thank you to netgalley, the publisher, and to megan bontrager for the advanced reader copy of "eye of the ouroboros". bontrager is gifted in writing descriptive prose; i will definitely have to hand that to her. her writing is beautiful, really. furthermore, i enjoyed the reddit horror story vibe that bontrager's tale had, as someone who spends hours listening to compilations of them on youtube. what made me decide to lower my rating is the inconsistent pacing and the conclusion that felt, to me, a bit rushed.

Interesting premise, good execution!

Eye of the Ouroboros follows park ranger Theo who is still searching for her sister who disappeared many years ago. She starts seeing strange, unexplainable things happening throughout the woods where her sister disappeared and in investigating these happenings, she learns they are caused by the Federal Bureau of Reality. They will stop at nothing to eliminate those who find out about their existence.

This novel starts off strong as we learn about Theo and the relationship she has with her sister and family, and the guilt she harbors over her sister's disappearance. We start to see strange events in the woods that causes Theo to uncover the Federal Bureau of Reality and their involvement in her sister's disappearance. I think the premise of the Federal Bureau of Reality is super interesting, but I wish there was more time spent on their involvement in Flora's disappearance. The introduction of the FBR & the Ouroboros are incredible and make you want to read more about who they are, what they do, and how dangerous they might be - but as the novel progresses the execution falls flat. Some explanations are confusing and hard to follow, and if we're going to bring up the topic of multiple realities then I wish we spent more time exploring those realities, not just mentioning their existence. The concept of the Ouroboros is also still lost to me, I wish that was explained better.

Outside of the fantastical / horror elements, this story has strong character development and a strong cast of supporting characters. I really liked Theo and her friends, and I found myself rooting for their success. This is a story of love and loss, and found family. Where the world building falls short the characters and their relationships pick up the slack. This story will definitely pull on your heartstrings.

Thank you to NetGalley, Quill and Crow Publishing House, and Megan Bontrager for the eARC!

"The Eye of Ourobouros" by Megan Bontrager is a gripping debut that mixes cosmic horror, sci-fi, and thriller elements. The story centers on Theodora (Theo) Buchanan, a park ranger tormented by her sister Flora’s mysterious disappearance in the eerie woods of Mill Creek, West Virginia. Determined to find answers, Theo's search drags her into the dangerous world of the Ourobouros, a cosmic force representing life and destruction.

Bontrager’s writing is vivid and emotionally charged, making Theo a relatable and complex character. The supporting cast, including Theo’s dog Bear, her friend Quinn, and her ex-girlfriend Delilah, add depth and engagement to the story.

The world-building is imaginative and intriguing, especially the concept of the Ourobouros.

This book is great for fans of cosmic horror and sci-fi thrillers who enjoy deep characters and intricate plots. It's a thrilling mix of suspense, emotion, and speculative fiction that stays with you.

Thanks NetGalley and Quill and Crow Publishing for the eARC! The cover and synopsis of this book immediately sucked me in. Like others have said it’s giving /nosleep vibes and it delivered. I found it fast paced and loved the MC.

**A Deeply Emotional Journey Across Realities**

*Eye of the Ouroboros* surprised me with its heartfelt exploration of Theo's quest to find her missing sister, Flora, amidst a backdrop of alternate realities guarded by the Federal Bureau of Reality. Blending emotional depth with elements of horror and sci-fi, the novel skillfully navigates Theo's tumultuous journey and her unwavering determination.

Theo, flawed yet tenacious, anchors the narrative with her compelling quest, supported by the steadfast presence of her best friend, Quinn. As they encounter different versions of themselves and confront encroaching darkness, the story unfolds like a cinematic exploration of trauma and resilience. Megan Bontrager's descriptive prose vividly captures the complexities of relationships and the sacrifices made for love, despite occasional confusion in the world-building that adds to the narrative's suspense. *Eye of the Ouroboros* is a poignant and powerful read, resonating with its emotional depth and nuanced portrayal of queer characters navigating interdimensional challenges.

what a fantastic novel that mixes cosmic horror with conspiracy theories, secret government agencies, and inter-dimensional portals to a bizarre and terrifying alternate reality.

This novel blends the best of cosmic horrors with the mysteries of a secretive government agency who she must now escape. It's full of emotionally impactful grief and it's written so well it's easy to believe and suspend your disbelief. I highly recommend it.

*I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks for the free book.*

"Eye of Ouroboros" is the story of Theo, a police officer, whose sister had gone missing when they both were kids. Now she continues searching for her sister and when she rescues another little girl from the forest, she learns that there is more to the woods and the world than she thought. I enjoyed the first part of the book more than the rest, especially when story and world building turned supernatural entirely and became more urban fantasy-ish than anything else. The vibe of the beginning, the weird happenings in the forest, I enjoyed that much more. The love story of Theo and her ex-girlfriend was predictable and I overall found the majority of characters to be a bit flat.

Overall an interesting read which did not go where I expected it to go in parts. 3 stars

This is one of my favorite horror books I've read this year! It's atmospheric and draws you in. It's well written and unique. I would highly recommend this! Special Thank You to Megan Bontrager, Quill and Crow Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

When guilt-stricken park ranger Theodora Buchanan gets too close to the truth of her sister Flora’s strange disappearance, the Federal Bureau of Reality intervenes to ensure that the otherworldly answers she finds never see the light of day…

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

A’s review:
This book started out with a bang, it was my horror fantasy mixed with backrooms, infinite corridors, eldritch horror, what have you. I was sucked right in along with Theo (our park ranger mc) who is desperate to find her little sister after she mysteriously disappeared in the woods, never to be seen again. The vibes were very x-files, which I’ve loved growing up but after a certain point in the book it slowed down so much, even though the writer is descriptive, the world building part wasn’t as in depth as I would’ve liked it to be. It definitely felt like the ending was rushed and just put there to give “closure” and end the book. I had different expectations going into this book but I was left a little disappointed in the end.
Thank you to netgalley for the arc read! :)

3.5 rounded up

Thank you to Netgalley and Quill and Crow Publishing House for providing me with a free e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I had a decent time with this book! I found the worldbuilding to be very interesting, and some characters I came to adore and others I feel like needed more time to flesh them out. Roman in particular was so intriguing to me, but it felt like he was almost incomplete as a character. Whilst I also understand why we didn't spend much time getting to know Theo's sister, it felt like there was much more of a focus on the actual dissapearance and lack of her, rather than actually getting to feel the relationship between the two sisters. This also applied to the plot itself for me. It felt like there was such a big, interesting build-up to the finale, but it fell a little flat.

There also seemed to be a bit of a disconnect when it came to the tone, which wasn't too overly jarring, but it felt like it swung in a couple different directions throughout, without enough to connect and justify the change. <spoiler>I did really love the cosmic horror element, as well as the concept of the bureau itself, but I wish there had been more time spent fleshing out these concepts, since I left the novel feeling somewhat unsatisfied with how deeply they were explored.</spoiler> That is not to say that I didn't thoroughly enjoy the writing style of this book, just some elements I found were a bit disjointed to me.

The handling of grief I think was done well, as well as how it bleeds into Theo's relationships, particularly with Delilah, <spoiler>and the complications that came with her personal life and professional lives overlapping, vs the complicated feeling that came with a betrayal that was liekly done with good intentions. </spoiler>

Overall, I enjoyed most of my time with this book, and would absolutely reccomend this!

Eye of the Ouroboros delivers on what it promises. I was entertained throughout, reveling in the great writing and the world the author has crafted.

Theodora works for the Parks and is also an alcoholic, which is annoying. The story has some merit, with mysteries surrounding staircases and other strange objects appearing in the woods, and missing people- lost and recovered. But then the story takes a weird turn to the crryptoid and involves a conspiracy-heavy weirdo. Then there is inter-dimensional travel which of course leads everyone to a masked ball (overdone in books) and a confrontation with the mastermind.

This author can write! I loved the beautiful language throughout the novel. Sometimes an author has a great plot line, and great character development, but lacks the "sparkle" of good writing - not this one! I still can't get over the use of imagery. The story itself is haunting, and I find myself still thinking about the ending.

Megan Bontrager takes readers on a witty, riveting, heartbreaking ride through the infinite corridor from the perspective of Theo, a park ranger who’s desperate to bring her little sister back to her reality, no matter the cost. What more could this reader want? The delightful prose and Theo’s striking voice kept me glued to the edge of my seat. I became Theo’s bestie, it’s impossible not to root for and fall in love with her sense of humor and blunt honesty. You’ll be laughing a crying with the cast of characters in this story from start to finish as they take on hellish hounds, arcane bends in reality, men in suits, dark corridors, and maybe even a wild toilet seat. This story is packed with meaningful platonic love dynamics, a romance that could have been (the right person wrong time), and a lovable dog; while also exploring grief, trauma, and parental neglect. The ending left me breathless and wanting more (because I’m greedy). Bontrager has an incredible career ahead of her and I can’t wait to read what she has in store for us next!

(2.5 stars)

I had such high hopes for this book. The story of a queer park ranger exploring some mysterious woods and the dark secrets they hide sounded great to me. And it starts off so strong as well. Unfortunately things start faltering a bit towards the middle. I don't know if it's personal taste or if this part was edited less (in which case it might have changed by the final release), but it just didn't work as well for me anymore. I feel like some ideas could have had more of an impact if they had been explored a bit more, allowing for a deeper investment what was happening to our characters. Things do pick up again towards the end of the main action, but the weaker middles meant that I felt like I missed something and it didn't hit as hard as I think it was meant to.

While I didn't love this book, I'm sure others will. It is definitely dark and creepy with an interesting mysterious hidden world if that is the kind of horror you enjoy!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me access to this eBook. This review may contain spoilers.

If you’re looking for a popcorn read with X-Files overtones, thematic cues from Fullmetal Alchemist, and undertones of Stranger Things, I’d point you in the direction of Eye of the Ouroboros. The strongest aspect of the book to me is that you can tell the author had a lot of love for the story and characters; the weakest aspect is perhaps that we miss out on a lot of the development of the characters and the lead-up to the book. To be honest, this isn’t normally what I would recommend, but I think it could be improved by just making it longer—the book feels like it should be a hundred, maybe two hundred pages longer, to let the narrative simmer some. It feels like it should be a huge cosmic horror/sci-fantasy hybrid in order to deliver what it has to offer. I hope Bontrager keeps publishing her work, as I think it has a lot of potential, but whether or not I’ll read whatever comes next, I’m not sure. I don’t think I would have picked this book up if it didn’t catch my attention with its Appalachian setting, but I am ultimately happy I did.

Overall, the narrative feels consistent and clear, and I imagine the author knew well what she was intending to write—I just wish the rest of the work had been given more time and substance in order to make the book as effective as possible. The book isn’t lacking in its plot so much as it leaves me wanting more character work and a more concrete sense of setting (the Appalachia of this book isn’t a bad portrayal, but it doesn’t really feel distinct, either; the slight anti-authority bend of the plot feels more authentic to Appalachia than anything else). Conflict is pretty consistently woven into the plot, and the stakes remain high throughout the book. The pacing is very fast, and I wish it started off with a more even pace to allow the reader to adjust to Theo’s “normal” before getting thrown into the meat of the plot; while adding more development and exposition to the beginning would slow the pace down, I think it would do wonders for actually getting readers invested and on board.

I enjoy the themes that the book eventually lands on regarding desperation, sacrifice, and family (both found and biological), but I wish they had been built up to a little more. Subplots are more implied than included—I would have liked to have seen the development of interpersonal relationships between the cast through secondary narratives, instead of just being told about them. Characterization and cast dynamics are relatively consistent, but leave something to be desired in that a lot of the development and background is more “tell” than “show”. The cast grew on me, but I wish the characters were delved into more, so that I could have gotten genuinely attached to them.

The writing style is overall consistent and suits Theo’s perspective well, having a similar sort of edge. Description lends itself to a surreal tone sometimes, which I don’t necessarily mind for this book; in some parts, it’s incredibly effective, though in others, it occasionally feels a bit overwritten, as if it’s been put in as a way to compensate for the lack of other narrative elements. Dialogue falls into a kind of exaggeratedly snarky cadence, which feels pretty in tune with the tone of the book. I noticed a few spelling and grammatical errors that may well have been adjusted for the final published version of the book. Syntax was occasionally difficult to parse because of the flowery prose, while word choice was often very direct, making sentences a bit obscure at times but stylistically interesting.

A chilling story of a woman's relationship to the woods, which stole her sister when they were younger. This novel is a beautiful southern gothic, full of gritty life and a narrator who can't tell what is real and what is hallucination.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance reader copy.

I found that this book was both too fast and also slow. There are parts where the tension is great and you’re wondering what will be found and then you’ll be breezed through and dumped without any explanation.

There wasn’t enough world building for ‘weird’ parts of the book, so I felt a little disjointed about what was happening and how.

There’s a lot of potential for this to have been an amazing book, but I feel like it fell flat.

Firstly, thank you NetGally and Quill & Crow Publishing House for the ARC of this book.

This was an enjoyable novel for the most part, with an intriguing plot and plenty of action, tackling some great themes.

Centred around missing people and the impact this has on one particular family, we follow the desperate hope of the main character of finding her missing sister and the guilt she carries. There were definite 'X-Files' vibes (in the best of ways) as we learn more and more about what has happened to said missing people, and where they've gone.

Whilst the story is well-paced, I really struggled to empathise with the main character, often feeling quite irritated by them, but the supporting cast offered much to like, resulting in some very touching moments that I didn't expect. There was plenty of tension, a nice mix of sci-fi and horror, and I did enjoy how things were wrapped up.

DNF @ 71%

Sorry, I truly don’t have the energy to push through anymore. The first 1/3 of the book was really engaging and I thought it was the exact dark creepy psychological thriller I was looking for. I can’t really put my finger on it, but this story was just not engaging for me at all. I’ve been trying to suck it up for ages but I’ve come to the conclusion that this is just not for me.