Review of In the Heart of the Linden Wood

[Arshadq]

[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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How would you cope with the fate of a kingdom on your shoulders while mourning your wife and child? This is what King Christopher is going through in In the Heart of the Linden Wood. In this book Christopher goes on a journey to save Linden all while carrying the grief of a husband and father. 

As Queen Lily and her unborn child are lost during birth, the king, Christopher, blames it all on the healer, Geraldine, who, despite her best efforts, could not save the queen and the heir to the throne. The king strips Geraldine of her healing license, but she continues her healing in her own village, disobeying the king’s orders, while seeking answers to her son Alistair’s unknown sickness. News comes to the king that the magical Linden wood has begun failing, with tools made from the wood turning to dust, and the king seeks to find answers. A protest led by Lemuel takes place the day of the procession of Queen Lily, with Lemuel capturing the castle and holding Queen Lily’s parents, the king and queen of Wyndemere, hostage, and King Christopher and his guardsmaster fleeing to find a way to restore balance. With the castle in danger, the woods failing, and going through the loss of a wife and child, Christopher has a lot on his shoulders. Will Christopher be able to find a way to heal the woods? Can he save the castle from Lemuel’s protest? How will he cope with the loss of his love and child? Read In the Heart of the Linden Wood to find out.

This book was one of the best I have read. From the cover to the content of the book, it did not fail to amaze me. It kept me hooked on the story right from the beginning. Most books progress page by page with something catastrophic happening in the end, but this one started right from the beginning. It was a very emotional book too, with parts where Christopher’s love for Lily was tested. It was also amazing to see how Christopher and Lily’s bond was so strong, as if one completed the other. The characters were well developed, with each having a great story from beginning to end. Even some of the side characters had great stories. My favorite character was Martin, because he was an orphan who turned into the king’s best friend from childhood. And even though they were best friends, Martin respected the king very much and cared for the king. Another unique character was Alistair, Geraldine’s son. He was very interesting, from learning that he would not talk much to being a very important character in the story. Another plus was that the book was in third person, but it explored each character’s perspectives individually. Some parts of the book would continue the story from Christopher’s perspective, reflecting his thoughts and ideas, and the next chapter would tell the story from Geraldine’s or Lemuel’s perspectives, respectively. There was a very unexpected twist near the end that I didn’t expect at all, and it nearly made me cry!

Overall, I would give this book a rating of 5 out of 5. It was a perfect book, one that didn’t disappoint. I enjoyed reading every page, with no confusion at all. I would say the book was mostly edited, as I found very few grammatical errors or typos. The book came full circle in the end, with a perfect ending and perfect character arcs. For fans of fantasy, this would be an amazing read. I would recommend it to everyone, even if you aren’t a fan of fantasy, as I think this book could change your perspective. Grab a copy and follow Christopher’s journey as he tries to save his people and his kingdom.

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In the Heart of the Linden Wood
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[Priya Murugesan]

I am intrigued by the Christopher character. I love fantasy books and I am pretty sure that I will enjoy this book. Thanks for your detailed review!

[Divine Grace Padre]

"In the Heart of the Linden Wood" by Ekta R. Garg is a fantasy novel that explores themes of grief, loss, and healing. The story follows King Christopher, who embarks on a journey to save his kingdom's magical trees, known as the Linden Wood, after his wife and unborn child pass away. Alongside his friend Martin and healer Geraldine, Christopher seeks to restore the trees and overcome his personal struggles.The novel shines in its portrayal of human emotions, particularly grief and forgiveness. Garg beautifully captures the complexities of Christopher's emotional journey.Each character has a unique role and contributes to the story's progression. Christopher's transformation from a grieving king to a determined leader is noteworthy. The author's descriptive writing style allows readers to visualize the castle, woods, and other locations.Some reviewers find the novel's pace slow, with the main characters receiving their quest around the halfway point.While the story is engaging, it may not be overly focused on fantasy, which could be a drawback for some readers seeking more action-oriented fantasy.
"In the Heart of the Linden Wood" is a touching and emotional novel that explores themes of loss, healing, and personal growth. With its strong character development and immersive world-building, it's a great choice for readers seeking a character-driven fantasy story.

[Arshadq]

I am intrigued by the Christopher character. I love fantasy books and I am pretty sure that I will enjoy this book. Thanks for your detailed review!

Thank you for the comment!

[Arshadq]

"In the Heart of the Linden Wood" by Ekta R. Garg is a fantasy novel that explores themes of grief, loss, and healing. The story follows King Christopher, who embarks on a journey to save his kingdom's magical trees, known as the Linden Wood, after his wife and unborn child pass away. Alongside his friend Martin and healer Geraldine, Christopher seeks to restore the trees and overcome his personal struggles.The novel shines in its portrayal of human emotions, particularly grief and forgiveness. Garg beautifully captures the complexities of Christopher's emotional journey.Each character has a unique role and contributes to the story's progression. Christopher's transformation from a grieving king to a determined leader is noteworthy. The author's descriptive writing style allows readers to visualize the castle, woods, and other locations.Some reviewers find the novel's pace slow, with the main characters receiving their quest around the halfway point.While the story is engaging, it may not be overly focused on fantasy, which could be a drawback for some readers seeking more action-oriented fantasy.
"In the Heart of the Linden Wood" is a touching and emotional novel that explores themes of loss, healing, and personal growth. With its strong character development and immersive world-building, it's a great choice for readers seeking a character-driven fantasy story.

Indeed it is! Thank you

[Gerry Steen]

How does King Christopher save the Kingdom and the wood? How does the banished Geraldine the healer fair with her ill son, Alistair? The well-developed characters and the third-person narrative will keep me enthralled. Thank you for reviewing this book.

[Arshadq]

How does King Christopher save the Kingdom and the wood? How does the banished Geraldine the healer fair with her ill son, Alistair? The well-developed characters and the third-person narrative will keep me enthralled. Thank you for reviewing this book.

Questions that can only be answered if you read the book! You're welcome

[Chi Chiu Michael Mak]

The King is shaping up to be a very sympathetic character. Rationally, it's never the healer's fault, but emotionally, it's all too easy to pin the blame on her. It's hard to choose which to root for: the King and the Failed Healer.

[Arshadq]

The King is shaping up to be a very sympathetic character. Rationally, it's never the healer's fault, but emotionally, it's all too easy to pin the blame on her. It's hard to choose which to root for: the King and the Failed Healer.

Exactly what I thought! From the start I sided with the healer, but as the story went on, I understood the King's pain. Thanks for the comment!

[Laney K]

I also quite enjoyed reading this book. I thought the characters were quite dynamic as well!

[Neha Panikar]

I'm not into fantasy fiction anymore,but this book and story sounds terrific. I will surely recommend it to my friends who like this genre. Thankyou for the review!!

[Arshadq]

I also quite enjoyed reading this book. I thought the characters were quite dynamic as well!

Yes I agree! Thanks for taking the time to comment

[Arshadq]

I'm not into fantasy fiction anymore,but this book and story sounds terrific. I will surely recommend it to my friends who like this genre. Thankyou for the review!!

You're welcome! Thanks for the review

[Anu Anand]

Losing both a partner and a child sounds heartbreaking, especially for a king expected to lead. I’m curious how Christopher carries that grief while trying to save his kingdom. Alistair and Martin sound like great characters too. The book cover is really beautiful!

[Chinazo Anozie]

I love fantasies, and I've read this author's previous work, so I'm sure I'll enjoy In the Heart of the Linden Wood by Ekta R. Garg. Thanks for the detailed review!