Status
Missing
Call number
Publication
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (2016), Edition: Reprint, 352 pages
Description
In the town of Fairfold, where humans and fae exist side by side, a boy with horns on his head and ears as pointed as knives awakes after generations of sleep in a glass coffin in the woods, causing Hazel to be swept up in new love, shift her loyalties, feel the fresh sting of betrayal, and to make a secret sacrifice to the faerie king.
User reviews
LibraryThing member bell7
Hazel has lived most of her life in Fairfold, which would be a fairly normal teenaged life with her parents and brother except for one thing: they have contact with Faeries. Her brother has a fairy gift (or curse, depending on how you look at it) of music, and there's a mysterious prince in a glass
Taking the darker side of Faerie, Holly Black spins a complex fractured fairy tale. Hazel is the knight, but she's certainly not got it all together. One of her good friends, Jack, is a changeling. Her brother Ben, gifted and talented, is gay, which adds the element of sibling rivalry in potential love interests. It uses the tropes and turns some on its head, making for an entertaining read. Perhaps because I listened to the audio and missed some things or the dark fairy tale tone itself, I didn't feel as hugely invested in the characters or outcome of the story as I felt I should. But it's a worthwhile read for anyone who enjoys YA fantasy, and as an added bonus is written as a standalone.
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casket that has been there for generations - until the day Hazel wakes up all muddy and the casket is shattered.Taking the darker side of Faerie, Holly Black spins a complex fractured fairy tale. Hazel is the knight, but she's certainly not got it all together. One of her good friends, Jack, is a changeling. Her brother Ben, gifted and talented, is gay, which adds the element of sibling rivalry in potential love interests. It uses the tropes and turns some on its head, making for an entertaining read. Perhaps because I listened to the audio and missed some things or the dark fairy tale tone itself, I didn't feel as hugely invested in the characters or outcome of the story as I felt I should. But it's a worthwhile read for anyone who enjoys YA fantasy, and as an added bonus is written as a standalone.
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LibraryThing member Calavari
The Darkest Part of the Forest This was great fun! I loved the way Black plays with some of the more common tropes in YA.
To begin with, this is a standalone. That almost never happens in YA anymore and I appreciate that it's a whole story even though I do love the world building. Then it's also
The story predominantly surrounds Hazel and Ben and their decisions, but these characters don't exactly follow gender role while not residing completely on the opposing sides of the spectrum when it comes to their genders either. To be more specific, Hazel isn't girly, but she's still feminine and Ben is neither macho nor effeminate. Ben is also gay, which makes his standing in the middle of what is expected for a male character all the better for me. While I do understand that there are effeminate gay men, I feel like fiction would have you believe that it is the only way to be gay sometimes. Maybe it's just tv and movies, though since First Kisses and Other Misfortunes by Kimberly Karalius had the same dynamic with the gay characters being not strictly effeminate.
Having Ben as a gay character, also allows Black to another fun thing. She combines some of the brother-sister struggles with some struggles that are typically reserved for sisters, like having a crush on or having romantic associations with the same boy. I don't know how true to life that is, but they tend to lean more on confused boys who aren't sure if they are also gay and those who aren't ready to be out right at the beginning. Ben is sure of himself, others are not, and this creates confusion and tension for our siblings as sometimes both have feelings for the boy. I hope that wasn't confusing but I don't want to give away any big reveals either.
I truly enjoyed reading a book about a brother and sister who actually like each other too. They aren't besties and definitely have their own separate personalities and preferences in life but they look out for each other. They care about each other. And they mess it up sometimes too but never getting so angsty and dramatic that it seems more like someone's ridiculous version of what teenagers are like. Families are complicated and this book does a great job with a brother-sister dynamic. There is some teenage drama but it's not all angst and ridiculousness like some books may want people to believe all teens are like. They're capable of assessing dangerous situations and making some adult decisions and dealing with consequences. They do have reason and accountability and are not completely ruled by hormones, just partially, sometimes. They are gaining experience to deal with situations better but aren't complete idiots in the mean time.
There are other great things in the book, but I feel like those would spoil it. Suffice it to say that while many typically YA behaviors/tropes are present, I didn't feel like they were rooted in the same places that I've grown tired of them, like villain motivations. Everything is just similar enough to be familiar but then changed ever so slightly that I wasn't sure until it happened. The book's sole claim to diversity is the LGBT characters. I felt like it dealt well with the LGBT aspect of those characters, but I am completely aware that I could be wrong due to the fact that I am not LGBT nor do I know many people who are. If you disagree, share it and I can amend. I'd hate for misinformation to set people up for disappointment. Until then, great book! I loved what she did to all the characters and taking them outside my expectations!
To begin with, this is a standalone. That almost never happens in YA anymore and I appreciate that it's a whole story even though I do love the world building. Then it's also
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about faeries. I'm not one for faeries most of the time, but something had made me put this book on my wish list at the library and it was the first audiobook I had come to on the day I downloaded it to my app. I just figured past-me had decided it was going to be interesting and went with it. The audiobook is narrated by Lauren Fortgang.The story predominantly surrounds Hazel and Ben and their decisions, but these characters don't exactly follow gender role while not residing completely on the opposing sides of the spectrum when it comes to their genders either. To be more specific, Hazel isn't girly, but she's still feminine and Ben is neither macho nor effeminate. Ben is also gay, which makes his standing in the middle of what is expected for a male character all the better for me. While I do understand that there are effeminate gay men, I feel like fiction would have you believe that it is the only way to be gay sometimes. Maybe it's just tv and movies, though since First Kisses and Other Misfortunes by Kimberly Karalius had the same dynamic with the gay characters being not strictly effeminate.
Having Ben as a gay character, also allows Black to another fun thing. She combines some of the brother-sister struggles with some struggles that are typically reserved for sisters, like having a crush on or having romantic associations with the same boy. I don't know how true to life that is, but they tend to lean more on confused boys who aren't sure if they are also gay and those who aren't ready to be out right at the beginning. Ben is sure of himself, others are not, and this creates confusion and tension for our siblings as sometimes both have feelings for the boy. I hope that wasn't confusing but I don't want to give away any big reveals either.
I truly enjoyed reading a book about a brother and sister who actually like each other too. They aren't besties and definitely have their own separate personalities and preferences in life but they look out for each other. They care about each other. And they mess it up sometimes too but never getting so angsty and dramatic that it seems more like someone's ridiculous version of what teenagers are like. Families are complicated and this book does a great job with a brother-sister dynamic. There is some teenage drama but it's not all angst and ridiculousness like some books may want people to believe all teens are like. They're capable of assessing dangerous situations and making some adult decisions and dealing with consequences. They do have reason and accountability and are not completely ruled by hormones, just partially, sometimes. They are gaining experience to deal with situations better but aren't complete idiots in the mean time.
There are other great things in the book, but I feel like those would spoil it. Suffice it to say that while many typically YA behaviors/tropes are present, I didn't feel like they were rooted in the same places that I've grown tired of them, like villain motivations. Everything is just similar enough to be familiar but then changed ever so slightly that I wasn't sure until it happened. The book's sole claim to diversity is the LGBT characters. I felt like it dealt well with the LGBT aspect of those characters, but I am completely aware that I could be wrong due to the fact that I am not LGBT nor do I know many people who are. If you disagree, share it and I can amend. I'd hate for misinformation to set people up for disappointment. Until then, great book! I loved what she did to all the characters and taking them outside my expectations!
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LibraryThing member kmartin802
This contemporary fantasy stars Hazel and Ben who live in Fairfold. It is a town where humans and the Folk mingle and most humans survive as long as they are careful. The local kids party at the coffin of a boy with horns and pointed ears. He's been sleeping for generations. Both Hazel and Ben love
Hazel and Ben have been raised by their artist parents in a way that could best be described as benign neglect. They were free to run wild in the woods but they were also not sure that their parents would remember to feed or clothe them.
Ben was gifted by a one of the fey with a gift for music. Hazel makes a bargain with the fey so that he can get the education he needs. At age eleven, she gives up seven years of her life for this wish. However, things don't go well when they move to the city for Ben's schooling. He is afraid of his music which can hold his audiences spellbound and breaks his hand to make it impossible for him to continue his music. Ben giving up his music doesn't change Hazel's agreement with faerie though she keeps it a secret from Ben.
Ben and Hazel are good friends with Jack who was a changeling substituted for Carter. When Carter's mother noticed the substitution, she forced the fey to give Carter back but also decided to keep Jack because she said a mother who would give him away wasn't fit to have him. Jack has grown up with Hazel and Ben and seems human.
But one day everything changes. Someone has finally managed to break open the horned boy's glass coffin and now the alderking wants him back. Hazel learns that she's been spending her nights paying off her debt to faerie and has been training as one of the king's knights. Now she has been instructed to return the horned boy to the king or he will unleash the worst of the fey on Fairfold.
This was a wonderful story which masterfully combined our world with the world of The Folk. It pulls from all sorts of faerie stories for its inspiration. The characters - Hazel, Ben, Jack, and the horned boy whose name is Severin - were all well-developed and were all interesting people. The story had adventure and romance.
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him and spend time with the coffin talking about their hopes and dreams.Hazel and Ben have been raised by their artist parents in a way that could best be described as benign neglect. They were free to run wild in the woods but they were also not sure that their parents would remember to feed or clothe them.
Ben was gifted by a one of the fey with a gift for music. Hazel makes a bargain with the fey so that he can get the education he needs. At age eleven, she gives up seven years of her life for this wish. However, things don't go well when they move to the city for Ben's schooling. He is afraid of his music which can hold his audiences spellbound and breaks his hand to make it impossible for him to continue his music. Ben giving up his music doesn't change Hazel's agreement with faerie though she keeps it a secret from Ben.
Ben and Hazel are good friends with Jack who was a changeling substituted for Carter. When Carter's mother noticed the substitution, she forced the fey to give Carter back but also decided to keep Jack because she said a mother who would give him away wasn't fit to have him. Jack has grown up with Hazel and Ben and seems human.
But one day everything changes. Someone has finally managed to break open the horned boy's glass coffin and now the alderking wants him back. Hazel learns that she's been spending her nights paying off her debt to faerie and has been training as one of the king's knights. Now she has been instructed to return the horned boy to the king or he will unleash the worst of the fey on Fairfold.
This was a wonderful story which masterfully combined our world with the world of The Folk. It pulls from all sorts of faerie stories for its inspiration. The characters - Hazel, Ben, Jack, and the horned boy whose name is Severin - were all well-developed and were all interesting people. The story had adventure and romance.
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LibraryThing member rivkat
Hazel and Ben are the children of neglectful but not ill-intentioned artists, who live in a town touched by Faerie. Ben possesses great musical gifts from a fairy, but he won’t use them—not since they went to Philadelphia so he could be trained and everything went very wrong. Hazel and Ben used
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to hunt monsters with Hazel’s sword and Ben’s music; now Hazel kisses boys she doesn’t like instead of the changeling boy she does and thinks she’s lost her chance to save the town, and Ben goes on bad dates with boys from out of town. Then the elf boy in the glass coffin wakes up … Entertaining take on old fairy tale tropes. Show Less
LibraryThing member thebumblegirl
Holly Black's storytelling is magical... an imaginable story that starts as a pleasant whimsical fairytale with lots of particulars and storytelling, with a few twists, turns and revelations, it quickly turns into a creepy and unpredictable fae story; one full of alluring characters and fascinating
The residents of Fairfold know that the fae are real. Faeries live among them. All the stories that are told are true. There's a boy, with horns, that lays asleep in a glass coffin in the middle of their woods. Tourists travel here to see the boy, to experience the magic within their town. But the tourists don't truly believe and are careless. Oftentimes, they are victims to the faes trickeries. The locals know how to protect themselves and avoid their deceiving games. They know how to stay away from the fae, unless they are willing to pay a heavy price.
Hazel and her brother, Ben, have been running amok in Fairfold's woods since they were able to toddle. They know about the fae. They have heard all the stories. They have even been blessed by one, or cursed, depends on how you want to look upon it. Hazel and Ben are no strangers to these mystical creatures. They have seen them. They have fought them. They create stories of their own, and they dream about their prince - waking up, and falling in love with him. They are strong-willed and believe that they are ready for the day that their dreams will come true.
Be careful for what you wish for...
Hazel is stubborn, strong-willed and very independent. Her relationship with Ben is almost twin-like. They are inseparable, loyal and untouchable. Nothing can separate them.
Until Hazel makes a deal.
Some questionable things begin to happen.
Cryptic warnings. Secrets.
The boy in the casket disappears.
The monster in the woods is getting closer and closer to the edge...
"There’s a monster in our wood.
She’ll get you if you’re not good.
Drag you under leaves and sticks.
Punish you for all your tricks.
A nest of hair and gnawed bone.
You are never, ever coming… "
The complex relationship between each character mentioned in the entire book is amazing! The author goes over and beyond creating such complex, realistic connections between each one. There isn't one that I could possibly question their motive or intentions - even the most evilest one had their reasons for being. Every written word is captivating and thinkable. The entire book ran like a movie through my mind. Brilliant. The only way to describe it. Absolutely brilliant.
Ohhh, and I cannot fail to mention... the romance! The diversity! The sacrifice! The fight! And the all the strange things that will unfold into a bewitching story never to be forgotten.
THE DARKEST PART OF THE FOREST, to me, felt like a twisted modern-day retelling of Sleeping Beauty and King Arthur's knights. Obviously, those who love faeries and fairytales will be lured into this new story... but those of you who shy away from these sort of tales - you must find the courage to enter into the woods and find your path, trust me, you will most definitely find yourself entranced by the prince's story, narration and the different meanings of love and loyalty.
*An ARC was won in a giveaway by the publisher for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
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but eerie monsters.The residents of Fairfold know that the fae are real. Faeries live among them. All the stories that are told are true. There's a boy, with horns, that lays asleep in a glass coffin in the middle of their woods. Tourists travel here to see the boy, to experience the magic within their town. But the tourists don't truly believe and are careless. Oftentimes, they are victims to the faes trickeries. The locals know how to protect themselves and avoid their deceiving games. They know how to stay away from the fae, unless they are willing to pay a heavy price.
Hazel and her brother, Ben, have been running amok in Fairfold's woods since they were able to toddle. They know about the fae. They have heard all the stories. They have even been blessed by one, or cursed, depends on how you want to look upon it. Hazel and Ben are no strangers to these mystical creatures. They have seen them. They have fought them. They create stories of their own, and they dream about their prince - waking up, and falling in love with him. They are strong-willed and believe that they are ready for the day that their dreams will come true.
Be careful for what you wish for...
Hazel is stubborn, strong-willed and very independent. Her relationship with Ben is almost twin-like. They are inseparable, loyal and untouchable. Nothing can separate them.
Until Hazel makes a deal.
Some questionable things begin to happen.
Cryptic warnings. Secrets.
The boy in the casket disappears.
The monster in the woods is getting closer and closer to the edge...
"There’s a monster in our wood.
She’ll get you if you’re not good.
Drag you under leaves and sticks.
Punish you for all your tricks.
A nest of hair and gnawed bone.
You are never, ever coming… "
The complex relationship between each character mentioned in the entire book is amazing! The author goes over and beyond creating such complex, realistic connections between each one. There isn't one that I could possibly question their motive or intentions - even the most evilest one had their reasons for being. Every written word is captivating and thinkable. The entire book ran like a movie through my mind. Brilliant. The only way to describe it. Absolutely brilliant.
Ohhh, and I cannot fail to mention... the romance! The diversity! The sacrifice! The fight! And the all the strange things that will unfold into a bewitching story never to be forgotten.
THE DARKEST PART OF THE FOREST, to me, felt like a twisted modern-day retelling of Sleeping Beauty and King Arthur's knights. Obviously, those who love faeries and fairytales will be lured into this new story... but those of you who shy away from these sort of tales - you must find the courage to enter into the woods and find your path, trust me, you will most definitely find yourself entranced by the prince's story, narration and the different meanings of love and loyalty.
*An ARC was won in a giveaway by the publisher for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
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LibraryThing member courtneygiraldo
Fairfield is no ordinary town. It's townspeople are no strangers to the faeries, hags, hobgoblins and the like that they share their forest with and are well versed in the lore of these ancient ones ways. They never go out on the full moon, wear charms for protection from tricksters, and regularly
I have been a fan of Holly Black ever since reading her book, Coldest Girl in Coldtown a few years back and she didn't disappoint with The Darkest Part of the Forest. As an urban fantasy, I will say it took me a good 40 pages to get into the groove of this town being totally cool with fairies and hags hanging out in the forest, playing tricks on tourists and rude townsfolk. There were some flashbacks to Hazel and Bens younger years which laid some groundwork for plot development throughout the rest of the novel as well. I enjoyed the diversity of characters and relationships, which is always refreshing. This book has plenty of action, character development, and blooming relationships which certainly kept me engaged and binging until I could finish! Overall, highly recommend adding this one to your TBR list!
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salt the entrances to their homes. Deep in the forest lies a fairy boy, asleep for as long as anyone can remember in a glass coffin, unbreakable and impervious to destruction. Siblings, Hazel and Ben have visited the Elf Prince, (as they have dubbed him) thousands of times over the years. Whispering secrets and creating a shared fantasy of stories about who the Fairy Prince is and the adventures they would have if he was awakened; fighting all the evil monsters of the wood. Now 16 and 17, Hazel and Ben no longer share tales between them of the Fairy Prince or fight monsters in the woods, until the day comes that Hazel awakens in bed with muddy feet and pieces of glass embedded in her hands. She quickly learns that the Fairy Princes' coffin has been shattered and he is no where to be found. The brother and sister duo embark on an epic battle that could mean the life or death of everyone in the town. I have been a fan of Holly Black ever since reading her book, Coldest Girl in Coldtown a few years back and she didn't disappoint with The Darkest Part of the Forest. As an urban fantasy, I will say it took me a good 40 pages to get into the groove of this town being totally cool with fairies and hags hanging out in the forest, playing tricks on tourists and rude townsfolk. There were some flashbacks to Hazel and Bens younger years which laid some groundwork for plot development throughout the rest of the novel as well. I enjoyed the diversity of characters and relationships, which is always refreshing. This book has plenty of action, character development, and blooming relationships which certainly kept me engaged and binging until I could finish! Overall, highly recommend adding this one to your TBR list!
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LibraryThing member Rosa.Mill
Hazel, Ben and Jack totally likable. Love how kick butt Hazel is. This was definitely an interesting adventure story, and I liked the different fairy creatures in it.
LibraryThing member krau0098
I have been pretty off and on with Holly Black’s books lately. I loved her Modern Fairy Tale series, but didn’t not enjoy her Curse Workers series at all. This book is a stand alone young adult dark fairy tale. I really really enjoyed this book it reminded me of Black's early Modern Fairy Tale
Hazel and her brother Ben live in the town of Fairfield. Fairfield is a place where fae and humans dwell side by side. Generally if you are native to Fairfield you are safe, however if you are a tourist you are fair game for the fey. However, that is starting to change as the fey get more and more violent. The main draw of Fairfield is a horned boy who sleeps in a glass coffin in the forest; he never wakes and the coffin appears to be indestructible. Then one morning Hazel wakes up all muddy with glass in her hands and coincidentally that same morning the glass coffin is shattered and the Horned Boy is free. However there are darker and more evil things in the forest than a Horned Boy; the Alderking dwells there as well and he has monsters of his own.
This book really reminded me of Black’s earlier works, especially the Modern Fairy Tale series. It has a very dark fairy tale vibe to it and is all about bargains gone wrong and the lies they force our characters to ravel. While it is not disturbingly vicious or graphic, it is a very dark story. It’s a story where the best of intentions can lead to awful situations.
The book was beautifully written, very engaging, and does a great job of capturing the darkness and oddness of Faerie. I love reading about the Fae and this book does a great job with that subject matter; Black obviously did her research.
The characters are very complex and human and at the same time a bit strange. As the story progresses we find out that Hazel and Ben used to hunt down the Fae. Hazel is an amazing character she is wild, yet strong and determined. Hazel has a thing about loving to kiss boys, she loves the excitement of it and leaves a trail of broken hearts behind her. Hazel has a sort of momentum and magnetism to her personality that she is not at all aware of. Hazel’s greatest dream was to be a knight and protect Fairfield from the Fae the surround it. Hazel’s other greatest dream is that her brother Ben gets to live the life he wants and to this extinct she makes a bargain with the Alderking that has horrible repercussions.
Ben is a complex character in his own right. He received a magical gift for music as a child, but his gift brings him nothing but misery. Ben has also struggled a bit with his sexuality (he is gay). Ben is also desperately in love with the Horned Boy, but he keeps this secret.
The other main character in the book is Jack, Jack is a changeling and has been raised by a human family. When the Fae start to get more aggressive a lot of people start blaming him for their aggressiveness.
The book was beautifully written and there were some parts that were so good they actually gave me chills. One of these parts is when the monster Sorrow invades their school; it was so well written, so creepy, and so magical all at the same time.
Overall I absolutely adored this book. It is one of the best Holly Black books I have read in a long time (although I really loved The Iron Trial as well). This story is wild, magical, and terribly beautiful all at the same time. I loved the characters, the subject matter, and the idea of this strange Horned Boy trapped forever in a glass coffin made of tears. I really enjoyed it and highly recommend to those who love reading about Faerie in all of its Grimm Brothers-like glory.
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books which are my favorite books by Black. Hazel and her brother Ben live in the town of Fairfield. Fairfield is a place where fae and humans dwell side by side. Generally if you are native to Fairfield you are safe, however if you are a tourist you are fair game for the fey. However, that is starting to change as the fey get more and more violent. The main draw of Fairfield is a horned boy who sleeps in a glass coffin in the forest; he never wakes and the coffin appears to be indestructible. Then one morning Hazel wakes up all muddy with glass in her hands and coincidentally that same morning the glass coffin is shattered and the Horned Boy is free. However there are darker and more evil things in the forest than a Horned Boy; the Alderking dwells there as well and he has monsters of his own.
This book really reminded me of Black’s earlier works, especially the Modern Fairy Tale series. It has a very dark fairy tale vibe to it and is all about bargains gone wrong and the lies they force our characters to ravel. While it is not disturbingly vicious or graphic, it is a very dark story. It’s a story where the best of intentions can lead to awful situations.
The book was beautifully written, very engaging, and does a great job of capturing the darkness and oddness of Faerie. I love reading about the Fae and this book does a great job with that subject matter; Black obviously did her research.
The characters are very complex and human and at the same time a bit strange. As the story progresses we find out that Hazel and Ben used to hunt down the Fae. Hazel is an amazing character she is wild, yet strong and determined. Hazel has a thing about loving to kiss boys, she loves the excitement of it and leaves a trail of broken hearts behind her. Hazel has a sort of momentum and magnetism to her personality that she is not at all aware of. Hazel’s greatest dream was to be a knight and protect Fairfield from the Fae the surround it. Hazel’s other greatest dream is that her brother Ben gets to live the life he wants and to this extinct she makes a bargain with the Alderking that has horrible repercussions.
Ben is a complex character in his own right. He received a magical gift for music as a child, but his gift brings him nothing but misery. Ben has also struggled a bit with his sexuality (he is gay). Ben is also desperately in love with the Horned Boy, but he keeps this secret.
The other main character in the book is Jack, Jack is a changeling and has been raised by a human family. When the Fae start to get more aggressive a lot of people start blaming him for their aggressiveness.
The book was beautifully written and there were some parts that were so good they actually gave me chills. One of these parts is when the monster Sorrow invades their school; it was so well written, so creepy, and so magical all at the same time.
Overall I absolutely adored this book. It is one of the best Holly Black books I have read in a long time (although I really loved The Iron Trial as well). This story is wild, magical, and terribly beautiful all at the same time. I loved the characters, the subject matter, and the idea of this strange Horned Boy trapped forever in a glass coffin made of tears. I really enjoyed it and highly recommend to those who love reading about Faerie in all of its Grimm Brothers-like glory.
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LibraryThing member nbmars
There is a lot of cleverness and humor in this modern day fairy tale in which characters text on their phones for help fighting evil faeries. There are also some wonderful inversions of gender expectations, expectations of gender preference, and conflict driven not by the diversity of color (of
The main character is Hazel Evans, almost 16, who has a good relationship with her older brother Ben, even though they keep many secrets from one another. Hazel and Ben live in the unusual town of Fairfold, a wooded place full of faeries (also known as The Folk). The Folk more or less leave the townspeople alone, only bothering tourists, who they consider fair game, because - after all, they act like tourists. And there are many tourists; they come to see the elfin prince sleeping in a glass coffin in the forest. Many have tried to break the glass, but none have succeeded. Hazel and Ben have always had a protective attitude toward the prince, and both dreamed of rescuing him one day. Hazel in particular is resolved to become a Knight, who slays monsters and saves princes.
When Hazel is not thinking about the prince, she thinks about - or tries not to think about - her crush on Jack, Ben’s BFF. Jack looks almost like his twin Carter, because Jack was a changling. When the boys were infants, the faeries tried to substitute Jack for Carter. Carter’s mother intervened and kept them both, reasoning that any mother who would give away her baby was not a suitable mom.
Hazel has another secret besides her feelings for Jack. Five years ago, when Hazel was nearly eleven, she’d made a bargain with The Folk, agreeing to give up seven years of her life if Ben could go to music school in Philadelphia. Music can tame faeries, and it would help them in their quest to do good. The deal was made surreptitiously, so it came as a surprise to Ben when he received a scholarship to the school. Unfortunately, an event very traumatic to Ben happened there, leading him to break his own fingers so he couldn’t play music anymore, and they all returned home to Fairfold.
Meanwhile in Fairfold, something has gone radically wrong. The Fae are not only attacking just tourists now, and the residents, scared and feeling powerless, look for a scapegoat. Hazel, Ben, and Jack are all in terrible danger, but if they survive, they all have the chance of making their dreams come true.
Discussion: Hazel is a wonderful heroine. As Ben observes, she is bigger than life, always trying to protect people and protect the town. But in fact, all of the four main protagonists are brave and resourceful, and capable of the kind of love you fear that might only be true in fairy tales. [Yes, I’ve only referenced three of them above so as not to be too spoilery.]
The author often employs a delightful sense of humor as she mixes the two worlds together. For example, at one point, Hazel and Jack talk about what it would be like if Jack were to return to the faeries who gave him up at birth:
"‘Eh, it wouldn’t be so bad. I wouldn’t have to study for the SATs or get a summer job or figure out my major. I can drink Elderflower wine all day, dance all through the night, and sleep on a bower of roses.’
Hazel made a face. ‘I’m pretty sure there are some colleges where you can do that.’”
The author also includes two beautiful declarations of love that by themselves make the book worth reading.
Evaluation: I struggle with warming up to stories about Fae, but Holly Black does a great job of creating teens who keep their wits and sense of humor about them no matter what the [bizarre] circumstances, and it is because of those characterizations that I keep returning to her books.
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which there is plenty in this book), but between Fae and non-Fae.The main character is Hazel Evans, almost 16, who has a good relationship with her older brother Ben, even though they keep many secrets from one another. Hazel and Ben live in the unusual town of Fairfold, a wooded place full of faeries (also known as The Folk). The Folk more or less leave the townspeople alone, only bothering tourists, who they consider fair game, because - after all, they act like tourists. And there are many tourists; they come to see the elfin prince sleeping in a glass coffin in the forest. Many have tried to break the glass, but none have succeeded. Hazel and Ben have always had a protective attitude toward the prince, and both dreamed of rescuing him one day. Hazel in particular is resolved to become a Knight, who slays monsters and saves princes.
When Hazel is not thinking about the prince, she thinks about - or tries not to think about - her crush on Jack, Ben’s BFF. Jack looks almost like his twin Carter, because Jack was a changling. When the boys were infants, the faeries tried to substitute Jack for Carter. Carter’s mother intervened and kept them both, reasoning that any mother who would give away her baby was not a suitable mom.
Hazel has another secret besides her feelings for Jack. Five years ago, when Hazel was nearly eleven, she’d made a bargain with The Folk, agreeing to give up seven years of her life if Ben could go to music school in Philadelphia. Music can tame faeries, and it would help them in their quest to do good. The deal was made surreptitiously, so it came as a surprise to Ben when he received a scholarship to the school. Unfortunately, an event very traumatic to Ben happened there, leading him to break his own fingers so he couldn’t play music anymore, and they all returned home to Fairfold.
Meanwhile in Fairfold, something has gone radically wrong. The Fae are not only attacking just tourists now, and the residents, scared and feeling powerless, look for a scapegoat. Hazel, Ben, and Jack are all in terrible danger, but if they survive, they all have the chance of making their dreams come true.
Discussion: Hazel is a wonderful heroine. As Ben observes, she is bigger than life, always trying to protect people and protect the town. But in fact, all of the four main protagonists are brave and resourceful, and capable of the kind of love you fear that might only be true in fairy tales. [Yes, I’ve only referenced three of them above so as not to be too spoilery.]
The author often employs a delightful sense of humor as she mixes the two worlds together. For example, at one point, Hazel and Jack talk about what it would be like if Jack were to return to the faeries who gave him up at birth:
"‘Eh, it wouldn’t be so bad. I wouldn’t have to study for the SATs or get a summer job or figure out my major. I can drink Elderflower wine all day, dance all through the night, and sleep on a bower of roses.’
Hazel made a face. ‘I’m pretty sure there are some colleges where you can do that.’”
The author also includes two beautiful declarations of love that by themselves make the book worth reading.
Evaluation: I struggle with warming up to stories about Fae, but Holly Black does a great job of creating teens who keep their wits and sense of humor about them no matter what the [bizarre] circumstances, and it is because of those characterizations that I keep returning to her books.
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LibraryThing member Capnrandm
Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy.
allthingsuf.com
THE DARKEST PART OF THE FOREST is the perfect update to the fairy tale worlds of childhood. A little darker, a little sexier, and with heroes and heroines just a half step away from what is expected. While mainstream media is just now
Gifted siblings, dangerous fae, a sleeping beauty trapped in a glass coffin... but with added twists and turns that breath new life into these tropes. Hazel and her brother are in love with the same man, the beautiful sleeping prince that needs someone to rescue him. And when it comes time to slay villains, Ben is the gifted bard entrancing enemies with his music while Hazel picks up the sword and wades into battle. And their home town is such a great mix of small town claustrophobia and fairy magic that of course the same teens that turn their socks inside out and carry amulets against magic still party in the woods and fall in and out of love.
The best possible mix of YA love and adventure, THE DARKEST PART OF THE FOREST will beg to be read in one sitting. A perfect fit for fans of Melissa Marr or Robin McKinley, Holly Black has done it again.
Sexual content: Discussion of sex, kissing, non-graphic petting.
allthingsuf.com
THE DARKEST PART OF THE FOREST is the perfect update to the fairy tale worlds of childhood. A little darker, a little sexier, and with heroes and heroines just a half step away from what is expected. While mainstream media is just now
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discovering that the princess can sometimes rescue herself, Holly Black is way ahead of them. Hazel is another in a long line of complex, capable women kicking butt and taking charge of their own destinies.Gifted siblings, dangerous fae, a sleeping beauty trapped in a glass coffin... but with added twists and turns that breath new life into these tropes. Hazel and her brother are in love with the same man, the beautiful sleeping prince that needs someone to rescue him. And when it comes time to slay villains, Ben is the gifted bard entrancing enemies with his music while Hazel picks up the sword and wades into battle. And their home town is such a great mix of small town claustrophobia and fairy magic that of course the same teens that turn their socks inside out and carry amulets against magic still party in the woods and fall in and out of love.
The best possible mix of YA love and adventure, THE DARKEST PART OF THE FOREST will beg to be read in one sitting. A perfect fit for fans of Melissa Marr or Robin McKinley, Holly Black has done it again.
Sexual content: Discussion of sex, kissing, non-graphic petting.
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LibraryThing member titania86
Hazel and Ben Evans live in Fairfold, an odd town that lies adjacent to a magical forest. This forest is populated with faeries and supernatural monsters that usually lurk around the corners of human civilization. Chance encounters happen sometimes usually resulting in a person's good luck or
I've been a huge fan of Holly Black since reading White Cat and she has yet to disappoint me. The story immediately drew me in with the town that is both aware and in denial about the supernatural creatures and forces influencing the town in the periphery. I am a sucker for this concept. It brings to mind Sunnydale from Buffy the Vampire Slayer and New South Bend from Brenna Yovanoff's Fiendish. All of these works have a magnetic quality where the townspeople experience all this craziness, but rationalize it with normal causes. When confronted with the unbelievable reality, they tend to lash out and then go back to their comfortable, normal reality as soon as possible. Growing up in such a forest definitely affects the young people in the area while the adults seem pretty oblivious, only brought out of it by tragedy. The teens in the area are surprisingly normal despite the things they've experienced.
Hazel and Ben are pretty normal. Hazel gets herself into trouble by kissing boy after boy and living life to the fullest despite the consequences. Ben is the angsty artists type because was blessed/cursed by a faerie as a baby to have an exceptional musical talent and feels great guilt over how he has let it get out of control in the past. They are so similar in other ways. Both are boy crazy in their own way and want to find lasting love. Both of them love each other fiercely, but also try to keep huge secrets to protect the other when it does the exact opposite. I loved reading these characters and their mistakes and blunders powered by their love. I forgave all of their sometimes frustrating mistakes because it came from a good place and they were only doing their best. I especially liked the way Ben was treated. His sexual orientation just was; no explanation or special treatment needed. No one in his life treated him any differently. The other character I loved was Jack, a changeling child all grown up and raised as human alongside the human boy he was meant to replace. The concept alone is amazing and one I haven't seen. Jack acts as the bridge between the two worlds and can't decide which one he belongs in. He has significant ties to both sides and either choice would be a betrayal.
The book is organized in an odd way. The plot isn't really solidified until much later than expected in the novel. The beginning is just establishing the world and exploring into the lives of the main characters. The plot moves forward and then there's intermittent flashbacks to show why characters are the way they are or background on what's presently happening. If you hate stories jumping around, this wouldn't be for you, but I enjoyed it. Things became clear the more the flashbacks happened and it just shows Holly Black's writing skill. The revelations are doled out carefully and bring clarity to the story. I really enjoyed the journey and exploration through Holly Black's unique world. I hope another book is in the works in the same world (because I would be all over it), but it works very well as a stand alone novel. It's one of the best reads of the year so far.
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death. Hazel and Ben embraced the magical danger as children as they teamed up to battle the monster as a knight and a bard. They also both made up stories about the horned boy in the glass casket in the woods. Nothing awakens him and nothing can even scratch the glass, so he lays there year after year. When Hazel and Ben have quit their adventuring and they view such things as childhood fantasy, the horned boy escapes from his glass prison. Hazel's whole world is turned upside down as she discovers those forgotten or rationalized memories of fighting magical creatures are shockingly real. Can she remember enough of her past to be able to fight in the present?I've been a huge fan of Holly Black since reading White Cat and she has yet to disappoint me. The story immediately drew me in with the town that is both aware and in denial about the supernatural creatures and forces influencing the town in the periphery. I am a sucker for this concept. It brings to mind Sunnydale from Buffy the Vampire Slayer and New South Bend from Brenna Yovanoff's Fiendish. All of these works have a magnetic quality where the townspeople experience all this craziness, but rationalize it with normal causes. When confronted with the unbelievable reality, they tend to lash out and then go back to their comfortable, normal reality as soon as possible. Growing up in such a forest definitely affects the young people in the area while the adults seem pretty oblivious, only brought out of it by tragedy. The teens in the area are surprisingly normal despite the things they've experienced.
Hazel and Ben are pretty normal. Hazel gets herself into trouble by kissing boy after boy and living life to the fullest despite the consequences. Ben is the angsty artists type because was blessed/cursed by a faerie as a baby to have an exceptional musical talent and feels great guilt over how he has let it get out of control in the past. They are so similar in other ways. Both are boy crazy in their own way and want to find lasting love. Both of them love each other fiercely, but also try to keep huge secrets to protect the other when it does the exact opposite. I loved reading these characters and their mistakes and blunders powered by their love. I forgave all of their sometimes frustrating mistakes because it came from a good place and they were only doing their best. I especially liked the way Ben was treated. His sexual orientation just was; no explanation or special treatment needed. No one in his life treated him any differently. The other character I loved was Jack, a changeling child all grown up and raised as human alongside the human boy he was meant to replace. The concept alone is amazing and one I haven't seen. Jack acts as the bridge between the two worlds and can't decide which one he belongs in. He has significant ties to both sides and either choice would be a betrayal.
The book is organized in an odd way. The plot isn't really solidified until much later than expected in the novel. The beginning is just establishing the world and exploring into the lives of the main characters. The plot moves forward and then there's intermittent flashbacks to show why characters are the way they are or background on what's presently happening. If you hate stories jumping around, this wouldn't be for you, but I enjoyed it. Things became clear the more the flashbacks happened and it just shows Holly Black's writing skill. The revelations are doled out carefully and bring clarity to the story. I really enjoyed the journey and exploration through Holly Black's unique world. I hope another book is in the works in the same world (because I would be all over it), but it works very well as a stand alone novel. It's one of the best reads of the year so far.
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LibraryThing member DarkFaerieTales
Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales
Quick & Dirty: An action packed fantasy taking place in the queer town of Fairfold.
Opening Sentence: Down a path worn into the woods, past a stream and a hollowed-out log full of pill bugs and termites, was a glass coffin.
The Review:
This is the first book I’ve
When the sleeping horned boy awoke, I immediately thought this would cause a rift between the siblings since they had both been in love with him for as far back as they could remember. I’m glad to say that didn’t happen because that would definitely have been too predictable and boring. At the same time, it was sad to see the distance their secrets caused between them.
For all that they’d claimed that they could tell each other stuff, they told each other nothing.
It’s interesting to see how although there’s a clear divide between who is and isn’t a Faerie, there are times when the distinction isn’t as apparent. For example, when Ben is gifted/cursed with his music, he’s not a faerie but he wields a magical power that has often saved his and his sister’s life against the monsters. Then there’s the fact that even though faeries, monsters and humans live in the town of Fairfold, the locals know how to protect themselves so it’s not like the humans live in ignorance of the fair folk. Well, not all of them anyway.
“We love until we do not. For us, love doesn’t fade gradually. It snaps like a branch bent too far.” [faeries]
Ben is sweet, thoughtful and kind, but I preferred Hazel’s character, in spite of her often self-destructive and defensive traits; such as messing about with random boys but never allowing herself to have feelings for them. Hazel might act tough and at times, arrogant, but she loves her brother more than anything else and I found her self-sacrifice inspiring.
In general, her family wasn’t very good at talking about important stuff. And of all of them, she was the least good at it. When she tried, it felt like all the chains on all her imagined safes and trunks started rattling. If she started to speak, she wasn’t sure she’d be able to stop.
There was a lot of action (mainly Hazel fighting) going on but the story was well balanced with drama and romance. The Darkest Part is aimed at young adults but there were twists to the story that force the reader to re-evaluate what they’ve learned from before to fit the pieces together, making it a smarter read.
I definitely recommend this book because it was a capturing and fast-paced read, but I won’t deny that I anticipated more from The Darkest Part and was a little disappointed in my first book by Holly Black.
Notable Scene:
And if there was another part of her that wished her parents were the kind who might protect her from needing to kill monsters all on her own, at eleven she already knew that was unrealistic. It wasn’t as if her parents didn’t love her; it was just that they forgot things a lot and sometimes those things were important.
FTC Advisory: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers/Hachette Book Group provided me with a copy of The Darkest Part of the Forest. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
Quick & Dirty: An action packed fantasy taking place in the queer town of Fairfold.
Opening Sentence: Down a path worn into the woods, past a stream and a hollowed-out log full of pill bugs and termites, was a glass coffin.
The Review:
This is the first book I’ve
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read by Holly Black and because of her close association with Cassandra Clare and Sarah Rees Brennan (who, by the way, are two of my favourite authors) I had very high expectations. I’m a little confused as to how I feel about this story. I can’t deny that the story was unique in its setting; a town where humans, faeries and monsters reside. The town and its inhabitants were described in such detail that it didn’t make me doubt it’s reality. At the same time, the book fell a leeetle short of my (very) high expectations.When the sleeping horned boy awoke, I immediately thought this would cause a rift between the siblings since they had both been in love with him for as far back as they could remember. I’m glad to say that didn’t happen because that would definitely have been too predictable and boring. At the same time, it was sad to see the distance their secrets caused between them.
For all that they’d claimed that they could tell each other stuff, they told each other nothing.
It’s interesting to see how although there’s a clear divide between who is and isn’t a Faerie, there are times when the distinction isn’t as apparent. For example, when Ben is gifted/cursed with his music, he’s not a faerie but he wields a magical power that has often saved his and his sister’s life against the monsters. Then there’s the fact that even though faeries, monsters and humans live in the town of Fairfold, the locals know how to protect themselves so it’s not like the humans live in ignorance of the fair folk. Well, not all of them anyway.
“We love until we do not. For us, love doesn’t fade gradually. It snaps like a branch bent too far.” [faeries]
Ben is sweet, thoughtful and kind, but I preferred Hazel’s character, in spite of her often self-destructive and defensive traits; such as messing about with random boys but never allowing herself to have feelings for them. Hazel might act tough and at times, arrogant, but she loves her brother more than anything else and I found her self-sacrifice inspiring.
In general, her family wasn’t very good at talking about important stuff. And of all of them, she was the least good at it. When she tried, it felt like all the chains on all her imagined safes and trunks started rattling. If she started to speak, she wasn’t sure she’d be able to stop.
There was a lot of action (mainly Hazel fighting) going on but the story was well balanced with drama and romance. The Darkest Part is aimed at young adults but there were twists to the story that force the reader to re-evaluate what they’ve learned from before to fit the pieces together, making it a smarter read.
I definitely recommend this book because it was a capturing and fast-paced read, but I won’t deny that I anticipated more from The Darkest Part and was a little disappointed in my first book by Holly Black.
Notable Scene:
And if there was another part of her that wished her parents were the kind who might protect her from needing to kill monsters all on her own, at eleven she already knew that was unrealistic. It wasn’t as if her parents didn’t love her; it was just that they forgot things a lot and sometimes those things were important.
FTC Advisory: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers/Hachette Book Group provided me with a copy of The Darkest Part of the Forest. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
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LibraryThing member anyaejo
Very cool start, awesome creepy faeries and lots of action. End didn't live up to my hopes. Awesome gay romance plot line that made me soooooo happy.
LibraryThing member Rosa.Mill
Hazel, Ben and Jack totally likable. Love how kick butt Hazel is. This was definitely an interesting adventure story, and I liked the different fairy creatures in it.
LibraryThing member lamotamant
While I enjoyed the concept of this book, the plot itself seemed to lack in areas. It was as if some parts fell just short of full resolution with characters blurring in and out of both being relatable and physical participation in the scene at hand. I also found the specificity concerning the main
It's an entertaining enough quick read for younger readers. If you're looking for a darker fairytale fantasy this story definitely has points that go in that direction but it's probably not going to sate any trickster fae/dark magic hungers.
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character's meals at parts of the story was distinctly at odds with the lacking of others; it gave the book a weird balance. I came away not sure if the author was trying to feature these foods in the plot for some connected reason or they just wound up featured by chance. It's an entertaining enough quick read for younger readers. If you're looking for a darker fairytale fantasy this story definitely has points that go in that direction but it's probably not going to sate any trickster fae/dark magic hungers.
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LibraryThing member Rosa.Mill
Hazel, Ben and Jack totally likable. Love how kick butt Hazel is. This was definitely an interesting adventure story, and I liked the different fairy creatures in it.
LibraryThing member NinaCaramelita
I didn’t get right into this tale, but when I did… Holly, Holly, Holly! Suddenly I got sucked into a totally different world (or should I say, 2!?) and took off on a faster pace. On top of well developed characters with great dynamics, Black creates such tension and adds a nice portion of
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creepiness, it makes you sit on the edge of your seat! One of the best books I’ve read this year! Show Less
LibraryThing member Rosa.Mill
Hazel, Ben and Jack totally likable. Love how kick butt Hazel is. This was definitely an interesting adventure story, and I liked the different fairy creatures in it.
LibraryThing member lkmuir
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
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 pointy 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 and a hero is needed to save them all, Hazel tries to remember her years spent pretending to be a knight. But swept up in new love, shifting loyalties, and the fresh sting of betrayal, will it be enough?
Hazel lives with her
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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 pointy 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 and a hero is needed to save them all, Hazel tries to remember her years spent pretending to be a knight. But swept up in new love, shifting loyalties, and the fresh sting of betrayal, will it be enough?
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LibraryThing member taleofnight
I listened to this on audio, so I'm not really sure if I would have liked it more if I read it instead. There was nothing wrong with the audio, I actually really liked the narrator and all the different voices she had for the characters.
There was just something about the story that I didn't enjoy,
This book has a really fascinating premise. Fairfold is a town where humans and faeries exist together, where a faerie prince sleeps in a casket in the middle of the woods. This prince is awoken one night by someone, but no one knows who it was and now the town and it's people are threatened by the fae. We follow Hazel and her brother Ben as they try to figure out what's going on and how to save the town.
At least, that's the base of the story. I felt like that story line got pushed aside a lot to make room the the romance story lines, which wasn't terrible, it just wasn't that interesting. We also find out that Hazel made a deal with the faerie king (I think he had a different name, but I don't remember) when she was 11, and I very interested in learning more about that, but again, it's pushed aside a lot of the time.
So, my biggest problem was that a lot of the things I found interesting weren't the main focus of the book, which made me not care. The book also came off as a little silly, at times. Like the author tried to make the weird things happening seem dark and scary and mysterious, but I found myself rolling my eyes at some of it.
There was just something about the story that I didn't enjoy,
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and I can't really pinpoint what it was. I think part of it was the fact that I listened to it mostly while driving, and my attention kept wavering from the book. This book has a really fascinating premise. Fairfold is a town where humans and faeries exist together, where a faerie prince sleeps in a casket in the middle of the woods. This prince is awoken one night by someone, but no one knows who it was and now the town and it's people are threatened by the fae. We follow Hazel and her brother Ben as they try to figure out what's going on and how to save the town.
At least, that's the base of the story. I felt like that story line got pushed aside a lot to make room the the romance story lines, which wasn't terrible, it just wasn't that interesting. We also find out that Hazel made a deal with the faerie king (I think he had a different name, but I don't remember) when she was 11, and I very interested in learning more about that, but again, it's pushed aside a lot of the time.
So, my biggest problem was that a lot of the things I found interesting weren't the main focus of the book, which made me not care. The book also came off as a little silly, at times. Like the author tried to make the weird things happening seem dark and scary and mysterious, but I found myself rolling my eyes at some of it.
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LibraryThing member wealhtheowwylfing
Hazel has a secret. As a child she swore seven years of her life to the fairies of Fairhold in exchange for a music scholarship for her brother, and now the time has come for the fairies to collect. She's freaked out, but the rest of the town is having its own problems: the fairies aren't placated
I loved this book. I wanted to roll around in it and never come out. I loved the setting, where the village and the outside world are queasily unsure about whether magic exists and how they should feel about it. I loved Hazel, who is so brave and so determined to be a knight and protect others. (She is so physically formidable and has such willpower that I would have loved just a book about one of her quests; nothing else needed.) I loved Ben, who has a fairy-given gift for music that ensorcells those who hear it, and is torn between a desperate longing for music and a horror of controlling others. I loved their sibling relationship, and how they each try to protect each other but don't necessarily know how to. Even though there's a lot of action and magic and romantic love, I felt like a backbone to this story was different sets of siblings learning to understand each other. There's so much here about the way families create and maintain illusions, how the past becomes painted over to be something it wasn't, how no one wants to disturb the precious peace of the present just to be true to the past...but I didn't realize any of that until near the end, because it coils beneath the surface of the text for hundreds of pages, informing everything but never explicit.
My only criticism is that I wish this was hundreds and hundreds of pages longer. I want to seeHazel with her memories as a knight acting as Severin's champion, and what the court ruled by Severin is like, and more of Ben and Severin's relationship, and how Jack reconciles with his fairy mother, and just...more of everything! EVERYTHING.
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by bowls of milk or the occasional foolhardy tourist anymore, and more and more villagers are falling prey to the increasingly bloodthirsty fey. I loved this book. I wanted to roll around in it and never come out. I loved the setting, where the village and the outside world are queasily unsure about whether magic exists and how they should feel about it. I loved Hazel, who is so brave and so determined to be a knight and protect others. (She is so physically formidable and has such willpower that I would have loved just a book about one of her quests; nothing else needed.) I loved Ben, who has a fairy-given gift for music that ensorcells those who hear it, and is torn between a desperate longing for music and a horror of controlling others. I loved their sibling relationship, and how they each try to protect each other but don't necessarily know how to. Even though there's a lot of action and magic and romantic love, I felt like a backbone to this story was different sets of siblings learning to understand each other. There's so much here about the way families create and maintain illusions, how the past becomes painted over to be something it wasn't, how no one wants to disturb the precious peace of the present just to be true to the past...but I didn't realize any of that until near the end, because it coils beneath the surface of the text for hundreds of pages, informing everything but never explicit.
My only criticism is that I wish this was hundreds and hundreds of pages longer. I want to see
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LibraryThing member catnips13
Other YA books try desperately hard to be different. The Darkest Part of the Forest doesn't have to try, it just is.
There are plenty of plot twists that are actually plot twists, plot twists that actually add to the story instead of being just wow-factors.
I love how Black normalizes homosexuality.
However, I feel like there was too much of setting the scene, and that the action didn't happen until the final third of the book, that the climax rushed towards me and I didn't even feel like it was the climax. It was all too soon.
There are plenty of plot twists that are actually plot twists, plot twists that actually add to the story instead of being just wow-factors.
I love how Black normalizes homosexuality.
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There is a boy in the story who likes boys. He loves just as hard, just as painfully as everyone else. His story is achingly beautiful. I'm glad he's not a stereotype, that he isn't just there for "representation".However, I feel like there was too much of setting the scene, and that the action didn't happen until the final third of the book, that the climax rushed towards me and I didn't even feel like it was the climax. It was all too soon.
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LibraryThing member Izavel
A charming fey story where good triumphs over evil and love conquers all. Absolutely magical.
LibraryThing member MrNattania72
This was pretty cool. But I couldn't help think of a twisted MidSummer Night's Dream. I love the use of a gay character in this YA book. Totally filled with romance which we know is not a big thing for me, but it was edgy and extremely dark- loved that aspect of it.
LibraryThing member ReadersCandyb
Fairies, suspense, mystery, magical scenery, romance, and bada$$ characters.... What more do you need?
I was so impressed with this book... Fey aren't usually my go to subject, but gosh from page one I was swept away to this dangerous world with magical creatures and lush landscape. I didn't want to
It's about a brother and sister that live in a town where monsters lurk in the shadows and a horned boy lives in a glass casket. Both of them love the so called Prince and when he breaks free of his glass prison, they make it their duty to find him. Quickly they are pulled into his world and left with many problems to solve. Each one has their own secrets though so between the lies, lust, and danger they try to figure out who they are and what lies in their pasts.
The story was fast paced and the suspense was nail biting. I loved the creepy feel and was consumed by all of the unique characters. Not to mention, there were two romances! Two absolutely edible romances that were quirky yet intimate.
It's a YA read, but is totally suitable for adults. The writing is mature with swearing and sex talk. It was the perfect blend of young adult and high fantasy. I highly recommend it.
I'm off to buy more from this Author now...
I was so impressed with this book... Fey aren't usually my go to subject, but gosh from page one I was swept away to this dangerous world with magical creatures and lush landscape. I didn't want to
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close the book. The characters were tough, honorable, and fun and the plot was a twisty little mind f.It's about a brother and sister that live in a town where monsters lurk in the shadows and a horned boy lives in a glass casket. Both of them love the so called Prince and when he breaks free of his glass prison, they make it their duty to find him. Quickly they are pulled into his world and left with many problems to solve. Each one has their own secrets though so between the lies, lust, and danger they try to figure out who they are and what lies in their pasts.
The story was fast paced and the suspense was nail biting. I loved the creepy feel and was consumed by all of the unique characters. Not to mention, there were two romances! Two absolutely edible romances that were quirky yet intimate.
It's a YA read, but is totally suitable for adults. The writing is mature with swearing and sex talk. It was the perfect blend of young adult and high fantasy. I highly recommend it.
I'm off to buy more from this Author now...
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Awards
Sequoyah Book Award (Nominee — High School — 2017)
Mythopoeic Awards (Finalist — Adult Literature — 2016)
Pacific Northwest Library Association Young Reader's Choice Award (Nominee — Intermediate — 2018)
Indies Choice Book Award (Winner — Young Adult — 2015)
Massachusetts Book Award (Honor Book — 2016)
ALA Rainbow Book List (Selection — Young Adult Fiction — 2016)
Best Fiction for Young Adults (Selection — 2016)
Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers (Selection — Fiction — 2016)
Chicago Public Library Best of the Best: Teens (Fiction — 2015)
New York Public Library Best Books: For Teens (Fiction — 2015)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2015-01-13
Physical description
352 p.; 8.2 inches
ISBN
031621308X / 9780316213080