THIS COUNTS TOWARDS THE FLIGHTS OF FANTASY READING CHALLENGE 2016. Deep within the Wood, a young woman lies dead. Not a mark on her body. No trace of her murderer. Only her chipped glass slippers hint at her identity.
The Woodcutter, keeper of the peace between the Twelve Kingdoms of Man and the Realm of the Faerie, must find the maiden's killer before others share her fate. Guided by the wind and aided by three charmed axes won from the River God, the Woodcutter begins his hunt, searching for clues in the whispering dominions of the enchanted unknown.
But quickly he finds that one murdered maiden is not the only nefarious mystery afoot: one of Odin's hellhounds has escaped, a sinister mansion appears where it shouldn't, a pixie dust drug trade runs rampant, and more young girls go missing. Looming in the shadows is the malevolent, power-hungry queen, and she will stop at nothing to destroy the Twelve Kingdoms and annihilate the Royal Fae...unless the Woodcutter can outmanoeuvre her and save the gentle souls of the Wood.
Blending magic, heart-pounding suspense, and a dash of folklore, The Woodcutter is an extraordinary retelling of the realm of fairy tales.
The darkness settled like wings, blocking out the sun and casting the forest into false night. A woman no older than sixteen ran through the trees, her white ball gown of gossamer gathered in her hands.
The Woodcutter is a brilliant blend of myth and fantasy. This is a gorgeous novel and I loved every word. The book offers a nod to just about every fairy tale you can imagine. There are references to Jack and the Beanstalk, Snow White, Baba Yaga, The Princes and the Pea and the Twelve Dancing Princesses. I loved finding all the well-known character and stories hidden within. I really liked The Woodcutter as a character. His quest is exactly what you'd expect from a fairytale; fraught with danger, echoes of dark and light, battles between good and evil, startling truths and secrets dripping blood. I especially loved the fact the Norse Gods put in an appearance. I love Norse Mythology and loved the way they are woven into this novel. I had a great time with this book.
