Publisher: Pushkin Children's Books
Format Read: E-ARC
Number of pages: 272 pages
Publishing: September 1st, 2026
Source: Edelweiss +
The Curse of the Silvan Oaks opens with a golden cat battling a wolf, transforming into a mountain lion to overpower its adversary. When the fight ends, the cat slips into Onda Castle in the kingdom of Silvanland and leaves a leather-bound book beside a sleeping boy. As it departs, the cat whispers a cryptic message, "you will feel courage" and "you will go alone, down the tunnel to the hazel grove."
Later that day, Oli and her mother visit Dr. Rivers at Foxley Hall. He introduces her to his vast library, complete with a balustrade and an upper gallery. In the Moon and Oak section, she learns about an ancient war between Queen Titania and King Oberon. Still, curious, she continues exploring and discovers a hidden staircase behind a bookcase. The wooden stairs lead downward into a portal that carries her into Silvanland.
At the same time, Prince Cory awakens and finds the mysterious book. Within its pages contain illustrations of a toy castle in his playroom and the plans for an underground tunnel beginning behind the fireplace. Intrigued, he follows the clues, only to be captured by King Oberon's men. Oli witnesses the soldiers taking him and tries to intervene. However both are captured and now must join together to escape the King's forces and confront Queen Hellebore, who has unleashed a dark curse that is spreading a deadly disease across Silvanland.
The Curse of the Silvan Oaks draws inspiration from Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, via its portrayal of the rival courts of Titania and Oberon and the sense of magic that is woven in through the forest and animals that help Oli and Prince Cory. There are also strong influences from The Lord of the Rings in the marching soldiers and the ancient trees reminiscent of Ents, as well as the portal-based world crossing found in The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe.
Between the two protagonists, Prince Cory often stood out more to me. His desire to be fearless gives him a natural momentum, and he repeatedly leaps into action without hesitation. He saves Oli from drowning, helps them navigate the maze when they're lost, finds a boat at a crucial moment, and even stops a jackal from injuring them. What makes him compelling is that he doesn't recognize his own bravery. He reveals his courage through instinct rather than intention.
Oli does have an important role in the plot. Her necklace with the black stone designates her as a shield. Her role consists of returning the black stone to the woodland crown to save the forests from the disease spreading within it. She is the one who discovers the portal and is drawn in by the lore of the Moon and Oak. She also played a crucial part in freeing Prince Cory, showing some quick thinking and determination. There's a sense that her bravery is still emerging and could be expanded on in the next book in the series. Overall, this was a fun portal fantasy, and I look forward to seeing where the story goes next.

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