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The Forest Girl
Kiri, a resolute young warrior, kills a retired Sandamedan soldier in his bed—a man guilty of heinous crimes against the Forest people. Hours later, she finds herself keeping charge of the man’s twelve-year-old son, Ulek.
Only, Ulek doesn’t know Kiri killed his father, or that she is a Forest girl.
The duo stumbles upon a Sandamedan army outpost where a mounted horde approaches. The outnumbered garrison soldiers evacuate the area to escort the locals to the capital before they’re slaughtered. Kiri and Ulek join the exodus, but Kiri hasn’t completed her task. At the behest of her people, she must assassinate the Sandamedan army commander, even if it costs her life.
If she fails, the empire will continue to attack Forest villages.
Kiri’s mission becomes increasingly difficult. The horde draws closer, she doesn’t know how she’ll reach the commander, and the soldiers will kill her if they discover she’s a Forest girl. Meeting Ulek’s trusting eyes gets harder every day, and Kiri finds herself drawn to a young officer who knows she’s hiding something. Kiri is determined to save her people, but with the horde closing in and the risk of discovery, she might not survive long enough to fulfill her mission.
With literary artistry and immersive world-building, The Forest Girl rivals Children of Earth and Sky by Guy Gavriel Kay and An Ember in the Ashes series by Sabaa Tahir.
Only, Ulek doesn’t know Kiri killed his father, or that she is a Forest girl.
The duo stumbles upon a Sandamedan army outpost where a mounted horde approaches. The outnumbered garrison soldiers evacuate the area to escort the locals to the capital before they’re slaughtered. Kiri and Ulek join the exodus, but Kiri hasn’t completed her task. At the behest of her people, she must assassinate the Sandamedan army commander, even if it costs her life.
If she fails, the empire will continue to attack Forest villages.
Kiri’s mission becomes increasingly difficult. The horde draws closer, she doesn’t know how she’ll reach the commander, and the soldiers will kill her if they discover she’s a Forest girl. Meeting Ulek’s trusting eyes gets harder every day, and Kiri finds herself drawn to a young officer who knows she’s hiding something. Kiri is determined to save her people, but with the horde closing in and the risk of discovery, she might not survive long enough to fulfill her mission.
With literary artistry and immersive world-building, The Forest Girl rivals Children of Earth and Sky by Guy Gavriel Kay and An Ember in the Ashes series by Sabaa Tahir.
- GenresFantasy
374 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 16, 2022
2 people are currently reading
54 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 10, 2022
This debut novel is one of my favorite releases of the year!
The Forest Girl is set in the Sandamedan Empire and its’ surrounding areas including Charpa, Galeed and the Forest lands. It tells a tale of nations divided by language, culture, religions and greed. Each has a military style based on their location which provides advantages and disadvantaged depending on the enemy faced.
Kiri is a young women from the Forest lands who was an unexpected hero and one of few survivors of a slaughter by imperial soldiers on a village. The time of healing is done, and the Forest people are seeking retribution - and Kiri is the natural choice to serve as silent assassin. Her targets are three key soldiers - a leader, vicious soldier, and military commander. There is no expectation she will survive to return.
As she begins her journey, starting in Galeed for her first target, things go awry and she ends up traveling with Ulek, the young son of the soldier she has killed! The trio of main characters is soon completed as the duo reach an imperial outpost and warn them of the approaching Charpan horde planning to overrun the fort.
The story is told through the three perspectives as each character has to overcome obstacles and conduct their duties as the imperial army and Galeedian citizens prepare for war.
The genre is Military Fantasy, which I suppose is as good as any - it is a created world with no magical creatures, wizards or fantastical weapons. Just people from a time before technology, each with their own views and languages. One thing I love is the sense of space the author portrays - you can feel the scope & scale with each battle, from broad army movements to the choreography of single combat.
The focus from the first page is combat and war, but the relationships between Kiri, Ulek and Mattos are a core part of a story with high stakes throughout. This is not only a debut novel but the first book in a series - I have never had a problem with reading an entry without knowing when the next one arrives, and I feel this book stands alone very well.
2022 has had some great reads for me, and I number this book near the top of my 40+ completions - 5 stars and highly recommended!
The Forest Girl is set in the Sandamedan Empire and its’ surrounding areas including Charpa, Galeed and the Forest lands. It tells a tale of nations divided by language, culture, religions and greed. Each has a military style based on their location which provides advantages and disadvantaged depending on the enemy faced.
Kiri is a young women from the Forest lands who was an unexpected hero and one of few survivors of a slaughter by imperial soldiers on a village. The time of healing is done, and the Forest people are seeking retribution - and Kiri is the natural choice to serve as silent assassin. Her targets are three key soldiers - a leader, vicious soldier, and military commander. There is no expectation she will survive to return.
As she begins her journey, starting in Galeed for her first target, things go awry and she ends up traveling with Ulek, the young son of the soldier she has killed! The trio of main characters is soon completed as the duo reach an imperial outpost and warn them of the approaching Charpan horde planning to overrun the fort.
The story is told through the three perspectives as each character has to overcome obstacles and conduct their duties as the imperial army and Galeedian citizens prepare for war.
The genre is Military Fantasy, which I suppose is as good as any - it is a created world with no magical creatures, wizards or fantastical weapons. Just people from a time before technology, each with their own views and languages. One thing I love is the sense of space the author portrays - you can feel the scope & scale with each battle, from broad army movements to the choreography of single combat.
The focus from the first page is combat and war, but the relationships between Kiri, Ulek and Mattos are a core part of a story with high stakes throughout. This is not only a debut novel but the first book in a series - I have never had a problem with reading an entry without knowing when the next one arrives, and I feel this book stands alone very well.
2022 has had some great reads for me, and I number this book near the top of my 40+ completions - 5 stars and highly recommended!
September 26, 2022
Fantasy is not my favorite genre, but I came across this title while looking for fantasy novels to add to my classroom library for my high school fantasy readers. My plan was just to use Kindle Unlimited to preview the book for my students, as I was unsure if I would like the world and people Dahler created. However, the character development is so compelling and complex, I couldn't help but read more and found myself fully invested in the fates of the three main characters: Kiri, Mattos, and Ulek. I loved the alternating chapters from the main characters points-of-view. I don't know that I am fantasy convert, but I will definitely continue reading this series when the next installment is published and I ordered a hard copy for my classroom shelves. It's a great read!
October 20, 2022
Kiri is a Forest girl, her mission is to assassinate the commander of the Sandamedan army. First, she kills a soldier a long the way. With this death, she has an orphan in her care. Kiri and Ulek travel to a garrison that will come under the attack of an army and she hopes she will find the commander. Kiri needs to complete her mission, save her people and hide her true identity. An exceptionally written fantasy story with wonderful characters. A great new fantasy world to discover.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 5, 2022
Received as an arc.
Kira is a Forest girl it her people she never leaf home before, now her people are under attack she brave the world to kill three people. When she kills the first one she run into trouble and end up taking his son under her wing. They join a group who are travel to the capital. Where she meets a solider who want to help her. Will she finshied her quest to kill all three men and save her people? Give it a read you won't be disappointed can't wait for book 2.
Kira is a Forest girl it her people she never leaf home before, now her people are under attack she brave the world to kill three people. When she kills the first one she run into trouble and end up taking his son under her wing. They join a group who are travel to the capital. Where she meets a solider who want to help her. Will she finshied her quest to kill all three men and save her people? Give it a read you won't be disappointed can't wait for book 2.
October 27, 2022
I read The Forest Girl while on vacation and I’m so glad I did. I was immediately drawn into the world the author created and felt invested in the characters early on. The ending was perfect and I can’t wait to see what happens next for these characters. I will definitely be preordering book 2 when it becomes available.
November 6, 2022
Fantastic debut novel to start the Clash of Stone and Steel series. I really enjoyed the very well done character development. The storyline was very riveting. I am looking forward to the next in the series.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 1, 2025
The Forest Girl is a fantasy-romance debut novel and it’s lovely. I think the storyline is original and I enjoyed the writing style. I just wish that the romance had a bit more depth, but overall it’s a great book. And, like I said, it’s a debut novel which is impressive.
~ September, 2022
~ September, 2022
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews