Wow. I loved this - thank you to the author for seeking me out for an ARC.
I highly enjoyed this tale of a fae, ent-like treeboi and his boyfriend. It was filled with awesome tropes like Friends to Lovers, There Was Only One Tent, Let Me See Your True Form, and others, and managed to worldbuild quite a bit as well in its brief 24k length.
Firstly, despite the subtitle, this is not just a love story. In fact, I found the worldbuilding really drew fascinating parallels between its setting and our real world. The setting is ambiguously a nation in the post-Soviet bloc, an excellent idea for this story, as environmentalist and queer activist agendas are a fierce battle in such areas. Our tree character happens to be both.
The supernatural beings in the book are "out" in society, referred to as Beings of Preternatural Origin and coexisting alongside normal humans, although not without prejudice and fear. The BPOs within the story serve as a stand-in for a multitude of marginalized populations today, be they religious, ethnic, gender identities or sexual preferences, etc. I found it really interesting; I'm always one for social messaging through a good story. Early on the protagonist remarks upon how the prejudice against BPOs is a parallel to homophobia and other societal issues in the human world (there is mention of a sort of "conversion therapy" to suppress nonhuman natures that I found brilliant).
Right, as much as I could yell about the clever metaphors and social commentary herein...OMG the romance was adorable. The boys befriend each other on like, strawberry-picking and mushroom-foraging dates. It was cottagecore as heck, and so pure. As for the spicy stuff - eyebrow wiggle - the love scenes were so well-written. Proper lubrication! Treeboy transformed! No more misunderstandings!
Ahh, it all came together very well. I would 100 percent read more from K.C. / this universe.
"We need to think of the future, while at the same time learn to live in the moment."
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About the author
A Wonderfully Crafted Novella
Robert, a teen boy and tree-shifter, is a unique person in a world that is not fond of those who different. Tomek, an ordinary teen boy, is a sort who only wanted to be sure that his classmate was okay when he had not been to school for a couple of days. A chance encounter brings about a friendship neither expected, but each realizes they desperately needed. Soon their duo becomes a small ragtag group of friends coming of age and learning of life in general and of themselves, especially when the deep friendship of Tomek and Robert falls apart. Carmine builds a unique world where fae, selkies, and other beings and the ordinary regularly interact. Yet the characters are beautifully fleshed out and who remain above all believable and very 'human'. You will feel for the two leads in this beautifully crafted story. In a loving way that is never preachy, it is a tale of warm friendships, loving relationships and how acceptance versus intolerance affects the souls of people in a mirror easily reflective of our own society. "Whispers in the Woods" is a wonderful debut novella.
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on December 29, 2021
- Reviewed in the United States on January 23, 2022
- Reviewed in the United States on November 20, 2021
Robert, a teen boy and tree-shifter, is a unique person in a world that is not fond of those who different. Tomek, an ordinary teen boy, is a sort who only wanted to be sure that his classmate was okay when he had not been to school for a couple of days. A chance encounter brings about a friendship neither expected, but each realizes they desperately needed. Soon their duo becomes a small ragtag group of friends coming of age and learning of life in general and of themselves, especially when the deep friendship of Tomek and Robert falls apart.
Carmine builds a unique world where fae, selkies, and other beings and the ordinary regularly interact. Yet the characters are beautifully fleshed out and who remain above all believable and very 'human'. You will feel for the two leads in this beautifully crafted story.
In a loving way that is never preachy, it is a tale of warm friendships, loving relationships and how acceptance versus intolerance affects the souls of people in a mirror easily reflective of our own society. "Whispers in the Woods" is a wonderful debut novella.
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- Reviewed in the United States on January 13, 2022
- Reviewed in the United States on December 29, 2021
Top reviews from other countries
- RebekahReviewed in the United Kingdom on November 8, 2021
Brilliant Book!
I loved this novella!RebekahBrilliant Book!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 8, 2021
Robert’s story is one many queer people will relate to, yet Carmine has managed to make it wholly original, without falling into any overplayed tropes of queer storytelling. There’s just enough tension to keep you hooked, and the ending wraps everything up beautifully whilst leaving you wanting more.
Each character is so well developed; Carmine really delves into their every thought and makes you feel as if you’ve known Tomek and Robert for years. The authors love for these boys really bleeds through the prose — you can’t help rooting for them from the very first page.
As well as having a strong storyline and believable characters, Carmine has built such a new but familiar world — the backstory of supernatural beings is rich and complex, whilst still being rooted in modern society. Each plot point is compelling, and it’s so easy to empathise with the characters throughout their ups and downs.
I can’t wait to read more from this author!
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- HellaReviewed in Germany on March 31, 2022
Sweet Friends-To-Lovers story feat. serious themes
