I overall enjoyed this book. It was an enjoyable read, but wasn't one that I found myself thinking about often when I wasn't reading it, which made me not pick it up as frequently. The story itself was enjoyable as were the characters but nothing struck me as particularly unique about this read for the genre.

It's difficult to explain my opinions on this book which is why it got three stars. It wasn't a book I was excited about when I wasn't reading it. When reading it I enjoyed it, for the most part, and I would say that the last 6th of the book was really good. The characters and plot were interesting and a new take on an old fairytale which I love. However, even though the plot had a lot going on it felt monotone. and I can't explain why which is frustrating!

If you like fairy tale retellings you should definitely give this book a go and if you do I would like to know if you ended up feeling the same as me and perhaps can describe my confusion of what was missing. All in all, I don't think I'll be picking up the next installment of this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

A more grown up telling of the story of Hansel and Gretel, with a dash of Red Riding Hood mixed in. I really enjoyed the more adult theme of the book, the Shrike is much scarier with a tree of death than a witch with a house of candy! I also appreciated how evil she truly is for no real rhyme or reason, just because she can and wants to. On the flipside of that I wish that there had been a better explanation as to where the evil itself came from, as we learn more about her history its obvious that she wasn't always evil, she was overtaken by something in the woods that we never really get an explanation of. The ending was also very unsatisfactory to me,much too abrupt. Perhaps there is sequel planned? I liked this book but it didn't enthrall me the way I expected it to.

Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for providing me with an advanced copy for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book is an adult themed retelling of multiple Grimm fairy tales. Hansel and Gretel is the main fairy tale (The main characters are Hans and Greta) but there are hints of others, like red riding hood and beauty and the beast. There is sex and violent death in this book, don't assume its for children.

I very much enjoyed this story. Hans is the perfect level of unlikable to make him a realistic character. Trigger warnings for sexual assault. Greta is sympothetic because her brother is such an asshole but she loves him anyway because hes her brother. This has the right mix of horror, death, violence, and sex to make it a good novel, I didn't want to put it down.

Highly recommend when it comes out next year.

I'm half and half on this book. It was an interesting story overall, but I often found myself spacing out because it would wind down and lose my interest. I really liked Barin, but HATED Hans. Greta wasn't relatable and I felt nothing for her. The setting was cool, eerie, and a bit creepy. The wording sometimes got weird to me. I think it would make a kickass movie honestly. I'm just not sure about the book overall. I didn't take a star off for this, but it definitely needs a good edit. I got it as an ARC so i'm sure more editing will be done. If you like fairy tale retellings for adults, this is a cool one for you.

"Hans and Greta, two outcast orphans, find themselves facing accusations of witchcraft and are met with an ultimatum: burn at the stake, or leave the village forever. "

Dark and mysterious, religious fanatics, and old world magic make this a delightful read.

This was a very interesting retelling of the classic tale Hansel and Gretal. In this version the siblings are orphans in their late teens. Greta has unfortunately caught the attention if a "holy man" named Emory. When she turns him down he decides to convince the village that she is a witch. This forces the siblings into the forest where they know some magical being known as The Shrike may be living. The Shrike has power over males, entrances them ( reminded me of a siren), and then returns their hearts to their loved ones. This story was very interesting and I enjoyed it!

An atmospheric tale that captures the heart of the original fairy tale while shedding a new light on the story. Chantal Gadoury and A.M. Wright's different writing styles combine effortlessly in this retelling of the original Hansel and Gretel story. This story takes a dark story and turns it darker while staying close to what the Brother's Grimm originally transcribed. Definitely worth the read.

Thank you to netgalley and The Parliament House for an e-arc to review!

The Shrike and the Shadows is a dark and spooky retelling of the Hansel and Gretel story. We enter the village of Krum, which is plagued by a witch (The Shrike) who steals away men and boys in the night and brings back their bloody hearts in the morning. The town lives in fear of the Shrike and the haunted woods. Hans and Greta, outcast orphan twins, live in Krum. Their mother was killed in the woods when they were young, and their father died of sickness some years later. They try their best to make a life in Krum, but face lots of rejection and fear from the townspeople. Some believe they are cursed due to the way their parents died. The town's priest, Father Emory, fuels the suspicion and scrutiny around them.

While the Shrike is our main villain, Father Emory is quite the villain himself. I won't elaborate much due to possible spoilers, but I hated him from the beginning. He eventually declares Greta a witch, and leaves the twins the choice of leaving the village or being burned at the stake. Hans and Greta must flee into the woods, where they find many terrors and trials.

Hans really is not a likeable character to me. He's a bit of a womanizer and he also takes advantage of Greta. The plot revolves a lot around Greta trying to save Hans, but honestly, at many points I wished she would just stop trying and let him deal with the consequences of his own stupidity. Greta was a decently likeable main character. I wanted her to succeed and also get away from Hans and just live her own life. She starts off pretty weepy and a bit weak; but she definitely gets stronger throughout the story; but there's still a lot of reliance on the men of the story to save her. In the next book, I hope we see more growth for Greta! I love her story with Barin though, and he might be my favorite character in this book! He's far more likeable than our two MCs.

The plot is a bit slow to start with, and a touch confusing in some parts. I want more info on the Shrike and why she does what she's doing. Why does she return the hearts? Why does she only take men? Maybe we'll get more next book. Overall, it was a good book! I got hooked pretty quickly and wanted to know more. I loved Barin, he's honestly my favorite character. I'm definitely going to read book two, because I do want to know more! If you like darker, adult retellings, or just want a quick, spooky read, I would say check this one out!

An adult retelling of Hansel and Gretel which also incorporates elements of other fairy tales.

Hans and Greta are 19 year old twins evicted from their village. They are forced to go into the woods where the evil witch, the Strike lives. They attempt to go through the forest to seek another town.

The premise was interesting. However, I didn't care for the main characters. Hans was selfish and whiny. Greta was more relatable but I found her dependence on males for rescue annoying. Despite being told by other characters that she is strong nonetheless Greta does not rely on her own inner strength. She is naive and unsure throughout. She stutters her way through her first sexual experience with Barrin in a way that was mid annoying than endearing.

There were some attention grabbing horror story moments but on the whole I found that the plot dragged.

I was given an advance copy of this book. I am leaving my honest review.

I had originally been recommend this book by my dear friend Danny and then heard this book mentioned by a few booktubers. So of course I had to go on NetGalley and try to get myself a copy!! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you for choosing me! I had no idea how much I needed this book in my life. This is quite possibly one book that I will reread every year around Halloween now!

A Hansel and Gretel retelling but so craftily unique! I could feel the poison ☠️ of the town that ran Hans and Greta out, and right along with the twins I felt my fear of the woods grow. This book sucks you in from the start, with gruesome horror and anticipation of what comes next. I felt the world building was impeccable, and the character development was really well done for the first book in a new series. There is a romance that is squeaked in at the end of the book, and I could not get enough of that. Steamy and lustful yet such soulful connections! Well done ladies!! The journey Hans and Greta go on through the woods is so creepy and despairing that it really starts to mess with the readers head. I am so beyond impressed with how this retelling was written and am dying for the next book in the series! New fan over here!!! 💕💕💕

If you are a reader who loves creepy stories, fairytale retellings and books that grab you and pull you in, then this is the perfect book for you!

#TheShrikeTheShadows #NetGalley
A very adult retelling of Hansel & Gretel that will have you scratching your head a little. It is interesting in it's dark and spooky feel, but some of the characters are hard to like.

Well this was certainly a different version of Hansel and Gretel and if you are interested in an adult retelling then this might be the book for you. Hans and Greta are nineteen and sadly orphaned . Greta unfortunately has caught the eye of Emory the local holy man but what he wants to do to Greta is as anything but godly ! He bares a grudge when he's spurned and pretty soon manages to convince the village that Greta is a Witch. Hans and Greta are forced into the forest knowing that something malevolent lurks there but to reach the next village they don't have a choice. Unfortunately the Shrike is not a story told to scare children but is very much real and the twins are about to become her next target !
I was initially confused as to the age of the twins because they are referred to as children which obviously made the advances of Emory even more abhorrent. The Shrike is someone who controls males and when she's done with them removes their heart's but sadly I wasn't quite sure just why she returned their heart's to their loved one's. What I can say is Greta felt very lonely and was a direct contrast to Hans who wasn't that likeable and honestly his attitude towards women just stank ! There are supporting characters namely Brugg who wasn't really explained and then of course Barin ! Barin was a spot of goodness in this story as he's done terrible things but now wants to do what's right. Yes there's romance and yes adult content but this was not for this reader sexy at all. As it ended only one of the twins actually left the forest but it's clear a return is planned because let's face it the Shrike really needs stopping. Expect characters you won't like, depravity and to be left wanting more explanations.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

I was approved for this title on the 15th but did not get on the computer to see the email and visit Netgalley until the 16th and it was already archived so I didn't have a chance to download and review.

With the gorgeous cover and intriguing synopsis, The Shrike & The Shadows had the potential to become an outstanding fantasy retelling. However, the inconsistent pacing of the plot and the dull personality of Hans and Greta made it a struggle to comfortably ease into the story. The structure of the book is sound but had there been more detail and a little "something new," Gadoury would have crafted the perfect recipe to a perfect fantasy novel.

I love fairytale retellings and this one was very good! This is the retelling of Hansel & Gretel, but a more grown up of version. Growing up, Hans & Greta have always been warned about the woods, and the witch who lives there. The Shrike steals men and young boys and leaves their hearts for their families. A great retelling with mystery, some romance, and some horror!

I have to be honest. If you told me a week ago that I would absolutely adore a Hansel and Gretel retelling, I would probably laugh awkwardly and nod along just to please you. Then I would go on my way, trying to forget we ever met. Now the joke's on me.
This book was outstanding! It's a fast-paced dark retelling that keeps you glued to the page. It's a bewitching page-turner, not letting you escape until the Shrike doesn't have your heart. In its goriness and creepy illusions, it's up there with the House of Salt and Sorrows. There was blood and screaming and disfigured monsters everywhere. There is no shying away from the slaughter the Shrike left in her wake. It's disturbing, it's not a light read and therefore may not be for everyone.

When I finally dived in this magnificent book I thought it’d be a young adult retelling of Hansel and Gretel. I requested the ARC because of the to-die-for cover and the interesting synopsis. If you think the summary seems amazing, be prepared to be blown away by the sheer brilliance of the whole book.

The story follows Hans and Greta. They live in a small village near the cursed woods where the feared Shrike lives and preys on men and boys. Since a long time ago, the Shrike lulled the men into the woods, placing their hearts on their families doorstep the next day. When after a chilling period of peace Greta wakes up with screams coming up from the village, she knows the Shrike is back. But it isn't until when the priest, Father Emory, plants a seed in the village's folk about Greta being a witch and Hans bedding his sister that they are forced to leave the only home they ever knew. But it was just a choice between the lesser evil -- stay and be burned on the spike like a witch, or go into the woods and await the death to slowly claim you.

Hans and Greta are twins, but they are like fire and air -- they bicker and spout hateful words but they depend on each other and can't imagine a world where the other doesn't exist. So they fight together and they love each other fiercely. I really loved them both. They were crafted so realistically, both in their vices and virtues!
Hans was like a fire, burning bright and shielding his sister from danger, but when he lost his temper he was the one endangering those he loved. He was infuriatingly likeable, like a book when it ends with a cliffhanger and all you want is to scream and demand Why. Why are you like that?
Greta, on the other hand, was like the air -- giving the space and nurturing Hans, but extinguishing his flame when he became a threat. She was gorgeous and strong, and like a butterfly not coming out of her cocoon until she was situated in a different environment. She was the one keeping Hans out of trouble, but instead of receiving a proper thank you, she got berated for being too girly. More than once I wanted to bash something against Hans’s head to make him respect his sister again, but that’s exactly it. That's the woods speaking, it's all Shrike’s doing. And I couldn’t help but simply adore the imperfectly perfect twins!

"They had been so good at keeping their true feelings deep in their hearts, and they were paying for the consequences of their actions."

And then there’s Barin. A brooding werewolf who brings on the romance we all deserve! It was sweet and made me swoon despite being engrossed with the disturbing side of this story.

Also there is going to be a sequel! When I first read about this book, I thought it was going to be a stand-alone! Now I feel kind of cheated because I have to wait for a sequel that doesn’t even have a release date yet, but at the same time, I can't wait to venture back into the woods!

This book was received as an ARC from The Parliament House in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

When I first read this book, I could not understand what a shrine was and even reading the forward I still could not put the pieces of the puzzle together. When you read on, the story started to make sense and adding the background of Hand and Gretta being orphans made the story more compelling. It was inspiring to read how they came together in a pact to escape the village Krume and the haunted wood with everyone disappearing or burning to the stake all they need is eachother. This book was gothic and eccentric to the max point that our teen book club will love it.

We will consider adding this title to our YA collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.

The shrike and the shadows to me was a sinister remake of Hansel and Gretel. It remakes of creatures of the dark and neighbors being set upon and on;y the hearts left to their loved ones as a remembrance. It was Gothic and twisted and full of superstition. If you live for folk tales and wild violent adventures then this if the reading gift for you.

The Shrike & the Shadows was given to me as an eArc by Netgalley in exchange of an honest opinion.

Have you ever heard of the Hansel and Gretel story? Of the evil witch that eats children? Well this book is not the typical retelling that I’m used to reading of the aforementioned fairytale. I was completely shocked to have read adult content in a retelling (I’m just not used to it). This book is completely dark and twisted. Perfect for this spooky season.

I’m giving it 3.5 stars. It wasn’t that bad to not recommend but I would not read it myself again. First with the things I like about it: the atmospheric feeling of the forest and the village. Although the words used were simple, I could imagine the forest of Krume, as if I have been there myself. The descriptions of the witch were well done. I would get creeped out at times. I do appreciate the dark twist of the plot.

Now, for things I didn't like. The brother and sister were okay main characters. Barin is the only character that I really liked and felt for. I would get annoyed by the sister because of all the crying. I do see how the author attempted to make her a strong character but maybe all the self pity and crying went too far. The brother was just a self righteous little prick.

Overall, I do recommend it to those who enjoy a dark/ adult retellings.

Trigger warning: sexual assault