A richly imagined and heartfelt fantasy.
Heasley delivers a spirited fantasy adventure with an appealingly unconventional hero and a timely environmental message. Thirteen-year-old Hemlock has an unusual family history: he was born from a tree. Raised in the Elderwood by Mother Tree and accompanied by Huff, a mischievous bear cub, he knows little of the world beyond the forest. When loggers begin felling ancient chestnuts, Hemlock ventures into the Queendom of Woodmoot, where his investigation leads him to a forbidden underground library, the mystery of the vanished Nowid, and a conspiracy involving the ruthless Grand Mentalist Lord Knox and Child Queen Yarak.
Heasley builds a lively fantasy world whose whimsical details conceal darker realities. Hemlock’s encounters with civilization are particularly entertaining; his innocent questions about money, authority, and human customs expose the absurdities of a society accustomed to taking nature for granted. His vulnerability lends the adventure emotional weight, while Huff provides comic relief. The mystery of the Nowid adds intrigue to a plot rich in woodland magic and political treachery. Throughout, Heasley draws a pointed connection between environmental destruction and human exploitation without losing sight of Hemlock’s personal journey. Fans of woodland magic, ancient mysteries, and unlikely heroes will relish this imaginative adventure.
***
Pub date August 27, 2026
ISBN 979-8994031629
Print length 204 pages
Price $25.00 Hardcover, $15.00 Paperback $6.00 Kindle edition
