Review: The Mosswoods

Astrid Yrigollen
on the back:
Poppy Mosswood like most 17 year olds wants to lead a normal life. But the Mosswood family is anything but normal. Keepers protect the land from humans who would exploit it. For in the forest dwell wondrous creatures and dangerous beings. Beings that would love nothing more but to overthrow all of mankind. Ruthless billionaire Preston Buckthorn moves to town planning to marry Poppy to his son Brad. Brad wastes no time trying to win her heart but his love is warped by the taint that runs in his blood.
As Poppy is taken in by Brad's charms the appearance of a handsome stranger from the forest awakens her heart even though it is forbidden by both their worlds. From his long dark green hair to his piercing eyes, Ashtel is beautiful and powerful. He feels the danger that has emerged to threaten both of their worlds.
Torn between pledging herself as a Keeper, Brad and Ashtel, Poppy is unaware of the true identity of Preston Buckthorn and that his sinister plan includes much more then just owning Mosswood forest.

Poppy is seventeen, soon to be eighteen, who knows her family are Keepers, and that she could also become a  Keeper of the Mosswood forest. Apart from her were-cat that her parents let her keep as a pet because it refused to leave, Poppy hasn't visited the forest since she was little and hasn't seen the creatures within it, what with homework and school getting in the way, she has forgotten about the things her parents told her about the forest and struggles to believe.

To complicate things, she receives the attention of Brad, new to the school and on is way to being popular, he charms her. Happy with the attention at first, but then Poppy starts to wonder why Brad is interested in her, unsure of his attentions, Poppy starts to question it.

One day, she wonders into the forest following her grandfather's voice, scared and frightened, she senses danger, but unsure where to go, a 'presence' appears and it's voice whispers in her ear directing her which way to go and helps her to her feet.

After coming out of the forest, Poppy believes what her parent's had told her of the forest, but now is filled with another burning question, who helped her in the forest and why?

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I absolutely loved the world Astrid Yrigollen created within the forest, it was magical and imaginative. The creatures in the forest were awesome and described really well so you had a good image in your head.

I think personally, it goes without saying that my favourite character of The Mosswoods is in fact Watty (pronounced Wah-tee), the big 150 pound-and-still-not-finished-growing were-cat. With a sassy personality, Watty is pretty cool! 

There was a great bond between Poppy and Watty. And now moving on to Poppy, I quite liked her character, she seemed relatable and her reactions were believable. She was responsible and mature and I loved how she wasn't instantly like omygod I love Brad I can totally trust him cos he's good-looking! I mean granted, she was happy that she was receiving his attention, but who wouldn't be?? So no negative insta-love points there which is always a good thing.

I wasn't instantly grabbed by the book at the start and found it hard to really get into it, it took me about three chapters to feel comfortable and have a good image in my head about it all, but though at the start it wasn't exactly grabbing, I'm glad I read on, though The Mosswoods needs some correcting and grammar checks, it's worth the read. 

Overall, I loved the world created within the forest and how Yrigollen had interpreted it alongside our modern world. 

FOUR STARS 

Here's a teaser:

“Don’t be frightened. Never of me.” He said.

His tone was soft and gentle and reminded her of a stream of water flowing in the forest. It was familiar to her. Despite her excitement she felt calmed by his voice, by his presence. He took a few steps away from her and hunkered down on the carpet before the fire looking at her intently. It had not been her imagination. His skin was the color of moonlight . His hair was the same color of dark green moss. She reached out to touch it, but he was too far away. Poppy’s hand dropped back down to her lap. Embarrassed, she had hoped he wouldn’t have noticed the gesture. He did. His eyes looked down at her hand then slowly traveled up her arm then to her face. His eyes no longer contained anger but an anxiousness.

“Are you Ashtel?” Poppy asked in a low voice.


About the author:

Astrid Yrigollen  Astrid started her writing career when she begun work for the international video game giant, Sega of America. Working her way up the ranks, she began writing companion guides for games. With a love for writing fiction since childhood, she took her short stories out of storage and had her first story ever written published. It was only after that she found out that first stories are never published!
She has resumed writing full time and has succeeded in putting out the titles, The Doughnut Tree,
Mysterious Pootkins , and The Mosswoods to name a few. Her short stories have appeared in the literary Threshold Press and Shock and Awe Magazine.
She finds writing for young adults both refreshing and challenging. She always wishes to provide
examples of positive role models, conflict resolving methods and communication for young adults with
their parents or guardians.


Her newest book release "The Zombie Playground: A Creature Compilation" is a collection of seven short stories geared towards young adults. In no way gory, but more realistic then her other works, Astrid attempts to magnify the human quality that we give some of our monsters and to let us remember that not all 'monsters' are bad.
Upcoming releases this year include His Black Wings  sequel
to The Mosswoods, The Uprising due out in December 2012.



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Contact:
Astrid Yrigollen
Email: mikomi6_2000@yahoo.com 
Website: http://www.astridyrigollen.com