| Title | : | The Wood |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 320 |
| Publication | : | First published August 1, 2017 |
She soon finds a young man traveling in the wood named Henry who knows more than he should. He believes if they can work together to find his missing parents, they could discover the truth about Winter’s dad.
The wood is poisoned, changing into something sinister—torturing travelers lost in it. Winter must put her trust in Henry in order to find the truth and those they’ve lost.
The Wood Reviews
-
**4/5 STARS**
Yes! Another main character with common sense! A sixteen-year-old who doesn't make all the wrong decisions, but rather thinks things through. Ah, this was an extremely refreshing read. But seriously, ya'll. This books needs to be on your to-be-read list, because it's just that imaginative and original.
What I liked: The originality of the story. I plowed right through this, and loved how I felt like I've never read anything like it before. It was unique and written so well for a debut novel - I was honestly beyond surprised with how creative/descriptive everything was.
Another great thing was how Winter wasn't your average sixteen-year-old. She was strong and knew what her job entailed. So when the time came she felt crushed however she didn't stop him. She knew he had to go back, and even though this made me beyond upset watching Henry go, I was momentarily perplexed that Winter wasn't crying somewhere or running after him (doesn't it seem like your average YA characters always do this?). Nope. She took it like a big girl, even if I didn't.
A third thing I liked was Henry's character. He was sweet and did whatever Winter asked him to do, which was what he'd promised her - but it was nice finally having a character keep their word, rather than betraying them somewhere along the line.
Things I didn't like: The monotonous feeling that came with reading through Winter's eyes. I felt pretty disconnected with her throughout the novel; however, the story-line really made up for that. Nevertheless, I wonder how much greater this novel could've been if I'd felt more of a connection with Winter. Oh well. It was still a pretty decent book.
Another thing that was slightly disappointing was, how the synopsis made the book sound like it was going to be a lot creepier than it really was. Finding that out wasn’t terribly disheartening to me, however, I know some people would go into this expecting a lot more along the lines of “creepiness,” and would be disappointed not to find that.
Overall, this took me by surprise. I knew this was a new author, which made me slightly apprehensive - but there was no reason for me to feel that way. The beautiful cover is nearly as beautiful as the contents inside, and that really pleased me. The rare occasion that the cover and contents are on-par with one another is always a good day. -
This book definitely surprised me! No one is talking about it, and the cover isn't amazing, so I had low expectations going into it. But the story was so different than I was expecting! It was the perfect blend of modern life, a fantastical forest, time travel, conspiracies and a hint of romance. The main character, Winter, was capable and interesting, with just the right amount of snark. Get this book on your radar - not enough people are talking about it!
-
"Dad tells me the wood is not a place to play. It is a place for business, and it is more powerful than I could ever imagine. He tells me I cannot forget the rules of the wood. There are three.
Do not travel from the paths.
Do not linger after dark.
Do not ignore the calling."
PLOT ➳➳
Winter's family has long been tasked with guarding The Wood, a magical piece of forestry behind her house that appears normal to non-Guardians... but for Guardians, it is a dangerous, living, breathing place, full of thresholds and doorways to other times and places. The Guardians are given the responsibility of monitoring the wood and ensuring that no wanderers get trapped in it after accidental threshold crossings. After all, the wood after dark is a wicked and hungry place.
When Winter's father disappears mysteriously, the job falls to her, but nothing he told her could have prepared her for the day when a boy showed up intentionally, and refused to go home. She knows she should force him to leave, but he might be connected to her father... Wouldn't you give anything to save the one you loved if you could?
WHAT I LIKED ➳➳
This book is beautiful. It somehow manages to perfectly balance being dark, yet whimsical, and Chelsea's writing is light and enjoyable. I found myself wishing the wood was a real place that I could visit (during the daytime, of course), because it sounded so incredible. When dark falls, it turns into a vicious and terrifying place full of creatures that would strike fear into anyone's heart.
Winter is a really enjoyable and authentic MC, and Henry is such a fun friend and love interest. I loved their banter and his complete state of confusion over most of the modern world, as well as the very "real" feeling of Winter's constant dilemma between getting close to him and keeping things on the surface. The only other characters we get to spend much time with are Winter's mother - who is not very fleshed out, admittedly - and her "Uncle" Joe, who I found to be an enjoyable, albeit sketchy character from the first time we met him.
The entire plot is just really captivating and the setting is so beautiful that I found it pretty easy to lose myself in the story, and I was definitely rooting for Winter and Henry the whole way!
WHAT I DISLIKED ➳➳
Here's the tough part. This book was actually a 5-star read for me, hands down, until about the 90% mark. I wish I was exaggerating. Rarely, I find a book that I adore until the ending, but the ending just ruins the whole thing for me. While the ending doesn't ruin the whole story in this scenario, I would have been ecstatic for this story to have ended entirely differently. I won't spoil anything, but the last few chapters felt so rushed; at one point, I actually felt like either Chelsea may have gotten tired of writing and was hurrying to finish, or was facing down a deadline? I'm no writer, so I never try to judge an author's process, but I was just so... disappointed by the end of this book.
Please, though, don't let this stop you from reading The Wood. The story was honestly so enjoyable that it was worth it.
FINAL VERDICT ➳➳
If you like dark, magical stories that mix a little fantasy, a little magical realism, and a bit of romance together, pick this one up. Chelsea really shone as a debut author, and I can't wait to read more from her. If this book was a series starter, I would be first in line to pre-order the next title - sadly, however, Goodreads says it's a stand-alone. If anyone has heard otherwise, LET ME KNOW! If that doesn't tell you how much I wanted more of this story, I don't know what will. Seriously, just ignore the fact that the ending might bum you out and go grab a copy when it comes out on August 1st!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the lovely folks at Feiwel & Friends for granting me an ARC of this book! All of my opinions are entirely my own. -
Having a rough week so I’ve poured myself a rum and coke and been on a book buying binge including this one.
-
My written interview with the author can be found
here. -
About: The Wood is a young adult fantasy written by Chelsea Bobulski. It will be published on 8/1/2017 by Feiwel & Friends, an imprint of Macmillan Publisher, paperback, 320 pages. The genres are young adult, fantasy, and fiction. This book is intended for readers ages 13 to 18. This is the author’s debut novel.
My Experience: I started reading The Wood on 5/10/17 and finished it on 5/25/17. This book is an enjoyable read. I like the main character’s determination and self control. I like that she doesn’t settles but continue to seek to find an answer to unanswered questions. I enjoy the fantasy and the main character’s dedication to her family. I like how the story has a mix between normal people and people with higher power.
In this book, readers will follow the point of view of Winter Parish, a high school student trying to control some normal in her life by juggling school in the classrooms and performing the duties that was passed down to her from generations before. The wood behind her house is not normal. At night, it has a mind of its own where it attacks whoever travel in its path. During the day, specifically, morning and evening is when Winter does her job by helping travelers find their way back home. These travelers can come from the past or the future and they can come from all over the world. Winter’s father was the guardian of the woods before her, but one day, he didn’t come home. Winter is determine to find her dad and what happened to him. One day, a traveler came into the wood, instead of by accident like the others, he came with a purpose. He needs her help and that by helping him she may be able to find out what happened to her dad. However, harboring a traveler from a different time into her time is against the rules even if her need to find her father is greater.
I enjoy reading this book very much! I like how the author build the world little by little, shredding just enough information for readers to flip the page. I like the concept of the wood, path, changing colors of the leaves, fireflies, and the magic. It reminds me of my road trip to North Carolina to see fall foliage last year. This book has both family values and mystery. I feel the suspense and the eager to solve the mystery behind the leaves that are turning black. I love how the ending wrap up all of the loose ends nicely. I love that this is a standalone fantasy! I highly recommend everyone to read this book!
Pro: family, determination, standalone fantasy, fast paced, page turner, mystery, suspense, foliage, cover
Con: none
I rate it 5 stars!
***Disclaimer: I won this book in a Twitter giveaway and my opinions are honest.
xoxo,
Jasmine at
www.howusefulitis.wordpress.com for a detailed review. -
***
Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***
The Wood by Chelsea Bobulski
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Publication Date: August 1, 2017
Rating: 4 stars
Source: ARC sent by the publisher
Summary (from Goodreads):
After her father goes missing in the woods that they protect, Winter tries to seek the truth in what happened, why the wood is changing, and what it all has to do with the arrival of a mysterious stranger in this thrilling YA debut.
When Winter’s dad goes missing during his nightly patrol of the wood, it falls to her to patrol the time portals and protect the travelers who slip through them. Winter can't help but think there's more to her dad's disappearance than she's being told.
She soon finds a young man traveling in the wood named Henry who knows more than he should. He believes if they can work together to find his missing parents, they could discover the truth about Winter’s dad.
The wood is poisoned, changing into something sinister—torturing travelers lost in it. Winter must put her trust in Henry in order to find the truth and those they’ve lost.
Bobulski’s eerie debut is filled with friendship, family, and the responsibilities we choose and those we do not.
What I Liked:
I'm not sure what interested me in this book in the first place, but by the time I picked up the galley, I'd forgotten what the book was about or why it appealed to me months ago when I requested it. Nevertheless, it was an intriguing and curious read, and I didn't stop reading until I was finished. I will be looking out for more books by Bobulski in the future.
When Winter's father disappeared mysteriously 20 months ago, Winter became the new guardian of the wood. As guardian, like her father and grandfather and so many generations of the Parish family, Winter must protect the wood, and direct travelers who have lost their way. The wood is full of thresholds from different times and places, and travelers sometimes wander into the wood and need to be shown their way back to their threshold. Winter is forever tied to the wood, now that she is the new guardian. But something strange has been happening in the wood. Darkness has been creeping in, and two council members have disappeared. What's more, the son of the council members wants Winter's help to find them. Henry is no guardian or council member, but he knows about the wood, and he has more knowledge and power than Winter thought. It is up to Winter and Henry to find out where Henry's parents went, what is happening to the wood, and how the events are related.
One of the strongest and best aspects of this book was the setting. The wood is no ordinary forest. After first glance, it is, but after walking further into the wood, it becomes something else. The wood is eerie and magical, haunting and beautiful. It is its own being, alive and with a mind of its own. And with a dark force moving with the wood, the wood has become sinister.
I liked Winter almost immediately. She has a difficult life, being tied to the wood at all times, unable to tell her best friend why she can't go to college or stay over for dinner. Winter has accepted her fate but she never stops trying to find out what really happened to her father - because she and her mother both now that he didn't simply disappear. Winter is an extremely smart girl, in academics and in general. She is clever and quick-thinking. She also has a good heart and a trusting nature, though she is also protective of her guardian duties.
Henry is such a sweetheart. He comes from eighteenth-century England, and he is desperate to find his parents (the missing council members). He isn't a guardian so he shouldn't know anything about the wood, but his parents taught him everything. Henry has impeccable manners and practically lives by chivalry. He isn't without his faults but he also isn't a bad guy. He's the upstanding sort of old-fashioned British boy that we American gals like to swoon over. He is definitely a swoony lad.
The story is a little on the predictable side - in which Winter and Henry try to find out what is happening to the wood, and where his parents went. They discover a lot of bad history in the council and the wood, and they discover some truths about Winter's father.
This book doesn't just focus on the conflict in the wood. Part of the story is rooted in Winter's relationship with her mother. Since Winter's father died, she and her mother have gone through the motions. When Winter starts sneaking around, hiding Henry and going into the wood more, her relationship with her mother begins to become a little strained. I love that the author made Winter's relationship with her mother an important part of the plot, because it was significant to see how they became even closer.
The same can be said about Winter's friendship with her best friend Meredith. Meredith knows nothing about the wood, which makes their friendship a strange and difficult one. Meredith knows something is wrong but Winter won't ever tell her the truth. This was another important relationship for the author to hone in on, and I'm glad she did.
And of course, the subtle, slow-burn romance. From the minute Winter lays eyes on Henry, she has a crush, though it's not totally obvious to her at first. I liked the romance - it's slow-burn, and sort of hate-to-love. Well, more like they got off to a rough start. But Henry is a protective sweetheart and Winter is a nurturing intellect and they mesh together really well. They have great chemistry and they get along well. I adore these two. I wanted more kissing and a little more something in terms of their ending but I was satisfied overall, with the romance.
I was satisfied with this book in general! It's an intriguing and eerie story, with a tough heroine, a nice hero, and a high-stakes climax (though it won't appear that way, at first). I'm glad I gave this book a chance!
What I Did Not Like:
There is this aspect of the ending that, well, let me leave it at that. The ending in general is good and fits the story. But there is one thing that I personally wanted to see, and it didn't happen. That's okay though! It would be cool if the author wrote some sort of epilogue. But only if that epilogue featured That Thing that I wanted (and others readers will probably want too).
Would I Recommend It:
YA paranormal readers might like this one. Fantasy readers too. It is set in modern times, but it deals a little with time-travel, and a creepy forest. And a hot British boy from the eighteenth century who is a sweetie but also excellent with a sword. Not to forget our smart heroine who is selfless and kind. I recommend this book if you're looking for an intriguing and somewhat quick read!
Rating:
4 stars. I believe this is a standalone but I wouldn't mind seeing another book follow this one! Or maybe an epilogue. In any case, I will definitely look for more books by Bobulski in the future (related to this one or not). -
This was my book of the month from my Bookloot subscription :) it came with a really awesome handwritten letter from the author on her thoughts while writing this book. It really got me excited to step into the pages of The Wood!
This was a great story!! I really could have used about a hundred more pages of what happens after that ending!! Not that I wasn't so completely happy with that ending though I would have liked maybe to change one little thing;)
I usually get frustrated sometimes when reading books that include time travel because I think there are so many little details that slip through the cracks and really start to bug me. But the author did a really good job developing these characters to make them very realistic and believable. The characters from the past seem authentic, they don't automatically understand all the current vernacular, and they don't know what electricity looks like. The same goes for the weary travelers that appear in the wood. All parts of this boon were well though out and had great detail.
There is some insta love but it is tastefully done :) and so so sweet. I ended up falling in love with Henry just as quickly as Winter, so who am I to judge how long it took to happen!? I had tears in my eyes and a knot in my throat through those last 5-7 chapters!!!
I am happy to say this is one I would most definitely recommend to my friends and fellow readers! My only complaint being it just felt too short, but that's just because I wanted more! A very fast paced and enjoyable read!
Happy Reading! -
2.5 stars
I was so excited for this book. I loved the cover and the synopsis and because of both, I was expecting epic evilness. What I got was...not that.
I liked Winter well enough. She's smart and driven and seems to have a decent helping of common sense. Her bff Mer was maybe a bit exaggerated and her mom seemed clueless. Henry was definitely the best part of the story. And while I understand why Winter acted the way she did towards him, I think it could have been done just a bit differently.
Plot wise, it was booooooring. As I said, with the tag lines on the book, I was eager to get to the creepy {and perhaps murdery} goodness. I kept forcing myself to read, thinking that at any moment something would shift, but it never did. The story moved slow, without any real sort of buildup, and the conflict was just meh. And I don't even know what to say about the ending.
Overall, it was an intriguing concept, but the execution was sorely lacking.
**Huge thanks to Feiwel and Friends for providing the arc free of charge** -
The Wood is a very creative story about woods that contain time travelling portals and the guardians that guard the wood and the travellers that enter it.
After Winter's Dad suddenly disappears and the council blames it on him losing his mind in the Wood, Winter takes it upon herself to solve the mystery of her father's disappearance. When a mysterious traveller keeps appearing in Winter's part of the Wood, Winter knows that something is wrong, no one should be able to access the Wood so easily. When Henry reveals the reason why he's seeking passage through the Wood, he and Winter decide to work together to solve the mystery of the Wood and the occurring disappearances.
Honestly, I've never been a fan of time travelling stories. Like never. I don't know what it is about them, but I just don't enjoy them as much as other fantasies. You'd think I would stop reading them, but for some reason I keep trying to find a time travelling book I like.
Although this book contained very minimal time travelling, as in only one character time travelled and we didn't change settings... I still found myself not liking this book very much.
Winter was a good main character. She wasn't great, but she also didn't make me mad, she was just average. Winter's main problem in the story was trying to balance school and work at the same time as dealing with the death of her father. She's skipping classes, ignoring her best friend and intentionally not looking for a romance because her job in the wood comes first, and with that comes the thoughts of her father and her believing that he might not be dead. I really connected with Winter in this part of the story, and I really liked her up to this point. Once Winter meets Henry things start to change a little.
I like Winter, and I like Henry. They're both good characters, but I don't see them being more than friends. The whole romance between them that was added seemed really forced, and I didn't not enjoy it at all. I feel like the story would have been so much better if the two had remained friends.
The world building in this story was truly fantastic. I loved the idea of the Wood, the history of the guardians and how they protect it and all the creatures in the Wood. It was all so creative. This was one of the most important aspects of why I liked this book. The other would have to be the family element. This book was very family related, with Winter dealing with her father's death and trying to stay close to her mother. I absolutely loved every scene with Winter and either/both of her parents.
The ending of this book was really intriguing. While there was no plot twists (maybe there was one, but I was expecting it from the beginning) the ending was still fairly emotional and very engaging, I definitely couldn't put the book down around the last third of the book. But while the ending was good, I was left with a lot of questions that were never answered, which kind of left me in the "Wait that's it?" state of mind, where I'm constantly questioning things.
Overall, this wasn't my favourite book, but I still enjoyed it. If you like time travelling stories then check this one out for sure.
Happy Reading,
Aneta -
A fantastic read that evokes a sense of wonder and delight.
I read this because I met the author at a local signing event and wasn't quite sure what to expect. I have a soft spot for YA, and the idea of a magical magical woods right here in present day Midwest America intrigued me.
That said, I loved this book. It's one of those comfortable stories written in an easy but deftly handled style that's great to just settle into and read away with a grin. The premise is that a young woman is charged with the care of The Wood that exists right behind her house after her father passes away. It's in the family lineage that they have to do this because the Wood contains rifts in time where people can accidentally (or not so accidentally) wander through--which can have dire consequences to the timeline of the present and future. It feels familiar yet wonderfully different, like stories I read in my youth but perfectly updated for today. There is also a touch of Harry Potter and, dare I say it, Twilight (but the good stuff--yes there were some things I liked about Twilight shut up).
Magic and Fae and mystery galore, a fantastic snarky but caring protagonist, time-travel, and an enchanted wood. Need I say more? Yes I do--I really hope there are more books coming in this world! -
Dad tells me I cannot forget the rules of the wood.
There are three.
Do not travel from the paths.
Do not linger after dark.
Do not ignore the calling.
This turned out actually better than I thought it would be, but I got a bit bored by the romance and the plot was sometimes confusing. Either way, it wasn't a bad read at all. -
Overall, I really enjoyed this story because it had the right blend of everything without losing the general premise of the story.
The characters were awesome and the author did a great job of bringing the past into the present with Henry. Also, Winter was a great character with common sense (something that is normally missing in YA novels).
The only complaint I would have about this book is the ending. I would have liked for more...especially an Epilogue to give Winter a happily ever after. -
3.5 stars
-
Masterful world-building for a mesmerizing story. Maybe my favorite of all of Chelsea Bobulski’s books and one I can definitely see myself picking up to reread!
-
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight Today I shall do something I rarely do: Start with what I didn't like about the book. Because it kind of matters for the rest of what I have to say? Sure. Okay, so there is some magic involved in this book, and that magical situation allows for time travel. I like time travel a lot, but there are times where I don't fully "get" the rules under which said time travel occurs. That is the case in this book. Some of the stuff that happens in the Wood left me with some questions, and I had to suspend a bit of disbelief. Because of that, it took me a little bit to get into the story.
However, as the story progresses, it really started to get good, and I found myself quite immersed in the world- even if I didn't fully understand the how or why. Now we shall talk about the things that made me eager to keep reading!
Time travel... in your backyard! Maybe I want this in my own house, okay? (No maybe, I definitely do. My backyard is just a sad patch of grass, I don't ever get cool people popping into it from other times. Ever.) That is a fun (and unique!) little scenario. And Henry is exactly the kind of traveler you'd want to find.
Winter was quite a sympathetic character. She was mourning her dad, and kind of mourning her life, really. She was destined to never have a "normal" life as the keeper of the wood. Her mom wishes she could have more, wishes that the wood didn't consume Winter's life. And Winter has some difficulties with her relationship with her mom. While her mom is definitely present (yay!) and definitely cares, she also can't understand what Winter is going through. Winter is also strong, and sometimes stubborn, and I enjoyed her determination.
The romance was kind of the best. I adored Henry, and I was rooting for them from the start. He was funny, smart, kind, and they had so much amazing banter. I love banter. It was kind of a hate-to-love mixed with a forbidden romance situation, and I adored every slow-burning minute.
The story was just straight up entertaining and enjoyable. Look, if I am excitedly flipping through the pages, there is no way the book will be anything but a win. And I was in this book, so there you have it.
Incredible atmosphere made the stakes feel high in the wood. The author did a great job making me feel that the wood was a messed up place, which made the tense moments even more exciting.
Bottom Line: After a bit of a rocky start, I ended up really loving this story, the characters, and the romance! I will be keeping my fingers crossed for a sequel, because I would absolutely read more books set in this world!
*Copy provided for review -
That was SUPER GOOD!!! Ugh that plot twist hurt my heart!!!
-
The only reason this isn’t a 5 star read for me is because it doesn’t continue on into another book. Maaannnnnnn.....
-
Winter has been raised to be a guardian of the wood, a job which has been handed down through the generations of her father's family. The wood is a nexus of time portals & travellers from the various time periods can sometimes stumble through the portals & it is the guardian's job to guide them back to their own time. If a traveller were to wander into the wrong time, it could have devastating consequences, or if a traveller or guardian is still in the wood when night falls, then their life is at stake as vicious creatures that live in the shadows come out at night. When her dad vanishes one day out on solo patrol, it is down to Winter to protect those who accidentally slip through its portals.
Winter soon notices that the wood is changing for the worse as the leaves on the trees start to bleed black goo. She is also perturbed about the nature of her dad's disappearance as their family friend & immortal being, Joe, says he strayed off the path in the wood & yet Winter knows that this is almost impossible for a guardian to do. One day she meets a traveller from eighteenth-century England, Henry is a young man who knows the truth about the wood & is determined not to be sent back to his own time, but is he just an inquisitive traveller or is there more to his determination to travel through the wood?
Apparently I had this on my bookshelf for almost 5 years without picking it up! Why didn't I read it before? It's an excellent YA fantasy - Winter is a great main character, you really feel for her losing her father & trying to not keep upsetting her mother who is also still grieving his loss, but Winter needs answers. There's a growing friendship in the story but it doesn't fall into the mistake of using the trope that many YA books do: instalove. There's a spark but it's not rushed. The overall plot is also nicely done, even if the 'big bad' is a little predictable. I really enjoyed reading it, it was something different to the usual books I read. If you like YA fantasy then give this a try - I'm even keeping the book in case I decide to reread it one day. -
The best way I can describe the feel of the "Wood" world is STRANGER THINGS (re: the dark and creepy The Upside Down setting) with time travel portals. I describe this in mood only. That being said, The Wood tiptoes through every single possible genre.
In any event, I am going to pretend the last 10% of this book did not exist because not only was it a cheese fest, the legitimacy of the decent villain (though was easily known by foreshadowed clues etc.) was led askew by sudden poor decision making on their part. Horrendous, really.
Other related thoughts:
There are also some unanswered plot holes or just general questions I had that I think was left unexplored. Basically, the SparksNote version is "you gotta get out of the wood before it turns dark (night time) and/or when the sun sets and it goes poof" else everything in the Wood will kill you. Basically. And it more-often-than-not gave off an always sunny daylight...as if there was never a rainy/overcast day.
Magic system is a quite willy nilly for my tastes. There's a lot of unexplained intuition that compels the MC to 'know' things. Like how her "gut feeling" is that she can sense someone in the Woods. I mean, okay, my gut feeling tells me when I'm hungry and need to navigate to the fridge but it's not like MC is linked to these wanderers, eh?
The mom flip-flops between helicopter mama bear mode (which is fine) in vocal presence but also lacks any intrinsic motivation to act out on it. Literally takes 200 pages for her to walk into her room and discover there's been a boy residing there for the past few days.
Fight-or-flight moments of suspense is met with sudden realizations of romantic interests and/or feels that HAVE TO BE MENTIONED/EXPOUNDED AT THAT PARTICULAR MOMENT BECAUSE IT IS NECESSARY EVEN THOUGH DIRE SITUATION IS DIRE. Romance subplots tho.
MCs best friend makes this book fail the Bechdel test.
That's all I got for now :/
-- full review to come. -
The cover is misleading. Nothing about this was bloody or gory. It wasn't even dark. It wasn’t a happy story, but I was expecting something slightly more sinister. It was easy to get into the story though. The world was original. A magical forest was part of the fae realm. Portals from various times and places around the world connected to the forest, but it was dangerous for people to pass through them because it could mess up the natural timeline. A select few humans were guardians of the portals who had to send travelers back.
Part of what irked me about this was the age of the characters. Winter and Henry were mature which was awesome. They acted more like they were in their twenties than teens. The responsibility laid upon them wasn’t believable. This was once again another YA novel where it’s up to teenagers to save the world.
At the beginning the rules of the guardians were laid out. It didn’t take long before Winter was breaking those rules. Sometimes I agreed with her choices because it was the right thing to do, but it annoys the hell out of me when all of the rules are quickly broken. Why the hell have them in the first place, you know?
I would have liked this better if it were the first in a series rather than a standalone. The plot was wrapped up without any loose ends, but there is so much more that could be explored with the world. I can’t say what without giving anything away but things ended too abruptly with the characters for my liking. I hoped there would have been more to that part of the story. -
I'm not even sure I can even pinpoint what went wrong with this book, but I just felt so detached from it. We had all the makings for a great book: an absolutely intriguing concept of a magical creepy wood that is a portal between time and space; a super creepy atmosphere; and what could be a cool romance. However, what I was given? Instalove; a super cartoon villain; a super obvious plot twist; characters that I couldn't really connect with including a main character whose only character seemed to be really protective of the wood and her dad; a super cliche best friend with no depth other than boy lover; and a world that got confusing at times.
The writing was good, though, and the atmosphere was really good. I felt the winter cold even when I was sweating from the heat. It just brought me no connection with it, and I just felt super meh with it. 2 crowns and a Cinderella rating! -
Dnf at 60%
2.5*
Its just overly cliché and too damn predictable. I can't. Why should I waste my time when there are millions of other books waiting to be read? No..
-
“There's a quiet strength in a person who can go on and do what needs to be done even when all hope seems lost."
The Wood by Chelsea Bobulski was an absolute surprise. I went into this book with little to no idea what it was about. This book was given to me by a friend who had also given me "Remember Me," which is also by Bobulski. I am glad she did! Both of these books were stand-alone's and written really well!
The writing style in The Wood was captivating right from the start. Our main Character Winter is a Guardian of the wood behind her house. It's been in her family for generations and has been passed down to her shortly after her father disappeared. Winter's sole purpose is to find the Travelers that are lost in her woods. These particular travelers come through different portals that are set in different eras. She must get them back safely before sundown, for at sundown the woods change. On one such occasion Winter comes upon a traveler named Henry who is rather dashing and just might change her life for good.
“There's something he wants desperately, and desperate people do crazy things."I read this book in about two days as I really could not put it down. It had so many chapters that left you on a cliffhanger that you had to just say....maybe one more chapter. The thing I love about Bobulski is the fact that she is really good with stories about time traveling. She mixes the right amount of romance in and you really just can't help but swoon over Henry. (Someone make a candle pleaseeeee) Henry reminds me of Ichabod from the tv show Sleepy Hollow and that's pretty much how I imagined him in this story with his cute British accent and adorably charming 18th century ways.
I really do recommend this one!Especially in the winter or fall months.
-
Darn. I thought this book would be all creepy things moving about in the woods, magic and fairy tale kind of style. Instead I was disappointed by almost everything (except the cover, that is beautiful!) For me things started to unravel the moment Winter meets Henry. This will probably veer into SPOILER territory for a while, but seriously? Here are all the rules to the service of the wood, never break these rules, blah blah blah...oh, sexy!Teenage!Boy! I must immediately break all the rules because sexiness is trustworthy. At one point Winter starts listing off all of Henry's good qualities. Um. No. You have known him for a few days, this is not a Disney movie. I just....urgh. Bad romance.
There was such potential with the wood and the time travel but nothing really gets fully explained and the bad guy I saw coming a million miles away. Why are all the pretty books such a disappointment?
So yeah, not the book for me ;_; I'm going to go cry in a corner in frustration and then probably read something else! -
V pohodě průměr, asi takhle bych tuto knihu shrnula. Čekala jsem něco víc, ale zas takové zklamání to nebylo. Nápad s magickým lesem je dobrý, akorát to mohlo být více propracované, spíš také více popsané a rozvedené.
Pár postav mě občas štvalo, ale bylo to jen chvilkové. Celkově jsem si některé oblíbila, ale zároveň byly takové meh. :( Asi by také zasloužily více popisu. Henryho hlášky byly vtipné. A možná by bylo lepší, kdybychom jeho jméno z anotace hned nevěděli, protože v knize se ho dozvíme až po chvíli.
Jedna věc mě ale pěkně vytočila, protože to bylo sakra tak moc okatý! 🙄 Autorka už asi nevěděla jak tam jednu věc nastrčit tak se to snažila zakrýt tou obrovskou náhodou. No a konec, ten... Byl sice reálnější, ale čekala jsem, že se tam nakonec ještě něco stane. Přece jen to je ya. 😄
Les se mi líbil, děj byl i napínavý. Nejspíš ale patří k těm knihám, na které časem zapomenu. -
If this darkly gorgeous book isn't yet on your radar, IT SHOULD BE.
It's rare that an author can turn a phrase as masterfully as Chelsea Bobulski does in her debut contemporary fantasy. I can only imagine how long it took her to write a novel where every sentence is a carefully crafted thing of beauty.
If you dig:
Time Travel
Mysterious woods
A snarky, independent protagonist
Romance (Oh, the romance!)
Beautiful, dreamlike prose
...then this is the book for you!
Don't miss it! -
THE WOOD is a unique and alluring and beautifully written tale that grabs hold from its very first page and won’t let go until its last. It invites readers into a world that is enchanting and magical, yet hints of darkness and danger. It is thrilling. It is haunting. It is completely captivating. It is an extraordinary read that promises to leave readers clamoring for a sequel.
When Winter Parish finally learned the secret of the wood and her responsibility for it and for the people who would sometimes find their way in and get lost, she was ecstatic. She’d always been curious about the wood behind her home and she was fascinated by these accidental travelers who needed protection. She felt a connection to the wood and she loved its beauty and its magic and was happy to serve as its guardian someday.
But when her father supposedly strayed from the path - breaking one of the wood’s most important rules - and vanished from her life, she wasn’t sure how she felt about having to step into his shoes. Not that she had any choice, but she hadn’t yet learned all she needed to, she didn’t have any answers about her father’s disappearance, and she didn’t feel quite as safe as in the wood as she once did.
Desperate for answers, she might have to break one of the rules herself and allow a traveler into her world. A decision that could put not only herself, her mother and the wood in danger, but the past, the present, the future, the world as she knows it. Especially if it turns out that this traveler can’t be trusted.
Chelsea Bobulski delivers a refreshingly different and incredibly suspenseful read. From the mysterious disappearance of Jack Parish, to the darkness that is infecting the wood, to the strange traveler from Brightonshire that knows more than he should, the author spins a stunning tale that is absolutely riveting.
And with a quick pace, a touch of romance, an immensely likable heroine, a sinister foe, and an ending that leaves open the possibility for more, THE WOOD is a must, must, must read that is guaranteed to be unputdownable. -
3.5 stars
Uggggghhhh.... that ending......
Not exactly what I wanted, but I suppose I did expect it.
First, let me say that this cover is absolutely gorgeous. Second, that was one heck of a ride, especially for a standalone. While it was based on something - time travel - which I've read in too many book, I quite liked this book. Albeit, much of what happened didn't happen unexpectedly, I had my suspicious and they were *sometimes unfortunately* correct.
But, I will definitely be looking out for any more books written by Bobulski. -
This was a fairly quick YA read. I don't think it was anything super amazing or unique, but it was entertaining.
