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Oaken Tongue
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138 pages, Hardcover
Published February 12, 2023
4 people are currently reading
68 people want to read
About the author
L. Morton
1 book27 followersFrom a young age, L. Morton has been fascinated by nature and the world of myth and legend. Growing up, she spent countless hours lost in the pages of classic fairy tales, epic fantasies, and ancient legends, and as she grew older, began to explore the deeper meanings behind these stories and the ways in which they continue to resonate with us today.
L. Morton is passionate about the power of stories to transport us to magical realms and ancient times, and so her writing is inspired by the rich traditions of folklore, mythology, and the infinite wonder of the natural world.
Living in a little cottage in the countryside of northern England, she can often be found roaming the forests in search of faery creatures, exploring the vast stone ruins of castles in the north, or curled up by the fire with her nose in a fantasy novel.
L. Morton is passionate about the power of stories to transport us to magical realms and ancient times, and so her writing is inspired by the rich traditions of folklore, mythology, and the infinite wonder of the natural world.
Living in a little cottage in the countryside of northern England, she can often be found roaming the forests in search of faery creatures, exploring the vast stone ruins of castles in the north, or curled up by the fire with her nose in a fantasy novel.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 5, 2023
Well crafted tales filled with death and decay.
Not my usual genre, but would recommend for those who love some dark folklore.
Not my usual genre, but would recommend for those who love some dark folklore.
July 28, 2023
I loved this book for it’s mixing and melding of traditional folk tales and myths with a modern twist…and all the while a recurring theme of not fitting in.
May 16, 2023
Where to begin with L. Morton's era-sweeping debut; one that brushes its gnarled, oaken fingertips into every salt-daggered shore, every verdant forest, every snow-clad tundra - truly, every corner of your imagination.
Oaken Tongue is a collection of short tales and some poetry reimagining ancient folklore, as well as crafting entirely new and astounding stories centred around the everlasting complexity and power of nature, and perhaps how small a shadow humanity casts in comparison to it - and what may happen to us if we attempt to turn on our earth and seas.
You will never, ever feel bored turning these pages - every story is so distinct and yet tied together by Morton's strong voice for unique characters, unbelievably vivid descriptions that put you right into what ever wilderness she'd like to drop you in this time - and winding storylines that have you waiting with baited breath for their (often gruesome, often hopeful) ends.
Morton has an uncanny talent for weaving together the most beautiful, vivid imagery you can conjure up (and her talents lie not only in describing the woods and its inhabitants - the secrets of every habitat is at the beck and call of her pen, or keyboard), with devastating, heart-wrenching consequences for its characters so often brought to their knees by all-too common aspects of humanity: cruelty and greed.
There is brutality too in nature itself - the way the seas can tear a man apart, or the bodies of those mauled by beasts may sink into nothingness in the bog. Morton presents these instances of demise at nature's hands in a different light to the violence inflicted between humans, however - they are inevitable, they are natural, and although they hurt, there is no actual deliberate cruelty in the wilderness. Humans like to think so, for it makes it easier to accept. But it is human beings that have invented new ways of being cruel to each other that defy the rules of the wilderness.
Morton's writing, in this way, is much like nature itself: where splendour and softness often go hand-in-hand with the unyielding cycle of life and death itself.
The darkness of the tales in Oaken Tongue is not without hope, however. There's a fairytale-familiarity to many of them and their cautioning of what may happen if we disrespect the powers of the natural world we were born into.
There is beautifully romantic sapphic love within, of feminine power defying the odds and misogyny rife throughout human history. This is wonderfully entwined with man's dominion over nature, and hatred of the connection women in our history made with healing plants and the wilderness - witches, specifically. (Agatha and Lily are such well-crafted, beautiful characters that will remain in my memory for a long time).
There is much non-romantic love, platonic and shared between family members, or between beast and human, that is to be adored here too.
As well as celebrating nature, and it having its final say despite whatever religions or laws humans may throw at each other: the stories in Oaken Tongue revive to life again ancient legends also. Beautifully complex characters in the form of dragons and faefolk roam these pages, and are as alive and full of spirit as the humans featured (and actually, more than many of them).
This book is an absolute treat, needless to say - I'm sad to have finished it, but there is such a wealth of stories in here - all standalone - that it's a tome I know I will return to time, and time again. Please consider giving this a read if you've any love for the wilderness, fantasy, pagan traditions or folklore - I guarantee you'll be sucked right in, as I was.
Oaken Tongue is a collection of short tales and some poetry reimagining ancient folklore, as well as crafting entirely new and astounding stories centred around the everlasting complexity and power of nature, and perhaps how small a shadow humanity casts in comparison to it - and what may happen to us if we attempt to turn on our earth and seas.
You will never, ever feel bored turning these pages - every story is so distinct and yet tied together by Morton's strong voice for unique characters, unbelievably vivid descriptions that put you right into what ever wilderness she'd like to drop you in this time - and winding storylines that have you waiting with baited breath for their (often gruesome, often hopeful) ends.
Morton has an uncanny talent for weaving together the most beautiful, vivid imagery you can conjure up (and her talents lie not only in describing the woods and its inhabitants - the secrets of every habitat is at the beck and call of her pen, or keyboard), with devastating, heart-wrenching consequences for its characters so often brought to their knees by all-too common aspects of humanity: cruelty and greed.
There is brutality too in nature itself - the way the seas can tear a man apart, or the bodies of those mauled by beasts may sink into nothingness in the bog. Morton presents these instances of demise at nature's hands in a different light to the violence inflicted between humans, however - they are inevitable, they are natural, and although they hurt, there is no actual deliberate cruelty in the wilderness. Humans like to think so, for it makes it easier to accept. But it is human beings that have invented new ways of being cruel to each other that defy the rules of the wilderness.
Morton's writing, in this way, is much like nature itself: where splendour and softness often go hand-in-hand with the unyielding cycle of life and death itself.
The darkness of the tales in Oaken Tongue is not without hope, however. There's a fairytale-familiarity to many of them and their cautioning of what may happen if we disrespect the powers of the natural world we were born into.
There is beautifully romantic sapphic love within, of feminine power defying the odds and misogyny rife throughout human history. This is wonderfully entwined with man's dominion over nature, and hatred of the connection women in our history made with healing plants and the wilderness - witches, specifically. (Agatha and Lily are such well-crafted, beautiful characters that will remain in my memory for a long time).
There is much non-romantic love, platonic and shared between family members, or between beast and human, that is to be adored here too.
As well as celebrating nature, and it having its final say despite whatever religions or laws humans may throw at each other: the stories in Oaken Tongue revive to life again ancient legends also. Beautifully complex characters in the form of dragons and faefolk roam these pages, and are as alive and full of spirit as the humans featured (and actually, more than many of them).
This book is an absolute treat, needless to say - I'm sad to have finished it, but there is such a wealth of stories in here - all standalone - that it's a tome I know I will return to time, and time again. Please consider giving this a read if you've any love for the wilderness, fantasy, pagan traditions or folklore - I guarantee you'll be sucked right in, as I was.
April 7, 2025
I bought this folklore-rooted horror-fantasy story collection because I loved the author’s literary teas and wanted to support her in this new endeavour. And I’m glad that I did.
The writing style is very poetic, rich in detailed descriptions and rooted in nature in all its dirt-and-bone grittiness. There is a mixture of short stories and poems, based around traditional folk and fairytale scenarios, with many of the pieces written in the first-person perspective.
Each story within is evocative of the woodlands and meadows, streams and shore, soil and bark and salt, sunlight and moonlight, rot and wolves and worms, and blood and bones – every word and idea firmly grounded in nature and in natural mythology.
While slightly overwritten in places, this is a really lovely collection of dark, traditional-style tales that goes well with an earthy mushroom or herbal tea, beside a crackling wood fire, under a hand-knitted blanket, where you can really feel the pull of our history with nature in your bones.
The writing style is very poetic, rich in detailed descriptions and rooted in nature in all its dirt-and-bone grittiness. There is a mixture of short stories and poems, based around traditional folk and fairytale scenarios, with many of the pieces written in the first-person perspective.
Each story within is evocative of the woodlands and meadows, streams and shore, soil and bark and salt, sunlight and moonlight, rot and wolves and worms, and blood and bones – every word and idea firmly grounded in nature and in natural mythology.
While slightly overwritten in places, this is a really lovely collection of dark, traditional-style tales that goes well with an earthy mushroom or herbal tea, beside a crackling wood fire, under a hand-knitted blanket, where you can really feel the pull of our history with nature in your bones.
January 26, 2025
What a wonderful and magical selection of stories! My new favorite author hands down!! So many favorites in this collection that I am already looking forward to reading it again!! I can't wait to see what future stories you will be sharing!
December 27, 2025
My mom bought me this book for Christmas and I finished it in a day. It’s delicious to read and I loved every word. The way the author plays on the ancient and the modern. It’s wonderful and I’ll read again and again.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews