What a beautiful and dark fairy tale retelling this was. I was swept away into Hazel's world and I didn't want to leave. A dark YA fantasty with some romantic elements, this was a beautifully created world. Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Thirteenth Child is a retelling of the fairytale “Godfather Death.” In this version, Hazel is the thirteenth child born to a poor family that can not take care of her. Three godlike entities ask to be her godparent. Her parents choose Death who goes by the name Merrick. Hazel becomes a healer and has a gift that lets her know how to save a person or if they must die. She is told that she must not interfere with the fate of mortals because their will be consequences. Eventually she is called to treat the King at his palace. He is suffering from a strange illness she has never dealt with before and this illness is spreading while kingdom is dealing with a rebellion. Hazel sees that the King must die, but intervenes to change his fate with devastating consequences. Hazel must figure out a way to save herself and the kingdom, along with Prince Leopold, who she has fallen in love with. I have never read a retelling based on this particular fairy tale. Erin A. Craig continues to write books that I really enjoy!

The Thirteenth Child is a dark fantasy with elements of romance. The narrative is captivating and has a timeless quality, reminiscent of classic fairy tales, yet it still feels quite contemporary. Every time the page turned, I was genuinely on the tip of my seat with anticipation.

Every character in this novel was wonderful, but my favorite was Hazel. She is a strong, independent woman who aspires to be in charge of her life. It was simple to love her and be interested in following her journey because of how powerful each of her interactions with others was. I enjoyed Merrick and Hazel's connection because, although being a god, Merrick seemed extremely human at times.

I particularly enjoyed the portrayal of the God of Death, and the other god figures were interesting to read about. I would have wanted to read even more about these characters because I loved their complexity!

Erin Craig writes in such a lovely, eerily atmospheric way that it nearly seems like a spooky song The world-building is deep and engaging, and the writing skillfully combines elements of a dark fairytale with rich details.

I will always and forever be a fan of this writer, and I can't wait to read whatever she writes next. Anyone who enjoys fairytale retellings and all of its associated elements should read The Thirteenth Child!

I've enjoyed Erin A. Craig's past books and The Thirteenth Child definitely does not disappoint! Hazel is an unwanted thirteenth child whose impoverished parents make a deal with Merrick, the personification of Death. Merrick promises to give her a long and successful life, although he doesn't immediately take her, so she must live with her abusive parents. Hazel is such an amazing character, I was horrified by how her birth family treated her, and I really enjoyed watching her grow as she was able to leave them. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who likes gothic, haunting, atmospheric novels, or fairytale retellings!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

I’m not sure how to describe this book except that it has a wonderful mash up of fantasy and mythology all centered around Hazel, a family’s unwanted thirteenth child, who becomes the godchild of death and a healer. Everything else just adds spice and loads of flavor to the story.

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Thank you NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
First of all, I'm a HUGE fan of all of Erin A. Craig's works.
Secondly, this book is the absolute BEST she's written yet. 5/5 stars!
The characters are great- they are well developed and don't feel flat at all. The FMC is likable and with her backstory, you just want to dive into the book and give her a huge hug.
The plot is *chef's kiss*. I don't want to give any spoilers, but there's a BIG twist that I did not see coming at all.
I love how she incorporated the deities into the book so seamlessly.
I'm not a big crier when I read, but the end is so moving that I actually cried.
All that to say, you should ABSOLUTELY read this book!

I somehow didn't realize this is a YA romance horror, but I really ended up liking it quite a bit. I don't purchase for the YA collection, but will recommend our teen librarian purchases it for the collection. Thanks!

4/5 ⭐️

Hazel is one of Erin A. Craig’s many FMC’s that I adore. Craig has a very beautiful way of portraying a sad character that blossoms into someone who can do better for themselves and overcome many obstacles they have to face. Hazel is one of those. I absolutely adored Hazel and her dog Cosmos on this adventure as the 13th child and her life being the Goddaughter of Death and the trials and tribulations that come along with her duties.
This retelling was really fun and visually stunning.
I did feel as though it dragged on a bit through the middle and maybe some of the story wasn’t 100% necessary but I still enjoyed it nevertheless.
Craig does it once again with the beautiful way she world builds and the characters she invents in every one of her stories.
I am definitely a fan and looking forward to her next releases!
Thank you NetGalley for the E-ARC.

Hazel was born the thirteenth child of a couple who could scarce afford to care for her, but when the god of death agrees to be her godfather and benefactor, her life changes forever! From dire poverty and neglect, to established herbalist and royal healer, Hazel's life has been guided by the gods, fate, and her own determination. But when chaos and disease mix, her life will never be dull!
Erin A. Craig has written an absolute gem for lovers of retold fairy tales! This classic Grimm story with her distinctive, gothic flare, is both spellbinding and wholesome. In turns dark, brooding, heartbreaking, and uplifting, The Thirteenth Child had me turning pages long after my self-declared "last chapter". Hazel is relatable and well-defined, Merrick is creepy, caring, and epic, and the story had me wishing for more!

LOVED! The Thirteenth Child is a beautifully written, immersive, and evocative fairytale. The character and relationship building was powerful, insightful, and engaging. This is a facet I find lacking in many novels making me that much more appreciative. This story is about fantasy and tragedy, love and loss, trust and deceit, blood family and found family, gods and goddesses, deep moral ambiguities, the value of a life, and so much more! I have zero criticisms.

I have enjoyed this author’s previous novels, but,in my opinion, this is next level! Read this book! Thank you to NetGalley, Erin A. Craig, and Random House Children’s Books, for sharing this free ARC digital copy.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book made me cry into my pillow at 12:30 am when I finished it. It is honestly everything it should be and leaves me wanting nothing. Nuanced characters, twists and turns, magic and gods. I loved every minute of it.

One of the things I love about Erin Craig’s writing is that she doesn’t shy away from the hard topics and truths we deal with in daily life, she just mixes in magic, and fun, and horror (looking at you Thaumas sisters). 13C is another wonderful example of that with Hazel being an unwanted child and experiencing so much loss (not just death) early in life. While exploring these different types of losses, we also see how Hazel navigates an imperfect relationship with her godfather and how it impacts her choices and the lives of those around her. The end result is a book I could read over and over again.

LOVED EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS BOOK. The world building and characters were so unique. The story was so well written. I have enjoyed all of Craig’s books and this did not let me down.

The Thirteenth Child
by Erin A. Craig
Pub Date: Sep 24 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Hazel Trépas has always known she wasn’t like the rest of her siblings. A thirteenth child, promised away to one of the gods, she spends her childhood waiting for her godfather—Merrick, the Dreaded End—to arrive.

When he does, he lays out exactly how he’s planned Hazel’s future. She will become a great healer, known throughout the kingdom for her precision and skill. To aid her endeavors, Merrick blesses Hazel with a gift, the ability to instantly deduce the exact cure needed to treat the sick.

But all gifts come with a price. Hazel can see when Death has claimed a patient—when all hope is gone—and is tasked to end their suffering, permanently. Haunted by the ghosts of those she’s killed, Hazel longs to run. But destiny brings her to the royal court, where she meets Leo, a rakish prince with a disdain for everything and everyone. And it’s where Hazel faces her biggest dilemma yet—to save the life of a king marked to die. Hazel knows what she is meant to do and knows what her heart is urging her toward, but what will happen if she goes against the will of Death?

From the astonishing mind of Erin A. Craig comes the breathtaking fairy tale retelling readers have been waiting for— what does a life well-lived mean, and how do we justify the impossible choices we make for the ones we love? The Thirteenth Child is a must-read for fans of dark fairy tales, romantasy, and epic fantasy alike.

This is how you take a fairy tale and turn it into something entirely new. I adored this story, and found myself completely engrossed. Hazel was such an interesting character and I loved seeing her grow as the years went on.

I received a copy through Net Galley for review.

I absolutely loved this one. Erin A. Craig hit it out of the park with this lovely story.

Hazel is a thirteenth child, a child that can gift, and be gifted by the gods, a sort of power consolidation between the two. Hazel was bargained away to the gods before she was even born, already burdened with 12 children, the Gods came to bid, to offer both what they could gift their child with, and their parents for payment for acquiring such a child. Three gods came to barter for Hazel, and her parents chose The Dreaded End, the God of Death as her GodFather.

But it takes years before The Dreaded End comes to claim her. And she does not yet know what she would be gifted with. The God of Death arrives on her 12th birthday and she finds the God would like her to become a healer, that she will be able to cure anything that's curable, but will have to end the lives of the patients she cannot save, she must free them from their suffering with her tools and knowledge.

Being Goddaughter to Merrick the God of Death can be tenuous, touching, difficult to understand- to navigate the Gods expectations. The cost of a single life, to stay or to pass on has a precarious balance. to those around them, and Hazel must make some difficult decisions.
I really enjoyed Hazel's journey and her relationship with her Godfather.

Be sure to pick this one up!

First of all, THIS COVER. Ok, now that's out of the way, this book was so Erin A Craig. She has this spooky way of telling stories and while this one was not her spookiest, it was still wonderful.
Hazel is the thirteenth child in her family. She is destined to be taken by her godfather the Dreaded End (god of death like being). When he shows up, he reveals that she is destined to be a great healer, but with healing comes those who can't be healed. At 18, she is requested to heal the king who has a mysterious illness called the Shivers. In his case, he has a gold like substance under his skin that oozes out. Hazel stays at the castle and reconnects with Prince Leopold as well as others at the castle and learns of secrets both political and personal.
I really liked Hazel. She grew up poor and abused but always knew she would be whisked away to another life. She forms a great bond with her godfather Merrick, even though he is the god of death. Their relationship is very difficult, but tender and full of trying to understand one another. Hazel really cares about her patients and always tries to do whatever she can to heal them.
This book is pretty long, so there are a lot of parts. The pace moved along well though and transitioned into each stage of Hazel's life. There are twists all along the way and many at the end I didn't see coming at all. The world descriptions were wonderful, I really felt I could imagine the settings in my head easily. The epilogue was so touching and I think it wrapped the book up perfectly.

This book left me in a state of awe. It is so gorgeously written, a book that captures the growing pains of life. Of striving to be better, of handling what you have been given and the pain that comes with it. Of being tasked with hardships because of the people around you, but not knowing how to do anything but care for them. It is truly brilliant, and my love for it is immense.

I know that the book is going to be good and haunt me for weeks to come when it's Erin A. Craig. The Thirteenth Child is no exception. It's gothic, spellbinding, and exactly what you want out of a tale inspired by the Brothers' Grimm. This is the perfect book to ease us into fall. It's scary but not too scary and just the right amount of unsettling.

4/5 stars
Recommended if you like: Gothic settings, fantasy, fairytale retellings, healer + death

This review has been posted to Goodreads as of 7/8, my book blog on 7/25, and Instagram on 8/8.

This was another one of my most anticipated releases this year and once again it didn't quite live up to my expectations. I'm not familiar with the fairytale it's based on, so perhaps it is following that more closely, but this book lacks the creepiness I've come to expect and love from Craig's books. Between one of the characters being a god of death, the plague sweeping the kingdom, and the ghosts Hazel sees, you would expect this to be on par with House of Salt and Sorrows in terms of spookiness...but it wasn't, nor did it have the less creepy but still tension-filled vibes of House of Roots and Ruin.

The story follows Hazel from when she quickens in her mother's stomach to when she is 18 and being called on by the king. While there's a decent mix of good and bad things happening to her throughout her life, I felt a distinct lack of forward moving tension throughout a lot of the book. When she's a kid, there's a lot of rich tension between how she's treated and the fact she's been promised to the god of death, Merrick. And then there's ~some~ tension after she begins training as a healer, but it doesn't feel active, it feels passive. The plague that's causing its victims to weep gold from their skin and eyes should be creepy and have lots of tension for Hazel....but she solves it almost immediately and then there's kind of just a lot of nothing going on. Even when Hazel is making things happen, she is very much a reactionary character. Curiosity kept me turning the page, but mostly from a "how is there still 40% of the book left" perspective.

All that being said, I did like Hazel as a character and I thought the concept was interesting (the concept, of course, is Death's goddaughter and not the mysterious plague). Merrick cares deeply for Hazel, but he's also a god and doesn't totally understand how humans think or work. Of course twelve years is a long time to a human...but to immortal Merrick it's nothing, and he doesn't understand why Hazel is miffed by his absence. Likewise, the idea that Death is training his goddaughter to be a healer is an interesting twist, made even more interesting by the flip side of that coin.

We do get to learn a lot about Hazel as she grows and I enjoyed following her as a character. In a way, I actually think this book would've worked a lot better if it really had been following Hazel throughout life, or at least farther through life than it did. Nettle & Bone is my favorite T. Kingfisher book and has a similar plot structure of following one character into adulthood, then having the bulk of the tension + plot occur, and imo it works very well. That aside, Hazel has a lot going on in her life and is no stranger to tragedy. She's able to keep a level head while also being compassionate to those she's caring for.

Leo is an infuriating prince...but he's also someone willing to listen and change. As snarky as he is, it's clear that he's also lost and at least some of his acting out is a result of that. When Hazel rightly calls him out (on more than one occasion), he actually reflects on his words and actions, and then takes steps accordingly. While I did think they knew each other too little for a romance to be feasible, I did think the budding romance between them was cute and I was rooting for them.

Hazel also grows close with Leo's two sisters, Bellatrice and Euphemia, though this largely happens off page. I would've liked to see more of this development because while Euphemia is a child and thus easy to like, Bellatrice is more closed off and I have a hard time believing she'd so easily make friends with Hazel. But apparently the two end up close enough to read each other's expressions with ease and for Bellatrice to tell Hazel her deepest secret.

There's a lot of scheming going on behind the scenes as well and while I guessed some of it, some of it still left me surprised. In that vein, I have to say that there's a lot of worldbuilding in this book, but Craig does it in such a way that it never feels infodump-y. There's quite a bit about the gods of the realm (obviously) but there's also some interesting information about medicine from Hazel's studies as well as about the politics of the country, thanks to Hazel treating the king. The way it's written definitely makes the world feel more expansive than just what's going on with Hazel and the rest of the country. I also liked the tidbits we saw of the gods and the various religious sects that follow them.

Overall, not my favorite Craig book and definitely not horror. I did enjoy the characters and particularly seeing how Hazel grew up. While there were some things I had issue with in this book, I still plan on reading A Land So Wide and Lenore's book.

*Wipes tears away to write my review.*

I think this is the most emotional book Erin has written. It's still got her signature beautiful prose, haunting atmosphere, unique heroine, and surprising twists at the end. But there were also several points where I teared up and my heart ached.

Hazel is possibly the most tragic heroine we've gotten from Erin. Her parents didn't want her, she's adopted by a god that is essentially Death, yet he doesn't claim her for years and leaves her alone for long stretches of time when he does show up. She's blessed to be a healer that can see how to cure people, but if someone can't be saved, she is responsible for ending their life. And obviously, she struggles with this! It's SUCH a heavy burden, and she feels so isolated. But wow, her conversation when she finally tells Merrick (Death) that yes it does bother her is SO powerful.

There is a bit of body horror with the plague that Hazel has to battle, and there are some ghosts, but for me this wasn't nearly as scary as House of Roots & Ruin. The romance was sweet, and I actually really loved Merrick.
This is yet another Erin Craig book I'll happily recommend!

Many thanks to NetGalley and PRH Audio for the preview. All opinions are my own.
I also enjoyed the narration and would recommend the audiobook.