Season of Fear - Emily Cooper

SEASON OF FEAR

EMILY COOPER

*****

BLOOD SPILLS FROM VEINS, SKIN STARTS TO CRACK, 

IGNORE THE FOREST; TURN BACK, TURN BACK . . .

In the village of Heulensee, Ilse Odenwald dreams of being afraid. Because in Heulensee, fearfulness is next to godliness.

A monstrous forest borders the village – the Hexenwald. Its horrors attack every time the sky turns blood-red. The townsfolk’s only defence comes from the gruesome, ancient Saint of Fear, who demands the women and girls offer up their terror in return for its protection.

Born without the ability to feel fear, Ilse is an outsider. As hard as she tries, she cannot bring forth the dread that the Saint of Fear demands. When it discovers her divergence, the Saint levels a threat: Ilse must find her fear, or it will devour her sister.

Unable to lose Thea, the only person who understands her, Ilse enters the Hexenwald, hoping that the monsters it harbours will finally scare her. But the forest is hiding a multitude of secrets and Ilse is about to discover that there’s much more than fear to be found within . . .

MY REVIEW

*****

Season of Fear was a book I bumped up my list for my spooky season reads – the blurb was so intriguing, and I was excited to get started!

In Ilse’s village fear is currency, the women use their fear to appease and strengthen the Saint of Fear who in return protects them from the monsters in the forest. But Ilse has a secret - she cannot feel fear, and with her Right coming up on her 18th birthday, it’s going to be a secret that is hard to keep…

This book is an incredibly assured debut, it has everything in it – a fantasy horror story with a standalone plot progression, detailed worldbuilding, characters you feel something for and a powerful message at its heart. You feel empathy for Ilse straight away – the love for her sister, her pain at not feeling fear like everyone else in the village and her determination to fix everything against all odds. Her relationship with Ash also builds nicely and is touching and felt realistic, even in the fantasy setting around them.

The setting and the world building are strong – the ever-changing woods of the Hexenwald which seems to have a life of its own at times kept me on my toes. The backstory of the village is also detailed, and we really feel the inequality of the women who are forced to stay fearful to protect the men who do not need to make such sacrifice. It is the power of these women that are at the forefront of the story, and Ilse’s rage at the system she has been born into is well-founded.

I enjoyed the twists and turns at the plot and the way that the Emily Cooper pulls no punches and is unafraid to make big changes. The epilogue was actually heartbreaking, and although most of the story is wrapped up, there is a small opening which could be used for a sequel if needed. If this is what Emily Cooper can write as a debut author, I’m very excited to see what she writes next!

Overall, Season of Fear is a fantastic debut which puts the strength of women at the front and centre of the plot – it’s a 2025 Kindig Gem for me! Thank you to NetGalley & Simon & Schuster UK for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

LINKS YOU BUY

Amazon UK

Waterstones