annieb123
Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.
Herrick's Lie is the second book in the Neath trilogy by T.M. Blanchet. Released 28th March 2023, it's 330 pages and is available in hardcover, paperback, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats.
This is an engaging and very well imagined portal fantasy adventure featuring an ensemble cast of wonderful characters, creatures, and settings. The author is wonderfully adept technically at her craft, and the characters live and breathe (even the not-quite-human ones, and there are many). The settings and world building are the star of the show, however, and are nuanced and richly detailed.
For fantasy readers who have enjoyed worlds imagined by Gaiman, Miévelle, and Kagawa, this is a worthy addition to the genre. Despite being book 2 (of 3), the author is adept at providing the necessary background and it works well enough as a standalone. It was good enough that the plan is to hunt down the first book. Book three is due out in 2024.
Four and a half stars. Well worth seeking out.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.