Now that the disclaimers are out of the way, we can move on? Cool. Lee did nothing to deserve the salt treatment. Third: This review of Forest of Souls, is in no way, shape, or form, going the direction of the Great Salt Lakes. It was sitting in between two of the most unique books ( Declaration of the Rights of Magicians and Angel of the Crows) I’ve read in a very long time, and right after a book that gave me an out of body experience ( Year of the Witching). Second: Forest of Souls was in a very unenviable position. So, no, that does not hold any weight over this review. Lee built it into the world well, I was fine. It was a challenge of my own beliefs, so to say. That is part of why I chose to read Forest of Souls. So none of my opinions are because of a conflict with my Dead is Dead rant. I chose to read Forest of Souls, knowing what it’s the premise. Lee involved bringing people back to life. The Asian diaspora belongs in the fantasy genre as much as anything else.Disclaimers: First, I knew going in that Forest of Souls by Lori M. It became a mashup in some ways of Hmong culture and traditional fantasy. What do you want readers to take away from Forest of Souls?įorest of Souls sort of unintentionally became the book that I would have wanted to read as a kid. It was difficult being an Asian American, feeling like I didn’t belong because of the way I looked. I grew up thinking that if I wanted to write fantasy I had to write about white, straight protagonists, because that’s what I read. It wasn’t so long ago that a lot of people lost their minds because Peter Jackson dared include an Asian extra in the last Hobbit film.īut I think we’re seeing greater representation in YA books, which is a definite step forward. I think it’s not as terrible as it used to be, but there’s a lot of room for improvement.

I didn’t want people to go into it looking for a lesson on Hmong culture.ĭo you think that the fantasy genre currently lacks diversity? Either in terms of the genre’s authors or protagonists?

That idea became the base of the magical system in the book.Ī lot of it is pure fantasy, though. In Hmong mythology, the natural world is full of spirits, and those spirits maintain a sense of balance. Tell us about the aspects of Hmong mythology that you incorporated into the book. I knew from a very early age that this is what I wanted to do. Ultimately, though, I think it just came down to desire and passion. There were times when I questioned whether writing was something I should be doing. How did you push past that sense of frustration? You weren’t able to sell the first novel you wrote as an adult.

Forest of Souls by Lori M. Lee