The Darkest Part of the Forest

"The hardest thing about being wanted was the hardest thing about wanting- wanting badly enough that it gave you a stomachache, wanting in the way that was partly about kissing and partly about swallowing whole, the way a snake gulps down a mouse or the Big Bad Wolf gulps down Red Riding Hood-wanting turned someone you felt like you knew into a stranger."

Holly Black

The Darkest Part of the Woods

After the last book I was in need of something lighter, something a lot less, well, fucked up. For that I turned to the Indie Bound YA book of the year: The Darkest Part of the Forest. I was not disappointed. Holly Black serves up dark teen fantasy like no one can with real characters reacting to very unreal situations with the Fair Folk, strong female leads that kick serious ass, and a wonderful lack of love triangles. Tithe, Valiant, and Ironside started this trend, and Darkest Part of the Woods drives it home.

This story follows Hazel, an awesome, no nonsense teen, very real in her teen struggles of fitting in, and her brother, Ben, a 'gifted' musical prodigy. In the small town of Fairfold, they coexist with Folk, and visit the coffin that contains the beautiful horned boy in the forest....until it doesn't. 

This book pulled me through, with its old dark mysticism, and the wonderful character of Hazel, I was unable to put it down. I cannot wait for the next book Holly Black puts out.