A short graphic novel of a Romanian cautionary tale, complete with the Grimm Brothers fairytale treatment. It's a supernatural horror story about the protagonist, Adam, who travels to the heart of a supernatural forest known for men-hunting creatures, on a quest to find his missing friend. The premise sounded intriguing, and I jumped at the chance to read something that explored Romanian folklore, but I don't think this was the right vessel to tell the story. When I say the graphic novel was short, I mean it-- almost too short, in my opinion. I didn't feel like I had a firm grasp on anything-- the set-up of the missing friend, the warnings against going into the forest, the folklore and world building, all the way up to the abrupt ending. The entire story seemed rushed, and then ended before the reader was able to gain any kind of satisfaction or answers. To be clear, in this type of story, there don't need to be clear answers for the ending to be satisfactory, but with how abruptly everything ended, it felt more unfinished. I was already unclear on how I felt about this novel because of how dream-like the horror and storytelling felt, but with no marked ending, it just made me think, "What did I just read?" And not in a good way.

Whisper of the Woods is a unique graphic novel with a premise that is right up my (spooky) alley. I enjoyed that it pulled from genuine Romanian places and culture - I only know a little about Romanian culture/lore, so much of this story felt fresh to me. I enjoyed the premise and the artwork, but I'll admit the style isn't for everyone. The more horror-focused pages were especially well drawn. Whisper of the Woods manages to convey a feeling of dread that can be difficult to place in graphic format. While this graphic novel is short, the pacing was well done, and I was engaged throughout. I wish the Romanian dialogue was translated at the bottom of the page (I ended up translating it online). The story is sustains suspense nicely. It was definitely more spooky than I thought it would be, so it was a good October read. Remember to always listen to the witch's warnings.

This synopsis of this hits every box for me. I just couldn’t get into this one but I would like to give it another shot in the future. It’s not a DNF. It’s an “I will get to this again at another time”.

An interesting and messed up, supernatural horror story.
Overall, a pretty good book story wise but, the artwork just wasn’t for me.
Could be an incredible graphic novel with some more editing.

The artwork need to have matched the subject, and the book ought to have been lengthier.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Mad Cave Studios | Mad Cave Studios Inc. for providing ARC of this graphic novel to reviewers.

Summary:

Local legends have a way of lingering. Yet sometimes, those legends, which feel blown out of proportion, have a nugget of truth in them. Sometimes, when the elders tell you to stay away from the haunted forest – you should listen.

Adam's friend has gone missing. So, in a desperate move, Adam follows the trail all the way to a supernatural forest in Romania. Maybe he should have listened to the locals, but then we wouldn't have this story, now would we?

Review:

If you're a fan of folklore, retellings, and graphic novel formatting for horror stories, you'll love Whisper of the Woods. It's chilling and compelling in equal measure, which is a unique art style. By the end, you'll wish there was more.

I feel a bit conflicted about Whisper of the Woods. On the one hand, I loved so much of it. On the other, I do wish there was a bit more. A little more length would have helped to flesh out the story and the world.

Likewise, I feel like I should note something – there are Romanian lines that haven't been translated. Now, this might be due to the fact that I read a review copy, so take that comment with a grain of sand.

The dark and atmospheric art style makes it the perfect match for the story. Speaking of – be prepared to get scared. No, really, this book is chilling in all the right ways.

Highlights:
Horror Graphic Novel
Missing Friend
Supernatural Forest

"Whisper of the Woods" by Ennun Ana is a graphic novel based on Romanian folklore and horror.

After Adam’s friend disappears in the Hoia Baciu Forest, Adam arrives in Romania to try to find him. He is warned not to go into the forest. Of course Adam’s curiosity says otherwise, and thus begins a strange supernatural journey where Adam finds out that some things are better left unknown.

The art is strange and creepy and the concept is good. The only problem is the abrupt ending that left me scratching my head.

God! What a creepy story!! 

I never thought I would enjoy a graphic novel with a lot of creepy elements, inspired by Romanian folklore and distinctive art, but here I am, gushing over the work of Ennun Ana Iurov.

I got very scared through the reading, and this story about a missing boy in the woods is definitely not to miss.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the arc copy!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with this ARC!

This was so eerie!! So so creepy! I really recommend!

"Whisper of the Woods" by Ennun Ana Iurov immerses readers in a captivating journey through Romania's supernatural forest, Hoia Baciu. Adam's quest to find his missing friend unfolds against the backdrop of eerie warnings from locals about iele, mystical beings hunting men, and a witch's ominous premonition of his impending demise. As the suspenseful narrative unfolds, the novel intricately weaves together elements of mystery and supernatural intrigue. With every passing night, the reader is drawn deeper into the enigmatic occurrences, creating an atmospheric and suspenseful tale that promises to keep audiences on the edge of their seats. Iurov's storytelling invites readers to explore the mysterious and haunting depths of the forest, making "Whisper of the Woods" a compelling read for those seeking a blend of supernatural suspense and Romanian folklore.

This starts off very strong but then escalates extremely rapidly and ends abruptly. Could have done with about twice the length of story. Enjoyed the art a lot!

I can't help but feel a sense of unease as I imagine myself in Adam's shoes. The thought of ignoring local warnings and venturing into a haunted forest, despite the risk of encountering supernatural entities like the iele, sends shivers down my spine. And yet, I can understand Adam's determination to find his missing friend, even if it means facing the unknown. As someone who values loyalty and friendship, I'd likely feel the same drive to uncover the truth. But, oh man, the creepy atmosphere and ominous warnings from the locals would have me questioning my sanity! Adam's steadfast resolve is both admirable and terrifying. I'd love to see how this story unfolds and if Adam's bravery will lead to a triumphant reunion or a descent into darkness.

Interesting artwork. Fun horror story with great graphics. I recommend this for someone looking for something a bit different.

Thank you NetGalley and Mad Cave Studios for this arc!

4.5/5 stars rounded up!

This was CREEPY! Based on real folklore and a real haunted forest in Romania, this story follows Adam as he looks for his friend who went missing in the Hoia Baicu, the aforementioned haunted forest. This was a super fast read - I do wish it would have been longer but still enjoyed it just the same! The end had my jaw hanging open! Perfect quick creepy read

Did not finish.
Language issues threw me off. I'm cool with books with other languages if they give a key or possibly some kind of subtitles to know what's said, but it feels like missing something when you have no clue with what's said and have to take yourself out of the story to look up translations.
*Digital review copy provided by NetGalley and the publisher.

"You came to this country to look for haunted and supernatural places . . . but now that you're faced with one, you want to run away?"

A young man travels to Romania to find his friend who has disappeared in a remote forest there. One of the locals serves as his guide into this desolate, haunted place. But, will his search for a monster turn him into . . . a monster?

I found this one to be VERY CREEPY. It gave me the willies, even reading it in the daytime. My only complaint was that I wish it had been longer - and I don't wish that very often, so it's a REAL compliment.

This was an okay comic. The drawing was good. The story drags a bit in areas. I didn't find it as much of a horror.

I really wanted to get to this one, as it seemed interesting. The downfall was that I requested so many ARCs that I could not get to all of them before the book was archived. If I can find this somewhere for a reasonable price, I will try to get it!

3.5 stars.

Whisper of the Woods is a unique and fascinating little horror comic. Based in Romanian folklore and the mysterious (and very real) forest Hoia Baciu, the story is bleak but fun, and it was refreshing to see a folk horror story based in folklore I wasn't really familiar with (which is explained pretty well in the story). I don't love the character design but it's decent enough, but the scary scenes had a great and chilling aesthetic, and I absolutely loved how the clothing design really captured traditional Romanian styles and embroidery, which looked absolutely gorgeous here.

The book is under a hundred pages, which makes it a quick read, but I did kind of wish it was nearly twice as long. The beginning of the story has a lot of exposition that I felt like more time and space would have allowed to unfold more naturally. I did also wish that the Romanian text had had some footnotes for translation, but I understand that part of the point may have been to keep people who don't speak Romanian (like the protagonist) in the dark.

Overall, this is a solid and fun horror story. It isn't the best thing I've read, but it's a fresh piece of folk horror that's definitely worth checking out!

My main gripe with this is that I wish it had been longer! The art style was pretty. It was a great addition to my October tbr!