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Green Warden Codex #2
No Rest For The Withered
Science says, run the tests. My gut says, run for my life.
The assignment was to conduct a routine field study in Dunmere Provincial Park. Observe, document, advise. Easy. I’d done it all a dozen times before.
But nothing about the curse taking hold of the forest is routine.
The out of the way forest town has some serious supernatural secrets. There are warped creatures stalking the edge of town. And when tourists go missing, the desperate townsfolk look to me for answers.
This is way over my pay grade.
Now I’m stuck between the science I trust and the strange, untamed magic that lives within the woods. But if the person who set the curse thinks I’ll run… they don’t know me very well.
I’m not leaving until I figure this out.
For fans of fast-paced urban fantasy, dry humor, creepy cryptids, and badass women—grab No Rest for the Withered and continue your adventure with Dani Chastain and the folks from Dunbarrow.
The assignment was to conduct a routine field study in Dunmere Provincial Park. Observe, document, advise. Easy. I’d done it all a dozen times before.
But nothing about the curse taking hold of the forest is routine.
The out of the way forest town has some serious supernatural secrets. There are warped creatures stalking the edge of town. And when tourists go missing, the desperate townsfolk look to me for answers.
This is way over my pay grade.
Now I’m stuck between the science I trust and the strange, untamed magic that lives within the woods. But if the person who set the curse thinks I’ll run… they don’t know me very well.
I’m not leaving until I figure this out.
For fans of fast-paced urban fantasy, dry humor, creepy cryptids, and badass women—grab No Rest for the Withered and continue your adventure with Dani Chastain and the folks from Dunbarrow.
219 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 29, 2025
23 people are currently reading
9 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
November 12, 2025
OUCH!!!
this is an amazing book, truly, but that ENDING! Oh my GAWD, that was extraordinarily painful. In part it was the surface pain in reaction to the actual events that transpired in the narrative, but the greatest part of that pain comes from two other sources…. The first is from my own expectations of what I would like to see unfold in the story’s future, only to have those visions torn apart by what IS. The second is from empathy with our heroine’s plight, because as readers we gain a certain omniscient narrator status of our own that tells us when what comes next will be, in the very least, “unpleasant.” The sum of these three elements can only be expressed as, “Ouch!”
Now, make no mistake, long before you hit that “ouch” point, what you will be graced with is more of Ava’s poetic imagery and storytelling that will have you pinned to your chair like Chicadee Scouts sitting on the floor of a library listening to a werewolf read an engrossing tale of mystery and horror. What? That makes no sense? Don’t worry. It will.
My point is this, almost any great story incorporates the “hero’s journey “ in some form or another, and that journey always entails a descent into darkness. It just so happens that this is where our protagonist is at in HER journey, standing at the top of that descent, when this installment ends. It’s not a cliffhanger, far from it in fact, and while it may not feel all that great, it also feels so “right,” for where the story is at at this point that you won’t complain. Well, other than to ask Ava to bring out the next book soon, of course. But really, does that even qualify as complaint? Personally, I think it’s a compliment. That’s MY story and I’m stickin’ to it!
ENJOY!
this is an amazing book, truly, but that ENDING! Oh my GAWD, that was extraordinarily painful. In part it was the surface pain in reaction to the actual events that transpired in the narrative, but the greatest part of that pain comes from two other sources…. The first is from my own expectations of what I would like to see unfold in the story’s future, only to have those visions torn apart by what IS. The second is from empathy with our heroine’s plight, because as readers we gain a certain omniscient narrator status of our own that tells us when what comes next will be, in the very least, “unpleasant.” The sum of these three elements can only be expressed as, “Ouch!”
Now, make no mistake, long before you hit that “ouch” point, what you will be graced with is more of Ava’s poetic imagery and storytelling that will have you pinned to your chair like Chicadee Scouts sitting on the floor of a library listening to a werewolf read an engrossing tale of mystery and horror. What? That makes no sense? Don’t worry. It will.
My point is this, almost any great story incorporates the “hero’s journey “ in some form or another, and that journey always entails a descent into darkness. It just so happens that this is where our protagonist is at in HER journey, standing at the top of that descent, when this installment ends. It’s not a cliffhanger, far from it in fact, and while it may not feel all that great, it also feels so “right,” for where the story is at at this point that you won’t complain. Well, other than to ask Ava to bring out the next book soon, of course. But really, does that even qualify as complaint? Personally, I think it’s a compliment. That’s MY story and I’m stickin’ to it!
ENJOY!
November 5, 2025
4.5 - maybe rounding up, I'll think about it. I'm really enjoying the series. It's very creative with plenty of twists and turns. I like the fact that Dani blends her science training with the paranormal / magic that is Dunmere and it's citizens. Finally a point in the positive win column too. There have been just so many bad things. A few humorous moments in this one - some tongue-in-cheek. Her comment about knowing how to negotiate since she writes grants was great. I guess that's a personal thing. Very much looking forward to the next book.
December 17, 2025
good
I love Danny in these books. Even though she’s faced with crazy magical stuff that she doesn’t understand, she still wants to help the forest and figure out who’s cursing it. There are also sparks happening between her and the alpha werewolf. He’s finally decided to quit being such a jerk and showing his true self. Not only is Danny having to deal with the guardian of the forest, but now she’s having to deal with the Faye stealing people out of the forest. I will definitely be reading the next book in the series.
I love Danny in these books. Even though she’s faced with crazy magical stuff that she doesn’t understand, she still wants to help the forest and figure out who’s cursing it. There are also sparks happening between her and the alpha werewolf. He’s finally decided to quit being such a jerk and showing his true self. Not only is Danny having to deal with the guardian of the forest, but now she’s having to deal with the Faye stealing people out of the forest. I will definitely be reading the next book in the series.
October 30, 2025
Getting more in tune
Dani and her new friends are working hard to figure out how to stop the blight that is affecting the magic in the forest, also why she is starting to sleep walk, and find the people that have disappeared. They need to get it figured out fast because now the Fae have decided to get involved. I love the characters and storylines in this series and can't put the books down once I start reading them. I am really looking forward to more in the series.
Dani and her new friends are working hard to figure out how to stop the blight that is affecting the magic in the forest, also why she is starting to sleep walk, and find the people that have disappeared. They need to get it figured out fast because now the Fae have decided to get involved. I love the characters and storylines in this series and can't put the books down once I start reading them. I am really looking forward to more in the series.
November 3, 2025
Seriously loving this series
Especially now that there's some actual success. It was getting decently depressing there when absolutely NOTHING they tried ever did anything but make things worse. Not just fail to work, no, it actually had to make things actively worse. I REALLY wanna find out how she's gonna stay permanently, though. Cause clearly, this is where she's meant to make a real home for the rest of her life.
Especially now that there's some actual success. It was getting decently depressing there when absolutely NOTHING they tried ever did anything but make things worse. Not just fail to work, no, it actually had to make things actively worse. I REALLY wanna find out how she's gonna stay permanently, though. Cause clearly, this is where she's meant to make a real home for the rest of her life.
February 1, 2026
My new favorite series
I hesitated about getting the first book because it didn't have many reviews. But I was looking for something new so I decided to try them.
Maybe it was a little slow at first but it caught me. It just got better and better the more I read. The characters were really filled out and interesting. The MFC was awesome, smart, witty and the best. I am going for the third book right now. 💖💖👍👍👍
I hesitated about getting the first book because it didn't have many reviews. But I was looking for something new so I decided to try them.
Maybe it was a little slow at first but it caught me. It just got better and better the more I read. The characters were really filled out and interesting. The MFC was awesome, smart, witty and the best. I am going for the third book right now. 💖💖👍👍👍
October 30, 2025
Can't wait for the next one!
Great buildup from the first book through. Love the progression from science-y to still science-y with fantasy/cryptozoology/myth/legend and maybe some building romance. Hope to see a lot more books with these characters, this town, and of course, this forest.
Great buildup from the first book through. Love the progression from science-y to still science-y with fantasy/cryptozoology/myth/legend and maybe some building romance. Hope to see a lot more books with these characters, this town, and of course, this forest.
December 28, 2025
SO GOOD
WOW! I'm surprised how much I am enjoying this story and can't wait to start the third book. I'm almost sorry to say I like this series more than Urban Druid 😳.
WOW! I'm surprised how much I am enjoying this story and can't wait to start the third book. I'm almost sorry to say I like this series more than Urban Druid 😳.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews