**I was provided an electronic ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for honest review.**

Kristen Ciccarelli returns with a standalone fantasy centered on song and sacrifice. Readers follow Emeline Lark who is living her dream of making her way in the music industry. But as Emeline works to realize her dream, there is much she is leaving behind. Whenever Emeline sings, the woods come for her. When her grandfather is missing and a tithe marker is left in his place, Emeline has to return to Edgewood to bring him home.

Ciccarelli's Edgewood has every bit of feeling of old world fairy tales. The shiftlings, the Wood King, the shadow skins, and all the rest of the dangers and delights of the wood are the very embodiments of the modern fairy tale. Even the themes of sacrifice and equivalent exchange and fairy deals are all things that are common to the genre and familiar. Edgewood isn't successful because it is doing something new. It is successful because Ciccarelli does it well.

The most powerful part of Edgewood, for me, is the running themes around memory. Keeping it, losing it. the value of it. Anyone who has had the experience of watching a loved one lose themselves to age will feel the presence of Ewan Lark strongly. Anyone who has had the experience of gaining and losing love will feel Hawthorne. And anyone who has felt the drive for a dream and questioned whether or not that dream should actually come true will feel Emeline.

Overall, Ciccarelli has added a wonderful story to the realm of fairy tales and I am grateful to have had the opportunity to explore Edgewood early.

Edgewood is a contemporary YA fantasy tale about a young musician who must rescue her grandfather from a magical world far different than her own.

Emeline Lark is a singer who wishes to make her big break in the music industry, but all those plans are put aside when she gets a call that her grandfather has disappeared under mysterious circumstances.

She must return to Edgewood, the place she once called home, to figure out exactly what has happened. However, Edgewood is no ordinary place. It is a small town bordering a forest said to harbour magic and all things mysterious. All the rumours and superstitions have led to belief that Emeline’s grandfather has been tithed away and is now in the hands of the Wood King. Being the sceptical girl she is, Emeline takes the leap to find her grandfather in the forest, realizing all stories and rumours, were real.

I haven’t done a review on fantasy YA novels in quite a while, and I found Edgewood to be a pleasant read in some ways, but could use some improvement in others. My interest in the book started roughly three to four chapters in, and I found this typical for the YA genre. The plot was just as I expected for a YA novel; the protagonist receives a call into the unknown world, must face the obstacles this world offers to achieve their mission, and is brought back into their original world as a new and developed person. This is what happens with Emeline and the duration of the plot. Some areas of the plot felt fuzzy, and saving her grandfather became more of a secondary aspect instead of the primary plot driver. The pacing of the plot was done well, as YA novels are usually done with a quick motive, this felt just right.

The worldbuilding itself was aesthetically pleasing. It was a fun, imaginative experience to see the Wood beyond Edgewood. The overall atmosphere gave Autumn and Fall vibes with a hint of eerie darkness, and I believed this to be the highlight of the world. The faeries, and relevant creatures also bore their unique characteristics throughout the book. The magic and the supposed “disease” that ravages the woods felt a bit underdeveloped, and I saw those aspects through a very black and white lens.

The writing of this book was easy to read. The author doesn’t seem to make any moves to confuse the readers, and the language used by the main character to be appropriate for her age and personality. I think the writing made the worldbuilding and character development easy to picture as well, and there was never a time where I had to go back and read certain parts to better understand what was happening.

Emeline herself was an interesting character to read about. She is exactly the teenage character I expected her to be with a slow-burn crush on Hawthorne (the profound love interest of the story), juvenile and child-like tendencies, and her stubbornness. The aspect I found flawed in her character was how she believed herself infallible at times. This was interesting to come by for her character knowing teenagers don’t have much exposure to the adult world yet, and this trait seem to offset Emeline as a character. Hawthorne himself gave off a “hopeless romantic, will never happen to me” vibe at first, but surely had some flaws to bear as well. I think their relationship could have been developed more fully, as well as their characters.

Edgewood was a standalone book with its flaws but was appropriate in terms of plot and worldbuilding for the YA genre. The relationships between the characters could’ve used some more work as well. When reading this fully, it was entertaining, mysterious, and magical! This book is for readers who love the Fae, magical elements, and crave the YA plotlines, and I recommend this to you if you have a taste for any of those aspects!

A book with twists throughout a very intriguing magic system and a very relatable protagonist! I was not expecting this book to be an urban fantasy but I definitely this book is best when you go into it knowing nothing. I had the most fantastic time reading! If you love a story about love, trust, darkness and some very cool plant scenes, this one is for you! I love when fantasy books also have some mystery involved and this one took me for a loop! I was on the edge of my seat, so invested in the characters and plot at hand the book was over before I knew it! Definitely a fav read of the year so far!

I received an ARC via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

Emeline wants nothing more than to be a professional musician. She's got the talent and things are finally coming together for her. When her grandfather goes missing, she realizes that her plans might be in jeopardy. Emeline returns home to look for her grandfather, but she is pulled into a fantasy world that she thought was made up. The silly stories and superstitions she grew up with turn out to be true, and she has to enter that world and restore something that was lost to save the ones she loves.

I think alot of YA readers are going to love this. It is a quick and easy read, and has alot of YA tropes that I think younger readers will enjoy. For me it was a bit underdeveloped. The magic system was never really explained and I never really connected with the characters. Emeline is a bit immature for my taste and kept me from fully connecting with this. With this being so heavily character driven versus plot driven, connecting with the characters is really important. I will say that the author did a good job setting the scene, the creatures and scenery were explained with good detail.

This book seems to have two different themes polarizing each other: rock and roll clashing against fantasy. So unfortunately this was a DNF for me.
Thanks for the digital review copy.

This was a good example of this particular genre. I liked the story and thought it would be interesting for YA readers.

I love how the story opens and the imagery was just amazing. However, pretty words is not the only thing a story needs. This felt very lackluster. The characters were not remotely memorable. We spend most of the book going back and forth between the same places hunting down items. It was unnecessarily repetitive. The world building was also nonexistent. I really wanted to love this but I didn't.

Thanks to Netgalley & Wednesday's books for a free copy in exchange for honest review.

This is a story that sings of love, loss, and forgetting with a melody that haunts you after you complete the book. I laughed, cried and held my breath as the author weaved her magical story around me!

Emeline is a singer who has tried to leave her small town and their crazy superstitions behind. She is close to achieving everything she wants in her career, but she drops everything to run home when her grandfather disappears. She discovers he has been captured by the Wood King and the stories she heard growing up are more real than she knew! As she works to find freedom for her grandfather, she is in over her head as she fights against a curse hurting the woods. She finds an unlikely ally in Hawthorne Fell and his friends.

This Is a YA fantasy romance with a single open door scene that was fairly mild. But the romance is slow building and exquisite..

Thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Press(St Martin’s) who gave me an advanced readers copy so I could provide my honest opinion. I might not have found this gem otherwise!

Edgewood is a slow-burn fantasy that just didn't work for me. The writing creates a dreamlike atmosphere where it's like you're just sleepily floating through the motions of the story. Even the scenes that could have added excitement and action were written in the same sleepy style. I'm not saying this is a bad thing, it's just something I personally do not enjoy when reading fantasy. By the time I hit 30% of the book I hated to even pick it back up again.

If you are someone who enjoys slow burning fantasy then you should absolutely give this one a shot.

3.5 Stars!

Edgewood is a truly unique young adult, fantasy novel.

Edgewood is a well-written and intriguing story that spins quite the web of mystery. I enjoyed the mysterious woods and all of the secrets they held. I loved trying to figure out who you could trust or not. This book does dive into some pretty tough issues such as memory loss and I think the author did a really great job with the way she not only handled them, but the creative spin she put on them.

My only complaint about this book is that I wish the pacing had been a little more on point. There were some parts where the story seemed to drag a bit. And I do wish that the romance between Emeline and Hawthorne had been fleshed out a little more. Yes, their romance was definitely a slow-burning one, but they really left me wanting more.

Even though I did have a couple of issues with this book, I did find it to be an enjoyable read. I really liked all of the fantasy elements and the world this author created. I thought the author was really creative with the way the tough issues were handled.

This is my first book by this author and I would definitely be interested in checking out more from her in the future.

What an absolutely gorgeous cover! Edgewood has some almost lyrical writing with a rich folksy fantasy atmosphere. It isn't the 'dark' fae stories I usually read but it is still enjoyable. Emeline Lark has a magical voice. All she wants to do is sing. But the woods want her to come home. Fans of Sarah J Maas will definitely want to pick this up.

Thank you for the opportunity to review Edgewood.

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

An amazing written story filled with fae, sacrifice, love, betrayal, adventure, a wicked witch, a fairy king... and all written by a favorite author?
The only thing I could have wanted more was to be able to hear some of the songs Emeline sang during the book. I found myself so wrapped up in the narration/story that when Em was performing I expected to be able to hear her sing as well!
It was a wonderful story, and I hope that Ciccarello decides to write more in this world.

Emeline Lark’s passion lies in her music, even as her voice seems to summon echos of vines and roots from folklore-laden woods where she grew up. Her biggest dream is to see her name in marquee lights. However, when the perfect opportunity shows itself and she gets the chance to tour with her favorite band, she is learns that her grandfather, the man you raised her, has disappeared from his assisted living home. When she goes to investigate, she learns that he has tithed himself to the Wood King, an ancient being that is said to keep the wood and its villagers alive.

Emeline travels to the kingdom at the center of the dangerous wood in order to find her grandfather with the help of Hawthorne, the King’s tithe collector. She trades herself as the King’s new singer in exchange for her Pa. The King accepts Emeline’s trade…with a stipulation. She must find and perform all of his former Song Mage’s songs or forfeit her life. As Emeline sets out on this dangerous path, she learns not only the source of the corruption that has been slowly taking the woods around the kingdom, but also stumbles across the secrets of her own past and her connection to the very wood that would rather eat her alive than let her save it.

Edgewood was a great story once I got into it. However, I do need to admit that for me personally it exploited some very real fears and traumas I have related to amnesia, forgetting, and Alzheimer’s. As long as you are prepared for that, this emotional journey will take you places. There were definite twists and turns that I never saw coming, a magnetic pull between our two MCs, and well kept secrets I would have never expected even half way through the book. The story was largely about love, loss, and determination.

*Spoiler* The ending was very sad to me and broke my heart thoroughly. It was by far the most traumatic ending to a book I have experienced lately. That said, the book was still worth it and I did enjoy the journey.

Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Kristen Ciccarelli for the advanced copy in exchange for this review.

A story rich with woodland creatures and a forest that is alive, topped with faerie creatures and humans who recognize the dangers of the fae. I was impressed by the world-building and the plot. I really enjoyed the fact that the author made the Song Mage, this beloved hero, the bad guy and made the Vile, the supposed great evil, a human woman who was abused and kidnapped who killed her abuser only to be cursed. I enjoyed reading about all the fantastical fae creatures. The main character wasn't my favorite and Hawthorne's stupidity got my blood boiling, which made their love story hard for me to like.

RUN DONT WALK to get this book when it is released on March 1st, 2022. this is a new favorite.

Emeline is a 19-year-old girl (I'm changing her age in my head to 21, and her past self age to 18 for reasons I can't say because of spoilers, but, also because some of her 16-year-old flashbacks made me very uncomfortable.) who doesn't believe any of the stories shes told about the little town of Edgewood, where she grew up. She leaves it all behind to pursue her dreams of becoming a professional musician. But, the forest calls her back, blooming through the cracks in the floor as she sings. When her grandfather goes missing, and a small token is left behind on his bed, Emeline starts to question if those stories she heard growing up may be true.

Trigger warning: hints of sexual assault but not directly told. dementia also plays a factor in this book so if that is a sensitive topic to you, be careful getting into this.

First thing, let me just tell you some of the notes I have written in my journal as I was reading this book.
- "I am so excited for this story, I DNF'd two books i was reading to get to this"
- "I cant wait to see the fan art people make of this book and its creatures"
- "The atmosphere in the woods is amazing"
- "Slightly reminds me of <i> An Enchantment of Ravens </i>
- "I wish the road to the palace was longer"
- "I love all of these folklore creatures!"
- "I'm running to pre-order this on amazon (20% through)
- "my iPad died, I now need to use my headache-inducing kindle to finish this book because I cant wait for my iPad to charge"
- "My heart hurts"
- "Nope, she's actually 18 and we're gonna forget that she's supposed to be 16"
- "LGBTQIA+ rep"

Now, If all of that didn't convince you to go buy this book... then I'm telling you now to go buy this book. You will not be disappointed. It's been such a long time since I loved a book so much, were there issues with this book? yes, there were some questionable choices made by the author regarding the age of the character but if you can look past that... this book is amazing. Also, let's not pretend 16-year-olds aren't having sex but for the sake of cringe, I needed to change her age in my head. There are a few sexual scenes throughout the end of this book but, nothing crazy.

This author does a great job of explaining everything in this book, I loved the fact that a creature would be mentioned, and then almost immediately after you ask yourself a question about it, it was answered. I loved the fact that the author used her own personal experiences of her grandfather going through dementia and also, that she grew up on a grape farm, which were both parts of this story.

I really can't say much without spoiling this story, but, I loved this book, and I can't wait to have a physical copy of this beautiful book, with this beautiful cover, on my shelves. I can't wait to read Kristen Ciccarelli's other books, the Iskari series, The Last Namsara.

I want to thank the author, Kristen Ciccarelli, and the Publisher at St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books, for allowing me to get my hands on a copy of this in exchange for an honest review.

Initial Thoughts
You know that feeling when you pick up a book and you think you know what it's about and then you start reading and you realize that what you thought is totally wrong? Well, that's what happened here. For some reason, I thought this book was about ballet dancers. NOPE.

Some Things I Liked
Whimsical, creepy, and dark magic. I loved the weird and creepy and ominous magic in this story. It gave me Shea Ernshaw vibes in all the best ways and was totally unexpected.
The magic of music. I loved that Emeline's music was the source of her magic and I loved the deeper meaning and metaphors behind the way she unlocked more of it throughout the story.
Into the Heartless Wood vibes. If you liked Into the Heartless Woods by Joanna Ruth Meyer, definitely give this one a try.

One Thing I Wasn't Crazy About
The romance had a moment where it took a turn and I was like 😬 - it got creepy, fast. It recovered but I was definitely off put by a certain detail.

Series Value
Given the ominous nature of the magic and the lyrical and mysterious setting, I'd say this one is best left as a stand alone story.

Final Thoughts
This book reminded me of if The Iron King by Julie Kagawa met the spooky writing of Shea Ernshaw's Winterwood. If that sounds up your alley, give this one a read.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

3.5 stars

I have kind of mixed feelings on this book. I liked it, but it was just kind of meh the whole time. I don’t think the plot line of the curse and all the stuff with Emeline’s connections was developed enough, because I didn’t really care about anything that was happening or revealed. Same with the contemporary music plot line. But I really liked the side characters and the fairy world lore.

Edgewood by Kristen Ciccarelli follows Emeline Lark. She is determined to stay away from the forest of Edgewood, but every time she sings, the forest follows her, beckoning her home. Emeline has no desire to revisit the forest full of superstition and folklore, she believes the people of Edgewood are delusional. Emeline soon finds her way back to Edgewood, however, when her grandfather goes missing and all that is left behind is an orb that, according to the folklore, means he’s been tithed to the forest. Emeline begins to doubt her disbelief of the folklore, but she quickly decides to enter the forest to retrieve her grandfather. She runs into Hawthorne Fell, the Wood King’s tithe collector. He tries to tell her to stay out of the forest. Emeline refuses to listen and meets with the Wood King intent on trading her voice for her grandfather’s freedom. She soon learns of a curse that threatens the existence of the forest and all who inhabit it. Including Hawthorne, who Emeline begins growing closer to, and who seems so familiar to her already. It is up to Emeline to save her grandfather, unravel the curse, and discover what it is that she truly wants in life.

Kristen Ciccarelli is a favorite author of mine, and her latest book does not disappoint. Emeline’s story expertly blends urban fantasy with classic high fantasy elements. This beautiful, lyrical book has me begging for a sequel.

Emeline was ready to say goodbye to her small, sleepy town with its superstitions and finally find her way to the spotlight. Right before she was slated to go on tour, she learned that her elderly grandfather had gone missing from an institution of dementia patients, with whispers that he had been tithed to the Wood King. Despite not believing in the local superstitions, Emeline ventured deep into the woods and found herself drawn to the mystery of the cursed woods and fighting to have her grandfather freed from the Wood King.

Kristen Ciccarelli is undoubtedly a gifted writer and Edgewood was a reflection of her talent. Edgewood was a haunting fairytale that toed the line between fantasy and urban fantasy. With themes of self-discovery and family, Edgewood is best suited for readers looking for a moving coming-of-age story with a sweet everlasting romance. Although the pacing was slow and the story meandered at times, it all came together at the end for an incredibly moving and heartwrenching conclusion.

Caitlin Kelly is known for narrating other well-known Young Adult fantasies, and her strengths were evident in Edgewood. With a soft melodic voice, Kelly captured Emeline’s hesitant and wary reaction to the Wood King’s magical court. She was the perfect guide to lead readers through this fairytale.

Edgewood is a melodic, slower-paced fairytale with a satisfying ending.

3.5 stars

First off, it's hard to find YA paranormal/fantasy standalones, so bravo to the author for that!

Secondly, I enjoyed the story in this one, girl with a beautiful, perhaps magical voice, trying to make it as a singer, keeps being drawn back to the woods in her hometown. With a cast including a fae king, shiftlings, ember mares, a dragon, and a witch, you certainly have a multitude of fantastical creatures to bring you entertainment and excitement.

I felt the underlying message/plot was a little muddled and sometimes hard to pinpoint with all the shifting plot points, but ultimately I think it was about finding your way, your passion, and what made you feel whole. Good messages for a young audience.

Emeline was difficult for me to embrace as she was rather impetuous and headstrong and sometimes rash. Obviously these qualities served her well, but she didn't come across as a warm heroine or someone I would want to be friends with. She gets better as the book progresses but I had already made up my mind about her by then. Hawthorne was hard to pin down because he's operating behind many secrets. While there is obvious chemistry between the two it wasn't until the end of the story that I finally understood what he represents and how he fit in with the magic of the woods.

I think young readers will really enjoy this one and I'm curious to read more by this author.