Local Gods

Folk? Botanical? Horror? Give it to me now!

Local Gods by Melinda Salisbury is a YA folk horror novel about a girl who, hated by her town for her father’s crimes, must decide whether to save it or burn it all down when a dying god in the woods warns her of an impending catastrophe. When a bone-white crow lands in Sylvie Singer’s backyard, she knows trouble is coming. And after an FBI raid reveals her father’s double life, Sylvie’s entire world comes crashing around her. With nowhere to go but the abandoned railway station in the cursed West Woods, Sylvie spends her time avoiding the carnivorous white deer that live there, counting down the days until she can graduate from high school and finally leave the town that’s openly out for her blood. Then Sylvie encounters a different sort of monster. Illican is a horned god bound to the West Woods, even more wretched than she is. Sylvie is drawn to Illican, excited that he can introduce her to magic that could save her town—save her. But Illican is dying, and the last thing Pine Ridge Hollow wants is help from Sylvie Singer… The town is a tinderbox, and Sylvie is the spark that will either save it or burn it all down.

Oh my gosh, when I say that I initially underestimated the pure insanity and emotional tension this book would present it is to be believe. Going into Local Gods, I thought it would nothing more than a version of Alix E. Harrow's Starling House, catered to a younger audience. What I loved most about this book was the characters. Sylvie is both relatable and believable, and I too would easily walk away from my home town to pursue a forest god. I also liked the lore Salisbury buried within the pages of her book, I found my self racing through the chapters to figure it all out.

One thing I did have some trouble with was the general content. I know this was meant to be a horror book, and I simply underestimated the content warning going into it. Hence it is more my fault than Salisbury's.

Regardless, Local Gods a perfect starter novel for anyone wanting a more botanical horror novel without needing to be boggled down with the real horror that lies within the pages of true adult novels.