Book Review | The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black

January 15, 2015
Little, Brown and Company

Children can have a cruel, absolute sense of justice.

Children can kill a monster and feel quite proud of themselves.

A girl can look at her brother and believe they’re destined to be a knight and a bard who battle evil.

She can believe she’s found the thing she’s been made for.

After reading DOLL BONES recently, I've decided not to expect too much from another Holly Black book. THE DARKEST PART OF THE FOREST proved itself more than the usual expectations.  It turned out to be both intriguing and enjoyable.

Siblings Hazel and Ben grew up in Fairfold, a strange town known for its proximity with the Faery creatures. In the woods lies a beautiful prince in a glass coffin, any day could be a chance encounter with any creature unbeknownst, and at the heart of the forest rests a monster. But except for the occasional disappearance of tourists, both humans and fae coexist, more or less, in peace… until these last fifteen years.

As children, Hazel and Ben were self-sworn knights to protect their community from any dangerous fae creatures that prey on humans. While circumstances happened and Ben decided to move on from their childhood knighthood, Hazel remained to yearn for the hunt. And now that dangerous things are happening in Fairfold, Hazel decided to take up the mantle once again.

Children can have a cruel, absolute sense of justice…She can look at her brother and believe that together they’re knight and a bard who battle evil, who might someday find and fight even the monster at the heart of the forest.

THE DARKEST PART OF THE FOREST is beautifully written. The excitement escalates up to the last page. It was really hard to put down. The characters are distinct and binding. Ben and Hazel fit like a T and worth rooting for. Ben is quiet and passionate, while Hazel is impulsive and extremely loyal. In spite of their absentee parents and strange upbringing, they have unwavering sibling devotion, steadfast love for each other. Once again, I commend Ms. Black for establishing functional family relationships in her stories.

I recommend this intriguing page-turner. I’m sure you’ll love the characters, the suspense, and the well-played revelation near the end.

Book detail:

Title: The Darkest Part of the Forest

Author: Holly Black

Publication: January 15, 2015; Little, Brown, and Company

Genre: YA Fiction, Fantasy, Paranormal

Rating: ★★★★

*Thank you Little, Brown, and Company for sending a copy in exchange for an honest review.

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DOLL BONES by Holly Black

No Baby Talk, No Play, No Toys.

   

Zach, Poppy, and Alice are playmates for the longest time. They love making up stories out of their action figures. Their latest story involves the pirate William the Blade and the thief Lady Jaye, on a quest for the Queen, an old china doll that resides in a display cabinet. But like any good story, unfortunate things happen.  Zach's father threw away all his action figures, insisting that Zach is too old to play with them, and it’s time to grow up.

He was too angry and too ashamed to admit this event to his friends; Zach pretended that he doesn't want to play with Poppy and Alice anymore. He did everything to keep them off. Then, one night Poppy and Alice sneaked out to seek Zach’s help. They have to complete a final quest for the Queen –they need to bury her for her soul to rest in peace.

He wondered whether growing up was learning that most stories turned out to be lies.

The story is not exactly creepy as far as a ghost story is concerned, but it is enough to keep the quest going. The story focuses more on the friendship, their accountability for each other, and that confusing journey between childhood and adolescence.  It was very interesting how Holly Black skillfully handled the conflict brought about by situations when adults decide to tell kids that they can no longer act like kids, that their childish imaginations are no longer tolerable. Equally, between  Zach, Poppy, and Alice, the tension of growing up and making different choices are beginning to get to them. Each of them is growing up separately and in different stages.

I hate that you can do what you're supposed to do and I can't. I hate that you're going to leave me behind. I hate that everyone calls it growing up, but it seems like dying. It feels like each one of you is being possessed and I'm next.

I like how these kids came from different family settings to show that each child’s family is vital in their quest in the outside world. Kids need to know that no matter how inevitable changes are, no matter how different, they have a family to go back to and understand them. I like how it showed how important imagination and creativity are for adults, as much as they are for kids.  In a nutshell, this ghost story is creepy on the edges but soft, gooey, and thoughtful at the center.

Book details:

Title:  Doll Bones

Author:  Holly Black

Publication: Margaret K. McElderry Books (May 7, 2013)

Genre:  Fiction / Adventure

Rating:  ★★★

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