From the Publisher
"Well-crafted and deeply unsettling, this folktale-influenced horror novel will captivate fans of the genre, but it’s not for the faint of heart. A grim triumph." — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"This dark and foreboding mash-up is rife with shadowy secrets and scary fairy-tale touches. Excellent character development, unsettling and atmospheric world building, and numerous but well-woven folklore references combine for a deeply suspenseful, darkly vengeful tale of self-discovery." — Booklist (starred review)
"Riveting action and break-neck pacing, Roux conjures a raw horror narrative using deliciously grisly moments that subvert traditional fairy tale fare." — Publishers Weekly
"In fine Gothic tradition combined with a folkloric, ecofeminist perspective, Roux conjures a superbly atmospheric tale of horror and radical empowerment. The novel’s feminism displays nuance, showing that institutional patriarchy has harmed not just women but also men and even the natural and supernatural worlds." — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
"Exceptionally interesting and well developed. A dark fairy tale about the exploited environment fighting back, for fans of folktales and horror." — School Library Journal
Kirkus Reviews
★ 2025-04-19
A girl’s arranged marriage turns into a nightmare from which she must escape.
Because of her extraordinary beauty, Valla has been promised in marriage to the mysterious Count Leonid in exchange for supplies for her village. To reach his castle, she must journey through the dreaded Gottyar Wood, rumored to be haunted by magical beings, the yiliksii, or “cursed children of the forest.” She’s accompanied by her brother and his wife, but when a beast attacks them in the forest, clawing Valla’s face and destroying the beauty the Count expects, she falls gravely ill, hovering near death. When she wakes from her fever, she meets with unexpected kindness from Ermo, her betrothed’s brother, that stands in stark contrast to the heartlessness of the Count himself. Both the man and his castle are nothing like she imagined: They’re dark, desolate, and steeped in cruelty. Joined in the castle only by the Count’s sister, Yulnia; sinister physician Kiril, who’s Yulnia’s confidant; a handful of servants; and an unimaginable, foreboding presence, Valla begins to unravel the castle’s mysteries. As she does, something stirs within her, calling her to violence and awakening with every secret she uncovers. Well-crafted and deeply unsettling, this folktale-influenced horror novel will captivate fans of the genre, but it’s not for the faint of heart. Valla’s character is richly developed, her transformation from a helpless sacrifice to something far more formidable unfolding with haunting intensity. Main characters are cued white.
A grim triumph.(Fantasy. 14-adult)
