SWEETLY

 

Author: Jackson Pierce Rating: 10/10 Age: 12+ Genre: Fiction, mystery, Horror, Paranormal Fiction Pages: 336 Published in:  2011 Main Characters: Gretchen, Ansel, Samuel, Sophia

Synopsis:   This book is a modern recreation of the famous fairy tale, Hansel and Gretel.  As a child, Gretchen's twin sister was taken by a witch in the woods. At least that’s what they convinced everyone. No matter how hard they tried, no one ever seemed to believe them. Ever since, Gretchen and her brother, Ansel, have felt the long branches of the witch's forest threatening to make them disappear too. Years later, when their selfish stepmother casts Gretchen and Ansel out, they find themselves in sleepy Live Oak somewhere in South Carolina. They're invited to stay with a girl similar to their age, Sophia Kelly, a beautiful candy maker who molds and sells sugary magic-covered treats that create confidence, bravery and passion. Life seems idyllic and Gretchen and Ansel gradually forget their haunted past - until Gretchen meets a friendly local outcast named Samuel. He tells her the witch isn't gone - it's lurking in the forest, preying on girls every year after Live Oak's infamous chocolate festival, and looking to make Gretchen its next victim. Gretchen is determined to stop running and start fighting back. Yet the further she investigates the mystery of what the witch is and how it chooses its victims, the more she realises that she and her brother are no longer safe with Sofia Kelly. However, Ansel refuses to listen and help his sister with the plan. It’s up to Samuel and Gretchen to find out who the real monster is. Gretchen is certain of only one thing: a monster is coming and it will never go away hungry. Does Sophia Kelly have anything to do with the disappearances? Who is the witch? Read ‘Sweetly’ to find out!

Why I liked this book: The mystery really sucked me in and I couldn't predict this one! The characters are interesting and well-developed, and the plot is intriguing. Parts of the story are more than a little creepy. In the opening chapter, we see the traditional style of the story where Ansel and Gretchen and Gretchen’s twin sister head into the wood to find the witch. Believing it to be just a fairy tale but suddenly they are attacked and Ansel and Gretchen are the only two to come out… This is an amazing book!