The Flaxfield Quartet Volume 3: Doubleborn by Toby Forward

In my running series of reviews of the Flaxfield Quartet, as they’ve been released, returning readers will know how much I adored both Dragonborn and Fireborn.

What, you might ask, could I possibly say about the next book in the series that I haven’t stressed in the first two reviews?

Well, there is one word, that I have already used twice, that will be the focus of this review.

Series.

With Volume 3 came the confirmation that Toby Forward knew what he was doing from the start. The entire story, the entire world, in other words, the entire quartet is so fully realised and interconnected that it is clear that this was not one of those series where book one is written and then they tack on a few more just to ride out the success. As I said before, at the end of Dragonborn, we do not have all the answers, but we want them. Desperately.

There is no fluff. That’s how I see it now. So many things that I took as simple scene setting, or folklore, or lessons from wizen wizards are not background to story: they are story. The subtle brilliance of the writing hides everything you need to know in plain sight.

I kind of wonder why I’m still writing this review… No. It’s more that I wonder why you are still reading it? Why haven’t you left your seat to go and find a copy of whichever book in this series you are up to? If you haven’t yet started this series, amend that travesty immediately!

      

4.5 Gold Stars

Find it on Goodreads

The Flaxfield Quartet, Volume 2: Fireborn by Toby Forward

Ok, so anyone who has read my older posts, or that I’ve spoken to any time in the last few months, should have an idea how much I LOVED Dragonborn by Toby Forward. I think even Toby himself has an idea as he honoured me by commenting on my blog post. I must admit I was cuffed! But what can I say, I needed to tell the world that loved it!

So much so, I even squeezed in a re-read of it before reading Book 2 in The Flaxfield Quartet: Fireborn. I had other book-industry friends look at me in surprise and say “How did you manage to re-read a book? I wish I had the time…”

Where did I find the time? I made it. I set aside a whole day and read Dragonborn from cover to cover. Nothing else was achieved, which was perfect; I had nothing else I wanted to do. It was even better through the 2^nd time, but that’s a story for another day. This post should be about Fireborn.

Fireborn takes us back to before the events of Dragonborn and we get a detailed description of what happened to bring about the wild magic and set things on an unpredictable and dangerous path. Stories told in book 1 that appeared to be myths or legends to teach a moral turn out to be truth. I don’t want to say too much, in case I give something away. This is a series that any self respecting fantasy fan (or fiction fan in general) should be rushing out the door to get their hands on. And now! Before you start being told by too many people how good it is. Be one of the first, the originals, who tell their friends to read it and can say they were there at the beginning.

Fireborn holds its own against Dragonborn. I think neither outshines the other; both are exceptionally crafted.

On a personal note, one thing I noticed reading book 2 (and thinking back to book 1) was how brilliantly Toby Forward uses unanswered questions. As in many real life conversations, people ask questions that sometimes will prompt a change in topic by the other person to avoid answering. Or an allusive answer is given. This happens regularly throughout both books and, for me, it made it more real, and so much more compulsive!

Fireborn has confirmed what I suspected after I read Dragonborn: Toby Forward deserves a place on my shelf (on your shelf too) next to Usula K. Le Guin, J.R.R. Tolkin, Patrick Ness, Phillip Pullman, and the other great writers of fantasy. As an aspiring author myself, I found myself taking mental note of various writing techniques that Toby Forward has used that inspire me endlessly. I have been caught a few times smiling wistfully to myself by my partner, and when asked ‘what are you thinking?’ I confess sheepishly that I had been thinking about The Flaxfield Quartet.

Thank you again Toby. Now the final two instalments in this series will be very significant events on my calendar. 

Missed the first one? Read my review HERE

Dragonborn: The Flaxfield Quartet Vol 1 - Toby Forward

Those people who know me would probably realise that Teenage Fantasy is my genre of choice. The problem is there is so much of it around it is sometimes hard to know where to start, or move on to next when browsing the shelves of your local bookshop or library.

Well, I hardly expect anyone to think of me as a voice of authority, but I can tell you that at age 27 I have never stopped reading teenage, young adult and junior fiction, and seriously doubt that I ever will. There is simply too much out there that is great.

That preface was offered in an attempt to add weighting to my upcoming recommendation, to show how strongly I feel about this book.

It has been quite a while since I have felt so thoroughly impressed by a fantasy novel as I was with Toby Forward’s Dragonborn. And I mean that as a novel, not necessarily one for younger/teenage readers. While Dragonborn is suitable for readers aged 10 (or so) and up, as an adult I very much enjoyed it and now I am very excited for the three books yet to come.

Atmospheric, allusive and compelling, the world crafted in The Flaxfield Quartet is complete and tangible, without being overstated. Toby Forward knows that readers have an imagination, that is partially (if not wholly) why they read: to fuel that imagination. So, he does not speak down to his reader, he does not undermine their own ideas. I felt I was being shown around a world I was already expected to know all about, and that was liberating and mystifying at the same time. I had to guess at the meaning of things that characters fully understood which made me desperate to read on. And, typical of a good series, I did not know all the answers by the end of book one.

The lore of magic making in this world is original and fascinating, each of the mages crafting spells in a way that suits them and reflects their personality, but in the scope of a fantasy novel, was entirely believable.

Some of the creatures were only vaguely described, leaving it up to me, as the reader, to build an image of what they looked like (and were capable of) from the snippets of description scattered throughout the book. This was one of the key elements that made me appreciate the book as an adult reader. It was so refreshing to not be spoon-fed creature descriptions and character traits which made me personally invested in the story so I felt that I had helped build it. Naturally the credit goes entirely to the author. And I know this sounds silly, but I want to thank Toby Forward for involving me, or rather, letting me be involved.

So, no matter what age you are, if you have even the slightest inclination towards fantasy stories, go out and find Dragonborn and get involved.


Like this? Make sure you read Fireborn!