If you love Labrynth, appreciate the creepy undertones of Peter Pan, and vibe with the religious trauma and forest magic in For the Wolf, you're gonna want to add My Throat an Open Grave to your TBR immediately.

Leah feels trapped in her small town of Winston, Pennsylvania. It's surrounded by the forest on all sides, but what really suffocates her is the way it orbits the church. In Winston, there's no further calling for their women than being a Good Girl, and if you're not? The Lord of the Wood will punish you, and you'll be the next in a long line of girls who disappear into the forest, never to return.

When Leah's baby brother, Owen, is taken by the Lord of the Wood and replaced with a bundle of sticks while she's babysitting him, the town turns against her. She's forced to venture into the woods to attempt to bargain with the Lord in exchange for Owen's safe return.

But when Leah meets the Lord of the Wood and his followers and experiences the mysterious magic of their realm, she begins to wonder if good vs. evil is really as straightforward as she thought.

Leah is introspective and smart, and her trauma is depicted realistically and painfully. This was a great combo of fantasy and horror elements, with a woodsy, folk vibe. I did see one of the twists coming, but not the other, and felt satisfied with the ending. I'd have loved a little more background on the magical lore, and it was a little weird every time I remembered that this was set in modern day, but overall I had a great time with this one! Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.