Embark on a wondrous journey through the land of Whichwood in this stunning companion to Tahereh Mafi’s acclaimed bestseller Furthermore. A Kirkus Best Book of the Year! ★ " Deliciously descriptive prose. . . . Darkly fascinating." − Kirkus ★ " Unforgettable heroine ." − Booklist ★ "Mafi's language choices create visually arresting moments." – Shelf Awareness Our story begins on a frosty night . . . Laylee can barely remember the happier times before her beloved mother died. Before her father, driven by grief, lost his wits (and his way) and she was left as the sole remaining mordeshoor in the village of Whichwood, destined to spend her days scrubbing the skins and souls of the dead in preparation for the afterlife. It’s become easy to forget and easier still to ignore not only her ever-increasing loneliness, but the way her overworked hands are stiffening and turning silver, just like her hair.  But soon, a pair of familiar strangers appear, and Laylee’s world is turned upside down as she rediscovers color, magic, and the healing power of friendship.  Lush and enchanting, critically-acclaimed author Tahereh Mafi weaves together an all-new magical adventure in this dark, Persian fantasy, a companion to the  New York Times  bestselling  Furthermore. ★ "In deliciously descriptive prose, the confiding, familiar narrator directly engages the 'dear reader' with witty asides, explanatory footnotes, and cautionary warnings as Laylee’s woeful tale unfolds... Mafi uses her built world to interrogate norms and relationships in our own while never losing sight of her story. Memorable new characters experience the restorative power of friendship in this darkly fascinating, somewhat ghoulish sequel to Furthermore . − Kirkus , starred review  ★ "It's Laylee's personal transformation that shines brightest, giving Mafi's singular fantasy an equally unforgettable heroine." − Booklist , starred review  ★ " Whichwood , Tahereh Mafi's companion novel to Furthermore , is as absorbing as (if not more than) its predecessor.... Mafi's language choices create visually arresting moments.... Deftly explores several appealing themes, including the healing power of friendship and the resilience to overcome adversity in her whimsical, Persian-inspired fantasy world." − Shelf Awareness , starred review Praise for New York Times bestseller Furthermore   ★ A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of 2016 ★ A Shelf Awareness Best Book of 2016 ★ A Chicago Public Library Best Book of 2016 ★ Featured on "Late Night with Seth Meyers," NPR, TIME, and Entertainment Weekly   “ Brimming with color and magic … [Mafi’s] prose is as fresh and fragrant as the flowers her characters eat, the descriptions so vibrant that at times one can practically smell the words on the page." — New York Times Book Review ★ “A fast-paced, funny, and richly imaginative story that embraces and celebrates individuality.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review ★ “ Rich, luscious, clever prose .” — Kirkus , starred review Tahereh Mafi  is the  New York Times  and  USA Today  bestselling author of the Shatter Me series and Furthermore . She can usually be found over-caffeinated and stuck in a book. You can find her online just about anywhere at @TaherehMafi or on her website, www.taherehbooks.com. Our Story Begins on a Frosty Night   Infant snow drifted down in gentle whorls, flakes as large as pancakes glinting silver as they fell. Shaggy trees wore white leaves and moonlight glimmered across a glassy lake. The night was soft and all was slow and snow had hushed the earth into a deep, sound slumber and oh, winter was fast approaching. For the town of Whichwood, winter was a welcome distraction; they thrived in the cold and delighted in the ice (the very first snowfall was terribly nice), and they were well equipped with food and festivities to keep toasty throughout the season. Yalda, the biggest celebration, was the winter solstice, and the land of Whichwood was electric with anticipation. Whichwood was a distinctly magical village, and Yalda — the town’s most important holiday—was a very densely magical evening. Yalda was the last night of fall and the longest night of the year; it was a time of gift-giving and tea-drinking and endless feasting—and it was a great deal more than that, too. We’re a bit pressed for minutes at the moment (something strange is soon to happen and I can’t be distracted when it does), so we’ll discuss the finer details at a later time. For now, know this: Every new snowfall arrived with a foot of fresh excitement, and with only two days left till winter, the people of Whichwood could scarcely contain their joy. With a single notable exception. There was only one person in Whichwood who never partook in the town merriment. Only one person who drew closed her curtains and cursed the song and dance of a magical evening. And she was a very strange person indeed. Laylee hated the cold. At thirteen years old, she’d long lo