This is the story of Moth, who earned her name working for the Winter Folk.

Every year, the mythical Winter Folk gather at a secret lodge, a place known only as Deerhaven.

Moth was a housekeeper there once. A trusted confidant of Mr. Oslin, the enigmatic master of the house.

But Deerhaven is dangerous. The rules are exacting. The consequences for break them are dire.

Moth has not been allowed back in decades. Still, she feels its call. She will find her way back. She needs to see him again. No matter the cost.

The Winter Folk by Jen Julian is dark and mesmerizing. It is full of vivid descriptions, hooking me right away with the dark nature of the story. Moth is engrossing in her haunting story of her time with the Winter Folk but just as absorbing is her life with her family and how she risks it to try to go back.

Oslin is fantastically written and I love the way Moth's relationships with the other workers drive the story forward. Her narrative is dark, dangerous and her love of Deerhaven disturbing, especially with how dire the rules are for the workers. I love how connections are woven between her in Deerhaven and her relationships outside of her time there. This is a deeply fantastic story that pulls the reader deep inside the narrative.

If you love dark fantasy with disturbing creatures, this is the story for you. It is dark and mesmerizing, rich in language and will make you contemplate the nature of reality. The ending will also make you question whether there is more to come. I loved the haunting quality of the story.

Rating: 5 out of 5 horns. ~~ Andrea Rittschof

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