3.5/5

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an advanced copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.

Edgewood is the story of Emeline Lark-- a girl from a small forest town with big dreams. She wants to make it big as a singer, but the forest from her home doesn't seem to want to let her go. Every time she sings, the forest comes to her. Then one day, her grandfather with dementia goes missing and she knows he's gone into the forest which can't help but pull her family in. The town has always had... stories... about the forest and the Elf King who rules over the enchanted kingdom. The king who requires tithes from the town in order to keep the forest under control.

Emeline decides she must go into the king's court to rescue her grandfather no matter the cost. And if she has to make nice with the aloof, handsome tithe-collector? So be it.

This story was honestly truly lovely. The writing was flowery while still being readable. Emeline was a very interesting character-- she was multi-faceted and more than just her love for her grandfather or her big dreams. That being said... she was also really dumb. Her "big reveal" near the end of the story was foreshadowed well and I picked up on what was going to happen pretty early on. But Emeline was shocked by every single little thing that happened. I found myself getting annoyed at her for being so incredibly stubborn while also being not that bright.

Hawthorne was an interesting love interest. He was pretty quiet and aloof for most of the book, but he had a really good reason as to why. Honestly, this reveal was probably my favorite part of the book. I didn't see this reveal coming and I'm not often surprised.