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sterling8 's review for:
Gods of the Wyrdwood
by R.J. Barker
adventurous
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Probably 3.5 stars.
I like how this author thinks through the setting and ecosystem of his world. The forests in this book hark back to the ancient times when forests were alien and deadly to those who lived outside them and scraped a living from the forest dregs. This world felt post-apocalyptic, like something horrible had happened and the survivors were using the snippets of knowledge from a former civilization to try to have any power or control, without truly understanding what they were doing.
It's not a pleasant world, and we don't meet pleasant people. Morality doesn't seem to have to do much with the church or gods. Instead rival gods strive for power and people worship whichever god and their followers have carried the day. Preaching seems limited to "obey this god or else". Nothing about how to live well or correctly.
Cahan, our main character, is interesting. He's come across a god somewhere along the way that taught him the concept of empathy and connection with others. But he's clanless himself and can't make inroads with the village he has settled near. Cahan also struggles with power that was bestowed upon him that he doesn't really understand or want to use, since he was only ever taught to destroy with that power.
I can see where this series might be going. However, I'm not sure if I'm going to make the journey. This was a slow-paced book and the stakes haven't even come into play yet. I loved the author's Tide Child series and that's what would make me continue if I decide to do that.
I like how this author thinks through the setting and ecosystem of his world. The forests in this book hark back to the ancient times when forests were alien and deadly to those who lived outside them and scraped a living from the forest dregs. This world felt post-apocalyptic, like something horrible had happened and the survivors were using the snippets of knowledge from a former civilization to try to have any power or control, without truly understanding what they were doing.
It's not a pleasant world, and we don't meet pleasant people. Morality doesn't seem to have to do much with the church or gods. Instead rival gods strive for power and people worship whichever god and their followers have carried the day. Preaching seems limited to "obey this god or else". Nothing about how to live well or correctly.
Cahan, our main character, is interesting. He's come across a god somewhere along the way that taught him the concept of empathy and connection with others. But he's clanless himself and can't make inroads with the village he has settled near. Cahan also struggles with power that was bestowed upon him that he doesn't really understand or want to use, since he was only ever taught to destroy with that power.
I can see where this series might be going. However, I'm not sure if I'm going to make the journey. This was a slow-paced book and the stakes haven't even come into play yet. I loved the author's Tide Child series and that's what would make me continue if I decide to do that.