Eye of the Ouroboros by Megan Bontrager

Eye of the Ouroboros by Megan Bontrager is the type of novel that sucks you in and takes you for a ride. The cover is entrancing with the Ouroboros (snake eating its tail), full moon, dark and foreboding forest, and creepy stag. The blurb is intriguing, promising X-Files-esque government conspiracies and paranormal activity within the woods. How could I resist? 

~ Special thanks to NetGalley, Quill & Crow Publishing House, and Megan Bontrager for the opportunity to read and review Eye of the Ouroboros in exchange for an honest review. Eye of the Ouroboros releases April 15, 2024 ~

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Eye of the Ouroboros Arc Review

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(you can find my rating and spice system here)

POV & Tense: Single POV, first person, past tense
Genre: Horror, Science Fiction, Thriller, LGBTQ+ (FF Romantic Subplot)
Tropes/Themes: Missing Persons, Park Ranger, Unlikable MC, Feisty Heroine, Found Family, Family Drama (Mommy and Daddy Issues), Survivor’s Guilt, Alcoholism, Parallel Realities, Cosmic Horror, Body Horror, Conspiracy Theories
Location: Mill Creek, West Virginia

Synopsis:

The woods surrounding Mill Creek, West Virginia, have a habit of swallowing people up and not giving them back. When Flora Buchanan disappears, her older sister Theo will stop at nothing to find her—even if it means braving the cosmic horrors of the Ouroboros.

My Review:

Eye of the Ouroboros is a strong debut and is perfect for fans of the X-Files, The Outer Limits, and those who love cosmic horror. While the story starts off strong in the horror camp, it shifts near the middle, giving more science fiction and thriller vibes. Horror aficionados will be satisfied with the setup, and those who aren’t a fan of scares don’t need to be too worried as there is plenty of strange and fantastical world-building to delight in. My favorite things about this book are the badass main character and Bontrager’s gorgeous writing.

A Genre Club Sandwich

Eye of the Ouroboros throws together many of my favorite genres resulting in a fascinating creation. There’s horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and thriller (including a heist) which leads to many action-packed, nail-biting moments. Two of my favorite horror subgenres are cosmic horror and body horror—they’re my catnip—and I enjoyed every moment of them.

The whole concept of the Ouroboros is fascinating, especially how on a cosmic scale it’s both life and destruction. At the start, many creepy moments will keep you turning pages, from visions to carnival music to staircases in the middle of the forest that appear to go nowhere (but the locals know better than to climb them—they might never return).

Part of me wishes the horror vibe could have continued throughout the story, but as more light is shed on the Ouroboros and as our understanding grows, it becomes less scary (this is where the story takes an “Ocean’s Eleven meets X-Files” turn), but with higher stakes and plenty of heart-pounding tense moments.

An Unlikable MC That I Adore

I am a huge fan of unlikable MCs and I love Theodora Buchanan because of her duality. On the one hand, she’s a strong-willed, dedicated park ranger who won’t stop searching for missing children, even long after all hope for a positive outcome is gone. She’s tenacious, a force to be reckoned with, and someone you want on your side when it all goes sideways. But she’s also a hot mess. She’s a raging alcoholic, self-medicating to stave off the survivor’s guilt following her little sister’s disappearance (the one person she could never find) and she can be abrasive—her mouth knows no filter. I constantly found myself deeply entertained by her narrative and self-deprecating sense of humor.

Ensemble Cast of Misfits

Found family is a favorite trope of mine, especially when it features a band of misfits. I have a soft spot for Theo’s dog, Bear (Megan’s IRL dog written into the story), her ride-or-die platonic best friend Quinn, her will-they-or-won’t-they ex-girlfriend Delilah, and tinfoil-hat-wearing conspiracy theorist Wesley. Theo’s shrew of a mother is written exceptionally well (she’s the quintessential character you’ll love to hate) and is the source of Theo’s self-loathing.

A few fun facts I especially loved: Delilah’s last name is Duchovny, which I assume is a nod to David Duchovny (his X-Files character “Fox Mulder” discovers the fantastical and strange while constantly searching for his little sister), and I couldn’t help but wonder while reading if Theo’s name was chosen to honor horror legend Shirley Jackson (Theodora of The Haunting of Hill House). The final line of this book proves my theory correct.

Gorgeous Writing Filled with Emotion

While I loved the whole concept of the Ouroboros and the characterization, the thing that stood out most to me was Megan’s gorgeous writing. There’s a lyrical quality to it whether she’s describing something terrifying or something cosmically awe-inspiring. It’s vivid, filled with incredible emotion, and peppered with dry wit.

Eye of the Ouroboros by Megan Bontrager

 

Final Thoughts:

I thoroughly enjoyed The Eye of the Ouroboros, from the overall concept to the characters to the gorgeous writing. I loved the ending, although I have many lingering questions (and that may be by design). Megan Bontrager is a strong, fresh voice in horror fantasy, and she has piqued my interest. I can’t wait to see what she writes next.

Author Stalking (but not in a creepy way):
Megan Bontrager is an American author of Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and Horror currently living in Ireland. Eye of the Ouroboros is her debut.
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Banner Image Credit: Fog & Forest