Lord of the Wood (Original)
Lord of the Wood (Original)
Lord of the Wood (Original)
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Description
Description
The cozy fantasy of TJ Klune meets the creeping horror of T. Kingfisher in this magical novel about a man who enters a deadly enchanted forest expecting it to endanger his life, but not his heart...
Clockmaker Arthur Throckmorton lives a quiet life with his sister and her children, only dreaming of adventure. So when a wealthy client offers him a job that involves traversing Shiftleaf--an enchanted forest that claimed his father decades ago--he reluctantly accepts. The forest is treacherous, but the money will change his family's lives.
The journey quickly turns perilous. Fleeing from monstrous birds, Arthur stumbles upon a hidden vale where he meets the Lord of the Wood--a figure from his father's many stories. Instead of the fairy prince Arthur always imagined, Ira is a morose man, slowly transforming into a beast, his power over a dying forest waning.
Arthur enjoys the safety of the vale, and Ira's company. But he yearns for his family. To safely return home and rescue Ira from a cursed and lonely existence, Arthur and Ira must reach the heart of the wood to heal the forest. Except the further they venture from the vale, the more beastly Ira becomes. If they can't complete their mission before he turns completely, Arthur could lose the man he's falling for--and never see his family again.
Clockmaker Arthur Throckmorton lives a quiet life with his sister and her children, only dreaming of adventure. So when a wealthy client offers him a job that involves traversing Shiftleaf--an enchanted forest that claimed his father decades ago--he reluctantly accepts. The forest is treacherous, but the money will change his family's lives.
The journey quickly turns perilous. Fleeing from monstrous birds, Arthur stumbles upon a hidden vale where he meets the Lord of the Wood--a figure from his father's many stories. Instead of the fairy prince Arthur always imagined, Ira is a morose man, slowly transforming into a beast, his power over a dying forest waning.
Arthur enjoys the safety of the vale, and Ira's company. But he yearns for his family. To safely return home and rescue Ira from a cursed and lonely existence, Arthur and Ira must reach the heart of the wood to heal the forest. Except the further they venture from the vale, the more beastly Ira becomes. If they can't complete their mission before he turns completely, Arthur could lose the man he's falling for--and never see his family again.
Critical Reviews
Critical Reviews
"Absolutely beautiful! An exquisite tale of love and family, wonderfully told! This is the kind of book that envelops you as you read and stays in your heart after you finish. I loved it!" -Sarah Beth Durst, New York Times bestselling author of The Spellshop "With the backdrop of an enchanted but deadly forest, The Lord of the Wood by E.M. Anderson is a lyrical quest supported by a diverse and memorable cast, each experiencing full on terror while finding strength through unexpected friendship. Told in a lush prose reminiscent of the best fairy tales of yore, Anderson gives readers a cozy fantasy that strikes the perfect balance between feral adventure and folk horror." --B.R. Myers, Mary Higgins Clark Award Winning Author of A Dreadful Splendor "The Lord of the Wood is the epitome of cozy horror, unsettling and tender in equal measure. This genre buster is perfect for fans of Over the Garden Wall and Princess Mononoke. A prickly hug of a book." -Rosiee Thor, co-author of Dead & Breakfast "The Lord of the Wood is a perfect cozy horror--it's a warm, strong hug as the world falls apart outside. Even though the tale revolves around a haunted forest, Anderson imbues the novel with grace: grace to discover who you are, and grace to arrive when you're ready. A necessary read for many, especially for those of us who need a respite before getting back to our feet." -Mia Tsai, author of The Memory Hunters "E.M. Anderson has delivered another gorgeous and heartwarming tale rooted in love--for one's family, for one's partner, and for one's self. Though fairy tale lovers will recognize hints of 'Beauty and the Beast, ' The Lord of the Wood is a wholly original tale that tackles pollution, conformity, chronic pain, and generalized anxiety in a thoughtful, fresh, and delightfully queer manner. One of the best books of 2026, hands down." --Kamilah Cole, USA Today and national indie bestselling author of An Arcane Inheritance
"E. M. Anderson's The Lord of the Wood is darkly delightful. Compelling cozy queer horror with fairytale echoes of Beauty and the Beast. Fabulous, frightening and hopeful." --Angela "A.G." Slatter, multi-award-winning author of A Forest, Darkly
"E. M. Anderson's The Lord of the Wood is darkly delightful. Compelling cozy queer horror with fairytale echoes of Beauty and the Beast. Fabulous, frightening and hopeful." --Angela "A.G." Slatter, multi-award-winning author of A Forest, Darkly
Publishing Information
Publishing Information
Publisher:
Hanover Square Press
Pub date:
2026-07-21
Length:
448 pages
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