The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert

Seventeen-year-old Alice and her mother have spent most of Alice’s life on the road, always a step ahead of the uncanny bad luck biting at their heels. But when Alice’s grandmother, the reclusive author of a cult-classic book of pitch-dark fairy tales, dies alone on her estate, the Hazel Wood, Alice learns how bad her luck can really get: Her mother is stolen away―by a figure who claims to come from the Hinterland, the cruel supernatural world where her grandmother’s stories are set. Alice’s only lead is the message her mother left behind: “Stay away from the Hazel Wood.”

Alice has long steered clear of her grandmother’s cultish fans. But now she has no choice but to ally with classmate Ellery Finch, a Hinterland superfan who may have his own reasons for wanting to help her. To retrieve her mother, Alice must venture first to the Hazel Wood, then into the world where her grandmother’s tales began―and where she might find out how her own story went so wrong.

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I received an Advanced Reading Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

368 Pages

Release Date: January, 30 2018

My Rating: 5 Stars

Alright! Book 2 in my series of spooky October reads was a pretty huge jump in fear factor from Book 1. I won’t even lie to you, I actually slept with the bathroom light on in my apartment last night. Some of the dark fairy-tales in this book are just that creepy. But in the best way possible.

Seriously, there was just something about this book that made it impossible to put down once I’d picked it up. The pace wasn’t particularly quick, there wasn’t a large abundance of action, but it was an enthralling read nonetheless. In fact, the things that I normally crave in a book weren’t present and I still absolutely adored The Hazel Wood. It isn’t really a HEA book, or a particularly romantic book, but it was so original. It’s packed full of twisted fairy-tales, characters creepy enough to make you shiver, and such well written imagery that I actually felt like I was in the Hinterland at times, standing next to Alice.

There was one “twist” that I believe is fairly easy to catch, but I almost think the book was written that way because for the most part, it was one of the most unpredictable I’ve read. In fact, you know those books that you can read over and over again and learn something new each time? The Hazel Wood is absolutely one of those books. I can picture myself reading this yearly in October and finding new things to love about it each time.

My Takeaway: I almost wish The Hazel Wood was being released this month because it is absolutely a perfect Halloween book. If you’re looking for a new take on HEA fairy tales, or a well written, slightly dark read, pre-order this novel! You really won’t be disappointed. 

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