Horror Book Review: Nowhere Burning by Catriona Ward

 If you enjoyed Peter Pan and Lord of the Flies, then you will enjoy this modern tale by Catriona Ward. NOWHERE BURNING is a tale that intermixes the two stories and delivers a story that keeps you on the edge of your seat, based on the sample I read, of course. 

Published in February 2026 by Tor Books, Nowhere Burning is currently on the best-seller’s list for Ghost Fiction and Psychological Horror. 

NOWHERE BURNING Plot

Riley and her brother Oliver escape their troubled home and set off to Nowhere, a ranch once owned by an eccentric celebrity, but now a home to runaways. 

At first, Riley believes she has finally found the freedom she craves in Nowhere, where a clan readily accepts them. But deep underneath it all, there may be dark secrets that could be far more dangerous than the danger she escaped from. 

NOWHERE BURNING My Take 

The story opens with Riley heading back home after her visit to the grocery store. She soon finds herself being followed by a boy who she thinks is a little too thin. 

The author writes Riley really well here, as well as the thoughts of anyone who feels like they are being followed. Should we confront the stalker or pretend the danger doesn’t exist, and maybe we will be safe?

The story has already gained momentum with just this opening scene. Who is following Riley?

She manages to enter through Cousin’s gates and enter her home, the threat gone, for now. She plays a hide-and-seek game with her brother Oliver and finds him folded uncomfortably under the sink. She removed the gallon of milk and made him drink quite a lot of it. 

We then learn that Oliver and Riley are not being fed properly, having only been given a bowl of rice the day before. We also learn that Cousin, the adult they are living with, has convinced them that Riley and Oliver are harboring a demon inside them. Oliver is too scared of the demon inside him, even though Riley convinces him that he is being lied to. But deep inside, Riley feels it too. 

She is deeply concerned for her brother, who may be losing too many teeth, and is constantly on edge of Cousin returning home. 

While we don’t see him being threatening to the two, his personality is carved through Riley’s thoughts, which border on panic. Cousin doesn’t want Oliver to go to school, but wants Riley to graduate so she can do bookkeeping for the funeral home. She worries about his constant inspections. She is worried that he may find missing food. 

At night, when she is visited by the boy who had been following her, she learns that the boy was actually a girl who had cut her own hair. She invites Riley and Oliver to come with her to a place where she will be free. It’s almost as if this girl, called Noon, is floating or flying. Much like Peter Pan, when he invites Wendy to Neverland. 

Riley dismissed Noon, who nevertheless gave her the directions before leaving. 

The next day, Riley once again steals a gallon of milk. The son of the shop owner looks the other way, letting her steal it because clearly she looks like she needs the food. 

This awakens something inside Riley, another part well written. She has known for too long that she is not living at home after her parents’ death, but in a toxic environment. But it doesn’t become obvious to her unless someone else notices it too. 

Riley decides she needs to leave and is more determined than ever when she sees Oliver in a small room being punished for listening to the demon inside him. 

That night, Riley takes Oliver away from the house. They take a bus and follow the directions. Being the responsible one, Riley feels nervous and wonders if maybe she followed the directions of a criminal instead and put her brother’s life in danger, too. 

As the sample ends, she encounters a man who clearly belongs to Nowhere but appears dangerous to Riley. 

READ OR SKIP?

READ of course. Catriona Ward writes an interesting tale that captivates you from the very first page. The characters quickly invest you in their life, invoking emotions where you want to be protective and also root for them to be able to find a place where they can be safe again. 

It helps that the story makes you nostalgic about Peter Pan rather than makes you wonder if it is an imitation of the childhood classic. 

GET THE BOOK