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4.1 AVERAGE
4.1 AVERAGE
hovering at 3.5/5 stars. the world of crua is fascinatingly wrought, from the mountain-high trees to the myriad creatures to the entire "web of life" that runs beneath. creepy woods and old gods and power beyond human understanding residing in the old places.. love how prominent these aspects were.
but otherwise, the whole thing is a bit of a mess.
we go through over 600 pages, but cahan still feels indistinct to me, his character flipflopping so many times between guilt and doing something, even after he encounters the same situation over and over again, from the people who first took his farm to venn to the village that scorns him. each time, it feels like the previous encounter might as well not have happened, for all he goes back and forth on staying and running. towards the end, when the villagers turn against him by ont, he's surprised and angry - which left me surprised and angry that he didn't expect this, as if the entire novel hadn't already led up to this, as if he himself had not already previously acknowledged the possibility. indecisiveness as a characteristic can work, but i don't think it worked well here.
other notes on character work:
- found venn to be incredibly annoying (not sure if that was overly biased from cahan's pov). the dedication to non-killing was fine, but the complete naivete was so eyeroll-inducing. even when cahan states that the kid was sheltered, and we know they were locked up, why write a character completely incapable of nuance and learning?
- kirvan was wasted, i think. it didn't feel like her so-called ruthlessness was conveyed well enough. a person in power doing vile things, but backed up by power doesn't speak of ruthlessness. which is fair, if the idea is to make her seem desperate and struggling to survive. but then that also just made her incredibly one-dimensional and tiresome. by the time her downfall came for her, i was pretty meh about the whole outcome.
the overall pacing is a bit strange as well. i liked the multiple expeditions that cahan takes into the woods and other towns, but it also felt weirdly episodic and repetitive. each time it felt like it was building to some Big Plot Turning Point, but then he just turns around and goes back home to the farm, where he's delusionally content for a weeks at a time, before another new episode comes up.
the ending twist was pretty cool - i'd been wondering if we would ever see the infamous cowl-rai of the new god and to learn it's nahac, and enabled by saradis? that the new god is all a front? cool. but also a bit flimsy, for all that we get to the end to learn this. we don't see enough of nahac's past, even from cahan's pov, that this reveal is made more powerful. it's giving "huh. that's cool i guess".
other annoying things:
- the grammar and tenses are all over the place. at first i though the switch to present tense only took place when cahan was in some forest trance as a deliberate way of creating vibes, but then it just keeps happens randomly, with no reason i can discern other than bad writing. there's also the run-on sentences and weird comma placements, and the expectation of a connecting noun and there being none. made it an absolute chore to read some sentences, i can tell you that.
- lack of a glossary, worsened by a lack of timely exposition. at the end of over 600 pages, i still don't know what the cowl is, beyond a power that lives under the skin and takes life force. but what is it? why's it called that? what are the rai? why are they longer-lived? why are they cruel? forest mysteries i get, but these basics not being explained was beyond annoying. what about the clans? how on earth is a clan derived, and why would it even matter if you were clanless? so much of cahan's story hinges on him being clanless, but we get zilch explanation on the significance of clans.
nevertheless, i loved the ritual of old woods and old gods and communion with an older power. the whole do not harm and harm will not come to you thing just speaks to me, and i loved that it's so in the forefront of the world.
but otherwise, the whole thing is a bit of a mess.
Spoiler
we go through over 600 pages, but cahan still feels indistinct to me, his character flipflopping so many times between guilt and doing something, even after he encounters the same situation over and over again, from the people who first took his farm to venn to the village that scorns him. each time, it feels like the previous encounter might as well not have happened, for all he goes back and forth on staying and running. towards the end, when the villagers turn against him by ont, he's surprised and angry - which left me surprised and angry that he didn't expect this, as if the entire novel hadn't already led up to this, as if he himself had not already previously acknowledged the possibility. indecisiveness as a characteristic can work, but i don't think it worked well here.
other notes on character work:
- found venn to be incredibly annoying (not sure if that was overly biased from cahan's pov). the dedication to non-killing was fine, but the complete naivete was so eyeroll-inducing. even when cahan states that the kid was sheltered, and we know they were locked up, why write a character completely incapable of nuance and learning?
- kirvan was wasted, i think. it didn't feel like her so-called ruthlessness was conveyed well enough. a person in power doing vile things, but backed up by power doesn't speak of ruthlessness. which is fair, if the idea is to make her seem desperate and struggling to survive. but then that also just made her incredibly one-dimensional and tiresome. by the time her downfall came for her, i was pretty meh about the whole outcome.
the overall pacing is a bit strange as well. i liked the multiple expeditions that cahan takes into the woods and other towns, but it also felt weirdly episodic and repetitive. each time it felt like it was building to some Big Plot Turning Point, but then he just turns around and goes back home to the farm, where he's delusionally content for a weeks at a time, before another new episode comes up.
the ending twist was pretty cool - i'd been wondering if we would ever see the infamous cowl-rai of the new god and to learn it's nahac, and enabled by saradis? that the new god is all a front? cool. but also a bit flimsy, for all that we get to the end to learn this. we don't see enough of nahac's past, even from cahan's pov, that this reveal is made more powerful. it's giving "huh. that's cool i guess".
other annoying things:
- the grammar and tenses are all over the place. at first i though the switch to present tense only took place when cahan was in some forest trance as a deliberate way of creating vibes, but then it just keeps happens randomly, with no reason i can discern other than bad writing. there's also the run-on sentences and weird comma placements, and the expectation of a connecting noun and there being none. made it an absolute chore to read some sentences, i can tell you that.
- lack of a glossary, worsened by a lack of timely exposition. at the end of over 600 pages, i still don't know what the cowl is, beyond a power that lives under the skin and takes life force. but what is it? why's it called that? what are the rai? why are they longer-lived? why are they cruel? forest mysteries i get, but these basics not being explained was beyond annoying. what about the clans? how on earth is a clan derived, and why would it even matter if you were clanless? so much of cahan's story hinges on him being clanless, but we get zilch explanation on the significance of clans.
nevertheless, i loved the ritual of old woods and old gods and communion with an older power. the whole do not harm and harm will not come to you thing just speaks to me, and i loved that it's so in the forefront of the world.
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
sad
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Hmm. For me, there is something I loved and something that I didn't love in this novel. First, I loved the world building. It is a very interesting idea and I loved the description of the forest. Second, what I didn't love was the pacing. It was so, so odd and the quieter moments of the book are really uninspiring to me. Which is a shame, because I thought the faster-paced portions were done really well and there was a cool good guy/bad guy rivalry that developed.
Overall, I enjoyed this but I didn't LOVE it. Would recommend to anyone who likes fantasy though.
Overall, I enjoyed this but I didn't LOVE it. Would recommend to anyone who likes fantasy though.
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3.5/5
An interesting and certainly imaginative world and story, with a great plot twist at the end. I did, however, find the world and lore a little confusing and am unsure just how much I enjoyed the book. I think that the story itself is good, but I struggled with how Barker told it. I won’t use this experience as a reason to not try Barker again, as I really want to read The Bone Ships at a later date, so will certainly give Barker another go
What I loved:
* The world building was great, though somewhat confusing
* The plot, though it was somewhat meandering, I enjoyed it and how it came together at the end
* The climactic battle at the end
What I didn’t love:
* Whilst I enjoyed the plot, I struggled to vibe with any of the characters
* RJ Barker’s prose - I didn’t really gel with it
* First 400pages were mixed feelings of “when will the plot come together”?
An interesting and certainly imaginative world and story, with a great plot twist at the end. I did, however, find the world and lore a little confusing and am unsure just how much I enjoyed the book. I think that the story itself is good, but I struggled with how Barker told it. I won’t use this experience as a reason to not try Barker again, as I really want to read The Bone Ships at a later date, so will certainly give Barker another go
What I loved:
* The world building was great, though somewhat confusing
* The plot, though it was somewhat meandering, I enjoyed it and how it came together at the end
* The climactic battle at the end
What I didn’t love:
* Whilst I enjoyed the plot, I struggled to vibe with any of the characters
* RJ Barker’s prose - I didn’t really gel with it
* First 400pages were mixed feelings of “when will the plot come together”?
Well, Barker clearly gave his wild imagination free rein while writing Gods of the Wyrdwood, because wow… are there some capital W Weird things going on inside these pages. Malevolent sentient forests with creepy inhabitants, flying skyrafts, giant trees and mushrooms, prophecies, chosen ones, elusive and mystical magic, old and forgotten gods, and plenty of political and religious strife; this book has truly got it all!
While this is a fantasy story of truly epic proportions, the tale feels grounded by its intimate focus on our main protagonist, Cahan du Nahere. He is a Chosen One whose destiny was stolen from him, leaving him utterly purposeless and living as a lone wolf. However, his mysterious past is catching up to him and it turns out he can’t keep running forever, especially not from himself.
In true R.J. Barker fashion, there is absolutely zero hand holding in the storytelling here. We are dropped straight into this strange and ominous world and are expected to pick up the necessary clues along the way. Barker deftly straddles the line between intrigue and confusion, leaving just enough breadcrumbs to not feel completely lost, but also never sharing more than strictly necessary.
On the one hand, I sometimes wished I’d had a glossary to make sure I was interpreting unfamiliar in-world terms correctly, but on the other hand I also loved the sense of mystery and intrigue that permeates every aspect of this novel.
If you don’t like heavy exposition or large info-dumps, then R.J. Barker is definitely the author for you.
My favourite part of this book was without a doubt the imaginative and immersive world building. This world is absolutely breathtaking and the setting of the Wyrdwood with all its creepy creatures really captured my imagination. I always love it when a setting almost feels like a character in itself, especially if it has a bit of a haunting presence, and that was definitely the case here. I felt just as unsettled as the characters themselves while exploring the woods, yet at the same time I was completely awe-struck and filled with wonder.
The magic system was also fittingly mysterious and elusive, which allowed for some very cool and surprising displays of power. I particularly loved how it is so intricately tied to religion in this world, as that only made the magic feel more mystical.
All that said, there were some things that held me back from enjoying this story as much as I had anticipated I would.
The biggest issue for me personally was the fact that I just couldn’t connect to the majority of the characters, which I realise is a very subjective quibble of mine.
They are definitely complex and well-written characters, yet for some reason I simply couldn’t get emotionally invested. I think this is largely due to Barker’s sparse and choppy writing style, which just lacked emotion for me.
Cahan is a fascinating protagonist and his moral dilemma around the use of his magical powers is understandable and interesting, but his ‘woe is me’ attitude got a bit much for me after a while.
I did like how his past, which is shrouded in mystery, was slowly revealed through some very gripping chapters written in 2nd person POV though. That close and intimate storytelling technique evoked at least a tiny thread of empathy for him within me, which I very much welcomed.
There is also a second POV character, a narcissistic ruler desperately trying to maintain her position of power, who just didn’t do much for me. The only saving grace in her chapters was her child Venn, who was by far my favourite character in this novel. Venn is Trion, one of the third-gendered people in this world, and they possess extraordinary powers. But those powers unfortunately come at a cost, as the powerful families view them as nothing more than a highly coveted commodity.
Their personal journey was absolutely harrowing and gut wrenching, but also much more compelling than anyone else’s in this entire book. I honestly wished they would’ve been the focal point of the story, because I think that would’ve established the emotional investment that I was so desperately craving.
On top of my personal little quibbles with the character work, I also just couldn’t seem to figure out what the point of the plot was supposed to be. Every time I thought the inciting incident had happened, it turned out to be just another ‘false start’, if you will. It wasn’t until the 70% mark that the ‘side questing’ was over and the actual main conflict of the story emerged, after which the pacing suddenly just cranked up to eleven. To be fair, I quite enjoyed just plodding along and exploring this alluring world in all its glory, but it did make the story feel rather aimless for a large part of it.
Now, I realise this all sounds rather negative, but I honestly still had a really good time with this book and I even ended up reading the final 250 pages in one day. There's something about Barker’s storytelling that just keeps me hooked, so even though there might have been some confusion and frustration at first, I knew that I could trust the author to make it all come together in the end.
And indeed, if you are willing to be patient and put in the time and attention that is necessary to let this story absolutely sweep you off your feet, then this will be an incredibly rewarding reading experience. The slow build up did eventually have great pay-off, which leaves me very excited to see what mind-boggling directions Barker is going to take this story next.
Overall, I think Gods of the Wyrdwood is a promising start to what is no doubt going to be a highly impressive and ambitious fantasy series.
You could definitely use this book as your jumping-off point into R.J. Barker’s works, but I think you might have a better reading experience if you are already familiar with his wild imagination and unconventional storytelling techniques from reading some of his earlier works.
Gods of the Wyrdwood is the perfect slow-burn book for anyone who is craving a refreshing and imaginative fantasy story that challenges your expectations by defying genre conventions at every possible opportunity. Honestly, what a wild, unpredictable and exciting ride!
Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
While this is a fantasy story of truly epic proportions, the tale feels grounded by its intimate focus on our main protagonist, Cahan du Nahere. He is a Chosen One whose destiny was stolen from him, leaving him utterly purposeless and living as a lone wolf. However, his mysterious past is catching up to him and it turns out he can’t keep running forever, especially not from himself.
In true R.J. Barker fashion, there is absolutely zero hand holding in the storytelling here. We are dropped straight into this strange and ominous world and are expected to pick up the necessary clues along the way. Barker deftly straddles the line between intrigue and confusion, leaving just enough breadcrumbs to not feel completely lost, but also never sharing more than strictly necessary.
On the one hand, I sometimes wished I’d had a glossary to make sure I was interpreting unfamiliar in-world terms correctly, but on the other hand I also loved the sense of mystery and intrigue that permeates every aspect of this novel.
If you don’t like heavy exposition or large info-dumps, then R.J. Barker is definitely the author for you.
My favourite part of this book was without a doubt the imaginative and immersive world building. This world is absolutely breathtaking and the setting of the Wyrdwood with all its creepy creatures really captured my imagination. I always love it when a setting almost feels like a character in itself, especially if it has a bit of a haunting presence, and that was definitely the case here. I felt just as unsettled as the characters themselves while exploring the woods, yet at the same time I was completely awe-struck and filled with wonder.
The magic system was also fittingly mysterious and elusive, which allowed for some very cool and surprising displays of power. I particularly loved how it is so intricately tied to religion in this world, as that only made the magic feel more mystical.
All that said, there were some things that held me back from enjoying this story as much as I had anticipated I would.
The biggest issue for me personally was the fact that I just couldn’t connect to the majority of the characters, which I realise is a very subjective quibble of mine.
They are definitely complex and well-written characters, yet for some reason I simply couldn’t get emotionally invested. I think this is largely due to Barker’s sparse and choppy writing style, which just lacked emotion for me.
Cahan is a fascinating protagonist and his moral dilemma around the use of his magical powers is understandable and interesting, but his ‘woe is me’ attitude got a bit much for me after a while.
I did like how his past, which is shrouded in mystery, was slowly revealed through some very gripping chapters written in 2nd person POV though. That close and intimate storytelling technique evoked at least a tiny thread of empathy for him within me, which I very much welcomed.
There is also a second POV character, a narcissistic ruler desperately trying to maintain her position of power, who just didn’t do much for me. The only saving grace in her chapters was her child Venn, who was by far my favourite character in this novel. Venn is Trion, one of the third-gendered people in this world, and they possess extraordinary powers. But those powers unfortunately come at a cost, as the powerful families view them as nothing more than a highly coveted commodity.
Their personal journey was absolutely harrowing and gut wrenching, but also much more compelling than anyone else’s in this entire book. I honestly wished they would’ve been the focal point of the story, because I think that would’ve established the emotional investment that I was so desperately craving.
On top of my personal little quibbles with the character work, I also just couldn’t seem to figure out what the point of the plot was supposed to be. Every time I thought the inciting incident had happened, it turned out to be just another ‘false start’, if you will. It wasn’t until the 70% mark that the ‘side questing’ was over and the actual main conflict of the story emerged, after which the pacing suddenly just cranked up to eleven. To be fair, I quite enjoyed just plodding along and exploring this alluring world in all its glory, but it did make the story feel rather aimless for a large part of it.
Now, I realise this all sounds rather negative, but I honestly still had a really good time with this book and I even ended up reading the final 250 pages in one day. There's something about Barker’s storytelling that just keeps me hooked, so even though there might have been some confusion and frustration at first, I knew that I could trust the author to make it all come together in the end.
And indeed, if you are willing to be patient and put in the time and attention that is necessary to let this story absolutely sweep you off your feet, then this will be an incredibly rewarding reading experience. The slow build up did eventually have great pay-off, which leaves me very excited to see what mind-boggling directions Barker is going to take this story next.
Overall, I think Gods of the Wyrdwood is a promising start to what is no doubt going to be a highly impressive and ambitious fantasy series.
You could definitely use this book as your jumping-off point into R.J. Barker’s works, but I think you might have a better reading experience if you are already familiar with his wild imagination and unconventional storytelling techniques from reading some of his earlier works.
Gods of the Wyrdwood is the perfect slow-burn book for anyone who is craving a refreshing and imaginative fantasy story that challenges your expectations by defying genre conventions at every possible opportunity. Honestly, what a wild, unpredictable and exciting ride!
Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
adventurous
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for a review.
The first half of the book had everything to become one of my all-time favorite series, but then the story and character development remained very flat. For a book that is around 600 pages long, that's a big bummer.
The strongest element of the book, and the whole reason I gave it 4 stars, is the exceptional worldbuilding. While some may argue that the forest setting is pretty common in the fantasy genre, among the fantasy books I have read, this one feels uniquely atmospheric (except probably for LOTR). The magic system, while not the most original, has something about it and its relation to the forest and all living things that fascinated me.
On the other hand, the plot was the weakest point of the book, following the path of the "reluctant hero" trope. Furthermore, the characters failed to leave an impression on me. Any attachment I started to feel toward them quickly faded, leaving me indifferent. The main character proved to be particularly infuriating, and the villain lacked depth, with an origin story as generic as the hero's.
It's been close to 3 weeks since I finished the book, and honestly, I have even forgotten almost everything except for the magic system and the ending.
Overall, there were some aspects that I didn't like, but the author hit the right spot with me and gave me an unforgettable atmospheric setting, thus my high rating.
RJ Barker has crafted such a ruthless and magical world, full of cruel gods, merciless rulers, and constant challenges to survival for both the weak and the strong. If you are an enjoyer of chunky books, forests, living magic, and atmospheric stories, this might be your next best read.
The first half of the book had everything to become one of my all-time favorite series, but then the story and character development remained very flat. For a book that is around 600 pages long, that's a big bummer.
The strongest element of the book, and the whole reason I gave it 4 stars, is the exceptional worldbuilding. While some may argue that the forest setting is pretty common in the fantasy genre, among the fantasy books I have read, this one feels uniquely atmospheric (except probably for LOTR). The magic system, while not the most original, has something about it and its relation to the forest and all living things that fascinated me.
On the other hand, the plot was the weakest point of the book, following the path of the "reluctant hero" trope. Furthermore, the characters failed to leave an impression on me. Any attachment I started to feel toward them quickly faded, leaving me indifferent. The main character proved to be particularly infuriating, and the villain lacked depth, with an origin story as generic as the hero's.
It's been close to 3 weeks since I finished the book, and honestly, I have even forgotten almost everything except for the magic system and the ending.
Overall, there were some aspects that I didn't like, but the author hit the right spot with me and gave me an unforgettable atmospheric setting, thus my high rating.
RJ Barker has crafted such a ruthless and magical world, full of cruel gods, merciless rulers, and constant challenges to survival for both the weak and the strong. If you are an enjoyer of chunky books, forests, living magic, and atmospheric stories, this might be your next best read.
One of my favourite books of the year- you know the ones that make you regret giving five stars to other books... The character development was amazing, the setting even more so. I felt more than once completely transported into the world, seeing the scenes that occur in real time. It's a rare author to do half that and R J can do twice that.
Strong characters with an innovative magic system. Initially, the main character's perspective limits the world shown, but that helps build to later reveals.