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A Dark and Wild Wood
Inspired by the tale of Bluebeard, A Dark and Wild Wood is the lush and atmospheric story of a maiden with dark magic who becomes the apprentice to Lord Death—for a price. Perfect for fans of Juniper and Thorn and The Year of the Witching.
Ever since she was a child, Salomé has been plagued by visions of spirits and dangerous powers she can’t control. After watching her foster mother burn as a witch, she and her beloved sister Rochelle are raised together in a convent, a grim and dreary existence. Until one day, Rochelle vanishes.
Determined to find a way to save her, Salomé runs: first to a brothel, and then, after a terrible accident, away from the village and into the woods. Deep amongst the trees of the wild Black Forest, she comes face-to-face with Lord Death.
Rather than taking her life, he brings her to his home at the heart of the woods, a strange manor full of locked rooms and mysterious corridors, crumbling one moment, magnificent the next. He promises to make her his apprentice and teach her how to harness her mind and magic. His words are as seductive as his presence—but should one trust Death?
A swirling mirage of dark fairy tale, gothic romance, and historical fantasy, A Dark and Wild Wood is a novel best devoured all at once. But proceed with caution, as everything is not what it seems...
Ever since she was a child, Salomé has been plagued by visions of spirits and dangerous powers she can’t control. After watching her foster mother burn as a witch, she and her beloved sister Rochelle are raised together in a convent, a grim and dreary existence. Until one day, Rochelle vanishes.
Determined to find a way to save her, Salomé runs: first to a brothel, and then, after a terrible accident, away from the village and into the woods. Deep amongst the trees of the wild Black Forest, she comes face-to-face with Lord Death.
Rather than taking her life, he brings her to his home at the heart of the woods, a strange manor full of locked rooms and mysterious corridors, crumbling one moment, magnificent the next. He promises to make her his apprentice and teach her how to harness her mind and magic. His words are as seductive as his presence—but should one trust Death?
A swirling mirage of dark fairy tale, gothic romance, and historical fantasy, A Dark and Wild Wood is a novel best devoured all at once. But proceed with caution, as everything is not what it seems...
368 pages, Hardcover
First published May 26, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 250 reviews
June 10, 2026
3.5🌟 A haunting, gothic tale inspired by the French folktale Bluebeard. I adored the atmospheric setting, beautiful writing, magic/witches/spellcasting elements and the sapphic romance subplot. Overall this is a story of manipulation, abuse, the hardships of being a woman and eventually finding yourself/coming into your power. This was a very thoughtful and immersive story and I’m hoping with the things revealed towards the end that we may get another book in this world following one of the other characters 👀
March 30, 2026
Thank you so much for the arc HarperCollins UK | HarperFiction | HarperVoyager!
**3,5/5**
"You have thought a lot about death, but how do you want to live?"
🪦 gothic worldbuilding
✨ secret magic
🪦 mysterious mansion
✨ dark romance
🪦 paranormal
What I liked:
- While it wasn’t the romance I expected it to be, I found the portrayal of Death way more believable than in most books. It’s a toxic relationship and Death uses his power and position to manipulate and control the protagonist. It felt believable because of course she is more naive and inexperienced in every way possible than a literal immortal. Death knows her weaknesses and takes advantage of them like one would expect from a being like Death and such a power difference.
- The whole worldbuilding was right up my alley! An overall gothic setting, spirits like house demons and hellcats, a dark forest, a mysterious mansion, secret magical powers, witch burnings, and of course, Death as a teacher and romantic lead.
What I didn’t like:
- While the protagonist has to endure obviously horrible things, she doesn’t seem to be appropriately affected. We get too little insight into her real thoughts and feelings, especially since it’s first person. No spoiler because it happens in the first 15%: It can’t be that much of a usual business to lose your sister, be thrown from a coven into a bordel and be buried alive… She hasn’t even one breakdown? It made it hard for me to build a real connection to the protagonist.
✍🏻 Writing style: 3/5
👥 Characters: 3/5
🌍 Worldbuilding: 4,5/5
📝 Story & Plot: 3,5/5
✨ Vibes: 4,5/5
•Is this my go-to genre? yes
•Will I buy a physical copy: yes
•Will I read more books by the author: yes
**3,5/5**
"You have thought a lot about death, but how do you want to live?"
🪦 gothic worldbuilding
✨ secret magic
🪦 mysterious mansion
✨ dark romance
🪦 paranormal
What I liked:
- While it wasn’t the romance I expected it to be, I found the portrayal of Death way more believable than in most books. It’s a toxic relationship and Death uses his power and position to manipulate and control the protagonist. It felt believable because of course she is more naive and inexperienced in every way possible than a literal immortal. Death knows her weaknesses and takes advantage of them like one would expect from a being like Death and such a power difference.
- The whole worldbuilding was right up my alley! An overall gothic setting, spirits like house demons and hellcats, a dark forest, a mysterious mansion, secret magical powers, witch burnings, and of course, Death as a teacher and romantic lead.
What I didn’t like:
- While the protagonist has to endure obviously horrible things, she doesn’t seem to be appropriately affected. We get too little insight into her real thoughts and feelings, especially since it’s first person. No spoiler because it happens in the first 15%: It can’t be that much of a usual business to lose your sister, be thrown from a coven into a bordel and be buried alive… She hasn’t even one breakdown? It made it hard for me to build a real connection to the protagonist.
✍🏻 Writing style: 3/5
👥 Characters: 3/5
🌍 Worldbuilding: 4,5/5
📝 Story & Plot: 3,5/5
✨ Vibes: 4,5/5
•Is this my go-to genre? yes
•Will I buy a physical copy: yes
•Will I read more books by the author: yes
March 19, 2026
* Read Through NetGalley*
I’m really struggling with how I feel about this book because my biggest issue is honestly the way it’s marketed. Going in, I was expecting a romance, and I really don’t think this book should be sold that way. The relationship between Salome and Death didn’t feel romantic to me at all. It felt toxic and abusive. Death controls her body, literally cuts her without her consent, takes advantage of how naive she is about the magical world, and constantly uses affection in a manipulative way by pulling it away when it’s obvious that’s what she wants most. It’s really hard for me to enjoy a story when I go in expecting romance and end up reading a relationship that feels harmful but is still framed as romantic.
That being said, there were parts of the story that I did appreciate. Salome’s journey of trying to figure out who she is outside of the labels forced onto her, like witch, sinner, and whore, was probably the strongest part of the book for me. Watching her start to separate herself from those identities and find her own power felt like the real heart of the story.
I also struggled with the pacing. It felt really slow and clunky at times, and there were definitely parts where I found myself skimming because they just didn’t feel all that necessary or exciting. I think the book would’ve worked a lot better for me if it had been tightened up a bit.
With different expectations going in and better pacing, I honestly think I could’ve rated this higher. There are definitely things in here that I can appreciate, but the way it’s marketed ended up being my biggest turnoff.
I’m really struggling with how I feel about this book because my biggest issue is honestly the way it’s marketed. Going in, I was expecting a romance, and I really don’t think this book should be sold that way. The relationship between Salome and Death didn’t feel romantic to me at all. It felt toxic and abusive. Death controls her body, literally cuts her without her consent, takes advantage of how naive she is about the magical world, and constantly uses affection in a manipulative way by pulling it away when it’s obvious that’s what she wants most. It’s really hard for me to enjoy a story when I go in expecting romance and end up reading a relationship that feels harmful but is still framed as romantic.
That being said, there were parts of the story that I did appreciate. Salome’s journey of trying to figure out who she is outside of the labels forced onto her, like witch, sinner, and whore, was probably the strongest part of the book for me. Watching her start to separate herself from those identities and find her own power felt like the real heart of the story.
I also struggled with the pacing. It felt really slow and clunky at times, and there were definitely parts where I found myself skimming because they just didn’t feel all that necessary or exciting. I think the book would’ve worked a lot better for me if it had been tightened up a bit.
With different expectations going in and better pacing, I honestly think I could’ve rated this higher. There are definitely things in here that I can appreciate, but the way it’s marketed ended up being my biggest turnoff.
June 11, 2026
*Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me an E-Arc in exchange for an honest review!*
3.25 stars
I was really curious about A Dark and Wild Wood because I’d never read a Bluebeard retelling before (or at least not one I can remember), and the synopsis sounded so intriguing. Plus, that cover is absolutely gorgeous and definitely caught my attention.
I really liked the idea behind the story and the darker fairytale atmosphere, but I think I was expecting a little more from it. There were parts that pulled me in and some interesting ideas, but the pacing and certain character choices didn’t always work for me. It had a lot of potential, and I enjoyed seeing a different take on such a creepy classic tale, even if it didn’t fully live up to my expectations.
Still, I’m glad I received an arc — it was an enjoyable and unique read with its gothic atmosphere.
____________
Inspired by Bluebeard. This should be interesting.
3.25 stars
I was really curious about A Dark and Wild Wood because I’d never read a Bluebeard retelling before (or at least not one I can remember), and the synopsis sounded so intriguing. Plus, that cover is absolutely gorgeous and definitely caught my attention.
I really liked the idea behind the story and the darker fairytale atmosphere, but I think I was expecting a little more from it. There were parts that pulled me in and some interesting ideas, but the pacing and certain character choices didn’t always work for me. It had a lot of potential, and I enjoyed seeing a different take on such a creepy classic tale, even if it didn’t fully live up to my expectations.
Still, I’m glad I received an arc — it was an enjoyable and unique read with its gothic atmosphere.
____________
Inspired by Bluebeard. This should be interesting.
June 4, 2026
A Dark and Wild Wood felt like walking through a haunted manor blindfolded.
At first, your mind tries to craft a reality it can understand. But with every step, the lines between truth and nightmare become so tightly woven that eventually you no longer know if (or when) your blindfold was removed.
The rooms of this manor are fueled by trauma, horror and the balance between power and surrender. Again and again, I found myself yelling at the FMC to use the key in her hand and escape, only to watch her continue to stare at an empty palm. It was heartbreaking and deeply human all at once.
The poetic prose literally took my breath away. In hindsight, I wish I had read this physically rather than listened to the audiobook. The audio had me continuously confused and disoriented. My rating would have been higher had I been able to linger on the pages and absorb every sentence.
This book is overflowing with lines that demand to be underlined:
"Before you save anyone you must save yourself."
"It is the curse of women to always bear the prejudice of man's fear."
"Are you asking if you created this darkness that comes to devour everything that you love? No. But have you courted it? Have you fed it? ... Have you put power into it, including your own? Yes."
"I felt that my own suffering was so profound that once I succumbed to it, all other suffering would end."
"Any sacrifice I made meant nothing when poured down the throat of the all-consuming appetite of destruction."
"I have never loved a man, but this atmosphere around us felt like something bigger, something more powerful, something I could fall into and never recover from."
My final thoughts … this book will confuse and unsettle you (check the horror trigger warnings). However I believe that was the entire point. My favourite quote:
"In some ways, understanding that I was the key to all the pain and tragedy in my world was an unburdening. If I was the key, I could unlock the way."
At first, your mind tries to craft a reality it can understand. But with every step, the lines between truth and nightmare become so tightly woven that eventually you no longer know if (or when) your blindfold was removed.
The rooms of this manor are fueled by trauma, horror and the balance between power and surrender. Again and again, I found myself yelling at the FMC to use the key in her hand and escape, only to watch her continue to stare at an empty palm. It was heartbreaking and deeply human all at once.
The poetic prose literally took my breath away. In hindsight, I wish I had read this physically rather than listened to the audiobook. The audio had me continuously confused and disoriented. My rating would have been higher had I been able to linger on the pages and absorb every sentence.
This book is overflowing with lines that demand to be underlined:
"Before you save anyone you must save yourself."
"It is the curse of women to always bear the prejudice of man's fear."
"Are you asking if you created this darkness that comes to devour everything that you love? No. But have you courted it? Have you fed it? ... Have you put power into it, including your own? Yes."
"I felt that my own suffering was so profound that once I succumbed to it, all other suffering would end."
"Any sacrifice I made meant nothing when poured down the throat of the all-consuming appetite of destruction."
"I have never loved a man, but this atmosphere around us felt like something bigger, something more powerful, something I could fall into and never recover from."
My final thoughts … this book will confuse and unsettle you (check the horror trigger warnings). However I believe that was the entire point. My favourite quote:
"In some ways, understanding that I was the key to all the pain and tragedy in my world was an unburdening. If I was the key, I could unlock the way."
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
honestly, after reading those reviews, i didn't plan to read this book at first (i was invited to read). but for some reason, i felt a weird urge to pick it up. like a good feeling??? and i was right, because from the very beginning, i was immediately hooked. people may feel differently, but i loved it.
the first thing that really pulled me in was the prose. it felt very beautiful and just fit the atmosphere. for me, it wasn't too much at all, it felt just right. this was the main reason i kept wanting to read. even though there aren't that many scary things happening in this book (i didn't really feel the horror elements, to be honest), the writing alone makes the gothic elements strong.
the pacing can be uneven, sure, but i enjoyed my time 'walking' through the manor, the woods, and the village, encountering new and strange things. i was pretty much like Salome while reading this. curious about everything. reading this book is like walking with a small lantern in the woods (like the cover). we've got trauma, friendship (romantic or platonic? 👀), bad luck, mysteries about missing women, dangerous magic power, creepy & mysterious manor, and so much more.
BUT this is not a romance book. so if you're expecting romance, i think you'll be disappointed. (tho to be fair, at first i was like, okay, Death is kinda interesting. though slowly, he starts to change into someone who's … well, let's just say the story gets a bit more disturbing in the middle after that.)
my favorite character here is probably the Hellcat lmaooo. i liked this book without really liking the characters, and that's fine. imo, if you don't mind the things i mentioned above, just go read it.
the first thing that really pulled me in was the prose. it felt very beautiful and just fit the atmosphere. for me, it wasn't too much at all, it felt just right. this was the main reason i kept wanting to read. even though there aren't that many scary things happening in this book (i didn't really feel the horror elements, to be honest), the writing alone makes the gothic elements strong.
the pacing can be uneven, sure, but i enjoyed my time 'walking' through the manor, the woods, and the village, encountering new and strange things. i was pretty much like Salome while reading this. curious about everything. reading this book is like walking with a small lantern in the woods (like the cover). we've got trauma, friendship (romantic or platonic? 👀), bad luck, mysteries about missing women, dangerous magic power, creepy & mysterious manor, and so much more.
BUT this is not a romance book. so if you're expecting romance, i think you'll be disappointed. (tho to be fair, at first i was like, okay, Death is kinda interesting. though slowly, he starts to change into someone who's … well, let's just say the story gets a bit more disturbing in the middle after that.)
my favorite character here is probably the Hellcat lmaooo. i liked this book without really liking the characters, and that's fine. imo, if you don't mind the things i mentioned above, just go read it.
July 4, 2026
Unfortunately, this one wasn't for me. I was not as into the actual plot as I had expected, so I was a bit bored most of the time.
However, i do think some people who are disliking this went into it with the wrong expectations. If you're looking for a more lyrical, grim, gloomy fairytale, I'd recommend this. It's slower than what I tend to enjoy, but I know it could be an absolute favorite for many. The writing was fantastic, so i can't bring myself to rate it any lower just cause I was bored.
However, i do think some people who are disliking this went into it with the wrong expectations. If you're looking for a more lyrical, grim, gloomy fairytale, I'd recommend this. It's slower than what I tend to enjoy, but I know it could be an absolute favorite for many. The writing was fantastic, so i can't bring myself to rate it any lower just cause I was bored.
June 9, 2026
A Dark and Wild Wood is a dark gothic reimagining of Bluebeard with a female as the main character. Author Sarah Nicole Lemon does a great job describing the atmospheric elements, and I felt completely immersed in the story. With Salomé trying to find her sister and going deep into the woods, readers can capture all the vibes, especially as it builds toward her and Lord D3ath.
I liked the story's underlying message about Salomé—her growth, strength, and independence. I enjoyed the story. The ending was uniquely different from the stories I usually read and was well-suited for the themes.
Thank you to Avon Books for the gifted e-copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I liked the story's underlying message about Salomé—her growth, strength, and independence. I enjoyed the story. The ending was uniquely different from the stories I usually read and was well-suited for the themes.
Thank you to Avon Books for the gifted e-copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 19, 2026
An atmospheric and haunting gothic horror, this felt like a lyrical but twisted fairytale
‘A dark and wild wood’ is dark and utterly toxic yet you can’t look away. i loved the feminist undercurrent and how the author wasn’t afraid to make the story unsettling - it’s NOT a romance or an easy read by any means but I really enjoyed the foreboding atmosphere
overall a hypnotising blend of gothic horror with alluring dark fantasy elements
‘A dark and wild wood’ is dark and utterly toxic yet you can’t look away. i loved the feminist undercurrent and how the author wasn’t afraid to make the story unsettling - it’s NOT a romance or an easy read by any means but I really enjoyed the foreboding atmosphere
overall a hypnotising blend of gothic horror with alluring dark fantasy elements
May 17, 2026
i was going to start this review of by saying i don’t think this book was for me but that’s not true. the reason i wanted to read this was because it has so many elements i love, a gothic tragic story, a magical forest, apprentice to death, and witches. but somehow it just didn’t work. the writing was beautiful though. very lyrical and i think that’s why i was able to continue reading. however the plot and world building was completely lacklustre and i found myself incredibly bored. death’s character felt so bland and i know he was meant to be a mysterious character but it didn’t feel that way at all, he was just there. along with the relationship between salomé and death i really questioned by she even felt drawn to him at all and it just seemed like instant attraction.
overall i did enjoy the writing but nothing else seemed to grab my attention.
thank you netgalley for sending me an arc copy.
overall i did enjoy the writing but nothing else seemed to grab my attention.
thank you netgalley for sending me an arc copy.
February 27, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the advance readers copy of this book.
3.5⭐️ A Dark and Wild Wood was very beautifully written. I absolutely loved the lyrical writing style for this book. What starts out as a dreary and dull story transcends into a beautiful atmospheric and dark tale with spirits, magic, spells and a very dark gothic feel once the main character reaches the “otherworld” and we meet Lord Death as he takes her under his wing as his apprentice to help her with her magic to find her sister.
I couldn’t believe how good this book was as I kept reading it. The Knight and the Moth and One Dark Window girlies, this book is for you if you like trips through a dark and magical forest and creepy mansions and beautiful spells. (Honestly better than The Knight and the Moth.)
The story line really keeps you hooked but I’m only rating it 3.5 because I did get a little bored around 70% but the entirety of the book is still SO good and I definitely didn’t expect that ending.
3.5⭐️ A Dark and Wild Wood was very beautifully written. I absolutely loved the lyrical writing style for this book. What starts out as a dreary and dull story transcends into a beautiful atmospheric and dark tale with spirits, magic, spells and a very dark gothic feel once the main character reaches the “otherworld” and we meet Lord Death as he takes her under his wing as his apprentice to help her with her magic to find her sister.
I couldn’t believe how good this book was as I kept reading it. The Knight and the Moth and One Dark Window girlies, this book is for you if you like trips through a dark and magical forest and creepy mansions and beautiful spells. (Honestly better than The Knight and the Moth.)
The story line really keeps you hooked but I’m only rating it 3.5 because I did get a little bored around 70% but the entirety of the book is still SO good and I definitely didn’t expect that ending.
June 27, 2026
| rating: 3.75 ★
Salome is no stranger to death. From the death of her birth mother by her father’s hand to the execution of her witch mother Valerie, Salome believes that her life is a curse. Her only companion is her dear sister, Rochelle, who knows of Salome’s abilities and has stayed by her side despite all their misfortunes. When Rochelle is taken by a creature, Salome leaves the convent they’ve been living in to find her, only to be exposed to the evils of man. Salome lives as a prostitute for years, biding her time until she could leave and find her sister. But when young girls start going missing and the Baron’s men start getting bolder, Salome’s magic exposes her as a witch and forces her to flee into the dark forest, where she meets Death.
A Dark and Wild Wood is a retelling of the story of Bluebeard, a French folktale where a wealthy nobleman married six beautiful wives only for all of them to mysteriously disappear. My previous encounter with this story was with Angela Carter’s short story “The Bloody Chamber.” As such, I went into this story not expecting a romance, but instead a dark gothic story.
For the most part, this book met my expectations. The prose was beautiful and fit nicely with the atmosphere. It was spooky enough that I got the creeps whenever I read it at night. The plot itself was interesting. I see where the inspiration from Bluebeard came from, but I also enjoyed the little details that set it apart from the original folktale. Having Salome be a prostitute, but also a queer woman living in this vaguely medieval French countryside gave an extra depth to her character. I did think that she was fairly naive for a 25 year old prostitute. Salome was set up to be this clever, headstrong and jaded protagonist, but her inner voice doesn’t reflect that at all. Then again, she has been sheltered her entire life—first at the convent, then in the whore house, and then in the House of Blue Sleep. I also felt like the story dragged between 70% to 80% in and then the ending came suddenly. There was also a lot of telling and not showing. I felt like Salome was never given the chance to really reflect or think about what was happening to her because the narrator was telling us how she was dealing with it.
Again, I didn’t put a lot of weight on the romance between Salome and Death, but I did LOVE Dacia and Salome. I wish we had a little more time with them! I was also interested in Rochelle and her husband and I hope the author explores that in another story (even if it is your cliche Persephone x Hades story).
Overall, I really enjoyed this book!
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books/Harper Voyager for the e-ARC!
--
me: wow this is so much like “The Bloody Chamber”
me 90% in: oh this is literally “The Blood Chamber”
i love gothic novels 🖤
Salome is no stranger to death. From the death of her birth mother by her father’s hand to the execution of her witch mother Valerie, Salome believes that her life is a curse. Her only companion is her dear sister, Rochelle, who knows of Salome’s abilities and has stayed by her side despite all their misfortunes. When Rochelle is taken by a creature, Salome leaves the convent they’ve been living in to find her, only to be exposed to the evils of man. Salome lives as a prostitute for years, biding her time until she could leave and find her sister. But when young girls start going missing and the Baron’s men start getting bolder, Salome’s magic exposes her as a witch and forces her to flee into the dark forest, where she meets Death.
A Dark and Wild Wood is a retelling of the story of Bluebeard, a French folktale where a wealthy nobleman married six beautiful wives only for all of them to mysteriously disappear. My previous encounter with this story was with Angela Carter’s short story “The Bloody Chamber.” As such, I went into this story not expecting a romance, but instead a dark gothic story.
For the most part, this book met my expectations. The prose was beautiful and fit nicely with the atmosphere. It was spooky enough that I got the creeps whenever I read it at night. The plot itself was interesting. I see where the inspiration from Bluebeard came from, but I also enjoyed the little details that set it apart from the original folktale. Having Salome be a prostitute, but also a queer woman living in this vaguely medieval French countryside gave an extra depth to her character. I did think that she was fairly naive for a 25 year old prostitute. Salome was set up to be this clever, headstrong and jaded protagonist, but her inner voice doesn’t reflect that at all. Then again, she has been sheltered her entire life—first at the convent, then in the whore house, and then in the House of Blue Sleep. I also felt like the story dragged between 70% to 80% in and then the ending came suddenly. There was also a lot of telling and not showing. I felt like Salome was never given the chance to really reflect or think about what was happening to her because the narrator was telling us how she was dealing with it.
Again, I didn’t put a lot of weight on the romance between Salome and Death, but I did LOVE Dacia and Salome. I wish we had a little more time with them! I was also interested in Rochelle and her husband and I hope the author explores that in another story (even if it is your cliche Persephone x Hades story).
Overall, I really enjoyed this book!
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books/Harper Voyager for the e-ARC!
--
me: wow this is so much like “The Bloody Chamber”
me 90% in: oh this is literally “The Blood Chamber”
i love gothic novels 🖤
owned
December 10, 2025ok i've been following sarah for YEARS and maybe nobody is more hyped about this one than me I NEED THIS
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I LOVE YOU HARPER VOYAGER, THANK YOU FOR MY ARC
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I LOVE YOU HARPER VOYAGER, THANK YOU FOR MY ARC
June 22, 2026
Holy Crap I’m obsessed. Thanks to the author , publisher and narrator for my ALC. Narrator did a great job , really made you feel like you were there experiencing the horror with the main character. Please do not go into this thinking it is a romance, you’ll be disappointed and miss out on a phenomenal standalone. This is a story of a woman with power growing in a society where women with any gifts are considered abominations / curses and what she experiences overcoming it. The story wraps up in a neat tidy perfectly satisfying bow and I thoroughly enjoyed the lyrical writing style. You feel as if you are there experiencing the dark gothic horror filled atmosphere.
Read
January 7, 2026
Book Riot’s Most Anticipated Books of 2026:
In this Bluebeard-inspired story, Sarah Nicole Lemon weaves an eerie fairytale full of dark magic and seduction. Despite her futile attempts, Salomé has never been able to control her mysterious powers or visions of spirits. Her world turns upside down when her sister Rochelle disappears, and Salomé leaves the convent to try to save her. In the Black Forest, Salomé comes face to face with Lord Death. He spares her life and takes her back to his manor, where he promises to teach her to harness her powers—but at what cost? Part horror, part fantasy—with a dash of erotica —A Dark and Wild Wood is the must-read gothic tale of the year. —Kendra Winchester
In this Bluebeard-inspired story, Sarah Nicole Lemon weaves an eerie fairytale full of dark magic and seduction. Despite her futile attempts, Salomé has never been able to control her mysterious powers or visions of spirits. Her world turns upside down when her sister Rochelle disappears, and Salomé leaves the convent to try to save her. In the Black Forest, Salomé comes face to face with Lord Death. He spares her life and takes her back to his manor, where he promises to teach her to harness her powers—but at what cost? Part horror, part fantasy—with a dash of erotica —A Dark and Wild Wood is the must-read gothic tale of the year. —Kendra Winchester
June 9, 2026
3.5⭐️
What happens when you wish for power and the only one who might give it is Death? Such is the journey that Salome finds herself in. Raised in a nunnery with her sister until her sister is kidnapped by a demon, Salome finds herself destitute. Having kept her powers as a witch hidden for most of her life, Salome's only avenue to keep herself alfoat becomes prostitution.. But Salome finds herself longing to control her powers and when she steps into the forest who awaits her but Lord Death himself. And he offers her the one thing Salome has always wanted: power. As Salome settles in to an uncertain life in Lord Death's cheteau, she encounters otherwordly beings in the forest surrounding his estate that challenge her perception of witchcraft, power and ultimately...herself. Can Salome find her own strength and use it to center her own power or will Lord Death be her master forever?
My thoughts:
I really wanted to like this more than I did. On paper, it was everything I look for in a dark fantasy: slightly erotic, lush descriptions, intriguing plots. But I felt like it was hard to understand Salome's logic. Most of the book felt like Salome changing her mind every few pages, to where I wasn't sure if the plot was even going to advance. I did enjoy the ending. I think the imagery was beautifully written. At times it felt like the most vivid fever dream, and I did enjoy that. I think readers who enjoy dark fantasy will find this one a fascinating read. I will say that at no point did I know what was going to happen. A thoroughly original concept with enough fantasy and gothic elements to keep it grounded.
Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
What happens when you wish for power and the only one who might give it is Death? Such is the journey that Salome finds herself in. Raised in a nunnery with her sister until her sister is kidnapped by a demon, Salome finds herself destitute. Having kept her powers as a witch hidden for most of her life, Salome's only avenue to keep herself alfoat becomes prostitution.. But Salome finds herself longing to control her powers and when she steps into the forest who awaits her but Lord Death himself. And he offers her the one thing Salome has always wanted: power. As Salome settles in to an uncertain life in Lord Death's cheteau, she encounters otherwordly beings in the forest surrounding his estate that challenge her perception of witchcraft, power and ultimately...herself. Can Salome find her own strength and use it to center her own power or will Lord Death be her master forever?
My thoughts:
I really wanted to like this more than I did. On paper, it was everything I look for in a dark fantasy: slightly erotic, lush descriptions, intriguing plots. But I felt like it was hard to understand Salome's logic. Most of the book felt like Salome changing her mind every few pages, to where I wasn't sure if the plot was even going to advance. I did enjoy the ending. I think the imagery was beautifully written. At times it felt like the most vivid fever dream, and I did enjoy that. I think readers who enjoy dark fantasy will find this one a fascinating read. I will say that at no point did I know what was going to happen. A thoroughly original concept with enough fantasy and gothic elements to keep it grounded.
Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
June 16, 2026
4.4 i love a good gothic standalone babyyyy!!! Feels like a twisted fairytale in the best way
March 31, 2026
I’m a huge fan of Maiden and Death stories, so this lyrical, gothic retelling of Bluebeard sounded completely up my alley. Sadly, it didn’t really meet my expectations, and the whole reading experience ended up being more frustrating than fun.
This is a book about Salomé, a girl with dangerous powers, who goes searching for her missing sister and ends up in Lord Death’s creepy, mysterious manor. To be fair, the first few dozen pages really pulled me in. The book started off strong, with a great atmosphere and genuinely beautiful writing, and I was honestly excited to see where it would go. But pretty quickly the pacing started to drag, and I found myself getting more and more disconnected from the story.
I knew from the beginning that this book wasn’t supposed to be a romance, and the author made that clear. The relationship between Salome and Lord Death was meant to be disturbing and unsettling, and it definitely was. But it didn’t make me feel what I expected it to, and at some point I started to wonder why. Long story short, I think my lack of investment came down to the lack of proper buildup, especially on Salome’s side. There just wasn’t enough development to make the dynamic really land. I never fully understood why she was drawn to Death in the first place, which made it harder to stay emotionally engaged.
A lot of other elements felt underdeveloped too. The magic system, if you could even call it that, was vague and pretty confusing. Salome was supposed to have some kind of power, and the story kept telling us she was growing into it, but what was actually shown didn’t really back that up. Because of that, the ending didn’t work for me either. It hinted at character growth for Salome, but it didn’t feel earned. Everything wrapped up too quickly, which just added to the overall sense that the plot was chaotic and unfocused.
The prose was probably the strongest part. It was very lyrical and at times genuinely beautiful. But sadly, it wasn’t enough to make up for a story that never fully came together.
All in all, I really wish I had liked this book more. It had so much potential, and the author clearly proved they can write. The ideas were there, the prose showed real talent, but for me the story just didn’t come together in a satisfying way.
Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This is a book about Salomé, a girl with dangerous powers, who goes searching for her missing sister and ends up in Lord Death’s creepy, mysterious manor. To be fair, the first few dozen pages really pulled me in. The book started off strong, with a great atmosphere and genuinely beautiful writing, and I was honestly excited to see where it would go. But pretty quickly the pacing started to drag, and I found myself getting more and more disconnected from the story.
I knew from the beginning that this book wasn’t supposed to be a romance, and the author made that clear. The relationship between Salome and Lord Death was meant to be disturbing and unsettling, and it definitely was. But it didn’t make me feel what I expected it to, and at some point I started to wonder why. Long story short, I think my lack of investment came down to the lack of proper buildup, especially on Salome’s side. There just wasn’t enough development to make the dynamic really land. I never fully understood why she was drawn to Death in the first place, which made it harder to stay emotionally engaged.
A lot of other elements felt underdeveloped too. The magic system, if you could even call it that, was vague and pretty confusing. Salome was supposed to have some kind of power, and the story kept telling us she was growing into it, but what was actually shown didn’t really back that up. Because of that, the ending didn’t work for me either. It hinted at character growth for Salome, but it didn’t feel earned. Everything wrapped up too quickly, which just added to the overall sense that the plot was chaotic and unfocused.
The prose was probably the strongest part. It was very lyrical and at times genuinely beautiful. But sadly, it wasn’t enough to make up for a story that never fully came together.
All in all, I really wish I had liked this book more. It had so much potential, and the author clearly proved they can write. The ideas were there, the prose showed real talent, but for me the story just didn’t come together in a satisfying way.
Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
March 16, 2026
thank you to netgalley and harper voyager for the eARC!
hannah whitten posted about this one so i had to go immediately to netgalley. i love a fairytale retelling, especially a gothic or otherwise horror-tinged retelling, and Bluebeard isn’t one i’ve seen tackled often. i think that some level of familiarity with the original tale here will definitely help expectations going in.
things i did NOT expect that were pleasant surprises:
- almost historical fantasy, taking place with our world in centuries past
- the main character is queer?? definitely sapphic or bisexual. her most meaningful relationship in this tale is with another woman.
i would highly recommend this to enjoyers of A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson the exploration of gendered power dynamics and the theme of intimate partner abuse in particular. the relationship between our protagonist and her “lord” was always unbalanced, always suspect, but it was interestingly written in terms of just how bad things had to get for Salome to consider fleeing.
i wouldn’t call this a “slow burn” in terms of what that means for the romance genre, because this is 100% NOT romance. it’s more that the physical intimacy between Salome and Renaud really inches along before it gets explicit. there are some kinks explored before they even technically get their hands on each other that are almost more intense than if they were both fully naked. the sexual content here isn’t romantic. it’s about power. that’s what makes it so deliciously uncomfortable to read.
my only complaints are some subplots that were resolved very quickly or never fully developed, in which case i feel like they could’ve almost been whittled down to make more room for Salome’s main story. in particular, Rochelle’s disappearance and the bandit leader’s possible magic were given just enough time to make me curious but ultimately weren’t relevant to the main plot.
i just really enjoyed this despite not usually being a fan of a first person POV in adult fantasy. i think it helps that the narrative is structured from the beginning as Salome looking back on these events. if she ever seems a bit too insightful on her actions in the present moment, the narration reminds us that she’s had time to think about all of these things since the past when they actually happened.
hannah whitten posted about this one so i had to go immediately to netgalley. i love a fairytale retelling, especially a gothic or otherwise horror-tinged retelling, and Bluebeard isn’t one i’ve seen tackled often. i think that some level of familiarity with the original tale here will definitely help expectations going in.
things i did NOT expect that were pleasant surprises:
- almost historical fantasy, taking place with our world in centuries past
- the main character is queer?? definitely sapphic or bisexual. her most meaningful relationship in this tale is with another woman.
i would highly recommend this to enjoyers of A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson the exploration of gendered power dynamics and the theme of intimate partner abuse in particular. the relationship between our protagonist and her “lord” was always unbalanced, always suspect, but it was interestingly written in terms of just how bad things had to get for Salome to consider fleeing.
i wouldn’t call this a “slow burn” in terms of what that means for the romance genre, because this is 100% NOT romance. it’s more that the physical intimacy between Salome and Renaud really inches along before it gets explicit. there are some kinks explored before they even technically get their hands on each other that are almost more intense than if they were both fully naked. the sexual content here isn’t romantic. it’s about power. that’s what makes it so deliciously uncomfortable to read.
my only complaints are some subplots that were resolved very quickly or never fully developed, in which case i feel like they could’ve almost been whittled down to make more room for Salome’s main story. in particular, Rochelle’s disappearance and the bandit leader’s possible magic were given just enough time to make me curious but ultimately weren’t relevant to the main plot.
i just really enjoyed this despite not usually being a fan of a first person POV in adult fantasy. i think it helps that the narrative is structured from the beginning as Salome looking back on these events. if she ever seems a bit too insightful on her actions in the present moment, the narration reminds us that she’s had time to think about all of these things since the past when they actually happened.
April 18, 2026
Rating: 1 star
Inspired by the tale of Bluebeard, A Dark and Wild Wood is a gothic twisted retelling full of mystery, magic, and self-discovery. Salomé, a woman with dangerous magic, flees to the Black Forest after her sister is kidnapped by a demon and is taken in by the mysterious Lord Death. He offers to train her, but their relationship becomes increasingly dark and controlling.
I’m just going to start off by saying it’s a 1 star because I wish I DNF’ed at the start like I wanted to instead of sticking around because I was lucky enough to get an arc. This book put me into a reading slump…while I was reading it. I can usually read books in 2-3 days—this took a month and a half. I really tried so many times to get into this book, but it wasn’t for me.
The idea of the book was very interesting but the execution was lackluster in my opinion. The magic system as a concept is really cool. It was the highlight of the book but was a bit underdeveloped and under explained. The prose is well done, creating captivating and horrific imagery. During certain actiony moments the scene was set really well. On the other hand the pacing was poor. You know how they say start the book in the middle of the story? This book did not take that advice and started from the very beginning, genuinely from birth. The first 20% just read like endless setup before the real hook. After that I was intrigued but it ended up falling flat quickly thereafter. It was pretty flat with small sparks throughout. The last 15-20% also picked up. There was a slight plot twist at the end but at the same time the whole book was kind of pointing to it. I was left with a lot of questions more than real answers and things seemed very untidily wrapped up. On a good note, I do think the ending was a true gothic bittersweet end; kind of giving Crimson Peak/Frankenstein (basically Guillermo Del Toro).
I also didn’t really connect with any of the characters especially not the FMC. Honestly everyone in this story is annoying. Either too vague or just plain unlikable. I didn’t really connect to the MMC and felt like their relationship didn’t really make sense. Why she was so loyal to him when they have no chemistry and no real bonding moments save for one is beyond me. So many interactions between the main characters had my lip curled. I felt like the girl watching her friend stay in a toxic relationship and you just want to shake her. Her inner monologue in reference to Death was nuts.
I’m also confused as to why this book is marketed (in the blurb) as being a gothic romance. There is some sort of relationship between Salomé and Lord Death and there IS spice. This alone does not a romance/romantasy make. This is not a romance in any way which is explicitly stated. I don’t think it should be considered a romance, but if it must be mentioned, perhaps gothic horror with romance elements would be better suited (even this is a stretch for me).
Overall, I was really excited to read this and had it pegged as one of my most anticipated 2026 releases. Unfortunately this has ended up as one of my least favorite. Perhaps this book just wasn’t for me, but at the same time I don’t think I could recommend this in good faith. As always I’m super grateful to have received an advanced reader copy!
Inspired by the tale of Bluebeard, A Dark and Wild Wood is a gothic twisted retelling full of mystery, magic, and self-discovery. Salomé, a woman with dangerous magic, flees to the Black Forest after her sister is kidnapped by a demon and is taken in by the mysterious Lord Death. He offers to train her, but their relationship becomes increasingly dark and controlling.
I’m just going to start off by saying it’s a 1 star because I wish I DNF’ed at the start like I wanted to instead of sticking around because I was lucky enough to get an arc. This book put me into a reading slump…while I was reading it. I can usually read books in 2-3 days—this took a month and a half. I really tried so many times to get into this book, but it wasn’t for me.
The idea of the book was very interesting but the execution was lackluster in my opinion. The magic system as a concept is really cool. It was the highlight of the book but was a bit underdeveloped and under explained. The prose is well done, creating captivating and horrific imagery. During certain actiony moments the scene was set really well. On the other hand the pacing was poor. You know how they say start the book in the middle of the story? This book did not take that advice and started from the very beginning, genuinely from birth. The first 20% just read like endless setup before the real hook. After that I was intrigued but it ended up falling flat quickly thereafter. It was pretty flat with small sparks throughout. The last 15-20% also picked up. There was a slight plot twist at the end but at the same time the whole book was kind of pointing to it. I was left with a lot of questions more than real answers and things seemed very untidily wrapped up. On a good note, I do think the ending was a true gothic bittersweet end; kind of giving Crimson Peak/Frankenstein (basically Guillermo Del Toro).
I also didn’t really connect with any of the characters especially not the FMC. Honestly everyone in this story is annoying. Either too vague or just plain unlikable. I didn’t really connect to the MMC and felt like their relationship didn’t really make sense. Why she was so loyal to him when they have no chemistry and no real bonding moments save for one is beyond me. So many interactions between the main characters had my lip curled. I felt like the girl watching her friend stay in a toxic relationship and you just want to shake her. Her inner monologue in reference to Death was nuts.
I’m also confused as to why this book is marketed (in the blurb) as being a gothic romance. There is some sort of relationship between Salomé and Lord Death and there IS spice. This alone does not a romance/romantasy make. This is not a romance in any way which is explicitly stated. I don’t think it should be considered a romance, but if it must be mentioned, perhaps gothic horror with romance elements would be better suited (even this is a stretch for me).
Overall, I was really excited to read this and had it pegged as one of my most anticipated 2026 releases. Unfortunately this has ended up as one of my least favorite. Perhaps this book just wasn’t for me, but at the same time I don’t think I could recommend this in good faith. As always I’m super grateful to have received an advanced reader copy!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Moody, dark, and ethereal. A Dark and Wild Wood immerses you in a world of vivid imagery and surrealism that pushes the boundaries of what it means to survive as a woman. If you love stories with a sapphic, witchy heart, this is absolutely the book for you.
June 25, 2026
soooo , a dark and wild wood is my fifth book of june and my first 3 star of the month. this wasn’t bad , but it definitely had some interesting moments.
the book starts off with a prologue that basically tells you this is not a romance and that it is supposed to be scary. and yeah , i get the romance part. this is not your average romantasy and you are definitely not meant to be sitting there giggling and kicking your feet over lord death , but scary ? i don’t know. maybe it’s because i love horror movies and books , so my standard is a little higher , but this did not really touch that side for me at all. the furthest i would go is calling it a dark story , but in no way was this horror.
what i did really like was the atmosphere. the writing was pretty , the woods felt creepy , and the whole book had this dark fairytale feel that worked really well. salomé was also interesting to follow , especially with her trying to understand her powers and accept the darker parts of herself. i liked that part of her character arc. my main issue was the pacing. the beginning was good , but the middle dragged a bit and felt like the story was not really going anywhere. i was not bored enough to dnf , but i was definitely waiting for things to move. then the ending suddenly happened and everything clicked together a little too easily. it was satisfying , but also kind of rushed and too convenient.
also did not love the dynamic between salomé and lord death. i think it was meant to feel toxic and uncomfortable , so i get that , but the execution felt messy. one second he was being nice , then cold , then helpful , then weird again. like ummm , please pick a mood. their relationship felt very on and off , and even though the idea behind it was interesting , it really was giving bipolar.
i guessed the twist about lord death pretty early , somewhere around the 60% mark , but another twist did catch me off guard , so i’ll give the book that.
overall , i liked the atmosphere , the writing , and salomé’s character journey , but i wanted more from the horror , the pacing , and the ending. it had a lot of potential , and i would probably still read more from this world if the author ever writes another book or something completely new.
2.75 stars rounded up ✨ not bad , just not fully it for me.
the book starts off with a prologue that basically tells you this is not a romance and that it is supposed to be scary. and yeah , i get the romance part. this is not your average romantasy and you are definitely not meant to be sitting there giggling and kicking your feet over lord death , but scary ? i don’t know. maybe it’s because i love horror movies and books , so my standard is a little higher , but this did not really touch that side for me at all. the furthest i would go is calling it a dark story , but in no way was this horror.
what i did really like was the atmosphere. the writing was pretty , the woods felt creepy , and the whole book had this dark fairytale feel that worked really well. salomé was also interesting to follow , especially with her trying to understand her powers and accept the darker parts of herself. i liked that part of her character arc. my main issue was the pacing. the beginning was good , but the middle dragged a bit and felt like the story was not really going anywhere. i was not bored enough to dnf , but i was definitely waiting for things to move. then the ending suddenly happened and everything clicked together a little too easily. it was satisfying , but also kind of rushed and too convenient.
also did not love the dynamic between salomé and lord death. i think it was meant to feel toxic and uncomfortable , so i get that , but the execution felt messy. one second he was being nice , then cold , then helpful , then weird again. like ummm , please pick a mood. their relationship felt very on and off , and even though the idea behind it was interesting , it really was giving bipolar.
i guessed the twist about lord death pretty early , somewhere around the 60% mark , but another twist did catch me off guard , so i’ll give the book that.
overall , i liked the atmosphere , the writing , and salomé’s character journey , but i wanted more from the horror , the pacing , and the ending. it had a lot of potential , and i would probably still read more from this world if the author ever writes another book or something completely new.
2.75 stars rounded up ✨ not bad , just not fully it for me.
Read
May 15, 2026Wow... I'm quite blown away by this book. It took a while for me to get into it. Initially, the writing style and especially the first person POV kept me at a distance from the plot. But as the narrative progressed, and specifically when Death arrived at the scene, everything picked up for me.
The best part of this book occured in the House of Blue Sleep. That section of prose and narrative was just lush, haunting, lyrical, and gorgeous. Lemon's writing was poetic when required and yet rooted in reality at other times. The plot itself was winding and to me it imitated the spell Salome encountered. It slowly wrapped me up in its horrific beauty and before I knew it, I was ensnared in its jaws. I was so deeply enraptured by the story despite knowing how things were most likely going to pan out. Which is hats off to the way Lemon rewrote the Bluebeard tale. She painted this story with new strokes that underscored the fear and terror of being a woman and dealing with a man.
Salome was a strong-headed and strong-willed character. What stood out to me the most about her was that despite her awareness of the world and its cruelty, she was vulnerable and open to feeling. Through her, Lemon constructed the power structure and the mechanisms that lead to an insidious form of abuse. I felt for Salome and the way she was treated whilst understanding why she became prey to such treatment too.
The gothic elements of this book were gorgeous to read. I love it when a book has a house and the house is alive and it weaves itself into characters' psyches. The magic part of the story was a bit obscure and hazy to understand - which was perhaps an intentional choice. But I wish we had more insight into how magic worked.
At times I felt the pacing was a bit slow, especially the first bit of the book and some of the parts in the House felt cyclical in nature. I also wish side characters like the Bandits played more of a role or were offered more space in the narrative.
This book in some ways reminded me of The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi so if you liked that you should def read this! It also felt very close to Angela Carter's works with its darker themes, fairy tale, and lyricality.
At its heart, this is the story of the innate strength of women in a world paved against them.
The best part of this book occured in the House of Blue Sleep. That section of prose and narrative was just lush, haunting, lyrical, and gorgeous. Lemon's writing was poetic when required and yet rooted in reality at other times. The plot itself was winding and to me it imitated the spell Salome encountered. It slowly wrapped me up in its horrific beauty and before I knew it, I was ensnared in its jaws. I was so deeply enraptured by the story despite knowing how things were most likely going to pan out. Which is hats off to the way Lemon rewrote the Bluebeard tale. She painted this story with new strokes that underscored the fear and terror of being a woman and dealing with a man.
Salome was a strong-headed and strong-willed character. What stood out to me the most about her was that despite her awareness of the world and its cruelty, she was vulnerable and open to feeling. Through her, Lemon constructed the power structure and the mechanisms that lead to an insidious form of abuse. I felt for Salome and the way she was treated whilst understanding why she became prey to such treatment too.
The gothic elements of this book were gorgeous to read. I love it when a book has a house and the house is alive and it weaves itself into characters' psyches. The magic part of the story was a bit obscure and hazy to understand - which was perhaps an intentional choice. But I wish we had more insight into how magic worked.
At times I felt the pacing was a bit slow, especially the first bit of the book and some of the parts in the House felt cyclical in nature. I also wish side characters like the Bandits played more of a role or were offered more space in the narrative.
This book in some ways reminded me of The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi so if you liked that you should def read this! It also felt very close to Angela Carter's works with its darker themes, fairy tale, and lyricality.
At its heart, this is the story of the innate strength of women in a world paved against them.
May 28, 2026
After a life of hardship that forces her to do unspeakable things to survive and a tragic accident that was out of her control, she is forced to run into a dark forest, the very same forest that took what she loved most: her sister. Once there, she runs straight into the arms of Lord Death, who promises her power if she becomes his apprentice, but are things really as they appear?
I was very apprehensive going into this book after being emotionally traumatized by another gothic fantasy book earlier this year. This book was exactly what I was hoping for when I read gothic fantasy. It felt like an atmospheric, creepy fairytale of old that had me completely enthralled.
This book had the perfect combination of horror elements with gothic vibes that kept me guessing into the wee hours of the night. There was even this great reference to one of my favorite myths that I didn’t see coming (sorry for being so vague, but anything more than that would be such a spoiler, and it was seriously one of my favorite parts of the story once all the pieces came together).
This was a solid four-star read for me. I knocked it down one star because I grew a bit frustrated with Salomé’s character growth at times. The ending def made up for it, but I did struggle with some of the decisions she made during the story.
If you love books with spicy gothic fantasy vibes, feminine rage, a creepy magical forest, and horror elements, you should def check this out.
Just remember… this isn’t a romance, and I’m grateful that the author and publisher both made sure that was super clear in their marketing of this book.
Thank you so so much Harper Voyager for the gifted arc.
I was very apprehensive going into this book after being emotionally traumatized by another gothic fantasy book earlier this year. This book was exactly what I was hoping for when I read gothic fantasy. It felt like an atmospheric, creepy fairytale of old that had me completely enthralled.
This book had the perfect combination of horror elements with gothic vibes that kept me guessing into the wee hours of the night. There was even this great reference to one of my favorite myths that I didn’t see coming (sorry for being so vague, but anything more than that would be such a spoiler, and it was seriously one of my favorite parts of the story once all the pieces came together).
This was a solid four-star read for me. I knocked it down one star because I grew a bit frustrated with Salomé’s character growth at times. The ending def made up for it, but I did struggle with some of the decisions she made during the story.
If you love books with spicy gothic fantasy vibes, feminine rage, a creepy magical forest, and horror elements, you should def check this out.
Just remember… this isn’t a romance, and I’m grateful that the author and publisher both made sure that was super clear in their marketing of this book.
Thank you so so much Harper Voyager for the gifted arc.
June 3, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the opportunity to read this ARC!
3/5⭐️
I want to start this off by praising how well written this book is. There is a stunning use of imagery and a slow, flowing style of writing throughout the book that fits the gothic vibe of the story well. At times, I felt the story moved a bit too slow and sometimes became tedious to continue on, but it will do well on the bookshelves of gothic, witchy, dark magical story lovers.
I do have to agree with some other reviewers in that I don’t believe this should be marketed as a romantasy. The romance felt forced and imbalanced, controlling and overall unhealthy. The heroine has been through some *stuff* and I felt like she needed the room to breathe as her own self rather than be absolutely enamored by a guy with questionable relationship tendencies.
The story did start strong and led an interesting timeline into how she was “reborn” as she said, but it also has some moments of confusion where it feels like unimportant events are thrown about to fill space.
Overall, I appreciate the journey Salome experiences to separate herself from her perceived labels (“witch, sinner, whore”) and discover her power.
3/5⭐️
I want to start this off by praising how well written this book is. There is a stunning use of imagery and a slow, flowing style of writing throughout the book that fits the gothic vibe of the story well. At times, I felt the story moved a bit too slow and sometimes became tedious to continue on, but it will do well on the bookshelves of gothic, witchy, dark magical story lovers.
I do have to agree with some other reviewers in that I don’t believe this should be marketed as a romantasy. The romance felt forced and imbalanced, controlling and overall unhealthy. The heroine has been through some *stuff* and I felt like she needed the room to breathe as her own self rather than be absolutely enamored by a guy with questionable relationship tendencies.
The story did start strong and led an interesting timeline into how she was “reborn” as she said, but it also has some moments of confusion where it feels like unimportant events are thrown about to fill space.
Overall, I appreciate the journey Salome experiences to separate herself from her perceived labels (“witch, sinner, whore”) and discover her power.
March 27, 2026
A gothic tale bursting with tension from the outset! This wasn’t an easy read, but it isn’t meant to be. The writing is eloquent and immersive, often veering into visceral, particularly in its unflinching depictions of violence against women. However these scenes were important, depicting the ability for even the brightest and headstrong woman to fall under the ‘spell’ of a brutal deceitful man. At its heart, the novel is a story of female triumph; albeit the path to that triumph is deeply frustrating, as I was screaming at Salomé to see what was right in front of her. Yet this blindness felt intentional in order to hit home the realities of women facing abusive and coercive relationships. The overall message of the novel is strong but the story lingered too long in its slow, brooding buildup, only to rush through its climax and resolution. Nevertheless, despite this pacing issue the ending remained deeply rewarding! A haunting and powerful read, with dark and evocative themes that I really enjoyed.
June 17, 2026
A Dark and Wild Wood takes us on a dark toxic gothic fantasy journey where in Salomé fights for her own rights as someone double cursed: being a woman and being a witch.
The story builds up with all her trials she has to survive since she was born.
No matter what or how, the undertone will always be: you are not good enough as you are a woman. This books builds entirely on female rage and the sick persuasion some man can have on woman. How toxic a belief can be in the power play between Death and Salomé.
While the prose is fairly mythical at some points I found it dragged on a lot. This is absolutely a book for a certain mood if you are mood reader, but the vibes were so very telling and so confusing at the same time. We grow along with Salomé while we read. The last 30% made up for it, especially since I was not familiar at all with the story of Bluebeard.
Read this book with caution if you have experience with narcissistic people in your live. You will have yourself screaming at the book for Salomé to finally open her eyes and see what is happening around her.
The story builds up with all her trials she has to survive since she was born.
No matter what or how, the undertone will always be: you are not good enough as you are a woman. This books builds entirely on female rage and the sick persuasion some man can have on woman. How toxic a belief can be in the power play between Death and Salomé.
While the prose is fairly mythical at some points I found it dragged on a lot. This is absolutely a book for a certain mood if you are mood reader, but the vibes were so very telling and so confusing at the same time. We grow along with Salomé while we read. The last 30% made up for it, especially since I was not familiar at all with the story of Bluebeard.
Read this book with caution if you have experience with narcissistic people in your live. You will have yourself screaming at the book for Salomé to finally open her eyes and see what is happening around her.
Did Not Finish
June 13, 2026DNF @ 40%.
This book has beautifully written prose but almost nothing else. Once we have backstory, Salome meets Lord Death and begins her training, the plot slows to a crawl. Nothing of substance happens in 40% of this book. I could not pay attention.
I think the marketing is the biggest issue: it was advertised as a dark gothic romantasy but it is not. Gothic vibes, yes - but more like Victorian gothic than like Brontë gothic, if that makes sense. It states very clearly that it’s not a romance. And while there are some dark elements to it, the darkest parts are just the awful misogynistic happenings of “unspecified time period that is presumably 1790s-ish?” I really couldn’t say.
I am disappointed - this is ordinarily the type of book that is right up my alley. But not this time.
Thank you to NetGalley, Sarah Nicole Lemon, and Harper Voyager for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
This book has beautifully written prose but almost nothing else. Once we have backstory, Salome meets Lord Death and begins her training, the plot slows to a crawl. Nothing of substance happens in 40% of this book. I could not pay attention.
I think the marketing is the biggest issue: it was advertised as a dark gothic romantasy but it is not. Gothic vibes, yes - but more like Victorian gothic than like Brontë gothic, if that makes sense. It states very clearly that it’s not a romance. And while there are some dark elements to it, the darkest parts are just the awful misogynistic happenings of “unspecified time period that is presumably 1790s-ish?” I really couldn’t say.
I am disappointed - this is ordinarily the type of book that is right up my alley. But not this time.
Thank you to NetGalley, Sarah Nicole Lemon, and Harper Voyager for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
May 18, 2026
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher Harper Voyager for the eARC in exchange for an honest review
I was intrigued by the cover and the fact that it’s a retelling of Bluebeard. I enjoyed most of the writing throughout but pacing made the prose feel clunky at times.
The juxtaposition between the “adult content” and the slow pacing just made this story drag.
I can’t call this one a “romance” either. There’s some brutality that I just can’t get past that Death does to Salome.
I don’t have a lot of positives about this one. I think it’s good if you’re looking for something a little darker but not
necessarily a romance.
I was intrigued by the cover and the fact that it’s a retelling of Bluebeard. I enjoyed most of the writing throughout but pacing made the prose feel clunky at times.
The juxtaposition between the “adult content” and the slow pacing just made this story drag.
I can’t call this one a “romance” either. There’s some brutality that I just can’t get past that Death does to Salome.
I don’t have a lot of positives about this one. I think it’s good if you’re looking for something a little darker but not
necessarily a romance.
May 28, 2026
Usually all for witches but this one can burn
I thought I was going to love this so much but it kind of fell flat for me. I couldn't connect to our protagonist and the setting was fun for the first and last 10% but I ended up waiting the rest of the book for something to happen!
I liked the twist, though I guessed early on. Often don't mind violence but it didn't feel necessary here and it felt disconnected from the rest of the story.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC, all thoughts are my own
I thought I was going to love this so much but it kind of fell flat for me. I couldn't connect to our protagonist and the setting was fun for the first and last 10% but I ended up waiting the rest of the book for something to happen!
I liked the twist, though I guessed early on. Often don't mind violence but it didn't feel necessary here and it felt disconnected from the rest of the story.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC, all thoughts are my own
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