THE UNDERWILD: RIVER OF SPIRITS

An instant New York Times bestseller!

A “dazzling debut” (Booklist, starred review) middle grade fantasy about a girl caught between the realms of the living and the dead who gets lost in the Underworld—perfect for fans of Greenwild and Rick Riordan.

Twelve-year-old Senka lives between the realm of the Living and the realm of the Dead. As ward to Charon, the Ferryer of the Underworld, Senka assists Charon in ferrying recently departed souls across the river and into their afterlife... But when a Living girl, Poppy, enters the Underworld begging for Senka’s help to find the soul of her brother, they’re both swept downriver, far from everything Senka has ever known. Lost in the Underwild, Senka and Poppy encounter malevolent spirits of lore and eccentric ghosts—and not all are willing to let souls slip through their grasp. Senka knows the Living can’t stay in the realm of the Dead for long, and if Poppy isn't returned home soon she'll risk becoming lost to the Underwild forever. But there is so much Charon never taught her, and as Senka travels deeper into the Underwild she slowly discovers how many secrets her guardian has kept from her. As Senka and Poppy dodge angry demigods, hungry wraiths, tricksy shape-shifters, and terrifying dragon chimera, Senka gets closer and closer to learning the truth of her own past. Soon, she won’t just need to save Poppy’s life—she’ll also need to save her own.

Spirited Away meets Hades in this MG contemporary fantasy. Set in the Underworld, this story explores themes of grief, found family, memory, and what it means to be mortal.

The Underwild: Relic of Thieves (March 26, 2026)

An ordinary girl’s longing to return to the way things were sets off a chain of events that lands her and her best friend in the Underwild in this second book in the New York Times bestselling middle grade fantasy series The Underwild—perfect for fans of Greenwild and Rick Riordan.

The best ways Anya knows how to cope with the struggles life throws her way is to keep her head down, stay invisible, and stick close to her best friend, Lizzie. Lizzie has been Anya’s rock since second grade. Together, they pretend the world away. But when Lizzie moves out of state, Anya is left adrift and desperately lonely.

One day, Anya follows a strange girl home from school and is shocked to see her go into the home of the woman who everyone in town swears is a witch. As Anya spies on the pair, she realizes the woman really does have magic—including a set of magical keys that can deliver you anywhere you want to go…keys that could reunite Anya with Lizzie. Anya has seen all she needs to; as soon as she has the chance, she steals the keys.

But magic always has a price. The keys do bring Anya to Lizzie, but then the girls are transported to the dark and chaotic world of the Underwild. Before long, Lizzie is snatched away by a terrible creature! Now wracked with guilt and paralyzed by fear, Anya has no choice but to trust the girl from school, Senka, when she unexpectedly shows up and offers to help. But can Anya find the bravery locked away deep inside herself in time to rescue her friend?

Kirkus Starred Review

“After using an ancient Greek relic without permission, a Living girl finds herself stuck in the realm of the Dead trying to save her best friend, in this second book in the Underwild series…

Brilliantly flipping the narrative of the myth of Hades and Persephone, Targosz’s narrative masterfully weaves Anya’s pain and healing from familial wounds into the story. The book gracefully and age-appropriately handles challenging topics.

A captivating exploration of found family and healing through Greek mythology.”

Kirkus Reviews

Booklist Review

“Anya can only withstand her brother’s abuse and parents’ fighting with the support of her best friend, Lizzie, so it’s no wonder that she’s devastated when Lizzie moves away. It also explains why the usually timid Anya is willing to steal magical keys from the neighborhood witch in order to open a portal to Lizzie’s new place. But when it turns out that using those keys breaks a law decreed by Zeus himself, the girls tumble into the dangerous underworld, where they must face the consequences. Only a chance run-in with Senka, Charon’s ward, means that Anya might have a chance to survive the terrifying new territory and set things right. The stellar sequel returns readers to the same vibrant, unsettling (under)world, but the outsider’s perspective makes it feel fresh. Thoughtful discussions of abuse and loneliness are bolstered by gentle humor, fierce friendships, and compassionate characters, and frequent subverting of expectations will keep readers on their toes. A fantastic follow-up that revels in the gift of found family and the power in taking control of your own story.” — Emily Graham