A suspicious death, a mysterious young man, and a family secret are all waiting for fans of gothic horror in CG Drews latest offering, Hazelthorn.
No genre has had the staying power of the gothic horror story. Set in ancient locations, draped in shadows, and populated with tragic heroes, these tales of terror have been luring readers into the darkness for nearly 300 years. From Mary Shelley to Shirley Jackson, the gothic tradition has moved steadily forward through time, stewarded by authors who weave new worlds of woe from the fabric of a genre that—much like its protagonists—refuses to die.
Bestselling author CG Drews is contributing a new addition to this beloved genre with their latest novel Hazelthorn (out Oct. 28, 2025 from Feiwel & Friends).
In Hazelthorn, orphaned teenager Evander has lived a sheltered life at his guardian Byron Lennox-Hall’s estate ever since his parents were killed in a car accident seven years ago. Perpetually sick and deeply traumatized by a violent incident with Byron’s grandson Laurie, Evander has lived by a strict set of rules that revolve around staying in his room and far away from the hungry gardens encroaching on the manor. But everything changes when his wealthy caregiver dies under suspicious circumstances and leaves his fortune to Evander, rather than his blood relatives. As the deceased’s selfish family descends upon the house, and Evander grows closer to the intoxicating Laurie, the manor’s new owner must weed out the killer and uproot the mystery of Hazelthorn itself.
Drews is a proven master of their craft, and Hazelthorn is no exception. The lush story unfolds with the rich sensory experience of an ornate garden. Scenes and scenarios that feel contained to one portion of the story suddenly spread, their roots stretching to affect the plot in surprising ways. Characters unfold like flowers, from the bud of introduction to a fully realized blossom, as Drews carefully tends the reader’s expectations in one direction before revealing the true nature of what they have cultivated.
As with so many wonderful gothic tales that came before it, Hazelthorn propagates aspects of its tone from other works within the genre. Yes, there are hints of We Have Always Lived in the Castle’s chilly voice and Jane Eyre’s twisted romance, but also present is the delicious melodrama of Flowers in the Attic and even the wry humor of the whodunnit mystery. Just when Hazelthorn appears to be one type of story, the pages turns and suddenly it becomes something more. Among all these influences Drews weaves a poignant love story alongside an ever-escalating ecological body horror that will make readers squirm even as they lean closer to the page.
Hazelthorn is a wonderful new variegation that combines gothic melodrama, surreal body horror, and intriguing mysteries into a horror novel that reads like V.C. Andrews-meets-Knives Out. It simply shouldn’t be missed.
Seeking more top-tier horror fiction? Look no further than Caitlin Starling’s The Starving Saints.
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