"FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN MADE TO FEEL MONSTROUS"

While Hazelthorn is a story steeped in body horror, death, and blood, it is also a story about ableism, abuse, grief — and the radical act of learning to take up the space you deserve.
C.G. Drews masterfully blends gothic, plant-based body horror into a tale about finding your voice and claiming who you are.

After falling in love with Don't Let the Forest In, one of my favorite reads of last year, I waited on the edge of my seat for Drews' next book and Hazelthorn did not disappoint. Their uniquely flowery and gritty writing style shines through, leaving an aching hollow in your chest, blurring the lines of sanity for the characters you see through, yet rooting (and rotting) for them every step of the way.

I read this in one sitting, unable to get Evander and Laurie out of my mind. What starts as a simple mystery soon unravels into a tangle of blood, fungi, and death.

Hazelthorn is a story of queer, autistic, and righteous rage — of clawing yourself apart and those around you to become whole again. It is a story of grief, guilt, child abuse, and the monstrous beauty of survival.

Thank you so much to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘔𝘢𝘤𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘯 𝘊𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘯'𝘴 𝘗𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘎𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘱 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘳𝘤 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸

Hazelthorn by C.G. Drews

TW: Self-Harm, Food-Fixation, Abuse, Mental Health Issues, Misunderstanding of Neurodivergence, Extreme Medical Trauma, Body Horror

🖤 Forestcore
🖤 Mystery
🖤 Neurodivergent MC Representation
🖤 Gay MC Representation
🖤 Botanical Body Horror
🖤 Garden Labrynths

CG Drews has stolen my heart and my breath again!

If you loved Don't Let the Forest In, Hazelthorn is a perfect continuation of that dark horror theme, with forestcore vibes growing into every nook and cranny of the story.

Similar to Don't Let the Forest In, this story starts out following an MC who is struggling with themselves and who they are, and spirals into an out-of-control, horrific, violent end as the character faces that part of themselves and the awful things that led them to feel so much rage.

Once again, the vibes are immaculate, and I was so taken away by the story that I read the whole thing in one sitting.

I can't recommend this enough if you are looking to fill that dark part of your soul that is hidden underneath the undergrowth and the rot, and if you are rattling at the bars of the cage that others have put you in.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Hazelthorn absolutely swept me away. C.G. Drews has written something truly magical, lush, lyrical, and bursting with emotion. The worldbuilding is rich without ever feeling heavy, and every sentence feels like it was crafted with care. But what really blew me away was the heart of the story: raw, aching, and so beautifully human. The characters felt like they breathed on the page, and I was completely immersed from start to finish. This book isn’t just good, it’s unforgettable. One of my favorite reads in a long, long time.

Hazelthorn is about a hungry garden and what will happen once it is fed.

Drews is great at starting a story and pulling you in. I am there and I am ready. The writing is always well done and well edited; which is appreciated. Another talent they have is crafting endings. Many writers are good at starting or ending a book, very often not both. The last 20% or so was perhaps my favorite part of the whole book.

I would love a bonus chapter of Laurie’s POV from any point in the story. I think it would be amazing.

I would recommend this author and book to anyone. I just would.

CG Drews is an autoread/autobuy author for me. I was so excited to get an ARC of this. Drews does prose in a way that is special and different from most out there. The prose pulls you in and twist around you and makes you stay in the garden, although you want to anyway. Evander is such a special character and him and Laurie's relationship pulls you through the madness. All of the characters are so vivid, you can see them leaping off the page and into the world. I loved every bit of this book, I never knew what was going to happen next. The twists, the turns, the tragedy of it all. There aren't proper words to describe how beautiful this book is.

Get drawn in by the beautiful cover, stay for the haunting and lyrical language and deeply complicated characters and plot. Hazelthorn is a beautiful story of growth and transition in the absence of such.

The characters and plot of this novel were phenomenal. It will have you questioning every aspect of the story the whole ride.


In this gothic coming of age story, at the Hazelthorn estate, “when he looks at the garden he thinks of blood. He thinks of the shovel coming down. He thinks of dirt hitting his face. He thinks of the “accident”, as his guardian calls it…” but was it really? Evander, has survived the unthinkable, being buried alive. “Sometimes he feels like he’s still outside, moldered down to the bone with roots woven through the soft tissue of his lungs and rot spilling from the remnants of his rib cage”. “Maybe he’s destined to always feel like this: the wounded damsel from a fairytale, stumbling away from the wolf”.

“Trying to stay away from you. I’d split my bones, I’d open my throat, I’d do anything to be near you and have even one second with my mouth
against yours.”*

One of my favorites of the year so far.

Seventeen-year-old Evander has spent nearly eight years locked up in his room by his guardian, Byron Lennox-Hall, who took him in after his parents’ death in a tragic accident. When Byron suddenly dies, Evander becomes convinced he was poisoned, and he’ll need Lennox-Hall’s grandson, Laurie, to help unravel the mystery—fearing he might be the next target. The problem is, Evander can’t fully trust Laurie, as he once tried to bury Evander alive when they were kids, and Evander has never forgotten.

During his investigation, he uncovers horrifying secrets about the Hazelthorne estate, its lurking gardens, and the Lennox-Hall family itself. As he pieces together the truth about his past and where he comes from, Evander realizes he must unravel things he never wanted to know if he hopes to survive—because Hazelthorne may not let him leave.

What a ride this book was!

When I read *Don’t Let the Forest In* earlier this year, I instantly placed it in my top ten favorite books of the year. I simply knew very few books would be able to beat the atmosphere, the chills, the Romeo and Juliet vibes that tragic book gave me.

And then came Hazelthorne.

I’ll be honest—I couldn’t decide which book I liked more. If you loved *Don’t Let the Forest In*, you’ll probably have the hardest time trying to compare these two books.

Hazelthorne is gothic, it’s captivating, it’s chaotic, spine-chilling, and tangling.

This book felt like *The Secret Garden* (if you’ve seen the movie or read the book, you’ll agree that Evander reminds me so much of Colin)—but make it a dark, gothic murder mystery, and make it gay.

The atmosphere was so eerie, gothic, and truly immersive. You could taste the dirt; you could smell the flowers in the hideous garden. C.G. Drews has such a beautiful way of writing gothic, fairytale-like imagery. Everything felt so vivid.

One of the things I loved the most about *Hazelthorne* was how layered the characters are. Evander and Laurie don’t feel one-dimensional—they feel like real people full of complexities and emotions. I usually get frustrated when a main character feels powerless in front of their situation, but with Evander, it was different. I rooted for him with my whole heart. Even though he’s introduced as fragile, restless, and powerless, C.G. Drews makes you care deeply for him. The same goes for Laurie, who carries so much mystery.

*It’s a mess, all of it, and Evander doesn’t know what to think, but hurting over this is a waste of time. It’s lore between them now—he will always
be a bloodied plaything and Laurie will always leave him to die because this is what they are to each other: two boys forever trying to sink their
teeth into the other’s throat.*

Something I loved about *Don’t Let the Forest In*, and absolutely loved about Hazelthorne, is how layered the story is. One of my favorite things in horror is symbolism. Even though everyone reads the same words, each person can interpret them differently, and I think *Hazelthorne* is full of that. There are so many metaphors woven into the story, and I love being able to read a book, interpret it my own way, and then see how others see it differently. That’s what made *Don’t Let the Forest In* so special too.

And oh my god, the open ending! C.G. Drews did it again—leaving us wanting more. It’s a banger ending. This book is perfect and I don’t have anything else to say.

I loved this book and am so glad to see more lgbtqia literature hitting the market, especially with male characters. This discussed several relatable topics such as body changes and not being in control over one's self as a way to appease others. The aspects of body horror were also an aspect I've been loving recently and this was executed so well. Thanks Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Feiwel & Friends, and NetGalley for this ARC read.

thank you netgalley for the ARC !!!
C.G. Drews returns with another botanical body horror with traumatized, codependent characters 🌿
but this time, it's a murder mystery in a mysterious estate and a hungry garden.

C.G. Drews unsettling prose never fails to amaze me and the brilliant foreshadowing throughout the novel makes me so excited for a reread once this is officially released this year...especially after that ending!! Another thing this author does so well is the narration choice which makes the reader second-guessing the main character's words and actions. The story would've been completely different if it was from Laurie's POV compared to Evander's.

Rage, poisonous plants, a wealthy family's dark secrets

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Read if you like Belladonna, Knives Out, Andrew Joseph White novels, We Have Always Lived in the Castle
TWs: gore, child abuse, medical abuse, ableism, eating disorders

C.G. Drews has quickly become an author I deeply admire and can’t wait to read more from! I recently finished “Don’t Let the Forest In,” and it truly captivated me. The moment I learned they had another book on the way, I couldn’t help but request an ARC. C.G. introduced me to the unique and haunting realm of botanical horror, a genre I didn’t realize I was missing. The relationship between Laurie and Evander is both beautiful and deeply complex, and it really resonated with me. This book is filled with unexpected twists and turns, and that ending left a lasting impression! I absolutely loved every moment of it!

C.G. Drews never fails to amaze me with how many details they put into their books. I love how immersive the world feels, how it sucks you in entirely. You can feel everything through the page.
I also love Evander and seeing how his mind works similarly to mine. C.G. Drews never fails to write a stunning story.

One of the most lush, gorgeous, horrifying stories I’ve ever read. I loved Don’t Let The Forest In, but Hazelthorn is an entirely different beast. Every line was beautiful and every line hurt.

Autism and queer representation, abuse and trauma, hunger and rage were all deeply explored and delicately intertwined into a Knives Out meets Frankenstein botanical horror that I couldn’t put down.

Laurie, Evander, and Hazelthorn will have their teeth in me forever and I genuinely believe this book will give me nightmares.

I highly recommend that everyone read this book but I also need 5-7 business days to recover.

Thank you NetGalley and MacMillan Children’s Publishing for the ARC!

Hazelthorn by C.G. Drews was basically like getting wrapped up in the most gorgeously haunted daydream—and I was into it. From page one, the writing was all lush and moody, like you could practically smell the crumbling walls and feel the garden vines creeping up your legs (in the horrifying, but enjoyable way!). I loved the two main characters and was 1000% rooting for their messy, fumbling friendship/relationship situation. Were there moments where I was super confused and had no idea what was happening? Absolutely. Did I mind? Weirdly, not at all. It felt like part of the whole vibe—like we were all lost together in the prettiest, creepiest mansion ever.

Honestly, I spent most of the book tossing out wild guesses about the Big Secret and being wrong every time (humbling). But the good news is, everything actually gets tied up nicely toward the end, and it all makes sense in a super satisfying way. My only tiny gripe was that after a while, the descriptions got a little repetitive. Like, okay, I get it, the house is falling apart and the garden is basically a green monster now. Tell me more about the DRAMA. Still, that didn’t stop me from absolutely inhaling the book in one sitting.

If you’re the kind of person who loves getting deliciously lost in an eerie, overgrown gothic setting while trying to untangle a whole bunch of juicy mysteries, you’ll definitely want to pick this one up. Big thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for letting me live my best spooky, confused life with this ARC!

Queer Gothic horror? Yes yes yes! I really enjoyed this book! I enjoyed the pacing. It made it hard to put down. I will be recommending this book to others for sure

4.5 stars.
Thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, and Feiwel & Friends for giving me the chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I quite literally inhaled Hazelthorn. I could not put it down, and the times I did—albeit reluctantly—I found myself aching to read more.

This book screamed CG Drews from the moment I read the beautifully written words on the first page. It was haunting and terrible and sinister, but I loved every minute of it. The twists were unexpected and surprising despite having experience with Drew's writing style with Don't Let the Forest In, and the ending astounded me. The characters Evander and Laurie were amazing, and I wished I had more page time with the two of them together. I also really enjoyed how this story went from a murder mystery to rivals to lovers to an interesting vampire-like plot. Every bit of this book was a joy, from the detailed descriptions to the mysteries of the mansions.

While this book is most definitely my favorite read so far this year, there were some tiny things I didn't really enjoy. One being the way the timeline kind of jumped around a bit. It confused me quite a bit while I was reading, and I think there are still a few things I may have missed because I didn't make the connection. I also really wish I had more time to get to know Laurie's character. With the book following Evander's side of the story, I found that I couldn't really connect and sympathize with Laurie due to how little I truly knew about him. Don't Let the Forest In had a certain feel to it that just left me staring at my wall for a while. I'm not sure what it was, but this book was missing some of that.

I would also like to say that the book features autistic representation, which is a pretty big part of this story. Personally, I can't give my opinion on this due to not having any lived experience. I do appreciate that Drews has woven this element into the narrative, and I encourage readers who identify with this experience to share their thoughts.

All in all, I really enjoyed reading this book and recommend this to anyone who likes a good gay, gothic horror story. It was scary, sad, and funny when it needed to be, and overall, it just shows what a fantastic author Drews is.

Knives Out meets Gallant but nothing like I have ever read before. After reading Don't Let the Forest In I knew I had to get my hands on Hazelthorn. CG has put their roots in me and Hazelthorne delivered. I was as confused as Evander through the whole thing, each twist an unraveling, a blossoming, a tearing. Everytime I thought I had a grasp on what was happening, it slithered away. Never overwhelming, perfectly pruned words in a vicious tapestry of lyrical literature and earthy horror

I was so exited to read this after reading Don't Let The Forest In by this author which was a 5⭐ read for me and possibly the best book I've read yet. This book was amazing and I absolutely adore her writing and the way she describes with eerie vibes. I loved Evanders character (Or should I say Hazelthorn). This book just kept getting better and better, finding out who everyone really was. My jaw was on the floor at the end, the plot twists were crazy and I actually didn't figure them out. I love the relationship the boys have and realizing all Laurie has actually done for Evander. I genuinely hated the family and the hurt they put them through, Justice was served at the end💃.

Anyway I really enjoyed this book and overall it was another 5⭐'s for me!

After Don't Let the Forest In, I loved C.G. Drews' writing.

After Hazelthorn, I am obsessed with their writing. It's so darkly beautiful and it grabs me immediately every time.

I'm not going to say a ton, because I don't want to spoil it for anyone, but this almost exceeded my expectations. It's just as amazing as Don't Let the Forest In. It's darker and more gorey but still beautiful in a way that I think only Drew's can capture.

Definitely going to need a hard copy of this for my shelf when it comes out in October.

Hazelthorn is the kind of gothic horror that sinks its teeth into you from the first page and refuses to let go. Darkly romantic, deeply unsettling, and beautifully written—it’s everything I want in a haunted estate story.

The dynamic between Evander and Laurie is electric in that dangerous, intoxicating way. You know it’s toxic. You know it’s a terrible idea. And yet you can’t look away. Their shared history is twisted and compelling, filled with old wounds, forbidden obsession, and the kind of slow-burn tension that makes your chest tighten.

But it’s not just the characters that shine—the setting is phenomenal. Hazelthorn itself feels alive, eerie, lush, and rotting from the inside out. The garden? Pure nightmare fuel. It creeps, it breathes, it hungers. The supernatural elements are woven in so seamlessly that the horror grows almost unnoticed until it’s fully bloomed and you’re trapped right alongside Evander.

I loved the way this book handled inheritance, trauma, queer longing, and monstrous beauty. It’s creepy and tender, brutal and poetic. One of the most memorable gothic reads I’ve picked up in a long time.

Absolutely stunning. I’d give it six stars if I could.