This book was soooo good! I went in not expecting much, because I have been disappointed in a lot of YA novels recently- but Ciccarelli did not disappoint!! The pacing was good, the writing was great, and I appreciated that the MC was actually an older young adult who has already left home. I really enjoyed the twists and turns of the story and all the foreshadowing at secrets that were eventually revealed. I would definitely recommend this, although I will admit the ending was a bit... uncertain. I'm not normally a fan of that kind of ending, but I enjoyed the rest of the book so much I'll give it a pass.

This book was soooo great! I went in not expecting much, because I have been disappointed in a lot of YA novels recently- but the author did not disappoint!! The pacing was good, the writing was great, and I appreciated that the MC was actually not a 16-17 year old, but an older young adult who has already left home. I really enjoyed the twists and turns of the story and all the hinting at secrets that eventually paid off. I would definitely recommend this, although I will admit the ending was a bit... uncertain.

I went in thinking for sure I would love this book. It was a cover pick and the description was fantastic. I’m still shaking my head trying to figure out why it didn’t quite work for me. It has that same kind of The Cruel Prince fantasy but also sort of urban fantasy vibe and I enjoyed the writing.. there was just something off that dimmed the reading experience and I can’t put my finger on what.

This is a book that hits all the "feels", a little romance, a lot of family loyalty and protecting this you love, a little what will you give up for them, and a lot of wonderfully built characters and communities, human and fae. Throw inn the mystery and thrills of learning truths of your life and it's a perfect book for anyone who loves any genre even close to these.

So many times a reader sticks to series books because they are comfortable with the writer's skills and are afraid of wasting their reading time on a "dud". EDGEWOOD first stands out with a beautiful cover that tells a piece of the story while enticing the reader. The book synopsis stirs interest and convinces readers to take the chance on Kristen Ciccarelli, an author I had not heard of before. But the story.....it delivers in such a beautifully enticing and inspiring manner that I wish it were a series. Take a chance on Emeline Lark and her Grandfather. You'll not be sorry.

I found the story enjoyable from start to end, and especially appreciated the tender and heartwarming yet also heartbreaking relationship between Emeline and her grandfather, as anyone who has experienced the misfortune of seeing a beloved elderly relative's mind slowly eroding will surely find relatable, too.

I'm not always a fey lover, but I was obsessed with the cover on this one so I decided to give it a go and I really enjoyed it! It was spooky and lyrical and deeply romantic.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of <i>Edgewood</i> in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

<h4 style="margin-top: 84px;">The Gist</h4>

<i>Edgewood</i> by Kristen Ciccarelli is a young adult fantasy novel that follows the journey of Emeline Lark, a talented singer haunted by the mysterious disappearance of her grandfather. When she returns to her hometown of Edgewood, she discovers that the forest she once feared is calling her back. To save her grandfather, Emeline must confront the dark secrets of Edgewood and navigate a world filled with fae magic and dangerous bargains.

<h4>The Details</h4>

Ciccarelli creates a vividly atmospheric setting in Edgewood, with its enchanting yet perilous forest and magical elements. The world-building is rich and immersive, drawing readers into a mystical environment.

Emeline's journey of self-discovery and bravery is compelling. Her growth as a character, from a reluctant hero to someone who confronts her fears, adds depth to the narrative.

However, the pacing of the novel is uneven, with some parts dragging while others rush through critical plot points. This inconsistency can disrupt the flow of the story and affect reader engagement.

Also, certain plot twists and developments are foreseeable, which can diminish the sense of suspense and excitement. Experienced fantasy readers might find some aspects of the storyline predictable.

And while Emeline is well-developed, some secondary characters lack the same level of depth and complexity. Their motivations and backstories often feel underexplored, leaving them less impactful.

<h4>The Verdict</h4>

Overall, <i>Edgewood</i> by Kristen Ciccarelli is a fantasy novel with a beautifully crafted setting and a strong protagonist's journey. The atmospheric descriptions and themes of family and belonging add richness to the narrative. Fans of young adult fantasy and fairy tale-inspired stories will find elements to appreciate in Ciccarelli's imaginative creation.

This was phenomenal. The world building was incredible and truly puts you into a fae world. She does a better job than Sarah j Maas at making a magical world I want to fall into. I couldn't put it down.

Edgewood follows Emeline Lark as she enters the forest of Edgewood in search of her missing grandfather. In the dark forest, she uncovers the fairytales she previously thought were make-believe. Emeline makes a deal with the Wood King, her voice for her grandfather's freedom. Despite the exchange, Emeline must prove herself a seasoned song mage and must partner with the mysterious Hawthorne to earn her spot and keep her grandfather alive.

Edgewood was a beautiful blend of heart and adventure. I really appreciated the relationship between Emeline and her grandfather. It was both heartwarming and heartbreaking to see how Emeline must struggle with Pa not remembering who she is while still having so much love for him. There is also a constant theme of memory and loving someone despite them not remembering you, and I thought this was a refreshing and beautiful element for a young adult fantasy.

I also enjoyed Emeline and Hawthorne's relationship as I found their chemistry to be sweet and endearing. However, I did want just a bit more angst and tension between them. I think this would have helped pull off the ending of the book better, and it would have had an even higher emotional impact for the reader. The book never quite dragged for me, but it did feel a little bit longer than necessary and some of the scenes could have been reworked to include more tender moments between Emeline and Hawthorne. I also enjoyed how this was an urban fantasy but, again, I feel like the reader could have used a little bit more context. We start off in the real world and return to it a few more times towards the end of the novel. The mentions of the real world in the middle of the book felt a bit forced, I wished there were more natural integrations of this setting to create a more cohesive tone.

Overall, Edgewood was a delight. I flew through it, and I was constantly thinking about the plot and its characters when I was unable to read it. This was very close to being a 5 star read for me- Edgewood truly captivated me from start to finish (and had me with a few tears in my eyes by the end). Kristen Ciccarelli was able to create such an atmospheric and fantastical young adult standalone, and I would love to read more by her in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an electronic copy to review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I wanted to like this book. I really did. The premise was certainly interesting enough but unfortunately it just didn't grab me and I ended up not liking it at all.

Very classic feel to this YA fantasy. It reminds me of how the genre used to feel, when I was growing up and YA, especially paranormal YA, was having its first boom. Didn't love it, and I've grown a bit tired of fantasy's reliance on fae in the past few years, but certainly not bad.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for giving me a free eARC of this book to read in exchange for my review!

Emeline's grandfather disappears and she takes it upon herself to find him. He had apparently been captured by the Wood King and she needs to collect artifacts to free him.

World building:
The world itself felt underdeveloped. There could have been more description about the magic system and how it functions.

Characters:
Emeline- felt naive and somewhat immature. When it comes to Hawthorne, she falls for him against her better judgement. He shows himself to be untrustworthy, but she gets heart eyes when he looks at her. She also didn't seem to grasp the concept of the mad king actually being mad as in "not well in the head".
Hawthorne- untrustworthy. Emeline might have had heart eyes for him, but I did not. He was creepy. From the naked drawings, to the stealing of memories, to the trying to have a relationship with her after stealing her memories, dude was just an absolute menace.

I was originally drawn to this because the cover is gorgeous and once I read the synopsis, it sounded exactly like something I would love.
Edgewood ended up being an atmospheric read with lush world building, a slow-burn enemies to lovers romance, and creepy woods (always a favorite!). The main issue I remember having when I read this was that there was a lot happening and everything didn’t come together as nicely as I’d hoped. I also wasn’t the biggest fan of Emeline, I found her insufferable at times and I would have liked to get to know more about some of the other characters.

I enjoyed this story a lot. The writing was beautiful and romantic. I loved the magic in nature and music. I liked the fae story and its approach to magic in the real world.

More NA than YA as far as I'm concerned, mostly because of one scene.

The world-building was great. I had no trouble visualizing all the fantasy elements, and that's not always true for me.

The main character was not the easiest to like or sympathize with throughout much of the story, but most of the characters around her were. The ending was satisfying enough for me.

Don't want to include spoilers, but it's only fair to say that there will likely be some pain in this one for people whose older loved ones are having certain health problems.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

Literally adored the setting and magic, it was beautifully done. Emmeline was also such a unique MC, the way she was forced to sacrifice much of her childhood because of circumstances and she's just such a strong character!

What negatively affected my rating however, was the pacing of this book... it was extremely slow and I found myself bored a lot. Normally when I'm free of work, I can finish a book like this within 1-2 days, but this took me two weeks!

Otherwise this was a somewhat fun book and the vibes going for it were definitely interesting and atmospheric!

Technically a YA book I think, this new addition to the magical realism genre is a beautiful story about a 19 year old woman who leaves home to make it big in the music industry but the magical woods from home keep calling her back.

When her grandfather with Alzheimer’s goes missing, she must return home to try and search for him. But her family and friends seem to know where he is and they say she can’t get him back.

This story about love, love lost, self love and family was such a nice surprise!

I think the boy is a forest boy.
If the forest came to me when I sang I would feel so cool. WOOD KING. Now that sounds tantalizing.
This lame “boyfriend” thinks caring for her grandpa is “holding her back”.
I am so excited for this wood king haha. He’s supposed to be scary, but I guess I’ve read too many books. The skin walkers are terrifying, & our knight in shining armor is bristly.
If Em was a princess Rooke would be the sidekick, albeit a spooky one.
Our author must have spent a hot minute in the woods with the descriptions she gives us. I love our first description of the wood king, however I realize I am team Tithe Collector. Joel sucks. Disregarding her feeling, literally not even listening to her. Her mother sounds like a horrible person.
The plot twists were pretty good, I’m on the fence about the ending.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a free advanced copy of this book to read and review.