The thirteenth child of impoverished parents, Hazel grows up ignored. Promised to the god of death, she grows up an outsider to her own family. And when The Dreaded One finally comes for her, he expects more from her life than any mortal would.
When Hazel achieves fame as a healer, she garners the attention of the highest powers. Her skill puts her at the whims of royalty and throws her into the game that the gods play with mortals as pawns.
This is a fairy tale in the darkest sense. The horrors and the dilemmas that Hazel face made me want to look away at times. That’s how compelling this is. Yet the writing is too perfect to miss a word.

Erin A. Craig does an exceptional job at dropping me into a story and then unspooling all of the details along the way, like breadcrumbs on a trail. Not one should be ignored. Her writing in The Thirteenth Child is the atmospheric, lyrical style I’ve come to love from her. I appreciate the internal dialogue of our fair narrator and its contrast to what she actually says or does. More fairy tales from the past would benefit from knowing exactly what the characters are really thinking! What a lovely book.

The fact that I ATE this book up in under 24 hours!! The politics? Writing style? YESSSSS! Read it NOW NOW PLEASE I BEG YOU!

4.5 stars
Phenomenal story with beautiful prose. This was my first by this author and I was stunned. I will certainly be reading more.

Erin A. Craig's The Thirteenth Child is a spellbinding tale that immerses readers in a world of dark fantasy, intricate court politics, and profound moral dilemmas. The story of Hazel Trépas, a young healer grappling with her extraordinary destiny, is captivating from beginning to end.

Hazel's life, marked by her status as the thirteenth child promised to a god, is both extraordinary and tragic. Erin masterfully portrays Hazel's internal struggle with her unique gift: the ability to identify the exact cure for any illness, coupled with the harrowing knowledge of when death is certain. This duality makes Hazel an incredibly relatable and empathetic protagonist, and her journey is both heart-wrenching and inspiring.

The rich world-building in The Thirteenth Child brings to life a kingdom on the edge of crisis, filled with gods whose motives are as mysterious as they are powerful. Erin's depiction of the royal court and the pantheon of gods adds depth and complexity to the narrative, creating a vivid and immersive setting for Hazel's story.

Leo, the rakish prince, provides a perfect counterpoint to Hazel. His initial disdain for everything around him evolves into a deeper connection with Hazel, and their relationship is both sweet and tension-filled. The chemistry between them is palpable, and their interactions are filled with witty banter and heartfelt moments.

One of the most compelling aspects of The Thirteenth Child is its exploration of the moral implications of power. Hazel's struggle between following her godfather Merrick's plans and forging her path is deeply resonant. The stakes are incredibly high, especially when Hazel faces the ultimate test: saving a king marked for death. Erin navigates these themes with finesse, prompting readers to reflect on destiny, sacrifice, and love.

Erin's lyrical writing style enhances the story's enchanting quality, drawing readers into a world where every choice has significant consequences and every character is richly developed. The Thirteenth Child is a beautifully crafted novel that will captivate fans of dark fairy tales, romantic fantasy, and epic fantasy.

The Thirteenth Child is a must-read for anyone who loves a story that blends magic, romance, and deep moral questions. Erin A. Craig has created a breathtaking novel that will stay with readers long after they turn the final page.

Content Warning: body horror, death, violence, illness, neglectful parents, poison, grief

I didn’t know what to expect from this book but I love this author’s work and this did not disappoint at all. It surprised me and made me fall in love with Hazel and Merrick. This might be my favorite book of 2024.

I had to look up what this book was a retelling of and found that it’s a retelling of The Brother’s Grimm story called Godfather Death. I had never heard of it so I was invested in Hazel’s story right away. She’s the thirteenth child in a family who was too poor to take care of her. Three different gods come to offer to take care of her, but it’s Merrick, God of Death who has the honor of being her godfather. Their story is so complicated, yet morbidly sweet. He takes care of her the only way how an immortal god knows how and it’s endearing and strange because everyone is afraid of death. But not Hazel.

He gives her the life he promised her bio parents but it’s not an easy life. She is needed in the community for her healing talents and power, but because death is inevitable in a mortal’s life, she also has to make hard decisions like helping her patients seek peace by ending their lives. Hazel experiences love, friendship and even a found family but betrayal and making mistakes of her own to the detriment of her already fragile and strange relationship with Merrick. She also learns about the consequences of her actions.

The romance is sweet, the secondary characters all provided something to the story and I just enjoyed how the story made me think about and question things about life like love, death, parenting, power, religion, grief, making decisions and facing consequences. This book really has everything – it has paranormal elements, fantasy, romance, and even body horror (it’s gross but I think tolerable). And it made me cry at the end because there is just something about Merrick and Hazel that touched my heart. Him yearning to fill a void in him (as her godfather) and her needed a void to be filled because her birth parents neglected her.

My Final Thoughts:


I love this book so much and I’ll have to buy a hardcopy to have on my shelf so I can reread it again. It’s beautifully written and moved me to tears by the end. It’s my favorite book of 2024 so far!

I absolutely flew through this one. What a great story of life, death, growth and power. The gods imagined in this story were some of the most interesting I’ve seen. I’d love a whole book about the Divided ones and another about the Holy First, although I would have to be partial to the dreaded End, I imagine each story would give us so much more insight into this side characters and I think it would be fascinating.

Big thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for the chance to review this book pre-release. Dear LORD I legitimately shed a tear reading the last chapter of this book. Ms. Craig has the most beautiful writing style, incredibly atmospheric and almost like a creepy lullaby. I DEVOURED this book in just over 24 hours, and am so gut wrenchingly upset I need to wait even longer now to read anything new from her. Hazel was the best MC, and Merrick was everything in a father figure that she deserved. I loved the dash of romance, the glistening body horror that we've come to love & expect from this author. Thank you a thousand times over to Random House for gracing me with this ARC, it's truly one of the very best books I've read in 2024. A more formal review will be available on my IG/TikTok and Goodreads.

Hauntingly beautiful! The thirteenth child enthrals with its complex characters and lush, atmospheric prose. The writing delves deep into their struggles and triumphs, painting a vivid portrait of resilience and growth. A captivating read that lingers in the mind, showcasing Craig's skill in crafting both gripping narrative and richly textured emotions. I absolutely loved reading it.

If you like fairytale retellings, this one is something new, a little dark, and different. Especially if you like any of Craig’s other books, highly recommended.

Gorgeous! Stunning! Absolutely gripping! I absolutely adored Hazel and Leopold, but I enjoyed the relationship between Hazel and Merrick even more. I wanted to put them all into a little bubble and keep them safe. I cannot wait to reread this book on its release date!!

What a lovely story. So many themes present in this book that are so applicable to a young reader. I wish there had been more to the book after the climax. I wanted to know more about Hazel and Leo.

Oh, my heart. You know when you start a book and you realize that this story will be with you for the rest of your life? This is how The Thirteenth Child was for me. I absolutely adored this story.

I would recommend The Thirteenth Child to those who love fairytale retellings and everything that comes with it!

All gifts come with a price.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's Books for this ARC!

Thank you, Netgalley, for the ARC of this book!
This book has to be one of my top favorite three books of 2024 easily. Do yourself a favor and make sure to pick up a copy when it come out you will not be disappointed! I managed to finish this entire book in days and then ugly cried at the ending like a baby!

It is not lost on me that I have been gifted this book on the Eve of my own very important birthday and I can proudly say Erin A Craig does not miss.

Something about old gods claiming children has always been a delight of mine to read and when Hazel is marked by Death we join her on a path of knowledge and growth as she learns how to heal the sick and bring mercy to the dying. When her talents reach the crown she is summoned to care for the ailing king but finds that more than one God is meddling with the fates and her time may be running out.

I adored every second of this book! Hazel was so lovely and her entire story being that of a child not wanted to then becoming someone who could manage the silence if it meant caring for others and I really enjoyed her character from start to finish. Each interaction she has with others was so strong and it was easy to love her and want to see where she ended up.

The plot was strong I was getting a little nervous (and I know I shouldn’t given how talented this writer is) as we inched closer to the ending but I was very happy with how it all turned out. We spend a lot of time building the characters in a way that it seems as though the actual time spent with the king is a short story one may tell before bedtime out of a series of grand adventures and for me that was the best way to tell a story that began as a fairytale itself.

I will forever and always be a fan of this author and any book she may write and as always I am eager for the next to join their sisters on my shelves.

*special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**

I was pleasantly surprised by most of this, sure the main character is a bit too impetuous to be wholly likeable, and there are one too many convenient coincidences, but, all in all...
The last, like, three pages were so hopelessly maudlin I took off a star it probably deserved.

Erin A. Craig is masterful at writing dark retellings. The Thirteenth Child is a retelling of one of the lesser known Brothers Grimm stories, Godfather Death. If you know this story, The Thirteenth Child follows the original pretty well, but with much more depth.
When Hazel's parents get pregnant with their thirteenth child, they know they can't take care of her. They make a bargain with the "Dreaded End" to take her off their hands. Hazel, trained as a healer is faced with difficult choices and must decide what kind of life she wants to live.
I loved watching Hazel grow into herself. The mythology surrounding the gods was really interesting too.
I couldn't put this one down.

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House for an early copy for review.

Erin A. Craig has left me speechless with The Thirteenth Child. I was first introduced to this author with House of Salt and Sorrows. Then I read Small Favors and I was absolutely blown away. The Thirteenth Child is now a contender for the top spot of favorite standalones! (Small Favors is actually my number one!)

The Thirteenth Child is a dark fantasy with light romance. I was absolutely on the edge of my seat with anticipation with every turn of the page. The writing flows so beautifully and there are scenes that will have you absolutely trapped into the novel, unable to put it down to pause for a breath of air. Hazel is such an amazing character and I love the growth of Leopold and Merrick, our cake loving godfather, too. This is one preorder you won’t want to miss out on!

I still sigh, dabbing my tears, even though it's been nearly an hour since I finished this book! I don't have enough words to express my adoration! It's like déjà vu—each time I read another Erin A. Craig book, my life just stops. I cancel everything to give my full attention to the book. If I can’t read to the end, my mind keeps wandering back, making it impossible to concentrate on meetings, writing, laundry, dinner, or even remembering where I am or what time zone I’m in.

She’s the queen of reimagining the Grimm Brothers’ dark stories, adding extra essence, sentimentality, vision, and well-developed characters. This time, she retold the Grimm Brothers’ dark and sinister fairytale “Godfather Death,” revolving around young healer Hazel Trepas. She is the 13th child of her family, left behind in poverty, neglect, and emotional abuse until her godfather, Dreaded End itself, Merrick, returns to reveal her unique gift—which comes with a high price. She’s born to be a powerful healer, but that doesn’t mean she can save every life, even those she loves.

At 18, she’s sent to the ruthless court to save King Marnaigne, who suffers from a mysterious disease related to gold liquid moving inside his body like a worm. The disease is contagious and has claimed the lives of others, including a priest and a maid who contacted the king. Hazel must use her powers to achieve an almost impossible healing mission while dealing with a pantheon of gods with secret agendas to shape royal politics. Along the way, she meets the rakish and sarcastic Prince Leopold again, who awakens different feelings inside her. Her godfather always told her to follow the rules and showed her a deathshed of candles, each representing a life and its determined longevity. If she interferes with fate to save a life that’s destined to end, it could affect other people’s fates like a domino effect and ruin their destinies.

But now there’s so much at stake. Without saving the king, she cannot leave, but this means disobeying her powerful godfather’s wishes. Can you defy Death without expecting consequences? Can Hazel take risks for the greater good, or will her actions bring more chaos to the royal family than she can imagine, earning the wrath of her ruthless godfather?

This dark but engaging and creative version of a fairytale is well-written with surprising twists and a game of gods with secret agendas, reminiscent of GOT-style schemes. The profound, dysfunctional, but unique relationship between Dreaded End and Hazel blossoms in each chapter. Dreaded End seems like a cruel, neglectful, dark father with compelling missions for Hazel, but he shows his affection in his own possible ways. Hazel knows how to be alone, having felt invisible in her crowded family that neglected her needs. Even though her Godfather provides a beautiful house with all her needs met, she still seeks love, affection, and a sense of belonging.

Because of her healing powers, Hazel lives a secluded life, feeling loneliness to her bones. But what if, in the most unexpected place, with the most unexpected person, she finds love destined to be doomed? Could she be brave enough to defy her Godfather’s wishes, choose herself first, challenge her own destiny, and rewrite her future?

I’m still absorbing the last whirlwind chapters of the book, which made me dizzy with twists and heart-stopping cliffhangers. The most epic part of the book is surely the epilogue, which warmed my heart and made me cry.

I know I’m rambling, so I’ll cut it short. I loved this beautifully written, powerful fairytale that tugged at my heartstrings, earning a well-deserved five stars. Thank you to Erin A. Craig, who never ceases to amaze and impress me with her powerful writing. Her versions of Grimm Brothers’ tales are even better than the originals.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children’s / Delacorte Press for sharing this incredible fantasy book’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Another masterful fairytale retelling from Erin A. Craig! She transforms the story of “Godfather Death” into one full of destiny, choice, consequence, and love. I adored everything about it and could not put it down!

This story is unlike any of Craig’s previous works. If you’re expecting another YA horror novel, especially given the title and subject matter, I caution you that’s not what this story is about. It’s much broader and more elaborate - spanning years, with many different settings and relationships.

This story is about life. Hazel’s life and the many people she comes into contact with - her parents and siblings, the people of Alletois, the court of King Marnaigne and the royal family, the priests devoted to The Holy First and the other deities, and the Gods themselves. The one constant is the relationship between Hazel and her godfather, Merrick. I absolutely loved who they were to each other. This is Craig at her very best, bringing vivid, nuanced characters to life with her incomparable storytelling.

Thank you to Netgalley, Delacorte Press, and Random House for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.