“But all Andrew could think was if he could crack open Thomas’s ribs right then and fit his whole self inside him, he would.”
― C.G. Drews, Don’t Let the Forest In
“Don’t Let the Forest In” by C.G. Drews is a stunning and haunting monster horror. It dives deep into issues of mental health, family trauma, and inner strength, following the story of Andrew battling inner and outer darkness. The writing is so immersive, you feel as if you’re standing in the otherworldly forest with the characters.
Drews vividly brings the characters to life. Andrew is complex and tragic, making you feel every struggle and every moment of doubt during his struggles. The relationships between Andrew and Thomas, and Andrew and his sister are raw and genuine, making you fully invested.
The writing style is beautiful and poetic. Each chapter pulls you deeper, blending reality with unreal elements in a way that feels both magical and terrifying. The story has a powerful message, reminding us the strength needed to conquer our fears, and how love and imagination can lead to healing. I highly recommend Don’t Let the Forest In for anyone who enjoys an deeply emotional, dark, and gripping story.
From Goodreads:
Once upon a time, Andrew had cut out his heart and given it to this boy, and he was very sure Thomas had no idea that Andrew would do anything for him.
Protect him. Lie for him. Kill for him.
High school senior Andrew Perrault finds refuge in the twisted fairytales 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…
