Heart of the Wyrdwood by R.J. BarkerMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Description:
Cahan Du Nahare is lost, taken by a dark god whose tendrils reach throughout the world, intent on its destruction. Those who followed Cahan are spread across the land, desperate and lost now fate has turned against them. The Reborn warriors are toys for the enemy, the warrior Dassit, forestal Ania and monk Ont are drawn to the dangerous north but do not know why. Udinny is forced into the company of a woman who desires nothing more than her death and the Rai, Sorha, leads a dwindling band on a mission even she believes is doomed to failure. Only the trion Venn remains hopeful, slowly growing in power and trusting in the path of their god.
But maybe all is not lost. The great Wyrdwoods of Crua may be ancient and slow to act, but something in them is waking.
Review:
RJ Barker is an author who continually reinvents himself. Each of his series take on a different tone, setting, theme, magic system, and yet he manages to deliver brilliance no matter what he choses to try his hand at. It's the sign of an author so adept at their craft that they just have the confidence and skill to pull off whatever they conjure up in their brain. And the people who reap the rewards of this are you and I the reader.
This is the second finale in a series that I've read in the past week and both were absolute soul crushers (in a good way). HEART OF THE WYRDWOOD had me hanging on every single word through the last few chapters and when it was all over all I wanted to do was sit and reflect on the amazing story that had consumed me across every stunning entry in this fantastic trilogy.
The Forsaken trilogy could be seen as a bit of a risk for Barker. He took a lot of chances with how the story unfolds and not following the usual progression of your typical fantasy tale. But sometimes taking a risk is exactly what is called for and the reason why I love reading Barker's books is that he does often take the unorthodox route, but that's what makes his stories such a joy to read quite honestly.
We talk a lot about wanting stories in this genre that are unique and that we've never read before. it's tough to do because as with music, there are only so many guitar riffs out there and there's a tendency for repetition, whether conscious or unconscious. RJ Barker manages to stay original and come up with twists and curveballs that you never see coming. And his characters never behave the way you think they should.
I was simply blown away by HEART OF THE WYRDWOOD and recommend it to anyone looking for not your usual fantasy fare. There's a lot to love here: non-binary and wonderfully diverse characters, a magic system that is intricate and beautifully rendered, action scenes that jump off the page, and the mystical and enigmatic Wyrdwood, essentially a main character unto itself and the setting by which this exceptional series catapults your imagination through with every breathless moment. I absolutely loved this concluding book and the entire Forsaken series. If you aren't reading RJ Barker, you are missing out on one of the true masterful voices in fantasy at the moment.
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