Reviews

The Forest of Vanishing Stars by Kristin Harmel

erin310's review against another edition

mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes

3.0

ashlobennett's review

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

nessaraehall's review

adventurous challenging emotional informative sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

shelbyandpaws's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense 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

5.0

nancysweitzer's review against another edition

mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

swifterel22's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad tense

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical trauma, Violence, War, Child death, Death, Grief, Gun violence, Hate crime, Antisemitism, Gore, Religious bigotry, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, and Murder

Moderate: Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Stalking, Child death, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Sexual content, Murder, Religious bigotry, Violence, Alcohol, Pregnancy, War, Deadnaming, Grief, Gun violence, Hate crime, Blood, Body horror, Classism, Animal death, Death, and Medical content

kristinalh's review against another edition

5.0

"Lives are circles spinning across the world, and when they're meant to intersect again, they do. There's nothing we can do to stop it."

"Every time a good soul dies, I think the world gets a little darker.... But there is light, too. In the times of great darkness, the light always shines through, because there are people who stand up to do brave, decent things. What I am trying to say, Yona, is that in moments like this, it doesn't matter what you were born to be. It matters what you choose to become."


This was the 2nd book I've read of Kristin Harmel. Much like the first, I couldn't put this one down. It was a real page turner.

The story starts out with an older woman stealing a 2 year old baby to raise in the woods. This baby is raised to survive off of nothing but the offerings of the Forrest. Fast forward, Yona is now a grown woman thriving in the forrest. As many jews are fleeing to the woods to survive, Yona shows them the way of survival.

There were many tearful moments in this story, including when Yona reunites with her birth father. This was an excellent read. I highly recommend it!

lreven65's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring sad medium-paced

5.0

britmo's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense 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? No

5.0

kadeherrera's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75