**02/16 - Bumping this up a star. 3+ years later I still can't go into the woods without thinking about it and still look over my shoulder every time I hear the rustle of leaves.** 
 The first half of this book was excellent. The second half barely resembled the first. I was under the impression that I was reading the best horror novel of the year until it suddenly became something erratically different, resulting in the most disappointing horror novel of the year. I've never experienced anything like it - how something so good could take such a drastic turn and ruin the entire reading experience. Five stars for the first half. Two for the second half.