Scan barcode
A review by lilifane
The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert
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