Darkness falls so quickly in Howland that the people there have no word for evening. But for thirteen-yearold Annie, the dark is almost soothing compared to the misery of her cruel aunt and uncle's house. When Annie finally escapes, she finds herself on a journey that will take her deep into the forest-where fearsome creatures lurk-and to the glittering halls of a palace. Hints of the Brothers Grimm add magic to this spellbinding and beautifully told story.

Magic is forbidden in Myrsina, along with various other abominations, such as girls doing maths. This is bad news for Gretel Mudd, who doesn’t perform magic, but does know a lot of maths. When the sinister masked Huntsmen accuse Gretel of witchcraft, she is forced to flee into the neighbouring Darkwood, where witches and monsters dwell. There, she happens upon Buttercup, a witch who can’t help turning things into gingerbread, Jack Trott, who can make plants grow at will, the White Knight with her band of dwarves and a talking spider called Trevor. These aren’t the terrifying villains she’s been warned about all her life. They’re actually quite nice. Well... most of them. With the Huntsmen on the warpath, Gretel must act fast to save both the Darkwood and her home village, while unravelling the rhetoric and lies that have demonised magical beings for far too long. Take a journey into the Darkwood in this modern fairy tale that will bewitch adults and younger readers alike. Praise for Gabby Hutchinson Crouch: ‘Gabby is one of the funniest writers I know.’ Sarah Millican ‘...very funny. If you like Terry Pratchett, or think gothic fairytales should have more LOLs, ’tis the book for ye.’ Greg Jenner ‘I have read this and it is great. Pratchetty fun for all the family.’ Lucy Porter ‘...magical, surprising and funny.’ Jan Ravens What people are saying about the Darkwood series: ‘Clever and funny and so very very entertaining. I would encourage everyone of every age to go ahead and read Darkwood.’ ‘Completely fabulous, can’t wait for the rest of the series.’ ‘A fun, exciting, action-packed story that once I started reading I couldn't put down.’ ‘I loved the mix of humour and fantasy, the tongue in cheek style of writing and the quirky characters.’ ‘I could go on and on about how much I love this book and why.’ ‘A delightful new mashup of old familiar fairy tale characters and themes, with loads of originality and memorable characters. ... I think this may well turn into one of my all-time favourites.’ ‘...incredible! It made me laugh out loud in several places, but also managed to pull off some intricate themes around power and bigotry – I adored the characters and the fun, genre-savvy writing.’

Will Poppy has always been fascinated with writing - he thinks there’s something almost... magical about it. But when his mother passes away, Will finds himself stuck living with his awful aunt, unable to write a single word (despite the fact that two Muses will not leave him alone), and handed a mysterious package which includes an old picture of his grandparents and a piece of cloth with the words "The Griffin of Darkwood" on it. When his aunt decides to move both of them to a small village, Will is excited for a new adventure, and in a castle no less! But after a rude welcome to the town that includes stories about a curse, and an introduction to the servants of the castle who evidently mean to cause him harm, Will’s sense of dread about the whole village rises. What is the curse the villagers all claim has been on the castle for hundreds of years, and what does it have to do with the disappearance of a young girl forty years ago? More importantly, what’s The Griffin of Darkwood, and what does it have to do with Will and his family?

A self-assured warrior stumbles into a game of Go that turns fatal. An ambitious lord leaves his nephew for dead and seizes his lands. A stubborn father forces his son to give up his wife to his older brother. A powerful priest meddles in the succession to the Lotus Throne. A woman of the Old People seeks five fathers for her five children, who will go on to found the Spider Tribe and direct the fate of the country. As destiny weaves its tapestry in Lian Hearn's Tale of Shikanoko series, an emotionally rich and compelling drama plays out against a background of wild forests, elegant castles, hidden temples, and savage battlefields in Lord of the Darkwood. "Brutally thrilling historical fantasy"- Herald Sun The Tale of Shikanoko Book One: Emperor of the Eight Islands Book Two: Autumn Princess, Dragon Child Book Three: Lord of the Darkwood Book Four: The Tengu's Game of Go

A decade ago, Douglas Scott, the elusive Lord Darkwood, survived a horrendous accident that left him with both physical and emotional scars. Abandoned by his beautiful fiancée at his darkest moment, he turns his back on society, embracing a hermit lifestyle, until an unexpected meeting awakes a desperate need for revenge. Unaware of Lord Darkwood's wicked plans, Wendolyne Russell travels to his crumbling manor in the middle of the dark forest to be the companion to Douglas's sickly, bedridden elderly aunt. Used as a servant by her parents, Wendy easily adapts to a similar role at her new home, slowly awakening the once grand manor. Thrown together, the beast learns to yield and the mouse learns to roar, and Douglas and Wendy find themselves warming to each other—to the point of flames. But danger lurks. Douglas's accident was an unsuccessful murder attempt, and the murderer returns to finish what he started.

"The rightful emperor is lost. Shikanoko is condemned to live, half-man and half-deer, an outlaw in the Darkwood. Yet the mighty lords who now rule the Eight Islands are prey to suspicion and illness, and drought and famine choke the realm. Only Shikanoko can bring healing, by restoring the preordained ruler to the Lotus Throne. And only one person can bring him back from the Darkwood . . . "--

Prophecy demands she marry a Dark Elf prince, but Mara Geary refuses to meekly accept her fate. Danger, adventure, and romance await in the magical forest of the Darkwood, where an intrepid heroine and a warrior prince must learn to trust one another before their kingdom is devoured by an ancient enemy... A complete epic fantasy trilogy brimming with intrigue, royalty, and fairytale enchantment from USA Today bestselling author Anthea Sharp. Includes: ELFHAME, HAWTHORNE, and RAINE Mara Geary faces a bleak future in the village of Little Hazel until, on the eve of her seventeenth birthday, strange glowing lights beckon her into the mysterious shadows of the Darkwood. She follows, seeking adventure. What she finds is her destiny... Prince of the Hawthorne Court, Brannon Luthinor has spent his life becoming a powerful warrior-mage in order to save his people. Now, on the eve of war, his fate is rapidly approaching. Brought together by fate, Bran and Mara forge an uneasy alliance. But in the face of evil, they must find a way to trust their lives - and their hearts - to one another. KEYWORDS: YA Romance, Romantic fantasy, Clean, Sweet, Fairytale, All Ages, Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, Fated Mate, Prophecy, Stolen Bride, Dark Elves, Shari Tapscott, Miranda Honfleur, Elise Kova, Sylvia Mercedes, Royalty, Prince, Princess, Portal Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, Complete Series, Tara Grayce