A review by stacyroth
Edgewood by Kristen Ciccarelli

adventurous mysterious medium-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? No

3.25

Emeline Lark has left her small hometown of Edgewood to become a singer in Montreal, but whenever she performs, the woods from home won’t leave her alone.  The smell of the woods fills her nose; moss creeps across the stage.  Still, she does her best to ignore it.  When Emeline receives a phone call that her beloved grandfather (who has dementia) has disappeared, she returns home to find him.  Emeline scoffed at the Edgewood stories about the Wood King and his court in the forest by Edgewood.  However, while trying to find her grandfather, she meets Hawthorne Fell, and despite his insistence that she leave the woods, Emeline meets the Wood King.  She makes a deal – her voice for her grandfather’s freedom.  The forest is under an evil curse, though, and Emeline finds herself embroiled in its midst. 

Caitlin Kelly did a lovely job narrating this YA fantasy book, and Ciccarelli’s talent for imagery builds a beautiful world.  I liked that the “fantasy” world in this story took place in the world as we know it.  That said, I never truly connected with the main character, which made it hard to really get lost inside the story.  The love-interest plotline had some ick factors in it for me, too.  Overall, I would say YA fantasy fans will like this book, but it won’t win over readers who don’t favor the genre. 

Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me an audio ARC of this book. 
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