A gothic horror retelling of the Juniper Tree where a young witch must discover who she truly is and escape her abusive wizard father while falling for a ballet dancer with his own demons. Marlinchen and her two sisters live with their wizard father, a father who is cursed to never be satisfied and who is extremely overprotective of them... Marlinchen has been submissive her entire life, silent, obedient, and the daughter who does the most for her father. Marlinchin has the ability to see into people’s minds, read their secrets and memories just by touching them. Her father has kept his daughters separated from society, only letting them tend to clients with their gifts, but after a secret outing Marlinchin meets Sevas, the primary ballerino, playing Ivan. It is an instant want, an instant desire, she wants him like she’s never wanted anything else. But when Sevas turns up at her door as a client her father catches onto her desire and casts a new spell that locks Marlinchen and her sisters in and makes it impossible for them to even go out. Yet mysteriously Marlinchen soon discovers a way out... and a way to Sevas. Sevas has his own demons, tired of playing one role his entire life, of being the hero, and being forced to be beholden to the abuses from his uncle. Soon bodies start dropping and Marlinchen’s father becomes greedier for control of his daughters and soon things well get out of hand. This was such a unqiue gothic horror retelling of the original story and I actually loved the ending of the book so much. This is a story about reclaiming your body, about finding the strength in yourself to get what you want and to fight back against the abuses. The romance was quick but it truly works well in the end, seriously that ending was just magnificent.

*Thanks Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager, Harper Voyager for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

JUNIPER & THORN is everything you want in a dark fairytale retelling. The story twists and turns, deeper and darker with every page finished. An excellent pick for fans of the genre.

CW:
Gore and body horror
Child sexual abuse; incest
Cannibalism
Antisemitism, xenophobia, and scientific racism
Physical and psychological abuse from family members; gaslighting
Self-harm and suicidal ideation
Bulimia; graphic descriptions of vomiting
Animal death
Sexual content

Thank you, Ava Reid, Harper Voyager, and NetGalley for this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

If you like dark horror stories with monsters this is for you. It is a retelling of Juniper Tree, set in the same world as The Wolf and the Woodsman but in a different time and place. It is an adult stand-alone novel that is dark, gory, and full of monsters of all kinds. It centers around Marlinchen the youngest of Wizard Zmiy Vashchebko’s three witch daughters. They live in Oblya in a decaying manor with a garden, both containing monsters. The details and story had its claws in me and didn’t want to let go. I loved it. I will reread it and recommend it. I love the way Ava writes, the way the characters are introduced, the world builds around you, and swallows you whole. I am a fan of the way Ava writes, if Ava writes it, I want to read it.

This book gripped me in a way I wasn't expecting. I was hooked from chapter one and didn't want to put it down. It was hard to read at some points given the nature of the content and themes of the book, and it certainly won't be for everyone.
Ava Reid does a great job of frankly depicting the horrors (mainly psychological, but in the book also physically manifested by way of the fantasy elements) of being trapped in an abusive relationship and the struggles people face when trying to escape such relationships. She does not shy away from the ugly feelings and dirty truths (because getting out of abusive relationships is definitely not a clean and easy process), and that's what makes Juniper & Thorn such a powerful narrative.

As you can tell by my star rating, I was not a fan. I believe there is a big market for dark fairytales, but I quickly discovered I am not a part of that. This book was gruesome and twisted. I did not care for any of the characters to the point where I hated the main character Marlinchen. Even though there was clear character development, she was so subjected to her abuser that I struggled. The romance in this book was also not for me. It felt too instalove which is a trope I don’t like. I couldn’t understand the depth of their affections for each other after a few brief meetings. Marlinchen and her sisters had a horrible relationship that only got worse as the story progressed. Basically, only pick this book up if you want a truly dark fairytale that will evoke darker emotions in you. It is not an enjoyable read. Also, please be aware of all the content/trigger warnings, as there are many.

4.25⭐️
Before I even start off with a review, I need to stress that this book is very dark and contains many content warnings. I will add warnings directly from the author to the end of this review, as well as an added one of my own*.

Juniper & Thorn is a horror/gothic fairytale re-telling, that only gets darker as the book progresses. The story follows witches Marlinchen and her two sisters as they survive under their father’s heavy hand. He is the last warlock in Oblya, and is resistant to the change and progression that the seeming industrial revolution is bringing upon the city (read: xenophobic). He is also insistent on protecting them and controlling them, and uses magic to keep them home, keep visitors out, and keep them “pure.” The spell that was cast on him never lets him feel satisfied, and his daughters bear the burden of his insatiable need for food, money, and notoriety.

Being Ava Reid’s follow-up to The Wolf and the
Woodsman, I need to start off with some comparisons. First I will say that I preferred TWATW over Juniper & Thorn, although that does not mean I don’t think this story was more well-crafted. Evike’s story was a tad lighter, very much an adventure fantasy, and the romance was a slower, enemies-to-lovers situation. J&T on the other hand largely takes place within Marlinchen’s house, is much more of a dark tale, and the romance with Sevas was a very intense love at first sight trauma bond.

This is very much a story about living and dealing (or not dealing) with trauma, and how it
manifests both consciously and unconsciously. The writing is absolutely gorgeous, and I love the mythology surrounding it. The author seems to use Eastern European inspired folklore. There are many layers to unpack here, and in some ways I think the depth and the prose make this sophomore novel even more well-written than TWATW. It was hard to digest at times, and unbelievably uncomfortable, but I believe that to be the author’s intention.

I don’t want to go into detail and spoil anything, but I will say the twist towards the end came as a huge surprise to me, and I loved how the pieces all came together and certain earlier parts to the story made sense. Overall I would recommend Juniper & Thorn, however definitely be in the right headspace to read this one.

Content warnings:

Gore and body horror
Child sexual abuse; incest
Cannibalism
Antisemitism, xenophobia, and scientific racism
Physical and psychological abuse by family members; gaslighting
Self-harm and suicidal ideation
Bulimia; graphic descriptions of vomiting
Animal death
Alcoholism*

Thank you to Avon Books and Harper Voyager for the ARC!

This book was absolutely fantastic. I've already added it to our list for order this year and will recommend it to students.

Juniper and Thorn by Ava Reid is an incredibly dark retelling of an already grim fairytale, The Juniper Tree. Marlinchen is the youngest of three daughters. Unlike the eldest, Undine, she’s plain and she’s not clever like her middle sister, Rose. They live with their father, the last wizard, in a crumbling heap of a mansion with eyeless ravens and other monsters in the garden. Their father forces his witch daughters to see clients - scrying, crafting potions, or giving flesh readings to bring in money. He’s tyrannical and abusive, having turned their mother into a bird years before. The sisters plot an evening out to see the ballet, something their father would never allow.

The world building is gorgeous and complex - the sisters living in a Russian feeling city that once thrived on magic but is slowly being industrialized. Instead of chieftains on the steppes, it’s run by a bureaucracy with influxes of immigrants.

Gothic monstrosity of a house falling further and further into disrepair. Even has a monster under the bed.

The pacing is one of ever increasing tension. The father’s abuse gets worse. His xenophobia and misogyny ever increasing. His hunger, gotten from a witch’s curse, is never sated and he commands youngest daughter, Marlinchen, to cook for him even as her hunger goes unappeased. More and deeper secrets are revealed - some remembered and some newly discovered but all horrific and dark.

The writing is so lovely contrasted with the grotesqueries being written about and it creates a perfectly balanced tension.

You get:
Curses
Magical creatures
Wizards and witches
Beautiful ballet dancer
Dark family secrets
Three daughters
Contest to win their hands
Mirror that only tells the truth
Hints of Cinderella
Transformation spells
Mysterious murders

CW: Abuse, self-harm, cannibalism, murder, rape

Wow this book took me by surprise. I really enjoyed Ava Reids other book The Wolf and the Woodsman so I thought I would like this one as well... and boy did I! This reads like the original fairy tales from the Brothers Grimm.. Not every story will have a happy ending, or if it does end happily the road to get there is not an easy one, filled with horrors and heartache, murder and mayhem..

This is definitely a darker twistier story.. A horror story with a happy ending.. Filled with light and dark, hope and fear, murder and monsters.. Really everything that a story could possibly have to suck you in and not let you go until the very end. . A retelling of The Juniper Tree, which I haven't read before, but will be checking out..

Our main character Marlinchen is the youngest of three, but she is the one that takes the brunt of their fathers anger and unhappiness. Its her duty to make sure hes fed and kept as happy as possible. Which isn't easy.. When all three girls sneek off to the ballet, doing the unspeakable and defying thier father, Marlinchen has no idea how her life is about to change... For better and worse. Oh how things got worse..

Every step that Marlinchen takes her closer to a truth that her father and sisters have tried to keep from her, and when its revealed its the dawning of a new era.. A new Marlinchen that even though she still has fear wont be cowed by her family especially her father, any longer.

Marlinchen in an amazingly complex character..both innocent and down right disturbing at times, and I love how she holds on to who she is even after all of the horror she has indured.. I can't wait to see what kind of story Ava Reid will come out with next!!

This book does have some trigger/content warnings. if you want to see them all check out the goodreads listing for this book. Ava Reid has them all listed.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

Juniper & Thorn is a whirling tale that grabs you by the throat and just won't let go! The story focuses on Marlinchen, the third witch daughter, and is one of the daughters of the last wizard in the country. It opens on the night Marlinchen follows her sisters out into the city for the very first time, and where she meets a ballet dancer named Sevaskty. I don't want to delve more than that into the plot for fear of spoiling it! I would like to note that I had no idea this is a retelling of a fairy tale story, mostly because I have never heard of the fairytale "The Juniper Tree". This makes sense because after researching, I see it was published in "The Brother's Grimm", something I was never allowed to read as a child. I've also never read the first book set in this world, "The Wolf and the Woodsman", though after reading this book I certainly will be seeking it out! I don't think either of these is needed to read this novel, however. It worked beautifully as a stand-alone novel! The way the prose is written in this novel is poetic yet straightforward. The way certain things are described, even though blatantly gruesome, almost distracts you with how poetic it is written. Speaking of, the story has some VERY gruesome scenes. It is at its heart, gothic horror and it doesn't let you forget that. I would heed those who decide to read this book to look closely at the trigger warnings because it does not shy away. It is blunt and looks head-on at some of the horrific events that happen. There is no sidestepping or beating around the bush with this one. The entire time I read this novel, I was rooting for Marlinchen. I was also rooting for Sevas too after getting to know him. Thankfully, this book does fall under the "Good for Her/Good for Them" category. Also, with her Marlichen's inner dialogue is written, that when I first started reading the book, I thought she was a teenager. So a certain scene after the ballet theater gave me (an uncomfortable) pause, but no, Marlinchen is twenty-three. Whew. There are multiple sex scenes in this book, but they are all handled tastefully. It doesn't shy away from the fact that is it a sex scene, but it's written in the same poetic yet straightforward way the other scenes are. Also, a minor note is that the cover of this book is to die for! I'm obsessed with how it blends old fairy tale art with an Alphonse Mucha art nouveau style! The cover is what drew me in and made me curious about what a book with such a gorgeous cover could be about. This book is one of my few five out of five-star books, and I will defiantly be seeking out a copy to buy for my bookshelf!

Contains vivid description of traumatic themes. Please thoughtfully heed content warnings and take care of yourself if you choose to read.

A dark gothic horror retelling of a Brothers Grimm fairytale, and while it’s technically fantasy, these characters and the issues they face are very real and deeply human. Reid builds a world with rich detail and hauntingly beautiful descriptions, setting the eerie tone for the novel. From the POV of Marlinchen, who is a seemingly naive, sweet, imperfect, insecure witch trapped taking care of her abusive wizard father. On a secret night out with her sisters, she gets a taste of the world through the ballet (and its captivating leading man), and starts to yearn for freedom. Full of many dark themes, includes vivid portrayal of trauma, but also realistically portrays survival, and ultimately working towards healing.

CW: eating disorder (bulimia), physical/emotional/sexual abuse (including that of a minor), on page sexual assault, pedophila, body horror/gore, violence, cannibalism, alcoholism, misogyny, antisemitism, drug use

Thank you to Avon, HarperVoyager, and NetGalley, for the chance to read and review this eARC!

This book was so good and also monstrous. So pretty dark but hopeful too. I loved the claustrophobic atmosphere of it and the romance and Marlinchen. I can't wait to read whatever Ava Reid wants to write in the future after loving this and THE WOLF AND THE WOODSMAN.

Juniper & Thorn is a retelling of The Juniper Tree, and boy does it hit the mark. Just as macabre and horrifying as the original, with enough tweaks to the tale to keep it fresh and interesting. Reid is a masterful writer and had me going until the very end (the end was the most satisfying part, in my opinion!)

This book has all the great hallmarks of a good horror, which I truly was not expecting in a fairytale retelling, but boy did it ever deliver. I loved it!

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Voyager for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!!

I came across Juniper & Thorn when Reid posted the cover reveal on Twitter, and then I proceeded to read their debut, The Wolf and the Woodsman, which I devoured. I loved Reid's second novel just as much.

I genuinely admire the way Reid approached not only such a dark fairy tale to retell, but the deft hand in exploring the abuse has Marlinchen suffered over the years. I found Marlinchen's life to be portrayed vividly and unflinchingly, and she and her reactions to events felt so real and visceral to me. This novel is a marvel, and Marlinchen's emotional arc and character development felt like a hard won victory, and by the time I finished I found I needed to lay down (in a good way). My only note is that on some level, I wish that magic had been explained a little more, but I also think that the way it was portrayed made sense and worked for the story being told.

This is a dark and gruesome story, and is one I would absolutely suggest looking at the trigger warnings before picking up. Still, it's quite hopeful by the end and I absolutely love Marlinchen and Sevas.

I'm certain that as time passes and I chew on this story more, I will have more thoughts, but man, this was just so good.

Born the third witch daughter of the last great wizard, Marlinchen lives her life attempting to impossibly sate her father, who is cursed to eternal dissatisfaction. Day after day, she and her sisters are forced to use their magic like menial performers to earn a handful of coins. When Marlinchen and her sisters sneak out to see the expressly forbidden ballet, she finds herself entranced with a dancer and unable to return to life as it was. But breaking free from a lifetime of chains and a monster with a trail of gruesome murders may not be possible.

Reid (she/they) warned that this sophomore novel would be darker and more gruesome than The Wolf and the Woodsman, and was right to do so. This book revels in horror and even the narration feels gritty. I’m often one to shy away from books that are quite this dark, but Reid really pulled me in and kept me with the creeping, twisting story. Page by page, readers are given new pieces to puzzle together and you’re left wondering (worrying!) that Marlinchen won’t be able to solve it in time to save herself. Readers should be well aware of the content warnings before diving in, because Marlinchen and Sevas are both deeply hurt physically and psychologically with explicit on-page detail.

Content Warnings: explicit sexual content, violence, domestic abuse, emotional abuse, explicit sexual violence, gore, self harm, pedophilia, misogyny, xenophobia

As a fan of "The Wolf and the Woodsman", I was excited to read more form Ava Reid.

Of course, Reid delivers. The gothic fantasy, and character growth throughout the novel is extremely compelling.

This retelling of The Juniper Tree is definitely something to pick up for those who like dark fantasy!!

Watching Reid's struggle to write this book made my appreciation of them and this book grow infinitely. I hope that everyone who reads this can appreciate their work and struggle for this novel!

Juniper & Thorn by Ava Reid follows Marlinchen. Her and her sisters are the last true witches, so they spend their days treating clients. Marlinchen specializes in divination. The sisters are forced to stay in their home by their controlling wizard father. Despite this, the girls sneak out at night to enjoy the thrills of the outside world, especially the ballet theatre. There, Marlinchen meets a dancer who she falls in love with. Marlinchen sneaks out more often to see him. But all is not well because a monster lurks that Marlinchen must rise above.

Ava Reid is a great writer. I was able to see and feel everything so vividly as I read. I enjoyed the dark, gothic feel of the story.

I don’t even know how to find words that feel like enough to express how absolutely, deeply this story has my heart. It was far and away, without question my favorite read in YEARS.

Swept away into what feels like a dark, mysterious fairytale full of poetic melancholy, I didn’t want it to ever end and kept stalling reading the last 10% of the book because the thought of it being over was just unacceptable. It is both heartbreakingly sad yet also somehow feels impossibly like home. One of those stories that seems to be simultaneously seeping into and out of my heart, my bones, my soul…speaking to my inner despair, calling to all the dark shadowed parts of myself in a way that made me feel seen and less alone in the world.

I read and enjoy many different genres and types of stories but in the end what I want from a book is to feel *something*…and this story absolutely made me FEEL, all the way to the very core essence of my being. It’s a stunning work of art and an absolute must-read for anyone who likes dark, gothic horror, I cannot recommend it enough!

This was one of my most anticipated books of the year and it’s safe to say it didn’t disappoint at all. Everything about the world Ava Reid created was nothing short of exciting and whimsical. I loved the characters and adored the world that Ava Reid created. I was entertained the entire way through and it’s definitely something I would say would be recommended by me to everyone. 5/5 happy stars!

Delightfully gruesome gothic horror covering one of the most grim of Grimm Märchen.

The Juniper Tree is a troubling fairy tale to begin with, not only in terms of violence, but in the themes it covers. Not content to be a simple cautionary tale, Ava Reid takes the source material and molds it into the perfect gothic nightmare. Marlinchen is a fantastic mouthpiece for a world she does not, and possibly cannot understand. Lost in navigating the twisting halls of her family home and the levels of lies that make up her world. Reid's rich prose makes it easy to be swept away with the madness Marlinchen struggles to master, first as the walls of her world are torn down, and again as they rebuild, forming a maze of thorns with monsters at every turn.