THE HANGING BONES

The woods will always take what they’re owed.

This is a truth that 17-year-old Katrin knows well. She and her uncle are gamekeepers at Baron August Wagner’s remote Prauen Castle. They ensure that any animal parts left unused after hunting parties are returned as offerings to the Forest Folk of Wielinde Forest. If anything is missed, the Folk will do humans harm, whether through a small venomous bite or something more horrific. During the Breimar Hunt, which occurs during the Scavenge Moon, the first person to capture the Stag is granted a boon: the death of whomever they name. Katrin isn’t looking forward to guiding this year’s party of pretentious nobles, even with the arrival of new gamekeeper Elias to lighten the load. She decides to secretly enter the upcoming hunt, be the first to find the white Breimar Stag, and ensure that the baron, a manipulative sexual predator, will no longer threaten her beloved cousin Alma. But it seems that another monster is on the prowl, viciously stealing the vital organs of animals and humans. Tesch has crafted an enthralling dark fantasy that immerses readers in inventive descriptions, intriguing analogies, and rich folkloric elements. Along the way, she expertly fits each character into this magical world. Most cast members present white, and biracial Alma’s mother is cued Black. Katrin is aromantic and asexual.

A delightful and terrifying read.