Books › The Darkest Part of the Forest
The Darkest Part of the Forest
368 pages
A dark, modern fairytale where the woods are full of teeth and the girl with the sword is the most dangerous thing of all.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like stepping into a crisp, autumnal forest where the shadows are just a little too long and the leaves hide sharp teeth. It balances the mundane reality of high school parties with the intoxicating, terrifying allure of ancient folklore. The narrative moves at a brisk, compelling pace, driven by a deeply felt exploration of sibling loyalty and the messy transition from childhood make-believe to adult consequence. The prose is both lyrical and razor-sharp, capturing the eerie beauty of the fae and the fierce, protective love between a brother and sister. It is a darkly romantic, atmospheric experience that will delight anyone who prefers their fairytales laced with real danger, queer romance, and girls who rescue themselves.
- Mood
- autumnal
- enchanted
- dread-tinged
- nostalgic
- Tone
- eerie
- yearning
- darkly romantic
- wry
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- sibling loyalty · loss of childhood innocence · the allure of danger · reclaiming personal power · monstrousness
- The writing
- The prose is sharp and atmospheric, seamlessly weaving the mundane grit of modern teenage life with the lyrical, blood-soaked poetry of dark folklore.
- The arc
- The journey moves from a suppressed, nostalgic yearning for a forgotten past into a fierce, bloody reclamation of self and agency.
- Who it's for
- Perfect for readers who crave dangerous faeries, girls who wield swords instead of waiting for rescue, and deeply intertwined sibling relationships.
Content notes
- fantasy violence
- blood
- magical coercion
- underage drinking
About the book
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?
Description from Open Library.
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