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?
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?
Description taken from Goodreads
My Review
I really had to force myself to read this one. It’s disappointing because I was excited for
it.
I have to be honest and say that I almost gave up, I’m
really trying hard this year to read books that I’m enjoying and if I have to
DNF a book then it’s ok. But, I ended up
making it to the half way point and it was like everything changed. I felt like I was reading an entirely
different book, it didn’t feel like a chore to read anymore. Everything just picked up. The plot got more interesting. The action was awesome. Some scenes were so vivid that I felt like I
was actually there. I was just so happy
that I made myself continue reading to the end.
The plot was what really intrigued me from the start. A town where humans co-exist with fae, kind of. There’s a faerie prince that’s in a glass
coffin. I mean, come on! How freaking spectacular does this sound!? But, there’s always a but, it did start to
get boring, nothing was really happening and everything was kind of flat. I felt really disconnected with the
characters and the world. I didn’t care
what happened but again thankfully that all turned around. The world became more vivid, the characters
more redeemable and likable. It was like I forgot that I put down one book and picked up another one. Complete 180.
And the characters were also something I had problems with. They just seemed very ‘blah’.
Hazel was all girl power!
So, she definitely had that going for her. But I felt like that’s all there was to
her. I didn’t learn her favorite color
or her favorite food. Even at the end of
the book, I still don’t feel like I got to know her. Which is actually disappointing because on
the surface she’s so fierce and probably would be a good friend to have.
Her brother, Ben, was also hard to figure out. I did like him better then Hazel. We learn that he’s a musician but only
because of a ‘gift’ from a faerie. I would’ve
like for him to go a bit beyond that I guess.
We also learn that he’s gay, but
not the stereotypical gay guy in literature.
Which I loved. I felt like we got
a little bit more with him. I do have to
say that I liked him most when he was with Severin. Beverin shipper right here!
Jack, who is Ben’s best friend, is a changeling. That whole storyline was fascinating and I
really enjoyed it. I loved how he was at
war with himself, whether to be fae or human.
The horned prince did not disappoint. He was every bit elegant and creepy as I imagined and had
that immortal feel to him. Like with the
way he talked and acted. Ugh, I loved
him!
It’s really a shame to say but the first part kind of ruined
the book for me. Everything important
happened in the second half. All the
twists and turns. And there was really
nothing in the first half. Sure, we know
all about the fae and the horned boy in the coffin and we know from the
synopsis that he wakes up. I guess I
just wanted more. I don’t know. This is just so hard review and rate!
But if I had to recommend this to anyone I would probably
suggest that lovers of the Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa and the Splintered
Trilogy by A.G. Howard would enjoy The Darkest Part of the Forest.
Inside
Outside
Characters 3.5/5 Cover 4/5
Plot 4/5
Writing 3/5
Feels 3/5
Overall 3.4/5
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