Heartwood

Heartwood (2021) A.M. Rose (Daydream, Colorado)

For months, Darian has been searching for the man his friend Mason has Glimpsed. Someone hurt, in danger, being chased. So he isn’t surprised when Tate shows up.

Tate, however, had no idea that magical communities such as Daydream even existed.

I’ve read several books and novellas in this series, and I have to admit that I sightly prefer the novellas to the full-length books.

Mostly because I remain uncertain about the magic. It seems too marvelous and powerful for greedy people not to have taken advantage over the years.

It’s a bit like a magical version of Star Trek where everyone (mostly) belongs and no one is in need. Just a little too good to be true.

That said, Tate is not from Daydream, and his life has not been idyllic. And that past and healing are what I think the story does very well. It takes Darian time to gain Tate’s trust–and that ability to trust doesn’t magically fix everything for Tate.

SPOILER (ROT13)

“V jvfu gurl pbhyq unir gnxra zl zrzbevrf njnl gbb,” Gngr fnvq, fhecevfvat Qnevna.

“Jul, qneyvat?” ur nfxrq.

“Orpnhfr vg’f abg snve,” Gngr fnvq, ibvpr gheavat natel. “Vg’f abg snve ur trgf gb tb ba yvivat yvxr V arire rkvfgrq. Ur’f yvirq yvxr gung nyy zl yvsr, naq abj, ur trgf gb tb ba jvgubhg rira srryvat thvygl be fbeel sbe vg.”

V guvax gung’f na vaperqvoyl cbjreshy fragvzrag–naq na vaperqvoyl qrfreirq entr.

END SPOILER

You don’t need to have read the previous book or novella to follow this one, although you do spend a good deal of time with the characters from the previous book. (Specifically Mason)

It’s an interesting story, and I’ll eventually read the rest of the books.

Rating: 7/10

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