Forest Lessons

The Paladin's Assistant #1

by Jason Venter

Edmund had it all. Then he made a terrible mistake that could cost him everything. He soon finds himself tagging along to a remote logging camp to help a decorated paladin solve a series of brutal slayings.

John is that paladin. He still hasn't recovered from losing his beloved wife. The last thing he needs is to babysit a spoiled military brat.

Their investigation reveals just how little the reluctant allies know about life outside city walls. As the body count rises and the allure of a beautiful woman drives a wedge between them, the two men must put aside their differences and embrace their humanity. Otherwise, all the magic in the world can't save them when the killer comes calling...

213 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 21, 2021

Reviews

[Jessica Kemery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Forest Lessons by Jason Venter is a quick read, a short novel that solidly delivers.
I liked the characters right off the bat. Venter presents them in a simple way, letting us know who they are right out of the gate.
The story centers around Edmond, the spoiled son of a highly connected man. Unfortunately, Edmond gets in a spot of trouble, and he is assigned to a paladin and ordered to serve as his assistant.
John is a that Paladin. He is a wise, road-weary, experienced veteran. He is a very likable character, and he is like an onion, with many different layers. He starts to give his assistant little life lessons, and we see Edmond, if not grow, begin to think about things just slightly more deeply. I am hoping that Edmond develops into a nice guy. He seems like he has a lot of promise as a hero if he stops being so self-centered.
They travel to a far-off logging camp, where a series of gruesome crimes have occurred. The story evolves from a delightful fantasy to a delightful mystery.
My one critique is that I wish the murderer weren't so obvious. Totally saw that one coming. But the narrative to get there was good, and I enjoyed watching the twist evolve through Edmond's eyes.
In all, this was a very entertaining, super-fast read. I am looking forward to reading books two and three, and I'm sure I will continue to enjoy this bingeable series—5 out of 5 stars.

[Peter Butter · Rating 4 out of 5]

First in the series, Forest Lessons introduces Edmund, the young nobleman's son and John, the older and experienced paladin. Edmund's mistakes land him his gig assisting John in a murder investigation in a logging camp. The story is told from Edmund's perspective, and as the name of the novel implies, John's mentoring provides the youth with plenty of life lessons along the way.

Despite the backdrop of the investigation, Forest Lessons isn't really a whodunit. It is not a great mystery to the reader who is behind it and many of the conclusions reached at the end do not come as a shock. The point is more in Edmund's growing, which is coming along but not quite finished by the end of the story.

The world that Forest Lessons takes place in promises depths yet untouched or not as deeply as they might yet, and definitely left me hungry for more.

[T · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting premise that never quite delivers. This is competent writing that never rises to the level of “good.” There are hints of a very interesting world around and behind our two main characters, but we never get to see it. What should be exciting events are somehow rendered flat and tedious by the writing style. I also found the reading level somewhat confused. It’s a little bit too adult for YA readers, but it’s not quite advanced enough for adult readers, leaving me confused as to who this was written for.

[Kat M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this start to the Paladin's Assistant series, it does a great job in introducing the reader to this world and the characters. Jason Venter has a great writing style and I was hooked from the first page. It left me wanting to read more and I'm glad I got to read this.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Louise · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story follows the clashing relationship between Edmund and John who must work together, the story looking at their character arc and past. This reads like there is no beginning and readers are thrown straight into the story.


I received a free copy and am leaving a review voluntarily.
Thank you to StoryOrigin and author.