Forest Born

by Shannon Hale

Dedication: "For Magnolia Jane, who has heart-speaking"

First paragraph: "Ma had six sons. The eldest was big like his father, the middle boys were middling. By the time Razo was born, all the family's largeness must have been used up. The brothers called him runt and made him feel that word. He spent winter nights longing for a younger sibling, someone he could call runt, someone he could push and pinch."

Review: This is another Books of Bayern. Once again, this book could stand on its own but reading the other books in the Books of Bayern first, helps build a relationship with all of the characters you meet in the book. Forest Born is about a forest girl named Rin. The youngest of seven children and the only girl. She has spent her life among the trees but lost her connection with them and has since been filled with dark thoughts and a gnawing for power. In an attempt to figure out what is wrong with herself and who she is, she embarks on a journey that will change her life forever.

Once again, Shannon Hale wrote an awesome book. I won't say it's my favorite book she's ever written but I enjoyed it all the same. I think I especially enjoyed it because so many of my favorite characters of previous books were back and each character's history and background was made a little stronger or clarified and the magic of the book was really able to catch hold and drag me into the story.

There was a very big surprise about half way through (not quite so big if you haven't read Goose Girl). In fact, I don't think I would have ever predicted what that surprise was or how it would shape the story.

I think one of my favorite parts of the Books of Bayern, is the strong female characters in each story. (Except Razo - who is obviously male but he meets another very strong female and she is a big part of his story). Without them things would have been horrendous and desperate but because of them and who they have become over the course of these books, things are much more interesting.

Anyway, read Goose Girl, Enna Burning, and River Secrets first then hop on into this story and get lost in the world that Hale has created. It's an exciting place to be.

Click Here for Shannon Hale's Webiste to Forest Born.