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Season of Fear
Description
Night of the Witch meets The Handmaid’s Tale in this queer Gothic horror debut set against the monstrous Bavarian forest of Hexenwald.
Unwilling to lose Thea, Ilse enters the Hexenwald. She hopes that its horrors will finally unleash her fear and, in turn, save her sister. But during her quest Ilse inadvertently uncovers something far more sinister than the monsters that hunt her: a darkness within herself. As the forest closes in, Ilse’s hopes for a normal future begin to slip away, as well as the chance to save not just Thea, but all women in Heulensee.
Bewitching and timely, this gripping debut novel is a dark fairy tale about the fate of girls and women in a world grown accustomed to sacrificing them.
★“Hauntingly poetic and monstrously romantic.”—Ava Reid, #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Study in Drowning
★“A dark and dreadful tour de force of a debut! Exquisitely beautiful and horrific.”—Erin A. Craig, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Thirteenth Child
In the Bavarian village of Heulensee, women feed their terror to an ancient Saint of Fear. In return, it protects them from the monsters of the Hexenwald, the haunted forest on their doorstep. Born unfearing, Ilse Odenwald has felt like an outsider all her life. When the Saint discovers Ilse’s divergence, it levels a threat: she must find her fear, or the Saint will devour her sister, Dorothea—the only person who loves Ilse unconditionally.
Unwilling to lose Thea, Ilse enters the Hexenwald. She hopes that its horrors will finally unleash her fear and, in turn, save her sister. But during her quest Ilse inadvertently uncovers something far more sinister than the monsters that hunt her: a darkness within herself. As the forest closes in, Ilse’s hopes for a normal future begin to slip away, as well as the chance to save not just Thea, but all women in Heulensee.
Bewitching and timely, this gripping debut novel is a dark fairy tale about the fate of girls and women in a world grown accustomed to sacrificing them.
★“Hauntingly poetic and monstrously romantic.”—Ava Reid, #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Study in Drowning
★“A dark and dreadful tour de force of a debut! Exquisitely beautiful and horrific.”—Erin A. Craig, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Thirteenth Child
About the Author
Emily Cooper is a published scientist who works in marine policy. Nobody knows what she means when she says that, so she also calls herself a conservationist. Her career was preceded by a Master’s degree in Biology and a lifelong obsession with the natural world. Emily lives near Manchester in a 330-year-old cottage, which she’s fairly certain is haunted. Emily doesn’t mind; it provides ample inspiration for her novels. When not writing, you can generally find her confidently misidentifying the birds in her garden. She is on Instagram and X @ohdeeremily.
From NOVL Nation
“A beautifully gothic, twisty fairy tale full of enchanted woods, familial loyalty, and secrets with teeth. Emily Cooper’s debut sucks readers into a Grimm-esque world where finding your fear may be just as important as finding your courage… A powerful story of female resilience and finding yourself, your real self, against all odds.”
–Natalie, @natalieac
“Do you ever read a book and you spend the next few days sitting in it, just still engrossed in a world whose claws won’t let you loose? Season Of Fear is an atmospheric powerhouse, a folklore inspired dark fairytale that will leave you reeling from page one. The prose of this novel is so hauntingly beautiful it adds the perfect juxtaposition to the horror aspect surrounding this village where fear is currency. If you’re looking for a spooky season read that might just break your heart in the process, look no further.”
–Angela, @onceuponaread13
“This one feels like a mix of dark fairy tale and gothic fever dream. The stakes are high but it’s also super emotional—Ilse is caught between wanting to belong, wanting to protect her sister, and maybe falling for someone she shouldn’t. It’s haunting, messy, and so atmospheric I swear I could hear the forest breathing while I read.”
– Jezaline, @jlreadstoperpetuity
“This book is eerie, atmospheric, and dripping with tension. I loved the way it flipped the idea of bravery and weakness on its head it’s not about being fearless, but about what fear can cost you, and what it can protect. Ilse’s journey is equal parts haunting and empowering, and the Hexenwald itself feels like a character dark, alive, and menacing.”
–Ashley, @thepageladies
“I loved that the FMC had no fear as opposed to everyone else in the village. It made for a really interesting read to find something that scared her and not to overcome said fears. Setting it in the woods perfected the writing and the story, and the monster was exceptionally creepy! ”
–Briana, Briana’s Book Nook
#SeasonofFear
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