I really enjoyed this dark novel. Seventeen year old Alice and her mother have been on the run her whole life, running from “bad luck” and avoiding her quirky grandmother, author of a strange book of alternative fairy tales. Soon, things get even weirder and darker as Alice struggles to make sense of her past and to decide her own future.

This was definitely my type of book. Ever since I first saw the cover back at ALA-Chicago last summer (unfortunately I was unable to snag an ARC back then--I was so sad!) I knew I HAD to read The Hazel Wood!! I loved the dark side of the 'fairy tales' and the hunt the main characters followed to find Alice's mother. I have to mention again how beautiful and captivating the cover is, and how much the details really give in to the story. The story itself leaves so many bread crumbs as we go on the journey through the book it is just so captivating and darkly delicious. What a beautiful read!

The Hazel Wood was a solid two star read. While it was alright, it definitely wasn't what I expected it to be. I really thought it was going to be a high fantasy book (which is what the description gave the impression of) but most of it was set in modern day? Also, the main character Alice was...well, terrible. I just couldn't get behind the way she acted throughout most of this book and I never found myself interested in learning more about her past what was on the page. So all in all, this book was just okay for me.

Absolutely gorgeous writing and an extremely unique plot. I was immediately drawn to this book after seeing that awesome cover, and it definitely didn't disappoint.

Although it did take me about until halfway through to connect with the main heroine, I eventually found her decently likable and enjoyed following her journey.

Great read!

I think The Hazel Wood is a book that works for me in pieces, but not as a whole. There are about three parts to this novel. The first, which I found quite gripping, was a combination of Alice's backstory with her mysterious fairy-tale bestseller grandma and mysterious happenings to her, culminating in the disappearance of her mother to the "Hinterland," the place from the fairy tales. Then she goes to Ellery Finch, a rich boy from her school who knows about her grandmother and even managed to read a copy of the book once, and they try to track down the Hinterland while avoiding supernatural forces stopping them. This section dragged more for me. And finally, as you might expect, they reach this fantasy world.

I won't spoil, but something did happen in between the second and third sections described above that made me lose investment in the story because it came across as negating a lot of what the novel had put time and effort into, making a good chunk of the book inessential for a cheap plot twist. Of course, it's not all as it seems, but I'm not sure I found the conclusion is all that satisfying, either.

Otherwise, the fairy-tale world section was enchanting, disturbing, and definitely the most interesting, and even though it seems to come in at a bizarre place in the novel, it's definitely the resolution. Of course, that means there's a lot of exposition to swallow. That said, there were some good twists, great descriptions, and really interesting metafictional aspects that made me like the concept (the mysterious book of fairy-tales) even more than I did at the beginning.

Albert's overall writing style was great: there were plenty of great turns-of-phrases, figurative language, creepy sequences, and pop-culture references. Like others, I found Alice frustrating, but the plot ended up explaining some of this so I can't really complain, I suppose, though I really wish I got to see her develop more relationships. I rather liked the ending...I understand there is going to be a sequel now (perhaps a trilogy?), but it's written as a stand-alone and I think it can be read that way because it wraps up neatly. I frankly don't think this is a series I'm interested in reading more of (which is no surprise if you know my lack of interest in series).

Review is in the March 2018 issue of SFRevu. You can read it here: <http://sfrevu.com/php/Review-id.php?id=17785>

I enjoy a good fairy tale for grown-ups. This one was quite atmospheric. The story was relatable as well -- the author set up the characters' lives in a very realistic way. While this didn't reach the level of some of the best adult fairy tales (think Angela Carter), I enjoyed it very much & believe that it will receive wide readership.

I’ve seen mixed reviews on “The Hazel Wood,” but I am in the loved it camp.

Don’t go into it expecting some happy fairytale retelling. This is dark. Original Grimm’s Fairy Tales dark. Alice, the main character, is spunky and not always likable. In this case it is a trait that works well. The stories within the story are wonderful and creepy and vividly painted in words. I’d love for there to be both a sequel and a companion book filled with only the stories.

Highly recommended for those who love the dark side of things!.

Once I read the description for Melissa Albert’s The Hazel Wood, I immediately requested an e-galley through Netgalley. They approved me, and I rejoiced: a dark fairytale set in modern day New York with a female protagonist is exactly the kind of young adult fantasy I love.

The Hazel Wood follows 17 year-old Alice as she struggles to work with one of her late grandmother’s superfans to follow clues toward the mysterious location of her kidnapped mother, Ella. Alice’s grandmother, who recently died alone at her estate, the Hazel Wood, is a renowned and reclusive fairytale author whose only book is all but impossible to find… and supposedly, set in an actual world full of unmitigated horrors. Ella’s captors claim to hail from the Hinterland, the setting of the book, and as Alice and her classmate Finch get closer to the truth, it rapidly becomes clear that everything Alice ever thought was true is absolute fantasy.

Prior to diving into my e-galley, I was nervous. Reviews of The Hazel Wood are incredibly mixed, and reviewers and bloggers whose taste I often share didn’t have much good to say about it. A few drew comparisons to Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (one of my favorite books, still, nearly 18 years after I read it for the first time), arguing that the characters speak in riddles for no reason and the writing wasn’t engaging enough to make that work.

I disagree.

I devoured The Hazel Wood because I absolutely did not want to put it down. I loved the fast pace, high stakes, and ethereal quality of the timeline. Alice is so unreliable as a narrator, the full extent to which isn’t revealed until deep into the story, and her memories feed almost seamlessly into her present. This serves to establish the connection between Alice and Ella while also deeply contrasting it to the divide between Ella and her mother, and between Alice and her grandmother.

It also helps blur the line between fantasy and reality, story and truth, which Alice learns is a shaky difference at best. Even the characters she thinks she knows inside and out — both new to her life and old — turn out to have motivations and secrets of their own, well-hidden behind vague statements and moments of doubt. It isn’t just Alice’s grandmother who’s a storyweaver in The Hazel Wood, and that’s both detrimental and helpful to Alice’s quest.

Since I finished The Hazel Wood last week, I’ve thought about it frequently. It’s the first book I’ve read in months that kept me up well into the night, desperate to find out what happened next and loathe to reach the end all at the same time. I recently recommended it to a customer at work, and a co-worker, and my book club. I don’t know how many of those people will enjoy this book, or if any of them will enjoy it the way that I did, but I hope so.

I want to gush about it with fellow readers who loved it. If you’re reading this, and you’re one of those people, leave a comment below or hit me up on Twitter! I’d love to talk about The Hazel Wood with you.

Overall rating: ★★★★★
Recommended for: Fans of fairytales, fantasy, and Grimm-style horror

Brilliant modern spin on the classic “Alice in Wonderland.” Creepy, scary and overwhelmingly terrifying, it kept me reading with the lights on and the covers pulled up to my chin.

I loved this book and already carry it in the store. I look forward to more from this author.

I am going to leave this unrated because I have only read a little more than half. The fault is not with the book, it is a book I should not have chosen. I have been trying to stretch myself in my reading, but at heart I am not a fantasy reader, which is the genre I believe it fits. Maybe fairy tales as well. There are so many wonderful reviews of this but as all readers know every book does not fit every person.

Okayyy I'm going to be honest, I didn't finish this. Based on the cover and the description, I was expecting something dark and creepy, maybe with a bit of a gothic or noir vibe to it. Instead, it was very similar to Alice in Wonderland... sans noir. It was just kind of cooky and strange. While I would absolutely recommend this to people who are seeking that out, it wasn't what I wanted or expected when I picked this book up.

When I first picked up The Hazel Wood I was really excited for a book that would use a modern time but throw fairytales into it. It seemed almost like a Once Upon a Time kind of a vibe based on the description. Sadly the book and my reading aesthetic just didn’t mesh as well as I wanted it to. I felt like I was wondering what was happening and what I was reading the whole book and I never quite jived with it. It also started really slow for me. It took a good 25% for me to feel like the story picked up and I also wasn’t a fan of some of the choices made in the last fourth of the book.

With that said, there was something that worked for me though. I actually really enjoyed the brief look we got at the Tales of the Hinterland. The writing in those fairytales was magical and enthralling. The story itself was not a creep fest like I had expected, but the fairytales found in Tales of the Hinterland were. They were dark and twisted and a little strange and oddly they were the part of the book I was excited about. The part of the book I wanted more of. Every time I got to read a little of one of the Hinterland fairytales I got excited for the book again, only to be a little let down.

What can I say about The Hazel Wood? It just wasn’t a book for me. Many of friends have loved it. Actually way more love it than had the same feelings I did. It just didn’t work for me. That being said, it may work for you. I will say that I’m really excited there will be a book released of the fairytales. That made me happy to hear. So while I won’t be running out to read this again or pick up the sequel, I will be picking up Tales from the Hinterland. Also the cover is a work of art!

I absolutely loved this book! The story is captivating and fun. This is a must-read for any fan of fairy tales and fairy tale retellings.

The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert is the story of Alice, her mother and her grandmother. Alice's grandmother wrote a book of dark fairytales that people fell in love with. These fairytales are more that just stories and they end up changing Alice's life forever.

Going into The Hazel Wood I was a bit weary because people very close to me either loved the book or felt completely let down. I was worried about where I would fall on that map but luckily for me, I really enjoyed the book. It ended up being different than what I was expecting, a lot darker and weirder but that only added to the greatness of the book. I would also like to add that this IS NOT an Alice in Wonderland retelling. The only similarities this book even has with that one is the characters name is Alice and she ends up in an alternate world. That is where it ends.

Alice has spent her life on the road with her mother. They go from friends spare bedroom to rented garage to whatever apartment they can manage to rent. Alice never stays in any one place long and that is because he mother thinks something or someone is following them and they are never safe. Then her mother receives a letter stating that her mother has died and all of a sudden their luck has changed. Alice's mother decides to settle down and she finally has a somewhat normal life. Until...

Everything in this book gets VERY interesting when Alice's mother goes missing and characters from her grandmothers book start randomly appearing to her. Problem is, the characters from her grandmothers book aren't good. They are murderous beings and Alice has to figure out how to get her mother back AND stop the characters from causing harm.

Alice enlists the help of fellow classmate and mega-fan of her grandmother, Ellery Finch, to help her find her mother. He is all too willing to help Alice but it turns out his motives might now be so pure of heart. I think the Ellery Finch part is the only part of the book that I wish would have ended differently.

The only way for Alice to save her mother is to find her grandmothers home, The Hazel Wood, and actually go INTO her grandmothers book and finish her own story, Alice Three Times. This is when the book REALLY picks up and I really love how the author handled this ending. It was very unique and dark and I really enjoyed it.

In the end, I felt this story had a lot of depth and the author had a very interesting talent when it came to weaving such a dark story. I thought this book was a standalone but when I went to look it up to get the cover for my review I saw that there will be at least 1 other book and 1 possible novella so I am very excited for both of those and The Hazel Wood has found a new home on my favorites bookshelf.

Overall, I gave the book 4.5/5 stars.

You have to really be into the book and cannot space out, because that is what I did for probably the first half. None the less I loved the world and it gave me a lot of Cassandra Clare vibes I feel like if I paid more attention then I would have given it a higher rating, but I still liked it.

I have lots of mixed emotions when it comes to THE HAZEL WOOD. There are so many things to appreciate and gush over because make no mistake - the world of Hinterland that Melissa Albert creates is equally as lush and mesmerizing as it is creepy and haunting. I absolutely fell face first into this story and I am sorry to myself for taking so long to get to this gem because it is a wonderfully done book. I want so much success to come for both this story and its writer because I know Melissa Albert to be such an endearing and lovely person and she has so much support from the book community (if you don’t know, she’s the founding editor for BNTeens), so it’s really gratifying to see how far she’s come and I could tell how much thought and devotion went into creating the world that many people have championed for after reading it.


This book sucked me in with that very first excerpt from Vanity Fair about Althea. I don’t know what it was about it - but it was just impossible not to turn the page. I was fascinated by how modern the story was - since it took place in New York, there are very familiar things to me as a native New Yorker that I loved Melissa alluding to! I don’t live in the city, so there were some other nuances that I wasn’t privvy to which I liked as well! But her portrayal of NYC is not shiny things and pretty lights, it’s grit and dirt and everything actually true about the urban jungle.

And then she delves into other parts of New York because the main character, has to travel upstate to find Hinterland. So long story short - Alice and her mother have always moved because bad luck follows them no matter what and her mother thinks it’s because of her mother (Alice’s grandmother), Althea. Althea lives in seclusion in the Hazel Wood while the world lives on with cultish fanatics who just really seem to be obsessed with her collection of stories, The Tales from the Hinterland. Althea passes away and then Alice’s mother is taken. Alice has no choice but to turn to Ellery Finch, a boy she goes to school with and who so happens to be incredibly familiar with her grandmother’s work. So they venture on a creepy and perilous journey in order to find her mother once more, but what awaits them in the Hazel Wood and Hinterland is beyond imagination!

So back to the gushing - in terms of the folklore behind Hinterland and the Hazel Wood, I was absolutely blown away by the originality the storytelling. I’m so excited for Melissa to write the actual anthology of stories because I just need this for my own collection. Make no mistake, it is seriously haunting and very Brother Grimss-esque when it comes to the tone and the overall storytelling. I love the original fairytales as they were - all grim and dark and twisted with no signs of happiness and fairydust. That’s the way that fairytales were written and I love that she follows that sort of formula.

As a protagonist, I did not necessarily like Alice at first and I think it’s nice that this sort of thing happens. She struck me as one of those characters who would just grow on me and she did. As THE HAZEL WOOD went on, I started really appreciating her character and the struggles, both emotionally and physically that she had to go through to find her mother. I mean, she was thrown into an impossible situation and really, can anyone relate to what she goes through because I know I can’t. At least on a literal level, ;). She certainly goes through a lot and I promise you that her story is really and seriously unpredictable.
Which brings me to my next point that this story is original. I certainly fell in love with all of it because there was no way I could ever predict what was going to happen next. And I think that’s because Melissa Albert is a fantastic story spinner ( ;) ) and like I said because, she put so much thought into it. I was shocked, in awe, and wanting more and I am so very happy that there is going to be another book because there are definitely some unanswered questions.

That all being said, I did not enjoy the last fourth of the books as much as I wanted to - maybe it was because I rushed through it to finish it in time for her launch or maybe I just got so lost in the details of the story that I didn’t take the time to really understand what was going on, but regardless - it was somewhat of a miss for me and I understand that when authors are picked up for a standalone and optioned for a series that writing the ending of the first books can be really tricky if no one knows there will be traction for the story.
Regardless, I am mad about this book and its characters. I am also deliriously in love with the cover art and the design of the overall look to THE HAZEL WOOD and I want a gorgeous second book to make a set. I really can’t wait to see what’s in store for Alice.

http://hungryforgoodbooks.blogspot.com/2018/01/the-hazel-wood-by-melissa-albert.html Teens love fantasy. Teens love magic with a touch of the creepy. Readers love story. Readers love books about books. Debut author Melissa Albert’s The Hazel Wood is all of these so I believe it will be one of the biggest Young Adult hits of 2018. The Hazel Wood feels timeless so one almost expects it to begin with the words “Long ago in a faraway land,” but it’s a contemporary novel so it begins with the thoughts of seventeen-year-old Alice, “My mother was raised on fairy tales, but I was raised on highways.” Alice and her mother Ella “lived like vagrants, staying with friends till our welcome wore through at the elbows, perching in precarious places, then moving on. We didn’t have a chance to stand still. Until the year I turned seventeen, and Althea died in the Hazel Wood. . .

Until Althea Prosperine (born Anna Parks) died all alone on the grand estate she’d named the Hazel Wood, my mother and I had spent our lives as bad luck guests. We moved at least twice a year and sometimes more, but the bad luck always found us.”

Alice had spent much of her childhood trying to learn more about her grandmother Althea, the reclusive author of a famous, yet almost impossible to find book of eerie fairy tales. The book, Tales from the Hinterland, and the movie that earned it its fame made Althea wealthy and paid for the Hazel Wood estate that so intrigued Alice. When Ella disappears after leaving a message for Alice to “stay the hell away from the Hazel Wood,” Alice begins a terrifying trek to find the estate and her mother. Helped by Finch, a wealthy, biracial friend from school, whose fanatic devotion to the book means that he may know how to locate the mysterious Hazel Wood, Alice enters the foreboding world of the Hinterland where story is paramount, but it still may not save you.

Unlike most books for teens, this one is short on romance and absent the sex that seems to pepper so many popular novels for older YA readers. Instead, it features disturbingly realistic, yet fantastic scenes of the gritty, fearless Alice’s encounters with bloody and sometimes gruesome scenes. Much of the book is laced with references to children’s literature that geeky young readers will adore as much as I did.

Until Alice set off for the Hazel Wood, I was mesmerized, then I found myself wanting to skim some of the more sinister scenes to get to the climax. I stuck with it, read every word, and was rewarded by a less than happily-ever-after ending that fit the book perfectly. I don’t think fantasy-loving teens will find the menacing atmosphere as off-putting as I did and I predict that they, like all the major critics, will give this one five stars. The writing is so atmospheric and haunting that even though the carnage was more than I wanted, I admire it immensely.

Summing it Up: Buy The Hazel Wood for fantasy-loving teens and young adults fourteen and older. Read it for a chilling glimpse into a fantasy world where story matters. Savor it for its exquisite evocation of mood and place. Illustrator Jim Tierney’s evocative cover deserves accolades for its beauty and its introduction to the novel.

Take your favorite young adult to Anderson’s Bookshop in Naperville, IL this Saturday, February 3 at 2 p.m. where the author will be in conversation with YA author Joelle Charbonneau. It’s a free event.

Rating: 4 stars
Category: Diet Coke and Gummi Bears, Fiction, Book Club
Publication date: January 30. 2018
Read an Excerpt: https://us.macmillan.com/thehazelwood/melissaalbert/9781250147912/
What Others are Saying:
Kirkus Reviews: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/melissa-albert/the-hazel-wood/
Publishers Weekly: https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1-250-14790-5
School Library Journal: http://www.slj.com/2017/10/reviews/books/hazel-wood-melissa-albert-slj-review/
Shelf Awareness: http://www.shelf-awareness.com/readers-issue.html?issue=683#m12003