🩸 Horror Fiction

Secrets in the Forest

✍️ William Dwyer
Reader Score
4.5
(1 review)
$13.99
In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days
📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A story of ancient beings claiming New Zealand through a sealed forest portal.

Ken and his companions face escalating threats from rapidly moving undead as society collapses under official deception. An ancient gateway in Waipoua Forest releases primordial entities intent on claiming the territory. These beings erect a barrier isolating New Zealand, shifting the struggle to one of territorial dominance. The outcome determines whether the land remains free or becomes an enclosed prison controlled by hostile forces.

Key Themes
Waipoua Forest ancient portal crack-wights
Literary Context

This book is set in New Zealand during a time of national collapse and pandemic. It draws on gothic traditions of ancient entities emerging from the land. The story reflects supernatural horror themes where the environment becomes a prison. The setting emphasizes the isolation of the island nation behind a supernatural shield.

Difficulty
●●● Challenging
Recommended For Fans Of
Clive Barker · H.P. Lovecraft · Max Brooks · John Langan
🩸
Horror Fiction
🏛 William Dwyer 📅 2026 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781067069391

📝 Description: Secrets in the Forest

William Dwyer tells a tale of a fractured New Zealand where Ken and his group head north as the country falls apart. The plot highlights fast-moving crack-wights and communities left to survive alone while officials hide the real cause behind a fake disease. In Waipoua Forest, an old gateway opens, unleashing creatures older than the undead that want to take over. These beings create a barrier cutting off the nation from global contact, turning survival into a fight for territorial control. Losing this area means the land becomes a trap rather than a home. This book targets fans of dark fantasy and stories about environmental hostility and societal breakdown. It avoids traditional hero arcs or clear answers about the outbreak, focusing instead on the immediate danger of the portal's inhabitants.

💎 Our verdict on Secrets in the Forest

“
🩸
Horror Reads editorial team
Horror desk
Dwyer crafts a tense atmosphere where the collapse of order is driven by more than just undead horres; it is the arrival of ancient, territorial beings that fundamentally alters the nature of the threat. The narrative excels in depicting the isolation of New Zealand, turning the geography into a prison rather than a refuge. By avoiding clear answers about the outbreak and focusing on the immediate physical danger, the story maintains a relentless pace. It suits readers who appreciate cosmic horror elements blended with gritty survivalism. The portrayal of fast-moving crack-wights and the sealing barrier creates a claustrophobic dread that resonates with fans of psychological and environmental horror. This is a robust entry for those who enjoy stories where the land itself is the antagonist.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers seeking immersive tales of societal breakdown and environmental hostility will find this narrative compelling. It appeals to those who prefer immediate, visceral danger over traditional heroic arcs or neat resolutions. The focus on the struggle for territorial dominance against primordial entities offers a fresh perspective on zombie lore, shifting the threat from mere infection to cosmic invasion. Fans of dark fantasy who enjoy stories where the landscape itself becomes hostile and officials are unreliable narrators will appreciate the tension. It is ideal for audiences tired of predictable outbreak plots, offering instead a grim fight for survival against forces that view humanity as an obstacle to be contained rather than cured.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.5
Based on 1 reviews
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Horror Reads editorial team

Dwyer crafts a tense atmosphere where the collapse of order is driven by more than just undead horres; it is the arrival of ancient, territorial beings that fundamentally alters the nature of the threat. The narrative excels in depicting the isolation of New Zealand, turning the geography into a prison rather than a refuge. By avoiding clear answers about the outbreak and focusing on the immediate physical danger, the story maintains a relentless pace. It suits readers who appreciate cosmic horror elements blended with gritty survivalism. The portrayal of fast-moving crack-wights and the sealing barrier creates a claustrophobic dread that resonates with fans of psychological and environmental horror. This is a robust entry for those who enjoy stories where the land itself is the antagonist.

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