The Forest of Missing Girls

The Forest of Missing Girls totally pulled me in from page one. I love a good spooky woods vibe, and this book delivers dark trees, local legends, and that uneasy “something’s watching” feeling the author builds so well. Lia is a relatable, flawed main character, and I really enjoyed watching her dig into the mysteries she’s tried to avoid her whole life.The family secrets angle adds a nice twisty layer, and the tension around her younger sister kept me flipping pages. I also appreciated that the story never goes overboard on gore, it's more eerie than shocking, which is exactly my kind of thriller.If I had one tiny gripe, it’s that a couple of moments felt a bit rushed or convenient, but overall it was a fun, atmospheric read that kept me guessing. Perfect if you like missing girl mysteries with a touch of folklore creepiness.Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy

I received The Forest of Missing Girls from the Publish and NetGalley as an ARC. This is my unbiased review.I was first introduced to the writings of Nichelle Giraldes with her book No Child of Mine. Being one always drawn to the idea of mystical and mysterious forests filled with magic and secrets the ideal of changlings and fae children drew my attention to the author. Now I find myself captivated by another forest created by the magic that Nichelle Giraldes possesses. In this forest girls go missing and they never come back. The town has learned to accept this but when a girl's best friend goes missing things strike closer to home then the families of the town are willing to admit.Lia Gregg returns home after a couple years of living in Los Angeles. After her boyfriend breaks up with her she begins to realize that perhaps the city life isn't best for her. Her mother advises her to return home and think through her next step in life. Lia willingly agrees and returns to her childhood home that dwells within the forest that she adores and fears.The same forest that takes another girl as Lia settles in to her visit to her childhood home. The problem with this is that the missing girl happens to be her sister's best friend. Ophelia's sister Evie (Evangeline) is devastated at the loss of her missing best friend. As the search parties begin to develop and hunt the woods, Ophelia begins to question all that she has known, especially when it comes to her mother Elizabeth.Ophelia begins to discover that her mother may be keeping secrets and may know more about the missing girls then Lia wishes she knew. As the Forest of Missing Girls unfolds the reader begins to under who Elizabeth, Ophelia's mother, really is and also what is happening to the Missing Girls. In a fascinating, powerful story that draws reference to Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and something even more chilling and unsuspecting, the Forest of Missing Girls is a story unlike any other. If you enjoy a chilling gothic story with near fairy tale allure then The Forest of Missing Girls comes highly recommended. Thank you again to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for allowing me to review this fascinating story. Until next time, happy reading!

Creepy, creepy, creepy! The Forest of Missing Girls instantly drew me in. I was intrigued by Lia Gregg and her fear of the woods surrounding her home. She did not live in the forest where, like the Robert Frost poem where "the woods are lovely, dark and deep." No, she lived in the woods which were full of darkness, secrets, and whispers. Girls have gone missing in those dark woods. She's not a child anymore and when she returns home after a breakup, a teenage girl goes missing......This book was equal parts, atmospheric and chilling. As I mentioned, I was instantly drawn into this book and them whamo this book took a shocking and unexpected turn! I did not see THAT coming at all. The book veered off from being creepy and chilling to being horrific, shocking, and heck, I don't even know what to call it. It felt as if it came out of the left field. Its horror meets Science fiction meets what-in-the-world-did-I-just-read?????? Seriously, hello left field!!!!I have the feeling that readers are either going to love this one for its uniqueness, originality, and sci-fi turn, or you'll be sitting there thinking well, that was something.......The author gets big points for creating a chilling and eerie atmospheric setting. I can almost feel the chill in the air and feel the twigs snap under the characters' feet as they walked through the woods. This book is very unique and has a very interesting premise.If you are looking for something a little different, a little off the beaten path, and you are willing to suspend some disbelief, this book might be right up your alley. From the premise I thought I had a fair grasp on what this book was going to be about. I was WRONG, WRONG, WRONG!Dark, horrific, atmospheric, chilling, and unique!

This book was unexpected in the best way. It took me a minute to get into it but once I did I could not place it down. It was creepy and disturbing and I loved it. My expectation was that this was a thriller and I would call it more of a magical/family drama (mommy issues), mystery. Would definitely recommend.

Quick Take: My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Haunting, strange, and well written. The Forest of Missing Girls mixes thriller vibes with sci-fi and a hint of magical aspects. It’s eerie, emotional, and completely different from what I expected but in the best way."It had never been real her effortless perfection was carefully crafted, leaving a trail of casualties in its wake"SPOILERS BELOW:My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️I originally requested The Forest of Missing Girls because the description pulled me in, it was listed as a thriller, which is totally my thing. But after finishing it, I’d say it’s so much more than that. It has this unexpected mix of sci-fi, fantasy, and even a bit of magical realism. It honestly reminded me of Frankenstein in certain ways, so if you’re into that kind of eerie, twisted vibe, you’ll love this.From the start, the story feels off in a good way haunting, mysterious, and strange enough to keep you hooked. There were definitely a few “WTF is happening?” moments, especially when all the sisters just seemed fine with what their “mother” was doing. Like… how are you okay with that?!The forest scenes really stood out for me. They had this trippy, almost magical energy that made it feel like the forest was alive and playing tricks on them. Those parts felt super vivid and atmospheric, and I could picture everything as I read.This book is not what I normally pick up, but I think that’s why I liked it so much. It’s weird, emotional, and creative in all the right ways. Around the 65% mark, I was completely locked in and couldn’t stop reading and I finished the rest in one sitting.Overall, The Forest of Missing Girls is eerie, imaginative, and completely different from your typical thriller. It’s one of those books that sticks with you because it’s just so strange and haunting. If you like dark stories that blend fantasy with real emotion, this one is worth the read.