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blonohorror's review
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
this was so nearly what i wanted it to be and what it could be but fell flat in a lot of ways :( too many things felt rushed or glossed over and, while i don't say this often, it really could've benefited from being longer by about 100 pages or so to give space to things that REALLY needed them. the ending was perfect though and i really dig the author's style
(that and the editor could've done a way better job. too many misplaced punctuation marks and characters' names being changed mid-scene as well as random tense shifts pulled me out of the story one too many times)
(that and the editor could've done a way better job. too many misplaced punctuation marks and characters' names being changed mid-scene as well as random tense shifts pulled me out of the story one too many times)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Homophobia
alexseekingspecfic's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia
wrensreadingroom's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Gore, Suicidal thoughts, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Racism, Confinement, Cursing, Gaslighting, Body shaming, Dysphoria, Gun violence, Cancer, Bullying, Vomit, Classism, Alcohol, Toxic friendship, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Body horror, Medical content, Colonisation, Violence, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Misogyny, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Torture, and Homophobia
ofbooksandechos's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Homophobia, and Racism
Moderate: Body horror, Bullying, Death, and Murder
Minor: Child death
blakeandbooks's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, Homophobia, Bullying, and Murder
tandewrites's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I fell in love with this book from the start. It hit all of my niche interests and there were so many places where I had to stop reading and audibly gasp because there were lines that were so Me that it genuinely felt like I wrote them. I am obsessed with sentient forests that may or may not want you dead. I adored the descriptions of the creatures in the trees. And there were so many little lines that were so beautifully written that my eARC is now full of highlights. The initial concept of this book was perfect for me and I fell in love with the writing (and I am down to read anything else in the horror-adjacent genre that this author writes in the future).
Where this book started to lose me was in the second half. Here, it started to feel repetitive and I felt as if there was little else to the plot other than the main storyline, and I just wanted More, even if it was additional interactions between the main character and love interest so their relationship felt fleshed out, or more time spent in the town with secondary characters so I could understand why it was important for a curse that seemed so contained to a few people to be broken. It felt like a loop of the MC saying "I have to break the curse" while fight scenes played out, and the climax was underwhelming for me in comparison to the stakes.
Also, I personally wouldn't describe it as dark academia - it has dark themes and is set in a boarding school, but there is very limited academia and a brief encounter in a library. It's more of a dark urban fantasy with horror influences in my opinion, so I hope people don't go into this expecting true dark academia themes and storylines.
<b>Content warnings:</b> death, gore, homophobia, body horror, violence
I fell in love with this book from the start. It hit all of my niche interests and there were so many places where I had to stop reading and audibly gasp because there were lines that were so Me that it genuinely felt like I wrote them. I am obsessed with sentient forests that may or may not want you dead. I adored the descriptions of the creatures in the trees. And there were so many little lines that were so beautifully written that my eARC is now full of highlights. The initial concept of this book was perfect for me and I fell in love with the writing (and I am down to read anything else in the horror-adjacent genre that this author writes in the future).
Where this book started to lose me was in the second half. Here, it started to feel repetitive and I felt as if there was little else to the plot other than the main storyline, and I just wanted More, even if it was additional interactions between the main character and love interest so their relationship felt fleshed out, or more time spent in the town with secondary characters so I could understand why it was important for a curse that seemed so contained to a few people to be broken. It felt like a loop of the MC saying "I have to break the curse" while fight scenes played out, and the climax was underwhelming for me in comparison to the stakes.
Also, I personally wouldn't describe it as dark academia - it has dark themes and is set in a boarding school, but there is very limited academia and a brief encounter in a library. It's more of a dark urban fantasy with horror influences in my opinion, so I hope people don't go into this expecting true dark academia themes and storylines.
<b>Content warnings:</b> death, gore, homophobia, body horror, violence
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Gore
Moderate: Body horror and Violence
Minor: Homophobia and Bullying
betweentheshelves's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-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
4.0
Regent Academy is known for churning out students who eventually become successful leaders in society. But little does anyone know that there’s a darker history surrounding the school–specifically the forest around it.
After a student is mysteriously murdered, Douglas finds that the next day, no one else remembers they existed. Except for Everett Everley. It turns out, Douglas has awakened something dark in the forest, demanding payment for a wrong that happened 300 years ago. And Douglas might be the only person who can make it right.
Thanks to Quill Tree Books and Netgalley for an advanced copy of The Forest Demands Its Due by Kosoko Jackson to review! I’ve read Jackson’s other YA work, so I was excited to pick this one up. If you’re looking for a dark academia vibe this spooky season, this book will definitely be for you.
The world that Jackson has created in this book is so fascinating. The magic system in particular is different from a lot of other YA fantasy/horror I’ve read, and I enjoyed seeing how this played out throughout the story. Because it’s set in this isolated town, the vibes are also perfect for the weather starting to turn cooler.
Douglas’s changing relationship with Everett was probably my second favorite aspect of this book. They’re both thrown together kind of by chance, but they work their way to being vulnerable with each other. Seeing their relationship evolve helped to balance out some of the pretty horrific stuff that was going on around them. Moments of sweetness sprinkled throughout moments are helpful for someone who doesn’t necessarily read a lot of horror.
The plot does feel like it gets a little lost towards the middle of the book, but it finds itself again by the end. If you like dark academia with a sprinkle of mythology and curses, this will definitely be the book for you!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, and Gore
Minor: Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Child death
fanboyriot's review
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Read For:
Dark Magic
Small Town
Prep-School
Eerie Atmosphere
Dark Academia Vibes
Think Ace of Spades (by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé) meets a Supernatural episode.
This book was a great queer horror/thriller. The vengeful gods, creepy monster slaying, and a setting that was written really well, drawing the horror with the eerie atmosphere and learning the lore of the small town only made it all the more horrific; also had a sweet romance with new friends to lovers vibes.
Douglas was an entertaining main character even if I didn’t like some of the decisions he made at some points at the end. The beginning took me a minute to get into but the middle of this book was so good! The ending was good but also a bit bittersweet.
Thanks to NetGalley and the author/publisher for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
(First Person POV)
Spice: n/a (just kissing)
Rep: Gay MC, POC MC
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Death, Murder, Racism, and Homophobia
Moderate: Gaslighting, Classism, Cursing, Mental illness, Blood, Religious bigotry, and Gore
Minor: Suicide and Sexual assault
trippyotter's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A dark fantasy horror set in a sleepy town with a tragic history.
I read the summary, and I knew what I was about to read, but I didn't expect this...
Though the story takes place at the academy, it really has nothing to do with the school itself, but those that happen to be there and how they're manipulating those around them for their own purpose.
And that plot twist was a pleasant surprise and added another layer to the story, and it's horrific past.
I read the summary, and I knew what I was about to read, but I didn't expect this...
Though the story takes place at the academy, it really has nothing to do with the school itself, but those that happen to be there and how they're manipulating those around them for their own purpose.
And that plot twist was a pleasant surprise and added another layer to the story, and it's horrific past.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Homophobia, and Suicide
Minor: Sexual assault
booktribe's review
mysterious
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
5.0
The Forest Demands Its Due is a dark academia horror-fantasy about a queer Black boy, Douglas, who attends a boarding school that has murderous monsters and a curse on the town that makes everyone forget the kids who have been killed by those monsters. Except, Douglas doesn’t forget, and he may be the key to breaking the curse.
This book is just perfection! From the first page I knew this was going to be an amazing read. The writing sucked me in and never let me go. I loved so many things about it. It was incredibly creepy & mysterious, had so many twists & turns, there were so many layers to the story, and had the most lovable characters. Douglas was everything. I just wanted to protect him from the world🥺 And in a very shocking turn of events, I actually enjoyed the romantic subplot. I’m not usually a person who enjoys romance outside of the romance genre, but this was needed. The love interest, Everett, was so sweet. Douglas really needed a soft place to land during this story and that’s what Everett was to him. The ending was a tiny bit too long in my opinion, but that didn’t dampen my enjoyment. I really loved this book! I think it’s my favorite book of the year so far!🥰
I’d recommend this story to anyone who’s in the mood for a mysterious, fast paced, horror-fantasy with lovable characters and a plot that will keep you guessing! This is a book that will make you stay up all night reading because there’s never a good time to stop! Definitely pick this up when it comes out in October because it is the perfect Halloween/Autumn read!
(Also, have you seen this cover??? Perfection!)
(Also, have you seen this cover??? Perfection!)
Thank you to HarperCollins Children’s Books/Quill Tree Books and Netgalley for this arc. All opinions are my own.
TW: homophobia, homophobic slur, racism, death of a parent, sexual assault briefly mentioned
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia
Minor: Sexual assault
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