Darkwood

I didn't realise this was a middle grade book when I requested it but that didn't stop me really enjoying it. Darkwood is fun and quirky, reminding a little of a less gruesome Robin Jarvis book. Parts of it are very funny - maths being banned for girls and the way that is handled for instance. All in all a quick, enjoyable read.

This is a book for middle grade kids. That does not mean that adults cant read it. In fact, the plot and the storyline was great and overall it was an enjoyable read. Every middle schooler can read it alone or with parents!
A lot of paranormal aspects and fabulous storyline adventure!
Recommended!

Darkwood is a re-telling of well-known fairytales, with a twist. Gretel and her twin brother Hansel live in Nearby Village, in a land where the Huntsmen rule, magic is forbidden and deviation from the plot is heartily discouraged - including the horror of being clever. Darkwood looms over the village, occasionally threatening creatures like Ogres escape and are beaten back by the villagers, using Gretel's inventions. Her crime of being clever leads to her having to flee the village after Huntsmen come to seek out the "witch", and she flees into the Darkwood, despite the horrors within.

Part an inversion of fairy tale tropes, part a story about totalitarianism, this owes a lot to Terry Pratchett and in a good way. It's clever and it's enjoyable, with a much wider appeal than just a teenage audience. Adults with a sense of humour and a fondness for fairytales will enjoy it too! The only flaw is that it was an advance from NetGalley, so I'll have to wait ages for the next in the series.

Monty Python meets Fairy Tale Theater in this book with lots of familiar, yet new characters. I quite enjoyed this book and would love to read more books set in this world. Funny, serious, tense, this would be an excellent addition to any Youth literature collection.

Magic is forbidden in the land of Myrsina, along with other abominations such as girls doing math and science. This doesn't bode well for Gretel Mudd, who isn't technically a witch, but does do a lot of math. When her inventions catch the attention of the sinister Huntsmen who want to try her for witchcraft, she has no choice but to flee her town into the Darkwood, the terrifying forest where all sorts of evil and beasties live. While fleeing for her life, she crosses path with a rag tag group of witches: Buttercup, who can't help but turn the things she touches into pastries; Jack Trott, who can make plants grow with a lift of his hand; The White Knight and her band of Dwarves, and a talking spider named Trevor. Gretel comes to learn these aren't the scary villains she's been taught to fear her whole life, and they all have a common enemy: the Huntsmen. The merry band of outcasts join together in order to not only save Gretel's village from the Head Huntsmen's wrath, but also to show people that the Darkwood isn't as terrifying as it seems.

I knew I was going to like this based off the synopsis, but I wasn't expecting just how much. It's a smart, funny, witty take on the fairy tale trope, and was so entertaining. It gave me such Monty Python vibes with the humor and banter which hooked me right from the start. I really loved the characters, especially Trevor, their interaction as a group was a major highlight for me. It's a quick read, and a really solid start to this series, and I can't wait to see what's next.

From the first page, I knew that this would be a book to devour. I really love fairy tale adaptations, and while those who love to categorize books into an age group will put this in middle school range, I would encourage everyone of every age to go ahead and read Darkwood. It is clever and funny and so very very entertaining. I love the creation of the characters, the dialogue is funny and natural. Darkwood truly is a joy to read.

Be aware, this is the first book in a series, so please do not be disappointed to be left hanging! Be prepared and look forward to the next one - you will be counting down the days...I am!

**I received a copy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**

This book felt like a one of Tiffany Aching books, maybe with a little worse prose, but Terry Pratchett is Terry Pratchett. There was a lot of humor and witty dialogues and not a page was boring. I really liked the story about characters we know so well from fairytales. They were desrcipted in unique and interesting way and the whole novel was pretty fun to read.

I didn't know it;s a middle grade book, but I liked description enough to request for it and I'm glad I did. If you need something short and light with a lot of fantastic creatures, I recommend you this book.

A fun, exciting, action-packed story that once I started reading I couldn't put down. Full of fairytale creatures but with a twist. The story is about oppression and persecution of those who are different and don't confirm to "nature's law". With very engaging characters and plenty of clever plot twists, you can't help but love it. The humour works well and is reminiscent of the Discworld series. This is the first book in a new series and I'm very much looking forward to reading the next in the series.

This is an excellent and humorous riff on common fairy tale lore. Gretel and her brother Hansel live with their stepmother and stepfather (yes, both are "step," no-one knows why) at the edge of cursed forest (it's dangerous, but the housing prices cannot be beat!) and within the confines of a kingdom under the sway of the Huntsmen who outlaw nearly everything they find personally offensive like witches, magic, and girls knowing math. Gretel can't quite contain her cleverness however and she soon catches the attention of the Huntsman. Accused of witchcraft (how else to you explain engineering prowess?), Gretel must flee to the woods herself where she finds (among legitimate dangers, including the dreaded bin men) a coven of "witches" and fellow escapees. But safety in the unsafe woods proves elusive when the Huntsmen are no longer content to drive off those they dislike with accusations of witchcraft and instead decide to take both the forest and Gretel's home village.

This is the first book in what looks to be a crackerjack series. I'd recommend it to fans of fantasy and humor, but am perplexed by the number of readers who seem to be categorizing this book as "middle grade." Neither the content or vocabulary indicate this work is intended for children, the press is not a children's press, and NetGalley cross lists it as humor and sci fi/fantasy. I'm worried that this book might be falling to unfortunate trend of assuming female authors automatically equate YA audience. This particular series would be best categorized as humor/satire and fantasy.

ARC via NetGalley

I always try to sell alternative realities, fractured fairy tales, dystopian adventures and I have to say this will be one I recommend. The mash up of both Hansel & Gretel with the likes of a feral Snow White is ingenious. I don't want to give any spoilers away for people yet to read this, but if you love fairytales, try this out for size. I cannot wait for the next installment!

I'm a fan of Terry Pratchett and couldn't help loving this book.
I loved the mix of humour and fantasy, the tongue in cheek style of writing and the quirky characters.
I read as fast as I could and laughed out loud more than one.
I look forward to reading other books by this author.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

4.5/5 stars

**this was sent to me by the publishers through netgalley, all thoughts are my own**

omfg guys this was amazing.

this is a middle grade fairytale retelling of hansel & gretal, snow white, and others as witches who have been banished by the power-hungry huntsmen and it was everything I could ever ask for.

this gives me ALL the monty python and shrek vibes and it SO DAMN GOOD.

the humor, the characters, the story, the MESSAGE of corruption and perceptions of truth was breathtaking. ((also I totally think there’s a slow burn sapphic romance in the works))

I am beyond thrilled with this book and I am fully invested in this series. if y’all don’t have this on your tbr’s by now you’re missing out. I can’t say enough good things about this. READ IT.

This book was adorable! The characters were very enjoyable, and I really liked the story. Gretel was the character I liked the most. Perhaps it was not meant this way but I took it as a bit of a comment on society that a smart girl who was good at inventing things must, of course, be a witch. I loved that the characters worked together and also how accepting the village people were.

This book is great for middle grade readers, and I would certainly recommend it

Darkwood is a light-hearted story centered around this land wherein magic is forbidden. There we encounter our main character Gretel who lives in the town of Nearby that neighbours the Darkwood, the place where witches, creatures and all sorts of unpleasantness lives. You shouldn't go into the Darkwood, but when Gretel is forced to flee she discovers not everything is as it seems.
Darkwood is a light-hearted, comedy filled novel, its storyline is full of fairy-tale tropes that are twisted and used in a very fun, clever and quirky way. The writing is marvelous and witty, all the little references to other stories had me giggling. This was a delightful novel to read and i'm looking forward to the next.

I LOVED Darkwood! I'm always a fan of middle grade books. I like to pepper them in between any serious nonfiction to lift my mood, and this did not disappoint. I'm always excited for a fun retelling, too so Darkwood was something I was really looking forward to reading. It was really funny and I highly recommend it to anyone!

This book was both humorous and pointedly satirical of current, rather dangerous, views and movements. I appreciated the unique magic system and the overall world building.

The Darkwood by Gabby Hutchinson Crouch
4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Synopsis:

Magic is forbidden in Myrsina, along with various other abominations, such as girls doing maths. This is bad news for Gretel Mudd, who doesn't perform magic, but does know a lot of maths. When the sinister masked Huntsmen accuse Gretel of witchcraft, she is forced to flee into the neighbouring Darkwood, where witches and monsters dwell. There, she happens upon Buttercup, a witch who can't help turning things into gingerbread, Jack Trott, who can make plants grow at will, the White Knight with her band of dwarves and a talking spider called Trevor. These aren't the terrifying villains she's been warned about all her life. They're actually quite nice. Well... most of them. With the Huntsmen on the warpath, Gretel must act fast to save both the Darkwood and her home village, while unravelling the rhetoric and lies that have demonised magical beings for far too long.

My Thoughts:

Take a journey into the Darkwood in this modern fairy tale that will bewitch adults and younger readers alike!! A magical mix up of Fairytale characters that we all know and love!! Thats right there is Snow White, Jack for Jack and the Beanstalk, and our MC Gretel from Hansel and Gretel!!! And so so many more. Your gauranteed to fall in love with this comedy writers first novel in a series!! The characters are witty and the banter is hilarious!! Very adventurous and fun to read all the way through!!! Dont miss the release June 13th 2019!!

Thanks to Netgalley for a free ARC of this book.

Darkwood is a sort of retelling of various fairytales, but it's also a somewhat satirical look at fairytales in general. With names like Darkwood and Nearby Village, how can we think otherwise. We are taken to a land controlled by the Citadel and the Huntsmen, a world extremely focused on rooting out witchcraft. To be fair, witches are real in this story and so are wyverns, fairies, unicorns and numerous other mythical creatures. But for the most part the witches aren't that evil, and the witch hunting that happens is very much like what happened in real life some centuries ago. Everything is witchcraft, particularly if it is done by a woman or girl. Even knowing 1+1 can get you in trouble for being a witch.

My favourite part of this book is actually Nearby Village. Of course it has it's issues and problems, like any town would, like any group of people would, but that doesn't change the fact that the people of this village are fiercely loyal to each other, even if witchcraft does pop up for real. They obey the edicts of the Citadel but they do it in their own way, dunkings are more like fun baths in the river for the girls and some purposefully get dunked every week or two. When a Hunstman comes for our protagonist, Gretel Mudd, the villagers do everything in their power to distract him so she can run. They never actually turn against her, they might be defeated for a while every now and then and so can't help her, but they never truly turn against her. I wonder if any villages or towns in the real world ever tried to protect its citizens like the people in this book did... I loved Nearby Village and its crazy people.

The writing in this book is great. It's set in the present tense, "She walks to the stream" instead of past, "She walked to the stream" which can be a bit jarring sometimes if you are not used to it. But it wasn't bad, just something to note. It makes good use of sarcasm and at times I actually wondered if the book was me, using very specific phrases I use regularly. It's not all sarcasm though, the book makes good use of other forms of satire and humour. Unicorns are amusing that's for sure. Trevor and his numerous disguises is hilarious. I spent much of this book smiling, and I laughed quite a lot - so I think the humour was on point.

The characters were fun, though I suppose they weren't super deep or anything. I don't expect satirical characters to have too much depth or character growth or anything though, so the fact that they did have that to some degree is a plus for sure. Jacks backstory is an interesting one, I like how that was put together. At the same time I love the almost completely missing backstory for the Head Huntsman. Sometimes in life we will not know the true story or motivations of our "antagonists" and that has to be true for fiction as well. Our villains can't always have a backstory, they can't all have great meaning to their life, they can't all have something that makes us sympathise with them. Darkwood is right in how they flesh out our villain by not fleshing him out at all.

I could go on and on about how much I love this book and why. It might be easier and quicker then to focus on what I didn't like, which is.... nothing. I loved this book. I really loved it, I gave it 5 stars after all. I really look forward to the future sequel and will read it ASAP when it's released. I might even read this to or with my kids, or at least buy them a copy. Seems like the right thing to do.

This book was so much fun! I can’t wait for the sequel!

“Do not go into the Darkwood, children. It’s a cursed place, and so big and so dangerous that once you go in you’ll never come out again. You’ll become just another lost creature, aimlessly wandering amongst those black and twisted trees forever. Even the dead aren’t safe in the Darkwood. Nobody is safe.”

Gretel lives in Nearby Village with her twin, Hansel, and their stepparents. Unfortunately for Gretel, she’s female so she must be very careful how she behaves, lest she be branded as a witch. Worse still, she’s smart, using maths, physics and engineering to design marvellous defences that protect Nearby from the scary monsters who live across the river in the Darkwood. Yep, she’s got to be a witch if she knows maths!

Accused of the abomination of witchcraft by Huntsmen, Gretel winds up in the Darkwood, where she’s faced with the terrifying creatures she’s been warned about her entire life. Witches like Buttercup, who can turn inanimate objects into baked goods with her touch; sometimes even on purpose! People like Jack, who can make plants grow at will. There’s also a magical talking spider called Trevor, who is a master of disguise. They’re not exactly the villains she thought they were. Then there’s the White Knight who, well, can be kind of abrasive, actually.

It’s up to Gretel and this diverse bunch of magical outcasts to find a way to protect both the Darkwood and Nearby Village from the ruling Huntsmen, who may well be the true villains in this story.

With action, humour and some magical mayhem, Gabby Hutchinson Crouch reimagines some well known fairy tale characters and places them in situations where they need to use their combined talents, inventiveness and wit to challenge the roles they’ve been cast in by those in power.

The characters were well rounded, a wonderful blend of scared and courageous, damaged and determined, flawed and resilient. This wasn’t a tale with just one shining star; everyone was interesting in their own way, although I admit I was quite partial to Trevor, the talking spider. I mean, come on, he wears sunglasses as one of his disguises! How adorable is that?!

On the surface this is a highly entertaining tale that makes you want to cheer on the underdogs. Scratch the surface though and you’ll learn (or be reminded of) some valuable lessons in what it means to be human. Despite tackling themes of how we dehumanise those we categorise as ‘other’ and the corruption that can grow unchecked when those in power are not held accountable, I never felt I was being preached at.

There’s so much of the Darkwood and its surrounding towns and villages still to explore. I can’t wait to get to know the Swamp Mermaids more, finally meet the bear and wolf witches of the north, and visit the eastern woods.

‘What’s in the eastern woods?’
‘You don’t want to know.’

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Farrago, an imprint of Prelude Books, for the opportunity to read this book. Oh, and a final word of warning: if you follow these characters into the Darkwood, make sure you adhere to the usual Bin Night precautions!

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

"Do not go into the Darkwood, children. It's a cursed place, and so big and so dangerous that once you go in you'll never come out again. You'll become just another lost creature, aimlessly wandering amongst those black and twisted trees forever. Even the dead aren't safe in the Darkwood. Nobody is safe."

I adored this book and without a doubt, I can say this book is one of the favorite books I've read in 2019. This book was funny, witty, and very education all at the same time. The overarching message behind this story--witchhunts--is packaged to appeal to a younger audience without being overly graphic or informative.

This part contains spoilers!
The huntsmen, who are leading the witchhunts, are masked and 'just' characters who are trying to rid the world of the witches. However, these witchhunts are getting out of hand and every woman who is able to do basic maths or has a logical mind is considered to be a witch and send off to the Darkwood, a wood where scary and dangerous beings lurk between the trees. After Gretel is send off to the Darkwood as she is called out for being a witch, she meets four fellow witches: Jack Trott, Snow (or the White Knight), Trevor the talking spider, and Buttercup. They team up and with the help of the four witches, Gretel sets it upon herself to protect her village Nearby and her brother Hansel, who turned out to be the real Mudd Witch.

My favorite character out of all of the witches has to be Trevor, the talking spider. His dynamic with the group was honestly wholesome and adorable,

"'She definitely worked out I'm a spider, then, you reckon.' 'I think so,' says the woman with the broomstick kindly. 'Yes.' The spider sighs, disappointed. 'But I thought I'd disguised it really well. I was wearing a hat!'"

And in the end, the forgiving of Trott and the Giant was such a heartfelt ending. It shows how there are always two sides to a story; a mantra that is important to repeat at any given age.

This is a reasonably grown up fairy tale, in a good way - think Shrek. The story was well plotted with enough funny bits to help things along. There is clearly a series planned as the ending left room for at least one sequel

What a romp of a read this was! Fabulously funny fairy tale mash up with lots of familiar names appearing, and some brilliant original characters - may have to start a fan club for Trevor the talking spider ❤
Witty, wise, and wonderfully weird. Will look forward to the next adventure into the Darkwood, as long as it's not on a Monday....

A brother and sister live in a village where the mayor is the police station cat who wears a tiny tricorn hat. Self-righteous religious group scaremonger local villages with lies about witchcraft until sister flees to nearby woods haunted with menacing creatures. Shenanigans ensue.

I am a sucker for fractured fairy tales. Darkwood did not disappoint. It was a fresh twist on the fairy tale trope, was well written, great characters and also a lot of fun. A fantastic start to the series.

Recommended for readers who enjoy: Fablehaven, Sisters Grim series, Fables

There's been a real trend for grimdark in fantasy fiction over the last few years, and it has produced some amazing work, but with the final Discworld novel published in 2015, it does leave one wondering where the lighter side of fantasy fiction is going to head next. Of course, to live up to Pratchett's name is a tall order indeed, but I feel that any author who looks to bring some humour to the genre should be encouraged - because, as with any genre, there's a lot of fun in lovingly pointing out the ridiculous. Farrago was mentioned in my blog post on commissioning last month, and they are a specialist humour publisher, including sections specifically for genre humour. Darkwood came up on Netgalley, and I am a sucker for a fairy tale retelling, so I requested it immediately.

Reading this book felt a little bit as if someone had taken a panto and turned it into a novel, but with a decent side of social and political allegory built in. Given as the author has written for The News Quiz and The Now Show, that's not entirely surprising, and neither is Hutchinson Crouch's talent for the ridiculous, delivered deadpan, and surprising a laugh out of you. Certainly towards the end of the book it's very clear there are some parallels to be drawn between today's jingoistic hate-based politics and how they can be both insidious and harmful, and also a strong message on how diversity should be celebrated and encouraged. There's even a little dig at fake news and propaganda, as well as the hypocrisy of politicians who decry things as evil for everyone, except where it inconveniences them personally.

The plot is simple enough - Gretel is driven out of the Darkwood after being mistaken for a witch, when in reality she's just very good at maths. There she meets a witch who accidentally turns things into cake and as such lives in a cake house, a talking spider, a boy who can grow plants like beanstalks, and a warrior in armour with a band of seven aggressive dwarves. Meanwhile her brother, Hansel, who is actually a witch, is left in the village to deal with the fallout. The Huntsmen aren't satisfied with just letting the witches live in the Darkwood, however, and start to make plans to attack it and all the creatures within it, meaning that war is on its way.

For me, where the book was strongest were the scenes set in the village of Nearby (which I pointedly pronounced as "Near-bee" like it was a village in rural Yorkshire because I thought that made it even funnier). There's a real sense of a small village, where everyone knows each other, and everyone has their own petty squabbles, right up until someone from elsewhere comes to sort things out, and then they all unite and turn on the outsider.

I've mentioned before how much I love scenes of group chaos when someone else is desperately trying to grasp control of the situation with no idea what is going on. The prime example of this was when the Huntsman first arrives in the village and finds everyone bickering over everything else instead of being appropriately cowed by his authority. I also particularly loved the introductory chapters, where we get a sense of how the village has received the orders about how to deal with witches, and followed them in letter if not entirely in spirit. "Witches" are routinely ducked, but the ducking stools are set up in a nice, warm bit of the river, and local women use it as an opportunity for a good scrub, pretending to talk to animals so they can have a good wash whilst villagers hold the soap for them, and shout to ask for repentance, and also if the water temperature is okay. I also cackled at the exchange between Gretel and her stepmother, when her stepmother asks how many times she's told her not to do maths and Gretel plaintively replies, "I don't know, you won't let me count!"

The Darkwood itself is ripe ground for more puns, although I wish perhaps we'd had more time to see Gretel exploring it and finding her feet. She stumbles through it in fear and then has a few excursions which bring her back, inevitably, to the village. I would have loved to have seen more of her getting to know the other magical creatures in the forest, building relationships and trust, and carving out her own niche. I don't necessarily think there's anything I would sacrifice in the existing narrative for that, but perhaps if the book had been a little longer then we could have enjoyed a more leisurely exploration of the forest denizens, and start to see the community there in the same way we did the villagers. As it was, we got a brief introduction to a unicorn, a couple of swamp mermaids and some pixies, but there is talk of wyverns and ogres and manticore in the trees, all able to talk and all with their own quirks and personalities and ongoing arguments. It could have been a delightful meeting of two chaotic tribes.

This is the first in a series, so I'm hoping we get more time developing that as the books progress - not least because two further areas of the wood have been set up as "no-go zones", one with a bear witch (Goldilocks?) and one with a wolf witch (Red Riding Hood, surely), as well as the Huntsmen whose egos have been terribly bruised. There's something a little bit Revolting Rhymes in the reimagining of these fairy tales, and a little bit Once Upon a Time in the bringing the characters together - only Hutchinson Crouch goes back to the stripped back core of the stories and then builds them up into something that fits together well and creates her own lore, instead of smashing together a load of Disney interpretations and trying to make sense of the garbled outcome (I don't like Once Upon A Time). I think my analogy of a panto is best - the plot and delivery are suitable for a huge variety of ages, and each age group will get something different out of it, whilst the whole thing is gleefully anarchic in its tone and it just feels like a great romp.

Briefly:

- A funny, enjoyable, easy-to-read romp through various fairy tales, which frankly would make an excellent panto, and as something for everyone.
- I'm ashamed that it took me until halfway through the book to get the pun on the spider who thinks he's a spy. A SPYder. Good grief @ me.
- I also love how, despite apparently playing against fairy tale expectations, Darkwood actually utilises older character tropes. Gretel is clever and bold, as she was in the original story and as many other fairy tale heroines were (The Snow Queen, for example, or The Seven Ravens), whilst Hansel's gentle and caring nature harks back to the tradition of the simple and kind nature shows him as the other kind of hero (Dick Whittington, or The Fool of the World and the Flying Ship). The perception can often be that fairy tales play into specific heteronormative gender roles, but whilst there are many that do (particularly those which have been adapted and sanitised and sold again and again), there are so many which promote the very traits shown here - the girls riding to the rescue using her wits, and the boys triumphing by being kind and gentle.

Rating: 4/5 - as this is the first in the series, I want to reserve my judgement for the full run, and I do wish there had been more time for Gretel to explore and build up the community in the Darkwood, but it's all round good fun as it is.

You mustn’t go into the Darkwood, Children...

As a keen follower of Gabby Hutchinson Crouch on Twitter, and a fan of all things witchy, when I saw Darkwood available to read I jumped at the chance. Set in the fictional land of Myrsina, this novel takes what you think you know of fairy tales and turns it on its head.

A very humorous retelling of Grimm stories, interwoven to build up a magical community, there are many laughs to be had along the journey of Gretel - accused of witchcraft due to the shocking crime of being a female who likes Maths. Crouch writes in a very informal style, a straightforward good vs bad tale that pits woodland Beasties against the true beasts who threaten all they hold dear.

I am unsure whether this is a YA novel or not, but works well as one if it isn’t. Not my usual style of reading, I like a thriller, suspense and a twist to make your head spin, but a very enjoyable bedtime accompaniment nevertheless.

I received an advanced copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

A Terry Pratchett inspired middle grade fairy tale adventure featuring favourites like Jack ( of the Beanstalk fame) , Snow White, and our main protagonists Hansel and Gretel, this book was a sheer satirical delight from the very first page.
Hansel and Gretel live in the village of Nearby in the kingdom of Myrsina, a land where magic is forbidden along with abominations such as women who do sums, and where the Huntsmen scour the country looking for witches. Right beside the village is the Darkwood, a place where children are warned never to go, as it is full of monsters and evil magic. When an ogre attacks the village ,Gretel's quick thinking and clever inventions save the day, but they also attract the attention of the Huntsmen, and so her only option if she wants to avoid being burned as a witch is to flee into the Darkwood, where she meets several characters the readers will know very well.
Without spoiling too much of the ensuing adventure, there is plenty of drama and action as she tries to save her brother and the village from destruction.
This book is genuinely funny, the humour is sharp and liberally sprinkled over the whole thing, and I often found myself giggling at a particularly well crafted phrase. The characters are great, they feel very real, experiencing moments of doubt as well as determination, and this applies equally to the more secondary characters. While the book has a strong message about the dangers of seeing people as "other " or "less than" it is really well integrated into the story as a whole. The world building is clever and well done, and I look forward to reading more books set in the Darkwood and its surroundings.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

I didn’t realise this was a middle grade book, but I really enjoyed it, it was fun, well written and really entertaining.i think I need to read more like this now. All credit to gabby for converting me to middle grade books.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

Darkwood by Gabby Hutchinson Crouch may be perfect for you if you're looking for a funny MG fantasy adventure story. It took me a minute to get into the writing style (it's in present tense), but once you do you'll be hooked. I loved all of the fairy tale elements that the author managed to tie together so seamlessly from Hansel and Gretel, Snow, Jack and everyone. Even better is the sense of humor - it's very self aware, by the way, which completely works in its favor. I have a feeling if you're a fan of Shrek or Monty Python and the Holy Grail, you'll get a kick out of this series opener. I'm looking forward to continuing The Darkwood Series.

Under thoroughly enjoyed this take of the classic fairy tales - I loved the abundance of strong female characters, the engaging plot, the dark humour throughout. Some of the writing felt a like clunky for me, particularly in the dialogue but overall this was a really fun read, well paced - I look forward to reading more about the Darkwood!

A brilliant twist on the original legend Hansel and Gretel. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the magic surrounding it. Cannot wait to read more.

Other reviewers suggest that this is a middle-grade book. Whilst I’m sure students would enjoy it; I don’t believe it’s a “middle-grade” book. It is emphatically enjoyable for 60-year old adults like me too. The book is a light read but I found myself re-reading some pages just because the dialogue was so good.
It is reminiscent of Terry Pratchett’s books: fantasy; a riff upon a folk-tale (in this case, Snow White, Hansel & Gretel and echoes of a couple of others); and very very funny one-liners. I’m still laughing out loud, a few days later at the exchange between Gretel and the princess:
“Can you feel peas in your bed?”
“I’ll pee in YOUR bed, if you’re not careful.”
“Well, that’s not very regal, is it?”

It’s reminiscent of Terry, but Gabby Hutchinson Crouch is NOT copying Terry. She has her own voice. Gaving said that, I’m pretty confident that if you enjoyed Terry Pratchett’s books, you WILL enjoy GHC’s. I wish, however, that she didn’t use the present tense. I find it irritating and distracting – and I can’t think of a good reason for her to use it.

I consider it a badge of pride to be one of the first fans of Darkwood and, oh, I do hope the second book in the series comes along soon. The last page of Darkwood hints at a sequel with more jeopardy to come…

#Darkwood #NetGalley

I absolutely love this book. It is perfection!

Darkwood is suitable for anyone from middle-grade to adult, as there is plenty of peril and adventure, but the strongest word (used in the direst situations) is ‘trousers’!

The plot takes classic fairytale characters such as Hansel and Gretel, or Jack of beanstalk fame, and tumbles and twists them about into something brand new, touching and very funny. Similarly there are ogres and unicorns, fairies and mermaids, but they may not look or behave exactly as you might expect.

Gretel, our main character, is forced into the woods for witchcraft and finds herself joining a jolly band of (mostly) friendly witches – and a talking spider, Trevor – as they attempt to protect the good folk against the wicked. Which is problematic because Gretel isn’t actually a witch…just very good at Maths. And she’s really not sure which folk are which!

There are some serious lessons here about how we treat those who are different; about hypocrisy and bravery; about judging on appearances, first impressions, gender or species. These morals are integral to the story but at no point do they intrude on the sheer entertainment of the action. There are simply cool-headed, logical STEM girls, tough kick ass girls, sensitive boys who worry and overthink… and a talking spider who thinks that sunglasses and a big hat make him inconspicuous! Everyone does what they do best and delightful mayhem ensues.

This is a well-written twisted fairytale with great characters and world-building and I am exceptionally happy that the ending clearly points to a sequel. May there be many more adventures in the Darkwood!



You don’t go into the Darkwood. That’s one of the first lessons every child learns in Myraina. All sorts of nasty things live out there, amongst the twisted trees and brambles. That’s where the witches and the beasties creep, and if you go in there, you’ll never come out again, or you’ll come back all wrong, and won’t be able to live with notmal decent folk any more. Stay away from the Darkwood, child, don’t even go near. Unless… well… house prices are so cheap on the outskirts of the wood.

– Gabby Hutchinson Crouch, Darkwood

Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog

This is a retelling of many fairy tales rolled into one quirky story. It is along the lines of the drama 'Once upon a time' in terms of its content. There is a flippancy in the conversation and the humour lies in the delivery and the situation that we are witnessing. 
Hansel and Gretel live with their step-parents in a little village where they get orders from power at the citadel on how to conduct their daily lives and how things are supposed to work. When Gretel is suspected of being a witch and driven out to Darkwood(the magical wood bordering their village) new information comes to light. Gretel corrals the troops, which consists of different odd magical life forms in order to defend their way of life. It is a fun book meant for light reading despite touching upon forms of xenophobia and the blind faith in cult-like situations. 

There are many other fairy-tale characters that make their way into the story in order to give it more substance and they are all unique in their own way, none more so than Trevor (more about him would get clearer on reading the book itself). I would recommend this to fans of retellings as well as quirky dialogues and characters.

"We make out that witches aren’t real people, but we pretend that we aren’t people, either. Because, if we can convince others and ourselves that we’re not really people, then we can let ourselves get away with committing some really inhuman acts."

This was hilarious and also surprisingly deep towards the end. It starts out as a satire of many common fairy tales [Hansel and Gretel, Snow White, Jack and the Beanstalk, etc] as well as a commentary on the antiquated gender roles in most fairy tale type stories. By the end it's actually a very insightful commentary on how easy it is for people to turn against other people who are 'different' than them and what a slippery slope that can turn out to be. The plot is very fast paced and funny and I really liked all the characters and the unique spins that the author put on them. I would definitely recommend this to people who like tongue-in-cheek fairy tale retellings like Kiersten White's Beanstalker and Other Hilarious Scarytales.

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you NetGalley & author.

LIke some of the other reviewers, I initially didn't realize this was a middle grade book. It was an unique storyline, a fun take on fairytales and the such. My daughter whom is in 4th grade also really enjoyed it!

What caught my eye about this story was the fact that it had the feel of olden fairy tales (like Grimm’s) yet was modern and fresh. I loved the idea of a magical “forest” filled with darkness, beasts and witches. Gretel and her adventures called to me. I very much enjoyed this YA story and would love to read more in this world. A mixture of classic fairy tales mix together seamlessly, and they create a magical world for any reader to get lost in.

No one is safe in Deadwood, not even the dead, but Gretel thinks soon finds herself immersed into the life of Deadwood when she is accused of being a witch. Gretel (against her society’s beliefs) is smart; she uses math, engineering and all that related sciences to help her in the world (females are not to do math/science). I loved that she stayed who she was and would not form to expectations.

In Deadwood she meets the most interesting and fun/scary creatures. I loved this world and all that it inhabited. The creatures were so vivid and amazing to read about. These (I think) made the story for me. I would love to get to know these people/creatures and be a part of this amazing world. I don’t want to give away more as I truly think that this world is best experienced as you read, but it really enjoyed the adventure. Oh and if there was ever a creature/familiar that fit me this story has it! It’s a talking spider and yea, that would be my dream!

This story is so much more than just a modern retelling of some favorite fairy tales but if you just want to read it for the entertainment value, you won’t be disappointed! I highly recommend this story and I will be adding it to my “buy for friend's children” list! I received an ARC via NetGallery and Farrago and I am leaving my honest review.

#NetGallery #Darkwood #FairyTales # MustReadYA #AdventureReading

This book was a lot of fun. It had an interesting concept and delivered it well. I enjoyed it immensely.

Thirteen year old Gretel Mudd is very clever in a place where this trait in girls leads to suspicions of witchcraft. As a result, Gretel is banished to the terrifying Darkwood where she meets an assortment of witches and fairy-tale creatures. Alongside her new companions, she must save her family and home from the dangerous Huntsmen.

Darkwood is a wonderfully humorous tale, suitable for middle grade to adult. The narrative tone is an incredibly witty and readable way of dealing with some deeper issues such as prejudice and abuse of power.

Gretel and her friends are quirky and likable, with plenty of clever quips and sarcastic remarks between them. Gretel’s new companions include some interesting takes on some familiar fairy-tale characters. I particularly liked the portrayal of the slightly inept Huntsmen and their ridiculous, hypocritical leader.

This is the first in The Darkwood Series, but stands alone well as a self-contained story. I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who likes new interpretations of fairy-tales, or who just likes a fun read.

Hansel & Gretel Meet Snow White . . . and Jack in the Beanstalk and Unicorns and Centaurs and Ogres and other magical and mythical beings. Most fairy tales seem to exist in monarchies, but the King has been overthrown and the Princess has fled to the forest. Dystopia is ruled by masked creatures who, thinking magic is the venue of women, have restricted the education of girls (no maths allowed!) and condemn witches to death--or the forest. Written with a great deal of snarky humor, with interesting twists on the stories from our childhoods.

Any fairytale retelling is a great read in my opinion and it is a sure trope to get me to buy it.
Loved this one which had a reminiscent feel of the Brother Grimm and Angela Carter in certain ways.

Absolutely had me hooked.

Will be on the lookout for more from this author

A dark, sarcastic, and freaking hilarious retelling of Hansel and Gretel, with a few other fairy tales thrown in.
Gretel bites off a whole lot more than she can chew when she escapes into the Darkwood and accidentally joins a gang of witches. But she can handle it, she can do maths.
It reminds me a bit of Discworld and it was nice to see that the author did get inspiration from that among other sarcastic magical stories.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book was so entertaining! I'm not quite sure how to classify it, fairy tale inspired? Whatever it is, it's creative, fun, and I enjoyed every minute reading this. The plot twist wasn't quite what I expected which was also great. I am so excited for the next installment in this series!

Darkwood features smart, funny dialogue and a brilliant turn on your typical fairy tale characters. I enjoyed reading this one and it was a quick read given the intended audience.

This book was truly spectacular – the writing style and humour very much reminded me of Terry Pratchett, using familiar themes and spinning them in unexpected and hilarious directions. Crouch touches on social issues like fake news, gender roles and talking spiders in fun and entertaining ways.

This story features some of the most famous characters in fairy tales and has them all interacting with each other, turning their stories on their heads. There are brilliant hints about what we can expect in the next part of the story too, which I’m very excited about!

The book is listed as a middle grade title but this is more than suitable for adults too – I would recommend this for all fantasy readers who enjoy a giggle!


*I received an ARC of this title via Netgalley. All opinions are my own*

One of my favourite tropes in fantasy is the banned/outlawed magic trope, so as soon as I came across this Middle Grade novel on NetGalley, which not only includes that trope but also follows a girl with an interest in STEM, I knew I wanted to give it a try.

Darkwood is the first book in a new fantasy MG series following Gretel Mudd, who ends up chased away from her home of Nearby Village and into the Darkwood after the Huntsmen wrongly accuse her of witchcraft. In Darkwood she falls in with a band of real witches – and a talking spider called Trevor – who, like her, have been forced from their homes, and together they try to put a stop to the Huntsmen’s tyranny.

I had a feeling this book would be funny given that it’s written by one of the writers of the Horrible Histories series, but I didn’t expect it to be quite as funny as it is. I laughed out loud several times while reading this book, and what I loved most was how this isn’t a book that patronises its readers; there are jokes for children and adults alike in here and, outside of the humour, actions have real consequences in this book.

Darkwood is brimming with likeable characters. Gretel so easily could have been one of those irritatingly precocious children who doesn’t feel real, but she’s written with such warmth and a brilliant sense of humour and Hutchinson Crouch isn’t afraid to let her make mistakes that she must learn from. In particular, while Gretel has been forced to hide how clever she is and her particular talent for science and maths because she’s a girl, she herself has been perpetuating harmful stereotypes about the creatures of the Darkwood. I think this book will be an eye-opener for a lot of younger readers without feeling gimmicky or preachy.

Darkwood also includes a lot of fairy tale characters that those of us who grew up with the Grimms’ Fairy Tales will be familiar with, but they’re not quite the characters we know – this book is more Shrek than Disney – and they feel so fresh and original despite being some of the oldest characters in western literature. I’m not going to mention who they are because I think part of the fun is meeting them as Gretel meets them, but I loved her little gang of misfits and I loved this book. I can’t wait for the next one!

This book was a treat! I received my copy as an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This book was a fun conglomeration of multiple fairytales, but with a dark twist. There were times that I felt like I was reading a children’s story and happily reliving my childhood, while there were others where the darkness felt like a crime novel. This combination in the subtle hints at so many fairytales we know well made the book quite enjoyable. My only regret is not brushing up on my fairytales before beginning. I am looking forward to the sequel!

This was absolutely wonderful! Fairy tale fantasy that should appeal to everyone from middle grade up, as long as they enjoy snark, great female characters, and pitch-perfect skewering of bigotry - I definitely wouldn't pigeonhole this as a children's or adults' book, as there's too much to love for all ages. The characters are wonderful, both those you know from classic fairy tales, and those that are new - my favourites were smart, no-nonsense Gretel, kickass Snow, and Trevor the talking spider. It's laugh-out-loud funny in places, but also has a lot of very intelligent things to say, and says them without ever being patronising or try-hard. It's a new favourite for me, and I'll be recommending it to all my friends while I wait for the next book!

I absolutely loved this book and cannot wait for the next one. I wasn’t surprised that it was written by one of the writers of Horrible Histories as it is hilariously witty and satirical. In the village of Nearby live Hansel and Gretel, towns with their own unique abilities. They live on the edge of the Darkwood, where they are told to never venture. But when strange things start happening in the village the creatures of the Darkwood begin to come out.
The book is written for middle-grade readers but it’s highly enjoyable for kids and adults alike. It tackles some topical issues such as prejudice, humanity and the abuse of power. It’s also very funny and entertaining. Read it out loud to yourself or your kids.

This book wasn’t what I imagined at all. It’s a middle grade which I didn’t expect (my own fault, should have checked), don’t get me wrong I love reading middle grade, it just took me a while to adjust my expectations.

Once I got into this tale I was thoroughly absorbed. The quirky nature of this story is right up my alley. A bunch of fairy tale creatures have been driven from their homes and into Darkwood, home of the ‘beasties’.

Characters
I can’t begin to explain how much I enjoyed the characters we come across in this story. You’ll recognize lots but they won’t be as you traditionally know them. This is almost the perfect transition book for the younger end of Middle Grade, as they will know the names and characters but are presented with a more complicated tale.

Setting
The settings in this book are so well described. I could really visualize the village and the people that live there. Darkwood is given the appropriate creepy feel, imagine all your nightmares about forests rolled into one. I loved the contrast between the two but actually at the heart of both they are very similar.

Final Thoughts
Overall, this is a great story, some humorous moments but also some tender, heart wrenching ones. Throw in some bloody moments for good measure and you have a story which I know a lot of children will absolutely love.

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started this book. What I found was a heartwarming tale of communities coming together under the most extraordinary circumstances. I whole heartily recommend this read.

My thanks to the publishers for a copy of the book to review via netgalley.

This was a very clever and witty book. So much fun to read. My favorite character by far was Trevor. Who knew a spider could be a master of disguises?

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book, which I voluntarily chose to review.

Very enjoyable with arch humour and amusing characters. Would definitely recommend to Terry Pratchett and Princess Bride fans.

Much of the fantasy genre is riddled with wicked and dark themes. Such is not the case with Darkwood by Gabby Hutchinson Crouch.

Gretel and her brother Hansel are orphaned siblings being taken care of by their stepfather and stepmother. That sentence alone is a good clue as to where this story will take you. Gretel is a girl who is good at maths, but the Huntsmen believe that she is a witch. When one Huntsman comes to the village of Nearby, the quirky villagers delay him while Gretel forms her escape into the Darkwood.

Gabby Hutchinson Crouch points toward the insidiousness of hate-based politics and the celebration of diversity. Sexism plays into the narrative as well when it is (quickly) revealed that it is Hansel with the powers. Like most fairy tales, Darkwood excels at delivering a moral. Not all who are different are bad.

Humor abounds with deadpan delivery, often eliciting a snort of laughter while Gretel uncovers the truth about Darkwood. As it stands, Darkwood's more successful moments come with the villagers. A cast of quirky characters who bicker amongst themselves, only to rally when an outsider dares to step into their midst.

It would have been better had Gretel spent more time among the magical creatures in the wood. A litany of mythical creatures are hinted at, while only a few make appearances. The ones we do meet, a talking spider who dons a hat, a witch who turns everything into gingerbread, and a boy who grows plants like beanstalks, are stuffed full of interest.

Perhaps elongating the novel would have helped secure a more robust community amongst those who have found refuge in Darkwood. There is nothing within the book now that needs sacrificing. Taking the reader on a longer ride would be much appreciated, which is perhaps what Gabby Hutchinson Crouch is going to produce in the coming volumes.

A Fractured Fairytale

Start with Hansel and Gretel, Snow White, Jack the Beanstalk guy, and the gingerbread house Witch. Add a hilarious, snappily dressed, and cunningly disguised spider. Add a few more entertaining characters. Toss in villainous but slightly inept Huntsmen. Get them all running around the Darkwood in the combined style of the Marx Brothers, Terry Pratchett, and the "Fractured Fairytales" episodes from the old "Rocky and Bullwinkle" cartoon show. Sound good? It is.

I especially appreciated the fact the this was, despite the description above, written in a fairly restrained and slightly deadpan style. Snappy patter, dry throwaway lines, slightly edgy observations, and sly asides nicely balance the zany premise. It's a smart and well paced farce, but the story has heart, (who exactly is the "other"?), and the characters are uniformly appealing.

Sometimes you just want a book that's just smart, amusing, and likable, and you're happy to put yourself in the hands of an author who knows what she's doing. It's easy to be heavy; it's hard to be light. But Crouch makes it seem effortless. A cheery treat.

(Please note that I received a free ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)

This was such a fun spin on the fairytales we all know and love. I loved the humour, I loved the author's commentary on some of the politics and social issues that are underlying the fairytales. I definitely felt nostalgic while reading this, growing up watching horrible histories, this was very reminiscent of my childhood and the content I consumed as an Aussie kid.

Thank you so much for allowing me to read and review your titles.
I do appreciate it and continue to review books that I get the chance to read.
Thanks again!

Darkwood is the first book I read from this author. It was not what I expected and I was pleasantly surprised to learn it was quite enjoyable.

Synopsis:
Magic is forbidden in Myrsina, along with various other abominations, such as girls doing maths. This is bad news for Gretel Mudd, who doesn’t perform magic but does know a lot of maths. When her clever inventions prompt the sinister masked Huntsmen who run the country to accuse her of Witchcraft, she is forced to flee her home into the neighbouring Darkwood, where all the Witches and Monsters dwell.

There, she happens upon a group of Witches: Buttercup, who can’t help turning things into gingerbread; Jack Trott, who can make plants grow at will; The White Knight with her band of Dwarves and a talking spider called Trevor. These aren’t the terrifying villains she’s been warned about all her life. They’re actually quite nice. Well… most of them.

With the Huntsmen on the warpath, Gretel must act fast to help the Witches save both the Darkwood and her home village while unravelling the rhetoric and lies that have demonised magical beings for the past thirteen years.

SO MUCH FUN!

I didn't know this was a middlegrade, but wow I really really enjoyed this one! The style of the writing is present tense, so it was a little while before I really got into it. Still, the characters were awesome and the humour! This book was so funny, I highly recommend it!!

I couldn't quite mesh with this one, but that’s not a failure of the book, more an issue of me just not being the right reader. I liked it enough to get my little sister a copy of her own!