The Whisperwood Legacy - by Jo Schulte (Hardcover)

About the Book

Frankie grows frustrated with her relatives' obsession with their family's amusement park, only to uncover a darker, more sinister story when Oma, the family matriarch, disappears and strange events unfold.

Book Synopsis

"Read this one with the lights on!"--Beth Revis, New York Times bestselling author of The Night of the Witch

Knives Out meets The Hazel Wood in this twisty contemporary fantasy about an amusement park shrouded in dark secrets--and the family desperate to inherit it at any cost.

Welcome to Whisperwood, a sprawling theme park nestled in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, where thrilling rides and picture-perfect scenery bring cult-classic fairy tales to life. Or at least they did until eighteen months ago, when the family matriarch, Virginia Strauss, suddenly shut Whisperwood's gates and the beloved park was left to wither away along with the family's dwindling fortune.
 
For seventeen-year-old Frankie Strauss, Whisperwood's closure has been a blessing in disguise. After seeing three generations of wealth's corrupting influence, she is more than ready to shed the Strauss-family's gilded handcuffs.
 
But when Virginia goes missing, Frankie realizes that her family might be guilty of something much worse than mere dysfunction. With the help of the mysterious and handsome groundskeeper, Jem, Frankie sifts through a web of near truths and outright lies, uncovering a reality where nothing is as it seems and fairy tales aren't just real--they're deadly.

Review Quotes

"A fully immersive, wild ride."--BCCB

"Atmospheric and broody, the story brings together monsters and fairy tales even as it tackles teenage love and heartbreak... A strong, compelling debut that shows that stories really do have power--and can hold danger."--Kirkus Reviews

"Readers of dark fairy tales and complicated family dramas will be enchanted."--Booklist

"A masterful blend of humor and danger, The Whisperwood Legacy is a playful, dark fairytaleabout a fractured family and a heroine learning to write her own narrative. Like the magic of the Whisperwood itself, Schulte's debut will beguile you."--Allison Saft, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of A Fragile Enchantment

"Atmospheric and delightfully eerie with monstrous fairy tales and toothy secrets, this is a fever dream of a tale that I totally adored and could not put down."--CG Drews, New York Times bestselling author of Don't Let the Forest In

"Disturbing yet gorgeous fables come to life in this fast-paced debut featuring eccentric family drama, bloody magic, and a heroine with heart. I was swept away by the dark atmosphere woven with German-inspired fairy tales that made me question what was reality and what was story. A delightful, twisty read!" --Emily J. Taylor, New York Times bestselling author of Hotel Magnifique

"Schulte's wickedly inventive debut is a story that loves stories. Fresh-voiced and funny enough to make its tenderly emotional heart take you by surprise. Layers of twisted fairytales peel away to unveil a book you'll want to read again and again."--Courtney Gould, author of What the Woods Took

"Spooky, atmospheric, and fantastically magical, The Whisperwood Legacy's dark fairytales will linger and haunt readers long after its last page."--Cindy R. X. He, author of Perfect Little Monsters

"The Whisperwood Legacy is a knockout--a gripping mystery about a missing matriarch and the messy family ready to fight, Knives Out-style, for their inheritance, threaded with a magic so chilling that it may scare me off amusement parks forever. But at its (torn-out, still-beating) heart, this book belongs to Frankie: a clever, funny, hurting girl trying to find a place in her own story. Jo Schulte is a remarkable talent; I'll read any tale she tells." --Meredith Adamo, Morris Award-winning author of Not Like Other Girls

"A rare debut that is equal parts chilling and effervescent, The Whisperwood Legacy lures readers into a world where the shadows don't stand still, and all the birdsong carries an omen.Schulte's sparkling humor adds a silver levity to the book's gothic atmosphere. I've never been so delighted by something nightmarish.This is sure to keep readers' terrified and transfixed and, ultimately, transported to the haunting wilderness of the Whisperwood."--Roshani Chokshi, New York Times bestselling author of The Gilded Wolves

"Just when you think you know what's going to happen next, this novel will shock you with twists you never saw coming. Read this one with the lights on!"--Beth Revis, New York Times bestselling author of The Night of the Witch

"The chilling atmosphere coupled with family secrets and odd alliances will keep you guessing during this emotional rollercoaster ride."--Mindy McGinnis, Edgar-Award winning author of Under This Red Rock

"Welcome to The Whisperwood, at onceenchanting and unsettling, where stories are more than words on a page and one family's legacy threatens to unravel. Jo Schulte's rollercoaster of a debut brims with mystery, magic, and mayhem. Come for the eerie folktale-inspired theme park, then stay for the delicious family drama. The Whisperwood Legacy is a fast-paced thrill ride that will have you turning pages long into the night."--Adrienne Tooley, author of The Third Daughter

About the Author

Jo Schulte grew up chasing fireflies in Michigan, spent many years navigating London's publishing industry, and now calls Atlanta home, y'all. When she's not writing, Jo can be found walking her dog, getting distracted by renovation projects, or enjoying a well-earned brunch (the housecleaning can wait). She invites you to connect with her at joschulte.com.