I got the eARC from the publisher through Netgalley. All of the comments are mine and what I feel about the book.
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Darkwood is a retelling book of various fairy tales like Hansel & Gretel, Snow White, Jack and the beanstalk, etc. It is a story of Hansel and Gretel who lives in Nearby village of Myrsina. Magic and science are forbidden in that place especially for girls. Everyone who has magic or good at science are banished or recruited to join the huntsmen. Gretel is suspected to have magic, she is good at maths and science and inventing things. She is about to be taken by the huntsmen, but she is succeeded to flee into the Darkwood. In the Darkwood she meets the reputable Buttercup who changes everything alive she touches to baked goods, Jack who can summon plants, the White Knight who with her army of dwarves who can call on birds, and mouse, and Trevor the spider. They are not like what she is told. It turns out that they are actually good people. With them and magical beings of the Darkwood, Gretel save the Nearby village from those masked huntsmen, but wait... is it for good or...?
The history of each characters are exposed one by one.
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I love this book! This book is hilarious and sarcastic. I love those dark jokes. Also, this book puts me on the edge of my seat by their twists and problems. The characters are well written. We can see how alive they are with those feelings they feel. The setting of place is amazing. Duhhh, it is full of various beasts and things. Then, there is unicorns. I love unicorns and I get to read the sassy, majestic, and kind hearted traits of the unicorn. Moreover, this book tells us about how important it is to know people not of what other people think. Oh... and the end of this book is a total cliffhanger, making me wanting more.
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Thank you for writing this book, Gabby! You nailed it. It is now become one of my favourite reads in 2019!

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

I didn't realize that this was a Middle-Grade book when I accepted the review request so you can pass the title along to your kids or neighbors as something they might like, or read it yourself. It was hilarious and inspired a bit by Terry Pratchett.



The kingdom of Myrsina has a lot of rules. No magic, no girls are doing math and science. This retelling of Hansel and Gretel (with some twists) explores more important themes like authoritarianism in a way that Middle Schoolers and Teens will enjoy and hopefully learn something from. I’m a big fan of fairytales and folklore, and I was disappointed that it was such a quick read.



Since this is just coming out, we'll have to wait for ages for a sequel which is a shame. It's in my top 5 for Summer kids titles for sure.

Darkwood is the first book in a presumptive series by Gabby Hutchinson Crouch. Due out 13th June 2019 from Prelude on their Farrago! imprint, it's 320 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats.

This is a very funny book and well written into the bargain. Ostensibly aimed at middle grade readers, it nevertheless has an awful lot to offer adults also. Written as a sort of 'fractured fairy tales' mash-up of Snow White and the huntsmen, there are cameos from an amazing array of well known fairy tale archetypes alongside some new faces original to this work.

The author has a very deft touch with humor (it's her day job), and her facility with the 'nuts and bolts' of plotting, pacing, narrative tension, dialogue etc are all superlative. This is an enjoyable read and I devoured it in one sitting. Despite being really truly funny, the themes of intolerance, dehumanising people who are different from ourselves, and personal responsibility and morality are presented unflinchingly and very honestly.

It should be noted for readers outside the British Isles that (most of?) the spelling and idiom are British, so Americans should be prepared to compensate.

Five stars, and I want to be a charter member of the Trevor fan club!

I keep seeing this listed as a 'middle grade' book, and while it might be, it definitely shouldn't discourage anyone from reading it who is interested in a slightly twisted version of a fairytale mashup.

The plot follows the story of Gretel, who is probably a genius, and her twin brother Hansel, who isn't a genius but has other excellent qualities. Gretel is forced to leave her home of the village Nearby, to go live in the Darkwood, which is filled with horrible monsters and witches. Gretel is taken in by a group of witches, including Jack (sometimes with beanstalk), the White Knight (and her seven dwarves), and Buttercup (who basically just made me want baked goods the entire time I was reading this). Oh, and Trevor, a talking spider. In exchange for Gretel's help defending the Darkwood from the Huntsmen they agree to protect Nearby.

But the Huntsmen have a secret weapon – one that the White Knight wants desperately to get her hands on. For reasons that she won't share.

The characters were this sort of motley crew of loveable muffins who I basically wanted to hug and protect. They each had their share of hardships, but they still figured out how to come together as a team, even when everything seemed lost.

The writing style is probably the one thing that I would say was so different from a lot of other fantasy novels. It's got this very tongue-in-cheek humorous way of saying things, that I just loved. The sarcasm in this is just goals.

"'Oh for crying out loud,' cried the White Knight, out loud."

The main things that I really liked this book is that it turns a few fairytale stigmas on their heads – such as witches can only be girls. In fact, I really liked how feminism was explored in this book as a theme. The book also discusses the stigma of propaganda and how this can hurt innocent people, why standing up for what you believe in is powerful, and how you should work with what makes you unique (as a good thing), rather than seeing the negative – every cloud has a silver lining, so the saying goes.

There's no confirmation of a second book (that I can tell), but the ending leaves it wide open. I'm actually looking forward to see what the author will do with another instalment.

This title has been compared to Terry Pratchett a lot. It's not quite accurate; this is rather more manic and less subtle than Terry's work. But that's not a diss on Darkwood, which is a clever, funny story about prejudice and magic. The characters are mostly well drawn - poor Buttercup doesn't get much personality, being motherly and turning things into cake are her only two characteristics. But the others are well written, and with a clear sequel hook at the end Buttercup might gain some personality in the next one. I'll happily be there to read it, to see what happens next.


I received an ARC and chose to write an honest review.

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

It started very promising, I loved the way the author muddled up fairy tale characters and real life history.
But when the girl [Gretel] went into the woods and met the other characters, I thought that that they were introduced a bit too fast and had no time to develop properly.
I felt the story was too fast paced, which some readers might like but it led me to being confused at times, and I felt the dangers were too close together.
In summary, I loved the fantasy elements, but it felt rushed and I would have liked to have seen more character development.
Thank you.

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....

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

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 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!