Skip to main content

The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert

The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert {Goodreads}
Published by Flatiron Books in 2018
Hardback edition; 368 pages

The Hazel Wood tells the story of Alice, a 17-year-old girl who has always been on the run alongside her mother never staying too long anywhere because when they do, bad things happen. One day she's told her grandmother -- the author of very dark and famous fairy-tales -- is dead and Alice's mother, Ella, believes their bad luck is over. They settle in New York. Little did they know bad things will never end and when Ella is kidnapped by someone who claims to come from the supernatural world Alice's grandmother created, she must try and find The Hazel Wood to bring her mother back.

I was so excited to get my hands on this book. It sounded amazing and it many ways it was, but it was also a disappointment. I'm gonna divide this review in two to explain the things I did enjoy and the things -- or rather thing -- I didn't.
For me the best things about this novel is the writing style. It is magical and lyrical and beautiful and one of the things that kept me reading. I love fairy-tales and The Hazel Wood is filled with them. The fantasy world Albert created is fantastic and captivating.

Then how did I end up being disappointed? Well, let me tell you all about Alice. She's probably one of the most annoying and insufferable characters I've ever read about. I will say that in the last third of the novel she finally stops being a dickhead and I could sit back and relax. But during the first two thirds? I just wanted to strangled her. The story is written under her POV so that didn't help me at all.

So, as a whole, do I think this is a story worth reading? Absolutely. Did the main character hinder my enjoyment of the first two thirds of the story? Absolutely. Make of that what you will.


*************************
*************************
*************************

RESEÑA EN ESPAÑOL

The Hazel Wood nos cuenta la historia de Alice, una chica de 17 años, que lleva toda su vida huyendo junto con su madre Ella. No pueden permanecer en el mismo lugar durante mucho tiempo porque entonces empiezan a pasar cosas malas. Un día descubren que la abuela de Alice -- un escritora de cuentos de hadas muy oscuros -- ha muerto y Ella cree por fin que su mala suerte ha acabado y se asientan en Nueva York. Sin embargo, Ella acaba siendo secuestrada por una persona que dice pertenecer al mundo sobrenatural creado por la abuela de Alice. Esta debe entonces ir al Hazel Wood a rescatar a su madre.

Llevaba queriendo leer este libro desde hace bastante y aunque me gustó también me decepcionó. Vayamos por partes.
Lo que más me gustó fue la narración. Es mágica y maravillosa. La historia está entrelazada con cuentas de hadas y a mí esas cosas me encantan. El mundo de fantasía creado por la autora me fascinó y cautivó.
Entonces, ¿por qué me decepcionó? Dejadme que os hable de Alice. Es posiblemente una de las protagonistas más insufribles que haya leído jamás. Es cierto que durante el último tercio de la novela deja de comportarse como una imbécil y se gana un poco mi afecto pero ¿durante los dos primeros tercios? Yo es que quería matarla. 

En general, ¿creo que esta historia merece la pena? Sí. ¿Es cierto que la prota hizo que me resultara a veces disfrutar del relato? También. Saquen sus propias conclusiones.

Follow

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Vintage Classics: Brontë Series

Maybe you don’t know this about me but I collect different edition of Jane Eyre and when I learnt that Vintage was releasing the new Brontë series I just couldn’t say no. 

Book Review // Because of Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea

Because of Mr. Terupt  by Rob Buyea { Goodreads } Published by Yearling in 2011 Paperback edition; 288 pages { BookDepository } " Features seven narrators, each with a unique story, and each with a different perspective on what makes their teacher so special.  It’s the start of fifth grade for seven kids at Snow Hill School. There’s . . .  Jessica,  the new girl, smart and perceptive, who’s having a hard time fitting in;  Alexia,  a bully, your friend one second, your enemy the next;  Peter,  class prankster and troublemaker;  Luke,  the brain;  Danielle, who never stands up for herself; shy  Anna,  whose home situation makes her an outcast; and  Jeffrey,  who hates school.  Only Mr. Terupt, their new and energetic teacher, seems to know how to deal with them all. He makes the classroom a fun place, even if he doesn’t let them get away with much . . . until the snowy winter day when an accident changes everything—and everyone. "

Reading Diary | February Books | 2018

Feb, 1st - 15:15. Finished the second book in the first volume of the Riyria Revelations and I was pleasantly surprised. I still think the world building is the weakest thing about the story because it's not greatly developed but the story is well-written and entertaining. I'm planning on continuing reading the series because now I'm intrigued enough to want to know how everything will unfold. Feb, 7th - 10:33.  I'm finally prepared to go and see the movie Call Me By Your Name because I just finished reading the novel. I enjoyed it quite a bit. It is a celebration of love and an exploration of sex and identity. It's quite explicit though so if you feel uncomfortable with that keep it in mind if you're planning on reading it. My full review of the book is HERE (I also talk a little bit about the movie).