At the heart of the wildwood lies a place of mystery and legend, from which few return and none emerged unchanged: Lavondyss . . . the ultimate realm, the source of all myth.
When Harry Keeton disappeared into Ryhope Wood, his sister Tallis was just an infant. Now, thirteen years old, she hears him whispering to her from the Otherworld. He is in danger. He needs her help. Using masks, magic and clues left by her grandfather, she finds a way to enter the primitive forest and begin her search. Eventually she comes to Lavondyss itself, a realm both beautiful and deadly, a place in which she is changed forever . . .
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[The bright moon, hanging low over Barrow Hill, illuminated the snow-shrouded fields and made the winter land seem to glow with faint light]***
(Gollancz, 11 June 2015 (first published 1988), bought from Amazon)
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Lavondyss is a brilliant as, if not a bit better than the first book in the series, Mythago Wood.
Some characters from the first book appear in Lavondyss and others are mentioned only by name but this is very much a stand-alone-novel featuring the same myths, legends and concept.
I cannot quite put into words how unique and brilliant Lavondyss and Mythago Wood are. This series offers pretty much the most original fantasy fiction I've ever read. The scope is breath-taking.
Lavondyss is a much darker book than the first book, with much more of it taking place inside Ryhope Wood. The book reveals more about the ancient history of the woods and how the Mythago's came about. I loved that we peel back more layers of the rather astonishing Ryhope Wood in this book.
Lavondyss is, in a word, astonishing. I cannot wait to read the third book, The Bone Forest.
