The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly BlackMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book is SO slept on. (Pun intended)
I can't believe how little chatter I've heard about this book considering it's by Holly Black. You hear so much about The Cruel Prince, Wicked King, & Queen of Nothing but this one seems to have fallen into the shadow of those. Which is unacceptable. (In fact, although I named my dog after Cardan himself, I'm tempted to say I like this book more than those books combined. WILD.)
The characters and scenery in this book are just magical and engrossing. You become a part of their lives and the magical town they live in where the fae walk amongst them. It's written so real you'd think it was a place you could actually travel to, people you could actually meet.
This book also has Queer representation which I absolutely did not expect going into it. When Hazel's brother was mentioned to be gay I assumed that like in the other Folk Of The Air series books he'd be a side character that didn't really matter all that much (sorry Vivi). I am happy I was wrong because I think his Queer identity is an invaluable addition to the complexity of this book. If anything, reading about how his family supports him is something that really touched my heart because not all of us are lucky in that way. The fact that it's barely mentioned on the back of the book is also extremely commendable. It's almost like *gasp* heterosexual baiting. MWHAHAHAHA, how the tables have turned.
The plot of this book is something I certainly didn't expect and the ways the little hints were snuck in for the reader and Hazel herself is so clever. I found myself flabbergasted by the last half of the book when it all fell together and I was left on the edge of my seat until that final page.
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