infinite_ink_society 's review for:

They Fear Not Men in the Woods by Gretchen McNeil

4.0

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⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 – 3.5 to 4 stars

🌲 Blurb (spoiler-free)

A group of students head into the woods 🌳, only to find the forest isn’t just trees — it’s watching 👀, waiting 🕰️, and ready to make them regret their life choices 💀. Secrets spill, tempers flare, and something ancient decides it’s time for dinner 🍽️.

🔪 My Review

Female rage is my favorite subgenre, and while this was the light beer version 🍺, I still loved it. Jen’s quiet simmer builds until that ending, which had me whispering “YES, LET IT BURN 🔥.” Creepy atmosphere? ✔️. Gore? ✔️. Characters I wanted to personally feed to the woods? Double ✔️.

The pacing though… oof. The first half felt like a forestry seminar mixed with petty drama 😴. Once the trees started flexing their murderous roots, things got messy in the best way. The twists weren’t shocking (a few were visible from a mile away 👓), but the execution was solid enough that I didn’t mind.

It’s flawed but fun — like camping with friends who annoy you, until you remember the forest might eat them and suddenly you’re rooting for the trees 🌳🩸.

Would I recommend? Yes, if you like:

✨ Creeping dread with a slow build

✨ Mild but satisfying female fury 👩🏻‍🦰

✨ Gore that doesn’t go too splatterfest

✨ Nature serving revenge cold 🥶

Final verdict: 3.5–4 stars. The forest wins, and honestly, I’m not mad about it. 🌲💀