The Hazel Wood, Book 1 Melissa Albert – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

The Hazel Wood, Book 1 Melissa Albert

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

book2019

48%

WISE Score

4.2

Amazon

A dark fairy tale mashup that sounds cooler than it reads—chaotic plot, heavy language, and an ending that lands with a thud.

The Hazel Wood, Book 1 Melissa Albert

book

2019

48%

WISE Score

4.2

Amazon

A dark fairy tale mashup that sounds cooler than it reads—chaotic plot, heavy language, and an ending that lands with a thud.

4.2

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Screenwise Verdict

The Hazel Wood has a killer premise—mysterious grandmother, cult-classic dark fairy tales, supernatural world bleeding into reality—but the execution is a mess. Multiple reviewers cite chaotic plotting, excessive profanity, and an ending that feels rushed and unsatisfying.

This is the kind of book that sounds amazing in a pitch meeting but leaves readers scratching their heads. The dark fairy tale vibes are there, but so is a lot of meandering and a lack of narrative drive. One parent review nailed it: 'all over the place without having a drive forward.'

If your teen is a hardcore dark fantasy fan who can overlook structural issues and doesn't mind heavy language, they might find something here. But for most readers, this is a case of unfulfilled potential. The 4.2 Amazon rating tells the story—it's fine, but not great. There are better dark fairy tale retellings out there.

Age Fit

Best for mature 14+ readers who can handle profanity and dark themes. The chaotic plot and disappointing payoff mean even the target YA audience may bounce off this one. Younger teens expecting a magical fantasy adventure will be caught off-guard by the language and disturbing content.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Dark fairy tale atmosphere with cruel supernatural elements, pitch-dark stories, and a mother being stolen away. The narrative is described by multiple reviewers as chaotic and all over the place without forward drive. The tone skews heavily toward unsettling rather than emotionally healthy, and the disjointed pacing undermines any sense of balance.

Imaginative

The concept of a cult-classic book of fairy tales with a real supernatural world (the Hinterland) is genuinely creative. The meta-narrative of stories coming to life and the Alice in Wonderland vibes offer originality. One young reviewer noted it was 'really well thought out' upon re-reading. However, execution issues and a lackluster ending prevent this from reaching its full imaginative potential.

Safe

Multiple parent reviews flag significant language concerns. Rated Reads specifically mentions 'the amount of language that makes an appearance.' The dark fairy tale content includes a cruel supernatural world, kidnapping, and pitch-dark themes. While books generally score high on safety, the combination of mature language and disturbing content could be jarring for younger readers picking this up based on the fairy tale premise.

Enriching

The book attempts to explore meta-narrative and fairy tale tropes, but multiple reviews cite a chaotic storyline, lackluster ending, and plot that drags. Reddit users describe it as 'weird, disjointed, and rushed' at the end. The Amazon rating of 4.2/5 suggests mixed reception. While there's potential for discussions about storytelling and fate, the poor execution limits meaningful takeaways. Entertainment value is compromised by pacing issues.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Genuinely creative premise: a cult-classic book of dark fairy tales turns out to be real, with a supernatural world called the Hinterland
Meta-narrative approach to storytelling could appeal to teens who love Alice in Wonderland vibes and darker retellings
Some readers found it 'really well thought out' on second read, suggesting depth for those who can overlook execution issues
New York Times bestseller with a devoted fanbase, so it clearly resonates with some readers

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What to Watch For

Significant profanity throughout—multiple parent reviews flag the language as excessive
Dark content including kidnapping, cruel supernatural elements, and 'pitch-dark' fairy tales that go beyond typical YA fare
Chaotic, disjointed plot that multiple reviewers describe as 'all over the place' with a rushed, disappointing ending
May frustrate readers who want clear narrative momentum—this one meanders

Conversation Starters

"What did you think about the Hinterland? Would you want to live in a world where stories are real?"
"Alice's grandmother wrote these dark fairy tales—why do you think people were so obsessed with them?"
"The ending was pretty divisive. Did it work for you, or would you have written it differently?"
"How does this compare to other dark fairy tale retellings you've read?"

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