This Vicious Hunger is a dark, gothic fantasy of intoxication, obsession, and two women's desperate hunger for knowledge, whatever the cost. Thora Grieve finds herself destitute and an outcast after the sudden death of her husband, but a glimmer of hope arrives when a family friend offers her the chance to study botany under the tutelage of a famed professor. Once at the university, Thora becomes entranced by a mysterious young woman, Olea, who emerges each night to tend to the plants in the private garden below Thora's window.
Hungry for connection, Thora befriends Olea through the garden gate and their relationship quickly and intensely blossoms. Thora throws herself into finding a cure for the ailment confining Olea to the garden and sinks deeper into a world of beauty, poison, and obsession. Thora has finally found the freedom to pursue her darkest desires, but will it be worth the price?
About the Author :
Francesca May grew up in the middle of England where she spent her childhood devouring fantasy books and brewing potions in her back garden. She currently lives in Derby with her family, three giant dogs, and two black cats. By day she works as a bookseller at Waterstones. By night she accidentally kills every house plant she touches and writes novels about gothic mansions, witchcraft, and queer love. She also writes psychological thrillers and gothic suspense as Fran Dorricott. You can find her on Twitter @franwritesstuff or her website at www.frandorricott.com
Review :
Praise for Wild and Wicked Things: "Brimming with romance and gilded with danger, Wild and Wicked Things is a heady, lyrical gem of a book." ―Hannah Whitten, New York Times bestselling author of For the Wolf
"Haunting, immersive, and seething with dark magic, Wild and Wicked Things cast its spell on me." ―Alexis Henderson, author of The Year of the Witching
"[T]his compelling queer gothic gas-lamp tale of witchcraft, wealth, and war is filled with brooding atmosphere, sensual details, and a sense of creeping dread....[a] tale of secrets, lies, and mistakenly raising the dead, will keep readers guessing and turning pages to the very end. Highly recommended for lovers of dark, witchy fantasy." ―Library Journal (starred review)
"Wild and Wicked Things ticked all my boxes. May's vivid prose carries us off to a world not quite unlike our own and spins the story of one woman coming into her own, another fighting the darkness inside her, and the two of them drawing together to become something more. I couldn't put it down." ―Genevieve Gornichec, author of The Witch's Heart
"Viciously enchanting, with a spell woven onto every page. Francesca May has given us a cast of wild and wicked women who dare to hold a mirror to the darkest, and most tender, parts of our souls. I couldn't get enough!" ―Heather Walter, author of Malice
"Entrancing, seductive, and decadently beautiful, Francesca May weaves an intoxicating spell. Here is a deep, sensuous exploration of the bonds between three very different, complex women that readers won't soon forget." ―Gwenda Bond, New York Times bestselling author
"A sapphic historical fantasy novel that drips with dark curses and alluring witchcraft. It delivers all the gothic, witchy vibes you could hope for." ―CultureFly
"An intoxicating blend of secrets and glamour, romance and scandal, blood magic and dark pasts. If you've ever thought the Jazz Age would have been better with witchcraft, this book is for you." ―H. G. Parry, author of The Shadow Histories
"Even after the last page is turned, this intoxicating story lingers like a deep dark wine. Sparkling and deadly, Wild and Wicked Things enchanted me, and if you're feeling dangerous, it will enchant you too." ―Lucy Holland, author of Sistersong
"[B]eautiful...May's atmospheric prose conjures the world down to its last detail." ―Publishers Weekly
"This Vicious Hunger will consume you like a sweet poison. May deftly unfurls the dark, dangerous underbelly of science, obsession, and desire through the lens of three morally gray women that will keep you turning the pages long into the night." --Maddie Martinez, author of The Maiden and Her Monster
"A rich, Gothic fantasy of obsession, trauma, and lies that twist and knot like tangled roots. This Vicious Hunger is a queer fairy tale of toxic romance that echoes with longing." --Tanya Pell, author of Her Wicked Roots
"This is the dark, romantic gothic fantasy of my dreams! The atmosphere is truly luscious, the intrigue takes root in you and won't let go, and the payoff is absolutely delicious. I devoured it." --Hannah Mathewson, author of Witherward
