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After the Forest

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After the Forest

By: Kell Woods
Narrated by: Esther Wane
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About this listen

The stunning, enchanting Sunday Times bestselling historical fantasy

Ginger. Honey. Cinnamon. Flour. A drop of blood to bind its power.

1650: The Black Forest, Wurttemberg. Fifteen years after the witch in the gingerbread house, Greta and Hans are struggling to get by. Their father and stepmother are long dead, Hans is deeply in debt from gambling, and the countryside lies in ruin, its people recovering in the aftermath of a brutal war.

Greta has a secret, though: the witch's grimoire, secreted away and whispering in her ear, and the recipe inside that makes the most sinfully delicious—and addictive—gingerbread. As long as she can bake, Greta can keep her small family afloat.

But in a village full of superstition, Greta and her intoxicating gingerbread is a source of ever-growing suspicion and vicious gossip.

And now, dark magic is returning to the woods and Greta's own power—magic she is still trying to understand—may be the only thing that can save her ... If it doesn't kill her first.

PRAISE

'A dark and wondrous tale. Utterly enchanting' Kate Forsyth, bestselling author of The Crimson Thread

'A clever merger of fantasy and historical fiction' Sydney Morning Herald

'Bewitching historical fantasy ... Woods is a powerful new voice in speculative fiction' starred review, Publishers Weekly (US)

'Deliciously irresistible ... A gorgeous debut that you'll consume in one gulp' Natasha Lester, New York Times bestselling author of The Three Lives of Alix St Pierre

'Evocative, vivid and enchanting: Historical fantasy at its best' Belinda Alexandra, bestselling author of The Masterpiece

©2023 Kell Woods (P)2023 HarperCollins Publishers
Fantasy Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Magic Magical Realism Feel-Good Witchcraft New York Magic Users
All stars
Most relevant  
Narration perfectly fit the story. Lots of surprises. Loved the fairytale atmosphere felt throughout. Absolutely stunning.

Beautiful

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Phenomenal book. Could not put it down. Devoured it in two days. A master storyteller.

After the forest

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Angela C

I was swept away in this dark fairytale retelling. The trauma and treachery hooked me, I couldn't put this book down. This author had a way of describing the scenes that made all my senses tingle. If this story doesn't become a Netflix series I'll be heartbroken.

Deliciously dark!

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This story focuses on Greta (Gretal) as a young woman. She and her brother have survived the forest but not without wounds. The story hits all the right spots - magic, love, bravery, politics, history, mystery, suspense and horror. All with some nostalgic Easter eggs planted along the way for us to discover. The narrator is absolutely perfect. Can’t recommend this enough.

An absolute treat!

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Written with such wonderful attention to detail, I so enjoyed closing my eyes to watch (and listen) to the story unfold, in vivid technicolor. I already miss accessing Greta’s world via this book, as frightening as it is!!

Captivating

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Really enjoying listening to this. The narrator was excellent .If you are a Katherine Arden or Naomi Novik fan, this book is for you.

Excellent narrator & enjoyed the storyline

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