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The Hazel Wood
The Hazel Wood
Melissa Albert | 2017 | Mystery, Paranormal, Science Fiction/Fantasy
10
7.4 (33 Ratings)
Book Rating
Deliciously dark take on fairytales! Creepier than I expected, I almost didn't want to read it after dark lol. And that cover is gorgeous!

I'm a huge fan of anything related to the fair folk so this was right up my alley. As soon as I started reading it I didn't want to put it down, the writing immediately grabbed my attention and wouldn't let go. The plot was one of the most unique I've read among the fairytale genre. I adored the Tales of the Hinterland referenced throughout, they were so interesting that I'd love to see them published as a companion to The Hazel Wood.

Fans of books like Holly Black's The Cruel Prince or anyone who likes their fantasy on the darker side will love The Hazel Wood!

**Thanks to Flatiron Books for sending me an advanced review copy! All opinions are my own.**
  
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Laura Doe (1350 KP) rated Cold Hearted in Books

Jan 15, 2022  
Cold Hearted
Cold Hearted
8
9.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
This book takes us on the journey of Lady Tremaine and her daughters - the stepmother and stepsisters of Cinderella. We spend the majority of the book getting to know Lady Tremaine before she met Cinderella’s father, and I actually quite liked her character. She lost her husband six years before the start of this book and has ended up spoiling her daughters in their shared grief, trying to make up for them only having one parent. She does decide that she’s spoiled them too much and she needs to be discipline them more and so as a punishment ends up going to a friend’s house in the country without them. There she meets the man of her dreams, Sir Richard.
This book doesn’t go the way that the Cinderella story does, where we think that Cinderella was the only person that was horribly mistreated. We see the reasoning for why Lady Tremaine in the future orders Cinderella to clean the house from top to bottom and adding in ridiculous requests at the same time. Once you have read the story, it’s completely understandable. Although, I will admit that at some stages you know that she has pushed the boundaries too far.
I was also quite glad at the reappearance of the Odd Sisters, although the time line is hazy but I would guess that it was before the events of The Odd Sisters book. I would also like to learn more about the stories that the Book of Fairytales has in, this may possibly be the stories that Serena Valentino is writing and all of these books will create her own Book of Fairytales? Only time will tell. I am hoping that Serena Valentino is in the process of writing more of these books, because I think the series is extremely clever and I do enjoy the fact that they are quick reads that are very interesting.
  
Alice (The Chronicles of Alice, #1)
Alice (The Chronicles of Alice, #1)
Christina Henry | 2015 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
8.5 (11 Ratings)
Book Rating
Originality (0 more)
Deliciously dark
I have a soft spot for retold classics whether they be fairytales or classic stories so I was really excited to read this take on the story of Alice in Wonderland, and this book really didn't disappoint. It was a little bit confusing in parts but I liked how dark and sinister the book felt, with Alice being seriously disturbed by the events going on and questioning her sanity. I loved how the magical element was slowly added in rather than just dumped on you and you were never entirely sure at times if it was all in her head (since you start out with her in a mental health institute).

It was the perfect length book that I just devoured in one sitting, I couldn't give it more stars as it was just a bit confusing at times but otherwise it was a deliciously dark read that I am sure to read again and again.
  
Fables: Volume 1: Legends in Exile
Fables: Volume 1: Legends in Exile
Bill Willingham | 2002 | Comics & Graphic Novels
9
7.3 (13 Ratings)
Book Rating
An interesting take on fairy tales!
I kept seeing this series being recommended, and I eventually managed to convince my husband to buy it for me for Christmas. I'm glad he did - I loved it!
The Adversary has forced the Fairy Tales out of their homelands and those who have survived now live in New York. They have their own government, and they are hiding from the general population in plain sight.
We join the Big Bad Wolf (who looks human - of course) as he investigates the murder of Rose Red. Other fairytale characters are featured during the course of Wolf's investigation: Snow White, Prince Charming (who is a sleaze ball!), Jack and loads of other characters. I can see the basis of the other comics emerging in this first one, and I really liked the bits at the end: short cartoons and stories about the battles with the Adversary and the Fairytales' escapes. Really good stuff!!