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A review by albernikolauras
Don't Let the Forest In by C.G. Drews

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

3.5

Don't Let the Forest In is - at its surface - a pair of students obsessed with each other in a probably not healthy way confronting monsters in the forest.

A lot of my conflicts about the books are spoilery. At first, I was ambivalent about the book, and then the plot really drew me in. But then, the ending happened and I didn't feel satisfied. It felt like there was either not enough explanation or there needed to be another twist or some sort of resolution that was just missing.

That twist? I have thoughts.

I really thought the ace rep in this was interesting and different, and I enjoyed that the MC was grappling with what it meant to be both attracted and obsessed with someone, but also ace. However, I do feel like
(as an ace person) the way Andrew and Thomas discussed potentially having a relationship left the ace/allo dynamics out and honestly procrastinated that discussion to further down the line in an unsatisfying way and so I feel like I can't forsee them being as together in a healthier version of their relationship.


All in all, I found this riveting and I loved the art in the book and the descriptions of the monsters, the atmosphere, the forest. The characters were overdramatic and overdependent, but I was enjoying it. But either I missed the depth this book needed to pull off its ending or the book was missing it (in my opinion).
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