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The Greenhollow Duology #1-2
The Greenhollow Duology: Silver in the Wood & Drowned Country
Silver in the Wood
There is a wild man who lives in the deep quiet of Greenhollow, and he listens to the wood. Tobias, tethered to the forest, does not dwell on his past life, but he lives a perfectly unremarkable existence with his cottage, his cat, and his dryads.
When Greenhollow Hall acquires a handsome, intensely curious new owner in Henry Silver, everything changes. Old secrets better left buried are dug up, and Tobias is forced to reckon with his troubled past - both the green magic of the woods and the dark things that rest in its heart.
Drowned Country
Even the wild man of Greenhollow can't ignore a summons from his mother when that mother is the indomitable Adela Silver, practical folklorist. Henry Silver does not relish what he'll find in the grimy seaside town of Rothport, where once the ancient wood extended before it was drowned beneath the sea - a missing girl, a monster on the loose, or, worst of all, Tobias Finch, who loves him.
There is a wild man who lives in the deep quiet of Greenhollow, and he listens to the wood. Tobias, tethered to the forest, does not dwell on his past life, but he lives a perfectly unremarkable existence with his cottage, his cat, and his dryads.
When Greenhollow Hall acquires a handsome, intensely curious new owner in Henry Silver, everything changes. Old secrets better left buried are dug up, and Tobias is forced to reckon with his troubled past - both the green magic of the woods and the dark things that rest in its heart.
Drowned Country
Even the wild man of Greenhollow can't ignore a summons from his mother when that mother is the indomitable Adela Silver, practical folklorist. Henry Silver does not relish what he'll find in the grimy seaside town of Rothport, where once the ancient wood extended before it was drowned beneath the sea - a missing girl, a monster on the loose, or, worst of all, Tobias Finch, who loves him.
6 pages, Audible Audio
First published August 18, 2020
39 people are currently reading
626 people want to read
About the author
Emily Tesh
7 books1,867 followersEMILY TESH is a UK-based author of science fiction and fantasy. Her debut novel, Some Desperate Glory, won the Hugo Award for Best Novel. Tesh is also a winner of the Astounding Award, and the author of the World Fantasy Award-winning Greenhollow duology.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 190 reviews
November 10, 2023
It's been almost two years, and I just can't stop thinking about this lately. Must be all my current short reads.
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Not finding any words to describe how I adored this, but I think its five-star status in my recent long line of middling reads says enough.
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Not finding any words to describe how I adored this, but I think its five-star status in my recent long line of middling reads says enough.
November 19, 2024
⭐️ 2.75
This book is a hard one to rate since it’s a duology combined in one. I quite enjoyed Silver in the Woods, the first novella. I thought Tobias was great and the whole atmosphere was very much to my liking. The plot was somewhat basic and predictable but the magic and the vibe made up for it.
Drowned Country tho, a big no from me. Told from Henry’s perspective, it was hard to connect to, mostly because Henry himself is a shell of a character. The new supporting character introduced was also imho quite unlikeable, and the motivations of characters (except Tobias - I loved Tobias) remained unclear throughout. The romance also was poorly developed, mostly because Henry was just so… boring and completely about nothing.
So, if you do decide to dip your toes into this duology, I can only recommend the first novella. It ties up quite nicely and I think it can be read as a standalone, no problem.
This book is a hard one to rate since it’s a duology combined in one. I quite enjoyed Silver in the Woods, the first novella. I thought Tobias was great and the whole atmosphere was very much to my liking. The plot was somewhat basic and predictable but the magic and the vibe made up for it.
Drowned Country tho, a big no from me. Told from Henry’s perspective, it was hard to connect to, mostly because Henry himself is a shell of a character. The new supporting character introduced was also imho quite unlikeable, and the motivations of characters (except Tobias - I loved Tobias) remained unclear throughout. The romance also was poorly developed, mostly because Henry was just so… boring and completely about nothing.
So, if you do decide to dip your toes into this duology, I can only recommend the first novella. It ties up quite nicely and I think it can be read as a standalone, no problem.
April 8, 2021
As a queer green witch and lover of the type of stories that take place in woods filled with monsters, this was an absolute home run for me. This was like a Hozier song made into a queer novella duology in ALL THE BEST WAYS.
Everything here I enjoyed - the action, romance, lore, folk horror - and I'm so glad I picked this up after a review that said "gay as hell".
The main character is essentially the Green Man of old forest lore, if you gave him a crossbow and made him a monster hunter and also very into the nerdy young lord who just moved in to the property bordering the woodlands. He's also an introvert who wants to stay in with the cat. Tobias was a great creation.
This duology did amazing things with a novella's worth of real estate. There was just enough lore foundation, romance, and character establishment for me to become fully invested about five percent in, LOL. There was action and yearning and a VERY artfully dealt with concept of immortality, and the problems it presents to a relationship where one is mortal. Just incredible.
This could also easily open up a whole world - beyond fae and other monsters of the wood, vampires, ghosts and ghouls are mentioned. I was absolutely in love with the dark, whimsical worldbuilding. For fans of LOTR, there were some creatures almost like ents, too!
The audio narration was also brilliant, seasoned actor Matthew Lloyd Davies doing all the forest creature's noises and voices justice in my imagination.
All-around full stars from me.
Everything here I enjoyed - the action, romance, lore, folk horror - and I'm so glad I picked this up after a review that said "gay as hell".
The main character is essentially the Green Man of old forest lore, if you gave him a crossbow and made him a monster hunter and also very into the nerdy young lord who just moved in to the property bordering the woodlands. He's also an introvert who wants to stay in with the cat. Tobias was a great creation.
This duology did amazing things with a novella's worth of real estate. There was just enough lore foundation, romance, and character establishment for me to become fully invested about five percent in, LOL. There was action and yearning and a VERY artfully dealt with concept of immortality, and the problems it presents to a relationship where one is mortal. Just incredible.
This could also easily open up a whole world - beyond fae and other monsters of the wood, vampires, ghosts and ghouls are mentioned. I was absolutely in love with the dark, whimsical worldbuilding. For fans of LOTR, there were some creatures almost like ents, too!
The audio narration was also brilliant, seasoned actor Matthew Lloyd Davies doing all the forest creature's noises and voices justice in my imagination.
All-around full stars from me.
January 16, 2024
Emily Tesh's The Greenhollow Duology is super enchanting with a delightful blend of fantasy and folkloric elements. It reads like a fairytale and reminds me a whole lot of T. Kingfisher's Paladin series. Adorable, funny, and charming with a sweet MLM romance.
July 22, 2021
A magical and lyrical tale beautifully narrated.
January 16, 2023
Duo together on 1 audiobook. YAY QUEER COZY!
April 17, 2025
Reading your second book by an author of a first read book you adored is always anxiety inducing. I adored Some Desperate Glory in the annoyingly pushy to get everyone to read it way, and the premise of this felt so wildly (heh) different but so more up my alley than the premise of that. The good news is that Tesh is now firmly ensconsced on my favourite author list. The bad news is that I have to wait for her next book to be published,
The two novellas collected here work well read in sequence, with a nice tonal progression/shift as it progresses. The first works as a queer love story. Tobias, a mysterious stoic hermit, must wrench himself into courage and action from an undertow of sadness and regret, while the lighter, freer Silver revels in transgressing boundaries placed to constrain/protect. Both are compellingly drawn, with the right dose of simplicity, threat and wonder in the fable like lore. The second has a lighter, more playful tone, with a focus on adventure among the group of reluctant companions. Both are fun and beautiful, but the first probably more gorgeous and the second more joyous. Needless to say, I want more!
The two novellas collected here work well read in sequence, with a nice tonal progression/shift as it progresses. The first works as a queer love story. Tobias, a mysterious stoic hermit, must wrench himself into courage and action from an undertow of sadness and regret, while the lighter, freer Silver revels in transgressing boundaries placed to constrain/protect. Both are compellingly drawn, with the right dose of simplicity, threat and wonder in the fable like lore. The second has a lighter, more playful tone, with a focus on adventure among the group of reluctant companions. Both are fun and beautiful, but the first probably more gorgeous and the second more joyous. Needless to say, I want more!
August 10, 2023
The first book was so much better than the second, the second one was kinda unnecessary. 🤷🏽♀️
February 23, 2021
Tobias Finch's soul was bound to the Greenhollow wood 400 years ago, and since then he has lived quietly in its bounds, tending to the trees, conversing with the dryads, and chasing away or hunting the monsters who are drawn in to the ancient magic there. But he is completely unprepared when a new owner purchases the manor on the hill- a young man, Henry Silver, who loves folk tales and asks questions and most improbably flirts with Tobias every chance he can get. Tobias is not one to share his secrets, but there is something powerful and evil in the heart of the forest, and Henry Silver seems likely to stumble right into the middle of it. I listened to this as an audiobook and loved the story and the narration.
October 9, 2023
Silver in the Wood was a reread for me, and I still love it immensely, it’s a beautiful book. Drowned Country is great, but it doesn’t quite live up to the magic of the first book, hence only four stars for the duology as a whole.
I listened to the audiobook of the complete duology narrated by Matthew Lloyd Davies, and his reading is brilliant. Very much recommended!
I listened to the audiobook of the complete duology narrated by Matthew Lloyd Davies, and his reading is brilliant. Very much recommended!
October 28, 2024
I think I just like a little more meat on my folktale bones and this was slim pickins.
August 12, 2023
3.5 // I listened to the audiobook, which essentially combines the two novellas into one. It was at times beautiful and haunting, at times an uninteresting romance. I found myself wanting more of the world and less of the characters… or at least, less of Silver. Emily Tesh is clearly a great writer (and Matthew Lloyd Davies is INCREDIBLE as the narrator… I’ve never before considered listening to a book just because of the narrator, but I looked up his body of work and was tempted) but I was left a bit disappointed. Might be because novellas are short, and it might be because the limited space could have been used better. Hard to tell.
July 18, 2024
I had no expectations going in and ended up discovering a really imaginative, unique duo of novellas. It has mystery, magic, lore, AND a gentle and beautiful love story that didn't make me cringe or wince not even once.
I can't pinpoint what it is about Emily Tesh's writing and style that reminds me of so many other authors (or even which authors I'm thinking of) but it's delicate and gentle. It's like a gentle breeze, like the rustling of leaves. I think she's one of the good ones and I plan on reading more.
*
"It may not treat you kindly; it is the Wood. It may not keep you safe; it is the Wood. It will not last forever, but it will last long enough; and the trees grow, and the seasons change, and the wild things come and go, as do the monsters."
I can't pinpoint what it is about Emily Tesh's writing and style that reminds me of so many other authors (or even which authors I'm thinking of) but it's delicate and gentle. It's like a gentle breeze, like the rustling of leaves. I think she's one of the good ones and I plan on reading more.
*
"It may not treat you kindly; it is the Wood. It may not keep you safe; it is the Wood. It will not last forever, but it will last long enough; and the trees grow, and the seasons change, and the wild things come and go, as do the monsters."
March 2, 2022
This novella duology was so close to a 5 star read for me, but bits of Drowned Country lost me at times. Nonetheless, it was utterly charming and steeped in the comfort of fairytales and folklore. I highly recommend the audiobook, the narrator is excellent.
August 2, 2024
Beautifully read!!
November 11, 2021
30% Done: With angry plants and a healthy dose of flirting this book is sincerely magical.
40% Done: Book 2 started
40% Done: Book 2 started
April 6, 2022
A lovely, eerie pair of novellas that would appeal to fans of Susanna Clark, Neil Gaiman, T.J. Klune, or Genevieve Gornichec
Read
March 6, 2024Read as Anniek's pick for 12 in 12.
What a wonderful, otherworldly set of novellas. When I thought the second book was going to end sadly, my heart was in my throat, but then we got that beautiful, sweet ending, and I was delighted.
What a wonderful, otherworldly set of novellas. When I thought the second book was going to end sadly, my heart was in my throat, but then we got that beautiful, sweet ending, and I was delighted.
March 21, 2021
Very lyrical, great narrator. I found I preferred Tobias‘s POV, one of a few reasons being that he‘s just that much of a pleasant character. You may get different aspects in the story by having Silver‘s POV, but him throwing himself one pity party after another wildly aternating with misplaced pride was hard to bear at times - although he is self aware enough about it.
The immortality aspect almost made me very very sad, glad it stayed an almost.
The immortality aspect almost made me very very sad, glad it stayed an almost.
January 3, 2021
4.25/5
Two incredibly atmospheric stories with a fantastic pairing at its center
Silver in the Wood: 4.5/5
Drowned Country: 3.5/5
This was so good. While I loved Silver in the Wood a whole lot more than Drowned Country, these two stories combine into a great experience. The narrator was absolutely fantastic, and really added to the atmosphere. Oh and of course it's gay as hell. Keeping my eye out for this author in the future.
This edition includes both books, so I'm reviewing the stories separately but combining my rating.
Silver in the Wood was absolutely fantastic. When the premise is '400 year old forest guardian falls in love with a twink in a nice coat', I was sold. I tried to get a physical copy of the book immediately after I finished this.
While the story was passable, what really elevated this for me was the atmosphere. I loved reading about the woods and Finch's relationship with it. It kind of gave me what The Girl Who Drank the Moon was missing for me. While the story was was incredibly short, I nonetheless enjoyed the 'slow' burn of Tobias and Finch falling in love. Their dynamic is so amazing, and I was smiling like an idiot while I was listening to this on the bus. (I'm sure I got some weird looks). Their relationship is what made me rate this story so high, as the story didn't do too much for me.
I didn't enjoy Drowned Country nearly as much as the first story. While still well written and atmospheric, it was too plot-heavy for me. Silver and Finch are what makes these stories for me, and they spent most of this book just avoiding each other. Sure, we got some great flashbacks to some moments between them, but these books are too short to explore the fallout of their relationship as well as their getting back together, especially since the first book was about them falling in love. The plot was fine, I liked how it twisted around some fairytale cliches and introduced Maude, who was so much fun, but this second book was kind of a letdown after how fantastic the first one was. I did however LOVE how it ended, but that's because I love Tobias and Henry so much. I wanted the second book to be about them fucking around in the woods or something, not hunting vampires and going to fairy land. (That part was still fun, don't get me wrong)
The narrator was another part of this that was excellent. He added so much to the atmosphere, and is absolutely fantastic at doing both different voices and different accents. I could tell that he was having so much fun, and I love when you can gleam that from a performance. Can't praise him enough.
Overall, I had a great time with this. Wish the second story focused a bit more on Tobias and Henry's relationships, but these stories are so atmospheric and engrossing that they almost don't need the romance. Combined with a fantastic narrator, this was a great read.
Two incredibly atmospheric stories with a fantastic pairing at its center
Silver in the Wood: 4.5/5
Drowned Country: 3.5/5
This was so good. While I loved Silver in the Wood a whole lot more than Drowned Country, these two stories combine into a great experience. The narrator was absolutely fantastic, and really added to the atmosphere. Oh and of course it's gay as hell. Keeping my eye out for this author in the future.
This edition includes both books, so I'm reviewing the stories separately but combining my rating.
Silver in the Wood was absolutely fantastic. When the premise is '400 year old forest guardian falls in love with a twink in a nice coat', I was sold. I tried to get a physical copy of the book immediately after I finished this.
While the story was passable, what really elevated this for me was the atmosphere. I loved reading about the woods and Finch's relationship with it. It kind of gave me what The Girl Who Drank the Moon was missing for me. While the story was was incredibly short, I nonetheless enjoyed the 'slow' burn of Tobias and Finch falling in love. Their dynamic is so amazing, and I was smiling like an idiot while I was listening to this on the bus. (I'm sure I got some weird looks). Their relationship is what made me rate this story so high, as the story didn't do too much for me.
I didn't enjoy Drowned Country nearly as much as the first story. While still well written and atmospheric, it was too plot-heavy for me. Silver and Finch are what makes these stories for me, and they spent most of this book just avoiding each other. Sure, we got some great flashbacks to some moments between them, but these books are too short to explore the fallout of their relationship as well as their getting back together, especially since the first book was about them falling in love. The plot was fine, I liked how it twisted around some fairytale cliches and introduced Maude, who was so much fun, but this second book was kind of a letdown after how fantastic the first one was. I did however LOVE how it ended, but that's because I love Tobias and Henry so much. I wanted the second book to be about them fucking around in the woods or something, not hunting vampires and going to fairy land. (That part was still fun, don't get me wrong)
The narrator was another part of this that was excellent. He added so much to the atmosphere, and is absolutely fantastic at doing both different voices and different accents. I could tell that he was having so much fun, and I love when you can gleam that from a performance. Can't praise him enough.
Overall, I had a great time with this. Wish the second story focused a bit more on Tobias and Henry's relationships, but these stories are so atmospheric and engrossing that they almost don't need the romance. Combined with a fantastic narrator, this was a great read.
October 10, 2020
Actual rating: 3.5 stars.
As far as a thrilling story goes, this wasn’t exactly it. There wasn’t much in the way of a plot or rise and fall in the storyline in either book. However, both were pleasant and easy books to listen to. I enjoyed how Tesh made the woods come alive, and Davies did an incredible job of bringing the story to life through the narration.
Overall, a set of easy listening books, and a fun story through magical places.
As far as a thrilling story goes, this wasn’t exactly it. There wasn’t much in the way of a plot or rise and fall in the storyline in either book. However, both were pleasant and easy books to listen to. I enjoyed how Tesh made the woods come alive, and Davies did an incredible job of bringing the story to life through the narration.
Overall, a set of easy listening books, and a fun story through magical places.
April 16, 2021
Imma be real. This is five stars because it was gay. The story (stories?) was very charming, if a bit forgettable. I have no substantial comments about the structure of this book. It was all fine and entertaining. But the romance was so well described and gently built. I loved the dynamic between Tobias and Silver and their distinct ways of showing affection, particularity in Drowned Country. This was a very sweet love story built upon the backdrop of a charming fantasy folklore story.
quit-but-might-try-again
July 24, 2022I read such good things about this book, and I really wanted to love it. I liked the mood it created. But I felt too frustrated at not understanding what was happening. It didn't help that I just finished a Neal Stephenson book, where very complicated things were explained very clearly, and I felt resentful at what seemed to be intentional efforts by the author to keep me off balance and confused. Maybe I'll give it a go another time.
November 22, 2020
[3.5 stars]
I'm glad I listened to the audiobook that combines novella 1 and 2. Even though I enjoyed the writing, characters, and most of all the woodland setting the first novella was over so quickly, it felt like only a glimpse into the Greenhollow universe. There's a lot more plot in the second novella and I enjoyed the exploration of new places immensely.
I'm glad I listened to the audiobook that combines novella 1 and 2. Even though I enjoyed the writing, characters, and most of all the woodland setting the first novella was over so quickly, it felt like only a glimpse into the Greenhollow universe. There's a lot more plot in the second novella and I enjoyed the exploration of new places immensely.
August 31, 2024
Silver in the Wood: 4.5 ⭐️
Silver in the Wood is the first novella in a duology about Tobias Finch and Henry Silver. It reads like a forest fairytale and has the vibe of a Hozier song. It is a loose m/m retelling of the Green Man myths in a gaslamp, Victorian-inspired world. The Green Man myths are mostly myths linked with Great Britain although you can find traces of it in architecture in most European countries (e.g., on Byzantine mosaic in Istanbul, on the ruins of Hatra in Iraq, in Bamberg (Germany), ...). The myths include often the themes of rebirth and reawakening, which the author implemented in Silver in the Wood as well.
To most people, Tobias is a wild man who lives in Greenhollow and is responsible for everything bad that happens to them. The truth is that Tobias' soul was bound to Greenhollow roughly 400 years ago and has lived ever since in the wood, tending to the trees, taking care of the dryads, and chasing away monsters who are drawn to the old magic in the forest. To Henry Silver, he is not a wild man or a monster. He is just ... Tobias. The man who took him in during a storm and the one who listens to him rambling about folklore and myths. [I love Tobias "I'm a very tired homosexual and I just want to rest" Finch and Henry "Oh wow! One bed ... how convenient! I'm trying to get you into my bed since the start." Silver as characters just as much as Bramble and Henry's mother who as van Helsing vibes.]
Overall, a slow-paced novella although sometimes things happen quickly because of how the main character experiences time himself. It is a lovely blend of myths, mystery, romance and change (in nature and characters), which got wrapped up in beautiful prose. Interesting take on immortality and how it affects actual people (because let's face it: being immortal is horrifying if you're alone). If you love T. Kingfisher's books, you might enjoy it as well because it could work as a short DnD campaign, too.
Drowned Country: 3.5 ⭐️
Drowned Country happens two years after the first book and starts with Henry, the new wild man of Greenhollow, sulking in the ruins of his mansion because he is alone (aside from Bramble) as Tobias left him. Their romantic relationship lasted just a few months and their split resulted in Henry struggling with being the wild man of Greenhollow but also being Henry Silver at the same time. Until the day his mother comes calling to demand his help with a case in the seaside town of Rothport where a 900-year-old vampire lives. Rothport used to be part of the ancient wood to which Henry is bound but it was drowned beneath the sea. While Henry still suffers from a broken heart, he is still quickly pulled into the mess that awaits him in Rothport, and there's more to Rothport and Maude, the vampire's supposed victim, than meets the eye.
While Silver in the Wood was very character-driven and whimsical in its own way, Drowned Country is a plot-driven story, which switches between the present and the past when Henry remembers how his relationship with Tobias ended. I found the plot to be a bit all over the place with a vampire, the run-away young woman who wants to become a monster hunter/wants to follow Henry's and his father's footsteps in terms of academic success, the last fairy and the fairy queen in fairyland, and then the sudden end. The end irks me a lot because it's really just to solve the entire romance situation, so Henry and Tobias can be back together and enjoy a mortal lifetime together.
Silver in the Wood is the first novella in a duology about Tobias Finch and Henry Silver. It reads like a forest fairytale and has the vibe of a Hozier song. It is a loose m/m retelling of the Green Man myths in a gaslamp, Victorian-inspired world. The Green Man myths are mostly myths linked with Great Britain although you can find traces of it in architecture in most European countries (e.g., on Byzantine mosaic in Istanbul, on the ruins of Hatra in Iraq, in Bamberg (Germany), ...). The myths include often the themes of rebirth and reawakening, which the author implemented in Silver in the Wood as well.
To most people, Tobias is a wild man who lives in Greenhollow and is responsible for everything bad that happens to them. The truth is that Tobias' soul was bound to Greenhollow roughly 400 years ago and has lived ever since in the wood, tending to the trees, taking care of the dryads, and chasing away monsters who are drawn to the old magic in the forest. To Henry Silver, he is not a wild man or a monster. He is just ... Tobias. The man who took him in during a storm and the one who listens to him rambling about folklore and myths. [I love Tobias "I'm a very tired homosexual and I just want to rest" Finch and Henry "Oh wow! One bed ... how convenient! I'm trying to get you into my bed since the start." Silver as characters just as much as Bramble and Henry's mother who as van Helsing vibes.]
Overall, a slow-paced novella although sometimes things happen quickly because of how the main character experiences time himself. It is a lovely blend of myths, mystery, romance and change (in nature and characters), which got wrapped up in beautiful prose. Interesting take on immortality and how it affects actual people (because let's face it: being immortal is horrifying if you're alone). If you love T. Kingfisher's books, you might enjoy it as well because it could work as a short DnD campaign, too.
Drowned Country: 3.5 ⭐️
Drowned Country happens two years after the first book and starts with Henry, the new wild man of Greenhollow, sulking in the ruins of his mansion because he is alone (aside from Bramble) as Tobias left him. Their romantic relationship lasted just a few months and their split resulted in Henry struggling with being the wild man of Greenhollow but also being Henry Silver at the same time. Until the day his mother comes calling to demand his help with a case in the seaside town of Rothport where a 900-year-old vampire lives. Rothport used to be part of the ancient wood to which Henry is bound but it was drowned beneath the sea. While Henry still suffers from a broken heart, he is still quickly pulled into the mess that awaits him in Rothport, and there's more to Rothport and Maude, the vampire's supposed victim, than meets the eye.
While Silver in the Wood was very character-driven and whimsical in its own way, Drowned Country is a plot-driven story, which switches between the present and the past when Henry remembers how his relationship with Tobias ended. I found the plot to be a bit all over the place with a vampire, the run-away young woman who wants to become a monster hunter/wants to follow Henry's and his father's footsteps in terms of academic success, the last fairy and the fairy queen in fairyland, and then the sudden end. The end irks me a lot because it's really just to solve the entire romance situation, so Henry and Tobias can be back together and enjoy a mortal lifetime together.
April 28, 2025
Silver in the Wood:
https://nwhyte.livejournal.com/3799033.html
Short and sweet. Lovely fantasy story of contemporary England with m/m romance told from the point of view of the Green Man himself.
https://fromtheheartofeurope.eu/silver-in-the-wood-and-drowned-country-by-emily-tesh/
To expand on that a bit, it’s really very magical in several ways. Tobias, the Green Man protagonist, forms a deep and understatedly romantic friendship with a folklorist called Silver who moves into his woods (hence the title); when Silver mysteriously vanishes, his mother comes on the scene and we move into sorcerous retrieval.
Drowned Country:
Two years after Silver in the Wood, Silver and Tobias are no longer on good terms, for reasons that gradually become clear; and Silver’s mother summons them to a blasted English seaside resort, which people who know more than me tell me is rather similar to Whitby, to investigate the disappearance of a young woman. But it turns out that the young woman herself has her own agenda, and the story becomes a surprising twist on the standard vampire narrative.
https://nwhyte.livejournal.com/3799033.html
Short and sweet. Lovely fantasy story of contemporary England with m/m romance told from the point of view of the Green Man himself.
https://fromtheheartofeurope.eu/silver-in-the-wood-and-drowned-country-by-emily-tesh/
To expand on that a bit, it’s really very magical in several ways. Tobias, the Green Man protagonist, forms a deep and understatedly romantic friendship with a folklorist called Silver who moves into his woods (hence the title); when Silver mysteriously vanishes, his mother comes on the scene and we move into sorcerous retrieval.
Drowned Country:
Two years after Silver in the Wood, Silver and Tobias are no longer on good terms, for reasons that gradually become clear; and Silver’s mother summons them to a blasted English seaside resort, which people who know more than me tell me is rather similar to Whitby, to investigate the disappearance of a young woman. But it turns out that the young woman herself has her own agenda, and the story becomes a surprising twist on the standard vampire narrative.
October 6, 2025
Una duología, dos novelas cortas, llenas de seres del bosque, inmortales, cuidando de la naturaleza.
Tobias Finch, es el Guardián del Bosque, conoce a Henry Silver, un día de lluvia, y el destino los une irremediablemente.
Todo muy cuqui, y aunque tiene un montón de críticas positivas, y está muy bien escrito, no debía ser mi día, porque lo he encontrado aburrido, quizás me ha gustado mas, el segundo, Drowned Country, por aquello que los personajes evolucionan y se relacionan mucho mas, con los roles reversos, siendo ahora Tobias mortal y Henry, el nuevo Guardián del Bosque.
Al final me ha aburrido bastante.
Quería conocer a la autora.
Tobias Finch, es el Guardián del Bosque, conoce a Henry Silver, un día de lluvia, y el destino los une irremediablemente.
Todo muy cuqui, y aunque tiene un montón de críticas positivas, y está muy bien escrito, no debía ser mi día, porque lo he encontrado aburrido, quizás me ha gustado mas, el segundo, Drowned Country, por aquello que los personajes evolucionan y se relacionan mucho mas, con los roles reversos, siendo ahora Tobias mortal y Henry, el nuevo Guardián del Bosque.
Al final me ha aburrido bastante.
Quería conocer a la autora.
February 21, 2023
“An expedition to Fairyland, Silver told himself; an opportunity, a delight. Something mad and wonderful to do, because the world was not devoid of marvels after all.”
What an amazing read! If you love mythology and folklore, along with a slow-burn romance, this is it. It's a beautiful take on the Green Man story, which, as far as I can tell, has pretty much always existed all over the world. Google it.
This explores a connection with nature and the world as well as what people need emotionally to survive. Drowned Country threw me for a loop because Silver in the Wood was just so great on its own, but there was more story to tell.
Can't wait to see what else this author comes up with!
What an amazing read! If you love mythology and folklore, along with a slow-burn romance, this is it. It's a beautiful take on the Green Man story, which, as far as I can tell, has pretty much always existed all over the world. Google it.
This explores a connection with nature and the world as well as what people need emotionally to survive. Drowned Country threw me for a loop because Silver in the Wood was just so great on its own, but there was more story to tell.
Can't wait to see what else this author comes up with!
April 28, 2023
Ugh loved it, so cute and really pulls you into the world. I love how we get both Tobias and Silver’s POV with each book. After the first book I felt like I needed more; it was too short, but after finishing the second I am satisfied with it, just the right length. Leaving you just a little empty where you want a little more, but anymore would spoil it. Both books feeling like their own little chapter or episode, love Tobias and Silvers love for each other and the wood.
Recommend it as an audiobook, the narrator, Matthew Lloyd Davies, is great! Love the voices for the characters.
Recommend it as an audiobook, the narrator, Matthew Lloyd Davies, is great! Love the voices for the characters.
July 1, 2024
The first chapter of the second book is heaps below the standard set by the first book, mainly because of decisions regarding the romantic plotline. But then the book picks up pace again and almost reaches the bar by the end.
I am not sure what exactly, but something about Tobias and his wood awakens heartache deep within me. I cried incessantly for the most of the first book, and, even if the sequel is of lesser quality, I finished it in tears. There is sadness in the moss and the lichen, and even the fruit. Not only Tobias, but all of the creatures seem terribly lonely, and that seeps through all of my cracks. Is the reason that the modern world has abandoned its myths? Possibly. But it is the wood. It will outlive us. I hope.
First book – 5 stars.
Second book – 3/3.5 stars.
I am not sure what exactly, but something about Tobias and his wood awakens heartache deep within me. I cried incessantly for the most of the first book, and, even if the sequel is of lesser quality, I finished it in tears. There is sadness in the moss and the lichen, and even the fruit. Not only Tobias, but all of the creatures seem terribly lonely, and that seeps through all of my cracks. Is the reason that the modern world has abandoned its myths? Possibly. But it is the wood. It will outlive us. I hope.
First book – 5 stars.
Second book – 3/3.5 stars.
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