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Song of Gods Duet #1
Woodborn
“I do not know how I lived in darkness for so many years with this bright world just waiting for me to grasp it.”
Maelwen is a young witch trapped in a harsh and unforgiving life. Friendless and alone, she endures pain and abuse to survive in the desolate land of Iowain.
Cicerine, a sweet young faun, lives in the idyllic glade of Kanitosh Woods. Alongside her mother and closest friend, she grows up in reverence of the god, Idyth—led by the mysterious Father Farragen.
Escaping her tormentor and seeking a new life of her own, Maelwen finds a fresh start in the trade city of Konidas. Meanwhile, a terrible tragedy befalls the glade, and Cicerine must flee to the same seaside town, leaving behind all she has ever known.
As a dark force spreads across the continent, can Maelwen’s gifts and Cicerine’s developing power stand against the threat facing them all? Along with new friends and a crew of sapphic pirates, the line between good and evil is tested as the continent prepares for an epic battle.
Woodborn is a sapphic high fantasy novel, set in the shared world of Idythia—book one in the Song of Gods series.
Maelwen is a young witch trapped in a harsh and unforgiving life. Friendless and alone, she endures pain and abuse to survive in the desolate land of Iowain.
Cicerine, a sweet young faun, lives in the idyllic glade of Kanitosh Woods. Alongside her mother and closest friend, she grows up in reverence of the god, Idyth—led by the mysterious Father Farragen.
Escaping her tormentor and seeking a new life of her own, Maelwen finds a fresh start in the trade city of Konidas. Meanwhile, a terrible tragedy befalls the glade, and Cicerine must flee to the same seaside town, leaving behind all she has ever known.
As a dark force spreads across the continent, can Maelwen’s gifts and Cicerine’s developing power stand against the threat facing them all? Along with new friends and a crew of sapphic pirates, the line between good and evil is tested as the continent prepares for an epic battle.
Woodborn is a sapphic high fantasy novel, set in the shared world of Idythia—book one in the Song of Gods series.
482 pages, ebook
First published January 21, 2023
73 people are currently reading
1069 people want to read
About the author
Heather Nix
11 books98 followersHeather Nix writes magical lesbians and takes a lot of baths.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
January 1, 2023
Let's start with the "cons" of this book first. There are two. The first, minor, is that I would love a pronunciation guide so that my brain isn't tickled later when it hears the actual pronunciations are not the same as my imagined versions.
**Happy update** I read the ARC edition, provided by the author. Author is adding pronunciation guide to final version.
And the second is that this is the first in a series, and when you are done reading, you might weep and rage at the fact that the second book isn't released yet. You might hypothetically lay in bed between snoring humans at one in the morning, breathing hard, absolutely devastated that Heather Nix isn't a superhuman capable of releasing the entire series in one go.
Moving into the "pros"....the worldbuilding is so masterfully done. Woodborn took me to a completely different world without extra, flowery prose. I tend to get very lost and bogged down in worldbuilding. It's a main reason why I quit books midway. Woodborn traverses many regions, each different and is full of mythical and semi mythical creatures. They all came completely alive.
Next pro: diverse diversity! Body types, sexuality, sex scenes, gender, class, and more.
Also a pro: a surprising, deep, and fast moving plot. I did not expect that each subplot would make me feel so emotional in all directions either. I don't think this single book could be made into a single movie shorter than six HOURS.
The language: beautifully written, truly. I highlighted more sections that I normally do for a book of this length of just passages and sentences that I found too lovely to forget. I don't normally feel like this about fantasy novels - generally I read them for their worldbuilding and possibly spice and rarely for their prose.
There are more pros but my children are rioting and I don't want to risk posting spoilers.
Woodborn is a treat. I'll be joyfully re reading it before reading book two. Even if fantasy isn't your genre of choice, you should still pick this one up. It's almost an adult Harry Potter without the side of bigotry, but even better.
**Happy update** I read the ARC edition, provided by the author. Author is adding pronunciation guide to final version.
And the second is that this is the first in a series, and when you are done reading, you might weep and rage at the fact that the second book isn't released yet. You might hypothetically lay in bed between snoring humans at one in the morning, breathing hard, absolutely devastated that Heather Nix isn't a superhuman capable of releasing the entire series in one go.
Moving into the "pros"....the worldbuilding is so masterfully done. Woodborn took me to a completely different world without extra, flowery prose. I tend to get very lost and bogged down in worldbuilding. It's a main reason why I quit books midway. Woodborn traverses many regions, each different and is full of mythical and semi mythical creatures. They all came completely alive.
Next pro: diverse diversity! Body types, sexuality, sex scenes, gender, class, and more.
Also a pro: a surprising, deep, and fast moving plot. I did not expect that each subplot would make me feel so emotional in all directions either. I don't think this single book could be made into a single movie shorter than six HOURS.
The language: beautifully written, truly. I highlighted more sections that I normally do for a book of this length of just passages and sentences that I found too lovely to forget. I don't normally feel like this about fantasy novels - generally I read them for their worldbuilding and possibly spice and rarely for their prose.
There are more pros but my children are rioting and I don't want to risk posting spoilers.
Woodborn is a treat. I'll be joyfully re reading it before reading book two. Even if fantasy isn't your genre of choice, you should still pick this one up. It's almost an adult Harry Potter without the side of bigotry, but even better.
January 7, 2025
5 Stars
This story is EVERYTHING! Everything I want in a witchy fantasy book! My first pleasure read for 2025 and this is just perfect!
A few authors (in my opinion) manage to transcend their words into something visual or tangible when it comes to magic and it takes me to an almost meditative state where it’s just the author’s words and myself staring at each other and Heather Nix managed this feat in the most alluring and sensual way.
The world building was masterful, the characters solid, even the side characters felt fully materialised. The story was women driven and as much as I hated reading about the mistreatment of some characters, it was a necessary evil but truly difficult to swallow.
I need a breather before I continue book 2 because book 1 ended on a very very precarious scene with the worlds colliding and I can’t. I can’t just proceed without processing.
This story is EVERYTHING! Everything I want in a witchy fantasy book! My first pleasure read for 2025 and this is just perfect!
A few authors (in my opinion) manage to transcend their words into something visual or tangible when it comes to magic and it takes me to an almost meditative state where it’s just the author’s words and myself staring at each other and Heather Nix managed this feat in the most alluring and sensual way.
The world building was masterful, the characters solid, even the side characters felt fully materialised. The story was women driven and as much as I hated reading about the mistreatment of some characters, it was a necessary evil but truly difficult to swallow.
I need a breather before I continue book 2 because book 1 ended on a very very precarious scene with the worlds colliding and I can’t. I can’t just proceed without processing.
January 3, 2023
First of all, let it be known that I am very much not okay now that I've finished this book. My fiancee has patiently listened to every rant and passage I've read her; the emotional turmoil (of one couple in particular!) as well as the gorgeous moments of PTSD representation to be met by validation, gender nonconformity and immediate adoption of Non-binary pronouns, femme solidarity... The list goes on.
Woodborn is full of rich description, well-developed voices for each POV, an absolute sensory indulgence. All throughout I found the story impossible to predict, which flawed me in the best way. With a full cast of humans, minotaurs, witches, fauns, trolls, nereids, and jynn, and a soft magic system which we learn alongside some of the main characters, it's deep and full and intriguing!
A self-proclaimed sapphic fantasy, Woodborn features strong queer rep; several sapphic relationships, remarks or trysts (and a few straight too- don't worry, it's got something for everyone); a few Non-binary characters; diverse body shapes and descriptions; a look into trauma impacts/ PTSD including validation from friends and strategies, not just dismissal or "calm down"; some beautiful examples of healthy communication within relationships... There's honestly an overwhelming amount to love about this book and the characters contained within its world!
I love the sentimental, familial vibe of Shell's tavern, the culture of the orakulua game, the family mentality Ballad has fostered among the crewmembers of her ship.
Don't ask me to rate spice, that's not my area of expertise. But what I can say is that it's vivid, and deep, and sweet, and more on the side of love than lust for the majority of encounters. Sex but not smut, I would say. It's real and uses proper terminology and doesn't exclude the awkward bits that make it relatable and real.
Woodborn is full of rich description, well-developed voices for each POV, an absolute sensory indulgence. All throughout I found the story impossible to predict, which flawed me in the best way. With a full cast of humans, minotaurs, witches, fauns, trolls, nereids, and jynn, and a soft magic system which we learn alongside some of the main characters, it's deep and full and intriguing!
A self-proclaimed sapphic fantasy, Woodborn features strong queer rep; several sapphic relationships, remarks or trysts (and a few straight too- don't worry, it's got something for everyone); a few Non-binary characters; diverse body shapes and descriptions; a look into trauma impacts/ PTSD including validation from friends and strategies, not just dismissal or "calm down"; some beautiful examples of healthy communication within relationships... There's honestly an overwhelming amount to love about this book and the characters contained within its world!
I love the sentimental, familial vibe of Shell's tavern, the culture of the orakulua game, the family mentality Ballad has fostered among the crewmembers of her ship.
Don't ask me to rate spice, that's not my area of expertise. But what I can say is that it's vivid, and deep, and sweet, and more on the side of love than lust for the majority of encounters. Sex but not smut, I would say. It's real and uses proper terminology and doesn't exclude the awkward bits that make it relatable and real.
December 27, 2022
I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC for this book from the author on TikTok, but I do give this review freely, and all of the thoughts within it are my own. First, I definitely want to direct any readers to the many trigger warnings that are involved in this book. Very often, I know that people skip them, but I hope you don't with "Woodborn." While the author definitely does handle the subjects with a deft hand and sensitivity, there are definitely scenes that if I had come upon without a warning for them, I would have found them incredibly distressing. One of the best things about this book is the worldbuilding that is contained with in it. Often times in fantasy, the world can seem extremely cut and paste and filled with generic and underdeveloped side characters, which I'm very pleased to note is not the case here. This world definitely feels real and vibrant and alive, with each of the side characters being interesting and distinct. Even the smallest characters are well fleshed out and give the author's world a real breath of life.
The prose is definitely definitely lush, and each of the four main POV characters are also distinct and are people that you're definitely rooting for in each of their stories, both individually. Also, this is an extremely queer and sapphic story, with some spice that I enjoyed, so I'm definitely here for it. "Woodborn" is a slow burn, though so that readers should be aware of that fact. There were times when I wished that it wasn't, and there were definitely parts where I was worried that threads of stories wouldn't weave together, but when we finally got to that point in the book, I was extremely glad that they did, in the manner that they did. All and all, this first book in the series made me immensely excited to see where we were going to go in the next part. I was definitely extremely surprised when I opened up my reading app and realized that I'd made it eighty percent through the book!
That said, there are a few small quibbles that I have with "Woodborn." At times, the slow burn nature of it indeed felt like it was too slow, and I wished that were moving much faster than we actually were through the plot. Given this, when everything does connect it almost feels like it's much too speedy. I also feel like given the length of time that we spend with our POV characters, I wish that we had gotten more of their journey to their gender identity. Until a few smaller comments later in the book, I had almost forgotten that it was one of the things that had gotten me excited to read it. But with that said, it was handled well when we finally got to that point.
All and all, this is a wonderful and exciting debut book from Heather Nix, and I'm going to be keeping my eyes out for the next book in the series. Definitely do recommend.
The prose is definitely definitely lush, and each of the four main POV characters are also distinct and are people that you're definitely rooting for in each of their stories, both individually. Also, this is an extremely queer and sapphic story, with some spice that I enjoyed, so I'm definitely here for it. "Woodborn" is a slow burn, though so that readers should be aware of that fact. There were times when I wished that it wasn't, and there were definitely parts where I was worried that threads of stories wouldn't weave together, but when we finally got to that point in the book, I was extremely glad that they did, in the manner that they did. All and all, this first book in the series made me immensely excited to see where we were going to go in the next part. I was definitely extremely surprised when I opened up my reading app and realized that I'd made it eighty percent through the book!
That said, there are a few small quibbles that I have with "Woodborn." At times, the slow burn nature of it indeed felt like it was too slow, and I wished that were moving much faster than we actually were through the plot. Given this, when everything does connect it almost feels like it's much too speedy. I also feel like given the length of time that we spend with our POV characters, I wish that we had gotten more of their journey to their gender identity. Until a few smaller comments later in the book, I had almost forgotten that it was one of the things that had gotten me excited to read it. But with that said, it was handled well when we finally got to that point.
All and all, this is a wonderful and exciting debut book from Heather Nix, and I'm going to be keeping my eyes out for the next book in the series. Definitely do recommend.
December 5, 2024
Really amazing story told from different points of view of the characters. I connected with pieces of each of them and I can picture the whole worlds through the fantastic writing. I’m reading the second one ASAP
January 21, 2023
Thank you so much to the author for my ARC copy. This review is my honest opinion.
I do not normally gravitate towards the fantasy genre, but I’ve been wanting to try it on for size. I couldn’t have chosen a better novel!
Woodborn’s prose grabbed me in the very first paragraph - the author has such a gift for describing things in a way that make you feel like you’re actually inside the world. I wrote down several quotes that hit me so hard I didn’t want to forget them. I felt like I got to know each character intimately, and grew to love them all like old friends. Well, most of them. The villains, on the other hand, had me so angry I had to put the book down a few times!
I absolutely loved the parallels between the villains in the novel and the Christian zealots that plague our own world - they were so easy to hate, and I believe one of the morals of the story is that if we stick together, we can fight that kind of hate, but we can’t do it alone.
The diversity in this novel is unparalleled - there are characters of so many fantasy races I had to google some of them! Characters of all different backgrounds, orientations and BODY TYPES - thank you for this!!
The *spicy* parts were BEAUTIFULLY written and the sapphic theme was just *chefs kiss*. I’ve honestly never felt more seen by a novel in my life.
I really cannot rave about this novel enough. This is the type of novel that could easily be a blockbuster series and GODS I hope it gets made into a movie someday. I want merch! I want a fandom! I want more!!!
I do not normally gravitate towards the fantasy genre, but I’ve been wanting to try it on for size. I couldn’t have chosen a better novel!
Woodborn’s prose grabbed me in the very first paragraph - the author has such a gift for describing things in a way that make you feel like you’re actually inside the world. I wrote down several quotes that hit me so hard I didn’t want to forget them. I felt like I got to know each character intimately, and grew to love them all like old friends. Well, most of them. The villains, on the other hand, had me so angry I had to put the book down a few times!
I absolutely loved the parallels between the villains in the novel and the Christian zealots that plague our own world - they were so easy to hate, and I believe one of the morals of the story is that if we stick together, we can fight that kind of hate, but we can’t do it alone.
The diversity in this novel is unparalleled - there are characters of so many fantasy races I had to google some of them! Characters of all different backgrounds, orientations and BODY TYPES - thank you for this!!
The *spicy* parts were BEAUTIFULLY written and the sapphic theme was just *chefs kiss*. I’ve honestly never felt more seen by a novel in my life.
I really cannot rave about this novel enough. This is the type of novel that could easily be a blockbuster series and GODS I hope it gets made into a movie someday. I want merch! I want a fandom! I want more!!!
July 12, 2024
Dungeons and Dragons but make it sapphic and filled with religious trauma. ✨
I ate this book UP and nearly demanded the second. The characters are relatable and interesting without being the overpowered characters you see in fantasy stories.
I was nearly screaming with frustration in some parts.
Heather is an instant read now.
I ate this book UP and nearly demanded the second. The characters are relatable and interesting without being the overpowered characters you see in fantasy stories.
I was nearly screaming with frustration in some parts.
Heather is an instant read now.
January 23, 2023
Maelwen is a witch. Abused, friendless, and alone, she sets out to make a life for herself.
Across the continent Cicerine is a young gain surrounded by her village, mother, and best friend.
Dark and menacing forces spread across the country linking their lives, and so many more, together. But will they survive? And at what cost?
This is a stunning sapphic high fantasy. The story is almost lyrical in its cadence. The world building is beautifully descript and I definitely had a good sense of the different communities, people, and places. And there are lots of people/characters- witches, Minotaurs, fauns, trolls, jynn, and more, but it never felt overwhelming. It felt like the actual world- diverse!
I also loved the queer, non-binary, and even straight rep. I think one of my favorite journeys was Jynn and her discovery of herself. Just…so beautiful.
My only teeny tiny baby complaint would be the pacing. There are moments the book just moves so slowly. I never wanted to put it down or stop, but maybe just hurry up a touch.
I absolutely cannot wait for book 2 and am looking forward to the journey!
Across the continent Cicerine is a young gain surrounded by her village, mother, and best friend.
Dark and menacing forces spread across the country linking their lives, and so many more, together. But will they survive? And at what cost?
This is a stunning sapphic high fantasy. The story is almost lyrical in its cadence. The world building is beautifully descript and I definitely had a good sense of the different communities, people, and places. And there are lots of people/characters- witches, Minotaurs, fauns, trolls, jynn, and more, but it never felt overwhelming. It felt like the actual world- diverse!
I also loved the queer, non-binary, and even straight rep. I think one of my favorite journeys was Jynn and her discovery of herself. Just…so beautiful.
My only teeny tiny baby complaint would be the pacing. There are moments the book just moves so slowly. I never wanted to put it down or stop, but maybe just hurry up a touch.
I absolutely cannot wait for book 2 and am looking forward to the journey!
January 11, 2023
This is an amazingly beautiful story that packs a punch and will make you feel so many emotions.
Heather has a great way of writing that pulls you into the story. I would highly recommend checking this out!
Heather has a great way of writing that pulls you into the story. I would highly recommend checking this out!
November 28, 2022
High fantasy is not my first genre of choice when it comes to reading but this one sucks you in from page one, into a well built world and characters you either love to love… or love to hate.
The story starts off with multiple main characters and their points of view and slowly builds to bring them all together. All of the characters are perfectly flawed in their own ways and while I definitely had my favorite character, (insert “I heart Shell” here) I felt myself not being able to put the book down until I got through other character’s chapters so I could figure out what happened with her, I still really enjoyed all of the other characters and their stories.
This book also fills a void in a sub-genre that is very much lacking in representation and it is fantastic to see a new author giving voice to LGBTQ points of view. 5/5 on the spicey scale 🔥
I gave this a 5.0 rating but if I’m being totally honest, if there were an option to give a 4.8 I’d probably give it that for two reasons: 1. I have to wait for book two, and I’m not a patient person. And 2. The ending of book one feels like you get drop kicked off the side of a cliff not just left hanging there.
All in all a brilliant debut novel. I’m impatiently waiting for the second installment.
The story starts off with multiple main characters and their points of view and slowly builds to bring them all together. All of the characters are perfectly flawed in their own ways and while I definitely had my favorite character, (insert “I heart Shell” here) I felt myself not being able to put the book down until I got through other character’s chapters so I could figure out what happened with her, I still really enjoyed all of the other characters and their stories.
This book also fills a void in a sub-genre that is very much lacking in representation and it is fantastic to see a new author giving voice to LGBTQ points of view. 5/5 on the spicey scale 🔥
I gave this a 5.0 rating but if I’m being totally honest, if there were an option to give a 4.8 I’d probably give it that for two reasons: 1. I have to wait for book two, and I’m not a patient person. And 2. The ending of book one feels like you get drop kicked off the side of a cliff not just left hanging there.
All in all a brilliant debut novel. I’m impatiently waiting for the second installment.
January 20, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The prose was beautiful and hooked me early on. I want to note early on author manages something that is very difficult, multiple narrator POVs. It was well handled and felt like the POV changes flowed really well. The characters all have depth and felt like individuals not placeholders for the plot.
It has wonderful queer rep,a plot that is easy to follow, and characters that I fell in love with.
Now a few notes for readers. Please pay attention to the author’s content warnings. She is very clear there’s some heavy stuff in the first few chapters but it is handled well and is not heavy handed.
Finally, the relationships are well thought out and beautifully written. They aren’t just an excuse for the steam and are well thought out and absolutely amazing! You can expect HIGH levels of steam but again it’s very well written.
I highly, highly recommend Woodborn for fans of dark fantasy, sapphic romance and steam, and adventure.
Review by Chris ( of Amyandchris96)
I was provided an arc copy of the book by the author.
It has wonderful queer rep,a plot that is easy to follow, and characters that I fell in love with.
Now a few notes for readers. Please pay attention to the author’s content warnings. She is very clear there’s some heavy stuff in the first few chapters but it is handled well and is not heavy handed.
Finally, the relationships are well thought out and beautifully written. They aren’t just an excuse for the steam and are well thought out and absolutely amazing! You can expect HIGH levels of steam but again it’s very well written.
I highly, highly recommend Woodborn for fans of dark fantasy, sapphic romance and steam, and adventure.
Review by Chris ( of Amyandchris96)
I was provided an arc copy of the book by the author.
December 30, 2022
Absolutely stunning! I feel so lucky receiving an ARC copy from Heather via TikTok. This story had so many things I had been looking for in a book, high fantasy, gay, diversified, magic, gay love stories, fauns, pirates, and so much more! Thank you TikTok doom scrolling for sending me Heather and Woodborn!
100% recommend to read the trigger warnings, very helpful! The story was told from 4 different POV of the main characters. Loved getting to know and fall in love the them and really feel like I was a part of the journey. It was a little slow to start and I was a tad lost a first about the witches lore but fantasy isn’t my typical genre.
I couldn’t put this book down and will be purchasing a hard copy as this ticks all the right boxes for me. I connected to this book on so many levels, magical! I can’t wait for the next book.
100% recommend to read the trigger warnings, very helpful! The story was told from 4 different POV of the main characters. Loved getting to know and fall in love the them and really feel like I was a part of the journey. It was a little slow to start and I was a tad lost a first about the witches lore but fantasy isn’t my typical genre.
I couldn’t put this book down and will be purchasing a hard copy as this ticks all the right boxes for me. I connected to this book on so many levels, magical! I can’t wait for the next book.
December 31, 2022
Fantastic sapphic high fantasy novel!
I have been so excited for this story ever since Heather started talking about wanting to write a book. Seeing her ideas come to life has been amazing. I feel honored to have been an ARC reader for her debut novel and cannot wait for her to bring more stories from this world into existence. Seeing my name as a character as well has been the highlight of my year and I may have gotten a little too emotional when I saw it. Thank you Heather. I wish you all the best with your work and an abundance of success! You deserve it!
I have been so excited for this story ever since Heather started talking about wanting to write a book. Seeing her ideas come to life has been amazing. I feel honored to have been an ARC reader for her debut novel and cannot wait for her to bring more stories from this world into existence. Seeing my name as a character as well has been the highlight of my year and I may have gotten a little too emotional when I saw it. Thank you Heather. I wish you all the best with your work and an abundance of success! You deserve it!
January 11, 2023
Wood Born by Heather Nix
Frist please check trigger warning before reading as the author deals with alot of issues.
Thank you for the arc copy all opions are my own. I already love that we have mythical creatures within the book. I have really enjoyed the wolrd bulding within this book. Whislt the story starts with many different pov we are then brought together with the characters. This is a slow burn book so for me personal hard as I prefer a faster burn. Cicerine and Maelwen are the two main characters within this book. I have enjoyed getting to know them. I love the sapphic side of this book it is excellently done.
Jynn I like.
Shell is a great characters.
I love how we go through multiple Povs.
Seriously omg this book has made me cry. Excellent character development and plot perfect execution of the story.
#woodborn #arc @Heather Nix #sapphic #highfantasy #mythicalcreatures
Frist please check trigger warning before reading as the author deals with alot of issues.
Thank you for the arc copy all opions are my own. I already love that we have mythical creatures within the book. I have really enjoyed the wolrd bulding within this book. Whislt the story starts with many different pov we are then brought together with the characters. This is a slow burn book so for me personal hard as I prefer a faster burn. Cicerine and Maelwen are the two main characters within this book. I have enjoyed getting to know them. I love the sapphic side of this book it is excellently done.
Jynn I like.
Shell is a great characters.
I love how we go through multiple Povs.
Seriously omg this book has made me cry. Excellent character development and plot perfect execution of the story.
#woodborn #arc @Heather Nix #sapphic #highfantasy #mythicalcreatures
January 25, 2025
3.5. The prose was stunning and fluid and hooked me immediately. Every character was flushed out and I found myself caring for the side characters perspectives even more than the main ones.
This book was slow. sloooooowww. but also fast ? The plot was interesting but too incomplete considering the slowness of the storyline and almost no mysteries were answered which left me feeling rather unsatisfied. The romance between Maelwen and Cicerine felt extremely rushed, shallow, random, and unfounded.
Debating whether or not to purchase the sequel since the cover art has ofc been changed from the publishing of the first book to the next and now my book cover won’t match the second one’s and on top of that the second book cover’s art is juvenile and nothing like the first book’s.
This book was slow. sloooooowww. but also fast ? The plot was interesting but too incomplete considering the slowness of the storyline and almost no mysteries were answered which left me feeling rather unsatisfied. The romance between Maelwen and Cicerine felt extremely rushed, shallow, random, and unfounded.
Debating whether or not to purchase the sequel since the cover art has ofc been changed from the publishing of the first book to the next and now my book cover won’t match the second one’s and on top of that the second book cover’s art is juvenile and nothing like the first book’s.
December 19, 2024
I love how there is barely any men there and all the fantasy.
I loved all creatures but I hated the ending. Cliffhanger, terrible terrible ending
But what a lovely experience.
I loved all creatures but I hated the ending. Cliffhanger, terrible terrible ending
But what a lovely experience.
December 30, 2024
Such a fun dive into a magical world filled with action, magic and queer love!
January 20, 2023
Woodborn by Heather Nix
To preface my review, I urge you to look into the content warnings prior to dabbling in this novel, as there are quite a few graphic and triggering scenes right off the bat. These scenes are handled with extreme care, but please be forewarned.
Thank you Heather Nix for an ARC copy of your debut novel in exchange for an honest review!
I was in a serious book rut when I began reading Woodborn. I honestly asked myself, "why did I sign up for an ARC right now?" But, it turns out that Woodborn is just what I needed! While a little slow to start, once things got started, I was enamored! High fantasy has always been my genre of choice and Heather Nix made me fall in love with the genre all over again.
In a market saturated with fae-centric plots, the incredible world and diversity of Idythia is a breath of fresh air. The worldbuilding that Heather Nix has accomplished is absolutely incredible. Idythia has real depth and life, which grows more and more over the course of the novel. The magic systems are unique and fleshed out and definitely have a DnD vibe, which I know heavily influence Nix. You definitely feel like you are along for the journey with the characters, many of whom are also discovering the different parts of the world with you.
The story is told from multiple points of views, with each character really coming to life with Heather Nix's words. Her writing style changes a bit from character to character, which was beautifully done and really added to their personalities. Every love story, every interaction, their journies with their pasts and traumas, each one of them are so dear to me! But especially Jynn ;) Even the minor, non-POV characters are so well-done. Not only is there great diversity in fantasy creatures in this book, but also in character representation -- varying body types, LGBTQIA+ / sapphic representation, gender identity journeys, etc. The spicy scenes are also so good! I hate spice for the sake of spice, but you will not find that here! The spicy scenes are beautiful, fun, and super well-written.
I am so excited to see where the rest of the Song of Gods series takes us and SO crushed for the impending wait I will suffer from :')
To preface my review, I urge you to look into the content warnings prior to dabbling in this novel, as there are quite a few graphic and triggering scenes right off the bat. These scenes are handled with extreme care, but please be forewarned.
Thank you Heather Nix for an ARC copy of your debut novel in exchange for an honest review!
I was in a serious book rut when I began reading Woodborn. I honestly asked myself, "why did I sign up for an ARC right now?" But, it turns out that Woodborn is just what I needed! While a little slow to start, once things got started, I was enamored! High fantasy has always been my genre of choice and Heather Nix made me fall in love with the genre all over again.
In a market saturated with fae-centric plots, the incredible world and diversity of Idythia is a breath of fresh air. The worldbuilding that Heather Nix has accomplished is absolutely incredible. Idythia has real depth and life, which grows more and more over the course of the novel. The magic systems are unique and fleshed out and definitely have a DnD vibe, which I know heavily influence Nix. You definitely feel like you are along for the journey with the characters, many of whom are also discovering the different parts of the world with you.
The story is told from multiple points of views, with each character really coming to life with Heather Nix's words. Her writing style changes a bit from character to character, which was beautifully done and really added to their personalities. Every love story, every interaction, their journies with their pasts and traumas, each one of them are so dear to me! But especially Jynn ;) Even the minor, non-POV characters are so well-done. Not only is there great diversity in fantasy creatures in this book, but also in character representation -- varying body types, LGBTQIA+ / sapphic representation, gender identity journeys, etc. The spicy scenes are also so good! I hate spice for the sake of spice, but you will not find that here! The spicy scenes are beautiful, fun, and super well-written.
I am so excited to see where the rest of the Song of Gods series takes us and SO crushed for the impending wait I will suffer from :')
January 16, 2023
If you’re looking for a sapphic fantasy read with found family, magic, and a host of lovable characters (including faun, witches, humans, and pirates), then look no further.
Woodborn is told in multiple POVs, with really four main POVs; Maelwen, Jynn, Cicerine, and Shell. Throughout the book as the story unravels through these POVs we see that these seemingly unconnected storylines are really interwoven together. Along the way we meet a host of diverse characters, experience their traumas, and witness the aftermath (mainly PTSD and some extracurricular activities from Maelwynn that we fully support). All of these really sensitive topics are handled with extreme care by the author and I really appreciated that.
While yes there are some darker themes in this book there are also so many incredibly sweet moments. We get a little bit of everything from tender moments shared over a meal, game nights at Shell’s tavern, and several different romantic scenes that vary in levels of spice. These moments really made me connect even more with the characters and turned this into a book that I just didn’t want to end (sadly it does but it’s okay because it’s part of a series).
Overall I think this book has a little bit of everything and makes for a fantastic read. That being said please check the trigger warnings. There are some potentially triggering topics in this book including sexual assault, sexual harassment, murder, gore, consumption of blood, dementia, and drug use. A full list can be found on the authors website and I very highly recommend you read them.
Thank you to the author for allowing me to be an arc reader for this book.
Woodborn is told in multiple POVs, with really four main POVs; Maelwen, Jynn, Cicerine, and Shell. Throughout the book as the story unravels through these POVs we see that these seemingly unconnected storylines are really interwoven together. Along the way we meet a host of diverse characters, experience their traumas, and witness the aftermath (mainly PTSD and some extracurricular activities from Maelwynn that we fully support). All of these really sensitive topics are handled with extreme care by the author and I really appreciated that.
While yes there are some darker themes in this book there are also so many incredibly sweet moments. We get a little bit of everything from tender moments shared over a meal, game nights at Shell’s tavern, and several different romantic scenes that vary in levels of spice. These moments really made me connect even more with the characters and turned this into a book that I just didn’t want to end (sadly it does but it’s okay because it’s part of a series).
Overall I think this book has a little bit of everything and makes for a fantastic read. That being said please check the trigger warnings. There are some potentially triggering topics in this book including sexual assault, sexual harassment, murder, gore, consumption of blood, dementia, and drug use. A full list can be found on the authors website and I very highly recommend you read them.
Thank you to the author for allowing me to be an arc reader for this book.
January 28, 2023
◦ I've received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ◦
⮞ 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 ⮜
The Crone in my opinion was a pretty vague character that appeared here and there throughout the story. I am still pretty confused about what her role in this whole story is or on which side she is, she really gave me mixed signals.
Maelwen, her beginning was very dark. From the moment of her birth up to her adulthood her life was a rollercoaster of bad events one after the other. I really loved the moment when she became into her powers and took control over her life and fought back.
Cicerine her birth actually was so lovely, for some reason it gave me some fuzzy feelings reading about her. Her life was pretty okay, totally opposite compared to Maelwen until things also took a bad turn for her and tragedy happened.
There are also other characters in the book that drives the story forward, you also get some extra POVs in the story and I really enjoyed reading about Shell, she was definitely between my fave characters and I can't wait to see where her story goes in the next book.
⮞ 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝-𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 ⮜
I felt the world-building to be so beautiful. Even tho they were living in a world split between rich people and poor people, the part where Cicerine was living was so gorgeous, especially in the summer the descriptions were out of this world (pun intended).
⮞ 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐝/𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐝 ⮜
I liked the overall story. I felt it was an intriguing story plot, the world split between humans and the creatures like Cicerine who was half human and half fawn, the hatred of people for the creatures, the differences between their lives, and the overall hungriness for power and survival, and how everyone had to learn to protect themselves and their loved ones. The story has lots of Content Warnings that you can find on the author's page - so I advise reading those before reading the book. I can't say I got triggered by anything, some subjects in the book are dark and they become even darker the deeper you get into the story. I enjoyed the story plot and the difference between Maelwen's life and Cicerine and how eventually fate brought them together. I really enjoyed the relationship between Jynn and Cicerine it was so sweet and pure and I definitely loved the twist of events that got between Jynn and Cicerine and how fate brought them so many other adventures.
There were, however, some things that I didn't quite like and made me have a bit of a hard time reading the book. I felt the pace of the book to be oscillating. Sometimes it was a bit quicker on pace, and sometimes it was slower even tho I felt in those moments it shouldn't be slower and vice versa. Another thing that kind of put me off was the fact that some moments were lacking that wow factor that would make me gasp - they were pretty harsh moments and I should've felt the character's feelings but unfortunately in those moments I didn't feel much about the situation. And some info I felt was just too much - perhaps some of this extra info we could've done it without it because it just added to the book making it way too big.
Overall I did enjoy the book, and I'm curious about what's yet to come because there's still lots to be told.
⮞ 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞/TW ⮜
There are a couple of TW you can find them on the author's page. The story also got FF sex scenes, the scenes are pretty detailed but not overly smutty, there is also an FM scene again a bit detailed but not overly detailed.
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⮞ 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 ⮜
The Crone in my opinion was a pretty vague character that appeared here and there throughout the story. I am still pretty confused about what her role in this whole story is or on which side she is, she really gave me mixed signals.
Maelwen, her beginning was very dark. From the moment of her birth up to her adulthood her life was a rollercoaster of bad events one after the other. I really loved the moment when she became into her powers and took control over her life and fought back.
Cicerine her birth actually was so lovely, for some reason it gave me some fuzzy feelings reading about her. Her life was pretty okay, totally opposite compared to Maelwen until things also took a bad turn for her and tragedy happened.
There are also other characters in the book that drives the story forward, you also get some extra POVs in the story and I really enjoyed reading about Shell, she was definitely between my fave characters and I can't wait to see where her story goes in the next book.
⮞ 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝-𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 ⮜
I felt the world-building to be so beautiful. Even tho they were living in a world split between rich people and poor people, the part where Cicerine was living was so gorgeous, especially in the summer the descriptions were out of this world (pun intended).
⮞ 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐝/𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐝 ⮜
I liked the overall story. I felt it was an intriguing story plot, the world split between humans and the creatures like Cicerine who was half human and half fawn, the hatred of people for the creatures, the differences between their lives, and the overall hungriness for power and survival, and how everyone had to learn to protect themselves and their loved ones. The story has lots of Content Warnings that you can find on the author's page - so I advise reading those before reading the book. I can't say I got triggered by anything, some subjects in the book are dark and they become even darker the deeper you get into the story. I enjoyed the story plot and the difference between Maelwen's life and Cicerine and how eventually fate brought them together. I really enjoyed the relationship between Jynn and Cicerine it was so sweet and pure and I definitely loved the twist of events that got between Jynn and Cicerine and how fate brought them so many other adventures.
There were, however, some things that I didn't quite like and made me have a bit of a hard time reading the book. I felt the pace of the book to be oscillating. Sometimes it was a bit quicker on pace, and sometimes it was slower even tho I felt in those moments it shouldn't be slower and vice versa. Another thing that kind of put me off was the fact that some moments were lacking that wow factor that would make me gasp - they were pretty harsh moments and I should've felt the character's feelings but unfortunately in those moments I didn't feel much about the situation. And some info I felt was just too much - perhaps some of this extra info we could've done it without it because it just added to the book making it way too big.
Overall I did enjoy the book, and I'm curious about what's yet to come because there's still lots to be told.
⮞ 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞/TW ⮜
There are a couple of TW you can find them on the author's page. The story also got FF sex scenes, the scenes are pretty detailed but not overly smutty, there is also an FM scene again a bit detailed but not overly detailed.
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January 22, 2023
I'm so excited to share my thoughts on a new sapphic high fantasy novel, Woodborn! I admit, I was intimidated as it was my first sapphic novel, but I really enjoyed reading this book. My friends, who are all part of the LGBTQ+ community, have pushed me to try queer novels, so this was a perfect time to start! As the only straight ally in my friend group, I made it one of my reading goals to expose myself to more queer romance/fantasy.
The story has multiple POVs that mainly focus on three characters who have a big impact on the plot. Although it was emotionally difficult to read the rough backstories of the characters, I liked how their experiences didn't define them and made them fierce and dangerous. I'm a sucker for good character development, and this book delivered!
One of my favorite aspects of the story was the intricate worldbuilding. By following entirely different characters, I was introduced to unique fantasy worlds, races, and cultures.
I thought it was noteworthy that there is representation of religious trauma, as I live in the Bible Belt, where religion is a strong aspect of the area's culture and lifestyle. Although I never had issues with religion, I have seen how it can either unite people or tear them apart, which was shown very well in the novel.
Of course, the romance plots (no spoilers, sorry!) were heartwarming and vulnerable, as each character had to overcome their trauma to accept support and love. And I can't forget the spiciness of a few scenes in the book, so if you love spice, this is the story for you!
The found family trope is another big focus as the story develops, which is my favorite non-romance trope by far. The friendships and camaraderie that develops are so joyful to watch grow among all the characters I fell in love with.
Highly recommend for lovers of sapphic fantasy, high fantasy, found family tropes, and, of course, spice!
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5/5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5/5
The story has multiple POVs that mainly focus on three characters who have a big impact on the plot. Although it was emotionally difficult to read the rough backstories of the characters, I liked how their experiences didn't define them and made them fierce and dangerous. I'm a sucker for good character development, and this book delivered!
One of my favorite aspects of the story was the intricate worldbuilding. By following entirely different characters, I was introduced to unique fantasy worlds, races, and cultures.
I thought it was noteworthy that there is representation of religious trauma, as I live in the Bible Belt, where religion is a strong aspect of the area's culture and lifestyle. Although I never had issues with religion, I have seen how it can either unite people or tear them apart, which was shown very well in the novel.
Of course, the romance plots (no spoilers, sorry!) were heartwarming and vulnerable, as each character had to overcome their trauma to accept support and love. And I can't forget the spiciness of a few scenes in the book, so if you love spice, this is the story for you!
The found family trope is another big focus as the story develops, which is my favorite non-romance trope by far. The friendships and camaraderie that develops are so joyful to watch grow among all the characters I fell in love with.
Highly recommend for lovers of sapphic fantasy, high fantasy, found family tropes, and, of course, spice!
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5/5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5/5
August 22, 2024
This book is astounding! I enjoyed every moment and became more and more caught up in the story and with the characters as each page passed. It's a good, long novel, but I could have happily kept reading and am so glad there is another long story to wind up the series.
The author's writing style is the perfect vehicle to solidly and colourfully build this world and develop the characters who fill it. I liked that we saw the MC's each endure adversity, then grow through and move past it. We watched as they were forged into determined and resilient people, and as each was given their own first person POV chapters, having the insight into their thinking cemented them as real, nuanced people.
There is a strong found family arc, which I loved. Pirates and tavern workers and patrons make for a light-hearted, passionate and memorable foundation. I also appreciated the diversity of the characters and the acceptance shown to them - except by the baddies, who I sincerely hope get a huge portion of well deserved come-uppance in the next book.
There are quite a few trigger warnings accompanying this book, and while none of those incidents upset me, I appreciated the advance warning. I would suggest readers visit the author's page to check that list before commencing their read.
Woodborn is a rare fantasy novel that is able to transport readers to a highly unique world without losing them in detail-heavy prose. The language is concise but vivid, the flow and tension are perfect to build empathy, and the story is enthrallingly layered. This author and book deserve much more attention and I only wish I could give more stars.
The author's writing style is the perfect vehicle to solidly and colourfully build this world and develop the characters who fill it. I liked that we saw the MC's each endure adversity, then grow through and move past it. We watched as they were forged into determined and resilient people, and as each was given their own first person POV chapters, having the insight into their thinking cemented them as real, nuanced people.
There is a strong found family arc, which I loved. Pirates and tavern workers and patrons make for a light-hearted, passionate and memorable foundation. I also appreciated the diversity of the characters and the acceptance shown to them - except by the baddies, who I sincerely hope get a huge portion of well deserved come-uppance in the next book.
There are quite a few trigger warnings accompanying this book, and while none of those incidents upset me, I appreciated the advance warning. I would suggest readers visit the author's page to check that list before commencing their read.
Woodborn is a rare fantasy novel that is able to transport readers to a highly unique world without losing them in detail-heavy prose. The language is concise but vivid, the flow and tension are perfect to build empathy, and the story is enthrallingly layered. This author and book deserve much more attention and I only wish I could give more stars.
December 22, 2023
i really enjoyed the world building although i have SO many questions, which will hopefully be answered in the next book. around the last 25% i think it felt like a bunch of new things were thrown at you and it was a tad confusing (but tbh maybe that was just because i stayed up all night reading and was delirious. 😅)
like other reviews have pointed out, this book was slow. i don’t always see that as a bad thing, just a preference thing. in this book, sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn’t. there were sections where a significant amount of time would pass between chapters and we didn’t get much information about what happened off page, which made some of the character and relationship development feel rushed, especially in the second half of the book. i loved most of the characters and their friendships and found family (although having the phrase “found family” mentioned multiple times kinda took me out of it). speaking of family - did not enjoy the inc*st! adopted siblings are still siblings and that was super uncomfy.
the romance between maelwen and ceci did feel rushed but i’m interested to see if it’s a fated mates thing, sure seems like it.
as far as editing goes, already mentioned the pacing, but unfortunately there were many typos. it did get distracting.
overall, i had a few issues with this book but i will probably read the next one because i just can’t resist a sapphic witch.
like other reviews have pointed out, this book was slow. i don’t always see that as a bad thing, just a preference thing. in this book, sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn’t. there were sections where a significant amount of time would pass between chapters and we didn’t get much information about what happened off page, which made some of the character and relationship development feel rushed, especially in the second half of the book. i loved most of the characters and their friendships and found family (although having the phrase “found family” mentioned multiple times kinda took me out of it). speaking of family - did not enjoy the inc*st! adopted siblings are still siblings and that was super uncomfy.
the romance between maelwen and ceci did feel rushed but i’m interested to see if it’s a fated mates thing, sure seems like it.
as far as editing goes, already mentioned the pacing, but unfortunately there were many typos. it did get distracting.
overall, i had a few issues with this book but i will probably read the next one because i just can’t resist a sapphic witch.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 23, 2023
Woodborn is one of the most beautifully written books I have ever read. Nix's writing style is similar to that of Erin Morgenstern, where the imagery and descriptions are so vivid, you feel like you are actually there. The language was incredible and Nix is now one of my "Auto-buy authors"!
The worldbuilding in Woodborn is immaculate. Nix builds a world that reminds me of a Dungeons and Dragons campaign, with different towns that are all uniquely their own in a world where different races of creatures exist (fauns, witches, etc). The magic system of the witches pulls from the traditional thoughts about witches (like flying), but Nix puts her own spin on it and makes it unique.
Every main character has their own story, goals, and character arc, even though they are all intertwined. The amount of planning that must have gone into creating these story arcs really paid off because every main character is loveable, determined, and interesting.
This book deals with heavy topics like rape, PTSD, sexual assault, and murder. But Nix handles these topics with grace. They played a role in the story and the character's backstories and weren't just a plot device for no reason. There is a trigger warning at the beginning of the book which I appreciated greatly.
This book is full of queer characters and badass women. It is an extremely feminist book where the women characters stand up for themselves and right the injustices they have been dealt by men. Pick up Woodborn if you want a book where the women are badass, fierce, and a little morally grey sometimes.
Thank you Heather Nix for an ARC of Woodborn in exchange for an honest review! I can't wait to read more.
The worldbuilding in Woodborn is immaculate. Nix builds a world that reminds me of a Dungeons and Dragons campaign, with different towns that are all uniquely their own in a world where different races of creatures exist (fauns, witches, etc). The magic system of the witches pulls from the traditional thoughts about witches (like flying), but Nix puts her own spin on it and makes it unique.
Every main character has their own story, goals, and character arc, even though they are all intertwined. The amount of planning that must have gone into creating these story arcs really paid off because every main character is loveable, determined, and interesting.
This book deals with heavy topics like rape, PTSD, sexual assault, and murder. But Nix handles these topics with grace. They played a role in the story and the character's backstories and weren't just a plot device for no reason. There is a trigger warning at the beginning of the book which I appreciated greatly.
This book is full of queer characters and badass women. It is an extremely feminist book where the women characters stand up for themselves and right the injustices they have been dealt by men. Pick up Woodborn if you want a book where the women are badass, fierce, and a little morally grey sometimes.
Thank you Heather Nix for an ARC of Woodborn in exchange for an honest review! I can't wait to read more.
November 28, 2022
I had the pleasure of being an alpha reader for this project, and it's clear to see Nix's love for her characters and story, and the magic which weaves them all together.
Spanning a massive world and multiple characters, Nix manages to weave a tapestry that combines the separate threads effortlessly. Though there are two main characters, Ceci and Maelwen, there is no shortage of intrigue with the "side" characters. There are themes of revenge and grief mixed in with rebirth and finding self.
Nix explores gender identity and sexual preference effortlessly with multiple characters, and each character's story is worth being invested in. A touch of Dungeons and Dragons meets sapphic Manon from Throne of Glass but add the cozy softness of a faun with curves and curls. Have them experience some trauma and then learn who they are and the extent of their powers together. The immersive language will help paint an intriguing world!
Please check trigger warnings on author's website, as there are many.
https://www.booksbynix.com/contentwar...
Spanning a massive world and multiple characters, Nix manages to weave a tapestry that combines the separate threads effortlessly. Though there are two main characters, Ceci and Maelwen, there is no shortage of intrigue with the "side" characters. There are themes of revenge and grief mixed in with rebirth and finding self.
Nix explores gender identity and sexual preference effortlessly with multiple characters, and each character's story is worth being invested in. A touch of Dungeons and Dragons meets sapphic Manon from Throne of Glass but add the cozy softness of a faun with curves and curls. Have them experience some trauma and then learn who they are and the extent of their powers together. The immersive language will help paint an intriguing world!
Please check trigger warnings on author's website, as there are many.
https://www.booksbynix.com/contentwar...
January 2, 2023
I received a copy from the author through arc to read and review and let me say this, I don't know if I can finish it, NOT because it's not great, because the world-building in this series is really intriguing, but because I am not a high fantasy reader. This story is very HIGH FANTASY. There are crones, fauna, minotaurs, you name it, it is probably in there. If this is your thing, you could very well fall in love. That is what is stopping me, high fantasy is not something I enjoy and I kept pulling myself out of the world.
That being said, what I have read is beautiful. I am going to continue and I will try and update it if I finish. I rated it a 4 because I can tell that it is excellent from the writing standpoint, just because I can't get into the story itself does not take away from the world being woven. Not all stories are meant for every audience, this just wasn't for me. Congrats Heather, you did this, this is your world and I am so proud of you for it.
That being said, what I have read is beautiful. I am going to continue and I will try and update it if I finish. I rated it a 4 because I can tell that it is excellent from the writing standpoint, just because I can't get into the story itself does not take away from the world being woven. Not all stories are meant for every audience, this just wasn't for me. Congrats Heather, you did this, this is your world and I am so proud of you for it.
Read
January 5, 2023Received a copy of an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I DNF'd this book about 25% of the way through. I did read the trigger warnings for this book before I read it, but I just honestly couldn't emotionally move past the first several chapters. They are extremely heavy, going through very specific and expict sexual trauma, then followed up with descriptions of death and blood. I personally had a really hard time moving on from them to enjoy the rest of the book. It went very quickly from sexual assault, to murder, to fun consensual sexy times, and there wasn't much room for the reader to recover in-between those.
I have the utmost respect for the author. I think her writing style is fabulous. I really enjoyed following her posts on tiktok. The world building is fantastic, and I really do hope her book does well. I might pick this back up in the future when I'm in a different headspace, but for now, I am unable to finish it, it is just too heavy for me.
I DNF'd this book about 25% of the way through. I did read the trigger warnings for this book before I read it, but I just honestly couldn't emotionally move past the first several chapters. They are extremely heavy, going through very specific and expict sexual trauma, then followed up with descriptions of death and blood. I personally had a really hard time moving on from them to enjoy the rest of the book. It went very quickly from sexual assault, to murder, to fun consensual sexy times, and there wasn't much room for the reader to recover in-between those.
I have the utmost respect for the author. I think her writing style is fabulous. I really enjoyed following her posts on tiktok. The world building is fantastic, and I really do hope her book does well. I might pick this back up in the future when I'm in a different headspace, but for now, I am unable to finish it, it is just too heavy for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 6, 2023
This book was slow to start but when I tell you that it needs that slow start I am not kidding. It’s so beautifully written it gives you this homey feeling and you’ll be sad when it’s over.
I loved the voices from all the characters. Each one was different a unique and I found myself absolutely in love with them all and rooting from them from start to finish. The slow start built this relationship between you and the characters and I can’t imagine it starting any other way.
There are dark undertones that deal with abuse but it’s done in such a wonderful way that you don’t focus on the bad. The descriptions of all of the good things are exactly how we should all go through life. Yes bad things happen. But the good things are wonderful.
I can’t wait for the next book! It was super engaging and the world building was just enough without it being too wordy. I kept finding myself wanting to pick the book up again and finish reading. 10/10 would recommend this to others.
I loved the voices from all the characters. Each one was different a unique and I found myself absolutely in love with them all and rooting from them from start to finish. The slow start built this relationship between you and the characters and I can’t imagine it starting any other way.
There are dark undertones that deal with abuse but it’s done in such a wonderful way that you don’t focus on the bad. The descriptions of all of the good things are exactly how we should all go through life. Yes bad things happen. But the good things are wonderful.
I can’t wait for the next book! It was super engaging and the world building was just enough without it being too wordy. I kept finding myself wanting to pick the book up again and finish reading. 10/10 would recommend this to others.
January 22, 2023
*received ARC in exchange for honest review*
HOLY WOW, the way I could not put this book down. To start off, for this being a debut novel I was absolutely blown away. The writing style, the plot, the characters; literally everything in the book was beautifully done. As a fantasy lover I enjoy being transported into book realms like no other, and this was one of those that I could truly live in. Each character had an amazing story line, the way Heather Nix weaves everything in together had me in awe. I went through all the emotions with this book and I am not mad about it one bit. Every character had their part to play, and I grew to love each one like they were my besties; I connected with them all but Maelwen was my favorite. Sometimes it seemed a little slow moving, but the author does an amazing job of making you feel like it’s needed & well worth it in the end. I loved the sapphic aspect of this book, along with the AMAZING representation. Even the triggering topics were very well written, but with that being said please check all TW/CW before diving into this amazing book!!!
HOLY WOW, the way I could not put this book down. To start off, for this being a debut novel I was absolutely blown away. The writing style, the plot, the characters; literally everything in the book was beautifully done. As a fantasy lover I enjoy being transported into book realms like no other, and this was one of those that I could truly live in. Each character had an amazing story line, the way Heather Nix weaves everything in together had me in awe. I went through all the emotions with this book and I am not mad about it one bit. Every character had their part to play, and I grew to love each one like they were my besties; I connected with them all but Maelwen was my favorite. Sometimes it seemed a little slow moving, but the author does an amazing job of making you feel like it’s needed & well worth it in the end. I loved the sapphic aspect of this book, along with the AMAZING representation. Even the triggering topics were very well written, but with that being said please check all TW/CW before diving into this amazing book!!!
November 28, 2022
Woodborn was incredible to read and also an experience to read as well. The author is amazing at giving the reader visuals so vivid with detail that you feel like you are standing beside the characters and watching the scenes unfold yourself. It is so enchanting and beautifully written that it made me want to be there myself and experience the land of Idythia. Besides the author being absolutely incredible with their words, the story itself is incredible as well. Every character is so interesting and different and every chapter with a different character made me long for more of them - especially Shell, who is absolutely hilarious and amazing. The changing styles of writing for different characters is also another detail that I enjoyed a lot, and you really feel the depth of every single character. Absolutely recommend reading this book and will recommend to all of my friends!
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