Feb 2025 BotM - Don't Let the Forest In

[Kaje]

This month's poll winner is Don't Let the Forest In Don't Let the Forest In by C.G. Drews
** note- classed as horror
Once upon a time, Andrew had cut out his heart and given it to this boy, and he was very sure Thomas had no idea that Andrew would do anything for him. Protect him. Lie for him.

Kill for him.

High school senior Andrew Perrault finds refuge in the twisted fairytales that he writes for the only person who can ground him to reality―Thomas Rye, the boy with perpetually ink-stained hands and hair like autumn leaves. And with his twin sister, Dove, inexplicably keeping him at a cold distance upon their return to Wickwood Academy, Andrew finds himself leaning on his friend even more.

But something strange is going on with Thomas. His abusive parents have mysteriously vanished, and he arrives at school with blood on his sleeve. Thomas won't say a word about it, and shuts down whenever Andrew tries to ask him questions. Stranger still, Thomas is haunted by something, and he seems to have lost interest in his artwork―whimsically macabre sketches of the monsters from Andrew's wicked stories.

Desperate to figure out what's wrong with his friend, Andrew follows Thomas into the off-limits forest one night and catches him fighting a nightmarish monster―Thomas's drawings have come to life and are killing anyone close to him. To make sure no one else dies, the boys battle the monsters every night. But as their obsession with each other grows stronger, so do the monsters, and Andrew begins to fear that the only way to stop the creatures might be to destroy their creator...

Asexuality rep.

Content warnings - (view spoiler)[described as gruesome at times (if you have details please post) (hide spoiler)]

I look forward to seeing what the group thinks of this one.

[Linda ~ they got the mustard out! ~]

I read this in December and really enjoyed it.

[Kaje]

Linda ~ they got the mustard out! ~ wrote: "I read this in December and really enjoyed it."

Yay, good to know.

[Linda ~ they got the mustard out! ~]

This month's read is today's Audible Daily Deal for $1.99. 😊

[Kaje]

Linda ~ they got the mustard out! ~ wrote: "This month's read is today's Audible Daily Deal for $1.99. 😊"

Thanks - just saw that too late, so I'm glad you had it up.

[Kai]

Currently reading and love it so much. I have a galley, but I ended up getting a paper copy to really enjoy it (and bc that cover art is stunning). There are sketches!

[Arimi]

This book is one of my all time favourites and I will never stop singing its praises. It sits on my shelf and I hope I can one day get a signed copy of it. I ate this book up from start to finish but I had to pace myself because the representation I had in this book; was unlike any I had recieved anywhere. Ace, gay, facing nightmares- but in the real world or rather the books world

The ending; unexpected.

If you get the chance to, pick it up.

[Kaje]

Arimi wrote: "This book is one of my all time favourites and I will never stop singing its praises. It sits on my shelf and I hope I can one day get a signed copy of it. I ate this book up from start to finish b..."

Thanks for stopping by to add your thoughts. I'm not fond of the horror end of spec fic but readers seem to really like this one.