Into The Forest takes place in near-future America, following lives of two young sisters Nell and Eva. The two sisters are living with their parents in Northern California. Their house is located in isolation near the woods with even the small town of Redwood miles away. Regardless of their isolation the girls live quite normal life. Nell is studying for Harvard and Eve dances in her studio. There are news about war abroad and civil unrest in USA with terrorist strikes but society still works. But all of this is to change, first with loss of their parents and then world ending around them, the girls have to grow up fast to survive in dying world. 

The end of society

The society does not end in one single, dramatic event. It ends with whimper, one thing failing at a time. The change happens gradually:  Little by little things fall apart. First there are short power outages. There are shortages of food in stores. Later situation escalates with no electricity at all, stores with bare empty shelves and no gasoline. People stop working and isolate in their homes with their families. There is famine and epidemics ravaging the country. 

But all this is vague in the book. The events in world are little explained and the grand reason for everything failing is never told. The only signs of failing society is seen in town of Redwood. But the real consequences is seen in Nell’s and Eva’s lifes in their home where they are forced to grow up quickly when their parents decease and they are forced to find out how to grow food, defend theirselves and stay warm without luxuries of moderns society. The forest nearby works as one big theme is the story: First it is magical place where sisters used to play as children. Later the forest transforms into something frightening and strange, with animals and plants living in the woods they never knew existed. The forest is also primitive force, providing shelter and food.

 

If you liked Into The Forest book review, remember to check our Bookvault for more post-apocalyptic book reviews! You can also follow us in Facebook or Instagram.