It Waits in the Forest by Sarah Doss is a Rick Riordan Presents stand-alone novel with Caribbean Mythology as the focus. This was one of my favorite books of the year. I prefer a character that is not always making the right decisions. Even though she does not always make the right decision, she does not make so stupid of decision that you hate the character or feel like the stupidity is to move the plot along. I liked some of the suspense and it was fast paced. The characters felt real with flaws and the "bad guys" had some good depending on the characters arch. I could see how the characters got to where they were. I liked the mythology weaved through the book but for me that almost took a back seat. The grief of loss and the regret of past interactions is something I have had to contemplate and resonated with me.

I give this 4.5 (4 if I cannot do 5) stars because as somebody who loves fantasy that was honestly the weakest part. This point I am just being picky about because I loved everything else about the book. I think the rest was so high caliber that the twist and mythology was too weak for me. I wish the mythology would have been delved into more. I am definitely going to look for this author again. Thank you to NetGalley, Rick Riordan Presents, and Sarah Doss for the free copy. This was an honest review.

An engaging, fast pace story which is not so much something to devour as something which devours you. We love to see more modern Caribbean YA fiction on our shelves coming from the folks living it.

Selina not believing in magic is no big deal especially when she can con others and still make a living off of them. Only problem is when a true ghost comes to a ritual and pulls her into the middle of a murder mystery that is way more than it seems.

I wanted to love this story but it seemed to me kind of forgettable. It was full of suspense and twist but just did stick with me.

If Rick Riordan presents or endorses any book, it will be an automatic success. Sarah Dass fills readers with horror and knowledge of Caribbean culture.

The one thing that kept pulling me out of the narrative while I read had nothing to do with the narrative itself and everything to do with the imprint. Having read all of the currently published works from the Rick Riordan Presents Imprint, this book did not feel like it belonged due to the lack of overt connection to both fantasy and mythology.
That being said however, I absolutely loved this creepy, haunting young adult mystery with hints of supernatural connections. Dass created a fully realized, flawed main character that I could easily see many young adult readers identifying with. Additionally, the way that the mystery unfolded kept me hooked despite the qualm that I mentioned above.

It Waits in the Forest is a thrilling and haunting thriller/ fantasy mashup. The mystery gripped me from the very beginning and didn’t let up.

Rick Riordan Presents: It Waits in the Forest
by Sarah Dass
Pub Date: May 14 2024
I'm predicting this one will make the short list for several awards!
Already have it on my shelves ready for checkout when school starts!

This was the first thriller for Rick Riordan Presents and it lived up to the high standards I had. Caribbean folklore, ghosts, murder, a town's secrets...what more could you want? This story grabbed me by the throat and would not let me stop reading until I finished the book. Selena was a character that has her struggles but was someone I could respect and become invested in with in her journey to find out the truth of the attacks on her parents. This book is written for a slightly older audience than most books written under the Rick Riordan Presents label, but is a wonderful addition nonetheless. Things are definitely not what they seem on the small island of St Vigil, but will Selena be able to decipher truth from lies before it's too late? There's only one way to find out!

Much like A Drop of Venom, this is a powerful story of survival when all you love seems lost. It digs into your mind and grows like a root in rich soil. The mixture of plot and folklore is always enticing and I really liked the characters, they seemed very realistic in their responses and actions. As is the nature of the Caribbean in yesterday years to my knowledge, a young woman who is fluent in botany suffers a tragedy from her father being attacked, her mother ending up in a coma, and the locals start to whisper that she is a witch. Selina for her part does not help her situation by living as a fake psychic but her poor choices and guilt make her very relatable and easy to feel empathy towards. A wonderful young adult coming of age novel.

gonna be honest: i literally have too much to read and too much work to do but i will read it eventually.

I took awhile to get through this one and I regret it because, it was a good thriller/mystery. I wanted to read it because I am a fan of the Rick Riordan Presents imprint and I know the kids are always looking for mythology inspired stories. This one is based in Caribbean and African Mythology. The magic in the story is very much on the lesser side, more horror than fantasy. The pacing was good other then some slow bits and I personally did not see the twist coming. Will definitely be purchasing for my library and recommending to my students. (Thanks to Disney Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC)

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

It Waits in the Forest was filled with mystery and intrigue. Readers uncover the mystery of Selina's family and the other deaths occurring on her small island. No one on the island trusts her, after her mother's psychic abilities went against popular beliefs in a murder case many years before, but Selina plays into that mistrust and the expectations to find her own path. The people closest to her do not agree with her choices, which brings some conflict into the story. Selina begins to lose sense of her reality, which also adds to the intrigue and mystery. Overall the story is quite interesting. The people around her are less fleshed out than Selina, but Selina is enough of a focus that it doesn't hinder the story. Mythological elements, as would be expected of a Rick Riordan Presents, are much subtler and minimized than other titles under the banner. That is not a bad thing as it makes the ending much more surprising, but if you are looking for a more magic and mythological creatures, this title might not fit the bill. It was still a fascinating read and a great stand alone novel.

It Waits In the Forest by Sarah Dass is a captivating young adult horror novel set on the Caribbean island of St. Virgil. The story revolves around Selina DaSilva, who once had dreams of studying Pharmacology off the island. Her plans changed after a brutal attack left her father dead and her mother in a coma. Now, Selina spends her time selling fake talismans to tourists and trying to outrun her past.

The plot thickens when one of these tourists becomes the victim of a series of strange murders. Selina, who has always denied the existence of magic, is forced to confront the supernatural. She teams up with her ex-boyfriend, Gabriel, who is now working for the local newspaper. Together, they unravel secrets about Selina's family and the island, uncovering an evil lurking on the island.

One of the things I really liked about this book is (view spoiler). Their relationship is full of history and emotion, adding an extra layer to the story. It's interesting to see them work through their past while dealing with the present danger.

The book also does a great job exploring the relationships between Selina and her old friends, who used to be mean to her. These interactions are realistic and add depth to the story. I also appreciated how Selina’s disbelief in her mother’s magic was portrayed. Even though the reader knows magic is real, Selina’s skepticism feels genuine and adds tension to the story.

The horror elements are genuinely scary, which can be hard to find in YA horror. The atmosphere of St. Virgil is so well described that it feels like a character itself. This book would make an excellent TV show like The Haunting of Hill House.

Selina is a complex character with a morally grey personality. She makes some questionable decisions, but you still root for her because of how empathetically she's written. This adds a lot of depth to her character and makes her journey more compelling.

The book also deals with themes of sacrifice and explores how far people will go to regain what they've lost or to be part of a world that's been closed off to them. These themes are woven into the story in an interesting way, making the plot even more intriguing.

For anyone looking for a thrilling and atmospheric read, I recommend going into It Waits In the Forest without knowing too much about it. The twists and turns are best experienced firsthand. Just a heads up—don’t read this one at night!

While I thoroughly enjoyed the book, I do wish Selina's interest in plants had been explored more. It’s mentioned in the story, but I think it ended up being more important than it’s played out to be for most of the book. It’s also strange that it’s highlighted in the synopsis but then portrayed as kind of minor compared to the other plot points. I wish this aspect had been fleshed out a bit more.

It Waits In the Forest is a great blend of horror, romance, and mystery, all set in a beautifully described, spooky setting. Sarah Dass has crafted a story that's both chilling and heartwarming, making it a must-read for YA horror fans.

Thank you to Disney, Rick Riordan Presents, and NetGalley for the eGalley to review!

What a trip! This story starts off a bit slow but once it picks up, it gets *going* and I didn't want to put it down.

Selina doesn't believe in the supernatural folklore or spirituality of her ancestors, especially after her mother's reputation for being a "witch" got Selina bullied and outcast by everyone living on the island of St. Virgil. Yet she's decided to put that reputation to use by becoming a "fake" psychic reader and more or less scamming those same people with readings and her (very real) "potions" (she's an excellent herbalist and this is a major plot point!). This is a bid to make them fear her rather than hate her. It's a whole mess of self-loathing brought about by the cruel ignorance of those who are supposed to be her community and she must work through that the further into this journey she goes. This reputation of her mother's (and eventually Selina's) largely began two years ago when both of her parents investigated into a set of suspicious murders on the island that ultimately got her father killed too and her mother in a coma. Now, Selina is forced to re-investigate just what happened to her parents when a potential murderer comes demanding her help from the supernatural and Selina begins to have nightmares and visions she's desperate to dismiss as hallucinations from a number of more natural things.

On top of all of this thrilling suspense and mystery is a romance so sweet I said "awww" too many times to count, as Selina's ex-boyfriend Gabriel is back after being gone for those two years (and after surviving a plane crash to boot), and their chemistry and magnetism are off the charts even though Selina is trying really hard to make it work with another boy. It makes the story a perfect mix of creepy and sweet, giving us moments of reprieve from the more heinous situations that Selina and Gabriel get into.

A couple of times I was reading well into the late night in bed and I will tell you those creepy bits will make you look over your shoulder or startle at sounds while you're reading them. There's an especially anxious chapter involving seemingly never-ending stairs in pitch black while sounds that only Selina can hear are coming from behind and phew did that make it hard for me to sleep after reading! The supernatural aspect of this story is based in real African spirituality (Obeah, Hoodoo, and Haitian Vodou) and Caribbean folklore, making it rich in culture and making sure these practices and stories remain alive. While Selina doesn't initially believe in any of it, she ultimately comes to understand it better and respect and even appreciate it.

When the Big Reveal happens, I was initially disappointed in the twist, but eventually as it became more fleshed out, it made more sense and I was able to go along with the flow of it. The ending happens abruptly, however, and I wish we had an epilogue. That said, I was satisfied with how everything is resolved. I'd even say it's worth a re-read to see if anything was foreshadowed!

If you love supernatural mystery, suspense, and thriller with a side of adorable romance, or would love to read an excellent story based in African/Caribbean spirituality and folklore, give this one a shot. I highly recommend it.

I ended up taking a couple of days to read the first half, and then finished the second half in one sitting. It's the first thriller in the RRP imprint and meant for YA/teen readers, but it's not super creepy, although it has its moments.

I liked the setting of a small Carribean Island (I have no idea if it's a real place), as well as the Carribean mythology that was incorporated into the story. I wasn't completely sold on the protagonist initially, as she made questionable decisions, but morally grey would be a good description for her. I was not a fan of her so-called friends or boyfriend, but as you learn the back story, it's a little easier to understand her choices. Still, when her old boyfriend, son of her pseudo foster mother reappears, it's easier to understand his side of things.

I thought the world-building (if you want to call it that--this felt like realistic fiction/magical realism) was well done, and I really felt the conflict Selina feels between the old-world magic and the struggle to survive in the world of tourism as this tiny island fights to compete with its more successful sister island. While I wasn't creeped out throughout, there were moments when I was checking around the corners as my house made some noise. The author did a great job of building atmosphere, although I have to admit I was more creeped out my human monsters than by supernatural monsters. But that too was part of the story.

Overall, I thought this was a great addition to the RRP imprint and I plan on checking out other books by this author.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I'm always looking for more mythology based fiction and was an immediate yes when I read the premise for It Waits In the Forest. I immediately put I request with NetGalley and then end of school happened, along with Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. This was my first experience with Caribbean mythology and boy, did Sarah Dass deliver. At 336 pages, it is relatively short in comparison to some YA fantasy novels. Since I was reading an eARC, I was a little surprised it was over 300 pages, as the story sped along once it got going. Part of me is disappointed it wrapped up so well--I want more. It's well written with characters that are well developed. Still, I'd like more!

My only complaint is that I was a little thrown off by the initial chapters that were not from Selina's point of view. In reality, Dass wove in those short chapters in a way that helped cement the plot twist at the end. I did not see it coming--I think she did an excellent job setting things up to unfold so neatly. In fact, I'm a bit envious at how hell written It Waits In the Forest is--describing it as lush feels like I'm slathering it on a bit thick, but I really think that the writing is solid and the characters are relatable. The mythology isn't explored too heavily, but I think that actually helps propel the plot forward, as Selina isn't a believer. She's a freshly minted adult who suffered a massive tragedy during the last years of her childhood. OF COURSE she's going to be self-destructive and make poor decisions. She's still a kid! I found her to be likable and easy to understand her motivations--she doesn't want to rely on Muriel and doesn't want to appear weak to the people of St. Virgil, who blame her family for something that she had zero control over. She desperately wants to have a normal life and friends, something everyone wants at that age.

While I likely won't be purchasing it for my middle grade library, it's absolutely a book I'll be recommending and I look forward to reading whatever Dass puts out next!

3.5 rounded up because I am a huge fan of Rick Riordan Presents. This is the first book that fell flat for me, so it could just be me. The main things that I struggled with were: This takes place on an imaginary Caribbean island, our protagonist is very unlikeable, we never have enough of the picture, especially of the monster!!!, and side characters blended together for me. Our protagonist never let the audience in enough for me to relate to her. I related better to the always-in-the-dark and why-does-he-like-her love interest. Even he knew more than us, and he spent the whole book frustrated. Because of this the middle felt a slog, the big climax felt extremely abrupt, even with the foreshadowing, and I wasn't really cheering anyone on. I hope it works better for others!

A murder mystery wrapped in cultural myths of deals struck with mythical creatures and the power of the non coporeal. Selina’s lost everyone, and she is shunned by the whole island for her mother’s “mistake” and her psychic abilities. She thinks she is making progress in starting over until murders start happening again and she begins to see things. As she tries to solve the mysteries she also has to come to terms with who her mother was and how she needs to live. A lush story that has you turning pages quickly!

It Waits In The Forest is a dark older grade novel filled with mystery and horror. Selina, the main character has lost her father in a brutal attack which also left her mother in a coma. Her old boyfriend returns and together they go about trying to solve the mystery of the crime. What they discover has far reaching implications for both of them and their families.

While the book was well written and engaging, I was not able to personally enjoy it. I think it was just too dark for me, but that is strictly my personal opinion.

I was given an advance reader copy for free, but all opinions are my own.

In Sarah Dass’s YA supernatural thriller inspired by Caribbean mythology, Selina doesn’t believe in magic. Selina dreams of leaving her home island but her father is killed and her mother is left is a coma. She spends her days conning tourists. When a series of gruesome murders start happening, Selina is caught up in solving the mystery while also coming to terms with her trauma.

The plot piques your interests but the heart of the characters keeps you invested.
Beautifully written and engaging.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.