What a delightful story!

Witch sisters Hazel and Holly must set their mother's soul free from the necromantic bonds that hold her in limbo. Their father, the necromancer who entrapped their mother, disappeared from the sisters' lives years ago. To free their mother they must find their father.

Hazel and Holly is full of whimsical fun and sweet characters that really have to grow and challenge their own beliefs. It's unusual to find a book with a YA tone that features older main characters--Hazel is twenty-three and Holly seventeen. It's SO refreshing to read about older characters. We in our early twenties are seriously neglected from both adult fantasy and YA. (And I mean seriously, your early twenties ARE your young adult years!!) I'm twenty-two and it's just really nice to find a book with characters my age that isn't about having kinky sex in a college dorm.

Another fabulous plus side? SISTER WITCHES! I loved the bond between Hazel and Holly--they aren't perfect girls nor perfect sisters, and their flaws only make them more human. Their relationship throughout the book is so sweet and natural. They really fight for each other, though they bicker and don't fully understand one another. The witchcraft in this book is also so wonderfully explored. The dynamic of prejudice within their communities based on which type of magic you practiced was so interesting, and really created a lot of development for our characters.

I would totally be a Wild witch (the dominion of animal-speaking!) just cause it's so dang adorable. But the rest--Weaving, Wyr, Hearth, and the abominable Necromancy--are all so intriguing and woven so deftly into the very fabric of the story, it's hard to pick a favorite. They really set the mood. If you've been looking for a witchy book with a cozy, recluse-in-the-bright-woods sort of atmosphere about siblings and family, UH this one is definitely for you!

The romance in this book is one thing I thought was also really refreshing. Each sister has her own very distinct personality, and they’re still learning about themselves. I love a good romance plot and was not disappointed! But I also appreciated that crushes were just crushes, and don’t always progress into all-encompassing love. That’s something that’s built on compatibility and trust. Each sister has her own foray into the world of love, and it’s just a good message all around!

A copy of this ARC was provided by the author through Netgalley for an honest review! Thank youuu!

I had no expectations for Hazel and Holly, so I wasn't greatly disappointed when I didn't like it. These girls and their crazy father and their dead mother's soul? It's disturbing and creepy and just not. I skimmed and read bits of it, but overall I didn't care for this story. Thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

“I just hope that someday someone will come along who can look after her. I hope she can find someone to watch the stars with.”

It’s quite difficult for me to rate this book because I really liked some aspects of the story but others really got me bored. First of all I think the book is far too long, some adventures could have been cut to reach the real interesting part of the plot that is when Hazel meets her father. Moreover I didn’t enjoy the fact that, for Hazel,
magic comes so naturally without study; I prefer when there is some kind of preparation. However the story is interesting, even if a little bit eccentric. I would have changed the names of the characters because they are so similar that I often got confused! I really liked how the love between Hazel and Holly is expressed, sisters love is the best! Hazel is quite an interesting character, she is strong and she believes she doesn’t need nobody, but she is also very stubborn and impulsive. Holly is really childish, in particular at the beginning, but she is really cute. Nonetheless I hope to hear more about them and I hope they’ll have the happy life they deserve!

As one of my first experiences reading YA fantasy, this book was a pleasant surprise! Although the story is largely centered around two witch sisters - Hazel and Holly - and their quest to free the soul of their dead mother from the geas their necromancer father has trapped her in, this humorous and magical story also explores the bond of sisterhood and follows Hazel’s personal journey of self acceptance.

Hazel and Holly discover allies in two warlock brothers, Hawthorn and Hemlock, and together, this quartet journeys to Sarnum, the Sea of Severed Stars, and other lands where the art of necromancy- which is forbidden in The Grove, where the four characters live - is a way of life. It is only when Hazel seems to handle things on her own that she truly learns she needs her sister, friends and love to succeed.

To save her mother, Hazel must accept help, embrace her own vulnerability, and go to some extreme lengths, even if that involves turning to necromancy herself.

I enjoyed this book. Although the first half moved slowly, the story really picked up speed in the second and left me pleasantly surprised! If you’re looking for a unique young adult fantasy book, I’d recommend giving this one a try. Thank you to Netgalley and Sara C. Snider for the early access to this quirky, funny and magical read!

This book just isn’t for me. I had to call it quits about 15 chapters in because it was moving very slowly for me.

There were a lot of fun and clever elements, like the character names and the alliteration of chapter titles. I appreciated those small details very much. It was cheeky and funny throughout.

It felt very similar to the Netflix reboot of Sabrina but for a younger audience.

Ultimately, I felt like there was no world building done and it was quite needed. I also felt like a lot of the dialogue was unnecessary and is what caused the plot to drag. It felt disjointed in places like the various character narratives just weren't able to line up in a logical way.

Whimsical, witty, and a bit witchy. If you like books with a Brothers Grimm fairytale feel paired with sibling adventure then you’ll love this one.

(Do plan on sharing an image on Instagram at a later date, will update with appropriate link at that time)

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an eARC in exchange for an honest review, you guys rock.

Okay, this book took me an agonizingly long time to finish. I wanted to love it, I really did. I feel like the magic system in it wasn't very well thought out and when someone casts a spell, it's not described at all... which is difficult for readers like me who love Harry Potter (wands) or The Magicians (finger manipulations) so I couldn't picture exactly what these witches and warlocks were doing.

Holly acted like a child and nobody seemed appalled when she was throwing herself at what was described to be a dude in his 40's. Hazel was boring and irritating and I felt like I was reading another "Chosen One" trope. I felt like the age difference between the two sisters and the two brothers would have been okay if Jane Austen had written this 200 years ago, but wasn't appropriate for today's readers. I wanted to care about these sisters, but I just didn't get attached to them.

I'm likely not the target demographic, but I still found this story was overly drawn out and a little dull. I"m going to round up to 3 stars, because I likely don't have a popular viewpoint and it's better than a 2-star book. I wish the author much luck and love because we've all been there, girl, I swear.

This lighter, younger end of the spectrum YA was adorable. The author’s quirky humour shone through making the adventures of Hazel as she tackles her father’s necromantic faux pas, together with her wild sister, Holly, an absolute treat. I loved the world building and the characters just stole my heart. Enchanting.

I am so sorry but I just could not enjoy this book. I found Hazel and Holly to be good characters and their relationships with Hemlock and Hawthorn are interesting but I thought the descriptions of places and events too long for me. I didn't quite get the emotions and pressing anxiety over finding their father. Necromancy is a forbidden magic and the fact that their father, and potentially Hazel can do this magic makes the story have a darker twist than I was expecting.

It is perhaps more YA than I am used to or able to enjoy.

Apologies to Sara C Snider...the cover and description are lovely and I wanted to read this book. Perhaps some of the descriptions can be reduced.

Hazel and Holly was not what I expected. I loved the magical plot and the characters were amazing. Other than that, I would say it is a bit slow paced.

I mean my name is in the title, how could I not read and review this guys?

We are immediately introduced to a pair of adventuring sisters (also witches), Hazel and Holly who live in a cute little place called the Grove. Pretty fitting, right? It's very picturesque and the author does a great job describing in detail the whimsical environment. Unfortunately their mother, Willow, has passed away and they are tasked to find their father who has the power of Necromancy as he has trapped their mother's soul.. which causes some inconvenience.

This story has a very lighthearted feel to it that I really enjoyed. There is nothing complicated, nothing too busy and convoluted. It's a pretty simple story about witchcraft and potions and sorcery. It's a tale about a quest that will definitly take you on an adventure to meet strange creatures and characters.

If you are looking for a quick read with a sense of humor, I'd recommend this one!

Fantastic book! I was gripped and enjoyed seeing the characters grow and learn who they are. It was good to see the decisions they made and why they did. I’d certainly recommend it! I want to know more!

** I hadn't realised this was a new adult book,and so the writing style was a bit too simplistic for me.
Interesting idea. Just not my cup of tea

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the E-Arc copy of this novel. It is funny and wicked rolled up together. I loved Hazel and Holly. I am hoping to read more from this author.

Hazel and Holly is the perfect novel for those who love witchcraft and magic. Living in a little place called the Grove, Hazel and Holly are sisters trying to find their way in a world without their parents. Their mother, Willow, passed away but has been trapped in a geas by their necromancer father. And now, Hazel has made it her mission to track down their father and make him release their mother’s soul so she may finally be at peace.

Filled with quirky characters and a compelling storyline, Hazel and Holly is the best of the magical worlds. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, however, I did get a bit frustrated with the sisters here and there. Through making bad decisions and generally being annoying, they eventually became some of my favorite witches to read about.

There were a few moments where it felt as if the story dragged a bit but it quickly picked up again. I was expecting a epic ending to their journey but found it a bit anticlimactic for me. However, I do believe Snider left it open for more adventures from these two witchy sisters. Something I hope she delivers soon. Look for Hazel and Holly to hit shelves May of this year!

**I received a copy of this book from NetGalley for an honest review.**

I found this work to be mostly confusing. Very little world explanation is offered, meaning I spent the early part of the novel adrift and the latter part utterly indifferent. I'm sure this book will find its audience, but that audience absolutely does not include me. I'm also a bit perplexed by the categorization of this title as YA.

Unfortunately, this book is not for me. After reading about ten chapters I had to walk away from this book. It felt as if the reader had been abruptly dropped in the middle of a story they are already supposed to know. There was no real development or explanation of the world of the story or back stories. Some of the characters seemed as if they were in a different book than the other characters. I just couldn't get into this book.

This was a perfectly serviceable new adult fantasy about two witch sisters looking for their necromancer father but it never really drew me all the way in. The elemental magic system and world was interesting but the slow pace and the confusion of the four H names of the main characters weren’t really working for me. It was originally published serially on the author’s blog, maybe the pacing felt better that way.

I did end up liking Hazel though and I warmed up to Holly after she grew beyond how overly childish she was in the first third of the book. I think this would be a good read for older teens who still enjoy YA fantasy but are ready for a step beyond.

Thank you to Double Beast Publishing for the arc of this book.
I absolutely loved this book, a great story of two sisters and two brothers going on an adventure and along the way they find themselves, you have the strong sister Hazel, and the soft scatterbrained sister Holly, then you have their unlikely friends brothers Hemlock and Hawthorne, and we can’t forget Tum, he gave me so many laughs in this.
I hope there will be a second book, I would love to see how they develop.

Hazel and Holly is a fast-paced, new adult, fantasy novel about two sisters on a quest to find their father—but not for the sweet, sentimental reasons you may be beginning to conjure up. The sisters are in search of their father so he can release their mother’s dead soul (which he inconveniently trapped with necromancy, a magic that is forbidden in the Grove). In this novel, the reader follows the journey of two sisters, accompanied by one very self-important, and one not so much so, warlock brothers on their quest on undoing their father’s treacherous deeds.

As stated, this is a young adult novel, but personally, I felt that the writing catered to the younger end of this genre, reasons being the writing is simplistic and very easy to read. The dialogue is very witty and a there is a dry humor weaved all throughout the narrative, though, it became a little “cheesy” in some occurrences.
The character I appreciated the most was Hazel’s—the perfect embodiment of the “rebellious new adult”. I loved her humor and quick wit; she’s the type of character to make a reader snicker while they’re busy saving her witty quote on their Instagram bio. With that being said, I found some characters to be slightly over-dramatized or unnecessary to the progression of the plot. I would have loved to have seen the story written solely around Hazel, though, Hemlock (one of the warlock brothers) would also have been an interesting character to delve deeper into.

With this being a fantasy novel, there is, of course, a fantastical world in which the reader must navigate. I quite adored the world that Snider created. It felt authentic and original and homey. One thing I would have liked to have known more about was the structure of this world. Who’s in charge? How does that affect the people living in this world? What are the witches like? The warlocks? I loved the interactions between the witches, but I found myself with the same problem of wanting to know more about their customs and rituals. We do catch glimpses of it here and there, but I would have liked a better exploration of this world, which could possibly be done in a future novel.

I recommend Hazel and Holly to the younger age of the YA readers. This novel is fast paced, witty, and has an inexplicable, yet blatant, classical quality.

Read with an open mind, and most importantly, an open heart. Enjoy!

This is a book about witchcraft and necromancy. I was pulled in by the necromancy and I liked learning of the magic system. I liked sing witches, warlocks, gnomes and other magical creatures. It is a very magical story and if you like magic then this might be for you.

At the beginning we see Hazel who goes to meet her mother who was brought back from the dead by necromancy. Hazels father used necromancy and Hazel wants to try and find him to free her mothers trapped soul, the only problem is that she does not know where he is. Necromancy is forbidden magic but is used.

The writing is very simple and easy to read, it felt like a book for someone younger than me. It is a YA book and if you only read YA then you will like this more than I did. The plot is fun and there is quite a bit of humour which I enjoyed.

On to the characters. Our main characters are Hazel and Holly. They are sisters, Hazel is the older sister and I liked her more than Holly. Hazel is the one who is trying to find a way to free her mother from her fathers necromancy spell. Holly is seventeen but there were parts where she felt younger, childish and there were parts where she annoyed me.
Then we have Hawthorn and Hemlock who are brothers who want to help the sisters. Hawthorn wears a glamour nearly all the time as they are old but Hemlock does not. Hawthorn also admits that he doesn't like women. Hemlock and Hazel have a great friendship and relationship and I liked them both.
Tum is a cellar gnome and I really liked his character. He's a fun character.

The book leaves it at a point where another book could be written so that it could become a series. Overall I enjoyed the story and the necromancy was interesting but I probably won't read it again.