"The Hazel Wood"

“The Hazel Wood”

Written by Melissa Albert

Reviewed by Diana Iozzia

“The Hazel Wood” is a very unexpected and horrifically enchanting book, full of dark fairy tales, evil creatures, and mystical adventures. This mystifying tale centers around Alice, a girl from New York, who has discovered a dark past of hers, one that has been greatly influenced by her grandmother’s collection of terrifying fairy tales.

Alice’s mother, Ella, has been taking into “The Hinterland”, a magical place that Alice once thought of as the fictional setting from her grandmother, Althea’s book. Additionally, our main heroine has begun to notice creatures and characters from this story appearing in her ‘normal’ life. Has she been destined to be apart of the Hinterland? Alice decides to find her way back to The Hazel Wood, where her grandmother had lived in isolation, cared for medically, prior to her death.

The book is told by Alice, as she adventures her way through the story, weaving in and out of reality. She is accompanied by a friend, Finch, who has the potential to be a fantastic love interest. Alice and Finch travel together on a journey, one that reminds me of “Silent Hill”, “Goosebumps”, “Coraline”, “Phantom of the Opera”, and even Dan Brown’s books.

One of the most interesting elements of this novel is the folklore. Albert has created a fictional book, with fascinating fairytales, horrifying creatures, and a beautifully haunting following. The clues and riddles that result from these tales are interesting to dive further into, especially ones including puzzle-like steps. Although some characters are archetypal, I feel like the true origins of most classics are based upon archetypal characters and story ideas.

I really enjoyed a few other unexpected qualities of this story. Alice is seventeen-years-old, a teen that would be expected to be in a young adult story. However, she is wise, intelligent, and very unlike other teen heroines. She has power, drive, and curiosity. Most young adult fantasy books feel a bit juvenile. There’s always one too many slang terms or pop culture references. I felt this book had the perfect balance of being great for young adults but also for adults.

In conclusion, I know many people who would not recommend this book. I purchased this book, intrigued by the premise. I had hoped that I would enjoy this story much more than others, knowing that you should not take every review as gospel. I am so glad I chose to read this. It was such a rewarding experience, and I cannot wait for its sequel. This will easily be a favorite book from this year.