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chelsaat 's review for:
The Night Country
by Melissa Albert
[b:The Hazel Wood|34275232|The Hazel Wood (The Hazel Wood, #1)|Melissa Albert|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1500549460l/34275232._SY75_.jpg|53292100] reminded me of [b:Alice's Adventures in Wonderland|6324090|Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, #1)|Lewis Carroll|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1391204048l/6324090._SX50_.jpg|55548884], and this is more like [b:Fables, Vol. 1: Legends in Exile|21326|Fables, Vol. 1 Legends in Exile|Bill Willingham|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1375392441l/21326._SY75_.jpg|1138855], where fairytale creatures are now trying to eke out a normal life in New York City, and not wholly successfully.
I really enjoy the overall vibe of these books; they're creepy and dark and when Albert tells one of the Hinterland stories it truly feels like I'm reading a real Grimm-like fairytale.
However, like in The Hazel Wood, this one took me a while to get into. The ending, once we learn what a Night Country is, is pretty action-packed and exciting; but the bulk of the book, where Alice is trying to figure out the mystery to all these murders, just kind of seemed to stall. There isn't really the typical murder-mystery feel here until the end when the clues all of the sudden seem to come together. It's kind of...lackadaisical? Much more is spent on Alice's inner turmoil than the actual mystery.
That said, I really enjoyed Ellery's side of the story and wished we spent a bit more time learning about his adventures. They're all just kind of alluded to. Future novella maybe??
Thanks to Netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoy the overall vibe of these books; they're creepy and dark and when Albert tells one of the Hinterland stories it truly feels like I'm reading a real Grimm-like fairytale.
However, like in The Hazel Wood, this one took me a while to get into. The ending, once we learn what a Night Country is, is pretty action-packed and exciting; but the bulk of the book, where Alice is trying to figure out the mystery to all these murders, just kind of seemed to stall. There isn't really the typical murder-mystery feel here until the end when the clues all of the sudden seem to come together. It's kind of...lackadaisical? Much more is spent on Alice's inner turmoil than the actual mystery.
That said, I really enjoyed Ellery's side of the story and wished we spent a bit more time learning about his adventures. They're all just kind of alluded to. Future novella maybe??
Thanks to Netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.