Such Big Teeth

Thanks to Netgalley and Farrago for an ARC of this book.

This is a fantastic follow up to Darkwood, which I loved reading last year and was among my favourite reads for the year. I can already tell that Such Big Teeth will be among my faves for this year as well.

Gretel and her witchy friends travel to another part of the Darkwood in the hopes of finding new witchy allies. They discover a werewolf, a cursed man-raven, and a bear witch named Gilde Locke who doesn't like things too hot or too cold. Yep. Our friends set about trying to win these three over to their cause, or failing that plan to try to split them apart. I was a bit sad that our super loyal group would attempt to split another group apart, but the story managed to make it seem like a good thing by making one of the characters not so nice. Turning it into more of a rescue than a betrayal, though the sense of betrayal couldn't be entirely erased.

Hansel and Daisy leave Nearby to go to the Citadel and protect it from a monster that Hansel has a vision about. The monster turns out to be not actually what they expected. The Huntsmen are in the middle of an election campaign, a new head Hunstmen is to be chosen. The orange candidate plans to create new abomination lists and punish people more severely and make it so that women don't vote in future - wouldn't you know, the colours used by candidates confuse women voters because the colours clash with their hair. Isn't he kind to try to protect women from such a horrible thing? The green candidate is a nice woman, she wants to get rid of all the torture and abomination lists and the hunting of innocents. Hansel and Daisy set about helping her win. Also she has a super cute puppy. Poems have been written about this puppy. It's uber cute.

My absolute favourite thing about this series is the wholesome loyalty of the characters. Our friends are all loyal to each other of course, but other people are too. This world has great potential to turn people against each other and the back stories of some characters sadly reflect this truth. But we get to focus in on a massive group that don't turn against each other. The entire village of Nearby once again pull together and are willing to sacrifice everything to protect those they love, and those they don't even know that well. They become willing to give all for the Darkwood itself, and all the creatures within. And the way this series breaks the evil step parent trope is great too, I love how much the Mudd family loves each other. The Mudd step parents are so amazing.

Of course the humour is also very good, I laughed out loud - like actually out loud - several times, and smirked and snorted even more. The trope breaking is very well done, and the underlying messages are great. Yes it's funny what the orange candidate says about women, but it's also noted that some people agree with him, and that is something worth learning and recognising about the real world. The book does that a lot without shoving it all in your face. It's great. And the casual inclusion of four LGB people was quite well done. There is nothing sexual in these books, to be clear - it is a kids book after all. The most we get is some hand holding and some discussions that mention kissing and are hilarious.

I very much look forward to the next book.

I have immersed myself for a quite a while now in the grim dark future that is the world of Warhammer and has forgotten the sheer joy that can be had reading a book that doesn’t involve space marines or Primarchs, this book was excellent, it held me enraptured and I only wish I could have listened to as well as read (my current favourite form of reading is Audible) I hope the author releases this as an audiobook because I would certainly buy it!!

This is the second installment in the Darkwood series, and it picks up right after the events in the first book. The Battle of Nearby Village may be over and the Huntsmen waylaid by Gretel and her band of magical misfits, but the war is far from over. Knowing they'll need a lot more forces to join their cause, the group journey to the hostile lands of the north forest seeking help from whoever they can. Along the way, they meet a grumpy old Bear Witch, a werewolf and a cursed raven man. As Gretel and gang try to persuade them to their side, her brother Hansel and best friend Daisy head off on their own dangerous quest to the Citadel, where they stumble upon an election that's sure to shake the entire country to its core. Just like the first book, this was a hilarious magical romp. Crouch's writing is so clever and quick witted, I found myself chuckling the entire time. It still gives off all the Monty Python/Terry Pratchett vibes which I loved. I did find some parts of this a little slower than the first, but still really enjoyed it. If you're in the mood for a funny take on the fairytale trope, check this series out.

Darkwood series is officialy my favourite fairytales retellings of all times. It is written with so much wit and humor, and characters are just amazing. In many parts it reminds me of Terry Practhett's Tiffany Aching series or Witches series. I know that it is tagged children fantasy, but really, I think that every fan of Discworld and humorous light novels will like it. True, main protagonists are about 12 or 13, but there are others magnificent characters that are older and I think that reader in every age will find this novel appropriate.

I liked Darkwood, but Such Big Teeth is even better. For most part it covers a story of Gretel and her team going north to find allies in north witches. Of course it isn't easy. And there's Hansel and Daisy going to Citadel to trying to stop a monster, where they find out what politic really looks like. We meet some new interesting characters and there's also sweet romances both straight and queer.

I think that more people should know about this series, because it is really good. Characters are just amazing, it's like, you meet your favourite fairytale characters in totally new light. My personal favourite is Snow, but there are others that are almost as great.

You want something funny, with witty dialogues and characters you will root for from start to the end? Go read Darkwood series!

The ending promises us a new adventures and want them right now!

Thank You NetGalley for giving me ARC copy of this magnificent book.

5 stars

When I first requested this book I didn't realize it was the second in the series. So before digging in I bought and read book 1 Darkwood. I found the writing in both to be very fun and witty. While more juvenile than my usual taste I feel safe saying this is a series the whole family can enjoy. There were times I laughed out loud and much to my husband's delight Read aloud sections to him. This second book was slightly slower at times than book 1 and maybe a hint darker.
Let me explain that a bit. In book 1 it felt like even if things went wrong for the characters things were still kept light and fluffy. Sort of like Spaceballs. Where even the bad guy is a little goofy and you can't take him totally seriously. IN Such big teeth while there is still a humorous element to the bad guys. I found myself really hoping they would get a good comeuppance.
Overall Like I said I really loved the humorous fairy tail story and will defiantly recommend this book to my 10-year-old to read.

This book made me wish I had an eight year old to snuggle up with, to read it aloud with funny voices (except said eight year old might be in hysterics by lights-out, so maybe it's not the best choice for bed time)!

Such Big Teeth is more than a fractured fairy tale - it's a mad mash-up of Shrek Goes to Prydain, in all the best ways. When I requested it I didn't realize it was the second book in a series, but the back story is relayed organically and doesn't slow the action. Not having read the first book did not impede my enjoyment of Such Big Teeth, and if anything, made it more likely that I'd seek the first book out as well.

The book's strength is its dialogue, for which the term "witty" is inadequate, and which is so layered that children and adults will all find something amusing in it. Highly, highly recommend!

I adored this book! This was such a fun read that I'm sure younger readers will enjoy! The characters and retellings were imaginative and creative, and everything flowed well together. The scenarios and banter between characters had me laughing out loud. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series!

This book is a sequel, so I downloaded the first book on my kindle and this review is more for both books together.

The first book I would have given 3.5 stars, but this book was a much more enjoyable read and I’d give it 4-4.5.

Firstly what I disliked. The first book in particular seemed to move too quickly, characters introduced really suddenly without the development behind it. The author told us everything you needed to know about everyone within a few lines of meeting them. Trevor the spider really irritated me at certain moments in both books. I couldn’t put my finger on what it was precisely. The way he is written when he speaks was something that annoyed me. Again, not sure why, I guess he was just one of those characters. Finally, the first book had everything going too well. There was no real struggles, and everything that happened was in the heroes favour.

However, onto the things I liked. Both books were really fun. I loved the way all these fairy tale characters were written into the book and I really enjoyed the authors spin on them. I looked forward to the reading book number two, to find out which characters she would reimagine next. The way the author writes is also something I really enjoyed. Both books were an easy read because of the authors prose.

The second book in question, I really did like. Most of the things that bugged me with the first book were not issues in this one. Characters were written to be much more complex - for example Gilde and Morning. Both ended up being believable characters with their own motives. The character development from the first book was great, I felt like we as the reader got a better insight into who these people were and how the author had imagined them.

There were a lot more twists and scenes with things not going so well. There were many more moments of surprise and suspense in the second book. The lack of action in the first book was definitely made up for in the second, and I am really looking forward to the third after that ending.

Overall, the first book seemed to set the stage but could probably have done with being longer and developing characters and plots a little more. However, it was still enjoyable and provided a great base for this book which was a really enjoyable read and I can’t wait for the next one.

The second book in the darkwoon series this book follows on from Darkwood and continues to introduce us to Fairy Tale characters in a light we haven't seen them in before.

It was an interesting read that I would recommend for middle grade level readers and perhaps people who like to read about Fairy Tale characters in a new setting.

The dialogue and relationships between the characters were heartfelt and flowed really well.

I was smiling and silently laughing at the little quirks and growing bonds with characters easily.

The little twists and turns added so much to the book and only made me want the third one to be out so I could read more!

#SuchBigTeeth #NetGalley
Great second book in the series! An underrated first book. The series is so much fun and I love the characters.

The target audience for this book is younger than I assumed when I requested the book, but it's very fun regardless. Perfect for children and fans of subverted fairytales.

A strong follow up to 2019's Darkwood, this second novel series takes place about two weeks following the Battle of Nearby Village. Hutchinson-Crouch's cast of characters expands, adding new magical misfits and skin crawling villains who are all the more horrible for their familiarity while retaining the fun and humor of the first book in the seires. The narrative is split between the efforts of the Darkwood Witches to identify and secure new allies and Hansel and Daisy's efforts to find and confront a monster Hansel is sure has targeted the Citadel. Reading the first book in the series first is recommended to reduce confusion.

this is the second book in the darkwood series and i must say i really adored this book.i loved the characters and it was so much fun reading this book,It was an interesting read .that I would recommend for middle grade level readers and perhaps people who like to read about Fairy Tale characters in a new setting.sometimes when reading it was a little slower at times than book 1 and maybe just a little darker but i must say i do recommend.

A great follow on from Darkwood. I can't wait to read the next instalment! If you like to think about the origins of fairy stories, and are a fan of Terry Pratchett then this series is for you.

Utterly unexpected! When I sat down to read this with my granddaughter, I had no idea how much I was also going to love it. Well, that said, I sort of expected I might since I'm still a little girl at heart and will always love a good fairytale, even if I prefer them with a darker slant nowadays. We were both so enthralled that we encouraged each other to stay up late reading.

The creativity is what immediately grabbed me, creatures and characters come to life, rolling off the page with a wonderland playfulness. There is humor laced into the story, some that will make the younger readers giggle and in places some more subtle that will tickle more mature funny bones.

It was neat to see familiar characters from beloved fairytales in a new spin amid some very cleverly crafted new additions. The story moves quickly, which serves both the intended reader age and readers like me who like to dive into a tale and swim with the current. Every word was perfect, not a single ounce of fat.

Highly... super highly recommended for readers who love fairytales and fantasy adventures.

It's hard to find properly funny books for older children. Younger kids have Wimpy Kids and David Walliams coming out their ears; once they hit tween years, it's just wry comments and occasional jokes, nothing with humour built right in. (Prove me wrong in the comments! I'm always looking for new humour titles.)

This series is really helping to deal with that lack. Hansel, Gretel and their friends are recovering from the Battle of Nearby. Gretel and the Witches are trying to drum up help for the inevitable march on the Citadel, while Hansel and Daisy head there for some reconnaissance as the Hunters regroup from their defeat. Although there's no recap, and as always I'd forgotten the specifics of the previous book by now, I picked things back up really quickly. Gabby has the gift of making exposition seem completely natural and normal, so I didn't even realise I was being reminded of things I read almost exactly a year ago.

It's fun picking out all the little references to other stories and fairy tales. I guess who Hex was as soon as I saw him, and Scarlett took only a little bit longer. Gilde was pretty obvious, too. I still have no idea who the Glass Witch is, though! But as she hasn't really featured yet, only been (reluctantly) mentioned by other characters, I'm ok with that. I'll get her in the next one. (or the next, or the next, this could run and run.)

I really enjoyed this fun read, and I very much hope that this time next year I'll be writing a review of the next one.

I loved the first book in this series and I loved this one.
Excellent world building and storytelling, a great cast of character, humour and a plot that flows. All these elements work well together and makes it an entertaining and engrossing read.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

If you are courageous enough to venture into the Darkwood today, you’ll find witches and beasties. The people of Myrsina have been terrified of its inhabitants for a very long time. The huntsmen have encouraged this fear, as well as ensuring the list of abominations that keep the non-magical folk of Myrsina on a short leash continues to grow. Gretel used to fear the Darkwood as well, until she was banished there for being a witch.

Having now lived amongst Darkwood’s witches and beasties, she realises they’re not all as scary as she was led to believe. Although, to be fair, Bin Night is actually pretty scary. Gretel has been welcomed into a sort of functional/dysfunctional found family and they’re about to brave the north to try to recruit help for their upcoming battle against the masked huntsmen.

“Witches live in this house. With a spider. Oh, and it’s haunted.”

Travelling from their partially edible home in the woods are:

* Gretel, who I’ve already mentioned. She’s the Mudd witch (not actually a witch).
* Buttercup, who cakeifies inanimate objects when she touches them, usually accidentally.
* Jack: botanist extraordinaire.
* Snow, an axe-wielding, armour wearing princess.
* Dwarves. “Yummy!”. No, they’re not edible. You need to read the book to understand why they’re so yummy.
* Patience, who once upon a time was a huntsman, but is now a ghost.
* Trevor: talking spider, spy and all round master of disguises. We love Trevor!

‘And then there’ll be a masked ball and I’ll go in disguise and all the ladies will be like “who is that dashing man?” And I’ll be all “ha ha! It’s me! Trevor the spider and not a man at all!”’

Meanwhile, Hansel, Gretel’s twin brother, and Daisy, Gretel’s friend, are on their own journey. Hansel didn’t have a great deal of page time in the first book and it was really fun getting to know him.

Holding up a mirror to the world both inside and outside of Myrsina (oh, there’s also a character called Mirror, who is … a mirror), this sequel uses humour to address divisiveness and discrimination in society, highlighting ways that social and legal frameworks attempt to demonise anyone that’s considered ‘other’. It also gives voice to those who aren’t in positions of power, while encouraging magical and non-magical folk alike to fight back against injustice and change the system.

‘We have to stop listening to the stories telling us to fear what’s in the Darkwood. We are the Darkwood.’

As soon as I opened this book my brain delighted in shouting, “Bin Night!” Yes, I know we’ve established that Bin Night isn’t exactly something to be delighted about, but it was one of my takeaway phrases from ‘Darkwood’. Like so many elements in that story, including fairytale characters that I thought I knew well enough that they couldn’t possibly have the capacity to surprise me, Bin Night was not what I imagined when I first learned of its existence. It had humour, some danger and what I thought I knew before I began reading was turned on its head.

Although I hadn’t heard that it was on its way, as soon as I spotted David Wardle’s cover image I knew it could only be heralding the ‘Darkwood’ sequel I had been waiting for. While I met plenty of new characters in both the north and the Citadel, they strode into my imagination almost fully formed. I didn’t have to work to get to know them or to visualise the new locations I travelled to.

Although the north was not what I’d been expecting, that wasn’t a bad thing and it was certainly worth the wait. I’m already anticipating learning more about the Glass Witch, who I’ll need to cross the river and travel to the eastern woods to meet. Trousers! This wait is going to be a “pain in the gooseberries.”

I definitely recommend reading this series in order, lest you unknowingly wander into spoiler territory. You really need the foundations that ‘Darkwood’ provides for a lot of the humour in this book to work best and for the ways the characters interact with one another to make sense.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Farrago, an imprint of Duckworth Books, for the opportunity to read this book.

I’ve been jiggling impatiently ever since I read Gabby Hutchinson Crouch’s Darkwood book, desperate to read the sequel. How desperate? Think of a teenage virgin who’s been promised by their new squeeze that “My parents will be away all night.”. Or a middle-aged chap with a prostate who’s looking for a public loo during lockdown. Now turn that anticipation dial up to 11. That’s how much I’ve been looking forward to this book.

Darkwood culminates in a battle between the village of Nearby and the huntsmen – a nasty force that remind me of the Saudi religious police, except the huntsmen are looking for witches and magical creatures rather than people enjoying themselves. Nearby village protected their witch with the help of other witches, dwarves, unicorns, etc… Such Big Teeth starts two weeks after that battle.

Hansel (the witch) has an awful vision of a monster attacking the Citadel, the capital of Myrsina, and sets off with his friend, Daisy, to save the townspeople. Meanwhile, his twin sister, Gretel goes to the north of the Darkwood to seek help from the wolf and bear witches in preparation for the huntsmen’s return. Would you believe they meet Gilde and three bears? And yes, Gilde offers them porridge…

As with the first book, the joy of Such Big Teeth is the dialogue. “Gretel can’t help but imagine a were-raven-wolf. More specifically, she can’t help but imagine what it must be like to have one fly over you after it’s digested a particularly large dinner.” And I daren’t quote the one about Snow and Buttercup kissing!

Did the book merit my anticipation? Almost. The teenage twins discover that other people’s perspectives may be uncomfortable but valid, e.g. “A reason the huntsmen have been doing so well for so long is that people - ordinary people – actually like what they do.” There is an election in Citadel and we discover that’s what politics is like: you may abhor what a candidate stands for, but if their views resonate with the majority, they will get elected. By definition, can the majority be wrong? Also, what if you really like some of a candidate’s views but are horrified by others? Do you vote for the views you like or against the ones you don’t? Life is messy.

#SuchBigTeeth #NetGalley

I really, really enjoyed the chaotic satire of Darkwood, and thought that, during this time of stress and dismay, the second volume would be the perfect uplifting and cheerful read to help me relax and unwind.

Hah.

I don’t know what I expected from someone who writes for The News Quiz and other similarly political satire shows. Where these things were gently seeded in book one, the satire becomes less subtle in this book. There are going to be some spoilers for both book one, and for this instalment, although I will try to keep them to a minimum.

It follows on a fortnight after the end of Darkwood, elections for a new Head Huntsman are being held in the capital city, while the residents of Nearby and the Darkwood are worried about retribution from the Powers That Be. Buttercup, Snow, Gretel and Jack have a plan in place to try and recruit the witches of the Northern Darkwood – the Bear and Wolf witches. Meanwhile, Hansel is having visions of a monster attacking the city, and even though it’s full of Huntsmen, it’s also full of civilians, and they don’t deserve to be attacked by a monster. So he and Daisy head to the city to investigate, and see if they can stop disaster.

See if you can guess which societal elements may get translated into this fairy tale satire, and how these might feel a little near to the knuckle in the current political and social situation. On the one hand, you have the isolationist witches of the North who refuse to get involved because it doesn’t involve them. On the other, a campaign of electioneering and spin doctoring for various flavours of aggressively conservative ideologies. Unexpectedly, I think I do need to flag some potentially triggering material in terms of abusive relationships and politically negative rhetoric (it’s hard to identify exactly what, but while the vocabulary might be based around witches and magic, the intent and tone is very familiar to rhetoric heard today).

We get some more fairy tales brought into the story this time – Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Little Red Riding Hood, and (one of my favourites) The Seven Ravens. Threads are teased for book three and the witch of the Western Darkwood, but I wasn’t quite able to guess which fairy tales are coming up. Keener fairy tale minds than mine might be able to suss it out, but I suppose I’ll just have to wait to be surprised!

As with any book in a trilogy (I’m blithely assuming it’s a trilogy, there’s nothing to suggest that it will be), the second book goes darker, the ending isn’t so triumphant, and the repercussions of book one are rippling through the pages here, and you can feel them building into waves that will hit in the next instalment. It was nice to see some more relationships building in this one, however, with some nice Queer rep. Sadly, as a result of the two diverging quests, we actually spent very little time in Nearby, which I fell in love with in book one. There’s arguably more important things to focus on in this book, and it’s understandable that local village colour gets put aside for actual plot, but as that provided a lot of the light relief in book one, that might be why book two feels a little more intense at times.

I may be projecting in this as well, but I wonder if she was a little bit… angrier when she wrote this? She addresses a lot of current issues in politics – disaffected voters, unfair voting systems, misrepresentation of issues for the sake of popular reactions, people who don’t care because they don’t see things as directly affecting them. Maybe I’m projecting because these things bother me, and frustrate me.

Whether intentional or not, it felt like the gloves came off a bit in this one (or at least, were exchanged for thinner, firmer gloves). I’m looking forward to seeing where book three takes us.

Briefly:

A worthy follow-up to Darkwood, it focuses more on furthering an overarching plot than playing with the setting. This means things seem darker, with less light relief from social observances, but makes the story push along more quickly.
I found particularly the scenes in the city quite infuriating and I think that’s because in my entire adult lifetime I haven’t woken up after an election and not been heartbroken and horrified. As a satirical news writer, Hutchinson Crouch will be tapped into politics and current affairs, and I imagine she’s probably felt a lot of the same frustrations I have.
I enjoyed seeing Hansel’s powers develop more. He’s quite a quiet character, and I sort of love that about him. Possibly as a side effect of always having to contain his powers, he seems to reduce himself, and have made himself very insular as if that would help. He starts to blossom a bit in this, and I don’t think it’s a coincidence that happens as he stops being afraid of what he can do.

Rating: 4/5 – I missed spending time in Nearby, but I did enjoy seeing the scope of the world expand, even if it felt a bit near the knuckle at times!

Such Big Teeth is the follow on from Darkwood, and the sequel is every bit as funny and imaginative as its predecessor. It continues on with Gretel and the Darkwood Witches' movement for a world where witches (and women!) can coexist with the general population.

As with the first book, the author plays up to and subverts the known tropes of the fairytale genre and she keeps us entertained with the twists and turns she uses to bring her stories to life. I particularly enjoyed her twists on the new supernatural characters she brings in, particularly Gilde, who I absolutely loved to hate throughout.

She also adds a new dimension to the expected heroes and villains of the piece, and it was wonderful to see the multifaceted ideals of Huntsmen beyond the zealous Head Huntsman of the first novel.

I really enjoy Gabby Hutchinson Crouch's style of writing. She brings wit and wonder to the story she tells, and her tongue-in-cheek comedy is right up my street. I can't wait to see where she takes us next.

An absolutely riveting read, it jumps straight in from where the first book ends and holds no prisoners. You are taken on the best adventure , full of great characters, humour and fun. It’s a great read for middle school age children (and those of us older children too) I love the monty python feel to this, I could have seen it as a great Terry Gilliam film


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

Beware of the Darkwood. It is full of dangerous witches and beasties.
(I mistakenly read the second book first but it did not deter me one bit. It is pretty easy to understand what happened in book 1 because the author introduces us to the characters and their past encounters with each other as well as the preceding events.)
Gretel, the infamous Mudd witch is actually just a girl who is good at maths and inventions. When the Huntsmen wrongly indicted her (instead of her brother Hansel who is actually a witch) she escapes to Darkwood. That was book 1.
Book 2 starts with Gretel and the gang mulling over a plan to overthrow the regime of the Hunstmen and get additional help from the Bear witch and the werewolves in the deeper part of Darkwood. Hansel on the other hand, is terrified of a vision that shows him the destruction of the Citadel. Together with his best friend Daisy, he decides to pay a visit to the Citadel. Then chaos ensue on both sides.
This book is not just a fun retelling of multiple fairytales. It is also a satire on the current political scenario. It has a lot of small lessons. I loved reading this book. The dialogues were hilarious. I got serious Terry Pratchett vibes from the story. Overall, this middlegrade novel is perfect for a weekend read, or if you want a respite from the crazy schedule and anxiety.

Thank you Netgalley for the e-ARC.

I had such a blast reading Such Big Teeth!
Fairytales? Heck yeah. Especially when you combine several!
The author's writing improved with the second book and I love to see that. The characters stayed consistent throughout the books. The humor is still something I love and Trevor makes me chuckle all the time.
It was amazing to see the whole Nearby village coming together to save the Darkwood and help out wherever they could.
My personal (and a little unexpected) highlight was the LGBTQ+ rep and now I just want to keep my darlings safe from any harm. Will definitely keep my eyes open for book 3!

REVIEW
'Such Big Teeth' by Gabby Hutchinson Crouch
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'Such Big Teeth' is the second book in the Darkwood series. That ragtag group of misfits is back again: Gretel Mudd, girl inventor extraordinaire; Buttercup, the Cake Witch; Jack Trott, he of magical beanstalk infamy; Snow, the White Knight, and her band of dwarf lads; Patience, the newly formed ghost; and Trevor, the talking spider spy.
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Gretel and the Darkwood gang know that the recent defeat of the Huntsmen at Nearby Village was not the end of things. The Huntsmen will be back with larger numbers and more weapons. Witches and magical creatures of all kinds are no longer safe even in the Darkwood, and something must be done.
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Thus the crew sets off for Bear Mountain, hoping to convince the Bear Witches and the Werewolves to join the cause. Meanwhile Gretel's brother Hansel and their friend Daisy set off for the Citadel to do a bit of spying, and find themselves in way over their heads. But trouble can be found in friends as well as foes, and when the whole of Darkwood and the magical community is at stake, just who will come to the rescue?
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Crouch's writing is funny, irreverent, and sometimes deeply moving. The story is a rollicking adventure with some serious commentary running quietly underneath. A twisted fairy tale, well written, full of daring, darkness, friendship, love, and the search for self-acceptance, this is one series I can happily recommend to...well, everyone.
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I had formulated a sensible review for this book then I happened to look at my review for the first. I realised that I had not put that much thought into what I was going to write down this time, and therefore scrapped it all to start again.

Firstly, I would not recommend reading this as a standalone since it starts almost as if we never left the characters of Darkwood and the border town – Nearby. None of the subtle or even the in-your-face humour will make much sense if one has no prior knowledge of the magical and non-magical beings.
When we last left the siblings Hansel and Gretel, they had achieved the impossible with their friends and established a form of independence in Nearby. That is not enough for Gretel who is trying to convince Snow(yes, of the Dwarves) to take a broader view of the problem at hand. As the title and cover page suggest, we are to meet the characters of a few more fairy tales, those related to Bears as well as wolves. They are unique and maintain a distinct appeal than those people we already know. There is more of the things I liked in the first book with the random tangents in the conversations or discussions of trust and acceptance – the two opposite ends of a storytellers spectrum. It is a very entertaining addition to the existing story, and we get to know more intricate details of the world that we are only given a peek of each time. It is only when more information is provided that I realised how little I knew earlier. The ending was ominous (in its own fashion), and I cannot wait to see what happens next.
I highly recommend this series for the tolerant and experimental reader who likes a bit of randomness and whimsical writing amidst real and heartful instances being used as the foundation. Prior knowledge of Fairy tales is also a bonus. I cannot personally comment on how it would make sense to read it without knowing how these characters were previously depicted through several retellings. It is a highly enjoyable tale that draws the reader further into the murky workings of the inhabitants of Darkwoods and the people who seek to keep them there(if anywhere at all).

⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience of this book, it’s preceding one as well as prior knowledge of fairy tales.

Such Big Teeth is the second book within The Darkwood series and if you know me at all, just by reading the summary, you would know the story is exactly what I look for in my books. I was so excited that I was able to get my hands on an early copy of this book because of that reason but also, I loved the first installment so I didn’t really have any doubts that this would be the same.

This series twists around many traditional fantasy tropes in ways that feel fresh and fun. I liked the characters from the beginning! They each had their own weaknesses, faults, and strengths and there were moments when I wanted them to move forward more, but these more difficult parts also felt realistic. Their different abilities and how they tied into different fairy tales was impeccably done.

I know I’m being fairly vague but that’s because I don’t want to ruin the story for anyone. In the end, was it what I wished for? I literally could not put this one down! It held my interest from beginning to end. If you like stories that are a balance between character and plot driven, and enjoy new love, complex relationships, and fantasy then this is definitely one I'd recommend.

This book is a magical ride from start to finish. The author does a great job of seamlessly blending the different fairy tales she takes inspiration from. The world building feels like a well-worn sweater that wraps you in warmth and familiarity. And this book has some LGBTQ+ rep!
I love how descriptive the author is, it doesn’t take much to see the places and characters and actions that happen in the story. One particular event was so well described that I felt shivers run down my spine as I experienced what the characters did.
I didn’t love book 2 quite as much as I did book 1 but I really hope that the author continues this series as I want book 3. I can’t stop recommending this series to anyone and everyone.
4.5 stars
ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

An enjoyable continuation of the series. The characters are well developed and the story moves along nicely. I recommend if you enjoy fairy tales, and want a different look at them. Well done!

the cover is what drew me in and I'm very glad I was able to read this, the characters were great and I had a good time from beginning to end.

This fun and engaging sequel is one I have been looking forward to ever since I read the first book in this new series. Fairy tales, magic, humor, and some dark twists make this a sold choice for fans of fantasy.

If you haven’t already read Darkwood, the first in this series, then make sure you do that first! The characters and storyline pick up here from where that book left off, and without the context you just won’t get the full flavour of this deliciously clever fairytale re-imagining.

Hansel and Gretel are back, but not together. Gretel is firmly stranded in the Darkwood with the ‘witches’ and other things that go bump in the night, while Jack is still in Nearby Village, trying to make sense of what happened with the Huntsmen while he was temporarily indisposed. Luckily they both have their trusty allies – Daisy, Buttercup, Snow and the dwarfs (Yummy!), Trevor, Patience and Jack – to help them out as they set out on very different paths.

Gretel is heading for the outskirts of the kingdom, looking for some animal-witches (think of fairytales involving wolves, ravens and bears) to help them fight the Huntsmen. Meanwhile, Hansel and Daisy head straight for the heart of the kingdom, to try to find out what the Huntsmen are really up to. With one sibling facing claws, teeth and unfamiliar magic and the other dealing with politicians and campaign rallies, it’s really hard to say who has it worse!

Gabby Hutchinson-Crouch takes good, old-fashioned fairytales, shakes them out, dusts them down and then with a quick sleight of hand produces a glorious patchwork quilt of a story that blends old and new, pathos and humour, action and intrigue, and even a touch of sweet romance. I raved about her first book but, if anything, this second one is even better!

Ideal for children and adult readers alike, this series would make a great Christmas gift for fans of clever, light-hearted, whimsical fantasy adventures. I can’t wait for the next instalment!



Hansel casts another glance at the hundred or so baskets stacked high onto the laden cart. It doesn’t look particularly inconspicuous.
‘We’re going to look just like basket merchants, come to sell Mum’s wares at the craft market.’
‘Pretty sure at this point we are actually basket merchants, here to sell your Mum’s stuff at the craft market.’
‘Exactly! It’s making Mum some money and it’s a cast-iron disguise.’
‘I thought your main disguise was that bonnet?’
Daisy grins proudly from the edge of her straw bonnet. As Mrs Wicker warned, it really does draw attention to her more than it hides her.
‘They’re both cast-iron disguises,’ she says. ‘Or, one’s iron, one’s carbon, and together they make for a steel disguise.’
They trundle the cart along some more.
‘Because steel’s an iron-carbon alloy,’ she adds.
‘Yes.’
‘And it’s stronger than iron. Oh, listen to me, rattling on about the relative tensile strengths of different metals and alloys, like me and Gretel used to do in the old days.’
Hansel shoots her a fond glance. ‘It’s fine. I like it. It’s as if she’s still around.’

– Gabby Hutchinson Crouch, Such Big Teeth

Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog

Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for an Advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is the second book in the series and every bit as good as the first. Plenty of wise-cracking jokes and fairytale references to make this one of the most entertaining middle grade series I have ever read.
My kids are aged 9 and 11 and both really enjoyed it. We can't wait for the next one!

This retelling is so fun. And it is always a great accomplishment when the second book is even better than the first! Would recommend

The witches and beasties of Darkwood continue their crusade against the blind-sighted Hunstman to save the Darkwood and gain equality among the people of Myrsina. Their journey gains them new allies, but new enemies with friendly faces also arise. I loved this second installment so much more than the first! I can’t wait to read the third.