There are two reasons why I will never forget this book.
- This is an excellent book and,
- it’s the book I was reading when I became a father for the first time.
Now, I know people always say their kids are the cutest, but objectively speaking, my daughter is the cutest, so rest assured, my claim is more fact than opinion.
And with that, I have become one of those parents who can work their kids into any conversation regardless of the subject.
Anyway, back to the book review.
During Octocon 2024, I attended a workshop ran by David Green about writing cosy fantasy. I didn’t know much about cosy fantasy at the time, but as an example, David spoke about a book he was working on about an elderly, autistic mage who invents magical ink to map one’s heart’s desire. Though the ink could help lots of people, the mage doesn’t believe it answers the question of his own heart’s desire, a question he becomes fascinated with after saving a family of elves from persecution.
To say I was hooked was an understatement. I very much wanted to see this book published and I feel lucky and privileged to see that it has and that I have read it. This is one I highly recommend to fantasy lovers everywhere.
Greton of Willow:
Greton of Willow is often misunderstood, and he often misunderstands the world around him. But what you’ll find about our hero is that while his autism is an intricate part of his character, you will love him for that and much more.
He is kind, a fierce good friend, has an unwavering sense of justice, and when the pieces of the puzzle click for him, it’s he who understands the world and it’s the others around him who find themselves catching up to his wonderful mind. Greton is so likable, your heart’s desire will be for him to find his. You know a protagonist is well written when their goals become the reader’s as well.
Greton has a love for creating maps, tea, books and sitting by fires. And of course, his owl friend, Atlas, or Atty for short. So, there’s no shortage of cosy scenes for you to get wrapped up in. But what makes Greton most relatable is his quest to find his heart’s desire. Something all of us, despite our neuro-type, can relate to.
Neurodiversity:
From the first chapter, it is very clear that Greton is a person with autism. For example, in relation to social cues, there’s a scene where he nods when saying “no” instead of shaking his head. The reason being is because the person he’s talking to had said “no” first, and Greton is agreeing with him by nodding and saying “no” too. (Which actually makes a lot of sense).
There’re other insights too, for example the book explores Greton’s struggles to fit in, even with his own family, bar his grandmother, and you realise he very much isn’t at fault. People in Greton’s life should have done more to understand the mage on his terms rather than he constantly trying to understand people on theirs, a lesson neurotypicals should take from this book.
As someone who is neurotypical, I found Greton’s autism both fascinating and informative. As the author is autistic themselves, I feel like I was getting a genuine insight into what life is like for the neurodiverse, even within a fantasy setting, and I feel it’s an important book for all to read.
There are other characters who’re neurodiverse such as Aria who’s ADHD and the young boy Padar who’s non-verbal and shares Greton’s love of maps. This book finds a place for all these types of characters in a wholesome and loving way.
World Building and Magic:
Green creates a magical system where mages draw on the elements around them to cast spells. For example, should Greton wish to draw on fire for his magic, he can sense a furnace burning nearby and draw on its energy.
Despite Greton’s magical abilities, he is only seen as so-so among his magical peers. This is great because it means he isn’t an overpowered superhero who can solve all his problems with the wave of a hand. Greton’s goals are personal and are not much different to our own, but how he uses magic, creating his magical ink, makes the story engaging. What would magical ink show us in relation to our own heart’s desire? It’s a question I couldn’t help contemplating throughout the book.
The world building for this book is perfect for what Green is trying to achieve. Most of the story takes place in Burrow’s Hill, a largely peaceful town built on a hill considered smaller than a mountain. It has cosy bookshops, tea and pastry shops, and pubs with delicious brandy. These places are ideal for creating the some of the coziest scenes in the book, especially when it’s snowing outside. There’re parts to this book which will provide much needed respite to the reader away from the troubles going on in the real world today.
But that’s not to say it’s all easy going for Greton. There are villains in this story, and parts of the book turn cosy crime, adding mystery into the mix in a way which is fitting with the overall story.
Conclusion:
This book is full of colourful and lovable characters, cosy scenes by fireside and wholesome relationships which will leave you feeling like you’ve been cocooned in a warm blanket.
The mood of this book matched the mood I was in reading it. I read chunks of this book at 1am, holding my newborn daughter in a warm bed to settle her so my wife could get some much-needed sleep. I was getting to know my new family while Greton was finding his.
While I believe we can have several heart’s desires, it was very clear to me in that moment I had found mine; I’ll let you find out for yourself if Greton finds his.
Find out more about David Green.
This book review is part of a new #Octobooks series. #Octobooks are books associated with authors/guests/members (past and present) of #Octocon, the National Irish Science Fiction Convention. Find out more about Octocon on their website and their socials: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, BlueSky, and Mastodon.
