The Inn at the Forest's Edge
Summary
The Inn at the Forest’s Edge is a charming, spooky fantasy novelette by debut author Raymond Keith. Set in the fantastical world of Veardalan, this story follows the adventure of young Johann, a stable boy swept up in the myths and magic of the ominous forest that looms large over his village. The inn he works at, sitting peacefully at the forest’s edge, holds a plethora of its own secrets within its walls.
Assessment
As a debut story, this novelette is a delightful introduction to the world of Veardalan. It’s cozy, a little spooky, and packed with fantastical creatures, unique characters, and a simple-but-charming plot. The story fits in right along with the likes of old fairytales of knights in shining armor, evil dragons, and beautiful princesses, harkening back to the times before the endless modern retellings.
Similar to the more traditional way it handled the myths and mythological creatures, the cast of characters are all somewhat archetypal. Each is unique and delightful, but there are no dramatic twists or turns to their personalities or roles in the story. The hero is the hero, the bad guy is the bad guy, and each is well crafted for their purpose.
Theologically, the story makes references to the “Creator” but, otherwise, it isn’t heavy handed with an overt Christian message. However, the story has an excellent message of good vs. evil, with several metaphors and various symbolic elements for the Christian faith. Central to the story’s theology, however, is that good is allowed to be good and evil is allowed to be evil. There is no blurring of the lines or muddying of the waters when it comes to where each character falls along the two distinct sides.
Light-o-Meter
Writing Style: 3 out of 7 Little Lights
Plot: 4 out of 7 Little Lights
Worldbuilding: 4 out of 7 Little Lights
Characters: 4 out of 7 Little Lights
Theological Message: 5 out of 7 Little Lights
Overall: 4 out of 7 Little Lights
Talk
This little book has quite a bit to recommend itself. The overall aesthetic was very cozy, not leaning too heavily into fantasy for a sci-fi girl such as myself. I also can’t overstate how incredibly refreshing that was to read after all the retellings and “new twists on old favorites” that are popular right now. Sometimes those retellings can be enjoyable, but occasionally I don't want Cinderella to be a [select one: werewolf, vampire-ninja, her own evil stepmother]. Sometimes I want a story that goes back to the original source material and respects it, like The Inn at the Forest's Edge.
For me, the story’s biggest weakness is the writing style. The author nails the more serious tone and brings to life the world he has created with a warm sort of feel to it that brings me right into the story and characters. However, sometimes the narration wanders a bit, speeding up, slowing down, describing everything and then nothing. There is also a bit of disconnect between the narration and the character’s dialogue, the latter of which occasionally feels a bit too modern.
Overall, I definitely enjoyed this novelette and its faithful presentation of classic mythological and fairytale elements. With that and how much room there is to expand the world of Veardalan, I will be keeping an eye on future works from this author!
Wrap-up
The Inn at the Forest’s Edge is author Raymond Keith’s debut novelette. This cozy fantasy takes modern fairytales back to their roots of myth and magic in a classic story of good vs. evil. Johann, a stable boy employed by the inn at the edge of the forest, gets pulled from his mundane life into the ominous realm of mythological creatures and ancient power struggles. With that, his life will never be the same again.
Where to Enjoy
Amazon: The Inn at the Forest's Edge: A Fantasy Novelette eBook : Keith, Raymond
Barnes & Noble: The Inn at the Forest's Edge: A Fantasy Novelette by Raymond Keith
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