The West Woods

by Suzy Vadori

Courtney Wallis wants nothing more than to escape St. Augustus boarding school. After uncovering a well-kept secret about the school’s founder, Isaac Young, Courtney turns to the school’s magic to convince her dad to let her leave. Things take a turn when she meets Cole, who lives in the nearby town of Evergreen. He gives her hope that things might not be so bad. However, the school's fountain has other ideas, and binds Courtney to her ambition, no matter the cost.

As Courtney struggles to keep the magic from taking over, she and her friends get drawn into the mystery woven into the school’s fabric. Everything seems to lead back to the forbidden West Woods. Together, she and her friends seek out the spirits of the past to ask for help, and find themselves in much deeper than they’d bargained for. If they succeed, Courtney could be free of the magic. If they fail, she may never be the same.

Praise for The Fountain - Book 1 in The Fountain Series

“The Fountain is not your ordinary YA boarding school novel. With magic, mystery and romance woven together in just the right measure, it is sure to be a ‘must read’ with teens everywhere.”
- Jacqueline Guest, author of Ghost Messages and The Comic Book War

“Suzy Vadori does wonders with taking a simple theme - making a wish- and turning it into a wonderful novel of rich dialogue, memorable characters, and a few twists and turns, that will have the reader immersed in this mystery-laced read, bringing together both past and present, right and wrong, and of course, how one wish creates a ripple effect that may never be undone.”
- Avery Olive, author of A Stiff Kiss and Won't Let Go

Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Canada, Fiction

290 pages, Paperback

Published September 22, 2017

About the author

Suzy Vadori is an Operations executive by day, Writer by night. The Fountain was her debut novel for Young Adults, and was an Aurora Award Finalist in 2016. The West Woods is Book 2 in The Fountain Series, a prequel telling the story the year before The Fountain takes place.

Suzy is an involved member of the Calgary Writers' community, service as Program Manager for Young Adult at When Words Collide (a Calgary festival for readers and Writers) since 2013. Suzy lives in Calgary, Alberta, Canada with her husband and three kids.

Reviews

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an Advanced Reader's Copy to read and review from Weapenry Co-Op and Netgalley.

If you could have one wish, what would you wish for? This book has you asking yourself that question as the students find a magic wishing well. It certainly puts a lot of pressure on your wish. You want it to be worth it, you don't want to waste your one wish. Well sorry to disappoint you, but that's exactly what these girls do, they waste their wishes. Absolutely no one make a worthwhile wish, making you angry that they have the opportunity.

I didn't have extremely high expectations for this book, and honestly it was about as good as I expected it to be. The first two-thirds of this book were pretty good and then it started going downhill, and it just kept going.

The characters were all crafted nicely and made a nice group of girlfriends for a boarding school. Courtney was an alright character in the beginning and then she just became more and more selfish and rude. I found myself wondering why the other girls would even want to hang out with her. She treated her friends like dirt, or rather, more like pawns. People who she could manipulate to her will in order to achieve everything she wanted. I like my main characters to have flaws, but damn, Courtney tips the scales overboard in The West Woods.

As for the writing, for the first part of the book I was thinking that this would be a four, potentially a five star read. The author filled some chapters with the feeling of anxiety and excitement as the girls snuck around. Some of the scenes were written so well that I found myself on the edge of my seat, covering my mouth and hoping that the characters could get away with whatever they were attempting at the moment. The writing is what saved this novel from being a two star read. It captivated me and it is clear that the author has the ability to create a five star read.

As for the plot... there was no climax! I feel as if this has happened far too frequently in some books I have been reading as of lately. I finished the book feeling like "that's it?". There were so many loose ends, absolutely no real resolution and not even a cliffhanger that left you feeling as if these problems could be solved later.

Oh and the romance? You mean the romance that wasn't? It was basically non existent because Courtney decided to be terrible. Good for Cole though, at least he didn't wind up subjected to her terrible treatment as well. The synopsis made it sound like there would be so much more to this romance.

Basically I feel as if this was a novel with a good idea and great writing, but lacked adequate structure. A book needs to have a climax and a resolution, this one had neither. Courtney was also an incredibly unlikable main character. I definitely would not count out the author, but I would not suggest reading this book.

Review can also be found on my blog:
https://devouringbooks2017.wordpress....

[books are love · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I liked and disliked parts of the book.

Likes:

I loved cole and hated what courtney did. She was terrible to him so good for Cole there.

I like the mystery of the founder of the school and how it ties to the fountain and having your wishes come true.

I liked how the fountain transforms you and it really takes over who you are as we see with Courtney.

I liked that the characters were flawed.

enjoyed the friendship aspect of this and even some of the moments with cole when Courtney was herself.

their was a sense of foreboding in this at times and that helps to propel you forward to see what is going to happen.

The book flows and is entertaining.

Seeing Courtney try to fight and struggle with the pull of the power of the fountain

Characters:

Cole: love

Courtney: has her moments. I enjoy seeing her realizing she is changing and struggle with it. You see her go from nice and meek to really obsessed with obtaining certain goals and losing herself and her own passion show she can achieve things that aren’t her. She loses her sense of self and becomes really mean at times. Like Mean girls mean. I enjoyed that aspect but didn’t like Courtney when this occurred. Heck she even blackmailed her friends at one point.

Her friends: were great at times but were loud. if one knew something it ended up with everyone knowing. Nothing was secret.

Storyline:

I enjoyed the aspect of what the story was about. We get a mystery of the woods and the secrets the fountain holds. Also the power of the fountain. We see Courtney trying to obtain things because she wants out. She wants out so she can run but she loses this along the way. It becomes about only obtaining the achievements at any cost. I like the struggle in the characters and how they do try to help one another and come together to try to get Courtney back.

Dislikes:

Courtney at times I just didn’t like

At times the story felt stilted and forced.

Hated seeing her hurt Cole.

Overall:

I liked the story. It was entertaining and a new and different twist to a magic wishing fountain. We get a mystery and see characters struggle and be flawed. We get a fun different twist on the idea of a wishing fountain that gives us a mystery and struggle with oneself that is both fascinating and interesting while entertaining us. Valdori does a good job of giving us a mystery wrapped in magic while entertaining us with a imaginative take on the wishing fountain.

[Jackie Maloney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4/5 stars (I loved it!)

I was sent a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
This is a spoiler free review!

Summary
As the prequel to The Fountain, this novel follows Courtney Wallis, a reluctant attendee of the St. Augustus school. When her father hints that their may be more to the school than it seems, Courtney sets out on a quest to discover the mystery and complete a list of goals she set for herself. When she discovers a wishing fountain and makes a wish, Courtney, with the help of her friends, must remain true to who she is while dealing with the influence of magical forces outside of her understanding and control.

Review
I absolutely loved this prequel to The Fountain! I was so glad that I got a chance to understand the back-story of Courtney Wallis, because I definitely did not like her in the first book. This story definitely built sympathy for Courtney. I ended up feeling sorry for Courtney because of how many relationships were being impacted by the fountain (most importantly, Cole… cries). This story actually made me sad at some points because I wanted things to work out for Courtney so bad. I feel like I could connect with Courtney because of how passionate she was about her running and how determined she was to follow her love of the sport. I think most people can find this relatable to that one thing in their life that is so important.

At the beginning of the novel, Courtney is such a mild-mannered character, which was so different from what she was like in The Fountain. This created amazing characterization for her and I learned so much about Courtney. As the story progresses, it was so clearly written how Courtney was being effected by the fountain and how it was impacting her personality. It is also interesting how she begins noticing the changes in herself but she can’t do anything to change them because the forces of the fountain.

The character I loved the most was Margret, Courtney’s roommate. She was so logical about things and helped Courtney so much. I loved the emphasis on friendship that this book had. Courtney’s friends were so ready to help her. It made me so upset when Courtney pushed her friends away because of the influence of the fountain. I found myself rooting for their relationship to continue to stay strong.

Another “character” that we learn so much about in this prequel is the fountain. We learn so much about the history behind why it was built. We also learn about the school and the person that built the school. I call the fountain a “character” because of how integral it was to the story and how it changed so many lives.

This novel was a fast-paced read that pulled me in and took me on a ride through magic, the supernatural, and elite boarding school kids. I would highly recommend reading The Fountain first, even though The West Woods is technically a prequel, because I feel this would help readers appreciate and understand something about these characters that you would not get if you read the prequel first. I think it would be fun to read The Fountain in the perspective of Courtney now that I have learned so much about her. I need to read more from this world!!

If you are looking for a fun and catchy fantasy, this is definitely the book for you!

[Nadine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well this was very interesting guys!

I read and reviewed The Fountain quite a while ago and I did love it. When the opportunity to do the same thing again with The West Woods, I certainly did not hesitate.

Remember when I said that this was interesting, it certainly was. Now this is tricky because when I first started reading the book I realised that it was about Courtney who was the mean girl in The Fountain and Ava's nemesis.

So this is a prequel, but in a weird way I would still say to read The Fountain first. This makes it a bit on the tricky side to discuss certain bits as I do not want to give too much away.

However, if you have read The Fountain already then, you can make a safe bet that Courtney found the fountain as well and made a wish!

When we first meet Courtney in The Fountain let's be honest she is not likable at all (and I am trying to avoid using the word: B****!), and certain events occurred that changed the course of her life without her knowledge.

Here in The West Woods, we do see a different side of her and get a deeper understanding on how she came to be who she is in the beginning of The Fountain but still... in some way, I kinda still don't like her.

Now my dislike for her may be tainted by my original first impressions, but even here where she is much less despicable, I still can't. I promise I tried; though the book provides me with more understanding...

Yup...

Nope...

Still don't like her!

You know what... that is a very interesting experience where I enjoy the story very much and still dislike the main character.

With books or movies, I am the first to admit I am easily pleased with things... so it does take quite an undertaking for me to dislike characters, plots or anything else...

So, it is really quite refreshing for me to still dislike her no matter what!

Now, seriously!!!!

I do not like Courtney, I said it and I made it very clear... but that does not mean that I dislike the book!

That is so very far from it!

It is very easy to maybe reach that conclusion but you could not be more wrong my darlings!

We learnt a lot more about the fountain but we don't have it all figured out yet, in fact what really happened to Courtney in the end?

I also wanna know more about Mr. Young!

I think there is a lot of things to be said and Suzy has a really creative way to weave us into the history of the school!

Suzy, I am really hoping you have a third book in the works with more revelations my friend!

The West Woods, is really well written, evenly paced and a few entertaining moments slipped in here and there... I am going to recommend it and do not forget to read The Fountain too!

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

After a sweet winter break with her friends and family, Courtney Wallis was forced to return to her boarding school named St. Augustus. She tried to convince her dad to let her attend a different school, and he agreed to seriously consider it if she gave St. Augustus another chance by trying to uncover its secrets. Her dad hinted that there was something in the forbidden West Woods that might enhance her stay. At first, Courtney brushed it off, but there was always that lingering thought – what if there really was something hidden inside the West Woods?

The West Woods was a YA fantasy-mystery set on the eastern edge of the United States. Courtney was an interesting main character. She seemed to be a laid back, rule following, introverted type of girl. Nothing too crazy. Magic was unrealistic. Then Courtney discovered a type of old magic that actually existed. One use, and it started altering her personality. She became driven to complete the goals that were only made halfheartedly in the beginning. S’he treated her friends badly and gave up on hobbies she loved. Nothing was off limits when it came to completing her goals. It made me think. Such a small decision could alter a person’s life dramatically. And even good goals become negative when taken too seriously. Courtney made some terrible decisions, but one thing I liked about this book was that the biggest of those decisions had consequences. She did not make them in a vacuum, as some YA books feature. Not all of her bad choices were caught, though.

What I did not like about this book was the ending. It was … abrupt, to say the least. It felt as though the last chapter or two were completely missing, no real conclusion evident. All I have to say is that there had better be another book following this one, because that is not an ending. It was more like a gaping cavern with no bridge. A lot of the potential this book had was thrown out the window because of that.

If you enjoy YA contemporary fantasy, then I hope you will enjoy this book.

I received a complementary copy of this book from the author. All opinions are my own.

[J.M. Dover · Rating 5 out of 5]

Suzy Vadori has done it again. Although second books in a series are considered difficult to do, the prequel to The Fountain, The West Woods, does not disappoint. Courtney has her own story and her own wish. Again, the wish has a profound impact on the main character’s life. The author weaves the magic of the fountain into a spell-binding story (pun intended). Past and present collide illustrating nothing is as it seems when love and mystery are involved. Readers of any age are going to enjoy this book.

[anie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Also on: http://diaryofawannabewriter.blogspot...
Received from NetGalley

Courtney really wants to escape boarding school, her parents made her go. Her father promises to reconsider, if she looks into The West Woods. As she explores, she stumbles on magic, power of wish and all sorts of secrets.

I really like the idea behind it, it's really interesting and unique. However, I didn't pull me in, the story wasn't as gripping as I hopped. It wasn't all that bad or all that good, somewhere in the middle.

[Lindsey Rojem · Rating 3 out of 5]

I purchased this book from the author at the Edmonton Comic & Entertainment Expo. I was a little bit disappointed, because I expected book 2 to be a continuation of book 1 as I felt it had ended with a lot of questions left unanswered. Instead, it's more of a prequel book that still left me with questions.

[Kim · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not nearly as good as The Fountain, mostly because I couldn’t stand Courtney, even before she started to change. I also didn’t have the same can’t-put-it-down feeling I did with The Fountain. I’d still read another one of Vadori’s books, though.

[Grady · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘The woods are the key, he’d said. Had the woods been off limits all those years ago when he’d been at school?’

Canadian author Suzy Vadori writes for the Young Adults audience. She is employed as an Operations Executive and is an involved member of the Calgary Writers' community, serving as When Words Collide (a Calgary Festival for Readers and Writers) Program Manager for Middle Grade and Young Adults. Her evenings are her hours for exploring her passion for writing Young Adult novels, of which THE WEST WOODS is Book 2 of THE FOUNTAIN series. She lives in Calgary, Alberta.

THE FOUNTAIN is a series and it is rewarding to know that Suzy maintains the same atmosphere and place for the second installment – the boarding school of St. Augustus, with the nearby woods and paranormal fountain continue to play a prominent role. In the opening chapter we meet the lead character In this series – Courtney Wallis – ‘Courtney had one foot out of the car door, with her body still firmly planted inside. Her throat tightened as the campus loomed before her. A dusting of snow graced the trees and roofs. Though she’d attended St. Augustus for ninth grade and half of the tenth already, it didn’t feel like home. The school’s buildings were set well back from the road and Courtney stared at them now. The whole scene felt out of place in Massachusetts. She’d always thought the oldest building on campus could be a castle like you’d find in France or England. At one time, its coating of green ivy had fascinated Courtney, like it was being gobbled up by the vines. As the semesters had passed though, the plain red brick of the newer buildings seemed more in tune with the personality of the school she’d come to know. Courtney sighed as she watched her dad walk away from the parking lot toward the dorm with her older sister Hanna. Winter break had ended too soon. “I’ll wash your car every night if you reconsider?” she called out. As if he hadn’t heard her, her dad pulled the lapel of his suit jacket up over his face against the cold and continued walking toward the dorm. He didn’t turn back. She wracked her brain for something else to offer, but came up with nothing. After a long pause, Courtney hoisted her duffel bag from the car seat beside her up onto her shoulder. She pulled her long, bushy red hair out from under its strap. She could just stay in the car. Once her dad got Hanna settled in her room and returned to the parking lot, the two of them could go. Home. Courtney pictured his face turning a deep shade of red if she tried that. It wasn’t going to be that simple. She’d argued her case all last semester, the entire winter break, then the whole car ride up here from Boston today. He hadn’t given an inch. Finally, she pulled herself off the leather seat of the car and stepped out into the staff parking lot where they weren’t supposed to park. Jim Wallis regularly ignored No Parking signs. Besides, he wasn’t planning to stay long. Courtney shut the car door with a satisfying slam… The Courtney her dad referred to had been a bright-eyed freshman. She’d been thrilled then to come to St. Augustus. It had turned out to be less exciting than she’d hoped.’

And on to the plot – ‘Courtney Wallis wants nothing more than to escape St. Augustus boarding school. After uncovering a well-kept secret about the school’s founder, Isaac Young, Courtney turns to the school’s magic to convince her dad to let her leave. Things take a turn when she meets Cole, who lives in the nearby town of Evergreen. He gives her hope that things might not be so bad. However, the school's fountain has other ideas, and binds Courtney to her ambition, no matter the cost. As Courtney struggles to keep the magic from taking over, she and her friends get drawn into the mystery woven into the school’s fabric. Everything seems to lead back to the forbidden West Woods. Together, she and her friends seek out the spirits of the past to ask for help, and find themselves in much deeper than they’d bargained for. If they succeed, Courtney could be free of the magic. If they fail, she may never be the same.’

The perfect balance between reality and fantasy and the mystery that overshadows the book is very well balanced wit the plot, making this book as successful as the initial opus in this fine series. Suzy Vadori shows staying power.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

A legacy family full of secrets, a mysterious fountain set in dense woods, and a prestigious preparatory school make up the bones of The West Woods, the new novel by Canadian author Suzy Vadori. A prequel to the Prix Aurora Awards Finalist The Fountain, readers of The West Woods are given exclusive insight into the character of Courtney and how she began her fast track from sweet and unassuming young lady to villainous mean girl.

Courtney never wanted to go back to St. Augustus and all it's clinging pomp and circumstance. She much preferred pounding the pavement of the local public high school's track and mixing with regular kids instead of rubbing elbows with the area's elite and wealthy offspring. Despite her best efforts during the summer to convince him otherwise, Courtney's position on her education is continually ignored by her father, who instead insists that she give St. Augustus a proper chance . . . leaving her at her dorm with mysterious words of how the school has more to offer than it may appear.

The girl with hair the vibrant color of heated flame has a hard time fitting in and seems to constantly be on the periphery of all things cool and accepted, no matter her built-in social status as an "alumni kid" or her best efforts at fitting in. Her older sister is consumed with her own educational advances and Courtney's friends are both popular and full of blind confidence, seeming to magnify Courtney's own teen insecurities. Pushed by these friends to fulfill a silly dare by entering the dark and forbidden West Woods, Courtney attempts to solidify a spot in the in-crowd by taking a trek through the forest that ignites chills and frights for anyone who passes by it.

In the forest Courtney finds a key, both mysterious in it's nature and in it's antique finish. And while her courageous entrance into the embrace of the bone-chilling trees didn't push her further into the arms of the cool kids, it did give her a new goal -- figure out what the key is used for, see if she can find the correlation it shares with the secretive old map her sister passed down to her via their father's request, and finalize a plan that will allow her to slowly put the pieces of her life together, one shred at at time.

As Courtney begins to complete the puzzle of St. Augustus and it's haunting riddles, she hunts down the enigmatic and fabled fountain, which leads her on a quest for its secrets as well. Making a complex and lofty wish, she watches with wonderment as her small world shifts and pushes her towards attainment of the things she asked for -- sometimes even against her will or better judgement. But as the saying goes, you must always be careful what you wish for, and Courtney will soon learn that some things cannot be undone or unspoken.

The West Woods is a book widely being classified as young adult, but I would feel comfortable giving it a mid-grade genre level. The subject matter and writing is generously geared towards readers of ages 10 and up. Giving the prequel a 3.5 out of 5 stars, I can say that it was because I wanted more - more - more! Just when I felt that things were ramping up and the spooky gatherings were beginning to take full shape, the novel seemed to decline into an abrupt ending. Perhaps this was the author's intent, as I am keen on reading The Fountain, it's sequel. Although the books are issued as stand-alone, I am sure other readers will feel the same. I recommend The West Woods to young readers looking to sink into something of the ghostly nature for the upcoming autumnal season, and for parents who are looking to share a novel with their child that will illustrate the perils of choosing wrong over right.

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The West Woods by Suzy Vadori is the second novel in The Fountain series. Courtney Wallis tried to convince her father to her not return to St. Augustus after the winter break. Jim Wallis, Courtney’s father, told her that the school is special and he wants her to discover the answer on her own. He tells her that the West Woods are the key. That evening on a dare Courtney is running through the woods when her foot falls into a hole. She discovers a wood box with a key inside. Is this the key her father was referring to? After listening to Ms. Krick’s lecture on the school’s history, the teacher talks to Courtney privately. Ms. Krick wants Courtney’s help in discovering the location of the fountain. She wants to make a wish. Courtney is not sure what to make of Ms. Krick and her rantings. Later, Courtney then receives a map that her father left with her sister, Hanna. The map leads Courtney back into the West Woods where she finds a fountain. She makes a wish not expecting it to actually come true. Once a wish is made, though, it must be fulfilled—no matter what the cost.

The West Woods is a prequel to The Fountain. I found the book to have a good pace, but I was not fully engaged. The West Woods did not hold the same appeal as The Fountain. The West Woods is a young-adult novel that will appeal to tweens and teens (especially with Halloween fast approaching). There was a little too much focus on boys for my taste (it seemed to dominate the first half of the story). I wish there had been less attention on romance and more on the magic. Just when the paranormal action starts to heat up, the book quickly ends (I felt the séance scene was a bust). I felt The West Woods did not live up to its potential (especially after reading The Fountain). I had trouble liking Courtney and especially disliked Violet, the school gossip. It was interesting to find out more about the school and Ms. Krick. My rating for The West Woods is 3 out of 5 stars. I did like the moral of the story. I do recommend checking out The Fountain (I gave it 4.25 stars).

[Heidi Angell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting and entertaining story about Courtney, a sophomore who wants nothing more than to attend the local high school and run on the track team, but who's senator father wants her to attend his Alma Mater, a boarding school where there is no track team and her best substitute is swim team. When she begs him not to make her, he tells her that there is something magical he wants her to find out about the school, in particular the West Woods that surround the school. She never knew he meant literally. But as Courtney digs into the mystery her father has set her on and discovers a magic wishing well, she finds herself trapped in a genie-type wishes don't always turn out the way you hope scenario.

I had a hard time connecting to Courtney, even before her wish took over her and changed her personality, she was kind of the type of girl I don't really like. And all the running! It's kind of a key piece to the story. I would much rather swim than run, lol.

But it is a well-told story that touches on a lot of issues relevant to most teenagers such as how far you're willing to go for what you want, how priorities can shift and change, how to deal with difficult people. There are some good nuggets of wisdom buried in this entertaining story. I was surprised when I got to the end and found out that this is actually the second book in this series. I liked it enough to add The Fountain to my TBR, though I suspect this is one of those books that my boys will enjoy more than I did. I imagine you'll see their review for it soon enough.

If you enjoy mystery books like Nancy Drew and Babysitter's club, combined with magical elements like The Magic Treehouse of Fablehaven,

[Rebekah Jonesy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The West Woods is an intriguing young adult story about a teenager, Courtney, who is looking for a way out of the boarding school she had always wanted to attend. Courtney is the youngest daughter and has always felt like she had to live up to the example set by her sister. She had hoped that by going to the prestigious school her sister and father went to that she could find some way to shine bright enough to get out of her sister's shadow. Things didn't work out that way however, and as the book starts out she is regretting her decision to try. All she wants is to get out of the school and go back to her public school where she can run track again, the only place she really shines.

But her father, who loved the school, demands that she give it another try. He gives her a compromise, if she can prove to him that she learned enough about the school and still doesn't want to attend then he will revisit the idea of her changing school.

Determined to prove to her father that she really is trying, Courtney makes a list of all the things she believes she will need to accomplish in order to go back home.

That sets in motion events she had never expected. The magical secrets that start with a key and a wishing fountain on the campus pull her down strange paths until she barely recognizes herself. Her friends see what is happening to her and try to help her. But she has to finish her list. She has to master the secrets and succeed at swimming even if it destroys everything else she loves. There's no stopping her now. It's what she wished for.

[Leanna Quint · Rating 3 out of 5]

Think back to when you were younger and your mom or dad handed you a penny and told you to throw it in the fountain and make a wish. You held on to that penny, thought long and hard on your wish, and then tossed it into the water smiling because you just knew this was the time your wish was coming true.  Now imagine if your wish did come true, right there while you were standing next to the fountain? This story is full of magic that keeps you guessing from chapter to chapter.

The story follows the life of Courtney Wallis during her Junior year. It starts with a conversation with her father on how she doesn't want to go to St. Augustus but her Dad went to school there and wants her to realize how great it is.  I will admit when I first started reading this book I thought to myself, "Is this going to be another I hate this school, but then I find a new best friend and didn't realize how awesome high school really is kind of stories?" Luckily for me I was very wrong! Be prepared for mystery and magic the entire time. 

I don't want to spoil anything, but I will say that I enjoyed seeing both sides of the wish. Watching the characters figure out that the repercussions of their wishes. I also enjoyed the mystery of Ms. Kirk, but I would have liked to have a little more info on her and her back story. 

[Theresa · Rating 2 out of 5]

COVID-19 backlog read project book 3
There were a lot of things I liked about this book but overall, it was a bit of a mess. The story is a prequel to The Fountain, so you start out just feeling kind of bored because you know how it ends. I might suggest to a reader that they take on this one first, but without any sort of resolution or even hope at the end, it would be pretty disappointing on its own.
I was looking forward to the extra world building offered but it fell short of giving any actual explanations or resolution to that part of the plot either. Every new bit of information just created more questions.
There were also a lot of minor discontinuities that bothered me. For example, if the school never heard of her family but her father felt he owed all of his success to the fountain, how was he still a senator in the other book? His wish would have been washed out too. If Courtney actually loved running and was only swimming because St Augustus lacked a track team, why was she in the swim meet in the other book?
The narration was good and the story elements were good and I liked the characters; I just felt like the whole thing lacked cohesion.

[Sandra Lopez · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the second installment of The Fountain series. The first book, The Fountain, was an exceptional YA novel about making your wishes come true.

The second book takes place at the same old St. Augustus and follows a young girl named Courtney and her friends. On a dare, Courtney ventures into the West Woods, where she finds a key leading to hidden secrets about magic and the school. And then she stumbles upon that same fountain that was so captivating in the first book, and she makes a wish. Story started off pretty slow with its vapid array of characters and develops into a slow and complex plot. I mean, I felt like it took forever to get to the fountain, and the main character didn’t make it any easier. At times, I just couldn’t stand her with her constant talk about the in-crowd and boys and all. I couldn’t really hold any interest for any of it. I’m sorry to say that this book could not hold a candle to the first. It wasn’t even in the same league, much less my expectations.

[Stefanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this prequel. If you have read The Fountain then I think you should definitely read this prequel.
If you haven’t read it, I would say this is a great read if you like Harry Potter type books. Is not like Harry Potter per day, but it is a story that involves a magical thing in a boarding school setting. If you enjoy fantasy YA, then this is a good pick for you. Is a really quick read.

Now as much as I enjoyed this book, for a prequel, it still left me with a lot of questions. I still don’t know much about the story of the fountain and why there is magic. I feel like I need to re-read the fountain because I read it a long time ago so I don’t remember many details and how it connects to the prequel in regards to the mythology of the fountain (actual fountain not the book). I might have to do that.
I hope this is not the end of the story and we get a sequel to the fountain.

I would give this book a 3.8

[Jill Jemmett · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great story. 

It is a unique plot. Though it follows a typical fantasy storyline by taking place at a boarding school with a mysterious background, it was unpredictable. 

I liked the way that Courtney changed throughout the book. The effects of her wish really change her thoughts and actions. 

I wished there was more about Courtney's dad in this book. I also thought that her conversations with Cole seemed forced. Sometimes they were repetitive and didn't move the story forward. This book is part of a series so maybe in previous book Courtney's dad and Cole have bigger parts. 

Even though I haven't read the other book, I still enjoyed this one. And it's by a Canadian author which is awesome! I'll definitely keep my eyes open for the other book in the series. 

I received a copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for a review.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

The prequel to The Fountain, this award-winning young adult novel follows Courtney Wallis as she returns to her second underwhelming year at St. Augustus. She wants nothing more than to return to Boston and her beloved track team, but her father won't hear of it. So they make a deal: if Courtney discovers what makes St. Augustus so special and does everything she can to pad her college applications and still wants to leave at the end of the year, her father will consider letting her come home. Not one to do anything by half measures, Courtney throws herself into unveiling every secret St. Augustus has. Her discovery turns her into a completely different person. It worries her friends. But who does Courtney want to be? The new Courtney? Or the old one?

[cenobyte · Rating 3 out of 5]

This stand-alone “sequel/prequel” to “The Fountain” had more energy than its predecessor. As any good storyteller can attest, it’s easy to fall in love with a villain, and this book follows the trajectory of Courtney Wallis, who makes a wish and embarks on an epic, hubris-fuelled quest to understand what exactly is the true history of her boarding school.

With a touch of romance (but less so than it’s predecessor), “The West Woods” is an adventure novel with magical elements. Vidori’s storytelling skill is strong, and what some characters lack in depth they make up for in personality.

A solid read for a YA Audience interested in adventure and magic.

[Dominique [plantypageturner] · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was very well written, great plot, and well put together characters.

I enjoyed learning more about Ms. Krick, who turned out to be my favorite character in the book!

I was excited as the release date for this book was approaching but I'm going to be honest, I was disappointed when I realized it was Courtney's side of the story. I didn't like Courtney in the first book and I dislike her even more after reading The West Woods, granted it was partially due to the fountain. She was so mean to her friends, yet they stuck by her side.

I 100% plan on reading the next book in the series. I'm still very curious on what will happen with Ava and Ethan.

(ARC via the publisher. Thank you so much!)

[YA & NA Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was good to read and I haven’t read The Fountain yet but will be reading it soon. I loved the authors style of writing and will definitely read some more of her books.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review. I would give this book 4 stars as it didn’t make me want to stay up all hours to finish it.

[Debbie Eyre · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a nice easy YA read! Well written, full of magic, mystery & romance, a little bribery, friendship boundaries that are tested & some good characters. This book will keep you occupied on a rainy afternoon! The concept was good & even had me thinking what would I wish for if I had just one wish!!! Well worth a read.

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sequel but also a prequel to The Fountain. We get a chance to see how Courtney ended up to be such an unpleasant person in The Fountain- driven to make her wishes come true, no matter the cost.

[James Connolly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was already reading this book when I was informed I was actually reading the prequel to The Fountain. Ah well. I very much enjoyed the book and am looking forward to reading book one of the series. Thank You my friend for such a great story.

[Taija Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this prequel to The Fountain (Second in the series): Courtney Wallis is a freshman at her new boarding school, St. Augustus, but she hates it there. The only way out is to meet her father’s demands and discover the school’s secrets.

Suzy Vadori is an amazing author, always delivering an entertaining story with richly rendered characters. I enjoyed the well-paced plot and the likable characters. The premise takes the old adage of “Be careful what you wish for!” to whole new levels. A quick, fun read. Perfect for readers in the 12-15 range.

[BooksWithMyCoffeeBlog · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review will be up on the blog next week!

[Tammy Lyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a fantastic follow-up to The Fountain! Amazing storytelling!

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay. I don’t understand the inclusion of the love interest because nothing ends up happening, and it didn’t add anything to the story. Cortney’s interactions were often awkward and some parts of the book were very predictable.