Wow! A new review after... at least a year? Heck yeah! The Forest of Lost Souls is a typical Koontz thriller filled with interesting twists and characters. Chilling yet slow at parts, his newest novel is enjoyable but more difficult to get into than others.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5.
To check content warnings for all of the books you read, go to the Trigger Warning Database.
Thank you to Dean Koontz, Thomas & Mercer, and Amazon Publishing for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
// Quick Statistics //
Overall: 3.5/5 Stars
Characters: 3/5 Stars
Writing: 5/5 Stars
Setting: 3/5 Stars
Plot: 3.5/5 Stars
Memorability: 3/5 Stars
// Quick Review //
The Forest of Lost Souls is a typical Koontz thriller filled with interesting twists and characters. Chilling yet slow at parts, his newest novel is enjoyable but more difficult to get into than others.
// Other Information //
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
Page Count: 396 pages
Release Date: September 24, 2024
Series: None
Tags: Fiction, Adult, Young Adult, Horror, Thriller
// Book Description (from Goodreads) //
A fearless woman, raised in the forest, fights against a group of powerful men in a novel about good versus evil, the enduring nature of myth, and the power of love by #1 New York Times bestselling author Dean Koontz.
Raised in the wilderness by her late great-uncle, Vida is a young woman with an almost preternatural affinity for nature, especially for the wolves that also call the forested mountains home. Formed by hard experience, by love and loss, and by the prophecies of a fortune teller, Vida just wants peace. If only nearby Kettleton County didn’t cast such a dark shadow.
It’s where Jose Nochelobo, the love of Vida’s life and a cherished local hero, died in a tragic accident. That’s the official story, but Vida has reasons to doubt it. The truth can’t be contained for long. Nor can the hungry men of power in Kettleton who want something too: that Vida, like Jose, disappear forever. One by one they come for her, prepared to do anything to see their plans through to their evil end. Vida is no less prepared for them.
Vida, the forest, and its formidable wonders are waiting. She will not rest until goodness and order have been restored.
// Review //
While it has been a while since I have been able to sit down with a book and escape into another world, I finally found the time to enjoy this newest Koontz thriller. As a fan of Koontz’s earlier novels, I am always glad to delve into another of his stories.
For the sake of not spoiling the novel, I will simply say that Koontz did not disappoint. A chilling ride, The Forest of Lost Souls takes the reader through a story filled with a tense atmosphere. Though I had difficulty connecting with the characters in this story, I did appreciate the complexity each character had, especially Vida.
The novel does boast a disturbing antagonist, however. Nash Deacon is frightening and, frankly, the nightmare of every woman. His character made me viscerally uncomfortable, which, of course, is the goal in a horror/thriller.
I neither hated nor loved the setting. The story takes place in Kettleton County, an isolated rural place which reminded me too much of home. The plot itself is exciting yet took me a while to get into. It is a bit slow in the beginning, but becomes well-paced later on.
Overall, while this is not my favorite novel of Koontz’s, it is a solid and chilling novel. I cannot wait to read more of his future works.
Pre-order The Forest of Lost Souls.
Add The Forest of Lost Souls to your Goodreads shelf.
