One of the most horrifying yet hopeful books I've ever read, Lute is a perfect short read for horror lovers ( I've already read it multiple times)

I devoured LUTE in one day! Absolutely could not put it down. This is the type of book I live for! Atmospheric—it’s midsummer, but lots of spooky vibes. Suspenseful—the author slowly doling out information about the Day and her past, letting the reader’s curiosity build. Crisp writing—highly descriptive prose and characters that jump off the page.

The Day. I was expecting something barbaric, but was pleasantly surprised to discover the happenings were other-worldly. Think more Final Destination rather than Midsommar, which kept the book from veering into full-fledged horror.

If you like English folklore, horror and suspense, and aren’t afraid of a little death and gore, then you will love this book!

I received a free e-ARC of this book via @NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

So, I seem to be in the minority here, but I found Lute to be really boring. Maybe it's because the marketing so clearly gives away the plot that there were really no surprises left...but no. Horror in general can be repetitive, but that doesn't make it less fun to read. The problem with Lute is that I actually didn't find it scary at all, more "sad girl lives on pagan island." There was violence, but even that felt more melancholy than scary.

The worldbuilding is super vague. The island of Lute itself is reasonably fleshed out, but there's a background war going on where America and Russia have allied against Britain (and others, presumably) which is pretty far-fetched. The MC of this is American but has lived on Lute for the better part of a decade, though it's not really held against her that she's "of the enemy." There are a few weird comment where she talks trash about America too. Now I am American and I love my (admittedly imperfect) country, but even if I didn't I'd think those comments felt weirdly out of place in a story built around ancient Celtic legends. Like, they just served no purpose. Neither did the war. So that was confusing.

The romantic plotlines in this also feel quite random, as does the resolution.

Idk...if you're looking for sad-girl-dark-magic vibes than give this a shot, but I didn't really feel like the substance was there.

3.5 stars rounded up. This is an interesting, atmospheric novel blending folk horror and fantasy. Thorne sets this novel in a near-future where the world is in a WWIII and America is on the wrong (Russian) side against Europe and the UK. This world war plays pretty much zero part in the novel and was, in my opinion, completely unnecessary and detracted from the story. I kept wondering when the war would matter in any way to the plot, and (spoiler alert) it never plays into it at all. The island of Lute off the coast of Britain is blessed with extraordinary good fortune. The weather is always wonderful, and its inhabitants live healthy, happy lives. In return, Lute demands a sacrifice of seven lives every seven years on "The Day". Nina, an American who has married Lord Treadway, the aristocratic de facto overlord of Lute, thinks all the talk about "The Day" is a lot of superstitious nonsense until the first time she experiences it for herself. Other than the war, which I already mentioned, I had a few other quibbles. Nina's marriage doesn't really make a lot of sense, and her husband's behavior doesn't have a good lead-up to help clarify the why's. I don't want to give any spoilers for the plot, but another's person's behavior on the island is very obvious and I didn't really like where that plot line led. There's a lot to like about this book overall, and the story definitely drew me in. If, like me, you're not a big fan of horror, rest assured that this book does not linger on violence or gore. The tension is well-paced and you will definitely feel a creeping sense of dread, but there are no gratuitous death scenes for the most part. Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge, Tor Nightfire for a digital review copy.

I requested a digital copy in order to sample the prose on my phone (since I don't have a eReader) before requesting a physical copy for review. My review will be based on the physical ARC I read.

Every seventh summer on the Solstice, exactly seven people die on the small island of Lute. Islanders call it “the Day.” Nina isn’t from there but married into it and still doesn’t quite believe anything will happen. We follow her story from a few days before through the Day itself, experiencing it along with her.

This book was fantastic! I couldn’t put it down. I needed to know what would happen next, especially as it got later and later on the Day. It’s folklore, maybe a little horror…it’s been described as folk horror. The cover is beautiful and captures the story. The storytelling is magical. I was completely drawn in.

I highly recommend it! It doesn’t come out until October 4, but it’s worth the wait. Thank you to Tor Nightfire, Macmillan/Tor-Forge, and NetGalley for my copy.

After a whirlwind romance aboard a cruise ship, the newly married Nina Treadway, a Florida Native finds herself on the small British Island of Lute.  Nina has always struggled to fit in and is finding it difficult in the small close-knit community especially since she married Lord Hugh Treadway and she is now Lady Treadway. Now, Nina is in her seventh year on the island and is a mother of two.  The family is supposed to take a vacation on the summer solstice, but bad luck and circumstance keep the family on the island.  Lute has always had a strong tradition around the summer solstice that Nina has never quite understood.  The locals simply call every seventh summer solstice The Day.  The Day is when the island takes its tithe for good weather, good luck and overall harmony for the next seven years.  Hugh's father died seven years ago on the last Day, so Nina is no stranger to what it can bring, but still doesn't believe the superstitions of the people of Lute surrounding The Day; until now, when Nina has no choice to be part of the day as Lady Treadway. 

Lute is folk horror combining the mythology of the shining ones with a dash of Midsommar and Final Destination.  The horror and tension surrounding The Day builds slowly as Lute prepares.  The story is told through Nina's point of view alone, so everything about The Day is new and confusing as an outsider, wondering how an island could possibly make seven people die every seven years.  Then, the terror hits, sneaking, taking it's time, making your wonder what is next, questioning every move you make and if it could somehow do you in.  I was really interested in the source of The Day, a mysterious, supernatural power.  Through Nina, some of the history of the island unfolds, but I really wish there could be a deeper dive.  Intense, well-drawn characters create an even more interesting atmosphere. Nina's backstory unravels with the day as she finds her place amongst the town as a leader of  Lute while Hugh descends into resentment of his position on Lute and what it means for his family.  With all horror, the source of the worst parts aren't what you can't see, but what you can.  A surprising ending left me wanting to know more about Lute and its future.  



This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

Wicker Man meets Final Destination with a touch of Midsommar in this folk horror story about a small community and the tradition it has. On the idyllic island of Lute, every seven years on one summer day, seven people die. This is to appease the island... in return all the inhabitants are blessed with good weather, good health, and wealth. The people are protected from the war that rages around them and all they must do is pay the tithe, every seven years. Nina Treadway is the newest Lady of the Treadway house, essentially marrying into the Lute island and it’s tradition. She has never experienced this tradition... so when the Day begins Nina is going to learn the hard way how real this tradition is and how despite how hard she wants to not believe in it and fight against it, the island will get it’s seven sacrifices. Nina must wrestle with a husband who has been avoiding his family’s tradition for years and as Lord of the island, he has been neglecting it. She’ll also have to face the fact that anyone could be next, including her and her children. With the clock ticking down and any possible way of dying on the table... Nina will have to face some harsh truths about her community and her marriage, and about what it means to fulfill her duty. This was such an interesting folk story and I definitely had a fun time reading it. It definitely gave me Midsommar vibes and would make a great horror read for fans of folk stories.

*Thanks Netgalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge, Tor Nightfire for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

This was a great, albeit slow-burn, take on 'Midsommar'/'The Wicker Man,' and I loved the characters and setting. It's the perfect summer or fall read, with plenty of atmosphere, some great building dread, and a weird dystopian future setting (that reads more like the past, deliberately). The ending was quite interesting, too.

The story is set on a small isolated island off the coast of England called Lute. The island and its inhabitants are perfect in almost every way: idyllic weather year-round, wealth, and general good fortune. The only trade-off is that every seventh summer on the day of the ‘tithe’ seven people must die. Nina who married into a family that is native to Lute believes the seventh year is just a local superstition. But when the day comes, both Nina and Lute will never be the same again.

Going into this one I expected it to be a mix of The Lottery by Shirley Jackson and the HBO mini-series The Third Day(highly recommend) but I was wrong. Lute is a unique story that differs from anything I've ever seen.

Folk horror always grabs my attention. I love diving into a world filled with local superstitions and beliefs. I truly enjoyed the atmospheric setting of Lute. The writing was very suspenseful and kept me guessing what would happen next. I also loved the main character Nina. Nina who was born in and lived in America up until the past 7 years, transforms into a true member of Lute. I enjoyed following Nina’s transition from just another aloof American into a member of the Lute community.

Overall I truly enjoyed Lute. Horror readers will also enjoy this one and it would be the perfect atmospheric read for Halloween. Lute will be available on October 4, 2022. Many thanks to Tor Nightfire and Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, Tor Nightfire, and Jennifer Thorne for the advanced copy of Lute in exchange for my honest review.

First and foremost, I was immediately gripped simply by the synopsis of this book. Such a fresh and unique idea that was executed perfectly. The pacing was so good my heart was literally racing by the end of the book!

I've seen this compared to Final Destination and I'll say that's pretty spot on. This presented an interesting internal philosophical dilemma for me as well... I found myself wondering if I'd be brave enough to stay on Lute during The Day.

I can confidently say horror lovers will really enjoy this one. A perfect freaky read come October!

I enjoyed the slow burn of this, though I do agree that the publishers pitching this as part (specific movie I won't mention due to what I'm saying) did spoil some of the intrigue and buildup to what was happening. I still was able to enjoy it, but mostly for the plot and execution of it as such, and less due to the characters. I really didn’t like the main character, Nina, especially at the beginning when she was judging the other people on the island for believing in “The Day”--even if you didn’t believe in something like that, to make fun of people and judge them for their past trauma isn’t a quality I admire in a MC, and she really didn’t get much better. I appreciated how she changed in light of the day’s events and how she was more of herself, for better or worse. What I really enjoyed were the reflections on what we do as humans when we confront death, and how we are truer versions of ourselves, even if more deeply flawed. I feel like those aspects of the book, and the plot itself, really made the book shine, and made it enjoyable despite the MC being unlikeable.

Thank you to TorNightfire and Jennifer Thorne for an ARC of Lute. All opinions and thoughts are my own

I went into Lute not knowing really what to expect other than that I knew it was described as The Wicker Man meets Final Destination. Whoever thought to blend those two help describe Lute I applaud you! It was pretty spot on.

The island of Lute is blessed with perfect weather, wonderful, peaceful island life where the community reaps the benefits. That is until every seventh year, where seven people must die. No more and no less.

Off the bat we are plunged into Nina Treadways life, with her husband Hugh and two children Emma and Charlie. After seven years of life on Lute, Nina's first Day hangs over the family they try to leave the island to avoid their family being part of this year's tithe. Things go sideways fast and the Treadways are unable to leave Lute.

Lute is probably the best folk horror book I have read. It's beautiful, haunting and horrific and after reaching the end I find myself unable to stop thinking about it. It offers not only a cast of characters that the reader will connect to and like, but the subtle anxiety that ripples underneath each arc, of who is going to die next, will propel the reader to binge Lute to it's epic conclusion.

As an avid horror reader, I can't reccomend Lute enough!

This was great! Such a banal way to put it but it was just that; a completely solid read! Love that it was described as "Wicker Man meets Final Destination", it definitely felt like an accurate description after finishing this one. I appreciated the purpose of having us, as readers, discover and learn the meaning of the Day at the same time as our main character, Nina. In that way, I felt like I was along for the ride. Vibes of folk horror definitely made an appearance. The twist (of sorts) was VERY fun and unexpected in my opinion.

Final destination with midsommer vibes, count me in! This book hooked me from the start and kept me interested every step of the way. Folk-ish horror, close-knit island community atmosphere. Any horror fan will love it!

Quit the surprise treat! Superstition, Celtic lore, tradition, and ultimately finding acceptance, love, and true home. Priceless

I'm in awe and in love. Suffice it to say, the haunting beauty of the cover is absolutely indicative of what's INSIDE the cover. (and we all know what a joy it is when that happens.)

I'm still digesting this one, I have so many thoughts, and I'll need to sleep on it and add when I have more, but I needed to get it out there that yeah, this one is gold.

Spoiler Free Review:

Lute is very much an atmospheric story and a classic folk tale at that. The story embeds the reader into a world where no one is safe, and no one is wholly reliable. This is a slow burn story but one that enhances the readers' emotions. It reminds me of a gothic story, where the best moments are not necessarily the scares or the mystery answers but from the characters, their relationships, and the readers involvement in the story. There is a slow, almost sleepy drowsy feeling to the way the story unfolds, and as the answers come to light, they only intensify the feelings and the outcome.

The story takes place during WWII and on an island that is a character in and of itself. The sea breeze, the still grass, the towering trees, and the community all add to the tension and mystery within the pages.
Beyond the mystery and the horror, this story is ultimately one of friends, family, community, health, love, respect, devotion, and humanity. It is a fun read and one that will stay with the reader for a time.
Lute is the perfect read for those foggy fall days when the world goes quiet, and life seems to sill for just a moment. I can’t wait to get a hard copy to read repeatedly, especially this fall season!

I received an ARC via NetGalley and Tor/Nightfire Publishers and I am leaving an honest review.

The atmosphere in this novel was sublime--the vibes were creepy and uneasy and I was absolutely here for it. It was a bit of a slow burn, which typically isn't my thing but I was so enthralled by this plot, characters and world that I was unwilling to get off the ride. I rarely find such a successful blend of horror and fantasy, but this just worked so well. I loved this, I cannot wait to purchase this physically for my own library.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me the opportunity to read and review this novel. I am rating this book based the stars due to lack of time to leave a full review.