Forget Me Not

Chimera #1

by Anca Antoci

She survived the monsters in the woods—but to keep her memories, she’ll have to outwit the creatures who want her silence.


They saved her life. Now they want her silence.
After losing her sister, nineteen-year-old Rae Davis has nothing left to live for—until a brutal vampire attack in the Alaskan wilderness forces her to fight for survival.
When she wakes in a hidden cabin, nursed back to health by strangers who aren't quite human, Rae begins to understand: the world is not what it seems. There are creatures who live in shadow, bound by ancient laws and the price of knowing they exist is silence.
To protect the code, a vampire offers Rae a choice: forget everything, or die.
But Rae’s not ready to forget. Not the forest. Not the wolves. And not the man who made her feel alive again.
Some memories won’t stay buried.
And some secrets are too big to erase.

For fans of A Discovery of Witches, The Coldest Girl in Coldtown, and Mercy Thompson—stories where the supernatural is secret, the stakes are deadly, and the heroine is the last one you should underestimate.
Tropes you'll find inside:
- Hidden supernatural world
- Wilderness survival
- Memory-wipe dilemma
- Found family
- Chosen one (slow burn)
- Forbidden love (but not the point)
- Prophecies, secrets, and supernatural politics
- Vampires, shifters, and a girl caught in between

Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal

275 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 31, 2020

About the author

Anca Antoci is a Romanian fantasy author who writes small-town paranormal stories where folklore is real, the food is excellent, and the suspects might have fangs.

Her interconnected supernatural universe begins with the novella Blood Knight and spans the high-stakes Chimera Trilogy and the Paranormal Misadventures series. There, a witch, a vârcolac, and a perpetually unimpressed police inspector investigate cases drawn from authentic Romanian myth—usually while arguing.

Her books blend gothic undertones with cozy mystery vibes, morally gray characters, and banter that refuses to behave.

When she’s not writing, Anca’s reading, blogging, or exploring productivity and self-growth on Medium. She's also the founder of https://www.summonfantasy.com, a hub for fantasy lovers.

💡 Want exclusive content and behind-the-scenes looks? Join her on Patreon.
📚 Follow Anca on social media for book recs, story updates, and probably too many photos of food:

Twitter: @AncaAntoci
Facebook: @AncaAntociBooks
Instagram: @anca.antoci
BookBub: @AncaAntoci
TikTok: @ancawrites
Patreon: AncaAntoci
Medium: @ancaantoci
Threads: @anca.antoci

Reviews

[Paige · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received this book from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: Forget Me Not

Author: Anca Antoci

Book Series: Standalone

Rating: 3.5/5

Recommended For...: Fantasy lovers

Publication Date: January 31, 2020

Publisher: indie published

Pages: 300

Recommended Age: 16+ (violence, slight gore, alcohol usage, drugs, slight sexual content, suicidal thoughts TW)

Synopsis: When tragedy strikes, Rae makes a terrible choice and struggles with the aftermath. In the wilderness of the Tongass rainforest, she finds herself hunted by creatures of hell, monsters she never dreamed could be real.

A hidden world, an ancient race, and a secret she discovers by accident give a new meaning to her life but only if she can escape and return to civilization. If she is to survive, Rae must comply with Ari, her reluctant hero, and allow him to wipe away any memory of this realm. Knowledge is power, but is it worth dying for?

When push comes to shove, that's when real strength emerges.

Review: I really liked this book for the most part! The plot was intriguing and kept me interested in the book all the way through the novel. The world building was also very well done and the book is evenly paced.


However, the writing could have been a bit better. There was not a lot of showing in the writing, just a lot of telling. There also wasn't a lot of character development for me, just a lot of exposition.

Verdict: It's good still!

[Elle Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's difficult to write a character that is flawed but also likeable. Antoci has accomplished this in a skill that is not often seen in debut authors. The protagonist Rae is flawed, but her mistakes are endearing because of what she is going through, and that's what makes her compelling, because she is wonderfully relatable. We all have weak moments, especially when we are hurting. Antoci reflects Rae's pain vividly in the beginning of the book, which in turn immediately captivates the reader. But what is so great about this book, is Rae's growth. I absolutely adore a good character arch, and Rae's is worth the journey. By the end of the book she has gained confidence and strength in a way that is truly heartwarming. 
In addition to a well crafted character arch, Forget Me Not is a book that has you on the edge of your seat, wondering what will happen next. If you love vampires, werewolves, and all lovely creatures of Fantasy, this book is a must read! I also really appreciated the way Antoci gave old legends a new spin. One of my favorite passages is from page 117- But Adam wanted to rule over her as he did over the animals and other creatures on earth, while Lilith claimed to be his equal because she was created from the same dust. He tried to subdue her and make Lilith obey him but she was too willful to be submissive. Eventually, Lilith left Adam and the Garden of Eden to find happiness elsewhere. Brilliant! 
I'm excited for the future books in the Chimera series! The literary world needs authors like Antoci. Her originality and craft at story telling is a recipe for successful Urban Fantasy. Highly recommended! 

[L.H. Pritchard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 3 stars

This book had me perplexed slightly. I had read many books in the same vain as this one, all either dabbling in fantasy, fate and prophecy or vampires and werewolves with and without romance. But never mixing the two together in such away. I felt like things that I had read previously gave me good insight into that kind of subject matter.

There were a few niggles I had, (might just be my inner writer coming out and over analysing things.) However when it concerns vampire, as this a subject I am truly passionate about, I personally need them to be gritter, the thing to fear and lust over, and when it came to that expect it wasn't enough for me. But that is how I see a vampires and is shown by the fact I have written my own vampire novel. So that is completely my oppionoin. That being said not even my book is a anywhere as fearful, monsterus or as good as a classic vampire novel. And never will be.

But the thing that kept me turning the page is that I felt in captured into the story. What Anca does really well is painting a picture of what is going on by the way she writes. I was investing in her character and the details she had for them all especially the animalistic nature of the wolves. And had to keep reading! I believe her strength lies in how she tells a story and improvement should come in time.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went into this book somewhat blind, knowing only that it would fall in the Fantasy genre. Also, I was supplied with an Advanced Reader’s Copy and already knew that this was to be the author’s first published novel.

I’m always nervous starting any new work of Fiction, especially if I’m already biased in favor of the book, for any number of reasons (it’s a sequel, well-known author, possible breakout author, etc). FORGET ME NOT was no different.

The first thing that grabbed me about the book was that it grabbed me. Over the course of reading FMN, it felt to me that I could really sense the author honing her craft. The second third was tighter and more polished, and by the final third, the writing was as good as any Fantasy that I’ve read. In the first chapters though, even though the prose was a little loose, the story grabbed me right away and effortlessly kept my attention.

FMN is hard to put down, and easy to pick back up.

The story was well thought out and crafted with many layers that are only revealed a little at a time. It introduces us to a new world, but we’re not carelessly tossed into the deep end. This, the first of a trilogy, gives us little tastes of the Fantasy in this world, but it doesn’t stay focused on it. Instead it focuses on fleshing out each of the key characters, creating a bond between the reader and Rae (the main character) and forming the relationships between Rae and all of the people she/we are introduced to.

One of the things I really like about this novel is how the story is broken into thirds. Each of these thirds ushers in large plot points, but you don’t see the end of one and the beginning of the next until you’re suddenly there.

FORGET ME NOT neatly wraps up the story of this first book in a satisfying way, but leaves you with enough plot points of interest and unanswered questions to have you anxious for the next installment in the CHIMERA series. I definitely recommend that you give it a try.

[Andrei Rosu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it. It is a bit obvious in the beginning that this is the first book of this author but that changes in the first few pages. The character evolution for me was really good. From a confused and hurt young girl Rae came to be at the end of this book a determined young woman. The book becomes more dynamic with each page and some of the mysteries are answered but for the others we will have to read the next books. Have a little bit of patience and you will not be disappointed! :) .

[OIivia Mitchel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the book. The action starts in a few pages, introducing Rae and a glimpse of her past. The readers get to know the character, her past and present, as the book progresses, and in the same time, the author immerses the reader in a fantasy world that is addictive and fascinating. You get to learn of different characters and the way the author writes the story it makes you want to know more. The reason I didn’t give the book 5 stars is because I would have preferred it longer 😁 (readers are a nuisance) 😉 Otherwise, the book will keep you hooked and wanting for more. It certainly did that for me - read it in 3 evenings.

[Madhu MaBookYard - · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Rating : [🌟🌟🌟🌟]
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Kindle/ IndieBlogHp/ October 2020
#mabookyardchallengeOct20
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Thank you @indie_blog_hop for the review copy, which lets me give you my unbiased opinion.
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This book follows our main character Rae and how she deals with the consequences of her terrible decision, and how she comes out of that moment even stronger.
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TW : suicidal thoughts, blood, death of family members and monsters
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•{Favourite Line}•
And then it struck her. She wasn't looking for a reason to die, she was looking for a reason to live and coming up short.
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First, that blurb had me picking up this book so fast! The way thr story started was really intruiging and kept my attention. The Characters introduced were really mysterious and ominous in a way that increased the excitement factor for me. I really loved the character portrayal of Rae. She was so perfectly imperfect and relatable with so many flaws and yet filled with confidence. The way she transforms throughout the story gives me so much happiness! Ari was an amazing character to read about. Their first few interactions made me laugh(despite the circumstances) so much!
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Second, Um can we talk about the forest and the concept of the story in general? The plot was freaking amazing and I loved all the side Characters who kept looking at her bloody feet and got hungry. I mean I love me some good evil vampire scenes.
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Now coming to the storyline and characters, Rae absolutely aced the Character development department. I felt like a proud mother looking at her child's growth. The relationship between Ari and Rae was an emotional rollercoaster! The book had an amazing plotline, but the writing style was slightly targeted towards Middle grade with it's simplicity and the descriptions. Other than that, I would totally recommend this book to anyone looking for a good fantasy with paranormal creatures, hellhounds, sassy vampires, amazig plot and character development. I can't wait for the next book!

[Rachel Joi Maples · Rating 4 out of 5]

thumbs up!

[Ramona · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a delightful book. I was intrigued with the different twists and turns the werewolfs and vampires took. It brought to light a new way of thinking about familiar topics. I would recommend this book to anyone who would like a new perspective on the same old topics.

[Jeanéva Christie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this debut fantasy
For a first full-length novel, Forget Me Not was a great read. The story is presented in third person from the FMC's POV. Occasionally the author slips into another character's POV but it didn't detract from the story. I loved the world-building. I'm looking forward to the next in series.

[Sarah Coleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story very much so. It had a well-thought out premise with plenty of extremely interesting characters. The main character was increasingly fascinating and I never found myself wanting to quit reading the story. I finished it all rather quickly and would definitely recommend this book to others wanting to try this author out.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[S. Bavey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Forget Me Not is a YA debut fantasy novel set in the modern day. Its main character is Rae Davis a young woman who is all alone in the world. She lost her parents when she and her sister, Maria, were young. Then she and Maria became estranged and she was unaware her sister was very ill with cancer until Maria passed away. Rae finds herself upset and alone at her sister’s funeral so she decides to head to Alaska to seek out her aunt Gwen, of whom she has fond childhood memories. When she reaches Gwen’s home town she discovers that her aunt has been missing for some years.

At this point Rae enters a surreal and supernatural world. She takes pills and drinks alcohol to help with her loneliness and then heads into the woods, barefoot, for a walk in the middle of the night. She discovers that many of the deadly creatures from the fantasy books she reads are actually real, much to her surprise. Not only real, but all really attractive, which is very distracting for her addled mind. In this way there are certain parallels with the Twilight saga, as has been suggested previously. Add to the mix of young woman, vampires and werewolves the threat of witches who can tell if you expose any of the secrets of the Chimera Council and will set the hellhounds on you as a result, and you have the basic premise for Forget Me Not:

“Our kind is governed by the Chimera Council. They enforce the law and set the rules of the Code of Honor to protect us. The first and most important rule that we have is to maintain secrecy from humans.”

Rae seems to be a fairly gullible character – she keeps finding herself naked in the presence of hot supernatural beings, all be it due to her having a bath in a cave pool, or having multiple wounds looked after, having nearly died during a hailstorm. She is having nightmares involving her dead sister, which could be visions of the future – or are they simply nightmares?

As the story progresses Rae becomes aware of more and more previously hidden beings but does not seem more than a little surprised by these incredible revelations. At the beginning she was suicidal and then decides she no longer feels that way, due to there being so much more to the world, that she was previously unaware of. In this way her character progresses and becomes less gullible and more worldly wise during the story:

“Blake was impressed by this new Rae, he liked how she took charge. Where was the shy, naive girl he felt so protective of?”

I enjoyed Rae’s interactions with both the vampires and then the werewolves, although those two encounters were fairly similar in their nature – each time Rae is saved by a hot guy who nurses her back to health. In each case, during her recovery we are told a lot of facts about vampires and werewolves and their histories, rather than shown these things. One of the wolves does change into a human in front of Rae, but there was not much in the way of description of this event. I felt like more could have been made of that particular scene. There also seemed to be a lack of emotion from the heroine. We were often told that she realised she was crying or that she screamed but the actual emotion was not conveyed very well.

The forest in which most of the action takes place was brought to life by the author’s descriptions of its sights and sounds:

“The smell of the forest, the sound of a river next to the cliff. That’s right, the river is a perfect landmark. Maybe if she listened hard enough, Rae could hear the river and follow it’s sound. Rae focused on all other senses rather than sight. Hmm, the sounds of the forest, a gust of wind on her face, the smell of wet dog…”

The last quarter of the book moved along at a much faster pace and Rae’s return to the town and her mysterious meeting with Chloe was enjoyable and intriguing. The story of the next book in the series was cleverly introduced and it sounds like it’s going in a fantastic direction.

There were quite a few repetitions and grammatical errors still present in the version I read. Since English is not the first language of the author, this is hardly surprising and would be easily remedied by a thorough pass by an editor and proofreader.

Despite those errors, I enjoyed the story for what it is – a fun, lightweight novel and I would recommend it for fans of YA stories featuring supernatural beings, such as the Twilight saga.

[Toni Glitz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Things that go bump in the night. An excellent start to a new series.

Forget me Not is the first book in a new fantasy series by Anca Antoci. The book is set in modern day Alaska. There is the potential for romance but none in this book and no descriptive scenes of a sexual nature.

I really enjoyed this book. The story was refreshing and different. The writing was really easy to read and although there was the odd hint at English not being the first spoken language of the author, there wasn’t anything which stood out as being incorrect. The story was well paced and interesting. The characters developed well as the book progressed and I ended the book very much wanting to see what the second book will bring.

Rae’s life has crashed down around her ears. Everyone in her immediate family is gone. Dead. She’s the only one left, apart from an estranged aunt who she’s had no contact with in almost a decade. After her sister’s funeral, Rae travels to Alaska to find her long-lost aunt. What she finds instead is a long empty cabin and news that her aunt has been missing for the last eight years. Grief and depression combine and she makes a foolish decision which has life altering consequences.

Don’t go wandering in the forest at night. More specifically, don’t go wandering barefoot in the forest at night after downing a cocktail of booze and antidepressants. Definitely don’t go wandering barefoot in the forest at night wishing for death. There are creatures out there who might just answer your request and who won’t want to listen if you change your mind.

Rae’s venture into the forest at night has opened her life to a world she never knew existed and one which has given her life purpose. Vampires and Shifters are real; not just characters in the books she reads. Her own life has not been what she believed it to be and there’s a good chance she herself isn’t the person she thought she was. Sadly for her, the only way for her to get out of the forest alive is for her memory to be wiped. How will she manage going back to the empty shell of life she had before? Will she manage to live up to her full potential without the new information she has learned? Can she figure out an alternative before its too late?

Book two is already out. It’s on my list to read.

[Jasmin · Rating 4 out of 5]

*This book was given to me as a gift in E-pub version.
I held my expectations low at first, since I understand that a self-published work cannot (or should not in my opinion) be compared to a book that has been published through an agency.

This was the first time I read a book by a self-published author and I respect that ALL work (editing, editing and more editing) has been done by the author herself.

Overall, I was positively surprised. There is so much potential in the author's writing and I am thrilled to read more by her!

About the Writing:
There were just a few scenes (1 or 2) that I found overwritten and could have been shortened more. Other scenes however were quite fast paced. I would have liked to read more descriptions, e.g. about the scenes and landscapes. The author did quite well in describing the characters in my opinion.
I would have preferred if everything would have been written from 1st person perspective, because sometimes I got a little confused, when it seemed that there was obviously 3rd person perspective used through the whole story, but I didn't find it necessary - especially since most of the scenes are from/about the protagonists perspective.

I loved that the author included some scenes about characters who have not interacted (yet?) with the protagonist, and that gives the reader room for interpretation. Here the 3rd person perspective was necessary and well used!
The author left hints about some characters/situations, where I kind of think I know where the story is going, but still I don't feel spoiled - I rather feel excited about it and want to know HOW (or IF?) the main characters will actually end there or not.

I really loved the ending about 1/4 of the story especially - it was very well written and it ended in such a satisfying way. I am looking forward to read the 2nd book once it comes out and see how the story develops further.

[Peter Buckmaster · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the second book I've read recently that was outside my "comfort zone" yet I really enjoyed it. And both have been vampish! ...as in had vampires in them. Anca Antoci has written a very readable story with an intriguing & sweet lead character. There's an interesting take on the standard horror creatures which lends itself well to the modern setting and also sets up what could be a great series. I have to give a bonus point here for the series name, Chimera, as it conjures up so many images for me.
Again, vampire & werewolf urban tales are not what I would normally go for but I'm glad I'm listening to the recommendations of friends and expanding my reading world. If you're big into the hunky werewolf, beautiful vampire trend, I reckon you'll enjoy this. And if you like a story about a relatable protagonist (makes dumb decisions, gives in to desires) who enters a shadow world of witches & "monsters", then also I recommend checking out Anca Antoci's work.
I was very surprised to learn, when I read the blurb at the back, that Anca Antoci's first language is not English. I live in Japan and could never dream of writing anything more than a short letter in my second language so the utmost respect goes out to her there. Antoci lives in Romania so I wonder if one day she'll produce a work influenced by the folk-lore there. I'd be very interested in that!

[Iseult Murphy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am full of admiration for the author writing so well in English as a second language. I am impressed by anyone who can do that, especially as well as Ms Antoci. Unfortunately, this book was not for me. The author claims she started writing with fanfiction, and I would hazard a guess that it was Twilight fan fiction, firmly in the team Jacob camp. The Twilight books, and other novels started as Twilight fan fiction, have been wildly successful, and I wish Ms Antoci equal success. For me, this book contained too much telling, rather than showing. Most of the writing and dialogue was pure plot and character exposition. I did not enjoy the romance element and found the incident with the werewolves uncomfortable. There are hints at a more exciting plot forthcoming in future novels, but this one read like a very long introduction to the world and characters. I also felt no connection to Alaska and wonder why the author set the novel there rather than in her home country, which would have been very interesting to read about.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Mo · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know when books start off so slow that you put them away? Well this is NOT one of them.

Forget me not jumps right into this new fantasy world. But don't worry, the author found a great way to explain everything to readers and at the same time develop the characters in this book. At just the right pace to keep you entertained at all times, but not throw you for a spin you're carried through the changing life of the main character. At the same time admiring her stubborn, newfound resolve and happily snorting at how naive she is at times.

And even in moments when you'd put away other books, this one proves it's charm and cunning by making you root for the girl who lost it all before and will not let anyone take her just regained will, hope and reason to live. When the book was over I knew I just had to read on, which - for me - is always a good sign.

[PAR · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel is wonderfully warm and compelling. This book is what magic all about. Anca Antoci causes the reader to be transported to a whole new rehlm of mysticism. There was a real balance of darkness and realm of fantasy with lightness and a bit of humor. This is the first time I have been able to read a novel from Antoci and ;:I found her to be a gifted author who brings the characters to life, as she penned this amazing story and created her characters. I was entranced by this story and I absolutely love Antoci’s writing. The writing is fast-paced. This book is a real page-turner. You won’t want to put it down, so clear your schedule, get comfortable and settle in for a treat. I received this novel through StoryOrigin. No obligations I wrote a true and honest review

[Alexandra S · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a solid book for a first-time author. I must admit I don't have much experience with the vampire and werewolves genre, but I was caught in the story and, the more I read, the more I wanted to know. I liked the surprise the author had at the beginning of the book (won't say what it was :) )and I enjoyed the humor she sprinkled throughout the story. This is a YA novel for sure, but a good read even if you are not a YA anymore. After reading this first book of the series I definitely want to know what happens next, what new adventures are planned for our heroine and how she will continue to grow.

[Mihaela · Rating 4 out of 5]

~ ARC received from author in exchange for an honest review ~

Be prepared for the ride of your life!
This book is action packed and it keeps you on the edge, wondering what's going to happen next. The actions builds and builds until the end making you want book 2 right away!

4 stars

[Elvira · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was captivated from the start. I’m not much of fantasy books. This one however is well written with characters that are well developed and engaging. The plot was undeniably interesting and had me turning the pages.


I received a copy and am voluntarily leaving my honest review.

[Myra McCulloch · Rating 4 out of 5]

A free book from Voracious Readers thank you

Book 1 in this series and it is a good launching pad for the books to follow.
Rae is marked by the Otheworld and this introduction leads us to what happens next.

[Pink Conklin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC in exchange for a review. This book was good and interesting. Publisher did a good job writing this.

[Justen Perkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such an awesome read. Danger, suspense, mystery, and even romance all twisted together with paranormal makes this book really stand out. Abs the ending left you hanging to see what happens next.

[Marion Craggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story but left me wanting more. It’s more of an instalment than a stand alone book.
Great descriptive language and it seemed that we got to know many of the characters well. I will be looking out for the next book I the series.
I received a free copy of this book from the author in return for leaving a review and was not sure what to expect but I was very impressed.

[Patty Gilman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great!

[Hollylovesbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anca kindly offered me an ecopy of her book to read and once I read the synopsis, I couldn’t say no. However, I’m so sorry it’s late.

When I read the first couple of chapters of this book it was quite slow and although the forest setting was really interesting to read, it took me at least 100 pages to get into this book.

However, like I said the world building keep me intrigued and once I got past those 100 pages I was swept up in the story. We learn things about this world as we go, as does the main character. It’s nice that we get to learn things along side Rae and experiencing this world through her eyes.

Rae is a really interesting character. The different creatures she encounters along the way underestimate her, she is extremely brave and remains really calm given the situations she is thrown into, I know I wouldn’t be calm if I was in her position. The other characters in this book are also super interesting to read about, but, there were some that I would of liked to of known more about and seen more of.

Overall, this was a really great start to the series (I think it’s a series), and although, it was quite slow in parts, I’m intrigued to see how this story is going to progress

[Breaux Reanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Supernatural lovers must read

Vampires, wolf shifters, hellhounds. This book is a supernatural romance lovers dream.

After her last remaining family dies, Rae travels to Alaska to connect with her estranged aunt. While there she realizes her aunt has been missing for a very long time. In a drunken stupor she wanders into the woods and gets lost. She is found by a group of vampires. One of which informs her that she has magic in her blood.

[Bookbugworld · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read the complete non-spoiler review of the book in my blog : https://bookbugworld.com/forget-me-not/

[Sarah ('s Book Life) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I posted my original review of this book for the Booktamins hosted book tour on 18th March on my blog. Which you can read here , this post also has information of the other participants of the book tour. At the time of the book tour I sadly didn’t have the time write everything that I wanted for my review of the book, so I’ve decided to post a longer version of my review of Forget Me Not by Anca Antoci.


Rating: 3/5

Genres: Urban Fantasy, New Adult, Paranormal/Supernatural, Young Adult

Page count: 291

Publication date: 31st January 2020

Trigger warnings: Mentions of alcohol and painkillers use and sex (not directly), suicidal thoughts, blood, near-death experiences, minor violence

Book blurb:

When tragedy strikes, Rae makes a terrible choice and struggles with the aftermath. In the wilderness of the Tongass rainforest, she finds herself hunted by creatures of hell, monsters she never dreamed could be real. A hidden world, an ancient race, and a secret she discovers by accident give a new meaning to her life but only if she can escape and return to civilization. If she is to survive, Rae must comply with Ari, her reluctant hero, and allow him to wipe away any memory of this realm. Knowledge is power, but is it worth dying for?

This was such an exciting read. The moment that Rae left London and went to Alsaka to try and see her aunt, who she hasn’t seen or heard from for years, after her sister’s sudden death things got kind of crazy. The first night she spends in her aunt’s abandoned house she ends up drunk, a bit drugged up, barefoot in the woods. When she meets Ari and Sofia in the woods her life goes from bad to worse, from strange to insane.

I expected magic, discovery, adventure and fantasy creatures. Although, I did not expect vampires. Probably because I’ve not read a book about vampires for a long time. But I do think that Ari was one of my favourite characters in this book. He was sweet, heroic and had a sense of chivalry. Plus, he’s a vampire that’s over seven hundred years old so that’s pretty cool.

Honestly, I really loved finding out all the different supernatural beings that exist. I liked that Rae started off as being pretty scared but was quick on her feet and managed to come up with ways to outwit some of these supernatural beings. She figured out clever or unique ways that she could use their weaknesses against them or manipulate them to think that she wasn’t a threat. Rae is definitely a very clever young woman and I think that quick thinking and ability to adapt to sudden changes is what keeps her alive.

I’m looking forward to see where Rae’s story will go next.

I do feel that somethings in this book could have been fine tuned a bit more. At times it did feel very much like characters were just telling me information rather than showing me. I think there could have been more of a balance between showing the reader what was happening, the world that the story take place in and the different supernatural beings. I didn’t mind too much when Rae, and myself, being told different things from other characters like Ari about stuff that she didn’t know. I did think that it was well done that Rae kept asking him questions, kept him talking, and got him to trust her enough that she was able to get away from him. But I maybe would have liked it if Rae could have learnt somethings on her own a bit more.

Sometimes the dialogue felt a little stilted and forced. I remember reading some scenes and thinking that the dialogue between some characters didn’t feel that natural. Like between Chloe and her mother. Obviously, they have known each other for years but felt like the way they talked to each other felt more like they were colleges than mother and daughter. I just didn’t really feel the connection between the two of them that I probably should have.

I did enjoy reading this book but I think that it could have maybe have done with another round of editing to just fine tune it a bit more and to make the story flow a bit better, because at time I did feel like it was a bit jumpy. It did at time feel like it moved from one thing to the next a bit too quickly and with little in between to connect it.

I do think that this is a good debut novel and I can see the potential for Anca Antoci to grow even further as an author.