LOCAL GODS

High school senior Sylvie Singer lived a charmed life, complete with a pool, credit card, and wealthy, influential father—until everything was upended.

When Sylvie’s father is caught stealing on a massive scale from the residents of her remote, economically depleted New Hampshire town, she abruptly finds herself an outcast—loathed by her community, exiled by her friends, financially insecure, and living in a dilapidated railway station in the woods. But these extraordinary woods are home to more than their notoriously ominous, uncanny white wildlife with red eyes: namely, the mysterious monster to which, despite her initial terror, she feels an inexplicable attraction. As the bond between Sylvie and the monster strengthens, she faces increasing hostility from locals. Sylvie, who presents white, must unravel the town’s dark secrets and confront her own family’s legacy to prevent a disaster far more devastating than economic collapse before it’s too late. She might be the only one with the power to save the community that has so thoroughly rejected and betrayed her. This fast-paced work’s vivid prose and creative incorporation of horror elements effectively convey the high stakes and illustrate the complexity of Sylvie’s developing connection to the woods. While the delayed reveal of some expository details creates some confusion early in the narrative, the mystery is captivating and culminates in a satisfying ending.

A highly suspenseful, darkly romantic exploration of redemption, hope, and belonging.