
Part of Series
NOTE: Willa of Dark Hollow is a stand-alone story that does not require reading any of the author's previous books. Plunge into an exciting story of history, mystery, & magic from the best-selling author of the Serafina series. Loved by adults and young readers alike, Kirkus Reviews has awarded Dark Hollow the prestigious Kirkus Star, calling it "a captivating, stirring tale of family and friendship." The Great Smoky Mountains. 1901. Willa and her clan are the last of the Faeran, an ancient race of forest people who have lived in the mountains for as long as the trees have grown there. But as crews of newly arrived humans start cutting down great swaths of the forest she loves, Willa is helpless to stop them. How can she fight the destroyers of the forest and their powerful machines? When Willa discovers a mysterious dark hollow filled with strange and beautiful creatures, she comes to realize that it contains a terrifying force. Is unleashing these dangerous spirits the key to stopping the loggers? Willa must find a way to save the people and animals she loves and take a stand against an all-consuming darkness that threatens to destroy her world. For readers from 8 to 108.
Author

Robert Beatty is the author of the #1 New York Times best-selling Serafina series and Willa of Dark Hollow, both published by Disney Hyperion. He is also an Executive Producer for the WILLA live-action television series that is currently in development. WILLA OF DARK HOLLOW, which can be read as a stand-alone story or as a follow-up to WILLA OF THE WOOD, is now available for order. The Serafina Series is a spooky mystery-thriller about a brave and unusual girl who lives secretly in the basement of the grand Biltmore Estate. Serafina and the Black Cloak was a #1 New York Times best seller, has been on the list for more than 60 weeks, and won the prestigious 2016 Pat Conroy Southern Book Prize. The second book in the series, Serafina and the Twisted Staff, became a #1 New York Times best seller in the first week of its launch and earned a "Starred Review" from Kirkus Reviews, which said, "Even better than its predecessor, a sequel that delivers nonstop thrills from beginning to end." Enjoyed by both young readers and adults, the books are being taught in over a thousand classrooms nationwide. The third book in the series, Serafina and the Splintered Heart, launched in July 2017 to much acclaim. The fourth book, Serafina and the Seven Stars, turned Serafina into a New York Times best-selling series. Willa of the Wood is a #1 New York Times bestseller. Willa of Dark Hollow publishes May 4, 2021. Robert Beatty lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Asheville, North Carolina with his wife and three daughters, who help create and refine his stories. He loves to explore Biltmore Estate and the darkened forest trails where his novels take place. He writes full-time now, but in his past lives, Robert was one of the early pioneers of cloud computing, the founder/CEO of Plex Systems, the co-founder of Beatty Robotics, and the chairman/CTO of Narrative Magazine. In 2007, he was named an Entrepreneur of the Year. When asked about the inspiration for his books, Robert said, "The Serafina and Willa novels grew out of my desire to write stories about unusual and heroic young girls for my three daughters."
