Title: The Darkest Park of the Forest
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Hachette
Genre: Young Adult Fiction - Fantasy
Release Date: January 13, 2015
Source: ARC provided by the publisher, opinions are honest and my own. – review policy here.
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.
Hazel lives with her brother, Ben, in the strange town of Fairfold where humans and fae exist side by side. The faeries’ seemingly harmless magic attracts tourists, but Hazel knows how dangerous they can be, and she knows how to stop them. Or she did, once.
At the center of it all, there is a glass coffin in the woods. It rests right on the ground and in it sleeps a boy with horns on his head and ears as pointed as knives. Hazel and Ben were both in love with him as children. The boy has slept there for generations, never waking.
Until one day, he does…
As the world turns upside down, Hazel tries to remember her years pretending to be a knight. But swept up in new love, shifting loyalties, and the fresh sting of betrayal, will it be enough? – via Goodreads
Hazel lives with her brother, Ben, in the strange town of Fairfold where humans and fae exist side by side. The faeries’ seemingly harmless magic attracts tourists, but Hazel knows how dangerous they can be, and she knows how to stop them. Or she did, once.
At the center of it all, there is a glass coffin in the woods. It rests right on the ground and in it sleeps a boy with horns on his head and ears as pointed as knives. Hazel and Ben were both in love with him as children. The boy has slept there for generations, never waking.
Until one day, he does…
As the world turns upside down, Hazel tries to remember her years pretending to be a knight. But swept up in new love, shifting loyalties, and the fresh sting of betrayal, will it be enough? – via Goodreads
I was nervous...
This was my first time reading a full-length Holly Black novel. I had read a holiday short story of hers in My True Love Gave To Me and did not care for it all. I had already requested this and still dove in because I do love me some fae. Plus, curiosity...
It DID NOT disappoint!!!!
Overall there has not been a magical fantasy that has hit me quiet like this since The Iron Fey series. DPoTF is a standalone but Black does not cheat us in world building or character development. If anything these items were done so well I just hugged the crap out of my iPad and weeped since I knew I could not go back. *sniffles* I want more!!!
Take me away, please
Our heroine protag, Hazel dreams of being a knight as a child and, along with her brother, goes galavanting in the forests of Fairfold in hunt for bad fae. Hazel is strong, to a fault, giving her room for growing pains, poor decision making, and redemption. Her loyalty is endearing and admirable.
While Hazel is the protag, the men steal the scene for me. The boy in glass case is riddled with so much history and mystery in the last pages I already wanted a prequel. Jack and Ben, Hazel's brother, offer a nice dynamic displaying diversity and adversity in both the fae worlds and human one. Both captured my hearts for different reasons and I want more of them. *swoons*
So why can't I have more?!?!
I really can't figure out why this isn't listed as a series. The Fey and human world work together so well I really want to re-read parts of this soon and I'm NOT someone who re-reads. The biggest flaw in this story is that it ends.
4.5 Stars – Fairies, sprites, pixies, fae royalty and knights make me want to get lost and discover the sequel.
I agree with ALL the things! Especially the part about the book ending! It really could be a series, there is so much to this world, and so many possibilities for more books. And I was glad I'd already read it before reading the story in My True Love Gave to Me, because like you, it was NOT my favorite, and I don't know if I'd have read this AMAZING book based on that story. Great review!
ReplyDeleteI am really surprised that this is not a a series or at least a trilogy. Maybe she will see how much everyone loved it and give you all some more. I really want to read this one and both yours and Berls reviews have been positive so I might have to try this one soon. :)
ReplyDelete