Every time I pick up an Erin A. Craig book, I know I'm in for a wonderful gothic, spooky ride. The Thirteenth Child is the perfect spooky gothic read for this fall season. If you love dark fantasy with a touch of romance, this book is for you.

I find myself facing a near impossible task: writing a review for one of my favorite reads of the year. I find that writing a review for a good book is more difficult than writing a review for a book I have critiques for, so bear with me!

It took me too long to get around to this book. I’ve had the ARC for a while but failed to read it prior to the publishing date. But, because of that fact, I was able to get my hands on a physical copy of the book (which is gorgeous—I love the gold sprayed edges!) and devoured the story in a matter of days. If there is one genre where Erin Craig’s writing shines, it’s gothic fantasy.
Going into this, I knew it was a gothic fantasy novel. But what I didn’t realize is that this is a retelling of a Brother’s Grimm story, “Godfather Death.” (If you haven’t read that fairytale, you can find it for free on Project Gutenburg.) Once I had that piece of information, I immediately put this book down to familiarize myself with the source material. And I’m glad I did! Doing so allowed me to pick out the pillars of the story Craig pulled from the Brother’s Grimm tale and into her own novel.

The plotting, pacing, and structure of this novel is unique. I’ve read adult fantasy novels that span a large portion of a character’s life, but that setup isn’t common in young adult. It was refreshing to read a young adult novel taking us through multiple plot arcs with the main character. While it was easy to see where one part of the story began and ended, I didn’t mind that so much. What did surprise me was how long it took the plot to arrive at the main synopsis—that was around the 50% mark. Craig gave the readers a lot of time to spend with Hazel (and Merrick), which shows how much Hazel needed to learn before she was ready for the final plot arc. (A plot arc that had multiple twists and turns, all the way to the end! I was sitting on the edge of my seat throughout that ending.)

The romance—I can see some readers saying that it was too quick, too underdeveloped. For me, however, it was perfect. The story needed the time to help Hazel and Leopold develop into better versions of themselves. This story isn’t about the romance. It’s about finding your own agency in a world that’s predetermined what you’re supposed to be.

It’s easy to call this novel my new favorite Erin A Craig novel, and that’s after she set the bar impossibly high with Small Favors! Craig balanced the dreamy atmosphere against cryptic gods and antagonistic humans. The plot propelled itself along and was near impossible to look away from. (I found this novel impossible to put down—I lost track of how many times I told myself “One last chapter” and then read half a dozen more.) Erin A Craig’s writing continues to blow away my expectations with every new novel and I look forward to reading more retellings of hers in the future.

(Also, Merrick is a cinnamon roll and must be protected.)

TW:</b> childhood neglect and abuse

Thank you to Delacorte Press and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book.

This one was such a great book! This was my first book by Erin A. Craig and it certainly won’t be my last!

The thirteenth child was about a girl who at birth was unwanted by her family. She was sent out when Merrick aka. The God of Death comes back to her and gives her the gift of healing and discernment for sickness. She gets sent to the castle to save the king from a mysterious sickness.

I really loved this book. I loved the world building the story of Hazel’s life and finding herself but there were a few things that for me never got tied up. They were very small but as a reader I still wish some details had come together. One being about the ghosts she had put the salt around did they never haunt her after her gift was taken? Was Euphemia okay? The story abruptly ends and we get an epilogue that is 80 years later. I did enjoy how Merrick comes back in the end of the book but I wish we had seen more of him throughout the book despite her losing the ability.

I can’t say enough how much I enjoyed this retelling of the Grimm Brothers and look forward to reading more in the future from Erin A. Craig.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and to Random House Children’s/Delacorte Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed reading things like the one dark window duology or enjoys gothic fantasy romance this book is definitely leaning on the YA side.

I was hooked right from the beginning. I loved the atmosphere and Hazel as our main character. Surprisingly I also loved Hazel's godfather Merrick aka The Dreaded End.
Hazel is a thirteenth child, and as such is capable of great things. When she is given up, before she is even born, to the Dreaded End, he has many plans for her starting with making her a healer.
I loved that Hazel wasn't just given the gift of healing, Merrick made her learn. She also gets the added benefit of knowing what someone needs to be healed, but she has to learn how to do it.
While this book wasn't especially action-packed Erin Craig does an amazing job of drawing you into a story and making you love the main character.
And while the romance wasn't especially a favorite I wanted Hazel to get her HEA, and I think her love interest did make that happen. After you know she decided she liked him after a disastrous first meeting, followed by not liking him probably more at the second. But after he did some much-needed growing up I did like him better.
The magic and the world building were great, and I loved seeing Hazel grow and mature and do what needs to be done when her mistakes begin to involve others. I can't wait to see what Erin A Craig is going to write next!

Erin Craig has done it again! This story of a young girl named Hazel, a thirteenth child who’s gifted to the gods before she even enters the world. Her parents are impoverished, and neglectful of her. They resent her existence, and give her even less than her siblings as they anxiously await Hazel’s godfather’s arrival on her thirteenth birthday. She’s swept away by Merrick, the death god known by the name “The Dreaded End”. Merrick bestows her with love and gifts, but has a slightly detached view of humanity. He bestows a gift on her that she will be the greatest healer of all time, that she will be able to exact a cure for any illness, but in turn will have to end the lives of those who are incurable. Haunted by the ghosts of the souls she’s had to take, she feels crushed by her gifts.

As she moves from a gorgeous countryside, in a delightful cottage, to the kings court, she’s faced with an insurmountable task. To find a cure for the “shivers”, a plague destroying the kingdom. She meets Leo, the kings rakish son, and is swept up in romance and politics.

This story (as with every Erin Craig novel) has a stunning setting. As she casts haunting shadows of the terrors that Hazel faces, she also creates stunning gothic and cottagecore imagery throughout the story. I really felt so attached to Hazel as she navigated the complex landscape of her journey from childhood, to adolescence, to adulthood. Truly beautiful, haunting, and sorrowful. 5/5 stars!

This was such a fun fantasy read. I’ve been a fan of Erin’s writing since House of Salt and Sorrows and this book gave off similar aura and vibes, but with a fresh perspective. I didn’t find any plot twist to be jaw dropping, but I just enjoyed the ride of a well-written fantasy with magic and betrayal and a god-father who is also death.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

The Thirteenth Child draws very clear inspiration from the Grimm Fairy Tale Godfather Death and Erin A Craig does a great job expanding on that to create a world of her own.

The first act of the story moved quite slowly, to the point I thought I might just not finish it. But I was intrigued by the world and curious about what the Big Problem™ would be.

Eventually things do pick up and the story begins to move.

I really came to enjoy the world and the characters by the end of The Thirteenth Child and I think readers who enjoy a nice slow burn will too.

If you’re more into fast paced stories then I suggest you challenge your own interests and pick it up anyway. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised once things get going.

Even after closing the last page, the book continues to resonate with me. It's a beautifully crafted story, so unique that it leaves you pondering over Hazel's decisions. The narrative revolves around a large family with thirteen children, with the youngest, Hazel, being promised to a deity. She spends her childhood awaiting Merrick's return. However, her godfather is none other than Death himself, the Dreaded End. As Hazel matures, she becomes an exceptional healer, capable of diagnosing cures instantly. Yet, her gift comes at a cost; she also bears the burden of ending the suffering of those beyond help. Tormented by the lives she's ended, Hazel's journey leads her to the Royal court, where she must decide the fate of the ailing King. Will her previous actions influence her to defy the Dreaded End's decree? Confronted with her choices and future, she must weigh the worth of a life well-lived. This book exceeded my expectations, prompting deep reflection on the choices we make. It's a compelling read that will haunt your thoughts well after you've finished it.
Thank you Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I’m a confirmed fan of Craig’s novels, but I wasn’t sure how I felt about this one at first. Hazel is unloved by her parents and most of her family, and my heart went out to her. It’s perfectly understandable that she’s grown impatient waiting for her godfather Merrick, The Dreaded End, to come for her after claiming her at birth. When he finally arrives, Hazel learns she’s to be a healer, something she already has an interest in. She has a gift, and is able to “see” what’s needed to heal her patients. But she can also tell when they’re meant to die – something she finds difficult to accept.

This is a world where immortal gods exist and impose their will on humans. Hazel is a strong, compassionate character, a healer at heart, and her opinions and actions occasionally clash with the gods’ wants. She makes enormous sacrifices to do what she believes is right, but her actions lead to unforeseen, tragic consequences.

Hazel’s relationship with Merrick is complex and sweet, and he genuinely seems to care for her, although they have clashing viewpoints at times. Her relationship with Prince Leo seems doomed from the start, but I kept my fingers crossed hoping somehow things would work out.

Tissue warning! The epilogue is everything – beautiful, hopeful, bittersweet, and perfect. Recommended for fans of atmospheric stories, dark fairy tales, and characters whose morals are a little on the gray side.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Thirteenth Child had an intriguing premise, with Hazel Trépas caught between her godfather, Death itself, and her duty as a healer. The duality of her gift—being able to heal but also seeing when it’s time to end a life—could have led to a deeply complex and emotional narrative. However, the story didn’t quite hold my attention.

The pacing felt uneven, with long stretches where the tension that should have been mounting around Hazel’s growing responsibilities fell flat. Hazel’s internal struggles, while understandable, became repetitive, and her connection with Leo, the prince, lacked the depth I was hoping for. Additionally, while the concept of a cursed thirteenth child had potential, the world-building didn’t fully capture my interest.

I ultimately didn’t finish The Thirteenth Child because the stakes didn’t feel as pressing as they should have, and the character dynamics didn’t engage me enough to see where Hazel’s journey would lead.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children for the eARC.

This book's synopsis had me super interested but I just did not find it to be one I ended up enjoying. I think maybe I was not the right demographic because there was nothing wrong with the writing or plot, I just didn't reach for it,

Hazel is a thirteenth child who was given to the Dreaded End by her parents before her birth. Twelve long years later, he has come to collect his godchild. He has chosen for Hazel to become the best healer in all the land. Kings far and wide will ask for her by name. And so it is.

The relationship between Hazel and Merrick (Dreaded End) was like a slightly dysfunctional father daughter. He meant well, but being a God, he didn't realize what taking care of a 12 year old child should have entailed. I wish we had gotten more of them together, trying to understand the other. Their last two meeting actually hurt my heart.

Another relationship I liked was of Hazel and Leo. While it did feel like a quick attraction, I did like their banter and how he seemed to know so much about her, just by paying attention to her every day actions.

This book pulled out many different emotions in me. The twists, the heartbreak, the family dynamics, the betrayals. This book has it all. I can't wait to read what Erin comes out with next!

I really enjoyed this book and cant wait to see what Erin comes out with next!

Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Dreaded End, The God of Death, Her Godfather…

The Thirteenth Child is a gothic take on a Grimm’s fairytale, “Godfather Death”. Erin A. Craig takes you on an adventure that is the life of Hazel, the thirteenth child born in her family. Unwanted by her parents, the gods all offered to take her in as their own. Her parents agree to allow the God of Death to be her Godfather. Can the god of death truly care for a mortal child? Can a mortal, even a thirteenth child, amount to what is expected of her?
Early in life Hazel is treated unkindly and mostly ignored by her human parents. When she is taken away by the Dreaded End, she is cared for, but still ignored. Can she overcome her life circumstances and truly be happy?

What I liked: The twists and turns that create who Hazel is by the end of the story are both fascinating and horrifying all the same. The friendships she creates and the heartbreak she endures along the way are really a testament to Erin A. Craig’s ability to make you feel for the characters she creates.

Why I gave 4 stars: First is the pacing, it felt off in parts and just took a little too long for the story to really get to the point.
The second is a bit more of a personal preference, but it was introduced as a “romantasy-meets-dark-fairytale retelling” and I expected it to be a bit more romance driven. It was definitely YA and the romance took a back seat to the rest of the plot. However, I think if you go into it knowing that, you may have a different outlook on the book.

Takeaway: Would I recommend it? Absolutely! Overall, The Thirteenth Child by Erin A. Craig is a wonderful read and I really enjoyed it!

I'm not sure how to feel about this book. I stayed up all night to finish it. It's remarkably well written.

But, it's also exceedingly dark, so much so that I wonder who the target audience is supposed to be. When are you fathoming life and death and injustice the way this book does?

I found it mostly depressing, isolation and unfair circumstances coloring most of the story. I'm not sure if the happy ending was happy or devastating.

I think there's an audience for this. I think people will love it. I'm not sure it was for me.

Actual rating: 2.5

I started out loving this but then realized the story was dragging out with unnecessary information by the 15% mark. This book is long, over 500 pages, and it chronicles Hazel's life from a child up to her teenage years. The summary is misleading since I expected the royal court plot to be the story. Instead, the first 38% is filled with Hazel growing up from a child to a teenager. Once she actually made it to the castle to cure the king, my interest was waning. The love interest Leo didn't even catch her eye until the last 15% which was another disappointment. I regret not liking this as much as Craig's other books, but I feel this would have been better with the unnecessary details edited out or split into two books where the first features Hazel's years leading up to going to cure the king and the second book with Hazel at the royal court. Thank you Edelweiss for an ARC.

Erin A. Craig (The House of Salt and Sorrows, Small Favors) is an excellent storyteller. Through her masterful hands, fairy tales take on new life and new possibilities open up.

The Thirteenth Child reads like a Gothic fantasy. From the beginning, Craig sets the tone. You are suddenly in Hazel’s world where her parents hate/ignore her, and a mysterious godfather comes and goes as he pleases.

Hazel is a pragmatic girl who grows into a skilled healer. At the center of the story is Hazel’s literal relationship with death. She is forced to live by Merrick’s rules and learns the hard way when she works around them.

Merrick was the surprise character. In him, Craig crafts a nuanced character that is both known and an enigma. He’s really the piece that makes this book special.

The Thirteenth Child is a book you don’t want to put down. Craig’s writing has a familiar, welcoming quality to it that moves the story forward, even in the slower spots. It’s got elements of magic, adventure, mystery and romance, making it well worth your time.

I enjoyed every page!

Hazel is the thirteenth child in her family and treated like she’s not wanted by anyone except her brother Bertie who is one year older. When Hazel is twelve, her godfather takes her so she can train to become a great healer while Bertie is sold to a temple to pay off their father’s debts. Hazel learns that her duties as a healer also include helping people pass onto their deaths as gently as possible. She feels that this is a curse and not a blessing. When she’s nineteen, Hazel has become the healer of the royal family after she saved the king’s life from a plague; she was supposed to move him onto death but didn’t want his children to be orphans. Now that the king feels well, he is becoming an unpredictable, angry tyrant and Hazel knows she made the wrong choice by healing him. Will she be able to make this right before he destroys the kingdom?

Likes/dislikes: I loved every bit of this story! Amazing character development and wonderful world building. Hazel is strong and kindhearted.
Mature content: PG-13 for fondling (only two sentences out of the 512 page book).
Language: PG-13 for 14 swears and no f-words.
Violence: PG-13 for bloody deaths.
Ethnicity: Hazel and her family are white. Merrick, Hazel’s godfather is obsidian skinned, Hazel’s friend Kieron has chestnut skin.

This book was so special. I loved everything about how the world was developed, the story line, her relationship with death, it was all just perfection. This was a wonderful fantasy book that I would highly recommend! There is so much more to say but I don’t want to give any spoilers! Just pick it up and read it!

I found The Thirteenth Child to be utterly magical, captivating, and beautifully written. Erin Craig pulls on your heartstrings from the very beginning as she weaves a gothic, romantic, and fantastical fairy tale retelling of “Godfather Death”.

As I probed Hazel’s world, I discovered a rich and immersive story that explores the complexities of life, love, and the consequences of one’s choices. A story that was atmospheric, enchanting, and unpredictable. Reading this novel was an emotional rollercoaster (in the best way), the epilogue had me near tears. Craig weaved a story, unlike anything I have ever read. The Thirteenth Child is the third novel of Craig's that I've read and I am a fan of how she crafts her stories. They are mesmerizing, sweeping, and haunting and I will be thinking about this one for a while.

Those who delight in fairytale retelling, cottage-core settings, and stories of self-discovery will enjoy this book. Fans of Thornhedge (Kingfisher), The Last Tale of the Flower Bride (Choski), and Juniper & Thorn (Reid) will particularly love this novel.

The Thirteenth Child by Erin A. Craig is a hauntingly beautiful tale that intertwines magic, mystery, and the complexities of family. Craig's lyrical prose paints an enchanting world filled with rich imagery and emotional depth, pulling readers into its captivating embrace. The characters are vividly crafted, each facing their own fears and challenges in a spellbinding narrative. This exquisite story lingers in the mind, leaving a lasting impression long after the last page is turned.