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crumpette's review against another edition
2.0
At first I thought it was a bit quirky but interesting but then two thirds of the way through it just got super strange and I had to really make myself finish it.
aphelia88's review against another edition
2.0
The mention of H. P. Lovecraft in one of the back cover quotes intrigued me; although I haven't read that author, I have read mentions of his Elder Gods and different takes on his mythology in other works I've enjoyed. While I can see a similar type of ideology at work here, both the central love (more like obsession) triangle and eventual unveiling of the other realm failed to be affecting.
Stylistically, this is a slightly creepy read that gradually builds up a feeling a pervasive dread that slowly fizzles out. Set in Victorian London, it follows an unusual trio of friends: shy, sheltered Jane, the outgoing Maddy - with her Gothic affectations and sensibilities - and the dashingly handsome Nathan who beguiles them both. He has the personality of a lout, so it must be his long auburn hair and "Bryonic" moodiness that enthralls them. This relationship between the three only makes sense when, towards the end of the book, we are told that.
Nathan does have an unhealthy curiosity about otherworldly things.
If Maddy is a spider, and Jane is a blundering fly, then Nathan is the sticky web that binds them both. For while Maddy moons over Nathan, he in turn is fascinated by Jane. In her painful naivete, Jane imagines that his interest is romantic, but he is merely using her for her strange abilities.
After her mother dies (in an incredibly odd, hallucinatory way - supernaturally poisoned by air vents in a field of shale while out walking), Jane starts to see and hear the essence of man-made objects around her. Blindingly bright auras and terrible anguished noises. As these sights and sounds grow stronger, Jane starts to receive glimpses of an unnaturally still world beyond chaotic reality - the White Forest of the title - which Nathan helps her conceptualize as the Empyrean. When Jane touches others, she can share her perceptions with them, something she calls "the transference".
Jane is a doorway of sorts into this realm, but although she is drawn to enter, she fears it as well.
Then Nathan is sent to war and returns a changed boy. He becomes involved in a dark cult run by charismatic Ariston Day, a mystic determined to "unmake" the world, peeling away its layers until it returns to a primeval Paradise. He stages dramatic "provocations" to alter the reality of his disciples in an attempt at reaching altered consciousness. Such a notion does fit neatly with the Victorian interest in the occult and supernatural.
Nathan believes that the Empyrean is this Paradise and so he breaks his promise to Jane and tells Ariston of her talent. When Nathan disappears, Maddy goes mad, and Jane must push the limits of her unknown abilities to find him.
I did not find Ariston Day to be villainous enough. He spends far too long trying to convince Jane to join him, only to use physical force and manipulative coercion anyway. Why not have done so from the start, if she obviously need not be willing? Jane proves ridiculously easy to "provoke". His acolytes, the Fetches, are creepy but otherwise are of little important or menace. The famous Inspector Vidocq, who I kept waiting for more from (I was sure he was going to introduce Jane into the truth of her nature, and a hidden supernatural world) is completely superfluous.
Ultimately, although the setting of the showdown in the great Crystal Palace was inspired, none of the characters - not even pitiable Jane - is remotely likeable or sympathetic. And the white God apes in the Forest were just plain weird. A waste of time.
Stylistically, this is a slightly creepy read that gradually builds up a feeling a pervasive dread that slowly fizzles out. Set in Victorian London, it follows an unusual trio of friends: shy, sheltered Jane, the outgoing Maddy - with her Gothic affectations and sensibilities - and the dashingly handsome Nathan who beguiles them both. He has the personality of a lout, so it must be his long auburn hair and "Bryonic" moodiness that enthralls them. This relationship between the three only makes sense when, towards the end of the book, we are told that
Spoiler
Maddy's reasons for reaching out to weird, isolated Jane are a sort of "Cruel Intentions" style erotic game she's playing with Nathan, in order to win his affectionNathan does have an unhealthy curiosity about otherworldly things.
If Maddy is a spider, and Jane is a blundering fly, then Nathan is the sticky web that binds them both. For while Maddy moons over Nathan, he in turn is fascinated by Jane. In her painful naivete, Jane imagines that his interest is romantic, but he is merely using her for her strange abilities.
After her mother dies (in an incredibly odd, hallucinatory way - supernaturally poisoned by air vents in a field of shale while out walking), Jane starts to see and hear the essence of man-made objects around her. Blindingly bright auras and terrible anguished noises. As these sights and sounds grow stronger, Jane starts to receive glimpses of an unnaturally still world beyond chaotic reality - the White Forest of the title - which Nathan helps her conceptualize as the Empyrean. When Jane touches others, she can share her perceptions with them, something she calls "the transference".
Jane is a doorway of sorts into this realm, but although she is drawn to enter, she fears it as well.
Then Nathan is sent to war and returns a changed boy. He becomes involved in a dark cult run by charismatic Ariston Day, a mystic determined to "unmake" the world, peeling away its layers until it returns to a primeval Paradise. He stages dramatic "provocations" to alter the reality of his disciples in an attempt at reaching altered consciousness. Such a notion does fit neatly with the Victorian interest in the occult and supernatural.
Nathan believes that the Empyrean is this Paradise and so he breaks his promise to Jane and tells Ariston of her talent. When Nathan disappears, Maddy goes mad, and Jane must push the limits of her unknown abilities to find him.
I did not find Ariston Day to be villainous enough. He spends far too long trying to convince Jane to join him, only to use physical force and manipulative coercion anyway. Why not have done so from the start, if she obviously need not be willing? Jane proves ridiculously easy to "provoke". His acolytes, the Fetches, are creepy but otherwise are of little important or menace. The famous Inspector Vidocq, who I kept waiting for more from (I was sure he was going to introduce Jane into the truth of her nature, and a hidden supernatural world) is completely superfluous.
Ultimately, although the setting of the showdown in the great Crystal Palace was inspired, none of the characters - not even pitiable Jane - is remotely likeable or sympathetic. And the white God apes in the Forest were just plain weird. A waste of time.
luckyliza13's review against another edition
4.0
Great gothic read, beautiful vocabulary, lush settings, intriguing characters. Reminds me of Great & Terrible Beauty and The Night Circus.
pema66's review against another edition
1.0
Ugh. Why don't American authors write about what they know?! You're an American from Chicago? Set your novel in 19th century Illinois then. I gave up and left it on the bus after three chapters of terrible writing when it became clear that the author appeared to see Hampstead Heath as some sort of Yorkshire moor. Painful to read.
lamusadelils's review against another edition
3.0
Una gran combinación de fantasía en un entorno victoriano, con una trama novedosa que explota el ambiente gótico y la posibilidad de añadir elementos sobrenaturales sin las explicaciones que requiere la fantasia moderna.
Aunque la protagonista es agradable de leer y su extraño poder justifica muchas de sus conductas, a veces peca de querer ser heroína de un tipo de libro al que no pertenece.
Pero en general es un libro muy disfrutable y que es tan bonito que dan ganas de leerlo de nuevo incluso después de saber el final.
Aunque la protagonista es agradable de leer y su extraño poder justifica muchas de sus conductas, a veces peca de querer ser heroína de un tipo de libro al que no pertenece.
Pero en general es un libro muy disfrutable y que es tan bonito que dan ganas de leerlo de nuevo incluso después de saber el final.
pinkalpaca's review against another edition
4.0
To me this was a very original novel and I kept having to remind myself that it was written by a man. I thought that was rather surprising for this type of story. I really enjoyed the writing and the book moved right along. I loved the pacing and structure of the timeline; I get so sick of going back and forth between past and present and this was an excellent way of presenting that. The plot did take a rather unexpected turn towards the end but I think it was satisfactorily summed up.
morethanmylupus's review against another edition
1.0
I don't even know where to begin explaining how terrible this book was. I picked it up because it was (supposedly) comparable to Erin Morgenstern's [b:The Night Circus|9361589|The Night Circus|Erin Morgenstern|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320508797s/9361589.jpg|14245059], which I loved. It wasn't. Not even close.
McOmber completely failed to bring to life these characters and not a single one was particularly sympathetic. Moreover, the connections and relationships are shaky at best. Jane, Maddy and Nate are supposed to be the nearest and dearest of friends. It doesn't show. The main character, Jane, was a whiney brat. No matter the circumstances of her childhood, I just couldn't find myself liking her. Maddy is manipulative. Nate is selfish.
The what I will refer to as theology for want of a better term described in this book lacks sufficient details. Rather, the same details are repeated in different words. That didn't fool the reader into thinking she was gaining any new knowledge. While I have no problem with the creation of a new theology, I was wary of the interactions portrayed with other religions. Also, the explanation lacked so much detail that it hardly made sense. If the readers are supposed to be anxiously awaiting the completion of the novel to learn the details of this theology, well, good luck to them.
The other thing that bothered me was the descriptions I had read of this book's Victorian gothic story line. Um, no. If you want to read recently written Victorian gothic done right try [b:The Little Stranger|6065182|The Little Stranger|Sarah Waters|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348922866s/6065182.jpg|5769396].
I wanted to like this book, I really did. I just ... couldn't. The ratings this book got utterly baffles me.
McOmber completely failed to bring to life these characters and not a single one was particularly sympathetic. Moreover, the connections and relationships are shaky at best. Jane, Maddy and Nate are supposed to be the nearest and dearest of friends. It doesn't show. The main character, Jane, was a whiney brat. No matter the circumstances of her childhood, I just couldn't find myself liking her. Maddy is manipulative. Nate is selfish.
The what I will refer to as theology for want of a better term described in this book lacks sufficient details. Rather, the same details are repeated in different words. That didn't fool the reader into thinking she was gaining any new knowledge. While I have no problem with the creation of a new theology, I was wary of the interactions portrayed with other religions. Also, the explanation lacked so much detail that it hardly made sense. If the readers are supposed to be anxiously awaiting the completion of the novel to learn the details of this theology, well, good luck to them.
The other thing that bothered me was the descriptions I had read of this book's Victorian gothic story line. Um, no. If you want to read recently written Victorian gothic done right try [b:The Little Stranger|6065182|The Little Stranger|Sarah Waters|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348922866s/6065182.jpg|5769396].
I wanted to like this book, I really did. I just ... couldn't. The ratings this book got utterly baffles me.
bev_reads_mysteries's review against another edition
4.0
I was familiar with the realms of unnatural, for I myself was an unnatural. Not a monster in appearance; I looked like other young women, though perhaps not as primped and manicured. But I wasn't the same as other girls. My friends believed I was sick or gifted. Either way, I was unfortunate. Something entirely new upon the earth. (The White Forest by Adam McOmber)
I don't often do this, but...
Run, don't walk, to your nearest bookshop (or whatever means you have for feeding your reading addiction) and get your hands on this book. Do it now.
Adam McOmber has written an amazing first novel. It's weird and Gothic and lyrical and Victorian and literary and mythic and compelling. If there hadn't been these things called work and sleep, I would have sat down and read it straight through. It is not, however, a comfortable book. The protagonist, Jane Silverlake, isn't a particularly likeable character. Actually, none of the main characters are particularly likeable.
Jane has this odd power--she can hear and see the souls of inanimate, man-made object. The objects around her moan and sing and babble in a cacophony of sound. They shine and glow with colors. And at times she sees a world that does not belong to ours--a white forest that seems almost to be made of paper. She has been isolated for much of her life and when she comes into contact with Madeline and Nathan she doesn't know how to interact with them. She longs to belong and somehow thinks that if she shares her power with Nathan, she'll become closer to him.
Nathan becomes obsessed with her power and wants to experiment with her and what she can do. He isn't really interested in Jane (which is what she wants); he's hoping she can open up the world of Empyrean (or Paradise) for him. His obsession with Empyrean leads him to join a cult led by Ariston Day--a charismatic man who had collected a following of the sons of London's elite. They are all searching for a way to recreate London...and the rest of the world...as a new Paradise.
Madeline is jealous of Jane. She's jealous and afraid of her power. She doesn't like the way Nathan wants to be with Jane to learn more. Her cruelty to Jane and her willingness to hurt and even sacrifice Jane and her powers to rescue Nathan don't exactly recommend her as a bosom friend. But through most of the book, as Jane and Maddie try to find out what happened to Nathan and Jane searches to find out who she is and exactly what her powers represent, Jane clings to what remnants of friendship as she can find.
What initially interested me about the book was the mention of Inspector Vidocq. Regular readers of my blog will know that I am a vintage mystery addict. It intrigued me that Adam was using the actual historical detective in his novel and I was eager to see how that played out. Vidocq is brought in to investigate by Nathan's father when his son disappears. Unfortunately, Vidocq is a rather peripheral character--making few appearances and giving little evidence of being much like what I would expect from "the father of criminal investigation."
It is proof of Adam's skill as a writer that he was able to completely hook me on his story even though I didn't much care for his main characters and his detective wasn't quite what I expected. The mythos behind Jane's powers and the mystery surrounding them were so compelling and intriguing that it really didn't matter that I didn't like her or her friends much. I had to know what was happening. I had to keep reading until the end.
A wonderfully compelling book that, despite it's other-worldly qualities manages to be entirely believable. And perhaps that's due in part to the nature of the main characters. We all know that the world is full of people who may not be likeable, but who have powerful stories and who affect the world in so many ways. Four and a half stars.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.
I don't often do this, but...
Run, don't walk, to your nearest bookshop (or whatever means you have for feeding your reading addiction) and get your hands on this book. Do it now.
Adam McOmber has written an amazing first novel. It's weird and Gothic and lyrical and Victorian and literary and mythic and compelling. If there hadn't been these things called work and sleep, I would have sat down and read it straight through. It is not, however, a comfortable book. The protagonist, Jane Silverlake, isn't a particularly likeable character. Actually, none of the main characters are particularly likeable.
Jane has this odd power--she can hear and see the souls of inanimate, man-made object. The objects around her moan and sing and babble in a cacophony of sound. They shine and glow with colors. And at times she sees a world that does not belong to ours--a white forest that seems almost to be made of paper. She has been isolated for much of her life and when she comes into contact with Madeline and Nathan she doesn't know how to interact with them. She longs to belong and somehow thinks that if she shares her power with Nathan, she'll become closer to him.
Nathan becomes obsessed with her power and wants to experiment with her and what she can do. He isn't really interested in Jane (which is what she wants); he's hoping she can open up the world of Empyrean (or Paradise) for him. His obsession with Empyrean leads him to join a cult led by Ariston Day--a charismatic man who had collected a following of the sons of London's elite. They are all searching for a way to recreate London...and the rest of the world...as a new Paradise.
Madeline is jealous of Jane. She's jealous and afraid of her power. She doesn't like the way Nathan wants to be with Jane to learn more. Her cruelty to Jane and her willingness to hurt and even sacrifice Jane and her powers to rescue Nathan don't exactly recommend her as a bosom friend. But through most of the book, as Jane and Maddie try to find out what happened to Nathan and Jane searches to find out who she is and exactly what her powers represent, Jane clings to what remnants of friendship as she can find.
What initially interested me about the book was the mention of Inspector Vidocq. Regular readers of my blog will know that I am a vintage mystery addict. It intrigued me that Adam was using the actual historical detective in his novel and I was eager to see how that played out. Vidocq is brought in to investigate by Nathan's father when his son disappears. Unfortunately, Vidocq is a rather peripheral character--making few appearances and giving little evidence of being much like what I would expect from "the father of criminal investigation."
It is proof of Adam's skill as a writer that he was able to completely hook me on his story even though I didn't much care for his main characters and his detective wasn't quite what I expected. The mythos behind Jane's powers and the mystery surrounding them were so compelling and intriguing that it really didn't matter that I didn't like her or her friends much. I had to know what was happening. I had to keep reading until the end.
A wonderfully compelling book that, despite it's other-worldly qualities manages to be entirely believable. And perhaps that's due in part to the nature of the main characters. We all know that the world is full of people who may not be likeable, but who have powerful stories and who affect the world in so many ways. Four and a half stars.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.
eviebookish's review against another edition
5.0
Written in beautiful, 19th century-sque language, full of visually sumptuous sceneries and vividly depicted, memorable characters, The White Forest is a gorgeous gothic novel that combines elements of historical fiction, fantasy, horror and romance.
Set in Victorian England, this seductive and mysterious novel tells the story of one young man's sudden disappearance and the frantic search that ensues. The well-born son of Lord William Ashe, Nathan, goes missing. It happens not long after Nathan -- fascinated by the occult and metaphysical realities -- gets involved with the Temple of the Lamb. A daring and spirited soul, Nathan is always searching for answers, trying to look beyond what's instantly visible, experimenting, opening himself to the supernatural. Jane's extraordinary talents seem to have only deepened his curiosity for the otherwordly things. Now, Jane Silverlake, one of Nathan's closest friends, takes it upon herself to solve the mystery of his disappearance and - hopefully - get him back. Driven by love and guilt, armed with sharp intelligence and unnatural talents, Jane will not rest until she finds her dear friend. And soon she'll realize that she might be the only person in the world who can achieve that.
The story starts off rather slow and at first nothing suggests that The White Forest is anything more than a good historical novel. That, however, changes within the first few chapters, as we learn more about Jane and her unnatural abilities, as well as the mysterious Ariston Day and his dangerous cult. The tension -- while practically non-existent at the beginning - slowly but steadily builds up to an almost heart-stopping crescendo of panic at the end. At first, I had some trouble getting used to the snail-like pace of the story, but don't let that fool you! It is not a slow-paced novel all the way through. You'll be surprised at how fast you'll be flipping the pages in the second half of it!
The story flow is very gentle, almost dream-like. It allows the reader to fully immerse themselves in the plot and enjoy all the fabulously depicted visuals. I was amazed at how descriptive the prose was. Adam McOmber's writing style doesn't strike a single awkward note; it's sensual, mesmerizing, perceptive, and it engages not only your imagination, but also your senses. You can practically hear the soft rustling sound of leaves in the wind and you can feel the morning fog wrapping its cold, sticky arms around you. And, while the novel's pacing might feel just a tiny bit slow at the begging, the intensity of the gothic world will not make you bored or impatient.
Adam McOmber places heavy emphasis on atmosphere, using eerie settings and rich but concise prose to build suspense and a sense of disquiet in the reader. The plot is build around a mystery of Nathan's disappearance, pervaded by the feeling of threat and unease, enhanced by the unknown. Unexplainable things are happening all throughout the story. There are omens, ghostly apparitions, disturbing dream visions and seemingly prophetic phenomenons haunting the main character, Jane. The story is full of dramatic events, insightful flash-backs (that -- while very important to the plot -- more often than not raise more questions than they answer), and emotional, almost too-intimate-to-witness moments between the characters.
I loved the gentle but lustful prose. McOmber's vocabulary is rich and appropriate for the time period. It helps set the mood and creates an unforgettable, dark atmosphere that defines the gothic. The first-person narrative is dynamic, stimulating and engaging, and I found it nearly impossible to put the book down. At the same time, though, it is quite a demanding read that requires 100% of your attention. If you lose your focus, or try to skip a passage here and there, you'll find yourself going back to re-read certain parts in order to fully understand what's happening. This is, after all, an adult novel, and one that is not only thrilling and beautifully written, but also quite fascinating thanks to all the historical details it offers. I was especially excited to see the famous French detective, Vidocq, be part of the plot. His character added a realistic touch to the story, as well as a whole new different kind of threat to the well-being of our characters.
All in all, The White Forest is a fabulous, richly imagined read, and one that is bound to make a huge impression on readers. If you loved Kenneth Oppel's This Dark Endeavor and Such Wicked Intent, you'll definitely enjoy devouring this book, too. It's a real treat for fans of anything dark, sinister, eerie and gothic.
Set in Victorian England, this seductive and mysterious novel tells the story of one young man's sudden disappearance and the frantic search that ensues. The well-born son of Lord William Ashe, Nathan, goes missing. It happens not long after Nathan -- fascinated by the occult and metaphysical realities -- gets involved with the Temple of the Lamb. A daring and spirited soul, Nathan is always searching for answers, trying to look beyond what's instantly visible, experimenting, opening himself to the supernatural. Jane's extraordinary talents seem to have only deepened his curiosity for the otherwordly things. Now, Jane Silverlake, one of Nathan's closest friends, takes it upon herself to solve the mystery of his disappearance and - hopefully - get him back. Driven by love and guilt, armed with sharp intelligence and unnatural talents, Jane will not rest until she finds her dear friend. And soon she'll realize that she might be the only person in the world who can achieve that.
The story starts off rather slow and at first nothing suggests that The White Forest is anything more than a good historical novel. That, however, changes within the first few chapters, as we learn more about Jane and her unnatural abilities, as well as the mysterious Ariston Day and his dangerous cult. The tension -- while practically non-existent at the beginning - slowly but steadily builds up to an almost heart-stopping crescendo of panic at the end. At first, I had some trouble getting used to the snail-like pace of the story, but don't let that fool you! It is not a slow-paced novel all the way through. You'll be surprised at how fast you'll be flipping the pages in the second half of it!
The story flow is very gentle, almost dream-like. It allows the reader to fully immerse themselves in the plot and enjoy all the fabulously depicted visuals. I was amazed at how descriptive the prose was. Adam McOmber's writing style doesn't strike a single awkward note; it's sensual, mesmerizing, perceptive, and it engages not only your imagination, but also your senses. You can practically hear the soft rustling sound of leaves in the wind and you can feel the morning fog wrapping its cold, sticky arms around you. And, while the novel's pacing might feel just a tiny bit slow at the begging, the intensity of the gothic world will not make you bored or impatient.
Adam McOmber places heavy emphasis on atmosphere, using eerie settings and rich but concise prose to build suspense and a sense of disquiet in the reader. The plot is build around a mystery of Nathan's disappearance, pervaded by the feeling of threat and unease, enhanced by the unknown. Unexplainable things are happening all throughout the story. There are omens, ghostly apparitions, disturbing dream visions and seemingly prophetic phenomenons haunting the main character, Jane. The story is full of dramatic events, insightful flash-backs (that -- while very important to the plot -- more often than not raise more questions than they answer), and emotional, almost too-intimate-to-witness moments between the characters.
I loved the gentle but lustful prose. McOmber's vocabulary is rich and appropriate for the time period. It helps set the mood and creates an unforgettable, dark atmosphere that defines the gothic. The first-person narrative is dynamic, stimulating and engaging, and I found it nearly impossible to put the book down. At the same time, though, it is quite a demanding read that requires 100% of your attention. If you lose your focus, or try to skip a passage here and there, you'll find yourself going back to re-read certain parts in order to fully understand what's happening. This is, after all, an adult novel, and one that is not only thrilling and beautifully written, but also quite fascinating thanks to all the historical details it offers. I was especially excited to see the famous French detective, Vidocq, be part of the plot. His character added a realistic touch to the story, as well as a whole new different kind of threat to the well-being of our characters.
All in all, The White Forest is a fabulous, richly imagined read, and one that is bound to make a huge impression on readers. If you loved Kenneth Oppel's This Dark Endeavor and Such Wicked Intent, you'll definitely enjoy devouring this book, too. It's a real treat for fans of anything dark, sinister, eerie and gothic.