Tessa Gratton

Once, a witch made a pact with a devil. The legend says they loved each other, but can the story be trusted at all? Find out in this lush, atmospheric fantasy novel that entwines love, lies, and sacrifice.

Long ago, a village made a bargain with the devil: to ensure their prosperity, when the Slaughter Moon rises, the village must sacrifice a young man into the depths of the Devil’s Forest.

Only this year, the Slaughter Moon has risen early.

Bound by duty, secrets, and the love they share for one another, Mairwen, a spirited witch; Rhun, the expected saint; and Arthur, a restless outcast, will each have a role to play as the devil demands a body to fill the bargain. But the devil these friends find is not the one they expect, and the lies they uncover will turn their town—and their hearts—inside out.

“Although action-packed, violent, and macabre, this is ultimately a love story. Horrifying, heartbreaking, and heartwarming, a lush fairy tale rooted in a moral quandary.”

—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“The plot twists and turns in unexpected and thrilling ways described in Gratton’s vibrant writing. The polyamorous relationship among the three main characters develops organically as a deeply satisfying connection for all…. It is truly and wonderfully creepy, not overly scary, and fantastically complex.”

—VOYA (starred review)

Long-listed for the 2018 Otherwise Award!

Foreign copies available!