Title: Edgewood
Author: Kristen Ciccarelli
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Publication date: March 1st, 2022
400 pages
5/5 stars
Goodreads Synopsis
No matter how far she runs, the forest of Edgewood always comes for Emeline Lark. The scent of damp earth curls into her nose when she sings and moss creeps across the stage. It’s as if the woods of her childhood, shrouded in folklore and tall tales, are trying to reclaim her. But Emeline has no patience for silly superstitions.
When her grandfather disappears, leaving only a mysterious orb in his wake, the stories Emeline has always scoffed at suddenly seem less foolish. She enters the forest she has spent years trying to escape, only to have Hawthorne Fell, a handsome and brooding tithe collector, try to dissuade her from searching.
Refusing to be deterred, Emeline finds herself drawn to the court of the fabled Wood King himself. She makes a deal—her voice for her grandfather’s freedom. Little does she know, she’s stumbled into the middle of a curse much bigger than herself, one that threatens the existence of this eerie world she’s trapped in, along with the devastating boy who feels so familiar.
With the help of Hawthorne—an enemy turned reluctant ally who she grows closer to each day—Emeline sets out to not only save her grandfather’s life, but to right past wrongs, and in the process, discover her true voice.
Haunting and romantic, Kristen Ciccarelli’s Edgewood is an exciting novel from a bold, unforgettable voice in fantasy.
Review
I am obsessed with Edgewood. This book immediately hooks readers with beautiful writing and gorgeous descriptions of this magical wood and then brings the heat with a NA romance, senile King, and a curse that is destroying the wood kingdom. Emmeline Clark is called to the woods whenever she sings, which is a problem as she is working towards a record deal for her folk style music. She left Edgewood after her grandfather needed to be put in long term care for dementia, and left behind the rumors of the Wood King and magical beings in the woods. But when her grandfather goes missing, Emmeline must go back and find him. But what she finds instead is a world she never believe in, and a man who seems familiar…
I can’t say enough how much I loved this book. I do question whether it necessarily fits into the YA genre because there is a slightly more explicit scene than you normally see in YA – but the characters are 18+. The story line keeps you guessing throughout the book and there is plenty of action and adventure that keeps your attention. The ending is beautiful and sad and is pretty wrapped up. But there is a sad point in this book that will tug at the heartstrings and question everything.
Please read this book. It’s just as gorgeous as it’s cover.
Thank you to Wednesday Books and Netgalley for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.
Happy reading, folks!
Baltimore Bibliophile 