A wonderful read!
This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

I had high hopes for this book, but it wasn't for me. While I advocate for environmental issues, this book was too blatant in its attempt to make me care. There was so much potential for the fantasy, unfortunately, the environmental themes overshadowed any interest I could muster for the fae. I wasn't able to finish.

When Nereida goes missing, her son, Alfred sets off to find her. True, he and his best friend and travel partner originally intended to seek out the variety of creatures who dwelled in Faerie Hill but on their journey, they inadvertently discover more than anyone could ever dream possible. Saga befriends Alfred before learning that Alfred's father is employed by the organization responsible for drilling into and through Faerie Hill-- and of course, Saga is a member of the party making signs and posters and rallying to protest against the destruction of this beautiful natural world.

Through the progression of this book readers will be introduced to a myriad of mythical beings from sprites to faeries, to shapeshifters, and even wolves with antlers. Mr. Tumbleweed, aka Mustardseed, is Saga's closest companion and was gifted to her from her birth by her fairy godmother. Little Mother and Little Father dwell near Alfred's home and finally his "Granny" divulges their secrets to Alfred. Although Alfred's father appears to remain cynical and skeptical until the end of the book when readers are trusted with an important secret.

For readers who adore authentically Gaelic narratives-- such as verbs ending in "-t" rather than the customary "-ed", contractions being brandied about as if in an attempt to turn them into accepted word choices, and occasional punctuations marks that appear oddly placed throughout the text, this book will be a delight. Perhaps it is sometimes quite profound to have this closer and more intimate portrait of an author's innate thinking process.

5/5⭐️ First of all, thank you to NetGalley, the author and her team at Pushkin Children’s Books for an arc of “Into the faerie hill”. I absolutely adored this book. I’m a big fan of all stories related to faeries and the folk, and this book made me feel like when i was younger and i was obsessed with reading about fantasy realms far away from the real world. Also, the story reminded me a lot (obviously in the best possible way) of other amazing stories related to faeries (Spiderwick chronicles, bridge to terabithia and arthur and the minimoys). If you enjoyed any of these stories as a kid, or if you want an amazing book related to faeries, i highly recommend reading Into the faerie hill 🖤🧚🏻‍♀️

Wow this is a great middle school age children’s book though I reckon this story crosses all age ranges for its magical and whimsical story. Alfie is in a world where he is just trying to find his way (aren’t we all?). This story artfully handles big themes and emotions in a way that is impactful for all who care to go on the journey with Alfred. There is love and loss and struggles that I didn’t imagine would be possible to be presented in a digestible way for children to be interested and engaged in. I plan on reading this together again with my 10 year old and see his thoughts.

Reviewed by my pre teen nephew. This is a really good story about a boy my age and the strange things that happen to him. He meets some interesting characters and learns a lot about friendship and families. Very good 4 out of 5

Into the Faerie Hill by H.S. Norup was such a good book. Loved every single second of it. I couldn't stop reading this book for a bit. Totally recommend everyone to read this book as fast as they can.

I enjoy faerie stories in almost all of my media, which is why I was excited to read this charming children’s book. “Into The Faerie Hill “turned out to be an absolute delight and I was effortlessly drawn into a whimsical and enchanting world. This book felt like the perfect escape, and I never wanted it to end.

The story follows Alfred, a 12-year-old boy who stands out in many ways. Despite one of his legs being shorter than the other, he excels at swimming and has learned to adapt to a life that constantly shifts due to his father’s work. On top of that, he is still coping with the loss of his mother. When he goes to stay with his grandmother for a few weeks, he quickly becomes aware that something—or someone—might be watching him. His grandmother’s cottage is tucked between towering cliffs and dense forest, a place brimming with life, including faeries and other hidden creatures. Though Alfred is the only one who can see them, their home is in danger, and he soon realizes it’s up to him to stand up for them. In doing so, he might just uncover the truth about what really happened to his mother.

At its heart, Into The Faerie Hill is a story about family, belonging, and protecting the world around us. The book beautifully weaves themes of nature and self-discovery into its magical setting. I especially loved the friendship between Alfred and Saga—their shared love for their home and its creatures made their bond feel so special. This book is both enchanting and deeply moving, blending wonder with heartfelt moments. I can’t recommend it enough! Helle’s stories always have such warmth and depth, and I’m already looking forward to whatever she writes next.

Of course! Here’s a rewritten version with your requested changes while keeping the original meaning intact:

rina dunn’s Review

I enjoy faerie stories in almost all of my media, which is why I was excited to read this charming children’s book. Into The Faerie Hill turned out to be an absolute delight. Helle has a real gift for storytelling, effortlessly drawing the reader into a whimsical and enchanting world. This book felt like the perfect escape, and I never wanted it to end.

The story follows Alfred, a 12-year-old boy who stands out in many ways. Despite one of his legs being shorter than the other, he excels at swimming and has learned to adapt to a life that constantly shifts due to his father’s work. On top of that, he is still coping with the loss of his mother. When he goes to stay with his grandmother for a few weeks, he quickly becomes aware that something—or someone—might be watching him. His grandmother’s cottage is tucked between towering cliffs and dense forest, a place brimming with life, including faeries and other hidden creatures. Though Alfred is the only one who can see them, their home is in danger, and he soon realizes it’s up to him to stand up for them. In doing so, he might just uncover the truth about what really happened to his mother.

At its heart, Into The Faerie Hill is a story about family, belonging, and protecting the world around us. The book beautifully weaves themes of nature and self-discovery into its magical setting. I especially loved the friendship between Alfred and Saga—their shared love for their home and its creatures made their bond feel so special. This book is both enchanting and deeply moving, blending wonder with heartfelt moments.