Silver in then Woodis a charming novella filled with beautiful prose and imagery. It's a sweet, quick read and leaves you feeling happy. The characterization was done exceptionally well. You can really feel the vibes of the characters and connect with them. I think this is the only book I have ever read in which kindness is truly felt, and it gives you insight into what it means to be genuine and selfless

Loved it.

Silver in the Wood by Emily Tesh, an intriguing short story. The Old Man in the woods has been there a long while, taking care of the forest and its denizens...

A short n' sweet tale of the mythical Green Man of Greenhollow Wood, and Henry Silver, the new owner of Greenhollow Hall and very amateur archaeologist trying to work out the whole story. It's the Green Man but with a LGBT twist and I love it. I wish this had been 400 pages instead of barely 100.

This was a quick read. I liked the plot and a nice concept. Paranormal aspects and the end were the best thing in this book. Author is new for me and I will definitely read more books in the future by this author.. This was a book you can read over the weekend.
Highly recommended.

I received a digital copy of this book from Netgalley for an honest review.

This was a short but beautifully written story based on the myth of "The Green Man". The LGBTQ aspect was a nice touch that made the overall story more interesting.

If you’re like me, sometimes you just don’t have the patience to read a full length novel. Sometimes, all you want to do is read novellas because you can get through them quicker when your concentration is shot. So, really, Silver in the Wood was the perfect story.

It’s about Tobias, a man who lives on the edge of the wood. He isn’t an ordinary man – he knows dryads and keeps the people of the village safe when he needs to. And then one day Henry Silver, the new owner of the Hall, shows up at his cottage. And keeps coming back.

What I loved most about this book was how quietly magical it is. It’s based on some folklore, but it’s in the background for a lot of the book. I’m not entirely sure how to describe it best – it’s like the magic is an undercurrent to the rest of the book, but even when it comes more to the fore, it’s still quietly magical.

For the most part, it’s a very character-driven novella, which is great, because I loved all of the characters. (And also I think novellas work best when they’re character-driven else you’re trying to fit too much in, but that’s a whole different thing.) The major characters are obviously Tobias and Silver, but Silver’s mother is wonderful so, ultimately, the characters were what made the book.

The one tiny complaint I would have? Just over 100 pages is not nearly enough time to immerse myself in this world the way I wanted to.

ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

I think Tor.Com is one of my favourite publishers, if not my absolute favourite. I love what they're doing in terms of giving own voice authors and diverse sff stories a place with their selection of novellas.

Silver in the Wood is a sort of retelling of the British-Celtic 'Green-man' or 'Jack in the Green' myth, with a bit of an Erlkonig/ wild hunt/ faerie abduction vibe thrown in. There's also a hint of some of the older folkloric vampyre feel to the story and the whole thing is focused through an early 20th C prism. If that all sounds as if it shouldn't go together, please be assured that while it is a weird little story, it really works.

Tobias Finch has lived under the Great Oak that is the heart tree of Greenhollow Wood for longer than he cares to remember. The arrival of a new master for Greenhollow Hall, Henry Silver, threatens to disrupt his quiet and resigned way of life. Silver has heard tales of the wild man of the woods and as an amateur folklorist, is determined to find something magical. Tobias and Silver form an odd kind of friendship, and Tobias finds himself trying to steer Silver away from the truth. Because something very dark lives beneath Greenhollow Wood. Something that enjoys likely young lads like Silver...

I enjoyed this a lot and read it in one sitting. While initially a bit unsure of the style and setting of the narrative, I quickly became engrossed and was rooting for Tobias and Silver all the way. This is very quiet folkloric fantasy. Don't expect sparks and bells and whistles, or huge action sequences - much of the character journey is internal. That said, I think it's even more powerful for that. The interactions with Silver's mother are beautiful - what a great character she is. (Personally I would love a series of novellas in which Tobias and Mrs Silver are partnered up and tackling the supernatural). I think you may also get more out of this if, like me, you're a closet folklorist. All in all, a great, fast read and a good intro into Tesh's style. Highly recommend.

A beautiful novella. While the pace of this story was quick, the description of the wood and the character’s emotions was so well done. Tobias was an interesting character to follow. Him dealing with emotions and feelings he hadn’t dealt with in a long time was interesting to read. A stoic man, but you feel for him. The characters and their emotions were so real, as if they were my own. This being Tesh’s first book, it feels as though she’s only just dipped her toe in the water. For her next and future works, I hope to see her expand on the physical and emotional connections of her characters. She has left me wanting more!

I loved everything about this book. It's only 112 pages, but the story (and the writing) is absolutely beautiful. It follows Tobias Finch and his life as the keeper of the woods. He has many secrets and is feared amongst all the villagers. His only company is his cat, Pearl until Henry Silver ends up at his cabin on a rainy night.

Silver is a bit of a mystery for the first few pages after we meet him. He doesn't talk much but we know where he lives because of Finch's POV. But, when Finch has an interesting history. We get a glimpse at his magical life after Silver heads home after the rain. He talks to the woods and protects the people living in the villages from evil that lurks there. Then, he gets hurt and we learn more about Silver and see their relationship develop.

Silver is interested in the folklore that surrounds the woods and finds himself being a part of it in a way he didn't expect. I love the build of romance between Finch and Silver as the story goes on. We don't see every interaction closely, but you the reader can tell they feel something for one another due to their actions, especially Finch's. It's very lovely to watch and at times, their interactions made me laugh (specifically at the end). I also really loved that you can SEE their attraction grow and their love develop. We are shown that this is happening instead of being told.

The ending is also very very open so the reader can create a narrative for the characters after the events of the book. On one hand, I like this because it makes the reader feel close to the story and like they have a part in it but on the other hand I want more of them. I want to know of their life afterwards!

This is the authors debut novel and I will definitely be reading any books she writes in the future. I loved the writing! Sometimes magical realism can go wrong but she did an amazing job with it! My only complaint is that I wish some of the folklore/creatures were explained (or if we had a glossary in the back or something that would have been helpful).