What I’m Reading This May: The Toll by Cherie Priest
If you’re like me, May isn’t just the season for blooming flowers and thunderstorms—it’s the perfect time to crack open something creepy, moody, and a little unsettling. Lately, I’ve been drawn to horror books that don’t just jump out at you with scares, but build their dread with slow, deliberate tension. And The Toll by Cherie Priest fits that description beautifully.
From the moment I opened the first chapter, I knew I was in for something special. The novel begins with a newlywed couple, Titus and Melanie Bell, headed into the heart of rural Georgia for their honeymoon. They plan to stay in a quiet, cozy cabin in the woods, but as they drive over a nearly-forgotten bridge—the titular “toll bridge”—Titus wakes up alone on the side of the road. Melanie is missing, and the forest around him feels... wrong.
This is classic horror suspense territory—but Cherie Priest doesn’t rush to explain or resolve things. Instead, she leans into atmosphere, creating a creeping sense of unease that lingers long after each chapter ends. There’s a fog of mystery hanging over every scene, and the deeper the story goes into the Georgia swamps, the more tangled and supernatural it becomes.
Southern Gothic Done Right
One of my favorite things about The Toll is its tone. It's deeply rooted in the Southern Gothic tradition, but without falling into caricature. The woods feel alive, ancient, and watchful. Townsfolk speak in half-truths, and strange things happen just outside the reach of logic. Priest evokes a deep sense of place—moss-covered oaks, fading roadside diners, and a landscape that hums with secrets.
Unlike some horror stories that hammer you with jump scares, this book seduces you with unease. There’s something supernatural at work here, but you’re never quite sure what. That’s the beauty of it: ambiguity is a tool, not a flaw.
A Cast You Won’t Forget
Let’s talk characters. While the central mystery with Titus and Melanie provides the backbone of the story, the side characters are what breathe real life into this book. And for me, the true stars of The Toll are the two aunts—Daisy and Claire.
These women are funny, strange, fiercely intelligent, and possibly supernatural. Priest never outright confirms whether they’re witches, but the hints are everywhere. They keep warding charms around their home. They know more than they should about the forest and its dangers. And when things start to go wrong, they're the ones who understand the rules of what’s happening—rules even the locals won’t admit exist.
There’s a scene I loved where Daisy casually refers to a warding ritual involving salt, pine needles, and moonlight, saying it “probably wouldn’t hurt.” It’s delivered with such offhand practicality that you know this isn’t their first brush with something beyond the veil.
They’re not just exposition tools—they’re vibrant, three-dimensional characters. The way they bicker like old sisters, fuss over their tea, and drop arcane wisdom without blinking gives the story both humor and soul. Honestly, I would read a spin-off novel just about the aunts and their (clearly magical) past.
A Story That Resists Expectations
Without spoiling the entire plot, let’s just say the deeper the mystery of the toll bridge becomes, the weirder and more otherworldly things get. There are ghostly children, strange water spirits, and a timeline that feels like it’s bending under the weight of old rituals and forgotten lore.
The final act of the book doesn’t go where I thought it would. Rather than wrapping everything up neatly, Priest opts for an ending that’s surreal, symbolic, and open to interpretation. It’s a choice I appreciated. It made me think about the story long after I finished it. What really happened at the bridge? Were the forces at play ancient gods, ghosts, or something else entirely?
It left me wanting more, in the best way.
If You Liked This, Try…
Cherie Priest is no stranger to the horror and weird fiction world. If you liked The Toll, you might want to check out her Borden Dispatches series—starting with Maplecroft. It takes the legend of Lizzie Borden and injects it with Lovecraftian horror and historical intrigue. Like The Toll, it features strong, complex women and a slow-burn descent into madness.
What’s Up Next?
Right now, I’m about halfway through Something in the Walls by Daisy Pearce. It’s got a different vibe—more contemporary haunted house than Southern swamp horror—but it’s definitely scratching the same supernatural itch. Once I finish it, I’ll be posting a full review, so keep an eye out for that in the coming weeks.
Let’s Talk Horror
I’d love to hear from you. Have you read The Toll? What did you think of the aunts, the setting, or the twist at the end? What’s your take on ambiguous horror endings—do you love them, or do they drive you crazy?
And while you’re at it—what are you reading this month? I’m always on the hunt for my next horror obsession. Drop your favorite horror books in the comments, especially if they lean into atmosphere, folklore, or weird magic like The Toll does. Bonus points if they feature witches or unexplainable forces lurking just off the roadside.
Thanks for coming back to Tales From the Pit—where we dig deep into the shadows of horror fiction, one unsettling tale at a time. Keep reading, keep commenting, and don’t forget to share your own twisted recommendations.
