Hello Readers,
I recently listened to The Forest Demands Its Due on
Libby, and the audiobook was such an immersive experience that I ended up
finishing it in just a couple of sittings.
The story follows seventeen-year-old Douglas Jones at Regent
Academy, a prestigious boarding school with a seriously sinister history. When
a student is murdered and the entire campus forgets he ever existed, Douglas is
the only one left questioning reality. Alongside the groundskeeper's son,
Everett Everley, he starts uncovering a centuries-old curse hidden within the
surrounding forest. Things get incredibly dark, fast.
If you are a fan of dark academia, the writing does a
brilliant job of pulling you straight into this creepy, claustrophobic world.
The mystery unfolds at a great pace, throwing out constant twists just as you
think you've figured things out. The supernatural horror elements like the
sentient forest and monstrous creatures are genuinely unsettling, but what
really gives this YA horror fantasy its weight is the depth underneath the
chaos.
Douglas completely stole my heart. As a queer Black
teenager, he is constantly navigating racism, homophobia, and classism in an
environment built against him, yet he still wants to protect the people around
him. His dynamic with Everett and his sister, Emma, is fantastic. Their loyalty
to each other is unmatched, and the romantic subplot adds a much-needed layer
of softness against the bleakness of the school.
The book balances its supernatural horror with an impressive
look at privilege, corruption, and how marginalised communities pay the price
for the mistakes of the powerful.
If you want a twisty, heartbreaking, and atmospheric
supernatural horror filled with characters you'll get fiercely attached to,
definitely pick this one up for your spooky season reading list.
Trigger Warnings: Racism, Homophobia, Sexual assault
mentioned. Death of a father, Arson
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