The Thirteenth Child by Erin. A. Craig

Book Blurb

When death calls, she must answer.

Hazel has always known she was different from her siblings. A thirteenth child, she was promised at birth to Merrick, the god of death.

Under his care, Hazel learns the art – and magic – of healing. Word of her extraordinary gift spreads throughout the kingdom. But all gifts come with a price. When Death claims a soul for himself, it is Hazel who must end their suffering… permanently.

Soon, destiny brings her to the royal court where she meets Leopold, an infuriatingly alluring prince with a disdain for everything and everyone. Here, Hazel faces her biggest dilemma yet: to carry out her duties or follow the urges of her own heart. Can she go against the will of Death himself to save someone who is marked to die?

My Review
I have a couple of Erin A Craig’s books on my shelf but haven’t had a chance to read them yet. I have heard a lot of great things about her books so was excited to be invited to be part of the blog tour for her new book The Thirteenth Child. I know her previous books are inspired by fairytales and folklore, and this book is inspired by the Grimm Brothers fairytale Godfather Death, a story that is new to me.

The central character is Hazel, who is the thirteenth child of her parents, a rare occurrence seen as an auspicious event. In Hazel’s case her parents couldn’t afford another child so gave her away to the Dreaded End, the God of Death. Until he claims her Hazel is badly treated compared to her siblings and leads a solitary life. Merrick, the name she gives her Godfather, the Dreaded End, gives her a new life, clothes, food and the training to become a healer. Although not receiving much love at home, Hazel is a compassionate and caring healer, but her morals and conscience are tried when she had to help some die, taken by her Godfather. I really felt for her, her kind heart rules and she puts herself in a precarious postition by wanting to break the rules and save the King. The palace is a place she feels safe and part of a family with the two princesses and the prince Leopold; these people accept and befriend her. All the way through I really wanted her to find happiness and love, something I think she deserved.

The Thirteenth Child, like all fairytales has a timeless quality about it, a story that transcends time and place. There is a darkness to Grimm Fairytales and Erin. A. Craig keeps this quality in her retelling, with Death and the other Gods playing with human’s lives without much thought. The world building was fabulous, the darkness of The Between, a desolate place where the Dreaded End takes Hazel to live, the cave of candles that signify people’s life, and the temples of the gods. The descriptive prose brings this world to life vividly, the brightness of the flowers against the darkness of The Between, the taste of the fabulous birthday cakes, and the oppulance of the palace.

I reallly enjoyed The Thirteenth Child and soon became captivated by Hazel and her story. There was darkness and light, twists and turns, and a touch of romance that perfetly combined in this stunning book. Whilst this book transcends time I also think that it does the same for age, a book not just for Young Adult readers but for adult readers as well. After reading this I will definitely be putting her book the House of Salt and Sorrows, which is on my shelf, further up my TBR pile. A haunting, and breathtaking read that captivates and enthrals.

I’d like to thank Rock the Boat Books and Black Crow PR for my copy of this book in return for my honest review.