Thanks to NetGalley for providing a free advanced copy of this book.

Some time ago humans managed to find and see into the underworld, the actual literal afterlife. This of course lead to a massive religious war that devastated the planet and the human population. It had some impact in the underworld as well. And I think that is what makes this such an interesting story. This idea would normally focus almost exclusively on the human side of things and not even consider if there was an impact on the other side. This book though takes us into the underworld and one of its denizens is a main character. We learn what some of the awful consequences were for the afterlife, as well as for the human world.

I was a little deceived as to how we saw or entered the underworld. In the first half at least once it is noted that humans no longer have the technology to see into the underworld..... But then later on we find out that the underworld was viewed through a literal hole. Sure this was somehow closed later on, but digging a hole, even with advanced machinery, is not really impossible to do with primitive tools. Just very difficult. I had hoped they meant we actually invented some device that connected with the underworld or something. Oh well.

I did feel this book was perhaps a little rushed. The characters lacked a little something, Seycia ends up in some pretty extreme circumstances and seems to just shrug them off like they are nothing, feeling no real fear or grief or anything. Her brother also seems to only note his loss but not really feel anything about it. It's like saying you're sad but not actually feeling sad. There is a difference. Haben was probably the more interesting character in this story, his background story and internal conflict over what he has done and continues to do gives us a bit more depth than the other characters seem to show.

The romance annoyed the heck out of me. Sorry, I know some people have noted the romance as being non-forced, not insta-love, makes sense, whatever. But no, this story seems to take place over a very small period of time, like a week maybe. Seycia falls in love with a demon who kidnaps her and intended to eat her, the demon manages to find his centuries old humanity by falling for this 19 year old girl.... It is practically insta-love, it's not needed because a brotherly or even fatherly love would have worked just as well for Habens humanity. Fatherly would have been better given the age differences. It doesn't make sense either. I am not really sure how watching a child-eating demon get punished with pain somehow makes him worthy of love? I don't know, I didn't feel it at all. It seemed like it was added because every story must have love.

I had a few other issues with the book as well, like how the General interacted with some people - it seemed a bit odd, and there was certainly more telling than showing. Simeon tells us that he trusts Gil implicitly. Moments later Gil tells Simeon that he should give up, apologise for all he has done and go into exile..... hmmm I am not really connecting the idea of trust and Gil right here. I am also curious how the emperor (view spoiler) - did someone tell him? Who was it? Or was it nobody important? And why didn't he deal with it immediately?

But overall, despite what looks like a big wall of complaints, I really enjoyed this book and give it 4 stars. I look forward to future instalments, especially a sequel. This book has a good amount of darkness to it, without being grimdark, and the mythology is fascinating. I would love to learn more about the three sisters, love them. I managed to devour it in one sitting last night, so it's obviously quite easy to read, nice and approachable and not weighed down with too many issues. The background story of the world and the characters is given as we go along and is easy to understand, easy to remember, easy to understand, and easy to connect later on to moments, objects, and people.

I don't know what more to add - it's a good book, with a fascinating concept that is executed relatively well, though could be slightly improved. I will read more.

Thanks to NetGalley, Liz Kerin and Inkshares for providing an e-book for my honest opinion!

My overall thoughts: 4/5 Stars!

The Phantom Forest has a bit of every good fantasy story weaved into it - Gods/Goddesses, a post-apocalyptic setting, evil overlords, premonitions of the future, and a brave heroine to tie everything together. The dark & haunting mood sets this story about the nature of humanity and what we'd do for love apart. I can't wait for the sequel!

A Deep Dive:

- The Plot: Seycia believes that all souls are either good or evil, and that they all come from the Forest of Laida. Simeon believes Dohv, the ruler of the underworld, wants him to rule over his land with an iron fist, and sacrifices innocent youths to keep his power. Haben is a demon, cursed by and bound to Dohv. Miko is a 12 year old boy, destined for greatness. They all come together in a battle between good and evil, living and dead, and it does not disappoint. While I wish events were sped up just a bit, I can't complain about the movie that immediately started to play in my head while reading this book! If you love mythical lore, magical beings, and epic journeys, you'll love this book.

- The Characters: I found myself forgetting that half the characters in this book are children! So many brutal, sad things happen and yet Miko, Minari, and Seycia all manage to pull through and revolt against their captors and torturers. They are stead-fast in their beliefs and still manage to make the mistakes you would expect of younger characters. I also love that there are multiple villainous characters to contend with. It keeps action coming from every angle. My only wish is that character growth and the relationships between them would have had more time to evolve and blossom. The relationship between Haben and Seycia seemed a bit rushed into, and it has so much potential!

- The Writing: Liz Kerin's writing is solid. Also, shoutout to the editor. I'm so glad I didn't have to read through a mess of typos and grammatical errors! if you like dark, eerie moods and questions about our humanity and after-death, you'll enjoy The Phantom Forest.

What would happen if we got a glimpse of the afterlife? In this story, “Discovery of the afterlife had had irreparable consequences, so the Coalition abolished the notion of gods, fate, and prayer, worldwide.” Liz Kerin gives us a fresh take on what the world may look like if we saw beyond our realm in her book The Phantom Forest. Kerin intertwines her version of the afterlife and a fantastical twist on the modern day in such a way that captivates you and forces you to keep reading.
We follow Seycia, her brother Miko, and the demon Haben on their separate but entwined journeys for freedom and justice. Miko leads a revolution to overthrow the corrupt powers controlling the world, while Seycia learns how to navigate the underworld and destroy her own demons as well. Haben is a messenger between worlds bestowed with a sick punishment by the devil-like figure Dohv. Haben is tasked with consuming the flesh of sacrifices made in the living world, regardless of age. In the passage where we meet Haben we see him after the sacrifice of a young boy, “He cried as he gorged himself on the entrails, choking back sobs as he swallowed mouthful after mouthful. There was nothing lower than this. This— this was hell.” He fills his belly with the flesh of the sacrifice and starves the rest of the time. But, this is not the only dark secret he possesses, his destructive past is the key to the present. He joins Seycia on her quest to avenge not only herself but her parents.
On occasion, Haben’s character loses some of the tortured mentality and seems not to suffer as much as originally let on. I found that bothersome in a few ways, the first being that he doesn’t behave like someone who is constantly starving, secondly his pain seems downplayed, and lastly, this characteristic mostly disappears in the second half of the book.
Through The Phantom Forest, we see how changes in the afterlife have an impact on the world of the living, altering people’s fates and the outcome of a revolution. My only critique on this is that I wish I could have seen more. We see Seycia’s decisions change the trajectory of Miko, they flow together beautifully and I would have loved to see this expand. The author is the strongest when she is tangling and untangling the two storylines, her ability to connect character arcs left me satisfied.
At first, I had a hard time connecting to Miko. I didn’t see his relevance to the plot until later in the book. I kept asking myself, why is this character important? This question was eventually made clear, but I would have liked to felt a connection to him earlier in the book so that he was a well-rounded character.
Kerin does imagery very well, she will paint fantastic settings in your mind. I could see so much color and life in her story that it was hard to put down, I wanted to see where we would end up next. She creates her own lore that isn’t overpowering or hard to keep straight and puts you at the center of her beautiful world. The plot is easy to follow, unlike a lot of fantasy stories, you will not veer off in a thousand different directions. Overall the story is enjoyable and you will fall in love with Seycia’s all or nothing attitude and Haben’s heart wrenching back story.
This story is a fresh take on how government and religion clash. Kerin creates this world that seems like it’s going to be your typical fantasy style novel and it turns out to be something entirely different. It tackles the problems that arise when a government decides to eradicate religion, we see how it affects the people, and how it can change entire societal structures. One glimpse of the afterlife leads to war, poverty, and the destruction of history. This all plays out in this twisting tale of adventure, redemption, and vengeance.

this book was absolutely beautiful. i loved the worlds, the characters, the name seycia, honestly all the names were so good. the innocence and the love were so refreshing to read amongst all the loss and fear. the purity that existed despite all the hardships made this so much More. i can see a second book being written and i'm intrigued because the ending left me really wanting something, more information, more closure.

This book was a mixed bag for me. While I liked the characters and the uniquely creepy worldbuilding, I didn't really enjoy the conflict/plot. Don't get me wrong, the concept was absolutely brilliant but the plot was seemed rushed and underdeveloped.

The Phantom Forest is set in a dystopian world where once a year, the community select a person to sacrifice to the Savage "But why would they perform this barbaric act?" you might ask. Well, my friend, it's because they've discovered what happens to their souls when they die and so the General uses the human sacrifices to maintain power over the community. However, when the protagonist, Seycia gets involved in a conflict with the General, she winds up slated for the Savage's next meal. Yet, unlike the past victims, she doesn't die when she goes to the Underworld... Now Seycia wants revenge on the General who took her life while navigating through the Underworld with a demon with a kind of sketchy agenda.

I absolutely loved the discussion of death and the blend of different afterlife beliefs as well as the juxtaposition of the parallel worlds between mortals and immortals. Also, I really enjoyed the supernatural creatures and the creepy writing style which set up the perfect atmosphere for a dark, foreboding tone. Character-wise, I adored Seycia because she was such a well-rounded character and loved her character arc with her little brother, Miko following close behind. However, I wasn't as invested in the Haben because he came off as flat and wasn't as developed. Overall, I enjoyed reading Phantom Forest and would definitely look forward to reading a sequel because of that last sentence... I need answers ASAP!

*Thank you to NetGalley and its publishers for providing a free ARC

One of the most unique and interesting reads I have enjoyed in a long time. Really interesting premise and it didn’t disappoint. Wonderful world building, even better characters , amazingly beautiful writing. Go read this book, it’s wonderful

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

While this had an extremely interesting premise, it was ultimately not an good read. The storytelling felt stiff and rushed to me, more like a secondary draft than a completed novel. Even the grammar felt a bit off, detracting a lot of enjoyment for me. I wanted to like this more because I was interested in the concepts and character ideas in here, but it felt like I was looking at a pencil sketch instead of a finished painting. If more time had been taken to develop this, to flesh out the plot and characters and world-building instead of just rushing from one thing to another, I really would have loved this. I did like Haben because I'm always a sucker for brooding, monstrous characters, and I thought his arc was the best of the entire book . . . but again ultimately everything just fell really short of what it could have been if more time and editing had been taken to the fascinating concepts in this book.

The Phantom Forest is an interesting fantasy story with mythological elements. If demons are able to transform the Underworld with love and peace, then maybe there's hope for humans.

The Underworld and its characters especially Haben/The Savage, Irem, and Norryn were my favorite parts of the book. The Underworld sections are well-developed and immersive.
Khronasa and its inhabitants are less interesting and engaging. Dohv, General Simeon, and Emperor Caius had the potential to be great villains but somehow felt flat for me.

There were only a few typos and some formatting issues in this electronic version.

Thank you, NetGalley and InkShares for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

An extraordinary debut!. #ThePhantomForest is a unique thriller that has depth, thoughtfulness, and the transformation of what it means to have a soul. A must read for 2019!

I was given an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley.

This book was an impressive debut from Kerin. It did take a long time to get going but I was drawn in from the beginning anyway. The characters are lovable and experience believable growth rather than remaining stagnant. I do feel like Kerin could have dedicated a little more time to developing the setting but it didn't detract from the story that she didn't.

The story is definitely an adventure with a little romance and a nod to Heaven and Hell but the content is mild and suitable for even younger teens. Rather than engaging with Christianity, the world has its own spirituality.

It has a mostly satisfying ending but Kerin has opened it up for subsequent books.

I didn't expect to be as in love with this book as I was by the end. Although it starts off slow, the story itself draws you in like a siren song, and there is no escape.

Torn between the now-destroyed world of his past and the Underworld in which he now resides, Haben caught my attention immediately. His character hooked me in and kept me reading during the first few chapters, waiting to catch another glimpse of his perspective. Through his eyes, and the eyes of Seycia and Miko, I was able to explore the intricately woven world Liz Kerin created with The Phantom Forest.

Although the dystopian expanse of what remains of our world left a bit to be desired, as did its inhabitants, the Underworld more than compensated. Full of luxurious landscapes and inhabitants ranging from dastardly to ethereal, the Underworld was a world that I was desperate to see and experience. Each time the story returned to this place, I found myself unable to stop reading, and I do not doubt that the stunning storytelling in these scenes will have the same effect on other readers. The characters themselves are woven into an equally beautiful tapestry that, by the end, feels as if it could keep growing for a long time. Their harrowing adventures, quests for justice, and unexpected detours made each character feel like a (sometimes misguided) friend.

I am definitely keeping my fingers crossed for another installment so that I can get to know these characters and worlds more fully!

THe Phantom Forest provides a thrilling new take on the underworld and its inhabitants. When humans stumbled onto a direct path to the underworld, they were not prepared for what they saw. The revelation changed everything, sending most humans back to the dark ages, controlled by an authoritarian regime that took over under guise of doing away with splintered religion. Now, many years later, a set of unlikely heros (a teenage girl, a demon, and a young boy and his friends) must work together to overthrow both the regime and the king of the underworld himself. This book combines action, adventure, mystery, and romance as the heros work to save everyone, both on earth and in the underworld.

I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Thanks NetGalley!

Every tree in the sacred forest holds a soul...Each of the souls will return to the mortal world for many future lives.. but some dont' deserve to.....

This is a unique fantasy storyline. I wasn't sure I'd like it based on that alone, but it was fantastic.

The Phantom Forest by Liz Kerin
Rating 3.5 stars
pages 300

I’ll admit that I was a bit hesitant to read The Phantom Forest, I personally am not a big fan of dystopian novels or post apocalyptic novels. However, I was pleasantly surprised. In fact, I really enjoyed reading this novel.
I adored Haben, as the novel progressed I wanted to wrap him up and keep safe from the pain and suffering of his world. In the beginning, I wasn't sure if I was going to like him. I thought at the very beginning that he was only two dimensional, but as his story unfolded his character began to blossom. I also loved Seycia, she had such a strong personality and an intense presence. Her determination to live and fight was uplifting and invigorating. I loved her relationship with Habenand I loved watching it develop and blossom into something beautiful and pure.
Overall I loved this book. I think anyone looking for an interesting unique novel that features a strong female lead, a pure romance, and a fascinating world should read this book.

Thank you Inkshares for providing me with the ARC of The Phantom Forest.

Liz Kerin's highly gripping debut novel will quickly pull you into the post-apocalyptic world. Set in the village of Khronasa, this is a story of Seycia who gets transported into the Underworld after being served as a human sacrifice to the Savage/Haben. Seycia leaves behind her little brother Miko who is left to fend for himself while destroying Seycia and his parents' killer. In the Underworld, Seycia and Haben become allies in the search of Forest of Laida which houses different souls. However, the Underworld is ruled by a tyrant God Dohv who will stop at nothing from achieving his agenda.

As you start reading it, the writer gives us a glimpse of the tight relationship between Seycia and Miko who are orphaned because of General Simon. After Seycia gets entangled in a fight publicly, she and her fang (a safety weapon) pull his attention. From here, the story gets more and more exciting, starting with a firsthand look into the corrupt system. Following her fallout with General Simon, he serves Seycia as Haben's meal in Underworld turning her into a demon. We, then, see a tender side of Haben who is imprisoned by Dohv.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading the race of Seycia and Haben, their unlikely friendship and Miko's transition from a child into an adult. After devouring this, I can't wait to read more works of Liz Kerin. She is a fantastic writer.

I don’t know what exactly I was expecting, but it wasn’t what I got. And that’s a very, very good thing. This book was utterly engrossing, drawing me into a world both stark and fascinating.

This is a book to commit to. If you are looking for a quick afternoon read, this is not that book. This book has a slow-burning plot-line that was obviously incredibly well thought out. The descriptions were so amazing, and the pictures conjured in my mind were so realistic and full of detail, I had to pause from time to time, just to let it all sink in.

It did take about five chapters for me to feel fully invested in the characters, but that was simply because there was so much that needed to be set up–and the time spent setting up the world, and the characters, as well as what motivated them- more than paid off.

It’s been quite a while since I’ve read a book that took place in any version of the underworld (Hell, Limbo, or what have you) but this was absolutely unique. I loved that Haben was as much a victim as Seycia was, only in a different way.

The characters were fascinating, the world dark and atmospheric, and the story itself went in completely unexpected directions. I highly recommend this book if you like your fantasy gritty and rich in detail.

What a surprise. I really liked this book, I finished it in one sitting.

The storyline was very original, I was captivated from the first page. I only wish the romance was a bit more better written, I didn‘t see how and why they fell for each other, there could be more chemistry between the characters.... Then I would give it 5 stars. But beside that, it was really good, I liked it.

Big thanks to Netgalley for this ARC!

In the underworld, the Forest of Laida is filled with sacred trees that each house a soul of those who have passed on. The soul is continually returned to the mortal world where it will live out many future lives. When mortals discovered the underworld it created a scar in the universe between the two worlds. Each season in Khronasa a human sacrifice is given to the Savage, a demon who transports the mortal to the underworld, as an offering of peace. Seycia and Miko have survived by avoiding General Simeon, the man who controls Khronasa, and is responsible for the death of their parents. When he chooses Seycia for sacrifice, she travels to the underworld with the savage, where he returns to his semi-human form known as Haben. Unable to protect her brother Miko, Seycia comes up with a plan to travel to Laida and destroy General Simeon's tree.

The Phantom Forest is a debut YA fantasy novel by author Liz Kerin. The novel is told from alternate POV's Haben/the Savage, a demon who is forced to take the mortals to the underworld and devour their soul because of an evil he committed when he was mortal, Seycia, a strong female protagonist who swears to protect her brother at all costs, and Miko a young boy left to face his enemy, the man who killed his family. I found this novel to be very unique and fresh, a quality that I appreciate when many novels begin to feel similar. The world building was interesting with several unique settings where demons and other creatures reside. The main plot is follows two parallel stories as each sibling attempts to destroy General Simeon from their side of the veil but Haben's story plays an important role also. His servitude to Dohv, ruler of the underworld, allows for an interesting side story, some unique characters, and adds a small romantic element to the plot (It can't all be doom, gloom, and torture). It took me a little bit to get into this one but it picks up really quickly and gets extra points for being unique.

I really enjoyed this book, which is part of why I plowed through it in less than a day. I was fascinated by the setting: a dystopian society created by breaching a fantastical underworld? Sign me up! And, as is always the case with me, the characters were my primary concern. By the end of the book, I was deeply in love with both Seycia and Haben, and I just want them to be happy, gosh darn it! I'll admit I wasn't very compelled by Miko's chapters, but mostly because I was preoccupied with my concern for the leads and loved spending time in the incredibly creative Underworld. The writing and grammar were excellent; my only hangup was that the electronic version I received had some fairly noticeable formatting issues, but that's to be expected. I'll be waiting anxiously for the next installment in this saga!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2800280911?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1

This was such a fantastic fantasy. I loved pretty much everything; from the plot to the characters to the wordbuilding. The supernatural elements were fantastic and easily understandable. I was captivated and cannot wait to read the sequel!