Whisperwood is a masterful mix of folklore and fantasy intertwined with a grounded realism that makes the story leap off the page. There is almost a Wizard of Oz quality to the way Anna seeks to escape a traumatic past and winds up in a storybook village (but which version of the Grimm tales?). Woodroe introduces a wide array of characters, allowing the reader to understand them through action and dialogue, all the while maintaining an eerie and unsettling atmosphere. Whisperwood draws on (what I assume are) Romanian legends, folktales, and creatures to bring new elements to horror and etch new nightmares into the minds of the reader.

This was a DNF finish - finally lost interest around the 65% mark as just not enough happened. It concerned an isolated village which was cut off from the rest of the world and was encroached by these supernatural beings which lurked in the nearby forest. The arrival of the main character causes ripples and upsets the balance of things after a local priest is murdered. Interesting worldbuilding, but just did not grab me.

Thank you Netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

2,5⭐️

This is a book I really wanted to like. The premise is interesting and it is compared to The Witcher. Sadly, I struggled to get into it.

One of my pet peeves is an excessive amount of dialogue. When almost all chapters are filled to the brim with dialogue, and everything we learn about the characters, the setting, and the plot comes from dialogue… That’s just incredibly boring to me. I also had issues with the pacing. Everything happened too fast.

Otherwise, there isn’t anything wrong with this book. The MC and side characters are likable, the monsters are cool, and the setting is in the middle of a very sentient-like forest. I think these elements will attrach a lot of readers who will love this book. It just wasn’t for me.

I enjoyed this haunting, dark thriller. The story was atmospheric and chilling as the story developed. It is a little bit of a slow burn which sometimes makes it hard for me. Overall I enjoyed it and would recommend.

"Whisperwood" is an addictive and thought provoking fantasy novel with elements of horror and folklore. This fast-paced, nail-biting read delves into a world of monsters and folkloric creatures that don't just go bump in the night, but when you least expect it. I loved the Whispers. Woodroe did an excellent job of bringing these creatures to life, I could easily picture them and their horror. This one will be for you if you're a fan of dark fairytale-esque tales and spine tingling horrors.

This is a dark and sinister tale that, almost from the first page, put me in mind of the Brothers Grimm because it really is a story full of scary stuff. Essentially it is all about Anna and her quest. She is curious. A little too curious for her own good as her curiosity takes her deep into Whisperwood - a fabled place that, to all intents and purposes doesn't exist.

Her journey leads her into dangers and confrontations with the scariest creatures and demons imaginable. The laws of nature don't apply. Nothing is as it should be in Whisperwood. Anna must help those she can, while avoiding the worst this hostile, supernatural environment can throw at her. It won't be easy. It could cost her her life and the lives of those with whom she comes into contact.

Alex Woodroe is a new name in horror-fantasy. She brings with her a wealth of folklore, atorytelling, myth, magic and a darkness born of dense, seemingly impenetrable forests and her eastern European culture (she hails from the Transylvanian region of Romania). I felt a strong sense of gothic darkness all through this riveting story.

I feel we will hear much more from Alex Woodroe - a refreshing and significant new voice with many a scary tale to tell

I really enjoyed reading The Whisperwood. I especially appreciated that Anna was just a normal person; there was no chosen one trope or super power in sight. I often found myself as frustrated as Anna with not having any information or knowledge, and I'm honestly not sure if that added to or detracted from the reading experience, but it was certainly effective in keeping me turning those pages. I don't often find stories with female main characters that don't eventually devolve into a love story and a knight to the rescue scenario, so it's always great to find one. I found the Unspoken and it's inhabitants fascinating, and I would definitely read other books about it.

Anna is a young woman running away from a traumatic past. Searching for a place to hide, she comes to Whisperwood, a strange town surrounded by a haunted forest filled with monsters. But as Anna makes friends, learns more about the history of the town and walks across the border between the worlds, it becomes clear that the forest is not the only place inhabited by monsters.

Part horror folktale and part fast-paced adventure, Whisperwood was a surprise. I expected something slower and scarier. Still, the author took me to an adventure filled with humour, unexpected twists and fascinating creatures inspired by Romanian folklore.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy in return for an honest review.

I'm struggling to decide on a rating for this, so I'll give it a 3 for now and maybe revise later.

As a concept, this is interesting. It's creepy but not scary. There are fantasy elements. It's fast paced and short. I liked the high stakes and dark tone.

Relationships between characters developed very quickly - Anna shows up and is almost instantly friends with others in town. She is very quickly brought into the inner fold and becomes essential without any experience or real basis for this. Bright side is that there's no "instalove" just instant friendships, so I'll let it slide.

The characters themselves were a little underdeveloped. They were built for the plot and served their individual purposes, but I never attached to anyone. This made certain scenes fall short as they needed some emotional investment from the reader.

The one relationship I cared for was platonic (though I did think it was intended to be romantic for a while). It was decently developed and cute! I liked the way it played out and was rooting for them to end up together in the end in one way or another.

This was a fine read but lacks the depth I personally want in a book. I still don't really get Anna's backstory or why she made the choices she did. I don't understand the nuance of the ending because the other half of this world wasn't fully explained or explored.

Is this intended to be a series? Because if not I feel like a lot was left unresolved.

I wish this had been longer, specifically for more character development and more details about the fantasy side of this.

This was my first time reading a dark horror-based fantasy. Usually, I stick to lighter fantasy, but this book was really refreshing. I would probably categorize Whisperwood into the folk horror genre.

The entire concept is extremely unique. Anna is a woman with a traumatic past, looking for an escape. She arrives to Whisperwood and finds that there are mysterious happenings and secrets. The author does an amazing job describing the situations that Anna finds herself in. I could feel my anxiety building during tense and creepy scenes because I was so engrossed by the writing.

I would recommend this to anyone who likes folk horror, but maybe don't read it before bed if you want to sleep at night.

Beautifully dark and incredibly satisfying, Whisperwood left me wanting more, and craving answers the author and the story were determined to keep, and yet also left me feeling fulfilled. Wonderfully written and filled with rich characters and lush landscapes that thrill and terrify, this book is one I couldn’t put down. I cannot wait to have a physical copy in my hands, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to have read an ARC copy.

There isn’t enough praise I can give for Whisperwood. Alex Woodroe paints a picture of a troubled town, hiding secrets, and instantly makes you love and hate the people in it at the same time. You fall hard for “heroes,” only to have them die before your eyes. You feel for those who offer kindness, only to discover how cruel they can be. Reading Whisperwood, you meet PEOPLE, not just characters.

And these people take you on an adventure as the narrator, Anna, walks through that same journey. As in life, there are high notes, and despondent sadnesses. Victories, and losses. Shame and regret, and also new beginnings.

Also as in life, there are questions that are never answered, and perhaps the story is all the better for it. Even in a land where terrors and the unknown are the norm, there are just some things which have no explanation.

What would life be if we had all the answers?

Something other than life, that is certain.

Whisperwood makes you feel this, and allows you to see the normal, simple light of day as a little brighter than it was before you entered the book’s pages. What more can you ask of any story?

Enter the woods if you dare, and find what waits for you there.

You can be sure it IS waiting for you.

"Whisperwood" by Alex Woodroe is an addictive and highly intriguing fantasy novel with elements of horror and folklore. This fast-paced, nail-biting read delves into a world of monsters and folkloric creatures that don't just go bump in the night, but when you least expect it.

Anna is running away from a bad situation and ends up in a small town that is stranger and perhaps more dangerous than the place she is trying to leave behind. People don't typically stay in Whisperwood, and if they do, they find themselves stuck there after sundown. Foreigners aren't exactly welcome in this town, but Anna manages to make a few friends who are willing to teach her a few tricks to survive past the night. Because the seemingly quaint town is at war with an entity far beyond anything Anna could ever imagine. Choosing to stay and fight, Anna must learn the strange folklore magic of the town and outsmart the opposing forces that seek to destroy the town and everyone in it.

Wow, wow, wow! The world-building in this story was so surreal. Whisperwood feels more like it should be a creepy, folkloric documentary rather than a work of fiction. There was so much to learn about the town and the strange system they've long adapted to (that is slowly unfurling and hurtling the residents into an age of chaos) that it's easy to get lost in the pages trying to piece together the danger that plagues the town.

Even though there was a large cast of characters, their voices and personalities were distinct, so there was never any confusion or mixups about which character had entered the scene or was being spoken of. It was also neat to learn about most of them over a span of a novel, as secondary characters tend to fade into the background. Instead, Woodroe brought each character to life, letting them own their part of the story and the dark history of Whisperwood. Getting attached to these characters was easy to do, especially with Anna who had a tragic past and ended up in another dangerous situation she couldn't easily walk away from.

"Whisperwood" was an incredible novel and I thoroughly enjoyed the Romanian folklore and beasts as well as the creepy little town of Whisperwood. The expected publication date for "Whisperwood" by Alex Woodroe is July 11th, 2023. If you enjoy stories like the fairytales from the Grimm Brothers, then add this book to your reading lists and make sure to pick it up at your local bookstore or order online to venture into the mysteries hidden in Whisperwood.

Thank you to NetGalley and Flame Tree Press for providing me with a free copy of this e-arc and the opportunity to share my honest opinion in this review.

This book starts off with Anna, whose past is dark and guarded. She's running away from home and catches a ride into a town full of half-truths and secrets. Her presence is seemingly unwanted, yet once the sun sets , she can never leave...

This story was awesome, I don't want to give anything away because the best part was being swept away into this mysterious town. Just know that you won't be disappointed; the writing is detailed and imaginative and the characters are unique. There are some dark scenes in this book and the action is fast paced, suspenseful and unpredictable. This is definitely a book that will stay with me for a while, I can't wait to read more from this author.

Thanks to NetGalley and Flame Tree Press for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

As soon as I heard about Whisperwood by Alex Woodroe I was eager to read it. I know Alex as an incredibly talented editor and a lover of all things folk horror. I have to admit, the Romanian folklore aspect was of particular appeal as I love learning about the folklore of other cultures.

The opening drew me in with its hint of backstory and had me asking lots of questions. The M.C., Anna, is flawed because of her past, a past fraught with danger which she is trying to escape. There’s an innocence to Anna, a naivete that somewhat belies her past. She is quick to trust considering her background and forms friendships easily, almost too easily at times, I felt, but that might just be the cynical side of me. Nevertheless I admired her courage and openness.

The story definitely had a timeless feel, and I was particularly drawn in by the parts involving the folkloric Whispers. The world building in Whisperwood was also excellently done and very visual. I truly felt I was right there with her. The overall sense of place was rife with mystery and unease.

As a comp, the writing and overall feel of Whisperwood reminded me of A Skinful of Shadows by Frances Hardinge which was previously shortlisted for Waterstones Book of the Year. If that’s your vibe then I highly recommend you read this one because I would classify this as folk fantasy rather than horror. Yes there are some horrific moments and I’m not a genre purist, not in the least, but that is my overall impression. Also, because many of the characters are so young and because of the fantasy elements I would say it would appeal to a YA audience as well as adult fantasy readers.

An enjoyable read.

My thanks to the author and publisher for providing an ARC of the novel.

Prior to reading Whisperwood, I knew Alex Woodroe as an excellent editor and a tireless supporter of indie authors. I had read one short story by her, “Searching for Uberwald” in the excellent collection, It Was All a Dream—in my review I called it a story steeped in Romanian folklore, lyrical and haunting.

Whisperwood is all that and so much more, a tale awash in mystery and magic, with a cast of characters who are achingly real whether they’re human or not. The novel is timeless, set sometime in a rural, Eastern European distant past, although clues make it clear there are larger towns in existence.

Anna is a young woman fleeing a toxic relationship from a man who nearly killed her and then poisoned her entire world against her, convincing them she’s a witch. She’s trying to get lost, to both save herself and maybe find a purpose. The place she finds is the small, mysterious village of Whisperwood, a place so isolated, so insular, that it’s hard to find and even harder to enter.

She discovers a village in turmoil, a liminal place where deep folk magic coexists tensely with another world, an uneasy balance that can’t hold. Before long she’s embroiled in events spinning wildly out of control.

Woodroe’s language is evocative—she draws you into her world and keeps you hanging on every word. Her characters, particularly Anna, are fully realized. In fact, I fell a little in love with Anna. She’s flawed and unsure of herself, but also brave as can be, with a hidden reserve of strength that she shares with everyone around her. Woodroe’s setting, absolutely saturated with magic, is well-thought out and intriguing. This may be a first novel, but it doesn’t read like it.

Whisperwood release July 13, 2023, and is available for pre-order now. Meanwhile, I’m already looking forward to her next novel.

Whisperwood by Alex Woodroe is a wild adventure into the unknown. One that I think many readers are going to love and resonate with. Our heroine of this story, Anna, is a woman on the run. She has escaped a truly dark and horrific moment of her life and she is trying to make positive strides forward and create a life for herself. Enter Whisperwood our creepy and dark town full of secrets and colorful characters. Whisperwood creates scenery for some truly creepy and scary imagery and I found myself shivering with some of the descriptions that Woodroe presented. This book is mediumly paced and it did take me a moment to grasp what was going on, but this is dark speculative fiction that readers are going to love. Although I found myself lost within the world-building at times, Woodroe brought me back from the precipice by keeping things action-filled and bloody. Check this story out! I think readers are going to love it!

I honestly didn't think I'd enjoy this book as much as I did.

There was a small amount of setup at the beginning but the story moved very quickly which I loved. Anna was a great character to learn along with. I enjoyed how quickly Anna connected with the other members of Whisperwood. This story was surprisingly heartfelt while also having a good amount of action & horror.

The author wasn't scared to take risks with characters and how they approached situations.

This book was also a fast read (only took me a night or two). I would honestly recommend this to anyone even if horror/fantasy isn't your preferred genre.

When I read this it constantly reminded me the white walkers in GOT.

So our main FMC Anna; Desperate to escape her past, she is in a search for a place to hide. That’s when she discovers Whisperwood, a strange town trapped on a border between the everyday world and a dangerous realm of shadows.A village not only in the maps either. Whisperwood is a fast-paced action packed adventurous fantasy book with with fascinating creatures based on folklores. I enjoyed this story so much because it has this darker side. joy to step into her shoes and follow her journey.

I was excited to read this as the premise really enticed me: folk horror is right up my street. Unfortunately I was left somewhat disappointed. There are some genuinely surprising and creepy moments, but these fewer than you'd expect; in order parts the writing simply isn't strong enough to carry them. I did however enjoy the parts that focused most heavily on the folklore, and learning about these new folkloric creatures and customs certainly kept me interested. The way the two worlds interacted with each other was particularly intriguing and well written.

However, for large swathes of this book the writing feels uneven and disjointed at times, fluctuating strangely in quality, and the pacing is off. The main character, Anna, arrives in a village that is isolated from the outside world and everyone is wary and unwelcoming of her; however she meets a group of young people and is somehow instantly best friends with them. It made me feel like I'd missed something.

As for Anna, she's a woman trying to escape a very unpleasant past, and her memories of this past were some of the most evocative and disturbing in the book; unfortunately aside from serving as her reason for being in the village they didn't really seem to benefit either the story or characterisation of Anna. Despite her aversion to certain words, she seems a fairly well balanced individual, considering and didn't really seem to undergo any character arc or significant development.

I'd also say there is some queerbaiting in the story; it seems that a same-sex romance is unfolding, only for it to be cast aside in favour of a heterosexual one at the end.

i really wanted to like this one. I was about 30% in wondering when something was going to really reveal itself or happen. I felt this way again at 50%, 60% and 80%… I basically forced myself to finish this one.

I will say the last 15% was the most interesting. This feels like a slow burn, where the plot does need a lot of backstory/ build up based on how this wraps up. At the same time there’s almost nothing going on and too much going on at the same time, too many characters, too many gaps in stories and background to paint the picture the way it’s revealed by the end.

I do agree with other reviews that the parts that are meant to be brutal and scary, are brutal and scary. but that’s probably only a few scenes in the first 80% and then a lot at the end.

I feel like the storyline had a lot of promise but didn’t really come together for me. I didn’t hate this, I didn’t love it but I also didn’t like it. This one was probably not for me, but I would still recommend this for those who enjoy fantasy, folklore inspired horror-esque thriller reads.

Thank you to Flame Tree Press and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review