Hey everyone!
Today is my stop on the blog tour for The Girl of Dorcha Wood by Kristin Ward, and I am excited to be sharing my review with you all.
A massive thank you to @The_WriteReads, and @KWardAuthor for allowing me to be a part of the tour.
Title: The Girl of Dorcha Wood
Author: Kristin Ward
Release Date: 13th April 2021
Page Count: 232
Genre: YA Fantasy
Buy It Here (affiliate links): Amazon UK, Waterstones, Book Depository
Book Blurb:
Treacherous. Evil. Dark. Dorcha Wood is all of these. And none of them.
The people of Felmore talk of Dorcha Wood in whispers, if they speak of it at all, fearing the wrath of the Cù-Sìth should their words be carried on the wind. Those murdering beasts still roam the darkness of the forest, the last remnants of the cursed Aos Sí—a race of elves long since vanished from the world.
But to seventeen-year-old Fiadh, it is home. A haven. A forest whose secrets become known only when it chooses to reveal them. Her life is one of balance until the outside world shatters it.
From the moment Fiadh set eyes on Gideon, the peaceful rhythm of her life was lost. As a new path unfolds, Fiadh confronts the reality of old hatreds, the consequences of things hidden, and the truth of who she really is.
My Review:
YA fantasy isn’t usually my go to genre, but when Dave sent out the tour information for The Girl of Dorcha Wood, I had to get on this tour! The cover alone was enough to grab my attention (because look at it, it’s absolutely stunning!), and upon reading the book blurb, I was immediately intrigued. Well, it didn’t disappoint!
The opening scenes are full of blood and brutality, which was something I did NOT expect. Most of you will know that that is the sort of thing I love to read, so from the very start, I was completely hooked. Throughout the story, there were multiple instances of this sort of action, but there were also more slow paced parts for those of you who aren’t as in to that as I am.
There are some really interesting characters, some that I love, and some that I hate. Fiadh is such a strong character. She is brave and fierce, but at the same time she is naive, and has clearly led a very sheltered life, which makes her seem almost childlike in her innocence. I’m not really sure how to feel about Gideon, on the surface he comes across as a nice guy, a warrior, but he’s very quick to anger, and sometimes I felt that he was too possessive of Fiadh. I wasn’t a huge fan of the romance aspect, or how their relationship developed, but I’m not really into romance in general, and it didn’t spoil the book at all.
The whispers and rumours of the feared Cù-Sìth, and Aos Sí were some of my favourite aspects of this story. I particularly enjoyed the introduction of the Cù-Sìth, they are bloodthirsty and intelligent, and you’d certainly want them on your side of a fight. I wish they had been more involved in the story, because when they were it was so exciting.
The story all comes together in a fantastic final chapter, and it ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, but thankfully the next book is already out, so I don’t have to wait around to find out what happens!
Overall, I really enjoyed this story. It had magic, murder, and secrets… 3 things I love in a book. I powered through this pretty quickly, and I will definitely be continuing with this series. I’m looking forward to seeing what is in store for us in the next book, Blood of the Lost Kingdom.
I give The Girl of Dorcha Wood a 4 star rating!
About The Author:
Kristin Ward is an award-winning young adult author living in Connecticut. A science and math teacher for over twenty years, she infuses her geeky passions into stories that meld realism and fantasy. Kristin embraces her inner nerd regularly, often quoting 80s movies while expecting those around her to chime in with appropriate rejoinders.
As a nature freak, she can be found wandering the woods – she may be lost, so please stop and ask if you see her – or chilling in her yard with all manner of furry and feathered friends. Often referred to as a unicorn by colleagues who remain in awe of her ability to create or find various and sundry things in mere moments. In reality, the horn was removed years ago, leaving only a mild imprint that can be seen if she tilts her head just right. A lifelong lover of books and writing, she dreamed of becoming an author for thirty years before publishing her award-winning debut in 2018. Her first novel, After the Green Withered, is one of many things you should probably read.
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Fab review Danni, I’m so glad you enjoyed it and definitely need to pick it up quickly!
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