Title: The West Woods
Author: Suzy Vadori
Rating: 4/5 stars
Release Date: Today!!! September 22, 2017
I was sent a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
This is a spoiler free review!
Summary
As the prequel to The Fountain, this novel follows Courtney Wallis, a reluctant attendee of the St. Augustus school. When her father hints that their may be more to the school than it seems, Courtney sets out on a quest to discover the mystery and complete a list of goals she set for herself. When she discovers a wishing fountain and makes a wish, Courtney, with the help of her friends, must remain true to who she is while dealing with the influence of magical forces outside of her understanding and control.
Review
I absolutely loved this prequel to The Fountain! I was so glad that I got a chance to understand the back-story of Courtney Wallis, because I definitely did not like her in the first book. This story definitely built sympathy for Courtney. I ended up feeling sorry for Courtney because of how many relationships were being impacted by the fountain (most importantly, Cole… cries). This story actually made me sad at some points because I wanted things to work out for Courtney so bad. I feel like I could connect with Courtney because of how passionate she was about her running and how determined she was to follow her love of the sport. I think most people can find this relatable to that one thing in their life that is so important.
At the beginning of the novel, Courtney is such a mild-mannered character, which was so different from what she was like in The Fountain. This created amazing characterization for her and I learned so much about Courtney. As the story progresses, it was so clearly written how Courtney was being effected by the fountain and how it was impacting her personality. It is also interesting how she begins noticing the changes in herself but she can’t do anything to change them because the forces of the fountain.
The character I loved the most was Margret, Courtney’s roommate. She was so logical about things and helped Courtney so much. I loved the emphasis on friendship that this book had. Courtney’s friends were so ready to help her. It made me so upset when Courtney pushed her friends away because of the influence of the fountain. I found myself rooting for their relationship to continue to stay strong.
Another “character” that we learn so much about in this prequel is the fountain. We learn so much about the history behind why it was built. We also learn about the school and the person that built the school. I call the fountain a “character” because of how integral it was to the story and how it changed so many lives.
This novel was a fast-paced read that pulled me in and took me on a ride through magic, the supernatural, and elite boarding school kids. I would highly recommend reading The Fountain first, even though The West Woods is technically a prequel, because I feel this would help readers appreciate and understand something about these characters that you would not get if you read the prequel first. I think it would be fun to read The Fountain in the perspective of Courtney now that I have learned so much about her. I need to read more from this world!!
If you are looking for a fun and catchy fantasy, this is definitely the book for you!
Disclaimer: Clicking the cover of the book will take you to book depository, where you can purchase the book. This is an affiliate link, meaning that I will make a small commission from every purchase made, with no impact on you.