In Darkling Wood

Description

In Darkling Wood

Emma Carroll

(Faber & Faber)

Not long ago, I thought fairies didn’t exist…..

Alice is in limbo. She is forced to stay In Darkling Wood with her unfamiliar rural Somerset grandmother. Furthermore, neither this grandmother nor her father will explain why they are estranged. How could she be left with a remote stranger? In addition, Alice is worried about her younger brother. How on earth can she be expected to accept this new and hostile setting?

As she examines Darkling Wood more curiosities appear. For example, who is the girl in the cloak who seems set upon being her friend. It seems that not many other people are aware of her. Furthermore, this girl is keen to share the threat to Darkling Wood. What is the story of this place?

Might it be that Alice’s concern for her brother could be mirrored by another, a girl in the same setting some time ago?   ‘In Darkling Wood‘ is the centre of a battle between her grandmother, local people, present,  past, reality and fairies….

Emma Carroll is a sure handed, compelling writer. Her historical themes integrate certainly with contemporary concerns. We recommend ‘In Darkling Wood‘ highly, to committed, enquiring readers.