This was a fun next story to follow the Hansel and Gretel story. The grimoire was perfect, almost like the devil/angel on Greta's shoulder. I loved the town and the bears and wolves and poisoned apples and I want to live there! The depth and darkness of this retelling feels more in line with the Grimm tales. Gorgeous cover!

Very mixed thoughts!

On one hand, I really loved the idea of what happens after the fairytale story ends. The vibes and atmosphere were fantastic, and I love stories showing the aftermath of big events. The full-circle moment at the end with the Hansel and Gretel story was eerie and exactly what I wanted more of.

On the other, the pacing felt extremely slow throughout most of the book, and multiple elements that took a lot of page time were very unnecessary to the plot. It also felt like the main goal wasn't introduced until well after the 50% mark, with the villain only being subtly mentioned until around 60 or 70%.

I will say it gave me the same vibes as the Bear and Nightingale books, so I think this book would appeal to Arden's fans!

Extremely grateful to Netgalley for the arc--I wish I loved this one more!

This was a really compelling fairy tale retelling, an exciting read in a very wide and sometimes samey field! It does several things that I really love in this genre: puts the fantastical elements in a real-feeling historical setting (think Naomi Novik's Uprooted and Spinning Silver), and combines a number of distinct fairy tales in interesting ways. We've got Hansel and Gretel here, represented in the traumatic past of protagonist Greta and her brother Hans; we've got some elements of Snow White, and Snow-White & Rose-Red, and maybe Tatterhood, and maybe a bit of The Wolf and the Fox? But they fit together in unexpected and convincing ways, which is fantastic to me. There's a history here, a wider scope than just Greta's post-gingerbread-house life.

And baking! There was baking! And some romance, which is not my thing generally but was charming enough in this case for me to appreciate. Overall the story was a little more heteronormative and a little more predictable toward the latter half than I prefer, but I was very charmed by Greta even when she was making bad decisions, and I loved the resolution! Also I spent most of the book craving fresh gingerbread more than I have ever craved it in my LIFE.

A very interesting story of the lives of Hans and Greta, after the traumatic childhood event of being shoved in a cage and almost eaten by an evil crone, their story "After the Forest" by @kellinthewoods
Greta, having stolen the magical spellbook of the old crone, sells her gingerbread to help her and her brother survive, while he blows all their money on gambling and drinking, trying to numb the pain from his childhood.
When mysterious animals start appearing in the woods, people go missing, and Greta stars hallucinating, things go a bit crazy. Will her magic kill her or save her?
This story was MUCH darker than I anticipated. Hans and Greta, as adults, live their lives in the shadow of a war, a cruel tithe and the burning of witches. A mystery man arrives into town and piques Gretas interest a childhood friend retuns from war, both helping her to work through the trauma of her life.
This book is very much Gretas story in self discovery.
I really liked this story, it really didn't feel like a fairytale retelling either, Kell did an excellent job of being inspired by the old fairytale, but giving it its own life.

I have to say that the first reason I wanted to read this book was because of the beautiful cover! So stunning!

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Thank you to @torbooks for the beautiful arc!

#kellwoods #aftertheforest #hanselandgretel #fairytale #fairytaleretelling #bookstagram #book #bookreview #reading

Ultimately, this wasn't for me. I'm not the target audience and, therefore, struggled to power through.

First of all, what a cool concept!!

I’m always in love with the ideas that remix and retell fairytales, so revisiting Hansel and Greta as adults was both right up my alley and remarkably fresh.

The storytelling style was right on point, very reminiscent of folktales and easy to fall into. I’ll admit it took an embarrassingly long time for me to piece together the direction the plot was going to go, but I sort of enjoyed that aspect! I read A LOT or fairytale based fantasy, so not being able to call the twists was fun and exciting.

Even through it took a little bit to get going I really enjoyed the storytelling and how well the historical setting was brought to life and mixed with the magical elements. More than anything I suppose I appreciated the way this brought back so much of the whimsy and darkness that you feel listening to fairytales as a kid. I’d recommend After the Forest for that reason alone.

All together this was just so satisfying to read. So much tension and nostalgia rolled into one. I adored this.

Read this to see if it was a good fit for the library and it definitely was. For sure will find patrons loving this one.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of After the Forest.

Fairytale retellings are all the rage now and After the Forest gives readers a new twist on Hansel and Gretel.

And no, they're not witch hunters.

I can't believe this is the author's debut.

It's well written, there's great world building and historical context.

You really get the lay of the land, the desolation and bleak despair of the locals after the ravages of war and the uncertainty that comes with living in a village ruled by the wealthy and elite, surviving on harvests that can make or break your livelihood.

The first half of the book really drew me in; Gretel and Hans are now young adults; the former living alone and keeping her and her louse of a brother fed and housed with her 'magical' baking skills.

Gretel must deal with the typical prejudices all young women face when they're independent and fierce; not to mention unfounded rumors of how she and Hans escaped from the wicked witch years ago.

I loved the magical aspects of the book, the grimoire that Gretel uses, and which speaks to her, Mira's revelations and teaching Gretel to reach the full extent of her power.

But, i also expected the narrative to focus on Gretel and Hans, on their relationship as siblings, on their bond or lack of one.

Instead, Hans, like a lot of men you find in books, is a lout, a gambler, suffering from PTSD, I'm sure, after the trauma of what had been done to him by the witch.

He's not unkind but he's also not a very good brother to Gretel, after all she's done for him.

Then, it took a strange turn or two. Or three.

The author began to borrow elements from other fairytales, like Snow White.

We have an ageless old witch, dead sisters, shapeshifting wolves, an evil dwarf, and a man-bear.

And a romance.

I'm not against romance but I was hoping for something darker, more magic, fear, and power. Gretel and Hans working together to beat the bad guys, maybe.

The narrative began to drag, for me, especially at the end, when Gretel finds herself at the witch's castle.

The narrative really lost some momentum with scenes between Gretel and the dwarf.

He's described as a major power player, yet doesn't factor into the story until the very end.

His character feels unnecessary, added only as a stand-in for lecherous men.

He doesn't use magic to demonstrates his power, nor is he wily or charismatic. He's just a gross, creepy dude.

Gretel is a formidable character. I'd like to be her friend; she's kind, loyal, and understanding. She's young, so naturally, she's also impetuous and impulsive, but I understand why.

The ending is mostly happy, at least by Grimm brothers standard, and overall, a good read.

A complete review of this novel will appear in Locus Magazine in the next few months. The short version is I enjoyed it a lot; haven't come across too many Hansel and Gretel after-the-fairytale stories, and I appreciated the setting a lot. The Snow White and Rose Red aspect was also very well done.

If you love a classic of the Grimm fairytale with all the magic and texture you crave from a witchy read, then this book is for you'! I could not put this book down, I had to keep following Greta!

The Hansel and Gretl story we all know ends when they escape the witch’s clutches by pushing her in the oven. Happily ever after right?

Set in Medieval Germany, this story begins in the aftermath of -here- Hans and Greta’s flight from their horrific ordeal. Back at home, but with their father now deceased, they are orphaned and impoverished, scraping out a life at the edge of the very woods they were abandoned in.

But Greta has a dangerous secret that’s been helping her and her brother survive - an enchanted spellbook that she took when she fled the gingerbread house. Everytime she uses it, she risks being accused of being a witch. But poverty and persecution are not her only problems. Soon strange people and animals start appearing in town and the woods, forcing Greta to once again fight for her life and those she loves, using everything she has - a little bit of magic and a whole lot of hope, bravery, and grit.

Featuring elements of romance and horror, legendary creatures, immortal curses, and a strong female lead, this action-packed novel will appeal to fans of Arden’s The Bear and the Nightingale, Albanese’s Hester, and Gornichec’s The Witch’s heart.

This enthralling debut novel by the appropriately named Kell Woods is a skillful combination of Fantasy, Historical Fiction and Fairy Tale Retelling.

The only caveat I would add is the there were scenes of graphic animal cruelty that were hard to stomach.

Thank you to Netgalley for the advanced copy.

Of all the fairy tales that are having a new life, Hansel and Gretel is not one I'd expected, but After the Forest is more of a 'what happened afterwards' and in a way 'what really happened.' There is definitely magic in the air when the story begins. It carefully unfolds in a way that keeps the story moving forward and holds your interest.

The fairy tale that opens each chapter brings the whole story together near the end and is woven together very adeptly by the author. Greta, the main character, also has a few wonderful moments of realizing that the old world way of men telling her to stay behind in order to stay safe it, frankly, BS.

It's a strong story and a strong young woman who takes control of her own life in a way even she never anticipated.

I was so excited to get approved this one, I’ve heard nothing short of amazing things and the cover is so gorgeous and unique - thank you Tor for this opportunity. I love how this book is chalk-full of fairy tale tropes and twists, but in a way that never felt corny or too try-hard. And honestly? This book’s premise is just such a refreshingly new and intriguing take/re-telling on a classic fable; the writing was lyrical and atmospheric….. I enjoyed every bit of it, and I wouldn’t hesitate on recommending this book out to others, especially if they’re - like me - somewhat new to the fantasy genre and don’t know where to start.

I was really excited about this one - a grown-up Hansel and Gretel trying to make it after that whole witch debacle? Sign me up! But I think this one just wasn't for me.

The book places us in the shoes of Gretel or "Greta" (Margareta) and Hansel, Hans, the siblings who once escaped the clutches of a witch, now two decades older and grappling with the traumas of their past. Woods paints a vivid picture of their struggle, setting the story in post-war Germany, riddled with superstition and suspicion. The addition of a few Scottish characters brings a fresh cultural mix into the narrative. Felt super authentic and I was here for it.

I loved the first third of the book and was completely engrossed. Greta wrestling with the expectations placed on women back in the day was a powerful read. Her use of a stolen spellbook to bake mysteriously addictive gingerbread is a delightful blend of light magic and survival instinct, a creative twist to their childhood encounter with the witch.

However, as the narrative unfolds, the story appears to lose its way. It just felt like there were too many stories shoehorned into one—in shapeshifters, eternal curses, and characters too big for the world (Liesbeth). They didn't seem to fit together. Mattias was a great love interest and his own story was excellent, but it felt like it had been forced into the Hansel and Gretel fairy tale when it should have been the entire focus of the story.

Further, the second half of the book felt increasingly tedious to navigate through. The unveiling of villains' motivations stretched the bounds of plausibility, undermining the earlier grounded world-building. The addition of an evil dwarf character felt a little insensitive and unnecessary.

It felt like it was going to say a lot about women’s agency, how widows and single women, or simply too independent, are viewed with suspicion and called a witch, or are forced to degrade themselves at the hands of the powerful. But it didn't feel like much was really said in the end, and when it came down to it, just kind of missed the mark.

So, in the end, After the Forest started off strong, but lost me in the second half. I loved Greta, and the historical detail was top-notch, but the rest of it just didn't do it for me. If you're down for a fairy tale with a historical twist, give it a go - just be prepared for a few bumps along the way.

After the Forest is jam-packed with fairy tale tropes and twists in a fresh and interesting way. I personally love a fairy tale re-telling and After the Forest was no different.

The main character is Greta, but she’s long past getting lost in the woods and escaping an old crone. Well, it was in her past but that event still haunts her.

After the Forest features good magic and bad magic, evil witches, brave men, and an all around stunning cast of characters led by the infallible Greta.

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review After the Forest. All thoughts and opinions are my own. It’s 5/5 for me and perfect for fans of Hannah Whitten and fairy tale re-tellings!

I requested a digital copy in order to sample the prose on my phone (since I don't have a eReader) before requesting a physical copy for review. My review will be based on the physical ARC I read (if I qualify)

I loved this so much!! It was so good it kept me engrossed in the story and I had to know how it ended!! Amazing book!
I just reviewed After the Forest by Kell Woods. #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]

Magical, witchy and atmospheric! I loved spending time in this world. It was well-written and the plot was compelling right from the very start. Recommended.

#AftertheForest #KellWoods #NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an E-Arc copy of this novel.

3.5 stars

This was quite enjoyable. I really liked the take on life after a magical childhood. The only downfall was it got a bit convoluted with a lot of characters and happenings. Overall though I really liked this novel.