A review by adancewithbooks
We Are All Ghosts in the Forest by Lorraine Wilson

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

  Thank you to Solaris and Netgalley for the review copy in exchange for an honest review. This does not change my opinion in anyway.

I wasn't quite sure what to expect from We're All Ghost in the Forest when I picked it up. I have never read anything by the author before and I didn't look too closely at the synopsis. So I went in very blind. I think that worked out fine. 

One of my biggest gripes often can be when books don't do much world building. I'm sure some will complain about the book not explaining how the internet broke and how it is possible that there are internet ghosts. But that isn't really what this book is about. And it takes a strong writer to not make me question about that. And beyond just that question, there is plenty of world building going around. I have a very good idea what the world is like at that moment and what the world was like before it happened. 

It is not an easy world. They've reverted back to mostly rural and farming. There doesn't seem to be much technology, just whatever survived the breakdown, like the motor. But not only that reverted. Being different gets you marked as an outside. And not just her herbal skills make Katherina stand out. She is also (partial) Indian. She doesn't adapt to the town's way of things but prefers her own way. Which is strike 3 as far as they are concerned. 

It took a little for me to get invested. I needed a little to get my bearings on the setting and our main character Katherina. But by the end I did truly feel for her and I loved her bond with Stefan. Also her bond with the autistic town girl. Katherina accepts her for who she is and it is only mentioned once that she is autistic. 

A lot of the book is about finding a place to belong and about trusting others. About being able to let others in. About letting your prejudice fall. 
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