Melissa Albert

A gorgeously illustrated collection of the twelve original stories that frame Melissa Albert’s New York Times bestsellers The Hazel Wood and The Night Country. Before The Hazel Wood, there was Althea Proserpine’s Tales from the Hinterland... Journey into the Hinterland, a brutal and beautiful world where a young woman spends a night with Death, brides are wed to a mysterious house in the trees, and an enchantress is killed twice—and still lives. Perfect for new readers and dedicated Hinterland fans alike, Tales from the Hinterland features full-page illustrations by Jim Tierney, foil stamping, two-color interior printing, and printed endpapers.

Tales from the Hinterland

Good spooky stories, lovely writing. Can be read on their own.

Charlie Winchester 

Crystal L

Thank you to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for providing me with an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review. 

5/5 Stars (how could it be anything less)

Tales from the Hinterland contains the slightly spooky stories first brought to us by, and "created" by, Althea Proserpine in The Hazel Wood. The stories were originally introduced to us by Alice of Alice Three Times and reading the full tales makes me want to go back and re-read the books again! Although you could absolutely read this book alone, I feel like you'll get the most from it by first reading The Hazel Wood and The Night Country. The first two books really created a need to know more about these stories, to know EVERYTHING about the stories contained within this book. Although we got snippets throughout the other books in Tales from the Hinterland we finally get the whole picture. Not to mention, we now have a way to keep the stories alive forever!

Darkness waits for you in the Hinterland, a pitch-dark fairy tale world where a young woman spends a night with Death, brides are wed to a mysterious house in the trees and an enchantress is killed twice -- and still lives.

fizzy

HOW CAN I EXPLAIN MY FEELINGS?? Am I excited? Am I nervous? Am I annoyed I’ll have to wait a whole year!!?? MY WISH CAME TRUE I CANT I CANT I CANT. To anyone who didn’t read the Hazel Wood, then your missing out so much shit. READ IT

fz from now: i finished the tales and i’m going to read them again and draw each and every character. just you wait.

A gorgeously illustrated collection of twelve “lush and deliciously sinister fairy tales” (Kelly Link) by the New York Times bestselling author of The Hazel Wood and The Night Country! Before The Hazel Wood, there was Althea Proserpine’s Tales from the Hinterland... Journey into the Hinterland, a brutal and beautiful world where a young woman spends a night with Death, brides are wed to a mysterious house in the trees, and an enchantress is killed twice—and still lives. Perfect for new readers and dedicated fans alike, Melissa Albert's Tales from the Hinterland features full-page illustrations by Jim Tierney, foil stamping, two-color interior printing, and printed endpapers.

Sheena

This was unique and refreshing in every sense of the word and the perfect introductory piece to Melissa Albert.
 
'The Door That Wasn't There' was a great starting point to this collection of short stories as I was immediately entranced by the fantasy, supernatural, and paranormal elements that were thrown together and the author's ability in making each short it's own. 
 
With 'Tales from the Hinterland' being the first novel I have read from this author, I am looking forward to diving into 'The Hazel Wood' series to see if her earlier works resemble this creative piece.
 
All in all, this author has gained a new fan.

Eliza Gonzalez

these stories weren't...great. they did live up to the promise of being twisted, but i was hoping they would be more unsettling. instead they often left me feeling unsatisfied, nearly sad, or some mix of both. i know it's not the short story format that bogs it down either, because the magnus archives podcast has some impeccably creepy short stories. overall, just was kind of hoping for more. below is my story specific ratings.

the door that wasnt there – 3
hansa the traveler – 1
the clockwork bride – 3
jenny and the night women – 2
the skinned woman – 3
alice three times – 1
the house under the stairwell – 2
ilsa waits – 4
the sea cellar – 3
the mother and the dagger – 3
twice killed katherine – 4
death and the woodwife – 3

Marissa

I’m a sucker for fairytales so I loved this book which gave me new darker fairytales.

Aleena Korell

LOVED this collection of dark, beautiful stories. After the tone set by the first story, I was worried they would all be ill-fated and bleak, but found the book as a whole to be a perfect blend of grim and strangely-hopeful tales. 

Nearly all of the stories feel faintly of retellings-- but turn out to be wholly original and fresh. The atmosphere is captured masterfully-- exactly what I hoped for when I picked up The Hazel Wood, and saw traces of in the few glimpses of fairy tales we were given. This is precisely what I wanted it to be.

I really enjoyed The Clockwork Bride and The House Under the Stairwell-- but my favorites were the two featuring Death: Ilsa Waits, and Death and the Woodswife. What can I say, I have a type :)

Mags

I loved the stories but I wasn't too fond of the writing style

Emily C Peterson

Laura Springall

Trigger warnings: (view spoiler)[child abuse and neglect, blood and gore depiction, body horror, dead bodies and body parts, knife violence, animal death, containment, forced/coerced marriage, suicide, attempted suicide, self-injury, poisoning, child-adult relationship, hanging (hide spoiler)]

From the moment I finished reading the first book in The Hazel Wood series I was desperate to read a companion novel of the fairytales littered throughout the series. And I loved it just as much as I hoped I would. 

This collection is dark and grisly. It is tremendously reminiscent of the horrific, traditional fairy-tales of old, that have since elicited friendlier adaptations. 

Each story is unique and twisted, dripping with atmosphere and instilling it's own 'moral'. Often, the stories follow young girls as they break from adult expectations and rules, forging their own journey. Many stories are twisted with fantastical, or even steampunk-esque, elements. The narration does not shy away, creating stories suitable for youngsters. Rather they are raw and often gruesome. 

Whether you loved the darker elements of the series or you have never ventured into The Hazel Wood world, this book can be read as a companion or a standalone. 

So curl up in your bed and tell yourself some fairytales - just know that these are not the stories from your childhood. 


  Note: Review copy received via NetGalley. This does not impact opinions within this review.


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Happy reading! ❤

Journey into the Hinterland, where every page tells a wondrously terrible adventure . . . In this brutal and beautiful world a young woman spends a night with Death, brides are wed to a mysterious house in the trees, and an enchantress is killed twice - and still lives. But it's not safe inside these pages, and once you enter, you may never want to leave . . . The highly anticipated collection of stories set in the creepy, haunting fairytale world first introduced in Melissa Albert's internationally bestselling and critically acclaimed Hazel Wood series.

Tales From the Hinterland

Sam Mencik

Loved these tales so so much! Perfectly spooky & keeps you hooked :)

everlinet

Such a surprising read! I thought The Hazel Wood is nice read, but I did not like the modern aspects of it and thought the duology was missing something, although enjoyable it was not the best.
But this book of fairytales from the world? Absolutely delightful. I am in love with every bit of it! So dark, so atmospheric, full of twists. 
It was better than the original duology, and I would very much prefer if the Hazel Wood had this kind of vibe, the dark and thick and gloomy, like this book. Each of the tale is different, some are brutal, some are just dark.
Exactly the kind of fairytale book I absolutely adore, and will definitely cherish and come back to it. Absolutely delightful, 100% recommend reading even if you disliked the duology, or if you never read The Hazel Wood or the sequel in your life.

Jessie G

I love everything about this series of books. Tales from the Hinterland fleshes out the characters from The Hinterland that you meet throughout The Hazel Wood and The Night Country. Beautifully dark and creepy tales.

Leonie

This was an interesting collection of twisted and dark fairytales. Fans of Melissa Albert’s previous books will love Tales from the Hinterland as well.


[I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.]

Tales from the Hinterland

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