Evander, a reclusive autistic boy, inherits his murdered guardian’s estate?—?which includes a sentient, carnivorous garden?—?and Evander must find out who killed his guardian before they come for him next. 100,000 first printing. Simultaneous eBook. - (B & T Entertainment)

"A YA horror about a reclusive autistic boy who inherits his murdered guardian's estate, including a sentient, carnivorous garden"-- Provided by publisher. - (Baker & Taylor)

A YA horror about a reclusive autistic boy who inherits his murdered guardian's estate, including a sentient, carnivorous garden. - (McMillan Palgrave)

CG Drews, instant New York Times-bestselling author of Don't Let the Forest In, returns with another deeply unsettling and yet hauntingly beautiful tale of murder and botanical body horror, perfect for fans of Andrew Joseph White, Annihilation, and We Have Always Lived in the Castle.

Evander has lived like a ghost in the forgotten corners of the Hazelthorn estate ever since he was taken in by his reclusive billionaire guardian, Byron Lennox-Hall, when he was a child. For his safety, Evander has been given three ironclad rules to follow:

He can never leave the estate. He can never go into the gardens. And most importantly, he can never again be left alone with Byron's charming, underachieving grandson, Laurie.

That last rule has been in place ever since Laurie tried to kill Evander seven years ago, and yet somehow Evander is still obsessed with him.

When Byron suddenly dies, Evander inherits Hazelthorn’s immense gothic mansion and acres of sprawling grounds, along with the entirety of the Lennox-Hall family's vast wealth. But Evander's sure his guardian was murdered, and Laurie may be the only one who can help him find the killer before they come for Evander next.

Perhaps even more concerning is how the overgrown garden is refusing to stay behind its walls, slipping its vines and spores deeper into the house with each passing day. As the family’s dark secrets unravel alongside the growing horror of their terribly alive, bloodthirsty garden, Evander needs to find out what he’s really inheriting before the garden demands to be fed once more.

Also by CG Drews
Don't Let the Forest In

Booklist Reviews

The garden was denied the chance to eat Evander alive, and since then he has remained confined to his room in Hazelthorn, away from prying eyes—and from Laurie, the boy who tried to kill him. After witnessing the murder of his guardian, Laurie's grandfather, Evander is named sole heir to the estate, prompting the surviving Lennox-Halls to descend upon him. Evander will do anything to solve the murder, including joining forces with Laurie, while the garden will do anything to reclaim Evander, including animating the dead in a disturbingly verdant way. Body horror abounds, although readers might find it wanting for lack of a strong psychological aspect. Similarly, although the relationship between the two boys is as delightfully toxic as the garden itself, it isn't well backed from a psychological perspective, which may deter hard-horror fans. However, the strength of the concept, pacing, and atmosphere make it an excellent introduction to the genre—especially as it combines the current popularity of both gothic mysteries and body horror. Grades 9-12. Copyright 2025 Booklist Reviews.

Horn Book Magazine Reviews

Evander recalls almost nothing about his past, but he remembers nearly being buried alive seven years ago by Laurie Lennox-Hall, the boy whom he hates and obsesses over in equal measure. A sickly teen kept confined to the Hazelthorn estate, Evander (who is autistic, though that's stated directly only in an author's note) owes his life to Laurie's grandfather Byron, who has served as his guardian since his parents' death. However, when Byron dies under suspicious circumstances and Evander is named his sole heir, his quiet life is upended. The estranged members of the Lennox-Hall family begin showing up with an eye toward exploiting Evander as a means to accessing the family fortune. Suspicious of everyone, Evander begins investigating Byron's murder on his own even as it brings him dangerously close to Laurie. Meanwhile, the sentient "blood garden" of Hazelthorn threatens to uncover long-buried secrets and claim Evander for itself. Drews delivers an immersive gothic horror story in prose designed to assault the senses and the psyche. The novel explores the all-consuming desire -- in this case, literally -- for freedom and acceptance in the face of abuse and self-loathing. Evander and Laurie's complicated relationship brims with tension as forced proximity brings their repressed vulnerabilities to the surface, providing a solid emotional core and compelling romantic subplot for this dark and cathartic narrative. Shenwei Chang January/February 2026 p.69 Copyright 2026 Horn Book Magazine Reviews.

Publishers Weekly Reviews

Orphaned 17-year-old Evander spends his days managing a severe unknown illness that causes episodes of missing time and requires frequent surgeries. All the while, he's sequestered within the Hazelthorn estate—owned by his reclusive guardian Byron—who forbids Evander from leaving the mansion, entering the gardens, or interacting with Byron's grandson, heir apparent Laurie, who tried to kill Evander seven years ago. But when Byron seemingly dies of poison, and his death is brushed off, Evander determines to uncover the killer. His mission is complicated, however, when Evander—not Laurie—is named heir to Byron's fortune and estate. Soon Bryon's money-hungry relatives descend upon the manor, and Evander finds an unlikely ally in Laurie, who helps him both unravel the mystery of Byron's murder and navigate Hazelthorn's increasingly fraught social politics. As the boys' bond grows, so too do the estate's strange gardens and the family's tangled web of secrets. Recalling elements of The Secret Garden, Drews (Don't Let the Forest In) deploys crisp prose to spin a gothic psychological thriller rife with brutal twists and gruesome scenes of botanical body horror. Characters cue as white. Ages 13–up. Agent: Claire Friedman, InkWell Management. (Oct.)