Although this is the first book in the Dread Wood series it's the second one I've read, and I loved it even more than book four. It's creepy and genuinely tense, but also fun, entertaining, and even heartwarming at times. It was fast paced and I was gripped enough that I didn't ever want to put it down.

There's a strong focus on the two themes of friendship and repentence for past wrongs, and the book also addresses a lot of important topics from child poverty to disability. There is a content warning for

animal cruelty and animal death

which some readers may want to be aware of going in.

Overall I loved this and will be continuing with the series imminently.