Forest of Souls by. Lori M. Lee | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Forest of Souls (Shamanborn, #1)

Author: Lori M. Lee

Format: Hardcover (borrowed)

Pages: 400

Publication Date: 6/23/20

Publisher: Page Street Kids

Categories: Young Adult, Fantasy

Sirscha Ashwyn comes from nothing, but she’s intent on becoming something. After years of training to become the queen’s next royal spy, her plans are derailed when shamans attack and kill her best friend Saengo.

And then Sirscha, somehow, restores Saengo to life.

Unveiled as the first soulguide in living memory, Sirscha is summoned to the domain of the Spider King. For centuries, he has used his influence over the Dead Wood—an ancient forest possessed by souls—to enforce peace between the kingdoms. Now, with the trees growing wild and untamed, only a soulguide can restrain them. As war looms, Sirscha must master her newly awakened abilities before the trees shatter the brittle peace, or worse, claim Saengo, the friend she would die for.

I finally got my hands on this book and I’m so glad. There is so much I enjoyed about this book. Sirscha Ashwyn is a human orphan, or so she thinks and is trying to make something of herself. She becomes entwined in a web of kingdom politics between shamans and humans. But then she is revealed as a soulguide shaman as well, so who is she really? Ronin the Spider King is keeping the fragile peace right now between the kingdoms and keeping the Dead Woods someone sated, but is he losing his power? A soulguide would be able to help control the Dead Woods but Sirscha doesn’t know much about her powers yet and suspects Ronin of something shady. Who’s side is Sirscha on?

First off I love the world building – it is very detailed. We learn about different the three dominant races in Thiy – there are humans, shadowblessed and shamans. I love the magic system and the darkness of this story. It has the scary Dead Woods that are creepy as hell and basically you have to run like crazy through it to survive. There are spiders…yuck, but pretty cool. And the fight scenes are so good, I loved it, that was maybe my most favorite part of this story.

Speaking of fight scenes, Sirscha Ashwyn is a deadly fighter and also a soulguide. She is an orphan who is trying to make a name for herself. I understood her need to be enough for someone, not knowing who she is because she never had anyone in her life except for her best friend Saengo by her side. Sirscha is always trying to prove herself but she makes some mistakes, which is fine because I want to see her grow from them.

I loved the other characters like Saengo, Theyen (he’s pretty arrogant but such a great character), and the King of Spiders, Ronin is pretty villainous – or is he?

Triggers: physical abuse, violence, death

There is a lot of abuse in this one – physical abuse, because Sirscha is training to be a shadow, but she’s a wyvern first and training is tough. Do something wrong, you basically get tortured and beaten. Yikes and Sirscha takes it as someone who has been abused a lot – so that could be triggering.

I love romance in my fantasy stories and wish this had some but it was still fine as is.

For all the details presented to us in the book about this world…where is the map? I so wanted a map. This series needs a map.

Why you should read it:

• great world building
• awesome fight scenes
• strong main character who has room to grow

Why you might not want to read it:

• you hate spiders
• want romance because this has none

My Thoughts:

I found Forest of Souls entertaining especially because Sirscha is a fighter, a no one who is trying so hard to be somebody – the fight scenes are so good. I loved the creepy Dead Woods and Ronin the King of Spiders and his backstory. The ending makes me want to read the sequel to find out the consequences of Sirscha’s actions. Overall I enjoyed it a lot!

📚 ~ Yolanda