Wilhelmine Nordon has plenty of experience with Hansel's quirkier side. So when she catches him and Gretel running away in the middle of the night, she follows to keep them from getting killed. The siblings have never left the capital of Mish on their own, so they need a babysitter. Except when she's discovered, Hansel gives her his usual cold shoulder, and Gretel secretly begs her to take them back.
The problem is, Hansel's paranoia turns out to be well founded, and they're all being hunted.
*Generously received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review*
Myths of Mish is a sequel to Princess of Tyrone, but it can be read as a standalone novel. I have written a review of Princess of Tyrone, if you have not read it then you can find it here. I would recommend reading Princess of Tyrone first though due to different places and people being referenced. Thus, you will have a more informed mind of how the whole world that Hamstead has created works.
When I received the email that I was being provided an ARC to review the next book in this series, I was completely excited and thrilled. I LOVE Princess of Tyrone. It is one of those book series that takes stories and concepts that everyone is familiar with, but brings a whole new twist. I don't want to rant and rave too much of how much I love the general concept and world. I could spend the whole review just speaking about that without even touching on this particular story.
Myth of Mish focuses on the story of Hansel and Gretel, but also on Wilhemine Nordon and is told in first-person point of view. Everyone knows the story of Hansel and Gretel, but Myths of Mish tells the story of what happens to Hansel and Gretel as they are becoming young adults and going off on an adventure with their friend Wilhemine. The book is filled with action, romance, a coming of age story, and is fast paced. I never felt like the story slowed down or had any moments that were lacking. I read through this book within two days and I didn't feel like I was purposely speed reading it.
Hansel is really a complex character. He was one of my favorite character to read from their perspective. Hansel as a character is written to be very complex and has deep problems that are very relatable. Due to the trauma that occurred during his and Gretel's childhood, he has deep mistrust of essentially everyone, but Gretel. For this reason alone, he is one of my favorite characters. I loved reading his perspective to see through his mind how he reacts, reasons, and makes decisions. I think many individuals can read Hansel's story and really empathize. He lost his mother growing up, gained a step-mother that was the direct person that caused the trauma in his life, feels like he lost his father to the one person that he truly hates, and has pretty much lost all of his friends and others due to this event and the toll that it has taken on him. I think Hansel is a real representation of children and how trauma effects them years down the line as they are becoming adults. As an adult, Hansel feels isolated, misunderstood, lost, and abandoned. This is where Hansel stands at the beginning of Myths of Mish.
Gretel as a character is very different from Hansel. Gretel is 17 years old and was very young when the incident occurred. Thus, her mind was not as self-aware of everything that occurred. Overall, as a character Gretel was not my favorite, but that was due to personal reasons. As I said before, Gretel is 17, so her mind is very naive, gullible, and is quick to make rash decisions. This leads her to making decisions in the book that leave me shaking my head and thinking "Man, this girl is dumb!" Gretel comes across in the book as a side character that is really in the middle of all the action. She was directly there with Hansel when they were trapped with the witch in the house and she is directly there with Wilhemine and Hansel on the adventure. So Gretel comes across as the glue that is connecting a lot of things in the story, but she doesn't have enough agency to really understand everything that is going and being truly involved. Also, when she does make decisions, it is for the wrong reasons and she is misinformed. All of this is true, but remember she is 17. I think that many 17 year old girls can say that they made some bad decisions growing up and that they were a little dumb. 
Saving the best for last, WILHEMINE! Wilhemine is my favorite! She is strong, mature, self-aware, confident, brave, smart, and cares about others. She is a perfect role model for young woman. She has always cared about Hansel, but she has not given up who she is to try to win him over. She has stayed true to herself and if Hansel did not like her then so be it. I love that about her! Too many women try to change them self to win a guy, but Wilhemine does not do that. In the end, Hansel recognizes Wilhemine for who she is, but that is because her beauty shined from within. She stood up for herself and didn't let Hansel or any other person boss her around. She is a total Queen B! Queen Boss, guys! :D Also, like any modern Queen B, she has her own career and dreams. I completely love that everyone on the planet respected her, because she earned it. She has worked hard for everything that she has and nothing has been handed to her. She is not some sissy girl in a pretty dress with pretty hair. She is a strong, confident, and beautiful woman that knows her value and worth, but is also really kind. How can anyone hate her or not want to be her?! *Crying* SHE IS PERFECT! Last but not least, I was really excited to see the fairies made an appearance! :D Here are my favorite fairies to end my review. Enjoy! That is a wrap for me! 4 STARS and a must read in my opinion! I love this book and can't wait for book #3!
