Horror thriller with twists and turns you won't see coming

A delightfully scary version of an ancient fairytale. Hansel and Gretel with a twist that no mother would read to a toddler but perfect for that mother to read with all the lights turned on. A great "storybook"!

I see that many others have posted in-depth reviews - so I won't go into the details of the story. I just want to say it's a real "page-turner" (ok - page-swiper as it is for Kindle. :-) ) and I'd highly recommend it to anyone who likes "light horror." Very well written and it keeps the reader engaged from start to finish. I'm about to purchase the next one in the series... and I don't often do that.

Just the right amount of horror to keep you reading to the end. Good characters, well thought out and with a gruesome ending. I enjoyed this read very much and would recommend this to anyone who likes a good horror story.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

GRETEL is a dark and twisted tale that examines the deepest, darkest and most evil parts of the human psyche.

I think the cover of GRETEL is absolutely perfect. The blueish colour draws the eye and urges them to look at the book. The twisted trees give off a creepy and scary vibe and, the font used for the title adds a touch of mystery as does the light coming from the group.

As you can probably guess by the title, this book is an updated, modern day version of the fairy tale of "Hansel and Gretel." However, it definitely strays from the storyline that most people know. This is good, otherwise this book would not be very interesting at all.

As you might expect, this dark and twisted tale features the brother/sister pair: Hansel and Gretel. But, the character names as well as the fact that a "witch" lives in a nearby forest are the only real similarities to the original fairy tale. This story is a thousand times better and also a thousand times more twisted.

Anika Morgan had gone to visit her elderly father for a ten day trip and was happy to be heading home to her own life and to her children.

Anika's life revolved around her husband, Heinrich, her fourteen year old daughter, Gretel and her eight year old son, Hansel and she was content with the way her life was playing out.

Their life was not one of opulence or of abundance, but they were happy. They had their small house and they had some land to call their own and Anika knew that they were more fortunate than many others who lived in the Backwoods.

But, Anika never made it home from her father's house - a trip that should have only taken a few hours turned into the most gruelling, horrific and long time of her life.

Gretel wanted to have faith that her mother would be found one day, but as time wore on, it became harder and harder to stay optimistic. Add to that, the fact that her father had fallen ill and you get the eerie sense that something bad is about to happen.

This modern take on an old classic is extremely well written and readers will be riveted. The author, Christopher Coleman, does a fabulous job of creating characters that are so realistic that the reader will become invested in their trials and tribulations and will not be able to put the book down until they know what happens next.

There have been quite a few books written in the past few years that are based on the fairy tales we all grew up with. I have read a few of them and unfortunately I always seem to decipher the entire plot before I have even read the first half of the book. I find this very frustrating. As an avid reader it seems to happen all the time. This book does NOT follow that pattern which is a huge plus in my opinion.

This book will have readers riveted to their tablet screens and they will be unable to put it down. The action and emotion will find its way deep into the reader's heart and mind and Gretel's character will stay with readers long after the book's conclusion.

I give GRETEL a rating of 5 out of 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Read more reviews on my blog at AmiesBookReviews dot Wordpress dot com

Kindle Unlimited, please note 3 books, think the first 2 were freebie days then the last was ku {and arc which means free and early and we we really hope you find time to review it, but the chromebook is acting up with giving me my mobi files}

There is an ancient evil in the Back Country, dormant for centuries but now hungry and lurking. When it sets its sights on an unsuspecting mother one routine morning along an isolated stretch of highway, a quiet farming family is suddenly thrust into a world of unspeakable terror, and a young girl must learn to be a hero.

Gretel (Gretel, #1)
Marlene's Revenge (Gretel #2)
Hansel (Gretel #3

The setting is ambiguous. The area in which it’s set feels low-tech. There are no ubiquitous cell phones, and if you want to visit your neighbors you’d best bring your canoe. On the other hand, when a representative of “The System” comes to call in response to Anika’s disappearance, the car turns out to be heavily computerized. It’s an odd duality, a story that’s somewhat unmoored in time and space. I’m a little ambiguous in my feelings toward it. It’s a tad confusing, but it does somehow evoke a bit of that ‘adrift in time and space’ feeling that some fairy tales project.

My favorite part of this story is the characters. From Gretel’s bed-bound father, to her grandfather (who’s been hiding something), the officer from the System and his own kid, Petr–the characters have a ton of life and drive to them. This is also one of the best collections of strong female characters that I’ve seen in a long time. They aren’t abnormally perfect–they’re just used to having to rely on themselves and each other (or they’re just starting to learn how much it would help if they did so).

For a story that relates itself to such a strong and well-known fairy tale, Gretel does it beautifully. There’s enough here to make the comparison, but it tears off in its own directions as well. I fully enjoyed Coleman’s story.

Incredibly good story that blurs the classic good vs bad simplicity to invoke the idea of a basic action becoming good or bad due to the intention and beliefs of the perpetrator. At the end of the book, ask yourself, which woman murdered without self-interest/self-improvement as her primary motivation ? Did the last paragraph chill you or make you smile tenderly? Who truly was the hero of this book and why? As for the story proper, mom gets lost then found by unsavory cook with an antique tome of an evil Martha Stewart (it's a bad thing) and is detained. She had been visiting her elderly, ill father. She has two children, 14 yo Gretel and 8? 10? (so nebulous to plot it is neither memorable or relevant) yo Hansel and a sickly bedridden weak husband. She has a car accident which sends her car conveniently down an embankment into heavy brush where it can no longer be seen and then heads into the woods looking for a local resident to help. Enter plotline, twists, a terrific story, clever misdirection, action and adventure and chills and suspense and downright heroism. Who is really looking for whom? Who is really looking after whom? What is Orphism and whose interpretation of intent and design speaks true to the Ancients? Who are the pawns? Who are the play makers? Who is innocent and who only wishes they were once again? This book should be read once for excited page-turning consumption, once for capture of finer points and subtle-as-a-truck analogies to the resurgence of pagan religions in today's societies, and a third time to enjoy it slowly and thoroughly with an understanding of its entirety. Then it can be referred to repeatedly while discussing it with every book club and women's group you can convince to read it. As a final note, I must say that this insistence on comparing this to the fairy tale Hansel and Gretel is misleading and annoying. If the two children had been named Liesel and Erik none of these comparisons would have been made. There are no bread crumbs, candy houses, coercion with food, ovens, obviously a mother and not two children are lost, the father doesn't come looking … is that enough dissimilarity? If not just read this gem and you will see for yourself! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED jcoppage 3/16

So many fairy tales and childhood fantasies have been revamped these past years. Some have been tremendously successful in their retelling, leaving you in awe as the loose ends of short stories came to full fruition. As if filled with facts that made the fantasies true, they've been recreated with great skill. Others have come with pieces that assisted in the original story but fell through, cataclysmically through the interest floor, crashing and burning. Gretel, by Christopher Coleman didn't fall, but it didn't fill me with he excitement I'd expected. Let me show you why...

The story has great promise, since the Hansel and Gretel story doesn't have a lot to go by, but Gretel isn't quite the same story. It begins with an immortal finally reaching cessation. Unsure if they'd be able to find the one ingredient necessary in prolonging their life, till someone calls out. That's what begins the tale. But it's Gretel, the daughter of the woman and man who Do Not send their children out into the forest to save on food, sets out to find her missing mother.

I loved the idea of this story, because I've wanted to know more about Hansel & Gretel all my life! But this story took way too long to get things going. Normally I finish ebooks faster than paperbacks and hardbacks, but this one took me an extended timeframe. I kept falling asleep. It was way too detailed and will with unnecessary bits!
Check my site for the full review! Areneehuntdotcom
Gretel, Book One
​Christopher Coleman
Independent Publishing, the store Services
October 31, 2015

A modernized retelling of the Hansel and Gretel story, Christopher Coleman's version keeps much of the dark and sinister, even creepy and somewhat horrific tone of the original story, while bringing in some new twists and turns. It explores some of the dark corners of the human condition of pride, vanity and selfishness but also brings forth some bright notes of courage, love, charity and self-sacrifice in the name of duty and family. And also touches on the idea of redemption, that no matter how far one goes down the path of the darkness there is always the chance to turn back. As with folktales of old, this book does not pull any punches when it comes to the depiction of acts of cruelty and violence, but it's never done gratuitously. I, for one, am definitely intrigued to see where the story goes from here. A thoroughly enjoyable read, I recommend this book.

(Verified Purchase the store Australia)
A dark, substantial fantasy. Ominous and brooding in parts but well balanced by the characters, especially young Gretel who's quickly learning to stand on her strong two feet in support of her younger brother Hansel.

Amazingly good read as slowly, relentlessly, the nature of the evil residing in the Back Woods is revealed. Spine-tingling horror, mystery with a touch of science fiction.

This is not a story to read just before taking a break in a sparsely populated wooded area, nor indeed, one to read without first ensuring one's doors are solidly, securely locked!

Four and a half stars

As other's have said, the story starts off a bit slow. At first I was a bit nonplussed with Coleman's simplistic writing style and that may have contributed to the slow pace at the start. I came to appreciate the clarity of it though, once the real action started. His heroine has received all the attention she needs from other reviews, so this review is for the antagonist. Coleman's evil main character is fearfully and wonderfully made. As soon as I met her in the story, I was hooked. And what a darkly developed character she is. Coleman did not flinch at revealing his creature's motivation, madness, and malignancy. Unlike some authors who build and build and build a story to fever pitch and then give you a five minute final showdown, Coleman delivers an epic knockdown drag out battle royale, gritty, gnarly and gruesome to the last drop. If you enjoy a good witch story, one in which the witch is steeped in evil and not just painted green and cackles at little girls, this is a good fit for you. Happy reading, I'm off to read book 2!

Man oh man! A true horror story....not your old time Hansel and Gretel. No gingerbread house, no barred cages to be locked behind while the witch fattens you up. Nosiree bob. If you truly want to be scared out of your wits about what some people will do to others, read this book! You'll become a little more careful about dealing with strangers! I think I got this from InstaFreebie, and read it right through, it was so good. I had to know how it ended. Now I need the next book in the series!

It was slow and entirely too long, I read everything under genre of horror I can get my hands on and throughout reading this I just kept thinking about what I wanted to read next once I finally got through this one ...it never pulled me in like a book should. Christopher had a great story to tell but the delivery left me feeling disappointed. There were numerous times I would get bored with a description or a character's inner dialog so I would skip a page or two only to find that the description or thought was still in full swing. I had intended to read the complete series however I've ditched that plan. I had high hopes for a fellow DMV native so now I will shift gears and try another of his books outside of this series and see if I can connect to his story telling. Fingers crossed!

As a Rule I dont care to read YA novels(that can be read in an hour ana half to two hours), though of the past 8-9 years since I bought a kindle e-reader, lately it seems YA and new undiscovered YA authors are more abundant, so periodically I find Myself reading them.
This one, Gretel, I'd "Assumed" would just be added to the several dozen of Versions I've read since picking up My 1st paperback novel in the Mid 60s, However this story while vaguely holding onto the "Hansel And Gretel", Brothers Grimm story-line,, Is and Of Its Self, Just That , Its Own Story!

My Kudos to Christopher...

Gretel's mother has accident and goes looking for aid, but is taken hostage instead by a evil witch. Will Gretel, her brother and mother be reunited? Will they find out who is responsible for her mother's disappearance?

A story of an Ancient curse, believing in yourself and a daughter's journey.

Jo-Ann Doyle

This story will definitely put a new spin to the children's Hansel and Gretel! The twist and suspense and the thrill kept me up all night just to finish this!

I love that this story has several heroines who displayed different kinds of strength, and has withstood a lot!

Kudos to the author for taking me to a whole new world where pies are not to be trusted, relatives have different agenda, and would-be stepmothers are not who they seem!

I was gifted a copy for an honest review.

Where do I start? I was not expecting to become as immersed and invested in the characters and plot as I did! I believe that's one of the marks of a talented writer and a solid story. He made me truly care about what was happening. This story isn't for the faint of heart. It's dark, twisted, gory, and you don't really know who Gretel can trust until closer to the end. I also like how the story deals with human nature, immortality, and death. Coleman has created a vibrant universe with a mythology that actually works. The characters are all well-developed, and he does an excellent job at keeping you guessing. This isn't a book that you can just skim through. Save this one for when you truly have the time to sit down and savor it. I'm looking forward to starting the rest of the series!

I bought this kindle book because it had 4+ starred reviews, however, I was disappointed. It didn't keep my interest, I had to push myself to finish it. I didn't think much of the plot or the characters, the book didn't flow nicely and although was an easy read, not a read I enjoyed. Overall I was disappointed.

If the book hadn't been billed as terrifying with twists I wouldn't see coming I might have liked it more. I kept waiting for something awful or surprising to happen and it never did. The story is Hansel and Gretel, of Course the witch eats people! I did finish it, but it was tame and predictable .

Gretel was an excellent book. It was a page turner. I give great kuddos to Mr. Coleman the author. I was scared, happy, nervous and thrilled by this book. Great job! I definitly recommend reading Gretel. I am going to take a break, but will come back and read the rest of the books. Thank you for an exciting story.

I have to say that this book was very interesting. It kept me interested the entire way. The supernatural is always fun to read and wonder if things like this could actually be, or just in the author's mind. Highly recommend this book.
Vicki Sigmund

What a great story. Almost two in one that come together wonderfully. The rise of the story, the was you know the characters starts off with a jump right into it pace. The story goes on with rapid succession.
I wanted more for the ending. Feels unfinished.
Loved every minute of living this story.

I’m in awe of the originality of this story!! Every page held a mystery and every mystery built on the original theme. This is one of the better horror thrillers I’ve encountered. Now, on to books 2, 3 and 4 of this amazing tale..
Kudos to the author!!

A much different take on the familiar story Hansel and Gretel. This story starts out with the witch's point of view. It is an interesting book that kept me thinking about it even when I wasnt reading. There is a bit of gruesomeness, so if you're squeamish then you may want to take that into consideration. Overall, I think it's a great book worth reading and I'm on to the sequel!!

This was the first true horror I've read in a long time, and I loved it! Magic, evil, and a nasty witch. The perfect cocktail for a horror novel in my opinion, and I couldn't put it down. Can't wait to start the second in the series!

*5 Stars

This is an unusual handling of a scary old tale of Hansel and Gretel. At times I was lost in the story with all its twists and turns, but I could not stop reading to see what happened next. J
Am very curious to read the “rest of the story “

This is the best take on the Hansel & Gretel story I have ever read. The story is cleverly unique and gripping. I read it in one sitting because I had to know what happened next and then next... And now I’m going to go devour book 2.

This was such a great read. A unique and unexpected take on the classic fairy tale. Kept me in suspense and couldn't put the book down. The emotions, fear, hope, horror, and suspense the writer brings forth just draws you into the tale. I was so drawn into the story that I had to immediately purchase the next book so the story would continue. I really didn't want it to end i was so engrossed in the story. The writing was well done and kept the story flowing and the emotions high. Great read.

What a great read! I enjoy a truly well-written, scary story that doesn't end up being a romance novel by the middle. Sure, relationships are important and human, but I prefer a love story that is just peppered in a thriller and not one that becomes the eventual main plot. Quite honestly, I enjoyed this story more than any of my recent reads by any of the popular genre writers. I'm eager to read more of this author's work. I highly recommend!

Very good story! Takes the story Hansel and Gretel into a very dark and twisted place as we watch Gretel go from safe, spoiled girl to heroine. I picked this up after a dry spell of reading, and couldn't put it down. I was walking down the sidewalks between buildings at work reading this book. Great character development, even in the minor characters. The story flows smoothly. Can't wait for Marlene's Revenge.

Christopher Coleman weaves a beautiful, yet thrilling story that pulls from the idea of the children's story Hansel and Gretel. However, the story Mr. Coleman creates is definitely his own. Dark, thrilling, exciting, insightful, loving, grotesque, surprising, and ingenious... It is such a rarity that an author can create a book that covers all of these principles, but Greta is a rare novel. Not only do I recommend this book which I eagerly give 5 stars, I look forward to reading the follow up books as well as anything new Mr. Coleman has to offer.

Read this one in one sitting, really good writing and story is so dark and chilling, good spin on an old classic...my whole childhood has been a lie.... I got for free and came back to purchase it!!!!!!! Got to show the love @@!!!

?????This is one of those rare stories which is both highly addictive & horrifying. Bone chilling, gruesome and just plain intense, this series robs you of sleep in two ways - you cannot put it down and you cannot turn out the lights. Deliciously macabre and delightfully terrifying, Coleman has blended these ingredients into a perfect potion that leaves you craving more and more...?????

At first i found it a bit long and drawn out. A bit slow. So i put i down an read another book. Then i came back to it. Near the middle it started picking up pace and in the end it was a race to the finish. Really scary. I was keeping my fingers crossed for Gretel and her mother. Hoping they would triumph.

An extremely well-written tale that takes the children’s story of Hansel and Gretel and ramps it up a fair bit. This is not what you expect, believe me, and is quite horrifying sometimes. It’s also clever and insightful, and there are a fair few surprises you won’t see coming. I thoroughly enjoyed this read!

Great twist on an old story. Grammatical errors notwithstanding, this was a quite interesting read. A little overdone in a few places, where it laboured the point slightly but other than that, a good read indeed.

I think this is a book for teens and adults alike. It has a great storyline, and leaves you wanting more. Love the modern twist to Hansel and Gretel. This witch is far scarier and worse than just wanting to eat children!

Hansel and Gretel taken to a whole new level!!! Somme of the same elements (witch, brother sister etc) but DEFINITELY a totally NEW story. Kept me on edge and the twists shocked me! Off to read Book 2 in the series.

The story was interesting but it took so very long to come together. Not sure I have the ending to invest into Book 2. Maybe I need some potion. Very violent. Maybe if it were shorter it would be more focused and have fewer drawn_out suspenseful moments? I found myself skimming the final 20 or so pages and that's never a good sign.

This isn't the Gretel you're use to! The pace is kind of slow and steady at first but there are parts that make you wonder, "WTH??" (in a good way) so you want to keep reading. The last quarter of the book really picks up the pace and the ending -- WOW! Awesome story!

I had to drag myself through this book. I could have read the first 10% and the last 15% and probably not have missed much. I did love the ending, and I'm tempted to read the next one if only to see what happens with this family.

While enjoying mystery and spine-chilling books, I don't like sickening, blood curdling gore. This story had some of that, but the fast pace and intrigue kept it hard for me to put down. The characters were interesting and were described in a way that you could easily love or loathe them, yet not be so sure as to trust them! I was really impressed!

This made for a quick, and addicting page turner. The writing was well executed and I really liked all of the characters. I also appreciate it being offered as a kindleunlimited. I will definitely check out more of this writers work.

Pretty interesting story-line, based on the popular Hansel & Gretel fable! Could have been a lot "meatier" and complex with more characters and a developed background. I would like to have seen Gretel become more of a 'super heroine'. Her character had a lot more potential!
It was a good read... I liked it!

What a great story! I was leary to begin reading this book, I got it free on a freebie site. But once started I did not want to put it down. This book was not predictable at all, with so many twist and turns . Perfect read.

Tried to slog through this, but just couldn't make it. Started off slow and never picked up any speed, nothing to grab my interest. I made it through a few chapters, but found myself nodding off and gave up on it. The author's apparent aversion to paragraphs didn't help.

I really enjoyed this story. It kept you in suspense from beginning to end. When I first started to read this, I was afraid it was going to be a little silly but I found out within the first few page's that I was wrong.

In the spirit of full disclosure, this is not the "genre" of book I would normally read; however, given the fact that the author is the son of my best friend, I felt somewhat compelled to do so--and I can report I am very glad I did!. The writing is terrific, the characters compelling--some in good ways, others in horrific ones--and the plot fast-paced and not predictable. So, I will be ordering the sequel! Good job, Chris!

Fantastic thriller of a fairy tale classic. Definitely a page turner that begs continued reading until you've finished the entire book. I read it in one sitting and plan to read the other two in the series this weekend!