A Forest, Darkly

Perfect for fans of Ava Reid and Lucy Holland, this is a thrilling dark fantasy of persecuted witches, snatched children, twisted magic, changelings, and the sins that bind. Set in the multi-award-winning author's acclaimed Sourdough universe, this standalone story sits alongside previous novels, including All the Murmuring Bones and The Briar Book of the Dead. Deep in the forest lives Mehrab the witch, coping with loneliness in her own strange ways and quietly battling her demons. One evening, a young woman appears on her doorstep seeking shelter, pursued by godhounds who wish to destroy all those practising magic, and Mehrab’s solitary existence is disrupted as she teaches the girl how to control her powers. Together they forge a cure for their isolation with heartbreaking consequences.... Meanwhile, in the local village, children begin to disappear, sometimes returning forever changed–or not returning at all. Sinister offerings appear on Mehrab's doorstep, and a dark power pursues h