Book Review | The Woods All Black

Leslie Bruin is a trans nurse assigned to work at Spar Creek, a small Appalachian mining town. However, when he arrives, the townsfolk are closed off and secretive, and he can't help but feel a strange presence watching him from the woods.

The Woods All Black by Lee Mandelo paints an unsettling historical horror that explores queerness, religious trauma, and survival.

First off, this is a wonderfully atmospheric read. You can practically feel the mugginess of a late Kentucky summer and really get a sense of the late 20s time period.

However, there were several aspects I didn’t enjoy as much. For starters, this book is a slow burn. For about 40% of the novella, Leslie isn’t receiving tasks from the townsfolk and instead spends his time passively waiting and listening to town gossip. I wish he could have tried to assist with helping around (and get turned away) or investigate the town’s mystery or at least something!

Moreover, we’re told hints that the land Spar Creek sits on is strange through dialogue, but what did all those hints amount to? We never actual get an explanation of the town’s origins asides from the people there needing to keep altars for whatever reason, and I really wish we could’ve gotten more backstory and that it had leaned stronger into folk horror territory.

Yes, Leslie and Stevie’s character arcs feel satisfying and well done and I've got to give kudos for the raw monster sex in the woods, but the actual mystery subplot feels half-forgotten at the end and leaves so many questions unanswered.

Overall, I didn't love this book as much as Summer Sons, but I do really hope to read more historical horror from Mandelo in the future.

Thank you, NetGalley and tordotcom, for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Book Details:

Publication Date : March 19, 2024

Publisher : tordotcom

ISBN: ‎125079031X

Pages : 160

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