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A review by stephaniecommerer
Don't Let the Forest In by C.G. Drews
5.0
I'd like to thank CG Drews, NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book was brilliant. I wish there was more, the ended had me gasping for air as if my lungs were being wrapped in vines. This YA Psychological Horror was absolutely breath taking.
Our story takes place at Wickwood Academy, a school for rich kids to send their kids, and its surrounded by a forest. Andrew, our main character, loves to write macabre stories, beautiful and sad with a twist to turn them dark. Andrew's twin sister Dove is an academic, and this year she's upset with him and giving him the cold shoulder. Thomas is Andrew's best friend, he's fiery and protective and violent, but he's withholding something from Andrew. Andrew has secrets too, he's in love with Thomas, but he's asexual and not sure how to approach the idea of a romantic relationship. Besides the usual teenage angst there's something going on with the forest, monsters are trying to get into the school, and the only ones who can stop them are Andrew and Thomas, their creators.
This book was the epitome of gothic literature with fantastical dark academia. Filled with wild fantasy creatures with a thirst for blood, and body horror with an angsty queer love story. I wish there was more, I ache for it. The ending left me staring at my ceiling, wondering what I'm supposed to do with my life now that I've finished this book.
Trigger Warnings I've Collected: Disordered eating, body horror, homophobia, bullying, child death
This book was brilliant. I wish there was more, the ended had me gasping for air as if my lungs were being wrapped in vines. This YA Psychological Horror was absolutely breath taking.
Our story takes place at Wickwood Academy, a school for rich kids to send their kids, and its surrounded by a forest. Andrew, our main character, loves to write macabre stories, beautiful and sad with a twist to turn them dark. Andrew's twin sister Dove is an academic, and this year she's upset with him and giving him the cold shoulder. Thomas is Andrew's best friend, he's fiery and protective and violent, but he's withholding something from Andrew. Andrew has secrets too, he's in love with Thomas, but he's asexual and not sure how to approach the idea of a romantic relationship. Besides the usual teenage angst there's something going on with the forest, monsters are trying to get into the school, and the only ones who can stop them are Andrew and Thomas, their creators.
This book was the epitome of gothic literature with fantastical dark academia. Filled with wild fantasy creatures with a thirst for blood, and body horror with an angsty queer love story. I wish there was more, I ache for it. The ending left me staring at my ceiling, wondering what I'm supposed to do with my life now that I've finished this book.
Trigger Warnings I've Collected: Disordered eating, body horror, homophobia, bullying, child death
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Homophobia