This book was nothing like I thought it would be and it was amazing! I read the whole thing in one sitting cause I simply could not put it down and didn’t want too. I was not expecting the different POV but it did add to the story and gave you the full perspective. I love how Bridget and Bob ending up working together to get out and how the whole thing ended. I also enjoyed the brief glimpses into the “Eyes of the Forest” throughout the story. This book was overall a good read with enough intrigue to keep you reading.

April Henry's Eyes of the Forest is a mashup of Misery, and Games of Thrones. 17-year-old Bridget Shepherd is author R.M. Haldon's Swords and Shadows series biggest fan. She was hired when she was 12-years-old to work with the author to make sure he was keeping his storylines straight and not taking unnecessary side trips. Bridget is literally a walking, talking, encyclopedia of the authors King of Swords series. She created a database of his books and the characters, landscapes, realms, creatures, everything that can be cross-referenced as he works his way towards completing the series.

It has been several years since R.M. Haldon released a new book due to writer's block which has made his fans unhappy, his publisher is unhappy, while his books have turned into a TV series. If you are a writer, some of you may or may not understand the feeling of writer's block. So, he comes up with the strangest idea of getting himself kidnapped, and locking himself away from the normality that he's used to so that he can figure things out. In many ways, Haldon is a reclusive hermit who has grown lazy.

He works with a High School student to make it look as though he's been kidnapped and locked away in a cabin in the middle of the woods. He is given a chamber pot, he's given an out of date typewriter, and a treadmill which he is locked to. When yet another character gets involved, Haldon decides to play chicken by writing two different stories and keeping one to himself. But things don't go as smoothly as he thought, and ends up hoping that Bridget will figure out that he's in trouble and sends help before things get out of control.

Like every other book this author has written, the chapters are short, the pacing is on point, and the characters often find themselves up against some twisted secondary characters like Derrick Dart who is obsessed with LARPing. There's another character who I shall refer to as the over the top villain whose shenanigans wore me out. Then you have Ajay Kapoon who is the best cook in his large Indian-American family who finds friendship with Bridget who reads to him all of Haldon's books. Don't believe me? Read the book and all of the dishes he makes for Bridget and his family. If you are not hungry by the time the book is done, I don't know what else to tell you.

Disclaimer: I received a free digital review copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions in this review are my own and are honest and unbiased.

I’ve heard a lot about April Henry, but this is my first book by her. And it was a good one! I loved the whole idea of an author somewhat modeled after the author of Game of Thrones. An author that fans are waiting for that next book in the series and getting so frustrated on not getting it. Not to mention how the tv series is stuck and in real life it had to go on without the last book. But this story also took on a bit of the feel of the book Misery by Stephen King. In several ways. First, you know kidnapping the author to get him to write a book. Then the typewriter part as well.

I do have to say that I kind of felt when I’d originally read the synopsis that there would be more of the story where Bridget knew Haldron was missing and that she would be searching for him longer. While that part of the story was pretty good, it felt a little short, or maybe rushed to me, based on how I’d assumed from the blurb the story would go.

Really though this was a good book, and I will definitely be recommending it for my own students to read.

EYES OF THE FOREST by New York Times bestselling author April Henry (The Body in the Woods) involves a kidnapping gone wrong. As Henry says, "I think every writer, if they write long enough, eventually writes a book where one of the main characters is a writer. Eyes of the Forest is mine." She features R.M. Haldon, a famous fantasy author facing writer's block (and reminiscent of George R. R. Martin), who conspires in his own kidnapping. Trapped in a remote cabin, he finds a way to begin writing again AND to communicate with his research assistant, seventeen year old Bridget Shepherd, in an attempt to gain his freedom. Yes, it all seemed a bit far-fetched at times, but Henry succeeds in keeping readers' interest and builds suspense and affection for these characters. With insights into fan fiction, EYES OF THE FOREST is a title with enough cliff-hangers to entertain even reluctant readers.

Eyes of the Forest by April Henry delivered a disturbing examination of how far some people will go to get what they want. Though the plot didn't feel entirely original to me, Eyes of the Forest had many unique aspects. I related so well with Bridget that she was easy to root for throughout the novel. I loved RM Haldon's characterization, as well. Through him, April Henry raised a lot of awareness about the pressures and struggles many authors face from those who work with them and from fans, which I appreciated. I also admired all the research April Henry put into Eyes of the Forest, and I loved the fantasy excerpts she shared of Haldon's novels. She expertly shifted from thriller mode to fantasy mode to do so, which impressed me. Those excerpts made the whole story especially distinctive.

It took a while for the pace to pick up after the shocking first chapter, but once it did, it didn't let up. There were a few scenes that felt extraneous to me, which slowed the pacing. However, everything came together at the end wonderfully. I liked that Bridget didn't immediately become suspicious of Haldon's absence. Instead, a well-structured, logical series of events led up to her investigation. Even so, I thought it would have even been more interesting if April Henry had allowed room for the reader to doubt Bridget's honesty and mental state. While I felt it could have been tightened up more and that it had untapped potential, Eyes of the Forest by April Henry was a nail-biting Young Adult thriller that I thoroughly enjoyed and recommend to other thriller lovers.

(Disclaimer: I received a free digital review copy of this book through NetGalley to participate in an Xpresso Book Tours event. All opinions in this review are my own and are honest and unbiased. This review also appears on my review site, Kayla C. Reviews.)

Trigger Warning: Some violence and abduction.

I loved April Henry's Girl, Stolen duology. With such strong female protagonist and thrilling psychological page turner, I was keen to explore her other books so I jumped at the chance to join in this blog tour.

Eyes of the Forest is told in multiple point of views which, as always, confuses me in the beginning but when you got your characters straight, it flew very quickly as each chapters were quite short and snappy. The story itself, I found, however, was rather show. There was a lot of setting up / background stories to all characters and that took a big part of the book while the actual 'mystery' was actually quite short. It was still quite satisfying.

Because the premise of this novel is of a famous author with a popular series who is supposedly writing the last of the book in the series that is overdue for a very long time (uh, hm, I'm waiting for a few myself irl); we were given snippets of this popular series book and it really does sound so very intriguing, I really would love to read these books!

While Eyes of the Forest didn't quite meet my expectations as a page turner, I was drawn into the story. The characters were well-developed and I was riveted by the connections these characters have with each other. It is an easy novel to read & relax with.

My thanks to Xpresso Book Tours for having me on this tour and copy of ebook in exchange of honest review

This was a great book! It kept me engaged, and it was definitely a cool and unique concept. Fast-paced mystery that kept you wanting to know what was going to happen next. I enjoyed the multiple-perspective aspect of the book. While I thought Bridget and Ajay's relationship could've been developed more, I appreciated that a romance wasn't the focus of the book. I did think there were some parts introduced that could've gotten more developed and felt a little shallow or rushed - Bridget's relationship with her dad, Bridget and Ajay's relationship, Derrick's relationship with his mom and dad, more development of Ajay's character. Overall I really enjoyed reading this book!

With amazing smoothness and weaving, this tale places tension high and keeps the reader wondering how it will all work out by the end.

Bridget has been a fan of a famous author since she was eight, and by a wonderful chance, she even has become his assistant and offers advice on the details he's built into his series. Unfortunately, he's suffering from writer's block, and millions of fans have been waiting for the last novel in his series for over three years. When he suddenly goes missing, nobody seems to notice. Not even Bridget until she receives a very strange email.

Every moment and every step is very well laid out in this mystery. I'm not always a fan of those stories, where the reader already knows who the kidnapper is, what their motive is, and even where they are hiding their victim, but this author makes it work and more. Every step of the way, the characters are left open, allowing the reader to know exactly what they are thinking and why. It makes each one personal and more realistic...even when their logic is flawed.

Bridget is a character to root for from beginning to end. She's got a very good head on her shoulders, tons of heart, and is willing to do what she needs to. She has some difficulties from her past to overcome, but it doesn't make her weak. I also appreciated the warm relationship with her father. While there is a bit of romance hinted at...maybe, it's more of a forming friendship and doesn't go anywhere from there. So, that was refreshing, too.

The tension in this one builds slowly and remains high until the end. There is a little bit of violence and a slightly gruesome accident scene, but none of this is over the top. Everything is done open for the reader to see and know, and it's the expectation of Bridget, hopefully, figuring things out, which make this one so entertaining and grabbing. I especially enjoyed the way the villains grow and change, as it adds depth and unexpected twists.

It was no problem to read this one in a single sitting, and I, luckily, didn't have to put it down until I'd read all the way from the beginning to the end.

For a main character in a teen mystery horror novel, Bridget was pretty smart and I loved it. The YA world needs more smart heroines. With that out of the way, I’d like to talk about RM Haldon, the author of Bridget’s favorite fantasy series. Other readers have compared Haldon to George R.R. Martin, but as I have not read the Game of Thrones series, I do not know how accurate this comparison is.

RM Haldon, whose real name is Bob, is kidnapped by a super fan and forced into writing the last book in his hit fantasy series, which has laid dormant without any additions for a few years. If I were to describe “Eyes of the Forest” in just a few words, I would call it chaotic Stephen King meets Karen McManus.

“Eyes of the Forest” is a little bit genre bending as well. Between the fantasy world of RM Haldon’s book series, to the mystery of his disappearance,April Henry knows how to write an enveloping story with compelling characters.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed April Henry’s “Eyes of the Forest” and will definitely be adding more of her books to my TBR!

Eyes of the Forest is the first April Henry book I’ve read in over five years and I really enjoyed it. It’s a quick, enjoyable read about fans and the lengths they’ll go to get what they want from their fandoms. For fans of GOT, this follows three high school students and the famous author who has impacted their lives in very different ways.

I found the commentary on different types of fans and the different emotions that drives people to go from normal and average to crazy to be very interesting! Fandom culture is obviously a huge part of our world and a huge part of the internet. I was a big fan of all the dystopian era series so I definitely understand each of these characters and the passion that comes with that.

As for the characters, I wish I got to know them better because, especially for the “villains/antiheroes”, I don’t feel like I ever got to understand what drove their actions. Motive is everything and this read as lazy to me, especially because like every April Henry book this is marked as a thriller. And don’t get me started on that. This is not a thriller, it’s suspense.

And the part about forced weight loss was really disturbing to read. Restricting food and requiring exercise as torture is just not what I would want teens to be reading, it’s unhealthy and conversations around weight in this book are also really unhealthy. Something for y’all to keep in mind if this is on your TBR.

However, I loved what was said about grief and loneliness and I loved the Indian-American representation. I thought the epilogue was perfect and while I would have liked this to have a bit more drama, this was definitely still a quick read. This story certainly has a lot of personality to it and if you are looking for some fun, I would highly recommend this!

April Henry's latest novel, Eyes of the Forest, follows a kidnapping...or is it? Author, Bob, is struggling to complete his final novel in a very popular series. His fans are begging for the conclusion, but writer's block won't leave. Bob is living a life of solitude until one day he is kidnapped by a fan, and they won't let him go until he's finished his novel.

I am a long-time April Henry fan, but this book missed the mark for me. The point of view switched around every chapter, and the plot was hard to follow. I struggled to even finish the novel because it was not as action-packed as I've grown used to as an April Henry reader. I'm looking forward to her next novel, and hopefully she will return to the suspenseful tension we're used to.

Eyes of the Forest is a YA contemporary suspense novel about a teenage fan that turns her knowledge about a fantasy author’s books into an opportunity to save his life.
Oregon teenager Bridget is such a big fan of HM (Bob) Haldon’s work that she’s been helping him with continuity in his novels through emails since she was twelve. But Bob is overdue on the last book and fans are starting to talk. When Bob sends Bridget an oddly worded email she begins to suspect that something has happened to him. But, no one from the police to her new friend and love interest Ajay believe that she’s on to something.
Bob has had writer’s block for months and his publisher is getting nervous. When he comes up with a plan to force the words out of him it quickly gets out of hand and Bob finds his fake kidnapping too real. Ironically the captivity is getting him in the best shape of his life and the writing is going better than ever but Bob doesn’t know if he will live to see the book published. So he hatches a plan to get Bridget’s help and the book builds to a climactic finish.
This was a fast paced and fun little book that kept my interest all the way through. I enjoyed reading about Ajay’s cooking and the awkwardness of their friendship verging on a relationship. The villains of the story (schoolmate Derrick and his mom Joanne) were a little ridiculous but I liked reading about their use of Reddit and “the dark web” to sell pages of Bob’s forced book. I could have used a little less of Derrick’s LARP but that’s just a personal preference.
Overall, this was a enjoyable read about fandoms, becoming a hero and the creative process. It’s not particularly dark or disturbing so I think it will be an appropriate suspenseful read for all ages and preferences.
3.5 stars

Admittedly, this is not the type of book I normally read, but the blurb and the cover drew me in. This one was a bit slower than I normally prefer my books to be, but was still engaging and captivating. Really enjoyed!

I love April Henry's YA books, they are a perfect palate cleanser for when I need a break from the more darker books. This one was good, albeit a little slow and not much action. I felt awful for Bridget though, not having anyone believe her. How does she not have any documentation that she's the actual research assistant though?!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an advanced review copy in exchange for an honest review.

PS.
Now I really want a treadmill desk..

Sadly I ended up getting about halfway through this book and ended up DNF’ing it. The material was not gripping enough to keep me engaged and allow me to carry on.

I have several books by April Henry in my library, but have never read one. Now I want to read all of them!

Pros
Book Nerd Love: Who doesn't love a budding romance centered around incredibly long and immensely detailed fantasy books? This new relationship is full of love for intimate minutiae, reading aloud, and deeply personal connections to escapist literature. It's both a love letter to fantasy fans and a love story about fantasy fans--or at least a book with a pair of book nerds falling in love.

POV Shifts: There are a lot of problems that can arise when employing myriad POVs, and this book isn't without problems. But one good thing that arises from the point-of-view shifts in the ultimate contrast between Bridget's everyday, school life and Haldon's less-than-fortunate circumstances. The shifting between these two realities helps to really build tension. It creates a kind of horror-movie effect, where as a reader, I wanted to shout, "C'mon!" to Bridget when she just wasn't getting the clues as she went about her everyday business.

Mounting Tension: Everything really comes to a head at the end of the book. Things take a turn for the worst--which is a good thing, in a thriller. The tension skyrockets. The stakes are high. And, best of all, everything is really grounded and down-to-earth--very real. YA thrillers tend more toward melodrama, with all of its flashy thrills, and less toward realism. It is great to find a world that roots itself a bit more in a this-could-really-happen reality.

Cons
Myriad POVs: Though there are some good things that come with the many points-of-view featured here, there are also some problems. The shifting mirrors the style of Game-of-Thrones fantasy--or, in this case, R.M. Haldon fantasy. So there is a point to it. But there isn't any real distinction made between character voices in this particular work. There should be a narrative difference even in third-person POVs to signal that we're changing perspective. This book could just as easily (and perhaps more effectively) been written in third-person omniscient instead. As it stands, the POV switches feel a little superficial a lot of the time.

Stereotypical Villains: The villains here are a bit of a stereotype, unfortunately. On the one hand, we've got the weirdo, loner, loser, nerd fanatic high schooler who might just fit into the school-shooter profile. He's even got a nasally voice to go with his less-than-desirable characteristics, along with a fictional "alter ego." So, there's that. And on the other hand, we've got the ex-celebrity assistant more interested in quick cash than ethics and morality who, of course, has no respect for art or artists. So, there's also that.

Slow Build: The tension-build in this book is slow, slow, slow. The first half of this book is essentially dedicated to setting up the characters, which is fine enough. I just wish something more would have happened. The action doesn't really get going until the second half--perhaps even the last quarter--which is sad. It doesn't quite deliver on what the blurb promises. It takes its time to get going, and perhaps it takes too long.

Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
6/10

Fans of Stephen King's Misery will appreciate another author in dire circumstances. Those who enjoyed the recluse-author-reformed of Ashley Schumacher's Amelia Unabridged will also appreciate this high-tension author-under-pressure.

Author RM Haldon (Bob) is in trouble. He's got a major case of writer's block and now he's been kidnapped by a deranged fan who is holding him hostage until he finishes the next book in his popular series, Swords and Shadows. Bridget, Bob's assistant who helps him keep track of characters and details throughout the book series, suspects that something is wrong and starts investigating on her own as a way to find Bob. I really liked the premise of this story but I struggled to maintain engagement with the characters and the farfetched plot line. Would recommend for younger teen readers who enjoy reading a good mystery with some suspense.

Thank you to NetGalley, April Henry, and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for an advanced eBook in exchange for my honest review.

Kept me entertained for a day - especially the blossoming friendship between Bridget and Ajay - but overall too many plot holes and fatphobia for me to wholeheartedly recommend.

Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

I love April Henry’s books! I have seen I was in sixth grade and have read all of them so far. When I had the chance to read this book before it was released, I was stoked. Like the rest of her books, this one was action-filled, with different themes, and great characters. This one is based on a kidnapping. The whole concept was relatively new to me and I have never heard anything like it. I enjoyed the story a bunch. It was a bit confusing at some parts but I was able to catch on to the theme as it went on. It never hurts to have the story based in a town you’re familiar with.

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