Drowned Country

Starred review from April 6, 2020
Tesh returns to the Victorian-inspired world of Silver in the Woods with this gorgeous, finespun fantasy. Henry Silver, lord of Greenhollow Hall, neglects the magical Hallow Wood he oversees, allowing the trees to consume his home while he pines for Tobias Finch, the former steward of the woods. Tobias left Henry two years before to join Henry’s mother, Adela, a “practical folklorist” (monster hunter), on her travels. Adela’s arrival at Greenhollow puts an end to Henry’s wallowing as she recruits him to help her and Tobias rescue Maud Lindhurst from a vampire. As it happens, spunky Maud has already handily dispatched the vampire herself and plans to use his supernatural lair to travel to Fairyland. When Henry and Tobias attempt to stop her, all three topple into an eerie underwater portion of the Hallow Wood. Tesh intersperses their search for an exit with emotional flashbacks to the dissolution of Tobias and Henry’s relationship. As the trio explores the “half-forgiving land in a dim and wild wood” and stumble on Fairyland, the tale swerves into taut horror. The creepy supernatural elements are pitch perfect, and the tender, frustrated romance between the dramatic Henry and taciturn Tobias shines. Tesh’s second outing is elegant, evocative, and irresistible. Agent: Kurestin Armada, Root Literary.

June 12, 2020

As the story opens, 25-year-old Henry Silver, a demigod of an ancient forest kingdom, is living a solitary life in his increasingly run-down ancestral home. His mother has moved out, and worse, so has his human lover Tobias Finch. When young Maud Lindhurst bursts into his life with the mad idea of going on an expedition to Fairyland to meet the Queen, Henry is reluctantly pulled into her scheme. Tobias joins the ill-prepared little band, and the three brave perils, both natural and supernatural, in their quest. The love story between Henry and Tobias is a charming addition to the plot as they rekindle their former relationship during their journey. This delightful little novel can easily be read in a single day. VERDICT Following Tesh's Silver in the Wood (the first book in the "Greenhollow Duology"), this latest installment is just as magical. Recommended.--Jane Henriksen Baird, formerly at Anchorage P.L., AK

Copyright 2020 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from June 1, 2020
The follow-up to Silver in the Wood (2019) is a complex, dreamy story that expands beautifully on her world of Greenhollow and its dryads, mysteries, and magic. Henry Silver doesn't want to help his ?practical folklorist' mother with her attempt to hunt down an ancient vampire, particularly because her assistant is the man he loves. But he begrudgingly agrees to help, going to a town where his wood once grew but was drowned by the sea. There, as he and the strong, silent Tobias Finch attempt to save a local girl, they soon encounter a scholarly, powerful young woman determined to find her way back to Fairyland. Tesh's lush descriptions of nature create a rich atmosphere, making Silver's ties to the forest even more evocative. Silver's chemistry with the strong, silent Finch keeps the relationship compelling all the way to the final pages. Drowned Country is a beautiful tale full of quiet courage, magic rooted in the soil or the curling branches of trees, and a strong, determined queer love. Readers will be excited to see what world Emily Tesh plans to craft next.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)