First published 2016
Serafina has spent her entire life concealed in the basement of the magnificent Biltmore Estate. Her father, who maintains the grand mansion, has taught her to stay invisible to the wealthy family living above. She moves through secret passages and hidden corridors, never revealing herself to the Vanderbilts or their guests. When children begin disappearing from the estate, Serafina witnesses a sinister figure in a black cloak stalking the halls at night. After her own narrow escape from this mysterious predator, she breaks her father's rules and partners with Braeden Vanderbilt, the young nephew of the estate's owners. Together they must identify the Man in the Black Cloak before he claims more victims. The investigation forces Serafina into the forbidden forest surrounding Biltmore, where she uncovers magical secrets about her own past. To rescue the missing children, she must confront both the dark enemy hunting them and the truth about her mysterious origins.
Genres: historical-fiction, 20th-century, adventure, mystery, fantasy, 19th-century
Vibes: atmospheric, dark, suspenseful
Tropes: found-family, hidden-identity, mystery-thriller
Setting: Biltmore Estate, Forbidden Forest
Period: 19th-Century
320 pages · Paperback · Disney Hyperion