This novel follows the story of Martha who has been feeling lost ever since she felt out of a tree in her grandmothers tree and lost the sight in one of her eyes and also gained the ability to know someone’s past and feelings just by touching their clothes. She decides to travel back to Norway and find out what is really happening to her. However instead of finding her grandmother and the answers she seeks she finds Stig, a runaway living in her grandmothers house, a monster loose on the island and the looming presence of the tree where it all began.
This story focuses on two characters first we have Martha our main character. I felt she was a well developed character who I couldn’t help but root for throughout the novel. Next we have Stig, who while I liked him I felt that his story arc was left over opened ended and I wasn’t the biggest fan of the romance between the two.
This is a very atmospheric book, which is what I loved best about the book and I also loved the Norse mythology throughout this book. I also felt that the pacing of the novel fit very well with the story.
Overall, while I didn’t love this as much as I was hoping to I still enjoyed this book and gave it 3.5 out of 5 stars.

After Martha fell from a tree (a… twisted tree *wink*) at her grandmother’s house and became blind in one eye she began to develop the extraordinary ability of psychometry where she could read the emotions and histories of people via touching their clothes.

Understandably this is not as cool as it sounds and has left Martha a neurotic mess, not only because the information she receives on people is not always pleasant but because she has no idea how or why she’s received this ‘gift’ in the first place.

We also have our first instance of what I typically call a ‘YA trope’ which is that ‘Parents Are Useless.’ Namely Martha’s mother who knows more than she is letting on but decides to reveal absolutely nothing. Great tactic.
Martha decides to travel to Norway to visit her grandmother (Mormor) and get some answers. Unfortunately it isn’t that easy – we wouldn’t have a plot otherwise.

My thoughts in an insta-nutshell about The Twisted Tree:

This book is… alright. It’s… lukewarm tea. It’s… ok.

Characters
One of the reasons that I struggled with The Twisted Tree is that I didn’t think any of the characters were particularly memorable. It’s a short book and so a lot of the characters are secondary (the neighbours, Martha’s mother) or have died pre-story (Mormor).

This leaves two main characters; Martha and Stig.

If I’m being frank, Martha doesn’t have much of a personality. What she has is a series of events. Her defining features are that she’s annoyed at her mother, loved her Mormor and has a crush on Stig.

The last bemuses me a bit because Stig also has no personality whatsoever, just a badass coat and a tragic backstory involving a dead father and comatose girlfriend.

That’s it. That’s the main characters. I have nothing else to say on them other than the story is them reacting to the external events around them.

The antagonist isn’t even a character but a creature that has crawled its way out of the Tree of Life and needs to be put back. There is no motivation, no nuance. The creature just is.

Setting
What I did enjoy was the Norse Mythology elements; the Norns, the Tree of Life (which is the twisted tree of the title), the dead, and the story of Odin losing his eye. I thought it was wonderful to see these included in a YA story.

What also worked for me was the descriptions of the setting. I could feel the isolation of a cabin in the Norwegian landscape in the heart of winter and I love it when the mists roll in over the land to add to the tension of it all.

Because of these descriptions this book could join, ‘The Bear and the Nightingale’ in a list of ‘Books That Made Me Feel Cold.’

Plot
I’m going to get a tad ranty.

Remember when I said that one of Martha’s defining features was her crush on Stig? That whole insta crush thing actually wound me up to no end.

Despite her Mormor just having died and the danger of a foul creature stalking the landscape, Martha’s prime concerns are whether Stig thinks she’s pretty, whether he’ll ever fancy her and whether he’ll ever kiss her.
I get it. I was a teenage girl once and I know I was a bit preoccupied with my crushes but at the same time I wasn’t alone in the Norwegian forests with the dead crawling back through the earth. Even I can prioritise.

These thoughts of Martha’s are interspersed so much throughout the story (and at completely random times) that it became the story and truly that’s a shame as the original premise and the nods to Norse Mythology were exceedingly more interesting.

We had the women in Martha’s ancestry tending to the Tree of Life and Martha being ‘gifted’ with a second sight akin to Odin, we had Martha’s mother wanting to reject this destiny because she wanted to choose her own, we had Martha reestablishing a bond with her mother and we had the question of, ‘can we ever outrun our fates?’

We had all this. Correction, we could have had all this as the potential was a little wasted.

What we got instead was Martha being jealous after seeing a photo of Stig’s ex-girlfriend on his phone and fixating on Stig throughout the entire story.

This is what the writer wanted to invest in? Romance was not needed in this story at all. If Martha needed a friend to act as an exposition soundboard then sure, but why was there romance?! And why oh why did it overtake the plot?? We had the Norns… we had the Norns.

Ignore me while I sob quietly.

But that’s the thing – what was promising was the premise and the writer did offer up some delightfully creepy and atmospheric scenes.

If something is out there in the woods, you don’t always want to see it in detail. The fact that something is scratching at the house and climbing onto the roof is creepy enough and for building that level of tension I will give the writer a kudos.

Unfortunately I felt that those moments of heightened tension were far and few between and they sadly got lessened around the 75% mark where exposition and over explanation came into play.

That’s the other thing I couldn’t get on board with – the pacing.

The story was stretched out at the beginning in terms of build up and Stig (sigh) but this meant that the main action/ climax felt quite short and because there wasn’t enough room in the story everything had to became exposition in order for the story to make sense.

The resolution at the end felt like a bolt on. In fact the book itself felt incomplete with a plot thread introduced (and that could have been such a tantalising plot thread) and then dropped with Martha going, ‘maybe one day I’ll ask.’ Er… ok. It’s quite a serious thing Martha, maybe pick it up nowish?

I have to be honest – that’s not an ending for me. In some ways not having a resolution can be an ending of its own but not here. It was more like the author had been given a word count (the book was quite short) and if she continued writing then the word count would have been exceeded so she just ended it mid story.

In all honesty the fact that the book felt quite short didn’t really matter because I didn’t particularly get on with it.

The story felt like it was for the ‘younger’ side of YA despite some dark events but if the book was longer it could have allowed the material to breathe more and that may have rectified some of the pacing issues.

But the romance? Incredibly irrelevant and disappointingly overbearing on what could have been an interesting and unique story.

Writing
Was absolutely fine. Like I’ve said before, the creepy moments where tension was needed was written well. I could have read more of that for sure.

★★★★☆/★★★★★

Book Review: The Twisted Tree by Rachel Burge

The Twisted Tree was a dark and interesting read for me. The setting for the story is the small island of Skjebne, a place where Martha has many lovely memories of summers spent on the island with her grandmother and mother, she soon discovers the island is a much stranger place in the middle of winter, where Norway sees less than 4 hours of proper sunlight a day.

Marta was an engaging protagonist and I enjoying reading about her story. Her relationships with both her mother and Mormar (which translates to mothers mother), and also how she dealt with the introduction of Stig were interesting to read. I really liked reading about the Norse mythology aspect of the story and how it was woven through. Martha's 'power' was a clever addition and not one I've read about before. I loved how the story culminated and was happy with the conclusion.

If you're looking for a short, slightly sinister and interesting read, then I would definitely recommend The Twisted Tree - perfect for fans of Coraline.

A few years ago I was contacted by the author and asked to read an early version of this story. I loved what I read and rated it as a 4 star story. Late last year she approached me again as she was having her book published and wanted me to read the new version of it. I am so glad she did as once again I loved the story.

This is not the same story I read as the author has made many changes. These are very much for the better I have to say. The story is still based around Norse mythology which the author writes about elequently. It also has a ghost story running throughout.

I loved the character of Stig, he brings something extra to the story and I still wonder if there is more to him than meets the eye.

I hope there is more to come as I loved this story a lot. Many thanks to the author for asking me to read this story.

I loved the mythology in the book and the way the author weaved it into the story, how everything fitted in to the myths and legends of Norway. I loved Martha so much. She was an interesting character, I loved how she could read clothing. It seemed like such an interesting ability and one I hadn't come across before.

The creepiness was a good level for me. I wasn't too scared by it but it did have a creepy atmosphere that sent shivers down my spine. The isolation and the storm made the whole thing feel so much more risky. I wanted so much for them all to survive, especially Gandalf, the dog.

It was just a good story with a solid foundation of mythology adding to the story. I loved the way that it all worked perfectly as a story, the world of gods and norns fitting smoothly into a modern setting.

Definitely great for mythology fans.

I read this while stuck in the airport for nearly 8 hours, which could have easily led to my experience of reading it being tainted by the impatience and discomfort. However, it was the opposite. Despite external factors, this book managed to take me away, transporting me to a creepy, cold, Nordic landscape where strange creatures prowl through the woods and magic is tangible. The story is fast-paced, sweeping you straight into the action. This was really effective, though at times, I would have liked to slow down and have a bit more information about the Nordic mythology that the story was inspired by. Stig, Martha and all of the other characters were realistic and I particularly enjoyed the author giving an insight into why she chose the names for each one. I wasn't fully invested in the romance, mostly due to the fact that Martha tended to think of romantic things when in dire peril and I was more focused on their survival! Full review to come on my blog closer to publication.
Perfect read for cold evenings!

I really enjoyed the nod at the Norse mythology and the creepiness that this book entails. This book will have you on the edge of your seat or listening out for things that go bump in the night.

I loved the concept of this as soon as I heard about it, the idea of being able to read someones emotions and memories through their clothing is so intriguing, especially when each different fabric shows you different things.
I absolutely LOVED the back story of the tree involving Odin, Hel and the Norns, it has actually made me quite interested to learn more about Norse Mythology.
I was definitely hooked from the beginning, I almost wanted to not go to work just so I could devour this in one sitting.

Rachel created a very vivid and atmospheric world to the point where you could picture everything going on, and I won't lie, I did find elements of it quite creepy- maybe not can't sleep at all creepy but getting chills and I feel like something is watching me, need to sleep with a light on kind of creepy.

I think illustrations of the tree, Draugr and Norns would make an amazing addition to the physical copy.

The almost 30 year old in me wishes that Martha didn't constantly refer to herself as disfigured as there is definitely more to a person than looks, but when I remember being 17 I can definitely understand why she would view herself in such a way- you are still going through puberty and forming relationships so when your appearance alters in such a way you will be affected and won't believe that someone could like you because in your mind you aren't beautiful.

Normally I am a sucker for romantic plot lines but I wasn't really feeling the romance between Martha and Stig- maybe if it had had more time to build, but it seemed to move very quickly.
I was definitely more interested in the relationship Martha had with her mum towards the end of the book- I would love to see them both tending to the tree together and learning about their gifts.
I won't lie one of my favourite characters was actually Gandalf- of course I am more drawn to a pet.

I found that by the end I was left with questions- what was going to happen with Martha and Stig, what had really happened to his ex? will Martha stay at the cabin? will we see more from this world or is it just a standalone?Will Martha grow to love herself despite not looking "perfect"?

I am hoping that there is a sequel that will answer my questions.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for supplying me with a copy to read, I will definitely be purchasing a copy next month.

This is a wonderfully creepy and very atmospheric YA book that is full of magic, superstition, family traditions and Norse mythology. It is absolutely perfect for curling up with on a cold, frosty night as the wind whips around outside and the sky is heavy with snow.
Martha is a wonderful character, who has shut herself away from friends and society following a tragic accident at her Mormor's home. Since the accident she has discovered a terrifying ability to read a person's emotions if she comes into contact with their clothing and she needs answers to why this is happening. The only person she can trust to help her is Mormor, but when she arrives at her isolated cabin she discovers a strange boy living there and the news that her beloved Grandmother is dead. What follows is an absolute thrill of a story that involves ghosts, a murderous creature, the true story of Martha's ability and her absolute bravery. The tension builds and builds and creates an absolutely dynamic ending that made me feel a little sad to be leaving these characters behind.
If you love Neil Gaiman, magic and things that go bump in the night I would recommend you get your mitten clad hands on this story.

My thanks go to the publishers and Net Galley for the advanced copy in return for an honest review.

My thanks to Hot Key Books for an ebook edition of this novel via NetGalley. It is available now as an ebook and published in U.K. in paperback on 10th January.

After falling from the ancient tree outside her Norwegian grandmother’s island home 17 year-old Martha losses the sight in one eye and gains the unsettling ability of knowing a person’s emotions and secrets by touching their clothing.

After recovering in London she runs away to Norway to seek guidance from her grandmother. However, when she arrives she discovers that her grandmother (mormor) has recently died and a strange boy is living in her house. In addition, something appears to be haunting the nearby woods and she starts seeing ghostly figures inside and outside the house.

Martha is a very appealing narrator and her discovery of her family’s heritage and her responses to the events that take place, many of them chilling and increasingly horrific, carried the narrative. I was also glad that Martha’s lack of knowledge of Norwegian was highlighted as it felt more realistic than having everything in English.

I loved the incorporation of Norse mythology throughout the story. However, the ending did feel a bit abrupt and ambiguous. Given that it is a relatively short novel I felt that it could have continued a bit further.

So that ending reduced my rating a bit though I do feel that it is a strong debut YA novel and will be looking out for more from this author. I also feel it will appeal to lovers of mythological fantasy of all ages.

Thank you NetGalley and Hot Keys Books for providing me with a copy for review.

The Twisted Tree follows a young girl, called Martha, who discovers that she can learn emotions and memories about people by touching their clothes after she has an accident. She has been trying to send messages to her grandmother, Mormor, to learn more about this strange new ability she possesses, but decides she must go and visit her in Norway when she keeps getting no response. Whilst in Norway, she makes many discoveries about herself and her family and gets thrown into terror along with an odd boy, Stig, who had broken into her grandmothers house.

I was a little unsure about this before I started it as I'm not usually one for horror and ghosts, but I really enjoyed reading this. It was really quick to read, which is perfect for a creepy book, and I read most of it in one day as I was so engrossed in the story. I loved the dark elements and it would make the perfect Halloween read because of them, but one of the things that I liked most about it, and one I wasn't really expecting before going into it, was all the mythological elements. It was really interesting and something that I would definitely like to learn more about.

Overall, it was a really good book and I'm glad that I decided to read it despite my reservations about the horror aspects. It just shows that you can find some fantastic reads if you step out of your reading comfort zone.

I absolutely loved The Twisted Tree, the characters were really interesting and the plot had me hooked from the beginning!

Martha was a really engaging protagonist and I loved that she was vulnerable and brave all at the same time. Her character development is a real focus in the book - and it I loved the way we see her growth from the beginning of the book to the end.

Although there was a real focus on characters development, there was enough mystery to pull the plot along, and I honestly did not want to put The Twisted Tree down. I had to know how things ended.

The atmosphere of the book as incredible, it's creepy and dark and exactly the type of book I love reading. I also loved that there was a lot of Norse mythology woven throughout the story. I have had an interest in Norse mythology for years and it was so wonderful to know some of the Norwegian that was used in the book, as I lived in Denmark for over a year and learnt a little of the language.

If you like your fantasy dark and a little bit twisted then I would definitely recommend The Twisted Tree. It had an incredible plot, more than a dash of mystery and a cast of interesting characters.

Intriguing story incorporating oft overlooked Nordic mythology. Couldn't put it down. Very creepy and spooky. Had me turning on a few more lights and double-checking shadows in dark corners.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC.

Martha can tell people's secrets just by touching an item of their clothing; is this a gift or a curse? Can Martha ever truly get to know someone if she knows things they wouldn't want her to know? What happened to her beloved grandma, and why does her mum burn her letters?

"When the fog rises, run for home, Marta, my child. Dead men rise with the mist!"

Having now had the opportunity to read the whole book thanks to Netgalley, I have to say I'm very disappointed in this book. I'm so conflicted as I've seen so many good reviews on good reads and on Instagram about this book but for me it just did not connect. I have also seen a lot of people say they found this spooky, but I really did not. I felt that some was missing for me in this book; I wasn't gripped or wanting to find out what was going on, I was mostly just confused.

The ending of the book felt very ambiguous; not only do we find out that Stigs ex girlfriend is still in a coma, we also learn that Marta has been seeing the ghost of this girlfriend, and yet we learn nothing more - it's left so open ended that I'm confused as to whether we're meant to trust Stig or not. We don't learn how Mormor dies, and why she was desperately pleading with the neighbour.

I did really enjoy the power that Marta has with touching people's clothes and found that aspect of the book to be really intriguing; Marta struggles with this gift on a day to day basis, and doesn't really understand what it means. I did appreciate how well this was told and how conflicted she felt at times with wanting to know how people were feeling but not wanting to intrude on their privacy. I didn't understand her mothers motivations for not telling her about Mormors death; I understand she didn't want to be dragged into what she believed to be hysterical drama, however her decision not to tell Marta is really unkind and really does not consider Martas feelings here; her sudden arrival at the end of the book just fell a bit flat for me, and her then proclaiming that she will up and move to this cottage just baffled me as it was a complete 180.

Overall I was just quite underwhelmed by this book, I really enjoyed the whole concept and Martas gift, but I just couldn't really connect with the book in the end. These are my personal views though and I donning that sometimes books just do not fit with a person, and this didn't fit for me.

This is a solid book, perfect for the darkening nights! The use of Norse mythology and the Norwegian setting was written perfectly. The main character was a bit vapid - your typical girl who is focused a little too much on looks (she has lost the sight in one eye and has scars around the socket) and meets a guy and falls for him within three days... Huge unresolved plot line at the end which will be disappointing if not followed up.

This book was really intriguing, I really like the concept of being about to know someone’s emotions/memories just from touching their clothes. I loved the story behind the tree involving Odin, Hel and the Norns. What I loved most was just how creepy the story was, I find a lot with ‘scary’ YA books that they’re not even remotely creepy and that is what is lacking in YA – actual creepy/scary books. I thought the way the creature was described was perfect, me being the clever person I am (HA!), I thought it would be a good idea to read this in bed before going to sleep and could almost feel the draugr breathing down my neck.

That being said I could only give this a 4 out of 5 stars, because once again, I could not deal with the naivety of Martha. Once again a book where a 17 year old girl meets a boy and is instantly falling for him, and thinking about kissing him, but ‘oh no what if he doesn’t like me that way’. I think I may have said it before but I need to reiterate that I love romance in books, but what I don’t like is the light that authors keep painting teenage girls in.

So, I am flailing right now. This book (?novella) is just spot on. Its equal parts atmosphere and creepy occurrences with just the right amount of love interest. Throw in some Norse Mythology and a lost family prophecy and you have The Twisted Tree. Initially, I felt the title was directly referencing the actual tree (its Yggdrasil but in a TARDIS, bigger on the inside kind of way) but it so cleverly plays on so many other parts of this tale.

I have to say here that usually I get so ridiculously creeped out by stuff that had I realised just how ominous the events, literally all of them, within this book were, I probably would not have requested it. This is not to say I didn’t love it. Frankly I can’t stop thinking about it. What I am saying however, is that I took my time with immersing myself in Burge’s world and may or may not have screamed loud enough when a door blew shut that I woke up my sleeping fiancé and child. Just saying… If you like creepy, you will love this. If you don’t love creepy, you will still love this but be prepared to make a fool of yourself when something touches you.

So, essentially, it’s the story of a girl who has no idea of her family legacy and no way to read about it because her mother has sheltered her from knowing it. She also can’t read about it because in the creepy chest in her grandmothers cupboard next to the doll with one eye and the spinning wheel that starts itself, are a bunch of journals. Written in Norwegian. A language she has never learnt even though she begged her mother to teach her. Girl proceeds to have some serious trips (or so she thinks) and starts to see dead people because why not. Also, there is a draugr out to murder everyone after having escaped from the deep dark abyss of Hel’s realm. Its freaking amazing tbh.

I loved the aspect of being able to see things about people by touching their clothes. What made it even more so, is the fact that different materials help the ‘reader’ (reader of clothing not reader of book) see different aspects of the persons life. Cashmere lets you feel the wearers emotions while wool simply holds onto them. Its just genius. I also really loved the resurrection of certain characters who shall not be named but know they are friendly. Mostly… Just remember that bullets can’t kill the dead.

While on the surface, Twisted Tree could be seen as a girl coming of age journey, Burge’s expert knowledge of Norse mythology really added to the entire experience. Mormor’s journals chronicle various events such as Odin hanging from Yggdrasil, Hel’s reign over her realm, the rise of the draugr and the inclusion of The Norn, three ladies who control the fate of the world. I found myself absolutely drawn in; I feel like Martha’s tale could have been good with all the creepiness, but the inclusion of mythology sent this story over the top.

My only qualm is how it ended. It was an adequate ending but now I have so many questions about why Nina is skulking and what Stig is going to do now. Also, will the art studio become a reality or is Mumma going to neglect her responsibilities again. Sorry to yell but YOU CAN’T DO THIS TO ME AUTHOR LADY!

At this point I feel like I am rambling just a tad because my brain can’t string together a cohesive sentence right now, so I shall wrap this up. Coming in at 180 pages, I wasn’t expecting to be able to write a whole review about The Twisted Tree. Instead I find my inner monologue going nuts and throwing random facts about the novel at me in a completely illogical order. If you take nothing else away from this review (I’ve tried writing it 3 times already and it just keeps spiralling into wordy nonsense), this book is amazing. Its dark and ominous and the perfect quick read for those who want some eerie goodness on a weeknight. The fact that I opened it, sat down and read for 3 hours straight (minor breaks because my heart can’t take creepy) on a night when I have 5000+ other things I should be occupying myself with solidifies my belief that this should get a perfect score.

A creepy little tale about a 17 year old girl, Martha, and her extremely twisted family tree. The snowy setting, a small Norwegian island, is very atmospheric and the Norse mythology that is woven in to the story is quiet effective. Definitely one for young adults to enjoy.

If you want an atmospheric dark read for winter than I would recommend this book.
Martha can feel peoples emotions and memories through clothing and different material tells her different things for example wool holds emotions but cashmere makes you feel them. This gift was interesting and I find it was used really well..The descriptions in this book were wonderful and they kept me reading. The suspense builds really well. The Twisted Tree is menacing and I can imagine that it would be. Almost as soon as she steps foot on the island, the creepiness begins and it just builds and builds until the climax. I was reading this in bed in the dark and I was getting a little creeped out and paranoid. I love books that make me feel that way. The creepiness had me on edge and I loved it. There were shadows that moved, light flickering, fog, faces that appear and disappear and the feeling that you are being watched. I loved the links to Norse Mythology in this book for example Odin, Hel, Yggsdrasil and the Norns. I enjoyed how the mythology played into the story and how it links to her family. The only thing that felt a little off to me was Martha and Stigs relationship as it felt a little quick to me and I was suspicious of Stig from the beginning.

I absolutely adored this! It’s deliciously creepy, mixing horror with Norse mythology. It’s the book I didn’t realise I needed until I had it.

The Twisted Tree follows our protagonist, Martha after an accident left her blind in one eye. Ever since she has been able to feel people’s emotions when their clothes touch her. Knowing the only person who will give her the answers she seeks is her grandmother (mormor), so Martha gets a plane there instead of going to her dad’s house. Upon arriving, Martha finds out Mormor is dead, and finds a strange boy squatting there instead. It’s not long before things take a strange and dark turn and the truth of what lurks in the old tree in Mormor’s garden is revealed.

Have I mentioned how much I adored this book?! I love how Rachel has taken elements from horror and Norse mythology and woven them together into a brilliantly dark and intriguing story, which I just couldn’t get enough of. The plot and character development and relationship between Martha and those around her was brilliantly well written, especially between Martha and her mother, who don’t see eye to eye on a lot of things. This whole book sent chills down my spine, the fear of not knowing what was prowling outside was real. It takes a lot to scare me and although it wasn’t horror as such, I spent a large chunk of this book clutching our puppy for comfort and protection from the unknown. Whether this was Rachel’s intention or not, playing on people’s fear of the unknown by keeping the monster out of sight until the right moment really paid off. The ending was satisfying, though I’m all for a sequel, I’d love to know what happens next.

It’s a short book so I won’t say anything else in case I spoil it, I can’t recommend it enough! I know this isn’t my best written review, it’s hard to put into words properly how much I loved it. I really hope you give it a try, you won’t regret it!

The E-book is available to buy now, the paperback follows in January.