After the Forest

by Kell Woods

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, hidden 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.

• ISBN10: 125085248X
• ISBN13: 9781250852489
• Publish Date: 3 October 2023
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: St Martin's Press
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 384
• Language: English
• URL: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250852489/aftertheforest

Reviews

[Quirky Cat]

Book Summary:

It's been fifteen years since Greta and Hans were kidnapped by that dreadful witch. Fifteen years of struggling. Of living with the fact that their father abandoned them at the hands of someone who would do them harm.

Greta has worked hard to make a life for herself and her brother despite the reputation they have in this small village. They get by largely thanks to her baking. But the growing gossip is making life more dangerous by the day, and that's before a new enemy enters the fray.

My Review:

Oh wow. After the Forest may be my favorite retelling of Hansel and Gretel. Not only does it let Gretel (Greta) take ownership of her story, but it dives deep into magic, love, and the dangers resting within the hearts of humans.

In other words, it's pretty perfect. I love how After the Forest taught us about different magics – some harmful, some kind. It added some much-needed complexity to this fairy tale. In truth, that is one of many additions Kell Woods made, and I ended up loving them all.

The other significant element Kell Woods added to this story is romance. While many of the twists here were a bit on the predictable side, they were no less enjoyable. In fact, I would argue that they helped to carry the overall plot forward.

After the Forest is worth the read, especially if you love retellings or strong hedge witch vibes, as this is the perfect blend of the two.

Highlights:
Romantic Fantasy
Witches
Retelling (Hansel and Gretel)
Greta's Tale

Trigger Warnings:
Animal Cruelty
Pregnancy loss (mentioned)
Witch Burning

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