The very first thriller from Rick Riordan Presents! Drawing from the darkest corners of Caribbean mythology, acclaimed author Sarah Dass crafts a chilling tale of magic, murder, and how far we’ll go to protect what’s ours—perfect for fans of Angeline Boulley and Tiffany D. Jackson.
Unlike the other residents of the small Caribbean Island of St. Virgil, Selina DaSilva does not believe in magic. With a logical mind and a knack for botany, Selina used to dream of leaving the island to study Pharmacology—until a vicious, unsolved attack left her father dead and her mother in a coma.
Now her guilt over her mother’s condition keeps her tethered to the island, relegated to conning gullible tourists with useless talismans and phony protection rituals. But when one of those tourists ends up at the center of a string of strange murders, the truth that Selina has been denying can no longer be avoided: there is evil lurking in the forests that surround St. Virgil. Another thing that can’t be avoided? Selina’s ex-boyfriend Gabriel, newly employed at the local newspaper and eager to put his investigative skills to use.
Desperate to put an end to the killings and claim justice for Selina’s family, these two former lovers race to find answers. But evil bides its time. And as long-buried feelings and long-hidden secrets about Selina’s family’s past begin to reveal themselves, only one answer remains—and it waits in the forest.
Endorsed by Rick Riordan, author of Percy Jackson and the Olympians, now a hit series on Disney+.
Sarah Dass was born and raised in Trinidad and Tobago. A graduate of the University of the West Indies and University College London, she works as an Office Administrator by day and writes stories about growing up in he Caribbean by night. When she’s not writing, she’s thinking about writing, or taking walks with her dachshund. The only thing she loves more than a lazy day at home is exploring new countries. Find her online at SarahDass.com and on Instagram @SarahDassWrites and Twitter @SarahDassAuthor.
"I was glued to these pages from beginning to end!" —Lauren Blackwood, New York Times best-selling author of Within These Wicked Walls
“A wickedly delectable thriller that will have you looking over your shoulder to make sure nothing followed you out of the forest.” —Roseanne A. Brown, New York Times best-selling author of A Song and Wraiths and Ruin
“A dark, tantalizing tale that will keep you on your toes as much as it will knock you back on your seat.” —Vincent Tirado, Pura Belpré Award–winning author of Burn Down, Rise Up
“Begs the question of how far you would go to reclaim what you’ve lost and what you risk sacrificing to get it. Compelling, creepy, and complex, this story will haunt you long after you’ve finished reading.” —Liselle Sambury, author of Blood Like Magic and Delicious Monsters
The very first thriller from Rick Riordan Presents! Drawing from the darkest corners of Caribbean mythology, acclaimed author Sarah Dass crafts a chilling tale of magic, murder, and how far we’ll go to protect what’s ours—perfect for fans of Angeline Boulley and Tiffany D. Jackson.
Unlike the other residents of the small Caribbean Island of St. Virgil, Selina DaSilva does not believe in magic. With a logical mind and a knack for botany, Selina used to dream of leaving the island to study Pharmacology—until a vicious, unsolved attack left her father dead and her mother in a coma.
Now her guilt over her mother’s condition keeps her tethered to the island, relegated to conning gullible tourists with useless talismans and phony protection rituals. But when one of those tourists ends up at the center of a string of strange murders, the truth that Selina has been denying can no longer be avoided: there is evil lurking in the forests that surround St. Virgil. Another thing that can’t be avoided? Selina’s ex-boyfriend Gabriel, newly employed at the local newspaper and eager to put his investigative skills to use.
Desperate to put an end to the killings and claim justice for Selina’s family, these two former lovers race to find answers. But evil bides its time. And as long-buried feelings and long-hidden secrets about Selina’s family’s past begin to reveal themselves, only one answer remains—and it waits in the forest.
Endorsed by Rick Riordan, author of Percy Jackson and the Olympians, now a hit series on Disney+.
Creators
Sarah Dass was born and raised in Trinidad and Tobago. A graduate of the University of the West Indies and University College London, she works as an Office Administrator by day and writes stories about growing up in he Caribbean by night. When she’s not writing, she’s thinking about writing, or taking walks with her dachshund. The only thing she loves more than a lazy day at home is exploring new countries. Find her online at SarahDass.com and on Instagram @SarahDassWrites and Twitter @SarahDassAuthor.
"I was glued to these pages from beginning to end!" —Lauren Blackwood, New York Times best-selling author of Within These Wicked Walls
“A wickedly delectable thriller that will have you looking over your shoulder to make sure nothing followed you out of the forest.” —Roseanne A. Brown, New York Times best-selling author of A Song and Wraiths and Ruin
“A dark, tantalizing tale that will keep you on your toes as much as it will knock you back on your seat.” —Vincent Tirado, Pura Belpré Award–winning author of Burn Down, Rise Up
“Begs the question of how far you would go to reclaim what you’ve lost and what you risk sacrificing to get it. Compelling, creepy, and complex, this story will haunt you long after you’ve finished reading.” —Liselle Sambury, author of Blood Like Magic and Delicious Monsters
