From the Shadows of the Owl Queen's Court

Yarnsworld #4

by Benedict Patrick

If you value your life, stay out of the forest.

As a captive of the Owl Queen’s Court, Nascha’s life has always been one knife’s edge away from disaster. But when she is threatened for nothing more than the colour of her hair, Nascha attempts the unthinkable: escape through the dreaded Magpie King’s forest.

Hunted by sharp toothed and sharper witted foxfolk, and hated by all for being a witch, Nascha fears herself doomed until she joins forces with a mysterious young man. With him she finds a glimmer of hope, even as her own unpredictable powers flicker into existence.

But hope is fleeting.

The forces arrayed against her are insurmountable, and Nascha soon comes to realise that pursuit of her own freedom will come at a greater cost to the forest. As the darkness closes in around them, Nascha is forced to ask:

At what price is she willing to purchase her life?

How dearly is she willing to sell it?

Genres: Fantasy, Horror, Dark Fantasy, Fiction, Magic, Audiobook, Dark

310 pages, Paperback

First published September 26, 2018

About the author

Benedict Patrick is from a small town in Northern Ireland called Banbridge, but has been living and working in Scotland since he moved there at the age of eighteen. Tragically, that was quite a while ago.

He has been writing for most of his life, and has been reading for pretty much all of it (with help from mum and dad at the beginning). Benedict's life changed when a substitute primary school teacher read his class part of The Hobbit and later loaned him the book – he fell in love with the fantasy genre and never looked back.

They Mostly Come Out At Night is his debut novel, and is the first novel in The Yarnsworld series.

Try out some free Yarnsworld stories by signing up to the mailing list: http://eepurl.com/b4UNHj

Reviews

[Benedict Patrick]

As with the last book, I'll not be leaving a review or score, but I'll use this space to give updates on the novel's progress.

26th July - The book is out with beta readers right now. Relieved that I get a break staring at those words over and over, but on tender hooks awaiting their feedback…

7th August - Shadows is getting its final editorial pass as I type this... So close now!

10th August - Interior assets have arrived. Got to wait until next month for the cover reveal :)

13th August - A flurry of activity over the last few days. Final edits returned and applied. Ebook formatting complete. Now the dreaded ‘author’s final readthrough’ begins...

23rd August - I completed my final proofreading pass today. Got a few more careful eyes still to look over it as final safety nets, before getting review copies ready. Also got an impending cover reveal to prep...

1st September - Looks like the autumn winds have blown a very familiar looking book cover fragment through the letterbox of the Fantasy Inn Blog. Whatever could it all mean...? https://thefantasyinn.wordpress.com/2...

13th September - Massive news - the cover is revealed, a release date is set (26th September), and you can now preorder the book and claim a bonus folktale today that is a perfect intro or recap to the Magpie King's forest: http://hyperurl.co/5k3sei

25th September - Release day is tomorrow! Today is your last chance to grab the exclusive preorder folktale, 'The Fall of the Magpie King': http://benedictpatrick.com/finally-ya...

27th September - The book is now out in the wild! Head to your nearest Amazon store to return to the Magpie King's forest...

[Terrible Timy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual rating: 4.5
Review originally was posted on Fantasy Book Review: http://www.fantasybookreview.co.uk/Be...
It's also up on my blog: https://starlitbook.com/2018/09/13/fr...

I received an ARC from the author in exchange of a honest review. You can pre-order it now on Amazon and also get a free short story!

It's no secret, that Benedict Patrick had become one of my favorite authors with his Yarnsworld series. I was beyond excited when I got my hands on an early copy of From The Shadows Of The Owl Queen's Court and had pretty high expectations. Not that I needed to worry. Benedict Patrick is an exceptional story-teller and has created one of the most interesting worlds I've come across in fantasy.

From The Shadows Of The Owl Queen's Court brings us back to the Magpie King's forest. Where the very first Yarnsworld book, They Mostly Come Out At Night takes place which will please many readers. As usual, this is a stand-alone novel, and as such it doesn't require knowledge of any of the previous books. However, reading They Mostly... will give added depth to the story here.

This time around we follow the events through two character's eyes: Nascha and Bradan. Nascha spends her days in the Owl Queen's Court as a slave, hiding her true hair color, and occasionally keeping the Owl Princess' company. (Un)fortunately Nascha is the only one whom the 15 years old, spoiled brat can stand. Nascha's only wish is to be free and get as far away as she can. But as it's often the case, you have to be careful what you wish for, because the price might not be worth paying. Soon Nascha finds herself in the dreaded forest of the Magpie King, the one every Owl kid learns to fear. Not without reason. Giant birds with skull heads, beavers the size of bears and the Spirit knows what else are roaming the forest, looking for prey. Nascha arrives at a time when things are changing in the forest. The Magpie King slowly loses the hearts of the people, while the Lady gains power. And Nascha finds herself in the middle of this conflict, as well as neck-deep in trouble chased by two parties she managed to get away from: the Owl guardsmen led by Lord Bidzell who wants to finish what he started back in the Owl Queen's Court, and Vippon from the Vulpe tribe, who happens to be a Gentleman Fox. One who is chosen by the Fox Spirit. His legend reminded me of the tale about Bluebeard, which was based on a french nobleman called Gilles de Rais.

The only one who seems to be standing on her side in the whole damn forest is Bradan, whose dream is to be a hero, to be chosen by the Magpie Spirit so he could save the forest and give peace to its people. Instead, he always finds himself stirring up emotions and hatred and do more damage than good. The guy has a golden heart but poor luck. He agrees to help Nascha get out of the forest and prove himself along the way to be worthy of being gifted by the Magpie Spirit. Little he knows what he asks for and when he finally learns it, he has to face the consequences of his choices. As well as Nascha.

From The Shadows Of The Owl Queen's Court has a mix of characters from 4 different set of legends, and myths featuring the Magpie King, the Lady, the Gentleman Fox and the Owl Queen. It is an interesting mix. Every one of them has their own agenda, and when these powers clash that leaves its mark on the forest. This book feels a bit like you are reading a D&D campaign, where the DM throws random obstacles before the characters. Sometimes it felt like Nascha and Bradan just went with the flow, running from one place to the next. While Lord Bidzell, his men, Vippon, the Magpie King or the Lady popped up to wreak some havoc and send them to another direction. Sometimes it felt like the plot isn't going anywhere. It was one long action scene, and I can't decide if that's a bad or a good thing. Probably some slowing down, time to really get lost in the atmosphere would have been beneficial. I mean, what I really love about Benedict Patrick's books is that he can make me believe I am in a magical land, surrounded by myths and legends walking among the people. Four different kinds of powers and legendary characters were a bit too much. We learn something about every one of them, but we don't get to know them as much as we probably should. Patrick's previous books told one whole story and pretty well at that, whereas here we get glimpses into more stories. Not that I didn't enjoy all of them, it just left me with the feeling that it wasn't complete. Vippon himself should deserve to get his own main story to answer every question you'll come up with while reading. The details are all in here, and man they do tell a devastating story. On the other hand, we finally learn a bit about where the power actually comes from and the relationship between the Magpie King and the Owlfolks, which was a nice touch and put things into perspective.

This story definitely has Patrick's style of storytelling, some bizarre creatures, intriguing folk tales shedding some light on the events and giving depth to the story and some well-built, interesting characters. Not talking about scenes I'm never going to forget. Or look at fruits the same way ever again for that matter. And still, there is something amiss. I liked Bradan, he tried to be the best he could be but also knew his limitations. Even so, he was kind of drowned by all these other characters with power and strong personality. Nascha... I couldn't care about her. She is forced to make some choices, and although she stands up for herself, she just failed to get me involved emotionally. And while her resentment and rage are understandable, she was the one who in the end made her choices, no need blaming others for it.

Despite my somewhat mixed feelings about the writing and the story, From The Shadows Of The Owl Queen's Court kept me awake much longer than I would have liked. The last chapter was a real emotional roller-coaster ride and I'm sure as hell couldn't tell what's going to happen. It pulled some really well-earned punches, leaving me speechless. It wrapped the story neatly but also left open the possibility of some more to come. I for one am interested, how the changes in the forest play out in the long run.

From The Shadows Of The Owl Queen's Court is a very dark tale about chasing your dreams, about nature having its own way in the end. Do you love the original Grimm tales? How about some action and monsters? Read Benedict Patrick's other books or just looking for something original? Then you found the perfect book, my friend!

[Esme · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another wonderful installment in the Yarnsworld series, each book is a self-contained story set in the same world, and all of them are amazing. I first started reading this series way back in the day when the cover for They Mostly Come Out At Night caught my attention during a sale. I’m so glad I started with this series because each subsequent book has been just as imaginative as the first. The author has continued to hone and polish his skills as a storyteller which has lead to this being one of my favorite series of books. We have also returned to the Magpie forest from the first book which was super exciting for me.

Nascha and Bradan are at the focus of this story, at first it’s not obvious how these two arcs will intertwine, but it does happen about 30% through the book and their journeys twist around each other in ways I didn’t anticipate keeping me on my toes.

The book opens with Nascha drinking poison, readers are kept in the dark as to why she’s drinking poison, but you know it’s a burden to her and you know that it’s to help keep a secret of hers from the rest of the castle. Nascha lives and serves in the castle of the Owl Queen and her daughter, Princess Laurentina. I liked the portrayal of Laurentina and the way the two girls had a delicate and fragile friendship – the princess is both a buffer from harm and a potential source of danger for Nascha. Things eventually take a turn for the worse which forced Nascha to flee for her life. She has no choice but to run off with a mysterious man known as a “Gentleman Fox” into the Magpie forest, a forest that’s full of monsters that mostly come out at night :).

There are multiple types of magic in this world, one of them being a more mundane Knack which is very common, some people have fishing Knacks, cooking Knacks, cleaning Knacks etc. Other magics are more rare. Being blessed or chosen by a Spirit will give a few select people more power than just a simple Knack. There’s the Lion spirit, Magpie spirit, The Lady of the Forest, The Owl Queen etc. Each Spirit bestows a different sort of power on the humans they favor. The Gentleman Fox appears to be a hero for Nascha, but she learns at her expense that appearances can be deceiving.

Bradan is dealing with the fact that his father now has the powers of the Magpie King despite not really being the Magpie King. The powers are almost like poison to his father, it corrodes his father’s mind and leaves him unstable, unpredictable, and unreliable. Due to those circumstances, their relationship is rocky and Bradan wants to find a way to make himself more powerful so he can take over protecting the people of the forest. These two characters meet while in the forest of the Magpie King and things kick off from there.

I really enjoyed the journey and character arc for Nascha, she starts off as a servant who’s more on the meek side and turns into a force to be reckoned with. I found Bradan’s journey to be more bittersweet, with things not always working out the way you may hope for him. They both had very distinct motivations, voices, and personalities which brought depth to their journies and the story as a whole.

The writing in this was fantastic, it can be very atmospheric without coming off as too flowery. Some of the creepiest scenes I’ve read in a while came up in this book, including a super fucked up wedding. The pacing was on point as well, it was steady throughout the book without rushing or dragging in any particular spot. I read through this very quickly due to both the writing style, the way the plot was laid out, and the time it took to switch between POV’s. Sometimes authors will rush or drag out a certain POV’s chapters and it can be either jarring when it’s done too quickly or drag if it’s taking too long to switch back. It was a very clean book with very few grammar errors, the only thing I caught was a couple backward or missing quotation marks.

The originality for Benedict’s work is always off the charts for me, there’s really no other author out there who writes stories the way he does. One of my favorite aspects of his novels are the very brief but super interesting interludes where we are treated to folk tales within Yarnsworld. They add understanding and intrigue to the world without being info dumps. Many times authors will try and shove stories like these into a dialogue between several characters and it just never quite works. Removing the dialogue aspect makes it feel much less like characters are telling each other things they should already know, which can be awkward, and more along the lines of listening to a story around a campfire.

Ratings:

Plot: 12/15
Characters: 12.5/15
World-Building: 15/15
Writing: 13.5/15
Pacing: 13.5/15
Originality: 15/15
Personal Enjoyment: 10/10
Final Score: 91.5/100

[Lukasz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Benedict Patrick writes peculiar books, and From the Shadows of the Owl's Queen Court is no different. It's a deliciously dark fairy tale with an eerie atmosphere and engaging plot. Accompanied by the story's protagonists, we venture into the Magpie King's realm. The creatures of the forest are dangerous and malicious, and the new Magpie King is half mad half the time. Instead of protecting people, he terrifies them.

His son, Bradan, wants to help people. His intentions are noble and clean, and yet the Magpie Spirit won't give him the power he so desires. There are other entities ready to fulfil his wishes, but everything comes at a price. 

>Nascha's a servant in the castle of the Owl Queen. Her Knack – the innate magical gift most of the Owlfolk develop at puberty – is for cleaning. She's a true master of scrubbing kitchen floors. Not the most impressive Knack ever, but quite useful. But here's the thing - Nascha's hair is white, the colour reserved for witches. 

After Owl Queen's death, Nascha finds herself sentenced to death. She runs with Foxfolk just to run away from them soon after. Bradan's and Nascha's paths will cross and the end-result will change the forest forever.

Mysteries abound and nothing is what it seems. As usually, tales within tales give a broader context to the plot and characters' choices.

From the Shadows of the Owl's Quee Court takes place in a complex, richly designed world with a substantial history and mythology behind it. The book is rich in the elements of standard fantasy (like magic, the chosen/special one) but takes them in different directions. 

Characters are multi-faceted and well developed, with none of them ever either too saintly or unbelievably villainous. The author wisely avoids a simplistic good-vs-evil struggle. Delving deeper into the Yarnsworld mythology was an adventure of its own. New entities appear, namely a terrifyingly fascinating Lady of the Forest ready to claim her rights or Gentleman Fox and his dark secrets. 

The only negatives to the novel would be the slightly confusing beginning and the fact that all conversations are rather similar to each other in terms of wordage used. 

From the Shadows of the Owl's Queen Court is a highly engaging fantasy novel that not only provides good entertainment, it also offers a thoughtful plot that engages the mind and the heart.

Actual rating: 4.5 but I'll round it up to 5 because I enjoy Yarnsworld a lot.

[Rae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Benedict Patrick for a copy of this ARC!
I loved this fourth book to the yarnsworld series!!!
I will post a full review once this book is published!
________________________________
ARC provided by the author for an honest review.

I have been fortunate enough for the last two Yarnsworld books to have been included in Bendict’s ARC group and I couldn’t be more thankful. After picking up the first two books in this series a couple of years ago, I instantly fell in love with this world and its dark fairy tale atmosphere. These books have such a grim and almost spooky feel to them but at the same time are charming and whimsical. They not only follow a “current” storyline, but each book alternates to chapters of tales and folklore that corresponds with each book and its setting. This one was different from the first three because we actually have returned to the Magpie King’s forest from the first novel, They Mostly Come Out at Night. While the rest of the books each take place in a different part of this magical world that Benedict has so wonderfully created.

Full review can be found on my blog, here.


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[kartik narayanan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Benedict Patrick's stories are genre-defying, have a good amount of non-conformity and yet, somehow end up drawing you into them. This is true of the earlier Yarnsworld books (read review here) and 'From the Shadows of the Owl Queen's Court' is no different. It is a fantastic read and has unexpected twists and turns.

Readers new to Yarnsworld might find the early portions of the book a tad slow and generic. But please, stick till the end and you will be richly rewarded. If you want to have an idea of how the book is structured or how is it written, please refer to the review linked to earlier. It holds true for this story too and so, I am not going to repeat myself.

Readers familiar with the Yarnsworld series can expect more of the same high quality 'yarns'.

Excerpts from the series review below

Yarnsworld is difficult to describe in terms of conventional genres. Some of the books are very dark while others are not. Merely putting a tag like ‘fantasy’ or ‘horror’ does not do enough justice to these stories. If I am forced to at gunpoint, I will describe these books as fairy tales for adults. In addition, the book share two common elements. The first is a shared universe with mere hints and not something that is forced down our throat. The second is an interesting structure where the main story-line mixes with smaller tales which add to the world being built.

That said, they are also wildly different in terms of outlook, themes and story-lines. ‘They Mostly Come Out at Night’ is a grim retelling of the ugly duckling with the overarching theme of self-sacrifice. ‘Where the Waters Turn Black’ explores friendship and going beyond traditional boundaries. It could easily be the next Pixar movie (if they had not done Moana). ‘Those Brave, Foolish Souls from the City of Swords’ is Seven Samurai-like, gritty and is about heroism, redemption and revenge.

Benedick Patrick is a brilliant story-teller. I found that all the three stories, including the smaller fables, stuck in my mind long after I finished reading the books. Every book has a main story-line with small stories at the end of each chapter. These stories help in building the mythos and ultimately, link back to the main plot at some point. I enjoyed these fables as much as I did the main stories.

The only criticism I have is that these books are complex and might put off readers looking for something easy to grok. I found getting into ‘Night’ a bit difficult in the beginning. But once I finished a few chapters, I got into the groove and I was able to enjoy them thoroughly.

So, overall, I loved the books and am looking forward to the next ones.

[Liis · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all... I am bursting with so much #coverlove... simply, pretty!

From the Shadows of the Owl Queen’s Court is yet another story weaved with folklore tales that surprises with the level of imagination and adventure. It would be impossible for me to summarize briefly what this story is about, that’s what the blurb is for, y’all! And I have yet to master the art of summarizing! But clearly, as I’ve come to experience with Patrick’s books to date, he delivers yet another completely out of this world, seamless and imaginative story.

Nascha and Bradan are both likeable characters for their own specific reasons. Nascha grows up at the Owl Queen’s Court as a servant and has to hide the color of her hair as well as drink poison once a month for a reason she’s not really aware of. When big changes take place at the Owl Queen’s Court, Nascha finds herself in a life threatening situation. What follow is a natural character development through experiencing life in a whole different light. But that doesn’t mean it’s all flowers and rainbows.

Bradan showed me a certain level of innocence but a strong will to do good and big ambition. Perhaps his ambition, the fire and passion for which is stoked by good and kind reasons, is Bradan’s downfall but that will remain to be seen. With his heart in the right place and quick thinking, Bradan finds ways to be helpful to others. Is the ‘by any means possibly’ the right way to go in this case? That is the question…

The setting and supporting characters are as mind-blowing as ever! The Lady of the Forest, who is so dangerously cranky, but remains one of the more intriguing characters. The Vulpe! Or otherwise known as fox people… The spirits of old and forever being the source of power. The fight over territories, people and respect… This story is so well-delivered, you will find yourself lost in the embrace of this otherworldly setting.

In its core, the story is about characters who have firm goals they want to achieve in their lives and as always, when life is involved, there’s an obstacle to be had. Through difficulties, facing danger and questioning self what should be the best way forward, the reader will be taken on a journey where some of those goals will be achieved and others not… It’s a lesson of sometimes having to do what is necessary for the good of all and not just for self.

A good thing about ‘From the Shadows of the Owl Queen’s Court’ and the previous 3 books is that the stories are equally love-worthy, linked by the same consistent dark fantasy and folklore elements whilst each remaining a stand-alone in the Yarnsworld series. I will say that whilst you can hop on board with any of the titles, it would be more beneficial if you follow the series in the order of publication. At the very least, read They Mostly Come Out At Night before any of the other titles… The Magpie King makes an appearance in From The Shadows of the Owl Queen’s Court and the turn of events and the link was a wonderful surprise. With the always present folktales from ages past weaved into the present storyline, Patrick bulks up the fantasy with information in an easy to absorb and intriguing manner.

I’ve had nothing but praise for Patrick’s previous books and my verdict remains the same for book #4. I continue to be amazed at and sucked into the world that opens up vividly in front of my eyes every time I open a Yarnsworld book and I truly cannot wait what Benedict Patrick has in store for us next!

[Laura Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tense, atmospheric and gorgeously told, this is a wonderful edition to the Yarnsworld universe.

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full review is here on my blog!~

I should really, really know better than to start a book at bedtime with the intent to read ‘just one chapter’ before sleeping. I really should.

Enter Kristen, bleary-eyed and unable to put this book down. “Hhhrrrrnnngggg… one more chapter. *checks phone* 3AM!? FUCK!”

So this is how I read more than half this book in one sitting, and then low key fell asleep the next morning on my desk for a bit.

This is the story of Nascha, who is a servant in the Owl Queen’s court, and her only friend is the Owl Queen’s daughter. When the Owl Queen dies unexpectedly, her daughter is coronated Queen, and decrees, under the scrutiny of her adviser, that all bastards of the royal line shall be executed to prevent uprisings and whatnot.

So, Nascha, who, under black dye, actually has the white hair that proves she’s been blessed by the Owl Spirit, and really… is an Owl Queen herself.

She flees on the eve of her execution, in the arms of one of the Foxfolk, and finds herself in the last possible place that one of the Owlfolk would want to be: The Magpie King’s forest. There are stories about the shenanigans that happen there. That, and it’s said that the Magpie King likes his queen to be of the white-haired persuasion.

It’s also the story of Bradan, who is the son of the current iteration of the Magpie King, the most powerful being in the forest, and yet the power drives him mad. He tries to help his people… and Bradan tries to help, on the better days… but the balance of power in the forest is changing, and Bradan isn’t sure that teh Magpie Spirit is the help they need. He’s investigating that thought when he runs into a white haired Owlfolk girl fleeing the Owl Queen’s Court.

So, shenanigans happen, obviously. 😀

The thing about the Yarnsworld series is that each book keeps getting better and better to me. I loved City of Swords but this one was even yet on an entirely different level of amazing. I had feels about this book. It legitimately made me cringe at times (‘oh god don’t put that in your mouuuttthhhh’), and smile at other times. I loved the character of Nascha, and rooted for her to win the day, and legitimately emoted for her at times. I also really liked Bradan, and felt for him while he struggled with having a powerful but mad father who nobody really wanted around anymore. There is no Magpie King anymore, they say. Everyone, including the Magpie King himself. Bradan is a noble guy, and he just wants to help. I felt for him, and hoped for an end to his struggle.

This one, like its predecessors, also has the little folktales between chapters that shed some light on some of the backstory of these people and their land. I love Yarnworld for this, honestly. Folk tales are such a fantastic way to flesh out a world that is built on folk tales.

This one is the first Yarnsworld book that I would consider a sequel in any way. It’s still very much standalone, and you don’t have to have read They Mostly Come Out at Night in order to understand and appreciate what’s happening, but I found that the knowledge gained from that book helped me understand some things about the Magpie King.

All told, this is definitely my favorite Yarnsworld to date. This one got pretty dark at times, as the Magpie King’s forest is still the darkest place there is in the Yarnsworld. There’s a bit of swearing, a bit of sexy times, and a bit of some really questionable produce. Emotions happened, and I’m definitely okay with that. The ending was totally unexpected and surprised me, and I had even more emotions about that. I can’t wait to see what happens next!

Thanks to the author for the review copy. :)

[E.Y.E.-D · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great entry into the Yarnsworld series. This book stands alone but you will probably get more out of this one if you have read They Mostly Come Out at Night.

First off as I have come to expect from this series the cover art is gorgeous.

This story takes us back to the dark of Magpie King's forest. I love this Everything about the Magpie King and his domain. It is much darker than the last two entries in the series, giving the folktales more of a Brothers Grimm vibe.

This is a story about Nascha from the Owl Queen's court and Bradan who wants to do nothing more than protect the people of the forest.

Nascha is a servant/slave in the Owl Queen's court and has planned escape many times. When the Queen dies and her daughter Laurentine is crowned a series of events cause her to finally flee in the company of Vippon, a Gentleman Fox who is blessed by the Fox spirit. Her adventures traveling with Vippon take her into the Magpie King's forest.

Bradan has spent his live wanting to be the type of hero his father is failing to be. His father Lonan has the power of the Magpie King but since he is not of royal blood the power is making him insane. Brandon believes that he is destined to become a true Magpie King so he can protect the people from the creatures that inhabit the forest.

Their paths cross and they both become ensnared in the conflict between the Magpie spirit whose influence over the people of the forest is fading due to the lack of a king, and the Lady who was feared and worshiped before the Magpie Spirits arrival.

It was interesting to learn of the other powers in play in this area of the world. The Gentleman fox was a nice addition. While he not as positioned for power as the Magpie King or the Owl Queen he seems to be more of a roaming power that has the potential to interfere in both of their kingdoms.

The folk tales in this one were some of the best Mr. Patrick has written. It is very difficult to pick favorites out of this book, but after a lot of deliberation I am going to say my top three were The First Man in the Forest, The Lion Knight's Quest and The Fox's Castle.

I have become a big fan of Yarnsworld and I am really looking forward to more stories. I can't decide if I would like more stories form the areas we have already encountered or if I want to be taken to an entirely new location and get to learn about a new people and their legends, either way I am confident I will enjoy the experience.

[Lynn K : Grimmedian · Rating 5 out of 5]

From The Shadows Of The Owl Queen’s Court (A Yarnsworld Novel) by Benedict Patrick
Lost tales of the Corvae and more in a tense story of the consequences of assuming power that comes at a tremendous price.
Benedict Patrick has always amazed us with his gorgeous book covers by Seedlings Design Studios and his latest tale in the Yarnsworld Series is no exception.The best part is that each contain such a treasure inside. Grimmedian has been a fan of Yarnsworld from the start. His books strike a unique chord within this reader who loves the feeling of wonder, awe, and fear that we experienced with the tales we read as children. Like the work of the Brothers Grimm. Those are some very dark tales. There is always a feeling of looming dread found in these books that I find irresistible. The writing style is simplistic and beautifully done. Tales wrapped within tales bring the Yarnsworld books a unique flavor and the author has not disappointed with his consistent and growing skill at weaving absorbing stories.
From The Shadows of the Owl Queen’s Court is the first of these books that ties back directly to another Yarnsworld novel, in this case, it is They Mostly Come Out at Night.
In this tale, we meet Lonan’s son Bradan. Lonan is the hero of the forest folk from They Mostly Come Out at Night. His son however is destitute and saddened by his father’s decline. Madness which has cost Lonan dearly as he took the powers of the Magpie King to save the forest and villages from the grotesque imposter who had plagued their forest with his evil offspring. Bradan wants nothing more than to help the forest folk and become a savior of his people. His father, is determined he shall not suffer his own fate. Bradan is knackless, and to the villagers of the Magpie King’s forest, he is an outcast and derided constantly for his uselessness.
We also meet Nascha, a servant of the court of the Owl Queen. She takes a monthly poison from the priestesses of the court, presumably to keep her from passing her bastard inherited traits of the powers of the Owl Queen. She dyes her hair dark to hide her lineage from the court and the dark-haired princess, who herself has none of the gifts of the Owl Spirit. Her best and only friend is the princess Laurentina, who has been suddenly thrust into the role of the Owl Queen despite her lack of the gift of the Owl Spirit.
Together, Bradan and Nascha must find ways to not only free themselves, but to gain the power they need to have any effect on the rise of rival powers within the forests. For the Lady and the Magpie Spirit now vie for the land and the people there.
In the Yarnsworld style, it is woven through with lost tales of Corvae and of the Leone and Titonidae, which enrich and inform the story of the protaganists. The characterizations are detailed and the emotion hook that results is truly wonderful. There is a lot of magic here, and great danger as well. All Yarnsworld books have a lesson to be learned in the reading.
Find more of my reviews at Grimmedian.com

[Calvin Park · Rating 4 out of 5]

Benedict Patrick gives us another wonderful Yarnsworld novel in From the Shadows of the Owl Queen’s Court. If you haven’t read any of Patrick’s Yarnsworld novels yet, you’re really in for a treat. Each of them is an engaging, entertaining read. Owl Queen’s Court is my current favorite, and well worth your time.

Patrick excels at convincing, complex, and intricate worldbuilding. He gives us a wonderfully crafted world, but perhaps even more than the worldbuilding itself is the way that Patrick does ambiance. Not only do you feel like this story is a tale that could be shared around a camp fire, but the story itself is dark and gripping. You feel as if you are walking in the Magpie King’s Woods while you read. The feeling of darkness, of oppression, is almost palpable. The prose is evocative and I particularly enjoyed learning more about the Great Spirits in the world. It’s fabulously done and Patrick deserves plenty of praise for what he has achieved in writing ambiance. Because of the folktale-like nature of his stories, I’ve sometimes criticized the characters in Yarnsworld novels as falling a little flat for me. That isn’t the case at all in Owl Queen’s Court. Both Bradan and Nascha are wonderful characters that feel relatable and that you care about deeply. Their individual journeys in this book are real and aching. You want them to succeed so much, and much of the tension in the story comes from wondering if they will or—perhaps even more so—how they will. At its core, this is really a personal story focused on these two characters and the setting, while wonderfully evocative, does take a bit of a back seat to the personal journeys of these characters. I loved it.

There isn’t a lot to dislike in this novel. Patrick has crafted a wonderful world and characters you connect with. There were a couple moments when I felt like perhaps the plot became a little meandering. These sections didn’t last long, however, but they were there. I also felt like a couple of the decisions characters make during the endgame, while foreshadowed well, didn’t always make sense for them given what we had come to know about them. Neither of these did too much to detract from my enjoyment, but they were minor issues.

From the Shadows of the Owl Queen’s Court is a wonderfully evocative novel with stunning ambiance and engaging characters all set in Patrick’s much-loved Yarnsworld. Each novel stands on its own, so whether you have enjoyed a Yarnsworld novel yet or not, this would be a wonderful read to pick up. I heartily recommend this one and look forward to seeing what Patrick gives us next.

8.3/10

4.1/5 stars.

5 – I loved this, couldn’t put it down, move it to the top of your TBR pile
4 – I really enjoyed this, add it to the TBR pile
3 – It was ok, depending on your preferences it may be worth your time
2 – I didn’t like this book, it has significant flaws and I can’t recommend it
1 – I loathe this book with a most loathsome loathing

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantastic dark folktale story in the Yarnsworld series! This is the second book I've read by Benedict Patrick. I was lucky enough to receive an ARC by participating in TBRindr.

This story can be read as a standalone, but it helps if you've read They Mostly Come Out at Night as Lonan, the main character, makes an appearance as the father of one of the main characters in this book. The setting is the same as well, so you'll have a better understanding of how the world works.

From the Shadows of the Owl Queen's Court takes place in a forest filled with monsters and other magical beings. It's a place you really don't want to be in. However, there are a few protectors of the citizens of the forest, the most active being the Magpie King. There are a few other "gods" in the world that the people worship to protect them, the Owl Spirit, Fox Spirit, and the Lady of the Forest.

Bradan, the male main character, is the son of the current Magpie King, Lonen, and wants to continue in his father's role as the protector of the forest. Bradan hasn't been gifted the powers of the Magpie Spirit, though, and has no special abilities. Bradan was my favorite character for sure. I loved his character development and how torn he was between gaining the abilities to protect the people and not betraying as his father who wanted him to live a more normal life.

Nascha, the female main character, is a servant in the Owl Queen's Court who has been gifted by the Owl Spirit. Those who inherit these gifts are typically royalty, and Nascha is forced to hide those characteristics to not cause chaos at the Owl Queen's Court, as other may want her to be the queen. Nascha's situation takes a turn for the worst and she attempts to escape the forest. Along the way, she meets Bradan who will help her on her journey to escape.

Along their journey, Bradan and Nascha have to deal with the fight for influence between the Magpie Spirit, Owl Spirit, Fox Spirit, and Lady of the Forest. Benedict has built an interesting world in this forest and the characters just act like I'd expect them to. The writing is very enjoyable in its folktale-like manner, and between each chapter is a folktale to further help the reader understand the world.

My only complaint with the story is Nascha's character development. She starts the novel as a somewhat timid servant, yet grows into a bold woman unafraid of speaking her mind. How she grows into this new person mostly happens in the background and we are told instead of shown what caused her to grow in such a way. Because of this, I felt her growth wasn't quite believable.

If you're a fan of the Yarnsworld novels or dark folktale/fairy tale stories, you can't go wrong reading this one. Despite my one complaint, I really enjoyed reading this one and will for sure be going back to read books two and three.

[Ian Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant just brilliant this is the follow up to the first yarnworld book They Mostly Come Out At Night

Which in it's own right is fantastic to start you could read this as a stand alone novel but the myth, laws and legends are fleshed out more to in my eyes a better book

All the characters in this book again are flawed but believable and living in a place which would give the brothers Grimm nightmares

I don't want to go into detail as I'm rubbish at giving away spoilers and truly want to talk to someone face to face about the book

Another good sign of how much I loved the book was the fact I did not want it to end


So pick up yarnworld 1- 3 and enjoy them all

[BriarGrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I discovered the book via TBRindr. From the Shadows of the Owl Queen's Court is a lovely dark fantasy, well-written and engaging, with complex and thoughtful characters and storylines to engage readers and leave them wanting more. I highly recommend this book and others by this author.

[Steve Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I neglected to review this when I read it months ago, so here I go from memory.

Benedict Patrick earned my attention with his entry in the Lost Lore anthology. It was a tie-in to They Mostly Come Out at Knight, and so that book climbed to the top of my TBR. I loved the atmosphere and the fusion of folktale and horror. I read and enjoyed the next two Yarnsworld books, but they didn't capture my imagination the same way TMCOAN did. When I found out Book 4 would be a direct sequel, you can imagine my excitement.

And it delivered. Patrick expanded the mythos, adding more Great Spirits and their totems, leaning on folktale archetypes while subverting expectations, adding more pathos and tragedy, dishing out a giant serving of WTF, and generally giving me exactly what I wanted from a Yarnsworld sequel. Sign me up for anything set in the Magpie King's Forest.

[Filip · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I read ‘They Mostly Come out at Night,’ the first in Benedict Patrick’s Yarnsworld novels, I was well impressed with what he did. I haven’t had the good fortune of reading up on the second and third books set in that world, but I would be little surprised if the fourth one isn’t the best one yet.

When I spoke at length about ‘They Mostly…’ in my previous review, I was quite vocal about one particular plot twist that came off both as predictable, and immersion-breaking. I’m glad to say, ‘The Owl Queen’s Court’ is bustling with one twist after another and not one of them will spoil your experience. As a matter of fact, the final chapter is packed with twists and turns, all of which thrilled and surprised me with the direction in which they took the fantastic main characters, Bradan and Nascha.

It’s difficult not to draw parallels between Patrick’s first novel and this one, for the sole reason that his skill has blossomed so. My respect for the author’s skill in weaving fairy tales and myths to create a memorable world has only grown. This time around, the connection between the folk tales after each chapter and the events of these chapters is more evident—and packs more of an emotional punch because of it.

And what of the main characters? Bradan is the son of Lonan, the first Yarnsworld novel’s protagonist and everyone’s favourite super-powered madman in this one. Bradan has always wanted to be a hero, a young man whose desire is to crawl out of his father’s shadow and burn much brighter. It’s not a selfish desire. Bradan’s first and foremost thought is always of the denizens of the Magpie’s forest, and his loyalty to and desire to protect the people makes for an interesting moral core to the story, and places him smack in the middle of the conflict between two powerful god-like entities – the Magpie Spirit and the Lady.

That’s one side of the conflict. For the other, we have Nascha to thank for. A servant girl blessed with the Owl Spirit’s gifts but poisoned all her life to suppress them, Nascha is someone I grew to like an awful lot because of the amount of character growth she goes through in the span of this novel. From a cowardly servant, Nascha grows into a brave and powerful young woman whose decisions speak of a great deal of agency of the character. From a damsel in distress saved by a charming Gentleman Fox (it’s a long story), Nascha grows to a hero I was beyond excited to read about. And her enemies are no joke – a Titonidae nobleman intent on ending Nascha’s life for her white hair, which signifies her blessing from the Owl Spirit, and an affronted lover, intent on vengeance, blessed by another of the Great Spirits. Add these to the abovementioned mix, and what you end up with could be a down-right mess. . . but thanks to Benedict Patrick’s skilful juggling of these plot threads, and more, the end result is a story which engrosses for hours and hours, with its compelling characters, rich world and several moral dilemmas, which get resolved in unexpected ways.

Do I have any pet peeves? You bet! None of them will I discuss here, since they mostly go into spoiler territory, and I am unwilling to spoil a single twist in here – and besides, none of these pet peeves takes away from my enjoyment, nor did they affect my reading of the novel in any way. I was never pulled away from the book – always, instead, immersed in the world.

And I dare say, you will be too.

I give this novel a 9 out of 10, or a 4.5 out of 5, which I am happy to bump to a 5/5 on Goodreads! This is a very fine book, and I hope you’ll give it a chance. You don’t need to have read any of the other Yarnsworld novels either, though ‘They Mostly Come Out at Night’ certainly provides a lot of context.

My closing thoughts? Take heed, all ye edgy writers of fantasy and fairy tales: This is how you write a dark story without a whiff of gratuitous violence! In all seriousness, Benedict Patrick has tapped into something riveting with this mixture of dark fantasy and darker fairy tale, and his Yarnsworld universe is well on its way to earning recognition well beyond what it has so far garnered.

‘In the Shadow of the Owl Queen’s Court’ was released on September 26th, and I’m really pissed off I didn’t finish it until two days later; but life gets in the way sometimes. I got an ARC of this along with the first one, from the author, in return for an honest review.

[Sharkie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first time I've ever had to spoiler tag a review, because I just know I'm going to be talking about the plot, and there will DEFINITELY BE SPOILERS.

You've been warned.

This book was.... dark. More dark than I even expected, but it was a subtle darkness (most of the time...) I blame my imagination for some (picturing someone cutting off someone forehead skin is a painful image, but my brain came up with it gladly) and the rest is just the book being it's wonderful, creepy self. And on top of that, there are themes! Slavery, the rise of man in the forest, moral compasses... it was bloody brilliant. (Even if I'm just reading into it!)

I did not expect that ending in the slightest! In my brain I imagined a happy ending, with Braden becoming the Magpie King and him and Nasha becoming the owl and Magpie combo so often hinted in this book. But instead we get our first Magpie Queen, and the two of them are basically frenemies. It shocked me, and had me reading in a sprint at the end because it was so damn intriguing.

I do wish more time had been spent on character development, but it's a small quibble. I just felt like some of them were bland, and needed a bit more of a boost for me to care about them.

Overall, I bloody loved this book. It was brilliant, and makes me want to go back and reread all the other Yarnsworld novels so I can stay in this magical world for a while longer!

[Marielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another dark fairytale I loved. One star less because I didn't connect to Nascha as much as I did with the previous main characters. Loved how this told us aboout friendship and that power always comes at a price. Looking back it might not be a price you're willing to pay.
Straight on to "To Dream and Die as a Taniwha Girl"

[TrulyDeeplyBookishly_708456 · Rating 5 out of 5]

My rating: ❤❤❤❤❤ of 5!
Published: 26th of September 2018.
Written by: Benedict Patrick
Source: Free copy generously provided by the author.
Disclaimer: I was approached by the author, Benedict Patrick, who generously offered to send me a free copy of her book, in exchange for my honest review.

 

The blurb:

If you value your life, stay out of the forest.

As a captive of the Owl Queen’s Court, Nascha’s life has always been one knife’s edge away from disaster. But when she is threatened for nothing more than the colour of her hair, Nascha attempts the unthinkable: escape through the dreaded Magpie King’s forest.

Hunted by sharp toothed and sharper witted foxfolk, and hated by all for being a witch, Nascha fears herself doomed until she joins forces with a mysterious young man. With him she finds a glimmer of hope, even as her own unpredictable powers flicker into existence.

But hope is fleeting.

The forces arrayed against her are insurmountable, and Nascha soon comes to realise that pursuit of her own freedom will come at a greater cost to the forest. As the darkness closes in around them, Nascha is forced to ask:

At what price is she willing to purchase her life?

How dearly is she willing to sell it?

From the Shadows of the Owl Queen’s Court is the fourth standalone book in Benedict Patrick’s Yarnsworld series, returning for the first time to the setting of the #1 bestseller They Mostly Come Out At Night.

 



 

When Benedict sent me an email and asked me to read & review his book, I was a bit sceptic but thought it might be worth it. He also kindly offered to send me the first three books, which I had every intention to read first. But you already know what happens even to the best laid plans! And honestly, I'm now kind of glad I didn't get to read them. Because had I done that, I might not have liked it as much as I did.

 



 

This story follows Nascha a servant, (which is just a fancy way of saying slave), in the Owl Queen's court and one of her friends. scratch that. Her only friend, the Owl Queen's daughter. This spoiled brat girl doesn't really like anyone else, so Nascha is the (un)lucky friend of choice and as a slave she doesn't really have any choice in the unlikely friendship. Nascha only wishes for one thing, which occupies her mind a lot: to be free.

Right about now I find myself remembering the old saying "be careful what you wish for" because as it's often the case, the price just might not be worth it!

On her journey to freedom Nascha finds herself in the Magpie King's feared forest. A place that's feared by most people, and for good reason! The creatures that lurk in there are definitely not the ones, you'd want to find yourself face to face with.

But it's not only evil or sinister beings that lurk in there. It's also where Nascha meets Bradan, who's biggest dream is to be chosen by the Magpie Spirit and become the hero that brings peace to the people. As he's just about as lucky as Nascha (which really means they're both quite unlucky with their place in life), he doesn't exactly inspire awe. Instead he seems to be stirring up negative emotions and do more damage than good. If he had been part of a comic book, I suspect he would belong more in the Suicide Squad, than the Justice League.

With that being said, Bradan has a heart of gold to match his lack of luck. So, he agrees to help Nascha to get out of the forest, and hopefully manage to prove himself along the way, so he can become chosen by the Spirit.

 



 

This world that Benedict Patrick has created within these pages is nothing short of fantastic. Time and time again I felt like I was there, along side Nascha and Bradan. I felt like I was with them on their journey, walking with them in this magical world where mythical & legendary creatures walk amongst mere mortals.

Many times in the past, when I've read books in a series in a random order I've found myself wishing I'd read the other books first. This time it's the complete opposite. I'm loving this world so much, that I'm thrilled to now have the first 3 books to read, instead of being all caught up. As a lover of all things involving folk tales, mythological creatures and just the paranormal, I LOVED this book and I will definitely be reading the previous 3!

Do you find yourself loving original fairy tales like those of Hans Christian Andersen or the Brothers Grimm? If so, you'd probably love this book. I know I did, and I cannot recommend it enough! Let me know what you think, so we can talk on my blog!

 

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[L.L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

They Mostly Come Out At Night is an easy five star read for me.

I read the audiobook, which was brilliantly narrated, and actually contained two books: They Mostly Come Out At Night (book 1), and From The Shadows of The Owl Queen’s Court (book 4 in the Yarnsworld series) - they can be read out of order as each is a stand-alone, simply sharing the universe.

Both stories were wonderful, although I think I preferred TMCOAT a little bit more. They have a kind of dark fairytale vibe with a rich mythology and strong characters. With narration by Derek Perkins, who was absolutely wonderful, this bizarre world was brought to life in an epic way.

I’ve never read anything quite like these books. From the stunningly spectacular covers to the richly built worlds, the mythology and magic, and of course, fantastic characters who seem to jump off the page. The prose is rather beautiful, almost lyrical, and it’s a delight to listen to/read - even if there are some awful things happening at that point!

Both stories take place in the same universe, where there are people beholden to various spirits - the Corvay follow the Magpie King, the Titonieday have an Owl Queen. There are mouse folk, lion folk, fox folk etc. It’s rather breathtaking and revolves around a mythology I’ve never encountered before, which made it all the more fantastical.

Much of the story takes place in the Magpie King’s forest, where there are numerous beasts, magical creatures, and other spirits vying to live and survive. There are villages of people whose life can be envious or dangerous depending on what’s happening with the Magpie King and other creatures nearby - whether or not there is a madness, how relations are with the other forest folk etc.

There are certain parts which are definitely more abstract/weird, but they aren’t too frequent to take away from the excellent stories that are written here. I particularly loved the folk tales squeezed in between chapters, where we learned about the people’s own mythologies, tales, and characters doing heroic (or less than heroic) deeds. It fleshes out the world and brings it to life in such a wonderful way.

They Mostly Come Out At Night introduces us to the last Magpie King, and how a simple village boy, Lolan, ends up embroiled in a life-changing, world-changing plot rife with magic, betrayal, love, and sorrow. We’re introduced to “knacks,” a kind of magic that mostly peasant folk have that usually helps them with their work.

From The Shadows of The Owl Queen’s Court takes place some time after the end of the TMCOAN, following a new set of characters in a forest changed by the events of the past. Through Braden and Nascha, we see new branches of magic, new spirits and new powers, and how one person can change everything - although for better or worse remains to be seen.

I don’t want to say too much because I really think going in blind, with as few expectations as possible, is best for a book like this. I was constantly amazed with the small details, the creatures, the different beliefs that characters had, and how it influenced their behaviours. Most of the time I had no idea where the plot would go, how characters would connect or get themselves out of ever-greater peril.

There is a tonne of heart in these books, and many sections are incredibly emotional to read. I found I cared for all the characters in their own way, and wanted them all to succeed or at least be okay.

Benedict Patrick is now an auto-buy author for me, and I really hope his other words are turned into audio - having experienced this in audio I would love to hear the rest of his worlds narrated in similar fashion.

If you love obscure magic, curses, madness, mythology, characters in peril, the shifting of a forest over ages, gods and people, and everything in between, you’ll love this brilliant book. It’s a slice of the most fantastical fantasy and I adored every single word.

[David Baird · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the Shadows of the Owl Queen's Court is the newest book in the Yarnsworld series by Benedict Patrick and it just keeps getting better and better.

What really sets this series apart from others for me is that it’s so unique and the writing style, switching focus from plot to folklore tales chapter to chapter really does keep you hooked. It’s really great to see the folklore tales and the plot merge as the tale unfolds to give you a complete story that blows you away.

In this tale we meet Nascha and Bradan..one way or another their lives will never be the same. Nascha is a slave in the owl court but there’s more to her than meets the eye..more than she knows herself..a hidden secret just waiting to come out.

Bradan..well he’s down on his luck a bit..he’s wants to be a hero..but he’s overshadowed by his father who currently holds the power of the Magpie King..the only problem is he didn’t gain these powers..he took them and as such his mind is slowly being lost to madness. Bradan believes he should continue the line but is he worthy?

The battle of power of the forest is coming when The Lady shows up..she’s been hiding in the shadows for years just waiting to take back what she believes is hers but you can guess the Magpie spirit won’t give up without a fight. As these two forces clash the lives of Bradan and Nascha entwine and things will never be the same again.

I loved the plot, with twists and turns on every page. To say the story gripped me is an understatement. The myths brought to life are so fascinating and that ending just had me focused so much that I could have easily missed my train stop if it hadn’t been the last stop on the line ha.

The characters were strong and developed at a good pace. I liked them and enjoyed reading their story. Each has their own flaws but also inner strength which they must find to overcome the obstacles in their way.

This one is a roller-coaster ride of ups and downs,a little connections build..then shatter..build then shatter and you never know where the author will take you..it’s one hell of a ride which I was glad to be on.

Overall this is a dark and vivid tale..it’s like the old fairytales not the Disney style where everything works out in the end..everything has a price..but are you willing to pay the cost?

Another 5* rating from me to Benedict Patrick..these tales hit all the right notes with me!

[Maša · Rating 5 out of 5]

The forest kingdoms are full of monsters: some are dangerous because they want to kill you, and some because of choices they offer. Our protagonists - a serving girl and an outcast - navigate the forest pursuing (or fleeing) their own hopes, and get tangled in a skirmish of mighty forces...

Yarnsworld is a place I like reading about: the blend of folk-like tales, beautiful writing, tight plot, and interesting characters - exactly up my alley. The protagonists were nicely balanced, they had their own distinct voice, and the dialogue was pretty neat. I'm saying this because it bothered me in the first book (They Mostly Come Out at Night), and some of the characters appear here, and one can really see the progress in writing.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 4th book in Benedict Patrick's classic fairytale-inspired Yarnsworld series. One of the things I love about this series is that each book is written to standalone, so you don't necessarily need to read them in order to avoid spoilers or missing plot points.

This book is the first of the Yarnsworld books to return to one of the prior settings and stories. This book returns to the dark forest we first explored in Yarnsworld 1 - They Mostly Come Out at Night.
While you can still read it as a standalone, I do think it's better if you first read They Mostly Come Out at Night. This book is later in time and basically focuses on the next generation and the aftermath of the events in They Mostly Come Out at Night (trying to avoid too many spoilers).

We have two main characters in Shadows, Nascha, who we meet as a servant in the Owl Queen's Court where she has scrubbed floors so often she's developed a magical Knack for it, much to her chagrin. She's also the sole confidant of the spoiled princess and heir-to-the-throne and the bearer of pure white hair, an unfortunate for her mark of power and royalty (usually).

Our other main character, Bradan, lives in the Magpie King's forest and is the son of Lonan Anvil, who readers of TMCOAN will recognize.

As our story unfolds we see that control of the Magpie King's forest is in flux, with old powers in the forest rising as the Magpie King's influence wanes. Bradan and Nascha get caught up in this battle trying to protect themselves and the people of the forest from various dangers and powers far larger than themselves.

The folktales that are interspersed with each chapter and give us the history of the various tribes (Owls, Magpies, Mouse, Lion, Fox) are fantastic and just a little creepy as always, just like the best of Grimm's fairytales. These little folktales are probably my favorite part of the Yarnsworld books and the ones in this installment do not disappoint.

This is a highly recommended read, despite (or perhaps because of) one of the truly creepiest weddings in fantasy with some of the worst catering you can imagine!

[Amanda Watson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jumping into the middle of a pre-existing series is something I usually avoid doing since I‘m always worried about missing some important context or inter-character dynamic. From the Shadow of the Owl Queen’s Court, however, is a rare exception and is well self-contained. Even though characters from the other Yarnsworld books are mentioned, I still felt that I had enough information to develop fully fledged thoughts and feelings (and those feelings are largely positive).

As the fourth installment in the series, FSOQC tells the story of a serving girl, Nascha, as she escapes the wrath of the new Owl Queen. Nascha’s white hair is a traditional sign of nobility and marks her as a threat to the newly established monarchy. Nascha escapes to the Magpie King’s forest, a dangerous place, especially for white-haired maidens...

Meanwhile, Bradan serves the people of the forest alongside his father, the Magpie King, the protagonist from the first Yarnsworld book. Bradan dreams of becoming a hero and protecting the people but has not been gifted with any special knack or skill. When Bradan and Nascha collide, they double-down on the forces threatening to kill them both and the result is bittersweet and heartbreaking.

I mentioned earlier that my feelings for this novel are mostly positive and one thing that caught my attention right away is that Nascha is a sexually-active female protagonist. I know this might not seem like a big deal, but it is very difficult to find YA fiction that features: (a) young women who like sex and (b) are represented positively. Not only does Nascha have sex, but the writing does not linger too much on the details. Her activity moves the plot along but it doesn’t reduce her to object nor is it gratuitous and this is something I really appreciate.

I also really enjoyed the structure of the novel, as the chapters are intermixed with legends and folktales. This provides me, a first-time reader, with enough background context on the different superstitions and biases used without giving it to me through exposition, a really engaging way to create a living history. This structure also helps to maintain interest in the narrative generally speaking and I was always very excited to reach the next folktale and think about how that story would foreshadow the plot.

I wasn’t wowed by everything, but fortunately, my qualms are pretty small. One thing I found was that there is quite a lot of action between the main forces vying for power in the forest. One of which is the Magpie Spirit, but there also emerges an old power known as The Lady, the Gentlemen Fox seeking revenge, and the White Guard looking to assassinate Nasha. There are several showdowns in the last half of the novel, only for one of the forces to be bested or for the protagonists to escape. This will not bother those who enjoy lengthy action sequences, and the finale is well worth sticking around for, but this is just something I noticed and don’t personally enjoy.

All-in-all, though, I really enjoyed reading From the Shadow of the Owl Queen’s Court and would love to revisit some of the first books in the series. While this is my first time reading a Yarnsworld novel, it won’t be my last.

4/5 stars

Read if you like: A Court of Thorns and Roses, Stardust

Pre-order is now available, for release on September 26th. A big thank you to the author for providing me a copy of his book in return for an honest review.

[Mia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dear Mr. Patrick:

I meant to read the latest installment of your Yarnsworld series much, much sooner but I found it difficult to seek refuge in reading, lacking focus, feeling largely untethered in a world seemingly gone mad. Having finally read it, I thank you for the story which buoyed my spirit.

This is less a review, more of an expression of gratitude for its lessons, for what it reminded me of. I devour dark stories, seeking to understand the nature and extent of human darkness. But I cannot deny the power of uplifting stories--stories of hope--as a reminder of what is possible. Despite never likely achieving it, there is value in knowing it is within. it is the best of both worlds to weave a tale both dark and hopeful.

I found so many parallels in your crafted tale to the real world and real life. Fictional worlds and fictional characters have always been great vehicles for revealing truth. You gave us a forest of unknown terrors just as the real world is full of terrors both known and unknown. Anyone venturing into the forest does so at their own peril and must be prepared to face forces malevolent and otherwise, as well as their own real and imagined fears.

You gave us Nascha whose spirit was stifled from the outset, everyone telling her to stay in her lowly place. Yet she shares everyone's dreams of freedom, purpose, self-determination. When backed into a corner she discovers hidden strengths, unfamiliar resolve, a fount of selflessness.

You gave us Bradan, pulsing with the need to be a hero yet his limitations often reduce him to one needing saving. He is only too human--craving validation and acclaim even as he strives to help others. He is naive and weathered, impetuous yet calculated. His beliefs are severely tested. What is to become of his life's goals if their foundation crumbles?

You showed there are moments when we all crave a saviour to magically take the yoke, disappear all hardships, sometimes eagerly jumping from one saviour to the next. We can argue incessantly about what is rightfully ours, what we deserve, what we're entitled to, but none of that will make it so. And while aid is always welcome, it cannot be relied upon. More importantly, even gods and saviours can disappoint.

Many forces are outside of our control, we only have some measure of control over ourselves. It is instinctive to protect one's self, one's loved ones. Less so strangers or some abstract belief or other. But when someone or something needs saving, perhaps it is incumbent upon us to step up, throw all caution to the wind, and attempt the saving. We can fail, we will fail. We can do the right thing for the wrong reason or the wrong thing for the right reason. Yet it is the fight that matters, a favorable result only a hoped-for outcome.

It is The Gift of the Magi in new form--no less inspiring, even more wondrous.

Finally, I promised you a haiku and though I didn't write a review in that form, I leave you with one--

an owl bides her time
a lady always waiting
a magpie flies off

Sincerely,

Mia

[Blake the Book Eater · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book. I didn’t love it. Sequels are tough. Even if they are technically standalones and only a semi-sequel. This follows the story of They Mostly Come Out At Night, back into the Magpie Kong’s forest. It also is a mostly nonstop chase. Unfortunately, I didn’t find myself connecting to the characters so it became hard to care about their flight through the forest. As usual, though, we get some fantastic folklore and the mythology of the forest and the workings of Yarnsworld are the best part about this novel! So overall it just became kind of meh. I love the setting, love the stories we learned and even really liked the ending of the book! The journey to get there mostly just felt like it was spinning its wheels. I would be interested to see what comes next in the forest, as by the end I get like I had just read a prologue!
3.5/5

[Nils Ödlund · Rating 4 out of 5]

The fourth book in the Yarnsworld series returns to the forest of the Magpie King.
If you've read the previous books, you'll know that the mythology is a strong part of the yarnsworld, and that it's shared between all books, even when the stories are otherwise unrelated.
This time, though, the story is a follow-up to the story of the first book, and the locations and characters feel familiar, even though they're viewed from the perspective of an outsider.

What I'll whine about.
With this being a return to an already familiar location, a little of the mystery and wonder is missing. The forest doesn't feel as dangerous and menacing as it did in the first book. Partially, I think, this is because the Magpie King has made the forest a little (but not much) more safe, and partially it's just familiarity. The characters in the story also seem less afraid of being out at night. It's a little too safe.

What I'll gush about.
It's Yarnsworld - 'nuff said. It's awesome.
There's that grim (not Grimm) fairytale vibe oozing out from between the words, and there's an old folk-tale inserted after every chapter. Just like in the previous books - just like it's supposed to be.

[Alex Bradshaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great tale by a wonderful storyteller and an excellent addition to the Yarnsworld series.


In this book we revisit the Magpie King's forest, which I am very excited about. Although we start our story in the Courts of the Owl Queen and get our dose of the politics there we are quickly introduced to the characters from the Magpie King's forest. It's a great exploration of the world and giving us exciting hints at what we might be able to expect from the Yarnsworld series in the future.

Overall this book is brilliant. It's a fantastic addition to the Yarnsworld series with some characters you will love, and some you'll love to hate. I really loved the deeper exploration of the world and the epic scope that the author gave this book.

It took me a little longer to get properly into than the previous books, as I think that the voice of the story is unusual, but once I got used to it and settled into its rhythm I couldn't stop.

As always there are fairy tales sandwiched between the story chapters of the book, and as always they are all amazing. This is one of the aspects that I really love about this series, it's such a good way to weave a deeper world, and the way that the author references the stories after you've read them really makes you feel part of it.

This book is an epic addition to the Yarnsworld series and I highly recommend that you pick it up.

[L.L. MacRae · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Copying reviews from previous GR account)

They Mostly Come Out At Night is an easy five star read for me.

I read the audiobook, which was brilliantly narrated, and actually contained two books: They Mostly Come Out At Night (book 1), and From The Shadows of The Owl Queen’s Court (book 4 in the Yarnsworld series) - they can be read out of order as each is a stand-alone, simply sharing the universe.

Both stories were wonderful, although I think I preferred TMCOAT a little bit more. They have a kind of dark fairytale vibe with a rich mythology and strong characters. With narration by Derek Perkins, who was absolutely wonderful, this bizarre world was brought to life in an epic way.

I’ve never read anything quite like these books. From the stunningly spectacular covers to the richly built worlds, the mythology and magic, and of course, fantastic characters who seem to jump off the page. The prose is rather beautiful, almost lyrical, and it’s a delight to listen to/read - even if there are some awful things happening at that point!

Both stories take place in the same universe, where there are people beholden to various spirits - the Corvay follow the Magpie King, the Titonieday have an Owl Queen. There are mouse folk, lion folk, fox folk etc. It’s rather breathtaking and revolves around a mythology I’ve never encountered before, which made it all the more fantastical.

Much of the story takes place in the Magpie King’s forest, where there are numerous beasts, magical creatures, and other spirits vying to live and survive. There are villages of people whose life can be envious or dangerous depending on what’s happening with the Magpie King and other creatures nearby - whether or not there is a madness, how relations are with the other forest folk etc.

There are certain parts which are definitely more abstract/weird, but they aren’t too frequent to take away from the excellent stories that are written here. I particularly loved the folk tales squeezed in between chapters, where we learned about the people’s own mythologies, tales, and characters doing heroic (or less than heroic) deeds. It fleshes out the world and brings it to life in such a wonderful way.

They Mostly Come Out At Night introduces us to the last Magpie King, and how a simple village boy, Lolan, ends up embroiled in a life-changing, world-changing plot rife with magic, betrayal, love, and sorrow. We’re introduced to “knacks,” a kind of magic that mostly peasant folk have that usually helps them with their work.

From The Shadows of The Owl Queen’s Court takes place some time after the end of the TMCOAN, following a new set of characters in a forest changed by the events of the past. Through Braden and Nascha, we see new branches of magic, new spirits and new powers, and how one person can change everything - although for better or worse remains to be seen.

I don’t want to say too much because I really think going in blind, with as few expectations as possible, is best for a book like this. I was constantly amazed with the small details, the creatures, the different beliefs that characters had, and how it influenced their behaviours. Most of the time I had no idea where the plot would go, how characters would connect or get themselves out of ever-greater peril.

There is a tonne of heart in these books, and many sections are incredibly emotional to read. I found I cared for all the characters in their own way, and wanted them all to succeed or at least be okay.

Benedict Patrick is now an auto-buy author for me, and I really hope his other words are turned into audio - having experienced this in audio I would love to hear the rest of his worlds narrated in similar fashion.

If you love obscure magic, curses, madness, mythology, characters in peril, the shifting of a forest over ages, gods and people, and everything in between, you’ll love this brilliant book. It’s a slice of the most fantastical fantasy and I adored every single word.