This book was really intriguing, I really like the concept of being about to know someone’s emotions/memories just from touching their clothes. I loved the story behind the tree involving Odin, Hel and the Norns. What I loved most was just how creepy the story was, I find a lot with ‘scary’ YA books that they’re not even remotely creepy and that is what is lacking in YA – actual creepy/scary books. I thought the way the creature was described was perfect, me being the clever person I am (HA!), I thought it would be a good idea to read this in bed before going to sleep and could almost feel the draugr breathing down my neck.

That being said I could only give this a 4 out of 5 stars, because once again, I could not deal with the naivety of Martha. Once again a book where a 17 year old girl meets a boy and is instantly falling for him, and thinking about kissing him, but ‘oh no what if he doesn’t like me that way’. I think I may have said it before but I need to reiterate that I love romance in books, but what I don’t like is the light that authors keep painting teenage girls in.

So, I am flailing right now. This book (?novella) is just spot on. Its equal parts atmosphere and creepy occurrences with just the right amount of love interest. Throw in some Norse Mythology and a lost family prophecy and you have The Twisted Tree. Initially, I felt the title was directly referencing the actual tree (its Yggdrasil but in a TARDIS, bigger on the inside kind of way) but it so cleverly plays on so many other parts of this tale.

I have to say here that usually I get so ridiculously creeped out by stuff that had I realised just how ominous the events, literally all of them, within this book were, I probably would not have requested it. This is not to say I didn’t love it. Frankly I can’t stop thinking about it. What I am saying however, is that I took my time with immersing myself in Burge’s world and may or may not have screamed loud enough when a door blew shut that I woke up my sleeping fiancé and child. Just saying… If you like creepy, you will love this. If you don’t love creepy, you will still love this but be prepared to make a fool of yourself when something touches you.

So, essentially, it’s the story of a girl who has no idea of her family legacy and no way to read about it because her mother has sheltered her from knowing it. She also can’t read about it because in the creepy chest in her grandmothers cupboard next to the doll with one eye and the spinning wheel that starts itself, are a bunch of journals. Written in Norwegian. A language she has never learnt even though she begged her mother to teach her. Girl proceeds to have some serious trips (or so she thinks) and starts to see dead people because why not. Also, there is a draugr out to murder everyone after having escaped from the deep dark abyss of Hel’s realm. Its freaking amazing tbh.

I loved the aspect of being able to see things about people by touching their clothes. What made it even more so, is the fact that different materials help the ‘reader’ (reader of clothing not reader of book) see different aspects of the persons life. Cashmere lets you feel the wearers emotions while wool simply holds onto them. Its just genius. I also really loved the resurrection of certain characters who shall not be named but know they are friendly. Mostly… Just remember that bullets can’t kill the dead.

While on the surface, Twisted Tree could be seen as a girl coming of age journey, Burge’s expert knowledge of Norse mythology really added to the entire experience. Mormor’s journals chronicle various events such as Odin hanging from Yggdrasil, Hel’s reign over her realm, the rise of the draugr and the inclusion of The Norn, three ladies who control the fate of the world. I found myself absolutely drawn in; I feel like Martha’s tale could have been good with all the creepiness, but the inclusion of mythology sent this story over the top.

My only qualm is how it ended. It was an adequate ending but now I have so many questions about why Nina is skulking and what Stig is going to do now. Also, will the art studio become a reality or is Mumma going to neglect her responsibilities again. Sorry to yell but YOU CAN’T DO THIS TO ME AUTHOR LADY!

At this point I feel like I am rambling just a tad because my brain can’t string together a cohesive sentence right now, so I shall wrap this up. Coming in at 180 pages, I wasn’t expecting to be able to write a whole review about The Twisted Tree. Instead I find my inner monologue going nuts and throwing random facts about the novel at me in a completely illogical order. If you take nothing else away from this review (I’ve tried writing it 3 times already and it just keeps spiralling into wordy nonsense), this book is amazing. Its dark and ominous and the perfect quick read for those who want some eerie goodness on a weeknight. The fact that I opened it, sat down and read for 3 hours straight (minor breaks because my heart can’t take creepy) on a night when I have 5000+ other things I should be occupying myself with solidifies my belief that this should get a perfect score.

A creepy little tale about a 17 year old girl, Martha, and her extremely twisted family tree. The snowy setting, a small Norwegian island, is very atmospheric and the Norse mythology that is woven in to the story is quiet effective. Definitely one for young adults to enjoy.

If you want an atmospheric dark read for winter than I would recommend this book.
Martha can feel peoples emotions and memories through clothing and different material tells her different things for example wool holds emotions but cashmere makes you feel them. This gift was interesting and I find it was used really well..The descriptions in this book were wonderful and they kept me reading. The suspense builds really well. The Twisted Tree is menacing and I can imagine that it would be. Almost as soon as she steps foot on the island, the creepiness begins and it just builds and builds until the climax. I was reading this in bed in the dark and I was getting a little creeped out and paranoid. I love books that make me feel that way. The creepiness had me on edge and I loved it. There were shadows that moved, light flickering, fog, faces that appear and disappear and the feeling that you are being watched. I loved the links to Norse Mythology in this book for example Odin, Hel, Yggsdrasil and the Norns. I enjoyed how the mythology played into the story and how it links to her family. The only thing that felt a little off to me was Martha and Stigs relationship as it felt a little quick to me and I was suspicious of Stig from the beginning.

I absolutely adored this! It’s deliciously creepy, mixing horror with Norse mythology. It’s the book I didn’t realise I needed until I had it.

The Twisted Tree follows our protagonist, Martha after an accident left her blind in one eye. Ever since she has been able to feel people’s emotions when their clothes touch her. Knowing the only person who will give her the answers she seeks is her grandmother (mormor), so Martha gets a plane there instead of going to her dad’s house. Upon arriving, Martha finds out Mormor is dead, and finds a strange boy squatting there instead. It’s not long before things take a strange and dark turn and the truth of what lurks in the old tree in Mormor’s garden is revealed.

Have I mentioned how much I adored this book?! I love how Rachel has taken elements from horror and Norse mythology and woven them together into a brilliantly dark and intriguing story, which I just couldn’t get enough of. The plot and character development and relationship between Martha and those around her was brilliantly well written, especially between Martha and her mother, who don’t see eye to eye on a lot of things. This whole book sent chills down my spine, the fear of not knowing what was prowling outside was real. It takes a lot to scare me and although it wasn’t horror as such, I spent a large chunk of this book clutching our puppy for comfort and protection from the unknown. Whether this was Rachel’s intention or not, playing on people’s fear of the unknown by keeping the monster out of sight until the right moment really paid off. The ending was satisfying, though I’m all for a sequel, I’d love to know what happens next.

It’s a short book so I won’t say anything else in case I spoil it, I can’t recommend it enough! I know this isn’t my best written review, it’s hard to put into words properly how much I loved it. I really hope you give it a try, you won’t regret it!

The E-book is available to buy now, the paperback follows in January.

The Twisted Tree

written by Rachel Burge

256 pages including interesting endnotes

published by Hot Key Books Autumn 2018

cover art: Rohan Eason

book design: Cherie Chapman

Modern Northern Gothic with heart

Summary from publisher’s website

Martha can tell things about a person just by touching their clothes, as if their emotions and memories have been absorbed into the material. It started the day she fell from the tree at her grandma’s cabin and became blind in one eye.

Determined to understand her strange ability, Martha sets off to visit her grandmother, Mormor – only to discover Mormor is dead, a peculiar boy is in her cabin and a terrifying creature is on the loose.

Then the spinning wheel starts creaking, books move around and terror creeps in . . .
A reader’s perspective

Have a really good look at that cover by Rohan Eason. Spot the two ravens, the gnarled bark and the bird skeletons? Behind the old gold lettering, there are hints of the two worlds this book inhabits. White, cold contemporary Norway meets a dark mythic otherworld in The Twisted Tree – literally.

There is certainly a resonance with Michelle Paver’s marvellously chilling Dark Matter, but The Twisted Tree is no copycat work. It’s something of a genre-bender (which I love) which would sit well between Neil Gaiman and some Scandi noir. I can see it as a graphic novel in the right hands – say, Pam Smy.

It’s told in the first person by seventeen year old Martha – an utterly credible and engaging narrator. She can be vulnerable, fierce, sensitive and headstrong. The conceit of her feeling people’s emotions through their clothes is more than just clever. It is essential to the world Rachel Burge has created – and grows in significance the more you read.

The Twisted Tree is a fine novel for anyone dealing with grief and ‘interesting’ family relationships – especially mother-daughter. Mourning and loss (not just of Mormor) permeate the whole book without being miserablist. There is much growing self-awareness and acceptance among the characters, together with friendship and love. These form the gold uniting the two worlds.

Not for the timid reader, although it might strengthen some with its cold Nordic embrace, it is the opposite of hygge. Confident YA with adolescents at its core – full of big ideas and conflicts. And as creepy as you’d ever want.

A Writer and Editor’s View

Elements I can learn from:

use of mythology to deepen a family drama – see Catherine Fisher’s Corbenic
a setting which permeates the atmosphere and belongs to themes of the story
mixing relevant aspects of three genres in a convincing way
creating a convincing standalone – which could have a sequel to come (I hope!)
representing teens in a way not remotely derived from Hollywood – teen me would adore Stig

NB Highly recommended to go alongside Alexander Yates’ The Winter Place – which uses the Finnish Kalevala to explore similar ideas.

This book felt eerie and creepy from the start, great for Halloween reading. I enjoyed the writing and the Norse mythology interwoven through the story. However, the ending left me very unsatisfied. Mainly it was all resolved quite suddenly, but near the end it felt like something else was building up and this part was left unfinished.

I was drawn by the description fans of Neil gaiman and this didn't disappoint a good level of spookiness, full of twists and grimness it was a great YA read. A wonderful mix of Norse mythology and Norwegian language used, a great pace , kept you wanting to read more all the time. A wonderful debut and highly recommended.

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

I'm really glad I was able to hear the author talk about this book because there's a lot of inspiration that you don't necessarily get when you just read the summary. There's quite a bit of influence from the Tarot, along with the Norse pantheon. I urge you to check out Rachel and see what she has said about the book because I think it will give you a richer reading experience for this book. That's not to say that this isn't fun to read without that knowledge, it's just improving your reading experience. 

I actually went to Norway earlier this year, so it was very cool to be transported back through the lens of fiction. Given the amount of Norse inspired fiction I've read this year it was surprisingly novel for the story to actually take place in Norway. I was mostly on the water the whole time we were there, but I thought that Rachel managed to capture the isolation of Norway. That's not a bad thing, it's a very sparsely populated place which makes for some gorgeous uninterrupted views and a real sense of community where there is one, but it is also quite a scary idea, especially if you pull in the notion of the supernatural. It's the idea that there was nowhere they could go for help that truly got to me, much more than the paranormal goings-on. 

I liked Martha's power, the idea of being able to sense things through fabric was done well, and I didn't feel like it got forgotten halfway through the book - as sometimes happens when characters have just a small power to set them apart from everyone else. Where this becomes very significant is with the 'peculiar boy' in the cabin - I think people can probably imagine where that goes without me spoiling too much (I'm making it sound more salacious than perhaps it is). 

The romance is probably worth mentioning, as I say this is quite a short book, so any romantic feelings do feel quite fast acting, but in a high stakes situation such as these characters are in that doesn't bother me too much, I feel like intense bonds and formed in intense moments and that certainly describes the action in this book. 

I appreciated that this didn't feel like any other Norse mythology inspired book I've read this year. It felt like it explored a different facet of the mythology, giving you something a bit darker and more interesting. 

There's more action to this than a ghost story, but it's got more of an ethereal quality than a fantasy/action novel, it's somewhere between the two and it just sort of works. I hugely enjoyed reading this and I would definitely recommend it to anyone seeking something to read this winter (or maybe in the spring, if you're the kind of person who wants the cold weather to last as long as possible!).

My rating: 4/5 

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

My thanks to Hot Key Books and Net Galley for giving me the opportunity to read THE TWISTED TREE.

Martha has a special gift. By touching a person's clothes she can tell how they're thinking and feeling. She fell from a tree at her grandmother's cabin and because of the accident she was blinded. She leaves her home and journey's to her grandmother's house where she discovers she has died, and in the cabin without her knowledge or permission, is a boy. who has made himself at home. This is Nordic horror, and as I read the first few chapters it put me in mind of Red Riding Hood. There is even a wolf that the inhabitants think has been causing deaths which Martha, and Stig, her love interest, are sure has been killed by one of her Mormor's neighbours. But they're not totally sure and they're about to leave the cabin. Of course it's scary!

A new foray into Nordic magik and history for me. I enjoyed the creepy rather claustrophobic atmosphere of the story, but then I like walking around the house in the dark. I had a question about why Martha would accept and allow someone she didn't know into her grandmother's cabin. Okay, he's good-looking in a gothy kind of way, but I think she should have made him work harder for her trust. Having said that, this is an impressive debut.

The twisted tree by Rachel Burge.
This was a very enjoyable read. Unusual and strange but I really enjoyed it. It was different I loved Marta character. 5*.

I'd seen mostly 4/5 star reviews and was a little disappointed but it was an enjoyable read.

My favourite thing about this book was the Norse mythology as this is something I find fascinating and it was good to see a book set in a country like Norway. I did really like the setting, a small cabin in the middle of nowhere in Norway. Now it's winter in this book and that means it is very dark most of the time, there is lots of snow and it's cold as hell. Perfect for a creepy, ghost story! I did think this book would make a good movie with all the creepy goings on and dangerous beasts. It does stick to horror movie tropes and has a build up of creepy things happening!

The story was a bit confusing at times as there was a lot going on. Basically her grandma has died and someone needs to look after the tree or creatures from the underworld come into the real world. In my opinion it was all a bit ridiculous and no wonder her mother didn't believe it and thought she was crazy! I also didn't get the whole touching clothes let's me read people thing, I felt that was unnecessary to the story and didn't actually add anything. It doesn't make sense to have these powers to look after a tree. I guess I just thought it would have more of a point.

Overall an enjoyable and creepy read. Wasn't really for me and I would never have bought it myself but didn't dislike it. There was good and bad points but still enjoyed it and read it fairly quickly.

October means Halloween, which means I want more spooky reads! I stumbled across this and when I read that it was a YA Nordic Thriller/Horror I got really excited! I love Norse mythology, have had limited but good experiences with Nordic horror in the past, and found the synopsis promising! I have to say, I did like the end result.

Firstly, the atmosphere, setting and scares were pretty on point! I loved the draws from Norse folklore and mythology (hello Odin, Norns and Draugr). It was really interesting to see these inferences in a modern day setting and I liked the atmosphere that Burge built too, in an isolated Norwegian community away from the mainland. She drew a lot from the culture too! It was also great to see some disability rep for blindness and facial deformity! It's not often you find that in a book.

The story was fairly short, which I didn't mind so much, but it did feel a little bit like the ending was rushed. Some plot threads were wrapped up TOO nicely (complete happy endings in a horror? Hmmm...) and other elements just drew more questions from me. There's a definite Stig-related unresolved plot-line here and either it will be resolved in another book, or that is a HUGE shame. I also got a little irritated my the MC's fixation on her looks - it's one thing to mention insecurities once or twice but she CONSTANTLY talks about it. It really grated on me. All in all, an enjoyable read for sure but could have done with some padding out.

I so wanted to love this book. It’s a creepy YA set in Norway, perfect creepy setting with a bit of Norse mythology mixed in, aka completely and utterly my thing. But somehow I just didn’t connect with the story in the way that I wanted. Everything seemed skimmed over, I made no emotional connections, things happened too fast and felt like they were explained super quickly, plus the ending is left open and I just want all of the threads tied up (as far as I know this is a stand alone). If you’re going to give me insta-love that I’m not invested in at least make it happen rather than leaving it with a big question mark at the end. (Unless there’s a second book in which case …okay.)

I did really enjoy how Burge wound Norse mythology into the story, it’s something I’m a bit familiar with so when certain images appeared I knew what they were and what to expect, although they’re such familiar images that I imagine most people would pick up on them! The existence of the mythology and magic is pretty much never questioned, and when it is it’s accepted pretty much instantly. Which did confuse me slightly as I thought it was set in our world but ultimately I suppose it isn’t?

I’m so torn about this book. I flew through it but at the same time I felt like I’d skimmed over the story and that everything just kind of happened. Maybe it’ll be a re-read in the future and I’ll find more of a connection to the book.

I’ll be honest, I don’t really do horror, or contemporary YA, so I’m not sure why I was so tempted by this one, but I’m really glad I did pick it up. Perhaps it was the amazing cover (the twisted branches are so atmospheric), or the promise of a story with some very unusual supernatural elements. Martha, the protagonist, has the power to read people’s feelings and memories by touching their clothing, which instantly had me intrigued – imagine trying to go through life never touching anyone accidentally! There is a strong supernatural/magical thread running through the whole plot, which was enough to drag me in, and then the sheer excitement of the story kept me turning the pages super quickly.

It’s hard to tell you much about the actual plot without giving too much away, because it’s the sort of story where surprise after surprise builds into a huge tapestry of story threads. Martha leaves home to live with her grandmother in Norway, but when she arrives, she finds out that her grandmother has died, and a strange boy is living in her house. Plus, terrifying things keep happening, and Martha has to learn to embrace her magical heritage to fix everything. That all sounds fairly straightforward, but the story tips and twists in ways that kept me guessing throughout! It’s a really cleverly put-together, enjoyable read.

This one was a very quick read for me, partly because of the sheer pace of the narrative, partly because I wanted to finish it before dark because I’m an utter wimp. I also had the chance to meet the author, Rachel Burge, at a Hot Key Books party a couple of weeks ago, which was amazing. It was so great to listen to her talk about her inspiration – I wish we saw more Norse mythology in pop culture (no, I don’t count Marvel’s Thor). There are some wonderful tales in that canon, and I hope that Rachel continues to bring them spookily into the modern world. The Norwegian setting is also a key part of this book – who knew snow could be so terrifying?? The dark and the cold make for a really oppressive atmosphere that is extremely vivid and adds so much to the story.

The Twisted Tree publishes in January 2019, so not too long to wait, and it’s definitely one you should pick up if you’re a fan of ghost stories or Norse mythology. It gets four out of five stars from me!

What a wonderfully creepy little book, perfect for this time of year.

The Twisted Tree tells the story of Martha, a girl who can feel people’s memories when she touches their clothing, as she returns to Norway after growing concerned for her grandmother’s safety. What follows is a story steeped in Norse mythology, tentative friendships and one incredibly scary monster lurking in the woods.

Martha is a great character. Her ability to see people’s secrets just by touching others clothes is such a unique concept, and one that has come with a price. She’s blind in one eye, scarred for life following an incident at the twisted tree in her grandmother’s back garden. And this incident has perhaps scarred Martha more than she initially lets on. She’s guarded, closed off from her parents and the one friend she has back in London, and unwilling to interact with people. She also sees herself as hideous, a monster, who no one could ever love - let alone like. It’s this vulnerability that really drew me to Martha, and made me really feel for her.

Stig is also an interesting character. From his sudden appearance and very shady, secretive background, to his hidden feelings of jealousy and self hatred - he mirrors a lot of Martha’s personality while also being a different kind of closed off. When the two characters are together, they perfectly mirror each other’s growing confusion and anxiousness to create a wonderfully creepy atmosphere. They bounce off each other on such a level that their tentative friendship feels comfortable and develops perfectly over time. Their feelings for each other are subtle, and enhance the story rather than overpowering it. They both need each other for different reasons.

It’s the atmospheric feel of the book that really gives this an edge, that builds into a frenzied crescendo right until the end. Most of the book is played out within Martha’s grandma’s cabin, and the feelings of claustrophobia and anxiety roll off the pages as we find both Stig and Martha struggling to cope with what lies in wait for them outside, and in. The vast emptiness of outside crowding in, almost as if the environment and the twisted tree are a living being, coupled with the fleeting hints of terror from ghosts, whispers on the winds, and one very tense excursion into the woods all made me feel incredibly creeped out. I loved it.

The only reason for not giving this 5 stars? I felt there was a lot of unfinished business with Stig. At the end of the novel I had more questions than answers with regards to his past and personality and I felt more could have been done to tie up these loose ends.

This is an impressive debut, that’s perfectly suited to those that enjoy the creepy and atmospheric mingled with a unique magical concept steeped in mythology. Highly recommend.

Original review posted at www.katiealexandrablog.wordpress.com

Martha has ran away, got on a flight to Norway, taken a ferry in the dark to the island where her Grandma lives. She needs answers from her Grandma, her Mormor - why, since her accident that left her blind in one eye, can she read people's feelings from touching their clothes? Why is her mother burning the letters from her Grandma? And what actually happened on the day of her accident?

I don't think I've ever read a book set in Norway before, and maybe that's my fault for not looking for something different, but it's so nice to see a YA novel that isn't set in London or the US. It's so interesting to read about different cultures and traditions, and have the stories be set somewhere intriguing. At times spooky, and a little bit creepy, at times very touching to see a connection between grandmother and grandchild, it was an all round emotional book. 

There were some bits I was a bit... hesitant to relate to. Stig, the good looking Norwegian boy living in Mormor's house who breaks the news about her Mormor's death to her is a) breaking and entering, b) a complete stranger to her, and c) she's getting some funny readings off his clothes. And yet she still falls 'in love' with him in about two days. And while there is nothing wrong with seeing a boy and thinking oh I quite like him, I wish YA would be a bit more realistic with girls with obvious confidence issues who suddenly plant one on older, good looking, STRANGE boys. It's just a narrative I'm not that fond of. 

Also, since her accident, Martha is blind in one eye. She frequently describes herself in deprecating and unflattering ways, because her eye is milky, and obviously affected now. Her opinion seems to change slightly once she knows Stig is into her. BUT... I don't know, I feel it would have been good if she'd come to peace with it on her own? Not some idea that because Stig liked her, then it must not be that bad? Idk, think that could have been handled a bit better.

Overall, a very atmospheric book, with a lot of interesting history of Martha's ancestors, and a much needed segue into winter reading for me! Perfectly spooky, but unfortunately not out until January - still perfect for cold, dark nights, safe inside with a hot drink!

4 out of 5 stars

I feel I should make it clear that I have not been a "YA" for quite a long time. However I have read and reviewed a few YA books over the past few years. The outline of this one appealed to immediately. In part I think this was because of the reference to Neil Gaiman whose books I love generally.

Martha has run away from home in England to visit her Norwegian grandmother. Arriving at her isolated house she discovers that her grandmother has died. However someone else seems to be staying there. It did take me a few pages to get into Martha's character. However after that I romped through this very quickly. The Twisted Tree is in the garden of the house and has been central to the lives of those living there for a very long time. However what exactly is the Twisted Tree?

This was genuinely nicely spooky. The Nordic legends were very well used and explained. The quality of the writing was very good and made for an easy read. I did like the idea of Martha being able to read fabric - that was novel and interesting. Martha with all her emotions and fears makes an excellent character.

I can't really fault this story. It was an enjoyable read. It has interesting characters who are well worked. The pace/tension/spooky ness are very good. My rating of 4.5/5 I am more than happy to round up to 5. I'd like to read this author's next book.

artha can tell things about a person by touching their clothes, it's as if their emotions and memories have been sucked into the material. This ability all started the day she fell from the tree in her grandma's cabin and became blind in one eye. Determined to make sense of this strange power she sets off to visit her grandma - only to discover she is dead, a mysterious boy is in the cabin and a frightening creature is on the loose. As terror starts to creep in Martha must figure out how to stop something extremely terrifying from happening.

The Twisted Tree first caught my attention when I saw the cover - I mean how gorgeous is it! And then when I found out what it was about I knew straight away I had to read it. It sounded like the perfect read for a cold, autumn night and thats mainly when I read it. I snuggled up under my bed covers and got myself ready to go on this adventure.

Firstly, let me just say that the descriptions within The Twisted Tree are outstanding! The writing style is so atmospheric and that's perfect for a book of a creepy disposition. I felt like I was really there in Norway, in the cabin with Martha and experiencing everything she did. Everything was so vivid and it just made the whole reading experience 100 times better for me.

I don't know much about Nordic mythology but I loved the little aspects of it that were brought into this story. It was really intriguing to learn about something whilst I was reading. The way the mythology was intertwined with the story was so unique and certainly makes the book stand out from others out there. Come the end of the book I found myself wanting to know more about Nordic mythology and it's origins.

The plot itself had lots of twists and turns that left me guessing more than once. It is tense and had me on the edge of my seat many times. The pacing was also perfect for the type of story that was being told. This, in turn, made me want to carry on reading and not put the book down - when a book does this to me you know it's a good one. Also, the climax of the story is thrilling and certainly didn't disappoint. In my opinion it ended the way I wanted it too, which was a great surprise.

Martha, I felt, was a great heroine. Her fear and curiosity throughout felt so real and despite her being brave she knew her own faults. With all this in hand, it made her a very believable character that people could relate to. Stig, the mysterious boy in the cabin, was also a great character! At first I wasn't sure about him and I thought he was going to end up being an antagonist, this thought ended up being wrong! He was also a very real character, his pain at loosing people he loved was so believable and it got me choked up at times. His relationship with Martha was so touching and I was rooting for them from the beginning.

The Twisted Tree was an outstanding, atmospheric read perfect for the autumnal months. It was creepy, thrilling and terrifying all in one and I loved that. I for one, cannot wait to read what Rachel Burge writes next.

Trigger Warning: This book features possible ableism, gory violence, and animal cruelty.

The Twisted Tree by Rachel Burge sounded incredible, but while it had a number of intriguing elements, it was a huge let down.

Four months ago, Martha fell from a tree in her grandmother, Mormor's garden in Norway. The fall left her scarred and blind in one eye, and ever since, whenever she touches people clothes, she has access to their feelings and their memories. Desperate to know what's going on, she has written to her Mormor for answers, without any response. When she realises that Mormor has been replying, but her mother has been burning the letters, Martha decides to fly to Norway to speak to her Mormor. Only, when she arrives, she discovers her Mormor has died and been buried, and a strange boy is living in her house. There's something strange out in the woods that her Mormor's neighbours warn her of with unusual fear - and also that her Mormor wanted the twisted tree in the garden watered from the well. When strange things start happening around the house - a spinning wheel spinning, a rag doll twitching, books appearing, and dark shadows moving - Martha starts to suspect that the unwatered twisted tree is at the heart of it all.

The premise of The Twisted Tree had a lot of promise and is quite intriguing, but it was just handled badly. The writing is a major issue; instead of flowing, conversation between Martha and the strange boy, Stig, as well as Martha's narration, jumps from on thing to another in a matter of seconds. Sure, conversation topics change as you talk, but not so quickly, and not when the original topic is about the strange and scary things that are happening. I'm sorry, but if there are weird shadows that are moving in your house, and faces showing up in the mirror, you're not going to be trying think through what could possibly be happening, then, within a matter of seconds, wonder whether this strange guy might fancy you, because you fancy him, followed by a barrage of self-loathing over the way you look. Not when there's something howling outside your house, and dolls are moving, and thumping is coming from the wardrobe! The writing was just really clunky and all over the place.

It was also really difficult to feel anything about the story. The tone and atmosphere was all off. I was never scared or on the edge of my seat. There's no building of tension. I never really felt Martha's emotions, I was just told about them. There was zero chemistry between Martha and Stig, so it was an unbelievable romance, and it was unrealistic, to me, that Martha would fall so quickly for some strange boy who has been living in her Mormor's house, eating her food, and, for all she knows, could have killed her Mormor! I didn't feel anything throughout the story, not felt anything for the characters. It just wasn't written well enough, in my opinion.

And then there's the plot itself. As I said, there were elements to it that were pretty intriguing, but they just weren't developed enough. So there's more to this twisted tree in the garden that meets the eye. Ok, fine. But why? There's a link to Norse mythology, which was really fascinating, but it's just surface level stuff, and if you don't know Norse mythology, like me, then you'll be left with even more questions starting with "why?" And other questions like, what is the creature in the woods? Ok, it's X, but what is that? What does it mean? How and why did Mormor die? Because she seemed to know she would die, but there's no explanation as to why, or what happened. Why Martha's family, specifically? And what happened before they were given this task? There were just so many things that were underdeveloped, world building that wasn't fleshed out enough. I have read a lot of fantasy, and so I'm used to in depth explanations and world building that has an answer to every possible question. It feels to me that Burge didn't put enough effort into fleshing out her world building, and so I feel a little cheated.

Also, I was really uncomfortable with how Martha being blind in one eye was handled. Martha falling out of the tree and becoming blind in one eye was her destiny, and there's a purpose behind her half-blindness. Being half-blind is a tool that will help her (again, not fully explained to my satisfaction). It just doesn't seem right to me to purposely decide a character will be half-blind, she'll be half-blind for a reason, and there's something "magical" about her being half-blind. It just feels really insensitive to me, using people's disability as a magical means to an end. Martha isn't half-blind for purposes of representation or diversity, she's half-blind because it helps the plot.

And on top of that, Martha is constantly putting herself down because of her appearance, and she is scathing. She has a scar that runs from above her left eye downwards into her cheek, and her eye is cloudy white and looks off in strange directions. And the venom with which Martha thinks about herself! Yes, this is dealt with to a certain extent towards the end of the book, but you still have to go through the majority of the book with Martha talking about how ugly she is and how no-one will fancy her because she's "damaged". Which is just so insensitive, I feel, to any blind people reading. She's not just lacking self-confidence and has low self-esteem, she is vile in the way she talks about herself. It just felt really problematic and probably hurtful to those who are blind. And when she discovers that Stig has previously liked girls who are goths, she thinks she might possibly be in with a chance, because he likes girls who are "different". It felt a lot like the "not like other girls" trope, but also... I don't know, almost like she's putting goth girls down? Because she's so vile about her own appearance, but he might like her even so, because he likes them? It just all felt really wrong and uncomfortable to me.

The Twisted Tree was just a real disappointment for me, and I didn't really enjoy it on any level. However, there are a number of people who have really enjoyed it, so do read some other reviews before deciding whether or not to read it.

Thank you to Hot Key Books via NetGalley for the eProof.