The Winter Folk by Jen Julian Published by Orbit on July 21, 2026
Genres: Fantasy, Horror
Format: ARC, eBook
Source: Netgalley
Goodreads
A woman returns to the mysterious lodge in the woods where she once worked, and to the inscrutable creature that bound her there, in this haunting Appalachian gothic horror from singular voice Jen Julian. Perfect for fans of Alix E. Harrow and T. Kingfisher.
This is the story of Moth, who earned her name working for the Winter Folk.
Every year, the Winter Folk gather at a secret lodge in the Appalachians, a place known as Deerhaven, refuge for the time-worn and weary. As a child, Moth heard warnings from her mother: They are heartless, wild creatures—and they got no concern of us. At twenty-one, Moth is a college dropout, indebted, impoverished, and desperate for better things. She falls instantly for Deerhaven’s beautiful antlered host, the mild-mannered Mr. Oslin. When he offers her a housekeeper’s contract—one wish granted for a winter of service—she signs without question.
But Deerhaven is a dangerous place. Staff must follow strict rules or else face dire consequences, and the guests can be unpredictable and savage. And yet, Moth endures, enticed by a rumor that Mr. Oslin is looking for a protégé. A singular worker who would stay with him forever and be transformed.
Decades later, Moth returns to Appalachia with her husband and teenage daughter. She can't shake the feeling that she needs to return to Deerhaven, which banished her twenty years ago. As she hunts for a way in, her haunting memories and harrowing experiences come roaring back — her friends and rivals, her growing obsession with Mr. Oslin, and her mysterious exile.
A door exists in the dark of the woods. After so long away, what has Deerhaven become?
Is this the year for horror books? Every single one I have come across has made me very excited – and this is no exception. The Winter Folk is a great read that offers something new and delightful.
When I say I could not put this book down, I mean it! The author has captured the eerie atmosphere so well. The world of Deerhaven came alive so readily. The story strays more toward magical realism than true horror, but the incidents that Vera goes through are decidedly gory. I thoroughly enjoyed my experience, wondering what would happen next. This is, by far, one of the most imaginative stories I have come across this year!
The chapters where the story goes back to present-day Vera were not as interesting. The story stagnates here, and the family dynamics are underdeveloped. The way it ties back into Vera’s past is not the greatest, either. However, the rest of the novel made up for this.
The one qualm I have is with the romance: it was weird, unnecessary to the plot and made me uncomfortable.
Overall, I loved this book. It kept me up all night and I’m still thinking about days later. I cannot wait to read more by this author in the future!
