Rated of 5
by Erica Paulson A Wonderful Read
The White Forest is a wonderful fantasy about a young woman who lives in the nineteenth century and has a secret power which she has lived in fear of sharing with anyone. I was moved my Jane Silverlake and her plight. I also thought the language of the book was beautiful. The story was a page-turner for me.
Rated of 5
by Judy (Marysville, OH) Not the book for me
I read all of The White Forest, hoping that it would redeem itself, because it is well written. It did not. The characters, the plot, the premise did not inspire a "willing suspension of disbelief," without which a story simply remains implausible. For example, I did not believe in the characters or care about them: The narrator, Jane, has a mean streak. She is set up in the book as a saint or saviour figure. Gradually, she discovers her identity and fulfills her destiny as a powerful goddess. Her "friends" Maddy and Nathan are untrustworthy and the three use each other for their own means. The villain, Ariston Day, wants to free London from corruption by breaking down the boundaries between human-constructed reality and an Empyrean level of nothingness (the white forest of the title), from which life originated. But instead, in the effort, he corrupts and destroys London's finest young men. Jane, aka the Red Goddess, prevails against Day in preserving the essential boundaries that protect human life. None of this was compelling. The story remained implausible and the characters indifferent. This book is just not my cup of tea.
Rated of 5
by Glenn H. (Las Vegas, NV) Feeling let down
After reading the first couple pages of this book I felt a strong connection to the story setting, the characters and the writer's style but mid way through I lost that link and just felt that I was headed toward disappointment - mainly because the story line seemed to explode into a complex and abstract realm which made me feel that there was no way that this size book and style of writing could contain it, fully explore it and lead to a reasonable and satisfying end. Sadly my 'mid way' feelings turned out to be true.
Rated of 5
by Christine B. (St. Paul, MN) The White Forest
I found this book to be almost ridiculous. The protagonist has the unusual ability to see "souls" in inanimate objects and transfer this ability to others with her touch. She was born inside a tree if this sort of clarifies how silly the book is. There is a godlessness to this story that is quite upsetting. I would not recommend this book.
Rated of 5
by Anna R. (Oak Ridge, TN) Disappointing
The White Forest was very disappointing. The characters were people who had too much time on their hands. The plot was so unbelievable that I had trouble finishing it. I loaned the book to my daughter who is also an avid reader. She disliked it so much that she didn't finish it. There are so many wonderful books out there so don't waste your time on this one.
Rated of 5
by Sharon P. (Jacksonville, FL) The White Forest
What a good beginning: Victorian London, dank and foggy ;a young woman slowly recognizing her possession of mysterious powers ; the sudden disappearance of a handsome young man after a seance ; an unseen parallel world. These add up to a fascinating, if creepy , story with a surprise ending. Settle into an old easy chair in front of the fire, with a candle of course, and enjoy.
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of 5
by Erica Paulson 
of 5
by Judy (Marysville, OH) 
of 5
by Glenn H. (Las Vegas, NV) 
of 5
by Anna R. (Oak Ridge, TN) 
of 5
by Sharon P. (Jacksonville, FL) 
