A fearless woman, raised in the forest, fights against a group of powerful men in this gripping novel about good versus evil, the enduring nature of myth, and the power of love by #1 New York Times bestselling author Dean Koontz.
Raised in the wilderness by her late great-uncle, Vida is a young woman with an almost preternatural affinity for nature, especially for the wolves that also call the forested mountains home. Formed by hard experience, by love and loss, and by the prophecies of a fortune teller, Vida just wants peace. If only nearby Kettleton County didn’t cast such a dark shadow.
It’s where Jose Nochelobo, the love of Vida’s life and a cherished local hero, died in a tragic accident. That’s the official story, but Vida has reasons to doubt it. The truth can’t be contained for long. Nor can the hungry men of power in Kettleton who want something too: that Vida, like Jose, disappear forever. One by one they come for her, prepared to do anything to see their plans through to their evil end.
Vida is no less prepared for them.
Vida, the forest, and its formidable wonders are waiting. She will not rest until goodness and order have been restored.
It's my pleasure to be hosting the blog tour for The Forest of Lost Souls by Dean Koontz today. Many thanks to Thomas & Mercer and Antara Patel from FMcM Associates for inviting me and for my advance digital copy of the novel.
Dean Koontz's new standalone novel, The Forest of Lost Souls is likely to be one of the more unusual books I read this year. I'm not quite sure how to categorise it – maybe as a magical realism thriller? It's perhaps not for those who prefer their fiction firmly grounded in reality but thankfully I enjoy books which explore imaginative, unusual concepts.
The main character, Vida lives a near solitary existence in the wilderness. Most of the narrative follows her perspective, although there are occasional chapters told from the point-of-view of other characters. This is a slow burning novel and it takes a little while for the early story building to ignite the thriller part of the book. However, Vida is a fascinating character from the start; orphaned at a young age, she was raised by her kind, perceptive great-uncle Ogden. It is he who taught her how to live and work in the forest that surrounds their remote home. Since he passed away ten years ago, she has continued placer-mining for the gemstones she will later cut and polish to perfection. Her affinity for nature and calm, methodical way of life would suggest she leads a near-idyllic existence but her fiancé, José died almost a year ago and she learns that what looked like a tragic accident was actually murder. Quite how Vida becomes embroiled in a deadly game of wits against a succession of brutal men, who intend to violate and then kill her, is told partly through flashbacks. It's obvious that she isn't a violent, vengeful person herself but she does believe in justice and feels no remorse for what she is forced to do through the actions of others. The dark conceits of these ruthless, powerful men are terrifying but there are moments of black humour too.
The words of a mysterious fortune teller who Vida visited as a young girl seem to hold the key to almost everything that unfolds here. Vida learns that she will be a champion of the natural world but while her skill at finding the most beautiful gemstones or her friendship with Lupo the half-wolf and the pack of full wolves he leads is evidence of this prophecy, she also has a more critical role to play as a protector of nature.
As she allows herself to be inexorably drawn into a tense cat-and-mouse hunt, it becomes clear that for all their apparent advantages, the men who pursue her might have more to fear than she does. Nevertheless, there is a rising sense of tension and the outcome is never certain, particularly as the appearance of an albino mountain lion may be a portent of death. The curious forecasts of the seer and the mythical elements of the storyline means The Forest of Lost Souls is an intriguingly fantastical read, however, Dean Koontz also explores more contemporary topics. The juxtaposition between the mysteries of the natural world and the dangers posed by our increasing reliance on technology, especially artificial intelligence, is stark – what will happen to humanity if humans continue to let the machines run our lives? This isn't a pessimistic read though and while a cautionary tale, there is hope, redemption and love to be found here too.
With its evocative descriptions and thought-provoking observations, The Forest of Lost Souls is a beautifully written, suspenseful book which deserves to be slowly appreciated rather than raced through. It's one that will stay with me and I highly recommend it.
The Forest of Lost Souls will be published by Thomas & Mercer on 24th September and can be purchased from Amazon UK or Amazon US.
Follow the blog tour, details are below.
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