Thank you to the publisher, Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Emeline wants to become a famous singer and her hard work has finally brought her close to getting a big break when she receives a call from her hometown informing her that her grandfather has disappeared. She returns to Edgewood, a town where mysterious occurrences near the woods are not uncommon and the people are all rather superstitious and firm believers in the magical forces that dwell within. The rumor is that her grandfather has been tithed to the Wood King and now belongs to his court deep in the woods. Emeline has never believed in these stories, but having exhausted all other options, ventures into the woods, determined to get him back, only to find out that all the stories were true.

I was admittedly very nervous to read this book (hence why I put it off until a week before release date) because the last book I read by this author, The Last Namsara, really did not work for me. Luckily, this was a very different type of story to that one, and it caught my interest almost immediately. The world building was beautifully executed and really brings to life the magical forest and all its inhabitants. The parts of the story set in the real world on the other hand didn’t feel as well written and I was just turning the pages until the plot returned to the woods. It has several common fantasy and fairytale tropes, but puts a unique spin on them, resulting in quite a fascinating, not to mention entertaining read.

As for the characters, I have to say I couldn’t really connect with them, and I felt that the characters didn’t have enough depth to them. Some of characters Emeline meets in the Wood King’s court did seem really interesting and it would have been nice if the story had taken time to develop these arcs better. I was also not too impressed with the romance. Initially, it seemed like it had a lot of potential, but there was so much else going on that this arc ended up feeling rushed. My focus was entirely on what would happen next on Emeline’s quest to save her grandfather and how it would all end, so definitely plot over characters with this one.

The pacing was quite good at first, but soon became rather inconsistent and choppy, and it took nearly 40% of the book before Emeline’s quest is finally revealed. Also, the magic system remained extremely vague right to the end, and considering how important a role it played, some clarity on the situation would have been helpful.

Overall, I found Edgewood to be a pleasant read. Despite a few issues, the story was engaging enough for me to keep reading to the end and it was a satisfactory conclusion to this narrative. Fans of these tropes are sure to enjoy this book and I would definitely recommend it!

Edgewood is a typical YA fantasy about 19-year-old musician Emeline Lark who is about to go on her first multi-city tour, just like she's always dreamed. However, strange things start happening when she sings, like moss and ferns growing at her feet and thorns creeping up her mic stand, and when Emeline learns that her grandfather has gone missing from the nursing care facility she has placed him because of his dementia, she knows she must return to Edgewood to find her grandfather and do whatever she can to get him back.

We then follow Emeline into the forest where she runs into a strange boy who refuses to take her to the Wood King to see if the King has taken her grandfather. It's at this point in the story that the book started to feel very troupy to me. The connections between the characters felt a little off from the beginning, and even though by the end of the book, I could understand why the characters acted the way they did around each other in the beginning, for the majority of the book I found myself not caring or believing in their relationships.

There were also convenient plot devises used and the too often romance tropes that come with the YA fantasy books. There were some steamy scenes that were fairly graphic for a YA book, and at the same time they seemed a bit cringy to me and I couldn't feel the chemistry between the characters.

One of the main things that took me out of the story, though, was the writing. There were so many details that were repeated word for word. If I had to read for the twentieth time about Hawthorne's "maple-dark hair" or river rock eyes" I was going to hurl my Kindle across the room! It was also hard to imagine what the forest looked like. The prose was sparse and not as lush or beautiful as I would have liked for such a magical place.

There were aspects about the plot that I did like, especially scenes where Emeline talks about her music and songwriting, and I did appreciate Emeline's character arc, but this was just a standard, average YA fantasy for me. I would recommend this to readers of YA fantasy who are primarily plot-based readers who enjoy when there is a mixture of both the real world and fantasy.

*Many thanks to Wednesday Books/St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the digital arc copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is a dark new adult fantasy that makes it own rules. I still have some question on how things came to be but that’s how urban fantasy works I guess. I loved the two main characters Emeline and Hawthorne who both make very questionable decision. By having them both be confused along the way of the story it allowed me to forget some of the stupidity they pulled off. I devoured this story from beginning to end and I also loved the secondary characters that are introduced in this world that straddles human and fairy borders. It was unique and interesting and perfect for fans of holly black

1/5 Stars - YA contemporary fantasy about Emeline, a girl with mysterious powers to call upon the Edgewood forest.

This novel was just not it for me. I was very intrigued by the premise, and I feel that this book had so much potential, but it fell flat all around the board. The first chapter had me completely hooked, but then I felt like the author just rushed through EVERYTHING after that first chapter. Seriously, it went "Oh here is information about the forest...Turn the Page...BAM she's in the forest...Turn the Page...BAM here is the love interest...Turn the Page...BAM she is in the Wood King Court." It was just too fast paced for me, and I felt that if this book would have been Adult, I would have liked it so much more. I love YA, I think I will always love YA, so it has nothing to do with that, but this has so much potential to be an amazing book if it was written as an Adult novel. The characters could have been more fleshed out, the author could have developed the magic system and world more, the romance scenes could have been better, the mysteries could have more bang to them, etc.

I have not read Kristen Ciccarelli's other novels, and I am still willing to give them a try, I just think this was not a great lead to start with. I truly wish I had liked this more, but this was so hard to get through. Honestly, after the 40% mark, I was just slogging through and almost DNF'd it 5 times. The characters were boring, the romance was not great and felt really forced, the world was not detailed and overly detailed at the same time, and the writing itself was just not good, unfortunately. The overall mystery and reveals were the only thing keeping me interested for a long time in this book, and I ended up guessing every plot point by the third chapter, so even that just left me really disappointed.

I was set in my 1 star review of this for the majority of this book, until the part with her memories, and as much as I enjoyed that chapter, it just wasn't enough to save this book for me. Like I said, this had a lot of potential, the main plot point sounded so promising, and if this was Adult, I think it could have been a lot more successful for me, but unfortunately, it was not. I have heard a lot of amazing things about Kristen Ciccarelli's other works, and will pick those up soon, because I do not want to write her off completely. This book just flopped for me, personally, and I hope other perhaps enjoy it, but I did not.

I was provided this ARC by Saint Martin's Press.

I am a big fan of Kristen Ciccarelli's Namsara series, so I was really excited to see that she has a new book set in a new world. Unfortunately it didn't quite live up to my expectations. It was fine, it kept my interest, but I won't be running out to buy it.
The book is about Emmaline, who is a singer, and whenever she sings the forest where she grew up comes to her. Then her grandfather (who raised her) goes missing, so she goes home and into the forest to find him.
Overall, I liked the story, though found it quite predictable. Like, the big thing that happens at the end, I knew was going to happen from about the halfway point. Also, Emmaline spends a lot of time making decisions for her grandfather (who I believe has alzheimer's), despite him clearly saying that's not what he wants. And then she gets mad when someone makes a decision for her, because he thinks it's in her best interest. Bit hypocritical there.
There is also a part where a woman has been put under a spell to fall in love with a man, and she gets pregnant by him, which to me feels pretty rapey, but that's never really mentioned? I mean, I get where the story was going with that, but I still didn't like it.
There were some beautiful parts in this book, especially around the love story between Emmaline and Hawthorne. If another book was written in this world/with these characters, I would probably read it, I think? It seems like there is a lot more that could happen with this story.

The pace of Edgewood is fast, but I found it falls flat in certain places. I would have liked to see the world-building and magic rules fleshed out a bit more. For the magic, I found it confusing at times how it worked and its mechanics as it seemed unclear what was allowed and what wasn't, I never quite understood it.
Due to the rushed nature of the plot, I didn't feel overly connected to the story or its characters as it felt like a way to get from the start to the finish rather than pulling me in and letting me get to know them.
All this to say, it wasn't really for me, but if you enjoy fast-paced, magical YA, it's still worth a read.

Edgewood is a unique story revolving around Emeline, her voice, and a curse that has taken hold of the woods beside where she grew up. She is right on the cusp of being signed by an agent, finally getting to her dream of becoming a touring musician. But when she sings, the woods from her home come to meet her. One night during a set, she learns that her grandfather, who is the only family she has left, has gone missing, and she's pretty certain it has to do with the woods as well. Will she find her grandfather in the woods, and what else will be there to meet her as she searches for him?

Overall, this was a great story that honestly could have been even longer, or a duology. There are some things that I wished were fleshed out a bit more, or things that felt abrupt. I wanted more backstory on the woods and the wood king! Regardless, this was a fun read and had a lot going for it. Loved the fantasy world hidden within the real world!

Thanks to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for the e-ARC!

This was a wonderful and surprisingly steamy YA urban fantasy! I was not expecting it to start out in the real world, and I was quite taken in by the Montreal/French Canadian inclusions. Emeline was a great main character, just flawed enough to be likeable. Her grandpa's story was so heartbreaking - major trigger warning for dementia/Alzheimers.

I also really liked the romance, and was surprised by the plot twist. Overall, not an all time favorite but really excellent.

Edgewood is a YA fantasy that blends themes of magical realism, fairy tale, contemporary, and mystery into a wonderfully magical story. This novel is just a really fun time. There is something comforting about it, despite the fact that there is a lot of tension sprinkled through the narrative.

I loved sitting down and reading through the story. I will admit that the start was a little bumpy for me, but as I settled into the writing I found myself just really enjoying everything on the page. I loved the world and the fun characters and the relationship between Emeline & Hawthorne. (Also, I just really loved the name choices.) There is a great mix of dark and light, with things not going too far into the twisted, but giving just a touch of creepy.

The whole thing just felt effortless. I think that shows the real magic in the writing. Everything felt natural and flowed the way it should. Despite the magical world, it all felt believable and I just had a great time. I consider this a cozy comfort read and would definitely snuggle in and read it again, or be incredibly thrilled to read more from this world.

* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *

Title: Edgewood
Author: Kristen Ciccarelli
Genre: Fantasy, YA
Rating: 5 out of 5

No matter how far she runs, the forest of Edgewood always comes for Emeline Lark. The scent of damp earth curls into her nose when she sings and moss creeps across the stage. It’s as if the woods of her childhood, shrouded in folklore and tall tales, are trying to reclaim her. But Emeline has no patience for silly superstitions.

When her grandfather disappears, leaving only a mysterious orb in his wake, the stories Emeline has always scoffed at suddenly seem less foolish. She enters the forest she has spent years trying to escape, only to have Hawthorne Fell, a handsome and brooding tithe collector, try to dissuade her from searching.

Refusing to be deterred, Emeline finds herself drawn to the court of the fabled Wood King himself. She makes a deal—her voice for her grandfather’s freedom. Little does she know, she’s stumbled into the middle of a curse much bigger than herself, one that threatens the existence of this eerie world she’s trapped in, along with the devastating boy who feels so familiar.

With the help of Hawthorne—an enemy turned reluctant ally who she grows closer to each day—Emeline sets out to not only save her grandfather’s life, but to right past wrongs, and in the process, discover her true voice.

I really loved this! From the opening scene, when the forest encroaches on Emeline singing, to the mystery of what was really going on in the forest, I was captivated. I thought the setting itself was very cool, and the idea there was an entire secret world nestled up against Emeline’s neighborhood (Isn’t that what every kid imagines?). The characters were a lot of fun, and I enjoyed getting to know everyone. I found this highly entertaining and a true pleasure to read.

Kristen Ciccarelli is a bestselling author. Edgewood is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.)

(Blog link live 3/4.)

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this novel. 3/5 stars.

I didn't realize this was an urban fantasy, and it really played it up -- too much -- at the beginning. I like the protagonist, Emeline, and I love how the book is centered on music, the power of music, and finding your voice (literally and figuratively). I like how Hawthorne is morally gray. The magical realism of Edgewood existing is beautiful. The plot itself was okay -- and I liked the twist at the end with the Vile.

The rest of it? There were moments when I wasn't really sure what I was reading. I was REALLY thrown off in the beginning with it mentioning Hydroflasks and Blundstones when I expected a fantasy novel, and even then, the forest and Edgewood didn't do quite enough to appease the fantasy urge. I also think more plot development could have happened -- like, why did the song mage have power?

Also. Joel sucks. Hawthorne, I have mixed feelings about. The ending was unnecessary and unresolved the resolved ending.

I was hoping to love this book but it ended up being okay! I love the idea of Edgewood and the ‘creepy magic woods’ setting but I still don’t really know how the magic system works. The pacing of this felt a little off. I love enemies to lovers but this moved a little too quickly for me to find it believable.

I wish we got to see more from the side characters, (Sable and Rooke) and their shifter abilities. We eventually find out the history between Emeline, Hawthorne, Sable and Rooke with a lot of flashbacks. Personally I don't love flashbacks in books, especially pages and pages of them. I didn't find this really added anything to the plot.

I did enjoy the twist with the Vile! I figured something was going to happen with her but I wasn’t sure what.

I do recommend giving this one a shot because you may love it! It has a lot of fantasy aspects I enjoy. I think this would have been great as a duology so the world and characters could be more flushed out.

A beautiful fairytale. Emeline Lark is just trying to make her dreams come true. She is so close to becoming a famous singer with a record contract....if only the woods of her home would let her be. Emeline gets called home to Edgewood, when her grandfather goes missing from his care-home. It seems the Wood King has collected him as a tithe. Emeline agrees to become the Wood King's minstrel in exchange for her grandfather's freedom. She also unwittingly gets pulled into a terrifying curse that is ripping the Wood King, his court and the woods apart. Can Emeline break all the spells before her tour and make her dreams come true?

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday books for this early copy of Edgewood.*

☆☆☆☆ /5
(english review below)

Une lecture aussi enchantante que la voix de la protagoniste dans ce roman.
¤
Peu importe jusqu'où elle court, la forêt d'Edgewood vient toujours pour Emeline Lark. L'odeur de la terre humide s'enroule dans son nez quand elle chante et la mousse rampe sur la scène. C'est comme si les bois de son enfance, enveloppés de folklore et de contes, tentaient de la reconquérir. Mais Emeline n'a aucune patience pour les superstitions idiotes.
Lorsque son grand-père disparaît, ne laissant derrière lui qu'un orbe mystérieux, les histoires dont Emeline s'était toujours moquée semblent soudain moins farfelues. Elle entre dans la forêt qu'elle a passé des années à essayer de fuir, seulement pour que Hawthorne Fell, un collecteur de dîme beau et maussade, essaie de la dissuader de chercher.
Refusant d'écouter l'homme, Emeline se retrouve attirée à la cour du légendaire Wood King lui-même. Elle conclut un marché - sa voix pour la liberté de son grand-père. Mais ce qu'elle ne sait pas, c'est qu'elle est tombée au milieu d'une malédiction bien plus grande qu'elle-même, qui menace l'existence de ce monde étrange dans lequel elle est piégée, avec un jeune homme qui lui semble si familier.
Avec l'aide de Hawthorne -un ennemi devenu un allié réticent dont elle se rapproche chaque jour- Emeline entreprend non seulement de sauver la vie de son grand-père, mais aussi de réparer les torts du passé et, ce faisant, de découvrir sa vraie voix.
¤
Dès le début, ce que j'ai beaucoup apprécié dans ce roman, a été de découvrir l'étrange mystère autour de la voix d'Emeline. Notre protagoniste a quitté son village pour s'établir à Montréal en tant que chanteuse. Pourtant lorsqu'elle chante, elle ne peut s'empêcher de repenser à son ancien chez elle, à cette forêt qui l'appelle. Oui, qui l'appelle, car quand elle chante, elle se met soudainement à revisualiser les bois qu'elle a jadis fui, à sentir les effluves de la mousse dans ses narines ainsi que la terre sous ses pieds... C'est presque magique et cela lui fait peur.
Vraiment, j'ai beaucoup aimé ce dernier point, notamment quand l’autrice décrivait ces manifestations pour la protagoniste. Les descriptions étaient captivantes et ont suscité mon intérêt pour la suite de l'histoire.
L'intrigue était intéressante. Les aventures d'Emeline montrent au lecteur qu'il faut parfois déconstruire nos croyances et accepter l'imaginaire comme réalité. L'autrice m'a attirée au fin fond de la forêt, entre magie et légèreté et cette lecture m'a emportée.
Pour autant, des petits choses m'ont chiffonné. Je n'ai pas réussi à m'accrocher à la protagoniste, qui m'a plusieurs fois frustrée par certains de ses choix que je trouvais stupides, et la romance ne m'a pas vraiment convaincue.
Et pourtant, le style d'écriture de l'autrice était assez poétique et beau pour que je finisse ce livre en un rien de temps !

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ENGLISH REVIEW

A reading as enchanting as the voice of the protagonist in this book.
¤
No matter how far she runs, the forest of Edgewood always comes for Emeline Lark. The scent of damp earth curls into her nose when she sings and moss creeps across the stage. It’s as if the woods of her childhood, shrouded in folklore and tall tales, are trying to reclaim her. But Emeline has no patience for silly superstitions.
When her grandfather disappears, leaving only a mysterious orb in his wake, the stories Emeline has always scoffed at suddenly seem less foolish. She enters the forest she has spent years trying to escape, only to have Hawthorne Fell, a handsome and brooding tithe collector, try to dissuade her from searching.
Refusing to be deterred, Emeline finds herself drawn to the court of the fabled Wood King himself. She makes a deal—her voice for her grandfather’s freedom. Little does she know, she’s stumbled into the middle of a curse much bigger than herself, one that threatens the existence of this eerie world she’s trapped in, along with the devastating boy who feels so familiar.
With the help of Hawthorne—an enemy turned reluctant ally who she grows closer to each day—Emeline sets out to not only save her grandfather’s life, but to right past wrongs, and in the process, discover her true voice.
¤
From the start, what I really enjoyed in this book was discovering the strange mystery surrounding Emeline's voice. Our protagonist left her small town to settle in Montreal as a singer. Yet when she sings, she can't help but think back to her old home, to this forest which calls her. Yes, a forest which calls her, because when she sings, she suddenly begins to re-visualize the woods she once fled, to feel the scent of moss in her nostrils and the earth under her feet... It's almost magical and it's scaring.
Really, I really liked this last point, especially when the author described these manifestations for the protagonist. The descriptions were captivating and sparked my interest in the rest of the story.
The plot was interesting. Emeline's adventures show the reader that it's sometimes necessary to deconstruct our beliefs and accept the imaginary as reality. The author drew me to the depths of the forest, between magic and lightness and this reading carried me away.
However, a few things bothered me. I couldn't hold on to the protagonist, who repeatedly frustrated me with some of her choices that I thought were stupid, and the romance didn't really convince me.
And yet, the author's writing style was poetic and beautiful enough for me to finish this book in no time!

Emmeline Lark is close to making her dreams of becoming a recording artist true. She's moved to a big city away from her small woodland town and is about to go on tour with her favorite band. Every time she sings on stage though, the forest comes to her - moss growing through the floorboards as if the woods want to drag her back home. When she gets a call that her grandfather has gone missing, she returns home and finds the folklore she grew up hearing may be responsible for his disappearance. Emmeline takes off through the trees to find him and stumbles across a handsome man, ember mares, shifters, and a curse that threatens to destroy the very forest she loved as a child.

I really enjoyed the fantasy world within this book and the idea of the curse itself. I loved the themes of remembering and forgetting throughout the book, and how it relates to her grandfather. Her entire relationship with her grandfather was sweet and multi-faceted, especially how Emmeline has a hard time connecting her beloved Pa who raised her with the frail man who can't remember who she is anymore. The parts of the story that took place in the city did not hold my attention as much, and I personally couldn't understand who would want to give up an enchanted fairy kingdom to perform in bars. Especially with a lackluster boyfriend who tries to convince her that her singing career is more important than her grandfather. I suppose he does serve as a stark contrast to her mysterious and good looking stranger in the woods.

Overall, this book was a fast paced read, and it was fun to lose myself within the fae world. I correctly guessed some outcomes, but was still surprised by a few turns, and the ending was cute. I received this as an ARC from NetGalley.

Not included in my Goodreads review - but of note - there is an instance in the book where Ewan is incorrectly referred to as Ivan if that can be fixed.

Edgewood is a beautiful fantasy story set at the border of a mysterious enchanted forest and a modern, current-day small town. Readers who enjoyed the Folk of Air series, House of Hollows, Bone Houses, Small Favors, or House of Salt and Sorrows will thoroughly enjoy this lovely standalone with mystery, suspense, romance, and earth magic. The author builds a vast world in a few hundred pages with characters that you would happily spend several more hours with. The conclusion is both satisfying and thought provoking, making this an excellent choice for reading groups, novel study, or a buddy read. Highly recommended. Kristen Ciccarelli will be on your auto-buy list from now on!

Fantastic fantasy novel. I've been in a fantasy slump for the better part of a year. Once I Dove into this, I could not put this down. I finished it in two sittings, and only because my kindle died.

Edgewood by Kristen Ciccarelli is a wondrous and magical urban fantasy that took my breath away with its vivid imagery, creative new creatures, and fascinating magical system. The story comes to life, particularly from the halfway point on, and the imagery explodes with sensory descriptions and depth that quickly pulled me in. Now, if you wonder why that doesn’t happen until the halfway point, all I can say is that there is a reason with a shocking twist that is jaw-dropping and illuminating in all of the best ways. The twists are many, and they kept me glued to the page as I only guessed one before it happened. I also enjoyed that the town lore about the Woods proved true and that it is inescapable by the families who live in Edgewood no matter how far they travel. The characters are all interesting, and the backstories are fascinating, notably Hawthorn Fell, the tithe collector for the Wood King. His romance with the main character, Emeline Lark - an enemies-to-lovers story- is touching and shows the transformative power of love in new and unexpected ways. Ultimately Edgewood is a journey of self-discovery for Emeline Lark. She has moved away from Edgewood to achieve her musical dreams but finds that she has to learn about herself and where she comes from to understand what she values most before ever reaching her heart desires. Lastly, I loved the magical creatures, from the fiery horses to the terrible dragon, Claw, who shows the dangerous side of magic but with a bit of wonder that kept me in awe. If you love imaginative stories, then Edgewood will keep you enthralled with its breathtaking beauty and jaw-dropping twists.

The wonderful cover is perfectly reflective of the magical world of Edgewood. This book has excellent world building that draws you in with each chapter! Each character is multidimensional and the slow burn romance will have you on your toes.

I received an ARC from the publisher and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
I was drawn to Edgewood’s pretty, evocative cover, and while I didn’t entirely expect it to be a modern/urban fantasy (the blurb didn’t make it entirely clear, in my opinion), ultimately, it takes place more in the fantasy world anyway. I really liked the fairytale aesthetics, with a dragon, talking animals, a wicked witch, and fae. The descriptions of the world are the highlight of the book, as they really draw you in. Add to that the way it incorporates music in a textual way that somehow works, plus a tribute to the power of memory, and it’s a strong book on a thematic level.
Emeline is interesting, in that she’s an aspiring singer, on the precipice of her big break, but every time she sings, she manifests a bit of Edgewood, like the scent of moss. I could understand not wanting to deal with her past at first, but her relationship with her grandfather and his disappearance pushed her to confront the issue.
Speaking of which, I really loved the bond between the two of them. I love how well conveyed the feeling of having a relative still be around physically, but mentally, you’ve lost them as a result of Alzheimer’s.
The romance with Hawthorne is sweet, not too over-the-top or understated. He has Emeline’s best interests at heart, for the most part. I will say there are bits here and in some other aspects that push it in the upper part of YA, even maybe the vague NA territory, which caught me a bit off-guard (even taking into account how publishers have been trying to court older audiences with their YA), so that’s definitely something to keep in mind. It’s not too explicit, however.
This is a solid romantic YA romantic fantasy that I think will resonate with a lot of readers, especially if you like evocative, fairytale-esque writing and worlds, with a bit of real-world grit to the themes.