i love Predatory Natures! i love botanical horror! i love an isolated setting! and most importantly i love the Welsh! Amy Goldsmith is a genius and she is here to save the girlies (me) in 2025 🙂‍↕️

"Little Shop of Horrors" meets "Murder on the Orient Express" in this YA horror gem. "Predatory Natures" by Amy Goldsmith is a thrilling ride, chronicling a teen girl's odyssey to escape her past, only to discover that no one can truly outrun their history.

Lara Williams' dream job aboard a luxury train quickly turns into a nightmare when it’s overrun with botanical cargo. Taking a gap year from school, Lara hoped this job would be her chance to reinvent herself after a toxic relationship left her reeling. At first, she enjoys the escape—even when her ex-friend Rhys turns out to be one of her co-workers. With only a handful of passengers and crew, the job doesn’t seem too demanding. But things take a sinister turn when two mysterious passengers, Gwen and Gwydion, board the train with their peculiar botanical cargo, setting off a series of strange and deadly events.

I loved this book. As a YA horror, it isn’t overly scary, but it has its fair share of creepy moments, violent deaths, and angst. Amy Goldsmith’s writing is taut and suspenseful, expertly building tension and a chilling atmosphere throughout. The dark, gritty setting and the lore surrounding the predatory plants were especially captivating.

The storytelling instills unease, with a strong sense of claustrophobia and dread. The tense atmosphere and eerie occurrences linger, getting into the reader’s head. Goldsmith’s vivid descriptions make you feel like you’re right there on the train, hurtling toward an uncertain fate. The book features a solid cast of supporting characters, a relatable heroine, and a beautifully constructed setting that truly makes it shine.

Written in the first-person POV of Lara, interspersed with flashbacks to her past, we get a deep understanding of what drives her. Lara is a strong female heroine, and I loved watching her character grow. Her toxic relationship and the control her ex exerted over her were hard to read about, but her journey of self-discovery was incredibly satisfying. It took her far too long to realize that molding yourself into someone else’s idea of perfection brings nothing but unhappiness and prioritizing someone else’s needs at the expense of your own comes at too high a price. This is an important message for teenagers and adults alike.

In conclusion, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. If you’re a fan of strong female protagonists, personal growth, gripping drama, intrigue, predatory plants, and even a touch of romance, this is the book for you. With themes of friendship, greed, toxic relationships, and flawed human nature, Amy Goldsmith has woven a tale that’s as thought-provoking as it is entertaining. Nature may be predatory, but some people are even more so.

* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc. All opinions are my own.

Predatory Natures by Amy Goldsmith is a unique and gripping YA horror novel that delivers both chills and intrigue. Set aboard a luxury train, the claustrophobic setting adds to the suspense as mysterious, dangerous plants become an ever-growing threat. Goldsmith’s vivid descriptions and creative world-building pull readers into a tense and atmospheric story. The characters are engaging, though some could have used more depth to fully connect with the audience. The plot builds steadily, with enough twists to keep readers hooked, culminating in a thrilling finale. A must-read for fans of eerie, nature-based horror with a unique twist.

Book:
PREDATORY NATURES by Amy Goldsmith
Thank you Netgalley and Getunderline(RHC) for the earc (Jul8)

Review:
4.5⭐
This book was horrifying---the plants and what they could do. How odd.
PREDATORY NATURES follows Lara---who takes a job on a luxury train. There she is confronted by the past, the rich train guests, and a mysterious set of siblings. When the plants start taking over, Lara must work with Rhys et al in order to stop them before it's too late.
What a whirlwind of a book. PREDATORY NATURES has been my favorite read by Goldsmith. It checks all the boxes---as do all of Goldsmith's books---mystery, thrills, creepy legend like things, a boy from the past, and drama that never seems to dissipate.
From the first page, I was in awe by the descriptions, and how it was like a picture was being painted---it was like I could see what was being described, which made it creepier. I was intrigued by the timeline, present day and learning what went down with [Redacted] that led to Lara's fallout with Beckett. I was also super intrigued by the mysterious guests, the ones who brought the "predatory nature." I kept thinking who there was responsible, and before I knew what was happening, what were they responsible for. As the story played out, and the happening happened, it never crossed my mind that [Redacted] was behind it. That revelation was utterly shocking because I was rooting for Lara and [Redacted] even though they made zero sense together.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed PREDATORY NATURES. It kept me grasping at the seam, wondering if they would survive, wondering what was happening. 10/10 would recommend especially if you've loved Goldsmith's previous work.

Lara Williams has had a rough year and is excited to escape her problems when she takes a job waitressing aboard a luxury train. But things don't go quite to plan when a pair of creepy siblings join the train along with several carriages of plants...

This was another chilling page-turner from Goldsmith, combining Celtic mythology with a heartfelt tale of a toxic relationship. I felt so much sympathy for the MC and was rooting for her (pun intended) all the way through. I enjoyed the descriptions of the train and the way the atmopshere on the train goes from relaxed to tense. A great read!

Thank you, Netgalley and Random House, for the advance copy.