Savage Woods by Mary SanGiovanni

Savage Woods by Mary SanGiovanni
My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars

In New Jersey’s Pine Barrens lies Nilhollow, a woods that some say just may be haunted and most have heard the rumors or legends that surround the area. Among the tales of missing hikers come stories of tree spirits and all powerful forest gods that have driven some insane before taking their own lives.

Julia Russo lives near the area of Nilhollow and when she is forced to run for her life from her violent ex-boyfriend she finds herself deep in the woods. After Julia has vanished without a trace State Trooper Peter Grainger knows that he must find her. Peter knows the stories of the woods and the further he goes the more he believes they just may be true.

Savage Woods by Mary SanGiovanni seems to be based a bit on a real area in New Jersey that does have stories and legends focused around it and an incorporation of the Native American mythology. The tale is a bit gruesome in places and intense in others but unfortunately this one just wasn’t for me leaving me to rate it at 2.5 stars.

There is nothing particularly wrong with the book in my opinion, the author seems to have a nice enough writing style and I’m sure some horror fans may love this. In my case the book just kept reminding me of other things I’ve seen and read so I never found myself fully invested in this one. The idea of a haunted woods sounded appealing in picking it up but as it unfolded I started thinking the activities within were a bit silly for my taste and unfortunately as I said seemed a little too familiar and not quite original enough for me.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.