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Marchwood #1
Marchwood #1
Nova the red squirrel loves nothing more than enjoying a cup of Valerian root tea in her tiny, stone home in Riverbank Village.
But when her friend Rudbeck the mouse is kidnapped, she'll enlist the help of a curious, high-collared fox from the East and don her shortsword as she rushes off to the rescue.
A quaint, riverside hamlet where chipmunks study the secrets of nature in grand libraries. A tree-top city of pine martens with golden, glowing lanterns strung from the trees. A summer solstice feast in a meadow with tables full of fresh walnut loaves, spring salads, and flagons of fizzy drinks.
Join red squirrels, foxes, mice, and a host of friendly woodland creatures as they embark on their adventures in the forests of Marchwood.
Marchwood is a cozy fantasy series with grand tales, epic journeys, woodland feasts, mysterious scrolls, and secret castles, all told in a wholesome, positive, and calming voice.
If you love dreaming of faraway lands and adventures through the woods, this is the series for you.
Marchwood is a cozy fantasy series inspired by Redwall and The Hobbit.
“May your paws be warm and your fires be steady” is the motto of every Riverbank villager. But Nova the red squirrel must set down her warm mug of tea and take up her shortsword to help save the village that she loves.
In this first book in the series, follow the stories of Nova, Foxy, and Juniper as they venture north to the marshlands to rescue their friend Rudbeck from the Toad King.
The three friends are swept into the wider world when they discover that King Krub of the swamps isn’t the scheming villain they once thought, and the mysteries of a secret note reveal the intentions of a faraway usurper, leading the Riverbank villagers to faraway lands.
Sail down the River Reed, venture through the rocky pine-covered hills, and peer over stone bridges in the highlands where you can see for miles and miles in the new, cozy fantasy series, Marchwood.
But when her friend Rudbeck the mouse is kidnapped, she'll enlist the help of a curious, high-collared fox from the East and don her shortsword as she rushes off to the rescue.
A quaint, riverside hamlet where chipmunks study the secrets of nature in grand libraries. A tree-top city of pine martens with golden, glowing lanterns strung from the trees. A summer solstice feast in a meadow with tables full of fresh walnut loaves, spring salads, and flagons of fizzy drinks.
Join red squirrels, foxes, mice, and a host of friendly woodland creatures as they embark on their adventures in the forests of Marchwood.
Marchwood is a cozy fantasy series with grand tales, epic journeys, woodland feasts, mysterious scrolls, and secret castles, all told in a wholesome, positive, and calming voice.
If you love dreaming of faraway lands and adventures through the woods, this is the series for you.
Marchwood is a cozy fantasy series inspired by Redwall and The Hobbit.
“May your paws be warm and your fires be steady” is the motto of every Riverbank villager. But Nova the red squirrel must set down her warm mug of tea and take up her shortsword to help save the village that she loves.
In this first book in the series, follow the stories of Nova, Foxy, and Juniper as they venture north to the marshlands to rescue their friend Rudbeck from the Toad King.
The three friends are swept into the wider world when they discover that King Krub of the swamps isn’t the scheming villain they once thought, and the mysteries of a secret note reveal the intentions of a faraway usurper, leading the Riverbank villagers to faraway lands.
Sail down the River Reed, venture through the rocky pine-covered hills, and peer over stone bridges in the highlands where you can see for miles and miles in the new, cozy fantasy series, Marchwood.
245 pages, Paperback
Published September 6, 2022
77 people are currently reading
374 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
January 10, 2023
I’ve been saying for years that the fantasy genre needs more books about animals going on adventures. Is there anything more wholesome, endearing, and purely joyful than that? My heart feels warm just thinking about it. Marchwood is exactly what I have been craving.
I grew up with the Redwall series by Brian Jacques. I would devour one, immediately move on to another, and repeat, until I completed the series and started it over again. There were probably around two or three years when Redwall books were more than half of what I read in a year. So I was understandably delighted to read Marchwood.
This series has a lot of potential. The number of plot threads established in the first book promise an exciting sequel. Marchwood keeps some of the classic Redwall ambience: the peace of the forest, the descriptions of food and feasts that make my mouth water, the playful romps through the woods. But there are also a number of aspects that are different. For example, the villains in Marchwood have significantly more depth. The dynamic between some originally antagonistic characters and the main characters is interesting and unique.
There were also some moments of startling eloquence. This part reminded me of Thoreau:
This is my favorite line in the book. I think it’s written so well:
My main criticism is that the second half of the book becomes less focused. Many intriguing ideas are introduced, but the plot meanders and the villain isn’t present as much as I would have liked.
Regardless, Marchwood is definitely enjoyable. The thought of sitting down at the end of the day to read a few pages about animals and the food they make and the adventures on which they embark was very comforting. This book was one whimsical and cozy nostalgia trip.
4 stars
I grew up with the Redwall series by Brian Jacques. I would devour one, immediately move on to another, and repeat, until I completed the series and started it over again. There were probably around two or three years when Redwall books were more than half of what I read in a year. So I was understandably delighted to read Marchwood.
This series has a lot of potential. The number of plot threads established in the first book promise an exciting sequel. Marchwood keeps some of the classic Redwall ambience: the peace of the forest, the descriptions of food and feasts that make my mouth water, the playful romps through the woods. But there are also a number of aspects that are different. For example, the villains in Marchwood have significantly more depth. The dynamic between some originally antagonistic characters and the main characters is interesting and unique.
There were also some moments of startling eloquence. This part reminded me of Thoreau:
In the woods, one senses there is no evil, no greed, no tyrant, no oppressor, no malady, but indeed a deep wellspring of meaning returns. To be connected to the woods is to be connected to the very art of life itself, and to walk along the stones and mosses, and under the tall trees and over the fallen trees and alongside the wet, rotten stumps is to be reminded of the great circus mystery and magic of being itself.
This is my favorite line in the book. I think it’s written so well:
She looked out into the very far horizon of the trees, into the place where individual trees become a forest, and you can almost see the precise place where one tree becomes many trees and many trunks simply become “the woods,” and all the eye can see extends onward into a dark green fabric into the distance, seemingly forever.
My main criticism is that the second half of the book becomes less focused. Many intriguing ideas are introduced, but the plot meanders and the villain isn’t present as much as I would have liked.
Regardless, Marchwood is definitely enjoyable. The thought of sitting down at the end of the day to read a few pages about animals and the food they make and the adventures on which they embark was very comforting. This book was one whimsical and cozy nostalgia trip.
4 stars
October 1, 2022
This cosy fantasy tale is Lord of the Rings meets Wind in the Willows.
I really enjoyed the first book in the series about the animal inhabitants of Marchwood.
At its heart is friendship as the story begins with a simple rescue mission of Rudbeck the mouse by his friend Nova the red squirrel. This leads to much larger separate quests for the friends as they prepare for an oncoming war.
The world building that the author has done is fantastic and intricate. There are so many interesting and wonderful characters. My personal favourites were the Strum, wise mushroom like creatures.
Of the friends Foxy is perhaps the most interesting and I feel there may be more revelations to come about his past. In comparison Nova, the main character, seemed a little dull, I never felt like I truly knew her but hopefully this will be rectified in future books in the series.
The descriptions of the various feasts and snacks the animals have were probably my favourite part of the book, they were wonderfully described and so wholesome!
The seasons are important in the book. We see the passing of spring into summer with the novel ending on the summer solstice. Significantly the friends agree to reunite at the end of the year, which I look forward to reading about.
A wonderful cosy fantasy tale and a great start to a series which I will most definitely be reading.
Many thanks to the publisher for providing me with a digital ARC for an honest review.
I really enjoyed the first book in the series about the animal inhabitants of Marchwood.
At its heart is friendship as the story begins with a simple rescue mission of Rudbeck the mouse by his friend Nova the red squirrel. This leads to much larger separate quests for the friends as they prepare for an oncoming war.
The world building that the author has done is fantastic and intricate. There are so many interesting and wonderful characters. My personal favourites were the Strum, wise mushroom like creatures.
Of the friends Foxy is perhaps the most interesting and I feel there may be more revelations to come about his past. In comparison Nova, the main character, seemed a little dull, I never felt like I truly knew her but hopefully this will be rectified in future books in the series.
The descriptions of the various feasts and snacks the animals have were probably my favourite part of the book, they were wonderfully described and so wholesome!
The seasons are important in the book. We see the passing of spring into summer with the novel ending on the summer solstice. Significantly the friends agree to reunite at the end of the year, which I look forward to reading about.
A wonderful cosy fantasy tale and a great start to a series which I will most definitely be reading.
Many thanks to the publisher for providing me with a digital ARC for an honest review.
May 6, 2023
I’ve been trying more indie fantasy lately and asked for this one for Christmas. The Facebook advertisement I saw promised it would be Lord of the Rings meets Redwall, which is true. Unfortunately, I thought the book would lean more towards Lord of the Rings and be more of a complex, adult fantasy, but Marchwood is very much a juvenile book. The story is extremely simple and there are repetitions of character descriptions, relationships, and races in every single chapter. And I don’t just mean once or twice. EVERY time a character is mentioned for the first time in any given chapter, they are reintroduced. Same with plot points, locations, etc. I mean, I know this is a mark of juvenile fiction for especially younger readers, but as an adult reading this book, it felt extreme. I think I was just kind of shocked, and I wish the book description has made it clearer that this was a story geared towards juvenile readers.
The plot itself is simple, but also soothing as a longtime reader of fantasy. It made me nostalgic for the fantasy books I grew up reading and put me in the mood for more journey fantasies. It’s a classic tale of young friends leaving a cozy home to face dangers and rouse an army before an evil army invades. The fact this story is labeled as “cozy,” however, means not too much actually happens in this book to advance this plot. Definitely don’t expect much in the way of battles, and any fighting that does happen ends up feeling more cutesy than intense. (Picture pots banging on top of heads and such.) There are many celebrations, feasts, and travel sections, but little plot advancement towards raising armies, repairing defenses, or actually meeting any of the villains in a meaningful way. This book is definitely NOT self-contained, and one will need to read the sequels to get any kind of plot advancement.
None of this is to say Marchwood is a bad book. It is well-written, cozy, and nostalgic. However, I would only recommend it for juvenile readers or adults looking for a Redwall fix. Definitely know what you are getting into, and you will have a good time. It just wasn’t the kind of story I was looking for.
The plot itself is simple, but also soothing as a longtime reader of fantasy. It made me nostalgic for the fantasy books I grew up reading and put me in the mood for more journey fantasies. It’s a classic tale of young friends leaving a cozy home to face dangers and rouse an army before an evil army invades. The fact this story is labeled as “cozy,” however, means not too much actually happens in this book to advance this plot. Definitely don’t expect much in the way of battles, and any fighting that does happen ends up feeling more cutesy than intense. (Picture pots banging on top of heads and such.) There are many celebrations, feasts, and travel sections, but little plot advancement towards raising armies, repairing defenses, or actually meeting any of the villains in a meaningful way. This book is definitely NOT self-contained, and one will need to read the sequels to get any kind of plot advancement.
None of this is to say Marchwood is a bad book. It is well-written, cozy, and nostalgic. However, I would only recommend it for juvenile readers or adults looking for a Redwall fix. Definitely know what you are getting into, and you will have a good time. It just wasn’t the kind of story I was looking for.
Read
January 2, 2023Loved the idea of this. Something gentle and cozy, but it read to much like a children’s book. DNF at 20%.
January 8, 2024
It was, as advertised, a good cozy fantasy and I was always looking forward to read what happened next. Any fantasy of this nature will inevitably be compared to Redwall, and something I prefer about Marchwood is that there are no evil species; just bad individuals. There could just as easily be a virtuous toad as there was an evil mouse.
I'd rate it higher, but GOOD LORD, Lorsensen should hire a proofreader. There were, especially later in the book, typos, comma splicing, redundancies (a character "descends down" twice), and rabbit and hare were used interchangeably. Surely the author is aware that hares and rabbits are two different animals, right? Like crocodiles and alligators, squids and octopi, rats and mice.
Still gonna buy the next book.
I'd rate it higher, but GOOD LORD, Lorsensen should hire a proofreader. There were, especially later in the book, typos, comma splicing, redundancies (a character "descends down" twice), and rabbit and hare were used interchangeably. Surely the author is aware that hares and rabbits are two different animals, right? Like crocodiles and alligators, squids and octopi, rats and mice.
Still gonna buy the next book.
October 11, 2022
Marchwood: A Cozy Fantasy Novel by R.A. Lorensen - 5/5
When a Redubeck, a mouse, is kidnapped Nova, the red squirrel, sets off to on an epic adventure to find her friend.
This was just the perfect cozy fantasy book that just melts your heart. When a friend is in trouble what else can you do except head out and rescue them. I love all the characters that are in this story. The adventure they go on in is gripping and the world building is phenomenal. The author doesn't skimp out on the little details as such the foods they eat, the seasons they experience. wholesome story and a fun read for anyone.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
When a Redubeck, a mouse, is kidnapped Nova, the red squirrel, sets off to on an epic adventure to find her friend.
This was just the perfect cozy fantasy book that just melts your heart. When a friend is in trouble what else can you do except head out and rescue them. I love all the characters that are in this story. The adventure they go on in is gripping and the world building is phenomenal. The author doesn't skimp out on the little details as such the foods they eat, the seasons they experience. wholesome story and a fun read for anyone.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 17, 2022
A big thank you to the author and publisher for giving me a free copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.
Marchwood is a sweet cozy children's book that is a mix between Redwall and Lord of the Rings. I enjoyed the characters and their journeys. There isn't a lot of danger for these characters in the first book, though there is an impending war, which makes it great for kids. It does touch on the topics of accepting others and finding your own way in life that might be different than your family which I found to be a great message for this book.
Also posted in my blog: https://cashollinger.wordpress.com/20...
Marchwood is a sweet cozy children's book that is a mix between Redwall and Lord of the Rings. I enjoyed the characters and their journeys. There isn't a lot of danger for these characters in the first book, though there is an impending war, which makes it great for kids. It does touch on the topics of accepting others and finding your own way in life that might be different than your family which I found to be a great message for this book.
Also posted in my blog: https://cashollinger.wordpress.com/20...
April 2, 2024
What a cozy little read.
If you need something simple for a change, this is probably it. Cozy, simple, happy little critter folk. I wish everyone could be this kind and welcoming, the world would be such a fantastic place. I want to live among these folk... I want to be a part of the festivities and all the delicious food that was mentioned in this book. Of all the books I've ever read, sure, I've wanted to hop into a few, but this just sounds like the best of any world that I could dream up. Love it.
If you need something simple for a change, this is probably it. Cozy, simple, happy little critter folk. I wish everyone could be this kind and welcoming, the world would be such a fantastic place. I want to live among these folk... I want to be a part of the festivities and all the delicious food that was mentioned in this book. Of all the books I've ever read, sure, I've wanted to hop into a few, but this just sounds like the best of any world that I could dream up. Love it.
October 29, 2025
For all the books in this series
There were a lot of errors that interrupted the story. The format of the dialogue was somewhat confusing. The stories don't have an ending even when you reach the third book. The prequel is a separate story before the others, you think this may be obvious but it's the only one that has an ending and I was hoping there would be more information on the main story. You never find out what happens. If you like just vibes you might like this. If you want resolutions miss this series.
There were a lot of errors that interrupted the story. The format of the dialogue was somewhat confusing. The stories don't have an ending even when you reach the third book. The prequel is a separate story before the others, you think this may be obvious but it's the only one that has an ending and I was hoping there would be more information on the main story. You never find out what happens. If you like just vibes you might like this. If you want resolutions miss this series.
September 25, 2022
Marchwood is A Cozy Fantasy Novelbby R A Lorensen. I thought that this book was so much fun. The characters are unique and fun… they are all animals rather than human. Rudbeck, the field mouse, is taken by the toad army. The toad King is Rudbeck's only hope of escape. This was pure fun. I received an arc for free and am leaving my review voluntarily.
November 16, 2024
A wholesome and charming beginning to an adventure that I thoroughly enjoyed! & Am definitely interested in continuing with the sequels and prequel novel!
I will say, too much use of the word "and" that got tiresome. Plus, repeating things that happen only pages previously. But, I'm nitpicking. Twas good read. I liked the characters, the themes, settings, all very "Redwall".
I will say, too much use of the word "and" that got tiresome. Plus, repeating things that happen only pages previously. But, I'm nitpicking. Twas good read. I liked the characters, the themes, settings, all very "Redwall".
April 16, 2023
Cozy & sweet! Higher stakes than I expected of a cozy novel, but softened by gentle moments of atmospheric writing. I really enjoyed this peaceful escape & I’m thrilled it’s a series & there’s more soft coziness to enjoy.💕🌳
May 5, 2023
Marchwood is a pretty good book. I would give this book 3.7 stars. I would like to read the second book and find out what adventures the animals of Marchwood have next.
June 21, 2024
I really wanted to love it because I have really been loving cozy fantasy. I just didn’t.
May 25, 2025
This is an interesting fantasy adventure story, and I enjoyed it even though I'm not a child. So far, I think this would be a great series for elementary ages and up.
August 24, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
Adorable 🐿️🐭🦊
Adorable 🐿️🐭🦊
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews