Review of In the Heart of the Linden Wood

[Laney K]

[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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In the Heart of the Linden Wood by Ekta R. Garg is a beautiful depiction of grief set in a fantasy world. King Christopher's beloved wife, Lily, died in childbirth. He was devastated and blamed Healer Geraldine who was helping to deliver the baby. Caught up in his grief, Christopher had no desire or confidence to rule his kingdom. However, the magical wood of Linden was beginning to die. Christopher had no choice but to try and find the Keeper of the Wood before all the wood died. Will Christopher be able to save the wood or will his grief consume him?

Every single character in this novel felt real. Christopher's anger toward Healer Geraldine was palpable as he learned of the death of his wife and child. His fear of leading the kingdom without Lily by his side leads him to face feelings of inadequacy as he faces a devastating threat to the kingdom. Healer Geraldine's own doubt begins to eat away at her as she wonders if perhaps there was more she could have done. She is also angry at Christopher for blaming her. When Christopher realizes that Healer Geraldine is crucial to his quest, the two must confront their emotions if the wood is to be saved.

The only downside to this book is it does have a slow start. However, this is more than made up for with the level of detail and characterization. The book was also exceptionally well-edited; I did not notice a single error in the entire book.

I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. While the beginning was a little slow, that was the only thing I even remotely disliked. This book is best suited for those who enjoy fantasy novels driven by characterization. This novel is suitable for both teenagers and adults. If you enjoy character growth and the exploration of grief, then I suggest you check out In the Heart of the Linden Wood!

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In the Heart of the Linden Wood
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