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The Garden Knight #1
Tangleweed & Waterbloom
After years of travel in the wide world, Derry Melyvante has made his home near the quiet woodland village of Haverdell. He lives with his dog Barrow on a small island outside town and spends his days in singular pursuit of his craft: Derry is a gardener, a master of woodlore and plants and green growing things, a man whose heart belongs in the trees and high hills and soft grassy meadows around sleepy Haverdell. He and Barrow have built a home and found friendship in Haverdell—a quiet, fulfilling life.
Derry's placid work is interrupted by the appearance of a knight from the king's court with a summons for the gardener of Haverdell—a message specifically requesting Derry by name. The gardener is escorted to the capital by Caedan, Knight of Mira, where he is asked to investigate a similarly strange affliction in the holy gardens of the king. Derry performs his work, makes his recommendations for care, and thinks to return to Haverdell and the gentle calm of his chosen home.
But strange magic and stranger maladies are afoot, both in the king's court and in Haverdell. An unknown blight has taken hold in the Brightoak Tree in town. Derry and Barrow swiftly find themselves embroiled in affairs beyond their imagining, as monsters and blights and shadowy figures foment catastrophe throughout the land. Plants have begun to turn against the gardener. The king is in hiding. Allies have become traitors. Together, Derry, Barrow, and Caedan seek to end the mayhem and find a solution to the strange curse that has gripped the kingdom—before wild plant-monsters overrun everything and swallow the land into their greedy, leafy maw. Even if the trio is successful, they will have to contend with traitors in the king's court, magical devices now stolen by rebels, and ancient temples reawakened for unknown purposes...
Derry's placid work is interrupted by the appearance of a knight from the king's court with a summons for the gardener of Haverdell—a message specifically requesting Derry by name. The gardener is escorted to the capital by Caedan, Knight of Mira, where he is asked to investigate a similarly strange affliction in the holy gardens of the king. Derry performs his work, makes his recommendations for care, and thinks to return to Haverdell and the gentle calm of his chosen home.
But strange magic and stranger maladies are afoot, both in the king's court and in Haverdell. An unknown blight has taken hold in the Brightoak Tree in town. Derry and Barrow swiftly find themselves embroiled in affairs beyond their imagining, as monsters and blights and shadowy figures foment catastrophe throughout the land. Plants have begun to turn against the gardener. The king is in hiding. Allies have become traitors. Together, Derry, Barrow, and Caedan seek to end the mayhem and find a solution to the strange curse that has gripped the kingdom—before wild plant-monsters overrun everything and swallow the land into their greedy, leafy maw. Even if the trio is successful, they will have to contend with traitors in the king's court, magical devices now stolen by rebels, and ancient temples reawakened for unknown purposes...
- GenresFantasy
322 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2024
1 person is currently reading
54 people want to read
About the author
Justin Greer
7 books17 followersJustin Greer was born in Provo, Utah, and currently lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, though in between he spent significant time in Mexico, Pennsylvania, and Wales. He’s been writing stories for most of his life, starting with a yellow legal pad at age 10 when he first learned it was possible to write stories like the ones he loved reading. Over the years, his love for fantasy, adventure, science fiction, and horror has deepened and broadened, culminating in publishing his own stories for the world to read. The Garden Knight is just the beginning of the stories and adventures he intends to tell.
Beyond writing, Justin is a father of two fantastic boys and a husband to a wonderful wife. He spends his time reading, exercising, taking long walks, traveling, cooking, studying languages, gardening, and working as a freelance editor.
Beyond writing, Justin is a father of two fantastic boys and a husband to a wonderful wife. He spends his time reading, exercising, taking long walks, traveling, cooking, studying languages, gardening, and working as a freelance editor.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
April 19, 2024
This is, without a doubt, the most amazing novel I have ever published.
September 15, 2024
Justin Greer is such a talented writer, and this series is a true hidden gem in self-publishing.
Following on from the prequel novella Leafdust & Deadwood, Tangleweed & Waterbloom continues the adventures of our noble gardener Derry and his faithful dog Barrow. The story kicks off when Caeden, a Knight of Mira, comes to seek Derry's counsel on some strange happenings in the capital. The two go off together, and as the mystery unravels, the stakes drastically increase.
Similar to the prequel novella, I was so impressed by Justin's writing. The man has a way with words, and he is able to conjure the most vivid descriptions with some very pretty prose. This book was a joy to read and never at any point did it feel tedious.
This series is very atmospheric. It is borderline cozy, with very homey vibes that you can just relax into and enjoy. But similarly to the prequel, there is this sense of looming dread. In Tangleweed, that dread manifested into quite an intense plot that got surprisingly dark! I loved Leafdust & Deadwood, but I truly think Tangleweed took this story to a whole new level.
I think you should check this series out if you want:
- Heroic, cozy fantasy
- An older, wholesome PoV
- Themes of friendship, and of appreciating the small things in life
- Beautiful, vivid visual descriptions
Following on from the prequel novella Leafdust & Deadwood, Tangleweed & Waterbloom continues the adventures of our noble gardener Derry and his faithful dog Barrow. The story kicks off when Caeden, a Knight of Mira, comes to seek Derry's counsel on some strange happenings in the capital. The two go off together, and as the mystery unravels, the stakes drastically increase.
Similar to the prequel novella, I was so impressed by Justin's writing. The man has a way with words, and he is able to conjure the most vivid descriptions with some very pretty prose. This book was a joy to read and never at any point did it feel tedious.
This series is very atmospheric. It is borderline cozy, with very homey vibes that you can just relax into and enjoy. But similarly to the prequel, there is this sense of looming dread. In Tangleweed, that dread manifested into quite an intense plot that got surprisingly dark! I loved Leafdust & Deadwood, but I truly think Tangleweed took this story to a whole new level.
I think you should check this series out if you want:
- Heroic, cozy fantasy
- An older, wholesome PoV
- Themes of friendship, and of appreciating the small things in life
- Beautiful, vivid visual descriptions
November 6, 2024
highly recommended
Wonderfully written, description that totally immerses you in world. Love a story about a gardener too! Derry is an excellent protagonist.
Full review to come
Wonderfully written, description that totally immerses you in world. Love a story about a gardener too! Derry is an excellent protagonist.
Full review to come
December 20, 2024
A magical, beautiful story that brought me right back to how I felt as a kid when I first cracked open my dad's green hardcover version of The Hobbit and fell in love with reading for the first time. Wonderful characters and a world that broke my heart to have to leave when I reached the final page. I cannot possibly recommend this book enough.
May 1, 2024
This is a delightful story of an unassuming gardener and his loyal dog, faithful friends and a valiant knight, and their quest to save the kingdom. The worldbuilding in this story is amazing. I loved the characters and especially enjoyed seeing the world through the eyes of Derry, the Gardener of Haverdell. The writing style is beautiful - I felt like I was there hiking through the hills and valleys of the kingdom, observing the tiniest details on a flower, or mourning the death of a tree. I thoroughly enjoyed it and can’t wait for more stories in this series!
May 29, 2024
Highly recommend for anyone wanting a slower fantasy with exquisite world building (in this case, fauna building), a cast of characters that gives you hope for the decency in humanity, and gardening concepts that can be applied to any aspect of life (waterbloom!). A couple great twists and a lovable, humble MC, not to mention a believable crisis and missing monarch, gave me an engaging few hours of reading. Excited for book 2!
February 15, 2025
This review was originally posted on sffinsiders.com
After loving the Garden Knight 0.5, I was once again blown away by Greer’s masterful storytelling, and how he draws you right in from page one. I have ever loved a good cozy read, and this is shooting right to the top of the list. Previously, I compared Greer’s works to that of Travis Baldree, and I would do so again, that’s how good it is.
This time, we are once again in cheery Haverdell, but a strangeness falls over two of the quaint towns oak trees. Not quite a blight, or a rot, but something other. At first, Derry, our wonderful main character, is stumped. Before he figures it out, he receives a summons from the King, to attend a similar, yet markedly different, problem in the capital. There, a blight takes hold of some of the grove’s trees, and Derry puts them to bed, healing the grove once more. Upon his return to Haverdell, the oak trees have worsened. He finds a magical box of exotic origins buried deep within the earth, fouling the soul, the water, the oak trees. Taking it to a friend, he learns of a way to dispose of it and its magic, but something goes wrong, and the box nearly kills him in its death blows.
Was his friend lying? Why? What had happened?
And then something worse occurs. The grove in the kingdom’s capital falls to a tremendous overgrowth of wild and malicious plant life, forcing the king to evacuate. With the help of the very knight that brought Derry to the capital, he must determine what the source of the problem is and how to stop it, all while unraveling the mystery of the magical box.
Things take turns for the worse time and time again, but our optimistic MC and his wonderful dog Barrow, as well as some keen friends, never let it best them. They tackle obstacle after obstacle until restoring things to exactly as they should be. But a lot has to happen before that comes to pass, and it was navigated wonderfully by Greer.
The prose was an absolute joy, with scenes fully fleshed out in every capacity. I found myself hungry when they were eating meals at the tavern, on the road, or in the capital. When they wandered throughout the wild country and the hills, I wanted to do the same, and I might have, if I didn’t live in the middle of a city with no green space.
The story is, as always, compelling. We are made to sympathize with the plight of Derry, the King, and all the other allies we come across. They are kind, forgiving, and want what is best for people. They are all truly people we can root for, which is a very refreshing thing to find. But above all, I was rooting for Barrow, who deserved more pats and probably more screen time. That's my only complaint; I want a Barrow standalone. Now, I’m not sure how a standalone story about a dog would work, but I’m more than happy to find out.
We are introduced to a concept called waterbloom. Which is hard for me to quantify since I’m no master gardener like Derry. It roughly equates to the spreading of life with the grace of water, and if I’m paraphrasing incorrectly, I apologize, and that means you should read for yourself to find out what it means. It is introduced time and time again, to the overgrowth, to the natural things and the wild things and everything in between. It's used for remedies and healing, for sequestering chaotic magic, for subduing enemies, it's versatile and beautiful, just like this book.
My favorite scene of all has to be one of the more simple ones towards the end, where the King—yes the King—stops to help a young boy round up a goat that's escaped its pen. That, I think, perfectly encapsulates Tangleweed & Waterbloom. It's a story of appreciation for life and those around you, no matter your station in life. It's giving back how you can, when you can, and if we all did a little bit more of that, I think the world would be a much better place.
If none of that has convinced you, well then I’m not sure what to tell you, Ebenezer Scrooge, because this is a fantastic time wrapped into 300 or so pages that go in a flash because you just can’t help but read. Every sentence is a joy, every chapter a new adventure, and I eagerly await to see what comes next for Derry, Barrow, and all those we’ve come to love in the world of the Garden Knight.
After loving the Garden Knight 0.5, I was once again blown away by Greer’s masterful storytelling, and how he draws you right in from page one. I have ever loved a good cozy read, and this is shooting right to the top of the list. Previously, I compared Greer’s works to that of Travis Baldree, and I would do so again, that’s how good it is.
This time, we are once again in cheery Haverdell, but a strangeness falls over two of the quaint towns oak trees. Not quite a blight, or a rot, but something other. At first, Derry, our wonderful main character, is stumped. Before he figures it out, he receives a summons from the King, to attend a similar, yet markedly different, problem in the capital. There, a blight takes hold of some of the grove’s trees, and Derry puts them to bed, healing the grove once more. Upon his return to Haverdell, the oak trees have worsened. He finds a magical box of exotic origins buried deep within the earth, fouling the soul, the water, the oak trees. Taking it to a friend, he learns of a way to dispose of it and its magic, but something goes wrong, and the box nearly kills him in its death blows.
Was his friend lying? Why? What had happened?
And then something worse occurs. The grove in the kingdom’s capital falls to a tremendous overgrowth of wild and malicious plant life, forcing the king to evacuate. With the help of the very knight that brought Derry to the capital, he must determine what the source of the problem is and how to stop it, all while unraveling the mystery of the magical box.
Things take turns for the worse time and time again, but our optimistic MC and his wonderful dog Barrow, as well as some keen friends, never let it best them. They tackle obstacle after obstacle until restoring things to exactly as they should be. But a lot has to happen before that comes to pass, and it was navigated wonderfully by Greer.
The prose was an absolute joy, with scenes fully fleshed out in every capacity. I found myself hungry when they were eating meals at the tavern, on the road, or in the capital. When they wandered throughout the wild country and the hills, I wanted to do the same, and I might have, if I didn’t live in the middle of a city with no green space.
The story is, as always, compelling. We are made to sympathize with the plight of Derry, the King, and all the other allies we come across. They are kind, forgiving, and want what is best for people. They are all truly people we can root for, which is a very refreshing thing to find. But above all, I was rooting for Barrow, who deserved more pats and probably more screen time. That's my only complaint; I want a Barrow standalone. Now, I’m not sure how a standalone story about a dog would work, but I’m more than happy to find out.
We are introduced to a concept called waterbloom. Which is hard for me to quantify since I’m no master gardener like Derry. It roughly equates to the spreading of life with the grace of water, and if I’m paraphrasing incorrectly, I apologize, and that means you should read for yourself to find out what it means. It is introduced time and time again, to the overgrowth, to the natural things and the wild things and everything in between. It's used for remedies and healing, for sequestering chaotic magic, for subduing enemies, it's versatile and beautiful, just like this book.
My favorite scene of all has to be one of the more simple ones towards the end, where the King—yes the King—stops to help a young boy round up a goat that's escaped its pen. That, I think, perfectly encapsulates Tangleweed & Waterbloom. It's a story of appreciation for life and those around you, no matter your station in life. It's giving back how you can, when you can, and if we all did a little bit more of that, I think the world would be a much better place.
If none of that has convinced you, well then I’m not sure what to tell you, Ebenezer Scrooge, because this is a fantastic time wrapped into 300 or so pages that go in a flash because you just can’t help but read. Every sentence is a joy, every chapter a new adventure, and I eagerly await to see what comes next for Derry, Barrow, and all those we’ve come to love in the world of the Garden Knight.
January 29, 2025
Tangleweed & Waterbloom is a cozy loveletter story about a simple man with a particular fondness for gardening who yet carries a big stick... er... spade.
Master Gardener Derry is a man who loves plantlife and caring for them. With his trusted doggo, Barrow (good doggo), he spends his days cultivating trees, flowers, and other greenery in a little village where everyone knows everyone. But one day, a blight takes hold of the royal gardens and Derry is sent for. This blight is caused by some hexing magic and soon enough our faithful gardener is drawn into a political web and overgrown vines.
This is one of those stories that the laurels rest squarely upon its casts' shoulders as its not epic in scope, nor action focused. This is a lower stakes tale (at first) so the characters must be great. Luckily they are. Derry is such a unique protagonist. He is truly just a simple man who knows woodcraft lore. He has no aspirations of leaving his home to be a hero. He's also older so he likes the simpler things like gardening, tales with friends over pints, quiet life on an island with only Barrow for company. I just loved Derry. Caedan is a Knight of Mira and one of the other main characters we spend time with as he accompanies Derry on his royal mission. He's a loyal guy, good guy. Jaslan and Kalligan are great friends to Derry and bring some levity to the adventure when they are present. Then obviously Barrow is the bestest doggo.
There is a bit of magic here in the form of chaos magic, held within hex boxes. It's a neat little magic system, one that acts as the tool for driving the plot. There's also some political intrigue here with the blight and some fomenting of rebellion. A bit of some crosses to be doubled.
But ultimately, this is a very cozy story, and by that I mean the stakes are relatively low and the haste is quite languid in presentation. This is where Greer shines. His prose is lyrical, quite evocative, and aptly descriptive. There is never a rush to get to the next scene, we get to witness Derry's journey in the manner in which a simple gardener might. It reminds me of classic Tolkien in a way, the focus is on the little things in the journey: the discussions over a meal, the campfire revelations, the simple pleasures of a good walk through nature. There is some action, Caedan does some swordplay and defeats some foes, but this is not a bloody tale. And that's why I really liked this story, I enjoyed the different approach by Greer here.
Tangleweed & Waterbloom is the first book in the Garden Knight series and I, for one, am very interested in reading more of these slice...I mean plots of life type stories! Highly recommend if you are looking for something different in your fantasy reads, something homey, something that just blooms specialness!
Master Gardener Derry is a man who loves plantlife and caring for them. With his trusted doggo, Barrow (good doggo), he spends his days cultivating trees, flowers, and other greenery in a little village where everyone knows everyone. But one day, a blight takes hold of the royal gardens and Derry is sent for. This blight is caused by some hexing magic and soon enough our faithful gardener is drawn into a political web and overgrown vines.
This is one of those stories that the laurels rest squarely upon its casts' shoulders as its not epic in scope, nor action focused. This is a lower stakes tale (at first) so the characters must be great. Luckily they are. Derry is such a unique protagonist. He is truly just a simple man who knows woodcraft lore. He has no aspirations of leaving his home to be a hero. He's also older so he likes the simpler things like gardening, tales with friends over pints, quiet life on an island with only Barrow for company. I just loved Derry. Caedan is a Knight of Mira and one of the other main characters we spend time with as he accompanies Derry on his royal mission. He's a loyal guy, good guy. Jaslan and Kalligan are great friends to Derry and bring some levity to the adventure when they are present. Then obviously Barrow is the bestest doggo.
There is a bit of magic here in the form of chaos magic, held within hex boxes. It's a neat little magic system, one that acts as the tool for driving the plot. There's also some political intrigue here with the blight and some fomenting of rebellion. A bit of some crosses to be doubled.
But ultimately, this is a very cozy story, and by that I mean the stakes are relatively low and the haste is quite languid in presentation. This is where Greer shines. His prose is lyrical, quite evocative, and aptly descriptive. There is never a rush to get to the next scene, we get to witness Derry's journey in the manner in which a simple gardener might. It reminds me of classic Tolkien in a way, the focus is on the little things in the journey: the discussions over a meal, the campfire revelations, the simple pleasures of a good walk through nature. There is some action, Caedan does some swordplay and defeats some foes, but this is not a bloody tale. And that's why I really liked this story, I enjoyed the different approach by Greer here.
Tangleweed & Waterbloom is the first book in the Garden Knight series and I, for one, am very interested in reading more of these slice...I mean plots of life type stories! Highly recommend if you are looking for something different in your fantasy reads, something homey, something that just blooms specialness!
May 10, 2024
After reading the prequel novella to Tangleweed & Waterbloom, I couldn't wait to see what was in store next for Derry the gardener and his faithful dog, Barrow. I wasn't let down as these companions are plunged into even more harrowing circumstances in the follow-up book!
Other reviews have stated that Derry's world evokes memories of The Hobbit. I don't disagree, but there is also a unique feel to the world created by the author. I can tell it was created with care, crafted with love and attention to detail. And detailed it is, as the author's descriptions of the hills and meadows paint vivid pictures that truly make you feel as if you're right in the middle of the greenery. Much like Derry himself, Greer tends to his world with all the care and deftness of a master gardener.
I very much enjoyed going deeper into the world of Derry, as the scope expands beyond his little town of Haverdell and gives us a picture of the kingdom proper. Here is another area where the author's craft shines - this is much more than just a tale of a gardener and the hamlet he lives in. There's ancient magic, shadowy plots, noble knights - more things than you can shake a vine of tangleweed at!
I enjoyed every second of this read, cozying up to it the same way Derry cozies up to a nice book and a mug of tea in his little island home. Once again, I find myself excited to see what adventures come next!
Other reviews have stated that Derry's world evokes memories of The Hobbit. I don't disagree, but there is also a unique feel to the world created by the author. I can tell it was created with care, crafted with love and attention to detail. And detailed it is, as the author's descriptions of the hills and meadows paint vivid pictures that truly make you feel as if you're right in the middle of the greenery. Much like Derry himself, Greer tends to his world with all the care and deftness of a master gardener.
I very much enjoyed going deeper into the world of Derry, as the scope expands beyond his little town of Haverdell and gives us a picture of the kingdom proper. Here is another area where the author's craft shines - this is much more than just a tale of a gardener and the hamlet he lives in. There's ancient magic, shadowy plots, noble knights - more things than you can shake a vine of tangleweed at!
I enjoyed every second of this read, cozying up to it the same way Derry cozies up to a nice book and a mug of tea in his little island home. Once again, I find myself excited to see what adventures come next!
February 21, 2025
Tangleweed and Waterbloom. From the title itself you are led into a world of plants and growth, nurturing,observance and appreciation of nature.
We are so often fed books of the same flavour as authors and releases are based on current successes and the desire to profit off those successes as opposed to writing something different.
Justin took us far away from the familiar fare of angsty females, morally grey males and dragons and gave us a beautiful picnic of strong but innately good characters, a quest, overcoming hardship and trials with a sprinkling of little town delight and charming herbal details. Somewhere between a cosy fantasy and an important quest we meet a gardener that is actually a lot more than he appears, and I love everything about him.
What I think I loved most about this fantasy was the descriptions. I wasn't only thoroughly introduced to the world, I was drawn in, the pictures painted so clearly through the author's vivid and skilled descriptions that they stayed with me after the last page was turned.
I'm very pleased to already own the rest of the Garden Knight series and looking forward to continuing Derry & Burrows adventures.
We are so often fed books of the same flavour as authors and releases are based on current successes and the desire to profit off those successes as opposed to writing something different.
Justin took us far away from the familiar fare of angsty females, morally grey males and dragons and gave us a beautiful picnic of strong but innately good characters, a quest, overcoming hardship and trials with a sprinkling of little town delight and charming herbal details. Somewhere between a cosy fantasy and an important quest we meet a gardener that is actually a lot more than he appears, and I love everything about him.
What I think I loved most about this fantasy was the descriptions. I wasn't only thoroughly introduced to the world, I was drawn in, the pictures painted so clearly through the author's vivid and skilled descriptions that they stayed with me after the last page was turned.
I'm very pleased to already own the rest of the Garden Knight series and looking forward to continuing Derry & Burrows adventures.
November 3, 2024
Some books draw you in, give you a cosy blanket, settle you down before the fire and let the tale flow. These are rare books, ones that should be cherished and, in many ways, reading them has to be timed just right. Greer has crafted just such a book, one filled with beautiful, vivid description that nudges you along with a smile on your face and memories of the first time you read some of the classics in early fantasy. The pace increases as you approach the perils our protagonists face and the heroism they need to rise to, and these situations draw you into the story while maintaining the core theme of friendship and treasuring the simple things in life. The prose is lovingly shaped and by the end you feel you have journeyed far, and it is time to leave the book on the chair and go outside to immerse yourself in the beauty of the world. This is a mood book, and at the right time and moment, it comes highly recommended.
May 29, 2024
A beautiful debut novel by an author who is bound to be successful. The story is a compelling slow burn, the characters lovable and three-dimensional, and the writing style unique and evocative, but still accessible. It was a pleasure to read, start to finish, and I look forward to the next Garden Knight adventure and anything else Greer writes in the future.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews