surprised by the presence of Gavin, a supporting character in Dweller. He's still pretty traumatized by what happened in that other book, and I can't help but wonder if a future book will, uh, help him with that.
I was also pleasantly surprised by the presence of Gavin, a supporting character in Dweller. He's still pretty traumatized by what happened in that other book, and I can't help but wonder if a future book will, uh, help him with that.
May 12, 2025
I was pretty sure this would be a 5 star read at around the middle - I was looking for a book that satisfies my love for alternate reality and ‘replaced/fake people’ trope. This did just that.
Loved the spooky, misty lake+forest setting, it’s a classic.
I wish I knew before going into this, that there was another book that takes place before the events of Watcher of the woods, although they are only loosely connected by the world they take place in.
Loved the spooky, misty lake+forest setting, it’s a classic.
I wish I knew before going into this, that there was another book that takes place before the events of Watcher of the woods, although they are only loosely connected by the world they take place in.
May 12, 2025
3.5 ⭐️ this was ummm different. Entertaining none the less. Follows two lesbians Joy and Thea who are on the verge of breaking up. They take a trip to a cabin in the woods where weird shit begins to happen. I thought I had it all figured out but nope shit took a turn and I was left with my eyes bulging out of my eyes.
July 28, 2025
This was on sale at Kobo and I thought I'd take a chance on it.
It's sort of a ghost story, sort of an Invasion of the Body Snatchers-style story. It has lots of trauma and work on recovery from trauma. It's genuinely unsettling in some places.
A quick read, but one that kept me awake for a few hours last night.
It's sort of a ghost story, sort of an Invasion of the Body Snatchers-style story. It has lots of trauma and work on recovery from trauma. It's genuinely unsettling in some places.
A quick read, but one that kept me awake for a few hours last night.
February 15, 2023
I loved Dweller on the Threshold and have been looking forward to this release for months! A quick, spooky read, that delivers both solid character and plot twists. I loved the paradigm shift when you finally find out what's REALLY going on. (And now I want to read Norah's wardrobe book...)
February 20, 2023
Amazing
At first, I thought this book plot followed a classic ghost/horror method. Then, the carpet was pulled out from under me. This is full of surprises, twists, and keeps you locked in (no pun intended). Definitely read this!
At first, I thought this book plot followed a classic ghost/horror method. Then, the carpet was pulled out from under me. This is full of surprises, twists, and keeps you locked in (no pun intended). Definitely read this!
August 26, 2025
Wow - this story is absolutely mind blowing, Skyla has the ability to keep you on tender hooks all the way through as the tension grows, twists and turns as secrets are revealed up to the very last moment.
I will be finding more by Skyla in the future.
Highly recommend.
I will be finding more by Skyla in the future.
Highly recommend.
Read
March 21, 2023Nicely eerie and I really enjoyed the concept. Very inventive. I had no idea where the path was leading me.
April 11, 2025
wow.. but I don't like the ending :) but the book is good..
April 21, 2025
Loved the story and tie in to the other Hope Falls book. Characters were few, but endearing and well developed. I got chills from the vivid imagery of the lake scenes.
April 24, 2025
We are all trapped here.
And how do we know that the people we know are really themselves?
And how do we know that the people we know are really themselves?
May 18, 2025
this is good but not quite as great as Dweller on the threshold. a good storyline, with believable characters that maintained your interest
May 20, 2025
I should stop reading horror books. Very scary to listen to scary audiobooks at night.
May 27, 2025
a fun spooky time overall
June 1, 2025
I want to do a more in-depth review later, but my biggest problem with this book was that it was all drawn out way too long.
June 3, 2025
not gonna lie, I couldn’t get over being in the headspace of such a deeply unlikable character
June 16, 2025
I enjoyed the book. kept me on my toes. will try other books by the author.
June 24, 2025
This was…..different. Creepy, but kinda off the wall.
July 19, 2025
Could not turn off this audiobook oh my goodness 😱
July 20, 2025
I really liked this story
August 25, 2025
Some nightmare fuel driven writing!! I loved it!!
August 26, 2025
I wish I could give it a 3.8 but Goodreads is gonna do its thing. Not horrible, and entertaining! A good read in between heavy series :)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews