Wyatt Westlock spent every summer growing up at Willow Heath, her father’s rural estate, with her friends James and Peter. When her mother leaves her father—and takes Wyatt with her—she never hears from either boy again. Now 18, Wyatt inherits Willow Heath following her father’s death. She’s determined to burn it all down, until she finds Peter chained in the basement of her former home. She learns that her father had been the steward of an organization that prevents an encroaching evil from seeping into the world, a task accomplished by sinister magic—and by continuously murdering and harvesting Peter’s immortal body. Forced to take her father’s place, Wyatt struggles with her burden; Peter, meanwhile, plots her murder to be free of his own curse. All the while, both teens fight their growing attraction for each other and contend with the monsters in the dark, which are closer than they appear. Andrew (The Whispering Dark) tackles the protagonists’ predicaments with maturity and complexity, and employs lush and exquisite writing to distinguish this gothic tale. Characters cue as white. Ages 13–up. Agent: Josh Adams, Adams Literary. (Apr.)

Gr 10 Up —Andrew's sophomore novel is about three friends: Wyatt, Peter, and James. While growing up together during the summers at idyllic Willow Heath, Wyatt had no idea of the darkness that lurked beneath. After being whisked away from Willow Heath five years previous, Wyatt returns following the death of her father. Finding one of her childhood friends strung up by chains and trees in the basement, the truth of her family and home begins to unfurl. This gothic story is full of vibes and has a great dark atmosphere. The writing and description of the world and setting is lush, but the plot meanders and readers may find they are never quite sure what is supposed to be happening. The first part of the novel is a lot of description, with hints of a backstory, and while the end fulfills some of that backstory, the story is not fully fleshed out and still leaves holes. The magic system is a bit confusing and feels like a few various ideas tied together without much explanation. VERDICT Give to readers who are looking for a story with dark vibes and do not mind a slower paced, highly character driven novel.—Tegan Beese