Hazelthorn

Hazelthorn

C.G. Drews

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CG Drews, acclaimed author of Don't Let the Forest In, returns with another deeply unsettling and yet hauntingly beautiful tale of murder and botanical body horror, perfect for fans of Andrew Joseph White and We Have Always Lived in the Castle. Evander has lived like a ghost in the forgotten corners of the Hazelthorn estate ever since he was taken in by his reclusive billionaire guardian, Byron Lennox-Hall, when he was a child. For his safety, Evander has been given three ironclad rules to follow: He can never leave the estate. He can never go into the gardens. And most importantly, he can never again be left alone with Byron's charming, underachieving grandson, Laurie. That last rule has been in place ever since Laurie tried to kill Evander seven years ago, and yet somehow Evander is still obsessed with him. But when Byron suddenly dies, Evander inherits Hazelthorn’s immense gothic mansion and acres of sprawling grounds, along with the entirety of the Lennox-Hall family's vast wealth. There’s just one caveat: He must choose a new guardian from amongst Laurie's scheming, backstabbing relatives to help manage the estate until he turns eighteen. Except Evander's sure his guardian was murdered, and Laurie may be the only one who can help him find the killer before they come for Evander next. Perhaps even more concerning is how the overgrown garden is refusing to stay behind its walls, slipping its vines and spores deeper into the house with each passing day. As the family’s dark secrets unravel alongside the growing horror of their terribly alive, bloodthirsty garden, Evander needs to find out what he’s really inheriting before the garden demands to be fed once more.


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  • xthelibrarianx
    Mar 09, 2025
    Enjoyment: Quality: Characters: Plot:

    I don’t even know where to begin with Hazelthorn—it was mesmerizing, haunting, and so much more than I expected. From the very first pages, I knew I was in trouble. The kind of trouble where you tell yourself, just one more chapter, and suddenly it’s six in the morning.

    CG Drews has crafted something truly special: a world dripping with yearning, resilience, and a garden that is completely, gloriously unhinged. Part gothic horror, part murder mystery, part love story, Hazelthorn is a genre-blending masterpiece. I thought I was prepared for the twists, but one in particular hit me so hard I had to physically put the book down and process. If it hadn’t been the dead of night, I would’ve yelled. Also, can we talk about botanical body horror? Because wow—Drews makes it terrifying, beautiful, and impossible to look away from. This book put me through it—I laughed, I cried, I felt slightly nauseous (in the best way), and I absolutely adored Evander and Laurie’s relationship.

    I cannot wait for everyone else to experience this. As someone new to YA, I credit CG Drews’ Don’t Let the Forest In with showing me just how magical and immersive this genre can be. So when I got my hands on Hazelthorn, I knew it was going to be special. Now I just need the whole world to read it so I can finally scream about it properly!

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  • Eggie
    Mar 11, 2025
    Enjoyment: Quality: Characters: Plot:

    Ever wanted to crawl deep under someone's skin? This is for you.

    Drews has this wildly insane way with prose. I wish I could eat the prose the way the garden eats. It's all consuming and devouring. The relationship between Laurie and Evander was so so soooooo good. I lack the words to really describe it. I'm bereft of words but crowded with feeling.

    I wouldn't count this as a murder mystery, even though I suppose it is-- but the focus isn't so mystery heavy as it could have been, and for that I am grateful.

    This was just overall so fun to read. A delightful terror?

    Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Feiwel & Friends for the eARC!

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