Willa of the Wood

Author: Robert Beatty

Most people who know Robert Beatty probably know him from the Serafina book series that he set on the Biltmore Estate in the North Carolina mountains.  While I really enjoyed that book series of his, I enjoyed Willa of the Wood just as much and maybe even more.  Willa of the Wood received positive reviews when it came out and was a New York Times Bestseller.  There is a second book in the Willa series that was just published the beginning of May; and while I haven’t read the second book yet, I definitely plan to read it soon.  I would love to hear your thoughts on this book!

Willa of the Wood, set in the Blue Ridge Mountains in the early 20^th century, is about a young night-spirit, Willa, who is an orphan that lives with her grandmother in the Faeran clan.  Willa is a thief at night who steals things from the “day-folk” (a Faeran term for humans) to try to please the Padran, the leader of the Faeran people.  However, Willa ends up becoming a fugitive of sorts and realizes that the clan she was born into might not be what she thought; and she also realizes that she might have to place her trust in her worst enemy.  While I am a huge fan of the Serafina series by this same author, I think I might actually like this book better.  I love the historical/fantasy setting and I love Willa’s character; and I love the messages the book sends about the environment, like how we should always respect nature in all forms.  Also, the book cover is gorgeous!  However, this book does have some parts that could upset younger kids (like when some beloved characters die), so I would caution parents of young kids regarding the upsetting scenes and would recommend it for older kids only.  I think the most important message that comes from this book is that there is place for the people who feel like outcasts.  Willa, a young outcast herself, struggles to find a place to belong because she definitely doesn’t feel like she belongs in her own world.  I won’t spoil the book, except for saying Willa does eventually find out where she belongs and, in doing so, she shows us that there is a place for us all, if we just don’t give up looking for it!

“Standing there in the forest on her own, she didn’t feel strong. And she didn’t feel happy. But she finally felt as if she could go on.”