This was my first book by Erin A. Craig and I absolutely loved it. I was enraptured by the story. Every character was interesting and compelling. Hazel was an amazing main character and I loved reading her story. This is a beautiful world with a fascinating religion revolving around multiple deities. I love fictional religions, especially those that are polytheistic and don’t relate strongly to Christianity.

My only wish was for more story! I would have loved to get more time between Hazel and Bellatrice or Euphemia. I also would have loved to learn more about the Holy First. I kept expecting that deity to make an appearance in the story.

Thank you to Erin A. Craig and Random House via NetGalley for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

5 Stars

ADORED. Erin Craig can only write bangers and ones that are so unique and incredible that you can't help but gobble them up!

I had never heard of the fairytale Grandfather Death, that this story is a retelling of, so it made for an even more exciting read. I don't want to give too much of the plot away, but when I tell you we get more than one romance in this story, I'm not lying. And when we get one of the most perfect endings I have ever read, I'm ONCE AGAIN not lying.

Pick this one up ASAP. You will NOT regret it.

Hazel is the thirteenth child in her family and also the goddaughter of Death, Merrick. While ignored for most of her childhood, Merrick suddenly appears and tells her she is destined to become a healer. Once Hazel is trained, she gains a reputation for her healing skills and is invited to the royal court to heal the king. There she must navigate the politics while also trying to figure out the king's illness. Overall, an engaging fairy tale retelling with a lot of world building and twists, although the romance aspect was the weaker part of the plot.

The Thirteenth Child by Erin A. Craig is an enchanting and haunting fairy tale retelling that breathes new life into the traditional tales we love. Hazel Trépas, born as the thirteenth child in a struggling family, is promised to Merrick, the god of death. As her godfather, Merrick grants her the rare gift of being able to identify precise cures—a blessing with an ominous edge. Hazel also senses when a patient is beyond saving, forced to end their suffering, a role that begins to burden her deeply.

Craig masterfully constructs Hazel’s journey from a neglected child to a renowned healer in the kingdom, casting Merrick as both mentor and harbinger of fate. The complexity of Hazel's character is one of the book's greatest strengths; her struggles with duty versus personal morality, especially as she faces the dilemma of whether to defy Death to save the king, are deeply compelling.

The story balances dark themes with moments of warmth and humor, particularly in Hazel’s interactions with Merrick and Leo, a sarcastic prince who challenges her in unexpected ways. The Thirteenth Child excels as a dark, romantasy-laden tale, delving into moral ambiguity and the cost of defiance against fate. Fans of Craig’s previous works, as well as lovers of richly developed characters and morally complex fantasy, will find this story both captivating and thought-provoking.

Rounded to 4.5 stars.

CONTENT WARNING: parental neglect, blood, death, parental death, grief, murder

I first became familiar with Craig’s writing with the release of House of Salt and Sorrow. This is the fourth book I have read by her, and it’s a solid bet that I’ll enjoy anything she writes. I’m especially likely to enjoy a book by her if it is a fairy tale retelling. House of Salt and Sorrow was based on Twelve Dancing Princesses, while this book is a retelling of Godfather Death, but I wasn’t familiar with either fairy tale beforehand. If you aren’t either, have no fear, you can still fully enjoy the story without knowing the fairy tale.

Craig creates an exceptionally compelling cast of characters, starting with young Hazel Trépas. As the thirteenth child to be born to her parents, who were already struggling to care for their brood of children, she wasn’t exactly a welcomed addition. Instead, she is promised to the god of death, known as Merrick to her but the Dreaded End to everyone else. But no one knows when he would actually come to take her, and she suffers for years in a home where she is openly neglected. My heart broke for Hazel, and I was so angry about the way her family treated her. Some of the other characters really stood out, in particular one of her siblings and Merrick himself.

Hazel’s life changes dramatically when she leaves her family to go with Merrick. It’s obvious that while he has extensive abilities, knowing what a young girl was not one of them, and Hazel deserved an award for explaining so much about what humans need on a daily basis to him without losing her patience. He offers her an opportunity to change the course of her life, and she wisely takes it. She is trained as a healer and is given the gift of not only knowing what is wrong, but how to cure it … except for the people marked for Merrick, and she is tasked to end their suffering.

Things seem to be going well for Hazel—she moved from the barn to a cottage of her own, and from there to astounding heights due to her successful care. She struggles with being a healer but having to end the suffering of those who are destined to die at that time. I can understand where she’s coming from, because that would be tough for me too; anyone trained in some kind of health care is tasked to first do no harm. A healer who follows their own moral compass could easily have had difficulty ending a life, which brings to mind the topic of what is actually doing no harm to someone who is dying a slow, painful death; is it releasing them from their suffering or trying to intervene to manage their symptoms as best as possible? I suspect that everyone would have their own ideas, based on their own experiences, beliefs, and morals.

It isn’t until Hazel starts making poor choices that I wanted to reach into the book and shake her. She starts down that slippery slope of doing what she feels is right rather than heeding the will of the gods, and learns a really tough lesson. For so much of the book, she really demonstrates wisdom beyond her years and good judgment, making the times she makes poor judgment calls stand out as a significant change in behavior. While I sometimes didn’t love the choices that she made, but I respected that she was willing to accept the consequences for doing what she felt was right.

Overall, this is an outstanding story that stands up to my expectations from her other books. A good fairy tale retelling is irresistible to me, and I loved what Craig did with the story here (however the original goes). I think what appeals to me about fairy tale retellings over the actual fairy tales is because retellings flesh out a tale that takes up a couple of pages, and breathe life into the characters and the story, making it feel more realistic (at least as far as fantasy can), populated by a cast who jumps off the page. Although it is a YA book, it never felt overly YA. I highly recommend this one if you’ve enjoyed any of Craig’s other stories, if you’re a sucker for fairy tale retellings like me, and you love seeing strong female characters take charge of their own life and whatever comes along with that.

This is not as dark as her other books but it is just as beautiful. Like her other books though I loved how real the world was in this. I had never heard of the story Grandfather Death that this is based on but I will definitely be checking it out.

I really enjoyed this book. There are ghosts, gods, weird magic, crazy plague-like illnesses… There’s a lot going on throughout this book and I mean that in the best way. I love that this goes through so much of Hazel’s life, we get to see her in so many different situations that end up shaping her.
The characters are vivid and wonderful and I loved them so much. Merrick is such an interesting character in his own right and I very much enjoyed trying to figure him out, too. This will definitely be something I'm going to end up rereading later on too!

Another amazing book by Erin Craig!! I love absolutely everything she writes, and this book is no different. I loved the twists and turns this book took me on, I especially loved the main character, Hazel. I thought it was so interesting and unique to make her Death's goddaughter instead of a love interest like so many other books. The world building in this book is so moody and atmospheric, I absolutely loved it. Another 5 stars for a Gothic book by Ms Craig!!

Absolutely loved every minute reading this book! I loved the characters, the plot and the writing. This is a story that will stay with me for a very long time and I cannot wait to buy a physical copy! Probably my favorite book I’ve read this month and a top book this year!

Hazel is born a thirteenth child and is claimed by the Dreaded End, aka God of Death. Under his tutelage she becomes a great healer and can see how to cure any illness, but this gift also comes with a cost - Hazel can see when a cure won't work, and someone has been claimed by death. It is then up to her to follow through with death's directive. When Hazel is asked to go against the will of the gods, she must decide who she really is and what is truly important. This started out a bit slow for me but really picked up in the second half. Another great fantasy from Erin A. Craig!

This was definitely an enjoyable read and was a good fall read - a girl’s godfather is Death and it has great gothic vibes! The beginning of the book was fantastic for me, as we learned about the world through Hazel’s birth story and then jump back in time to see her as a small child. It really helped introduce the world and build empathy for small Hazel. The middle of the book felt like a lull and that is where the book lost me. There’s a training montage, we are introduced to deathsheads (as a note, I would love to know more about these and why certain people are “chosen”), and ghosts begin following Hazel around (another note, why did this happen? We aren’t ever really given an answer as to why this occurs and then they just go away like everything is fine?). Once we shifted to the palace setting, it the pace picked up a bit as we try to uncover the mysterious illness The Shivers (again, I would like to know more about that). However, in general, the book felt a bit disjointed. There was so much the author obviously wanted to share but that led to some parts being overly descriptive while others are more of loose ends. The romance felt a bit rushed for me (they go from mean spirited to relatively neutral to maybe crushing to 11 months of distance with no letters to proclaiming their love for each other out of nowhere). In general, this was a fun read; however, I was left wanting more.

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

Perfect for this spooky season. THE THIRTEENTH CHILD had the most perfect vibes. Very atmospheric. Definitely a book that should be on your tbr.

This spooky story is perfect for fall reading! Hazel is the thirteeth in line of children in her family - her very poor family - and is claimed as goddaughter by Merrick (who is Death). Merrick raises her and treats her well overall. He teaches her to become a healer and she eventually ends up being called to heal the king. SO good!

Absolutely immaculate vibes. the spooky fantasy with a twist of mythology and imperialism was exactly what i needed this autumn. Craig is a master of atmosphere and slowly unfolding a story that will stay with you for a long time.

Inspired by the Grimm fairytale "Godfather Death" this story follows a girl who has never belonged searching for her own family as she grows, and it doesn't help that her godfather just happens to be the god of the Dreaded End. Hazel is born as the 13th child in her family, and 13th children are considered extremely rare and meant to be given to the gods. The god that claims Hazel is Merrick, the god of the Dreaded End, yet while she was promised to spend her life with him he meets her and leaves her with her family promising to come back some day. For a girl in a poor family with 12 other siblings... theres not enough mouths to feed and the resentment towards Hazel from her family begins..... and she spends most of her childhood alone, waiting for Merrick to return, On her 13th birthday he does, and he takes her with him telling her how he's planned her future: she will become a gifted healer and has gifted her with the ability to instantly deduce the exact cure needed to treat the sick. Yet with every gift comes a price and for Hazel that means despite being able to see the cure needed... for those who are marked for death and with no cure it is up to Hazel to cure them... but permanently ending their suffering and killing them. As Hazel grows and takes on more patients, the ghosts that haunt her begin to grow and when she is brought into a royal court things only begin to take a bigger turn as a rakish prince shows interest in her and she'll be faced with the consequences of saving someone who was meant to die... and going against the gods. This was definitely a Grimm-esque fairytale and one that I think anyone who enjoys a fairytale will enjoy. It definitely can be slow at times but you do get to see Hazel grow (albeit slowly) throughout the novel and I enjoyed the ending of it. Its got a great fairytale vibe to it and one that will be a cozy read with a warm cup of tea on an afternoon.

Release Date: September 24,2024

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Random House Children's | Delacorte Press for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

As a fan of fairytale retellings, and of Grimms tales especially, this was such a wonderful read. Atmospheric, dark and gothic, Craig's writing is beautiful. Thank you netgalley for the arc, LOVED this one!

I LOVED this novel by Erin Craig. This is the second title I've read by this author and I just can't get enough! Her magical realism, mixed with a bit a romance is just perfect for my romantasy tastes. This one did not disappoint and I will highly recommend it to any patrons or friends who enjoy fantasy novels with a bit of romance mixed in. I loved Hazel and I loved Leo and the ending was swoonworthy and adorable.

I have yet to read an Erin Craig fantasy that I have not enjoyed. Incredibly atmospheric and unique takes on classic fairy tales. SO so good!

I would like to thank NetGalley and Random House Children's for allowing me to read an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

First off, I am a HUGE Erin A. Craig fan and love her fairytale retellings. I was so excited to find out about this new book that I just had to read it. I was definitely not disappointed; this one is pure gold!

Hazel is the 13th child in a poor family and is claimed as goddaughter by Merrick/The Dreaded End (Death himself). he puts her on her path to become a Healer, and bestows upon her many gifts, including the ability to see the cures she needs to use to treat her people. But she must also end lives that cannot be saved, a responsibility she realizes she doesn't want. Because, you know, all gifts come with a price.

Her healing path eventually brings her to the royal court, where she is tasked with curing the King of a deadly disease. It is here she meets Leo and becomes so entwined with the royal family that her life and future may be changed forever.

This book is SO GOOD! The pacing is perfect, and it immediately pulls you in and takes you on a wild ride until you reach the end. The story does a great job of making the reader feel like they're in the story, and empathize with Hazel's emotional journey. You can't help rooting for her as she tries to save people; often going against the wishes of Merrick, and the gods. Hazel has such a good heart, and she is often torn between doing what she feels is the right thing and what the right thing actually is (in terms of destinies).

If you love dark fairy tales, retellings, romantasy and/or epic fantasy then you will LOVE this book. I highly recommend it (along with Craig's other work, particularly the Sisters of the Salt series). I will definitely be recommending this one to my YA book club and all my fantasy/romantasy-loving friends! You don't want to miss this book!

Another child? a Thirteenth? No! The impoverished family decides they cannot feed another so they offer their thirteenth child to the gods. Merrick, basically the god of death, wins hthe bidding war and becomes Hazel's godfather. Then he disappears for 12 years. Years Hazel spends as an unwanted child anxiously awaiting rescue by her godfather. Finally he arrives and explains his plans for her. She is to become a great healer with a side gig of easing the passing of those destined to die. This is what Merrick has planned but will Hazel cooperate? The story is magical, Hazel is delightful. I loved the relationship between her and Merrick.