This was a refreshing take on a not often retold fairytale. I really enjoyed the atmosphere of the book and thought the world building was particularly interesting. I felt that this was a great book to read int he autumn, especially with the woods being a character within their own right in this story. While I enjoyed the cosy vibes this book wasn't 100% to my taste and I had trouble investing in the characters. But it was still a fun read.

After the forest had the right atmosphere and plot for me. The story was paced appropriately, I appreciate the slower moments between major scenes. The world-building was great, I am all for sentient-type forests, however, I felt that the main character was spoonfed information rather than discovering things herself. The characters were okay, Apart from the main lead, I felt that the rest were a bit two-dimensional or that everyone was revolving around her. I would recommend it as a standalone book for someone wanting to explore the forest/ fairytale retelling genre.

This twisted fairytale had an interesting premise, despite the fact that I've never really liked the story of Hansel and Gretel. However, this was a refreshing twist and captivating read, beautifully written and fairly enjoyable.

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

I loved the idea of this book, a retelling but set after the event, in this case Hansel and Gretel, but after they escaped.
The book definitely felt cosy, and was quite good for a debut novel. There were too many characters, and not introduced in a way, that made it easy to remember who's who. The author should have stuck to one idea and gone with it. Instead this felt too much like a mix and match of ideas, none executed quite right. I do think this author has huge potential to do great things.

A wonderful novel using the Hansel & Gretal tale as its base. This book really contains everything you could ask for in a fantasy: folklore, good and bad magic, shapeshifting, romance and an evil queen (ish). I loved it and can't wait to recommend to every customer who so much as glances in the fantasy section's direction 😀

I was drawn in by the cover of this book, went into this not knowing much apart from Hansel & Gretal retelling and I was not disappointed!

I loved reading from Gretal's pov and seeing her develop throughout the story to finding out more about her family, witches and her village around her.

I did think it dragged in places however I didn't mind this too much as I really enjoyed the build up and just seeing how the plot would unfold. Definitely saw the bear coming though.

This sounded a great premise but just wasn’t for me. The story started so slow that nothing happened for the first 20%, I couldn’t force myself to continue. I’m sure there are plenty of readers who will disagree with me, especially if you enjoy a slow atmospheric build-up.

The debut novel from author Kell Woods, After the Forest is a German-inspired retelling of the tale of Hansel and Gretel with other folklore stories woven in. Thank you to NetGalley and Titan books for the ARC.

Greta and her brother Hans were left in the forest by their father when they were children. Having spent a month with a witch they make their escape and find their way home. But tales of witchcraft have followed Greta since her time in the forest and her every move is scrutinised by the god-fearing people in her home village.

After an encounter with a bear and a huntsman, Greta begins to unravel the strange occurrences that have plagued her village for years. With witch trials having already happened in Bamberg and a witch finder called in to investigate the unexplained events, Greta must come to terms with who she is in order to help save herself and those that she loves.

This book is rich with German folklore and myths and Kell Woods does a wonderful job of exploring some of the darker fairytales. There is reference to animal abuse, on page but not graphic SA and several mentions of 🩸 so do check out the trigger warnings.

Ratings
Spice: 🌶🌶
Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐
Characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

After the Forest is a beautifully written retelling of Hansel and Gretel that everyone will enjoy.

Thank you NetGalley and Titan Books for this eCopy to review

I enjoyed After the Forest, it was an interesting take on the Hansel and Gretel fairy tale seeing how they fared after escaping the gingerbread witch.

The location and characters are beautiful described, it was easy to imagine yourself their in Greta's village in the Black Forest.

Greta is trying to earn a living for herself and her brother Hans (who drinks and gambols it away). Despite believing she's a witch the villagers are still eager to buy her gingerbread.

There are plenty of mysteries for us to solve, who is Mathias and how is he related to Greata's uncle Rob? Who are the men threating Rob and his son Christie? Who is the Duchess and why does she need the villagers? Great comes into her own magic and finds her sense of self-belief and love with Mathias.

A gorgeous retelling of Hansel and Gretel brings a dark, lush and spooky atmosphere to life in the best possible way.

A great debut that expands upon a dark fairytale. The reader is transported into 17th Century Germany and witch finders are afoot. Throughout there is a feeling of peril and the struggle to survive, yet there is a whimsy quality to the story. There’s cozy baking juxtaposed with sinister magic. Alongside the magic, there’s wolves and bears in the vivid forest. The story contains some animal cruelty so please check trigger warnings.
Also, I enjoyed the romance element of the story, it does not take from the main plot points and compliments the story well.
Thank you to NetGalley and Titan Books for an E-ARC. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.

After the Forest is a Hansel and Gretel retelling. We meet up with Greta and her brother Hans many years after they were held in the gingerbread cottage by the old crone. The town has always thought of Greta as a witch since then, and her magically wonderful gingerbread seems to confirm this as well.

Greta makes use of her baking skills in an attempt to get Hans out of the debt he found himself in. But there is more going on than she realises. There are dangerous creatures in the Forest, bears and wolves, and a string of mysterious deaths may link to this

Greta will find out more than she bargains on when a stranger, Mathias, saves her from a Bear in the woods and magic is also calling to her more and more, with ways to help.... but at what cost.

This was such a beautiful book, dark and lush world, really fleshes out the old Hansel and Gretel tale and adds to it.

I started on the physical copy, and switched to audio for a lot in the middle, then finished off the last hour or so on physical. Was a great book to read, but the audio was amazing as well, definitely added to the experience

Thank you to NetGalley, Titan Books and Bolinda audio for the chance to read and review this one early... it is out the start of October and is a perfect read for this time of year!

Not for me. I could not connect with the writing style or characters. I still recommend to fans of retellings and the original story. I don’t think I am one for retellings. This had great writing, it was just very slow.

I read fairytale retellings frequently enough, but I find more than half of them monotonous because there are only so many ways the same fairytale can be respun. After the Forest feels different and fresh, and that is probably it is the tale of what happens to Hans (Hansel) and Greta (Gretel) after they escape the witch in the woods. I really loved this book. It has a subtle, enchanting atmosphere, but it simultaneously grounded in realism of the time period the book is set in. The story has an unrushed, steady pacing and the core mystery at the heart of the plot unfurls slowly. I enjoyed the characters in the book: conflicted, hopeful Greta; lost and directionless Hans; mysterious, thoughtful Mattias; and the array of side-characters, too.

I did not fully enjoy the ending—I was hoping to a different conclusion (SPOILERS: namely, for Greta to become an immortal witch who wields both types of magic and lives in the woods with her cursed bear husband), but I did not hate the ending we got either, so I consider that a plus.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC of this audiobook, in exchange for this honest review.