White Forest

Jane Silverlake is a lonely young woman with a strange, inexplicable gift - ever since her mother's mysterious death she has been able to hear the souls of man-made objects. The frightening sounds from the artifacts in her father's crumbling estate on the edge of Hampstead Heath plague her constantly, but she finds solace in the peaceful silence she hears from nature. Jane is happiest when exploring the heath with her only companions, Madeline Lee and Nathan Ashe. Nathan's fascination with the mysterious young woman compels him to try and understand Jane's odd talent and sparks his intense interest in a secretive cult led by Ariston Day, a charismatic mystic. Competing for Nathan's attention drives a wedge between Madeline and Jane; their cherished friendships evolve into a complicated love triangle.

Suddenly Nathan disappears from the streets of Victorian London without a trace. The famed Inspector Vidocq arrives to attempt to untangle the events that led to his disappearance; however, Jane quickly discovers she can trust no one. In order to save everything she holds dear, she must infiltrate Ariston Day's mysterious secret society, discover the origins of her talent and use it to find Nathan herself, before it's too late. This search will lead Jane to a place beyond her wildest imaginings and will reveal vast reserves of power and strength within her she never dreamed she possessed.

Both hauntingly beautiful and rigorously researched, THE WHITE FOREST lures readers into a dark, mythic world full of epic danger and surprises as McOmber's compelling, distinctive heroine uncovers her true identity and is deeply empowered by that knowledge.

Adam McOmber teaches creative writing at Columbia College Chicago and is the associate editor of the literary magazine Hotel Amerika. Stories from his collection, This New and Poisonous Air, have been shortlisted for Best American Fantasy and nominated for two Pushcart Prizes in 2012. Visit AdamMcOmber.com.