Wild and Wicked Things

"Haunting, immersive, and seething with dark magic."―Alexis HendersonOprah Daily Top 25 Fantasy Book of 2022!In the 1920s, a lush, decadent gothic tale unfolds as a young woman slips into a glamorous world filled with illicit magic, tantalizing romance, and murder.  On Crow Island, people whisper that real magic lurks just below the surface. But magic doesn’t interest Annie Mason. Not after it stole her future. She’s on the island only to settle her late father’s estate and, hopefully, reconnect with her long-absent best friend, Beatrice, who fled their dreary lives for a more glamorous one. Yet Crow Island is brimming with temptation, and the most mesmerizing may be her enigmatic new neighbor.  Mysterious and alluring, Emmeline Delacroix is a figure shadowed by rumors of witchcraft. Soon, Annie is drawn into a glittering, haunted world. A world where the boundaries of wickedness are tested, and the cost of illicit magic might be death.To those who are bright and young; to those who are wild and wicked; welcome to Crow Island. Praise for Wild and Wicked Things: “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  "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

Hannah Whitten, New York Times bestselling author of For the Wolf

"Brimming with romance and gilded with danger, Wild and Wicked Things is a heady, lyrical gem of a book."

Alexis Henderson, author of The Year of the Witching

"Haunting, immersive, and seething with dark magic, Wild and Wicked Things cast its spell on me"

Library Journal (starred review)

"[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."

Genevieve Gornichec, author of The Witch’s Heart

“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.”

Heather Walter, author of Malice

"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!"

Gwenda Bond, New York Times bestselling author

“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."

CultureFly

"A sapphic historical fantasy novel that drips with dark curses and alluring witchcraft. It delivers all the gothic, witchy vibes you could hope for."

H. G. Parry, author of The Shadow Histories

"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."

Lucy Holland, author of Sistersong

"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."

Publishers Weekly

"[B]eautiful...May’s atmospheric prose conjures the world down to its last detail."

Seattle Times

"[A] spooky, sexy delight."

Library Journal

"Featuring queer romance, this enjoyable tale of magic would be a wonderful addition to any collection."

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

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