A surprisingly fun read! I was't expecting to be able to get "into the Forest" at all. It has been decades since I have read fantasy and yet before I knew it, I was off and running with Tal and co. The train of the novel is fairly complex, which I enjoy; it stimulates me to predict the connections between the various strands of the story and thus keeps me engaged. Maria Renata describes the regions of Mirror Earth that we have so far visited with depth and creativity, easily enabling the reader to imagine this new land. There is a great selection of characters to root for or against, and some, thanks to fine authorship, which the reader is not quite sure how to respond to!

The author is trying for some depth and endeavors to comment, albeit subtly, on moral and spiritual themes. Thus you are not only left with the feeling of satisfaction at having been righteously entertained but also with the sense that this book has formed you for the better in some way.

If you are look for an exciting read, to lift you out of the hum drum of daily life, this books for you! I'm definitely looking forward to the next book! Bring it on Ms. Renata!