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18 days and 01:34:32
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The Burn Beast
Not yet published
Expected 15 Sep 26Win a free print copy of this book!
18 days and 01:34:32
10 copies available
U.S. only
A middle grade horror novel about disappearing kids and a monstrous beast lurking in the woods, from the author of The Curse of Eelgrass Bog.
As the daughter of private detectives, Pira is used to moving around a lot. So when her mothers’ newest case brings them to the small town of Eyrewood, she expects to find a town just like all the other ones she’s left behind.
But Eyrewood is nothing like she expects. Ash is always falling from the skies, the local wildlife is nowhere to be found, and it’s impossible to light a fire anywhere inside the town limits. And worst of all, there are monsters in the woods—monsters that none of the adults believe in.
When Pira joins up with a group of kids intent on fighting the beasts, she discovers that the monsters may be linked to a series of missing kids going back decades—including the older sister of her new friend Jackie. As Pira and Jackie work with their friends to solve the mystery of the disappearances, they’ll have to confront the secrets at the heart of Eyrewood and the danger lurking in every corner.
As the daughter of private detectives, Pira is used to moving around a lot. So when her mothers’ newest case brings them to the small town of Eyrewood, she expects to find a town just like all the other ones she’s left behind.
But Eyrewood is nothing like she expects. Ash is always falling from the skies, the local wildlife is nowhere to be found, and it’s impossible to light a fire anywhere inside the town limits. And worst of all, there are monsters in the woods—monsters that none of the adults believe in.
When Pira joins up with a group of kids intent on fighting the beasts, she discovers that the monsters may be linked to a series of missing kids going back decades—including the older sister of her new friend Jackie. As Pira and Jackie work with their friends to solve the mystery of the disappearances, they’ll have to confront the secrets at the heart of Eyrewood and the danger lurking in every corner.
- GenresMiddle GradeFantasyLGBT
256 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication September 15, 2026
About the author
Mary Averling
3 books176 followersMary Averling grew up across England and Canada, never far from the woods. She has degrees from the University of Victoria and Lucy Cavendish College, Cambridge. Her debut, The Curse of Eelgrass Bog, was a Bram Stoker Award Finalist, a Junior Library Gold Standard Selection, an ALA Rainbow List Pick, and one of BookPage's Top 10 Books of 2024. She is currently working towards her PhD in Kamloops, British Columbia, where she lives with a little cat called Cobweb.
She is represented by Kelly Sonnack at the Andrea Brown Literary Agency.
She is represented by Kelly Sonnack at the Andrea Brown Literary Agency.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
Read
April 12, 2026I got to blurb this one!
“A fun and creepy novel full of folklore, forest fires, and having fun with your friends as you vanquish fiery enemies with your catapults; The Burn Beast will warm the hearts of children and adults alike.”
“A fun and creepy novel full of folklore, forest fires, and having fun with your friends as you vanquish fiery enemies with your catapults; The Burn Beast will warm the hearts of children and adults alike.”
Review of advance copy received from Author
Helloooo! We're still a long ways out from this one, but THE BURN BEAST has been close to my heart for ages and I'm so excited to share it with you in Fall 2026. It has lots of anger, yearning, marshmallows, haunted woods, climate feels, creepy folklore, sleuthing with your crush-slash-frenemy, and smiting demons with catapults.
(And yes, Charles, it's sapphic, so come at me)
I can't wait to show you Eyrewood. And Eyrewood can't wait to welcome you ... forever. Bwahahaha.
(And yes, Charles, it's sapphic, so come at me)
I can't wait to show you Eyrewood. And Eyrewood can't wait to welcome you ... forever. Bwahahaha.
Read
May 10, 2026This is absolutely everything that I love about Middle Grade. At it's heart, it's about building a better world, of understanding the overwhelming hurt in the world, but not succumbing to it. And it's all so masterfully done.
June 14, 2026
A unique blend of climate activism, horror, and Cryptid monsters.
In the wake of a massive wildfire that destroyed their town, residents of Eyrewood have created a monster called the Burn Beast that prevents fires from starting, as a way to prevent another devastating natural disaster from ever happening again. Pira (which I’m not sure if it’s supposed to be a connection to pyre or pyro but both seem applicable) arrives in this weird town where fire cannot start, is approximately 14 hours away from the next nearest town? (I found myself sometimes asking logistical questions. Like the town is constantly described as having a lot of potholes, but like how are they getting food delivered? Why do people even live in there? some of the logistics of the town was difficult for an adult like me to understand, but probably wouldn’t bother a kid reader at all! ) with her moms who are there to investigate the disappearance of a girl. Even though Pira has moved 12 times in the last 13 years, she finds herself making friends against her better judgment and getting drawn into the mystery of the town.
I really enjoyed the way in which this book discussed negative activism. The towns people are sympathetic in that it is understandable why someone would want to create a monster to prevent more forest fires after suffering a catastrophe. Not that the author ever tries to make excuses or explain that this is OK. In fact, the main characters stop at absolutely nothing in their fight to find those kid kidnapped by the villains, kidnapped and used for horrific purposes. But it is refreshing that the author gives the villains perspectives in ways that make a lot of logical sense and they aren’t just “evil” because they are evil. It’s clear that the author did a lot of research on lumber and the lumber industry. There was a lot of technical aspects of that that I found really interesting. It was worked into the story in a really great way, like a great touch on why a town built around lumber would subvert the laws of nature, by preventing the natural cycle of forest fires completely so that they don’t lose their investment. like some really cool stuff.
I think my biggest complaint is that I saw most of the twists very early in the book which made their reveals feel a little underwhelming.
All in all, I really like this book, mostly because of the way in which it deals with real life climate change worries that many people in the target audience will definitely have and presents itself as a cautionary tale on what happens when we try to control nature instead of accepting our mistakes.
In the wake of a massive wildfire that destroyed their town, residents of Eyrewood have created a monster called the Burn Beast that prevents fires from starting, as a way to prevent another devastating natural disaster from ever happening again. Pira (which I’m not sure if it’s supposed to be a connection to pyre or pyro but both seem applicable) arrives in this weird town where fire cannot start, is approximately 14 hours away from the next nearest town? (I found myself sometimes asking logistical questions. Like the town is constantly described as having a lot of potholes, but like how are they getting food delivered? Why do people even live in there? some of the logistics of the town was difficult for an adult like me to understand, but probably wouldn’t bother a kid reader at all! ) with her moms who are there to investigate the disappearance of a girl. Even though Pira has moved 12 times in the last 13 years, she finds herself making friends against her better judgment and getting drawn into the mystery of the town.
I really enjoyed the way in which this book discussed negative activism. The towns people are sympathetic in that it is understandable why someone would want to create a monster to prevent more forest fires after suffering a catastrophe. Not that the author ever tries to make excuses or explain that this is OK. In fact, the main characters stop at absolutely nothing in their fight to find those kid kidnapped by the villains, kidnapped and used for horrific purposes. But it is refreshing that the author gives the villains perspectives in ways that make a lot of logical sense and they aren’t just “evil” because they are evil. It’s clear that the author did a lot of research on lumber and the lumber industry. There was a lot of technical aspects of that that I found really interesting. It was worked into the story in a really great way, like a great touch on why a town built around lumber would subvert the laws of nature, by preventing the natural cycle of forest fires completely so that they don’t lose their investment. like some really cool stuff.
I think my biggest complaint is that I saw most of the twists very early in the book which made their reveals feel a little underwhelming.
All in all, I really like this book, mostly because of the way in which it deals with real life climate change worries that many people in the target audience will definitely have and presents itself as a cautionary tale on what happens when we try to control nature instead of accepting our mistakes.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Pira Morand moves around a lot as her moms investigate crimes. The newest one is in Cindy's hometowen of Eyrewood, but no one is giving Pira any information. The town was the scene of a horrific fire thirty years ago that burned down just about everything but a defunct paper mill, and was rebuilt with boxy, ugly buildings. The Morands are staying in a run down hotel managed by Jackie Ludger parents. Jackie isn't all that friendly, immediately information Pira of the "rules" of the town-- don't go into the woods, and don't try to light a fire. Nothing burns in Eyrewood anymore. At least Baffy, the son of the local candy shop owner, is friendly, and shows up to walk Pira to school. He also invites her to join the Firefighters, even though Jackie has told him not to. Jackie has a good reason for her mood; her older sister is the last in a long line of people who have gone missing in the woods, and the local police have given up, which is why Mira's moms are investigating. After passing an initiation test, Pira is let in on some of the local lore, and the group visits the local history museum to try to gather more information. What they find is rather fantastical. With the help of Grizz, who has manned the fire watch tower for the last thirty years, will they be able to defeat a local monster and solve the mystery of the missing citizens?
This was definitely a fantasy book, and it had the same sort of vibe that Condie's The Darkdeep or Cole's The Empty Place did. I still haven't seen Stranger Things, but The Burn Beast seems along those lines; supernatural elements are bedeviling a town, and only tweens can save the day. This had some decent scary scenes, but there was something about the history of the town that seemed a bit off. Averling's The Curse of Eel Grass Bog doesn't circulate as well as I would like, so I may pass on this one, especially since the covers are very similar.
Pira Morand moves around a lot as her moms investigate crimes. The newest one is in Cindy's hometowen of Eyrewood, but no one is giving Pira any information. The town was the scene of a horrific fire thirty years ago that burned down just about everything but a defunct paper mill, and was rebuilt with boxy, ugly buildings. The Morands are staying in a run down hotel managed by Jackie Ludger parents. Jackie isn't all that friendly, immediately information Pira of the "rules" of the town-- don't go into the woods, and don't try to light a fire. Nothing burns in Eyrewood anymore. At least Baffy, the son of the local candy shop owner, is friendly, and shows up to walk Pira to school. He also invites her to join the Firefighters, even though Jackie has told him not to. Jackie has a good reason for her mood; her older sister is the last in a long line of people who have gone missing in the woods, and the local police have given up, which is why Mira's moms are investigating. After passing an initiation test, Pira is let in on some of the local lore, and the group visits the local history museum to try to gather more information. What they find is rather fantastical. With the help of Grizz, who has manned the fire watch tower for the last thirty years, will they be able to defeat a local monster and solve the mystery of the missing citizens?
This was definitely a fantasy book, and it had the same sort of vibe that Condie's The Darkdeep or Cole's The Empty Place did. I still haven't seen Stranger Things, but The Burn Beast seems along those lines; supernatural elements are bedeviling a town, and only tweens can save the day. This had some decent scary scenes, but there was something about the history of the town that seemed a bit off. Averling's The Curse of Eel Grass Bog doesn't circulate as well as I would like, so I may pass on this one, especially since the covers are very similar.
June 13, 2026
2
The folklore and mythological elements of this story really pulled me in. Reminding me of a mix of Gravity Falls and Stranger Things. But, I found the character connections and development really lacking. We are told lots about Pira, but I always as a reader felt at a distance from her. A secondary character, Jackie, is distant and uninterested in Pira as a friend at first. As the story progresses they work together. The jump from dislike/distrust to friendship/trust happened to fast in my opinion. Leaving their friendship to feel hollow and only based off timing of the situation and not genuine connection. I needed more build up for their friendship to feel meaningful. In addition to character connections these kid investigators “The Firefighters” include a whole cast of other kids. Their names are mentioned on page, but they are not fleshed out or developed enough to leave an impact.
While the mystery/concept of the mystery was intriguing I felt it lost steam for me. The mythology was unique with fire creatures being at the centre. But possibly because of my lack of character investment it all felt less impactful during my read.
The folklore and mythological elements of this story really pulled me in. Reminding me of a mix of Gravity Falls and Stranger Things. But, I found the character connections and development really lacking. We are told lots about Pira, but I always as a reader felt at a distance from her. A secondary character, Jackie, is distant and uninterested in Pira as a friend at first. As the story progresses they work together. The jump from dislike/distrust to friendship/trust happened to fast in my opinion. Leaving their friendship to feel hollow and only based off timing of the situation and not genuine connection. I needed more build up for their friendship to feel meaningful. In addition to character connections these kid investigators “The Firefighters” include a whole cast of other kids. Their names are mentioned on page, but they are not fleshed out or developed enough to leave an impact.
While the mystery/concept of the mystery was intriguing I felt it lost steam for me. The mythology was unique with fire creatures being at the centre. But possibly because of my lack of character investment it all felt less impactful during my read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Burn Beast is a little darker and edgier than Averling’s previous work. It has somewhat of a folk horror vibe, which is interesting to see in a middle grade novel, but it wasn’t quite what I was expecting.
As hard as I tried, I just did not click with Pira. Minor nitpick: Writing a book with fire demons and naming the protagonist Pira, of all things, feels annoyingly on the nose. There are like five side characters in this book, and aside from Jackie and Baffy I can’t tell you a single thing about any of them. And while I’m always happy to see sapphic representation, Jackie and Pira simply don’t have chemistry.
The plot of The Burn Beast is pretty farfetched. There’s a childish quality to the writing that doesn’t match some of the darker moments and makes the story feel off kilter. I was willing to suspend my disbelief through most of it, but the final reveal was the nail in the coffin. I just can’t do the over the top, cartoonish villainy. Not even in middle grade, and especially not in horror.
As hard as I tried, I just did not click with Pira. Minor nitpick: Writing a book with fire demons and naming the protagonist Pira, of all things, feels annoyingly on the nose. There are like five side characters in this book, and aside from Jackie and Baffy I can’t tell you a single thing about any of them. And while I’m always happy to see sapphic representation, Jackie and Pira simply don’t have chemistry.
The plot of The Burn Beast is pretty farfetched. There’s a childish quality to the writing that doesn’t match some of the darker moments and makes the story feel off kilter. I was willing to suspend my disbelief through most of it, but the final reveal was the nail in the coffin. I just can’t do the over the top, cartoonish villainy. Not even in middle grade, and especially not in horror.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Advanced copy provided by the author.
I was thrilled to read this new book from Mary Averling, one of my favorite voices in middle grade horror/fantasy. Young readers who have had to move and/or change schools frequently will relate to Pira, who is starting at a new school once again due to her mothers, who are detectives, taking on a case in the remote town of Eyrewood. There, people have vanished without a trace, lighting a fire is impossible, and some of the adults in town are clearly up to no good. Averling expertly weaves intrigue and mild scares with factual information about forest ecosystems in a way that feels seamless and fun. Full of friendship, mystery, and creepy cryptids, The Burn Beast will keep you burning through pages until the very end!
I was thrilled to read this new book from Mary Averling, one of my favorite voices in middle grade horror/fantasy. Young readers who have had to move and/or change schools frequently will relate to Pira, who is starting at a new school once again due to her mothers, who are detectives, taking on a case in the remote town of Eyrewood. There, people have vanished without a trace, lighting a fire is impossible, and some of the adults in town are clearly up to no good. Averling expertly weaves intrigue and mild scares with factual information about forest ecosystems in a way that feels seamless and fun. Full of friendship, mystery, and creepy cryptids, The Burn Beast will keep you burning through pages until the very end!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
An awesomely creepy middle grade book! The main character, Pira, is used to moving around, so when her mom's next gig lands them in a strange town in the middle of a fire-decimated forest, Pira isn't planning on sticking around for long. But this case is different from her moms' usual investigations. A missing girl. An uncooperative police chief. A town where no fires can be lit. And an ominous nursery rhyme. Pira joins up with a determined squad of fellow middle schoolers and finds herself battling fire demons, investigating decades of disappearances, and facing off against a cult-like group of the town's most powerful people. Great characters, creepy setting, wonderful prose, and timely themes. Loved it! Thanks to the publisher for the advanced reader copy.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Fierce and fiery, this story ignites on the page, blazing with true-hearted friendships, change-the-world hopes—and monsters around every dark-wooded corner. You'll keep the light burning long into the night reading this spooky tale.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
fire! monsters! big feelings! gayyyy! creepy woods! BFF demon slaying club! even the parents are gayyyy! what if we broke into a factory and solved crimes together!
June 17, 2026
All the stars for this exciting, eerie middle grade story that’s full of heart, hilarious, and incredibly written. This was everything I wanted it to be and more.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews