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The Forest at the Heart of Her Mage
After years of city life, Tiller is finally ready to revisit the magical forest where she grew up. But the forest has turned deadly, and Tiller has no magic of her own. To survive, she’ll need a bodyguard.
Tiller finds only one mage willing to escort her. A woman named Carnelian: a soldier with a pretty face and a dodgy reputation. Carnelian loves parties, drinking, flirting, big spending, and taking risks that others would find downright unthinkable. She’ll happily lead Tiller to the heart of the Devouring Forest.
But she won't do it for free.
The two of them live in a country where magic-users like Carnelian labor under lifelong legal restrictions. The fastest ticket to greater liberty: getting married. Which is why Carnelian—known far and wide as the mage who no one would wed—demands Tiller’s hand in marriage as her payment.
Cautious, reserved Tiller never lets strangers invade her personal space. She's horrified by the prospect of marrying a mischievous gambler. But she still needs Carnelian’s magic to overcome the wild monsters blocking the path back to her childhood home.
And the deeper they go in the forest, the greater the danger. Tiller will have to learn very quickly how to deal with the darker side of her would-be wife.
The Forest at the Heart of Her Mage is a slow-burn f/f romance with two polar-opposite heroines—both hiding enormous secrets—reluctantly engaged to be married for the sake of convenience. This novel takes place in the same contemporary fantasy world as The First and Last Demon and the Clem & Wist series, but can be read and enjoyed as a standalone story.
Tiller finds only one mage willing to escort her. A woman named Carnelian: a soldier with a pretty face and a dodgy reputation. Carnelian loves parties, drinking, flirting, big spending, and taking risks that others would find downright unthinkable. She’ll happily lead Tiller to the heart of the Devouring Forest.
But she won't do it for free.
The two of them live in a country where magic-users like Carnelian labor under lifelong legal restrictions. The fastest ticket to greater liberty: getting married. Which is why Carnelian—known far and wide as the mage who no one would wed—demands Tiller’s hand in marriage as her payment.
Cautious, reserved Tiller never lets strangers invade her personal space. She's horrified by the prospect of marrying a mischievous gambler. But she still needs Carnelian’s magic to overcome the wild monsters blocking the path back to her childhood home.
And the deeper they go in the forest, the greater the danger. Tiller will have to learn very quickly how to deal with the darker side of her would-be wife.
The Forest at the Heart of Her Mage is a slow-burn f/f romance with two polar-opposite heroines—both hiding enormous secrets—reluctantly engaged to be married for the sake of convenience. This novel takes place in the same contemporary fantasy world as The First and Last Demon and the Clem & Wist series, but can be read and enjoyed as a standalone story.
575 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 15, 2023
83 people are currently reading
713 people want to read
About the author
Hiyodori
10 books275 followersHiyodori is not a bird. But she is dearly fond of her namesake, a plain-looking brown-gray bird that likes to perch near her Tokyo apartment and unleash the most incredible primal screams. Hiyodori (the human author) loves stories with fantastical settings and complicated, difficult-to-define relationships. All of her books take place in the same shared fantasy universe. Her latest novel is A Chalice for a Kraken, a new entry in the Clem & Wist series.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
April 11, 2025
My SPFBOX finalist review of The Forest at the Heart of Her Mage is published at Before We Go Blog.
The Forest at the Heart of Her Mage is a sapphic fantasy romance by Hiyodori. After the death of her grandmother, Tiller decides to visit her family’s home. Although Tiller’s home is in a magical forest, she does not have any magical powers of her own and recruits a mage named Carnelian to accompany her on the journey. But Carnelian seeks more than monetary payment from Tiller: she wants her hand in marriage to overcome weird legal restrictions placed on mages.
Yes, it’s an awkward setup, but Tiller and Carnelian are such great characters that it works for the most part. They have two very different backgrounds and divergent personalities, so it’s quite interesting to see how their relationship grows over the course of the novel.
The Forest at the Heart of Her Mage shares a world with Hiyodori’s previous novel, the SPFBO9 semi-finalist The First and Last Demon. But the author gives The Forest at the Heart of Her Mage a more ethereal feel with its emphasis on natural mysticism.
Hiyodori’s writing is another highlight of The Forest at the Heart of Her Mage. It has a Proustian quality that is poetic without being flowery.
However, The Forest at the Heart of Her Mage suffers from a slow pace and often meandering plotline. The novel would benefit from significant editing to streamline the story.
Overall, The Forest at the Heart of Her Mage is recommended to anyone looking for a slow-burn sapphic fantasy romance. But it may disappoint readers looking for faster-paced action.
The Forest at the Heart of Her Mage is a sapphic fantasy romance by Hiyodori. After the death of her grandmother, Tiller decides to visit her family’s home. Although Tiller’s home is in a magical forest, she does not have any magical powers of her own and recruits a mage named Carnelian to accompany her on the journey. But Carnelian seeks more than monetary payment from Tiller: she wants her hand in marriage to overcome weird legal restrictions placed on mages.
Yes, it’s an awkward setup, but Tiller and Carnelian are such great characters that it works for the most part. They have two very different backgrounds and divergent personalities, so it’s quite interesting to see how their relationship grows over the course of the novel.
The Forest at the Heart of Her Mage shares a world with Hiyodori’s previous novel, the SPFBO9 semi-finalist The First and Last Demon. But the author gives The Forest at the Heart of Her Mage a more ethereal feel with its emphasis on natural mysticism.
Hiyodori’s writing is another highlight of The Forest at the Heart of Her Mage. It has a Proustian quality that is poetic without being flowery.
However, The Forest at the Heart of Her Mage suffers from a slow pace and often meandering plotline. The novel would benefit from significant editing to streamline the story.
Overall, The Forest at the Heart of Her Mage is recommended to anyone looking for a slow-burn sapphic fantasy romance. But it may disappoint readers looking for faster-paced action.
Read
August 9, 2025A finalist for the 10th annual Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off #SPFBO, one of 1o chosen from 300 entries!
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February 27, 2025
Read for SPFBOX as part of team Fantasy Book Critic. This is just my opinion, group verdict may differ widely.
6/10
One part dark fantasy quest, one part unconventional f/f romance, one part grief/trauma healing journey, The Forest at the Heart of Her Mage is an exceptionally imaginative and reflective quest adventure that takes the concept of slow-burn storytelling to the next level.
For me, The Forest at the Heart of her Mage started off extremely strong, and it immediately hooked me with its intriguing plot, world and romance set-up. I mean, when you promise me a sapphic opposites-attract marriage of convenience, a quest into a dangerous dark magical forest, and lots and lots of emotional turmoil and trauma… I am IN. And for the most part, Hiyodori totally delivers on all this great potential, albeit not in the way that I was totally expecting or hoping for.
See, on the one hand I found Hiyodori’s wild imagination and refreshingly unconventional storytelling to be extremely impressive and enjoyable. The steampunkish scifantasy world building was so cool to me (even if some aspects felt a bit shallow at times), especially in combination/contrast with the more traditional and almost dark fairytale-esque qualities of the world and story. Particularly the whole concept of mages needing maintenance on their magic cores to prevent them from going berserk stood out to me, not least because I very much like the idea that an operator could maybe swoop in to untangle my mess and fix my physical and mental state up a bit; wouldn’t that be the dream?
Yet on the other hand, I had a really hard time connecting to these characters, and I soon found myself struggling to stay engaged in their quest. There was a certain ‘je ne sais quoi’ missing from Tiller’s narration of this tale for me, and her tendency to lapse into (rather repetitive) introspective reflections of her traumatic past unfortunately hindered the pacing quite a bit for me. And although these characters are quite emotionally complex, I personally felt like they didn’t have personality outside of their trauma and some exaggerated quirks, which made it hard for me to get invested in them.
Moreover, I think marketing this book as a slow-burn sapphic fantasy romance adventure maybe does it a bit of a disservice, since I personally think it shines much more as a nuanced exploration of grief, identity, family, and childhood/generational trauma. Yes, the complicated yet inexplicably fun dynamic between Tiller and Carnelian lies at the heart of this story; and yes, I am always here for romances that rely more on emotional connection rather than physical/sexual attraction. However, I personally didn’t feel any kind of chemistry between them until maybe the last 5% of the book (and even then it was mostly based on guilt and trauma bonding?), and I think that their dynamic shines more as friends than as lovers.
For me, the time spent in the deliciously dark Devouring Forest was easily the strongest part of the novel, closely followed by the long and beautifully satisfying sequence of falling action at the end. So while The Forest at the Heart was maybe a bit of a drawn-out and bumpy ride for me personally, I think Hiyodori ended this unique adventure on a really high note, and it’s more than worth giving a shot if you go in with the right expectations.
6/10
One part dark fantasy quest, one part unconventional f/f romance, one part grief/trauma healing journey, The Forest at the Heart of Her Mage is an exceptionally imaginative and reflective quest adventure that takes the concept of slow-burn storytelling to the next level.
For me, The Forest at the Heart of her Mage started off extremely strong, and it immediately hooked me with its intriguing plot, world and romance set-up. I mean, when you promise me a sapphic opposites-attract marriage of convenience, a quest into a dangerous dark magical forest, and lots and lots of emotional turmoil and trauma… I am IN. And for the most part, Hiyodori totally delivers on all this great potential, albeit not in the way that I was totally expecting or hoping for.
See, on the one hand I found Hiyodori’s wild imagination and refreshingly unconventional storytelling to be extremely impressive and enjoyable. The steampunkish scifantasy world building was so cool to me (even if some aspects felt a bit shallow at times), especially in combination/contrast with the more traditional and almost dark fairytale-esque qualities of the world and story. Particularly the whole concept of mages needing maintenance on their magic cores to prevent them from going berserk stood out to me, not least because I very much like the idea that an operator could maybe swoop in to untangle my mess and fix my physical and mental state up a bit; wouldn’t that be the dream?
Yet on the other hand, I had a really hard time connecting to these characters, and I soon found myself struggling to stay engaged in their quest. There was a certain ‘je ne sais quoi’ missing from Tiller’s narration of this tale for me, and her tendency to lapse into (rather repetitive) introspective reflections of her traumatic past unfortunately hindered the pacing quite a bit for me. And although these characters are quite emotionally complex, I personally felt like they didn’t have personality outside of their trauma and some exaggerated quirks, which made it hard for me to get invested in them.
Moreover, I think marketing this book as a slow-burn sapphic fantasy romance adventure maybe does it a bit of a disservice, since I personally think it shines much more as a nuanced exploration of grief, identity, family, and childhood/generational trauma. Yes, the complicated yet inexplicably fun dynamic between Tiller and Carnelian lies at the heart of this story; and yes, I am always here for romances that rely more on emotional connection rather than physical/sexual attraction. However, I personally didn’t feel any kind of chemistry between them until maybe the last 5% of the book (and even then it was mostly based on guilt and trauma bonding?), and I think that their dynamic shines more as friends than as lovers.
For me, the time spent in the deliciously dark Devouring Forest was easily the strongest part of the novel, closely followed by the long and beautifully satisfying sequence of falling action at the end. So while The Forest at the Heart was maybe a bit of a drawn-out and bumpy ride for me personally, I think Hiyodori ended this unique adventure on a really high note, and it’s more than worth giving a shot if you go in with the right expectations.
March 1, 2025
3.5/5
Magical forests are nothing new in fantasy, but the one in The Forest at the Heart of Her Mage isn’t a typical enchanted glen with sparkling streams and the occasional talking tree. No, this forest is alive, hostile, and more than a little creepy. Tiller, our protagonist, is voluntarily walking right back into it after two decades of carefully avoiding the place. Brave? Sure. Questionable life choices? Absolutely.
But she’s not going alone. Carnelian, a mage with a bad reputation and a knack for making things complicated, accompanies her. Together, they deal with monsters, mysteries, and politics. There’s also a slow-burn romance with more tension than action.
Let’s start with the good stuff: this is a beautifully layered book. The magical system, split between regimented human magic and the wild, unknowable magic of the forest, is well-thought-out and intriguing. The forest itself feels like a character - alive, unpredictable, and unsettling. And then, the budding relationship between Tiller and Carnelian is as much about peeling back emotional layers as it is about fending off literal monsters, and their dynamic is a highlight. If you like your romance slow-burn with a healthy dose of secrets and snark, this delivers.
But - and there’s always a but - the pacing could be tighter. The story leans into introspection and atmosphere, which is great when it’s working, but occasionally makes the story feel like it’s wading through mud. Tiller and Carnelian spend a lot of time trekking through the wilderness and working through their issues, which is interesting in parts but sluggish in others. The action scenes, while sharp, are scarce, and the overall pace is steady.
Still, the payoff is, I think, worth the time. If you’re in the mood for a book that’s eerie, emotional, and a little meandering, The Forest at the Heart of Her Mage is precisely this.
Magical forests are nothing new in fantasy, but the one in The Forest at the Heart of Her Mage isn’t a typical enchanted glen with sparkling streams and the occasional talking tree. No, this forest is alive, hostile, and more than a little creepy. Tiller, our protagonist, is voluntarily walking right back into it after two decades of carefully avoiding the place. Brave? Sure. Questionable life choices? Absolutely.
But she’s not going alone. Carnelian, a mage with a bad reputation and a knack for making things complicated, accompanies her. Together, they deal with monsters, mysteries, and politics. There’s also a slow-burn romance with more tension than action.
Let’s start with the good stuff: this is a beautifully layered book. The magical system, split between regimented human magic and the wild, unknowable magic of the forest, is well-thought-out and intriguing. The forest itself feels like a character - alive, unpredictable, and unsettling. And then, the budding relationship between Tiller and Carnelian is as much about peeling back emotional layers as it is about fending off literal monsters, and their dynamic is a highlight. If you like your romance slow-burn with a healthy dose of secrets and snark, this delivers.
But - and there’s always a but - the pacing could be tighter. The story leans into introspection and atmosphere, which is great when it’s working, but occasionally makes the story feel like it’s wading through mud. Tiller and Carnelian spend a lot of time trekking through the wilderness and working through their issues, which is interesting in parts but sluggish in others. The action scenes, while sharp, are scarce, and the overall pace is steady.
Still, the payoff is, I think, worth the time. If you’re in the mood for a book that’s eerie, emotional, and a little meandering, The Forest at the Heart of Her Mage is precisely this.
October 22, 2025
J+K (Mostly K and wholeheartedly agreed upon by J):
Every now and then you will be lucky enough to find an author who has a story, or in this case stories, that impact you so much you are just stopped in your tracks. They are so lyrical, so poetic they take your breath away. This is Hiyodori.
Have you ever finished a book, closed it, and just sat there with the feelings because you just cannot do life for a while?
This is what happens whenever we pick up anything by Hiyodori.
Is it detrimental to our productivity?
Abso-freaking-lutely.
Do we consider that a good thing?
Uh-huh. We sure do.
In fact we have both already started the reread of this one. By the time the review comes out, we’ll have read it twice each.
So…here we go:
I think it should be mentioned that Hiyodori doesn’t write your stereotypical romance. The spice level is non-existent, and that does not change with this one. Her couples have a deeper, soul-binding, powerfully enchanting connection. It doesn’t rely on the physical aspects of the relationship. Fade to black is what you’re gonna get. To be honest, it’s really not needed, but we appreciate the heck out of it anyway.
I don’t think this will have too much in-depth details about the characters. Not because they aren’t phenomenal or anything – they really are, but because … I am stuck in the feels.
She weaves such uniquely imaginative and thought-provoking stories that you cannot just finish one and move on to the next without being intensely impacted. In Hiyodori’s universe, her words captivate you so completely that you are deeply rooted there. It takes a while to try and comprehend the many layers of emotions that have just taken place over the last 500+ pages.
Speaking of emotions, both Tiller and Carnelian are the most emotionally articulated characters Hiyodori has written to date. Both are vocal about their feelings, not just for each other but with everything happening within these pages. It just adds a new depth to the typical spellbinding world we have come to expect from Hiyodori.
This book is technically a standalone, though all of Hiyodori’s books (to date) are of the same universe, just different locations but are loosely interconnected.
In all honestly, go right back to the beginning and start with The Lowest Healer and the Highest Mage, you will thank us later.
It was great to have a catch-up with Clem/Asa but was a little sad that Wist/Kraken doesn’t make an appearance. With this being set just before The First and Last Demon, it makes sense that Vesper and Char don’t make an appearance.
Jay’s side note:
This was a fantastic addition to Hiyodori’s repertoire.
I enjoyed two specific aspects about this one.
The first being the look we got into Jacian society and how their Mage/Operator structure is applied. So different from Osmanthian. So original. So bad***. Then there’s the Devouring Forest. A whole new animal, with its dwellers and its Blues. Again, supremely unique, and the concept was cool as a fan.
And the second?
I absolutely love how we got insight into the feelings of both characters. Whereas— in the Clem/Wist series and in The First and Last Demon— we have at least one character that was ultimately a mystery to us until the end.
Don’t get me wrong, I adore the mysterious ones. Wist especially has a quality about her that is wholly addictive.
But it was nice to be able to see both sides for what they were. A deep and resonating history between the two was masterfully revealed. The plot was gorgeous. The action always has me aching for the next word.
The Forest at the Heart of Her Mage was top-notch. I never have issues with Hiyodori’s work, and this book was no exception.
Keep in mind that I am both an author and an avid reader of some seriously spicy sapphic romance. And yet here I am, hooked like a fish on Hiyodori’s fade-to-black relationship progressions. They are just so freaking potent and all-consuming it gets stuck in your soul.
11/10.
Every now and then you will be lucky enough to find an author who has a story, or in this case stories, that impact you so much you are just stopped in your tracks. They are so lyrical, so poetic they take your breath away. This is Hiyodori.
Have you ever finished a book, closed it, and just sat there with the feelings because you just cannot do life for a while?
This is what happens whenever we pick up anything by Hiyodori.
Is it detrimental to our productivity?
Abso-freaking-lutely.
Do we consider that a good thing?
Uh-huh. We sure do.
In fact we have both already started the reread of this one. By the time the review comes out, we’ll have read it twice each.
So…here we go:
I think it should be mentioned that Hiyodori doesn’t write your stereotypical romance. The spice level is non-existent, and that does not change with this one. Her couples have a deeper, soul-binding, powerfully enchanting connection. It doesn’t rely on the physical aspects of the relationship. Fade to black is what you’re gonna get. To be honest, it’s really not needed, but we appreciate the heck out of it anyway.
I don’t think this will have too much in-depth details about the characters. Not because they aren’t phenomenal or anything – they really are, but because … I am stuck in the feels.
She weaves such uniquely imaginative and thought-provoking stories that you cannot just finish one and move on to the next without being intensely impacted. In Hiyodori’s universe, her words captivate you so completely that you are deeply rooted there. It takes a while to try and comprehend the many layers of emotions that have just taken place over the last 500+ pages.
Speaking of emotions, both Tiller and Carnelian are the most emotionally articulated characters Hiyodori has written to date. Both are vocal about their feelings, not just for each other but with everything happening within these pages. It just adds a new depth to the typical spellbinding world we have come to expect from Hiyodori.
This book is technically a standalone, though all of Hiyodori’s books (to date) are of the same universe, just different locations but are loosely interconnected.
In all honestly, go right back to the beginning and start with The Lowest Healer and the Highest Mage, you will thank us later.
It was great to have a catch-up with Clem/Asa but was a little sad that Wist/Kraken doesn’t make an appearance. With this being set just before The First and Last Demon, it makes sense that Vesper and Char don’t make an appearance.
Jay’s side note:
This was a fantastic addition to Hiyodori’s repertoire.
I enjoyed two specific aspects about this one.
The first being the look we got into Jacian society and how their Mage/Operator structure is applied. So different from Osmanthian. So original. So bad***. Then there’s the Devouring Forest. A whole new animal, with its dwellers and its Blues. Again, supremely unique, and the concept was cool as a fan.
And the second?
I absolutely love how we got insight into the feelings of both characters. Whereas— in the Clem/Wist series and in The First and Last Demon— we have at least one character that was ultimately a mystery to us until the end.
Don’t get me wrong, I adore the mysterious ones. Wist especially has a quality about her that is wholly addictive.
But it was nice to be able to see both sides for what they were. A deep and resonating history between the two was masterfully revealed. The plot was gorgeous. The action always has me aching for the next word.
The Forest at the Heart of Her Mage was top-notch. I never have issues with Hiyodori’s work, and this book was no exception.
Keep in mind that I am both an author and an avid reader of some seriously spicy sapphic romance. And yet here I am, hooked like a fish on Hiyodori’s fade-to-black relationship progressions. They are just so freaking potent and all-consuming it gets stuck in your soul.
11/10.
Fav Quotes
Carnelian stopped.
She said: "Without you, it would never have occurred to me to sing a note in my life."
"I didn't do anything for you," Tiller said. "I didn't even know-
"I like attention and all, but I only ever sang because of one person. Nothing would make me happier than to sing just for you. Nothing would make me happier than to sing for you again in the Forest."
When Carnelian flinched, she ended up pressing in closer to Tiller.
"Even if all you wanted to do was spit on me," she mumbled, "I would still love you."
"You'd enjoy that."
"I'm being serious here!"
"So am I."
"You've made me weak." Carnelian took a wobbly step back. "I love you, but I can't stand this. Tell me to come with you. Don't leave for the Forest without me."
Only the ends of their hands stayed connected.
Foresters were not known for being demonstrative in their affections.
Tiller could hardly ever remember hearing such words from Doe or Gren or Baba Sayo.
How many times in her life had she said it herself? Right now she couldn't think of a single instance.
She'd never felt deprived by the lack of a few short syllables, unfamiliar to her ear and tongue. For her forester family, it went without saying.
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October 18, 2024
Read for SPFBO, this is only my personal opinion, group verdict might differ widely! 🔥
I only saw the “A sapphic romance” tag after I finished The Forest at the Heart of her Mage by Hiyodiri, as I prefer to start my SPFBO books as blind as possible. For a romance, the romance was very, very low key, and didn't feel central to the story. Yes it's important for the characters, but it's more of a thing that exists, effort they are trying to save the forest, survive, and solve some mysteries. For me this was ideal, as I'm not into all the relationship drama, so I enjoyed this bit being center stage.
The world building was intriguing and well enough to keep me interested, but did feel a bit two dimensional at times, with the occasional part so thin, it's almost see through. The bits that did work however, were fascinating enough to keep me hooked.
The main strength was definitely the characters. While I didn't always feel their emotions, I did enjoy their chemistry, and banter. They both have serious trauma in their past, and some hidden mysteries as well. I thought the trauma and the psychological repercussions were well handled, and formed a main hook for me! They aren't morosely limping through life, but their past just shines through in their actions and emotions.
The plot was a bit meandering at times, and then felt a bit rushed in other scenes, however the twists and turns along the way again made up for this.
Despite seeing quite some flaws, i really enjoyed this story, and finished it in more or less one go.
I only saw the “A sapphic romance” tag after I finished The Forest at the Heart of her Mage by Hiyodiri, as I prefer to start my SPFBO books as blind as possible. For a romance, the romance was very, very low key, and didn't feel central to the story. Yes it's important for the characters, but it's more of a thing that exists, effort they are trying to save the forest, survive, and solve some mysteries. For me this was ideal, as I'm not into all the relationship drama, so I enjoyed this bit being center stage.
The world building was intriguing and well enough to keep me interested, but did feel a bit two dimensional at times, with the occasional part so thin, it's almost see through. The bits that did work however, were fascinating enough to keep me hooked.
The main strength was definitely the characters. While I didn't always feel their emotions, I did enjoy their chemistry, and banter. They both have serious trauma in their past, and some hidden mysteries as well. I thought the trauma and the psychological repercussions were well handled, and formed a main hook for me! They aren't morosely limping through life, but their past just shines through in their actions and emotions.
The plot was a bit meandering at times, and then felt a bit rushed in other scenes, however the twists and turns along the way again made up for this.
Despite seeing quite some flaws, i really enjoyed this story, and finished it in more or less one go.
April 14, 2025
This is a story i read for the #SPFBOX and I am very glad this one was one of the finalists chosen. After reading a run of finalists which I haven't really enjoyed as much as I hoped, this was refreshing and exciting, and filled with magic.
We follow two young women, Tiller (an ex-forester who lives in the city now, but who has always longed to be able to return to the forest) and Carnelian (a mage with a lot of secrets, a tragic backstory, and a lot to sort out). They don't know each other at first, although one is more aware of the the other, but as the story develops they begin to unlock more of one another's past and emotions, and a relationship develops.
This world is fascinating with the forest moving almost like an entity of its own, seemingly expanding and picking and choosing what to leave and what to destroy. The forest is somewhere few go, s it's full of Phages (sort of ghosty, zombie things) who haunt the forest and might attack unsuspecting people. The forest is also toxic to non-forest dwellers as they get very sick if they eat from it, but foresters can survive there.
The magic of this world is largely through mages, who have a core within them. Each core is like a tree which can tangle up when magic is used, and so they have to work with an operator who will be able to help untangle them as they do lots of magic.
Tiller is an inexperienced operator, but she has need of a mage to accompany her back to the forest to lay the ashes of her family to rest. Not only does she want to give them proper returns to the forest, she also wants to know if there's anything she can do to stop the forest expanding as it is, and getting more treacherous, and as she's the last remaining Blue maybe she can help...
Overall the relationship in this book is a really nice one to read and to uncover, and the shared, sad past of these two women really connects them in vital ways. I have to say I found this one very likeable and the two women had a charm to them which balanced well and which I enjoyed reading about. A solid 4*s from me which is 8/10 for #SPFBO
We follow two young women, Tiller (an ex-forester who lives in the city now, but who has always longed to be able to return to the forest) and Carnelian (a mage with a lot of secrets, a tragic backstory, and a lot to sort out). They don't know each other at first, although one is more aware of the the other, but as the story develops they begin to unlock more of one another's past and emotions, and a relationship develops.
This world is fascinating with the forest moving almost like an entity of its own, seemingly expanding and picking and choosing what to leave and what to destroy. The forest is somewhere few go, s it's full of Phages (sort of ghosty, zombie things) who haunt the forest and might attack unsuspecting people. The forest is also toxic to non-forest dwellers as they get very sick if they eat from it, but foresters can survive there.
The magic of this world is largely through mages, who have a core within them. Each core is like a tree which can tangle up when magic is used, and so they have to work with an operator who will be able to help untangle them as they do lots of magic.
Tiller is an inexperienced operator, but she has need of a mage to accompany her back to the forest to lay the ashes of her family to rest. Not only does she want to give them proper returns to the forest, she also wants to know if there's anything she can do to stop the forest expanding as it is, and getting more treacherous, and as she's the last remaining Blue maybe she can help...
Overall the relationship in this book is a really nice one to read and to uncover, and the shared, sad past of these two women really connects them in vital ways. I have to say I found this one very likeable and the two women had a charm to them which balanced well and which I enjoyed reading about. A solid 4*s from me which is 8/10 for #SPFBO
March 27, 2025
I read this for SPFBO. To find out more about the SPFBO contest and to see the participating bloggers/authors and reviews follow the links below
The story of The Forest at the Heart of Her Mage, revolves around Tiller’s desire to return her grandmothers ashes, back to the devouring forest where they once lived.
Her guide and protection on this journey is in the form of Carnelian, a mage and soldier, who only agreed to this dangerous job in exchange for Tiller’s hand in marriage (and the benefits and freedoms that would come with it).
This is my second or third book I’ve read by Hyodori, and the one thing I appreciate about Hyodoris’ stories is just how wonderfully weird, and magical feeling her worlds are. From things like the vorpals; which are kind of like wormholes that just pop-up out of nowhere spit out a monster, or suck you off to some other place, to the migrating forest; which is alive and not in the sense that the trees are living but in the sense that it has a conscience of sorts.
That’s not even touching on the magic wells in mages or how those mages need operators to heal and soothe the branches of these wells, otherwise they get tangled and cause problems. Or is it touching on a myriad of other cool things that make these stories so very unique. I rarely have read a story with such fantastical feeling places or events and it makes me think of what drew me to fantasy way back when I first found the genre.
*
This was a tough review to write because saying all the above, I really should have been more enamoured with this story than I was, and I am not quite sure if the only thing holding me back from absolute love was the slow pace or if it was something else, or a bit of both.
While there is a broader picture of the world, and the politics around them, The Forest at the Heart of her Mage is still very character-based. The story is more narrow-focused on Tiller and Carnelian’s journey; both through the forest and through their very complicated relationship as a couple, which is further complicated by childhood trauma.
Generally, I eat this kind of stuff up with a spoon; especially when it’s sugar-coated with the enemies to lovers and a few other things that I like, and will keep a secret so I don’t spoil the many layers involved with these two characters, and just how interconnected to certain parts of the story they were.
Also despite what my talk of relationships and romance implies- this is not a romantasy. It most definitely falls into fantasy w/slight slow burn romance, and a side of cosyish travelling…is/if cosy travelling a thing?
Yes, I was invested in them as a couple working things out, but I was also prepared because there was just as much of a chance of one of them getting sucked through a vorpal.
Hyodori’s other books are similar in the way they build, and in the use of their reveals, but they seemed faster-paced to me. Or maybe my knowledge of the world they reside has interfered here. I have a clearer understanding and am no longer turning the pages trying to unravel the mysteries of the world, on top of the mysteries of the story she is building. For whatever reason, Forest seemed to be so much slower going.
BUT because I have had past experiences with Hyodori’s stories, I know how creative a storyteller she is and how much of her storytelling is built in layers upon layers and I could see here that she is building to something that will tie it all together and make me go, wow! That knowledge is what kept me going, even when I was ready to bow out.
And yes, Forest did do all of that – eventually. It built, it connected, and it gave me an inspired tale in the end, one that I doubt I would have found elsewhere. As I said; I do love how creative Hyodori is in her storytelling. But I also think, it took entirely too long to get to that point. It felt like we had a lot of filler and repetition, and once we had that main conflict resolved, there was still quite a bit left that didn’t need a third more of the book to wrap up (imo of course).
I like closing all the doors and tidying up the loose ends but by this point I was getting impatient. I was ready to see how things were going to end and hopefully it isn’t too spoilery to say but the end was quite lovely once we got there and made me happy that no one got sucked in a vorpal.
6.5
Learn more about the contest here-
Mark Lawrence: The Official Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off homepage #SPFBO
Phase one is here-
https://mark---lawrence.blogspot.com/...
Finalist board is here
Mark Lawrence: SPFBOX finalists - SPFBO 10
The story of The Forest at the Heart of Her Mage, revolves around Tiller’s desire to return her grandmothers ashes, back to the devouring forest where they once lived.
Her guide and protection on this journey is in the form of Carnelian, a mage and soldier, who only agreed to this dangerous job in exchange for Tiller’s hand in marriage (and the benefits and freedoms that would come with it).
This is my second or third book I’ve read by Hyodori, and the one thing I appreciate about Hyodoris’ stories is just how wonderfully weird, and magical feeling her worlds are. From things like the vorpals; which are kind of like wormholes that just pop-up out of nowhere spit out a monster, or suck you off to some other place, to the migrating forest; which is alive and not in the sense that the trees are living but in the sense that it has a conscience of sorts.
That’s not even touching on the magic wells in mages or how those mages need operators to heal and soothe the branches of these wells, otherwise they get tangled and cause problems. Or is it touching on a myriad of other cool things that make these stories so very unique. I rarely have read a story with such fantastical feeling places or events and it makes me think of what drew me to fantasy way back when I first found the genre.
*
This was a tough review to write because saying all the above, I really should have been more enamoured with this story than I was, and I am not quite sure if the only thing holding me back from absolute love was the slow pace or if it was something else, or a bit of both.
While there is a broader picture of the world, and the politics around them, The Forest at the Heart of her Mage is still very character-based. The story is more narrow-focused on Tiller and Carnelian’s journey; both through the forest and through their very complicated relationship as a couple, which is further complicated by childhood trauma.
Generally, I eat this kind of stuff up with a spoon; especially when it’s sugar-coated with the enemies to lovers and a few other things that I like, and will keep a secret so I don’t spoil the many layers involved with these two characters, and just how interconnected to certain parts of the story they were.
Also despite what my talk of relationships and romance implies- this is not a romantasy. It most definitely falls into fantasy w/slight slow burn romance, and a side of cosyish travelling…is/if cosy travelling a thing?
Yes, I was invested in them as a couple working things out, but I was also prepared because there was just as much of a chance of one of them getting sucked through a vorpal.
Hyodori’s other books are similar in the way they build, and in the use of their reveals, but they seemed faster-paced to me. Or maybe my knowledge of the world they reside has interfered here. I have a clearer understanding and am no longer turning the pages trying to unravel the mysteries of the world, on top of the mysteries of the story she is building. For whatever reason, Forest seemed to be so much slower going.
BUT because I have had past experiences with Hyodori’s stories, I know how creative a storyteller she is and how much of her storytelling is built in layers upon layers and I could see here that she is building to something that will tie it all together and make me go, wow! That knowledge is what kept me going, even when I was ready to bow out.
And yes, Forest did do all of that – eventually. It built, it connected, and it gave me an inspired tale in the end, one that I doubt I would have found elsewhere. As I said; I do love how creative Hyodori is in her storytelling. But I also think, it took entirely too long to get to that point. It felt like we had a lot of filler and repetition, and once we had that main conflict resolved, there was still quite a bit left that didn’t need a third more of the book to wrap up (imo of course).
I like closing all the doors and tidying up the loose ends but by this point I was getting impatient. I was ready to see how things were going to end and hopefully it isn’t too spoilery to say but the end was quite lovely once we got there and made me happy that no one got sucked in a vorpal.
6.5
Learn more about the contest here-
Mark Lawrence: The Official Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off homepage #SPFBO
Phase one is here-
https://mark---lawrence.blogspot.com/...
Finalist board is here
Mark Lawrence: SPFBOX finalists - SPFBO 10
October 21, 2024
After giving it up at 28%, I decided to power through and the second half of the book was way better. I originally liked the couple, but they had this one mission - get inside a sentient forest that devours people, which is cool af. But they took so long to get there, at 28% they were still preparing to go in and I was so bored. I literally DNF'ed and moved on to the next one, but it was so obvious this book explained a lot of lore and cultural elements on the world that skipping it felt like I was missing something, even though the author says it can all be read as standalone. So I went back to where I stopped, tried my best to not switch off, and when they actually got into the forest, I ended up liking it!
I still felt like this book was way too long, though.
I still felt like this book was way too long, though.
Read
July 31, 2024idk how many more me & whos i’ve got left in me
May 25, 2025
The Forest at the Heart of Her Mage is a contemporary fantasy set on a Japanese-coded island with a magical, if slightly malevolent, forest that seems to be alive (well, more alive than forests normally are) as it constantly expands and encroaches on human territories. This story is about Tiller, a reserved forester who was born in the forest and lived there until their people were forced to move to the big city due to the growing dangers. Adapting to city life hasn’t been easy for Tiller or her people, and when her mentor dies, she decides to undertake a pilgrimage back to the forest to spread her mentor’s ashes.
Enter Carnelian, a flamboyant mage with a gambling habit who has agreed to escort Tiller into the forest, acting as a bodyguard of sorts. In this world, mages have magical cores that provide magic, and Carnelian is special in that she has several of these cores. However, the threads of her magic can get ‘tangled’ leading to mages losing control and possibly going berserk, thus they need someone – Tiller in this case – to perform ‘maintenance’ on them and literally keep them straight. Oh, and Carnelian wants to marry Tiller for government benefit (and secret!) reasons. Thus begins a relationship between two characters that couldn’t be more opposite, but as they travel together, it seems they have more in common then Tiller could ever imagine…
This is a slow burn story, with a slow burn sapphic romance. We spend much of the first half of the book following Tiller and Carnelian around the city as they get to know each other and prepare for their trip into the forest. The second half of the book, then, finally enters the forest and there are many secrets and twists inside to be discovered.
I read another review that said this story meanders, and I’d agree with that. It feels like a longer book than it is. It actually reminds me of Studio Ghibli films, in that much of the story feels like a slice of life fantasy. There are action scenes with some fighting and magic flung around, but these feel few and far between. Some readers may appreciate this more than others. The romance elements are also quite light, so those expecting romance may feel a bit disappointed. However, the strongest aspect of The Forest at the Heart of Her Mage, for me, was the fascinating worldbuilding and unique concepts that are explored through the way this world treats its mages, to the mystery and wonder of the forest itself. This is certainly a book where you can enjoy the scenery.
Enter Carnelian, a flamboyant mage with a gambling habit who has agreed to escort Tiller into the forest, acting as a bodyguard of sorts. In this world, mages have magical cores that provide magic, and Carnelian is special in that she has several of these cores. However, the threads of her magic can get ‘tangled’ leading to mages losing control and possibly going berserk, thus they need someone – Tiller in this case – to perform ‘maintenance’ on them and literally keep them straight. Oh, and Carnelian wants to marry Tiller for government benefit (and secret!) reasons. Thus begins a relationship between two characters that couldn’t be more opposite, but as they travel together, it seems they have more in common then Tiller could ever imagine…
This is a slow burn story, with a slow burn sapphic romance. We spend much of the first half of the book following Tiller and Carnelian around the city as they get to know each other and prepare for their trip into the forest. The second half of the book, then, finally enters the forest and there are many secrets and twists inside to be discovered.
I read another review that said this story meanders, and I’d agree with that. It feels like a longer book than it is. It actually reminds me of Studio Ghibli films, in that much of the story feels like a slice of life fantasy. There are action scenes with some fighting and magic flung around, but these feel few and far between. Some readers may appreciate this more than others. The romance elements are also quite light, so those expecting romance may feel a bit disappointed. However, the strongest aspect of The Forest at the Heart of Her Mage, for me, was the fascinating worldbuilding and unique concepts that are explored through the way this world treats its mages, to the mystery and wonder of the forest itself. This is certainly a book where you can enjoy the scenery.
September 1, 2023
Another Amazing Story from Hiyodori
I’ve really loved every book in this world; Clem and Wist, the First and Last Demon, and until now I’d be hard pressed to really pick a favorite, but this one is it. The world building was so seamless, and the overarching story really cohesively spun, and to an even greater degree than the other books, the characters were so well wrought that I couldn’t set this down.
I’ve really loved every book in this world; Clem and Wist, the First and Last Demon, and until now I’d be hard pressed to really pick a favorite, but this one is it. The world building was so seamless, and the overarching story really cohesively spun, and to an even greater degree than the other books, the characters were so well wrought that I couldn’t set this down.
July 22, 2024
Hiyodori‘s poetic writing style gives our gay hearts maintenance. 🥰😭 High-quality sapphic fantasy books like this are so rare. Give it a try.
This is your chance.
PS: I‘d love to read more about Tiller/Carnelian. 🙏
This is your chance.
PS: I‘d love to read more about Tiller/Carnelian. 🙏
January 20, 2025
I have been challenging myself to read all the SPFBO finalists the last couple of years. I am in no way associated with the competition, but I find these a good way of discovering new Indie authors. This is the fourth of the finalists I have tackled this year (SPFBO 10).
This book feels like it is being mismarketed. The blurb is selling it as a LGBTQ romantic fantasy, and yes there are LGBTQ and romance elements, but the romance is somewhat on the backburner. What we have instead is a novel of bonding in friendship more so than the romance. The chemistry is more on bantering buddy side than on the steamy romantic side. Romantasy is a somewhat marmite topic and I do wonder if playing up this might be to its detriment as it is not really spicy enough for a lot of the romantasy officiandos but what is left behind is actually an excellent fantasy novel where readers who might enjoy it might be put off by its marketing tag.
I went into this one not entirely certain - I am not the biggest romantasy fan. I ended up really enjoying this however, with its fascinating world building, interesting magic system and engaging characters. It managed to avoid all the tropes that I tend to dislike which are usually prevalent romantic fantasy. Instead we are left with an intriguing character study - the last survivor of a race paired up with a damaged but powerful survivor of magical experimentation. Guilt, regret and tradition form central themes, along with a sense of wonder exploring a truly wild and untouched environment. We are offered a glimpse at both the 'civilized' world and the more traditional culture from the forest.
The forest itself provides for a fascinating setting - inhospitable to most but full of weird and wonderful flora and fauna. The shadow of 'The Scholar', who provided initial trauma to both of our MCs gives an interesting sense of foreboding to much of the story, but the journey and the character building are the most central part of the story.
My main criticism is that this book has a 100 page coda that just feels unnecessary. It transforms the book from being a typical manageable fantasy novel to one which is on the chonkier side, and it doesn't really add anything to the story. The conclusions are met and the result of the main plot is concluded leaving those final 100 pages seeming somewhat superfluous...
Despite its mislabeling and excessively drawn out ending this was a highly enjoyable read. The camaraderie, the world building and the prose were all excellent. The characters are likeable, their backstories fascinating and motivations intriguing but believable. I thoroughly enjoyed this!
This book feels like it is being mismarketed. The blurb is selling it as a LGBTQ romantic fantasy, and yes there are LGBTQ and romance elements, but the romance is somewhat on the backburner. What we have instead is a novel of bonding in friendship more so than the romance. The chemistry is more on bantering buddy side than on the steamy romantic side. Romantasy is a somewhat marmite topic and I do wonder if playing up this might be to its detriment as it is not really spicy enough for a lot of the romantasy officiandos but what is left behind is actually an excellent fantasy novel where readers who might enjoy it might be put off by its marketing tag.
I went into this one not entirely certain - I am not the biggest romantasy fan. I ended up really enjoying this however, with its fascinating world building, interesting magic system and engaging characters. It managed to avoid all the tropes that I tend to dislike which are usually prevalent romantic fantasy. Instead we are left with an intriguing character study - the last survivor of a race paired up with a damaged but powerful survivor of magical experimentation. Guilt, regret and tradition form central themes, along with a sense of wonder exploring a truly wild and untouched environment. We are offered a glimpse at both the 'civilized' world and the more traditional culture from the forest.
The forest itself provides for a fascinating setting - inhospitable to most but full of weird and wonderful flora and fauna. The shadow of 'The Scholar', who provided initial trauma to both of our MCs gives an interesting sense of foreboding to much of the story, but the journey and the character building are the most central part of the story.
My main criticism is that this book has a 100 page coda that just feels unnecessary. It transforms the book from being a typical manageable fantasy novel to one which is on the chonkier side, and it doesn't really add anything to the story. The conclusions are met and the result of the main plot is concluded leaving those final 100 pages seeming somewhat superfluous...
Despite its mislabeling and excessively drawn out ending this was a highly enjoyable read. The camaraderie, the world building and the prose were all excellent. The characters are likeable, their backstories fascinating and motivations intriguing but believable. I thoroughly enjoyed this!
January 19, 2024
I’ve read several books by this mysterious author. They all have one thing in common: prioritizing characters over plot. This straightforward quest was a tangled muddy pit of world building, internal monologues, and a stiff romance with one off-page smut scene.
It could have been shorter and had an “oh” moment instead of a begrudging acceptance.
It could have been shorter and had an “oh” moment instead of a begrudging acceptance.
August 26, 2023
More please :)
This series that isn't so much a series as a set of vaguely associated novels in a fantastic world with an incredibly detailed and intricate magic system is amazing. Highly recommend this book and all the associated one. Also incredible slow burn romance. Enjoy!
This series that isn't so much a series as a set of vaguely associated novels in a fantastic world with an incredibly detailed and intricate magic system is amazing. Highly recommend this book and all the associated one. Also incredible slow burn romance. Enjoy!
August 19, 2024
Not my favourite Hiyodori but still solid. Maybe a bit too long, some of the earlier stuff could have been cut even if I see what it brings to the story.
I appreciate Hiyodori's dedication to writing non conventional romances where the focus is put heavily on the characters dynamic and relationship instead of assuming sexual tension will do all the work like a lot of recent romances. All her works are fade to black although with scenes of characters being attracted to each other in a less overt way than what we can see usually. I really appreciate that sexuality and preferences are clear (ie Clem's sadism and Carnelian's masochism) and are woven in the story in more than a sexual way and are a part of the relationships dynamic.
This book's protagonist unfortunately suffers from not having Clem's strong narrative voice. Whereas there's a narrative reason for Char to be like that, I did find Tiller to lack some character as opposed to Carnelian's exuberant and well-rounded self. Despite being in Tiller's head, she felt more subdued and I ended up being more familiar with Carnelian's character than Tiller's.
Tiller is a forester with blue hair the last of her kind and she lives with severe PTSD from her previous kidnapping which led to her brother's death and later the death of her friend and bodyguard. She helped the foresters have a life outside the forest but there's a lot I can't tell about her. I can't tell she's resourceful and crafty, loves the forest and is still traumatised by loss and the past but whereas I can see why Carnelian likes her I can't quite pinpoint how and why she falls for Carnelian besides loneliness and bonded trauma.
I was expecting more from the marriage of convenience part of the story but as a fan of the universe I was glad to have some insights into Jacian society in general. Marriage of convenience usually implies some pretension of affection which we don't get here.
I do think we get to the forest a bit too late into the story for all the teasing. I usual trust hiyodori on foreshadowing but there were parts I found a bit useless to the story given the final twist and themes.
I appreciate Hiyodori's dedication to writing non conventional romances where the focus is put heavily on the characters dynamic and relationship instead of assuming sexual tension will do all the work like a lot of recent romances. All her works are fade to black although with scenes of characters being attracted to each other in a less overt way than what we can see usually. I really appreciate that sexuality and preferences are clear (ie Clem's sadism and Carnelian's masochism) and are woven in the story in more than a sexual way and are a part of the relationships dynamic.
This book's protagonist unfortunately suffers from not having Clem's strong narrative voice. Whereas there's a narrative reason for Char to be like that, I did find Tiller to lack some character as opposed to Carnelian's exuberant and well-rounded self. Despite being in Tiller's head, she felt more subdued and I ended up being more familiar with Carnelian's character than Tiller's.
Tiller is a forester with blue hair the last of her kind and she lives with severe PTSD from her previous kidnapping which led to her brother's death and later the death of her friend and bodyguard. She helped the foresters have a life outside the forest but there's a lot I can't tell about her. I can't tell she's resourceful and crafty, loves the forest and is still traumatised by loss and the past but whereas I can see why Carnelian likes her I can't quite pinpoint how and why she falls for Carnelian besides loneliness and bonded trauma.
I was expecting more from the marriage of convenience part of the story but as a fan of the universe I was glad to have some insights into Jacian society in general. Marriage of convenience usually implies some pretension of affection which we don't get here.
I do think we get to the forest a bit too late into the story for all the teasing. I usual trust hiyodori on foreshadowing but there were parts I found a bit useless to the story given the final twist and themes.
March 4, 2025
3.5
I really liked the story so much! It did seem to take a while to get going, then the end seemed way more drawn out than necessary, and that's why it's not a 4, but this was a super enjoyable story and world.
I really liked the story so much! It did seem to take a while to get going, then the end seemed way more drawn out than necessary, and that's why it's not a 4, but this was a super enjoyable story and world.
February 17, 2025
buddy read w dasha :3
HELLO!! FINALLY FINISHED!! i really liked this! my only complaints are that 1)i dont love this writing style... idk why but it was hard for me to connect to the story at first, everything felt almost clinical and aseptic. also very confusing because it's a whole fantasy universe that's hard to picture and 2) this was SO LONG. and the pace was slow at first so ughh i found it hard to get through the first half of the book.
HAVING SAID THAT!! NELLIETILLER MY BELOVEDS😭😭😭 this is great romance. in love with each other and yet the most complicated relationship ever UGH so good.. AND THE SIBLINGS?? THE SIBLINGS. nelliewren like him edit incoming because guys. what the freak. black siblings core i feel sick SO SICK and oh my god I LOVE THE FOREST. SUCH A BEAUTIFUL MAGICAL PLACE CRAFTED SO WELL and i wanted more of the scholar give me the whole backstory omfg. SO YEAH! THANK YOU NA!! WILL READ CLEMWIST NEXT!
HELLO!! FINALLY FINISHED!! i really liked this! my only complaints are that 1)i dont love this writing style... idk why but it was hard for me to connect to the story at first, everything felt almost clinical and aseptic. also very confusing because it's a whole fantasy universe that's hard to picture and 2) this was SO LONG. and the pace was slow at first so ughh i found it hard to get through the first half of the book.
HAVING SAID THAT!! NELLIETILLER MY BELOVEDS😭😭😭 this is great romance. in love with each other and yet the most complicated relationship ever UGH so good.. AND THE SIBLINGS?? THE SIBLINGS. nelliewren like him edit incoming because guys. what the freak. black siblings core i feel sick SO SICK and oh my god I LOVE THE FOREST. SUCH A BEAUTIFUL MAGICAL PLACE CRAFTED SO WELL and i wanted more of the scholar give me the whole backstory omfg. SO YEAH! THANK YOU NA!! WILL READ CLEMWIST NEXT!
January 22, 2025
5/5
If The First and Last Demon has the best twist in a Hiyodori work (so far), then The Forest at the Heart of Her Mage has the best love interest. A gal with a pretty face, a terrible reputation, and a tragic past? Sign me up. Carnelian has me in a chokehold. My heart flipped through like twenty different emotions during those last few chapters at the end of the book, but it was so worth it. I don’t want to spoil too much, but let’s just say I have a weak spot for long-distance yearning and happy endings.
If The First and Last Demon has the best twist in a Hiyodori work (so far), then The Forest at the Heart of Her Mage has the best love interest. A gal with a pretty face, a terrible reputation, and a tragic past? Sign me up. Carnelian has me in a chokehold. My heart flipped through like twenty different emotions during those last few chapters at the end of the book, but it was so worth it. I don’t want to spoil too much, but let’s just say I have a weak spot for long-distance yearning and happy endings.
January 26, 2025
superstardrifter.com
The Forest at the Heart of Her Mage is the story of Tiller and Carnelian. They live in a world where there are mages, each with a 'core' that fuels their magic. The cores branch out, somewhat like a tree and when the mage uses their magic, the branches tangle about a bit, so each mage needs what is known as an operator, who performs magical maintenance on them to untangle everything, keeping the mage from going berserk.
Tiller is a forest-dweller who has been living in the city for some years now, but who needs to go back into the forest to lay the ashes of her grandmother to rest. The Forest has become way more dangerous though, and so she'll need someone, hopefully a mage, to escort her. She's an operator, though not a very experienced one, but that shouldn't be too much of a problem.
Carnelian is a unique mage who has not one core, but nine. When she was a child she was held and experimented on by a mad mage only known as 'The Scholar', and had other people's cores transplanted into her on top of her own. She needs more maintenance than normal, but more importantly, mages in this country are under very strict restrictions, and the only way to be free from government control is to get married.
Carnelian agrees to take Tiller through the Forest in exchange for her hand in marriage, and Tiller agrees. And that's where the shenanigans start, but they don't end there.
I quite liked this story. It was very unique in how magic works in this world. The world was well built, especially the parts where they were in the Forest. The different kinds of wildlife that live there were well described. The Forest's biggest predator, phages, which are somewhat like a combination of ghosts and zombies, were interesting. I just really liked this world.
The relationship between Tiller and Carnelian was really cute. They were both characters that were easy to cheer for, so it was quite nice to read about them being in a cute relationship, especially considering that both of them had quite traumatic pasts, and... well, quite traumatic presents as well.
There was also a twist in the story that I absolutely wasn't expecting, and so that was awesome and made the last quarter of the book hard to put down.
All told, I had 8.5/10 stars of fun with The Forest at the Heart of Her Mage. I thought it was a very well written and well paced story. I will definitely try to read more of this author's work in the future, because as far as I know, most of their novels take place in this same world, so I'm quite interested to see what else is going on in it.
The Forest at the Heart of Her Mage is the story of Tiller and Carnelian. They live in a world where there are mages, each with a 'core' that fuels their magic. The cores branch out, somewhat like a tree and when the mage uses their magic, the branches tangle about a bit, so each mage needs what is known as an operator, who performs magical maintenance on them to untangle everything, keeping the mage from going berserk.
Tiller is a forest-dweller who has been living in the city for some years now, but who needs to go back into the forest to lay the ashes of her grandmother to rest. The Forest has become way more dangerous though, and so she'll need someone, hopefully a mage, to escort her. She's an operator, though not a very experienced one, but that shouldn't be too much of a problem.
Carnelian is a unique mage who has not one core, but nine. When she was a child she was held and experimented on by a mad mage only known as 'The Scholar', and had other people's cores transplanted into her on top of her own. She needs more maintenance than normal, but more importantly, mages in this country are under very strict restrictions, and the only way to be free from government control is to get married.
Carnelian agrees to take Tiller through the Forest in exchange for her hand in marriage, and Tiller agrees. And that's where the shenanigans start, but they don't end there.
I quite liked this story. It was very unique in how magic works in this world. The world was well built, especially the parts where they were in the Forest. The different kinds of wildlife that live there were well described. The Forest's biggest predator, phages, which are somewhat like a combination of ghosts and zombies, were interesting. I just really liked this world.
The relationship between Tiller and Carnelian was really cute. They were both characters that were easy to cheer for, so it was quite nice to read about them being in a cute relationship, especially considering that both of them had quite traumatic pasts, and... well, quite traumatic presents as well.
There was also a twist in the story that I absolutely wasn't expecting, and so that was awesome and made the last quarter of the book hard to put down.
All told, I had 8.5/10 stars of fun with The Forest at the Heart of Her Mage. I thought it was a very well written and well paced story. I will definitely try to read more of this author's work in the future, because as far as I know, most of their novels take place in this same world, so I'm quite interested to see what else is going on in it.
Want to read
June 5, 2024This is not a full review. I read through the beginning of all 300 SPFBOX contest entries. This was a book I wanted to read more of.
A woman finds the first draft of her deceased grandma’s will secreted in a chest of drawers that reveals a longing to be laid to rest in the dangerous forest she was forced to leave.
This is sublimely readable. It is clear, direct, & steadily developing. Character and setting reveal themselves sentence by sentence as I read in with mounting interest. This is a calm, quietly sad start.
Its focus and subtlety make me feel that I am in very good hands. The narrative tells us what we need, but alludes to a richly designed world full of mystery, danger, and wonder.
We see grandma painting pictures in her imagination on the concrete all at the retirement home where she lived with the other foresters, knowing only now the quiet desperation in her heart to be laid to rest in the forest and avoid the wearying cycle of reincarnation.
The juxtaposition of a living forest that is not there and the bare concrete wall that is speaks volumes. The invisible art in the mind of an old woman - the blank and lifeless concrete. The entirety of the first chapter is built around this image. This is art.
We feel our MCs sense of duty to her grandmother, and perhaps her own longing, without having to be told of it. It’s there on the page in every loving detail. The story, however quiet for the moment, leaps to life. It is exquisitely human.
The story also doesn’t linger. Our MCs mind is made up. She’ll risk a one time trek back into the Devouring Forest if her birth. She’ll need a body guard though. She’ll need a mage.
The first, short chapter ends, and my eyes are irresistibly drawn to the opening of chapter 2. That says it all. I’m already desperate to know more about, well, everything.
Who is our quiet MC really, and why have so many people tried to kill her (what a delicious detail to tease the reader with)? What are the dangers of this forest? What is the nature of magic in this world? What other secrets await us? I have to know. I’m in!
A woman finds the first draft of her deceased grandma’s will secreted in a chest of drawers that reveals a longing to be laid to rest in the dangerous forest she was forced to leave.
This is sublimely readable. It is clear, direct, & steadily developing. Character and setting reveal themselves sentence by sentence as I read in with mounting interest. This is a calm, quietly sad start.
Its focus and subtlety make me feel that I am in very good hands. The narrative tells us what we need, but alludes to a richly designed world full of mystery, danger, and wonder.
We see grandma painting pictures in her imagination on the concrete all at the retirement home where she lived with the other foresters, knowing only now the quiet desperation in her heart to be laid to rest in the forest and avoid the wearying cycle of reincarnation.
The juxtaposition of a living forest that is not there and the bare concrete wall that is speaks volumes. The invisible art in the mind of an old woman - the blank and lifeless concrete. The entirety of the first chapter is built around this image. This is art.
We feel our MCs sense of duty to her grandmother, and perhaps her own longing, without having to be told of it. It’s there on the page in every loving detail. The story, however quiet for the moment, leaps to life. It is exquisitely human.
The story also doesn’t linger. Our MCs mind is made up. She’ll risk a one time trek back into the Devouring Forest if her birth. She’ll need a body guard though. She’ll need a mage.
The first, short chapter ends, and my eyes are irresistibly drawn to the opening of chapter 2. That says it all. I’m already desperate to know more about, well, everything.
Who is our quiet MC really, and why have so many people tried to kill her (what a delicious detail to tease the reader with)? What are the dangers of this forest? What is the nature of magic in this world? What other secrets await us? I have to know. I’m in!
November 10, 2024
This book lacks focus. It doesn’t really seem to know where it’s going until about the last 25%. Given that there are 575 pages to wade through that’s a lot of build-up.
The prose is loaded with unnecessary and irrelevant adjectives, metaphors and similes. A couple of examples:
“The gridlines of pasty grout shone with the faintness of dying stars.”
“… pregnant dogs barking.”
I mean, what? If this is intended to add colour, it fails. It just makes the text verbose.
There were other oddities such as “megalithic trees” Megalithic literally means ‘large stone’ so I don’t know what that’s about.
Talking of trees, the canopy in the Forest is described at one point as being 50 storeys high. That’s about 700’ and roughly twice as high as the tallest living tree Sequoia sempervirens which is at the upper physical limit of the ability to transport water from the roots to the tips. I get that the Forest is special, but this really jarred. Elsewhere the story seems to adhere to regular physics except where magic is explicitly invoked. Ghouls and six legged rabbits that climb trees and extra-dimensional vortices housing Lovecraftian horrors from beyond space and time I can accept, but 700’ trees? Sequoias are impressive as **** as they are. No embroidery necessary.
The build up to Carnelian and Tiller entering the Forest (Chapter 37) is nigh on irrelevant and that’s nearly half the book! 285 pages that do … what?
This is also described as a Sapphic romance. Sapphic? Barely. The MCs are curiously genderless. It could be two men, and it would be scarcely any different. And as for romance? There’s a teeny bit squeezed in at the edges. Blink and you’d miss it.
The prose is loaded with unnecessary and irrelevant adjectives, metaphors and similes. A couple of examples:
“The gridlines of pasty grout shone with the faintness of dying stars.”
“… pregnant dogs barking.”
I mean, what? If this is intended to add colour, it fails. It just makes the text verbose.
There were other oddities such as “megalithic trees” Megalithic literally means ‘large stone’ so I don’t know what that’s about.
Talking of trees, the canopy in the Forest is described at one point as being 50 storeys high. That’s about 700’ and roughly twice as high as the tallest living tree Sequoia sempervirens which is at the upper physical limit of the ability to transport water from the roots to the tips. I get that the Forest is special, but this really jarred. Elsewhere the story seems to adhere to regular physics except where magic is explicitly invoked. Ghouls and six legged rabbits that climb trees and extra-dimensional vortices housing Lovecraftian horrors from beyond space and time I can accept, but 700’ trees? Sequoias are impressive as **** as they are. No embroidery necessary.
The build up to Carnelian and Tiller entering the Forest (Chapter 37) is nigh on irrelevant and that’s nearly half the book! 285 pages that do … what?
This is also described as a Sapphic romance. Sapphic? Barely. The MCs are curiously genderless. It could be two men, and it would be scarcely any different. And as for romance? There’s a teeny bit squeezed in at the edges. Blink and you’d miss it.
dnf
April 4, 2025The Forest at the Heart of Her Mage is one of the SPFBO 10 finalists, which I read as a judge! Our group review can be read on Queen's Book Asylum. Our overall rating was 6/10, my personal rating is 4/10. Since I DNFd it at the 52% mark, I wouldn't give it a star rating, but I read enough to form an opinion and write a review.
As this was my first book from Hiyodori, I didn’t have any preconceptions or expectations going in. I can’t say I loved The Forest at the Heart of Her Mage, as I decided to DNF at the 52% mark, but it wasn’t bad either. It fell somewhere in the middle, and if it was a 100 or so pages shorter, I might have even finished it. Maybe.
The base plot is pretty straightforward: Teller wants to honour the remains of her grandmother and her friend by following their Forester customs and putting them into one of the fire caves deep in the forest. But she has two problems: one, she needs a mage to accompany her, and two, she only has a limited time before the government brings in a big force to destroy part of the forest, attempting to stop its invasion. Carnelian is the only volunteer who is willing to accompany her, and she wants Teller to marry her as a payment. Obviously, a lot more is going on, but I’m not going to go into details. Although, spoiler: they eventually get into the forest, but it takes almost half of the book for them to get there, and honestly, by that point, I wasn’t all that interested. Which is a bit of a shame, because I suspect that’s where things finally got interesting. But I was struggling with the pace, the repetitions, and the fact that I really didn’t care all that much about the characters.
The older I get, the less patience I have for long books – and I’ve never been the patient type to begin with. And while The Forest at the Hear of Her Mage has some cool things going for it (like how the mages have cores and need to be “maintained” every once in a while), ultimately, it just wasn’t enough to keep me in the story.
As this was my first book from Hiyodori, I didn’t have any preconceptions or expectations going in. I can’t say I loved The Forest at the Heart of Her Mage, as I decided to DNF at the 52% mark, but it wasn’t bad either. It fell somewhere in the middle, and if it was a 100 or so pages shorter, I might have even finished it. Maybe.
The base plot is pretty straightforward: Teller wants to honour the remains of her grandmother and her friend by following their Forester customs and putting them into one of the fire caves deep in the forest. But she has two problems: one, she needs a mage to accompany her, and two, she only has a limited time before the government brings in a big force to destroy part of the forest, attempting to stop its invasion. Carnelian is the only volunteer who is willing to accompany her, and she wants Teller to marry her as a payment. Obviously, a lot more is going on, but I’m not going to go into details. Although, spoiler: they eventually get into the forest, but it takes almost half of the book for them to get there, and honestly, by that point, I wasn’t all that interested. Which is a bit of a shame, because I suspect that’s where things finally got interesting. But I was struggling with the pace, the repetitions, and the fact that I really didn’t care all that much about the characters.
The older I get, the less patience I have for long books – and I’ve never been the patient type to begin with. And while The Forest at the Hear of Her Mage has some cool things going for it (like how the mages have cores and need to be “maintained” every once in a while), ultimately, it just wasn’t enough to keep me in the story.
December 9, 2025
This was first book of Hiyodori's I ever read. I knew there was a main series, but I didn't want to start something big at the time (since this book has almost 600 pages, I'm not sure what I was thinking). I was not prepared for the sheer wonder I encountered. Jace, chalices, phages, operators and mages! A Devouring Forest, skirting dangerous taboos, fighting beings from alternate dimensions! I just about had a stroke from joy. The story itself wasn't difficult to understand, and I immediately reread the whole thing (a pattern I've kept with Hiyodori's books since) to get a different perspective on what I thought was happening in key scenes. The relationship between the main characters was nuanced, and was actually one of the first times I'd ever encountered a written budding romantic relationship that didn't use sexual attraction as a crutch. Again, something Hiyodori does extremely well and in every one of her books.
Tiller and Carnelian are perfectly matched for each other in more ways then one, from viciousness to sarcasm to stubbornness, and it was very fun to see Tiller come to terms with the fact she is not as immune to Carnelian as she thinks. In fact, despite the mystery following Carnelian around, I felt Tiller honestly revealed more of herself during the story. Tiller's used to hardship and making tough decisions, so she's gotten her revenge more than once, not that she lets anybody in on it. The detail showered on the Devouring Forest and Nui made every scene memorable. Even the side characters like the Commander and Istel felt multifaceted. I've reread this book multiple times by now, and there always seems to be something I missed the last time around. If you enjoy red string decorating all your walls, you'll enjoy Hiyodori's books, I cannot recommend them enough!
Tiller and Carnelian are perfectly matched for each other in more ways then one, from viciousness to sarcasm to stubbornness, and it was very fun to see Tiller come to terms with the fact she is not as immune to Carnelian as she thinks. In fact, despite the mystery following Carnelian around, I felt Tiller honestly revealed more of herself during the story. Tiller's used to hardship and making tough decisions, so she's gotten her revenge more than once, not that she lets anybody in on it. The detail showered on the Devouring Forest and Nui made every scene memorable. Even the side characters like the Commander and Istel felt multifaceted. I've reread this book multiple times by now, and there always seems to be something I missed the last time around. If you enjoy red string decorating all your walls, you'll enjoy Hiyodori's books, I cannot recommend them enough!
March 12, 2024
Amazing! This was a perfect fantasy novel; it was a rich and detailed fantasy yet presented in a way that was very accessible for people who don’t usually read fantasy. The writing was excellent, the characters were compelling, and the plotline thrilling. The plotline was very simple on the surface yet expanded in scope and complexity as the novel progressed. This novel was on the longer side (for romance, or normal for fantasy?) so they had lots of time to dive into the details and develop the plotline and settings.
Highlights:
-Great worldbuilding. It was well rounded and detailed. The magic system, the setting, the culture and politics, and everything right down to the animals and plants. There was an extensive and rich amount of detail, yet also didn’t spend so much time worldbuilding that the novel dragged or got bogged down. The worldbuilding was doled out in snippets as needed; I never felt lost or confused but also never overwhelmed by the wild details.
-The writing was excellent too. It was witty and snappy when needed, and the banter between the characters was delightful. The details were vivid and immersive.
-The characters were detailed and complex. This story was driven by the characters as much as the plot, which I always like. Their backstory was extensive and slowly revealed over the course of the novel in a satisfying (but not overwhelming) way. The characters and their history was tied into the plotline, with none of the details being wasted or extraneous to the rest of the novel.
Nitpicks:
-It was slightly infodumpy at the beginning of the novel. It wasn’t too bad and this is mostly normal for fantasy novels.
-The romance plotline was somewhat weak in my opinion, given that it was described as a romance. There was a lot going on in this novel and I know it can’t be everything, but I was hoping for more time spent on the romance.
Highlights:
-Great worldbuilding. It was well rounded and detailed. The magic system, the setting, the culture and politics, and everything right down to the animals and plants. There was an extensive and rich amount of detail, yet also didn’t spend so much time worldbuilding that the novel dragged or got bogged down. The worldbuilding was doled out in snippets as needed; I never felt lost or confused but also never overwhelmed by the wild details.
-The writing was excellent too. It was witty and snappy when needed, and the banter between the characters was delightful. The details were vivid and immersive.
-The characters were detailed and complex. This story was driven by the characters as much as the plot, which I always like. Their backstory was extensive and slowly revealed over the course of the novel in a satisfying (but not overwhelming) way. The characters and their history was tied into the plotline, with none of the details being wasted or extraneous to the rest of the novel.
Nitpicks:
-It was slightly infodumpy at the beginning of the novel. It wasn’t too bad and this is mostly normal for fantasy novels.
-The romance plotline was somewhat weak in my opinion, given that it was described as a romance. There was a lot going on in this novel and I know it can’t be everything, but I was hoping for more time spent on the romance.
August 28, 2024
I liked the worldbuilding, the addition of new spaces and magic to the world of Clem and Wist.
The character work was good as usual as well, I really liked how the trauma of their past was written in. You could feel how it clung to the characters and kept intruding into their thoughts and actions. Really good.
That said, I'm pretty sure there were at least two instances where the author lost the thread of the plot.
a) When
b) Clem brings up the idea of
As a greater criticism of the universe I will say I am getting a bit tired of the trope where
It's not a bad trope, but it's been the recurring theme of every work in this universe. Even Clem and Wist have this issue
The character work was good as usual as well, I really liked how the trauma of their past was written in. You could feel how it clung to the characters and kept intruding into their thoughts and actions. Really good.
That said, I'm pretty sure there were at least two instances where the author lost the thread of the plot.
a) When
b) Clem brings up the idea of
As a greater criticism of the universe I will say I am getting a bit tired of the trope where
It's not a bad trope, but it's been the recurring theme of every work in this universe. Even Clem and Wist have this issue
September 3, 2024
I loved this book as I’ve loved every Hiyodori book I’ve read. It’s long and I pushed to finish it today so that I can focus on work and whatever else I need to tomorrow. In some ways I wish I could have savored it more. It’s a companion novel to the Clematis and Wist books I’ve read, with a small overlap, and it explores something I’ve believed ever since reading my first Clem and Wist book, which is that it would have been so easy to have a country that flipped things so that the mages had little to no power while the healers (or operators) have most of the power.
Separate of that specific detail, I love that these books show some of how differences among people and power differentials are set up and carried out through the culture one is raised in, which supports various beliefs continuing in various ways. I love that in all of these countries the idea of a woman loving and marrying another woman isn’t even blinked at; the differences and power differentials explored are fantasy things and sexual orientation and skin color for that matter, are just random things each culture accepts as normal variances in the population.
Above and beyond all that heavy stuff, first and foremost these are just great stories and I have enjoyed every one that I’ve read so far.
Separate of that specific detail, I love that these books show some of how differences among people and power differentials are set up and carried out through the culture one is raised in, which supports various beliefs continuing in various ways. I love that in all of these countries the idea of a woman loving and marrying another woman isn’t even blinked at; the differences and power differentials explored are fantasy things and sexual orientation and skin color for that matter, are just random things each culture accepts as normal variances in the population.
Above and beyond all that heavy stuff, first and foremost these are just great stories and I have enjoyed every one that I’ve read so far.
August 25, 2025
Hiyodori is my author ‘discovery’ of the summer – she writes relationships so well. Her characters are complex, messy, emotionally scarred, bent but not broken by life. Not always likeable, and very, very real.
Tiller is a ‘forester’, one of a tribe of forest people who emigrated to the cities; now she seeks to return to the forest to bring the ashes of fallen family members home. But the forest is full of dark magic and tragic memories for her, and to do this, she’ll need a mage bodyguard. Enter Carnelian, a mage who loves to flirt, drink, and take risks–and who’s burdened by magical abilities that were forced on her at a young age–who promises to help her on one condition: that she marry her.
There’s such a great dynamic between these two: their reluctantly-symbiotic relationship as mage and handler AND their evolving romantic relationship–the way they learn to trust each other. It’s NOT a smooth road for them. I also loved the way the story goes into what we owe to our families after they pass, and how we help each other heal.
It’s a slow-burn romance with a slow-burn plot, some body horror, some absolutely gorgeous language, and so much heart. Easily one of the best books I’ve read this year (and it might end up being the best)
Tiller is a ‘forester’, one of a tribe of forest people who emigrated to the cities; now she seeks to return to the forest to bring the ashes of fallen family members home. But the forest is full of dark magic and tragic memories for her, and to do this, she’ll need a mage bodyguard. Enter Carnelian, a mage who loves to flirt, drink, and take risks–and who’s burdened by magical abilities that were forced on her at a young age–who promises to help her on one condition: that she marry her.
There’s such a great dynamic between these two: their reluctantly-symbiotic relationship as mage and handler AND their evolving romantic relationship–the way they learn to trust each other. It’s NOT a smooth road for them. I also loved the way the story goes into what we owe to our families after they pass, and how we help each other heal.
It’s a slow-burn romance with a slow-burn plot, some body horror, some absolutely gorgeous language, and so much heart. Easily one of the best books I’ve read this year (and it might end up being the best)
November 12, 2023
Intriguing story
I enjoyed this story! Like all Hiyodori's books, it's a sapphic fantasy mystery with surprising, satisfying and expertly-done twists! I recommend this!
Two passages that especially moved me (very mild spoilers):
“Your family. If you had a chance to reverse yourself. If you had a chance to go back. If you had a chance to spend more time with them, would you?
“Your mage is still alive. This is your chance.”
This is your chance.
In other words: one day she’d look back and wish she’d spent more time with Carnelian, too. One day it wouldn’t be possible at all. Right now she could still make miracles happen, and with remarkable ease. Right now was her chance to give that gift to her grieving future self.
"Grief had many faces, and she would never presume to think she’d met them all."
I enjoyed this story! Like all Hiyodori's books, it's a sapphic fantasy mystery with surprising, satisfying and expertly-done twists! I recommend this!
Two passages that especially moved me (very mild spoilers):
“Your family. If you had a chance to reverse yourself. If you had a chance to go back. If you had a chance to spend more time with them, would you?
“Your mage is still alive. This is your chance.”
This is your chance.
In other words: one day she’d look back and wish she’d spent more time with Carnelian, too. One day it wouldn’t be possible at all. Right now she could still make miracles happen, and with remarkable ease. Right now was her chance to give that gift to her grieving future self.
"Grief had many faces, and she would never presume to think she’d met them all."
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