Unfortunately, this book was not for me. If you like ghostly horror stories, it might be just what you're looking for, but that's not my cup of tea unfortunately. I went in thinking it was more of a straightforward suspense with horror elements and that's not what it turned out to be.

I didn't connect with the characters, and the plot had too many unanswered questions for me. There was a lot about this book that reminded me of The Ruins--the feeling of foreboding and everyone warning them away from the area, and the supernatural events that happen when they are there. It's possible that this book might be better as a movie, because the drama seems more suited to that type of medium.

Side note: I spent the entire book worried about the dog, and we don't know what happened to the dog. Why was the dog even included? To make readers more anxious?

If you like ghost horror stories, this book might be for you. If not, then I suggest reading one of the many intriguing non-fiction books about the Dyatlov Pass incident.

I absolutely don’t read enough horror with settings in nature and This Wretched Valley scratched an itch I didn’t realize I had. This book is great for fans of books similar to The Ruins where readers know that their main characters are going to get trapped somewhere, but the how, the why, and the what will happen to them is completely unknown.

This Wretched Valley was the perfect mix of suspense and twistiness while also delivering on the examination of the psychological impact the situation has on our cast of characters. Speaking of which, the cast is great. Kiefer gives readers four unique characters who each get the chance to tell the story from their perspective. I loved the insider look into what each of them was experiencing and their observations about how those with them were reacting to what was happening. Mix this with an isolated and largely unknown setting and you’re in for a book you just can’t put down.

I highly recommend walking into this one as blindly as possible and following along with the cast as they try to find out what’s happening around them.

A huge thank you to Quirk Books for my gifted copy!

For those that are interested in the curious cases that have an endless amount of conspiracy theories and/or love outdoor sports this book is for you.

Four people go on a climbing expedition, all go missing, and then 3 are found dead. The 3 bodies that are found are in such condition that medical professionals and investigators are both baffled. After years there is still no explanation and the fourth person has not been found. These four people are unaware of their fate as they excitedly hike into the woods in the spring of 2019. Clay is a geology student who is working on his PhD. When he finds a cliff in the Kentucky woods that is untouched he knows it’s the perfect location for his thesis. He gets together a fellow student, Sylvia, to be his research assistant, Dylan, an old friend that just got signed with a professional climbing company, and Luke, Dylan’s boyfriend and belayer (which is basically the person that holds the rope at the bottom of the cliff for the climber for those like me that don’t know climbing lingo). The trip starts out with everyone excited and eager and soon turns into a nightmare.

This was inspired by the Dyatlov Pass incident which is endlessly fascinating to me. Unlike the Dyatlov Pass incident while the professionals and the public in the book never learn what happened to these four people us as the readers get the full, terrifying account. I loved Jenny Kiefer’s writing. I am not an outdoorsy sportsman person and have never been climbing indoors or outdoors so I’m completely unaware of any aspect of the sport. But I ended up not only knowing so much more about climbing that I did before starting the book I felt like I actually climbed a mountain. The descriptions are amazing that you can tell the author has climbing experience. While it was amazing (and a bit scary) reading about the climbing excursion this also meant that the other more sinister events of the book are very detailed as well. It was easy to feel like I was losing my mind while reading.

By the end of the book I felt like some parts were a little bit overdone in the sense they felt like they dragged on for too long. However, overall, it is a great story and a great read. Highly recommend.

What a book! I usually don't read a lot of gore and horror, so I was hesitant to pick this one up, but I am glad I did. It kept me on the edge of my seat the entire book. It is definitely not for those with weak stomachs. I will definitely be recommending this to our patrons!

A heart-pounding novel with never a dull moment.

Four young adults venture in to the woods of Kentucky, to explore and climb a seemingly undiscovered rock that one of them has spotted from an airplane. It becomes immediately apparent that this is no typical wilderness, and that getting out is much harder than getting in.

Inspired by the Dyatlov Pass incident, This Wretched Valley is for fans of The Ruins and the Blair Witch Project. This horror debut will make you think twice about going off and exploring the unknown……

This Wretched Valley starts with the discovery of three bodies in the Kentucky wilderness - their varying states of decay and the strange conditions of their remains sparking wild conspiracy theories about what happened to these three young campers… and what happened to their missing fourth member of their expedition, who has seemingly vanished without a trace.

Months before this grisly discovery, four friends adventured into the Kentucky wilderness to map out what they think is an undiscovered rock formation. Clay and Silva were geology students, collecting data for their graduate research. Dylan and Luke wanted to film the climb up the untouched cliff face and cement Dylan’s status as a rising star in the rock climbing influencer community. What happened to them was a mystery…until now.

Opening with the discovery of (most) of the ill-fated party, and then traveling back in time to see their misadventures, This Wretched Valley had me hooked from the very first line. There’s a sense of dread that pervades throughout the novel, you know going into the book the fate of most of our main characters, and even when things are going well for them you feel helpless, forced to sit back and watch their plans, their dreams, and their very lives unravel in front of you.

Reader beware - strong body horror throughout. The description of the body horror is graphic and gruesome; this elevates the stakes and the horror of a survival story, but readers sensitive to body injury might want to steer clear of this story. Even though we do know WHAT happens, which might take some of the suspense away from the unfolding events, the HOW of everything will keep the reader engaged.

This Wretched Valley is a strong debut, and I look forward to checking out whatever Kiefer writes next.

Thank you to NetGally and Quirk Books for the ARC of this book!

You know a horror book is going to be good when the people at the beginning keep making all the classic horror movie blunders. Not listening to locals, not heeding signs, and most of all not paying attention when any animal with you is freaked out and doesn't want to go. If you dog barks at something you can't see in the woods: run.

A group of four people and their dog set out on a scientific/ climbing trip into the Kentucky wilderness after the geologist friend discovers an untouched cliff face. They set out to research the area and for Dylan to be the first person to climb it. They bring along their dog, who really doesn't want to go into the woods, and continue to ignore all the strange things until they are camped in the valley by the rock wall. Then disaster happens and they discover they can't actually leave the valley. Are the woods haunted? Is it all in their heads? The book keeps you guessing until the climax. Quite a bit of gore, especially at the end. Vaguely reminds me of The Descent.

This book is recommended for people who enjoy gore and other gross stuff. This isn't my thing, but the test is well-written and I see what there is to like about it. However I can't help but think that this is what you get for camping. No spooky woods for me, thank you.

The absolute thrill that went through me when I was approved for this ARC was outrageous. I love horror, and this book seemed right up my alley. Thanks to @netgalley and @quirkbooks for the opportunity!
This Wretched Valley by Jenny Kiefer follows a group of four — Dylan, her boyfriend Luke, Sylvia, and Clay — as they embark on a research project in the Kentucky wilderness. Clay and Sylvia are working towards their PhDs, and the study revolves around a huge rock wall in an untouched forest. Dylan, a newly-sponsored climber, is excited to tag along and help them develop the climbs on the wall along with Luke. Unfortunately things take a turn for the worse almost immediately.
Inspired by the Dyatlov Pass incident (one of my personal favorite WTFs) and written by an experienced climber, this book is both an accurate glimpse into the world of climbing and an utterly dread-filled ride. I was sucked in literally from the first sentence. “There’s something in the woods” is my favorite flavor of horror, and This Wretched Valley gives us a whole meal. 4★

This was a really fast paced and enjoyable read. The terror throughout was well done and I had a great time.

An adventure tale gone wrong, perfect for fans of THE RUINS and ECHO or anyone who has wondered what really happened at Dyatlov Pass! I enjoyed the pacing and was deeply creeped out!

This Wretched Valley combines the intensity of The Descent with the paranormal aspects of The Shining and the camaraderie of The . When four brave souls attempt to discover uncharted territory for individualized personal gain, all hell breaks loose. The beginning pulled me in hard core. I love when we know what happens in the end and then the reader is taken on the journey of how we got there. This novel is perfect for horror fans, a refreshing take on the lost hiker novel.

This Wretched Valley by Jenny Kiefer
Pub date: January 16, 2024

Wilderness/survival horror is my jam, any isolated/remote setting, any lost group with wicked beasties running amok, serial killer at a snowed in ski resort – what can I say? I’m smitten with it.

Dylan is a rock climber and just gaining ground as an influencer. When her friend Clay finds a rock in the Kentucky forest that nobody has ever documented, she knows this is her chance to make her mark in the climbing world. Dylan, along with her boyfriend, Luke, Clay, and Clay’s research aide, Sylvia, head out to the Kentucky forest to hike to the cliff face, all for different reasons.

Each characters POV pulls a little more out of the story and adds to the general feeling of dismay and confusion. There’s a lot of gore so if you’ve a weak stomach – be warned.

Really, going into this blind is the best. The synopsis gives some details but there’s so much more to the story. Saying anymore will be spoilerish and not going to do that. I’ll leave you with the three words below:

Chilling, insidious and sinister.

This book is such a successful survival horror with a mix of science fiction and ghosts! A fun, creepy, and suspenseful read.

I've been excited to read this book for months, and I was finally able to get through my more urgent reads (ones due back at the library soon) and get to it.

In the beginning, there are some signs that this is a first time author. I felt like at times she hit me over the head with the ultimate fate of our protagonists a bit hard, but we quickly move past that into the meat of the story. Also, there seem to be several horror references for the sharp eyed individual, that I enjoyed, even if they weren't intentional.

The story itself is wonderful. Survival in a land that REALLY doesn't want you to survive. The supernatural elements are clever, and felt almost natural for the first half, nothing so outlandish as to throw me out of the story.

Once everything picks up, it goes all out on the terror and gore. The little vignettes of other people who the land had taken were excellent additions as well.

Overall, I found it hard to put down, and truly enjoyed this book. I really hope to see more from this author in the future!

Four people Clay, Sylvia, Dylan and Luke go into the forest and only bodies come back out...

This sounded like it was going to be interesting I like a survival story here and there so I figured why not? We start with 3 bodies being found and one person missing on a doomed trip charting a new place to rock climb. Admittedly I know nothing about rock climbing and I’m not outdoorsy at all still it sounded interesting...

Unfortunately for me it wasn’t interesting it was painfully boring and I couldn’t possibly bother to care about any of these people. The only smart one was the dog who knew they shouldn’t be there right away. For some people I’m sure this book is great but for me not so much.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Jenny Kiefer for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for This Wretched Valley coming out January 16, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I thought it was suspenseful and mysterious. There were some high stakes involved. I think the writing was really good. There didn’t seem to be a lot of dialogue. I think I would’ve loved it more if there was more dialogue. That’s just my personal preference. There were also some choices made that didn’t seem to coincide with professional climbers. But I guess it’s a survival thriller for a reason.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys horror survival novels!

Four young people start an expedition to document an undiscovered rock face, but something goes terribly wrong. Three of their bodies are found in mystifying condition 7 months later, with the fourth still missing. Were they somehow unprepared for the wilderness, have an accident befall them, or did something inexplicable happen?

I really liked this book. The amazing cover drew my attention right away, and the story starts with a bang. There are some serious spine-chilling moments where I needed to turn on all the lights. The desire to find out what happened to these characters had me frantically turning pages. The book was inspired by the Dyatlov Pass incident, which has always fascinated me. It was repetitive and meandering at points, but overall a very solid scary story. Thank you to Netgalley and Quirk Books for the chance to review this advance copy. This Wretched Valley is available for purchase everywhere you buy books now!

This was the perfect wildness horror story, along the lines of The Ruins, The Troop, The Ritual, or even the movie As Above So Below. Or perfect for someone interested in the mysteries of The Dyatlov Pass.

The fear of the unknown was prevalent throughout--I was hooked from the first few pages. A thrilling and an absolutely gruesome, bloody ride that I didn't want to put down!!

This Wretched Valley was a tense, horror-filled read that really increased my fears of the wilderness and what could be lurking in the dark forest. I wasn’t a fan of the outdoors prior to reading this book and I’m even less of a fan now!

Even though being trapped in the woods is a big fear of mine, I really loved the forest setting in this story. The setting was a big part of the book and it added a lot to the eerie atmosphere. I was so immersed in this story and there were many fear inducing moments that freaked me the heck out.

I thought this was a well written horror debut. I loved the author’s descriptive writing, especially the gore-filled horror scenes (even though they made me nauseous). Some of the characters were horrible and I was hoping they would succumb to the elements (sorry, not sorry..).

I definitely recommend this book, especially to fans of wilderness/survival horror.