READ THIS PEOPLE! READ IT. IT'S SO SO GOOD!

Honestly this is one of the books that I can easily see myself rereading for years to come. It reminded me of the old magic in the stories we all grew up reading. The ones that told us of a pulsing, tender love, stretched like cords between us, always tugging at our hearts, our essence, our souls to come back and find the kindred ones we long to rest beside.

It's not often that I put down a book and grieve it coming to an end. I found myself slowing down near its finish, dragging my fingers slowly across the page, savoring the sweetness of this warm lovely drink, longing for, yet fearing the arrival of the last of its drops. It takes a special kind of writer to instil this in readers and Kristin is indeed a special kind of writer.

What the story is about?
Emeline wants to sing and tour and chase after her dreams, but her grandfather, her only family, goes missing from the care home he was in. When she races back to Edgewood, their hometown,  to search for him, she finds something peculiar in his old room; on the pillow, in a pool of light, is a cold marble; one she has seen before when the neighbour's daughter went into the forest and never came back. It's a mark that the people of Edgewood know to be the Wood King's. The mark of a tithe; the mark that means Emeline's grandfather hadn't gone missing.
He was taken.

The journey to bring him back takes her to the cursed woods, and the court of the wood king beyond it.
A deal is struck for her grandfather's release but at a price that Emeline needs to sneak out of so she can return to her life.

What is great about this book?

What I liked most is how simple the writing is. Very straight to the point without the "beautification" and fancy ass narrations that dull stories and make them tiresome.

The adventure is fast paced and full of trials, monsters, court drama, cuniving villains and the giddy awkwardness of blooming love that will surely hook fans of fae and good old I-hate-you to will-you-just-kiss-me-already fans.



And the world building!!! Gosh, it's just *chefkiss*
I saw everything! every silver scale of the dragon, every droplet of water rushing down the wood King's cursed head, every stone bridge and every vine crawling up the white walls of red bricked houses.
The world digs its thick roots in your imagination, rises up from the earth with mighty branches that stretch to paint your mind with the colours of the Wood King's city and court.
But through all this, what shines most are the characters. I blush to think of their yearning, and long to feel a love as deep as theirs.

I envy how honourable Hawthorne is, how sweet and brave Grace is, how mighty yet delicate Sable is.

The characters will grab a hold of you and when it's time to say goodbye, you're not going to want to let them go.
But as the king said; moving on doesn't have to mean forgetting.

I certainly won't be forgetting.

When aspiring singer Emeline Lark's grandfather mysteriously disappears from his nursing home, she returns to her childhood home to find him. She's soon drawn into a folktale forest -- full of darkness and magic -- that once haunted her youth. When she finds herself in front of the fabled Wood King himself, she strikes a deal to save her grandfather and becomes part of a story much bigger than herself.

Kristen Ciccarelli created a beautiful world here, and like Emeline, the forest drew me in from the first page. I loved how she married the mundane and magical by creating a hidden universe in plain sight -- one that you simply walk into. My feelings about our heroine, Emeline, vacillated a bit. When the book opens, we learn that the forest is literally attracted to her voice and all sort of plants and creatures creep in when she takes the stage. Despite this, Emeline is insistent that none of the folktales she grew up with could be true. There was such a disconnect there that it made her character less believable and a little bit frustrating. At the same time, I think there's some really interesting underlying commentary here about what it's like to sit between two worlds or two identities. The plot was also a mixed bag. There were certainly some twists and turns that surprised me (always a good thing!), but there were other parts that were utterly predictable (e.g. the song mage).

Overall this was an enjoyable read and beautifully crafted world, but some aspects of character and plot development prevented it from being stellar.

I really loved Edgewood. In the beginning I didn’t think I would, but as the story progressed I was more and more interested. I loved the dynamic between Em and Hawthorne. Their chemistry was so alluring. I would definitely recommend this book. I would however like a book written about the origins of the forest. I think that would be interesting! I would like to know more about the king.

THIS BOOK?? IT WAS INSANE. I actually think it might be my favorite fantasy read of all time. The author really took everything I love and want in a fantasy novel, and served it in one book. Actually so angry this doesn't come out until next year, because I need it on my shelf right now. My life will be complete the day I can get my hands on the physical copy of this book.

First off, her writing is just beautiful. I hate when writing is too simple or too overwhelming, but Kristen Ciccarelli found the perfect balance here, and it really made the book so easy to read and enjoyable. I also loved that not one sentence in this book felt pointless or like a filler, even the briefest things mentioned all ended up having some greater meaning or importance to the plot and characters. The plot-twists were crazy too?? I never really find myself plotting and thinking in my head too much when I'm reading, but with this book it was the exact opposite. I was constantly pausing and thinking so deeply about what I was reading, trying to draw conclusions for what was happening in this book. Along with that, the pacing was just as well done. The chapters were a perfect length to keep me engaged, not too long but not too short. I was constantly just wanting to start the next chapter to find out what would happen.

The fantasy world is the book was what really made me love it so much. It was so interesting and intriguing, but not too confusing. I think I'm pretty good at following fantasy plots, but sometimes they just get too heavy and hard to understand. But this one managed to be complex, while also staying understandable completely throughout, which I don't see often. What really made this fantasy world so unique to me was the extremely well executed mix of the modern world with the magical land beyond the trees. I've really only read a few books where modern and magical worlds bordered one another, and none of them have even come close to this one. The settings inside the woods were also amazing. They were so well described and easy to make an image of in my head.

The main character Emeline Lark, was a perfect fantasy main character. She wasn't perfect by any means, and was in the real world trying to find her happiness through music. Her storyline throughout the book, of fighting between the pull of two worlds, and fighting to save the one person she loves was astounding to read. The issues with her Pa were heartbreaking to read, but I have so much respect for the author for incorporating these very real problems into the plot.

I LOVED THE SIDE CHARACTERS IN THIS BOOK. They were so important to the plot as well, which I loved. Getting to see Emeline bond with them, while also simultaneously learning that they may be more important to her than she previously realized, was so compelling.

The romance here??? I was already sold when I heard it was enemies to lovers, but I was actually shocked of how of it there was in this book. The chemistry between Hawthorne and Emeline was intense, and learning more about their relationship throughout the book left me so shocked. The flashbacks that were included...the author had no right to rip my heart out like that. Their ending?? Although I did truly love it, it was still heartbreaking, the openness but also certainty within it was so insane.

I DEFINITELY recommend checking this out when it releases on January 18th, 2022. I need everyone to read this so I have someone to scream about it to.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press (via NetGalley) for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review. It seems this publisher never disappoints!!

First of all, I'd like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the e-copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow, where to even start. Edgewood is about a girl, and a boy; a curse, and a gift; a city, and a forest; and above all, family. Kristen Ciccarelli weaves an amazing, beautiful, and at times, infuriating story that truly encompases what it means to be human, and to have dreams, and to make sacrifices for those we love, all while using the backdrop of a cursed forest and a Fae Court.

I will admit, at the beginning, I wasn't sure if I liked Emeline, our main character. It drove me crazy that she pushed things down and purposely put her head in the sand, to ignore the painful things, but as the story went on, and I learned more and more about her and her world, I have to admit - I probably would have done the exact same thing as Emeline, which is why it was so frustrating for me.

I connected to Emeline so deeply, and she was written so beautifully. She is a character who has some deep flaws, but also amazing strengths - I believe that she embodies what it is to be human.

I don't want to give anything away, but the ending is both amazing and heartbreaking, and so so perfect. It was the perfect ending for this book, but even as I say that, I desperately hope that there will be a sequel, because I am not ready to let go of this world and these characters.

Frankly, this book was amazing, and I'll be thinking about it for a while - I'm excited to buy a physical copy when it comes out.

Beautiful, evocative, lush. This was my first Ciccarelli book and I loved it so much. Music and creepy, woodsy/fae vibes are favorites of mine and this story did not did not disappoint as it mixed the two!

Kirsten Ciccarelli has crafted a beautifully dark world within Edgewood. This story clearly pulls from the common folklore of fae but has its own twists and lore within it. I can greatly appreciate the skill it takes to do this. Emeline is driven by her own desires, but also the need to understand herself. This inherent conflict created a plot that drove the action in the story in a way I did not expect.
Despite my qualms with the disconnect of the romance and the age of the characters, this book was incredibly enjoyable. The pacing was well done, and the world-building was amazing. You could sense the danger everyone was in as the story progressed. This is my first book from Ciccarelli, and I am looking forward to reading more from her.
Full review will be posted on my blog on November 19th, 2021.

Edgewood is a riveting novel about a young woman, Emeline, who, in searching for her grandfather who she suspects got lost in the Woods, ends up discovering who she is. The book is full of interesting twists and turns that keep readers on the edge of their seats.

Ciccarelli builds an interesting world with interesting character and turns the traditional villain figure upside down. My only "critique" is that this book is probably more New Adult than Young Adult. While the romance wasn't at adult levels, it was a little more graphic than what I see in typical YA books.

Thanks Netgalley and the publishers for the free e-ARC.

This is a very unique book compared to all of the ones I would say are similar that I have read. It’s fun to see where an author’s imagination takes them when it comes to woods and those lurking in the shadows of it. Ciccarelli writes a beautifully enchanting but dark book about grief, loss, sacrifice, and learning about yourself in the process.

Emeline’s life revolves around music but when she sings the woods come for her. This was an intriguing concept and I loved how we are introduced to her and it. She uses music to remember certain memories but it also is so much more to her. She is nineteen years old and the only family she knows is her Pa (Grandpa). Emeline has a lot she struggles with but she does try to remain strong. Sometimes she can be reckless with her choices but isn’t that how we are? We make mistakes and don’t always think through our choices. This is one of the messages in the book that I loved.

When it came to her Pa, I could relate to her quite well. You can tell they have a great bond but because of his memory going bad it’s hard to see him forget things including who she is. Before my grandma passed I watched this happen to her. She couldn’t remember me or my family besides my dad every once and awhile. It was the hardest thing I have had to deal with. I think the book discussed this well and it did have me in tears a couple of times.

There is a bit of romance but it wasn’t a favorite for me. A lot of the relationship is done off pages or through past memories and so I never felt a whole lot when it came to it. I didn’t dislike it and I do think others will enjoy it more than me.

Within the plot there are a lot of good messages that can be found. Sacrifice is a big one and not just from one character but most of them have to choose eventually. Emeline also confronts who she is and what she wants out of her music career. She has to decide if staying true to herself outweighs the money and fame. There are a lot of tough choices to made but I liked seeing the outcome of them.

There are plot twists and a few surprised me quite a bit! Some clues are thrown out here and there for others and some I guessed before the reveal but I still liked them.

Spoiler Warning / Trigger Warning
There is a part that discusses being locked up and held against your will by someone. This can be traumatic for certain people as the relationship was a very toxic one and manipulation was used. Just a forewarning.

End of Spoiler/Trigger Warning
Overall, this was an enjoyable read. It was relatable in many ways and had a lot of good messages.

Edgewood by Kristen Ciccarelli

Full feature for this title will be posted at: @cattleboobooks on Instagram!

You guys have no idea how excited I was when I got this eARC by @kristenciccarelli from @netgalley the other day. Ever since the cover reveal I’ve been in love with it and let me tell you it did not disappoint.

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[“ 𝕋𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕥𝕚𝕞𝕖 𝕨𝕙𝕖𝕟 𝕙𝕖 𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕡𝕡𝕖𝕕 𝕥𝕠𝕨𝕒𝕣𝕕𝕤 𝕙𝕖𝕣, 𝕤𝕙𝕖 𝕕𝕚𝕕𝕟’𝕥 𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕡 𝕓𝕒𝕔𝕜. ℍ𝕖 𝕕𝕚𝕕𝕟’𝕥 𝕥𝕠𝕦𝕔𝕙 𝕙𝕖𝕣, 𝕓𝕦𝕥 𝕙𝕖 𝕤𝕥𝕠𝕠𝕕 𝕤𝕠 𝕔𝕝𝕠𝕤𝕖, 𝕙𝕖 𝕞𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥 𝕒𝕤 𝕨𝕖𝕝𝕝 𝕓𝕖 𝕥𝕠𝕦𝕔𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕙𝕖𝕣. 𝕊𝕙𝕖 𝕔𝕠𝕦𝕝𝕕 𝕤𝕞𝕖𝕝𝕝 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕨𝕠𝕠𝕕𝕤 𝕠𝕟 𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕤𝕜𝕚𝕟. ℂ𝕠𝕦𝕝𝕕 𝕗𝕖𝕖𝕝 𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕨𝕒𝕣𝕞𝕥𝕙 𝕤𝕖𝕖𝕡𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕚𝕟𝕥𝕠 𝕙𝕖𝕣.”]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

The world Kristen has built is beautiful and magnificent, I fell in love with the first sentence.

The way emeline grows into herself throughout the book blew me away. She just wants her dream come true but she also has to save the one person she loves more than anything her Pa, but in doing so everything turns upside down.

She learns secrets about herself and her family, she handles it so beautifully. Now enter Hawthorne the brooding henchmen to the fae king, and their uncontrollable feelings for one another .

These two of easily weaseled their way into my heart in to my top couples, they have pieces that remind me of Morpheus and Alyssa; you guys know how much that means to me.

The writing is just beautiful, the plot was fun and engaging. The side characters had me laughing and crying, please pick this book up when it comes out.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Edgewood by Kristen Ciccarelli is a dark contemporary YA fantasy with woodsy, fae-like themes. The protagonist is 19 year-old Emeline, an aspiring singer who hears the woods calling to her when she sings. The coolest part of this book was Emeline's power of singing, which functioned a bit like a darker The LIttle Mermaid. She's forced to confront her magical powers when her grandfather is spirited away one day. Local legends say that he has been "tithed" to the Wood King, and she heads into Edgewood to find him. Will she be able to rescue her grandfather from the Wood King, or will she be forced to serve in the Wood King's Court forever?

Here is an excerpt from Chapter 1 that introduces Emeline's magic to us:

"Emeline gritted her teeth, ignoring it. From her perch on the wooden stool beneath the white lights, she continued to croon into the mic, picking the strings of her ukulele, telling herself she didn’t care if the ale in the bar taps turned to mucky creek water tonight, or if the cash in the register transformed into crisp golden maple keys. She didn’t care if those spongy green clumps currently sprouting up between the floorboards were, in fact, forest moss.
She needed to stay focused.
She needed to not screw this up.
Emeline couldn’t give the representatives from Daybreak Records—sitting at the back of this crowded pub—any inkling that freaky things happened when she sang. Nope. Tonight, she was Emeline Lark, folk singer with a pop vibe. Rising star with foot-stomping melodies and a breathy, warbling voice.
Nothing freaky to see here at all."

Overall, Edgewood is an exquisite contemporary YA fantasy that combines magic, action, and romance. Emeline's quest was full of terror, and there were several surprising twists and turns near the end of the book that had me gasping. I really enjoyed reading this book, particularly at night-time, as the plot seemed particularly dream-like. This book would appeal to fans of woodsy, creepy books like House of Hollow and For the Wolf. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of YA fantasy books, you won't regret checking out this book when it comes out in January!

Emeline is an inspiring folk singer. I loved her goals and success. I loved the characters and descriptions. I liked that Emeline heard whisperings and strange things happened when she sang. Emelined grandfather is missing and it has to do with the wood king,a sinister creature. Emeline goes to save her grandfather and is rescued by a man. I loved the ember mares. I loved rooke. And his name. I loved sable and his name.

I'd never even heard of this author before I decided to give this book a try and I can honestly say that I was not disappointed! I really enjoyed sitting through this story- it's one of those cant-put-it-downers!

I was not sure about this book but I am so glad I decided to give it a try. I really enjoyed where the author took the story and the main characters were great! I will keep a lookout for this author again.

Emeline has grown knowing about the mysteries of the Woods (she grew up in Edgewood as a child), she doesn’t quite believe all the tall tales however. The Woods are said to hold secrets and magic. Her grandfather disappears and she knows in order to get him back she has to go looking in the Woods. She realizes then that maybe she was foolish to not believe and finds herself getting caught in the middle. She reconnects with a brooding but irresistible blacksmith from her past to help her on her journey.
Kristen Ciccarelli has an amazing way of captivating and sharing her world building. Theres such a beautiful magic to the Woods that you just want to escape and get lost there yourself. Its the all in one perfect compilation for me. You have your magic, fantasy and mystery, but you also have romance. You will not want to put this book down.