Reviews

The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black

vaingloriouspoopweasel's review against another edition

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5.0

Her best book yet! I couldn't put it down.

jgurniak's review against another edition

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5.0

This is one of the best books I have ever read! Highly recommended!

eponineeurydice's review against another edition

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3.0

What a strange lil book... 3.5 stars. Huh... darn it!

That's all I really have to say here... that's the gist. I really thought I'd love this more, but instead ended up feeling underwhelmed which is very sad! But I guess that's just how books are sometimes!

Let's talk about the vibes first because they were perfect! Magical forests and faeries and summertime and descriptions of Autumnal trees... it was all there! And at the beginning I was so excited to read about the sleeping prince and sweet Ben and Hazel! And there was a lot of Hazel... not so much about the prince. Which is fine we love girl power! But also I was more invested in the lovely musician with a lot of sadboi backstory that is Ben than I was with Hazel, as a character so eloquently puts it toward the beginning, kissing the boys and making them cry.

Which brings me to my next point! One of my very favorite Booktubers, Cari Can Read, said this book had a lot of mentions of kissing. Actual kissing, yes, but also just like... mentions of kissing! Talking about kissing! That kinda thing... and like, she was absolutely right. I should've listened and knew that that part wouldn't be my cup of tea lol, I love romance more when there's emotional journeys and witty banter and cute scenes of them together, y'know! But this one was a lot of descriptions of the other's appearance and dreamily watching someone sleep LOOL but it didn't really go anywhere... so for me this was more about the vibes than the plot and usually that works for me, I dearly hoped it would!! By all accounts this book should've worked SO well for me, but I ended up just wanting... more from the whole experience. Sad sad day!

kasey223's review against another edition

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adventurous dark hopeful medium-paced

4.5

valouche13's review against another edition

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3.0

It was a fun read, but that's about it for me. I did like the folklore and the "monster at the heart of the forest" but beyond that, I couldn't connect with the characters much. I guess I'm just done with YA.... 😔
Will definitely try The Coldest Girl In Coldtown though; the excerpt at the end of this book made me wanna read it! 😊

charleerex's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

congressbaby143's review against another edition

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3.0

There were a lot of misses but it was a pretty enjoyable book. It's also very fast-paced.

I made a gasping sound at the "Ainsel" plot twist. No really. I did.

I like how there are a lot of faerie myth/stories infused in the story to reveal a certain plot point.

It's uncanny how the references felt so modern to me but then the tenth doctor regenerated a few years ago and Harry Potter's last movie installment was in 2011. Weird, probably in a good way. I understood all of the references, it's just so uncanny that these pop culture / "geek" culture references are stuff that I actually experienced which is why I got all of them and it's the first time that I didn't feel like it was forced at all.

Do you ever just get a Lee Pace-Thranduil version of the Alderking though, such a great and terrible beautiful fairy king and such terrible association but whatever works. HA

**SPOILER ALERT**

I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE THAT BEN ENDED UP WITH THE FAIRY PRINCE CHARMING. IT'S SUCH A FAIRY TALE HAPPY ENDING.

threegoodrats's review against another edition

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3.0

My review is here.

mimi4's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

izzyduje's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.0