Local Gods

At a glance

17 year old Sylvie is left with nowhere to go when the FBI take away her father. She is shunned within her small community, where even her mother has deserted her. The only remaining option is to live in the West Woods – where magic lies and a monster lives. Slowly, Sylvie discovers that the creatures who haunt the woods might not be all that they seem nor are the people around her. Battling against prejudice and mistrust Sylvie tries to make things right in a novel that is filled with folk horror.

This is my first time reading this genre and it didn’t disappoint. The reality of an isolated and rejected teen will be understood by many readers whilst the magic and the mythology adds a new dimension to a familiar trope.
I liked Sylvie as a character but was rooting for Illican, the monster. Their relationship is poignant and complex. Highly recommended.

Published by David Fickling Books, 2026

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