Highly literary, occasionally surreal, and grounded by Alice's clipped, matter-of-fact voice, it's a dark story that readers will have trouble leaving behind. HIGH-DEMAND: the buzz for this debut is deafening.... (Booklist starred review)From rising star Melissa Albert comes a fantastical story of mythic proportions.Welcome to The Hazel Wood - a fiercely stunning contemporary fantasy audiobook.This program includes a bonus novella, The Boy Who Didn't Come Home, set in the world of The Hazel Wood and narrated by James Fouhey.Seventeen-year-old Alice and her mother have spent most of Alices life on the road, always a step ahead of the uncanny bad luck biting at their heels. But when Alices grandmother, the reclusive author of a cult-classic book of pitch-dark fairy tales, dies alone on her estate, the Hazel Wood, Alice learns how bad her luck can really get: Her mother is stolen away - by a figure who claims to come from the Hinterland, the cruel supernatural world where her grandmother's stories are set. Alice's only lead is the message her mother left behind: Stay away from the Hazel Wood.Alice has long steered clear of her grandmothers cultish fans. But now she has no choice but to ally with classmate Ellery Finch, a Hinterland superfan who may have his own reasons for wanting to help her. To retrieve her mother, Alice must venture first to the Hazel Wood, then into the world where her grandmother's tales began - and where she might find out how her own story went so wrong.Praise for The Hazel Wood:The Hazel Wood starts out strange and gets stranger, in the best possible way...Albert seamlessly combines contemporary realism with fantasy, blurring the edges in a way that highlights that place where stories and real life convene...a captivating debut. (New York Times Book Review)The Hazel Wood will be your next obsession. (Stephanie Garber, author of Caraval)Thoroughly, creepily captivating. (Kristin Cashore, author of Graceling)This is one of the best books I've read in years. (Jennifer Niven, author of All the Bright Places)A dream of a book I cannot recommend highly enough. (Seanan McGuire, author of Every Heart a Doorway)
Journey into a captivating world of magic, mystery, and danger with Melissa Albert's captivating novel, "The Hazel Wood." Prepare to be entranced by a tale that blends the allure of fairy tales with the thrill of a contemporary fantasy adventure.
In the heart of New York City, Alice Proserpine lives a mundane existence until she receives a mysterious letter that changes everything. It's from her grandmother, Althea Proserpine, a reclusive author of dark fairy tale books, whom Alice has never met. The letter urges Alice to come to the Hazel Wood, a mystical forest that exists beyond the borders of reality.
With her mother missing and her grandmother's cryptic message haunting her, Alice embarks on a quest to uncover the truth about her family's history. Accompanied by her friend, Ellery Finch, she ventures into the treacherous depths of the Hazel Wood, where reality warps, and fairy tale creatures come to life.
As Alice delves deeper into the secrets of the Hazel Wood, she encounters a cast of unforgettable characters, including a talking cat named Jack, a huntsman with a heart of ice, and a charismatic villain named the Green Man. With each step, she uncovers more about her family's dark past and the sinister forces at play.
"The Hazel Wood" is a richly imagined tale that explores the power of storytelling, the allure of darkness, and the unbreakable bonds of family. Melissa Albert masterfully weaves a web of intrigue and enchantment, transporting readers to a world where fairy tales and reality collide.
Get lost in the mesmerizing world of "The Hazel Wood" and experience a literary adventure that will linger in your mind long after you finish reading. Discover the secrets of the Proserpine family, navigate the treacherous landscapes of the Hazel Wood, and immerse yourself in a story that celebrates the beauty and darkness of fairy tales.
