The Forest of Lost Souls: A Novel

4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars | 13,027 ratings

Price: 26.33

Last update: 01-15-2025


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.
  • Wally Knight
    5.0 out of 5 stars Must read book
    Reviewed in the United States on December 25, 2024
    One of the best thrillers I have read, combining natural settings with great characters, damning facts about energy producing alternatives and mystical connections it hits on all cylinders!
  • 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 ????
  • drbhot
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wolves and Mountain lions and a Seer.
    Reviewed in the United States on January 8, 2025
    Dean’s Forest of lost souls, once again highlights the spiritual richness of the world. Good plot , scary characters ( enough to make one nervous when reading about them). Satisfying ending.
  • Carole T
    5.0 out of 5 stars Dean Koontz never disappoints!
    Reviewed in the United States on January 6, 2025
    Good and evil, generosity and greed, intelligence and ignorance - rivals in literature and real life.
    This is a story so well written with a fantastic vocabulary (I had to look up the meaning of quite a few words I haven’t encountered before) and many fairly obvious references to wealthy influential individuals and pliable politicians.
    I enjoyed this novel and read it slowly since it was written so thoughtfully.
  • Haley L
    4.0 out of 5 stars great plot hidden in a dictionary
    Reviewed in the United States on November 17, 2024
    The story is intriguing and hits close to home where in this day and age we see the rich prey on the minority and have no qualms about it. The small town political intrigue is eye opening and makes one wonder about their own city’s perhaps less than savory choices in upholding their own exploits; Murder or no murder, sweep under the table as you grab a wad of cash sort of thing. The only thing that I will admit here is that I had to look up quite a few terms that was used. And I thought my vocabulary was pretty good! I was humbled with this book in that regard. After reading, I find I am inclined to also look up indigenous history of my area and see if there is something needing to be known about and protected more so than it is. Would be 5 stars if not for the need of a dictionary and the run-on sentences/long explanations. Solid 4
  • Fred
    5.0 out of 5 stars A typical Koontz. Some mystery, some romance and some mystical. And dogs!
    Reviewed in the United States on December 31, 2024
    I couldn't put it down. A beautiful, talented women, almost a hermit defeats the system. And finds peace and love.

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