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A review by serendipitysbooks
These Silent Woods by Kimi Cunningham Grant
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
These Silent Woods is the story of father and daughter, Cooper and eight year old Finch. They live off the grid in a secluded forested area, their location known only to two other people. The reasons they live they way they do were slowly revealed as the story unfolded, and new threats to their safety and security arose.
Cooper is the quiet, silent type, loyal but flawed with a past that haunts him. He’s made some bad decisions but also been on the receiving end of bad luck and bad treatment. Finch is a delight, curious and precocious yet innocent. She had my heart from the beginning. Cooper I was less sure about. He seemed to love his daughter but how reliable and trustworthy was he? Was he actually a threat to her?
I loved Coop and Finch’s connection to the environment, the way they depended on it for much of their survival but also respected and protected it. I also loved the way the environment was written. The forest was practically a character in its own right. Fiction books with good nature writing seem to be a favourite niche genre and this one hit that mark.
Another thing I enjoyed about this story was the sense of unease that was present right from the beginning and ramped up as the story went on. As I became more invested in the characters my sense of unease only increased. Exactly what would happen if they were discovered? My desire to find out had me eagerly turning pages, keen to discover just what happened in the past and what might happen in the future.
The only part of the story that didn’t fully work for me was the ending. it seemed a little too convenient; all the danger, all the past history and resentments just disappeared with what felt like unrealistic ease. However, this didn’t affect my overall enjoyment of the book too much. I recognise its imperfections, but with its memorable characters, great atmosphere and absorbing storytelling this book was a winner for me.
Cooper is the quiet, silent type, loyal but flawed with a past that haunts him. He’s made some bad decisions but also been on the receiving end of bad luck and bad treatment. Finch is a delight, curious and precocious yet innocent. She had my heart from the beginning. Cooper I was less sure about. He seemed to love his daughter but how reliable and trustworthy was he? Was he actually a threat to her?
I loved Coop and Finch’s connection to the environment, the way they depended on it for much of their survival but also respected and protected it. I also loved the way the environment was written. The forest was practically a character in its own right. Fiction books with good nature writing seem to be a favourite niche genre and this one hit that mark.
Another thing I enjoyed about this story was the sense of unease that was present right from the beginning and ramped up as the story went on. As I became more invested in the characters my sense of unease only increased. Exactly what would happen if they were discovered? My desire to find out had me eagerly turning pages, keen to discover just what happened in the past and what might happen in the future.
The only part of the story that didn’t fully work for me was the ending. it seemed a little too convenient; all the danger, all the past history and resentments just disappeared with what felt like unrealistic ease. However, this didn’t affect my overall enjoyment of the book too much. I recognise its imperfections, but with its memorable characters, great atmosphere and absorbing storytelling this book was a winner for me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Violence