A review by breadsalot
The Haunting of Velkwood by Gwendolyn Kiste

mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

*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!