A stunning, lyrical gender-bent beauty and the beast retelling.

I was immediately drawn in by the beautiful, atmospheric world-building, especially as someone who is always a sucker for a creepy forest setting. Both our POV's of Seren and Owen were equally intriguing and touching. The way the author changes their writing style to match the character progression of Seren was so cleverly done, and the overarching message of having power over ones own destiny was beautifully crafted into the story. Highly, highly recommend!

*3.25*

I was so eager to read this book from the day it was announced, because it had all of the premises to become one of my favourites. Sadly, I have to say this was not the case, but it was nevertheless an entertaining and lovely story (and much more gruesome than I had anticipated).

This novel follows Owen, a boy who lives at the edge of a wood that it's well known for being cursed. A nymph/witch of the woods and her daughters are seducing men with their voices, leading them to their death.

I always love a story based on foklore, a haunted wood, and some magical prophecy.

Suddenly one time, Seren, the youngest daughter of the tree siren decides to save Owen's life, and the two form a sort of friendship.
This book is also sold as a Beauty and The Beast gender-swap retelling, and I can totally see why, if I have to be honest. At the same time, the fact that I didn't enjoy this book as much as I would is completely my fault. I had my expectations too high for this one, and the pacing was what really made me lower my rating. The story is sweet at times, really hard to read at other times, due to the fact that this book really is gruesome at times, but in my opinion these two aspects weren't really well balanced. In some parts the narration was very slow (especially at the end), while in other times it was way too fast.

Owen sometimes was too harsh in his decisions in my opinion, and also too fast in making them. For this reason sometimes he has to go back and re-think them. Seren on the other end was my favourite character, she's so strong and she cares so much, she only wants freedom for herself and for those she loves.

After all, I would really recommend this book if you like fairytales and folklore. I really like this concept and I'm curious to read more books by this author in the future.

Unfortunately, there were some issues with the initial download and then it was not possible to download it again. It was given a good rating so it won't affect its overall rating and sales.

The world building here is mostly very well done, with one problem: the towns that Gwydden’s daughters and forest destroy don't seem to make sense. Sometimes it appears that it's the same town over and over, other times it could be a different one. The train tracks are seemingly rebuilt easily, even though that was not the case at least twice. Still, that confusion can be overlooked next to the love between Owen and Seren and watching that unfold. I can see where YA readers will find this a good mix of romance, magic and age-long revenge.

eARC provided by publisher via Netgalley.

I'm so thrilled to have the chance to review Into The Heartless Wood! I love this cover and the book itself was certainly unique. It really resonates how we have to accept who we are but we can also make improvements. Ultimately we are in control of our own fate. Seren and Owen's love story is such a beautiful one filled with heartbreak, acceptance and magic. I loved the setting and the idea of the tree sirens, the astronomy that plays such a huge part in the story and just simply the earthiness of this book. Joanna Ruth Meyer certainly knows how to make nature magical. If you're looking for a unique YA read next year filled with adventure, a bit of a dark story, nature vibes and a love story, don't miss out on this one! Thank you to NetGalley, Page Street Publishing and the actual publisher for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Into the Heartless Wood is the fourth book by Joanna Ruth Meyer I have read and it has cemented her place on my all time favorite authors shelf. I did not realize going into it that this story was a bit of a genderbent Beauty and the Beast, but the connection is obvious after reading the author's note and it makes it even more perfect. To be frank, I will eagerly read anything this author writes.

This book begins with Owen, a boy who lives on the edge of a dangerous wood where no one else will venture. He loves his mother's music and his father's stars. Owen's father is the king's astrologist, which necessitates their living arrangements. His mother was lost to the witch's wood years before, led to her death by one of the witch's vicious tree sirens. Owen has never risked coming to the same fate until he comes face to face with one siren who is nothing like he expects.

Everything about this book was perfect. I loved Owen and Seren. Their relationship was incredible and heartbreaking and lovely. Joanna Ruth Meyer always layers her stories with so much atmosphere and emotion, and twists and turns, of course. Her books always follow a formula that I've come to anticipate and love. They begin with a story that seemingly wraps up about halfway through the book, but it always leads to something much more grand and unexpected. I love the scale and heart each of her books has.

This book was a bit darker than the author's others, but that's exactly what I expected from a story about brutal tree sirens and a dark wood witch. There is violence and death and blood, but also love and hope. The writing is lyrical and reminiscent of a fairy tale, albeit a very dark one.

I do not believe Joanna's books are for everyone, but they are tailor made for me and I cannot wait to see what she writes next. If you're looking for an atmospheric, lyrical, dark fairy tale with forbidden friendships and magic, do not miss this book!

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of Into the Heartless Wood.

This was a beautiful story! This is my first Meyer book and her writing is absolutely lovely, almost like fairytale meets poetry. Into the Heartless Wood has everything- a dark wood full of man eating tree sirens, an ancient feud for revenge, a night sky that is changing, and a young, forbidden love.

I will definitely be reading more of her books in the future and highly recommend this one to anyone who loves a beautifully written teen fantasy!

Into the Heartless Wood is one of those reads where the actual plot points and characters really don't matter because it is all about the atmosphere. Chilling and ghostly with a side of heart-warming, it is a unique and vividly written story. Unlike many YA fantasy novels, the supernatural elements didn't seem recycled or forced, and they were seamlessly embedded into the story through its eerie and superstitious flavour. This novel felt like a fairytale, but not the ones you read little girls at night. It was enchanting and had me spellbound from the first word with the unsettling awareness that this fairytale is not as rosy as it seems. (Rated 3.5 stars)

In "Into the Heartless Wood" Joanna Ruth Meyer has created a world that is magical and horrifying and somehow a world that is completely believable. It's a world in which the woods are alive and the stars predict the future. It also has one of the most heartbreakingly beautiful love stories I've read in ages.

Ms. Meyer draws the reader in from the very first sentence, in which one of a stand of birch trees is brought to life to be the daughter of the Gwydden, who is a kind of goddess that is all powerful, and merciless, and that is neither woman nor tree and who rules the wood around her. This new daughter is one of her mother's monsters, sirens whose song is so beautiful and enticing, it lures whoever hears it into the forest to be destroyed by these creatures.

Bordering these woods is a cottage in which resides a young man, Owen, his two year old sister, Awela, and his father, an astronomer who secretly charts the stars for the king of their region. Owen's mother was lost to the wood a year or so before. Devastated by her loss his father has built a wall between the cottage and the woods so his children will be marginally safer. As time passes, the branches begin to reach over the wall.

One day, Owen convinces his father that he could help him by taking the train to the city to file his father's star charts. He had heard warnings that the forest was encroaching the train tracks. Still, things seemed calm until suddenly the train is derailed, passengers flung this way and that, and the song of the sirens surrounds them. He manages to get out of the wreckage to find, to his horror, the tree sirens are murdering the victims of the accident, bodies lying all through the surrounding area.

When a siren comes upon him, something strange happens, her song pinning him to the ground, she stares at him and then tells him to run. She has let him go. And what happens after this gesture is something you will have to read to find out. I found this to be a book I couldn't put down. I had to stay up late to finish it and I will just warn you that at moments you may find yourself weeping on your kindle or book pages. 5 stars for this one! Thank you to NetGalley for the DRC!

I LOVED this book. I couldn't put it down. The story was so compelling and brimming with magic. I loved the fact there was a sensitive male lead who cared for his family, showed emotion, etc, and did things books have typically portrayed only females doing. Seeing the female lead morph from monster to human was also wonderful. My only wish is that they got more happily ever after time. Them actually being together and happy was left to the imagination and I wish more of their story post-rebirth was written down.

Evocative imagery and new twists on well-known tales will bring readers flocking to these woods. Meyer's almost staccato like prose sets a unique tone for the storytelling, immersing the reader in a world we know is unfamiliar from the first lines to the last. Big moments happen in a single sentence. Small moments fill several pages. This pushing and pulling of the pace of the story fascinated me. The focus is on the love story--which some readers will adore and others will grumble about, as always--but for those looking for a tale of star crossed/tree crossed lovers, they'll be rewarded with an immersive world, some beautiful prose, and an intriguing meditation on the meaning of monsters, souls, names, family, and redemption.

I fell for this book hard! Joanna Ruth Meyer has a way of crafting wholly original stories that feel like you're cracking open a long-forgotten book of fairytales, and Into the Heartless Wood is no exception. This story is as poetic as it is haunting, and I can't stop thinking about it. There are definite Maleficent, and Beauty and the Beast vibes, with a super sweet (omg, I love him!!!!) boy falling for a monstrous tree siren of a girl who longs to have a heart. I wish I could give it more than 5 stars!

Absolutely amazing concept, stellar execution. I loved this book from beginning to end. The mythology harkens to existing lore, but creates its own, making me wish for more books in this universe. Lyrically written, with captivating characters and a monster romance I adored. Five stars!

⭐️⭐️⭐️
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Thank you NetGalley and Page Street Kids for providing me with an ARC in exchange the for an honest review. Release date January 21st, 2021.
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Here is a new atmospheric read to add to your Autumn TBR. Grab a hot drink, a fluffy blanket and start reading. If you are even remotely interested in the premise, I would recommend you check it out.
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Say it with me... “Tree sirens”. Creatures born from the forest with songs capable of leading victims to their deaths... this was epic! I am such a sucker for sirens/mermaids, and I had no idea that I was missing out on land sirens! I need more!
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While I had a good time reading this book, it wasn’t my favorite. The atmosphere, creatures, and plot were great. But, the actual writing and storytelling left something to be desired. For book with content that was pretty graphic at times, ITHW read almost like a middle grade... Or on the younger side of the YA spectrum. Basic writing for a stellar idea.
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All in all, I had fun. This book is good. Not great, not terrible... but good. Would recommend for those wanting something that screams “fall vibes” and is an interesting fairytale retelling.

Uprooted meets The Little Mermaid and Maleficent in this haunting fairytale of sirens, dark woods, and forbidden love. Instantly I knew this book was for me. I have a weakness for books deeply rooted (pun intended😁) in lore and dark retellings. This was no exception. It was lush, enchanting, and heartbreaking in the best way.

Meyer takes an atmospheric approach to dryad mythology, weaving together a story written in old fairytale verse. I really enjoyed the very beginning and end of the novel. The middle seemed to move at a slower pace, and I felt it was a little disconnected from the overall story. But, all in all, the best part of this book was the relationships. The love story was touching and captivating, but the pure adoration, loyalty, and just sweet moments the main character had with his younger sister stole my heart.

Overall, it was a whimsical read that will sweep you away on an epic journey full of monsters, magic, and mystery that is perfect for readers who love dark fairytales and fables like me.

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.*

I won't have a lot to say about this book, but WOW, it completely took me by surprise. It deals with a lot of heavy topics (depression, suicide, etc.--for a full list of trigger warnings I recommend seeking out additional advice), but in a lovely, heartfelt way, if that makes sense. The plot appeared to be loosely based on fairytales and beauty and the beast but felt different enough to stand on itself. My only point of criticism is that there were parts that felt a bit slow for my taste, but most readers probably won't mind this because it picks up fairly quickly. I also loved the creep-ish elements that added another layer to the worldbuilding and character, while still grounding the reader in a world that made me care for the characters in it. Definitely recommended for those who prefer "smaller" worlds--thought just as rich and lovely. Reminds me of a touch of NAOMI NOVAK'S work, but for a slightly younger demographic. I am looking forward to seeing what the author writes next!

Trigger warnings: abuse, suicide, violence, murder, depression

Into the Heartless Wood by Joanna Ruth Meyer is loosely a gender-bent retelling of Beauty and the Beast.  Though rooted in a classic fairytale, this story feels completely fresh in its unique premise and evocative prose.  I adored this book and was completely enthralled from the very beginning.  Meyer seamlessly ties in a dark, atmospheric setting and folkloric influences that give the novel a timeless quality and create a tale more mature than your typical YA fantasy.

Told through the dual points of view of human teen, Owen, and tree siren, Seren, each voice provides a distinct perspective that breaks from typical gender roles.  Seren is a hardened creature of magic, who desires to become more than a monster.  I particularly enjoyed the way that Seren's voice (told in verse) develops throughout the story as her character evolves and becomes more emotive.  Owen's character is a refreshing contrast to Seren's written in open-hearted free form.  Though tough when he needs to be, Owen is, at heart, a caring dreamer who tends to his baby sister, manages the household, listens to nostalgic music, and gazes at the stars.  Together, their strength, determination, and optimism create a darkly poignant story full of heartache and hope.

This hauntingly beautiful retelling is sure to be an instant hit among fans of Uprooted and Meyer's own Echo North.  I highly recommend pre-ordering this title that is set to release on January 12, 2021.  Thank you to NetGalley and Page Street Publishing for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

This review will go live on my blog (link below) on Jan 2, 2021.

Into the Heartless Wood may be one of my top ten reads for this year. It's told from two perspectives: Owem, a boy who lives on the edge of a wood that's filled with soul-eating wood sirens, and "Monster," one of the sirens. This gender-swapped Beauty and the Beast is reminiscent of the original fairytale, while adding it's own flourishes that make it unique.

Owen befriends one of the sirens after she spares his life one day, and Owen teaches the siren about the stars and human-made creations, showing her a world she's never seen before. This book was the perfect fall read. It's filled with creepy tree-sirens and witchcraft, and a forbidden love/friendship that grows over the course of the novel. Such a beautiful read. I highly recommend checking this one out.

✨Book Review✨
Joanna Ruth Meyer's Into the Heartless Wood is an enchanting YA tale about an impossible love between a young man and a monster in the woods.
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There are many things I greatly enjoy about the world Meyer created... A world where monsters are real and they lurk just beyond the shadows of the forest. A world where good doesn't need a soul to exist, just a beating heart.
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I like how different this story is from everything else I've read. Although it's considered YA, I would love it for a younger group (minus the more gruesome scenes). Some of the morals we learn through this story, like overcoming obstacles and the importance of a name, are taught in a way that would be easy to grasp for a MG level.
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The plot is linear and easy to follow, with chapters by the tree siren beautifully interwoven throughout. I almost enjoy her chapters the most because they feel poetic.
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All this to say that this book is super cute, and I recommend it. .

I really enjoyed this book! It reminded me a little of Naomi Novick's Uprooted, which I loved. I liked the distinctive voices of Seren and Owen in the alternating chapters and the way Seren's chapters almost ready like simple poetry. It was interesting to read about an epic conflict between two sides that are both evil, and I liked the complexity of the Gwydden's backstory. Seren's redemption arc was also really satisfying. Overall I loved it!