Reviews

Hard by a Great Forest by Leo Vardiashvili

csoyars's review against another edition

While I enjoyed the descriptions of Georgia, I felt the story dove into the mystery right away without setting up the characters and their backstory. I also found the voices in Saba’s head to be distracting and not adding much since we didn’t get to know the relationship between Saba and these other characters.

grayssuh's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

5.0

kelseylynn28's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious sad tense

4.5

maisela25's review

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

agrimes01's review against another edition

challenging emotional mysterious sad 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

3.0

dagdraumar's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious sad

4.0

edriley's review against another edition

mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

3.5

Eh-this was okay. I won’t ever think about it again. 

theciz's review against another edition

dark emotional medium-paced

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

4.25

A man who left Tbilisi as a child must return to track down his missing brother and father, haunted by the life and people they left behind. I found this a compelling read all the way through - learning about Georgian history, the scars and ghosts left by revolution, emigration, war, and the ways people carry on despite these things. 

There’s a fairy tale theme from the start, but the plot starts to get a little too outlandish and coincidental at the end. But at that point we’re so far into metaphor and the depths of madness, grief and guilt that it didn’t really matter to me. This is a dark and emotional read, with some brilliantly drawn, flawed characters, and one I enjoyed immensely.

annaholla's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny mysterious sad medium-paced

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

4.25

nadiamg_reads's review

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious sad 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

3.75

I loved how the story wove in sadness with light humor. It made the characters relatable and easy to like. 

I do wish the ending had more resolution, but I realize the whole point was that it didn’t (much like real life)