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Tree of Ages #3

The Blood Forest

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A land in chaos. A city in ruins. Finn must reach the place where it all began, her peaceful meadow in Greenswallow, hoping to set right the wrongs of her past. Traveling forward blindly, she only wants to retrieve her memories and help Iseult, but little does she know, the fate of men and Faie alike hangs by a string, ready to be plucked by her fingers alone.

360 pages, Paperback

First published March 27, 2017

2012 people are currently reading
1403 people want to read

About the author

Sara C. Roethle

126 books922 followers
Sara C. Roethle is a Fantasy author and part-time unicorn. She enjoys writing character driven stories in various fantasy realms with elements of Celtic and Norse myth, humor, and metaphysical ponderings.

Her series include:

Tree of Ages
The Thief's Apprentice
The Moonstone Chronicles
Xoe Meyers
Bitter Ashes

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5 stars
2,068 (49%)
4 stars
1,516 (35%)
3 stars
487 (11%)
2 stars
100 (2%)
1 star
44 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 137 reviews
Profile Image for Sylvia Mercedes.
Author 37 books2,259 followers
March 21, 2019
And I continue to be enthralled by the Tree of Ages fantasy series. I’m so glad I started this series once it was complete so I could just binge-read book after book! Everything gets juicier and even more thrilling by book three, with the characters facing hard truths and undergoing painful journeys of growth. The characters really MAKE this series, and I have truly loved watching their struggles and revelations.

Finn’s backstory continues to be the core mystery of the story, and the author reveals more fascinating information as Finn makes her discoveries. And it’s hard not to love tough-guy Iseault, who continues more and more of his soft side in his feelings for Finn.

But WHY WON’T THEY KISS ALREADY?!?!

(Actually, it’s okay – I like to be driven crazy by a good old fashioned will they/won’t they. I just hope they WILL.)
Profile Image for Ashley Daviau.
2,262 reviews1,060 followers
February 13, 2021
This was a slight improvement over the first book in the series but there was just a little still something missing for me to make it a five star read. It was an interesting enough story but there was nothing to really completely draw me in and make me fall in love like I wanted to. I did enjoy the main characters much more in this installment than the first so that was a definite big check in the plus column. The end was pretty spectacular as well and I’m looking forward to seeing where it’ll lead the series next.
Profile Image for Sarah Santos.
20 reviews
May 17, 2017
Good read

I enjoyed this book!
Unfortunately, I feel like I swallowed book two and three without really chewing. Do you know what I mean? I'm going to have to go back and read them again. I was too impatient and I'm pretty sure I missed details. I just love the characters so much and I wanted to know what the next step was and what was going to happen and who was going where and who is going to leave and ugh! Anyway, loved it, will read again soon! Can't wait until book four!!!
Profile Image for John G. Stevens.
Author 3 books13 followers
May 28, 2018
Three books in on this series. It's just ok. I still like the world and some of the characters, the magic etc. I have the same reservations I had from the 1st book. I hoped things would improve, but I think they've gotten worse. There are a lot of little details that started to bug me about this series.

Frequent PoV changes, especially to characters that I don't think need/deserve their own PoV. Practically every named character gets PoV and it just muddies things up in my opinion.

The writing is a bit soft as well. At one point I was seeing the word "seemed" in 2 out of every 3 sentences and it just felt really sloppy.

The series "Tree of Ages" starts with a sort of magical girl as the MC. She's kind of sweet on a tall man with black hair. In book two another magical girl shows up as a younger blond version. In book 3 magical girl#2 also becomes sweet on a (different) tall man with black hair. This side character only serves to undermine the uniqueness of the MC. On top of that, her personality changes without reason in book#3. She starts of mousy and scared but is suddenly a force to be reckoned with in book#3. The transition just didn't work for me. There were other characters that felt off to me, but this is the prime example.

Also, towards the end of the book, some of the characters stopped acting like themselves just to facilitate the wrapping up the end of book#3. I think it's the dialog losing character uniqueness here.

The climax of the book was exciting. I thought maybe it turned a corner and would finish strong but... After the climax the plot just sort of muddled on. I was annoyed that the resolution is to return back to the place book #2 ended. When the point of book#3 was to return to the place book#1 began. This just feels like a weak wandering plot to me.

I don't think I'll be back for #4. And here's what's telling to me. I took a break after book#2 for a couple months. When I thought about the first 2 books, I thought, "Oh, yeah. That was a cool world, with some cool characters. I'd like to see what happens next." But upon starting book#3 I was immediately reminded. "Oh... slow meandering plot with abrupt PoV changes."
64 reviews
July 9, 2017
Finally we're getting somewhere! This book was my favorite in the series so far. It was the most creative, the relationships deepened in complexity and Finn became much more interesting by the end. I'm still so-so on Bedelia and Anders is a wimp, but the other characters came alive for me in this book.
Profile Image for Ananthatejas Raghavan.
119 reviews5 followers
December 25, 2017
All set for the final showdown

The series continues with more of the missing links being explained along the way. As Finn comes to remember her old self, she will make new friends and now they hear of a new prophecy which might end everything as we know it.
Has a good pace and keeps you engaged. Hope the final book continues on this.
Profile Image for Donny.
230 reviews4 followers
November 7, 2022
3rd book and I'm really enjoying this storyline and all the characters.
Kind of in love with both Kai and Isault ;)
Got a few answers to why Finn became a tree also in this one.
At one point though a unicorn and fairy type creatures turned up and I thought oh no its going to go all sugary shit and ruin it.... but the fairies drank blood and the unicorns actually really hard-core!
Profile Image for ShannaBanana✨.
548 reviews40 followers
October 19, 2021
This was awesome. I was so worried for Kai and if I’m being honest, I still am considering now, he’s part Dair like Finn after giving him her blood and life force. Can I now expect them all to care about one another instead of just Finn???
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Allyson Lenz.
13 reviews6 followers
April 14, 2017
Thoroughly love this series and can't wait for book 4! Finn is really coming into her own, and I adore gruff Iseult and his devotion to his tree girl. Naoki is a hoot and the rest of their band of friends are so enjoyable to read about. I'm looking forward to seeing how the love triangle pans out between Iseult, Kai, and Finn, as well as the upcoming fight with the strange Kieren and Finn. And what is the Traveler up to with Anders?
28 reviews
September 25, 2017
Great series

There are so many characters needing development throughout this book that it's just unreal how she's managed to keep them altogether . This is one of the better series that I've ever read and I'm enjoying every bit of it I recommend this book to anyone who likes to read the fantasy
280 reviews
June 28, 2018
Wow what a story!

This third installment was fantastic, I think this may be my favorite of the series thus far. A lot of mysteries were resolved and most of the characters are in a good mental place right now. I liked the twist in the last chapter and can't wait for part 4.
This author is very good at keeping the reader intrigued and not wanting to put the book down. Great writer, the only thing I will say that can use a little more improvement is the imagery. The author is definitely more focused on the story than the world and how the people look. For example, the Harry potter series was very descriptive, universal has a whole section devoted to it. This story you could be in any grove or forest and accompanied by any guy who waa tall, built and had dark hair. But it doesn't take away from the story, if the author did include more imagery the story would be that much better.
Profile Image for Caitlin.
160 reviews
January 23, 2022
The constant kidnapping seems to not be as big in this novel as the previous, but Finn and her rather rag-tag group of companions are constantly in danger as many unknown forces pursue them. There's a lot of players at work, it seems: the Dair, the tribe in the North, the an Fiach human soldiers, Kieran's cohorts, and the fae factions. It's a lot to keep track of, but it makes for some interesting plot developments.

Anders, who made a short appearance in the last novel, has formed a tenuous alliance with the Traveler who initiated the drama from the Blood Forest in the first book. He has definitely changed, and no wonder given the ordeal he has been through. His only goal is finding and rescuing his sister Branwen. It's so far still a small part of the overall story, but you get the impression from his and his sister's chapters that they still have some important role to play.

Ealasaid, though a cute character, doesn't quite seem to be really adding much to the plot. I commend her loyalty to Maayvin, but to be honest I dont feel interested in either of their stories, especially since I dont trust the latter.

Iseult really might be my favorite. I want to see more of him and his perspective. He is so fiercely protective of Finn, which is sweet, but also very self conscious. He wants to do the right thing for her and for his tribe, and slowly you see that start to become doing what's right for others. I hope his character and story take on a bigger role and we see more growth and development. His feelings for Finn are definitely progressing slowly, but it works well here. It leaves you still not knowing whether Finn has any feeling of her own and what they might be, and for whom.

The plot tends to bounce around between the expected and unexpected occurring, so you have enough mystery to keep you intrigued, but also can predict certain good or bad events and be prepared for them. There is more about the fae creatures as well, and we get to see an unexpected player towards the end.

Next book should be fun and I cant wait!.
Profile Image for Lana.
2,771 reviews59 followers
August 31, 2019
This series is getting more enticing the further we read into Finn's story. In this book she is trying to make her way back to Greenswallow, her safe place in the meadow, but her path is full of danger as so many factions seem to want to capture her. The Ceardaman, the Reivers and the Dair were a few of the people following her trail, as well as Oengus with his small army of An Fiach mercenaries and many of the Faie groups. She keeps getting separated from her friends who are all out to watch her back, even those who started off ready to betray her, and some of her friends get to suffer on her account at the hands of Queen Oighear, the white queen of the Faie when they are all captured by the Aos Si. The Merrow girl had warned them to beware the Dair, Finn's own people and her mother, whom she met in the Gray in-between place told her that she had done her best to shield her from them. Throughout her encounters Finn is getting her memories back in flashes and she suddenly remembers the loss of her daughter and is angered and out for vengeance. The shroud is what everyone is searching for, this piece of cloth could unite all the Faie making its owner the most powerful ruler in the land able to wipe out all the other factions so it was imperative that it did not fall into the wrong hands and it seems that there are three Queens fighting for this. So who will get to keep the shroud of the Faie Queen? Very exciting and intriguing reading, with a great cast of characters. I am so looking forward to book 4.
Profile Image for Lauren Garcia.
Author 10 books129 followers
February 14, 2018
This is the third book in the Tree of Ages epic fantasy series. I read them all back to back after falling in love with book 1 (Tree of Ages.) Wow, the plot thickens in this book! This series is a delight because it feels quite character driven; the characters' growth feels genuine and real, which is my jam. I loved learning more about Finn's backstory and the world around her, and how that creates conflict between her and her allies. The main "villain" in this story is compelling as well; not just someone who's evil for the sake of it.

All of the subplots fit seamlessly into the main narrative. Really, these books get better and better as you go! I recommend this book (and the series) for anyone who loves epic fantasy adventure. :) It's fairly mild on violence and romance, so I think it has a broad appeal. (Though tbh, I would have preferred a bit more romance. But then, I'm a sucker for romance!)
Profile Image for Angi.
1,538 reviews11 followers
March 26, 2018
The craziness just keeps going! I really liked this one. I almost loved it. Really so many things came to a head, it really felt like a conclusion. It was still a lot, but I felt like we got further in the story than before. Less traveling this time- it’s more fleeing and being chased. More Midsummers shenanigans ensues, Anders is pulled back into the story, we get new bad guys (lots and lots of bad guys) and some epic battles. And why don’t they kill the baddies when they have the chance? Ugh. There really were some great moments in this one. But I am not as excited to read the next book because there is one more after that isn’t out yet, so I will have to wait. I can’t feel like I’m so close to the finish and have it snatched away again. I need to be able to read them all the way through!
Profile Image for Kaka_shi.
573 reviews1 follower
March 24, 2018
I still hate how these books are written. Its boring AF! The pacing off. And theres a disconnect in the love triangle. Like im super glad it wasn't insta love or rather the gross sappy af kind.

Uuggh what am i trying to say here.🤔🤔🤔🤔 dont get me wrong I love Love💜 Kai but i guess he dosent make sense to me?
Hes like a talker right? Talks about everything. even his inner monolog is packed with thoughts of every little inane thing. but nothing about why or how hes falling for finn. Like...the way she looks in the moon light or how she smiles at something he says? You know, shit like that. -just weird is all.
Cause then theres Iseult. who doesn't talk at all but you can see how and why he's falling. He watches her he smiles at her he laughs when shes around. He says whole sentences! And OMG hows about that lil chat they had at the end of the book. Oh the feels!!😍 😍😍
8 reviews5 followers
Read
July 25, 2017
Excellent book, I love the underlying humor, and how the author weaves the lives of Finn and her companions as they consistently lose one another, have their own adventures then reunite. It is great fun to read how the author creates all these sub plots and interweaves them. My only complain is that poor Kai, Iseult and Finn all need a little romance. Finn is just to chaste and needs a little love and spice in her life, heck they all do! They all have had to deal with deep emotional issues and depravation. I also noted more typos in this book than the others - usually misspellings. I am hoping with book 4 we wrap up this series and have no clue how the author keeps all these plots and sub plots straight, she must to keep a chart...
Profile Image for Charley.
151 reviews
December 17, 2020
DNF. I tried. I thought with book two being a bit better than 1, there was hope for this series, but nope, still feels like a first novel. I believe two sentences back to back first describes Finn's dirty hair that she pushed behind her ear to Iseult pushing HIS dirty hair behind his ears, no variance at all. Much like this book with the other two.

I'm still annoyed with Finn, no character development at all. I'm tired of wimpy, damsel in distress main characters...especially one who was apparently very powerful but "forgot" who she was, the simpering is just too much. Out of the blue a few times she "takes control" but it's so disjointed and out of nowhere and then back to timid, it's like whiplash. And the running around from place to place being chased is just mindless.
9 reviews
June 2, 2018
The plot thickens

The first thing I find endearing about this saga is that you can start from any of the books and quickly pick follow the story. While I'm still in the eternal will she? Will she not battle with regards to the main characters love interest, I like how friendship has become a force to be reckoned with. In today's society where we continuously become dissociated from conscience and empathy, promoting friendship in this sense gives me hope.
Profile Image for George Martin.
17 reviews3 followers
August 22, 2017
She comes into her own

Most of the first three novels had our heroine bereft of her true magical powers, she only comes into hers as matters progress and the dangers grow. All of the characters are progressing nicely, surprises are in store but you have to stay out of the block Forrest
Profile Image for Eleanor Shepherd.
210 reviews9 followers
April 17, 2018
Another satisfying journey

Love this series. Lots of action and intrigue. And this book ends with another crazy cliffhanger! The White Queen must die. I can almost see where book 4 is headed, but still looking forward to taking the journey with Finn and her baby dragon and her newly acquired Unicorn.
Profile Image for Kimberly Gordon-Bercich.
1,850 reviews5 followers
July 5, 2018
Team Work

When working on a team, often roles are assigned and other times roles are set organically. This team of misfits has grown organically and changed roles as needed. Watching as enemies change and perils are unending how they grow past friendship to something more....
Profile Image for Gaby Vega.
83 reviews6 followers
July 20, 2018
At one point it was a VERY long journey that I was getting a little tired of but the ending after the climax kept me hooked and now I started the fourth book. It did little to answer the majority of questions from previous books and raised A LOT of new questions that hopefully are answered soon. I enjoyed it I didn’t think I would but I found myself thinking of this book more often than not and I decided to finish it. I’m glad I did I enjoy being in Finn’s world. To be honest it feels like the end of the books are rushed with a lot of information and Finn is beginning to seem very childish with her crying like just hold back the tears for one second. I just hope she becomes a little more mature because she literally has had a kid before she was a tree and she’s crying over literally EVERYTHING and it’s kind of weird.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
81 reviews
September 14, 2023
"The Blood Forest" by Sara C. Roethle continues the saga of Finn in a land torn by chaos and upheaval. This installment, while ambitious in its scope, has its strengths and weaknesses, earning it a 3-star rating.

The subtext you provided hints at a compelling narrative where Finn's journey holds the key to rectifying past mistakes and shaping the destiny of both humans and Faie. This overarching theme adds depth and anticipation to the story.

The character of Finn continues to evolve, and her determination to right the wrongs of her past remains a driving force. The sense of purpose and her desire to retrieve her lost memories and aid Iseult make her a relatable and engaging protagonist.

However, "The Blood Forest" shares some of the pacing and clarity issues present in previous books of the series. The narrative alternates between moments of action and periods of exposition, occasionally disrupting the flow. The introduction of new characters and their relationships with Finn can be overwhelming, and some plot elements may feel rushed.

The writing style, while showing moments of vivid description and emotional depth, could benefit from more consistent polish. Some passages lack the necessary detail to fully immerse readers in the world.

In conclusion, "The Blood Forest" continues the ambitious journey of Finn but retains some of the series' pacing and clarity issues. While it explores intriguing themes and character development, it may leave some readers feeling disoriented. A 3-star rating reflects the book's mixed qualities and suggests that it has potential with room for improvement.
Profile Image for ari.
1,272 reviews
May 18, 2021
Finally finished it.

Nothing really new in this book. Just tons of more kidnapping, captivity, and separation.

Finally at the end, Finn remembers Aed.

The cast of characters is growing on me. It's an interesting ensemble - Iseult, Kai, Anna, Bedelia, Maarav, Ealasaid. Notice who's not on that list? Finn. She's mind-numbingly naive and impossibly good-hearted.



Not continuing with this series for a while.
50 reviews2 followers
November 27, 2022
Much Better

Now the plot becomes clearer and the tension mounts. For the first time I am willing to admit this book was really really good. I now somewhat understand the first two books better as I believed would happen, however has any good mystery writer would more must be discovered. Okay on to the next. I believe I might not getting much sleep till I finish this series it's really that good. Do yourself a favor if you enjoy a great series start this one and I guarantee by the time you finish this you too will hooked.
Profile Image for Tasha.
31 reviews
August 8, 2018
I am really enjoying this series. It had alot of action, magic, and good friedship that could possibly turn to romance. Looking forward to reading the next book. I am not sure why we are reqired to wrte so much in a review. But you should try this series if you enjoy fantasy .

Great read. You should try reading it.lots of action and magic with good friendships and possible romance. Please give it a try
167 reviews7 followers
December 27, 2018
I can't say enough how much I love this series every book gets better and better... I've said it in my previous reviews ....This series is fantastic....Sara C Roethle weaves a story that you can't stop reading the characters are great non overpowering the other and story flows at great pace...if you haven't read any of this series I recommend you start now with Tree of Age's and just go ahead and buy the whole series because you will anyway once you start reading it...😁😁😁
Displaying 1 - 30 of 137 reviews

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