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"My father's the greatest hero in the world, my mother's kissed the Trickster-God, and my uncle's a tree. You call that normal?" -Bloodstone, Barbara Campbell
I stayed up way past any logical hour last night to finish reading Heartwood, by Barbara Campbell. And got up far too early this morning to start the sequel. Let me take a second to explain why this is abnormal. I dont usually go for generation jumps in my series. I get attached to characters, and when they fade to the background, and a new cast takes over, I am prone to losing interest. Not this time. The world build was so enthralling that not only am I interested to see what all is going to happen, I am utterly fascinated with the different people Campbell has filled her world with.
Heartwood was honestly the best book I would never have heard of. It horrifies me that people are going through their days never having been recommended this book, this series. Often beautiful, occasionally brutal, Heartwood was a unique fantasy in that there was no city to defend, no overwhelming politics to work around. Its a primitive, tribal setting, which had my attention within a handful of pages. The thing that needs saving is the very natural order of things, and damn was it wonderfully well done. It doesnt get much more epic than this. Every move made by the characters, every decision feels natural. There is no fantasy Grand Quest railroading apparent. Its fantasy in that there are shamans and gods walk the world, but its a fantasy in the same way the old folk tales are fantasy. It feels natural.
and, really, I think thats what I love most about this series. Everything just...fits. And its more like sitting down with a well worn and loved copy of the Mabinogion, reading through the old tales with heroes and gods and spirits and nature all tied together.
So, seeing as I went through years in the book business never hearing about this treasure of a book, I wanted to take a few minutes to make sure word got out. They are hard to find in bookstores proper, as they are a few years old, but take the time to go online and get copies. You wont regret it. First book- Heartwood, second is Bloodstone, and Foxfire, the third installment, comes out 2/3/09.
I stayed up way past any logical hour last night to finish reading Heartwood, by Barbara Campbell. And got up far too early this morning to start the sequel. Let me take a second to explain why this is abnormal. I dont usually go for generation jumps in my series. I get attached to characters, and when they fade to the background, and a new cast takes over, I am prone to losing interest. Not this time. The world build was so enthralling that not only am I interested to see what all is going to happen, I am utterly fascinated with the different people Campbell has filled her world with.
Heartwood was honestly the best book I would never have heard of. It horrifies me that people are going through their days never having been recommended this book, this series. Often beautiful, occasionally brutal, Heartwood was a unique fantasy in that there was no city to defend, no overwhelming politics to work around. Its a primitive, tribal setting, which had my attention within a handful of pages. The thing that needs saving is the very natural order of things, and damn was it wonderfully well done. It doesnt get much more epic than this. Every move made by the characters, every decision feels natural. There is no fantasy Grand Quest railroading apparent. Its fantasy in that there are shamans and gods walk the world, but its a fantasy in the same way the old folk tales are fantasy. It feels natural.
and, really, I think thats what I love most about this series. Everything just...fits. And its more like sitting down with a well worn and loved copy of the Mabinogion, reading through the old tales with heroes and gods and spirits and nature all tied together.
So, seeing as I went through years in the book business never hearing about this treasure of a book, I wanted to take a few minutes to make sure word got out. They are hard to find in bookstores proper, as they are a few years old, but take the time to go online and get copies. You wont regret it. First book- Heartwood, second is Bloodstone, and Foxfire, the third installment, comes out 2/3/09.
