Summary: “Never go into the deep parts of the forest, for there are many dangers there, and they will ensnare your soul.”
Serafina has never had a reason to disobey her pa and venture beyond the grounds of the Biltmore estate. There’s plenty to explore in her grand home, although she must take care to never be seen. None of the rich folk upstairs know that Serafina exists; she and her pa, the estate’s maintenance man, have secretly lived in the basement for as long as Serafina can remember.
But when children at the estate start disappearing, only Serafina knows who the culprit is: a terrifying man in a black cloak who stalks Biltmore’s corridors at night. Following her own harrowing escape, Serafina risks everything by joining forces with Braeden Vanderbilt, the young nephew of the Biltmore’s owners. Braeden and Serafina must uncover the Man in the Black Cloak’s true identity . . . before all of the children vanish one by one.
Serafina’s hunt leads her into the very forest that she has been taught to fear. There she discovers a forgotten legacy of magic, one that is bound to her own identity. In order to save the children of Biltmore, Serafina must seek the answers that will unlock the puzzle of her past.
Thoughts: This was a cute, if mildly terrifying, story set in a real-world backdrop. The Biltmore estate is an actual place in Asheville NC. If you've ever been or plan to go, I suggest you pick up this book. It'll will add a whole new layer to the story. On the other hand I wasn't overtly impressed. The story had a fun cast and interesting plot but most of the twists and secrets were predictable and I kept being surprised when something was revealed and no one else already knew it. Great for it's targeted age group, especially if they like ghost stories, but otherwise a pretty average read. It went from normal to scary and back again very quickly which just wasn't something I like in a book.
On the other hand the writing was really good and the descriptions are great! It's like a fantasy tour of the estate but with several extremely curious tour guides.
Content: Like I said, the book got dark and scary on occasion and a little gory (skin peeling off, bloodied pieces of clothes, attacks from animals). There was a ghost like villain and a possessed item and children supernaturally disappearing. Also some folklore type magic.
All in all it's really a mostly clean book but not suitable for children who are easily scared.
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