Thank you to NetGalley, Delacorte Press, and Random House Children's for this advanced copy! You can pick up The Thirteenth Child on September 24, 2024.

This book blew away all my expectations. I was in the mood for something with fairytale vibes, and this delivered with delicious prose and a perfectly eerie atmosphere. I'm so glad this comes out at the end of September because it fits the gothic fall feeling PERFECTLY.

Not only does Erin A. Craig establish a fascinating world with larger-than-life deities, but our FMC is so relatable it's insane. She fits our class fairytale heroine trope while also subverting her -- making mistakes but using them as opportunities to grow. I can't believe this is a standalone story when so much seems to happen in so few pages.

Hazel's journey to discover herself and the family she wants/deserves is phenomenal. I absolutely LOVED her interactions with Merrick, The Dreaded End, and the last scene of the book had my eyes with tears SO FAST. This put me right back into fantasy mode, and I can't wait to dive into more of Erin's work!

All the stars, and make sure you pick this up if you're any kind of fairytale girlie or someone who enjoys gothic spooky books!

My first book by this author and I’m hooked! I don’t normally like horror but this really wasn’t too bad. Very atmospheric, nicely done characters. It was great!

This was my first Erin A. Craig books and oh my gosh, it was so good!!!
I just finished reading this and I don’t know what to do with myself
This was so well-written, with amazing world-building and a lovely atmosphere.
The world and dynamics of the magic system were so unique!
right from the start of the book, you’re hooked and fall in love with all the characters, feeling so much empathy for everything hazel goes through. And yet, despite all of hazels heartbreak and upbringing/adversity, she still loves everyone so much and is able to forgive.
I’ve seen some of the complaints about this book, but I lived the characters so much and I did think the ending was super fitting. all the messages subtly portrayed in this book were so beautiful as well.
I loved absolutely everything about this book (i'm also slightly in love with leo now...)
this was everything-heartbreaking and hauntingly beautiful

An excellent story. Extremely well-written, likeable heroine, and unique world. I loved the world-building. My only gripes are that the ending wasn't as strong as the beginning - it felt a bit underdeveloped and rushed, especially the ending sequence with the death of the king and the "seer." Overall, though, extremely enjoyable.

Speechless. This was such a great read. The atmosphere, the characters, the dynamics of the magic system... all read in one sitting because I couldn't let go.

"This is the story of Hazel, a young healer navigating a ruthless court to save the life of the king, grappling with a pantheon of gods with questionable agendas as she fights for agency and true love in her own life as the goddaughter of none other than Death himself.

All gifts come with a price."

The Thirteenth Child by Erin A. Craig is a new to me series and author and I was intrigued by the blurb and cover.
I fell into the book quickly and look forward to what happens next.

Huge thank you to Netgalley and Random House/Delacorte Press for approving my e-arc request! This is my first time reading anything by Erin A Craig and I was a little hesitant at first because I’ve heard her books lean heavily into horror, but the description sounded so good I decided I needed to be brave. While there were certainly horror elements in this book, it wasn’t overwhelming at all, and the writing was so beautiful! I’m definitely gonna look into her backlog of other books now!

The Thirteenth Child had a great premise that I really enjoyed, but I was left pretty disappointed by the second half. It honestly felt like watching a movie on fast forward - bare glimpses of the drama and love story with no actual in depth exploration. This book definitely could have been a 5 star read for me if the conflict and Hazel and Leo's romance had actually been put on the page and not just glossed over with an underexplained happy ending.

I really enjoyed this new installment by Erin Craig. The storybook setting with a more Grimm Brothers gothic feel is terrific and the story doesn't lose pace throughout. While the main character does make some questionable decisions, the side characters and plot more than make up for it. The ending feels rushed but I overall really liked the book.

This was such a beautifully gothic and slightly horrific story. I was absolutely mesmerized by the unique prose and the life of our powerhouse of a main character, Hazel.

Immediately I fell in love with Hazel and Merrick's characters. Erin did a wonderful job making me smile and also feel sad within the very first chapter. Hazel's story starts out very sad and lonely. We see her experience as the thirteen child in her poor family and how she is treated with such cruelty. My heart broke for her and even I began to get impatient for her godfather to come and get her.

When he finally did, it was so intriguing how strange Merrick's "love" for Hazel is since he is not human. Such a unique twist. You can tell as the reader that he loves her with his whole heart but his love is not nearly as unconditional as most humans' love is.

All throughout the first 50% of this book I was hooked and I ached with loneliness for Hazel. She was lonely in a family of fifteen and was lonely all by herself. I absolutely loved following her childhood and how her and Merrick's bond began.

Around the 50% mark I have a note that just says "Wow, this book got horrifying real fast. Heartbreaking too." And I can still clearly remember exactly what the moment was.

I really enjoyed the entire gothic vibe from this book and how beautiful the writing is. I also loved the characters we met. Hazel's relationships with Euphemia and Bellatrice were so cute and fun!

--- Things I didn't like (spoilers-skip to the END) ---
As I said above, I really enjoyed the first half of the book. However, there were things within the final half that I really didn't enjoy. Thing number one was Leo. I found Hazel and Leo's interactions cute or even funny at some points, but I never felt any true chemistry between them. For me there was no tension or true yearning, including in Hazel's thoughts.

So imagine how shocked and confused I was when Leo returns from the army and she's suddenly head over heels for him—Also, him leaving at the end of one chapter and returning in the beginning of the next kind of eliminated any impact of him being gone. Since, for us readers, we didn't really spend any true time away from him. BUT what was really jarring was how suddenly in love Hazel was with him when he returned. Maybe if he we had gotten to see her thoughts after reading his letter and felt her confusion or longing during his absence, then maybe I could understand. We got none of that. It had a very insta-lovey feel to it.

The ending of the book was wild and so intriguing. HOWEVER, I thought we'd get more of a confrontation between Hazel and her godfather for her using her last candle to save another life. But no, absolutely nothing? I also really thought there'd be some other solution aside from such an obvious one. I did think how they saved Euphemia was cute, with their candles flames all switching.

I just don't feel much for Leo. I almost wish Hazel would have found her freedom on her own, maybe in some confrontation with Merrick, and that Leo and her had just stayed friends or even a smaller side plot.

Lastly, I don't like the huge time jump between their candles switching and Hazel's happy ending. We didn't get to see Euphemia survive, nor the fallout of the King's death and the shock of the truth behind Margaux. Also, how are Bertie and Margaux connected? I almost wonder if thats a loose end.
--- END OF SPOILERS ---


I want to thank Delacorte Press and Random House Children for approving me for this e-ARC! It was overall a very enjoyable read and I will forever be thinking about the Shivers.

I'll admit, I struggle to find the words to do this justice. Erin A. Craig has such a unique writing style that I have never encountered before. It's wonderful.

If I had to give a short description for this book, it would be hauntingly wonderful. Craig builds such unique worlds with intriguing magic systems. I've previously read House of Salt and Sorrows, and this book is just as gripping as that one was, if not more. She builds the tension and mystery slowly and grippingly.

I loved all of the characters in this book, especially Hazel. They were each complex and well-thought. The plot was a bit on the slower side, but the details and world-building kept you hooked and wanting to know more. This is the kind of book where, once you finish, you just need to sit with it awhile.

I would recommend this book to dark fantasy lovers and horror fans, though it wasn't too creepy for me, and I scare very easily. It strikes a nice balance between character and plot that it hard to do, so kudos to the author. My only complaint is I want more books set in this world, which was my same complaint when I finished House of Salt and Sorrows.

A thank you to NetGalley from whom I received an advanced copy for the purpose of reviewing. It was greatly appreciated.

rating: 3.5 stars

My first Erin A. Craig book! I’ve been wanting to pick up books by this author since House of Salt and Sorrows came out and it finally happened. If this is what her writing is like in all her books then I’ll definitely be coming back for more.

If you’re looking for a gothic fantasy novel that’s dark, atmospheric and will have you invested then look no further! Above all, it’s a stand-alone. Erin A. Craig had me captivated from the first few chapters. I didn’t totally understand the concept of the book but I still couldn’t stop reading. Reading about the family dynamics and struggles the main character had to face with the parental figures in her life was heartbreaking and the ending really made it come full circle.

I did have a few issues as well which is why it’s not a higher rating. I felt like the pacing was a bit off because the book would keep jumping to new timeline and it took a minute for me a adjust and gave me whiplash. I wasn’t entirely interested in the romance either to be honest, even though Leo was adorable.

Overall, definitely recommend checking this out, especially if masquerade balls interest you!

I loved this book. I love the whole aspect of the road to hell being paved with good intentions, and no matter how many times she would try to do the right thing, it always ended up back firing on her.
Things happen for a reason and even if we cannot understand the grand plan it is usually a good one

*Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review*

So where do I even begin with this book??? From the start, I loved the premise and the idea of the thirteenth child being gifted with magic abilities. In this case, the MC, Hazel, is a gifted healer and the book follows along with her life and her adventures as a gifted healer. I also loved the idea that she is the goddaughter of Death and felt that the dynamic and relationship between the two was really well written.

The twists and unexpected turns were everything you could ask for in a book and I am so glad that I could read it, even though the end made me shed a tear or two. The only piece that disappointed me was how abrupt the ending felt. While the ending was perfect, it just came a bit too suddenly when I wanted a bit more of a lead-up and more on Hazel after the story's climax.

I can’t wait for you all to be able to read this book when it comes out in September!

First, I want to say this was a really fun concept and a really interesting world. Unfortunately, the pacing kind of ruined it for me! I understand why it was spaced out as it was, but it felt disjointed and the 3rd act was entirely too short leaving the climax/resolution lackluster.
Kind of a bummer! This could have been really good.

the first half dragged a bit but i literally ate the last 40% up. my only major gripe is that a main plot point is kind of solved off page? besides that — the atmosphere, the characters mwah mwah

An interesting fairy tale, for certain! I had not heard of this Grimm's tale, but this book was lush with magic. I greatly enjoyed it, and can't wait to recommend it!

This was my first Erin A. Craig novel, and it most certainly will not be my last. She’s been on my radar for a couple of years now. It’s just really hard to borrow a copy of her books, since there are always so many holds on them! 😃

I enjoyed this, and I happily immersed myself in Hazel’s very unusual life. Her relationship with her godfather is also extremely unusual, and watching it unfold fully captured my interest.

I’m going to stop there, since you should go in blind, but if you like fairytale retellings, you’re sure to be entertained!

My one complaint is that the book seems a bit long. It almost felt like two different stories, and I think taking out a side plot would’ve made the entire story more cohesive. My two cents.

Thank you to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for an eARC! I may have actually squealed when I found out I had gotten it.

I am writing this review voluntarily.

So exceptional. I read Craig's first novel and enjoyed it but wasn't bowled over. This one is absolutely amazing. The worldbuilding, the characterization, the relationships among the characters, everything is so beautifully done. It's a perfect fairytale retelling and also a perfect story on its own. The ending is so beautiful I was teary.

Although the beginning was a bit slow, the story picked up the pace as the mystery of Hazel's family's past builds suspense to the very end. Regular challenges youth face at school, with peer relationships, and personal/family expectations are seen in the plot helping the reader connect. I can't wait for the next book in the series to come out.