Wind: Book 1 of The Tor’oc Trilogy

by Barry Alexander Brown, Sasha George (Illustrator)

For a thousand years, the Tor’oc people have lived in exile on a remote prison island — feared, silenced, and blamed for a darkness that nearly destroyed the world. Aeon the Leaf has grown up under that shadow, gentle-hearted yet burdened by a bloodline tied to a legendary war chief whose brutality changed history.

When Aemira falls into peril, Aeon the Leaf is torn from exile and thrust back into a world that both fears and desperately needs him. To some, he may be the reluctant savior destined to stand between their world and ruin. To others, he is a living reminder of everything they dread returning.

Caught between who he is and what his heritage demands, Aeon the Leaf must face truths long buried — about a forgotten civilization, a mythic past, and a legacy that could either save a kingdom… or destroy it.

Perfect for readers who love adult high fantasy, sweeping epic worlds, slow-burn storytelling, and deep, character-driven journeys, Wind: The Tor’oc Trilogy blends lyrical prose, emotional depth, and mythic scale. If you enjoy Tolkien, Guy Gavriel Kay, or Ursula K. Le Guin, this immersive fantasy world will feel like coming home to something timeless — and entirely new.

Genres: Fantasy, Coming Of Age, Spirituality, Epic, Politics, Ecology, Adventure

516 pages, Paperback

Published September 30, 2025

About the author

Barry Alexander Brown is an Oscar-nominated filmmaker, editor, and writer from Montgomery, Alabama. British-born, he was raised in the Deep South, where his mother’s family has lived since immigrating to America in the 17th century. Barry began his career with the feature-length documentary The War at Home, which he directed and produced. The film, focused on the anti–Vietnam War movement, earned him his first Academy Award nomination. Best known as a film editor, Barry has collaborated extensively with longtime friend Spike Lee, editing many of Lee’s most celebrated works, including Do the Right Thing, Malcolm X, Crooklyn, He Got Game, Summer of Sam, 25th Hour, Inside Man, BlacKkKlansman, and Highest2Lowest. His work on BlacKkKlansman earned him a second Oscar nomination. Barry has also worked closely with acclaimed Indian director Mira Nair, editing her landmark debut Salaam Bombay!—an Academy Award nominee for Best Foreign Language Film—as well as The Laughing Club of India, Monsoon Wedding, and Queen of Katwe. As a director, Barry has explored both documentary and narrative film. His recent projects include Fasting and The Longevity Revolution, a documentary inspired by the work of world-renowned scientist Dr. Valter Longo. He also wrote and directed Son of the South, a feature film shot in his hometown of Montgomery, based on the memoir of civil rights activist Bob Zellner. Barry is currently developing a dark fantasy feature set in Italy, slated for release in 2026. He is also the author of Wind, his debut novel and the first in a trilogy that includes The Un-Winding and The Only Way Back, both forthcoming. He divides his time between New York City and his home in St. Rémy de Provence, France.

Reviews

[Eric Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wind by film director and screen-writer Barry Alexander Brown is the first book in the Tor’oc Trilogy. Brown’s fantasy follows Aeon the Leaf as he embarks on an epic journey of discovery. As Aeon crosses the mighty river back to the Out World, he steps into terrain that no Tor’oc has tread in generations. Led by Jannonons and guided by the wisdom of the Trees, Aeon not only discovers himself but also his legacy and destiny. Brown’s novel is a mythical fantasy that relies heavily on characters’ relationships with the natural world. Brown begins his novel with a fire. A water element reveals to Aeon that he is the chosen one, setting him on his journey. Aeon crosses the river Divul into the Out World. He is the first of her kind to walk on the lands of her ancestors. Aeon connects with the Trees through the language of the Wind, learning the ancestral wisdom she’ll need to complete her journey. The use of the four elements is critical in Brown’s storytelling.

Most people know Barry Alexander Brown from his socially conscious films. At first glance, this novel might seem like a stretch from his cinematic works. However, Brown uses his storytelling to fight back against the attacks on people’s identity and the environment from the current U.S. administration. As an immigrant himself, Brown’s character tackles displacement and the duality of cultural identities. And by giving the trees sentience, he shows the need to respect and learn from nature.

World-building is essential in many fantasy novels, and Brown does not disappoint. The landscape and scenery are vivid and detailed. The land and the trees that grow work as their own character. Brown evokes emotion with the sounds and smells of these trees burning. Aeon’s relationship with both beast and plant life. The history and mythology of Brown’s lands are innovative and involved. It’s a breath of fresh air to read a fantasy that does not rely on a cast of cliche tropes. And during Aeon’s visions and dreams, Brown adds elements of hallucinogenic surrealism. Brown takes this mystical fantasy to an all-new level.

Wind works on so many levels, from a journey of discovery that will appeal to fans of Ursula K Le Guin. The poetic narrations and a layered and sophisticated plot will attract fans of Patricia McKillip. Brown adds elements of social and environmental justice that will please fans of Octavia Butler. Wind is a mythic journey across ancient trees and haunted waters, where one boy dares to awaken destiny.

this review was originally published at https://seattlebookreview.com/product...

[Aubrey Purdy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very fun and imaginative book. Though is was more in the class of youth/middle school age, it gave for a good and fast read. I really enjoyed how the story unfolded and didn’t follow any other line of other stories similar to it. I wasn’t able to guess any of what would happen in the book and I really liked that aspect of it. I also liked that even though it gave a hint that it might turn into a sort of romance it stayed the course of an adventure book and I truly look forward to reading the rest of the books.

[Jerome Camblain · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a blast of poetry, imagination, good vibes and value wrapped into a very imaginative tale.
The world where the story evolves is original and the connections both between people and between people and nature, whether we're talking trees or animals, are positively refreshing. A page-turner with a well constructed story that made me rejoice thanks to the core values of the leading characters.

[Noelle M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kid I babysit loved it.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was interesting, but not really my genre type.

[la_parenthese_litteraire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wind, premier volet de la saga du Peuple du vent, est une oeuvre envoûtante et poétique qui revisite les codes de la fantasy avec une rare délicatesse. Dans ce roman, Barry Alexander Brown nous transporte onze mille ans après l'exil du peuple tor'oc, jadis brutal et conquérant, désormais devenu un peuple sylvestre, en harmonie profonde avec la nature et le souffle du vent.

Au coeur de ce récit, Æon la Feuille, dernier héritier d'une lignée de seigneurs de guerre, incarne un protagoniste atypique : doux, introspectif, presque fragile. Son départ du sanctuaire forestier vers le « Monde du dehors » sonne comme une rupture mais aussi comme un appel. À travers lui, l'auteur crée une quête teintée de mélancolie, de sagesse ancienne et de tension intérieure.

L'un des aspects les plus réussis du roman est sans doute son univers sensoriel : les descriptions du lien entre les Tor'ocs et le vent sont d'une grande beauté, presque chamaniques et poétiques. le vent y devient personnage à part entière, messager, mémoire, guide… Un symbole de transformation et de liberté, mais aussi d'oubli et de danger. La plume, élégante et fluide, soutient cette atmosphère éthérée sans jamais tomber dans l'emphase.

Au-delà de la fantasy, Wind interroge l'héritage, la violence enfouie et la possibilité de rédemption. Æon est un héros qui refuse la brutalité de ses ancêtres, mais qui devra pourtant affronter ce passé pour trouver sa place dans un monde en mutation. le roman nous laisse avec une impression d'équilibre fragile, comme suspendu entre deux souffles.

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