Vern, seven months pregnant and desperate to escape the strict religious compound she was raised in, flees to the woods. Deep in the woods she gives birth to 2 twins and decides to raise them separate from outside influence. But even in the forest, Vern is hunted. Determined to fight back against the community that hunts her she unleashes incredible brutality far beyond the capabilities of what a person can do. To understand her metamorphosis and to keep her children safe she will need to uncover secrets to find the truth and to face her past, present and future.

Whoa atmosphere! This was a book seeped in lush descriptions with underlining raw anger. We dive into some heavy and incredibly important themes in this one - race, identity, sexuality, religion, motherhood, mental health, conspiracy theories, cults and misogyny with a fantasy backdrop.

I was on edge and distressed reading this entire book. It is not a slow paced meander through the woods. Overall I wanted something a bit different from what I read but it’s undoubtably poignant and impactful. An incredibly moving narrative for those looking to delve into social and political commentary through a fantasy lens, 3.5✨.