Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for my gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was a read that I did know how I was going to feel about and I still do not know. I found the plot quite interesting and it held my attention. The chapters were a little long for my taste but I got used to it once the action picked up. There was a lot going on in background of this plot that I wish I knew more about like a while entire war. I also wanted to know more about the main character Nina and her relationship with her mom and grandmother. These two plot points were so rushed through even though they were supposed to be very impactful in the characters’ lives, so I was confused as to why the author left out so much information on these two topics that could have really made the story fuller and more interesting.

Unfortunately, this one fell victim during my cell phone malfunction, and I wasn't able to review it.

Nina Treadway is the lady of Lute, but she’s only lived there for seven years, since she got married to Hugh. As a foreigner, she doesn’t believe in the island’s day of the tithe, but as things start going wrong all around her, she wonders if it might be more than a superstition.

Folk horror! A mysterious day of human sacrifice as an island extracts the price of its bounty from its residents! An American abroad! And that cover is so very beautiful, and so very haunting. Alas, Lute didn’t really live up to my expectations.

This is quite an atmospheric read, and the author does a good job of painting a picture of Lute, an isolated, idyllic island that has sinister undertones at times. There’s a lot of talk of Lute “wanting” things, and the author convinced me enough that the island was alive enough to have a will of its own. The close knit community is vivid, the characters both minor and major who populate the island well-sketched.

However, I did think there were some odd choices made in the framing of the plot and setting that felt unnecessary and impacted my enjoyment. For example, there’s a lot made of Nina being unlucky, but her backstory when revealed was underwhelming. There’s apparently a third world war raging in this setting, but it has pretty much no impact on the story. I didn’t really feel Nina’s affection for her children and husband, which decreased any sense of urgency the reader might feel about their welfare.

I read the audiobook version of this book, which is narrated by Victoria Blunt. I thought she did a good job as Nina’s voice, sometimes soothing and sometimes direct. She elevated the story for me – I’m not sure I would have enjoyed it as much as I did had I read a physical version.

Lute is a great thriller but also a thoughtful study on loss and grief and relationships. There are supernatural forces at play that add an element of uncertainty and tension, and from the lead up to the day, the dawning of the truth and the rush of THE DAY, Lute kept me on the edge of my seat all the way through. I couldn't put it down. I highly recommend this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for a free copy of this audiobook to review.

I don't know the best way to professionally say that this book was simply awesome! Portrayed beautifully by the reader of the audiobook

A story about a beautiful island, where everything is wonderful 24/7, but all this perfection comes with a price. Every 7 years, 7 people die. Exactly 7.

While this is an exchange most accept and understand the possibility that each 7 years they may lose loved ones (or their own lives), others don't (or refuse to believe).

This book takes place in the week leading up to, and the day of, this fateful day. I won't give up too much so I'll stop there.

This book is perfection

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for providing me with an advanced audiobook of Lute!

It was the last quarter of Lute that really saved it for me & unfortunately that's all I really have to say about this one. The beginning was just an absolute drag & I wish the whole book would have read like the ending.

I was given a NetGalley widget for this one a year ago and I just got around to reading it and dangit it was so good. I am so thankful for the opportunity to have consumed this wildly relevant fictional tale, which felt not at all fictional, more like historical fiction, due to the times. The cover initially was what drew me in, but I'm so thankful to have stuck with it because the outcome was magical. I always love listening to audiobooks and when they sweep me off my feet, I'm just utterly captivated! I always really enjoy multi-cultural thrillers, for I embark on a journey through a land unknown to me, while still getting spooked.

I wanted to love Lute more than I ultimately did. It's a pleasing blend of folk horror and, well, Final Destination, but the whole book felt a little too light. While I enjoyed the reading experience, there was a lack of really memorable scenes and characters. It isn't a book that has stuck with me, even days after finishing it. If you are looking for a horror novel that you can read on one flight, Lute might be the perfect ticket.

Listening to this on audiobook was INCREDIBLE!! Spooky vibes and I AM HERE FOR IT! The narrator did a great job at keeping my attention!

Lute follows Nina, an American who now lives on the island of Lute near Great Britain. The people on Lute don't die in war and they seem to be healthy and well-cared for no matter where they are in the world. But there's a price to pay: every seven years, seven people on the island die. Nina doesn't feel like she belongs on Lute, despite living there for seven years, having children there, and being the lady of the island. The one thing everyone says she needs to experience is the Day to be a true Lute resident, but Nina doesn't believe in the day until it comes around.

The Good:

Lute is a compelling read. Nina is a fantastic narrator. She knows things about the day, about Lute's people, but is also still an outsider, so we are learning through her. She has a fantastic voice and is a very clear character that most people will resonate with. All the characters are pretty well-written.

The children characters feel like children, which is surprisingly hard to do it seems! A lot of authors mess up children, but these kids, even the oldest, seemed real and like children.

The writing is clear and concise. You can picture everything very clearly and while it's not super flowery writing, it gets all the points across.

The Weaknesses:

The romance felt a little out of left field. I didn't understand why we shoehorned this romance into the story, and I didn't feel any kind of build-up. It was kinda out of left field.

The set-up takes a long time. I could have done with a lot less of wandering the island of Lute and a lot more of The Day. It felt like we got halfway into the book before the Day actually happened. I know why we had that beginning, but I would have liked less build-up.

I listened to the audiobook and while the narration was good, I think the Netgalley app needs some work because the narration was a little robotic. I'm chalking that up to the app, but I'd have to listen on another to get a sense of if it was the narrator.

Overall I recommend Lute for a story of magical realism, but also for themes of what it means to be a part of a community, and how to face your own mortality.

Thank you so much for the advanced copy of this book. It definitely lived up to its hype. This author has become a must read.

*received for free from netgalley for honest review* one of the best books i have read all year i think! would read again.

Promos for this one claim it’s Wicker Man meets Final Destination, and you know what, I’d kinda agree with that.

War may rage all over the world, but the island of Lute seems immune to the woes of the rest of the world. No one on the island seems touched by the horrors happening outside of their idyllic, little community. However, every seven years, seven people die to honor the gifts of prosperity the island bestows on its inhabitants. Residents simply refer to it as, “The Day,” and for Nina Treadway, it’s all brand new. She doesn’t buy into the superstitions of the town and wonders what the big deal of “The Day,” is, other than her husband lost his father seven years ago. However, when it comes around, Nina quickly changes her mind, and neither she nor the town will ever be the same when it’s over.

I really enjoyed this one! Folk horror is hit or miss for me. It’s either a fascinating look at an insular community full of terrors, or it’s just slow and boring. I feel like this one struck a good balance of horror, story, and characterization. The community faces horrors, but it brings them closer together and forces Nina to look at them in a new way, not as an outsider as before, but as someone who is now experiencing their lives and deaths with them. In a weird way, it unites the characters and makes them stronger. Definitely recommend. Tor does it again, always providing me with the content I need in my life.

I could not get into this book at all. The accents and the story was very hard to follow. Maybe I should try this one in physical book form

I was kindly gifted an advance listening copy of Lute by Jennifer Thorne from Netgalley and the publisher. I loved the idea and premise of this book however, I just couldn’t get into the writing style. It was truly hard for me to follow and understand what was happening.

Lute is a mysterious island, every 7th summer, 7 people must die. Sounds so good right?!?! Overall, I’m happy I listened to this one as it kept me entertained but it was quite confusing. Again, totally could be a me thing. I say definitely give it a try. Thank you again Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for providing me a copy to listen & review. 2.5 stars from me. It’s my understanding that this is abstract horror, so maybe it’s me and not the book’s fault. I say if you like a story that takes some time to build, a slow burn if you will, than this is most definitely for you.

Enjoyment: 4.5
Total rating: 4.86

Lute is one of those books that took me by surprise this year. I didn't expect to enjoy it as much as I did; I will say that my enjoyment is intrinsically connected to my bond with the characters, though some of whom are not everyone's cup of tea.

I was invested in Lute's lore and in Lady Treadway. I appreciate Thorne's plotting and the way she balanced using Lady Treadway.

Disclaimer: In exchange for an honest review, I am thankful to the publishers and NetGalley for providing a copy of Lute.

Horror fans stand up - you will love this one. The narrator is *chef's kiss* and the story is the perfect mashup of Wicker Man (or even Midsommar) and Final Destination.

Nina Treadway is new to The Day. A Florida girl by birth, she became a Lady through her marriage to Lord Treadway, whose family has long protected the island. Nina’s heard about The Day, of course. Heard about the horrific tragedies, the lives lost, but she doesn’t believe in it. It's all superstitious nonsense. Stories told to keep newcomers at bay and youngsters in line.

Then The Day begins. And it's a day of nightmares, of grief, of reckoning. But it is also a day of community. Of survival and strength. Of love, at its most pure and untamed. When The Day ends, Nina―and Lute―will never be the same.

The narrator's voice lulls you into a hypnotic state, perfect for setting the stage. I love diving into a world that touches on local superstitions and belies that are different than those from where I was raised. Lute delivered on atmosphere and suspense - always keeping me guessing on what was going to happen next.

Headed on a road trip? Grab this audiobook, I promise you won't regret it.

I really enjoyed this book and I thought the narrator was great. Her voice really gave life to the narrator. The story itself was dark and atmospheric, dealing with lore and traditions and was told from the perspective of an outsider who married into the head family of the idyllic island of Lute. She has heard all the stories of how every seven years on the summer solstice seven people die, but she doesn't really believe it. Every day on the island is perfect and people are happy. Then comes the summer solstice. Everything changes.
I wasn't sure how I felt about the ending, but overall I really enjoyed it.

Lute is an island that is unaffected by war, pestilence, and poverty. Every seven years, the island takes seven random sacrifices to keep replenishing all it has to offer. Nina Treadway, wife to the Lord of Lute, and her two children, who would normally leave the island for The Day, get trapped on the island. I was expecting some Final Destination mixed with Midsommar, and it was indeed somewhat like this, but everything about this book infuriated me, so spoilers ahead:

1. Lute's magic makes zero logical sense. Every seven years it takes seven people on a specific day. However, families who live and profit from the island all year long are permitted to leave on The Day? Why wouldn't the island's power extend beyond its borders for those who live there? And why does the island kill people who don't live there and are just visiting? 4 of the 7 people who die in the book are literally not natives to the island. Seems like one could very easily cheat the system and I know this is discussed somewhat by the Treadways being trapped there, but overall the whole thing makes very little sense. This also means the conclusion makes very little sense, despite being a "look everything works out okay!"
2. Also shipping people with terminal illness to your island so you can sacrifice them is kind of gross. Whether or not they agreed to medical euthanasia, you are still exploiting them by bringing them over on The Day rather than allowing them to live in peace, wealth, and comfort for however long they want on the island until The Day. "Oh it's okay, we give them one good day before they are sacrificed" lmao WHAT
3. Sis, your children are at risk of being killed by some unknown force, and you are out here cheating on your husband with his best friend PLEASE GET SOME PERSPECTIVE. I know your husband is a whiny loser, but just like, chill for a sec.
4. Nina doesn't even know if Lute's danger applies to animals, yet she knowingly sets her dog free just to have an excuse to go outside for a walk on The Day? He chases after birds and also could literally trip someone or something. Also, she literally smokes and litters her cigarette in a sacred freaking space of the island.
5. In true Final Destination fashion, Nina causes a window to crack early in the morning and her daughter later nearly falls to her death from that same window. She literally acknowledges the window could break and doesn't think to like, idk, cover it up or lock that room for the day?
6. There is a little old lady who wants to die the entire book because she is sad and old and they literally just will not let her die. This along with the "safe vs unsafe" system Nina later discovers in her husband's office, that the island picks who it wants and it is not entirely random. Yet they do accept sacrifices later on?
7. The best character on the entire island is the first to die. He is someone who respects the island, and treats it well, and the island kills him first? And the person the island "chooses" to represent it is the person who a) irresponsibly allows their dog to run leash free and chase after native birds, b) doesn't supervise their children, c) pollutes and litters in a sacred space and d) doesn't even believe the island's legend until like halfway through the book. Honestly, the island and spirits of the island or whatever are super problematic if that's the case.

This book could have been so freaking good and I was so disappointed. The narrator for the audiobook was good, but the book was not.

Note: I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not compensated in any other fashion for the review and the opinions reflected below are entirely my own. Special thanks to the publisher and author for providing the copy.

I truly loved this audio book that was provided to me for review.

I often lose interest, or have trouble concentrating on audio, but this narrator & the character of Nina was amazing.

I love the idea of love, family, community, huge old home with a beautiful atmospheric island. Of course, any “new comer” will have doubts about any legends about her perfect home. That’s always a given, isn’t it?

Legend: The Day, seven people of Lute will die for the community to continue to be blessed and prosperous. Of course, it’s a silly legend … any 7 people on the small island. Her husband, of just a few years, has always made arrangements to leave, but they weren’t able to this time. Weird circumstances, of course. This is her first experience with “THE DAY” & with her 2 children. .

It maybe weird, but the sense of community was something understood among small town people who have spent generations together. Both warming & horrific at the same time.

The twist at the end ! Definitely worth listening to, even if you can’t always get in to (or pay attention to) audio books.