The Drowned Country follow Silver in the Wood as the conclusion to Emily Tesh's Greenhollow fantasy duo. Tobias Finch was the Wild Man of Greenhollow. However, events in the first book led to Henry Silver, lord of Greenhollow Hall, replacing Tobias in this immortal role and taking on its magics.

In this sequel, Henry, Tobias, and fairy-mad Maud Lindhurst find their way to Fairyland and back again.

Drowned Country really is a beautiful book, the sort that makes you happy to live in a world where you can read it. It abounds in humour, adventure, tenderness, magic, and a sort of poetry. The story is peopled with characters I care about, and above all, it is haunted by a Wood that I both dream of and fear to be lost in.

I loved every minute of it.

My full review will appear on Smart Bitches, Trashy Books closer to the publication date.

I am a big fan of Silver in the Wood and was over the moon to find that there was a sequel on its way. And just like the first novella, this one was just as wonderful and imaginative as I had hoped. This time around we get Henry's point of view, a decent while after the events of the first book, and we see the toll taken on all the cast. Henry is called by his mother to the seaside town of Rothport to deal with a supernatural problem and Henry is made to face the effect his own actions have had on his relationship with Tobias. And even still, the novella goes to places you didn't expect and keeps you guessing without going beyond the logic set up in the first book. The motivations and emotions of the characters are expertly plotted and doled out, and the flashbacks are placed just so, always driving the narrative forward. As a reader who loved the first book, this sequel both broke my heart and repaired it as I read the whole story in one sitting. (And that satyr scene was scary as hell.) I remain incredibly impressed with Ms. Tesh's ability to make such a slim novella feel more complete and satisfying than many full-length novels, and I can't wait to see what she'll do next!

Drowned Country takes us beyond the current borders of the wood, to places it once stretched to before the ocean swallowed it. On the edge of the coast a young woman has been snatched by a centuries old vampire and the longer she is with him the less likely they’ll find her alive. And so Mrs Silver and Tobias enlist the help of Henry. But there is more than just vampires in Rothport and Henry and Tobias find themselves facing a much older enemy.

Tesh’s follow up to Silver in the Wood is an intoxicating and lush tale. Much like Silver in the Wood, Drowned Country is mesmerising and showcases Tesh’s gorgeous way with words. There’s a dreamlike element to it that pulls you down a rabbit hole and into the story itself, until you are walking side by side with Henry and Tobias.

The dramatic tree gays are back in full force here and it’s *chef’s kiss*. I love Henry and Tobias’ dynamic. In the book two years have passed since Silver in the Wood & events have transpired that are slowly revealed as Drowned Country progresses and we learn why Henry has been trying to become one with the floor in his crumbling estate.

It was a little bittersweet to reach the end of Henry and Tobias’ story. I didn’t want to say goodbye and while I’m very, very satisfied with how their story ended and wouldn’t have it any other way, I would be lying if I said it wasn’t a little bit painful.

I highly recommend both Silver in the Wood and Drowned Country. It’s an enchanting story and Tesh’s writing is phenomenal. There’s no feeling of rushing or incompleteness in these novellas, which I sometimes find with shorter stories. You may wish for more but you definitely won’t be left unsatisfied. And the pining is top notch.

This magical sequel to Silver in the Wood is even more wonderful than the 1st title. Henry Silver has taken over the role of wild man of the wood from 400 year old Tobias Finch, but ignored his responsibilities and has yet to master his magic when his ever practical mother hauls him out of his wallowing to face a real problem. Finch is at his back when Silver attempts to rescue a missing maiden--who can quite take care of herself, thank you very much. This exquisitely written mythopoeic novella invokes the atmosphere of an unseen world very close to the mundane in a way I haven't experienced since reading the books of Alan Garner and Robert Holdstock many years ago. A bit of humor, a touch of horror, a real fairly land more grim than fantastic, and characters who are real even through their supernatural aspects

The Drowned Country is not your typical sophomore book in a series. It proves that this isn’t always a thing.

I love all of these characters. Emily Tesh has just. I can’t describe what she put me through. I would gladly dive off a cliff into a(n) (dis)enchanted land with her again. Filled with folkloric feel and haunting images, The Drowned Country is simply a beautiful novella.

I wept and raged. I shrieked encouragement deep in my heart. In my very bones. Where Silver in the Wood gave me lush verdant scenes with lush, verdant love, The a Drowned Country gave me barren landscapes scraped clean of all things bright and beautiful. It gave me longing beyond compare. Longing for love, for that childhood dream of faeries, only to have them all barren as well.

But don’t fret. Emily is masterful at putting me back together after she’s shattered my bones, drained my heart of blood. It’s been replaced by quickened sap.

I can only hope for more.

What a joy to return to the story of Henry Silver and Tobias Finch! A perfect tale to read on a late summer afternoon. We spend time with our dear friends, but we stumble upon new characters, new beings, new portals, new foes, and new difficulties. A story that feels both fresh and ancient, that draws us in, effortlessly, as though we're comfortably gathered in the wood, around a fire, stars overhead, fairies, perhaps, in the distance.

So some time has passed since Silver became the new Wild Man of Greenhollow, releasing Tobias of his duties. Since then, the two had blissful, romantic moments together at Greenhollow Hall until something occurred that broke their romantic union apart. Silver remained at Greenhollow Hall turning it into a wreak, and Tobias goes off with Mrs. Silver helping her on her hunts.

One day, Mrs. Silver returns to Greenhollow Hall seeking her son’s help on a mission… and also to draw him out of his exaggerated sulk. A vampire in the “grimy seaside town of Rothport” abducted a young woman and Mrs. Silver and Tobias are trying to get her back but need Silver’s help to do so. Still sulking, Silver decides to help save a girl who he later realizes doesn’t need saving and meets a creature he thought to never exist.

Part of the reason why I enjoyed Drowned Country more than Silver in the Wood is because it’s so chatty. It’s told from Silver’s perspective and so it has a lot more to say because Silver (well, everyone else) talks much more than Tobias.

Silver in the Wood was more silent, pensive, and brooding, much like Tobias at the time. It was a good read, but I certainly was more entertained by Silver’s voice and his observations, especially about his mom in relation to him, such as how he’d apparently oversold the impression to his mother that he’s feeble and unable to lift anything heavier than a dictionary, lol. He’s so sarcastic — another reason why I enjoyed reading from his perspective.

Again the story is heavily atmospheric and I liked the writing. The characters visit the fairy realm and although I was hoping for a more spectacular fairy world because it’s something I always hope for, the barren landscape piqued my curiosity and the reason for its barreness was interesting.

The characters, of course, were great. Tobias spoke a bit more than he did in Silver in the Wood (lol, j/k) and although sometimes Silver irked me because of his pompous attitude and selfishness, which being caretaker of the Wood seems enhance, I liked him too. As for Mrs. Silver… I need a book about her. (Sure her name is Adela Silver, but I feel compelled to always refer to her as Mrs. Silver, to always be aware of the respect she is due.) So yes, a story about Mrs. Silver’s younger years roaming around the country hunting fantastical beings and maybe even a story of Mrs. Silver having to live in a house with her pompous son, Silver, his strong and silent companion, Tobias, and the ever-curious, ever-questioning newcomer, Maud Lindhurst… I’d like a story about Maud learning from Mrs. Silver and hunting too. Basically, I want more stories. 😊

There’s much potential for the Greenhollow duology to extend to more novellas. I like Tesh’s writing and love how atmospheric her stories are. I just sink into it, into Greenhollow, whenever I start reading. I’ll certainly be on the look-out for whatever Tesh drops next.

Silver in the Wood happens to be one of those books that just really stuck with me for several reasons- the main character's voice, the setting, and the fact that the characters were Queer without making their entire identity about their Queerness. I was super excited to see a sequel to this much beloved book and it honestly did not disappoint.

Drowned Country is told from Silver's POV, a switch I struggled with a bit because where Tobias is calm and assertive, Silver has a flair for the dramatic so everything we see through him is told through that lens.

The plot itself was fine, but it did drag a lot in the middle which is why I took a star away. When the action did pick back up, however, it was amazing and I really enjoyed the ending (even if it did feel a bit... rushed). I know this is probably meant to wrap up this series but I do hope there's another novella in the works just so we can see Silver and Tobias together... and maybe some ghost hunting.

Arc provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Emily Tesh has once again created such an interesting world that I can almost believe it is real. I really enjoyed being able to see this book through Silver's eyes. We were thrown into a bit of drama that was slowly explained to us. It was nice being able to see how the characters spent the two years between this book and the last. I am always one to enjoy a little angst in a book and this was just the right amount for being a novella. This was the perfect read I needed on a long night where sleep kept alluding me. I really highly enjoyed this one almost as much as the first.

Drowned Country returns to the world of the Hallow Wood, two years since we last left Tobias Finch and Henry Silver after confronting the dark forces of the forest. The experience has brought them together, but it's also left them both in a very different situation to the one they were previously in (spoilers ahead!) - Tobias has now been freed of his position as the keeper of the wood, but has instead passed it to Silver, who is now contemplating life as an immortal forest spirit and speculating on when, exactly, he ought to give up on his humanity and accept his decline into otherworldly madness. When his mother marches back into his (crumbling) house and demands his help with her latest monster hunting mission, Silver finds himself reluctantly back with Tobias - who now works for Mrs Silver - and agreeing to help face down a 900-year-old vampire in a nearby town. Except, the vampire isn't the real story here, and the woman he's captured has grand schemes of her own to put into motion.

I'm unusually deep in my feelings for romance at the moment, so Silver and Tobias' journey was very compelling to me, especially as the circumstances surrounding the pair's separation come into focus, and we realise what a challenge the ending of Silver in the Wood left them both. This continuation lets us see the difference between Tobias' tenure as the forest guardian and Silver's, and the different ways they cope with becoming something powerful and not-human against their will. Inevitably, Tobias has quiet but strong feelings about how Silver uses his power and their quiet longing and distrust makes for a beautiful exploration that underpins both the supernatural and the irritating human side of Drowned Country's story. While Silver and Tobias' story feels like it's now been told, I hope this isn't the last we've seen of this queer iteration of faerie, and especially not of Mrs Silver or her brilliant new assistant.

I read Silver in the Wood and absolutely loved it, and when I heard Tesh’s second book in the series was coming out later in the year, I hopped onto Netgalley to find it! I loved this book, perhaps a little more than the first! Henry Silver is such a dramatic and touchy fellow and I love him so, so much. Silver and Tobias’ relationship is explored a little more in this installment, mostly in flashbacks, and I kept wanting more! Tesh is such a tease, I could read a whole novel based on short stories of Tobias and Henry. Basically, if you loved the first book you won’t be disappointed with this!

A very enjoyable book! Really loved the first so this was definitely a good follow-up to that one. New story+plot line but similar dynamics that gave the series a familiar feeling.

I loved Silver in the Wood and Drowned Country was a worthy sequel. The pov has shifted from Tobias to Silver here and this has set aside the folklore feel for Victorian supernatural, but it works really well. I still love Mrs Silver btw! Anyway no spoilers but this was every bit as beautiful, intelligent and lyrical as the first book. Highly recommend.

In some ways this follow up to SILVER IN THE WOOD, a lush reimagining of the Green Man legend, couldn't be more different than its predecessor. Tone wise, in the telling of the story, almost everything. It actually took a few chapters for me to warm upto this one because it felt like such a change. But eventually it did win me over. Not to the extent of book one, but I was solidly enjoying it.. right up until a, in my opinion, fairly abrupt ending.

The ending aside, I thought this was really well paced. I loved how the timeline since book one was explained, even if at first I wasn't sure the why or how or what had happened. As it all unfolded, I thought it worked so well. I won't say much about this, though, because spoilers.

It makes me sad this is the end because I did really enjoy the time spent with these characters, in this strange little world. I wish I had ended this series on a slightly higher note but nonetheless.. still good.

Emily Tesh’s debut, SILVER IN THE WOODS, was one of my absolute favorite releases of the past year, and definitely one of the ones I made the most noise about. We return to the same world for DROWNED COUNTRY, the second book in the Greenhollow Duology.

DROWNED COUNTRY picks up almost two years after SILVER IN THE WOOD left off. Foppish young folklorist Henry Silver has become the Lord of Summer, but his wood languishes because Tobias Flint has left it, and left Henry, behind. Silver pretends—poorly—that he doesn’t mind, though when his monster-hunting mother summons him to a nearby village to help her and Flint, still in her employ, deal with the kidnapping of rich local girl Maud Lindhurst by a vampire, he jumps at the chance to see his ex-lover again. Oh, and to help find the poor kidnapped girl. Naturally. But when Silver and Flint team up, they find Maud alive, the vampire dead, and soon realize they’re facing an entirely different—and perhaps a much more dangerous—opponent than anticipated. And this opponent, whatever it is, has something in common with the Lord of the Greenhollow.

Like SILVER IN THE WOOD, this book can be read in the space of a single lazy morning or evening. This is both very satisfying and very sad—while I love the immediate gratification, I also wanted to spin the beautiful language and imagery out for a long, long while. Fortunately I’m a chronic re-reader, so I can still do that . . . and I will, while I wait for Tesh’s next work because I am now officially a fan. I‘m kinda devastated that the duopoly is over, but I’m still hopeful . . . because while DROWNED COUNTRY brings the story that SILVER IN THE WOOD began—of Tobias Flint and Henry Silver and the green-hallowed wood—to a satisfying end, it also leaves the door open for many more tales of folkloring and monster-hunting and future good times in this enchanting magical otherworld Tesh has created. (Here’s hoping!)

A twisty, selfish mystery that continues on the events that occurred in the first parting the duology. Tesh writes Henry Silver as such a relatable, petulant figure. And MAUDE! There’s such a tight cast, and they work so well together. I dearly loved this novella, and think it would appeal to readers of Katherine Arden and Naomi Novik. Fairyland: not a fun time.

Drowned Country is the second novella in the Greenhollow Duology by Emily Tesh, and is something I personally have been waiting for all year. If you're looking for a series with stunningly fresh aesthetic, this is it.

In Silver in the Wood we were introduced to a world of magic, monsters, and men. Silver followed the lore he was so obsessed with into the woods, and there he found Tobias Finch. If only the story had ended right there.

Now Silver is the Wild Man of Greenhollow, and adjusting from a normal life chasing fantasy did not prepare him for a life of magic and isolation. But the world does not stop for anyone, not even Wild Men.

With a monster on the loose, Silver, alongside his mother and Finch, will be diving back into this world for another adventure, or risk losing it all. Again.

“'I cannot think what else to call it,' Mrs Silver said, 'when a healthy young person insists on building himself a thorn-grit fortress and sitting in it, consuming nothing but sour fruit and small beer for months on end.'”

Oh goodness, where to start? Everything about Drowned Country is simply divine. I knew I was going to love it from the moment I heard the title. Granted, I loved Silver in the Wood, so I had high expectations this time around as well.

Right from the start, we're pulled into Silver's narrative, which was an interesting perspective, given the last novella. He's so strikingly different from Tobias, and yet at the same time...there's something that will always keep these two tied together. The past does that to people.

I was curious to see all of the changes that would come with this novella. I fell in love with Silver in the Wood due to Tobias' connection to the wood, but I had no idea what Silver's connection would bring with it.

As it turned out, this novella took an almost entirely different direction. In a way, I absolutely love that. It forces the readers to stop making direct comparisons between the two characters, and instead focus on the story being told.

The entire story takes place two years after Silver has found himself in the particular situation many have found so fascinating (himself included, once upon a time). While much of the story takes place in another location – a surprise, to be sure. But a pleasant one.

Personally, I loved seeing more of this world, more of the magic that makes it spin, and a completely different perspective on it all. Silver and Finch think nothing alike. They do not observe the world or each other in the same way. It was enlightening to see it all in this way, so much so that I'm actually a little bit sad that this will only ever be a duology.

I really did come to love the world of Greenhollow. Tesh's writing style is beautiful, as is the way she develops worlds and characters side by side. I don't know what story Tesh will be coming up with next, but I do know that I have full intention of reading it.

I usually write reviews in Portuguese since that is my first language, but I'll try to do this one in English.

I really enjoyed the book, I read the first one and this one back to back and it was really fun!

I loved the main characters relationship, but I wished there was more of it. I really like when we see growth in them and Silver really changed through time.

The secondary characters are also great, the dryad and Mrs Silver are the best.

I just wished the book was longer, but it is a quick and fun read.

Oh wow, this is terrific. I was nervous bc I didn't like how the romantic connection started off, but it ended up being satisfactory. Longer review to come.