The Forsaken Trilogy
3 primary works Complete
Book 1
OUR LANDS ARE WILD WITH GODS, OUR WOODS ARE WILD WITH MONSTERS . . .
Cahan du Nahare is known as the forester - a humble man who can nonetheless navigate the dangerous Wyrdwood like no-one else. But once he was more. Once he was a warrior.
Udinny serves the goddess of the lost, a goddess of the small and helpless. When she ventures into the Wyrdwood to find a missing child, Cahan will be her guide.
But in a land at war, in a forest full of monsters - Cahan will need to choose between his past life and the one he leads now - and his choice will have consequences for his entire world.
From one of the most original voices in fantasy comes the start of an epic trilogy of vicious outlaws, warring deities and an evil empire, set within the bounds of a forest out of darkest folklore. The Gods of the Wyrdwood have awoken, and their time is come.
*****
'An experienced novelist at the top of his game - this is Avatar meets Dune, on shrooms'
SFX (rated five stars)
'A splendid fantasy work, full of RJ's trademark invention. Highly recommended'
Adrian Tchaikovsky
'Utterly immersive . . . there's is still so much more left to explore in this world, and I cannot wait to return'
Fantasy Hive
'Barker has created a beautiful world that balances the dark and deadly with just the right amount of hope'
Grimdark Magazine
'A fascinating, compelling novel... with epic themes, epically strange worldbuilding, and excellent action scenes. I'm very much looking forward to the next instalment'
Locus
'A sweeping story of destiny and redemption. Weighty, deliberate, tender and brutal, this is a big, wonderful book and an utterly involving read'
Daily Mail
'A five star reading experience . . . the next book in this series cannot come soon enough'
The Fantasy Review
Book 2
'You fear the forest.. It is not foolish.' His words rang like bells in the clearing, each face reacting to their din. 'But the forest does not hate you, it does not hunt you. It simply does not care about you.'
The Forester known as Cahan led the village of Harn in rebellion against the all-powerful, oppressive forces of the Rai. A great victory was won, but to avoid retaliation, he must now lead the people of Harn into the forest.
Cahan never wanted this responsibility, but fate and his gods have conspired against him. Without him, the people will be helpless against the great beasts and poisonous traps of the forest - not to mention worse things that dwell there. A corruption grows in the fungi and decay of the Wyrdwood, a magic unlike any Cahan has ever seen - can he resist its deadly pull, while avoiding his pursuers, and trying to turn his charges into true people of the Wyrdwood?
Warlords of Wyrdwood is book two in a new fantasy trilogy set within the bounds of a forest straight out of darkest folklore - with outlaws fighting an evil empire and warring deities. RJ Barker is the British Fantasy Society Award-winning author of The Bone Ships and Age of Assassins.
'An experienced novelist at the top of his game - this is Avatar meets Dune, on shrooms' Five stars from SFX on Gods of the Wyrdwood
'A sweeping story of destiny and redemption. Weighty, deliberate, tender and brutal, this is a big, wonderful book and an utterly involving read' Daily Mail on Gods of the Wyrdwood
Book 3
'That thing in Tiltspire, it keeps Cahan like a trophy. It says to us, here is your strongest and I have killed him.'
Cahan Du Nahare is lost, taken by a dark god whose tendrils reach throughout the world, intent on its destruction. Those who followed Cahan are spread across the land, desperate and lost now fate has turned against them. The Reborn warriors are toys for the enemy, the warrior Dassit, forestal Ania and monk Ont are drawn to the dangerous north but do not know why. Udinny is forced into the company of a woman who desires nothing more than her death and the Rai, Sorha, leads a dwindling band on a mission even she believes is doomed to failure. Only the trion Venn remains hopeful, slowly growing in power and trusting in the path of their god.
But maybe all is not lost, the great Wyrdwoods of Crua may be ancient and slow to act, but something in them is waking.
Wyrdwood is coming.