Once I got past the 30% mark I really enjoyed this. Douglas was a great MC putting his life on the line for his mother, friends and people he didn't even know. The forest was described really well and this had some good folk horror.

Firstly the cover of this is insain! I really enjoyed the beginning of the book, the characters and setting were really good, there where some good twists, turns and horror elements. The ending was really quick paced and I sometimes felt very confused and some elements of the plot hard to follow.

The Forest Demands Its Due has a wonderful plot and is extremely well written. The only issue is the main character Douglas is not easy to connect with or care about which can hinder the enjoyment of the book, but if you can push past that it's a good read.

I loved this book! So much I went out to buy myself a hardback for my shelf! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book.

I did like The Forest Demands its Due but it wasn't as good as I hoped it would be.
The best thing about the book is definitely that amazing cover!

I did get through the story quickly as it was an easy read and quite enjoyable.
My main problem was that I wasn't a big fan of the main character and that definitely tainted my experience with the book.

I still would recommend it as I definitely think others will enjoy it more then I did.
Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a review.

A compelling gripping YA horror/thriller that was a good read. I loved the representation in this novel too so look forward to recommending it to my students.

This was a really compelling YA horror with good character development and some creepy imagery throughout. Although the idea of a sinister private academy doing nefarious things is not a new concept, I really liked the direction that Kosoko Jackson took the trope in and thought that there were a lot of interesting aspects to the lore of the forest, which I appreciated. I liked Douglas as a protagonist and thought that his arc was very well done. Overall, I enjoyed this one a lot and would definitely recommend it.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

DNF at 45%

I absolutely love the cover for this book and was hoping for the inside to be just as creepy but unfortunately it was a rather bland read.

I struggled to want to read this book hence only getting to 45%, I didn't really like the main character Douglas and found him a bit irritating at times.

This is marketed as a Dark Academia but I didn't really get those vibes from it either.

First off...DISCLAIMER: I requested this title on NetGalley. Thanks to Harper Collins for providing a temporary ecopy. This didn't influence my review in any way.

After loving The Honeys by Ryan La Sala, I had great expectations for a book in the same vein...but I realised early on that TFDID wasn't going to recreate that kind of magic only on the basis of a shared premise. First off, I'm not a big fan of short sentences, so the writing style set a certain mood for me from the start. Secondly, the main character sounded younger than his age. Finally - and more importantly - there wasn't any suspense build-up...in the opening chapters, we're literally smacked on the head first with the protagonist's dark secret, then with the very creatures that haunt/hunt in the forest next to the school (and with the curse that allows them to exist in that space) - and bam! our Douglas is revealed to be the Chosen One who's supposed to end such curse. I wouldn't discourage potential lower-to-middle YA readers from picking this one up* (especially gay Black teens and fans of reject-to-chosen-one narratives), but for me, the book lost steam early on, and I painfully decided a DNF was in order.

*Mind you: since I DNF this one, I can't really speak for the level of horror and/or gore it contains - maybe see other reviews or look for a trigger warning list elsewhere.

I wanted to give this a better rating. It started so strong. It devolved into melodrama, instalove and Mary Sue, though, and there were a number of silly errors. Overall disappointing. It was almost like the author ran out of steam.after the first half

This was a really enjoyable read, I honestly didn't want it to end. I loved the characters and the message the story carried about love, pain, and second chances. I thought Douglas was a really good solid character, he doubted himself when he should have trusted his instincts, and his past really helped to get him through what he needed to do to help everyone. I also liked that he found Everett and had him by his side. I didn't see what the headmaster did at the end coming either, which was really good suprise. I only gave this 4.5 stars as I wished it was a bit more creepier, but that's my opinion. Overall, it's a really good YA thriller, which I highly recommend.

Hello everyone, I'm Mr. C Reviewer, and tonight we're discussing (He/Him) Kosoko Jackson's book, The Forest Demands Its Due. Being my first experience with Kosoko's work, and after reading this story, I'm eager to explore more of his books in the future.

I'd like to extend a huge thank you to NetGalley for providing a copy of 'The Forest Demands Its Due' as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I had the pleasure of reading this book in October in 2023, spending an entire day engrossed in its pages. 'The Forest Demands Its Due' was first published October 3rd, 2023. The narrative, told using first person perspective following Douglas, it has 4 parts which spans 38 chapters and 432 pages.



Summary: Seventeen-year-old Douglas Jones finds himself entangled in a dangerous web of power struggles within the Regent's kingdom. All he wants is to survive, but when a fellow student is mysteriously murdered, Douglas becomes one of the few who remembers the victim's existence. Alongside Everett Everley, the groundskeeper's son, they embark on a journey to uncover the truth behind the forgotten murder and confront the sinister forces at play.

In the heart of Winslow, a sleepy town nestled in the shadows of a mystical forest, Douglas sets out to uncover the truth behind a centuries-old debt. His determination awakens a horror long buried within the forest, unleashing a vengeful creature that demands blood as payment for the debt. As the creature's wrath threatens to consume the town, Douglas must confront the darkness within the forest and the secrets it holds.

Finding himself at a pivotal moment in his life where he is presented with an unprecedented opportunity to attain what he has always perceived as power. However, he soon discovers that power possesses an innate ability to corrupt and taint everything it touches. As Douglas navigates this treacherous path, he must tread carefully, for the consequences of succumbing to the allure of power could be dire.



Review:
-This book was my first read into the realm of dark academia, and it did not disappoint. The book turned out to be a delightful blend of fantasy and horror, surpassing my initial expectations of a pure horror story. While it did lean more towards the fantasy genre, I would have preferred a slightly higher dosage of spine-chilling elements to truly immerse myself in the eerie atmosphere. Ideally, I would have chosen to read this book sometime in September, leading up to the spooky month, as I feel that it would have enhanced my overall experience.

The author's skill in crafting the narrative is evident through their meticulous attention to detail, particularly when it comes to character and setting descriptions. This attention to detail allowed me to effortlessly immerse myself in the story, vividly imagining each scene as it unfolds. The descriptions of the creatures lurking in the trees were absolutely captivating, and the forest itself was written in a way that was both eerie and enthralling.

We was introduced to Douglas and his extraordinary experience of hearing voices. The author skilfully reveals that this phenomenon began eight months prior, which personally, I believe would have made for a more engaging narrative if the story had commenced at that point. An ideal approach to achieve this would have been to incorporate a prologue, setting the stage for the events to come, and then transitioning into the main storyline eight months later. This structural adjustment would have enhanced the overall reading experience, allowing for a more seamless immersion into Douglas's world.

Personally, I think that if the book had injected a touch more mystery into the story I would have liked it even more.

The allure of a library basement portrayed in the book left an indelible impression on me. The author's vivid depiction of this unique setting ignited a desire within me to experience such a place first-hand. As I reminisce about my school and college days, I can't help but imagine how incredible it would have been to have access to a library basement like the one described in the book. The idea of immersing myself in its cosy atmosphere, surrounded by shelves upon shelves of books, fills me with an overwhelming sense of joy and contentment.

In my opinion, the book would have been more enjoyable if the pacing had been adjusted. The initial chapters captivated me with their strong impact, while the concluding sections provided a satisfying resolution. However, I found that the middle portion of the book suffered from a slight pacing issue. It began to feel repetitive, leaving me yearning solely for the resolution at the end.

-I think Douglas's character was beautifully written, evoking empathy and admiration. His relatability stems from his acknowledgment of personal flaws and his capacity for growth. The challenges he faces only serve to strengthen his resolve and reinforce his commitment to protecting those he cares about.

While reading I found myself drawn to the captivating personalities of both Douglas and Everett. Their unique traits and engaging conversations made for an enjoyable reading experience. The witty exchanges between these two characters provided some moments of comedy and added depth to their portrayal. I think that they truly complemented each other, making them standout individuals in the story. However, I would have loved to see their relationship further developed.

The portrayal of the relationship between Douglas and his mother was another highlight of the book for me. I think that the author skilfully depicted their connection, evoking emotions and creating a sense of authenticity. The introduction of new characters injected vitality into the narrative, keeping me engaged and intrigued. While I yearned for more context surrounding Etalein's past, it did not detract significantly from my overall enjoyment of the book.

-While there were some parts towards the end of the book that I found to be predictable, this also did not significantly impact my appreciation for the work as a whole. In my opinion, the narrative of this story seemed somewhat tedious and excessively lengthy. However, I firmly believe that the strength of the plot could have been maintained even with a reduction of around 60-70 pages.

I feel that this narrative possesses all the elements necessary to be transformed into a mesmerizing cinematic experience. Should it ever grace the big screen, I would undoubtedly be in line to witness the magic unfold.


For each story that I read, I rate it out of 10 so for this am going to give it a 7.5. Remember this was what I thought about the book personally and I suggest that you give it a go for yourself.

I fell in love with this book from the start. It hit all of my niche interests and there were so many places where I had to stop reading and audibly gasp because there were lines that were so Me that it genuinely felt like I wrote them. I am obsessed with sentient forests that may or may not want you dead. I adored the descriptions of the creatures in the trees. And there were so many little lines that were so beautifully written that my eARC is now full of highlights. The initial concept of this book was perfect for me and I fell in love with the writing (and I am down to read anything else in the horror-adjacent genre that this author writes in the future).

Where this book started to lose me was in the second half. Here, it started to feel repetitive and I felt as if there was little else to the plot other than the main storyline, and I just wanted More, even if it was additional interactions between the main character and love interest so their relationship felt fleshed out, or more time spent in the town with secondary characters so I could understand why it was important for a curse that seemed so contained to a few people to be broken. It felt like a loop of the MC saying "I have to break the curse" while fight scenes played out, and the climax was underwhelming for me in comparison to the stakes.

Also, I personally wouldn't describe it as dark academia - it has dark themes and is set in a boarding school, but there is very limited academia and a brief encounter in a library. It's more of a dark urban fantasy with horror influences in my opinion, so I hope people don't go into this expecting true dark academia themes and storylines.