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Darling, there are wolves in the woods (The Wicked Woods Chronicles) Paperback – May 13, 2019
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and perhaps some things would be better off staying lost…
Teya Jenkins is ten years old when her sister is taken.
Niven is never found, because no one knows where to look.
No one but Teya that is, who heard the whispers of the trees
and saw the beautiful creatures that dwelled in the shadows.
It is only after another tragedy, years later, that Teya finally dares
to enter the forest that haunts her dreams, determined to bring home
her sister and mend the fractured remains of her family.
Beneath the whispering oaks, she meets Laphaniel, an outcast
from the Seelie Court, who tempts her away with veiled promises
of the thing she’s always longed for…to belong somewhere.
But Laphaniel has secrets of his own,
and Teya soon finds herself fighting not only for her life,
and for her sister, but also for her heart.
A sensual, dark faerie tale, full of delicious romance and delightful gothic imagery.
- Print length344 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- Publication dateMay 13, 2019
- Dimensions5 x 0.86 x 8 inches
- ISBN-101090569890
- ISBN-13978-1090569899
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Product details
- Publisher : Independently published
- Publication date : May 13, 2019
- Language : English
- Print length : 344 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1090569890
- ISBN-13 : 978-1090569899
- Item Weight : 13.1 ounces
- Dimensions : 5 x 0.86 x 8 inches
- Book 1 of 3 : The Wicked Woods Chronicles
- Best Sellers Rank: #5,776,207 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #2,886 in Fairy Tales (Books)
- #17,935 in Contemporary Fantasy (Books)
- #17,974 in Paranormal Fantasy Books
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

Lydia Russell grew up on a farm deep in the countryside of Dorset, England. With her three elder brothers, she used the fields and woodlands as a setting for her debut novel, Darling, there are wolves in the woods.
She still lives in Dorset, not too far away from the haunted cottage of her childhood, with her husband, two daughters and a menagerie of animals.
Customer reviews
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Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the book's storytelling captivating, with one review noting how it captures the terror of old fairytales. Moreover, the writing style receives praise for its gorgeous prose, and customers appreciate the well-developed characters. Additionally, customers describe the book as hauntingly beautiful and consider it a fabulous read.
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Customers enjoy the storytelling of the book, describing it as a captivating and haunting tale that captures the terror of old fairytales.
"...Nitpick moment: While the woods are really magical and awe-inspring in this book, there's always something to gripe about a little bit in every..." Read more
"...brilliant immersion into fae world (amazing world-building); - it had curses; -..." Read more
"This story truly captures the terror of the old fairytales, on par with only one other fantasy novel I know of: “Faerie Tale” by Raymond E. Feist...." Read more
"...It is filled with fantastical environments, beautiful frightening creatures, and a feisty human girl fighting to find her way through this..." Read more
Customers find the book readable, describing it as hauntingly beautiful and enchanting, with one customer noting its colorful imagery.
"...When Naphaniel enters the picture, he's dangerously attractive and you know sparks will fly and they do...." Read more
"...It is filled with fantastical environments, beautiful frightening creatures, and a feisty human girl fighting to find her way through this..." Read more
"...There is danger and beauty at every turn, meaning the reader can't relax for a moment. The ending cries out for the next book. I loved it." Read more
"...He also has a secret which could shatter Teya's world. Great book. Colorful imagery. Will be snagging the next book soon!" Read more
Customers praise the writing style of the book, finding the prose gorgeous, with one customer noting the author's wit in engaging the reader and another appreciating how well the Sidhe are portrayed.
"...What I liked: - it was well written, definitely a flowy beat to it; - brilliant immersion into fae world (amazing world-building); -..." Read more
"...which is a shame and the reason I give 4.5 stars to this otherwise perfect read." Read more
"I really liked this author’s style. She has a lyrical voice that makes all the dark things deliciously wicked. I will definitely read more by her!" Read more
"...Her writing style is lovely, and the twists and turns of the story kept me reading...." Read more
Customers appreciate the well-developed characters in the book.
"...Each scene moved the story forward. The characters are well-developed and I readily connected with Teya and Laphaniel and could see them in my mind..." Read more
"Beautiful prose and morally flawed characters set in a dark and wicked wood...." Read more
"...The prose was gorgeous and fluid, and the characters immediately stole my heart." Read more
Customers appreciate the strength of the book.
"...However it is also one of the strongest parts of the book...." Read more
"I enjoyed this book. It's very well written. The beginning was really strong, but then it got a little slow, but the end picked up a lot...." Read more
"...This book is every bit as high quality as most traditionally published books I have read...better than some, in fact...." Read more
Reviews with images

a dark romantic fantasy of the highest order
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on October 25, 2022Format: KindleVerified PurchaseI went into this book kind of disliking the MC, Teya because she's a downer in the begining and a complete basketcase who can't get past her sister's kidnapping. Not sure anyone actually can though, especially if you're blaming yourself for it like Teya does. It has completely ruined her life and you see her going through life just as numb to the world as her mother is who still puts out dinnerwear for a husband that left her and a daugther that dissapeared. It's a tragic setting but when Teya ventures into the woods with a goal of saving her sister and putting an end to her own self-misery, you see a turning point in her story that she continues to struggle with, and the self-destructive reality she's used as a safety blanket to push people away.
When Naphaniel enters the picture, he's dangerously attractive and you know sparks will fly and they do. However I was at the edge of my seat wondering what he was actually going to do with Teya. Is he as dark and dangerous as the woods? Then there was Lucy, a strange and crazy sounding creature obessessed with him. I was thinking in my head for a moment that maybe Lucy was once human and Naphaniel sucked her dry of her soul and that's how she became this miserable creature. But it turns out she was always this way and I breathed a sigh of relief.
There were a lot of "oh no!" moments for me as I read this book. I literally had a hard time putting it down. The woods become a magically dark place as we watch Teya run full throttle into it. She doesn't plan very well and Laphaniel is always rescuing her. Everything in the woods has the potential and the desire to kill her and many of the creatures there do attempt to. And in the midst of this chaos to find her sister, a love story blossoms. Teya is fighting against that love even though she wants it while Naphaniel allows it to make him recklace as he tries to hold onto it.
Nitpick moment:
While the woods are really magical and awe-inspring in this book, there's always something to gripe about a little bit in every book. I think the ending of this story cuts off too soon. It's very 'all of a sudden' and I would have liked it to linger a bit with Teya trying to rack her brain on what to do next while slowly panning off into the sunset of nightfall or something like that. It's really abrupt though and I wasn't ready for it.
I loved this story because it was truely engulfing. It's a page-turner that makes me want to read the whole series. The woods are beautifully descriptive and come alive on the page. The creatures are dangerous and exotic and make me wish I could ride the back of a Night-Mare with the creepy wind brushing through my hair. The witches were downright scary and I'd hate to ever meet them, and the Fae are insane, exactly what I'd expect of a seemingly immortal being with too much time on their hands.
- Reviewed in the United States on August 4, 2022Format: KindleVerified PurchaseI’ve had this book for a while on my tbr and halfway in, I must admit, I still wasn’t loving it. Maybe I was in a non-dark mood; maybe my mind was rebelling against the Stockholm syndrome style romance; maybe there wasn’t enough epic action-adventure for me to sink my teeth into - dunno. It did remind me of Holly Black’s The Cruel Prince - as the book starts with a tragedy of a human girl taken by fae as payment for her sister’s wish. There were some other homage nods to Black - that humans can lie & that love feels similar to fear. For half of the book I felt like I was reading up on Gerda trapped with the summer witch, forgetting about everything. The trip through the creepy witches’ market made me think about all those who have ever lost a limb or a body part and wonder if they had come to this market to make a wish. For most part it was half a manual on what not to do in Faerie and the other half was the seesaw tortuous romance between a selfish fae and a guilt-ridden human girl.
What I liked:
- it was well written, definitely a flowy beat to it;
- brilliant immersion into fae world (amazing world-building);
- it had curses;
- liked the fae-human romance angle even though it was a tad too dark & cruel & tortuous for my taste;
- Good research of fae lore - filled with cool creepy creatures;
- Loved the Goodnight kisses potion but not its use - fae version of roofies, I guess;
- Loved the cover.
What I didn’t like (this is just me and my pet peeves, so if you’re fine with these, do give the book a go):
- the names - Teya & Laphaniel - I just couldn’t remember the dude’s name no matter how I tried;
- hated the fact that the fae-human romance was built on incarceration, glamour & still the girl fell for her captor, brrr… this was taking enemies-to-lovers too far for me…Stockholm syndrome, no no no;
- Not enough action-adventure in terms of sword&sorcery and not enough intrigue which is what I’ve come to expect from fae books;
- Apart from an occasional howl, the episode with the wolves read almost like an editorial suggestion to explain away the title - I was fully expecting to read a Red Riding Hood retelling, tbh, so for me, the title was misleading.
I won’t be continuing with book 2 for a while as - for me - the story was kinda wrapped up at the end of book 1.
Trigger warning: might be difficult to read for survivors of abduction, forced incarceration & families whose members have experienced Stockholm syndrome. There were also a couple of f-words & 1 non-descriptive sex scene (with the V-card).
Recommended for lovers of dark & broody YA fae-human enemies-to-lovers romance.
- Reviewed in the United States on October 19, 2024Format: KindleVerified PurchaseThis story truly captures the terror of the old fairytales, on par with only one other fantasy novel I know of: “Faerie Tale” by Raymond E. Feist. However, on the other hand, “Darling, there are wolves in the woods” brings in elements of the more modern “happily ever after “ fairytales with a deeply moving romantic story that meshes beautifully with the horrors of the fae realm.
Although there are elements reminiscent of Little Red Riding Hood and Sleeping Beauty interwoven in this story, I would not consider it a reimagined fairytale. It is its own thing and Teya’s journey into fae to find her kidnapped sister, Niven, and finally bring her home really captivated me. It’s intense, with so many unexpected twists and turns I couldn’t keep from racing through the pages.
Even though this is the first book in a trilogy, I think the ending was very well realised. It isn’t a HEA, or even a HFN. It’s more of a “they survived and were taking a brief break”, which I appreciate. It’s not a cliffhanger and I’m super grateful the author chose to write the end of this novel that way, as I personally hate cliffhangers.
However, there was one twist at the end that felt rushed and removed the intensity of the emotions that I’d been experiencing at other points in the story. I feel that this crucial twist fell flat because of that rush. I could have honestly cried over this book and been emotionally devastated and put back together again with the ending, but it didn’t achieve that, which is a shame and the reason I give 4.5 stars to this otherwise perfect read.
Top reviews from other countries
- Adam JosephReviewed in the United Kingdom on February 22, 2023
5.0 out of 5 stars pacy, enjoyable read
Format: KindleVerified PurchaseI massively enjoyed this story, so much so that I read it in a couple of days. I was hooked in from the get-go, and enjoyed the way the plot moved from Teya's - the main character's - every day life, to her encounter with the creatures that live in the woods.
Much of the story revolves around the relationship between Teya and the fairy, Laphaniel. Their relationship reminded me somewhat of Howl and Sophie from Howl's Moving Castle, and of Belle and Rumpelstiltskin from the Once Upon a Time TV series.
The story definitely ends in a way that makes you read more.
I think one of my favourite parts of this story was the description of the woods and the creatures living within. There was such a haunting beauty to it. And it was clear that things that are beautiful on the surface, aren't necessary within. I was also deeply effected by Teya's relationship with her mother, it actually made me feel so bad I had to call my own mother!
If you like stories with fairies, curses, wonderfully descriptive writing and romance - this is for you!
- Kindle CustomerReviewed in Canada on September 4, 2023
5.0 out of 5 stars Loved this one
Format: KindleVerified PurchaseThis one drew me in right from page one and I read the entire thing in less than a day. Fascinating and well realized characters. I enjoyed the dynamic between between Teya's mortal POV AND Laphanie's Immortal background. Definitely looking forward to the rest of the series.
- Hannah WoodlockReviewed in Australia on August 15, 2021
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful read
Format: KindleVerified PurchaseI wasn’t sure what to expect when I started, but it was a twisting maze of emotions in the end. As someone who had an older sister like Niven, I definitely sympathised with Teya’s choices and motivations. Looking forward to starting the second book.
- Mirien SilowendëReviewed in Germany on April 23, 2023
5.0 out of 5 stars A very dark well written faerie tale
Format: KindleVerified PurchaseWell this was beautifully written. I really enjoyed the darkness of it, the cruelty of the Faerie. It was nice to see references to Selkies, Night-Mares and Kelpies.
I did not much like the main character, and I wasn't convinced by her choices. But that being said, I enjoyed the tale immensely.
- JonathanReviewed in Germany on August 27, 2023
3.0 out of 5 stars Not sure what to make of this
Format: KindleVerified PurchaseThere is lots of movement in the book, and yet I can’t shake the impression that a lot of it is wasteful, unfocused. However, I could also argue that’s the point of it, to observe the setting, to be drawn into it. And there is, in fact, plenty of the setting to be drawn into. If that sounds like something you’d want to read, you are very much welcome to dig in. That being said, I can’t, as of right now, promise that the rest of the trilogy will hold the same appeal.
And now for the deeper dive into this book: The plot of the book follows Teya, a young lady from a broken home, one still reeling from the loss of a daughter, and a father. She makes the decision to venture again into the woods where her sister was lost, hoping to find her. The synopsis hints at the first venture being her idea, but the actual book doesn’t explain it one way or another. Her venture is nearly stopped by Laphaniel, one of the faeries who initially took her sister away from her, and one whose presence and influence will shape the course of her rescue quest to a sizable degree.
Sounds like a pretty interesting plot, wouldn’t you say? I would think so as well. However, this book has an unfortunate case of Sagging Middle Syndrome. A lot of the book is spent in a montage of how Teya and Laphaniel spend many months together, building up their relationship and connection to each other, only for the author to turn and reveal those were built on fake pretenses, and then still trying to salvage them. Only about half the book actually follows the plot and shows the characters trying to accomplish their goals. Lydia wanted this book to be both a romance and an adventure story, but it’s really only towards the end that she was actually capable of merging these two narrative threads. In the case of the romance, however, I don’t think she does enough to salvage it. I don’t find this relationship as compelling as she thinks it is.
To the book’s credit, though, it does actually seek to establish and develop character arcs for its joint leads, and in Teya’s case, comes up with a unique spin on the want/need divide such arcs typically fall under. Laphaniel’s arc, by contrast, is more conventional. He starts this book as a typical mischievous faerie, a being who likes having fun, especially at the expense of others, and can react violently to his entertainment prospects being cut short. He’s alluring, but dangerous, in the same way a character like Peter Pan would be. The narrative pushes him out of that role, out of that trope, by giving him someone to care for, and thereby fuelling the dichotomy of his character arc, and by giving him a backstory that clashes with it. It’s perhaps not bad, but there’s not enough for me to really delve into.
In fact, that’s my general thought when considering this book. It’s dripping with atmosphere, and the world looks like it can be so much more, so much broader than the book presents, but it doesn’t involve me in the setting, it doesn’t explore it in a meaningful way. If I may contrast this book with another debut featuring protagonists with missing relatives and a connection to a fantasy world they had no prior knowledge of, Into The Forgotten Forest brought multiple characters into its narrative, and allowed them to explore the setting and the connections between the various elements in a naturalistic and immersive way. I’m missing that here.
Overall, while I think this book is short on events and descriptions, the breadcrumbs it lays out do still hold my attention, and ignite my curiosity.