Review of In the Heart of the Linden Wood
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Blessy Pearl Solas
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- Latest Review: In the Heart of the Linden Wood by Ekta R. Garg
Review of In the Heart of the Linden Wood
[Following is a volunteer review of "In the Heart of the Linden Wood" by Ekta R. Garg.]
In the Heart of the Linden Wood by Ekta R. Garg is a remarkable fantasy book that reminded me of the TV show Once Upon A Time. The magic surrounding hearts and trees is alike yet so different. Both contain similar concepts, such as the magical property of the woods and a heart capable of physically shattering. However, the book and the world-building are unique. I thoroughly enjoyed discovering and imagining how the magic would materialize. In my imagination, the magic would appear like wisps of purple and gold when in use.
The main characters in the book, namely, King Christopher, Martin, Geraldine, Alistair, and Lemuel, are written incredibly well. They are all so human; all of them are experiencing horrible situations. Christopher and Martin are trying to deal with the passing of their Queen Lily, while Geraldine and Alistair try to cope with their family problems. Meanwhile, Lemuel tries his best to feed and keep his family afloat. After devouring the book, I couldn't help but conclude that most characters are grieving in their own way. One is grieving because he lost a wife and baby, and the others are grieving the life they should have lived, along with mourning the love that was once theirs.
The wonderful Ekta R. Garg wrote a story that fully immerses the reader and takes them on a fantastic journey that focuses on how these characters heal and rise to the challenges presented. I rate this book four out of five stars. The book was enjoyable, but there was a plot hole. In an arc of the book, the characters were in a position where they could have everything they wanted; the character just needed to say the correct words, but he didn't; it made me question if the characters were in the right state of mind. However, I reminded myself that it was a fantasy book, plus the characters are going through it. The stress, grief, and the situation they're in may contribute to why they didn't do that.
This brings me to my next point, Queen Lily. She was a marvel; almost everything in the book revolved around her, even when she passed. She haunted the narrative; nearly all the characters' decisions were based on what she would have done or wanted. I was only given a glimpse of her character through King Christopher and her parents, and from what I can deduce, she was a total sweetheart. She was there for Christopher when he needed it the most. Lily pushed him to be the best version of himself; this made losing her all the more painful.
Another thing that I observed after finishing the book was that some of the plot twists and mysteries were predictable, but being able to predict plot twists added excitement and enjoyment for me; I do not know how it would fare for those who wish for an unpredictable book. All in all, it was awesome. I recommend this book to a younger audience, those looking for both angst, fantasy, and hope, but for safe measure, maybe have a box of tissues at your disposal just in case.
******
In the Heart of the Linden Wood
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
In the Heart of the Linden Wood by Ekta R. Garg is a remarkable fantasy book that reminded me of the TV show Once Upon A Time. The magic surrounding hearts and trees is alike yet so different. Both contain similar concepts, such as the magical property of the woods and a heart capable of physically shattering. However, the book and the world-building are unique. I thoroughly enjoyed discovering and imagining how the magic would materialize. In my imagination, the magic would appear like wisps of purple and gold when in use.
The main characters in the book, namely, King Christopher, Martin, Geraldine, Alistair, and Lemuel, are written incredibly well. They are all so human; all of them are experiencing horrible situations. Christopher and Martin are trying to deal with the passing of their Queen Lily, while Geraldine and Alistair try to cope with their family problems. Meanwhile, Lemuel tries his best to feed and keep his family afloat. After devouring the book, I couldn't help but conclude that most characters are grieving in their own way. One is grieving because he lost a wife and baby, and the others are grieving the life they should have lived, along with mourning the love that was once theirs.
The wonderful Ekta R. Garg wrote a story that fully immerses the reader and takes them on a fantastic journey that focuses on how these characters heal and rise to the challenges presented. I rate this book four out of five stars. The book was enjoyable, but there was a plot hole. In an arc of the book, the characters were in a position where they could have everything they wanted; the character just needed to say the correct words, but he didn't; it made me question if the characters were in the right state of mind. However, I reminded myself that it was a fantasy book, plus the characters are going through it. The stress, grief, and the situation they're in may contribute to why they didn't do that.
This brings me to my next point, Queen Lily. She was a marvel; almost everything in the book revolved around her, even when she passed. She haunted the narrative; nearly all the characters' decisions were based on what she would have done or wanted. I was only given a glimpse of her character through King Christopher and her parents, and from what I can deduce, she was a total sweetheart. She was there for Christopher when he needed it the most. Lily pushed him to be the best version of himself; this made losing her all the more painful.
Another thing that I observed after finishing the book was that some of the plot twists and mysteries were predictable, but being able to predict plot twists added excitement and enjoyment for me; I do not know how it would fare for those who wish for an unpredictable book. All in all, it was awesome. I recommend this book to a younger audience, those looking for both angst, fantasy, and hope, but for safe measure, maybe have a box of tissues at your disposal just in case.
******
In the Heart of the Linden Wood
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: In the Heart of the Linden Wood by Ekta R. Garg
