I’m a fantasy author represented by Andrea Morrison of Writers House. The Underwild: River of Spirits (Aladdin Books / Simon & Schuster) is my debut novel.
Books
Cover illustration by Danlin Zhang
Book Design by Karin Paprocki
THE UNDERWILD: RIVER OF SPIRITS (Spring 2025, Aladdin)
Twelve-year-old Senka lives between the realm of the Living and the realm of the Dead. As ward to Charon, the Ferryer of the Underworld, Senka assists Charon in ferrying recently departed souls across the river and into their afterlife... But when a Living girl, Poppy, enters the Underworld begging for Senka’s help to find the soul of her brother, they’re both swept downriver, far from everything Senka has ever known. Lost in the Underwild, Senka and Poppy encounter malevolent spirits of lore and eccentric ghosts—and not all are willing to let souls slip through their grasp. Senka knows the Living can’t stay in the realm of the Dead for long, and if Poppy isn't returned home soon she'll risk becoming lost to the Underwild forever. But there is so much Charon never taught her, and as Senka travels deeper into the Underwild she slowly discovers how many secrets her guardian has kept from her. As Senka and Poppy dodge angry demigods, hungry wraiths, tricksy shape-shifters, and terrifying dragon chimera, Senka gets closer and closer to learning the truth of her own past. Soon, she won’t just need to save Poppy’s life—she’ll also need to save her own.
Spirited Away meets Hades in this MG contemporary fantasy. Set in the Underworld, this story explores themes of grief, found family, memory, and what it means to be mortal.
Trade Reviews:
"The dazzling debut immediately subverts expectations by coupling a dark setting and occasionally creepy characters with a chatty tone and delightful details (Charon loves coffee and silly shirts, for starters). Figures from classical mythology are blended seamlessly into a beautifully built world, and death and grief are allowed to exist alongside deep love and frequent humor... it's a truly imaginative and inspiring exploration of the darkest and lightest parts of life." — Emily Graham, BOOKLIST STARRED REVIEW, February 1, 2025.
"Debut author Targosz offers readers a meaningful exploration of grief and its impact on those left behind. A beautiful, moving mythological adventure." — Kirkus Reviews, December 14, 2024.
"An action-packed journey through the Underworld centers grief and personal transformation in this fantasy adventure debut... Targosz's inventive setting proves a fertile backdrop for nuanced depictions of how loss can guide actions and shape memory. Employing a memorable cast that includes a cheerful psychopomp and a nonbinary shape-shifting fox child, Targosz touches on themes of friendship, loyalty, and love, making for an exciting and promising series launch." — Publishers Weekly, March 10, 2025.
Additional Honors
📚 A Kids’ Indie Next List Pick
📃 Featured on Kirkus’s Most Compelling Childrens’ Book Debuts List
✨ A Powell’s Pick of the Month for March 2025
🪶 On Barnes & Noble’s Best Kids’ Books of March 2025 List
❕ On Indigo’s Most Anticipated List
🖋️ On Book Riot’s 10 Great New Middle Grade Books of March List
🖤 NetGalley Review, “This was my most anticipated read of 2025 and it did not disappoint! … Themes of love and loss are threaded throughout Senka's journey that thrills and delights at every turn. This is a beautiful story that will touch you and leave its mark for a very long time.”