A Dark and Wild Wood A Novel

By: Sarah Nicole Lemon

Published by HarperCollins Publishers, 2026-05-12

Inspired by the tale of Bluebeard, A Dark and Wild Wood is the lush and atmospheric story of a maiden with dark magic who becomes the apprentice to Lord Death--for a price. Perfect for fans of Juniper and Thorn and The Year of the Witching.

"No one writes like Sarah Nicole Lemon. She is a poet with knives for teeth. Her language will leave you carved out, and her sense of story is its own kind of witchcraft." -- Roshani Chokshi, New York Times bestselling author

Ever since she was a child, Salomé has been plagued by visions of spirits and dangerous powers she can't control. After watching her foster mother burn as a witch, she and her beloved sister Rochelle are raised together in a convent, a grim and dreary existence. Until one day, Rochelle vanishes.

Determined to find a way to save her, Salomé runs: first to a brothel, and then, after a terrible accident, away from the village and into the woods. Deep amongst the trees of the wild Black Forest, she comes face-to-face with Lord Death.

Rather than taking her life, he brings her to his home at the heart of the woods, a strange manor full of locked rooms and mysterious corridors, crumbling one moment, magnificent the next. He promises to make her his apprentice and teach her how to harness her mind and magic. His words are as seductive as his presence--but should one trust Death?

A swirling mirage of dark fairy tale, gothic romance, and historical fantasy, A Dark and Wild Wood is a novel best devoured all at once. But proceed with caution, as everything is not what it seems...