Today I’m posting my second Finalist review for #SPFBOX (here’s a link to the Finalist table).  I’ve already posted a review for The Humane Society for Creatures & Cryptids (Teraglossa #1) by Stephanie A. Gillis and over the next two weeks I shall be posting regularly in order to fit all the Finalists in before the competition ends.  So, without further ado lets get to this review.

This was not the first book that I’ve read by this author, in fact I loved First and Last Demon and highly recommend it so I was excited to pick this one up, and, whilst I didn’t quite love it as much as FaLD it’s still a good read – just maybe requiring a little more patience at the start as it does take a little while to set the scene.  Firstly, find below the cover and description from Goodreads:

After years of city life, Tiller is finally ready to revisit the magical forest where she grew up. But the forest has turned deadly, and Tiller has no magic of her own. To survive, she’ll need a bodyguard.

Tiller finds only one mage willing to escort her. A woman named Carnelian: a soldier with a pretty face and a dodgy reputation. Carnelian loves parties, drinking, flirting, big spending, and taking risks that others would find downright unthinkable. She’ll happily lead Tiller to the heart of the Devouring Forest.

But she won’t do it for free.

The two of them live in a country where magic-users like Carnelian labor under lifelong legal restrictions. The fastest ticket to greater liberty: getting married. Which is why Carnelian—known far and wide as the mage who no one would wed—demands Tiller’s hand in marriage as her payment.

Cautious, reserved Tiller never lets strangers invade her personal space. She’s horrified by the prospect of marrying a mischievous gambler. But she still needs Carnelian’s magic to overcome the wild monsters blocking the path back to her childhood home.

And the deeper they go in the forest, the greater the danger. Tiller will have to learn very quickly how to deal with the darker side of her would-be wife.

The Forest at the Heart of Her Mage is a slow-burn f/f romance with two polar-opposite heroines—both hiding enormous secrets—reluctantly engaged to be married for the sake of convenience. This novel takes place in the same contemporary fantasy world as The First and Last Demon and the Clem & Wist series, but can be read and enjoyed as a standalone story.

I would say before going any further that this is a really good story.  BUT.  It’s too long (imo) and the first third I found myself constantly disengaging, putting it down and being reluctant to pick it back up.  Also, another BUT, when it did finally draw me in, when the pace started to pick up, when we finally got to travel into the heart of the forest and the twists and turns began to appear, well, I really enjoyed it.  So, patience is a virtue here.  I think, having read the author before, a story that hit the ground running from virtually page 1, I think I was expecting a similar style and pacing and that’s really on me.

Now, I don’t want to give away too much about the plot because there are a number of twists that I enjoyed discovering during the read.  Instead I’m going to go with a few thoughts and feelings.

I really like this author’s style of writing and imagination.  Both this and FaLD feel really original and like a breath of fresh air to read with the unique setting and beautiful writing.  Yes, I did find the set up a little too long and I was keen to actually get going but even so the writing is very good, the magic is fascinating and there’s a real mystery that surrounds both the main characters.

The two central characters are Teller and Carnelian.  Teller is a Forester (well, an ex Forester to be correct).  She is returning to the Forest where she was born after a long period of exile and needs help to navigate the place as she has no magic of her own.  She’s about to recruit Carnelian, a mage – a very powerful mage I might add – who is also a bit of a whirling dirvish (she likes to flirt, gamble, drink and generally show off and couldn’t be more of an opposite to Teller (who is quiet and thoughtful) if she tried.

Long story short the two are about to go on an adventure through a deadly place that is practically a character in itself.  The forest where Teller was born has been slowly encroaching, extending it’s territory and action is needed.  (Although this isn’t the reason that Teller is returning to the forest – her’s is a personal mission).

What I really liked about the storyline is the way the two main character’s stories are intertwined so well – with, much like the reader, one of them at least not being aware of that until their journey together begins.

The backstory is fascinating, both have suffered terrible trauma in their pasts which helps you to understand their behaviour and motivations.

I liked the two main characters – although I admit it did take me a little while.  I think at first, well, they didn’t really know or like each other and that had a knock on effect, as they became more familiar and the banter flowed a little more easily I began to enjoy their company a lot more.

I also think some of the creations in this universe are great.  I really like the magic system and the fact that there are consequences to magic use  – eventually magic use can drive a mage insane.  Mages require an operator, to untangle the magic branches at their core that become entwined when magic is used – that’s perhaps a terrible explanation to be honest so you’ll just have to read this and reach your own conclusion.  Effectively this means that Teller has to become an operator for Carnelian and obviously this also forces the two to work closely together.

Anyway, I don’t want to meander into the land of spoilers so I will conclude by saying that this is an intriguing story with great writing and plenty of emotion.

In terms of criticisms.  I think this could be shortened, particularly the first third which I did struggle a little with.

I received a copy courtesy of the author, for which my thanks.  The above is my own opinion.

My rating 7.5 of 10