There is so much to love about this novel. The premise alone was enough to hook me:
A tribe lives in the shadow of a giant tree. After training for a series of trials and tests, a group of young women are chosen to circumnavigate the base of the tree. It’s a huge responsibility because they’ll be taking the tribal children with them and the journey back to where they set out from takes five years. Everything learned along the way will form the children’s education.
Ace idea, right? Who or what will they encounter along the way? Will they all make it home?
The story buzzes with mystery right from the outset and all the way through I was wracking my brain to try and work out the book’s secrets before I reached the end. All I can tell you is that I didn’t manage it and I was glad not to. I read the book on holiday; first book I’ve been able to read ‘properly’ for many, many months. The fantasy and wonder Warren conjures contributed to making my time away an absolute joy.
I’m a sucker for trees and the human relationship with nature, so Walking the Tree was right up my street. A lot of Fantasy, a little SF and an ocean possibility; a truly delightful book.
Joseph D'Lacey 