Erin Craig is such a gloriously talented writer, and her latest book only underscores that. THE THIRTEENTH CHILD is a masterful tale, brimming with tension, magic and adventure. (When I say I SOBBED at the end.) Although every character offers something unique, the complicated, unbreakable relationship between the protagonist and Merrick is undoubtedly the best part of this. If you’re on the fence about this book, read it. Craig’s latest tour de force is simply unforgettable.

Loved this so much. Erin Craig is the undisputed queen of atmosphere. I will be updating this with a full review and links closer to publication.

this book was so so wonderful & a lot of that is due to the pacing of the story. No matter how short a character’s page time, I always felt like I had just the right amount of time with them

The Thirteenth Child is a fantasy with a romantic theme. An unwanted child and the thirteenth to family who cannot afford the children they have, Hazel Trépas is promised Merrick, the Dreaded End. Every year on her birthday she waits for him to show up until he finally does and whisks her away to be a great healer. But her healing gift is also a curse as she sees who she is supposed to make sure who dies also. Defying her gift sets off a chain of events that change her life and costs her the gift in this dark, gothic romance feeling fantasy. With great world building, Hazel’s story unfolds in heartbreak, triumph, and a hard one HEA for an epically good read. My voluntary, unbiased, and non-mandatory review is based upon a review copy from NetGalley.

If there’s one thing Erin Craig knows how to write, it’s dark atmospheric stories that will grab your attention from the beginning and never let it go.

This author has became an auto buy author for me and one I always gravitate for when I’m in the mood for dark fairytales with lush and gothic atmosphere.

honestly i loved this and it makes me want to get back into fantasy. superb vibes. craig really excels at creating eerie atmospheres and loveable characters. need someone to make one of those tik tok ai dark fantasy videos about this. interestingly everything i liked/disliked about small favors is opposite here. i wanted this to be sooo much longer, more than just a few page epilogue, a face off with bertie, a meeting of all the gods, more time with merrick and understanding what he does. more build up of romance, more horror elements, etc. but i’m also being picky! this kept me hooked and guessing and wanting more!

thank you always netgalley <333

I really like this book I want to read more by this author. I enjoyed the worlds the author created and the characters. My only complaint is that there would be a big issue and so much build up, and then it would just end without much explanation. The next chapter would just move on from it. It was so strange. I expected more discussion on the big events after they happened. Not just that the event ended and now we move on. Kind of disappointed in that. But the rest of the book was great.

Huge thank you NetGalley for sending me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Thirteenth Child by Erin A. Craig was a rich and dark fairytale following a healer blessed by Death as she navigates her gift and the meddling gods she crosses paths with. This unique tale took me by surprise as it remained unpredictable until the final page. I absolutely loved it!

The author leaned into the Grimm's fairytale vibe, weaving a story that was lush, dark, and full of flawed characters, bargains, curses, twists and turns. I loved that we got to follow the main character from her time as a child to coming into her own as an adult. I really became attached to our main gal and was rooting for her success throughout, even when all seemed bleak.

Overall I gave this book four stars for the creative writing, complex characters, and well-crafted storytelling. If this isn't on your TBR, then make sure you add it—this one is not to be missed and will be especially great for your fall TBR!

The Thirteenth Child is a sweeping yet haunting fairy tale about a young girl named Hazel Trepás who is promised to Merrick, the god of death.

The youngest of thirteen, Hazel spends her childhood unloved, unwanted, and unseen, as she waits for her godfather to come and collect her. When he finally arrives, he says that she will become a great healer, someone who is gifted with the ability to diagnose ailments in sick people and cure them. However, her gift also comes with a steep price, for not everyone can be healed, and it's up to her to end the suffering each time a new deathshead appears.

This comes to an inflection point when she is ushered to royal court to treat the king, who is suffering from The Brilliance, an illness where the body leaks then solidifies into gold. Though he is marked for death, Hazel is torn. What if she saved him? Is there a bargain she could strike with the gods? And if there were, what would happen if she went against her godfather's wishes?

Romantasy fans will love this! Craig's writing is lush and atmospheric, with vivid descriptions that make readers feel as if they've been dropped into a dark Grimm Brother's fairy tale; however, there's also a warmness at the core that burns with hope as well as humanity. It's the perfect blend of magic and sentimentality. Hazel is a lonely and secluded character for the most part. She is someone who yearns for company, for someone who will look after her and think of her first, and because of that, she feels somewhat reminiscent of Addie La Rue. They have a similar longing in the soul. A desire to belong, not only to the world, but to some of the people in it.

A powerful and intimate fairy tale, through and through!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Random House Children's, and Delacorte Press for the ARC in exchange for my review.

The Thirteenth Child follows Hazel, a thirteenth child promised to one of the gods. She spends her childhood waiting for her Godfather—the Dreaded End—to take her away. When he finally arrives, he tells Hazel she will become a great healer, known throughout the entire kingdom for her skill. He blesses Hazel with a gift to instantly deduce the cure needed to save the ill. But this gift comes with a high price—Hazel can see when Death has claimed a patient and she can’t save them and must end their suffering. As she becomes more and more haunted by the ghosts of those she’s killed, Hazel is brought to the royal court to save the king. Except he’s marked for Death. She must kill the king but her heart is urging her towards going against Death. But doing so could destroy her life as she knows it.

This was a haunting, dark fairytale retelling that encompasses all of Hazel’s life. I really enjoyed that we got to see Hazel at a range of ages—it really built her character well. Hazel is a, intelligent, kind character with a big heart who longs for family and to be loved. She had such a hard childhood and goes through so much that its hard not to feel deeply for her. I really enjoyed her relationship with Merrick and the complexity. Overall, all of the characters are well developed and I enjoyed the shift in cast with Hazel’s ages. I especially liked Leo and his arc.

The plot was engaging and I was curious to see where it would go especially once Hazel arrives at the court. However, I did find it a little slow at times and would have preferred more time to develop the romance. But apart from that, the world is wonderfully crafted and the writing is lovely. It has very deep fairy tale roots and I loved the atmosphere the author created. The magic and god system was very interesting and I wouldn’t say no to more stories set in this world.

Overall, this is a great book if you love fantasy, fairy tales, or complex themes and character relationships.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the 3rd book I have read by this author and I absolutely loved it! I really enjoy her writing style and her characters are dynamite!

I didn’t know much about this book going into it just that I had read the authors other books and enjoyed them. This was a fantastic book that kept me reading and thinking about it after I read it! I love that Erin’s books are so unique so that it doesn’t feel like I’m reading the same books over again.

Erin A. Craig delivers again! I loved this fascinating tale about Hazel and her trials and tribulations in becoming the greatest healer in the world. Craig gets you instantly on Hazel's side as we see her early life and neglect unfold, and the descriptions of Merrick and the relationship between Hazel and her godfather had me hooked. Craig always amazes me with her world-building and this book was no different. I did not see the end coming at all, I had no idea how this was all going to be wrapped up satisfactorily, but the ending had me tearing up. So well done!

Erin Craig is an author to watch as I feel her books keep getting better. The Thirteenth Child is a slow burn fantasy. The first third of the book is just setting up what is described in the summary. The writing is lovely and descriptive. Fans of Erin Morgenstern, Katherine Arden, and Naomi Novik will enjoy this writing, and YA fans of Ava Reid will find a similar, unsettling tone to this book. I can't wait to see what Erin Craig does next!

Wonderful eerie, gothic fairytale reimagining. Hazel is a complex character who was given to the God of death of her world and lives knowing he has a plan for her. It gives range of Hazel as a child to Hazel as a young adult and the way she grows. The cast of characters is rather small which helps create the connection to story more and what Hazel is put through. The story goes from small town to navigating court with balls and court. There is deceitful gods and bargains. The world and the gods are well built and easy to understand. Craig has created an amazing retelling and I could not put this book down!

Thank you NetGalley and Delacorte Press for the opportunity to read this E-ARC.

An absolute masterpiece from Erin Craig yet again. I finished this book with tears in my eyes. I absolutely loved how this story played out. I finished it in one sitting and I adored our main characters!! Leopold made an amazing love interest and Hazel was one of the best FMC I’ve come across in awhile! The world building was also very interesting in this book!

Thank you NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read the ARC of this book!!

This is my first encounter with Erin A. Craig’s writing, and after finishing this book, I can confidently say it won’t be my last! From the very first page, Craig sweeps you into Hazel’s world, where her life and relationships unfold with depth and authenticity. The emotional roller coaster of the story left me breathless—every twist and turn had me feeling deeply invested in Hazel's journey.

The character development is spectacular; you feel every joy and heartache alongside Hazel. Craig's writing is both lyrical and poignant, creating a vivid picture that grabs your heart and doesn’t let go. I’m hesitant to delve into too many specifics because part of the magic is experiencing it for yourself. However, I can assure you that it’s a journey worth taking, and I’d be surprised if your verdict isn't that it’s an absolutely amazing book.

If you're looking for a read that will make you laugh, cry, and reflect, I wholeheartedly recommend this book to everyone. Do yourself a favor and dive in—you won’t regret it!

The Thirteenth Child was one of my most anticipated reads of the year. As soon as I get my hands on an Erin Craig novel, I eat it up straight away!

I loved the premise and I was intrigued by the Thirteenth Child concept. Hazel being the Goddaughter of the Dreaded End (Death himself) was such an interesting idea and I was fully invested in their relationship dynamic. It did leave me feeling mildly disappointed as he was MIA for so much of the story and I wished for it to be explored further.

I enjoyed both seeing Hazel grow up as a child and then seeing her fully grown into her Healing abilities and her duties at court. BUT at the same time, I feel like this almost read as two different stories and the book felt unnecessarily long because of it.

I think Leo was a good love interest. It’s just that the romance came in way too late in the game and didn’t have the chance to blossom and for myself as the reader to become fully invested in it. I enjoyed his quip and playfulness and would have loved to see him and Hazel interact more.

Overall, I enjoyed this but it was not my favorite Craig book. The creepy factor wasn’t there for me and I was left feeling like things were unsettled. I will be happy to return to the Sisters of the Salt series!

*Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.*

tl;dr
A fairy tale retelling with a truly magical world building and atmosphere. Some of the character relationships in the second half could use a little more time to develop.

Thoughts
Erin A. Craig is absolutely incredible at creating atmosphere. Creeping dread, shadowy mysteries, and what lurks in the dark? It's all here in delicious, immersive detail. There's also an indulgent amount of plant life, things that grow, and a touch of cottagecore that my heart loves. Magic and gods feel very real in this space, and the world building feels exactly like a fairy tale come to life. The relationship between Hazel and Death was also surprisingly tender, and I enjoyed all the moments between them. And yet through all of this, the pacing really threw me off. Other reviewers have mentioned that this feels like two books, and I would agree. The first half moves at an even pace, carefully building the world and all the people in it. The second half takes off at a pace that is great for the plot, but not necessarily great for the character relationships. A year passes between chapters, and now two characters are as close as sisters, but we have to take the narration's word for it, because we never get to see it happen. Romance in particular takes a hit with this, as a lot of the character development takes place off screen. It's a trade off to cover a huge amount of plot, and I see why it happened, but I wish we could've spent more time with the characters and their personal lives. And I guess if the worst thing I can say about a book is that I wish we got more, that's probably not a bad thing.

I absolutely adored The Thirteenth Child. It was rich in plot, imagery and strong main characters as well as storytelling. I loved watching Hazel's life unfold as she deals with her godfather Death and her story outside of his presence. I wouldn't say this was a creepy story but it certainly had its gothic vibes and eerie moments. It also gave off dark fairytale vibes too. It's truly a perfect fall read. I abolutely adore the cover and the cave and the candles that represent souls and their lives was honestly my favorite part of the story. The second half of the book fell a little short for me. It felt rushed and the ending felt unsatisfying and left me feeling like I had unanswered questions, but overall I really did love Hazel's story and felt like this was such a wonderful read.