Kaitlyn‘s review of The Thirteenth Child by Erin A. Craig
Dark Paranormal Fantasy published by Delacorte Press 24 Sep 24
Hazel is the thirteenth child of a struggling family. Before her birth she is promised to the god of death. Years later when he comes to claim his godchild, her life completely changes. Death insists she become a great healer, bestowing incredible gifts she must learn to use.
Now Hazel can see who must die and who can be healed. Haunted by the ghosts of those she was unable to save, she is whisked from city to city until settling at the royal palace where she learns the king must die. Torn between her duty to her godfather, death himself, a war-ravaged kingdom, meddling gods and a rakish prince, Hazel is faced with an impossible choice.
The vibes of this book are immaculate. The dark, grim atmosphere is everything. I can’t stress enough how amazing this book is. It’s one of my favorites of the year, and the stunning edition makes me so happy. If you like dark fairytale retellings, you need this book in your life.
I need to go read Erin’s other books now because I am OBSESSED. I hope this convinced you to immediately add The Thirteenth Child to your TBR, because it truly is a remarkably stunning tale.
Grade: A
Summary:
All gifts come with a price.
Hazel Trépas has always known she wasn’t like the rest of her siblings. A thirteenth child, promised away to one of the gods, she spends her childhood waiting for her godfather—Merrick, the Dreaded End—to arrive.
When he does, he lays out exactly how he’s planned Hazel’s future. She will become a great healer, known throughout the kingdom for her precision and skill. To aid her endeavors, Merrick blesses Hazel with a gift, the ability to instantly deduce the exact cure needed to treat the sick.
But all gifts come with a price. Hazel can see when Death has claimed a patient—when all hope is gone—and is tasked to end their suffering, permanently. Haunted by the ghosts of those she’s killed, Hazel longs to run. But destiny brings her to the royal court, where she meets Leo, a rakish prince with a disdain for everything and everyone. And it’s where Hazel faces her biggest dilemma yet—to save the life of a king marked to die. Hazel knows what she is meant to do and knows what her heart is urging her toward, but what will happen if she goes against the will of Death?
