🪬 Review: Dark Woods, Deep Water by Jelena Dunato🪬

Dark Woods, Deep Water by Jelena Dunato is inspired by Slavic folklore. Mythical Gods, Goddess, and men who make deals with Gods and heroes are all featured in this book. If you like dark fantasy mixed in with supernatural and Gothic elements, this book is definitely for you.

This book spans over the years. The story told by three characters is told during different time periods. How these characters feature in each other's lives is an interesting one. Each character in this book is on a mission. A mission to either save a kingdom or to save themselves. Then there's the mysterious forest and a castle. I was probably expecting a bit more from this story. I wanted more spookiness and more mythology explained. Just as the story picks up, the book ends. I did enjoy reading the book, and maybe there's a series that explains the mystery of the Prince and Telani! I would love to read it for sure. Perfect book for the season.

Thank you, Ghost Orchid Press @ghostorchidpress and Netgalley, for this book.

This is an interesting book, and I did not love it but I did not dislike it. I think this author has a lot of potential, and I think a lot of people will like this book.

This is a dark fantasy inspired by Slavic folklore, and the folklore is what really got me interested. I have absolutely no knowledge of Slavic folklore, so it's hard for me to know what parts of the story were the author's creation and what parts were from folklore. I had a difficult time connecting to the characters in this, and I think that I would have similar feelings if I were to read Greek mythology without prior knowledge of the stories. The characters and their stories felt a little surface level - more like a story being told around a campfire than a novel. I think the author could have expanded a bit more into their backstories and what made them who they are, especially the secretary character.

There was an interesting concept with timelines in this book, but I couldn't decide if it was supposed to be something the reader was aware of, or a surprise like the first season of the Witcher. Each chapter had years attached, but I never retain what year things are occurring in, so I was unaware of where each of the three stories were taking place, time-wise.

This book takes place through multiple POVs, and it takes quite some time for the POVs to merge or even appear connected. This, I think, led me to feel less connected to the characters because I would be away from one for awhile and have nothing connecting their story to what I was reading now, even distantly.

The end of this book definitely added to my enjoyment of it, because it truly was dark, creepy, and mysterious. The beginning made it a struggle to get there and I did consider DNFing at one point. Overall, I think if this concept intrigues you, you may enjoy this book.

Thank you to Ghost Orchid Press and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Dark Woods, Deep Water is the debut novel of Jelena Dunato, an excellent example of what could be called Slavic folk horror, with some touches of Gothic Horror, published by Ghost Orchid Press. With a rather unconventional narrative style, Dunato tells a story inspired by Slavic mythology, following three characters whose fates will meet one night on an enchanted castle which preys on the unaware travellers.

Talking about the main characters, the first of them will be Ida, a trickster that after being traded by her mentor to a group of robbers, will end on this castle helping them to steal to the castle's owner, being unaware of the real nature of it. After this, we meet Elysia, a young and naive girl, whose bad decisions taken because of her inexperience outside of her father's domains, will end with her marrying to the son of the castle's owner. And finally, we have Telani, secretary to prince Amrion, who is on a mission to retrieve a boy by the king's orders; in the middle of a snowstorm, they seek shelter in this castle.
Each one of those characters has its own POV, with Dunato making an excellent job of giving each one a distinctive voice and characteristics; while some of their choices might be frustrating (especially with Elysia), they are justified by their past.

In the first half of this book, Dunato slowly introduces us to these characters, while creating a highly immersive world, full of details that allow us to grasp those Slavic inspirations. There's a certain aura of mystery around these characters, which goes in crescendo until Elysia ends marrying the Gospodar of that castle; you can guess there's something building behind the scenes.
And that's where the second half of this book is used to introduce a big change in the mood, passing from being a book which was closer to folk fantasy to a darker book, which absolutely nails the gothic horror atmosphere. Instead of an enormous world where our characters are travelling, we are in an oppressive castle, where the cultists of Morana are trying to finish with them. The pace is quite frenetic, quite fitting for the danger our characters are experiencing.

Dark Woods, Deep Water is a highly immersive novel, set in an imaginative world whose Slavic influences are marvelously introduced. If you like folk inspired horror, and are looking for a different kind of book, give this one a try!

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
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Dark fantasy
Multi POV
Gothic horror
Slavic folklore
Haunted castle
Decades long secrets
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I abhorred turning real people into legends and heroes. It glossed over the pain and loss; it ignored the price they paid.

“We do not have to fear the dead,” he said softly, “but those who use them.”
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I dive into this one after seeing the slavic folklore inspiration at the blurb. I really liked the darkish atmosphere and the world building. The first half of the books is a little bit slow but the rest is a page turner. The story is told by three narrators crossing paths: Ida, an intelligent young rogue trying to survive and escape from her history; Telani, an old soldier going for one last quest, and Elisya, a naïve young lady trying to turn her life into a fairy tale. Their different personalities complete each other and all the information given through fits the ending perfectly. The main focus of the story is bad choices and mistakes can be done with good intentions. I actually really like haunted castle stories, although it appears in the halfway of the story, so if you are like me and like the dark setting with folklore you should give this one a chance!
Thanks to NetGalley and the author for providing me an eARC I return for an honest review!

This was such a fascinating dark fantasy inspired by Slavic folklore! 🏰

I found the characters/main narrators to be equally interesting, though I did prefer two of the three. Ida was a smart and resourceful young woman, with enough grey morality to really make her stand out. Her journey to and later escape from the castle was what really interested me compared to the other POVs. 🐚

Like another reader pointed out, I thought she was a great foil to the other female POV, Elisya. This woman was very naive and spoiled to the point that she couldn’t see past her own wants and needs and was essentially stuck in a fairytale (and later nightmare) of her own making. Her fate at the end of the story, while not what I expected for her, was rightfully given in my opinion. Sadly, I think she still didn’t learn yer lesson with growing a conscious and being aware of others’ needs. 😕

Telani was the one narrator that I thought was very neutral in all this. While the women were fighting and plotting for their own future, Telani is just kind of there with his prince. I did think he was a good character to show a knight’s loyalty to their superior, but he still felt like an odd man out to me. 🗡️

While I did enjoy this book, I was left wondering about a few points in the plot that were felt like they were left to open interpretations. My biggest ones were what was Queen Orisana’s last appearance for and is she stuck? And why is Gospara Liana so important, but solely only mentioned in the book? 🤔

All in all, I thought the plot was still well written, the world and castle setting well thought out, and the goddess Morana creepy enough to really keep your attention. Definitely recommend for those looking to get a good intro to the darker side of mythology/folklore through Slavic folklore. ☠️

Thank you to NetGalley and Ghost Orchid Press for gifting this eARC in exchange for an honest review! 💙

Publication date: September 19!🌙

Overall: 3.75/5 ⭐️

This is a deliriously dark fairy tale, based on Slavic myths and folklore. It took a while to get going but once the story kicked in I was totally engrossed, and a little freaked out at times. A brilliant book to curl up with on autumn evenings.

Big yay for Slavic folk horror fantasy! Told from three points of view, and unfolding over two different timelines, Dark Woods, Deep Water may start out as a straightforward low fantasy novel, but lets the realization of paranormal plot twists slowly creep in. Dunato's writing is both lyrical and sparing, fitting right into the genre.

Readers will start out with the acquaintance of a girl prone to fraud and down on her luck, a gullible young noblewoman seduced by a knight, and a legendary prince's loyal companion, but must puzzle out which common goal fate will lead all three of them to.

My main point of criticism for this story is that the length didn't do it any favours. It was both too drawn-out to be a novella, and too economically plotted to fit into the novel format. Somehow, it was neither of the two, and that didn't do it justice. I would have wished for a healthy editorial cut, or more lore to fill the holes in between pages correspondingly, to make this a 5-star read.

Still curious what Dunato will cook up next!

I abhorred turning real people into legends and heroes. It glossed over the pain and loss; it ignored the price they paid.

I started reading this book at a very good point this year – right after I was done with The Witcher’s first book, which was a total disaster for me. So, it was just what I needed, meaning a true slavic, goth horror story.

Not gonna lie, not all of it was a page-turner. Elisya’s parts were awful to read through – the woman had a real case of “main hero syndrome”. She thought she was the center of the universe, that she would meet her prince charming, that even after being humiliated and cast aside the guy who was the cause of it all would actually come for her. Hell, even after she had lived for so long in that damn castle, with people dying left and right and her being pretty much an accessory to, well, murder – or genocide at this point – she still sat there all depressed and sighing and hoping for a hero to come rescue HER! I was really hoping she would “hero-up” and be her own savior, but…

And don’t even get me started on Raden! What is wrong with all the noble-born brats in this book?! Were Amron and Queen Osriana the only reasonable and nice ones around? (which is kind of ironic, given the fact everyone had such a low opinion on those two, fearing them and talking behind their backs, when they were actually really kind and wise, just because they didn’t take bullshit from anyone)

What really made the story enjoyable was Ida and Telani. Admittedly, the old warrior had my heart, and what happened to his prince will forever be an injustice in my eyes, but the pacing in his parts – and Ida’s, too – were a joy to read. It showed the troubles of a lower social class, people that were trying to get by, either by serving someone else or by trying to cheat others in order to survive. They were humble but knew their strengths, and while they had their selfish flaws, they still were humane enough to care for those that helped them even a little.

One thing that honestly sets the horror mood here was at first the dates under the names in each chapter. I didn’t give it much thought when I saw it, and then I realized the years were different. But they were all talking about the same place, and in almost a present tense, so when the pieces started clicking together, it was reaaaaally creepy! Then the rituals and the manhunts began – it’s at this point that you won’t stop turning the pages and won’t put the book down, because the pace picks up until the crescendo slows down near the end. As you’ll be reaching said end, you’ll sort of feel like you were expecting the way things turned out, but it was still sad and horrifying to watch, despite being fitting for the kind of story the author wanted to write.

All in all, a rather good tale, though not my type certainly. I definitely wouldn’t have liked it any other time, but I guess the timing was right with this one and that shows that sometimes, we need certain story themes in certain points of our lives to truly enjoy them.

***I was given an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinion stated in this review is solely mine, and no compensation was given or taken to alter it.***

The first person voice is a formidable weapon in fantasy writing. Used badly, it can wound its user, but used well it can be the quickest way for a new writer to show the reader they mean business. So it is with the opening pages of dark fantasy Dark Woods, Deep Water from indie press Ghost Orchid, where debut author Dunato introduces us to Ida, a young woman and resourceful rogue trying to survive in a cold, tough, Slavic-inspired kingdom. Her voice is arguably the most compelling of any protagonist I’ve read this year. First she gleefully announces how little you can trust her:

"I’m a pretty girl with big eyes, so I am sure you want to hear my story. Which one do you want, the happy or the sad one? We barely know each other, so let us start cheerfully."

Two potential origin stories given, she concludes:

"Feel free to choose the story you like the best; it is all the same to me."

You can’t always tell if a book is going to be great after the first chapter, but after this introduction, I knew. Later on, Ida gives us one of the lines of the year after another depressing turn in her unforgiving life that she resourcefully navigates:

"I have survived this long because I could always guess what people wanted to do to me."

Ida is not the only first-person POV we get; we are also introduced to Telani, the loyal man to an aging warrior-prince on a quest, and Elisya, a young naïve girl brought to a tournament by her father, who wishes to fall in love with a handsome prince.

The world of this book is a hard-bitten, Slavic-inspired (more of this in a second) war-torn kingdom of princes and castles and peasants and old gods and the consequences of old battles and lost loves, beautifully and compellingly drawn by Dunato, and these three characters will eventually, after spinning out their own stories, make their way to a mysterious cursed castle deep in the woods, where they are all united and things get, um, kind of crazy?

Quick but vital aside: what is Slavic fantasy? For me, it’s one of those sub-genres that people use without really knowing what it means; I suspect if cornered most would reply “woods, fairy tales, funny names, bad weather, castles” then run away into the night hyperventilating. And there are examples of novels that take a sloppy approach to this. This is perhaps unsurprising given there are thirteen Slavic countries, reaching from the expanses of Russia to the North of Europe and down to the Eastern Adriatic. But when used well – and recent examples include Naomi Novik and Katherine Arden – it references not just the tropes but a feeling; a feeling of poignant lost summers and lost romances made cruel by the pitiless wintry present.

This is a feeling that the Croatian Dunato conveys very well, her story being loosely based on the Slavic folklore of the Eastern Adriatic. The Slavic goddess of death Morana looms large over this story, and no doubt there’s more references specific to the region that I’d spot if I was better versed in its mythos. But it’s the feeling that matters, and the feeling here is strong.

Structure wise, this is a book of two halves. After the first half of the character’s journeys, we get a creepy cursed gothic castle mystery, where the sense of death hangs over the place in a very literal way. Something is very wrong in this place. Depending on what blurb you read, you will be told this up front, but I luckily missed this and it’s way more fun if you don’t know the premise of the castle.

The tone and pace switches completely here and we get a creepy, slower mystery for a while. This switch might frustrate some enamoured with the first half, and I can see this being the splitting point for many a reader. And I did miss the pace of the first half at times. But the compelling creepiness pulled me on, and it is completely worth it for the end, where all the rules are thrown out the window in favour of an epic, ambitious ending, including a chilling final encounter that demands a sequel. It’s a brave structural choice that Dunato just about pulls off.

This is a cold, angry book – the unapologetic rage reminded me of the best of Novik, painting a world where whether the woman is in quick-witted control of her agenda or being manipulated by it, she still never has the freedom that men do. That cold is also reflected in the heartlessness of the old, Slavic-esque gods and the sense that humans are just tools to be manipulated. Yet at the same time there is a sense of beauty about it all. This is the heart of dark fantasy, and boy is it well written. The prose will pull you along the dark and the cold and the death, and some lines will jump out at you when you least expect them.

Overall, I was entranced and chilled by this cold winter’s gothic tale and the marvellous characters that inhabit it. That bugle sound you hear outside your castle? It’s me announcing an exciting new voice in fantasy. Hopefully always in first person.

A spoiled princess with a failed elopement now trapped in a castle, a poor girl willing to con and swindle her way through life, and a assassin/secretary who must face the goddess of Death. Told through dual timelines, the story follows three individuals: Ida, a poor girl who has spent her life swindling and conning people to get what she wants, Elysia, the spoiled daughter who falls for a prince and in an attempt to get out of her marriage tries to elope but ends up in a different marriage with a killer for a husband trapped in a enchanted forest, and Telhani, an assassin/secretary for his lord. The story follows the three characters giving context to how they each got to where they are and then having them all meet at the same place and the outcome of that. This was not a good book or even a fun one to read, all the characters were lackluster and honestly the only one I really liked was Telhani and the guy barely even got a storyline with it only getting interesting at the end. Elysia was a spoiled, selfish, coward who had her head in the clouds and I couldn't care less for her story honestly. I enjoyed how quick on her feet and adaptable Ida was in her storyline and how she did everything she could to survive. Overall this one was a miss for me, I was so intrigued by the cover and the premise but the actual story itself was lacking. Also please be warned of the triggers before going into this, there is a lot to take in so do be cautious.

*Thanks Netgalley and Ghost Orchid Press for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

There is a castle, deep in the woods, that manages to draw unsuspecting people to it. At first glance all appears normal, but those who visit it never live to tell of the strangeness they encounter while there. When three people who have almost nothing in common find themselves at the castle together, they soon realize that they must work together to survive; but even then, the odds of survival are low and they won’t all make it out alive.

This story is told from the POV of three different characters. It was also told in a dual timeline, which took me a minute to realize (the author did put dates at the beginning of each chapter, I’m just not the best at paying attention to those small numerical details when I read). The POVs and timelines began to merge in a way that surprised me but was satisfying. The plot was enjoyable, though the pacing was uneven (there were many slower portions, and the ending was almost frantic in its pace). I did like the magical aspect of the story and how dark it was. I wanted more from the atmosphere and tension, though, as they never really came through in a meaningful way.

The world building was okay but left me wanting more. More information, context, and exploration of the world and setting would have helped with the immersion and taken my rating up at least another star. As it is, there were enough context clues to assume it was set in a pseudo-medieval-European world, but it took some time to reach that conclusion. The characters were similarly just okay. They never underwent any growth and felt a little underdeveloped, which left them feeling one-dimensional and made it difficult to become immersed in their plight.

Overall, this was a fine fantasy read that I did enjoy, it just didn’t go far enough in several important aspects. I do love the cover, though, and think the illustrator did a wonderful job representing the story. My thanks to NetGalley and Ghost Orchid Press for allowing me to read this work, which will be published September 19, 2023. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I didn't finish this but went back and tried to keep reading. I wanted to love this book so much but I just couldn't - right now. I can't put my finger on it, but this is a book I think I'll come back to in a few years and try reading it again, which isn't a bad thing to me! I'll stick to the general consensus and give it 3 stars because of this, because it's not every day that I set a book aside for trying again.

Thank you NetGalley and Ghost Orchid Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I have a lot of mixed feelings on this one. The premise, the cover, the mythology were all huge draws for me—I love books that feature mythology and I love Gothic settings and creepy houses and I love dark fantasy. It’s just that this all fell flat for me, but I definitely see how Dark Woods, Deep Water could appeal to other readers!

I think Dunato’s infusion of Slavic mythology was good and I think the overall atmosphere of the castle was good. I liked some of the reveals we got in the second half—I really enjoyed the castle as a whole, but I wish it got more time on the page. I thought the use of timelines was also interesting, though it did take me a little bit to realize there was that much of a difference and the way they’re woven together ultimately makes sense but is a smidgen confusing at first.

Still, I thought that the pacing was a little wonky because the first half of the book is almost all backstory or set up, and it makes it feel like the second half is underdeveloped. I didn’t latch on to any of the characters and I wish this had been longer so that the ultimate conflict could breathe a little more. I also had some trouble distinguishing the POV characters’ voices. I didn’t particularly enjoy how either woman was written and Telani’s POV felt underutilized as the story progressed. This didn’t nail the atmosphere I was expecting and while I did enjoy the how and why of the castle being creepy, I do really wish it had been expanded upon and made to be more unsettling. And ultimately, the ending came much too fast and felt too rushed to me. It did leave me wanting more, if only because I felt there wasn’t enough here and it also felt like it could potentially be setting up for a sequel or another book in the world.

Overall, I think that the bare bones of this was interesting and good! Though this was unfortunately not a match between book and reader for me, I think that all my qualms are subjective and that there is absolutely an audience for this. While I am sad this didn’t work out for me, I hope other people who pick it up love it.

What an unexpected surprise. I love when I request a book that I have never heard of, never heard of the author, go in completely blind and walk away with a gem of a read. That was this book for me.

Dark Woods, Deep Water is told from 3 POVs. Ida, Telani, and Elysia. It takes a few chapters to meet all the characters, but once you do...you slowly begin to realize that their fates are destined to weave together to tell this crazy, dark, twisty tale. We have dark enchanted forests, bad decisions, forbidden love, murder, monsters, and unexpected heroes. I love also that it included Slavic Folklore. I ended up enjoying this so much I went and researched and read up on the history of some of the folklore. The three storylines end up meeting at a cursed castle and the battle to break the curse begins.

At times, it felt like pacing dipped a bit, but it would quickly pick back up and reign you back in. This felt like a gothic fantasy fairytale. If you are a fan of T. Kingfishers, Thornhedge, or Broyny and Roses... I think you'd really enjoy this book.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book!

I'm settling on a 3-star rating for this book. While it didn't fully capture my attention, I can see how others might really enjoy it.

The writing style had its merits, with well-chosen words that flowed nicely. The different perspectives offered a diverse view of the story, but the way the story unfolded left something to be desired.

The pacing felt a bit uneven, with some parts dragging and others feeling rushed. The characters, unfortunately, didn't experience much growth, which left them feeling somewhat one-dimensional.

It's commendable that the author brought an authentic Slavic perspective to the story, but the narrative structure might be challenging for those unfamiliar with it.

Although it didn't completely win me over, I can see potential in this book for fantasy enthusiasts who appreciate its unique voice and ambiance. While it might not have been my cup of tea, it could very well be a delightful read for others.

Rounding up a bit to 3 stars, but I did overall enjoy reading this and there was a lot to like about it.

The prose was quite lovely; it flowed and had some nice word choices without being too flowery (disclaimer: purple prose is not a turn-off to me 👀). I also liked the three different POVs and how they all gave different perspectives into the world, as well as how the plotlines came together. Where I think both the writing and the POVs where letdown was in the presentation of the story itself.

There seemed to be some issues in pacing, with a lot of the story just feeling uneven to me. While the writing itself flowed, the plot did not. Everything felt quite surface level, especially the characters. Yes, I liked having multiple POVs, but none of the characters really experienced any growth or development. Things and plot happened to them, sure, but the characters themselves remained quite unchanged. They were shallow, and I don't just mean Elisya.

Some great concepts and I loved the dark fairytale feel of this, but I think the execution let it down. The setup of having the first half of the book being setting these characters in motion and them each having their own journeys, their own little road novels, if you will, and then the second half being creepy horror castle is a great idea. The mythology seemed to fit well, though I think more time could have been spent with that aspect. Overall, adventurous, a strong atmosphere, and a ride to read, but a bit of a bumpy ride.

Yes a book with OWN voices! A beautiful Slavic fantasy written by somebody who is a Slavic. This dark folk tale has 3 POVs - so there is someone for everyone to connect with. This was an amazing mystery told so lyrically over 40 years. I am so excited to check out Dunato's career as she builds her fantasy work.

Jelena Dunato has said "Dark Woods, Deep Water started as an image and a feeling."

3.5/5 stars

First things first - I am a Slav and reading Slavic fantasy written by somebody who is a Slav, too, felt like a breath of fresh air, and it felt a little bit like home. It was a special reading experience because almost all "Slavic fantasy" is not Slavic at all and I feel really privileged to have been able to read an ARC of something like this.

I do think that non-Slavs will scrunch up their noses at the narrative structure and some pacing decisions, but it makes PERFECT SENSE. It's unconventional in some places, but trust me, it's JUST right.

The one but unfortunately huge negative was the characters. I ultimately came out of this thinking that I didn't need all three POVs - especially one of them felt unnecessary and I only really connected to one of them. It brought my enjoyment down quite a lot as some of the chapters felt like a chore.

HOWEVER, I will absolutely shout about this book from the rooftops because I think it's essential and all fantasy readers should consider it for their reading lists.

3.5 ⭐'s
Dark fantasy with Gothic vibes.
Nearly 4 stars for me but the first HALF of the book felt like the character introductions would never end, and there were only 3 POVs. Once we hit the forest and castle the story started to pick up (thoroughly making up for the snooze of a beginning) and I flew through it! An ever changing, murky setting, with fates intertwined, and mysterious magics and Gods at work.
I'd be interested in a sequel especially if it had more to do with said magics and Gods.

Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC.

I enjoyed this story very much. Like a dark fairy tale. Hope to read more by this author. I do wish this one had been a bit longer.