The Darkest Part of the Forest Review

 3/5

Before reading:

After reading:

I have a terrible, terrible problem. I get WAY to excited sometimes, and more often than not, I get over hyped about a book or game and I end up not liking it. I’m the fish out of water so far for The Darkest Part of the Forest, a lot of people loved the book, I didn’t… and that makes me so sad, so so so so sad!

The Darkest Part of the Forest sounded like everything my dream book would have, a city where Folk live side by side with Humans, a sleeping boy with horns who one day wakes up and the world is turned upside down! Come on, does it get any better than Fey and magic and Folk fun (or disaster, because they are tricksters)!? Well, for me I didn’t like this book as much as I thought I would, the opening lines where so good though: Down a path worn into the woods, past a stream and a hallowed out log full of pill pugs and termites, was a glass coffin. It rested right on the ground, and in it slept a boy with horns on his head and ears as pointed as knives. The beginning holds such promise, and it’s written so prettily it made my mind fly away! LITERALLY FLY! Why? Because, just imagine the boy in the glass coffin, surrounded by the trees, soak that in… let it soak in… soaked in yet? Good!

They were in love with him because he as a prince and a faerie and magical and you were supposed to love princes and faeries and magic people.

While I enjoyed those first sentences, I disliked the beginning! Hazel gave up something, and she keeps mentioning it, but its written with such mystery it made me feel like I skipped a chunk of text when I actually didn’t! The whole start was covered in mist for me, just confusing and weird, happily the mystery was solved but the book never got better from there for me.

I think the plot needed something more. In 324 pages, I felt unsatisfied, like nothing was accomplished but Hazel kissing boys and lying.  What was the monster from the Darkest Part of the Forest? That was explained, but the monster wasn’t exactly terrible, okay I was freaked out by the descriptions, which was a plus for this book.The Monster from the Darkest Part of the Forest wasn’t a huge part of this book, I felt like it wasn’t menacing and only really appeared twice, it didn’t leave me scared it left me wanting more, which I was never given… I enjoyed the back story behind the monster, is was really interesting, I was just disappointed at the lack of heart pounding moments, thrilling scenes and action. The book felt as if there was a lot of confusion with alliances… I will say no more on that…

They were redcaps, terrifying monsters who delighted in butchery and dyed the garments in blood.

Unlike others, I didn’t like the characters much… I wasn’t really interested in Hazel, she didn’t have that relatable quality for me, she was okay. I did like Ben, he was different than most characters, he was gay and his gift of music was both a blessing and a curse. Not to sound terrible but I loved reading through his, uh, struggles and seeing how he moved on, it was nice (no, I don’t like peoples pain, I just liked his story!) I’m not going to say any more because of spoilers but I LOVED the ending, it felt right and sweet.

Sometimes Ben told stories about how he would free the prince, with three magic words– words he’d never say out lout in front of Hazel.

Holly Black is a really good author, and her oh my gosh, she wrote the best monster descriptions I have ever read! Her beginning was written so well, but my over excited state got the better of me and I ended up not enjoying it as much as I wanted too.

I recommend The Darkest Part of the Forest for people who like Urban Fantasy, Holly Black and FAE!!! (I LOVE FAE STORIES!!!)

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