Jessica is a stay-at-home mom to a teen named Sandy, who dabbles in witchcraft. Her husband, Greg, works at some internet company where he does things she doesn’t fully understand. Jessica wouldn’t exactly call herself happy, but tries not to think too hard about why, especially when it comes to her own sexual identity.
When Greg is assigned to bring the British island of Hasenhurst into the 21st century, the family temporarily relocates across the pond. At first, Hasenhurst feels a bit like paradise, untouched by technology, made up of well-mannered children and citizens who make their own jams, all dressed up in a woodland, cottagecore package, and Jessica desperately wants to assimilate herself into this simple, cozy way of living. Sandy, however, immediately feels something isn’t quite right and is determined to pull back the veil. As the family acclimates to their new lodgings at the mysterious Hollyoak House, a countdown inevitably ticks down to the town’s Tigglestide Day celebration.
Author Bitter Karella (Moonflow) builds horror slowly and subtly. At first, it’s a “blink and you miss it” eeriness, like seeing something out of the corner of your eye, but the tension multiplies exponentially with each new day. As Karella peels back the pleasant facade of a small, idyllic town to expose the darkness underneath, Jessica and Sandy wrestle with questions of isolation, indoctrination and identity. Mother and child experience the same events, but respond to them in vastly different ways: Jessica has been shaped by her past religious trauma, while Sandy, though still very much a teenager, feels grounded in their spiritual practice.
Quaint Folk must be experienced for oneself, in all of its folklorist, fever-dream glory. It’s a pastoral uncanny valley designed to lure you into a false sense of security and community. The vibes are immaculate, especially for readers looking for something that’s equal parts quirky and creepy.