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After I read the first chapter of Catriona Ward’s upcoming horror novel, NOWHERE BURNING, I messaged a friend of mine (who is a writer) that this was the kind of chapter that made me glad I’m not a writer. Because the writing in that chapter (and in this whole book) is just ridiculously, disgustingly good. If I was a writer, this book would make me want to quit. 

Or maybe it would inspire me, if I was in some kind of mood, I dunno. 

This is the fourth book by Catriona Ward I’ve read and they’ve all been brilliant in their own way, but I think this one might be my favorite. However I’d choose to rank them, it’s clear that Ward is one of the very best authors in horror today. 

I also started reading this book immediately after DNFing something that, no matter how much I tried, just wasn’t working for me. So cracking open this ARC and being utterly transfixed from the first word to the last was quite an experience. 

Because I’m slow on the uptake & also because it’s not a story that means a whole ton to me, I wasn’t aware heading into this that the book is a loose Peter Pan retelling. That said, there are for sure some Peter Pan elements that become quite obvious here. Additionally, Ward used Michael Jackson’s abandoned Neverland Ranch as a source of inspiration. 

I’m struggling with how best to review this book, and I think for any number of reasons, I’m going to opt for a “less is more” approach & not give too much away. Because there’s a lot about the structure of this book that ultimately reveals a lot more about the story than I want to reveal. 

So I think I’m going to focus my review primarily on Riley & Oliver, the two siblings at the center of the story. 

Riley & her younger brother Oliver have been orphaned & left in the “care” of a relative they know as Cousin. They live in Cousin’s house in Boulder, Colorado, and their situation is extremely abusive & awful. Riley is permitted to go to school, while Oliver is not and spends all of his time in the house, adhering to Cousin’s strict and bizarre rules.

When we meet Riley, she’s just “gotten away with” shoplifting some food (the employee sees that Riley is troubled & looks the other way), and she gets followed by a mysterious teenager named Noon. Noon tells Riley about a place in the mountains. A safe haven for runaway kids. 

So that’s just what Riley & Oliver do. They run away. They break free from Cousin’s abuse and set out to find Nowhere, where they’ll be safe. At least, that’s the plan. 

That’s the hope.

But the truth about Nowhere is much more complicated. Even the journey there is extremely perilous for Riley & Oliver. And through shifting POVs we learn that the history of Nowhere Ranch, and its connection to a famous actor, are deeply disturbing.

Oof. This is an unusual book & I think as I reflect back on the Catriona Ward books that I’ve read, she’s an unusual writer. Things can feel a little surreal. Dialogue can feel a bit stylized & unrealistic. Sometimes it can feel like the world is moving under you as you read. But the book is packed with BIG BIG FEELINGS and a real sense of danger. 

I absolutely adored Riley & Oliver, and I think for sure they are my favorite characters in any of the Catriona Ward books I’ve read. They have this shared experience that is so tragic & sad & traumatizing. And sometimes they can be awful to one another. But there is so much love and trust built into their relationship. The book feels like Riley & Oliver against the world at times. 

I’m not smart enough to properly describe the writing style, but again, it’s unusual in a way. There’s a certain sparseness to it, which is why so much happens in a relatively short book (around 300 pages). I think in another author’s hands, this might have been a 500+ page novel, but Ward uses a really concise style here & it just works. The language is striking & haunting & so fucking beautiful. 

NOWHERE BURNING is a mesmeric puzzle box of a novel, and one that really demands the attention of the reader. It’s the kind of book that is practically begging for a reread, because I’m sure it’s filled with little clues that I missed the first time around. There’s a wildness & sense of unpredictability to this story that I found completely thrilling. The story feels dangerous & hopeful & alive. I really loved everything about this one, and it easily snuck onto my favorite reads of 2025 list. I’m looking forward to reading this one again at some point (probably on audio) and also can’t wait to see more reactions to this when it comes out!

Endless thanks to Nightfire for sending the ARC my way! NOWHERE BURNING releases February 24th!