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After The Forest #1
After the Forest
Ginger. Honey. Cinnamon. Flour. A drop of blood to bind its power.
1650: The Black Forest, Wurttemberg.
Fifteen years after the witch in the gingerbread house, Greta and Hans are struggling to get by. Their mother and stepmother are long dead, Hans is deeply in debt from gambling, and the countryside lies in ruin, its people recovering in the aftermath of a brutal war. Greta has a secret, the witch's grimoire, secreted away and whispering in her ear, and the recipe inside that makes the most sinfully delicious - and addictive - gingerbread.
As long as she can bake, Greta can keep her small family afloat. But in a village full of superstition, Greta and her intoxicating gingerbread is a source of ever-growing suspicion and vicious gossip.
And now, dark magic is returning to the woods and Greta's own powers - magic she is still trying to understand - may be the only thing that can save her ... If it doesn't kill her first.
A stunning meld of love story, fairytale, magic and history, by an exciting debut Australian voice - perfect for fans of Naomi Novik, Bridget Collins and Kate Forsyth
1650: The Black Forest, Wurttemberg.
Fifteen years after the witch in the gingerbread house, Greta and Hans are struggling to get by. Their mother and stepmother are long dead, Hans is deeply in debt from gambling, and the countryside lies in ruin, its people recovering in the aftermath of a brutal war. Greta has a secret, the witch's grimoire, secreted away and whispering in her ear, and the recipe inside that makes the most sinfully delicious - and addictive - gingerbread.
As long as she can bake, Greta can keep her small family afloat. But in a village full of superstition, Greta and her intoxicating gingerbread is a source of ever-growing suspicion and vicious gossip.
And now, dark magic is returning to the woods and Greta's own powers - magic she is still trying to understand - may be the only thing that can save her ... If it doesn't kill her first.
A stunning meld of love story, fairytale, magic and history, by an exciting debut Australian voice - perfect for fans of Naomi Novik, Bridget Collins and Kate Forsyth
375 pages, Hardcover
First published September 26, 2023
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November 1, 2023
Happy release day!
I do appreciate well-done adult fairytale retellings and this Hansel and Gretel 15 years after they escaped from the witch, with a sprinkle of Snow White and Rose Red (Brothers’ Grimm) was a creative take that I hadn’t seen done before.
The question is, what would life look like in Hansel and Gretel’s life after they escaped a macabre death by a witch after being abandoned and presumably left for dead in the woods by their parents? That is traumatic AF, and no doubt would carry on into your young adolescent and adult life with some forms of PTSD as well as trust issues, amongst other things.
Hansel, aka, Hans, I almost felt sorry for with his extreme drinking and gambling coping mechanisms--almost--if he wasn’t such a dick to his sister. And poor sweet, naive Gretel, aka, Greta, seems to be much of the villager's fodder for nasty rumours and gossip. From there, we dive into a world full of enchanted forest vibes, good and evil witchy magic, shape-shifters and a dark backstory that exploresHansel and Gretel’s Hans and Greta’s past.
I loved the meticulous historical detail of the era of witch hunts and burnings, and how Kell Woods blended this historical element with fantastical elements and lyrical prose. There is a cute romantic plot too, for the romance fans.
It did take me a few chapters to become truly engaged in the story, and maybe that’s because it was in third-person narrative which made it a little more difficult for me to connect with the MC, but that is obviously a subjective preference.
I learned before reading this that Chapter 25 has graphic animal cruelty, which allowed me to skip this chapter, and a trigger warning for any other animal lover who intends to read this.
All in all, I definitely recommend this book for fans of adult fairytale retellings with a historical fiction element. A big congratulations to Australian author Kell Woods for an enthralling and original re-imagining. Can’t wait to see what she does next if this is her debut.
My heartfelt thanks to NetGalley, HarperCollins Publishers Australia, and Kell Woods for the opportunity to read this work in exchange for an honest review.
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A dark historical fantasy set 15 years after Hansel & Gretel escaped the gingerbread house.
RTC.
I do appreciate well-done adult fairytale retellings and this Hansel and Gretel 15 years after they escaped from the witch, with a sprinkle of Snow White and Rose Red (Brothers’ Grimm) was a creative take that I hadn’t seen done before.
The question is, what would life look like in Hansel and Gretel’s life after they escaped a macabre death by a witch after being abandoned and presumably left for dead in the woods by their parents? That is traumatic AF, and no doubt would carry on into your young adolescent and adult life with some forms of PTSD as well as trust issues, amongst other things.
Hansel, aka, Hans, I almost felt sorry for with his extreme drinking and gambling coping mechanisms--almost--if he wasn’t such a dick to his sister. And poor sweet, naive Gretel, aka, Greta, seems to be much of the villager's fodder for nasty rumours and gossip. From there, we dive into a world full of enchanted forest vibes, good and evil witchy magic, shape-shifters and a dark backstory that explores
I loved the meticulous historical detail of the era of witch hunts and burnings, and how Kell Woods blended this historical element with fantastical elements and lyrical prose. There is a cute romantic plot too, for the romance fans.
It did take me a few chapters to become truly engaged in the story, and maybe that’s because it was in third-person narrative which made it a little more difficult for me to connect with the MC, but that is obviously a subjective preference.
I learned before reading this that Chapter 25 has graphic animal cruelty, which allowed me to skip this chapter, and a trigger warning for any other animal lover who intends to read this.
All in all, I definitely recommend this book for fans of adult fairytale retellings with a historical fiction element. A big congratulations to Australian author Kell Woods for an enthralling and original re-imagining. Can’t wait to see what she does next if this is her debut.
My heartfelt thanks to NetGalley, HarperCollins Publishers Australia, and Kell Woods for the opportunity to read this work in exchange for an honest review.
--
A dark historical fantasy set 15 years after Hansel & Gretel escaped the gingerbread house.
RTC.
November 4, 2023
After the Forest by Kell Woods is a Beautifully Written Debut Novel!
A Retelling of Hansel and Gretel twenty years after...
Greta and Hans are struggling and the threat of losing their home, due to Hans' gambling debts, looms large. The land around them is ravaged from a long and treacherous war. The village is full of gossip and chatter about what Greta did in the woods so many years ago and why her gingerbread is so bewitchingly delicious.
As long as Greta can bake, she can keep the money coming in.
You see, Greta has held a secret ever since the debacle in the woods. She spirited away with the 'whispering' grimoire, the witch's book of spells, incantations, and recipes. The most cherished recipe inside is for the hauntingly delicious gingerbread Greta bakes and sells to the village.
As Greta struggles to understand her newly discovered powers, she wonders if her magic is enough to keep her safe from the dark magic she has witnessed recently in the woods...
After the Forest is a well-written story with beautiful prose and characterizations that keep the flavor of the original Fairytale while existing in the newness of the Retelling that's entertaining and imaginative.
I must admit, I did struggle with the slow pace of this story in the beginning and at 14 hours in length, it did feel a bit too long. Further editing could have easily solved both issues.
After the Forest audiobook is narrated by Esther Wane, whose range of voicing skills and narration brings a magical essence to the story.
It should be mentioned that there's a scene, in Chapter 25: Baiting, of animal cruelty involving bears and dogs that is particularly gruesome to read or listen to. Skipping this chapter will not ruin the flow of the story and proves that great Fiction can be written without the inclusion of animal harm.
After the Forest still remains an impressive debut novel, the audiobook is beautifully narrated, and I look forward to what this talented author comes up with next.
3.75⭐rounded up!
Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Kell Woods for an ALC of this book. It has been an honor to give my honest and voluntary review.
A Retelling of Hansel and Gretel twenty years after...
Greta and Hans are struggling and the threat of losing their home, due to Hans' gambling debts, looms large. The land around them is ravaged from a long and treacherous war. The village is full of gossip and chatter about what Greta did in the woods so many years ago and why her gingerbread is so bewitchingly delicious.
As long as Greta can bake, she can keep the money coming in.
You see, Greta has held a secret ever since the debacle in the woods. She spirited away with the 'whispering' grimoire, the witch's book of spells, incantations, and recipes. The most cherished recipe inside is for the hauntingly delicious gingerbread Greta bakes and sells to the village.
As Greta struggles to understand her newly discovered powers, she wonders if her magic is enough to keep her safe from the dark magic she has witnessed recently in the woods...
After the Forest is a well-written story with beautiful prose and characterizations that keep the flavor of the original Fairytale while existing in the newness of the Retelling that's entertaining and imaginative.
I must admit, I did struggle with the slow pace of this story in the beginning and at 14 hours in length, it did feel a bit too long. Further editing could have easily solved both issues.
After the Forest audiobook is narrated by Esther Wane, whose range of voicing skills and narration brings a magical essence to the story.
It should be mentioned that there's a scene, in Chapter 25: Baiting, of animal cruelty involving bears and dogs that is particularly gruesome to read or listen to. Skipping this chapter will not ruin the flow of the story and proves that great Fiction can be written without the inclusion of animal harm.
After the Forest still remains an impressive debut novel, the audiobook is beautifully narrated, and I look forward to what this talented author comes up with next.
3.75⭐rounded up!
Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Kell Woods for an ALC of this book. It has been an honor to give my honest and voluntary review.
August 12, 2023
“Once Upon A Time, next to a great forest lived a poor woodcutter with his wife and his two children. The boy’s name was Hansel, and the girl’s name was Gretel.”
In this magical DEBUT novel, by Kell Woods, it’s twenty years after the children pushed the old crone into the oven, and the siblings are still struggling to get by in the aftermath of their traumatic childhood and a brutal war because Hans has a gambling problem and is deeply in debt.
Greta is keeping them afloat by baking and selling the BEST gingerbread in the land.
Ginger. Honey. Cinnamon. Flour.
Greta had escaped the witch’s house with a secret. She has the witch’s talking Grimoire, (spellbook) and it has whispered the secret recipe for the addictive gingerbread in her ear. And, that is only the beginning of the magic that she possesses and is just learning about.
But, although the village loves her gingerbread-the villagers are full of suspicion, and she is an outsider, often gossiped about.
This DARK conclusion to the siblings story has all of the ingredients you’d expect from an adult fairytale…
Witches, Wolves, and Bears.
Snow, crimson red Apples and Blood.
And, a wonderful narrator in Esther Wane, who brings it all to life!!
What better way to hear this story then listening to a few chapters a night? It brought back memories of having a bedtime story read to me as a little girl.
⚠️ TW: I had read in the fantastic review by BOOKISH SPY that there was a very descriptive scene of animal cruelty-bearbaiting involving dogs and bears in Chapter 25, so I skipped that chapter. I was able to avoid something that I CANNOT read about, and was still able to follow the story to its conclusion without listening to that scene.
Available October 2, 2023.
A Macmillan Audio production from Tor books. I thank them for the gifted copy, and it was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
September 10, 2023
After the Forest is a dark and bewitching reimagining of The Grimm Brothers' Hansel and Gretel, although it's so much more than just a retelling – it's the story of what comes after. When this book begins, the events of the famous fairy tale are years in the past and Greta (Gretel) and Hans (Hansel) are adults who are still trying to forget the traumatic ordeal that took place in the witch's cottage so long ago.
Honestly, the first 15-20% of this book was a bit of a struggle. It wasn't bad by any means, but I was just completely uninterested in the characters and nothing much of note happened. Once I made it through those first chapters, however, things picked up quite a bit and I found myself completely immersed in the story.
The best way I can think of to describe this book is that it's, well … a fairy tale. This are witches, shape-shifters, narrow-minded villagers, romance with a handsome and mysterious stranger, bewitched baked goods, an evil villain (complete with magic apples), and an ending that … well, I won't tell you how it ends because I don't want to spoil anything, but let's just say that it's very fairy tale-ish.
I really liked the main characters in this story. They're imperfect and flawed and in some cases not entirely honorable, but they have intriguing backstories and complex personalities. The plot is imaginative and well-written, and after that first 15% or so of the story I found it to be fast-paced and entertaining.
I'm not normally one who enjoys romance in books much, but the burgeoning relationship between Greta and Mathias wasn't too irritating as far as these things go. I mean, sure, it's a fairy tale so they're head over heels for each other within 2.5 seconds of meeting and discussing marriage shortly after learning each other's names, but otherwise I found it rather sweet.
Overall, After the Forest is an original and enjoyable debut novel that nicely complements the Grimm Brothers' original tale. I look forward to reading more by Kell Woods in the future.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review.
Honestly, the first 15-20% of this book was a bit of a struggle. It wasn't bad by any means, but I was just completely uninterested in the characters and nothing much of note happened. Once I made it through those first chapters, however, things picked up quite a bit and I found myself completely immersed in the story.
The best way I can think of to describe this book is that it's, well … a fairy tale. This are witches, shape-shifters, narrow-minded villagers, romance with a handsome and mysterious stranger, bewitched baked goods, an evil villain (complete with magic apples), and an ending that … well, I won't tell you how it ends because I don't want to spoil anything, but let's just say that it's very fairy tale-ish.
I really liked the main characters in this story. They're imperfect and flawed and in some cases not entirely honorable, but they have intriguing backstories and complex personalities. The plot is imaginative and well-written, and after that first 15% or so of the story I found it to be fast-paced and entertaining.
I'm not normally one who enjoys romance in books much, but the burgeoning relationship between Greta and Mathias wasn't too irritating as far as these things go. I mean, sure, it's a fairy tale so they're head over heels for each other within 2.5 seconds of meeting and discussing marriage shortly after learning each other's names, but otherwise I found it rather sweet.
Overall, After the Forest is an original and enjoyable debut novel that nicely complements the Grimm Brothers' original tale. I look forward to reading more by Kell Woods in the future.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review.
October 28, 2023
Enthralling and full of rich detail. I kept thinking that the story would link to another older fairytale, but that was not true. It touches upon little hints of fairy tales such as Snow White and Red Rose or Rumpelstiltskin. I appreciated the historical grounding with places, timeline, historical figures, and events. This made this work more realistic. The plot drags in certain places (near the climax) and at times I was like why are you describing a place when I want to get to the action but... it was a good way to build anticipation and not be formulaic. The ending also went on longer than it needed to, I think the same ideas could have been shared without much meandering. I really looked forward to reading this everyday.
September 3, 2023
Not for me, I'm afraid.
I thought this would be a sort of modern update of what happened to Hansel and Gretel "after the forest" so to speak. In a way it was but it was so mired in fairy tale that I became increasingly frustrated by it.
Great, now grown, appears to have fewer brains than when she was a child as she seems incapable of comprehending that the book that speaks to her and helps her make her famous gingerbread (which appears to be the only income the family has?) might actually be magical. Or that the magic might be evil magic, despite the fact that she got the book from the evil witch who tried to eat her brother?
Everything seems to surprise her - people turning into wolves and bears, her memory being faulty, not everyone being decent human beings, her brother's inability to stop gambling away everything they own any time they do have money. This total shock at everything isn't helped by the narration as Greta seems to be permanently on the point ... of tears ... and ... keeps stopping ... talking when ... when ... when she's upset. The other part of the narration that grated were the bizarre accents of Rob, Christophe and Matteus - Scottish? Northern Irish? Bewildered.
I'm sorry I found almost the entire book irritating. I should have stopped reading the minute I turned the narration speed from 1 to 1.75 but I am a glutton for punishment. Plus I also have this quaint idea that no book stays awful. I am often wrong.
I apologise to Kell Woods and Esther Wane. Had I seen the other cover for this book I would never have picked it up. My fault entirely.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bolinda Audio for the advance review copy.
I thought this would be a sort of modern update of what happened to Hansel and Gretel "after the forest" so to speak. In a way it was but it was so mired in fairy tale that I became increasingly frustrated by it.
Great, now grown, appears to have fewer brains than when she was a child as she seems incapable of comprehending that the book that speaks to her and helps her make her famous gingerbread (which appears to be the only income the family has?) might actually be magical. Or that the magic might be evil magic, despite the fact that she got the book from the evil witch who tried to eat her brother?
Everything seems to surprise her - people turning into wolves and bears, her memory being faulty, not everyone being decent human beings, her brother's inability to stop gambling away everything they own any time they do have money. This total shock at everything isn't helped by the narration as Greta seems to be permanently on the point ... of tears ... and ... keeps stopping ... talking when ... when ... when she's upset. The other part of the narration that grated were the bizarre accents of Rob, Christophe and Matteus - Scottish? Northern Irish? Bewildered.
I'm sorry I found almost the entire book irritating. I should have stopped reading the minute I turned the narration speed from 1 to 1.75 but I am a glutton for punishment. Plus I also have this quaint idea that no book stays awful. I am often wrong.
I apologise to Kell Woods and Esther Wane. Had I seen the other cover for this book I would never have picked it up. My fault entirely.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bolinda Audio for the advance review copy.
August 21, 2023
2.5 Stars
I love fantasy inspired by fairy tales so this novel sounded right up my alley. This one ask the question of what happens after. I adore this premise.
However in terms of execution, the narrative really fell flat. I should have absolutely loved this one, but instead found myself disconnected from the characters and the story. I wanted a smart commentary, but found the themes a little soft and forgettable. I wanted to love this one and ultimately found it fine.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
I love fantasy inspired by fairy tales so this novel sounded right up my alley. This one ask the question of what happens after. I adore this premise.
However in terms of execution, the narrative really fell flat. I should have absolutely loved this one, but instead found myself disconnected from the characters and the story. I wanted a smart commentary, but found the themes a little soft and forgettable. I wanted to love this one and ultimately found it fine.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
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October 18, 2023DNF @ 34%
I'm a huge fan of retellings, but I couldn't get into the story and couldn't connect with the characters.
Overall, not for me.
***Thank you to NetGalley, Kell Woods, and Macmillan Audio for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***
I'm a huge fan of retellings, but I couldn't get into the story and couldn't connect with the characters.
Overall, not for me.
***Thank you to NetGalley, Kell Woods, and Macmillan Audio for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***
August 15, 2023
If you love Katherine Arden, Juliet Marillier, and Alice Hoffman, you’ll love this book. Its subtle, enchanting, and woodsy atmosphere are so perfect for a spooky fall reading season. I loved the mystery and foreboding intricately woven throughout the story that, despite the slower pacing, still kept my attention hooked until the very end.
Fairy Tales are a bit of a reading desert for me. I cannot remember enjoying a retelling like this for a while. I often find myself hating retellings because many are just the same fairytale scene for scene with different characters or creatures with some kind of spin to them that is odd, grating, or completely ridiculous. It’s monotonous, to say the least. I’ve read great ones, to be sure, and enjoyed some, truly; but After the Forest possesses a magical quality I haven’t experienced since reading my last Marillier, McKillip, or Arden novel (about 6 months ago from the writing of this review).
My profuse thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC, for which I willingly (and heartily) give my own, honest opinion.
See the full review on my blog!
Blog / Instagram / Literal / BookBub
Fairy Tales are a bit of a reading desert for me. I cannot remember enjoying a retelling like this for a while. I often find myself hating retellings because many are just the same fairytale scene for scene with different characters or creatures with some kind of spin to them that is odd, grating, or completely ridiculous. It’s monotonous, to say the least. I’ve read great ones, to be sure, and enjoyed some, truly; but After the Forest possesses a magical quality I haven’t experienced since reading my last Marillier, McKillip, or Arden novel (about 6 months ago from the writing of this review).
My profuse thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC, for which I willingly (and heartily) give my own, honest opinion.
See the full review on my blog!
Blog / Instagram / Literal / BookBub
July 4, 2023
After the Forest is as deliciously irresistible as the gingerbread Greta bakes in the book. A touch of magic, a dash of mystery, a sprinkle of love and lashings of elegant writing make for a gorgeous debut novel that you'll want to consume in one gulp. Kell Woods shows that she's a born storyteller with a wonderful imagination and I, for one, am now a huge fan.
October 7, 2023
Not every fairy tale character gets a happy ending.
Take the strange case of Hansel and Gretel. Here were two frightened kiddos held captive by a forest-dwelling witch who planned to serve the fatted Hans as an entrée. They escaped only when brave Gretel pushed the old hag into her own fiery oven. Now it's years later, and the pair are not widely regarded. Judging by how much the townsfolk enjoy the recreational sport of burning witches, you'd think they'd be lauded as heroes, but Greta is eyed with suspicion for her red locks and strange ways . . . though the villagers do love her tasty gingerbread. Hans, on the other hand, has become a hard drinking gambler, who owes money to half the town.
Tough times indeed, and they're about to get a whole lot tougher.
This is an interesting retelling - more of a reimagining, actually, since the writer takes liberties with the original Grimm story. If you enjoy grownup fairy tales, fantasy, and witchy magic, this one should keep you enchanted.
Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Books for the read.
Take the strange case of Hansel and Gretel. Here were two frightened kiddos held captive by a forest-dwelling witch who planned to serve the fatted Hans as an entrée. They escaped only when brave Gretel pushed the old hag into her own fiery oven. Now it's years later, and the pair are not widely regarded. Judging by how much the townsfolk enjoy the recreational sport of burning witches, you'd think they'd be lauded as heroes, but Greta is eyed with suspicion for her red locks and strange ways . . . though the villagers do love her tasty gingerbread. Hans, on the other hand, has become a hard drinking gambler, who owes money to half the town.
Tough times indeed, and they're about to get a whole lot tougher.
This is an interesting retelling - more of a reimagining, actually, since the writer takes liberties with the original Grimm story. If you enjoy grownup fairy tales, fantasy, and witchy magic, this one should keep you enchanted.
Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Books for the read.
October 29, 2023
This is a tricky one to rate because I think there were elements that were alright and it's close to something I should love, but I never actually enjoyed myself? I really do like reading, I swear! I'm not just a curmudgeon (even if I feel like it lately).
Note: mild spoilers in the inspiration section because they are not in the synopsis, but I felt they were obvious from their first appearances on page. ymmv
Inspirations:
After the Forest is marketed as a Hansel and Gretel retelling of what happened to them after they became adults. However it also draws from several other tales such as Snow White, Rumpelstiltskin (just a drop), and from the real world including famous events like the witch trials and Elizabeth Bathory. (I would also be very surprised to learn the author had never seen the Hansel and Gretel film, because I felt its influences too.)
I wish that the witch trials were more emphasized in the synopsis because this is the kind of setting that's a very hard sell for me and you have to write a real banger for me to consider it worth it.
Misogyny:
And that's because witch trials go hand in hand with rampant misogyny and women lacking any agency. I don't enjoy being in the POV of a character who has to act on the whims of the men around her because it makes her life feel suffocating and her choices absent. Not to mention that it's coupled with sexism, threats of sexual assault, objectification and dehumanization, and I just don't have a fun time reading about those very real world issues unless we're absolutely dismantling the system and/or the perpetrators by the end of the book. Especially in the first half of the book, these themes and circumstances come up often and I hated it. After at least one Herr Heuber scene I put the book down for the day because why would I want to keep reading?
At least with a book like Slewfoot the frustrating obstacles and misogyny are interrupted by moments of pure joy and self-efficacy, so I can enjoy the reading experience.
The Setting/World-building:
This is firmly set in the real world but also magic is real and people have literally witnessed it happening. But it's weird because it didn't change the trajectory of our history in any way, shape, or form. It takes place in the 1600s in Germany but it's the same normal history that happened down to the dates and city names and everything. Not necessarily a super negative thing, but I would prefer a world that integrates magic instead of tacking it on.
The Magic System:
The magic is the only thing about Greta that really develops or changes her character from the beginning of the book. At the beginning of the book she has a good, kind heart. And at the end of the book she has a good, kind heart.
Mild spoilers:
The Characters:
I liked exactly one character in this (Rob) and his was the only storyline that I liked. I would have gladly read a short novella from his POV, trialing what he went through in this book. He had character growth, interesting moral dilemmas, antagonists, and grit.
Greta herself isn't the most active protagonist. She's not entirely passive, but she often lets people stop her from getting involved or investigating further so potential storylines of interest are cut short and she just goes home. I watched her go home a LOT in this short novel.
Meanwhile, being around Hans, Jacob, Conran, Herr Heuber, and the Trittens was exasperating. Apart from Jacob (and maybe Hans a little at the end?) they feel like very outsized villainous caricatures. If anything, I felt they made the story less dynamic as they either put a halt to interesting developments or pushed us back into the misogyny and witch trials some more. Perhaps if I had better understood their internal thoughts that made them behave this way I could've found them more believable, but mostly they just felt like annoying obstacles without depth.
I also feel like the author wasn't interested by any of them because they're all dropped at the end of the book. There's no resolution in storylines with them. Aside from a brief interlude with Hans, we literally never see them again and they're handled off page, I guess.
The Romance:
She thinks he's hot and such a fine specimen of man from the moment she sees him. He's mysterious and plays it tight to the vest... which leads to one of my least favourite tropes: miscommunication!
The interactions between them are few and brief, so I didn't feel enough build-up and pining and emotional investment in their relationship. Especially not to the point where there are a couple of grand statements sprinkled in. I was like... what? That came out of nowhere.
My Biggest Complaint:
I coined a new term while reading this: conversation fatigue. Because dear god did everything in this take place in dialogue. Nothing happened for 90% of the book, it was just characters talking to each other. Sometimes they'd talk and get mad, so they'd leave and go talk to someone else. But even if they went to the middle of the forest by themselves, the next scene would be someone finding them so they can talk some more, then that scene would cut to another scene where they've left and are now talking to yet someone else. So. Much. Talking.
It didn't help that I found the dialogue to be rather stilted and simple and younger leaning than the prose. I think that the author wanted to give an old timey feel to the words and the people in a small, remote village? But it also made them very naive and simple and their conversations didn't hold interest for me as a result. Maybe if she had broken a bit of the 4th wall and used a wider, modern vocabulary, they would've been more expressive? Whatever the root cause was, I just know that the end product wasn't my vibe.
Overall:
Ultimately I think this book falls between fine and average. The competence of the writing and ability to maintain story threads is average to alright (omg, this makes me feel like the bar is so low), but the character development and engagement of my interests is pretty poor. If I didn't have such a beautiful copy to read (honestly this physical book is so well crafted and lovely to hold) I think I would have DNF'd. Which means that while I generously wanted to give this a 3/5, I don't think I can honestly rate it above a 2.
Ending on a funny note: Every time Mr Shelf looked at the book while I was reading it, he'd read the author name (Kell Woods) and make Legally Blonde jokes (Elle Woods). lmao
Alternate Recommendation:
For a book with many of the same vibes, but a stronger and more enjoyable execution in my opinion, I'd recommend Slewfoot by Brom.
Similarities: witchiness, witch trials, an evil man coming after her land because of debts, discovering magic, fae type creatures
Divergences: horror, no romance
Note: mild spoilers in the inspiration section because they are not in the synopsis, but I felt they were obvious from their first appearances on page. ymmv
Inspirations:
After the Forest is marketed as a Hansel and Gretel retelling of what happened to them after they became adults. However it also draws from several other tales such as Snow White, Rumpelstiltskin (just a drop), and from the real world including famous events like the witch trials and Elizabeth Bathory. (I would also be very surprised to learn the author had never seen the Hansel and Gretel film, because I felt its influences too.)
I wish that the witch trials were more emphasized in the synopsis because this is the kind of setting that's a very hard sell for me and you have to write a real banger for me to consider it worth it.
Misogyny:
And that's because witch trials go hand in hand with rampant misogyny and women lacking any agency. I don't enjoy being in the POV of a character who has to act on the whims of the men around her because it makes her life feel suffocating and her choices absent. Not to mention that it's coupled with sexism, threats of sexual assault, objectification and dehumanization, and I just don't have a fun time reading about those very real world issues unless we're absolutely dismantling the system and/or the perpetrators by the end of the book. Especially in the first half of the book, these themes and circumstances come up often and I hated it. After at least one Herr Heuber scene I put the book down for the day because why would I want to keep reading?
At least with a book like Slewfoot the frustrating obstacles and misogyny are interrupted by moments of pure joy and self-efficacy, so I can enjoy the reading experience.
The Setting/World-building:
This is firmly set in the real world but also magic is real and people have literally witnessed it happening. But it's weird because it didn't change the trajectory of our history in any way, shape, or form. It takes place in the 1600s in Germany but it's the same normal history that happened down to the dates and city names and everything. Not necessarily a super negative thing, but I would prefer a world that integrates magic instead of tacking it on.
The Magic System:
The magic is the only thing about Greta that really develops or changes her character from the beginning of the book. At the beginning of the book she has a good, kind heart. And at the end of the book she has a good, kind heart.
Mild spoilers:
The Characters:
I liked exactly one character in this (Rob) and his was the only storyline that I liked. I would have gladly read a short novella from his POV, trialing what he went through in this book. He had character growth, interesting moral dilemmas, antagonists, and grit.
Greta herself isn't the most active protagonist. She's not entirely passive, but she often lets people stop her from getting involved or investigating further so potential storylines of interest are cut short and she just goes home. I watched her go home a LOT in this short novel.
Meanwhile, being around Hans, Jacob, Conran, Herr Heuber, and the Trittens was exasperating. Apart from Jacob (and maybe Hans a little at the end?) they feel like very outsized villainous caricatures. If anything, I felt they made the story less dynamic as they either put a halt to interesting developments or pushed us back into the misogyny and witch trials some more. Perhaps if I had better understood their internal thoughts that made them behave this way I could've found them more believable, but mostly they just felt like annoying obstacles without depth.
I also feel like the author wasn't interested by any of them because they're all dropped at the end of the book. There's no resolution in storylines with them. Aside from a brief interlude with Hans, we literally never see them again and they're handled off page, I guess.
The Romance:
She thinks he's hot and such a fine specimen of man from the moment she sees him. He's mysterious and plays it tight to the vest... which leads to one of my least favourite tropes: miscommunication!
The interactions between them are few and brief, so I didn't feel enough build-up and pining and emotional investment in their relationship. Especially not to the point where there are a couple of grand statements sprinkled in. I was like... what? That came out of nowhere.
My Biggest Complaint:
I coined a new term while reading this: conversation fatigue. Because dear god did everything in this take place in dialogue. Nothing happened for 90% of the book, it was just characters talking to each other. Sometimes they'd talk and get mad, so they'd leave and go talk to someone else. But even if they went to the middle of the forest by themselves, the next scene would be someone finding them so they can talk some more, then that scene would cut to another scene where they've left and are now talking to yet someone else. So. Much. Talking.
It didn't help that I found the dialogue to be rather stilted and simple and younger leaning than the prose. I think that the author wanted to give an old timey feel to the words and the people in a small, remote village? But it also made them very naive and simple and their conversations didn't hold interest for me as a result. Maybe if she had broken a bit of the 4th wall and used a wider, modern vocabulary, they would've been more expressive? Whatever the root cause was, I just know that the end product wasn't my vibe.
Overall:
Ultimately I think this book falls between fine and average. The competence of the writing and ability to maintain story threads is average to alright (omg, this makes me feel like the bar is so low), but the character development and engagement of my interests is pretty poor. If I didn't have such a beautiful copy to read (honestly this physical book is so well crafted and lovely to hold) I think I would have DNF'd. Which means that while I generously wanted to give this a 3/5, I don't think I can honestly rate it above a 2.
Ending on a funny note: Every time Mr Shelf looked at the book while I was reading it, he'd read the author name (Kell Woods) and make Legally Blonde jokes (Elle Woods). lmao
Alternate Recommendation:
For a book with many of the same vibes, but a stronger and more enjoyable execution in my opinion, I'd recommend Slewfoot by Brom.
Similarities: witchiness, witch trials, an evil man coming after her land because of debts, discovering magic, fae type creatures
Divergences: horror, no romance
October 20, 2023
An excellent debut from this Aussie author, full of forest friends, magic, witches, and gingerbread.
I enjoyed the mix of old and new with this one. There are some familiar themes with new twists and the whole thing felt very dark and foreboding. Really enjoying sinking into it.
Some of the characters were a bit cliche - like beat down Greta and her gambling brother - but they had enough spirit of their own to overcome the sameness and carve a story of their own. Greta was a fierce spirit and I liked that she kicked back a bit.
There were a lot of different ideas here so it did seem to go for a long time, but it wasn't a deal breaker for me as I was always entertained.
For a debut, this was a fun read and a great twisted fairy tale. I'll look for more by this author.
With thanks to the publisher for a copy
I enjoyed the mix of old and new with this one. There are some familiar themes with new twists and the whole thing felt very dark and foreboding. Really enjoying sinking into it.
Some of the characters were a bit cliche - like beat down Greta and her gambling brother - but they had enough spirit of their own to overcome the sameness and carve a story of their own. Greta was a fierce spirit and I liked that she kicked back a bit.
There were a lot of different ideas here so it did seem to go for a long time, but it wasn't a deal breaker for me as I was always entertained.
For a debut, this was a fun read and a great twisted fairy tale. I'll look for more by this author.
With thanks to the publisher for a copy
Shelved as 'did-not-finish'
January 13, 2024DNF - 15%. This is the kind of not-good that makes me nitpick individual lines, which means that it's time to stop. Hansel and Gretel has never been a favorite story, and while the concept of what-came-after seemed interesting, I dislike the characters so much that I don't care about their before OR after.
Let's start with our milquetoast heroine Greta. She managed to kick ass (literally, the rear end of an evil witch into an oven) as a tiny tot, which was surely a fluke because, at 22, while she's still baking - gingerbread these days, not witches - she's also worried about being called a witch, worrying about what children think of her, worrying about her reddish hair, trying to haul her no-good brother Hans out of trouble, blushing at tall, broad-shouldered strangers.
The most interesting thing about Greta is her sinister talking magic cookbook (I mean, yes, I'll have one, please) that allows her to make magic irresistible gingerbread. Does she use this to lure people in? No. She sells it to pay off Hans's gambling debts.
Sigh.
The best thing I can say about the writing is that it doesn't piss me off every page. Maybe once every ten pages or so, I'll come across a line that snags my attention. Such as:
OK, a couple things here. Surely if it reared, the mound of muscle would not contribute to its height, being behind its head? Or are we using 'rear' where we should simply use 'stood'? The hell is a dusky breath? The only context in which I'm familiar with giving breath is CPR, and whatever a dusky breath is, I probably don't want someone to give me one, even if I'm dying.
Greta, why are you pointing to bright things to illustrate blackness? Why are stars icy? I think most stars are busy doing nuclear fusion, which releases huge amounts of heat, and even red giants, which are relatively cool at ~2500 degrees C, are way, way too hot for ice.
OK. It's clear this book's not for me. First DNF of 2024 in the books!
Let's start with our milquetoast heroine Greta. She managed to kick ass (literally, the rear end of an evil witch into an oven) as a tiny tot, which was surely a fluke because, at 22, while she's still baking - gingerbread these days, not witches - she's also worried about being called a witch, worrying about what children think of her, worrying about her reddish hair, trying to haul her no-good brother Hans out of trouble, blushing at tall, broad-shouldered strangers.
The most interesting thing about Greta is her sinister talking magic cookbook (I mean, yes, I'll have one, please) that allows her to make magic irresistible gingerbread. Does she use this to lure people in? No. She sells it to pay off Hans's gambling debts.
Sigh.
The best thing I can say about the writing is that it doesn't piss me off every page. Maybe once every ten pages or so, I'll come across a line that snags my attention. Such as:
The bear was enormous. Larger, surely, than any of God's creatures had a right to be. The mound of muscle atop its sloping shoulders meant it reared tall as a common man. Its black fur gleamed. It gave a long, dusky breath, then, horribly, swung toward her, enormous paws strangely silent on the forest floor.
OK, a couple things here. Surely if it reared, the mound of muscle would not contribute to its height, being behind its head? Or are we using 'rear' where we should simply use 'stood'? The hell is a dusky breath? The only context in which I'm familiar with giving breath is CPR, and whatever a dusky breath is, I probably don't want someone to give me one, even if I'm dying.
"A bear is a rare sight in these parts."
"Yes. This one was huge. And black as the sky, there." She pointed to a patch of icy stars between the pines.
Greta, why are you pointing to bright things to illustrate blackness? Why are stars icy? I think most stars are busy doing nuclear fusion, which releases huge amounts of heat, and even red giants, which are relatively cool at ~2500 degrees C, are way, way too hot for ice.
OK. It's clear this book's not for me. First DNF of 2024 in the books!
September 10, 2023
A very interesting fairytale retelling that focuses on the after story of Hansel and Gretal, now Hans and Greta, Greta begins preparations to bake a special gingerbread that will hopefully sell well. However, many unexpected things begin to happen.
This book is like a rollercoaster. At points, I was enthralled and at others, not so much. But I definitely wound up enjoying this! The creativity and strangeness of this tale won me over.
Out October 3, 2023!
Thank you, Netgalley and Publisher, for this Arc!!
This book is like a rollercoaster. At points, I was enthralled and at others, not so much. But I definitely wound up enjoying this! The creativity and strangeness of this tale won me over.
Out October 3, 2023!
Thank you, Netgalley and Publisher, for this Arc!!
November 27, 2023
Wowzie. When I first started this book, I didn‘t think it would fascinate me the same way The Bear and the Nightingale did. RTC.
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Have I already mentioned that I love retellings? I'm especially curious about this one since it's about Hänsel & Gretel (German folklore) and I know their story by heart. Please don't disappoint me!
#IllumicrateOctoberBook
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Have I already mentioned that I love retellings? I'm especially curious about this one since it's about Hänsel & Gretel (German folklore) and I know their story by heart. Please don't disappoint me!
#IllumicrateOctoberBook
September 3, 2023
I loved this book, and considering how little I've seen it around, I'm hoping that it picks up steam heading into the fall because I'd love to see it advertised more. I enjoyed this book SO much, as an in-depth folklore/fairytale story that builds well on the original tale while not being afraid to stray into new territory. I can't recommend it enough.
Kell Woods is a strong writer who avoids over-writing but still provides a beautiful, sweeping style that fits the fairytale energy of the story. This is technically a Hansel and Gretel retelling, but it does so many different things with this story and incorporates many different fairytale elements (and even bits of other stories, like Rose Red and Snow White). Greta is a compelling character motivated both by a love of family and by a desire to be free, which fits completely with her backstory.
I was also impressed by the way that the story builds the central conflict throughout, and while I don't think that the ultimate showdown and villain are completely surprising, there are some fun twists along the way that somehow feel a bit surprising while also completely fitting the type of story that Woods is telling here.
When I read a fairytale retelling, I'm usually paying attention first and foremost to atmosphere and characters, and I think that Woods nailed these elements. Something about the story feels universal and accessible, as a fairytale story should, while also feeling like it's about real characters and a real world that feels completely lived in.
I'm excited for more people to read and review this book because it's such a fun read!
Kell Woods is a strong writer who avoids over-writing but still provides a beautiful, sweeping style that fits the fairytale energy of the story. This is technically a Hansel and Gretel retelling, but it does so many different things with this story and incorporates many different fairytale elements (and even bits of other stories, like Rose Red and Snow White). Greta is a compelling character motivated both by a love of family and by a desire to be free, which fits completely with her backstory.
I was also impressed by the way that the story builds the central conflict throughout, and while I don't think that the ultimate showdown and villain are completely surprising, there are some fun twists along the way that somehow feel a bit surprising while also completely fitting the type of story that Woods is telling here.
When I read a fairytale retelling, I'm usually paying attention first and foremost to atmosphere and characters, and I think that Woods nailed these elements. Something about the story feels universal and accessible, as a fairytale story should, while also feeling like it's about real characters and a real world that feels completely lived in.
I'm excited for more people to read and review this book because it's such a fun read!
Read
December 20, 2023The first part, 4.5/5. The second part…not my favorite ):
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So excited to start this, thank you Tor for the ARC!
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So excited to start this, thank you Tor for the ARC!
December 24, 2023
DNF @ 31%
This book is dull, dull, dull. It's trying to do too much, weaving different fairy tales together, in the most bland, uninspired, and unsuccessful way. Add in a FMC TSTL, and really what is the point?
Not for me.
This book is dull, dull, dull. It's trying to do too much, weaving different fairy tales together, in the most bland, uninspired, and unsuccessful way. Add in a FMC TSTL, and really what is the point?
Not for me.
October 19, 2023
⭐️4.5 Stars⭐️
This book had me enchanted and imagining the smell of delicious gingerbread, what a gorgeous debut for Aussie author Kell Woods.
After the Forest is a historical fantasy story of Hans and Greta (Hansel and Gretel) fifteen years onwards from the fairytale. It’s magical and beautifully written, a perfect witchy read for #spookyseason!
1650: Hans and Greta are struggling financially, her brother Hans has gambling debts and Greta has a witchy secret that helps her make the most addictive gingerbread in the land and bring in an income to keep them afloat. The village is superstitious of Greta and she must hide the magic she is still trying to understand.
I loved this dark and magical fairy tale and the atmospheric forest imagery and romance element.
An impressive debut and the perfect story for lovers of fairytales, retellings and historical fantasy settings!
Publication Date 04 October 2023
Publisher Harper Voyager AU
A huge thank you to Harper Collins Australia and Harper Voyager Australia for a copy of the book to read
This book had me enchanted and imagining the smell of delicious gingerbread, what a gorgeous debut for Aussie author Kell Woods.
After the Forest is a historical fantasy story of Hans and Greta (Hansel and Gretel) fifteen years onwards from the fairytale. It’s magical and beautifully written, a perfect witchy read for #spookyseason!
1650: Hans and Greta are struggling financially, her brother Hans has gambling debts and Greta has a witchy secret that helps her make the most addictive gingerbread in the land and bring in an income to keep them afloat. The village is superstitious of Greta and she must hide the magic she is still trying to understand.
I loved this dark and magical fairy tale and the atmospheric forest imagery and romance element.
An impressive debut and the perfect story for lovers of fairytales, retellings and historical fantasy settings!
Publication Date 04 October 2023
Publisher Harper Voyager AU
A huge thank you to Harper Collins Australia and Harper Voyager Australia for a copy of the book to read
June 20, 2023
After the Forest was such a new take on fairytale retellings. It had romance, mystery, and darkness. Much closer to how fairytales were originally told for adults before they became children's bedtime stories.
The writing in this book was so enthralling that I could picture every scene, which made the story even more gripping. There was always so much happening and bits and pieces of all different fairytales, not just the aftermath of Hansel and Gretal.
I would honestly say that this was a book I could easily recommend. However, the only thing that would make me pause before recommending this book to someone is the intense and very descriptive scene of animal cruelty. It was hard to read as an animal lover, which honestly shows how good the writing was, but it wasn't an easy thing to stomach.
That, however, didn't make me stop reading or even consider it because I needed to see how the story would end.
I will definitely be reading any books Kell Woods releases in the future.
➛ 𝟒 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬
𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘱𝘦𝘳 𝘊𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘴 𝘈𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘢 𝘷𝘪𝘢 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘰𝘧 𝘈𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘺 𝘒𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘞𝘰𝘰𝘥𝘴. 𝘔𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸 𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯.
The writing in this book was so enthralling that I could picture every scene, which made the story even more gripping. There was always so much happening and bits and pieces of all different fairytales, not just the aftermath of Hansel and Gretal.
I would honestly say that this was a book I could easily recommend. However, the only thing that would make me pause before recommending this book to someone is the intense and very descriptive scene of animal cruelty. It was hard to read as an animal lover, which honestly shows how good the writing was, but it wasn't an easy thing to stomach.
That, however, didn't make me stop reading or even consider it because I needed to see how the story would end.
I will definitely be reading any books Kell Woods releases in the future.
➛ 𝟒 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬
𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘱𝘦𝘳 𝘊𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘴 𝘈𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘢 𝘷𝘪𝘢 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘰𝘧 𝘈𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘺 𝘒𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘞𝘰𝘰𝘥𝘴. 𝘔𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸 𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯.
June 13, 2024
As far as retellings go, this is one of the good ones.
I you enjoy werewolves and shapeshifters, but don't wanna pick up one of those urban fantasy books with yassified people on the covers, this could be your chance to ready a good fantasy, with interesting lore and very three-dimensional characters
I you enjoy werewolves and shapeshifters, but don't wanna pick up one of those urban fantasy books with yassified people on the covers, this could be your chance to ready a good fantasy, with interesting lore and very three-dimensional characters
Read
October 21, 2023DNF @55% - Honestly, I don't even remember much from this book when I started it last week. It hasn't held my attention, may get back to it at a later date though.
No rating or review right now.
No rating or review right now.
September 4, 2023
After the Forest follows the tale of Hansel and Gretel, and what might have happened after escaping the wicked witch who tried to eat them.
Greta is barely keeping her and her brother afloat through her gingerbread sales. After the terrible rumors spread about how she pushed an old woman into an oven, Greta avoids the town as much as possible. She keeps company with her magical recipe book, until she stumbles across a kind stranger in the woods. This chance meeting sets off a chain of events that leaves Greta facing an evil plot that has been centuries in the making.
I love it when books continue classic fairytales as opposed to retelling them. After the Woods is very atmosphere, filled with magic and the brutality of nature and winter. I was instantly transported to a fairytale world filled with magic and intrigue.
I wanted to love this book, but everything was predictable. I figured out the plot in the first few chapters, which bored me. I don’t believe this is for lack of trying, but everything was a little too obvious to me. Too many clues and hints were dropped for anything to come as a surprise.
None of the characters are very fleshed out, even Greta. Everything just happens to her, and she is hardly reactive. She is incredibly blind, borderline dumb, and takes everything at face value, never questioning anything. I didn’t mind Greta’s softness, but there is a difference between being quieter and being walked all over.
The men in this book irked me to no end. They are bossy, demanding, and constantly undermining Greta. What’s worse is Greta just lets them. They are constantly telling her what to do, and gaslighting her if she protests. She forgives them almost instantly, even though, in my opinion, they did some unforgivable things.
This wasn’t a bad book, but it needed more depth in the characters and plot.
Thank you NetGalley and Tor Books for the advanced copy! All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
Greta is barely keeping her and her brother afloat through her gingerbread sales. After the terrible rumors spread about how she pushed an old woman into an oven, Greta avoids the town as much as possible. She keeps company with her magical recipe book, until she stumbles across a kind stranger in the woods. This chance meeting sets off a chain of events that leaves Greta facing an evil plot that has been centuries in the making.
I love it when books continue classic fairytales as opposed to retelling them. After the Woods is very atmosphere, filled with magic and the brutality of nature and winter. I was instantly transported to a fairytale world filled with magic and intrigue.
I wanted to love this book, but everything was predictable. I figured out the plot in the first few chapters, which bored me. I don’t believe this is for lack of trying, but everything was a little too obvious to me. Too many clues and hints were dropped for anything to come as a surprise.
None of the characters are very fleshed out, even Greta. Everything just happens to her, and she is hardly reactive. She is incredibly blind, borderline dumb, and takes everything at face value, never questioning anything. I didn’t mind Greta’s softness, but there is a difference between being quieter and being walked all over.
The men in this book irked me to no end. They are bossy, demanding, and constantly undermining Greta. What’s worse is Greta just lets them. They are constantly telling her what to do, and gaslighting her if she protests. She forgives them almost instantly, even though, in my opinion, they did some unforgivable things.
This wasn’t a bad book, but it needed more depth in the characters and plot.
Thank you NetGalley and Tor Books for the advanced copy! All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
October 10, 2023
This review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
What an amazing debut! When I saw the description for this book, I was intrigued and it didn’t take long for me to get hooked once I started reading. I feel like this is the Hansel and Gretel story that I didn’t know that I needed. I had never considered what might have happened to these two characters after escaping the witch’s gingerbread home. I was quickly invested in this story and couldn’t wait to see what the future might hold for Greta and her brother, Hans.
Greta was a wonderful character who I liked right away. She seemed to have a good heart and I felt bad that she was put in difficult situations by the actions of others. She does use a magical book that once belonged to the witch who wanted to eat her and her brother years before to make her gingerbread but is careful so that she will not be labeled a witch. The book took several turns that I didn’t expect and I love the magic of the story. I thought that the romance added a nice element to an already delightful story.
I listened to the audiobook and thought Esther Wane did a wonderful job of bringing the story to life. I thought that she added just the right amount of emotion to her reading which added some depth to her reading. I liked the voices that she used to help bring each of the characters to life. I will not hesitate to recommend this entertaining story to others. I cannot wait to see what Kell Woods comes up with next!
I received a review copy of this book from Macmillan Audio and Tor Books.
What an amazing debut! When I saw the description for this book, I was intrigued and it didn’t take long for me to get hooked once I started reading. I feel like this is the Hansel and Gretel story that I didn’t know that I needed. I had never considered what might have happened to these two characters after escaping the witch’s gingerbread home. I was quickly invested in this story and couldn’t wait to see what the future might hold for Greta and her brother, Hans.
Greta was a wonderful character who I liked right away. She seemed to have a good heart and I felt bad that she was put in difficult situations by the actions of others. She does use a magical book that once belonged to the witch who wanted to eat her and her brother years before to make her gingerbread but is careful so that she will not be labeled a witch. The book took several turns that I didn’t expect and I love the magic of the story. I thought that the romance added a nice element to an already delightful story.
I listened to the audiobook and thought Esther Wane did a wonderful job of bringing the story to life. I thought that she added just the right amount of emotion to her reading which added some depth to her reading. I liked the voices that she used to help bring each of the characters to life. I will not hesitate to recommend this entertaining story to others. I cannot wait to see what Kell Woods comes up with next!
I received a review copy of this book from Macmillan Audio and Tor Books.
July 16, 2024
I received a copy of this book to listen to in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.
***AUDIO BOOK VERSION***
After the Forest is a Hansle and Grettle retelling set twenty years after they were abandoned in the forest and emprisoned by the witch.
Hansel (Hans) has a gambling problem and has racked up a debt, and Grettle tries her best to keep them afloat and keep hold of their home by making and selling bewitchingly delicious gingerbread. But the villagers are mistrustful of Gretta after what happened to them as children in the woods all those years ago. And Gretta has a secret she's been harbouring all these years which if discoverd could have her killed - she stole the witches grimoire and has been using it to bake her delicious gingerbread recipes to keep a roof over her and Hans heads.
When Gretta is almost killed by a bear at the start of the book and discovers dark magic in the woods, she uncovers magic of her own, which leads her down a path of discovery and danger.
I loved the writing prose in this book and thought the narrator did an amazing job bringing the book to life along with all the different character voices, too. I loved Gretta and was rooting for her from the beginning. This was such a cleverly woven retelling full of darkness, shape-shifters, magic, witches, wolves, bears, and links to Snow White towards the end, too.
As a debut, this was amazing, and I'm excited to see what Kell Woods writes next.
***AUDIO BOOK VERSION***
After the Forest is a Hansle and Grettle retelling set twenty years after they were abandoned in the forest and emprisoned by the witch.
Hansel (Hans) has a gambling problem and has racked up a debt, and Grettle tries her best to keep them afloat and keep hold of their home by making and selling bewitchingly delicious gingerbread. But the villagers are mistrustful of Gretta after what happened to them as children in the woods all those years ago. And Gretta has a secret she's been harbouring all these years which if discoverd could have her killed - she stole the witches grimoire and has been using it to bake her delicious gingerbread recipes to keep a roof over her and Hans heads.
When Gretta is almost killed by a bear at the start of the book and discovers dark magic in the woods, she uncovers magic of her own, which leads her down a path of discovery and danger.
I loved the writing prose in this book and thought the narrator did an amazing job bringing the book to life along with all the different character voices, too. I loved Gretta and was rooting for her from the beginning. This was such a cleverly woven retelling full of darkness, shape-shifters, magic, witches, wolves, bears, and links to Snow White towards the end, too.
As a debut, this was amazing, and I'm excited to see what Kell Woods writes next.
November 6, 2023
Inspired by the story of "Hansel and Greatel", this is a dark fairy tale with witches and wolves. Reimagine the story of Greta and Hans after they escape the ginger wich.
Greta became the one that everyone blames, the villagers want to burn her as a witch. Hans is a trouble that have many debts and a huge drink problem. For pay her brother debts, Greta bakes gingerbread with the help of the grimore of ginger witch. But when she meets a mysterious hunter, Greta will follow a dangerous path that will show her that she have true magic inside her.
"After the forest" deals with a lot of trauma and animal cruealty. If you like me, a very sensible person that can't stand cruealty, avoid chapter 25 that will not prejudice the plot. Also have a very sweet romance. Really love Greta and the beauthif atmosfera of the book.
Greta became the one that everyone blames, the villagers want to burn her as a witch. Hans is a trouble that have many debts and a huge drink problem. For pay her brother debts, Greta bakes gingerbread with the help of the grimore of ginger witch. But when she meets a mysterious hunter, Greta will follow a dangerous path that will show her that she have true magic inside her.
"After the forest" deals with a lot of trauma and animal cruealty. If you like me, a very sensible person that can't stand cruealty, avoid chapter 25 that will not prejudice the plot. Also have a very sweet romance. Really love Greta and the beauthif atmosfera of the book.
October 15, 2023
DNF at 34%
I don’t know why, but I just DGAF. There’s a lot of characters and I keep forgetting who they are and why they matter. There’s a plot point happening and I’m not sure why it matters? So I’m just walking away.
It was probably just about to get to the magical bits but… 🤷🏻♀️
I just barely managed to skip this before my Illumicrate renewal so I’m glad I was able to do that. Maybe it’s me, but I probably won’t try to pick this up again.
I don’t know why, but I just DGAF. There’s a lot of characters and I keep forgetting who they are and why they matter. There’s a plot point happening and I’m not sure why it matters? So I’m just walking away.
It was probably just about to get to the magical bits but… 🤷🏻♀️
I just barely managed to skip this before my Illumicrate renewal so I’m glad I was able to do that. Maybe it’s me, but I probably won’t try to pick this up again.
Shelved as 'did-not-finish'
January 11, 2024DNF p. 68
I actually think if I finished this book, I would've ended up decently enjoying it and honestly still recommend it! It had really lovely prose, woodsy vibes, fairytale retellings, a sentient talking book, and interesting politics. It even seemed like it was starting to hold some commentary about Christian imperialism. Literally all the things I love. It's just very leisurely paced, and though I can really enjoy that at times, it wasn't quite working for me right now.
And I'm trying to more comfortably DNF books this year if they're not working for me in the moment. I honestly may come back to this one, maybe as an audiobook, but I have wayyyy too many books to get to this year and this month to read a book that isn't hooking me. (I also did the page 99 test and still felt the same.) I think the stakes and world of this book just feels like its asking to be packed in a little tighter in its pacing.
I actually think if I finished this book, I would've ended up decently enjoying it and honestly still recommend it! It had really lovely prose, woodsy vibes, fairytale retellings, a sentient talking book, and interesting politics. It even seemed like it was starting to hold some commentary about Christian imperialism. Literally all the things I love. It's just very leisurely paced, and though I can really enjoy that at times, it wasn't quite working for me right now.
And I'm trying to more comfortably DNF books this year if they're not working for me in the moment. I honestly may come back to this one, maybe as an audiobook, but I have wayyyy too many books to get to this year and this month to read a book that isn't hooking me. (I also did the page 99 test and still felt the same.) I think the stakes and world of this book just feels like its asking to be packed in a little tighter in its pacing.
July 4, 2024
Hans and Greta's story didn't end after escaping the witch. I quite enjoyed the continuing of their story. Greta and her gingerbread. The dark magic and struggles are interesting to watch unfold. Definitely read if you've ever wondered "what happens after the happily ever after?".
Would recommend.
Would recommend.
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