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lilybear3's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I loved the idea of retelling/adding onto the Hansel and Gretel fairytale. I felt the additional characters added more depth to the story and helped bring the village to life. The story was also kind of like a mystery in that you and Greta are given bits of information over time and are figuring out how it all fits together. The bits of a second story are at the beginning of each chapter in italics give a little more depth. Our MC is Greta, but (hot take) I wished for more of Hans even though he's a mess. I thought the story was intricate and interesting. That being said, the first like 60% of the book was slow paced, lots of discussions happening, not so much plot-driven. There was some world building involved, but it wasn't heavy so that made it hard to get into. Past that, the story picks up and it was good. Some people found reveals to be obvious, but I never pick up on those so it was a surprise to me!
Beautiful cover by the way! I could see this being adapted into a tv show or movie.
Graphic: Religious bigotry and Misogyny
Moderate: Violence, Grief, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, Blood, Death of parent, Torture, Death, Toxic relationship, Animal cruelty, and Alcohol
Minor: Cursing, War, Child death, Pregnancy, Sexual content, and Child abuse
ceruleanheather's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Greta makes money to support her and her brother through baking gingerbread (ironic), and Hans gets drunk and gambles as he tries to forget the past. Hans is quite frustrating, but his PTSD is understandable. Greta using the witch's book to help her make the gingerbread is so odd, but I guess it is needed for the story to work.
The book starts out slowly, explaining how Hans and Greta got to this point and their daily troubles. We get introduced to characters that are important, but not always fleshed out. Matthias is interesting and mysterious, but the insta love trope annoys me. The story picks up about a third of the way through.
I did like the atmosphere of the book. The magic, the setting, the realism of the town and their struggles. I also liked the bear and wolf storylines, and the smattering of other fairy tales that were referenced and reused. The author has a descriptive style that is enjoyable to read.
The story ended up being quite predictable. I figured out the *big reveal* many chapters before Greta made the connection. The characters are also a little flat. They exist for the plot, but don't seem to have much agency. Things that should have been questioned or investigated are just believed and people who are supposed to be smart do not seem to be so. Rob was the best character, and he was a side character!
*CW* chapter 25 has a fairly graphic scene involving animal cruelty. You can skip the scene honestly, and it does not affect the story. You can glean what happens.
*TW* chapter 27 has a scene involving relations without consent. It isn't very detailed, but still graphic in content. Again you can glean what happens, just skip page 447.
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Abandonment, and Blood
Moderate: Sexual violence, Torture, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Mental illness, Murder, Sexism, Sexual harassment, and Violence
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Pregnancy, and Death
monkeywaffle's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Rape, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, and Death of parent
cosmiccutie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Death, Child abuse, Torture, Abandonment, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Suicide, Confinement, and Animal cruelty
becandthebooks's review against another edition
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
“After The Forest” follows Hans and Greta (Hansel and Gretel) approximately 15 years after they were imprisoned by the old crone in the forest. It explores what kind of a life they lived after such trauma, with sprinklings of Snow White & Rose Red, Rumpelstiltskin, magical beasts, witch trials and an unlikely romance.
Kell Woods writing is just stunning and Esther Wane’s voice performance was so complementary to this whimsical fairytale retelling! I will 100% be picking up what Kell Woods comes out with next!
Pure joy 💛 Off to bake gingerbread.
………..………………………………………………
⚠️ TW: After reading some other reviews I’ve learnt that Chapter 25 is the chapter number with some descriptive animal cruelty (bearbaiting). Reviewers who skipped this chapter have said it didn’t hinder their experience. I listened to it and it was graphic, but it is also written for a different time and that’s how I tackle these situations personally.
Graphic: Child abuse, Animal cruelty, and Animal death
kaetheluise_nckl's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
i’m gonna be honest i was really excited for this book when i first heard about it it but i think that if nothing actually plot-related happens after 151 pages, i’m better off DNFing it.
aside from that, the way the author chose to represent the german language was a mess? you can’t just decide some words are capitalized and others aren’t. either you capitalize all nouns like the germans would or you don’t, so it blends better with the english.
ah well. i’ll keep this book around for another month or two and i might come back to it… or not.
january 2024
I ended up finishing it and I’m so confused at what this book is trying to be???
i didn’t sign up for werewolves, werebears and a fairytale mish-mash when i was promised a hansel and gretel retelling. this book had very little retelling.
i also agree with other friends who said they didn’t hate this book but also didn’t enjoy themselves while reading it because that’s how i feel.
it’s a shame because the IC copy is so beautiful but i have no reason to keep this book in my collection ☹️
Graphic: Alcoholism, Violence, Self harm, Body shaming, Kidnapping, Drug abuse, Alcohol, Gore, Cursing, Blood, Body horror, Fire/Fire injury, Child abuse, Animal cruelty, and Ableism
Moderate: Death of parent, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Pregnancy, Torture, and Miscarriage
Trauma, PTSD, arranged betrothalpersephonefoxx's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Murder, Death of parent, Death, and Blood
Moderate: Torture, Rape, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Child death and Child abuse
hailstorm3812's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Graphic: Rape, Abandonment, and Death of parent
Moderate: Sexism, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, and Child abuse
Minor: Alcoholism, Pregnancy, and Miscarriage
liesthemoontells's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Confinement, Death, Murder, War, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Religious bigotry, Violence, Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Kidnapping, Classism, Death of parent, Misogyny, and Grief
Moderate: Sexual assault, Rape, and Sexual harassment
gondorgirl's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.75
Moderate: Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, Animal cruelty, Blood, Child abuse, Death of parent, and Grief