Really enjoyed this one! I was worried it would be more of a human horrors book with the setting of the reform camp. But luckily while child abuse is absolutely mentioned, there’s not a ton of graphic abuse or anything.

It’s a slow burn but I felt the pacing was well done and the buildup to the end really allowed the tension to grow. I enjoyed all the main boys and found the story to be well written and enjoyable. I do wish the folklore aspect had been delved into a bit more, but that’s more because it caught my interest more than anything else.

This is my first novel by the Query brothers, but definitely won’t be my last.

I received an advance review copy for free from NetGalley and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I thought this was a great and spooky read. I also found it very relevant given the controversy that has been coming out lately in regard to wilderness "therapy" camps.

You know going into this book that you're getting into some creepy woods horror, which Matt and Harrison Query have perfected. What I personally didn't expect was what this book is ultimately about!! It was so much more than I was expecting and Oh My Goodness was it epic!

Ben is sent to a wilderness reform program when a bout of trouble lands him in front of a judge. Leaving behind his little brother in the care of an abusive aunt, Ben is scared to go. His worry is solidified even more when it immediately becomes clear that there is something OFF with the camp counselors. Their chipper, upbeat attitudes are off-putting, setting Ben on edge before his sentence even starts.

During his stay, he meets other boys raised in similar upbringings, with similar life scars, and a small group of them have to work together when the very real danger they are surrounded by becomes glaringly more and more apparent. Through some warnings from previous campers, and through Ben's own experiences, we get this horror unfolding in the most intense way. I loved Ben as a protagonist! He was fierce and intelligent, never shying away from the truths that others don't want to see. When you start to really pick up what is going on, the action doesn't stop.

Matt and Harrison Query have this unique ability to pace stories in the most perfect way. I was on edge from the start, experiencing the whole time, that something was off. Little by little, the pace ratchets up, combining psychological and supernatural horror in the most awe inspiring blend. I absolutely loved this book. The vibes alone deserve a five star!