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The Hazel Tree
The Hazel Tree revisits a classic Cinderella tale of abuse and sought after freedom from the confines of a cruel life.
Ivy Lune is not your ordinary girl for within her blood flows the secrets of an ancient species of werewolf; a secret that also foretells of a great war and a struggle for ultimate supremacy. Ivy lives a life of isolation torment at the hands of her aunt and cousins for the majority of her life. Mistreated and neglected, she longs to escape the shackles of her prison-like life. And in that longing, she learns the truth of her identity. She learns her place in a long line of events that were set into motion many years ago. She finds intimacy and belonging in a much larger family.
All the while, unknown to her, there are dangerous forces are at work; old blood ties and murderous plots threaten her chance at happiness beyond her current life.
The Hazel Tree is a tale of mystery and romance set against a supernatural backdrop of terrifying and awesome power.
Ivy Lune is not your ordinary girl for within her blood flows the secrets of an ancient species of werewolf; a secret that also foretells of a great war and a struggle for ultimate supremacy. Ivy lives a life of isolation torment at the hands of her aunt and cousins for the majority of her life. Mistreated and neglected, she longs to escape the shackles of her prison-like life. And in that longing, she learns the truth of her identity. She learns her place in a long line of events that were set into motion many years ago. She finds intimacy and belonging in a much larger family.
All the while, unknown to her, there are dangerous forces are at work; old blood ties and murderous plots threaten her chance at happiness beyond her current life.
The Hazel Tree is a tale of mystery and romance set against a supernatural backdrop of terrifying and awesome power.
334 pages, Paperback
First published October 15, 2013
209 people want to read
About the author
Julia Debski
2 books23 followersJulia Debski was born in Warsaw, Poland in 1996. Her family moved around a lot during her childhood before finally settling down in Chattanooga, Tennessee. It wasn't until the 8th grade that she found her passion for writing. It was thanks to a particularly inspiring English teacher and a story that needed to be told. So she began to write, and she never stopped.
Four years later she found herself with nearly a dozen started novels and short stories. As junior in high school she was introduced to Greg Wilkey, a self-published independent author of four novels. He soon became a mentor to her as she worked to write and self-publish her own novel. After two years of hard work, and a nearly a year of mentorship The Hazel Tree was published in October 2013. Her second work, a collection of poems and short stories titled Casket of Stars, was published in August 2014.
Four years later she found herself with nearly a dozen started novels and short stories. As junior in high school she was introduced to Greg Wilkey, a self-published independent author of four novels. He soon became a mentor to her as she worked to write and self-publish her own novel. After two years of hard work, and a nearly a year of mentorship The Hazel Tree was published in October 2013. Her second work, a collection of poems and short stories titled Casket of Stars, was published in August 2014.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 28, 2014
As someone with limited experience with fairy tales and their retellings, I really enjoyed The Hazel Tree by Julia Debski. The twists work perfectly for the story that the author is trying to tell. It was a unique tale that I found myself sucked into without any regret.
There are certain parts of the story that do lag and feel out of place, but overall I found myself enjoying the pacing of the story. The ending was the major downfall for me. I felt like there was more of the story to be told, and it was glossed over in a race to the end. It's a very raw, unpolished story. But I feel like that works to its benefit in a way.
The characters were engaging and had their own voice. I wish I could have gotten more into some of them, though. I feel like there is more to this story that needs to be told, and if Julia Debski decides to write it, I'll be waiting to read it! This is a fantastic retelling of Cinderella with unique twists and turns that kept me turning pages. I'd recommend it to fairy tale fans in the young adult genre who don't mind things that howl at the moon!
**I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to Julia Debski and Bewitched Book Tours.
July 10, 2018
I’ve read this book twice now and still get chills. I loved it back in high school and I love it even more now.
April 19, 2014
3.5 Stars
I'm starting to become aware of the fact that I say this a lot lately, but well, when it's true, what can I say? So here it goes...this book was good and had the potential for being great, but for a couple of things. The first was I wasn't sure if I was reading something that was set in current times or more of a historical perspective. And that may have just been the writing style. When I finally realized this book was actually set in current times or perhaps the future is that in this book, everyone is a werewolf. The other 2 areas that I thought were a bit lacking is the ending and the Alpha's agenda, but I'll get to that a bit later.
Ivy Lune is orphaned as a small child, and goes to live with her uncle and his family. She doesn't remember her father very well, and the only clear memory she has of her mother is the day she died, but she shies away from those memories. Her uncle is the one person who took care of her, and the only one she was close to until the day he was murdered when she was 7. At that point, her life changed drastically. No longer considered a part of the family, she became a bound servant who was restricted from ever leaving the house or meeting anyone who visited. And although she didn't understand why, her aunt blamed her for her uncle's death and from that point on, hated her and took every opportunity to abuse her. Ten years later, her cousin Rob helps her attend a ball that the Alpha is throwing on behalf of his son, Matthais, to help him find his mate. Turns out Ivy is the mate that he wasn't looking for, but drawn to regardless. I really wanted Ivy's situation to change because I seriously did not like her aunt. However, I still wasn't sure Matthais was the man for her given all I have seen from him up to this point is his contentious relationship with his father. As the story progressed, my feelings for him began to change as he slowly matured. It wasn't quick and their relationship wasn't one of those where they immediately fell in love because of their bond, but rather a slow getting to know each other. There were a few times where I wasn't sure why the author had Ivy pushing him away when he was being protective...I would have thought she would have liked knowing he cared enough to want to protect her. I can understand her wanting to portray some independence now that she is "free" and no longer a servant, but I thought that could have been handled a bit more diplomatic than it came across. In the meantime, the mystery surrounding the deaths of her mother, father, and uncle still needed to be resolved. All I knew was that the prologue tied in somehow, and give the author credit for the suspense surrounding the attacks to those who have been in contact with Ivy recently and how they tied in to the previous deaths, her relationship with Matthais, and her specifically.
One of the other issues I had is the Alpha. Matthais suspected his father did not want to relinquish control, yet was determined to find Matthais' mate knowing him finding his mate is one step closer to him becoming the new alpha. Why would his father push for him to find his mate? I still don't understand that part and would have liked to have had some closure or understanding there. We learn what he was up to as it relates to the other packs and his secret meetings, but not why was he so determined to find Ivy. The other area is the ending. Things ended kind of anti-climatically. What happens to the Mara pack now that Naples is no longer alpha? Why were they "evil"? The prologue made it sound like some kind of magic or curse, but nothing to explain that. Then there is Ivy herself. Was her bond to Matthais via the hazel tree severed? I wanted more details here or at least Ivy's perspective at the end.
Bottom line, I did enjoy this story and found it quite interesting. Aside from some of the violence, I think this is definitely a book that can be read by more mature young adults as a modern day fairy tale. At least if you like books of a paranormal nature.
I'm starting to become aware of the fact that I say this a lot lately, but well, when it's true, what can I say? So here it goes...this book was good and had the potential for being great, but for a couple of things. The first was I wasn't sure if I was reading something that was set in current times or more of a historical perspective. And that may have just been the writing style. When I finally realized this book was actually set in current times or perhaps the future is that in this book, everyone is a werewolf. The other 2 areas that I thought were a bit lacking is the ending and the Alpha's agenda, but I'll get to that a bit later.
Ivy Lune is orphaned as a small child, and goes to live with her uncle and his family. She doesn't remember her father very well, and the only clear memory she has of her mother is the day she died, but she shies away from those memories. Her uncle is the one person who took care of her, and the only one she was close to until the day he was murdered when she was 7. At that point, her life changed drastically. No longer considered a part of the family, she became a bound servant who was restricted from ever leaving the house or meeting anyone who visited. And although she didn't understand why, her aunt blamed her for her uncle's death and from that point on, hated her and took every opportunity to abuse her. Ten years later, her cousin Rob helps her attend a ball that the Alpha is throwing on behalf of his son, Matthais, to help him find his mate. Turns out Ivy is the mate that he wasn't looking for, but drawn to regardless. I really wanted Ivy's situation to change because I seriously did not like her aunt. However, I still wasn't sure Matthais was the man for her given all I have seen from him up to this point is his contentious relationship with his father. As the story progressed, my feelings for him began to change as he slowly matured. It wasn't quick and their relationship wasn't one of those where they immediately fell in love because of their bond, but rather a slow getting to know each other. There were a few times where I wasn't sure why the author had Ivy pushing him away when he was being protective...I would have thought she would have liked knowing he cared enough to want to protect her. I can understand her wanting to portray some independence now that she is "free" and no longer a servant, but I thought that could have been handled a bit more diplomatic than it came across. In the meantime, the mystery surrounding the deaths of her mother, father, and uncle still needed to be resolved. All I knew was that the prologue tied in somehow, and give the author credit for the suspense surrounding the attacks to those who have been in contact with Ivy recently and how they tied in to the previous deaths, her relationship with Matthais, and her specifically.
One of the other issues I had is the Alpha. Matthais suspected his father did not want to relinquish control, yet was determined to find Matthais' mate knowing him finding his mate is one step closer to him becoming the new alpha. Why would his father push for him to find his mate? I still don't understand that part and would have liked to have had some closure or understanding there. We learn what he was up to as it relates to the other packs and his secret meetings, but not why was he so determined to find Ivy. The other area is the ending. Things ended kind of anti-climatically. What happens to the Mara pack now that Naples is no longer alpha? Why were they "evil"? The prologue made it sound like some kind of magic or curse, but nothing to explain that. Then there is Ivy herself. Was her bond to Matthais via the hazel tree severed? I wanted more details here or at least Ivy's perspective at the end.
Bottom line, I did enjoy this story and found it quite interesting. Aside from some of the violence, I think this is definitely a book that can be read by more mature young adults as a modern day fairy tale. At least if you like books of a paranormal nature.
May 8, 2014
“It appears that there is indeed someone who can tame the beast. Who would have thought it would be this frail thing.”—a councilman
Ivy’s life is one of servitude, imprisoned in her home by those that are supposed to love her. When she sees a chance to obtain her freedom, she takes it, not knowing that by leaving her prison, she would face a world that is far more terrifying. In her werewolf world, alphas vie for her heart, but her secret may get her and those she loves killed…
“The boss wasn’t kiddin’ when he said ye attracted trouble.”—Judice
I picked up this book because I thought it would be a Cinderella retelling, and I LOVE fairy tale retellings. Alas, aside from the start, the Cinderella comparison falls away quickly as we enter a far more complex world and tale. This is a very dark fairy tale along the lines of the Brothers Grimm where maiming is a tiny scratch. But hey, there are werewolves involved, so you’ve gotta have a little mauling and maiming in there, right?
Anyway, this is dark. There were so many spots where I was shocked and felt bad for our poor heroine Ivy. She’s such an innocent that it’s hard *not* to feel bad for her. As a seventeen year old, she’s lived a pretty traumatic life and that’s before she escaped her abusive home (ala Cinderella and her stepmom). Once she enters the world of the alphas and discovers her fate, traumatic gets a whole new meaning.
It’s a good thing she’s a fighter and that she has the love of the Alpha’s son Matthias, the future Alpha. He’s a young eighteen year old so combined, we have two young and naive leads that have to grow up quickly in this werewolf-literally-eat-werewolf world. The two of them have the sweetest romance (very PG) as they slowly become friends and fall in love.
Unfortunately for our two lovebirds (love-weres?), they can’t start their happily ever after with a stalker hunting Ivy and those she loves—including the newly added to that group Matthias. Add in a generations-long pledge, an unlucky win as sacrificial female, and love making people go crazy, Ivy and Matthias need to solve a mystery as to why someone is leaving her unwelcome presents. Oh, and survive. They definitely need to work on surviving in their politically crazy werewolf world.
I enjoyed the mystery element and how adorably sweet our lead couple were together. Since the author didn’t pull punches, I was consistently surprised at where the story was taking me. This is told in omniscient third person so we can see what everyone is thinking, which I’m not a fan of (not a criticism for those of you who enjoy this style) and there were points where I couldn’t help but think the writing could be polished and the story tighter. However, it’s an entertaining read for those of you who enjoy darker stories and werewolf dynamics (the author does a nice job showing the different cultures and styles of different packs and how they are basically ruled by kings/Alphas). Overall, this is a 3 out of 5 for me!
(Originally posted on my blog; I received a review copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.)
Ivy’s life is one of servitude, imprisoned in her home by those that are supposed to love her. When she sees a chance to obtain her freedom, she takes it, not knowing that by leaving her prison, she would face a world that is far more terrifying. In her werewolf world, alphas vie for her heart, but her secret may get her and those she loves killed…
“The boss wasn’t kiddin’ when he said ye attracted trouble.”—Judice
I picked up this book because I thought it would be a Cinderella retelling, and I LOVE fairy tale retellings. Alas, aside from the start, the Cinderella comparison falls away quickly as we enter a far more complex world and tale. This is a very dark fairy tale along the lines of the Brothers Grimm where maiming is a tiny scratch. But hey, there are werewolves involved, so you’ve gotta have a little mauling and maiming in there, right?
Anyway, this is dark. There were so many spots where I was shocked and felt bad for our poor heroine Ivy. She’s such an innocent that it’s hard *not* to feel bad for her. As a seventeen year old, she’s lived a pretty traumatic life and that’s before she escaped her abusive home (ala Cinderella and her stepmom). Once she enters the world of the alphas and discovers her fate, traumatic gets a whole new meaning.
It’s a good thing she’s a fighter and that she has the love of the Alpha’s son Matthias, the future Alpha. He’s a young eighteen year old so combined, we have two young and naive leads that have to grow up quickly in this werewolf-literally-eat-werewolf world. The two of them have the sweetest romance (very PG) as they slowly become friends and fall in love.
Unfortunately for our two lovebirds (love-weres?), they can’t start their happily ever after with a stalker hunting Ivy and those she loves—including the newly added to that group Matthias. Add in a generations-long pledge, an unlucky win as sacrificial female, and love making people go crazy, Ivy and Matthias need to solve a mystery as to why someone is leaving her unwelcome presents. Oh, and survive. They definitely need to work on surviving in their politically crazy werewolf world.
I enjoyed the mystery element and how adorably sweet our lead couple were together. Since the author didn’t pull punches, I was consistently surprised at where the story was taking me. This is told in omniscient third person so we can see what everyone is thinking, which I’m not a fan of (not a criticism for those of you who enjoy this style) and there were points where I couldn’t help but think the writing could be polished and the story tighter. However, it’s an entertaining read for those of you who enjoy darker stories and werewolf dynamics (the author does a nice job showing the different cultures and styles of different packs and how they are basically ruled by kings/Alphas). Overall, this is a 3 out of 5 for me!
(Originally posted on my blog; I received a review copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.)
February 15, 2014
The Hazel Tree by Julia Debski is an interesting take on a Cinderella story. This fairy tale goes far beyond the traditional story though. The author deftly adds in werewolves and old secret bloodline feuds that turn this novel into a fantastical story that isn't quite like anything you've read before. This is no Twilight (or any other popular young adult fantasy) copycat!
There are some places in the book that could use a little more polishing, but for a first novel that has been self-published without the assistance of professional editors or proof-readers, this is a fine result. These little issues do not detract from the overall story.
To be honest, my biggest complaint about The Hazel Tree is that there isn't more of it. There are a few places where I would have loved to see the storylines or characters develop in more detail. I really loved the characters and wanted to get to know them even more! Sometimes things progressed a little more quickly than I would have liked, but I don't feel like anything important to the story was left out though, and it concluded nicely. I just wanted more, which isn't always a bad thing!
I would recommend The Hazel Tree to anyone who likes fantasy, fairy tales, romance, and adventure! It can be enjoyed by both teens and adults.
I definitely hope to see more from Ms. Debski in the future! I feel her future efforts can only improve as she begins to hone her skills as a talented young author.
There are some places in the book that could use a little more polishing, but for a first novel that has been self-published without the assistance of professional editors or proof-readers, this is a fine result. These little issues do not detract from the overall story.
To be honest, my biggest complaint about The Hazel Tree is that there isn't more of it. There are a few places where I would have loved to see the storylines or characters develop in more detail. I really loved the characters and wanted to get to know them even more! Sometimes things progressed a little more quickly than I would have liked, but I don't feel like anything important to the story was left out though, and it concluded nicely. I just wanted more, which isn't always a bad thing!
I would recommend The Hazel Tree to anyone who likes fantasy, fairy tales, romance, and adventure! It can be enjoyed by both teens and adults.
I definitely hope to see more from Ms. Debski in the future! I feel her future efforts can only improve as she begins to hone her skills as a talented young author.
October 27, 2013
A couple of years ago (when 'The Hazel Tree' was called 'Cinderella Wolf') I read the fist half of this book and remember thinking 'it's ok, but I probably wouldn't buy it'. Oh how my view on it has changed. I just stumbled across it again, and the amazing cover art is what first caught my eye, which was then followed by seeing the 1.99 eBook price. I just had to give it another go (who couldn't with that cover!?!). I was not disappointed. I picked it up and never put it back down. I had been struggling to even /finish/ a book lately, and the fact that this one held my entire attention through to the very end is no small feat. There are a few spots where it was slightly awkward, and the ending was a tad abrupt...but I'm not sure that it wasn't a bad thing. Overall, this is one of the best books I have read out of ANY author lately...much less a highschooler :)))
January 7, 2014
It was good all the way until the last 2 chapters. They felt rushed. They also felt like they didn't belong with the rest of the story. There were tons of plot holes that got brushed over and not answered. The major fight scene was cut in the middle without an outcome. I was like WTF? We just got a brush over on the epilogue which still didn't explain much.
Because of this I can only give this 2 stars.
Because of this I can only give this 2 stars.
August 4, 2016
The Hazel Tree was an absolutely beautiful book that had me on the edge of my seat the whole time. How could you not fall in love with this book? Julia is a brilliant writer and took a classic fairy tale, "Cinderella," and placed a mythical twist on it, involving wolves that truly allow the reader to fall into this amazing fantasy world. I felt like I was truly there with the imagery and the involvement of each character in Ivy's life. Amazing job, Julia! Keep it up!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews