by C. G. Drews
First published 2025
Evander has spent years trapped at Hazelthorn estate under three strict rules from his guardian Byron Lennox-Hall: never leave the grounds, never enter the gardens, and never be alone with Byron's grandson Laurie, who once tried to kill him. When Byron dies suddenly, Evander inherits the massive gothic mansion and the family fortune. He must select a new guardian from Laurie's scheming relatives to manage the estate until he reaches eighteen. But Evander suspects Byron was murdered, and the killer may target him next. Meanwhile, the overgrown garden begins creeping into the house, its vines and spores spreading further each day. As Evander investigates his guardian's death, he realizes Laurie might be his only ally among the backstabbing family members. The garden grows more aggressive and hungry, demanding to be fed. Evander must uncover the family's buried secrets and discover what he has truly inherited before the bloodthirsty plants claim their next victim.
Genres: mystery, fantasy, thriller, gothic
Vibes: dark, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, unreliable-narrator
Setting: Hazelthorn Estate
Period: 19th-century
352 pages · Paperback · Hachette Children's Group
Content warnings: violence