A review by moniquewrites
Forest of Souls by Lori M. Lee

adventurous tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

I received an e-arc from Page Street in advance of the release of Calling of Light. I also listened to part of the book on audio.

This was one of the best fantasy reads I’ve had in a long time! There are so many things to love like the descriptions of the cities (Vos Gillies was my favourite), the depth of the worldbuilding and how Lee does not shy away from naming the persecution and prejudice the Shamanborn have faced. The prose is decadent and every sentence is beautifully crafted. 

I loved the friendship and connection between Sirscha and Saengo the most, but I also was so interested in all the other characters. The banter with Theyen and the

fight scene that was like a dance with Prince Meilek was chef’s kiss

.

Another thing that I appreciated is that there is no romance in this book. Given Sirscha’s position and the fight for survival that she’s always endured, I appreciated that there was no romance subplot or clear love interest yet (although I kept looking for it and will

love Prince Meilek forever regardless

). It was more heartfelt to see Sirscha just make friends, honestly.

I know I’m going to reread this one again and can’t wait for the rest of the series.

Content warning: spiders (descriptive)