I received this book for free from Library, Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black Narrator: Lauren Fortgang
Length: 8 Hours 39 Minutes
on January 13th 2015
Genres: Young Adult Fiction, Fairy Tales & Folklore, Family, Siblings, Fantasy, LGBT, Romance
Pages: 336
Format: Audiobook, eARC
Source: Library, Publisher
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Goodreads
In the woods is a glass coffin. It rests on the ground, and in it sleeps a boy with horns on his head and ears as pointed as knives....Hazel and her brother, Ben, live in Fairfold, where humans and the Folk exist side by side. Tourists drive in to see the lush wonders of Faerie and, most wonderful of all, the horned boy. But visitors fail to see the danger.Since they were children, Hazel and Ben have been telling each other stories about the boy in the glass coffin, that he is a prince and they are valiant knights, pretending their prince would be different from the other faeries, the ones who made cruel bargains, lurked in the shadows of trees, and doomed tourists. But as Hazel grows up, she puts aside those stories. Hazel knows the horned boy will never wake.Until one day, he does....As the world turns upside down, Hazel has to become the knight she once pretended to be. But as she's swept up in new love, with shifting loyalties and the fresh sting of betrayal, will it be enough?The Darkest Part of the Forest, is the bestselling author Holly Black's triumphant return to the opulent, enchanting faerie tales that launched her YA career.
Why Did I Listen To The Darkest Part Of The Forest by Holly Black?
The Darkest Part Of The Forest by Holly Black basically caught my interest because Holly Black writes such gorgeously rendered, kind of odd stories. I am not much of a book with fairies/the fey sort of person, but she makes them quite palatable. However, because I am a super big procrastinator, this is another book that hung out on my Netgalley TBR until I obtained the audiobook via the library. Y’all, I listened to this audiobook via CDs, that is how hardcore I was about finally listening to Holly Black’s book.
What’s The Story Here?
So, The Darkest Part Of The Forest is about this girl named Hazel. She lives in this weird town where humans and fairies coexist. The town gets all kinds of tourists, because who doesn’t want to see the fey? Anyways, so, Hazel has this brother named Ben who plays a pretty large role in the story. The relationship between Hazel and Ben is complex – there’s love, of course, but also jealousy in addition. Meanwhile, beyond Hazel and Ben’s issues, there’s this glass coffin which is causing a stir, considering there’s a sleeping fairy prince in it (if I recall correctly). Hazel also has this ability that is underlying – she knows how to defeat and defend against the fey, but it’s just beneath the surface and she can’t entirely remember.
What Did I Think Of This Book?
Speaking of not being entirely able to remember, I just did not retain as much of The Darkest Part Of The Forest as I had hoped. I mean, I read this back in February and all I really remember is that Ben had some skills to hopefully leave their small town. Hazel did not. Beyond that, there was also some contract where Hazel is promised to do someone’s bidding, but that someone is not exactly a good person. I don’t know, this sounds bad but this was not entirely memorable to me.
How’s The Narration?
Although, perhaps a large part of my not retaining this book is the fact that I listened to the audiobook and sometimes that has a big impact on what I can and cannot recall. I like Lauren Fortgang as narrator, truly I do. However, sometimes I do end up zoning out when she’s narrating. This book isn’t an exception. I mean, she has a wonderful voice and it’s ethereal and appropriate for the book. Just, for me personally, I have that tendency to zone out and that’s definitely what I did with this book. However, I have decided that the next Holly Black book I read, I am going to attempt to simply read a physical copy and to not listen to it.
Other reviews of The Darkest Part Of The Forest by Holly Black:
- Pinkindle – “something was missing which kept me from loving it“
- Girl In The Pages – “I couldn’t really connect with the novel.“
- The Book Smugglers – “Holly Black doing what she does best“
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