emilia_reads's reviews
363 reviews

I perfectly fine novella following the development of the relationship between Medusa and Calypso. It's hard for me to rate novellas like this any higher than a 3 star since it just feels like a longer story that has been condensed into 80 pages. This novella made me realize that I prefer novellas that focus in on a particular point of a story or someone’s life rather than just condense an entire book into less pages. A lot of story is packed into these pages, and I fear that the story feels underdeveloped as a result. Medusa is a character who was saved from certain death by Athena a decade ago and still feels indebted to her, so becomes her assassin. She is assigned to kill Calypso, the mistress of Odysseus. Instead, Medusa and Calypso begin a relationship and things go on from there. I thought the relationship between Medusa and Calypso was hot, but developed too quickly. The conflict of the story also resolved incredibly easily, with no real climax or "battle" being fought to get to the happy conclusion. 

Quotes:
"A peaceful death is still a life snuffed out too soon."

"You're strong. You're clever. You're ruthless. Those things are beautiful."

"Assuage your conscience with the knowledge that you sent me to my fate well-loved."

Fox and Brandt absolutely carried this book - without them (and their relationship) I would have DNFed because the plot of this book is nonsensical. I need to reread honestly, could be a 5 stars. Again, Blake’s writing of the dynamic and dialogue between Fox and Brandt is so phenomenal I could cry.

First things first - gorgeous cover. I so wish I loved this collection more than I did so I could justify buying a copy. Unfortunately, I just didn't find any of the stories particularly memorable (except for "The Shadow Over Little Chitaly" - that one is so silly and strange). A persistent issue with the stories that I was experiencing were that they did not feel like short stories that were fully encompassed within themselves. Most of the stories felt more like introductions to longer stories that would end just as they were getting interesting. Writing was fine, nothing really stood out about it. I did appreciate how each of the stories were pretty different from each other, but still encompassed common themes of food/eating, body image, body horror, and gender. I really need to get to reading Boy Parts by this author next year, I feel like I would really enjoy a longer work by the author. 

Favorite quotes:
"Almost dying at a young, tragic age loses its seductive qualities the moment you turn twenty-five" - "Build a Body Like Mine"

"I think she was jealous. Of my body. Of my worms." - "Build a Body Like Mine"

"Thou shalt have a fishy on a little dishy/Thou shalt have a fishy when the boat comes in" - "She's Always Hungry"

I started reading this book a number of years ago, but had to put it down when my library hold lapsed. I have been wanting to pick up the book ever since because truly, at the time, it really really felt like I could give this book a 5 star review. I would still say the first chunk of this book is really promising, but it all kind of goes downhill after the two characters realize the other is who they've been texting. I just did not find their relationship particularly romantic, and the latter half of the book just fell flat. I'm writing this review a week and a half after finishing this book, and I cannot recall most of what happened in the book, nor any feelings I felt while reading.

I need to stop having sky-high expectations for books from authors I've never read from before because I am always a little let down. I picked up this book solely based on (1) it's queer, and (2) it was comped to The Raven Cycle. Upon reading, the only real similarities to The Raven Cycle are that it is set in Virginia, it has a fantasy element based in nature, and there is a boarding school. I always feel like comparing books to The Raven Cycle just sets me up for failure because nothing has ever come close to the stunning writing, found family themes, and nostalgia-for-a-place-you've-never-been atmosphere of that series. I would say that the vibe of Don't Let The Forest In is much closer to The Wicker King by K. Ancrum, especially in the somewhat codependent relationship between Andrew and Thomas. By no means do I think this book was bad, and I would recommend you give it a try if you have been meaning to pick it up. However, some aspects of the book really did not personally work for me. 

(1) I found being in the mind of Andrew during the entire book to be quite exhausting. Andrew is a very shy, self-conscious, and meek person, and as much as I sympathize with him, I found it very tiring to constantly be subjected to his feelings (this is very mean of me, I know). 

(2) The writing, at times, is unbelievably dramatic. This is particularly when Thomas and Andrew are interacting. I wish I still had my library copy of the book so I could include direct quotes of what I mean. At one point, Andrew says that he wants Thomas to fit between his ribs, or something to that extent. There are many more instances of this overdone kind of language that does not fit with the rest of the story, or Andrew's character at all. 

(3) The very close, nearly codependent relationship between Thomas and Andrew feels underdeveloped. Thomas and Andrew already have a very close relationship when the book opens, and as the reader, we are not really privy to why. I think this goes with my second point, that the writing of Thomas and Andrew interacting seems so bizarre from the get-go when, as the reader, we have only just met the characters. The Wicker King by K. Ancrum also does this, but in that book it doesn't feel like we aren't privy to August and Jack's relationship; I'm not sure why this is - maybe because their relationship doesn't start codependent, but really ramps up as the story progresses.

(4) The book read much younger that I think it meant to. The characters in the book are 17/18 and in their senior year of high school. However, at some parts of the book, the characters read much younger. I think Andrew in particular read much younger, but maybe this was just because he is a shy character. 

On the plus side, I did think the action scenes and scary moments were very well written, had my eyes glued to the page. Although I wish the book was a little more atmospheric, I did really like the forest scenes. The overall plot of the book was compelling, and I am way too dumb to figure out plot twists, so the twist in this book was definitely something I was not anticipating. 

December 2023 - 5 stars

5 star