A Girl Walks into the Forest by Madeleine Roux is a dark and gripping tale that masterfully blends horror, fairy tales, and folklore. Roux’s vivid prose brings the perilous Gottyar Wood to life, immersing readers in a world teeming with danger and supernatural intrigue. Valla’s journey from a naive beauty to a hardened survivor is compelling, offering a fresh, female-forward take on the classic "fair maiden" archetype.

The story’s atmospheric tension is palpable, and the grotesque creatures and chilling villain add to the book’s sinister allure. While some plot points feel rushed, the relentless pacing and richly drawn world more than compensate. Roux weaves themes of resilience, identity, and revenge into a haunting narrative that keeps readers hooked until the final page.

A thrilling read for fans of dark fairy tales and survival horror, A Girl Walks into the Forest is as brutal as it is empowering.

Thanks to Quill Tree Books & NetGalley for the early copy in exchange for an honest review. Sadly, I DNF'ed at 20%.

Wasn't a fan of the plot, ridiculous characters, and writing. Nothing really made sense either.

I find it somewhat tricky to summarize my thoughts on this book because I found the pacing kind of strange. The first half of the book was very slow, from 50%-90% the pacing was solid, and then the last 10% was very rushed. I like this concept and overall, I do think it was executed well, but it doesn’t necessarily feel revolutionary enough to counteract my experience with the pacing. I supported Valla throughout and wanted her to succeed, but the rushed ending made it feel like her whole journey was unfortunately almost moot. Depending on the plot, I would definitely check out Roux’s next title.

This was a straightforward, enjoyable book. It won’t leave you contemplating complicated themes. But if you’re looking to root for the aggrieved women against the patriarchy, or nature against exploitive industry this book will do plenty to scratch that itch. And it does it with a protagonist in Valla who’s generally easy to root for, an appropriately dark and moody environment, and prose that has some wonderful moments.

The one main complaint I’d have about the story would be the antagonists. They’re a bit one-note, without much in the way of depth or anything in the way of redeeming features. They kind of felt more as though they were just obstacles for Valla to overcome than living, breathing characters. And that makes them less interesting to me.

But if you want a good, straightforward revenge story with the themes I mentioned earlier this book should do it for you. And I think a lot of people will have plenty of desire to read that kind of story in this day and age.

THE COVER. THE SYNOPSIS. HORROR FOLKLORE. Not to mention dark, bleak villages, a deadly forest, and a magical villain in a palace. And it’s a BABA YAGA retelling aka one of the SCARIEST FOLKTALES OUT THERE? I internally ran through the hills screaming when I saw that I got approved to read this book a whole 6 months early!

The worldbuilding is my favorite part of the book, as it usually is in books like these. There is nothing appealing about the village of Arylik where Valla is from, where the ice never melts and the trees look withered. Depressing. But the Count’s castle is so much worse than Arylik I cannot even begin to tell you…..You don’t get much info about the country/kingdom itself, and life outside of the vicinity of the Gottyar Wood is only mentioned. Though, you do find out that the whole kingdom/country (or whatever it is) isn’t bleak like this, since the book hints towards brighter more populated territories such as the Capital and the central territories where life is filled with sunshine and swans, unlike the poor, bleak villages. It does make the book feel less bleak knowing there are people in this book world living better lives, you just don’t get to see it, which sucks for our characters!

As for us, our bleak setting begins near the village of Arylik is the Gottyar Wood and despite the dangers of the cursed and haunted wood, there actually is civilization inside the wood (but only a handful of families who manage to survive there though idk why anyone would choose to stay there), and even trading posts and watchtowers inside. But, all remain close to the single road that goes through it, and staying close to the road is the only safe way to travel through it. The most renowned danger of the forest are the Yiliskii, the cursed children of the forest, but there are also haunting toneless songs that carry in the wind, trees that bleed red sap, and false deer paths that become spirals. Most notably, the mysterious Count, the future husband of Valla, who lives in a castle within the Gottyar Wood. It appears that this place is a fictional version of some sort of Slavic country, as I was googling some of the cultural terms in this book to find that they’re not from any existing language, so they must’ve been made up words to resemble Russian or Polish.

This book is DARK. It’s dark and brutal and however evil you think the Count will be, he’s worse. It’s bleak and hopeless and makes you wish you were back in that little village at the beginning of the book that seems far less undesirable after you experience the Count’s castle. There’s also a massive twist near the middle that I genuinely didn’t see coming. The thing is, the book starts really strong. When the book is setting everything up and you experience all the dark ambience and you’re learning the world building and you feel so much anticipation for it all. But that’s the thing, the anticipation of what you think it’ll be like is better than the actual thing. The beginning is GREAT. But once you end up in the Count’s castle, it kind of drags. It picks up after a while but the beginning parts of her life at the castle are kind of just filler. It feels like, strong beginning and set up, filler middle, then action packed end. I kind of wish the middle had more going for it aside from her being miserable in that castle and not other plot aside from little things that are setting the stage for the ending. I still enjoyed this a lot, it just wasn’t as creepy as I’d hoped it would be. The villains were way worse than I was expecting though. It’s more so a story of brutality and human evil, than a creepy horror story about a dangerous wood and a haunted castle, which was more of what I was expecting and hoping for. I still enjoyed this though, and the amazing worldbuilding and the incredible setting are where this book truly shines. 3.5/5 but I’ll round it up to 4 stars.

Thank you to Netgalley and Quill Tree for sending me an advanced copy in return for my honest review.

Brutal and whimsical, A Girl Walks into the Forest hit all the right notes for my dark folklore loving heart.

Valla has been raised thinking that her beauty would be her savior. Chosen in youth, to eventually become the mysterious Count Leonid's wife, she has been raised solely for his pleasure. Readers follow her as she is escorted through the dark and dangerous woods to her fated husband. The journey is treacherous and Valla emerges scarred and clinging to life but the brutal attack pales in comparison to the evil that lurks within her new life.

Roux infuses the grit of Eastern European folklore into this tale giving it a touch of darkness and whimsy, offering a lush backdrop to the horrors that befall our heroine. The story is masterfully built around an ever present and building sense of desperation that leaves readers desperate for revenge. Valla is perhaps my favorite kind of heroine, stoic and smart, quiet and calculating.

I saw this book pitched as a Enemies to Enemies, good for her story...and man, is it successful in being just that!

3.5 stars rounded up. I feel like a could write a review dedicated entirely to the imagery created with the woods alone. They felt so alive and as if I was there myself, surrounded by them. Truly amazing work. Almost too amazing. The storyline almost came second to it.

perfect for spooky season, roux’s a girl walks into the forest blends horror & fantasy and brings back eastern european inspired YA, one of my favorite subgenres that was gone too fast. pulse-pounding and full of folk horror vibes, this has THEE evil forest of 2025. still, don’t let me going on about well known tropes confuse you: this is wholly original, as roux manages to make the world and the story her own. ATE!

Mark my words, this will be a 2025 best seller.

From the moment I saw the cover of this book I was drawn in. Likewise, from the first page, the author captivated me with her use of vivid imagery, that I myself felt like I was thrust into Valla’s world and alongside her during her journey.

I would’ve read it in one sitting had I not realized it was somehow already 2 am after starting it at 9 pm. It is fast paced and had me on the edge of my seat
for 3/4 of the book. It is equal parts disturbing and suspenseful; however, it was not too much for someone who isn’t usually drawn to a thriller/horror/fairytale-esque story.

I will definitely be recommending this one to my friends and family.

ate. devoured. left no crumbs. the vibes? immaculate! i absolutely adored the setting of the story. an isolated castle surrounded by dangerous woods? sign me up (but not really). i loved seeing Valla’s character growth. it was absolutely delicious to read about someone who was not a stagnant character. the way the author wrote scratched an itch in my brain. my only issue was that the ending felt a bit rushed. i would not have minded seeing more suffering 😌

The beginning was the strongest part of the book for me. It read like a truly dark fairy tale with a very strong Eastern European vibe throughout. Valla is a young girl sent off very far away, to marry a well off Count about whom she knows absolutely nothing about. Her journey is difficult, and her life becomes even harder once she's at the castle and sees what goes on in the castle.
Once the truth behind the creatures of the forest is revealed to our young heroine, the book lost it's main appeal to me. Valla's strength came from her own drive to persevere, but the 'gifts' of the forest kind of made her gain power from an outside source (taking away some of her own agency). I would have preferred if she kept her humanity & worked alongside the forest to get rid of the Count and his people. Also, the character of her brother wasn't really utilized well in the conclusion of the book. I thought he would take a more active role in helping Valla, but other than one scene, he felt kind of forgotten by the plot.
The folk horror vibes are STRONG here, and that is the best part of "A Girl Walks into the Forest", horror fans will especially love the battle at the castle (it weaves horror & action together really well).

If there was ever a book that was made for me, this is the one. Folk Horror includes some of the most enticing, creative, all-encompassing works I have ever read, and A Girl Walks into the Forest is certainly in the upper echelons of that, for me. Valla was a fantastic main character that shone through during all of her interactions with the other characters and the twists and turns that befell her along the way. And ERMO, someone talk to me about ERMO, my god.

If I had a nickel for every Baba Yaga inspired story I read in November, I would have two nickels, which isn't a lot, but it is weird that it happened twice. ((or is it))

My one worry is that this is marketed as a children's book based on the publisher and tags on NetGalley, I definitely see it as YA-Horror for anyone else confused about the classification!

PLOT:
Valla is a young adult whose portrait has been selected from the maidens across the Gottyar Wood (in what we can later assume to be Russia or Russia adjacent) to marry the Count. Because she has been chosen for this prestigious honor, her village of Arylik is a mix of excited for the good fortune this union will bring to their community and deeply, deeply jealous of her good fortune. They eagerly send her off into the dark and mysterious forest where danger lurks behind every tree trunk, including beasts known as rozhmakas and (my favorite) creepy kids with glowing gold eyes known as yiliksii. Their journey through the woods to reach the Count is a perilous one, and due to an unforeseen circumstance, her meeting with the Count does not go as planned AT ALL. Her life in the Count's village is marred by intriguing siblings, mystics with a penchant for necromancy, and surprising allies that turn the last quarter of the plot on its head entirely. I'll leave it there to avoid major spoilers, but be prepared for: <b>dark fairytale vibes, BEAUTIFUL descriptive writing, and a to-die-for main character arc.</b>

THANKS:
Thank you so much to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for the e-arc!

I just devoured "A Girl Walks into the Forest" and wow, Madeleine Roux has created something really special here! This dark fantasy-horror mashup feels like discovering an ancient fairy tale that's been given a deliciously modern, twisted makeover.

Let me start with the absolute star of the show - the Gottyar Wood. Holy crow, this forest! Roux's writing makes it feel so alive and menacing that I actually caught myself holding my breath during certain scenes. Every creaking branch, every shifting shadow is written with such atmospheric precision that the forest becomes its own character. I'm not usually someone who gets spooked by books, but there were moments when I had to remind myself I was reading safely in my well-lit living room!

Valla's journey from sheltered dreamer to hardened survivor really worked for me. Sure, there are moments when her transformation feels a bit quick, but Roux does such a good job with her emotional core that I was completely invested in her story. There's something really compelling about watching her navigate this nightmare while holding onto pieces of who she is.

Count Leonid makes for an effectively creepy antagonist. While he might not be the most original villain I've encountered, Roux writes him with enough menace and presence that he serves the story perfectly. His scenes definitely gave me the shivers I was hoping for.
The way Roux blends fairy tale elements with horror is really clever. You can feel the echoes of classic folklore, but she puts her own dark spin on everything. Yes, the pacing dips a bit in the middle, but honestly? I was so wrapped up in the atmosphere that I didn't mind the slower moments - they felt like catching my breath before the next intense scene.

Some real standout elements here: the gorgeous, haunting descriptions; several genuinely surprising plot turns; and some beautifully crafted scenes that will stick with me for a while. Roux has a real talent for creating moments that feel both dreamlike and nightmarish.

Is it perfect? No, but what book is? What matters is that "A Girl Walks into the Forest" delivers exactly what it promises - a dark, enchanting story that keeps you turning pages well past your bedtime. It's the kind of book that makes you want to check if your houseplants have moved while you were reading.

Four solid stars from me! If you're into dark fantasy with a horror edge, or if you love fairy tales that bite back, you should definitely add this to your TBR pile. Can't wait to see what Roux writes next - she's definitely earned a spot on my auto-buy list!
(Also, can we talk about that ending? No spoilers, but... WHEW! Did not see that coming!)

Many thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books | Quill Tree Books for sharing this gripping fantasy reading with me in exchange for my honest reviews that I fully appreciated it.

The cover is what drew me in and was so glad I got to read this, it had that element that I was looking for from the description. The overall feel worked with this story and had that blend of horror and fairy tale element that I was looking for. The characters had that feel that I wanted and enjoyed the overall concept worked with the world and characters. Madeleine Roux always does a great job in writing this story and had that element that I was looking for.

A delightfully morbid fairytale.

Valla has been an outcast in her village ever since the Count declared that she would be his bride. The day has finally arrived for Valla to leave the village and journey through the wood to meet her Prince Charming. But the wood isn’t kind and when an attack leads to scars on Valla’s face, her beauty won’t be the only thing she loses.

I liked this so much. I can already see myself rereading it. It isn’t what I expected and all the better for it. I was pleasantly surprised by the grim and gloomy atmosphere. I didn’t immediately connect with Valla, but I really really liked her by the end. This is absolutely worth the read.

4.5/5 stars

If Mike Flanagan needs new source material I do believe this book would be the perfect muse.

‘A Girl Walks into the Forest” to meet the mysterious Count who upon observing her portrait deems her beautiful enough to become his bride , but it is not a journey of longing and love as she finds herself along a road of monsters leading to her home of nightmares.

Was a spooky little thing.

I don’t know where to begin with this it feels very much like a fairy tale whispered under candlelight but also like a book of horrors you can’t quite escape from. The mythology was very interesting and while I’m somewhat familiar with the tale of Baba Yaga there were some pieces and creatures that I am not sure are unique to this story or also that of folklore but I would be very curious to find out.

Our characters were fascinating as we slowly pull back the layers or masks in some cases to uncover what they are truly made of and I couldn’t get enough of it! As the reader you are just as I’m the dark as Valla trying to figure out if there are any allies to be found in the lonely tower and that isolation builds beautifully to its ultimate conclusion. There’s a bit of a steampunk vibe that felt a tad out of place when going against the religious and old world like traditions that didn’t really get explored much to explain such contrast but if that’s the only criticism I have it’s truly the smallest of its kind.

This is a book of suffering and death and I enjoyed every second of it.

**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**

This book is brutal, but it's the kind of brutality that shapes, that forms, that chips away until blood spills and something new is forced to emerge. It's about a girl forced confront cruelty around every corner, and the way it forces her to change. It's full of anger, but the kind that is almost self-contained, an anger towards the anger itself, that the emotion even needs to be felt.

It's such an incredible book.

Thank you Netgalley and Publisher for providing me a Arc copy in exchange for my honest review.

ARC Review: A Girl Walks into the Forest

Alright, y’all, this book is an absolute vibe. If you’re into moody, atmospheric reads that mess with your head in the best way possible, A Girl Walks into the Forest by Madeleine Roux is about to take over your life. It’s giving major “main character energy” with a side of “wait, what just happened?” and I’m here for it.

The Lowdown (No Spoilers, I Swear)

Let’s talk about Eliza. She’s that girl—you know, the one who looks like she has her act together but is lowkey battling some serious inner demons. She’s bold, smart, and kinda stubborn, but not in a way that makes you roll your eyes. You just wanna shake her and be like, “Girl, don’t go in that forest!” But she does, obviously, because plot.

The forest? Oh, it’s not just a bunch of trees. This place is wild. It’s creepy, beautiful, and so alive it feels like it’s watching you. Eliza steps in, and suddenly it’s like the forest is the main character, too. Every twist and turn is unsettling in a way that keeps you glued to the page. You’re like, “This can’t get weirder,” and then it does.

The story itself? Think survival drama with a sprinkle of supernatural spice. It’s layered, it’s deep, and it’s not afraid to hit you with those existential questions. Like, what are we even doing here, y’know? But in the most engaging way.

Why It Slaps

First off, the aesthetic of this book is unmatched. It’s moody, dark, and so immersive. You can practically feel the damp forest air and hear the crunch of leaves under your feet. If this book were a TikTok trend, it’d be one of those vibey edits with haunting background music.

Second, the unpredictability. Look, we’ve all read books where you’re like, “Oh, I know where this is going,” but this one? Nah, it keeps you guessing. Just when you think you’ve cracked the code, Roux hits you with a plot twist and you’re left clutching the book like, “What just happened?”

And the themes? They hit. It’s not just a spooky forest adventure; it’s a deep dive into grief, identity, and what it means to keep moving forward when life throws you to the wolves (or the trees, in this case). It’s emotional without being too heavy, which is a hard balance to nail.

Let’s talk about this cover because, whew, it’s a 10/10. Dark, mysterious, and so on point with the story’s energy. If I saw this sitting on a shelf, it’d be an instant “add to cart” moment.

The writing? Roux knows how to paint a picture without going overboard. It’s the perfect mix of descriptive and let’s keep it moving. And while there are a few slower moments (especially in the middle), it feels intentional, like it’s giving you time to breathe before things get wild again.

This book is giving me life. I’d rate it 4/5 stars, and honestly, the only reason it’s not a full five is because there were a couple of spots where the pacing dipped. But other than that? Obsessed.

Would I recommend it? Abso-freaking-lutely. If you’re into books with major , a protagonist you can’t help but root for, and a plot that keeps you on your toes, this is it. It’s the kind of story you’ll finish and immediately wanna talk about, like, “Did that just happen??”

This book is a whole experience, and if you’re not reading it in 2024, you’re sleeping on a banger. Trust me—this one hits different.

I liked the writing and atmosphere but felt like something was amiss or missing from the storyline. I couldn't really get into the book but felt like it had potential. 3 stars.