Entering the village of Dekwood, Elise and her parents learn that magic is forbidden in this serious town that seems to be completely devoid of joy and laughter. Elise, who is determined to become a magician, won't accept the town's rules and is determined to solve the miracle that surrounds Dekwood, especially the one about the mysterious and feared Ringers that come in the nights before Christmas.
A surprisingly dark and gripping fantasy tale that despite its short length managed to totally draw me in with just the right amount of drama and a very strong young heroine. A great alternative read to get you in the mood for Christmas.

*thank you to Netgalley, Grey Sun Press and Raven Oak for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*


2 stars.


This started off pretty good. I was interested to find out about these Ringers and I liked the feel of the style.

Unfortunately, after about 1/3rd the way through, I noticed my mind kept drifting because I had lost interest.

This storyline had a lot of potential but failed to deliver. It's such an interesting concept and I can't put my finger on exactly why I lost interest and how it could be improved. If this was rewritten it could be a realy good story.

I donno if it was just me but this story, to some degree, reminded me of the scene in Lord Of The Rings at the Inn called The Prancing Pony. I'm not saying I compared the two because that wouldn't be judging this book fairly. I would read more from this author though because there is definitely potential there.

I wanted to like this book but unfortunately I didn't. I was not a fan of the authors writing style so I couldn't get in to it.

Ehhh, it could have been better executed but it was still okay. I'd be interested in reading a revision in the future because I did really enjoy the premise.

This was fine, I guess? It's a quick-paced YA novella about a young woman (and aspiring magician) named Elise, newly arrived in Dekwood, a town that's often visited by the titular Ringers. I probably set myself up for a darker read than I got because of the cover (yeah, don't judge a book by one, I know), but even adjusting my expectations, it's more an entertaining way to pass half an hour than it is a book to really seek out. I do like Oak's writing style, which has an air of the Gothic without giving up the fantasy setting.

Around Christmas, many towns and villages are full of wonder and magic, full of smiling people who live to spread seasonal joy. But in the dreary village of Dekwood, the midnight bells are ringing once again...

The days are silent and the nights are filled with terror in the little village. Adults and children alike hide under their covers when the jingling bells sound. No one wishes to hear them, or see who they bring...except for one young girl.

Who are these Ringers? Why does no one speak out against the evil in town? Young Elise seeks deadly answers in hopes that she can save the town...and herself.

Will the Ringers take them all, or will Elise release evil’s grip on the little village of Dekwood?

This was such an atmospheric and moody read. Oak has a way with words that just transports you right into the moment with the characters, and in this case right into the creepy and troubled town of Dekwood where the townsfolk are terrified and something isn’t quite right.

The Ringers is full of mystery, set in an age where magic is real but fear lurks in the darkness, ready to pounce at the ring of a bell.

Giving me vibes of Brothers’ Grimm tales of warning this was a captivating, quick read and I am excited to read some more of Oak’s work.

2.75/5*

A copy of this book was kindly provided by NetGalley.

A good premise, but it could have achieved more in terms of its execution. Not that the story itself is bad – certainly there is worse published fiction –, but as someone who was expecting something more out of a Christmas-themed horror – an inviting and demanding initial proposition – it fell a bit off. Since Christmas is obviously not the holiday one associates with dreadful spirits or scary monsters, I had anticipated a fresh twist of the genre. But 70 pages are clearly not enough to reach such a point. The characters are not as developed or nuanced as they could have otherwise been, and the chosen setting of a Victorian cursed town feels like an outlet for yet another repetition of literary tropes, instead of a purposeful usage benefiting the story. By purposeful, I mean with intent, with more carefully planned characters (less one dimensional, they need to be fleshed out at some level). Characters who die in a story should serve more than a plot device goal; their deaths must be meaningful and straight-to-the-point and the reader should be made to care for them in some way or, at least, to worry about the stakes their demise implies. Here we have every category in the playbook: the sacrificial victims, the wise magician (who in this story is quite underused), the evil side, the oppressed and the hero. What we do not get is meaningfulness written alongside these characters: all of them serve a clear, contained objective, but they do not deliver in terms of feelings, of importance. It is a predictable, classic plot, that, despite its attempt at tackling a good mythological idea, does not deliver on its promises.

The Ringers is a beautifully written short story. The prose flows elegantly and right off the bat, you find yourself wanting to know more about this town; which feels 1/2 like a sleepy town from the early 1900s and 1/2 like a high fantasy village. There is magic, horror, intrigue, and the author does an amazing job of writing meaningful characters that you attach yourself to despite a limited amount of time with them. I would read an entire book in this universe.

I tried and tried to get into this book, but I couldn't. The story just didn't grab me. With it being a short story I expected it to start off with a bang, but for me it didn't.

The Ringers by @author_raven_oak
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This was such an interesting short story about a young girl, Elise, who moves with her family to the town of Dekwood to fulfil a debt that her father owes. Instead of happy, cheery people, they come to find a gloomy environment with a terrifying history. Every time the bells are heard, someone will die. Elise is determined to understand The Ringers and break their hold on the town.
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For a short story, this was quick and fun. I did find myself really enjoying the plot in addition to becoming frustrated because I wanted to know more, I do struggle with short stories so much! 3 stars.

I enjoyed this short story aimed at a young adult audience with its fairy tale like theme. I could see it being expanded into a regular length novel as I feel it really whet my appetite and I would have liked to see more happen.

I love the creepiness factor, the good versus evil plot and the young heroine taking on the established dictator. But I especially liked the cry for help which came from an unexpected source.

The characters and setting are described well and I was able to clearly visualise the story as it unfolded.

I plan to purchase this for our school library as I feel it would cater to both our avid fantasy readers as well as the reluctant readers who feel less threatened by a shorter book.

I received this arc from netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

Free copy of book given in exchange for a honest review.

The Ringers is the story of a young girl named Elise who moves with her father and mother to the small town of Dekwood. Elise is an aspiring magician, working to be accepted into the Academe. Her father, a logger, is looking for work after the forest around his old home died. Unfortunately for them, the town is about to be visited by the mysterious Ringers. When no one in town will give her information on these mysterious figures or what their bells mean, she takes it upon herself to find out more about them.

I liked this story much more than I thought I would. Elise is a surprisingly well rounded character for how short this story is. She questions everything around her and is constantly seeking answers. I liked the relationship between her, her family, and the new town. There are very few side characters but they all add to the story in my opinion. The atmosphere is very creepy and unsettling but not in an over the top kind of way. The monsters are unsettling and unique. It's a very short story so it's easy to read through in one sitting in my opinion. I think that it's still a very well rounded story despite how short it is.

The story reads very young. I would say that this would be good for the higher end of the middle grade range or the lower end of the young adult range (although it can be good for someone of a higher age than that). Highly recommend for younger horror fans or horror fans that are looking for a story without extreme gore/violence/subject matter.

This book was extremely boring I could not get into I couldn’t even finish it. I loved the cover and the synopsis but the book just did not deliver.