Synopsis
At the outskirts of the wood, Ava lives with her little sister, Linn, and their dad. The small family is struggling to keep afloat, and Ava dreams of a life which is not all about fight for survival.
One day, their dad announces that they are going to move to the big town and he leads his daughters into the middle of the dark wood where they camp for the night. When the girls wake up, their dad has disappeared. Soon Linn starts having visions of children walking among the trees, and when Linn subsequently disappears, Ava suddenly sees two girls in the fog. They lead her to a house in the wood, where the mysterious woman, Nebula, lives. Is Nebula perhaps a witch? And why does she not want Ava to see Linn, but keeps the little sister locked in her room?
Ava is dead-set on freeing Linn, so they can escape Nebula’s house together.
In the Dark Forest is the first volume in a fantasy series, The Fairytale Sagas, aimed at readers 12+. The books are inspired by old fairytales and In the Dark Forest is thus inspired by Hansel & Gretel by the Brothers Grimm.
So far, there are three books planned. They all take place in the same time and setting, but each has a different main character.
Volume two, Blood, Snow and Soot, will come out in 2025 and is inspired by Snow White.
Personal note from the author
The Fairytale Sagas is a socially critical fantasy series inspired by classic folktales. In the first book, I have based my story on Hansel & Gretel by Brothers Grimm. The socially critical approach lies in the background throughout the project, but you’re able to read the stories without necessarily discovering it. It forms part of my personal motivation – a bit like it was the fight for justice and the metoo-aspect that motivated me to write The Rosenholm Trilogy. The historical background of the folktales interests me. In the case of Hansel & Gretel, it is hunger and poverty – and the children who turn out to be the biggest victims. Volume 1 is thus about the poor and expelled (the witches), whereas Volume 2 will be about the wealthiest and most powerful in society.
