Hazel and Gray
Ratings9
Average rating3.3
15
Ratings9
Average rating3.3
Two anxious young lovers lost in the woods. A beckoning mansion in a dark clearing. A short modern-day retelling of Hansel and Gretel by the number one New York Times bestselling author of Dear Martin.
It’s bad enough that Hazel and Gray have defied the demands of Hazel’s foul stepfather. The Monster has forbidden their romance. Now they’ve awakened in the forest, phones dead, hours past curfew. But not far away is a grand estate in the middle of nowhere. The door is open. In this short story about choosing your own path, the fury of the Monster that awaits them back home may be nothing compared to what lies ahead.
Hazel and Gray is part of Faraway, a collection of retold fairy tales that take the happily-ever-after in daring new directions. Whether read or listened to in one sitting, prepare to be charmed, moved, enlightened, and frightened all over again.
Featured Series
3 primary booksFaraway Collection is a 2-book series with 2 primary works first released in 2020 with contributions by Rainbow Rowell, Nic Stone, and 3 others.
Reviews with the most likes.
I am reviewing the audiobook version.
This 1-hour short listen is just mildly creepy
The narrator, Kimberly Wood, doesn't seem to try to overcome the weak writing of the two protagonists. The character voices are largely the same. Only at the end of the story, when the male protagonist starts talking a more stereotyped Black male lingo, can you tell the difference between the two characters.
The story itself is OK, but nothing special. The twist at the end is not a twist at all. You could see it coming a mile away. The book was just an hour long, but I would have rather listened to something else.
It's possible that I might have enjoyed the story more in a written format where I could have allowed my imagination to give the characters more depth.
