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The Phantom Forest #1
The Phantom Forest
Every tree in the sacred Forest of Laida houses a soul. Though each of those souls will return to the mortal world for many future lives, not all of them deserve to.
Seycia's father told her this story as a child -- a story of the most holy place in the Underworld, The Forest of Laida, where all souls go to rest before embarking on a new life. But Seycia's father is dead now, and his killer has put a target on her back.
After being chosen for her village's human sacrifice ritual, Seycia is transported to the Underworld and must join forces with Haben, the demon to whom she was sacrificed, to protect the family she left behind from beyond the grave. In this story of love, survival, and what it means to be human, Seycia and Haben discover that the Underworld is riddled with secrets that can only be unlocked through complete trust and devotion, not only to their mission, but also to one another.
Seycia's father told her this story as a child -- a story of the most holy place in the Underworld, The Forest of Laida, where all souls go to rest before embarking on a new life. But Seycia's father is dead now, and his killer has put a target on her back.
After being chosen for her village's human sacrifice ritual, Seycia is transported to the Underworld and must join forces with Haben, the demon to whom she was sacrificed, to protect the family she left behind from beyond the grave. In this story of love, survival, and what it means to be human, Seycia and Haben discover that the Underworld is riddled with secrets that can only be unlocked through complete trust and devotion, not only to their mission, but also to one another.
336 pages, Paperback
First published July 16, 2019
72 people are currently reading
4645 people want to read
About the author
Liz Kerin
6 books352 followersLiz Kerin is an award winning playwright, screenwriter, and spec-fic/horror author. She is the author of the critically acclaimed NIGHT’S EDGE duology, dark fantasy adventure THE PHANTOM FOREST, and the forthcoming HOW TO DISAPPEAR COMPLETELY from Sourcebooks/Poisoned Pen. Her short fiction and personal essays have appeared on Reactor (FKA Tor.com), in the Brink Literary Journal, and in the PUNK GOES HORROR anthology from TruBorn Press. As a screenwriter, she has a number of film/tv projects in development, including adaptations of her novels. She is a graduate of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and lives in LA with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 136 reviews
April 11, 2019
I want to thank NetGalley for sending me an advanced digital copy of this book.
Wow. Okay, focus. Phew.
Two hundred years ago, humans discovered something they were not supposed to find out: what happens to our souls when we die. After the apocalyptic war that followed this event destroyed the majority of the planet, a bunch of survivors had rebuilt a society, controlled by a tyrannical government. Once a year they select a victim for a sacrifice to the Underworld, but when Seycia, a 19 year old orphan who takes care of her younger brother, gets involved, things don't go as planned. Who is the Savage? What really happens in the Underworld? And what is so special in the weapon she inherited for her father, that looks just like an animal fang?
Phantom Forest is a wonderful, dark and incredibly rich dystopian/fantasy novel, so well built and fast paced that I wasn't able to put it down till I reached the end. I was absolutely captivated by the atmosphere, the characters and yes, even the slow-burn romance 🔥 ...
This novel submerges the reader in a landscape so imaginative and detailed that the information of the world building, as complex as it is, never feels forced, and is never difficult to understand or picture in one's mind.
The characters are well-rounded, developed and realistic for the most part. The female protagonist is a lovely young adult, strong, independent and responsible but without ever being cocky. The male characters are less developed and, in general, more cliché, but I absolutely adored the love interest, his personality and his background story. The characters of this book all feel plausible, all have a mission in life and their perspective in the book are all equally interesting. And oh, the creatures, the creatures! 😍
I don't know what else to say about this book, if not that it's one of the best young adult/new adult novels I ever read... And I can't wait for the sequel!!!
Wow. Okay, focus. Phew.
Two hundred years ago, humans discovered something they were not supposed to find out: what happens to our souls when we die. After the apocalyptic war that followed this event destroyed the majority of the planet, a bunch of survivors had rebuilt a society, controlled by a tyrannical government. Once a year they select a victim for a sacrifice to the Underworld, but when Seycia, a 19 year old orphan who takes care of her younger brother, gets involved, things don't go as planned. Who is the Savage? What really happens in the Underworld? And what is so special in the weapon she inherited for her father, that looks just like an animal fang?
Phantom Forest is a wonderful, dark and incredibly rich dystopian/fantasy novel, so well built and fast paced that I wasn't able to put it down till I reached the end. I was absolutely captivated by the atmosphere, the characters and yes, even the slow-burn romance 🔥 ...
This novel submerges the reader in a landscape so imaginative and detailed that the information of the world building, as complex as it is, never feels forced, and is never difficult to understand or picture in one's mind.
The characters are well-rounded, developed and realistic for the most part. The female protagonist is a lovely young adult, strong, independent and responsible but without ever being cocky. The male characters are less developed and, in general, more cliché, but I absolutely adored the love interest, his personality and his background story. The characters of this book all feel plausible, all have a mission in life and their perspective in the book are all equally interesting. And oh, the creatures, the creatures! 😍
I don't know what else to say about this book, if not that it's one of the best young adult/new adult novels I ever read... And I can't wait for the sequel!!!
July 25, 2019
Kerin's debut novel was full of action and nebulous adventure. The author easily won me over with her world building, her plot heavily influenced by religious mythology, her intriguing and broken characters, and everything else that exploded from this book and made me a fan. Between learning more about the well-developed characters and never knowing what would happen next, I was on the edge of my seat for this journey from beginning to end. The path proved treacherous and I enjoyed every spine-tingling minute of it!
This story centers around (and is told mostly by) three principle characters:
★ Seycia - she's a clever, courageous, fearless, and extremely headstrong. Alone during her formative years, after witnessing her parents death in her war-torn country, she's learned to survive and protect her little brother. Her love for her sibling is what really drew me to her, because big sisters love like no other. No one can touch, talk, or even think about our little ones. She's willing to do anything for him and ends up making the biggest sacrifice of all.
★ Haben - once a human who lived centuries ago, now a demon slave to the ruler of the Underworld. He has been turned into the Savage, a demon who comes to Earth twice a year to eat human sacrifices. He hates what he has become but feels his punishment matches his crime. You'll spend much of the book trying to figure out what he did to deserve this. Once Seycia finds herself in the Underworld, Haben does everything he can to help her survive. He becomes friend (and maybe more?), educator, and support when Seycia needs it most. FYI to the author... Haben IS this story and I need more of this man ASAP!!
★ Miko - Seycia's younger brother who ends up being the the Light for the people of his land. He's twelve and finds that his age doesn't diminish his strength or the fortitude required to do something about what is happening to his people. While he mourns his sister, he finds purpose and joins others in toppling the autocracy that his dominated his people for years. He's brave and intelligent, but still a bit naive and childish. His story arc intrigues me almost as much as Haben's does.
Other characters play a decidedly major role although they had minor parts:
⦾ General Simeon - he was the brutal ruler of Khronasa, with no love for its people or its traditions. He had an intense need to wipe out Seycia and her brother for wrongs done to him and lacked compunction for any of the evil he perpetrated. He was answerable and fearful of Emperor Caius, who had forced the people into subservience.
⦾ Dhov - ruler of the Underworld. He doled out pain and punishment on a whim. He was creepy, scary, and I would never want to meet him. He was right there, at every turn, during Haben and Seycia's mission to the Great Forest. He had spies everywhere and nowhere was safe from his wrath.
There were a ton of other characters we come to know. Some to love and some to hate along with everyone else. With her first novel, Kerin has established herself as a must-read author for the genre. She gave me everything I crave in a YA story and left me hungry for more. Now, at the end of this chapter of the tale, I'm tense and anxious to find out where this story will lead me next. I NEED a book two PRONTO!!
Click here for the full review!
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This story centers around (and is told mostly by) three principle characters:
★ Seycia - she's a clever, courageous, fearless, and extremely headstrong. Alone during her formative years, after witnessing her parents death in her war-torn country, she's learned to survive and protect her little brother. Her love for her sibling is what really drew me to her, because big sisters love like no other. No one can touch, talk, or even think about our little ones. She's willing to do anything for him and ends up making the biggest sacrifice of all.
★ Haben - once a human who lived centuries ago, now a demon slave to the ruler of the Underworld. He has been turned into the Savage, a demon who comes to Earth twice a year to eat human sacrifices. He hates what he has become but feels his punishment matches his crime. You'll spend much of the book trying to figure out what he did to deserve this. Once Seycia finds herself in the Underworld, Haben does everything he can to help her survive. He becomes friend (and maybe more?), educator, and support when Seycia needs it most. FYI to the author... Haben IS this story and I need more of this man ASAP!!
★ Miko - Seycia's younger brother who ends up being the the Light for the people of his land. He's twelve and finds that his age doesn't diminish his strength or the fortitude required to do something about what is happening to his people. While he mourns his sister, he finds purpose and joins others in toppling the autocracy that his dominated his people for years. He's brave and intelligent, but still a bit naive and childish. His story arc intrigues me almost as much as Haben's does.
Other characters play a decidedly major role although they had minor parts:
⦾ General Simeon - he was the brutal ruler of Khronasa, with no love for its people or its traditions. He had an intense need to wipe out Seycia and her brother for wrongs done to him and lacked compunction for any of the evil he perpetrated. He was answerable and fearful of Emperor Caius, who had forced the people into subservience.
⦾ Dhov - ruler of the Underworld. He doled out pain and punishment on a whim. He was creepy, scary, and I would never want to meet him. He was right there, at every turn, during Haben and Seycia's mission to the Great Forest. He had spies everywhere and nowhere was safe from his wrath.
There were a ton of other characters we come to know. Some to love and some to hate along with everyone else. With her first novel, Kerin has established herself as a must-read author for the genre. She gave me everything I crave in a YA story and left me hungry for more. Now, at the end of this chapter of the tale, I'm tense and anxious to find out where this story will lead me next. I NEED a book two PRONTO!!
Click here for the full review!
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June 22, 2019
'We do not know what will change the rhythm of the universe. We only know that it is coming.'
Mkay so while this was a great concept, it ultimately fell so, so flat. Which makes me sad because I read so many books with amazing ideas and concepts that just aren't given the brilliance they deserve if more time, in-depth editing, and coaxing out their potential. For instance, the world-building basics in here were absolutely fascinating . . . but seemed rushed and under-developed. The same applied to the characters and plot. And while I loved what happened with Haben and Sycia, even then things just didn't seem to be written to their true, magnificent potential and thus I am a good bit heartbroken because the ideas and concepts behind this book are simply brilliant but just not written well enough.
I received a digital ARC from Inkshares via NetGalley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
Mkay so while this was a great concept, it ultimately fell so, so flat. Which makes me sad because I read so many books with amazing ideas and concepts that just aren't given the brilliance they deserve if more time, in-depth editing, and coaxing out their potential. For instance, the world-building basics in here were absolutely fascinating . . . but seemed rushed and under-developed. The same applied to the characters and plot. And while I loved what happened with Haben and Sycia, even then things just didn't seem to be written to their true, magnificent potential and thus I am a good bit heartbroken because the ideas and concepts behind this book are simply brilliant but just not written well enough.
I received a digital ARC from Inkshares via NetGalley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
August 20, 2019
This across between Dante's Inferno & Jeannette Ng's Under the Pendulum Sun. It is difficult to chose, is it fantasy it starts like one ,but we have guns ,cars & photograph ;& concrete cellar; along with talk of apocalyptic Wars & then we have final twist Demons mainly The Savage a demon with split personality as he also Haben the hater of Dohv the King of the Underworld.
Liz Kerin has created a book that grasps at religion shadows the darker side of heaven & hell every much as John Bunion's The Pilgrim 's Progress does as Seycia plays a feminist Pilgrim . I love evil dark General Simeon who reads like Mathew Hopkins The Witchfinder General .
As you progress into this book it is not main characters but sidle characters that add the extra spice to the plot . It is the villains & the violence of the fights that are vividly described in Bloody detail.
Liz Kerin has created a book that grasps at religion shadows the darker side of heaven & hell every much as John Bunion's The Pilgrim 's Progress does as Seycia plays a feminist Pilgrim . I love evil dark General Simeon who reads like Mathew Hopkins The Witchfinder General .
As you progress into this book it is not main characters but sidle characters that add the extra spice to the plot . It is the villains & the violence of the fights that are vividly described in Bloody detail.
June 5, 2019
✨ I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Liz Kerin about her debut novel as part of my Novel19 Class; you can read it on Reader Voracious Blog!
Friends, I loved reading this debut fantasy novel so much! The Phantom Forest has all the ingredients that I live for in a good story: rich worldbuilding with an emphasis on religion and lyrical writing that sucked me in on the first page. This is a dark, gruesome, and bloody story that won’t be for everyone so please do check the content warnings at the bottom of the review.
“In this place meant for the dead, she finally felt the weight of life, of connection, of eternity. Nothing was ever lost.”I had so many questions while reading this book, but not in a bad way if that makes sense. The world the Kerin crafted for us is so intricately disturbing that it is like a car wreck that we cannot look away from. Who are these people? What are they being punished for? The worldbuilding is both slow and all at once as the reader is thrust into the deep end of the world but never given too much at any given time. I was hungry for more much like the Savage hungers.
The Phantom Forest is told mostly in the three alternating third-person perspectives of Seycia, Miko, and Haben, with the addition of a couple chapters from General Simeon’s perspective.
✨ Seycia is a brave and selfless nineteen year old who’s seen her fair share of heartache over the last seven years. With both her parents dead, her father killed by General Simeon during the initial occupation, she’s been taking care of her brother as best as she can. The love that she feels for Miko is palpable and I appreciate how so much of this story centers on their sibling love and willingness to sacrifice themselves for the other.We all know that I struggle a bit with multiple POV narratives and I will admit that it took a bit of time for me to adjust. The first 20% of the book was solely told from Seycia’s and Haben’s perspectives as their paths inevitably converge, after which we have two storylines: one in the Underworld and following the family that Seycia left behind (Miko). By this point I was fully invested in Seycia and her story, so it did take some time for me to warm up to Miko’s own journey but once I did I was hooked and finished the rest of the book in one sitting.
✨ Miko is full of the naivete and rigid belief of right prevailing that one can expect from a twelve year old. He’s a child who’s lost everything and everyone, who wants to take matters into his own hands. While headstrong characters who do whatever they want without thinking first typically drive me bonkers, these characteristics really endeared Miko to me and I was rooting for him. But I was also glad that he wasn’t an instant sharpshooter.
✨ Haben is a demon known as The Savage, Dhov’s messenger whose purpose is to scare humans so they continue to fear the Underworld. The book opens with his perspective and I was honestly drawn to him right away; he hasn’t retained much of his humanity since taking Dhov’s curse and his character arc is by far my favorite. I love Haben and he must be protected at all costs.
This is an action-packed story and there is so much within its 300 pages. I felt most connected with Haben and his character development; I feel like Miko and Seycia’s arcs and stories are just getting started in comparison. I still adore them both and am incredibly invested in what happens next for them.
"Discovery of the afterlife had had irreparable consequences, so the Coalition abolished the notion of gods, fate, and prayer, worldwide. And yet, people worshiped the emperor now. Their proverb promoted the very thing they had destroyed: blind faith.”The Phantom Forest is definitely a philosophical exploration into the afterlife, but it also explores the power dynamics of an oppressive conquering regime, the erosion of cultural practices, and the glimmer of hope at the sight of rebellion. The book takes place seven years after The Coalition came into power and religious practices were outlawed… expect in Khronasa where General Simeon kept up the annual sacrifice to the Savage ritual going as a means of control. But Simeon’s control is weakening as the status quo is challenged.
But this is also a story about love and sacrifice, about good and evil, about redemption. A thread in much of the story is whether or not a soul starts life with a tabula rasa or if a bad soul can atone in the next life. Who becomes worthy of second chances and who gets to make those decisions?
“She glanced over the edge of the boat at the misty river and swallowed a shriek as she watched a translucent hand emerge from the water to nudge the boat along.”I really connected with Kerin’s writing style, her descriptions are so detailed and vivid that I was able to picture everything without it feeling too cumbersome. You can definitely tell that she is a storyteller and I look forward to watching her continue to hone her craft. People who struggle with purple prose and heavy imagery may have a tough time with this book, but it really worked for me.
I was left wanting to know a bit more about how the sacrifices were chosen by Simeon, his motives, and his history. We got a couple of chapters from his perspective but I didn’t find that they really added to the story in a meaningful way for me. (Although we got some crucial information by one of these chapters that explains a lot but also leaves me with some questions.) His villainy never really felt fully realized to me.
Overall, The Phantom Forest delivered on what I was expecting and I really enjoyed my time reading it (barring those rough couple of chapters)! I love stories that explore concepts of the afterlife and encourage me to wax poetic, this book weaves its own mythology so vast that it’s impressive it’s all packed into 300 pages. If you like epic adventures, redemption arcs, mythology, and vivid imagery then I encourage you to give this book a try!
CONTENT WARNINGS: (from author’s website) ritual human sacrifice, suicidal ideation, metaphors about disordered eating, brief threat of sexual violence, cannibalism, child abduction, genocide, dead parents, gun violence
Many thanks to Inkshares for sending me an ARC for my honest review! Quotations are taken from an uncorrected proof and may change in final publication.
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dnf
July 28, 2019I received this eARC from Inkshares via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of this book in any way.
DNF at 19%
I know I said I'd try to read a few more chapters (or even finish the chapter I was on tbh), but this book literally puts me to sleep, and I just can't lie to myself or to NetGalley any longer. I will not be finishing this.
This book feels like a mish-mash of everything that was popular in 2008-2011. It's got the demons from another realm from Angelfall and City of Bones. It's got the postapocalypse from The Hunger Games and Angelfall again. It's got the girl searching for her sibling from Angelfall again. It's got the angsty love interest with a tortured past from every single Beauty and the Beast retelling ever, of which YA is currently saturated.
In other words, it was generic af and offered me nothing I hadn't seen before, done infinitely better or at least marginally entertaining. I couldn't stand the repetitive and passive writing. The action sequences were dull and the sentence structure lacked pretty much any variety until I felt like a literal robot wrote this book.
The inciting incident, if you can call it that, was so hokey that I was actually baffled that it was in the book at all. Basically, MC Seycia and her brother are at the ritual sacrifice thing and almost get robbed but, while the entire community is chanting the ritual thing around her, this girl beats the crap out of the would-be thief, and then is like "wow, I wOnDeR iF AnYOnE NoTIcEd?"
And I also couldn't stand literally any of the characters, except maybe the Missing Sibling™ Miko, and only really because I got his perspective right before I decided to drop the book and he didn't have a chance to bore me to death yet.
The villain is laughably black and white, with only a little bit of depth that's quickly overshadowed by his cartoonishly evil actions and appearance.
But what bothers me the most is that the average rating is so high, and that the parts I found to be the worst are many people's favorites. It really makes me wonder if we read the same book.
DNF at 19%
I know I said I'd try to read a few more chapters (or even finish the chapter I was on tbh), but this book literally puts me to sleep, and I just can't lie to myself or to NetGalley any longer. I will not be finishing this.
This book feels like a mish-mash of everything that was popular in 2008-2011. It's got the demons from another realm from Angelfall and City of Bones. It's got the postapocalypse from The Hunger Games and Angelfall again. It's got the girl searching for her sibling from Angelfall again. It's got the angsty love interest with a tortured past from every single Beauty and the Beast retelling ever, of which YA is currently saturated.
In other words, it was generic af and offered me nothing I hadn't seen before, done infinitely better or at least marginally entertaining. I couldn't stand the repetitive and passive writing. The action sequences were dull and the sentence structure lacked pretty much any variety until I felt like a literal robot wrote this book.
The inciting incident, if you can call it that, was so hokey that I was actually baffled that it was in the book at all. Basically, MC Seycia and her brother are at the ritual sacrifice thing and almost get robbed but, while the entire community is chanting the ritual thing around her, this girl beats the crap out of the would-be thief, and then is like "wow, I wOnDeR iF AnYOnE NoTIcEd?"
And I also couldn't stand literally any of the characters, except maybe the Missing Sibling™ Miko, and only really because I got his perspective right before I decided to drop the book and he didn't have a chance to bore me to death yet.
The villain is laughably black and white, with only a little bit of depth that's quickly overshadowed by his cartoonishly evil actions and appearance.
But what bothers me the most is that the average rating is so high, and that the parts I found to be the worst are many people's favorites. It really makes me wonder if we read the same book.
March 31, 2019
Liz Kerin's debut is a haunting, creepy tale set in a fantastical world. Seycia is a young woman of the town of Khronasa, a village on an Earth that was destroyed by war years ago. Ever since the town was raided and her parents were killed, Seycia has been in charge of her little brother, Miko. They keep to themselves, surviving quietly, keeping out of the way. But the evil General Simeon, who bears a scar made by Seycia's father, has other plans for them. The Savage, a beast who lies beyond the veil to the underworld, will take sacrifices from time to time, and Seycia is set to be his next meal.
This is only the beginning of a complicated story that will take Seycia into the depths of the underworld, helping her to explore the very essence of her humanity. There are layers of evil and corruption here, and Simeon is not the only villain. The god Dohv, who rules the underworld, becomes a frightening and overpowering presence. There's also the Savage to contend with, who experiences a fascinating character arc of his own. We also watch Miko as he struggles on Earth without his sister, trying to evade Simeon.
I was riveted by the descriptions of the underworld - I could picture Seycia, like she was in one of those worlds from Legend or The Dark Crystal. The story is cinematic, which speaks to Kerin's background in film. And although it's not a total cliffhanger, there is definitely room for more here. We have some questions that are not completely answered. I'd love to see what is next.
This is only the beginning of a complicated story that will take Seycia into the depths of the underworld, helping her to explore the very essence of her humanity. There are layers of evil and corruption here, and Simeon is not the only villain. The god Dohv, who rules the underworld, becomes a frightening and overpowering presence. There's also the Savage to contend with, who experiences a fascinating character arc of his own. We also watch Miko as he struggles on Earth without his sister, trying to evade Simeon.
I was riveted by the descriptions of the underworld - I could picture Seycia, like she was in one of those worlds from Legend or The Dark Crystal. The story is cinematic, which speaks to Kerin's background in film. And although it's not a total cliffhanger, there is definitely room for more here. We have some questions that are not completely answered. I'd love to see what is next.
June 16, 2019
My highly anticipated books for 2019 have been bumming me out and then this guy shows up out of nowhere and completely blew me away!
“The Phantom Forest” drags us into the Underworld when a sacrifice manages to survive and finds herself face to face with a demon who feds on those sent to him by the General in order to maintain power. With her fall, Seycia fights to save her brother from a similar fate and restore order to a world that has succumbed to the darkness.
I took a chance on this book and I’m so glad I did it starts off with a bang and doesn’t let up the entire way through! The blending of different point of views was one of my favorite things as each character had their moment to shine and though this is a short book and rather quick read I feel as though we learned a lot about who these characters are and what each of their roles were in this world.
I adored the entire mythology around The Savage and how he came to be and what he wished to become. His struggle was one that was so well written because we had those moments of terror as well as those of understanding as we learn what happened to the world to make it what it is and the rewards and consequences of trying to protect or honor your family.
I’m not sure if there needed to be a romance element and I’m willing to ignore it especially as it’s so minimal but the dynamic between our two leads was one of my favorites because of how innocent it was despite the circumstances of their meeting and everything that followed and I can’t wait to see where it goes should the series continue!
This was such a great read and perfect for fans of Peadar Ó Guilín who may want a little more bite out of their books.
**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**
“The Phantom Forest” drags us into the Underworld when a sacrifice manages to survive and finds herself face to face with a demon who feds on those sent to him by the General in order to maintain power. With her fall, Seycia fights to save her brother from a similar fate and restore order to a world that has succumbed to the darkness.
I took a chance on this book and I’m so glad I did it starts off with a bang and doesn’t let up the entire way through! The blending of different point of views was one of my favorite things as each character had their moment to shine and though this is a short book and rather quick read I feel as though we learned a lot about who these characters are and what each of their roles were in this world.
I adored the entire mythology around The Savage and how he came to be and what he wished to become. His struggle was one that was so well written because we had those moments of terror as well as those of understanding as we learn what happened to the world to make it what it is and the rewards and consequences of trying to protect or honor your family.
I’m not sure if there needed to be a romance element and I’m willing to ignore it especially as it’s so minimal but the dynamic between our two leads was one of my favorites because of how innocent it was despite the circumstances of their meeting and everything that followed and I can’t wait to see where it goes should the series continue!
This was such a great read and perfect for fans of Peadar Ó Guilín who may want a little more bite out of their books.
**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**
July 15, 2019
The Phantom Forest was a novel I read within a span of six hours and was drawn in from the start. I liked how it consisted of well-developed characters with a setting that was a mix between the fantasy and dystopian genre. The concept that souls were made of trees is something I'd never heard of - which made it even more wonderful for me.
From the first page till the last, I was left on the edge of my seat feeling for the characters and wondering what the next page brought. The world building and setting was fantastic and I liked how the underworld was portrayed in a dark, yet moody and atmospheric world.
The storyline of the other characters such as Seycia's brother lent so much more to the story as we knew it - particularly in the eyes of a young boy.
I loved Haben's chapters a lot and we got to see his side of the story from the Underworld and how things went from his perspective. I felt compassion for him and enjoyed how the author developed his character.
Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for sending me an Electronic ARC of The Phantom Forest by Liz Kerin!
Jul 1, 2019
This book was everything I never knew I needed! Loved every bit of it! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
From the first page till the last, I was left on the edge of my seat feeling for the characters and wondering what the next page brought. The world building and setting was fantastic and I liked how the underworld was portrayed in a dark, yet moody and atmospheric world.
The storyline of the other characters such as Seycia's brother lent so much more to the story as we knew it - particularly in the eyes of a young boy.
I loved Haben's chapters a lot and we got to see his side of the story from the Underworld and how things went from his perspective. I felt compassion for him and enjoyed how the author developed his character.
Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for sending me an Electronic ARC of The Phantom Forest by Liz Kerin!
Jul 1, 2019
This book was everything I never knew I needed! Loved every bit of it! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
July 23, 2019
The author/publisher provided a free copy of the book for review purposes - thank you! Receiving a review copy does not guarantee a positive review and therefore do not affect the opinion or content of the review.
So when I sat down to write my review for The Phantom Forest, all I wanted to write is this:
Protect this character
Seriously, protect this character
Take them away from Liz Kerin; it's the only way to protect them
But uh, that doesn't work as a review (maybe one day). Anyways.
The Phantom Forest is haunting.
Kerin's debut is creepy, everyone. The world here is atmospheric and brings a chill or two, even when the story isn't in the Underworld. In a world ruled by the Coalition where one practicing their belief in gods or superstition results in death, General Simeon overlooks a village with tight control. He keeps the people under his authority by taking a religious ritual where only criminals are sacrifices to one where anyone can be chosen.
I wanted General Simeon to choke on sharp pineapples while reading.
Since her father died, Seycia lives in hiding with her younger brother Miko in the village. It's not long before General Simeon makes her a target and she becomes the next village sacrifice, sending her to the Underworld where she joins forces with Haben.
Interesting Characters Arcs
I find myself most invested in Haben's story and wanted to keep reading to find out what happens to Seycia and him as they journey across the Underworld. While The Phantom Forest has a multitude of POVs, most are from Seycia, Haben and Miko.
The story seems to focus on one character with the others sitting in the backseat, undergoing the most development. However, I do feel this is only the beginning, and there is more to come for both Seycia and Miko. Their story seems to stand in the back of the room, but they'll likely develop in future books. I want to see what Kerin has in store even if I only want to protect Haben.
There are slow moments in The Phantom Forest
Kerin builds a world and plot that captures my attention from early in the novel. However, there are moments where I felt the scenes were maybe irrelevant and unnecessary. While it was a rough patch to go through, it was well worth it. I wanted to see to the end of the story, and I had a lot of questions that won my curiosity. By the end of The Phantom Forest, I still have plenty of questions, but I'm sure there will be answers eventually.
This review was originally posted on Bookwyrming Thoughts
So when I sat down to write my review for The Phantom Forest, all I wanted to write is this:
Protect this character
Seriously, protect this character
Take them away from Liz Kerin; it's the only way to protect them
But uh, that doesn't work as a review (maybe one day). Anyways.
The Phantom Forest is haunting.
Kerin's debut is creepy, everyone. The world here is atmospheric and brings a chill or two, even when the story isn't in the Underworld. In a world ruled by the Coalition where one practicing their belief in gods or superstition results in death, General Simeon overlooks a village with tight control. He keeps the people under his authority by taking a religious ritual where only criminals are sacrifices to one where anyone can be chosen.
I wanted General Simeon to choke on sharp pineapples while reading.
Since her father died, Seycia lives in hiding with her younger brother Miko in the village. It's not long before General Simeon makes her a target and she becomes the next village sacrifice, sending her to the Underworld where she joins forces with Haben.
Interesting Characters Arcs
I find myself most invested in Haben's story and wanted to keep reading to find out what happens to Seycia and him as they journey across the Underworld. While The Phantom Forest has a multitude of POVs, most are from Seycia, Haben and Miko.
The story seems to focus on one character with the others sitting in the backseat, undergoing the most development. However, I do feel this is only the beginning, and there is more to come for both Seycia and Miko. Their story seems to stand in the back of the room, but they'll likely develop in future books. I want to see what Kerin has in store even if I only want to protect Haben.
There are slow moments in The Phantom Forest
Kerin builds a world and plot that captures my attention from early in the novel. However, there are moments where I felt the scenes were maybe irrelevant and unnecessary. While it was a rough patch to go through, it was well worth it. I wanted to see to the end of the story, and I had a lot of questions that won my curiosity. By the end of The Phantom Forest, I still have plenty of questions, but I'm sure there will be answers eventually.
This review was originally posted on Bookwyrming Thoughts
May 7, 2020
DNF @50%
I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to the publisher, Inkshares.
Every tree in the sacred Forest of Laida houses a soul. Though each of those souls will return to the mortal world for many future lives, not all of them deserve to.
A girl chosen as a human sacrifice? An Underworld? A demon? A story of love, survival, and what it means to be human? Sprinkled with riddles and secrets and trust?
Well, you know I'm helpless against that...but alas, everything about the book fell flat :( another case of great ideas suffering under underdeveloped writing.
RTC.
I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to the publisher, Inkshares.
Every tree in the sacred Forest of Laida houses a soul. Though each of those souls will return to the mortal world for many future lives, not all of them deserve to.
A girl chosen as a human sacrifice? An Underworld? A demon? A story of love, survival, and what it means to be human? Sprinkled with riddles and secrets and trust?
Well, you know I'm helpless against that...but alas, everything about the book fell flat :( another case of great ideas suffering under underdeveloped writing.
RTC.
August 18, 2019
Thank you to netgalley for giving me the chance to read this book :)
This is definitely not the kind of thing I normally read but I really enjoyed it! I’ve been wanting to read some more horror-y books for a while (even though this isn’t really horror).
The components were beautifully crafted with all the creatures and characters - all unique and incredible ideas, especially the sisters, who I loved!
I’m guessing there’s going to be a sequel? And I’d definitely read it when it comes out!
(Just checked & no plans to make a sequel, there could definitely be but I also kinda like this ending too?)
This is definitely not the kind of thing I normally read but I really enjoyed it! I’ve been wanting to read some more horror-y books for a while (even though this isn’t really horror).
The components were beautifully crafted with all the creatures and characters - all unique and incredible ideas, especially the sisters, who I loved!
I’m guessing there’s going to be a sequel? And I’d definitely read it when it comes out!
(Just checked & no plans to make a sequel, there could definitely be but I also kinda like this ending too?)
March 13, 2019
Liz Kerin treats us to a tasty new morsel in the form of this dark and oh so original fable. As you are likely aware by now, the Phantom Forest traces certain of its characters through the mortal world and the afterlife. The novel is at its best and most interesting in its exploration of this afterlife. Kerin develops a realized, chaotic "underworld” that increases in complexity as the story progresses. While many of the Phantom Forest’s compelling concepts still swim around in my head a week after I finished the book, I have boiled what I love most about this book down to two inspired choices that set this story apart from others.
First, rather than focusing on this world’s creation myth or the relation between its mortals and immortals, every aspect of Kerin’s debut (even its infinite afterlife) is explored with immediacy, from the perspective of the tangible here and now. There are gods and amazing monsters, but also men, women and deceased. Each of The PF’s denizens has a present drive that sends them in, around or through the obstacles they face and the reader further down the page. The underworld has a compelling class system of gods and demons and dead, but, for the most part, the interactions between them are driven by individual needs rather than devotion to the class system. One possible exception is Dohv, the underworld’s harsh and powerful ruler who wields his power without mercy or explanation – but, in line with Kerin’s driving narrative, there is never a need for the masterless to explain his actions. He merely acts (without the accouterment of a Bond-villain monologue to guide us). Relatedly, The PF does layer-in an interesting backstory that motivates its protagonists’ decisions. However, the novel never feels as though its characters’ journeys are merely a vessel for expository world-building or a description of the author’s grand imagining of the afterlife. While this commitment to individual drives does leave certain aspects of the underworld and its mechanics vague, and even a tad unclear at times, it avoids the pitfall of dragging the narrative down with superfluity. Plus, with a potential sequel in either, there’s room for further exploration and clarity.
My second favorite of Kerin’s choices is her decision not to send her protagonist on a mission to retrieve a soul from the underworld. So many stories focus on this desire to retrieve what was taken, on the mortal’s desire to cheat the afterlife. Here, Kerin inverts that dynamic. Her protagonists accept the finality of the world she’s built. What’s done is done – the only option is forward. Instead of venturing into the underworld to reestablish the status quo, Kerin’s lead protagonist adapts her mortal mission to her new circumstances. And, in an effort to avoid spoilers, I will simply say this post-death suicide mission is a hell of a lot of fun.
First, rather than focusing on this world’s creation myth or the relation between its mortals and immortals, every aspect of Kerin’s debut (even its infinite afterlife) is explored with immediacy, from the perspective of the tangible here and now. There are gods and amazing monsters, but also men, women and deceased. Each of The PF’s denizens has a present drive that sends them in, around or through the obstacles they face and the reader further down the page. The underworld has a compelling class system of gods and demons and dead, but, for the most part, the interactions between them are driven by individual needs rather than devotion to the class system. One possible exception is Dohv, the underworld’s harsh and powerful ruler who wields his power without mercy or explanation – but, in line with Kerin’s driving narrative, there is never a need for the masterless to explain his actions. He merely acts (without the accouterment of a Bond-villain monologue to guide us). Relatedly, The PF does layer-in an interesting backstory that motivates its protagonists’ decisions. However, the novel never feels as though its characters’ journeys are merely a vessel for expository world-building or a description of the author’s grand imagining of the afterlife. While this commitment to individual drives does leave certain aspects of the underworld and its mechanics vague, and even a tad unclear at times, it avoids the pitfall of dragging the narrative down with superfluity. Plus, with a potential sequel in either, there’s room for further exploration and clarity.
My second favorite of Kerin’s choices is her decision not to send her protagonist on a mission to retrieve a soul from the underworld. So many stories focus on this desire to retrieve what was taken, on the mortal’s desire to cheat the afterlife. Here, Kerin inverts that dynamic. Her protagonists accept the finality of the world she’s built. What’s done is done – the only option is forward. Instead of venturing into the underworld to reestablish the status quo, Kerin’s lead protagonist adapts her mortal mission to her new circumstances. And, in an effort to avoid spoilers, I will simply say this post-death suicide mission is a hell of a lot of fun.
September 10, 2018
I received an early copy and was not asked to review, but I'm reviewing because I thoroughly enjoyed the book. The Phantom Forest was a very well-paced and exciting read. Something about it struck the nostalgia vibes of all my favorite classic fantasy movies.
The main characters were interesting to the point that I couldn't put the book down because I wanted to know what happened next, a feeling all good books seem to invoke. The world-building was imaginative, original, and lovely and I'm excited to read more of Kerin's work.
The main characters were interesting to the point that I couldn't put the book down because I wanted to know what happened next, a feeling all good books seem to invoke. The world-building was imaginative, original, and lovely and I'm excited to read more of Kerin's work.
April 28, 2019
The Phantom Forest is a beautifully written dark fantasy about a young woman living in a war-torn town who is sacrificed to an evil god to ensure the town's safety. The underworld is a dark, foreboding place where she encounters a dangerous demon with a fading sense of remorse who still has a sliver of conscience. She awakens in him a glimmer of hope as she herself fights for the people she left behind. It is a story of primal fears, blind faith, the fight against evil, and redemption. Kerin has created a dark and fascinating world. The book is a page-turner and an impressive debut novel.
May 28, 2019
this book was absolutely beautiful. i loved the worlds, the characters, the name seycia, honestly all the names were so good. the innocence and the love were so refreshing to read amongst all the loss and fear. the purity that existed despite all the hardships made this so much More. i can see a second book being written and i'm intrigued because the ending left me really wanting something, more information, more closure.
July 24, 2019
Thank you to NetGalley for the free ebook in exchange for a fair review!
I could not put this down! The setting is fantastic – an intriguing post-apocalyptic world paired with an equally compelling underworld that is part Greek mythology and part Dante’s Inferno. Granted, you must accept that an underworld exists in the capacity that the author has described, but that is part of the fun of the novel.
The characters are understandable and likeable. Seycia is a self-reliant, stubborn, and tough young woman who refuses to be victimized. I loved her determination. Miko is a child character who never acts older than his age. Haben is perfectly executed – he is surly and bitter but never abusive. The reason for his curse is not a surprise, nor is his redemptive arc, but this did not take away from the story for me. I also love a good beauty and the beast tale, so I enjoyed their burgeoning relationship. The General was despicable and had clear motives – he never became a caricature of a villain. When Dohv is on the page he is menacing and unrelenting; a great pairing with the General’s tenuous hold on his power.
While the prose was evocative and descriptive without being boring, but there were some inconsistencies and repeated descriptions of emotions (such as people being exasperated). There wasn’t enough of this to be distracting, but it could have been tightened.
I’m a big fan of quest narratives and this novel had real tension. I could feel the threat of Dohv everywhere the pair travelled. The sections with Miko dragged a little for me. They weren’t poorly done or boring, but I was wanting to get back to the underworld!
I wasn’t a fan of the ending. While I understand it was set up for a sequel, it could have ended more definitively. But that seems to be the trend today.
Overall, a very fun, interesting, enjoyable novel!
I could not put this down! The setting is fantastic – an intriguing post-apocalyptic world paired with an equally compelling underworld that is part Greek mythology and part Dante’s Inferno. Granted, you must accept that an underworld exists in the capacity that the author has described, but that is part of the fun of the novel.
The characters are understandable and likeable. Seycia is a self-reliant, stubborn, and tough young woman who refuses to be victimized. I loved her determination. Miko is a child character who never acts older than his age. Haben is perfectly executed – he is surly and bitter but never abusive. The reason for his curse is not a surprise, nor is his redemptive arc, but this did not take away from the story for me. I also love a good beauty and the beast tale, so I enjoyed their burgeoning relationship. The General was despicable and had clear motives – he never became a caricature of a villain. When Dohv is on the page he is menacing and unrelenting; a great pairing with the General’s tenuous hold on his power.
While the prose was evocative and descriptive without being boring, but there were some inconsistencies and repeated descriptions of emotions (such as people being exasperated). There wasn’t enough of this to be distracting, but it could have been tightened.
I’m a big fan of quest narratives and this novel had real tension. I could feel the threat of Dohv everywhere the pair travelled. The sections with Miko dragged a little for me. They weren’t poorly done or boring, but I was wanting to get back to the underworld!
I wasn’t a fan of the ending. While I understand it was set up for a sequel, it could have ended more definitively. But that seems to be the trend today.
Overall, a very fun, interesting, enjoyable novel!
July 26, 2019
This mashup of a post-apocalyptic world with an underworld was really intriguing at first, and I was invested in maybe...the first 1/4 of it, but the main characters ended up falling flat and I couldn't find myself being invested in any of their journey. Haben, the human-turned-demon boy, was probably the most interesting of the three protagonists and even then it felt like his personality only went surface deep.
The worldbuilding is definitely its biggest asset; the various details of the underworld are vivid and often genuinely creepy, and I wished that the entirety of the story was set there (the idea of underworld soul trees is fantastic).
And the two villains--one human, the other a demon--overshadow Sychia, Miko, and Haben as the stars of the story. They're magnetic in a way that the protagonists aren't, and while I'll always love despicable baddies that I can sink my teeth into, if I'm rooting for them over the heroes for no reason other than that they actually feel more three dimensional than the latter, that's kind of a big problem.
Overall, the story didn't do much for me, but the good news is I'm 1000% in the minority and many other readers did love it, so if you're into underworld stories then it wouldn't hurt to try this one out.
The worldbuilding is definitely its biggest asset; the various details of the underworld are vivid and often genuinely creepy, and I wished that the entirety of the story was set there (the idea of underworld soul trees is fantastic).
And the two villains--one human, the other a demon--overshadow Sychia, Miko, and Haben as the stars of the story. They're magnetic in a way that the protagonists aren't, and while I'll always love despicable baddies that I can sink my teeth into, if I'm rooting for them over the heroes for no reason other than that they actually feel more three dimensional than the latter, that's kind of a big problem.
Overall, the story didn't do much for me, but the good news is I'm 1000% in the minority and many other readers did love it, so if you're into underworld stories then it wouldn't hurt to try this one out.
July 15, 2019
Beautiful idea.
It was really interesting book still not free from cliche tropes of YA fantasy.
I like main idea of mixing mythical fantasy and light dystopian elements to build this world. I really captured my attention at the point when it was explained and I enjoyed idea of telling the story "What if we knew..." still it could be executed much better.
How this knowledge was affecting human mentality? I don't know. And that would be really interesting.
Instead we focus on, of course, heroine and her love interest. She is basically Katnis Everdeen but with no trauma at all, so it makes her unrealistic and well... not interesting.
He's story is more captivating: about responsibility, paying for Your actions and redemption. And that is something I don't see often in YA book. What is more, it is pretty well executed and moved me at some points.
There is also POV of little brother of main heroine which left me with questions about his motivations. I think I don't understand them and that is why I do not believe in them. I couldn't shake off the feeling that his character building as rebellious is forced.
Just as the romance, btw.
Nevertheless.
There are lots of cliche things that bothered me but I wouldn't mind them (and forget about the book right after I'd finished it) if the idea for world building wouldn't be so promising.
Therefore I will pick up next book when it comes out.
And for this one it's 3,75. Because it is typical YA based on beautiful idea with a promise for more. And I want that "more" soon.
It was really interesting book still not free from cliche tropes of YA fantasy.
I like main idea of mixing mythical fantasy and light dystopian elements to build this world. I really captured my attention at the point when it was explained and I enjoyed idea of telling the story "What if we knew..." still it could be executed much better.
How this knowledge was affecting human mentality? I don't know. And that would be really interesting.
Instead we focus on, of course, heroine and her love interest. She is basically Katnis Everdeen but with no trauma at all, so it makes her unrealistic and well... not interesting.
He's story is more captivating: about responsibility, paying for Your actions and redemption. And that is something I don't see often in YA book. What is more, it is pretty well executed and moved me at some points.
There is also POV of little brother of main heroine which left me with questions about his motivations. I think I don't understand them and that is why I do not believe in them. I couldn't shake off the feeling that his character building as rebellious is forced.
Just as the romance, btw.
Nevertheless.
There are lots of cliche things that bothered me but I wouldn't mind them (and forget about the book right after I'd finished it) if the idea for world building wouldn't be so promising.
Therefore I will pick up next book when it comes out.
And for this one it's 3,75. Because it is typical YA based on beautiful idea with a promise for more. And I want that "more" soon.
Read
July 19, 2019Graded By: Mandy C.
Cover Story: High School Art
BFF Charms: Eventually, Yay
Swoonworthy Scale: 4
Talky Talk: Historical Future
Bonus Factors: The Underworld, Brothers and Sisters
Factor: Standalone?
Relationship Status: There Might Be Something There
Read the full book report here.
Cover Story: High School Art
BFF Charms: Eventually, Yay
Swoonworthy Scale: 4
Talky Talk: Historical Future
Bonus Factors: The Underworld, Brothers and Sisters
Factor: Standalone?
Relationship Status: There Might Be Something There
Read the full book report here.
August 26, 2019
The complex characters and beautifully-manifested dark fantasy world shine in this debut by author Liz Kerin. The Phantom Forest tells the story of an apocalyptic war-torn future where dissidents are kept at bay by a constant threat of brutal and merciless death at the hands of a creature from the underworld. It read as part fantasy, part dystopian thriller which up-ended a few rules of both genres in the best of ways. The characters were anything but predictable. Kerin has a real knack for descriptive imagery, and I found myself lost in a few of her scenes. The story explores questions of humanity and what it means for someone to be beyond redemption. Looking forward to future works from Liz Kerin!
August 8, 2018
Note: I received an advance copy of The Phantom Forest by Liz Kerin to review. However, I had already pre-ordered it and have attempted to be unbiased in my review.
The Phantom Forest is a supernatural story set in a complex world of blended cultures. It takes place in Khronasa: a small spiritual nation without modern technology conquered by a post-industrial empire. The narrative follows Seicha, a young woman who lost her parents during the invasion and has since raised her younger brother. She’s resolute and resourceful, but also naïve. Seicha’s story is epic, though to describe much of her experiences here would be spoileriffic. What I will say is that events pit her not just against the invading empire, but the very underworld itself.
The Phantom Forest is well-structured and paced, with characters who are complex and interesting. The setting, too, is well-realized, with a fresh new take on gods and the afterlife. While every author puts their own take on things, so many novels come out recycling the same supernatural creatures it is always exciting when you find something that charts a different course. I will admit, there were several moments where I decided if Seicha’s younger brother died, I wouldn’t be too upset. However, that wasn’t because he was poorly written, but because he was behaving like the brash, stupid teenager he was.
The book stands well as an individual story, but it is also a promising first salvo of a larger arc that will play out over at least one more book. During the novel we see substantial character development from the key players, but it’s clear they will go through a lot more before the tale is done (either that, or they are likely to die horribly in the next book).
Overall, it’s a fun novel and I happily recommend it.
PS: Haben rules, Miko drools.
The Phantom Forest is a supernatural story set in a complex world of blended cultures. It takes place in Khronasa: a small spiritual nation without modern technology conquered by a post-industrial empire. The narrative follows Seicha, a young woman who lost her parents during the invasion and has since raised her younger brother. She’s resolute and resourceful, but also naïve. Seicha’s story is epic, though to describe much of her experiences here would be spoileriffic. What I will say is that events pit her not just against the invading empire, but the very underworld itself.
The Phantom Forest is well-structured and paced, with characters who are complex and interesting. The setting, too, is well-realized, with a fresh new take on gods and the afterlife. While every author puts their own take on things, so many novels come out recycling the same supernatural creatures it is always exciting when you find something that charts a different course. I will admit, there were several moments where I decided if Seicha’s younger brother died, I wouldn’t be too upset. However, that wasn’t because he was poorly written, but because he was behaving like the brash, stupid teenager he was.
The book stands well as an individual story, but it is also a promising first salvo of a larger arc that will play out over at least one more book. During the novel we see substantial character development from the key players, but it’s clear they will go through a lot more before the tale is done (either that, or they are likely to die horribly in the next book).
Overall, it’s a fun novel and I happily recommend it.
PS: Haben rules, Miko drools.
March 25, 2019
[Note: I received an advance copy in exchange for an unbiased review.]
Liz Kerin’s The Phantom Forest is an ambitious fantasy story of adventure, faith, and redemption. Complexly imagined and elegantly presented, the reader follows brother-sister duo Seicha and Miko as they navigate societies both terrestrial and supernatural, both of which ache for the revolutionary feeling of hope in an era of hopelessness.
Kerin introduces us to parallel worlds that are dripping with substance. Khronasa, found in the dystopian land of the living, accomplishes the rare feat of being both refreshingly unique and unsettlingly plausible. Meanwhile, the underworld is a mix of beauty and terror, an intricately detailed land of color and magic that invites the reader in like a lucid dream.
The story is well balanced, populated with tangible characters that constantly challenge their archetypes. The situations that we find our protagonists in are never opulent or over-saturated, and dare the reader to evaluate their actions through a different lens, keeping the audience guessing until the thrilling climax.
In the end, The Phantom Forest reminds the reader of all the things we love about the fantasy genre - possibilities, romance, the exploration of ideals - while firmly proclaiming that hope itself is not fantasy at all. The result is an engaging and empowering effort that is impossible to put down, and lingers long after the final pages.
[One final note: you don’t know what a norryn is yet, but you will want one when you’re finished with the book.]
Liz Kerin’s The Phantom Forest is an ambitious fantasy story of adventure, faith, and redemption. Complexly imagined and elegantly presented, the reader follows brother-sister duo Seicha and Miko as they navigate societies both terrestrial and supernatural, both of which ache for the revolutionary feeling of hope in an era of hopelessness.
Kerin introduces us to parallel worlds that are dripping with substance. Khronasa, found in the dystopian land of the living, accomplishes the rare feat of being both refreshingly unique and unsettlingly plausible. Meanwhile, the underworld is a mix of beauty and terror, an intricately detailed land of color and magic that invites the reader in like a lucid dream.
The story is well balanced, populated with tangible characters that constantly challenge their archetypes. The situations that we find our protagonists in are never opulent or over-saturated, and dare the reader to evaluate their actions through a different lens, keeping the audience guessing until the thrilling climax.
In the end, The Phantom Forest reminds the reader of all the things we love about the fantasy genre - possibilities, romance, the exploration of ideals - while firmly proclaiming that hope itself is not fantasy at all. The result is an engaging and empowering effort that is impossible to put down, and lingers long after the final pages.
[One final note: you don’t know what a norryn is yet, but you will want one when you’re finished with the book.]
May 18, 2019
Liz Kerin's debut is a treat full of fresh imagery, dark tone, and rich characterization. I've been reading fantasy and sci-fi for my entire life. After having completed (and stopped reading midway) innumerable books in these genres, "trope fatigue" starts to set in. The Phantom Forest was a breath of fresh air full of unique concepts on which I continued to ruminate for days. The story arc was full, unexpected, and satisfying with room for (hopefully!) a sequel.
I also appreciated that the protagonist was a non-white female. Now, the race or sex/gender of a book's protagonist typically doesn't draw or deter me - I am not opposed to reading yet another fantasy or sci-fi novel with a straight white male protagonist. However, these are genres in which there exists a real lack of diverse representation. This presents two issues: 1) a repetitive perspective and 2) the sensation for readers who do not fit into this perspective of constantly peering through the windows from the outside. We as humans all have varying levels of empathy, sympathy, and compassion, and can relate to characters who, on the surface, are nothing like us, as there is always something, however small, that we can find in common. But sometimes, you want to feel represented, acknowledged, seen.
Overall, a wonderful debut with a lot working in its favor. I am so excited to see what Miss Kerin shares with us next.
I also appreciated that the protagonist was a non-white female. Now, the race or sex/gender of a book's protagonist typically doesn't draw or deter me - I am not opposed to reading yet another fantasy or sci-fi novel with a straight white male protagonist. However, these are genres in which there exists a real lack of diverse representation. This presents two issues: 1) a repetitive perspective and 2) the sensation for readers who do not fit into this perspective of constantly peering through the windows from the outside. We as humans all have varying levels of empathy, sympathy, and compassion, and can relate to characters who, on the surface, are nothing like us, as there is always something, however small, that we can find in common. But sometimes, you want to feel represented, acknowledged, seen.
Overall, a wonderful debut with a lot working in its favor. I am so excited to see what Miss Kerin shares with us next.
did-not-finish
March 16, 2020I received an advance review copy from Inkshares through Netgalley; all opinions are my own and honest.
Recommended by Kal @ Reader Voracious. (This book wasn't for me, but if you're interested I would check out Kal's review to see if it might be for you!)
Buddy read with friends from the Bookish Collision discord server! ❤
DNF at 35%.
Although the premise and worldbuilding are terrific, I'm really not a fan of the writing style or any of the characters. Obviously characters don't have to be likable to be well-written, but in this case I just can't get emotionally invested in what's going on, so I'm just going to move on. (Though I may ask friends to give me a SparkNotes version once they've finished, because I'm curious about the rest of the story — just not enough to read it myself.)
content warnings (from the author's website):
Recommended by Kal @ Reader Voracious. (This book wasn't for me, but if you're interested I would check out Kal's review to see if it might be for you!)
Buddy read with friends from the Bookish Collision discord server! ❤
DNF at 35%.
Although the premise and worldbuilding are terrific, I'm really not a fan of the writing style or any of the characters. Obviously characters don't have to be likable to be well-written, but in this case I just can't get emotionally invested in what's going on, so I'm just going to move on. (Though I may ask friends to give me a SparkNotes version once they've finished, because I'm curious about the rest of the story — just not enough to read it myself.)
content warnings (from the author's website):
July 22, 2018
I was lucky enough to be a beta reader for this book and it just blew me away. It's such a unique story, one with a deeply developed, totally fresh and endlessly fascinating mythology. And to top it all off - the writing is stunning, a pure pleasure to savor.
The Phantom Forest is a very dark fairytale about Seicha, a girl who sorta kinda dies in a creepy religious ritual sacrifice. She then enters the Underworld and teams up with the very demon she was sacrificed to in order to escape the Underworld. The resulting relationship between the two "protagonists" is compelling and very different.
Highly, highly recommend to fans of YA, fantasy, and dark fairytales.
The Phantom Forest is a very dark fairytale about Seicha, a girl who sorta kinda dies in a creepy religious ritual sacrifice. She then enters the Underworld and teams up with the very demon she was sacrificed to in order to escape the Underworld. The resulting relationship between the two "protagonists" is compelling and very different.
Highly, highly recommend to fans of YA, fantasy, and dark fairytales.
Read
May 12, 2019Hey friends! Content warnings for this book are now available here:
https://www.lizkerin.com/books-1
Just scroll to the bottom of the page. Be safe and have fun! 💜
PS - 2 MONTHS + 4 DAYS TILL THE RELEASE!!! *internally shrieking into the night*
https://www.lizkerin.com/books-1
Just scroll to the bottom of the page. Be safe and have fun! 💜
PS - 2 MONTHS + 4 DAYS TILL THE RELEASE!!! *internally shrieking into the night*
Read
August 3, 2019DNF
This book was just not my cup of tea and that's fine. I usually don't DNF books, but I've recently changed my mindset because there are so many books to read. If a book is not for me, I will not force myself to read it. So sadly, this is a DNF for me.
This book was just not my cup of tea and that's fine. I usually don't DNF books, but I've recently changed my mindset because there are so many books to read. If a book is not for me, I will not force myself to read it. So sadly, this is a DNF for me.
May 29, 2019
What would happen if we got a glimpse of the afterlife? In this story, “Discovery of the afterlife had had irreparable consequences, so the Coalition abolished the notion of gods, fate, and prayer, worldwide.” Liz Kerin gives us a fresh take on what the world may look like if we saw beyond our realm in her book The Phantom Forest. Kerin intertwines her version of the afterlife and a fantastical twist on the modern day in such a way that captivates you and forces you to keep reading.
We follow Seycia, her brother Miko, and the demon Haben on their separate but entwined journeys for freedom and justice. Miko leads a revolution to overthrow the corrupt powers controlling the world, while Seycia learns how to navigate the underworld and destroy her own demons as well. Haben is a messenger between worlds bestowed with a sick punishment by the devil-like figure Dohv. Haben is tasked with consuming the flesh of sacrifices made in the living world, regardless of age. In the passage where we meet Haben we see him after the sacrifice of a young boy, “He cried as he gorged himself on the entrails, choking back sobs as he swallowed mouthful after mouthful. There was nothing lower than this. This— this was hell.” He fills his belly with the flesh of the sacrifice and starves the rest of the time. But, this is not the only dark secret he possesses, his destructive past is the key to the present. He joins Seycia on her quest to avenge not only herself but her parents.
On occasion, Haben’s character loses some of the tortured mentality and seems not to suffer as much as originally let on. I found that bothersome in a few ways, the first being that he doesn’t behave like someone who is constantly starving, secondly his pain seems downplayed, and lastly, this characteristic mostly disappears in the second half of the book.
Through The Phantom Forest, we see how changes in the afterlife have an impact on the world of the living, altering people’s fates and the outcome of a revolution. My only critique on this is that I wish I could have seen more. We see Seycia’s decisions change the trajectory of Miko, they flow together beautifully and I would have loved to see this expand. The author is the strongest when she is tangling and untangling the two storylines, her ability to connect character arcs left me satisfied.
At first, I had a hard time connecting to Miko. I didn’t see his relevance to the plot until later in the book. I kept asking myself, why is this character important? This question was eventually made clear, but I would have liked to felt a connection to him earlier in the book so that he was a well-rounded character.
Kerin does imagery very well, she will paint fantastic settings in your mind. I could see so much color and life in her story that it was hard to put down, I wanted to see where we would end up next. She creates her own lore that isn’t overpowering or hard to keep straight and puts you at the center of her beautiful world. The plot is easy to follow, unlike a lot of fantasy stories, you will not veer off in a thousand different directions. Overall the story is enjoyable and you will fall in love with Seycia’s all or nothing attitude and Haben’s heart wrenching back story.
This story is a fresh take on how government and religion clash. Kerin creates this world that seems like it’s going to be your typical fantasy style novel and it turns out to be something entirely different. It tackles the problems that arise when a government decides to eradicate religion, we see how it affects the people, and how it can change entire societal structures. One glimpse of the afterlife leads to war, poverty, and the destruction of history. This all plays out in this twisting tale of adventure, redemption, and vengeance.
We follow Seycia, her brother Miko, and the demon Haben on their separate but entwined journeys for freedom and justice. Miko leads a revolution to overthrow the corrupt powers controlling the world, while Seycia learns how to navigate the underworld and destroy her own demons as well. Haben is a messenger between worlds bestowed with a sick punishment by the devil-like figure Dohv. Haben is tasked with consuming the flesh of sacrifices made in the living world, regardless of age. In the passage where we meet Haben we see him after the sacrifice of a young boy, “He cried as he gorged himself on the entrails, choking back sobs as he swallowed mouthful after mouthful. There was nothing lower than this. This— this was hell.” He fills his belly with the flesh of the sacrifice and starves the rest of the time. But, this is not the only dark secret he possesses, his destructive past is the key to the present. He joins Seycia on her quest to avenge not only herself but her parents.
On occasion, Haben’s character loses some of the tortured mentality and seems not to suffer as much as originally let on. I found that bothersome in a few ways, the first being that he doesn’t behave like someone who is constantly starving, secondly his pain seems downplayed, and lastly, this characteristic mostly disappears in the second half of the book.
Through The Phantom Forest, we see how changes in the afterlife have an impact on the world of the living, altering people’s fates and the outcome of a revolution. My only critique on this is that I wish I could have seen more. We see Seycia’s decisions change the trajectory of Miko, they flow together beautifully and I would have loved to see this expand. The author is the strongest when she is tangling and untangling the two storylines, her ability to connect character arcs left me satisfied.
At first, I had a hard time connecting to Miko. I didn’t see his relevance to the plot until later in the book. I kept asking myself, why is this character important? This question was eventually made clear, but I would have liked to felt a connection to him earlier in the book so that he was a well-rounded character.
Kerin does imagery very well, she will paint fantastic settings in your mind. I could see so much color and life in her story that it was hard to put down, I wanted to see where we would end up next. She creates her own lore that isn’t overpowering or hard to keep straight and puts you at the center of her beautiful world. The plot is easy to follow, unlike a lot of fantasy stories, you will not veer off in a thousand different directions. Overall the story is enjoyable and you will fall in love with Seycia’s all or nothing attitude and Haben’s heart wrenching back story.
This story is a fresh take on how government and religion clash. Kerin creates this world that seems like it’s going to be your typical fantasy style novel and it turns out to be something entirely different. It tackles the problems that arise when a government decides to eradicate religion, we see how it affects the people, and how it can change entire societal structures. One glimpse of the afterlife leads to war, poverty, and the destruction of history. This all plays out in this twisting tale of adventure, redemption, and vengeance.
July 15, 2019
Liz Kerin’s debut novel The Phantom Forest is both a dark fantasy and post apocalyptic novel. 200 years prior, humans finally unveiled the secret of what happens to souls after humans die. This lead to the apocalyptic war, which practically decimated the planet. Survivors of the war rebuilt the city, which is controlled by a tyrannical government (Hunger Games anyone?). It has been decreed that twice a year, victims are selected as sacrifices to The Savage (Haben), a demon of the Underworld who devours his victims.
19 year old Seycia has been looking after her younger brother Miko since their parents were killed after a town raid. They have managed to lead a quiet and undetected life, but this comes to a crashing halt when General Simeon (who was scarred by her father) seals Seycia’s fate as the next sacrifice. Unlike the majority of the sacrificed souls, Seycia doesn’t die when she goes to the Underworld. Instead, she teams up with Haben to get revenge on Simeon as well as potentially free Haben from Dohv, the lord of the Underworld whose responsible for Haben’s curse.
Haben and his arc was by far my favorite of this book. He is so easy to fall in love with. The fact that he has this unbearable hunger (thanks to Dohv) as well as these shifts in demeanor that are physically debilitating makes you feel even worse for him. In addition to Haben’s character, I also really liked that the romance between him and Seycia was a natural, slow-burn romance. Nothing was forced.
Surprisingly, I had a hard time with the POV switching for this story. I kept getting confused once Miko’s storyline started to intertwine with Seycia’s and Haben’s. It could also be that I wasn’t as invested in his character the way that I was the others.
Thank you to Inkshares for providing an ARC for review. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.
3.5/5 stars.
19 year old Seycia has been looking after her younger brother Miko since their parents were killed after a town raid. They have managed to lead a quiet and undetected life, but this comes to a crashing halt when General Simeon (who was scarred by her father) seals Seycia’s fate as the next sacrifice. Unlike the majority of the sacrificed souls, Seycia doesn’t die when she goes to the Underworld. Instead, she teams up with Haben to get revenge on Simeon as well as potentially free Haben from Dohv, the lord of the Underworld whose responsible for Haben’s curse.
Haben and his arc was by far my favorite of this book. He is so easy to fall in love with. The fact that he has this unbearable hunger (thanks to Dohv) as well as these shifts in demeanor that are physically debilitating makes you feel even worse for him. In addition to Haben’s character, I also really liked that the romance between him and Seycia was a natural, slow-burn romance. Nothing was forced.
Surprisingly, I had a hard time with the POV switching for this story. I kept getting confused once Miko’s storyline started to intertwine with Seycia’s and Haben’s. It could also be that I wasn’t as invested in his character the way that I was the others.
Thank you to Inkshares for providing an ARC for review. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.
3.5/5 stars.
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