THIS ONE WAS A STUNNER, AND I AM SO THANKFUL FOR TRANS HORROR OMG. Yall, I SCRUMPT when I opened this goodie in my mailbox a few days ago. I am BEYOND thankful Tordotcom books, Lee Mandelo, and Netgalley for granting me a physical ARC and digital access to this historical/trans romance/horror flick that will have me longing for more novellas in my future. The Woods All Black hits shelves on March 19, 2024, and I'm OBSESSED!

Leslie Bruin, a trans male, is doing his best to hide his feminine features and bite his cheek through the bigotry that is determined to cast him out as different or a satanic being when all he's trying to do is provide nursing care to those in need. When he's "stationed" in Spar Creek, Kentucky, an Appalachian town, stuck in the past with a church operating as a governing body, he realizes he's got his work cut out for him. Not being able to inoculate or administer care to those in dire need, he's left to bumble about the town, hearing of satanic devils lurking in the woods and one devilish teenager who can't seem to stay out of trouble with the pastor.

This youngling, or Stevie Mattingly, has come to Leslie for aid after falling pregnant forcibly by the town's kook, the Marshall boy. But Stevie has more than than a child under her guise and it's not long before the whole town figures out what's at bay here, and it's more than they can handle. With the help of their traveling nurse, the two bind together to fight off the bible beaters and bigotry and escape together into the sunset!

WE LOVE A HAPPY HORROR ENDING!

Lee Mandelo isn't quite in his Clive Barker era yet, but he's certainly on his way. "The Woods All Black" is heavy on the poetry and politics, somewhat lighter on the nuanced characterization - but I have that complaint about almost every novella I read, so at some point I should probably just accept it as a function of the form. As it is, it's a soupy, sexy (monsterfuckers rejoice, your time is now) hell ride of an Appalachian gothic, equal parts Stephen King and Poppy Z. Brite.

Thank you Tordotcom and Netgalley for providing me an ARC!

Atmospheric and ambiguous, The Woods All Black was a fantastic short work of fiction that covers large and wide topics while maintaining something very niche at the same time. Religion, justice, and patriarchy meet suspense, sexual tension and community in a way I hadn’t expected for this trans romance!

Our protagonist, Leslie, heads to the town of Spar Creek for Nursing Services, but very quickly realizes everything is not what it seems. I admired Leslie’s motivation to care for the women and suppressed members of society in such a small town. He was determined to make a difference, even if it could only be one person, or two. It was fascinating to read someone who knew exactly who they were, refreshing in that usually we are brought along by a protagonist who is learning about themselves. I really enjoyed Leslie as a character, and I wish we’d had even more time with him.

Stevie was a valuable character to the story line, not only because his situation provided a different perspective in the LGBTQ community, but because he had a sort of ferocity that often is required when you want to make an impact, or change. He contrasted well to Leslie’s quieter fight. I loved reading their interactions, even more because they worked so well.

There is no doubt that Lee is great with his prose. Every line oozes with descriptions that transport me into the settings he curates. I felt stifled by Spar Creek, in the same way our secondary character Stevie does. I was uncomfortable, but only because Lee did such an excellent job. This story was vastly unpredictable and unique. It bled into various genres, from fiction to horror, romance to fantasy. I had a great time reading this, which may or may not be correlated to the twist that left my jaw dropped to the floor. It was a twist for me, anyway, as someone that reads to enjoy the ride.

5 stars for Lee Mandelo’s newest work! Can’t wait to see what he comes out with next!

To start, as always, thank you to Netgalley for this ARC. Getting this request accepted is one of my reading highlights of the year, I have to say. Back when I saw Mandelo on the Feed Them Silence tour, he teased this book ever so slightly and man did it catch my attention. I’ve been waiting what feels like ages to get my hands on this story, and it did not disappoint. Described as “equal parts historical horror, trans romance, and blood-soaked revenge,” The Wood All Black follows Frontier Nurse Leslie Bruin on his current assignment in backwoods Spar Creek. The small town quickly becomes unwelcoming to the self described invert Bruin, and he quickly realizes that the woods and town itself aren’t what they seem.
Mandelo’s deep knowledge on the subjects he writes truly separates him from the rest. Lee comes across so well-versed in the things he writes, and this story is no different. His works are all so vastly different yet hauntingly similar, which is both refreshing and exciting. Mandelo’s character work is always stellar, even in these shorter stories. His characters are always so well established and easy to connect with regardless of how long we spend with them. Lee has such a fantastic way with words that is not only compelling, but truly is the driving force behind all of his works.
This story gives you the extremely important and poignant reminder that trans people have always existed and always will. Between the story itself and the sources listed in the author’s note, Mandelo gives you this fact on a silver platter. It is not to be ignored. Lee Mandelo is also furthering the “silence is compliance,” message in this story. A silent ally is no ally at all and that, too, is not to be forgotten or ignored.
All in all, Mandelo truly stuns in this new story. Between the immersive personification of land itself, to the always captivating characters, this is not a story you want to miss out on. On sale March 19, 2024, The Woods All Black will not disappoint!

I received an eARC of The Woods All Black through Netgalley.

I'll start by saying that my dislike of this story stems from two areas. The expectations set up by the description and the attempt to do too many things within the confines of a novella. That being said, there are people who will love this book and are searching for this exact thing, so I hope it makes its way to to their collections.

Firstly, the setting and time period are excellently researched. This was the reason I requested this title in the first place. A trans character with a mission to bring healthcare, both wanted and unwanted, to backwoods Appalachia. I learned about the FNS, and I liked Leslie's backstory as a war vet and how that influenced his decisions and outlook. I expected a little bit of Midnight Mass, a little bit of Cider House Rules, and I got that. I wish this had been the whole focus of the story. There is a lot of unexplored conflict in this storyline, but what is there is interesting and kept me reading.

This title is described as trans-romance and historical horror, but it is marked on Netgalley as fantasy/scifi. There are no fantasky/scifi elements in this novella, so that tag confuses me. Based on the description, I expected the horrors of a historical setting, but I did not get the sense of suspense, foreboding. and escalating dread that should come with a horror novel. What I did not expect was monster-sex. This is not hinted at in the description in any way and is not something that can be expected in every romance. From a story standpoint, the fact spice happens juxtaposed with a healthcare scene is abhorrent to me, and contributes to the inconsistent tone. A particular type of reader (I admit, not me) enjoys that type of spice and they should be directed to this story. I think this book should be marketed as spicy romance with horror elements.

Finally, I think this story is trying to do too much in general. Novellas need to be tight and every word must count. I think the nurse storyline, the horror "something's in the woods" trope, and the romance get in each other's way. None of these threads were fully fleshed out. I barely remember the townsfolk whenever they appear because the sense of place in this town is established too quickly. Everyone says exactly what they think to the protagonist, which is not how real life is and takes away any suspense from the story. I wish time were given for their mistrust of Leslie to seep out slowly. The quick pacing means the story breezes through all the parts that would have gotten me invested. The pacing and lack of focus is what ultimately makes this a two star read for me.

I do hope that the readers who will love this can find it. It's for someone, but that someone is not me.

‘The Woods All Black’ follows Leslie Bruin, a nurse sent to serve the small community of Spar Creek, an ultra religious township in rural Appalachia. From the beginning, Leslie faces hardship in the form of transphobic religious zealots, though that seems insignificant compared to the terror waiting in the woods.

From the very beginning ‘The Woods All Black’ has such lush atmospheric descriptions and I was drawn in immediately. Every mention of the woods or the increasingly hostile behavior of the townspeople made me so claustrophobic (and reminded me of my own queer religious trauma). I flew through this book on the edge of my seat.

Mandelo’s queer rep is by far some of the best that I’ve ever read. The hardship his characters face for being queer is always significant, but not necessarily the pivotal conflict of the story, which is a nice change and keeps his works from feeling like queer trauma p*rn.

The length was great, easily consumable, and I think Mandelo accomplished everything he set out to with the story, though I wish desperately that I had 300+ more pages of explanation for all the weird stuff going on. Mandela has cemented a spot as an auto read author for me.

tight, tense, atmospheric, poignant, monstrous, cathartic. hits all the right notes on the religious small town, bodily autonomy, and historical queer context. monsterfuckers will LOVE this one

I had to breathe sometimes by any feeling from queer characters, that's feels amazing mixing queer horror, queer people of color experiences adding historical fiction reading it all at novella.

I don't think I've ever read something like this?... In a good way. Slow to start, but once it got going, it REALLY got going. Trans angst, survival, tension, romance, and monster reveal? Delicious. I don't typically read romance, either, but this was such a different, great horror read for me. I'll be looking for the author's other books for sure.

I requested a digital copy in order to sample the prose on my phone (since I don't have a eReader) before requesting a physical copy for review. My review will be based on the physical ARC I read (if I qualify)

An interesting piece, really. It took a moment to really get into, but then it took off. Like wow.

Leslie is a former army nurse, now working for the FNC and is sent to a small town for vaccinations and the care of pregnant women and young mothers. What he doesn't expect is to find a young boy like him. One born into the body of a woman. Though through the town's and especially the die-hard preacher's damning judgement, neither of them can really live out what they are without putting themselves in danger. And while Leslie plays polite and adjusts to keep himself safe, Stevie really doesn't seem to care about danger. Except to become it.

I really enjoyed this, once I got into it. Sure, the ongoing transphobia towards the main characters is uncomfortable, but timely, and, after all, it is what this book is about.
The ending is just so perfect in my eyes, and fuck, i did not expect spice in this? But damn, it was so good?
The writing style kept me hooked the entire way through, and somehow, this story managed to make me feel like simultaneously nothing and everything was happening.

Good, queer horror, and a satisfying story.
A clear recommendation from me.

❤️‍🔥Trans romance, but add MONSTERS❤️‍🔥

Pals— this is a book you need.

The Woods All Black is like Jackson’s “The Lottery”— except with teeth, claws, and the end we all wanted. No, correction: it’s beyond what we could have ever imagined.

The Woods All Black is a trans romance set in 1920s Appalachia, where the Church’s word is law and contraception is the devil’s work. It will gnaw your soul raw as you read it deep into the night. It’s just so, so good.

Thank you to tordotcom and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy to review.

lee mandelo never fails to deliver queer stories that are strange, haunting and will have you thinking ‘what the fuck😀’ by the end of it. mandelo’s writing is immersive and unique, it’s the kind of storytelling that always has me thinking about it for days afterwards (i still occasionally think about mandelo’s previous two releases, they’re THAT good!) this time around mandelo gives us historical fiction set in the 1920s focused on bodily autonomy, reproductive rights and religious influences with a hint of science fiction, which was enough for me finish this in just one sitting. this novella is short, but far from sweet and is everything i could’ve wanted in a story at the moment.

(I received this book from the editor and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review)
This is the third book by Lee Mandelo I read (after Summer Sons and Feed them Silence), and somehow, I am still in awe of his prose. His way of describing the Appalachian landscape through the eyes of Leslie Bruin definitely transported me into the era and the (ugly) situation that the character had to live through.
Spar Creek is definitely alive, and there is illness and evil in its guts. I felt it everywhere, even if Leslie was just trying to buy something in the store. I really cared for Leslie from the beginning. A couple of phrases and I knew who Leslie was and what that meant in a place like Spar Creek.
And I totally felt in love with Steve.
Was I expecting some of the scenes? No, sir. Was I expecting the last part of the book? The biggest “no” of the history.
In the end, it was a very intense, short novella I will not forget easily. I did expect more horror, as I just said, I had no idea where the road was taking me, but again, Lee Mandelo could simply write down his shopping list and I would be there to read it.

I recently entered my Appalachian horror era so yes, I read this based solely on that.

Terrifying preachers? Trans angst? Easily led backwoods folks? An overall vibe akin to Midnight Mass? Check, check, check and check.

And let me tell, I YELLED at the monster twist.

What an astounding novella that covers an array of topics like reproductive health, trans individuals, prejudice, imbalance of power and the zealousness and hatred that can come with religion.

I will forever be a fan of Mandelo’s writing and the care that goes in to the story. This was no different. Told from a 1920 perspective in Eastern Kentucky where our protagonist Leslie Bruin, a trans nurse is battling hate towards him, while trying to protect the sick, defenseless and vulnerable. At the same time, he is finding a potential partner, while this darker beastly presence is right on the edge.

I wanted a little more of the “horror” aspect, but it a way, this book deals a lot with the horrors of man, and the way humans can be the worst monsters out there sometimes.

A really solid book from Lee Mandelo.

Beautiful complex work of fiction that combines the vibes of 'True Grit' with queer triumph. Perfect for my monster f**kers. It blends religious trauma with things that go bump in the woods. I really love how we get to see Leslie and Stevie's characters evolve and how their relationship develops in the story.

I was expecting great things from this novella, and Mandelo did not disappoint. It was such a whirlwind of emotions that I was expecting, particularly the rage and hatred that flowed through me during majority of the book. Leslie was such a wonderful character, simple in his desire to be able to bring his experience, passion, and nursing expertise to the village of Spar Creek, specifically the woman and mothers and those similar to Leslie in being 'other'.
As with most small towns, the pervasiveness of the church group and their hatred of anything unfamiliar and unwelcome was expected, but always seems to strike the same chord within me, triggering a bone-deep hatred. This was, ultimately, a cathartic book ripe with the half-realized hauntings familiar from Mandelo's debut, 'Summer Sons'. This goes a step further to allow for a....monsterous climax (in more ways than one) where those 'others' are allowed to raise a middle finger at the town and raze it to the ground, in a way.
I do wish there had been more exploration in terms of the creature and.....how, but for a novella, this did a great job at already fitting a lot into a book that was really much shorter than it felt.

The Woods All Black by Lee Mandelo
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5

Honestly pristine fall vibes. Thanks TOR and Netgalley for the ARC! This was pitched to me as a queer gothic revenge horror period piece set in 1920s Appalachia. It is all of those things! It manages to do every single piece of that incredibly well, which is astounding. A round of applause for Lee Mandelo and the artistic skill it takes to pull of this book and for it to be as well crafted and enjoyable as it is. What they didn’t mention in the pitch is that it’s all of those things AND ALSO a t4t monster fuckfest. Some of the imagery was uh…. Not really my thing. The description of river silt alone had me taking a minute. But I still found it super fun and spicy.

I honestly think that the atmospheric horror alone would be worth 5 stars, not to mention the incredible characterization. The reality of small town life and the pervasive power of community leaders (for better or worse) is written with such reverence and intimate knowledge. Mandelo really knows how to pull at threads of tension and weave a whole blanket out of them. Kudos.

This book absolutely sucked me in. Usually I prefer my horror to be of the purely supernatural variety, but the combination of supernatural and all-too-human really got me. I loved how atmospheric and freakin' weird it was as a whole. Mandelo successfully makes the leap to historical (spec) fiction, & he succinctly manages to get a really good story into 160 pages. Def will be recommending!