The Canopy Keepers

Henry (Bacchanal) turns to climate fiction with a fascinating tale of a mystical world of fierce forest protectors. Despite reservations, Syrah Carthan accepts a position as fire chief in the very national park where, as a child, she survived a devastating forest fire that killed her parents. Haunted by hazy memories and guilt over her brother’s disappearance during that fire, Syrah is drawn back to the scene of the tragedy. Little does she know that her brother, Romelo, was rescued by an underground society of hybrid tree-people called the Rhiza, who have nurtured his resentment toward humanity and are devising their own radical plans to protect the forest. The plot gets off to a somewhat slow start, but as the siblings’ paths inevitably collide, Henry digs in to themes of family, environmentalism, and the connection between humans and the natural world. Weaving together multiple timelines and giving voice to an ancient forest, this will appeal to fans of The Light Pirate by Lily Brooks-Dalton and readers interested in fantastical takes on cli-fi. Agent: Mary C. Moore, Aevitas Creative Management. (Dec.)