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jblovegood's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
It's an interesting concept, though some of the story beats didn't fully make sense to me and the character development didn't feel very compelling. I still enjoyed it, but think it could have been done better.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Physical abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Blood, Child abuse, and Body horror
daniellelouise's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood
mollyloumelon's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I’m not reading the sequel bc the ending of this book was so perfect oml.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
lilifane's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This was kind of weird.
I thought the synopsis sounded interesting, and I really enjoyed the first 30-40% of the book. I thought the writing style was fun, there was intrigue in the plot, and when Alice and Finch started to work together I had high hopes for the rest of the book. Only... it didn't live up to the expectation. The shift in Alice's narrative voice was disappointing because it's what made me start the book in the first place. But the weirdest part was the pacing of the plot. It just felt so fragmented. The plot started off with a compelling mystery but completely switched to a surreal, nightmarish fairy tale. I actually loved the fairy tales on their own and the idea and atmosphere of the Hinterland. But the actual plot in the Hazel Wood was so rushed and boring, and then suddenly the book was over? And it feels like at the end you have more questions than actual answers. Weird.
The character work... wasn't the best, either. But I liked Finch a lot... which lead to more disappointment about wasted potential. So yeah, amazing world building and really really interesting ideas, but the execution far from perfect.
I thought the synopsis sounded interesting, and I really enjoyed the first 30-40% of the book. I thought the writing style was fun, there was intrigue in the plot, and when Alice and Finch started to work together I had high hopes for the rest of the book. Only... it didn't live up to the expectation. The shift in Alice's narrative voice was disappointing because it's what made me start the book in the first place. But the weirdest part was the pacing of the plot. It just felt so fragmented. The plot started off with a compelling mystery but completely switched to a surreal, nightmarish fairy tale. I actually loved the fairy tales on their own and the idea and atmosphere of the Hinterland. But the actual plot in the Hazel Wood was so rushed and boring, and then suddenly the book was over? And it feels like at the end you have more questions than actual answers. Weird.
The character work... wasn't the best, either. But I liked Finch a lot... which lead to more disappointment about wasted potential. So yeah, amazing world building and really really interesting ideas, but the execution far from perfect.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Kidnapping, Violence, and Death
Minor: Racism and Suicide
bratt713's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood
shaney_swift's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood and Kidnapping
sssssoup's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
This is one of my favorite books of all time. I read it for the first time a few years ago, and I’m so glad I decided the read it again for spooky season this year.
I’m a huge fan of the dark fairy tale aspect of the story. It’s very well developed and interesting, and I love how the author incorporated a story within a story; it’s not something you see very often.
The characters are what really sell it for me. Alice is a very well rounded and complex protagonist; she may not be the most likable character, but her story is engaging and I love how well developed her backstory is. Her memories from her childhood really help to develop her personality for the audience and a lot of depth to her. Finch is one of my favorite characters from recent YA because he’s entertaining and deep at the same time. Like Alice, his trauma and backstory are very well written and really help show his depth.
The writing style is fantastic as well and it’s beautiful to read. It feels very poetic and deep yet realistic at the same time.
I’m a huge fan of the dark fairy tale aspect of the story. It’s very well developed and interesting, and I love how the author incorporated a story within a story; it’s not something you see very often.
The characters are what really sell it for me. Alice is a very well rounded and complex protagonist; she may not be the most likable character, but her story is engaging and I love how well developed her backstory is. Her memories from her childhood really help to develop her personality for the audience and a lot of depth to her. Finch is one of my favorite characters from recent YA because he’s entertaining and deep at the same time. Like Alice, his trauma and backstory are very well written and really help show his depth.
The writing style is fantastic as well and it’s beautiful to read. It feels very poetic and deep yet realistic at the same time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Cursing, and Mental illness
Moderate: Addiction, Alcohol, Death, Death of parent, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Grief, Gore, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, and Violence
Minor: Alcoholism, Animal death, Bullying, Car accident, Child death, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Suicide, and Stalking
onceuponabookcase's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Quick fire review:
- When I first heard of The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert, I didn't think it was going to be my bag. I think I associated the Hinterland with a world of fae, and I really don't like stories about the fae. But when I read author Katrina Leno recommended it to readers who enjoyed her own book Horrid, I decided to give it a go. And I loved it!
- I loved the way Albert seamlessly manages to combine the contemporary with the fantasy/fairy tale in The Hazel Wood! It reminded me a little of The Waking Forest by Alyssa Wees in that regard, but Albert pulled it off better.
- Albert's writing style is very atmospheric, perfect for the fairy tale aspect of the story, especially when we get to the Hinterland, but it blends perfectly with the contemporary element. It's storytelling at it's best.
- I adored the world Albert created with the Hinterland. It's so imaginative! A fairy tale world where stories exist, like plays happening in front of you, but with characters who have no choice in their actions - despite not realising it. The story must play out. It was quite dark and distubing, and I loved how Albert showed us the reality of fairy tales, what they actually look like, how they affect the characters in the story, the disparaity to how fairy tales are told, and what the characters are going through.
- The Hazel Wood was absolutely gripping! Sinister, dark, but magical and beautiful, and completely brilliant!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Vomit, Gun violence, Murder, and Violence
Minor: Sexual violence
showmethestars's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Violence, Kidnapping, Murder, and Racism
Minor: Pedophilia
sarah_anne's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Self harm, and Suicide