As the Haywoods pressed the blackberries to their lips, fireflies nestled among the petals and vines. No longer did they carry the gloom on their wings, keeping the sorrow in the town’s memories from being lost forever. Still, they were drawn to the garden as they’d always been, as all magical things in Yarrow were.

The patch of land that once held the dark corn sat empty for months. Though the fence had been torn down, a line had been drawn between life and death—between a garden tended and a field abused. The husks and stalks had been cleared; the soil had been turned. To the casual observer, nothing had grown. Nothing might ever grow there again.

But beneath the earth, the garden was hard at work.

Roots that had once fought for nutrients stretched out and out and out, carrying the suffering they’d taken from the gloom, from the bourbon, from the town—and, now, from the Haywoods.

That evening, beneath the dying light of the setting sun, the first sprout emerged from razed earth. The seed split open and black leaves unfurled, as land that had been broken came to life once more.

Acknowledgments

This book would not exist without the heartfelt support and thoughtful critique of so many people: Rena Rossner for understanding this story from day one (and my writing for even longer) and for helping me find the magic in the bourbon. My editor at Forever, Leah Hultenschmidt, thank you for falling in love with the Haywoods, for helping me get the story just right, and for having the perfect vision for this book. Sabrina Flemming for your support throughout the process. Daniela Medina for a cover that is not only stunning but so perfectly captures this story. Luria Rittenberg for making sure the book is as beautiful on the inside as it is on the outside. Alayna Johnson for helping me keep things straight. Nicole Andress for getting In the Shadow Garden into the hands of readers. And to everyone else at Forever who had a hand in bringing this book to life.

To my Beez: Sara Biren, Rebekah Faubion, Tracey Neithercott. It’s wild to think I was trying to fix the very first draft of this story the same weekend when I met you all in person for the first time. For your friendship, for your critique, and for the T. J. Oshie and BTS GIFs, thank you.