“Never go into the forest, for there are many dangers there, and they will ensnare your soul.”
Serafina has never had a reason to disobey her pa and venture beyond the grounds of Biltmore Estate. There’s plenty to explore in Mr. and Mrs. Vanderbilt’s vast and opulent home, but she must take care to never be seen. None of the rich folk upstairs know that Serafina exists; she and her pa, the … she and her pa, the estate’s maintenance man, have lived in the basement for as long as Serafina can remember. She has learned to prowl through the darkened corridors at night, to sneak and hide, using the mansion’s hidden doors and secret passageways.
But when children at the estate start disappearing, only Serafina knows the clues to follow. A terrifying man in a black cloak stalks Biltmore’s corridors at night. Following her own harrowing escape, Serafina risks everything by joining forces with Braeden Vanderbilt, the young nephew of Biltmore’s owners. Braeden and Serafina must uncover the Man in the Black Cloak’s true identity before all of the children vanish one by one.
Serafina’s hunt leads her into the very forest that she has been taught to fear, where she discovers a forgotten legacy of magic. In order to save the children of Biltmore, Serafina must not only face her darkest enemy, but delve into the strange mystery of her own identity.
I bought this book for my mother because she had seen a preview for it and thought it sounded like a good story even though it was a children’s book. I borrowed the book from her and (attempted) to read it after she was done. I struggled to find my way through this book. I didn’t find the story interesting and I couldn’t picture what I was reading very easily. It became a chore and I didn’t finish the last few chapters. I asked her to just tell my the ending because I had no interest in trying to finish this book. I found the story okay, but I didn’t care for the writer’s style of writing. Seraphina was just an off the wall character and the details were rushed through much of the book. I had expected a lot more since it had a Disney backing for the book (maybe my expectations were too high because of this, I don’t know), but needless to say I was very disappointed.