Into the Forest discussion

Here is the place to discuss retellings, traditional tales, or books set in the rainforest.

On my TBR
Hamra and the Jungle of Memories

I suspect this might be a more challenging prompt for some of us.

Kelsey wrote: "On my TBR
Hamra and the Jungle of Memories

I suspect this might be a more challenging prompt for some of us."

I suspect you are correct.

Here are some books I’ve enjoyed that take place in part or completely, in or near a jungle or rainforest:
The Daughter of Doctor Moreau
Gods of Jade and Shadow
Zahrah the Windseeker
One Hundred Years of Solitude
Lost Lake
Who Slashed Celanire's Throat?
The Night Tiger

I am considering rereading One Hundred Years of Solitude. There is a new series out on Netflix which looks promising. It’s been so many years since I read it, I don’t remember much except that I liked it.
I might mention this in the buddy read folder in case anyone wants to join me

There's the newish The Jaguar Mask by Michael J. DeLuca, which mixes indigenous Mayan mythology into a modern Guatemala, the climate crisis, and a jaguar shapeshifter.

The original

The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling

would work as well.

Michele wrote: "The original

The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling

would work as well."

Ooh, Best Beloved, it's been too long since I read this, good option!

Cheryl wrote: "Michele wrote: "The original

The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling

would work as well."

Ooh, Best Beloved, it's been too long since I read this, good option!"

I am considering a reread of it. Been a long time.

Jalilah wrote: "Here are some books I’ve enjoyed that take place in part or completely, in or near a jungle or rainforest:
The Daughter of Doctor Moreau
Gods of Jade and Shadow."

Great suggestions, thank you! I might consider a reread of One Hundred Years of Solitude,though now I have the English version, and I am not sure I can cope with it - I remember it was very lirical, and I might find it too difficult in English...

Here are some other recs I've read and enjoyed.

-Pan's Labyrinth: The Labyrinth of the Faun by Guillermo del Toro: regular forest or rainforest? I'm not sure.

-The Lost Dreamer by Lizz Huerta: A Meso-American inspired YA fantasy.

-Amazona by Canizales: a slim graphic novel about an Indigenous Colombian returning to her rainforest home.

-After the Rain by Nnedi Okorafor: a contemporary fantasy graphic novel set in the rainforest of Nigeria.

-Midnight Robber by Nalo Hopkinson: a jungle filled planet.

Might be more ghost/ horror than folkloric, but Michelle Paver has a new book Rainforest, coming out in October 2025 which may fit this category. I really enjoyed her Wakenhyrst which is set on the Fens, and Thin Air, Dark Matter, ghost stories in the Himalayan mountains and Arctic.

I'm thinking of using Our Share of Night, a large part of which is set in the jungles of the Misiones region of Argentina.

Netanella wrote: "I'm thinking of using Our Share of Night, a large part of which is set in the jungles of the Misiones region of Argentina.
"

I might read that one, too!

Andy wrote: "Jalilah wrote: "Here are some books I’ve enjoyed that take place in part or completely, in or near a jungle or rainforest:
The Daughter of Doctor Moreau
Gods of Jade and Shad..."</i>.

I understand! It’s not a light read. You could always read it in Italian. I too am hesitating because I’m concerned I will not longer love it. That is what happened with [book:Love in the Time of Cholera. I liked it a lot the first time around but hated it when I read it many years later. Some literature doesn’t age well

Jalilah wrote: "I understand! It’s not a light read. You could always read it in Italian. I too am hesitating because I’m concerned I will not longer love it. That is what happened with Love in the Time of Cholera. I liked it a lot the first time around but hated it when I read it many years later. Some literature doesn’t age well"

Oh no! I also did not love "Love in the time of cholera" - I will admit I did not love any book of his after One hundred years of solitude... You might be on to something - I don't know that I will love it so much again...

I might read The Night Tiger for this prompt, but I would like to re-read One hundred years of solitude eventually...

Memories of My Melancholy Whores really put me off Gabriel García Márquez, but I mean, what did I expect? I did enjoy One Hundred Years of Solitude back when I read it in college.

Andy wrote: "Jalilah wrote: "I understand! It’s not a light read. You could always read it in Italian. I too am hesitating because I’m concerned I will not longer love it. That is what happened with Love in the..."

Margaret wrote: "Memories of My Melancholy Whores really put me off Gabriel García Márquez, but I mean, what did I expect? I did enjoy One Hundred Years of Solitude back whe...".

Yeah I was also in my 20s when I read it and it became one of my favourite books
Have any of you seen the new Netflix series of it?

Jalilah wrote: "Have any of you seen the new Netflix series of it?..."

I haven't!

Margaret wrote: "Jalilah wrote: "Have any of you seen the new Netflix series of it?..."

I haven't!"

Not seen it either! Have you?

Andy wrote: "Margaret wrote: "Jalilah wrote: "Have any of you seen the new Netflix series of it?..."

I haven't!"

Not seen it either! Have you?"

No, not yet. I was thinking of re-reading the book first, but have had some misgivings for all the reasons we discussed.
I might go ahead and watch it and see if it makes me either want to reread or not

Jalilah wrote: "Andy wrote: "Margaret wrote: "Jalilah wrote: "Have any of you seen the new Netflix series of it?..."

I haven't!"

Not seen it either! Have you?"

No, not yet. I was thinking of re-reading the boo..."

Ah! Good call! :) I don't seem to have the time to see anything beyond kids tv these days, but I might see if it can be a lunchbreak watch!

Andy wrote: "I don't seem to have the time to see anything beyond kids tv these days..."

My problem too!

I tried to read Island Witch but ended up DNFing. I was so excited to read this book and the author did a great job at setting and immersing us in the culture. However, the writing is underdeveloped (repetitive, lots of telling rather than showing), the plot twists all immediately obvious, and the characters unlikable and undeveloped. A good idea but bad execution. Also major trigger warnings.

Jamie wrote: "I tried to read Island Witch but ended up DNFing. I was so excited to read this book and the author did a great job at setting and immersing us in the culture. However, the writing..."

That’s too bad! From the description it looks promising.

I’m reading Malinalli by Veronica Chapa for this prompt and so far, really enjoying it.
It did get a lot of bad reviews on Goodreads, so we’ll see!

I really liked Malinalli and think it’s perfect for this prompt!

For my second book for this prompt I am re-reading One Hundred Years of Solitude

Having trouble with this one as well but I've read a couple of the suggested books in prior years.

I will be reading Gabriela Romero Lacruz's The River and the Star and hoping there will be a rainforest. I recall one in the first book (as well as an important mountain, too).

It's been quite a while since I read it, but I wondered if Tasha Suri's The Jasmine Throne would suit this. Plants definitely played a significant role in the world and story in a very interesting way.

Erin wrote: "Having trouble with this one as well but I've read a couple of the suggested books in prior years.

I will be reading Gabriela Romero Lacruz's The River and the Star and hoping there will be a rain..."

I am reading this theme for August, and have down The Sun and the Void as a possible book to read. I considered the second book in The Jasmine Throne series, as I loved the first, but I didn't see any reviewers mention it as having a rainforest or jungle setting, so decided against it.

Jamie wrote: "I tried to read Island Witch but ended up DNFing. I was so excited to read this book and the author did a great job at setting and immersing us in the culture. However, the writing..."

I ended up reading Island Witch and enjoyed it a lot! Yes, the mc was a complete Mary Sue, but the culture and Sri Lankan language and environment won me over.

Netanella wrote: "Jamie wrote: "I tried to read Island Witch but ended up DNFing. I was so excited to read this book and the author did a great job at setting and immersing us in the culture. Howeve..."

I have a copy of that and it's on my list for this challenge!

I'm currently reading The Sky on Fire for this challenge, and enjoying it!

Jamie is correct about trigger warnings. It's definitely horror. I was so caught up in the story that I didn't pay attention to the writing style.

Here's what I ended up reading for this challenge:

-The Sky on Fire by Jenn Lyons
-Hamra and the Jungle of Memories by Hanna Alkaf
-Island Witch by Amanda Jayatissa
-Zahrah the Windseeker by Nnedi Okorafor
-How to Talk to Your Succulent by Zoe Persico
-Wildblood by Lauren Blackwood
-The Tiger at Midnight by Swati Teerdhala
-Malinalli by Veronica Chapa
-We Will Be Jaguars: A Memoir of My People by Nemonte Nenquimo

Several recs from this group!