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Night Country (The Hazel Wood, 2) Paperback – January 12, 2021
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The New York Times bestselling sequel to Melissa Albert’s beloved The Hazel Wood!
In The Night Country, Alice Proserpine dives back into a menacing, mesmerizing world of dark fairy tales and hidden doors. Follow her and Ellery Finch as they learn The Hazel Wood was just the beginning, and that worlds die not with a whimper, but a bang.
With Finch’s help, Alice escaped the Hinterland and her reclusive grandmother’s dark legacy. Now she and the rest of the dregs of the fairy tale world have washed up in New York City, where Alice is trying to make a new, unmagical life. But something is stalking the Hinterland’s survivors―and she suspects their deaths may have a darker purpose. Meanwhile, in the winking out world of the Hinterland, Finch seeks his own adventure, and―if he can find it―a way back home...
- Reading age12 - 18 years
- Print length400 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- Grade level7 - 9
- Dimensions5.4 x 1 x 8.2 inches
- Publication dateJanuary 12, 2021
- ISBN-101250246091
- ISBN-13978-1250246097
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.
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Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Review
Review
A New York Times bestseller
“A charming, mysterious fable that unpacks what it means to be a story and whether we are all simply the stories we hear and tell.” ―Cassandra Clare, author of the Mortal Instruments series
“What Albert renders on the page is audacious: with resounding success, she keeps a firm grip on her characters and their stories, and her prose weaves a magic of its own, animating the ever-expanding fantastical premise through lyrical language, striking metaphor, and a mastery of tone that forces readers to feel the magic along with the underlying emotional stakes.” ―Booklist, starred review
“This fairy tale noir adventure blends romance and mystery with plenty of action...a must-read for fans of portal fantasies, mysteries, and readers who prefer their magic with bloody sharp edges.” ―School Library Journal, starred review
“Albert’s legion of fans will relish her return to the bloody, terrifying, seductive world of her debut and the inventive brilliance of her storytelling.” ―The Guardian
“Rife with long-forgotten ghosts, unforgettable tales of fancy, and even a touch of romance, Albert shines in her sophomore novel, pulling the reader once more into the haunting depths of the Hinterland, where Stories rule, whether they know it or not.” ―Paperback Paris
Praise for The Hazel Wood
New York Times bestseller
Seven starred reviews
#1 Indie Next Pick
Junior Library Guild Selection
ALA’s Best Fiction for Young Adults List
Publishers Weekly Flying Start
“The Hazel Wood starts out strange and gets stranger, in the best way possible. Albert seamlessly combines contemporary realism with fantasy, blurring the edges in a way that highlights that place where stories and real life convene, where magic contains truth, and the world as it appears is false, where just about anything can happen, particularly in the pages of a good book. It’s a captivating debut.” ―The New York Times Book Review, 2018 Notable Children’s Book
“An original and imaginative fairy tale: thrilling, fascinating, and poignant in equal measure.” ―Entertainment Weekly, Best YA Book of the Year
“Insidiously beautiful, this is the opposite of escapist fantasy; it is a story about the imagination’s power to loose atrocity into the (mostly) law-abiding confines of the real.” ―The Guardian, Best Children’s Book of the Year
“A darkly brilliant story of literary obsession, fairy-tale malignancy, and the measures a mother will take to spare her child.” ―The Wall Street Journal, Best Children’s Book of the Year
“This extremely creepy, wondrously original and beautifully written book conjures up a dark, bloody netherworld of fairy tales and enchants and enthralls from the first sentence to the final page.” ―The Buffalo News
About the Author
Product details
- Publisher : Flatiron Books; Reprint edition (January 12, 2021)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 400 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1250246091
- ISBN-13 : 978-1250246097
- Reading age : 12 - 18 years
- Grade level : 7 - 9
- Item Weight : 12 ounces
- Dimensions : 5.4 x 1 x 8.2 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #166,823 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
Always reading, sometimes writing. Fantasy geek, portal hunter, and editor of the B&N Teen Blog. Find me on Twitter @mimi_albert.
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers enjoy the imaginative and fast-paced storyline. They find the characters compelling and reunited with those from the first book. The writing quality is described as good and flawless. Readers praise the author's skillful world-building and character development.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers enjoy the imaginative story. They find it fast-paced, fascinating, and an adventure. The world of magic draws them in and creates a new reality. Readers describe the book as a lovely dark retelling of fairytales that seem familiar yet strange. It's a little bit thriller and mystery with magic, love, and adventure.
"...The worlds that Ms. Albert creates are astonishing and fascinating! Finch is a traveler and I didn’t get to explore as much as I would’ve liked...." Read more
"...It was surreal and highly imaginative, while also asking readers to consider what they do - or give up - to save others...." Read more
"...Every word, every sentence, is so intentional and essential to the plot. She doesn't mince words, and she doesn't waste your time...." Read more
"...around New York trying to fit in like illegal immigrants was a fun theme. I also loved the human side of Alice that was explored in this sequel...." Read more
Customers enjoy the compelling characters and their development. They appreciate the reuniting of characters from the first book with new ones. Readers also like the human side of Alice explored in this sequel.
"...An enjoyable read that reunites readers with characters from the first book, along with a few new ones...." Read more
"...But I don't mind the way it scrambles my brain. The characters are deep and well-written...." Read more
"...I also loved the human side of Alice that was explored in this sequel...." Read more
"...The characters are varied and intricate, the story is deep and compelling, and the writing (which is my favorite part by far) is on a whole other..." Read more
Customers appreciate the writing quality. They say the book is well-written, with clear sentences and details.
"...The characters are deep and well-written. They all have motivations, which drives the story and keeps you guessing...." Read more
"...are varied and intricate, the story is deep and compelling, and the writing (which is my favorite part by far) is on a whole other level of suck-you-..." Read more
"...SOMETHING LOL. Regardless, the book is great. Well written otherwise." Read more
"This series is probably an all time favorite of mine now. Beautiful writing, compelling characters, a hook Ithat fascinated me from go." Read more
Customers enjoy the storyline. They find it an amazing sequel to The Hazel Wood and praise the author as a fantastic storyteller.
"...first, as Melissa Albert has proven herself to be a fantastic storyteller with The Hazel Wood...." Read more
"...I found this episode to be even better than the Hazel Wood, Alice more completely formed, everything sharper and lovelier, even when it was gruesome...." Read more
"I loved this follow up to The Hazel Wood. You get to follow Alice and Finch along on their adventures...." Read more
"...Excellent sequel to the Hazel Wood :)" Read more
Customers enjoyed the author's skill in world-building and character development. They look forward to reading the next book in the series.
"...Ms. Albert is such a skilled world builder and I hope that there is a third book in this series...." Read more
"...twisty, The Night Country weaves worlds, characters, and creators into a fight for life, 4 stars!" Read more
"...The author created a great world and I can't wait to read the next one." Read more
"...Her handle on world building and character development is amazing." Read more
Reviews with images
Amazing Sequel to The Hazel Wood!
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on January 7, 2020I loved Melissa Albert’s The Hazel Wood and I loved The Night Country just as much. Alice and Finch are two of my favorite characters, each for different reasons. Alice, awkward and unsure of herself in any situation, always rises to the occasion, sometimes in a really round-about way but her intent is always true. She has deep questions about who she is and her depth of actual goodness:
“To be honest, I don’t know if I’ve even got a soul. If a soul is what makes you human, then I probably don’t. Unless a soul is something you can grow, like, after the fact. And I don’t think it is. So. No Soul.”
Finch is complex yet so freaking decent and good. Whatever the worlds throw at him, he always does the right thing - no matter the cost to himself; he’s a hero in The Night Country but won’t realize it. He is adventurous, trustworthy, and just so authentically Finch! The addition of new characters is something I really liked in The Night Country, Sophia, who we meet in the end of The Hazel Wood plays a prominent secondary role and I loved reading about her. She is quirky and odd and wonderful. I loved hearing about all of them! The ex-stories are scattered about and are as interesting and dark in our world as they were in the Hinterland.
The story-line is complex and compelling, dark and bloody but there are periods of happiness and light. When the ex-stories and Hinterlanders start to settle in to New York City, they think they are the ones to fear until the strange murders begin. Because of their unique deaths, all start to look suspiciously upon Alice.
“We were predators set loose in a world not made to withstand us. Until the summer we became prey.”
The worlds that Ms. Albert creates are astonishing and fascinating! Finch is a traveler and I didn’t get to explore as much as I would’ve liked. There were bits and pieces of his travels through the Hinterland and his travels with Iolanthe but I would’ve loved more! Ms. Albert is such a skilled world builder and I hope that there is a third book in this series. I feel like there will be because there’s still so much to explore! And, I want more! More of Alice and Finch, more ex-stories and Hinterlanders, more of the many worlds that lay just beyond! As Finch says:
“Jesus, Are all these books doors? To which Io responds, “A book is always a door.”
This is one of my favorite series, obviously, and I listened to The Hazel Wood on audio before I started The Night Country and it was just as fascinating as it was the first time I read it. This is a series that I would recommend to any reader who enjoys a good dark fairy tale, a bit of fantasy, or just a really compelling series. I feel like I need to say again that I am HOPEFUL (wishful) for a third book in this series!
A big thank you to NetGalley, Flatiron Books, and Melissa Albert for providing me with a copy of The Night Country in exchange for my honest review.
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Sequel to The Hazel Wood!I loved Melissa Albert’s The Hazel Wood and I loved The Night Country just as much. Alice and Finch are two of my favorite characters, each for different reasons. Alice, awkward and unsure of herself in any situation, always rises to the occasion, sometimes in a really round-about way but her intent is always true. She has deep questions about who she is and her depth of actual goodness:
Reviewed in the United States on January 7, 2020
“To be honest, I don’t know if I’ve even got a soul. If a soul is what makes you human, then I probably don’t. Unless a soul is something you can grow, like, after the fact. And I don’t think it is. So. No Soul.”
Finch is complex yet so freaking decent and good. Whatever the worlds throw at him, he always does the right thing - no matter the cost to himself; he’s a hero in The Night Country but won’t realize it. He is adventurous, trustworthy, and just so authentically Finch! The addition of new characters is something I really liked in The Night Country, Sophia, who we meet in the end of The Hazel Wood plays a prominent secondary role and I loved reading about her. She is quirky and odd and wonderful. I loved hearing about all of them! The ex-stories are scattered about and are as interesting and dark in our world as they were in the Hinterland.
The story-line is complex and compelling, dark and bloody but there are periods of happiness and light. When the ex-stories and Hinterlanders start to settle in to New York City, they think they are the ones to fear until the strange murders begin. Because of their unique deaths, all start to look suspiciously upon Alice.
“We were predators set loose in a world not made to withstand us. Until the summer we became prey.”
The worlds that Ms. Albert creates are astonishing and fascinating! Finch is a traveler and I didn’t get to explore as much as I would’ve liked. There were bits and pieces of his travels through the Hinterland and his travels with Iolanthe but I would’ve loved more! Ms. Albert is such a skilled world builder and I hope that there is a third book in this series. I feel like there will be because there’s still so much to explore! And, I want more! More of Alice and Finch, more ex-stories and Hinterlanders, more of the many worlds that lay just beyond! As Finch says:
“Jesus, Are all these books doors? To which Io responds, “A book is always a door.”
This is one of my favorite series, obviously, and I listened to The Hazel Wood on audio before I started The Night Country and it was just as fascinating as it was the first time I read it. This is a series that I would recommend to any reader who enjoys a good dark fairy tale, a bit of fantasy, or just a really compelling series. I feel like I need to say again that I am HOPEFUL (wishful) for a third book in this series!
A big thank you to NetGalley, Flatiron Books, and Melissa Albert for providing me with a copy of The Night Country in exchange for my honest review.
Images in this review - Reviewed in the United States on January 15, 2020The Night Country is Melissa Alpert’s Deathly Hallows, and I mean that as a compliment. Although this second (and concluding) portion of The Hazel Wood series wasn’t as exciting to read as the first, it definitely held my attention as it took the story in a darker and more thoughtful direction.
The last few chapters reminded me of Harry Potter’s time spent in the realm of the dead. It was surreal and highly imaginative, while also asking readers to consider what they do - or give up - to save others. This theme existed in the first book too, but this time around, it’s followed to a much bigger and more earth-shattering conclusion.
An enjoyable read that reunites readers with characters from the first book, along with a few new ones. Fans of the series will almost certainly be satisfied by the bittersweet ending.
- Reviewed in the United States on February 27, 2020I LOVED "The Hazel Wood", and this book is, I think, a shining example of good writing. Melissa Albert is impeccable. Every word, every sentence, is so intentional and essential to the plot. She doesn't mince words, and she doesn't waste your time. It's fast-paced and fascinating. I can't guess the twists and turns of the story, and I'm delighted when my guesses are wrong. I hung on to every word, every detail, and I was never disappointed.
I feel like there's still a lot I don't understand about the magic and the world of the Stories and Ex-Stories and now we've got multiple worlds to explore in this book, but honestly...even though I'm a little confused, I feel like it lends to the topsy-turvey nature of the world that Albert's built. Is it intentional? Can't tell. But I don't mind the way it scrambles my brain.
The characters are deep and well-written. They all have motivations, which drives the story and keeps you guessing. I love Alice as a character, especially since she's the most dangerous Story/Ex-Story and either doesn't seem to realize it, or care. I'm glad we got to see Ellery Finch again, too. I didn't think I'd ever see him again after the last book, but his storyline is woven in so beautifully.
10/10. I have the utmost trust for Melissa Albert as an author, and I will gladly throw myself into whatever story world she publishes next.
- Reviewed in the United States on October 8, 2023Fairytale characters running around New York trying to fit in like illegal immigrants was a fun theme. I also loved the human side of Alice that was explored in this sequel. She seemed so eager to leave her mother behind in the first book, but this book really fleshed out their complicated relationship into something that made sense while staying true to the first book.
- Reviewed in the United States on May 24, 2021I didn't like the first book much but I liked the idea of dark fairy tales, so I went for the second. I also thought it was going to be mostly Finch, who was my favorite character in the first book and who I thought got kind of shafted. I am disappointed that it's still about Alice, who I find whiny, entitled, and generally not very bright. It's also just not particularly good, and definitely less focused on the creepy storytelling than the other book.
Top reviews from other countries
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BrendaReviewed in Mexico on September 25, 2024
1.0 out of 5 stars ME LLEGÓ SÚPER MALTRATADO
Espere demasiado tiempo por este libro y ME LLEGÓ EN PÉSIMO ESTADO!!!!!! Que decepción. Todo maltratado y golpeado
Brenda
Reviewed in Mexico on September 25, 2024
Images in this review - elektraReviewed in Canada on February 18, 2021
5.0 out of 5 stars This is a great book!
I am a big fan of the dark fantasy book genre, and this is just what the doctor ordered. This book was very easy to read, you shouldn't have any trouble if your 11 and up I think. I loved the hazel wood and the whole world it created, I swear, I couldn't stop thinking about every little detail of that book. And when I say that this book did the EXACT same thing I MEAN IT. I would however, recommend reading the first book first because you might be a little lost, although you can get the general idea of the first book and the plot line. You would really be missing out though.
- Naveen AroraReviewed in India on September 1, 2021
5.0 out of 5 stars NICE
GOOD
- Amanda EvansReviewed in the United Kingdom on March 9, 2020
5.0 out of 5 stars Sublime Writing and a Perfect Ending
I have been eagerly anticipating the release of this book, the follow up to my all time favouite The Hazel Wood. I took my time reading trying to make the story last as long as possible but with every sentence I read I was sucked into the amazing world the author has created. The sublime storytelling, the breathtaking descriptions that brought everything to life and the eerie, sinister atmosphere that followed me throughout. I loved that this book was told in two POVs - Alice and Ellery, each bringing something different, something unique, and something that drew me further into the different worlds. Ellery's chapters creating a longing in me and as danger crept ever closer to Alice his chapters provided a little reprieve and space to breathe and revel in the magical worlds he was experiencing. I loved the darkness that crept its way onto the pages and into my mind as I wondering how Alice would escape or if she was bound to be tied to the Hinterland forever.
This was a wonderful conclusion to the story the author created and I was sad to turn the final page, although the promise of a collection of stories from the Hinterland coming next year eased the pain a little. I feel this is a series I will return to time and time again.
- MelissaReviewed in Canada on July 20, 2021
5.0 out of 5 stars A dark and twisted modernized fairytale
I seriously loved this book! I did not want the fairytale to end! I do hope that Melissa Albert keeps writing fantastic stories like this book, I loved the series of books and cannot wait until she releases more of these astonishing modern fairytales!