"Forest of Souls" by Lori M. Lee delves into a captivating world of shadow-born and shaman powers, offering readers a rich tapestry of fantasy elements to explore. The intricate world-building sets the stage for a compelling narrative that unfolds gradually, drawing readers into a realm filled with unexpected twists and turns. Though the world building seems to be very heavy at the start of the novel which did slow down the reading process, but towards mid to end I was invested in the story.

The FMC of the book, Sirscha, a strong and independent protagonist but i believe there was a lot of potential for further character development. While her fierceness is evident from the start, delving deeper into her background and training as a spy could have added layers to her character arc that myself would have loved to been involved in. The absence of a romantic subplot provides a unique angle in the fantasy genre, allowing the focus to remain on Sirscha's journey and the fantastical world she navigates.

Lee's writing style is immersive, gradually enveloping readers in the intricacies of the plot and the dynamics between the characters. The representation of a Strong Asian female protagonist adds a diverse perspective to the narrative, paving the way for a more inclusive storytelling experience which I love and want to continue to see in the reading industry. People need more representation in books and I love the authors that give this.

Moreover, the stunning cover art of the book serves as an enticing introduction to the world within its pages, beckoning readers to embark on an adventure filled with magic and mystery. As the first installment in a series, "Forest of Souls" lays a solid foundation for future developments and relationships between characters, hinting at a promising continuation of the story, its a massive promise at the end that I hope is delivered.

A massive thankyou to Netgalley for allowing me to receive a copy of this amazing book in return for an honest review. I will be continuing this story because I want so much more of it and I hope its hidden in the next books. A massive thank-you to the author for gifting this book to the world, its very creative and beautiful.

Touted for fans of Naomi Novik, this missed the mark for me. While the worldbuilding had some potential, the magic system came across as an ALTA knock-off, and the politics were not developed enough to be interesting or make me care about the players.

Sirscha was not an engaging character to follow - which is extremely unfortunate, considering the first-person perspective! I found her too stoic throughout - her friend dies? Barely a reaction. Her friend is suddenly alive in the next scene? Again, barely a reaction. She finds out she is a shaman? Well, it doesn't seem like she cares.

I did enjoy the depiction of the Dead Wood and Ronin, so some credit there.

This book has such an enticing cover! I enjoyed my time with the story and thought the ending was done well.

This was okay. A cute and fun YA Reading but It did not impress me. Forgettable. Not going to continue the series

I received an ARC copy of this book from the publisher in order to give a honest review.
The author’s representation of sisterhood is truly inspiring, although I would have like to hear a bit more about Saengo and the duo’s past. This book has a great storyline and is a quick and easy read.
I’m definitely looking forward to reading books 2 and 3 in the series to go on another adventure! And hopefully follow along with most of my favourite characters!

Thanks to NetGalley for the digital edition of this book!

I read it in one day so you could say that I loved it!
I loved the pace, it wasn't too slow or too fast so I wasn't bored while reading so that's how I was able to read it that fast.
I loved the characters and their dynamics. I loved the relationship the MC had with her best friend.

I loved the fantasy aspect of the book but I would have loved a bit more world-building and explanation. Even though at the beginning we had a glossary some of the words were hard to remember when reading, because I was reading a digital version I could change pages as easily as a physical copy.
Also, in the middle of the story, it became kinda hard to keep track of it. like a lot happens but at the same time not really?

Anyway, I really like this book and I will probably read the second book since this one finishes on a cliffhanger
Thanks again to NetGalley and Lori M. Lee for the opportunity!

Lee's writing style is immersive, painting vivid images of the forest and its inhabitants. From the eerie whispers of the trees to the pulse-pounding battles against dark forces, each scene is brought to life with detail, drawing readers deeper into the story.

I really liked the characters in "Forest of Souls" because they were pretty interesting.

What I didn’t like was the pretty slow pace of the story. Sadly it felt like ages in between the chapters.

A note to NetGalley: please update the file or at least offer an .epub file… the fact that this file doesn’t have a structure, no chapters (a chapter ends and starts on the same page… come on…) really didn’t help to get into the reading flow ://

This read as a pretty decent fantasy debut. Unfortunately, it's not a debut. Forest of Souls follows orphaned Sirscha, who is a mid-ranked soldier and, more importantly, apprentice to the Queen's Shadow. She deals with the stresses and prejudices of the army because she knows bigger things await her, and she has her best friend Saengo to back her up in any situation. However, things go majorly downhill when she's attacked by Shamans, Saengo dies, Sirscha finds out she's a Shamanborn, and she brings Saengo back. This is a whole new set of problems.
Sirscha and Saengo were both very easy characters to root for. Saengo is a little one-dimensional, but she's good enough. The world building is where things get a little worse. The continent has three kingdoms, one of which hates magic and has recently been persecuting all the Shamans in it (naturally, this is where Sirscha is from), one of which is run by elementally powered Shaman with fancy brightly colored eyes, and the other is run by gray people with shadow magic. It's not fully baked. They also have wyverns (??) and dragons aren't a major component, unfortunately. Also, I could not keep track of the geography. I don't recall seeing a map, and it is also hard to reference a map in an ebook.
Best way I can put my thoughts about this book: I requested the other two sequels here on NetGalley, and if I get them, I'll read them. If I am not approved, I'm not going out of my way to see how things go.

In "Forest of Souls," Lori M. Lee masterfully weaves together intricate layers of mythology and folklore, immersing readers in a world teeming with ancient secrets and hidden powers. The Dead Wood, a haunting and enigmatic forest, serves as a mesmerizing backdrop to Sirscha's journey, its looming presence casting an eerie and suspenseful atmosphere over the narrative.

Sirscha Ashwyn emerges as a truly compelling protagonist, grappling with her identity and her place in a world where the lines between good and evil are blurred. Her journey of self-discovery is both poignant and exhilarating, as she confronts not only external threats but also the darkness within herself.

Lee's prose is evocative and lyrical, painting vivid landscapes and bringing to life a diverse cast of characters, each with their own motivations and secrets. From the enigmatic mentor figure to the mysterious adversaries lurking in the shadows, every character feels fully realized and integral to the story's progression.

The magic system in "Forest of Souls" is refreshingly original, rooted in the natural world and infused with a sense of wonder and danger. As Sirscha delves deeper into her abilities, she uncovers a hidden reservoir of power that threatens to consume her if left unchecked. This exploration of the consequences of wielding magic adds depth and complexity to the narrative, keeping readers on the edge of their seats until the very last page.

Overall, "Forest of Souls" is a spellbinding debut that will leave readers eagerly awaiting the next installment in the series. Lori M. Lee has crafted a mesmerizing tale of adventure, courage, and the enduring power of friendship, making it a must-read for fantasy enthusiasts of all ages.

Tropes:
- Chosen One
- YA Fantasy
- Coming of age
- Quest
- Found Family

Have you ever felt after reading the first pages of a book like you had to read it? It is exactly how my love story with this book started, I needed to read it, it felt right. Let’s start by discussing the world building, as a big fantasy reader, I often find the world or magical system to be similar but in here, Lori M. Lee managed to write something that made my mind spin. However there is one disadvantage of this innovative and new system, it is extremely complex. Even after weeks reading the book, I still mix the Kingdoms and the type of magical creatures, but it doesn’t bother too much when you are reading.
When I started the book, I had no expectation whatsoever and it did make it even better to discover a book so well written,

Ooooh. Ok, this was way more interesting than I was initially expecting. I was prepared for a typical YA fantasy, perhaps with a healthy dose of love triangle, but instead got a gripping and enticing read that was fast-paced with quick turns that I was never quite able to predict. I loved how foolhardy and headstrong Sirscha was, and honestly kind of feral LOL. We love that in a woman. My only complaint was that a lot of the story hinged on her just speculating on what was going on, and I'm so used to that being a method of unreliable narration that I spent a lot of the book questioning whether or not she was actually right. Overall though, I really enjoyed it and I'm looking forward to starting book 2!

I dnf’ed this book at about 23% but I did want to elaborate on why that was. I just felt like this book wasn’t for me. I did however find the writing enjoyable, it’s just the story itself that isn’t my cup of tea.
Thank you however to Netgalley for providing me with this eARC in exchange for an honest review

A great first book kicking off a promising fantasy series

Forest of souls has now become one of my favourite ya series. The plot is thick with action, the FMC is a complex and well developed character whose arc is fancinating, the world around her described vividly and in a manner I can't get enough of. This book is every YA fantasy lover's dream.

The creatures we meet throughout the world are so interesting and so is the lore/ history of the kingdom. Despite the 400 hundred pages the reader FLYS through the book with his fast pace and addicting it gets.

I cannot recommend this enough if you're in a reading slump and/ or looking for a new fantasy series to get sucked in.

This book started off a bit slow, and I wasn't sure if I'd enjoy it at first.

But as I kept reading, I found myself drawn into the richly crafted world the author created. My main issue was with the main character - she seemed to have it all figured out from the start, which made her feel a bit too perfect.

I wished we could have seen more of her growth, maybe some scenes showing her training or struggles along the way.

The side characters didn't leave much of an impression on me either - they were okay, but nothing special. Usually, it's the characters that really make a story for me, but in this case, it was the evolving plot and the vividly described world that kept me engaged.

And the ending left me eager to know what happens next. Overall, despite not connecting strongly with the characters, I found the storyline to be quite captivating.

Thank you to netgalley and Page Street Publishing for Providing me the e-Review Copy.

4 star rating from me. Lovely book. Amazing storyline. The plot os fantastic. So so good. But it's not one of my favorite reads so far.

OH MY GOD!!! THIS IS SO GOOD!!! LIKE SO GOOD!! Like I have no words!! I'm still processing things and I will say I love the magic elements in this book!!!! I liked all of this book!!!

Absolutely loved this story! YA isn't usually for me but found this story to be riveting! I do wish we got more background on our FMCs training but overall I really enjoyed the book!

DNF At 30%.
Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC.
The premis of the book seemed incredible! There was a great magic system set in place, but some of the world building wasn’t fully explained/fleshed out. Many of the characters also fell a bit flat, but I’m not sure if that’s just me. I’m sure this book would appeal to others, but I ended up losing interest.

Maybe I wasn't in the mood for a fantasy, I have read two fantasies already this year, but idk, I was a little bored through it and it took me a while to finish. It is okay, but sometimes, for me, the plot was a little up and down

Im afraid this book wasn't exactly my cup of tea, although I see a lot of potential in it, I barely got through it because its too slow in some parts, reading it felt like a chore