THIS BOOK!
IT's a fever dream of a horror story.

The Haunting of Velkwood brings a very fresh look at the haunting both of building and people.

When a block of homes disappears without a trace leaving only 3 survivors - college friends. No one has ever been able to determine what happened and the 3 survivors have kept their silence until now, 20 years later.

Talitha is one of the survivors and she needs the money desperately. She makes the decision to assist
a researcher and try to enter the Velkwood "veil." What she finds, changes everything. What she brings back, endangers everyone.

Join Talitha and her friends as they make sense of past decisions and face the cursed haunted Velkwood!
Super original, super creepy with gothic and atmospheric notes that will make you think twice and always look over your shoulder! #thehauntingofvelkwood #gwendolynkiste #simonandschuster

As I delved into the pages of this extraordinary tale, I found myself ensnared in a web of memories and emotions that refused to let go. Talitha's odyssey resonated deep within me, her quest for belonging a mirror to my own existential wanderings. The author's masterful prose weaves a tapestry of longing, regret, and the inescapable grasp of family history. Each character's flaws and scars are rendered with an empathetic touch, making their struggles feel like those of a dear friend. The story whispers secrets about the indelible marks left upon us by those we love and the places we call home. It's a haunting meditation on the blurred lines between past and present, and the mercy we must grant ourselves in the face of our own ghosts. I emerged from these pages changed, my heart carrying the weight of new truths and the whispered promise that I'll return to this haunted, beautiful world again.

Tabitha Velkwood, Brett Hadley and Grace Spencer were the sole survivors when some sort of paranormal anomaly destroyed their street twenty years ago. Now a researcher has enticed Tabitha back. Will she discover what happened at Velkwood?

First, let me say that I love it when there’s something like this and the government knows all about it, it’s not some big shadowy secret where you have to suspend disbelief that a whole, I don’t know, street disappeared and no one cars. And the haunting itself. I love this too. It’s spooky and fairly true to life, I think. I thoroughly enjoyed this.

This book took some interesting turns and most of them paid off. The ending wasn't what I expected but I liked it.

This will be a hit for the queer horror fans and those who grew up trying to escape small lives in small towns.

This was an intriguing book. It started off very strong. The intrigue was high. The horror and creeping sense of dread was well done. The tone was a perfect match to how it felt like this story should be told.

The length is just right, no place really felt like it was dragging. I enjoyed the complex relationship between Talitha and Brett. This is my second novel by Kiste and I think I liked it a little more than the first (Reluctant Immortals).

Overall, I think it’s a solid 4 star read.

I’m giving it 3 stars ultimately because it took a turn in the latter half that was a personal turn off for me. I think it was handled delicately and with the weight the situation deserved, it just wasn’t something I enjoyed reading about.

Some plot spoilers:
[Brett, one of the main characters in the book, is sexually abused throughout what seems to me to be childhood and adolescent years. It happens off page and nothing explicit or graphic is portrayed, but it’s a heavily persistent part of the narrative. (hide spoiler)]

Again, I want to state that I think it was handled appropriately, and not gratuitous, it just detracted from my personal enjoyment is all.

Trigger warnings: [Pedophilia, sexual and physical abuse, heavy homophobia. (hide spoiler)]

I would continue to read from Kiste.

How have I never read this author before? I was so enthralled by this story. Not one moment was wasted.

Combining science fiction with speculative horror, we get the one block area dubbed The Velkwood Vicinity, a neighborhood of normal people going about their normal lives. A fated night, the block shrouds itself behind a mysterious and deadly veil, permitting entrance to no one. The only souls this allows in are the three girls who escaped it all of those years ago.

Talitha, Brett, and Grace got out that night, leaving their families behind, now only ghosts like the rest of the inhabitants. Now, a researcher with serious funding wants to get them back there, in Velkwood. Talitha is the one who takes the bait... er, money and goes back to the place she tried to put behind her.

Determined to see her sister one more time, Talitha enters, hopefully getting answers once and for all as to why this happened. And it was fantastic!! The entire atmosphere of this book was creepy. This touches on alternate dimensions, glimpses into a cold, hard nature of scientific research, lost time, grief, and acceptance. The whole veiled block had a vibe like Camilla Sten's The Lost Village. It was the bond between the friend group that really did it for me though. Especially the connection between Brett and Talitha. It was more than just best friends who went through something unimaginable. The relationship between them was multi-faceted and very deep-rooted.

All in all, this was great and I recommend it.

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Haunting of Velkwood is a touching paranormal drama that left me wanting more! I rated this 3.5 stars and would recommend this to fans of Annihilation by VanderMeer, The Hollow Places by Kingfisher, and The Haunting of Hill House by Jackson!

Talitha has spent her life trying to run away from her past. Her childhood neighborhood, Velkwood, is the site of a paranormal event that trapped friends and family in a ghostlike state. When a friendly paranormal investigator comes into her life to try and get her to return to Velkwood, Talitha chooses to revisit the neighborhood, dragging herself and the two other women who also escaped from the neighborhood back into a world of ghosts and shadows.

My biggest issue with this novel is that it needed to be developed more. There was the groundwork for intriguing paranormal exploration and worldbuilding that wasn't fully realized. 100 more pages and some tighter editing would have turned this from a fun, vibe read to a truly exciting entry into the modern gothic genre. For a character-driven story, I wish the character development was a little more consistent across everyone. Certain characters could have benefited from more exploration.

Otherwise, the writing was generally tight, the vibe of the book was right up my alley, and I loved the slow-burn romance between two certain characters. A solid read and one that I will be recommending when it is published in March of 2024!

BOOK REPORT
Received a complimentary copy of The Haunting of Velkwood by Gwendolyn Kiste from S&S /Saga Press/NetGalley, for which I am appreciative, in exchange for a fair and honest review. Scroll past the BOOK REPORT section for a cut-and-paste of the DESCRIPTION of it from them if you want to read my thoughts on the book in the context of that summary.

I wish I could give this book 2.5 stars, because it was more than OK, but I didn’t really like how predictable it was, nor how the author didn’t _quite_ pull off either science fiction or magical realism, instead sort of pulsing the two in a You Can’t Go Home Again blender, with the result being a mostly bland smoothie with a little bit of grit in it.

I do think the story would translate well into a streaming series. And, in the end I decided The Haunting of Velkwood is worth 3 stars because it makes me want to read more by Gwendolyn Kiste.

DESCRIPTION
From Bram Stoker Award–winning author Gwendolyn Kiste comes a chilling novel about three childhood friends who miraculously survive the night everyone in their suburban hometown turned into ghosts—perfect for fans of Yellowjackets.

The Velkwood Vicinity was the topic of occult theorists, tabloid one-hour documentaries, and even some pseudo-scientific investigations as the block of homes disappeared behind a near-impenetrable veil that only three survivors could enter—and only one has in the past twenty years, until now.

Talitha Velkwood has avoided anything to do with the tragedy that took her mother and eight-year-old sister, drifting from one job to another, never settling anywhere or with anyone, feeling as trapped by her past as if she was still there in the small town she so desperately wanted to escape from. When a new researcher tracks her down and offers to pay her to come back to enter the vicinity, Talitha claims she’s just doing it for the money. Of all the crackpot theories over the years, no one has discovered what happened the night Talitha, her estranged, former best friend Brett, and Grace, escaped their homes twenty years ago. Will she finally get the answers she’s been looking for all these years, or is this just another dead end?

Award-winning author Gwendolyn Kiste has created a suburban ghost story about a small town that trapped three young women who must confront the past if they’re going to have a future.
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Advance Praise
"An eerie, poignant novel about guilt, shame, regret, and how the past can haunt us. One of the most original ghost stories you will ever read." —Rachel Harrison, national bestselling author of Cackle and Black Sheep

“From now on, when people ask me to define the current buzz-phrase ‘elevated horror,’ I’m going to point to Gwendolyn Kiste. A heart-wrenching story about how impossible it feels to escape the past, laden with sorrow, and secrets, and a dash of hope. I absolutely loved it.—Christopher Golden, New York Times bestselling author of Road of Bones and All Hallows

"Heartbreaking and hopeful, as compelling as it is chilling. A perfect modern ghost story."—Angela Slatter, award-winning author of The Path of Thorns

“A compelling read that reinvents the haunted house genre.” —A. C. Wise, author of Wendy Darling

I did not expect it to be this emotional when I got approved by Netgalley to get early access to this title. This was not just a horror story — it is a story with a big beating heart.

The four women of this story — Talitha, Brett, Grace and Enid — are all very relatable in their own ways. I love how the story makes us care for them, thereby making the story even more complex and nuanced. Deserves all the stars.

It's a story of haunting and ghosts that will touch your heart in more ways than one.

Talitha can never go home. Her neighborhood disappeared when she was in college and has been haunting her ever since. After she's approached by a paranormal investigator, she finds herself drawn back to her street and the ghosts that never left. I really liked the premise of this book. I thought it would be more like Skinamarink, liminal spaces, etc. but it was actually just a metaphor that was maybe too on the nose for me.

The Haunting of Velkwood is a unique ghost story! A mix of gothic, supernatural vibes but in a suburb. I really enjoyed that the haunting part was just a suburban street 😂 growing up in the burbs has its own horrors. This one reminded me of a very spooky Area X situation from Annihilation! I loved all the themes explored in it this one and highly recommend if you're looking for a very unique, and emotional ghost story. I do wish it was a little longer- the ending felt a bit rushed for me but overall it was great! 4.5

Thanks, netgalley for this arc!

This book dives deep into the feeling of grief and how people deal with their grief. Characters in the story all dealt with their grief in different ways, ultimately accepting their grief or living in it. The themes are heavy and emotional and will have you in your feels. The idea and plot are original and keeps your attention. Story is fast paced and packed with tension. I needed to know how the story finished and I was satisfied.

Kiste's Velkwood meets Stephen King's "The Dome"!! If you don't want to sleep tonight, start reading this book! From page one until the very end Kiste will keep you on the edge of your seat and, honestly, it's the best horror book I've read this year!!!

Three survivors of a tragedy return to their hometown to face the ghosts of their past. The (now) otherworldly town of Velkwood can only be visited by Talitha, her friends Grace and long time on again/off again lover Brett, who deal with a violent episode from their teen years while they’re monitored by a team of paranormal researchers.

Kiste always brings something fresh to ghost stories (just check out her 2017 novella PRETTY MARYS ALL IN A ROW), this time introducing us to spirits who themselves are haunted not only by their history but by their own neighborhood. Even stranger, these are ghosts who might not truly be dead. Dark malevolent presences are around every corner and enhance the phantasmagorical feel of this incredibly dark, surreal, but hopeful ride.

Those tired of standard ghost tales are in for a treat in Kiste’s take on loss, grief, and finding the strength to move forward.

Literary horror that reads like a speculative episode of twilight zone AND ghost hunters? Sign me up!

First, I’d like to thank Netgalley for the opportunity to read this arc. It is one of my most anticipated reads for 2024. This author is new to me, and after this I will definitely put her work higher on my tbr.

This book tells the story of a town that seemingly fell off the face of the earth. And as if that wasn’t enough, throw in the haunted family trope. Now, I use the word trope but I don’t mean it in a bad way. This was an interesting blend. This also read like an extension of twin peaks if that makes sense…..

_The Haunting of Velkwood_ by Gwendolyn Kiste is engrossing, character-centered, and dark. Talitha Velkwood and best friends Brett and Grace are the sole survivors of a paranormal tragedy that claimed their childhood neighborhood and those living there. They also are the only ones who can return to their home, and after twenty years, they must return to face their pasts and their secrets to save their loved ones and themselves. This read had me engrossed from the beginning.

This is a story of Talithia Velkwood who carries her fear and childhood trauma where ever she goes. It has influenced all of her decisions personal and professional. She has no close friends, leaving behind her Brett and Grace: two women who share much of the same experiences as she. Reluctantly, she agrees to return to Velkwood Vacinity (named after her family): a neighborhood that disappeared, people and all. Can this be the opportunity to confront her past and finally move on? Is it possible to make amends to those you’ve lost? Or, as Thomas Wolfe stated, can you never go home again?

Gwendolyne Kiste—a three-time Bram Stoker Award winner—creates an interesting premise: a ghost town filled with ghosts that only allows Talitha, Brett, and Grace to enter. The more they stay there, the more they feel the pull to stay; the ghosts needing them as much as they may need them. If they are able to confront what occurred to them twenty years ago, will it be a freeing experience, or will it suck them in, to replay the same day forever?

It is obvious that this is a story about confronting the ghosts of the past. Kiste reminds the reader often about the parallels between the women and the neighborhood; both stuck and stewing in their own juices. This reiteration was the one aspect of the book that I found to be tedious. Otherwise, it is a good—and short—book to read.

I would like to thank NetGalley and S&S/Saga Press for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Not your average haunting. Such a cool take on the haunting story mixed with a Twilight zone-esque twist.

I read Reluctant Immortals earlier in the year and really enjoyed the author’s take on two classic horror characters.

Gwendolyn Kiste is an author to watch, I think. She is trying different things while remaining true to the genre.

I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone looking for something a little unique! Thanks to NetGalley and Gwendolyn Kiste for the opportunity to read it. I have written this review voluntarily.

In Gwendolyn Kiste's chilling "The Haunting of Velkwood," whispers of the past creep through the cracks of the present, leaving a trail of unsettling truths. The Velkwood Vicinity, a once-ordinary suburban cul-de-sac, now stands shrouded in silence, its inhabitants forever trapped as ghostly echoes of their former lives. Twenty years ago, Talitha Velkwood, along with her two childhood friends, inexplicably escaped the nightmarish fate that engulfed their town. Now, haunted by memory and an overwhelming sense of loss, Talitha finds herself drawn back to the site of the tragedy, lured by the promise of answers and a chance to finally confront the demons of the place she once called home. You can't hold on to the past...but what if the past is holding on to you? Don't expect much in the way of answers or even a satisfactory sense of catharsis; that was not the path this author chose to take, and maybe that was the point-- and if so, I think that makes me love it even more.

3.5 rounded up There was a lot packed into this quick read: family secrets, violence, forbidden love, betrayal. These were all wrapped up in a unique, yet somehow fitting plot. Eerie!