I'm starting to like the "creepy woods" setting more and more lately, probably because as it became fashionable in Fantasy, more authors are taking up the setting to use it in creative ways. <i>Edgewood</i> turned out to be one that did the haunted forest setting well, and it didn't feel simply as set decoration for the story.

The plot is, at first, the expected cursed woods that is mysteriously being eaten up by a noxious element that threatens to swakkiw it and its Fae inhabitants whole. The curse is believed to be linked to a court minstrel to the Wood King embattled in a love triangle that set off the curse when he rejected a powerful witch's advances for love of another woman. To protect someone she loves, a human singer, Emeline, offers herself up as the King's new minstrel, and in trying to please the Wood King by singing his favourite songs by the former minstrel, Emeline trips into a complex web of treachery and hurt. Nothing is like she has been told, she discovers, and together with Hawthorne, the King's tithe collector, she will have to find her way out of the curse no matter the sacrifices.

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. And the rather slower-paced development of the relationship between the main characters is also nicely done, there's no unnecessary misunderstandings or drama thrown in to stretch out the unavoidable happy ending. And also that the mystery was solved satisfactorily, although of course there were some blips. Such as that it felt like the dragon was left forgotten someplace as if he'd not existed for anything more than the one scene the plot needed, and it's not the only character that's dropped into the void; that the psychological consequences on the curse on the chief victim shouldn't have been hand-waved that quickly but shown because nobody goes through such an horrible curse without mental scars; and that the memory flashbacks ought to have been inserted more smoothly into the plot.

EDGEWOOD is an absolutely stunning book. The world-building is intricate but easy to follow, full of gorgeous details and small touches that will stick with me. Emeline is such an intriguing protagonist who I felt for, cried for, and cheered for. I can't wait for others to get their hands on this book so I can talk about it!

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books, Macmillan Audio, Macmillan Young Listeners, Kristen Ciccarelli, and Caitlin Kelly (audio narrator) for the opportunity to read and listen to Edgewood.
I was very excited about this book. Having met Kristen Ciccarelli and having read her three Iskari books from her debut novel tour, I was excited to see something new from her. I wasn't too fond of the idea of yet another fae book, but I figured Ciccarelli would pull it off with beutiful prose and eloquent storytelling, and this book certainly falls under that status.
Emeline has grown up next to the mysterious Edgewood forest her whole life, though the forest is not only mysterious, but likely dangerous as well. She has always wanted to be a singer and songwriter. Her songs have power. She is about to make her dream come true and go on tour when her grandfather goes missing. She returns to her hometown to search for him, finding that the only place he may very well have disappeared to is the woods.
The fables of her hometown have always felt to be just that: stories. But when Emeline learned the Wood King is responsible for taking her grandfather, she knows what she must do. She turns away from her singer/songwriter dream to save her gradfather from the forest.

When Emeline meets Hawthorne, she is struck by him. While he seems a bit sketchy at first, she can't halp falling for him. Being under the jurisdiction of the Wood King certainly causes some problems, not to mention Emeline seeks resolution to a curse placed upon her that makes this relationship a little spotty.

Family, love, and betrayal play a major part in Emeline's tale as she not only tries to save her grandfather, but her career in music as well.

I enjoyed the audiobook for this, though I feel like reading the book would be more enjoyable when it comes to Ciccarelli's craft. The narrator for the audio was good, though this book was a lot longer than I expected. I enjoyed the ending and found the overall message to be quite attainable to a young audience. Not quite the same as her Iskari series, but definitely a well-written novel and I can't wait to see what Ciccarelli does next!

Memory and secrets are at the heart of this magical adventure that could have taken place in your backyard.

No matter how far she runs, the forest of Edgewood always comes for Emeline Lark has escaped Edgewood to Montreal--or so she thought. When she performs. the scent of damp earth curls into her nose and greenery creeps across the stage. She doesn't believe the fairy tales about the forest by her home, but it seems something weird is happening. This idea is cemented when her grandfather disappears and leaves behind a stone signaling a tithe has been exchanged for the Wood King. Emeline heads home poo-pooing the idea of magic and heads into the forest to find. Only she finds out she was wrong, and it could be deadly.

I really enjoyed this fantasy story. It's different than many I have read as the realm is within the mortal plane. With a wisp of urban fantasy, Kristen Ciccarelli blends reality and fairy tale together without putting them at odds. She has created a world where magic can be in our own backyard.

The book is well written, and the pacing is perfect. There are no long stretches of boring descriptions and cliche are turned on their head. She wasn't some fairy princess; Emeline is pure human with a respectful love of this magical world. I also loved that there was no love triangle. That plot point has gotten tired and stale. Edgewood is fresh YA fiction.

Edgewood is well written and so very magical. I loved the heroine and enjoyed seeing a fantasy world in the “real world.”

Publication Date: March 1

I received an ARC from the publisher; all opinions are my own.

In Edgewood you will follow singer, Emiline Lark, as she rushes home to help find her grandfather after his mysterious disappearance. Edgewood is a community steeped in stories, stories that Emeline Lark has brushed off her entire life, but accepting those stories as truths might be the only way to find her beloved Pa.

This world was an absolute pleasure to be immersed in. I found the story to be simple but impactful, full of whimsical touches grounded in deep and thoughtful human moments.You'll find enough wild magic in these pages to keep fantasy readers happy and yet I feel the author really shines in creating magic out of mundane. She writes everyday moments, ones you have likely experiences, in a way that feels both familiar and enchanting.

In my opinion Edgewood is YA at it's best! Ciccarelli has created an easy and bingeable story without sacrificing plot,world building, or atmosphere.

In a world where magic is possible, Emeline doesn’t want to believe it exists. But when her grandfather goes missing, she gets drawn into the world she’s denied for so long. I hadn’t read Ciccarelli before, but I saw this book was available to request, and the cover and blurb had me hooked. Ciccarelli writes a wholesome feeling story with a character that sees the best in people.

The curse on the land is creative and fun, and while it’s easy for the reader to see what is happening before the reveal, it doesn’t hamper the enjoyment factor at all. The thread of romance in this didn’t go the way I wanted it to because I wasn’t Hawthorn’s biggest cheerleader, but I think it went the way it needed to. Other reviews have labeled this a standalone, but there is so much more that can be done, with some plot points that feel unfinished. Overall, this is a fun read that will appeal to many readers with the varying tropes and genre mashups. Thank you, St. Martin’s/Wednesday Books, for sending this along.

Edgewood is a beautiful fairy tale about a young musician, Emeline Lark, who is about to head out on tour and land a record deal when her beloved grandfather disappears.

The people who live in Edgewood, her hometown, say he’s been tithed to the Wood King, a creature who runs a fabled court in the forest beyond Edgewood. Emeline doesn’t believe in superstition but enters the forest to look for him, and discovers a whole world of mysteries (and romance).

At first, this book hit a lot of familiar notes and the story seemed like a typical “can the human girl outsmart the fairie king, and will she fall in love” plot so often seen in YA fantasy. But where this story works for me is in its specificity. Emmeline’s relationship with her grandpa feels real. The creatures are wonderful and terrifying (I want an ember horse so much). The imagery of the forest king with his clothing made from water is gorgeous.

Thematically, Edgewood operates in many layers: I love the portrayal of family, how Emeline cares for her grandfather, her regrets and nostalgia at visiting home. It reminded me so much of my own grandparents. Emeline sacrifices herself and her career for a grandfather who doesn’t even remember her because of his dementia. I like that Emeline doesn’t hesitate. In a world where we sometimes treat the elderly as less valuable, disposable, no longer people, Edgewood affirms that Emeline is right to see her grandfather as important and worthy. Another major theme is Emeline’s music career and her choice to fit herself into what the industry wants, or embrace her own songwriting. Emeline’s struggles to find her own identity are relatable and interesting.

There was a plot point that I didn’t see coming, involving Emeline’s relationship with Hawthorne, the boy she meets in the forest. I’m very curious to see how readers will respond to a betrayal and forgiveness…I’m still undecided how I feel about the ending.

Edgewood is a great pick for readers looking for a riff on the “kidnapped by the fae king” trope that doesn’t feel cliche or boring, and who are looking for a young adult read with strong themes around family and self-identity.

I also loved the Canadian representation in this, it's not often I see YA fantasy stories set (partially) in Montreal!

19 year-old Emeline Lark wants nothing more than to be a singer. On the verge of making it big, Emeline begins to fully focus on her career, leaving Edgewood and moving to Montreal. She receives a phone call, informing her that her grandfather, who has Alzheimer's has gone missing from his assisted living home. All that was left behind was a strange orb, meaning he was tithed to the Wood King. Emeline immediately puts everything on hold to return to Edgewood, and rescue her family. While in the Woods, Emeline learns of the curse that plagues the forest and the people within.

I was initially drawn to this book because of the author, as well as this gorgeous cover and ended up thoroughly enjoying the story! I loved how music and memory were interwoven together in such a unique way in this. The writing is beautiful and atmospheric, I loved the forest setting so much. I thought it was a nice touch to have bits of the book set in Montreal as well. There were some parts that were predictable, but many twists that I also didn't see coming, so it was a nice balance of the two. I'm also always a fan of dragons, so I was pleasantly surprised when one was featured in this! I liked Emeline as a main character for the most part, but at times she was frustrating with the way she behaves. I really loved her relationship with her grandfather, and can definitely relate to some of her feelings. My Grandma also has Alzheimer's and its definitely hard to have her not remember me anymore, so I can relate to her grief. I really loved her character development, and how her outlook on life changed as the story progressed. I liked the enemies to lover romance in this, and I liked their relationship for the most part. There were some questionable things the love interest did... but I still enjoyed his character. I thought the backstory behind the romance in this to be intriguing, but again... kind of a dick move my dude... I also loved that the romance wasn't the main focus of the book! I also liked the side characters of Rook, Sable and Grace, I found them to be a great addition to the story overall. I listened to this on audio, and thought the narrator did an incredible job with the story and these characters!

Overall, I highly recommend this, especially because it is a standalone!

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.

I would have loved this book more if:
A) we had Hawthorne's POV as well, instead of just Emeline's
B) the author deleted half of the times she mentioned Emeline wearing Blundstone boots (because it takes away from the magic and it felt like the author had an endorsement so she needed to mention it as much as possible).
C) the author stuck to one villain instead of switching back and forth between almost every character. Honestly, I have no idea who the villain is and it felt like the author felt she needs to have bad people but couldn't choose so everyone got a turn.
For my full review (including spoilers) you can read it on my blog here https://bookgirlreviewsbooks.blogspot.com/2022/01/edgewood-by-kristen-ciccarelli.html

3.5 stars

I really enjoyed this book. The pacing was spot on, and I loved the character's depths and how they interacted with everyone. It was such a fast, fun read, and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to get lost in a great story for a while!

Edgewood is a fantastic YA fantasy about a woman who has grown up with folklore and mystery surrounding the woods behind her house. It is said that the Wood King makes deals with people and leaves orbs when the deal is done. One day she finds one after her grandfather disappears and is forced to go into the woods. She meets some great allies and ends up finding a part of herself that she had lost. It is really a great story with fabulous characters and a cool world in the Woods. I loved the ending.

3.5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. This was shaping up to be a five star read for me but I really disliked the last 30% or so. It’s a shame, because most of the story was really beautiful.

I was a little hesitant reading this book at first since it has, what I consider, a pretty slow start. It wasn't until Emeline had entered the forest that I felt the story start to pick up. Once we started to see the development within the forest and Emeline start her journey in rescuing her grandfather that's when I got hooked. I loved meeting all of the characters within the forest - Hawthorne, Sable, Rooke, Grace and more. I felt each character was so unique and felt so real while I was reading.

I'm a huge fan of cheesy happily ever after's where everything is tied nicely in a bow. I felt like this story didn't have a "clean" HEA but I think for the story it made sense. The tithing reminds me of Once Upon a Time and Rumpelstiltskin "All magic comes with a cost" definitely rings true in this story.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a whimsical fantasy story, with character growth, love and music. While there was romance in this book, I don't think it was overly romantic for anyone who's not interested in reading just about love.

Thank you Netgalley and Wednesday Books for allowing me an advanced copy to read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I am obsessed with Edgewood. This book immediately hooks readers with beautiful writing and gorgeous descriptions of this magical wood and then brings the heat with a NA romance, senile King, and a curse that is destroying the wood kingdom. Emmeline Clark is called to the woods whenever she sings, which is a problem as she is working towards a record deal for her folk style music. She left Edgewood after her grandfather needed to be put in long term care for dementia, and left behind the rumors of the Wood King and magical beings in the woods. But when her grandfather goes missing, Emmeline must go back and find him. But what she finds instead is a world she never believe in, and a man who seems familiar...

I can't say enough how much I loved this book. I do question whether it necessarily fits into the YA genre because there is a slightly more explicit scene than you normally see in YA - but the characters are 18+. The story line keeps you guessing throughout the book and there is plenty of action and adventure that keeps your attention. The ending is beautiful and sad and is pretty wrapped up. But there is a sad point in this book that will tug at the heartstrings and question everything.

Please read this book. It's just as gorgeous as it's cover.

**Thank you to Wednesday Books and Netgalley for an early copy in exchange for an honest review**

Loved this one! It was exactly what I wanted in a story about the fae...it felt whimsical and adventurous and I loved the characters and the setting. I do wish we got a bit more magic with the music but that may come in later books. Overall, I definitely recommend this one and will keep reading from this author!

Overall this was a fascinating premise with strong writing, and I think fans of the Hazel Wood would enjoy this. However, it did not particularly stand out to me in a relatively crowded market.

"The woods came gently. Respectfully. Like an old friend showing its admiration and support."

Holy shit this was beautiful. Can someone tell my eyes to stop leaking? I absolutely adored this book from start to finish and it was one of those stories that had you caught between racing through to the end, and slowing wayyyyyy down so it lasted forever.

I honestly think I could have read 100 more pages of Emeline's story and I would have been more than happy.

Edgewood was lyrical and engrossing and just absolute magic. Everything brought into the story had a purpose, and every moment you got with Emeline, as she pieces together this massive puzzle that was her life, was important. And I adored it. I think I highlighted over half the story so I could revisit my favorite little bits, and the sweet and tender romance that underlies the entire story literally had me in tears by the end.

I don't think I'll be able to get this story out of my head for a while. And I'm okay with that.


[Many thanks to Wednesday Books and Netgalley for my review copy]

Lovely book, I enjoyed it very much. I really appreciate being approved, I hope to be able to buy it soon.

I am a HUGE fan of Kristen Ciccarelli's Iskari trilogy, so I had HIGH hopes for this book. I love forests, and that also attracted me. Unfortunately I had a really hard time getting into this one. I kept stopping and then coming back to it and then stopping again. Unlike all of KC's characters in her prior work, whom I felt intrigued by almost immediately, I just didn't get as attached to Emmeline as I wanted to. I think I struggled a bit with the either/or dilemma she had in the beginning. I feel like she could have felt ok with pursuing her dream while still visiting her grandfather from time to time. The fact that she either had to be true to her grandfather or her dreams just felt like a false dichotomy for me in the beginning and I had a hard time buying into it. In theory I think there is a lot of potential with the fantasy world creeping into the real world but in the reading of it, I didn't quite find myself immersed the way I wanted to be. I think maybe part of the issue was Emmeline's complete aversion to the forest world that was following her. Perhaps if she had been partially enchanted or seduced by it, I could also have found myself drawn to the journey she was headed into. Instead it left me feeling like I didn't quite want to follow where the story was leading. As far as the concept of the tithe, I think I wanted to understand how that worked a bit faster in order to stay invested. I was sorry not to love this book--I really wanted to!

**3.5 STARS**

Content Warning: Dementia, Alzheimer’s

This was an interesting story and at first I wasn’t sure it was working for me. It’s about a girl who’s a musician but she comes from a place called Edgewood where everyone knows the woods are enchanted – she grew up with stories about the forest, even neighbors had visited the court of the Wood King so this is very much contemporary fantasy.

As a character, Emeline is a musician and independent. She is on her own trying to make a big splash in the music world. She seems to have issues with guys, always having a new boyfriend to push away whatever memories or feelings she feels like she is running from. Her grandfather is her only living family and he has Alzheimer’s. When he is tithed to the Wood King, Emeline goes to rescue him but bargains with the Wood King herself.

My favorite part of this story though was how it unraveled and the romance between her and Hawthorne Fell. It at first starts off as an enemies to lovers romance but then we dig deeper and find out the truth of what happened and it comes full circle. The reveal at the end was magical and unexpected.

World-building wise I thought it was pretty good but lacking on details of the faerie court, which I generally look forward to because I love the Fae. But it’s a standalone book so I can understand why it wasn’t so detailed.

The beginning was slow as we get to know Emeline and her musical ambitions but it definitely picks up when she returns to Edgewood to rescue her grandfather.

FINAL THOUGHTS::
Why you should read it:
*contemporary fantasy with a forest that takes you into the world of the Wood King
*Emeline and Hawthorne’s love story
*love how music and memory was entwined with the story

Why you might not want to read it:
*slow beginning

My Thoughts:

This story grew on me and I couldn’t put it down even though I was doubting how I felt about it at the start of the book. But by the end I was captured by the romance story of Emeline and Hawthorne and how it was revealed.