In 1851, 17-year-old Roan Eddington moves to Medwyn Mill House on a Welsh mountain under the guardianship of the mysterious Dr. Maudley. She meets the prickly ward Rapley and the unusual siblings from Ireland who have been sent to the house under the guise of charity. But it is obvious that Dr. Maudley is no ordinary doctor and that Mill House is no mountain retreat. Roan has powers that she cannot wield, and the house only exacerbates her darkness.
Fast forward to the modern day, when British teen Zoey Root has run off to Mill House with her friend Poulton. Zoey believes that hidden among the ruins is a clue to her father’s madness and her own unique abilities. Although the house is in shambles, the evil that has resided there for centuries is not. Zoey is warned that if she does not leave, the house will kill Poulton, as it has done to everyone within its walls. What binds Roan and Zoey together, despite a century of separation, is an ancient and demonic curse that spans lifetimes.
Dawn Kurtagich’s Teeth in the Mist is a hefty story with numerous narratives and melodic language that leans heavily on gothic fantasy and romance tropes. Interspersed throughout the text are illustrations and art meant to resemble old documents, photographs and artifacts. Zoey’s story is told through diary entries and mixed media. Although it takes time for the story to get underway, this read is immersive and page-turning. Be prepared for a sequel.
