This is the second half of Zadie’s Dark Wood story, and follows immediately on from the events of the first book. Mabel, the central figure in the tale, is once again naked and alone in the Dark Wood. But this time, she is without the child growing within her, as it has been magically stolen from her womb.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 9/10
I will say at this point that I had the opportunity to read an earlier version of this book, and provide some feedback to the author. However, this has not shaped my opinion and this review is of the final published version which I bought.
If the first book – constituting perhaps the first third of the story – built the pace slowly and carefully to draw you in, the pace quickens throughout this work. Encounters with new characters, and events happening to those already introduced, occur with increasing frequency.
There are two main threads to the story. One follows Mabel through the Dark Wood as she desperately searches for her lost child. She meets a variety of characters, both new and old, who help her slowly come to understand who and what she is.
The other follows the party searching for her, including the intriguing Duke of Rutland, Vasqua, his knight, and Galen, Mabel’s cowardly husband. This group encounter a number of problems and obstacles, and their conversion from rescuers to rescued is an important part of the story.
These two threads alternate beautifully, gradually coming together towards the end. The style continues from the first book with slightly archaic dialogue which fits the characters perfectly. The descriptions have just the right level of detail to draw a clear picture without becoming tedious.
The characters continue to grow as we learn more about them and the twists and turns in their interactions are handled well and believably. They all develop into fully rounded individuals whose motives and ambitions we come to understand.
The mix of fantasy and erotica is perfect and well-blended. There are many familiar fantasy tropes, and the sex evolves naturally from the narrative, with one or two eye-watering scenes, with more than a hint of excess.
The pace quickens throughout the book, and in some places events occur with frightening rapidity. But the author handles this lightly, and you’re drawn along with the action, willingly turning the pages to see what happens next.
Mabel herself is the star of the show, and she’s an enticing, endearing character. Feisty from the beginning, she visibly grows as she discovers secrets about her past and her real identity. Although nervous at many points, her courage and curiosity drive her forward, and she willingly dives into new experiences. Some of them prove to be mind-blowing, and one or two may be too much for more delicate readers!
It is, above all, a great story. Fun, exciting, lyrical and intensely erotic. There are moments of fear and danger, mystery and intrigue, and explicit sex. That’s quite a combination. If you love fantasy erotica, then add this book to your list now.
This is a review of the 2020 Kindle edition.
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