The White Forest: A NovelAdam McOmber
Touchstone, September 2012
ISBN: 978-1451664256
In this hauntingly original debut novel about a young woman whose peculiar abilities help her infiltrate a mysterious secret society, Adam McOmber uses fantastical twists and dark turns to create a fast-paced, unforgettable story.
As The White Forest begins readers meet Jane Silverman, a young woman who leads a solitary existence and who is living with a special yet horrible gift that allows her to see into the souls of man-made objects.
The only bright spot in Jane's life is her friendship, begun in childhood, with Nathan Ashe and Maddie Lee. But when they grow up, both girls are attracted to Nathan, a conflict that undermines their friendship. Nathan himself, scarred by the horrors of the Crimean war in which he served, falls prey to a secretive and dangerous cult led by a mysterious and charismatic leader, Ariston Day. In time, Nathan disappears and Jane's quest to find him is both aided and complicated by her fractured friendship with Maddie.
In order to save their son, the aristocratic Ashe family hires the famed Inspector Vidocq to investigate his disappearance, while Maddie and Jane work to find him on their own. Nathan's obsessive desire to reach a mythological place he calls the Empyrean drew him first to Jane and her special skills, and then to Day's mysterious cult, so Vidocq's primary attention is drawn to Jane. Ariston Day, meanwhile has a similar take, and desperately tries to recruit Jane and her special talents to help him in his quest to achieve greater societal domination and to reach the Empyrean that led Nathan to him.
The White Forest is Adam McOmber's debut novel, and shows considerable promise, particularly in his use of vivid imagery and luxurious prose. McOmber's vocabulary is rich and appropriate for the time period, which helps set the mood and creates an unforgettable, dark atmosphere. The White Forest is a gorgeous gothic novel that combines elements of historical fiction, fantasy, horror and romance.
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.
ISBN: 978-1451664256; ISBN10: 1451664257; Imprint: Touchstone; On Sale: 9/11/2012; Format: Hardcover; Pages: 320; $25.00
