Hints of fairy tales

Jinx by Sage Blackwood is a sort of fractured fairy tale. Kinda.  There are hints of many:  Hansel and  Gretel (only no Gretel), Little Red Riding Hood (no wolf, but she is on her way to Grandma's), and a dashing prince (or at least he has good manners).  Nothing quite turns out as I expected, however.   

Young Jinx has had a hard life, as our story starts.  He lives in squalor in a clearing of the huge forst called The Urwald.  He knows never to leave The Path, as the forst is full of all manner of monsters:  trolls, werewolves, trees that hold grudges, and evil wizards.  Then his step-father drags him off the path, intending to abandon him.  Jinx is rescued by Simon, a wizard, who turns out to be more cranky than evil.  Jinx's life is changed forever as he helps Simon and learns about his own gifts.  A terrible betrayal  rips them from him, and goes off in search of an answer.  But, danger is lurking in the forest...

I liked that this book was full of adventure and surprises.  Having said that, oddly, there were sections that dragged.