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The Lord of the Wood
LGBTQ READS MOST ANTICIPATED LGBTQ+ ADULT FICTION
The cozy fantasy of TJ Klune meets the creeping horror of T. Kingfisher in this magical novel about a man who enters a deadly enchanted forest expecting it to endanger his life, but not his heart…
Clockmaker Arthur Throckmorton lives a quiet life with his sister and her children, only dreaming of adventure. So when a wealthy client offers him a job that involves traversing Shiftleaf—an enchanted forest that claimed his father decades ago—he reluctantly accepts. The forest is treacherous, but the money will change his family’s lives.
The journey quickly turns perilous. Fleeing from monstrous birds, Arthur stumbles upon a hidden vale where he meets the Lord of the Wood—a figure from his father’s many stories. Instead of the fairy prince Arthur always imagined, Ira is a morose man, slowly transforming into a beast, his power over a dying forest waning.
Arthur enjoys the safety of the vale, and Ira’s company. But he yearns for his family. To safely return home and rescue Ira from a cursed and lonely existence, Arthur and Ira must reach the heart of the wood to heal the forest. Except the further they venture from the vale, the more beastly Ira becomes. If they can’t complete their mission before he turns completely, Arthur could lose the man he’s falling for—and never see his family again.
The cozy fantasy of TJ Klune meets the creeping horror of T. Kingfisher in this magical novel about a man who enters a deadly enchanted forest expecting it to endanger his life, but not his heart…
Clockmaker Arthur Throckmorton lives a quiet life with his sister and her children, only dreaming of adventure. So when a wealthy client offers him a job that involves traversing Shiftleaf—an enchanted forest that claimed his father decades ago—he reluctantly accepts. The forest is treacherous, but the money will change his family’s lives.
The journey quickly turns perilous. Fleeing from monstrous birds, Arthur stumbles upon a hidden vale where he meets the Lord of the Wood—a figure from his father’s many stories. Instead of the fairy prince Arthur always imagined, Ira is a morose man, slowly transforming into a beast, his power over a dying forest waning.
Arthur enjoys the safety of the vale, and Ira’s company. But he yearns for his family. To safely return home and rescue Ira from a cursed and lonely existence, Arthur and Ira must reach the heart of the wood to heal the forest. Except the further they venture from the vale, the more beastly Ira becomes. If they can’t complete their mission before he turns completely, Arthur could lose the man he’s falling for—and never see his family again.
Audible Audio
First published July 21, 2026
About the author
E.M. Anderson
7 books263 followersE.M. Anderson (she/they) is the queer, neurodivergent author of The Lord of the Wood (Hanover Squre Press, 2026), The Keeper of Lonely Spirits (MIRA Books, 2025), and the now out-of-print The Remarkable Retirement of Edna Fisher, as well as various short stories. It is their doom to one day vanish in the depths of a forest, never to be seen again, after ignoring the repeated warnings of the locals to stay out of the woods. Until that fateful day, you can find them on Bluesky or Instagram @elizmanderson.
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April 12, 2026THE LORD OF THE WOOD is a sweet, adventurous, queer fantasy that offers a perfect alternative for THE HOUSE IN THE CERULEAN SEA (minus the anti-indigenous and colonialist rhetoric!), but with a tinge of HOWL’S MOVING CASTLE (love interest) and OVER THE GARDEN WALL (creepy forest adventures).
I would recommend this book for readers who love cozy fantasy, sentient forests, late-bloomer-coming-of-age tales, and who can get down with a little bit of monster fucking.
Also! I buddy read this book with my friend Kat, whose review is a lot more in-depth and who I agree with wholeheartedly, so go check that out.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
CW: loss of parent, loss of spouse, grief, illness, ableism, homophobia, transphobia, misgendering, violence, injury detail, emesis, panic attacks, hallucination
I would recommend this book for readers who love cozy fantasy, sentient forests, late-bloomer-coming-of-age tales, and who can get down with a little bit of monster fucking.
Also! I buddy read this book with my friend Kat, whose review is a lot more in-depth and who I agree with wholeheartedly, so go check that out.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
CW: loss of parent, loss of spouse, grief, illness, ableism, homophobia, transphobia, misgendering, violence, injury detail, emesis, panic attacks, hallucination
February 19, 2026
3.5
Very fortunate to have received an e-ARC copy of this book releasing July 2026
This book is a slower pace fantasy, more of a luxurious story telling with great writing than a fast paced firework filled bonanza. This is about the small moments and character development. I had a good time reading it, but I did find the pacing started to drag for me a bit as it went on.
Arthur and his sister Charlotte like in a small coastal town, bordered by a dark and feared forest. As a child, Arthur always dreamed of traveling through the woods to other cities where he might belong. Always having been labeled as odd or an outcast, he only truly belonging with Charlotte and her children. The four of them being all the family they have left after being struck by one tragedy after another. But one day, Arthur is given the opportunity to travel to woods, knowing he may perish in them, but the reward being too great to pass up, he takes off on his quest. See, Arthur had always been told stories about the lord of the wood, a magical creature, part man, part stag - that guided lost travellers and protected the forest. Never did he expect in all his misfortunes to meet him. But it isn’t like the stories, the forest is dying, there is a sickness, a rotting, that is spreading and even the lord of the wood is at risk of perishing. It’s a story of self discovery, love (familial and unexpected) and perseverance.
Very fortunate to have received an e-ARC copy of this book releasing July 2026
This book is a slower pace fantasy, more of a luxurious story telling with great writing than a fast paced firework filled bonanza. This is about the small moments and character development. I had a good time reading it, but I did find the pacing started to drag for me a bit as it went on.
Arthur and his sister Charlotte like in a small coastal town, bordered by a dark and feared forest. As a child, Arthur always dreamed of traveling through the woods to other cities where he might belong. Always having been labeled as odd or an outcast, he only truly belonging with Charlotte and her children. The four of them being all the family they have left after being struck by one tragedy after another. But one day, Arthur is given the opportunity to travel to woods, knowing he may perish in them, but the reward being too great to pass up, he takes off on his quest. See, Arthur had always been told stories about the lord of the wood, a magical creature, part man, part stag - that guided lost travellers and protected the forest. Never did he expect in all his misfortunes to meet him. But it isn’t like the stories, the forest is dying, there is a sickness, a rotting, that is spreading and even the lord of the wood is at risk of perishing. It’s a story of self discovery, love (familial and unexpected) and perseverance.
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April 11, 20263.5. This was a very fun, very queer adventure fantasy, darkly whimsical and lightly romantic. There are shades of House in the Cerulean Sea*, Over the Garden Wall, and Princess Mononoke, although its elements don’t necessary combine quite as effectively as those comps.
I think The Lord of the Wood’s real heart and greatest strengths lie in its cast of characters. Charlotte and Arthur were wonderful dual protagonists with a well-written and realistic sibling bond, and I especially loved the way the story tackles otherness in the forms of autism, queerness, and disability.
Unfortunately I did feel somewhat let down by the atmosphere. The prose was just never quite as autumnal or indulgent as I wanted it to be. I also think the pacing was a detriment here - almost every chapter tries to introduce some major change or new element, never allowing us to rest and settle in with the characters. This makes each individual chapter punchy, but creates a counterintuitive overall effect where the book actually starts to drag. Individual events lose weight, because it’s easy to tell what won’t really matter long term. The stop-and-go pacing also makes the romance feel abrupt and less affecting than it might have been otherwise.
While the resolution wasn’t exactly what I was hoping for, and I think there were more interesting directions the story could have gone, it ultimately did a perfectly fine job of tying all its threads back together. Charlotte and Arthur’s character arcs both wrap up in a satisfying way, balancing coziness and the realistic hurdles of surviving in the world as an adult who will always be “other.”
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review!
And thanks to Bri for buddy reading with me 💖
*This is not a cosign on House in the Cerulean Sea, which is a mediocre book by an anti-indigenous author. Read The Lord of the Wood instead for your fix of queer cozy fantasy romance featuring found family and a middle-aged main character.
I think The Lord of the Wood’s real heart and greatest strengths lie in its cast of characters. Charlotte and Arthur were wonderful dual protagonists with a well-written and realistic sibling bond, and I especially loved the way the story tackles otherness in the forms of autism, queerness, and disability.
Unfortunately I did feel somewhat let down by the atmosphere. The prose was just never quite as autumnal or indulgent as I wanted it to be. I also think the pacing was a detriment here - almost every chapter tries to introduce some major change or new element, never allowing us to rest and settle in with the characters. This makes each individual chapter punchy, but creates a counterintuitive overall effect where the book actually starts to drag. Individual events lose weight, because it’s easy to tell what won’t really matter long term. The stop-and-go pacing also makes the romance feel abrupt and less affecting than it might have been otherwise.
While the resolution wasn’t exactly what I was hoping for, and I think there were more interesting directions the story could have gone, it ultimately did a perfectly fine job of tying all its threads back together. Charlotte and Arthur’s character arcs both wrap up in a satisfying way, balancing coziness and the realistic hurdles of surviving in the world as an adult who will always be “other.”
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review!
And thanks to Bri for buddy reading with me 💖
*This is not a cosign on House in the Cerulean Sea, which is a mediocre book by an anti-indigenous author. Read The Lord of the Wood instead for your fix of queer cozy fantasy romance featuring found family and a middle-aged main character.
July 12, 2026
Arthur and his sister Charlotte live a relatively quiet life in a seaside town with Charlotte's two children. Both have dealt with losing loved ones and having to grow up too fast. Arthur still thinks about and passes on stories their father used to tell them about the Lord of the Wood, who protects the forest and travelers and Arthur reads romance novels and dreams of his own adventures.
Their little seaside town, along with a lot of it's people, are dying. When an opportunity that pays too much money to pass up comes up, Arthur takes off into the forest on his own (well ALMOST on his own, less we forget Freya). Arthur, although excited for the adventure, is also worried about leaving his chronically ill sister home with the two children and dealing with woods, which seem to not only be making people sick but people have also been disappearing into.
On the surface this is a Beauty and the Beast retelling but it's really so much more than that. Although I do see you with naming the horse Maurice! Arthur, our MMC, who was always different from all the other boys and bullied for it, never really having any friends. He never could understand why courting a woman to marry held zero appeal to him. Seeing his slowly dawning realization of not only his feelings for Ira but that YES it is okay for a man to love another man?! I loved seeing an older character figure out who they are and fall in love.
Lucky for Arthur, one of his favorite romance novels seems to be a monster-loving book. He stumbles upon Ira at his home, which was located in a vale stuck in a perpetual winter. Upon learning that the forrest and Ira are slowly dying from deforestation, which harms all around them. Both Ira and Arthur have never really fit in, always being outsiders. Ira himself being stuck part animal and part human. Watching these two bond and slowly grow to care about each other gave me such heart eyes! I looked forward to reading every interaction they had.
And low and behold we got not one but TWO queer romances in the story? As Charlotte herself meets Elsbeth, whose looking for a lost relative and the two end up agreeing to work together to find their loved ones. I don't always love children added to stories but Sasha and Jonas were delightful. I loved that Jonas was nonbinary but the story recognized that a small village might not be so accepting of such things.
I also really appreciated not only having older MCs but these characters also did not have perfect bodies and they suffered from chronic illnesses or even just the pains of growing older. Who amongst us over 35 hasn't thought about how we'd never get off the floor if we sat on it?
This story was such a great mix of cozy, horror and romance. I loved the characters and finishing the story made me feel like I just had a warm hug, I loved it!
Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Their little seaside town, along with a lot of it's people, are dying. When an opportunity that pays too much money to pass up comes up, Arthur takes off into the forest on his own (well ALMOST on his own, less we forget Freya). Arthur, although excited for the adventure, is also worried about leaving his chronically ill sister home with the two children and dealing with woods, which seem to not only be making people sick but people have also been disappearing into.
On the surface this is a Beauty and the Beast retelling but it's really so much more than that. Although I do see you with naming the horse Maurice! Arthur, our MMC, who was always different from all the other boys and bullied for it, never really having any friends. He never could understand why courting a woman to marry held zero appeal to him. Seeing his slowly dawning realization of not only his feelings for Ira but that YES it is okay for a man to love another man?! I loved seeing an older character figure out who they are and fall in love.
Lucky for Arthur, one of his favorite romance novels seems to be a monster-loving book. He stumbles upon Ira at his home, which was located in a vale stuck in a perpetual winter. Upon learning that the forrest and Ira are slowly dying from deforestation, which harms all around them. Both Ira and Arthur have never really fit in, always being outsiders. Ira himself being stuck part animal and part human. Watching these two bond and slowly grow to care about each other gave me such heart eyes! I looked forward to reading every interaction they had.
And low and behold we got not one but TWO queer romances in the story? As Charlotte herself meets Elsbeth, whose looking for a lost relative and the two end up agreeing to work together to find their loved ones. I don't always love children added to stories but Sasha and Jonas were delightful. I loved that Jonas was nonbinary but the story recognized that a small village might not be so accepting of such things.
I also really appreciated not only having older MCs but these characters also did not have perfect bodies and they suffered from chronic illnesses or even just the pains of growing older. Who amongst us over 35 hasn't thought about how we'd never get off the floor if we sat on it?
This story was such a great mix of cozy, horror and romance. I loved the characters and finishing the story made me feel like I just had a warm hug, I loved it!
Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 22, 2026
4.25 ⭐️ I’m always sat for a deadly, enchanted forest!! This was dark, cozy, queer, fantastical. It was Beautifully narrated -this absolutely enhanced my experience. If you liked Where The Dark Stands Still or The Bone Door, I think you may enjoy The Lord of the Wood.
Arthur and Charlotte are our dual protagonists, as well as brother and sister. Arthur attempts to traverse the enchanted woods known as Shiftleaf when a job opportunity arises that would provide significant financial relief for him and his sisters family. This is the very same wood that claimed his father many years ago. He meets the Lord of the Wood and they must work together to save the dying forest. When Arthur doesn’t return, Charlotte goes after him. A magical, twisty tale unfolds.
I really appreciated the queerness, disability, and neurodivergence representation. There were also so many tender moments in this story. The amount of times I caught myself smiling while listening !! Despite the pacing, in which I felt the romance subplots progressed a bit too quickly for believability, I had a great time overall. Thank you Libro fm for this ALC
Arthur and Charlotte are our dual protagonists, as well as brother and sister. Arthur attempts to traverse the enchanted woods known as Shiftleaf when a job opportunity arises that would provide significant financial relief for him and his sisters family. This is the very same wood that claimed his father many years ago. He meets the Lord of the Wood and they must work together to save the dying forest. When Arthur doesn’t return, Charlotte goes after him. A magical, twisty tale unfolds.
I really appreciated the queerness, disability, and neurodivergence representation. There were also so many tender moments in this story. The amount of times I caught myself smiling while listening !! Despite the pacing, in which I felt the romance subplots progressed a bit too quickly for believability, I had a great time overall. Thank you Libro fm for this ALC
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Lord of the Wood is a self-described cozy fantasy/horror, detailing the lives of Arthur and his sister Charlotte. Set in a small, crumbling sea-side town, the siblings struggle to fit in with the locals and find happiness in their daily lives.
Arthur and Charlotte’s town is cut off from the bigger city by a woods that has become dangerous, claiming victims through illness and disappearances. To try and change the family’s fortunes, Arthur accepts a job that sees him try to transverse the woods, where he meets the mysterious Lord of the Wood.
My main thought on this book was that it tried to do too much, resulting in major things that don’t get enough detail or attention. While I loved the characters of Arthur and Charlotte, I found that the constant changing POVs really derailed any build up of tension.
I do enjoy an “older” MC, especially in fantasy, and I really liked that Arthur and Charlotte were not stereotypical perfect “chosen ones”. But I’ll be honest, my favourite characters were a cat and an eldritch plant creature.
For me, the pacing was off. Like sometimes the story dragged on or became repetitive, and sometimes it was too rushed. I felt the world building, especially with regard to Ira, could have used more development.
Overall a nice ready for romance lovers looking for a bit of fun fantasy.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for providing the ARC of this book. This review is my honest and voluntary opinion.
Arthur and Charlotte’s town is cut off from the bigger city by a woods that has become dangerous, claiming victims through illness and disappearances. To try and change the family’s fortunes, Arthur accepts a job that sees him try to transverse the woods, where he meets the mysterious Lord of the Wood.
My main thought on this book was that it tried to do too much, resulting in major things that don’t get enough detail or attention. While I loved the characters of Arthur and Charlotte, I found that the constant changing POVs really derailed any build up of tension.
I do enjoy an “older” MC, especially in fantasy, and I really liked that Arthur and Charlotte were not stereotypical perfect “chosen ones”. But I’ll be honest, my favourite characters were a cat and an eldritch plant creature.
For me, the pacing was off. Like sometimes the story dragged on or became repetitive, and sometimes it was too rushed. I felt the world building, especially with regard to Ira, could have used more development.
Overall a nice ready for romance lovers looking for a bit of fun fantasy.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for providing the ARC of this book. This review is my honest and voluntary opinion.
July 31, 2026
A Joyfully Jay review.
4 stars
The Lord of the Wood is a sweet, cozy fantasy/horror. Arthur and Ira are questing to save Shiftleaf, while Charlotte seeks to cure the fatal wood sickness and helps the infuriating stranger, Elsbeth. It blends humor; examinations of grief, isolation, self-discovery, and industrialization; Disney’s Beauty and the Beast vibes; and (to me) light horror. There is slight, plant-based body horror, and the terror is for the characters rather than the reader. It’s slowly paced and more about the relationships than the harrowing scenes and mythical creatures.
If you’re looking for some whimsical, fairy tale horror with great characters, you may enjoy The Lord of the Wood.
Read Jovan’s review in its entirety here.
4 stars
The Lord of the Wood is a sweet, cozy fantasy/horror. Arthur and Ira are questing to save Shiftleaf, while Charlotte seeks to cure the fatal wood sickness and helps the infuriating stranger, Elsbeth. It blends humor; examinations of grief, isolation, self-discovery, and industrialization; Disney’s Beauty and the Beast vibes; and (to me) light horror. There is slight, plant-based body horror, and the terror is for the characters rather than the reader. It’s slowly paced and more about the relationships than the harrowing scenes and mythical creatures.
If you’re looking for some whimsical, fairy tale horror with great characters, you may enjoy The Lord of the Wood.
Read Jovan’s review in its entirety here.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I love E.M. Anderson's work and this book is no exception. It has a great cadence and pace, the storyline is unique and beautiful and I adored the main characters. If you took a bowl and added the perfect amount of action, romance, mystery and fantasy (and maybe an egg or 2 to hold it all together), mixed it all up and baked it you'd get this book, a perfect book brownie, right down to that homemade by mom lovely feeling that comes with baking and an E.M. book. Worth the read!
July 22, 2026
The Lord of the Wood is a cute, queer fantasy that has a ton of Ferngully vibes. If you are looking for queer love whilst trying to save the forest energy, this might be a good read for you. Arthur and his sister Charlotte live in a small coastal town bordered by an ominous forest that occasionally sees people go in and never come out. Arthur, an outcast at best and weirdo at worst, is given the chance to travel through the woods on a quest for which he will be greatly rewarded and the opportunity to get his family out of poverty and support his sister and her children is too good to pass up. He has grown up alongside the tales of the Lord of the Wood, a half stag/half man who protects the forest and who Arthur crash lands into quite soon into his journey.
The romance portions of the book were a bit stop and go, which was frustrating because I really wanted it to come together and it felt wrapped up a bit too cleanly but also, I just wanted the spice.
I think The Lord of the Wood’s real heart and greatest strengths lie in its cast of characters. Charlotte and Arthur were wonderful dual protagonists with a well-written and realistic sibling bond, and I especially loved the way the story tackles otherness in the forms of autism, queerness, and disability.
The Lord of the Wood is due to be published July 21, 2026 and I received an advanced copy from Netgalley in exchange for my review.
The romance portions of the book were a bit stop and go, which was frustrating because I really wanted it to come together and it felt wrapped up a bit too cleanly but also, I just wanted the spice.
I think The Lord of the Wood’s real heart and greatest strengths lie in its cast of characters. Charlotte and Arthur were wonderful dual protagonists with a well-written and realistic sibling bond, and I especially loved the way the story tackles otherness in the forms of autism, queerness, and disability.
The Lord of the Wood is due to be published July 21, 2026 and I received an advanced copy from Netgalley in exchange for my review.
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August 4, 2026I feel kinda bad writing this, but my goodness I did NOT like this book.
First of all, wayyyy too long. The description doesn't mention that there's a whole other half of the story focused on Charlotte. Not only that, but neither Arthur or Charlotte are interesting at all. Unfortunately queerness and disability are not character traits. Ira was also not that interesting and could have been so much better developed (he had YEARS of life before Arthur) especially if the story had been more tightly plotted. Honestly the only adult who had any personality was Elspeth.
The Beauty and the Beast references were multiple, not charming, and had me rolling my eyes. There was an odd mix of wink wink modernity in a mostly industrial age world (where does Arthur buy monster romance in his tiny fishing village? oh cute Charlotte likes true crime podcasts I mean radio shows)
Finally, the stakes never felt high enough. The action/peril scenes were underwritten and often followed by a switch in POV that pulled them out of focus. People got injured a lot but then quickly healed at least enough to carry on in a way that negated any lasting emotional impact.
I was bored for the first 100 pages or so, and then annoyed the rest of the way through.
(Is this the saltiest review I've ever written on this site? Quite possibly.)
First of all, wayyyy too long. The description doesn't mention that there's a whole other half of the story focused on Charlotte. Not only that, but neither Arthur or Charlotte are interesting at all. Unfortunately queerness and disability are not character traits. Ira was also not that interesting and could have been so much better developed (he had YEARS of life before Arthur) especially if the story had been more tightly plotted. Honestly the only adult who had any personality was Elspeth.
The Beauty and the Beast references were multiple, not charming, and had me rolling my eyes. There was an odd mix of wink wink modernity in a mostly industrial age world (where does Arthur buy monster romance in his tiny fishing village? oh cute Charlotte likes true crime podcasts I mean radio shows)
Finally, the stakes never felt high enough. The action/peril scenes were underwritten and often followed by a switch in POV that pulled them out of focus. People got injured a lot but then quickly healed at least enough to carry on in a way that negated any lasting emotional impact.
I was bored for the first 100 pages or so, and then annoyed the rest of the way through.
(Is this the saltiest review I've ever written on this site? Quite possibly.)
July 26, 2026
having always had a soft spot for adult-fairytales and craving smth cozy-ish (since i don't like plainly that and this promised to have horror vibes which i'm all here for always) i was intrigued by this one and it started real good but unfortunately it did fall a bit flat in the end mainly cuz of the editing/pacing issues imo cuz the story just kept going all over the place and random things kept happening without any coherence even sometimes and/or strange boring/repetive parts where nothing was happening at all kept popping up and it made it feel way longer than it actually was. also there was BARELY any horror in this are you kidding me?! still MCs were great ig but it'd have def benefited from more consistency/ fixed flow of the story (don't want to affect rating in a bad way so 3.5 rounding up for now since i've read it all even tho sometimes considered dnfing esp in the middle)
July 31, 2026
I really enjoyed how evenly divided the story was between Arthur's point of view and Charlotte's. It gave both of them a chance to shine individually as characters and gave them both a chance to dive into their romance stories without getting that creepy voyeuristic point of view some authors do. Most of this story took place in our forest (which really needed a cool name) which was nice and creepy. This story remained creepy and fairylike but I don't know if I would necessarily describe it as horror. It was more like a faerie forest to me, but it did have a lot of spooky and creepy elements so I suppose horror is the best descriptor. Overall I had a really fun time on this adventure with these characters and I'd definitely recommend it to anybody who wants a family centered story with some great romance as well.
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July 11, 2026Overall, I think this story sometimes struggled with what it wanted to be, thematically, but I did end up enjoying the folklore, dreamy atmosphere, and romance.
(I don't know if I would personally classify this as horror? Definitely leans heavier into the Fantasy and Romance categories. I guess you could argue there are kind of body horror elements when it comes to the forest.)
It's greatest strength lies in the character work- Arthur and Charlotte are wonderful protagonists. Siblings bound by their love and understanding of one another in a community that shuns otherness, the author does a wonderful job with writing autism, disability, and queerness.
(I don't know if I would personally classify this as horror? Definitely leans heavier into the Fantasy and Romance categories. I guess you could argue there are kind of body horror elements when it comes to the forest.)
It's greatest strength lies in the character work- Arthur and Charlotte are wonderful protagonists. Siblings bound by their love and understanding of one another in a community that shuns otherness, the author does a wonderful job with writing autism, disability, and queerness.
July 20, 2026
I think the official comp — the cozy of T.J. Klune meets the horror of T. Kingfisher — does this book a disservice. It's actually structured like a romance, though one set in a homicidal magical forest. The primary plotline involves siblings Arthur and Charlotte working through their internalized homophobia and ableism so that they'll allow themselves to be loved. It's a relatable and sympathetic endeavor. But there are absolutely no cozy vibes and none of the quirky humor that Klune and Kingfisher utilize to balance dark topics. Although the writing was good, because the book was so totally not what I expected, it was a near complete miss for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hanover Square Press for providing an advance copy of the e-book in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hanover Square Press for providing an advance copy of the e-book in exchange for an honest review.
July 27, 2026
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced reader copy!
I enjoyed the world building in the book very much, and I saw it as a “what if Maurice fell in love with the beast instead of Belle?” There were a lot of beauty and the beast inspirations, especially with the main characters interest in clocks and our main lead being seen as a monster. It was a very enjoyable read and certainly cozy. It had the guaranteed happy ending feel that we all need sometimes. I truly enjoyed the late bloomer coming of age tale, I am one myself and it is great to find a character I can relate to in that way.
I enjoyed the world building in the book very much, and I saw it as a “what if Maurice fell in love with the beast instead of Belle?” There were a lot of beauty and the beast inspirations, especially with the main characters interest in clocks and our main lead being seen as a monster. It was a very enjoyable read and certainly cozy. It had the guaranteed happy ending feel that we all need sometimes. I truly enjoyed the late bloomer coming of age tale, I am one myself and it is great to find a character I can relate to in that way.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
First I want to acknowledge the love that undoubtedly went into writing this book. The execution didn't work for me, and I'll explain why, but I hope the author keeps writing books and keeps improving their craft because they definitely have good stories in them.
This book was fine, but not something I'd go out of my way to recommend.
Overall, it felt weak: the world-building, character growth, atmosphere, tension, prose, plot mechanics, and romances were all underdeveloped.
I think part of the problem was that it was trying to do too much at once - a cozy, horror, fantasy, double romance story with several important side characters.
Probably the biggest misses for me were the world-building, atmosphere, and tension. If those things were really strong they could have carried the rest of the story.
The atmosphere and tension barely existed. I was never unsettled or worried, I never felt creeped out, I never got eerie or sinister vibes. It was interesting, sure. Maybe a touch macabre, though not really. I enjoyed the descriptions of the forest and its creatures. But it never really left me with any sense of dread or apprehension. Sure it's "cozy" horror, but it's still horror and so I still expect to feel at least a little unsettled.
The world-building was shallow and didn't seem to have any intentionality behind it. I'd say it was based on ~vibes~ and not much else, in an attempt to create a mood of cozy nostalgia and antiquity. Stuff was cherry-picked from different times and places with no thought to what each choice meant holistically, which created a weak environment for the story to unfold inside of.
The story was a double romance, meaning we got Arthur's MM romance from his POV and his sister Charlotte's sapphic romance from her POV. In my opinion, double romances are hard to pull off because you have half the number of pages of a regular romance to give each relationship emotional depth and make it convincing. And as you might have guessed, both romances missed the bar for me. Neither had the emotional depth that I needed to feel satisfied.
There was so much in the plot that didn't make a ton of sense but you could tell was there for plot reasons. Like so much. Arthur's whole reason for going into the forest was weak af, and I found it totally out of character and difficult to believe that the person who asked him to go would knowingly put him in danger like that for such a flimsy reason.
And underpinning all of these issues was prose that felt stilted and formal. I eventually got used to it, but it took a lot out of the book for me.
I did like the message the book had about change because it's something I'm struggling hard with right now and I could relate.
I enjoyed the characters, especially Ira, the Lord of the Woods. I do wish Arthur and Charlotte were given a bit more growth and that the love interests, Ira and Elspeth, were given a bit more dimension.
I also loved all the inclusive representation. Though it did feel at times like there was more effort put into pointing out Arthur's autism instead of just letting the readers experience it through his POV. It sometimes felt like, "Hey, Arthur is autistic! And to prove it, here's him doing something autistic people do!" But I'm not autistic, so this is just how I felt personally. Probably you can ignore my opinion on this.
This book was not for me, only because I found it underwhelming for what it promised. But it could definitely be for you if you're looking for a book full of inclusive representation where folks of many stripes can see themselves and feel heard, and if you're okay with 90/10 on the cozy/horror scale.
And though this book was not for me, I would love to revisit this author in a few years because they have a lot of potential and I'd love to see them grow.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This book was fine, but not something I'd go out of my way to recommend.
Overall, it felt weak: the world-building, character growth, atmosphere, tension, prose, plot mechanics, and romances were all underdeveloped.
I think part of the problem was that it was trying to do too much at once - a cozy, horror, fantasy, double romance story with several important side characters.
Probably the biggest misses for me were the world-building, atmosphere, and tension. If those things were really strong they could have carried the rest of the story.
The atmosphere and tension barely existed. I was never unsettled or worried, I never felt creeped out, I never got eerie or sinister vibes. It was interesting, sure. Maybe a touch macabre, though not really. I enjoyed the descriptions of the forest and its creatures. But it never really left me with any sense of dread or apprehension. Sure it's "cozy" horror, but it's still horror and so I still expect to feel at least a little unsettled.
The world-building was shallow and didn't seem to have any intentionality behind it. I'd say it was based on ~vibes~ and not much else, in an attempt to create a mood of cozy nostalgia and antiquity. Stuff was cherry-picked from different times and places with no thought to what each choice meant holistically, which created a weak environment for the story to unfold inside of.
The story was a double romance, meaning we got Arthur's MM romance from his POV and his sister Charlotte's sapphic romance from her POV. In my opinion, double romances are hard to pull off because you have half the number of pages of a regular romance to give each relationship emotional depth and make it convincing. And as you might have guessed, both romances missed the bar for me. Neither had the emotional depth that I needed to feel satisfied.
There was so much in the plot that didn't make a ton of sense but you could tell was there for plot reasons. Like so much. Arthur's whole reason for going into the forest was weak af, and I found it totally out of character and difficult to believe that the person who asked him to go would knowingly put him in danger like that for such a flimsy reason.
And underpinning all of these issues was prose that felt stilted and formal. I eventually got used to it, but it took a lot out of the book for me.
I did like the message the book had about change because it's something I'm struggling hard with right now and I could relate.
I enjoyed the characters, especially Ira, the Lord of the Woods. I do wish Arthur and Charlotte were given a bit more growth and that the love interests, Ira and Elspeth, were given a bit more dimension.
I also loved all the inclusive representation. Though it did feel at times like there was more effort put into pointing out Arthur's autism instead of just letting the readers experience it through his POV. It sometimes felt like, "Hey, Arthur is autistic! And to prove it, here's him doing something autistic people do!" But I'm not autistic, so this is just how I felt personally. Probably you can ignore my opinion on this.
This book was not for me, only because I found it underwhelming for what it promised. But it could definitely be for you if you're looking for a book full of inclusive representation where folks of many stripes can see themselves and feel heard, and if you're okay with 90/10 on the cozy/horror scale.
And though this book was not for me, I would love to revisit this author in a few years because they have a lot of potential and I'd love to see them grow.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 22, 2026
Finished reading: July 21st 2026
"There's not one moment where you make a choice and now you're a different person. You have to keep choosing to be that person, again and again."
*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and Hanover Square Press in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***
REVIEW
August 2, 2026
This book is a lovely entry into the emerging cozy horror genre, though I will say it's much more "cozy" than "horror" and also throws quite a bit of romance into the mix, too.
The story starts with Arthur, a boy living in a small fishing village, whose father goes missing in the mysterious woods that tend to claim whoever walks into it. Arthur grows into a man who is looked at askance by everyone in his village for being different in a way nobody seems to know how to define. It becomes obvious that this world isn't made for people with autism like him and possibly his niece Sasha, or those with different gender orientations like his nibling Jonas, or people who are differently abled like his sister Charlotte, but they all live together in Arthur and Charlotte's childhood home and are there for each other. Their love for each other really is the heart and soul of this book.
One day Charlotte, the town healer, visits a wealthy lady and her very sickly assumed lover (though their village would never accept such a thing so it's her "cousin" who's dying). She has wood sickness, which infects those who are lucky enough to get out of the enchanted woods alive, but there's no cure. The wealthy woman asks Arthur to buy a clock as a trinket for her dying lover from the neighboring town, but he can only get there quickly enough if he takes the path through the enchanted forest that his father got lost in.
It doesn't take long for him to get lost, too, and that's where we meet the Lord of the Wood, a man-like creature that grows more beast-like by the day as the forest dies, being taken over by wood sickness and human loggers. The majority of the book, besides Arthur and Charlotte trying to find each other, is about the relationship that develops between Arthur and Ira (the real name of the Lord of the Wood).
I especially loved Arthur, the main character, dealing with his fears and anxieties of not being good enough, or not making decisions because he's terrified he'll make the wrong one. He works through his issues with quite a bit of help from Ira and his adventures in the shifting woods. It's especially heartbreaking that he knows "something" about him is unlike the rest of the village he grew up in, but he never understood what. In the end, he never needed anyone else's approval to be who he is. There's quite a large subplot about Charlotte and her disability, too, which I appreciated. I know many people in my life who have invisible disabilities, who are expected to simply push through them.
In the end, the book was much, much more of a slightly dark fantasy than a horror novel. Exciting and slightly gory things do happen, but they resolve quickly enough, and there's always an animal companion for the characters to confide things to (I personally thought that was charming but others might not care about what Arthur's cat is doing on every page). I think "charming" is the best adjective to describe this book. I really enjoyed it, just don't expect anything extra spooky or horrific, because that's not what this story will give you.
The story starts with Arthur, a boy living in a small fishing village, whose father goes missing in the mysterious woods that tend to claim whoever walks into it. Arthur grows into a man who is looked at askance by everyone in his village for being different in a way nobody seems to know how to define. It becomes obvious that this world isn't made for people with autism like him and possibly his niece Sasha, or those with different gender orientations like his nibling Jonas, or people who are differently abled like his sister Charlotte, but they all live together in Arthur and Charlotte's childhood home and are there for each other. Their love for each other really is the heart and soul of this book.
One day Charlotte, the town healer, visits a wealthy lady and her very sickly assumed lover (though their village would never accept such a thing so it's her "cousin" who's dying). She has wood sickness, which infects those who are lucky enough to get out of the enchanted woods alive, but there's no cure. The wealthy woman asks Arthur to buy a clock as a trinket for her dying lover from the neighboring town, but he can only get there quickly enough if he takes the path through the enchanted forest that his father got lost in.
It doesn't take long for him to get lost, too, and that's where we meet the Lord of the Wood, a man-like creature that grows more beast-like by the day as the forest dies, being taken over by wood sickness and human loggers. The majority of the book, besides Arthur and Charlotte trying to find each other, is about the relationship that develops between Arthur and Ira (the real name of the Lord of the Wood).
I especially loved Arthur, the main character, dealing with his fears and anxieties of not being good enough, or not making decisions because he's terrified he'll make the wrong one. He works through his issues with quite a bit of help from Ira and his adventures in the shifting woods. It's especially heartbreaking that he knows "something" about him is unlike the rest of the village he grew up in, but he never understood what. In the end, he never needed anyone else's approval to be who he is. There's quite a large subplot about Charlotte and her disability, too, which I appreciated. I know many people in my life who have invisible disabilities, who are expected to simply push through them.
In the end, the book was much, much more of a slightly dark fantasy than a horror novel. Exciting and slightly gory things do happen, but they resolve quickly enough, and there's always an animal companion for the characters to confide things to (I personally thought that was charming but others might not care about what Arthur's cat is doing on every page). I think "charming" is the best adjective to describe this book. I really enjoyed it, just don't expect anything extra spooky or horrific, because that's not what this story will give you.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I did a street team read-along for this ARC, which is something I don’t think I’ve ever done before, but I loved it. Usually I just read at my own too-fast-at-times pace, but there was something enjoyable about taking my time with it and discussing the week’s chapters each Friday. And I never use the kindle bookmark feature, but I was bookmarking every other page of this one while reading.
The Lord of the Wood is, frankly, a masterpiece of a cozy horror novel. It was just SO GOOD. I don’t think I even have the words to explain just how good it is, but I’m going to try.
I was already crying within the first 3% of the book, and then the last line of the prologue killed me—needless to say, I was hooked from the very beginning—and then I cried during the entire epilogue, I swear. Just full sobbing. Kudos to the author for really nailing those emotional scenes. I also felt so seen while reading this book. The chronic and invisible illness rep, the undiagnosed autistic rep, neurodivergent rep, queer rep, disability rep—there was representation all over the place.
The characters? Incredible. I loved every single main character, and it’s hard to pick a favorite, although if pressed, I’d probably say Arthur was my favorite. But really, they were all so, so good.
The world-building? Amazing. Seriously, I could perfectly imagine everything—the forest, the village, the houses, the characters. It truly felt like I was actually there instead of reading, just lurking over the characters’ shoulders. It’s a masterclass in atmospheric writing.
The pacing? Perfect. It never felt like it was slogging along and I never got bored, but on the other hand, it also never felt rushed.
One small detail that I adored was the fact that all of the chapter titles were so perfect. They were very straightforward, with just enough info to give you an inkling of what was coming, but with a sprinkling of the author’s humor that I love. A tiny thing, but it really did help round out the whole book.
The Lord of the Wood was so funny at times, heartbreaking at others, and with a healthy dash of creepy every now and then to keep things interesting. And I won’t spoil anything major, but I had a couple of “OMG IT’S HAPPENING” moments that absolutely thrilled me.
Dealing with grief, loss, love, and hope, and featuring older main characters and the things they learn about themselves along the way, The Lord of the Wood is like a warm hug, with the tiniest sprinkling of horror. Just an all-around lovely blend of fantasy, horror, romance, adventure, and sweet and spicy moments.
In short, the world building and pacing were stellar, the characters were fleshed out and believable, and the writing was beautiful. Overall, just a well-written cozy horror novel. If you’re interested in the genre at all, I’d highly recommend The Lord of the Wood. Actually, even if you’re not usually interested in the genre, I’d still recommend it. It will, without a doubt, be on my Top Fifteen list for 2026.
The Lord of the Wood is, frankly, a masterpiece of a cozy horror novel. It was just SO GOOD. I don’t think I even have the words to explain just how good it is, but I’m going to try.
I was already crying within the first 3% of the book, and then the last line of the prologue killed me—needless to say, I was hooked from the very beginning—and then I cried during the entire epilogue, I swear. Just full sobbing. Kudos to the author for really nailing those emotional scenes. I also felt so seen while reading this book. The chronic and invisible illness rep, the undiagnosed autistic rep, neurodivergent rep, queer rep, disability rep—there was representation all over the place.
The characters? Incredible. I loved every single main character, and it’s hard to pick a favorite, although if pressed, I’d probably say Arthur was my favorite. But really, they were all so, so good.
The world-building? Amazing. Seriously, I could perfectly imagine everything—the forest, the village, the houses, the characters. It truly felt like I was actually there instead of reading, just lurking over the characters’ shoulders. It’s a masterclass in atmospheric writing.
The pacing? Perfect. It never felt like it was slogging along and I never got bored, but on the other hand, it also never felt rushed.
One small detail that I adored was the fact that all of the chapter titles were so perfect. They were very straightforward, with just enough info to give you an inkling of what was coming, but with a sprinkling of the author’s humor that I love. A tiny thing, but it really did help round out the whole book.
The Lord of the Wood was so funny at times, heartbreaking at others, and with a healthy dash of creepy every now and then to keep things interesting. And I won’t spoil anything major, but I had a couple of “OMG IT’S HAPPENING” moments that absolutely thrilled me.
Dealing with grief, loss, love, and hope, and featuring older main characters and the things they learn about themselves along the way, The Lord of the Wood is like a warm hug, with the tiniest sprinkling of horror. Just an all-around lovely blend of fantasy, horror, romance, adventure, and sweet and spicy moments.
In short, the world building and pacing were stellar, the characters were fleshed out and believable, and the writing was beautiful. Overall, just a well-written cozy horror novel. If you’re interested in the genre at all, I’d highly recommend The Lord of the Wood. Actually, even if you’re not usually interested in the genre, I’d still recommend it. It will, without a doubt, be on my Top Fifteen list for 2026.
August 5, 2026
Arthur Throckmorton has long known that he's a little too odd for the town of Seacliff, where he lives with his widowed sister and her two children. Wish though he might for something to change, his quiet, friendless life never does, until the day a wealthy client tasks Arthur with a job that will take him through the dangerous Shiftleaf forest. Although his father died there decades earlier, the money will help his family too much to turn down the request, so Arthur sets off into the woods to finally have his grand adventure. The trip quickly turns south until Arthur finds safe haven in a wintery vale where he meets a figure of legend - the Lord of the Wood. Ira is suffering though, becoming more beastly and dangerous as the dying forest's powers become unpredictable and wild. To get out of the forest alive, and help Ira with his own monstrous state of existence, the pair strike out to the heart of the forest hoping to heal the blight. The farther they travel, however, the more Ira changes, until Arthur isn't sure that he'll truly be able to rescue the forest, see his family again, and save Ira's life without losing himself entirely.
The Lord of the Wood is a queer fantasy story about two siblings trying to keep their family safe. Arthur is quiet and gentle, no match for the boisterous men of his village, and totally out of his element trying to make a trip through the woods alone. His is a journey of self-discovery, of finally coming to realize what kind of person he is and wants to be, and of finding the gumption to see his quest to the bitter end despite danger, doubt, and the possibility of failure. His sister Charlotte, meanwhile, undertakes her own journey of self-acceptance. She's been hiding away her grief, hiding her true self from the world, and hiding the pain of her new illness and disability as best she can. When she meets an unlikely figure who also convinces her to journey into the woods, with the aim of finding both Arthur and her new friend's younger sister, Charlotte does so despite immense feelings of inadequacy and guilt at leaving her children unattended for her few days journey. Arthur and Charlotte have very different experiences in the woods, both interacting with the Lord of the Wood for different reasons, yet are still able to accomplish great things for themselves and their family. The story showcases lots of different types of diversity (queer identities, disabilities, and neurodivergence) among its characters which made them feel vibrant and unique, and I generally enjoyed how they bonded with each other. Note that although the author speaks to this book and cozy horror/fantasy, it reads more like true fantasy to me.
The Lord of the Wood is a queer fantasy story about two siblings trying to keep their family safe. Arthur is quiet and gentle, no match for the boisterous men of his village, and totally out of his element trying to make a trip through the woods alone. His is a journey of self-discovery, of finally coming to realize what kind of person he is and wants to be, and of finding the gumption to see his quest to the bitter end despite danger, doubt, and the possibility of failure. His sister Charlotte, meanwhile, undertakes her own journey of self-acceptance. She's been hiding away her grief, hiding her true self from the world, and hiding the pain of her new illness and disability as best she can. When she meets an unlikely figure who also convinces her to journey into the woods, with the aim of finding both Arthur and her new friend's younger sister, Charlotte does so despite immense feelings of inadequacy and guilt at leaving her children unattended for her few days journey. Arthur and Charlotte have very different experiences in the woods, both interacting with the Lord of the Wood for different reasons, yet are still able to accomplish great things for themselves and their family. The story showcases lots of different types of diversity (queer identities, disabilities, and neurodivergence) among its characters which made them feel vibrant and unique, and I generally enjoyed how they bonded with each other. Note that although the author speaks to this book and cozy horror/fantasy, it reads more like true fantasy to me.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Have you ever heard of cozy horror? No? Yeah, me either.
If you’re a fan of CG Drews, this is right up your alley. It’s very similar in a lot of vibes, but cozier and a little less horror.
This was the cutest book I’ve read in a while, and I relate a little too much to Arthur.
The premise is simple enough. Arthur and Charlotte have lived in Seacliff their whole lives. He is a little different and is bullied growing up, but he never really understands why he’s different or why the other children don’t like him. When they were young, their father frequented the woods and regaled them with a story about the Lord of the Wood. One day, he went into the woods and never returned.
This happens more and more frequently, plus now there’s incurable and deadly wood sickness to deal with. As adults, Charlotte is a healer and Arthur helps around the house the best he can. When Charlotte is called on by her old friend Agnes, they have no idea everything is about to change.
This is full of botanical horror elements and does have some semi graphic scenes when it comes to violence and gore. Just a warning if you have a weak constitution. Nothing overly explicit though!
These characters. Arthur feels like a warm hug and Charlotte is certainly a protector. I’ve never related so hard to a character when the author wrote (and hopefully this does not change as it is an ARC and could) “His socks were squishy with melting snow, which made him wish he didn’t have feet, but he couldn’t bring himself to take them off.” Literally one of the worst feelings.
Anyway Arthur is most definitely autistic, and I love watching him grow as a character and make big decisions and do what needs to be done. It’s so wonderful to watch him throughout this book. Charlotte does a lot of growing too, and of course our characters do enjoy a happy ending. These characters are honesty most of the reason this one gets such a high rating for me. It’s cuddly and warm and somehow overarchingly creepy. I. Love. It.
The writing is easy to follow, but it does feel a bit antiquated, which is definitely intentional. This is low fantasy (mostly, but one could argue bits are high fantasy), and it seems to be set in a simpler time with much less technology. That being said, it’s still an incredibly easy read. I kept wanting to turn the page and easily devoured this is two sittings, only stopping because of responsibilities.
So fun
Have you ever heard of cozy horror? No? Yeah, me either.
If you’re a fan of CG Drews, this is right up your alley. It’s very similar in a lot of vibes, but cozier and a little less horror.
This was the cutest book I’ve read in a while, and I relate a little too much to Arthur.
The premise is simple enough. Arthur and Charlotte have lived in Seacliff their whole lives. He is a little different and is bullied growing up, but he never really understands why he’s different or why the other children don’t like him. When they were young, their father frequented the woods and regaled them with a story about the Lord of the Wood. One day, he went into the woods and never returned.
This happens more and more frequently, plus now there’s incurable and deadly wood sickness to deal with. As adults, Charlotte is a healer and Arthur helps around the house the best he can. When Charlotte is called on by her old friend Agnes, they have no idea everything is about to change.
This is full of botanical horror elements and does have some semi graphic scenes when it comes to violence and gore. Just a warning if you have a weak constitution. Nothing overly explicit though!
These characters. Arthur feels like a warm hug and Charlotte is certainly a protector. I’ve never related so hard to a character when the author wrote (and hopefully this does not change as it is an ARC and could) “His socks were squishy with melting snow, which made him wish he didn’t have feet, but he couldn’t bring himself to take them off.” Literally one of the worst feelings.
Anyway Arthur is most definitely autistic, and I love watching him grow as a character and make big decisions and do what needs to be done. It’s so wonderful to watch him throughout this book. Charlotte does a lot of growing too, and of course our characters do enjoy a happy ending. These characters are honesty most of the reason this one gets such a high rating for me. It’s cuddly and warm and somehow overarchingly creepy. I. Love. It.
The writing is easy to follow, but it does feel a bit antiquated, which is definitely intentional. This is low fantasy (mostly, but one could argue bits are high fantasy), and it seems to be set in a simpler time with much less technology. That being said, it’s still an incredibly easy read. I kept wanting to turn the page and easily devoured this is two sittings, only stopping because of responsibilities.
So fun
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Lord of the Woods is a beautiful story that blends cozy fantasy with folk horror for a mix called they've dubbed "cozy horror." It delivers not just one but two queer romances. It has very likable characters, and in them great representation in a way that doesn't feel forced. The writing is enjoyable, and the book pulls off the challenge of mixing horror elements with comfort in a way that feels inviting but a little eerie.
One of the novel's greatest strengths is its characters. There are two POV characters, adult siblings Arthur and Charlotte. Together, they're raising Charlotte's children after the death of her husband. On their travels, they run into some additional lovely people. Every character in the book, even the briefly mentioned side characters, has some depth to them and feels like a realized person.
What I really appreciated about the main characters is the exploration of disability. Arthur is autistic, as revealed in the author's forward and throughout the book (though never explicitly stated within the text). His struggles are addressed, but it never feels like that's all he is. Charlotte has her troubles as well, having recently come down with a sickness that's left her with chronic pain and fatigue, severely curtailing what she's able to do. Along her journey, we see her shifting out of her internalized ableism into a place of more self-acceptance and love, though it's hard won. Neither Charlotte nor Arthur are presented as broken or in need of fixing; they just have their lived experiences which they become more comfortable with by the end of the book.
In addition to disability representation, this book has a wide variety of LGBTQ+ representation. One of Charlotte's children is nonbinary and uses they/them pronouns, which felt a little out of place given the (ambiguous) time period, but was handled well. Both Arthur and Charlotte get queer love interests, with Charlotte's storyline having a fade-to-black sex scene and Arthur's featuring some kissing. The world features homophobia that both the main characters and Charlotte's love interest experience and overcome.
Another thing I liked a lot about this book is the setting. Shiftleaf is a forest in decline, dying as a result of human encroachment. The forest itself feels like a mix between Over the Garden Wall and Princess Mononoke, fitting its cozy horror setting. Most of the horror in the book features animals or plants.
Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing, Hanover Square Press, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this one early. I really enjoyed it.
One of the novel's greatest strengths is its characters. There are two POV characters, adult siblings Arthur and Charlotte. Together, they're raising Charlotte's children after the death of her husband. On their travels, they run into some additional lovely people. Every character in the book, even the briefly mentioned side characters, has some depth to them and feels like a realized person.
What I really appreciated about the main characters is the exploration of disability. Arthur is autistic, as revealed in the author's forward and throughout the book (though never explicitly stated within the text). His struggles are addressed, but it never feels like that's all he is. Charlotte has her troubles as well, having recently come down with a sickness that's left her with chronic pain and fatigue, severely curtailing what she's able to do. Along her journey, we see her shifting out of her internalized ableism into a place of more self-acceptance and love, though it's hard won. Neither Charlotte nor Arthur are presented as broken or in need of fixing; they just have their lived experiences which they become more comfortable with by the end of the book.
In addition to disability representation, this book has a wide variety of LGBTQ+ representation. One of Charlotte's children is nonbinary and uses they/them pronouns, which felt a little out of place given the (ambiguous) time period, but was handled well. Both Arthur and Charlotte get queer love interests, with Charlotte's storyline having a fade-to-black sex scene and Arthur's featuring some kissing. The world features homophobia that both the main characters and Charlotte's love interest experience and overcome.
Another thing I liked a lot about this book is the setting. Shiftleaf is a forest in decline, dying as a result of human encroachment. The forest itself feels like a mix between Over the Garden Wall and Princess Mononoke, fitting its cozy horror setting. Most of the horror in the book features animals or plants.
Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing, Hanover Square Press, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this one early. I really enjoyed it.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was given an ARC of this book by the author. This was one of my most highly anticipated reads of the year, and it did not disappoint!
I loved Arthur Throckmorton. I've waited a very, very long time for a main character like him, one that I could intrinsically relate to. Never have I felt so seen by representation quite like him before.
Many of the ways his behavior and special interests manifest is so much like my own, and the way he has been ostracized and branded as "odd" because of it struck a core with me. Because I was one of those kids. I am one of those "odd" people. And the characterization of Arthur is the only character in media thus far that truly GETS me.
The love story (BOTH of them) was beautiful, as well as the way both siblings are taken on separate journeys perfectly tailored to them both. Charlotte working through her disability and struggling with being closeted. Arthur resigning with being comfortable right where he is but intrinsically feeling lonely because of it.
Sometimes when reading dual storylines, you're left yelling "WAIT, GO BACK!!" after we switch to the next POV. But both Arthur and Charlotte's stories were so engaging that I was eager to know what happens next with either of them! Charlotte and Elspeth were so fun together. I loved Arthur and Ira's budding friendship to whatever-the-hell-Arthur-thinks-is-going-on-to-justify-why-this-feels-like-one-of-his-romance-novels-but-he's-a-GUY (and kind of a monster maybe(?)) situationship!
Spoiler warnings: I am left with wanting to know more about
If you're longing for someone having their gay/queer awakening later in life (AND finding happiness through that), you should check this out! This was well worth the wait. Thank you again, E, for the opportunity to have an advanced copy!
I loved Arthur Throckmorton. I've waited a very, very long time for a main character like him, one that I could intrinsically relate to. Never have I felt so seen by representation quite like him before.
Many of the ways his behavior and special interests manifest is so much like my own, and the way he has been ostracized and branded as "odd" because of it struck a core with me. Because I was one of those kids. I am one of those "odd" people. And the characterization of Arthur is the only character in media thus far that truly GETS me.
The love story (BOTH of them) was beautiful, as well as the way both siblings are taken on separate journeys perfectly tailored to them both. Charlotte working through her disability and struggling with being closeted. Arthur resigning with being comfortable right where he is but intrinsically feeling lonely because of it.
Sometimes when reading dual storylines, you're left yelling "WAIT, GO BACK!!" after we switch to the next POV. But both Arthur and Charlotte's stories were so engaging that I was eager to know what happens next with either of them! Charlotte and Elspeth were so fun together. I loved Arthur and Ira's budding friendship to whatever-the-hell-Arthur-thinks-is-going-on-to-justify-why-this-feels-like-one-of-his-romance-novels-but-he's-a-GUY (and kind of a monster maybe(?)) situationship!
Spoiler warnings: I am left with wanting to know more about
If you're longing for someone having their gay/queer awakening later in life (AND finding happiness through that), you should check this out! This was well worth the wait. Thank you again, E, for the opportunity to have an advanced copy!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
In this satisfying fantasy novel, we are introduced to Arthur and Charlotte, middle-aged siblings who've suffered many losses and disappointments which have shaped them into an unbreakable family unit alongside Charlotte's two children. Living in an isolated village between the sea and a strange and foreboding forest, misfit Arthur in particular longs for change of some kind while fearing it also. When he agrees to undertake a perilous journey through the woods, he little imagines how his life and that of his beloved sister will be affected.
Like many books that tackle the creepy woods theme, the plot takes its time getting going while setting up the backstory and the inciting events that prompt Arthur's life-altering decision, but once he enters the forest, all hell breaks loose. Eldritch and alarming events flow at a sometimes breathless pace, but we also get to enjoy quiet moments between various pairings of the characters that are equally rewarding, especially after Arthur finally encounters the titular Lord of the Wood, a tortured soul who may not long outlive his dying forest.
There are a lot of familiar elements here for any fan of weird forest-set tales, but what distinguishes this one for me is the author's dedication to inclusive representation that is often overlooked in more traditional stories. In addition to later-in-life queer awakenings and the brutally honest portrayal of living with chronic illness and disability, we get to experience neurodivergent, nonbinary, and not-quite-human characters woven throughout the tale. (I will also add a mild spoiler alert here, as the author does in their own intro, that
I don't know if it's an actual thing, but I'm gonna call this one a cozy horrormantasy. It combines elements of horror, romance, and fantasy, but in a warm, openhearted way that left me with a big smile on my face after I finished the last chapter. It's hard to say which element of the book wins out over the others, but I would recommend for readers who like gentle and sweet romance with beautifully written and evocative fantasy settings and just enough horror to raise the stakes high enough to pay off in a big way at the end.
Review based on an ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley
Like many books that tackle the creepy woods theme, the plot takes its time getting going while setting up the backstory and the inciting events that prompt Arthur's life-altering decision, but once he enters the forest, all hell breaks loose. Eldritch and alarming events flow at a sometimes breathless pace, but we also get to enjoy quiet moments between various pairings of the characters that are equally rewarding, especially after Arthur finally encounters the titular Lord of the Wood, a tortured soul who may not long outlive his dying forest.
There are a lot of familiar elements here for any fan of weird forest-set tales, but what distinguishes this one for me is the author's dedication to inclusive representation that is often overlooked in more traditional stories. In addition to later-in-life queer awakenings and the brutally honest portrayal of living with chronic illness and disability, we get to experience neurodivergent, nonbinary, and not-quite-human characters woven throughout the tale. (I will also add a mild spoiler alert here, as the author does in their own intro, that
I don't know if it's an actual thing, but I'm gonna call this one a cozy horrormantasy. It combines elements of horror, romance, and fantasy, but in a warm, openhearted way that left me with a big smile on my face after I finished the last chapter. It's hard to say which element of the book wins out over the others, but I would recommend for readers who like gentle and sweet romance with beautifully written and evocative fantasy settings and just enough horror to raise the stakes high enough to pay off in a big way at the end.
Review based on an ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley
July 21, 2026
The Lord of the Wood
A Novel
by E.M. Anderson
Rating: 4 star rating
I just finished, "The Lord of the Wood" by E.M. Anderson, it features LGBTQ+ content with multiple queer story arcs, alongside spooky elements of body horror and folk horror that get a bit dark at times.
I picked it up because I love a good "Beauty and the Beast" retelling, but this book really surprised me with how unique it is. It balances these slow burn romances with a creeping forest vibe that keeps you completely hooked.
The story follows a quiet clockmaker named Arthur Throckmorton who takes a dangerous, high-paying job into Shiftleaf, an enchanted forest that killed his dad years ago. After being attacked by monster birds, Arthur stumbles into a hidden valley and meets Ira, the legendary Lord of the Wood. Instead of a perfect fairy prince, Ira is a lonely, brooding guy suffering from a curse that is slowly turning him into a beast. To save the dying forest and break the curse, they must journey to the heart of the woods on a massive ticking clock, forming a beautiful romantic bond along the way.
The book gives us a dual perspective by also following Arthur's sister, Charlotte, who heads into the forest to rescue her brother alongside a woman named Elspeth. Charlotte starts out deeply closeted, but as she and Elspeth brave the dangers of the woods together, they develop a slow burn romance that mirrors the queer elements of Arthur and Ira's journey.
Arthur is autistic, has chronic pain, and uses a cane to navigate the treacherous forest floor, while Ira wears a knee brace and is blind in one eye. Their disabilities aren't just a checkbox; they actually matter to the story and affect how they survive the woods together, highlighting their mutual resilience.
The ending is perfect and gives you closure without relying on magical fixes. It wraps up the curses, brings resolution to both romances, and just leaves you with a good feeling.
Thank you, NetGalley,Harlequin Trade Publishing, Hanover Square Press, and author E.M. Anderson, for providing me with a copy of this free ebook in exchange for an honest review.
#NetGalley
#HarlequinTradePublishing
#HanoverSquarePress
#EMAnderson author
#TheLordoftheWood
#LGBTQIAP+
http://goodreads.com/patriciasreading...
http://www.patriciasreadingroom.blogs...
A Novel
by E.M. Anderson
Rating: 4 star rating
I just finished, "The Lord of the Wood" by E.M. Anderson, it features LGBTQ+ content with multiple queer story arcs, alongside spooky elements of body horror and folk horror that get a bit dark at times.
I picked it up because I love a good "Beauty and the Beast" retelling, but this book really surprised me with how unique it is. It balances these slow burn romances with a creeping forest vibe that keeps you completely hooked.
The story follows a quiet clockmaker named Arthur Throckmorton who takes a dangerous, high-paying job into Shiftleaf, an enchanted forest that killed his dad years ago. After being attacked by monster birds, Arthur stumbles into a hidden valley and meets Ira, the legendary Lord of the Wood. Instead of a perfect fairy prince, Ira is a lonely, brooding guy suffering from a curse that is slowly turning him into a beast. To save the dying forest and break the curse, they must journey to the heart of the woods on a massive ticking clock, forming a beautiful romantic bond along the way.
The book gives us a dual perspective by also following Arthur's sister, Charlotte, who heads into the forest to rescue her brother alongside a woman named Elspeth. Charlotte starts out deeply closeted, but as she and Elspeth brave the dangers of the woods together, they develop a slow burn romance that mirrors the queer elements of Arthur and Ira's journey.
Arthur is autistic, has chronic pain, and uses a cane to navigate the treacherous forest floor, while Ira wears a knee brace and is blind in one eye. Their disabilities aren't just a checkbox; they actually matter to the story and affect how they survive the woods together, highlighting their mutual resilience.
The ending is perfect and gives you closure without relying on magical fixes. It wraps up the curses, brings resolution to both romances, and just leaves you with a good feeling.
Thank you, NetGalley,Harlequin Trade Publishing, Hanover Square Press, and author E.M. Anderson, for providing me with a copy of this free ebook in exchange for an honest review.
#NetGalley
#HarlequinTradePublishing
#HanoverSquarePress
#EMAnderson author
#TheLordoftheWood
#LGBTQIAP+
http://goodreads.com/patriciasreading...
http://www.patriciasreadingroom.blogs...
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received an e-ARC and am giving my honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this opportunity!
Firstly: the cat is completely okay throughout the book!!!
Where do I even begin????? I’ve been a fan of E.M. Anderson’s The Keeper of Lost Spirits since I ARC read it, so have been absolutely DYING to read this one. And I can’t believe I’m saying this, but it was even better than I could have imagined.
To start off, the disability representation was off the CHARTS! Chronic pain, multiple cane users, multiple neurodivergent characters but specifically an autistic MC, love interest with a knee brace, love interest with one blind eye (and not just for aesthetics - it’s explicitly written about how this affects him), and much more I’m forgetting. Not only were all of these representations of disabilities included, but they were integral parts of each character and never forgotten. Instead of being something mentioned once then forgotten, each disability is woven into the story itself and continually talked about and discussed. It was genuinely beautiful and one of the best displays of day-to-day disability rep I’ve ever seen, and most certainly my new go-to rec for disability rep in books.
The story itself was absolutely lovely. A truly romantic and beautiful love story for all of the queer neurodivergents who never saw themselves in mainstream romance novels and movies. This book is the kind of healing that I will be discussing with my therapist, for sure.
One thing I really loved that hit close to home, especially with being neurodivergent, is that all of the ways Arthur looked down on himself weren’t even really self-pitying. It was just another fact of the world to him, and whenever he’d tell Ira about it, Ira would of course look worried and whatnot, but to Arthur, he was just sharing another detail of his life. This was such a realistic detail that it was almost hard for me to read, as it felt much more intimate due to how much I related to Arthur.
The romance was to die for, I truly can’t get over it. Anderson’s last novel I read made me have a newfound love for immortalxmortal and this only increased that. I can’t recommend this novel enough.
Firstly: the cat is completely okay throughout the book!!!
Where do I even begin????? I’ve been a fan of E.M. Anderson’s The Keeper of Lost Spirits since I ARC read it, so have been absolutely DYING to read this one. And I can’t believe I’m saying this, but it was even better than I could have imagined.
To start off, the disability representation was off the CHARTS! Chronic pain, multiple cane users, multiple neurodivergent characters but specifically an autistic MC, love interest with a knee brace, love interest with one blind eye (and not just for aesthetics - it’s explicitly written about how this affects him), and much more I’m forgetting. Not only were all of these representations of disabilities included, but they were integral parts of each character and never forgotten. Instead of being something mentioned once then forgotten, each disability is woven into the story itself and continually talked about and discussed. It was genuinely beautiful and one of the best displays of day-to-day disability rep I’ve ever seen, and most certainly my new go-to rec for disability rep in books.
The story itself was absolutely lovely. A truly romantic and beautiful love story for all of the queer neurodivergents who never saw themselves in mainstream romance novels and movies. This book is the kind of healing that I will be discussing with my therapist, for sure.
One thing I really loved that hit close to home, especially with being neurodivergent, is that all of the ways Arthur looked down on himself weren’t even really self-pitying. It was just another fact of the world to him, and whenever he’d tell Ira about it, Ira would of course look worried and whatnot, but to Arthur, he was just sharing another detail of his life. This was such a realistic detail that it was almost hard for me to read, as it felt much more intimate due to how much I related to Arthur.
The romance was to die for, I truly can’t get over it. Anderson’s last novel I read made me have a newfound love for immortalxmortal and this only increased that. I can’t recommend this novel enough.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Anderson’s story is a cozy fantasy with horror elements, following the lives of siblings Arthur and Charlotte. Having grown up in the small seaside town of Seacliff, Arthur and Charlotte have long been outcasts. Now adults, they are scarred by their childhood, during which their father disappeared into the magical woods at their property’s boundary, and their mother succumbed to depression. Charlotte’s own husband and father of her children also died some years prior. Together, brother and sister have been raising Charlotte’s children in their childhood home. Charlotte works as a healer and Arthur as a clock technician.
When Arthur is sent on a mission through the woods to collect a clock from a seller in the town on the other side, their lives are upended. In the forest, Arthur encounters several obstacles that lead him to meeting the mythical Ira, Lord of the Wood. When he doesn’t return on time, Charlotte and her new companion, Elspeth, set out on their own quest to find him.
The first 10% of this novel was much stronger than anything that came after. Anderson has a wonderful cast of characters that represent several marginalized communities, including LGBTQIA+, neurodivergence, and POC. But it did, at times, feel that these elements were being shoved down the reader’s throat rather than letting them speak for themselves. There are only so many times the reader can be reminded that a character is different or ‘other’ than the rest of the town’s inhabitants before it becomes redundant. The telling instead of showing issue was rampant throughout the novel. While the small town vibe of Seacliff was well described and flesh-outed, the magical forest could have benefited from a much clearer magic system.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for an Advanced Reader’s Copy in exchange for an honest review.
When Arthur is sent on a mission through the woods to collect a clock from a seller in the town on the other side, their lives are upended. In the forest, Arthur encounters several obstacles that lead him to meeting the mythical Ira, Lord of the Wood. When he doesn’t return on time, Charlotte and her new companion, Elspeth, set out on their own quest to find him.
The first 10% of this novel was much stronger than anything that came after. Anderson has a wonderful cast of characters that represent several marginalized communities, including LGBTQIA+, neurodivergence, and POC. But it did, at times, feel that these elements were being shoved down the reader’s throat rather than letting them speak for themselves. There are only so many times the reader can be reminded that a character is different or ‘other’ than the rest of the town’s inhabitants before it becomes redundant. The telling instead of showing issue was rampant throughout the novel. While the small town vibe of Seacliff was well described and flesh-outed, the magical forest could have benefited from a much clearer magic system.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for an Advanced Reader’s Copy in exchange for an honest review.
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