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adancewithbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
3.0
Thank you to Page Street YA and Netgalley for the review copy in exchange for an honest review. This does not change my opinion in anyway
Forest of Souls is an older YA that first released in 2020. Because of the release of the third book in the series this year, it has appeared back on netgalley. Because I had always been interested in this book I decided to give it a go.
The story starts with Sircha and showing us what her life is like. She tries to become the next royal spy in secret while trudging along amongst soldiers in her day to day life. When it is revealed she is not going to be the next royal spy by accident, her need to show she can do this makes her step into a much bigger situation.
Forest of Souls has some great ideas but it fell incredibly flat on execution. Nothing about this book came truly alive for me.
Sirscha is a very fierce character and that is great. She wants to prove herself and seems very loyal to her friends. However I missed the actual emotions when it came to what was happening to her. She constantly shoots into some kind of idea or action without truly standing still. There is no room for any emotions. This does not at all feel deliberate unfortunately. It created a lack of depth.
The other side characters are very much the same. As much as I instantly fell for Theyen for instance, it is clear he just has a role to play. The same goes for her best friend Saengo. They are a role, a tool to propel Sirscha further.
Adding on to that I found that some of the conclusions that Sirscha was taking when it came to her powers and what was really going on, were a bit far-fetched. She just waltzes in with her new powers that she has no control over and thinks she knows how to fix everything. It was annoying to follow to be honest.
I did truly appreciate that there was no romance or very few hints at any romance for the future.
Would I read on with this series? I'm not sure.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Torture
ice_creamery's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
I am literally obsessed with this book and I can’t wait to read the next one. The whole vibe was very dark but I also just have to say—THE COVER IS SO PRETTY (but I mean it’s Charlie Bowater we don’t expect anything other than the best). Anyway, I LOVE THIS. That’s it I don’t know what else to say it’s really really good.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Blood
Moderate: Torture
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