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Thirteen Midnights
Win a free print copy of this book!
15 days and 08:35:41
25 copies available
U.S. only
To save her best friend, a young woman must follow the mysterious figure that has plagued her village for generations into his sprawling, otherworldly realm in this dark fairy tale perfect for fans of The Cruel Prince and The Rose Bargain.
Love will unite them. Fate will break them.
In the superstitious town of Hollow there once lived a long and powerful line of witches. Determined to secure their power, they cast a curse on the only one who threatened their reign: the Lord of the Woods—the enigmatic Piper.
But the curse had a price.
Every thirteen years, someone from Hollow is stolen away into the Piper’s realm by his eerie melodies. No one is ever seen again.
Violet, the last witch left, is destined to break the curse. But when her best friend is taken instead, Violet ventures into the strange and enchanted land called Otherhollow to put things right and confront the Piper. But the Piper is wild, and charming, and different from the monstrous villain in her family’s stories.
Her fate is to kill the Piper and break the curse. But now fate must reckon with something wholly unexpected…Violet’s own traitorous heart.
Love will unite them. Fate will break them.
In the superstitious town of Hollow there once lived a long and powerful line of witches. Determined to secure their power, they cast a curse on the only one who threatened their reign: the Lord of the Woods—the enigmatic Piper.
But the curse had a price.
Every thirteen years, someone from Hollow is stolen away into the Piper’s realm by his eerie melodies. No one is ever seen again.
Violet, the last witch left, is destined to break the curse. But when her best friend is taken instead, Violet ventures into the strange and enchanted land called Otherhollow to put things right and confront the Piper. But the Piper is wild, and charming, and different from the monstrous villain in her family’s stories.
Her fate is to kill the Piper and break the curse. But now fate must reckon with something wholly unexpected…Violet’s own traitorous heart.
Unknown Binding
Expected publication November 17, 2026
About the author
Isabel Strychacz
4 books95 followersIsabel Strychacz is the author of the YA novel Starling (2021) and upcoming House of Thorns (out 2024). She grew up in a small town in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she read all the books she could find and wrote the books she couldn’t.
She received two degrees in English/Creative Writing and History from Mills College in Oakland, California, and is getting her MFA degree in Creative Writing from Manchester Metropolitan University.
She currently lives in the heart of England with her husband Henry and daughter Imogen, and she works as a copywriter for a PR & Communications agency.
Strychacz is pronounced STREE-cash
She received two degrees in English/Creative Writing and History from Mills College in Oakland, California, and is getting her MFA degree in Creative Writing from Manchester Metropolitan University.
She currently lives in the heart of England with her husband Henry and daughter Imogen, and she works as a copywriter for a PR & Communications agency.
Strychacz is pronounced STREE-cash
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
DNF @ 33%. So sorry but this book wasn’t good at all.
I truly, truly don’t like to DNF advance reader copies but come on. This book was so bad, I tried for four days to read it but my brain just checked out every time I tried to read. There’s no world building at all and I swear the term “the boy” got repeated over 100 times throughout each chapter. I can’t tell if the main character in this book is meant to be 18 or 8. The dialogue is so weak and underwhelming and just dull, bland and boring.
The FMC was childish and the “Piper” sounded exactly like a child as well. Nothing interesting happened at all and I can’t tell if this book was written juvenile like on purpose to appease a younger audience or if it’s just that bad
I truly, truly don’t like to DNF advance reader copies but come on. This book was so bad, I tried for four days to read it but my brain just checked out every time I tried to read. There’s no world building at all and I swear the term “the boy” got repeated over 100 times throughout each chapter. I can’t tell if the main character in this book is meant to be 18 or 8. The dialogue is so weak and underwhelming and just dull, bland and boring.
The FMC was childish and the “Piper” sounded exactly like a child as well. Nothing interesting happened at all and I can’t tell if this book was written juvenile like on purpose to appease a younger audience or if it’s just that bad
September 12, 2026
Thanks to the author and publisher for my arc. The opinions are my own.
This is a vibe , dark atmospheric with curses secret and magic. It’s a fun mix of Labyrinth and beauty and the beast and while it does drag a bit at times it’s an overall fun read.
This is a vibe , dark atmospheric with curses secret and magic. It’s a fun mix of Labyrinth and beauty and the beast and while it does drag a bit at times it’s an overall fun read.
September 18, 2026
Violet is destined by fate to break the curse that her ancestors placed on Otherhollow, she must kill the Lord of the Woods, also known as Piper. The only problem is, Violet has no desire to fulfill her destiny. But when Piper takes her friend, Violet is forced to journey into Otherhollow, where she'll have to discover that perhaps not everything in her life was what it seemed.
First of all, I want to note that the author created a very interesting lore. At first, looking at the cover, I somehow assumed there would be notes of Slavic folklore here, but in reality it turned out somewhat differently, the world reminded me more of a Faerie realm or something along those lines, with its dark but incredibly atmospheric forests.
I'll be honest, I didn't immediately connect with Violet, but once she found herself in Otherhollow and began gradually unraveling the tangle of secrets woven by her ancestor, I was able to understand her better. Piper, though, captured my attention from his very first appearance. And as the plot developed, my interest in him only grew. And yes, he definitely gives off some Thranduil vibes!
The romantic part of plot was also beautiful, one that came about rather in spite of circumstances and the roles the characters were meant to play. In some ways, I'd probably even call it an allusion to Beauty and the Beast, only with darker, more adult vibes. And I really like it!
Thanks Netgalley, Simon and Schuster and Isabel Strychacz for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
First of all, I want to note that the author created a very interesting lore. At first, looking at the cover, I somehow assumed there would be notes of Slavic folklore here, but in reality it turned out somewhat differently, the world reminded me more of a Faerie realm or something along those lines, with its dark but incredibly atmospheric forests.
I'll be honest, I didn't immediately connect with Violet, but once she found herself in Otherhollow and began gradually unraveling the tangle of secrets woven by her ancestor, I was able to understand her better. Piper, though, captured my attention from his very first appearance. And as the plot developed, my interest in him only grew. And yes, he definitely gives off some Thranduil vibes!
The romantic part of plot was also beautiful, one that came about rather in spite of circumstances and the roles the characters were meant to play. In some ways, I'd probably even call it an allusion to Beauty and the Beast, only with darker, more adult vibes. And I really like it!
Thanks Netgalley, Simon and Schuster and Isabel Strychacz for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
There are no words. She has magic in her blood. The way that she writes is unlike anyone else I’ve ever read.
Not only has she outdone herself every single time she’s published a book, she consistently writes uniquely magical stories that have completely different plots and yet still hold you throughout.
I don’t know many authors who can do that and successfully. Maybe if everyone took a few years in between projects, they would have what Strychacz does.
This was everything. A Pied Piper retelling that surpassed my already high expectations, a hot af romance, gorgeous gothic prose, and a glittering dark world that rivals any fae novel you’ve ever read.
I felt like I was inside the woods right there along Violet. The imagery that she creates is so damn powerful and I was obsessed with the twists and the Otherhollow and how the story played out. I could not put this down.
You’re doing yourselves a disservice if you haven’t read any of her books. I need her to inject it into MY veins and to write everything magical and gothic from now on.
Not only has she outdone herself every single time she’s published a book, she consistently writes uniquely magical stories that have completely different plots and yet still hold you throughout.
I don’t know many authors who can do that and successfully. Maybe if everyone took a few years in between projects, they would have what Strychacz does.
This was everything. A Pied Piper retelling that surpassed my already high expectations, a hot af romance, gorgeous gothic prose, and a glittering dark world that rivals any fae novel you’ve ever read.
I felt like I was inside the woods right there along Violet. The imagery that she creates is so damn powerful and I was obsessed with the twists and the Otherhollow and how the story played out. I could not put this down.
You’re doing yourselves a disservice if you haven’t read any of her books. I need her to inject it into MY veins and to write everything magical and gothic from now on.
October 29, 2026
*3.5/5 Stars
Before my actual review I would like to give a quick thank you to NetGalley for this ARC, I really appreciate it.
Now, to sum up this book in one neat sentence, "Violet Holloway is doing her best and she is tired."
No seriously, the poor girl has an incredible burden put on her shoulders by generations of her family, the Holloways. Kill the Piper so that Otherhollow will be free of him and the magic will return to its rightful place, to Otherhollow, to the Holloways. Of course, things are not always what they seem and tales are told according to each sides interpretation. Violet learns this more towards the end of the book, but for most of the story she is so incredibly focused on this singular purpose that I can say with great certainty that half the words in 'Thirteen Midnights' make up 'Holloway' and 'Kill the Piper.'
Not saying that's a bad thing, just goes to show how freaking hammered this purpose is in Violet.
That's the main gist of the story. It's a quick read. It moves fast and is more whimsy vibes than depth, but if that's something you're looking for then this book is for you.
There are just two things that surprised me. The first one was that 'Thirteen Midnights' is set in the modern world. That threw me off guard for a moment because the beginning read like a medieval fantasy setting and then technology was mentioned and I had to rearrange my thoughts. I feel like this story would have fit better in a old medieval setting. Either way, the modern world had little to no impact on the story or characters so I guess it really didn't matter.
One other thing that pleasantly surprised me was the fact that Violet is sort of a coward in the beginning. I'm not saying that like it's a bad thing, truly. It was honestly refreshing! Usually when it comes to these type of stories I'm so quick to expect the FMC to immediately throw herself into the dark abyss in order to save her loved ones, so when Violet rejected taking Blair's place I almost wanted to stand up and clap because YES, HERE'S A FMC WHO'S WELL AND TRULY SCARED.
I loved that, I really did.
The rest of the story fell into place smoothly, sometimes a little too conveniently, but like I said it's a short book so further explanations aren't really needed (even though I would've liked some more depth) to move the plot along nicely.
'Thirteen Midnights' ultimately revolves around Violet and the Piper and whether she'll kill him or if he'll kill her (they obviously won't) and how she ends up saving Otherhollow. Most of the other characters are there to just fill in places so the story doesn't feel as empty as it is because at times it did feel as if Violet and the Piper were the only two characters in the entire place. I would've loved to have known more about the citizens who actually live in Otherhollow (not just a short quick view of them at the celebration) and who North really is and such. But, oh well. It is what it is!
The romance was short and sweet, nothing monumental. Violet and the Piper hate each other for like two seconds and then that somehow turned into love with just a few looks and a few meetings. But it's sweet.
Ultimately, what I liked most about 'Thirteen Midnights' was not the whimsical vibes or the romance, it was the fact that Violet at the end of the story, finally found a place where she could belong without fear and without the weight of her family on her shoulders. She's cowardly in the beginning, people didn't like her because she was a weird Holloway witch in the woods, but in Otherhollow she blooms (literally). She becomes something else. She finally can breathe and be free. That's what impacted me the most, Violet's growth.
Before my actual review I would like to give a quick thank you to NetGalley for this ARC, I really appreciate it.
Now, to sum up this book in one neat sentence, "Violet Holloway is doing her best and she is tired."
No seriously, the poor girl has an incredible burden put on her shoulders by generations of her family, the Holloways. Kill the Piper so that Otherhollow will be free of him and the magic will return to its rightful place, to Otherhollow, to the Holloways. Of course, things are not always what they seem and tales are told according to each sides interpretation. Violet learns this more towards the end of the book, but for most of the story she is so incredibly focused on this singular purpose that I can say with great certainty that half the words in 'Thirteen Midnights' make up 'Holloway' and 'Kill the Piper.'
Not saying that's a bad thing, just goes to show how freaking hammered this purpose is in Violet.
That's the main gist of the story. It's a quick read. It moves fast and is more whimsy vibes than depth, but if that's something you're looking for then this book is for you.
There are just two things that surprised me. The first one was that 'Thirteen Midnights' is set in the modern world. That threw me off guard for a moment because the beginning read like a medieval fantasy setting and then technology was mentioned and I had to rearrange my thoughts. I feel like this story would have fit better in a old medieval setting. Either way, the modern world had little to no impact on the story or characters so I guess it really didn't matter.
One other thing that pleasantly surprised me was the fact that Violet is sort of a coward in the beginning. I'm not saying that like it's a bad thing, truly. It was honestly refreshing! Usually when it comes to these type of stories I'm so quick to expect the FMC to immediately throw herself into the dark abyss in order to save her loved ones, so when Violet rejected taking Blair's place I almost wanted to stand up and clap because YES, HERE'S A FMC WHO'S WELL AND TRULY SCARED.
I loved that, I really did.
The rest of the story fell into place smoothly, sometimes a little too conveniently, but like I said it's a short book so further explanations aren't really needed (even though I would've liked some more depth) to move the plot along nicely.
'Thirteen Midnights' ultimately revolves around Violet and the Piper and whether she'll kill him or if he'll kill her (they obviously won't) and how she ends up saving Otherhollow. Most of the other characters are there to just fill in places so the story doesn't feel as empty as it is because at times it did feel as if Violet and the Piper were the only two characters in the entire place. I would've loved to have known more about the citizens who actually live in Otherhollow (not just a short quick view of them at the celebration) and who North really is and such. But, oh well. It is what it is!
The romance was short and sweet, nothing monumental. Violet and the Piper hate each other for like two seconds and then that somehow turned into love with just a few looks and a few meetings. But it's sweet.
Ultimately, what I liked most about 'Thirteen Midnights' was not the whimsical vibes or the romance, it was the fact that Violet at the end of the story, finally found a place where she could belong without fear and without the weight of her family on her shoulders. She's cowardly in the beginning, people didn't like her because she was a weird Holloway witch in the woods, but in Otherhollow she blooms (literally). She becomes something else. She finally can breathe and be free. That's what impacted me the most, Violet's growth.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 24, 2026
4.5/5 stars! I couldn’t help but love this book. The story is an amalgamation of other stories: the pied piper, beauty and the beast, and the smallest trace of Rumpelstiltskin. It also shares many similarities to my favorite movie of all time, Labyrinth. I will eat up anything that is even remotely close to that masterpiece of a movie. And I did just that. Thirteen Midnights is a YA fantasy steeped in forest magic, forbidden romance, ancestral curses, and mild eldritch horror. The story takes place in a small superstitious town and its counterpart that is reminiscent of the fae realm. One of my only issues with the story is that the set up made me believe this would take place back in time. However, there was an occasional mentioning of modern technology in the beginning of the book that threw me off. It is only mentioned once or twice that our main character sends a text or her cell phone rings. It felt very unnecessary to the story and took me out of the atmospheric setting. The story could have existed without the few mentions of modern technology, especially since it only is mentioned at the beginning of the book. In fact, I think it would’ve been better without it. My only other issue was that we never find out the main character’s age. (Unless I missed a mentioning of it?) I had to guess she was about 18 given that it is a YA book. All that being said, I loved this book. I loved the romance. I loved the wild forest and its magic. I loved how unsettling the story was at times. It’s not perfect, but I don’t need it to be to enjoy it as much as I did.
(Read if you enjoyed: Keturah and Lord Death, Wintersong, My Throat an Open Grave, Where the Dark Stands Still)
*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*
(Read if you enjoyed: Keturah and Lord Death, Wintersong, My Throat an Open Grave, Where the Dark Stands Still)
*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*
October 31, 2026
I love strange guys with antlers who lurk in their eerie forest.
Thirteen midnights is about Violet, the current heir to a powerful line of magic wielders tied to the forest at the edge of a small town known as Hollow. Since the first Holloway, the family has been faced with the constant danger of the Piper, a monster who lures townsfolk into the woods every thirteen years. It’s prophesied that one day, a Holloway will be tasked with killing the Piper. As time passes, that duty falls to Violet, only her lifetime of training flies out the window when the Piper tries to lure her into the woods to complete her task, only she refuses, and her friend Blair is taken instead. Determined to get Blair back, Violet ventures into the Piper’s labyrinth, and is faced with danger and secrets at every turn.
This wasn’t necessarily what I was anticipating. I was prepared for more of this story to contain the Piper’s deception, and was caught off guard by the strength of romance that followed, (which I still loved). The atmosphere really stole the show for me. The dangerous magic weaved throughout the story made this a perfect read for the following months as the days get colder. The world building itself was also interesting, however I felt myself wanting more from it. I only wish it was a little more fleshed out. Overall, I did enjoy this book quite a lot, and would recommend it to anyone who likes Labyrinth, Howl’s Moving Castle, or Beauty and the Beast.
Thank you Simon Teen for the review copy!
Thirteen midnights is about Violet, the current heir to a powerful line of magic wielders tied to the forest at the edge of a small town known as Hollow. Since the first Holloway, the family has been faced with the constant danger of the Piper, a monster who lures townsfolk into the woods every thirteen years. It’s prophesied that one day, a Holloway will be tasked with killing the Piper. As time passes, that duty falls to Violet, only her lifetime of training flies out the window when the Piper tries to lure her into the woods to complete her task, only she refuses, and her friend Blair is taken instead. Determined to get Blair back, Violet ventures into the Piper’s labyrinth, and is faced with danger and secrets at every turn.
This wasn’t necessarily what I was anticipating. I was prepared for more of this story to contain the Piper’s deception, and was caught off guard by the strength of romance that followed, (which I still loved). The atmosphere really stole the show for me. The dangerous magic weaved throughout the story made this a perfect read for the following months as the days get colder. The world building itself was also interesting, however I felt myself wanting more from it. I only wish it was a little more fleshed out. Overall, I did enjoy this book quite a lot, and would recommend it to anyone who likes Labyrinth, Howl’s Moving Castle, or Beauty and the Beast.
Thank you Simon Teen for the review copy!
September 10, 2026
When Violet's best friend Blair is taken by the Piper, Violet has to make a bargain with the monster.
Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy this book. This book wasn't for me at all.
Violet is not a character I could root for. Her friendship with Blair is only told to us and never really shown, so when she's devastated after Blair is taken, I felt pretty flat despite trying to sympathize with her. Blair is constantly described as her best friend, but we never really get to see how they even became besties in the first place. I couldn't care about Blair or their friendship.
I also feel like Violet is just a regular girl. She's supposedly a witch, but the magic in this story is so minimal that I genuinely felt like I barely found any magic at all by the time I finished the book.
And I really don't understand how Violet and Piper were suddenly able to make up, become attracted to each other, and kiss, when Violet spends most of the story being nothing but an insufferable brat. It's such a shame because Piper had a potential, but the reason he suddenly became interested in Violet after being cursed for decades just didn't make sense to me.
I hate it when a book has a character loudly declaring, "But I love him!!!" when there has been absolutely no proper or convincing build-up, especially when they just met and barely know each other. This book is one of those. Also, Violet's internal monologue was exhausting. It was too much.
Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy this book. This book wasn't for me at all.
Violet is not a character I could root for. Her friendship with Blair is only told to us and never really shown, so when she's devastated after Blair is taken, I felt pretty flat despite trying to sympathize with her. Blair is constantly described as her best friend, but we never really get to see how they even became besties in the first place. I couldn't care about Blair or their friendship.
I also feel like Violet is just a regular girl. She's supposedly a witch, but the magic in this story is so minimal that I genuinely felt like I barely found any magic at all by the time I finished the book.
And I really don't understand how Violet and Piper were suddenly able to make up, become attracted to each other, and kiss, when Violet spends most of the story being nothing but an insufferable brat. It's such a shame because Piper had a potential, but the reason he suddenly became interested in Violet after being cursed for decades just didn't make sense to me.
I hate it when a book has a character loudly declaring, "But I love him!!!" when there has been absolutely no proper or convincing build-up, especially when they just met and barely know each other. This book is one of those. Also, Violet's internal monologue was exhausting. It was too much.
September 2, 2026
I enjoyed my time reading this YA fantasy!
I love stories with fairytale vibes, and this story definitely fits the bill. It’s a combination of various fairytales we know and love—like Beauty and the Beast, The Pied Piper, and hints of Rumpelstiltskin. This novel features a superstitious town, a haunting atmosphere, forest magic, ancestral curses, forbidden romance, and eldritch horror, which also added to the fairytale vibes in a great way.
I will say there were some more modern elements/technology that took me out of the story a bit—like the main character using her cell phone. I wish that the story had more of the historical feel that many fairytales have, but that’s just a personal taste.
I thought the pacing slowed down a bit too much for my liking, specifically in the middle. The plot also was a bit predictable at times.
But I still enjoyed my time reading this book, and I think fairytale lovers will also enjoy this read!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing | Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers for allowing me to read an eARC!
September 2, 2026
As a first time reader of this author I came in with no expectations. I found that I enjoyed myself quite a bit. Violet as a character I was glad did not annoy me. She just wanted to protect those she loved and was conflicted on how to help them. At the same time there could only be one way. To live in a place that had to essentially sacrifice someone damed the whole community regardless of the off putting good that gave them. That kind of debt bleeds into the minds of people and presents in the behaviors and actions of the community that can never quite let go of evil they themselves allow. VIolet want to see the end this but she ends up finding out there is another side of the story. I enjoyed the progression of the story. It was a easy read and there are areas that could be developed more but I didn't find too much fault.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I’m a huge fan of everything Isabel Strychacz does. What I love most about her writing is that every story feels completely different. So many authors find one formula and stick to it, but every book she writes has its own unique world, plot and atmosphere while still feeling unmistakably hers.
This was everything I wanted and more. A story that had me hooked, beautiful gothic writing, and a world that I never wanted to leave.
If you haven’t picked up one of her books yet, you’re seriously missing out. She has such a unique way of telling stories, and I honestly just need her to keep writing dark, magical, gothic books forever because I’ll read every single one.
This was everything I wanted and more. A story that had me hooked, beautiful gothic writing, and a world that I never wanted to leave.
If you haven’t picked up one of her books yet, you’re seriously missing out. She has such a unique way of telling stories, and I honestly just need her to keep writing dark, magical, gothic books forever because I’ll read every single one.
June 11, 2026
First off this cover is absolutely beautiful, I love it so much. Second, this book was so good! The vibes and atmosphere were amazing and I loved how the story felt like a dark Disney villain movie.
(Note: I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the publisher/author for the opportunity.)
POV: First Person
Sad Level: 💧
Would I Recommend? Yes
Favorite Character(s): Piper and Violet
Emojis Based on Vibes: 🥀👑🔮
(Note: I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the publisher/author for the opportunity.)
POV: First Person
Sad Level: 💧
Would I Recommend? Yes
Favorite Character(s): Piper and Violet
Emojis Based on Vibes: 🥀👑🔮
August 30, 2026
I don't know if it was the timing or my mood or the book itself, but friends - I struggled.This book is glacially paced and mostly vibes; its atmosphere shine but unfortunately it falls short with the characters.
Did Not Finish
September 13, 2026DNF at 42%.
I liked the writing style but I wasn't super invested in the plot of the story. I think this book has potential but it's just not for me. It ended up being darker/more eerie than I was expecting.
Thank you to Simon Teen for the advanced copy.
I liked the writing style but I wasn't super invested in the plot of the story. I think this book has potential but it's just not for me. It ended up being darker/more eerie than I was expecting.
Thank you to Simon Teen for the advanced copy.
October 18, 2026
I loved this!!! It gave me labyrinth vibes. And the yearning??? Omg. Okay, I can’t spoil anything. But I’m not usually a YA romantasy girl and this pulled me in so fast. Thank you for the opportunity!!
October 29, 2026
Thanks so much to NetGalley for the ARC! I really loved the dark atmosphere and woodsy, folklore-steeped prose. Part of the plot bumbled along at times, but I read it all in one setting and greatly enjoyed.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thirteen Midnights by Isabel Strychacz is a haunting, atmospheric fantasy that completely hooks you from the start with its eerie legend of the Piper. Violet is a strong, determined protagonist, and watching her enter the enchanted realm of Otherhollow to save her best friend makes for an exciting ride. The world-building is detailed and interesting. However, the pacing slows down a bit toward the middle, and a few plot turns felt slightly predictable. Overall, it’s a solid 3.75-star read that I’d definitely recommend if you love dark fairytale retellings with forbidden romance!
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews