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“I couldn’t have a lifetime, but I could have this moment.”

Author: Erin A. Craig

Hazel’s parents never wanted her. As a matter of fact, they gave her to The Dreaded End as an infant. Since then, they have none so patiently waited for this thirteenth child of theirs to be taken by the Dreaded End, her supposed godfather. But he never comes. And so Hazel waits for him, year after year, unwanted, unloved, un-celebrated.

On her twelfth birthday, after watching her closest brother be given to the dissonant Fractured Ones, The Dreaded End finally comes for Hazel and whisks her away. But she is already broken at this point. What could this erstwhile god of death possibly have to offer this sad, unwanted child?

The answer is surprising, multifaceted, and tear-jerking. Merrick – The Dreaded End – is just as alien as he is ultimately, surprisingly good. He loves Hazel, but he does not truly understand mortals, nor how all his gifts (including an exorbitantly long life) cause Hazel distress.

He has called Hazel to be a healer, and after putting her on a years long journey in an isolated, yet ideal cabin, she knows everything there is to know about the science of medicine. This is when Merrick gives her the next gift – the ability to touch a patient and see the cure for their illness. There is, of course, a caveat. Not all can be saved, and when she see’s the death’s head in the place of a cure, she’s expected to perform a mercy killing. This leaves Hazel torn and literarily stalked by gruesome ghosts.

As time goes on and Merrick and Hazel hold their uneasy alliance, Hazel’s gift has unintended consequences. Perhaps mortals weren’t meant to be given this power – this blessing turned curse. Hazel’s own long life also presents numerous problems, as she seeks a place in the world. She will watch those around her grow old and die. In some cases, she will be called to kill them – a part of her bargain with this god of death. How then can she ever find a place of comfort, of love, of true humanity?

As the story shifts, Hazel finds herself in a rich kingdom cursed with a plague that makes the skin weep gold. It is just as beautiful as it is corrosive and terrifying, and it is here that Hazel thinks to fight death and turn the tables – with dire consequences, of course.

The Thirteenth Child is a sweeping, epic story, and I was along for the ride, even though I often found myself frustrated with Hazel’s oblivious nature, her selfishness, and her senselessness. I still liked her – but her immaturity rankled me almost as much as it did Merrick.

Image by Nika Akin from Pixabay

Let’s talk about Merrick some – this is a great character. He is powerful, sometimes terrifying, yet oddly gentle and loving. He is not the god of death – the villain – we expect. There are so many humanizing moments where we see that Merrick also wants what Hazel wants – connection and affection. One of my favorite reoccurring motifs is how Merrick always comes to celebrate Hazel’s birthday, each time with an elaborate, hilariously sugary cake. Merrick, despite his enigmatic ways, won me over instantly, and I found myself trusting him and wishing that Hazel would at the very least have an honest, non-petulant conversation, instead of constantly accusing death of having missed her first eleven birthdays. Girl, he’s immoral. Time is different for him. GET OVER IT ALREADY AND SEE THE BIGGER PICTURE, THE BIGGER MISSION.

As I said, Hazel is irritating, but not entirely off-putting. The author did a good job showcasing her youth and inexperience, her longing untampered by the adult knowledge of consequences and how irrevocable they often are.

The strangeness of the story is that it starts one way – with Hazel learning to be a healer and dealing with her gruesome cohort of ghosts – and transitions to something entirely different – this kingdom narrative. It works though. The plague is eerie and Hazel’s own dismissive attitude towards Merrick is the basis for one bad decision after another. We sort of know where it’s going, but that doesn’t matter, because it’s still delightfully thrilling and surprising at times, with some echoes of Prince Cardan from Holly Black’s The Cruel Prince in Hazel’s new mean-boy romantic interest.

As the story unfolds, the atmosphere deepens and darkens, the consequences pile up, and we finally get a confrontation with Merrick and some answers to the lingering questions – such as the forced killings. I loved every moment and was left feeling satisfied and emotionally charged. This is fantasy at its finest – creative, emotive, and thrilling. Highly recommended.

– Frances Carden

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Frances Carden
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