Make sure you have the afternoon free when you sit down with this one, because there is a high chance you will not be able to put it down until you've finished it. Simpson has created an immersive, all consuming and captivating tale which draws from folklore and tales of old, with a generous sprinkle of horror, I think fans of the genre will not be disappointed.

We're thrown into the action straight away, and, as mentioned, I was not able to put the book down until I got to the end. I genuinely believe this is not just a story for a younger audience rather than a book that can be enjoyed by children and adults alike (which is the hallmark of a great children's book to begin with, truthfully).

Gorse and Faye are well fleshed out, the worldbuilding and pace expertly delivered, but for me the strongest point and highlight has to be the atmosphere Simpson has created, slowly and carefully entangling us in a spiderweb of horror and edge-of-your-seat, page-turning storytelling.

A huge thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my review copy, all opinions are my own.

This book is full of folk horror with bite and blood. In the village of Maimsbury, the river Yeelde demands sacrifices, and this year, it’s hungrier than ever. It’s eerie, fast-paced, and perfect for fans of creepy traditions and nature that fights back

Thirst by Darren Simpson is a chilling horror story written for young adults (12+). Simpson wastes no time, plunging the reader straight into the action with gripping, atmospheric storytelling. We quickly encounter a mysterious figure who lures a young boy to his death – but is it a ghost, the bogeyman, or something far darker?
From there, Simpson leads us on a tense journey through the myths and traditions of Maimsbury, a village steeped in curious customs and sinister secrets. At the heart of the story are Gorse and Faye, two teenagers who must confront danger, unravel family legacies, and face the terrifying question: who—or what—is the real monster?
This is an edge-of-your-seat tale that will keep readers turning pages late into the night, and maybe even checking under the bed before they sleep. Perfect for teens who enjoy dark suspense, folklore, and horror with heart.

Really enjoyed this book, great characters, different and unusual storylines, quick read and fast paced!

Told primarily from the perspective of a teenage boy, Gorse, living in the bountiful rural village of Maimsbury, 'Thirst' is an intriguing entry into folk horror for the young adult audience.

Maimsbury's close-knit community comes together to celebrate the seasons and harvests in festivals that echo Celtic tradition, including to give offerings to the River Yeelde which they honour as their protector and giver of fortune. However, when something goes awry Gorse uncovers a devastating secret held by generations of villagers, leading him to choose between what he holds dear and what he believes to be right: a Trolley Problem asking readers what they would do themselves when both actions have deep consequences.

Simpson weaves several thought-provoking rhymes and song verses throughout the narrative which builds the world and its steeped tradition well. His detailed descriptions of natural (and supernatural) phenomenon inspire the imagination and successfully managed to unsettle even an adult reader at times. However, some of his word choices seem out of place for YA book — "eiderdown", "sibilant din", "burble" — that will surely break the flow as readers pause to look up their definitions. The overall style of writing feels disjointed at times, as if the book was about to be graded by a really stern teacher who demands at least 5 metaphors or similes per chapter.

Though I did find the historical reveal to be unique, that it was told all at once through a large chunk of dialogue half way through the book was a bit bland. I suspect the author felt it necessary so the latte half of the novel could shift to be more action-oriented, but it was disappointing given how well the seeds were sown in the first half. The introduction of a comically evil villain to defeat just further undermined the complex moral dilemma and of course, in true YA fashion, we don't have to care about what happens to him because he was mean >:(

Overall, 'Thirst' competently discusses themes of sacrifice, love, and grief through vibrant language and strong character relationships. Teenagers looking for a darker take on fantasy and supernatural forces will likely be enthralled.

Thank you kindly to NetGalley and Pushkin Children's Books for providing me with an early ARC.

I really enjoyed it.

Spooky, mysterious and chilling, while still being age-appropriate,
Canțt recommend enough!

This dark horror story combines gruesome death and folklore with a look at the moral decisions people make in order to benefit themselves and their loved ones.

It is clear from the opening that this is a story where things aren't as they seem. There's a fantastic misdirection which leads to the revelation of the true danger in the story. One of the book's themes is that some things which seem harmless have dark origins and you would be hard pushed to explain them to an outsider. The rhymes the children sing are especially creepy, but the lyrics of many of our own historical nursery rhymes are just as dark when you look into them.

Maimsbury is an insular village blessed with good fortune. The residents all have names from nature (Tansy, Chard, Gorse) so that it's clear when one is an outsider. Faye arrives in the village desperate to work to help the starving family she has left behind in her home village, which has been blighted by poor harvests. She arrives on a festival day in Maimsbury as they give thanks to the river Yeelde, which waters their crops, protects them from floods and keeps their folk safe on the river.. But the Yeelde is a hungry river, situated where the boundaries between life and death are thin. Some years the traditional sacrifice isn't enough. Gorse has accidentally discovered the truth about the Yeelde and, though horrified, is drawn in by familial obligation as he tries to recalibrate his world view.

The horror is compounded by the Yeelde itself, which is a malevolent presence throughout the story. There are some fantastic scenes when the characters are in the woods which had my heart in my mouth. The majority of the book is well paced and you want to read on. I found the ending a little abrupt and would have liked more detail but I can see the reasoning behind leaving it open-ended.

It is a grisly story which features the deaths of humans and animals so best for readers teen and above.

I genuinely couldn't put this gory, suspenseful folk horror down. The writing is tense, emotional, evocative and tightly crafted. I can see my older readers (12+) being enthralled by this perfectly pitched teen horror.

I was absolutely thrilled to have been granted an early read of #Thirst, so huge thanks to the publishers and to NetGalley for the opportunity in exchange for my honest review.
From the onset, there is a deep undercurrent of threat within this tale that makes it such an unsettling, but hugely entertaining page-turner of a tale and one that I couldn't put down. Thirst is seeped in folklore which eddy's through the story, providing a very tense, sometimes unnerving tale; it is certainly not one for the faint of heart.
Maimsbury seems like an ordinary picturesque village set in the heart of the beautiful countryside, but all is not quite what it seems: "Because this year is a Brim Year, and after giving so much, the river needs more than an animal's life to sate its thirst..."
An unbelievably brilliant story, uniquely told.

The writing grabbed me right from the start. It is a fast paced novel that will inspire readers to think about a lot of issues that are relevant to today's world. The protagonist is highly relatable. Will be a hit among teenagers.

This was an amazing story! I totally recommend everyone to read this book as fast as they can because it's really good and the characters are fantastic.

Thirst by Darren Simpson – Review

What a great, spooky, and fast-paced read! The story centres on the small, close-knit village of Maimsbury, where locals follow old traditions and, most of all, worship their river. It never floods, it heals minor ailments, it nourishes the fields and forests. Life seems idyllic — until young Gorse discovers that the river demands more than just a symbolic annual cattle sacrifice. If it doesn’t get what it wants, it takes it.

Out this September — and honestly, the perfect read for Halloween!

Thirst is a completely unique and totally captivating YA folk horror tale for those who love to imagine what might happen if nature has too much power. Deliciously magical, it follows the stories of Gorse and Faye – two teens who strive to do what’s best for their families while trying to make sense of tradition and ancient belief.

Gorse lives in the village of Maimsbury. Each spring, villagers come together to celebrate the River Yeelde, giving thanks for all it’s given to them over the past year. In order to strengthen the river – and their crops going forward – they believe they must offer a sacrifice to the river. A ram is led into the waters by the Yeldthanc Queen – chosen from the young women of the village. Gorse enjoys the Yeldthanc celebrations, not realising the darker side of the ritual. The greater the sacrifice, the greater the strength of the Yeelde – and the more benefits to the land and village. Some years, a ram isn’t enough and the river reaches out for a sacrifice of its own choosing.

Faye has lived a very different life. Growing up some distance from Maimsbury, she isn’t aware of the people’s traditions. Since her father died on Dauntley’s Farm, her mother has struggled to make ends meet. Faye and her little brother have been hungry and their harvest has suffered. Faye decides to disguise herself as a boy and set off to find a job to help her family. When she meets people from Maimsbury on the road, her fortunes change forever.

Thirst is an emotional story of love, loss and sacrifice. The malevolant magic of the river and the people’s drive to protect their own raise intensely thought-provoking questions about the value of life, the treatment of strangers and the power of relationships. This is not a story for the faint hearted. Teens who are looking for a slightly grusome story that does not shy away from the terror supernatural forces in nature can incite will adore getting lost in this incredible world.