Today we’re excited to participate in the Bookstagram & Creative Tour for The Twins of Darkwood by Stacey Upton Bracey hosted by MTMC Tours. This is a Dark Fantasy Retelling of Hansel & Gretel and it was published on March 10th, 2022 from EWP Publications!
Alright, without further ado, scroll down to watch a book trailer + to learn more about this amazing read & to enter a fantastic international giveaway where you can win a signed copy of The Twins of Darkwood + book swag!
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The Twins of Darkwood by Stacey Upton Bracey
Series: Tales of Darkwood #2
Published by EWP Publications on March 10, 2022
Genres: Dark Fantasy, Fairytale, YA
Pages: 265
Format: eBook, Paperback
Goodreads
Buy on Amazon
Source: Author, MTMC Tours
I received this book for free from Author, MTMC Tours in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
This is a low fantasy/dark fantasy/twisted fairytale adventure. Fans of Luanne G. Smith, Leigh Bardugo and Laurie Forest, take a look.
She came to be a stepmother to twins……now she must survive them.
What if the stepmother in Hansel and Gretel wasn’t the evil one?When gentle teenage Bettina marries a brooding woodsman, she hopes for the best. But his feral children don’t want another stepmother. Abandoned by her husband, she must find a way to survive both the oncoming winter and his twins.
Then their nearest neighbor is pushed into her own oven, and Bettina suspects the children are to blame.Will she find what she needs to outwit the twins? You’ll love this twisted fairytale that continues the Tales of Darkwood series.
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Why you need to read The Twins of Darkwood
The Twins of Darkwood is perfect for fans of dark fairytale retellings since it doesn’t hold back from showing the peril Bettina (our main character) faces as the new stepmother of twins, Gert & Harold. I think the most disturbing aspect was reading how the twins had evil tendencies–Gert was cruel and ruthless, while Harold did what Gert would tell him to do, unflinchingly. There’s more to them that meets the eye and the whole book’s premise is figuring out who or what is the true evil in this story.
This book handles dark themes such as abuse, kidnapping, and demonization of certain characters based on the opinions of others. The tension/suspense was heavy in every page & it was impossible to stop reading for I wanted to know what would happen to the characters. I was in parts horrified & intrigued, but overall, it’s a great twist on the classic tale & definitely recommend checking it out!! 📚👌
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Fanmade Book Trailer!
As part of our tour stop, I decided to make a book trailer for this Dark Fantasy Retelling of Hansel & Gretel! The Twins of Darkwood would make an excellent series. 😍
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Character Q&A with Bettina from The Twins of Darkwood!
Hi Bettina! So happy to have you as a guest in The Reader and the Chef, can you introduce yourself?
Hello, my name is Bettina, I’m the third daughter of a merchant in Stuttgart, Germany in 1450. Nice to meet you.
Nice to meet you too! Tell us 3 random facts about yourself:
I like to sew, and go mushroom hunting in the spring and fall. I like listening to people. Oh! And I love honey!
Such relaxing activities and honey is delicious.✨ What did you think of Gert & Harold when you first met them?
They scared me! I thought I would be fine with taking care of children, even if they weren’t my very own, because Ally and I have fun together, but they were so odd and just stared at me. I had nightmares about them from the very first night!
Oh, no! What is your greatest fear?
I think, I feel, ummm… I feel like I don’t matter sometimes. That it wouldn’t make any difference if I was alive or not. So, I guess going through life being invisible? Is that a good answer? I will say… since going through what I did with the twins, I think I’ll be able to make a difference for them, in time. That feels good.
You truly do matter!❤️ What is your opinion on fairy tales?
Oh, I love stories! All of them! And I think they are good to show you that things can be horrible and dark and scary but it can get better if you keep a good heart. I like that.
They are wonderful!! And last question! What else can we expect from you in The Twins of Darkwood?
Well, I learned a lot about myself and the world. I learned that I’m a good person, even when things go horribly wrong. It can be easier to do the wrong thing, you know. It’s hard sometimes to do the right thing, the moral thing. I learned that I can outsmart people… and that I have opinions and outlooks on life that are worthwhile. I learned that you can get really sick of trees and the forest! *Laughs again, grins.* I think I’m a city girl, at the end of the day.
Thank you so much for chatting with us, we cannot wait for everyone to meet you!
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INTL Tour-wide Instagram Giveaway!
Head over to my Instagram account to enter the tour giveaway where TWO lucky readers will win a signed copy of The Twins of Darkwood + book swag!
Ends on March 26th, 2022. Winners will be announced on @mtmctours’ Instagram account.
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Tour Schedule:
March 14
@paperfury – Bookstagram & Book Blog
March 15
@littlefootreader – Bookstagram
March 16
@thereaderandthechef – Bookstagram & Book Blog
March 17
@jenniaahava – Bookstagram
March 18
@openmypages – Bookstagram & Book Blog
March 19
@vintagelygrace – Bookstagram
March 20
@book_withquotes – Bookstagram & Book Blog
March 21
@hooked.by.books – Bookstagram
March 22
@sophiesreadingcorner – Bookstagram & Book Blog
March 23
@moonlight_rendezvous – Bookstagram
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Hosted by:
About Stacey Upton Bracey
Stacey is a produced writer of screenplays and plays. She’s currently working on a YA series called ‘Darkwood,” the first volumes of which will be out this year. She earned a BS in Speech from Northwestern University. Stacey and her husband have raised three lovely people and have a beloved rescue dog who saved them from a house fire. She’s an acting coach and theatre critic and a VP with Arbonne International promoting health and wellness inside and out. Stacey swims with a Masters team, and is a vegetarian. She loves to write, read books and makes great pie.
