The Hazel Wood (The Hazel Wood #1)
Summary:
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. (Summary and cover courtesy of goodreads.com)
Review:
This book was a rare unique read that was creepy in a great way. I loved the Hinterland characters and the unpredictable nature of their stories. The best thing about them is that they remind me of older fairy tales or the Krampus. I will say that it’s the kind of book you just need to roll with for a bit and let it build. The beginning was a bit confusing as the context was revealed, but it was in an intriguing way for me. For example, Alice is not a main character that is easy to like and she has some major issues from a twisted upbringing. But that surly and challenging point of view works in the context of the story and may even be a bit necessary.
This may be the first in a series, but it reads as a standalone book, which was extremely refreshing. I have a guess as to where the sequel could go, but it’s nice that the book does not have to be read within the context of three. Also, for those who are not romance fans – this one is safe for you!
Warning: Contains violence.
Rating: 4 stars!
Who should read it? Fans of darker stories and fairy tales.
Want to read the whole series?
The Night County (The Hazel Wood #2)
Tales from the Hinterland (The Hazel Wood #3)