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son_of_trogdor 's review for:

Gods of the Wyrdwood by R.J. Barker
4.0
adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

The series has tremendous heart and this opening introduces us to a vibrant and incredibly fleshed out world - not to mention it's inhabitants. It's a cruel world but the layers are literally deep, and Barker does a wonderful job of balancing the tone. 

In Crua, you have a dessicated world lorded over by warring quasi-vampiric sorcerors who view the ruled as livestock. But through both the woods itself, and the main protagonists, there is a sense of awe and hope to accompany the desperate and downtrodden. In particular, Udinny is such a relentless bright spot - I'd read about their many lives if Barker kept going lol.

A dark and mysterious woods, strange magic, webs of roots and fungal networks carrying energy, and odd creatures. You'll love it, probably.