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Darkwood #1
Darkwood
Magic is forbidden in Myrsina, along with various other abominations, such as girls doing maths. This is bad news for Gretel Mudd, who doesn’t perform magic, but does know a lot of maths. When the sinister masked Huntsmen accuse Gretel of witchcraft, she is forced to flee into the neighbouring Darkwood, where witches and monsters dwell. There, she happens upon Buttercup, a witch who can’t help turning things into gingerbread, Jack Trott, who can make plants grow at will, the White Knight with her band of dwarves and a talking spider called Trevor. These aren’t the terrifying villains she’s been warned about all her life. They’re actually quite nice. Well… most of them. With the Huntsmen on the warpath, Gretel must act fast to save both the Darkwood and her home village, while unravelling the rhetoric and lies that have demonised magical beings for far too long. Take a journey into the Darkwood in this modern fairy tale that will bewitch adults and younger readers alike.
288 pages, Paperback
First published June 13, 2019
71 people are currently reading
1672 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 148 reviews
June 5, 2019
This book was so much fun! I can’t wait for the sequel!
Accused of the abomination of witchcraft by Huntsmen, Gretel winds up in the Darkwood, where she’s faced with the terrifying creatures she’s been warned about her entire life. Witches like Buttercup, who can turn inanimate objects into baked goods with her touch; sometimes even on purpose! People like Jack, who can make plants grow at will. There’s also a magical talking spider called Trevor, who is a master of disguise. They’re not exactly the villains she thought they were. Then there’s the White Knight who, well, can be kind of abrasive, actually.
It’s up to Gretel and this diverse bunch of magical outcasts to find a way to protect both the Darkwood and Nearby Village from the ruling Huntsmen, who may well be the true villains in this story.
With action, humour and some magical mayhem, Gabby Hutchinson Crouch reimagines some well known fairy tale characters and places them in situations where they need to use their combined talents, inventiveness and wit to challenge the roles they’ve been cast in by those in power.
The characters were well rounded, a wonderful blend of scared and courageous, damaged and determined, flawed and resilient. This wasn’t a tale with just one shining star; everyone was interesting in their own way, although I admit I was quite partial to Trevor, the talking spider. I mean, come on, he wears sunglasses as one of his disguises! How adorable is that?!
On the surface this is a highly entertaining tale that makes you want to cheer on the underdogs. Scratch the surface though and you’ll learn (or be reminded of) some valuable lessons in what it means to be human. Despite tackling themes of how we dehumanise those we categorise as ‘other’ and the corruption that can grow unchecked when those in power are not held accountable, I never felt I was being preached at.
There’s so much of the Darkwood and its surrounding towns and villages still to explore. I can’t wait to get to know the Swamp Mermaids more, finally meet the bear and wolf witches of the north, and visit the eastern woods.
Do not go into the Darkwood, children. It’s a cursed place, and so big and so dangerous that once you go in you’ll never come out again. You’ll become just another lost creature, aimlessly wandering amongst those black and twisted trees forever. Even the dead aren’t safe in the Darkwood. Nobody is safe.Gretel lives in Nearby Village with her twin, Hansel, and their stepparents. Unfortunately for Gretel, she’s female so she must be very careful how she behaves, lest she be branded as a witch. Worse still, she’s smart, using maths, physics and engineering to design marvellous defences that protect Nearby from the scary monsters who live across the river in the Darkwood. Yep, she’s got to be a witch if she knows maths!
Accused of the abomination of witchcraft by Huntsmen, Gretel winds up in the Darkwood, where she’s faced with the terrifying creatures she’s been warned about her entire life. Witches like Buttercup, who can turn inanimate objects into baked goods with her touch; sometimes even on purpose! People like Jack, who can make plants grow at will. There’s also a magical talking spider called Trevor, who is a master of disguise. They’re not exactly the villains she thought they were. Then there’s the White Knight who, well, can be kind of abrasive, actually.
It’s up to Gretel and this diverse bunch of magical outcasts to find a way to protect both the Darkwood and Nearby Village from the ruling Huntsmen, who may well be the true villains in this story.
With action, humour and some magical mayhem, Gabby Hutchinson Crouch reimagines some well known fairy tale characters and places them in situations where they need to use their combined talents, inventiveness and wit to challenge the roles they’ve been cast in by those in power.
The characters were well rounded, a wonderful blend of scared and courageous, damaged and determined, flawed and resilient. This wasn’t a tale with just one shining star; everyone was interesting in their own way, although I admit I was quite partial to Trevor, the talking spider. I mean, come on, he wears sunglasses as one of his disguises! How adorable is that?!
On the surface this is a highly entertaining tale that makes you want to cheer on the underdogs. Scratch the surface though and you’ll learn (or be reminded of) some valuable lessons in what it means to be human. Despite tackling themes of how we dehumanise those we categorise as ‘other’ and the corruption that can grow unchecked when those in power are not held accountable, I never felt I was being preached at.
There’s so much of the Darkwood and its surrounding towns and villages still to explore. I can’t wait to get to know the Swamp Mermaids more, finally meet the bear and wolf witches of the north, and visit the eastern woods.
‘What’s in the eastern woods?’Thank you so much to NetGalley and Farrago, an imprint of Prelude Books, for the opportunity to read this book. Oh, and a final word of warning: if you follow these characters into the Darkwood, make sure you adhere to the usual Bin Night precautions!
‘You don’t want to know.’
September 22, 2022
No one goes into the Darkwood. It's a dangerous place, filled with the types of creatures you see in your nightmares. However, Gretel has no choice after being forced to leave her farm by witch hunters. Except Gretel isn't a witch - she's just a girl who's good at maths. With the help of some new, and frankly rather strange, companions Gretel must return to her village to help liberate them from the swarm of huntsmen who threaten their peaceful life, and protect her brother Hansel from persecution.
This was a fun and lighthearted story that feels a lot like a middle grade Monty Python sketch filled with fairy tale creatures and witty dialogue. It never takes itself seriously, with tongue in cheek comments about witch hunting and what girls should and shouldn't be doing. And it features a spider called Trevorwho likes to dress up as a spy. What's not to love?
At times I did find the dialogue a bit clunky, and the plot is highly nonsensical (which is quite charming in a way). I also don't think the story is particularly memorable, but I certainly enjoyed my time while reading it.
This was a fun and lighthearted story that feels a lot like a middle grade Monty Python sketch filled with fairy tale creatures and witty dialogue. It never takes itself seriously, with tongue in cheek comments about witch hunting and what girls should and shouldn't be doing. And it features a spider called Trevorwho likes to dress up as a spy. What's not to love?
At times I did find the dialogue a bit clunky, and the plot is highly nonsensical (which is quite charming in a way). I also don't think the story is particularly memorable, but I certainly enjoyed my time while reading it.
July 12, 2019
I picked up Darkwood when I heard that it was a funny, twisted fairytale adventure written by one of the writers of the Horrible Histories TV show (which I love) - and it did turn out to be very funny (I laughed out loud so many times!) but also sweet and full of heart, with fabulously lovable characters as well as some very creepy ones, and a sharp (and topical) look at the ways in which scary authoritarian movements can take hold in society.
Mostly, though, I just loved all the characters in this story, from Gretel the brave and clever inventor to Buttercup the Cake Witch and Trevor the talking spider and would-be spy (with a fabulous line-up of tiny, dashing outfits to help him go undercover - at least in his own eyes) and the unicorn Charles the Magnificent (who has, as he insists people recognize, MAJESTIC hooves). I loved all of the different slants on familiar fairy tale characters and tropes. I laughed again and again.
I wouldn't necessarily call this an MG book, although it does include MG-aged protagonists. It's one of those quirky, clever, and fun f/sf romps that doesn't quite fit into any neatly labeled age-grouping - but no matter what age you are, if you love Ursula Vernon's Castle Hangnail, Tansy Rayner Roberts's novels, or Terry Pratchett's Tiffany Aching books, I would DEFINITELY recommend this one.
Halfway through reading it to myself with huge enjoyment, I realized that my 10-year-old would love it too, so I backed up and started again to read it out loud with him. And it was an ENORMOUS success! We've had so many conversations about the characters and setting. Last night, when I finished our bedtime reading session, he let out a happy sigh and said, "I LOVE Darkwood!" Tonight we finished reading it, and he begged me to preorder the next book in the series IMMEDIATELY. Sadly, it's not available for preorder yet (I asked the author on Twitter and she says it's coming in early 2020 and titled SUCH BIG TEETH) - but we will be preordering the instant it's available. This is such a fun world!
Mostly, though, I just loved all the characters in this story, from Gretel the brave and clever inventor to Buttercup the Cake Witch and Trevor the talking spider and would-be spy (with a fabulous line-up of tiny, dashing outfits to help him go undercover - at least in his own eyes) and the unicorn Charles the Magnificent (who has, as he insists people recognize, MAJESTIC hooves). I loved all of the different slants on familiar fairy tale characters and tropes. I laughed again and again.
I wouldn't necessarily call this an MG book, although it does include MG-aged protagonists. It's one of those quirky, clever, and fun f/sf romps that doesn't quite fit into any neatly labeled age-grouping - but no matter what age you are, if you love Ursula Vernon's Castle Hangnail, Tansy Rayner Roberts's novels, or Terry Pratchett's Tiffany Aching books, I would DEFINITELY recommend this one.
Halfway through reading it to myself with huge enjoyment, I realized that my 10-year-old would love it too, so I backed up and started again to read it out loud with him. And it was an ENORMOUS success! We've had so many conversations about the characters and setting. Last night, when I finished our bedtime reading session, he let out a happy sigh and said, "I LOVE Darkwood!" Tonight we finished reading it, and he begged me to preorder the next book in the series IMMEDIATELY. Sadly, it's not available for preorder yet (I asked the author on Twitter and she says it's coming in early 2020 and titled SUCH BIG TEETH) - but we will be preordering the instant it's available. This is such a fun world!
May 4, 2022
Good fun story, reinventing many fairy tales and their characters, with some fun humor and badass characters stepping up, and banding together to face adversity.
This was very enjoyable. Reminded me a bit of other similarly themed stories like; Promises, Promises, The Road to Kalazad, and The Ruthless Lady's Guide to Wizardry.
Only there was no romance here. However I do feel like Gretel and Snow have forged a neat bond - but it's important to note our MC Gretel is just 13. However she certainly doesn't read that young. But there's nothing inappropriate about any of it either. Gretel is smart and savvy, a genius despite her village's attempts at trying to get her to stop doing maths and creating inventions!
The semi-sarcastic banter was amusing to me, but not too 'over the top' either. Just hit the right spots for me.
I think it's a book that would work for tween and teen readers, plus young adult and adult lovers of fairy tale stories, alike. I know I personally enjoyed the whimsy of the story. Plus the comradery of the group that came together in a lovely 'found family' type of deal.
I liked the unique twist of the fairy tales and characters and this world where the Huntsman are not noble, but are infact acting like a Witch trial-esque group of puritans.
The story leaves off nicely with one huge chunk tidied up - but with more to come, and I'd be happy to read the other installments.
This was very enjoyable. Reminded me a bit of other similarly themed stories like; Promises, Promises, The Road to Kalazad, and The Ruthless Lady's Guide to Wizardry.
Only there was no romance here. However I do feel like Gretel and Snow have forged a neat bond - but it's important to note our MC Gretel is just 13. However she certainly doesn't read that young. But there's nothing inappropriate about any of it either. Gretel is smart and savvy, a genius despite her village's attempts at trying to get her to stop doing maths and creating inventions!
The semi-sarcastic banter was amusing to me, but not too 'over the top' either. Just hit the right spots for me.
I think it's a book that would work for tween and teen readers, plus young adult and adult lovers of fairy tale stories, alike. I know I personally enjoyed the whimsy of the story. Plus the comradery of the group that came together in a lovely 'found family' type of deal.
I liked the unique twist of the fairy tales and characters and this world where the Huntsman are not noble, but are infact acting like a Witch trial-esque group of puritans.
The story leaves off nicely with one huge chunk tidied up - but with more to come, and I'd be happy to read the other installments.
June 7, 2019
Thanks to Netgalley for the chance to read early for an honest review.
This book is hilarious! The Afterward mentioned the author was inspired by Shrek and the Discworld novels and I can really see that.
When I saw the cover, I immediately thought of the Black Knight from Monty Python and I think that was intentional - this story is very satirical.
It's everything you love about fairy tales, but is very aware of itself. I loved these versions of Hansel & Gretel, Jack, Snow, and the rest. And I absolutely loved Trevor the spider.
It also takes the whole 'girls must be witches if they can think or do math' and has them fighting back against their 'faceless oppressors' (the masked huntsmen).
I also liked how this story reflected how society can be with the getting rid of people who are different because some people find the differences intimidating instead of accepting them. For a middle grade book, this had a lot going on - in a good way! I'm glad it's a series and I'm excited to read the next one.
This book is hilarious! The Afterward mentioned the author was inspired by Shrek and the Discworld novels and I can really see that.
When I saw the cover, I immediately thought of the Black Knight from Monty Python and I think that was intentional - this story is very satirical.
It's everything you love about fairy tales, but is very aware of itself. I loved these versions of Hansel & Gretel, Jack, Snow, and the rest. And I absolutely loved Trevor the spider.
It also takes the whole 'girls must be witches if they can think or do math' and has them fighting back against their 'faceless oppressors' (the masked huntsmen).
I also liked how this story reflected how society can be with the getting rid of people who are different because some people find the differences intimidating instead of accepting them. For a middle grade book, this had a lot going on - in a good way! I'm glad it's a series and I'm excited to read the next one.
May 8, 2019
This is an excellent and humorous riff on common fairy tale lore. Gretel and her brother Hansel live with their stepmother and stepfather (yes, both are "step," no-one knows why) at the edge of cursed forest (it's dangerous, but the housing prices cannot be beat!) and within the confines of a kingdom under the sway of the Huntsmen who outlaw nearly everything they find personally offensive like witches, magic, and girls knowing math. Gretel can't quite contain her cleverness however and she soon catches the attention of the Huntsman. Accused of witchcraft (how else to you explain engineering prowess?), Gretel must flee to the woods herself where she finds (among legitimate dangers, including the dreaded bin men) a coven of "witches" and fellow escapees. But safety in the unsafe woods proves elusive when the Huntsmen are no longer content to drive off those they dislike with accusations of witchcraft and instead decide to take both the forest and Gretel's home village.
This is the first book in what looks to be a crackerjack series. I'd recommend it to fans of fantasy and humor, but am perplexed by the number of readers who seem to be categorizing this book as "middle grade." Neither the content or vocabulary indicate this work is intended for children, the press is not a children's press, and NetGalley cross lists it as humor and sci fi/fantasy. I'm worried that this book might be falling to unfortunate trend of assuming female authors automatically equate YA audience. This particular series would be best categorized as humor/satire and fantasy.
ARC via NetGalley
This is the first book in what looks to be a crackerjack series. I'd recommend it to fans of fantasy and humor, but am perplexed by the number of readers who seem to be categorizing this book as "middle grade." Neither the content or vocabulary indicate this work is intended for children, the press is not a children's press, and NetGalley cross lists it as humor and sci fi/fantasy. I'm worried that this book might be falling to unfortunate trend of assuming female authors automatically equate YA audience. This particular series would be best categorized as humor/satire and fantasy.
ARC via NetGalley
June 13, 2019
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Darkwood by Gabby Hutchinson Crouch may be perfect for you if you're looking for a funny MG fantasy adventure story. It took me a minute to get into the writing style (it's in present tense), but once you do you'll be hooked. I loved all of the fairy tale elements that the author managed to tie together so seamlessly from Hansel and Gretel, Snow, Jack and everyone. Even better is the sense of humor - it's very self aware, by the way, which completely works in its favor. I have a feeling if you're a fan of Shrek or Monty Python and the Holy Grail, you'll get a kick out of this series opener. I'm looking forward to continuing The Darkwood Series.
Darkwood by Gabby Hutchinson Crouch may be perfect for you if you're looking for a funny MG fantasy adventure story. It took me a minute to get into the writing style (it's in present tense), but once you do you'll be hooked. I loved all of the fairy tale elements that the author managed to tie together so seamlessly from Hansel and Gretel, Snow, Jack and everyone. Even better is the sense of humor - it's very self aware, by the way, which completely works in its favor. I have a feeling if you're a fan of Shrek or Monty Python and the Holy Grail, you'll get a kick out of this series opener. I'm looking forward to continuing The Darkwood Series.
February 9, 2023
Sometimes fairy tales are not what they seem... especially in the Darkwood.
This was absolutely hilarious and utterly delightful! Gabby Hutchinson Crouch supersedes Terry Pratchett, with her wit, and contemporary storytelling. The way she has crafted humour with dark fairytales set in a medieval style world is ingenious and makes for lots of good belly laughing and all round fun!
What I particularly enjoyed that made this stand out was the very amusing and creative portrayal of well-known villains and princesses in folklore and how Gabby completely reinvented them, changing the tropes and stigmas surrounding them.
Also how dare the author make such a fun and lovable character...a talking spider! i am petrified of spiders and hate them in any fantasy book, and yet (whether this was because it was a small house spider and not a tarantula - thank bloody goodness) he very quickly, easily, and begrudgingly became my favourite character. I know, I'm shocked too! All the characters are captured with such a vibrancy and full of individual quirkiness, that I loved all of them immediately!
Get ready for a book that is full of fairy tales mixed with splendid sarcasm at its finest, with a dollop of crafty metaphors pertaining to society to finish it off! So glad this is a series because I need more dastardly Darkwood adventures in my life! A wonderfully engaging fairy tale retelling to add to my collection!
This was absolutely hilarious and utterly delightful! Gabby Hutchinson Crouch supersedes Terry Pratchett, with her wit, and contemporary storytelling. The way she has crafted humour with dark fairytales set in a medieval style world is ingenious and makes for lots of good belly laughing and all round fun!
What I particularly enjoyed that made this stand out was the very amusing and creative portrayal of well-known villains and princesses in folklore and how Gabby completely reinvented them, changing the tropes and stigmas surrounding them.
Also how dare the author make such a fun and lovable character...a talking spider! i am petrified of spiders and hate them in any fantasy book, and yet (whether this was because it was a small house spider and not a tarantula - thank bloody goodness) he very quickly, easily, and begrudgingly became my favourite character. I know, I'm shocked too! All the characters are captured with such a vibrancy and full of individual quirkiness, that I loved all of them immediately!
Get ready for a book that is full of fairy tales mixed with splendid sarcasm at its finest, with a dollop of crafty metaphors pertaining to society to finish it off! So glad this is a series because I need more dastardly Darkwood adventures in my life! A wonderfully engaging fairy tale retelling to add to my collection!
May 24, 2019
**this was sent to me by the publishers through netgalley, all thoughts are my own**
omfg guys this was amazing.
this is a middle grade fairytale retelling of hansel & gretal, snow white, and others as witches who have been banished by the power-hungry huntsmen and it was everything I could ever ask for.
this gives me ALL the monty python and shrek vibes and it SO DAMN GOOD.
the humor, the characters, the story, the MESSAGE of corruption and perceptions of truth was breathtaking. ((also I totally think there’s a slow burn sapphic romance in the works))
I am beyond thrilled with this book and I am fully invested in this series. if y’all don’t have this on your tbr’s by now you’re missing out. I can’t say enough good things about this. READ IT.
omfg guys this was amazing.
this is a middle grade fairytale retelling of hansel & gretal, snow white, and others as witches who have been banished by the power-hungry huntsmen and it was everything I could ever ask for.
this gives me ALL the monty python and shrek vibes and it SO DAMN GOOD.
the humor, the characters, the story, the MESSAGE of corruption and perceptions of truth was breathtaking. ((also I totally think there’s a slow burn sapphic romance in the works))
I am beyond thrilled with this book and I am fully invested in this series. if y’all don’t have this on your tbr’s by now you’re missing out. I can’t say enough good things about this. READ IT.
March 14, 2020
There are plenty of very good and great retelling of various fairy tales and so on in YA and middle grade novels, but this was particularly clever and particularly unique. Funny, lovely writing, with both a good resolution and a jumping off point for the sequel. I adored it.
May 2, 2020
This was a really fun read. It’s definitely more juvenile than what I normally read but that make it something fun I would read to my kids. It’s humorous and clean and fun for the whole family.
December 16, 2020
A delightfully silly middle grade fairytale with a twist.
February 12, 2023
I really like the reinvention of common themes and Gabby's story about Hansel and Gretel (or rather Gretel and Hansel) is no exception.
Very funny, very intriguing and gut wrenchingly appropriate in the light of upcoming intolerance, authoritarianism and fear mongering.
Let's see where the next book in the series takes us. I suspect it will get darker and darker...
Very funny, very intriguing and gut wrenchingly appropriate in the light of upcoming intolerance, authoritarianism and fear mongering.
Let's see where the next book in the series takes us. I suspect it will get darker and darker...
May 4, 2019
Completely fabulous, can’t wait for the rest of the series. A strong contender for Book of the Month
TL;DR – A funny, clever and wonderful fairytale re-telling.
Ragdoll Rating: 5/5 Buttons
Recommended For: Fans of fairytales, fantasy and female characters who kick butt!
About the Book…
Darkwood is a sort of fairytale retelling and variety pack. The lead character is Gretel, of Hansel and Gretel fame, driven out of her home by villainous Huntsmen who (wrongly) accuse her of being a witch! Gretel finds herself in the Darkwood, and soon winds up as part of a band of witches, featuring such wonderful characters as The White Knight (Snow White), Jack (of the Beanstalk fame) and my personal favourite, Trevor the Talking Spider. What follows is a hilarious adventure to fight back against the forces of evil!
What I thought…
I flat out adore this book. There are 2 things I didn’t like about it, and I’m gonna start the review with them because then I can gush about how good it was uninterrupted.
The word ‘cowl’ is used to describe clothing with sleeves, which confused me.
It’s written in the present tense, which I’m generally not a fan of. HOWEVER, I will come back to this point in a moment.
OK, where to begin. Let’s start with the setting. I’m a big fan of fairytales and folklore, and combining so many stories into one setting was a real treat for me. Each story has been turned on its head and reimagined, and then blended into something better than the sum of its parts. It’s really clever, well executed and extremely good fun.
And it’s funny! Oh man. I mentioned Trevor the talking spider in the intro and I’m gonna talk about him here. Trevor is *exactly* the type of character I love to read about. He’s small and apparently useless, but he dreams big. He wants to be useful. He wants to be a spy! And every time he gets the chance he does something daft. Like disguises. It’s silly, and playful and I love it.
Now I’m going to return to point 2 of my complaints. Present tense. I don’t like it, it annoys me and I’ve never been able to get over it. Until now. I really love how this book was written. I’m turned around on the use of present tense in writing, which is a big thing for me to admit.
Final Thoughts…
I love this book. I can’t wait for the rest of the series. I suppose the biggest compliment I can give to this book is that it made me want to write the book I’ve been planning for so long. It’s encouraged me to get up and give it a shot!
TL;DR – A funny, clever and wonderful fairytale re-telling.
Ragdoll Rating: 5/5 Buttons
Recommended For: Fans of fairytales, fantasy and female characters who kick butt!
About the Book…
Darkwood is a sort of fairytale retelling and variety pack. The lead character is Gretel, of Hansel and Gretel fame, driven out of her home by villainous Huntsmen who (wrongly) accuse her of being a witch! Gretel finds herself in the Darkwood, and soon winds up as part of a band of witches, featuring such wonderful characters as The White Knight (Snow White), Jack (of the Beanstalk fame) and my personal favourite, Trevor the Talking Spider. What follows is a hilarious adventure to fight back against the forces of evil!
What I thought…
I flat out adore this book. There are 2 things I didn’t like about it, and I’m gonna start the review with them because then I can gush about how good it was uninterrupted.
The word ‘cowl’ is used to describe clothing with sleeves, which confused me.
It’s written in the present tense, which I’m generally not a fan of. HOWEVER, I will come back to this point in a moment.
OK, where to begin. Let’s start with the setting. I’m a big fan of fairytales and folklore, and combining so many stories into one setting was a real treat for me. Each story has been turned on its head and reimagined, and then blended into something better than the sum of its parts. It’s really clever, well executed and extremely good fun.
And it’s funny! Oh man. I mentioned Trevor the talking spider in the intro and I’m gonna talk about him here. Trevor is *exactly* the type of character I love to read about. He’s small and apparently useless, but he dreams big. He wants to be useful. He wants to be a spy! And every time he gets the chance he does something daft. Like disguises. It’s silly, and playful and I love it.
Now I’m going to return to point 2 of my complaints. Present tense. I don’t like it, it annoys me and I’ve never been able to get over it. Until now. I really love how this book was written. I’m turned around on the use of present tense in writing, which is a big thing for me to admit.
Final Thoughts…
I love this book. I can’t wait for the rest of the series. I suppose the biggest compliment I can give to this book is that it made me want to write the book I’ve been planning for so long. It’s encouraged me to get up and give it a shot!
December 4, 2021
Nothing wrong with this per say. I just have a strange sense of humor and the humor in this - of which, there is a lot - fell very flat to me. It reminded me of Terry Pratchett, which is a brand of humor that has never worked for me. BUT if Terry Pratchett + fairy tale retellings sounds like your jam, you should try this.
September 22, 2019
Gretel Mudd is cast out of her village by the sinister Huntsmen, who label her an abomination for enjoying math and engineering. She seeks sanctuary in the mysterious Darkwood, and falls in with an adorably motley crew of misfits, including a talking spider, a witch who is the Midas of baked goods, and a White Night whose backstory was a fun surprise I won't spoil.
This book was an absolute delight from start to finish. It's a fairy tale satire, yes, but pokes fun at the genre without being mean. Kind of like the movie "Enchanted," but less singing and no romance. And despite being laugh-out-loud funny and diabolically clever, it manages to convey some very real messages about what's going on in the world today. Perfect for adults looking for a laugh and kids looking for a hero.
This book was an absolute delight from start to finish. It's a fairy tale satire, yes, but pokes fun at the genre without being mean. Kind of like the movie "Enchanted," but less singing and no romance. And despite being laugh-out-loud funny and diabolically clever, it manages to convey some very real messages about what's going on in the world today. Perfect for adults looking for a laugh and kids looking for a hero.
September 28, 2019
Superbly funny, brilliant storytelling
Absolutely loved this book, some gorgeous warm characters and a gripping story - I can't wait for part two. Has a touch of Terry Pratchett to the humour - and I absolutely adored the chapter titles. Massive five stars.
Absolutely loved this book, some gorgeous warm characters and a gripping story - I can't wait for part two. Has a touch of Terry Pratchett to the humour - and I absolutely adored the chapter titles. Massive five stars.
November 20, 2020
A very fun and enjoyable read, with a healthy dose of satire thrown in. The book verges on heavy-handed at times but it is aimed at young teens / middle grade after all.
October 17, 2024
It was a quick, easy and entertaining read. A bit slapstick-y in places but fun. Already bought the other 2 books.
March 18, 2020
This was truly delightful and charming as all heck.
November 19, 2024
It took me a while to get into this but once I did I couldn’t put it down! It was such a fun witty read!
November 13, 2019
This book was a treat! I received my copy as an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This book was a fun conglomeration of multiple fairytales, but with a dark twist. There were times that I felt like I was reading a children’s story and happily reliving my childhood, while there were others where the darkness felt like a crime novel. This combination in the subtle hints at so many fairytales we know well made the book quite enjoyable. My only regret is not brushing up on my fairytales before beginning. I am looking forward to the sequel!
July 14, 2022
I follow Gabby Hutchinson-Crouch on Twitter, where she is both lovely and funny, so was pleased to pick up Darkwood, the first in her trilogy of comic fantasy adventures set in a world of fairy tales. I believe the books would be stocked in the children's and young adult section in your local bookshop, but as an adult reader I think they'd work for all ages: they're something a whole family could easily enjoy together. (In fact, Darkwood is crying out for an audiobook that a family could listen to during a long journey or on holiday - sort it out, Gabby's publisher.)
Hansel and Gretel Mudd are young teenage twins living in Myrsina, a land where magical creatures are plentiful but largely segregated from ordinary humans and confined to the Darkwood. Myrsina is ruled by the Huntsmen, a group of masked enforcers with a strongly authoritarian bent and strict rules on gender roles - kind of a cross between the Taliban, the Gestapo and the hard-right of the Tory party. The Huntsmen are intent on stamping out witchcraft, so anyone with magical powers has little option but to conceal them or flee to the Darkwood. They also, however, object to girls doing maths, which means that Gretel - not a witch, but a gifted engineer - soon attracts their attention and is forced to make a rapid escape.
It's once in the Darkwood that she meets a mismatched band of magical people, most of them entertainingly familiar. There's Buttercup, whose sole power is turning objects into baked goods, and Snow, a formidable knight who has assumed the lifestyle of the flea-ridden dwarves who have adopted her as their own. There's Jack, a young thief whose ability to grow beanstalks has caused no end of trouble. There's also Trevor, a dapper talking spider who believes himself a master of disguise. While they're initially uncertain about Gretel's lack of magical powers, they quickly recognise her talent for strategy and invention, and when it looks like an all-out war is going to break out between the Darkwood and the Huntsmen with the people of Nearby Village caught in the middle, it's up to them to try and stop it. Meanwhile, back in the village, Gretel's brother Hansel has some secrets of his own.
There are lots of little subversions of tradition, particularly where the tradition is a sexist one, and there are lots of allegorical nods to present-day social and political issues, including the demonising of particular groups by those in power. For instance, the villagers in Nearby have been led to believe by the Huntsmen that the Darkwood is a lawless no-go area full of sub-human creatures intent on causing them harm, when of course the real enemy is the Huntsmen themselves, pitting Nearby and the Darkwood against each other in order to suppress them both.
Darkwood has many, many jokes that draw from fairy tale tropes, but also plenty inspired by ordinary life - the Darkwood's terror of the Bin Men, for instance, for whom offerings must be left on specific days when they rampage voraciously through the forest. It really is properly funny, and although the jokes, the language and the plot are completely appropriate for a younger readership, it's never too twee for adults. There's enough peril to keep you turning the pages but like all fairy tales, you know there's always a good chance of a nice happy ending.
There's a very Pratchetty kind of vibe to this book, and not just because it's smartly-executed comic fantasy: also like Pratchett's novels, it has a genuine warmth and kindness to it that simply adds to the magic. If it's possible for a book to be welcoming, that's Darkwood to a tee
Hansel and Gretel Mudd are young teenage twins living in Myrsina, a land where magical creatures are plentiful but largely segregated from ordinary humans and confined to the Darkwood. Myrsina is ruled by the Huntsmen, a group of masked enforcers with a strongly authoritarian bent and strict rules on gender roles - kind of a cross between the Taliban, the Gestapo and the hard-right of the Tory party. The Huntsmen are intent on stamping out witchcraft, so anyone with magical powers has little option but to conceal them or flee to the Darkwood. They also, however, object to girls doing maths, which means that Gretel - not a witch, but a gifted engineer - soon attracts their attention and is forced to make a rapid escape.
It's once in the Darkwood that she meets a mismatched band of magical people, most of them entertainingly familiar. There's Buttercup, whose sole power is turning objects into baked goods, and Snow, a formidable knight who has assumed the lifestyle of the flea-ridden dwarves who have adopted her as their own. There's Jack, a young thief whose ability to grow beanstalks has caused no end of trouble. There's also Trevor, a dapper talking spider who believes himself a master of disguise. While they're initially uncertain about Gretel's lack of magical powers, they quickly recognise her talent for strategy and invention, and when it looks like an all-out war is going to break out between the Darkwood and the Huntsmen with the people of Nearby Village caught in the middle, it's up to them to try and stop it. Meanwhile, back in the village, Gretel's brother Hansel has some secrets of his own.
There are lots of little subversions of tradition, particularly where the tradition is a sexist one, and there are lots of allegorical nods to present-day social and political issues, including the demonising of particular groups by those in power. For instance, the villagers in Nearby have been led to believe by the Huntsmen that the Darkwood is a lawless no-go area full of sub-human creatures intent on causing them harm, when of course the real enemy is the Huntsmen themselves, pitting Nearby and the Darkwood against each other in order to suppress them both.
Darkwood has many, many jokes that draw from fairy tale tropes, but also plenty inspired by ordinary life - the Darkwood's terror of the Bin Men, for instance, for whom offerings must be left on specific days when they rampage voraciously through the forest. It really is properly funny, and although the jokes, the language and the plot are completely appropriate for a younger readership, it's never too twee for adults. There's enough peril to keep you turning the pages but like all fairy tales, you know there's always a good chance of a nice happy ending.
There's a very Pratchetty kind of vibe to this book, and not just because it's smartly-executed comic fantasy: also like Pratchett's novels, it has a genuine warmth and kindness to it that simply adds to the magic. If it's possible for a book to be welcoming, that's Darkwood to a tee
October 6, 2019
Check out this review and more on my blog!
I received an eARC of Darkwood from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
One of my favourite tropes in fantasy is the banned/outlawed magic trope, so as soon as I came across this Middle Grade novel on NetGalley, which not only includes that trope but also follows a girl with an interest in STEM, I knew I wanted to give it a try.
Darkwood is the first book in a new fantasy MG series following Gretel Mudd, who ends up chased away from her home of Nearby Village and into the Darkwood after the Huntsmen wrongly accuse her of witchcraft. In Darkwood she falls in with a band of real witches – and a talking spider called Trevor – who, like her, have been forced from their homes, and together they try to put a stop to the Huntsmen’s tyranny.
I had a feeling this book would be funny given that it’s written by one of the writers of the Horrible Histories series, but I didn’t expect it to be quite as funny as it is. I laughed out loud several times while reading this book, and what I loved most was how this isn’t a book that patronises its readers; there are jokes for children and adults alike in here and, outside of the humour, actions have real consequences in this book.
Darkwood is brimming with likeable characters. Gretel so easily could have been one of those irritatingly precocious children who doesn’t feel real, but she’s written with such warmth and a brilliant sense of humour and Hutchinson Crouch isn’t afraid to let her make mistakes that she must learn from. In particular, while Gretel has been forced to hide how clever she is and her particular talent for science and maths because she’s a girl, she herself has been perpetuating harmful stereotypes about the creatures of the Darkwood. I think this book will be an eye-opener for a lot of younger readers without feeling gimmicky or preachy.
Darkwood also includes a lot of fairy tale characters that those of us who grew up with the Grimms’ Fairy Tales will be familiar with, but they’re not quite the characters we know – this book is more Shrek than Disney – and they feel so fresh and original despite being some of the oldest characters in western literature. I’m not going to mention who they are because I think part of the fun is meeting them as Gretel meets them, but I loved her little gang of misfits and I loved this book. I can’t wait for the next one!
I received an eARC of Darkwood from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
One of my favourite tropes in fantasy is the banned/outlawed magic trope, so as soon as I came across this Middle Grade novel on NetGalley, which not only includes that trope but also follows a girl with an interest in STEM, I knew I wanted to give it a try.
Darkwood is the first book in a new fantasy MG series following Gretel Mudd, who ends up chased away from her home of Nearby Village and into the Darkwood after the Huntsmen wrongly accuse her of witchcraft. In Darkwood she falls in with a band of real witches – and a talking spider called Trevor – who, like her, have been forced from their homes, and together they try to put a stop to the Huntsmen’s tyranny.
I had a feeling this book would be funny given that it’s written by one of the writers of the Horrible Histories series, but I didn’t expect it to be quite as funny as it is. I laughed out loud several times while reading this book, and what I loved most was how this isn’t a book that patronises its readers; there are jokes for children and adults alike in here and, outside of the humour, actions have real consequences in this book.
Darkwood is brimming with likeable characters. Gretel so easily could have been one of those irritatingly precocious children who doesn’t feel real, but she’s written with such warmth and a brilliant sense of humour and Hutchinson Crouch isn’t afraid to let her make mistakes that she must learn from. In particular, while Gretel has been forced to hide how clever she is and her particular talent for science and maths because she’s a girl, she herself has been perpetuating harmful stereotypes about the creatures of the Darkwood. I think this book will be an eye-opener for a lot of younger readers without feeling gimmicky or preachy.
Darkwood also includes a lot of fairy tale characters that those of us who grew up with the Grimms’ Fairy Tales will be familiar with, but they’re not quite the characters we know – this book is more Shrek than Disney – and they feel so fresh and original despite being some of the oldest characters in western literature. I’m not going to mention who they are because I think part of the fun is meeting them as Gretel meets them, but I loved her little gang of misfits and I loved this book. I can’t wait for the next one!
June 14, 2019
There’s been a real trend for grimdark in fantasy fiction over the last few years, and it has produced some amazing work, but with the final Discworld novel published in 2015, it does leave one wondering where the lighter side of fantasy fiction is going to head next. Of course, to live up to Pratchett’s name is a tall order indeed, but I feel that any author who looks to bring some humour to the genre should be encouraged – because, as with any genre, there’s a lot of fun in lovingly pointing out the ridiculous. Farrago was mentioned in my blog post on commissioning last month, and they are a specialist humour publisher, including sections specifically for genre humour. Darkwood came up on Netgalley, and I am a sucker for a fairy tale retelling, so I requested it immediately.
Reading this book felt a little bit as if someone had taken a panto and turned it into a novel, but with a decent side of social and political allegory built in. Given as the author has written for The News Quiz and The Now Show, that’s not entirely surprising, and neither is Hutchinson Crouch’s talent for the ridiculous, delivered deadpan, and surprising a laugh out of you. Certainly towards the end of the book it’s very clear there are some parallels to be drawn between today’s jingoistic hate-based politics and how they can be both insidious and harmful, and also a strong message on how diversity should be celebrated and encouraged. There’s even a little dig at fake news and propaganda, as well as the hypocrisy of politicians who decry things as evil for everyone, except where it inconveniences them personally.
The plot is simple enough – Gretel is driven out of the Darkwood after being mistaken for a witch, when in reality she’s just very good at maths. There she meets a witch who accidentally turns things into cake and as such lives in a cake house, a talking spider, a boy who can grow plants like beanstalks, and a warrior in armour with a band of seven aggressive dwarves. Meanwhile her brother, Hansel, who is actually a witch, is left in the village to deal with the fallout. The Huntsmen aren’t satisfied with just letting the witches live in the Darkwood, however, and start to make plans to attack it and all the creatures within it, meaning that war is on its way.
For me, where the book was strongest were the scenes set in the village of Nearby (which I pointedly pronounced as “Near-bee” like it was a village in rural Yorkshire because I thought that made it even funnier). There’s a real sense of a small village, where everyone knows each other, and everyone has their own petty squabbles, right up until someone from elsewhere comes to sort things out, and then they all unite and turn on the outsider.
I’ve mentioned before how much I love scenes of group chaos when someone else is desperately trying to grasp control of the situation with no idea what is going on. The prime example of this was when the Huntsman first arrives in the village and finds everyone bickering over everything else instead of being appropriately cowed by his authority. I also particularly loved the introductory chapters, where we get a sense of how the village has received the orders about how to deal with witches, and followed them in letter if not entirely in spirit. “Witches” are routinely ducked, but the ducking stools are set up in a nice, warm bit of the river, and local women use it as an opportunity for a good scrub, pretending to talk to animals so they can have a good wash whilst villagers hold the soap for them, and shout to ask for repentance, and also if the water temperature is okay. I also cackled at the exchange between Gretel and her stepmother, when her stepmother asks how many times she’s told her not to do maths and Gretel plaintively replies, “I don’t know, you won’t let me count!”
The Darkwood itself is ripe ground for more puns, although I wish perhaps we’d had more time to see Gretel exploring it and finding her feet. She stumbles through it in fear and then has a few excursions which bring her back, inevitably, to the village. I would have loved to have seen more of her getting to know the other magical creatures in the forest, building relationships and trust, and carving out her own niche. I don’t necessarily think there’s anything I would sacrifice in the existing narrative for that, but perhaps if the book had been a little longer then we could have enjoyed a more leisurely exploration of the forest denizens, and start to see the community there in the same way we did the villagers. As it was, we got a brief introduction to a unicorn, a couple of swamp mermaids and some pixies, but there is talk of wyverns and ogres and manticore in the trees, all able to talk and all with their own quirks and personalities and ongoing arguments. It could have been a delightful meeting of two chaotic tribes.
This is the first in a series, so I’m hoping we get more time developing that as the books progress – not least because two further areas of the wood have been set up as “no-go zones”, one with a bear witch (Goldilocks?) and one with a wolf witch (Red Riding Hood, surely), as well as the Huntsmen whose egos have been terribly bruised. There’s something a little bit Revolting Rhymes in the reimagining of these fairy tales, and a little bit Once Upon a Time in the bringing the characters together – only Hutchinson Crouch goes back to the stripped back core of the stories and then builds them up into something that fits together well and creates her own lore, instead of smashing together a load of Disney interpretations and trying to make sense of the garbled outcome (I don’t like Once Upon A Time). I think my analogy of a panto is best – the plot and delivery are suitable for a huge variety of ages, and each age group will get something different out of it, whilst the whole thing is gleefully anarchic in its tone and it just feels like a great romp.
Briefly:
A funny, enjoyable, easy-to-read romp through various fairy tales, which frankly would make an excellent panto, and has something for everyone.
I’m ashamed that it took me until halfway through the book to get the pun on the spider who thinks he’s a spy. A SPYder. Good grief @ me.
I also love how, despite apparently playing against fairy tale expectations, Darkwood actually utilises older character tropes. Gretel is clever and bold, as she was in the original story and as many other fairy tale heroines were (The Snow Queen, for example, or The Seven Ravens), whilst Hansel’s gentle and caring nature harks back to the tradition of the simple and kind protagonist who wins through being gentle, and shows Hansel as the other kind of hero (Dick Whittington, or The Fool of the World and the Flying Ship) rather than a forceful warrior prince. The perception can often be that fairy tales play into specific heteronormative gender roles, but whilst there are many that do (particularly those which have been adapted and sanitised and sold again and again), there are so many which promote the very traits shown here – the girls riding to the rescue using their wits, and the boys triumphing by being kind and gentle.
Rating: 4/5 – as this is the first in the series, I want to reserve my judgement for the full run, and I do wish there had been more time for Gretel to explore and build up the community in the Darkwood, but it’s all round good fun as it is.
Reading this book felt a little bit as if someone had taken a panto and turned it into a novel, but with a decent side of social and political allegory built in. Given as the author has written for The News Quiz and The Now Show, that’s not entirely surprising, and neither is Hutchinson Crouch’s talent for the ridiculous, delivered deadpan, and surprising a laugh out of you. Certainly towards the end of the book it’s very clear there are some parallels to be drawn between today’s jingoistic hate-based politics and how they can be both insidious and harmful, and also a strong message on how diversity should be celebrated and encouraged. There’s even a little dig at fake news and propaganda, as well as the hypocrisy of politicians who decry things as evil for everyone, except where it inconveniences them personally.
The plot is simple enough – Gretel is driven out of the Darkwood after being mistaken for a witch, when in reality she’s just very good at maths. There she meets a witch who accidentally turns things into cake and as such lives in a cake house, a talking spider, a boy who can grow plants like beanstalks, and a warrior in armour with a band of seven aggressive dwarves. Meanwhile her brother, Hansel, who is actually a witch, is left in the village to deal with the fallout. The Huntsmen aren’t satisfied with just letting the witches live in the Darkwood, however, and start to make plans to attack it and all the creatures within it, meaning that war is on its way.
For me, where the book was strongest were the scenes set in the village of Nearby (which I pointedly pronounced as “Near-bee” like it was a village in rural Yorkshire because I thought that made it even funnier). There’s a real sense of a small village, where everyone knows each other, and everyone has their own petty squabbles, right up until someone from elsewhere comes to sort things out, and then they all unite and turn on the outsider.
I’ve mentioned before how much I love scenes of group chaos when someone else is desperately trying to grasp control of the situation with no idea what is going on. The prime example of this was when the Huntsman first arrives in the village and finds everyone bickering over everything else instead of being appropriately cowed by his authority. I also particularly loved the introductory chapters, where we get a sense of how the village has received the orders about how to deal with witches, and followed them in letter if not entirely in spirit. “Witches” are routinely ducked, but the ducking stools are set up in a nice, warm bit of the river, and local women use it as an opportunity for a good scrub, pretending to talk to animals so they can have a good wash whilst villagers hold the soap for them, and shout to ask for repentance, and also if the water temperature is okay. I also cackled at the exchange between Gretel and her stepmother, when her stepmother asks how many times she’s told her not to do maths and Gretel plaintively replies, “I don’t know, you won’t let me count!”
The Darkwood itself is ripe ground for more puns, although I wish perhaps we’d had more time to see Gretel exploring it and finding her feet. She stumbles through it in fear and then has a few excursions which bring her back, inevitably, to the village. I would have loved to have seen more of her getting to know the other magical creatures in the forest, building relationships and trust, and carving out her own niche. I don’t necessarily think there’s anything I would sacrifice in the existing narrative for that, but perhaps if the book had been a little longer then we could have enjoyed a more leisurely exploration of the forest denizens, and start to see the community there in the same way we did the villagers. As it was, we got a brief introduction to a unicorn, a couple of swamp mermaids and some pixies, but there is talk of wyverns and ogres and manticore in the trees, all able to talk and all with their own quirks and personalities and ongoing arguments. It could have been a delightful meeting of two chaotic tribes.
This is the first in a series, so I’m hoping we get more time developing that as the books progress – not least because two further areas of the wood have been set up as “no-go zones”, one with a bear witch (Goldilocks?) and one with a wolf witch (Red Riding Hood, surely), as well as the Huntsmen whose egos have been terribly bruised. There’s something a little bit Revolting Rhymes in the reimagining of these fairy tales, and a little bit Once Upon a Time in the bringing the characters together – only Hutchinson Crouch goes back to the stripped back core of the stories and then builds them up into something that fits together well and creates her own lore, instead of smashing together a load of Disney interpretations and trying to make sense of the garbled outcome (I don’t like Once Upon A Time). I think my analogy of a panto is best – the plot and delivery are suitable for a huge variety of ages, and each age group will get something different out of it, whilst the whole thing is gleefully anarchic in its tone and it just feels like a great romp.
Briefly:
A funny, enjoyable, easy-to-read romp through various fairy tales, which frankly would make an excellent panto, and has something for everyone.
I’m ashamed that it took me until halfway through the book to get the pun on the spider who thinks he’s a spy. A SPYder. Good grief @ me.
I also love how, despite apparently playing against fairy tale expectations, Darkwood actually utilises older character tropes. Gretel is clever and bold, as she was in the original story and as many other fairy tale heroines were (The Snow Queen, for example, or The Seven Ravens), whilst Hansel’s gentle and caring nature harks back to the tradition of the simple and kind protagonist who wins through being gentle, and shows Hansel as the other kind of hero (Dick Whittington, or The Fool of the World and the Flying Ship) rather than a forceful warrior prince. The perception can often be that fairy tales play into specific heteronormative gender roles, but whilst there are many that do (particularly those which have been adapted and sanitised and sold again and again), there are so many which promote the very traits shown here – the girls riding to the rescue using their wits, and the boys triumphing by being kind and gentle.
Rating: 4/5 – as this is the first in the series, I want to reserve my judgement for the full run, and I do wish there had been more time for Gretel to explore and build up the community in the Darkwood, but it’s all round good fun as it is.
June 25, 2022
What an absolute freaking delight! I was not prepared at all for how much fun this book was going to be, or how much I was going to love it. It's a twisty tale of magical beasties and fairytale characters, but there's nothing cutesy or precious or cheesy whatsoever about it. It's a more grown-up - and much more fun - take on stories and characters you thought you knew, and who are so much more than what they seem, displaced and hunted by an anti-magical authoritarian regime against whom they must rise up and resist. There's solid political allegory here, featuring themes of how fear of what's different can lead to hatred, how hate groups grow from easily dismissed fringe militias to a military ruling class, how insidiously tyranny can creep into power when it's underestimated, how information is twisted or withheld and propaganda is weaponized to scapegoat groups and individuals and justify violence against them, and how depersonalization allows individuals to distance themselves from the terrible things they do as part of a violent group.
But much more than that, this book is warm and witty and magical, and the humor crackles from every page. It's FUNNY! This book never takes itself too seriously. The characters are quirky and unexpected and well developed. Ones you thought were "bad" turn out to be nothing like what you've been led to believe - maybe someone just wanted you to think of them that way? It has a lovely found family element, and themes of friendship, acceptance, and diversity. There are misunderstood monsters, grubby badass princesses, witchy soft bois, talking arachnids with a flair for tiny hats, and inconveniently accidental pastries. When I was reading it, my brain automatically cast Ruby Rose as the White Knight and the voice of Trevor the spider is Wheatley from Portal 2. This is my head canon until someone makes a movie out of it, which I sincerely hope someone does. This book would make a great movie, someone should get on that immediately!
It seems a bit unfair to make comparisons to Shrek, because Darkwood is most definitely its own thing, but it brings big Shrek energy, and you are likely to enjoy both for similar reasons because they have a similar vibe. I loved it, and I'll be gifting this one and recommending it. My teenage son is reading it now, and I've already bought the next two books in the series and can hardly wait to dive in. Highly highly highly recommend this one for teens and adults alike!
But much more than that, this book is warm and witty and magical, and the humor crackles from every page. It's FUNNY! This book never takes itself too seriously. The characters are quirky and unexpected and well developed. Ones you thought were "bad" turn out to be nothing like what you've been led to believe - maybe someone just wanted you to think of them that way? It has a lovely found family element, and themes of friendship, acceptance, and diversity. There are misunderstood monsters, grubby badass princesses, witchy soft bois, talking arachnids with a flair for tiny hats, and inconveniently accidental pastries. When I was reading it, my brain automatically cast Ruby Rose as the White Knight and the voice of Trevor the spider is Wheatley from Portal 2. This is my head canon until someone makes a movie out of it, which I sincerely hope someone does. This book would make a great movie, someone should get on that immediately!
It seems a bit unfair to make comparisons to Shrek, because Darkwood is most definitely its own thing, but it brings big Shrek energy, and you are likely to enjoy both for similar reasons because they have a similar vibe. I loved it, and I'll be gifting this one and recommending it. My teenage son is reading it now, and I've already bought the next two books in the series and can hardly wait to dive in. Highly highly highly recommend this one for teens and adults alike!
June 6, 2019
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I adored this book and without a doubt, I can say this book is one of the favorite books I've read in 2019. This book was funny, witty, and very education all at the same time. The overarching message behind this story--witchhunts--is packaged to appeal to a younger audience without being overly graphic or informative.
This part contains spoilers!
The huntsmen, who are leading the witchhunts, are masked and 'just' characters who are trying to rid the world of the witches. However, these witchhunts are getting out of hand and every woman who is able to do basic maths or has a logical mind is considered to be a witch and send off to the Darkwood, a wood where scary and dangerous beings lurk between the trees. After Gretel is send off to the Darkwood as she is called out for being a witch, she meets four fellow witches: Jack Trott, Snow (or the White Knight), Trevor the talking spider, and Buttercup. They team up and with the help of the four witches, Gretel sets it upon herself to protect her village Nearby and her brother Hansel, who turned out to be the real Mudd Witch.
My favorite character out of all of the witches has to be Trevor, the talking spider. His dynamic with the group was honestly wholesome and adorable,
And in the end, the forgiving of Trott and the Giant was such a heartfelt ending. It shows how there are always two sides to a story; a mantra that is important to repeat at any given age.
"Do not go into the Darkwood, children. It's a cursed place, and so big and so dangerous that once you go in you'll never come out again. You'll become just another lost creature, aimlessly wandering amongst those black and twisted trees forever. Even the dead aren't safe in the Darkwood. Nobody is safe."
I adored this book and without a doubt, I can say this book is one of the favorite books I've read in 2019. This book was funny, witty, and very education all at the same time. The overarching message behind this story--witchhunts--is packaged to appeal to a younger audience without being overly graphic or informative.
This part contains spoilers!
The huntsmen, who are leading the witchhunts, are masked and 'just' characters who are trying to rid the world of the witches. However, these witchhunts are getting out of hand and every woman who is able to do basic maths or has a logical mind is considered to be a witch and send off to the Darkwood, a wood where scary and dangerous beings lurk between the trees. After Gretel is send off to the Darkwood as she is called out for being a witch, she meets four fellow witches: Jack Trott, Snow (or the White Knight), Trevor the talking spider, and Buttercup. They team up and with the help of the four witches, Gretel sets it upon herself to protect her village Nearby and her brother Hansel, who turned out to be the real Mudd Witch.
My favorite character out of all of the witches has to be Trevor, the talking spider. His dynamic with the group was honestly wholesome and adorable,
"'She definitely worked out I'm a spider, then, you reckon.' 'I think so,' says the woman with the broomstick kindly. 'Yes.' The spider sighs, disappointed. 'But I thought I'd disguised it really well. I was wearing a hat!'"
And in the end, the forgiving of Trott and the Giant was such a heartfelt ending. It shows how there are always two sides to a story; a mantra that is important to repeat at any given age.
July 4, 2019
I received this eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The only reason I requested this book was because Heathur @ Aphrodite Reads raved about it. I sadly, do not share that opinion. When adding this to my ‘currently reading’ shelf on GoodReads, I was very surprised to see that it’s a middle grade fantasy. I’d only gotten about 10% into it before adding it on GoodReads, but it didn’t seem like a middle grade story to me.
My first issue with this being middle grade is the language. There were a handful of words that I didn’t know the meaning of and others that I know but younger readers would likely struggle with. If you’re going to write a middle grade book, you should make sure the intended audience won’t have to look up words every few pages.
The next issue was the writing style. The story jumped all over the place. It was told through the perspective of a bunch of different characters but there wasn’t really any warning when the perspective changed. It would have been different if these changes had been confined to their own chapters. But there were POV changes mid chapter, more than once.
As for the story itself, I think there was some real potential here. There were a combination of fairytale characters that were a part of this world. The Darkwood also reminded me a bit of The Wood from Naomi Novik’s Uprooted. I was excited to see where the story was going in the first half, but the ending seemed rushed and so many things left as loose ends. I assume there is going to be sequel, but too many things were left unresolved for my liking.
Overall, I thought this story had a lot of potential, but I didn’t love the execution. Though others have really enjoyed this story, so take my review with a grain of salt.
Keep on reading lovelies, Amanda.
My first issue with this being middle grade is the language. There were a handful of words that I didn’t know the meaning of and others that I know but younger readers would likely struggle with. If you’re going to write a middle grade book, you should make sure the intended audience won’t have to look up words every few pages.
The next issue was the writing style. The story jumped all over the place. It was told through the perspective of a bunch of different characters but there wasn’t really any warning when the perspective changed. It would have been different if these changes had been confined to their own chapters. But there were POV changes mid chapter, more than once.
As for the story itself, I think there was some real potential here. There were a combination of fairytale characters that were a part of this world. The Darkwood also reminded me a bit of The Wood from Naomi Novik’s Uprooted. I was excited to see where the story was going in the first half, but the ending seemed rushed and so many things left as loose ends. I assume there is going to be sequel, but too many things were left unresolved for my liking.
Overall, I thought this story had a lot of potential, but I didn’t love the execution. Though others have really enjoyed this story, so take my review with a grain of salt.
Keep on reading lovelies, Amanda.
July 25, 2020
This is a retelling of many fairy tales rolled into one quirky story. It is along the lines of the drama 'Once upon a time' in terms of its content. There is a flippancy in the conversation and the humour lies in the delivery and the situation that we are witnessing.
Hansel and Gretel live with their step-parents in a little village where they get orders from power at the citadel on how to conduct their daily lives and how things are supposed to work. When Gretel is suspected of being a witch and driven out to Darkwood(the magical wood bordering their village) new information comes to light. Gretel corrals the troops, which consists of different odd magical life forms in order to defend their way of life. It is a fun book meant for light reading despite touching upon forms of xenophobia and the blind faith in cult-like situations.
There are many other fairy-tale characters that make their way into the story in order to give it more substance and they are all unique in their own way, none more so than Trevor (more about him would get clearer on reading the book itself). I would recommend this to fans of retellings as well as quirky dialogues and characters.
I received an ARC from NetGalley but the review is completely based on my own reading experience.
Hansel and Gretel live with their step-parents in a little village where they get orders from power at the citadel on how to conduct their daily lives and how things are supposed to work. When Gretel is suspected of being a witch and driven out to Darkwood(the magical wood bordering their village) new information comes to light. Gretel corrals the troops, which consists of different odd magical life forms in order to defend their way of life. It is a fun book meant for light reading despite touching upon forms of xenophobia and the blind faith in cult-like situations.
There are many other fairy-tale characters that make their way into the story in order to give it more substance and they are all unique in their own way, none more so than Trevor (more about him would get clearer on reading the book itself). I would recommend this to fans of retellings as well as quirky dialogues and characters.
I received an ARC from NetGalley but the review is completely based on my own reading experience.
June 16, 2019
I received an ARC copy of this book from NetGalley.
"We make out that witches aren’t real people, but we pretend that we aren’t people, either. Because, if we can convince others and ourselves that we’re not really people, then we can let ourselves get away with committing some really inhuman acts."
This was hilarious and also surprisingly deep towards the end. It starts out as a satire of many common fairy tales [Hansel and Gretel, Snow White, Jack and the Beanstalk, etc] as well as a commentary on the antiquated gender roles in most fairy tale type stories. By the end it's actually a very insightful commentary on how easy it is for people to turn against other people who are 'different' than them and what a slippery slope that can turn out to be. The plot is very fast paced and funny and I really liked all the characters and the unique spins that the author put on them. I would definitely recommend this to people who like tongue-in-cheek fairy tale retellings like Kiersten White's Beanstalker and Other Hilarious Scarytales.
"We make out that witches aren’t real people, but we pretend that we aren’t people, either. Because, if we can convince others and ourselves that we’re not really people, then we can let ourselves get away with committing some really inhuman acts."
This was hilarious and also surprisingly deep towards the end. It starts out as a satire of many common fairy tales [Hansel and Gretel, Snow White, Jack and the Beanstalk, etc] as well as a commentary on the antiquated gender roles in most fairy tale type stories. By the end it's actually a very insightful commentary on how easy it is for people to turn against other people who are 'different' than them and what a slippery slope that can turn out to be. The plot is very fast paced and funny and I really liked all the characters and the unique spins that the author put on them. I would definitely recommend this to people who like tongue-in-cheek fairy tale retellings like Kiersten White's Beanstalker and Other Hilarious Scarytales.
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