Cover Image: Hazel and Holly

Hazel and Holly

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

OMG this was such a great book. I really loved how the story unfolded and all the snark that is in this one. It was about witches and warlocks and it was so full of snarkyness that I just fell so in love. Snider brings to life a new world and amazing characters. I really loved Tum and Chester and would love a story about them on their own. Maybe they team up to grab spoils.

If you are looking for a new story to fall for then check this one out ASAP!! Because I was laughing a lot during the story and it was just done so well.

The story itself is not faster paced, it is a slow burn of story that I could not put down. I think that for this one the slower story worked so much better than it being speedy. Every part of this story has a meaning on why it's in there. And Snider did a wonderful job bringing this story to life.

The characters were great. I loved how a side character even mentioned about how the four main characters all had H names. Because that was the only issue I had when I first started this one. Was keeping all the names right.

I don't want to accident spoil anything for anyone else. But I do want to say that although this is tech. an adult title you could totally read it as YA as well. Nothing really over the top happens so I would allow my 14 year old read this at the drop of a hat. I am so happy I got the chance to read this one.

Was this review helpful?

I really had to struggle to stay engaged with this book. The plot was not compelling, and there was little central conflict. Holly and Hawthorn had VERY few redeeming qualities, and were very difficult to sympathize with. Even Hazel and Hemlock were quite one-dimensional. Things happen without reason or preamble, and we're given very little background on the different types of witchery and why they're appealing or evil. I will say that there's a certain fairy-tale-ish charm in the simplicity of the characters and the setting, but that's unfortunately not enough to carry the whole novel.

Was this review helpful?

Beautiful cover and the intro makes it sound like an interesting book. Fantasy is one of my favorite genres, but this book fell flat.

Was this review helpful?

This book is about a quest of two witches as they try to free their mother's soul from their father's spell. 

The story is a little odd at first. It took me a decent chunk of the book before I really got into what was going on. There are a ton of intricate, whimsical pieces to this story that made me interested in continuing on. And of course, it helps to have a sprinkle of dark magic too. 

I would have liked to have seen a bit more of the world. There were a few slower parts, but overall, I enjoyed the enchanted forest-vibes. I gave this one 4 out of 5 stars. 

While reading the story, I felt like the writing was all over the place when it comes to the target audience. There were a few parts that read like more of a middle school, innocent level but then, there were dark, more mature concepts that key into the world of new adult. There were times that I was a little confused on what age group this book was for, but overall, I don't think it took too much away from the reading experience. 

It was an enjoyable read, and the world building drove this book to the end. This was a fun adventure full of enchantments, darkness, and quests.

Was this review helpful?

DNF
Hazel peered at the twilit sky as she hurried along the wooded path. Her visit would be brief this time. Hazel wasn’t the type to oversleep but restlessness had bothered her lately. She went to a single room cottage nearly overtaken by ivy and brambles. Hazel turned and seen her mother Willow by the feeble fire she had started warming her hands.Willow said you are late and Hazel said she overslept. Willow asked are you still frightened daughter? Hazel said she wasn’t afraid, she just preferred not to be touched by the dead. Willow said she was dead, she was not a being at all. Hazel than said you’re happy than haunting this decrepit rotting house, waiting for each new moon for her to comb by with a crumb of cake and to stir the fire? She said that’ll be all you’ll ever have and when hazel was gone she wouldn’t even have that. Doesn’t that concern her? Willow told Hazel to leave it alone. Hazel said she wouldn’t. He did this to her- her own husband, Hazel’s father. Willow said the geas can’t be undone and she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of her misery. Hazel said she will find him and make him undo this. Willow said to give Holly her love. When Hazel got back to the cottage she shared with her sister Holly a man had an envelope for them and once he gave it to them he left. It was an invitation to the excellent Sisters of witchery hazel and Holly. They were invited to the estate of Hawthorne and Hemlock. Brothers Extrordinaire of Warlockery, Sorcery, and Intrigue for a night of Magic, Enchantment and Fabulous Feasting. Present yourself in your finest finery along with the invitation. Holly wanted to go but Hazel said no. But Holly begged her and Hazel relented and Holly got material to make a dress. Holly asked hazel to take her pet mouse to Zennia’s and let him gather some trinkets for her dress. Zennia came out and told hazel to come in for tea. Than Zennoa called her a thief and Hazel explained about holly’s mouse. Zennia said Hazel could leave but not the mouse as he was the thief. Hazel said she couldn’t leave the mouse he wasn't hers to leave. Zennia’s wooden statue of a bear came to life and went after hazel. When she came to she was in the cellar with a gnome. She saw Holly’s mouse cast a spell and managed to get out of Zennia’s house.
I couldn’t get into this book. It was just to out there for me . I love my supernatural reads but not so much fantasy i guess more realistic in a way. I am sure several will enjoy this book it just isn’t for me.

Was this review helpful?

This is a hard book to recommend wholeheartedly. I almost did not give it my three stars but considering that I found certain parts of it enjoyable, I could not truthfully hold back. The story is over-the-top quirky/wacky. This is its strong suit, but there is too much of it. If the book was half its length I would have really liked it. Hazel and Holly are sisters, here it would have been better to keep their ages hidden because it made the upcoming romance a little hard to digest. Holly is overly cheerful but given their circumstances, the conversations they had seemed relatable and realistic. Hazel is intending to hunt out her father when an opportunistic invite comes their way and their adventure begins. They are joined by two brothers (also named with the letter H) and they set out into the world of Necromancers to hunt out the father who wronged them. There is a cellar gnome thrown into the mix who pops in for no other reason to be an annoyance to them and (sometimes) comic relief to us. 

Necromancers and their treatment from the rest of the world was not something I got along with completely with either, their depravity is only explained in bits and pieces and even then I was not convinced they need the shunning that is given to them. I need to mention again, that I had fun in the very beginning but I would have enjoyed the experience more if the book was half the length. There was a lot of potential (even looking at it from a crooked lens since nothing about the storyline is supposed to be straightforward) but it did not achieve it, for me.

Was this review helpful?

I’m going to give this book three stars because it takes talent to be able to continue a story that can be over in 100 pages on as long as she did. This one could have been a short story/novella and still would’ve gotten the point across. I like the plot but I think that the ball was dropped on where it could have gone. I think it was a good read, it just went on for far too long!

Was this review helpful?

3.5
Beautifully descriptive with interesting characters, a nicely written fantasy adventure. There were some great ideas and some fascinating theories on magic.
My only complaint was that it was a little longer than necessary, it would have been an easier read with a bit of paring back.

Was this review helpful?

I thought this book was going to be something completely different than what it actually was, and I was a little disappointed. The characters weren't particularly well formed and the writing seemed to be really immature and simplistic. I just didn't feel any connection, the premise was good but I definitely think there was a lot more development was needed.

Was this review helpful?

I wasnt sure about this story at first, as it's not your traditional witches and warlocks kind of story. But I have to say it really drew me in and I couldn't put it down. A story of finding your own path no matter how much it scares you and believing in those who love you. The world building was great a new little place of magic and wonder. And the characters were full of depth and life. A lovely story.

Was this review helpful?

A magical fantasy novel with cute chapter headings and the enchanted forest vibe was so beautiful but it couldn't keep my interest. The character dialogue wasn't really up to my liking. I enjoyed the title, the cover, and description but this book wasn't my cup of tea. I would like to reread it later and see if my opinions would change.

Was this review helpful?

I feel so bad writing this review, because I was truly excited to read this ARC. Sister witches, with one sister being slightly on the grumpier side, enchanted woods, magical creatures, and necromancy. It sounded like so much fun and right up my alley. But unfortunately, Hazel and Holly just did not click for me. I honestly can’t even quite pinpoint what it was about this that didn’t work for me, but I found it really hard to finish this book. It read a little too slowly for my tastes and what I thought would read as quirky banter between the sisters came off as trying too hard for me.

That’s not to say that there weren’t good parts that I enjoyed to this story, there was so much interesting world-building, and I loved the concept of the different elemental magics and their representative gods. Unfortunately it felt like the magics were only touched on and then we were drawn back to the characters, who as much as I hate to say, might be what made the book a slog for me. There was just something about the characters that didn’t quite click for me. And I found myself wanting more of the world and less of the character involvement. I certainly enjoy a good humorous fantasy and I love quirky characters, but there were times when Holly’s quirkiness just didn’t flow well to me. This book definitely reminded me of Patricia C. Wrede’s Sorcery & Cecelia, but I didn’t ever quite get to that same connection with the characters in Hazel and Holly.

Overall, I feel really disappointed that this didn’t work for me because it has all of the right elements! (And that cover is gorgeous!) I think it just suffered from far too much back and forth, and probably would have benefited from a more concise plot and at least a third of the book being taken out.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this review copy in exchange for an honest review!

Was this review helpful?

DNF @60%
I hate not finishing books, but sometimes it cannot be helped.. I kept forcing myself to pick up the book, and I kept putting it back after reading like 2 pages. I was just not liking this book at all. And the hardest thing is, I do not really know why..
We follow this witch, Hazel, who wants to free her mom from something her dad did to her. And honestly it is better explained in the summary then in the actual book.. I got so confused until I read the back of the book again.. Pretty soon in the book Hazel and her sister Holly make friends with these two warlocks (brothers). Then the four of them start to travel around to find Hazel and Holly’s dad.
First of all, why do all their names start with an H, I got so confused at times. Like ‘why does this character talk to that character’ to later realize it was actually a different character..
Second, I don’t really understand why these characters became friends. Holly had a crush on the one brother, but that’s not really a reason to become friends out of nothing (I would say). And Hazel was bored at the party and started to tell her dad problems to the other brother. And BAM lets solve all the problems together?!
Third, this running around made no sense to me. They didn’t really get any clue and then they went to some place, who would send them to a different place, for reasons I couldn’t really figure out.. And it just got a bit boring, running to a new place with a new wizard with a weird name and a story that might have been
about their dad.
Fourth, I wanted more magic! Which maybe I would have gotten this if I had continued the book, but I just couldn’t ..

Was this review helpful?

I’m going to be honest— I did not finish this book. I got quite far into it (almost to the end), but I put it down one day and realized I was dreading going back to finish it for this review. I really, really didn’t want to finish it, so I figured I’d write this review and tell you why. I won’t be publishing it on GoodReads so that other readers aren’t negatively disposed toward the book, but figured some feedback was better than none for Netgalley purposes.

I actually sort of liked this book at the beginning— Hazel was smart and interesting, and I thought the magic was whimsical and fun. However, I found myself scratching my head as the book went on, constantly wondering when I’d learn more about the magic system, or when Holly would stop being annoying. There were plenty of funny quips along the way, but the romances were predictable and shallow, and the character development... was not present. Hazel kept refusing to rely on others, and Hawthorn was a dandy, and Hemlock was flat and boring. Even the big climax bored me, largely because there was no actual revenge and Ash just dropped the whole issue.
This book is entirely too long, each scene stretched until it seemed like it would rip, and filled with episodic little interludes that don’t seem to advance the plot. After I found out that the sisters survived the encounter with their father, I was done. I couldn’t bear to read another 400 pages of their journey home and the happy ending I’m sure occurred. I had high hopes for this, but I couldn’t torture myself any longer. Thank you for the opportunity to read it, anyway.

Was this review helpful?

I wanted to like this so bad. I thought it would be exactly what i wanted to read but it just didn’t keep my interest and i wasn’t enjoying the story. I felt like it was dragged on and slow moving. The first passage of Hazel meeting her dead mother had me completely hooked but soon after that I was just not into it. I really wanted to like this but I just didn’t not. I did enjoy Hazels character though I felt she gave in to her sister too easily. I related to her in some aspect since I have a sister myself and we are very close. So I did enjoy that, ultimately this just want for me.

Was this review helpful?

I really enjoyed this book! My only tiny problem was the four main characters all having names that start with H. At times my mind would just get confused, and I would have to stop and remind myself the oldest siblings have HA names, and I would sort myself out for awhile.

But don’t let this stop you from reading Hazel and Holly, and hopefully enjoying it as much as I did.

This fantasy, which I can see becoming a series, has all the essentials to make it epic. A witch with an impossible mission, learning more about herself and being tempted into great evil. Throw in an entourage of friends, each with unique abilities and insights, and you get a fast paced, very entertaining story.

Sara Snider does a fantastic job with the world building. There are numerous books and movies that I’m sure people will compare this story to, but for me, I kept think of the movie Labyrinth. I think because my mind equated searching for a baby brother, with Hazel looking for their father, and Hoggle reminded me of their cellar gnome, Tum.

Snider also does a wonderful job with the character’s development. Even the secondary characters are well rounded, and not just used in the story for filler. The four main characters continue to grow throughout the book, and I hope she continues this into a series, because I would love to continue getting to know them.

A fabulous fantasy, that I highly recommend.

Was this review helpful?

"Hazel and Holly" is a charming story. Two sisters who happen to be witches are powerful, but also very human. Hazel is the classic older sister, constantly protecting and annoyed by her younger sister Holly. Holly is spontaneous and a bit self-centered. They become involved with two warlock brothers, Hemlock and Hawthorn, to find their missing father.

This is definitely a fun read for anyone who enjoys magical stories, and the frustrations and happiness that come with being a sibling.

Was this review helpful?

Hazel and Holly is a fun and rolicking adventure through magical woods, mystical spells, and finding hope in unlikely places.
Hazel and Holly are sisters who share a home in the Grove, a wonderfully slow and magical place where magic is divided into schools such as Hearth and Wyr, each with their own special focus. When the sisters are invited to the home of Hawthorn and Hemlock, warlocks and very eligible bachelors, Holly is insistent on their attendance. Hazel, on the other hand, would rather stay home and away from the nosey gossips who spread nasty rumors about their family and their father’s dabbling in Necromancy. Necromancy is the one magical discipline that is not tolerated in the Grove.
But Holly wins and the sisters attend the ball and true to fashion, nothing goes as planned. The one bright moment from the disastrous night is a new alliance with the brothers. With their help, the sisters might finally be able to track down their father and free their mother’s soul that has been entrapped for years.
Together, the witches and warlocks face one obstacle after the other, and all the while, they become closer and better friends with every mishap.
Full of humor, magic, and adventure, Hazel and Holly was a fun and entertaining read.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this title. All opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

2.5 out of 5 stars.

I really struggled to get into this story sadly. I felt that the dynamic between Hazel and Holly was lacking, particularly at the beginning. Certain parts of the story seemed a little rushed. Hazel as a character didn't appeal to me. There seemed like a real disconnect with regards to their Mother and them.

I do love the story idea, I think it just fell a little short with it's characters.

(I would like to try and read this story again though, because I'm not sure if perhaps my mood, at the time of reading, was preventing me from connecting as well as I could have with the characters. So will possibly buy this when it comes out to try again.)

Was this review helpful?

A community of witches and warlocks live within an enchanted forest. Here, necromancy is forbidden. Which is a problem because Hazel and Holly's father used necromancy to trap their dead mother's spirit. Now, the girls want to find him to free her. Perhaps a pair of warlock brothers can help them.

I think this book would have made for an excellent middle-grade read. It's categorized as New Adult (the characters have appropriate ages), but the writing, dialogue, and overall feel of the novel would work very well for a younger audience. I found these contradictions of writing style and intended audience too much for me to continue reading, but I think younger readers might have preferred this.

Was this review helpful?