if you know how the original grimms fairytales were told, this retelling is more like that!

it has a little bit of romance, it has witches, it’s dark, it’s spooky. More based of Hansel & Gretal, but you can tell there are little bits of others in there as well.

trigger warned for animal cruelty, so if that is an issue for you, i would not recommend. it’s only one scene i believe, but it is very descriptive.

if you can handle it, i would absolutely recommend this book! it’s all the best things a fairytale should have originally been!

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the audiobook ARC. The narrator, Esther Wane, did a fantastic job!

“Once Upon A Time, next to a great forest lived a poor woodcutter with his wife and his two children. The boy’s name was Hansel, and the girl’s name was Gretel.”

In this magical DEBUT novel, by Kell Woods, it’s twenty years after the children pushed the old crone into the oven, and the siblings are still struggling to get by in the aftermath of their traumatic childhood and a brutal war because Hans has a gambling problem and is deeply in debt.

Greta is keeping them afloat by baking and selling the BEST gingerbread in the land.

Ginger. Honey. Cinnamon. Flour.

Greta had escaped the witch’s house with a secret. She has the witch’s talking Grimoire, (spellbook) and it has whispered the secret recipe for the addictive gingerbread in her ear. And, that is only the beginning of the magic that she possesses and is just learning about.

But, although the village loves her gingerbread-the villagers are full of suspicion, and she is an outsider, often gossiped about.

This DARK conclusion to the siblings story has all of the ingredients you’d expect from an adult fairytale…

Witches, Wolves, and Bears.

Snow, Crimson red apples, and Blood.

And, a wonderful narrator in Esther Wane, who brings it all to life!!

What better way to hear this story then listening to a few chapters a night? It brought back memories of having a bedtime story read to me as a little girl.

⚠️ TW: I had read in the fantastic review by BOOKISH SPY that there was a very descriptive scene of animal cruelty-bearbaiting involving dogs and bears in Chapter 25, so I skipped that chapter. I was able to avoid something that I CANNOT read about, and was still able to follow the story to its conclusion without listening to that scene.

Available October 2, 2023.

A Macmillan Audio production from Tor books. I thank them for the gifted copy, and it was my pleasure to offer a candid review!

Thank you, Macmillan audio, for an ARC of After the Forest in exchange of my honest opinion.

If you want to start the Fall with the perfect book, look no further! After the Forest is a Hansel and Gretel fairy tale retelling with an extra touch of gloominess and magic.
This story happens years after the Witch’s house incident. Hansel and Greta are orphans and are scrapping by in a village where everyone knows what happened. Hansel has some gambling problems and Gretel is the one that is keeping the family afloat with her out of the world delicious gingerbread cookies, from a magical book that she got from the now-dead witch. The problem is that Gretel lives in a very superstitious village that is more than happy to burn women for the slightly indication of witchcraft…

Let’s start with the mood. Perfect for the fall, with dark forest, magical creatures roaming the outskirts of the Village, some political dispute happening on the background, all mixed with the descriptions of Gretel’s baking was just on point!
I really enjoyed the twist of how life looked for Hansel and Gretel after the witch’s encounter. Moreover, the way the author intertwined the old fairy tale in this story without much changing the basics of the original was so much fun to read!
The narrative still kept the feeling of an old-style fairy tale, with perfect setting, where the story kept going in a crescendo that, for several times, I wondered about the safety of our FMC.
For those that love romance, we do have a romantic plot point that I thought it was very sweet.
Overall, it was a great book that set my mood for this upcoming fall season!

Witches, gingerbread, a dark forest and suspicious townspeople? I am completely sold.

The prologue is immediately stunning. It sets the tone for the book, evoking the sense of darkness and danger present in the pages of this magical story.

The cover is eye-catching and fantastic, using motifs from the story that simply seem interesting at first glance but begin to make more sense as the story unfolds.

Speaking of story - the first part of the book starts slowly, building a setting and introducing a large cast of supporting characters. The second half is where the story really takes off and pieces (some more obvious than others) come together into a final tense endgame.

There are touches of many fairytales woven into the story, more than just the Hansel & Gretel tale that serves as the starting base. I personally loved identifying the references!

One thing I wasn't terribly keen on is the evil dwarf servitor. Perhaps my attention is somewhat to blame, because I didn't catch more than that he is very short, somewhat ugly, and diabolical. The fear and derision with which most people treat him read like the attitudes toward little people. Those opinions may be historically accurate and reflective of traditional fairytales, but the reinforcement of those stereotypes rather than challenging them seems cruel and unnecessary.

Esther Wane does an excellent job with the audiobook, incorporating accents seamlessly with a pleasant, enjoyable narration style. Definitely pick up the audio version of this book if you are able!

A special thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for allowing me the privilege of listening to After the Forest audiobook in exchange for an honest review!

After the Forest is collection of fairy tales gently woven together into a fine tapestry of a softly romantic fantasy story.

The story begins with Hansel and Greta years after escaping the gingerbread house as they live their day to day lives near the village they grew up in. Their father and stepmother are long since deceased, but both siblings find themselves still haunted by the traumas experienced in the middle of the forest trapped in the witch's hut.

Greta is aided by the witch's book, which she stole during their escape from the woods, in making gingerbread that entrances the village people (and beyond) she sells it to in order to keep up with, and pay off, the incurring debts Hans continued to build as he gambles and drinks away the pain and fears that cling to them both. Accusations of witchcraft hover over Greta's head menacingly as she finds herself once more pulled into the forest as secrets from years past are revealed, but as danger draws near, saving those she loves may be the key to saving herself and self actualization.

I absolutely loved it!

I thoroughly enjoyed the story and loved the narrator's depiction of characters and story. The accents were fun, and everyone had a distinct voice.

The novel dips into some age-old abelism tropes that were unfortunately utilized (à la Snow White and Rose Red) that could, and should, have been subverted since the fairy tale wasn't followed directly. This is my only genuine criticism of the novel though.

So good! A bit dark, but atmospheric and satisfying. After the Forest is a sequel to the classic Hänsel and Gretel story, but it also explores what really happened in the forest. We quickly dive into how rumors get misconstrued in a world where people are just epically cruel. The book focuses on “Greta” (or Margareta in the book) and is a story about the aftermath of trauma, and the power of resilience. Hans is more of a side character, which was fine by me, because I really wanted to smack him a few times throughout the book.

I love the way Kell Woods took a classic story and managed to make it even more interesting while weaving in magical lore and history. Admittedly, I’m a sucker for fairy tale retellings so I read a lot of them, but it’s rare to have one done well. There are traces to other fairy tales, such as a cursed bear (or ‘beast’), a poisonous red apple in a snowy white forest with a huntsman, and even mystical wolves (one big, very bad wolf). I found both the writing & narration engaging and special – I listened to an ARC of the audiobook version. I never really thought about what would have happened to these two, but here I am reading about them and it’s just so good.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio & NetGalley for providing an ARC. All opinions are my own.

After the Forest weaves pieces of Hansel and Gretel with threads from other recognizable tales into a story that is gives readers a fresh take on a fairytale retelling. It follows a now adult Greta and Hans, many years after they were trapped in the woods by the witch as children. Greta is an outsider in her village because of suspicious happenings that occurred around her since their return from the woods. Hans is a somewhat wastrel brother. Greta’s relationships with those around her are a focus of the story. There was also a romantic thread that I wasn’t expecting and enjoyed.

I liked reading about Greta as a character. She is sometimes naive with questionable decisions but is ultimately able to grow and show her strength.

There is less world-building, as expected with a real world setting. I was easily able to visualize the setting as the story progressed. The magical and eerie elements wove in well.

There are several overarching plot threads and mysteries that get answered as the story progresses. Some are foreshadowed and more easily predicted than others.

I listened to the audiobook of After the Forest which was narrated by Esther Wane. who created voices that fit each character and were easily distinguishable. The voice used for the primary narration made it easy to become immersed in the story - one of my favorite characteristics of a well done audiobook.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the audio ARC of this book. All expressed opinions are my own.

Quite the cornucopia of a fantasy storyline: romance, shape changers, PTSD, witches, magic, curses, an evil baroness, village politics, gambling, addiction, predatory men, post-war recovery, betrayal, a grimoire of questionable intent, and irresistible gingerbread. I quite enjoyed this as I have a soft spot for grown up folk tales I grew up on. My only complaint is it was very long and could've benefited from some paring down.

This fairytale retelling was beautifully written it was just slow and I caught in to what was happening way before the character and I spent a good chunk of the book waiting for Greta to catch up

After the Forest is a fantastic reimagining of the classic Hansel and Gretel tale, with characters Hans and Greta, set twenty years after they escape the witch’s clutches.

The beautiful storytelling brings new life to these beloved characters, now struggling to survive after their country has been devastated by war. This world is filled with enchantment, dark magic, mystery, and danger, creating an immersive atmosphere that kept me spellbound.

Greta has also held a secret involving the witch’s spell book and the book’s irresistible gingerbread recipe which adds a delightful twist to the classic story. I found myself drawn deeper into the woods with Greta as she faces suspicion and the resurgence of dark magic.

After the Forest is an enchanting and haunting fantasy that I thoroughly enjoyed. If you’re a fantasy lover, check this out!

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.

Audio 5/5 Seriously, no complaints. This was perfectly read. Very lyrically spoken and easy to listen to.

After the Forest by Kell Woods
4.5/5 Stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

•••Spoiler free review below•••

Have you ever read a Hansel and Greta retelling? No? Same. Well, until now. And it was FANTASTIC. Set twenty years after Hans and Greta escaped the gingerbread house and witch in the forest, Hans has gambled one too many times and Greta is living with the consequences of being accused of witchcraft herself. Their only saving grace is the magical spell book Greta can craft gingerbread with - gingerbread that is addictive to anyone who has a bite. With dark magic awake in the woods, Greta is at the center of the towns-peoples suspicions and left wondering if she will ever receive her happily ever after.

Read this book if you like:
- dark fairytale retellings
- ginger. honey. cinnamon. flour. gingerbread.
- a forest filled with mystery and intrigue
- a dash of romance

After the Forest will be released October 3rd and if it's not already on your tbr, it should be!
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Special thanks to Macmillan Audio for sharing a free copy with me in exchange for my honest opinions.

I DNFed this book about 25% of the way in. The writting style was not working for me at all, it was too young with to mature topics.

3.75 ⭐️ The new debut novel „After the Forest“ by Kell Woods is a continuation of the well known fairytale „Hansel and Gretel“.
We follow the protagonist Greta as an adult, still living with her brother Hans in a small village in Germany. Confronted by a huge financial dept caused by her brothers gambling problem she’s being tempted by the old spellbook she took from the gingerbread house of the witch when they where children- will she use it or resist the temptation?

The idea of doing a fairytale retelling as a continuation of the story with subtle callbacks to certain moments of the original tale was perfectly done. I felt like I didn’t know the outcome of the story and was curious where Greta’s story would go.
I really liked the darker feel and the implementation of german words to enhance the fairytale vibes.

The story itself was slow, character driven and introduced a great variety of worldbuilding and personalities. There are a lot of things happening to Greta’s friends, love interest and the village in the middle part but I would have loved to focus more on Greta. This is also my greatest problem with the book. I felt like the story lacked a bit of focus which led to me not forming any bonds with all the side characters.
My favorite parts where the interaction between Greta and the Spellbook and I would have loved to read more of that. Overall though I would still say that the story felt satisfying and well thought out.

Furthermore I would like to point out that the book had a really enchanting short epilogue that left me with a great feeling. Most of the times I find epilogues rather unnecessary but here it fit perfectly!

I listened to the audiobook and really enjoyed the narration by Esther Wane. The narrator was a good fit for the protagonist in my opinion and did an excellent job of portraying the different characters.

A big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Macmillan Audio for giving me the opportunity to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Ginger, Honey, Cinnamon, Flour.
This book is a delightful read for the earliest peak into fall. A twisted version of red riding hood meets Hansel and Gretel and all things brothers Grimm.
Greta is a witch disguised as a wonderful gingerbread baker who uses her powers to claw her and her brother from poverty with her magical grimoire she steals from the witch in the woods. Life gets hectic and one day she stumbles upon the big bad wolf- errrr- bear and her reaction is different than the norm.
The descriptors used for scene building are warm and detailed; they make you feel like you are reading next to a fireplace with a cuppa. The characters are loveable and parts are very relatable. I only knocked down one star because the end of the story was very fast paced and felt rushed to squish it all in when the beginning 80% of the book was spread out.
I did really enjoy this book, and I am IN LOVE with the cover. Esther Wane also does a great job at emoting the individual characters.

Thank you NetGalley and Kell Woods and publishing for this free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this audio ARC!

This was an absolutely magical ride. This book follows Hans and Greta (but mostly Greta) about 12-15 years after they escaped from the witch's house in the woods. Hans and Greta are down on their luck a bit, and are still dealing with the repercussions of the experiences of their youth. Greta is known as a fantastic baker, particularly for her gingerbread, though no one knows that she gets her recipes from a magical book.

After the Forest is the perfect book for any adult that loves fairy tales. This book tells of the traumatic after-effects of Hans and Greta's youth, and really explores how that would have impacted their future lives and their current decisions. The magic in this story is so whimsical, and I was fully enamored by Kell Woods' story telling ability. I was completely entranced, and I was so sad when the story ended. I grew so in love with these characters and knew I would want to go back to them.

I read this as an audiobook, and I fully recommend this method. The narrator did a wonderful job, and her voices were so entertaining to listen to. My only comment is that there seemed to be a section in the beginning of each chapter that was not a part of the main story, and it was difficult to understand in audio format. Other than that, I loved the audio experience.

I absolutely loved this story! It was such a great spin on Hansel and Gretel's story. The audio version was also really great to listen to. When I first saw this book advertised on the author's instagram, I knew I needed to read it and I am SO glad I was given the opportunity to do so.

This story is exciting and familiar. Suspicion surrounds Gretel after her experience in the woods with her brother and the witch. There is a talking book and shapeshifting soldiers. The plot is a bit slow at first but gets going in the second act an offers a satisfying conclusion. The epilogue is poetic and comforting.

I had no expectations going into this book. But I loved this reimagining and expansion of Hansel and Gretal. It kept me engaged and wondering where it was going.

The narrator was excellent at distinguishing between characters. It was a fantastic audio rendition!

Overall I will for sure recommend this to fans of fairy tale retellings and fantasy!

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.