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The Children
The haunting new novel from New York Times bestselling author Melissa Albert, in which the estranged adult children of a legendary author, written into their dead mother’s beloved fantasy series, must contend with the vine-like creep of legacy, memory, and magic
Guinevere Sharpe has two childhoods.
In one, she and her brother, Ennis, live in the wooded shadow of their family's isolated Vermont farmhouse; in the other, the pages of their mother’s world-famous Ninth City books, where their magical adventures have made them household names. In reality, Guinevere's childhood isn't the enchanted idyll her mother’s readers she and Ennis are growing up near-feral, unwashed and underfed, escaping each day to the wild woods they’ve made their playland. As Edith Sharpe’s books explode into epic popularity, the threats of a rural childhood give way to the escalating perils of fame—until the night it all goes up in flames, leaving Edith’s series unfinished and her children the sole survivors.
Now an adult coasting on her mother's name, Guinevere is mid-promotion for a ghostwritten memoir when her estranged brother, an artist who has until now spurned his family's legacy, announces an upcoming installation titled, simply, Mother. As rumors swirl around a death connected to his last show, unsettling recollections from Guinevere’s childhood begin to surface. Her public facade starts to crack, forcing her to confront the questions she's spent the last twenty years running What really happened the night of the fire? And what dark history lies behind their mother’s fantasy world?
The Children is wise to the mythic weight childhood memories gather over time, and the way our most beloved stories grow up with us. It's for anyone who's ever revisited an old favorite and found its pages cast in a darker light, the line separating magic from reality blurring as we discover the books that once comforted us carry shadows of their own.
Guinevere Sharpe has two childhoods.
In one, she and her brother, Ennis, live in the wooded shadow of their family's isolated Vermont farmhouse; in the other, the pages of their mother’s world-famous Ninth City books, where their magical adventures have made them household names. In reality, Guinevere's childhood isn't the enchanted idyll her mother’s readers she and Ennis are growing up near-feral, unwashed and underfed, escaping each day to the wild woods they’ve made their playland. As Edith Sharpe’s books explode into epic popularity, the threats of a rural childhood give way to the escalating perils of fame—until the night it all goes up in flames, leaving Edith’s series unfinished and her children the sole survivors.
Now an adult coasting on her mother's name, Guinevere is mid-promotion for a ghostwritten memoir when her estranged brother, an artist who has until now spurned his family's legacy, announces an upcoming installation titled, simply, Mother. As rumors swirl around a death connected to his last show, unsettling recollections from Guinevere’s childhood begin to surface. Her public facade starts to crack, forcing her to confront the questions she's spent the last twenty years running What really happened the night of the fire? And what dark history lies behind their mother’s fantasy world?
The Children is wise to the mythic weight childhood memories gather over time, and the way our most beloved stories grow up with us. It's for anyone who's ever revisited an old favorite and found its pages cast in a darker light, the line separating magic from reality blurring as we discover the books that once comforted us carry shadows of their own.
416 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication June 2, 2026
About the author
Melissa Albert
13 books5,117 followersMelissa Albert is the New York Times and indie bestselling author of the Hazel Wood series and Our Crooked Hearts, and a former bookseller and founder of the Barnes & Noble Teen Blog. Her work has been translated into more than twenty languages and included in the New York Times’ list of Notable Children’s Books. She enjoys swimming pool tourism, genre mashups, and living in Brooklyn with her hilarious husband and magnificently goofy son.
Okay, now I will stop talking about myself in the third person. I try to reply to all messages and questions, so please reach out, or come find me on Twitter (@mimi_albert) or Instagram (@melissaalbertauthor)! (But please note: I don't accept GR friend requests anymore because of Amazon's related review policy.)
Okay, now I will stop talking about myself in the third person. I try to reply to all messages and questions, so please reach out, or come find me on Twitter (@mimi_albert) or Instagram (@melissaalbertauthor)! (But please note: I don't accept GR friend requests anymore because of Amazon's related review policy.)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 508 reviews
Want to Read
May 10, 2026New Goodreads giveaway, running till May 26! She's almost here!!
November 10, 2025
i can’t wait to still be recommending this book to people when I’m 80 years old
November 17, 2025
I… I… just preorder this book!!!!
Want to Read
June 1, 2026as long as melissa albert is writing eerie dark genre-bending fairytale stories, i will be reading
June 2, 2026
This is a dark and atmospheric story that pulled me in right from the beginning. The book follows Guinevere as she looks back on her strange childhood in a Vermont farmhouse while also dealing with events in the present. The mystery surrounding her family kept me turning the pages, and I loved the eerie feeling that something was wrong even when I couldn't quite figure out what. The story slowly reveals its secrets, creating a haunting and emotional reading experience.
The characters were one of my favorite parts of the book. Guin was an easy character to follow, and I felt for both her and her brother Ennis as they dealt with the effects of their unusual upbringing. The family dynamics were complicated and often heartbreaking. The farmhouse itself felt almost like a character, filled with secrets and unsettling memories.
I really enjoyed this book. The writing was beautiful, the mystery kept me interested, and the creepy fairy tale feel worked very well. I did wish the ending had given a few more answers, as some parts felt a little rushed after such a slow build. Even so, I found the story memorable and unique, and I would happily recommend it to readers who enjoy gothic fiction, family mysteries, and darker fairy tale inspired stories.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
The characters were one of my favorite parts of the book. Guin was an easy character to follow, and I felt for both her and her brother Ennis as they dealt with the effects of their unusual upbringing. The family dynamics were complicated and often heartbreaking. The farmhouse itself felt almost like a character, filled with secrets and unsettling memories.
I really enjoyed this book. The writing was beautiful, the mystery kept me interested, and the creepy fairy tale feel worked very well. I did wish the ending had given a few more answers, as some parts felt a little rushed after such a slow build. Even so, I found the story memorable and unique, and I would happily recommend it to readers who enjoy gothic fiction, family mysteries, and darker fairy tale inspired stories.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
January 25, 2026
Were you a child who loved to read? Were you obsessed with series like Harry Potter or Chronicles of Narnia & then conflicted by the authors real world actions or comments? Have you ever felt disillusioned by the realities of adulthood & longed for the magic those books created? If so you should plan to read this as soon as it releases!
Just an incredibly meaty book. There’s so much thematically to pull apart. The characters are beautifully crafted. Best of all the writing is profoundly evocative. The scenes set in the MCs childhood are lethargic, hazy, with constant danger floating beneath.
I found myself thrust back into my own childhood. Visiting my grandparents in Vermont involved picking blackberries in the woods, sitting in the hollow whispering to fairies, lying in the sun reading Harry Potter. As an adult those memories feel like they’re from a place I can never return to, Albert doesn’t just acknowledge that loss she also questions if any adult should return to that world.
This is a book I’ll definitely be rereading (rare for me). It’d be a great book club read . I just can’t recommend it enough!
Just an incredibly meaty book. There’s so much thematically to pull apart. The characters are beautifully crafted. Best of all the writing is profoundly evocative. The scenes set in the MCs childhood are lethargic, hazy, with constant danger floating beneath.
I found myself thrust back into my own childhood. Visiting my grandparents in Vermont involved picking blackberries in the woods, sitting in the hollow whispering to fairies, lying in the sun reading Harry Potter. As an adult those memories feel like they’re from a place I can never return to, Albert doesn’t just acknowledge that loss she also questions if any adult should return to that world.
This is a book I’ll definitely be rereading (rare for me). It’d be a great book club read . I just can’t recommend it enough!
September 4, 2025
I've been out of the publishing world long enough that reading this way early felt really special—mostly because it's fucking great.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
“The time we like the best of all is when the shadows creepy crawl,
One after another.
When the golden sun sinks down in the west,
And the tired birdie flies home to its nest,
And we're left alone with mother.”
I've been a fan of Melissa Albert’s work for a while now and reading The Children was pure delight!
The Children is centered around a dysfunctional family complete with hedonistic parents and neglected children who live in a creepy farmhouse. Filled with magical realism and paranormal elements, the book centers on the powerful bond between siblings and overcoming a traumatic childhood.
Atmospheric and told with a sense of foreboding, The Children pulled me in from the start and kept my attention throughout. The story made me nostalgic for the children’s fantasy series I read growing up (The Chronicles of Narnia and The Time Quintet) and I loved the haunted house setting.
The Children by Melissa Albert will be available on June 2. Many thanks to William Morrow and NetGalley for the gifted copy!
One after another.
When the golden sun sinks down in the west,
And the tired birdie flies home to its nest,
And we're left alone with mother.”
I've been a fan of Melissa Albert’s work for a while now and reading The Children was pure delight!
The Children is centered around a dysfunctional family complete with hedonistic parents and neglected children who live in a creepy farmhouse. Filled with magical realism and paranormal elements, the book centers on the powerful bond between siblings and overcoming a traumatic childhood.
Atmospheric and told with a sense of foreboding, The Children pulled me in from the start and kept my attention throughout. The story made me nostalgic for the children’s fantasy series I read growing up (The Chronicles of Narnia and The Time Quintet) and I loved the haunted house setting.
The Children by Melissa Albert will be available on June 2. Many thanks to William Morrow and NetGalley for the gifted copy!
April 18, 2026
Read this as an ARC and immediately pre-ordered a physical copy afterwards.
Good luck to the rest of the books on my 2026 TBR 🐝
WOW. This was eerie, intimate, and impossible to put down.
Before I read this, I saw many reviews with the word "haunting," and The Children is just that.
The writing is gorgeous and a little unsettling (in the best way). I don't even know what to say about the story; I lived Guin's childhood with her through the pages. Melissa Albert takes you on an adventure and then brings you back and ties the story together, again and again.
Absolutely LOVED this one.
Good luck to the rest of the books on my 2026 TBR 🐝
WOW. This was eerie, intimate, and impossible to put down.
Before I read this, I saw many reviews with the word "haunting," and The Children is just that.
The writing is gorgeous and a little unsettling (in the best way). I don't even know what to say about the story; I lived Guin's childhood with her through the pages. Melissa Albert takes you on an adventure and then brings you back and ties the story together, again and again.
Absolutely LOVED this one.
May 9, 2026
I dunno. This might be two stars actually. I could not settle on whether my time was being well spent. I swung back and forth the entire way and almost quit 1/3 through. There were occasional interactions that would pull me back in, some shining moments, but then it would dip low again slogging through words wondering if we’d ever get to the point.
It tries so hard to be deep and lush and atmospheric but you feel the strain and effort in every turn of phrase, trying to make it happen. Enough metaphors and similes to fill 10 books. So many descriptives shoved into every moment that words started to lose all meaning.
Even still, the first half could have been redeemed if the second half actually went somewhere. But it just seemed to be the same flashbacks over and over. New year. Same neglect. It didn’t build, clarify, or add anything to the characters.
And where we end up is somewhat baffling. There is a very vague sense of a supernatural entity teased at the beginning and it takes until the end for any kind of detail. For all the attention paid to every other little thing, this plot point is given none and it should have been half the book. That would have been interesting.
And not to be too spoilery but what was the takeaway supposed to be? That there’s no escaping generational mistakes and trauma? I left with the thought, “whatever, I guess.” I was just ready to be done with it.
* I received a free copy from the publisher
It tries so hard to be deep and lush and atmospheric but you feel the strain and effort in every turn of phrase, trying to make it happen. Enough metaphors and similes to fill 10 books. So many descriptives shoved into every moment that words started to lose all meaning.
Even still, the first half could have been redeemed if the second half actually went somewhere. But it just seemed to be the same flashbacks over and over. New year. Same neglect. It didn’t build, clarify, or add anything to the characters.
And where we end up is somewhat baffling. There is a very vague sense of a supernatural entity teased at the beginning and it takes until the end for any kind of detail. For all the attention paid to every other little thing, this plot point is given none and it should have been half the book. That would have been interesting.
And not to be too spoilery but what was the takeaway supposed to be? That there’s no escaping generational mistakes and trauma? I left with the thought, “whatever, I guess.” I was just ready to be done with it.
* I received a free copy from the publisher
April 13, 2026
I swear Melissa Albert isn’t actually from our world. She has to be an envoy from one of the stories she writes. She is 100% the female Neil Gaiman.
The Children is another book about a book and it reminded me so much of The Hazel Wood in the best way possible. It uses a dual timeline that pulls you in immediately. It’s dark, creepy, whimsical, and so immersive that while I was reading, I’m pretty sure I wasn't even on planet Earth anymore.
I spent the entire time wishing the Ninth City series was real so I could actually read it. I felt the exact same way about the Hinterland stories back in the day, so I’m crossing my fingers she eventually releases the Ninth City tales as a real book too.
The absolute best character was Edith Sharpe. I don’t know what it is about artistic, emotionally unavailable, semi-villainous mothers, but they just work for me. Her being mentally "absent" made the whole thing so much more haunting.
The only small issue I had is that it felt just a tiny bit longer than it needed to be in some spots. But even with the extra length, I was totally obsessed. If you like stories that make you feel like you’ve slipped through a crack in reality, you need this.
Provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Children is another book about a book and it reminded me so much of The Hazel Wood in the best way possible. It uses a dual timeline that pulls you in immediately. It’s dark, creepy, whimsical, and so immersive that while I was reading, I’m pretty sure I wasn't even on planet Earth anymore.
I spent the entire time wishing the Ninth City series was real so I could actually read it. I felt the exact same way about the Hinterland stories back in the day, so I’m crossing my fingers she eventually releases the Ninth City tales as a real book too.
The absolute best character was Edith Sharpe. I don’t know what it is about artistic, emotionally unavailable, semi-villainous mothers, but they just work for me. Her being mentally "absent" made the whole thing so much more haunting.
The only small issue I had is that it felt just a tiny bit longer than it needed to be in some spots. But even with the extra length, I was totally obsessed. If you like stories that make you feel like you’ve slipped through a crack in reality, you need this.
Provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 26, 2026
when was the last time i read a book that made me feel like a kid, again?
June 2, 2026
“The Children” by Melissa Albert is my first time reading this author, and I have to admit, her writing style is excellent. Once I got a few chapters in, I was excited to see where this story would go. It had an interesting concept involving siblings, a creepy house, and a forest, but unfortunately, this was mostly a dud.
There weren’t any trigger warnings while reading, which was odd to me at first since this is labeled as a horror novel. To be honest, I wouldn’t even classify “The Children” as a horror novel. It’s more fantasy and magic realism than a true horror reading experience. While I loved Albert’s writing style, as she’s very talented, there was just way too much dialogue here.
With alternating timelines that shift from the present to the past to fill in the backstory, the pacing was too slow, and the story dragged multiple times while reading. These were a bit annoying and tedious, since I was more invested in the past, when the main characters, Guinevere and Ennis, were kids, than in what was happening in the present.
It was awesome that it took place in New York, my hometown, but even that couldn’t save this novel, as it desperately needed more horror. Most situations and events were overly descriptive for no real reason, and not scary enough at all. It didn’t add to the overall story, and I kept waiting and waiting and waiting for something evil, creepy, or horrific to happen, and it never came.
There weren't any crazy, fun, or wild plot twists either. It’s just story on top of story, backstory on top of backstory, and nothing horror-related happens. The story had the foundation there with the creepy house, forest, and all that jazz, but it never went in the horror direction I was hoping for. It’s just way too heavy with story than creepy moments, and obviously, you need that for any horror novel worth its weight.
With repetitive moments and side characters that didn’t add anything to the story, this was an unmemorable read, and that’s a shame. Obviously, Albert has the writing skills to knock it out of the park, but this was a very underwhelming novel. I enjoyed the characters and the story involving Guin and her brother Ennis, as well as the mystery surrounding their parents, but I lost interest numerous times while reading because too often nothing happens at all. Just a lot of lingering thoughts, descriptions, and story story story.
I was hoping this would be a slow-burning novel and that the ending would blow me away. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. The ending left me with a “meh” feeling, and, due to all the excess dialogue, descriptions, and, again, story, it was lackluster. I didn’t feel anything at all when done, and just wanted to be done with this novel already.
I give “The Children” by Melissa Albert a 2-Star rating out of 5. The only thing I enjoyed was Albert’s solid writing style, the main characters of Guin and Ennis, and that’s pretty much it. There is barely any horror in this novel, and I would consider it more about a sibling rivalry mixed in with fantasy and magic. This isn’t for the demographic of true horror readers, as I would stay away from this one if you’re looking for something to keep you up late at night while reading.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author Melissa Albert, and William Morrow for providing me with an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) for review consideration. This horror book review reflects my honest, personal opinion.
There weren’t any trigger warnings while reading, which was odd to me at first since this is labeled as a horror novel. To be honest, I wouldn’t even classify “The Children” as a horror novel. It’s more fantasy and magic realism than a true horror reading experience. While I loved Albert’s writing style, as she’s very talented, there was just way too much dialogue here.
With alternating timelines that shift from the present to the past to fill in the backstory, the pacing was too slow, and the story dragged multiple times while reading. These were a bit annoying and tedious, since I was more invested in the past, when the main characters, Guinevere and Ennis, were kids, than in what was happening in the present.
It was awesome that it took place in New York, my hometown, but even that couldn’t save this novel, as it desperately needed more horror. Most situations and events were overly descriptive for no real reason, and not scary enough at all. It didn’t add to the overall story, and I kept waiting and waiting and waiting for something evil, creepy, or horrific to happen, and it never came.
There weren't any crazy, fun, or wild plot twists either. It’s just story on top of story, backstory on top of backstory, and nothing horror-related happens. The story had the foundation there with the creepy house, forest, and all that jazz, but it never went in the horror direction I was hoping for. It’s just way too heavy with story than creepy moments, and obviously, you need that for any horror novel worth its weight.
With repetitive moments and side characters that didn’t add anything to the story, this was an unmemorable read, and that’s a shame. Obviously, Albert has the writing skills to knock it out of the park, but this was a very underwhelming novel. I enjoyed the characters and the story involving Guin and her brother Ennis, as well as the mystery surrounding their parents, but I lost interest numerous times while reading because too often nothing happens at all. Just a lot of lingering thoughts, descriptions, and story story story.
I was hoping this would be a slow-burning novel and that the ending would blow me away. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. The ending left me with a “meh” feeling, and, due to all the excess dialogue, descriptions, and, again, story, it was lackluster. I didn’t feel anything at all when done, and just wanted to be done with this novel already.
I give “The Children” by Melissa Albert a 2-Star rating out of 5. The only thing I enjoyed was Albert’s solid writing style, the main characters of Guin and Ennis, and that’s pretty much it. There is barely any horror in this novel, and I would consider it more about a sibling rivalry mixed in with fantasy and magic. This isn’t for the demographic of true horror readers, as I would stay away from this one if you’re looking for something to keep you up late at night while reading.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author Melissa Albert, and William Morrow for providing me with an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) for review consideration. This horror book review reflects my honest, personal opinion.
January 21, 2026
I was sucked into this book right from the start, it’s the best kind of magical realism! The writing style is great; the characters are interesting, the scenes are painted beautifully, and the story unfolds seamlessly through the dual timelines. The whole book was tense, unsettling, and kept me guessing. Definitely recommend!
Also I’m IN LOVE with the cover!
Also I’m IN LOVE with the cover!
May 31, 2026
Wtf was this though
April 21, 2026
“The children who grew up on these books and reread them later on often say the same thing: These are darker than I remember. Crueler, stranger, more haunted by longing and loss.
All good children’s books are.”
The Children is classic Melissa Albert; a dark, twisted fairy tale overlapping the real world. I was intrigued by the synopsis and thrilled when I received the ARC. But unfortunately, this wasn’t quite what I was expecting, and I’m still trying to make sense of it.
The protagonist of The Children is Guinevere Sharpe, daughter of famous author Edith Sharpe. In the early 2000s, Guinevere and her brother Ennis were immortalized in their mother’s Ninth City books, a dark fantasy series for children that received worldwide acclaim. Readers who grew up on the books assumed the Sharpe siblings were living a magical life like their fictional counterparts, but that belief couldn’t have been further from the truth.
In actuality, the siblings’ childhood was marked by hunger and neglect. They grew up semi-feral, taking to the woods to escape their Vermont farmhouse. They received no formal education during these years, and their parents were too preoccupied with their art and entertaining a revolving door of guests to pay attention to the kids.
When their parents died in a house fire, Ennis and Guin were split up and estranged for over two decades. Guin became a ghostwriter while Ennis made a career as an artist, known for his surreal, scandalous exhibitions. His newest installation, titled Mother, is what forces Guinevere to revisit Edith’s legacy and confront the truth behind their parents’ deaths.
Sounds pretty good, right? That’s what I thought. But The Children is bogged down by unnecessary chapters, characters, and plotlines that seem like they’ll be more important than they actually are. While the writing is occasionally lush and alluring, there are many awkward turns of phrase and an overabundance of similes. Guinevere doesn’t feel like a fully formed person, and it takes almost 400 pages to meet Ennis in the present day. And the ARC is 424 pages long.
The reveal at the end was so random and bizarre that it felt like I was suddenly reading a different story. There are a few hints throughout the book but they didn’t come together in a satisfying way.
My biggest disappointment, though, is that the Ninth City books aren’t real. A portal fantasy about a shapeshifting realm where visitors’ memories are stolen by a mysterious overseer? Now, that sounds interesting. Much more interesting than whatever The Children was trying to be.
November 11, 2025
A haunting family epic that will stick with me the rest of my life. Underneath the lyrical writing and vivid storytelling lies an examination of the power of memory, the ghosts of our upbringings, and the role art plays in our lives. Mark you calendars for June 2026!!
May 29, 2026
The Children is a haunting meditation on artistic legacy. It is also about childhood mythmaking and the unseen brutality that can lie hidden beneath our most beloved stories. What begins as a sort of mystery slowly transforms into something far stranger and emotionally devastating, thus blurring the line between memories and magic with remarkable precision. At the center of this tale is Guinevere Sharpe, immortalized in her mother's wildly successful children's fantasy series and now, as an adult, trapped beneath the weight of a manufactured identity. Albert excels at exposing the unsettling disconnect between the enchanting public image of the Sharpe family and the reality of neglect and emotional abandonment that shaped Guin and her brother Ennis behind closed doors. The Children's dual timeline deepens that contrast beautifully, allowing revelations to unfold with a mounting sense of dread. Albert's prose carries a dreamlike quality that makes even ordinary moments feel uncanny. There is a persistent sense that something is deeply wrong just beneath the surface. Childhood stories can curdle into sheer horror when revisited with adult understanding. The novel leans hard into emotional unease, the damage parents leave behind, the exploitation wrapped up inside artistic ambition, and the complicated grief of losing those who failed you most. The Children feels intimate and mythic. It is a dark fairy tale about surviving the stories people have written for you. You can pick this book up June 02, 2026 wherever you buy your books.
April 18, 2026
🌙📖 The Children 📖🌙
This one didn’t land for me. It felt about 200 pages too long, and the pacing was painfully slow the entire way through. I kept waiting for things to pick up, but it never really got there for me.
The ending also felt pretty anticlimactic.
What to Expect
• Literary fantasy
• Family legacy
• Grief
• Magical realism
• Sibling relationship
_ _ _
🎧 Audio Score: 3.5 Stars
🎙️ Narration Style: Full Cast
📅 Pub Date: June 2, 2026
Thank you to HarperAudio Adult, William Morrow, and NetGalley for the advanced listening copy. All thoughts are my own.
This one didn’t land for me. It felt about 200 pages too long, and the pacing was painfully slow the entire way through. I kept waiting for things to pick up, but it never really got there for me.
The ending also felt pretty anticlimactic.
What to Expect
• Literary fantasy
• Family legacy
• Grief
• Magical realism
• Sibling relationship
_ _ _
🎧 Audio Score: 3.5 Stars
🎙️ Narration Style: Full Cast
📅 Pub Date: June 2, 2026
Thank you to HarperAudio Adult, William Morrow, and NetGalley for the advanced listening copy. All thoughts are my own.
May 19, 2026
Wow! A gorgeous, cerebral, haunting story with a slow creeping horror beneath the lush, golden tapestry of The Farmhouse, revealing the neglect and longing at the forefront of the Sharpe children’s childhood. The Children follows Guin through past and present to unveil the secrets behind her and her brother Ennis’ strange and chaotic upbringing by famous parents in an isolated house in the woods, stifled by their mother’s success as a fantasy author and all the people it brings to their doors.
It has the magic and dark undertow of The Starless Sea, and borrowing from the treasured fantasies most of us grew up on, books within books, it felt deeply nostalgic to me. I devoured this book, and I’ll be reading more of Melissa Albert’s books for sure! If you like slow literary fiction with magical realism and a touch of horror then this is the book for you.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury for the ARC!
It has the magic and dark undertow of The Starless Sea, and borrowing from the treasured fantasies most of us grew up on, books within books, it felt deeply nostalgic to me. I devoured this book, and I’ll be reading more of Melissa Albert’s books for sure! If you like slow literary fiction with magical realism and a touch of horror then this is the book for you.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury for the ARC!
April 28, 2026
Adjectives on adjectives on adjectives. Verbose. The overuse of descriptors made it such a slog. It’s TOO rich. I’m not sure what happened with the editor because they clearly did NOT edit.
Also, I hated the ending. We’re looking for the tortured artist brother for over 300 pages, we finally find him, and done. She wraps it up in 15-20 pages (such a let down!) and leaves a few, obvious loose threads hanging. So sequel. Which I will skip.
Also, I hated the ending. We’re looking for the tortured artist brother for over 300 pages, we finally find him, and done. She wraps it up in 15-20 pages (such a let down!) and leaves a few, obvious loose threads hanging. So sequel. Which I will skip.
June 2, 2026
Melissa Albert blends literary fantasy, psychological suspense, and magical realism into a story that feels both fairytale-like and unsettling. And it’s about books. Guinevere (Guin) is grappling with her mother’s legacy, a famous fantasy writer known for her beloved Ninth City novels, and the complicated childhood she turned into art. She grew up with her brother Ennis who is now estranged. Guin is a writer herself, while Ennis has created a provocative art installation called “Mother,” and they both live in the shadow of a woman who made them characters in her stories.
There’s this tension throughout as the novel slowly reveals secrets of their upbringing. When they were children, Guin and Ennis became part of a public mythology created by their mother, which brings up questions as to whether children can truly consent to having their lives turned into stories.
The atmosphere is one of the greatest strengths. It’s filled with both foreboding and wonder, and I was never quite sure what was real and what existed only in memory, imagination, or myth. While there are darker themes of family trauma and neglect, there are also supernatural elements which I really liked. At times it felt like there’s a lot going on, but it’s layered in a way that will appeal to readers looking for something surprising and different in all the best ways.
The pace is on the slower side and definitely not a page-turner (though some may disagree). I took this one slowly, as it’s the kind of novel that requires a little patience, especially with the jumps in timeline. So rich in atmosphere and meaningful prose, it’s an exploration of family, storytelling, and the unreliability of childhood memories.
Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for an advance copy for review.
There’s this tension throughout as the novel slowly reveals secrets of their upbringing. When they were children, Guin and Ennis became part of a public mythology created by their mother, which brings up questions as to whether children can truly consent to having their lives turned into stories.
The atmosphere is one of the greatest strengths. It’s filled with both foreboding and wonder, and I was never quite sure what was real and what existed only in memory, imagination, or myth. While there are darker themes of family trauma and neglect, there are also supernatural elements which I really liked. At times it felt like there’s a lot going on, but it’s layered in a way that will appeal to readers looking for something surprising and different in all the best ways.
The pace is on the slower side and definitely not a page-turner (though some may disagree). I took this one slowly, as it’s the kind of novel that requires a little patience, especially with the jumps in timeline. So rich in atmosphere and meaningful prose, it’s an exploration of family, storytelling, and the unreliability of childhood memories.
Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for an advance copy for review.
Did Not Finish
May 28, 2026Way too long…way too much description, which made the story never ending. Lost interest!
November 15, 2025
This was an interesting read that didn't fully live up to my (admittedly very high) expectations. I've enjoyed several of Melissa Albert's books previously and there are a lot of similarities here between them but certain parts didn't land as well as others.
Things I thought were great:
-The atmosphere. So foreboding, so creepy, as though something awful was about to happen at any moment.
-The world of the Ninth City. It did a really good job invoking the creepiness of many of our childhood favorites.
-Generational trauma. Without spoiling too much, this book does an excellent job exploring how our demons are often passed down from parents to children and beyond.
Things I didn't love as much:
-The ultimate answer to WTF is going on was never going to be as good as the tension. The book does an excellent job building tension but when we got to the climax, I was a little surprised at where it went. There were hints throughout the book, but it still felt a little unearned. I'm not sure. I'm still thinking about this one.
-Guin didn't feel as fully formed as an adult to me. She seemed almost a shadow, which I suppose was intentional, but it made it harder to get into her POV.
-Certain characters and plot points seem like they're going to come back in the end but never do. Unless I'm just not seeing how all the pieces add up together.
All-in, a solid read that I tore through in less than a day, although it left me a little unsatisfied in the end.
Things I thought were great:
-The atmosphere. So foreboding, so creepy, as though something awful was about to happen at any moment.
-The world of the Ninth City. It did a really good job invoking the creepiness of many of our childhood favorites.
-Generational trauma. Without spoiling too much, this book does an excellent job exploring how our demons are often passed down from parents to children and beyond.
Things I didn't love as much:
-The ultimate answer to WTF is going on was never going to be as good as the tension. The book does an excellent job building tension but when we got to the climax, I was a little surprised at where it went. There were hints throughout the book, but it still felt a little unearned. I'm not sure. I'm still thinking about this one.
-Guin didn't feel as fully formed as an adult to me. She seemed almost a shadow, which I suppose was intentional, but it made it harder to get into her POV.
-Certain characters and plot points seem like they're going to come back in the end but never do. Unless I'm just not seeing how all the pieces add up together.
All-in, a solid read that I tore through in less than a day, although it left me a little unsatisfied in the end.
March 29, 2026
The concept is fine, and the structure should help move things along, but it doesn’t. Partly because the characters never really come alive for me. Partly because while the author is clearly talented, and her subject very personal, the self-consciousness keeps it from breaking out. The rich similes the author aims for are in her reach, but she doesn’t quite reach deep enough.
Want to Read
September 17, 2025novels exploring myth, memory, and legacy through gothic narratives about fictional writers are literally my goddamn kryptonite and why i love starling house and the thirteenth tale so much.
melissa albert, you absolute monarch. i will love you forever.
melissa albert, you absolute monarch. i will love you forever.
October 25, 2025
What a mesmerizing, horrifying, dark and gorgeous thing this is.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
It took me longer to read this than I thought, it is so much story and time and existence crammed into a tale that I had to take breaks to let it sit in my head and expand the way it needed to. but now I'm done and I will take the night to sleep and then write the whole of my review.
But that final line? HA! Tres Magnifique, chef's kiss, bow down and round of applause.
My thanks to Netgalley, William Morrow and Melissa Albert for the eARC of this book in exchange for a review.
I've followed Melissa Albert's work since her debut novel, The Hazel Wood was released. I remember the book was being promoted everywhere and I pre-ordered my copy ahead of time. The impression that book left on me took a long time to wear off and it made me a fan for life. So when I saw that Albert was releasing a new book called The Children, I knew I needed to add that book to my shelves. While reading this, I had to take time to let it sit in my head, to let it grow and take shape and show me all the things I needed to see that I was missing while reading. There is so much done in this book that I feel like I could read it again and see more things I didn't catch the first time around. On the one hand, this book is beautiful and on the other it is devastating. It's a toss-up every time I think about it. Overall though, I LOVED this book. It made me do research into other children's book muses and their fates and it made me cuddle my littles a bit closer. If a book can do that, it's an impressive piece of work.
The Children focuses on Guinevere Sharpe, the daughter of the late beloved children's book author, Edith Sharpe, well-known for her Ninth City books that used Guin and her brother Ennis as inspiration. Guinevere spent her childhood running around unsupervised, dirty, sometimes starving, and even neglected. In the books her mother wrote, she was the girl everyone wanted to be and wanted to know. The series was left unfinished when Guinevere and Ennis ended up orphaned by a horrible fire at their childhood home. Twenty years later, the siblings are estranged. Ennis is a well-respected artist and Guinevere has taken up the mantle of promoting her mother's books while also getting ready to launch her own memoir. When Ennis decides to open a new show called Mother at the same time as the release for the memoir, it forces Guinevere to reconsider what she remembers about her childhood. Is it truly the idyllic story she's told in her book and how did it all come crashing down in that fiery end?
The first thing this book made me think of was all those Acknowledgements pages I read at the end of every book I pick up. The ones where the author thanks their partner for doing the majority of the work keeping the house running and taking on the bulk of time spent with their kids. And then there's sometimes a line for said kids being thanked for understanding how much it meant that they let the author do their writing and understanding that they needed to let said author/parent do their work alone. After which, I promptly put my phone down, climbed into the playpen and started a game with my kids. Because yeah, this book made me very conscious of how much time I spend with my kids alongside trying to do some writing. As is, this review is being written after midnight when my kids are asleep so I don't feel guilty about not focusing on them. I don't want to ever come close to being the parents in this book, that's for sure. There is a work/life balance and Edith Sharpe definitely did NOT have that nor really a true parenting bone in her body and the examination of that that and the effect it had on her kids is what drives the book. For the authors who mention their families, you know they value the worth of their partner and their kids. I doubt Edith Sharpe even deigned to mention them for thanks. How much is TOO MUCH to sacrifice for your dreams and who else has to sacrifice with you to get you there?
The second thing this book made me do is research the kids I could think of who inspired some of the classic stories that had children going on grand adventures. I'm happy to report that most of them went on to live long happy lives but this book definitely made me feel heartache for Guinevere and Ennis and the effect the Ninth City books had on their existence. The ideas presented in this story were chilling and it has cemented in my head that I will NEVER use my kids as inspiration. I know I'm talking about them now but there will never be any specifics about them mentioned anwhere in my writing. The fact that there are so many scholarly articles devoted to the research of understanding who inspired what and how and why is enough to make my skin crawl and I would hate for that kind of speculation to be turned on my family. Which is where a lot of the focus of THIS book went to with Guin and Ennis. I only cared about these kids and saving them and Albert deserves so much credit for making them feel so real and heartbreaking.
In terms of characters, the book focuses mainly on Guin, her recollections of her childhood and the spiraling effect her brother's new art exhibit is having on the life she has created for herself. I loved child Guinevere but I wasn't sure where I stood with adult Guin until the end of the book. I could understand why she was how she was but a lot of what she did throughout the book made me question her on everything. That ending though, just wow. It made me sit up and want to applaud and it was all because of Guin. Suffice to say, that is one character that packs a punch. I'm glad she got to where she needed to go, anything else said will ruin the effect of that ending so that is where I will leave it.
If you've read Melissa Albert before, this book fits right in with the rest of her work. At first, I thought this was going to be a story focused more on the effects of a neglectful childhood. Then there was a line, an almost throwaway type of thing with Guinevere waving at her mom and then a few sentences later a revelation and it made me sit up and think AHA, there it is, THAT is exactly what I was expecting from Albert's writing. It starts off subtle and then builds, putting more things in that need a second look at, ideas and images that build until they all come together to give you this overarching image of something terrible and wonderful for these characters and their story. The back and forth of the timelines helps with the rhythm, revealing suspenseful tidbits that the reader takes in knowing how Guinevere's childhood ends and then placing that story opposite the journey Guin is taking to finally coming face to face with her brother again after decades apart. It's all masterfully done, with each secret revealed at just the right time in the past and in the present. I loved the tension it created and the effect it had on me.
One last parting thought, I hope Albert seriosuly considers writing a Ninth City book. I've seen it happen before, after all, Albert did write Tales from The Hinterland that was meant to be a book seen in The Hazel Wood. I'm just saying, if Albert is getting ready to give readers The Ninth City, I will gladly read it.
Rating on my scale? 10 STARS. This book made me re-examine a lot of things, favorite childhood stories, their inspirations and their creators. It's everything I thought it was going to be and then just that much more because of the place it left me with that ending. I'll read this again when I receive my hardcover for my shelves. Read this book if you have ever wondered about the other side of the characters you knew as kids and who they'd be if they could grow up.
But that final line? HA! Tres Magnifique, chef's kiss, bow down and round of applause.
My thanks to Netgalley, William Morrow and Melissa Albert for the eARC of this book in exchange for a review.
I've followed Melissa Albert's work since her debut novel, The Hazel Wood was released. I remember the book was being promoted everywhere and I pre-ordered my copy ahead of time. The impression that book left on me took a long time to wear off and it made me a fan for life. So when I saw that Albert was releasing a new book called The Children, I knew I needed to add that book to my shelves. While reading this, I had to take time to let it sit in my head, to let it grow and take shape and show me all the things I needed to see that I was missing while reading. There is so much done in this book that I feel like I could read it again and see more things I didn't catch the first time around. On the one hand, this book is beautiful and on the other it is devastating. It's a toss-up every time I think about it. Overall though, I LOVED this book. It made me do research into other children's book muses and their fates and it made me cuddle my littles a bit closer. If a book can do that, it's an impressive piece of work.
The Children focuses on Guinevere Sharpe, the daughter of the late beloved children's book author, Edith Sharpe, well-known for her Ninth City books that used Guin and her brother Ennis as inspiration. Guinevere spent her childhood running around unsupervised, dirty, sometimes starving, and even neglected. In the books her mother wrote, she was the girl everyone wanted to be and wanted to know. The series was left unfinished when Guinevere and Ennis ended up orphaned by a horrible fire at their childhood home. Twenty years later, the siblings are estranged. Ennis is a well-respected artist and Guinevere has taken up the mantle of promoting her mother's books while also getting ready to launch her own memoir. When Ennis decides to open a new show called Mother at the same time as the release for the memoir, it forces Guinevere to reconsider what she remembers about her childhood. Is it truly the idyllic story she's told in her book and how did it all come crashing down in that fiery end?
The first thing this book made me think of was all those Acknowledgements pages I read at the end of every book I pick up. The ones where the author thanks their partner for doing the majority of the work keeping the house running and taking on the bulk of time spent with their kids. And then there's sometimes a line for said kids being thanked for understanding how much it meant that they let the author do their writing and understanding that they needed to let said author/parent do their work alone. After which, I promptly put my phone down, climbed into the playpen and started a game with my kids. Because yeah, this book made me very conscious of how much time I spend with my kids alongside trying to do some writing. As is, this review is being written after midnight when my kids are asleep so I don't feel guilty about not focusing on them. I don't want to ever come close to being the parents in this book, that's for sure. There is a work/life balance and Edith Sharpe definitely did NOT have that nor really a true parenting bone in her body and the examination of that that and the effect it had on her kids is what drives the book. For the authors who mention their families, you know they value the worth of their partner and their kids. I doubt Edith Sharpe even deigned to mention them for thanks. How much is TOO MUCH to sacrifice for your dreams and who else has to sacrifice with you to get you there?
The second thing this book made me do is research the kids I could think of who inspired some of the classic stories that had children going on grand adventures. I'm happy to report that most of them went on to live long happy lives but this book definitely made me feel heartache for Guinevere and Ennis and the effect the Ninth City books had on their existence. The ideas presented in this story were chilling and it has cemented in my head that I will NEVER use my kids as inspiration. I know I'm talking about them now but there will never be any specifics about them mentioned anwhere in my writing. The fact that there are so many scholarly articles devoted to the research of understanding who inspired what and how and why is enough to make my skin crawl and I would hate for that kind of speculation to be turned on my family. Which is where a lot of the focus of THIS book went to with Guin and Ennis. I only cared about these kids and saving them and Albert deserves so much credit for making them feel so real and heartbreaking.
In terms of characters, the book focuses mainly on Guin, her recollections of her childhood and the spiraling effect her brother's new art exhibit is having on the life she has created for herself. I loved child Guinevere but I wasn't sure where I stood with adult Guin until the end of the book. I could understand why she was how she was but a lot of what she did throughout the book made me question her on everything. That ending though, just wow. It made me sit up and want to applaud and it was all because of Guin. Suffice to say, that is one character that packs a punch. I'm glad she got to where she needed to go, anything else said will ruin the effect of that ending so that is where I will leave it.
If you've read Melissa Albert before, this book fits right in with the rest of her work. At first, I thought this was going to be a story focused more on the effects of a neglectful childhood. Then there was a line, an almost throwaway type of thing with Guinevere waving at her mom and then a few sentences later a revelation and it made me sit up and think AHA, there it is, THAT is exactly what I was expecting from Albert's writing. It starts off subtle and then builds, putting more things in that need a second look at, ideas and images that build until they all come together to give you this overarching image of something terrible and wonderful for these characters and their story. The back and forth of the timelines helps with the rhythm, revealing suspenseful tidbits that the reader takes in knowing how Guinevere's childhood ends and then placing that story opposite the journey Guin is taking to finally coming face to face with her brother again after decades apart. It's all masterfully done, with each secret revealed at just the right time in the past and in the present. I loved the tension it created and the effect it had on me.
One last parting thought, I hope Albert seriosuly considers writing a Ninth City book. I've seen it happen before, after all, Albert did write Tales from The Hinterland that was meant to be a book seen in The Hazel Wood. I'm just saying, if Albert is getting ready to give readers The Ninth City, I will gladly read it.
Rating on my scale? 10 STARS. This book made me re-examine a lot of things, favorite childhood stories, their inspirations and their creators. It's everything I thought it was going to be and then just that much more because of the place it left me with that ending. I'll read this again when I receive my hardcover for my shelves. Read this book if you have ever wondered about the other side of the characters you knew as kids and who they'd be if they could grow up.
June 1, 2026
6 stars!!!!!
This one messed with my brain in the absolute best way and I already want to go back and reread it for all the foreshadowing bits I know I missed. This is fairytales, but dark, not told by the chosen main character children but for the children who were side characters, involved but always on the outskirts of things, who missed the clues and the doorways and the signs and were left with all the questions once the fairytale ended. Who maybe turned into the adults that help the wicked stepmother or the evil queen carry out her bidding.
I’ll come back with a more coherent review later but WOW
This one messed with my brain in the absolute best way and I already want to go back and reread it for all the foreshadowing bits I know I missed. This is fairytales, but dark, not told by the chosen main character children but for the children who were side characters, involved but always on the outskirts of things, who missed the clues and the doorways and the signs and were left with all the questions once the fairytale ended. Who maybe turned into the adults that help the wicked stepmother or the evil queen carry out her bidding.
I’ll come back with a more coherent review later but WOW
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you, William Morrow and NetGalley, for the chance to read this book in exchange of an honest review.
Guinevere and Ennis Sharpe had two childhood. In one, they lived in their family farmhouse in Vermont, in the other they were the protagonists of their mother world-famous The Ninth City books, facing adventures and discoveries. But their childhood wasn't so magical in the reality. They were often neglected, unferfed, unwashed and free to run in the woods surrounding the house, dealing with family older's friends and other influences. After a fire destroyed everything, leaving them the only survivors, now Guin is coasting on her mother's name, promoting her books, writing a memoir. When her estranged brother, now famous artists, promotes a new art installation, called "Mother". Guin is forced to confront herself with her past, her demons and what happened the night they lost everything and each other.
The Children is another gorgeous, haunting and brilliantly written novel by the fantastic Melissa Albert, who mixes magic realism, dark fairytales and the struggles of growing up, the importance of stories in our lives and how they grew up with us. The story is told by Guin's POV, alternating past and present and mixing them with Ennis' installations, slowly recreating the story of their lives, from living a wild childhood, but unprotected one, in the farmhouse in the woods, to grow up apart and estranged, whose reason we will discover only much later in the book.
Melissa Albert creates a complicated enviroment where Guin and Ennis grow, made of complex adult, struggling with their art and inspirations, friends/supporters/muses, often fixed presences in the lives of the kids, who lived almost abandoned to themselves, mostly Ennis taking care of Guinevere. If the world saw their childhood as enchanted, as Guin often told them, hiding the ugly truth, the reality was far from it.
Magical and enchanting was the house they grew up exploring, discovering quotes, wooden sculptures and creating their own fort and stories in the woods, exploring without adults.
Now grow up, Guin has to deal not only with the memories resurfaced after her brother announced his new installation, but also with being a child of legendary author and this kind of pressure from fans and supporters, while Ennis hid away from all this.
I won't say anything more, but The Children is a spectacular book, mixing horror, fantasy, magic realism, the importance of stories that grow with you, and the shadows these stories can carry, the enchanted world of childhood and the real truth behind it. Guin and Ennis have to face the world of legacy, magic and memories. And make a choice.
Hauntingly beautiful, enchantly written and with complex and well rounded characters, with all their ups and downs, flaws and desires. I loved everything,
Guinevere and Ennis Sharpe had two childhood. In one, they lived in their family farmhouse in Vermont, in the other they were the protagonists of their mother world-famous The Ninth City books, facing adventures and discoveries. But their childhood wasn't so magical in the reality. They were often neglected, unferfed, unwashed and free to run in the woods surrounding the house, dealing with family older's friends and other influences. After a fire destroyed everything, leaving them the only survivors, now Guin is coasting on her mother's name, promoting her books, writing a memoir. When her estranged brother, now famous artists, promotes a new art installation, called "Mother". Guin is forced to confront herself with her past, her demons and what happened the night they lost everything and each other.
The Children is another gorgeous, haunting and brilliantly written novel by the fantastic Melissa Albert, who mixes magic realism, dark fairytales and the struggles of growing up, the importance of stories in our lives and how they grew up with us. The story is told by Guin's POV, alternating past and present and mixing them with Ennis' installations, slowly recreating the story of their lives, from living a wild childhood, but unprotected one, in the farmhouse in the woods, to grow up apart and estranged, whose reason we will discover only much later in the book.
Melissa Albert creates a complicated enviroment where Guin and Ennis grow, made of complex adult, struggling with their art and inspirations, friends/supporters/muses, often fixed presences in the lives of the kids, who lived almost abandoned to themselves, mostly Ennis taking care of Guinevere. If the world saw their childhood as enchanted, as Guin often told them, hiding the ugly truth, the reality was far from it.
Magical and enchanting was the house they grew up exploring, discovering quotes, wooden sculptures and creating their own fort and stories in the woods, exploring without adults.
Now grow up, Guin has to deal not only with the memories resurfaced after her brother announced his new installation, but also with being a child of legendary author and this kind of pressure from fans and supporters, while Ennis hid away from all this.
I won't say anything more, but The Children is a spectacular book, mixing horror, fantasy, magic realism, the importance of stories that grow with you, and the shadows these stories can carry, the enchanted world of childhood and the real truth behind it. Guin and Ennis have to face the world of legacy, magic and memories. And make a choice.
Hauntingly beautiful, enchantly written and with complex and well rounded characters, with all their ups and downs, flaws and desires. I loved everything,
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