I absolutely enjoy reading this fantasy tale. "Through the Silent Forest" is a novel in a league of its own. Ashley Castillo creates such a colorful and bright universe in this book. It is bursting with exquisite language. The storyline is exciting and breath-taking, the characters are intriguing, and the scenery is divine.
The storyline is set in a fantasy world called Terrene. It is narrated from different points of view, rotating between Diana and other prominent figures from Diana’s homeland. Diana is slated to become the next chief of Terrene, and as such, she is entitled to receive suitors for marriage offers. However, Diana wants more out of her life. She truly longs for a life brimming with adventure and independence.
In time, a mysterious figure appears to Diana in her dreams and warns her that an ancient monster seeks to harm her. Diana is the only one who can rescue her people from future peril at the hands of this threat. As such, only Diana can go head-to-head with this monster in order to preserve Terrene from destruction. Overall, I believe that Diana is a wonderful main character. She is easy to connect with and has many good attributes that make her a good leader. Her charming personality helps draw readers into her world.
The reason I give this book 4 out of 5 stars is because Part 1 took me some time to mentally absorb. Even though Part 1 includes superb sequences that help tie the storyline together, the plot drags a little at the beginning of the novel. But the tempo accelerates and holds from Part 2 to Part 4, making this book a very delightful read. The formatting is excellent, but please be mindful that this book contains some profanity, complex adult scenarios, mature language, and scenes depicting sexual interactions. As such, it may be unsuitable for younger readers or readers with specific religious limitations. Nonetheless, I believe that anyone who appreciates reading novels that require higher focus and attention to details would enjoy reading this book.