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Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite
North of the Wildwood: Echoes of the Frostbound Oath by Brandy Marks is book four in the epic saga The Wildwood Series. In the lead-up, Whispers of the Wildwood follows Prince Dorian and priestess Aurora as they face betrayal, dark magic, and political strife in a fight to reunite, reclaim Elysium’s throne, and save their enchanted kingdom. Heirs of the Wildwood sees Eryn, Rowan, and Elian up against forbidden love, addiction, sorcery, and betrayal in a bid to reclaim their legacy and restore unity to a fractured land. Beyond the Wildwood has King Elian and Princess Daiyu entering into a political marriage to unify kingdoms, but treachery, hidden agendas, and a deadly attack do everything to break their already fragile alliance and future. Now, in North of the Wildwood, visions and dreams draw Caleb, Althea, Eryndor, Danique, and others into realms of prophecy, curses, and ancestral power that shape destiny across generations and kingdoms.
North of the Wildwood by Brandy Marks is a fantastic novel that effectively uses parallel perspectives and alternating points of view to allow readers to follow the story in a massive, carefully controlled immersion. We see Althea lost in a storm, then move straight to the urgent search by Eryndor and Vaelon, pulling us into all angles of every situation. This is amplified by Marks' world, which is fully realized through detailed descriptions, like Wildwood’s elemental nature, the political structure of Elysium, and the mystical qualities of the Fae. If you have not read the other three books, you are doing yourself a disservice, but even still, the recognition of historical events, namely, the Shadowlands rescue and the secrets of sorcery and lineage, all provide genuine and comfortable to follow continuity. Caleb is the most interesting character for me, and fear, guilt, and confusion shape his choices. The icy, shifting, and unclear labyrinth symbolizes this, while his father Rowan’s past and a mirror double round him out. Overall, this is an incredible read.
