September 2, 2024
Wees (Nocturn) delivers an enchanting, eerie, and lyrical fantasy that blends fact and fairy tale. It alternates perspective between 14-year-old Gemma, growing up above a Michigan antiques shop on the border of deep woods that mysteriously beckon to her, and Gemma’s mother, Virginia, who tells Gemma frightening stories of the woods in an attempt to scare her away from them and uses her magic to remove Gemma’s memories of experiences she’s already had among the trees. Despite her mother’s efforts, however, Gemma is continually drawn to the woods, uncovering the magic and secrets lurking within. Virginia too was once drawn to the woods, a recklessness she paid for dearly when a witch cursed her true love, Gemma’s father, to transform into a beast. When, spurred by Gemma’s incursions into her domain, the witch returns and abducts Virginia, Gemma embarks on a perilous journey to save her mother and lift the curse before her 15th birthday. Wees’s rich exploration of parent-child bonds delves into themes of defiance, protection, and the enduring power of love. Evocative prose brings this dark, folkloric world to life and makes it easy to sink into both protagonists’ perspectives. Skillfully told and compulsively readable, this is sure to be a hit with fans of atmospheric fantasy.
March 7, 2025
After antiques dealer Virginia is abducted and taken into the forbidden woods, her daughter Gemma must pick up where Virginia left off and break the curse binding their family. Three generations of their family have been drawn to the enchanted forest, but now there is a chance that they can finally take back what is theirs. Wees's (Nocturne) grim fairy tale about love and motherhood challenges perceptions of what it means to be a monster or a hero. Narrators Valerie Lohman as Gemma and Zura Johnson as Virginia offer dual perspectives, showcasing the differences between mother's and daughter's motives. Suspense drives the tale as this cursed duo navigates family secrets and an unfamiliar realm. Lohman and Johnson create an otherworldly tone to portray the magical happenings beyond the wood's edge. The split narration of Virginia and Gemma assists in audibly differentiating points of view while also adding to the contrast of each character. VERDICT A bewitching and eerie fairy tale, sure to entice listeners eager for scenes of witches and curses, monsters and magic, and fae and heroes. Fans of Naomi Novik and Katherine Arden will want to take note.--Kristen Shaw
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