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Forest at the Edge #2
Soldier at the Door
Perrin and Mahrree’s sense of security is shattered. Not only have the Guarders returned, they’ve been after Mahrree and the Shins’ children. Captain Shin, in violation of army rules, barged into the forests after the Guarders, which earned him warnings from Idumea, the increased hatred of Chairman Mal, and a slashed back. It'd be helpful to have a little inside information, and the forest agrees. So it's sending an insider named Shem Zenos--a volunteer soldier who’s brawny, charismatic, and conveniently loves babies. All of which leaves Chairman Mal wondering—just who is this “Quiet Man” who’s told his Guarders he has Captain Shin under control, and exactly what kind of “help” is he providing?
504 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 28, 2013
36 people are currently reading
136 people want to read
About the author
Trish Mercer
14 books19 followersThis is the uncomfortable part where I have to write about myself. So here goes.
I have loved, absolutely LOVED writing this series! I started writing it because I couldn't find a book quite like it, and it just grew and grew, dragging me willingly along. It's brought me incredible joy, and although writing is agonizing, it's also fun. Agonizing fun. Yeah, that's it.
I don't claim to be an author, just a tinkerer of story lines and a jumbler of ideas.
If you've enjoyed these books, great!
If you haven't, well . . . that's awkward. Let's just smile stiffly at each other and slowly go our separate ways.
Oh, you're still here? Well, if you want to know more about me, here's the list. I'm married. I have nine kids.
I like my stories because that's the only place where people do exactly what I tell them to.
I worry about America, and I worry about our future.
I'm a Mormon (LDS). I believe in educating my children according to what I feel God wants them to know.
I believe in freedom of religion for all people, and I fear we're losing that freedom.
I'm a lot goofier than I sound.
I dance at random moments and sing in the van when no one can hear me.
I love Yellowstone National Park, God's playground.
I love orchestral soundtracks and trailer music, and walking at twilight and writing scenes to fit the music.
I worry immensely about the world my grandchildren will grow up in, and I hope I'll become that Muggah who sits with her grandchildren telling them that the sky is not really blue.
But I probably won't be weeding.
I have loved, absolutely LOVED writing this series! I started writing it because I couldn't find a book quite like it, and it just grew and grew, dragging me willingly along. It's brought me incredible joy, and although writing is agonizing, it's also fun. Agonizing fun. Yeah, that's it.
I don't claim to be an author, just a tinkerer of story lines and a jumbler of ideas.
If you've enjoyed these books, great!
If you haven't, well . . . that's awkward. Let's just smile stiffly at each other and slowly go our separate ways.
Oh, you're still here? Well, if you want to know more about me, here's the list. I'm married. I have nine kids.
I like my stories because that's the only place where people do exactly what I tell them to.
I worry about America, and I worry about our future.
I'm a Mormon (LDS). I believe in educating my children according to what I feel God wants them to know.
I believe in freedom of religion for all people, and I fear we're losing that freedom.
I'm a lot goofier than I sound.
I dance at random moments and sing in the van when no one can hear me.
I love Yellowstone National Park, God's playground.
I love orchestral soundtracks and trailer music, and walking at twilight and writing scenes to fit the music.
I worry immensely about the world my grandchildren will grow up in, and I hope I'll become that Muggah who sits with her grandchildren telling them that the sky is not really blue.
But I probably won't be weeding.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
August 28, 2022
More like 2.5. I am only reading this series because my mother in law is harassing me to read it.
The characters are interesting and I was interested in how the story would progress but I found myself skipping whole sections because the author beat their points to death, like I get it. It felt more like an authors rant than the characters in my opinion. Too wordy, too boring at times. The author has taken, but 40% of the book could have been cut out. Had to force myself to finish it.
The characters are interesting and I was interested in how the story would progress but I found myself skipping whole sections because the author beat their points to death, like I get it. It felt more like an authors rant than the characters in my opinion. Too wordy, too boring at times. The author has taken, but 40% of the book could have been cut out. Had to force myself to finish it.
May 6, 2014
Excellent Fantasy with Epic Scope
This second offering by Trish Mercer is an excellent sophomore work on the Forest at the Edge series. This book elucidates many of the plot points that were left open in book one. It is now clear that there are Guarders, then there are the Others that have kept with the Creators' teachings. It is the interaction of these two groups that became important in this book.
Mahrree and Major Perrin Shin and their two children, Jaytsy and Peto are still the protagonist family, with Shem Zenos playing surrogate Uncle, as well as army army recruit. We still have the hilarious Hycymum Peto seeing pink striped banners for the fort. Nikon Mal gets his a few times - and the crowd cheers.
Over the course of this book, both Mahrree and Perrin question the decisions of the Council of Administrators in Idumea. After getting rid of the monarchy, life was supposed to be significantly better, but it looks like they want to control knowledge, and thereby control the world. They also want to get rid of the current religion. Mahrree especially is disturbed and frightened by this.
After a number of Guarders raids, Perrin works to make the town of Edge the safest it can be. Many things happen in this novel. There is a lot of adventure, murder, kidnapping, death, raids, false identities, and assassination attempts. There are also philosophical arguments regarding truth and learning, and teaching children, as well as debating.
The Bottom Line: I highly recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys thoughtful and intelligent epic fantasy. This is a very good series, and I really enjoyed it. I am off to read the third book, The Mansions of Idumea.
This second offering by Trish Mercer is an excellent sophomore work on the Forest at the Edge series. This book elucidates many of the plot points that were left open in book one. It is now clear that there are Guarders, then there are the Others that have kept with the Creators' teachings. It is the interaction of these two groups that became important in this book.
Mahrree and Major Perrin Shin and their two children, Jaytsy and Peto are still the protagonist family, with Shem Zenos playing surrogate Uncle, as well as army army recruit. We still have the hilarious Hycymum Peto seeing pink striped banners for the fort. Nikon Mal gets his a few times - and the crowd cheers.
Over the course of this book, both Mahrree and Perrin question the decisions of the Council of Administrators in Idumea. After getting rid of the monarchy, life was supposed to be significantly better, but it looks like they want to control knowledge, and thereby control the world. They also want to get rid of the current religion. Mahrree especially is disturbed and frightened by this.
After a number of Guarders raids, Perrin works to make the town of Edge the safest it can be. Many things happen in this novel. There is a lot of adventure, murder, kidnapping, death, raids, false identities, and assassination attempts. There are also philosophical arguments regarding truth and learning, and teaching children, as well as debating.
The Bottom Line: I highly recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys thoughtful and intelligent epic fantasy. This is a very good series, and I really enjoyed it. I am off to read the third book, The Mansions of Idumea.
February 12, 2014
Same good writing, same solid, vivid, entertaining characters, same intriguing plotline as the previous story in the series, The Forest at the Edge of the World. The book covers both the plotline and the personal ups and downs of Perrin and Mahrree's growing family, making this a cross between an inspirational fantasy and a high-quality soap opera or saga. Difficult to say which is more entertaining.
However, the slow spots in this sequel were more noticeable, leading me to skim some sections, and there was some repetition, with info being conveyed to one character who then told someone else. Probably fifty to eighty pages could be trimmed without damaging the storyline. And if one more character had taken to winking, I would not have been responsible for the results.
Let's call this one 3.5 to 4.0 stars, and yes, I'm still interested in the next book.
However, the slow spots in this sequel were more noticeable, leading me to skim some sections, and there was some repetition, with info being conveyed to one character who then told someone else. Probably fifty to eighty pages could be trimmed without damaging the storyline. And if one more character had taken to winking, I would not have been responsible for the results.
Let's call this one 3.5 to 4.0 stars, and yes, I'm still interested in the next book.
June 3, 2014
So....I teetered on whether to give this three or four stars. I accidentally read book three before book two (hazard when you buy both books at the same time on the kindle.) Oddly enough - having done that, it was an absolute BLAST to read this AFTER book three - going back to where some of those key and prominent characters from book three came into the story. I think....had I not done that...it would have been a three star. It wasn't all that different from book one, and the major events weren't as....major...as what I had just read in book three. So yea...I liked the book but would I read it over again when rereading the series before the latest book(four star for me) - probably not. But...since I did have so much fun by accidentally reading it in the wrong order...I gave it an extra star for the pure entertainment I got out of it. I really liked the new characters and look forward to seeing this series through to the end.
December 29, 2014
I am of two minds about this series. I love the protagonist and the other characters, and the writing is excellent. At times I laugh out loud over the humor. But the author lays on the Christian right ideology of hating government bureaucrats and encouraging women to bear huge numbers of children (the Quiverful movement) just a bit thick at times. This is a series with a message. The good news is that unlike, say, the Left Behind Series, you don't have to agree with that message to enjoy the story. Books always have messages, because authors usually have something to say or they wouldn't go through the travails of writing. But the best books convey their message without becoming preachy. This book veers a little too close preachy to get a higher rating from me. Maybe Book Three will be better.
January 27, 2018
Trish Mercer’s writing is superb, and I cannot get enough of this world that she has created. Reading this book is like watching tiny mysteries unfold, where you know more than one side to the story, but can’t quite figure out how it all fits together yet. It is the truth of the world, spun into a beautifully-written narrative.
May 6, 2014
Very fun learning more about these characters. These books are awesome!
August 14, 2014
Two men sat in the dark office of an unlit building.
February 2, 2015
We are proud to announce that SOLIDIER AT THE DOOR by Trish Mercer is a B.R.A.G. Medallion Honoree. This tells a reader that this book is well worth their time and money!
August 7, 2015
Good. But slow
I love the hints of the future but too much time spent on school issues. Too little action. Felt like giving up but preservered.
I love the hints of the future but too much time spent on school issues. Too little action. Felt like giving up but preservered.
March 29, 2017
Book 2 was just as good as book 1, which makes sense now that I see that they were originally written as one single (very thick) novel. Mahree, Perrin, and Shem are likeable, interesting characters that have captured my attention. I'm looking forward to continuing their story...and finding out what's in the mountains.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews