I am haunted by the words in this book that have seared themselves into my soul. When I imagine what a siren’s song might be like, I always pictured this forlorn and despondently beautiful call that can’t be ignored. Joanna Ruth Meyer’s words are very much like a siren’s song. They lull you into this world of cruel magic that is both dangerous and full of life. It tells of monsters that have hearts, and humans who lose their souls to them. It has an underlying sense of dread that permeates the story in such a way, you’re almost afraid to surrender to the quiet romance burgeoning beneath it all. This story was certainly an experience I’d love to have again, because I know I’ll unearth something different the next time. If you’re looking for a deeply atmospheric fantasy, you’re going to need to add this one to your list for the year. I promise you won’t regret it.
Into the Heartless Wood is the story of a witch queen with eight tree-siren daughters. In the centuries they’ve existed, they’ve harvested human souls to feed the heartless tree and use its power to grow their kingdom of ever-reaching ash, birch, and oak. Owen Merrick lives at the edge of the forest with his father and sister, mapping the stars in his observatory at the behest of the king. When his little sister enters the woods and he goes after her to find her, he comes into contact with Seren, who saves his life rather than ending it. Owen can’t stop thinking about her, and he sneaks away into the forest to meet with her. However, when the constellations change and foretell of war, Seren is compelled to fight for her mother while Owen is conscripted into the King’s army. It looks like a conflict no one can win, and could possibly destroy their kingdoms forever.
This story is told from two perspectives, Owen’s and Seren’s. I loved the way that their voices were defined by Joanna. It further cemented the stark differences between them, Seren being a tree-siren and not human, while Owen was more eloquently spoken. With that said, Seren’s words all carried meaning and power behind them. Their intensity was such an incredible strength, and usually done with such few words. Even better, you can see Seren’s growth based on her thoughts and words throughout the book, and it was amazing. With Owen, I loved his analytical and observant train of thoughts, and his sense of duty to his family.
Truly, what sets this book apart from any I’ve read is the atmosphere. The story has a sad and melodic quality to it. The characters aren’t necessarily happy with their lots in life, but the catalyst for change doesn’t necessarily come from a desire to change it for themselves (at first), but because of fear and danger. Owen, his little sister and his father have dealt with death recently with the loss of a mother and wife, while Seren is questioning her role as a soldier. Choices play a significant factor into this story, and it certainly has a fairy-tale/cautionary tale style feel to it that I think many will love. You can’t help but turn page after page, wondering what’s going to happen next.
While there aren’t too many characters at the beginning, every character that is introduced on the page has a significant role to play. Some of them are teased as potential villains or even allies, while others serve a morally grey purpose. I’m not quite sure why, but one of Seren’s sisters was actually one of my favourite characters. There’s a way that she resonated with everything going on in a way that I can’t really explain well, but at the same time, you can’t fault her for having her own way of thinking of things. Some readers might feel differently about this and I’m totally up for discussion, because I do feel like this is a story you could have a discussion about for days.
I’d be lying if I said the romance didn’t make me feel a certain kind of way. It’s so soft compared to everything that’s happening around them. It comes across as curiosity and wonder that turns into something more akin to caring and eventually something even deeper. And as is the way with most things, the things most precious to us in a story inevitably get ripped from our hands to turn into something else. I don’t even know how to explain how this romance between a young man and a tree-siren utterly devastated me. This book will certainly hold a place in my heart.
Into The Heartless Wood is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore.
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Synopsis | Goodreads
The forest is a dangerous place, where siren song lures men and women to their deaths. For centuries, a witch has harvested souls to feed the heartless tree, using its power to grow her domain.
When Owen Merrick is lured into the witch’s wood, one of her tree-siren daughters, Seren, saves his life instead of ending it. Every night, he climbs over the garden wall to see her, and every night her longing to become human deepens. But a shift in the stars foretells a dangerous curse, and Seren’s quest to become human will lead them into an ancient war raging between the witch and the king who is trying to stop her.
Epic, heartbreaking, and darkly atmospheric, Into the Heartless Wood is the story of impossible love between a monstrous tree siren and a boy who lives at the edge of her wood.
