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After the Forest

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After the Forest

By: Kell Woods
Narrated by: Esther Wane
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After the Forest is a dark and enchanting fantasy debut from Kell Woods that explores the repercussions of a childhood filled with magic and a young woman contending with the truth of “happily ever after.”

Ginger. Honey. Cinnamon. Flour.

Twenty years after the witch in the gingerbread house, Greta and Hans are struggling to get by. Their mother and stepmother are long dead, Hans is deeply in debt from gambling, and the countryside lies in ruin, its people starving in the aftermath of a brutal war.

Greta has a secret, though: the witch's grimoire, secreted away and whispering in Greta's ear for the past two decades, and the recipe inside that makes the best gingerbread you've ever tasted. As long as she can bake, Greta can keep her small family afloat.

But in a village full of superstition, Greta and her mysteriously addictive gingerbread, not to mention the rumors about her childhood misadventures, is a source of gossip and suspicion.

And now, dark magic is returning to the woods and Greta's magic—magic she is still trying to understand—may be the only thing that can save her. If it doesn't kill her first.

A Macmillan Audio production from Tor Books.

 Magic Users Fantasy Magic Fiction Witchcraft Fairy Tales

Critic reviews

<p>"This wonderful, well-woven story is <b>so rich and affecting you can't help but savour every single sentence</b>. With characters that leap off the page, worldbuilding that immerses you completely, and a perfectly paced plot, Woods's clever retelling of the popular Hansel and Gretel fairy tale succeeds in giving us something novel and authentic."—T.L. Huchu, <i>USA Today </i>bestselling author of <i>The Library of the Dead</i><br><br>“A dark and wondrous tale. <b>Utterly enchanting.</b>”—Kate Forsyth, bestselling author of <i>The Crimson Thread</i><br><br><i>“After the Forest</i> is as <b>deliciously irresistible</b> as the gingerbread Greta bakes in the book. A touch of magic, a dash of mystery, a sprinkle of love and lashings of elegant writing make for a gorgeous debut novel that you'll want to consume in one gulp. Kell Woods shows that she's a born storyteller with a wonderful imagination and I, for one, am now a huge fan.”—Natasha Lester, New York Time bestselling author of <i>The Three Lives of Alix St Pierre</i><br><br>“<b>Evocative, vivid and enchanting</b>: Historical fantasy at its best.”—Belinda Alexandra, bestselling author of <i>The French Agent</i><br><br>“This is utterly captivating novel blends folklore and European history with themes of family discord, trauma and self-discovery. . . <b>Dark as molasses and dripping with witchcraft, love and magic gingerbread, <i>After the Forest</i> is the fairytale retelling of the year</b>.”—Lauren Chater, bestselling author of <i>The Winter Dress</i><br><br>“With one foot in history, the other in folklore, <i>After the Forest</i> is<b> a love song to fairy tales</b>. Replete with secrets, magic, witches and wolves, bears and whispering books, Greta’s world is one where enchantment can become a curse on the turn of a tongue. At once sweet as gingerbread and bitterly dark as heart’s blood, <i>After the Forest</i> is reminiscent of Juliet Marillier at her finest.”—Angela Slatter, award-winning author of <i>The Path of Thorns</i><br><br>“Kell Woods has a historian’s eye for detail, a born storyteller’s understanding of tropes, and a poet’s gift for description. Woods’ debut offers readers a fresh take on fairytale reimaginings, exploring women’s agency through a convergence of myth, magic and history. A <b>sophisticated and intricately plotted</b> debut with a compelling heroine.”—Jo Riccioni, award-winning author of <i>The Branded </i>and <i>The Rising</i></p>
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I liked all of it, the real characters and the fantasy side of it Very satisfying !

The story, characters and narration all so so good.

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I really liked this retelling. The characters had so much depth and I felt like I really got to know this side of Hans and Gretel. The story was really well paced. Some parts were a little dry but the cast of characters really kept me into it. Once the plot started going and you get to the climax it was really something else. An enjoyable read.

Dark and Enchanting

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This was everything I look for in a book. The writing was well thought out, kept my interest and the characters had depth and you cared about them. The narrator did such a good job as well. Honestly, this was one of those books you hate to finish. I will look for more from this author.

Fantastic!

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It took me a while to finish this book but I’m glad I did. There was a nice fantasy plot twist that made it a lot more interesting. The ending was also fairly satisfying, even if it was not the happiest ever after.

Sometimes, I had to re-listen to certain sections because the scene, or settings, changed suddenly, either due to progression, a flash back, or magical circumstances, with little notice.

Add this to your shelf.

A fair stand alone for your library

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I loved this world so much that I was actually a bit sad when this book was finished. Will definitely be reading more books from this author

Sad it ended

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