She is bonded to a spirit who demands her blood. She serves a mother-in-law who resents her power. She meets a man who challenges everything she’s ever believed. After a fatal illness takes Caitrin’s husband, she finds herself obligated to care for her mother-in-law, Meara, at any cost…even if it means traveling to Croìthe, where magic is outlawed. Hounded by the suspicious townsfolk and burdened by Meara’s bitter grief, Caitrin struggles to keep all of her secrets hidden and make a new life in the foreign land. However, when the charming and charitable Callen Lockhart, a wealthy lord who is at odds with the town, welcomes her without judging her past, Caitrin worries that his generosity will come at a price she is unwilling to pay. As her bond grows stronger, Caitrin must prove her blood magic isn’t dangerous or suffer the consequences of the truth being discovered. A Bond of Briars is a YA dark fantasy retelling of the Biblical story of Ruth, with fresh twists based on the original context and respun into a spooky cottagecore romance that is filled with dark magic and mysterious curses, sacrificial love and redemption, perfect for fans of House of Salt and Sorrow, and Sing Me Forgotten. "In one word: sublime . I'll be the first in line for any book from Erin Philips." - Caroline George , author of Curses and Other Buried Things "A Bond of Briars is a captivating fantasy retelling that perfectly honors the original account of Ruth while still creating something all its own. The use of dark magic is unique, with its consequences masterfully illustrated. The story carries a beautiful message of faith, encouraging characters to embrace light over the darkness , even when that darkness might seem alluring on the surface. The character arcs showed beautiful growth and the overarching messages of forgiveness are so important for today's world. Overall, this enchanting and uplifting tale will keep readers engaged down to the last word. " - Ashley Bustamante , author of the Color Theory trilogy "Full of longing and hope, this story will sweep readers away to a magical world inspired by the book of Ruth and yet utterly unique. A Bond of Briars is a beautiful, moving tale of redemption, love, and true freedom." - Becky Dean , author of Love & Other Great Expectations "Take a beautifully-conceptualized fantasy world full of gorgeously lush descriptions, mix in a Pride-and-Prejudice-esque romance, and center it all on a brilliant retelling of a well-loved biblical story, and you've got A Bond of Briars , an insatiable read that will keep your blood singing to the very last page! " - Chelsea Bobulski , author of the All I Want for Christmas series, The Wood , and Remember Me " Enchanting, moving , and with just the right amount of spook, A Bond of Briars is captivating from beginning to end. With deep, Biblical themes, this retelling of Ruth is refreshing and incredibly inspiring with the messages of forgiveness and redemption being its strong suit." - Alissa J. Zavalianos , author of The Earth-Treader, Endlewood , and Unearth the Tides Stories teach the heart to believe, and Erin tries to fill every second with stories, whether it's an audiobook while cleaning, a movie with her hubs, or just snuggling up with a good book. She is not afraid of a dark story, for the Light is often the most brilliant in the dead of night. Erin is an award-winning author who graduated from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts with a B.F.A. in Costume Design & Technology, and lives in North Carolina with her husband, Jeremy, and their happy corgis, Parker and Fable.