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3.21 AVERAGE
3.21 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
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You'll LOVE it if...you enjoy fantasy with diverse group of female characters.
I occasionally come across a very well-phrased criticism of the notion of "strong female characters", which I agree with more each time I read it. The gist is that not every female character in the media we consume has to be strong; women and girls are as nuanced as their male counterparts, which means they suffer from doubt, cowardice, selfishness, and a whole host of traits and flaws that make them human. It's important that readers get to experience female characters with all the different kinds of strengths and weaknesses, morals, and motivations that male characters have enjoyed. Rose and her sisters are all distinct, engaging characters with a familial dynamic that is instantly believable. And while this is primarily a tale of Rose's growth, the bonds that connect her and the rest of her family are compelling as well. This applies to both the fantasy and modern worlds, characteristics and relationships translating seamlessly between the two. No matter your personality, there's a young woman in The Waking Forest that will feel familiar, sympathetic, and worth rooting for.
You'll LIKE it if...you're a fan of dark fairy tales.
The atmosphere that Alyssa builds up throughout the book — and across all of the locations, both fantastical and recognizable — is delightfully spooky. In fact, my only complaint is that I wish readers got to spend even more time with the Witch in her forest, purely because those were my favorite interludes in the book. The central mystery of Rose's connection to the Witch means that the vague and insistent threat carried in the wooded home of the latter permeates the entire book, literally and figuratively. As the imagery and sensations of the Witch's realm bleed over into Rose's reality devastation of some kind feels inescapable. Stakes are certainly high as the novel enters its final act; once you start Part II, be prepared to blaze through the final one hundred pages without stopping! And the payoff for the mystery was unexpected and satisfying, which should make fantasy fans happily embrace it.
You MAY NOT LIKE it if...keeping up with a "dream versus reality" conflict stresses you out.
One of my favorite aspects to The Waking Forest — the uncertainty and instability of what constitutes "reality" — might be more of a distraction than an indulgence for some readers. Wees deploys the tactic exceptionally well, so this drawback comes down to reader preference. If this type of storytelling device frustrates or confuses you to the point of detracting from the greater narrative, you may want to tread carefully here. Considering the well-drawn suspense and satisfying payoff, however, The Waking Forest is more than worth a try for those who generally avoid this kind of plot, or for readers who don't usually gravitate towards it.
I received a free ARC of this book from the publisher for review purposes. This did not inform or influence my opinion in any way.
You'll LOVE it if...you enjoy fantasy with diverse group of female characters.
I occasionally come across a very well-phrased criticism of the notion of "strong female characters", which I agree with more each time I read it. The gist is that not every female character in the media we consume has to be strong; women and girls are as nuanced as their male counterparts, which means they suffer from doubt, cowardice, selfishness, and a whole host of traits and flaws that make them human. It's important that readers get to experience female characters with all the different kinds of strengths and weaknesses, morals, and motivations that male characters have enjoyed. Rose and her sisters are all distinct, engaging characters with a familial dynamic that is instantly believable. And while this is primarily a tale of Rose's growth, the bonds that connect her and the rest of her family are compelling as well. This applies to both the fantasy and modern worlds, characteristics and relationships translating seamlessly between the two. No matter your personality, there's a young woman in The Waking Forest that will feel familiar, sympathetic, and worth rooting for.
You'll LIKE it if...you're a fan of dark fairy tales.
The atmosphere that Alyssa builds up throughout the book — and across all of the locations, both fantastical and recognizable — is delightfully spooky. In fact, my only complaint is that I wish readers got to spend even more time with the Witch in her forest, purely because those were my favorite interludes in the book. The central mystery of Rose's connection to the Witch means that the vague and insistent threat carried in the wooded home of the latter permeates the entire book, literally and figuratively. As the imagery and sensations of the Witch's realm bleed over into Rose's reality devastation of some kind feels inescapable. Stakes are certainly high as the novel enters its final act; once you start Part II, be prepared to blaze through the final one hundred pages without stopping! And the payoff for the mystery was unexpected and satisfying, which should make fantasy fans happily embrace it.
You MAY NOT LIKE it if...keeping up with a "dream versus reality" conflict stresses you out.
One of my favorite aspects to The Waking Forest — the uncertainty and instability of what constitutes "reality" — might be more of a distraction than an indulgence for some readers. Wees deploys the tactic exceptionally well, so this drawback comes down to reader preference. If this type of storytelling device frustrates or confuses you to the point of detracting from the greater narrative, you may want to tread carefully here. Considering the well-drawn suspense and satisfying payoff, however, The Waking Forest is more than worth a try for those who generally avoid this kind of plot, or for readers who don't usually gravitate towards it.
I received a free ARC of this book from the publisher for review purposes. This did not inform or influence my opinion in any way.
I had to DNF this book about 12 chapters in. The story, to me, seems too all over the place for me to honestly continue. I like the premise of the story, the main character just isn’t for me. And then she listens to this boy she dubbed “Darkness” and honestly I don’t think he’d be able to get as much as a sentence out of his mouth if I were in her place. I’m sure it’s lovely and I’d recommend it to a friend who is just wanting a book to read but I’m not sure about the genre it’s being marketed as. It wasn’t for me, but someone will love it. Which is always important.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Spooky fairytales are my thing.
It’s been a bit since I read this and I still don’t know how to feel about it. At times I truly did enjoy it. It’s a unique concept that keeps you guessing, with intrigued and twists and turns. It’s a good, old-fashioned fairytale, and from start to finish, it knows the story it’s trying to tell.
But at the same time, I felt like something was missing. Something kept me from truly connecting with the story. I enjoyed it, but I didn’t love it, and ended up skimming the last bit. The emotional connection, the thing that keeps you late at night reading, it just wasn’t there for me.
It’s hard to explain, because I didn’t hate the book. It was enjoyable, but I didn’t love it either. It’s almost as if I’m indifferent to the book. The premise is interesting, the writing nice, the story flows, I just never truly connected with it.
It’s been a bit since I read this and I still don’t know how to feel about it. At times I truly did enjoy it. It’s a unique concept that keeps you guessing, with intrigued and twists and turns. It’s a good, old-fashioned fairytale, and from start to finish, it knows the story it’s trying to tell.
But at the same time, I felt like something was missing. Something kept me from truly connecting with the story. I enjoyed it, but I didn’t love it, and ended up skimming the last bit. The emotional connection, the thing that keeps you late at night reading, it just wasn’t there for me.
It’s hard to explain, because I didn’t hate the book. It was enjoyable, but I didn’t love it either. It’s almost as if I’m indifferent to the book. The premise is interesting, the writing nice, the story flows, I just never truly connected with it.
I received this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Waking Forest is an new fantasy novel by Alyssa Wees. The first 60% of this book was really strong. I enjoyed both story lines. Watching Rhea figure out the mystery about her dreams and visions was really well handled. I liked the 'darknesss' that was in the attic. It really gave me, early in a horror movie vibes, like The Conjuring. The family dynamic between the sisters was good as well. And who doesn't want a pet fox? That was great.
I loved the Witch of Wishes story line. It was atmospheric, whimsical and totally engaging. I loved every one of those chapters. I even liked when the audience started learning about the lost princess and the new world where magic was suppressed. All of this was wonderful too.
But when all the story lines started coming together I felt like the book lost its magic. The novel became badly predictable. Also this whole dream where she is in 'our' world. I never understood how she would have an frame of reference for it. How does she know about cars when she seems to live in a pseudo medieval fantasy world? There was some anxiety rep which felt forced. I was just so let down.
Overall, I felt like this book had great build up but a pretty big let down. The writer is a bit purple prosey, but I didn't mind it. I think she has really good potential. I'd try something by her again. First 60% is a 4 star. Last 40% is a 2. So a 3 seems about right.
The Waking Forest is an new fantasy novel by Alyssa Wees. The first 60% of this book was really strong. I enjoyed both story lines. Watching Rhea figure out the mystery about her dreams and visions was really well handled. I liked the 'darknesss' that was in the attic. It really gave me, early in a horror movie vibes, like The Conjuring. The family dynamic between the sisters was good as well. And who doesn't want a pet fox? That was great.
I loved the Witch of Wishes story line. It was atmospheric, whimsical and totally engaging. I loved every one of those chapters. I even liked when the audience started learning about the lost princess and the new world where magic was suppressed. All of this was wonderful too.
But when all the story lines started coming together I felt like the book lost its magic. The novel became badly predictable. Also this whole dream where she is in 'our' world. I never understood how she would have an frame of reference for it. How does she know about cars when she seems to live in a pseudo medieval fantasy world? There was some anxiety rep which felt forced. I was just so let down.
Overall, I felt like this book had great build up but a pretty big let down. The writer is a bit purple prosey, but I didn't mind it. I think she has really good potential. I'd try something by her again. First 60% is a 4 star. Last 40% is a 2. So a 3 seems about right.
Es una hermosa historia de fantasia, te sumergiras en varios sueños y puede que hasta tu te confundas. Me encanto la narrativa magica de la autora con detalles de fantasia oscura aunque el final se me hizo un poco flojo.
It was a bit of a strange story, but in a good way!
In a way that entertained and kept me reading. It's about dreams, fears, darkness and light.
In a way that entertained and kept me reading. It's about dreams, fears, darkness and light.
I have no idea why this book doesn't have more positive reviews; this was a masterpiece! It was creepy, suspenseful, touching (it made me cry), and beautiful while including action, suspense, mystery, thrill, and even a smidge of romance. I barely could get chores done, the story sucked me in so well. It was a bit frustrating at first, but once you got into it, you started getting answers and the plot thickened nicely. The writing flowed well and had vivid descriptions combined with STELLAR word choice. It read like poetry. Not to mention, the characters were lovely. I loved seeing how her family interacted, and how the other world played into it all. I did feel that the ending "battle" scene was a bit weak, but eh, I kinda expected it, with that kind of build-up. The way the stories all connected in the end, though, was lovely and brilliant and just...ugh, I'm not a good enough writer to find words for it. It's a gorgeous, haunting book that I wish I could read for the first time over and over again. Truly lovely.
2 Stars
- This book had an awesome premise going for it, and I was so excited to see how the author would expand on the ideas being stated. Sadly, I was very disappointed. I wanted an awesome fantasy forest and while I got that the way the author went about writing and developing this world did not sit well with me. The writing style focused too much on being lyrical and aesthetically pleasing and took away from the plot development.
- Great concept, wish it was written better.
- This book had an awesome premise going for it, and I was so excited to see how the author would expand on the ideas being stated. Sadly, I was very disappointed. I wanted an awesome fantasy forest and while I got that the way the author went about writing and developing this world did not sit well with me. The writing style focused too much on being lyrical and aesthetically pleasing and took away from the plot development.
- Great concept, wish it was written better.