The Darkest Part of the Forest
by Holly Black
Children can have a cruel, absolute sense of justice. Children can kill a monster and feel quite proud of themselves. A girl can look at her brother and believe they’re destined to be a knight and a bard who battle evil. She can believe she’s found the thing she’s been made for.
Hazel lives with her brother, Ben, in the strange town of Fairfold where humans and fae exist side by side. The faeries’ seemingly harmless magic attracts tourists, but Hazel knows how dangerous they can be, and she knows how to stop them. Or she did, once.
At the center of it all, there is a glass coffin in the woods. It rests right on the ground and in it sleeps a boy with horns on his head and ears as pointed as knives. Hazel and Ben were both in love with him as children. The boy has slept there for generations, never waking.
Until one day, he does…
As the world turns upside down, Hazel tries to remember her years pretending to be a knight. But swept up in new love, shifting loyalties, and the fresh sting of betrayal, will it be enough?
Ratings and Reviews from the Librarians
Bekka rated it ★★★★ and said, “I really enjoyed this! The whole fairy element was great, and properly scary. I think it’s wonderful when author’s use the original fairies, and not the cutsie Victorian ones. The fairies here are quite dangerous as well as intriguing and beautiful. I loved how it was set in the New World, in our world, and how the teens coped with the magic in their lives. This is a great read for any Holly Black fans, as well as Maggie Stiefvater fans. It’s great writing with great characters and an edge-of-your-seat kind of plot. Great fun!”