I thoroughly enjoyed this! From the first page I was completely sucked in, and so invested in what was happening with Talitha and the residents of Velkwood Street.
I thought the atmosphere was so rich it was oozing off the page and kept me in constant suspense about what happened to Velkwood Street and its poor residents. At least all but the three that escaped, and it seems it's up to them to work together to put things right. I loved Talitha and would have loved even more of Edith, she was a super intriguing character. The whole random street being turned into a ghost town in the middle of small-town America scratched an itch I didn't even know I had. I loved how it played out from beginning to end, and this is one that I will read again.

This is my first book by this author, and it won't be the last, I'll be checking out her other books!

The Haunting of Velkwood is a supernatural thriller about love, loss, and the ghosts of our pasts and I could not put it down. I love stories that revolve around a creepy boundary, similar to a scifi favorite Annihilation, so the second the lore of Velkwood Street was explained, I was locked in. The pacing was solid and I could see this unfolding clearly in my mind. Definitely a story that could very easily be adapted for the screen - very clear visuals throughout. My only complaint is that I wish the side characters like Jack and Grace were fleshed out a bit more, but I understand why they weren’t in order to keep the focus of the story. I also wanted more of Enid but I think that’s a mark of a good story that I was so interested in the world and characters that I crave more. The twists didn’t exactly take my breath away or scare me as much as I hoped, but I think it was the right amount of intrigue and eerieness to satisfy a reader looking for a thriller like this! Thank you so much for the opportunity to read!

An original and compelling take on the traditional ghost story, with the added bonuses of a sapphic romance and an account of friendship that provides power and agency to women. Kiste takes on abuse and poverty, suburban sprawl, intolerance, love, fear, and trauma in this novel that begins like the X-Files or Ghost Hunters and ends with beauty and care. In the course of a single night, a neighborhood becomes a ghost, an area that few can enter, a location where time moves differently, where people and events replay themselves until the three women who escaped on the night in question return to put things to rights and to rest.

Thank you to NetGalley and Saga Press for this ARC! I read Reluctant Immortals by Gwendolyn last year and I loved it so when I saw a new release by her I jumped at the chance to read it.

The Haunting of Velkwood is an interesting take on a ghost story that I really enjoyed. It was a perfect mesh of sci fi and paranormal that was easy to follow.

I would definitely recommend to fans of grief horror and ghosts!

This book crafted a unique spin on a haunting, where the ones with unfinished business are the survivors, not the ghosts. I thought it had a little too much angst for me, and while some of the characters are fully formed, others feel like they are just there to motivate or confuse the 'real' characters. I wanted more about Enid and the other people on the street! All in all, a good read that does something new.

Gwendolyn Kiste's "The Haunting of Velkwood" invites readers into a realm where ghosts are not just apparitions but integral to one small neighborhood's entire fabric.

Talitha's home and her entire neighborhood just disappeared one day — along with everyone in it. Years later, Talitha desperately wants to forget everything that happened in Velkwood, but she also cannot let go knowing her sister may still be there stuck eternally in what was once her home. Then, she's offered a chance to return home and maybe find some answers.

"The Haunting of Velkwood" is a beautiful gothic novel set in a suburban neighborhood. The premise itself is so compelling. I hesitate to say much more because this is a book best gone into blindly. Kiste's writing is lyrical as she delves into secrets from the past and the way we carry our trauma throughout our lives.

Thank you to the author, NetGalley and Saga Press for the advance copy!

A twisted tale of a haunted neighborhood and the 3 girls who are harboring the secret to the haunting. Original.

I really enjoyed this book. It almost had a juvenile vibe to it but I am really glad that I read it and I would definitely recommend it if you like horror, gothic, paranormal, ghost or any of those sort of books. I would definitely read it again.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for allowing me to read this book. I was not paid for my review and this is my honest review.

I had a bit of a difficult time connecting with the characters. This is different than your usual ghost story. It is a creepy, slow burn that will keep you turning pages. If you enjoy gothic stories and the paranormal be sure to give this book a try. A town that fell off the face of the earth. Thank you to NetGalley and Saga Press Books for an e-ARC copy of the book.
3.5 stars rounded up

A different type of childhood trauma story. A strange occurrence altered the lives of three girls in very different ways. This book brings a whole new meaning to returning home to face your trauma. This is a great eerie read and would be perfect for someone looking for a not too scary horror read.

I really wanted to love this one. A town that mysteriously disappeared and can only be accessed by the three survivors.

I had a hard time connecting with Talitha as a MC. I appreciated the different emotional topics the novel covered. It’s definitely a heavy read that tackles volatile family ties and how different opinions, especially when they clash with who you are as a person. It was all handled delicately without shying away from showing what some people grow up with and how it shapes them.

I think had the book followed a different character I would’ve enjoyed it more. They had a very interesting tie in and I would’ve loved to explore the how and why of it all a little more. It would've entirely changed the story possibly but it would have been a lot of fun. I get why Talitha wanted what she did but for whatever reason it just didn’t hit home for me.

The horror aspects themselves were very well done. They felt cinematic and built this very creepy atmosphere I couldn’t get enough of.

This is probably one of those not for me books, honestly. I think it’s worth giving a shot if you liked this author’s previous novel (which I still plan on reading at some point.)

The Haunting Of Velkwood completely sunk its hooks into me, almost immediately. I laid down for my nighttime reading, planning to read for 15 minutes and ended up finishing this entire book. I couldn’t go to sleep without finding out what happened next.

I absolutely loved how unique this book was and the take on a “haunted town.” I got some Under The Dome vibes from this one, but way scarier. Kiste definitely knows how to keep readers on their toes, and I will be looking out for more from this author.

My absolute favorite part of this book was the character development. I can’t believe the depth of almost every single character in this book in under 256 pages. Kiste explores grief, love & longing, nostalgia, and why we can’t always go home.

Preorder this book now if you love horror, strong characters, amazing pacing, and haunting!

**Thank you to NetGalley and Saga Press Books for the eARC of this amazing title!**

Eh! This was okay! I kept waiting for something to happen but it just never did - very underwhelming! The concept had so much potential in my opinion, but it just fell flat. The characters were interesting enough to keep my attention throughout but other than that, I don’t have a lot of good to say.

Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this early copy!

Twenty years ago, Talitha, Brett, and Gracie left their homes on Velkwood Street for the last time — hours later, the whole street disappeared... kind of. The Velkwood Vicinity, as it became to be called by paranormal armchair experts, was encapsulated in a paranormal bubble that killed anyone who tried to get in (even photography drones only survived for a few minutes) and only sporadically showed the homes of those inside (kind of like a ghostly Brigadoon). But a new researcher believes that Talitha and her friends can get inside, and is hoping he can convince them to explore the mysterious phenomenon. When Talitha reluctantly agrees, she unearths parts of her past that she never wanted to dig up.

This is a really fascinating idea for a story — the neighborhood itself is haunting the people who lived there and the nearby town — and the themes of running from the past and dealing with childhood trauma are perfect for exploration in a horror novel. However, the execution just isn't there for this book. It's a bit nebulous and not quite as scary as I think Kiste wants it to be, and while the researchers are intentionally anonymous, they come across as bland and boring rather than anonymously intimidating (which I suspect is what Kiste was going for). All in all, good idea, bad execution.

When I first read the description of this one, I was so intrigued. It sounded so unique and weird, and I knew I needed to read it. This is a paranormal ghost story unlike any I have ever read. If you are a fan of gothic and eerie tales, you will want to pick this one up!

The story follows Talitha, a woman tormented by memory and those she left behind. Oh, and her neighborhood just one day kind of disappeared but is still there with all of her family and neighbors left behind as sort of ghosts. But only she and her two friends who lived on her street were able to enter. The story is a mystery as to what happened to Velkwood as researchers use Talitha to study the neighborhood. But it is so much more than that. This is a story about memory, family, how our pasts can haunt us, and the idea of our neighbors turning their heads to anything remotely difficult. Velkwood is unique in what happens to it, but it is also just any street in the U.S. where neighbors go about their own lives, trying not to interfere in each other’s lives even when harsh realities are staring them right in the face.

This book is emotionally devastating at parts and really delves into familial relationships, first loves, and finding a way out of our past trauma really well. The relationships feel real, and I love the complicated love story really at the heart of this story between Talitha and Brett. The ending was gothically beautiful and will stick with me for some time to come. This is a slow burn story that is really rewarding if you savor it and give it the time it deserves.

I first fell in love with Gwendolyn Kiste's writing when I picked up the Rust Maidens, a beautiful body horror, suburban gothic story set in the rust belt. The Haunting of Velkwood felt like a spiritual sibling to the Rust Maidens in the best way. Suburban gothic playing with liminal space and trauma in a way that is perfect for fans of Yellowjackets and stories of complex characters coming to terms with traumatic events in their past.

Talitha Velkwood and two of her childhood friends, Brett and Grace, survived the night their entire neighborhood turned into ghosts. Their families gone and their entire neighborhood barely visible from the rest of town and no one can get in to this ghost town except those who were from there. Some big Twilight Zone vibes! 20 years later, Talitha is drawn back to Velkwood Street to find answers as to what happened to her family, particularly her little sister. There are secrets abound - what happened on Velkwood Street that made it disappear?

So, I loved this novel. Kiste’s prose is beautiful, contemplative, and moves both plot and character forward in an effective way. She layers reveals at the end of each chapter that feels earned and not forced like how many twists/reveals can feel.

This book tackles some very emotional subject matter including the past, how the past affects us, and how it can draw you in to a cycle of repetition. There are heavy themes of grief and letting go. Lost love, old friendships, and the way friendships change over time and distance. You might get misty eyed reading this one. It is a beautiful and fresh take on a haunting novel. If you enjoy those sort of books that will get you in the heartstrings, pick this book up when it releases on March 5th!

Thank you to Saga Press and NetGalley for the advanced galley in exchange for an honest review.

First and foremost, a HUGE thank you to the folks at NetGalley and Saga Press for the eARC!

A convergence of the past and present, Gwendolyn Kiste’s latest novel, The Haunting of Velkwood begs the question, “What does it mean to be a ghost?” Of course, the textbook answer to this question stems from the image of a literal specter, an apparition from the past that follows one around. More importantly, ghosts are the manifestations of reminders, the physical entity that does not let you forget the past. With this story, Kiste proves ghosts can take many shapes and forms, maybe even your own self.

The subdivision now known as The Velkwood Vicinity has stood “vacant” for years behind some unknown force that keeps the general public out. However, previous childhood residents Talitha, Brett, and Grace seem to be the only living people able to cross its threshold, for what reason, we aren’t sure. There’s a lot to be understood about this strange occurrence, the formation of such a barrier twenty years ago that has seemingly preserved this neighborhood in metaphorical amber. Enter the slew of researchers who are desperate for answers and are willing to approach Talitha and crew for help. Despite all the years she has spent avoiding her childhood residence, Talitha decides to take this research crew up on their offer and re-enter Velkwood. What she finds is something no one can predict, something quite haunting.

While this is the first work of Kiste’s I’ve read, I can easily say it will not be the last. Her prose carried an air of effortless elegance as I found myself stopping to reread lines again and again. The talent in her writing alone stole my attention only for her very genuine characterization to steal the show. Talitha is a very relatable character in the sense that she desperately wants to leave the past in the past when we first meet her. She doesn’t come across as someone who wants to rock the proverbial boat, yet she decides to face the music anyway. In doing so, we learn so much more about not only Talitha, but the people of Velkwood, those she regards warmly and those she does not.

There’s a certain brilliance in Kiste’s approach to handling the strangeness of The Velkwood Vicinity and the great idea it stands to represent: confines. While the neighborhood has literally been off-limits to many for years, even on the inside, the life Talitha and her friends knew as children was defined by what was considered acceptable. The unspoken (and sometimes spoken) levels of judgement, expectations, and farces typically associated with the suburbs reigned supreme in Velkwood, leaving plenty of room for hidden secrets, trauma, and darkness. While modern horror fiction has been ripe with new takes on haunted houses, Kiste’s exploration into a haunted neighborhood is largely original and markedly creative. The juxtaposition of such a setting as the ideal neighborhood of Velkwood to the dark truths that fuel the veil separating this world from ours was a perfect personification of the barrier that descended years ago. This is a story that taps into what it really feels like to be labeled as “other” within a supposed picturesque setting, the deeper experience of yearning to break free of the confines set around you.

Most impressively, Kiste accurately depicts how it feels to grow as a teenage girl into adulthood from the complexities of relationships, finding who you truly are, and the decision to embrace authenticity in the face of rejection. The Yellowjackets comp for this book is very legitimate for these reasons as both stories encapsulate the struggles of growing as a woman. We can also talk about the immaculate early 2000s vibes this story manages to harness (I LIVED for that “Ode To My Family” literary needle drop). Not only do we read about Talitha, Grace, and Brett’s experience related to Velkwood as adults, but we also spend a sizeable time in the past working to understand just how the hell we ended up here. How do you end up haunted by your former self, your former home?

The Haunting of Velkwood succeeds in numerous ways, but most of all, it triumphs in telling a story characterized by heart and acceptance. On a very surface level, this novel reads like an episode of The X Files full of eerie paranormal happenings and a firm desire to get to the bottom of what’s causing this veil to exist around Velkwood. On a much deeper level, Gwendolyn Kiste has crafted a story that details the confines of expectations, a reckoning with (what feels like) a sentient childhood, and most importantly the decision to embrace authenticity in the face of rejection.

The Haunting of Velkwood by Gwendolyn Kiste releases on March 5, 2024 from Saga Press.

The Haunting of Velkwood follows Talitha, a directionless woman who has never really recovered from her traumatic past. When she was in college, her neighborhood and everyone in it disappeared. The only ones who escaped were Talitha and her two friends, Brett and Grace. The book picks up when Talitha agrees to accompany researchers back to her home to see if she can journey into the disappeared zone and find definitive answers about what happened.

The good: Gwendolyn Kiste has an accomplished prose style and Talitha is an interesting character. The premise of the novel is fantastic and the focus on dying suburbia is rich with subtext. There is some really lovely queer rep in this book.

Unfortunately, this one never really clicked for me. If I had to describe the book in one word, it would be languid. Everything (no matter how exciting it should be) seemed to move at the pace of a fever dream. While I was in the narrative, I followed the plot easily enough, but after finishing the dream logic seemed to evaporate, leaving me with a lot of questions about the whys of some of the novel’s big mysteries. I wanted to understand more about the mechanics of what happened, and I also wanted to know more about Enid and Grace.

I will definitely try another novel from Kiste, and this one might be right up someone else’s alley—it just wasn’t for me!

Thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for an early copy of this book.

Big thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for the chance to review this book pre-release. The Haunting of Velkwood was a great read, and I loved the fact that I had no idea what was going to happen next, it was so unpredictable in the best way, exactly how you want your suspense books to be. A formal review will be available on my IG/TikTok and Goodreads.