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Sourdough Universe
A Forest, Darkly
Not yet published
Expected 10 Feb 26A page-turning dark fantasy of witches, twisted magic, changelings and the sins that bind. Set in the award-winning author's acclaimed universe, this immersive story is perfect for fans of Ava Reid, Hannah Whitten and Lucy Holland.
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 her through the trees. As the villagers turn hostile and the godhounds close in, Mehrab finds herself at the centre of a struggle to save the soul of the forest, the life of an old love – and her own new-formed family.
A bewitching gothic tale; haunting, gripping and written with wit and heart, this is a book to both savour and devour.
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 her through the trees. As the villagers turn hostile and the godhounds close in, Mehrab finds herself at the centre of a struggle to save the soul of the forest, the life of an old love – and her own new-formed family.
A bewitching gothic tale; haunting, gripping and written with wit and heart, this is a book to both savour and devour.
368 pages, Paperback
Expected publication February 10, 2026
8 people are currently reading
1230 people want to read
About the author
A.G. Slatter
12 books699 followersAKA Angela Slatter
Angela Slatter is the author of All The Murmuring Bones (Titan Books, purchase links below). That will be followed by The Path of Thorns in 2022. Both are gothic fantasies set in the world of the Sourdough and Bitterwood collections.
In February 2021, Tartarus Press published The Tallow-Wife and Other Tales, the third mosaic collection in the Sourdough world series. In March 2022, The Bone Lantern (a novella set in the Sourdough world) will be published by Absinthe Press (an imprint of PS Publishing).
Angela is also the author of the supernatural crime novels from Jo Fletcher Books/Hachette International: Vigil (2016), Corpselight (2017) and Restoration (2018), as well as ten other short story collections, including The Girl with No Hands and Other Tales, Sourdough and Other Stories, The Bitterwood Bible and Other Recountings, A Feast of Sorrows: Stories, and The Heart is a Mirror for Sinners and Other Stories. Vigil was nominated for the Dublin Literary Award in 2018.
Angela is represented by Meg Davis of the Ki Agency in London: meg@ki-agency.co.uk
She has won a World Fantasy Award, a British Fantasy Award, a Ditmar, two Australian Shadows Awards and seven Aurealis Awards.
Angela’s short stories have appeared in Australian, UK and US Best Of anthologies such The Mammoth Book of New Horror, The Year’s Best Dark Fantasy and Horror, The Best Horror of the Year, The Year’s Best Australian Fantasy and Horror, and The Year’s Best YA Speculative Fiction. Her work has been translated into Bulgarian, Chinese, Russian, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Polish, French and Romanian. Victoria Madden of Sweet Potato Films (The Kettering Incident) has optioned the film rights to one of her short stories (“Finnegan’s Field”).
She has an MA and a PhD in Creative Writing, is a graduate of Clarion South 2009 and the Tin House Summer Writers Workshop 2006, and in 2013 she was awarded one of the inaugural Queensland Writers Fellowships. In 2016 Angela was the Established Writer-in-Residence at the Katharine Susannah Prichard Writers Centre in Perth. She has been awarded career development funding by Arts Queensland, the Copyright Agency and, in 2017/18, an Australia Council for the Arts grant. She teaches for the Australian Writers’ Centre.
She is also the author of the novellas, Of Sorrow and Such (Tor.com) and Ripper (in Horrorology: The Lexicon of Fear).
Angela Slatter is the author of All The Murmuring Bones (Titan Books, purchase links below). That will be followed by The Path of Thorns in 2022. Both are gothic fantasies set in the world of the Sourdough and Bitterwood collections.
In February 2021, Tartarus Press published The Tallow-Wife and Other Tales, the third mosaic collection in the Sourdough world series. In March 2022, The Bone Lantern (a novella set in the Sourdough world) will be published by Absinthe Press (an imprint of PS Publishing).
Angela is also the author of the supernatural crime novels from Jo Fletcher Books/Hachette International: Vigil (2016), Corpselight (2017) and Restoration (2018), as well as ten other short story collections, including The Girl with No Hands and Other Tales, Sourdough and Other Stories, The Bitterwood Bible and Other Recountings, A Feast of Sorrows: Stories, and The Heart is a Mirror for Sinners and Other Stories. Vigil was nominated for the Dublin Literary Award in 2018.
Angela is represented by Meg Davis of the Ki Agency in London: meg@ki-agency.co.uk
She has won a World Fantasy Award, a British Fantasy Award, a Ditmar, two Australian Shadows Awards and seven Aurealis Awards.
Angela’s short stories have appeared in Australian, UK and US Best Of anthologies such The Mammoth Book of New Horror, The Year’s Best Dark Fantasy and Horror, The Best Horror of the Year, The Year’s Best Australian Fantasy and Horror, and The Year’s Best YA Speculative Fiction. Her work has been translated into Bulgarian, Chinese, Russian, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Polish, French and Romanian. Victoria Madden of Sweet Potato Films (The Kettering Incident) has optioned the film rights to one of her short stories (“Finnegan’s Field”).
She has an MA and a PhD in Creative Writing, is a graduate of Clarion South 2009 and the Tin House Summer Writers Workshop 2006, and in 2013 she was awarded one of the inaugural Queensland Writers Fellowships. In 2016 Angela was the Established Writer-in-Residence at the Katharine Susannah Prichard Writers Centre in Perth. She has been awarded career development funding by Arts Queensland, the Copyright Agency and, in 2017/18, an Australia Council for the Arts grant. She teaches for the Australian Writers’ Centre.
She is also the author of the novellas, Of Sorrow and Such (Tor.com) and Ripper (in Horrorology: The Lexicon of Fear).
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December 6, 2025A tad rough round the edges, but better than I had anticipated. I think I want to interview the author to pick her brain with a few folkloric questions... If she'd be willing to be interviewed.
Review on publication day.
Review on publication day.
December 3, 2025
AG Slatter gets it. I read this book last month and I'm still finding myself randomly thinking about it (affectionate). These are exactly the witchy vibes I want when I pick up a witch book.
This was a beautiful story about resilience and independent women forming a life in a world not shaped for them, surrounded by a foreboding forest filled with ghouls lurking just beyond the borders, waiting for you to slip up just once so they can grab hold of you.
As ever, AG Slatter's prose is gothic and evocative and hauntingly beautiful. New life and harvest alongside death and decay. The fog has tendrils but the hearth is warm. It slots neatly into the Sourdough Universe and makes vague allusions to events and characters in other books, but is wholly a standalone in this world of witches and trickster beings of the forest.
e-book notes:
I feel like I give every book in this universe that I eyeball read 5/5 stars, but less so for those I first read via audiobook. So even though I'm very much an audiobook reader at this point in my life, something about AG Slatter just seems to hit different when read physically. I'll probably skip the audio when it comes out and definitely recommend picking her books up to eyeball read, if you can.
Thank you to NetGalley and Titan for granting me an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This was a beautiful story about resilience and independent women forming a life in a world not shaped for them, surrounded by a foreboding forest filled with ghouls lurking just beyond the borders, waiting for you to slip up just once so they can grab hold of you.
As ever, AG Slatter's prose is gothic and evocative and hauntingly beautiful. New life and harvest alongside death and decay. The fog has tendrils but the hearth is warm. It slots neatly into the Sourdough Universe and makes vague allusions to events and characters in other books, but is wholly a standalone in this world of witches and trickster beings of the forest.
e-book notes:
I feel like I give every book in this universe that I eyeball read 5/5 stars, but less so for those I first read via audiobook. So even though I'm very much an audiobook reader at this point in my life, something about AG Slatter just seems to hit different when read physically. I'll probably skip the audio when it comes out and definitely recommend picking her books up to eyeball read, if you can.
Thank you to NetGalley and Titan for granting me an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
November 30, 2025
glad i could revisit this world (absolutely immersive & oh so fascinating) but even more glad i can leave. same issues i find across the few of slatter’s works i’ve read shows its ugly face here too.
thanking netgalley & the publishers for the ARC.
thanking netgalley & the publishers for the ARC.
December 13, 2025
Slatter writes the perfect books to read as the snow and cold of February settle into you. Here we get a gothic fantasy series that focuses on the traditions of the wise women of the villages, the encroaching male authority of the church, and the shadows of the forest they grow up in, and how things can go wrong no matter how well you're intending to act. There are some great moments involving green women and the old gods of the forests, and a woman trying her best to do her best in what can best be described as a deeply shitty situation. Comes out in February, preorder now and queue this for a cold winter evening.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I read this courtesy of NetGalley.
The short version is that I like everything Slatter writes, and this was no exception. If you're interested in reading complex characters, fascinating worldbuilding and plots that feel familiar and then go in entirely unexpected directions, with a "this feels like a fairytale but WOAH" vibe, then she is definitely one for you to look out for.
This is very loosely a version of Red Riding Hood, but I promise you have absolutely no idea what's going on with any of the characters from my having said that. The central figure is a witch - I could say she's a good witch, but that's way too patronising and shallow and, well, inaccurate. She's trying, ok? She's not a witch who's looking to eat children. There are, though, a significant number of children in the book, to whom some unpleasant things do happen. There's also a blacksmith, and some non-humans, and a forest.
Mehrab, the witch, has been getting on well enough in her little cottage in the forest, far away from any signifiant towns. The nearest village is also far enough away that getting there requires a conscious choice, and anyone coming to her is doing so deliberately. One day, Fenna - the woman who brought Mehrab herself to this cottage, and who has brought other girls to stay there over the years - brings Rhea to her: the girl is a witch, and is on the run. Part of the novel is about Mehrab and Rhea figuring out how to be around each other.
A mother and father arrive at the cottage soon after Rhea; their little girl went missing a few days ago, and they ask for Mehrab's help to find her - but she has no luck. And then the girl arrives home some weeks later... but seems to be different. Part of the novel is about figuring out what's going on with Ari, and other children too.
Mehrab's past is very mysterious; she gives little away to Rhea, or the reader. The gradual revelation of why she was herself on the run when Fenna brought her to this forest, and why she makes the particular choices she does, is a thread running through the entire novel.
I loved everything about this novel.
The novel is within Slatter's Sourdough universe, but there is absolutely no need to have read anything that comes before; there's reference to a couple of characters from other novels but they're very much just as background, in the way that a complex world will always have background. However, if you're already a fan, REJOICE! It's always good when there's a new one.
The short version is that I like everything Slatter writes, and this was no exception. If you're interested in reading complex characters, fascinating worldbuilding and plots that feel familiar and then go in entirely unexpected directions, with a "this feels like a fairytale but WOAH" vibe, then she is definitely one for you to look out for.
This is very loosely a version of Red Riding Hood, but I promise you have absolutely no idea what's going on with any of the characters from my having said that. The central figure is a witch - I could say she's a good witch, but that's way too patronising and shallow and, well, inaccurate. She's trying, ok? She's not a witch who's looking to eat children. There are, though, a significant number of children in the book, to whom some unpleasant things do happen. There's also a blacksmith, and some non-humans, and a forest.
Mehrab, the witch, has been getting on well enough in her little cottage in the forest, far away from any signifiant towns. The nearest village is also far enough away that getting there requires a conscious choice, and anyone coming to her is doing so deliberately. One day, Fenna - the woman who brought Mehrab herself to this cottage, and who has brought other girls to stay there over the years - brings Rhea to her: the girl is a witch, and is on the run. Part of the novel is about Mehrab and Rhea figuring out how to be around each other.
A mother and father arrive at the cottage soon after Rhea; their little girl went missing a few days ago, and they ask for Mehrab's help to find her - but she has no luck. And then the girl arrives home some weeks later... but seems to be different. Part of the novel is about figuring out what's going on with Ari, and other children too.
Mehrab's past is very mysterious; she gives little away to Rhea, or the reader. The gradual revelation of why she was herself on the run when Fenna brought her to this forest, and why she makes the particular choices she does, is a thread running through the entire novel.
I loved everything about this novel.
The novel is within Slatter's Sourdough universe, but there is absolutely no need to have read anything that comes before; there's reference to a couple of characters from other novels but they're very much just as background, in the way that a complex world will always have background. However, if you're already a fan, REJOICE! It's always good when there's a new one.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A Forest, Darkly by A.G. Slatter
4.35 rounded down to 4🔮🔮🔮🔮orbs
Pub. Date: Feb. 10, 2026
Titan Books
The hidden world within the platter… A Thanksgiving meal…
💡 Orbs Prologue: As the dreamlike state enters my mind, I absentmindedly grab my silver cutlery and prepare to feast. The gold-foiled rimmed plate wards off any intrusion from the dog currently begging for an evening snack. A dark green canvas of broccoli shades the canopy. Mehrab the witch trots the chestnut-colored horse onto a nearby path paved with a creamy mashed-potato feel, softly covered by a blanket of freshly fallen snow. Drops of the witch's blood, the deep crimson red of the tart cranberry sauce, drop into a shaded pond murky with sediment, similarly to brown gravy pooling into large circles next to a stack of beans like logs ready to be burned for warmth. Mehrab looks within the mirror in search of answers to the missing children of Berhta’s Forge, the neighboring village. Ironically, the freshly sliced turkey resides on the outskirts of the landscape, light and dark, day vs. night, and good vs. evil. What lies beneath the surface, below, burrowed deep into the crevices of the forest’s soil?
🔩 Nuts & Bolts: A wise woman lurks on the fringes of Berhta’s Forge. She is reluctantly needed for assistance in times of distress by the town’s folk. Mehrab is her name, and although she understands the trepidation of these people, one might wonder if it slightly irks her to the core. One rather drab morning, Mehrab’s world is suddenly upended like a tree whose roots reach out for the sky. Rhea is her name, and Fenna, Mehrab’s friend, has asked Mehrab to foster the young girl. After hearing Rhea’s traumatic story, Mehrab agrees to help. Rhea’s witchlike abilities have seen her on the run like a white hare escaping the hunting nature of the aristocrats she has “harmed.” Author A.G. Slatter waves a wand-shaped twig onto the fibrous paper, and a ghastly tale takes diaphanous form from the coldest of shadows. An old fable has come back to this land, in search of something more permanent. Children go missing only to be replanted anew, yet somehow changed; readers are forced to assess the dangerous situation through Mehrab’s eyes. As the many parallels run deep between Rhea and Mehrab, a beautiful tree stands tall, ripe with poisonous fruit. The question remains, will you take a bite, dear reader?
👍 Orbs Pros: Extremely moving! So much emotion is stirred in a pot like a witch's brew. Slatter’s mastery of her craft left me wanting more. The exquisite prose lies in wait, clip-clopping along like massive hoofs reverberating along the pathways of a misty unease. A fabulous female protagonist! Mehrab will guide you; her savvy, trained eyes lead readers on a wondrous journey and keep you safe!
👎 Orbs Cons: Perhaps around the 3/4 mark, the pace slowed some for me. Thankfully, however, the story picked up momentum and answered all the needed questions by its conclusion.
Highly Recommended! I am 2/2 with A.G. Slatter novels so far. The first being my successful readthrough of The Cold House, which introduced a more standard horror trope, whereas A Forest, Darkly is a bit more whimsical and fairytale-like. If you are a lover of romance, ill-fated love, and strong female characters, you will wholeheartedly love this book!
💡 Orbs Epilogue: The trapped pockets of air within the decadent chocolate cake caught my eye, unlit holes of a world unexplored, like caves built by long-forgotten entities. A warm steam clouded my glasses as I took a swig of glogg, something surely Mehrab the witch might offer to her occasional visitors. Separating my food, the fork draws through tender morsels quite like a horse-drawn hoe, with its many crevasses lying in wait for planting and subsequent harvesting. Like the hand of the gods, I twist the top of the black pepper shaker. Unleashing a hailstorm of dark granules upon the plate, adding further confusion and flavor to this fascinating story. Abruptly interrupted from my trance, a small cough seizes my attention. Across the table, my mother’s concerned eyes connect with mine as she quietly whispers, “I appreciate your love of dreaming, but please stop playing with your food, Orb!”
Many thanks to the publisher, Titan Books, for the ARC through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
4.35 rounded down to 4🔮🔮🔮🔮orbs
Pub. Date: Feb. 10, 2026
Titan Books
The hidden world within the platter… A Thanksgiving meal…
💡 Orbs Prologue: As the dreamlike state enters my mind, I absentmindedly grab my silver cutlery and prepare to feast. The gold-foiled rimmed plate wards off any intrusion from the dog currently begging for an evening snack. A dark green canvas of broccoli shades the canopy. Mehrab the witch trots the chestnut-colored horse onto a nearby path paved with a creamy mashed-potato feel, softly covered by a blanket of freshly fallen snow. Drops of the witch's blood, the deep crimson red of the tart cranberry sauce, drop into a shaded pond murky with sediment, similarly to brown gravy pooling into large circles next to a stack of beans like logs ready to be burned for warmth. Mehrab looks within the mirror in search of answers to the missing children of Berhta’s Forge, the neighboring village. Ironically, the freshly sliced turkey resides on the outskirts of the landscape, light and dark, day vs. night, and good vs. evil. What lies beneath the surface, below, burrowed deep into the crevices of the forest’s soil?
🔩 Nuts & Bolts: A wise woman lurks on the fringes of Berhta’s Forge. She is reluctantly needed for assistance in times of distress by the town’s folk. Mehrab is her name, and although she understands the trepidation of these people, one might wonder if it slightly irks her to the core. One rather drab morning, Mehrab’s world is suddenly upended like a tree whose roots reach out for the sky. Rhea is her name, and Fenna, Mehrab’s friend, has asked Mehrab to foster the young girl. After hearing Rhea’s traumatic story, Mehrab agrees to help. Rhea’s witchlike abilities have seen her on the run like a white hare escaping the hunting nature of the aristocrats she has “harmed.” Author A.G. Slatter waves a wand-shaped twig onto the fibrous paper, and a ghastly tale takes diaphanous form from the coldest of shadows. An old fable has come back to this land, in search of something more permanent. Children go missing only to be replanted anew, yet somehow changed; readers are forced to assess the dangerous situation through Mehrab’s eyes. As the many parallels run deep between Rhea and Mehrab, a beautiful tree stands tall, ripe with poisonous fruit. The question remains, will you take a bite, dear reader?
👍 Orbs Pros: Extremely moving! So much emotion is stirred in a pot like a witch's brew. Slatter’s mastery of her craft left me wanting more. The exquisite prose lies in wait, clip-clopping along like massive hoofs reverberating along the pathways of a misty unease. A fabulous female protagonist! Mehrab will guide you; her savvy, trained eyes lead readers on a wondrous journey and keep you safe!
👎 Orbs Cons: Perhaps around the 3/4 mark, the pace slowed some for me. Thankfully, however, the story picked up momentum and answered all the needed questions by its conclusion.
Highly Recommended! I am 2/2 with A.G. Slatter novels so far. The first being my successful readthrough of The Cold House, which introduced a more standard horror trope, whereas A Forest, Darkly is a bit more whimsical and fairytale-like. If you are a lover of romance, ill-fated love, and strong female characters, you will wholeheartedly love this book!
💡 Orbs Epilogue: The trapped pockets of air within the decadent chocolate cake caught my eye, unlit holes of a world unexplored, like caves built by long-forgotten entities. A warm steam clouded my glasses as I took a swig of glogg, something surely Mehrab the witch might offer to her occasional visitors. Separating my food, the fork draws through tender morsels quite like a horse-drawn hoe, with its many crevasses lying in wait for planting and subsequent harvesting. Like the hand of the gods, I twist the top of the black pepper shaker. Unleashing a hailstorm of dark granules upon the plate, adding further confusion and flavor to this fascinating story. Abruptly interrupted from my trance, a small cough seizes my attention. Across the table, my mother’s concerned eyes connect with mine as she quietly whispers, “I appreciate your love of dreaming, but please stop playing with your food, Orb!”
Many thanks to the publisher, Titan Books, for the ARC through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
November 10, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley, Titan Books and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
==========================================================================
A Forest, Darkly is a well-written gothic fantasy centered around Mehrab, a solitary witch living deep within the Great Woods.
Her quiet life is disrupted when she is asked to provide sanctuary for a young witch named Rhea, purportedly escaping a zealous suitor. Though Mehrab values her solitude, Rhea’s stubbornness stirs memories of her own youth. But fostering an untrained witch comes with its own challenges, especially when the nearby village is gripped by fear. Children are vanishing, and something ancient and watchful stirs in the forest, with a particular interest in Mehrab.
Slatter weaves a tale rich in macabre, mystery, and magic with a dark and foreboding atmosphere populated by fantastical creatures and eerie legends. The setting evokes Celtic mythology, with haunting figures like the Green Women and the Horned Hunter of the Forest.
Secrets lie buried in the pasts of both Mehrab and Rhea, and there is a delicate balance between the witches and towns folk. A balance that is threatened by the arrival of the God Hounds; set on creating a furor over the witches' hand in the village's strange happenings.
If you're looking for a grounded gothic fantasy that avoids modern tropes, this is a standout. While it carries a dark tone, I wouldn't classify it as horror. Reading this gothic fairytale won’t leave you unsettled. Instead, it feels like a tapestry of folklore and nested stories, perfect for curling up with before bed.
==========================================================================
A Forest, Darkly is a well-written gothic fantasy centered around Mehrab, a solitary witch living deep within the Great Woods.
"Such a beauty a woman has when her autumn's upon her. Silver beginning in the temples, lines of laughter and pain to show the life she's lived, carrying a little more fat to help through hard times - and oh, that temper!"
Her quiet life is disrupted when she is asked to provide sanctuary for a young witch named Rhea, purportedly escaping a zealous suitor. Though Mehrab values her solitude, Rhea’s stubbornness stirs memories of her own youth. But fostering an untrained witch comes with its own challenges, especially when the nearby village is gripped by fear. Children are vanishing, and something ancient and watchful stirs in the forest, with a particular interest in Mehrab.
Slatter weaves a tale rich in macabre, mystery, and magic with a dark and foreboding atmosphere populated by fantastical creatures and eerie legends. The setting evokes Celtic mythology, with haunting figures like the Green Women and the Horned Hunter of the Forest.
Secrets lie buried in the pasts of both Mehrab and Rhea, and there is a delicate balance between the witches and towns folk. A balance that is threatened by the arrival of the God Hounds; set on creating a furor over the witches' hand in the village's strange happenings.
If you're looking for a grounded gothic fantasy that avoids modern tropes, this is a standout. While it carries a dark tone, I wouldn't classify it as horror. Reading this gothic fairytale won’t leave you unsettled. Instead, it feels like a tapestry of folklore and nested stories, perfect for curling up with before bed.
November 16, 2025
I have thoroughly enjoyed all the books I’ve read set in the Sourdough Universe, of which this is the latest. I’m up to four now. These books are standalone so you don’t have to read them all in order. This one does briefly allude to events in the previous book, but not to any extent that you couldn’t read them independently. I read an eARC of this book on NetGalley so thank you to the author and the publisher.
This book surprised me, when it started I thought it was leading towards a quest. But it took a very different turn. Instead we have a witch, trying to just survive, trying to help others and do the best she can, in the face of increasingly terrifying threats. She not only faces significant foes, but she is moving into an older stage of life and doesn’t have the energy or physical capability to do things how she did before.
There is magic in this, there’s unusual (and sometimes gross) spells we see. But the core of this is about the challenges menopausal and beyond women face. Our main character does a lot to help people in her village, but they still other her, and she’s still facing great challenges to stay self-sufficient as harvesting becomes harder for her physically. Shes faced consequences for not taking a husband and having children, but she’s still regularly having to fulfil a maternal role for people around her.
I found this quite fascinating. It was a hard read at times with the cruel treatment we see certain characters facing and horrors that begin to infect the village. But overall this book celebrates the inner and outer strength women show.
This book surprised me, when it started I thought it was leading towards a quest. But it took a very different turn. Instead we have a witch, trying to just survive, trying to help others and do the best she can, in the face of increasingly terrifying threats. She not only faces significant foes, but she is moving into an older stage of life and doesn’t have the energy or physical capability to do things how she did before.
There is magic in this, there’s unusual (and sometimes gross) spells we see. But the core of this is about the challenges menopausal and beyond women face. Our main character does a lot to help people in her village, but they still other her, and she’s still facing great challenges to stay self-sufficient as harvesting becomes harder for her physically. Shes faced consequences for not taking a husband and having children, but she’s still regularly having to fulfil a maternal role for people around her.
I found this quite fascinating. It was a hard read at times with the cruel treatment we see certain characters facing and horrors that begin to infect the village. But overall this book celebrates the inner and outer strength women show.
November 18, 2025
Thanks Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I love this universe. It’s slightly gothic, but feels modern at the same time. The best part about these books is that they all have Easter eggs about the other books, but they all stand alone fine. I haven’t read all of them in this universe, but I’m working on it.
The plot for this one has quite a few elements. On one hand, we have Mehrab trying to coach Rhea through life and help her learn and control her power. On the other, we have the mysterious figure in the woods and the missing children from the nearby town. Somehow, the author neatly ties these both together and leaves us with this wonderful novel of found family and coming to terms with our past mistakes. This book has romance, peril, death, betrayal, a bit of everything really.
The character are all very well defined and we even find ourselves entranced by minor characters. I even cared about the horses in this book! I love that morality isn’t a black and white thing in this book, and that Mehrab is wonderful at looking into people and seeing why they do the things they do. She slips up, of course, but she also admits when she’s wrong. She is a wonderful main character, and I’m hoping maybe AGS will bless us with a short story about her past.
I had a great time reading this, I just wanted more of the after story. Maybe one day! 4.25⭐️
I love this universe. It’s slightly gothic, but feels modern at the same time. The best part about these books is that they all have Easter eggs about the other books, but they all stand alone fine. I haven’t read all of them in this universe, but I’m working on it.
The plot for this one has quite a few elements. On one hand, we have Mehrab trying to coach Rhea through life and help her learn and control her power. On the other, we have the mysterious figure in the woods and the missing children from the nearby town. Somehow, the author neatly ties these both together and leaves us with this wonderful novel of found family and coming to terms with our past mistakes. This book has romance, peril, death, betrayal, a bit of everything really.
The character are all very well defined and we even find ourselves entranced by minor characters. I even cared about the horses in this book! I love that morality isn’t a black and white thing in this book, and that Mehrab is wonderful at looking into people and seeing why they do the things they do. She slips up, of course, but she also admits when she’s wrong. She is a wonderful main character, and I’m hoping maybe AGS will bless us with a short story about her past.
I had a great time reading this, I just wanted more of the after story. Maybe one day! 4.25⭐️
November 11, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3.5 rounded up)
This was my first venture into A.G. Slatter’s “Sourdough” universe (which, I have to say, I’m a little obsessed with the name of), and I can definitely say my interest is piqued! A Forest, Darkly is an atmospheric mix of dark fantasy, gothic elements, and a touch of horror, perfect read for this time of year (early November), or really any time you want to get lost in something haunting and magical.
The story is filled with adventure, magic, and spooky forest vibes. Mehrab, our witch protagonist, completely won me over. She’s a grouchy woman and I loved her complexity. Yes, she’s messy, but also totally honest and deeply compassionate, even when those around her fail to recognize her sacrifices.
I do wish I had read Slatter’s previous books first.. I occasionally felt like I was missing some context despite this being marketed as a standalone. I still found it deeply engaging. The world feels layered and lived-in, and it’s clear there’s so much more to explore.
Overall, this is a beautifully written, gothic tale filled with heart and a touch of melancholy. I’ll definitely be diving into more of Slatter’s work after this.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
This was my first venture into A.G. Slatter’s “Sourdough” universe (which, I have to say, I’m a little obsessed with the name of), and I can definitely say my interest is piqued! A Forest, Darkly is an atmospheric mix of dark fantasy, gothic elements, and a touch of horror, perfect read for this time of year (early November), or really any time you want to get lost in something haunting and magical.
The story is filled with adventure, magic, and spooky forest vibes. Mehrab, our witch protagonist, completely won me over. She’s a grouchy woman and I loved her complexity. Yes, she’s messy, but also totally honest and deeply compassionate, even when those around her fail to recognize her sacrifices.
I do wish I had read Slatter’s previous books first.. I occasionally felt like I was missing some context despite this being marketed as a standalone. I still found it deeply engaging. The world feels layered and lived-in, and it’s clear there’s so much more to explore.
Overall, this is a beautifully written, gothic tale filled with heart and a touch of melancholy. I’ll definitely be diving into more of Slatter’s work after this.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A Forest Darkly by A.G Slatter, published by Titan Books is a gothic fantasy set in the Sourdough Universe. It is a fairytale-esque novel following Mehrab, who is a witch who lives alone in the woods and Rhea, a budding witch is sent to live with Mehrab as a foster child, escaping her own past and to learn from her. Mehrab is sought out by local villagers for midwifery, remedies and small spells but is not part of the community. There is something evil is stirring in the woods and about to upset the lives of everyone.
I liked our FMC Mehran, who is an older woman, very pragmatic and a little cynical. It's always nice to read a fantasy with an older FMC. She doesn't describe herself as beautiful but instead that her looks have faded. Her character develops from a slightly bitter and tired woman into someone who accepts her life hasn't turned out the way she planned but that she can make and has made an impact on others.
A.G. Slatter's Sourdough Universe is very Grimm Brothers fairytales, very dark, haunting and unsettling. If you like dark fantasy, horror or gothic elements, you'd like this universe.
The ending was a little bittersweet and inconclusive but I do like an open end, you can decide what happens next. That being said I do hope that we get snapshot in future books of what happened to her.
Thanks to Titan Books on NetGalley for the eARC.
I liked our FMC Mehran, who is an older woman, very pragmatic and a little cynical. It's always nice to read a fantasy with an older FMC. She doesn't describe herself as beautiful but instead that her looks have faded. Her character develops from a slightly bitter and tired woman into someone who accepts her life hasn't turned out the way she planned but that she can make and has made an impact on others.
A.G. Slatter's Sourdough Universe is very Grimm Brothers fairytales, very dark, haunting and unsettling. If you like dark fantasy, horror or gothic elements, you'd like this universe.
The ending was a little bittersweet and inconclusive but I do like an open end, you can decide what happens next. That being said I do hope that we get snapshot in future books of what happened to her.
Thanks to Titan Books on NetGalley for the eARC.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Another fairytale to sink into but not one I'd read a child at bedtime.
A red cloak, missing children, a huntsman and witches all make this a great read.
Mehrab is a wise woman and her fosterlings are lucky to have her. I like her approach to people and her directness commands respect. She has a sense of duty to those around her and it seems quite selfless really. She seems to sacrifice a lot but hints at a darker past maybe.
Her relationships are important but the forest and solace is safe, for the most part. I did find her past quite sad but intriguing and the huntsman puts an interesting spin on everything in the end. Didn't expect that but it's a good twist.
The missing children and pieces of a red cloak are reminiscent of little red riding and I like the way the children are used in this-the way they can be led shows their innocence despite their role in the goings on.
The inclusion of witch hunts and condemnation of witches add another layer to the story; showing how important it is for Mehrab and her kind to be discreet at all times regardless of how much good they do.
A red cloak, missing children, a huntsman and witches all make this a great read.
Mehrab is a wise woman and her fosterlings are lucky to have her. I like her approach to people and her directness commands respect. She has a sense of duty to those around her and it seems quite selfless really. She seems to sacrifice a lot but hints at a darker past maybe.
Her relationships are important but the forest and solace is safe, for the most part. I did find her past quite sad but intriguing and the huntsman puts an interesting spin on everything in the end. Didn't expect that but it's a good twist.
The missing children and pieces of a red cloak are reminiscent of little red riding and I like the way the children are used in this-the way they can be led shows their innocence despite their role in the goings on.
The inclusion of witch hunts and condemnation of witches add another layer to the story; showing how important it is for Mehrab and her kind to be discreet at all times regardless of how much good they do.
October 19, 2025
Thanks to Titan books for proving a proof copy in exchange for an honest review.
At the heart of this story is Mehrab, the local witch who lives in the forest, and her apprentice who appears seemingly from nowhere, Rhea.
Through their growing relationship the story explores ideas of heritage and shared knowledge, traditions and tales which are passed through generations by word of mouth.
But all may not be as it seems as the arrival this mysterious stranger coincides with strange goings-on in the neighbouring village.
When local children start to go missing will they come to the witch for help or will she be the one they blame?
It’s a witch-hunt in every sense of the word.
You may be fooled into thinking this is just another story about changelings, but A Forest Darkly offers so much more
Strongly female characters without being fiercely feminist, this tells an all-too familiar story about ignorance and fear of the outsider.
This standalone story from the Sourdough universe is perfect for fans of T Kingfisher of Tori Bovalino
At the heart of this story is Mehrab, the local witch who lives in the forest, and her apprentice who appears seemingly from nowhere, Rhea.
Through their growing relationship the story explores ideas of heritage and shared knowledge, traditions and tales which are passed through generations by word of mouth.
But all may not be as it seems as the arrival this mysterious stranger coincides with strange goings-on in the neighbouring village.
When local children start to go missing will they come to the witch for help or will she be the one they blame?
It’s a witch-hunt in every sense of the word.
You may be fooled into thinking this is just another story about changelings, but A Forest Darkly offers so much more
Strongly female characters without being fiercely feminist, this tells an all-too familiar story about ignorance and fear of the outsider.
This standalone story from the Sourdough universe is perfect for fans of T Kingfisher of Tori Bovalino
Review of advance copy received from Author
Angela Slatter always hits it out of the park, and this dark fairytale-ish fantasy is one of her best. Mehrab is a witch, able to knit together bone, heal and change the people she touches. She's haunted by her past and has been living in the woods near a small village for decades. Building a life, using her powers, making a place for herself in a forest where many strange and dangerous things lurk. When a young girl seeks shelter at Mehrab's cottage, the old witch takes her in, and soon the dark things in the woods come calling too.
I loved every bit of this book. No one writes women like Angela Slatter, with characters that are complex and ornery, difficult and foolish, wise and wicked, and often all of these things at the same time. And in this tale both Mehrab, the middle-aged witch, and Rhea, her young charge, shine and sparkle with their own particular fire. This story is fierce and angry, joyful and lusty, and wicked in all the best ways. It is also full of moments of surprising forgiveness and mercy. An outstanding novel from an outstanding writer.
I loved every bit of this book. No one writes women like Angela Slatter, with characters that are complex and ornery, difficult and foolish, wise and wicked, and often all of these things at the same time. And in this tale both Mehrab, the middle-aged witch, and Rhea, her young charge, shine and sparkle with their own particular fire. This story is fierce and angry, joyful and lusty, and wicked in all the best ways. It is also full of moments of surprising forgiveness and mercy. An outstanding novel from an outstanding writer.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5 stars! A Forest, Darkly was highly anticipated for me, as it seemed like a book I would absolutely adore. Dark fantasy, witches, gothic galore. This is a book for a cold, winter night. Unfortunately, I did not love it as much as I initially expected.
I did not realize that this was a standalone part of a connected fantasy world. This really intrigued me. I love it when authors love the world they created so much that they put a lot of work into it. This definitely made me want to check out some of A.G. Slatter's other works in the Sourdough Universe.
Having strong, female characters is a plus. This truly made the story that much better. Being able to follow these women and what they go through made me care more about the story and the characters. Sometimes the story felt stagnant, and I couldn't find myself wholly invested in it all.
Thank you NetGalley, Titan Books, & A.G. Slatter for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. A Forest, Darkly is released on February 10, 2026!
I did not realize that this was a standalone part of a connected fantasy world. This really intrigued me. I love it when authors love the world they created so much that they put a lot of work into it. This definitely made me want to check out some of A.G. Slatter's other works in the Sourdough Universe.
Having strong, female characters is a plus. This truly made the story that much better. Being able to follow these women and what they go through made me care more about the story and the characters. Sometimes the story felt stagnant, and I couldn't find myself wholly invested in it all.
Thank you NetGalley, Titan Books, & A.G. Slatter for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. A Forest, Darkly is released on February 10, 2026!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Titan Books for providing me an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review
This is a very compelling dark fantasy in which a witch named Mehrab gives a first person narration of a year(ish) of her life. After reading it, I found that it was set in a universe along with some of A.G. Slatter's other works, but while reading it I thought it was a stand-alone with great world building.
It felt very atmospheric, a little eerie. Mehrab is a witch who has been living (mostly) alone in a cottage in woods that are teaming with dark and magical things, outside of a village which she supports, but is decidedly not part of. When children start to go missing from the village, the townspeople reluctantly come to Mehrab for help, but the problem ends up bigger and more dangerous problem than anyone expected.
This is a very compelling dark fantasy in which a witch named Mehrab gives a first person narration of a year(ish) of her life. After reading it, I found that it was set in a universe along with some of A.G. Slatter's other works, but while reading it I thought it was a stand-alone with great world building.
It felt very atmospheric, a little eerie. Mehrab is a witch who has been living (mostly) alone in a cottage in woods that are teaming with dark and magical things, outside of a village which she supports, but is decidedly not part of. When children start to go missing from the village, the townspeople reluctantly come to Mehrab for help, but the problem ends up bigger and more dangerous problem than anyone expected.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Because I had not read other books from this world, it took me a beat to get used to the prose style (which as it turns out is all part of extremely clever world building). I really didn't know what I was looking at for about 50 pages, and I advise readers new to this world to stick with it--you'll get there eventually. Reading past novels is not necessary (but I bet it would have made it easier to understand the style). That's on me. Once I settled into the rhythm of the verse, so to speak, I loved every page. This is such a switch from The Cold House, which I enjoyed but it was far simpler. This is a lush, imaginative tale which is truly compelling and truly innovative. I need to give my thoughts just a few days to organize, then I'll add some proper information here. But most certainly, I recommend the preorder!
December 27, 2025
A Forest, Darkly is a beautiful blending of fairy tales, gothic horror, and dark fantasy. Set in eerie forests, crumbling towns, and half-familiar worlds, these stories feel timeless yet unsettlingly modern. Slatter draws heavily on folklore, but she reshapes it, giving old myths sharper edges and darker consequences. It is a compelling exploration of power, survival, and transformation. It’s a book that lingers in the mind long after reading, like a path through the woods you’re not entirely sure you should have taken, but can’t stop thinking about once you’re through! I would recommend this book for any reader who enjoys dark fantasy novels.
November 27, 2025
I'm not really a fan of this type of First Person Perspective, but I kept going and really enjoyed the book. I'd really like to read a sequel or prequel about Mehrab and Fenna's lives.
A witch lives in a little cottage with her cat and solitude. Occasionally villagers come to her for help with a miscellany of complaints, but then one day, she learns that children are going missing in the village that borders her forest. As the witch investigates, another witch comes along and drops off a surly young lady who is in hiding.
A witch lives in a little cottage with her cat and solitude. Occasionally villagers come to her for help with a miscellany of complaints, but then one day, she learns that children are going missing in the village that borders her forest. As the witch investigates, another witch comes along and drops off a surly young lady who is in hiding.
November 3, 2025
A bewitching gothic tale - oh A.G. Slatter those are the magic words for this reader. This story has everything I love: fairytale threads woven into dark fantasy, a touch of horror, flawed and wonderfully messy characters, and even moments of unexpected humor. Just… ah, so good.
Thank you to Netgalley and Titan Books for this arc
Thank you to Netgalley and Titan Books for this arc
September 26, 2025
A gorgeous fairytale of a novel. Creeping, comforting and cunning in turn, A Forest Darkly lures you into a luscious world of folklore and nature. Slatter spins a story that deserves to be told around a fire, passed on like the best of folktales.
October 22, 2025
Aptly named, as this does feel that bit darker than I remember her other books.
It's full of magic and wonder, and some very clever ideas.
Add a bit of mold horror in there and it's a great combination.
Very enjoyable.
Thanks to netgalley for the free digital copy
It's full of magic and wonder, and some very clever ideas.
Add a bit of mold horror in there and it's a great combination.
Very enjoyable.
Thanks to netgalley for the free digital copy
November 1, 2025
So good, I love this author’s works. A bit of magic, fairy tale with lovely complex characters. Oh and a bit of horror in the mix too. Really loved the female lead. I am hoping there is a sequel. Thank you to the author. Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.
October 20, 2025
Review to come at SmexyBooks.
October 30, 2025
Taken by itself, I think i can reasonably say I wasn't wild about the actual story being told here. Writen this way, by this person, under these circumstances? Yep. I'm all in.
Review of advance copy
ARC edition
Another wonderful interweaving of numerous folk tales that creates an amazing setting for the witch in the woods!
Another wonderful interweaving of numerous folk tales that creates an amazing setting for the witch in the woods!
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