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kebliss 's review for:
The Waking Forest
by Alyssa Wees
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In a Sentence
A girl with horrible visions and a witch who grants wishes finds their stories intertwined.
Summary
From Penguin Random House/Delacorte Press:
The waking forest has secrets. To Rhea, it appears like a mirage, dark and dense, at the very edge of her backyard. But when she reaches out to touch it, the forest vanishes. She’s desperate to know more–until she finds a peculiar boy who offers to reveal its secrets. If she plays a game.
To the Witch, the forest is her home, where she sits on her throne of carved bone, waiting for dreaming children to beg her to grant their wishes. One night, a mysterious visitor arrives and asks her what she wishes for, but the Witch sends him away. And then the uninvited guest returns.
The strangers are just the beginning. Something is stirring in the forest, and when Rhea’s and the Witch’s paths collide, a truth more treacherous and deadly than either could ever imagine surfaces. But how much are they willing to risk to survive?
Review
This is a book in two parts. I don’t say that figuratively–it’s divided into Parts One and Two. Part One alternates between the Witch of Wishes, a young witch who lives in a forest and grants children’s wishes, and Rhea, a teen with three sisters who has disturbing visions of death and decay. Once the two characters’ connection is made clear, Part Two continues the story.
I quite liked Part One. The witch chapters were wonderfully, magically strange, and the chapters about Rhea were equal parts relatable, quirky familial charm and a mounting, sinister sense of dread. Sometimes the writing went a little overboard into purple prose territory, but it was overall very engaging and enjoyable.
The problem is Part Two. So, actually to reverse what I said earlier: I am speaking figuratively. And literally. It’s a twofer.
I’ll save the in depth explanation of my issues for the Spoil Sport, but to sum up: it just doesn’t work for me. Given the setup in Part One, Part Two is an awkwardly constructed disappointment. It builds on conflict that it didn’t actually establish, much less earn in first two-thirds. Wees tried something different, which is always nice to see, but it didn’t pan out.
Rating
2.5 Stars
Recommend to a Friend?
Based on Part One alone, I would happily recommended this to anyone who enjoyed Wicked Like a Wildfire. Similar tone, similar creative uses magic and imagery, the importance of sisters.
Including Part Two? Well, perhaps if you like upended fairy tales, unconventional narrative devices, and anachronistic language, this will be your cup of tea.
In a Sentence
A girl with horrible visions and a witch who grants wishes finds their stories intertwined.
Summary
From Penguin Random House/Delacorte Press:
The waking forest has secrets. To Rhea, it appears like a mirage, dark and dense, at the very edge of her backyard. But when she reaches out to touch it, the forest vanishes. She’s desperate to know more–until she finds a peculiar boy who offers to reveal its secrets. If she plays a game.
To the Witch, the forest is her home, where she sits on her throne of carved bone, waiting for dreaming children to beg her to grant their wishes. One night, a mysterious visitor arrives and asks her what she wishes for, but the Witch sends him away. And then the uninvited guest returns.
The strangers are just the beginning. Something is stirring in the forest, and when Rhea’s and the Witch’s paths collide, a truth more treacherous and deadly than either could ever imagine surfaces. But how much are they willing to risk to survive?
Review
This is a book in two parts. I don’t say that figuratively–it’s divided into Parts One and Two. Part One alternates between the Witch of Wishes, a young witch who lives in a forest and grants children’s wishes, and Rhea, a teen with three sisters who has disturbing visions of death and decay. Once the two characters’ connection is made clear, Part Two continues the story.
I quite liked Part One. The witch chapters were wonderfully, magically strange, and the chapters about Rhea were equal parts relatable, quirky familial charm and a mounting, sinister sense of dread. Sometimes the writing went a little overboard into purple prose territory, but it was overall very engaging and enjoyable.
The problem is Part Two. So, actually to reverse what I said earlier: I am speaking figuratively. And literally. It’s a twofer.
I’ll save the in depth explanation of my issues for the Spoil Sport, but to sum up: it just doesn’t work for me. Given the setup in Part One, Part Two is an awkwardly constructed disappointment. It builds on conflict that it didn’t actually establish, much less earn in first two-thirds. Wees tried something different, which is always nice to see, but it didn’t pan out.
Rating
2.5 Stars
Recommend to a Friend?
Based on Part One alone, I would happily recommended this to anyone who enjoyed Wicked Like a Wildfire. Similar tone, similar creative uses magic and imagery, the importance of sisters.
Including Part Two? Well, perhaps if you like upended fairy tales, unconventional narrative devices, and anachronistic language, this will be your cup of tea.