Review: The Darkest Part of the Forest

The Darkest Part of the Forest
Author: Holly Black
Publication Date: February 5th 2015        
Publisher: Indigo
~A copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review~

Children can have a cruel, absolute sense of justice. Children can kill a monster and feel quite proud of themselves. A girl can look at her brother and believe they’re destined to be a knight and a bard who battle evil. She can believe she’s found the thing she’s been made for.

Hazel lives with her brother, Ben, in the strange town of Fairfold where humans and fae exist side by side. The faeries’ seemingly harmless magic attracts tourists, but Hazel knows how dangerous they can be, and she knows how to stop them. Or she did, once.

At the center of it all, there is a glass coffin in the woods. It rests right on the ground and in it sleeps a boy with horns on his head and ears as pointed as knives. Hazel and Ben were both in love with him as children. The boy has slept there for generations, never waking.

Until one day, he does…

As the world turns upside down, Hazel tries to remember her years pretending to be a knight. But swept up in new love, shifting loyalties, and the fresh sting of betrayal, will it be enough?

First things first The Darkest Part of the Forest is completely charming and holy crap, I ship this book. I don't know where it changed for me, from thinking a three to four, that's not a full blown five. It's my first Holly Black, so maybe it's the writing, the enchanting feel, the characters, the story itself, or the story within a story, or the magical way everything just is. I'll tell you one thing, I'm not a lover of Fae books, I've tried a few of them but they're not my thing as such. So it takes a lot, and I mean a lot for me to get into it, and I got sucked in, so you win, book. You win.

It's weird, I've read a few with weird towns, where the contemporary meets Fantasy/Magic, and how it's blended in, you know the ones, you don't know the secrets of the towns unless you live there, I usually find them unrealistic, I usually don't buy it.  The town in The Darkest Part of the Forest is simple yet complex, magical but dangerous, somewhat safe for the insiders and fair game on the outsiders, but even as an insider, though they hovering between pretending they're safe, and knowing it's complete bullshit. it's like the town is teetering on the edge of feeling like they have a pact with the Fae and creatures, that nothing bad can happen if they keep to it, turn a blind eye to those who get hurt or go missing, but that one thing, one thing can snap it.

The Darkest Part of the Forest is character orientated,  As children, Hazel and Ben fancied themselves as protectors, slaying some creatures protecting the town from Fae Folk, but as they grew up Ben grew away from it, whereas Hazel grew more into the role because she doesn't quite know who she is, she's lost. She's a strong, fierce,  and somewhat stupid character when it comes to some decisions and lies, she's the character that always throws herself into danger,  So obviously I loved her. Ben's the complete opposite, but he'll do anything to protect the those he loves. Jack, the changeling, playing at balancing both sides of him to find out where he fit in. The romance between him and Hazel was awkward and lovely and perfect as they explore the something more between them. We also have a #LGBT relationship on our hands with Ben and it was just so sweet, but everything with them felt a little quick.

The writing was compelling, magical, and written very fairytale-esque and just plain lovely, Holly Black's definitely not afraid to go dark, and it  and drew me in, which like I said, takes a lot when it comes to stories involving Fae fold and other little creatures.

As for reading your first book of an author goes, you're either going to be impressed, unimpressed or that just okay feeling. Consider me impressed, and if like me, you're not entirely fond of anything Fae, this will definitely change your mind.

Rating: 4.5/5