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dragonrider29's review
4.0
I really enjoyed this book but I can't really put my finger on why. To be honest not much happens, and what does happens happens really slowly. It isn't your usual end of the world dystopian novel, in fact you never really find out exactly what has happened, but I think that is perhaps part of it's charm. It's beautifully written with an elegant turn of phrase and an almost ethereal vibe to it. It's at times quite spooky, and surreal but the characters are so boldly written that it manages to stay grounded. It's a novel about belonging, about finding your place and about the worst and the best of humanity. I can see that it wouldn't be for everyone but I very much enjoyed it.
gak_does_books's review against another edition
slow-paced
3.0
In a post-apocalyptic world where digital "ghosts" haunt society, Katerina, a reclusive herbalist, takes in a mute boy named Stefan who seeks his missing father. As a new digital disease spreads, they flee accusations of witchcraft & navigate a dangerous forest. Together, they confront their fears and uncover the truth behind the blurred boundaries of the digital and natural realms.
I was really intrigued with the concept here of the collapse of the internet releasing these residual digital imprints, however I was a little let down with the overall execution.
The pacing felt uneven and some of the character arcs to me lacked depth. I did love Orlando though (the cat in case you're wondering).
There were several times my mind wandered and I wasn't taking it all in, I had to go back and re-read a few times.
I did really enjoy the eerie atmosphere of the world Wilson created and it is an interesting read however, with a premise with such a rich potential and ambition, I just felt it fell a bit flat and didn't deliver on its promise.
I was really intrigued with the concept here of the collapse of the internet releasing these residual digital imprints, however I was a little let down with the overall execution.
The pacing felt uneven and some of the character arcs to me lacked depth. I did love Orlando though (the cat in case you're wondering).
There were several times my mind wandered and I wasn't taking it all in, I had to go back and re-read a few times.
I did really enjoy the eerie atmosphere of the world Wilson created and it is an interesting read however, with a premise with such a rich potential and ambition, I just felt it fell a bit flat and didn't deliver on its promise.
emaynard97's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
I was really intrigued by the concept of this book, but sadly I didn't get into it. I didn't find myself caring for the characters and what happened. It's definitely slow paced and I found it a bit repetitive at times.
I think this might be partly because the boy is silent and there was a lack of dialogue? But I have read other books with silent characters and really enjoyed them. So I'm not sure why this book wasn't a win for me
chryscurl's review
5.0
Beautifully descriptive, and evocatively haunting. Set in a region near Russia, after the collapse of the internet, the world is haunted by digital ghosts. Remnants of songs and film, even viral videos, linger and soon begin to infect people.
This is a story of fear and despair, friendship and found family and how the first two can destroy the second two. The author takes a very empathetic approach and it’s hard to find enemies even when there is everything to fear.
I absolutely loved this and am trying desperately not to tell too much about the story. The synopsis and the cover hooked me.
This is a story of fear and despair, friendship and found family and how the first two can destroy the second two. The author takes a very empathetic approach and it’s hard to find enemies even when there is everything to fear.
I absolutely loved this and am trying desperately not to tell too much about the story. The synopsis and the cover hooked me.
choggzy's review
dark
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
pages_of_emma's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
The internet is dead, and its ghosts haunt us all.
When I picked this book up I was expecting a pacy adventure through an apocalyptic world. This novel is not that. It's something much, much better.
The internet is no more - it has broken out of containment and technology is no longer safe to use. Katerina lives in her Baba's house with her bees, goats, chickens and a ghost cat for company. She travels around trading herbs and medicines for necessities and on one of these trips picks up a mute teenage boy holding a note with her name on it.
Katerina is a fantastic character. She's clever and resourceful but guarded and reluctant to change her status quo. She is in tune with the land and her herbalism is just a little more than ordinary. Seeing her confront her own ghosts and open herself up to change throughout the book was a wonderful character arc to follow.
Themes of grief, love and acceptance are at the fore of the story. Katerina and the other characters have deep mental wounds, and only by learning to trust and accept each other can they begin to heal from them.
This novel is quiet and meandering. It doesn't rush and it doesn't hold your hand. You will have questions and they won't be answered directly, but I think that is one of the things that makes this book so excellent.
When I picked this book up I was expecting a pacy adventure through an apocalyptic world. This novel is not that. It's something much, much better.
The internet is no more - it has broken out of containment and technology is no longer safe to use. Katerina lives in her Baba's house with her bees, goats, chickens and a ghost cat for company. She travels around trading herbs and medicines for necessities and on one of these trips picks up a mute teenage boy holding a note with her name on it.
Katerina is a fantastic character. She's clever and resourceful but guarded and reluctant to change her status quo. She is in tune with the land and her herbalism is just a little more than ordinary. Seeing her confront her own ghosts and open herself up to change throughout the book was a wonderful character arc to follow.
Themes of grief, love and acceptance are at the fore of the story. Katerina and the other characters have deep mental wounds, and only by learning to trust and accept each other can they begin to heal from them.
This novel is quiet and meandering. It doesn't rush and it doesn't hold your hand. You will have questions and they won't be answered directly, but I think that is one of the things that makes this book so excellent.
_ciaran's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
la_luz_mala's review
5.0
First things first – gorgeous cover. Even before reading the blurb, I was already caught, and after reading the book, I can come back and find delightful little details: the golden bees, the herbs, Orlando's adorable swishy tail. A cover does not a book make, but it's certainly a pleasure to have such gorgeous art wrapping another piece of gorgeous art.
Now to the content between the covers: nothing short of amazing. I have a fondness for dystopian novels, so you can imagine I've read my fair share. I was pleasantly surprised when I read We Are All Ghosts in the Forest and found a story that felt non-derivative: the refreshing feeling of reading something new, something I hadn't encountered before; of immersing in a completely new world. I imagine, of course, there are similar books out there, but this was my first of its type and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I won't tell you what We Are All Ghosts in the Forest is about because you can read it right up there in the blurb, but I'll tell you other details that might tip you towards reading it: it's not a story about a world gone haywire but a story set IN a world gone haywire. It's a story about certain people caught in events that feel way larger than what they can handle. It's a story about love, grief, and renewal, all in the middle of a world gone haywire. You can go into it not expecting hard Sci-Fi and brainy explanations of why things broke, but the story of someone finding a way to heal new and old wounds.
All in all, a lovely read, and one I hope to revisit eventually.
Now to the content between the covers: nothing short of amazing. I have a fondness for dystopian novels, so you can imagine I've read my fair share. I was pleasantly surprised when I read We Are All Ghosts in the Forest and found a story that felt non-derivative: the refreshing feeling of reading something new, something I hadn't encountered before; of immersing in a completely new world. I imagine, of course, there are similar books out there, but this was my first of its type and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I won't tell you what We Are All Ghosts in the Forest is about because you can read it right up there in the blurb, but I'll tell you other details that might tip you towards reading it: it's not a story about a world gone haywire but a story set IN a world gone haywire. It's a story about certain people caught in events that feel way larger than what they can handle. It's a story about love, grief, and renewal, all in the middle of a world gone haywire. You can go into it not expecting hard Sci-Fi and brainy explanations of why things broke, but the story of someone finding a way to heal new and old wounds.
All in all, a lovely read, and one I hope to revisit eventually.
onbeesbookshelf's review
4.0
The internet dies and comes back to life, and you can’t google to find out why.
This is a quiet, thoughtful, delicate tale about humanity, kindness, connection; one that slowly - very slowly - unwraps ideas about what it means to be alive in an evocative way. It might seem like a general dystopia in a land of plague and societal collapse but the story really is about self discovery and acceptance that happens to occur just after the end of the world.
I adored the small details the author used to create such a magically immersive setting — just a few pages in I loved the fancy, expensive briefcase from before now used to hold carrots. The juxtaposition of strange digital ghosts and remnants of civilisation to the comfort of a living room with a dozing cat. It also made a bold and jarring statement about the futility of racism, sexism and judgement when you think about how fragile and magical life can be.
A refreshingly unique folk-esque apocalypse with enchanting storytelling, poetic prose, undeniable characters and hauntingly relevant commentary about the need for togetherness and kinship.
This is a quiet, thoughtful, delicate tale about humanity, kindness, connection; one that slowly - very slowly - unwraps ideas about what it means to be alive in an evocative way. It might seem like a general dystopia in a land of plague and societal collapse but the story really is about self discovery and acceptance that happens to occur just after the end of the world.
I adored the small details the author used to create such a magically immersive setting — just a few pages in I loved the fancy, expensive briefcase from before now used to hold carrots. The juxtaposition of strange digital ghosts and remnants of civilisation to the comfort of a living room with a dozing cat. It also made a bold and jarring statement about the futility of racism, sexism and judgement when you think about how fragile and magical life can be.
A refreshingly unique folk-esque apocalypse with enchanting storytelling, poetic prose, undeniable characters and hauntingly relevant commentary about the need for togetherness and kinship.