Review
The Darkest Part of the Forest
by Holly Black
Written in Holly Black’s incredible style, this book is not so much a story as it is a work of art. (Is that a little dramatic? Maybe, but I really liked this book.) Hazel’s journey is full of mystery, adventure, and twists that will leave you turning page after page. This is not an easy book to put down. No one writes faeries quite like Holly Black does.
This book is for every lover of faerie and those who have yet to be convinced.
★★★★★
Elements
It is very hard to find anything not to like about this book.
Thoughts
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
To be entirely honest, it was Holly Black’s name on the cover that convinced me to pick up this book. After reading the Folk of the Air series (which I absolutely loved), I was craving another faerie story and this seemed like it would get the job done.
THE BAD
So anyway, I bought this book with some impossibly high expectations and (as is often the case with impossible expectations) I was a little disappointed. Maybe it was just me, but I thought that a few parts of the story were a little slow. The magic that was such an integral part of the Folk of the Air series just wasn’t as present in this novel and I missed it. There definitely were still some faerie elements, but this story is set in the human world so they were less all encompassing.
THE GOOD
Having written so many fantasy novels, I think it’s safe to say that Holly Black knows what she’s doing at this point. And it shows. The story line and characters were brilliantly crafted and the writing of the novel is almost like poetry. Holly Black has really mastered her craft over the years and everything I have read by her, so far, has been really enjoyable. She just knows what to do with words. It’s very nice.
A general trend in Holly Black’s novels is strong female protagonists. (I would say that she alone is responsible for at least two of my top ten literary role models in life.) I really appreciated the strength and courage that defined Hazel as a person and her constant determination. This is no pretty-princess character, fellas.
Hazel wasn’t the only good character though. Her brother, Ben, was an amazing character and I enjoyed the switching perspectives between the two of them (something I am usually against). The bond between the two siblings was really well developed and fun to read.
THE LAST WORD
The Darkest Part of the Forest is truly a masterful work of faerie fiction that even those who are not a fan of the genre could find themselves enjoying.
Let’s be honest Holly Black knows how to write a good faerie story …
Rating: ★★★★★
Age Group: Upper YA (a little dark)
Recommendation: Yes
Related Cause: Feminism
Short Summary: Hazel the monster fighter.
Series: Single