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Illumicrate

Fantasy

Kell Woods

After the Forest by Kell Woods (Illumicrate 'Fairytale Forests' exclusive)

Featured book: After the Forest by Kell Woods

An exclusive redesigned cover

Full colour printing on the hardback (by @chattynora)

Digitally printed edges

Endpaper artwork (different front and back, by @lothlenan)

A bound-in author letter

After the Forest by Kell Woods 'Fairytale Forests'

This box was part of the Illumicrate subscription in October 2023 and is no longer available to purchase.

Illumicrate Box

About the product

Our October theme is . . . FAIRYTALE FORESTS!

Step into a fairytale forest where shadows shiver beneath arching trees, and tread the overgrown path through to a lamp-lit cottage where you can rest your feet.

Our October Illumicrate book is a standalone fantasy debut! On the cusp of debt due to her brother’s gambling addiction, a young woman turns to a strange magical grimoire to make sweet treats for profit. But when dark magic begins to lurk, the woman realises that the grimoire—and her own magic—may be the only thing that can keep her home from harm.

Our Illumicrate Exclusive edition is a B-format hardback and features:

  • An exclusive redesigned cover
  • Full colour printing on the hardback (by @chattynora)
  • Digitally printed edges
  • Endpaper artwork (different front and back, by @lothlenan)
  • A bound-in author letter

Items this month are inspired by Bitterthorn, The Last Tale of the Flower Bride, Once Upon a Broken Heart and The Cruel Prince!

The book at a glance:

  • Standalone fantasy debut
  • All exclusive: redesigned cover, full colour printing on the hardback; digitally printed edges; endpaper artwork; a bound-in author letter
  • M/F main relationship; female main character; fairy tale retelling; historical fantasy; early modern German-inspired world.

Photos: @cosycoffeereader  & @literaryxqueen

About the Author

Kell Woods is an Australian historical fantasy author. She lives near the sea with her husband, two sons, and the most beautiful black cat in the realm. Kell studied English literature, creative writing and librarianship, so she could always be surrounded by stories. She has worked in libraries for the past twelve years, all the while writing about made-up (and not so made-up) places, people and things you might remember from the fairy tales you read as a child.

Content warnings for After the Forest

  • Content Warning

    • Blood
    • Body horror
    • Fire causing bodily harm
    • Gore/ knife violence
    • Kidnapping/ Imprisonment
    • Torture (off page)
    • Violence against animals
    • Cutting/self-harm, self bloodletting
    • Scarring and burn scars
    • Child abuse
    • Ableism/ableist language
    • Body shaming
    • Grief/loss of a parent
    • Trauma/PTSD
    • Drugging/being drugged/ hallucinations
    • Drinking & alcohol abuse
    • Forced betrothal
    • Strong language/cursing/swearing
    • Threat of sexual violence