thank you to netgalley for the opportunity to read the eARC.

i love horror and am always looking to read more of the genre, but i wish this book had more. i was interested in the beginning and began to slowly lose interest in the storyline that i was constantly looking to see if i was close to finishing the book.

it was a good read until it wasn’t. i wasn’t a big fan of the ending either. theo and flora were the only characters we got information on in the end, more flora than theo, when we followed several significant characters throughout the book. they kinda disappeared from the story, or just lost their relevancy (?), when it switched to flora.

The Eye of the Ouroboros was sent to me through NetGalley and the Publisher so thank you for a chance to read and review this ARC.

This book was a bit weird for me. The concept was interesting and the blurb on the book sounded promising - a woman looking for her long lost sister with a horror/supernatural/sci-fi premise. However, it felt a little choppy and there were parts I was (and still am) confused about. The Ouroboros itself was explained, but it felt like it wasn’t super well flushed out. The backstory of Theo and what happened to Flora all those years ago was glazed over, but never really explained. With those two crucial elements feeling absent, I had a hard time getting invested in the story.

Overall it was a fine read, and the author does do a good job of setting a scene - the woods, the wilderness was well depicted.

Eye of the Ouroboros was a carefully crafted sci-fi thriller that fans of X-Files and Fringe will love.

When I first started the book, I'll admit I didn't get immediately hooked. It felt more like a gritty true crime than the fantastical story the synopsis promised me. But I only had to keep reading, keep following the little tidbits of information, just like Theo, to get to the bottom of the unfolding mystery. Bontrager managed to balance the suspense and horror of the plot with the emotion and conflict of her characters, which, despite all the excitement and action, are the true heart of this book.

I'm not certain if Bontrager plans for this to be stand alone novel, or if she intends to dive back into the world of The Federal Bureau of Reality. But I'd love to delve back into this and its lovable characters and jaw-dropping worlds.

The Eye of Ouroboros follows our FMC, Theo, who is still grieving and dealing with the loss of her sister, Flora, that disappeared in the woods when they were children. Theo has taken up the role of park ranger in the woods that claimed her sister in the hope that one day she will find her again. Theo isn't your usual perfect heroine, in fact, she's messy, abuses alcohol and she's not even entirely likeable but this comes with the trauma of losing her sister and the parental neglect that she's suffered. All in all, she's a well-rounded and well-written lead.

Things really kick off when Theo starts discovering odd things in the woods such as a random staircase or a toilet cubicle suspended in the trees. Weird, right? The first 50% of the book is a spooky, cosmic horror taking place largely within the woods, which had be gripped throughout.

The second half goes more into sci-fi territory with more action and world-jumping. The concept was excellent anything around parallel worlds but I found myself a little lost at points between the worlds. Also, I couldn't picture the Ouroboros clearly — I wish we had some more of a backstory and history to it.

I also came away with a lot of unanswered questions but overall, I really enjoyed this book! I cannot believe that it was a debut too. I look forward to reading more from Melissa Bontrager.

This story was super creepy and unsettling! I loved that the characters were all very flawed, and found myself curious about what was coming next the entire time.

Eye of the Ouroboros

Rating :⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 stars.

Review: First, thank you Net Galley for allowing me to read this arc for an honest review. This book initially caught my eye because it seemed like a mystery and that is right up my alley! However, throughout the book I kept bouncing back and forth between wanting to read to see where it was going and then not really know how the plot got to where it was. I think this book had a lot of potential, but maybe it was just too short and was missing something for me.

I didn’t dislike it enough to DNF, but I’m not sure if I’d pick it up again had I known the full plot.

This is an absolutely epic book. It spans worlds. It stands astride realities. It enveloped me entirely as King and Barker books have previously and I am already missing the characters in it. I feel genuine loss having said good bye to them when I finished this.

Our protaganist, Theo (DO NOT call her Theodore) is a self loathing, hard drinking, straight talking badass park ranger who spends every waking hour of her life obsessivley seeking her sister, whom went missing in the woods as a child. And other people keep disappering in the same woods, and she manages to find lots of them as she continues her search for her sibling, but never her sister.

Strange things begin to unfold, incongruous objects turning up in the woods like staircases and toilet stalls and the pace increases as Theo keeps turning back the layers of her reality to unearth other realms and realities. It escalates with stand offs and battles - all read through winces, cheers and tears, depending on the outcomes.

Outlandish storylines delivered with absolute credibility make this a beauty to read. Characters are spot on (friends, family, exes, dog), with full buy in from me with all of them and the pace is fast and brutal at times. Deeply gratifying to read and I cannot wait for more!

Full marks and thank you to Megan Bontrager for her magnificent debut (REALLY? HOW?) novel and thank you to betGalley for the opportunity to read it. FIVE SHINY STARS!

**Thank you so much Quill & Crow Publishing House and Megan Bontrager for the arc! All words and thoughts in this review are my own honest opinion!**
Posted to: NetGalley, Goodreads, and The Storygraph
Posted on: 23 March 2024

3.6 (rounded up to 4) out of 5 stars.

Wow. The little girl in me who grew up reading those reddit search and rescue stories was *beyond* excited to read this! I mean, if I had the time to just sit with it, I really think I could’ve finished this in one sitting. I really wanted to and I think when my physical copy comes in, I may dedicate time to do just do that! There was just *something* about the way this read that made me devour it (as it devoured me- it was so hard to get this book out of my mind!)

The writing was pretty enjoyable. There were some bits where the details kind of went over my head, but I tend to read in inconvenient places and times (usually during my downtime at work or late at night before bed) so that could very well be the reason.
I also definitely noticed the complaint a few other readers noted on how the pacing was off, and I can agree. There were a few times where I had to read back a few pages to make sure that I hadn’t just glossed over something on accident. This leads into one of *my* desires for the book- I wish it had been longer! I loved the characters for the short time we have them, but I wish we would’ve had them for *longer*. Since the book is in Theo’s POV, I kind of feel like we miss out on some development opportunities (not saying the book had none because I grew to love the cast a lot). I was left wanting though, and I feel that if the book had been longer, some of the jumps with information and plot points could’ve also been better smoothed out. In my personal opinion though, I still throughly enjoyed the storyline we are given. I loved the mystery, the eeriness, and the creepy atmosphere with the Ouroboros and those involved.

There was something else that I noticed often while I read, and it’s the fact that the *vibes* of this read carry. Do you know when horror movies/video games have scenes that build tension over normal actions by playing eerie music in the background instead of giving much dialogue to explain what’s happening? That’s what this book felt like at times. I could practically *hear* the rising violin or the slow drags of dissonant notes before it abruptly cuts off. I could feel the unsettling air that Theo is thrown into. I’m not sure if that’s just the little me who read SARs stories making up music as I read, or if the prose itself allowed for this space to be created- whatever the answer, I loved loved loved it!

I have a few scattered notes I took as I read that don’t quite fit with my aforementioned thoughts above, so I’ll dump them here rapid-fire style:
- The action that happens in the story hits as it’s happening- if that makes sense. The setting is already building up on eeriness and dread, that feeling like you know something is gonna happen but you don’t know *when*. But you also don’t really expect what will happen until you’re suddenly thrown into the scene.
- This book consumed me. It became a fan-favorite *fast* for the fact that I love this genre of horror. I’m a big fan of the Kids on Bikes TTRPG game ‘Kollok 1991’ and this gave very similar vibes! And if I haven’t stated it enough, I loved SARs stories growing up. This was everything I forgot I loved wrapped into one with a door leading straight into the thick of it (get it? Doors are kinda problematic around here- I’ll see myself out now…)
- I feel like this was horror in that it was creepy, but not too scary? It has some gore though, wonderfully done action scenes IMO that I could almost see when I sat down and focused on reading. I really would say that this is great for people who don’t like to get scared but kind of want a nice little chiller.
- Sometimes the characters grated me by how they acted? Theo has some development, but she says stuff that kinda contradicts? An example- she mentions that a conspiracy theorist isn’t really a bad thing because it means somebody out there is ‘crazier than her’ and also means she’s ’not alone in her belief’. But another scene further in, she uses ‘conspiracist/conspiracy theorist’ as an insult/thinks of them insultingly. It’s little things like this, but I feel like it’s just showing how Theo grows along the way too. Her thoughts do kinda change later/she eventually learns to work with different people. I think it’s the fact that Theo is tough to love at first (but man does she fight her way into your heart by the end)

Phew- didn’t mean to write near an essay about this book, so I’ll leave it with one final thing:
The ending was nice! It had enough closure to make me feel content with things, but was also open enough that I’d almost love and continuation somehow? I really did just enjoy this read so much! It was lacking in some parts as I mentioned above, but overall I loved the energy it brought. I can’t wait to make the time to just- sit and let this book consume me all over again once my preorder comes in!

Not what I was expecting, it immediately sucks you In, creepy and foreboding, a wild ride that made me a little dizzy.
Confusing without clear distinction on changes in time, location or what’s happening, I spent most of the book wondering what on earth was going on. A little too unbelievably scifi for me, paranormal investigations, parallel dimensions, FBI agents of reality.. conspiracy theorists and lots of messy action.

I really like Theo, the other characters, and the premise but it’s just too wacky for me, I want more logic and to understand how it all works.
It’s well written and intriguing but I didn’t love it, I wanted a better resolution, this felt sad and unsatisfying

At its core, Eye of the Ouroboros is an emotional journey about relationships, and the lengths we'll go for the ones we love. Theo, our deeply flawed and relatable main character, is willing to leap through tears in the fabric of reality if it means a chance at finding her missing sister, Flora. Theo's lifetime best friend Quinn and ex-girlfriend Delilah tag along for the wild ride, giving us a deeper look into Theo's life and the few relationships she's been able to maintain between her obsessive search for Flora, work as a park ranger, broken ties with her parents, and drinking habit.

Bontrager's writing is rich and descriptive, even if the world building left me a bit confused at times. There are still some questions I'd love answers to, but I think that was by design- the narrative seems to purposefully keep you guessing, right up through the end. Eye of the Ouroboros is as heartbreaking as it is heartwarming, and definitely one I'd recommend if you're looking for an emotional, queer, horror/sci-fi read.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book!

4.5/5 stars rounded up!!!

I am fairly new to ARC's (as in this is my first one) so I started this book with no expectations and boy was I impressed with this! The cover and the premise of the book already enthralled me, a sapphic cosmic horror thriller? Sign me up. It starts off with a bang immediately hooking me as a reader and it didn't slow down from there. This book is just insane omg. The prose, the writing, the character dynamics... I could go on, but I am afraid of spoiling so I won't lol.

If I were to compare this work to anything it would be a love child of Stranger Things, Ocean's Eleven, and into the Spider-Verse!!

Again this was such a good read I will definitely be thinking about the plot and characters of this book for a while!

A perfectly creepy and creative horror story. You’ll think about this book every time you go in the woods for a long time. Love the main character, the representation, and the twists and turns.

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review

I like this book, the premise was great, but I feel like it was a little clunky in the pacing. I love reading horror and this was spooky but not unaccessable to people who may be new to the genre.

Thank you Quill & Crow Publishing House, the author and NetGalley for making this ARC available!

"Each time, I arrived with low expectations. Each time, I left drunk and disappointed, wondering why I'd bothered in the first place."

That was definitely not my opinion of this book!

I loved this book. At first I had no idea what to expect, as it felt more like a murder mystery when I read the synopsis. Theodora 'Theo' Buchanan, a troubled park ranger, lost her sister to the woods of Mill Creek, West Virginia. She knows that her sister is still out there, and never stopped looking for her. She stumbles upon secrets bigger than life in the search for her younger sister, and lord is it a rollercoaster if I've ever seen one. In all the right ways!

The story kicks off with a character that is riddled with guilt, and has a troubled relationship with her family who blames her for her sister's disappearance. Her family aren't the only ones that blame her for it, as she never ceases to chastise herself for not having found her sister, despite working for the search and rescue team for the local park rangers.

I clicked with Theo the moment I picked up the book. She feels vibrant, real and rough around the edges that only someone who has lost so much and who carries such guilt could ever accurately portray, and I loved the banter she and Quinn had from the start. Theo reads like someone searching for redemption, the truth, and you root for her as the story goes on and she gets carried into the forest and beyond. For me, the fact that Theo was a character that I could heavily relate to (including the parts with her family, my poor heart) made the book an immediate 4 star, and that was before the plot even started developing further.

As the chapters advanced, and I found out more about the Ouroboros, learned more about Theo, and the found family she surrounded herself with, I really found myself rooting for her. Rooting for her to be happy. I really wanted her to thrive in the face of adversity, despite what she had already been facing, and that made the story really compelling to me

That made certain scenes in the rest of the book really emotional, and I found myself tearing up at several occasions.

Honestly, I loved this, there is no other way to say it. The author did a phenomenal job making such tangible characters, characters that didn't feel like they were there just to advance the plot, in such a small time. The worldbuilding, the plot, the fighting and the whole story coming full circle really just touched me, and I am really excited to purchase the physical book for this when it comes out, because it was a definite win for me!

It comes out on April 15 2024, and if you aren't scared of a little gore, please do pick this up!

Thanks to Quill and Crow Publishing House for making Eye of the Ouroboros by Megan Bontrager available as an ARC on Netgalley.

In Eye of the Ouroboros, Theo has dedicated herself to searching for and rescuing those who have gone missing in the woods that claimed her sister as a child. While her life falls apart around her as she struggles with the strain of not being able to find her, she starts to experience increasingly strange things, both at work and at home. With the help of her best friend Quinn, her ex-girlfriend Delilah, a conspiracy theorist named Wesley and his informant, Roman, Theo will find that the world is a much bigger and scarier place than she could have realised; and the woods aren't the only thing watching her from the shadows.

To start with the positives: Megan Bontrager is a great writer. Not only was her prose rich and compelling, but she did a really great job of defining most of her characters in no time at all. The core group in particular are not only outlined as individuals, but their inter-group dynamics are well-established as well.

The world that these characters inhabit is also fleshed out really well, and there are some genuinely spooky moments when things start to take a turn.

There is, however, a weird tonal shift from about the 54% to 70% mark, where we go from a paranormal story to what's essentially a heist story. This didn't completely lose me, but it definitely didn't keep me as engaged as what came before and after. I'd also argue that the 70% mark is the emotional peak of the book, with what comes after not having the same impact despite being narratively appropriate.

I also found the Big Bad to be a bit hollow when compared to the other characters, which was a bit disappointing. Not because what we get is bad, but because it doesn't live up to the standard set by the rest of the writing.

All that said and done, I'm glad I read this; and if there were to be a sequel, I'd definitely pick it up. I'd like more time in this world.

Rating: 4/5

Eye of the Ouroboros will be available from the 15th of April, 2024.

Unfortunately I didn't love this, and wish I had more positive things to say. This felt like a mash-up of the videogame "Control" and the show Fringe with a dash of Lovecraftian mythology - - that could be good! I have enjoyed some, or all, of those things! But the tight intro( first 20% or so) just gave way to too much hand waving, as we were introduced to the bigger scope. I really enjoyed the initial set up and the pacing, there were some spooky moments - those were eventually traded for some generic feeling action beats, with a heist and some bigger set pieces. But the escalating stakes just felt strange to me and I couldn't really seem to care (and nor could our main character! Who never once deviated from her chosen objective!)

There kept being moments where the text ackowged something miraculous or unfeasible by just saying 'and somehow x did y!' Maybe this one just needs another round of editing to tighten up those bits? Who knows.

Eye of the Ouroboros by Megan Bontrager

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

This novel is an interesting mix of horror and sci-fi (I don’t usually read horror and I was fine it’s not too scary in my opinion if you’re concerned). There’s a haunted wood, the multiverse, creepy dog human hybrid creatures, and a heist. Trust me when I say this book probably isn’t going where you think it is.

While I loved the beginning around 60% the plot started getting a little more convoluted. It was still good but felt like a different book. There was much less horror and much more sci-fi. It sort of felt like half way through there was a genre change. Once I got used to it I was able to enjoy the second half!

I do feel like the ending was incomplete but I feel like that was probably intentional. The world and plot were really interesting and I loved getting to learn about the government like organization in charge of everything. It was interesting and easy to read but fair warning it’s pretty dark at parts and definitely retains some horror qualities throughout the book.

I would definitely recommend this if you enjoy both horror and sci-fi.

Thank you @netgalley for this ARC! Out April 15th, 2024.

First of all thank you NetGalley, Megan Bontrager and Quill & Crow for ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Theo Buchanan’s sister goes missing in the woods and she feels to blame. She makes her life’s mission to find missing people to make up for the one she never found, her sister Flora. Weird happenings start occurring leading Theo into a search for answers. With the help of her friends she finds herself in the middle of the mystery of the Ouroboros.

The Eye of the Ouroboros, is not my typical read. I gave it a chance because I was pulled in by the description. That being said it was really hard for me to get through. The writing is very choppy I felt like I was rereading a lot trying to see if I missed something. That detracted from the storyline to me. The horror parts did make me feel a little unhinged I didn’t want to read it while alone or after dark.

The storyline and plot has so much potential. That’s why I kept going until completing the novel. I was happy with how things ended. Even if I was confused about a lot because of the choppiness, the story at the heart of it was really good.

I wasn’t super fond of the MC she came across very selfish and half hazard. She did a lot of careless things and no one batted an eye except maybe her mom (I will touch on that in a minute). She is an alcoholic, there is no good reason for anyone to go to work with a flask or go off in search of people while drunk. That made me feel very disconnected from her plight, even if I understand some of her motives for it. Now on to her mother- she is toxic as hell. There is not a moment in the book I thought kindly of the mother, so no wonder the MC drinks! Major thumbs down to the dad for just letting it all happen. Their behavior towards the MC really pulled me out of the story. I understand survivors guilt but they did nothing to support their daughter.

I gave it 3 stars for the storyline, I took 2 away from the book because the lack of connection with the MC, and the choppiness.

I would like to extend my extreme gratitude and thanks to Megan Bontrager, the publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to read an ARC of "Eye of the Ouroboros."

I knew within the first few chapters of this book that I was in for a wild ride. I was swept away into this eerie and mysterious world that had me on my seat, and saying “just one more chapter.” Bontrager’s imagery and the haunting atmosphere she created had me absolutely hooked. The first half of the book was riddled with mysteries and creepy encounters that I really wish continued on in the second half of the book.

I loved the characters in the book, and I thought they were written very well. I specifically thought the relationship between Theo and her mom was something so raw and real, although heartbreaking.

“Mother tended the hope that Flora would one day emerge from the woods like a moonflower. It never bloomed, as moonflowers so rarely did. But she cut away the brambles, tilled the soil, and watered the roots. I was a weed.”

I was honestly surprised at the choice Theo made at the end, and it has me trying to wrap my head around whether or not it was the “right” choice.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I’m hoping that this story will continue on! There were so many different things and places that were introduced in this book that I would love a deeper explanation on. The world itself was absolutely fascinating and there can be so much more we can explore!

It was intriguing. I can't say I loved it but the amount of creativity and mind-fuckery impressed me :) Anyway, a good book.