From the Bookshelf of Into the Forest…

Half World

Hiromi Goto

Start date: July 15, 2019

Finish date: September 14, 2019

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What Members Thought

Oct 22, 2014 Mir rated it really liked it

Shelves: parallel-dimensions, fantasy

I almost gave up on this during the very flat (despite hideous monsters and grossness) prologue which explains the three worlds: Life (our world), Spirit (a heaven-like realm where souls are healed before being reborn), and the Half World, which is supposed to be like Purgatory but isn't because by some mischance the three worlds were completely separated so now those in the Half World are trapped in an endless cycle of experiencing their trauma over and over, forever. We open with a pair of you ...more

24 likes · Like · see review

Sep 13, 2019 Jalilah rated it liked it

Shelves: asia-and-india, mythic-fiction, fantasy-and-science-fiction

4 stars for creativity, 2 stars for how much I actually enjoyed it. I didn't really. It was just too creepy for me! ...more

4 likes · Like · see review

Jul 22, 2012 Shannon Kitchens rated it it was amazing

Shelves: top-picks-of-2012, boy-books, ya-reads-for-non-ya-readers, fairy-tale-favorites, on-the-y-side-of-ya-ms, a-decade-of-books

I love this book. It's beautifully written; it's a powerful and unique story; and it reminds me strongly of Neil Gaiman]'s work.

It's a dark and grotesque children's fantasy, with a relatable hero, and a rat. (I love rats, and it's always exciting to see a rat hero.) There's a strong Asian influence in the story that is reflected in both the motifs and writing style.

Oh the style! The prose of this story is simply beautiful. Lyrical and percise, and easy to breeze through. The descriptions are so ...more

1 like · Like · see review

May 01, 2018 Leah rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: into-the-forest-2018

" Words are Spirit, also, and when they are written down there is a power. "

I almost gave this a full 5 stars, it was THAT good! I loved the Realms and Japanese mythology and the sidekicks, including Ms. Wei, an old woman who talks only in the third person. A Magic 8 Ball that answers only in questions, riddles really. There's humor and horror and heart - sometimes all at once.

Melanie Tamaki, a 14-year-old, chubby, female of color, sets off on a quest to rescue her mom from Mr. Glueskin, a mal ...more

1 like · Like · see review