3.5 stars

I didn't expect to start the New Year off with something so frightening, but I guess that's what I get for being drawn to dark covers and all things "fairy tale."

The Hazel Wood was definitely one of the creepiest books I've ever read. Now, take that with a grain of salt, knowing that I don't like to be scared and therefore I generally avoid books that I think will creep me out like the plague. But I couldn't keep away from this one, and ultimately, I'm glad I read it (even though it definitely gave me some nightmares).

I liked Alice's voice for the most-part, but I definitely think she sounded way more like a jaded adult in her thirties than a teenager. Of course, that's probably due to the fact that she practicially raised herself and grew up as her mom's bff rather than as her daughter, but still, I think I would have like a slightly younger voice on her.

I love how she uses books to relate to the world, and how she remembers exactly where she was when she read all of her favorite books. There were some great bookish quotes.

"If you're not with the book you want, you might as well want the book you're with."

One thing I would have liked more of were the actual "Tales from the Hinterland" fairy tales. There are surprisingly few fleshed out in detail here, and that was a disappointment. To be fair, I'm not sure I could have stomached all of them because some seemed particularly gruesome, but they were intriguing and they acted like glue for the whole book, which I liked.

I want to talk about the big twist, but I won't because I didn't really see it coming until right before it was upon me and I don't want to spoil it for anyone else. I think it's one of the best parts of the book.

The story itself is dark and gritty and impossibly real - like I could totally see this playing out in real life - and it's hard not to get sucked in. It's truly a testament to the power of stories, and it was compelling from beginning to end.

"Fairy tales teach you the importance of precise communication."

If you like your fairy tales dark, this is definitely the book for you! Just, take my advice, and read it in the daylight.

Centered around a very rare story-book written by the grandmother of a girl named Alice, THE HAZEL WOOD was a fantastical story full of wonder and suspense. The book Althea Prosperine, Alice’s grandmother, wrote is almost impossible to find. Despite that, Althea is hounded by crazed fans and lives a solitary life in a place called the The Hazel Wood. Alice and Ella live in New York but don’t stay in one place very long due to the bad luck that always finds them. Alice knows almost nothing about Althea and Ella forbids her to read the fairy tale book she wrote.

Ella gets a message that Althea has died and then shortly afterwards Ella goes missing. She was apparently kidnapped and Alice gets only one message from Ella, “Stay away from the Hazel Wood.” Despite the warning, Alice sets off to rescue Ella and find the fabled Hazel Wood with the help of a boy named Finch who knows her Althea’s stories inside and out.

This book was a stand-alone that I almost wish has a sequel. THE HAZEL WOOD was such a fantastical story. Alice seems normal and at the point where we meet her, she is living a pretty normal existence. She lives with her mother and step-father. They are wealthy but Alice knows her mother is not happy. Soon they will probably be moving, as they have been doing since Alice was a baby.

Alice is the perfect blank slate character. She is just as confused as we are in this story. She doesn’t understand her past and doesn’t have any real friends except maybe her sister-in-law. After Ella is kidnapped, Alice sets out with one of her Althea’s fanatic fans to find The Hazel Wood. For Finch, this is the trip of a life time. For Alice, this trip is a life and death mission to find and rescue Ella.

The beginning of this story is slow and then the story picks up around the time that Ella gets kidnapped. From there, the story turns into a real magical mystery and the story gets kinda dark. There were points in this adventure to find The Hazel Wood that I was genuinely afraid. Once we find the Hazel Wood the story flips and bends and we go sideways. It was pretty amazing.

My favorite parts of this story, other than the creepy scenes, were the parts where Finch retold the stories in Althea’s book to Alice. I can’t reveal too much more other than to say that. THE HAZEL WOOD surprised me in the best sort of way. I loved this book and I highly recommend this. If you enjoyed EVERY HEART A DOORWAY, by Seanan McGuire, than THE HAZEL WOOD is something you will probably also enjoy. I was lucky enough to read them back to back and even though they are by different authors, they have the same dark atmosphere.

While I will happily recommend this to customers who enjoyed "The Night Circus" , I personally felt it lacking something. I can't put my finger on it- it was enjoyable up to a point, and then got a bit ridiculous. I know it is a fantasy but some of the storyline just fell flat,

"My mother was raised on fairy tales, but I was raised on highways."

The Hazel Wood is a remarkable creative blend of urban fantasy and twisted fairy tales with a touch of mystery added for flavor. This combination is incredibly creative and takes you deep into not just a fairy tale, or it's retelling, but something far better.

We begin this tale through the eyes of Alice, a teenager who has spent most of her life running with her mother. What they're running from is less clear, and only really referred to as bad luck. 

"When we traveled I kept an eagle eye on the cars behind us, like bad luck could take human form and trail you like a minivan. But bad luck was sneakier than that. You couldn't outsmart it, you could only move along when it had you in its sights."

Alice, in true child form, becomes obsessed with her grandmother, a woman she's never allowed to meet, and the book she wrote. Tales From The Hinterland thrust Althea into the light, but the book itself is rare, obscure and impossible to find. (Side note: I would adore this collection of fairy tales released, because oh how dark and delicious these tales would be!)

And this is where the mystery comes to light. Because in the beginning we get glimpses of this bad luck. We see Alice's obsession with these tales and with her grandmother. Her life has the vague sparkle of something mystical lingering on the edges, but nothing defined. Is it simply Alice and her perceptions? Or is something else at play?

Whether it's the bad luck finally catching up, or simply fate stepping in, forces conspire to drive Alice to the Hazel Wood, the mysterious estate her grandmother has hidden in. Alice finds herself learning all about these mysterious fairy tales and the woman who wrote them. More than she ever wanted to know. But once you fall down the rabbit hole, Alice learns the only way out is through. If the fairy tales will let her, that is.

"Most books' power is in the abstract, but occasionally you'll find one with very physical abilities."

The first half of this novel is very much building the mystery. The mystery of the bad luck. The mystery of Althea herself and this elusive book of fairy tales. The mystery of Alice, her deep tendency to rage. The mystery of her mother and what she is so terrified of.

The mystery is what baits us. It sets the trap so that we are entangled into the core of the obsession with Alice. We feel her desire for knowledge. For something more. And once we are entwined, guaranteed to not be able to leave, the mysterious edges of what could be paranoia or fantasy begins to sharpen and reveal itself.

"Her final words had an extra resonance to them, a blur. Like they wore a mask to hide their true intentions."

Beyond the world of murderous and violent fairy tales, this book is about so much more. I love how through this journey of fairy tales, this book really is a look at how to control your own story, to take back your voice and create your own narrative.

Alice runs because her mother tells her to. Because she is a child growing up, and children have no choice but to embark on the life their parents set out on. But when she is older, when forces plot to remove her mother from the equation, Alice has to figure out which path to set herself on. She has to decide where to go, and what to do.

A lifetime of warning from her mother, never talk to fans, never read the book, all culminate with a final warning: stay away from the Hazel Wood. Within hours she betrays the first rule, turning to fan Ellery Fitch for help. And while the book remains as elusive as ever, Fitch once owned a copy and could retell the stories with chilling accuracy.

Alice decides that even though her mother warned her, action is the only way forward. That she is the only one who can reclaim her story, who can face the bad luck and vanquish it.

"I did it because a girl doing nothing in a fairy tale ends up dead or worse, but a girl who makes a decision usually gets rewarded."

Sometimes as children we can feel voiceless. We can feel lost in a world we don't understand. Where our parents make rules that feel arbitrary and unclear. And while most of us don't wake up to find our mothers missing and our world a blur between fantasy and reality, often we do find that we understand our parents only by defying them. We see their rationale and reason only after we make the mistakes they attempt to protect us from.

Fairy tales are told to teach us lessons. To help us understand the world at large in a way that will stay with us. This book does the same. It helps us understand the helplessness we feel as both children and as parents. How being an adult can sometimes lead to a reality less than we once imagined. It teaches us that we each have a voice of our own, and can choose to use it, even if someone more powerful tells us we can't.

I loved this book for the dark and twisted path it led me down. But I loved it even more for the empowerment it quietly taught me.

Thank you NetGalley and Flatiron Books for approving my request to read and review this book!

The Hazel Wood was a spine chilling saga of a teen girl whose mother goes missing after receiving notice of her grandmother’s death. Frightening fairy tales really exist in worlds unknown to the masses, but those who seek the darkness in themselves find the Hinterland, and it may or may not be exactly the thrill they were looking for. Alice, the main character, on the other hand, has reservations about it, and its many storybook denizens. Her grandmother, once a mystery she sought out behind every closed door and around every corner, may lead to losing her freedom. All she really wants though is to be reunited with her one tie to her life before the madness of the Hinterland, and along with her schoolmate and possible love interest, she forges on a journey that will test her willpower and sanity.

It was a great read for anyone one loves a good fantasy story that has characters who encounter mystery at every turn. Readers beware; The Hazel Wood is where the dangers of the Hinterland may just prevail if you take the stories too lightly.

A wonderfully dark, juicy tale. Alice and her mother have lived their lives on the run, one step ahead of the bad luck and strange happenings that haunt them. Alice has always wondered about her famous grandmother, but her mother has been adamant that they never met. When they receive word that her grandmother has died, her mother goes missing, and Alice is thrown into a strange new world where no one can be trusted and nothing is what it seems.
What a fantastic, twisty tale. Every time I thought I had a handle on where it was going, it turned and went in another direction. Parts of it were hard to follow, in the best tradition of Alice in Wonderland. I love the idea of fairy tales leaking into our world, though I can see how they'd be a problem.
Alice was amazing, strong and much braver than she thought she was. I'm glad her Story ended where it did.
Now, where can I get a copy of Tales from the Hinterlands?

This was unexpectedly fun. If you're looking for a traditional young adult fantasy novel, this isn't one. It's not a typical love story or fantasy story. It's can a darkness to it that makes it unique.

The combination of fantasty/fairy tales, mystery, and a hint of horror is well done and convincing.

I particularly enjoyed the relationship between our main character, Alice, and her mother. The mystery of their family kept the pages turning, but it was their relationship that kept the story strong. There is a male character who you assume will have a predictable relationship with Alice; however, the way their story unravels surprised me in a good way.

If you're looking for a unique, dark fantasy with a compelling plot and a strong cast of characters, this book is for you. The only reason I didn't rate it 5 stars is that the story seemed to become a little lackluster in the last quarter. That being said, I still enjoyed it on the whole.

Part eerie fairy-tale, part mystery, part story about a mother-daughter bond. For me, this novel stood out as unique. This isn't take a fairy-tale princess make her a cyborg. (If that's your thing I totally get it, but it's not mine). Rather it truly felt like a melding together of creepy Grimm brothers' stories with a contemporary protagonist. And while some aspects are clearly drawn from existing fairy-tales and folklore, it felt original and fresh. Additionally, I loved the mother-daughter bond in this book. Too many YA books are predicated on a heterosexual love story as the pinnacle of love and meaning. I get it - hormones and heteronormativity. So the fact that the love story was not a main component and instead the relationship between mother and daughter was the most important gets a round of applause from me!

Albert's writing also uses unique metaphors and imagery. I found myself vividly imagining characters and locales. This is Albert's first novel, but she's worked as a writer for other outlets. To me, it doesn't read like a debut. Rather Albert's writing suggests that she's an experienced fictional writer. Amen for that. I've seen early reviews say they did not like her writing style, or couldn't relate to the protagonist, or the descriptive writing was hard to follow. That was not my experience, but I thought I should share that as a caveat.

Though I immensely enjoyed this novel, I did have a few qualms. First, the pacing - it felt a little off to me. I actually enjoyed the slowness of the first half of the book to really set up the plot and give the reader the backstory on Alice's life up to where we meet her. After the halfway point, the pace picks up as it does in most books. I, however, would have liked to savor the world-building of the Hinterland. Albert has some really interesting world-building aspects but it felt too rushed for my taste. The novel is 368 pages and I would gladly have read another 100 pages to get a bit more out of the ending. On that note, I think the ending wrapped up a little too neatly for me. I usually am okay with however an author ends a book or series but it seemed too neat. Though I think a lot of readers will find it satisfying! Also, it may just be my interpretation, but the ending seems to leave room for spinoffs, which I am totally here for! Though it could also be an awesome one-off!

Moreover, though I really enjoyed most of the aspects of Albert's writing some metaphors missed the mark for me. (as this is an ARC I won't cite any specific ones in case they aren't in the final draft) I dislike when fantasy authors throw in odd allusions to our contemporary world. We're in a make-believe world - don't throw me off with references to websites or songs or whatever else unless it serves a purpose in the story. Is this nit-picky? I feel like I am. Ah, well. Hold your pitchforks folks!

Despite the pacing and a few irksome metaphors, I blew through this book! Though my Goodreads profile says it took me awhile too read, the total read time was probably 4 days (meaning I did my normal routines including reading). So I imagine this will be a highly consumable books for a lot of readers. I would 100% recommend this to fans of fairy-tale retellings and young adult fantasy!

I liked this, but didn’t love it. Thought it was a bit confusing in spots. It is a very unique story that will appeal to readers that enjoy dark fairytales. I, actually, think rereading this again would be more enjoyable that the first. 3.5 stars rounded up for its uniqueness.

The Hazel Wood is a suspense filled mix of fairy and modern day . This book contains just enough horror and suspense to send your heart racing and the pages turning. If you're looking for something different, this is definitely the book for you. The Hazel Wood manages to take classic tales and turn them on their head.

The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert is a story about a girl (Alice Crewe) and her mother (Ella Proserpine) who have spent their lives on the road -- running from some bad luck that trails them around each and every turn. Until one day, the two hear that Althea Proserpine, Alice's maternal grandmother, has died.

Althea Proserpine was a writer in the seventies who turned into a total recluse after the release of her book Tales of the Hinterland -- not even staying in touch with her own granddaughter or child. She quietly resides in her gargantuan, luxurious estate that she's named The Hazel Wood.

The two stop running once they hear of Althea's death, and Alice's mother soon marries a rich man to give them a better life. The bad luck seems to have vanished forever, until one day when Alice comes home and doesn't find her mother, but instead finds her stepfather holding a gun to her and forcing her to leave. Before she leaves, her stepfather gives a message to Alice from her mother saying, "Stay away from the Hazel Wood".

This book will be a HIT for fans of Neil Gaiman or Alice in Wonderland (like me). Many will try to tell you that this book is 'really dark' but take my word for it, it's not. Coraline is much darker than this one, but there are still some creepy-weird parts, for sure.

My Rating: 5/5 Stars. Like I just stated above, if you love Alice in Wonderland or the works of Neil Gaiman, you will fall in love with The Hazel Wood.

The folklore aspect of this book is superb. The writing does not feel like this is a debut novel; it is well crafted and gives you the exact feeling of an eerie-magical book.

The first half of this book is an original, page-turning mystery. Unfortunately, the second half overly relies on deus ex machina and overused fairy tale tropes to diminish the story of a fiercely independent female character. Nevertheless, it is worth a read.

Unlike a few other reviewers, I actually loved the first 3/4th of this book. I loved that it wove mystery with the speculative. I was 100% on board with Finch and their complex and undefined relationship. But that part is lost after a certain spoilery point, and once we're in the Hinterland, it was a little too nonsensical for my tastes? I think the problem was I didn't understand what the rules were, or if there were rules, or what Alice's goal was anymore. The tension leaked out of the story for me and I struggled to finish the last bit. But I loved the darkness and underlying meanness of Alice and can't wait to see what this author writes next.

1.5 stars.

*

The Hazel Wood is a creepy Fantasy novel that mostly lacks the Fantasy aspect. The novel has an intriguing and unique premise, yet fails at the execution. The slow pace drags the story down, the characters are one-dimensional and flat, the flowery prose makes it so no one says what they really mean, and the plot oddly frames kidnapping as a nice and fun adventure.

Melissa Albert’s writing is good, when she’s writing about dark fairy tales. Unfortunately, only two of those are told in full throughout the novel. The rest of the story gets bogged down with the main character, Alice, and her unlikable personality. Finch, the only person of color in the book, is constantly mistreated by Alice and only serves as a little more than a prop to move Alice’s arc forward.

Minor spoilers about The Hazel Wood below!

This is such a disappointment. I’m a huge fan of creepy and eerie Fantasy books, so I was super excited when I found out about The Hazel Wood. For me, the problems start right at the beginning: the first 20% or so kind of feel like a constant flashback as we get a recap of Alice’s life with her mother, Ella. This does set up their relationship rather nicely, but the infodump this early on hurts the overall pace of the novel.

The pace, in truth, is soooo slooooow. Pretty much nothing happens during the first half of the book. It takes the plot so long to get moving that it’s very hard to care about anything once things do start to get tense. The Fantasy aspect also takes about 70% of the book to arrive, which hurt the world-building in regard to the Hinterland. Everything is kind of shallow and vague and past the point of rising any interest.

Alice, both as a character and as a narrator, is extremely hard to like. She refuses to acknowledge her mistakes, she’s incredibly self-centered, and she doesn’t think she has any kind of privileged because she grew up poor. This last one is incredibly evident when Finch tries to have a conversation with her about racial profiling and Alice, upon being called out, not only refuses to accept that Finch has a point and she’s made a mistake, but she actually tries to crash the car and possibly kill them both in an attempt to run away from the conversation. This is never addressed throughout the story. Alice never apologizes. She keeps treating Finch like shit and telling him to shut up whenever he tries to have a conversation.

In the end, The Hazel Wood did not work for me. The slow pace and undeveloped characters make it hard to care about the story, and the only two or so dark fairy tales we get to read about aren’t enough to carry the rest of the novel. This had potential, but sadly didn’t meet any of my expectations.

<i>I received an advanced ebook copy of THE HAZEL WOOD from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.</i>

This was a 3, 3.5 star read for me. I liked it, it was OK. I really didn't know what to expect going in, but I guess what I expected was not entirely what I got. I'll talk more about this as I break down my review, but I wasn't entirely satisfied by the ending OR what happened with Ellery Finch in general, and the main character was pretty dull

<spoilers>

<b>THREE FAVORITE THINGS</b>

<b>• Ellery Finch is a good character.</b>
We don't get characters like Finch every day. I really loved him, although his intentions were not always good. His heart was, and he cared for Alice, and he was oddly obsessed with fairy tales for a teenager. I would've loved to see him on the journey WITH Alice through the Hinterland, but he was unfortunately "killed" before we got to that point.

<b>• Alice's journey through the Hinterland is probably the most interesting part of the story.</b> Needless to say, it's at the end. Of course it is. But the Hinterland is the most fascinating part of this story, and I tried to absorb every minute Alice was truly in it once she learned who she really was and what really happened to her. This is such a creepy, dark, sad, angry fairy world, but I love the descriptions of the "refugees" and the Spinner and everything around them.

<b>• Alice's actual origin story.</b> This ties in with the Hinterland, but the fact that Alice IS of the Hinterland and that Ella stole her from her Story is AMAZING. I expected there had to be some crazy, dark reason she was named Alice after the story Alice-Three-Times, but I didn't expect that it was because she WAS Alice.

<b>THINGS I COULD'VE LIVED WITHOUT</b>

<b>• A lot of the fairytales were hinted at but not quite explained, and others were expanded on thoroughly, although I didn't understand why.</b>

We spent a lot of time hearing Finch tell us two different stories – one about a door and one about Alice-Three-Times – while other stories that seem to matter to the plot as well or are at least incredibly interesting are only mentioned and passed over while Alice is in Hinterland and on her adventure with Finch before she gets there. For example, Finch starts talking about Night Women, but then tells the story about the door (I don't remember the name). The Night Women are then mentioned a handful more times but never explained. I know I can't have every Story in Hinterland explained to me, but because this isn't a fairyland I'm familiar with, I wish I had more.

<b>• Ellery Finch's ending.</b>

No, I did not need Alice and Finch to fall in love. Although I would've liked it.

What I did need was something more satisfying than him being gone for a good chunk of the book, return to save Alice and then stay in the Hinterland forever as a refugee (probably) because he found a girl he wanted to stay for. It was unsatisfying and it felt wrong to me that no one in Alice's world cared that he was gone, except for Alice.

So. The Hazel Wood. This is a book that, if I passed it in the bookstore I'd immediately pick it up for that cover alone. And then I'd read the synopsis and be hooked.

Then I'd read the book and be horribly disappointed. 

I'm not sure what ruined the book for me -- my own expectations or the hype (which just served to raise those expectations even more).

Meet Alice. She's got anger management issues. There wasn't much about her that I found worth being interested in. Not someone I want to root for. Her friend Finch, I could get behind. The boy is obsessed with her grandmother's book of fairy tales and wants to find the magic. I liked him. I cared about him.

Does Finch get a book? That'd be great. I'd read that.

So Alice is going along with her mother and you get these random flashbacks to her past and all these potentially creepy moments in her history. You'd think that'd make the story a bit more interesting, right?

Eh, not really. The Hazel Wood is written in what I can only describe as a unique style. Very fairy tale-esque at times but not terribly interesting. I LOVE fairy tales so you'd think I'd have liked it but I wanted more than just the tales. I wanted a story and, frankly, it took way too long to get to the real heart of this one and when I thought it'd gotten there, I realized I still had half the book which seemed to ramble and become a separate thing entirely. It really felt like this was two books mashed into one.

This slow SLOW build to all the tension gave me plenty of time to figure out all the plot twists. Sometimes I enjoy that, I feel clever for having figured it out early. But I pretty much called all the ones in this book well in advance so when I got to a particularly "exciting" scene, it fell flat. 

In general, this book was just kind of average for me from a plot perspective. It definitely took a different path from what I expected based on the synopsis, and after a while felt more like rambling than a cohesive story (especially for a standalone), and the ending left me unsatisfied. Unless there's a second book in the works that hasn't been announced, I don't see why so many of the storylines was left as open as they were. There's still room for the story to go somewhere and, to me, it hasn't really ended and I haven't felt that sense of closure.

And yet. . . the writing had a magical element to it. I don't think it worked for me in terms of this novel but on its own, I loved it. There were points in the story where one character would re-tell one of the tales that Alice's grandmother wrote in her book. Those moments were magical because the author used that enchanting voice to bring those short fairy tales to life. If Albert wrote out the Hinterland fairy tales and published it, I would buy that in a heartbeat.

This is a book that, perhaps, on a reread I would come to appreciate it more and I do think that I may purchase a copy in the future when the price has gone down, but for now, I'm just disappointed in it.

I'm not really sure how to rate or feel about this book.

The first 80% of the book was great, especially once the Hinterland really started popping up in the real world. I adore fairy tales and anything related to fairy tales and was in love with the creepy, dark fairy tale elements of the novel. I liked the mystique around her grandmother, and Finch was a good secondary character. The actual tales from The Tales of the Hinterland were my favorite part. I would read a collection of those tales many times over.

I think my problem with the last 20% of the book comes from the shift in the plot and the narrative. Her journey through the Hazel Wood into the Hinterland/Halfway Wood was superb and stunning and so fantastic and had all the fairy tale things I love, but once we got there and she started on her journey, it lost a little of the magic for me. It all makes narrative sense, but just wasn't really what I was wanting or expecting out of the book. Some things were glossed over, like her time reliving her time as Alice and the reunion with her mom was a little anti-climatic.

The writing was pretty solid, but it was missing a little something (voice maybe?) to make it stand out in my memory. The dialogue and/or the character's interactions didn't always feel authentic to me. The descriptions were awesome though.

Overall, this is a good book sure to please fantasy and fairy-tale fans despite its uneven ending.

Alice lives on the road with her mom. They travel from city to city, state to state, running from what seems to be an unavoidable spell of bad luck. A flooded apartment, mysteriously killed landlords, motel fires. When Alice's grandmother, the infamous author of Tales from the Hinterlands, dies, Alice's mother believes their luck has changed. They settle down in New York, her mother gets married and Alice begins to experience real life. Unfortunately, their bad luck catches up to them sooner than expected. Alice's mother is kidnapped and everything seems to circle around her grandmother, the Hinterlands and her estate, The Hazel Wood. 

I initially chose this book to read because of it's beautiful cover (seriously, look at that. It's art!) and the deliciously vague summary. I love a book that can pull me in with a couple of sentences and not spoil anything for me. I enjoy stumbling through the plot looking for clues and clear path, much like our protagonist. This book did not disappoint. I sat down and read it in a day, too drawn in by the story to want to do anything else. When I finally did put it down, I sighed, looked at my husband and said: "Isn't it lovely to read a good book." 

Alice, the main character and narrator, is incredibly clear and bright on the page. Her voice is definite and unique. She's full of anger and curiosity and everything in between. She keeps herself at a distance from everyone else around her but holds the reader close. We're dropped into her mind immediately and don't let go. She has an authority and true sense of purpose that is sometimes lacking from first-person point of view. Through her eyes, we clearly see her mother, Ella, and her friend, Finch. They're just as sharp and understandable as Alice herself. They're also all well-rounded characters, Alice included, which is sometimes difficult to pull off with our protagonists. Each character is obviously flawed but that makes them relatable and easier to understand to the average reader. 

As I hinted at before, the plot of the book is engulfing. I don't want to give away too much, but I was on the edge of my seat from the first page to the last. It's haunting and inviting and lovely in its own twisted way. Do be warned though, it is a long book. There were more than a few times that I thought we had to be closer to some sort of conclusion because we had already been through so much and the end seemed to be in sight, only to realize I was about halfway. It can be exhausting. I don't recommend tackling it in a day like I did unless you're too drawn in to pull yourself out. This book is best slowly digested and pondered before moving forward. What saved it from its dense nature is the incredible twists we take as we travel through. One or two I was able to predict, but on the whole, I was gasping and clutching my pearls at each new revelation. It helps that Melissa Albert is deadly with her use of tension. 

I don't usually get to say this about the books I read, but this was a simply beautiful book to read. There were so many moments of just well written internal monologues of Alice examining her life and the world around her. These types of monologues are sometimes difficult to pull off, but Albert did it. I highlighted so many lines that made me pause and appreciate the level of craft that went into creating a book of this quality. It may be a young adult fantasy, but it reads like a character-driven literary work that I really admire. 

The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert is a gorgeously written, hauntingly addictive and immensely satisfying read. If you're a fan of The Magicians and Tithe this is a must read for you. It's available to read on January 30th but you can pre-order it now through Amazon, Barnes & Nobel or ask your local bookstore to order it for you. You'll want to be the first of your friends to say you've read this book, trust me!

*Review to be posted the blog on 1/11/2o18*


Hey all! I have wanted to get my hands on this book forever, and I was finally able to via Netgalley. The cover is absolutely gorgeous -- but did the story live up to it? Keep reading to find out!


Title: The Hazel Wood

Author: Melissa Albert

Series: Standalone

Rating: 2/5 stars

Summary

The Hazel Wood follows the story of Alice, the granddaughter of an author who writes dark fairy tales and her journey to find the Hinterland, the subject of her grandma's stories. She sets out on a journey to confront what she never knew was possible or real along with an admirer of her grandma's book.

Likes

The best thing about this book, for me, were the tellings of Alice's grandma's stories by Finch. I loved how dark and twisted they were and I was enthralled with them. I almost wish the entire book had more of them because the ones I read enveloped me. I also really love the cover and I think that it does justice to the nature of the story, with how spooky it is. I also liked the twists with Alice as she tried to understand and explore her grandma's world. She didn't have too much of a relationship with her but her being able to learn through Finch and uncover the truth about secrets about her were mysterious and interesting.

Dislikes

All of that being said, I can't say I liked this book. I feel like I enjoyed the short stories within the book more than the actual dialogue. The stories were more interesting and then the dialogue fell flat because of it. I needed more from the actual plot line of the book just like I got from the dark fairytales. I didn't feel very connected to any of the characters except Alice and even then it wasn't as emotionally jarring. I would be interested in reading a book that was completely full of the fairy tales, similar to Bardugo's Language of Thorns, because they were that good. I also think that the book was hyped up way too much for me and that's why I didn't enjoy it as much.  

Recommendation

I would recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of dark fairy tales and who isn't afraid of a little mischief along the way.

Happy reading! ~ Taylor