I have been looking forward to reading this book since I finished reading THE HAZEL WOOD two years ago! When I first started reading I realized it had been forever (and hundreds of books) since reading the first book. I found myself getting a bit lost with who the characters were. Once my memory kicked in the story really picked up for me.

I can’t say whether I loved THE NIGHT COUNTRY more or the same but either way I really enjoyed the story. It full of dark twisted dark tales, a murder mystery, stories within a story and so many of the characters we came to love in book 1. I’m really digging magical realism books (aka set in our world but with magic/fantasy aspects).

Similar to the end of THE HAZEL WOOD, this ending felt a little rushed. Overall I loved being back in this world and with these characters. I want more! I’m definitely looking forward to reading TALES FROM THE HINTERLAND a short story collection next year!

I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Night Country and its predecessor is such a controversial book. People either really love it or really hate it. Personally, I really love this series. I will say, I loved The Hazel Wood a bit more than The Night Country. One thing I did not like about The Night Country was that there was no real recap or anything to bring you back to the story of The Hazel Wood. It just jumps immediately back into the story, so I would highly suggest reading the first book right before you start the second.
I really feel like The Night Country was very well written. Melissa Albert has come up with such a unique world and just does a beautiful job of immersing you into it. Even though there was no real recap, the story did continue beautifully and the characters were just well written. The story line is not rushed and felt very natural and organic.
Overall, The Night Country, was everything I had hoped for and more. It is still dark and wonderful. I will absolutely suck you in from the beginning. I loved the alternating perspectives, I love how when you shift to a different view it leaves you with tiny little cliffhangers.
I love this book, I love this series, and I love this author. Thank you kindly to NetGalley, Melissa Albert, and Flatrion Books for allowing me to review this dark and wonderful story.

This text is copied from a "double" review post :
So now we have Alice but no Ellery Finch back in the real world, naively feeling safe from The Hazel Wood. Alice is hanging out with other "survivors" from the Hinterland but then strange occurrences are happening to those who tried to escape to New York City painting Alice as the chief suspect. She also gets strange notes from Ellery and she realizes she misses him more than she thought she would and perhaps the two need to meet up again in the unknown but spooky Night Country to see if they can spark up a romance. But time does funny things and one doesn't know how time correlates from one world to another; and then: who is part of a story or just a witness to one? Tales are spun and more puzzles to solve and Alice's life as she knows it is in dire jeopardy if she doesn't come up with some real evidence that she isn't really the bad guy from one of the tales that were spun by the evil spinner.

I am so glad that I was able to read both of these books so close to each other because there are many threads originally sewn with the first book weaving through The Night Country and reading book one of The Hazel Wood is a definite must before reading The Night Country. I noticed a lot of references to other stories and fantasy novels that I have recently read which was a little weird but ultimately felt like, "hey -I knew about this too!" type of fandom feel. I really enjoyed both of these books and I am certainly looking forward to anything else Melissa Albert publishes as I adore her writing style.

An eerie portal fantasy that fans of the first book will appreciate for expanding the universe and origins of the Hazel Wood. While the fairytale and story elements have all the creepy whimsy of the first book, the parts of the story that take place in NYC fell comparatively flat.

YES to this book and I loved it so much. This series has been a fun ride. I am loving Melissa Alberts work and I will continue reading what ever other works she comes out with.

The story line and plot was solid and highly recommend this book! This will not be my last book by this author.

Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for the review copy. All opinions are my own.

A good story that does not quite live up to its predecessor. I enjoyed the writing style, which is very descriptive and engaging. The narrator of the audiobook does a good job with the pace and cadence, bringing the characters and story to life. There was a lot of introspection on the part of the protagonist and the murder investigation subplot, while a bit mundane later becomes important; even so, too little, too late. I wish more time had been expended on delving into some aspects of the story that would have been much more interesting. All in all, a good sequel.

After falling in love with the spooky adultness of The Hazel Wood, I was really looking forward to immersing myself back into that world. A funny thing happened in the two years since I read that first book though. It turns out my memory of the details of Alice's adventures are pretty much nonexistent. This should not be a big deal because most authors provide recaps of some sort. Sadly, Melissa Albert proves to be the exception to this unspoken rule of series.

The Night Country has no recap, no refresher, nothing to anchor yourself back into Alice's world. Simply put, Ms. Albert expects readers to remember characters, their Hazel Wood stories, and their experiences. If you go into this novel not remembering everything that happened, you will be as lost as I was. After the first chapter, I frantically searched the Internet for as many synopses as I could find in an effort to remember more than the general gist of the story. I found enough to get me through the sequel, but I missed so much of the charm and excellent story-telling from the original. Because I felt like I was constantly one step behind in understanding, I could not relax and enjoy the story. I so very much wanted to enjoy the story too.

What I need to do is go back and read the original and then read The Night Country again. Only then will I feel comfortable in being able to assess the story itself. Right now, all I can say is that even though my mind was frantically trying to make all the connections Ms. Albert assumes I already know, I enjoyed what I read. It is just as dark and adult as the first book, which is one of its main draws. Similarly, Ms. Albert's writing talent is undeniable. The last bit of my book announced the future release of a book of the very same fairy tales that make up so much of both stories. Given her ability to write fresh, unique stories, that is going to be a must-read for any Hazel Wood fan.

Thanks to NetGalley, Edelweiss and Flatiron Books for the opportunity to read and review The Night Country!
The sequel to The Hazel Wood has danger, deception, and characters struggling to find purpose in this world. When murders occur, the Ex-story characters try to stick together for safety and strength. Alice feels that she’s being blamed and, after she’s attacked, she vows to capture whoever or whatever is harming others. Mysterious and twisty, The Night Country weaves worlds, characters and creators into a fight for life, 4 stars!

It was such fun to dive into another Melissa Albert novel. Her writing and vivid imagination are on full display, once again in this follow up to The Hazel Wood.

If you haven't read Hazel Wood, do that first. Otherwise, you're going to be out to sea figuring out what is going on. But if you have read it, be prepared to find Hinterlanders in New York City, gritty murders, more dark fairy tales and more heart pounding adventure as Alice tries to unravel it all--while also being the prime suspect.

Hear more about it on the upcoming Teen Title Talk (airing on 2/6/2020): https://teentitletalk.podbean.com/

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I was really exited to get to read the second book in this series because I wanted to know what was going to happen! We were left wondering what was going to happen to Ellery when he saved Alice from The Hazel Wood, because come on that couldn’t have just been the end of him.

I thought this sequel was well done and that it continued the story nicely. It gives you some background on what has happened since Alice and the other fairy tales left The Hazel Wood. You start by seeing that she is trying to have a new life, but that really there is no escaping the world of The Hazel Wood. Alice also hasn’t given up on Ellery and so really her trying to have a non-magical life isn’t practical; plus it is part of what makes her who she is.

I thought the characters were well developed and I like that you also get to see how things are for Ellery and how he is trying to get back to Alice. I thought the supporting characters were not too bad, they could have had a little more information on them, but they aren’t really the point of the story.

Overall I thought the writing was well done, the story flowed nicely and I thought the ending was well done. I actually got into this sequel a little more than The Hazel Wood. I would definitely recommend the series.

"A book is always a door."
In this sequel to The Hazel Wood, author Melissa Albert revisits the fractured fairy tales and characters that readers fell in love with in the first book. Alice is back at it, examining the legacy left by her grandmother and Finch is there too. It seems that the ex-stories have settled in New York City and when some murders start happening, they all start to look at Alice Three-Times. This book had a ton of metaphors and I'm not sure why so many were thrown in, but it moved a lot faster than the first book, in my opinion, and had a more satisfying ending.

Melissa Albert can weave together beautiful lush atmospheric prose even if I have no idea what she's trying to convey half of the time. It was a sufficient sophomore installment to THE HAZEL WOOD, her debut novel which has a permanent home in my bookcase. THE NIGHT COUNTRY, however, was disjointing at times. I liked the story themes Albert focused on, but the execution was lacking and sometimes, it felt forced. I still liked the experience over all, but I don't think it holds a candle to its predecessor.

Was this story enjoyable? Yes, but it paled in comparison to The Hazel Wood. The first half was not used to adequately build the story. There was a lot of wandering around having basically pointless conversations: interesting conversations, yes, but frivolous. When the story finally found its way back to the fairytale world it was great, but for too short of a time before a rushed and underdeveloped climax and ending. I was more than a bit disappointed.

The Night Country was everything I hoped it would be. It honestly sucked me in from the very beginning. The pacing did get a little odd, just like the story--as is the nature of these books--but the writing is so great that I couldn't put it down. In this book, our main characters from The Hazel Wood, Finch and Alice, are separated and want to try to find each other. But as the story progresses they learn the Hazel Wood is not the end. We follow Alice and Finch as Alice tries to find Finch and Finch searches for the Night Country. The setting this time around is the 'real world' of New York City and this made for a completely different dynamic from book 1. Still dark and fantastical, Alice faces the characters from her story one by one to find Finch. Overall, it was an immersive and delightful read.

I requested this one anticipating liking The Hazel Wood more than I did. The Hazel Wood was a "meh" for me so it will likely be some time before I pick this one up.

I couldn't possibly imagine how the author could top The Hazel Wood and yet she has accomplished just that. The Night Country took everything I loved about The Hazel Wood and brought in new and exciting plot points. Albert's writing is crisp and engaging, while bringing a darker element to the fairytale world. This is definitely a book where you need to read the previous in the series. Otherwise, I feel that the reader would be lost and not as engaged.

The theme for 2020 so far seems to be sequels with a different tone or feel than their originals. The latest book to fall into this pattern appears to be The Night Country, the follow-up to Melissa Albert’s debut The Hazel Wood, which I really enjoyed. Believe it or not, this one goes even deeper in already dark territory, but I loved how these changes enhanced the story’s haunted atmosphere and complex characters.

Anyway, as with all my sequel reviews, the usual caveat applies: the following may contain discussion involving plot details from earlier books in the series, so be sure to be caught up with The Hazel Wood before proceeding! The beginning of The Night Country takes us back to the story of Alice Proserpine, once called Alice-Three-Times, a princess of a fairy-tale realm known as the Hinterland. With the help of her friend Ellery Finch, she was able to escape the Hinterland’s clutches to attempt living as a mortal in the heart of New York City. However, the shadow cast by her enigmatic grandmother is long, and for Alice and the other survivors who were caught up in the sudden exodus, things will never be the same again. Alice, for one, is finding that living a wholly average and non-magical life as a normal teenager is tougher than she thought, not to mention someone is also out there hunting Hinterland’s ex-inhabitants, killing them in a horrible, gruesome manner…

Meanwhile, Finch finds himself wandering the many pathways of the otherworld dimensions, navigating its mysteries and attempting to unlock its many secrets. He is determined to make his way back to Alice, while trying to make sense of the strange things he encounters in this world where time passes differently and behaves in bizarre ways. On his journey, he learns of a place called The Night Country, which may be his key to understanding Alice and to reunite with her.

With the narrative alternating between Alice’s and Finch’s perspectives, the tone of The Night Country is moodier and has a lot more bite now that the two of them are mostly apart, without their banter to lighten things up. In fact, their story lines don’t come together until nearly the end, when the plot culminates into a stunning climax and conclusion. Until that point though, there’s still plenty of intrigue and darkness in both threads to keep the reader’s attention hooked. Melissa Albert’s handling of the whole “fairy tale genre” is certainly different, putting an imaginative and macabre twist on her storytelling. The little vignettes woven throughout were stroke of genius and added so much to the overall haunting vibes of the novel.

I also liked what has been done with the characters. Alice’s experiences, as well as the knowledge she has gained from the first book have mellowed her out. She’s reached another stage of her life, trying to figure out her next steps. The revelations about her past have turned her world upside down, made her confused about her identity. She’s also trying to work out her feelings for Ellery Finch, and one of the things I enjoyed about this sequel was the way it handled their relationship. I really liked Finch from the first book and was so happy to get so much from his point-of-view, immersing myself in his exploration and discoveries. Without delving too much into the romance that was lightly teased in the first book, The Night Country still managed to create a deeply nuanced and meaningful dynamic between him and Alice.

The author has also made great strides in her writing, tightening up her descriptions and dialing up the atmosphere to make this one an engaging read. Combining fairy tale elements with urban fantasy can be a challenging task, but Albert seems to have no trouble finding the right balance. Her prose ranges from whimsical to haunting, depending on what is required, creating memorable scenes and moments that leaped out at you.

All told, if you enjoyed The Hazel Wood, then you must do yourself a favor and pick up The Night Country, a worthy follow-up that is even more luscious, imaginative, and satisfying. It’s dark yet compelling, and I have to say this new direction has made me even more interested in seeing what the author will do next. Apparently, she will have a short story collection set in the same world called Tales from the Hinterland. I’m not really into anthologies, but I might have to read this one, because I’m just loving the hell out of Melissa Albert’s approach to fairy tales.

This highly anticipated sequel takes place about two years after the events of The Hazel Wood (at least for Alice). She has just graduated high school and is trying to escape her past and her Hinterland roots. When other Hinterlands start showing up dead and with body parts missing, the living Hinterlands suspect Alice had something to do with it. Especially when some of the victims were frozen. Even though Alice wants nothing to do with it, she must investigate to clear her name.

Back in the Hinterland, Ellery Finch is a scavenger and collects artifacts from different stories that have escaped. When these stories start collapsing, everyone begins their mad dash to find different worlds to live in. Finch wants to go home, but not before he can explore as much of this world as possible. He meets Iolanthe who helps him travel between books, which are essentially portals to different worlds. Little does he know that his story and Alice's will intersect soon enough.

The Hazel Wood is one of the creepiest YA horror books I've read in a long time, and The Night Country definitely lived up to the first book's expectations. The way this book ends, I feel that Albert could leave the story as is or explore new plot lines with what she set up in this book.

Overall, if you're looking for a good horror book, then this duology is right up your alley.

Disclaimer: I received an arc copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

“ In The Night Country, Alice Proserpine dives back into a menacing, mesmerizing world of dark fairy tales and hidden doors of The Hazel Wood. Follow her and Ellery Finch as they learn The Hazel Wood was just the beginning, and that worlds die not with a whimper, but a bang.

With Finch’s help, Alice escaped the Hinterland and her reclusive grandmother’s dark legacy. Now she and the rest of the dregs of the fairy tale world have washed up in New York City, where Alice is trying to make a new, unmagical life. But something is stalking the Hinterland’s survivors―and she suspects their deaths may have a darker purpose. Meanwhile, in the winking out world of the Hinterland, Finch seeks his own adventure, and―if he can find it―a way back home...”

An excellent sequel to The Hazel Wood. Perfect for fans of Wicked Saints, Shadow and Bones, and The Bear and the Nightingale.

The Night Country by Melissa Albert takes its readers on a journey through dark fairy tales and doors within books.

Alice is no ordinary girl. She’s a story who originates from a fairy tale within The Hazel Wood. Fairy tales are on the loose in the normal world, everything is topsy turvy. And now there’s a murderer on the loose who’s intent on killing the stories.

Alice needs to stay alive, investigate the murders, and figure out how to put everything back in its right place. As the story progresses, she starts receiving letters from Ellery, a friend she thought was lost to her.

Ellery and Alice work together to save the Hinterland survivors.

I had such high hopes for The Night Country by Melissa Albert. I enjoyed the first book, but the second book fell flat with me. I couldn’t stay engaged in the story. Nothing about it sucked me in, and I found myself bored as I flipped the pages.

I’m not sure if it was the pacing or the story itself, but I could not dive in deep with this book! A lot happened in the story, but still it felt slow and shallow. I couldn’t convince myself to care about the characters, and I was honestly thankful when the book ended.

The characters were okay but not spectacular. They didn’t excite me, and I didn’t feel invested in their lives. They also tended to blend together with few distinguishing traits to set them apart.

On the plus side, I completely adored the story concept. While I didn’t love the execution, I am 100% here for the story idea.

If you loved The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert, go ahead and give The Night Country a read. While it wasn’t for me, it might be for you!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing the Kindle version of this book in exchange for an honest review.