Dark Oak: Book One

The Dark Oak Chronicles #1

by Jacob Sannox

Humanity has finally defeated the Dark Lord, but Morrick fought on the wrong side. Though he was a slave, he is branded a traitor and must earn the trust of new lords in order to return to his family - if they are still alive…

Now that their common enemy is dead, the nobles begin to forget old loyalties, and Queen Cathryn’s realm looks set to plunge into war once more. But there are older and more terrible powers dwelling within the forest, and when they are awakened, Morrick will decide who lives or dies.

BE A PART OF THIS NEW EPIC FANTASY SERIES FROM THE VERY BEGINNING...

Genres: Fantasy, Ebooks

314 pages, Paperback

Published May 15, 2017

Reviews

[P.L. Stuart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my!"Dark Oak"!

This book is the first installment in a series, written by extremely talented British dark fantasy author Jacob Sannox. For those not familiar with his work, both "Dark Oak" and another series starter of Sannox's called "The Ravenmaster's Revenge" (which I also read and loved) won the author Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off (SPFBO) semi-finals glory, two years running. This should tell you a lot about the high calibre of this particular author's writing.

As you can likely guess by my enthusiastic exclamation at the beginning of this review, this book was absolutely phenomenal, and though his debut novel, not taking anything away from marvellous "The Ravenmaster's Revenge", for me this was Sannox at his finest.

The concept of "Dark Oak" is quite imaginative and refreshing. The story is set in a period directly after the nominal "big baddie" Dark Lord that haunts so many fantasy books - in this case named Awgren - has been vanquished by an alliance of humans. These humans are led by the formidable Queen Cathryn and her royal consort, the vigorous and redoubtable Lord Lachlan. Allied with these two high nobles are powerful vassals, including the intimidating Lord Linwood, and the clever Lord Aldwyn.

After defeating Awgren, humans who were coerced into fighting on the side of the Dark Lord are branded as traitors, and despised, even if their participation on the side of Awgren was involuntary. But one such human, Morrick, a sergeant and highly capable leader among his troops, manages to survive the conflict, and prove himself worthy to Aldwyn. Morrick, bringing the last remnants of his men with him, enters into Aldwyn's service. But all Morrick truly wants is to find his way back to his family, including his wife, Rowen, their two young sons, and a newborn daughter, and live in peace.

Meanwhile, Rowen, a charismatic leader herself, chafes under the rule of those humans selected by the Dark Lord and his inhuman minions. She has thoughts of revolution on her mind, and while her husband is away, fighting on the wrong side, Rowen makes her own plans to free her people from oppression, and forge a new life for herself and her children, with or without her husband.

But jockeying for power, intrigue, back-stabbing, hubris, naked ambition, tragedy, utter selfishness, and descent into madness plague some of the humans in the story, as their realms are torn apart by internal conflict in the aftermath of Awgren's defeat. All the while, in secret, great magical, immortal powers exist in the form of Dryads, Naiads, Oreads, Sylphs, and other fantastical creatures, whose existence is threatened by the wars and expansionist tendencies of the humans. And these powers will not stand for humans willful disregard of their ancient territories. Humans are a threat to these powers, and a threat that must be dealt with.

The book has some of the most intriguing characters I have read in this type of work, and they are incredibly well-written. Rowan's anger at her husband, who she feels has abandoned her, her courage, her desire to protect her children are so real and vivid, one can empathize with how - though it is troubling to watch - she turns against Morrick. Morrick's respect for nature, despite his vocation as a woodcutter, and his quest to reunite with Rowan and his children, is palpable.

Lachlan's aspiration for freedom, adventure and being unencumbered of ruling, but rather mainly living to fight; Aldwyn's regret over a lost love; Cathryn's ambivalence towards her people at times; Linwood's grasping zeal for more power, all make for provocative and believable, if sometimes unlikable human characters. But as though who know me know, I have no issue whatsoever with unlikable characters, and love the realism when they appear in books. It takes a lot of writing skill to make a reader want to read about those types of people, and wonder about their fates: Sannox has this type of skill.

But for me, the Dryads stole the show. Riark, King of the Dryads, was by far my favourite character. His implacable, single-minded desire to protect the forest, and confidence in the rightness of his actions, regardless of the consequences, come back to haunt him, despite all his logic, pragmatism, and power. Riark is stately, regal, wise, and flawed, and he is the embodiment of one of the recurring themes of the novel that I found so compelling: what are the responsibilities of leadership and protecting one's followers, how is it balanced with one's own personal desires, and at what cost.

The prose and descriptive writing of Sannox are assuredly first-rate, hearkening back to the classic style that I completely adore. Save for an odd, modern colloquial "It is what it is" that seemed out of place, Sannox's writing, at times during the book, is so good, so lyrical, and his imagery so outstanding it can hold up beside some of the greats such as John Gwynne, Bernard Cornwell, and even dare I say GRRM and JRRT.

The plot is incredibly paced, and putting this book down for any length of time is not an option. At an ideal length of just around 300 pages for an epic dark fantasy novel, "Dark Oak" is not too long, not too short. The ending is heart-wrenching, beautiful, and very very dark. As is the whole book, from an overall perspective. Be warned reader, lots of emotional and physical distress in this book, and the reader will feel ruined, at moments, over the fate of some of the characters. But an unforgettable book that stays with you, is a great book, and make no mistake, "Dark Oak" is a great book.

In terms of criticisms, the story has multiple POV's and there are times Sannox head-hops a bit within POV scenes, but that would be a trifling complaint, and actually had no bearing on my immense enjoyment of the book. The transitions were rather seamless in this regard, for me, but for those who really do not like that sort of thing, they might feel a tad confused.

The ending to the book is mind-blowing, and that is all I will say, for I refuse to spoil it, as I want this book to be read a widely as possible, hoping others enjoy it as much as I did.

I will be pressing "buy" ASAP to pick up the sequel "Age of the Dryad", for "Dark Oak" is easily one of the best five or so books I have read in 2021 among some fantastic novels.

[Julia Sarene · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really enjoyable epic fantasy tale, in the old style. I loved the fight of Good against Evil. Even more so when the course of the story shows there's often not such a clear cut border after all. People might do good things despite not being actually good people. Others might do horrible things, for the right reasons. Motivations and outcomes blur, and things don't always go the way you expect. I enjoyed most of the characters and was interested in what would happen next, so I breezed through this in no time at all.

It's not really grimdark, but definitely had its dark and gritty moments, and some emotional sucker punches. Some you see coming, others really strike you without any warning.

Little bits here and there felt a bit too generic, or not deep enough for a full 5 star review from me, however I ADORED the world! I simply love how dryads, nature and woods have center stage in this story! I loved spending my time wandering the forest with these fascinating creatures, and I thought the way they were woven into the world building was very smooth. And they aren't the only nature spirits we get to meet - even better!

Overall this was a really good book that held my attention all the way through, and shows incredible promise for further books in the series. I will definitely read on!

I did listen to the audio book, and there again it's a 4/5 for me. The narration is amazingly well done, and I really enjoyed how some sounds effects made the story feel so the more "alive", while not being overdone. I don't really like audio plays, so I was wary about this, but actually I ended up enjoying it more for it. My little niggle there is
1) the way the narrator does every laugh the exact same way. No matter if it's a mad cackle or a cute giggle, a petite woman or a wary soldiers, a professional or familiar setting, it's the same laughter
2) one specific audio effect that in think should sound like it's farther off, just sounded like using a radio to communicate. That really threw me out of the story
Those didn't happen often or long enough to really grind on me, but took it from excellent down to very good, hence a slightly lower rating there as well.

[Esme · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had started to dive into the audiobook for this a few weeks ago and decided to set it back down for when I was in the right mood. This is a very old-school tale, the major theme being light vs dark, good vs evil, humanity vs monsters. That’s a very tride and true trope that’s stuck with humanity across cultures and generations. There’s something alluring about have a clear hero and a clear enemy without having to overthink everything. The way it was told had a strong story-teller feel to it as well. It’s as if you’re sitting around a campfire being told a long but engaging story. There was a heavy emphasis on narrative while the dialogue and inner thoughts of characters didn’t ever really take center stage. It made me think of listening to a play, not only because of the narrative style, but because the audiobook itself, too. There was music, sound effects, and other touches to the audiobook that made it more of a theatrical experience than a standard audiobook. All of that is really neat, if I’m in the mood. So, I waited until that’s exactly what I wanted. A Tolkien-like tale set in a surreal world and I can just zone out and go somewhere else while listening.

Many times in fantasy books we start off with being shown the dark lord, then we get shown how he’s bad, then the armies fight and the goal of the series is to defeat the evil dude. This picks up after that’s happened, and it follows the consequences of what happens when humanity wins… and what it does with the humans who fought for the Dark Lord. Morrick was one of those people, but he didn’t have a choice, it was fight for the dark lord or face death. That doesn’t mean his new human overlords like him or forgive him for it. He has to prove his worth to these new authorities, prove he’s worth keeping around, and he also wants to get back home to his family.

Morrick’s family is in peril. His wife is fleeing from the last remnants of the dark lords army, they are these inhuman monster like things known as the Devised. I found her to be an interesting character but she sort of lost me by the end. She has a really fucked up story line and she spirals down into insanity and it’s all very depressing, but it didn’t hit home the way I think it was supposed to.

My favorite character was a dryad Ent-like being. He was once a human but now he’s dead and reborn as a dryad and he’s basically an Ent. He can travel through trees all over the realm and pop up at random places. I’ve seen Ents and tree-people as background world building material, or sometimes as secondary characters in a group. However, this is I believe the first time one has been a major POV, and it was really well done. I liked the dryads different perspectives on life and their alien like motivations since they’re no longer human — and the voices they used for the audiobooks were neat. The humans are killing the forest and cutting down the Mother Trees that spawn the Dryads… if the Mothers die, the Dryads die… and his story gets intertwined with Morrick’s storyline near the end, and this is when I really started to get invested in the both of them.

The pacing was pretty slow, it took a long time for the different POVs to become relevant to one another, and for their different plotlines to show any kind of relationship to one another. Once they finally did all come together, however, things started to pick up and went much more quickly from there. This is not a book for those who want lots of battles, though. I’d also say that it got a bit verbose in places, the prose got a little bloated and the plot meandered a bit making the pacing slow down in places.

This will appeal to people who like classic old school fantasy with the mystical and mysterious taking center stage.

Ratings:
Plot: 10/15
Characters: 11/15
World Building: 12.5/15
Writing: 12.5/15
Pacing: 9/10
Originality: 11/15
Enjoyment: 7/10
Final Score: 73/100

[Lee Conley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A review of
Dark Oak
by Jacob Sannox

This book is another of this year’s SPFBO entries. I found Dark Oak was a very interesting read. On first impression it gave me a bit of a high fantasy vibe but told from the bad guys POV – How wrong was I.
It begins with Morrick, a wood cutter forced into the armies of the “dark lord” – Awgren. Awgren is defeated by an alliance of men led by Queen Catherine in the opening chapter and Morrick finds himself a prisoner, labelled as a traitor to his own kind. This was a pretty interesting starting point which had me interested.
Then we are introduced to Rowan, Morrick’s wife. She awaits and worries for the return of her husband, uncertain whether he is alive or dead. Rowan manages their farmstead and protects their children from the occupying forces of Awgren, known as the creatures of devising. Also, Rowan is secretly sowing the seeds of sedition against the occupying evil, urging the local folk of Hinterland to rise up and fight their oppressors.
So two chapters in I’m thinking yeah this is pretty good. There’s a lot of exposition as a narrative giving us the world, the history and brings us up to speed with events in the world, which worked fairly well.
Then Boom, we meet Riark. Riark is the King of the Dryads, a creature of the forest and of the trees. Despite being natural elemental creatures, there’s a bit of a sinister feel to the Dryads which becomes clearer as the book progresses. Frankly, I was blown away by the Dryads early on Sannox shows us their powers and gives us a creative glimpse into their world. Able to occupy the trees, feel what the trees feel, travel vast distances quickly through the root system of the forest and explode out the bark of any tree as beings of shape-shifting wood. The Dryads are kick ass and are easily my favourite part of the book for me.
So that’s the introduction in the first three chapters. The story moves on, with Awgren defeated the realms of men begin to reclaim the lands they once lost and inevitably divisions begin to arise. There’s a strong and interesting political undercurrent to this book which drives the overall storyline forward to its eventual conclusion. We follow Morrick as a man of a people disgraced for fighting against their own kind (against their will but nonetheless hated) and he goes in search of his family. Back in Hinterland it all kicks off and Rowan finds herself fleeing for her life still unaware of the fate of her husband as he in turn desperately tries to find them. There are some particularly dark and shocking moments that occour here, one thing in particular made me certain this book is no high fantasy and certainly leans more towards a dark fantasy.
The human story Sannox has woven here, I found quite touching and emotional, at times sad. I was rooting for Morrick all the way despite the obstacles thrown in his path. The part on the beach I found particularly gripping and intense and well worth reading. I think Sannox did a fantastic job writing a truly believable human story here.
The Dyrads are obviously a big part of this story, both on the world political scene and in Morrick’s story and they continue to make very interesting and exciting reading throughout. The end is fast paced and good reading too. I felt the book worked very well as a stand alone novel but I am intrigued to see if Sannox writes further books in this world. I will be following this writer in the future for certain.
I very much recommend this book, especially for fans of creatively worked fantasy creatures and folks who love factions vying for power through cloak and dagger and all out military might. This is a great book with a lot of great qualities, which ticks a lot of boxes, definitely worth checking out.

Thanks for reading
Lee

[Jennifer (bunnyreads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

My weird and confusing review for this dark little tale. Huge thanks goes out to Jacob Sannox for the ecopy in exchange for review.



Dark Oak is one of those stories that we find our footing with as it goes. It’s a little bit of a drop-in style because we are joining at the end of a battle with a pov on the losing-side in Morrick, so you’re thinking to yourself ok, that’s a little different and are not really sure which way to expect things to head- especially if like me, you have totally forgotten what this book was supposed to be about because it’s been in your reader for so long.

This was just a neat book! For awhile Dark Oak does have this classic fantasy with a bit of a storyteller feel to it, but as the story builds it surprises you and goes off into some pretty dark messed-up places and by the end of it, I was like wow, that was not what I expected at all and I like it!

I’ll try and keep this as vague as possible because I really don’t want to spoil the journey this story took me on for anyone else.

 I really enjoyed this whole setting. There were some great visuals with the Dryads making appearances- morphing from the earth, water, or trees, etc.
 The story itself once it gets going, has this dark and twisty horror fairy tale vibe that I loved, and it can be pretty creepy. Honestly, the whole thing just left me with that feeling of a genie wish gone wrong and a few of the events in this story have haunted my head for the last few weeks.

This is only spoilery to Dark Oak if you have seen the MASH tv series finale. I won’t outright spoil either the show or book here but be warned you'll know what I am referring to if you have see the show.


So it's been kind of killing me to not say anything about one of the plot points in this story so I'm going to... in a very round about fashion while keeping everything as spoiler free as possible.

When I was a kid, we used to watch MASH 4077 faithfully- it’s probably one of the few shows where I’ve seen all the episodes as they aired, including the finale.
And let me tell you, that finale has stuck with me for years. Even now, I couldn’t help but think of the sadness/horror that I felt then for one of my favourite character’s breaks and the reason behind it.

I was way too young to really understand the mental anguish this choice would have given a person, but I did understand the horror of it. I don't want to say it was nice to see it from the other-side because good grief that doesn't sound right, but I did like that we got that exploration of the fall-out from the pov of the person who had to make this awful choice and not just from the person who was also affected to some degree by that choice. If that makes sense?

 Anyway...

 If you’ve seen MASH or have already read Dark Oak, you’ll know what I mean, and hopefully that’s vague enough to tell you why I have not been able to quit thinking about this story, and just like that MASH finale, some of the events in Dark Oak, will also live in my head for another decade or so.

So, I hope that intrigues you enough to pick up Dark Oak (or MASH) and see if it lives in your head for thirty-plus years too.

Fans of Benedict Patrick’s Yarnsworld might dig this dark little tale.

3.5

[S A M | The Book in Hand · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Evening Bookish Folk!

Here are a few things you can expect from Dark Oak:

- A high fantasy novel that is beautifully magical but with a darker core feel;
- An intriguing and unique story concept;
- INCREDIBLE creatures and magics;
- Political intrigue; and
- An incredibly raw and emotional punch from several aspects of this book.

A little bit about the narration…

This was a really good narration, it is the first narration I have ever listened to that has sound effects. Now, I know that for some the may not be a great thing but it really added to the story for me. I LOVED them. It wasn’t overbearing and it wasn’t disruptive my my listening experience. Well, for the most part, there was one single time that it became difficult to listen to, at the point when a group of Dryads were talking as one, pair that with the creaking of their wooden limbs and the throaty tone of their voices I genuinely didn’t know what was said. Luckily, I had the a physical copy so I was able to read that bit. Other than the once instance though I found I really liked the sound effects. They were, more often than not, subtle and only added to my listening experience.

As a narrator I found Peever to be quite good, his pace was easy to follow and his male voices were nicely distinct. Some of his female voices however sounded a like little old cackling witches…

Though saying all of the above, I will listen to the next book via audio narration. Thats how little it put me off.

Now on to the full review…

As I said above Jacob sent me a copy of Dark Oak in exchange for an honest review along with his two other books; The Ravenmaster’s Revenge and Agravain’s Escape. This book is currently sitting with 61 ratings and 25 reviews and has a decent rating of 3.67. I would love to see more people pick this book up as it deserves it, if you look on Goodreads it seems to have a bit of a mix of reviews so many people have loved and a good number haven’t but I would honestly give this book chance!

Dark Oak is a richly imagined world and one I really enjoyed journeying into, it is an incredible fantastical world that is very much in the traditional vein of high fantasy with creatures such as the Dryads, the water folk and even more wonderful elemental beings. Dark Oak gave me Lord of the Rings vibes in terms of its imaginative world!

Jacob does wonderfully at bringing his world to life through his writing and it is a story rich in detail and beautifully described. He brilliantly weaves in the magic that surrounds this world and showcases it impressively, especially the Dryad’s , yet all the while not making you feel as though they are infallible despite their evident power.

At the start of this book there is quite a bit of exposition, which is wholly appropriate and enjoyable. This isn’t the story of the battle that Queen Cathryn won that led our character to be where they are now but in order to fully understand the present you need to know the facts of the past. I really liked the exposition, it was magical and I felt like I was sat wrapped in a cozy blanket cradling a warm cup of tea in my ever cold hands while being told a grand old tale by a wisened old story teller! And that Is something I love.

Each of the characters you come across in Dark Oak are all really good, some I loathed but understood, others I saw the manipulation and others I was rooting for them with everything I had. Some of the character could have had a little more consistency and been a wee bit more well rounded but overall I really enjoyed all of them for some reason or another. While Dark Oak is very high fantasy to me, it has such a dark core to its world and its characters. I knew it had a darker tone before reading it but goodness I didn’t expect what I got! At all.

The Dryads…they are AMAZING! I was so impressed with them as a race, the things they can do, the power they hold and their origins were all so utterly interesting I loved every single moment in which a dryad appeared.

I think for me the strongest point of this book was Jacob’s ability to shock you so profoundly you are left in a state of both confusion and understanding. There are several sequences within this story that you do not see coming, even in the slightest, but once they do happen no matter how shook up you are you understand the reasoning behind it. Which is testament to Jacob’s ability to showcase his characters motivations and emotional states. In a world so vivid and creative the realness of his character and very human responses become all the more impactful, it is touching, sickeningly raw and quite intense at times.

There are times within this book that you see some inconsistencies in the characters voices, and it can at times feel a little jumpy from POV to POV. This book isn’t perfect and if you going in looking for little hiccups you will find them, as you would with many books, but if you are going in to experience a brilliant and imaginative world filled with REAL characters with REAL motivations you are in the right place. There is a rawness to this book and an emotional grittiness that you don’t see often in books and it was brilliant to experience it within Dark Oak’s pages.

You know the drill, on to the rating…

THE RANKS:

BUY THE HARDBACK | BUY THE PAPERBACK | BUY THE EBOOK | LIBRARY RENTAL OR SALE PURCHASE

I would definitely pick this up in its paperback form if I didn’t already have it and would strongly recommend the audiobook if you don’t have an issue with narrations accompanied by sound effects, I get that might be a hard no for some people, but im not one of them and I loved it! I actually want to find more with it in so yanno, its a winner to me!

[Anj✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is quite unique, it started when the war is over and the villain is defeated. And I was like "What we gonna do now? No battles anymore!" Worry no more, political drama is here! Left with no common enemy, they turned on each other 🤷🏽‍♀️

The writing style and setting made me reminisce Lord of the Rings. It has that magical and classic fantasy feel to it. The plot is complex and unpredictable and with well-written characters and magnificent creatures. The author also doesn't shy away from hurting his characters.
My only two complains: the book started really slow and pacing is inconsistent.

Overall, 𝑫𝒂𝒓𝒌 𝑶𝒂𝒌 is a man's quest to find his way home, a woman forging a new life with her children, and nature's vengeance on humanity.

Thanks so much Storytellers On Tour and Jacob Sannox for my copy 🥰 All thoughts and opinions are mine.

[H.L.Tinsley H.L.Tinsley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Consider a flowing body of water – where it begins and ends. The places where it narrows and widens, curves and ebbs, the tranquility of the shallows giving way at times to deep, dark, surging waters that crash around rocks before quieting once more to a peaceful slow. I can think of no better analogy for Dark Oak.

Appropriate, being as how one of the mainstay features of this dark fantasy is the use of anthropomorphic wood, water, earth and wind, to tell a story conveyed by the sort of richly imagined characters that make it near impossible to put down.

Before I delve too deep (pun intended) into reviewing, I feel I should lay down some facts. Over the last six months, I have started nine different books. Dark Oak is the only novel that I have read completely, cover to cover, and it took me less than four days to finish. Previously I have spoken of my inability to focus long enough to make it through anything longer than a novella. Though I do try not to be, I am exceptionally picky when it comes to books, and I find it near impossible to continue if I find within one something that irks me. Not so with Dark Oak.

There are moments in this story that are wonderful, with sections and chapters being more than worthy of a five-star rating. Some – that I will explain further down – warrant a solid four stars. Nowhere, however, does it ever slip below this. Sannox weaves his plot, for the most part, with masterful artistry.

The story is intricate and complex almost to the point where, like a good TV show, it left me feeling that if I were to start it again from the beginning, I’d no doubt spot something I missed (in the best sort of way). Dark Oak is the sort of book you can enjoy reading again and again.

The worlds within are somewhat typical of this sort of fantasy. Yet, are described in such detail and with such breadth of imagination as to breathe something fresh and new into what could have been quite trope-y and repetitive. Sannox jumps from the grim, stark reality of mud strewn battlefields to the almost ethereal glades of the forest effortlessly. At times taking you from scene to scene with gentle ease and at other times ripping the reader brutally from one to the other, but always done to good effect.

The majority of the characters are extremely well drawn. Morrick, Riark, Lynch, Aldwyn, and Lachlan in particular shine as rich, earthy, sometimes humorous, and sometimes desperate characters. The human element is ever apparent and even when at times the characters surprised me, I ever felt their drives, passions, and conflicts.

But it is not the humans within this story that shine brightest. It is the Dryads. Sweeping, magnificent, dark, and glorious. Sannox breathes life into branches and vines and stone and water, creating something akin to poetry in motion.

If ever a character was calling out, aching to be reimagined onto the canvas it is Riark. The scene in which the council of dryads first appears is nothing short of breathtaking, conjuring up images that would not seem out of place in the works of Tolkien or similar.

Even in the places where Dark Oak falls ever so slightly short – for me at least – Sannox quickly snatches back the helm and sweeps you along once more. Where other stories might fail to pull me back into the fold, Dark Oak did so quickly and quietly until I was once again rapidly and completely absorbed.

My only bugbears were that of fleeting inconsistency with a few of the characters. For example, Habit, an interesting and welcome addition to the cast at times jumped from her portrayal as an intelligent and articulate woman to spitting out dialogue more akin to ye olde serving wenches. One style or another would have been fine, but it was slightly jarring when the change occurred.

Similarly, Cathryn and Rowan fell ever so slightly short of the mark – very nearly making it, but not quite ever becoming the completely rounded characters I wished them to be. Without wanting to give anything away I found that in places, their propensity for outwardly physical emotions at times where they were maybe less warranted did marginally dampen the effects of the emotions where they would have made the greatest impact.

That being said, all of the above had moments of brilliance and for the most part, added much to the overall storyline. Rowan’s reaction to her husband’s return from war, for example, was beautifully crafted with real, raw, and believable emotion.

All being said and done, I picked up Dark Oak on a whim, with little expectation of getting past the first four chapters. Not because I anticipated it to be badly written, but simply because it is rare that a book of this length holds my attention further than that.

Now I find myself brimming with joy at an exciting possibility. That, after so long, I might have found my love of full-length novels rekindled and that is nothing short of miraculous. Jacob Sannox deserves an accolade for this if nothing else.

Dark Oak is a great read, that’s really the long and short of it. A solid four out of five, with moments of five-star-worthy brilliance. I shall cross my fingers and hope that when Christmas morning dawns, I find a copy of the upcoming sequel ‘Age of the Dryad’ nestled beneath my (very artificial) Christmas tree.

[Steve · Rating 1 out of 5]

Great idea, bad story.

The idea of a soldier forced to fight for a dark lord, having to face the world after that dark lord’s defeat is brilliant. This book just doesn’t follow through on that. It spends most of the time shifting POV to show the squabbling of the nobility, rather than focusing on the soldier and his the problems he faces. Also, other than the first scene, there is little actual action or fighting. It was a huge disappointment to me, because the idea and description were so good.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Going with 3.5 stars for this one, was recommended by author Lee C. Conley on Facebook.

Well written, well used fantasy tropes done in a original storyline which was a joy to read. Good world building decent characters which matured as the book went along.

Very good twists and turns especially at the end was not expecting that to happen, good way to end book one.

Highly recommended to all my good read friends who read fantasy books.

[Todd Oliver · Rating 2 out of 5]

The best part of this book was the narration. Nigel Peever did an excellent job with each of the character voices. My only complaint with the audio is all of the sound effects. I didn't mind them so much and enjoyed it some of the time, but there were times when it got to be a bit much and almost overshadowed the narration. I found myself concentrating more on the sounds than on the narration. The story itself was just too slow. It seemed like it was going nowhere and taking it's sweet time getting there. I gave this a good 4 hours of listening time before I just had to give up. Sadly, I did not finish.

[H · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't really understand why this book has such great reviews on here? Seems like they were purely giving a 5 star review in order to encourage people to pick it up, as opposed to being made by people who have read it. Anyways, it worked on me and although parts of this book were certainly good, the ending state of the story hasn't left me at all interested in reading the next one in the series. Worth a go if you want to try an interesting concept, which in my opinion didn't achieve a lot by the end.

[Sean Crow · Rating 4 out of 5]

The definition of Grimdark

If you want a dark story with political intrigue and no pulled punches, then this is a book for you. Just when you think things will go one way, the story rips out your heart and takes you on a much darker path. I loved the world building, and Sannox’s Dryads are extremely well written. They were the most intriguing faction with bits of humanity interwoven with a very inhuman mindset. Love the contrast!

This novel is a must read for those who love the Grimdark genre.

[Tim Hardie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Published in 2017, Dark Oak by Jacob Sannox is an amazing achievement for a debut author. The initial premise centres on what happens when the Dark Lord, Awgren, is defeated after ruling his subjects for a thousand years. This gives Sannox the opportunity to tell a story set in the confusing and chaotic aftermath of Awgren’s fall. Dark Oak initially focusses on the alliance of nobles who conquered Awgren, led by Queen Cathryn. No longer united by a common enemy, their conflicting personal ambitions soon come to the fore, risking plunging their land into war once more.

The character of Morrick, his wife Rowan and their children show the terrible impact of this conflict on ordinary people. Conscripted to fight for Awgren, Morrick, finds himself an outcast, branded a traitor by the conquering nobles and unable to trust Awgren’s surviving forces either.

All this would be interesting enough but for much of the book, Sannox seems to be telling two tales. Deep in the forest the Dryads, the living spirits of trees, rule their own domain. Sannox does a great job of telling their story from the perspective of their king, Riark, establishing them as being completely different from the human race, even though there is a connection between the two.

Alongside the Dryads we encounter Naiads, Sylphs and Oreads (spirits of the water, air and earth respectively). This realm of nature is brilliantly brought to life and is one of the things that makes this work so distinctive. This other world is slowly brought into conflict with the squabbles of Cathryn’s nobles, triggering a chain of events that drives the narrative in the second half of the book.

Although the world Sannox conjures is well-constructed and fascinating, the story itself is a dark one. We see human nature at its worst and the characters find themselves put in impossible positions, where there are only bad choices. Not all the characters are likeable, particularly the flawed (and often drunk) Queen Cathryn, who is very different to the image she likes to portray to her people. Rowan similarly has weaknesses, making Morrick’s love for her infuriating and believable in equal measure.

Sannox doesn’t flinch from hurting his characters and the madness and irrationality of grief is a theme he builds on as the novel progresses. The unequal struggle between mankind and nature is another important aspect, shining a light on how we’re treating our own world.

There are times when you can tell this is a debut novel and if I have one criticism it’s the pacing, particularly at the beginning where a lot time is spent establishing the characters and the situation they are in. The chaos of Awgren’s fall seems to be replicated in the early plot, making it hard for the reader to tell at first what is going on and what the story is about.

To his credit, Sannox doesn’t shy away from realism and difficult themes, avoiding the temptation to present us with a conveniently plotted tale. Instead, he keeps his readers on their toes and I found the premise and setting were so fascinating I always wanted to read more. Sannox’s voice as an author grows stronger and more confident as Dark Oak unfolds. The way he describes scenes and the imagery created by his prose are real highlights. The final quarter is brilliant, taking the story in a direction I could never have predicted. I wish I could say more about the breathtaking twists and turns in this book but that would get us into spoiler territory, and you really don’t want me to ruin the ending for you.

You know it’s a good book when you can't put it down because you need to know how it ends and it stays with you long after you’ve finished. Although not without its shortcomings, the good qualities of Dark Oak far outweigh any weaknesses and with its epic scope, unique world-building, thought-provoking themes and masterclass ending, this scores a solid five stars for me. Thoroughly recommended.

[Athena (OneReadingNurse) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Storytellers On Tour and the author for having me on the Book tour for Dark Oak! This is a dark ish fantasy that takes place after the end of a great war, where the evil has been vanquished and a time of peace is beginning.

Or… Well it should be, anyway.  Unfortunately once the prime evil is gone and unity is no longer necessary, humans tend to create new enemies and now war is brewing in the territories again as the lands and Lords revert back to their pre-war dispositions.  This right here was probably my favorite theme from the book.

Despite my 3 star rating and various struggles: I want to say up front that the ending of this book is EVERYTHING.  Once you learn what “Dark Oak” refers to and things start getting dark, it’s just… Really something else.

The starting point of this book was an interesting choice, as it started at the end of a war.  It was hard for me to wrap my head around who and what was relevant at first, even though right at the start of the book it disclaims that it is NOT the story of the dark lord!

Dark Oak has a LOT going on, and a few different points of view to be aware of.  Morrick is the main character, and probably the most interesting one as we watch his moral struggles.  There is a lot of humanity in the book as various tragedies are met and death with, including post war trauma and death of family, seen mostly through the eyes of Morrick.  Cathryn, the queen, and the various lords also have points of view.

I thought his wife, Rowan, was important too but she was mostly entirely brushed over. For example, she went through all this trouble to consider starting a rebellion with some people who showed up, then we hear nothing except that it was over and went badly.  That was probably the hardest part of the book for me – to decide what was relevant. I also struggled with  what parts the author chose to brush over vs. expand on.

I thought it was pretty real that most of the Lords, including the queen, really just wanted to kick up their feet and essentially retire after the war but there’s always that *one* problem child.

As far as the magic- the Dryads were definitely the best part of the whole book for me.  The supernatural things were dumped into the book kind of suddenly, but once I learned that a main focus going forward was angry Dryads having their home and trees destroyed, things made a lot more sense.  I really loved the descriptions of the tree and water folk, and how their magic worked.

The worldbuilding was high in setting, scenery, and geography, decent in history, but kind of mish mash on the micro level.  I had a good idea of the history and politics of the realm and the forest, but not so much the cities and moods, weather and foods, etc.  There were some interesting cultural pockets like the “whores” in the Whoreswood.  I originally felt like the world lacked any kind of cohesion, but that plays a role since although the humans united under the name “The Combined People”, they didn’t necessarily have anything in common except the enemy.


I think the magic is definitely the strongest aspect.  I liked the political maneuvering by the Lords and watching the kingdom dissolve into mayhem.  The book definitely had both strong and weak points, and it *lived* for the final quarter.  I do plan on ordering book 2 so i can see what happens, and how he grew as a writer going forward. I think it's kind of impossible after that ending to not need to know the outcome

[Westveil Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was granted complimentary eBook access to Dark Oak by Jacob Sannox as part of my participation in a blog tour for this title with Storytellers on Tour. Thank you to all involved in affording me this opportunity! My thoughts are my own and my review is honest.

I'm writing this review 3 (4?) days after reading the book and I genuinely can't remember now if I wanted to rate it a 3 or a 4 while I was reading, so we're going to call it a 3.5 on my blog and then be generous and round up to 4 on Goodreads and retail sites. Okay? Good, glad we agree.

The good: This book was a fun, easy read with a classic high fantasy feel to it and an interesting premise. I genuinely liked Morrick, both as a character in general and as a leader, and I was with him all the way! I would be interested in reading a sequel, so long as it gave me more Morrick in the spotlight. I love the integration of dryad lore, too! I didn't expect the story to go that route, but I can't fault it either, and that aspect of the plot just makes me all the more hungry for more of Morrick's story.

The bad: While Morrick is a great leader and a well-rounded character, the men following him are not. This group turns their coats this way and that at Morrick's guidance and I really didn't understand why. Early on it made sense, they were prisoners of war and he was presenting a possible best-case scenario. As the story and wars go on, though, I expected half of them to get apathetic about it all and desert. Morrick's good, but he's not THAT good. I also felt like the pacing in the latter third is not quite there. There are plot elements in the end that go in an ending but somehow I didn't feel like the book was ready to end.

Overall this is a very interesting, unique book and I'm interested to see what the second instalment in this series will be like!

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me start by saying this book took a turn that I did not see coming. I'm sitting here, scratching my head, amazed at the turn of events. Usually, I can guess where a story is heading, but not this time. Nope. Not at all. Also, the events that took place in chapter eight will stick with me for quite some time. I cried, and my heart was pulled in so many directions. I won't give it away, but it is a TW for some, so feel free to message me if you're curious. Overall, I enjoyed this book and look forward to the next in the series.

Dark Oak starts where most fantasy novels end. A great evil has been defeated, paving the way to peace for all. Except peace is the last thing some desire. The kingdom is once again propelled into conflict, only this time, against each other. There is some interesting commentary on the human condition and its need to seek out an enemy. The neverending quest for power and peace has humanity stuck in a loop full of unwilling participants. Never fully winning and always on the brink of losing.

The story is told through multiple POVs: a grieving mother determined to focus on the future, a victorious Queen and King fresh out of battle, a woodcutter fighting to get back to his family, a Duke clouded with the need for power, and the spirits of the forest. At first, the large cast of characters was a little overwhelming. But as the story progressed, I grew to love the staggered POV shifts. The Dyrads, the forest spirits, were among my favorite and they added such a unique element to the story.

I highly recommend this book for fans of: fantasy, mythology, political intrigue, slow-burn plots, multiple POVs, classic fantasy, and grimdark fantasy.

[Dom]

DNF @ 12%

I sampled the audiobook initially for this re-released title and was quite impressed. Although just a single narrator, it did have a Graphic Audio feel to the introduction, with sounds effects of a battle lending to a really cool atmosphere. The opening narration, telling us of the dark lord to an orchestral backdrop, really sounded like the opening to The Fellowship of the Ring movie, and I was excited to continue.

Sadly, as I did continue, I found it difficult to connect with the characters and to the story. Just before I decided to put the book down, there was a disturbing scene that some people will really not like, involving infanticide by a mother. I understand the reason the mother made this sacrifice from a story point of view, but I could never understand someone actually doing it from any other point of view, and it’s something that I just found too sudden in the book as well. There didn’t seem to be a decision-making process, it was just like a split-second decision to do what she did, and then the mother seemed to just move on from there with apparent ease. It really threw me how suddenly this came about, to the point that I literally had to skip back and re-read a page to make sure that I hadn’t missed something (I hadn’t).

Not long after that scene, I put the book down for the evening, and it was a few days later that I thought to myself that I hadn’t picked it up again, so with that, and my failure to connect with it, I decided it was time to call it a day.

[CassandraG · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like Lord of the Rings and that line of fantasy books, you'll defiantly enjoy listening to this. It even comes with sound effects and a really good voice performer who can really get you hooked by the first sentence and is exceptionally good. Shoot, he could probably be Sauron or Gandolf, if he wanted and no one would be the wiser. So if you get the chance to listen, do so and enjoy.

[C.F. Welburn · Rating 5 out of 5]

f LOTR went grimdark you might expect something like this! From the premise to the cover art I went in expecting a dark, fantastical tale, and I was not disappointed! We follow the return journey ‘home’ of Morrick the woodcutter after the defeat of the dark lord. The main problem for Morrick is he was a conscript fighting on the dark lord’s side. This makes for an interesting grey take on morals and loyalties. I liked the range of characters in this book and the folkloric creatures brought into play. The plot was unpredictable and unforgiving on the characters and moved along at a good pace. I’ll definitely be checking out the next in this series! On another note, the audiobook version narrated by Nigel Peever was fascinating with sound effects and an orchestral score making it feel like a movie. Great!

[S. Bavey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have so many conflicting emotions about this book. When I started reading it I knew it was grimdark – a genre I am not usually a fan of – but had decided to give it a go, nevertheless. The desolation of war and its spoils hits hard in the first chapter. The inhumane acts of the demon-like creatures known as the Devised were horrific and sickening. I thought about DNFing, however I persevered and was really glad I did. Opening a book with a war in full throttle is a bold decision and somewhat unusual. These scenes are usually saved for the climax of a novel, as a final battle scenario. However Dark Oak begins with the defeat of the evil Awgren who has been holding the humans in thrall for a thousand years.

The location soon shifts to the Hinterland where an encampment of the Devised was keeping humans on their toes and occasionally murdering their young and weak. This shift was a little confusing at first and it took a while for me to realise these were separate locations.

The men of the Hinterland have been conscripted by Awgren’s forces into the war and feelings of rebellion are arising amongst those who remain behind. We are introduced to Rowan and her children, whose husband Morrick, a woodcutter, was one of the men who were conscripted against their will to fight against the humans. His wife is beginning to have doubts about him, wondering if he should have gone along with his fate and starting to regard him as a collaborator. When the Devised turn on her village she escapes along with a group of rebels, helped by newly arrived Captain Lynch and his band of sailors. Their escape is a wild chase with devastating consequences as she has to drown her baby daughter to stop their location from being given away. A truly tragic sequence of events that change the course of all of her family members’ lives. She is tormented by her grief and begins to blame Morrick for her baby Bracken’s death since she convinces herself that if he had been there she might not have had to drown her. She is torn apart by the idea that If she could rebel surely her husband could have done so too. The thought-provoking theme of the tragedy of wartime collaboration and its repercussions was at the forefront of all of the encounters with this family.

Little does Rowan know that her drowned baby has become a naiad, who meets her father for the first time in this form as he is returning from war through the forest. Unable to understand why her mother drowned her she is bitter and bent on revenge against the human race. Morrick continues on, desperately trying to reach his family and eventually when he does find them their reunion is heart-breaking and gut-wrenching. I did not warm to the characters of Rowan and Morrick despite all of their trials and tribulations. Every member of their family suffered a horrific end, so it is easy to feel empathy for them, despite not liking the characters very much. The character work in this novel is so good with many different types of people from all walks of life on show.

The land is presided over by the regal Queen Cathryn and her consort, Lachlan and there is a fair amount of royal politicking after the war. The Queen appears cold-hearted and pragmatic and has chosen a husband who was able to continue the Royal line rather than marrying her beloved Aldwyn after he became injured and unable to have children.

Another noble, Lord Linwood is greedy and wants to style himself King in the northern territories, setting off with that aim in mind, so that it is not long after the war with Awgren is over that the Queen finds herself with a new enemy to fight. Linwood proves to be heartless and cruel, insisting that Morrick and the other conscripts are branded with a letter T on their cheeks to show everyone they were traitors.

‘If an enemy is overcome, humans always turn upon one another. You united to address a threat to your people and your lands. That threat is gone, and now your people will decide upon a new threat.’

The theme of greedy humans as a blight on the land is brought up time and again, especially when we meet the dryads in the Impassable Forest. A wonderful world full of mythical creatures is laid out before the reader. Ravaged by war, nature is fighting back and the naiads, dryads, sylphs and oreads must meet to discuss strategies. These were some of the most imaginatively described creatures I have encountered in a long while. Their meeting brought to mind the Ent Moot from Tolkien and I really enjoyed the character of wise old Riark the King of the dryads who embodies the wisdom of the forest, always present, always observing the follies of men. I loved the way he could leap inside any tree and pop out wherever in the forest he wanted.

“The cloak of leaves shuddered as though caught by a gust of wind then fell to the ground, but as it did so, Riark’s form diminished and seemed to draw into the staff in his hand. Then the hand was gone and the staff began to shrink as though sucked into the ground. Within a second there was no sign of the Dryad.”

“They burst forth from the treeline as thunder boomed in the clouds above. The Dryads came on in their thousands; the raging elm and the flash of the lancing silver birch. The marauding willows swept their cat-o’-nine-tail manes and lashed leafy tendrils in a mad frenzy. “

Another favourite character for me was Habit the feisty leader of the partisans and whores of the Whoreswood. Their forest home was described in magical terms, with them living in gypsy-style wooden caravans, along lantern-lit paths in the wood, with bells used as a form of communication. This fabulous worldbuilding lent an ethereal, almost romantic feel to them, despite them being whores who demanded men fought, often to the death, over them in a nightly contest. It was like a fantasy version of the Bois de Boulogne. This whole encounter between Lord Lachlan and the partisans added some fun, light relief from the darker themes of the novel. Habit has some advice about whether she thinks the dryads are likely to distinguish between one group of humans and another:

‘I’ve never yet seen the weather choose one cause over another, nor a sea that cared whose home was lost when the cliffs crumbled. Ever seen a famine care when people starve? Though we run rampant across the world, we are mere flyspecks to it; we are but fleas on a dog. Perhaps ones such as yourselves are untroubled by lice, but I know if I get bit, I don’t personally introduce myself to each and every one I find. I do me damnedest to rid myself of the lot of them.’

Lord Lachlan shows he has honour and integrity and offers Habit his endorsement of her leadership. He is appreciative of art and beauty, a brave leader and good fighter who is well-supported by those who recognised him from the recent war. He has been bored by royal life and this jaunt into the kingdom has done him good. However it has left his wife, Queen Cathryn wondering what he is up to and far from happy with him.

The ending of this imaginative, yet fairly short novel was somewhat abrupt with not much hope left for any of the human characters we had got to know. I am planning to continue with the sequel Age of the Dryads as I am eager to see what happens to those who remain.

[Kristina Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent read but could have been better. Has a good concept but some parts and certain characters seemed a little underdeveloped. It took me a long time to read it because the writing was a bit boring. There were also some short scenes that should have been omitted or moved to another part of the book. My favorite scenes were the ones with Riark and the other guardian like beings and wished there had been more scenes with them. I also found the two final short scenes to be unnecessary. Would have been better if ended after the last sentence Dark Oak says. A decent read worthwhile if you can bare with some of the flaws in the writing. Despite the issues I had with the writing, I am interested in reading the next book.

This was a Goodreads Giveaway win.

[Royal · Rating 1 out of 5]

False Advertising
Don't believe the blurb given by the author. Steve's Review is a more accurate representation of what to expect:

"It spends most of the time shifting POV to show the squabbling of the nobility, rather than focusing on the soldier and his the problems he faces. Also, other than the first scene, there is little actual action or fighting."

If that is a what you are looking for then have a go. If you wanted what was describes in the blurb then stay far away, the book is nothing like it.

[Alan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book in a recent Goodreads First Reads giveaway.

Fantasy isn't a genre that I usually enjoy, but this is one of those exceptions. Am now hoping to read the second book. Recommended.

[Joey Stettnisch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful and sad, broke my damn heart.

[James Harwood-Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

A rich , mythical dark fantasy. Disturbing and mysterious . The war is over. The Dryads rise. Wonderful storytelling.

[Janelle Garrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was first introduced to Jacob Sannox in last year's SPFBO contest when I read and reviewed The Ravenmaster's Revenge. I rather liked that story - a modern take on the King Arthur legend - but I definitely prefer Dark Oak. I wasn't quite sure what to expect, save classic-type prose and some head-hopping like that of Ravenmaster's Revenge. And while I wasn't wrong, Dark Oak, in my opinion, is superior in writing style and doesn't head-hop nearly as much as the previous work by this author. And the story itself? Different, and dark, and it goes places I certainly didn't expect.

It follows the story of three main characters, for the most part. Morrick is a woodmaster, and has been drafted into the army of one Awgren, and his legion of Devised. Morrick had no choice in the matter - he was forced to fight, as we soon learn, and the opening pages depict the battle in which Awgren's forces are defeated. It was a unique start to a story. I don't know if I've ever read anything quite like it, actually. Generally speaking, a story usually has a build up to a battle or war, but in Dark Oak, we are dropped into the last battle and the story is the aftermath. This lent to a lot of info dumping, but it was done well. The ramifications come out in political drama, familial drama, and... welll... tree-drama. But I'll get to that.

The next main character is Morrick's wife, Rowan. The poor woman is trying to keep her farm afloat while waiting for her husband to return while raising two sons and a newborn daughter. There is trouble from the village as corrupt people try to take advantage of the fact that there is a war, and Rowan is struggling to get the village to unite against it. Eventually, her farm is attacked by a roving band of now-dispersed Devised and she is on the run. There is tragedy involved that made me cringe, but it only makes the story all the more believable and Rowan a sympathetic character. Her story arc is sad, to be sure. And although her descent to crazed madness and terrible decisions was understandable considering what she went through, part of me wished she had been portrayed a bit better, and less like a crazy woman who can't keep her s--- together.

Lastly, by FAR the best character in the book is Riark, a Dryad. I would describe him as a bada-- Ent. He can travel through trees, and therefore can traverse across the whole of the world (if there are nearby trees) with a thought. He is a deceased human, but has lost his humanness for something altogether... different. His motivation is simply that of protecting natural life, and he wants to prevent a certain man from carving a road through his brethren. Riark knows of Morrick - a woodmaster - but knows Morrick to be respectful of trees and not using them for selfish reasons - much like a circle of life type of idea. They form a bond, and the bond leads very unexpected places.

I rather enjoyed this creative story, from Riark and his uniqueness to the dark places the plotline went. The prose, as I mentioned previously, is more classically bent, and I nod my head in approval. It was beautiful at times, and the depictions, although sometimes rambling, took me back to the writing style of Lewis, or Tolkien, or Doyle. It head-hopped, for sure, but not enough to make me stop reading.

I also enjoyed the theme - the importance of cultivating the earth instead of destroying it. Of course, this isn't the only theme, but it's the strongest. The story highlights Morrick's respect for the forest, and in truly creative, unique ways, shows the thread of life that runs through not just humanity but the world as a whole. Dryads aren't the only cool thing about this book, that's for sure.

All in all, this is a 4/5 stars for me. If you like dark fantasy light on the magic, unique characters, and the classics, check this one out.

[Carrie Chi Lough]

Slaying the Dark Lord did not bring peace. Without a common enemy to unite them, the sworn fealty among men fractures. Powerful beings, considered myths in living memory, have awoken. Dark Oak by Jacob Sannox begins as a traditional fantasy story and twists until there are no definitive heroes left.

Dark Oak starts where many fantasy series end. The Dark Lord is defeated. Mankind has a promising opportunity to rebuild and bring order to their realm. This victorious outcome is negated as we learn the period after war is more treacherous. No longer is the world divided by transparent enemies and allies. Dark Oak tests the waning loyalty of war heroes and whether redemption is possible for traitors.

In Dark Oak, we follow the accounts of those with various degrees of power including a former enemy soldier, a wife, and a Queen. By having such a varied cast, we are privy to all betrayals and schemes. While some tension is lost by knowing everyone’s perspective, it’s clear how each lord impacts the realm. We are also given the perspective of the King of Dryads, a race of spirits who live in and protect the forests. While mankind squabbles in cutthroat politics, the Dryads are waiting.

This book is highly driven by environmentalism as it is by politics. As mankind aims to unify and expand their borders, the natural world is being destroyed in the process. This forces the Dryads to awaken lest they go extinct themselves. While other books have approached the loss of nature with lament, Dark Oak brings vengeance. Can mankind survive what they have so greedily destroyed?

Barring some truly grim scenes, Dark Oak is nostalgic. Its prose felt inspired by classic fantasy such as Lord of the Rings. In reading this novel, the ability to fully immerse into the setting was equally as important as discovering what happens next. Jacob Sannox took particular care in detailing his world. I loved the nonhuman races. Their presence dominated the page, invoking reverence and awe.

Dark Oak can be remembered as a semifinalist in the 2018 SPFBO competition. Its unique concept made this book a strong competitor despite some occurrences of head flopping and word overuse. While presented as strong individuals, the women needed more development. One specific scene made it clear some characters are incapable of self-governing without inviting harm upon themselves. I couldn’t understand their rational or the scene’s relevance to the overall story.

Dark Oak examines the devastating aftermath of war. By removing the ultimate evil, the ambiguous morality of all these characters shine. In his novel, Jacob Sannox questions whether mankind will ever know peace.

Review now live in Grimdark Magazine https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/revi...

[Chimene · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think my jaw dropped on several occasions throughout this book and I think this story will be staying with for awhile. Why? This is a fantastic, gripping, dark and gritty fantasy. A whole new idea that had me delighted and captivated.

I love a story that can pull me in and keep there - so many different facets of the story to explore. Kings and queens, Lords, power, love, family, real human emotion and (my favourite) - mythical creatures.

Sannox has put a lot of time into creating and bringing these characters to life... how do I know? Because I was invested as a reader. And that itself speaks volumes. I cared enough to follow their thoughts and journeys.

The story opens:

"This is not a story about a Dark Lord, though there was one... "

As a reader we start at the ending of a Dark Lord. Admittedly, I was dubious as to where this could go. The politcal backdrop didn't surprise me. With the Dark Lord gone it left humans best at what they do. Squabbling over power and who has what, but what I didn't expect was Morrick the Woodcutter and his story.

With the war over (or so it seems) and branded a traitor, it's up to Morrick to prove where his loyalties lie and we follow his journey home.

Whilst trying to get home, we are introduced to his wife Rowan. She's held her family together in Morrick's absence and is trying to bring her people together to face and overthrow the Devised - to fight for their freedom.
"I think that if we make a move people will die, but that I would rather take that risk than live like this."

Of course, it wouldn't be complete without the various creatures and entities we meet throughout.
King Riark of the Dryads is fighting to keep balance within his realm, whilst humans swarm through his forest but is it enough?

Beautifully put together, plot twists and a unique storyline with unforgettable characters; Dark Oak is a gripping, dark fantasy.

[Anita · Rating 2 out of 5]

I looked forwarded to reading a fantasy on the theme of Dryads and forests. However this book is mainly centered around the aftermath of the Great War between the Combined Army of Humans against the army of the Creatures of the Dark Lord; who are never described to the reader, nor is there any context as to their origins.
The war ends at the start of this story, then the various leaders spend the remainder of the book wrangling over who will rule over the various realms of the country. It is basically a political fantasy with disappointingly little magic, apart from the not particularly credible dryads popping in and out of trees. Eventually the dryads, headed by Riark their King, decide to take vengeance for mankind’s careless treatment of their kind. By the time they do so, I was heartily in favour of their actions, as I was bored by the constant bickering and back stabbing of the humans, and the histrionics of their women.
Highlighting a topical theme; deforestation; it should have been interesting, but due to the confusing narrative it never held my attention.
I shall not be reading the follow-up books.