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Stories from The Green Place #2
Leave No Trace
Seventeen-year-old Lexi has been living in a remote stretch of the Rocky Mountain woods since her father dragged her there ten years ago, after her mother and baby brother were afflicted with a magical sickness. Her paranoid father thinks they've escaped the magic, and that as long as they never leave the woods, they'll be safe.So Lexi never tells him about her friend Gil, who turns up sometimes in a birch copse that travels with him, and who is definitely not human. She especially doesn't mention the magic he taught her, which can open a path to wherever she needs to go. After all, she's been in the woods for most of her she can find her way without magic.
But when pop star TJ Furey hires them to help him hunt down a bear, Lexi's secret is threatened. The bear he wants to kill is under Gil's protection, and if Lexi doesn't prevent its death, she'll never see Gil again. But she can't do so without risking her father's wrath – and when it turns out that TJ's manager is harboring a similar grudge of his own, Lexi feels trapped. If she wants her own life, she'll have to find a way to break all their expectations.
Leave No Trace plays the clash of worlds – magic and technology, future and past, rural and urban – against the backdrop of a bear hunt.
But when pop star TJ Furey hires them to help him hunt down a bear, Lexi's secret is threatened. The bear he wants to kill is under Gil's protection, and if Lexi doesn't prevent its death, she'll never see Gil again. But she can't do so without risking her father's wrath – and when it turns out that TJ's manager is harboring a similar grudge of his own, Lexi feels trapped. If she wants her own life, she'll have to find a way to break all their expectations.
Leave No Trace plays the clash of worlds – magic and technology, future and past, rural and urban – against the backdrop of a bear hunt.
290 pages, Paperback
Published September 23, 2025
About the author
Randee Dawn
22 books111 followersFollow me on Bookbub!
First of all, I'm the proud owner of a first novel, the humorous pop-culture fantasy Tune in Tomorrow (Solaris)!
I'm an entertainment journalist by day and an author at all other times. My tales have been published in a bunch of anthologies, and I'm the co-editor of Across the Universe: Tales of Alternate Beatles as well as the co-author of The Law & Order: SVU Unofficial Companion.
In my day job, I write for outlets including Today.com, Variety, The Los Angeles Times, and Emmy Magazine.
I live with the love of my life and an adorable West Highland Terrier (who is also quite lovable), in Brooklyn. Be sure to visit me at my web page, and sign up for the newsletter!
First of all, I'm the proud owner of a first novel, the humorous pop-culture fantasy Tune in Tomorrow (Solaris)!
I'm an entertainment journalist by day and an author at all other times. My tales have been published in a bunch of anthologies, and I'm the co-editor of Across the Universe: Tales of Alternate Beatles as well as the co-author of The Law & Order: SVU Unofficial Companion.
In my day job, I write for outlets including Today.com, Variety, The Los Angeles Times, and Emmy Magazine.
I live with the love of my life and an adorable West Highland Terrier (who is also quite lovable), in Brooklyn. Be sure to visit me at my web page, and sign up for the newsletter!
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 19, 2025
I received an ARC of this book for free from the author for promotional purposes.
What an action packed fantasy!
This book is part of a series of interconnected standalones. I didn’t read the previous book and was able to follow this one along just fine.
The best part was the forest setting. Forests are incredible places and the story captured the beauty and harshness of it well. Relatedly, it was the perfect setting of the survival theme that ran throughout the story. An integral part of the story was being able to survive in the forest with limited resources.
As for the characters, Lexi and Stef were standouts. I loved seeing Lexi’s personal growth as well as her budding friendship with Stef. I didn’t know how to feel about some of the other characters, but that wasn’t a bad thing. They were just complicated.
The story had a lot of twists and turns. I never quite knew how it would all play out, which kept things interesting.
I was satisfied with the ending, but I wanted to know what happened next. Since this is an interconnected standalone, this story and these characters are likely done. This book could have been a great start to a series since there is still a lot to explore with these characters.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. If you’re looking for a fantasy story with a lush setting, then be sure to check this one out!
What an action packed fantasy!
This book is part of a series of interconnected standalones. I didn’t read the previous book and was able to follow this one along just fine.
The best part was the forest setting. Forests are incredible places and the story captured the beauty and harshness of it well. Relatedly, it was the perfect setting of the survival theme that ran throughout the story. An integral part of the story was being able to survive in the forest with limited resources.
As for the characters, Lexi and Stef were standouts. I loved seeing Lexi’s personal growth as well as her budding friendship with Stef. I didn’t know how to feel about some of the other characters, but that wasn’t a bad thing. They were just complicated.
The story had a lot of twists and turns. I never quite knew how it would all play out, which kept things interesting.
I was satisfied with the ending, but I wanted to know what happened next. Since this is an interconnected standalone, this story and these characters are likely done. This book could have been a great start to a series since there is still a lot to explore with these characters.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. If you’re looking for a fantasy story with a lush setting, then be sure to check this one out!
October 28, 2025
Lexi has been living in the mountains for the past decade, taken there by her father, who is paranoid about the "sickness" in the world "Outside". Unbeknownst, to him, Lexi has that sickness he's trying to avoid -- she can do magic.
Outside, TJ Furey is an upcoming popstar who mesmerises his audience with his voice. To escape the paparazzi, TJ convinces his manager Tony that he wants to head into the mountains and shoot a bear.
And when city boys go into the mountains to do country boy things, you can bet that things go horribly, horribly wrong.
I'm kinda a little torn about this one. If you've read The Only Song Worth Singing, you'll get vibes of that in the sections with TJ and Stef. It's set in the same world, after all. There's that music magic, what I think are allusions to Ciaran, Mal and Patrick, the appearance of the various fae, and, of course, the Green Place. But this book tells of a great war between humans and the fae, and how the Green Place is slowly shrinking and dying. I loved those bits.
The bits I didn't really like - and I think this is mostly due to the voice - is Lexi's parts. Which is terrible, because she's one of the main protagonists. She just kinda... annoyed me, and it was hard to gloss that over because her sections were written in first person. So like, 100% in her voice.
My conclusion, overall is that I still love The Green Place and what Dawn is doing with Irish mythology in modern, urban settings, but this one was a little too... rural for me. (I am, unfortunately, a very city girl).
Note: I received a digital ARC of this book from Caezik SF & Fantasy via Edelweiss. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Outside, TJ Furey is an upcoming popstar who mesmerises his audience with his voice. To escape the paparazzi, TJ convinces his manager Tony that he wants to head into the mountains and shoot a bear.
And when city boys go into the mountains to do country boy things, you can bet that things go horribly, horribly wrong.
I'm kinda a little torn about this one. If you've read The Only Song Worth Singing, you'll get vibes of that in the sections with TJ and Stef. It's set in the same world, after all. There's that music magic, what I think are allusions to Ciaran, Mal and Patrick, the appearance of the various fae, and, of course, the Green Place. But this book tells of a great war between humans and the fae, and how the Green Place is slowly shrinking and dying. I loved those bits.
The bits I didn't really like - and I think this is mostly due to the voice - is Lexi's parts. Which is terrible, because she's one of the main protagonists. She just kinda... annoyed me, and it was hard to gloss that over because her sections were written in first person. So like, 100% in her voice.
My conclusion, overall is that I still love The Green Place and what Dawn is doing with Irish mythology in modern, urban settings, but this one was a little too... rural for me. (I am, unfortunately, a very city girl).
Note: I received a digital ARC of this book from Caezik SF & Fantasy via Edelweiss. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
September 25, 2025
This is my review, and my opinions are very personal from my perspective and my life experience ( reading, watching, studying).
With Celtic lore inspiration, this contemporary "urban/fae" in the Rocky Mountains is one of those that is hard to fit on just one specific shelf or genre. It has magic realism elements, a fae world, but also incorporates some pop culture, including metal band references. The characters surprised us not only with their actions but also with their personalities, which is usually not what I have as a paradigm for some stereotypes. Not all are good people; some are morally grey, others are evil at the core. I understand how the father wished he could protect his daughter from the taint of society and city life, but he goes beyond healthy, becoming paranoid. A group arrived to hunt a bear, and the war is not just between fae and humans but within Lexi's beliefs. Hard choices, surprising revelations at the end. I haven't read the first book, but this one reads well on its own and probably will make readers curious about the first one. I didn't expect that revelation; it was cool. I loved the unseen concept. We all should cherish our unseen cores more (when they do good). It's an in-your-face, a lot happening sometimes gritty, with crude language, a story that brings some freshness to the fae genre.
With Celtic lore inspiration, this contemporary "urban/fae" in the Rocky Mountains is one of those that is hard to fit on just one specific shelf or genre. It has magic realism elements, a fae world, but also incorporates some pop culture, including metal band references. The characters surprised us not only with their actions but also with their personalities, which is usually not what I have as a paradigm for some stereotypes. Not all are good people; some are morally grey, others are evil at the core. I understand how the father wished he could protect his daughter from the taint of society and city life, but he goes beyond healthy, becoming paranoid. A group arrived to hunt a bear, and the war is not just between fae and humans but within Lexi's beliefs. Hard choices, surprising revelations at the end. I haven't read the first book, but this one reads well on its own and probably will make readers curious about the first one. I didn't expect that revelation; it was cool. I loved the unseen concept. We all should cherish our unseen cores more (when they do good). It's an in-your-face, a lot happening sometimes gritty, with crude language, a story that brings some freshness to the fae genre.
September 21, 2025
An engrossing tale of survival that's equal parts enchanting and gritty.
When Lexi's dad drags them to the middle of the woods as survivalists, Lexi's happy for the new adventure. But her brother, who has stronger memories of the outside, is not as thrilled. When he disappears, Lexi's left to help her dad arrange hunts to get extra cash by herself.
But when pop star TJ Furey sets his sights on a magical bear, Lexi finds herself at odds with her only friend, Gil, the mystical being who protects the woods. The death of Archie, the bear, sets them on a path that may end them all, unless Lexi and the others can dig deep within.
TJ brings along his best friend and songwriter, Stef, who finds herself drawn to Lexi. The two girls build an unlikely friendship, both before and after the expedition leads to disaster. I also loved the description of the platonic soulmate dynamic between TJ and Stef. Their artistic partnership added another level to the book.
This book kept me guessing all along at what was going to happen next! Definitely a pageturner with a lot of wonderful twists and turns. A thoroughly enjoyable read.
Thank you to the publisher for the advance review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
When Lexi's dad drags them to the middle of the woods as survivalists, Lexi's happy for the new adventure. But her brother, who has stronger memories of the outside, is not as thrilled. When he disappears, Lexi's left to help her dad arrange hunts to get extra cash by herself.
But when pop star TJ Furey sets his sights on a magical bear, Lexi finds herself at odds with her only friend, Gil, the mystical being who protects the woods. The death of Archie, the bear, sets them on a path that may end them all, unless Lexi and the others can dig deep within.
TJ brings along his best friend and songwriter, Stef, who finds herself drawn to Lexi. The two girls build an unlikely friendship, both before and after the expedition leads to disaster. I also loved the description of the platonic soulmate dynamic between TJ and Stef. Their artistic partnership added another level to the book.
This book kept me guessing all along at what was going to happen next! Definitely a pageturner with a lot of wonderful twists and turns. A thoroughly enjoyable read.
Thank you to the publisher for the advance review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 26, 2025
If a book mentions a big bear named Artio, it's already got my attention. Artio is one of my favorite Celtic goddesses, the appearance of a bear carrying her powerful name immediately gets my attention. This isn't just a fantasy story, but a beautiful piece of magical realism folklore, if that is a thing. It makes the earth and the woods feel alive, they're almost like characters themselves. The book has that same feeling like when you are walking in the woods and it's kinda of cool and you know little creatures are watching you. I guess that's called a magic feeling. Well, that is what the book gave me.
Lexie, has lived in these woods for most of her life and knows their deep magic. The bear Artio is protected by Lexie's non-human friend, Gil. But her world is threatened when a pop star hires them to hunt down the bear, but honestly how do you hunt magic and can you really kill it?
Lexie, has lived in these woods for most of her life and knows their deep magic. The bear Artio is protected by Lexie's non-human friend, Gil. But her world is threatened when a pop star hires them to hunt down the bear, but honestly how do you hunt magic and can you really kill it?
October 27, 2025
This book was very action packed and it always had a twist to keep me interested. It really kept me guessing all the way up to the end. I loved Lexi the most and I was a bit sad to see the story end!
This book is book two of a series as an interconnected standalone. After reading this, I definitely want to go back to read book one! I would call this a fantasy crack book as it was a speedy ready for me and left me satisfied!
This book is book two of a series as an interconnected standalone. After reading this, I definitely want to go back to read book one! I would call this a fantasy crack book as it was a speedy ready for me and left me satisfied!
December 31, 2025
This story is an intense magical realism story. Though the characters are teenagers and young adults, this is not a YA story. There were some graphic scenes, including scenes involving hunting animals. I liked the magic, or unseen, powers that the characters developed. This book would be a great book club read because there is a lot to discuss.
Leave No Trace is a thrilling magical story.
Leave No Trace is a thrilling magical story.
November 5, 2025
Leave No Trace isn’t just about the wilderness — it’s about what happens when magic, fear, and freedom collide deep in the woods. 🌲
Lexi’s story feels wild and tender all at once — a haunting blend of survival, secrets, and the ache of growing up too fast.
Lexi’s story feels wild and tender all at once — a haunting blend of survival, secrets, and the ache of growing up too fast.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews