A review by creolelitbelle
The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert

dark mysterious sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

The actual fairy tale part of the story did not seem to start until about 2/3s into the book. I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator did a great job. What I feel like is the meat of the story took a long time to come to fruition. Then, Alice's journey is reviewed more than actually lived and experienced. For a fantasy built with fairy tale elements and a Alice in Wonderland twist, I expect a more immersive experience. My curiosity of what happens to Alice and the residents of Hinterland as well as Finch might drive me to check out book two eventually. The tales Albert built the narrative on sound more enticing than the actual novel. Plus, description of Tales from the Hinterland states it has illustrations, and my enjoyment of Grimm fairy tales smiles at that. 
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