I have just finished reading "The Thirteenth Child" as part of my NetGalley November Knockout Challenge. Since there is a number in the title, it was fitting for this challenge.

This book was a bit of a struggle for me; I found it difficult to connect with any of the characters. I felt that Hazel was rather bland. Once the god comes to pick her up, he teaches Hazel about medicine and the merciful nature of death. When the king needs her skills as a doctor, she must travel to the castle to help save his life. However, Hazel struggles with whether his life is worth the future that may follow. She has to decide whose life is more valuable.

The Thirteenth Child is a fantasy story with a gothic feel. It includes some romance, but the main focus is on Hazel's growth and journey. I found the writing style difficult to connect with, even though I appreciated the moral dilemmas Hazel faced. The only redeeming quality for me was her relationship with her godfather, the Dreaded End. Their relationship was tumultuous, but I do believe he cared about her in his own way.

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OMG I LOVED this one.

Like the best dark fairytale vibes 🖤

The twists in this were unreal.

Hazel is such a kind and courageous FMC. The way she navigates the various situations throughout are so captivating and I simply couldn't put this book down.

Hazel is the 13th child. Unwanted and 'given' at birth to the God of death and gifted with the power of healing.

But at a great cost.

Now she must navigate a ruthless court to save the life of the King.

This is the first book by this author and goodness it wont be the last! Need to back read her other books soon.

This book broke me again and again while I was reading it. Like in pieces broke me.

And you need to read this. Now!!!

Dark, twisted, full of cliffhangers and unexpected moments this book deserved all the stars for sure.

This will be a read this now recommendation from me for a LONG time to come!

A thirteenth child, Hazel, is chosen to be goddaughter to The Dreaded End, the death God and he gives her the gift of healing. This gift finds her at the court of the King who is very unwell. She also meets someone who wasn't that nice to her before, Prince Leopold.

This author smashes it again! You can expect:

A dark fantasy,
With high stakes,
Some horrible Gods,
Accompanied by sinister goings on,
And a sweet romance,
With a storyline that will hook you!

Some highlights for me were Merrick, Phemie, the deathshead and the way Hazel was so good for Leopold!

I'd say the last 20% were a maelstrom of emotions - I was reading and flapping over pages with big wide eyes, couldn't get enough!

That ending, although beautiful, nearly finished me off though!

The Thirteenth Child was a unique and interesting book to read. I was drawn to it as the original fairytale it is based on wasn't well-known to me and I'm loving dark retellings at the moment.

Craig has a simple and easy to read writing style. The plot was interesting and definitely kept me on my toes. I wasn't actually sure where the story would end up by the end! It did feel more cosy than dark which was surprising.

Not as gothic and dark as I had hoped. I was expecting to feel more suspense/tension whilst reading this based on the cover and blurb. However, I still very much enjoyed the story and would recommend this to many of my friends.

4.25 STARS. A beautiful tale that had everything I wanted from a tale about Death's Goddaughter. I loved the way that Erin A. Craig writes.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my copy of this e-arc.

I had to dnf this book. The first 25% went quite quickly and I really tried to forget how young the main character was but nothing was adding up. I get how people can be older than there years but when she was 8 there was no way she was thinking certain things that were written and also something that her god father made her do I just don’t get.
It’s not a book for me

I wasn't sure about this to begin with. I love all of Erin's previous works, and this just didn't seem to be grasping me.
I am so glad I stuck with it. It was perfect. It didn't matter that I saw many of the plot points, they were so well done that it was still perfect. Craig has done it again. A rare five stars from me

A really strong start and I loved the fairytale aspect to it and the writing was beautiful and poetic. I loved the concept and the embellishments to the stories, thought why we get introduced to the dog who we never see again I'm not sure. But the pacing did struggle from then on in for me, not a lot seemed to happen in the middle that I really remember. It was a bit slow and mushy. I was less intrigued by the political stuff so that maybe didn't help. But I did like the fmc and felt she was strong and resilient and I was really rooting for her and her attitude towards things! It does also really nail that gothic spooky vibe that works well with the beautiful writing style leading to something quite good. And overall a really intriguing plot idea and execution, just needed a bit of fine-tuning in the middle. But otherwise enjoyable and I like the love interest and their developing relationship as the story moved on!

4.5/5 stars! I have loved everything I have read by Erin, so I was so excited to get the chance to read this book. Per usual, it is gothic goodness with unique takes that feel like a re-telling while still being completely individual. This book is the ultimate journey between life and death, one where there is no clear winner.

I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review

Headlines:
Being special
Everyone's expectations
A difficult role in life

This story was as charismatic as it was dark. It was impossible not to be seduced by the writing, the world and it's characters, especially Hazel. Hazel, born a thirteenth child, unwanted by her parents but wanted by a godly godfather. Merrick's long-awaited entrance into Hazel's life was not at all what I expected, he lacked nurture but there was a sense of growth in their relationship.

Hazel's younger childhood was difficult to swallow and the stealing of her later childhood to become a healer, seemed a better outcome than the before. This story had phases, and each phase of Hazel's life was totally absorbing. I loved her early time in the inbetween, her first healing village but the time in the palace was frought with difficult charcters, illness and decisions.

The idea of the deathshead was chilling and Hazel's role was even more sinister. The decisions she had to make led to quite a responsibility to carry. The latter part of this book was rather twisty and I enjoyed having the rug pulled out from my perceptions about the characters in the palace.

The eventual romance was believable and had me cheering for these two. The ending shredded my heart with emotion but it was also beautiful; I literally ended on tears.

The Thirteenth Child was a fantastic dark fantasy standalone. It was grim, chilling but with warm characterisation that saw this reader through the tough bits. I am blown away.

Thank you Rock The Boat for the review copy.

So when I picked this up thinking I was going to get the spooky, gothic, autumnal read of my dreams (which I did) I didn’t think I was also going to SOB for like 85% of the book😭😭😭😭

In this story we follow Hazel, the last daughter of many children in her family, the unwanted thirteenth. Before her birth, while her parents are planning how to get rid of her 3 gods come before them offering them an exchange, to the take the child and care for her in their stead. In the end, Hazel becomes the goddaughter to the ‘god of death’ and with this she’s unlocks powers within herself.

I LOVED Hazel and my heart just broke continuously for her, the relationship she had with her godfather also made me cry (I am quickly learning that I am clearly way too emotional for my own good) and the journey she goes through her life was so compelling and I was rooting for her from the start.

Honestly, can’t explain how much I enjoyed this book. I FLEW through it, was such a quick and engaging read and I can’t recommend it enough!

Thanks so much to blackcrow for the finished copy (and NetGalley for the ARC!) - this was a really special one!

I honestly don’t know where to start with reviewing The Thirteen Child by Erin A. Craig - everything about this book was exquisite. This book gets all the god damn stars and my broken heart.

Hazel has always known she was different from her siblings. A thirteenth child, she was promised at birth to Merrick, the god of death - in his care, Hazel learns how to become a healer, a healer who is destined for great things and an even greater life. But with her gift, there must come a curse. When Death claims a soul for himself, it is Hazel who must end their suffering and end their life.

News of Hazel’s greatness spreads through the kingdom and she suddenly finds herself summed to the resistance of the King himself- however the King is on the brink of death and Hazel must find a way to save him and save the kingdom from the war that threatens its gates.

I loved the portrayal of Death in this book - the godfather to Hazel - their relationship was such a joy to read and felt so authentic; how we change as people the older we get and all of our life experiences - sometimes we don’t intentionally mean to hurt the ones we love.

Relationships play a big part of this book and how much each of us can affect the people around us - fate and destiny entwined.

The imaginary of the candles, the deathhead, the palace, the people will forever live rent free in my mind - this book really is special.

Thank you to the publishers for the ARC and for featuring my account on your review tour. Finally, thank you Erin for writing this breathtaking book - and for making me cry so many tears.

What a phenomenal book! A retelling of the Brothers Grimm's Godfather Death it's gloriously gothic and crafted beautifully.
For a reasonably chunky book this read so quickly and that is down to the fact that it's written so well there was never a point where it dragged- the characters are beautifully developed and the ending broke me.

The Thirteenth Child was brilliant. The ending left me emotional.
This was the perfect autumn read. I loved following Hazel's journey from child unwanted by her parents to all that the Dreaded End (Death) envisioned for her.
I feel like I want more of this story, I wasn't ready for it to end. Hazel's relationship with her godfather (the Dreaded End) was tumultuous, but I do believe he cared about her in his own way - he just wasn't very good at showing it.
I 100% would love to explore the world Erin A.Craig has created in this amazing and wonderful book.

It is my turn on the Review Tour for this title today, and I couldn’t be happier to share my opinion.

The Thirteenth Child is a spellbinding retelling of the Grimm Brothers’ fairytale Godfather Death. It’s a gothic and atmospheric read. The story and the engaging writing style immediately captivated my attention, making the book hard to put down.

The novel is filled with magic, manipulative gods, secrets, complex characters, and rather messy families. I especially liked Hazel, as we see her grow from a neglected child into an independent young woman determined to decide her own fate. I was surprised by the portrayal of the Dreaded End / Merrick and his relationship with Hazel. Among the many deities in this book, Death seemed the most humane.

I also adored this novel’s romantic subplot, which starts with open hostility and gradually turns into affection.

Imagine being the goddaughter of Death himself….yeah, no pressure!

Hazel Trépas isn't your average healer. She’s the thirteenth child in her family, which in her world means, surprise, she’s been promised away to a god since birth. Not just any god, though, Merrick, the grim reaper with some serious career plans for his favourite little godchild.

This story is a fantasy fairy tale with a wickedly sharp edge. Erin A. Craig masterfully tosses Hazel into a ruthless royal court where everyone has a hidden agenda (or three), and healing the king could either save the kingdom or ruin her life. And let’s talk about the “gift” Hazel gets from her godfather. Sure, she can diagnose a patient with mind-blowing accuracy, but there’s a catch!…a major one. Hazel can also see when Death has marked someone, and guess what? She has to end them.

So yep, being a healer has never been so emotionally complicated. Is it too late to return this gift for store credit?

As if that’s not enough, enter Leo, the brooding, sarcastic prince with a penchant for bad decisions and a (potentially cursed?) heart of gold. The banter is sizzling, and the tension between them crackles like a bonfire at midnight. But Hazel’s got bigger problems, like trying to outwit gods with suspicious motives and saving a king fated to die without angering her own godfather. You know, typical teenage problems.

Craig has created a mesmerising tale that balances heart pounding stakes with moments of swoon worthy romance. Hazel’s journey isn't just about curing patients; it’s about finding her own agency when the gods themselves seem determined to dictate her fate.

This isn’t your typical happily ever after story! Hazel’s facing impossible choices that tug at your soul, all while you root for her to carve out a destiny on her own terms.

What a deliciously dark, deeply emotional adventure! with gods who meddle, a healer with a moral dilemma, and a prince who will make you laugh, swoon, and maybe want to smack him (lovingly) upside the head.

Absolute perfection for anyone who loves their fairy tales with a bit of grit, and their romance with a hefty dose of destiny.

If you like your court intrigue sprinkled with magic, impossible choices, and more than a few brushes with death (literally), grab this book immediately.

📚 ARC Review

The Thirteenth Child by Erin A. Craig
Rock the Boat, 26th September 2024

This majestic, heart-wrenching retelling of the Grimm Brothers' Godfather Death tells the tale of Hazel Trépas, unfortunate thirteenth offspring much neglected by her parents and god-daughter to the Dreaded End (The god of Death).

Transported into the care of the godfather she calls Merrick and chosen by him to be a healer, plucky Hazel's huge heart leaps from the page. Evocative imagery and gothic menace clash as Hazel navigates the chapters before her, ending up summoned to cure the king.

As Hazel's struggles become almost too much to bear, friendships and an unlikely burgeoning romance cut through the overbearing darkness to provide lighter moments, humour, and warmth.

Perfectly paced prose, intoxicating characters, and a world you may just want to inhabit, for all its darkness and foreboding; The Thirteenth Child is an outstanding novel.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Huge thanks to Black Crow PR, Erin A. Craig and Rock the Boat for providing an ARC; this is my unbiased review.

My first book by this author, but definitely not the last!
This was a truly gothic read, but incredibly easy to read and equally difficult to put down. I loved following Hazel's journey, as heartbreaking as it was in parts. This book was darker than I anticipated but I just couldn't seem to stop reading. I was slightly disappointed in the romantic element of the story, but I was so invested in the overall plot that it didn't detract at all.
Thank you so much to the publisher for the eARC.

The Thirteenth Child is a retelling of the Grimm Brother’s dark fairytale “Godfather Death”. It follows Hazel, Death’s goddaughter, gifted to be a great healer but for those that have been destined to die, Hazel is tasked to end their life herself.

Although the book was quite slow to start, by the mid-way point it was fast-paced full of twist and turns and had me so hooked that I stayed up way too late to finish it.

The book was atmospheric, creepy whilst also still being quite light and humorous at the same time. The author did a great job of portraying the internal struggle that Hazel has of her role and what that does to her conscious vs. trying to please her godfather (whose relationship with her I found so cute and endearing and wish we got to see more of).

I also found the romance in this to be a nice subtle addition - it didn’t take centre stage and wasn’t completely unbelievable and too quick.

However, I do think that the ending was too quickly wrapped up and wish we got see more of the consequences following what happens at the end. I also wish we got to learn more about gods and their roles.

One thing that also really frustrated me was just the lack of communication between Merrick and Hazel and I do think many of the issues in the book could either be solved or at least somewhat remediated if they just spoke honestly and openly.

Overall, I did really enjoy this one and the epilogue was so beautifully written it made me cry. It really made the whole story come full circle.

This book brings a really interesting, dark concept to life (ironically) with the goddaughter of Death. I really wanted to love it because it sounded so intriguing and twisty but I did find the book to be slow paced and it failed to grip me at any point. I didn’t find Hazel to be very interesting as a narrator which left the story quite dry, and we didn’t get to know any side characters enough to feel at all invested in them or their role in the story (if they really had one). The pacing was off, and too much time spent on more uneventful parts of the plot. Now, all this being said, it’s certainly not a bad book and I know there are going to be loads of people that enjoy it. In fact, I didn’t necessarily dislike it, it just failed to really draw me in in the way I hoped it would with such an intriguing premise. I would have liked to see more of Merrick and of Hazel’s magic, and less of her family at the beginning. Hazel’s relationships with other characters would have benefited from more development and Hazel herself needed more of a spark. So overall, the story was ok and there were elements of it I liked well enough but I don’t think it’s memorable.

I received a free copy of this book. All views are my own.