The Forest of Lost Souls: A Novel

4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars | 11,331 ratings

Price: 26.33

Last update: 12-22-2024


About this item

A fearless woman, raised in the forest, fights against a group of powerful men in a 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 fortuneteller, Vida just wants peace. If only nearby Kettleton County didn’t cast such a dark shadow.

It’s where José 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 José, 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.


Top reviews from the United States

  • Dlc73
    5.0 out of 5 stars Speaks to Our Time with Beautiful Characters and Wisdom
    Reviewed in the United States on November 18, 2024
    The prose of Dean Koontz is lyrical, insightful, with page turning deliciousness. I relished this story, and forced myself not to consume it too quickly, because the story needed to be savored. It was more than a thriller, it was enchanting and multi layered. I love the good vs evil and the oh, so clever ways Mr. Koontz arranges plot twists that highlight the intelligence of his characters, but good and evil. The debate presented regarding greed and corruption was fresh, timely, and instructive. I will be thinking these characters and wise words for a along time to come.
  • Joann R. Moran
    5.0 out of 5 stars Deep Truth and Magic Combine
    Reviewed in the United States on November 26, 2024
    Another gem by one of my favorite authors who sees the world as it is, but also finds truth and beauty in the darkest of situations and crafts characters that stay with you long after the last page. Loved the story and the setting and the magical realism which he might tell you is actually just the way things are.
  • Avonna
    4.0 out of 5 stars Memorable Protagonist
    Reviewed in the United States on October 23, 2024
    THE FOREST OF LOST SOULS by Dean Koontz is a slow burn suspense/thriller featuring a battle between a female champion of the natural world, an oligarch who only loves money, and a cast of characters and animals both spiritual, paranormal, and very human.

    Vida has always had an otherworldly connection to the natural world. When a fortune teller comes to Kettleton County, Vida is drawn to her. The prophecies she receives impact and prepare her for a future full of danger and loss, but also love and peace if she survives.

    This story has many of Mr. Koontz’s recurring tropes and yet he always finds a new way to pull me in and emotionally connect me to the main protagonist. Vida is a strong young the woman connected her entire life to the natural world, both spiritually and with a shade of the paranormal. Her special gifts are recognized by the fortune teller and are used to protect the world she loves. There are mysterious wolves, an albino mountain lion, a war veteran with search and rescue dogs, and a Native American couple who all help Vida against the invasion of an oligarch and his minions who plan to destroy her beloved mountains.

    The writing is full of evocative language not usually found in genre style suspense/thriller novels which had me more involved with the story’s themes rather than just rushing to the crime plot climax, but I was disappointed that after so much imagery and intrigue, the climax seemed a bit rushed.

    Overall, Vida is a memorable protagonist, and this story is worth the read.
  • Laurie Ehle
    5.0 out of 5 stars Another great story
    Reviewed in the United States on October 26, 2024
    Combining good verses evil, technologically verses nature, loss and love, and of course, mans best friend, Dean once again transports us on a journey. Like all adventures, there is a good dose of the mundane that Dean continually makes interesting, warm and charming. Then the descriptions of the forests, I think I hear leaves crunching under my feet, so powerful. His detailing is like a master painter, its like you are there.
    Over the last 3 decades, Deans books have accompanied me on vacations, bedtime reading, and of course, plane rides. I picked up Sole Survivor at the airport one year and as my " petrified of flying" husband was squeezing my hand white, I
    laughed out loud, really. Timing is everything (it starts,with a plane crash).
    Another great read Dean! Thanks!
    Forever fan, Laurie Ehle, pronounced like the hair color, but hey, we are all worth it ????
  • Marie Blu
    5.0 out of 5 stars Loved this Story!
    Reviewed in the United States on November 17, 2024
    Beautifully told story of love, courage and strength overcoming true evil.

    Vida, a brave, kind-hearted woman, takes center stage in this well written tale. Together, with other notable characters (including a variety of delightful animals), Vida is instrumental in saving an ancient Native American burial ground from destruction by greedy, evil human monsters.

    Dean Koontz has long been one of my favorite authors. I highly recommend this excellent book.
  • Gut Reaction Reviews
    5.0 out of 5 stars Another vocabulary lesson......
    Reviewed in the United States on October 15, 2024
    Having read all of Koontz's books, I still am amazed at his word usage. Each book, and this one in particular, is a vocabulary lesson. He even uses one of the characters in the book to voice his opinion of the general lack of a good vocabulary.

    "Wendy has thought a great deal about what is happening in the world. She believes the evolution of minions-- and the degradation of language in general-- is less....."

    For me. that is what makes Koontz's books fun to read. The plots are always simple, but it is the prose around them that makes each book an exciting read. This one does not disappoint.

    His villain, who is a billionaire, allows him to voice his opinion on some of the current issues without directing them overtly, as Stephen King is prone to do.

    This is a reminder of just how good Koontz is and I highly recommend it.
  • ckroether
    4.0 out of 5 stars Strange story
    Reviewed in the United States on November 6, 2024
    To me, this is a strange story; but in its way, it is interesting and thought-provoking. I would suggest readers have at least a high school education as many words are not in common usage and I needed to look them up. It is a story of love and respect for the land and like-minded people. There is no adult content.
  • SeekUp Grasshopper
    5.0 out of 5 stars Another excellent Dean Koontz read
    Reviewed in the United States on December 11, 2024
    I had started reading this book completely forgetting that it was a Koontz book (I had a few new ones downloaded via Kindle Unlimited) and by the 2nd or 3rd chapter I thought to myself "I am really loving how this author writes" so I checked who it was, and had a good laugh. I've read many of his books and am never disappointed. In The Forest of Lost Souls I especially liked the theme of the goddess Diana.
    It's a good story that holds your interest and reads as beautifully as any Dean Koontz creation.

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