Thanks to Transworld/Doubleday for the gifted copy of Pine by Francine Toon! I absolutely loved this atmospheric read set in northern Scotland with small town vibes and an eerie undertone throughout. Lauren is used to her hometown, where men drink too much and teenage girls rebel, while the mystery disappearance of her mother hangs over her and her father, Niall.

This is one of those books where the setting is its own character, and the most forbidding one. Set in northern Scotland in a tiny town (village?) surrounded by miles and miles of pine forest, Pine has an ancient aura, set in a place where faeries and selkies roam freely and folklore mingles with reality. It’s really impressive the way Toon brings the folkloric world to life in a book which is also filled with references to the modern world, like Frozen and Motorhead - it makes you believe in magic again.

A pervading sense of unease permeates the entire novel, and there were some moments where I felt genuinely chilled and wanted to make sure my curtains were shut tight to the darkness outside... Toon melds realistic fears such as missing persons with supernatural elements to create a beautifully unsettling atmosphere, a perfect read for the winter months.

My one qualm (I love that word, don’t you?) was in the resolution, which obviously I don’t want to go into for fear of spoilers, but in a non-spoilery nutshell I wasn’t quite convinced by one character’s motivations.

I would still highly recommend this one if you enjoy modern, gothic fiction!