Going into this book, I was excited about the idea of witches and the dark forest leaving secrets for the characters to try and tangle through. There are creepy, fairytale-like elements that completely intrigued me from the start.

But as I kept reading on, my interest started to waver. There are two perspectives that slowly converge to make the book come together, but I was more captivated towards the fantasy world while leaving the other perspective in the dust. 

There were parts of the plot that I wanted to have explored more, and a few that I felt were flat and more on the uneventful side. The writing style wasn't a huge selling point for me on this book, but overall, I did enjoy the overall story. 

I gave this book 3 out of 5 stars. If you like the darker, creepy side of fantasy, this book could be interesting to some readers, but for me, I just wasn't completely sold.

This book was one of my most anticipated releases of this year, and I was super excited to read it, so I went with very high expectations, that unfortunately for me, weren't fulfilled after finishing the novel.

I think that this book had such a cool and interesting concept but a very poor execution. The problem that I had with The Waking Forest was that there were a lot of things happening at once, and none of them were really explored or detailed that it was so underwhelming for me to read. I really enjoyed the parts where we got to know more about the witch of the forest, but again, they weren't very well done, and it only made the story less engaging and me disconnect more with it.

The writing was pretty lineal, and the magic system or world building weren't really explored nor addressed, and it seemed more as if you're thrown into this magical world expecting to know what was going on, and that was super confusing. Also the way these three storylines connected was so forced and confusing, because throughout the entire book it felt more as three different plots.

Overall, though The Waking Forest had a very interesting and unique concept, the characters were pretty flat and had no discernible personalities, and the plot needed a lot of work for it to have more sense.

"I sort of do know what she means, sitting here in the semi-dark and the semi-silence. I have a scratchy, restless feeling, as if my soul were grinding against my skin, my bones, not necessarily wanting to get out but urging my body to go to impossible places, convinced I can touch the stars and not burn."

The Waking Forest is a story that is a true journey. I wasn’t EXACTLY sure what to expect going into it, and I was almost halfway through before I was even sure what the heck I was reading! Perhaps not the most stellar start for a debut novel, BUT. Bear with me – and bear with the book, too. While I did only rate it at 3.5/5 stars, I also feel it is totally a book worth reading and I will gladly be reading the next novel that Alyssa Wees comes out with.

The first half of the book is told in alternating chapters between Rhea, in our modern world, and the Witch of the Wood, in a very odd dream-like world. I was SO confused as to what was supposed to be happening in these…but the writing is beautiful. If you are not into heavy descriptions and very sustained metaphors, you might not enjoy it. It’s a very different style from what I’ve been reading recently, so it took a little while for it to grow on me. But grow on me it did, and eventually the prose (which could, admittedly, be considered kind of “purple” prose) was just painting these amazing pictures…so even if I was turned around and had no idea where the story was going, I was just enjoying the journey.

Eventually the two tales merge, and that is rather…mind-bending. There is enough foreshadowing that you sort of see it coming, but not…not…in the way it played out, or at least I didn’t. The story shifts to an entirely fantasy world, with incredible creatures and magic. I really wish the magic had been better explained! I was still kind of confused by how everything worked in the end, but it was glorious and shiny and I liked it.

My absolute favorite part was Rhea’s relationship with her sisters. These four girls are kicking ass and taking names and making no apologies – and dealing with their own issues along the way. There is some beautiful encouragement for those of us who struggle with anxiety in these pages – and the characters aren’t considered less than or incapable because of it! I loved it. Absolutely loved it.

Overall, The Waking Forest isn’t perfect but if you like fantasy and quirky characters, definitely give it a try. And keep an eye out for more books by Wees!

After 40% I had to DNF this book. I guess I could have forced myself to keep reading but I should at least like a book this far into it. As I read it though, I was eager for it to be over.

There isn't technically anything wrong with this. The premise is interesting and I'm frustrated because I feel like I should at the very least be liking this book if not enjoying it. But comparisons like skulls to clouds is a little much for me. I found this book a tad hard to follow in some places as well. Honestly, this book is kind of weird which isn't necessarily bad, but it's not the kind of weird that I personally find appealing.

Look, this book isn't bad by any means but it kind of fell flat for me. If it sounds good to you, then I say give it a try.

“The Waking Forest” by Alyssa Wees was not entirely what I was expecting. I absolutely love fairy tales and when I read the synopsis, I was immediately drawn in! What I liked about this book was how beautifully it was written. With that being said, I love books that have alternating point of views but for some reason, at times it felt like the two alternating points of views in this story were not a part of the same book. It was hard to follow, especially after the two stories come together. The pacing was a bit slow at times. Overall, I liked about the first half of this book but then it fell flat to me, which is unfortunate.

* I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

I received this arc in exchange for my honest review. I loved this book! The story is great and kept me hooked from the first page. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this book!

The author had a good idea of weaving dreamworld, reality, and a dream within a dream, but unfortunately for me it fell a bit flat. Everything took too long to ramp up, and the last quarter of the book felt rushed. The romance wasn’t really developed. 3 stars for an original idea for a story line.

I enjoyed this one. I did. I just really struggled to get into it. It was really slow to start, and I felt like it didn't really pick up until the last third or so. However, it was really creepy and horror-esque from the start, which kept me reading despite the slowness.

I liked Rhea well enough. She wasn't too relatable, which made it hard for me to really care about her, but I liked the character development she went through. I liked her much more by the end of the book than I did to begin with.

The world-building was a highlight. It was well-done, and the world was so unique and original and just surprising, and it kept me reading even though it was really slow. And okay, the biggest plot twist wasn't all that surprising, but there were plenty other surprising twists, so that's okay.

The plot was slow, which made it really difficult to get into. It picked up around the last third of the book, though. I really loved the general mood of the book, though. I'm not a big fan of horror, so when I first started reading and felt it was really close to a horror story, K was hesitant, but it wasn't too much. It was really creepy, and it fit the book so well.

Overall, I enjoyed it. It was slow and hard to get into, but I loved the creepy mood and I liked the characters well enough.

I love trying creepy woods books.. This one has a creepy woods and a witch. It sounded like a really great combination. I loved how the story was woven together and how everything ended up.

The waking forest is one of those novels that produces an eerie yet captivating reaction on every page. I expected the writing to be beautiful, which it was, yet I also wanted to be wowed, which I was. This book read just like a nightmarish fairytale, and I loved that.

The way Wees brings the characters to life is mesmerizing. I loved how it was told from two point of views: Rhea and the Witch. Rhea sees a forest that keeps appearing and disappearing behind her house; she’s plagued by mysterious nightmares and when she thinks she’s losing her mind, a boy that blends with shadows confronts her, saying he will tell her all the forest’s secrets if she will play a game. Then there’s the Witch, who grants children’s’ wishes who dream about her. Yet, she lives the same life style, until two children come to her and one surprises her by asking her what she would wish for. Both characters’ personalities bring so much to this story; they work wonderfully with the storyline. And it isn’t just the characters that make this bewitching story alluring: it’s also the way the story is written.

The writing is some of the most beautiful writing I’ve read in YA this year. The author has a way of bringing the world and characters to life. The world was so vividly described through gorgeous prose that it was one of the reasons why this book was hard to put down. Wees has a way with words and knows how to make a fairytale feel real. The way the forest is described makes it enchanting, yet harsh, and combining both of those together with her writing made for some beautiful scenes. I was truly blown away with the writing and enthralling storyline.

With vivid storytelling and a captivating setting, The Waking Forest will be a book that will surprise you and make you believe in those bedtime fairytales you wished were real (or maybe not so real). I can’t wait to see what Alyssa Wees writes next!

Thank you so much to the publisher for the advanced e-copy in exchange for an honest review!

The Waking Forest is an impressive young adult fantasy debut by Alyssa Wees.

From the description:

"The waking forest has secrets. To Rhea, it appears like a mirage, dark and dense, at the very edge of her backyard. But when she reaches out to touch it, the forest vanishes. She’s desperate to know more—until she finds a peculiar boy who offers to reveal its secrets. If she plays a game.

To the Witch, the forest is her home, where she sits on her throne of carved bone, waiting for dreaming children to beg her to grant their wishes."

So this book really had a lot of potential, but the literal amount of over the top prose kind of ruined the pacing and content for me. To be sure, this was still a great read, but my speed reading tendencies didn't mix with the amount of time it took to digest a lot of the passages.

Rhea and her family of R named sisters have a great relationship to read about, and I thought that was a nice change from the typical fantasy novels where one or both parents are either dead, gone, abusive, or what not else. The anxiety and ptsd support system fhe family had built among themselves might be encouraging to some young readwers as well.

I did like the witch's story more than Rhea's. I can't so much relate to a happy family but the witch was super interesting. So was the boy made of darkness, there are definitely a few gems here. Once the stories intertwined in the second half of the book, it got a little more confusing. I did like the second half more as a whole though as it read more like a typical fantasy read, and I was able to read it a little faster.

I think those that like dark, brooding, slow moving traditional type fairy tales could enjoy this book a lot. It won't be for everyone.

The Waking Forest is such an intriguing story. It has that eerie fairytale quality to it that once you pick it up and start reading. It’s hard to stop.

We start off with two different worlds that we are seeing into. Rhea’s world, with her house and family by the beach. Then there is the Witch of Wishes, with her palace of bone in the Woods and foxes that dance. We alternate between these two realities and learn more about each character. We later add in a third perspective in the form a story that someone tells the witch.There are many layers, kind of like photoshop document. At least that is how my brain thinks of it.

I really liked Rhea and her sisters. She is plagued and haunted by visions of things that are not real. Scary visions of people dying or missing parts of flesh and Woods that magically appear and disappear when she tries to enter. I loved the unique characteristics of each sister and how that blends with the other. They also have a very strong bond.

The Witch is intriguing, and the way she goes about her kingdom. The Witches section of the plot also brings us the story or fairytale of a princess in a kingdom where magic is feared. With a King who seeks to contain and destroy it.

I don’t want to give anything away from the plot but it’s interesting how the pieces fit together in the end. Red string of fate that binds them all. I loved the writing, it has the dreamy feel to it. I also found the plot to be fast paced and engaging. I think sometimes a story like this can drag on but this gave you just enough and kept it interesting.

I do wish the anxiety was touched upon a little bit more. To understand how the character that experiences it feels.

I really enjoyed The Waking Forest and I think it’s something to read if you like stories like The Hazelwood or The Wren Hunt.

The Waking Forest was absolutely incredible. I was brought into the book and even when it ended, I was lost in Wees' world.

The Waking Forest by Alyssa Wees is a young adult fantasy. The chapters in this story alternate back and forth between different characters and situations giving it almost the feel of reading two different books at once.

One side of this book features a young girl named Rhea who lives with her parents and sisters and has battled having nightmares whether sleeping or awake. The other side of the story centers around the witch in the woods that grants wishes to those that come find her.

The first half if not three quarters of this one is slow paced with a almost poetic style of writing to the story telling with more action beginning and picking up pace towards the end. As weird as this may sound to those that know me and how I feel about a slow pace I actually think the first half of this one was easier to understand and follow along which made me enjoy it more than the end. With the flowery writing and a certain weirdness to the fantasy this one was just so-so to me in the end.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

Alyssa Wees’s writing impressed me right away. I’m a huge fan of this style of writing, and I think it served the story really well. It was a great blend of both simple and beautiful, and I thought Wees painted a really vivid world for her novel. I really enjoyed the atmosphere, especially when it came to The Forest Witch’s home.

This novel alternates between two stories: that of The Forest Witch, and that of Rhea. And while both were good, I found myself wanting more of The Forest Witch – I wasn’t quite as invested in Rhea’s chapters, and it slowed down the pace a bit for me, especially in the beginning. I think it’s because I loved the first chapter with The Forest Witch, and just kind of deflated a little when the point of view changed.

That said, I do think that Rhea’s story was really interesting. While it wasn’t quite as compelling as The Forest Witch’s story, I did enjoy the fact that it addresses anxiety in a big way. Personally, it helped me identify with the characters a lot more, and I really appreciated the discussion and how it was handled. Honestly, it’s needed in YA literature, and I liked that it was included in a fantasy book.

Overall, I think this was a solid young adult fantasy debut. Did it blow me away? No. But I did enjoy it. The story was unique, and I think Alyssa Wees has a lot of potential – her writing alone shows how talented she is. I think is YA fantasy is your thing, The Waking Forest is worth looking into.

Rating 3.5/5

This is a really hard book to review, it is such an unusual and complex tale, I will admit that I am struggling to find the right words.

It is a book of two parts so I feel like to best describe how I feel about it I’m going to share my thoughts on each half separately, in the first half we get the story of Rhea who has been plagued with visions since she was a child, and the Witch who lives in a dreamland forest and grants young children wishes.

I loved the first half of this book, it had this dark, dream and nightmare all rolled into one, atmosphere. It was built up incredibly well as there would be a chapter from Rhea and then a chapter from the Witch, which meant that you were sucked into the story hoping that you could puzzle out what was happening.

The world building at this point was amazing, the contrast between the Witches palace made up of unimaginable things and Rhea’s home by the sea with her family made everything that was happening to Rhea seem nightmarish. It definitely kept me guessing throughout the first half at whether she was stumbling through worlds or if there was some kind of dark magic at work.

The style of writing is very intensely fairytale, there are some really amazing turns of phrase used that seem to perfectly capture the feeling that the book is trying to create. I will admit that there were a few phrases that felt a bit too riddle like for me and kind of left me trying to hard to guess what the author was trying to say but for the most part I appreciated the style.

It did mean that the pace for this part of the book was quite slow but not in a bad way, it really suited the tone. Gave me time to figure out the characters and really get into the two different worlds that we are presented with.

In the second half of the book, these two storylines converge and it becomes a mission to save Rhea’s family.

I do feel like the world building fell down a little in the second half of the book, we are introduced to a new place and there is a lot of action from the start but not as much time to get acquainted properly with the new setting or the ‘rules’ of the world. There was some groundwork there but not enough for me not to be questioning things on occasion.

The writing style changes slightly here as well because there is so much going on there isn’t the same use of language, that isn’t necessarily good or bad but it does, however, change the pace of the story. It felt like I was rushed through the second half of the story, I mean there is more urgency in that part but still, I feel like it could have emulated the first half in tone and still managed to get across the urgency.

There was so much going on in the second half and quite a few new characters that it took a lot of concentration to keep the threads of the story straight. This is a complex plot and very ambitious, and I do take my hat off to the author for that, but I do feel like the second half was somewhat rushed through and lost a bit of the magic that the first half had.

The Waking Wood is definitely a book that has stuck in my head, I loved the dark atmosphere and how the plot was put together and find it a shame that it was let down slightly by some other elements. I am looking forward to seeing what Alyssa Wees comes up with next.

What I Liked
The absolute spooky ambiance of this entire book is unspeakably beautiful. It has an otherworldly quality about it from the get-go, even though it's set in a contemporary-ish setting at first. The back-and-forth chapters between Rhea and the Witch are both equally compelling. The descriptions. are. gorgeous and are what make the book so dang spooky. It sort of reminds me of an 80's era fantasy movie that unapologetically bombards you with weird stuff, never tries to explain it, and just sweeps you along in this encompassing out-there ambiance. And you go, because it's fantastical and scary and even though you have no idea what's really happening, you need to know how it ends.

What I Would Have Liked to See
More name variance? The sisters and parents all have names that start with R, and it took me a very long time to be able to tell some of them apart (especially Raisa and Renata).

My Favorite!
That sphinxes find dad jokes to be the pinnacle of comedy.

TL;DR
Rhea lives in a house by the sea with her parents and her sisters--and an impenetrable sentient Darkness in the attic. In order to figure out what the Darkness is and what it wants, Rhea will have to lose, and regain, her family, her home, and herself.

This book was so weirdly awesome and like nothing I've ever read. The prose was incredibly beautiful and lyrical; reading felt like a dream. Speaking of dreams, the oneiromancy aspect of the book was done in such an interesting way that I couldn't help but love the book. Rhea, the main character, who is plagued by nightmares and visions, is such a compelling and relatable character. Her family, too, was so much fun to read about, especially Rhea's interactions with her sisters as well as her parents' loving relationship. Rhea's relationship with Gabrielle was also just so adorable.
I loved how the perspectives of Rhea and the Witch intertwined about halfway through the book. It was very confusing at first, and I didn't expect the twist.
The one thing I didn't quite like (why my rating is 4.5 stars rather than 5) was the absence of world-building. In this kind of novel. world-building isn't strictly necessary, since it reads more like a fairy tale than anything else, but I think I was just expecting more of a world-building aspect to the fantasy world Rhea finds herself in. Most people who tend towards reading high fantasy might have the same problem. However, I really did love the way the stories were intertwined, so the world-building wasn't too much of an issue for me.
Altogether, the beautiful and unique writing style as well as the lovable, three-dimensional characters made for a very enjoyable read. I'll definitely be reading anything else this author writes.

I received a copy of this ARC for and honest review via NetGalley. This book drew me in from the cover it is absolutely gorgeous! With each page read I wanted more and more!! Seriously obsessed and cant stop thinking about how much I loved this book. Cannot wait for the release on 03/12/19 so I can recommend to everyone I know.

The Waking Forest is a different sort of novel than many I come across in the YA category and it will not be for everyone, but I loved the dreamy, fairy tale-esque way this author wrote.

I've seen a lot of mixed reviews on this novel, but I tried not to read any reviews prior to reading the novel, so I wouldn't have my opinion swayed in any way and I really can honestly say I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. Alyssa Wees is a master of words, the writing is stunning. Her descriptions are rich and full of life. The Waking Forest goes back and forth between two young girls and two completely different worlds. Rhea, is from our world and lives with her sisters and parents in a quiet little beach house. The family is seen as odd by outsiders, so they mostly keep to themselves. Rhea has nightmares/visions that have haunted her since she was a child and the lines between reality and dreaming seem to be blurring more and more.

Then we have the Witch of the Woods, she is the granter of children's wishes and a fox has shown up to tell her a story. Rhea and the Witch's stories are told side by side and slowly start to come together and reveal an amazing connection.

I grew up on fairytales, especially the Fairy Books that were put together by Andrew Lang, so I really almost feel nostalgic when I come across a slower paced novel that has some of those elements that I adored so much as a child (and an adult!). The perspective of The Witch in the Woods gave me all those warm feelings in spades. It's just so lovely. I did find the first chapter of this novel confusing, really confusing. The author went into the realm of purple prose a little too hard and lost some context because of the flowery writing - this does happen in a few other places, but I didn't find it particularly hard to understand once it the story got moving.

I really appreciate that at the heart of this story, it's about family. There are caring and loving parents present and the relationship between the sisters was magical. Yes, they didn't always get along but you knew how much they all meant to each other. I love books with strong sibling relationships that don't focus heavily on romance, so I was pleasantly surprised at finding those qualities in this book. Something else that I thought was done really well was the depiction of anxiety. It felt very authentic and wasn't glossed over or cured overnight. I'm so happy we are seeing more and more realistic mental health inclusion. Oh, and I can't forget Gabriel, she's a little fox! If you put a little fox, wolf or even a dog in your story and no harm comes to them - I'm pretty much going to love it. I can't not! It's a freaking fox! Why don't I have one!

I will say that once the stories do merge, there is a bit of a rough start at the connections but overall I thought it worked pretty well. A few things could have been developed a little more, but I was ultimately satisfied with how it all ended. I really appreciate a stand-alone fantasy because even though we are getting more lately - it's still a rare occurrence overall and I don't always feel like making a commitment of six books when I start something.

Overall, I can't recommend this book to everyone. If you love lyrical, beautiful writing with a slow burn or old fairy tales then I think this book is worth checking out. It's worth having for the cover alone - I mean look at that! It's a thing of beauty! The Waking Forest unfolds slowly but still has a lasting impact. I'll certainly be checking out the author's future works.