A mysterious forest near the cozy town of Herogate, England is more than what it seems. The gnarled trees appear to breathe, gloomy storms follow you around, and prowling shadows come to life before your very eyes. Referred to as The Dark Wood by the townsfolk, the forest is guarded by a strange old man and creatures not of this world. Even the locals never set foot in the bewitched woodlands, and trespassers have a way of turning up dead. When Noah Walters moves to town with his parents, his father—a contractor working on a top secret project for a private security firm—makes Noah promise to never enter those woods; but he doesn’t know that Fate has other plans. Noah and his new best friends, Ethan and Skye, are chased into The Dark Wood by Grucker, a schoolyard bully, and their lives are changed forever. They are forced into the heart of the forest, where they discover a lost fairy who needs their help to find her way back home before it's too late. Join Noah and his friends on a magical adventure as they race against time and plunge headfirst into the unknown. They are challenged with secrets to keep, a dangerous mission to accomplish, and a test of courage that will bring them face-to-face with magical creatures they thought only existed in fairy tales. What the critics are saying: This is more than a tale of discovery, mystery, and excitement; it’s an epic adventure that will usher you into a world where magic is in the air, in the trees, and in every heart. "Betwixters is a poetic and magical journey that leaves you mesmerized in the imagery." -Vanity Fair, France "Laura C. Cantu’s new Betwixters middle-grade series is a series to watch…Book One, Once Upon A Time had me excited for the next in the series."  -Blogs New York Times "This is better than the Anne Rice books I usually Read!" iHeartRadio "I can't put it down!" Studio 3 on RoKu TV "Really fun! Loved it! Can't wait for the sequels. I've always loved faeries and fantasy stories. I'm a big fan of Piers Anthony. I just loved it. Great characters. And, of course, Madison and the way you described her. Dogs truly are pure hearts." -Terry Fator -Winner of America's Got Talent 2007 and Vegas Headliner at The Mirage. "Betwixters is a poetic and magical journey that leaves you mesmerized in the imagery." -Vanity Fair, France "Laura C. Cantu's new Betwixters middle-grade series is a series to watch...Book One, Once Upon A Time had me excited for the next in the series." -Blogs New York Times "This is better than the Anne Rice books I usually Read!" iHeartRadio "I can't put it down!" Studio 3 on RoKu TV "Really fun! Loved it! Can't wait for the sequels. I've always loved faeries and fantasy stories. I'm a big fan of Piers Anthony. I just loved it. Great characters. And, of course, Madison and the way you described her. Dogs truly are pure hearts." -Terry Fator -Winner of America's Got Talent 2007 and Vegas Headliner at The Mirage. "Warning to parents: Once your kids start reading this book, they won't want to put it down! You may catch them with a flashlight reading after bedtime! This is a wonderfully enchanting tale of three 12-year-old friends that encounter a faerie in the dark woods near their school, and their lives are changed forever. The author weaves her story with such beautiful prose and descriptions of the characters that make you feel as if you know them and can see everything happening in your mind's eye. This is more than a story about faeries, though. It is a story about kids who suffer at the hands of bullies, a story about the difficulties kids encounter from parents and school teachers, and about the power of friendship. It describes characters who display incredible loyalty even in the face of great danger. They work together to save the life of a tiny, magical creature who has lost her way, having slipped through a portal from her world into the realm of human beings. In the meantime, there is an exchange between the characters that allows the reader to enter a world where there is magic in the trees, in our pets and in our hearts. I enjoyed this book tremendously, I hated for it to end. I look forward to the sequel!" -Diana Reed MD "This story is a great read for middle schoolers and even upper primary school advanced readers. The book has three twelve year old protagonists that are best friends, one girl and two boys. They are challenged by bullying, how far you will go for friendship, and facing their fears of letting their parents down. There is fantasy and intrigue tied up in the story, with a generous dose of mystery! This is the first book in the series and I am anxious to read the next installment. The author does an excellent job of writing to the reading level in that it is easy for middle schoolers but not overly simple for adults. I highly recommend this book for both girls or boys, especially those who face or have faced adversity in school." -Judy Long Empty