The Hazel Wood a novel by Melissa Albert - Review
This weekend was a wonderful weekend full of reading! Lately, I've been chain-reading. The moment I close a book on the final page, I'm up and reading another. Which is not unusual for me, but it's my goal to keep it up throughout the year. Mainly because last year I didn't read a whole lot, and I want to read at least thirty books this year, which isn't a whole lot for me, but with how busy I am, it can become a hard goal to achieve. In January I read two books, and over the weekend I read another, which puts me at 3, and a good start to accomplishing this reading goal. Also my "to be read" list was growing much too fat for my liking... sigh.So many books.So little time.Are you wondering what I was reading that was so unputdownable? If you follow my Instagram feed you may have guessed. I totally paused Cassandra Clare's The Dark Artifices, series after finishing Lady Midnight to begin, The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert.This book called to me like a Siren from the shelves of Target. I left it in the store the first time I heard it sing, and went home and added it to my TBR list, totally promising myself I'd not buy any new books till I tackled the books on my shelves. This resolution like most didn't last long and on my next visit, it was in my red shopping cart and not coming out until I had to pay for it.I have to say, this book, probably isn't for everyone. I think it lends itself to a specific type of reader. That's not to say you won't enjoy it. I think if you have an open mind, and you enjoy things to be a little bit weird in a Twin Peaks sort of way, then perhaps this book is for you.If not, that's perfectly okay. Like I said, this book is for a specific type of reader.Me. (Maybe you?)I enjoyed the author's voice and her prose. I am now anxiously anticipating the sequel to this novel. Her voice reminds me a bit of Holly Black or Maggie Stiefvater, so if you've enjoyed their stories, I think you'll enjoy this one too.
WARNING - SPOILERS AHEAD
There are Harry Potter and other modern-day references I found to be a bonus and was completely charmed by the author's witty use of them.The story is about a single mom Ella, and her daughter - who spend their life like gypsies moving from one place to the next, until the bad luck in their past catches up with them and the young protagonist Alice, finds herself search and rescue for her reclusive grandmother and kidnapped mother in a fairy tale land made up of dark forests and refugees. For a bit of help on her journey, she enlists the help of an unlikely classmate Ellery Finch. (Isn't that name great - it sounds like he should be in fairytales...)Characters from her grandmother's fairytale novel start showing up in Alice's life and as you can imagine, it's not a good sign.Alice isn't a nice protagonist - she's got pent of anger inside of her which sometimes comes out, but she tries and I like that about her.I enjoyed this book, and I think you could too!
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