Description
A bewitching journey behind the closed doors of a secret society, featuring sinister toadmen, resistance witches and a steamy enemies-to-lovers romance, from the acclaimed author of A Hunger of Thorns.
Merriwether Morgan doesn't need a happily-ever-after. Her life in the idyllic town of Candlecott is fine just as it is: simple, happy, and with absolutely no magic. Magic only ever leads to trouble.
But Merry's best friend, Teddy, is joining the Toadmen - a secret society upholding backward thinking and suspiciously supernatural traditions - and she is determined to stop him. Even if it means teaming up with her academic arch-nemesis, Caraway Boswell, an ice-cold snob who hides his true face behind a glamour.
An ancient Toad ritual is being held in the nightmarish Deeping Fen, and if Merry doesn't rescue Teddy, she'll lose him forever. But the further she travels into Deeping Fen's foul waters, the more Merry wonders if she can possibly save her friend - or if she's walking straight into a trap.
Because there's nothing the Toadmen love more than a damsel in distress . . .
Review
Merry loves her quiet life in Candlecott village. She has her two best friends, Teddy and Sol, and no magic, she hates magic.
When she discovers that Teddy is going to join the Toadmen - a secret society of men only, she is adamant that he can’t join and is determined to find a way to stop him. Merry has been in love with Teddy for ever and she doesn’t want anything to change. But Teddy is equally as determined to join.
In an effort to stop him, Merry enlists the help of Caraway Boswell - even though she can’t stand him, or his haughty manner. Together they travel to Deeping Fen, a creepy and awful place, to interrupt an ancient toad ritual and save Teddy before he can make his final pledge.
But Merry starts to have feelings for Caraway which is confusing her no end... Could she really like him? And what about her feelings for Teddy? And where does her friend Sol fit with all this, as he seems to have feelings for Teddy too?
Deeping Fen is far worse than Merry imagined and what she finds chills her to the bone. Does she have the strength to save herself and her friends from this evil society?
This book is a hard to put down fantasy tale with wonderful characters and a storyline that weaves you straight into the middle of their lives. Full of secret societies, awful and manipulative toadmen, witches trying to stop them, budding romances and friendship this book has all the hallmarks that are sure to see it become another Lili Wilkinson favourite. Perfect for readers in middle secondary and above.
