Emily Tesh

Emily Tesh is a British fantasy author known for lyrical prose and stories that blend mythology with contemporary themes. Her work frequently explores queer relationships and reimagines folklore through a modern lens. Tesh's debut novella Silver in the Wood (2019) won the World Fantasy Award and introduced the Greenhollow Duology, which was completed with Drowned Country (2020). These interconnected novellas weave together English folklore, romance, and dark fantasy elements. Her 2023 novel Some Desperate Glory marked her first full-length work and garnered significant critical attention. The science fiction story follows a young woman trained for revenge in a post-apocalyptic world, incorporating themes of fascism, gender, and military indoctrination. Tesh holds degrees from both Cambridge and Oxford universities, where she studied Classics and English Literature. She currently resides in London and continues to write in both the fantasy and science fiction genres.

Readers praise Tesh's prose style and character development across her works. Many reviews highlight her ability to create atmospheric settings, particularly in the Greenhollow Duology. On Goodreads, multiple readers note how she packs complex worldbuilding into shorter formats without feeling rushed. Readers appreciate: - Lyrical writing that avoids being purple prose - LGBTQ+ representation that feels natural to the story - Fresh takes on familiar folklore elements - Tight pacing in novellas Common critiques: - Some find her endings abrupt - Desire for more plot development - Character motivations sometimes unclear - World details can feel underdeveloped Ratings averages: Goodreads: - Silver in the Wood: 3.9/5 (15,000+ ratings) - Drowned Country: 3.8/5 (6,000+ ratings) - Some Desperate Glory: 4.1/5 (8,000+ ratings) Amazon: - Silver in the Wood: 4.2/5 - Drowned Country: 4.3/5 - Some Desperate Glory: 4.4/5 One frequent reader comment notes her consistent improvement with each new release.

Silver in the Wood (2019) A forest-dwelling Wild Man's solitary existence is disrupted when a young historian arrives to study the woods, leading to revelations about ancient folklore and magic in the Greenhollow forest.

Drowned Country (2020) The second Greenhollow novella follows Henry Silver as he becomes entangled in a missing persons case involving dangerous fairy folk while confronting his complex relationship with the mysterious Tobias Finch.

Some Desperate Glory (2023) In a post-apocalyptic future, a young woman raised in an all-female military compound discovers uncomfortable truths about her society's war against alien invaders who destroyed Earth.

Naomi Novik writes fantasy that weaves folklore and fairy tales into new forms, particularly in Uprooted and Spinning Silver. Her work features similar attention to mythology and queer themes, with a focus on Eastern European folklore rather than English traditions.

Seanan McGuire creates portal fantasy and folklore-based stories in her Wayward Children series that mirror Tesh's blend of contemporary and mythological elements. Her work consistently centers queer characters and relationships while exploring dark fantasy themes.

T. Kingfisher reimagines folklore and fairy tales with contemporary sensibilities in works like The Hollow Places and Nettle & Bone. Her writing combines folklore elements with horror and romance in ways that echo Tesh's approach to traditional stories.

Rivers Solomon writes speculative fiction that examines gender, power structures, and post-apocalyptic themes in works like The Deep and An Unkindness of Ghosts. Their work shares Tesh's interest in exploring social structures and identity through genre fiction.

C.L. Polk crafts fantasy stories featuring queer characters and complex magical systems in the Kingston Cycle series. Their work combines romance with darker themes and social commentary in ways similar to Tesh's approach.