Rating 3.5 rounded up to 4

Thank you to NetGalley and Quill and Crow for this ARC.

I was drawn to this book for its unique mix of wilderness horror and science fiction. There were parts I loved and parts I could've done without.

Firstly, I loved the dynamic between the core group of characters: park ranger/elder sister, loyal best friend, journalist love-interest, bureau agent, and conspiracy theorist. It felt original and fun. I also loved the hybrid human/hound characters. I found them incredibly eerie. Lastly, I found the end deeply satisfying. Though it was sad, it felt realistic and true to the story/characters.

While I enjoyed the world-building and the details provided about the Bureau of Reality, I think the story would have benefited from spending a little more time expanding on these elements. I found myself confused at times and as a result, I had to go back to re-read sections to make sure I didn't miss any explanation. I also felt that Theo's monologues droned on and became repetitive slowing the book down.

Overall, this was a great read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Quill and Crow for the eARC of Eye of the Ouroboros!

4.5 stars rounded up. I loved a lot of things about this book. A lot of things bugged me about it too, but ultimately the fast-pacing and high action saved the day for me, making this an enjoyable read even if the author made a few questionable choices.

Have you ever read a book where you feel like nothing happens, especially in the first half? Well, this is not that book. The book starts off with a bang with the MC, Theo, finding a girl who emerges from the woods missing three toes, and it never really lets up. Bontrager does a good job of introducing to Theo and her life while keeping the story moving at a healthy clip. She starts throwing weird stuff at us pretty early on - portals and inhuman hounds and weird monsters - some of which were a little too random for my taste, but they kept things interesting. The pacing is basically fantastic throughout and is some of the best I've read in the last few months. I can't really think of a single part where the story drags or any chapters that feel like filler.

Plenty of readers will probably find Theo unlikeable, but overall I enjoyed her and thought her flaws were interesting rather than off-putting. The author makes a few weird decisions with Theo - she does a ton of hating on nerds and at one point fat shames a character multiple times, which make her feel bizarrely like a 90's villain, a choice that felt totally baffling and out of place. Theo's alcoholism is treated more like a joke than a character flaw, and is never resolved in a satisfying way. But ultimately I like flawed characters and Theo worked for me. I also really enjoyed her relationship with her ex, and thought the few romance scenes were touching and well-done.

The weakest parts of this for me were the larger world building. A lot of elements seemed like they were lifted directly from the video game Control. An other-worldly corridor of doors with an ominous ringing telephone, two pyramids touching at their apex, a Federal Bureau designed to contain weird phenomenon across the country, a weird hidden office that gets ransacked by monsters, freaking Objects of Power - all of these are extremely similar to the video game. I'm not sure it quite crosses to the level of plagiarism, but I found it very distracting every time one of these borrowed elements would pop up. Sato, the villain, is original, but sadly doesn't feel fully fleshed out. I understood his motivations, but never figured out what his actual plan was or how it works. As a result he felt underdeveloped and at times a bit campy when he appeared on page.

Also, this is relatively minor thing in the scheme of the book, so it didn't affect my overall review, but it drive me crazy: at one point, the MC accidentally does something that destroys an entire reality, murdering trillions of people as the reality collapses. She feels guilty about it for literally 5 seconds and THEN NEVER THINKS ABOUT IT AGAIN. Particularly rich because she tells the villain over and over again how evil he is for destroying other people's realities. This is really only 2-3 pages of the book, so it could have easily been cut out of the story. I'm not sure I understand why the author decided to include this - it just makes the MC seem like a sociopath.

Ultimately though, these issues didn't really distract me enough to stop me from enjoying the book, the pacing, the action scenes, and the atmosphere. The ending is also fantastic and really sad and beautiful - it was easily my favorite part of the book and it's great to see a story finish so strong.

Overall, if you like flawed female characters, creepy forests, parallel realities and horror with lots of action, definitely give this book a go.

I’ve always been morbidly curious about disappearances in national parks. I know people go missing or are murdered literally everywhere, but something about the mysterious circumstances in the wilderness. I’ve read a lot of books on the topic, but a lot of them skew towards bigfoot conspiracies. This isn’t that.

I admittedly skimmed a bit of Theo’s internal monologue, because she was a bit repetitive and tedious at times. The story picked up quite a bit after the halfway mark when they started to interact with the FBR a bit more.

There were parts of this story that I was actively questioning WTF I was reading. It takes a while to reveal what happened to Flora and what the thing in the woods even is. Things became less spooky as the story progressed. I think the first chapter with the little girl was probably the creepiest part, because I just didn’t know what was going to come out of the woods.

The relationship between Theo and Quinn was so incredibly precious. Their friendship made me nervous, because it felt too good to last. I loved Quinn. The way their story ended was satisfying. Bear was also very important obviously, but I feel like he got left out after a certain point. I need to know he was well cared for! Roman was an interesting character, and I wish we’d gotten more from him.

I’m left with more questions than answers, and I have a feeling this one will stick in my brain for a bit.

I wanted to love this book, I really did, but it was such a struggle to make it through.

It has all the elements that I love- mystery, horror, alternate realities but the characters are so utterly unlikable that it just ruined what the book was at its core.

I have spent time in the Monongahela National Forest and am a lifelong resident of WV where this book takes place. The book doesn’t feel like home, it’s like a stranger writing about a place that they have never been.

I also really disliked the way the author talked about Theo’s obvious alcoholism, like it was an inside joke that she only had with herself. She did a major disservice to the main character, and one of the biggest reasons this book was a chore to finish.

I just couldn’t get passed this clunky story that at times I was going back multiple pages to see if I missed something because it was leaping all over the place.

The story has promise, but needed another major
round of editing before being published.

Personally I found this book off-putting and I didn’t enjoy reading it.

I was interested in the whole “conspiracy theories and things that go bump in the dark” vibe but ultimately this book was too overwhelming for me to get into. There was really no easing into the story, in fact I felt anxious and sad from the first page.

I found the character development lackluster; many of them half baked, all of them unlikeable.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me an e-arc in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed the concept of this book. I do admittedly enjoy any folklore about things that exist that shouldn't like doors in the woods. I also enjoyed the setting and found myself wincing at some of the descriptions throughout this book.

I did notice the use of the phrase "padded" a lot. And I did feel like the book dipped a little during the last 20%. I did definitely enjoy this book overall though! I would recommend this to others!

Actual rating: 3.5*

Theo is determined to find her lost sister, Flora, who vanished in the mysterious woods surrounding Mill Creek, West Virginia years ago. Despite being viewed as a local drunk by her family and community, Theo, a Park Ranger, dedicates each day to combing through the woods in search of her beloved sister. As she delves deeper, she encounters mysterious doorways and staircases, unveiling the reality of the forest's numerous disappearances and the existence of multiple dimensions. The Federal Bureau of Reality poses a threat to Theo's pursuit of truth, pushing her into silence.

This story seamlessly blends elements of science fiction, horror, and mystery, capturing my interest right from the first chapter. While I felt that the world-building around alternate realities and the Bureau of Reality could have been expanded, I acknowledge that the book's length may have limited this development.

The characters in the narrative won my heart, particularly as the core group is introduced in the middle of the book. The dynamic among the characters, including a troubled elder sister, a journalist ex-girlfriend, a loyal best friend, a former bureau agent, and a conspiracy theorist, was flawlessly depicted, showcasing their stark differences. This short tale evoked laughter and tears, especially in the final chapters, resonating with me as an older sibling due to Theo's unwavering determination to find her sister.
While I found the first half of the book more engaging than the latter half, the conclusion was deeply satisfying, providing a happy ending that came at a significant cost.

Thank you NetGalley for providing this ARC! This story was captivating from the beginning. Theo, a park ranger, is still searching for her little sister Flora who went missing years back. One rule of the park is to not enter any doors that you see. This spooky tale takes us on Theo's adventure for Flora and brings us a world of alternate realities through the Ouroboros. I love Theo's heart and her character and there were times where I felt for her. I really liked the concept of this book, very spooky and twisty. I did have to re-read over a few times certain paragraphs to fully understand some of what was going on, but overall this book is going to be recommended by me to others! The way it left off I really hope there is a second books in the works!

Eye of the Ouroboros follows Theodora, better known as Theo, who has never been able to move past the disappearance of her sister years ago. Flora's disappearance led Theo into a job as a park ranger, specializing in search and rescue, as a method of coping with the loss. We learn that many hikers have disappeared throughout the years, often with strange circumstances or evidence left behind. As the story progresses, we learn that the Appalachian woods hold more than they seem and that Theo's reality may not be the only one out there.

At 270 pages, Eye of the Ouroboros is a fairly quick read. The first quarter of the book serves as background and worldbuilding and progresses from there. While I liked the characters and concepts in the book (X-Files vibes? Yes please!) I think the story could have been more fleshed out, especially the Ouroboros itself. Parts of it felt rushed and I found myself having to go back pages to see if I had missed an explanation.

Overall, this was a creepy read that is perfect for a rainy night. As someone who is not a true horror fan, this was just eerie enough without relying too much on shock value. The visuals were beautiful and Bontrager did a wonderful job of using the Appalachian scenery to set the stage.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Ahh I so wanted to love this. I enjoyed about the first half but then it lost me and I stopped caring about the story. I can definitely see why people have loved it, it just wasn't for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Quill & Crow publishers for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Eye of the Ouroboros follows the bizarre journey of Theodora Buchanan—sister, daughter, park ranger, and resident drunk of the insular town of Mill Creek, West Virginia. Ever since her sister's unexplained disappearance in the woods surrounding their home, Theo has stopped at nothing to uncover the truth, her own life be damned. But after finding an unassuming door in the middle of those same woods, Theo soon finds that harsh truths come at a hefty price—and the Federal Bureau of Reality will stop at nothing to ensure it's paid.

This book. This book! I am sliced from head to toe, gut-wrenched and shaken, and so in love. Megan Bontrager has given us such a gift with this utterly striking debut, and I'll cherish it as I nurse what is left of my poor little heart. It's weird, it's addictive, it's honest. I didn't know how much I craved a story like this until it was in my hands. It almost feels like Alan Wake and Control formed a weird, queer literature Voltron, and its singular purpose is to force us directly into therapy.

I was gripped from the first page. Very few books I've read lately have been actual page-turners for me, but Bontrager has crafted such a poignantly evocative, unique narrative that I just could not put it down. I knew I loved Theo immediately—her longing, her pain, her desire for truth, for love, for stability. Every hurt and every triumph felt like it was mine to share. And the supporting characters! Quinn, a warm cup of tea after a hard day, and Wesley, absolutely an uncle, hopped up on conspiracy juice. And Delilah—like the first breath after a coma. This story and its characters feel intoxicating in their palpable unknown; a beautiful trip into the horrors of the cosmic unknown. What a gem, what a treat! 

If you love bitter, messy gays, conspiracies, dogs, secret agencies, and the pure, unadulterated horror of grown men in socks and sandals, then this book is unreservedly for you. The cover is gorgeous, and the writing is even more so. It's a delicious ride into the heart of reality (and all the spaces in between), and at its end—once you're done picking your obliterated, broken body off the floor—you'll be begging for more. I would traverse several realities just to get a crumb more of Theo and Delilah. Bontrager's debut will always have a home on my shelf, and I cannot wait to see what wonderfully haunting and bizarre journey she takes us on next.

This reads like a reddit creepypasta--addictive, concise, bizarre--in the best way, with better characterization and prose. If you spend way too much time on r/nosleep, this book is for you.

And that ending! I loved it. It was bittersweet and poignant, extremely satisfying. I'd love to read more from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and Quill & Crow publishers for the free arc in exchange for an honest review.

This had such a good premise but I felt it didn’t quite flush out the story. There were many times where I had to back track because I felt I was missing something. I felt like Theo was well characterized and you understood her motivations but I didn’t feel much from any of the supporting characters such as Quinn or Delilah.

I wanted more about the Ouroboros and less of Theo’s internal dialogue because I still don’t really understand what happened with Flora or why her parents dislike her so much.

Prose was good and story was there but overall felt like it was lacking some details.

Such a great novel. This is the kind of horror novel that I enjoy reading. Unique storyline and wonderful characters. Definitely will watch for this author in the future. Short and sweet review? This book is definitely worth a read and a bit of the book.

Eye of the Oruboros gripped me from the first page. It was like a goosebumps book for grownups. I loved the pacing - didn't like the heartbreak that I didn't see coming. I adored the character relationships and the world building. It was good to see alcohol spoken about so openly amd the effects it has. I really hope there is book 2 in the works as the ending was *chefs kiss. I have already preordered this book and will be recommending it to everyone. One of my favourite reads this year.

"In the beginning, and in the end, there was darkness. You remind me of home"

I was fortunate enough to read this as an ARC via NetGalley. Downfall? It was an eBook, which strains these old eyes.

That being said, I was immediately intrigued by the premise of the story. I immediately liked some characters and disliked others, and I was on the fence about some. It's a bit like real life.

I enjoyed reasing the book, but of course I have to look at it with more of a critical eye for a review. The story was too fast. It was great when seemingly random things happen because I felt I was thrown for as much of a loop as the character, but I also need a little more as the reader because I am reading before bed and thennsuddenly thinking, "How did we get here?"

<spoiler>Also, I was confused about Quinn's family. First, they were the ones who gave Theo love and warmth and then suddenly they were dead. I need more in there.</spoiler>

I think I felt a connection with this book because this was written during the pandemic. The drinking, the internal chaos while nothing seemed to be happening Out There when you ooened your door. I thought the author portrayed it well. I just need a liiiiittle more detail for my imagination to world build.

--posted on StoryGraph

I had the opportunity to read an ARC of Eye of the Ouroboros by Megan Bontrager thanks to NetGalley! It is an adult fantasy horror as she seeks to find the truth about her sister’s disappearance, only to discover more than meets the eye.

I haven’t been able to say I enjoyed horror before, but this book has changed that for me. The writing is absolutely delicious and captivates the attention immediately. Megan has a knack for making things that are (I hope at least haha) unrealistic in our world, feel like they’re happening to you, right there and then. At times, after a prolonged period of reading, I found myself getting goosebumps while looking out of my window and into the night, or while turning off the lights while leaving a room. The horror is good – creepy, otherworldly, and most importantly, it sticks to you.

Outside of that, it certainly helps that the characters around whom the novel revolves – Theo, Quinn, Delilah, Wesley and, of course, Bear the dog – are all likeable or at least endearing, and most importantly multi-faceted. They feel like real people with real struggles and real flaws, but also enough redeeming qualities for it to hurt when things happen to them. Theo herself is a disaster, in a deeply heart-wrenching way, but rather than coming off pathetic, she has the appeal of a soggy dog on the side of the road. You want to take her in and dry her off, wishing the best for her future. The subtle comedy woven throughout Theo’s internal monologue and interactions with her environment and the other characters is also a shining plus for this book.

Overall, the book was a very impressive 4.75/5, rounded up to 5! I look forward to seeing more from Megan, as well as from Theo and the gang.

This was a really great story! I've not read this author previous to this one and it was so worth going out to check out a new author. The story building was solid and a very new take on the genre. Even though the name is hard to try and say for me, I will have this on my recommend to others list for sure. I cant wait to read some more by this author.

Lovecraftian horror meets good old "don't go in the woods" stories in this gripping and devastating book. Theo's desperate attempts to locate her missing sister land her smack in the middle of something much bigger, more dangerous, and more multi-dimensional than she could imagine.

I was enthralled with this book from start to finish. The premise is really intriguing to begin with, but the opening brings you right into the thick of things and doesn't stop moving until the story ends. The prose is so atmospheric and immersive, and the world is well-built. The pacing of the plot was very effective; Bontrager is excellent at weaving in little details and building the foundations of intrigue for the incredibly impactful reveals she sets up for later. It's part of what kept me so invested!

The characters are well-developed, for the most part; I do wish we could have known more about Delilah or Roman. Each of the individual relationships between Theo and the other characters is so nuanced and specific—particularly her relationships with Quinn and Flora—and it's part of what brings a lot of life to a story that deals with a lot of death. I will admit I found Theo to be a bit standoffish at first, and it took me a minute to warm up to her. That being said, once I did warn up to her I found Theo to be a wonderful narrator and protagonist; she's raw, she's earnest, she's determined, and she cares so deeply that it heightens the stakes of the entire rest of the story.

Overall, this was a fantastically spooky and heart wrenching read that left me wanting more long after I had put it down.

I enjoyed this book and for this to be a debut novel… 😳 All of the genres and with the main character being LGBTQ+ was a great for the story. I am looking forward to see if there is a sequel!

Thank you Megan Bontrager and the publisher for an ARC!