Scan barcode
A review by owlyreadsalot
The Will and the Wilds by Charlie N. Holmberg
3.0
Here’s a book that I didn’t even know I wanted to read. It’s also one I didn’t think would stay with me as much as it has. The world in this novel, along with the characters involved, kept me reading for pages on end, with little interruptions in-between. Which, says a lot, because I’m not one to read many novels that involve a romance. Even more so, when that romance takes over most of the book.
I have to say though, this was much more than that, with a story that caused much emotion and lingering feelings as the novel came to its end. There were, sometimes, certain aspects of the novel I could have done without, but even so I enjoyed the story created between Enna and Maekallus. And, this story had many creatures that were waiting to be discovered.
“Were all such half-bred children begotten by violence? There are many humanoid species of mysting, some my kind could even find attractive. Could such a coupling come from want or desire? My cheeks burn at the thought, and I cast it aside. Of course such a thing is impossible. Mystings are incapable of tender feelings. They don’t have souls.”
That’s what the other half of this novel had much of, mystings that filled many pages for days. Many of those, of course, were of Maekallus, but also the Goblers who shouldn’t be anywhere near the wildwoods, the Grinlers that are more ferocious than anything else, and so many more. There was the complicated nature of “The Deep”, a place where monsters roam, with no sun to light their days, and screams that fill all corners of its realm.
“I’ve always wondered what the monster realm is like. There’s no literature on the subject. At least, not that I’ve found with my limited means. Papa has never spoken of it willingly, only in occasional mumbles when he’s asleep. All I knew, until now, was vague and half-formed–that if the mortal realm is above, the monster realm is below. If that is where they live, no wonder they come here.”
There was lots to take in, pertaining to the mystings and all that it included. But, one of those things that irked me was how much time and effort was put into the romance part of it, just to be left with an ending like the one the reader is given. Yes, it’s a tear-jerker, with good meaning behind it, but sometimes a different ending is needed. And once in awhile, some parts weren’t as great as I had hoped. Even so, I very much liked this whole world and what the author shared with us.
***I received this copy from 47North, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.***
I have to say though, this was much more than that, with a story that caused much emotion and lingering feelings as the novel came to its end. There were, sometimes, certain aspects of the novel I could have done without, but even so I enjoyed the story created between Enna and Maekallus. And, this story had many creatures that were waiting to be discovered.
“Were all such half-bred children begotten by violence? There are many humanoid species of mysting, some my kind could even find attractive. Could such a coupling come from want or desire? My cheeks burn at the thought, and I cast it aside. Of course such a thing is impossible. Mystings are incapable of tender feelings. They don’t have souls.”
That’s what the other half of this novel had much of, mystings that filled many pages for days. Many of those, of course, were of Maekallus, but also the Goblers who shouldn’t be anywhere near the wildwoods, the Grinlers that are more ferocious than anything else, and so many more. There was the complicated nature of “The Deep”, a place where monsters roam, with no sun to light their days, and screams that fill all corners of its realm.
“I’ve always wondered what the monster realm is like. There’s no literature on the subject. At least, not that I’ve found with my limited means. Papa has never spoken of it willingly, only in occasional mumbles when he’s asleep. All I knew, until now, was vague and half-formed–that if the mortal realm is above, the monster realm is below. If that is where they live, no wonder they come here.”
There was lots to take in, pertaining to the mystings and all that it included. But, one of those things that irked me was how much time and effort was put into the romance part of it, just to be left with an ending like the one the reader is given. Yes, it’s a tear-jerker, with good meaning behind it, but sometimes a different ending is needed. And once in awhile, some parts weren’t as great as I had hoped. Even so, I very much liked this whole world and what the author shared with us.
***I received this copy from 47North, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.***