The Phantom Forest

by Liz Kerin

[HekArtemis]

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 discovered Simeons secret shrine - 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.