What do you think?
Rate this book
[(In Darkling Wood)] [By (author) Emma Carroll] published on
'You're telling me there are fairies in this wood?'When Alice's brother gets a longed-for chance for a heart transplant, Alice is suddenly bundled off to her estranged grandmother's house. There's nothing good about staying with Nell, except for the beautiful Darkling Wood at the end of her garden - but Nell wants to have it cut down. Alice feels at home there, at peace, and even finds a friend, Flo. But Flo doesn't seem to go to the local school and no one in town has heard of a girl with that name. When Flo shows Alice the surprising secrets of Darkling Wood, Alice starts to wonder, what is real? And can she find out in time to save the wood from destruction?
Paperback
First published June 30, 2015
41 people are currently reading
1680 people want to read
About the author
Emma Carroll
30 books598 followersAfter years of teaching English to secondary school students, Emma now writes full time. She graduated with distinction from Bath Spa University’s MA in Writing For Young People. In another life Emma wishes she’d written ‘Rebecca’ by Daphne Du Maurier. She lives in the Somerset hills with her husband and three terriers.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 205 reviews
August 25, 2023
So I tried to tell Papa what I'd seen today. I'd met a creature with wings, I said, and somehow it'd lifted my sorry spirits. He listened until I'd finished, then he patted my hand and said how lovely that I was a dreamer just like him. (PG 118)
The way I ended up with this book from the library:::
Me- Daughter go close your eyes and grab me a book
Daughter- returns with this one
Darkling Wood is home to Alice's grandmother to who she is not close to at all. She ends up here after her brother has a chance to get a heart transplant he's always needed. While her mother needs to be in a London hospital Alice needs to stay with someone, hence stiff grandma.
The book is full of magic and hope when life sucks at the moment. It was a quick, good read. I enjoyed the imperfect characters and I did enjoy the letters from 1918 that got included in the story. Everything came together nicely by the end.
Moral of the story? Let your toddler pick your books once in while ;)
The way I ended up with this book from the library:::
Me- Daughter go close your eyes and grab me a book
Daughter- returns with this one
Darkling Wood is home to Alice's grandmother to who she is not close to at all. She ends up here after her brother has a chance to get a heart transplant he's always needed. While her mother needs to be in a London hospital Alice needs to stay with someone, hence stiff grandma.
The book is full of magic and hope when life sucks at the moment. It was a quick, good read. I enjoyed the imperfect characters and I did enjoy the letters from 1918 that got included in the story. Everything came together nicely by the end.
Moral of the story? Let your toddler pick your books once in while ;)
June 3, 2015
Emma Carroll has given us ghosts and tight-rope walkers; now it’s time for fairies in her 2015 release for 9+ years: In Darkling Wood. When Alice’s brother gets a longed-for chance for a heart transplant, Alice is suddenly bundled off to her estranged grandmother’s house. There’s nothing good about staying with Nell, except for the beautiful Darkling Wood at the end of her garden – but Nell wants to have it cut down. Alice feels at home there, at peace, and even finds a friend, Flo. But Flo doesn’t seem to go to the local school and no one in town has heard of a girl with that name. When Flo shows Alice the surprising secrets of Darkling Wood, Alice starts to wonder, what is real? And can she find out in time to save the wood from destruction?
Right from the opening line: ‘At 3.23am the hospital call to say a heart’s been found’ we know Carroll means business. With elements from the book based on the true story of young cousins Elsie Wright and Frances Griffiths from Cottingley, near Bradford, who claimed in 1917 to have seen fairies, Carroll weaves Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and letters from a sister to her older brother on The Front Line with Alice’s move to the countryside to stay with her stern grandmother. Alice’s world is turned upside down when her mother decides she’s to stay with Nell, in a gloomy house surrounded by dark trees. And Carroll perfectly captures Alice’s anxiety towards her brother’s illness, the children at her new school, her relationship with her distant father and the mystery at the heart of Darkling Wood. The magic Carroll conjures is spine-tinglingly real… This isn’t fairies in tutus prancing about; this is fairy rings and doors, wearing hats inside out to prevent trickery and air that seems to ‘ripple, like the surface of a pond after a stone is thrown in.’
We have feisty heroines to contend with – Alice, Ella and Flo – and a gorgeous dog called Borage who ‘leans like a human when we take corners’ in the car. The plot is full of intrigue as characters discover the truth about the past – but above all the story sings of hope, a hope that is all the more powerful when set against the atrocities of the First World War, a hope that is big enough to stir magic deep inside an ancient wood. With a stunning cover by Julian De Narvaez and a sensitive, yet powerfully told story, this is a book readers of 9+ years will love. And excitingly, Emma Carroll has a novella, The Snow Sister, ready for us this Autumn – publishing on 1st October…
Right from the opening line: ‘At 3.23am the hospital call to say a heart’s been found’ we know Carroll means business. With elements from the book based on the true story of young cousins Elsie Wright and Frances Griffiths from Cottingley, near Bradford, who claimed in 1917 to have seen fairies, Carroll weaves Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and letters from a sister to her older brother on The Front Line with Alice’s move to the countryside to stay with her stern grandmother. Alice’s world is turned upside down when her mother decides she’s to stay with Nell, in a gloomy house surrounded by dark trees. And Carroll perfectly captures Alice’s anxiety towards her brother’s illness, the children at her new school, her relationship with her distant father and the mystery at the heart of Darkling Wood. The magic Carroll conjures is spine-tinglingly real… This isn’t fairies in tutus prancing about; this is fairy rings and doors, wearing hats inside out to prevent trickery and air that seems to ‘ripple, like the surface of a pond after a stone is thrown in.’
We have feisty heroines to contend with – Alice, Ella and Flo – and a gorgeous dog called Borage who ‘leans like a human when we take corners’ in the car. The plot is full of intrigue as characters discover the truth about the past – but above all the story sings of hope, a hope that is all the more powerful when set against the atrocities of the First World War, a hope that is big enough to stir magic deep inside an ancient wood. With a stunning cover by Julian De Narvaez and a sensitive, yet powerfully told story, this is a book readers of 9+ years will love. And excitingly, Emma Carroll has a novella, The Snow Sister, ready for us this Autumn – publishing on 1st October…
September 17, 2018
Spooky woods and fairies - this one is right up my street. Having loved Letters From The Lighthouse I was longing to hear more from Emma Carroll so turned to this one, and am delighted to report it didn't disappoint.
I was intrigued how the author would introduce fairies without either infantalising the reader or being really cheesy. The answer is, subtly, gently, cleverly, always allowing room for doubt but leaving the reader longing for the fairies to be real. I loved it. Magical realism in the hands of a master story-teller.
I was intrigued how the author would introduce fairies without either infantalising the reader or being really cheesy. The answer is, subtly, gently, cleverly, always allowing room for doubt but leaving the reader longing for the fairies to be real. I loved it. Magical realism in the hands of a master story-teller.
June 6, 2023
Lovely book. I really liked the characters. I liked the plot and would have loved to have some more fairies but this was a ghost story.
Maybe if this had been written the decade previous to it's published year it would have had a time before with Theo to give a sibling warmth scene.
I found that I was reminded of Jodi Picoult...I've not found a Jodi Picoult I can get into...but I still enjoyed this book with its big crisis.
Maybe if this had been written the decade previous to it's published year it would have had a time before with Theo to give a sibling warmth scene.
I found that I was reminded of Jodi Picoult...I've not found a Jodi Picoult I can get into...but I still enjoyed this book with its big crisis.
dnf
November 8, 2022DNF at 23%. Unlikable characters... not my cup of tea.
December 20, 2017
The book follows the story of a young girl (Alice) who goes to stay with her grandmother she has never met whilst her brother is being treated in hospital. The book features letter written in 1918 (at the time of WW1), set in the same place as Alice is during the present day. The story follows the journey of the grandmother trying to cut down the woods next to her house but Alice discovers something magical and tries to stop her. I really like how the two stories merge together and allow you to piece together how they are linked. The book was easy to read and was full on twists where you need to keep reading to find out what will happen in the end. It’s a different genre to what I usually read however I thoroughly enjoyed it. Thanks for the recommendation Mat! Will definitely be reading more from Emma Carroll in the future.
April 18, 2017
Does belief give you power to save the people you love? This is a central question to a story of a family struggling to deal with fear, serious illness and the potential of loss.
Fascinating and compelling story involving an ancient magical woodland in danger of being felled. Historical elements are skillfully woven into the story of a teen displaced to her estranged grandmother's while her little brother goes through a heart transplant. Fairies, ghosts, large hairy dogs, hope and reconciliation will all play a part.
Fascinating and compelling story involving an ancient magical woodland in danger of being felled. Historical elements are skillfully woven into the story of a teen displaced to her estranged grandmother's while her little brother goes through a heart transplant. Fairies, ghosts, large hairy dogs, hope and reconciliation will all play a part.
May 23, 2021
I absolutely loved this book! It was really cute, but also quite sad in parts.
It’s a very easy read and doesn’t take very long, so I really recommend it if you don’t want an intense read because it has a good plot line and remains a bit mysterious throughout until everything is revealed at the end.
I enjoyed it much more than I thought I would as it was a really sweet, cute book!
It’s a very easy read and doesn’t take very long, so I really recommend it if you don’t want an intense read because it has a good plot line and remains a bit mysterious throughout until everything is revealed at the end.
I enjoyed it much more than I thought I would as it was a really sweet, cute book!
April 6, 2017
In Darkling Wood is a magical story about hope, love, family, and belief in inexplicable things. Alice's journey is one of self-discovery, in which she reunites estranged family members, draws strength and courage from the most unlikely places, and above all teaches us a lesson to always listen to our hearts. Emma Carroll creates an historical fiction story for all ages - beautiful for children, enlightening for adults and a pure joy to read. It made me cry in places as I was drawn back to my childhood, to the woods behind our house and to the magic only I believed was present there. I relived this through Alice's adventures and particularly through her struggles. This is a wonderfully charming engaging story. Top marks, Emma Carroll. I loved it!
July 21, 2015
Emma Carroll can do no wrong in my eyes! I absolutely love her books and devour them! Her writing is so easy to read and incredibly imaginative. I highly recommend this book!
March 26, 2017
This is a middle grade book, but is good whether 13 or 100, I didn't realize it was a middle grade book when requested from the library, just that it was a new book. I'm glad I read it and would recommend it to anyone looking for a quick read.
April 21, 2017
Great atmosphere, this is a very classic take on the fairy-wood genre.
August 4, 2017
This book was so touching that I almost cried. Flo showed how hard it was to lose a brother or sister without knowing they are dead.😭
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 24, 2021
I found it very good my favourite part was when she found out that flo was the girl from the letters and was a ghost.
April 13, 2017
This is a lovely story about families, the war, friends and fairies.
July 19, 2018
A lovely and wonderfully woven story. I loved the inclusion of the letters and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and the fairies
April 30, 2017
Received from NetGalley for review.
As soon as In Darkling Wood appeared on Goodreads, and then NetGalley, I knew I had to read it, whether that was through being approved on NetGalley or patiently waiting for the release. A mysterious old wood that could be the home of fairies? Hell yes on every single level. Add to that a crazy awesome title – it just screams magic – and I was sold. I needed it. I got it. And, wow, did it deliver.
In Darkling Wood is my first experience of Emma Carroll’s writing, and it certainly won’t be the last. In the story Alice’s younger brother, Theo, is finally getting the heart transplant he desperately needs, and with a useless father not really in the picture, Alice ends up at Nell’s – her father’s mother, someone she has never really known. Nell lives in the countryside, in a cottage that has three acres of land which is overrun with Darkling Wood, a wood Nell wants nothing more than to get rid of. Alice discovers that the woods aren’t all they seem and soon finds a strangely dressed girl, Flo, who only ever appears in the woods and swears fairies live there, fairies who do not want to lose Darkling Wood.
The narrative is broken up with letters from a young girl in 1918, to her brother who has been serving in the war, and tells her tale of the woods and fairies from many years before, which I found both fascinating and intriguing. I had an idea who the young girl was early on but this only added to my fascination whilst reading this story. In Darkling Wood constantly has you wondering and questioning what has happened, what is happening, and what is real.
There is a wonderful air of mystery and magic throughout the story; Alice finds Nell and her father to be hiding unexpected secrets that are all somehow linked with the woods and fairies. Alice has to find answers – why do Nell and her father hate each other? Why does Nell hates the woods? What in the mysterious room upstairs? Who is Flo, and could she possibly be right about fairies?
Carroll portrays Alice really well as a young teenager; a teenager who has had to deal with far too much responsibility whilst not being given all the information she deserves and I really felt for her and her situation. The other characters are also portrayed brilliantly and realistically, from Alice’s mother and father with their fraught relationship, to Nell, and even Alice’s new schoolmates; everyone was believable and essential to the plot and the undertones of forgiveness, family and love added depth to the story.
As far as middle grade novels go, In Darkling Wood is practically perfect, and Emma Carroll is an author who I know I will revisit frequently. The characters and plot are all excellently thought out and presented, the writing is lovely yet retains a certain simplicity, and the story is a wonderful mixture of magic, mystery and heartache that will delight readers of all ages.
'She made me see hope when everything felt dark. She taught me to believe in fairies.'
As soon as In Darkling Wood appeared on Goodreads, and then NetGalley, I knew I had to read it, whether that was through being approved on NetGalley or patiently waiting for the release. A mysterious old wood that could be the home of fairies? Hell yes on every single level. Add to that a crazy awesome title – it just screams magic – and I was sold. I needed it. I got it. And, wow, did it deliver.
In Darkling Wood is my first experience of Emma Carroll’s writing, and it certainly won’t be the last. In the story Alice’s younger brother, Theo, is finally getting the heart transplant he desperately needs, and with a useless father not really in the picture, Alice ends up at Nell’s – her father’s mother, someone she has never really known. Nell lives in the countryside, in a cottage that has three acres of land which is overrun with Darkling Wood, a wood Nell wants nothing more than to get rid of. Alice discovers that the woods aren’t all they seem and soon finds a strangely dressed girl, Flo, who only ever appears in the woods and swears fairies live there, fairies who do not want to lose Darkling Wood.
The narrative is broken up with letters from a young girl in 1918, to her brother who has been serving in the war, and tells her tale of the woods and fairies from many years before, which I found both fascinating and intriguing. I had an idea who the young girl was early on but this only added to my fascination whilst reading this story. In Darkling Wood constantly has you wondering and questioning what has happened, what is happening, and what is real.
There is a wonderful air of mystery and magic throughout the story; Alice finds Nell and her father to be hiding unexpected secrets that are all somehow linked with the woods and fairies. Alice has to find answers – why do Nell and her father hate each other? Why does Nell hates the woods? What in the mysterious room upstairs? Who is Flo, and could she possibly be right about fairies?
Carroll portrays Alice really well as a young teenager; a teenager who has had to deal with far too much responsibility whilst not being given all the information she deserves and I really felt for her and her situation. The other characters are also portrayed brilliantly and realistically, from Alice’s mother and father with their fraught relationship, to Nell, and even Alice’s new schoolmates; everyone was believable and essential to the plot and the undertones of forgiveness, family and love added depth to the story.
As far as middle grade novels go, In Darkling Wood is practically perfect, and Emma Carroll is an author who I know I will revisit frequently. The characters and plot are all excellently thought out and presented, the writing is lovely yet retains a certain simplicity, and the story is a wonderful mixture of magic, mystery and heartache that will delight readers of all ages.
July 19, 2015
4.5/5 stars
You can find all my reviews here
*Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*
In Darkling Wood is a truly magical story. Alice's life is difficult. Her little brother needs a new heart, her parents are seperated, and she's had to grow up faster than most kids.
She has to stay in a cottage near Darkling Wood with a grandmother she's never met while Theo gets the heart transplant. Her grandmother, Nell wants to cut down the woods surrounding her house before they cause a subsidence. Nobody likes that idea. Least of all Flo, a little girl in a red coat who is trying to get Alice to understand she can stop this.
It's a great story, but a bit tragic, to be honest. If you're someone who's looking for a light-hearted story, this isn't it. From the cover and the synopsis I was so excited. I thought, a cute kid's story about fairies, count me in! But it's so much more than that. It's well written, it handles the issues in a real way, and it shows how important hope can be.
I do recommend this story and I hope that everyone loves it the way I do. I had never read anything by Emma Carroll before today, but now I can't wait to get ahold of her other books.
You can find all my reviews here
*Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*
In Darkling Wood is a truly magical story. Alice's life is difficult. Her little brother needs a new heart, her parents are seperated, and she's had to grow up faster than most kids.
She has to stay in a cottage near Darkling Wood with a grandmother she's never met while Theo gets the heart transplant. Her grandmother, Nell wants to cut down the woods surrounding her house before they cause a subsidence. Nobody likes that idea. Least of all Flo, a little girl in a red coat who is trying to get Alice to understand she can stop this.
It's a great story, but a bit tragic, to be honest. If you're someone who's looking for a light-hearted story, this isn't it. From the cover and the synopsis I was so excited. I thought, a cute kid's story about fairies, count me in! But it's so much more than that. It's well written, it handles the issues in a real way, and it shows how important hope can be.
I do recommend this story and I hope that everyone loves it the way I do. I had never read anything by Emma Carroll before today, but now I can't wait to get ahold of her other books.
October 5, 2016
At first I was reticent to read this book because it's about a girl who discovers her ability to see fairies. Fairies are cool, depicted in certain ways, but I wasn't sure if this story might be a little "girly" for me. How wrong I was!
The book is not really about fairies - they are just a backdrop to a girl called Alice who is going through a ridiculously tough, challenging stage in her life. Her little brother is ill after a heart transplant, her parents don't talk and her father has run off, no one gets on with grandma and Alice has to go live with said grandma. And it's here, in Darkling Wood, where the story comes alive.
Nell, the grandma, wants to have the wood cut down because of bad memories, but the village hate her for it as many believe fairies live there. What ensues is a battle of wills, tested friendships, magic and dark family secrets. A really, really well told story that hooked me till the end.
The book is not really about fairies - they are just a backdrop to a girl called Alice who is going through a ridiculously tough, challenging stage in her life. Her little brother is ill after a heart transplant, her parents don't talk and her father has run off, no one gets on with grandma and Alice has to go live with said grandma. And it's here, in Darkling Wood, where the story comes alive.
Nell, the grandma, wants to have the wood cut down because of bad memories, but the village hate her for it as many believe fairies live there. What ensues is a battle of wills, tested friendships, magic and dark family secrets. A really, really well told story that hooked me till the end.
February 17, 2017
I really enjoyed this! Plot was interesting, obvious but interesting. Parts of it had my mind darting back to the tales of the Magic Wishing Tree & Up the airy mountain, down the rusty glen (The Fairies) of my childhood. Desperate for the worlds of fairies and pixies to be real. More importantly for those worlds to be revealed to me! Enough reference to the current day to make it enticing for today's young readers. Fabulous read.
July 30, 2015
A wonderful story - interweaving the magical, the real, the past and the present. Never again will you walk through woods without wondering ... and hoping to see something or someone a little out of the ordinary.
December 30, 2015
I love Emma's books. Beautifully written they create these deeply imaginative (even magical) worlds that still remain peopled by absolutely real and believable characters. They are classics that I could reread endlessly.
July 6, 2017
Loved it!
My daughter has been banging on at me to read it - she's a great fan of Emma Carroll's books, and my only regret is that I didn't read it earlier!
A lovely book, well written and thoroughly enjoyable! It's not a sickly fairy book, and it's not too girly. Great time episodes that make sense but keeps its own mystery.
Off to read Frost Hollowhall now!
My daughter has been banging on at me to read it - she's a great fan of Emma Carroll's books, and my only regret is that I didn't read it earlier!
A lovely book, well written and thoroughly enjoyable! It's not a sickly fairy book, and it's not too girly. Great time episodes that make sense but keeps its own mystery.
Off to read Frost Hollowhall now!
January 3, 2020
intresting and mysterious...:)
July 31, 2017
I loved the blend of realistic fiction and fantasy in this book! The family relationships were difficult but real -- you could picture yourself having these same experiences. Hope is the theme that runs throughout this book and is also what makes it interesting to read.
January 22, 2019
This is by far the best book I’ve ever read and I totally recommend it for all I never wanted to stop reading even though I had too I feel like I could read books like this forevermore
February 22, 2017
This is a great book with a combination of fantasy and mystery genres.
The best part of the book is that it was about fairies.
The most interesting characters were Flo (who was also the most mysterious) as well as the main character, Alice, and her little brother, Theo, who needs a heart transplant.
There's a lot going on in this story and it should appeal to a wide variety of readers, but it will mostly appeal to fantasy and adventure readers.
(Reviewed by Letisha)
The best part of the book is that it was about fairies.
The most interesting characters were Flo (who was also the most mysterious) as well as the main character, Alice, and her little brother, Theo, who needs a heart transplant.
There's a lot going on in this story and it should appeal to a wide variety of readers, but it will mostly appeal to fantasy and adventure readers.
(Reviewed by Letisha)
March 19, 2017
I received an ARC from the publishing company in exchange for a review.
Summary:
This book follows Alice who is suddenly sent to her unknown grandmothers house while her brother undergoes a major organ transplant. But her grandmother's house is located in Darkling Wood and the trees are threatening to destroy the foundation of her home so she is wanting to get them cut down. Alice is unsure of the turmoil but there is controversy in the town over these woods and there are secrets hiding in the woods.
Dislikes:
Unfortunately this story just dragged on for me. Even though it was short, there were times where I wish the dialog and story would speed up. Characters were decent but repeated themselves far too much for my liking. At some points I felt as if the plot would take a couple steps back.
Likes:
The writing was well done. And the concept of the story was really interesting. I liked the family dynamic and the relationships, with the love and turmoil.
Overall:
This book was a great concept but unfortunately was just not for me. I felt a bit like I was reading an old fairy tale at some points. It was just a bit too repetitive for my liking. I highly suggest that if you enjoy middle grade and mythical creatures you should definitely check it out. Also, I really enjoy the cover of this book, its visually pleasing with the color ombre.
Summary:
This book follows Alice who is suddenly sent to her unknown grandmothers house while her brother undergoes a major organ transplant. But her grandmother's house is located in Darkling Wood and the trees are threatening to destroy the foundation of her home so she is wanting to get them cut down. Alice is unsure of the turmoil but there is controversy in the town over these woods and there are secrets hiding in the woods.
Dislikes:
Unfortunately this story just dragged on for me. Even though it was short, there were times where I wish the dialog and story would speed up. Characters were decent but repeated themselves far too much for my liking. At some points I felt as if the plot would take a couple steps back.
Likes:
The writing was well done. And the concept of the story was really interesting. I liked the family dynamic and the relationships, with the love and turmoil.
Overall:
This book was a great concept but unfortunately was just not for me. I felt a bit like I was reading an old fairy tale at some points. It was just a bit too repetitive for my liking. I highly suggest that if you enjoy middle grade and mythical creatures you should definitely check it out. Also, I really enjoy the cover of this book, its visually pleasing with the color ombre.
October 9, 2017
What a shame. I really enjoyed Strange Star by this author but this one wasn't even fantasy material
There is the mentioning of Faeries but that's it. Nothing magical about the story or characters. This was a family drama to be more precise. I also felt mostly frustrated by and for the main character.
There is the mentioning of Faeries but that's it. Nothing magical about the story or characters. This was a family drama to be more precise. I also felt mostly frustrated by and for the main character.
April 21, 2017
There is little I like less than a children's book whose plot is almost entirely dependent upon a bunch of adults ignoring the fears, griefs, and needs of the child in their midst. Plot by neglect! This is even more intolerable when I'm supposed to like these adults and hope for anything more than their fiery and immediate deaths and the sudden, delicious release of said child into the care of almost anyone else.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 205 reviews