What a gorgeously atmospheric and creepy folk horror story this was! Usually I quite literally *hate* shifting timelines, but the chapters were short and snappy and with the way the story unfolded, I was actually quite excited to shift back and forth and try and uncover more of what was happening. 

 

I think the pacing did lack in the first half, so much so that if the chapters weren’t short, it would have been a bit of a slog. And particularly with the way in which the villagers acted towards Sophie the main character, I didn’t actively feel like she was in danger most of the time. However, the way in which this built up to the end reveal was soooo enjoyable, and I devoured last 60% of the book very quickly. I also found the final reveal very unique and quite creepy! 

 

If you haven’t read Folk Horror before, this is a really wonderful book to start with. It has a great mix of dark nature, grey moral characters, and a town and woods that breathe on its own. Similarly, if you’ve read folk horror before this is a lovely addition to the genre. 

 

Pick this up if you like: folk horror, creepy northern countryside towns, dark pagan festivities, character metamorphosis 

 

Thank you for the ARC, which was provided in exchange for an honest review.