A review by thatgirlinblack
Beyond the Deepwoods by Paul Stewart, Chris Riddell

4.0

Well this is a fantasy that is a little different. No swordfights, Narnia talking animals, or LOTR elves. It's more like goblins, trolls, flying creatures... The hero is on a quest to find where he belongs.

Twig, the hero, is a human who doesn't fit in with his adopted troll family. He sets out on a journey through the forest and does the unthinkable—strays from the path. What follows is adventure after adventure. Or more like trouble after trouble. He meets all these fascinating and terrifying creatures; most end up being unfriendly, some are kind. It seems like he's always running or being caught or escaping. It's almost non-stop. Each time, he ends up being mysteriously rescued.

Spoiler

I thought at first that it was someone good rescuing him, but that's not how it turned out.

It's different from what I expected because Twig first learns the consequences of following the lie and the destruction that results. After that, his salvation is even more dramatic and it's resolved very satisfactorily.

The book is extremely well written. I could see, hear, feel, and smell everything. The descriptions are masterful. The beautiful as well as the ugly, everything is shown so well. I really like forest settings, so that's an added bonus.