A love letter to the 80s, D&D, and fairytales with teeth.
In the spring of 1986, the children of Beaumont, Texas disappear one by one. Vanishing without a trace from secluded streets, busy supermarkets, and dark bedroom closets. Drawn by the light of a candle only they can see.
There are no witnesses, no bodies, and no explanation. Only the certainty that they were taken.
High school freshman Matthew Dean doesn't believe in faeries. But when he visits a forbidden clearing in the woods behind his home and rips open a gateway to the world of the fae, he invites something ancient and hungry back into his hometown.
Matthew's mother, Lina, a centuries-old witch in hiding, will now suffer the consequences of keeping their history a secret. And skeptical police detective Jacob Fusilier must investigate the string of missing children while reality erodes around him.
The first book in The Grey Neighbors series, Candlelight is a dark fairy tale fueled by mythic horror, stolen innocence, and the scars parents leave for their children. There are no happily ever afters once the Grey Neighbors come calling.
"A grim but riveting tale of astonishing creatures and an unfathomable otherworld."
- Kirkus Reviews
"Haunting and heartfelt, CANDLELIGHT by D.L. Tolin is a captivating tale of identity, loss, discovery, and courage."
- IndieReader, 4.8/5.0 rating
"The literary lovechild of Labyrinth, Shakespeare, Stranger Things, and Arthurian legend, Candlelight is a potent piece of fantasy fiction, and a masterfully polished achievement."
- Self-Publishing Review, 4.5 stars
