Book Review of 'Mossycoat' by Dawn Ford

Happy Thursday Bookworms!

In my quest to broaden my literary boundaries I recently read the novel that I am featuring today which was way out of my comfort zone. Fantasy for me has always been a struggle but it's been awhile since I've read in this genre, and I am so glad that I got out of my comfort zone! I hope you enjoy my thoughts on this Christian Fantasy and let me know in the comments what genres are out of your comfort zone.

Welcome to the Reviewer Tour for Mossycoat by Dawn Ford, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Mossycoat
Series: Band of Unlikely Heroes #2
Author: Dawn Ford
Publisher: ScrivKids
Release Date: July 9, 2024
Genre: Chrisian Fantasy

Troll Princess Horra Fyd may have succeeded in getting the druid seed to the magical Weald forest in time to sprout, but she’s finding that getting her kingdom back in order is not as easy as she hoped.

Oddar’s subjects are rebelling and trolls are mysteriously disappearing without a trace. Horra and her father King Divitri are at a loss on what’s happening, but they know who’s behind it all.

When Horra’s summoned back to the Weald to meet Rowan, the new druid warrior, she finds the woodgoblin a know-it-all stick in the mud. Rowan’s not impressed with the troll princess, either. However, after a suspicious magical fire destroys the Weald, they’re forced to rely on each other to venture out in a kingdom that’s becoming more dangerous by the day.

Will Horra and Rowan be able to set their differences aside to become a strong team? Or will they fall into the Erlking’s traps, stopping their mission before it even gets started?

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | BookBub

My Review

This year my reading goal has been to step out of my comfort zone and read out of my go-to genres. Fantasy has always been a genre that is a struggle for me but one thing I will say about fantasy novels is the imagery is always unmatched. The attention to detail makes this world come alive in full technicolor and this adorable cover is what first drew me in to Mossycoat.

At first, I wasn’t sure if I was ever going to make sense of the story. This is the second book in the series and since I didn’t get a chance to read the first novel before I read this one it took a bit to get my bearings. It’s clear that you’re stepping into a world that is already established so I had to play catch-up, but the author did a phenomenal job of filling in those gaps. Soon, all the pieces started to fall into place and the world came alive. I couldn’t put it down after that.

It’s been a long time since I’ve enjoyed a fantasy novel as much as I did Mossycoat. There are some truly heartbreaking moments that I was not expecting, my heart aching for the characters as they fight this horrible war. There are some pretty suspenseful moments and a few cringy ones that actually grossed me out. Love the incredible imagery!

Though this can be read as a standalone I feel like I would’ve enjoyed it sooner had I read the first book in the series, which I do plan on doing before the next installment comes out. Dawn Ford, you just might make me a fantasy lover yet!

My Rating: ★★★★★

More Books in This Series

About the Author

Dawn Ford lives in a small town nestled among the Loess Hills in Western Iowa with her husband, John. Dawn’s love for stories came naturally to her as a child who was lucky enough to be able to explore the Iowa pastures and countryside in search of adventure.

Dawn adores anything steampunk, is mesmerized by shiny, pretty things, loves purses, shoes, and needs at least one good, strong cup of coffee a day to wake up.

Dawn’s novel, The Girl With Stars In Her Eyes, won the 2016 ACFW Genesis Award under the title, Kingdom Come. Her flash fiction stories have been featured in Havok, an online magazine.

Connect with Dawn at dawnfordauthor.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.