Whisperwood Legacy

Creepy fairy tales & family drama!! A gripping read from start to finish! Will be reading again!

I really wanted like this book. It sounded creepy and I loved the cover. Ok, I admit it - I am always a sucker for a good cover. But this book just didn't live up to my expectations. All of the characters just felt one-dimensional, and no one was especially likeable. There was a bit of a "Knives Out" vibe going on with the family that just made them all turn on each other and seem bloodthirsty and like despicable, greedy human beings. The best part of the story, I guess, was the inclusion of the German folklore scattered throughout the novel. Overall, I give this a solid 3 out of 5.

I was trying to think what book I could compare Whisperwood Legacy to, and it was hard to find something that's a good comparison. Probably because while YA fantasy is plentiful, YA horror is a bit rarer, leaving most teenagers to start reading classic adult horror like Stephen King a bit too early (I still shuddered when I saw a clown in the Memorial Day parade yesterday, decades after first reading it). Perhaps the best comparison is King's Needful Things - this is a book which understands clearly that all magic comes with a price and those making wishes should be very careful what they wish for.I really enjoyed this book. I enjoyed the thinly veiled good natured jabs at parks such as Disney World (one ride in this book is clearly a not so veiled "It's a Small World" and frankly, "It's a Small World" deserves all the mockery. My Irish husband can't ride it without coming out an ardent Irish nationalist.) I enjoyed how true to life the relationships between the Strauss cousins felt, which is to say that I both enjoyed them and they made me want to scream at them. I really enjoyed how the book is based in German Appalachian mythology, because that's not a heritage we see in books very often.This is a book for teenagers who like their fantasy on the scary side. They'll definitely enjoy the read.

The Whisperwood has been on my must-read list since its deal announcement, and wow does it deliver. I could not get over the creativity of the lore within this story! This book is steeped in Appalachian German folklore, with eery suspense, morally-grey characters, and runaway magic. The abandoned amusement park was the perfect setting, and I loved how big a role it played in the plot. The twists were extremely well done, and had the perfect balance of family drama, teenage angst, and generational secrets to keep me engaged from start to finish. Highly recommend!Thank you to Netgalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for the e-arc.