For all that I am so totally enamoured of this concept, I am not the reader for this book.
I can see everything that the author Is putting in. I see the time, the effort, and so many beautiful concepts that I want to adore it, but it may be my lit degrees pulling it apart.

I’d love to see the readers of ‘Hazel Wood’ or ‘A Curse So Dark and Lonely‘ finding This book and finding something amazing in it.

I really wanted to enjoy this story. I tried so hard to push through it in the hope of being amazed because the plot description sounded so interesting and I'm a fan of budding authors. Unfortunately, this just didn't do it for me. The world building was all over the place and lacked structure so there's no clear design of the world and hierarchy of the witches. The characters aren't explored enough to make them interesting...somewhat likeable...but not memorable enough for me to be rooting for anyone in particular. The story itself doesn't really flow well so I kept waiting for this buildup of the story to really tie into the plot and find a world that I wanted to get lost in. I liked the author's writing style. With some refinement and adjustments this could truly be a great story. The cover art is beautiful. Overall, I gave this a 3 though I struggled with that decision and kept thinking of giving it a 2 because of how disappointed I was.

Thank you to Netgalley and DunDun for letting me read this ARC.

At first I was very intrigued by the writing style. It felt like reading song lyrics. But my wonder became exasperation. I just couldn’t get myself invested in the story.

The world building has something to it. But I felt more magic was needed. Eli is a strong character, but again I just didn’t connect with her.

I will be honest, I felt it was time to put this book down at 30%. If a book doesn’t catch your eye by reading that amount is just not worth it.

There's a lot to like in The Girl of Hawthorn and Glass: some parts didn't flow quite as well as others did, but the promising premise, wonderful prose and some great character interactions along the way carried the story wonderfully. I'm looking forward to seeing where the characters go next.

I think this might be be 3rd bad YA book in a row and this does not bode well for me.

okay lets admire the beautiful cover because tha'ts about 90% of the reason why I wanted to read this book - something to remind me not to read a book because of it's cover.

Although this novel had so much potential, I found it dry and difficult to get through. I couldn’t connect to the characters or their relationships with each other. This was a really hyped book all over #bookstagram so I was really excited to finally get around to reading it and I have honestly I was disappointed in a book. The blurb makes the book sound so so good but actually reading the book I just felt quite underwhelmed and in all honesty... bored. Most of my tabs for this book were for "this annoyed me". I feel like it had all the recipes for a good story but it just didn't come together well for me. Characters are a major focus for me, as a reader. If I can't connect to them, I can't enjoy my experience with the book. And that is exactly what happened to me in this case

I had such high hopes for this debut but I have to say I was a bit disappointed. It was a very interesting premise, but it just wasn’t carried out quite right. I felt like the story lacked in most departments, the characters didn’t feel developed enough, the world wasn’t completely explained and there were a few plot holes. I will say I loved the writing style and also enjoyed the lgbt representation.

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

The Girl of Hawthorn and Glass was fantastical and magical and incredibly creative. The world-building was very interesting, especially when noting the juxtaposition between the normal everyday City of Ghosts compared to the magical realism of the City of Eyes and how the two mesh together. One thing I loved about this book was the allusions to other stories and novels: the realm of the witches (The City of Eyes) was reminiscent of Wonderland and all its strangeness with the sentient walls of the Labyrinth or the three suns burning in the sky. Then there were the mischievous kid witches hiding away from the all-powerful Coven who were allusions to the Lost Boys of Neverland. The main character herself, Eli, reminded me of the myth of Blodeuwedd – the woman created from flowers to become a god’s wife. Eli was created from hawthorn, glass, and blood as a weapon with no free will of her own, same as the Flower Maiden.

A major running theme through the story was humanity, mainly Eli’s and how she becomes more human despite not being one. It was really interesting to see the difference between the witches and the humans. The witches were probably my favorite characters, Kite is a water witch with a mysterious connection to the coven and even more mysterious goals. Meanwhile it was also interesting to see and read about Eli’s mother and maker. No matter how bad some of the characters may seem, they all have depths and different morals which I loved because it made the characters more real and lovable. I noticed this the most with Circinae (Eli’s mother) who was a follower of the Coven, but despite this still broke the rules when she taught Eli how to read and even tried to help her escape later on. I liked the complexity this added to the characters and it shows that people are never truly all bad or all good.

I loved that the witches aren’t human and don’t try to be, they have their own rituals and personalities and could never be mistaken for anything mundane or normal. The only real problem I had with the story itself was that it was sometimes hard to follow. At some points the author used magical realism and metaphors a little too strongly which clouded a bit of the plot but made the story and words beautiful nonetheless. Overall this was a wonderful read with a cliffhanger I wasn’t expecting, and I would read the sequel as well. The romance wasn’t overpowering which I really loved, and it was nice to see that there wasn’t a lot of drama between the characters even though Eli had two main love interests that interacted on a regular basis. The story was also a little fast-paced especially in the beginning but settled into a more comfortable pacing later on.

Overall, the story of The Girl of Hawthorn and Glass is good. It is an interesting read and shows a perspective of the world which most modern novels lack. The characters are inventive and the world is imaginative. 

With that said, I found myself confused at times of what was going on. I believe the main issue with this novel is the lack of backstory. It is crazy for me to say because I generally find that authors spend a bit too much time creating their backstories and then rush through to the action and ending. This book seems to do the exact opposite. The world is a complete unknown for the majority of the book. There is information spread throughout it about the world, but it seems to only be mentioned when it is needed for the story-line to continue.

I don't want to spoil anything so let this be your **SPOILER ALERT** for this review. An example of the above is when the character Kite cries pearls. This seems like a weird thing but overall goes with the aesthetic of the world. The issue arises when the main character Eli eats the pearl tears and is instantly is more powerful. This was never brought up before and if Eli knew that this would happen, then why wasn't it referenced before. If Eli wasn't supposed to know, then why did she just eat the pearl out of the blue.

I believe the crux of the issue is that I felt confused for the majority of the book and then something would happen to makes things easier for the main character. If the author would have mentioned some of this information earlier or throughout the bulk of the story, then I believe this could have been a very, very good book.

So overall, this is a good story if not a bit confusing and happenstance. For those reason, I am giving this a 3 out of 5.

Eli is a made thing, a pet with made for hunting ghosts. When she fails, she has to run away because if she doesn't she'll be disarmed and unmade.

This book had so much potential, but it fell flat for me. The first half was so full of action and I loved how Eli grew as a character but, the last half of the book just didn't hold up. Some situations were really strange.. I mean, is that really necessary? Sadly I can't say anything because SPOILERS and I want the people to read this book I was super disappointed because I wanted to love it so much.

I received an eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Girl of Hawthorn and Glass by Adan Jerreat-Poole immediately caught my eye because of its cover. However, it is also described as a book fans of The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert would enjoy, so I was drawn to it even more. I went in only knowing that the book was set in a fantasy world with witches and assassins.

The novel follows Eli, a teenaged assassin that was created by witches in the City of Eyes to hunt ghosts. She accepts her fate as a “made-thing” and obediently does as she is told. She becomes a machine, traveling to and from the City of Ghosts, or the human world, using her trusted blades to do the bidding of others. However, Eli begins to question herself and her duties when a mission goes wrong.

While in the human world, Eli meets and later befriends Cam and Tav. They introduce her to humans and witch renegades who are working against the powerful witch Coven. They plan to harness magic to help save the Earth by stealing the Heart of the Coven. For Eli, this serves as a way to find answers and her own freedom.

I really liked Eli’s character, and I found myself even more intrigued to see how she changed as she developed a closer relationship to Cam and Tav. I appreciated that all three helped each other grow, so I became invested in their stories. I also thought it was great that the author incorporated a lot of representation and LGBTQ+ characters - Eli seems to be queer, Cam is gay, and Tav is non-binary.

While I enjoyed some aspects, this book did not completely work for me. It seemed like a very unique story at first, but it lacked proper world-building. I wished for more detail about the City of Eyes and its magic. Plus, the writing style and language were not my favorite at times. I also felt like there was a lot happening, but some of it did not seem purposeful. The plot branches off in so many directions, but in this case, less is more. A few things seemed distracting or irrelevant because of everything else that was happening, so I felt as though the book was not following a central idea or story anymore.

The Girl of Hawthorn and Glass is entertaining, and I can see why people would enjoy it. Adan Jerreat-Poole creates an intriguing story with wonderful characters, but it did not quite live up to my expectations. However, I would still be tempted to check out this book’s sequel solely because of the characters.

Thank you to the publisher, Dundurn, and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this novel before its release.

I found the plot, setting and characters very interesting. I liked the diversity of characters and level of complexity not only displayed by Eli, but also Tav and Cam, who join her on her journey. I found myself engrossed in the story and wondering what would happen next. This story doesn't have a clear "Good guy" or "bad guy". Everyone exists in the grey area.

The author's vivid descriptions bring both the human world and the witch world to life. I was easily able to step into the world and become immersed in the story. I liked the conclusion/set-up for a sequel and this world is one I'd definitely come back to.

While I enjoyed the novel over all, there are some parts that confused me. Maybe I wasn't paying close enough attention, but it was difficult for me to remember who some of the minor characters were in relation to one another. There were also some aspects of the world-building that I feel needed to be explained a little better or expanded upon.

Magic, supernatural and action are the main words that can be used to describe The Girl of Hawthron and Glass. Also, we need to acknowledge the incredibly gorgeous cover for it. How stunning is it ??

Now, that's a book that pulls you in right at page 1 ! I was super happy to realise the story was fascinating right from the start. We get Eli, who is some kind of mysterious weapon, but also turns out to have some feelings, we get magic, witches, a dark and dangerous world that still get called home, very distinctive companions, betrayal and so much more !

I loved seeing Eli evolve throughout the whole book. She was made to be a weapon and grows to become more than this, with the help of Kite, Tav and Cam. Speaking of which. The queer rep is so strong in this book, and I loved how all of those characters are not all defined by gender or sexual preference, which was a nice change for me since I rarely stumble upon fantasy/sci-fi books that have meaningful queer characters. Here, they are definitely main characters, with a purpose and a mind of their own.

However, I feel like they were not used as much as they could have. They have a mind of their own and everything, but they still felt like tool-characters. Each of them has a special ability/use that will help Eli through her journey, but besides that, I didn't think they had too big of an impact in the book. They deserved better, especially Cam.

Another character that I would have loved to discover more was Eli's mother and maker, Circinae. She's a power-seeking witch who would do anything to rise in status in the Coven, yet, we can sometimes notice her affection for her daughter and I'm sure Circinae has much more to offer as a character than what we got here. Same goes for the Hedge-Witch, who literally plots a whole revolution, and does ABSOLUTELY NOTHING during the book about it. She's basically just like "Okay, you guys go do dangerous stuff for me and we'll see later". SHE DOES NOTHING. What use are you really ???

Fortunately, the story is so fast paced you don't really have time to dwell to much on side characters. There is not a moment to rest (which is probably why I read the whole thing in less than 48 hours, when I would normally take at least 4 days) and action is everywhere. Though sometimes the plot felt a little rushed and I struggled to understand all the details of everything that was going on, I kept flying through the book because the story was so engaging. I just wished I had gotten more details about the City of Eyes and about some relationships, like Eli/Kite, who get some flashbacks during the story, but not nearly detailed enough for us to understand their true bond.

There are so many interesting aspects in this story, so many things to be read ! I really think those of you who enjoy reading about magic will enjoy The Girl of Hawthorn and Glass. Bonus point if you want more queer/diversity in your reads ! You most definitely won't get bored reading about Eli and her companions, so enjoy the ride !

Synopsis:
Eli is a weapon made of a number of different things, Hawthorn, Glass and human flesh to name a few. She is the greatest assassin, the made-daughter of the witch Circanae. When she is given her next assignment, things start to go a little weary. Eli needs to make some big decisions, and being made by another, she finds this particular human right a little difficult, but she's never been one to follow the rules.


Review:
What a great story. I haven't read anything along these lines before. I enjoyed the characters, they were really well thought out, along with a touch of gender diversity, it was really lovely to read.

I particularly loved Tav, strong yet determined and unafraid to be whatever they are. Tav identifies with both genders, clearly saying so when Eli asks if they are a boy or a girl. Tav would be relatable in that sense to many people who would read this book, and I love the use of the pronouns when speaking of Tav.

I also really liked the world that Jerreat-Poole has created, there is Earth, but then there is the magic-realm where we have a forbidden forest, a secret island just for Eli and Kite, the Coven and wastelands. The whole realm is an interesting place to read about.

I didn't find the whole tale gripping and it wasn't something that I can say that I loved (I'm not HUGE on sci-fi, but working on it). I would still highly recommend The Girl of Hawthorn and Glass to readers of sci-fi fantasy and younger teens.

This could have been such a good read. I really love the LGBTQ representation in this book. It’s seemless and well done. Big thumbs up for this part of the book.
But sadly the story wasn’t as well executed as it should have been. The idea is amazing, but it kinda lacked of drive and thrill. I can’t even say what was lacking, because the worldbuilding and the characters were so so good.
But it kinda lacked something to make me bite my fingernails or be a page turner.
Don’t get me wrong it’s a good book, but it could have been an amazing one, of the story would have had a different pace and a better ending.
But if you like a book with good representation and excellent worldbuilding, you should have a look at this one.

A Teen assassin is quite a feat to put in a book. usually these types of books draw me in but I felt very removed from this book.

This book just wasn’t my thing. I did finish it so I am giving it two stars because of that. I absolutely love nevernight and that is really what made me request this—but I didn’t see many similarities and the writing just didn’t do it for me.

The Girl of Hawthorn and Glass did a fantastic job of stretching the imagination. The world in which it’s set is unlike any other, and almost nothing makes sense - insanity thrives. I wished to see some more relationship building between the characters, but Eli’s battle with herself takes center stage for a good portion of the book and it didn’t leave much room for other things to happen. Also, from the excerpt I got the feeling that I’d be going into a book about assassins and violence, but I just didn’t see any. We all know the saying, “Show, don’t tell”. I think this should’ve been applied better because you can’t necessarily call an assassin an assassin if there’s not much assassinating, you know?

I’ll give this a solid 3 stars.

First I would like to thank NetGalley and Dundurn Publishers for allowing me to read and review this book.

When I first read the description for this book I was really excited. The main character, Eli, sounded like a strong and independent female character on a great adventure, set in a rich fantasy world. I believe that is is what the author saw in their head, and there everything probably made sense. However, as a reader I was left confused. I found this book hard to read, and had a difficult time following along with where the main character was going. There wasn't enough details about the different worlds Eli travels to. I found myself re-reading over parts to see if I missed something that would help me understand what was going on, but came up empty handed. I believe that what the author had in mind was a fabulous story, and I want to hear that story. Maybe if there were more details and a clearer road map it would be easier for the reader to follow along.

When I read the synopsis for this book I was prepared for magical assassin adventures. However, what I received was a bunch of extraneous purple prose, instalove, and a confused at best plot. I try to be generous with debut novels, but I couldn’t even finish this one (DNF 50%). However, I believe that there is a lot of promise here for Adan Jerreat-Poole as a writer. I just think that there needs to be a bit more development and editing.

I had a lot of problems with the writing style of this book. I found myself re-reading paragraphs because I was trying to pick out what was important to the story. Mostly I just ended up getting headaches. When you read it, it sounds beautiful, rich and descriptive, but most of it doesn’t actually describe anything or push the plot forward. It felt like reading a really long and flowery poem. I think it sort of obfuscates what is or is not going on in the story. A bit of a diversion tactic if you would.

Another issue I had was what basically amounts to instalove between two of the main characters. Eli and Tav, see each other and when they touch sparks literally fly. However, I don’t know enough about either of their characters to see how they can be attracted to each other. I guess you could say that Tav’s character is flirty, but I don’t think that’s really it. Even though I feel this way about the romance I did want to learn more about the characters.

The concepts for these characters intrigued me. I wanted to learn more about them, but for the most part the way that their stories were written or explained didn’t give me the feeling of attachment that I was hoping for. I could forgive the author for a weak plot as long as the characters are interesting. I also want to applaud all of the LGBTQ+ representation in this novel. As I am not LGBTQ+ myself, I cannot say if it is good representation, but it felt very naturally inclusive. I just wish that the characters and the plot were more developed.

Thank you to Dundurn and Netgalley for providing me with an e-ARC of this novel. All thoughts and opinions are my own. My full review will be posted on my blog on May 11th, 2020.

I was incredibly excited to be selected to receive an ARC of The Girl of Hawthorne and Glass by Adan Jerreat-Poole- queer inclusive fantasy with a strong female lead and lots of magic? Yes,. please. Sign me up! And this book certainly did not disappoint when it comes to inclusivity, gayness, strong women, or magic. Those boxes were all checked and wrapped in some of the best prose I have read in quite some time.

While I really enjoyed the book and storytelling as a whole, there were times when I felt like I was missing something and had to back pedal a few pages to make sure I hadn't glazed over an important detail. Sometimes the story was very clear and precise, making sure you picked up what it put down, though usually with minor character details (like hair)... but other times it was just vague enough to be frustrating. I wanted the world to be built out more, particularly The City of Eyes. I wanted to understand better, have a clear picture. I sat on writing this review for nearly a week for that reason- I couldn't decide on a rating. I just wanted more. But my rating ultimately is in place because I enjoyed the book, I enjoyed the characters (I just want to understand the motivation behind everyone except the main). It's not perfect, but it was enjoyable. And it was weird.I like weird.

Eli is a made thing, a witch's daughter, a witch's creation. She was made with a purpose, to serve the Coven without question. She is their assassin, and the Coven expects perfection from their assassin. Creations that don't serve their purpose are unmade, and while Eli may have been created of hawthorn and glass (and a few other things), she is very much alive and would rather keep it that way. I love the thought behind the character creation, not just for Eli, but for all the characters. They're unique and colorful and.... alive.

The witches and their Coven reside in a magic realm that is entered through seams between our human world and theirs. These are the seams Eli uses to travel and carry out the assassinations entrusted to her by the Coven. She kills ghosts. Not the bed sheet kind, not ghosts like we may think of them. Threats. Ghosts that consume life. But when one of her missions is very much not what she expected it to be, Eli finds out that she cannot simply return to the Coven. Failure is not an option.

Enter Cam and Tav, bringing some wonderful diversity and a whole lot of much needed queerness into the world of fantasy reading. I really loved both of these characters but I want to understand more about what drives them. Because they're interesting, they play off each other in a wonderful way, and I want to see where their stories go. Cam is a gay boy with a deep appreciation for quality coffee, a quality that I can really get behind. And Tav is a non-binary person of color with spiked purple hair that rides a motorcycle that gave me some character-crush moments. They interested me. Especially as their story played out.

Eli, Cam, and Tav's become entangled in multiple ways that lead them on an adventure through the magical world that tests hearts, motivations, and the bonds they're forming. The City of Eyes and the realm in which it dwells could not be farther from the pastel and glitter coated fairy realms of popular fantasy. Danger lies everywhere, in every object, in every stone of this living and breathing world and the witches? Well, they're not exactly Glenda the Good.

I am looking forward to seeing where this story goes. I really WANT this book to succeed. The writing is beautifully done and our fantasy worlds need to be filled with more than just white, conventionally attractive, able bodied, straight characters.

3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 because of a truly original story and unique characters.

Major thanks to Dundurn, Adan Jerreat-Poole, and NetGalley for the ARC of this book. My opinions (as always) are my own.