A Dark and Wild Wood: A Novel

by Sarah Nicole Lemon

Inspired by the tale of Bluebeard, A Dark and Wild Wood is the lush and atmospheric story of a maiden with dark magic who becomes the apprentice to Lord Death—for a price. Perfect for fans of Juniper and Thorn and The Year of the Witching.

“No one writes like Sarah Nicole Lemon. She is a poet with knives for teeth. Her language will leave you carved out, and her sense of story is its own kind of witchcraft.” — Roshani Chokshi, New York Times bestselling author

Ever since she was a child, Salomé has been plagued by visions of spirits and dangerous powers she can’t control. After watching her foster mother burn as a witch, she and her beloved sister Rochelle are raised together in a convent, a grim and dreary existence. Until one day, Rochelle vanishes.

Determined to find a way to save her, Salomé first to a brothel, and then, after a terrible accident, away from the village and into the woods. Deep amongst the trees of the wild Black Forest, she comes face-to-face with Lord Death.

Rather than taking her life, he brings her to his home at the heart of the woods, a strange manor full of locked rooms and mysterious corridors, crumbling one moment, magnificent the next. He promises to make her his apprentice and teach her how to harness her mind and magic. His words are as seductive as his presence—but should one trust Death?

 A swirling mirage of dark fairy tale, gothic romance, and historical fantasy, A Dark and Wild Wood is a novel best devoured all at once. But proceed with caution, as everything is not what it seems...

Genres: Fantasy, Gothic, Romance, Horror, Retellings, Adult, Historical Fiction

Kindle Edition

Expected publication May 12, 2026

Reviews

[Vmndetta ᛑᛗᛛ · Rating 5 out of 5]

honestly, after reading those reviews, i didn't plan to read this book at first (i was invited to read). but for some reason, i felt a weird urge to pick it up. like a good feeling??? and i was right, because from the very beginning, i was immediately hooked. people may feel differently, but i loved it.

the first thing that really pulled me in was the prose. it felt very beautiful and just fit the atmosphere. for me, it wasn't too much at all, it felt just right. this was the main reason i kept wanting to read. even though there aren't that many scary things happening in this book (i didn't really feel the horror elements, to be honest), the writing alone makes the gothic elements strong.

the pacing can be uneven, sure, but i enjoyed my time 'walking' through the manor, the woods, and the village, encountering new and strange things. i was pretty much like Salome while reading this. curious about everything. reading this book is like walking with a small lantern in the woods (like the cover). we've got trauma, friendship (romantic or platonic? 👀), bad luck, mysteries about missing women, dangerous magic power, creepy & mysterious manor, and so much more.

BUT this is not a romance book. so if you're expecting romance, i think you'll be disappointed. (tho to be fair, at first i was like, okay, Death is kinda interesting. though slowly, he starts to change into someone who's … well, let's just say the story gets a bit more disturbing in the middle after that.)

my favorite character here is probably the Hellcat lmaooo. i liked this book without really liking the characters, and that's fine. imo, if you don't mind the things i mentioned above, just go read it.

[✧˖°.⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚₊ ⊹ ♡Megan ₊˚⊹ ᰔ ⟡ ݁₊ . · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the advance readers copy of this book.

3.5⭐️ A Dark and Wild Wood was very beautifully written. I absolutely loved the lyrical writing style for this book. What starts out as a dreary and dull story transcends into a beautiful atmospheric and dark tale with spirits, magic, spells and a very dark gothic feel once the main character reaches the “otherworld” and we meet Lord Death as he takes her under his wing as his apprentice to help her with her magic to find her sister.

I couldn’t believe how good this book was as I kept reading it. The Knight and the Moth and One Dark Window girlies, this book is for you if you like trips through a dark and magical forest and creepy mansions and beautiful spells. (Honestly better than The Knight and the Moth.)

The story line really keeps you hooked but I’m only rating it 3.5 because I did get a little bored around 70% but the entirety of the book is still SO good and I definitely didn’t expect that ending.

[Book Riot Community]

Book Riot’s Most Anticipated Books of 2026:

In this Bluebeard-inspired story, Sarah Nicole Lemon weaves an eerie fairytale full of dark magic and seduction. Despite her futile attempts, Salomé has never been able to control her mysterious powers or visions of spirits. Her world turns upside down when her sister Rochelle disappears, and Salomé leaves the convent to try to save her. In the Black Forest, Salomé comes face to face with Lord Death. He spares her life and takes her back to his manor, where he promises to teach her to harness her powers—but at what cost? Part horror, part fantasy—with a dash of erotica —A Dark and Wild Wood is the must-read gothic tale of the year. —Kendra Winchester

[andrea]

ok i've been following sarah for YEARS and maybe nobody is more hyped about this one than me I NEED THIS

--

I LOVE YOU HARPER VOYAGER, THANK YOU FOR MY ARC

[Mars Azel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Moody, dark, and ethereal. A Dark and Wild Wood immerses you in a world of vivid imagery and surrealism that pushes the boundaries of what it means to survive as a woman. If you love stories with a sapphic, witchy heart, this is absolutely the book for you.

[Reneaue · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fans of Keri Lake will likely appreciate the dark, gothic atmosphere of A Dark and Wild Wood . The story carries clear echoes of Nightshade, beginning with Salomé, a girl who has never known peace. At her birth, her father attempted to drown both her and her mother, but a kind woman named Valerie intervened, saving and later raising Salomé and her sister, Rochelle. Valerie, a healer and wood witch, becomes a target of the town’s fear, and Salomé is forced as a child to watch her burn at the stake. Fearing a similar fate, Salomé conceals that she can see beyond the veil of the mortal realm.

The horrors continue as she and Rochelle are sent to a convent where punishment is plentiful and kindness is scarce. Even that grim refuge is shattered when Salomé witnesses an antlered creature kidnap her sister. Her escape leads her from the convent to a brothel, where she struggles to hide strange powers she barely understands, powers that eventually draw the attention of the Lord of Death. If you’ve read Nightshade, the setup will feel familiar even as the plot diverges.

But this novel is inspired by the Bluebeard folktale, about a wealthy nobleman whose wives mysteriously vanish. In Salomé’s world, a reclusive Baron has just returned to Riquewihr as young women and children start disappearing. Though Salomé has never met him, she has killed one of his soldiers—an act that leaves her clawing out of her own grave before stumbling into the snowy forest and into the hands of Death himself.

I have to admit that I found the story tedious. The plot meanders like a sailboat on a windless day, and more than once I considered DNF’ing. I struggled to care about Salomé’s fate; she often feels naïve, unfocused, and easily swayed by anyone who gives her attention, whether kind or cruel. Her goals are quickly abandoned whenever comfort presents itself. There is a hint of redemption toward the end, but only if the reader has the patience to get there.

The book is undeniably dark. At times it reads like an allegory for the exploitation of young women by the powerful. There’s also a handsome, green‑eyed bandit in the woods who seems to be set up as a significant character, but he ultimately serves only to deliver a single piece of information; making his early prominence feel unnecessary. The illusion-based magic system is equally perplexing; if Salomé’s food and clothing are illusory like her environment, how did she survive? Was she unknowingly pulling real sustenance from the void? The text never clarifies.

Ultimately, the story left me with more questions than answers. It struggles with pacing and never delivers a protagonist I could root for. For these reasons, I rated it lower; though I recognize that readers who enjoy very dark, gothic fantasy with heavy themes may find more to love here than I did. It simply wasn’t for me.
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Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher William Morrow, and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[The Bat Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

“This is a fairytale where the woods watch, Death listens, and desperation decides who you reach for.”

This is a dark fantasy steeped in fairytale bones and shadowed symbolism. Clearly inspired by a tale I wasn’t personally familiar with, which made the reading experience feel mysterious.

I’ll be honest, I found myself skimming through portions of the book, which signals some pacing issues for me. Certain stretches linger longer than necessary, and the momentum occasionally falters. That said, the dark fantasy elements shine through consistently, and the atmosphere never fully loses its grip. Star Rating: *3.5*

However, Salome’s journey is where the story truly finds its strength. Her life, her search for her sister, and especially her encounter and relationship with Death are all drenched in darkness. Watching her path of self-discovery unfold. Realizing who she is, what she’s capable of, and stepping into her own power was compelling and empowering. Despite the fantasy framework, there’s a clear, resonant message woven through her arc.

The romance is unapologetically dark, not just in its connection to Death, but in how it mirrors desperation itself. I often found myself questioning Salome’s relationships—not only with Death, but with others she reaches for along the way. It felt deeply human. When circumstances close in and loneliness sharpens, you don’t always choose love because it’s right—you choose it because it’s there.

There’s a sense of grasping, of panicked reaching, like being trapped in thick mud. At first, you flail, searching for something, or someone, to pull you free, only to realize later that escape was always possible on your own. The author captures that uncomfortable truth well: that some bonds feel fated not because they are, but because desperation convinces you they are.

Overall, while the pacing didn’t fully work for me, A Dark and Wild Wood delivers on atmosphere, darkness, and theme. Readers who enjoy fairytale-inspired fantasy with morally complex romance, shadowed symbolism, and empowering self-realization arcs may find more to love here than I did.

This book is for those who enjoy fantasy that explores desperation, self-discovery, and love that feels more like survival than salvation.

[Kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy from Harper Voyager via Netgalley in exchange for a fair review. Publish date May 26th, 2026.

I always enjoy a good dark fairy tale, so I thought I'd give a new author a try. In A Dark and Wild Wood, Salome was abandoned as a child and then escaped a nunnery and a brothel. Now on the run after accidentally attacking a man with her magic, Salome encounters a man who calls himself Lord Death who promises to teach her everything he knows if she does as he says...

This is, ultimately, a story about an impressionable young woman absorbed into a relationship with a powerful man. There are some minor elements of Bluebeard here—the dead young women, the key—but Lemon mostly sticks to the old, familiar story of the evil dark wizard with the sexually charged relationship with his pupil. Perhaps the image of the predatory teacher is so common because it resonates with an all too frequent story in the real world, but it's never been my cup of tea. I've read Novik's Uprooted and Bardugo's Darkling and all the rest. I know this guy very well, and I think he's tiresome. It doesn't help that most of the story is limited to Salome stumbling around the castle going nowhere. Meanwhile, her relationship with Lord Death is predictably sexually charged: Salome struggles through his magical trials while he flatters and abuses her in turns, always careful to keep her off balance. I did appreciate that Salome is bisexual and her relationship with Death is interestingly kinky, but I did not appreciate the not one but two warnings at the beginning of the book against reading the story as a romance. I can read, let me form my own decisions.

A predictable villain, a predictably naive young woman, and a tiresome dichotomy between the evil manwizard and the wise and motherly witch in the woods. I'm sure some readers will enjoy this book—some of the fraught sequences with Death are particularly good—but it leaned too hard into parable for me. I already know the lesson and I'd prefer something with a bit more of a twist, or for that matter, a bit more of the original Bluebeard tale.

[Wessy Acrey · Rating 2 out of 5]

ARC Review of A Dark and Wild Wood by Sarah Nicole Lemon granted by Harper Collins Publishing

I give this a…..wispy and fading……2.5.

I gave this dark romance/fantasy novel a fair chance and wanted to like it, at first. I was often put off while reading because a million things would be going on at once and then it would all resolve without much of an explanation, which happened more than once in the entirety of the read. Often, I really just took whatever was happening at face value because I knew it was never going to get fully explained to me. This type of writing can be well received but when it’s happening at every chance throughout the book: it gets frustrating.

Although it feels like a fair attempt at writing a dark fantasy story that brings up references such as Beauty and the Beast, Red Riding Hood, Robin Hood and even a little Howls Moving Castle sprinkled in, this story does not have a clear cut plot as the above mentioned titles. I find the prose/style of writing adds too much to an already “too much” story. Too much is left unexplained and assumed. Too much of the story sounds like someone attempting to write down their LSD trip before they forget, and leaving out details to the protagonists magic - such as the badly executed situation of “dimension hopping” where our protagonist can jump in between living and dead realms? This, among other things, I still don’t understand fully.

I felt many of the sexual themes, such as power and control, were a little too brave at parts. For example, there was no real explanation for why Death would cut her legs open with a knife? And the story didn’t explain the action, it just continued on….

Although I will say, if this book had major restructuring and clearer explanation within the plot, the underlying story seems unique enough to stand on its own. It’s the flowery writing and jumbled plot that hits this story hard, in a bad way.

I felt the book ended the same way it was written: not much of a resolve, a confused but growing witch, and no real climax to the plot.

[VelvetNocturne_ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

A Dark and Wild Wood by Sarah Nicole Lemon is a dark, atmospheric exploration of survival, identity, and power. The novel follows Salomé, who witnesses her sister Rochelle’s abduction by an unknown—possibly demonic—entity. Driven by desperation and loyalty, Salomé becomes Death’s apprentice, leveraging her supernatural abilities, which have long marked her as a witch—a dangerous label in her world. As she searches for her sister, Salomé must also deal with the dangers of being both a witch and a prostitute, a combination that isolates her further and complicates her quest for help.

The gothic atmosphere of the manor—the sense that the house itself is alive—was particularly compelling, as were the haunting presence of the spirits and the hellcat Schneid (probably my favorite). Salomé is the most fully fleshed-out character, while the supporting cast remained somewhat unclear and elusive, leaving me wanting more profound insight into their motives and histories. The author’s stylistic choices, though beautifully immersive, contributed to this sense of ambiguity. The novel masterfully weaves together elements of horror, erotica, and folklore, creating a unique and haunting reading experience.

Lemon’s prose is lyrical—almost poetic—rendering the narrative as an extended parable on survival. The psychological tension between Salomé and Death is a central thread, capturing her yearning for connection and her struggle with the manipulations that define their relationship.

A Dark and Wild Wood was my first encounter with Lemon’s work, and her striking, lyrical prose has left me looking forward to reading more of her work. However, the story’s wandering, parable-like structure sometimes led to frustration, as the search for resolution felt protracted and, at times, unsatisfying.

[Betsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Dark and Wild Wood is the lush and atmospheric story of a maiden with dark magic who becomes the apprentice to Lord Death—for a price.

Ever since she was a child, Salomé has been plagued by visions of spirits and dangerous powers she can’t control. After watching her foster mother burn as a witch, she and her beloved sister Rochelle are raised together in a convent, a grim and dreary existence. Until one day, Rochelle vanishes.

Determined to find a way to save her, Salomé runs: first to a brothel, and then, after a terrible accident, away from the village and into the woods. Deep amongst the trees of the wild Black Forest, she comes face-to-face with Lord Death.

The cover immediately caught my eye and drew me in. It's beautiful.

The writing is beautiful- with a lyrical and atmospheric prose. The atmosphere felt dark and moody kind of like a lucid dream with these blurred edges. I loved how vivid the descriptions were bringing the settings to life- it was almost as if i could feel, smell, taste and touch everything It felt eerie and alive. This combined with the slow steady pacing made this a gothic reader's dream. As a gothic reader, that heavy, haunting mood is literally what is needed. It’s a dark shadow that stretches across floor and sinks into the corners of your mind and embeds itself into the crevasses to fester and linger long after you finish the book.

I devoured this book in one sitting.

A swirling mirage of dark fairy tale, gothic romance, and historical fantasy, A Dark and Wild Wood is a novel best devoured all at once. But proceed with caution, as everything is not what it seems...

I recommend this to any reader that likes to feel as if they are inside the book and not just reading it.

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the gifted eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for the ARC.

I got ads for this book on Instagram and it sounded incredible, and very luckily it was Read Now on the site. I began it a few days ago and I have no clue what Lemon put in the writing but I read 50% of it my first day. Well played. I couldn't put it down.

The book follows Salomé, who endured a LOT of misfortune in her short life thanks to her curse. Everyone she loves or cares about seems to die. Her birth mother is drowned by her father, and Salomé is thrown in the river for good measure. She's fished out by Valerie, who begins raising Salomé and her sister, Rochelle, except the town labels Valerie a witch and burns her. Salomé and Rochelle end up at a convent, where Salomé's visions plague her and she prays for piety, but is miserable. Finally Rochelle is carried away by a creature one day and Salomé runs away, winding up in a brothel. Salomé is stubborn, so this situation is made exponentially worse by her losing control of herself one night and the brothel owner just getting rid of her. Salomé manages to free herself and runs into the terror she's feared all her life, Lord Death, who tells her she is powerful beyond measure and wants to teach her how to harness that.

This is a remix of the Bluebeard tale, so there's a lot of "you can't open this door" in the story and Salomé is initially contented to be taught, but she's SO much smarter than a lot of people want to give her credit for.

I really enjoyed this. The writing and vibes were so similar to other, adult fairy tales and their retellings. It's gritty, and there's not a lot of bright spots for our heroine, but if you enjoyed The River Has Roots, But Not Too Bold, When Among Crows, and the like, this book is ABSOLUTELY up your alley.

(Please don't let this be the end of exploring this world!)

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for this ebook publishing on May 26, 2026.

I picked this up because the cover completely pulled me in, and honestly, it delivered the exact kind of moody gothic atmosphere I love. Inspired by Bluebeard, this story follows a woman drawn into a dark, mysterious world where beauty and danger sit side by side. It’s eerie, vivid, and dripping in forest shadow energy.

Review
This book was such a vibe for me. The writing is genuinely beautiful, like the kind of prose that slows you down because you want to reread sentences just to soak them in. The atmosphere felt perfect from the start, dark and moody and almost dreamlike, with that constant sense that something is watching from the edges. I loved how vivid the descriptions were, because the setting didn’t just feel like a backdrop, it felt alive, like it was part of the story’s heartbeat. And as a gothic reader, that’s what I’m always chasing, that heavy, haunting mood that makes everything feel a little cursed in the best way. It’s not a fast, action-packed read, but it didn’t need to be. It’s more of a slow sink into shadows, and I was fully into it. The Bluebeard inspiration gave it that delicious tension, too, where you know you’re walking toward a locked door you probably shouldn’t open, but you’re going to anyway. I finished this feeling satisfied and a little haunted, which is exactly what I wanted.

✅ Would I Recommend It?
Yes, especially if you love gothic stories that focus on atmosphere, mood, and gorgeous writing. If you’re here for vibes and vivid settings, this one hits.

[Bailey Eubank · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Dark and Wild Wood

This is not a love story.

A top tier gothic tale, the imagery alone would make a fortune as a painting.
It gives a old gods vibes, things that are far older than bones.

Salome is born with unwanted gifts, and has to watch the people she loves the most repeatedly get taken away from her. Sympathizing with Salome as she has to take the brunt end of the stick over and over again. While knowing underneath an unsuspecting woman lies something far older and darker just waiting to be unleashed.

Reading about Salome’s journey and how her life has flowed to the point of meeting Lord Death. Not as careless prey but an equally terrifying creature, who will not back down as easily.

Although I wouldn’t classify this as directly a horror novel it does have so many horror like events, and themes
Hauntingly beautiful, I think almost everyone has felt trapped in a hellish, for lack of a better term “relationship”, not as traumatizing or bloody as Salome’s.

If you have a fondness for historical fantasies that are dark and gothic this is more than likely to be a great read.

I personally will not get over the last few chapters, this is one story that will stay on my mind for a long while.


Thank You to the lovely people at Harper Collins and NetGalley for this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

[Colie Tichner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you so much Netgalley and HarperCollins for the eArc in exchange for an honest review

*3.25

A Dark and Wild Wood is a beautiful exploration of trauma and reclaiming your power through gothic, glorious prose. The story is steeped in fairytale, and that sense of magic, both formidable and wondrous, is present throughout the book. It was exciting to see Bluebeard reimagined, and I was on the edge of my seat waiting for everything to culminate. Though I did find the pacing a bit off and felt that the ending could've come sooner, it didn't disappoint when it came. However, I did struggle to fully grasp the descriptions of the magic and sometimes found myself confused when reading because of it. There were also a couple of threads I was a bit lost on, that I felt like were dropped, whereas there were some things I wanted more time and attention on. Salomé's journey is the core of the story, and I thought it was executed very well and realistically, to the degree that I sometimes was frustrated because I wanted her to want better for herself, which I think takes real bravery and talent to write. I love Sarah Nicole Lemon's writing style and I look forward to reading her next book!

[Nicole Duron · Rating 3 out of 5]

In a Dark and Wild Wood, Salome and her sister are raised in a convent. But one day, Salome's sister, Rochelle, disappears. During her journey to find her she meets Lord Death. He promises to teach her his ways.

I wish I would have liked this more but it was confusing. The writing style was complicated and hard to follow. It felt like the author had such a clear idea in their head of what they were trying to achieve but failed in the execution of taking the reader along with them. There are a lot of times where things are introduced but never fully resolved or explained. It just leaves us hanging and rereading sections to see if we missed something. There is also repeated word choices used throughout the novel that may stand out to some readers. One of them was using 'staff' during the sex scenes. Perhaps it was a more gothic word choice but for my reading taste, I mentally replaced it every single time.

I think if you like gothic novels you may enjoy this. But I would read reviews and understand readers perspectives for those who loved it rather than those of us who didn't t0 gain a better grasp on if this book is for you.

Thank you Harper Voyager for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Alanis Winters · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a deeply atmospheric read with rich, immersive descriptions that really pulled me into the world. At times, the prose felt a bit overdone and occasionally clunky, but not enough to take me out of the story completely.

One of my main struggles was with the characters; there weren’t many that I found particularly likable or easy to connect with. I was especially confused by Salomé’s decision to trust Death over Perchta, which didn’t feel fully convincing to me and was hard to understand from a character standpoint.

That said, these issues didn’t significantly detract from my overall enjoyment. In fact, the book became more engaging the further I read, and I found myself increasingly invested. The tension was especially well done, compelling enough that I almost forgot this was never really going to be a romance.

Pacing, however, was a consistent issue throughout the story. While the narrative was gripping, it didn’t always move as smoothly as I would have liked.

Overall, despite some flaws, this was a captivating and absorbing read that stayed with me. Thank you so much for the ARC!

[Sissy Lu {The Bookish Raven} · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m not sure where to begin with this one.

What I liked: the gothic vibes, the twist on Bluebeard. There aren’t many retellings of it and I enjoy it. The absolute Grimm fairytale mood.

But that is where my likes really stop.

Salomé is our protagonist and I wanted to enjoy her character. I wanted even more to enjoy her development. But there wasn’t much there and the prose was so difficult to follow for me. It felt inconsistent, oddly paced and spun through so many differing thoughts and moments. There was SO much going on and the thoughts skipped so violently through the next moment I caught myself re reading out of utter confusion and not understanding why or where I was in the story.

Death is of course our antagonist but I didn’t feel connected to him in any sort of way that made me consider him a big bad… in fact, due to the feverish way of writing I had difficulty connecting to anyone.

We are made to believe certain side characters are important but honestly all of it felt flat and just meh.

[Hekareadsbooks · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a painful read for me.

For a 368 page book, this felt.. off. The pacing is wrong.

The metaphors are clear, but the story felt weak.

I really hope that this goes through another round of editing. The number of times the word "roiled" was used in just the first few chapters alone was aggravating, but it popped up again at the end. Also, please minimize the number of times you call his penis a "staff." Over and over again, "his staff" this and "his staff" that. So many sentences that are redundant and the wording is redundant. Please, please consider another editing pass.

I felt the ending was weak after everything she went through. She made the same mistakes over, and over, and over.... Then all of a sudden, she is wise and powerful and knows what to do.

The magic descriptions are also off-putting. They are difficult to follow and picture.

A fever dream, in a bad way.

[Kristie Kieffer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Dark and Wild Wood is a captivating blend of dark fantasy and adventure, full of magic, mystery, and danger that keeps readers hooked from start to finish. Sarah Nicole Lemon crafts a vivid, immersive world that feels alive and treacherous, perfectly matching the story’s suspenseful tone.

The characters are compelling and layered, with strengths, flaws, and motivations that feel real. Their journeys are filled with tension, personal growth, and emotional stakes that make the story resonate deeply. The relationships—whether friendships, alliances, or budding romance—are developed naturally, adding depth to the narrative.

Lemon’s writing is atmospheric and immersive, balancing dark, thrilling moments with quieter, introspective scenes. Themes of courage, survival, and self-discovery are woven seamlessly, giving the story both heart and edge.

Fans of dark fantasy, magical adventures, and richly developed characters will find A Dark and Wild Wood a gripping and unforgettable read. 🌲✨

[Amber Nay🖤💫 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins for the E-Arc in exchange for an honest review.

A Dark and Wild Wood is a gothic Blue Beard retelling.
If you are unfamiliar with Blue Beard, I do suggest looking him up. I think this story will make much more sense if you know who our characters are based off of.

The world building was a lot, which made this a little hard to get into. But overall, the story was very lush and atmospheric. I really enjoyed the author's writing style. It was captivating and the imagery was fantastic.

Salome was well written. I can say that I did not see the twist coming at the end. I felt betrayed which, in my opinion, worked great. I also quite enjoyed Salome's character development.
Lord Death was also well written. I can't say much more about him without spoiling the story.

I am left to wonder about a couple of the side characters, but overall, this was a good read. Perfect for the changing of the seasons.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to love this one! Witchy vibes, a mysterious man, a lost sister... and queer representation!

Unfortunately, I did not enjoy the pacing, I didn't feel like I could fully connect with the characters because our protagonist, Salomé, was a little all over the place. I was confused for a good portion of the novel on timelines and how she felt about the other characters.

I may give it another go in the future, but for now, it wasn't for me.

Also, there were some very explicit sex scenes, as it is an adult novel. As a 34 year old, I don’t mind these scenes, but it did feel weird reading “staff” every single time a penis was talked about. That part felt very YA, but the scenes were definitely not something you would/should find in a YA book.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Voyager for the chance to read this ARC.

[amel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this. And I did, at first. But as the story went on, the plot started to unravel to the point where I was rereading passages in absolute confusion. It just got to a point where the pacing was very fast yet somehow it also dragged endlessly. I refuse to believe that the main portion of this story takes place within the span of a few months. It was also confusing because so many plot points were introduced and dropped and brought up again and dropped again.

I also get that this is supposed to be gothic and dark, but the brutalization of women very quickly went from a thematic message to just...violence for the sake of violence. In my opinion. There are a lot of great pieces of this book that should come together to form a hard-hitting narrative, but unfortunately, I don't think it landed.

[Caroline · Rating 2 out of 5]

I could have enjoyed A Dark and Wild Wood as a Bluebeard retelling because it would have been awesome to have a gothic, witchy Death and the Maiden story. But a mishmash of lores and floaty-at-best structuring hits it really hard.

I have no dogs in the hard/soft magic system debate because I do not care as long as it's internally consistent. However, there is no indication of what Salomé is supposed to be able to do or what magic even means in this story. It seems to change as the plot needs, and since there's no consistency, there's no sense of progress in Salomé's power.

If you need a fix of moody-feeling prose, this could scratch it. I just think that is all it could do.

**Thank you to Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the ARC read for this review.**

[Zoe Lipman · Rating 3 out of 5]

A spooky little story about a deal with the devil.

This has dark magic, Lord Death, a deal with Lord Death, a spooky and magical forest, a mysterious manor, and some romance.

This was complicated at times, but also a fun little adventure. If you like the overall dark atmosphere of books like One Dark Window, you'd like the vibe of this book (quite different stories, but a similar air about it).

I liked quite a few aspects of this book: the journey that our FMC has to go through and the desperation of the overall story, I thought that was really well done. And I love a good spooky vibe. But I was a bit thrown off by the pacing. It was rather inconsistent and that can really stick out to me.

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

[Madeline Church · Rating 2 out of 5]

A Dark and Wild Wood is one of those books you pick up because the vibes bring you in. The dark, magical elements are very enticing to a reader who frequently likes this type of feel in their books. However, I did not love the entirety of it as I would have hoped to.

I found myself getting quite bored at times. It was too slow-moving to enjoy it to its fullest potential. This is a shame because the plot truly intrigued me, and I was excited for the story itself. It is also marketed as retellings, but that is not the case. There are mentions of popular fairytales, but in no way do they result in a retelling.

Thank you NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager, & Sarah Nicole Lemon for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Madeline Bini · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

This was a rollercoaster! A great depiction of grief and trust. I didn’t expect my feelings to vary as you know from the beginning this relationship is going to be dark and sad but the psychological manipulation was very well written (which is unfortunate after reading the acknowledgements and realizing it’s because of the authors first hand experience). I found myself feeling conflicted on and off with Solomé. I really liked the story line but did feel some of the middle was unecessary/repetative. I hope a prequel/sequel with Rochelle’s story is on the horizon because I’d love to know more about it!

Thank you Netgalley!

[Allie Reilly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley for this advanced copy!

Everything about the description made me think this book would be for me, but I can't help feeling lead on. From the description, I thought this would be darker, and had no idea I was walking into smut. The pacing felt off, leaving me bored around the 35% mark, and the romance did not feel earned. The multiple mentions of "my raven black hair" made the writing feel childish and took me out of the story to cringe. I wanted to love this, but it just wasn't for me.

[Shannon Crawford · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book, I thought, would be a fantasy Gothic romance. I'd say this is a horror fantasy and go in without the expectation of reading something romantic. I hadn't heard of Blue beard before and found this story to be kind of a refreshing new tale in the fantasy genre that I hadn't seen already. Salome definitely has had a horrible life, and you feel for her in wanting that peace in her life. There are no fluff or light-hearted parts to this novel. If you enjoy a dark horror, Gothic vibe, this one is for you!

[Amber Ro · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book reads like a gothic fairy tale, dark mysterious themes reminiscent of Jane Eyre. It was a good story and plot but way too long and overly descriptive. Pages of repetitive details that did not move the story forward.

If you’re in the mood for a dark and stormy gothic romance that’s more than a bit over the top and a pinch pretentious this is the perfect book for a rainy weekend.

Thank you Avon and Harper Publishing for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.