After the Forest is an adult fairytale retelling done at its finest. All about what happens to Hansel and Gretel after they escape the witch, it is full of magic, rich storytelling, and well developed characters. It was enchanting and enthralling, keeping me hooked from the start.

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Kell Woods for an advance listening copy of After the Forest in exchange for an honest review.

"After the Forest" is a deliciously dark tale sprinkled with enchantment and a hint of ginger. The story picks up two decades after the gingerbread house witch, following Greta and Hans navigating a tough post-war world. Their struggles are palpable, and you can almost taste the desperation in the air.

Greta's secret weapon? The witch's grimoire, holding the key to the most heavenly gingerbread recipe ever. The narration skillfully brings out the tension as Greta battles to keep her family afloat amidst village gossip and suspicion. The addictive allure of her gingerbread and the rumors about her past make for a juicy subplot.

The dark magic creeping back into the woods amps up the stakes, and Greta's still-evolving magic becomes a pivotal force. The mystery surrounding her abilities keeps you hooked, wondering if it'll be her savior or downfall. The narrator does a solid job capturing the atmosphere of superstition and enchantment. However, there were moments when the pacing felt a bit uneven, with peaks of intensity and slower stretches that could have been more engaging.

All in all, "After the Forest" is a captivating listen for those who enjoy fairy tale twists with a dash of darkness. If you're craving a narrative that balances magic, suspense, and a pinch of danger, give this one a shot.

As a child we are told the fairy tales and listen to them intently thinking they are over once “the end” is read to us yet they aren’t. What about after the story is done? Is it really over or what happens to these characters?

After The Forest by Kell Woods follows Hans and Greta (we know them as Hansel and Gretel) into their adulthood once they’ve survived the witches gingerbread house and being lost in the forest. So many characters have secrets including Hans and Greta about that fateful day in their childhood. Was everything really as we were told or were they telling a fairy tale to others as well on what really happened? This tale does get darker but that’s okay, I was totally here for it.

I absolutely loved this book! I had the pleasure of listening to the audio version of After the Forest by Kell Woods. The writing was spectacular and each time I thought the story was about done, I looked to see that it wasn’t even halfway through! This was a good thing because I wasn’t ready for it to end yet. I had so many questions that got answered by the end of it. The flow of the writing is superb and there is never a dull moment. Esther Wane did a fabulous job narrating the audio version. Although different countries and areas have different art covers that I’ve seen, it doesn’t matter because they are all gorgeous. I highly recommend this book and it is now one of my favorites added to try top 10.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for sending this book for review and consideration.

All opinions are my own.

I really loved the spooky yet cozy vibes of this book!
A Hansel and Gretel retelling. It was really unique!
I love the way the characters grew and developed.
This is the perfect read during the spooky season.
It gave all the fall vibes.

While I wanted to love After the Forest - I love the idea of a Hansel and Gretel retelling - I got lost. Much like the main characters, while I liked the distinct fairy tale feeling, the fact that the 'horrors' aren't over yet, but After the Forest lost me. I wanted to love Gretel because the rage at cleaning up the messes of men is distinctly my brand. It begins by asking us if sometimes we need to leave. After the Forest also includes a sibling relationship full of push and pull, but the politics lost me completely.

Through no fault of the narrator, Esther Wane, After the Forest had all the elements of a book I should love, but couldn't connect to. The politics felt a bit clunky and they didn't feel like I had a stake in it.

Such a cozy book continuing a classic childhood fairytale. A good mix of magic being used for dark and delicious baking. Lots of fun witchy and fantasy elements. Thank you so much for this audiobook ARC. The narrator really does an amazing job of putting the listener in the right vibe for this story. I purchased the Owlcrate edition of this book as well and it is stunning. Every copy I’ve seen of this book is gorgeous.

Fifteen years after escaping the witch in the woods, Greta and Hans barely get by. Their parents and stepmother are dead, Hans is drowning in gambling debts, their home is falling apart, and their village continues to struggle in the aftermath of war. All the while, Greta loses herself in what she does best -- baking her addicting gingerbread, hoping to keep her little family afloat. Greta has a secret thought, the grimoire from the witch who had kidnapped them who whispers to her. And in a village blinded by superstition, her gingerbread is the talk of the town, and not always in a good way. When dark magic returns to their mountain, Greta's magic might be the only thing that can save the ones she loves and herself, but she will need to survive her powers first.

This book starts off with a bear and bang, but it settles down pretty quickly after that tumbling down a mountain beginning. It had a bit of a slow pace for me, which slowed down my progress of returning to it. I loved watching as Greta unfolded mystery and mystery not only in her town but in her family and her own story. It was incredible to follow her as she unfolds her power and finds strength within herself. For those who love adult fairytale re-tellings, I would suggest picking up this book especially if you dive into the world via the audiobook.

The audiobook version is spectacular. Esther Wane brings such life to this story with the emotion she puts into her narration, the different voices she uses for the characters, and the tone of her voice. It truly felt as though I had been yanked into the story and always knew who was speaking as if I was standing amongst the characters themselves. I highly recommend the audiobook version of this book!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for access to this audiobook!

I'm sure others would love this one but Hansel and Gretel was never my favorite fairytale. I think the writing was interesting but I was just not submerge in the story which made it hard for me to connect with it and the characters.

Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this audio book.

Good read over all, I felt like it maybe dragged on a little in the middle but still kept my attention. I enjoyed the little hints of different fairy tales. The narrator was good as well.

This didn't quite live up to what I hoped it would be and failed to channel the kind of fairy-tale whimsy with a twist that I was looking for. More than once I found myself thinking that the story wasn't really going anywhere. Overall not bad, but not quite for me and not quite what I wanted.

I love fairytale retellings especially dark one. This book had so many different fairytales happening at once. I absolutely loved it. I loved getting to see a retelling of Hansel and Gretel set after their time in the witch's cottage. It was just so interesting. I was rooting for Greta the whole time. I cannot wait to read more by this author. Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

Unnecessarily long and extremely boring. Most of the time, I was just confused as to what was happening.

*4 stars*

This was a really fun take on the fairytale trope. The story takes place years after Hans and Greta were left in the forest by their father only to be ensnared by a witch in a gingerbread house. They escaped, but the rumors and ill luck have followed them for their whole lives.

I really enjoyed the atmosphere of this book, it felt very cozy and fairytale like even though it dealt with darker themes at times. The characters were very dimensional and perhaps morally grey at times which was refreshing in a fairytale setting. It did seem to stretch on a little too much in the middle, I feel like it could have done with a little more editing. I really liked the magic and forest, and I would have liked to see more exploration into the almost sentience of the woods.

The audiobook was well done and easy to listen to. There wasn’t a lot of distinction between the epigraph and the start of the chapter however so I was a little confused for a few chapters.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ALC of this work. All opinions in this review are my own.

It’s been awhile since I’ve read a strong debut but I’m glad to say this one impressed me. The writing was strong, and the concept was well developed. The setting will make this a great read for the winter. I wasn’t quite as emotionally invested in it as much as some of the comp titles, but I still enjoyed it.

I went into this book excited, but without much info, and ended up loving it! It was a refreshing, witchy story that I wouldn't call a fairy tale retelling so much as a what happened next story. I also loved the mashup of stories that made for some fun twists.

The magic system also completely spoke to my DnD druid heart!

As a mash-up of fairytales, “After the Forest” is full of ‘easter eggs’ pointing to a bevy of tales we all know from childhood. Readers follow Hansel and Gretel as they grow into young adults. There is a sweet, slow burn romance that is low heat and although it is an “instant love” trope (which I like), there is a bit of the miscommunication trope as well.

“After the Forest” is about as atmospheric as one can get as far as autumnal vibes!

After the Forest, by Kell Woods, is an inventive fairy tale retelling that reimagines the lives of Hansel and Gretel (Hans and Greta) years after they escape from the witch's clutches. While fairy tale adaptations are nothing new, Woods breathes fresh life into this classic story by crafting a unique narrative that expands upon the source material.

Hans, who grapples with the lasting effects of his traumatic past, develops a gambling addiction that could end up costing them their home. As he spirals into a mountain of debt, it's left to Greta to find a way to rescue them from financial ruin. To make ends meet, she turns to an unconventional solution: selling gingerbread, made from a recipe hidden within the witch's grimoire.

Woods introduces a delightful element of mystery with the inclusion of a bear and other mythical creatures. Hans, laden with flaws, elicits both sympathy and frustration from readers. It's easy to relate to his struggles while still disliking how he treats his sister, Greta. Greta’s unwavering determination to support her brother and the choices she makes to ensure their survival makes her a character readers can root for.

Kell Woods masterfully weaves together elements of fantasy, trauma, and familial bonds in After the Forest. It breathes new life into a beloved fairy tale, making it a must-read for fans of fairy tale retellings and those seeking a fresh twist on classic stories.

<b>4 / 5 stars</b>

<i>My sincerest gratitude to Netgalley, Kell Woods, and Macmillan Audio for the ARC received in exchange for an honest review.</i>

Grateful for the opportunity to dive into the ARC of this book, though it didn't quite captivate me enough to reach the final page.

I so wanted to love this book. Upon reading the description I was immediately intrigued - a revisit of the Hansel and Gretel fairy tale, telling the "what comes after" fifteen years later. Magical gingerbread, dark forests, and other fairy tale elements woven in sounded right up my alley. I desperately wanted to fall into the world of the book, but it never quite drew me in. I felt held at an arm's length the entire time, never quite getting to know the characters and what made them tick. The narrative often felt overwrought, but without enough substance to root me in the world. I wish as a reader I could have smelled the gingerbread and felt the tingle of magic, but the magic seems to have passed over me entirely.

Thank you to Tor Books and NetGalley for an advanced copy to review.

Big thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to listen to this one!

Greta and Hans are all grown up and have put that entire almost eaten by a witch in her gingerbread house fiasco behind them...except, Hans has a gambling problem and Greta stole the witches cookbook and is selling gingerbread cookies spiked with a little magic for a living.

Things get interesting when a tall dark stranger appear. Greta starts to uncover the truth of what happened to her and her brother as a child.

Shapeshifters, romance, witches, betrayal, and spells... there's a lot in here to keep you turning the pages.

I enjoyed it!