Book Review: The Darkest Part of the Forest

Title: The Darkest Part of the Forest

Author: Holly Black

Genre: Modern Fairytale/Fantasy

Book Blurb: 

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?

Review:

What a queer, queer book. I am not quite sure how to begin this review. Hell, I'm not even sure how I would categorize this book. Is this a fairytale? Well, yes, it does have some fairytale aspects. Is this fantasy? Um yes, but not in the "slay the dragon and find the rings" sort of way. Is this about character development? Yes, that too, it's a bit of a coming of age story. Is there a mystery? Yep. Romance? Yep. Oh, and did I mention all of this takes place in the modern world in a quaint little town named Fairfold?

This book was so bizarre it was strangely satisfying. I loved the whole setting of Fairfold...it kind of reminds me of the town in The Scorpio Races (can't think of the name right now). I think setting and world building was probably one of my favorite aspects of The Darkest Part of the Forest. Holly Black has a vivid imagination that translates well onto paper. And mind you, these aren't nice fairies you're dealing with--these are cruel, manipulative faes.

Much of the book is told from Hazel's point of view, with a few chapters from Ben's (her brother) and the "the horned boy". I really enjoyed Hazel's character--she grew up on a healthy diet of fairytales splashed with reality. Somehow, she managed to maintain that wonder as she grew into her teen years, though she does develop a sense of cynicism as well.

I guess I should also mention there's a lot of flashbacks going on--so readers who despise them, be warned! I personally didn't mind the flashbacks for most part, because they revealed more about the characters. I only got annoyed when the flashbacks got a bit too long (so over 2 pages, by my books.)

Okay, last but not least: the plot. The plot the plot the plot....I think it's both the strongest and weakest point of the book. The thing is, there really is no clear plot/goal for the first 1/2 to 2/3 of the story. You know how in most books you know the main story arch once you're about a 1/4 in? (ie. the hero must save the girl. the girl must escape the school. MC must survive the hunger games...) Yeah. That didn't happen here. The thing is, the entire storyline is so strange...it's almost as if this book was broken up into "movements" (musicians, ya'll understand me here.) The first "movement" was setting the scene, the second is about the "horned boy mystery" and flashbacks to Hazel's past, and the last movement is the "action" portion--you know, all the kick ass monster fighting stuff.

As for pacing...don't read this book if you're looking for a past page turner. Do read this book if you want to get immersed in a strange but familiar world.

Rating: