The Edge Of The Woods

by Ceinwen Langley

"You’re not the first young woman to try to bend the rules, my dear, but they failed and so will you." For as long as anyone can remember, young women have vanished into the woods. Believing them to be weak willed and lured by demons, the zealous Mayor enforces rules to protect rules that render the village women submissive and silent, or face being ostracised. Emma’s only hope of a decent life is to be married by her eighteenth birthday, but her quick mouth and low social standing make her a poor prospect. Lonely and afraid, she finds herself dreaming of the woods, and of a mysterious boy who promises freedom and acceptance if she’ll only step across the border into the trees. With her birthday fast approaching, she has a decision to run away from her future, or fight for it.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Fiction, Magic, Fae, Paranormal, Young Adult Fantasy

306 pages, Paperback

First published May 9, 2014

About the author

Ceinwen Langley is an Australian author, television writer, and the full-time resting place of a dog made out of elbows. You can find her via ceinwenlangley.com, or across various social media platforms @feedthewriter.

Reviews

[Marina Finlayson · Rating 4 out of 5]

On Emma’s fifth birthday, she and Mama picnic in the meadow near the village. It’s an idyllic scene, surrounded by wildflowers and dancing fireflies – until Emma strays too close to the woods and earns a smack and a stern warning. No one goes near the woods. Young girls who do have been known to disappear in the middle of the night.

But when Mama falls asleep, the fireflies lead Emma to a strange young boy making music in the woods.

By the time Emma turns seventeen she thinks the boy in the woods was just a dream. Now she’s more concerned with the very real dilemma facing her. Everyone must marry at eighteen or face a life of poverty and being shunned by the villagers. For the girls of this sexist society, it’s marriage or nothing: “Almost every adult in the village is referred to by their job, and for the women that means ‘wife’.” The problem is, there are only two boys turning eighteen, and four girls, and all the girls have more money and social standing than Emma and her widowed mother.

The village is well and truly under the thumb of the mayor, whose son is one of the available boys. The mayor is one of those people who use the rules of their religion as a weapon to control everyone else, instead of embracing its actual teachings as the compassionate and principled Emma does.

Two such opposite people are bound to clash, and at first it seems as though the mayor has all the advantages on his side. But Emma has love – the love of her mother, of her outcast friend, even of the mysterious boy in the woods – and love can be a great force for good.

This isn’t an epic story with great magics and kingdoms at stake, but Langley will have you caring very much for the fate of Emma and her little world. Her characters are real people facing difficult decisions. Some of Emma’s choices are particularly hard as they affect not only her own life but the fate of her beloved mother, and I really like that about this book. Parents are often conveniently absent in YA books, leaving the heroine free to pursue whatever excitement and/or romance she wishes without consequence, which is very unrealistic.

There is a romance, but it’s only one aspect of Emma’s life, not the be-all and end-all. Langley shows that other kinds of love are just as important, and that it’s the ties that bind us to our families, the promises we make to our friends, that really make us who we are. Emma is a strong character and a great role model. She’s tempted by the easy path, she’s almost seduced by magic, but in the end she remains true to her values and finds a way forward not only for herself but her whole community.

And what is in the woods? Perhaps not what you might expect – or, if you’ve read some of the older, darker fairy tales, perhaps it is. I was very glad there were no easy answers waiting for Emma under the trees. I enjoyed The Edge of the Woods very much. It has a very likeable heroine, a little magic and a lot of heart.

[Ness · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are a lot of YA fantasy books that start the same way as 'The Edge of the Woods'. You have a smart, likeable hero who has not had the best luck in life. The world has not treated them kindly, circumstances and society are against them, and it would be so nice if they had just a bit of power, just a small chance to catch a break.
This would be the point they stumble across some otherworldy, fantastic element promising just that, and before you can say 'yer a wizard, Harry', they are whisked off into a world of magic and adventure.
I've enjoyed my fair share of books following that formula, there's nothing wrong with it at all, but 'The Edge of the Woods' breaks it in the most refreshing and wonderful way.
Instead of running away from her problems and downright crappy situation in life, Emma meets her challenges head on. She has chance after chance to leave it all behind, but instead she stays and she fights for what she wants. She fights for what she wants for her own life, what she wants for her friends and her Mama, and what she wants for her home. She doesn't need to run to a world of magic and mystery to beat her enemies, she has a power that comes from her own bravery, determination and love for the people she cares about. It's a great twist on a common type of story and one that had me flying through page after page.
That's not to say the fantasy aspects don't play a big part in the plot, they do, but the way they're handled are so different from what you'd expect, it's hard to be disappointed.
Not only is the story different and engaging, but it is filled with a cast of characters who are all real and complicated people. They're characters who don't fit easily into one 'type', but who readers will recognise from their own lives. This speaks to Langley's skill as a writer - by building such strong and believable relationships between the characters - you're not upset that Emma doesn't fly off immediately into this other world, instead you want to stay and fight with her. You know that if she steps into the woods, she'd be giving up too much. And when she does move into the new world it's not because she's defeated by her old one, she's not looking for help or sanctuary; she's still fighting for herself, her home, and the people she loves.

[Allison C · Rating 4 out of 5]

So. Damn. Good.... oh my gosh!
I was hooked from the jump. I love anything to do with forbidden forests, and this book checked all my boxes. Perfect for fans of classic Grimm fairytales.


Spoilers: I really liked the ending. Like, really liked the ending! Everything wrapped up nicely, but I wish there was an opportunity for a sequel or novella… I just know I’m going to miss Emma 😭

[Patty (IheartYA311) · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story had potential but execution fell short. The writing and pacing were inconsistent. I appreciated the development of the MC, and the conclusion was satisfying.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heartwarming story, a cruel world, and the triumph of a young woman who learned to say ‘no’.

I loved everything about this book from the very first sentence. It reads exactly the way a young adult fairytale should.

The world building is fantastic, I loved how we were introduced to the frustrating, backwards customs of a village living in fear and determined to control every aspect of the lives of the women and ‘strangers’ in it.

Emma is fiery and compassionate, though I found her frustrating at times. I think it’s because I’m envious of her courage to fight the world she lives in head on rather than snaking her way into it. All of the side characters had a wonderful life of their own and I had found myself hating and loving them for all their flaws and triumphs.

I found this story also has on a surprising take on what lurks in the woods. So often stories of women in strife result in them taking a chance and finding a better world, leaving their own behind, but Emma isn’t like that. She struggles with running away from it as well as trying to fight it. I wasn’t sure where we were going at first but by the final 100 pages I was right along side her.

If you are in the mood for a story about women’s defiance and a bit of magic and mystery, this is the perfect book for you.

[Mindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5
I was sent an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Emma lives in a society where men are the rulers and providers and women are expected to be submissive and obedient. Having grown up poor with her widowed mother, she dreams of making a better life for them where they won’t have to beg for work to survive. To do this, she must marry, for any girl unmarried by her coming of age is ostracized for life. But Emma doesn’t want to marry a boy she hardly knows, and due to her low social standing, she has no chance with the boy she actually likes. Feeling desperately alone and unhappy, she begins to dream of a mysterious boy who promises her that, if she’ll only follow him into the woods, she will enjoy freedom and contentment. For years, girls around Emma’s age have been disappearing into the woods, never to return. Will Emma be the next, or will she fight for herself and other women in her own society?

This was a very nice little book that I enjoyed reading. I especially liked Emma’s strong relationship with her mother and her best friend, Mona, and the prominent anti-sexism message. Perhaps because I was so engrossed in Emma’s village and the way its citizens lived, though, the fantastic portions of this story struggled to hold my interest at times, despite my being a big fantasy fan. Somewhere along the way, it seems the fairy plot line became secondary to and somewhat detached from the village plot line, when I think they could have better complemented each other. I also didn’t care very much for Emma’s love interest. He was perfectly nice, but boring (and rather cowardly, which annoyed me), and I didn’t quite understand why they were so smitten. I’m not particularly a romance fan, though. In the end, the well-written female characters (of which there were several) and engaging storyline made up for what I felt this book lacked, and therefore it earns a solid rating from me.

[Steven · Rating 4 out of 5]

The premise of this book seemed decent enough to take a chance on, so I did (especially since I got it for free at the time). The story takes place in a sort of remote-ish village ruled by Mayor Jones (an inherited position, not a political one) who doles out fiery sermons meant to keep the village people in line with his beliefs. The village is so caught up in its "traditions" and way of life that there is no empathy or leeway for those who are born different (the Strangers who live outside the village but are still subject to its rules) or those who run into bad luck (the Unmarrieds, women who aren't married by 18 for whatever reason or Emma and her mother whose husband died years ago).

Emma and her mother Grace live on the edge of the village next to a meadow that borders the forbidden woods. People who wander into the woods (young, single women) are never seen again. At age 5, while playing the meadow, Emma sees a strange boy playing a flute in the woods. She never forgets him. Fast forward 12 years and Emma is nearing her 18th birthday when she must get married or live as an Unmarried, a woman who is so subordinate that they are treated as less than livestock. Having been raised by a single mother, Emma is not a typical young woman, which is a strike against her in this community. Her best friend is a Stranger, and her ability to think independently makes unique enough that the entire village (except Mayor Jones) actually respects her, even though they won't say so to her face. Oh, and the two eligible boys for Emma are Andrew (who is less than enthusiastic about marriage) and Samuel, a boy Emma used to play with when they were little who still harbors a crush for her...and happens to be the mayor's son. Yeah, you can see where this is heading.

But the story takes a couple twists. First, Samuel begins to woo Emma, much to the surprise of everyone in the village. Then Emma blows it by not dumping her best friend. And that boy she saw in the forest years ago, yep, he's still there, and he begins to lure Emma toward him through dreams and then in reality. To her credit, Emma resists, even though it means a lifetime of drudgery as an Unmarried. And then something happens that is the catalyst for change within Emma and, ultimately, the entire village.

This tale moves along at a good pace and reads fairly quickly. The characters are mostly believable and act in ways you would mostly expect. And the little bit of the supernatural keeps you wondering what's really going to happen next. So why just four stars? First, though things were believable, I found them to be a little bit too cookie cutter for true enjoyment. Some of the characters turned into caricatures right before me eyes, and certain plot lines were transparent. And second, I thought the ending of the book wrapped up a little too neatly too quickly. Don't get me wrong. It's the ending I wanted, but it happened so quickly that I felt caught up in a whirlwind. Not a bad one, but a whirlwind nonetheless.

In short, this is a very good book. I liked the characters and liked the plot. And the little twists that propelled the story were a great touch. And even though this falls into the YA category, it's readable for anyone. If you're looking for a book to pick up and enjoy in front of the fireplace or under a warm blanket, this is a worthy choice.

[Anna (Enchanted by YA) · Rating 4 out of 5]

***I received the eBook free as a review copy from the author in exchange for an honest review***

Emma’s society provides a fair few problems for her, and for a long time there’s no escape. Her options were limited, and the only ones she had were near impossible or downright miserable. She also had to consider her poor mother who played such a vital part in the story. I’ve found that parents in YA seem to either only be there for the angst and are very distant or are simply not there at all, leaving the heroines to run rampant. Sure a lot of the time they get up to some cool things; romance, newfound powers and all that great stuff yet it decreases the realism. You can have it all but still with the parents having the amount of influence you see in real life, Ceinwen Langley proves that.

Emma herself is a very strong heroin, but not in the way that she can accept every bad thing that comes her way for what it is, instead she’s able to and twist the rules and never give in to the false temptation of a better path. This is again where her mother and best friend Mona come in, because as she thinks of them it clears her path. She will sacrifice the easy road for them, and it showcases the strength of love that isn’t just in romantic relationships but those friend and family connections.

There was of course a romance, but it played more into Emma’s character than anything else. Even with all its problems it gave her the strength to fight for what she wanted, not only for herself but the village she so reluctantly calls her home. I found her village very interesting with the way it ran in such an old-fashioned way. Anyone could see it was illogical and destructive, but no-one was prepared to change it. Instead they blamed their problems on the woods.

The woods played a big part in this novel as you’d expect, but it isn’t the solution it’s made up to be. Sometimes the fantasy isn’t all you hope for, and it’s better to stay and fix what you know. This is what Emma has to decide between, but when you’ve been blinded of a different future you’re whole life, how can you know you’re making the right decision?

A great YA read and my one complaint: I hear no rumour of a sequel...

Posted on: http://enchantedbyya.blogspot.co.uk/

[Davo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing

Amazing. This hit all the right feels and I love Samuel, and He's now my second book husband after Peeta.

[Jonathan Fesmire · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a good underdog story, and a good story about people who fight for the underdog, and "The Edge of the Woods" ticks both those boxes.

The novel follows Emma, a young woman who sees the prejudices in her village but has to go along with their strict rules, anyway. Will she be able to marry the mayor's son and improve her and her mother's lives? What about the horned boy in the woods, the one she saw in a dream as a child and has practically grown up with? Is he even real? These questions and Emma's troubles navigating the injustices in her home drive the story, but it's when Emma goes against the mayor's wishes that we see her true agency.

I won't give away the ending, but as an author, I know how tough it can be to craft a perfect resolution, and Langley accomplishes that. The ending is immensely satisfying and wraps up the book beautifully. I highly recommend "The Edge of the Woods."

I received the audio version of this book from the author for free. The reader is also wonderful, with a strong but soothing voice that's pleasant to listen to.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Edge Of The Woods was a fairly simple story with the soul of it being about being brave enough to go against the grain and make a change for the better. It felt like the amalgamation of Handmaid's Tale and The Village, with a strong feminine power simmering throughout.

I enjoyed the strength of the main character and found the ending to be satisfying, particularly when over throwing the mayor!

This wasn't a bad book, aside from a few spelling errors or missed words (hopefully they can be fixed by an editor), and I'm always happy to support a fellow Welshie and cross stitch lover. 😉

[G.R. Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read. Emma lives in a dreadful patriarchal village where woman have no rights & gossip can be your downfall in an instant. Emma however is strong , not easily accepting her lot despite her mothers plea to just go with the flow for their own security. Her pleasingly stubborn streak however leads Emma to condemnation with no future and this is where there’s a clever and pleasing paranormal element that turns things on their head
I really enjoyed this & would love to know more about the goings on within the woods. I loved that part. A great YA read

[Bee · Rating 4 out of 5]

very slow then extremely fast

[Smarzbar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping story of a young woman who takes on not only the patriarchy but the old grimm style fae to forge her own destiny. 
Don't be fooled by the Handmaid's Tale/The Grace Year vibes, this doesn't inflict the heavy trauma that those did and left me smiling and feeling triumphant.

[Liz DiBenedetto · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has become one of my favorites really quickly. It reminded me of Grimms Fairy meets the village with more of a feminist twist. Meaning the women were only there to mend clothes, raise babies, and stand behind their husbands. Which quite frankly pissed me off but it also pissed off our main character Emma.
Ever since her father passed, Emma and her mother were seen as outcasts. Her mom is becoming older and more run down as the years progress and Emma is coming up on her 18th birthday. Which means she is old enough to get married. There is quite an amusing merry go round when it comes to which girl is better for either of the two boys of age.
In all of the political there is the mystical. The forest is rumored to steal away girls and women. They are presumed dead because no one ever goes into the woods. Emma however has been seeing a boy with horns at the edge of the woods, eh eh get it 😉, since she was little. Turns out he is more than just a dream.
When the youngest girl is taken Emma can stand by no longer. If the men wont go after her then she will have to.

Full of character growth, a beautifully colorful setting with the flowers, and the book wraps up perfectly in the end. I am giving this book a solid 4 stars and I need to get it for my indie author's shelf.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun fairy story that paid homage to darker takes like Feist’s Fairie Tale. I think I preferred Langley’s other book a bit more and I certainly found it more memorable but I did really enjoy this - listened to it all in a single day enjoyed - so I certainly think it’s worth a read. I really liked the audiobook too so recommend that!

[[ J o ] · Rating 3 out of 5]

**Recieved through a giveaway**

I was very impressed with 'The Edge of the Woods', particularly since it is a first-time self-published (and I actually believe this would have done well with agents/publishers). I'll probably come back and make a better review out of this, but for now I'll bullet-point a few things (good and bad.)

- The beginning was strong and I found myself drawn to the main character, Emma, rather early on. This is rather odd for me to do, especially with a first-person novel such as this. I found myself disliking her towards the only a little, only because she became rather impudent and repetitive, though if I had to live her life I'm sure I would be, too.

- I found the book waned slightly towards the ending; perhaps slightly rushed with a desire to reach the conclusion too quickly. The chapters seemed to rush by without much happening and I felt the ending was slightly more clichéd than this book deserved. Despite this, I do think that the ending it did have was very much the only ending this book could have had, and it was perfectly suited for such a story.

- Almost zero typos (!) and written so well for a first-time book. This I find pleasantly warming, especially, as already stated, it's a self-published novel. I have read many first-time novels from authors who have successfully gained an agent and publishing contract that are lack-lustre in the whole "i rite gud" area.

- Character development in those who were not the protagonist was lacking. Whilst I appreciate the first-person writing style makes this hard to do, the way Emma realises character development herself was a bit wooden. I firmly believe that more time could have been devoted to Emma's own thoughts on other characters and her interaction with them.

- Which leads me to the next point; too short! I thought each scene used was useful, with the exception of being told Emma wakes up after falling asleep (if she's washing herself we kinda know she's awake). Some of the segments could have been elongated rather nicely, and I find there is scope for this in almost every chapter.

- The Strangers and the... monsters (?) could have been much more involved in this book than they were. I felt left hanging about both these species (for lack of a better term right now) and would have loved to learn more about both (again, perhaps the first-person narrative is to blame)

- The odd implementation of swear words. There were three from memory; bastard twice and another. I found the sudden use very abrupt and wayward. By no means do I disprove; in fact, I actively encourage swear words in novels (I challenge anyone to get 5 random people who ALL agree that all swear words are terrible and should never be used ever), but the sudden use and then sudden disappearance was off-putting. The situations Emma and indeed Mona found themselves in could very well allow for such language, but in this case I found it to be unnecessary because of it's inconsistency.

All in all, a very enjoyable read. I'll reiterate the fact that I usually steer clear of first-person narratives, and YA as a general whole, because they usually involve whinging, soppy romantic females who can't think for themselves without males present. This put faith in me of the YA genre, and first-person narratives to an extent. I would have liked a more cliff-hanger ending (that's me assuming there'll be a second book?).


Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Pinterest | Shop | Etsy

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first glance, the plot of The Edge of the Woods may seem rather formulaic for a YA novel: a spunky heroine who has had a tough life thus far stumbles upon something supernatural to aid them in a sudden quest for redemption and adventure.
However, this novel is much more than that. The characters are believable, and they all display distinct strengths and weaknesses. I loved the heroine, and sympathized with her struggles in addition to being happy when she was, which is important to hold a reader's attention in such a novel.
The supernatural elements were fantastic. I didn't feel like they overwhelmed the main plot of the conflict within the village; rather, I felt they complemented it. The fact that no characters questioned the idea of demons within the woods gave the story a sense of magic realism, which I liked, although this book doesn't really fit into the genre. I really loved the supernatural beings themselves - they reminded me in many ways of the darker faeries I used to read about in our Celtic faerie tales books. They were fascinating, as was Emma's relationship with Lonesome.
The part of the story that takes place within the town was the best part, however. Not only does Emma defy convention by standing up to the mayor, she and the rest of the town bring about real change, as evidenced by the introduction of divorce and the brief appearance of Roslyn and Jane together. These touches added some hints of progressiveness and legitimacy to Emma's struggle for change, which was quite satisfying to read.
The only issue I had was that I found the love interest to be rather uninteresting. While this allowed for more attention to be paid to the female characters (which I loved, especially the friendship between Mona and Emma and the mother/daughter narrative) it was difficult to pair such a dynamic character as Emma with such a flat character. I would have liked to see more of his personality as opposed to having him be there solely as the love interest.
Despite this, the story was fresh and extremely engaging. I didn't intend to read it in one sitting, but I couldn't put it down. Fantastic novel.

[The Reading Hammock | Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

In an isolated society young Emma and her friend Mona feel hopeless looking at the future. Emma, the daughter of the tailor's widow, is approaching her 18th birthday and the prospect of being married off to one of 2 eligible boys her age. Mona, a "Stranger" has no prospect in town, having always been an outsider. When the mayor's son takes an interest in Emma, everything seems to be on the up and up for Emma and her mother, having been forced into poverty after her father's death. Until her unconventional ideas don't impress the tyrannical mayor. He rescinds his son's interests in Emma and force her into social exile.

But Emma's had a secret friend in the forbidden forests just outside of town. Since her childhood, Emma has been visited in her dreams by a handsome boy in the trees. As she nears her 18th birthday and her life spirals out of control, the visits from the forest boy, who she named Lonesome, start to increase. He begs her to run away into the woods with him--says she'll be happier there, being able to dance to her heart's content. Emma can't bear to leave her family forever. Anyone who goes into the woods has never returned.

The tantalizing prospect of eternal happiness with Lonesome, but the fear of forever leaving everything she knows and loves, Emma is torn. Her hope of a life in the forest is quickly changed when she suspects Lonesome kidnapped a young girl from the village, she believes it's her fault. She feels she must go to save her, warnings of the forest be damned. Will she make it back out with the young girl alive? Can she change the attitude of the village and stop the tyranny of the mayor?

[Tim Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full disclosure: I know the author. Langley's prose is economical and direct, which is a FUCKING GODSEND in YA Literature in the 21st century (SUZANNE COLLINS), and the plot never stops moving so the main character can explain their feelings for several pages like in the work of many authors who are supposedly more experienced than this one. You will probably want to finish this one in like one or two sittings. This book is really more of an anti-fantasy, the only other example of which I can think of is DC Pierson's Crap Kingdom. But, where Crap Kingdom is skewering of the adolescent male fantasy story, this is a very pragmatic feminist story where the real world sucks, but the fantasy sucks more, the point being that it's on you to make circumstances better in your world instead of giving up on it for something else.

[Cat Rector · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Emma is exactly the kind of character I've been dying to root for lately.

The author has done an amazing job of building a world that's both realistic and recognisable, but slightly just out of the ordinary. The stakes always feel high, despite most of the "action" being deeply woven in personal relationships and community dynamics. Those stakes felt so real and relatable to what I know from experience, and what I know from the stories other women have shared with me. This book, and Emma in particular, embodies so much of the hopeful changemaker I had wanted to be. There was a deep sense of purpose, but also how pieces of your life can grind that purpose out of you. It's a reminder not to settle for what is just because it is, and I think a lot of us can use that.

[K.J. Bryen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book so much, I was surprised. Although it is a fantasy, it seemed like the fantasy part was really just a minor thing compared to drama going on in Emmas life. I found Emma to be a strong, likeable (though sometimes frustrating) character, and her relationships were very well developed. I wouldn't have expected to like a book that has more of a drama element than fantasy, but I did. I was very drawn into Emma's life. My only complaint is that I feel this book really deserves a sequel, especially since the ending still holds one loose end that I was hoping could be addressed.

All in all, a really great novel. I hope to read more from Ceinwen Langley :)

[Ana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved it. I almost cried knowing there wasn't a sequel. I would recommend it to EVERYONE!

The writing was great. The Plot was amazing and yet still realistic. The main character wasn't stupid. And the way she handled situations is how somebody actually WOULD handle them...it wasn't some made up perfect happily ever after.

I honestly have nothing bad to say about this book other then that at times I thought the main character was a bit TOO hostile...other then that PERFECT!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[Jodi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! 🤩 this was a pleasant surprise of a book! I went into this book blind, I was given a free code from the author to listen to the audio book on the authors direct app.

I was blown away by how much I liked this book. It was had fantasy aspects for sure, but it was so much more, an amazing coming of age, romance and mystery book all rolled into one. It was a heartwarming and enjoyable story!

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written and a wonderful captivating and enchanting story full of depth. An interesting concept with heart warming characters you can relate to and engage with. I couldn't put it down. Absolutely loved it! Highly recommended.

[Dee · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Edge of the Woods is a fast-paced story filled with mystery, feminism and an intriguing plot with characters who pushed it past the finish line. The story was slow to start but once I fully immersed myself in the world I could not put this book down.

I read the majority of this book in one night because I was so invested in the characters and seeing what was going to happen. I was intrigued by the main character, Emma, and her ideas of where her life was going despite everything society was forcing upon her. In this world, women play a very stereotypical role in society, their only purpose to marry and have a family, their voices being silenced by the men in society. But Emma didn’t want to sit by and let the mayor dictate her whole life, and over the course of the book she spoke up and got stronger and stronger and I absolutely loved seeing her character develop as the story went on. She was very inspiring and I loved her.

The mayor, on the other hand, made me want to grab him and gouge his eyes out because he was such a stuck up, entitled, two-faced bastard. I was waiting for him to get his comeuppance and I was not disappointed.

Emma’s love interest, Samuel, was an interesting character. He seemed to care for her, but he was such a coward. He wouldn’t stand up for himself or her, and that annoyed me a bit. But his character also developed at the end, and I was glad to see him finally speaking up against his father.

I was lured in by the mention of the woods and the mysterious creatures that resided within. The whole allure, for me, was the idea of fantastical beasts that lured humans into the woods. It was very intriguing. And I loved the mystery of it, and finally seeing what the humans were so scared of about the woods.

When I first started reading this I wasn’t sure if I was going to like it. Especially since the beginning was quite slow and I usually am not a fan of books like this. I don’t usually like reading books where women are stigmatised and society has certain rules about how they are treated, but I found myself thoroughly enjoying this book, especially with Emma and her character development.

The ending was so wholesome and rounded out the book perfectly. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good mystery interspersed with elements of fantasy and romance. If you love magical beings and a badass female lead who isn’t afraid to stand up for what she believes in, you’ll love this book.

I can’t wait to hear all of your thoughts.

[Jodie Simpson · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an absolute gem of a book!

I feel so blessed to have found this story, leaving the final pages with such warmth and happiness, like being hugged by a book.

As a mother to two young daughters this story hit me in ALL the feels. In a world where women and girls are so controlled, shamed and manipulated I was in such a rage reading about how Emma, her Mama, her friend Mona and their fellow townswomen were treated.

The more I read the more real it felt as I drew so many links to injustices still faced by women in society today. Oh it felt hard to read but so much harder to stop!

Luckily the author introduced hope into this world in quietly strong characters who had the potential to support change. Samuel and the Doctor in particular, coupled with the intense and growing strength of Emma kept hope alive.

Without wanting to drop any spoilers, let me simply say, the ending was everything I could have wanted. I will be sharing this beautiful book with my daughters in the coming years as THIS is the type of empowering stories that I want them to draw their own strength from.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Edge of the Woods by Ceinwen Langley ** 4.5 out of 5 stars

“Of course, they feel safe disappearing into the woods with some gorgeous boy who tells them everything’s going to be all right.”

Emma was one of the unlucky, one without a living male relative to guide her through society. This book follows Emma’s journey as she struggles with her impending “coming of age” and whom she can convince to marry her. Ostracized with her widowed mother, she seeks solace on the edge of the woods among the bluebells. Risking more than she realizes, The Edge of the Woods is dangerous and filled with stories of monsters.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Emma is an underdog, a young girl who chooses kindness over tradition. If you’re looking for a story of an unlikely hero and a strong woman, this is a wonderful story to choose.

Trigger Warnings: misogyny, violence
Tropes: strong female main character

[Magdalene]

Emma lives in a village where young women must get married or risk being shunned, and are also warned against going into the forest. Her deadline for getting married is almost up, but she's too rebellious for the mayor to approve of her. Meanwhile, she keeps dreaming of the woods and a boy with horns who's trying to convince her to join him there. This feels like a very classic fairy tale-inspired YA story in a really great way. It had hints of The Village and The Giver, with very strong feminist themes. A lot of it felt familiar, and yet I never knew quite what to expect. I found the story really compelling, and really appreciated the depth to Emma's relationships with all the people in her life, instead of just focusing on romantic ones.

[Anissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I binged this really fast, it was compelling and the writing was fantastic. I really enjoyed learning about this town and it’s way of life as well as how Emma’s life has been going since the death of her father. The fantasy elements with the fae creatures were really well done, and while some might be saddened we didn’t get more of them, I’m alright with the fact that they were just one part of the bigger story. The only thing that fell flat for me was the romance, we really don’t get that much personality from him. There was a cute scene or two but I was hoping for more depth, then again this is a three hundred something page novel not a five hundred one so maybe I can give it some slack.