First published 2023
Jedediah works as a fairy-smith in Gyrford, mediating between his village and the supernatural People who live in the nearby Forest. When someone accidentally digs up and transplants a fae creature that resembles a thornbush with a blackberry head, the offended being seeks revenge against anyone it can find. Jedediah faces this crisis alongside his son Matthew and grandson Johnny, the only other men who can communicate with the Forest dwellers. Their troubles multiply when a greedy landlord threatens to sell the village mill and evict the family that has operated it for generations. A damaged young boy repeatedly tries to enter the forbidden Forest, adding to their concerns. Rumors spread that the legendary Black Hal runs again, his hooves striking fire and his eyes glowing red like burning coals. The three fairy-smiths must handle all these mounting problems while an entire community depends on their unique abilities to maintain the delicate balance between human and fae worlds.
Genres: fantasy, magical-realism, folklore, fairy-tale-retellings
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Gyrford, Forest
Period: 19th-century
416 pages · Paperback · Arcadia Books