I did enjoy this but felt like it took a long time to really get going. The characters were good though and I'm hoping book 2 will be a bit faster paced.

3.5 stars

This book was very middle ground for me. I can see its potential to grow into a massive world but it was quite lacking for the first one. I think a lot of the issue had to do with pacing, much of it was spent on world building when I would have much rather learned about it through the characters.

Forest of Souls is the firsts book in a trilogy by Lori M. Lee that is inspired by Hmong fantasy/folklore. Sirscha is a soldier in training with dreams of becoming the next shadow to the Queen - an elite spy/bodyguard that is held in high regard in her kingdom. Before Sirscha can find out whether or not her mentor has chosen her, Sirscha decides to take matters in to her own hands and sets off to intercept a message meant for someone also competing to be the Queen's Shadow. This sets off a series of events that ends up with the death of her best friend quickly followed by Sirscha somehow restoring her back to life as her magic is awakened. Sirscha must then try and learn her magic while also figuring out what is happening in the Forest of Souls and worrying about impending war between the other nearby kingdoms.

This book was a very exciting start to the series and I really enjoyed learning about the unique magic system and world building in the book. Some parts were a little information heavy and the magic system is a bit complicated to understand at times. The author includes a glossary in the beginning of the book that I found myself having to flip back to many times throughout the book. I liked the characters and their development in the book even though Sirscha could've used a little more development as she is so laser focused on becoming the Queen's Shadow that her personality doesn't come out as much as I would have liked. As this is only the first book, I imagine we'll be understanding more about Sirscha and her development as a character and I look forward to understanding her motives and inner thoughts a bit more. This book is different from other fantasy books in that there is not a romantic plot line (at least in this first book) which is a nice change of pace. I also enjoy reading fantasies inspired by other cultures so that made this book stand out in my opinion. I also like horror books so I really enjoyed her travels in to the Forest of Souls and the scary atmosphere that was created. I would recommend this book to those who like unique magic systems and feature other cultures or any fantasy fan.

I have been looking forward to reading this book for the longest time. As soon as my friends were giving this story rave reviews I knew I had to read it. Thank you so much for my review copy. I loved the spooky atmosphere setting at the beginning of the book, the plot had me hooked within the first chapter.
I have not read a book for the longest time that had me wanting to read this all in one day! There were so many amazing twists and turns that I could not stop thinking about after I had read this. I adore spooky wood settings and this just fulfilled everything I wanted and more!

I really enjoyed this book! It was a bit confusing at first but the mystery kept me flipping through the pages. I liked how this has some spooky and awesome scenes. Also, the characters were likeable so the captivating story seemed more interesting. The world-building was intriguing, I wish to see more of it in the sequel! Overall, Forest of Souls is a unique and well-written fantasy. Totally recommended!

I had decided not to review this book because there was something about it that wasn't drawing me in. However, I decided to give it a try once some friends read it and highlighted all its potential. NetGalley gave me the opportunity to change my mind, so I "re-picked" up the eARC I was sent.

Unfortunately, I found myself DNFing this book again, this time at around 50%. The worldbuilding has a lot of potential, but the characters fall flat and while the plot seemed interesting, nothing particularly sparked my interest. I do think this is the kind of book that could interest a lof of readers, but it continues not to be the read for me.

I won't be giving any feedback on Goodreads, as I prefer not to do that for DNFs, but I will be sending it through NetGalley this second time around.

Forest of Souls was absolutely incredible! It was so unique, the world building was incredibly immersive and I just wanted to explore the whole world! There was everything, magic, swordfights, politics and betrayal!
I don't want to say too much in terms of plot because spoilers, but it was perfect paced, I read Forest of Souls in two days and I could not put it down. I just needed to know what happened next! And wow! I did not see that ending coming at all!
I adored reading about Sirscha and her best friend Saengo - they have such a wonderful bond and it's so refreshing to read about girls who are building each other up, and would, truly do anything for each other. It was one of the highlights of the book for me.
Sirscha is such a fun character to follow, we get her snarky banter with Theyen, her wonderful friendship with Saengo and her loyalty and determination.
Another of the highlights of Forest of Souls was the magic system, which I just loved. It is so unique yet it felt so intuitive and made so much sense. From the shadowblessed to the different type of shamans - I hope we get to explore more of the magic system in the later books in this series.
I will definitely be reread Forest of Souls and I cannot wait to read the next book.

Loved, loved, loved this novel! Huge thanks to the publisher for letting me read a galley! Full review to come!

I was actually a bit disappointed. Even though it was a lovely fantasy, it was nothing special to me. It all felt a bit flat, and I'm not sure whether it was because I'm a little out of fantasy, or whether I just didn't enjoy it as much.

Unfortunately this one did not work for me. I struggled with the writing and story telling style from the very beginning. I found it a little heavy on the internal monologue and I found the world building a bit lacking. On top of that I struggled to connect with the characters and thought that plot was a bit meandering. I decided to DNF this book at the 25% mark because I knew it wasn't a good match for me.

"It is not from the world that I need acknowledgement of my worth."

Forest of Souls is a YA fantasy full of magic and myths inspired by Hmong shamanism. I loved Sirscha, the main character, and her growth throughout the book. Although I'd have loved to read more about her apprenticeship with Kendara, I really enjoyed her voice and how she slowly discovers herself and her magic. It's pretty rare these days, but there is no romance in this book — and I loved it. Sometimes it does feel a bit forced and doesn't add anything to the story - here, the main relationship is the one between Sirscha and Saengo, a fierce friendship that transcends even family bonds.

Overall, I really loved Forest of Souls, and highly recommend it if you're looking for a plot-driven book with an immersive world building, full of magic, mystery, and incredible main characters !

The plot was very unique. I really liked the magic system especially with the familiars. There were lot of climaxes which I predicted, lot being most of them, and I predicted all of them correctly. So on one hand I was happy i was understanding the book but on the other I wanted so much more. The writing was flat from the beginning to chapter 10, then in the middle it was pretty good but the ending was not upto the mark again. The characters were the only thing keeping me engaged but sometimes that is not enough. The narration could have been much more juicy. The danger in the situations were not reaching me. I was feeling detached. I hope the second book is better which I am looking forward to. I want to know what happens. I had predicted the antagonists properly and the way it tied up was very satisfactory. Theyen , if he continues to be the way he is might end up in my fictional crushes list.
Rating: 2.5

This book was one that was so very interesting. I had a fun time with this story. It felt like the start of an epic tale that I will need to know how it ends. I would totally recommend this book those those who love story’s like ; the throne of glass, the kiss of deception. It has political issues, identity issues and a plot that will keep your guessing.

I 10/10 recommend.

This book is a wild ride. I found the plot and emotion very Fresh and entertaining. It g in es off this vibe it will be really dark and twisty (don’t worry it is) but not to an extent that you have to keep the lights on or offer the author a hug and candy. It’s a interesting story and kept me captivated through out most of the book.

Thank you Net Galley for the opportunity to review this book’

I liked how the main character Sirscha took initiative to fix problems and how she came to realize her worth. Having come from an orphanage Sirshas had to fight for everything shes ever had. Her fierce determination to accomplish her goals had me cheering her on. I didnt understand why she kept feeling bad for saving her best friends life. It just didnt make sense to me, especially compared to the alternative, but I did love their strong and thoughtful female friendship. The book doesnt have any romance so we get to focus on Sirshas character development and her friendship with her fellow soldier Saengo. She got major respect from me for joining the military to gain some independence from her noble family.

Sirschas mentors grumpy attitude had an endearing charm to it. I really hope we get to find out what's going on with her in the sequel. Even though we dont get to see much of her I still got a good sense of her complexe relationship with Sirscha. We also meet Prince Meilek who has always been kind to Sirsha. I really felt for him as he struggled between his loyalty to his sister the queen and helping those in need. The Spider Kings motivation weren't totally believable, but I still thought he was an intriguing character. I really enjoyed the banter between his guest Theyen and Sirsha. I also loved the older female guard Sirsha was assigned once she arrived at the Spider Kings home.

I loved the worlds intricate magic system and the precarious kingdom politics, but my favorite parts were probably the forest filled with vengeful souls and the dinosaur looking creatures the soliders ride. The shamans and shadowblessed have wide variety of amazing powers. I liked how their eye color matched the type of magic they could do. I also think it's awesome how they have animal familiars to channel their power. The religion with the sister deities was a nice little addition to the setting. I really enjoyed visiting the port city of Birth with its stacked houses connected by high bridges and winding canals. I can't wait to get to explore even more of this world.

The plot starts with Sirsha trying to win the spot of the Queens shadow to work as her spy and assassin, but after a shaman attack she's sent to work for the Spider King instead. On top of having to prevent a war and stop the spread of the forest of souls Sirscha must also find a way to save her best friend. Despite those high stakes some parts of the story werent as gripping as I wanted them to be. I'm guessing that's because I found a lot of the reveals predictable and the antagonist didnt feel like an immediate danger until the very end. That aside the ending seriously elevated the stakes and Im excited for the sequel. I think this series has the potential to get better and better.

Forest of Souls is an epic fantasy adventure of magic, friendship, and secrets. Sirscha is a loyal friend, determined to protect Saengo as they are both pulled into the world of shamans and secrets. Saengo is the quiet but perceptive friend, bound to her friend by magic and secrets that have already cost her life once before. The world of the Forest of Souls is built on tropes typically found in this genre but spares readers the complication of romance and love triangles. There are many parallels to historical events from many cultural backgrounds in this story. Shamans are stripped of their powers in the Queen’s kingdom and forced to work as slaves. Through Sirscha’s experience, readers understand the conflict of being marked as a shaman and having powers that serve a purpose beyond her understanding.

The story moves at a rapid pace, drawing readers into the fictional world on the brink of war. There is a diverse cast of characters, contributing to the mystery and suspense throughout the plot. This is an easy, engaging read, not presenting challenging situations or plots. I would readily recommend this to readers looking for an engaging and simple fantasy.

I'm not sure if this book was just overly hyped and that is why I was slightly disappointed in it. Have you ever been given a recommendation and the person/people just keep going on and on about how much you'll love it, so by the time you read it you are hoping for one level and you get something completely different?

I think that's what happened with Forest of Souls. I found Sirscha a wonderful MC. The world building felt like it was to much of an information dump, The plot, while exciting, was rushed feeling. There were times that the story was so original, but then times that I felt like it was predictable. It wasn't a bad book, but I felt like it was rushed.

Above all, I loved the way this book focused on the friendship between the main character and her best friend. It's something you don't see much of in YA and it was really refreshing. I also liked the magic system and the setting was extremely atmospheric. That being said, I couldn't connect too well with the characters and the plot couldn't keep my attention so unfortunately, I lowered the rating because of that.

REVIEW WILL GO LIVE ON LAIR OF BOOKS ON 8/4/2020 AT 8AM EST, LINKS WILL BE ADDED.

THE 411...
We don't often see YA Fantasy with a strong female/female friendship at its core but they're SO needed! Forest Of Souls has ZERO romance my fellow book lovers, instead we got the ride or die friendship of a lifetime. Our MC Sirscha was orphaned at a very young age & then recruited by the Prince/Queens Army. On the side she trains for the coveted/competitive spot of Queen's Spy where she is trained by Kendara, an older woman who is the current spy for the Queen. Challenged & tested every day with hopes that she gets selected but unsure of who her competitors are, Sirscha is determine to prove everyone wrong. She has no house to claim her & no wealth to back her, she is looked down upon & often taunted to get her to leave her training. The only friendship she's managed to make is with Saengo who has the complete opposite of upbringings. The daughter of a well respected prominent family, Saengo trains in the Queens Army as a way to rebel against expectations placed upon her. She isn't disciplined when she steps out of line but that isn't for want. Saengo craves to be treated like every other soldier & hates seeing Sirscha get the brunt of the discipline for the both of them.

When side tracked during their camps travels one day, they find themselves in a world of danger & consequences are set in motion. All eyes are on Sirscha when in a moment of life or death, her Shaman abilities are activated unbeknownst to her. Bringing Saengo back to life after an attack from a Shaman wielding the fire element left her for dead. The only issue is that in this world there is nothing worse than being a Shaman. To be discovered to have Shaman abilities is to live a life imprisoned or be killed. This is because the Queen had her own family wiped out by Shamans and since then has not been able to pardon any who cross her lands. This of course poses a conflict since Sirscha was a top contender for the title of Queen's Spy. Word gets out & gets back to Ronin, the Spider King who is in charge of The Dead Wood where souls can be found trapped within the trees. No one dares go into the Dead Wood without an invitation from The Spider King & even he can't promise you complete & total safe passage. Ronin takes interest in Sirscha believing her to be the only living Soul Guide which puts her in a odd position. Her powers seem to control the souls reaching out from the trees & Ronin means to utilize her. Sirscha is up for the task but she wants answers to her questions & to get to the root of the problem. Saengo may be back from the dead but is beginning to show signs of the rot/decomposition. Sirscha will do anything to keep her friend alive especially because they are now bound in more ways than one (spoilery won't say) making it a necessity.

WRITING & FINAL THOUGHTS
The strongest aspects of this book are within the core friendship between Sirscha & Saengo as well as the message of self worth. Sirscha doesn't know her worth, she constantly feels the need to prove herself to her superiors & craves approval. Driven by that need to be accepted & valued, she is hell bent on the position of Queen's Spy & then thrown off kilter when that seems unlikely. If not the Queens Spy, then who will she become? this is always at the forefront of her actions. Sirscha is honorable, loyal, fierce & wicked with her fighting abilities but she doesn't see her own value. I LOVED her character growth, seeing her reclaim the power within & realizing she is absolutely more than enough. As far as the world building, it's very atmospheric & eerie especially the scenes in The Dead Wood. I only wished there was more exploration of Sirscha's own Shaman abilities. At the very beginning we get a whole Glossary for this world however we don't really see all of it used in the text. I kind of wish we had because some of the abilities in the Glossary for some of the Shaman sound unique & interesting. I also was hoping to get an appearance from the feared Queen herself but that didn't happen. The side characters however were really clutch! Prince Meilek at one point sort of gave me love interest vibes but that may have just been me, I did enjoy his character. The ending of course left me wishing I had the follow-up in my hands. It seems Sirscha's adventure is far from over, in fact it's just begun...

I am deeming my issues of Forest of Souls an issue with me then the book itself. I've tried several times to read it and each time I couldn't get more then 15%-25% in. I was forcing myself to pick it up and read. I wasn't bored, I was interest to see where the story would go but just couldn't make it that far. From what I seen review wise is that this book is already super loved and that gives me hope that when I decide to revisit this book I will enjoy it.