Hazelthorn
AN INSTANT #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!
CG Drews, instant New York Times-bestselling 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, Annihilation, 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.
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. But 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.
Also by CG Drews
Don't Let the Forest In
Scorpion Deep
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Community Reviews
Please judge this book by its cover. If the darkly enchanting artwork of Hazelthorn catches your eye, you’re likely the perfect reader for this Gothic-horror, murder mystery infused with botanical dread and a dash of queer romance.
I didn’t realize until after requesting this ARC that CG Drews also authored Don’t Let the Forest In, which I’ve heard great things about and now plan to read even sooner based on how much I enjoyed Hazelthorn. I went into this book mostly blind, and I’m glad I did. The atmosphere unraveled beautifully.
The prose is lush and vividly descriptive, weaving a sensory experience that lingers. As a plant lover, I was especially drawn to the eerie beauty of its setting. I hadn’t encountered the "botanical horror" sub-genre by name before, but I’m fully on board now. The contrast between lush, living growth and raw, visceral gore created a truly unique reading experience.
The novel opens with a gripping hook (an unsolved murder) but the pacing in the middle does slow and meander a bit before tightening again in the final act. Once it hits its stride, though, the story is sharp, strange, and emotionally layered. The ending packs a punch, leaving room for thoughtful interpretation around themes of trauma, justice, and neurodivergence.
I highly recommend reading the Author’s Note, where Drews shares their experience with a later-in-life autism diagnosis. It adds meaningful context to the novel’s exploration of otherness, self-perception, and the ache of being misunderstood.
This is going to be a perfect October read for my fellow weirdos when it releases.
Rating: 4.5/5
First of all I devoured this book! I'm OBSESSED with this author and their writing. So this is basically a story about Evander, who is a boy trapped in his personal nightmare. He's been locked in his room for the last seven years being drugged to stay compliant and wakes up covered in bruises and no memory. Basically we have a poor 17 year old alone, scared and confused all the time and thinks because his guardian is kind to him when he behaves that he's loved. There is so much pain within these characters and abuse I just want to wrap these boys up and hold them. Without spoilers just know this is a masterpiece and I loved it just as much as DLTFI
He suspects his guardian was murdered, with his main suspect being the beautiful and cruel Laurie, his guardian’s grandson. As Evander investigates, he begins to unravel the truth about his past, his identity, and his guardian’s haunting past.
He becomes increasingly obsessed with Laurie, seeing him not just as the spoiled brat he pretends to be, but as someone who may also have been shaped by their shared isolation and feelings of being burdens. Both characters, in their own ways, struggle with their traumatic pasts, which only complicates their relationship and mutual understanding.
Hazelthorn explores the impact trauma, isolation, and psychological abuse have on the human psyche, self-perception and identity. This is a dark and haunting story of two boys grappling with the monster within. The emotional depth of these characters is unforgettable. The setting revolves around unsettling, nature-based horrors.
I was enthralled by the third sentence. This story will devour you whole. I had too many theories, so many questions, and had whiplash as the story unfolds. CG Drews’s writing is hauntingly intense, richly descriptive, emotionally evocative, and strikingly vivid.
I have found my first five star read of the year and a new auto-buy author.
Thank you Netgalley and CG Drews for the ARC.
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