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The Dead Woods
The woods were dead, and had been for as long as the townsfolk could remember. Sitting on the edge of the town, it was an expanse of sinister and leafless rot.
Those that were unlucky enough to find themselves alone and scared in those woods may have seen the thick yellowing mist that came first.
They may have seen the shadows that appeared to watch them as they tried to escape.
They then may have seen the faces of those long since past, approach them with a hungry grin.
But that would probably be the last thing they would ever see.
Few escaped seeing the truth in the evil that lay in wait in the dead woods, and those that were lucky enough, were never the same again.
Those that were unlucky enough to find themselves alone and scared in those woods may have seen the thick yellowing mist that came first.
They may have seen the shadows that appeared to watch them as they tried to escape.
They then may have seen the faces of those long since past, approach them with a hungry grin.
But that would probably be the last thing they would ever see.
Few escaped seeing the truth in the evil that lay in wait in the dead woods, and those that were lucky enough, were never the same again.
- GenresHorrorYoung Adult
188 pages, Paperback
First published April 21, 2023
6 people are currently reading
138 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
January 2, 2024
Ok, picture this! You are going into the woods with your family and friends. You're planning on having an outing and barbeque. you start to light up a fire. That is when you realize the woods are alive and extremely angry at your assault! The trees and the vines start to attack!
As an avid Stephen King and Clive Baker fan (read all their books), I haven't been creeped out by a book quite like this one.
The mind-blowing Twist at the end of the book is enough to make this a 5 star book (but it is not quite there yet)
The Dead Woods gives you the recipe that makes Stephen King's books work. TAKE A BUNCH OF INNOCENT KIDS AND PUT THEM IN A DIRE SCARY LIFE-THREATENING SITUATION
and I loved it! I wanted more to be honest
unlike SK, this one is marketed as a YA. I think it does suit this age and above, especially those who want to get into the horror genre.
It is easy to follow, with no over-complicated descriptions or extreme plot stretching.
The story grips you into wanting never to stop reading. And you can since it is a short book
I think this book could be a great long-length book. This reads like the first Draft or mapping for the real deal. I know this is an indie book, but it really needs good editing.
1- many typos
2- a lot of grammar and structural mistakes
3- the sudden shift in the POV between paragraphs in the same chapter at the end
but tbh, this is not what made me lower it from 5 to 4 (and i understand why some gave it 3 or 2). It was the plotholes, the unanswered questions, and the unnecessary deaths that happened.
Overall, I enjoyed thoroughly the book and may check out other of the author's work.
As an avid Stephen King and Clive Baker fan (read all their books), I haven't been creeped out by a book quite like this one.
The mind-blowing Twist at the end of the book is enough to make this a 5 star book (but it is not quite there yet)
The Dead Woods gives you the recipe that makes Stephen King's books work. TAKE A BUNCH OF INNOCENT KIDS AND PUT THEM IN A DIRE SCARY LIFE-THREATENING SITUATION
and I loved it! I wanted more to be honest
unlike SK, this one is marketed as a YA. I think it does suit this age and above, especially those who want to get into the horror genre.
It is easy to follow, with no over-complicated descriptions or extreme plot stretching.
The story grips you into wanting never to stop reading. And you can since it is a short book
I think this book could be a great long-length book. This reads like the first Draft or mapping for the real deal. I know this is an indie book, but it really needs good editing.
1- many typos
2- a lot of grammar and structural mistakes
3- the sudden shift in the POV between paragraphs in the same chapter at the end
but tbh, this is not what made me lower it from 5 to 4 (and i understand why some gave it 3 or 2). It was the plotholes, the unanswered questions, and the unnecessary deaths that happened.
Overall, I enjoyed thoroughly the book and may check out other of the author's work.
March 23, 2023
I really wanted to love this book- the cover and description are awesome. The book is marketed as YA horror, but it read almost more like middle-grade. While the characters are supposed to be in highschool they acted like they were 10 years old, which made it hard for me to engage.
The style reminds me of goosebumps/fear street, but the dialogue and execution didn’t work very well for me. The concept was cool and unique - a bunch of kids who hang out at a clubhouse investigating the suspicious disappearances of their friends- and I enjoyed jumping around in time.
It was entertaining, but not for me. I think a younger reader would likely enjoy this.
Thank you to netgalley for a copy to review. All opinions are my own.
The style reminds me of goosebumps/fear street, but the dialogue and execution didn’t work very well for me. The concept was cool and unique - a bunch of kids who hang out at a clubhouse investigating the suspicious disappearances of their friends- and I enjoyed jumping around in time.
It was entertaining, but not for me. I think a younger reader would likely enjoy this.
Thank you to netgalley for a copy to review. All opinions are my own.
April 12, 2023
Huge thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for approving me for a copy of ‘The Dead Woods.’
The cover and the synopsis had me hooked. I was excited to dive into this one and, as a huge fan of coming-of-age, creatures in the woods novels, thought this one would be right up my alley.
I also didn’t mind going in that this was marketed as YA Horror. YA Horror can be some of the most fast-paced, emotionally devastating books, while also scaring the pants off of the reader. So, knowing that, I dove in.
What I liked: The story follows a group of kids trying to find out what actually happened to their friend who disappeared one night. They know he was going to the house where, just a short time prior their own son had disappeared, but when their friends bike and bag are found far from there, they know something is up.
From here, Francis takes his time in setting up a creepy story where there is an obvious desire from our characters to stay out of the woods. As more of the truth gets revealed, it becomes and inevitable task, that the kids will need to enter and we get some really great creature scenes and some well done tension.
The coming-of-age aspect wasn’t as prominent as I expected, but the group of kids work well together and do what they can to survive and attempt to put an end to the evil.
What I didn’t like: This one just didn’t click with me, unfortunately. I didn’t care about any of the kids, and because of that there was no emotional connection between reader and story, which meant when anything happened, I just didn’t care.
It also took a really long time to ramp up. Even by the 50% mark very little actual progress had been made, which meant by the time anything of woodsy note occurred, it felt rushed and not expanded upon.
Why you should buy this: This was good, just not great for me. It had some really fun moments and had enough going on that I wanted to see what happened, but it wasn’t as fast-paced as I would’ve hoped considering the middle range page count.
Overall, a decent entry into the creature-in-the-woods genre but one that won’t appeal to those who stay away from YA.
The cover and the synopsis had me hooked. I was excited to dive into this one and, as a huge fan of coming-of-age, creatures in the woods novels, thought this one would be right up my alley.
I also didn’t mind going in that this was marketed as YA Horror. YA Horror can be some of the most fast-paced, emotionally devastating books, while also scaring the pants off of the reader. So, knowing that, I dove in.
What I liked: The story follows a group of kids trying to find out what actually happened to their friend who disappeared one night. They know he was going to the house where, just a short time prior their own son had disappeared, but when their friends bike and bag are found far from there, they know something is up.
From here, Francis takes his time in setting up a creepy story where there is an obvious desire from our characters to stay out of the woods. As more of the truth gets revealed, it becomes and inevitable task, that the kids will need to enter and we get some really great creature scenes and some well done tension.
The coming-of-age aspect wasn’t as prominent as I expected, but the group of kids work well together and do what they can to survive and attempt to put an end to the evil.
What I didn’t like: This one just didn’t click with me, unfortunately. I didn’t care about any of the kids, and because of that there was no emotional connection between reader and story, which meant when anything happened, I just didn’t care.
It also took a really long time to ramp up. Even by the 50% mark very little actual progress had been made, which meant by the time anything of woodsy note occurred, it felt rushed and not expanded upon.
Why you should buy this: This was good, just not great for me. It had some really fun moments and had enough going on that I wanted to see what happened, but it wasn’t as fast-paced as I would’ve hoped considering the middle range page count.
Overall, a decent entry into the creature-in-the-woods genre but one that won’t appeal to those who stay away from YA.
January 26, 2023
This is a YA novel and packs a punch.
First off the cover grabbed me right away and the contents within lived up to the hype. The characters were all so well written and you come to care for each one. The story itself was very well written and brought on some scenes that are very memorable. The visuals in the mind movie were depicted as well as any movie on a screen. I will say some parts made me sad where others kept me glued and turning the pages with lightning speed. And that ending...score.
"A fleshy wood with bones within it, held up with vines" - a line highlighted by me.
First off the cover grabbed me right away and the contents within lived up to the hype. The characters were all so well written and you come to care for each one. The story itself was very well written and brought on some scenes that are very memorable. The visuals in the mind movie were depicted as well as any movie on a screen. I will say some parts made me sad where others kept me glued and turning the pages with lightning speed. And that ending...score.
"A fleshy wood with bones within it, held up with vines" - a line highlighted by me.
May 3, 2023
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Unsettling: 😬😬😬/5
SCARY: 👻👻/5
DEATH: 💀💀💀/5
INTRIGUE: 🧠🧠🧠🧠🧠
Creepy: 🎈🎈/5
The Dead Woods was such a different book than I have read before. It was something that I could emerse myself in, and actually see it happening as if it was a movie. With a different take on a YA horror novel it stood out in my mind after I finished reading. I was struggling to decide what I was going to say.
It is still hard to put into words how I feel about it. I enjoyed the characters, and how well the plot innertwined the whole cast. It included scenes with the parents, even if they weren't always necessary. Some of the parents could have honestly been left out of this and it would have been better. But others needed more within the pages to be able to make their presence more concrete. Without any kind of ending with the parents it's hard to be able to see why the author didn't include them.
The ending rounded out the saga, but still didn't answer many questions for me. Which is part of the reason why it got 4/5 ⭐.
I would pick this up and give it a try! It's worth reading!
Unsettling: 😬😬😬/5
SCARY: 👻👻/5
DEATH: 💀💀💀/5
INTRIGUE: 🧠🧠🧠🧠🧠
Creepy: 🎈🎈/5
The Dead Woods was such a different book than I have read before. It was something that I could emerse myself in, and actually see it happening as if it was a movie. With a different take on a YA horror novel it stood out in my mind after I finished reading. I was struggling to decide what I was going to say.
It is still hard to put into words how I feel about it. I enjoyed the characters, and how well the plot innertwined the whole cast. It included scenes with the parents, even if they weren't always necessary. Some of the parents could have honestly been left out of this and it would have been better. But others needed more within the pages to be able to make their presence more concrete. Without any kind of ending with the parents it's hard to be able to see why the author didn't include them.
The ending rounded out the saga, but still didn't answer many questions for me. Which is part of the reason why it got 4/5 ⭐.
I would pick this up and give it a try! It's worth reading!
April 26, 2023
[Blurb goes here]
A kid lost his dog, mom and dad told him the dog died. He knows they're lying! His pet comes every night and gently scratches his window, begging to come in, smiling even. They don't believe him, and now his parents have locked his window, but he's found the key and is determined to let his beloved mascot inside his room! It turns out to be a terrible idea.
Three years later, a group of friends are reminded of a kid that died. One of them overheard his mom saying an animal had just...mauled the kid.
This has the makings of a fantastic story...let me rephrase that: this is an amazing story!
What's the downside, then? The underdeveloped writing, the lack of an editor or a grammar checker. These things are essential to a book's success, and this is a story worth working over and over again until it's perfect.
This is an advanced copy and probably an uncorrected one. IMHO, it shouldn't have seen the light of day until every little detail was fixed.
Anyways, those are my two cents...
Thank you for the advanced copy!
A kid lost his dog, mom and dad told him the dog died. He knows they're lying! His pet comes every night and gently scratches his window, begging to come in, smiling even. They don't believe him, and now his parents have locked his window, but he's found the key and is determined to let his beloved mascot inside his room! It turns out to be a terrible idea.
Three years later, a group of friends are reminded of a kid that died. One of them overheard his mom saying an animal had just...mauled the kid.
This has the makings of a fantastic story...let me rephrase that: this is an amazing story!
What's the downside, then? The underdeveloped writing, the lack of an editor or a grammar checker. These things are essential to a book's success, and this is a story worth working over and over again until it's perfect.
This is an advanced copy and probably an uncorrected one. IMHO, it shouldn't have seen the light of day until every little detail was fixed.
Anyways, those are my two cents...
Thank you for the advanced copy!
May 5, 2023
As someone with nature allergies, I am already suspicious of the trees and their sinister ways. The Dead Woods, though, those trees are on a whole new level of terrible.
The story is full of heartbreak and horrible people, all covering or serving the dark secret the woods hold. I enjoyed the grotesque descriptions and seeing both the vile side of humanity and the innocent one.
It's a very quick read. If you have a couple hours and want a solid creepy tale of twisted nature, check this one out.
The story is full of heartbreak and horrible people, all covering or serving the dark secret the woods hold. I enjoyed the grotesque descriptions and seeing both the vile side of humanity and the innocent one.
It's a very quick read. If you have a couple hours and want a solid creepy tale of twisted nature, check this one out.
April 23, 2023
Honestly not sure what to think about this. It was… interesting. I went in completely blind, only choosing this arc over the others I have because it was significantly shorter. I really liked the concept but wish it had a happier ending. Too many kids died or were majorly injured for me to rate it any higher.
I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 28, 2023
Thanks to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for the advanced copy.
I finished this last night but needed some time to process my thoughts, since while I was reading it seemed like my opinion was varying a lot more than I expected. So, let me start by saying that I love horror, and I love children's and young adult fiction, and my own love of horror grew from reading RL Stine - typically Goosebumps - and watching the likes of Are You Afraid of the Dark. My love of those two things specifically are what drew my attention to Christian Francis' The Dead Woods.
The Dead Woods is very much a story in the vein of both Goosebumps and Are You Afraid of the Dark in that there is a handful of children, to which something bad happens, and some questionable parents/adult authority figures. I appreciate that Francis is also entirely unafraid of killing his characters, even in a children's book. I also love that this was a surprise Lovecraftian story. Some may consider that spoilers but it is its own genre at this point so, not a spoiler. Francis is a crystal clear writer with a good sense of atmosphere and a creative mind for inventive antagonists. The monsters in this story aren't totally unfamiliar, clearly being inspired by known monsters, but it takes a new, wild twist that pushed me from interested to edge of my seat, and the ending! WHAT.
This story was wild, and an absolute surprise. This is definitely not a summary that spoils what happens; it's a very basic overview of what this book is actually about, and honestly I kind of love that too because sometimes it's fun to be surprised by a thing.
So why was I torn? This book is listed as young adult. Content-wise, by the end particularly, it definitely is young adult. My problem is that I don't think this author has spoken to a teenager in a very long time because the main kids all speak like they're 9/10 and not 16, which they are. The language at the start of the novel, for the (?) prologue, is also kind of weirdly archaic? I think the author was going for fairy tale vibes but it mostly comes across as awkward.
But the last quarter of the book. My issues with the characterization of the teenagers aside, the plot, the monster - all worth it. I am not kidding when I say it had me at the edge of my seat, especially when I realized Francis was willing to kill characters. It made the whole story so much more tense.
If there is ever a sequel, or a story set in the same world, I'll happily read it. I already plan on checking out his work in the Hellraiser (!!) expanded universe.
I finished this last night but needed some time to process my thoughts, since while I was reading it seemed like my opinion was varying a lot more than I expected. So, let me start by saying that I love horror, and I love children's and young adult fiction, and my own love of horror grew from reading RL Stine - typically Goosebumps - and watching the likes of Are You Afraid of the Dark. My love of those two things specifically are what drew my attention to Christian Francis' The Dead Woods.
The Dead Woods is very much a story in the vein of both Goosebumps and Are You Afraid of the Dark in that there is a handful of children, to which something bad happens, and some questionable parents/adult authority figures. I appreciate that Francis is also entirely unafraid of killing his characters, even in a children's book. I also love that this was a surprise Lovecraftian story. Some may consider that spoilers but it is its own genre at this point so, not a spoiler. Francis is a crystal clear writer with a good sense of atmosphere and a creative mind for inventive antagonists. The monsters in this story aren't totally unfamiliar, clearly being inspired by known monsters, but it takes a new, wild twist that pushed me from interested to edge of my seat, and the ending! WHAT.
This story was wild, and an absolute surprise. This is definitely not a summary that spoils what happens; it's a very basic overview of what this book is actually about, and honestly I kind of love that too because sometimes it's fun to be surprised by a thing.
So why was I torn? This book is listed as young adult. Content-wise, by the end particularly, it definitely is young adult. My problem is that I don't think this author has spoken to a teenager in a very long time because the main kids all speak like they're 9/10 and not 16, which they are. The language at the start of the novel, for the (?) prologue, is also kind of weirdly archaic? I think the author was going for fairy tale vibes but it mostly comes across as awkward.
But the last quarter of the book. My issues with the characterization of the teenagers aside, the plot, the monster - all worth it. I am not kidding when I say it had me at the edge of my seat, especially when I realized Francis was willing to kill characters. It made the whole story so much more tense.
If there is ever a sequel, or a story set in the same world, I'll happily read it. I already plan on checking out his work in the Hellraiser (!!) expanded universe.
May 1, 2023
Something dark and sinister lurks in the dead woods. After strange things start happening within a group of friends they decide to investigate. What they find is beyond anything they ever thought possible.
The storyline was entertaining enough to keep me interested. It kind of gives vibes of Stranger Things and IT. This leans more towards YA but is still enjoyable for adults that prefer very mild horror. As for the characters, I didn’t really feel a connection to any of them. There was a bit of tragedy in the story and unfortunately, I wasn’t affected by any of it because the characters were just lacking to me.
Overall, this book was an okay read. The concept was good, but the characters needed more work in my opinion. I like to feel something for the characters, and it just wasn’t there for me.
The storyline was entertaining enough to keep me interested. It kind of gives vibes of Stranger Things and IT. This leans more towards YA but is still enjoyable for adults that prefer very mild horror. As for the characters, I didn’t really feel a connection to any of them. There was a bit of tragedy in the story and unfortunately, I wasn’t affected by any of it because the characters were just lacking to me.
Overall, this book was an okay read. The concept was good, but the characters needed more work in my opinion. I like to feel something for the characters, and it just wasn’t there for me.
May 5, 2023
As someone with nature allergies, I am already suspicious of the trees and their sinister ways. The Dead Woods, though, those trees are on a whole new level of terrible.
The story is full of heartbreak and horrible people, all covering or serving the dark secret the woods hold. I enjoyed the grotesque descriptions and seeing both the vile side of humanity and the innocent one.
It's a very quick read. If you have a couple hours and want a solid creepy tale of twisted nature, check this one out.
The story is full of heartbreak and horrible people, all covering or serving the dark secret the woods hold. I enjoyed the grotesque descriptions and seeing both the vile side of humanity and the innocent one.
It's a very quick read. If you have a couple hours and want a solid creepy tale of twisted nature, check this one out.
March 7, 2025
This reads a bit like goosebumps with a dash of Stephen king inspired elements.
Though it's marked for young adult (probably because of the dark themes) I feel the writing style was more geared towards younger audience (9-13yrs) and it kinda made it a little hard to connect with.
I really enjoyed the excerpts of the journal of E. Eagleton. It gave a good atmospheric vibes to the chilling encounters.
Though it's marked for young adult (probably because of the dark themes) I feel the writing style was more geared towards younger audience (9-13yrs) and it kinda made it a little hard to connect with.
I really enjoyed the excerpts of the journal of E. Eagleton. It gave a good atmospheric vibes to the chilling encounters.
July 31, 2024
A fantastic read, thrilling and gripping from the first to last page, im not normally a horror kind of person but I found the author on tiktoks book community and I've slowly started adding his books to my tbr
March 30, 2023
I received a copy of this in exhange for an honest review. NetGalley sent me a copy of this book and I can say that it was worth it. Thank you, NetGalley!
A combination of Stephen King’s IT, Fear Street and a little bit of Stranger Things.
A story where a group of kids where just having fun, discovering the different place to play in their hometown until they encounter things at their scary dark woods.
It’s a little cold shivering experience when I read this. It can be considered as a Middle to YA Horror indeed. The book was short, I finished it in less than 2 days I think. I love the vibe! I also love the twist in the ending as it was a shocking twist that I learned! The adventure, the adrenaline and the excitement when I was reading it was so fun! I frequently put the book (kindle) down as the story progress, I got excited! The visuals of how I imagined was so good. It was like I am watching a version of Stranger Things!
I give this book a solid 4 ⭐s! It was a little scary I admit but it was kinda fun as well while reading it at 12midnight! Lol
A combination of Stephen King’s IT, Fear Street and a little bit of Stranger Things.
A story where a group of kids where just having fun, discovering the different place to play in their hometown until they encounter things at their scary dark woods.
It’s a little cold shivering experience when I read this. It can be considered as a Middle to YA Horror indeed. The book was short, I finished it in less than 2 days I think. I love the vibe! I also love the twist in the ending as it was a shocking twist that I learned! The adventure, the adrenaline and the excitement when I was reading it was so fun! I frequently put the book (kindle) down as the story progress, I got excited! The visuals of how I imagined was so good. It was like I am watching a version of Stranger Things!
I give this book a solid 4 ⭐s! It was a little scary I admit but it was kinda fun as well while reading it at 12midnight! Lol
May 11, 2023
I had high expectations going in. A group of kids, creepy woods, and a coming of age story. What resulted just felt like a Stephen King knock off.
The story is immediately reminiscent of Cujo and It. Both of these movies are actually joked about as well in the book (although not mentioned by name, it’s clear what the characters are referring too). I also got Imaginary Friend vibes from the book.
I love coming of age stories and still read my fair share of YA. This one felt much more middle grade. There were a lot of repeat words and phrases, the characters weren’t developed, which caused me to also not care about them. We have a large cast of characters to keep track of for the book only being 182 pages. This gets confusing and also leaves no time for them to be fleshed out.
The books events “connect” but not in a way that is exciting. There are lots of semi violent scenes that happen towards the end, which seem just for the shock factor. The ending was rushed and still didn’t give the reader a good explanation of what was really going on. The epilogue would have been better left off and the book being extended by another 10-20 pages.
The Dead Woods is too long to be a quick fun read like a Goosebumps but also too short to be an interesting descriptive YA that shows how well coming of age and horror can intertwine.
Thank you Encyclopocalypse Publications for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review!
The story is immediately reminiscent of Cujo and It. Both of these movies are actually joked about as well in the book (although not mentioned by name, it’s clear what the characters are referring too). I also got Imaginary Friend vibes from the book.
I love coming of age stories and still read my fair share of YA. This one felt much more middle grade. There were a lot of repeat words and phrases, the characters weren’t developed, which caused me to also not care about them. We have a large cast of characters to keep track of for the book only being 182 pages. This gets confusing and also leaves no time for them to be fleshed out.
The books events “connect” but not in a way that is exciting. There are lots of semi violent scenes that happen towards the end, which seem just for the shock factor. The ending was rushed and still didn’t give the reader a good explanation of what was really going on. The epilogue would have been better left off and the book being extended by another 10-20 pages.
The Dead Woods is too long to be a quick fun read like a Goosebumps but also too short to be an interesting descriptive YA that shows how well coming of age and horror can intertwine.
Thank you Encyclopocalypse Publications for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review!
June 15, 2023
3.5 stars
The Dead Woods seduced me with a really good cover and I have to say the opening is very strong; it’s menacing, it’s creepy, it has really strong potential.
The main issue with this book however, at least for me, was it’s not always clear who the intended target audience is - the children act very much like children, even down to making up fake swear words, cycling around on bikes (ie. Stranger Things), having a paper round and having their own den, and yet I believe they’re meant to be high school age (?) with them not just working with adults but adults treating them like peers. It’s just a bit of a confusing clash because they really do come over as children which makes what happens during the book more unsettling and unnecessary. The imagery is graphic enough but the execution holds back, death and violence being just sort of thrown around and not too explicitly dealt with, to make the themes and visuals truly horrifying. The writing style is quite young making this too horrific for middle age but also too childish for YA.
The characters aren’t really built up enough, the only one I really liked died, but you don’t really get enough of the characters to know them much.
That said this is a short book and it does achieve a lot in its reduced pages. It’s a quick read and has its powerful moments, I did enjoy it, it’s just a little disjointed in its tone
Thank you NetGalley for the review copy in exchange for an honest review
The Dead Woods seduced me with a really good cover and I have to say the opening is very strong; it’s menacing, it’s creepy, it has really strong potential.
The main issue with this book however, at least for me, was it’s not always clear who the intended target audience is - the children act very much like children, even down to making up fake swear words, cycling around on bikes (ie. Stranger Things), having a paper round and having their own den, and yet I believe they’re meant to be high school age (?) with them not just working with adults but adults treating them like peers. It’s just a bit of a confusing clash because they really do come over as children which makes what happens during the book more unsettling and unnecessary. The imagery is graphic enough but the execution holds back, death and violence being just sort of thrown around and not too explicitly dealt with, to make the themes and visuals truly horrifying. The writing style is quite young making this too horrific for middle age but also too childish for YA.
The characters aren’t really built up enough, the only one I really liked died, but you don’t really get enough of the characters to know them much.
That said this is a short book and it does achieve a lot in its reduced pages. It’s a quick read and has its powerful moments, I did enjoy it, it’s just a little disjointed in its tone
Thank you NetGalley for the review copy in exchange for an honest review
June 11, 2023
Stepping into the woods was a big mistake. But sometimes curiosity gets the better of you, especially in this case. Now I am not ashamed to say I was hoodwinked into this book by some pretty epic marketing done by Christian.
Putting down my usual extreme horror for a downright creepy coming-of-age Young Adult story. That is one takes an instant step up to sinister, as we start our journey in 1985, now kids if your puppy has died and starts sitting outside your window being all Pet Semetery. Maybe best Adam should have listened to your parents and kept the damn window closed! Yes, I was shouting this at the book as I read (don't judge me).
Then we meet our own version of the losers club, in the form of James, Findley, Emmie, Hamish, and Pip. As they discuss the unfortunate aftermath of Adam making his decision. As they speculate how he was found dead in his bedroom, things start to get more detailed. As Christian sets the scene for the reader and peaks my interest about what could have happened to poor Adam Petrie. Sadly, we do end up finding out what became of Adam at the expense of Pip! A character I really liked from the start. Christian George-R-R-Maritined me! Honestly, it was a moment like when Georgie got killed in IT! So of course we get to see the fallout of this from James, Findley, Hammish, and Emmie as they journey to hunt down the truth. I mean I get grief can do messed up things to people, by Mrs. Petrie was damn right terrifying as a character. But I love how Findley and his friends refused to believe that Pip's disappearance was due to something they knew he would never do. Also, you get frustrated with the police when a kid in the story seems to be doing better detective work than them! This got dark quickly, especially with the revelation of the truth behind Cromwell Woods. I mean seriously the level of atmosphere and tension that Christians build for the reader when he sets the scene. It's good, very much getting John Carpenter Fog vibes with the yellow mist. I did really enjoy the back-and-forth through the years, which gave it a very Stephen King vibe. Accept of course that fact that some of the adults gave a crap about the kids going missing. But the character development from 1968 to 1989, was incredibly well done and flows seamlessly. The reader wasn't confused about where the story was or has been, Christian did a great job at setting the pace and making sure the reader was around for the entire ride. The gore and horror were just enough for a Young Adult read so I wouldn't be worried about sharing this one with my goddaughter. Plus as an adult reader I actually found it a rather gripping and entertaining ride that took on aspects of my favourite horror features.
Putting down my usual extreme horror for a downright creepy coming-of-age Young Adult story. That is one takes an instant step up to sinister, as we start our journey in 1985, now kids if your puppy has died and starts sitting outside your window being all Pet Semetery. Maybe best Adam should have listened to your parents and kept the damn window closed! Yes, I was shouting this at the book as I read (don't judge me).
Then we meet our own version of the losers club, in the form of James, Findley, Emmie, Hamish, and Pip. As they discuss the unfortunate aftermath of Adam making his decision. As they speculate how he was found dead in his bedroom, things start to get more detailed. As Christian sets the scene for the reader and peaks my interest about what could have happened to poor Adam Petrie. Sadly, we do end up finding out what became of Adam at the expense of Pip! A character I really liked from the start. Christian George-R-R-Maritined me! Honestly, it was a moment like when Georgie got killed in IT! So of course we get to see the fallout of this from James, Findley, Hammish, and Emmie as they journey to hunt down the truth. I mean I get grief can do messed up things to people, by Mrs. Petrie was damn right terrifying as a character. But I love how Findley and his friends refused to believe that Pip's disappearance was due to something they knew he would never do. Also, you get frustrated with the police when a kid in the story seems to be doing better detective work than them! This got dark quickly, especially with the revelation of the truth behind Cromwell Woods. I mean seriously the level of atmosphere and tension that Christians build for the reader when he sets the scene. It's good, very much getting John Carpenter Fog vibes with the yellow mist. I did really enjoy the back-and-forth through the years, which gave it a very Stephen King vibe. Accept of course that fact that some of the adults gave a crap about the kids going missing. But the character development from 1968 to 1989, was incredibly well done and flows seamlessly. The reader wasn't confused about where the story was or has been, Christian did a great job at setting the pace and making sure the reader was around for the entire ride. The gore and horror were just enough for a Young Adult read so I wouldn't be worried about sharing this one with my goddaughter. Plus as an adult reader I actually found it a rather gripping and entertaining ride that took on aspects of my favourite horror features.
August 25, 2023
QUITE POSSIBLY THE BEST YA BOOK I HAVE EVER READ, NO... IT DEFINITELY IS!
I found Christian on TikTok several months ago, and as an indie author myself, I took his words of advice on board and used it to help me on my own journey. So when I learned he had a new book out, I made sure I grabbed myself a copy.
I read it in a matter of hours.
This book was so beautifully crafted, and visually descriptive that I felt as if I was IN Cromwell Woods myself. I'm a horror fan, but Christian has a way of crafting a story like no other author I have come across, and in my opinion, his storytelling abilities rival that of Stephen King.
The characters of the children all felt individually sculpted and it was as if I knew them in reality, I could picture them hanging out after school just doing what kids do, which in turn gave me an abject fear of what might happen to them and whenever one of them was placed in danger by the woods, or the yellow mist, or both, that I actually felt apprehensive!
AND THE ENDING!
Oh my goodness, that ending was such a twist that I felt myself looking around and shouting 'where the hell did that come from!'
Christian has fast become one of my favourite authors of all time, and I have yet to read anything written by him that isn't wonderfully crafted. This remains my favourite book of his, just ahead of Incubus : The Descent, just for the sheer creepiness it instilled in me. I was thinking about this book for days afterwards and have since been bugging him to get on with the sequel!
I found Christian on TikTok several months ago, and as an indie author myself, I took his words of advice on board and used it to help me on my own journey. So when I learned he had a new book out, I made sure I grabbed myself a copy.
I read it in a matter of hours.
This book was so beautifully crafted, and visually descriptive that I felt as if I was IN Cromwell Woods myself. I'm a horror fan, but Christian has a way of crafting a story like no other author I have come across, and in my opinion, his storytelling abilities rival that of Stephen King.
The characters of the children all felt individually sculpted and it was as if I knew them in reality, I could picture them hanging out after school just doing what kids do, which in turn gave me an abject fear of what might happen to them and whenever one of them was placed in danger by the woods, or the yellow mist, or both, that I actually felt apprehensive!
AND THE ENDING!
Oh my goodness, that ending was such a twist that I felt myself looking around and shouting 'where the hell did that come from!'
Christian has fast become one of my favourite authors of all time, and I have yet to read anything written by him that isn't wonderfully crafted. This remains my favourite book of his, just ahead of Incubus : The Descent, just for the sheer creepiness it instilled in me. I was thinking about this book for days afterwards and have since been bugging him to get on with the sequel!
March 4, 2023
I was intrigued by the cover of this book, although I wasn’t sure the story was for me. I’m a bit too old for coming of age stories, and ‘IT’ kind of was mine when I was younger.
Sure, this book has nods to others of its kind (inevitably including comparisons to Stephen King), but it’s absolutely it’s own creature.
The scary forest on the edge of town is our starting point, but we quickly learn that it pulls no punches. Likeable characters vanish and tropes are played with - initially disbelieving adults soon have to face reality and believe the scared kids, which I appreciated. Seeing the town as full of scared people from different perspectives was refreshing.
The… baddie? Monster? I’d rather not say, but whatever it is, it’s a real threat! Insidious and spiky, it forces the reader to wonder how they’d react if they faced it. And it’s a real challenge.
Again, my experience with similar stories led me to think I knew how it was going to end. Well, big nope! Far more satisfying than I anticipated.
My only gripe was how some of the dialogue came across, but it wasn’t a deal-breaker.
Check this out - you may very well be pleasantly surprised. I’ll be watching the author for what they do next, certainly.
I was kindly given an early copy of this by BookSirens - the above review is entirely my own.
Sure, this book has nods to others of its kind (inevitably including comparisons to Stephen King), but it’s absolutely it’s own creature.
The scary forest on the edge of town is our starting point, but we quickly learn that it pulls no punches. Likeable characters vanish and tropes are played with - initially disbelieving adults soon have to face reality and believe the scared kids, which I appreciated. Seeing the town as full of scared people from different perspectives was refreshing.
The… baddie? Monster? I’d rather not say, but whatever it is, it’s a real threat! Insidious and spiky, it forces the reader to wonder how they’d react if they faced it. And it’s a real challenge.
Again, my experience with similar stories led me to think I knew how it was going to end. Well, big nope! Far more satisfying than I anticipated.
My only gripe was how some of the dialogue came across, but it wasn’t a deal-breaker.
Check this out - you may very well be pleasantly surprised. I’ll be watching the author for what they do next, certainly.
I was kindly given an early copy of this by BookSirens - the above review is entirely my own.
May 10, 2023
The Dead Woods by Christian Francis is the first book I’ve read by this author and I quite enjoyed the story. Do yourself a favor…look at the cover. Isn’t great!?! It’s what drawn me into the book. I wanted to know if that creepy creature would have a starring role in the novel. ( I know the answer but I’m not telling! 😂😂 Read the book! ❤️❤️) Also, this is marketed as a YA book but there’s some scenes that are pretty dark. (I enjoyed but just to be safe, ⚠️⚠️ check your trigger warnings ⚠️⚠️)
There’s something sinister that lives in the dead woods… people go missing. Those who do come back are never quite the same. Then enter a group of children decide to investigate the words, then low and behold one go missing. That’s when the truth is revealed… that’s when the long history of the forest is revealed. This is most definitely a coming of age tale set inside a dark horror thriller to help emphasize this! Be careful of the shadows because you never know what’s looking back at you.
I enjoyed reading the book, it’s a few pages over 200 so it was a quick read for me. If you enjoy a dark YA book then this is the book for you. There is a few issues with typos but nothing major that could distract from the quality of the novel. I rommend this book as I really loved the ending! It was excellent! 👍👍
Final rating
4 out of 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
There’s something sinister that lives in the dead woods… people go missing. Those who do come back are never quite the same. Then enter a group of children decide to investigate the words, then low and behold one go missing. That’s when the truth is revealed… that’s when the long history of the forest is revealed. This is most definitely a coming of age tale set inside a dark horror thriller to help emphasize this! Be careful of the shadows because you never know what’s looking back at you.
I enjoyed reading the book, it’s a few pages over 200 so it was a quick read for me. If you enjoy a dark YA book then this is the book for you. There is a few issues with typos but nothing major that could distract from the quality of the novel. I rommend this book as I really loved the ending! It was excellent! 👍👍
Final rating
4 out of 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
January 24, 2025
This story had potential. The actual storyline and the plot twists were good. I think the idea was unique and I liked how everything played out in the end.
However.
This book reads like a lower middle grade story. The writing is simple and there’s so many points where it just feels like the author googled a synonym. The sentence structure felt awkward in so many places and there’s more than one spot where the sentence just straight up is grammatically incorrect. Honestly 95% of this felt like an early rough draft. The pacing was off and so many things happened way too so fast or with the barest amount of explanation. With all the horror these characters experience, I feel like a lot of moments that could have been very shocking or impactful ended up being brushed past without hardly any acknowledgment. I liked the characters well enough but feel like the speed was so breakneck that I hardly got a chance to care about any of them.
If this story had a bit more workshopping done on the actual writing I think it would have been much better. But for a story that’s supposed to be YA, I’ve read middle grade with better more complex writing. I’m kind of disappointed because I do really love the concept. The execution was just lacking in too many areas.
I received an ARC from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
However.
This book reads like a lower middle grade story. The writing is simple and there’s so many points where it just feels like the author googled a synonym. The sentence structure felt awkward in so many places and there’s more than one spot where the sentence just straight up is grammatically incorrect. Honestly 95% of this felt like an early rough draft. The pacing was off and so many things happened way too so fast or with the barest amount of explanation. With all the horror these characters experience, I feel like a lot of moments that could have been very shocking or impactful ended up being brushed past without hardly any acknowledgment. I liked the characters well enough but feel like the speed was so breakneck that I hardly got a chance to care about any of them.
If this story had a bit more workshopping done on the actual writing I think it would have been much better. But for a story that’s supposed to be YA, I’ve read middle grade with better more complex writing. I’m kind of disappointed because I do really love the concept. The execution was just lacking in too many areas.
I received an ARC from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
March 12, 2023
Creepy woods slowly expanding through town? Weird disappearances and murders that the adults are keeping very tight-lipped about? Kids getting into fatal trouble because no one will tell them anything about what's going on? Meet The Dead Woods, a YA horror coming-of-age story where no one is safe.
I'm in two minds with The Dead Woods. On one hand, Christian created one of the more anxiety-inducing atmospheres I've read. On the other hand, the dialogue was extremely tedious in places and I found it hard to stay engaged in the story.
I didn't really get attached to any of the characters besides Emmie, and I'm kind of glad I didn't in a way because this book is extremely fatal. I wish, though, that the characters would've been developed a little more, so their experiences would've been more of a gut-punch. As it was, I was just kinda eh with them.
I will give credit for a very interesting ending, though. I wasn't expecting things to go the way they did for a certain character, and it made for a very thought-provoking paradox. That was my favourite part of the book and definitely made up for some of the more lackluster parts of this read.
Thank you to BookSirens for the ARC! This review is entirely my own honest opinion.
I'm in two minds with The Dead Woods. On one hand, Christian created one of the more anxiety-inducing atmospheres I've read. On the other hand, the dialogue was extremely tedious in places and I found it hard to stay engaged in the story.
I didn't really get attached to any of the characters besides Emmie, and I'm kind of glad I didn't in a way because this book is extremely fatal. I wish, though, that the characters would've been developed a little more, so their experiences would've been more of a gut-punch. As it was, I was just kinda eh with them.
I will give credit for a very interesting ending, though. I wasn't expecting things to go the way they did for a certain character, and it made for a very thought-provoking paradox. That was my favourite part of the book and definitely made up for some of the more lackluster parts of this read.
Thank you to BookSirens for the ARC! This review is entirely my own honest opinion.
Read
May 7, 2023I just finished the Dead Woods by Christian Francis and here is my review.
There has always been something sinister about those woods. No one liked to talk about it and the excuses that were made to cover up the deaths…. Laughable. When a boy goes missing, everyone assumes he ran off but not his friends. They all know he would never have left, especially without his journal so they set out to find out what really happened to their friend.
I actually quite enjoyed this book. I think the author did a really good job of setting the mood with his very talented writing. The story centers on a group of friends set in a time when I was a kid so I loved that. It had a real stranger things vibe to it. My biggest issue? The kids were teens but they came across so young that it was a tad confusion. I understand he was going for YA but he didn’t quite hit the mark with the characters. I would have liked the characters to be portrayed at the age they were supposed to be but it didn’t affect the enjoyment for me.
I loved the atmosphere of the book and I would have liked more but a solid horror read!
4 stars. I would definitely recommend to anyone who likes getting the creeps
Thank you to @booksgosocial and @netgalley for my gifted copy!
There has always been something sinister about those woods. No one liked to talk about it and the excuses that were made to cover up the deaths…. Laughable. When a boy goes missing, everyone assumes he ran off but not his friends. They all know he would never have left, especially without his journal so they set out to find out what really happened to their friend.
I actually quite enjoyed this book. I think the author did a really good job of setting the mood with his very talented writing. The story centers on a group of friends set in a time when I was a kid so I loved that. It had a real stranger things vibe to it. My biggest issue? The kids were teens but they came across so young that it was a tad confusion. I understand he was going for YA but he didn’t quite hit the mark with the characters. I would have liked the characters to be portrayed at the age they were supposed to be but it didn’t affect the enjoyment for me.
I loved the atmosphere of the book and I would have liked more but a solid horror read!
4 stars. I would definitely recommend to anyone who likes getting the creeps
Thank you to @booksgosocial and @netgalley for my gifted copy!
March 13, 2023
3.5 stars
The cover is what had drawn me to the book, then I realized the book is YA. I don't normally read YA as my tastes are quite dark, but The Dead Woods took me by surprise though.
This book is actually quite dark.
The prologue, to me, was the creepiest part of the book. I knew after reading that, i was going to like this story.
There is something evil about Cromwell Woods. Over the years, people have gone missing, yet the town tries to keep the truth hidden. After Pip goes missing during his paper route, his friends Hamish, James, Findley, and Emmie search for answers. After teaming up with Pips mom, Sarah, and the towns Sheriff, Matt Benson, the secrets of the Dead Woods become revealed as they risk their own lives to find their missing friend.
I found the story hard to follow at times, but then the story would quickly pick up and keep you engaged. I found several typos throughout, but not enough to distract you from the story.
The story was good and creative, but I felt like the author could have done more to build up the characters. The ending was great, totally unexpected.
The cover is what had drawn me to the book, then I realized the book is YA. I don't normally read YA as my tastes are quite dark, but The Dead Woods took me by surprise though.
This book is actually quite dark.
The prologue, to me, was the creepiest part of the book. I knew after reading that, i was going to like this story.
There is something evil about Cromwell Woods. Over the years, people have gone missing, yet the town tries to keep the truth hidden. After Pip goes missing during his paper route, his friends Hamish, James, Findley, and Emmie search for answers. After teaming up with Pips mom, Sarah, and the towns Sheriff, Matt Benson, the secrets of the Dead Woods become revealed as they risk their own lives to find their missing friend.
I found the story hard to follow at times, but then the story would quickly pick up and keep you engaged. I found several typos throughout, but not enough to distract you from the story.
The story was good and creative, but I felt like the author could have done more to build up the characters. The ending was great, totally unexpected.
April 6, 2023
First off, thank you to Netgalley for the ARC opportunity!
This was really fun! I loved how fast paced it was, it's quick to get into the action and nitty gritty of the monster lurking in the woods.
It's a fast read, and really ideal if the reader is looking for a quick thrill - It delivers it scares really effectively, I felt like I could really visualize the creepiness of what was happening, and that's so important with a horror story!
I think my only complaint is it seems very inspired by already popular horror stories. Granted, coming up with a new horror is so difficult, but that's the only reason I felt like I had to mark it down a little. So much of the creepy events immediately made me think, 'oh that reminds me of this other horror story', and it was typically pretty big names referenced in my head. So, it feels like the story is piggybacking off of already successful ideas.
Regardless, I would absolutely recommend this to people who love atmospheric and creepy horror. Not everyone is bothered by the idea recycling. And I would definitely love to read more by this author in the future!
This was really fun! I loved how fast paced it was, it's quick to get into the action and nitty gritty of the monster lurking in the woods.
It's a fast read, and really ideal if the reader is looking for a quick thrill - It delivers it scares really effectively, I felt like I could really visualize the creepiness of what was happening, and that's so important with a horror story!
I think my only complaint is it seems very inspired by already popular horror stories. Granted, coming up with a new horror is so difficult, but that's the only reason I felt like I had to mark it down a little. So much of the creepy events immediately made me think, 'oh that reminds me of this other horror story', and it was typically pretty big names referenced in my head. So, it feels like the story is piggybacking off of already successful ideas.
Regardless, I would absolutely recommend this to people who love atmospheric and creepy horror. Not everyone is bothered by the idea recycling. And I would definitely love to read more by this author in the future!
April 23, 2023
After a group of friends discuss they’re missing classmate Adam Leblanc pit takes it upon himself to go and give a belated apology to his mother but when pip goes messing the friends or add a loss and want to find him. This seems like such a lame summary but the author is Christian Francis and so you know there is much more to the story,there’s rumors and folklore surrounding Adam going missing but is any of it true? and if so is that who got Pip? I love a great horror story and that’s what The Dead Woods by Christian Francis is one great piece of horror and it’s one I highly recommend. I have loved this authors books and he certainly did not disappoint with this one if you were a great thing of hora then you’ll probably love it as well. It is a total five star read. I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher but I am leaving this room do you voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.
May 5, 2023
Thanks NetGalley for a copy of this book.
My rating is actually a 3.5. I am giving the book an extra 0.5 just for the ending!
First off, I absolutely loved the cover of this book. It caught my eye and made me want to request a copy of this book. This book is described as a YA horror book. My opinion is that the book would be for an audience a bit younger but I am also not an expert because I do not have children and don't read much YA.
The trees in Cromwell Woods are all dead but yet they seem to be expanding. Over the years, people have disappeared in the woods with no explanation or no explanation that sane people would actually believe. A group of kids start investigating the woods when their friend goes missing and the dark history of the woods is revealed. I liked this book but I thought some of the conversations within the book could have been better written. The surprise ending really saved this book for me.
My rating is actually a 3.5. I am giving the book an extra 0.5 just for the ending!
First off, I absolutely loved the cover of this book. It caught my eye and made me want to request a copy of this book. This book is described as a YA horror book. My opinion is that the book would be for an audience a bit younger but I am also not an expert because I do not have children and don't read much YA.
The trees in Cromwell Woods are all dead but yet they seem to be expanding. Over the years, people have disappeared in the woods with no explanation or no explanation that sane people would actually believe. A group of kids start investigating the woods when their friend goes missing and the dark history of the woods is revealed. I liked this book but I thought some of the conversations within the book could have been better written. The surprise ending really saved this book for me.
October 15, 2023
This novella offered an enjoyable reading experience. It's categorized as YA horror, and it certainly carries the characteristics of a work intended for a younger audience, possibly even middle-grade readers, despite featuring characters in high school. The story exudes an atmosphere reminiscent of Stephen King's works, which is undoubtedly a positive aspect. The narrative revolves around a mysterious phenomenon in the woods where people are vanishing. When one of the characters' friends becomes a victim, they embark on a relentless quest to unravel the mystery. In the process, they discover that this isn't the first occurrence, and the current sheriff was a witness during a previous incident.
Given the novella's brevity, with fewer than 200 pages, the author adeptly crafts an immersive reading experience. The ending struck a balance between evoking sadness and delivering a surprising twist.
Given the novella's brevity, with fewer than 200 pages, the author adeptly crafts an immersive reading experience. The ending struck a balance between evoking sadness and delivering a surprising twist.
December 26, 2023
Something dark and sinister lurks in the dead woods. After strange things start happening within a group of friends they decide to investigate. What they find is beyond anything they ever thought possible.
The storyline was entertaining enough to keep me interested. It kind of gives vibes of Stranger Things and IT. This leans more towards YA but is still enjoyable for adults that prefer very mild horror. As for the characters, I didn’t really feel a connection to any of them. There was a bit of tragedy in the story and unfortunately, I wasn’t affected by any of it because the characters were just lacking to me.
Overall, this book was an okay read. The concept was good, but the characters needed more work in my opinion. I like to feel something for the characters, and it just wasn’t there for me.
The storyline was entertaining enough to keep me interested. It kind of gives vibes of Stranger Things and IT. This leans more towards YA but is still enjoyable for adults that prefer very mild horror. As for the characters, I didn’t really feel a connection to any of them. There was a bit of tragedy in the story and unfortunately, I wasn’t affected by any of it because the characters were just lacking to me.
Overall, this book was an okay read. The concept was good, but the characters needed more work in my opinion. I like to feel something for the characters, and it just wasn’t there for me.
April 13, 2023
A group of kids (not sure what age they are supposed to be) become involved with "something" in the woods that seems to be making people disappear. The descriptions of the encounters with this being were pretty scary, but the story had some problems.
First of all, the book needed a good editor. There were a lot of grammar errors and a lot of instances where the wrong character's names were used (which cause confusion). The story had its moments, but overall it really wasn't that unique.
I did appreciate the nods to Stephen King with references to several of his books. This was a fairly quick read that I would label as being aimed at younger readers. I would definitely consider reading more by this author since he seems to have a pretty fertile imagination!
First of all, the book needed a good editor. There were a lot of grammar errors and a lot of instances where the wrong character's names were used (which cause confusion). The story had its moments, but overall it really wasn't that unique.
I did appreciate the nods to Stephen King with references to several of his books. This was a fairly quick read that I would label as being aimed at younger readers. I would definitely consider reading more by this author since he seems to have a pretty fertile imagination!
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