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bogyomszros 's review for:
Don't Let the Forest In
by C.G. Drews
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Well-constructed plot, with sometimes repetitive but atmospheric lyrical writing. (Except during two conversations about sexuality, those felt like a "so you're gay" pamphlet, creating quite the contrast.)
Good asexaul representation if you like them mentally unwell*.
The story had higher potential but resolution failed to fulfill that. The finale doesn't feel compatible with the logic of the story. (See spoilers!)
Much Ado About Nothing
i) Let's suspend our disbelief and accept the monsters, we are in a horror story after all. In this case, they truly needed a heart. Andrew was ready to give his, but then cut out Thomas's heart instead. Why? Thomas's heart is obviously more precious, they should share that and not Andrew's rotten one. Right? Also, the book literally says that Andrew's notebook was "his heart made paper". I thought that imagery was written there as a loophole so there would be no heartcutting at all! And why was it such a prolonged sacrifice, if they survived it anyway?
ii) If "Dove’s death was an accident and she never would have haunted you in revenge." , and "They were beautiful together; they were magic and monstrous, and they had created a whole vengeful world between them." statements are both true, then surely Andrew didn't create a vengeful world to avenge Dove. So then why? The obvious answer: against his bullies in the school. That would make sense, right? But then why did they sacrifice themselves to save the school and its bullies?
iii) The forest could also be Andrew's repressed feelings towards Thomas, and that would explain why in the end Thomas's heart was needed, but this would create other questions e.g. why was the notebook burried, why did the monster lick Andrew. (Manifestation of his sexual fantasies? No, because he said it multiple times he doesn't have carnal desires.)
iv)*Honestly, the only logical interpretation is that Andrew is indeed mentally unwell. I do believe Andrew suffers from schizophrenia that was triggered by his sister's death. Nothing is real, the monsters are in his head, and we are in his head. We are also in a much darker horror than we initially thought. Because this means Thomas plays along out of love and concern for Andrew who actually ends up murdering him in return. Andrew genuinely believes Thomas could have survived his heart being cut out... The actual text doesn't really support this. And I prefer the happier ending anyway, even if it doesn't quite make sense, which clearly bugged me enough that I wrote half an essay about it.
Good asexaul representation if you like them mentally unwell*.
The story had higher potential but resolution failed to fulfill that. The finale doesn't feel compatible with the logic of the story. (See spoilers!)
Much Ado About Nothing
i) Let's suspend our disbelief and accept the monsters, we are in a horror story after all. In this case, they truly needed a heart. Andrew was ready to give his, but then cut out Thomas's heart instead. Why? Thomas's heart is obviously more precious, they should share that and not Andrew's rotten one. Right? Also, the book literally says that Andrew's notebook was "his heart made paper". I thought that imagery was written there as a loophole so there would be no heartcutting at all! And why was it such a prolonged sacrifice, if they survived it anyway?
ii) If "Dove’s death was an accident and she never would have haunted you in revenge." , and "They were beautiful together; they were magic and monstrous, and they had created a whole vengeful world between them." statements are both true, then surely Andrew didn't create a vengeful world to avenge Dove. So then why? The obvious answer: against his bullies in the school. That would make sense, right? But then why did they sacrifice themselves to save the school and its bullies?
iii) The forest could also be Andrew's repressed feelings towards Thomas, and that would explain why in the end Thomas's heart was needed, but this would create other questions e.g. why was the notebook burried, why did the monster lick Andrew. (Manifestation of his sexual fantasies? No, because he said it multiple times he doesn't have carnal desires.)
iv)*Honestly, the only logical interpretation is that Andrew is indeed mentally unwell. I do believe Andrew suffers from schizophrenia that was triggered by his sister's death. Nothing is real, the monsters are in his head, and we are in his head. We are also in a much darker horror than we initially thought. Because this means Thomas plays along out of love and concern for Andrew who actually ends up murdering him in return. Andrew genuinely believes Thomas could have survived his heart being cut out... The actual text doesn't really support this. And I prefer the happier ending anyway, even if it doesn't quite make sense, which clearly bugged me enough that I wrote half an essay about it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Homophobia, Murder
Moderate: Death, Eating disorder