Willow by Enid B.Needham
BOOK BLURB
“We’ve been waiting for you, Shadow slayer.”
Former renowned horticulturist, Willow Quinoline, is now a Class 4 Librarian’s Assistant, after a catastrophic event cut her off from her elemental powers. At the “Castle of Knowledge” she soon finds there are more than books and artefacts within the library walls.
But will she be able to manage her magic, and her mind, in time to prevent another disaster?
Join Willow on her journey of recovery and self acceptance in this epistolary short story.
KATHERINE BLACK REVIEW
Willow is a beautifully crafted story told through a series of letters. Willow, a project leader with elemental powers, tells Poppy about a world filled with adventure and danger within the library of many levels. The prose makes the characters dance on the page, especially Willow, whose writing makes every letter take you deeper into the fantasy. The balance of introspection and action draws readers into the quest, building the connection between Willow and Poppy. The story is heightened with descriptive language, making the setting come alive. Place is as important as the people and is so well-described you can feel the dust in your eyes. This provides a backdrop to the story and a metaphor for Willow’s experiences.
The story explores resilience, identity, and the power of nature. The character arcs are well-developed and it’s a narrative about self-discovery, overcoming obstacles and finding strength—with a nice twist at the end to round it off. The writing is poetic but grounded, making Willow a great read. I very much enjoyed snooping into the private letters.
Highly recommended.
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