I confess, when I was offered the chance at a free copy of Tava Baird’s Wyldwood: Book One in exchange for a fair review, I may have rolled my eyes a bit at the description. I TAKE IT BACK, OKAY? I take it back. It is a beautiful book, obviously a true labor of love. Love of history, love of magic, love of romance, love of culture. My default comparison to Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander Saga was not at all a fair one. Understandable maybe, but not fair. This book is wholly unique and reminds us that Scotland is a magical place, filled with things unseen. But we’ll get to all of that in a moment. First, we need to talk about the book itself.
Wyldwood: Book One is unlike any other fictional book I have ever read. It is an unusual size – 9×12, with a beautifully illustrated soft cover. The cover illustration is very evocative of the mood of the book. I strongly suspect that the author did the artwork herself – her biography describes her as an artist. If not, she found a fellow artist that understood the assignment. Due to the size of the book, I found it easiest to read while sitting at a table or using a portable desk in my lap and letting the table or desk hold the book. It easily stayed open on its own without the spine cracking. (Yes, I’m 12. Every paperback, no matter the size, is a new challenge to read without cracking the spine.) I assumed from the size that it would be a large print format. It’s a larger font than you would find in a traditional or trade size paperback, but it was a comfortable size given the size of the page. Honestly, I would be a fan of doing my reading in this format in the future. I can also see how it might be easier for people with a variety of disabilities to manage a book in this format.
Saorsa Stuart is Bonnie Prince Charlie’s niece. When we meet her, she’s struggling to sleep with a stone poking in her back. She’s not in a good situation – she’s being traded by one clan to another in the wake of Culloden in a game of politics. Her exhaustion is palpable on the page. Her captors care about her physical well-being enough only to keep her alive for delivery. She’s past terror, and is strictly in the numb phase. All she can think about is the pain left over from the damn stone; she’s not even guiding her horse. She’s a badass though, because she keeps moving forward.
As they’re traveling they see something terrifying: a literal wall of redcoats moving their way. At least a thousand of them. We learn from a conversation between Saorsa’s captors that they are there to make sure the Jacobites don’t escape. I can’t even imagine how terrifying that must have been to witness, sympathizer or not, knowing that you may or may not be able to prove your allegiance to the correct side.
All of which leads me to the point I would like to make: this book is very atmospheric. You’re really transported to the place and time, with all that entails. I don’t want to talk anymore about the plot or events in the book. I really want you to be able to experience it yourself. It’s for anyone that loves historical fiction, magic, adventure, or political machinations. Definitely worth your time.
Wyldwood: Book One by Tava Baird is available in paperback on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. It is also available in Kindle Unlimited. 4 of 5 stars.