Review of In the Heart of the Linden Wood

[Ngozi Onyibor]

[Following is a volunteer review of "In the Heart of the Linden Wood" by Ekta R. Garg.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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Because of his father's constant belittling and high-handedness, Christopher grew into a man unsure of himself and even more unsure of his capabilities as a king. All that changed when he married Lily. Her presence, reassurance, and encouragement boosted his confidence and molded him into a better king to Lindeners than his father. Sadly, he lost her and their child during childbirth and grief overwhelmed him. However, it seems Queen Lily and the princess are not the only thing the kingdom of Linden has lost. The Linden trees, the kingdom's lifeblood, are failing. An unplanned takeover of the palace forced King Christopher and his guard master, Martin, out of the palace and into the home of a sworn enemy, whose son might be the key to restoring the failing Linden Woods.

One of the first things that pulled me into In the Heart of the Linden Wood by Ekta R. Garg is its stunning, dreamy cover. The book's cover belies its content. Based on the cover, I was expecting a happily ever-after fairytale; instead, a gritty, raw account of heartbreak, loss, grief, and redemption greeted me. However, when I read the reason behind the book's premise in the acknowledgments section of the book, the entire plot made sense.

I particularly loved how the author tackled the themes of parental neglect and pressure through the relationship between King Christopher and his father, King Vincent. Ekta did a great job showing the effect of years of disparaging comments and high-handedness on a person's confidence.

Another aspect I enjoyed is the depiction of the relationship between Geraldine and Sullivan. It's often common for people in a relationship to focus on what the other person is doing wrong. Rarely does each person reflect on their shortcomings.

Overall, In the Heart of the Linden Wood was an utterly enjoyable novel. The story is riveting and rife with life lessons. Also, I spotted no errors while reading the book and have no improvements to recommend. The book's flawless execution deserves 5 out of 5 stars.

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In the Heart of the Linden Wood
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