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lsteimel's review against another edition
4.0
This story gave me all the feels! I was totally consumed by the story, and I could feel what Aia was feeling. I could definitely feel her frustration with Willen when he could not make his mind up, and her wariness with the other trees. Such a great read. Definitely did not see that end coming though! An amazing plot twist!
bries_librarybooks's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
joa_price's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
poseidonstrdt's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
tealattes's review against another edition
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.25
Fantasy with magic surrounding natural elements; romance-heavy, palace and forest setting, royal events, small political events with other kingdoms, interesting monarchy and Royal Family. Main character endures trials and hardships, trying to survive while understanding who she is as she has been kept locked up for her entire life and is finally given breadth for self and world-discovery. However, the Palace has other plans for her.
Here we have a character named Aia. She has been kept in a cellar by her brother for 18 years and can only come out at night to help him clean the house. One day, her brother sells her to the Palace along with others to find among them the “True Tree”.
World building: The world initially seems quite simple but it grows increasingly more complex throughout the book as we learn of the magic system, the Ancients, and of other Realms. In this set of ten books by Teshelle Combs there is a different aspect of this world that is the focus, and here it is the “Trees”. Trees are girls born from human lines with traces of the “arboreal race” (yes, “tree race”) and they basically are linked to nature and can call upon it, cause things to grow and such. Throughout the kingdom, all the Trees of each generation are summoned to the Palace and endure trials to find the True Tree, who will revive the natural resources of the land by providing a “magical seed” and then become an actual tree, rooted into the ground. The issue is, the kingdom has not had a True Tree for a while, and the numbers of these magical girl-Trees are dwindling, so the kingdom has become desperate and it is crucial that one is found this generation because the land is dying.
Character: Aia is our main character here. We are witnesses to her growth as a character as she learns of the world while at the Palace. Given her circumstances she is naive and doesn’t know a thing about the kingdom at first, but she is not stupid. She learns quickly, protects herself, and fights for what is right with sheer will; through it all she maintains deep humility, kindness, loyalty, and strength. The Trees face horrendous treatment with nothing but themselves to rely on since they are fighting for a single spot, though she never acts maliciously to the others. Honestly, she doesn’t even care about trying to be the last one standing and it is refreshing. Even when there is no chance for her, she just puts her whole heart into it to pull through. I’ve never read a book with a main character like Aia, one who legitimately knows nothing and is thrown into the world. It’s not fighting with fists, it’s with self-trust and self-confidence. And I think that is real strength, building everything out of nothing and staying true.
Writing: The writing style is formal in order to enhance the fantasy feel, which was successful in my opinion. It can seem convoluted at times due to the extra wording but it was not distracting.
Plot: The plot was all over the place, partly due to the magic which is called Wonder, which makes everything…Mary Poppins-esque. People with the ability can make places just shift about, magically transport from one place to another, retrieve and manipulate objects. This was not necessarily bad, and actually added a whimsy, lightening aspect to the world, but one one second they were here, the next, over there, and one second the time of day is morning, and then the next it is manipulated and it is suddenly evening. The constant jumps in both place, time and perspective caused the book to feel disorganized despite the intriguing world and characters. Another issue was that I did not grasp what the plot even was, for everything was caused by an unforeseen event prior with no sense of an overall picture. There was the underlying element of finding the true tree, but this only very loosely linked the plot line; royal and political drama was present as well. Really, the Tree Trials were largely placed into the background during the second half and it diverged into something else entirely. While I enjoyed the book, the reading experience would have been improved with increased clarity.
Here we have a character named Aia. She has been kept in a cellar by her brother for 18 years and can only come out at night to help him clean the house. One day, her brother sells her to the Palace along with others to find among them the “True Tree”.
World building: The world initially seems quite simple but it grows increasingly more complex throughout the book as we learn of the magic system, the Ancients, and of other Realms. In this set of ten books by Teshelle Combs there is a different aspect of this world that is the focus, and here it is the “Trees”. Trees are girls born from human lines with traces of the “arboreal race” (yes, “tree race”) and they basically are linked to nature and can call upon it, cause things to grow and such. Throughout the kingdom, all the Trees of each generation are summoned to the Palace and endure trials to find the True Tree, who will revive the natural resources of the land by providing a “magical seed” and then become an actual tree, rooted into the ground. The issue is, the kingdom has not had a True Tree for a while, and the numbers of these magical girl-Trees are dwindling, so the kingdom has become desperate and it is crucial that one is found this generation because the land is dying.
Character: Aia is our main character here. We are witnesses to her growth as a character as she learns of the world while at the Palace. Given her circumstances she is naive and doesn’t know a thing about the kingdom at first, but she is not stupid. She learns quickly, protects herself, and fights for what is right with sheer will; through it all she maintains deep humility, kindness, loyalty, and strength. The Trees face horrendous treatment with nothing but themselves to rely on since they are fighting for a single spot, though she never acts maliciously to the others. Honestly, she doesn’t even care about trying to be the last one standing and it is refreshing. Even when there is no chance for her, she just puts her whole heart into it to pull through. I’ve never read a book with a main character like Aia, one who legitimately knows nothing and is thrown into the world. It’s not fighting with fists, it’s with self-trust and self-confidence. And I think that is real strength, building everything out of nothing and staying true.
Writing: The writing style is formal in order to enhance the fantasy feel, which was successful in my opinion. It can seem convoluted at times due to the extra wording but it was not distracting.
Plot: The plot was all over the place, partly due to the magic which is called Wonder, which makes everything…Mary Poppins-esque. People with the ability can make places just shift about, magically transport from one place to another, retrieve and manipulate objects. This was not necessarily bad, and actually added a whimsy, lightening aspect to the world, but one one second they were here, the next, over there, and one second the time of day is morning, and then the next it is manipulated and it is suddenly evening. The constant jumps in both place, time and perspective caused the book to feel disorganized despite the intriguing world and characters. Another issue was that I did not grasp what the plot even was, for everything was caused by an unforeseen event prior with no sense of an overall picture. There was the underlying element of finding the true tree, but this only very loosely linked the plot line; royal and political drama was present as well. Really, the Tree Trials were largely placed into the background during the second half and it diverged into something else entirely. While I enjoyed the book, the reading experience would have been improved with increased clarity.
awkkdestinee's review
5.0
I want to start by saying, I came across the chance to read this by mere coincidence. I cannot fathom how happy that happened! Fantasy is a genre I adore and love reading.
Ms./Mrs.Tessa’s book did not disappoint! The books development was great! The characters were …chef kiss. The FMC , Aia, is someone you grow fond of but at times want just tell her to relax!!! The spice is minimal, which is something I do enjoy in my books , however the plot was so well thought out and written- it did not even bother me. The relationships made and broken through out the book were mesmerizing. So excited for book two!
Ms./Mrs.Tessa’s book did not disappoint! The books development was great! The characters were …chef kiss. The FMC , Aia, is someone you grow fond of but at times want just tell her to relax!!! The spice is minimal, which is something I do enjoy in my books , however the plot was so well thought out and written- it did not even bother me. The relationships made and broken through out the book were mesmerizing. So excited for book two!
wyrdweaver's review
3.0
The realm needs a seed to save it, and only one true tree can make it happen. This book throws open the doors to a unique world where women that have the characteristics of trees face trials to prove their value to the prince and the realm. This intriguing premise, intertwined with an ancient rule system promising dire consequences for transgression, holds immense potential. However, the execution falters in a few key areas.
Strengths:
• Character Development
• Engaging content: Intriguing premise for a book. I was curious to see where the story went
• Discovery Alongside the Protagonist: Learning alongside Aia adds an immersive layer to the narrative.
Areas for Improvement:
• Rule Discrepancies: Frequent reminders of deadly consequences for breaking the ancient rules are undermined by instances where they seem ignored, creating confusion and immersion breaks.
• World-Building Depth: While the time manipulation adds suspense, deeper descriptions and explanations would enrich the world-building. Delving more into Aia's curiosity may help deepen this. Considering her extraordinary circumstances, she seems very nonchalant about some of the revelations she endures.
• Pacing and POV Shifts: Frequent time jumps and an abrupt POV switch to Willen can be confusing. Smoother transitions and labeled POVs would improve clarity.
• Trial Ambiguity: The "trials" feel more like disconnected tasks than meaningful tests, diminishing their potential impact and connection to the overall goal of providing the prince with a seed.
Overall:
Despite its shortcomings, this book offers a captivating concept with big potential. The character development shines, but the world-building and rule enforcement need strengthening. If you enjoy unique fantasy settings, a dash of insta-love, and sacrificial narratives, you might find elements to enjoy here, but be prepared for some inconsistencies. With focused revisions and deeper exploration of it's potential, this story could truly blossom
Strengths:
• Character Development
• Engaging content: Intriguing premise for a book. I was curious to see where the story went
• Discovery Alongside the Protagonist: Learning alongside Aia adds an immersive layer to the narrative.
Areas for Improvement:
• Rule Discrepancies: Frequent reminders of deadly consequences for breaking the ancient rules are undermined by instances where they seem ignored, creating confusion and immersion breaks.
• World-Building Depth: While the time manipulation adds suspense, deeper descriptions and explanations would enrich the world-building. Delving more into Aia's curiosity may help deepen this. Considering her extraordinary circumstances, she seems very nonchalant about some of the revelations she endures.
• Pacing and POV Shifts: Frequent time jumps and an abrupt POV switch to Willen can be confusing. Smoother transitions and labeled POVs would improve clarity.
• Trial Ambiguity: The "trials" feel more like disconnected tasks than meaningful tests, diminishing their potential impact and connection to the overall goal of providing the prince with a seed.
Overall:
Despite its shortcomings, this book offers a captivating concept with big potential. The character development shines, but the world-building and rule enforcement need strengthening. If you enjoy unique fantasy settings, a dash of insta-love, and sacrificial narratives, you might find elements to enjoy here, but be prepared for some inconsistencies. With focused revisions and deeper exploration of it's potential, this story could truly blossom
aroundthebookbend1's review against another edition
5.0
Beautiful
The writing was so beautiful. The vivid descriptions and the beautiful Aia. The connection between Aia and Willen was breathtaking. I absolutely loved this and can’t wait to read more.
The writing was so beautiful. The vivid descriptions and the beautiful Aia. The connection between Aia and Willen was breathtaking. I absolutely loved this and can’t wait to read more.
laurenashley1010's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
The First Dryad by Teshelle Combs is a stunning, completely unique, and heart-wrenching story. In this story, the world building is absolutely amazing. The main female character starts out sheltered knowing nothing about the world, magic, or even herself. As the veil is lifted the reader too gets to experience seeing the world for the first time with her. The magic system in the book created by Teshelle not only fits in perfectly with the story as it is original but the magic matches the person who made it. I felt so many feelings reading this book and drew so many parallels. There is so much more I’d love to say about this book but anything else would be too close to a spoiler. I am so excited to continue on with the series.