The Thirteenth Child : Discussion Thread

[Trisha]

This is the story of Hazel, a young healer navigating a ruthless court to save the life of the king, grappling with a pantheon of gods with questionable agendas as she fights for agency and true love in her own life as the goddaughter of none other than Death himself.

All gifts come with a price.

Hazel Trépas has always known she wasn’t like the rest of her siblings. A thirteenth child, promised away to one of the gods, she spends her childhood waiting for her godfather—Merrick, the Dreaded End—to arrive.

When he does, he lays out exactly how he’s planned Hazel’s future. She will become a great healer, known throughout the kingdom for her precision and skill. To aid her endeavors, Merrick blesses Hazel with a gift, the ability to instantly deduce the exact cure needed to treat the sick.

But all gifts come with a price. Hazel can see when Death has claimed a patient—when all hope is gone—and is tasked to end their suffering, permanently. Haunted by the ghosts of those she’s killed, Hazel longs to run. But destiny brings her to the royal court, where she meets Leo, a rakish prince with a disdain for everything and everyone. And it’s where Hazel faces her biggest dilemma yet—to save the life of a king marked to die. Hazel knows what she is meant to do and knows what her heart is urging her toward, but what will happen if she goes against the will of Death?

From the astonishing mind of Erin A. Craig comes the breathtaking fairy tale retelling readers have been waiting for— what does a life well-lived mean, and how do we justify the impossible choices we make for the ones we love?

[Trisha]

12 chapters / 104 pages

(view spoiler)[ well. Hazel has had a rough start to life
what horrible parents - they loved leaving her out of everything making her feel like a burden. I'm surprised they didn't resell her off sooner. . .

and I wonder if Bertie is going to be end up being an arch nemesis - like his villain origin is being sold because she couldn't be.

and I like Merrick, even if he's a bit clueless and bumbling.
and I like Hazel - she's a good survivor and main character so far (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha]

23 chapters / 208 pages

(view spoiler)[ wow, losing the boy she loved was tough. I did wonder why he chose to have someone with him and her being able to take out people was an interesting take and one that makes interesting sense

I also really love the concept of the candles and it makes the candles throughout the story AND the cover all the better

I'm curious about the spirits with her though. after 3 long lifetimes, she will have a whole city of spirits following her. Is there something she can do about it?

and wow, the king. I wonder what's wrong with him and what 'the shivers' are (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha]

35 chapters

(view spoiler)[ holy crap, she has to kill the king only now she seems to be really looking for a cure? does she want to go down that route again? what will happen if she does cure it, but he still needs to die because of how bad it will go?

I love that the little boy that threw coins at her makes another appearance. I was wondering if he might and I love that he has and that he remembers her

and I was so worried her brother being removed was his villain origin story so I'm sad for the pain he's endured but I'm glad he's so happy

now. . .what does the interference of the other gods mean? and why is she off to find the ingredients to this perfume? hmmm (hide spoiler)]