I loved a monster. Now I must pay the price.
into the heartless wood, joanna ruth meyer
Author: Joanna Ruth Meyer
Publication Date: 12 January 2021
Publisher: Page Street Kids
Page Count: 386
Reading Method: Physical ARC
Synopsis:
Deep in the wood lives a witch queen and her eight tree siren daughters. For centuries, they have harvested souls to feed the heartless tree, using its power to grow their ever reaching kingdom of ash, birch, and oak.
Owen Merrick lives at the edge of the forest, mapping the stars for the king in his father’s observatory. For years, he has resisted venturing over the garden wall, until one day he must enter the woods to find his missing sister. But one of the witch’s tree siren daughters, Seren, decides to save his life instead of end it. Now, no matter how hard he tries, he can’t stop thinking about her ― the birch-bright hue of her skin and the way violets bloom in her hair. Every night, he goes into the wood to meet her, and their love for each other grows.
But when the constellations shift, the stars foretell an inevitable war between the witch queen and the king. With Seren compelled to fight for her mother, and Owen forced to join the king’s army, they are plunged into the heart of a conflict that seemingly no one can win and that might destroy both their kingdoms forever.
Review:
I read this one a few months back and I honestly don’t know why it hasn’t blown up. Why am I not seeing this all over when I scroll through bookstagram?! IT’S SO GOOD. A girl of music and a boy of stars, magical creatures and a beautifully developed magical system – it’s lyrical and haunting and one of my favorite books of the year. If this isn’t on your radar, put it on your radar. If you already have a copy – read it!
The story is told from two perspectives – Owen, an astronomy apprentice and Seren, a tree siren. Owen has grown up on the border of the magic forest, a forest which took his mother when he was young. Since then, the forest has seemed to grow in size and the king is desperate to cut it back. When Owen’s little sister wanders into the forest, he meets Seren and from there an epic adventure begins…
The thing I loved most about this book is that it is overflowing with love. It is probably one of my favorite instances of familial love I’ve ever read. And the romance is just *so dang precious.* The journey our characters are on isn’t easy and they really have to lean on each other to make it through. It felt like a more realistic depiction of human (or not so human) interaction and that is what makes this book special. It sticks with you. There is battle, and sacrifice, hurt, and anger – but through it all, the bonds that were developed were unbreakable.
If you’re looking for a truly beautiful, atmospheric, poetic read – add this to your list NOW. Pleaseeee. I need people to talk about it with. Thank youuuu!
