I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Hearts of Oak by Eddie Robson Published by Tor.com on March 17 2020
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Science fiction
Pages: 272
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher
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The nitty-gritty: An inventive and quirky tale, Hearts of Oak was a surprise from start to finish.
Well, this was an odd story! And I mean that in a good way. Whatever you think Hearts of Oak is about, be ready to adjust your perceptions, because it started one way, and at about the halfway point, it became something quite different. This is going to be a hard review to write, simply because there’s a lot about the story that I can’t tell you. Eddie Robson is a unique writer and I’m eager to read more of his work!
The story focuses on an architect named Iona who has lived in the city for many years, helping it grow by designing new buildings, and tearing down old ones and building bigger and better buildings in their place. The citizens who live there are dedicated to this bustling industry and the city thrives and grows, expanding both outward and upward. Raw materials are taken from the surrounding forests, for this city is made entirely of wood. Citizens who die are taken to a furnace called Point of Return, where their cremated remains will create energy for the city to keep going.
Ruling over the city is the King, who is guided by his trusty advisor, a talking cat named Clarence. The King is more of a figurehead than anything else, since Clarence seems to make all his decisions for him.
Life is predictable and ordinary, until one day Iona is approached by a young woman named Alyssa, who wants Iona to teach her about construction. Iona senses something odd about Alyssa, but it isn’t until a construction site that they visited burns down that Iona begins to suspect that Alyssa might be hiding something from her. And why are Iona’s “dream-words” popping into her head more and more these days? Words like felt and coin that have no meaning here in the city, but words that Iona recognizes from her dreams and associates with Alyssa?
When Iona goes poking around for answers and discovers a curious set of instructions, she finds her world and everything she’s believed in turned upside down. Alyssa confirms it: there is something evil living in the city, and she needs Ioan’s help to stop it.
And that’s all I can say about the story, because it’s best to be surprised when you read it, just like I was. Like much of Tor.com fiction, Hearts of Oak is unlike anything I’ve ever read. Robson has crafted a unique world that feels slightly off, but you don’t realize just how off it is until some of its mysteries are revealed. There were a couple of surprise, jaw-dropping moments that I wasn’t expecting. For example, the story seems firmly grounded in the fantasy genre, yet at some point it switches gears and dives straight into science fiction. Robson gives his readers clues about this switch, but it still caught me off guard.
I did love this quirky world made of wood, but I had so many questions as I was reading. Why is the city constantly under construction? Doesn’t anyone do anything else? Why is everything so contained, with no mention of the outside world? What purpose does the King serve, since he never seems to make any of his own decisions? Don’t worry, all those answers and more will eventually be answered.
My only complaint about the story was that it seemed a bit too long. There’s a moment near the end that felt like a good place to stop, but the author kept going, and for me, the story started to feel a little tedious at that point. But I have to say Robson redeemed himself in those final pages. I absolutely loved the way he ended his story, although it might not be the ending that readers want, it was the ending these characters needed.
Big thanks to the publisher for supplying a review copy.
This seems an original book! And I think it wasn’t an easy feat writing a review without revealing too much but saying just enough to compel, in this case, but you did great!
There was a LOT more I wanted to talk about, but I just couldn’t:-)
What an unusual premise and setting. Thanks for sharing your thoughts about the book.
Priscilla Bettis recently posted…29 Short Story Starts
Thanks Priscilla, it’s a very unusual book:-)
Fabulous review Tammy! This does sound very unique. I’m wondering- are there themes of eco-fiction here? It sounds a little like that’s what they might be getting at when they say all the wood is taken from the surrounding forest.
I didn’t really find any eco-fiction themes, actually. But I can see why it sounds like there might be. It’s just odd, ha ha.
Sounds great! I’ve never even heard of it, but I’ll have to check it out now. Great review, and thanks for making my TBR stack a little bit higher haha
Happy to help, Will;-)
I had read a synopsis of this book and thought the same… what an oddly intriguing book. Your review definitely confirmed that feeling. It sounds really quirky.
Quirky is the best word to describe it, I think:-)
It does sound really odd! I hadn’t heard of it before but I’m intrigued now, I usually love that kind of genre-bending. Great review!
Acqua recently posted…Review: The Winter Duke by Claire Eliza Bartlett
Me too, I love genre mash ups, lots of fun:-)
Sounds like a pretty new concept and I can see myself enjoying this one. Great review!
Thanks Barb:-)
Fantasy that turns into science fiction, a mystery (or set of mysteries) to be solved and what looks like a long-held secret… That’s the perfect recipe for for good read, indeed! Thank you so much for sharing this! 🙂
Maddalena@spaceandsorcery recently posted…A TIME OF COURAGE (Of Blood and Bone #3), by John Gwynne
It’s really unique and surprising!
Great review! I’m so glad you enjoyed it! I’ve been pushing this book on people ever since I read it — but it’s so hard to say anything about it without out giving away the twists. 🙂
I know, there are a lot of things you just can’t talk about, or spoilers! But so much fun:-)
I have an earc of this one to read but it’s been a chore to focus on words that aren’t news that I missed getting it read by the release date. Still hoping to read it this month though because talking cat! Thanks for sharing.
I know what you mean, Liz. I’ve been struggling to concentrate on reading as well.
I’ve enjoyed most of what I’ve read from Tor.com, so it’s great to hear we have another worthy story to add to the list.
It’s not often they disappoint me:-)
As ever, a cracking review, Tammy:). I have so much respect for Tor… they go out of their way to find and support writers who write differently and the fact that so many of them do well is a testament to their judgement. This sounds like another author I ought to track down. Thank you for sharing:)
I agree, they take risks with fiction that other publishers don’t, and I think it pays off.
I somehow missed this one but it goes straight to the must be read list. Lovely intriguing review. Arrr!
I think you’d enjoy this!
Another quirky and interesting read from Tor. You’ve really had some great reads from them.
I can always rely on them for unique reads, that’s for sure:-)
What a thoughtful review, Tammy. I especially enjoyed how you described the ending. I love a quirky story and will be adding this to my list.
Thanks Jennifer:-)
Okay, sounds a bit too odd for me, but I’m glad to hear it worked for you! Thanks for the informative review 😀
It was REALLY odd. But I tend to be OK with odd, so it worked:-)
Okay, you REALLY have me intrigued here! Adding it to my list for whenever I start buying books again. 🙂
Definitely worth buying:-)