“In the dark, there were no lovers or enemies, no heartsick girls with seashells in their hair, no regrets of childish fantasies of freedom. There was only here and now, and the promise of death.”

Crafted from beetle shells, hawthorn berries, and greed, Eli was trained to serve as a witch’s assassin. Her creator and pseudo-mother, Circinae, raised Eli to hunt down ghosts on Earth with seven magical blades. To keep Eli in line, she is continually reminded that she can be “unmade” or turned back into inanimate objects. However, after a mission goes terribly wrong, Eli meets two mysterious humans who lead her to the Hedge-witch, who bribes Eli to help the duo capture the witch coven’s heart that contains the power to rule over all realms. The task requires Eli to learn the secrets of her world, revisit past unrequited love, and address her growing human emotions.

The Girl of Hawthorn and Glass started off rather peculiar and never made complete sense. The plot was mainly incoherent. Not only does the timeline sporadically jump from the past to the present, but Eli and her new friend’s journey is also confusing. The characters are very bizarre, especially Eli’s witch companions, Kite and Clytemnestra. Eli often meets them in the eternal children’s garden, where they demand souvenirs from her trips and for her to play with them. However, the humans Eli meets, Tav and Cam, help Eli learn more about herself and the world she lives in. The witch coven is never fully explained, nor is Eli’s reasoning to help the rogue Hedge-witch steal the coven’s heart. On a positive note, it is interesting to watch Eli’s personal growth and self-identity evolve from being a witch’s tool to a person with feelings. I also appreciated the positive LGBTQ+ representation and the flashbacks to Eli’s unrequited feelings toward Kite. Moreover, Adan Jerreat-Poole has a gift for writing memorable and lyrical quotes, so much so that I had a difficult time selecting my favorite. While The Girl of Hawthorn and Glass may have missed the mark for me, I would be interested in reading more of Jerreat-Poole’s poetic writing.

I was so hopeful after seeing the fantastic, artsy cover and the promising plot about a teenage assassin chasing ghosts in the human world. But pushing myself to like this book turned into an exhausting and tormenting experience.

The writing style is different and interesting, but there is no moving storyline. The character development, their motives, and their background stories were missing, making it impossible to resonate with any of them. You can't root for characters whose missions, conflicts, or struggles you don't believe in.

Initially, I was ready to give this book 5-stars all the way. But in the second half, things took a downturn. It began to get confusing and weird. The world-building started fraying, and even after reading it twice, I'm still confused over what happened.

The book was everything you want in a ya fantasy. It has great premise, but I thought it was a bit slow. It wasn’t bad, but it didn’t have the excitement that keeps you turning pages. I’m sure many of my kids will enjoy it. I still recommend it based on description. It’s just more of a stormy evening, slow read.
Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for my honest opinion

Unfortunately, I've lost interest in reading this one. After reading the first couple of chapters and some reviews I don't think the book will deliver what I hoped it would.

"Eli isn’t just a teenage girl — she’s a made-thing the witches created to hunt down ghosts in the human world. Trained to kill with her seven living blades, Eli is a flawless machine, a deadly assassin. But when an assignment goes wrong, Eli starts to question everything she was taught about both worlds, the Coven, and her tyrannical witch-mother. Terrified that she’ll be unmade for her mistake, Eli seeks refuge with a group of human and witch renegades. To earn her place, she must prove herself by capturing the Heart of the Coven. With the help of two humans, one motorcycle, and a girl who smells like the sea, Eli is going to get answers — and earn her freedom."
Looking forward to reading this story.

This is another situation where the premise is great but the execution is lacking and I couldn't get past it.
The publisher generously provided me with a copy of the book upon request on NetGalley. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own.

I really tried to get into this because I had dnfing books but at the same time I don’t have time to try and force myself to read books that aren’t engaging to me. I’m sure there are many people who will love this though!

I was super intrigued by this premise but I just never could manage to get myself into the writing or invested in the characters.

I really enjoyed the storyline in world building in the novel. I also really liked the characters. I thought this was a solid read, and I will definitely be reading more by this author.

I wanted to like this more and the premise sounded so interesting, but it just wasn't for me. It just became a little too confusing and I just couldn't keep up. However, I encourage others to give it a try, just because it wasn't for me, doesn't mean it isn't for you!

Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately, this ended up on my DNF list.

I really wanted to love this book, but I just couldn't get into it. I tend to give debut authors the benefit of the doubt, but the narrative didn't capture my attention at the halfway point.

The Girl of Hawthorn and Glass has an amazing premise! The execution didn't land for me, but I think it will for many readers of YA fantasy! It has: teen assassins, renegade witches, the most gorgeous cover ever, rad LGBT rep and some strong lovable characters!

This wasn't a favorite for me.
I tried really hard to like this one.
But just something about it fell short.
It wasn't bad. But it just want great either.

“The Girl of Hawthorn and Glass” by Adan Jerreat-Poole offers readers a unique and fantastical world brimming with magical creatures and intriguing concepts. While the novel has its merits, including imaginative world-building and lyrical prose, it unfortunately suffers from a slow-moving plot that hampers its overall impact.

Set in a realm where humans coexist with mythical beings, the story follows Eli, a girl who was created rather than born. Eli struggles to find her place in a society filled with uncertainties, secrets, and hidden agendas. As she embarks on a quest for answers and identity, she discovers a web of complex relationships and conflicting loyalties.

Jerreat-Poole’s writing style is undoubtedly one of the book’s strengths. The author crafts vivid descriptions, employing lyrical prose to paint a vivid tapestry of the fantastical world. The attention to detail in the magical elements and the depiction of the various creatures showcases the author’s creative imagination and adds depth to the narrative.

However, the slow pacing of the plot is a notable drawback. The story unfolds at a leisurely pace, taking its time to unravel the mysteries and establish the character dynamics. While some readers may appreciate the atmospheric and introspective nature of the narrative, others might find it challenging to stay engaged, especially if they prefer a more action-driven plot.

Despite the plot’s sluggishness, the characters in “The Girl of Hawthorn and Glass” exhibit complexity and depth. Eli, in particular, undergoes a transformation as she grapples with her origins and seeks her place in a world that often rejects her. The supporting characters bring their own layers of intrigue, but their development sometimes feels overshadowed by the gradual plot progression.

While the slow-moving plot may hinder the book’s overall enjoyment, “The Girl of Hawthorn and Glass” can still appeal to readers who appreciate atmospheric and character-driven narratives. The richly imagined world and the lyrical prose offer glimpses of the author’s potential. However, for those seeking a fast-paced and action-packed fantasy, this book might not fully satisfy their expectations.

In summary, “The Girl of Hawthorn and Glass” showcases Adan Jerreat-Poole’s creative talent and poetic writing style. While the book’s slow-moving plot may deter some readers, it still holds appeal for those who appreciate introspective and character-driven storytelling. With its imaginative world-building and nuanced characters, it remains a commendable effort, albeit one that may not resonate with everyone.

Eli is a girl created by witches to be an assassin to rid the world of ghosts. It was a really slow start, but I finally got into it. I'm not sure I can do it justice, but have recommended it to some of my students to get their insights. When/if I do, I will add to the review.

I was given the opportunity to read this book by NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

This book was confusing. The pace was slow, the magic was complicated and the characters didn't show much growth. The pace does eventually start to pick up but it didn't feel compete, I still had a lot of questions about the plot by the end.

This book had a lot of potential, but it fell flat for me. I do enjoy fantasy novels, but this one was not a perfect fit for me.

I had a very hard time engaging with this story. It was a very slow moving plot and I just had a hard time reading it. It didn’t work for me, but I’m sure other might enjoy it.

It was an okay read. But it was a bit slow and it didn't make much of an impression on me. The characters are well done and the writing is good. I just didn't feel as invested in the story as I would have liked to be which made it feel very slow.

Yeah I’m so sorry, but I didn’t love this. The writing was hard for me to connect with and I didn’t really rush to pick it up every time I set it down. I was really loving the description and premise of this book, but didn’t hit the mark for me this time!