The Glass Casket by McCormick Templeman

Death hasn’t visited Rowan Rose since it took her mother when Rowan was only a little girl. But that changes one bleak morning, when five horses and their riders thunder into her village and through the forest, disappearing into the hills. Days later, the riders’ bodies are found, and though no one can say for certain what happened in their final hours, their remains prove that whatever it was must have been brutal.

Rowan’s village was once a tranquil place, but now things have changed. Something has followed the path those riders made and has come down from the hills, through the forest, and into the village. Beast or man, it has brought death to Rowan’s door once again.

Only this time, its appetite is insatiable.

So, this cover. I love it, but I can’t figure out why it looks like she’s about to make herself puke all over her nice manicure. Or like she is licking the cream cheese frosting off her fingers, which is at least understandable. But even considering the finger-in-the-mouth thing, the cover looks so atmospheric, which seems to be perfect for THE GLASS CASKET. The fantasy/paranormal/mystery vibe I get from the synopsis just rings so many of my bells.

Also, there are so many elusions to the Snow White, Rose Red fairy tale, just in the title and the cover and synopsis: the pop of red, the glass casket itself, the main character’s name being Rose–I’m incredibly intrigued by this beast and the death and the “insatiable appetite”! THE GLASS CASKET can’t come out fast enough.

THE GLASS CASKET is coming out on February 11, 2014 from Delacorte