Teeth in the Mist

May 13, 2019
Kurtagich (And the Trees Crept In) fuses horror and fantasy in this retelling of the Faust legend that follows two story lines. After her father’s death in 1851, 16-year-old Roan Evelyn Eddington moves to a remote mountaintop mansion in Wales to live with her new guardian, Dr. Maudley; his adopted son, Rapley; and fellow wards Seamus and Emma. Rumor has it that Mill House is haunted by its architect’s wife, whom locals burned as a witch after many laborers and her own children disappeared. But Roan soon discovers that there is something much darker and more powerful that intends to claim not just their lives but also their souls. Nearly 170 years later, Zoey Root, 16, goes looking for answers in Mill House’s ruins after her father journeys there to research his roots and returns “insane, or something like it.” The girls’ stories unfold in tandem, tension mounting as each uncovers the origins of her magical abilities and the terrible truth about Mill House. Despite a murky central mythology, two shoehorned romances (one straight, one gay), and an abrupt conclusion, Kurtagich delivers a creepy, atmospheric tale of subjugation, female self-empowerment, and redemption. Ages 14–up. Agents: Sarah Davies and Polly Nolan, Greenhouse Literary.

Eerie music greets listeners as a strong, versatile cast weaves this chilling supernatural saga of family secrets, powerful forces, and devastating consequences. Spanning three time periods and countless horrors, the story features three young women and their companions who struggle to survive in Medwyn House, an old mill house with a dangerous secret and a restless presence. Narrators Marisa Calin, Polly Lee, Gemma Dawson, Allan Corduner, and Steve West interweave their narratives, building an atmospheric, unnerving world of magic and ancient evil. The impressive range and depth of each narrator's performance elevates the pain, longing, and fear in Kurtagich's story. Forceful characterizations and urgent pacing capture the characters' courage and bonds with each other. K.S.B. � AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine