This was my first ARC read and all I can say is… WOW! This book was so freaking good, I enjoyed every minute of it. Very much like when I read Don’t Let the Forest In, I was sucked in right at the first chapter. Everything about it was so good! It was dark, twisty, sad, suspenseful, literally had me on the edge of my seat! I didn’t WANT to put it down, but I HAD to because I wanted to savor every minute of the story. I just didn’t want it to ever end, and I can’t wait to get my hands on a physical copy when it releases in October. CG Drews definitely knows how to write a good book! The in depth descriptions and the illustrations to help me get a good picture of the plants she was describing made it that much more enticing. I don’t think I will stop talking about this one any time soon!

Love the cover and now love the book!

This is a hauntingly beautiful, gothic story and the prose is delicious.

“There is something wrong with the garden…there is something wrong with these plants.”

Where do I even start?
Reading this book feels like drowning, but knowing someone’s going to pull you back out. It’s maddening, mind-bending, and all-consuming. I couldn’t get through it fast enough, but I needed it to never end.
I fell hard and fast for Evander and Laurie. I loved seeing them grow and evolve over the course of the story. Getting to root around in Evander’s mind while he navigates his new position in life as well as his blossoming feelings for, well, everything, makes for a very powerful read.
The imagery in this book is absolutely stunning. It’s so easy to picture every moment and really feel like you’re living and breathing with the characters.
One of my favorite things about this story was how many times near the end I got to say “oh my gosh, so that’s what that meant.” Every choice in this book was deliberate. Even the ones that broke my heart.

While all opinions in this review are mine alone, I do wish to say thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group & Feiwel & Friends for providing this book for consideration via NetGalley.

Hazelthorn follows a young man named Evander, a sickly boy who lives at Hazelthorn manor under the protection of billionaire Byron Lennox-Hall. Evander must follow 3 rules: never leave the estate, never go into the gardens, and stay away from Laurie, Byron’s grandson who tried to kill him a year prior. When Byron mysterious dies, his greedy relatives begin to fly in and invade his home. Evander believes Byron was murdered, and must solve this mystery before the culprit comes for him next…

@paperfury is quickly becoming my new favorite author. The story building, the character development, the language of the writing. Everything comes together into perfect harmony to create this beautiful, haunting and grotesque gothic horror tale. Yet Hazelthorn takes it a step further with blending gothic horror with body horror and botanical horror. Every scene has this intensity that fills you with passion, terror and dread. Hazelthorn easily is gonna be one of my top reads of this year. I’d like to thank for @netgalley and @macmillanusa for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Evander has lived like a ghost in the forgotten corners of the Hazelthorn estate ever since he was taken in by his reclusive billionaire guardian, Byron Lennox-Hall, when he was a child. For his safety, Evander has been given three ironclad rules to follow: He can never leave the estate. He can never go into the gardens. And most importantly, he can neveragain be left alone with Byron's charming, underachieving grandson, Laurie. That last rule has been in place ever since Laurie tried to kill Evander seven years ago, and yet somehow Evander is still obsessed with him. When Byron suddenly dies, Evander inherits Hazelthorn’s immense gothic mansion and acres of sprawling grounds, along with the entirety of the Lennox-Hall family's vast wealth. But Evander's sure his guardian was murdered, and Laurie may be the only one who can help him find the killer before they come for Evander next. Perhaps even more concerning is how the overgrown garden is refusing to stay behind its walls, slipping its vines and spores deeper into the house with each passing day. As the family’s dark secrets unravel alongside the growing horror of their terribly alive, bloodthirsty garden, Evander needs to find out what he’s really inheriting before the garden demands to be fed once more.

Thoughts

Wow, this was my first C.G. Drews read so I had no idea what to expect and I’m pretty blown away. At no point would I have ever guessed this story, it was so original. This gothic thriller was so intense but so well done. The imagery (which could be gory at times) and the story building was beautifully written. Read the trigger warnings before diving in though, it’s a little unhinged.

This book was genuinely creepy. A botanical medical horror, this novel does not lack on imagery nor description. Set in a gothic home, the disturbing atmosphere as well as the poisonous botanical components enhanced the pathological terror for both Evander and the reader.

This novel is for anyone who enjoys dark and disturbing things. The novel never failed to keep me on my toes, that is for certain. I will also advise that this novel isn’t for the weak of heart. It could be seen as triggering for many folks.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy.

I absolutely LOVED and devoured “Don’t Let the Forest In." So, the fact that I received an eARC for "Hazelthorn," which is basically my most anticipated book of the year after “Don’t Let the Forest In,” has been buzzing! Welcome to the Drews’ Rot Verse "Hazelthorn!"

I’ll be totally honest: at the beginning, I found it a bit slow, and I was waiting for the plot to pick up. I was patiently sat and ready for Evander to grow any sort of a spine and speak to Laurie. Though Drews did not disappoint me when the middle act picked up, and I was reading until far too late into the night. And then… I was back to slightly disliking it for a few chapters, but I think that’s a me problem because I was finding it a little grotesque (it's horror duh.) I liked the end, however, it was definitely unexpected. I love that about Drews as an author because as soon as I think I've figured out what they are cooking up, I'm turned in a totally different direction, and I'm sat contemplating my life and how wonderful they write.

Aesthetically, Drews literally never disappoints. I absolutely love this side of horror with the garden rot—turning flower petals into jagged teeth, so to speak. I also just loved the more gothic vibes of this one with this haunted, overgrown mansion. I also enjoyed the little subplot of Sherlock and Watson; that vintage crime aesthetic.

I enjoyed both Evander and Laurie as characters. Evander being a confused child with all this rage. Love some petulant rage. I liked Laurie because I’ll always love a character who hides his pain with amusement, but I did find his character inconsistent at times. Overall, though, I enjoyed both Evander and Laurie as complex and diverse characters.

Evander and Laurie, together, made me beyond happy. Their relationship was this super thrilling obsession that stems from just… want and yearning. I liked their dynamic, especially as someone who loves Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, and I adored the sort of motifs in it. To quote "Hazethorn" itself, “God was stronger than me when he made Adam and didn’t fall in love with him.” I was OBSESSED with this, genuinely.

Finishing thoughts: this is if “The Secret Garden” and “Frankenstein” had a monster child, and I was so here for it.

Hazelthorn by CG Drews is haunting, vicious, and ruthless from beginning to end. From the first chapter I was completely hooked onto the mystery of who our main character Evander is. All we really know about him is that he's a sickly boy in the care of a wealthy gentleman and is plagued by the feelings of hatred and obsession over the gentleman's grandson Laurie. The two boys circle each other as tragedy overtakes the household, and Evander fights to cope with his sickness and the mystery of the garden in the back of the estate.

I absolutely loved Evander as a character. He is on the autistic spectrum and it reads very thoughtfully throughout his narrative. He struggles with the day to day which is not helped by the copious amounts of medication that they shove down his throat. Laurie on the other hand is mean, off-putting, and disguises his own pain with razor-sharp barbs at Evander.

The scenery of this book is perfect. I was able to visualize the estate and the garden beautifully, and despite those really being the only locations in this book, it didn't feel flat or unimaginative in the slightest.

I think my only issue that I had with this book, is how quickly it felt like Laurie switched up his behavior toward Evander towards the middle-end of the book, but my feelings did diminish quite a bit when I realized Laurie's motivations.

This was the first book that I read by CG Drews and I'm very excited to double back and read her other novel 'Don't Let the Forest In" and other books in the future that she releases.

4.5⭐️

this book was delicious and dark. the writing is so so beautiful- it’s lyrical without seeming like it’s trying too hard. i love the quiet intensity the story offers, with beauty and darkness woven together. and the characters have so many layers. absolutely loved this

thank you netgalley and macmillan publishing group for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my voluntary and honest review

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Publishing Group for the digital advanced copy of Hazelthorn by C.G. Drews. This review reflects my honest thoughts and opinions.

In Hazelthorn, readers follow Evander, an orphan raised in isolation by the reclusive and eccentric Byron Lennox-Hall. Evander experiences mysterious “episodes” and has been led to believe he’s too ill to leave his room—an affliction supposedly tied to a traumatic accident involving his former best friend, Laurie Lennox-Hall. When Byron is murdered, Evander is finally allowed out of confinement—but under two strict warnings: stay away from the garden, and never trust Laurie. Both, however, prove impossible to resist.

As Evander digs deeper into Byron’s death, he unearths a web of disturbing secrets while confronting terrifying truths about himself. Is he the next target—or is he the monster everyone fears?

Hazelthorn masterfully blends horror tropes—haunted houses, body horror, and the rot of family secrets—into a story with deeper emotional resonance. C.G. Drews uses these elements to explore the challenges of living in a world that feels alien and overwhelming, particularly for autistic individuals. The book powerfully conveys the struggles of navigating a society that’s too loud, too chaotic, and full of unspoken, confusing rules. It also delves into the complexities of queer identity and self-acceptance—without ever becoming didactic.

Drews' writing is exceptional. The visceral descriptions of body horror made me physically squirm, and the claustrophobic atmosphere of Hazelthorn and its creeping garden is palpable. There’s a gothic romanticism threaded through Evander’s connection to both the garden and Laurie, which lends the novel an eerie beauty. I found myself both afraid of and afraid for Evander and Laurie, which made their dynamic all the more compelling. Their relationship kept me on edge, racing toward the conclusion.

That said, I do have a few critiques. The climax felt a bit rushed, especially after such a strong build-up; I would have liked a more vivid and satisfying resolution for the three main antagonists. Additionally, the novel’s elevated vocabulary—while lending to the gothic tone—occasionally slowed my reading, as I needed to pause and look up words. This isn't necessarily negative, but it’s worth noting for readers who prefer a smoother pace.

On a more personal note, there were moments when Evander’s indecision and anxiety became frustrating. While his reactions are consistent with someone navigating trauma and neurodivergence, there were times I wished he could see beyond himself. As someone who works closely with autistic children, I recognize this kind of emotional overwhelm during high-stress situations, and it was portrayed with authenticity—even if it occasionally tested my patience.

Overall, I highly recommend Hazelthorn. It’s haunting, thought-provoking, and truly unlike anything I’ve read before.

⭐️3.75⭐️
I absolutelyyyyyyy love this author's writing. The descriptions and atmospheres they can make are so beautiful and violent and ugly, it speaks to me. I was so jazzed to get this ARC after reading Don't Let the Forest In and LOVINGGG it, and I have some mixed feelings. Again, the writing and prose is just lovely and something I could read forever, but something just feels incomplete for me? Maybe it's just that if I think too much about it, there is no real explanation for what is going on or how things are happening. DLTFI was the same way but somehow that seemed more feasible to me. I love the garden and greenery being sentient, but I think the build up to the twist with why everyone was so obsessed with getting Hazelthorn was just,,, so anticlimactic. And I think it came pretty late in the book that there wasn't a lot of time for resolution. This sounds like I had a lot of gripes with this book,, I did NOT! I loved it and I really will read anything they write from here on out. I think their stories and writing is so unique and right up my alley,, so C.G. Drews you have a forever fan out of me. Thank you netgalley for the ARC <3 ily

C.G. Drews has really done it again! I am obsessed with their creepy botanical queer romances. Hazelthorn, like Don't Let the Forest In, is really unlike any other book I have read. Drews' writing style is poetically spine-chilling. The way Drews writes is like a metaphorical dance between reality and...something else. It is beautiful.

Hazelthorn is simultaneously such a sweet story of unconditional love and support, intertwined with some plant-based gothic horror and mystery. It is not what I thought it was, and after finishing will leave you wanting to reread to understand now that you are aware of the full story! Each chapter will uncover more and more of Evander's missing pieces. I also heavily appreciate the "autistic rage" of it all, as someone with a son on the spectrum who is often misunderstood and can not be molded into one specific box.

Snaps for C.G. Drews and I just beg and plead that they continue to write these beautiful stories for us!

Hazelthorn is a masterfully woven tale of dark secrets, family legacy, and the struggle for identity. I was completely enthralled by the slow-burning mystery, never suspecting the shocking twists that awaited me. The author's skillful plotting had me guessing until the very end, with each revelation more devastating than the last. The exploration of queer identity, morality, and the weight of family expectations is exactly what unneeded to ruin me. The writing is hauntingly beautiful, yet unflinching in its portrayal of the grotesque and horrific, and what it can be like with the unknown. This book is a gut-punch of emotions, leaving you breathless and haunted long after the final page. Five stars isn't enough

CG Drews has done it again--written the garden rot, queer horror story us Poe loving weirdo kids could only dream about. It is both gothic, ethereal, and bloody. Generational rot if you will...The Fall of the House of Usher meets The Secret Garden on Nightshade.
Much like when I read, "Don't Let the Forest In," about a quarter way through I became skeptically cynical that I knew the plot twist to come, as if it were so obvious I should have seen--but in typical CG Drews fashion, you are then led down the twisting, turning garden path and into a fever dream of gothic horrors that leave you questioning that initial theory, returning to it, and then laughing at how wrong you were to think they would ever write something so predictable--for predictable, this author is not. I enjoyed every bloody second of this story and will share it with all of my fellow gothic horror book lovers!

My only critique is I wish there had been even a tad more spice or more to the love story somewhere. Minor plot holes with Laurie and Evander's childhood "garden incident" that felt like it was sloppily explained away in a sentence or two at the final hour.

The best quote from the book was;

"God was stronger than me when he made Adam and didn't fall in love with him." *chef's kiss!*

This was my first time reading a book by CG Drew and, they managed to create such an incredible atmosphere filled with stunning and grotesque imagery. This book is like Knives Out but with a creepy forest and a murderous family that feeds people to it. I really enjoyed the writing style as well!

"There's something wrong with you"
The story through a melancholic lense captures the narrative of punishing people especially kids who are considered "abnormal" and how that leads to immense self hatred and automatically rage when you’ve been denied bodily autonomy. it throws light on coming to terms with who you are and your differences which don’t make you less of a person, or a monster.

“what is love if not devouring?”
This book at its core is a love story which i thought was quite poetic. i rooted for both Evander and Laurie to break out of rules set for them.
"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 each other's throat."

also, look at that cover?? it works perfectly with the claustrophobic atmosphere of the grand mansion where Evander and Laurie try to solve the murder of Byron Lennox, Laurie’s grandfather and Evander’s guardian.
i do not want to give away too much so if you like gothic horror, you’ll really like this book especially if you have already read ‘do not let the forest in’ and loved it!!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC! All thoughts are my own.

"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 each other's throat."

After the masterpiece that was Don't Let The Forest In, this became my most anticipated release of 2025. I'm so beyond grateful that I was approved for an ARC and was able to read this book as early as I did.

This book was hauntingly beautiful and so well written, with flowery prose and carefully crafted lines. It was complex characters and a vivid setting. It was a carefully crafted mystery mixed with paranormal elements and horror and romance- a true genre-bender. A masterpiece, truly.

Don't just walk to buy this when it is released... run for it. This book is worth every second it takes for you to read it. And I fear it won't let me go now that it has had me. Bravo.

The garden wants you-🪴🪏🪾

Check art I made based on the book here: https://www.instagram.com/p/DJnM-aNg3w0/?igsh=MXB4MW54NGY2aXdqdg==

I’m a big fan of Don’t Let the Forest In, so I was super hyped for this. If you’re into gothic, horror-fantasy I would definitely recommend. The “will-they-won’t-they” between Evander and Laurie against the backdrop of a dark, decrepit mansion, a blood thirsty garden and greedy relatives clawing for Evander at every turn kept me hooked.

Evander is a seventeen-year-old, sickly boy under the care of Byron Lennox-Hall, the owner of Hazelthorn Estate. He is kept locked in his room for his health and given medicine daily. Why is he locked up? Why does he always feel lethargic after his meds? Red flags, all of them.

But one night, Evander’s room is left unlocked, Byron dies suddenly under mysterious circumstances and Evander inherits the estate and all its wealth. Of course this doesn’t sit well with Laurie Lennox-Hall, Byron’s grandson and Evander’s ex-childhood friend. Ex because Laurie once tried to kill Evander when they were kids…..

As Evander begins to play detective, he slowly unravels the dark secrets that Laurie and his family have kept hidden.

I LOVE CG Drews’ writing. The descriptions throughout the book are always beautiful, yet slightly unsettling. The perfect amount of creepy for a story like this.

I found each of the main characters to be compelling. Evander sometimes felt too skittish to me and it was frustrating to have him cower and not talk BUT he does grow from that throughout the story, so that’s satisfying to see. His toxic obsession with Laurie that seemed to tip toe the line between sensual hunger and a literal desire for his blood was also super interesting. Laurie has this cold, sarcastic demeanor, but you KNOW he’s hiding something to protect Evander.

I guessed Evander wasn’t REALLY sick, but the fun is guessing WHY Byron the billionaire was hiding and drugging an orphaned boy. And why said orphan has a peculiar taste for soil and poisonous flowers.

I LOVED the twist that Evander wasn’t sacrificed to the garden, but WAS the garden. While all the other Lennox-halls wished for Rubies, poor little Laurie wished for a friend, and the garden gave him one.

The one thing I disliked was Evander hiding the REAL will from Laurie. I kind of wish he revealed the truth once everything was out in the open.

This book was everything. It was haunting as much as it was utterly delectable. Every page was like dessert - totally rich and enthralling. I loved the characters and how atmospheric the setting was. It’s giving beautiful tragedy. I’m actually afraid to go in my garden for the foreseeable future LOL

I got this book as an arc from NetGalley, and god am I thankful that I did.

As someone who thoroughly loved Don't Let the Forest In, to say my expectations for this book were high would be an understatement. And I will admit that at times, I doubted that I was enjoying Hazelthorn as much as I enjoyed Don't Let the Forest In, but by the end I had come to the conclusion that this was an even more masterful book. The writing was beyond gorgeous, the plot was full of incredible twists and turns, and the characters were some of the best I've read in a long while. And as always, CG Drews's ability to write fantastic queer yearning was literally off the charts. Laurie and Evander have instantly become one of my favorite pairs of all time.

I will be thinking about this book nonstop for a long time to come, and I simply cannot wait to own a physical copy of this book and to read more from CG Drews!

Thanks to NetGalley for the eArc!
I was not expecting plant horror crossed with a murder mystery but I absolutely loved every page of this book. Being from the same author as one of my favorite reads of 2024 "Don't Let The Forest In" I was super excited to read this one.

It follows a boy with missing memories who is constantly sick from an incident that happened in his past. We follow him as he tries to find answers to his questions about his life and stumbles into a untimely murder mystery involving the family who has been very graciously taking care of him, all from inside the mansion and it's vast gardens named Hazelthorn.

I loved the character growth our MC goes through and managing his confusing feelings as a 17 year old. The horror aspects were on point as well as I was constantly surprised at the path the story took us on all the way to the ending. The pacing slowed down for no one as I consumed it very quickly. You can tell it's the same author how the characters were written but I feel the story plot was more complex, which I loved, I was constantly thinking and trying to figure out what was happening. This book was perfect 5 stars I can't wait to own a physical copy