Book Review: Through the Woods by Emily Carroll

Discover a terrifying world in the woods in this collection of five hauntingly beautiful graphic stories that includes the online webcomic sensation “His Face All Red,” in print for the first time.

Journey through the woods in this sinister, compellingly spooky collection that features four brand-new stories and one phenomenally popular tale in print for the first time. These are fairy tales gone seriously wrong, where you can travel to “Our Neighbor’s House”—though coming back might be a problem. Or find yourself a young bride in a house that holds a terrible secret in “A Lady’s Hands Are Cold.” You might try to figure out what is haunting “My Friend Janna,” or discover that your brother’s fiancée may not be what she seems in “The Nesting Place.” And of course you must revisit the horror of “His Face All Red,” the breakout webcomic hit that has been gorgeously translated to the printed page.

Through the Woods reminds me of Angela Carter’s The Bloody Chamber, about twisted fairy tales. Even the black, white and red cover is reminiscent of it. But Through the Woods stands on its own, apart from the comparison. I read it all in one winter’s night. 

The graphics are spectacular – creepy and beautiful at the same time. The accompanying narratives are perfectly spare – simple but memorable. Some stories I read several times. There are themes of envy, grief and secrets lurking beneath the striking illustrations.

If you want to go down the rabbit hole of her stories, check out her website, where many of them are posted, complete with graphics.