The Forest Lord [Mass Market Paperback]

This is a well constructed and well written story, and I liked the use of the natural world reflecting how things are between Hartley and Eden. However, neither of the central characters were particularly attractive to me – Eden with her short sightedness, her complete self involvement and her always being aware of class to the nth degree.... Hartley/Conelius/The Forest Lord is little better, as the Fane cannot love and the only emotions he has at first are hate, a drive to get home, and a calculated manipulation of the Flemings. I became involved in the story mainly because of Donal, their son, but I’m not sure this is enough to carry the book for me. Also, Eden’s immediate attachment is unconvincing, given what we know of her character. Ultimately it wasn’t enough for me, however the writing was strong and well thought out. If you don’t have my problem with the central characters, you’ll enjoy this blend of fantasy, and historical romance. Read more ›

The Fane have greatly diminished in number. To save themselves from extinction, each Fane had to steal or sire a half-human child to increase their population and strengthen their bloodline. Hern, the Forest Lord has not yet provided his people with such a child and is commanded to do so before he will be allowed to enter Tir-na-nog.

The Fleming family, who owned Hartsmere, have prospered for generations. Their health, wealth and prosperity is due to an oath they swore "to protect the forest and all its inhabitants from the ravages of mankind." When Cyrus Fleming, Earl of Bradwell, trespasses upon protected ground and attempts to kill an enormous stag, he is forced to make a bargain with Hern who demands Bradwell give him his daughter or die a terrible death. Fleming agrees, but only if Hern wins his daughter's love.

Hern appears to Lady Eden as her distant cousin, Cornelius Fleming, and courts her with so much success that their union is consummated the night before the wedding ceremony.... He then reveals himself to her in his natural, non-human, form and she flees in horror. He disappears having achieved his goal. Lady Eden is pregnant with his son. A marriage is quickly arranged for the pregnant Eden, not a difficult task as she is the belle of London's ton. When the child is born, Eden is told the baby died, and the same message is sent to Hern, who is now doomed to remain in the forest. Unbeknownst to either parent, the infant is sent to Ireland to live with foster parents.

Eden's husband turns out to be horribly abusive and dies of drink and dissipation five years after their marriage. She returns to Hartsmere an impoverished widow to find her estates in serious decline and her people starving. It is at this time that her boy is returned to her, mysteriously. When Hern learns he has been deceived, he comes looking for the child and revenge.

I initially had high hopes for "The Forest Lord." I loved fairy tales as a kid and this one, based on Celtic mythology, starts off in a refreshing and original manner; well written and well paced. Then I began to notice some serious discrepancies, especially in Eden's character description and development. The storyline takes a melodramatic turn for the worse about a third of the way through, which is where Ms Krinard began to lose me as an avid reader. Finally, and most annoyingly, the last half of the novel reads like a story in search of a conclusion. It takes forever and a day, across hill and dale, with repetition and predictability, for the happily ever afters to occur.

Susan Krinard is a good writer, but she does not demonstrate her strengths here.
JANA Read more ›