Quick Synopsis – Evander has lived like a ghost in the forgotten corners of the Hazelthorn estate ever since he was taken in by his reclusive billionaire guardian, Byron Lennox-Hall, when he was a child.

When Byron suddenly dies, Evander inherits Hazelthorn’s immense gothic mansion and acres of sprawling grounds, along with the entirety of the Lennox-Hall family’s vast wealth. But Evander’s sure his guardian was murdered, and Laurie may be the only one who can help him find the killer before they come for Evander next.

Perhaps even more concerning is how the overgrown garden is refusing to stay behind its walls, slipping its vines and spores deeper into the house with each passing day. As the family’s dark secrets unravel alongside the growing horror of their terribly alive, bloodthirsty garden, Evander needs to find out what he’s really inheriting before the garden demands to be fed once more.

Song This Reminds Me Of – It’s Called: Freefall by Rainbow Kitten Surprise

Publication Date – Oct. 28, 2025

Bookshop Link – Hazelthorn by CG Drews (I receive a small commission if you use my link)

Content Notes – This book is beautiful, but dark. There is on-page child abuse, experimentation on a child, child abandonment, and severe neglect. There is disordered earing, homophobia, blood, gore, murder, and body horror.

Rating – ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 out 5

Review – Did I love this book so much that I immediately ordered a signed special edition? Yes. Yes, I did.

There is only one tiny tiny piece of feedback I had and that was I wanted more background on the garden and how it became so monstruous. Everything else was so beautiful. The prose? Beautiful. The yearning between Laurie and Evander? Beautiful. Even the violence was kind of lovely. I also just love a good gothic story.

Evander is the ward of a reclusive billionaire (Byron Lennox-Hall) and spends almost all of his days in his room recovering from surgeries. When Evander was 10, Lawrence Lennox-Hall tried to kill him. Since then, Evander has been convalescing, undergoing multiple surgeries, and hating Laurie. When Bryon dies, Evander is reeling. He knows his guardian has been murdered and he also knows something isn’t quite right with Hazlethorn. The plants seem to be trying to break into the house and Evander is having strange nightmares….or is he waking up?

I loved the relationship between Evander and Laurie, the way Laurie shows him the truth of Hazlethorn and how absolutely terrible the Lennox-Halls are. Honestly, this book is such a good reminder that there are no good billionaires. Through all their discussion of wealth throughout the book, the Lennox-Halls never mention being charitable. It’s all about themselves and how they can hoard more wealth.

If you love a good gothic horror with a murder garden, this is an excellent read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group | Feiwel & Friends for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.