Book Review | The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert | WIN a copy!
The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert Book Review
Hey guys! I’ve struggled so much to review The Hazel Wood because I LOVED THIS BOOK SO SO MUCH! SO much that I’m going to be doing a giveaway below. I briefly mentioned my love for it in my December wrap up, but here is my full, CAPS FILLED review of The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert.
I even remembered to save some quotes of this book so they’ll be dotted about this review.
‘…if you’re not with the book you want, you might as well want the book you’re with.’
The Hazel Wood (The Hazel Wood, #1) by Melissa Albert Published by Flatiron Books on January 30th 2018
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy
Pages: 368
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Goodreads
Seventeen-year-old Alice and her mother have spent most of Alice’s life on the road, always a step ahead of the uncanny bad luck biting at their heels. But when Alice’s grandmother, the reclusive author of a cult-classic book of pitch-dark fairy tales, dies alone on her estate, the Hazel Wood, Alice learns how bad her luck can really get: her mother is stolen away―by a figure who claims to come from the Hinterland, the cruel supernatural world where her grandmother's stories are set. Alice's only lead is the message her mother left behind: “Stay away from the Hazel Wood.”
Alice has long steered clear of her grandmother’s cultish fans. But now she has no choice but to ally with classmate Ellery Finch, a Hinterland superfan who may have his own reasons for wanting to help her. To retrieve her mother, Alice must venture first to the Hazel Wood, then into the world where her grandmother's tales began―and where she might find out how her own story went so wrong.
The Hazel Wood was so deliciously dark! The writing was incredible, it drew me in and kept me hostage the whole way through.
I think I really loved the elements of New York particularly because I was in New York on holiday as I read this, so I could really visualise a lot of it! The detail was incredible.
I don’t typically like retellings, which apparently this is, but it didn’t feel like it was. It was a story about stories and the darkness behind them, and it wasn’t just another dark fairy tale. Bad luck had been following Alice and her mother all her life, and the Hinterland was catching up to them. I won’t say anymore as I REALLY don’t want to spoil ANYTHING because it is SO GODDAMN GOOD!
If I wasn’t already certain I loved the Hazel Wood, I would have been sold by the line:
‘She wore black jeans and a Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes sweatshirt’.
HARRY POTTER NERD ALERT YAHHHHHS. Like Harry Potter there’s a lot of darkness, and not as much light if I’m honest!
The writing was just SO AMAZING. IT was dark and twisty and compelling and I just loved it SO SO SO MUCH.
‘something was sparking in my mind, an ancient, paper flat memory trying to rise’
HOW BEAUTIFUL IS THAT? I just, I don’t think I could ever write like this and I’m SO IN AWE.
The writing was also so terrifying at times…
‘their eyes were burned out holes and their mouths were wet and red.’
I tried to find an appropriate gif for this, and this was all I got. I then got really creeped out, and stumbled across some Hook gifs from Once Upon a Time so thought I’d share one with you, because who doesn’t love Killian?!
I DIGRESS.
There were so many twists and turns I was constantly on the edge of my seat. I kept thinking I knew what was happening, and to an extent I actually did guess some bits (GO ME) but I didn’t really grasp what was really happening.
Descriptions of the characters were so on point.
‘Ella was easy to like, with a sweet, gravelly voice that hid a sharp sense of humour and unfortgiving eye for the ridiculus, and dark hair that grew out funny so it licked down her back like flames’
Alice definitely grew as a character, as did Finch, both for very different reasons. They had some really tough things to overcome and I loved how they dealt with everything.
The characters from the Tales of Hinterland were terrifying. I REALLY want to know their stories, and I’m SO EXCITED THAT SHE’S WRITING THE TALES OF HINTERLAND SO I WILL BE ABLE TO!
The Hazel Wood Giveaway
Okay so The Hazel Wood is so amazing I wanted to give a copy to one of you lovely readers! It even comes with temporary tattoos! They’re so gorgeous!
1. Follow me on twitter and retweet the tweet below (mandatory)
You don’t have to be following my blog to win but you will get an extra entry if you do ☺️
5 ✨ to The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert!
A deliciously dark story that I loved so much 🖤
Here's my review.
Want to WIN a Copy?
RT & Follow to enter 😍
For an extra entry follow my blog 💕
INT Ends 1/2/18 🧚♀️#bookreview #giveaway #books #bookbloggerhttps://t.co/ZMKy3aSTwp— Jenn ✨ ⋆ (@JennieLy) January 16, 2018
2. Follow my blog and comment.
For an additional entry you can follow at the bottom of the page on mobile or the side on desktop!
If you’re already following, That’s wonderful and I thank you from the bottom of my heart! If you enter and you follow please comment with your twitter username so I can make sure you get your two entries!
Good luck 😘
Terms and conditions
1. Winners will be chosen using a random number generator.
2. Competition closes 1/2/18,
3. No giveaway accounts
4. Must follow and retweet specified tweet to be eligible. Following the blog gains an extra entry on top of the retweet and follow.
5. This giveaway is international
Here’s my affiliate link to buy this book – if you purchase via this link I’ll get a small commission at no cost to you.
55 Comments
@amberrybooks Thanks for the chance! 😊
I don’t think i’ve ever fallen in love with a book as much as I have with this one! Your writing style is amazing and it’s made this book sound amazing and I need to get my hands on it! What a lovely giveaway, i’ve entered on Twitter as well @gcabray.
Gemma | http://www.anoceanglimmer.wordpress.com
Ha! Harry Potter Nerd Alert!! I feel like I have to read it now!! lol Great review!!
Thank you! You definitely do 💕
Hi. Your biggest reader here (whatever that’s meant to mean) and I definitely follow you because I got here from my emails.
I love dark fairytales, so I’ve been desperate to get this book since I first heard about it.
Liam @notsotweets
Oh my days 😍😍 your review is just gushing. So much so I really want to grab a copy asap. Plus your gif game is strong.
💙💙💙💙
Twitter: @aimee_louise_l
Haha first time someone’s said that about my gif game 🙈
Thanks for the giveaway. Loved your review. I’ve retweeted via @rachael_emma_89
Hello! I’ve retweeted and am already following your blog. Thank you for the chance!
@TinHoverCarInIc I’m already following, Jenn, but I’m so excited to read The Hazel Wood! (also very happy you enjoyed it!)
I enjoyed this book too! So good. 😊
I’ve had this on my TBR for ages! I followed you on twitter (@spewyouvoldy), signed up for email notifications, and bloglovin (heathercilley)! Awesome review! I really like the way you formatted your review!
Thank you!
Great review, and I can’t resist such pretty books
This book looks so good!!! It’s been on my TBR for a while! Thanks so much for the giveaway!! (P.S. I met you just today on Avalinah’s Discord chat!) 🙂
@misshoneybug (twitter). I want this book in my life! (but probably not in my dreams😂) I can see how much you liked it, so now Im even more curious about it.
Great review, Jenn! Thank you for the chance.
My twitter is @MabelMoran15
Honestly so excited for this to come out and your review just spiked my interest again!! haha great review.
Okay; so I’ve seen so many mixed reviews on this one that I had pretty much mentally removed it from my TBR but your review has made me all curious about this book again.. Sooo, I entered the giveaway, haha. [Twitter: @booksandmunches]
Haha good luck! I’m curious about these negative reviews now as you’re not the first to say that!
Time to look them up and start discussing, haha.
This has been on my list like forever. Following
You here on Twitter as @cherrykarl and @taleoutloud
This sounds fantastic. I love retellings and stories about fictional worlds. x
Ergh I’ve been reading half positive/half negative reviews about this book I don’t know what to think!!! And yass Killian <3
Ahhhh that’s tough. I hope you like it!
I already followed your blog! My Twitter handle is: @booksofashygirl
Thank you for the chance! 😍
I cannot wait to get my hands on a copy of this!
Erica | Erica Robyn Reads
I really enjoy re-tellings, (I’m so over Beauty & The Beast of Cinderella ones though) so I’m super excited to read this! I love when stories are nice and dark, especially when there’s descriptive writing paired with it. I’ll definitely be picking this up when it releases!
I really love retellings so I know I would be able to appreciate that side of things. I also really am a huge fan of beautiful writing (and covers) and this book sounds like it has both of those. Isn’t the best feeling being able to read a book when you are in the location it is set in? I just love when that happens.
My recent post: http://oliviascatastrophe.com/2018/01/6-reasons-you-need-new-cool-socks/
Oh wow. I didn’t know things closed already 😢. Well I followed and retweeted. The book sounds very intriguing. Putting it on the list.
That’s okay <3
Wow! I love the sound of this book!
@Mcgee15Zoe Thanks for doing this giveaway😄
I have this one on preorder and can not wait to get my hands on it!! Fab review.
Thank you so much for the chance to win this book! So exciting! I’ve followed you on twitter as well as here @thewistfulword
Already following, and I’m at @readeatretreat 🙂 thanks for the giveaway!
@atheinne That was a great review! Thank you for the chance! 🙂
Thank you! Good luck!
@atheinne That was a great review! And thanks for the chance 🙂
You had me at the Harry Potter reference, but then I saw the Killian GIF and *__*
Ok, I put it on my wishlistXD
Haha amazing!
This sounds super interesting! Can’t wait to read it! Thank you for this opportunity 🙂 @MajoP_15
I read and reviewed this recently. I’m so glad you enjoyed it, for me it just lacked too much. Bits were so rich and amazing, but whole sections were boring and slow. It didn’t quite live up to it’s potential for me!
Oh no I’m sorry to hear that! I deffo need to go and check out your review x
It’s one of those things! I loved the idea so much that I think if found the reality of the book a bit of a let down 🙁 So glad you loved it though 🙂 x
Fingers crossed as this book sounds amazing. Also yes to Killian.
He’s the best 😍
Great review! I haven’t read many reviews about this so thanks for the summary! Definitely on my TBR list now
It’s not our yet/only just come out so that’s probably why there aren’t many reviews yet aha!
This sounds like a great book. If I don’t win, I might have to go out and buy a copy anyway!
Glad to hear it haha!
I fell in love with the cover of this book before I even read what it was about. Loved the review and I want it even more now!
My Twitter handle is @joycorkery
xx
Such a FAB review of Hazel Wood!! And I LOVE LOVE LOVE that you included a giff of Killian lol…. you can never have too many Killian gifs! I’m following you on FB, Twitter and Bloglovin!
Thanks so much for the awesome giveaway.
Suzy x
http://www.suzyturner.com
Killian is the BEST <3
Gorgeous Cover. I’ve retweeted (@MabelTheReader) and I followed your blog.