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The Tapestry #5
The Red Winter
An inventive and action-packed mix of fantasy, science fiction, and mythology, all in a realistic contemporary setting.
Rowan has won a battle, but not the war. With proper allies, Rowan’s armies could storm the demon stronghold, capture its ruler, and end the reign of demonkind. But while nations clash, a greater struggle lies elsewhere. In his desperate pursuit of Astaroth, Elias Bram scours the world for clues to the fiend’s true origins, identity, and purpose. His horrifying discoveries hint that not only is humanity at risk, but the earth itself. Its fate may depend upon three children. With their unmatchable skills, it’s up to Max McDaniels, David Menlo, and little Mina to tip the balance!
In the Tapestry’s final volume, Henry H. Neff concludes an unforgettable series in which magic can live, gods can die, and the highest stakes require the greatest sacrifice.
Rowan has won a battle, but not the war. With proper allies, Rowan’s armies could storm the demon stronghold, capture its ruler, and end the reign of demonkind. But while nations clash, a greater struggle lies elsewhere. In his desperate pursuit of Astaroth, Elias Bram scours the world for clues to the fiend’s true origins, identity, and purpose. His horrifying discoveries hint that not only is humanity at risk, but the earth itself. Its fate may depend upon three children. With their unmatchable skills, it’s up to Max McDaniels, David Menlo, and little Mina to tip the balance!
In the Tapestry’s final volume, Henry H. Neff concludes an unforgettable series in which magic can live, gods can die, and the highest stakes require the greatest sacrifice.
480 pages, Hardcover
First published November 25, 2014
123 people are currently reading
2432 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 181 reviews
January 1, 2015
One of the best endings to a series I have ever read. The story was just beautiful. There's no words, no GIFs to express it. I have never cried because of a book in my entire life, but The Red Winter is one of the very, very few books that came close.
Absolutely no complaints other than that it was only released as an e-book, and wasn't in any online libraries-- a shame, but it's well worth buying anyway.
Absolutely no complaints other than that it was only released as an e-book, and wasn't in any online libraries-- a shame, but it's well worth buying anyway.
Currently reading
February 4, 2016Just re-read the first three books then The Maelstrom - loved them all and can't wait for the finale!! Write Henry, write!!!
December 2, 2014
I have just finished reading this book seconds ago and I still have a couple of tears running down my cheeks. I am not going to give you any spoilers or tell you about the story. You just have to read it for yourself. Thank you, Henry Neff, for writing such an awesome ending to this five book series. I am at peace with the ending.
January 1, 2015
When I first picked The Hound of Rowan (Book I of The Tapestry), I had no idea that this would be a journey I would NEVER forget. And I didn't even begin to imagine that it would span so many years, tears, etc. The Red Winter is the most fitting conclusion to any series I've ever seen. By reading it, one feels complete.
Neff's writing is absolutely captivating. The way his characters (especially Max) have advanced from the first book through the fifth is very realistic and you only think of it once you've read the final book and make the comparison. Max McDaniels was an inexperienced twelve-year-old in the first book, but here he is now, an eighteen-year-old warrior (and much more I can't say without spoiling), leading Rowan's army to battle. David Menlo, an introverted kid, has tranformed into a great sorcerer, a genius field general, and yet still retains that bit of childish cuteness and is a thoughtful friend. All in all, I think The Tapestry's characters have grown just like the readers, through the years - though, this also means that, while the first couple of books or three are easily sorted into the children's section (I'm positive adults would enjoy them equally, however), I could not say the same about the final one.
Trust me when I say you won't be able to put this book down. I had to restrain myself many a time to make it last five days. And it also spans many emotional states; from agony and fear to great moments of humor or sadness to tears, to inexplicable joy and euphoria.
To conclude, I recommend the book (and the series, for that matter) to anyone with an interest in Celtic mythology (because, let's not forget that its plot is vastly based on Celtic lore), but also wants something exciting and well-written, as well. This is another pro of the series; it is fast-paced, does not bore you, one might also call it catchy, but it also has a complex plotline that doesn't leave you with questions (at least, not after you've read the final book) and is careful and well-written to the last full stop.
Neff's writing is absolutely captivating. The way his characters (especially Max) have advanced from the first book through the fifth is very realistic and you only think of it once you've read the final book and make the comparison. Max McDaniels was an inexperienced twelve-year-old in the first book, but here he is now, an eighteen-year-old warrior (and much more I can't say without spoiling), leading Rowan's army to battle. David Menlo, an introverted kid, has tranformed into a great sorcerer, a genius field general, and yet still retains that bit of childish cuteness and is a thoughtful friend. All in all, I think The Tapestry's characters have grown just like the readers, through the years - though, this also means that, while the first couple of books or three are easily sorted into the children's section (I'm positive adults would enjoy them equally, however), I could not say the same about the final one.
Trust me when I say you won't be able to put this book down. I had to restrain myself many a time to make it last five days. And it also spans many emotional states; from agony and fear to great moments of humor or sadness to tears, to inexplicable joy and euphoria.
To conclude, I recommend the book (and the series, for that matter) to anyone with an interest in Celtic mythology (because, let's not forget that its plot is vastly based on Celtic lore), but also wants something exciting and well-written, as well. This is another pro of the series; it is fast-paced, does not bore you, one might also call it catchy, but it also has a complex plotline that doesn't leave you with questions (at least, not after you've read the final book) and is careful and well-written to the last full stop.
May 1, 2018
The is series is probably the best fantasy series I have ever read. Yes I dare to say quite possibly better than Harry Potter (gasp!). It's written so well and I truly fell in love with the characters. All the characters. And the ending ❤️. I only wish this last book was in print. But e-book with have to do. You will not regret reading this series.
May 24, 2023
Deep, emotional, enthralling. A fitting end to the series. It has been interesting to see the progression in the author's work through the five books, this final one was much more mature and established. Plenty of highs and lows, but in the end everything came together in a very satisfying way.
February 8, 2019
"Be brave. Today we must all be heroes."
Rating: 3 stars
The Hound of Rowan: 3 stars
The Second Siege: 3.5 stars
The Fiend and the Forge: 3.75 stars
The Maelstrom: 3.75 stars
So The Tapestry is finally over! And when I say that, I do indeed mean I was waiting for it to end. For most of the series, I never felt bored. I enjoyed my time reading, which is why the books in this series have been rated relatively high for number of problems I have with each book. But this one. This one was rough. The pages are just filled with large paragraphs of description. By about 50% of the way through, I wanted to be done. I decided to stick it out because I'm not one to DNF a series in the last half of the last book. But it was rough.
I expected to rate this book much higher, and for the first 20% of the book I was in the 4-4.5 star range. And then the book just kept dragging on. The characters and their interactions are so much better than they were in the beginning of the series and I really appreciate that. BUT, now the plot is dragging. I think one reason for this is that the series did not need to be five books long. Cutting out some of the unnecessary stuff, this series could have been a really good fantasy trilogy. And THIS stems from the fact that the plot was too layered. By this, I mean that there were too many antagonists and diverging storylines. Prusias's defeat at the Battle of Blys couldn't even feel like a success because we went right into the problem of Astaroth. Prusias was the main antagonist in most of books 3-4, and his defeat was just skimmed over. I really wish the series had cut out Prusias entirely, made Astaroth the main antagonist, and wrapped this all up in three books. It would have been more focused and overall better quality. Going off of this, I felt Astaroth's defeat was very underwhelming, and it's probably because he had to share the spotlight with Prusias.
When the firestorm had passed, all that remained was the god.
Here's our other problem: the hype around Max's powers. I've mentioned this in almost every review for this series. Max has some giant god-like power-up like twice a book. It gets repetitive, and it's hard to find realistic that he just continues to get more and more powerful. There are so many quotes like the one mentioned above; it just got ridiculous.
To read my overall thoughts on The Tapestry series, check out my full review here.
Rating: 3 stars
The Hound of Rowan: 3 stars
The Second Siege: 3.5 stars
The Fiend and the Forge: 3.75 stars
The Maelstrom: 3.75 stars
So The Tapestry is finally over! And when I say that, I do indeed mean I was waiting for it to end. For most of the series, I never felt bored. I enjoyed my time reading, which is why the books in this series have been rated relatively high for number of problems I have with each book. But this one. This one was rough. The pages are just filled with large paragraphs of description. By about 50% of the way through, I wanted to be done. I decided to stick it out because I'm not one to DNF a series in the last half of the last book. But it was rough.
I expected to rate this book much higher, and for the first 20% of the book I was in the 4-4.5 star range. And then the book just kept dragging on. The characters and their interactions are so much better than they were in the beginning of the series and I really appreciate that. BUT, now the plot is dragging. I think one reason for this is that the series did not need to be five books long. Cutting out some of the unnecessary stuff, this series could have been a really good fantasy trilogy. And THIS stems from the fact that the plot was too layered. By this, I mean that there were too many antagonists and diverging storylines. Prusias's defeat at the Battle of Blys couldn't even feel like a success because we went right into the problem of Astaroth. Prusias was the main antagonist in most of books 3-4, and his defeat was just skimmed over. I really wish the series had cut out Prusias entirely, made Astaroth the main antagonist, and wrapped this all up in three books. It would have been more focused and overall better quality. Going off of this, I felt Astaroth's defeat was very underwhelming, and it's probably because he had to share the spotlight with Prusias.
When the firestorm had passed, all that remained was the god.
Here's our other problem: the hype around Max's powers. I've mentioned this in almost every review for this series. Max has some giant god-like power-up like twice a book. It gets repetitive, and it's hard to find realistic that he just continues to get more and more powerful. There are so many quotes like the one mentioned above; it just got ridiculous.
To read my overall thoughts on The Tapestry series, check out my full review here.
January 24, 2023
Finally putting the series to rest in my mind -- every now and then I've thought of 'that Tapestry series' with nostalgia and I'm glad I finally got around to finishing it (almost 10 years later!).
The final chapters... I was expecting something similar to be the natural conclusion, but the epilogue still made me surprisingly emotional :')
The final chapters... I was expecting something similar to be the natural conclusion, but the epilogue still made me surprisingly emotional :')
May 2, 2023
“What are you about? Answer quick or I’ll gobble you up!”
And at last, Max finally responds to the wolfhound’s unanswered question!
“Max McDaniels. And I’ve come home.”
It takes great strength to accept yourself for who you are and Max did grow from a seedling to a hero and prince of Rodruban.
I’ve read this entire series, and this book was the final installment of the tale of Max McDaniels, extraordinary young student at Rowan magic academy. Like the Harry Potter books, the later stories grow dark as they near toward their conclusion. This book was very dark, with a lot of battles and war. Some long-time beloved characters die. It’s not pretty. This book is long, at times hard to get through, but scantily peppered with some humor to help ease some of the pain. (See: the Hag Naming chapter).
We know a huge showdown is coming. It’s the last book, Max is injured, and Astaroth is still a huge threat. I found the ending to be both heartbreaking and satisfying, as our hero’s journey comes to an end.
And at last, Max finally responds to the wolfhound’s unanswered question!
“Max McDaniels. And I’ve come home.”
It takes great strength to accept yourself for who you are and Max did grow from a seedling to a hero and prince of Rodruban.
I’ve read this entire series, and this book was the final installment of the tale of Max McDaniels, extraordinary young student at Rowan magic academy. Like the Harry Potter books, the later stories grow dark as they near toward their conclusion. This book was very dark, with a lot of battles and war. Some long-time beloved characters die. It’s not pretty. This book is long, at times hard to get through, but scantily peppered with some humor to help ease some of the pain. (See: the Hag Naming chapter).
We know a huge showdown is coming. It’s the last book, Max is injured, and Astaroth is still a huge threat. I found the ending to be both heartbreaking and satisfying, as our hero’s journey comes to an end.
May 16, 2015
While I would have preferred a print version of book 5 (to go with books 1 to 4), having the e-book version was better than having none. It was a good conclusion to the series, no question about that, although I was strangely disappointed with the final battle with Astaroth and with what happened to Bram.
June 5, 2024
I'm going to miss this wonderful series and the characters we have grown to know and love over the course of the five books. In retrospect, I marvel again that it took me so many years to read this series, most of which I have owned since 2012! For whatever reason, I simply never felt the motivation to begin diving into the series, until I read aloud the author's other book, Impyrium, earlier this year. I didn't even realize at first that it was by the same author, but it is, and even set within the same literary fantasy world (albeit several thousand years later). We loved Impyrium so much, we immediately started the Tapestry series afterwards, and we have loved it, as well, from start to finish.
It is a strong series, and this fifth and final book made for a strong and satisfying finish. The author's world building, character development, plot weaving, and story telling are all superlative. As my son pointed out, there's just the right mix of interesting narrative, engaging dialogue, and lighthearted humor throughout, which really only improve as the series progresses.
I've compared the Tapestry series favorably to the Harry Potter series, and I stand by that, although it is not derivative or immitative; it's more a matter of broadly belonging to the same basic genre, with a somewhat similar setting and ensemble of characters. There's enough similarity that I do believe it would appeal -- in its own fresh and unique way -- to those who have loved Harry Potter. In other respects, it also reminded me of the Chronicles of Prydain, by Lloyd Alexander, one of my all-time favorite series; and again of the Percy Jackson series, which our family has also enjoyed.
There are some aspects of the Tapestry series which may be offputting to some readers, including demons and fairies, demigods, and magic throughout, all part of the fictional literary fantasy world that Henry Neff has created. Interestingly, there are also a few references, here and there, to the true God, the Creator of the world, without any hint of disrespect or disparragement at all. Parents of younger children should also note that there are some fairly heavy aspects to the story, in the way of suffering, grief, violence, death, and mourning, none of it gratuitous, but some of which may be more than younger readers or listeners should be exposed to without parental discretion. For older children and adults, however, I do recommend the series highly.
It is a strong series, and this fifth and final book made for a strong and satisfying finish. The author's world building, character development, plot weaving, and story telling are all superlative. As my son pointed out, there's just the right mix of interesting narrative, engaging dialogue, and lighthearted humor throughout, which really only improve as the series progresses.
I've compared the Tapestry series favorably to the Harry Potter series, and I stand by that, although it is not derivative or immitative; it's more a matter of broadly belonging to the same basic genre, with a somewhat similar setting and ensemble of characters. There's enough similarity that I do believe it would appeal -- in its own fresh and unique way -- to those who have loved Harry Potter. In other respects, it also reminded me of the Chronicles of Prydain, by Lloyd Alexander, one of my all-time favorite series; and again of the Percy Jackson series, which our family has also enjoyed.
There are some aspects of the Tapestry series which may be offputting to some readers, including demons and fairies, demigods, and magic throughout, all part of the fictional literary fantasy world that Henry Neff has created. Interestingly, there are also a few references, here and there, to the true God, the Creator of the world, without any hint of disrespect or disparragement at all. Parents of younger children should also note that there are some fairly heavy aspects to the story, in the way of suffering, grief, violence, death, and mourning, none of it gratuitous, but some of which may be more than younger readers or listeners should be exposed to without parental discretion. For older children and adults, however, I do recommend the series highly.
July 6, 2024
Overall a really satisfying ending to one of the most unique and weird series I’ve ever read. It’s a confusing one to recommend because it changes so drastically in genre, tone, and age of intended audience between books 1 and 5, but it has some really incredible setup and payoff and by the end explores some really interesting themes and characters. Also Astaroth is one of the most interesting and absolutely terrifying main antagonists in all of fiction.
I don’t know who to tell to read this because it has such strange vibe, but if a middle grade Celtic Harry Potter clone that morphs into an adult cosmic horror demon war novel sounds fun to you give it a shot!
I don’t know who to tell to read this because it has such strange vibe, but if a middle grade Celtic Harry Potter clone that morphs into an adult cosmic horror demon war novel sounds fun to you give it a shot!
September 14, 2024
Waited years for this book to come out... was so worf
Irish mythology pretty rad
Irish mythology pretty rad
December 19, 2024
Such a good ending to this series, makes me so sad but happy at the same time 🥺
February 20, 2025
Crispy, Reggie. Crispy.
May 1, 2025
My new favorite series
March 16, 2023
I'll write a review of the entire series here.
I think Neff's Tapestry series is criminally underrated, and I have re-read it at least 3 or 4 times since I first discovered it as a boy. A reductive summary of the books might be "Harry Potter, but with Irish mythology, gods, and demons."
Of course, I think this series is actually far superior to Harry Potter, and that is because it matures so well. Every re-read, I have found something new to enjoy about the books. While the character-driven story is great, what I most recently enjoyed was the dense mythological focus and the way that Neff makes ideas like Tuatha de Danann really come to life. When reading the books again I was doing deep dives on Wikipedia, reading up on Cuchulainn, Osiris in Egyptian mythology, creation myths, and Gaelic history simply because I was so curious after seeing their depictions in this series.
Beyond the mythological aspects, I also enjoyed how the rubber hits the road so fast. While book 1 of the series is your standard come-to-Hogwarts sort of fare, by book 2 we are already off the deep end and it only gets better from there. The diversity of plots and conflicts throughout books 2-5 is awesome.
At the same time, the consistent villain is clearly Astaroth, and he's a great villain indeed. In books 4-5 we get to see a real deep, scholarly aspect to the plot emerge when Bram starts to delve into the alien nature of Astaroth and begins to understand his deeper and otherworldly nature and aspirations. This is sort of an extended plot twist and one that prevents books 4-5 from being a tired rehashing of the basic conflict with Astaroth from the earlier books. To compare to Harry Potter again, I'd say that this is like the discovery of Horcruxes, only much better because with the Horcruxes once they are revealed in book 6 of HP there is essentially no mystery left.
Overall, I love these books and anyone who is into fiction/fantasy should definitely give them a read.
I think Neff's Tapestry series is criminally underrated, and I have re-read it at least 3 or 4 times since I first discovered it as a boy. A reductive summary of the books might be "Harry Potter, but with Irish mythology, gods, and demons."
Of course, I think this series is actually far superior to Harry Potter, and that is because it matures so well. Every re-read, I have found something new to enjoy about the books. While the character-driven story is great, what I most recently enjoyed was the dense mythological focus and the way that Neff makes ideas like Tuatha de Danann really come to life. When reading the books again I was doing deep dives on Wikipedia, reading up on Cuchulainn, Osiris in Egyptian mythology, creation myths, and Gaelic history simply because I was so curious after seeing their depictions in this series.
Beyond the mythological aspects, I also enjoyed how the rubber hits the road so fast. While book 1 of the series is your standard come-to-Hogwarts sort of fare, by book 2 we are already off the deep end and it only gets better from there. The diversity of plots and conflicts throughout books 2-5 is awesome.
At the same time, the consistent villain is clearly Astaroth, and he's a great villain indeed. In books 4-5 we get to see a real deep, scholarly aspect to the plot emerge when Bram starts to delve into the alien nature of Astaroth and begins to understand his deeper and otherworldly nature and aspirations. This is sort of an extended plot twist and one that prevents books 4-5 from being a tired rehashing of the basic conflict with Astaroth from the earlier books. To compare to Harry Potter again, I'd say that this is like the discovery of Horcruxes, only much better because with the Horcruxes once they are revealed in book 6 of HP there is essentially no mystery left.
Overall, I love these books and anyone who is into fiction/fantasy should definitely give them a read.
October 8, 2019
I’m going to seriously miss this series now that I’ve finished it!
January 21, 2016
I finally wrapped up this series, filled to overflowing with too many evils and many plot twists, yet fairly satisfied with the conclusion. I believe this book has a chapter entitled "Deus ex machina" and that made me chuckle because there seems to be a lot of that throughout the whole series.
I listened to the first 4 books in the series as audiobooks, but apparently this one was only published as an e-book. Fortunately, I could borrow that digital title from my local library and did not have to purchase it to finish up the over-arching story. I DO think the artwork at the beginning of each chapter was interesting, although I think the drawings would have been better placed at the end of the chapter so that one could study the picture after knowing what it would represent.
I didn't realize how much Irish mythology was used in this series until I looked up Lugh (which was pronounce "loo" in the audiobooks. I had no clue about the spelling until I saw it as text.) The other Irish that I stumbled over was the name "Scathach", pronounced like "skaw-talk" in the audiobook. Every time I saw it as text, I was distracted in the flow of reading. I guess that is one thing about fantasy books that bugs me - the odd spellings that one just doesn't know how to pronounce. I guess I'm not a fan of the Irish language as used in this series.
Overall, although the series began with potential, it loses that potential in the second book, and doesn't really recover. And, you know that tapestry carried in the name of the series? Well, that is never really a part of the story beyond its appearance in the first book. ??????
I do wonder if Henry H Neff's other books are worth the time. It seems to me that Goodreads authors are often like self-published authors - maybe not the best writers.
I listened to the first 4 books in the series as audiobooks, but apparently this one was only published as an e-book. Fortunately, I could borrow that digital title from my local library and did not have to purchase it to finish up the over-arching story. I DO think the artwork at the beginning of each chapter was interesting, although I think the drawings would have been better placed at the end of the chapter so that one could study the picture after knowing what it would represent.
I didn't realize how much Irish mythology was used in this series until I looked up Lugh (which was pronounce "loo" in the audiobooks. I had no clue about the spelling until I saw it as text.) The other Irish that I stumbled over was the name "Scathach", pronounced like "skaw-talk" in the audiobook. Every time I saw it as text, I was distracted in the flow of reading. I guess that is one thing about fantasy books that bugs me - the odd spellings that one just doesn't know how to pronounce. I guess I'm not a fan of the Irish language as used in this series.
Overall, although the series began with potential, it loses that potential in the second book, and doesn't really recover. And, you know that tapestry carried in the name of the series? Well, that is never really a part of the story beyond its appearance in the first book. ??????
I do wonder if Henry H Neff's other books are worth the time. It seems to me that Goodreads authors are often like self-published authors - maybe not the best writers.
November 16, 2024
Wow, I really enjoyed this one.
I’ve just re-read the whole tapestry Series, however for whatever reason I did not read this fifth and final book back when I first read the series.
I do quite enjoy every of the five books, although the first one is by far my favorite. I personally felt like in books 2-4 so many new things and places appeared without being properly introduced and therefore I felt kinda lost now and then. In my opinion the first book did not have this problem and I also didn’t notice it in this one.
Since The red winter is the final book of the series a lot of open storylines have to be finished here and for my Henry H. Neff did an incredible job with almost all the characters' stories. Did not have too high expectations going into this but it was amazing. Now I am a little sad that the story is completed.
I’ve just re-read the whole tapestry Series, however for whatever reason I did not read this fifth and final book back when I first read the series.
I do quite enjoy every of the five books, although the first one is by far my favorite. I personally felt like in books 2-4 so many new things and places appeared without being properly introduced and therefore I felt kinda lost now and then. In my opinion the first book did not have this problem and I also didn’t notice it in this one.
Since The red winter is the final book of the series a lot of open storylines have to be finished here and for my Henry H. Neff did an incredible job with almost all the characters' stories. Did not have too high expectations going into this but it was amazing. Now I am a little sad that the story is completed.
May 15, 2024
AMAZING!!! What an end to the great series. If only i had more stars to give.
What i love the most is that there are no loose ends and everything finishes off so nicely and i love. Its been so many years since i encounter that. whole series was leading to this apex and it was wonderful.
I started this series decade back when i thought it is similar to Harry Potter. But i think it is better than Harry potter. (and i am obsessed with HP). The series shows progress of characters where we don't have to second guess. I fell in love with Max and David right from start and other characters like Cooper and toby slowly grew over me
What i love the most is that there are no loose ends and everything finishes off so nicely and i love. Its been so many years since i encounter that. whole series was leading to this apex and it was wonderful.
I started this series decade back when i thought it is similar to Harry Potter. But i think it is better than Harry potter. (and i am obsessed with HP). The series shows progress of characters where we don't have to second guess. I fell in love with Max and David right from start and other characters like Cooper and toby slowly grew over me
November 12, 2025
I am at an utter loss for words. I’d give five billion stars if I could. I am proudly placing this series on my favorites shelf, and am already eager to reread. A heart-wrenching, poignant, and powerful finale to an exceptional, singular series. Perhaps one of the best series finales I’ve ever read.
November 27, 2014
This series is my favorite.
There will never be another character like max, I hope that the author continues to use this wonderful universe he has created in future series that he writes.
There will never be another character like max, I hope that the author continues to use this wonderful universe he has created in future series that he writes.
March 8, 2015
Best series I have ever read.
I think this is the best ending to a series and I will always be comparing other books to this one. Forget Harry Potter and read a truly well written series.
I think this is the best ending to a series and I will always be comparing other books to this one. Forget Harry Potter and read a truly well written series.
Want to read
July 28, 2013So exited for it to come out.
Want to read
June 2, 2014I Can't wait... i'm really despising those people that can read the book online right now as an e-book instead of waiting all the way in November for it to come out in hard cover. *anger*
June 14, 2017
The Red Winter was a fantastic finish to a fantastic series. The ending was one of the best endings I have ever read for a series of this magnitude. This was one of my favorite series of all times.
April 28, 2020
EXCELLENT
January 28, 2023
Amazing conclusion to the Tapestry series, and it is now in physical print (YAY!!! I read this on Kindle, but now own a physical copy with a gorgeous cover and it is so precious). First, before I get into the actual book, I find that the whole Tapestry series could be interpreted as a wonderful retelling of Maurice Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are. And this is why I think this. *Spoilers*
1. Namesake: On Henry Neff's website, he reveals Max is named after Max from Where the Wild Things Are. So the naming of Max McDaniels is pretty symbolic. I mean, Max McDaniels is not as chaotically disruptive and certainly not mean like Sendak's Max, but Max does have an occasional temper and pride. This line from the Fiend in the Forge, when Max tells the trolls, "I'm the wildest thing out here" (sorry, not exact quote because I don't have the book with me) mirrors Sendak's Max being the King of the Wild Things and taming all the monsters. The allusion here is just perfect.
2. Similar Arc: Where the Wild Things Are's plot is this; a boy has a lot of uncontrollable rage (or power), he gets sent to his room without supper, a whole world/woods grow in his room, he sails on a a small sailboat across the seas to a foreign world of monsters. Then he learns he matures, feels lonely, out of place, and doesn't like being a wild thing, sails back to his rightful home, and supper is waiting for him. The Tapestry's overall storyline follows this arc:
-Max has Old Magic in him that is often uncontrollable, alongside inner rage. In his first year, he gets into trouble, and people sometimes see his powers as a threat.
-In the Fiend and the Forge, he literally sails on the Ormenheid (like Sendak's Max sailing) to the land of demons, and confronts those demons. Max matures along the way, discovers himself, and like Max who begins to feel more lonely among the Wild Things, Max steadily feels ostracized from the Mortal World he is in (particularly in The Red Winter).
-So after the fight is done and the battle has been won, Max McDaniels returns to the Sidh, his "true home" (parallel to Sendak's Max return back home), and in the little cottage Max visits, he finds his parents, and Scathach.
3. The last line of both books: The last line of the Red Winter is "...supper was ready...the table was made...and a place had been set for Max." The parallel Where the Wild Things Are's ending with supper waiting for Sendak's Max, and the last line, "and it was still hot" is beautiful. I may as well silently add the "and it was still hot" line to the very end of the Red Winter's last words. Henry Neff is a genius and I can't get over how amazing the whole Tapestry series is.
Now that I've fan-girled about this whole echo of Where the Wild Things Are, and The Red Winter's perfect ending, I'll get to the actual book.
Plot/World Building/Writing:
The Red Winter is a beautiful conclusion to the Tapestry series (I use this word a lot because for me, beautiful suggests equal parts melancholic, triumphant, dark, and light). There are countless scenes that are evocative, vibrant, and Neff writes eloquently. For me, this book was the darkest book of out the series (though The Second Siege or the Maelstrom come pretty close). I mean, they were all dark, but as the conclusion, the Red Winter has bloody battles, more swearing, more obvious innuendo, and major character deaths. I particularly enjoyed how all the characters and plot threads from the previous books come together in this one. I can tell that History is Neff's subject, because the political intrigue is so well written. I loved the Raszna's role, and I love how unexpected characters like Connor (and the plot thread of him being planted in Blys as a Lord, thus his high political status lending to his engagement with the Razsna), Nick and Valya, and Nolan crop up to aid the fight. All the side characters showing up in interesting ways were a joy, like Jason working with Dr. Rasmussen's company yet him ultimately helping out Max and co. I could say so much about the plot, but for length's sake, it engaged me all the way.
The Characters: So many great characters to talk about, but here are the main ones.
Astaroth is a complex, well written villain. He is cunning, haunting, and lawfully evil. His backstory is revealed fully in this book, and let me say it was so fascinating but so, so dark and disturbing. The chapters, "Lord Salisbury's Tale" and "Servant of the Starving Gods" gave me chills, and every chapter that has Astaroth's backstory. The haunting idea of Astaroth being a blank slate, emulating the smile of the people he met, and Neff's whole storytelling of this left me reeling. Also, him calmly tearing off his different faces when confronting David and Max on Ymir was so vividly described that I was actually terrified.
Max and David are great MC, and matured a lot. Awesome character development. Max is so genuinely flawed, for he is an assassin but has empathy and humility. His compassionate heart beneath his wicked strength makes his character lovable, and he understands the consequences of his actions, something I enjoy reading. He is angsty in this one, but finally finds a home he can stay in. David is great, and his wit, banter with Max and everyone else, and eccentricity is refreshing. I also loved how this final book included lots of different POVs. It was surprising because it was a shift from the previous books, which were pretty much all in Max's POV, but then we had David's, Cooper's, and Prusias' POV. Cooper and Miss Boon are other favorite characters of mine, and seeing Cooper's POV was great. The opening line of David's POV had me beaming; it was executed perfectly and his introduction had humor, too.
The Romance:
What's so great about the Tapestry series (among so many other things) is the romance does not consume the books. I like romance in books, but unless the romance is meant to play a large role, I don't like it when the romance dominates the plot and character development. But for the Tapestry, the romance was a side plot, and did not at all dominate. I have to admit, I wasn't really quite rooting for Scathach and Max at first, but they grew on me and of course the tragedy of their relationship had me crying. Cooper and Miss Boon are married in this book, and I was rooting for their relationship since they spent time together in book 2. I enjoyed their little moments, and that they had a child together.
Favorite Scenes:
Again, so many favorites, but here are the most memorable.
Chapter 10: Nether. Superb illustration, and this whole chapter was so well written. I could vividly picture David in the Nether, and his confrontation with Astaroth here is intense. This quote stood out to me: "What would you like me to be, what would you like? Would you like to be me? What would you like?" The repetition, and the same words rearranged to create different meanings is chilling. And the faces "devouring each other" is a memorable description. Astaroth and David have poignant dialogue in this chapter, and "'I have to live. That is the most beautiful thing I have heard this age'" line hit me.
Chapter 22: Juggernaut. Written in Cooper's POV, him, Peter Varga, and Miss Boon coming across Max right after Scathach's death has all the feels. I pictured this scene so vividly, and it is an utterly devastating scene. So tense but so good.
The last few chapters, the Ymir scene, all scenes with Astaroth's backstory, Chapter 5: The Boy who Came to Rodruban, and Chapter 23: The Giant's Song, and the chapter when Max and Scathach are at Connor's ball in Blys.
Some songs that remind me of The Red Winter:
Hawkgirl Pleads for Earth (Justice League Animated Series OST) -- this track was playing in my head during the entire "Juggernaut" chapter, and it accentuated the scene's tragedy and direness.
Titanium cover by Madilyn Bailey.
1. Namesake: On Henry Neff's website, he reveals Max is named after Max from Where the Wild Things Are. So the naming of Max McDaniels is pretty symbolic. I mean, Max McDaniels is not as chaotically disruptive and certainly not mean like Sendak's Max, but Max does have an occasional temper and pride. This line from the Fiend in the Forge, when Max tells the trolls, "I'm the wildest thing out here" (sorry, not exact quote because I don't have the book with me) mirrors Sendak's Max being the King of the Wild Things and taming all the monsters. The allusion here is just perfect.
2. Similar Arc: Where the Wild Things Are's plot is this; a boy has a lot of uncontrollable rage (or power), he gets sent to his room without supper, a whole world/woods grow in his room, he sails on a a small sailboat across the seas to a foreign world of monsters. Then he learns he matures, feels lonely, out of place, and doesn't like being a wild thing, sails back to his rightful home, and supper is waiting for him. The Tapestry's overall storyline follows this arc:
-Max has Old Magic in him that is often uncontrollable, alongside inner rage. In his first year, he gets into trouble, and people sometimes see his powers as a threat.
-In the Fiend and the Forge, he literally sails on the Ormenheid (like Sendak's Max sailing) to the land of demons, and confronts those demons. Max matures along the way, discovers himself, and like Max who begins to feel more lonely among the Wild Things, Max steadily feels ostracized from the Mortal World he is in (particularly in The Red Winter).
-So after the fight is done and the battle has been won, Max McDaniels returns to the Sidh, his "true home" (parallel to Sendak's Max return back home), and in the little cottage Max visits, he finds his parents, and Scathach.
3. The last line of both books: The last line of the Red Winter is "...supper was ready...the table was made...and a place had been set for Max." The parallel Where the Wild Things Are's ending with supper waiting for Sendak's Max, and the last line, "and it was still hot" is beautiful. I may as well silently add the "and it was still hot" line to the very end of the Red Winter's last words. Henry Neff is a genius and I can't get over how amazing the whole Tapestry series is.
Now that I've fan-girled about this whole echo of Where the Wild Things Are, and The Red Winter's perfect ending, I'll get to the actual book.
Plot/World Building/Writing:
The Red Winter is a beautiful conclusion to the Tapestry series (I use this word a lot because for me, beautiful suggests equal parts melancholic, triumphant, dark, and light). There are countless scenes that are evocative, vibrant, and Neff writes eloquently. For me, this book was the darkest book of out the series (though The Second Siege or the Maelstrom come pretty close). I mean, they were all dark, but as the conclusion, the Red Winter has bloody battles, more swearing, more obvious innuendo, and major character deaths. I particularly enjoyed how all the characters and plot threads from the previous books come together in this one. I can tell that History is Neff's subject, because the political intrigue is so well written. I loved the Raszna's role, and I love how unexpected characters like Connor (and the plot thread of him being planted in Blys as a Lord, thus his high political status lending to his engagement with the Razsna), Nick and Valya, and Nolan crop up to aid the fight. All the side characters showing up in interesting ways were a joy, like Jason working with Dr. Rasmussen's company yet him ultimately helping out Max and co. I could say so much about the plot, but for length's sake, it engaged me all the way.
The Characters: So many great characters to talk about, but here are the main ones.
Astaroth is a complex, well written villain. He is cunning, haunting, and lawfully evil. His backstory is revealed fully in this book, and let me say it was so fascinating but so, so dark and disturbing. The chapters, "Lord Salisbury's Tale" and "Servant of the Starving Gods" gave me chills, and every chapter that has Astaroth's backstory. The haunting idea of Astaroth being a blank slate, emulating the smile of the people he met, and Neff's whole storytelling of this left me reeling. Also, him calmly tearing off his different faces when confronting David and Max on Ymir was so vividly described that I was actually terrified.
Max and David are great MC, and matured a lot. Awesome character development. Max is so genuinely flawed, for he is an assassin but has empathy and humility. His compassionate heart beneath his wicked strength makes his character lovable, and he understands the consequences of his actions, something I enjoy reading. He is angsty in this one, but finally finds a home he can stay in. David is great, and his wit, banter with Max and everyone else, and eccentricity is refreshing. I also loved how this final book included lots of different POVs. It was surprising because it was a shift from the previous books, which were pretty much all in Max's POV, but then we had David's, Cooper's, and Prusias' POV. Cooper and Miss Boon are other favorite characters of mine, and seeing Cooper's POV was great. The opening line of David's POV had me beaming; it was executed perfectly and his introduction had humor, too.
The Romance:
What's so great about the Tapestry series (among so many other things) is the romance does not consume the books. I like romance in books, but unless the romance is meant to play a large role, I don't like it when the romance dominates the plot and character development. But for the Tapestry, the romance was a side plot, and did not at all dominate. I have to admit, I wasn't really quite rooting for Scathach and Max at first, but they grew on me and of course the tragedy of their relationship had me crying. Cooper and Miss Boon are married in this book, and I was rooting for their relationship since they spent time together in book 2. I enjoyed their little moments, and that they had a child together.
Favorite Scenes:
Again, so many favorites, but here are the most memorable.
Chapter 10: Nether. Superb illustration, and this whole chapter was so well written. I could vividly picture David in the Nether, and his confrontation with Astaroth here is intense. This quote stood out to me: "What would you like me to be, what would you like? Would you like to be me? What would you like?" The repetition, and the same words rearranged to create different meanings is chilling. And the faces "devouring each other" is a memorable description. Astaroth and David have poignant dialogue in this chapter, and "'I have to live. That is the most beautiful thing I have heard this age'" line hit me.
Chapter 22: Juggernaut. Written in Cooper's POV, him, Peter Varga, and Miss Boon coming across Max right after Scathach's death has all the feels. I pictured this scene so vividly, and it is an utterly devastating scene. So tense but so good.
The last few chapters, the Ymir scene, all scenes with Astaroth's backstory, Chapter 5: The Boy who Came to Rodruban, and Chapter 23: The Giant's Song, and the chapter when Max and Scathach are at Connor's ball in Blys.
Some songs that remind me of The Red Winter:
Hawkgirl Pleads for Earth (Justice League Animated Series OST) -- this track was playing in my head during the entire "Juggernaut" chapter, and it accentuated the scene's tragedy and direness.
Titanium cover by Madilyn Bailey.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 24, 2025
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Find more One Man Book Club Reviews here!
The Value of a Star: Ratings Explained
Hound of Rowan (The Tapestry Series, Book 1)
The Second Siege (The Tapestry Series, Book 2)
The Fiend and the Forge (The Tapestry Series, Book 3)
The Maelstrom (The Tapestry Series, Book 4)
The Red Winter (The Tapestry Series, Book 5)
By: Henry H. Neff
My Rating: Four out of Five Stars
Best For: Advanced readers 12 and up
The Tapestry Series: Harry Potter x Fablehaven x X-Men!
Finding quality middle-grade fiction can be a real quest. Too often, books either talk down to young readers or launch them into material way over their heads. It's a tough balance to strike, but Henry H. Neff's *The Tapestry* series nails it. Think of it as a magical mashup: a dash of Harry Potter's enchanting school setting, the whimsical creatures and hidden worlds of Fablehaven, and a sprinkle of X-Men's exploration of unique abilities. This series delivers a captivating blend of adventure, mystery, and coming-of-age themes that will resonate with readers.
What’s it about?
Max McDaniels seems like an ordinary kid, but his life takes a dramatic turn when he encounters a mysterious tapestry. Suddenly, he's thrust into the world of Rowan Academy, a secret school where students hone extraordinary talents. Max finds himself learning ancient languages, wielding elemental magic, and even communicating with mythical beasts. But Rowan Academy isn't just about fun and games. A sinister force is rising, threatening to engulf the world in darkness. Max and his friends must unravel ancient prophecies, face terrifying creatures, and discover the true potential of their own powers to save the day. The series follows Max and his friends through their years at Rowan as they face increasingly difficult challenges and grow into their roles as protectors of the realm.
What did I love?
The Perfect Middle-Grade Blend: Neff has crafted a series that hits that sweet spot for middle-grade readers. It's exciting and imaginative, but also deals with complex themes in a way that's accessible and engaging.
Themes of Friendship and Choice: The Tapestry series explores the power of friendship, the importance of self-control, and the courage it takes to make your own choices, even when they're difficult. Max and his friends learn to rely on each other, to manage their own powers, and to forge their own paths in the face of destiny. It's a powerful message about growing up and taking responsibility for your actions.
Rich Lore: The series draws heavily from Celtic mythology, creating a rich and immersive world. While the names and places can be a bit challenging (thank goodness for the pronunciation guide in the back of the books!), they add a layer of depth and authenticity to the story. The audiobook version is also a fantastic way to learn the correct pronunciations.
What didn't I love?
Stronger Violence: While the violence isn't gratuitous, there are some scenes that are more intense than I typically expect in middle-grade fiction. Key characters do die, and Neff doesn't shy away from the emotional impact of these losses.
Sensitive Content
As mentioned above, there are some violent scenes and character deaths. There is one scene in book 5 that mentions a nude women. Not sexual, no description of details.
Should you read it?
Absolutely! If you're looking for a thrilling and imaginative adventure series that explores meaningful themes, The Tapestry series is a must-read. It's perfect for advanced middle-grade readers who are ready for a story with depth, excitement, and a touch of darkness.
This Dad says The Tapestry Series is best for advanced readers 12 and up.
Happy Reading!
Find more One Man Book Club Reviews here!
The Value of a Star: Ratings Explained
Hound of Rowan (The Tapestry Series, Book 1)
The Second Siege (The Tapestry Series, Book 2)
The Fiend and the Forge (The Tapestry Series, Book 3)
The Maelstrom (The Tapestry Series, Book 4)
The Red Winter (The Tapestry Series, Book 5)
By: Henry H. Neff
My Rating: Four out of Five Stars
Best For: Advanced readers 12 and up
The Tapestry Series: Harry Potter x Fablehaven x X-Men!
Finding quality middle-grade fiction can be a real quest. Too often, books either talk down to young readers or launch them into material way over their heads. It's a tough balance to strike, but Henry H. Neff's *The Tapestry* series nails it. Think of it as a magical mashup: a dash of Harry Potter's enchanting school setting, the whimsical creatures and hidden worlds of Fablehaven, and a sprinkle of X-Men's exploration of unique abilities. This series delivers a captivating blend of adventure, mystery, and coming-of-age themes that will resonate with readers.
What’s it about?
Max McDaniels seems like an ordinary kid, but his life takes a dramatic turn when he encounters a mysterious tapestry. Suddenly, he's thrust into the world of Rowan Academy, a secret school where students hone extraordinary talents. Max finds himself learning ancient languages, wielding elemental magic, and even communicating with mythical beasts. But Rowan Academy isn't just about fun and games. A sinister force is rising, threatening to engulf the world in darkness. Max and his friends must unravel ancient prophecies, face terrifying creatures, and discover the true potential of their own powers to save the day. The series follows Max and his friends through their years at Rowan as they face increasingly difficult challenges and grow into their roles as protectors of the realm.
What did I love?
The Perfect Middle-Grade Blend: Neff has crafted a series that hits that sweet spot for middle-grade readers. It's exciting and imaginative, but also deals with complex themes in a way that's accessible and engaging.
Themes of Friendship and Choice: The Tapestry series explores the power of friendship, the importance of self-control, and the courage it takes to make your own choices, even when they're difficult. Max and his friends learn to rely on each other, to manage their own powers, and to forge their own paths in the face of destiny. It's a powerful message about growing up and taking responsibility for your actions.
Rich Lore: The series draws heavily from Celtic mythology, creating a rich and immersive world. While the names and places can be a bit challenging (thank goodness for the pronunciation guide in the back of the books!), they add a layer of depth and authenticity to the story. The audiobook version is also a fantastic way to learn the correct pronunciations.
What didn't I love?
Stronger Violence: While the violence isn't gratuitous, there are some scenes that are more intense than I typically expect in middle-grade fiction. Key characters do die, and Neff doesn't shy away from the emotional impact of these losses.
Sensitive Content
As mentioned above, there are some violent scenes and character deaths. There is one scene in book 5 that mentions a nude women. Not sexual, no description of details.
Should you read it?
Absolutely! If you're looking for a thrilling and imaginative adventure series that explores meaningful themes, The Tapestry series is a must-read. It's perfect for advanced middle-grade readers who are ready for a story with depth, excitement, and a touch of darkness.
This Dad says The Tapestry Series is best for advanced readers 12 and up.
Happy Reading!
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