If art imitates life, horror fiction is a great mimic, predicting and exploring the frightening and surreal realities of the contemporary world. Exhibit A: Zoje Stage’s mind-bending, trippy second novel, Wonderland. . . . The question of responsibility for the nightmare lingers as does the line between reality and imagination." —Danielle Trussoni, New York Times Book Review
"A beautifully choreographed and astonishing second novel from the author of the much-celebrated Baby Teeth . . . Eloquent and unflinching."—Booklist (starred review)
"Oh, fright fans rejoice. That sure hand you're looking for? That relentless climb, that crescendo of cold sweat? It's all here. Deep in the woods, under a lot of snow, steeped in mad, unfamiliar nature. Zoje Stage is in total control of your nightmare. For those who live to be scared, Wonderland is the book you'll be glad you cracked open at home, alone, at night."—Josh Malerman, New York Times bestselling author of Bird Box and Malorie
“Sublimely suspenseful . . . Stage is a literary horror writer on the rise. Her refined prose and knack for emphasizing small but disquieting details make Wonderland a standout summer suspense selection. Reader be warned: The woods will never look the same once you read Stage’s latest.”—BookPage
"A novel that's sure to leave you sleeping with the lights on."—PopSugar
"The tension builds steadily throughout . . . Reminiscent of the severe disorientation and trauma in Mark Z. Danielewski's House of Leaves and the nature-seeking revenge theme of Stephen Graham Jones's The Only Good Indians."—Library Journal (starred review)
“Stage knows how to set a scene, ramp up the suspense and make you feel so trapped in it that the horror becomes palpable [and] undeniably creepy… This is a book about wish fulfillment, fear and faith.”—BookReporter
"Wonderland shows the terror lurking below the surface of domestic bliss, when we realize our familiar and cozy world may not be as it seems. Zoje Stage is one of the few writers who can make the supernatural feel totally, dangerously real."—Alma Katsu, author of The Deep and The Hunger
"Zoje Stage has a knack for unsettling atmospherics . . . Wonderland is a perfect, chilling parable for summer."—CrimeReads
“This was creepy, enthralling, and utterly engaging. I read it in half a day. Baby Teeth left me unsettled, and this one did exactly the same, despite how different the stories were. Loved it."—Karma Brown, author of Recipe for a Perfect Wife
"Wonderland is part ghost story, part family drama, part psychological thriller. And beyond that, it is beautifully written. I was captivated through the entire story."—T. Greenwood, author of Keeping Lucy and Rust & Stardust
“Masterfully depicts an unknown force that embodies the oppressive tension that can come with being trapped with one's family, cut off from the rest of society. . . . Eerily timely, but Orla has much worse demons to face than the ones inside the mind. This story of domestic challenges and mounting horror will please fans of Shirley Jackson."—Shelf Awareness
"Memorable imagery . . . Stage's darkly lyrical writing style shines."—Publishers Weekly
"Five words: Don't go into the woods. Thanks to this book, now I'm afraid of trees, psychotic children, magic, ghost stories, families, polar bears, shotguns, and my own shadow. #thankszoje Wonderfully dark and creepy, Wonderland is a terrifically terrifying masterpiece. Horrific. Exquisite. Haunting. Magical. Stage is a masterful voice in horror."—Rea Frey, author of Not Her Daughter and Until I Find You
“Expect supernatural events and at least one 'ruthless' surprise . . . Readers of Wonderland will be shocked.”—Pittsburgh City Paper
"What a stunning sophomore book! Stage masterfully takes the reader through this chilling tale, hitting you hard in the gut as the dread and tension rises ever higher. I was nauseous, fearful, and loved every minute of it."—Erin A. Craig, New York Times bestselling author of House of Salt and Sorrows
"Zoje Stage's Wonderland is a mesmerizing journey into the darkest realms of the supernatural; a family, escaping the perils of city life, discovers that the splendors of nature can mask a hidden face of savage, unnameable terror."—Kathleen Kent, author of The Burn
"Zoje Stage's foreboding sophomore novel combines the bone-chilling paranoia of The Shining with the uncanny suspense of Suspiria. Just as deliciously unsettling as her unforgettable debut, Wonderland is a must-read for horror and thriller fans."—Layne Fargo, author of Temper
"Zoje Stage plucks the strings of a mother's worst fears like none other through this wondrous adventure as it unravels into claustrophobic terror. Hauntingly beautiful and scary as hell, Wonderland takes you deep into the woods of one woman's mind and her harrowing struggle to save her children."—D.M. Pulley, author of The Dead Key and No One's Home
04/06/2020
In this tepid psychological thriller with a paranormal slant from Stage (Baby Teeth), 41-year-old Orla Bennett, a recently retired ballet dancer, and her family—husband Shaw and two young children—move from a New York City apartment to an old house on six acres deep in the Adirondacks. Shortly after their arrival, Orla and the children have deep misgivings about the secluded place, which seems to be home to a supernatural presence. But Shaw, an aspiring artist who grew up in the North Country, was drawn to the property—especially the towering, centuries-old pine tree behind the house—and advises Orla and the kids to disregard the increasingly strange occurrences (like 10 feet of snow falling overnight), all of which seem to be aimed at keeping the family on the property. Though Stage’s darkly lyrical writing style shines in places—particularly in creating memorable imagery—that can’t save a derivative story with a conspicuous lack of overall emotional intensity. This is disturbing for all the wrong reasons. Agent: Stephen Barbara, Inkwell Management. (June)
★ 04/01/2020
Proving that the scares in her 2018 debut, Baby Teeth, were no accident, Stage returns with her second novel, this time ratcheting up the supernatural element. Orla, a recently retired ballerina, agrees to move with her family from Manhattan to a remote farmhouse in upstate New York so that her husband can pursue his painting career. Almost immediately upon arriving, their tween daughter senses something is very wrong; the land and trees surrounding their house teem with evil intent. The atmosphere is oppressive from page one and the tension builds steadily throughout, as the house and the land it stands on turn against the family, infiltrating their innermost thoughts, making Orla question her very sanity. VERDICT Reminiscent of the severe disorientation and trauma in Mark Z. Danielewski's House of Leaves and the nature-seeking revenge theme of Stephen Graham Jones's The Only Good Indians—with elements of and nods to Shirley Jackson's works—Stage's latest offers a memorable take on the haunted house trope.
Narrator Xe Sands combines an easy-listening voice and a wide range of character differentiation in this suspenseful story. Orla and Snow Bennett and their two children are ready to escape their harried lives in the city. They go to the Adirondack Mountains, where they expect a peaceful existence, but things are not what they seem. The isolation proves frightening as something formless and frightening begins to come for the family. Sands varies her tone and pacing to portray the keen awareness and intelligence of Orla, who must do everything she can to save her loved ones. Capturing the story’s blend of calm and creepiness, Sands takes listeners on an eerie adventure. M.L.S. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine
Narrator Xe Sands combines an easy-listening voice and a wide range of character differentiation in this suspenseful story. Orla and Snow Bennett and their two children are ready to escape their harried lives in the city. They go to the Adirondack Mountains, where they expect a peaceful existence, but things are not what they seem. The isolation proves frightening as something formless and frightening begins to come for the family. Sands varies her tone and pacing to portray the keen awareness and intelligence of Orla, who must do everything she can to save her loved ones. Capturing the story’s blend of calm and creepiness, Sands takes listeners on an eerie adventure. M.L.S. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine
2020-03-29
A plot of land becomes a family’s prison.
Ballet dancer Orla Moreau has long been the Moreau-Bennett clan’s breadwinner, but now that she’s 41, it’s time for her to retire and watch the kids while her husband, 38-year-old painter Shaw Bennett, pursues his dream. Nature inspires Shaw, and their money will go further up north, so they put their New York City co-op on the market and start house hunting. When a realtor shows them a dilapidated dwelling on six remote acres in the Adirondacks, they pass; although Shaw feels drawn to a 500-year-old Eastern white pine that occupies the property, an isolated fixer-upper isn’t what they had in mind. In the ensuing months, though, Shaw grows obsessed with the tree—dreaming about it, painting it—so when the price drops, they take the plunge and sink their savings into renovations. Orla, Shaw, and their children, 9-year-old Eleanor Queen and 4-year-old Tycho, move in after Thanksgiving, anticipating an idyllic winter in the country. Instead, Shaw turns manic and distant, Eleanor Queen senses an entity trying to communicate with her, and the homestead is beset by inexplicable phenomena. Attempts to leave are not only thwarted, but punished. Orla resolves to figure out what is tormenting her family and why, but she might not like the answer. Author Stage perfectly captures the fears and frictions that accompany household moves and career changes; indeed, her keen portrayal of domestic upset is what grounds the story and imparts verisimilitude. Regrettably, the book’s bigger emotional beats fail to resonate, blunting the tale’s impact, and a silly denouement further disappoints.
What starts as a creepy slow burn fizzles in the homestretch.
