Monday 2 February 2015

Review: The Darkest Part of the Forest






The Darkest Part of the Forest
Author:
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

22 comments:

  1. Oh, I'm really looking forward to reading this!! I just bought it, so it's up soon. I love Holly Black. Great review, I'm glad you enjoyed it.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love your enthousiasm about this one, you're making me very curious. I haven't read any Black book yet but that's true that I heard many great thing about al of her books and I really think I should try one day. Great review!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Haha, thank you! ;) I'm definitely checking out her others now. :)

      Delete
  3. wowsers, 4.5 stars? I've read A LOT of mixed reviews for this book, but I'm probably going to be giving it a go for myself to see where I stand for this one. I am so glad that you were one of the people who enjoyed it thoroughly!

    Fantastic review, hun <33

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I tried staying away from them before reading (I only read one or two though) but really enjoyed it. :)

      Delete
  4. Oh wow, I've never seen this version of the cover before (the U.S. version looks a bit different and for some reason I've never seen the UK one haha). I'm still not completely sure this book is for me, as other Holly Black stories weren't really up my alley. Nevertheless, it sounds like an interesting story, and as I already have the book, I may as well see why it's so awesome. Love your review!

    P.S. Did you know that Holly Black also wrote The Spiderwick Chronicles? I literally just realized that and am freaking out.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah, the US is white/green, right? Got to admit, I do prefer the US cover because it stands out more against the background. Gorgeous covers either way. :)

      Yes! (Well after I finished this and went on Amazon, I did, haha.)

      Delete
  5. Wow, this is a great review for your first Holly Black read. I do want to read something by this author, as I have yet too. This sounds really good!

    -Lauren

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A few of my friends love her Curse Workers series (I think it's called that) so really, I should've started with that, but oh well, haha.

      Delete
  6. I agree with all of this! I was so impressed by my first foray into Holly Black's writing. And I was wary of the Fae stuff too, but it was so good! I am usually skeptical as well with this sort of world, but I'll be damned, Holly Black made me believe! I think you have summed it up perfectly with "enchanting feel", because that is how I felt. Very lovely review, I am so glad you liked it too!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's the huge test- the believability- and it won. ;) So need to read more of hers now! (I do own The Coldest Girl in Coldtown so I'll have to up it in my TBR.) :D

      Delete
  7. I've read one or two Holly Black books in my time but it's been a while and I really have been wanting to read more. From the sounds of things, I should try and make Darkest Part of the Forest my next one. So many people are loving this book!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I love the character oriented stories, and should check out, I haven't read any Black books yet

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Me too! Definitely read this one. :) Heard a lot of good things about The Coldest Girl in Coldtown too.

      Delete
  9. I've heard such good things about this one and even though I'm kind of meh about fae books right now, I think I should pick it up. Yay for character-driven books!! My favoriteee. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's why I was so surprised it didn't annoy me, I've only read a few Fae ones I've liked, the others turned me off, bt it was so good. :)

      Delete
  10. Yeah magical realism doesn't really work out for me, I didn't know that this one wasn't strictly fairytale. Nonetheless, I'm happy it panned out for you. That you even "ship" a book. Haha, I'm excited to read about the siblings. I love Holly Black's characters!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Haha, yeah, I'm totally shipping this book. ;) But they usually don't with me either, so it was a nice surprise.

      Delete
    2. I have the audio book now! We can discuss soon! <3

      Delete
  11. I'm so curious to read this book! Never read a book about fairies and I saw the booktrailer and OMG what am I waiting for?!??!

    Ps. If you'd like, come visit my blog and say hi <3

    Frannie @ In Clouds of Pages
    http://frannieinthepages.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete