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Gretel #1
Gretel
Alone. Frightened. Captive. If you hear someone approaching, RUN. She is not there to help you.
There is an ancient evil in the Back Country, dormant for centuries but now hungry and lurking.
When it sets its sights on an unsuspecting mother one routine morning along an isolated stretch of highway, a quiet farming family is suddenly thrust into a world of unspeakable terror, and a young Gretel must learn to be a hero.
Full of twists and turns, Gretel will have you on the edge of your seat. If you like books by Stephen King you will love Gretel.
The complete Gretel Series includes:
Gretel (Gretel Book One)
Marlene's Revenge (Gretel Book Two)
Hansel (Gretel Book Three)
Anika Rising (Gretel Book Four)
The Crippling (Gretel Book Five)
The Killing of Orphism (Gretel Book Six)
There is an ancient evil in the Back Country, dormant for centuries but now hungry and lurking.
When it sets its sights on an unsuspecting mother one routine morning along an isolated stretch of highway, a quiet farming family is suddenly thrust into a world of unspeakable terror, and a young Gretel must learn to be a hero.
Full of twists and turns, Gretel will have you on the edge of your seat. If you like books by Stephen King you will love Gretel.
The complete Gretel Series includes:
Gretel (Gretel Book One)
Marlene's Revenge (Gretel Book Two)
Hansel (Gretel Book Three)
Anika Rising (Gretel Book Four)
The Crippling (Gretel Book Five)
The Killing of Orphism (Gretel Book Six)
408 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 31, 2015
2958 people are currently reading
2793 people want to read
About the author
Christopher Coleman
23 books144 followersChristopher Coleman lives in Maryland with his wife and two children. He is a graduate of the University of Maryland with a degree in English Literature. A fan of classic and modern horror and thriller movies, his favorite movies are Rosemary's Baby and The Ring. When he's not writing fiction, you can find him reading, taking his kids to and from various sporting activities or watching horror movies with his wife who shares his affinity for the horror genre. His books will creep you out and leave you scared to turn off the lights and go to sleep.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 314 reviews
February 13, 2018
Certainly an interesting spin on Hansel and Gretel, and definitely creepy. However i found the middle of the book boring and i only pushed through to find out what happens at the end. I don't regret reading it and i do recommend it to anyone who likes fairy tale retellings. As for me, I'm not sure I'll be continuing with the series. Although i did see reviews stating the second book is better than the first, so who knows? Maybe i will.......
September 27, 2017
This was a great idea for a new spin on the Hansel and Gretel story, but the execution left so much to be desired. Firstly I think this book needs major edited. The first few chapters were really great with the introduction of the witch and the mother getting lost and kidnapped, but then it seems like the majority of the book [from maybe around 10% to about 70%] is just spent following Gretel around while she does nothing of any real importance. There are maybe 3 or 4 chapters in that entire 60% section of the book that have any relevance to later events. The story picks up again towards the end and there are some interesting twists, but not enough to really make up for the beginning of the book or to make me want to continue the series.
Also there is just a ton of stuff that makes me roll my eyes like "holy unnecessary gender roles, Batman!" I'm just trying to find some enjoyment from this book but I keep getting bombarded with stuff about how their dad isn't masculine anymore because he's sick and can't work, how Gretel needs to stop being around Hansel so much because he's already going to grow up soft without a 'strong male figure in his life', how women just don't like each other and it takes them longer to get along because that's just the way it is. No thank you.
Also there is just a ton of stuff that makes me roll my eyes like "holy unnecessary gender roles, Batman!" I'm just trying to find some enjoyment from this book but I keep getting bombarded with stuff about how their dad isn't masculine anymore because he's sick and can't work, how Gretel needs to stop being around Hansel so much because he's already going to grow up soft without a 'strong male figure in his life', how women just don't like each other and it takes them longer to get along because that's just the way it is. No thank you.
October 4, 2016
Here is what I enjoyed about this book: it picks up right around chapter 6. It did illustrate the growth of the main character from young girl to young woman. It did have twists & turns, and a complicated subplot. I was satisfied with the ending, and I did like how the author built suspense at the end of the story. I give this story props for a good idea to put a twist on the traditional tale.
It's execution, however, was lacking. In no way do I mean to insult the author, but I thought it was horribly contrived. This book screams "I am self published and didn't bother to spend the money on a quality editor". The dialogue was unnatural, the character development was incredibly shallow (as were the characters' emotions), and there were some little errors regarding the character names that really threw me off for a few pages; e.g. Gretel's father's name is Heinrich. One of the characters spoke of him as Friedrich, with no explanation later on in the story as to why. Mr. Klahr's first name--is it George or Georg? Yes, they are similar. Yes, it could have been a typo, but it occurred multiple times, and the pronunciations of the names are completely different.
I was happy to see the author come into a "flow", so to speak, as the story progressed. It definitely got easier to read as time went on. Again, I don't want to say I didn't enjoy the book. I did. However, it was apparent (and not in a good way) that this was Mr. Coleman's first book. I would be interested to read another of his books in the future (after he gets a few more under his belt), but he definitely needs to step up his game.
It's execution, however, was lacking. In no way do I mean to insult the author, but I thought it was horribly contrived. This book screams "I am self published and didn't bother to spend the money on a quality editor". The dialogue was unnatural, the character development was incredibly shallow (as were the characters' emotions), and there were some little errors regarding the character names that really threw me off for a few pages; e.g. Gretel's father's name is Heinrich. One of the characters spoke of him as Friedrich, with no explanation later on in the story as to why. Mr. Klahr's first name--is it George or Georg? Yes, they are similar. Yes, it could have been a typo, but it occurred multiple times, and the pronunciations of the names are completely different.
I was happy to see the author come into a "flow", so to speak, as the story progressed. It definitely got easier to read as time went on. Again, I don't want to say I didn't enjoy the book. I did. However, it was apparent (and not in a good way) that this was Mr. Coleman's first book. I would be interested to read another of his books in the future (after he gets a few more under his belt), but he definitely needs to step up his game.
October 24, 2020
What child is not enthralled with the story of Hansel and Gretel? Lured to a house of candy in the woods, caught by a witch, fattened up and eaten. In the stories I read, it was Gretel who outsmarted the witch (who had poor eyesight) by holding a thin stick outside of her cage, so when the witch felt her “finger” for potential juicy plumpness, she was never ready, still too bony for the oven.
This novel turns that story on its head and it is FANTASTIC. Gretel is a whip smart teenager, whose intuition is strong. When her mother goes missing and her father’s nurse becomes established in their home - even while her father’s condition never improves - Gretel takes on a new strength and determination to find out what exactly is going on. What’s going is a wild black magic ride, and I’m so excited it’s the first in a series. Can’t wait to see what’s next.
This novel turns that story on its head and it is FANTASTIC. Gretel is a whip smart teenager, whose intuition is strong. When her mother goes missing and her father’s nurse becomes established in their home - even while her father’s condition never improves - Gretel takes on a new strength and determination to find out what exactly is going on. What’s going is a wild black magic ride, and I’m so excited it’s the first in a series. Can’t wait to see what’s next.
December 2, 2016
This is a really cool retelling of the story I never would have thought of. It mostly has to do with the witches and how they consume the children and why. It was really good. At the end it said there would be another one coming, so I'm glad. This all has to do with family, ancient mysticism called Orphism, and the obsession some have with wanting to live forever, no matter what they have to do or who might get hurt in the process.
It was really creepy, yet you could even understand the witches' point of view at times. I got attached to the characters and really liked Gretel.
It was really creepy, yet you could even understand the witches' point of view at times. I got attached to the characters and really liked Gretel.
March 12, 2019
Another great read. It was crazy, unpredictable, and a bit scary. (Expecially if your reading it at night alone lol) When I saw it was a Hansel and Gretel retelling, I was a bit weary of reading it at first but turns out my worries were for no good reason. I already have the second book of this series ready to read and I can't wait.
What I loved about this book. It was everything I previously mentioned, but also had not one, but two strong female heroines. The strength shown by both of these women is amazing. Its a gripping story that is definitely directed toward adults. It wasn't particularly an easy read, but it was an amazing one.
There wasn't really anything I didn't like about the book. There was a point of time were I ranted and raved at my husband about an aspect of the plot that made my head reel, but thats just the another sign of a great book. There was a typo I had noticed near the end of the book where it said that "Anika said" and it was suppose to be Gretel but that is very minor.
What I loved about this book. It was everything I previously mentioned, but also had not one, but two strong female heroines. The strength shown by both of these women is amazing. Its a gripping story that is definitely directed toward adults. It wasn't particularly an easy read, but it was an amazing one.
There wasn't really anything I didn't like about the book. There was a point of time were I ranted and raved at my husband about an aspect of the plot that made my head reel, but thats just the another sign of a great book. There was a typo I had noticed near the end of the book where it said that "Anika said" and it was suppose to be Gretel but that is very minor.
February 20, 2019
Yowsa, this was scary but in a good way. I white-knuckled it the whole time. Highly recommend!
My Rating: 5 stars
My Rating: 5 stars
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October 30, 2017
This is roughly a retelling of Hansel and Gretel, but only on the broadest forms. We see Hansel, Gretel, and the witch in the woods, but that's where the comparisons stop.
I have to say that this is an amazing read. The story is incredibly inventive, and spreads over enough of a period of time that the characters grow and develop naturally. The kind of mental, physical and emotional changes necessary to make this story work just don't happen overnight, and giving the characters time made their growth arcs feel genuine and not forced.
One nit-pick before I talk about my favorite part of the story, is that it is very difficult to tell when and where the story is set. The names are mostly German and the description of the landscape sounds very European, but at some points "English" is specifically referred to as the native language. The cars and System referred to in the book sound futuristic, but life on the farms is almost backward. I assume that these were deliberate choices on the part of the author, but rather than making the book feel like Anywhere, Anytime, it just kept distracting and confusing me.
But let me talk about the real strength of this book, because I think it is SO important. The main characters, both hero and villain, were all women. And these were strong, badass women who took their lives, their choices and their destinies into their own hands. Even the villain, the "witch in the wood," made her own choices and lived with the consequences. No one here was a damsel in distress or shrinking violet. The heroines saved themselves, again and again, and that is incredibly unusual in any genre. The male characters, whether good or bad, were the kind of secondary or tertiary characters that women are relegated to, but even they were done richly, with humanity and layered personalities.
The tag line said I would be "guessing until the end," or something to that effect. Several times I thought that was a crock and I had the whole thing figured out. Let me tell you, I was wrong. Even the parts I thought I'd figured out didn't mean what I thought they did. I will definitely be getting the other books in this series, but this a breakthrough work for me.
This is definitely in the horror genre, because although it goes long periods without doing anything but cataloging events to move the plot forward, the parts that are "horror" are VERY graphic and intense. People who need a cleaner read should probably stay away. Everyone else, pick it up!
I have to say that this is an amazing read. The story is incredibly inventive, and spreads over enough of a period of time that the characters grow and develop naturally. The kind of mental, physical and emotional changes necessary to make this story work just don't happen overnight, and giving the characters time made their growth arcs feel genuine and not forced.
One nit-pick before I talk about my favorite part of the story, is that it is very difficult to tell when and where the story is set. The names are mostly German and the description of the landscape sounds very European, but at some points "English" is specifically referred to as the native language. The cars and System referred to in the book sound futuristic, but life on the farms is almost backward. I assume that these were deliberate choices on the part of the author, but rather than making the book feel like Anywhere, Anytime, it just kept distracting and confusing me.
But let me talk about the real strength of this book, because I think it is SO important. The main characters, both hero and villain, were all women. And these were strong, badass women who took their lives, their choices and their destinies into their own hands. Even the villain, the "witch in the wood," made her own choices and lived with the consequences. No one here was a damsel in distress or shrinking violet. The heroines saved themselves, again and again, and that is incredibly unusual in any genre. The male characters, whether good or bad, were the kind of secondary or tertiary characters that women are relegated to, but even they were done richly, with humanity and layered personalities.
The tag line said I would be "guessing until the end," or something to that effect. Several times I thought that was a crock and I had the whole thing figured out. Let me tell you, I was wrong. Even the parts I thought I'd figured out didn't mean what I thought they did. I will definitely be getting the other books in this series, but this a breakthrough work for me.
This is definitely in the horror genre, because although it goes long periods without doing anything but cataloging events to move the plot forward, the parts that are "horror" are VERY graphic and intense. People who need a cleaner read should probably stay away. Everyone else, pick it up!
October 3, 2019
A twisted retelling of a classic fairytale that is a perfect atmospheric fit for this time of year. Despite this being a reread for me, there were still plenty of “ah ha” moments as I had only vaguely remembered the major points for the plot. Questionable if the story is memorable enough to really endure the test of time; however, I still enjoyed the story.
One thing that is readily apparent is that this is a self-published novel. The core story is compelling, really finding its pace about three chapters in, but in the first half of the book the chapters are interminably long. So this means for about 80 or so pages of a 300 page book I was struggling to hang in there waiting for the plot to pick up. Probably the biggest reason I can attribute to this is the distinct lack of a separate narrative voice for each character. The story contains POV chapters for Gretel, her imprisoned mother, and the witch and yet I had a difficult time discerning which chapters belonged to whom. For that reason the story feels less polished as a 14 year old girl should not think, feel, and rationalize like a 300 year old witch.
Overall, the story is an exceedingly dark and horrifying tale that is definitely worth reading if you are looking for a twisted retelling although consideration must still be given to the minor faults in the writing style. I’d still recommend this book given the right audience.
One thing that is readily apparent is that this is a self-published novel. The core story is compelling, really finding its pace about three chapters in, but in the first half of the book the chapters are interminably long. So this means for about 80 or so pages of a 300 page book I was struggling to hang in there waiting for the plot to pick up. Probably the biggest reason I can attribute to this is the distinct lack of a separate narrative voice for each character. The story contains POV chapters for Gretel, her imprisoned mother, and the witch and yet I had a difficult time discerning which chapters belonged to whom. For that reason the story feels less polished as a 14 year old girl should not think, feel, and rationalize like a 300 year old witch.
Overall, the story is an exceedingly dark and horrifying tale that is definitely worth reading if you are looking for a twisted retelling although consideration must still be given to the minor faults in the writing style. I’d still recommend this book given the right audience.
February 16, 2019
This is a different approach to Hansel and Gretel. I loved the darkness this story brought. However it was very slow moving in the beginning and didn't pick up until half way through the book. Once you hit that half way mark it was very intense making me not want to put it down. Overall, I really enjoyed it and I'm looking forward to reading book 2 in this series
December 28, 2015
This story will definitely put a new spin to the children's Hansel and Gretel! The twist and suspense and the thrill kept me up all night just to finish this!
I love that this story has several heroines who displayed different kinds of strength, and has withstood a lot!
Kudos to the author for taking me to a whole new world where pies are not to be trusted, relatives have different agenda, and would-be stepmothers are not who they seem!
I was gifted a copy for an honest review.
I love that this story has several heroines who displayed different kinds of strength, and has withstood a lot!
Kudos to the author for taking me to a whole new world where pies are not to be trusted, relatives have different agenda, and would-be stepmothers are not who they seem!
I was gifted a copy for an honest review.
August 8, 2019
This version of the popular fairy tale gave a more gruesome look at the witch's character and why she was after victims especially Gretel. After 1st few chapters, story became more interesting and held my attention to the end. Looking forward to reading the remaining books in the series
July 26, 2023
This was a great re-telling of the tale of Hansel and Gretel - and a creepy, horrific adult version at that!
A woman crashes her car on the highway and, having stumbled into the woods seeking help, ends up in the clutches of an evil witch who, near to death, needs to recreate a magic potion to reinvigorate her failing metabolism - and intends to use the woman's body to do so, having first 'fattened her up'!
Meanwhile, her children, Hansel and Gretel, are trying to cope without their mother and with their father in his sick bed trying to recuperate from a horse kick to the stomach. Soon, a nurse arrives at the property but the intuitive Gretel wonders how she is getting paid as the family have no money. Nonetheless, the nurse, Odalinde, stays around but Gretel's father doesn't seem to be improving so Gretel's suspicions are aroused as to Odalinde's motives......
Really enjoyed the book, particularly towards the end when the action (and the gore!) really ramped up. Great characters and it will be interesting to see how the story is continued, bearing in mind I bought the three-book set on Kindle so looking forward to the further adventures of Gretel and family as they investigate the dark history behind their ordeal - 8/10.
A woman crashes her car on the highway and, having stumbled into the woods seeking help, ends up in the clutches of an evil witch who, near to death, needs to recreate a magic potion to reinvigorate her failing metabolism - and intends to use the woman's body to do so, having first 'fattened her up'!
Meanwhile, her children, Hansel and Gretel, are trying to cope without their mother and with their father in his sick bed trying to recuperate from a horse kick to the stomach. Soon, a nurse arrives at the property but the intuitive Gretel wonders how she is getting paid as the family have no money. Nonetheless, the nurse, Odalinde, stays around but Gretel's father doesn't seem to be improving so Gretel's suspicions are aroused as to Odalinde's motives......
Really enjoyed the book, particularly towards the end when the action (and the gore!) really ramped up. Great characters and it will be interesting to see how the story is continued, bearing in mind I bought the three-book set on Kindle so looking forward to the further adventures of Gretel and family as they investigate the dark history behind their ordeal - 8/10.
July 26, 2018
Gretel is first in a series of (currently) four books. As the title implies, this is an alternate take on the Brothers Grimm tale of Hansel & Gretel.
Without getting into spoilers, Gretel seems to be set in the near future, or perhaps just an alternate reality. The story begins with the disappearance of Anika Morgan, mother of Gretel and Hansel who has been away visiting her ailing father. An auto crash sends her into close proximity to a wooded cabin, and if you are at all familiar with the fairy tale, you can guess who lives within.
Meanwhile, a teenage Gretel and her younger brother, Hansel, try to deal with the loss of their mother, as well as their hapless (and helpless) father, who is managing (poorly) an ongoing ailment while being tended to by his newly arrived nurse.
The book took literally half of its pages to grab my attention. There were several distractions before that point that made me consider DNFing it, and I can’t really say why I didn’t except I’ve always been a sucker for fractured fairy tales and I felt like there was potential in this story that might eventually materialize.
Some of the issues I had with the book were characters who changed names. For example, fairly early on, at one point Anika is referred to as “Anna,” and I had to go back a few pages and make sure I hadn’t missed the introduction of a new character.
Likewise, one of Gretel’s neighbors suffers a name change (more than once!) when he is referred to alternately as Georg and George.
The author also has issues with conjugating verbs. “Lay” in particular.
I offer the following examples:
“A shiver scurried the length of Anika’s back, the night again teasing what lie ahead,”
“The other part of rowing that Gretel had grown to love was the utter blindness of it—that feeling of never being sure, not entirely, what lie in wait.”
There was also a scene that mentioned needing air to “breath.”
Normally, these would make me put down the book and walk away with no regrets, but I stuck this one out, and I can’t say I’m entirely disappointed with the decision, though I do feel the book never reached its full potential. I do think it has captured my interest enough to read at least the next book in the series, then I’ll reassess whether to continue after that one.
2 out of 5 stars.
Without getting into spoilers, Gretel seems to be set in the near future, or perhaps just an alternate reality. The story begins with the disappearance of Anika Morgan, mother of Gretel and Hansel who has been away visiting her ailing father. An auto crash sends her into close proximity to a wooded cabin, and if you are at all familiar with the fairy tale, you can guess who lives within.
Meanwhile, a teenage Gretel and her younger brother, Hansel, try to deal with the loss of their mother, as well as their hapless (and helpless) father, who is managing (poorly) an ongoing ailment while being tended to by his newly arrived nurse.
The book took literally half of its pages to grab my attention. There were several distractions before that point that made me consider DNFing it, and I can’t really say why I didn’t except I’ve always been a sucker for fractured fairy tales and I felt like there was potential in this story that might eventually materialize.
Some of the issues I had with the book were characters who changed names. For example, fairly early on, at one point Anika is referred to as “Anna,” and I had to go back a few pages and make sure I hadn’t missed the introduction of a new character.
Likewise, one of Gretel’s neighbors suffers a name change (more than once!) when he is referred to alternately as Georg and George.
The author also has issues with conjugating verbs. “Lay” in particular.
I offer the following examples:
“A shiver scurried the length of Anika’s back, the night again teasing what lie ahead,”
“The other part of rowing that Gretel had grown to love was the utter blindness of it—that feeling of never being sure, not entirely, what lie in wait.”
There was also a scene that mentioned needing air to “breath.”
Normally, these would make me put down the book and walk away with no regrets, but I stuck this one out, and I can’t say I’m entirely disappointed with the decision, though I do feel the book never reached its full potential. I do think it has captured my interest enough to read at least the next book in the series, then I’ll reassess whether to continue after that one.
2 out of 5 stars.
August 6, 2020
I really enjoyed this thriller take on Hansel and Gretel. This book put Gretel as the main character, although her parts weren’t very “thrilling” until the end. But the author made sure to switch the perspective between characters throughout the book, which kept it interesting and enjoyable. There was a point, more toward the beginning/middle, where the story lingered on Gretel. I get it, this was technically her book and maybe the author wanted more emphasis on the changes she went through with her mother missing, but I wish there would have been a few more points in this part where I could have gotten glimpses of what was happening with the witch and the mother. But other than than I really enjoyed this book. I definitely didn’t want to put the book down as I got closer to the end.
November 3, 2016
The premise was very cool: The evil witch eats people to make herself immortal, Hansel and Gretel are the children abandoned when the witch starts eating their mother. The introduction was frightening and exciting.
But then it all went downhill, steadily worse every page, until the ending was nearly unreadable.
The characterizations were nonexistent, the plot was stagnant, the violence was too gross to be enjoyable and too frequent to be scary, the pacing was impossibly slow. This book needed an editor to cut it down to 150 pages and it would have been a fun Halloween read.
But then it all went downhill, steadily worse every page, until the ending was nearly unreadable.
The characterizations were nonexistent, the plot was stagnant, the violence was too gross to be enjoyable and too frequent to be scary, the pacing was impossibly slow. This book needed an editor to cut it down to 150 pages and it would have been a fun Halloween read.
July 19, 2018
This was the first true horror I've read in a long time, and I loved it! Magic, evil, and a nasty witch. The perfect cocktail for a horror novel in my opinion, and I couldn't put it down. Can't wait to start the second in the series!
*5 Stars
*5 Stars
March 22, 2021
Very well written. Nothing like a fairy tale. The witch is quite scary and Gretel is smart and caring (especially for her little brother, Hansel). A couple of twists and some tense scenes! It wraps up well enough but left me wanting to read the next one.
May 26, 2017
This read was not what I expected. It was uneventful for awhile and the purpose totally threw me.
I am somewhat still in confusion about this novel. Definitely threw me for a loop.
I am somewhat still in confusion about this novel. Definitely threw me for a loop.
June 16, 2016
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
GRETEL is a dark and twisted tale that examines the deepest, darkest and most evil parts of the human psyche.
I think the cover of GRETEL is absolutely perfect. The blueish colour draws the eye and urges them to look at the book. The twisted trees give off a creepy and scary vibe and, the font used for the title adds a touch of mystery as does the light coming from the group.
As you can probably guess by the title, this book is an updated, modern day version of the fairy tale of "Hansel and Gretel." However, it definitely strays from the storyline that most people know. This is good, otherwise this book would not be very interesting at all.
As you might expect, this dark and twisted tale features the brother/sister pair: Hansel and Gretel. But, the character names as well as the fact that a "witch" lives in a nearby forest are the only real similarities to the original fairy tale. This story is a thousand times better and also a thousand times more twisted.
Anika Morgan had gone to visit her elderly father for a ten day trip and was happy to be heading home to her own life and to her children.
Anika's life revolved around her husband, Heinrich, her fourteen year old daughter, Gretel and her eight year old son, Hansel and she was content with the way her life was playing out.
Their life was not one of opulence or of abundance, but they were happy. They had their small house and they had some land to call their own and Anika knew that they were more fortunate than many others who lived in the Backwoods.
But, Anika never made it home from her father's house - a trip that should have only taken a few hours turned into the most gruelling, horrific and long time of her life.
Gretel wanted to have faith that her mother would be found one day, but as time wore on, it became harder and harder to stay optimistic. Add to that, the fact that her father had fallen ill and you get the eerie sense that something bad is about to happen.
This modern take on an old classic is extremely well written and readers will be riveted. The author, Christopher Coleman, does a fabulous job of creating characters that are so realistic that the reader will become invested in their trials and tribulations and will not be able to put the book down until they know what happens next.
There have been quite a few books written in the past few years that are based on the fairy tales we all grew up with. I have read a few of them and unfortunately I always seem to decipher the entire plot before I have even read the first half of the book. I find this very frustrating. As an avid reader it seems to happen all the time. This book does NOT follow that pattern which is a huge plus in my opinion.
This book will have readers riveted to their tablet screens and they will be unable to put it down. The action and emotion will find its way deep into the reader's heart and mind and Gretel's character will stay with readers long after the book's conclusion.
I give GRETEL a rating of 5 out of 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Read more of my reviews on my blog at http://AmiesBookReviews.wordpress.com
GRETEL is a dark and twisted tale that examines the deepest, darkest and most evil parts of the human psyche.
I think the cover of GRETEL is absolutely perfect. The blueish colour draws the eye and urges them to look at the book. The twisted trees give off a creepy and scary vibe and, the font used for the title adds a touch of mystery as does the light coming from the group.
As you can probably guess by the title, this book is an updated, modern day version of the fairy tale of "Hansel and Gretel." However, it definitely strays from the storyline that most people know. This is good, otherwise this book would not be very interesting at all.
As you might expect, this dark and twisted tale features the brother/sister pair: Hansel and Gretel. But, the character names as well as the fact that a "witch" lives in a nearby forest are the only real similarities to the original fairy tale. This story is a thousand times better and also a thousand times more twisted.
Anika Morgan had gone to visit her elderly father for a ten day trip and was happy to be heading home to her own life and to her children.
Anika's life revolved around her husband, Heinrich, her fourteen year old daughter, Gretel and her eight year old son, Hansel and she was content with the way her life was playing out.
Their life was not one of opulence or of abundance, but they were happy. They had their small house and they had some land to call their own and Anika knew that they were more fortunate than many others who lived in the Backwoods.
But, Anika never made it home from her father's house - a trip that should have only taken a few hours turned into the most gruelling, horrific and long time of her life.
Gretel wanted to have faith that her mother would be found one day, but as time wore on, it became harder and harder to stay optimistic. Add to that, the fact that her father had fallen ill and you get the eerie sense that something bad is about to happen.
This modern take on an old classic is extremely well written and readers will be riveted. The author, Christopher Coleman, does a fabulous job of creating characters that are so realistic that the reader will become invested in their trials and tribulations and will not be able to put the book down until they know what happens next.
There have been quite a few books written in the past few years that are based on the fairy tales we all grew up with. I have read a few of them and unfortunately I always seem to decipher the entire plot before I have even read the first half of the book. I find this very frustrating. As an avid reader it seems to happen all the time. This book does NOT follow that pattern which is a huge plus in my opinion.
This book will have readers riveted to their tablet screens and they will be unable to put it down. The action and emotion will find its way deep into the reader's heart and mind and Gretel's character will stay with readers long after the book's conclusion.
I give GRETEL a rating of 5 out of 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Read more of my reviews on my blog at http://AmiesBookReviews.wordpress.com
April 5, 2017
Perfect, dark and seductive intro, it really sucks you into the world of this crazed soul. Beautiful writing, perfect, the exact cup of tea I was looking for. Some people can only handle chardonnay, but if you are looking for some rich brandy or gin, pick up this lovely book.
July 17, 2020
1.5 * because I hate one stars and I did at least like the first couple of chapters.
I was looking forward to this but lost interest after a few chapters. It just goes on and on to little advancement of either plot or characters. I loved the opening about the witch, even if it tended towards wordiness. The one about the lost woman... Well, who in their right mind sets off into the woods/wilderness when they come off the road?
After that, it's just random meanderings and as I skimmed increasingly larger passage of text, I decided to give it up.
I was looking forward to this but lost interest after a few chapters. It just goes on and on to little advancement of either plot or characters. I loved the opening about the witch, even if it tended towards wordiness. The one about the lost woman... Well, who in their right mind sets off into the woods/wilderness when they come off the road?
After that, it's just random meanderings and as I skimmed increasingly larger passage of text, I decided to give it up.
January 21, 2018
This was a free download on Kindle unlimited.
A nice story, a re-telling of the infamous Hansel and Gretel story. Nicely told, didn't really go down the path I was expecting, but shows that strength comes from within and nothing is more important than family. I may look into reading the rest of the series if I see them available.
A nice story, a re-telling of the infamous Hansel and Gretel story. Nicely told, didn't really go down the path I was expecting, but shows that strength comes from within and nothing is more important than family. I may look into reading the rest of the series if I see them available.
February 27, 2019
Just not gripping enough
The second half of the book is far better than the first, I found it hard going to read but I can see how the storyline works.
It just didn't grip me enough to want to read the other three in the series...
The second half of the book is far better than the first, I found it hard going to read but I can see how the storyline works.
It just didn't grip me enough to want to read the other three in the series...
January 17, 2020
I started reading and thought the first half of chapter one was great
It went straight to hell for me after that.
There was NO characters development. The dialogue SUCKED.
Anika (mom) was a moron
Gretel was a spoiled horrid brat
Hansel was also s moron.
Yuck
Don’t waste your time
It went straight to hell for me after that.
There was NO characters development. The dialogue SUCKED.
Anika (mom) was a moron
Gretel was a spoiled horrid brat
Hansel was also s moron.
Yuck
Don’t waste your time
March 1, 2017
Fairly good retelling of the fairy tale, with Gretel as the main character.
Definitely recommended if you enjoy fairy tales!
Definitely recommended if you enjoy fairy tales!
January 27, 2018
This is my first "re-telling" of a fairytale. To be honest, I kinda liked it.
Want to read
February 5, 2018💝 FREE on Amazon today (2/5/2018)! 💝
August 12, 2018
A gruesome twist on the old tale. So well written as to suck you in to the characters and plot, hook-line-and sinker. Can't wait for the last of this series!
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