Dragonswood by Janet Lee Carey

I'm always a bit cautious when it comes to fantasy novels and admittedly, that's what kept me from picking up Dragonswood initially. Having said that, I finally picked up a copy of Dragonswood last week and much to my surprise, I devoured it!

To keep from spoiling the book for you, I can only tell you so much though. Tess is a young woman who yearns to escape the tyranny of her father and who often goes over the wall into the Dragonswood--which is forbidden. When a witch hunter comes to town, her life is turned upside down as she is forced to flee--along with her two best friends. This is what causes her to run into Garth, the woodsman who saves their lives. But things are far from that simple, for Garth has quite the secret... as does Tess.

In the case of Dragonswood, I'd say that the romance takes a backseat to the actual plot. That's not to say that there isn't romance in Dragonswood, but it's there in such a manner that it supports the plot--if that makes any sense. Although I can't say that I was in love with Garth, I grew to like him quite a lot. My favorite part of Dragonswood? The fae and perhaps more specifically, the Mistress of the Hives and the wonderful gowns that she creates.

Cut into three parts, Dragonswood is quite the adventure and overall I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. If you enjoy fantasy and have been debating over reading Dragonswood, I'd definitely suggest that you give it a try! It's easy to follow and I found it to be an engrossing read!

Overall Rating: ★★★★

Dragonswood by Janet Lee Carey

Publisher: Dial Books, an imprint of Penguin Group.

Release Date: January 5, 2012

Edition: Hardcover

* Purchased on my own.