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The Wicked Woods Chronicles #2
Hush, the woods are darker still
With an ancient curse now broken, Teya Jenkins, the last Mortal Queen of Seelie, is forced to flee the cruel lands of Faerie and return home.
But the human world offers little kindness to her, or to the faerie who captured her heart.
Help is offered by those who dwell in the shadows, but nothing in Faerie is without a price.
With a new King upon the Unseelie throne, and a would-be Queen at her back, Teya must decide which path to take and who to trust or risk losing everything.
Oh, the woods are dark and wicked…
But the human world offers little kindness to her, or to the faerie who captured her heart.
Help is offered by those who dwell in the shadows, but nothing in Faerie is without a price.
With a new King upon the Unseelie throne, and a would-be Queen at her back, Teya must decide which path to take and who to trust or risk losing everything.
Oh, the woods are dark and wicked…
354 pages, Paperback
Published April 1, 2021
11 people are currently reading
105 people want to read
About the author
L.V. Russell
8 books135 followersLydia grew up on a farm deep in the Dorset countryside alongside her three elder brothers, using the fields and woodland as their playground.
As an adult with two young children, she has used the memories of the wild woods of her youth to write The Wicked Woods Chronicles
A tale of lost sisters, whispering trees, and dark romance.
oh, the woods are dark and wicked...
As an adult with two young children, she has used the memories of the wild woods of her youth to write The Wicked Woods Chronicles
A tale of lost sisters, whispering trees, and dark romance.
oh, the woods are dark and wicked...
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
October 31, 2021
Lydia's beautiful writing sucks me in every time! The characters are still wonderful (have to love Laph... Have to), and the story sweeps you off your feet and leaves you needing the next one. If you like faeries and romance, this is a book for you!
November 10, 2020
I absolutely adored this book.
I don't tend to read fantasy romance as much as I read Paranormal, but the characters in this story swept me away.
There is an instant connection with both Laphaniel and Teya, making you want to keep reading to see how their story unfolds.
The world Lydia Russel has built full of wonder, deadly creatures and a lot of lore.
Allies in places you wouldn't expect. Enemies coming from all around them.
A truly wonderous and dark world.
I read this book 1st, and found the story easy enough to follow. The interaction between the characters giving you just enough hint of the story to know what happened previously.
I would highly recommend this book *****
I don't tend to read fantasy romance as much as I read Paranormal, but the characters in this story swept me away.
There is an instant connection with both Laphaniel and Teya, making you want to keep reading to see how their story unfolds.
The world Lydia Russel has built full of wonder, deadly creatures and a lot of lore.
Allies in places you wouldn't expect. Enemies coming from all around them.
A truly wonderous and dark world.
I read this book 1st, and found the story easy enough to follow. The interaction between the characters giving you just enough hint of the story to know what happened previously.
I would highly recommend this book *****
September 15, 2021
It's official. L.V. Russell is one of my favorite authors of all time and from this point forward I will read EVERY book she publishes. How am I possibly going to wait until October when book 3 is released?!
I really don't even know where to begin with this review. I think I'll start by saying that "Hush, the woods are darker still" was a flawless sequel. I really can't say much without giving away spoilers, but OMG there was so much action, suspense, and overall perfection. So much happened and I literally could not stop thinking about this book even when I wasn't reading. This book consumed my thoughts and I know it will continue to do so for a long, long time.
That ending though! It was so unexpected, so emotional! I need to know what happens next!
I loved this book, plain and simple. I loved it so much! This series has everything I could possibly want and I highly recommend it to everyone!!
I really don't even know where to begin with this review. I think I'll start by saying that "Hush, the woods are darker still" was a flawless sequel. I really can't say much without giving away spoilers, but OMG there was so much action, suspense, and overall perfection. So much happened and I literally could not stop thinking about this book even when I wasn't reading. This book consumed my thoughts and I know it will continue to do so for a long, long time.
That ending though! It was so unexpected, so emotional! I need to know what happens next!
I loved this book, plain and simple. I loved it so much! This series has everything I could possibly want and I highly recommend it to everyone!!
November 23, 2020
My best friend is the author of this book and I love it. Need book three though after that ending!
November 3, 2020
A worthy successor to the first in the series—never a dull moment! With high stakes and gorgeous imagery, it's not to be missed. Faerie is just as dark and dangerous and oddly enthralling as I remember. Can't wait to see what happens in the next installment!
June 24, 2021
How is this book so good? No, seriously, what sorcery has been utilized, I am very interested.
This book is such a thrill to read. I cannot wait to get a pretty paperback for my shelf. If you liked the first one the. You’re going to adore the second.
I think the atmosphere is what sells this story. Every time it’s a new setting, even if it’s a setting you’d think was mundane or ordinary, the author finds a means to color it and give life to it. I shall never forget that witch’s cottage nor look at harps the same way.
The previous relationships and the impact of the major decisions of the last book are front and center. They carry weight and we see reasonable reactions to them while our characters still remain their lovable selves.
Why are you still here? Go read this book.
This book is such a thrill to read. I cannot wait to get a pretty paperback for my shelf. If you liked the first one the. You’re going to adore the second.
I think the atmosphere is what sells this story. Every time it’s a new setting, even if it’s a setting you’d think was mundane or ordinary, the author finds a means to color it and give life to it. I shall never forget that witch’s cottage nor look at harps the same way.
The previous relationships and the impact of the major decisions of the last book are front and center. They carry weight and we see reasonable reactions to them while our characters still remain their lovable selves.
Why are you still here? Go read this book.
January 23, 2022
Picking up after the events of Darling, There Are Wolves In The Woods, Teya and Lathaniel are on the run, trying to find a way to confront the cruel and murderous faerie, Luthien.
In order to survive, they’re forced to make an alliance that could just as easily signal their deaths. With every new turn, they face unknown threats and are forced to make impossible decisions, but they do have one constant between them — each other.
This was a tumultuous book full of twists and turns and I loved every minute of it. The cliffhanger at the end hit me hard, and yet, at the same time, it felt inevitable — which is a testament to L. V. Russell’s storytelling abilities.
I can’t wait to finish Far Beneath The Wicked Woods to find out what happens next.
In order to survive, they’re forced to make an alliance that could just as easily signal their deaths. With every new turn, they face unknown threats and are forced to make impossible decisions, but they do have one constant between them — each other.
This was a tumultuous book full of twists and turns and I loved every minute of it. The cliffhanger at the end hit me hard, and yet, at the same time, it felt inevitable — which is a testament to L. V. Russell’s storytelling abilities.
I can’t wait to finish Far Beneath The Wicked Woods to find out what happens next.
October 15, 2023
While I still have no idea why these two fell in love I feel their love a little more in this one. Like it feels more real? Even with all their bickering. and there's definitely more sexual tension for the lil spicy bits. I thought Teya was annoying in the first book but she gets better in this one. Though, I think Teya's inability to let go of the fact that she didn't listen to Laphanial is really annoying. The promise of more wicked fae is what got me to read book 2 and kept me reading. I never thought I would ever say this but the Spider is one of my favorite characters and I am absolutely terrified of spiders. I hate them but Charlotte is fantastic. I love her. If anything bad happens to her I riot.
February 27, 2021
Fantastic fantasy sequel
I loved the first book in the series but Russell has raised the stakes by delivering an even better sequel. Teya is on fire as she battles dark faeries and all manner of other creatures in this breathless tale. The story cries out for more and I see spinoffs galore, given the host of weird and wonderful new characters revealed to us. A major player in the indie fantasy ranks. A must read.
I loved the first book in the series but Russell has raised the stakes by delivering an even better sequel. Teya is on fire as she battles dark faeries and all manner of other creatures in this breathless tale. The story cries out for more and I see spinoffs galore, given the host of weird and wonderful new characters revealed to us. A major player in the indie fantasy ranks. A must read.
March 21, 2023
In a lot of ways, this book was even better than the first of the series. We get to see so many contrasts to plot points from the first book and the world grows ever more interesting and complex. Teya is continuing to grow and evolve, and I love to see it. The ending is shocking and leaves you wanting more.
December 22, 2020
Loved this sequel. Character development and storyline were fab. Enjoyed the journey that the characters lead us on, the world building. Looking forward to the next!
February 18, 2025
4.5 stars for defeating the dreaded middle book syndrome.
Honestly, I was afraid of the breakneck pace at first. We open on Laphaniel telling Teya to get up because Luthien's (the evil Seelie queen) out to get them (having defied her in book one) and that pace never lets up. Despite the blurb, we don't spend much time in the mortal world (we encounter Niven and the twisted new reality that has no room for Teya now, and the couple spends time by the beach but that's about it). The tone is that of desperation, but for what?
Pros/Interesting Elements
-Down with the Sickness
*Iron poisoning ain't not joke! Gives a whole new meaning to the term car sick. Poor Laphaniel.
-Everyone serves a purpose
*The people/creatures Laphaniel and Teya meet along their journey for allies all offer healing/information (Charlotte the spider), thought provoking moments (saving the little girl Alice from the harpies), a cautionary tale (Briar and Grace, another human/fey couple who sacrificed and lost despite having one each other... for now). I guess that's why I never felt like the pace was meandering; the reader is always needing to pay attention because these people/places aren't just pit stops, they're part of the journey.
-The dream/Laphaniel's reaction
*Both literal and metaphorical: Teya dreams of a life with Laphaniel in the fey lands, back at his forest house where they fell in love. Only this time, they've got a daughter. This talk of babies, particularly daughters will segue into another element later, but for Teya the dream sparks the dream of a family she never had. She hates to leave Alice behind because Laphaniel's care for her brought a bit of the dream to reality.
*But this want signals trouble to come. Teya asks "do you see children in our future?" and without any hesitation, Laphaniel says "no". I like that Teya recognizes this discussion isn't over because it's a want she's not willing to part with.
-Family Ties
*In the fey realm, daughters (and all female descendants)pay the price of their parents; we see this in the great-granddaughter working tirelessly under the hag witch with whom her great grandma made a bargain. Many characters warn to Teya throughout the book about the dangers of conceiving. Perhaps this is why Laphaniel is so adamant that they won't have kids? He's not willing to inflict his choices on them.
-The Writing
*Notice I added this to the gothic shelf. There is a coldness you'd find in gloomy castles from the jump. Ominous nights spent in moldy cabins lit by candle light, Teya's wedding dress seems to be spun straight from Charlotte's spider silk.
*There's also a palpable coldness I haven't' felt since my Shiver days. I felt it most when Teya has to slip back into her clothes after sitting in the cold and the they crunched when she puts them on. And her bones crack too... I've never felt a stronger urge to simultaneously do yoga and run a hot shower.
-Urgency
*Not just physically, but emotionally. Yeah, Laphaniel was brought back to life, but what awaits them after? Does he have a soul? Teya gives hers up in order to become fey... and with the threat of Luthien, as well as Phabien and Niven on their backs, they've got to overcome/move forward from the pain, but also bask in the time spent together.
*This is most evident in their wedding/decision to marry in the just beyond the Unseelie lands. Can I just say again: GOTHIC is the best word for their eloping. From the borrowed bands forged of dragon stone, to kneeling before a cloaked stranger among the forest mist who performs the rites. It was perfection 🖤.
-Laphaniel and Neffina's strained relationship
*We briefly met Laphaniel's little sister in book one. But we get to see how Laphaniel protected her from their father's abuse in the beginning, but failed later in regards to a stranger's advances. When they run away from home, they take what they hope is refuge among a traveling circus. While under the romantic spell of a woman, Neffina is r**** by an unknown man who left rubies on the bedside. Laphaniel blames himself and Neffina blames him too.
-The idea that Seelie court is usually seen as good, but with a bad leader, it can be just as nefarious as Unseelie.
-There's a big spider named Charlotte... and Charlotte rocks a dress that I personally picture being of the lighter Rococo era... and when Teya says "it doesn't have to be this way; you could be a dreamer in the Seelie court" and Charlotte goes "Lord, no! I'd have too much fun skinning them alive! But you do you, Queenling". Dark humor and a children's lit reference? This book gets me.
-The ending
*We see a lingering threat in that rather than kill Luthien, Teya shows mercy, instead imposing exile on the former queen. Teya is seen questioning her decision later.
*While enjoying the newfound calm/putting courtiers into place, a summons for the Unseelie court arrives, asking for what Teya signed away in blood... her Starlight... AKA Laphaniel. Girl, I knew all that "you were/are the light in my darkness" was more than just bathos.
With a letter like that, you know I've gotta read the finale!
Honestly, I was afraid of the breakneck pace at first. We open on Laphaniel telling Teya to get up because Luthien's (the evil Seelie queen) out to get them (having defied her in book one) and that pace never lets up. Despite the blurb, we don't spend much time in the mortal world (we encounter Niven and the twisted new reality that has no room for Teya now, and the couple spends time by the beach but that's about it). The tone is that of desperation, but for what?
Pros/Interesting Elements
-Down with the Sickness
*Iron poisoning ain't not joke! Gives a whole new meaning to the term car sick. Poor Laphaniel.
-Everyone serves a purpose
*The people/creatures Laphaniel and Teya meet along their journey for allies all offer healing/information (Charlotte the spider), thought provoking moments (saving the little girl Alice from the harpies), a cautionary tale (Briar and Grace, another human/fey couple who sacrificed and lost despite having one each other... for now). I guess that's why I never felt like the pace was meandering; the reader is always needing to pay attention because these people/places aren't just pit stops, they're part of the journey.
-The dream/Laphaniel's reaction
*Both literal and metaphorical: Teya dreams of a life with Laphaniel in the fey lands, back at his forest house where they fell in love. Only this time, they've got a daughter. This talk of babies, particularly daughters will segue into another element later, but for Teya the dream sparks the dream of a family she never had. She hates to leave Alice behind because Laphaniel's care for her brought a bit of the dream to reality.
*But this want signals trouble to come. Teya asks "do you see children in our future?" and without any hesitation, Laphaniel says "no". I like that Teya recognizes this discussion isn't over because it's a want she's not willing to part with.
-Family Ties
*In the fey realm, daughters (and all female descendants)pay the price of their parents; we see this in the great-granddaughter working tirelessly under the hag witch with whom her great grandma made a bargain. Many characters warn to Teya throughout the book about the dangers of conceiving. Perhaps this is why Laphaniel is so adamant that they won't have kids? He's not willing to inflict his choices on them.
-The Writing
*Notice I added this to the gothic shelf. There is a coldness you'd find in gloomy castles from the jump. Ominous nights spent in moldy cabins lit by candle light, Teya's wedding dress seems to be spun straight from Charlotte's spider silk.
*There's also a palpable coldness I haven't' felt since my Shiver days. I felt it most when Teya has to slip back into her clothes after sitting in the cold and the they crunched when she puts them on. And her bones crack too... I've never felt a stronger urge to simultaneously do yoga and run a hot shower.
-Urgency
*Not just physically, but emotionally. Yeah, Laphaniel was brought back to life, but what awaits them after? Does he have a soul? Teya gives hers up in order to become fey... and with the threat of Luthien, as well as Phabien and Niven on their backs, they've got to overcome/move forward from the pain, but also bask in the time spent together.
*This is most evident in their wedding/decision to marry in the just beyond the Unseelie lands. Can I just say again: GOTHIC is the best word for their eloping. From the borrowed bands forged of dragon stone, to kneeling before a cloaked stranger among the forest mist who performs the rites. It was perfection 🖤.
-Laphaniel and Neffina's strained relationship
*We briefly met Laphaniel's little sister in book one. But we get to see how Laphaniel protected her from their father's abuse in the beginning, but failed later in regards to a stranger's advances. When they run away from home, they take what they hope is refuge among a traveling circus. While under the romantic spell of a woman, Neffina is r**** by an unknown man who left rubies on the bedside. Laphaniel blames himself and Neffina blames him too.
-The idea that Seelie court is usually seen as good, but with a bad leader, it can be just as nefarious as Unseelie.
-There's a big spider named Charlotte... and Charlotte rocks a dress that I personally picture being of the lighter Rococo era... and when Teya says "it doesn't have to be this way; you could be a dreamer in the Seelie court" and Charlotte goes "Lord, no! I'd have too much fun skinning them alive! But you do you, Queenling". Dark humor and a children's lit reference? This book gets me.
-The ending
*We see a lingering threat in that rather than kill Luthien, Teya shows mercy, instead imposing exile on the former queen. Teya is seen questioning her decision later.
*While enjoying the newfound calm/putting courtiers into place, a summons for the Unseelie court arrives, asking for what Teya signed away in blood... her Starlight... AKA Laphaniel. Girl, I knew all that "you were/are the light in my darkness" was more than just bathos.
With a letter like that, you know I've gotta read the finale!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 28, 2023
The TL;DW for this book is: Well, would you look at that, this book actually has stuff going on. A lot of what I would’ve wanted to see in the first book is showcased here. The world is more dynamic, the magic is more fleshed-out, and the character arcs are better defined. Some mysteries are left unaddressed, but I’m fine with that, because 1. Some level of mystery enhances the setting quite well, and 2. that’s what the third book is about.
The plot of the book picks up right after the ending of the first book, and in fact the synopsis spoils said ending. The main couple of this series finds themselves on the run after discovering their… involvement within the magical world’s administrative power structures. While fleeing from their pursuers, they decide to seek help in some unlikely places, only for each of these places to unveil some complications they have to work around. The first aspect of the book I’d like to praise is the plotting. Lydia has become far more deliberate in terms of what she wants her characters to do, and how they could counter potential threats.
Speaking of potential threats, another area that has seen quite a bit of improvement is her worldbuilding. She has given the world, and the changes that could occur within it, as well as how the characters that occupy it would either alter or use its elements, plenty of attention. The previous book explored a limited number of locations and perspectives, whereas this one has the characters trekking through the world, observing and interacting with different locations and their occupants, with each location allowing for a new reveal, and a new opportunity for either conflict, drama, setting expansion, or comfort, and she utilises these opportunities very well, creating a varied, engaging, and quite satisfying narrative tableau. Various singular elements within the setting also receive their time in the spotlight, and almost become characters in their own right, with distinctive features and attributes that allow them to stand out within this greater tableau.
It’s not just the setting and the way it is presented, however, that helps create and establish this narrative tableau, that also comes from the other figures within this world, and how they settle within the nooks and crannies they have been pushed, or the niches they have ascended to. Not all of them spring to life, especially not to the same extent as the main couple, but, if a character receives a name, they are basically guaranteed to get some further description. All of these further descriptions help enhance their characterisations, and create vivid and distinctive impressions of what the magical world, aka Faerie, as a singular, living, ever-changing entity, is like. The different explorations of the magic system, the ways in which magic can be summoned and utilised, also help build this impression, as well as establish the dimensions of this series’ conflict.
That being said, there are some aspects of this book that I have to criticise as well. Teya is out of her depth in this book, and that comes through in many ways throughout the narrative, which is fine in and of itself, but it brings a lot more pressure on Laphaniel to be the hero. The narrative doesn’t give her opportunities for actualisation, which, in turn, diminishes her contribution to the story, rendering her relationship less interesting. Even though I find their relationship to be better written, it still doesn’t leave the impression Lydia intends it to leave. This book also has more action scenes than its predecessor, and, unfortunately, its author can’t really display the consequences or the flow of the action with the weight they should receive, rendering most high points of the narrative muddled and confusing.
Overall, in spite of some setbacks, The Wicked Woods Chronicles’ second book is a much more dynamic and exciting piece of literature, better capable of conveying its themes and stakes.
The plot of the book picks up right after the ending of the first book, and in fact the synopsis spoils said ending. The main couple of this series finds themselves on the run after discovering their… involvement within the magical world’s administrative power structures. While fleeing from their pursuers, they decide to seek help in some unlikely places, only for each of these places to unveil some complications they have to work around. The first aspect of the book I’d like to praise is the plotting. Lydia has become far more deliberate in terms of what she wants her characters to do, and how they could counter potential threats.
Speaking of potential threats, another area that has seen quite a bit of improvement is her worldbuilding. She has given the world, and the changes that could occur within it, as well as how the characters that occupy it would either alter or use its elements, plenty of attention. The previous book explored a limited number of locations and perspectives, whereas this one has the characters trekking through the world, observing and interacting with different locations and their occupants, with each location allowing for a new reveal, and a new opportunity for either conflict, drama, setting expansion, or comfort, and she utilises these opportunities very well, creating a varied, engaging, and quite satisfying narrative tableau. Various singular elements within the setting also receive their time in the spotlight, and almost become characters in their own right, with distinctive features and attributes that allow them to stand out within this greater tableau.
It’s not just the setting and the way it is presented, however, that helps create and establish this narrative tableau, that also comes from the other figures within this world, and how they settle within the nooks and crannies they have been pushed, or the niches they have ascended to. Not all of them spring to life, especially not to the same extent as the main couple, but, if a character receives a name, they are basically guaranteed to get some further description. All of these further descriptions help enhance their characterisations, and create vivid and distinctive impressions of what the magical world, aka Faerie, as a singular, living, ever-changing entity, is like. The different explorations of the magic system, the ways in which magic can be summoned and utilised, also help build this impression, as well as establish the dimensions of this series’ conflict.
That being said, there are some aspects of this book that I have to criticise as well. Teya is out of her depth in this book, and that comes through in many ways throughout the narrative, which is fine in and of itself, but it brings a lot more pressure on Laphaniel to be the hero. The narrative doesn’t give her opportunities for actualisation, which, in turn, diminishes her contribution to the story, rendering her relationship less interesting. Even though I find their relationship to be better written, it still doesn’t leave the impression Lydia intends it to leave. This book also has more action scenes than its predecessor, and, unfortunately, its author can’t really display the consequences or the flow of the action with the weight they should receive, rendering most high points of the narrative muddled and confusing.
Overall, in spite of some setbacks, The Wicked Woods Chronicles’ second book is a much more dynamic and exciting piece of literature, better capable of conveying its themes and stakes.
February 14, 2022
Hush the Woods are Darker Still is a sequel that takes the story of Laphaniel and Teya to a whole new level. Russel takes the elements from the first book and breathes new, exciting life into them. The eerie fantasy elements crawl into a deeper darkness, and the sweetly spicy love story grows into a passionately epic romance.
While the first book focused on the Seelie Court, Russell now brings in the more dangerous, twisted Unseelie Court and their lands, and the political and familial tensions amp up the stakes in a really unique and powerful way. This adventure changes both Laphaniel and Teya in exciting ways, and it sets up book 3 perfectly.
This series is quickly becoming a favorite of mine, and if you love adventure, romance, and the macabre, I can guarantee you’ll love it too.
While the first book focused on the Seelie Court, Russell now brings in the more dangerous, twisted Unseelie Court and their lands, and the political and familial tensions amp up the stakes in a really unique and powerful way. This adventure changes both Laphaniel and Teya in exciting ways, and it sets up book 3 perfectly.
This series is quickly becoming a favorite of mine, and if you love adventure, romance, and the macabre, I can guarantee you’ll love it too.
November 1, 2024
So very good, dark and thrilling. I found it difficult to sleep because I "just one more chapter"ed myself until I couldn't see straight. Then I would close my eyes and think about the perils our lovely Teya and Lephaniel had found themselves in and what would befall them next! Niven is a character you love to hate and the unseelie are so very interesting. The only thing I disliked was the doozie of a cliffhanger, so be warned you better have book 3 ready to go as soon as you finish this one because you will NOT want to stop where this book ends!
December 6, 2020
Wow! What a book, I absolutely loved it. The first one was awesome and this is a brilliant sequel.
If you like dark fantasy you'll love this series. It's hands down my favourite series.
The writing is flawless, the world building exquisite and the dark elements delightful. The imagination of the author is wonderful. I felt like I was there in the land of Fey alongside Teya and Laphaniel.
Great read!
If you like dark fantasy you'll love this series. It's hands down my favourite series.
The writing is flawless, the world building exquisite and the dark elements delightful. The imagination of the author is wonderful. I felt like I was there in the land of Fey alongside Teya and Laphaniel.
Great read!
November 24, 2022
Stunning, addictive, and deliciously wicked.
In HUSH, THE WOODS ARE DARKER STILL, Russell furthers The Wicked Woods Chronicles with a captivating and bewitching installment. The richness of the fey lore is superb, and I absolutely love the vicious forest and creatures therein.
In HUSH, THE WOODS ARE DARKER STILL, Russell furthers The Wicked Woods Chronicles with a captivating and bewitching installment. The richness of the fey lore is superb, and I absolutely love the vicious forest and creatures therein.
August 29, 2021
A worthy sequel! Gorgeous prose, haunting imagery, and an ending that left my heart aching and desperate for more! I will definitely be ordering the third installment!
April 29, 2024
I am eating this series up! There are two words I'd use to sum this up: emotional damage. I can't wait to finish the third book.
July 11, 2024
delightful
Another excellent read by Ms Russell. I am a new fan and cannot wait to get the next one! This is about the best series out there based in Faerieland.
Another excellent read by Ms Russell. I am a new fan and cannot wait to get the next one! This is about the best series out there based in Faerieland.
March 30, 2023
I held my breath to read what would come next after book 1. Hust, the Woods are Darker Still delivered an equally disturbing "wicked woods" vibe and storyline, leaving me guessing at every turn. There are a few new characters, each with their own alarming qualities and we get to see more of Teya's sister, Niven, which I still don't understand what happened to her that she's a psychopath. She's a stark contrast to Teya who is very trusting. It's like night and day with them in which the explanation for this still hasn't come. In addition to this is the eerie fact that even though Teya's parents are alive and still together in this new reality, they're on "vacation." It makes me wonder if Niven actually did something to them.
I like how this series has kept me guessing, kept me enthralled into a wicked world of Fae and monsters and the glimpse into the Unseelie kingdom is frightening. Teya and Laphaniel's love thrives despite the chaos around them. So I wonder what will happen in the final book. Will Teya be fighting a 2-front war with Luthien and Niven? How will she get Laphaniel back and save him from the darkness that is consuming him? So many questions I'm eager to get the answers to in the final book.
I like how this series has kept me guessing, kept me enthralled into a wicked world of Fae and monsters and the glimpse into the Unseelie kingdom is frightening. Teya and Laphaniel's love thrives despite the chaos around them. So I wonder what will happen in the final book. Will Teya be fighting a 2-front war with Luthien and Niven? How will she get Laphaniel back and save him from the darkness that is consuming him? So many questions I'm eager to get the answers to in the final book.
September 13, 2023
The tale of now Queen of the Seelie Teya and Laphaniel continues. The curse is broken and throws their lives into chaos. They find themselves on the run from a malevolent Luthien and her Seelie Hunters. Laphaniel is still recovering from his horrific wound as they traverse the ever-dangerous Faerie and along the way encounter evil witches and ever-hungry creatures. In desperation, they enter the human world. Arriving at Teya's home finds her sister Niven and breaking the curse has reset the reality of previous events. Laphaniels and Teya realize their only hope lies in aligning with the Unseelie to defeat Luthien The two find the constant distress putting a strain on their relationship but they always fight for their lives and their love. L.V.Russell has created the character Charlotte the Spider-Witch a truly caprious and terrifying being. The author brings Charlotte to life I could feel her moving about her chamber, touching things..touching people.
Another great entry in this series and it was so enjoyable to spend time with these characters and discover even more new fantastical ones. Now I am off to read Far Beneath The Wicked Woods.
Another great entry in this series and it was so enjoyable to spend time with these characters and discover even more new fantastical ones. Now I am off to read Far Beneath The Wicked Woods.
September 22, 2023
Dark and beautiful.
An excellent continuation of the first book of the Wicked Woods Chronicles, Hush, the Woods are darker still, leaves you yearning for more. I don't even remember stopping to catch my breath as I kept turning the pages, eagerly waiting to see what would happen next.
The story is dark and wicked, just like the book's and the series' titles imply - a perfect, suspenseful read for lovers of dark fantasy.
Personal note: I love the writing style of this author. Russell always succeeds in mesmerizing and drawing the reader in with her magical writing style and poetic prose.
An excellent continuation of the first book of the Wicked Woods Chronicles, Hush, the Woods are darker still, leaves you yearning for more. I don't even remember stopping to catch my breath as I kept turning the pages, eagerly waiting to see what would happen next.
The story is dark and wicked, just like the book's and the series' titles imply - a perfect, suspenseful read for lovers of dark fantasy.
Personal note: I love the writing style of this author. Russell always succeeds in mesmerizing and drawing the reader in with her magical writing style and poetic prose.
January 20, 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed this second novel in The Wicked Woods Chronicles. It once again evokes the glorious beauty and intense horror of the realm of the fae, and the twist at the end was excellent. I totally didn’t see that coming, and love how well the author pulled it off because it fits so perfectly, even if it is also horrific.
I will definitely need to check out the third book in this series because I’ve come to care so much for Teya and Laphaniel, and I couldn’t go without knowing what happens next.
I will definitely need to check out the third book in this series because I’ve come to care so much for Teya and Laphaniel, and I couldn’t go without knowing what happens next.
never-finished
August 24, 2023 10.0% Ch 4
Sadly this book isn't for me, the writing is as beautiful as the first and if you enjoy dark reads this book is probably perfect. However I'm very particular as to what I like, also looked ahead as had a feeling and can see I wouldn't enjoy certain aspects of the story/sequel. So im dnf now, definitely a case of me and not the book though.
Sadly this book isn't for me, the writing is as beautiful as the first and if you enjoy dark reads this book is probably perfect. However I'm very particular as to what I like, also looked ahead as had a feeling and can see I wouldn't enjoy certain aspects of the story/sequel. So im dnf now, definitely a case of me and not the book though.
April 19, 2022
The title should've been a tip-off that this sequel was going to be darker than the first book, but I didn't think of that.
The story was fine, but I quickly got tired of the almost-constant doom-and-gloom, macabre, twisted elements the characters go through. EVERYTHING'S nasty and horrible. EVERYTHING'S dark and grotesque. There's no levity, no beauty or peaceful time for Teya and Laph to breathe/relax/take a break, which in turn, lets the reader do that as well. In the previous book, Laph's place was beautiful and serene--for the most part--and it balanced out the ugly, evil, twisted descriptions. This story didn't have that, and it hurt the sequel, IMO.
Oh, but my favorite character was Charlotte, which coming from an arachnophobe, means a lot.
The story was fine, but I quickly got tired of the almost-constant doom-and-gloom, macabre, twisted elements the characters go through. EVERYTHING'S nasty and horrible. EVERYTHING'S dark and grotesque. There's no levity, no beauty or peaceful time for Teya and Laph to breathe/relax/take a break, which in turn, lets the reader do that as well. In the previous book, Laph's place was beautiful and serene--for the most part--and it balanced out the ugly, evil, twisted descriptions. This story didn't have that, and it hurt the sequel, IMO.
Oh, but my favorite character was Charlotte, which coming from an arachnophobe, means a lot.
June 23, 2023
I thought the first book in this series was fantastic, and this one is even better. I hope Ms. Russell writes a lot more books about faeries, I will read every single one of them. She's a gifted storyteller!
I loved this book!
I loved this book!
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