Douglas Nicholas

Douglas Nicholas brought a poet's ear to fiction blending medieval history, folklore, and supernatural suspense. Before publishing novels, the American writer produced several poetry collections, including Iron Rose, and placed work in literary journals. The Wicked is the second book in the four-volume Something Red series, following the 2012 opening novel. Set in thirteenth-century northern England, it returns to young Hob and his adopted household: the Irish exile Molly, her granddaughter Nemain, and the warrior Jack Brown. Their journey brings them to a threatened castle where political obligations and uncanny events converge. Simon & Schuster identifies the book as a sequel and describes Nicholas's detailed use of medieval inns, courts, and countryside. Publishers Weekly likewise emphasizes the historical setting and the distinctive speech patterns of its characters. The Wicked therefore develops an established ensemble instead of introducing an unrelated adventure. It also reflects Nicholas's background as a poet, particularly in its attention to oral cadence, landscape, and the movement between ordinary travel and legendary danger.