The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert
Hardcover, 368 pages
Expected publication: January 30th 2018 by Flatiron Books
ISBN: 9781250147905
Received ARC From Publisher
About:
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. (Goodreads)
Rating:
This book reminded me a bit of Alice in Wonderland, a bit of the TV show Once Upon a Time, and a bit of the Deathly Hollow stories told in Harry Potter. It was dark and creepy with a twist of not knowing who the main characters might actually be. Are they just normal people? Are they fairytale people? And who are these weird creepy characters who keep stalking Alice? Yes there are similarities to Alice in Wonderland, as probably many people will point out. There is the Hinterland which could be Wonderland. There are strange characters that Alice meets that could resemble Wonderland characters if you squint. Other than that I didn’t connect the two, though I haven’t read anything Wonderland centered in many years. The tales within the story were amazing. I’d love to read Alice’s Grandma’s actual book. Alice Three Times, The Door That Wasn’t There, and Twice Killed Catherine were so addicting and creepy and gave me that same Deathly Hollows feel. There was a unique feel to this book that is hard to put into words. The story is intriguing and will keep you on the edge of your seat the whole time. The end wasn’t what I was expecting. It could possibly leave it open for a sequel, but at the same time it ties up most of the loose ends. The characters weren’t perfect. Alice had some annoying flaws, but without them the book wouldn’t be the same. The mother, grandmother, and Finch all bring mystery. The Hinterland characters make great suspense. Are they good? Are they bad? I will say originally the cover kept me from picking it up right away. It’s kind of dull with black, white, and golds. After reading the book the cover makes more sense, in that it seems very old time fairytale like. On the back of the book it says that Sony has picked it up to become a movie (possibly, you know how long it takes for that kind of thing to happen… if it actually happens). If there is a movie I’d definitely go see it. There is swearing and violence in this book, but if the teens ok with that any age will enjoy this read.
*Book photo and/or review are owned by Erin. To see her personal blog click her signature above^*
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