The Children

by Melissa Albert, Rebecca Lowman (Narrator), Saskia Maarleveld (Narrator)

14 hours, 43 minutes

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 lives in the wooded shadow of her family's isolated Vermont farmhouse; in the other, the pages of her mother’s world-famous Ninth City books, where her magical adventures have made her a household name. In reality, Guinevere's childhood isn't the enchanted idyll her mother’s readers imagine: she and her older brother are growing up near-feral, unwashed and underfed, escaping each day to the lichen-clotted 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 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 from: What really happened the night of the fire? And what dark history lies behind their mother’s creative genius?

Genres: Fantasy, Horror, Fiction, Mystery, Gothic, Adult, Thriller

15 pages, Audiobook

First published June 2, 2026

About the author

Melissa 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.)

Reviews

[Melissa]

New Goodreads giveaway, running till May 26! She's almost here!!

[Zoë · Rating 5 out of 5]

i can’t wait to still be recommending this book to people when I’m 80 years old

[emma]

as long as melissa albert is writing eerie dark genre-bending fairytale stories, i will be reading

(thanks to the publisher for the e-arc)

[Erin Craig · Rating 5 out of 5]

I… I… just preorder this book!!!!

[chantalsbookstuff · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[LTJ · Rating 2 out of 5]

​“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.

​T​here 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 ​w​orth 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 ​n​ovel. 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.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!

[Eloise Blaise | Bibliophel · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favourite reads of the year so far!! The ending felt like one big fever dream but in the best way possible. It answered all of my questions which was a concern because this book is ambitious but worth while. I haven’t read a portal fantasy in a while so this was such a fun unique premise for me, especially adding the dimension of the main characters also being characters in their mother’s books. I loved this!!

[Joel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been out of the publishing world long enough that reading this way early felt really special—mostly because it's fucking great.

[Summer · Rating 4 out of 5]

“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!

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Dayle (the literary llama) · Rating 3 out of 5]

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

[Celine · Rating 5 out of 5]

when was the last time i read a book that made me feel like a kid, again?

[Devin The Book Dragon · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Lady MacDeath 🌒🌕🌘]

Way too long…way too much description, which made the story never ending. Lost interest!

[Madison Runser · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wtf was this though

[Quinn · Rating 2 out of 5]

“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.

[Dakota Bossard · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!!

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[unstable.books · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[BookishKB · Rating 3 out of 5]

🌙📖 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.

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!

[Leanne · Rating 1 out of 5]

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.

[Stacy (Gotham City Librarian) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The blurb for this novel makes it sound almost like a Horror Fantasy, but I feel that’s misleading. Most of the horror in this is in the peripheral, and much of what is there involves stark, real-life topics like domestic abuse and child neglect. We follow along as Guin, an adult woman, attempts to reconcile her past with her present, as well as piece together a mystery concerning her estranged brother, Ennis. Their mother, Edith, and the wildly successful Fantasy book series she wrote, are very important to the plot but at the same time mostly stay looming in the background like a scary, dark cloud. She based the main characters of this series on Guin and Ennis, without their permission, and it had a huge rippling effect on everyone in the family.

The way that Melissa Albert describes setting was one of my favorite aspects of this book. Everything is so magically and vividly brought to life, and she's an artist with language. I especially loved how she wrote about snow. I could actually taste the weather. And the farmhouse where Guin and Ennis grew up, both unnervingly mysterious and soothingly mystical in equal measure, felt like a real place.

I think it should be said that the main storyline revolves around more of a "realistic" and dramatic plot, with all the scary and fantastical stuff held back until very specific moments. The story is definitely leading towards something big, perhaps a reveal, or maybe a foreboding and upsetting event right at the end. I won’t spoil anything, but Albert builds the suspense well and gives you just enough new information as you go along to keep you guessing and wanting more. Now, the only problem with this is that often at the very end there will be a long and detailed explanation of what’s been going on, which I’m not a fan of. "The Children" was no exception. If you're looking for flat out Horror in this read, you might be disappointed, though there are certainly horrific elements. (Mind the triggers if children are a soft spot for you, though nothing ever gets graphic.) And is there magic? Yes, I would say this book is indeed magical, but you will be questioning everything for a lot of the adventure. Guin often wonders if she is losing her mind, and at times that feeling was contagious.

That said, I enjoyed this book a lot. It was something I haven't encountered before, and was overflowing with complex characters, bright settings and tactile details. Melissa Albert is a master of language and so creative. I did love the mixture of creepy elements, even though they were mild, with the world of art installations and the whole business of writing/publishing. Like many other reviewers, I would absolutely read The Ninth City books if they were real, and I don’t even typically go for Fantasy. They really do sound that interesting, and it’s a testament to the author’s skill at world building. I’m kind of a sucker for the “art within art” technique as well, however it’s used. (Book within a book, etc.) I’m in the mood to go walk through a modern art installation now, too. I highly recommend this one if you're looking for something interesting and different and you have an open mind when it comes to genre!

4.5 stars, rounded down.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and to the Publisher for this early copy in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.

TW: Domestic abuse, Suicide, Child neglect, Mentions of Sexual Assault.

[Lily · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Patricio Padua · Rating 2 out of 5]

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.

[talia ♡]

novels 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.

[Karyn Silverman · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a mesmerizing, horrifying, dark and gorgeous thing this is.

[Evie Oliva · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.