Girl in the Creek

This book had a lot of potential from the initial introduction: the cover art: phenomenal. The premise: spooky spore-related horror. Once I got into the actual book, however, things took a turn.We are introduced to Erin, our main protagonist (this is key because the way that this was written, at times Erin just felt like she was along for the ride instead of a lead) is searching for her brother, Bryan, who had gone missing in the Clackamas Forest years prior. While we join her on her journey to possibly find answers to long-asked questions, we meet a group of people that, in original horror movie/book fashion, I like to think of as our "expendables" group or B-movie fodder. I in no way mean this to be a downside to the book, as we all know B-movie deaths to be a masterfully good time, but when everyone kept dropping one after the other, it felt tiring. A lot of this was due to the fact, in my opinion, we were meant to feel some form of connection to these people, and I don't think it was conveyed enough for us to properly do so.We meet sisters Kayla and Madison, Jordan, and a few others who basically become the vehicles for the body horror and death that begins to happen once they run into a murdered young girl, Elena, who was taken over by a fungus-like organism. Honestly, the description of this thing felt more reminiscent of The Thing, an alien and not of this planet, than earthlier rot-related. I think if The Thing is your vibe, you'll definitely enjoy this book.That being said, The Strangeness is what kept me reading this book. The author clearly has beautiful writing and is talented, and it shines the brightest when reading this POV. It was atmospheric, creepy, and rotting with delicious visuals. While the ending was expected, I did enjoy the way Wagner closed out this horror novel with a feeling of dread in the unknown.Thank you to Netgalley and Tor Nightfire for this advanced reader copy!

Worst book I've read in years. Poorly written. Terrible story. Terrible characters. Most definitely not horror. Maybe a temu version of horror. Maybe a temu version of the entire book. This book was so bad I'm angry about it.

Erin takes off to a small town to investigate her missing brother in hopes to find some answers. While searching for information, she unravels a spore-filled mystery that’s been plaguing the area for quite some time. Erin is determined to get to the bottom of it with the help of her friends and some locals.In a short span of time multiple characters are introduced, but Erin is the only one we really get to know on a deeper level. The other characters could have used a little more development and background.The pacing isn’t perfect but isn’t terrible either. It is a slow burn in the beginning and at about 60% it really starts to pick up, hitting you left and right with some crazy things happening.This sporror story was vivid and the perfect blend of mystery and fungal horror. An absolute strange story that does not disappoint. If eco-horror and aliens are your thing, this is the summer horror book for you. Thank you to NetGalley and TOR Publishing for this ARC opportunity. This is an honest and voluntary review.

Girl in the Creek delivers an eerie, atmospheric journey into the damp, decaying heart of the Pacific Northwest. The premise is compelling—missing persons, a sentient fungal network, and a town full of secrets. Erin Harper arrives in Faraday, Oregon searching for her missing brother but instead uncovers a deeper, stranger horror lurking in the woods.The book kept me hooked from beginning to end, and every time I thought I had the story figured out, it took another unexpected turn. The tension builds well, and the horror elements—particularly the body horror and environmental dread—are genuinely disturbing.However, while the atmosphere is richly developed, the character relationships feel underexplored, and a late-stage serial killer subplot adds more confusion than clarity. The story’s resolution, though present, doesn’t quite tie everything together as cohesively as it could have.Still, for fans of unsettling, nature-infused horror with a strong sense of place, it’s an intriguing read.Many thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the early access to the audiobook.

Thank you to NetGalley, Wendy N. Wagner, and Tor Publishing Group for a copy of this book.Content Warnings: Animal Death, Animal Abuse, Body Horror, Mention of Suicide, Mention of Sexual Assault, Death, Injuries, Gore, Blood, Murder, Stalking, and Mind Control/Hive Mind.Wendy N. Wagner’s “Girl in the Creek” was an interesting read. I have to be honest, I was not really a fan of it in the first half. It was setting up to be an average horror piece, creating characters to be slaughtered later. However, around the halfway point, “Girl” really started to pick up.The story focuses on Erin and her trip to a small town with big secrets. There, she meets with a gaggle of fellow young people to hike and investigate recent disappearances–including the disappearance of her brother, Bryan. As time goes on, an entity called the Strangeness begins to spread itself throughout the neighboring forest, searching for the perfect someone to carry out its mission.I think the main issue I have with the book, looking back on it now, is that there were far too many characters. Many of them were not explored or fleshed out; many of them just felt like they were there for plot devices and nothing else. Another issue I had was with the dialogue. It felt stilted at times, with characters saying things that felt almost out of left field. Two people could be having a pleasant conversation when one of them suddenly says something rude or angry, but that little nugget of emotion is skipped over. Why include moments like that, which feel jarring and unreal, if it isn’t going to be explored?“Girl in the Creek” is a good read once you get through the first half. I would recommend it only if you have nothing else to read at present, or if you are really weirded out by mushrooms. At least “Girl” can give you a reason to be anti-fungus.