Thank you to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for providing me with the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

What initially made me gravitate to the story was the beautiful cover art. I was searching for a good read that was whimsical and mystical, and something told me I was going to get it here. I wasn’t wrong, seeing that this was a strange, but beautiful sort of retelling of Sleeping Beauty—an interesting storyline that I kept thinking might fit into a season of Once Upon a Time.

I’ve never been good at summarizing what I’ve read (sorry), and the alternating worlds, memories, dreams, realities, or whatever you wish to call them, makes it even more difficult for me to describe what happened without spoiling the story. All I can say is I loved it and couldn’t put it down. I suppose at the end of each chapter, I had questions, and I was always hoping the next chapter would answer those questions for me. Before I knew it, with the mystery solved, I was along for an epic final battle.

The book is divided into two parts that seemed so drastically different that it felt like I was reading two separate stories, rather than a continuation of the same story. Something about that transition was off to me; and even though the second part was strong in terms of scene, something changed about the characters in that transition to Part Two, and I felt like I didn’t know them as well or at all anymore, which made me begin to stop caring about them as much. (Some of them even came across as rather juvenile and irritating in Part Two, which I didn’t like.)

The writing is beautiful, however, and I became acquainted with new creatures I hadn’t heard of (manticores) or other creatures I tend to forget about (gorgons)…and I am now pining for a pet fox. My gut tells me that this book will be a hit upon release, and rightfully so. Despite a couple of drawbacks that I mentioned, the story is original, exciting, filled with magic (and romance), princes and princesses, darkness, light, and hope.

I received this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. 

The Waking Forest is an new fantasy novel by Alyssa Wees. The first 60% of this book was really strong. I enjoyed both story lines. Watching Rhea figure out the mystery about her dreams and visions was really well handled. I liked the 'darknesss' that was in the attic. It really gave me, early in a horror movie vibes, like The Conjuring. The family dynamic between the sisters was good as well. And who doesn't want a pet fox? That was great.

I loved the Witch of Wishes story line. It was atmospheric, whimsical and totally engaging. I loved every one of those chapters. I even liked when the audience started learning about the lost princess and the new world where magic was suppressed. All of this was wonderful too.

But when all the story lines started coming together I felt like the book lost its magic. The novel became badly predictable. Also this whole dream where she is in 'our' world. I never understood how she would have an frame of reference for it. How does she know about cars when she seems to live in a pseudo medieval fantasy world? There was some anxiety rep which felt forced. I was just so let down.

Overall, I felt like this book had great build up but a pretty big let down. The writer is a bit purple prosey, but I didn't mind it. I think she has really good potential. I'd try something by her again. First 60% is a 4 star. Last 40% is a 2. So a 3 seems about right.

The Waking Forest is a strange, fever dream of a fairy tale. The writing is absolutely beautiful and the author effectively weaves dark, creepy, yet strangely beautiful worlds together. I would recommend this for fans of The Hazelwood by Melissa Albert who are up for reading something stranger and darker.

The story is told in two perspectives- one the Witch of Wishes living deep in a forest where she grants wishes to children by cutting open her own heart for magical flower petals. The other perspective is of a teen girl who has strange visions living in a house with her three sisters.

This is the sort of book that I can't say much about without spoiling things. It is lyrically written but with lots of disturbing imagery. It plays with themes of sisterhood, the courage to be yourself, and the interaction of dark and light, beauty and ugliness, death and life. I struggle a bit with how to rate this, but ultimately I think it is an impressive accomplishment for a debut author. This will not be the book for everyone but I look forward to seeing more from this author in the future. I received an advance copy of this book for review from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Soooo... this book. I was pretty excited for it. Not gonna lie. The cover drew me in. The synopsis is super intriguing and I thought for sure that I would love this book. That obviously did not happen, proving once again that I am not a psychic. Darn.

The writing was GORGEOUS at times, super lyrical and velvety. Then at other times, it was just straight up weird, almost juvenile. Think of the weird semi-stoned feeling you get when you read Alice in Wonderland. If you enjoyed that, this may be the perfect read for you.

I can tell that this is one of those books that is better the second time around, after you know what you know by the end. I didn't like this one enough to ever reread it though, personally. This book does a bit of mind trickery on you.

This review is kind of all over the place, just like this book.

There were some parts that were extremely cool, like the shadow boy. Wow! What a cool concept. I can totally see the Pan's Labyrinth comparison that this book is claiming in the blurb. I also think that this book would make an awesome movie. There's lots to see and feel but while it's a little too much all at once in the book, in a movie I think it would be stunning to experience.

The dialogue was pretty terrible at times. I kept thinking to myself, this is not how people talk. By the end, it kind of makes sense as to the reason why the dialogue is so off, but again, not gonna reread this book in this lifetime. So yeah.

Also, the main character is supposed to be 17, I think, but she's giving me major 13-year-old vibes.

DNF @ 121 pages

ARC received from NetGalley in exchange for a review. All of my opinions are my own, and are in no way affected by the exchange.

I dont know that I am qualified to rate this book because I didnt finish it but I was over 1/3 of the way completed with it and from what I read, it was a solid 1 star for me.

I fell in love with the cover when I saw it and after reading Strange Grace, I was SO excited to read another book about a mystical forest and witches. I have been eagerly awaiting this book and was so freaking hype when I got approved to read an ARC. Unfortunately, from the first page I had issues with it. At no point during my reading did I understand what was happening. It felt sort of like reading someone's funky acid trip. There were so many characters and all of the sister's names sounded very similar. (I HATE when parents name their children names that start with the same letter. Rhea, Rose, Renia, ect.) I had no clue how old the characters were supposed to be and it just seemed very disjointed. It was really cool that the MC had a pet fox that shares a name with me but that wasnt enough for me to continue reading this.

I'm so upset that I didnt enjoy this. :(

I received a free copy of this book through netgalley. All opinions are my own.


First of all, I loved the writing style, it's so interesting and unique but sometimes it was a bit too extra in my opinion. For example: "Spider-bite midnight: an infected emerald sky strung with clumps of silk-woven stars, a cobweb moon." This sentence is just too confusing. I guess, it adds to the whole tone of the story, it's very whimsical and odd.
But I found the pacing really slow and I was honestly bored reading this story. The plot was predictable and most of the action happened in the last part of the book. I wish the story was more focused on that last part and that plot twist. It just felt rushed and undeveloped.
The story is jumping between two different worlds, one is told in 1st person and another in 3rd. And then there was a story inside that story with a story on top, so story-ception. Once again, confusing.
The magical system was never really explained. People have different type of powers, but then all of them can cast spells? What's the limit to magic?
Also, the romance sub plot didn't make much sense. I really don't know how I feel about this book because it's so odd, in both good and bad ways.
I think younger readers would enjoy this book more. I loved the atmosphere of the story but, unfortunately, I didn't enjoy it.

It was a story, written in starlight, dashed with dreams, that danced with the darkness. A wild, ‘to be or not to be’, fairy tale, one with stolen magic and dreams that lie but visions that tell the true. A world in a world, in a world in a world. A lucid dream of a magic story, that ends where it begins.
Does that description give you a headache? Then maybe you shouldn’t read The Waking Forest. For the most part, it is an okay book. Yet there is way too much description, too many run-on sentences, too many fragments, too many commas (see what I did there?). Instead of the story being enhanced by the lyrical prose, it detracts from it. It’s just too much description in that starry-eyed voice. I finished this book despite the endless fragmented sentences, not because of them.
The sad part is that this book is not worth pushing through. It’s a strange and confusing lucid dream of a story. One where you have no idea what is going one or how these characters are connected (and the big reveal is just not good enough). In a weird way, this story reminds me of The Wicked Deep. Both are, in my opinion, books that try to cram too much information and plot into not enough pages, coupled with a plot that twists and turns before the reader has a chance to catch up (and one that the reader never fully understands).
The worst part of this book is that it shows its hand too soon. We learn the big reveal about 70% of the way through (I almost DNF at 73%) and the rest is just a boring drudge to get to the end. At this point, everyone goes to do the thing, they do it and live happily ever after. There’s not really an antagonist and the worry-making parts of the book are revealed to be non-worry-making. And then it ends.
In short, it was a mostly terrible story. There are four weird sisters whose names all start with R (Rose, Renata, Raisa, and Rhea) so I got them mixed up a lot. The most interesting and promising bits, the boy and the Witch, just fizzle out halfway through. Magic can do and undo anything, so there’s no lasting consequences of anything. I did like the alternate world with the kingdom of iron and the maculae with their two hearts, and I wished we spent more time there (or better time there) than we actually did.

I'll post this review on Goodreads and that's it as this one was unfortunately a DNF for me. The language was just too flowery. There were interesting ideas happening, but it never felt coherent - I read about 20% and then just couldn't get past the phrase "syrupy stomachs" (I probably read that sentence like 10 times). At that point, I didn't feel enough (any) attachment to the characters or the possibly some day coming along plot to finish the book. I'll merchandise it, but its unlikely that I'll recommend it often.

Thanks to Netgalley and Delacorte for the opportunity to read The Waking Forest, which will be available for purchase on 12 March.

I have never read a book so strange, yet so fascinating. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw that I'd been approved in Netgalley; this was one of my most anticipated reads for this year, and I wasn't disappointed.

The Waking Forest tells the story of two dreamers, Rhea and the Witch of Wishes. Their lives are very different, but they start to connect when a shadow appears in Rhea's life, and a strange individual begins to visit the Witch's strange place intertwining their existence.

The book is not classified as a retelling because while it has some similitudes and elements, it is an entirely different story. However, it could pass as a darker version of Sleeping Beauty.
The story catches up slowly, but once you are over ten percent, it will fly by. The prose is so beautiful; I admit that at some point the sentences would get too mellow and too narrative (although it wasn't such of a big deal as people are making it, just saying), but the mystery surrounding the characters would appease these parts.

The world building elements reminded me a little bit of Sara Wolf, Bring Me Their Hearts, that book was amazing. I can see Wolf and Wees working together in some kick-ass witch and heartless v. dark figures, together. That would be a book I would pay for in a blink.

What really failed to capture my attention was the ending. It was between a little too rushed, repetitive or hard to understand? Not sure which one, but it lacked something. It felt like a different story and it kind of ruined a perfect rating.

Overall, the author did a fantastic job for a debut novel. I can see Wees' becoming the new hit of the fantasy genre. I really enjoyed the story, and I hope to read more from her soon.

The Waking Forest by Alyssa Wees
BLURB~
 
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. One night, a mysterious visitor arrives and asks her what she wishes for, but the Witch sends him away. And then the uninvited guest returns.

The strangers are just the beginning. Something is stirring in the forest, and when Rhea's and the Witch's paths collide, a truth more treacherous and deadly than either could ever imagine surfaces. But how much are they willing to risk to survive?”
 
REVIEW~
 
This story reminded me a bit of a Sleeping Beauty meets Rumpelstiltskin meets The Hazelwood meets Pan’s Labyrinth. Completely mesmerizing, the writing is literally emotive. I was transfixed throughout the entirety of the book. This was a most unusual story for me. The narrative is exquisite and moving. Wees’ prose was nothing short of wondrous, transporting the reader to a world that is highly unique, magical, and descriptive in its detail. So descriptive in fact, that you are spellbound by it.
 
The plot is beguiling. Told in alternating POV, Rhea’s and the witch’s -it’s hard to describe without giving away any spoilers, but it is just so entrancing that you keep turning page after page, addicted to the story. Utterly fascinating and bewildering at the same time. I suppose you can tell that this one is a MUST READ, IMHO. You won’t be able to fully understand how captivating this dark, fantasy novel is, until you have it in hand, and are reading it for yourself.
 
The pacing seems slow, but is actually perfect for the story, introducing characters and merging them with perfect timing on the author’s part. The characters are diverse and richly drawn and their humanity makes them relatable. I love the exploration of anxiety the characters feel in this book.
 
All in all, this is a magnificent tale that is written poignantly and beautifully. I will definitely be reading more from this gifted author. 5/stars.

I was given this eBook by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
This review, or portions thereof, will be posted (when able) on Amazon, B&N, Goodreads, Kobo, IG, FB, Pinterest, Litsy, and my own blog.
Unfortunately, I am unable to provide links to all sites as I am using my phone.
On various sites I am:
Pinterest~ Pinterest.com/katskraps
Barnes & Noble~ Karyl-Ahn-white_7
Litsy~ Karylahn or Karyl White

First, I want to thank NetGalley for this ARC! I saw the cover and read the synopsis and was 100% ready to lose myself in the fantasy. This book exceeded all of my hopes, and was like three stories in one. We are thrust into this narrative spun with golden threads of description. I swear, this author weaves perfect pictures of places you could have never been and things you could have never seen with the most vibrant and sometimes grotesque verbiage. Things like ‘the color of a picked scab’ or talk of a ‘spider’s sky’ that is laced with silk— it was so beautiful and unlike anything I’ve ever read before. We start out with the Witch of the Woods, then are brought to Rhea and her family, then lastly to a princess. The way these three are woven together are like a priceless, centuries old tapestry, and you are kept guessing until the last act of the story when everything is laid bare. There is magic, fear, love, and mystical beings, but also some standout nuggets of wisdom. Some of my favorites dealt with the focus on family; not just blood relation, but how important your chosen family is as well, and the message of the imperativeness of being yourself; each small facet, each mask that you wear. You can be small, yet powerful. You can be frightened, but stand tall. You don’t ever have to be one thing in life. You should taste everything that it has to offer, and scream. Make your voice heard no matter how much it may scare those around you. I can’t wait to see what this author does next, and I will gladly follow her into the Woods.

This is a strange little book. Not in a bad way, no, but it will definitely not be everyone’s cup of tea. I am one of the few who actually enjoyed the purple prose but I must admit that there were times where I had to reread a passage or page because I was slightly confused as to what was going on. The ending seemed to wrap up pretty quickly which is why I rated this 3 stars instead of rounding up to 4. I think it would’ve been great as a duology! I enjoyed Rhea and the other girls a lot so to have them more fleshed out would have been fantastic and I think a second book could’ve done that. However, I did enjoy The Waking Forest and I can’t wait to see what the author has in store for us in her next book.

This story follows a young lady named Rhea and her family, the Ravennas.  She has, sometimes, terrifying visions and has started having sleepwalking dreams.  In these, she is walking up to the attic and opening a door.  In her most vivid dream/sleepwalking incident, she gets to the attic and is able to open the door, finding something there that she does not like.  Along with this, she starts hearing breathing in the dark corners of the attic and notices that a boy made of shadows is up there, waiting for her.  When the plot develops and the true nature of the story comes to light, it is almost difficult to comprehend at first.  I am not going to give too much away, but this is a book that needs to be read and experienced.  It really threw me for a loop, for a while, but ended up making sense in the long run.

Some of the previous reviews on Goodreads made a big fuss about purple prose and how this book is too difficult to get through because of it.  I 100% disagree with that statement but also add that it probably takes a certain person at a certain point to pick up this book.  Maybe it just isn't for everyone; I loved it.  For me, it wasn't really purple prose, but more of just very descriptive and poetic prose.  It wasn't purple for me because it didn't take away from my ability to read the story or grasp the content.  In all actuality, it just added to the magical setting and helped lend it more of an out-of-this-world mystical feel that worked for the story and all of its magical elements.  I highlighted several passages of "purple prose" because they were so beautifully written and the words Wees uses to describe colors and textures is almost too much for my brain to comprehend.  Regardless, I loved the way this was written and the almost sing-song poetic feel of it.

Let us talk about these characters!  Rhea is a perfectly strong, young, feminist hero figure for this story.  I enjoyed her fortitude and strength while she was going through some hard points in this story; never once does she decide to give up or give in to what the villain(s) of the story wanted.  I wish I could be as strong as Rhea is.  Even after she hears the breathing in the attic, she turns around the next day and goes back to the attic and directly address it.  Geez, complete badass!

The sisters and the parents in the Ravenna family are okay; they become much stronger characters as the story progresses.  The pet fox, Gabrielle is such a cute character who also becomes a very significant and stronger character in the second part of the book.  Her appearance there was actually one of the first times I really got thrown for a loop and had a moment of clarity about the storyline.  Hands down, my favorite character was The Darkness/the boy/the fox who is no fox/what is his real name?.... I loved how multidimensional he was, even though he was shrouded in darkness 90% of the time and was never described.  As soon as Rhea met him in the attic, I fell in love with the character and the way he spoke and his actions, and how damn sweet he seemed. Gosh.  From that moment, I wished and wished that he wasn't a villain.

Perhaps the best part of this book is the plot and how much of a ride it is!  At first, this story got me because it had a shadow person in the attic and strange visions, and weird actions of the sisters.  It was weird and different and I was really digging it, especially after some things happen with the shadow boy.  THEN, the story gets turned upside down on me and the truth comes out, but even then I found myself not even trusting what the author was telling me was the actual plot of the story!  That plot twist, paired with the storyline of the witch in the woods and the fox who is no fox and his storytelling just set me on edge and really created a memorable story for me.  I almost literally could not put this book down and wanted to keep digging into it and revealing more and more of the story.  By the end, I was ready for almost anything Wees was going to throw at me.  And, it has a happy ending that is filled with some of the most tender and sweetest dialogue and moments between two characters. Ugh, so good!!

In the end, I am giving this book 5 stars because it did everything that I want a story to do for me.  I was entranced with the plot and fell head over heels for characters.  I am pining for this story and more between Rhea and the boy/shadow/?????. I just can't get this story out of my head and cannot wait to see what else Wees writes in the future.  This book is due to be published March 12, 2019, and I need to get a copy of this for my collection!  Thank you NetGalley and Delacorte press for the e-ARC of this book and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it!

**ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.**

I had really high hopes for this book - the cover is absolutely gorgeous. I love the colors, the details and the way it draws you in.

I very much wanted to like this book but it was overall very bizarre. I found myself scratching my head and not really grasping what was going on for a good portion. At the beginning, you are following two stories - a witch in the wood and a 'normal' (I use this term lightly) girl living in our world. Each chapter alternates between the two stories. Slowly around the halfway point of the book they converge. Until then I just found it completely muddled and hard to follow.

Probably what bothered me most about this book, was the prose. I get this is subjective and other's could love it - but I found it to be trying too hard to be whimsical and imaginative. Don't get me wrong, I can get behind some word-building with Tolkien and Rothfuss being some of my favorites - but again I think the best word for this one was bizarre. Here are some examples:

"The crescent moon snuck away to nap behind a cloud, and its snores were like milk splashing in a cup, and the Fox Who Is No Fox did not come.'

'Gabrielle follows me, and I taste the caustic cream of anticipation foaming at the tip of her tongue just as surely as she feels the tangling of my veins into a bloody bouquet.'

'A still and sludgy river the color of picked scabs encircling rotted-trunk turrets and a drawbridge dangling on rusted iron hinges, walls of twigs and crinkled red leaves half crumbled and sagging in on one side, crooked crenellations of toppled teeth, yellowed and chipped and spotted with old blood if they's been yanked from the massive mouth of some sickly beast.'

.... like what? The whole first half of the book is filled with writing like this. Constant. Neverending. THEN when the stories converge and they end up in a more magical setting - it all but stops and the characters start talking like 21st-century teens.

Overall, I, unfortunately, do not recommend this book. I wish I could but it was just not for me based on multiple factors.

THE WAKING FOREST was nothing like I was expecting it to be. It was a TRIP, but in the best of ways. To be honest, I see-sawed between 5 and 4 stars once I got around the 60% mark, but the moment I read the final line, I hit 5 stars without a second thought as a giant grin spread across my face.

The first half of this book was amazing. 5 stars hands down the whole way up to the midpoint. The voice was unique and gripping. The prose was EXQUISITE—I truly don’t think I’ve ever read a book that uses such intriguing similes and metaphors that are perfectly analogous to what’s being described. As a writer myself, I always appreciate beautiful, lyrical lines, though I feel that readers of all types will find beauty in the words on these pages.

Though the book did have a few flaws in my eyes that made me consider dropping its rating—a little telling at times, a plot that completely shifted and became a little confusing after the midpoint, worldbuilding and ideas that weren’t fully developed—I ended up with a 5 star rating because it was such a great and original STORY. Despite the confusing shift in worlds, I felt transported. I felt like I was a young girl again, sitting on the floor in my classroom as the teacher read to the class. And it was that mysterious and gripping storytelling coupled with fantastic writing that had me flipping through pages as fast as I could. Alyssa Wees has become an instant-read for me, and I can’t wait to devour another one of her books in the future.

The Waking Forest is a beautifully written, fairytale-like story that will enchant readers from start to finish. There is a nice mixture of fantasy with just the right amount of spooky and the most lush, poetic writing around to blend it together perfectly. The story is wholly original. The cover is gorgeous. I cannot recommend this enough. Readers who enjoy fantasy will want to check this one out immediately.

First of all, that cover is extremely alluring and fits the book perfectly. The Waking Forest has such an interesting premise and a really well constructed novel. It's atmospheric, eerie, and spellbinding.

The writing is something that readers are either going to love or hate. For myself, I found the beautiful prose and lush descriptions the perfect compliment to the two enchanting stories already being told. I can totally see how some people might find it to be too convoluted at times and leading to confusion, but I had no problem following along.

The way the author has crafted the book is very impressive. She weaves two different stories together seamlessly, and the way they converge by the end was extremely creative and made for a unique story. It was very easy to find myself tugged along the as the story went on, but still able to pick up on the little hints that everything was not quite as it seemed. I found the book to be pretty fast-faced and easy to get through, and I was invested in the characters the entire time. I really enjoyed this one and I hope others do as well!

With a description that reads nearly like a fairy tale and a magical cover, do I really need to explain why I wanted to read this book?

The writing is lush, beautiful, and velvety, with imagery that will transport you to another place.  Some lines I re-read several times because of the way the author weaves words together.  There are basically three stories in this book, and the chapters alternate.  Somewhere around the middle or so, it's revealed how they're connected.  Rhea and her family are adorable and quirky, and the Darkness in the attic is spine-tingling and alluring.  It's a nice touch.   

With the first half of the book, I was all in and just wanted to find a secluded corner with no interruptions.  And then I got to the second half, and it lost me.  It has the feel of a fairy tale, but I felt untethered, and unsure of what was real in the story.  Even the dialogue was off, sounding more juvenile, and I found myself skimming the pages instead of savoring them as I had in the first half of the book.

Many other reviewers loved the dreamy, storybook feel of this novel, but I need to feel more grounded in my reading, with a better grasp of the plot.  Even though it turned out not to be for me, I'd still recommend this book because of the extraordinary writing, and I wouldn't hesitate to read another novel by this author in the future. 

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

While I didn't love this book, I can definitely appreciate how beautiful the writing is.  



The book stars by alternating chapters.  Some by a girl, Rhea, and others by the witch in the forest who grants wishes.



Rhea lives with her parents, sisters, and pet fox.  They are all close.  I actually really liked the parents in this book, especially the dad.  But Rhea has these weird dreams.  She doesn't always know if she's asleep or awake.  She also sees a forest where there are no woods. Once she moves up into the attic, she starts hearing this boy, darkness.  He tells her that they've met before.  If she says his name, it will break the curse.  Then people in her family start disappearing.  No one remembers them.  It's like they were never there.  It ends up being just Rhea and her sister, Rose. 



The witch is being visited by a fox who is not a fox.  He starts telling her stories about a princess and a king that doesn't want magic.  The magic users were born with two hearts.  A human heart for the city and a magical heart that wanted the forest.  There were different types of magic.  There are dream designers, dream walkers, necromancers, and others.  The king doesn't want anyone using magic around him unless it's for his benefit.  The princess won't agree to it and makes a spell that puts her into a sleep.  But she's needed to save their kingdom.



This book has beautiful writing and descriptions, but it's also very slow paced.  There are times where not much really happens.  The pacing picks up a bit halfway through, but I actually enjoyed the slower half more (which is odd for me).  I really liked the chapters with the witch, but I also enjoyed Rhea's interactions with her family. 



I gave this book 3 stars.  While it's not my favorite type of book to read, I did enjoy it.  It took me longer than normal to read it.  I think people that like the writing in books like Strange Grace and An Enchantment of Ravens will enjoy the writing style in this one.    Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my copy for review.

This book is a well written puzzle. For a piece.

The first part of this book sucked me in with its mishmash of dream psychology, teetering among the narrative devices in Inception, Shutter Island, some M. Night Shyamalan, “Sleeping Beauty,” “Hansel and Gretel,” some Cornelia Funke, and quite a few other tidbit references from all over movie/story world.

After a certain point, I started paying very close attention to names. I looked up the name meanings of each of the characters, which will spoil the book if I put them here. For those who get into the book enough, or like to pick out tiny nerdy treasures when they read, the name and place meaning will be fun to help decipher the puzzle of the first half of the book.

The second half of the book delineates into a very different writing style. It is very much as if a different author wrote it altogether. The characters become shallow and simple and the dialogue descends from carefully chosen clever conversation to modern high schooler speak. The story became more of the same.

Ultimately, I enjoyed the book. In the end, the first half of the book provided more than enough motivation to keep reading. I look forward to more of this author’s lyricism, and hope that the next book will be more consistent and just as brilliant.

My thanks to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for the ARC, for which I give my own opinion.