A Girl Walks into the Forest

Midsommar meets The Shadows Between Us in this alluring dark fantasy mash-up of horror and fairy tale from New York Times bestselling author Madeleine Roux, where a girl must embark on a harrowing journey through a deadly forest filled with otherworldly creatures, supernatural forces, and one maniacal villain who will stop at nothing to bring her down.

For as long as she can remember, Valla’s been told her beauty would give her a life most people only dreamed of. So when the mysterious Count Leonid calls on her to be his betrothed, Valla jumps at the chance to leave her small, bleak village. The only thing standing in her way? The journey through the dangerous Gottyar Wood, a place steeped in gothic fantasy that many don’t survive.

Filled with deadly and cunning creatures, the Gottyar immediately delivers on its reputation with an attack that leaves Valla injured; her face torn to shreds. Barely making it to the castle in one piece, Valla is relieved to finally be safe. But things have changed. Valla’s face is no longer beautiful. And the Count is not happy…Valla thought making it through the Gottyar was a victory, but when she sees what awaits beyond the palace walls, the true battle begins.

In this ruthlessly female-forward narrative that borrows from the best of horror, fairy tales, and folklore, a chewed-up-and-spit-out heroine begins a bloody revenge quest, leaning on the brutality of nature and her biggest fears in order to win back what’s she's been robbed of: her life.

Stripped of the one thing she was told had value, Valla discovers a new power in the very woods that tried to kill her.

• A Subversive Fairy Tale: When her beauty is destroyed, an outcast heroine discovers that her greatest strength isn’t a pretty face, but the ferocity she finds in the heart of a cursed forest.
• Folk Horror: Inspired by grim folklore, this story plunges you into the Gottyar Wood, where the monsters are both otherworldly and deeply human.
• YA Horror: With visceral body horror and an unflinching look at survival, this is a dark and demanding read for older teens who aren’t afraid of the deep woods.
• Atmospheric & Gothic: From a wind-whipped village to a decaying castle of secrets, the setting itself is a character, trapping Valla in a world where nowhere is truly safe.
• A Dark Transformation: Valla’s journey from a pawn in a nobleman’s game to a force of nature is a ruthless, female-forward tale of empowerment and vengeance.

"Well-crafted and deeply unsettling, this folktale-influenced horror novel will captivate fans of the genre, but it’s not for the faint of heart. A grim triumph." - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"Exceptionally interesting and well developed. A dark fairy tale about the exploited environment fighting back, for fans of folktales and horror." - School Library Journal

"In fine Gothic tradition combined with a folkloric, ecofeminist perspective, Roux conjures a superbly atmospheric tale of horror and radical empowerment. The novel’s feminism displays nuance, showing that institutional patriarchy has harmed not just women but also men and even the natural and supernatural worlds." - Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

"This dark and foreboding mash-up is rife with shadowy secrets and scary fairy-tale touches. Excellent character development, unsettling and atmospheric world building, and numerous but well-woven folklore references combine for a deeply suspenseful, darkly vengeful tale of self-discovery." - Booklist (starred review)

"Riveting action and break-neck pacing, Roux conjures a raw horror narrative using deliciously grisly moments that subvert traditional fairy tale fare." - Publishers Weekly