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mastersal's review against another edition
4.0
Despite all the chequered reviews of this book I thought this was a highly successful book about the Hero(ine)’s Journey. This reminds me of [b:Every Heart a Doorway|25526296|Every Heart a Doorway (Wayward Children, #1)|Seanan McGuire|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1431438555s/25526296.jpg|45313140] in a good way but the preoccupations of the two book are different. Every Heart was a fairytale fantasy and this is a riff on the journey monomyth.
I liked the central heroine, Alice, and the general creepiness of the world. This was a quick read more on the magical realism spectrum than full fantasy that I think most YA fans seem to have expected. I could see Stephen King writing this, if the gore and violence was toned down in his work.
The fairy tale elements and the emphasis on the power of imagination to create struck home to me quite powerfully. The themes of home, identity and reality, are this book’s pre-occupations. This is about as far from escapist I think a YA book can get so pick this up only when you are in the mood for it. I can see it being difficult if you’re looking for something easy to get into thematically. The writing was lovely and fluid so that will be a plus. I know the image of travelling and memories being tied to books and not people or friends haunt me.
I did think Finch was a largely extraneous character and could have been removed..
The second half was a little too short and the feeling of dread faltered a bit. Honestly, the fact this book is getting a sequel was actually the worst thing about it. It coloured my reading of the end which is why I am rounding this down from the 4.5 stars I think it deserved. This should have been a deliberate book about the power of myth and world building through imagination. The sequel makes me think the author didn’t intend for it to be so. That makes me sad.
PS. Maybe I’ll up the rating if the sequel adds to the experience - assuming I read it.
I liked the central heroine, Alice, and the general creepiness of the world. This was a quick read more on the magical realism spectrum than full fantasy that I think most YA fans seem to have expected. I could see Stephen King writing this, if the gore and violence was toned down in his work.
The fairy tale elements and the emphasis on the power of imagination to create struck home to me quite powerfully. The themes of home, identity and reality, are this book’s pre-occupations. This is about as far from escapist I think a YA book can get so pick this up only when you are in the mood for it. I can see it being difficult if you’re looking for something easy to get into thematically. The writing was lovely and fluid so that will be a plus. I know the image of travelling and memories being tied to books and not people or friends haunt me.
I did think Finch was a largely extraneous character and could have been removed.
Spoiler
It struck me as a forced romance was being built up. If it was a feint to make us expect a romance which does not occur then I think it was unsuccessful.The second half was a little too short and the feeling of dread faltered a bit. Honestly, the fact this book is getting a sequel was actually the worst thing about it. It coloured my reading of the end which is why I am rounding this down from the 4.5 stars I think it deserved. This should have been a deliberate book about the power of myth and world building through imagination. The sequel makes me think the author didn’t intend for it to be so. That makes me sad.
PS. Maybe I’ll up the rating if the sequel adds to the experience - assuming I read it.
heckyeahbooks's review against another edition
5.0
Such a beautiful book! Masterfully written, I was trapped in this story from start to finish. Such an interesting story and every detail just made the world come alive in my mind. The author painted a picture in my head of the world and it was stunning. She had such a way with words. Beautiful books
book_nerd2012's review against another edition
5.0
This book was very interesting and I loved every minute of it! The way everything led up was amazing and I didn't expect Alice to be who she ended up being so that was a twist but this is a must read and I'm so grateful that I was able to win this book!
janev469's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
yesrachishere's review against another edition
1.0
Alice and her mother have been moving around most of her life. Running away from the bad luck that seems to follow them everywhere they go. Alice's grandmother is the author of the classic, dark fairy-tales book, Tales from the Hinterland and when she dies in her estate, The Hazel Wood, Alice's luck seems to get worse. Her mother is taken by someone claiming to be from the Hinterland and Alice must go to The Hazel Wood for the first time to find her mother and into the Hinterland.
I wanted to love this book. The premise of a dark fairy tale surrounded by mystery is very intriguing but it wasn't that at all. Or maybe it was and I just didn't like it. Because this book was just awful. I picked up this book a few months ago and put it down after 50 pages because I did not like it but some friends told me that it gets better. Yeah... okay! First off, the writing was not great. I kept getting bored and side-tracked by my thoughts that had nothing to do with the story. The story is so slow to build up, we don't even see the Hinterland until 75% through the book. And by the time we do get there, I really don't care what happens to Alice or her mother Ella. And I didn't like any of the characters. Not one! The story takes place in modern day New York. Alice has a job at a coffee shop and she lives with Ella, her mom, Harold, her's mom's husband, and Audrey, Harold's daughter. Harold is really rich and Alice goes to a private school with Audrey. Alice doesn't really have any friends. Maybe because she's always moving or maybe because she has anger issues and isn't friendly at all. She goes to school with a boy named Finch who is a fan of Alice's grandmother and he ends up going with her to help save her mom. Alice is so rude to Finch all the time even though he is helping her. By the end of the book, when we learn what exactly the bad luck is that has been following Alice her whole life, I had no expression for it. The execution of the story was just terrible and not that interesting. I was kind of expecting some surprise ending twist and that did not deliver.
When I rated this 1-star, I thought, "wow, I rarely give books a 1-star rating". In fact, I have given 4 books a 1-star rating and this one makes 5. It also makes it the worst book I have ever read. I just couldn't get into the story or find any of the characters enjoyable. I've heard people saying that this is an Alice's Adventures In Wonderland retelling, and though I haven't read that one yet, I really hope that this is nothing like Alice.
I wanted to love this book. The premise of a dark fairy tale surrounded by mystery is very intriguing but it wasn't that at all. Or maybe it was and I just didn't like it. Because this book was just awful. I picked up this book a few months ago and put it down after 50 pages because I did not like it but some friends told me that it gets better. Yeah... okay! First off, the writing was not great. I kept getting bored and side-tracked by my thoughts that had nothing to do with the story. The story is so slow to build up, we don't even see the Hinterland until 75% through the book. And by the time we do get there, I really don't care what happens to Alice or her mother Ella. And I didn't like any of the characters. Not one! The story takes place in modern day New York. Alice has a job at a coffee shop and she lives with Ella, her mom, Harold, her's mom's husband, and Audrey, Harold's daughter. Harold is really rich and Alice goes to a private school with Audrey. Alice doesn't really have any friends. Maybe because she's always moving or maybe because she has anger issues and isn't friendly at all. She goes to school with a boy named Finch who is a fan of Alice's grandmother and he ends up going with her to help save her mom. Alice is so rude to Finch all the time even though he is helping her. By the end of the book, when we learn what exactly the bad luck is that has been following Alice her whole life, I had no expression for it. The execution of the story was just terrible and not that interesting. I was kind of expecting some surprise ending twist and that did not deliver.
When I rated this 1-star, I thought, "wow, I rarely give books a 1-star rating". In fact, I have given 4 books a 1-star rating and this one makes 5. It also makes it the worst book I have ever read. I just couldn't get into the story or find any of the characters enjoyable. I've heard people saying that this is an Alice's Adventures In Wonderland retelling, and though I haven't read that one yet, I really hope that this is nothing like Alice.
mrszette's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
llleeexxxiii's review against another edition
5.0
Finally re-read this book via audiobook - enjoyed it even more, went from a 4 star read to a 5 star read! Further proof that ‘fairy tales’ are meant to be heard.
beancape's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
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
4.0
casebounder's review against another edition
2.0
Thank you so much to Flatiron Books for sending me a beautiful ARC of Melissa Albert's new novel, [b:The Hazel Wood|34275232|The Hazel Wood (The Hazel Wood, #1)|Melissa Albert|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1500549460s/34275232.jpg|53292100]. I was in love with this cover from the moment I saw it, and the plot synopsis was instantly intriguing. Dark fairy tales that haunt a mother and daughter on the run? A search to find a mysterious recluse author somewhere in a wood? Okay, I'm sold.
And I did have fun reading the first half of this book, but I have to be honest and say the second half wasn't really for me. However! I do think fans of [b:Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass|24213|Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass|Lewis Carroll|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1327872220s/24213.jpg|2375385] should look this up. Parts of it really felt like a love letter to the nonsensical charms in Wonderland. But, of course, a shade or two darker.
Before I go... I'm really confident I'd actually love to read the fairy tale stories within this novel. And what do you know? Melissa Albert is supposed to release them eventually! [b:Tales from the Hinterland|37842164|Tales from the Hinterland (The Hazel Wood, #2.5)|Melissa Albert|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/book/50x75-a91bf249278a81aabab721ef782c4a74.png|59532044] is slated for 2020. So I'll be interested to check that out.
And I did have fun reading the first half of this book, but I have to be honest and say the second half wasn't really for me. However! I do think fans of [b:Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass|24213|Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass|Lewis Carroll|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1327872220s/24213.jpg|2375385] should look this up. Parts of it really felt like a love letter to the nonsensical charms in Wonderland. But, of course, a shade or two darker.
Before I go... I'm really confident I'd actually love to read the fairy tale stories within this novel. And what do you know? Melissa Albert is supposed to release them eventually! [b:Tales from the Hinterland|37842164|Tales from the Hinterland (The Hazel Wood, #2.5)|Melissa Albert|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/book/50x75-a91bf249278a81aabab721ef782c4a74.png|59532044] is slated for 2020. So I'll be interested to check that out.