Jessica’s life is falling apart around her. Her son has decided he’s a nonbinary, vegetarian, hedge witch who goes by They/Them. Jessica tries to be supportive, but she isn’t sure she understands any of it. Meanwhile, her husband spends more time at the office than with her. And at 46, her trophy wife look is starting to fade. But Jessica is sure she can fix her family, and she knows exactly how. Her husband is going to a tiny little British island on a business trip for the summer, and the whole family gets to go. Jessica is sure that this will fix everything. On a small island, the family will finally have to spend time together. And the people are so quaint! The family is just in time to join in the Tigglestide celebration. Jessica doesn’t know what the heck that is, but if her family can get on board and join in the festivities, she knows they can prove they are “the right sort of people” and everything will be fine. But the price the people of the island pay to be “the right sort of people” is steeper than Jessica could ever imagine in Bitter Karella’s horror novel Quaint People.
[Note: While I am reviewing this novel independently and honestly, it should be noted that it has been provided to me by Run For It for the purpose of this review. Warning: My review of Quaint Folk contains some spoilers!]
An island stuck in the past
Jessica acts like her life is perfect, but deep down she knows something is broken. And she knows it’s all her fault. If she were just more like everyone else, her husband would want to be at home, and her child wouldn’t seek attention with their gender-bending, voodoo nonsense. But that’s okay. She can fix it. And she knows exactly how. Her husband’s company is sending the entire family to a remote British island for the summer. Jessica is sure that if she really buys into the quaint lifestyle of this little village, everything will be fine. Her husband will love her, her son will be normal, and she’ll finally banish her own intrusive thoughts.
When they first arrive, everything seems perfect. The town is like something out of a storybook. The people are friendly, and the whole vibe is exactly what Jessica has been looking for. Her child is less impressed. Sandy insists there’s something dark hidden under the sickeningly sweet veneer. They’re sure it’s connected to this “Round Robin” character that everyone keeps talking about. They’ve never heard of Round Robin or Tigglestide, the holiday he’s connected to, either. But as a witch, they’re sure the energy is wrong, and their family should leave now.
Of course Jessica ignores them. Everything is so cute and wholesome! And if people are just a little off, well, that’s to be expected in such an insular community. Surely it’s worth it for the happiness these people enjoy. Jessica would give anything to be that happy. Sure, she keeps having odd dreams, but that’s because of her own corruption that she needs to fix. It’s not the island. And maybe she’s having more thoughts she shouldn’t, but if she just tries hard enough to join in, they’ll go away.
The closer Tigglestide comes, the more excited Jessica is; this is surely the thing that will fix her family. But Round Robin is also coming closer, and he only rewards the “right sort” of people. Jessica doesn’t know what that means, or what happens to the “wrong sort” of people, but she isn’t worried. Of course her family is the right sort. She’ll do anything to make sure they are. Anything…
A terrifying read that follows a well-traveled road, with a few small twists
Quaint Folk is that quintessential horror tale of the provincial, closed-off town meets outsiders. It never ends well for the outsiders. Well, all know that from the start. But kudos to Bitter Karella for tossing in a little twist that keeps it from being a complete template tale. The twist is actually really interesting the longer you think about it. I don’t want to give anything away, so I’m trying to write carefully, but it takes a classic xenophobic horror tale and mixes it with a question of reality. Does something intrinsically have power, or do we give it power with our belief? Is magic real because it’s real or because we believe it’s real? Quaint Folk is a thought-provoking blend of The Village and Skeleton Key that kept me thinking long after I’d finished it. I’d love to share just what it made me think about, but that would be telling!
Quaint Folk is a slow burn, the tension slowly building as each day brings Tigglestide and Round Robin closer. Jessica’s family is unraveling faster than ever around her, but she’s so focused on saving them that she’s in danger of losing everything. She sees Tigglestide and Round Robin as saviors; just look at how happy the village is. Sandy thinks those things will spell their doom; they don’t see happiness when they look at the village. We, the readers, all know that something’s going to happen on Tigglestide, but what’s the real danger, and where will it come from? Just make sure to be inside before Round Robin comes around on Tigglestide Eve, you don’t want him to think you’re the wrong sort of person.
Rating: 8/10
Quaint Folk is Bitter Karella’s latest novel. It’s available October 6th, 2026, just in time to give you the heebie-jeebies this spooky season.
Quaint Folk by Bitter Karella is available October 6th!
Learn more about the book on the title’s official website.
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