The Green Man's Heir

4 stars, Metaphorosis reviews

Summary
Dan, a woodworker and carpenter, is also the son of a dryad. His mother is around, but for some reason won't tell him much about her powers or the supernatural community in general. So when the Green Man starts appearing in his dreams and asking for help, Dan's not sure how to respond. Until a dryad who approached him turns up dead.

Review
I enjoyed Juliet McKenna's first series, the Einarrin books. Somehow, though, after that, I lost track of her. I think, in part, the politics of the series just got too complicated and involved to keep my interest. I picked up the first of her Lescari series, but didn't go further, and the first of her Hadrumal series, but haven't read it yet. She's stayed at the back of my mind, and I did notice when the first Green Man book came up. However, the whole Green Man concept has never really drawn me in, and a whole series about the idea didn't spark much enthusiasm. Eventually, though, much of the series came on sale, and I picked up this book as well as books 3-5.

I was pleasantly surprised. I'm not sure what I expected, but I suppose something much more New Agey and mystical. Instead, yes, there's a supernatural Green Man (as well as dryads, naiads, and more), but it's all treated fairly matter-of-factly. This is very much a character-based story, and I thought that worked well. The plot, and the decisions of the protagonist – a large, manly man – require a little shrugging to accept, but the character is engaging enough that it's not a problem. And despite the mighty thews of our hero, there are few overused romantic tropes or heaving bosoms.

The book has distinct first and second acts, and probably could have used a bit of a breather between them. In fact, it felt to me as if an intervening chapter or two had been excised, but there's more of a hitch than a stumble, a pause while the plot lumbers back into a gallop.

Overall, I enjoyed this, and am eager to go on with the series; I might even buy the next volume at full price, and I see there's a sixth book that's just come out. It feels like a series that can be carried that long without trouble. I hope so, and look forward to finding out. I recommend this for readers looking for an easy character-based read.

Merged review:

4 stars, Metaphorosis reviews

Summary
Dan, a woodworker and carpenter, is also the son of a dryad. His mother is around, but for some reason won't tell him much about her powers or the supernatural community in general. So when the Green Man starts appearing in his dreams and asking for help, Dan's not sure how to respond. Until a dryad who approached him turns up dead.

Review
I enjoyed Juliet McKenna's first series, the Einarrin books. Somehow, though, after that, I lost track of her. I think, in part, the politics of the series just got too complicated and involved to keep my interest. I picked up the first of her Lescari series, but didn't go further, and the first of her Hadrumal series, but haven't read it yet. She's stayed at the back of my mind, and I did notice when the first Green Man book came up. However, the whole Green Man concept has never really drawn me in, and a whole series about the idea didn't spark much enthusiasm. Eventually, though, much of the series came on sale, and I picked up this book as well as books 3-5.

I was pleasantly surprised. I'm not sure what I expected, but I suppose something much more New Agey and mystical. Instead, yes, there's a supernatural Green Man (as well as dryads, naiads, and more), but it's all treated fairly matter-of-factly. This is very much a character-based story, and I thought that worked well. The plot, and the decisions of the protagonist – a large, manly man – require a little shrugging to accept, but the character is engaging enough that it's not a problem. And despite the mighty thews of our hero, there are few overused romantic tropes or heaving bosoms.

The book has distinct first and second acts, and probably could have used a bit of a breather between them. In fact, it felt to me as if an intervening chapter or two had been excised, but there's more of a hitch than a stumble, a pause while the plot lumbers back into a gallop.

Overall, I enjoyed this, and am eager to go on with the series; I might even buy the next volume at full price, and I see there's a sixth book that's just come out. It feels like a series that can be carried that long without trouble. I hope so, and look forward to finding out. I recommend this for readers looking for an easy character-based read.