Beyond the Deepwoods #BookReview

Title: Beyond the Deepwoods (The Edge Chronicles Book 1)

Author(s): Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell

Genre: Fantasy/middle grade

Rating: Five stars

 

 

Blurb:

“Abandoned at birth in the perilous Deepwoods, Twig Verginix is brought up by a family of woodtrolls. One cold night, Twig does what no woodtroll has ever done before – he strays from the path.

So begins a heart-stopping adventure that will take Twig through a nightmare world of fearsome goblins, bloodthirsty beasts and flesh-eating trees. Can he discover the truth about his past?

Beyond the Deepwoods is the first book of the Twig Saga – second trilogy in The Edge Chronicles, the internationally best-selling fantasy series, which has featured on the UK and the New York Times best-seller lists and sold more than 3 million copies. There are now 13 titles and four trilogies in the series, but each book is a stand-alone adventure, so you can read The Edge Chronicles in any order you choose.”

 

Who’s driving this thing?

Twig Verginix, an orphan raised by woodtrolls who accidentally strays from the path in search of his past.

Twig is a gentle character who has a lot of compassion and tends to be a bit naïve. But as the dangers of the Deepwoods make themselves known to him, he toughens up. Yet, his trusting nature is still his undoing.

 

What’s this all about?

Twig is a human living amongst woodtrolls, so naturally, he has questions about where he came from. When he decides to set off on a journey to answer these questions, Twig accidentally strays from the path and into the dangerous depths of the Deepwoods.

He encounters all manner of dangerous creatures, yet manages to befriend some of them, including the ferocious Banderbear.

What Twig doesn’t understand is that he is being lured into a trap by one of the most devious creatures known to man – the Gloamglozer. It’s only with the help of his new friends that Twig can hope to escape his fate.

 

What’s so great about it?

I first read this one when I was a little girl and the whole world blew me away. Twig was a relatable character, who was just as lost and clueless about the world he was in as I was. Better yet, he made such unusual friends and they are all loyal to each other. It’s a heart-warming tale of adventure and it will give you so many feels.

The world of The Edge Chronicles is incredibly inventive from the species to the settlements and even the extensive history. To be fair, I’m referencing the whole series which build on all of the above, but if it gives you a better idea of how awesome the stories are, so be it.

 

What’s not so great about it?

I always wanted to learn more about Twig’s past in the first book and it isn’t really explored until book two, which I also highly recommend. But that’s literally it. I love this book.

I love it so much that I’m going to give it The Secret Library Recommended Reads badge!

 

Where can I get it?

Right now, the first 9 books in the series are being sold together as hardcovers for $60 on Amazon and if I wasn’t so broke, I’d be on that.

But if you want to give just Beyond the Deepwoods a try, it’s also on Amazon at this link in a ridiculous number of formats: e-book, paperback, hardback, “mass market paperback” and audiobook. The prices are a little bit heftier than indie books but it’s worth the investment, for sure.

Thanks for reading!