"But ... you know there could be more for you, don't you? A little blood, a little pain, and you could be free from this place. Haven't you ever wondered what's beyond those mountains? Dont you want to know?"

"Love is a gift. There is no weakness in relying on someone, when they are the right someone. Indeed, there is only strength" - Mira

GENRE: Fantasy Fairy Tale Retelling
RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
FORMAT: Illumicrate Special Edition
Would I recommend to others?: YES! Everyone needs to read this beautiful Fairy Tale Retelling

Review:
I LOVED THIS BOOK! I loved it so much, it put me in the mood to read mainly Fairy Tale Retellings! This book is a retelling on the Hansel and Gretel story, retold in a dark cottagecore fairy tale way. That's the best way I can explain this beautiful book.

Woods start off by introducing the characters and the setting, which is set in Lindenfeld, The Black Forest in April 1650. The setting of the book is perfect, set in the Germanic area during the war and the forest and villages are described so vividly, I felt like I was living with them.

Not only is this book lovely, there is a second mini story going on under each chapter title and then the connection is built and the stories are brought together (the main story & the mini story).

I loved Greta and how she is a responsible daughter, who is keeping her small family together and trying to work out the world around her, who seems to judge her in ways that doesnt allow her to build a life and be part of the community:

"The past hung about Greta like a ragged dress, stained with smoke and witchcraft, threaded with bones and shadows."

The introduction of magic in this book was subtle and built up in a proper way. You get to see what is Green Magic versus Tattermagic and how they differ and watch as Greta navigates her way through learning about Magic, understanding the good and the bad in it and applying it to her own life. NOT ONLY is there magic in this book, but there is a magical witchy book that .... TALKSS! Look at what it says:

"...Old enough to know that Womenfolk have little enough power of their own. That is why they must have their charms and their tricks. Their books and their ink and blood. Their eyes, their smiles, their hips; their lace and silk, their ribbons and thread. These are your weapons, dearie. You must use them as best as you can."

This book, like all fairy tale retellings, deals with women and their place in society and Woods portrays it in a beautiful way! Look at this:

"First-born son always follows the father, and all the rest of it. But what of the mothers? No one says a word about them. I figure I'm my mother's son, too. She was born in a valley like this one. Her father worked the same fields. Her mother, too, and their parents before them." - Christoph