Horror is not a genre I usually read, but I wanted to give this one a try since Quirk Books is based in Philly and I live near there. I love to support smaller pubs and especially debut novelists like Kiefer.

Four people head into the Kentucky woods to do some research about the terrain. One, Dylan, has just started a lucrative deal with a climbing company. She's hoping to scale a cliff and show climbing devotees what she's made of.

The horror amps up as the quartet start experiencing some odd sights and experiences in the woods. As their emotions heighten and fear reigns, the capability of humans to hurt others--and the land to get revenge--take center stage.

As far as horror goes, this book absolutely scared me. The build up in tension and the vivid descriptions of the horrific things the characters experienced and saw definitely kept me engaged. The supernatural thread of the story was intriguing, but I felt like we weren't given a "reason" for why what was happening happened. With this storyline not tied to reality or a relatable emotion/historical issue, it didn't resonate as much with me as it could have. I was scared but wasn't invested in the horror.

Still, if you're a fan of "wilderness horror," this is absolutely a book for you. Kiefer's ability to scare--and describe scenes of horror--is strong.