Into the Bloodred Woods by Martha Brockenbrough

In Martha Brockenbrough’s haunting YA fantasy, Into the Bloodred Woods, fairy tales are reborn into a brutal, mesmerizing tale of love, betrayal, and the thirst for power.
 
When a kingdom is torn apart after a ruler’s death, a violent struggle for the throne erupts between twin heirs: one who embraces compassion and one who hungers for domination. The forest beyond their world—steeped in blood and legend—becomes the battleground where loyalties are tested, monsters roam, and ancient magic stirs.
 
Inspired by classic fairy tales but reimagined with a feminist and subversive edge, Into the Bloodred Woods is lushly written, and darkly imaginative.
 
🎯 Perfect For
Readers who love dark fairy tale retellings
Fans of Melissa Albert (The Hazel Wood) and Holly Black (The Cruel Prince)
YA fantasy readers who enjoy sibling rivalries, kingdoms at war, and morally gray characters
Book clubs seeking layered, atmospheric fantasy with themes of power and love
💡 Why You’ll Love It
Twists classic fairy tales into a dark, original fantasy
Features complex characters and morally charged conflicts
Rich world-building steeped in myth and forest magic
Explores themes of power, betrayal, compassion, and survival
Lyrical writing style perfect for readers of gothic fantasy