Stunning...
An age-old curse is unleashed when Franci dresses up as her favorite movie star and now it is up to her friends to find a cure. Through magical worlds and mythical beasts, will they be able to find a cure and save their friend before it is too late?
Okay let's start at the beginning here. Let's begin with the cover art. I think the word that I used "stunning" refers mostly to the cover that you see when you first pick up the book. Brilliant use of color and hints of magic behind every corner. You can almost smell the earth and water mingling together as you stare at the design.
This book flows well from beginning to end with no chop when the characters are traveling from world to world which is very difficult for most authors to do but somehow this author pulled it off.
The creatures that she describes in this tale are more than magical they are imaginative! And the world that they live in seemingly takes your breath away.
Still, I feel like I am missing something by not having read the first book (as this is the second book in the series). The author writes obviously strong characters but they are seemingly built up in the previous book which I have unfortunately missed. But never fear with this novel, because by the end of page 50 you are so enveloped in the story and the characters that you want to continue to read. And indeed are rewarded for doing so.
Absolutely phenomenal book inside and out.
I would definitely recommend this book to all fantasy fans or those who like a good epic adventure. ( )

This book “Beyond Farwin Wood” is the second novel in this series - ‘The Blinney Lane Books.’ I was really impressed with this novel, although I have not read very many books from this genre, nor I have read, the first book, entitled ‘The Weeping Books of Blinney Lane.’

Drea Damara’s creative skill in writing showed as this super, imaginative, tale of fantasy and adventure flowed well from the start, even when the story was moving between the different worlds.

The story mainly concentrated on Valerie, Franci, Ricky and Ranthrop, though their family and friends from Blinney Lane also feature in the tale.

The characters were colourful and so well drawn, building in part, from those in the first book, but also focusing on a number of different ones. I particularly liked Drea Damara’s portrayal of Valerie who was so free-spirited, independent and single-minded.

The plot was very well executed and didn’t feel forced or overdone. I was impressed that the story was good as a stand-alone read. The clever story-telling was so absorbing that I found myself not wanting to reach the end of the book, even though I needed to find out what was going to happen with the characters that I had started to get to know.

I would recommend this captivating and absorbing tale of adventure and I hope that the author, Drea Damara, is writing more in the ‘Blinney Lane’ series.

*[Thanks to BHC Press and the author, Drea Damara, for my free ARC of Beyond Farwin Wood in exchange for an honest review.] ( )

If I had know this was the second in a series, I would have read the first book beforehand. However, not reading the first book didn't detract from this book in any way. The characters were so well-developed and the story so unique that it easily stood on its own. There were references to prior events, which I assume happened in the first book, but the circumstances around those events were made clear enough in this book that you didn't really wonder or feel you were missing out on some vital piece of information critical to understanding this story.

It's a wonderfully unique tale that wasn't reminiscent of anything else I've read. The book was extremely well-edited and I was extraordinarily pleased to not find any errors in it. I'm looking forward to reading the first book and I'll be keeping an eye out for more books in the series. ( )

I didn't realize this was a sequel when I read it but it stands solidly on its own. The Weeping Books are a fun conceit and should make for a variety of adventures. Hopefully there'll be some science fiction tossed in later in the series. Off to read the first book now. ( )

Having enjoyed The Weeping Books of Blinney Lane, I was looking forward to a return visit to Blinney Lane, and hopefully to Farwin Woods. This time, Agatha Blinney’s curse takes an interesting – and at times comical – form as shy, mild-mannered Franci transforms into an outspoken and high maintenance movie star who believes Blinney Lane resident Reggie, Franci’s platonic friend, is the movie star’s husband/love interest. Poor Reggie (and the other residents) have their hands full with this altered Franci! To save the day, 20-something and resident herbalist Valerie Millville offers to take a trip into the book (visit Farwin Woods) with Ricky to try and find a cure, but also to get away from another relationship gone wrong and another fight with her mother. Yes, Valerie has a chip on her shoulder, which might not sit well with some readers, but I kind of liked her feisty attitude (it sure did come in handy at times!). The title is an apt one in that we learn there is a whole larger world beyond Farwin Woods in the magical book. The adventure angle is covered off nicely with more wonderful fantasy creatures, traversing dangerous geography (both land and water) and even having to deal with, yup, another curse. Where The Weeping Books of Blinney Lane was a rather sweet fantasy adventure story, Beyond Farwin Wood go further with more adventure, more comedy IMO (and more older YA/adult-oriented romance). I really enjoyed the surprise twist to the story – no, I am not going to provide any details here – and loved how the story ended… with a perfect lead in for further installment(s) to come.

A delightful adventure, fantasy romp. ( )