After the Forest
Kell Woods


Kell Woods debut, After the Forest, is brilliant, a dark and gripping mix of an adult Fairy Tale, hard fantasy and a bit of a love story that takes readers back to the Black Forest to reconnect with Hans and Greta long after their escape from the witch, the gingerbread house and rescue by the huntsman and follows them into their troubled adulthood.

With their mother long dead and their father dying soon after their safe return home Hans and Greta grow up relying only on each other and a few kindly neighbors. Nevertheless, Hans develops a gambling addiction and Greta keeps them out of the poorhouse with her enchanted gingerbread baked from the recipe in the witch’s cookbook that Greta took after the witch’s demise. But when bloody, butchered bodies are discovered in the forest and wolves and bears are seen roaming the woods the superstitious townspeople looking for a scapegoat only have to look as far as Greta and her gingerbread. But it’s not Greta the town has to worry about but the pure evil that shows up on their doorstep.

There is so much to love about this novel, the author’s superb and scary storytelling, the lyric-like narrative, a refreshing, engaging fairy tale retelling and a cast of fantastical characters giving readers a story that will live on in their minds long after The End. The star of the show is definitely Greta, she’s a real stand-out, strong, honorable, fallible and kind who is willing to sacrifice all to protect those she loves. Readers will encounter other stand-out characters too both good and evil both human and not. Fans of fairy tale retellings, hard fantasy and novels by Paula Brackston and Rachel Caine will have a hard time putting this down and will be anxiously wondering what this amazing debut author will offer up next.

What would Hansel and Greta's life be after surviving the witch in the woods? Well, they'd be recovering from trauma and trying to fit in a small medieval town that questions what really happened to the "old lady" living by herself in the woods. A dark fantasy tale that weaves in intergenerational trauma, magic baking, romance, and shape shifters.

This review was made possible via and ARC through NetGalley.

After the Forest is a retelling of several Germanic fairy tales, including Hansel and Gretel and Snow White and Rose Red. As someone who grew up with these fairy tales, I very much appreciated Kell Woods' spin on them and how they were combined.

The romance was cute. I liked Mathias and Greta's interactions and the use of the gingerbread was a nice touch (I'm a sucker for quality gingerbread, both cookie and bread). Lots of vivid imagery with the senses, particularly smell and taste which fits in with the fairy tale of Hansel and Gretel.

My one potential concern is the dwarf character as he is a villain and his character is quite unpleasant when we are now having conversations around the historical depiction of Little People as dwarves in fairy tales and on screen. Perhaps if there has been another dwarf character who was kind and present, it wouldn't have stuck out as much.

I would recommend this to fans of fairy tales looking for a bit of crossover and hint of horror.

Ginger. Honey. Cinnamon. Flour.

A different take on a Hansel (Hans) and Gretel (Greta) “retelling”. Not exactly a retelling though, it’s been years since Greta and Hans have escaped the witch and they’re adults now. It shows what their lives may have become after their experience. Hans has a gambling problem. Greta bakes gingerbread to keep the family afloat. But the gingerbread recipe? It comes from the witch’s grimoire that Greta stole.
I enjoyed Greta as a main character and thought the magic in this book was very fairytale-esque. I tend to prefer my stories a bit faster pace, but I think those who like historical fiction would like this story quite a bit.

This a story with magic, love, and history. There are darker themes and I would check TW.


Thank you to @netgalley and @torbooks for the arc.

3.75⭐️

Although I really wanted to, I didn’t quite fall in love with this book. It took too long to get going- I was halfway through the book before it finally pulled me in. It was also heavy on the love at first sight romance- just not my thing and completely implausible. But my love of fairy tales made me stick with it.

What I did like about this book is that it captures the dark and forbidding atmosphere of the original fairytales. It has a wonderful sinister feeling. This book is a horror fantasy hybrid and I really loved when it crossed the line into full on horror territory. I honestly wish it would have stayed there and lost the romance. Still, Woods is a good writer and I am intrigued enough to read whatever she writes next. Thank you to @netgalley and @torbooks books for this arc.

Love this unique and atmospheric retelling of Hansel and Gretel! It has the full vibes of the original, but the story has now become multi-layered and complex and quite compelling. It forces you to think and really care about the characters and what happens after "happily ever after" realizing that ever after may not always mean happy. Quite enjoyed this one!

A great addition to the growing fairytale retelling genre. I'm had mixed feelings about this subject getting a reboot as I generally love this genre but wasn't especially connected to this fairy tale in particular. Woods made this story interesting from the start with a protagonist you are excited to root for.

If you’re looking for an atmospheric and magical world that is perfect for Fall i would definitely recommend this book! I enjoyed certain parts of this book but overall it did fall a little flat for me. My biggest issues were the pacing. I found the beginning slow and full of information. The only reason why I kept going was the magic and world building were interesting to me. I did enjoy the last half of the book a lot more. The characters were ok but they weren’t the most interesting I’ve read. I think I would have enjoyed Greta’s character more if she was more of a badass than naive. Overall it was enjoyable but unfortunately not a new favorite.

I haven't stumbled upon many Hansel and Gretel retellings so I was very excited to read this one. The novel follows Gretel and Hansel, or Greta and Hans as they are know as in this retelling, 15 years after the original fairytale takes place. I wasn't a huge fan of the insta-love aspect but did really enjoy learning about the characters. Overall, I thought this was a very creative take on what happens next.

I will always choose to read a fairy tale retelling and this one is fantastic. I pre-ordered a hardcover immediately flipping the last page in my Netgalley download.

My co-hosts and I absolutely devoured this book! If you’ve ever wondered what happened after the tale of Hansel and Gretel, this magical tome is for you!

I really loved seeing Greta’s journey as she learns more about her powers and their potential consequences. The love story was done perfectly!

Here’s a link to our podcast episode featuring this novel:

https://spotify.link/bmND3gD3ZDb

If you've ever wondered what happened to Hansel and Gretel after their escape from the witch in the woods, "After the Forest" is the tale for you. Here there are no happily-ever-afters for Greta and Hans who 15 years later, are facing a grim reality. Their family is gone, Hans grapples with crippling gambling debt, and Greta is a social outcast with rumors of witchcraft swirling around her. Amidst a post-war backdrop, Greta's only hope lies in a stolen grimoire from the witch's lair, enabling her to create irresistibly delectable gingerbread, but it is not enough to keep the dark magic lurking at the edge of the forest away.

"After the Forest" by Kell Woods was so captivating. Fans of fairy tale reimaginings, Katherine Arden and Alice Hoffman, are sure to love this title. Despite its slower pacing, I found myself effortlessly hooked by the slowly unraveling mysteries and the author's beautifully crafted prose. The story exudes a distinct, magical quality with a rich, woodsy, and grim atmosphere that's both foreboding and intricately woven. Woods' picturesque writing style paints a vivid world that is a pleasure to explore. This is also the perfect late fall/early winter read so add it to your TBR quick if you want to soak in the vibes!

While After the Forest was fantastic, it does have its drawbacks. Some elements of the mystery were so glaringly obvious that it left me a bit frustrated. Additionally, I got a little bit of conversation fatigue since the majority of the story unfolds through dialogue. The creative retelling of the Hansel and Gretel tale, though unique and mysterious, occasionally got bogged down with unneeded details.

Nevertheless, these issues didn't diminish the overall appeal of the book, and I wholeheartedly recommend After the Forest to those seeking a beguiling and atmospheric fairy tale-inspired adventure. I am on the edge of my seat for what's next from Kell Woods.

Kell Woods' debut novel, "After the Forest," presents a captivating reimagining of the Hansel and Gretel story. Set twenty years after their escape from the gingerbread house, Greta and Hans grapple with a challenging life in a war-ravaged countryside. Woods' storytelling prowess shines through rich character development and immersive world-building, blending history and folklore seamlessly. The narrative balances darkness and whimsy, with Greta's journey of self-discovery resonating deeply. The book's elegant prose, well-crafted characters, and clever reinterpretation of fairy tales make it a standout addition to the genre, solidifying Kell Woods as a compelling new voice in speculative fiction.

✨ Review ✨ After the Forest by Kell Woods; Narrated by Esther Wane

In a great fantasy debut, Kell Woods provides a retelling of the story of Hansel & Gretel, 20 years after they stumbled upon the gingerbread house. Now Greta is frantically baking gingerbread for an upcoming festival to try to save their house after Hansel gambled away even more money he doesn't have. As Greta tries to keep their home safe, she stumbles upon a variety of magic forms (bears and wolves and witches) as she seeks to find her own place in this world.

I really loved the romance elements of this as well as the magic, and the creation a rich and lush woods / town environment was fantastic! The book is a slow burn, really building up to the action, but then when the action came, the book slowed for me. The final 2-3 hours felt almost like a different book, and while I was engaged, I wanted more of the feelings the majority of the book brought me.

I would have loved even more magic from the book I think - I loved Mira and Rob, the grimoire witch had me laughing out loud in places, and there was just such a richness to this book. I can't wait to read more of Woods writing!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (4.5)
Genre: fantasy, fairy tale retelling, some romance
Setting: the woods of Germany (before it was Germany)
Reminds me of: Hansel & Gretel, Snow White
Pub Date: 03 Oct 2023

Read this if you like:
⭕️ fairy tale retellings
⭕️ people in nature
⭕️ strong women & magic

Thanks to Tor, Macmillan Audio and #netgalley for advanced copies of this book!

This is kind of a re-telling of Hansel and Gretel but it's after they survived and returned home.
Hans is a lazy butt who gambles away every dime they get and Greta bakes some 'gingerbread' to pay the bills.

This book starts off slow and Greta kinda got on my nerves. She a bit drama.

After the book got going though I actually kind of liked it. You have lots going on but somehow it all worked.

Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review.

A great modern reimagining of what would possibly happen to Hansel and Gretal (Hans and Greta). If you love folklore and fairytale retellings that take the bare bones of a story and mold it into a completely new world, tis is the story for you.

What an amazing debut! When I saw the description for this book, I was intrigued and it didn’t take long for me to get hooked once I started reading. I feel like this is the Hansel and Gretel story that I didn’t know that I needed. I had never considered what might have happened to these two characters after escaping the witch’s gingerbread home. I was quickly invested in this story and couldn’t wait to see what the future might hold for Greta and her brother, Hans.

Greta was a wonderful character who I liked right away. She seemed to have a good heart and I felt bad that she was put in difficult situations by the actions of others. She does use a magical book that once belonged to the witch who wanted to eat her and her brother years before to make her gingerbread but is careful so that she will not be labeled a witch. The book took several turns that I didn’t expect and I love the magic of the story. I thought that the romance added a nice element to an already delightful story.

I listened to the audiobook and thought Esther Wane did a wonderful job of bringing the story to life. I thought that she added just the right amount of emotion to her reading which added some depth to her reading. I liked the voices that she used to help bring each of the characters to life. I will not hesitate to recommend this entertaining story to others. I cannot wait to see what Kell Woods comes up with next!

I received a review copy of this book from Macmillan Audio and Tor Books.

Not every fairy tale character gets a happy ending.

Take the strange case of Hansel and Gretel. Here were two frightened kiddos held captive by a forest-dwelling witch who planned to serve the fatted Hans as an entrée. They escaped only when brave Gretel pushed the old hag into her own fiery oven. Now it's years later, and the pair are not widely regarded. Judging by how much the townsfolk enjoy the recreational sport of burning witches, you'd think they'd be lauded as heroes, but Greta is eyed with suspicion for her red locks and strange ways . . . though the villagers do love her tasty gingerbread. Hans, on the other hand, has become a hard drinking gambler, who owes money to half the town.

Tough times indeed, and they're about to get a whole lot tougher.

This is an interesting retelling - more of a reimagining, actually, since the writer takes liberties with the original Grimm story. If you enjoy grownup fairy tales, fantasy, and witchy magic, this one should keep you enchanted.

Hansel and Gretel is one of those scarce few fairy tales I love seeing retellings, interpretations, and story continuations of. I am an unabashed lover of the movie “Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters”, simply because I think it’s kind of cool to see the two of them grow up to fight what once tried to kill them (and yes, I totally love how corny it is). That’s why I was so quick to request Kell Woods’ debut novel when I saw it was a continuation of the same fairy tale (and besides, look at the pretty cottage core cover!).

This is, at heart, far more fairy tale than dark fantasy with a healthy dose of historical fantasy, seeing as historically accurate wars, rulers, religion, and politics are all mentioned in the book. The setting is a small village in Germany’s Black Forest in 1650, two years after the end of the Thirty Years War and the signing of the Treaty of Westphalia. Troops and mercenaries that have fought on both sides of the war are returning either home or to work as sell-swords for the next buyer with coin enough to pay them for their services.

It’s here that we find Hans and Greta, all grown up, both unmarried and living together in their childhood home in the woods. They’re constantly broke because Hans keeps gambling their money away. The only way they can stay afloat and not starve to death is because Greta bakes the most wonderful gingerbread cookies in the whole village to take to market every week. But then mercenaries come to town and stir up some trouble, Hans is deeper in debt than Greta thought, all of a sudden taxes have been raised above what anyone in the village can afford, and she keeps having these visions…

As a fairy tale, this book is great. As a witchy, spooky, read, it’s okay. The plot isn’t entirely as cohesive as I’d like because there’s a whole lot of time dedicated to character development and ensuring character interactions don’t feel forced as well as the romantic and familial subplots. Some part of me feels like this book was almost rushed: If it had been even 50 pages longer there might have been time to let the time spent with our antagonist(s) bloom instead of it feeling so compressed like it felt to me.

It’s a great debut effort and well worth the read. I’m a fan.

I was provided a copy of this title by NetGalley and the author. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you.

File Under: Dark Fantasy/Fairy Tale/Folklore/Historical Fantasy/Romantasy

I normally really enjoy fairy tale retellings/extensions and was excited for this one. After the Forest was fine, but it didn't wow me.

It's set in 1600s Germany, and I enjoyed the author's evocation of that time and place. However, part of that time and place is a suspicion of women: who are different, who are intelligent, who cause trouble, who understand medicine, who are perceived to be unlucky. Witch trials feature heavily in this novel. As does misogyny. Which is no doubt highly realistic, but which was frustrating as a reader looking for an escape into a magical fairy tale.

The premise of the story is great: what happened to Hansel and Gretel after their escape from the witch in the forest? It turns out that Hans becomes a sad drunk gambling addict and Gretel (Margareta, or Greta, here) uses the grimoire she stole from the witch to create enchanted gingerbread to keep her and her brother afloat. The plot was interesting enough but didn't grab me, the pace slowed down by the amount of dialogue, and Greta's lack of agency / lack of resistance to using dark magic and the frequent misogyny made this a less compelling read for me.