This was vastly different than the other books I've read by Kristen Ciccarelli, but this was also an intriguing read that draws you into the world she's created with her characters. This story was about Emeline, who is trying to escape her life and the woods by her house to live her own life out in the world, to sing her songs, and make a name for herself with her music.
One night she receives a call from a neighbor/family friend, who tells her that her grandfather is missing and an orb left in his place, which they tell her means he's been tithed to the Wood King. She has a hard time believing this is true since she doesn't believe in the silly stories and such that have been told to her since she was a child. She has to return home to find her grandfather and bring him back though and as she sets off to return home and search for her grandfather, she finds more than she bargained for in the woods when she meets the Wood King. She finds herself meeting and drawn to a boy there as she navigates her way through the woods and bargaining with the Wood King to find and get her grandfather back.
Ultimately, this becomes a journey of self-discovery for Emeline and the side characters have important parts to play and their own stories as well. The romance is definitely swoon-worthy and it's an amazing story with magic seeping out of it and drawing you into these magical woods.
The only thing I wasn't big on and think should have been different is that there were quite a few scenes in the book from the middle on that got rather a bit too hot and steamy for my taste and I wouldn't recommend it for a young YA audience, maybe older YA or NA/Adult instead.
Thank you to Wednesday Books/St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for letting me read and review this interesting read. All thoughts and opinions are my own. ( )

I could see what the book wanted to be but it couldn’t get there
The main character kept referring to her town being superstitious despite all the FACTS to the contrary
The love interest and their history was very problematic ( )

I could see what the book wanted to be but it couldn’t get there
The main character kept referring to her town being superstitious despite all the FACTS to the contrary
The love interest and their history was very problematic ( )

Plot elements are woven together in a most fascinating manner. Emeline has a dream, to become a musician and perform on stages all around the world. It is about to become a reality, but not without sacrifice and challenges. She had to put her beloved grandfather, the man who raised her, in an assisted living facility. Then, there's the challenge of having nature in the form of moss, fungus, beetles, etc. grow around her as she's performing. That's become so prevalent, she can barely finish a set without losing her mind. When a handsome stranger appears near the end of her set and she learns her grandfather has vanished, it turns her world upside down and she drives several hours back to the town where she grew up.
The mystery man and Gramp's disappearance are linked to the mysterious forest adjoining Gramp's property. When she realizes he's most likely been taken by the Wood King as a tithe, she ignores everyone's warnings and enters the woods to find him. That act sets in motion events that have roots in a past she was unaware of. Add in spooky creatures, a growing attraction to the mystery man who appeared at her last concert, some dandy twists, and you have the perfect compulsive page-turner. ( )

The narration was good, I was able to speed it up to 2.0 and still understand everything and I could tell the different characters apart when the narrator spoke.

This was another great book from Kristen Ciccarelli. I loved the twists and turns throughout the story. Every time you think you have it figured out, you are wrong. I mean Hawthorne, come on, did not see that coming (not really a spoiler but you will understand this statement when it happens). ( )