Recap:

In the last book review, I gave you my opinion on the strange but entertaining Sacrilege by Barbara Avon. If you read it, I would love to hear what you thought about it. And if you haven’t left a review yourself on Amazon or Goodreads, don’t forget to do so. This week I’m bringing a new fantasy to add to the bookshelf that combines old and new elements that will show you the world just outside the chrysillium tree.

Initial Response:

The Chrysillium Tree by Laken Honeycutt is a fun fantasy with a well-balanced love triangle in the center of the story. The further I read, the less I wanted to put it down. I can’t tell you how enjoyable it is to find books like that from new authors. This is a pure fantasy novel with the magical chrysillium tree at its heart. So, if you’re in search of a new fantasy author, don’t hesitate to read Laken Honeycutt.

The Cover:

I enjoyed the simplicity of the cover, but also the fact that the story revolves around the chrysillium tree. The crème/off-white background and lavender text/image really create a contrast with most books within the fantasy genre. While not all are dark, a lot of fantasy novel covers overwhelm our senses with colors, so this was refreshing to my eyes. (Now if I named the colors incorrectly, I’m color blind sometimes, so please forgive me.)

The World:

I’ve been posting a lot on world-building, and think The Chrysillium Tree is a great example of getting your readers into the world you’ve built. Authors approach this issue differently, but some of the most common are easing in and shoving the reader into their world. Think of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J. K. Rowling. First, we see Harry in the normal world, then as he learns of the other world he belongs to, we ease into it as well. Then there are books like The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson where you’re dropped off in the world with no warning and you work with what you have. This is a long way of me saying, The Chrysillium Tree is phenomenal because it eases you into the world and then adds more and more interesting elements and layers.

The Story:

All the characters have nice arcs and while we bounce between a lot of POVs, it doesn’t feel like the dreaded head-hopping. I really fell in love with Maeve, the main character, though didn’t always agree with her decisions, as it should be. I think Honeycutt did a great job of giving me as the reader a reason to stick with Maeve throughout the story. By showing her different interactions with various characters, you can understand the love triangle between her known world and the new one behind the chrysillium tree.

Conclusion:

The Chrysillium Tree by Laken Honeycutt is a phenomenal fantasy story you won’t want to put down. Honeycutt has their book available on Amazon and I read it via Kindle. I would definitely recommend adding The Chrysillium Tree to your shelves. As of right now, The Chrysillium Tree is the only book I found by Laken Honeycutt, but it seems like there is more to come.

Click here if you’re interested in reading The Chrysillium Tree by Laken Honeycutt.

If you read it, don’t forget to add your own comments below!

As always, stay fresh, my nugs!

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