''A fairytale where the darkness is only natural: the real world of ''Beautiful Darkness'' not only includes but embraces decay, calm indifference, and animals who act like animals, just like life - and death. And neither its prince or princess are quite what we expect. Read it outdoors for maximum effect.''--Kathe Koja, author of ''The Cipher'' and ''Under the Poppy''''A brilliant premise executed with panache -- Vehlmann and Kerascoet's fairy world has the offhand cruelty of the Alice books and the offhand sweetness of Moominland -- Donahey's ''Teeny Weenies'' and ''The Borrowers'' can be felt here too -- and yet it really it seems without precedent, every page a surprise in style and form and content.''--John Crowley, author of ''Little, Big'' and ''Aegypt'' Kerascoet's and Fabien Vehlmann's unsettling and gorgeous anti-fairy tale is a searing condemnation of our vast capacity for evil writ tiny. Join princess Aurora and her friends as they journey to civilization's heart of darkness in a bleak allegory about surviving the human experience. The sweet faces and bright leaves of Kerascoet's delicate watercolors serve to highlight the evil that dwells beneath Vehlmann's story as pettiness, greed, and jealousy take over. ''Beautiful Darkness'' is a harrowing look behind the routine politeness and meaningless kindness of civilized society.