I love this author! This book was brutal and descriptive and really captures some of the darkness that surrounds us.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of <i>That Night in the Woods</i> in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

<h4 style="margin-top: 84px;">The Gist</h4>

<i>That Night in the Woods</i> by Kristopher Triana is a gripping and atmospheric horror novel that delivers thrills and chills in equal measure. Set against the backdrop of a remote forest, Triana weaves a tale of terror that will leave readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish.

<h4>The Details</h4>

One of the strengths of the novel is its rich and immersive setting. Triana's vivid descriptions bring the eerie forest to life, evoking a sense of dread and unease that permeates every page. From the rustling of the leaves to the howling of the wind, the atmosphere is palpable, drawing readers deeper into the heart of darkness.

The characters in <i>That Night in the Woods</i> are equally compelling. Each has their own secrets and motivations that drive the plot forward. As the night unfolds and the horrors of the forest are revealed, readers will find themselves deeply invested in the fates of the characters, rooting for their survival against all odds.

Triana's writing is tight and suspenseful, ratcheting up the tension with each passing chapter. The pacing is expertly handled. It keeps readers on the edge of their seats as the mystery unfolds and the stakes continue to rise.

But perhaps the greatest strength of <i>That Night in the Woods</i> is its ability to tap into primal fears and emotions. Triana explores themes of isolation, survival, and the darkness that lurks within us all. This crafts a story that is as thought-provoking as it is terrifying.

<h4>The Verdict</h4>

Overall, <i>That Night in the Woods</i> is a must-read for fans of horror fiction. With its spine-tingling atmosphere, compelling characters, and relentless suspense, Kristopher Triana has crafted a tale. It will linger in the minds of readers long after the final page is turned.

Ahhh i've tried to finish this four different times over the past year. Unfortunately it's just not for me. Too many characters to follow, but they aren't flushed out enough to differentiate among them without a character list, and it was far too long. It seems like it would be a good movie though...i'd definitely watch that.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the e-ARC! I am very grateful and happy to explore everything this author will write in the future as well!

Kristopher Triana does not disappoint. I enjoyed this story and liked the viewpoints from modern day and the past, allowing us to get to know the characters as teens and as they are as adults. This one took me a bit to get through, but only due to my own reading slump. Triana’s stories tend to pull the reader in immediately and once you start, it’s hard to put his books down.

Doesn't disappoint! Super creepy and keeps the vibe throughout. Haven't read much from this author but can't wait to delve into more now. You won't be disappointed

I highly anticipated this read by Triana, but the story felt flat for me. I couldn’t engage with the characters, found them very shallow and uninteresting. The horror scenes weren’t all that gripping. Unfortunately, it felt like a stereotypical teen horror movie with cheap thrills.

That Night in the Woods is built around a trope that I really like, trauma that occurs in your teens and you get together twenty years later to finally confront what happens. Because this is written by the author of one of my favourite horror novels, I thought, what could possibly go wrong with this book? It turns out that even a really good author can have a one-off.

First of all, the characters were so stereotypical they just made me want to drop them all off in the middle of that forest and hope whatever was in there got them all. And I am not generally a violent person, but they sucked the living energy right out of me. I get their behaviour when they were teenagers, but to continue that same behaviour as 40-somethings just did not work. I get the author was trying to show how traumatized they were from what happened, but...there had to be a better way to do it. We have Mark, the out-of-work construction worker with two kids from two separate moms who has been in jail a couple of times, who smokes and drinks and ALL he thinks about is sex. Jennifer, newly divorced, has no personality although the other boys apparently all had something for her as a teenager. She can't make decisions if her life depended on it, especially when lover-boy Scott is around, and this is as a teen and as a 40-something-year-old. Corey, the character I liked best, constantly talked about what a nerd he was because he liked comic magazines. What? And Traci? I get her alcoholism, but not her lies. Together, it was hard to tell who was who at times.

The build-up at the beginning was slow, something I didn't actually mind, as I like it when the tension builds up this way and then becomes explosive and you can't put down the book. Unfortunately, the tension never really builds in the way it was meant to. The characters are given bits and pieces of information through Scott, and none of them questioned this at all, didn't even ask for paperwork or anything, especially with Traci being a lawyer? This would have sent my spidey senses tingling right away. They are given mysterious journals, pieces of information about Steven's life and death, all being doled out bit by bit by Scott. Instead of questioning this behaviour, they react like a bunch of teenagers, squabbling and making stupid decisions, forgetting they are adults who can decide for themselves what they can do or not do. I found I just had to suspend belief way too much during all of this and I kept shaking my head in disbelief. And there was no blasted way you would have got me back in that forest after what happened all those years ago. No *^%%* way!! And when we finally got to the part where it was supposed to get scary, I was like, Are you kidding me?

That Night in the Woods had so much potential, but I was so deflated by the end. And speaking of the end, what was that? The one character who fought and fought decides to just give up, just like that, with no explanation? Overall, there were a couple of moments that were chilling and horrific, but the overall experience left me shaking my head and feeling so disappointed, especially after the last book by this author. It wasn't badly written by any stretch of the imagination, and I do think a lot of people will enjoy this book, I just wasn't one of them.

An interesting and chilly story, and the goosebumps on your arms will have nothing to do with the weather. I loved the premise, and for the most part I thought it was carried off really well. We get some flashbacks to when the MCs were kids, which added some depth to the story. Not sure how I feel about the ending, but overall I enjoyed reading this, and it would be perfect for whenever you want some spooky vibes.

This book was unfortunately a DNF for me. I was not enjoying the story and got to about the 50% mark before putting it to rest. I do like Kristopher Triana books so this was sad for me to not enjoy, but I just couldn't get into it. However, I do feel like others may enjoy this book it just maybe wasn't my time to read this.

A group of old friends who share a secret reuniting at a cabin in the woods?

You would think that this book would hit all the high points. Initially it started off strong, but I got bored with it when they all were together.

This was a very fast paced book.
It is full of jump scares and twists and turns. I found the characters hard to connect with

The woods' atmosphere and Halloween vibes set the scene, but there's a bit too much focus on characters' issues. It starts as a thriller, ending in horror. I liked the suspense but found the characters a bit meh. The story unfolds slowly, with glimpses into their past, creating a love-hate relationship with the read. Overall, it's a so-so recommendation for horror fans.

Triana is a newer author to me coming into my life with Gone to See the Riverman last year. I read that book in January and then lost my mind when I heard the sequel was due out. Both the Riverman books were in my top reads for 2023.... That Night In the Woods was not as lingering.

This story gave me "I Know What you did Last Summer" vibes for the first few building chapters and then BOOM hit from the left field. I enjoyed unwinding the mysteries of these strange woods and the group of people who visited them one dark night. It timehopped between today and yesteryear comparing one "never to be spoke of night" and a reunion that was only possible due to the death of a group member.

I look forward to reading more of Triana's work in the future.

“That Night in the Woods” is an unputdownable read. You’ll want to keep turning the pages to see what horror lurks.

With that being said, I found the ending to be underwhelming. I would still recommend this book for anyone who enjoys the horror genre nonetheless.

Thank you NetGalley and Cemetery Dance Publications for gifting me this advanced copy.

Five high school friends are traumatized when they go camping in the woods where young people have been committing suicide. Many years later they come back together to honor a friend and they face what happen all those years ago.

The sections in the woods had great atmosphere and were creepy in a way that had the characters and me wondering what was real. Some of the book takes place on Halloween night which added its own atmosphere as well. Although I do love great character work I think there was a bit too much focus on the characters problems and relationships. I like where the story ended up leading in the end. It felt a bit more like a thriller through most of the book, but it definitely turned horror in the end.

I would recommend checking out this book if you like horror book that focus on the issues of life. I especially recommend reading around Halloween.

A decent spooky read. Nothing special, but it goes by quickly and entertains sufficiently. Thanks Netgalley.

This was my first book by the author even though i have another by them.
It was a great introduction, I really enjoyed the story, the characters, the creepy atmosphere - time to pick up the other book i have then!

Need a Halloween read? Well look no further! Triana is known for his extreme horror but this isn’t that. This is a more traditional read with lots of character development and plenty of reasons to never revisit an old flame. Did I mention the Suicide Woods? The secret amongst this group of old friends? The scary things in the dark?

How about a divisive ending? I don’t know about y’all but when I hear that an ending to a book is divisive, it makes me want to read it more to see which side I’ll fall on. Well, readers, I happened to fall on the side of YES with this one. 😏 If you know me, you’ll know why. If you want to know what I’m talking about, go buy this book, read it and let’s have a chat.

Some may find this a bit of a slower pace than his other novels but lemme tell ya, the nostalgia is real and I love it when an author changes it up a bit. There was a lot I could relate to in this read… and thankfully a lot I couldn’t. 😂 Add this to your scary Halloween stack. Go.

I really enjoyed this book! It was A gorgeously spooky story. I highly recommend this book along with the authors other works!!!