Absolutely love the cover. It perfectly captures the tone. Official blurb:

Like the children mesmerized into the darkening woods where danger awaits, readers will be lured and hooked in the thickening mysteries of this thrilling debut by talented newcomer Ashton Noone.

A haunting thriller this novel tells the tale of a young girl's disappearance brings back unwanted memories to Ava, and her old friends, of the death of Adam Albright, the son of one of the wealthiest families in Reachwood. The secrets behind the night Adam died begin to haunt Ava as someone starts to leave notes on her doorstep and a knife ... the knife that no one was supposed to find. It was a gripping book with a great cast of characters. Beautifully written and I got really invested in the story. I would highly recommend reading this one.

The forest that hides secrets. The protagonist who’s forced to return to the hometown from where she had to flee years before, and now the hidden secrets come back to haunt her. These seem to be the common tropes of many of today’s mystery/psychological novels, but Ashton Noone melds these into one heck of a story.

Ava had to leave Reachwood just after the body of one of her classmates was discovered in the mysterious forest that borders the town, the forest where children are told never to go into for fear they will disappear as many others have. Years later, in order to escape an abusive husband she’s divorcing, she returns to Reachwood with her daughter. Long buried secrets from her past start to surface, and the plot then barrels along to a shocking conclusion.

My thanks to Penzler Publishers and to Netgalley for providing an ARC of Vicious Creatures.

The cover and title of the book give out spine-chilling vibes and I went into the book with expectations of mystery suspense novel with a creepy storyline. Vicious Creatures did not disappoint from the opening prologue to the shock ending.

The novel is told through the view of protagonist Ava Montgomery. Ava has returned to her childhood home after fleeing her abusive soon to be ex-husband. With no where to go, the safest place she can think of for her and her teenage daughter Marjorie is to stay with her parents. Home, however, was the last place Ava ever wanted to return to.

The story goes back and forth from "Today" and "Fifteen Years Ago". What happened 15 years ago reveals the reasons why Ava never wanted to return home. We learn of the events of her teenage years, the eerie tales of the forest surrounding the community and what is happening in present day.

Ava's return home has been anything but welcome. Her mother is a horrible person who constantly puts her down and is anything but supportive, hostile messages start appearing on their door and old friends and acquaintances from her past aren't always friendly and her daughter is informed of rumors from her mom's past.

The novel is a steady pace read. The character building was great. I liked some characters, I disliked others so they definitely were written well. The supernatural story of the forest adds a great element to the story. I was torn thinking back and forth, is there something unexplainable going on or is there someone behind it as many children/teens have been victims of the forest.

In the end, there are some unanswered questions I have and still some unexplained deaths but overall, the book held my attention and I read it over two nights.

Four solid stars! Thank you to Net Galley and Penzler Publishers for providing me with an advanced digital read copy!

This was a great read! Ominous, sinister, and disturbing--warning, don't read alone in the dark LOL. The writing was great and created a strong atmosphere that sucked me right in. Lots of suspense and mystery that kept me guessing and dying to know more.

I made the mistake of reading this alone at night in the middle of a storm. It was the perfect blend of eerie whodunnit. What is in the woods and why are so many going missing? Definitely not to be missed reading the perfectly written book.
Thank you Netgalley & Ashton Noone for an advanced copy of this wonderful book.

A gripping premise - something dark hiding in the woods stealing the town's children and unraveling a dark past - is ruined by unlikable characters and a main character defined by her abuse and eating disorder.

We are introduced to Ava by means of her scars and bruises from her ex husband. We know little about her other than that she was abused and has a teenage daughter who is likewise bland. When we finally learn some more about Ava's past, her character is mostly developed through her eating disorder. We hear about calories, hunger, appetite suppressants, her purging after she is forced to eat. Her victimhood and eating disorder seem to define her. Furthermore, every few lines is Ava picking at her wrist, nibbling at her lip, stroking a scar – I started to get fidgety and anxious reading about it. Her character had very little depth. I likewise grew frustrated with her friends, and her stern parents.

The middle is slow, and I found myself rushing through it. I didn't find much to like and I found a lot to dislike. I hope others have more luck with this one.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you, Scarlet, for allowing me to read Vicious Creatures early!

What a thrilling novel this was and a really amazing debut for Ashton Noone! I had to hold my breath so much because of the suspense and tension Noone's writing created, I could try out for the Guinness World Records. I loved this book from start to finish.

A gripping, fast paced story with a great cast of characters.
A really well written, intriguing story.
The characters are great. It is an edge of your seat addiction. I loved it.
Vicious Creatures was a wonderful book and I'm extremely thankful for the opportunity to read it.
Finishing the novel was exciting and surprising. I was not expecting the contents of the Epilogue and this reflects the plot in its entirety. The twists and turns added to the mystery that we are all trying to find answers to

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

Scarlet,
Thank You for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!
I will post my review to my platforms, blog, B&N and Waterstone closer to pub date.

WOW! :D

Reachwood is a town of secrets and legends. One such legend includes something hiding in the forest... waiting to claim innocent young lives. If you make it to the grove, you can leave it a treasure and all of your dreams can come true ... or not.

With nowhere to hide from her abusive ex-husband, Ava Montgomery must return to her hometown with her troubled teenage daughter, Marjorie. Having run from Reachwood fifteen years earlier, Ava is forced back into her old crowd of wealthy friends in the midst of a search for a young girl, who had walked into the forest and didn't return. This young girl's disappearance brings back unwanted memories to Ava, and her old friends, of the death of Adam Albright, the son of one of the wealthiest families in Reachwood. The secrets behind the night Adam died begin to haunt Ava as someone starts to leave notes on her doorstep and a knife ... the knife that no one was supposed to find. The questions haunt Ava as she tries to figure out who knows about that night while trying to keep her daughter from the forest, where something inside seems to be calling to her.

"Vicious Creatures" definitely pulled me in from the start. I wanted to know all of the secrets of Reachwood, what was in the forest, what happened to Adam, and what did Ava have to do with it? I enjoyed the mystery, thrill, and creepiness behind the legends and secrets and couldn't wait to finish the page I was on. The book does get kind of slow in the middle, but then it seems to pick back up and continue on. This slowness is the reason I am giving it four stars instead of five.

Thank you NetGalley and Penzler Publishers for allowing me to read this ARC for an honest review. You can also find this review on my Goodreads at the following link: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4601621184

I really enjoyed reading this book, it was well written with a disturbing and compelling storyline and well developed characters. It was full of dark and gothic imagery and vivid descriptions that made this a very tense and atmospheric read. Full of suspense, mystery and unpredictability, I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. I was gripped and can't wait to read it again.