Review by b_readsalot - The Haunting of Velkwood

The Haunting of Velkwood by Gwendolyn Kiste

3.25

mysterious fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

*Advance Read Copy*

What Worked:

Visually, Kistie was able to weave a story that had many moments I could see perfectly. Like, Sophie playing with her horses and the neighborhood’s physical grasp on the survivors and the boundary around it.
The premise was creative, which piqued my interest and made me want to see what was going to happen next.
I always love a good queer storyline. The author did a great job of adding many layers of complications (past and present) to make it feel like an integral and important part of the story.

What Didn’t Work:

I didn’t really love Talitha as a character. Though we got to see some of her backstory and context for choices she made, I found myself feeling a bit exasperated with her. On the other hand, characters like Brett and Enid shined the whole way through and I found myself very invested in their stories.

Recommendations/Final Thoughts:

If you’re looking for a book that isn’t TOO scary, but has a unique and interesting premise, this is the book for you. You’ll get a good dose of how things rooted in real life, rather than the paranormal or unexplained, can truly be the scariest things of all.

Thank you, Netgalley, for the ARC!