The Deep Wood

Sunshine Walkingstick #2

by Celia Roman

When my boy Henry was killed, I tracked a pooka through the deep wood for three days with no food in my gut and only my daddy's hunting knife for comfort. Was what got me into the monster killing business, that pooka, and I ain't regretted a single day of it since. The day I stumbled on a four-legged critter with human eyes, the rightness of my revenge begun to unravel, leading me to a clan of two-natured shifters what'd been living under my nose the whole time. And when the two-natured started showing up in odd places, stalking humans in a very unnatural way, weren't nothing I could do but dig to the bottom of it. And what I found turned my world and ever thing I knowed upside down.

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal

224 pages, Paperback

Published August 1, 2023

About the author

Celia Roman lives in the Southern Appalachians, surrounded by generations of family and myth. Her stories are inspired by a natural interest in the paranormal and too many late night reruns of Supernatural.

Get a free story here.

Reviews

[Angela Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was gifted this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Let me jump right into this review. The heroine/main character Sunshine Walkingstick has gotten to the point where I do not know if I like her or if I hate her. In book one she was really endearing. She lost her son in a vicious panther attack and also her mom killing her dad is tragic. So she had to survive on her own for a very long time. She ended up being in a relationship and I felt that she needed someone to be with her and to take care of her and just be her partner in every single way possible so I was excited when Riley came about. Fast forward to book 2 and Sunshine has just turned into, sigh, a person.

First let me say that the way Sunshine sees herself at times just made me want to slap her. She kept referring to herself as scrawny and having little boobies. I get it you are super lean and you do not have a voluptuous figure as the other characters in the story. Secondly, the way she interacted with Riley just pissed me off. She was so combative in the story to the point where I just did not know where Sunshine from book 1 was. It is like she became this whole different character and I just wanted this character to slap herself and to realize that Riley is not the enemy. He loves you and he just wants to be your partner. The fact that Riley put up with her throughout this entire story was remarkable. I just found him to be a saint.

This story was what I needed for the series to continue. We got to figure out why Henry was killed and also more about Sunshine's daddy. It seems as though everybody in her family knew what her father was and what the terrible secret was aside from Sunshine. The fact that everybody knew and she was left in the dark was not okay. I do understand families have secrets but it just didn't make sense to have Sunshine out of the loop when it pertains to the reason why her son was killed.

There is a lot of good action in the story and I am so glad that my favorite characters from book 1 decided to pop back up. Taeo is someone that I am glad is back. I did not like the way Sunshine tried to put him and Miss Jenny together. I don't know if her motives was simply because Miss Jenny needed somebody in her life or the fact that she wanted to get rid of Taeo. Either way, I just think the whole entire way it went about was not good. I don't know if Celia Roman intentionally wrote Sunshine as someone who feels as though she can do everything by herself and a no at all in order to redeem her later on but it seems as though everything Sunshine did was for her own personal gain at the end. She really just seemed selfish and self-absorbed in this installment.

With all the Sunshine bashing it sounds as though I did not enjoy the story however I really did. This story was very well written and I love the imagery of this entire story. I love the plot, the characters, the resolutions, and everything in between. A lot of revelations occurred in the story and I'm so glad that some of the questions that I had in book 1 were resolved. I really am excited for book 3, Cemetery Hill. I cannot wait to figure out what else Sunshine gets herself into this time. Hopefully we get to figure out what type of creature is in the cage . Also hopefully the old Sunshine from book 1 makes an appearance and the Sunshine from book 2 decides to take a smooth cliff-dive.

I loved Rebecca as a narrator for this book. She brings so much to the table and I am so glad that she continued this series. I do feel as though she embodies Sunshine and that is hard to do with a character as complex as she is. Also that accent is thick and very very good.

[jeliy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actual stars 2.5.

[Sadie Forsythe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Again, I enjoyed my time with Ms. Sunshine Walkingstick. This isn’t a book of fast paced action, but more of slow developments and strength of character. I happen to enjoy that, but if you’re looking for shootouts and car chases, or dramatic clashes of humans versus monster, you’ll be disappointed.

What I like most is Sunshines voice. She’s…Appalachian I suppose is what I’d call it. In the first book I struggled a bit with it, but here I quite enjoyed it. Both the way Roman wrote it and the way Winder voiced it. Maybe it just took getting used to.

While I understood Sunshine had trust issues, I eventually became confused about why she was so unable to recognize Riley’s intentions toward her. He’s certainly not hiding his feelings. The whole this is starting to stress the bounds of credibility. Similarly, considering the events at the end of the book, I’d have expected to see a bit more stress on his part.

All in all, however, I very much enjoyed this and am looking forward to book three.

[connie parsons · Rating 5 out of 5]

A page turner!!!!!!

I love the characters in this series, plus I lived in western north Carolina and in Rabin Co Georgia and the area is Exactly like it is described in the book. All of the Cherokee legends are authentic too

[Katrina Kusa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely amazing story, impossible to put down. Please read it.

[Marie Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really great story! Wish there were more!

[Rayvn Whyt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay I am starting to understand them more. I actually kinda liked this one, although they are very short fast reads. It also reads more like a journal/daily life than a book with a plot.

[Mae · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book could probably be read as a standalone but it has huge spoilers for book one, so if you plan to read the series you should do so in order.

If you enjoyed book one then you'll enjoy this one as well. It's written in the same style and all the main characters are in this book too. The relationship between Sunshine and Riley is very slow to develop, Sunshine's reasons for keeping things slow could be better explained, but overall this seems to fit with her history.

There was less action in this book than I was expecting but more intrigue and more character building, it was very interesting to get to meet some of Sunshine's family and find out more of her history.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and I'm looking forward to the next book.

The narration is first class, the character voices are excellent especially the local accent and the dialect that Sunshine and her family speak.

I received a free copy of this book from the author and/or narrator and/or publisher and I voluntarily wrote this honest review.

[Curly's Ramblings · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audiobook review: Based upon the book description, I anticipated that there would be more action around hunting monsters. In reality, the action, with the exception of the last fight scene, was sub-par. Sunshine is definitely a strong willed independent southern woman but she is also wishy washy with regards to her feelings about her boyfriend; though, why she has the hesitation is unclear. The main couple has a very, very slow relationship build; book 2 and the couple hasn't moved passed first base. Sunshine's business accumen & growth could also use some work. I liked the premise of the book, the mystery with the paternal family, and Sunshine & Riley as a couple. The narrator did a fine job portraying a southern voice but could work a bit on appropriate enthusiasm, at times the same voice tone and inflection had very little variation for the scene. I received a free copy of this audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

[Cmoore · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew that I would be in for a good time with this book as I had just finished up listening to Death Omen, another dynamite Sunshine Walkingstick story, though a short one!
I was given a free review copy of this audiobook, and voluntarily left a review.
Celia Roman really nailed the homeyness and goodwill of our protagonist as she protects her family, friends and neighborhood. Sunshine is protective like a mother bear, or should I say panther! And Rebecca Winder gave us a stellar performance complete with a delightful southern Appalachian accent... 
There be monsters out there that you'd be right to be scared of, but you just ask around, and the folk will tell you to contact Sunshine for help, that is iff'n you don't already have her on speed dial. Step into Deep Wood, and step into Sunshine Walkingstick's world... I loved this story, and I think you will too!

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this novel, it was as good as the first one. This is a strange tale filled with suspense, action and humour. Sunshine is a very interesting main character, she's unique and quarky and loves the people she considers hers. The fast paced plot is complimented by the well written character. It's a great series, looking forward to Volume 3.

[Kathy Kennerley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it! Sunshine helps rid monsters and other varmin from her neighbors yards sometimes for only a basket of eggs in exchange. She has an endearing back woods dialect but with big words. Tough gal but a softy too. Great author!

[Kathleen Moncrieff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Continuing the series, and continue to enjoy the story and characters a great deal.