Don't Let the Forest In

De: CG Drews

Narrado por: Michael Crouch

High school senior Andrew Perrault finds refuge in the twisted fairy tales 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.

©2024 CG Drews (P)2024 Recorded Books

My favorite read of 2024

I read (both audiobooks and physical books) a LOT, but this book topped it all for me. I only wish it were longer so I could be in that world for longer. It’s as if old school, dark Grimms’ Fairy Tales met a coming of age story. The reading is GORGEOUS. It’s lush, cozy, creepy, and gorgeous. Please read it.

Good ideas but mixed execution

I felt like this book had good ideas at its core, but I was mixed in how I enjoyed their presentation. I enjoyed the story overall in its often dark and harrowing way, but at times there was just so much teenage angst going on that I wanted to yell at the characters to go see a therapist or a doctor or something. Plus, at a certain point the story tries to go in a twisty direction that just feels way too scripted for me to believe was anything other than fiction even when I'm trying my best to play along.

So overall, I enjoyed it reasonably well, it just didn't live up to what I was hoping based on the core story ideas.

Haunting. Amazing.

It's so hard to put into words how I feel after reading this book. I want back into the twisted, tortured world, but their story needed to end! I'm gutted. I'm emotional. I cannot wait to read more from this author!

Words Escape Me

I am stunned by this exquisite production of this astonishing novel.

I’m old. I have listened to many hundreds of audio books over the years and read far, far more. This is a truly great meditation on loneliness, love and grief written by an enormously talented storyteller and wordsmith.

The reader and company behind this production clearly feel the same as I do about this novel or maybe (and this is the first time I have ever thought this), maybe this production treated the story with a love and respect that added to the experience. Maybe their thoughtful enthusiasm and wonder MADE me love it.

Don’t know, don’t care.
Getting a hard copy.

wow

I don't know where to begin. Well written. Atmospheric. Dark. Sensual but not sexual. Horrifying but also tender.
For me, there was a personal connection to the story. it may effect others differently.
I am so glad I found it, but following it up is going to be tough.

Plant body horror and coming of age

This book may not be for everyone, but it was definitely for me. Dark, twisted, and heartbreaking with enough hint to what is going on that you can feel the impending dread. The ending is left open to interpretation, which didn't bother me but might bother some people.

Absolutely fantastic

Horrifically beautiful story about grief, guilt, and love. You won't know what's real or a fairytale.

One of the best horrors I've listened to!!!

The ending was by far the best and all together an amazing book and narrator!

Please More!!!!

So first off Michael Crouch.....GOT DAMNN theres a reason i search for books with his narration, so full of emotion and the PERFECT voice for young men, i know its a niche thing but this is the EXACT kinda of story i love!!!! it was Epic and beautiful and i ached for the boys and Happily ever after while knowing soul deep it wasn't what the forest had in mind, the pain and longing depiceted in this story was just ugggh Beautiful!!! i wish SOOO much that i could find other storys like this, its SOOO hard to find anything even remotely like this, the horror i understand being rare but the hurt and emotions and longing, the slow burn with all the angst and want and pain THATS what i crave!! i wish i could find more storys like this=(

A brambles of teenage angst

Listener,
Michael Crouch narrates this lyrical story of so, so, so much teen angst. CG Drews has a gift for turning and churning prose that reads as poetry, so if a rhapsodic line is your jam, you will feast in this forest.

On the other hand, if pensive adolescence, a strung along 'will they or won't they', or running away from any meaningful conversation are plot lines that vex you, consider skipping this one.