The Beginning Woods by Malcolm McNeil

A mystery no one can solve. The Vanishings started without warning. People disappearing into thin air – just piles of clothes left behind. Each day, thousands gone without a trace. 

A baby no one wanted. Max was abandoned in a bookshop and grows up haunted by memories of his parents. Only he can solve the mystery of the Vanishings. 

A secret that could save the future. To find the answers, Max must leave this world and enter the Beginning Woods. A realm of magic and terror, life and death. But can he bear the truth – or will it destroy him?

A story that will take you to another world. Greater than your dreams. Darker than your fears. Full of more wonder than you could ever desire. Welcome to the ineffable Beginning Woods…

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The Beginning Woods is a brilliantly quirky novel with the qualities of a fairytale. I loved being immersed in this peculiar tale from the very first page. The comfort of The Book House, the menacing of the woods and all the strange and wonderful adventures in between.

Wind giants, dragon hunters and ghosts hidden in your finger nail. A disagreeable main character who almost always makes the wrong decisions. Choosing imagination or real life and realising the importance of your place in the world. The Beginning Woods is a story to get swept up in. A truly enjoyable read for older children (10+) and adults alike.