Her Wicked Roots by Tayna Pell is a dark retelling of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Rappaccini's Daughter that pulls you into a world where nature isn’t scenery—it’s alive, wild, and full of whispered secrets.

The way Pell writes about the forest, the plants, and the earth makes everything feel rich, but also a little unsettling. The woods watch, the flowers whisper secrets, and nature has its own agenda.

Aside from the earthy, atmospheric setting, the writing is genuinely well-crafted. Pell’s style is smooth and she knows how to draw you into a scene from the very first page. The characters are realistic—flawed, interesting, and not easily pinned down as heroes or villains as everyone treads the line between good and grey. Their choices feel real and their emotions are messy.

Overall, Her Wicked Roots is a beautiful, moody read that blends nature, science, and human emotion in a way that sticks with you.

If you’re into gothic retellings with strong character work and an eerie, organic setting, this is definitely worth picking up.

Wow. Just wow.
Tanya Pell crafted the most intricate mystery, gothic, slightly horror yet amazing novel I have read in a while. There is a lot of intricacies to this that I wasn't prepared for. This was my first book by Tanya Pell and I can't wait to read more.

Please check Content Warnings.

CW: Attempted Rape, Corporal Punishment, PTSD, Orphanages, Body Horror (Mild)

Full disclosure: I have never read Hawthorne’s Rappaccini’s Daughter, which this book is a retelling of. As such, I can’t comment on how one relates to the other or how good of a retelling it is.

Pell’s novel hits all my wants for Gothic horror. Cordelia (Cordi) is a well-developed heroine, complex, driven, and brave. She is easy to root for and easier still to follow through all the twists the narrative brings. She makes mistakes but plays smart and uses her wits and experience to keep pushing forward to finding her lost brother. Edenfield is a great setting, full of mysterious rules, a household of women, and a lady botanist and her two daughters, Prim and Briar, around whom one must always wear a mask and gloves. The plot never lags, but it does develop relationships and depth. There are multiple mysteries to solve, all of which are engaging. I would definitely recommend this book for anyone looking for a spooky, thrilling read.

This is exactly the book that I love to read!!! Her Wicked Roots is such a gorgeous and eerie story that combines the beauty and plants with a theme of death and sickness. The secrets wrapped up in vines and the plot twists had me hooked. I also found myself not wanting to read it too fast because then it would be over. The ending was really nice and then the epilogue had me staring at a wall after. If you love books by Adalyn Grace and Erin A Craig with queer characters this is going to be the perfect story for you. I loved it!

I loved Cicada so much, it’s my favorite non-Candy Cain Killer VHS book, so I was very excited to read this one. But nothing prepared me for the absolutely gorgeous book that Pell has given us with this beautiful book.

Sexy, scary, and always fascinating, if you’re into botanical horror with a sapphic tinge, you can’t go wrong with this one. Mystery and beauty oozes through the entire book, and Pell’s prose is remarkable and lush and draws you in so wonderfully. While the garden may be wicked, it’s one I loved spending time in.

I am usually all for a gothic read, but this one left some things to be desired. I did not really connect with the characters, but I do think that this book has the potential to find the right audience.