It took me a few extra days to read Gretel by Christopher Coleman due to something spooky happening at work. I’m pretty sure that the place is haunted anyway but then something unnerving happened. For the sake of my own sanity, I had to stop watching serial killer documentaries as well as take a break from reading Gretel.

I thought that it was an interesting take on the original story of Hansel and Gretel. In the original story, Hansel and Gretel are sent away from their home because their parents are poor and cannot afford to feed them. They leave and come back – only to be sent away again by their mother. Their father feels terrible about sending them away but the mother is mostly worried about herself. After they are sent away again, they find the witch’s house.

In Gretel, Anika, the mother of Hansel and Gretel, is in a car accident. She’s alone and lost so of course, she ventures into the woods.

The witch is starving and is desperate for a human meal. If she doesn’t eat soon, it will be the end of her. The witch hears Anika call for help. So she captures Anika and begins to prepare the potion.

In the meantime, Hansel and Gretel have to deal with their terrible father. Months pass and there is no word about what has happened to Anika. The family is also about to starve. Gretel gets a job to help buy food and some things for Hansel.

I cannot tell you anymore of the plot without giving away too much of the story. However, I will tell you that I did like the story and would recommend it to anyone that enjoys stories about witches or creepier versions of fairy tales.

Gretel on Amazon