Seven Endless Forests by April Genevieve Tucholke

Seven Endless Forests

by April Genevieve Tucholke

Adventure. Vengeance. Sisterhood.

In a world devastated by plague, Torvi and her sister Morgunn can only rely on each other. So when Morgunn is captured by a pack of terrifying wolf-priests, Torvi knows she’ll do whatever it takes to get her back – or die trying.

Torvi will face dark magic and danger on her quest to save her sister. She’ll encounter sea witches, magical night markets and a mythical sword with untold powers.

And she might just discover a life of adventure and wild freedom that’s more glorious than she ever dreamed of.

Rich, thrilling fantasy inspired by Arthurian legend, from the author of the critically acclaimed THE BONELESS MERCIES

Praise for THE BONELESS MERCIES:

"Fierce and glorious, this story of outcast girls defying fate utterly bewitched me. Tucholke is a gorgeous writer." -- LAINI TAYLOR, New York Times-bestselling author of Strange the Dreamer
 
"​​Its every page hints at a deeper magic at work; it contains a whole world and all its myths and histories within its skin." -- MELISSA ALBERT, New York Times-bestselling author of The Hazel Wood

"Ruthless and lyrical, heart-warming and blood-chilling, and beautifully redolent of ancient tales and history. It will sing to a new generation of heroes."-- SAMANTHA SHANNON, New York Times-bestselling author of The Bone Season

"I fell in love with this stunning novel from the very first page. Fierce and unforgettable, with gorgeous prose and a fantastic premise that more than delivers. Easily one of my favorite YA novels of 2018." -- KATHERINE WEBBER, author of Wing Jones and Only Love Can Break Your Heart
 

Reviewed by Inkslinger on

4 of 5 stars

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ARC provided by Macmillan and April Genevieve Tucholke via NetGalley. All opinions are mine and freely given.

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"There's no hiding from life, just as there is no hiding from death."

05-21: 'Seven Endless Forests' by April Genevieve Tucholke is a standalone companion to a 2018 title called 'The Boneless Mercies.' It's an interesting retelling of the legend of King Arthur.. melded with distinctly Norse influences, though here they're called the Vorse, and featuring a strong female lead instead of Arthur.

A destructive plague wipes out most of Torvi's family. Only she and her sister Morgunn survive. When Morgunn is stolen away by a Fremish wolf-priest who bears the name Uther, our main character begins her quest to save the only family she has left.

Joined by a magic wielding, shaven-skulled druid named Gyda who seeks a mythical sword lodged in a cursed tree, the two quickly stumble across a group roaming artists called the Butcher Bards. The group already on a quest of their own, accompanies the two girls.


"I put my palm to chest and pressed in, as if I could hold the shards of my heart together by sheer force."


Along their path, they meet many more unique groups. Sea witches, mystical Drakes who trade in magic readings and young men, a mysterious black tower in a forest corrupted by dark spells, a pack of bold Vorseland Quicks.. archers that hunt the wolves, Fremish wizards who deal only in trades that may be too costly, rogue Jade Fell children, and even a Pig Witch converge with them here and there. There's much more that I haven't mentioned, plenty of difficult trials and unexpected turns.

Each magic system is relatively distinctive, though the author doesn't go into them too deeply. The scenes of conflict are vividly described and memorable. There is love and loss, joy and tragedy, and Tucholke is not afraid to kill a character.. so be prepared. The adventure is grand.. they travel for weeks, there's extensive character and story development, and a lot to experience before you reach the end.


"Quick moves, quiet blades--this is the way of the Bards."


The writer is gifted. In the early pages when the plague kills those around Torvi, while we never really meet the boy she's in love with.. as he's already dead, she does such a good job of conveying the longing and sense of loss the Vorse girl feels for him, I found myself saddened at his passing too. In the small ways she remembers him.. honors him.. it feels like we've met him.. and I could feel the hole in her life he left behind.

While not everything I hoped for happened in the novel, the decisions the author made still felt right. My hopes were based on the emotions she created in me during the read and she's a bit fearless in not always giving into those hopes she must know we have.


"You are part of our family now. Our success is your success. We are one."


I loved the way she wove the Norse legends and mythologies together with the King Arthur tales. It felt original and elegant. The female characters were strong, but not overdone to the point they felt more like caricatures of strength. Their doubts and weaknesses.. their missteps.. felt natural.

If you enjoy medieval tales, Norse mythology, Vikings, Druids, and classic magic.. this book is for you. I enjoyed it so much, I'll be seeking out other titles from Tucholke in future.


PRE-ORDER LINKS: AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | GOOGLEPLAY BOOKS | KOBO | WATERSTONES

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05-20: Wow, such a lovely retelling! Review to come!

05-19: I love it.. I love the characters.. I love the story.

05-18: This story is off to a great start already. It's a retelling of King Arthur, but with a Norse angle.. though they're called Vorse in the book. Lots of magic and strong female characters so far. Exciting!

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 20 May, 2020: Finished reading
  • 20 May, 2020: Reviewed